Kliklok Corporation

Certipak Corporation

Peter C Collura

Richard L Humphries

Thomas R Baker

Boyd D Goda

Chester J Pierce, Jr

John K Lever

Thomas E Simpson

Craig J St Vincent

Harvey N Palagi

A thread and punch lock for article carriers includes a first closure panel with a plurality of spaced tongues along its terminal end. A locking tab is provided in longitudinal line with each tongue and adjacent thereto. The tab extends in opposing direction to the tongue; the tab and tongue together forming a locking unit. The second closure panel includes two substantially parallel, transversely elongated slits for receiving each locking unit when the closure panels are in proper overlapping relation. Disposed between these slits is the closure panel material forming a protector strap. The closure panels are locked together by inserting the tongue through the slit furthest from the edge of the second closure panel. The tab is then punched in the slit nearest the edge of the second closure panel so as to overlie the second closure panel and create edge to edge engagement. The protector strap overlies the tab along the interior of the carrier to hold the tab in locked engagement and provide extra strength.

Combined lock structure for article carrier

An apparatus and method for forming flat cut carton blanks into erected cartons with debowed carton side panels is disclosed. The apparatus includes a forming head receiving and directing a carton blank through forming guides, side walls engaging and supporting the carton side panels that bend into upright position relative to the carton bottom panel during descending movement through the forming guides. Presser fingers pivotally secured to the forming guides project inwardly into the forming head path. The presser fingers bend the side panels into cutout openings provided in the side walls to overbreak the side panels at fold lines between the carton side and bottom panels. An inclined surface with a sharp creasing edge abutting the fold lines enables the presser fingers to initially crease the fold lines and thereafter bend the carton side panels inwardly onto the inclined surface for controlled overbreaking movement. The height of the cutout opening allows each carton side panel to clear the upper periphery of the openings to prevent buckling. After debowing the side panels, the presser fingers engage the upper edges of the carton side panels to strip the erected cartons from the forming head during the ascending return stroke. Notches provided in the side walls serve to prevent interference contact of the presser fingers with the forming head.

Apparatus and method for forming and debowing cartons

Method and apparatus for forming a stackable tray from a paperboard blank having a base panel, two pairs of wall panels attached to the base panel, adhesive coated gussets formed at the corners of the wall panels, and flanges formed along the outer edge of each wall panel. The tray forming apparatus includes a vertically reciprocating plunger having vacuum ports formed in its side walls, two pairs of flange folding fingers mounted on the plunger, a forming head including a cavity disposed beneath the plunger, and a stacking cage having flange retaining rails disposed beneath the cavity for receiving the trays after forming. The trays are formed as follows: A tray blank is first positioned over the forming cavity. The downwardly reciprocating plunger contacts the blank and urges it into the cavity causing the tray sidewalls to be erected and the adhesive coated gusset corners to be folded against adjacent side walls. The erected tray walls are retained on the plunger by the vacuum ports. The flange folding fingers are actuated by linear cams, with first one pair of flanges being folded and then the other with the flanges being folded outwardly and downwardly with respect to the tray walls into an overbroken position until the flanges lie at an acute angle to the tray walls. At the bottom limit of the travel of the plunger, the formed tray is ejected into the stacking cage which is dimensioned to retain the flanges of the trays in the overbroken position and the tray is nested in the stack of previously formed trays so as to hold the gusset corners securely against the tray walls for a time sufficient to allow the adhesive to set. The folded flanges lend stiffness to the upper edges of the tray walls and allows the trays to be nested in the stacking cage. The flanged tray can be later sealed with a lid.

