Abstract: A folding assembly for producing a gable portion of a sealed package of pourable product, wherein the gable portion has first and second walls sloping with respect to each other and joined at a seal, and a flap connecting lateral edges of the first and second walls. The folding assembly is supplied with packs, each having an axis and, at one end and on opposite sides of the axis, two end portions which are folded to form the gable portion, with the end portions having, respectively, a first and a second portion to be folded, which are joined by a lateral face of the pack. The folding assembly includes a folding mechanism which interacts, on opposite sides of the axis, with the first and second portion of the pack to fold the second portion onto the lateral face, and the first portion onto the second portion to form the flap.

Abstract: A food-safe container (2) for liquids is composed of a tubular body (3) referable to a longitudinal axis (2a), and a neck (7) presenting a quadrangular base (16) fastened coaxially to an open top end (5) of the tubular body (3) afforded by a frustopyramidal connecting portion (6) of which the four tapered corner edges are pinched initially and left with four relative fins (22); the container (2) is formed by a machine (1) equipped with a folding and sealing or welding unit (24) including twin pairs of arms (26) by which the single fins (22) are folded flat against corresponding side walls (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) of the connecting portion (6), and a pair of heat-sealers or ultrasonic welders (29) operating in conjunction with the arms (26), by which the fins (22) flattened against the respective side walls (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) are secured in place.

Abstract: Containers (2) for food products are manufactured employing a system that includes a feed station (4) supplying a succession of tubular elements (2a), and a heat sealer (10) positioned to close and secure a first open end (2b) of each tubular element (2a) that coincides with the base of the container. The sealing operation occurs at a station associated with a conveyor (3) consisting in a wheel (11) rotatable in a feed direction (B) along a path (P) passing both through the feed station (4) and through the station occupied by the heat sealer (10). The tubular elements (2a) are carried by radial elements (13) of the wheel (11) such as can be indexed between a first operating position, where the tubular elements (2a) are taken up from the feed station (4), and a second operating position in which the open end (2b) is offered to the heat sealer (10).

Abstract: An automatic packaging machine for forming a latching flip-top box from a blank. A plurality of mandrels are coupled to a conveyor system. Each of the mandrels includes a mounting block for coupling the mandrel to the automatic packaging machine, a package-holding assembly operatively connected to the mounting block and being rotatable about a first axis from a first position to a second position, and a flap holder assembly operatively connected to the mounting block. The flap holder assembly is rotatable about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. A plurality of plows and tucker assemblies sequentially manipulate portions of the blank in order to form portions of the box.

Abstract: Pressure pads useful in the closing and sealing of multiple components which define the bottom of a carton, particularly a gable-type carton, bottom having a square or rectangular footprint. The invention is especially useful in the closing of the bottom of cartons wherein the sealing fin of the carton bottom is non-handed.

Abstract: In the production of (cigarette) packs of the hinge-lid-box type with round edges, preliminary deformation of blanks (10) is desirable for producing hinge-lid boxes of satisfactory quality. The preliminary deformation of the round edges takes place in the region of a rounding turret (18) during transportation of the blanks (10). The latter are deformed back into an essentially planar starting position upon leaving the rounding turret (18) and thereafter.

