Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material is provided. The blank includes a reinforcing panel assembly for forming a reinforcing corner assembly. The machine includes a hopper station for storing the blank in a substantially flat configuration and a forming station for forming the blank into the container. The forming station includes an initial forming station that rotates a first portion of the reinforcing panel assembly with respect to a second portion of the reinforcing panel assembly, and a secondary forming station having male and female forming members with shapes corresponding to an interior shape and an exterior shape of the reinforcing corner assembly, respectively. The male and the female forming members are configured to form the reinforcing corner assembly by compressing together the first and second portions of the reinforcing panel assembly.

Abstract: This is a method and device for making a packaging box from two blanks (2, 3), wherein blanks are taken simultaneously from two adjacent stacks (25, 26) and placed on two parallel tracks (29, 30), the blanks are transferred flat until butted longitudinally to an assembly station, the first blank is glued on its way to the longitudinal abutment position, the first and second blanks are butted laterally into their respective positions to give them an exact lateral reference position, they are grasped, and transferred laterally, and the second blank is placed on the first blank which is thus indexed, escaping the drivers (61) of the first track (29) when the second blank is placed against the fast blank, but clamped by vertical pressure. The second blank is then applied to the first blank to glue them together in their respective defined longitudinal positions, and the resulting set of blanks is then transferred to an erecting station where the box is erected by rolling the blanks around a core.

Abstract: A station includes a magazine containing stacks of flat folded tubular blanks arranged horizontal. Each stack is supported by openable support pad pairs. A platform moves vertically below the magazine and receives, when set at a raised loading position, one stack released by opening a lowermost pad pair. The platform is subsequently lowered, together with the stack, to a waiting position. A withdrawing arm, mounted on a slide moving horizontally, has suction cups for picking up a blank from the stack on the platform, when the platform is temporarily raised and then lowered to the waiting position. After picking up a blank from the stack, the slide and arm take the blank to box forming means of the boxing machine. When the stack on the platform runs out, the magazine releases another stack, while the stacks remaining in the magazine fall down in a sequence to lower levels, due to opening of the pad pairs.

Abstract: The present invention provides machines, methods and apparatus for forming containers including Bliss style containers of a type in which one or more V-shaped support pillars are formed on one or both of the sidewalls of the container being formed. The machines, methods and apparatus of the present invention form support pillars on the sidewalls of containers using a novel arrangement of one or more unique discs, guides, rollers and grippers.

Abstract: A case is gripped by its side panel by suction cups mounted on a squaring arm and rotated out of a magazine into contact with a squaring rail, which forces the case into a squared configuration as the case rotates into position between two drive belts, one fixed, and one with a gate-like swinging section which is rotated open. The bottom minor flaps are then closed by minor flap folders as the swinging belt section rotates closed, gripping the case. The drive belts then convey the case out of the squaring area, over flap ploughs which close the bottom major flaps. The squaring arm, fixed drive belt, and rear minor flap folder are mounted to a carrier. The front minor flap folder and major flap ploughs are mounted to a second carrier. The adjustment mechanism of both carriers is coupled to the adjustment mechanism of the magazine height.

Abstract: The machine assembles cardboard boxes of the type that comprises a main piece or sheet and two independent sheets comprising the front ends, lateral sheets that attach to some laps that form part of the main piece. As a novel characteristic, it includes some side feeders where the independent lateral sheets are stacked and some devices for conveying such lateral sheets that place them on both sides of the male forming element or mandrel, in whose descent such lateral sheets are conveyed and also the main sheet to the folding mold located underneath where the box assembly will be finally formed. This folding mold also includes some improvements that facilitate the assembly of the box.

Abstract: Disclosed is a supply hopper apparatus for 3-part (Bliss) box forming machines having a vertical or substantially vertical orientation that is capable of holding a large supply of end panels. The trays of the hopper are open at the top and bottom, and may be adjusted to accommodate a wide range of differently sized end panels. A shuttle mechanism is provided at the bottom of each tray for removing the lowermost end panel from the tray, and an adjustable gate is provided to prevent more than one panel from being removed from the tray at a time. An elevating mechanism is provided adjacent to each tray to bring the lowermost panel from a generally horizontal position to a vertical position alongside the mandrel of the container forming machine. The mandrel then picks up the elevated end panels from each side, and takes them into the machine where they are used to form the three-part Bliss container.

