Automatic form and fill packaging machine using cardboard blanks

Abstract

A unitary form and fill machine for wide throat boxes comprises a magazine for storing a plurality of pre-formed blanks. A plurality of lower mandrels are mounted on a first endless conveyor to travel throughout the machine. The blanks are picked up from the magazine one at a time and layed down on an individually associated one of the lower mandrels. A plurality of upper mandrels are mounted on a second endless conveyor which extends along a first part of the distance travelled by the first conveyor, the upper and lower mandrels and the first and second conveyors are synchronized so that the mandrels fit together and travel in alignment along said conveyors with the blank held between them. Various plows and other blank folding means are positioned adjacent conveyors for folding and sealing end flaps to form the blank into the bottom of a wide throat box. A third conveyor extends above the first conveyor along a second part of the distance travelled by the first conveyor. A plurality of filling chutes are attached to the third conveyor. The filling chutes and the lower mandrels and the first and third conveyors are synchronized so that the fill chute is over and travels in alignment with the wide throat of the boxes. After the wide throat box leaves the area of the third conveyor, a glue gun sprays panels which bonds the top in place.