Abstract: A bottom folding assembly for a packaging machine is configured to infold the bottom side panels, leading panel and trailing panel of a carton for forming a sealed carton bottom in such a manner as to reduce the contact of rotating elements with the carton material to reduce the generation of dust. The bottom folding assembly is positioned about a rotating turret that defines a turret plane. The mandrels are configured to receive a carton in the tubular form and to carry the carton with the carton positioned such that a bottom of the carton is positioned at a free end of the mandrel. The bottom folding apparatus, located between a carton bottom heater and a carton bottom sealer includes a rotating drive shaft mounted transverse to the turret plane and a pair of opposing rotating members are operably mounted to the drive shaft and are disposed on either side of the turret rotational path. The rotating member rotate in a plane transverse to the turret plane.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming the bottom end wall of a carton from a rectangular carton blank having oppositely disposed scored end panels and oppositely disposed unscored end panels includes a rotating mandrel assembly adapted to receive an open-ended carton blank through an open top end of the carton blank, a heating station, a folding station and a sealing station. The folding station has a pair of oppositely disposed reciprocating break fingers to contact and fold inwardly the scored bottom end panels and biasing means for folding inwardly down the unscored bottom end panels. The folding station is rotatable 90° between two functional orientations, a first orientation wherein the break fingers are aligned in the direction of mandrel movement, and a second orientation in which the break fingers are perpendicular to the direction of mandrel movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming the bottom end wall of a carton from a rectangular carton blank having oppositely disposed scored end panels and oppositely disposed unscored end panels includes a rotating mandrel assembly adapted to receive an open-ended carton blank through an open top end of the carton blank, a heating station, a folding station and a sealing station. The folding station has a pair of oppositely disposed reciprocating break fingers to contact and fold inwardly the scored bottom end panels and biasing means for folding inwardly down the unscored bottom end panels. The folding station is rotatable 90° between two functional orientations, a first orientation wherein the break fingers are aligned in the direction of mandrel movement, and a second orientation in which the break fingers are perpendicular to the direction of mandrel movement.

Abstract: In a packaging machine that includes an elongated mandrel for the formation of a blank into a carton, wherein the mandrel includes a secured end and a distal end, a method and apparatus are provided for correctly positioning the blank relative to the distal end of the mandrel. The carton stop comprises a selectively rotatable tool that includes an engagement segment and is operable from a remote location, an elongated threaded rod that includes a secured end rotatably secured to the packaging machine and a distal end, and an abutment member threadably mounted upon the rod for longitudinal movement along the threaded rod in response to rotation of said threaded rod. The threaded rod defines an engagement segment adapted to engage the engagement segment of the rotating tool.

Abstract: In an off-line, free standing, parts-orienting and feeding device, selected parts are fed by a hopper to and oriented in a centrifugal or vibratory parts feeder unit, and then discharged to a programmed transferring arrangement. The latter includes a slide shuttle unit for alternately receiving discharged parts in a plurality or passages and aligning the part receiving passages with one or more pressurized air passages to blow the parts through selected transfer tubes to pick and placement devices which serve to place the parts continually one at a time on packaging materials being processed on one or more packaging machines. Limit devices on each transfer tube signal the slide shuttle unit to realign the parts receiving passages with the pressurized air passages to provide parts as required by each machine.

Abstract: A top sealer for a form, fill and seal packaging machine includes first and second anvils disposed on opposing sides of a processing path of the machine. The anvils are configured to move transverse to the processing path for engaging the top fins of each of the cartons and compressing the fins for forming the carton top seal portion. A first wedge section is mounted to the first anvil and a second wedge section is mounted to the second anvil. The first wedge section includes a raised portion extending from a face of the wedge. The first wedge is mounted to the anvil to contact the raised portion with a first vertical panel/extended gable panel juncture contemporaneous with the anvils engaging the top fins. Contact of the raised portion with the first vertical panel/extended gable panel juncture forms a crease at that juncture. A method for forming a top seal at the fin panels and a crease at the juncture is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming the bottom of a carton on a form, fill and seal packaging machine such as the TETRA REX® packaging machine includes a sealing station for a bottom forming station that includes a pair of rotating spindles. Each spindle has a pre-folding member and a final folding member for infolding the bottom panels of the carton. The sealing station also includes a guide plate for guiding the final folded bottom panels of the carton to a sealing plate for permanent sealing. The bottom formed carton provides a tight seal, particularly for an over-folded carton, for use in packaging a product.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a movable body having mandrels and intermittently drivable so as to stop each of the mandrels at a process station while carrying containers as fitted around the respective mandrels with a bottom forming portion of each container projecting outward from the mandrel, and a bottom breaker for forming folds in a bottom forming end portion of the container fitted around the mandrel as halted at the process station so as to render the end portion foldable flat. The bottom breaker has first folding means for initially folding the second and fourth bottom panels in two into triangles, and second folding means for subsequently folding first and third bottom panels. The second folding means has an upstream arm movable into pressing contact with the first bottom panel, and a downstream arm movable into pressing contact with the third bottom panel. The downstream arm is provided with a pressure plate at a portion thereof to be contacted with the third bottom panel.

