Apparatus for packaging articles

Abstract

Abstract An automatic machine is disclosed for wrapping a blank of corrugated paperboard around an array of articles, and for gluing end flaps of the side panel to form a sealed package. The machine includes a frame having an elevator structure equippped with vacuum means for drawing a blank downwardly between flap folding, or camming means, to form the blank into a generally U-shaped configuration at the bottom of the stroke of the elevator structure. An array of articles to be packaged is dropped upon the bottom panel of the blank intermediate the upper, or initial position, of the elevator structure and the lower or second position, so that both the article array and the blank are travelling in the same direction when they contact one another. The vacuum means releases the bottom panel of the U-shaped carton blank at the lower or second position of the article array, and the unit is captured at this poistion in the pocket of an intermittently operated pocket chain conveyor in order to support the resulting package while the end flaps of the side panels are sequentially closed against the ends of the article array. Simultaneously with horizontal movement of the package by the pocket chain conveyor, the top panel of the carton is folded downwardly by a movable plow so as to provide a box for the articles in a very short L-shaped path of movement of the article array. The end flaps of the top and bottom panels of the package are folded by fixed plows in a conventional manner after the end flaps of the side panels have been glued. The package may then be conveniently fed into a vertical compression unit where the manufacturer''s tab is glued and folded in a conventional manner.

Inventors

• 👤 T Flanagan

Bibliographic Details