Abstract: A horizontal high-speed paper cup/paper bowl forming machine is provided. Specifically, the seven-station main rotation tower forming mechanism has a stamping die station, a paper feeding connection station, a first cup bottom preheating station, a second cup bottom preheating station, a bottom crimping station, a rolling station, and a main and auxiliary tower connection station. The seven-station auxiliary rotation tower forming mechanism has the main and auxiliary tower connection station, a cup rim lubrication station, a pre-crimping station, a first final crimping station, a second final crimping station, a cup outlet station, and a reserved vacant station. The stations arranged in sequence along the circumferential direction of the seven-station main rotation tower forming mechanism is in an opposite order to the stations arranged in sequence along the circumferential direction of the seven-station auxiliary rotation tower forming mechanism.

Abstract: A machine for forming and sealing a top of a container is provided. The machine includes a conveyor configured to transport the container through the machine, a forming section including at least one bullet arm configured to fold a trailing centering tab of the container, and a compression section downstream from the forming section and including a compression device configured to fold a leading centering tab of the container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for folding a tab over a peelable panel on an end structure comprising a ring/panel. The ring and panel are formed from the same flexible material which has no inherent deadfold characteristic. In one embodiment an upper tab fold tool includes a pivotable plate for holding the folded edge of the tab in position prior to heat sealing to the peelable panel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a hem on a 5th panel of a liquid carton blank comprising a skiving section, a stepped creaser section, a burner section, a vacuum hemmer section, and a sealer section. Carton blanks are fed into the skiver section and exit from the sealer section at a high rate of speed. The final folding step in the process is performed by a vacuum hemmer which comprises a belt with holes for pulling a vacuum to securely hold the carton blank during the second and final folding of the skived portion of the 5th panel.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for forming and thermosealing one end of a packaging container which is manufactured from thermosealing material. The packaging container is placed in a conveyor which brings it into contact with mechanical forming devices (22) which progressively reform the packaging container end so that a sealing fin (6) oriented in the direction of movement of the packaging container is formed. In a subsequent sealing station (12), thermoplastic material located in the sealing fin (6) is heated to sealing temperature, whereafter wall portions included in the sealing fin are mechanically urged against one another during simultaneous cooling and continued advancement.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming and sealing a fin at a gabled end of each carton in a plurality of cartons traveling along a predetermined carton path is set forth. In accordance with the apparatus, each carton has a first plurality of opposing top flaps disposed transverse to the predetermined carton path and a second plurality of opposing top flaps disposed longitudinal to the predetermined carton path. The first and second plurality of opposing top flaps are adapted to form a gabled structure of the gable top container. The apparatus includes a first pre-folder for directing the first pair of opposing top flaps of each carton toward each other, thereby also causing the second pair of opposing top flaps to be urged toward each other. A second pre-folder is disposed downstream of the first pre-folder along the predetermined carton path for increasingly directing the second plurality of opposing top flaps of each carton together as each carton travels along the predetermined carton path.

Abstract: A paperboard container of generally semi-rigid construction and formed from a unitary blank of paperboard folded in the general shape of a U. The interior surface of the container is coated with a thermoplastic polymer barrier layer, the container having a manually openable, normally closed pour spout at one upper edge portion, and also having a recessed or raised bottom. The container is particularly adapted for packaging granular, dry material such as corn flakes, pretzels, and the like. Due to its construction and the thermoplastic barrier layer, the usual inner pouch which contains dry cereal is omitted, thereby effecting savings in both material and in assembly of the final package. In one embodiment, an opening is provided for carrying the package, the opening located at the top of the container. In another embodiment one side wall of the panel is provided with an extension to serve as a reclosure flap.

Abstract: A packaging machine for manufacturing packaging containers for liquid contents, e.g., milk or juice, from tubular packaging container blanks of laminated paper and plastic material. The blanks are fed through the machine by means of a main conveyor along which is disposed various stations for performing operations such as sealing the bottom ends of the blanks to form bottom-sealed packaging containers, filling the bottom-sealed packaging containers, and top-sealing the filled containers. A station can also be provided to transfer blanks from an infeed conveyor located below the main convey to the main conveyor. The stations are jointly controlled but individually driven and replaceable, which makes for a flexible and compact machine.

