Other

Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.a.

Roland J Andersson

David L Persells

Shigehiro Kinoshita

Arde Kirka

Ulf Mossberg

Felix Dunge

A linear drive apparatus for moving a canon in a packaging machine from a first position to a second position is set forth. The apparatus includes first and second spaced apart guide rods and an engagement assembly that is disposed between and slidably engages the first and second guide rods. The engagement assembly is adapted to engage one or more cartons for movement between the first and second positions. The apparatus further includes a drive shall onto which a drive roller is disposed for co-rotation. A first drive belt is connected to the drive roller and disposed about the drive roller in a clockwise direction at a first end thereof while a second end of the first drive belt is connected to a first portion of the engagement assembly. A second drive belt is connected to the drive roller and disposed about the drive roller in a counter-clockwise direction at a first end thereof while a second end of the second drive belt is connected to a second portion of the engagement assembly opposite the first portion of the engagement assembly. The rotation of the drive shaft in a clockwise direction causes linear movement of the engagement assembly in a first direction along the guide rods and the rotation of the drive shaft in a counter-clockwise direction causes linear movement of the engagement assembly in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Belt driven linear transport apparatus for packaging machine

A gable-bottom carton gripper is disclosed for lifting and transporting container blanks between various positions within a packaging machine. Container blanks are sealed in a gable-bottom configuration using predesigned sealing jaws. The sealing jaws feature strategically placed ribs which, during ultrasonic sealing of the container bottoms, cause the formation of a longitudinal bubble disposed along a bottom fin of each gable-bottom container. A carton gripper is adapted to grip the bottom fin while supporting the bottom panels of the container. The gripper includes a rigid member bent to conform to the shape of a gable-bottom container, with a gripping edge defining a fin channel to secure the bottom fin within a fin chamber. The longitudinal bubble prevents the fin from being displaced from the fin chamber during the lifting and transporting process.

Lifter mechanism employing a carton gripper and carton bottom seal

An apparatus and method for detecting the breakage of an electrically conductive drive band are disclosed. The apparatus includes an electrically conductive probe that is disposed proximate of the electrically conductive band. The probe is spaced from the electrically conductive drive band to allow the probe to contact the band upon its breakage. The band is connected to electrical ground potential. The apparatus also includes a continuity checking circuit that is connected to the electrically conductive drive band and the probe. The continuity checking circuit is designed so that the electrically conductive probe does not have a voltage potential thereon during normal operation of the apparatus. When the band breaks, it contacts the probe and thereby establishes an electrical continuity between the band and the probe. This electrical continuity is detected by the continuity checking circuit to provide a signal output indicative of the breakage of the band.

Apparatus and method for detecting breakage of a drive band in a

In terms of their operational reliability, apparatuses for discharging from a magazine of flat-laid packaging container blanks of the type used for manufacturing packaging containers for liquid contents are greatly dependent upon the quality of the packaging container blanks themselves. In the event of variations in friction or abutment pressure between the packaging container blanks, there is a risk that more than one blank is discharged at a time, or alternatively that no blank is discharged at all. In order to ensure a dependable function with repeated discharge of one blank at a time and at a predetermined rate, the apparatus according to the present invention includes a pivotal lever provided with at least one suction cup. The lever displaces one packaging container blank at a time from the discharge end of a magazine past a segmented wheel which grasps the discharged blank between a rubber cladding and a counter wheel for further advancement to a conveyor.

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Arlington Heights, IL, United States of America

Roland J Andersson