US3739545A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for packaging articles
Assignee: Newfrey LLC
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Filing: 1971-05-19
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Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1991-05-19
Abstract
Abstract An automatic machine is disclosed for packaging an array, or slug, of articles, such as cans, in a paperboard carton, wherein the carton is first provided in a flat blank form, is then preliminarily formed into a U-shaped configuration, and then final wrapped around the array of articles, to be subsequently glued up and sealed so as to form a very compact paperboard carton for the articles. The machine includes a frame having a vertically movable elevator structure which is equipped with laterally opposed plows for engaging side panels of the paperboard blank, and for folding the side panels upwardly into a U-shaped configuration around the funnel portion of a packer in which the articles are held prior to being dropped onto the bottom panel of the blank. After the articles are positioned thereon, the elevator structure lowers the U-shaped blank, together with the articles, onto a pocket chain conveyor where the carton is fed laterally off the elevator to fold the top panel, and to fold the end panels associated with the side panels, as well as those associated with the top and bottom panels, into place. A conventional vertical compression unit is also used, and the manufacturer''s tab or flap is glued and folded in this portion of the machine.
Inventors
- 👤 H Lattke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:22
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B11/00; B65B11/004; B65B11/06; B65B11/18; B65B11/20; B65B11/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
Apparatus for forming a carton for an array of articles, said apparatus comprising a drop packer for releasably supporting the array of articles and including at least two fixed parallel funnel sides for guiding the articles when they are released, means for feeding a flat carton blank to an infeed position wherein a bottom panel of the blank is below said drop packer and so that side panels of the blank have prescored fold lines adjacent the sides of the bottom panel located in spaced relation below said fixed funnel sides, an elevator structure below the blank infeed position and including a first plow at one side for engaging one of said blank side panels during upward movement of said elevator structure to fold it upwardly against one of said fixed funnel sides, a second plow at the opposite side of said elevator structure for engaging the other side panel to fold it upwardly along side the other fixed funnel side, means for reciprocating said elevator structure to move it upwardly from an initial position to a raised position as aforesaid to form said initially flat blank into a generally U-shaped configuration and with the blank side panels folded against said fixed funnel sides, said drop packer including means for releasing the array of articles so that they drop downwardly onto the bottom panel between said fixed funnel sides, and said means for reciprocating said elevator structure then lowering said array of articles and said U-shaped blank downwardly to a position below said initial position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
Apparatus for forming a carton for an array of articles, said apparatus comprising a drop packer for releasably supporting the array of articles and including at least two fixed parallel funnel sides for guiding the articles when they are released, means for feeding a flat carton blank to an infeed position wherein a bottom panel of the blank is below said drop packer and so that side panels of the blank have prescored fold lines adjacent the sides of the bottom panel located in spaced relation below said fixed funnel sides, an elevator structure below the blank infeed position and including a first plow at one side for engaging one of said blank side panels during upward movement of said elevator structure to fold it upwardly against one of said fixed funnel sides, a second plow at the opposite side of said elevator structure for engaging the other side panel to fold it upwardly along side the other fixed funnel side, means for reciprocating said elevator structure to move it upwardly from an initial position to a raised position as aforesaid to form said initially flat blank into a generally U-shaped configuration and with the blank side panels folded against said fixed funnel sides, said drop packer including means for releasing the array of articles so that they drop downwardly onto the bottom panel between said fixed funnel sides, and said means for reciprocating said elevator structure then lowering said array of articles and said U-shaped blank downwardly to a position below said initial position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by conveyor means for moving the U-shaped blank off said elevator structure after said elevator structure reaches said position below said initial one.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second plow is hingedly connected to said elevator structure so that said U-shaped blank and its associated array of articles can be moved by said conveyor means in a direction suitable for folding a top panel of the blank, which top panel is carried by said other side panel, and plow means for so folding said top panel as the U-shaped blank is so moved.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further characterizEd by biasing means for urging said second plow toward an active position for folding said other blank side panel as aforesaid, and wherein said conveyor means overcomes the biasing force of said biasing means when moving the U-shaped blank transversely off said elevator structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized by blank supporting means at said infeed station, said last mentioned means including structure for restraining the top panel and bending it back as the other side panel is folded up by said second plow whereby the top panel is more readily folded over by said plow means during transverse movement of the U-shaped blank off the elevator structure as aforesaid.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
142 words
a method for forming a carton from an initially flat carton blank having a bottom panel, two side panels connected thereto, and end flaps associated with these bottom and side panels for an array of articles held in a drop packer, said method comprising the steps of a. feeding a blank from a stack to a generally horizontal initial position below the fixed funnel of a drop packer. b. lifting the blank upwardly so that the bottom panel engages the fixed funnel and so that the side panels are folded upwardly to abut the sides of the fixed funnel to provide a U-shaped blank configuration, c. dropping an array of articles on the bottom panel while the blank is in said U-shaped configuration, and d. lowering said array of articles and said U-shaped blank downwardly to a position below said initial position.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
142 words
a method for forming a carton from an initially flat carton blank having a bottom panel, two side panels connected thereto, and end flaps associated with these bottom and side panels for an array of articles held in a drop packer, said method comprising the steps of a. feeding a blank from a stack to a generally horizontal initial position below the fixed funnel of a drop packer. b. lifting the blank upwardly so that the bottom panel engages the fixed funnel and so that the side panels are folded upwardly to abut the sides of the fixed funnel to provide a U-shaped blank configuration, c. dropping an array of articles on the bottom panel while the blank is in said U-shaped configuration, and d. lowering said array of articles and said U-shaped blank downwardly to a position below said initial position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 6 further characterized by the additional step of moving said U-shaped blank and the articles therein in a generally horizontal direction away from said lowered position, and folding a top panel, which is carried by one of said side panels of said blank, over the upper ends of the articles as they are so moved.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 6 further characterized by the step of folding the end flaps associated with the other of said side panels while said U-shaped blank is in said lowered position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 8 further characterized by the additional step of moving said U-shaped blank and the articles therein in a generally horizontal direction away from said lowered position, and folding a top panel, which is carried by one of said side panels of said blank, over the upper ends of the articles as they are so moved.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 9 further characterized by the step of folding the end flaps associated with said one side panel as the U-shaped blank is moved horizontally to so fold said top panel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3146565A
Cited
US3306002A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |