Portola Packaging Limited

Gerald M Blain

Rodger A Moody

Ronald J Billet

Reynaldo F Medel

A fitment comprising a pouring spout having a peripheral flange at one end and a closure at a second end is attached to a paperboard carton formed with a hole in a side panel. The carton is moved intermittently along a conveyor, such as that used in a filling machine. An arm having a spud oscillates about a horizontal axis parallel to the conveyor. The arm is pivoted to down position as the carton reaches the fitment attaching station so that the fitment enters the open end of the carton with the spud aligned with the carton hole. The arm is mounted on a first carriage which reciprocates horizontally in a first direction to project the closure through the hole until the flange abuts the inside of the carton panel. An ultrasonic welding horn is mounted on a second carriage which reciprocates in alignment with the first carriage in a second direction opposite the first direction. The horn welds the fitment flange to the inside of the carton panel.

Apparatus and method for attaching fitments to cartons

As an open upper end apertured panel carton is conveyed to the fitment application stage of a filling line, a ramp raises the carton to a predetermined elevation. A rotary anvil having spuds on which fitments are applied which lowers a fitment inside the carton is indexed into precise angular position by an apertured collar fixed to the anvil sleeve, mating with a stationary pin. The sleeve on which the anvil is mounted is moved longitudinally so that the spout end of the fitment extends out through the aperture in the carton panel and a peripheral flange on the opposite end of the fitment engages the inside of the apertured panel. As a welding horn moves into position, extending fingers engage the loading and trailing sides of the carton to horizontally align the carton. Thus the aperture in the carton is vertically and horizontally aligned and the fitment is aligned with the aperture in the carton. The fitment flange is welded to the interior of the carton.

Alignment devices for fitment application machine and method thereof

A fitment attachment apparatus installed at a station along a filler line is substantially completely mounted on a single casting attached to the bed of the machine. As an open upper end, apertured panel carton is conveyed to the station, a rotary anvil having spuds on which fitments are applied lowers a fitment inside the carton. The anvil is moved axially so that the spout end of the fitment extends out through the aperture in the carton panel and a peripheral flange on the opposite end of the fitment engages the inside of the aperture panel. The anvil shaft carries a driven sprocket on one end which is connected by a side-flex chain to a drive sprocket which turns in timed relation to the intermittent carton conveyor chain. The sleeve on which the anvil is mounted is indexed into precise angular position by an apertured collar fixed to the anvil sleeve mating with a stationary pen. Hence the fitment is accurately located in line with the carton despite flexing of the drive chain.

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Los Gatos, CA, United States of America

Gerald M Blain