Vertical cartoning assembly and method

Abstract

A vertical cartoner assembly and method is for placing and assembling cartons over preselected product groups moved on a conveyor. The assembly has a frame structure having an elongated circular portion and vertically disposed drive shafts each having upper and lower chain sprockets. Continuous chains engage the upper and lower sprockets, and a power drive is provided to rotate one of the drive shafts. A continuous cam rail structure is mounted to the frame spacially intermediate the continuous chains. The continuous cam rail has downwardly and upwardly sloping sections. A plurality of vertical shafts are connected to the top and bottom chains. A carton holder body structure having a vertically disposed sleeve slidingly engages at least one of the vertical shafts. The carton holder body has a rearwardly extending cam follower for movement in the cam rail structure. The carton holder body structure has a pair of adjustable outwardly extending arms for receiving an opened and partially erected carton. The carton holder movement in the sloping rail section is in synchronization with the movement of the product groups on the conveyor and in alignment and spacially above and conveyor. A carton transfer device is provided for the continuous placement and opening of flat, folded cartons between the flight arms of the carton holder structures so that the movement of the carton holders provides for the vertical placement of cartons onto the preselected product groups.