R. A. Jones Co., Inc.

J Daniel Greenwell

Robert M Kalany

Peter D Schwartz

Ted K Lemmon

Sima Paunesku

John M Paselsky

Steven F Mustain

Robert J Burkhardt

Ronald W Schachleiter

Methods of selectively packaging clips of tissues in flat or boutique cartons include depositing clips on carriers and turning and dropping clips into transverse channels in the carrier floors from where fat clips can be pushed into flat cartons, or selectively depressing the mid-portion of clips spanning the channels into the channels to form U-shaped clips which can be pushed into boutique cartons.

Method of handling flexible tissues

A blank feeder includes a blank stack with blanks inclined forwardly in a magazine section and rearwardly in a discharge section so the stack has two effective top ends, one for supply and one for feeding. Blank inclination is reversed intermediate the stack ends without separating blanks in the stack during inclination reversal. Methods and apparatus are disclosed.

Top load, top feed article magazine

Tissue clips are placed on the upper level of bi-level product buckets, with the length of the tissue clips in the machine direction. The lower level of the product bucket is comprised of a full-width transverse channel whose width is greater than the width of the tissue clips but less the length of the tissue clips. To package flat packages of tissues, extensible pushers turn the tissue clips 90 degrees so they drop into the transverse channels. Subsequently flat overhead tamps descend and the tissue clips are pushed through guide buckets into the end of the flat-pack cartons. To package boutique packages of tissues, the extensible pushers are disengaged so the length of the tissue clips remain in the machine direction spanning the transverse channels. Subsequently, narrow tamps descend, pushing the center of the tissue clips into the transverse channels, forming the tissue clips into the beginning of a U-shape ready for pushing through guide buckets into the side of boutique cartons. Methods and apparatus are disclosed.

Flexible tissue handling apparatus

A case packer includes a mass flow conveyor moving containers in defined lanes and lane deflectors for urging containers laterally across the conveyor into a selectively actuable metering station. Containers are selectively metered into row groups of select count and segregated by transfer guides on an underlying transfer conveyor. The row groups are directed to move rearwardly or upstream on the forward moving transfer conveyor into alignment with an open case mouth. A rotary loader has extensible can pushers maintained in parallel with open case mouth during a substantial portion of movement of the cases past the rotary loader. This maintains the rows of cans in proper alignment for final case loading and prevents undesirable 'A' pattern lock up. The transfer guides and rotary loader can be adjusted and/or modified to handle varied row counts of cans. The case packer is capable of full case run out, full final run out and automatic prime so there are no partially filled cases at the beginning or at the end of a run. Case sie changeover is facilitated.

Case packer

Partitions are fed from a single magazine by a feeder and are transported in timed mode to two sets of rotary blades which open the partition flaps. The open partitions are carried in a guide work to a nip point between a set of belts which are supported in such a manner that allows their discharge. The motion of the discharge end of the belts is in the direction of the machine direction of the moving bottle pitches and this motion is utilized to follow an insertion point for a time period long enough to insert the partition. The discharge end can then be returned and follow the next gap for insertion of the following partition. A subsequent final seating device insures the partitions are fully engaged with the group of bottles.

Growing community of inventors

Florence, KY, United States of America

J Daniel Greenwell