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 plough for closing carton flaps, particularly major carton flaps and a process for making the plough. The plough is designed to cause the flaps to close at or near constant velocity so as to minimize disruptions on the manufacturing line. The plough is prepared by generating data describing the coordinates of a flap as it closes at or near constant velocity, using the data to generate additional data describing the contour of a plough necessary to close the flap at or near constant velocity, and causing the plough to be fabricated utilizing the contour data.

Abstract: A box forming apparatus for folding and securing the bottom flaps of a box including a bottom flap folding mechanism and top pressing mechanism located above the bottom flap folding mechanism for controlling box lifting during a box folding operation. The novel features of the claimed invention allow for controlled guiding of a box frame throughout a folding and sealing operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for infolding and sealing the side and end bottom flaps of a carton includes a unique bottom side flap infolding system comprising flap infolding arms mounted to rotary cylinders for automatically infolding and supporting the bottom side flaps. The rotary cylinders are actuated by a sensor which senses the presence or absence of a carton in the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a unique assembly comprising downwardly inwardly inclined rollers mounted to the conveyor side arm assemblies to urge the carton downward toward the lower sealing head to assure a complete and continuous bottom seal. The apparatus may also include transversely adjustable guardrails, a hold down flange to maintain the carton against the packing plate and a carton urging assembly for urging the carton through the apparatus.

Abstract: A carton having upper and lower end flaps and which is movable along a path of movement is manipulated by a machine having upper and lower rotatable flap folders mountable in either a fixed primary or a movable secondary location. The secondary location being movable in an upstream fashion relative to the direction of carton flow. A driving element and a driving mechanism that moves the secondary folder and rotates it to retain a timed relation with the path of movement of the cartons.

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: 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 method and device for bending the end tabs of blanks for producing rigid flip-top cigarette packets. The blanks are loaded on a conveyor and are fed continuously along a path with the end tabs slidably engaged in a helical slit, which is in part defined by facing helical surfaces of first and second helical guide elements. The blanks wind over an arc of 180.degree. for bending the end tabs in a U and enabling the bent end tabs to be fed between two pressure rollers of a stabilizing unit.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a machine for forming cardboard boxes. The principal feature is that the housing is square and consists of a supply tray, box-forming suction cup rocker arm assembly, four-joint tie bar folding assembly, rocker arm tie bar folding assembly, adjustable press plate assembly, side cover-forming plate, press setting assembly, adhesive sprayer and push plate. Cardboard boxes are formed in an automated manner and the bottom thereof is sealed automatically by means of synchronizing the movements of the components pertaining to the machine. Accordingly, the employment of the equipment pertaining to the present invention can bring about a reduction in operation costs and the floor space required.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing containers made of paper-base laminate, the apparatus comprising: an intermittently drivable rotor 42 having radial mandrels 43 each adapted to support a tubular container blank of square to rectangular cross section as fitted therearound, the mandrels 43 being so arranged as to successively stop at each of processing stations I to VI including a pressure bonding station V, and a bottom bonding unit 48 disposed at the pressure bonding station V, each of the mandrels 43 having in a forward end face 54 thereof a groove 55 for forming the recess 36, the bottom bonding unit 48 comprising a bonding member 52 having a pressing face 56, the pressing face 56 being opposed to the forward end face 54 of the mandrel 43 as stopped at the pressure bonding station V, the pressing face 56 being provided with a ridge 57 corresponding to the groove 55.

Abstract: They consist of an adjustable mechanism to feed the cardboard sheets with which boxes are formed and of a lifting device of the laps that said cardboard sheets have.The purpose of the adjustable mechanism for the feeding of the sheets is to adjust the position of the vacuum suction pads for the feeding of the cardboard sheets, whatever the dimensions thereof are, without the need to stop the assembly machine. For this reason, the groups of suction pads have their supports resting on two split contrary thread spindles, in such a way that with a single manual control and connecting both spindles by chain transmission displacement thereof is obtained all along the guide bars, thus establishing the work position of said suction pads.The purpose of the lap lifting device is to automatically effect the lifting of the laps to the predetermined angular position.

Abstract: A collapsible container for disposal provided. The container contains a body member, top member and bottom member. The body member has an upper and lower portion. The top member is connected to the upper portion, while the bottom member is connected to the lower portion. The design of the body member permits the top and bottom member to be opened. For disposal purposes, once the top and bottom members are opened, the body member is folded upon itself and then over itself. The bottom member is then folded over the body member and the top member is folded over the bottom member.

