Abstract: A carton feeding assembly includes a carton blank storage rack for holding a stack of horizontally oriented folded carton blanks, a carton blank transport device for picking a bottommost folded carton blank from the stack and conveying it along a conveyance path, and a carton blank push up device that reorients the folded carton blank into an upright position suitable for movement into engagement with a case erector.

Abstract: A method of loading articles in cartons. The method can comprise moving a carton in a generally flat configuration in a downstream direction with a carton opening carousel, at least partially opening the carton while moving the carton with the carton opening carousel, and transferring the carton from the carton opening carousel to a carton loading carousel in a transfer region. The transferring the carton can comprise moving the carton in an upstream direction. The method further can comprise loading a plurality of articles into the carton while moving the carton in a downstream direction with the carton loading carousel.

Abstract: A system for transferring tubular blanks to a packing machine includes an apparatus intermittently positioned in a zone (Z) situated in front of the line with an open tubular blank (150) hooked to a retainer (22). The apparatus includes a rotating member (510), activated in phase with the line movement, arranged between longitudinal walls (490), and having a series of transfer devices (525), angularly equidistanced along a circumference tangential to an upper line branch. The transfer devices have dynamic seating (460) for encountering in zone (Z), a tubular blank flap (1C). The tubular blank is freely inserted in the dynamic seating (460), and subsequently by hooking the seating, the transfer means are deactivated in proximity to the upper branch (470) in phase with the arranging of segments from radial to vertical first delimiting the dynamic seating (460) and a compartment (450) corresponding to the dynamic seating.

Abstract: A method for assembling a blank including accessing a blank having a main panel portion and at least one flap portion coupled to the main panel portion. The method further includes positioning a plate adjacent to the blank, the plate having a curved edge, folding the flap portion relative to the main panel portion about the curved edge of the plate such that the flap portion is coupled to the main panel portion along a curved line thereof.

Abstract: The cartoner has been designed to form cartons from blanks, whereby the formed cartons have tapered concave sides. A unique series of elements, including capture lugs which hold and “bow” the carton blank, together with plow rods and oscillators which have curved metal plates are used to “pre-break” the score lines of the blank. Travelling pressure blocks having convex outer surfaces are used to press the concave sides of the carton while hot glue dries, whereby the unique, tapered cartons are properly formed.

Abstract: The cartoner has been designed to form cartons from blanks, whereby the formed cartons have tapered concave sides. A unique series of elements, including capture lugs which hold and “bow” the carton blank, together with plow rods and oscillators which have curved metal plates are used to “pre-break” the score lines of the blank. Travelling pressure blocks having convex outer surfaces are used to press the concave sides of the carton while hot glue dries, whereby the unique, tapered cartons are properly formed.

Abstract: A carton conveyer for a packaging machine has upper and lower flights to which sets of flight lugs are attached. Each set of flight lugs comprises leading flight lugs and trailing flight lugs and the leading flight lugs have recesses that face and oppose recesses on the trailing flight lugs. The recesses are formed to confine an open carton therebetween. Notches are formed in the flight lugs in such a way that movement of the leading and trailing flight lugs toward one another causes an un-erected carton between the lugs to be captured and erected.

Abstract: The cartoner has been designed to form cartons from blanks, whereby the formed cartons have tapered concave sides. A unique series of elements, including capture lugs which hold and “bow” the carton blank, together with plow rods and oscillators which have curved metal plates are used to “pre-break” the score lines of the blank. Travelling pressure blocks having convex outer surfaces are used to press the concave sides of the carton while hot glue dries, whereby the unique, tapered cartons are properly formed.

Abstract: A device for fully erecting a flat collapsed carton into an erected carton sleeve, the device comprising an arm linkage comprising a first arm (20a, 20b) coupled to a shaft (12), said shaft (12) being coupled to a drive means to achieve rotational movement of the arm linkage, a second arm (24a, 24b) pivotally coupled at one end to the first arm (20a, 20b) and at an opposite end further coupled to at least one suction device (16,17,18), said suction device actuated to engage a panel of a flat collapsed carton, and a third arm (22a, 22b) coupled to the shaft (12) such that the second and third arms are maintained substantially parallel to one another, the second and third arms being coupled to one another by a support arm (26a, 26b), which support arm is substantially parallel to the first arm (20a, 20b), and wherein the first and third arms are driven at different angular velocities to effect construction of a flat collapsed carton into an erected carton sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming containers fed with their side walls arranged in a flattened tubular configuration, comprising a device for opening the containers that is associated with abutment-retention elements for the abutment and retention of the containers in the open configuration and with transfer elements for transferring the open containers into respective variable-geometry receptacles of a conveyance line, the receptacles being suitable to move from a first open configuration for receiving the containers to a second closed configuration for conveying the containers to a subsequent treatment station.

