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 packaging machine having a filling device, a top breaker, a top heater and a top sealer which are arranged along a path of transport of containers. A hot air applicator is disposed between the filling device and the top breaker for eliminating the froth to be produced when containers, each having an upward opening, are filled with contents. The applicator includes a hot air discharge box having a bottom wall, a top wall, a side wall and two air outlets formed in the bottom wall, the air outlets being arranged along the transport path so as to be opposed to the openings of containers from above, and means for supplying hot air to the box. Each of the outlets is covered with a perforated plate, and has an edge portion provided with a downwardly extending annular portion for preventing the hot air from spreading out.

Abstract: A forming, filling, and sealing machine, whereon a carton transfer mechanism includes an indexing turret having a plurality of dual mandrels formed thereon, and two bottom-closed pivotally mounted carriers for alternately moving two cartons at a time from two respective indexed dual mandrels to a conveyor. The conveyor is adapted to receive two sets of two cartons each before indexing four cartons at a time to a filling station.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprising a rotary body having blank bottom forming radial mandrels so arranged as to be successively stoppable at a plurality of process stations including a blank feed station, a feeder for fitting a tubular blank having a square or rectangular cross section around the mandrel stopping at the blank feed station to feed the blank to the mandrel, and a collector for collecting paper particles adhering to the blank to be fed by the feeder. The feeder has a pair of guide rails positioned on opposite sides of and extending in parallel to a phantom line extending outward from the mandrel stopping at the blank feed station. The collector has a tubular collecting cover enclosing the guide rails. The cover is formed with an air outlet covered with a filter. A suction device applies suction to the air outlet.

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

Abstract: Packing machines which manufacture packing containers of the so-called gable-top type from flexible packing laminate frequently handle prefabricated, tubular packing container blanks which are provided with a bottom section by folding in and sealing of a number of bottom wall panels. The bottom is pressed down and sealed while the blank is supported by a mandrel on a mandrel wheel.In order to avoid the transmission of the pressing and sealing forces to, and stressing of, the axle and bearing of the mandrel wheel, an arrangement is proposed which is designed so that the compressive forces generated by the pressure devices are absorbed by a tie rod which connects the pressure application arrangement with the axle of the mandrel wheel, so that the forces are absorbed internally without stressing the mandrel wheel axle or other surrounding elements.

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

Abstract: A method and machine for the manufacture of packing containers of the type where a number of packing container blanks are successively converted to packing containers, open at the top, which are filled with contents, shaped and sealed. The packing container blanks are advanced intermittently during the processing and filling between the different stations, which means especially in packing machines with several conveying elements, that the driving unit of the machine will be unevenly loaded and that the working of the machine will be uneven and jerky. To overcome this it is proposed in accordance with the invention, that the driving of the different conveying elements sould take place asynchronously in accordance with a similar but mutually offset pattern of movement.

Abstract: An arrangement for the retaining of container blanks (1) in a predetermined correct position on mandrels on a packing machine of the type which manufactures filled and closed packing containers from tubular container blanks and which comprises a stepwise rotatable mandrel wheel which is the bearer of mandrels distributed around the mandrel wheel which are intended to move container blanks applied to the mandrels in correct position between successive processing stations so as to achieve a bottom closure of the blanks. The arrangement comprises clamping elements pressed against the mandrels in the form, for example, of a lever which is adapted to be pivotable in a bracket at one lateral surface of the mandrel. The mandrel includes an upper clamping arm pressed against the mandrel and a lower maneuvering arm rigidly connected with the clamping arm as well as a spring element arranged at the top of the clamping arm (14).

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 packing machine for the manufacture of packing containers wherein tubular packing container blanks which in flattened condition are placed into a magazine and wherein the feeding out of packing container blanks from the magazine is accomplished by a reciprocating driving element (7) located at the lower end of the magazine (7) which is provided with fingers which engage the open ends of the container blanks and to feed out one blank at a time is disclosed. As a result, a reliable operation, independent of the thickness of the blank, is obtained.

Abstract: A sterilization apparatus and method for sterilizing the interiors of paperboard containers, wherein such apparatus and method are operative prior to the container being mounted on a mandrel assembly on which the container bottom closures are formed, closed and sealed. This is accomplished by providing nebulizing means for communicating a suitable sterilant fog through and onto the inside surfaces of the carton blank immediately after it has been removed from a magazine and opened into a four-sided tubular shape, thereby greatly increasing the total interior sterilizing time available prior to the container being filled, as compared to conventional sterilization processes which are operative after the bottom panels of the carton have been closed and sealed.

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

Abstract: The disclosure illustrates and describes a modular forming, sterilizing, filling and sealing machine for containers, including a front bottom forming and sealing section; an intermediate sterilizing section; and a rear filling, top forming and sealing section; and separate conveyor means in each section. The conveyor means in the sterilizing section is adapted to receive the containers from the conveyor means in the bottom forming and sealing section in an upright, open-topped condition and convey same transverse to the line of travel in the forming and sealing sections through a sterilant vapor atmosphere wherein the sterilant vapor condenses on all surfaces of each upright, open-topped container, and then rotates the containers from the upright position to an upside-down condition through a heated and air blown atmosphere, and back to an upright condition onto the conveyor means in the filling, top forming and sealing section.