Abstract: A folding and tucker-tacker station operates upon a flat bottom end closure of a packaging sleeve, which closure comprises first and second panels opposite each other, third and fourth panels opposite each other and between the first and second panels, and a minor panel protruding from the outermost edge of the third panel. The station comprises a mounting supporting first, second and third jaws oscillatable transversely of the sleeve axis for folding inwards the first, second and third panels, and a fourth jaw displaceable along, but not transversely of, the axis for folding inwards the fourth panel. The third jaw has a recess for receiving the minor panel.

Abstract: A carton blank support member is mounted above a traveling carton blank in a folder gluer machine. The support member is cyclicly driven between an inoperative position above the carton blank to an operative position engaging the top surface of the blank adjacent a score line formed in the blank. The score line defines a flap which is folded upwardly when the support member is in engagement with the top surface of the carton blank to form a side wall of the carton. The support member prevents the flap from buckling during the folding operation, especially when recycled paperboard is used as the carton blank.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for the production of packages each comprising a unit of product having opposite ends and a wrapper wrapped around the unit, the wrapper being wider than the length of the unit from end-to-end and initially extending outwardly beyond the ends of the unit, each end of the wrapper being folded over on said end of the product to form four closure flaps overlying said end, a first flap constituting a first side flap, a second flap constituting a first end flap, a third flap constituting a second end flap, and a fourth flap constituting a second side flap, the method of folding over the second end flap, wherein packages are fed forward one after another with the ends of the wrapper extending laterally outwardly at opposite sides of their path of travel, and the second end flaps are folded over at both ends of the package by flexible folding members which are brought into engagement with the trailing side of the trailing portion of each extending end of the wrapper and moved forward at hig

Abstract: Disclosed is a twin-package carton having a pair of separable carton components separably joined side-by-side. Connecting tabs of one carton component are secured to the other carton component with an adhesive and are severable along lines of perforation.

Abstract: A carton tray formed from a flat carton blank including a bottom wall panel, four side wall panels integral with the bottom wall panel along four side fold lines and a gusset wall panel integral with each pair of adjacent side wall panels along two end fold lines extending from a corner point in angularly related relation with respect to one another. In erected condition, each gusset wall panel is brought into surface-to-surface abutting relation with an end portion of one of the associated pair of adjacent side wall panels defined by one of the associated two end fold lines.

Abstract: A folding and tucker-tacker station operates upon a flat bottom end closure of a packaging sleeve, which closure comprises first and second panels opposite each other, third and fourth panels opposite each other and between the first and second panels, and a minor panel protruding from the outermost edge of the third panel. The station comprises a mounting supporting first, second and third jaws oscillatable transversely of the sleeve axis for folding inwards the first, second and third panels, and a fourth jaw displaceable along, but not transversely of, the axis for folding inwards the fourth panel. The third jaw has a recess for receiving the minor panel. The fourth jaw is disposed after the third jaw along the path of a mandrel transporting the sleeve.

Abstract: A carton folding apparatus which is characterized by multiple folder/gluer modules, including a feed module for receiving and delivering unfolded cartons, prefold/fold, fold and final fold modules for effecting specified folding and gluing operations, a delivery module for completing the folding operations and further including a stacker unit for receiving and stacking the folded and glued cartons. Each of the folder/gluer modules is capable of being removed from the apparatus line and is characterized by separate, independently driven upper and lower belt feed mechanisms for driving the cartons through that module.

Abstract: A machine for erecting packing cases of a kind comprising two major and two minor sides and four base flaps foldable to form a base comprises supports for holding a folded flat case by its sides and for opening its sides to a rectangular form with the case at a first station, three sequentially operated flap folding elements arranged to fold three of the flaps into the base plane; and a traversable carriage having a guide arranged to engage the other flap as the carriage moves towards the case and to deflect that flap into the base plane in the required sequence.

Abstract: A carton erector apparatus for setting up foldable carton blanks. The apparatus includes a carton blank storage section, a carton blank setup section and a bottom flap folding section. A carriage assembly delivers a setup carton from the setup section into the bottom flap folding section. Means is provided to selectively control the distance that the carriage assembly travels into the bottom flap folding section during each cycle.

