US3456420A

US3456420A - Method of and apparatus for forming a package

Info

Publication number: US3456420A
Application number: US609086A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert H Ganz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-01-13
Filing date: 1967-01-13
Publication date: 1969-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 1986-07-22
Also published as: NL6800567A; DE1586565C3; JPS5027797B1; GB1213589A; DE1586565B2; DE1586565A1

Description

R. H. GANZ MEWD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A PACKAGE July 22, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 13, .1967

R. H. GANZ 3,456,420

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A PACKAGE July 22, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1967 R. H. GANZ July 22, 1969 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A PACKAGE Filed Jan. 13. 1967 4 SheetsSheet L) Y OA ATTORN July 22, 1969 GANZ 3,456,420 7 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A PACKAGE Filed Jan. 13, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Tlc lb.

mvsmon Foam-n94 aim z A'I TORNEY United States Patent 3,456,420 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A PACKAGE Robert H. Ganz, 55 McKay Drive, Bergenfield, NJ. 07621 Filed Jan. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 609,086 Int. Cl. B65b 11/10, 7/04, /06

US. CI. 53-32 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This subject has to do with the forming of a tight package of the type which includes a carton wrapped about a plurality of containers. The subject particularly has to do with the specific provision of side pressure bars which will engage corner forming portions of cartons and which will tightly draw the corner forming portions of the cartons about containers whereby there will be a tight interfitting of the cartons about the containers with a resultant tight package.

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in cartons of the wrap-around type and more particularly to the provision of apparatus for tightly applying a carton of the wrap-around type about a plurality of containers.

When cartons of the wrap-around type are applied to a plurality of containers, usually arranged in two rows, the principal looseness in the resultant package is at the corners of the carton. In accordance with this invention it is proposed to overcome this deficiency by providing the carton applying apparatus with one or more side pressure bars which will engage at least one corner of the carton to tightly pull the carton at that one corner about the containers so as to snugly engage the containers with the carton at the time the closing of the carton occurs.

This invention particularly relates to cartons of the type having at at least one corner thereof container receiving openings and tabs. In accordance with this invention, a pressure blade or bar is engaged with the carton corner adjacent the tabs in a manner wherein interlocking of the pressure bar with the carton tabs will occur so that pressure may be exerted on the carton to tightly draw the corner of the same around the containers without danger of slippage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method of snugly securing a carton around a plurality of containers, particularly at the corners of the carton, the method including the forming of an oversize corner having tabs projecting outwardly therefrom, engaging the corner of the carton with a pressure bar which, as it slides along the corner, will become interlocked with the tabs whereby the pressure bar may be utilized to tightly draw the corner of the carton about the containers.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel carton blank wherein the corner forming portion of the blank is enhanced by the provision of an additional fold line in a panel of the carton adjacent the corner along which the carton may be folded in the application thereof to initially and temporarily increase the size of the corner panel and thereby facilitate the engagement thereof by suitable means for drawing the corner of the carton tightly around containers.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank for a carton formed in accordance with this invention.

lee

FIGURE 2 is a schematic horizontal sectional view of a portion of a carton applying machine and shows specifically the details of and the position of a side pressure bar added to the machine in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of that portion of the machine shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURES 4, 5, 6, and 7 are enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional views taken along the lines 4-4, 5-5, 6-6 and 7-7, respectively of FIGURE 3 and show the specific sequence in the tight inter-fitting of a carton corner about containers.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary bottom view of that portion of a carton shown in FIGURE 7 and shows the engagement of the pressure bar with the carton.

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view on a small scale taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 3 and shows the cooperation of two side pressure bars with carton latching mechanisms of the machine.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary plan view of one end of another form of carton blank.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken through a portion of a package forming machine which has incorporated therein a pressure bar formed in accordance with this invention and shows specifically the details and position of the pressure bar.

FIGURES 12, 13, 14, and 15 are enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional views taken along the lines 12-12, 13-13, 14-14, and 15-15, respectively, of FIGURE 11 and shows specifically the sequence of folding a carton blank around containers and forming a tight corner construction.

