Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.a.

Wm Wrigley Jr Company

Russell Stacy-Ryan

Nicholas Cook

Terry Dean Erickson

John N Lees

Terry B Berglin

Mike Robertson

Jens Mogard

Tommy Bo-Goran Ljungstrom

David R Anchor

Sheila Moss

Hichem Bouraoui

Hichem T 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

An over-folded, sealed bottom carton defining an interior storage region includes a plurality of side panels defining upstanding walls. The panels include first, second, third and fourth panels that are separated from adjacent side panels by longitudinal crease lines. A plurality of top panels define a sealed top. A plurality of bottom panels define a sealed bottom. The bottom panels extend from respective, adjacent side panels and separated from their respective side panels by a transverse crease line. Each bottom panel has a length relative to the transverse crease line. The bottom panels are contiguous with adjacent bottom panels and are separated from adjacent panels by the longitudinal crease lines. The bottom panels include rectangular major and minor panels opposing each other and each having a length. The length of the minor panel is less than the length of the major panel. The minor panel has a tab extending from an end thereof and separated from the minor panel by a tab crease line. The tab further includes a raw edge spaced from the crease line. Each of the others of the bottom panels are formed from a plurality of substantially triangular panels and each includes a transverse panel portion extending along an entire side of one of the triangular panels. When the bottom panel is folded to form the sealed bottom, the tab is folded over onto the minor panel at the tab crease line, and each of the transverse panel portions overlies substantially one-half of the tab to isolate the tab raw edge from the carton interior region.

Carton with over-folded bottom

Container opening

Gable top carton with angled corners

Beveled edge carton

The present invention is a carton having side panels which intersect at beveled edges to provide greater grip stiffness and reduced surface area to volume, and a blank therefor. The blank has vertical score lines which extend along the entire length of the blank at least two of the edges in order to assist in the fabrication of the carton on a form, fill and seal packaging machine. The carton may have a rectangular cross-section, a square cross-section or the like. The carton may have a fitment attached thereto for accessing the product contained therein. The carton may have an overfolded bottom for protection against leakage and wicking.

Beveled edge carton and blank 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

The present invention is a carton with a fitment disposed where cartons without fitments conventionally were opened for accessing the contents. The carton has a truncated gable top with a triangular face upon which lies the fitment. The pouring of the product from the carton is similar to the traditional pouring operation from gable top cartons without fitments.

Carton with a gable top having a triangular face with a fitment thereon

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Russell Stacy-Ryan