MXPA99008740A - Air jet apparatus for re-opening cartons - Google Patents

Abstract

An air jet carton re-opening apparatus (10) for use with an article cartoning machine (12). The apparatus produces a stream of pressurized gas or a gas mixture (68) that opens carton sleeves (16) to receive articles (14) for packaging. The air jet apparatus (10) comprises a gas emitting mechanism, a gas supply connected to the gas emitting mechanism, and a positioning mechanism (74) constructed and arranged to dispose the gas emitting mechanism operationally adjacent to the carton sleeves (16). The stream of pressurized gas (68) is directed at the carton sleeve (16) such that it opens and maintains the relatively rectangular dimensions of the carton sleeves (16) to permit the article cartoning machine (12) to successfully load articles (14) into an optimally sized carton.

Description

AIR JET DEVICE FOR REBOUNDING CARTON CONTAINERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method used in the packaging industry. More particularly, the invention relates to a means for successfully loading articles into optimally sized cartons. Specifically, the invention relates to a means for maintaining the relatively rectangular dimensions of carton sleeve shirts and opening the ends of the carton sleeve shirts to allow the loading of articles in cartons optimally sized. The invention has particular utility for reopening the folded ends of shirts of cardboard or cardboard containers partially erected in continuous movement cardboard packaging assemblies. However, the invention may also have utility in other applications. 2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Previously, various devices and methods have been used or proposed for loading groups of items into cartons or packing shirts, canvases or wrappings in a packaging machine in cardboard boxes or a packaging machine. However, these devices and methods are considered to have significant limitations and drawbacks. One problem is that the cartons' packaging machines periodically stop for maintenance, product replacements and other reasons. After a period of downtime in an assembly of packaging machines in cardboard boxes, partially erected cardboard packaging shirts, particularly those constructed of cardboard, have a tendency to deviate or present an oblique appearance with respect to their rectangular dimensions , and the fins of the shirts have a tendency to bend. Both in the oblique cardboard packaging shirts and in the folded fins, these interfere with the loading of the groups of articles. The folded fins can be pushed erroneously and folded into the carton with the item groups. The side walls of the oblique cardboard packaging liner can prevent or interfere with the loading of the article groups in the cartons, particularly those which have an optimum size. The cartons with an optimal size have dimensions that are only slightly larger than those of the group of articles that are going to be loaded so that they are prepared, square and stable so as to minimize the use of material.

Examples of packaging machines in cardboard boxes in which the device of the present invention can be used are described in the provisional application of the United States 60 / 016,930 (hereinafter referred to as "provisional application '930"), the patent of the United States 5,456,058 (hereinafter referred to as the "patent '058"), and the United States patent No. 5,241,806 (hereinafter referred to as the "Patent' 806"). The provisional application '930, the patent 1058 and the patent' 806 are all assigned to the assignees of the applicant and are therefore incorporated herein by reference. Provisional application '930 describes a commodity transfer mechanism constructed and arranged to move groups of articles stacked at the open ends of carton sleeve shirts. The mechanism is incorporated in an assembly of packaging machines in cardboard boxes of continuous movement and is used to transfer stacked bottles to shirts of cartons. In a preferred embodiment, the transfer apparatus includes a plurality of transfer elements, a means for longitudinally moving the transfer elements and a cam track assembly. The plurality of transfer elements are placed at spaced longitudinally predetermined intervals. The transfer elements laterally move the articles which are to be transported longitudinally in a stream. Each transfer element includes a lower contact member and a top step contact member, a support member connected to the contact members, and a control member to direct the lateral movement of the transfer elements. The control member of the transfer member includes a first follower cam connected to the support member that controls the lateral movement of the transfer elements, and a second cam follower pivotally connected to the support member and connected to the contact member via a means of articulation. The second cam follower of the control member provides differential lateral movement between the upper and lower contact members. A third cam follower of the control member is pivotally connected to the support member and connected to the contact member via an articulation means. The third cam lock provides differential lateral movement to predetermined portions of the stepped contact member. The transfer apparatus further includes a means for longitudinally moving the transfer elements, the means is connected to the support member. The transfer apparatus also includes a cam track assembly capable of laterally moving the transfer elements. The cam track assembly coincides cooperatively with the first and second cam followers.

