Abstract: Apparatus having a vacuum arrangement for reaching up to grip a flat carton blank and to draw the blank downwardly onto a support. As the blank is moved downwardly, it is drawn into an expanding U formation ready to receive a load of articles which are moved along a path and onto the bottom of the deposited blank, after which the blank is folded into a carton and secured relative the article load. While the loading, folding and securing operations are taking place, the vacuum arrangement moves back to grip the next carton blank that is to be loaded. The apparatus for moving each load inwardly on to the deposited blank allows for the formation of another load while the moving is taking place, said apparatus moving outwardly over the newly formed load.

Abstract: The improved wrap-around carton forming and loading machine of the present invention is capable of forming cartons around the articles supported by a mandrel such that upon removal of the mandrel, the carton will engage and support the article, the improved mandrel resiliently deflects selected side walls of the carton outwardly when formed thereabout to the required sleeve configuration so that upon withdrawal of the mandrel the side walls will revert to their predetermined configuration and engage the article. In addition, the mandrel has a free end about which the end flaps of the carton may be folded to a closed position corresponding to the ultimate erect configuration of the carton.

Abstract: Slides 12 previously filled with cigarettes are inserted into opened rectangular sleeves 11 by introducing the slides and sleeves into respective radial pockets of adjacent coaxial turrets 19, 20 of equal diameter and rotating at the same speed, and then pushing the slides into the sleeves by cam controlled rams 23. The flattened sleeves are initially fed to the underside of turret 20 and lifted by rocker 16 against suction holders 22 of the turret pockets, whereafter they are opened or erected by an overfolding and release sequence during the rotation of the turret. The slides are brought in on a linear conveyor 15, elevated into pockets 61 of a radially armed transfer apparatus 13 by a lifter 83, and thereafter tangentially delivered into the pockets of turret 19 for engagement by the fixed and pivotal pocket side walls 24, 25. The insertion of the slides into the sleeves is facilitated by four pivotal and axially movable guides 52 provided at the entry corners of each sleeve.

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: A machine for erecting flat box blanks and for closing one end of the erected box comprises a feed guide dimensioned to receive a stack of flat-folded blanks, and a forming slot at an end of the feed guide, the forming slot being dimensioned to receive an erected box but consequently too small to accept a flat-folded blank. A suction head carried by a drive jack is effective to pull a box blank from the feed guide into the forming slot, with simultaneous erection of the blank to form the rectangular box, and immediately after that two folding blades converge on the box to fold-in side flaps ready for folding down an end flap of the box. The folding of the end flap is accomplished by a closing fork operating in a direction perpendicular to the plane of action of the closing blades and effective to fold over both an end panel, and a terminal tab which tucks into the box to ensure closing.

Abstract: A cartoner for elongated articles including a source of a series of unshaped bundles thereof, a first conveyor having first article buckets thereon with a first reach adjacent to the source of articles so that each first article bucket receives an unshaped bundle of articles therein, a second conveyor having a set of second article buckets each having at least one wall shiftable between receiving and shaping positions with a first reach of the second conveyor adjacent to the first reach of the first conveyor so that each of the second article buckets receive an unshaped bundle of articles from one of the first article buckets, a leveling plate for leveling the contents of the second article bucket with the wall in the shaping position thereof, a set of filler members on the second conveyor for pushing the elongated articles from the second article bucket into a carton on an adjacent carton conveyor, and suitable control mechanism for causing the proper interaction of the various conveyors and parts thereof.