Abstract: A packaging machine has a folding rail 36 for guiding a prefolded bottom forming portion 14 of a container 11 fitted around a mandrel 31 from a first process station to a second process station during the movement of the mandrel 31 from the first to the second station while folding the bottom forming portion flat by contact therewith. The folding rail 36 comprises right and left two rail members 71, 72, with a clearance C formed therebetween for permitting an outer end of the prefolded bottom forming portion 14 of the container 11 fitted around the mandrel 31 to be inserted thereinto during the movement from the first to the second station. An unfolding preventing guide member 73 is disposed in the rail clearance C so as to come into contact with a required part of the bottom forming portion 14 during movement through the clearance.

Abstract: A pressure pad suitable for use in the heat sealing of a substantial universe of bottom-panel folding designs for closing the bottom of a carton or container. This new pressure pad includes a pattern of sculpting of that surface thereof which is presented to the infolded panels of the bottom of a laminated paperboard carton thereby providing a pressure pad that is substantially universal with respect to its ability to repeatedly effect the desired heat sealing of a plurality of geometrically differing combinations of bottom panels defining the bottom of a paperboard carton.

Abstract: A package manufacturing apparatus which can fold a portion-to-be-processed accurately along a folding line without misalignment between the folding line and an actual fold. The package manufacturing apparatus comprises a pair of turnable arms (61), folding-line applicators (68, 80), and two pairs of bending arms (62) and compression coil springs (74). The pair of turnable arms (61) are disposed opposite to each other such that they are swingable. The folding-line applicators (68, 80) nip a portion-to-be-processed of a package in process of forming, form a predetermined folding line in the portion-to-be-processed, and temporarily fold the portion-to-be-processed along the folding line, while each of the turnable arms (61) turns. Each pair of the bending arms (62) and the compression coil springs (74) is disposed between one of the folding-line applicators (68, 80) and the corresponding turnable arm (61) and elastically brings the folding-line applicator (68, 80) into contact with the portion-to-be-processed.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a rotor 22 having radial mandrels 21 each adapted to carry a tubular blank 11 of square to rectangular cross section as fitted therearound and arranged to successively stop at a plurality of processing stations I to VIII, a group of devices 23 to 28 arranged respectively at the required stations among the processing stations I to VIII for folding and closing a container bottom forming end portion 14 of the blank 11 as fitted around the mandrel 21, and an air suction nozzle 31 for collecting extraneous matter is disposed at a required location along a path of movement of the mandrel.

Abstract: A heating device for heat-sealing bottom portions of containers has a hot air nozzle 62. The nozzle 62 is positionable as opposed to a bottom forming end portion 14 of a tubular blank 11 of square cross section as fitted around an intermittently drivable mandrel 52 for heating a region of the blank end portion. The nozzle 62 is movable toward or away from the end portion 14 on the axis of the blank 11. The nozzle 62 has orifices 101, 102, 131, 132, 133 directed toward a plurality of parts within the region when the nozzle is positioned close to the end portion. Among the orifices 101, 102, 131, 132, 133 of the nozzle 62, those 101, 131 directed toward the part of the region remote from an extremity of the blank when the nozzle is so positioned have a greater open area ratio than those 102, 133 directed toward the part of the region proximate to the blank extremity when the nozzle is so positioned.

Abstract: The present invention forms and seals the top end of a container prior to filling and bottom sealing. The top end may have a fitment attached thereon at a variety of different positions on a form, fill and seal packaging machine. The fitment may be a screw cap, a push-in, a flip-cap type or similar fitments. The container may be a flat top, tetrahedral or similar type container. The fitment may be applied on the exterior or the interior of the container.

Abstract: A container fixant applicator configured to complement target fixing zones of a container. Caulk is introduced into a container, over portions of the container intended to be fixed. The caulk is activated, flowing between the target surfaces. The caulk cures, fixing the container. The wafer substantially retains its configuration during the fixing of the container. The wafer is configured so that it may not pass through the pour spout of a gable top-type container. Methods for producing and applying the container fixant applicator are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention forms and seals the top end of a container prior to filling and bottom sealing. The top end may have a fitment attached thereon at a variety of different positions on a form, fill and seal packaging machine. The fitment may be a screw cap, a push-in, a flip-cap type or similar fitments. The container may be a flat top, tetrahedral or similar type container. The fitment may be applied on the exterior or the interior of the container.