The '058 patent describes a packaging machine assembly in continuous-motion cardboard boxes for loading groups of stacked or vertically stratified articles into cartons. This device is used to load stacked cans inside shirts of cardboard containers. The assembly of the packaging machine in cardboard boxes comprises a mechanism for feeding articles that supply at least two streams of articles at vertically different levels; a mechanism for selecting and conveying groups of articles that intersects the article feed mechanism to form a longitudinal stream of item groups of a predetermined stacked pattern; a mechanism for supplying and transporting mechanically synchronized carton packs and moving parallel with the selection and transport mechanism of article groups to provide cartons with open ends oriented to groups of articles in movement; and a commodity transfer mechanism constructed and arranged to move the groups of articles at the open ends of the shirts of the carton packs. This carton packaging machine provides a method for continuously loading cartons with stacked groups of articles having upper and lower subgroups of at least one article. The method comprises the steps of supplying an inlet stream of articles in a first position, selecting articles in the first position to form a subgroup of inferior articles, transporting the subgroups of inferior articles longitudinally to a second position, supplying an inlet stream of items in the second position, select items in the second position to form a subgroup of superior articles in the upper part of the subgroup of inferior items and in this way form a group of stacked items, supply and longitudinally transport a cardboard package in spatial synchronization with the group of stacked articles, and laterally transferring the group of articles stacked in the longitudinally transported carton. The '806 patent discloses a packaging machine assembly in cardboard boxes for loading groups of articles into shirts of open cardboard packaging containers. It is used to load non-stacked bottles or cans in cardboard packaging shirts. The assembly of the packaging machine in cardboard boxes comprises a mechanism for feeding articles that supply at least one stream of articles, an article selection mechanism that intersects the article feed mechanism to form and move a stream of groups of articles of a predetermined pattern, a mechanism for transporting synchronized carton packs and moving parallel with the article selection mechanism to provide cartons with open ends facing the groups of articles in motion, and a transfer mechanism of item groups built and arranged to move the groups of items into the open ends of the carton packs. The article selection mechanism has a plurality of stationary or fixed flight bars positioned thereon which select linearly the articles of the article feed mechanism which is inclined with respect to the article selection mechanism. The article group transfer mechanism has transversely reciprocating arm assemblies, including stepped transfer heads driven by cams, for loading groups of products in an initially accommodated configuration having a differentially thinner loading dimension. The article group transfer mechanism includes a cam-driven means for guiding product groups in cartons. The transport mechanism of cartons has a means of adjusting the flight phase of an improved carton. Despite the need in the art for a continuous movement cardboard packaging assembly which solves the disadvantages, disadvantages and limitations of the prior art, until now none is known that has been developed. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a carton packing machine that successfully loads groups of articles of optimum size, in cartons of cartonboard prepared from the moment of starting the machine after a period of free time. Another objective is to provide a mechanism that reliably maintains the relative rectangular dimensions of the shirts of the carton packs and that opens or reopens the folded flaps of the cartons of cartons during the operation of the machine before loading of the items inside the shirts of the carton packs. * BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an air jet apparatus and a method for opening or reopening cartons in or on a packaging machine, such as a continuous-motion carton packaging machine. The air jet apparatus comprises a gas emitting mechanism constructed and arranged to emit a pressurized gas stream or a gas mixture such as air, a gas supply, for example an air pressure hose and a positioning mechanism constructed and arranged to position the gas emitting mechanism operationally adjacent to the cardboard transport mechanism of the packaging apparatus in cartons. The pressurized air stream has sufficient force to open the fins of cartons traveling longitudinally along the transport mechanism of cartons. A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an alignment mechanism and timing mechanism constructed and arranged to direct the pressurized air stream to synchronize the current with the carton transport mechanism, an article transport mechanism and a mechanism of loading items. The energy jet apparatus provides an efficient solution that allows the packaging apparatus in continuous-motion cartons to start immediately after a period of free time upon reopening the shirts of the oblique cartons traveling on a transport mechanism of cardboard containers. The solution is efficient because it uses commonly available compressed or pressurized gas, a mixture of gas or air to avoid wasting material and time related to the recalibration or resynchronization of the transport mechanism of merchandise groups, the transfer mechanism of items and cardboard transport mechanism. The features, benefits and objects of this invention will become apparent to those familiar with the art with reference to the following description, claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side view of an apparatus for packing in cartons of articles (patent O58) which includes a mechanism for reopening the carton with an air jet of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the carton packaging apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end view of the carton packing apparatus of Fig. 1, taken along the line; 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a top view of the air jet carton reopening mechanism of the present invention together with the transport mechanism of carton packs and the article group transfer mechanism of the apparatus of packaging in cardboard boxes of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a side view showing the mechanism of reopening cartons with air jet that directs a stream of pressurized air to the partially erected carton packs. Figure 6 is an end view of the packaging apparatus in cardboard boxes of articles (provisional application '930), which includes the reopening mechanism of air-jet carton packs of the present invention, observed upstream towards the inlet end of the apparatus.