Abstract: The operating speed of apparatus for opening and guiding a flat-folded tube of plastic wrapping film, especially a tube of heat shrinkable plastic film, which include a spreader mandrel for opening the tube and drive rollers or belts for transporting and guiding the tube over the spreader mandrel, is increased, and the overall efficiency of operation of the apparatus is improved, by providing an extension piece with a pair of driving rollers or belts which operate independently of the driving rollers associated with the spreader mandrel, at the downstream end of the mandrel. By cutting the tube at the downstream end of the mandrel, after the tube is conveyed over the extension piece and in contact with the extension piece drive rollers or belts, the cut tube section can be slid over the objects to be packaged at rates of from 2 to 5 times faster than previously possible. The extension piece can be fixedly mounted to the mandrel or it may be oscillatingly suspended from the mandrel.

Abstract: A single to dual indexing carton transfer mechanism involving a turret and conveyor, wherein the turret includes equally spaced mandrels which index at a first predetermined rate, and wherein the conveyor indexes at one-half the rate of the mandrels. Partially formed paperboard cartons are stripped from the respective mandrels as the latter index to their 6:00 o'clock position, and set on a stationary rail. A pusher mechanism is cammed to alternately transfer odd numbered cartons to the conveyor during the latter's dwell period, and even numbered cartons to the conveyor while it is indexing, thereby increasing the production rate along a single conveyor line.

Abstract: This disclosure illustrates and describes a liquid packaging machine including a base frame having a vertical keel mounted along the longitudinal centerline thereof. The units relating to forming blanks into cartons, filling the cartons with consumable liquids, and sealing the filled cartons, along with the required conveying means, are all mounted on one side of the keel, while the motor and related drive and indexing mechanisms are mounted on the other side of the keel, operatively connected to the forming, filling, sealing, and conveying means.

Abstract: An automatic carton packing machine comprising: a withdrawing device adapted to withdraw carton blanks having sealed bottoms and fitting mandrels vertically downwardly from said mandrels; a push-out device adapted for successively pushing out the carton blanks in the horizontal direction on a table; a conveyor device including bucket portions and arranged at a right angle to the direction of the pushing out and for accomodating the carton blanks in a row and plat portions formed at both sides of the bucket portions; a folding device adapted to fold the upper edges of the carton top along the folding line to impart a folding habit to the carton top; and a device for triangular lugs adapted for bending, after completion of the sealing of the carton top having the folding habit and withdrawal of the carton blanks from the bucket portions of the conveyor device; the triangular lugs of the carton top downwardly and bonding the same to the side surfaces of the carton.

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

Abstract: A method and apparatus for closing and sealing the end of a container having a tubular body wherein the container and closure portion includes front, rear and side panels each extending axially from the tubular body in the open position of the end closure. Each of the end closure panels may have a sealing strip defined at its outer end by a scored line with the rear panel including a closure flap-extending from the outer edge of its sealing strip. The end closure panels are folded to a flat closed position by closing jaws with the sealing strips and closure flap projecting axially from the tubular body, after which the sealing strips are sonically welded together. The closure flap and sealing strips are then folded flat, and the closure flap is welded to the outer surface of the front end closure panel.

Abstract: A carton magazine apparatus, carton feeder apparatus and carton loader apparatus for feeding and loading erected cartons, in pairs, on a pair of mandrels for forming the bottom end of the cartons. The carton magazine apparatus includes a pair of carton magazines disposed in side-by-side, spaced apart positions, with each of the carton magazines containing a plurality of flattened cartons. The carton feeder apparatus includes a pair of swingably mounted carton feeder arms, with one of the carton feeder arms being operatively disposed adjacent the carton discharge end of one of the magazines and the other carton feeder arm being operatively disposed adjacent the carton discharge end of the other magazine. The pair of carton feeder arms are operable to simultaneously withdraw a flattened carton from each of the carton magazines and move them into an erected tubular position in alignment with a pair of mandrels on a packaging machine.

Abstract: A carton conveyor means for receiving cartons directly from a carton erecting and forming machine, and conveying the cartons along a linear path through a series of work stations for filling and sealing the cartons. The conveyor includes a pair of roller chains. Each of the roller chains has attached thereto a plurality of spaced apart metal lug carrier clips which are detachably mounted on the chain. A non-metallic conveyor lug is assembled to each of the lug carrier clips in a snap-in-fashion. The conveyor lugs function to transport the cartons along a pair of carton support rails. The conveyor lugs also function as guide means and bearing means for supporting the conveyor chains.

Abstract: An improved machine for handling and erecting initially folded cartons includes axial ways and an intermittently actuable, axially reciprocating advancing-erecting mechanism. Pivotally mounted along a drive shaft of the advancing-erecting mechanism are advancing fingers and carton pick-up catches that extend upward between the ways. Mounted ahead of a carton erecting station are stationary flap separating fingers that direct a flap of the cartons between a clamp and a clamping plate of an intermittently actuable clamping mechanism. Mounted above the carton erecting station is an intermittently actuable final erecting mechanism for erecting cartons from a partially erect condition to a fully erect condition. Cartons are sequentially moved to the carton erecting station by the catches on a forward stroke of the drive shaft and clamped.

Abstract: A semi-automatic carton forming, filling, and sealing machine utilizing a single rotationally movable mandrel for assisting the machine operator in the erection of a carton blank and for closing and sealing the bottom portion of the carton and also including a carton filling and top closing mechanism operated in coordination with the rotational mandrel.