Abstract: The present invention forms and seals the top end of a container prior to filling and bottom sealing. The top end may have a fitment attached thereon at a variety of different positions on a form, fill and seal packaging machine. The fitment may be a screw cap, a push-in, a flip-cap type or similar fitments. The container may be a flat top ., tetrahedral or similar type container. The fitment may be applied on the exterior or the interior of the container.

Abstract: A carton score line breaker assembly for breaking four end closure panels. The assembly includes two oppositely disposed pairs of breaker elements for, in turn, breaking the two oppositely disposed panels inwardly. Both pairs of elements are continuously rotating.

Abstract: A carton score line breaker assembly for breaking four end closure panels. The assembly includes two oppositely disposed pairs of breaker elements for, in turn, breaking the two oppositely disposed panels inwardly. Both pairs of elements are continuously rotating.

Abstract: A description is given of an apparatus for folding in the front face of a pack (1, 1') made of cardboard coated with plastics material, the front face of which pack is quadrangular in the plan view in the folded in condition and has a transverse sealing seam (5) which can be folded over, having a fold member (b) and a companion fold member (a), which are both driven movably along specific paths of movement by at least one lever mechanism (8-13), and amongst which a conveyer is arranged at a spacing away in the Y-extent, which conveyer moves the packs (1, 1') in the X-extent, wherein the Y-axis is vertical to the X-axis and the zero point of the axes (X, Y) is disposed in the end fold position of the two fold members (a, b) so that the bottom of a pack can be folded in one single step without any subdivision into pre-folding and re-folding steps, and so that no component parts of the machine engage in the pack, preferably not even over the open pack, it is provided that a Y-Z-plane extending in the Z-extent is

Abstract: A carton blank includes a laminated blank body having a top and a bottom. A plurality of bottom creases are formed in the bottom of the blank body. The bottom creases define bottom flaps that are adapted to be folded and sealed to form a substantially rectangular bottom surface of a finished gable top carton. The bottom flaps are sealed together along a bottom seal that substantially bisects the bottom surface of the finished carton. A plurality of top creases are formed in the top of the blank body. The top creases define top flaps that are adapted to be folded and sealed into a gable top of the finished gable top carton, with the gable top having an upstanding longitudinal top fin. The top creases are arranged on the blank body to enable the carton blank to be folded and sealed such that the top fin of the finished gable top carton may be either parallel with, or transverse to, the bottom seal of the finished gable top carton.

Abstract: In a packaging system, carton sleeves are sealingly closed at their bottoms while received upon respective mandrels, the open-topped cartons are removed from the mandrels and filled, and the filled cartons are sealingly closed at their tops. Between the bottoms being sealingly closed and the cartons being filled, selected cartons are turned through a right-angle about their own axes to bring their top closure sealing sub-panels into a correct orientation for top-sealing. For enabling such turning the mandrels are turnable about their own axes by a cam displaceable between operative and inoperative positions.

Abstract: A rotary packaging machine advances carton sleeves stepwise through a series of stations at which various operations are performed in relation to the sleeves. At certain earlier ones of the stations operations are performed upon the bottoms of the sleeves at a desired common level. At certain later ones of the stations operations are performed upon the tops of the sleeves at a higher desired common level. At one station intermediate the earlier ones and later ones, the sleeves are lowered by an amount dependent upon their heights, so as to bring their tops to that higher desired common level.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the successive production of a number of paper packages fitted with respective spouts on a part of the top end portion thereof and charged with a liquid drink. The spout includes a spout proper having a general cylindrical outer configuration and formed generally therethrough with a liquid spouting passage provisionally closed or valved, and an attaching flange permanently fixed to the root end of the spout proper. For better sanitary purposes, the spout is introduced into the open end of a semipackage from inside thereof. The spout introduction and attaching job is carried out directly before charging with liquid. Only thereafter, liquid charging-in and top-closing jobs are carried out in a sterilized atmosphere. Within the sanitary execution of these jobs, the spout introducing and sealing attachment are included for increasing the sanitary safety.

