Sealing of cartons

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR PREPARING HEAT-SEALABLE FLAPS OF CARTONS PREPARATORY TO MOVEMENT THEREOF INTO HEAT-SEALING RELATION WITH THE CARTON BODY PORTIONS TO WHICH THEY ARE TO BE SEALED, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING CONVEYOR MEANS OPERATBLE TO MOVE CARTONS IN SUCCESSION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PATH, GUIDE MEANS MOUNTED ON A HOLLOW SUPPORT AND SPACED FROM AND EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF SAID PATH AND ENGAGEABLE WITH A CLOSURE FLAP OF A CARTON TO SUPPORT THE FLAP SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE CARTON BODY PORTION TO WHICH IT IS TO BE SEALED, AT LEAST ONE RADIANT HEAT EMITTING TAPE EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF SAID PATH AT A POSITION BETWEEN SAID PATH AND SAID GUIDE MEANS, SAID TAPE BEING SPACED FROM THE PATH OF A CLOSURE FLAP SUPPORTED BY SAID GUIDE MEANS AND FACING THE PATH OF THE CLOSURE FLAP SO THAT THE INTENSE HEAT FROM THE TAPE IS LOCALISED AWAY FROM THE CARTON BODY, TUBES CONNECTED WITH SAID HOLLOW SUPPORT TO SUPPLY COOLING FLUID FOR CIRCULATION THROUGH THE SUPPORT.