Abstract: A carton opening method and assembly for a continuous motion packaging machine directs opposed carton engaging plates perpendicular to opposite side walls of a collapsed carton moving through the opening assembly. A vacuum is applied to the opposed carton side walls when the assemblies engage the carton. One or more of the opposed carton engaging assemblies are retracted to fully open the carton, which is then transferred to a conveyor that transports the carton to the next workstation of the packaging machine. The carton opening operation is accomplished while tracking the carton movement through the carton opening assembly.

Abstract: A packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. A closure section in the form of a novel and improved heat sealer is releasably connectable to the bagger section. The sections are adjustable together between horizontal and vertical orientations. Processes of opening, closing and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A conveyor system for gripping and transporting plastic film is disclosed in the environment of a packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. Alternate conveyor embodiments are also disclosed. The belts of each embodiment are constructed such that when force is applied to a gripped plastic film coaction of the film and belts causes the belt gripping of the film to tighten.

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 device for the transformation of a flattened tubular blank into a carton includes a pickup unit for withdrawing a tubular blank from a magazine, wherein the blanks are arranged, flat, in a pile, and an angle plate for opening a selected blank into shape of a carton, while transferring the blank to a station, where the carton is placed on a step-driven conveyor running along a packaging line. A pusher, actuated synchronously with the pickup unit and the conveyor, keeps the carton on the conveyor during an initial forward motion.

Abstract: Disclosed are carton assembling method and equipment for sucking and taking out flatwise folded cartons one by one from a magazine by means of suction cups, unfolding each carton squarely on a conveyance path while transferring it downward along a rotative path, and supplying the thus-unfolded cartons to an encasing machine by means of a conveyance mechanism. Each carton is held squarely by a pair of stoppers, utilizing its reaction force acting in the returning direction. Thereafter, the carton is reverse-folded against such reaction force and then unfolded again to remove the folding tendency of the carton acting in the folded direction, thereby permitting the carton to hold itself in a square shape. And at the time of reverse folding, the flaps of each carton are expanded so that a contents charging conveyor can be disposed in close proximity to the cartons.

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: A carton loading machine comprising an endless conveyor carrying a series of holders each adapted to hold an erected carton in upright position and movable to move each holder from a carton receiving station for entry of an erected carton in the holder from the outside of the conveyor to a loading station for loading the carton and thence to a discharage station for discharge of the loaded carton, each holder having a fixed side and a movable side and latch members associated with said sides, the latch member associated with the fixed side and the movable side and latch member associated therewith being movable between open and closed positions.

Abstract: High speed apparatus for the extraction and opening of bags contained in a magazine in which they are arranged in a flattened condition so as to form a pack. The apparatus is composed of a pair of extracting devices comprising elements provided with suction cups and supported oscillating between a position of extraction of the bags from the magazine and one of release of said bags onto a receiving device. The suction elements are actuated in opposite phase so that while one element, after extracting the related bag, is about to transfer it onto the receiving device, the other element is in the return phase. In order to prevent the extracting elements from colliding with one another, it is provided that the path followed by the elements during the extracting and transfer phase be different from the path followed during the return phase. The apparatus also provides an extended time for opening the bags.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for forming, filling and sealing bags and depositing the filled bags in cartons, wherein the bags are formed, filled and sealed by a vertical form-fill-seal machine and each bag is compressed to shape it to fit in a carton.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating and erecting foldable boxes has a supply magazine for foldable boxes, a removal device with revolving suction grippers, and an endless conveyor device provided with carriers and blower nozzles, which are disposed laterally of the conveyor apparatus with the blower nozzles arranged to inflate the conveyed foldable boxes. The suction grippers pull the foldable boxes out of the magazine seriatim in the direction in which the foldable boxes extend and transfer them to the conveyor apparatus such that they lie flat on an arc-like stretch. For guiding the chains of the conveyor device and for guiding the foldable boxes in the arc-like stretch, arc-like curved guide rails are disposed on the revolving path of the suction grippers following the magazine. The blower nozzles are associated with a straight stretch of the conveyor device.

