Abstract: A feeding and loading mechanism for use in pulling carton side-seam-sealed blanks from a magazine, opening same into tubes, and loading the latter onto mandrels of an indexing turret on a liquid-carrying container forming, filling, and sealing machine. The feeding and loading mechanism includes a slidably mounted carrier having at least one vacuum cup mounted at each end thereof aligned with oppositely disposed magazines, a forming shoe fixedly secured between each magazine and adjacent mandrel for opening each tubular flat side-seam-sealed blank into a tube as the blank moves therepast, a loading finger for loading each tube onto the respective mandrel, and a drive assembly operatively connected to the carrier for reciprocally moving same to alternately remove blanks from the oppositely disposed magazines to alternately process same.

Abstract: A carton feeder assembly is positioned substantially at the infeed conveyor level and includes a carton supply assembly, a carton selector, a carton opener, and a carton erector. The carton supply assembly has a carton supply position, a carton holding position, and a carton selecting position. The carton selector includes a pair of feeder wheels with corresponding suction devices and respective motion defining assemblies. The motion defining assemblies cause the suction devices to move along a linear pick line as the feeder wheels rotate, so that the suction devices can apply a suction on a carton to be selected. The selected carton is brought into contact with the feeder wheels by retraction of the suction devices caused by respective motion defining assemblies, so that the carton moves with the feeder wheels to the carton opener.

Abstract: Apparatus (200) for opening the closure flaps (22-25) of a carton (12), for presenting the carton (12) for loading, and for closing the closure flaps (22-25) is disclosed including a carrier (202) which initially receives the carton (12). The carrier (202) carries the carton (12) into a carriage (226), with the carton (12) sandwiched therebetween. The closure flaps (22-25) are opened by a device (242) including fingers (254-257) which are pivoted to an expanded position after their insertion through an opening (27) in the closure flaps (22-25). An elevator (212) raises the carton (12) in the carriage (226) while the carton (12) is still under compression, with suction cups (56,171-173) then being attached to the closure flaps (22-25). The carriage (226) can then be moved to a loading position and back where the closure flaps (22-25) of the loaded carton (12) are fan folded by a device (120). The elevator (212) can then be lowered where the closed carton (12) can be pushed therefrom.

Abstract: A method and means for opening a collapsed rectilinear carrier sleeve. As the collapsed sleeve is moved through a packaging machine it is partially opened so that the leading panel extends at an angle to the horizontal. A continuous upward force is then delivered to the leading panel to cause the leading panel to pivot up about its upstream fold line until it reaches the vertical. The collapsed sleeve is partially opened by elevating side flaps connected to an upper panel to cause the upper panel to be elevated. One way of accomplishing this is to cause the upper flaps to ride up over a fixed cam surface while lower flaps connected to a lower panel move under the cam to prevent the lower panel from moving in an upward direction.

Abstract: A carton blank erector and feeder comprising a magazine having a delivery opening at one end and accommodating flat blanks as arranged closely side by side from the end toward the other end thereof, the delivery opening being so positioned as to be opposed to a phantom outward extension of a bottom forming mandrel as stopped at a feed station, transport means for withdrawing the blank from the delivery opening and transporting the blank to the outward extension, and means for unfolding the blank from the flat form to a tubular form of square cross section while the blank is being transported by the transport means.

Abstract: A device for opening a tubular blank into a container, comprising an opening station, a packaging line and pairs of suction cups rotated stepwise for gripping the containers and carrying them to a position on the packaging line. The opening station is equipped with a support surface and opening blade arms hinged sidewise to each other. The packaging line features a conveying surface and two pairs of longitudinal endless chains equipped with vertical prongs and rotating stepwise so as to convey the containers obtained from the blanks which are held in seats delimited by the prongs.