FIGURE 16 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom view of that portion of the carton shown in FIGURE 15 and more specifically illustrates the details thereof.

FIGURE 17 is a transverse sectional view on a small scale taken along the line 15-15 of FIGURE 11 and shows the cooperation of two side pressure bars with carton latching mechanisms of the machine.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 a blank which is particularly adapted for use in accordance with this invention, the carton blank being generally referred to by the numeral 20. It is to be noted that the carton blank 20 is of a specific configuration for use with bottles which are arranged in two rows of three bottles each. The specific carton blank 20 illustrated in FIGURE 1 includes a top central panel 21 and outer top panels 22 which have formed therein openings 23 for the necks of bottles. On the opposite sides of the outer top panels 22 there are side panels 24. Next adjacent the side panels 24 are corner panels 25 which are connected to the side panels 24 along interrupted fold lines 26. Each corner panel 25 is further defined by an interrupted fold line 27.

Botton closure panels

28 and 29 are hingedly connected to the corner panels 25 along the interrupted fold lines 27 thereof. The closure panel 29 has latch openings 30 formed therein in alignment with the bottle neck receiving openings 23. The closure panel 28 has hingedly connected thereto along a fold line 31 a plurality of latching flaps 33 which are centered relative to respective ones of the bottle neck receiving openings 23 and which have projecting from the opposite edges thereof pivotal catches 34 and tongues 39. The catches 34 and the tongues 39 interlock with the closure panel 29 through the latch openings 30 to interlock the

closure panels

28 and 29 in a customary manner.

It is to be understood that the carton blank 20 is dimensioned to snugly wrap-around six bottles B and form therewith a readily handleable package. In the forming of this package, the carton blank 20 is dropped over the necks of the bottles B and then folded down alongside the bottles with the outer top panels 22 sloping downwardly from the central top panel 21 and engaging the shoulders of the bottles. The side panels 24 extend down along the sides of the bottles. It is then necessary to tightly draw the corner panels 25 around the lower portions of the bottles in a manner so as to both draw the side panels 24 down and interlock the corner panels with the bottles. While the side panels and the corner panels are held in such a tight bottle engaging relation, the

closure panels

28 and 29 must be secured together by means of the latch construction.

In order that the corner panels 25 may tightly interlock with the bottles, there is formed in each corner panel 25 a plurality of bottle receiving openings which are aligned with the openings 23. Each opening 35 eX- tends across the efiective portion of its respective corner panel 25 and across the respective fold line 27 into the respective one of the

closure panels

28 and 29, and is of a configuration so as to define along the edge of each closure panel 28 a tab 36 for each opening 35. It is to be noted that each tab 36 has sloping side edges so as .to provide relatively deep and sharp notches 37 on each side of each tab 36.

In order that the side panels 24 may more tightly receive bottles, the carton blank 20 is provided between the interrupted portions of each fold line 26 with generally arcuate cuts 38 which, in cooperation with the fold lines 26, extend entirely across the carton blank 20 and form boundaries of the openings 35. In addition, for each cut 38 there is a cut 40 extending generally normal to the cut 38 to permit the lower portion of each side panel 24 to expand outwardly when the corner panel 25 is drawn tightly around bottles.

In accordance with this invention, the carton blank 20 has been modified as compared to previous somewhat similar carton blanks to include an interrupted fold line 41 in each of the

closure panels

28 and 29. The interrupted fold lines 41 are disposed adjacent to and in parallel relation to respective ones of the interrupted fold lines 27. It is to be noted that the fold lines 41 are interrupted by the openings 35. It is also to be noted that the openings 35 extend deeper into the

closure panels

28 and 29 than in prior carton blank constructions. The interrupted fold lines 41 are provided for an initial and temporary folding of the

closure panels

28 and 29 relative to the corner panels 25 to provide for temporarily and initially greater width corner panels from which the tabs 36 predominantly project.

In accordance with this invention, in addition to the customary carton applying apparatus of a package forming machine, there is provided an upstanding blade 42 which is generally identified as a sabre. The sabre 42 extends down below the plane of the bottom of the bottles B and has the lower edge thereof initially aligned with the respective one of the fold lines 41.

