US3911644A

US3911644A - Package forming machine

Info

Publication number: US3911644A
Application number: US403800A
Authority: US
Inventors: John H Myers; Edward Waleck
Original assignee: Federal Paper Board Co Inc
Current assignee: Federal Paper Board Co Inc; Riverwood Natural Resources Corp
Priority date: 1973-10-05
Filing date: 1973-10-05
Publication date: 1975-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-14
Also published as: BE820713A; NL7413122A; LU71059A1

Abstract

An apparatus for folding a cut and creased wrapper blank about an article, such as a bakery product supported in a baking pan or the like, which apparatus includes an endless conveyor, on the top run of which the article is supported, while a wrapper blank is deposited on the top thereof, and associated mechanism spaced along the path of advance of the conveyor run which is operative to plow down end or side portions of the wrapper and to fold into position gusset formations which connect the end wall forming panel portions of the wrapper and top wall or side wall forming panel portions thereof.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 111] 3,91 1,644 Myers et al. Oct. 14, 1975 [5 PACKAGE FORMING MACHINE 3,516,219 6/1970 Nigrelli 53/48 3,701,231 10/1972 Standley [75] Inventors: Bergenfield; 3,751,872 8/1973 Helms 53/209 x Edward Waleck, Closter, both of NJ. Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee [73] Assignee: Federal Paper Board Company, Inc., Assistant SiPOS Momvale, N Attorney, Agent, or FirmGuy A. Greenawalt [22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT 1 1 pp 403,800 An apparatus for folding a cut and creased wrapper I blank about an article, such as a bakery product sup- 52 US Cl 53/207- 53/209 Ported in a baking the like which apparatus [511 Int 2 l l B65B 11/10 cludes an endless conveyor, on the top run of which [58] Field of 208 the article is supported, while a wrapper blank is de- 93/48 posited on the top thereof, and associated mechanism spaced along the path of advance of the conveyor run [56] References Cited which is operative to plow down end or side portions of the wrapper and to fold into position gusset forma- UNITED STATES PATENTS tions which connect the end wall forming panel por- 2,751,730 6/1956 Gentry 53/48 X tions f h wrapper and top wall or side wall f i 3,127,720 4/1964 Gentry.. panel portions thereof. 3,187,479 6/1965 Ganz 1/1967 Wood 53/48 10 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 1 of4 3,911,644

7 i r. z T a Cr. 9 ppm 7 g? N kw N wen u U.S. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Shet 2 of4 3,911,644

F'l -"l- US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,911,644

U.S. Patant Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 4 of4 3,911,644

PACKAGE FORMING MACHINE This invention relates to packaging and is more particularly concerned with improvements in machinery for applying a wrapper forming blank of foldable sheet material to an article, such as, a tray supported bakery product or other article or product of a similar character.

