Method and apparatus for assembling a package

A method of assembling a package comprising an open-topped receptacle and a slide actuated closure member, said closure member being formed from a blank comprising a closure portion, a slide portion and a rolling hinge portion, said slide portion being comprised of front and rear wall panels and first, second and thrid side wall panels, said front wall panel having first and second side wall panels connected to its respective sides by fold lines, said rear wall panels being connected by fold lines to the opposite side of said second side panel and said third side panel being connected by a fold line to the other side of said rear wall panel, said rolling hinge portion being comprised of a hinge panel and a foldover panel connected by a series of folding panels positioned between said hinge panel and said foldover panel, said folding panel being interconnected by fold lines and the outermost fold panels being connected by fold lines respectively to the hinge panel and the foldover panel, said foldover panel being connected by a fold line to the top edge of the rear wall panel of the slide portion, said closure portion being comprised of a top panel, a pair of side panels connected by fold lines respectively to the opposite ends of said top panel, the side of said top panel adjacent said side panels being connected by a fold line to said hinge panel, said closure member further comprising glue flaps connected to the side of said side panels adjacent the fold lines connecting side panels to the top panels and the fold line connecting the top panel to the hinge panel, the steps comprising:

• a. moving said blank along a path,
• b. folding the side and front panels of the slide portion normally to the movement path,
• c. folding said side panels and glue flaps of said closure portion normally to the movement path,
• d. placing the open end portion of said receptacle between the side panels of said closure portion and in contacting relation to said top panel of said portion,
• e. applying adhesive to said glue flaps on the closure portion and folding said flaps into contacting relation to the rear wall of said receptacle to adhere said flaps thereto,
• f. folding said rolling hinge portion out of the plane of movement of the blank such that folding occurs along the fold lines connecting the top panel of the closure member to the hinge panel, the rear wall panel of the slide portion to the foldover panel and along at least one of the fold lines associated with the folding panels,
• g. moving said slide portion into a position adjacent said closure portion with said rolling hinge portion folded, the hinge panel being adjacent the rear wall of the receptacle,
• h. rotating said receptacle into contacting relation to the hinge panel of the rolling hinge portion, said foldover panel being in contact with the rear wall panel of the slide portion,
• i. folding said slide portion around receptacle whereby said first and third side panels of said slide portion are adhered into overlapping contacting relation.

An apparatus for assembling a package, said package being comprised of an open-topped receptacle and a slide-actuated closure member, said closure member being formed from a blank with a closure portion disposed to fit over the open portion of said receptacle, a slide portion connecting said slide portion and said closure portion, said apparatus comprising:

• a. means for supplying said blanks individually,
• b. means for conveying said blanks along a path through said apparatus,
• c. means for folding said hinge portion thereby displacing said hinge portion from the plane of said path;
• d. means for placing said receptacles normal to said path synchronous with said conveying means to place the open top of said receptacles into a contacting relation with said closure portion;
• e. means for affixing portions of said closure member to said receptacle;
• f. means for rotating said receptacle about said closure portion to place one side of said receptacle in contact with said hinge portion, said hinge portion and said receptacle being in overling relation to said slide portion;
• g. means for wrapping said slide portion around said receptacle;
• and
• h. means for affixing said slide portion around said receptacle.