Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapidly bonding two surfaces which are associated with paper elements and corrugated paper elements. A heater plate is utilized to raise the temperature of one of the surfaces while a water based adhesive is applied to the other of said surfaces, which other surface remains at ambient temperature. The heated and ambient surfaces are subsequently contacted and pressure is applied between the surfaces until the bonding is complete.

Abstract: A packaging machine including a rotor having a plurality of radial mandrels each for carrying a container as fitted therearound and intermittently drivingly rotatable so that the mandrels successively stop at processing stations equal in number to the number of the mandrels, a container bottom breaker provided at one of the processing stations, and a container holding device provided at the same processing station as the container bottom breaker and having at least one container pressing member to be pressed against the mandrel at rest at said same processing station over the container fitted around the mandrel.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a denesting lip in paperboard containers by folding, heating, and sealing or tacking a side extension flap to form a denesting lip for nested stacks of such containers. The denesting apparatus includes a pair of pressure pads which guide the paperboard container onto the apparatus and prevent the container from sliding off the apparatus while the denesting operation is performed. The apparatus also includes a multiplanar mandrel pad for forming a bottom closure that is flat on its exterior surface.

Abstract: A machine for erecting, loading and closing an end loading carton. The machine has a dispenser station in which a knocked-down carton is removed from a storage magazine and deposited in the form of an open sleeve. A top closure station is provided in which the top closure flaps are folded along their hinge lines from their open position to their closed position. A collar flap tucking station is provided in which the collar flaps of the carton are folded inwardly. A loading station is provided in which load items are inserted through a loading opening in the top of the otherwise closed container. A load tamping station is provided in which the load items are tamped to permit the top closure flaps of the carton to assume a locking position with respect to the load item. A discharge station is provided in which loaded cartons are discharged from the carton support assemblies.

Abstract: All sealed flaps of a box or carton are provided with viewing window apertures which are in registration with frangible parts of underlying flaps. The underlying flaps have scored areas in the skin portions thereof to which cold glue is applied for sealing the underlying flaps to the flaps having the window apertures. When any of the flaps having the window apertures are pulled open, the skin portions of the underlying flaps are stripped from the main substrate layers of the underlying flaps within the scored areas. This stripping tears the frangible parts of the underlying flaps, such parts being unscored, leaving roughly torn elements of the frangible parts visible through the viewing window apertures. Attempts to reseal the flaps which have been pulled open are ineffective because the viewable torn elements of the frangible parts cause the tampering to be permanently evident.

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 pair of helical guides has each guide made up of two integral helical portions, one outermost and the other innermost, longitudinally offset from each other. The two portions develop from respective basically parallel oblique inlet ends to respective coplanar horizontal outlet ends and are engageable by the erect side flaps of wider or narrower boxes respectively without the necessity of adjustment of the distance apart thereof.

Abstract: A machine to form an end of a unit of a box from a flat box blank that includes two sides, a bottom, and, at each end, an end flap supporting a cantilevered sealing tab, and two side tabs supported by the two sides. A planar movable table receives the box blank and a planar folding table receives the end flap and the sealing tab. A pair of side guides secures the two sides of the box blank and guide the box blank in its rearward travel. An end flap folding mechanism serves to fold the two side tabs attached to the box sides inward through ninety degrees to a position essentially parallel to the fold line. An adhesive applicator applies an adhesive ribbon in a predetermined pattern to the sealing tab and, sometimes, to the end flap.

Abstract: A slip case package for small articles includes a sleeve member and a drawer being slideably mounted therein. The sleeve member is formed by first providing a blank of relatively lightweight cardboard with graphic designs formed thereon. The blank is formed into a partially assembled sleeve portion and reinforcing member is inserted therein. The reinforced sleeve member has sufficient rigidity to act as a slip case package sleeve, but the graphics may be provided thereon with machine operations and with perfect alignment.