Abstract: A case opening apparatus that is part of a larger case loading and sealing machine which includes a loading bay for holding container blanks in vertical stacks, a means for removing the uppermost container blank from said stack and transferring it into an overhead rail system, and a case opening apparatus utilizing suction above and below the container blank The case opening apparatus includes an arm that has dual pivots so that by two separate motions it opens and thereafter erects a container blank for subsequent loading and sealing in preparation for shipment.

Abstract: An apparatus for spreading open flattened bags has a first air-pervious endless belt having a working flight provided with a working face and an opposite, reverse face; and a second air-pervious endless belt having a working flight provided with a working face and an opposite, reverse face. The working flights of the first and second belts are divergent at an acute angle in the bag conveying direction. There is further provided a suction device generating a vacuum for urging a gas to flow across the working flights in a direction from the working face to the reverse face of each working flight, whereby each bag introduced between the working flights adheres, with opposite bag panels, to the working faces of the working flights and is forwarded thereby in the conveying direction, while being gradually spread open.

Abstract: A case opening apparatus that is part of a larger case loading and sealing machine which includes a loading bay for holding container blanks in vertical stacks, a means for removing the uppermost container blank from said stack and transferring it into an overhead rail system, and a case opening apparatus utilizing suction above and below the container blank. The case opening apparatus includes an arm that has dual pivots so that by two separate motions it opens and thereafter erects a container blank for subsequent loading and sealing in preparation for shipment.

Abstract: A blank feeder has a pair of guide rails for guiding blanks having a tubular form of square cross section to a bottom forming mandrel. The guide rails are formed with opposed recessed portions which are V-shaped in cross section for holding therebetween two corners of the blank on a diagonal thereof, and have shock absorbing means for mitigating the impact to be involved in the stiking contact of the blank with the guide rails.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for erecting tubular carton blanks from a flattened to an open tubular state and includes two blank erection stations positioned sequentially along a conveyor for conveying a succession of blanks to the stations. In each station a suction head is attached to a blank and moves the blank through a cycle from a blank collection position, through a blank lifting phase, then through a blank erecting phase in which the blank is pressed against an abutment member into force the blank to an erected condition. When the suction head reaches a blank releasing position, suction head is returned. The suction heads are carried by a link arm driven in a parallel movement by cams via pivot arms.

Abstract: A magazine for flat articles, in particular folding boxes lying flat, including a horizontal conveyor apparatus for receiving a supply stack of folded boxes and a vertical receiving chute from which the folding boxes can be withdrawn in succession and delivered to a conveyor in an open condition. In order to keep the pressure on the lowermost folding boxes in the receiving chute constant, the receiving chute is refilled with folding boxes as needed from the conveyor apparatus, so that the stack height in the receiving chute remains constant. The transfer of folding boxes from the supply stack on the conveyor apparatus into the receiving chute is effected via a gap, through which the horizontally delivered holding boxes, resting obliquely, are purposefully tipped via rollers or via a support podium into the receiving chute at the transition from the conveyor apparatus.

Abstract: A transfer assembly to progressively transfer to a main vertical magazine located at the top of a machine for forming cardboard boxes, the cardboard box at the top of the pile of cardboard boxes located in an auxiliary magazine to one side of the forming machine. There is associated with the transfer assembly, opposite the top of auxiliary magazine, a solenoid valve through which the upward movement of the cardboard boxes in axiliary magazine is stopped in the time interval between the start of the withdrawal of the cardboard box from the auxiliary magazine and its positioning on rollers. At the top of the main magazine there is an upper photocell suitable for stopping the movement of the transfer assembly when the main magazine is full and a lower photocell suitable for putting the same assembly back in motion when the number of cardboard boxes contained in main magazine is lower than a certain threshold.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening flat folded sleeve packaging into a parallelepiped packaging shape and for positioning that packaging for further manufacture which includes a feeder pivotable through a quarter-circle so as to grasp the flat sleeve from a source and to guide the sleeve to a position in axial alignment with a spaced apart mandrel and ejector, the mandrel being adapted to receive the parallelepiped sleeve by the action of the ejector, a V-shaped abutment positioned to receive a leading folded edge of the sleeve at the quarter-circle position of the feeder, and a V-shaped aligned pair of pivoting levers adjacent the V-shaped abutment, the pivoting levers having bearing planes formed thereon and having vacuum apertures formed therein, the levers adapted to function to open a sleeve supported thereby in cooperation with the feeder and the abutment, the bearing planes of the lever providing guiding support for the opened sleeve upon action of the ejector thereon.

