Riverwood International Corporation

James W Emerson

Allen L Olson

Colin P Ford

William M Easter

Jay Steinbuchel

Peter Karst

A carton flap folding method and apparatus for use on a continuous motion packaging machine is disclosed. The carton flap folding apparatus includes a spaced pair of generally parallel knock-down arms which are rotated in the direction of a path of travel extending along the packaging machine and on which a spaced series of groups of articles for being packaged are moved. Each group of articles is at least partially enclosed in a carton blank having at least one flap hingedly connected thereto for being closed on at least a portion of the group of articles. The carton flap folding apparatus moves the knock-down arms into engagement with the at least one open flap of the carton blanks in the direction of the path of travel at substantially the same speed as the speed of the group of articles along the path of travel. The carton flap folding apparatus decreases the speed of the knock-down arms in the direction of the path of travel with respect to the group of articles prior to engaging the at least one open flap of the carton blank, and increases the speed of the knock-down arms in the direction of the path of travel with respect to the speed of the group of articles for disengaging the knock-down arms from the at least one hinged flap of the carton blank.

Carton flap folding method and apparatus

A packaging machine places cartons on an carton conveyor in an inverted-T configuration with the panels of the carton being generally horizontal and the walls of the carton collapsed together in a generally vertical orientation. An overhead assembly has carrier assemblies for picking up the cartons, opening the cartons, and lowering the cartons onto article groups. Each carrier assembly has a pair of opening members with protruding fingers for insertion within cut-outs formed in the cartons. After a carrier assembly has engaged a carton in an inverted-T configuration, one of the opening members in the carrier assembly is moved away from the other opening member, thereby opening the carton. Each carrier assembly has cam followers which travel within three cam plates, one for controlling an orientation of the carrier assembly, one for supporting the carrier assembly, and one for opening and closing the opening members. The overhead assembly is substantially located on only one side of the articles and cartons and thus provides easy access for repairs, maintenance, or removal of article or cartons jams. The packaging machine can package articles of various sizes and configurations into various types of cartons. In general, the packaging machine can package articles into any type of carton having panels opposite each other which may be engaged and lowered onto an article group. The packaging machine can also operate at fairly high speeds since cartons are positively and quickly opened by the movement of the opening members.

Packaging machine having overhead assembly for opening and lowering

An article clip packaging machine for applying carton members to the article rims of preselected article groups. The machine has a conveyor with an infeed end for receiving preselected article groups. At least two carton member feeding structures are synchronized with the conveyor for placing carton base and carton top members, respectively, on the preselected article groups. A securing assembly attaches the carton base and top members to the rims of the article groups to provide article group carriers.

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Woodstock, GA, United States of America

James W Emerson