Method and apparatus for forming a flanged tray

Apparatus for adhesively bonding a clam-shell type carton formed from a paperboard blank includes a carton forming die for receiving the paperboard blank, a movable frame for transferring the carton blank from a stack into registration over the die and a reciprocating plunger mounted above the die for forcing the carton blank into the die to fold and erect the carton. The movable frame includes a number of vacuum assisted suction cups for lifting the carton blank from the stack and a plurality of spring-loaded adhesive applicators, connected to a pressurized source of adhesive, for applying a spot of adhesive to selected portions of the carton blank when the blank, carried by the movable frame, is pressed into registration over the forming die. A stacking cage is disposed beneath the carton forming die to receive and retain the erected and folded cartons in a vertically stacked, nested arrangement, with adjacent cartons bearing against one another so that the adhesive coated portions of each nested carton are retained in contact with adjacent panels of the carton for a time sufficient to allow an adhesive bond to form therebetween.

Apparatus for adhesively bonding a carton

Apparatus for continuously feeding and controlling wraparound carrier for packaging a plurality of articles or containers is disclosed. The carriers are of the type having at least two draw-down and feed openings, one opening formed on each side thereof. Each carrier is initially partially wrapped about a plurality of containers. The carrier and container assemblies move along a guide track to the entrance of the carton draw-down (tightening) conveyor line of the present invention. The conveyor line comprises a pair of continuously moving timing chains having a plurality of draw-down lugs pivotally attached to and spaced apart along the chain. Each lug includes a tongue portion adapted for insertion through the openings to feed and to draw down the side walls, and also to control the positioning and movement of the containers. As the partially assembled carrier and containers enter between the moving chains, a cam follower portion of the lugs contact the camming rails, causing the lugs to sequentially pivot downwardly and into contact with the openings formed in the carrier. The carrier is moved along the conveyor line with the lugs engaging the containers through the carrier apertures for positive control. Downward pressure is applied by the lugs to the carrier, causing the carrier to be pulled down and tightened about the containers. The lugs are pivoted out of contact with the carrier as the carrier exits the conveyor line to complete the assembly process.

Article carrier feeding and control apparatus

Apparatus for forming a hinged or clamshell type carton from a paperboard blank includes a carton forming die for receiving the paperboard blank, a movable frame for transferring the carton blank from the stack into registration over the die, and a reciprocating plunger mounted above the die for forming the carton. The blank is formed into a finished carton in one simple harmonic motion. The movable frame includes a number of vacuum assisted suction cups for lifting the carton blank from the stack and at least a pair of gathering rollers which cooperate with a pair of pivoting blades mounted adjacent the die to fold and gather the hinge of the carton blank as the blank is positioned and pressed into contact with the die. A pair of inverted 'T' retaining bars, disposed on the die adjacent the carton hinge, prebreak glue tabs on the carton and capture and retain the wall panels of the carton when the blank is pressed into registration with the forming die. The blades and 'T' bars also accurately locate and position the carton blank with respect to the die. A stacking cage is disposed beneath the carton forming die to receive and retain a plurality of the erected and folded cartons in a vertically stacked, nested arrangement.

Apparatus for forming a hinged carton

A corner lock carton exhibiting improved lock retention includes a base panel, a pair of wall panels, and a locking flap panel joined to one of the wall panels. The other wall panel includes a locking slit formed inwardly thereon to receive the locking flap panel. The slit has a vertical segment, a horizontal segment, and an angled segment connecting the vertical and horizontal segments the ends of the angled segments being disposed at an angle of 40.degree. to the vertical segment. The flap panel includes a lock member having a first edge portion aligned parallel to the vertical segment of the slit when the carton is erected and a second edge portion disposed at an angle of 45.degree. to the first edge portion. When the wall panels are erected, the lock member is disposed through the slit, and the second edge portion of lock member engages the slit at a point adjacent the juncture of the vertical segment and the angled segment to securely interlock the flap panel and slit together. The angled slit segment and the angled edge of the lock member have an angular separation of at least five degrees when interlocked. [Since the point of interlocking engagement is adjacent the base of the lock member and the intersection of the vertical and angled segments, when pressure is applied to the side panels, the point of interlocking engagement does not shift. In one embodiment, the angled segment is formed having an arcuate shape to provide a 'double-locking' retention feature.]

Growing community of inventors

Los Altos, CA, United States of America

Peter C Collura