Figure 7 is a detailed side view of the transfer elements and the article group of the packaging machine in cardboard boxes of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a top view of the reopening mechanism of carton packs with jet air of the present invention together with the carton transport mechanism and the article group transfer mechanism of the packaging apparatus in cardboard boxes of Figure 6. Figure 9 is a perspective view of a carton of exemplary cartilage processed by the device of the present invention having relatively rectangular dimensions. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view along line 10-10 of Fig. 9 showing a group of articles placed inside the optimally sized carton.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The air jet mechanism or the apparatus 10 is used in a packaging apparatus in high-speed cardboard boxes or a packaging machine in cardboard boxes 12. The packaging machines in cardboard boxes typically comprise a power supply mechanism. articles, a mechanism for selecting articles, a transport mechanism for groups of articles, a mechanism for loading groups of articles, and a transport mechanism for cartons. The air jet apparatus cooperates and is synchronized both with the transport mechanism of carton packs and with the transfer mechanism of article groups of the packaging machines in cardboard boxes, and therefore helps the packaging machines in cartons in the successful loading of groups of articles into optimally sized carton packs that can be oblique with respect to their rectangular dimensions either while they are left loose or move over the transport mechanism of carton packs . Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the packing machine in cartons of the '058 patent loading groups 14 of stacked articles of cans into the carton sleeves 16 and exemplify the general relationship of the air jet apparatus 10 with a packaging machine in cardboard boxes 12. The carton packing machine 12 of the '058 patent generally comprises a carton transport mechanism 18, a pair of article feeding mechanisms 20, a mechanism 22 for selecting article groups, a mechanism 24 for transporting groups of articles, a mechanism 26 for placing divisions and a mechanism 28 for loading article groups or transverse loading. These mechanisms are supported by a unitary frame structure.

The shirts 16 of the cartons or blanks are placed next to the entrance end 32 of the packaging machine in cardboard boxes 12 and subsequently transported linearly to an exit end 34 of the packaging machine 5 in boxes of cardboard. cardboard 12. The article feeding mechanisms 20 are shown positioned at the entrance end 32 of the packaging machine in cardboard boxes 12. A first portion 36 of each article feeding mechanism 20 is positioned spatially parallel to the mechanism 22 of selection of groups of items and the article transport mechanism 24, and a second portion 38 is attached, at a predetermined angle, to the article assembly transport mechanism 24 for supplying item streams 40 to two separate positions along the length of the article. transport mechanism 24 of article groups.

These joining mechanisms are further constructed and arranged to dose individual items 40 using flight bars 42 within groups 14 of stacked items predetermined in the mechanism. The stacking function of the device is carried out by forming a first group 44 at a low level, placing a separating or dividing sheet 46 on the lower group 44 by means of a divider sheet positioning mechanism 48, and then simultaneously forming a second group 50 downstream at a higher level and allowing the second group 50 to slide through the same. the dividing sheet by the action of the bars of flight 22 of the article group selection mechanism 22.