In the development of packaging machinery, the need for new machinery frequently arises when a new packaging method is devised or a new package is designed which available machinery is not adapted to handle. Recently, some efforts have been made to provide a new system for packaging bakery products which have heretofore been marketed in a relatively shallow tray fabricated of aluminum foil, molded pulp, shaped plastic, or the like, in which the product may have been processed in the bakery. Most often trays of this type product have been prepared, for retail marketing, by merely inserting a disc lid in the top of the tray, the latter frequently having the form of a pie pan of round, oval or rectangular shape. One recently developed system of packaging such articles or products involves the use of a package forming blank of foldable sheet material, for example, paperboard, which is cut and scored to enable it to be wrapped about the bakery tray containing the product so as to enclose the top, together with oppositely disposed portions of the side or end walls and at least a portion of the bottom wall. The opposite end portions of the blank which form end or side walls and a bottom wall are connected to the side wall or to the top wall forming portion of the blank by gusset formations which must be properly folded when the blank is wrapped about the tray. A package of this type is disclosed in the copending application of Guelfo A. Manizza and Frederick E. Naumann, Jr., Ser. No. 336,004, filed Feb. 26, 1973. The fabrication of this type package cannot be accomplished in a proper manner on known packaging machinery. It is a general object of this invention, therefore, to provide improved packaging machinery which will properly apply a wraparound packaging blank to an article, when the blank includes foldable corner gusset structures extending along side edges of the blank.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide improved package fabricating apparatus which is especially adapted for use in a packaging operation wherein an article is wholly or partially enclosed in a wraparound type packaging blank having a side edge forming panel structure which is required to be folded into a corner forming area of the package as the package wall forming panels are moved into proper position for encircling the article.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved packaging machine for folding a wrapper blank about an article which embodies a carrier mechanism for advancing an article with a wrapper blank assembled thereon along a package forming path where there is a mechanism for performing a preliminary folding operation on a gusset structure on the edge of the blank so as to bring it into proper position relative to the adjoining wall panels which are connected thereby when the wall panels are disposed in final package forming position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a packaging machine for enclosing or encircling an article with a wraparound type packaging blank of foldable sheet material wherein there is provided conveying means for advancing successive articles on each of which a wrapper blank is deposited and means is provided along the path of advance for engaging a foldable panel structure at the trailing side of the blank and positioning the same for further folding by a plow member into a final position adjacent the inside faces of adjoining panel members.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the method and apparatus which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial plan view, of a packaging machine apparatus which embodies the principal features of the invention, with portions of the apparatus being broken away and portions shown schematically;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with portions broken away or omitted;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view, to an enlarged scale, showing portions of the apparatus at the gusset folding station with the leading gusset approaching the blade for folding the same;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 with portions in section, the view showing the leading gusset on the fixed folding blade and the traveling blade for folding the trailing gusset approaching the trailing gusset;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG.-7 is a fragmentary section on a vertical plane showing the apparatus of FIG. 4 with the traveling gusset folding blades in a different position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the leading and trailing gussets on the fixed, vertically extending gusset folding blade;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view on the line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary section on a vertical plane similar to FIG. 4 showing a modified form of folding apparatus for the trailing gusset;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 with the leading gusset on the fixed folding blade and the trailing gusset folded by the traveling folder blade into position to go on the fixed folding blade;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 16-16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank employed in fabricating the package as shown in FIGS. 1 to 13;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the completed package when formed with .the blank of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a modified form of blank which the machine in modified form is adapted to handle;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the completed package when formed with the blank of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a modification of the machine which is designed for forming a package with the blank of FIG. 19; and

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the blank of FIG. 19 and the modified apparatus of FIG. 21. 7

Referring first to FIGS. 17 and 18, there is illustrated a wrapper blank and a package which the machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 16 is designed to handle. The blank B is a generally rectangular sheet of foldable paperboard or similar material which is cut and scored to provide a top wall forming panel T of rectangular or square shapeadjoining panels El and E2 which may be termed end panels and side panels S1 and S2 which are relatively narrow and adapted to form partial side walls in the package P shown in FIG. 18. Bottom wall forming panels B1 and B2 extend from the end wall forming panels El and E2 with the one panel B2 having a locking panel L at the free margin and the other bottom panel B1 having openings or apertures therein for receiving the locking tabs or fingers L1 and latching fingers or tabs L2 on the panel L. The end wall forming panels El and E2 are connected to the side wall forming panels or strip members S1 and S2 by gusset formations G1, G2, G3 and G4, each of which comprises a pair of generally triangular panels foldable about a dividing hinge forming crease line and each foldably connected or hingedly connected to the adjacent side wall S1 'or S2 and end wall E1 or E2 panels on angularly related crease lines. The package P shown in FIG. 18 is and feeding conveyor assembly 12 above which there is provided a blank-feeding conveyor 14 leading from a blank supply hopper (not shown) and delivering blanks to the articles which are carried in spaced relation on the conveyor assembly 12 to the entrance end of an overhead or upper folding conveyor assembly 16.

The overhead conveyor assembly 16 positions the blanks on the successive articles A and folds down the side wall panels 81 and S2. The article and blank assemblies are advanced on the conveyor assembly 12 to a gusset forming or folding station where the article and blank assemblies are moved past-a pair of generally parallel, vertically disposed, gusset forming blades l8, l8 and operated upon by traveling gusset folding assemblies 20 and 20' which co-operate with the

blades

18 and 18 for folding the gussets on both the leading and trailing side of the blank. The gusset folding blades fold the gusset panels upon each other and bring them into proper position which in some degree pulls down the end portions of the blank having the end wall panels and the bottom wall panels therein. The opposite end portions of the blank are plowed down by laterally spaced, vertically disposed folding blades 22 and 22' as each package assembly is advanced between the gusset forming blades 18 and 18' by the conveyor assembly 12. Advance of the package forming assembly beyond the folders 22 and 22' is taken over by a pair of laterally spaced, horizontally disposed

side chain assemblies

24 and 24 between which the package forming assembly is moved while being supported on a bottom rail 26. The bottom forming panels or flaps BI and B2 are folded in toward each other by folding blades or

ploughs

28 and 28 with the package assembly being advanced to a lock engaging station where there is a bottom panel locking mechanism 30. The locking panel L is hinged and the locking and latching fingers and tabs are engaged in the apertures in the bottom panel Bl by the locking mechanism 30 which completes the formation of the package. The completed package is then advanced by the

conveyors

24 and 24 out of the machine.

