Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.a.

Nicholas Cook

Russell Stacy-Ryan

Terry Dean Erickson

John N Lees

Terry B Berglin

Mike Robertson

Jens Mogard

Hichem Bouraoui

A form, fill and seal packaging machine for forming, filling and sealing a carton, molds a closure directly onto the carton. The machine includes a carton erection station adapted to receive a carton in a generally flat form and to erect the flat form carton into a tubular form defining an internal carton region. A direct injection molding station has an internal mold tool and an external mold tool. The internal mold tool is configured for receipt within the internal carton region and the internal mold tool and the external mold tool are configured to receive and clamp the carton therebetween. The direct injection molding station further includes a polymer injection system for injecting polymer from a location external of the carton to the internal mold tool. The closure is directly molded in place on the carton. A mold tool set, a method for carrying out the molding and a closure molded thereby are also disclosed.

Apparatus for direct injection molded closure

Direct injection molding station for use on a molded closure

Direct injection molded closure and method therefor

The present invention is tetrahedral top carton and a blank therefor. The carton has at least a nine percent material savings over a traditional gable top carton containing an equal volume of product. The carton has a tetrahedral top structure formed from four top panels intersecting and sealed adjacently. The carton may have a fitment thereon for accessing the contents. The fitment may be placed on the pinnacle of the tetrahedral top structure or on a single top panel. The carton may have outward folded fins projecting from the intersection of the top panels, or the fins may be folded inward to create a diagonal crease/edge in the intersection between adjacent top panels. The carton may also have an overfolded bottom for reverse filling on a form, fill and seal packaging machine.

Tetrahedral top carton

Growing community of inventors

Evanston, IL, United States of America

Nicholas Cook