Abstract: A machine for making cups of thermoplastic coated paper, the machine including a frame or housing having a turret rotatably mounted on the frame, a number of work stations mounted on the frame in an equally spaced relation around the turret, a number of mandrels corresponding to the number of work stations mounted on the turret and a curling die mounted on the turret in radial alignment with each of the mandrels. The turret being rotated intermittently to align the mandrels sequentially with the work stations, the work stations being movable radially inwardly into a working relation with each mandrel, the mandrels being moved radially inwardly simultaneously with the work stations to form a tucked curl on the top edge of the cup.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for preparing cylindrical members for paper containers having a thermoplastic resin layer as the innermost layer by cylindrically forming a preform sheet made up of a laminate comprising at least a paper layer and the thermoplastic resin layer, the laminate is arranged so that the thermoplastic layer becomes the innermost layer of the paper containers and is selected from the group consisting of polyesters and ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers. The method includes the steps of folding the innermost layer along one edge of the preform sheet back over itself, irradiating the folded edge and another edge of the preform sheet both of which are made of the thermoplastic resin layer of polyesters or ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers using a carbon dioxide gas laser irradiation, thereby softening or melting the thermoplastic resin layer, overlapping the irradiated edges, and pressing the overlapped portion to seal the thermoplastic resin layers together.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for folding the bottom panels of a carton blank that includes side walls, first and third bottom panels extending from opposite side walls, second and fourth bottom panels extending from opposite side walls, and a bottom panel flap extending from the third bottom panel. The apparatus includes a frame, a rotatable supporting assembly, two rotatable folding fingers mounted on the frame for inwardly folding the second and fourth bottom panels, a tuck folder mounted on the rotatable mounting assembly for inwardly folding the third bottom panel, a guide mounted on the frame for contacting and inwardly folding the first bottom panel, and a bending member mounted on the rotatable supporting assembly for outwardly folding the bottom panel flap. One portion of the bending member is curved to define a concave surface that faces the tuck folder. The bending member can also be provided with a convex surface positioned on each side of the concave surface.

Abstract: A liquid tight rectangular paperboard container (10) is provided with a separate opening tab (17) secured to the top panel (15) thereof which enables the package to be opened to provide a fully open top. In particular, an elongate plastic window (18c) is formed along the front fold line (15a) connecting the top and front panels (15 and 11) of the package, and has ends (18d, 18e) connected to spaced apart arcuate shaped perforated lines (18a, 18b) extending to the rear corners of the top panel. In the construction of the package, the opening tab (17) is first ultrasonically welded to the outside surface of the package blank, and then the window section (18c) is pressed against and welded to the inside surface of the tab. A slit (40) which is formed in the window enables any air trapped between the window and the tab to escape during the welding operation.

Abstract: A paper box folding and sealing machine for forming a hemmed edge. A skiving station removes a portion of a carton blank material at the area to be hemmed. A hemming station folds the skived portion onto the blank, irons it and then opens the hem to lie in a predetermined plane that intersects the plane of the blank. Superheated air directed in a laminar-like air flow, activates a thermoplastic coating adjacent the skived portion of the area to be hemmed. Folding fingers, tack rollers and presser rollers then fold the skived portion onto the activated thermoplastic coating to form a hem that is sealed against the adjacent portion of the blank.

Abstract: A medical waste disposal container has a unitary body structure formed of a substantially flat sheet having a plurality of laminated layers of compact fiberboard, and one or more thin pliable layers of absorbtion resistant plastic material. The laminated sheet material contains a plurality of foldable sheet portions that are scored, wrapped at corners and adhesively joined together to define a bottom, sidewalls and a top of the body structure. The top has an opening, that is closeable by way of a flap formed in the sheet material, for insertion of discarded medical waste. The interior of the container is preferably coated with an absorption resistant material to effectively provide a leakproof seal at the intersections of its sidewalls and bottom.