Abstract: A machine for forming open ended cartons from flat die cut blanks of flexible material. The machine includes a magazine adapted to contain a supply of the blanks, and first, second and third forming stations through which the blanks are successively shifted by automatically operable transfer mechanisms. The blanks are progressively folded as they progress through the forming stations. At a final stage in the forming process, adhesive is selectively applied to the undersides of exposed side flaps, and these side flaps are then folded to produce the desired end product. At various stages during the forming process, the partially erected blanks are supported both internally and externally in order to avoid deformation or collapsing of open ends, and to insure precise bending along fold lines.

Abstract: There is disclosed a wrapping machine for use in a packaging system, which comprises a conveyor for transporting a U-shaped case adapted to warp an article and formed in such a way that front and rear flaps of a flat sheet are folded toward the front and rear sides of the article, an inner flap folding mechanism for folding side flaps of the sheet toward both sides of the article while the case is transported, a gluing mechanism for applying glue to the outer surfaces of the inner flaps, and a side flap fold/press mechanism having guide plates actuated selectively by a cam drive mechanism and hydraulic cylinders and adapted to fold and press the side flaps toward the glue bearing surfaces of the inner flaps.

Abstract: A rotatable disc support bears at its front end a first closing member for the front flap of the box and at the rear end a second closing member for the rear flap of the box. The second closing member consists of a vane pivoted on the disc support and contained, in the rest position, in the space occupied by said support.

Abstract: A carton erector apparatus for setting up folding carton blanks and folding their bottom flaps. The apparatus includes a carton blank storage section, a carton blank set-up section and a bottom flap folding section. The carton blank storage section includes a magazine assembly for storing and urging knocked-down carton blanks towards the carton set-up section. The carton set-up section includes a carton opening assembly comprising a pivot arm assembly pivotally secured to the folding arm assembly. The pivot arm assembly is movable between first and second positions respectively parallel and perpendicular to the folding arm assembly. A grasping arrangement is secured to the pivot arm assembly to grasp the side panel of the forward carton in the magazine assembly such that movement of the pivot arm assembly and the folding arm assembly into their second positions is effective to set-up the carton blank into a tubular form.

Abstract: A folding and tucking apparatus for a container end closure forming and sealing machine where a pair of oppositely rotating arms, each having a freely rotatable roller mounted on its distal end, are adapted to engage and move a heat-activated, plastic coated carton end closure panel around a score line from a vertical to a horizontal attitude. The result is that, while the rollers thus move the panel, the relative movement between the rollers and the panel is minimal, thereby preserving clean, unmarred surfaces on end panels of cartons which will be characteristically observed by consumers in the marketplace.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for opening the major and minor flaps of a box container being conveyed on an article loading machine designated generally as (A). The apparatus includes a flap opening foot (54) carried on the end of a rocker shaft (46) which is, in turn, carried on a carriage (48). The end of the rocker shaft is attached to a bell-crank lever having an arm (80) and a pin (82) which travels in a cam slot (52) formed in an elongated guide plate (50). The guide plate (50) is clamped onto the edge of a side flap engaging plate (68). The slot (52) is contoured to impart a rocking motion to the foot (54) through the bell-crank linkage so that the foot dips under a closed flap (16a) of the box and lifts it toward an open position. An elastic cord (110) engages the flap and retains it in the open position. A rear minor flap opening device is illustrated at (102) which includes a claw (104). The arm (102) is pivotable and as the box (16) is conveyed therebeneath, the claw (104) catches a closed end flap (16d).

Abstract: A carton erector apparatus for setting up folding carton blanks and unfolding their bottom flaps. The apparatus includes a carton blank storage section, a carton blank set-up section and a bottom flap folding section. The carton blank storage section includes a magazine assembly for storing and urging knocked-down carton blanks towards the carton set-up section. The carton set-up section includes a carton opening assembly mounted on a substantially horizontal carriage plate movable in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the carton blanks in the magazine assembly. A pivot arm assembly is pivotally secured to the folding arm assembly and is movable between first and second position respectively parallel and perpendicular to the folding arm assembly.

