High speed four-way carton end closure score line breaker assembly

For use in pre-breaking score lines of end panels of a rectangular tubular carton mounted around an indexable mandrel during a dwell thereof, wherein two pair of oppositely disposed end panels extend beyond an end of the mandrel, a four-way carton score line breaker apparatus comprising a first pair of oppositely disposed continuously rotating elements adapted to contact and urge inwardly one pair of said two pair of oppositely disposed end panels, and a second pair of oppositely disposed continuously rotating elements adapted to contact and urge inwardly the other pair of said two pair of oppositely disposed end panels.

The combination comprising an indexable mandrel rotatable in a plane for receiving therearound a rectangular tubular carton having four end panels extending beyond an end of the mandrel, and a four-way carton score line breaker apparatus including a first pair of oppositely disposed elements adapted to contact and urge inwardly two oppositely disposed end panels, and a second pair of oppositely disposed elements adapted to contact and urge inwardly the other two oppositely disposed end panels, wherein each element of each of said first and second pairs of elements continuously rotates in a single direction.

Apparatus for use in forming an end closure of one end of a rectangular tubular carton, comprising an indexable mandrel around which said carton is mountable so that four end panels extend beyond an end of said mandrel, wherein said mandrel rotates about a first axis, driving means for indexing said mandrel and thus said carton, and a forming station at which said mandrel and said carton momentarily stop and which includes a pair of oppositely disposed forming elements that rotate about a second and third axis, respectively, that are parallel to said first axis of said mandrel, wherein said pair of elements are operable to contact and urge inwardly two dwelling, oppositely disposed, end panels at said one end, characterized by additional driving means which serves to rotate each forming element of said pair continually and unidirectionally.

A packing machine comprising an end closure forming station comprising a forming assembly including a first pair of oppositely disposed continually rotating forming elements, and a second pair of oppositely disposed continually rotating forming elements, wherein said forming elements are operable to act upon four respective end panels of a carton dwelling at said station, characterized in that said forming elements are effectively turnable through a right-angle about an axis of said station.

Apparatus for use in forming an end closure of one end of a rectangular tubular carton, comprising an indexable mandrel around which said carton is mountable so that four end panels extend beyond an end of said mandrel, driving means for indexing said mandrel and thus said carton, and a forming station at which said mandrel and said carton dwell and which includes a pair of oppositely disposed forming elements operable to contact and urge inwardly a first pair of dwelling, oppositely disposed, end panels at said one end, characterized by additional driving means which serves to rotate each forming element of said pair continually and unidirectionally, wherein said forming station further comprises a second pair of oppositely disposed forming elements operable to contact and urge inwardly a second pair of dwelling, oppositely disposed, end panels, characterized in that said additional driving means serves to rotate each forming element of said second pair continually and unidirectionally.