Abstract: An integrated paperboard container and pallet system. A wall portion is provided as having upstanding walls which are spaced-apart to form a generally polygonal-shaped interior cavity. At least one of the walls is formed as having at least one side tab extending downwardly therefrom. A deck portion is provided as a generally planar member having an upper side forming a floor surface and a lower side forming a support surface. The planar member has edges forming a generally polygonal periphery and first openings therethrough for each side tab. A first and a second runner further are provided as each having a top wall. Each top wall is attached to the lower support surface of the deck portion for supporting the deck portion therebetween, and is formed as having a slot therethrough for and in registry with each corresponding first opening of the deck portion.

Abstract: A non-releasable mechanical join useful for permanent joins of plastics material cartons is formed by a row of a plurality of engagement tabs interlocked in a complementary row of slots. The engagement tabs have heads able to passthrough the slots in one direction but unable to return in the other direction. The tab heads may be formed as arrowheads, the barbs of which act against edges of the slots to disallow withdrawal. Suitably, the leading edges of the slots ar convexly arcuate towards the approaching arrowheads. This may help to provide secure engagement. The greater the number oftabs and slots, the greater may be be the permanence of the join.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for erecting collapsed, tubular cartons (12) is disclosed including a device (32) for removing the top carton (12) of a vertical stack of cartons (12) in a hopper (26) and moving it in a horizontal orientation to an operative position. In the operative position, the second side panel (16) of the collapsed carton (12) underlies at least the first end panel (18) which is in a linear arrangement with the first side panel (14). Suction cups (76) carried by a frame (74) are secured to the second side panel (16) in an attachment position and moved by a parallelogram linkage to an open position located vertically below and coinciding with the first side panel (14). In a first preferred form, the folded closure flaps (22-25) are held by a tape piece (116) applied by a taping machine (114) carried by the last tucking arm (106).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for closing the bottom end flaps of a reusable rectangular carton whereby the carton is disposed in an expanded position with the bottom end flaps biased outward with respect to the carton sidewalls. A sequence controller is programmed to release the bias and fold each bottom end flap in a predetermined sequence. A closure is effected by disposing at least two end flaps in locking relationship to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of erecting a carton blank, a tool (15) for carrying out the method and a carton blank (1) used in the method.

Abstract: A container which can be constructed in one-piece or in two pieces. The container is preferably of corrugated paper-like material and is preferably of the "E-flute" type of corrugated material. The container includes a body member or body portion and a cover member or cover portion. The container includes a latch which automatically operates to latch the container in closed condition when the container is closed. The container has panels and walls which are relatively angular so that the opposing walls are in effective covering relationship when the container is closed. Also, the angular relationship between the panels and the walls permits a plurality of the containers to be nested and stacked in a stack having a minimum height.

Abstract: This relates to a lock arrangement particularly adapted for use in locking together closure panels of paper board cartons and the like. The lock arrangement utilizes a conventional basic type of lock including a primary locking tab and a secondary locking tab. The primary locking tab engages in a cutout having as part of its boundary a straight line primary locking shoulder. The new feature of the lock arrangement is an arrangement for receiving the secondary locking tab. This arrangement is in the form of a cut line which will define an opening through the associated closure panel and also define a secondary locking ear for engagement beyond a prong on the secondary locking tab. The closure panel in which the cutout and the cut line are formed is provided adjacent the cut line either with an opening or a hinged locking flap with there being between the cutout and either the opening or the locking flap a narrow strap.

Abstract: The invention describes a machine which folds blanks of cut and creased material to define folded tabs which have tongues. The tongues have flaps which are folded over onto the tongues and the thus held tabs are transported by a revolving drum and the tongues and flaps are inserted in an aperture or apertures of a holding device holding groups of containers together. The machine operates continuously and the drum is provided with pairs of plates the opening and closing of which are controlled by cams to enable the insertion of the folded blanks within the pairs of plates by an insertion knife which reciprocates radially of the drum.

Abstract: A novel structure for a paint brush package is disclosed. The structure consists of a single sheet of pliant material scored with multiple foldlines for assembly. When folded and erected, a wedge-shaped container having an inner liner forming a false bottom is produced. A plurality of scored fold sites permit the depth of the false bottom to be varied as desired. Changing the depth of the false bottom effectively changes the size of the container. This may be done by the manufacturer or by the consumer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming flat cut carton blanks into erected cartons with debowed carton side panels is disclosed. The apparatus includes a forming head receiving and directing a carton blank through forming guides. Pinching wheels rotatably secured adjacent the forming guides include a pinching notch with a leading edge projecting inwardly into the forming head path. The pinching notch engages the descending carton bottom and side panels to capture and pinch the fold lines and overbreak the side panels at the fold lines between the carton side and bottom panels. An inclined surface with a sharp creasing edge abutting the inside of the fold line assists the pinching notch in creasing the fold lines. An extension edge formed adjacent a trailing edge of the pinching notch completes the overbreaking action. A release edge formed adjacent the leading edge gently releases the carton side panels from the overbreaking position upon counter rotation of the wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming flat cut carton blanks into erected cartons with debowed carton side panels is disclosed. The apparatus includes a forming head receiving and directing a carton blank through forming guides, side walls engaging and supporting the carton side panels that bend into upright position relative to the carton bottom panel during descending movement through the forming guides. Presser fingers pivotally secured to the forming guides project inwardly into the forming head path. The presser fingers bend the side panels into cutout openings provided in the side walls to overbreak the side panels at fold lines between the carton side and bottom panels. An inclined surface with a sharp creasing edge abutting the fold lines enables the presser fingers to initially crease the fold lines and thereafter bend the carton side panels inwardly onto the inclined surface for controlled overbreaking movement.

Abstract: A novel ice cream product container with complementary closure member is disclosed. The container body member is usually of paperboard and formed from an integral blank comprising edge-reinforcing flaps articulated to wall members, which reinforcing flaps are then folded down upon and secured to their respective wall members to provide a reinforced portion of double thickness in the container formed from the blank. This folded-over, reinforced portion is also present in the flat-folded tube produced from the blank, the squared-up tube, the erected container, and finally in the closed and filled package. This folded-over, reinforced portion of double thickness contains defined areas of low resistance adapted to receive lugs formed in a wall of the complementary closure member. The closure member also provides a complementary channel between essentially upstanding and downstanding walls for receiving the reinforced portion of the container walls in frictional engagement therewith.

Abstract: A machine for erecting flat box blanks and for closing one end of the erected box comprises a feed guide dimensioned to receive a stack of flat-folded blanks, and a forming slot at an end of the feed guide, the forming slot being dimensioned to receive an erected box but consequently too small to accept a flat-folded blank. A suction head carried by a drive jack is effective to pull a box blank from the feed guide into the forming slot, with simultaneous erection of the blank to form the rectangular box, and immediately after that two folding blades converge on the box to fold-in side flaps ready for folding down an end flap of the box. The folding of the end flap is accomplished by a closing fork operating in a direction perpendicular to the plane of action of the closing blades and effective to fold over both an end panel, and a terminal tab which tucks into the box to ensure closing.

Abstract: Trays are erected from cardboard blanks by insertion of bent edge parts into slits in tongues, the extent of insertion dictating the carrying capacity of the resulting tray. The edge parts are bent with a double fold using mechanical fingers to give a wedge-shaped insertion structure for engagement with the slits in the tongues. To stiffen the blank and simplify insertion, side walls of the blank are first bent up by a bending tool and then subsequently insertion fingers are pivoted against the edge parts to form the double fold, and insert it into the slits of the tongues.