Abstract: For filling and closing cartons, the latter are filled via the open bottom and then conveyed along an angular transport track. Fixed folding means for folding inner tabs (15 to 18) and outer tabs (19 to 22) solely as a result of the relative movement of the carton are located in the region of two conveying stages (42, 62). In the region of the second conveying stage (62), the carton has a relative position which has turned through 180.degree..

Abstract: In a machine for erecting tray cartons about one or more articles such as pairs of twelve pack beverage cartons, an end panel folding and sealing assembly is provided with folding plates that move with the tray carton in the downstream direction as the plates fold and hold the tray end panels against the tray end flaps while the glue sets to adhesively bond the end panels and flaps together.

Abstract: To close folded cardboard boxes having different filling levels, the box content is detected by a sensing ram and, according to the data detected in this way, scoring is then carried out on the box closing tabs so that it can then be closed by folding the closing tabs along the score lines. Scoring blades are connected to the sensing ram via toggle levers in such a way that after the sensing ram has been set down on the box contents, the scoring blades are moved outwards against the inner face of the closing tabs.

Abstract: An automatic case erector and sealer apparatus useful in the erecting of packaging cases, boxes and cartons from flats, utilizing case puncturing and gripping pins, spraying adhesive onto the interior surfaces of the case flaps, while the flaps are in a semi-open position, and sealing the minor and major flaps of the erected flats with compression to thereby secure the major and minor flaps for subsequent filling of the formed case, box or carton with consumer goods.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for repeatedly presenting a single, flat, tubular corrugated case, with its leading closure flaps overfolded in open flap position for easy gripping, erection and placement in the case gripper of a case packer device includes the provision of a bottom feed magazine holding a stack of such flats and a plurality of lug chains for advancing each successive individual bottom-most flat through a gateway and along a path up to the operator station of the case packer. Upper folding hooks of exact dimension are arranged to over fold the leading upper, major and minor closure flaps of each successive flat, without contact with the corresponding lower flaps. The leading lower major and minor closure flaps are underfolded further along the path and hold down bars maintain the folds. Sensing means triggers the advance of another flat when the operator removes the flat presented at the operator station.

Abstract: Control apparatus controls the operation of a trailing edge folder in a carton blank folding machine. The folding machine has conveyor means for continuously advancing blanks in a predetermined direction in untimed relationship to one another along a generally horizontal path. The trailing edge folder has a rotatable shaft mounted below and transverse to the path. The shaft has mounted thereon for rotation therewith one or more arms which extend outwardly from the axis of the shaft. Folding heads extend from the distal ends of the arms. The control apparatus has a sensor which produces a trailing edge signal indicating the departure of the trailing edge of a blank from a first location along the path upstream of the folder. At the end of a determined interval after the trailing edge signal the shaft is rotated in the direction in which the carton is travelling so that a head on the shaft comes into contact with the trailing panel of the blank, and folds it over about 180.degree..

Abstract: In a cartoning machine, a conveyor conveys flat folded cartons with their end flaps projecting laterally. A rotating disk having a horizontally-projecting pin engages the flaps in timed relation to their longitudinal movement to press a lower major flap downwardly. When in a downward attitude, the major flap is engaged by a plow or hold-down guide which holds the flap during erection of the carton and loading of the carton.

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 articulated 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: In a carton erecting, loading and sealing machine for packaging a plurality of articles in a sleeve type carton, the gluing and sealing station of the machine is provided with a pair of upper folding plates and a pair of lower folding plates on either side of the carton conveyor for folding the upper and lower end panels of the cartons against the dust flaps of the cartons after glue has been applied to seal the cartons. Each folding plate is mounted through rotatable mountings to a pair of cranks which move the folding plates downstream as the plates fold and seal the end panels to the dust flaps.

Abstract: A device for erecting a folding carton and for holding the folding carton. The device includes a table formed of an elongated input segment and an elongated output segment. The segments are hinged together tandemwise. An anchor support member supports an input end of the input segment. An output support underlies an output end portion of the output segment. The anchor support member moves between a lowered position in which the segments of the table form a V-shape and a raised position in which the segments of the table are substantially horizontally aligned. Lower end flap of the carton engage the segments when in lowered position to partially fold the lower end flaps. The lower end flaps are further folded when the segments are advanced from the lowered position to the raised position. Side flap folding members are hingedly mounted on opposite sides of the table.