In order to effect the folding of a respective one of the closure panels beneath the bottles, the closure panel 29 being illustrated, the carton forming machine includes a conventional panel folding blade 43 which gradually slopes up towards the plane of the bottoms of the bottles B It will be seen that as the bottles B, with the carton blank 20 engaged thereover, move down the predetermined path of bottles or like containers along the package forming machine, the folding blade 43 functions to fold the closure panel 29 along the fold line 41 substantially at right angles to the respective corner panel 25 about the sabre 42 and along the interrupted fold line 41. This arrangement, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 5, provides for an oversize corner construction.

In order to tightly interlock the carton blank about the bottles B, particularly at the lower corners of the package being formed, the package forming machine also includes a side pressure bar or blade 44. The side pressure bar 44, in the simplest form of the invention, is disposed along only that side of the machine where the closure panel 29 passes and is at an elevation just above the path of the fold line 27 adjacent the closure panel 29. The side pressure bar 44 has a starting ramp portion 45, an inoperative intermediate portion 46, a pressure applying ramp portion 47 and a pressure holding portion 48.

Referring now to FIGURE 5 in particular, it will be seen that after the closure panel 29 has been folded to a position generally parallel to the bottoms of the bottles B, the side pressure bar or blade 44 comes into engagement with the corner panel 25 just above the interrupted fold line 27. As the bottles B and the carton blank 20 continue to pass along the predetermined path of the package forming machine, the corner panel 25 adjacent the closure panel 29 engages the pressure applying portion or ramp 47 of the side pressure bar 44 and the corner panel 25 will be folded relative to its respective side panel 24 along the interrupted fold line 26. This is best shown in FIGURE 6.

As the corner panel 25 moves further along the ramp portion 47 of the side pressure bar 44, the corner panel 25 is pulled tighter around the bottles B and the side panel 24 is drawn downwardly slightly. The continued movement of the corner panel 25 inwardly results in portions of the bottles B projecting through the openings 35 in the corner panel 25.

As the corner panel 25 is progressively folded around the bottles B, the folding blade 27 is progressively moving the closure panel 29 upwardly towards the bottoms of the bottles. As a result, the tabs 36 come into engagement with the underside of the side pressure bar 44 and the side pressure bar. 44 becomes interlocked in the notches 37 of the openings and firmly interlocks behind the tabs 36. As the pressure applying edge of the side pressure bar 44 more firmly forces the corner panel 25 around and below the bottles B, slippage of the carton blank with respect to the side pressure bar 44 is prevented. At the same time, adjacent portions of the closure panel 29 and the respective corner panel 25 prevent engagement of the side pressure bar 44 with the bottles.

In FIGURE 7 there is illustrated the relationship of the carton blank with respect to the bottles B and the side pressure bar 44 when the corner panel 25 is engaged with the holding portion 48 of the carton engaging edge of the side pressure bar 44. It will be obvious that the carton blank is tightly engaged about the bottles B and that the folding of the closure panel 29 along the fold line 41 no longer occurs. The folding of the corner panel rezlative to the closure panel 29 is now along the fold ine 7.

With the closure panel 29 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 7, the closure panel 28 may be latched thereto in a manner clearly disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,986,857 to Henry Ganz and entitled Machine and Method for Packaging Articles. At this time it is pointed out that while in some machines it may be desired to provide only one side pressure bar, a second side pressure bar may be provided on the opposite side of the machine for use in tightly drawing the corner panel 25 associated with the closure panel 28 around the bottles. This additional side pressure bar is shown in FIGURE 9 and is identified by the numeral 49. Also, there is shown a portion of the latching mechanism of the machine which includes a vertical plate 50 and a folding blade 51.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 10 wherein there is illustrated a portion of a modified form of carton blank which is generally referred to by the numeral 60. The carton blank 60, with the exception of the specific corner constructions of the carton blank 20, is very similar to the carton blank 20. It is to be noted from the end portion of the carton blank 60 which has been illustrated in FIGURE 10 that a side panel 61 thereof is directly hingedly connected to the closure panel 62 along an interrupted fold line 63. The fold line 63 is interrupted by container receiving openings 64 formed primarily in the side panel 61. Each container receiving opening 64 is formed by a pair of arcuate cut lines 65 and 66 which are in partially nested relation and with the cut lines 66 defining a rounded edge of a tab 67 which projects from the closure panel 62. It is to be noted that the cut lines 65 and 66 intersect one another at relatively sharp angles to define notches 68 on opposite sides of the tabs 67.

