The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 28, 1994
Filed:
Nov. 25, 1992
Magnus Janson, Edina, MN (US);
Jonny Olander, Trelleborg, SE;
Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A., Pully, CH;
Abstract
An apparatus and method for folding the bottom panels of a carton blank that includes side walls, first and third bottom panels extending from opposite side walls, second and fourth bottom panels extending from opposite side walls, and a bottom panel flap extending from the third bottom panel. The apparatus includes a frame, a rotatable supporting assembly, two rotatable folding fingers mounted on the frame for inwardly folding the second and fourth bottom panels, a tuck folder mounted on the rotatable mounting assembly for inwardly folding the third bottom panel, a guide mounted on the frame for contacting and inwardly folding the first bottom panel, and a bending member mounted on the rotatable supporting assembly for outwardly folding the bottom panel flap. One portion of the bending member is curved to define a concave surface that faces the tuck folder. The bending member can also be provided with a convex surface positioned on each side of the concave surface. The method involves placing a carton whose bottom end wall is to be formed on a rotating mandrel, folding the second and fourth bottom panels inwardly towards one another, folding the first and third bottom panels inwardly towards one another, and folding the bottom panel flap outwardly away from the first bottom panel concurrently with the inward folding of the third bottom panel. The folding of the bottom panel flap occurs without prior prefolding of the bottom panel flap.