Abstract: A machine for feeding a collapsed beverage can carrier sleeve to a flight bar conveyor and introducing the sleeve in fully open condition to the pocket of the conveyor. After leaving the feed rolls the collapsed carrier sleeve is moved through a fixed guide by lugs on a movable chain. The end flaps on the upwardly facing side panel are held in place on the guide while the end flaps on the downwardly facing side panel are moved downwardly by a fixed cam surface. The substantially opened sleeve is then either given a final kick by rotating arms or is propelled by the feed lugs to accelerate it into the pocket while at the same time fully straightening and opening the sleeve. The carton dimension corresponding to the length of the pocket is the same as the length of the pocket, resulting in more pockets per conveyor length and permitting operation at slower conveyor speeds.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for opening folded open side carton blanks. The apparatus includes a first conveyor system for stripping blanks from a supply thereof at a first speed and for propelling the blanks downstream to a second conveyor system operating at a second speed greater than the first speed to accelerate the blanks and propel them to an unfolding station. The carton lower layer flaps are bent angularly downward. A pair of paddles having inclined leading edges rotate in horizontal planes to penetrate the space between the carton upper and lower layers and to lift the upper layer above the lower layer. The paddles also have bottom surfaces for holding the blank lower layer downwardly. The paddle tips travel at a faster speed than the second conveyor, so the tips slide forwardly to contact and push the blank leading panel forwardly to further unfold the flank.

Abstract: A carton unfolding machine reliably unfolds folded carton blanks. The blanks are continuously propelled horizontally by stripper fingers along a first support with the flaps extending transversely to the direction of motion. Blocks in the path of the flaps raise the trailing flaps slightly relative to the plane of the blank sides and leading flaps. The blanks pass spring plates that enter slits between the trailing and leading upper flaps to support the trailing upper flaps. The first support terminates under the spring plates, so that the blank is supported only at the trailing upper flaps by the spring plates and by the stripper fingers. The unsupported blank leading edge tips due to gravity, thus slightly unfolding the blank. Continued motion by the stripper fingers pushes the blank out of contact with the second support, and the leading edge falls to a carrier.

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: A system for the transport and raising of packing container blanks to be utilized in packing machines which convert flattened, tubular packing container blanks to filled and closed packages. A simple and space-saving arrangement of this invention comprises gripping elements (10) placed along a conveyer (5) which in a continuous movement take up a blank (1) from the conveyer and raise the same to a square cross-section and pass it on in raised position.

Abstract: In a cartoner for filling and sealing tubular cartons wherein the cartons are carried between leading and trailing transport lugs, a mechanism for squaring the cartons consisting of inclining a leading lug in a rearward direction to engage a corner of a carton to hold the carton in an erect, squared attitude.

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: In folding boxes forming a conveyor chain, rectangular, tubular carton blanks are introduced stepwise into two juxtaposed mirror-image designed folding stations. In the folding stations, the carton blanks are defomed by means of fingers and clamps so that their base surface is pulled into a parallelogram. The two edges forming the longer diagonal are pressed by means of stamping dies and by means of a counterholder and a stamping plate, respectively. After pressing, the carton blanks are pulled back into the folding boxes and are returned to their rectangular shape.

Abstract: A device for erecting and countercollapsing boxes from preformed blanks comprises a carrier arm pivotally attached to a chain drive and guided by a generally oval track to engage at a feed station the back edge of a blank for pushing the same through a pair of parallel guide slots along a path to an erecting station defined by rotary carrier synchronized with the chain drive for revolving a stopper to have, upon the emergence of the blank from the guide slots, a distance from the slots' exit substantially equal to the width of the blank and an orientation parallel to front and back edges of the blank. The stopper catches at the slots' exit the front blank edge and continues to revolve with tangential speed less than the speed of the arm, whereby relative motion of the stopper and the arm gives rise to a compressive force which opens and countercollapses a box from the blank.