Method for packing articles, and machine for performing the method

The method for sequentially packaging diversely sized articles having opposed parallel surfaces in containers to diverse dimensions to receive such articles from plates of pliable material containing a base portion, a flap portion and a closure panel in integral, coplanar relation on apparatus having a working surface, a conveyor movable with respect to said working surface, and a guiding obstruction substantially coextensive with, and extending vertically with respect to, said conveyor, comprising the steps of:

• a) sequentially forming sets on said working surface by placing selected articles to be packaged on the facing surfaces of the base portions of selected plates and folding said flap portions across the exposed surfaces of said selected articles to form a receptacle portion in each set;
• b) moving said sets in sequence onto said conveyor by placing the receptacle portion in each set in engagement with one side of said guiding obstruction with the closure panels of said sets beyond the other side of said guiding obstruction;
• c) moving said sets in sequence by said conveyor along said guiding obstruction while mechanically folding each said closure panel, in turn, first from the plane of said base portion and, thereafter, across the opposed surface of said plate;
• d) applying adhesive to either one of said closure panel or said opposed plate surface of each said set as the sets are moved along said obstruction;
• and
• e) sequentially pressing each said closure panel against said opposed plate surface of the associated set to effect an adhesive bond therebetween.

A method for sequentially packaging diversely sized articles having opposed parallel surfaces in containers formable to diverse dimensions to receive such articles from plates of pliable material containing a base portion having transversely disposed retention tabs, a flap portion and a closure panel in integral coplanar relation on apparatus having a working surface, and a guiding obstruction substantially coextensive with, and extending vertically with respect to said conveyor, comprising the steps of:

• a) placing container plates sequentially on said working surface;
• b) selectively placing articles to be packaged on the upwardly facing surface of the base portion of said container plates;
• c) folding said tabs transversely across the articles placed on the base portion of the respective plates;
• d) folding each said plate along a transverse line between said base portion and said flap portion by manually inverting said article to place it between the base portion and the flap portion of each respective plate to form receptacle portions in the separate sets;
• e) moving said sets in sequence onto said conveyor by placing the receptacle portion in each engagement with one side of said guiding obstruction with the closure panels of the respective sets extending beyond the other side of said guiding obstruction;
• f) moving said sets in sequence by said conveyor along said guiding obstruction while mechanically folding each said closure panel, in turn, first from the plane of said base portion and, thereafter, the opposed surface of said plate;
• g) applying adhesive to either one of said closure panel or said opposed plate surface of each said set as the sets are moved along said obstruction;
• h) sequentially pressing each said closure panel against said opposed plate surface of the associated set to effect an adhesive bond therebetween;
• and
• i) removing said sets from said conveyor.