It is to be understood that the carton blank 60 will have a closure panel which corresponds to the closure panel 28 at the opposite end thereof and such closure panel will be identified by the numeral 69, as is best shown in FIGURE 17. The closure panel 69 has hingedly connected thereto latching flaps 70 each of which has a catch 71 and a tongue 72 projecting from opposite sides thereof. The catches 71 and the tongues 72 are interlocked with the closure panel 62 through latch openings 73 formed therein.

The carton blank 60 is applied over a plurality of hottles in the same manner as the carton blank 20. After the side panels 61 have been folded down around the bottles, the closure panel 62 is engaged by a rotating folding blade 75 disposed at one side of the path of movement of the bottles and carton blanks through the machine and the closure panel 62 is folded into underlying relation with respect to the bottles, as is shown in FIGURES 12 and 13. The closure panel 62 hinges relative to the side panel 61 along the fold lines 63 and as a result, the tabs 67 swing from upstanding positions (FIGURE 12) to outwardly projecting horizontal positions (FIGURE 13).

The package forming machine also includes a side pressure bar or blade 76 which extends along one side of the machine. The side pressure bar 76 has an upstanding nose 77 at the starting end thereof and has a carton engaging edge which includes a pressure applying ramp portion 78 that converges inwardly towards the center of the machine in the direction of container travel.

It is to 'be noted that the underside of the side pressure bar 76 is spaced above the plane of the folding blade 75 a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the carton blank. As the carton blank, with the closure panel 62 thereof folded beneath the bottles B, moves along the machine, the outwardly projecting tabs 67 pass under the side pressure bar 76 in the manner clearly shown in FIG- URE 13. The continued movement of the carton blank along the side pressure bar 76 results in the ramp portion 78 engaging the lower part of the side panels 61 with the result that the lower part of the side panel 61 is forced inwardly towards the center of the path of movement of the bottles B in the manner shown in FIGURE 14. This tightly draws the lower portion of the side panel 61 around the bottles with the result that the lower portions of the bottles project through the openings 64, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 14. At the same time, the side pressure bar 76 becomes seated in the notches 68 and become interlocked with the carton blank so as to prevent the accidental slippage thereof past the tabs 67. Substantially at this time the closure panel 62 rides up on a bar or blade 80 which firmly holds the closure panel 62 against the bottoms of the bottles B.

As the carton blank moves further along the side pressure bar 76, the carton blank rides fully up onto the pressure applying ramp portion 78 and becomes engaged with a holding portion 81 (FIGURE 11) in which position the carton blank is fully engaged around the bottles in the manner shown in FIGURE 15. The relationship of the carton blank with respect to the side pressure bar 76 at this time is clearly shown in FIGURE 16.

Referring now to FIGURE 17, it will be seen that while pressure is retained on the carton blank by the side pressure bar 76, the closure panel 69 is folded beneath the closure panel 62 and latched thereto in the general manner described in FIGURE 9. If desired, the closure panel 69 may also be tightly drawn beneath the bottles 68 by means of a second side pressure bar 81.

Although the machine has been illustrated in conjunction with cartons having the closure flaps in the bottom of the carton, it is to be understood that the closure flaps or panels can be disposed along the sides or tops of the cartons. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the corner tightening function of the pressure bars may be utilized independently of the drawing together of the closure panels.

Notwithstanding the fact that the invention has been specifically described and illustrated in conjunction with a carton particularly adapted to be engaged with bottles, it is to be understood that the invention may advantageously be utilized in conjunction with packages formed of cans about which cartons have been wrapped. While the rounded corners of bottles necessitate and facilitate the tight drawing of corners of cartons thereabout, it is to be understood that the same principle can be applied with respect to can packages.