The conveyor assembly 12 which feeds the articles being packaged comprises an endless chain 32 or a pair of parallel chains (FIG. 2) having article engaging lugs 33 spaced along the same with the spacing depending upon the size of the article A which is being packaged. The chain or chains 32 are mounted at the leading end thereof on a sprocket assembly 34 supported on a cross shaft 35 and at the trailing end on a suitable driven sprocket arrangement (not shown).

The blanks B are fed from a suitable hopper (not shown) -to a deposit station above the top run of the conveyor 12 on which the articles are supported. The blank feed device 14 comprises a pair of parallel endless chains 36 supported at the leading end on a pair of sprockets 37 mounted on a cross shaft 38 which is suitably supported on the frame structure. of the machine with the other end of the chains mounted in a similar manner on driven sprockets (not shown). Angular lugs 40 are spaced along the chains 36 for engaging the trailing edges of the blanks and releasing the same over the leading end sprockets 37.

The upper conveyor assembly 16 for folding down the side wall forming strips S1 and S2. of the blank B comprises a pair of parallel endless chains 42 mounted on longitudinally spaced end sprockets 43 and 44 which are carried on

transverse shafts

45 and 45 spaced above the top run of conveyor assembly 12 with one of these cross shafts being driven in a suitable manner. The chains 42 carry longitudinally spaced pairs of angle bars 46 and 46 which extend transversely and serve to fold down the leading and trailing side panels S1 and S2 on each of the successive package assemblies. The bottom run of the chains 42 have suitable guide devices (not shown) for holding'the cross bars 46 and 46 in the proper path to engage or seat on the blanks in the proper sequence and fold down the side wall forming panels S1 and S2. The cross bars 46 and 46 are spaced to cause the.panels S1 and S2 to break on the crease lines forming the hinge connections with the top panel and serve to position the blank in proper relation on the top of the article. As the package assemblies are advanced by the lugs 33 on the conveyor 12 they move between the vertically disposed gusset forming blades or

plates

18 and 18. The plates 18 and 18' are mounted on the support frame for vertical adjustment by means of longitudinally spaced bolt and slot connections 48. The plates 18 and 18' are mounted so that the

top edges

50 and 50 are in the proper position for engaging the leading gusset assemblies G1 and G2 as indicated in FIG. 3. Each of the

gusset forming blades

18 and 18 has its trailing upper end corner turned outwardly somewhat, as indicated at 53 in FIG. 3, for engaging with the leading gusset as the package assembly is advanced between the plates which folds the gusset back and in towards the center of the blank.

The assemblies and 20 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 to 12) for folding the trailing gussets G3 and G4 are spaced transversely of the machine and each comprises a traveling chain mounted on

sprockets

56, 57 and 58 on

cross shafts

60, 61 and 62 with cross shaft constituting a driven shaft on the end of which there is a sprocket 63 with a chain 64 leading to a drive motor or other source of power (not shown). The drive shaft 60 is supported on a suitable cross frame which is indicated at 65. The endless chain 55 carries a series of spaced folder plates or lugs 66 which are mounted thereon so as to extend outboard of the chain and travel in a vertical plane. The plates 66 have the leading edges 67 cut so as to taper to a curved or rounded intersection at 68 with the outboard edge 70. They advance in a path to engage at the top thereof with a trailing gusset on the blank. The blades 66 fold the gussets G4 and G3 into position to ride onto the

top edges

50 and 50 of the

gusset forming blades

18 and 18. The package assemblies are advanced between the plates 18 and 18' and then between the

upstanding folder blades

22 and 22 which are supported on a cross frame structure indicated at 72. The

folder blades

22 and 22 fold down the ends of the blank, in which the end wall forming panels El and E2 and the bottom wall forming panels B1 and B2 are located, into a generally vertical position so that the bottom wall forming panels B1 and B2 are positioned for engagement with the folders or plow members 28 and 28'.