Abstract: A bottom sealing tab breaking method and apparatus for a paperboard carton bottom construction. The invention may be employed with existing apparatus for prebreaking paperboard container bottoms.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a flip top carton wherein the top of the carton has a front flap and side flaps, each having a lower section folded upon the body of the carton and a middle section folded on the lower section. The apparatus has a former associated with a conventional cartoning machine which projects into an erected tubular carton spreading the front and side flaps while inwardly pressing the top portion of the carton to fold the lower section on the top portion of the carton and the middle section on the lower section to form a collar. The apparatus further includes a glue station for applying glue to the internal surfaces of the overlying middle and lower sections. The apparatus further includes compression sections for pressing the lower and middle sections to which glue has been applied together to complete the formation of the collar.

Abstract: A sliding plunger with rack-shaped opposite sides controls opposite rotations of a pair of rotating sector gears, with which integrally rotate two arms extending up to the proximity of the conveying units. Connecting rods are finally interposed between said arms and said conveying units to transform the rotary motion of the arms into a corresponding translatory motion of said conveying units in opposite senses along fixed rectilinear guides transversally disposed with respect to the carton support base. The control of the sliding of the rack plunger can be given by a pneumatic cylinder or by a hand-control lever. There can be provided adjustable means for limiting the sliding plunger stroke in the sense corresponding to the mutual removal of the conveying units and elastical thrust means acting on the same plunger in the opposite sense.

Abstract: There is illustrated and described a machine for setting up corrugated box blanks having four side panels folded double and sealed along their otherwise adjacent free edges and having top and bottom end flaps extending from each end of each side panel.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sealing top end flaps of cartons into engagement with the inner walls of the cartons comprising a horizontal support plate, a first pair of juxtaposed parallel axes rollers mounted adjacent one end of the plate, a second pair of juxtaposed parallel axes with all the rollers having their axes rollers mounted adjacent the other end of the plate, with all the rollers having their axes lying in a common horizontal plane and means for vertical reciprocating support plate. After glue is applied to the inside of the top end flaps and walls of the carton the rollers are moved into engagement with the end flaps and carton walls to seal them together.

Abstract: An intermittently cycled packaging machine for erecting, filling, closing and sealing cartons with hot meal adhesive. A reciprocation carton transfer mechanism is cycled in response to filling of a carton at the filling station and is operative to advance cartons in step fashion from a carton erecting station past a lower carton closing station, the filling station and an upper carton closing station with the last flap to be folded at the lead side of the carton, and the adhesive applying nozzles and the lead flap folding apparatus are located in relation to each other and to the stroke of the transfer mechanism such that adhesive is applied to the end flaps on the carton and the lead flap is infolded as the carton is advanced in a continuous forward step. Lead flap guides are provided for deflecting the lead end flap forwardly of the lead panel during erecting of the carton.

Abstract: A folding apparatus for use on a cartoning machine which folds and secures the end flaps of a blank to form a carton including a pivoting rocker arm positioned adjacent to the path of said carton movement and a fold blade pivotedly attached to one end of said rocker arm which engages the flap and moves it into contact with the side of the carton. A device for manipulating said rocker arm is provided so that the fold blade will engage and disengage the flap and a yieldable means associated with said fold blade to apply a selected pressure to said flap with a roller assembly for engaging the fold blade and control the pressure applied by said yieldable means.

Abstract: A closing member for the carton front flap consists of a pair of substantially vertical rods constantly inserted in the path of advancement of said front flap. Another closing member for the carton rear flap consists of a rotatable shovel pivoted on one end of a rigid arm, which can be moved along a stationary guide. The guide is shaped in such a way as to cause a rotary-translatory movement of the arm from a rest position to a working position, in which the shovel engages the carton rear flap from behind. Suitable reacting means cause the shovel to rotate from an inclined rest position to a horizontal working position at the end of said movement of the arm.