Although only two preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that other minor variations may be made in the package forming machine, the method of utilizing the same and the specific carton blank construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for applying a carton of the wraparound type to a plurality of containers moving on a support surface along a predetermined path to form a package wherein the carton has a closure panel formed of two partial panels secured together and two adjacent panels and wherein at the intersection of at least one partial panel and a respective adjacent panel there is a corner construction which includes suitable openings through which portions of containers project to provide interlocks between the containers and the cartons; and wherein at each opening a tab projects from one of said panels generally defining the corner; the improvement residing in the provision of a pressure bar alongside the path of movement of the containers at at least one side thereof, said pressure bar having a carton engaging edge disposed on the corner openings side of a plane in which the carton tabs move to assure an interlocking of said pressure bar with a carton corner and said side pressure bar edge sloping inwardly into the path of container movement in the direction of movement to tightly force the carton corners around containers to form a tight package.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pressure bar is disposed along only one side of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are two pressure bars disposed in opposed relation for simultaneously drawing two opposite carton corners into tight engagement with containers.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein folder means is disposed immediately in advance of said pressure bar for folding a partial panel to form the carton corner and holding the carton corner and tabs in a predetermined position for engagement by said pressure bar.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein cooperating folder means are provided in advance of said pressure bar for temporarily folding one of the corner defining panels to form an oversize corner with a maximum projection of the tabs to assure engagement of said pressure bar behind said tabs, and wherein the relation of said pressure bar to the container path of movement assures the re-forming of the carton corner around containers.

6. In an apparatus for applying a carton of the Wraparound type to a plurality of containers moving on a support surface along a predetermined path wherein the carton is draped over the containers followed by the folding of closure panels beneath the containers and the securing together of the closure panels, and wherein each closure panel in combination with an adjacent panel defines a corner adapted to snugly engage containers and including projecting tabs on the closure panels; the improvement residing in the provision of a side pressure bar alongside the container path of movement at at least one side thereof, said side pressure bar having a carton corner engaging edge disposed above the path of movement of carton tabs and converging into the path of container travel in the direction of container movement to automatically tightly force an engaged carton corner around containers with slippage of said side pressure bar out of engagement with a carton corner being prevented by the carton tabs.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein folder means is disposed immediately in advance of said pressure bar for folding a partial panel to form the carton corner and holding the carton corner and tabs in a predetermined position for engagement by said pressure bar.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein cooperating folder means are provided in advance of said pressure bar for temporarily folding one of the corner defining panels to form an oversize corner with a maximum projection of the tabs to assure engagement of said pressure bar behind said tabs, and wherein the relation of said pressure bar to the container path of movement assures the re-forming of the carton corner around containers.

9. A method of forming a tight corner in a package of the type including a plurality of containers enclosed in a wrap-around carton and wherein the corner is disposed between two adjacent carton panels of which at least one panel has tabs projecting generally towards the plane of the other panel; the method comprising the steps of folding the adjacent carton panels generally around containers to form a corner, and thereafter engaging the carton corner and utilizing the tabs as stop elements drawing the carton corner tightly around the containers.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the containers and carton are moving and the drawing of the carton corner is a progressive drawing operation.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the carton corner is initially loosely formed to present the carton tabs for engagement by a pressure bar.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the carton corner is initially loosely formed to present the carton tabs for engagement by a pressure bar and the panel folding continues during the corner drawing.

13. In an apparatus for applying a carton of the wraparound type to a plurality of containers moving on a support surface along a predetermined path to form a package wherein the carton has a closure panel formed of two partial panels secured together and two adjacent panels and wherein at the intersection of at least one partial panel and a respective adjacent panel there is a corner construction which includes suitable openings through which portions of containers project to provide interlocks between the containers and the cartons; and wherein at each opening a tab projects from one of said panels generally defining the corner; the improvement residing in the provision of means for interlocking with a carton corner to tightly force the carton corner around containers to form a tight package.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner NEIL ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.