The folders 28 and 28' are laterally spaced and curved at the entrance end to fold the panels B1 and B2 underneath the article A. The plow members 28 annd 28 are arranged so that the female panel or flap B1 is folded in first by the plow 28' followed by the male panel B2 with the locking and latching panel L being folded in by the plow member 28.

As each package assembly advances to the leading end of the article carrying conveyor 12, it is released by the pusher lugs 33 moving down around the sprockets 34 and further movement of the package assembly is taken over by

side chain assemblies

24 and 24. The

side chain assemblies

24 and 24 comprise endless chains 74 and 74' having longitudinally spaced

package engaging lugs

75 and 75 which co-operate in engaging the package assemblies on opposite sides thereof as the package assemblies are advanced between oppositely disposed chain runs. The chains 74 and 74' are supported on suitable sprockets, only two of which are shown in FIG. 1 at 76, 77 and 76, 77 at the trailing ends of the chains. The package assemblies are advanced by the

side chain assemblies

24 and 24 to the bottom panel latching and locking mechanism and then out of the machine.

A modified form of the machine is illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 16 which employs a different arrangement for folding or tucking the trailing gusset. In this form of the apparatus the leading gusset indicated at G2 in FIGS. 14 to 16 is tucked or folded by engaging the trailing end of the fixed gusset folding plate 18 the same as in the form of the machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 13. The trailing gusset G4 is tucked into position for advance onto the plate 18 by a tucking element 80 mounted on a rotatable plate member 82 which is mounted on the drive shaft 60. The tucking element 80, which extends laterally of the rotatable plate 82 near the periphery thereof, has a panel engaging cylindrical portion 83 which is cut away on a chordal plane to form a flat forward face 84 and which has a tapered portion 85 connecting the same to the plate 82. The plate 82 is cut away along a radius coinciding with the chordal plane to provide a circumferential portion of reduced diameter which extends about approximately threefourths of the circumference so as to provide a free path for advance of the leading and trailing gussets. The plate 82 is rotated at a rate of travel relative to the rate of travel of the package assembly and is timed so that the tucking element 82 will engage with the trailing side of a trailing gusset and move the same into the position shown in FIG. 15 before the trailing gusset reaches the end 53 of the fixed tucking blade 18 and at the same time there is clearance for advance of the leading gusset on a succeeding blank.

Another form of wrapper blank and package of the type which a machine embodying the invention is adapted to handle is illustrated in FIGS. 19 to 22. The illustrated blank b which is described in the copending application of Guelfo A. Manizza and Frederick E. Naumann, Jr., Serial No. 336,004, filed Feb. 26, I973, comprises a generally rectangular sheet which is cut and creased or scored, as illustrated particularly in FIG. 19, to provide a top wall forming panel I, adjoining end wall forming panels el and e2, and bottom wall forming panels bl and b2 with the latter having a terminal cross strip constituting a locking and latching panel I having locking tabs 1 l and latching fingers 12 for locking and latching engagement in co-operating apertures 0 in the end margin of the panel bl. At the four corners of the top panel t gusset panels g1, g2, g3 and g4 are provided which are subdivided into three generally triangular panels by angularly related scores. One of these panels is hinged to an adjoining end wall, another, which is indicated at sl s2, s3 and s4, is hinged to the top wall and an intermediate panel connects the two. The panels which are hinged to the top wall, namely, s1, s2, s3 and s4, may be considered side wall panels or half panels since, as shown in FIG. 20, they move into the same position as the side wall panels SI and S2 in the package of FIG. 18.

The blank b is adapted for use in packaging a pie pan type package, as indicated in FIGS. 20 and 21, and the package may be formed on the present machine with the modification shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. To accommodate the folding of the panels sl, s2, s3 and s4 the transverse angle bars 46 and 46' on the chains 42 and 42' of the overhead conveyor assembly 16 are replaced by pairs of relatively short angle bars 146 and 146 which are mounted on the

chains

42 and 42 at an angle to a transverse plane corresponding to the hinge angle connecting the panels s1, s2, s3 and s4 with the top panel I.

