Apparatus for attaching insert panels to carton blanks

An apparatus for operating on a carton blank of the type having a first surface adapted to form an exterior portion of a subsequently formed carton, a second surface adapted to form an interior surface of a subsequently formed carton, a front edge, a back edge, and a pair of opposite lateral side edges, a first end portion having a plurality of foldable end flaps being foldable along fold lines extending generally parallel to said front edge, comprising:

• infeed means for feeding said carton blank into a first nip means in a generally horizontally disposed orientation with said first surface facing upwardly and said front edge leading;
• said first nip means nippingly engaging at least one of said plurality of end flaps for urging said carton blank along a path including a forwardly extending, horizontal, first path portion, a generally vertical second path portion and an arcuate transition portion connecting said first path portion with a lower end of said second path portion;
• flap folding means positioned along said path for engaging and folding at least another of said plurality of foldable end flaps toward said second surface of said carton blank as said carton blank traverses said first and second path portions;
• stop means for positively engaging said carton blank and stopping upward displacement thereof along said second path portion after said carton blank leaves said first nip means;
• first biasing means for urging said rear edge portion of said carton blank means generally horizontally toward a second nip means after it is disengaged from said first nip;
• second biasing means for urging said carton blank generally vertically downwardly toward said second nip means after it is disengaged from said first nip means;
• said second nip means being nippingly engaging said carton blank for urging said carton blank downwardly along said second path portion and forwardly along a generally horizontal third path portion and along a transition path connecting said lower end of said second path portion with said third path portion, said second nip means moving said carton blank along said third path portion in an orientation with said front edge trailing and said second surface up;
• and
• flap holding means for engaging said folded end flap for maintaining it in a folded orientation as it moves along said path.

An apparatus for operating on a carton blank of the type having a first face surface, a second face surface opposite said first face surface, a first end portion having a plurality of foldable end flaps and terminating in a first edge surface, and a second end portion opposite said first end portion and terminating in a second edge surface comprising:

• endless belt means for forming portions of a first conveying nip and a second conveying nip and having a first generally horizontally extending portion moving in a first direction and a second generally horizontally extending portion moving in said first direction;
• first roll means having a circumferential portion engaged with said endless belt means at said first generally horizontally extending portion thereof for forming a first nip for engaging at least one of said plurality of foldable end flaps of said first end portion with said second face surface facing said endless belt means;
• flap folding means for folding at least another of said plurality of foldable end flaps;
• second roll means having a circumferential portion engaged with said endless belt means at said second generally horizontally extending portion thereof for forming a second nip for initially engaging said carton blank at said second end thereof with said first face surface facing said endless belt means;
• means for urging said second end portion of said carton blank into said second nip after said carton blank becomes disengaged from said first nip;
• whereby said carton blank is flipped endwise and facewise during conveyance through said first and second nip.