Abstract: A container especially of the palletized type, made of a single rectangular sheet of fiber board or the like in which the sheet is cut inwardly at its four edges to provide four panels that make up the ends and sides of a box-like structure leaving the uncut portion as a rectangular of smaller but similar shape. In addition to the four panels, the cutting operating provides four corner panels separated from the other panels but integral with the bottom. These corner panels are folded beneath and lie flat-wise against the bottom to give the bottom a double thickness. In addition, portions of the folded-under corner parts project laterally beyond the periphery of the box-like structure to provide a peripheral lip serving as a stop for a tubular cover element that is ultimately slipped over the structure for shipping.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for erecting flat carton blanks into a tubular configuration, folding the minor flaps inwardly normal to the minor sides in three steps at a first work station, moving the erected carton blank to a second work station while partially folding the major flaps toward the folded minor flaps and applying glue to the minor flaps, further moving the carton blank to a third work station where the major flaps are pressure sealed to minor flaps and then discharging the finished carton from the work area. A machine for performing the method includes unique motor driven chain drive assemblies that enable adjustments to accommodate various size carton and a cam regulated valve system to control application of vacuum to suction cups and compressed air to a glue gun and to pneumatic pistons that move control arms and the like.

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: An improved forming block (10) is described for forming double packages including a liner enclosed within a carton. The forming block (10) includes a mandrel (12) having a free, open end (30) partially closed by an end piece (14). The mandrel (12) includes a hollow core (16) having a periphery around which the double package is formed. The mandrel (12) further includes a mounting bracket (18) which mounts the mandrel (12) in a cantilever manner to the forming machine and includes a hollow interconnecting portion (20). Ambient air is in communication to the interior of the core (16) by apertures (56) formed in the interconnecting portion (20). Air communication is also provided from the interior of the core (16) and the interior of the double package through apertures (76) formed in the end piece (14) and through vent holes (40) formed in the core (16) adjacent the open end (30).

Abstract: A carton formed from a carton blank comprising a unitary sheet of material hvaing cut out portions, cut lines, fold lines and perforated lines to form various sections which are folded together to form a carton having a hinged lid which may be moved between closed and opened positions to remove materials from the carton and which lid is retained in the closed position by a frictional fit between portions of the lid and a front panel portion of the carton.

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: An improved bag-in-box (BIB) composite container in which the container's inner bag is blow-molded inside the container's outer box. In one preferred method the body portion, which is a heated and softened preform preferably made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is placed within a carton through an aperture in the carton's top end panel, followed by injecting a pressurized gas into the preform to expand it into a bag within the outer box. In another particularly preferred method, a parison is extruded into an outer carton through an aperture in the carton's top end panel, followed by injecting a pressurized gas into the parison to expand it into a bag within the outer box.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding and filling a plurality of cartons erected from a plurality of collapsed carton tubes includes an end flap alignment device attached to the conveying and folding mechanism of the apparatus. The end flap alignment device folds one of the bottom end flaps of the collapsed carton tube inwardly and in the same motion folds the top end flap which is also provided on the bottom of the carton tube outwardly so that the bottom end flap and the top end flap are aligned in the same plane. The end flap alignment device comprises a generally U-shaped fork comprising a base attached to a plate and two rods each connected at one end thereof to the base. The plate is attached to a reciprocable slide of the apparatus by a pivot rod. One end of the pivot rod is connected to a cam, which rides in a cam track. As the slide is reciprocated, the plate, including fork, is pivoted about the pivot rod.

Abstract: A number of cases are stored horizontally in a stack in a magazine. A bottom upper-inner flap of a flat folded case is folded downward to open the case by a flap-folding member while the case is being lifted from a magazine station to a flap-folding station, and while attracted to and held by a suction cup. The case is opened during this lifting and folding step. Once the bottom upper-inner flap has been folded downward, it comes into the space between the bottom outer flaps. The bottom upper-inner flap, which has been folded downward, pushes the left outer flap during the lifting operation. As the case is lifted higher and higher, both outer side flaps are opened simultaneously. The case is therefore gradually opened, during lifting, thereby forming a hollow cylindrical case. The remianing bottom flaps are closed and then sealed.