The blank bl includes a pair of rectangular apertures cl and c2 spaced along each of the hinge connections between the end wall forming panels el e2 and the bottom wall forming panels b1 and b2 which are provided for accommodating the compression fingers of a tightening mechanism which may be incorporated in the apparatus of the present invention for tightening the panels in closing and latching the bottom wall forming panel members. Such mechanism may be in accordance with the disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 3,474,590, dated Oct. 28, 1969, which also discloses a suitable bottom wall panel lock and latch engaging mechanism 30 for use in the present machine.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for folding a cut and creased wrapper blank about an article which has the general form of an upwardly facing pan or tray which wrapper blank comprises a central top wall forming panel, end wall forming panels adapted to hinge downwardly along oppositely disposed end wall forming portions of the article, side wall forming panels hinged to the top wall forming panel and extending at each corner thereof adjacent the ends of the end wall forming panels, and corner gusset forming panel members at opposite ends of the hinged connection of said top wall forming and end wall forming panels which gusset forming panel members are creased on angularly related lines for folding of said members on hinge connections with said end and side wall forming panels and to permit portions thereof to collapse upon each other so as to position one of said gusset portions against the adjoining end wall, said apparatus comprising conveyor means for advancing successive articles to a gusset folding station, means for depositing a wrapper blank on each successive article with the end wall panels extending in the plane of the top wall panel and laterally along opposite sides of the path of said article conveyor means, means in the form of vertically extending members mounted at said gusset folding station which have edge portions positioned for engagement by the leading gusset panel members as said gusset panel members are advanced on said conveyor means so as to cause said gusset panel portions to collapse upon each other and in the direction of the trailing gusset panel members and advance on the upper edge portions of said vertically extending members, and means mounted at said station for travel in a vertical plane and in an endless path extending along opposite sides of said conveyor means which is operated in timed relation to the advance of successive article and wrapper blank assemblies and which traverses a portion of said path at a level so as to engage the trailing gusset forming panel members on the trailing faces thereof and collapse said trailing gusset forming panel members in the direction of the leading gusset forming panel members and to position said trailing gusset forming panel members so that they advance onto said upper edge portions of said vertically extending members.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein means is provided for folding down leading and trailing wrapper blank portions which comprises a traveling overhead conveyor having spaced thereon pairs of transversely extending folder plates which are spaced to engage blank side wall forming panel portions at the leading and trailing margins of said blank top wall forming panel and thereby position the wrapper blank on the article while folding down said panel portions.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means at said gusset folding station which is positioned for engagement'by the leading gusset panel members comprises a pair of gusset folding blade members disposed in generally vertical planes at opposite sides of said conveyor means with top edge portions spaced immediately below the plane of the top wall forming panel member and of sufficient length to support thereon the collapsed leading and trailing gusset members.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said apparatus includes means positioned beyond said gusset folding station for folding down said end wall forming panels and wherein said gusset folding blade members have an upstanding top edge portion of sufficient length to receive the leading and trailing gusset panel members in collapsed condition and retain the same in collapsed condition while an article and wrapper blank assembly is advanced to said means for folding down the end wall forming panels.