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: An arrangement for the raising and transferring flattened tubular packing container blanks (2) from a magazine (3) to a conveyor arrangement comprises suction elements (18a and 18b) arranged on arms (15) movable in a curved path away from each other. The placing of the elements is such that the suction elements in a certain position (receiving position) of the arms are directed towards each other so as to allow engagement with, and attachment to, two opposite sides of a flat blank.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for inverting a child's training pant or the like. The apparatus generally comprises a pair of mutually facing, diverging conveyor belt assemblies and a pair of suction systems respectively associated with the conveyor belt assemblies. As the conveyor belt assemblies move the training pant therealong, the suction systems act on opposite surfaces of the training pant to draw them apart, thereby opening the training pant. At the end of the conveyor belt assemblies is an inverting assembly for inverting the opened pant.

Abstract: A blank feeder for a packaging machine for use with folded flat blanks unfoldable into tubes of square to rectangular cross section and having different lengths to form containers of different capacities. The feeder includes a magazine for containing a stack of flat container blanks. The magazine comprises an inclined frame defining a downward delivery opening and having opposite side members, an upper member and a lower member, a pair of blank unfolding pawls provided at the bottom surfaces of the upper and lower frame members and partly projecting into the opening, and a pair of movable blank supports reciprocatingly movable between an upper position above the frame and a lower position below the frame through the opening. The upper frame member is movable by a hydraulic cylinder longitudinally of the frame to adjust the distance between the unfolding pawls to the length of the blank.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for simultaneously folding and pleating a child's training pant or the like. The apparatus generally includes a plunger that is reciprocative through a tube member. The tube member has an interior surface defining an interior space and a pleating surface disposed on the interior surface. Upon the plunger member forcibly urging the training pant through the interior space, it is simultaneously folded by the interior surface and pleated by the pleating surfaces.

Abstract: A machine (10) for erecting article carriers (C) of the basket type comprises feeder assembly (34; 62) for withdrawing from a supply (20) and depositing the carriers in flat, folded condition one after the other in a feed path (F), flight bars for feeding (22) each carrier to an erecting station (E) at which means suction cups (96) are provided for moving apart opposite side walls of the carrier to bring it into set-up condition and locking arms (100) operable on a base panel (b) of the carrier to move the base panel into engagement with panel retaining elements (h) provided by the carrier, thereby to locate the base panel in a position in which it discourages collapse of the set-up carrier.

Abstract: Apparatus for facilitating the manual erection and loading of a partially assembled paperboard carton blank. The machine includes a work table on which the carton blank is manipulated selectively to open the blank and close the bottom thereof by utilizing a vacuum system for selectively restraining major flaps forming the bottom wall of the carton. The opened carton blank remains immobilized on the work table for loading through the open upper end thereof. The major and minor flaps at said upper end then can be folded manually to close the loaded carton, after which the vacuum system can be deactivated to permit sliding of the loaded carton into a takeaway apparatus which can be a taping or sealing device or a conveyor for transporting the loaded carton to a remote work station, such as, for sealing. The table top may be pivotal.

Abstract: A box-erecting machine is provided which comprises a frame (1) including an arrangement for receiving a stack of box blanks (17), and an arm (5) provided with suction cups (15) which can be pressed against the leading wall (16) of the forwardmost blank. The machine provides for moving the arm (5) in a horizontal direction and at right angles to the leading wall (16) of the blank (17), and for thereafter rotating the arm (5) with respect to the erected box, as well as for bringing the arm (5) back to its starting position. A roller (33) is provided at one end of a carrying arm (34), the other end of which is pivotably connected to a guide member (36) so to provide support for the box during erecting thereof.

Abstract: A pair of specially designed suction wheels are preferably placed after the glue applicator on a known pinch bottomer bag-making machine. During manufacture, paper bags are guided horizontally through the machine by a conveyor forming part of the machine. With this arrangement, one of the suction wheels is placed under the bag, and the other wheel is placed over the bag in line. As each bag is moved by the conveyor, both suction wheels are brought into motion like a rolling operation. Each wheel has a shaft with a hollow channel going to a suction cup at the periphery of the wheel. The number of suction cups around the circumference of the wheel could be any amount. In a preferred embodiment, there are 12 equally spaced suction cups. A vacuum pump with a hose is connected onto the shaft. The pump draws air through the channel which comes from a suction cup so that, when the bag comes into the vicinity of the suction cup, the cup sticks on the bag layer.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for folding a box or trough from a preformed blank of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, duplex cardboard, coated paper, synthetic material, wood such as plywood or multiply, or other sheet or plate material, the blank being provided in advance with folding seams and consisting at least of a portion for the bottom and portions separated therefrom by such folding seams for the upright walls of the box or trough to be folded, the apparatus including means for holding the blank in a predetermined position, a first conveyor for moving the blank transversely to its plane from said position, a mould provided in the path of the conveyor and having a mould cavity which is surrounded by a set of folding members and has a bottom area extending transversely to said path and corresponding to the bottom portion of the box or trough to be folded, stops projecting into said bottom area and adapted to arrest the movement of said bottom portion and also a second conveyor for removing the blank folded in th

Abstract: A pinch bottom open mouth ("PBOM") bag having a pinch bottom flap folded over upon and adhered to one wall of the bag, with a tab for tearing the flap open inserted at its inner end between the walls of the bag, folded to overlie the flap and the outside of the other wall and releasably adhered to the other wall. A method of and apparatus for manufacturing the bags with the tabs from bag tubes wherein the tubes are continuously fed forward, one after another, tabs are applied to the tubes as the tubes travel forward and folded to overlie the other wall before the pinch closure flap is folded over. Each tab is inserted between the walls of a tube by bringing the tab into a position overlapping the one wall and separating the one wall from the other to the point where the end of the tab slips off the one wall and becomes disposed between the walls.

Abstract: In a cartoning machine, apparatus for erecting a carton. The apparatus includes a channel-shaped element having spaced parallel walls and suction cups between the walls of the channel-shaped element. The channel-shaped element engages a carton in a magazine. The suction cups draw the carton into the area between the walls of the channel-shaped element and in so doing cause the carton to open.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for setting up a basket-type carrier from a collapsed state. The carrier includes pair of foldable end panels connected to opposite ends of a slotted base panel, side panels foldably connected to opposite sides of base panel, and pair of foldably connected panel sections forming a handle. Each end panel has foldably connected upper and lower sections initially in face-to-face relation. Each upper section has side segments foldably connected to ends of the panel sections. A U-shaped insert piece is assembled with the carrier and has upstanding legs extending through the slotted base panel and retaining the handle panel sections in face-to-face relation. The panel sections of the collapsed carrier are in coplanar relation and when the collapsed carrier is at a first station, external force is applied to the panel sections causing same to fold relative to one another into upright face-to-face relation.

Abstract: A machine to erect flat-folded cartons, especially such as carry beverage containers, from a flat-folded storage configuration to three dimensional carrying configuration. The machine feeds folded containers from a storage hopper, in singulated fashion, between two endless forwardly flaring vacuum belts which hold the carton sides and move them simultaneously therealong to initialy expand the container. The partially expanded container is then completely expanded and fastened by a cooperating over-head positioning chain structure and an underlying cam wheel and thereafter delivered for further operation. The assembly operations are sequentially timed. The vacuum belts are particularly configured to allow a continuous, rapid operation with low air flow.

