Package Machinery Co. Inc.

Robert W McIntyre

James S Groom

Cartoning apparatus for packaging sealed bags containing loosely packed discrete articles in board cartons comprises a carton transfer and erecting mechanism which withdraws a collapsed carton sleeve from a magazine and deposits it in erected condition on a carton conveyor which advances the erected carton sleeve with step-by-step motion through a plurality of work stations. A form, fill and seal machine delivers a sealed bag containing a product to a vacuum conveyor which accelerates the bag through a guide shroud and into the near open end of an associated carton sleeve supported on the carton conveyor at a carton filling station. A rail disposed at the far open end of the associated carton sleeve arrests the bag within the sleeve. The carton conveyor advances the carton sleeve and bag to further work stations where the carton end flaps are closed and sealed. Another embodiment of the invention utilizes a vacuum head at the filling station adjacent the far open end of the associated sleeve to draw vacuum on the interior of the sleeve and thereby assist movement of a bag into the carton sleeve.

Cartoning method

Cartoning apparatus for packaging sealed bags containing loosely packed discrete articles in board cartons comprises a carton transfer and erecting mechanism which withdraws a collapsed carton sleeve from a magazine and deposits it in erected condition on a carton conveyor which advances the erected carton sleeve with step-by-step motion through a pluraltiy of work stations. A form, fill and seal machine delivers a sealed bag containing a product to a vacuum conveyor which accelerates the bag through a guide shroud and into the near open end of an associated carton sleeve supported on the carton conveyor at a carton filling station. A rail disposed at the far open end of the associated carton sleeve arrests the bag within the sleeve. The carton conveyor advances the carton sleeve and bag to further work stations where the carton end flaps are closed and sealed. Another embodiment of the invention utilizes a vacuum head at the filling station adjacent the far open end of the associated sleeve to draw vacuum on the interior of the sleeve and thereby assist movement of a bag into the carton sleeve.

Growing community of inventors

Kennewick, WA, United States of America

Robert W McIntyre