5. An apparatus for folding a cut and creased wrapper blank about an article which has the general form of an upwardly facing product accommodating pan or tray which wrapper blank comprises a central top wall forming panel with relatively small side wall forming panels hinged at opposite margins thereof, said end wall forming panels adapted to hinge downwardly along oppositely disposed end wall forming portions of the article and relatively small corner gusset forming panel members at opposite ends of the hinged connection of said top wall forming and end wall forming panels which are subdivided by hinge lines to permit collapse thereof. with one of said subdivided portions of said gusset panel members being hingedly connected to the adjoining end wall and another hinged to the adjoining side wall forming panel, said apparatus comprising traveling conveyor means for advancing successive articles to a gusset folding station, means for depositing a wrapper blank on each successive article with the end wall forming panels disposed along opposite sides of the path of said article conveyor means, means mounted in fixed position at said gusset folding station and spaced outboard of said conveyor means with upwardly facing edges positioned for engaging the gusset portions which are hinged to the leading end wall and collapsing the leading gusset forming panel members in the direction of the trailing gusset forming panel members, and traveling gusset panel folding means mounted at said gusset folding station and outboard of opposite sides of said conveyor means which is operable in timed relation to the advance of successive article and wrapper blank assemblies for engaging and collapsing the trailing gusset forming panel members in the direction of the leading gusset forming panel members and for guiding said collapsed gusset forming panel members for advance onto the upwardly facing edges of said means for engaging and collapsing said leading gusset forming panel members.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for collapsing the leading gusset forming panel members comprises a pair of vertically disposed folding blades disposed in fixed position at opposite sides of said conveyor means and having top edge portions positioned in the path of the gusset forming panel portions which are hinged to the downturned side wall forming panel at the leading side of the wrapper blank, said blade top edge portions being disposed in the path of said gusset forming panel portions so as to collapse said leading gusset forming panel members on said blade top edge portions.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said gusset panel folding means for collapsing the trailing gusset forming panel members comprises a pair of traveling conveyors disposed at opposite sides of said article conveyor means and having spaced plate members thereon which are mounted so as to travel in a vertical path and which are timed so as to engage the trailing faces of the trailing gusset forming panel members and collapse the same while they are advancing.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said gusset panel folding means for collapsing the trailing gusset forming panel members comprises a traveling conveyor, folder plates carried on said conveyor, means mounting said plate carrying conveyor for travel in a path which will engage the folder plates with the trailing gusset forming panel members and driving means for. said plate carrying conveyor.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim wherein said gusset panel folding means for collapsing the trailing gusset forming panel members comprises a rotatably mounted carrier member disposed alongside said article conveyor means, a gusset engaging folder member mounted on said carrier member and means for rotating said carrier member in timed relation to the movement of said article conveyor means so as to bring said folder member into folding engagement with said trailing gusset forming panel members.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said gusset panel folding means for collapsing the trailing gusset forming panel members on one side of the path of said traveling conveyor comprises a rotatably mounted carrier plate having a peripheral marginal portion and a gusset engaging folder member mounted in laterally extending relation on said peripheral marginal portion, and means for rotating said carrier plate in timed relation to the movement of said article conveyor means so as to bring said gusset engaging folder member into folding engagement with the trailing face of a trailing gusset forming panel member.

i l l

Claims

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means at said gusset folding station which is positioned for engagement by the leading gusset panel members comprises a pair of gusset folding blade members disposed in generally vertical planes at opposite sides of said conveyor means with top edge portions spaced immediately below the plane of the top wall forming panel member and of sufficient length to support thereon the collapsed leading and trailing gusset members.

5. An apparatus for folding a cut and creased wrapper blank about an article which has the general form of an upwardly facing product accommodating pan or tray which wrapper blank comprises a central top wall forming panel with relatively small side wall forming panels hinged at opposite margins thereof, said end wall forming panels adapted to hinge downwardly along oppositely disposed end wall forming portions of the article and relatively small corner gusset forming panel members at opposite ends of the hinged connection of said top wall forming and end wall forming panels which are subdivided by hinge lines to permit collapse thereof, with one of said subdivided portions of said gusset panel members being hingedly connected to the adjoining end wall and another hinged to the adjoining side wall forming panel, said apparatus comprising traveling conveyor means for advancing successive articles to a gusset folding station, means for depositing a wrapper blank on each successive article with the end wall forming panels disposed along opposite sides of the path of said article conveyor means, means mounted in fixed position at said gusset folding station and spaced outboard of said conveyor means with upwardly facing edges positioned for engaging the gusset portions which are hinged to the leading end wall and collapsing the leading gusset forming panel members in the direction of the trailing gusset forming panel members, and traveling gusset panel folding means mounted at said gusset folding station and outboard of opposite sides of said conveyor means which is operable in timed relation to the advance of successive article and wrapper blank assemblies for engaging and collapsing the trailing gusset forming panel members in the direction of the leading gusset forming panel members and for guiding said collapsed gusset forming panel members for advance onto the upwardly facing edges of said means for engaging and collapsing said leading gusset forming panel members.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said gusset panel folding means for collapsing the trailing gusset forming panel members comprises a traveling conveyor, folder plates carried on said conveyor, means mounting said plate carrying conveyor for travel in a path which will engage the folder plates with the trailing gusset forming panel members and driving means for said plate carrying conveyor.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said gusset panel folding means for collapsing the trailing gusset forming panel members comprises a rotatably mounted carrier member disposed alongside said article conveyor means, a gusset engaging folder member mounted on said carrier member and means for rotating said carrier member in timed relation to the movement of said article conveyor means so as to bring said folder member into folding engagement with said trailing gusset forming panel members.