The Mead Corporation

Riverwood International Corporation

Rolf Muller

Emanuel Negelen

Tightening arrangement for paperboard wrap and tightening section for

A carton activating mechanism (26) for opening the gatefold seats of a paperboard carton blank (13) is disclosed. A rotatable disc (30) carries a spaced series of activators (34), each of which includes a plate (35) having a pair of pivotally-connected fingers (37). The plate is reciprocably mounted on the disc by a pin (36) received in a groove (32) defined on a stationary plate (31) positioned with respect to the disc. Each of the fingers has a projection (40) and a cooperating abutment (41 ) so that the respective fingers are moved outwardly into an extended position, and then spread apart into an open position to fold the gatefold seats of the carton blank before closing and being retracted from the gatefold seats of the carton blank.

Carton activating mechanism

There is provided a spacing conveyor mechanism 10 having a pair of spaced, identical drive chains 13, 14. A number of conveyors 20 are attached to the chains, each conveyor having a leading carriage 21 pivotally attached to one chain 13 and a trailing carriage 22 pivotally attached to the other chain 14. Connecting the each pair of leading/trailing carriages is a pair of rod 23 extending rearwardly from the leading carriage through corresponding holes in the trailing carriage. The carriages remain parallel throughout their path and the position of the carriages relative to each other are easily adjusted.

Spacing conveyor mechanism

A spacing conveyor mechanism (10) for conveying cans (11) along an article feed path (12) in a packaging machine for forming the cans into groups of cans is disclosed. The spacing conveyor mechanism has a pair of spaced drive sprockets (15) positioned along the article feed path, and over which an endless drive chain (14) is passed. A spaced series of carriages (17) are pivotally attached to the drive chain. Each of the carriages includes a conveyor (18), the conveyor having a plurality of recessed pockets (19) sized and shaped to engage one each of the cans therein. Each carriage includes a toothed cog (20) affixed thereto and extending therefrom, each toothed cog being constructed to engage one of a pair of second sprockets (21) when the drive chain changes direction so that each of the carriages is sequentially rotated at a different rate of speed with respect to the rate of speed of the drive chain to maintain the orientation of the conveyors with respect to the article feed path, and the articles being conveyed thereon.

There is provided an article conveyor mechanism comprising a drive chain 13 on which is pivotally mounted a number of carriages 16 each having a conveyor 17 secured thereto. Each conveyor 17 has a plurality of pockets 18. Each conveyor 16 has two pins 19, 20 for engaging in respective grooves 21, 22 which are identical to each other in shape, but which are offset. When the chain 13 is driven, the conveyors remain parallel to each other throughout their endless paths.

A carton accommodating a plurality of articles, such as bottles (B) comprises a top (14, 16, 18, 20) a base and a pair of side walls (12, 22) interconnecting the top and the base thereby forming a tubular structure has a carrying handle (H) extending upwardly from the top and locking tabs (50, 52, 54) which tie together facing panels (16, 18) at lower portions of said carrying handle to maintain the carrying handle in an upstanding position for use.

Wraparound multipack with carrying handle

Equipment for continuously feeding a supply of packaging blanks to a packaging machine comprises a feed magazine (10) for holding and sequentially feeding a series of stacks (S1-S5) of packaging blanks, a feed hopper (14) to receive at least one stack of blanks at a time from the feed magazine and present the blanks for use in the machine and a transfer mechanism (12) for transferring a stack of blanks from the feed magazine to the feed hopper. A sensor (66) is provided automatically to actuate the transfer mechanism when the supply of blanks held by the feed hopper reaches a predetermined level and a switch (70) is provided automatically to advance the series of stacks in the feed magazine so that the next succeeding stack is positioned for transfer to the feed hopper.

Equipment for feeding packaging blanks to a packaging machine

A spacer and conveyor mechanism for a packaging machine in which articles can be conveyed along a feed path and grouped together for subsequent packaging of each group into a discrete unit. The mechanism has a series of spacer and conveyor elements (94) constrained cyclically to execute a working and return motion such that the elements move along a working path in the feed direction of the articles during which the elements interfere with the articles in the feed path so as to form and convey said groups along the feed path and move along a return path opposite to the feed direction of the articles during which said elements are remote from said articles. The working and return paths are substantially parallel to the feed path, and the spacer and conveyor elements each have an operative face adapted to convey said articles in spaced relationship. The elements are mounted so that they are held throughout their cyclic movement with their operative faces facing towards the feed path.

Mechanism for spacing and conveying articles in a packaging machine

A unitized shipping and display carton comprising a plurality of packages (Pb.sup.1, Pb.sup.2), each having a top wall (16) and a base (12,20) interconnected by a pair of spaced side walls (14,18) so as to form a tubular structure, end wall means (30,32,38,40) to prevent endwise movement of the contents through the ends of said tubular structure, an opening panel (86) provided in the top wall and partially in at least one of the side walls and defined by tear lines. The packages are joined one to the next in side-by-side relationship by side wall portions of the opening panel. Tear lines (x,y) defining a top wall portion are in registry with those of the next adjacent package whereby removal of the opening panel of an endmost package of the carton can be continued to cause removal of the opening panel of the other packages in the carton.

Carton formed from a plurality of packages

The invention provides in a packaging machine, a locking device for securing together overlapping bottom panels of a wrapper wrapped about a group of articles, which device comprises tightening and locking components housed in a removable locking unit, said unit being movably mounted in the machine such that it can be moved transversely from a first operative position within the machine frame to a second non-operative position clear of the machine frame.

Packaging machine

A wraparound carton with overlapping panels secured together by adjustable locking means to compensate for variations in the diameter of the articles to be wrapped. The locking arrangement comprises a locking tab struck from the outer lap panel and having a plurality of lateral projections along the side edges thereof so as to form wavy lines, and a locking aperture arranged in the underlying lap panel for receiving the locking tap therethrough and having side edges which converge toward the end edge of the associated lap panel. Also disclosed is a device for tightening the wrapper about the articles whereby the lap panels are pulled into overlapping relationship at a predetermined rate.

Wrapper for a plurality of articles arranged in rows

Apparatus for forming a wrapper about a group of articles, the wrapper having a top wall, side walls, bottom panels, end flaps, and a pair of outer flap parts integral with each end flap, the apparatus comprising means for moving the wrappers along a continuous path, a pair of fold elements pivotally mounted and adapted to fold the end flaps in an upward direction by a first cam means, and the fold elements being adapted to swing inwardly by a second cam means and thereby to press the outer flap parts against the associated side wall.

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Mehring, Germany

Rolf Muller