Abstract: The invention is embodied in a high-speed case-erecting machine characterized by a bottom-feed hopper, a pneumatic picker and a pair of live transfer rollers for transferring from the hopper flattened, knocked-down cases to be received at a case-squaring station equipped with vertically separable pneumatic cups for squaring the cases, a chain-driven, reciprocating conveyor of adjustable modular construction for transferring squared cases through a series of flap-manipulating stations at which the flaps located at one end of each case are closed and sealed, thus to provide a series of erected cases.

Abstract: For the fabrication of a bag-in-box (BIB) package, there is first provided a semifinished, collapsed BIB package wherein a flattened bag is placed within a collapsed box and secured to at least one of its inside surfaces by means of an adhesive. After erecting the package, the bag is inflated into close internal contact with the box by introducing a gas under pressure through a fitment attached to the bag and projecting outwardly of the box. The opposite ends of the box are closed with sets of foldable end flaps, with the aid of an adhesive. Preferably, the bag is further secured to the inside surfaces of a pair of opposed ones of the four bottom end flaps of the box. The opposed pair of bottom flaps are held folded out during the introduction of the pressurized gas into the bag, in order that the bottom end portion of the inflated bag may make neat contact with the inside surfaces of the box. There is also disclosed herein an apparatus for thus fabricating the BIB package.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for erecting folded cartons comprising a first and a second carton track established in a substantially L-shaped configuration. A carton magazine is mounted at one end of the first track whereas a carton erector is secured relative to the junction of the first and second tracks. A flap folder is mounted along the second track for folding the flaps of the carton with a carton sealer being located at the terminal end of the second carton track. A first drive provides reciprocal movement along the first carton track for serially moving the cartons from the carton magazine to the carton erector. A second drive moves the carton along the second track from the carton erector to the carton sealer. The first drive may comprise an air cylinder controlled in accordance with the movement of the second drive. The second drive may comprise a reciprocal mechanical linkage for driving the cartons along the second track.

Abstract: A coated paperboard container and a blank for constructing same are disclosed as including a body portion having a side seam flap secured adjacent the edge portion of one of four side panels and an upper end that is closed by a folded top end closure which includes closure panels having a construction that enhances foldability and sealing. Front and back triangular gable panels of the top end closure are each flanked by a pair of triangular fold-back panels that have different sizes than each other so as to facilitate folding of the sealed top end closure from a vertical position in a direction toward the smaller of the fold-back panels. The lower score line portions adjacent the smaller inner roof panel are formed wider than the other score lines so as to further enhance the folding of the top sealed panels in the direction of the gable side bearing the side seam flap upper extension.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for erecting folded cartons having top and bottom flaps. The apparatus comprises a carton track with a carton magazine disposed at one end thereof. First track movement means moves a folded carton on the track from the carton magazine to a first position. A top flap folder folds the top flaps of the carton to be substantially parallel to the sides of the carton. A second track movement means intermittently moves the cartons from the first station to the second end of the track. A carton erector is disposed at a position on the second track for erecting the folded carton. A bottom flap folding means is disposed at a third position on the track for folding the bottom flaps of the carton. A sealer is disposed at a fourth position on the track for sealing the bottom flaps of the erected rigid structure.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automatic machine for closing the lower flaps of a parallelepiped box with foldable flaps and for then retaining the box in a position suitable for its filling with the product to be packaged. The machine according to the invention comprises a T section, a pair of parallel bars disposed in front of said section and a pair of lateral plates, all of which can be rotated sequentially from respective rest positions to respective work position in order to close sequentially the end lower flaps and the lateral lower flaps of a parallelepiped box.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus for erecting, filling and closing paperboard cartons of a type that are initially supplied in a flattened condition and have four body panels, lower closure flaps; and an open top, and a separate plastic cover. The packaging apparatus opens and erects the paperboard cartons in an inverted position and advances the cartons while inverted along a path past a filling station. Covers are fed to a position below the cartons and are pressed into the open ends of the cartons as they are advanced along the path and before they reach the filling station. The lower closure flaps are thereafter folded to close the cartons.