Abstract: Flattened cartons or containers stacked in a hopper of a packaging machine are successively removed from the hopper by an extractor including a vertically reciprocable suction-cup carrier engageable with the bottom section of the lowermost carton in the stack which initially is coplanar with an adjoining lateral section. The latter section, during the descent, comes to rest against a stationary ramp; the incipient erection of that lateral section by its engagement with the ramp is accelerated by a pair of swingable arms flanking the ramp, these arms being pivoted into a vertical position for area contact with the side of the passing carton. Possible malfunctions can be detected by a pressure sensor communicating with the suction line or by a photosensor in line with an area occupied by an end section of the carton in the unfolded position thereof.

Abstract: A bag placer which automatically takes a bag from a stack, opens and shapes the bag and places such bag on a spout so that compressed material, such as insulation, glass wool and the like, can be rammed into the bag through the spout. The bag placer is particularly suited for plastic bags which are difficult to handle and open and place on a spout.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for handling and setting up large slit-boxes of the type which is formed by a tubular slit-box blank (6) which is collapsed into a flat two layer blank and which comprises sides (7,8) with connected inner flaps (9) and outer flaps (10) respectively at at least one end of the slit-box. The slit-box is handled in a horizontal position by means of a catcher carriage (16) which is displaceable between a first position over a magazine for slit-box blanks (6) and second position for setting up the slit-box blanks. The carriage has a first set of catchers (17) to catch a first side (8) and its connected outer flaps (10) in the first layer of slit-box blanks and a second set of catchers (20) to catch the second side (7) in the upper layer of the slit-box blank. The said second side (7) is released so that the slit-box by its own weight moves to a more or less open position. The inner flap (9) of the released slit-box side (7) in then introduced into the space between the outer flaps (10).

Abstract: A high speed feeder for cartons being fed into a cartoner includes both mechanical and fluid flow environments for precisely delivering cartons. A preferably inclined conveyor receives cartons stacked on their edges and in a generally vertical orientation. A rotating metering wheel at the downstream end of the conveyor engages the top edges of the cartons and separates them one at a time from the incoming stack. A blower is provided to direct air onto the cartons adjacent the metering wheel to (a) blow the cartons against the metering wheel, (b) blow air between the first and second cartons of the stack as the metering wheel separates the first from the second, and (c) blow the cartons down to a horizontal attitude. Horizontal feed chains having feed lugs receive the horizontal cartons and advance them one at a time into the cartoner. Vacuum nozzles are provided to aid in controlling carton placement on the feed chains and lugs throughout a broad range of feed speeds. Methods are included.

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.

Abstract: A cartoner for inserting a product into an expanded carton having at least one open end and side flaps and an end panel with tuck flap thereon, and thereafter closing the open end, the cartoner accommodating a wide variety of carton shapes and sizes; a product infeed conveyor for such a cartoner including a product support plate extending laterally from either side of the cartoner and including a conveyor chain carrying product pushers pivotally mounted thereon, the product support plate being positioned from a bottom carton supporting rail a distance to receive the product pushers therethrough so that the product pushers both feed the product to the cartons and insert the product therein.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for packing articles, for example apples and other readily damaged fruits, in expanded slices of honeycomb using a conveyor on which the honeycomb is fitted, and carried through a filling station to an unloading station.Means are provided for expanding the slices of honeycomb and applying them to the conveyor in turn. A preferred arrangement is to supply the unexpanded slices one by one from a magazine and accelerate each slice so that it is projected into position for engagement by vacuum cups of an expansion device. Having been expanded, the slices are fitted to the conveyor where they are held in the expanded state by attachment devices provided thereon.At the unloading station, the packages of articles are removed from the conveyor for stacking in a confining carton while confining them in the horizontal direction to retain the position of articles packaged in incomplete cells.