The article group transport mechanism 24 is positioned adjacent and parallel to the carton transport mechanism 18 and downstream, in a linear orientation. The groups 14 of articles bound or stacked are transported downstream thereof in a separate and dosed manner, each group 14 is aligned with the cardboard packaging sleeve 16 which moves on the carton transport mechanism 18. The article loading mechanism 28 has loading arms 52 which extend transversely or perpendicularly with respect to the transport mechanisms 18 and 24, and move the groups 14 of articles stacked on the transport mechanism 24 of groups of articles in the shirts 16 of aligned carton packs that move on the mechanism 18 for transporting cartons, so they load the shirts 16 of cardboard containers with groups 14 of stacked items. Preferably, each of the aforementioned mechanisms has a conveyor-type structure with an endless flight chain 54 or a band configured around a rotatable, free-moving end means 56, which moves longitudinally with respect to the inlet 32 ( upstream) and exit 34 (downstream) at the ends of the packaging machine in cardboard boxes 12. The movement of each mechanism is further synchronized with each other, for example by a common drive and / or gear means.

Figure 4 shows a top view of an air jet mechanism 10 and shows the shirts 16 of cardboard boxes that have been partially erected and are vertical for 5 or 10 minutes in a carton transport mechanism 18 which is not working at that time. When the groups 14 of stacked articles are loaded into the carton liner 16 without the use of the air jet apparatus 10, the groups 14 of stacked articles have a tendency to catch and wrongly bend the fins 58. folded into the shirt 16 of the carton. Therefore, the flaps 58 are not available to build a carton 60. In addition, the carton machine 12 can be jammed while attempting to load groups 14 of stacked items into oblique cartons 60. The carton sleeves 16 are transported on the carton transport mechanism 18 downstream to the exit end 34 using flight lugs 35. The air jet apparatus 10 is placed operationally adjacent to the carton sleeves 16 and opposite to the open or load end 62 of the carton sleeve 16 in which the groups 14 of stacked articles are pushed. The air jet apparatus 10 is further positioned upstream from the point at which the groups 14 of stacked items are loaded into the liners 16 carton packs. As shown in Figure 4, the air jet apparatus 10 is located before the fin retainers 64 so that the end panels 66 are still open. The pressurized air stream 68 flows through the carton sleeve 16 and extends the folded fins 58 over the loading end 62 just prior to the time when the item loading mechanism 28 discharges the groups 14. of items stacked inside the. shirt 16 of cardboard packaging. The air jet apparatus 10 is synchronized with the article group loading mechanism 28 and the carton transport mechanism 18 to provide an air flow for reopening in the carton sleeve 16 to allow group 14 of stacked items is loaded. The air jet apparatus 10 drives this air stream 68 so that the air flow does not interfere with the displacement of the carton sleeves 16. Figure 5 shows a side view of the air jet apparatus 10 and in particular shows the gas emission mechanism 70 connected to an air pipe 72 or other means for supplying gas, and shows the positioning mechanism 74 for placing the gas emitting mechanism 70 close to the carton sleeves 16 that are to be reopened. The gas emitting mechanism 70 is shown as a set of air jet nozzles 76 connected to produce compressed air of 4.2-5.6 kg / cm2 (60-80 psi). The preferred embodiment uses air jet nozzles 76 such as TRANSVECTOR JET * "1 manufactured by Vortec which produce a thin, confined air stream of sufficient pressure to open carton sleeves 16 when the air jet nozzles 76 are they fit to 51-58 cm (20-23 inches), and preferably 55 cm (21.5 inches) from the "16" shirts of cartons. The air jet nozzles 76 have a nozzle portion 78 that accurately directs the narrow stream of air, and a neck 80 that is received within the cavity 82 of a base 84. The positioning or positioning mechanism 74 is shown as an arm joint 86 which is bolted together along the frame 30 of the cardboard transport mechanism 18. The arm joint 86 takes the form of a bracket 88 with two angles. This shape allows the arm joint 86 to horizontally place the air jet nozzles 76 and avoid interference with the displacement of the carton sleeves 16 on the carton transport mechanism 18. As