Abstract: This relates to a carton or cup having a conventional type of gable end which includes sealing flaps which are heat sealed or bonded to one another. The cup is particularly adapted to be closed by hand wherein control over the sealing flap positions is not possible as in the case of machine closed cups. Accordingly, the intermediate folded sealing flaps are so configurated wherein the folded ends thereof will be spaced so as to define therebetween a leak path. One of the front and rear sealing flaps will be provided with a bead of hot melt material which will be aligned with the leak path and when the sealing flaps are heat bonded together, the hot melt material will melt and fill the leak path.

Abstract: Disclosed is a carton stop assembly for use in a machine which performs operations on a carton blank, and which includes a rotatable hub carrying a plurality of spaced radial mandrels, and insertion mechanism for telescopically inserting a carton blank over one of the mandrels. The carton stop assembly includes a track parallel to the one mandrel, having plurality of detents spaced therealong. An axially-reciprocable shaft has a first end overlying the one mandrel, and a second end overlying the track. The shaft carries track-engaging members at its second end, which enclose the detents on the track thereby stopping the shaft at a plurality of detent positions. A carton-engaging bracket is carried on the first end of the shaft and is arranged to overlie the one mandrel. As the shaft is reciprocated to a number of detent positions, the carton-engaging bracket is also placed at a number of positions along the mandrel.

Abstract: A transfer system for use in machinery having stations for forming, filling and sealing cartons. The transfer system includes a turret having a hub and a number of spaced radial mandrels received by carton blanks, for use in forming the carton. A main conveyor conveys formed cartons to filling and sealing stations of the machinery. The transfer system includes a transfer conveyor, disposed between the turret and the main conveyor, which receives formed cartons one at a time, from the turret and holds at least one of the formed cartons in alignment with the main conveyor. The transfer system also includes mechanisms for stripping cartons, one at a time, from the mandrels and for transferring a plurality of cartons simultaneously to the main conveyor. A method of transferring cartons from an indexing turret to an indexing main conveyor using an indexing transfer conveyor, is also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure illustrates and describes a sterilization apparatus and method for sterilizing the interiors of paperboard containers, wherein such apparatus and method are effective through the mandrel assembly on which the container bottom closures are formed and sealed. This is accomplished by forming longitudinal channels through each mandrel and connecting same to separate compartments formed within the hub, and providing means for communicating a suitable sterilant fog through respective compartments and channels at the station where each bottom-formed container is stripped from its respective mandrel. The usual fast stripping action tends to create a vacuum within the container which aids the dispersement of the fog onto the entire inside surface of the container, sterilizing it prior to the subsequent filling operation.

Abstract: A machine for erecting flat, collapsed tubular cartons and for filling and sealing the erected cartons provides higher production rates without significantly increasing the cycle rate or the floor space required by the machine. A rotatable mandrel assembly rotates about a horizontal axis and has pairs of radially extending mandrels at equally spaced circumferential positions. The mandrel assembly is driven in a stepwise sequential manner to bring each pair of mandrels sequentially into alignment with a series of work stations. At a loading station, a two-stage loading assembly erects a pair of carton blanks and loads carton blanks onto the pair of mandrels. One carton blank is inserted directly onto a mandrel, while the other carton blank is advanced to an intermediate holding position for loading during the next operating cycle. At subsequent work stations the bottom ends of the carton blanks are formed and sealed.

Abstract: A carton bottom end tucker-tacker assembly for folding over, closing and tacking the bottom ends of a pair of cartons mounted on a pair of mandrels at a tucker-tacker station on a carton packaging machine. The tucker-tacker apparatus includes a tucker apparatus for engaging a pair of opposed triangular bottom end closure members on the bottom ends of each of a pair of stationary cartons and breaking the bottom end closure members and folding them inwardly toward a closed position, after which the tucker apparatus recedes and a pair of swingably mounted tucker and tacker jaws then move under the partially closed bottom end members of each of the pair of cartons and complete the folding and tucking operations, and concluding with a tacking in place of the bottom end closure tuck-over panel on each carton to retain the bottom end closure members in a square condition for subsequent transferral to a carton bottom end pressure sealing station.