Westrock Packaging Systems, LLC

Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, LLC

The Mead Corporation

Jean-Christophe Bonnain

Frederic Limousin

Fabrice Avril

Amelie Strohm-Volondat

Emmanuel Davaillon

Pascal Martini

Pascal Portrait

Jean-Jacques Dussart

Arnaud Boutin

Julien D Merzeau

John W Cargile, Jr

Gerard Louret

Lilian Joseph

Frederic Chabanne

Benoit Poutot

Olivier Quibel

Gaelle Multon

Amelie Strohm

Philippe Eblin

Denis Boscart

Pierre-Yves Poget

A conveyor system for grouping containers includes a first track including a first plurality of lugs, each lug having a respective gripper coupled thereto configured to drive containers along the first track and a second track configured to move a second plurality of lugs wherein each of the lugs is coupled to a respective gripper configured to receive containers from the first track, and move the containers along the second track wherein the grippers of the second track contact the container while the gripper of the first track contacts the container.

Smooth handoff of containers using multiple grippers

A packaging system includes a conveyor configured to convey a group of articles and a blank along a packaging path. The packaging system includes a folding machine configured to fold a first end panel of the blank relative to a main panel of the blank and to fold a second end panel of the blank relative to the main panel, after the first end panel is folded, as the group of articles and the blank travel along the packaging path. The packaging system includes an alignment machine configured to position a first side panel and a second side panel of the blank at a predetermined angle relative to the main panel as the group of articles and the blank travel along the packaging path.

Systems and methods for packaging articles within a carton

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, an article carrier for packaging a plurality of articles, and a blank () for forming the article carrier. The article carrier comprises a plurality of panels () forming a tubular structure for surrounding at least one article. The article carrier comprises an article retention device for engaging a recess of at least one article to prevent or inhibit dislodgement or unintentional egress of the article from at least one of opposite open ends of the tubular structure. The article retention device comprises an engaging tab () hingedly connected to one of the plurality of panels, which may be a base panel. The point of contact between the engaging tab and an inside surface of a recess in the bottom of the article is farthermost from the adjacent end edge of a respective one of a pair of bottom lap panels.

Package, article carrier and blank therfor

A conveyor system for containers including a conveyor module configured to convey and meter a stream of containers, including a first star wheel configured to move a plurality of first containers along a first travel path, wherein the first containers each have a first geometric center, and wherein the first travel path is defined by the geometric center of the first containers, and a second star wheel configured to move a plurality of second containers along a second travel path, wherein the second containers each have a second geometric center, and wherein the second travel path is defined by the geometric center of the second containers.

Packaging system adaptable to various container perimeters

A grouping system for grouping containers including a track oriented in a horizontal plane, a plurality of lugs coupled moveably to the track, and a plurality of grippers, wherein each gripper is coupled to a lug, wherein the grippers are configured to move a stream of containers about the track.

System and method of grouping of containers

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a packaging machine for packaging articles, apparatus for a packaging machine and to a method of packaging articles. The packaging machine comprises an article manipulation apparatus. The article manipulation apparatus comprises a first conveyor for conveying packages. The packages each comprises a carton having at least one displaceable article disposed therein. An article orientation device comprises a tool head movable synchronously in a downstream direction with the first conveyor. The tool head has at least one article gripper for engaging with a displaceable article in the carton. The at least one article gripper is rotatably mounted to the tool head. An article displacement device comprises at least one article displacement tool. The article displacement tool is receivable in an opening in a carton to engage and displace the displaceable article such that it protrudes through a second opening in said carton.

Packaging machine and method of packaging articles

An orientation module including a base configured to support at least one container, a camera positioned to scan the at least one container, a processor operatively connected to the camera configured to analyze an initial orientation of the container and determine a secondary orientation of the container, and a turning member positioned above the base configured to turn the corresponding container according to a command from the processor to rotate the container to the secondary orientation.

Orientation module

A product management system () includes—a continuous first track (), including a lug queuing section (), a lug engagement section (), and a product engagement section (), each section being configured and adapted to effectuate specific lug movement steps, —a continuous chain () partially following the track configured and adapted to actuate lugs () about at least a portion of the track, —a series of lugs () moveably disposed along the track () configured for moving a product along the product engagement section of the track, —a star wheel () disposed at the lug engagement section () of the track () configured for metering lugs () to engage the chain () from the queuing section () of the track () and to control a variable pitch between each of the lugs along the transferring chain, —and a magnetism source () configured to direct the lugs () to the queuing section (), and to the end of the queuing section ().

Flexible pitch product metering system

A gripper including a receiving end and a locking end and an absorber coupled to at least one of the ends configured to dampen contact forces imparted on the gripper, wherein the receiving end is shaped to marry a container body.

Container gripper

A system including a pair of prongs extending in a transverse direction, spaced apart from one another by a gap configured to receive carton blanks and product containers therein, and to crease retention flaps of the carton blank, wherein each prong travels along a cam path, a panel extending in a longitudinal direction in-between the pair of prongs configured to support the product containers and guide the retentions flaps, a pair of asymmetrical guide rails underneath the panel configured to alternatingly crease a first primary flap and a second primary flap of the carton blank, and a conveyor mechanism proximate to the panel configured to move they product container and a carton blanks along the panel.

Apparatus and method for folding lower retention flaps

A product management system () including a first panel () with a first continuous track () including a queuing section, a product engagement section and a return section, and a first series of magnetic sources () disposed circumferentially along the first continuous track (). A first series of lugs () are movably dispersed around the first continuous track () configured to react to the first series of magnetic sources in order to increase or decrease a velocity of each lug () of the first series of lugs along the first continuous track () and a product engagement member () attached to each lug configured and adapted to actuate to engage a product.

A subsystem for orienting articles, the subsystem comprising a tool assembly comprising a carriage. A tool head has a first and a second article gripper rotationally coupled thereto. A first drive mechanism is coupled to the first article gripper. A second drive mechanism is coupled to the second article gripper. A sensor is configured to observe two adjacent articles. A controller is provided in communication with the first and second drive mechanisms and the sensor. The controller is configured to determine the orientation of each of the two adjacent articles and to control the first and second drive mechanisms to rotate each of the two adjacent articles to a predefined orientation.

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Chateauroux, France

Jean-Christophe Bonnain