shown in figure 15, the positioning mechanism 74 can be placed anywhere along the frame 30. This flexibility is desirable to accommodate different types of article groups because the point at which the groups of articles are loaded into the shirts 16. of carton packaging depends on the pattern of the group of items and the size of the carton. For example, Figure 4 shows an alternative position for the air jet nozzles 77. The assembly of the air jet nozzles 76 is capable of moving to accommodate narrower or wider stations 90 associated with 12 packages, 36 packages or other item groups of a predetermined pattern. A preferred embodiment incorporates an alignment mechanism 92 and a synchronization mechanism 94. The alignment mechanism 92 allows pivotal adjustments to the air jet nozzles 76 to be made in an optimum direction. As shown in Figure 5, the air jet nozzles 76 are pivotally mounted on the positioning mechanism 74. An adjustment screw 96 or similar device within the base 84 holds the neck 80 within the cavity 82 and provides a means for adjusting the air jet nozzles 76 in a particular direction. The synchronization mechanism 94 comprises an electronic synchronization device that is programmed to drive or operate for 200 degrees of a 360 degree cycle, although it may be programmed to operate for a different percentage of a cycle. A 360 degree cycle is defined as the period of time necessary for a carton sleeve 16 to advance a station 90 longitudinally along the carton transport mechanism 18. The duration of a cycle can vary from 0.2 seconds to 1.2 seconds. An effective synchronization mechanism design for reopening carton sleeves 16 made of cardboard, folded and oblique dumps an air stream during cycles of 5 to 10 when the carton packing machines 12 are operating in the automatic mode, and for each cycle when the carton packing machine 12 operates in the manual mode. The air jet apparatus 10 of the present invention can also be used to subject groups of non-stacked articles to packaging in cardboard boxes such as those processed by the device of the '058 patent or the device of the' 806 patent. Figures 6 and 7 show the carton packing machine of the provisional application '930 loading groups 14 of stacked articles of bottles into shirts 16 of cartons. The formation of bottles is alternated during loading inside the carton sleeve 16. A top group 50 alternates approximately one third of a bottle diameter behind the bottom group 44. Additionally, the central row of the upper group 50 alternates approximately one third of a diameter of bottles behind the outer rows of the upper group 50. The stacking allows an improved group loading, a narrower group placement when packing and also avoids that more bottles of the upper group 50 are advanced or advanced, preventing them from falling on the back of the shirt 16 of the carton. The upper bottles tend to be loose backward within the front face as the leading edge of the upper bottle is supported by the lid on a bottle of the lower group, while the rear edge of the top bottle is supported by a divider sheet 46 . Figure 8 is a top view of the air jet apparatus 10. It shows the loading of the groups 14 of stacked articles and the alternating pattern of the upper group 50, as well as the stepped loading head 98 of the loading arms 52. With reference to figures 9 and 10, the packaging machines in cardboard boxes 12 construct carriers or cartons 60 that can contain stacks of cans, bottles or other items which are placed on top of each other. The shirt 16 of cartons made of cardboard consists of front and rear side panels 100 which are foldably connected to an upper panel 102 and a lower panel 104. The end panels 66 or fins are connected to the upper 102, lower 104 and side 100 panels. A cardboard dividing sheet 46 separates the upper group 50 and the lower group 44. The above descriptions and the accompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative and not limiting sense. Although the invention has been described in relation to the preferred embodiment or modalities thereof, it should be understood that there may be other embodiments which are within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. When a claim is expressed as a means or a step to perform a specified function it is understood that such a claim should be considered to encompass the structure, material or corresponding acts described in the specification and their equivalent, including structural equivalents and structures. equivalents