Abstract: A box-flap folding device which includes a support for folded side flaps of the box during the folding operation of front and rear flaps. The support is so constructed as to prevent the folded side flaps from getting unfolded and not to interfere with the folding operation of the front and rear flaps, resulting in that all the flaps of the box can be folded smoothly without being bent or broken.

Abstract: Improved liquid containers are provided characterized by at least one raised sealing score formed in the blank such that when assembled, the raised portion of the sealing score substantially abuts the free edge of a side seam and/or bottom panel, respectively, thereby eliminating liquid seepage from said container.

Abstract: In a folder gluer collapsable box making machine, a self-driven endless chain is mounted on sprockets on a small frame and is equipped with push plates and lifters such that when pre-cut box board moves along the conveyor of a box-making machine, the front of the pre-cut box board hits a pusher and moves the chain in a forward direction while the folder lifter arm abuts the rear portion of the box board and folds over the rear ends and/or flaps.

Abstract: A carton leading and trailing end panel folding mechanism for use with a tubular carton blank mounted on a mandrel, with the end closure panels extended beyond the face of the mandrel. The main folding mechanism is a single freely rotatable roller which serves to first fold the leading panel rearwardly as the latter rotates therepast, and then to engage and fold the trailing panel forwardly as it rotates therepast. The roller may be stationary until contacted by the leading panel.

Abstract: A device for closing the upper lateral flaps of long parallelepiped cases includes a pair of helical guides with a reduced longitudinal length and a pair of extension arms controllable so that they may be displaced from an at rest position to an operating position. In the latter position the two arms are arranged as an extension of the helical guides towards the inlet to the device so as to force the lateral flaps of the case to accomplish the closing engagement with the helices.

Abstract: Flap folding plates are provided for use with a carton taping machine, the plates normally being disposed in upright orientation and maintained such by bias applied thereto. Further the plates are arranged so that the top corner structure at the sides of the carton strike the plates to cause the plates to pivot rearwardly in folding movement against the carton side flaps thereby absorbing at the said corner structures the force that might otherwise be transmitted to the front edges of the upright side flaps which could result in tearing or ripping of the side flaps where said flaps are joined to associated side walls.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for opening the sealing flaps of a carton using drive elements for spreading or folding such sealing flaps open as required for packaging cartons having sealed bottoms. The boxes are inverted and lowered from a floating position with the bottom up and the sealing flaps hanging down. The flaps are placed on drive elements which move away from each other and in the flap opening direction. The box is then moved to a packaging area in the inverted position and lowered over the materials to be packaged.

Abstract: In a folder gluer collapsable box making machine, a self-driven endless chain is mounted on sprockets on a small frame and is equipped with push plates and lifters such that when pre-cut box board moves along the conveyor of a box-making machine, the front of the pre-cut box board hits a pusher and moves the chain in a forward direction while the folder lifter arms abuts the rear portion of the box board and folds over the rear ends and/or flaps.

Abstract: A flat top, thermoplastic coated, paperboard container including a separate cover member and a membrane-type seal, with corner gussets for providing (1) a liquid tight corner construction and (2) top strength and rigitidy for convenient commercial distribution and consumer use. The cover member serves only to protects the membrane, and need only be minimally tack-sealed to the structure to withstand transportation stresses.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a box forming machine operable to raise folded box material to a box frame, and to fold the edges that comprise the box bottom into a bottom area and to tape the folded edges. The forming equipment is equipped with a box material supply that stores folded box stock material. The apparatus withdraws a piece of box material from the box material supply station by means of a vacuum chuck. The box stock material is raised to a box frame by means of a raise guide and further to a bottom folding station that folds the inner box edges which extend in a direction transverse to a taping direction. Outer edges are then folded into the bottom areas along the taping direction and a tape head tapes together the inner edges by means of a tape head drive.

Abstract: A carton blank and a method for folding and gluing it into a reclosable carton. Corner post flaps are releasably adhered to front end flaps to permit release of the corner post flaps from the front end flaps when the top of the top opening container is initially raised to provide access to the contents.

Abstract: Notches are formed in the oppositely disposed side closure flaps of a carton to provide clearance for tucking blades to extend into the load storage compartment to tuck the distal panel of each side closure panel in behind its proximal panel.