Abstract: A machine for forming a variety of different sturdy, stackable three-part fiberboard containers having a depth dimension greater than their width dimension, and which are suitable for holding bags filled with liquid. The machine includes a slidable, removable mandrel which cycles between a fiberboard hopper area and a container forming compression area. Each of two side bins provides a fiberboard end panel which comes into contact with independently slidable edge picks on the mandrel. Just before the mandrel cycles forward, the edge picks push the fiberboard end panels forward where they are bent by the action of two folding elements. Meanwhile, a fiberboard body matt is brought into position in front of the retracted mandrel from an overhead feed unit. Adhesive material is sprayed onto selected parts of the body matt as it is placed into position in front of the mandrel.

Abstract: A machine for forming a variety of different sturdy, stackable three-part fiberboard containers having a depth dimension greater than their width dimension, and which are suitable for holding bags filled with liquid. The machine includes a slidable, removable mandrel which cycles between a fiberboard hopper area and a container forming compression area. Each of two side bins provides a fiberboard end panel to the mandrel. Just before the mandrel cycles forward, the suction cups remove two fiberboard end panels, one from each side bin, and pull them next to the mandrel. As the mandrel moves forward, the end panels are bent by the action of two folding elements. Meanwhile, a fiberboard body matt is brought into position in front of the retracted mandrel from an overhead feed unit. Adhesive material is sprayed onto selected parts of the body matt as it is placed into position in front of the mandrel.

Abstract: An apparatus for constructing multi-piece carton pre-forms, comprising a wrap member supply hopper, a wrap/pre-form conveyor, a glue station, a web placement and compression station including a web supply magazine and a reciprocating placer, and an output station. The apparatus processes paperboard pre-forms which are subsequently erected into cartons for fresh produce and the like. An improved packaging member conveyor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for attaching a spout to a planar portion of an article such as a milk or juice carton, which may be integrated into conventional carton forming and filling machines, includes the steps of heating a stem of a spout, applying a bonding agent to a flange on the spout, positioning the spout in a predetermined relation to a spout applicator, positioning a carton with a hole provided in a predetermined relation to the spout applicator and attaching the spout to the carton where the heated stem is deformed to mechanically engage the carton about the hole. An apparatus to accomplish the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A machine and method for making frusto-conical liners for a funnel of the type used on a urinal for female individuals. The liners are dispensed from a dispenser of the telescopic type so that pressing down on a top part of the dispenser releases a liner from the dispenser. The funnel lined by the liner is cradled in an improved funnel holder that includes an ejector that knocks a used liner off the funnel when the funnel is returned to the holder so that the user need not handle the liner. The machine that performs the method of making the liners includes a station where flat liners are removed from a stack of liners, spread open, and placed on a mandrel. The mandrel rotates to a second station where the liner is folded into its final configuration. The mandrel next rotates to a third station where the liner is heat treated, and the mandrel then rotates to a fourth station where the liner is removed from the machine and added to a stack of nested liners for subsequent charging into a dispenser.

Abstract: A carton assembly machine for assembling a cover on a base is disclosed. The machine includes a frame and a first conveyor for transporting a plurality of bases. A second conveyor transports a plurality of folded covers. At an unfolding station, suction cups grasp the folded cover and are pivoted to open the cover. The cover is then moved to an assembly station where it is positioned over a carton base. A plurality of hand assemblies are moved vertically downwardly to grasp the cover and move it into overlying relationship with the base. The hand assemblies are then removed and the assembled carton moved to a tape station where tape heads apply a strip of tape to the assembled cover and base. After taping, the assembled carton is removed from the carton assembly machine.

Abstract: A token, such as a coin for making change in a cigarette package dispensing machine, is inserted into a "hard pack" or box of the type having a hinged lid by placing the token on the front face of the box, pressing down on the front face to form a slit-like opening under the edge of the lid, and then shoving the token under the lid through the opening. One or more recesses can be formed in a box insert under the lid to accept the token or tokens. An apparatus for accomplishing this is disclosed.

Abstract: A machine for forming an H-section carton (19) from three corrugated blanks--two section blanks (21a and 21b) and a main body blank (23)--is disclosed. The machine has a generally L-shaped silhouette, with one leg of the L shape generally defining the path of travel of the section blanks and the other leg defining the path of travel of the main body blank. A supply of vertically oriented section blanks are located on opposing sides of the section blank leg. The two section blanks facing one another are simultaneously moved toward the main body blank leg, along parallel paths. The section blanks are first moved past glue heads (61a and 61b), which apply glue to the center region (22a and 22b) of the facing surfaces of the section blanks. Then, section forming mandrels (85) ram the section blanks toward one another into a U and H-section forming die (87). More specifically, the section modules first deform the section blanks into a U-shape.