Claims (21)

1. An air jet apparatus for loading groups of articles into cartons, each of the cartons is constructed of a cardboard sleeve, the cardboard sleeve has a first open end and a second open end, the cardboard sleeve further has a first set of end panels placed at the first end and a second set of end panels placed at the second end, the groups of articles are loaded into the cardboard sleeve through the first open end, the apparatus is characterized in that it comprises: (a) a gas-emitting mechanism constructed and arranged to produce a directed stream of pressurized air of a predetermined force; (b) a means for supplying gas to a gas emitting mechanism; (c) a positioning or positioning mechanism constructed and arranged to provide a gas emitting mechanism adjacent to the second end of the cardboard sleeve; (d) an alignment mechanism constructed and arranged to adjustably direct the pressurized air stream produced by the gas emitting mechanism from the second end through the cardboard packaging sleeve to the first end to extend the first set of gas panels. end of carton packaging shirt; and (e) a synchronization mechanism, constructed and arranged to produce a pulsating stream of pressurized air, the synchronization mechanism produces the pulsating stream of pressurized air and extends the first set of end panels as the group of articles are loaded into the First end of the cardboard shirt.

2. The air jet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas emitting mechanism and the means for supplying gas cooperate to form a pressurized air stream of a predetermined force sufficient to open the cardboard jacket.

3. The air jet apparatus of claim 2, wherein the gas emitting mechanism includes one or more air jet nozzles.

4. The air jet apparatus of claim 2, wherein the means for supplying gas includes an air line.

5. The air jet apparatus of claim 2, wherein the positioning or positioning mechanism includes a support arm.

6. The air jet apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an alignment mechanism constructed and arranged to adjustably direct the pressurized air stream produced by the gas emitting mechanism to open the jacket of carton packs.

7. The air jet apparatus of claim 6, wherein the alignment mechanism comprises one or more pivoting mechanisms constructed and arranged to pivotally mount the gas emitting mechanism and adjustably direct the pressurized air stream in a fixed direction.

8. The air jet apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a synchronization mechanism constructed and arranged to produce a pulsating stream of pressurized air.

9. The air jet apparatus of claim 8, wherein the synchronization mechanism comprises a programmable electronic synchronization device.

10. An air jet apparatus for opening cartons to receive groups of items for packaging in a continuous-motion carton packing apparatus, comprising: (a) a gas emitting mechanism constructed and arranged to produce a stream of pressurized air of predetermined force, the gas emitting mechanism includes one or more air jet nozzles; (b) means for supplying gas to the gas emitting mechanism, the means for supplying gas includes an air line; (c) a positioning mechanism constructed and arranged to position the gas emitting mechanism operationally adjacent to a cardboard sleeve, the positioning mechanism comprising a support arm; (d) an alignment mechanism constructed and arranged to adjustably direct the pressurized air stream produced by the gas emitting mechanism to open the cardboard jacket; and (e) a synchronization mechanism constructed and arranged to produce a pulsating stream of pressurized air.

11. A packaging apparatus in cardboard boxes for loading groups of articles in cartons or cartons, each of the cartons is constructed from a shirt of cartons, the shirt of cartons has a first open end and a second open end, the cardboard packaging sleeve further has a first set of end panels placed at the first end, and a second set of end panels placed at the second end, the groups of articles are loaded into the cardboard sleeve through the first open end, comprising: (a) a transport mechanism for groups of articles constructed and arranged to carry a longitudinal stream of groups of articles; (b) a transport mechanism for carton packs placed adjacent to, and parallel with, the article transport mechanism, the transport mechanism for carton packs is constructed and arranged to provide a longitudinal stream of the carton liners. cardboard, each of the carton packs has a first open end oriented and synchronized with the article group transport mechanism; (c) an article group loading mechanism constructed and arranged to move a plurality of article groups from the article group transport mechanism within the first open end of each of the carton sleeve shirts that are moved over the cardboard transport mechanism; and (d) an air jet apparatus positioned adjacent to the transport mechanism of cartons and opposite from the article loading mechanism, the air jet apparatus directs a stream of pressurized air through each of the carton packs that move over the carton transport mechanism, the pressurized air stream flows through the second open end and the carton, and extends the first set of end panels.

12. The continuous motion carton packing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the article group loading mechanism moves in parallel synchronization with the article group transport mechanism, the item loading mechanism, and the item handling mechanism. The articles comprise a support means, a movable pushing means operative in a transverse direction, and an activation means for moving the pushing means at predetermined positions in a travel path.

13. The carton packaging apparatus of claim 11, wherein the air jet apparatus comprises a gas emitting mechanism, a means for supplying gas to the gas emitting mechanism, and a positioning mechanism constructed and arranged to dispose of the gas emitting mechanism. the gas emitting mechanism operationally adjacent to the transport mechanism of cartons.

14. The carton packaging apparatus of claim 13, wherein the gas emitting mechanism is synchronized with the article group transport mechanism, the carton transport mechanism, and the group loading mechanism. articles, wherein the gas-emitting mechanism opens the plurality of carton packs at the loading point of the carton transport mechanism where the article-loading mechanism loads the plurality of article groups in the carton. plurality of cardboard packaging shirts that move on the carton transport mechanism.