Abstract: A mandrel used in a packaging machine being in a tubular shape and provided with a cooling chamber at one end so as to cool a plain plate which is positioned at the top of the mandrel and contacts the heated, infolded and compressed bottom of a tubular package carton blank. Four projections are formed on the outer surface of the mandrel so as to contact each corner of the tubular package carton blank to leave it open. A pair of water cooling pipes are provided in the tubular mandrel with a space left between the internal wall of the tubular mandrel and connected to the cooling chamber so that only the bottom of the heat-sealed container made of a tubular package carton blank with thermoplastic coatings thereon is cooled and the side walls of the container are free from moisture condensation.

Abstract: A machine is provided for forming three-dimensional cardboard boxes starting from a blank folded flat. The machine has a supporting frame which includes a magazine containing many flat blanks for taking one blank at a time from the magazine. The machine is capable of opening the blank, closing the lower smaller flaps of the blank, closing the lower larger flaps, and ejecting a formed box. The lower smaller flaps are closed virtually simultaneously with the opening of the blank in such a manner so as to prevent interference by the smaller flaps with the adjacent larger flaps and thus facilitate closing of the smaller flaps. The opening mechanism rotates around pins, each located at a corner of a box to be formed. At least one of the rotation pins is adjustable in position. Retractable suction cup members make up the opening mechanism.

Abstract: A packaging machine for preparing sealed containers filled with contents each from a blank having a thermoplastic synthetic resin layer over each surface thereof. The container is recessed in the central portion of its bottom so as to seat stably. A bottom forming end portion of the blank fitted around a mandrel is folded flat and then pressed against the forward end surface of the mandrel by a press member with its press face to form the bottom of the container. The mandrel end surface defines a cavity for recessing the bottom central portion, and a projection complementary to the cavity is provided on the press face of the press member.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing baglike container blanks by fitting the blank around a pair of forming plates arranged at a distance from each other in parallel, folding a pair of triangular ears flat while projecting the ears sidewise from the portion of the blank to be made into the bottom of a finished rectangular parallelepipidal container, and press-bonding the projected ears to outer surface portions of the trunk of the container at the lateral sides thereof after folding the ears over the outer surface portions. The apparatus includes a device for press-bonding the triangular ears, which comprises a pair of press members and a support member positionable therebetween. Each lateral side trunk portion and each ear folded thereover are clamped between the support member and the press member respectively from inside and outside the blank.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming a three-piece paperboard, bulk shipping container from a flat collapsed tubular body member and a pair of flat end members, which apparatus and method includes means for erecting the body member from the flat collapsed to the tubular erected condition, pushing both end members against opposite ends of the erected body member at the same time, and then folding and securing the flanges of the end members to opposite ends of the body member.

Abstract: A parallelepipedal gable-topped bulk-material container made out of a multilayer plastic laminate and with its head sealed by a ridged seam, leaving two superimposed triangular folding tabs at the ends of the seam, whereby each tab is wrapped out and around a straight buckling edge on each side of the container and the container material has longitudinal and transverse or sloping scores for the edges of the body and floor or gable edges. To maintain the integrity of a ridged seam when manufacturing and sealing thick-walled containers in a filling machine and hence eliminate ridged-seam fracture, the container has at least one auxiliary score for each vertical body score in the vicinity of the gable and out of alignment with the body score.

Abstract: A carton or package for packaging semi-fluid material which can be hardened by freezing, such as ice cream, sherbet, and the like, is formed from specially constructed integral carton blank and a special process for assembling the same. The carton blank has a front panel, a bottom panel, a rear panel, a cover panel, and a front cover sealing flap articuated one to the other in the order named. With end-forming flaps and glue-flap extensions extending laterally therefrom adapted to be glued together to form inner and outer walls and side-cover flaps. The bottom outer wall-forming flap is glued to the inner wall-forming flaps by glue strips along the side edges of the latter, where they are joined to the front and rear panels, and the side-cover flap has a tuck-in tab adapted to be tucked in under the bottom outer wall-forming flap between the glue strips.

Abstract: A carton tray formed from a flat carton blank including a bottom wall panel, four side wall panels integral with the bottom wall panel along four side fold lines and a gusset wall panel integral with each pair of adjacent side wall panels along two end fold lines extending from a corner point in angularly related relation with respect to one another. In erected condition, each gusset wall panel is brought into surface-to-surface abutting relation with an end portion of one of the associated pair of adjacent side wall panels defined by one of the associated two end fold lines.