Abstract: An overwrap machine for sealing packaging for a foodstuff comprises a conveyor belt, heating elements, and pluralities of modules holding rollers which contact the packaging as individual foodstuffs are conveyed by the modules. The modules, and thus the rollers, are heated by the heating elements. There are two different roller types, which are the cylindrical first rollers and the ellipsoidal second rollers. The pluralities of rollers include substantial numbers of the first rollers with fewer numbers of the second rollers interspersed therein. The ellipsoidal second rollers are effective to insure the sealing of the ends of the foodstuff being overwrapped by bearing against the unsealed ends as each foodstuff traverses the gap between opposing second rollers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the manufacture of folded paper boxes with a hemmed seal. One of two edges to be overlapped is skived and folded into a hem. After the edges are locally heated, blanks move individually and successfully along a conveyor for folding and sealing. Just before sealing, the hemmed edge passes between a hem holder and the conveyor to maintain the hemmed edge. The hem holder is heated to prevent the edges from cooling. In one embodiment hot air directed onto the hem from the hem holder forms an air cushion between the hem and the hem holder thereby to minimize any contact between the hem holder and the blank.

Abstract: An improvement in method and apparatus for continuously folding, heating, and tacking to the sides of the package panel the excess packaging material created by forming the package from a web of polyfoil material is disclosed. The method and apparatus is particularly useful in form, fill, and seal machines that form a plurality of aseptic sealed packages from a continuously advancing tube filled with a product, and incorporate a plurality of package receiving means mounted on a continuously advancing structure that forms sealed product filled packages into rectangular finished bricks by squaring the package, heating the excess material, folding the excess material against the package until it cools to thereby tack it.

Abstract: Herein described is apparatus for sealing cartons and containers, which includes using a laser beam directed at critical areas on the carton or container for inducing constant heat upon the area of a carton or container passing in front of the beam. Further described is a beam splitting system which splits the laser beam to direct it to different areas on the container being sealed or to different cartons simultaneously.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a seam on a thermoplastic coated container, which container has been formed from a single blank or a continuous by bending the substrate member from which container was formed and overlapping opposite edges thereof to form the seam. According to the practice of this invention, the edges of the substrate member which are to be overlapped and joined to form the seam are each heated, prior to their overlapping, by energy from a laser to thereby render the thermoplastic coatings on the overlapped portions of the substrate member soft and tacky so that they will adhere to each other when pressed together and allowed to cool. The laser energy is applied by directing an unfocused laser beam of 10.6 .mu.m wavelength over a zone about one-half inch in width to each of the two edges, the web or blanks being fed along a conveyor past the stationary laser sources.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for forming a liquid-tight container having a rectangular cross-section formed from a one-piece, T-shaped blank of paperboard material. The carton preferably includes an access flap and straw element on one side thereof which, when manually lifted, exposes an end of the straw element from which the contents of the carton may be consumed by a user. The apparatus is compact in nature, possessing relatively few transport mechanisms which advance the T-shaped carton blank through a plurality of work stations. A novel method and apparatus for serially applying the straw element and access panel to the carton blank is disclosed, wherein the straw element and a length of polyethylene coated Mylar tape is automatically bonded to the carton blank upon a rotating heat sealing and alignment drum.

Abstract: A container having a generally rectangular rim surrounding its opening is closed by a foil membrane that extends over the rim and is sealed to the rim by inductively heating it. The membrane does not correspond in configuration to the rim, but instead its side and end margins curve away from the sides and ends, respectively, of the container rim, so that the peripheral margin of the membrane is located closer to the container rim at the corners of the rim than at the sides or ends of the rim. The foil of the membrane is coated with a resin bonding material, and when the membrane is placed in a rapidly oscillating magnetic field, its foil is inductively heated throughout the entire area that overlies the rim, thereby rendering the bonding material plastic and establishing a uniform bond between the rim and membrane.