15. The continuous motion carton packing apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a article feed mechanism constructed and arranged to supply at least two streams of articles, each at a predetermined vertically different level, wherein the article group transport mechanism intersects the article feed mechanism for forming and conveying the longitudinal stream of article groups of a predetermined stacked pattern, and the article group loading mechanism laterally loads a plurality of stacked article groups within the plurality of cardboard packaging shirts.

16. A packaging apparatus in cardboard boxes for loading groups of articles into cartons, each of the cartons is constructed from a cardboard sleeve, the cardboard sleeve has a first open end and a second open end, The cardboard sleeve also has a first set of end panels placed at the first end and at the second end of the end panels placed at the second end, the groups of articles are loaded into the cardboard sleeve through the first end, which comprises: (a) a transport mechanism of groups of articles constructed and arranged to carry a longitudinal stream of groups of articles; (b) a transport mechanism for carton packs placed adjacent to, and parallel to, the article merchandise transport mechanism, the article group transport mechanism is constructed and arranged to provide a longitudinal stream of carton packs each of the carton sleeve shirts has a first open end oriented and synchronized with the article group transport mechanism; (c) an item-loading mechanism constructed and arranged to move a plurality of item groups from a transport mechanism of items within the first open end of each of the carton sleeve shirts that are moves on the transport mechanism of cartons; and (d) an air jet apparatus comprising: a gas emitting mechanism constructed and arranged to produce a directed stream of pressurized air of a predetermined force; a means for supplying gas to the gas emitting mechanism; a positioning or positioning mechanism constructed and arranged to dispose the gas emitting mechanism operationally adjacent to the carton transport mechanism and opposite from the article group loading mechanism; an alignment mechanism constructed and arranged to adjustably direct the pressurized air stream produced by the gas emitting mechanism from the second end through the cardboard sleeve to the first end to extend the first set of end panels of the sleeve paperboard; and a synchronization mechanism constructed and arranged to produce a pulsating stream of pressurized air, the synchronization mechanism produces a pressurized air stream and extends the first set of end panels as the group of articles is loaded into the first end of the sleeve of cardboard.

17. A method for opening cartons to receive a group of articles, each of the cartons is constructed from a cardboard sleeve, the cardboard sleeve has a first open end and a second open end, the cardboard sleeve further has a first set of end panels placed at the first end and a second set of end panels placed at the second end, the groups of articles are loaded into the cardboard sleeve through a first open end, which it comprises the steps of: (a) producing a pressurized air stream of a predetermined force; and (b) directing the pressurized air stream through the second open end and the cardboard jacket to extend the first set of end panels.

18. The method for opening carton packs, as recited in claim 17, wherein the step of producing the pressurized air stream includes the step of flowing compressed air through one or more air jet nozzles and the step directing the pressurized air stream includes the step of pivoting the air jet nozzles.

19. The method for opening cartons, as mentioned in claim 17, further comprising the step of aligning the pressurized air stream to open the carton.

20. The method for opening carton packs, as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of synchronizing the pressurized air stream with the carton transport mechanism, a commodity transport mechanism constructed and arranged to move a longitudinal stream of groups of articles, and a mechanism for loading article groups constructed and arranged to move the stream of groups of articles from the transport mechanism of groups of articles within the plurality of cartons traveling on the mechanism transport of cardboard containers.

21. A method for opening cartons to receive groups of items for packaging in a packaging apparatus in continuous-motion cartons, each of the cartons is constructed from a cardboard sleeve, the cardboard sleeve has a first open end and a second open end, the cardboard sleeve further has a first set of end panels placed at the first end and a second set of end panels placed at the second end, the groups of articles are loaded into the cardboard sleeve through the first end, comprising the steps of: (a) producing a pressurized air stream of a predetermined force using a gas emitting mechanism; (b) directing the pressurized air stream to the carton packs that travel on the carton transport mechanism of the packaging apparatus in continuous-motion cartons; (c) aligning the pressurized air stream to flow through the second end and the cardboard jacket to extend the first set of end panels; and (d) synchronizing the pressurized air stream with the load of the group of articles inside the cardboard jacket.