Cartoner with selectively interchangeable tucking and gluing modules
AssigneeR.A. Jones & Co. Inc.
InventorRichard E. Radigan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cartoner for loading products into cartons and for sealing the ends of product cartons as the cartons move along a carton path therein comprises a tuck module located at a position on the cartoner along the carton path for engaging an end flap of the product carton and tucking a portion of the end flap into the carton to seal the carton end and a glue module, selectively interchangeable with the tuck module at the position along the carton path, for engaging an end flap of a product carton and gluing the end flap to a portion of the carton such that a single cartoner may be used to seal cartons by selectively tucking or gluing the end flaps.
Claims38
A cartoner for loading products into cartons and for sealing the ends of product cartons as the cartons move along a carton path therein, said cartoner further comprising:
- a support structure positioned proximate the cartoon path;
- a tuck module mounted predominantly on a module mount, the module mount configured to be received by the support structure at a position along the carton path for the tuck module to engage an end flap of the product carton and tuck a tucking portion of the end flap into the carton end to seal the end as the carton moves along said path;
- and
- a glue module mounted predominantly on a second module mount, the second module mount selectively interchangeable with the tuck module mount at said position along the carton path for the tuck module to engage an end flap of a product carton and glue the end flap to a portion of the carton to seal the carton end as the carton moves along said path;
- whereby a single cartoner may be used to seal cartons by selectively tucking or gluing the end flaps.
A cartoner for loading products into cartons and for sealing both ends of a product carton as the cartons move along a carton path therein, said cartoner further comprising:
- a support structure positioned proximate the carton path;
- a tucking mechanism mounted predominantly on a module mount configured to be received by the support structure adjacent a side of the carton path, the tucking mechanism for engaging an end flap at an end of a product carton and tucking a portion of said end flap into the carton end to seal the end as the carton moves along said path;
- a gluing mechanism mounted predominantly on a second module mount configured to be received by the support structure adjacent a side of the carton path and opposite the tucking mechanism, the gluing mechanism for engaging another end flap at the other carton end and gluing said other end flap to a portion of the carton to seal the carton end as the carton moves along said path;
- a second tucking mechanism, mounted predominantly on a module mount and selectively interchangeable with the first gluing mechanism and associated module mount, for engaging a carton end flap and tucking the end flap into the carton such that the carton may be selectively sealed at both ends by tucking;
- and
- a second gluing mechanism, mounted predominantly on a module mount and selectively interchangeable with the first tucking mechanism and associated module mount, for engaging a carton end flap and gluing the end flap to the carton such that the carton may be selectively sealed at both ends by gluing;
- whereby a single cartoner may be used to seal cartons by selectively tucking or gluing the end flaps of a carton.
A cartoner for loading products into cartons and for sealing the ends of product cartons as the cartons move along a carton path therein, said cartoner further comprising:
- a support platform positioned on the cartoner transverse to the carton path;
- a tuck module plate and a tucking mechanism mounted on said tuck module plate along a side thereof, the plate configured to be received by said platform at a side of the carton path with said plate side generally parallel the carton path and the tucking mechanism operable to engage an end flap of the carton and tuck a portion of the end flap into the carton to seal the carton end as the carton moves along the path past the tuck module;
- a glue module plate and a gluing mechanism mounted on said glue module plate along a side thereof, the glue module plate being selectively interchangeable with the tuck module plate and the gluing mechanism operable to engage an end flap of a product carton and glue the end flap to a portion of the carton to seal the carton end as the carton moves along said path past the glue module;
- whereby a single cartoner may be used to seal cartons by selectively tucking or gluing the end flaps.
A cartoner for loading products into cartons and for sealing the ends of product cartons as the cartons move along a carton path therein, said cartoner comprising:
- a tuck module for sealing the end of a product carton and mounted predominantly on a module mount;
- a module support located at a position on the cartoner along the carton path, said module support configured to receive and support said module mount and tuck module which is operable for engaging an end flap of the product carton and tucking a tucking portion of the end flap into the carton and to seal the end as the carton moves along said path;
- said module mount and tuck module being removable from said module support and said module support further being adapted for receiving another sealing module and associated module mount for operating on an end of a product carton to seal said carton end.
A cartoner for loading products into cartons and for sealing the ends of product cartons as the cartons move along a carton path therein, said cartoner comprising:
- a glue module for sealing the end of a product carton and mounted predominantly on a module mount;
- a module support located at a position on the cartoner along the carton path, said module support configured to receive and support said module mount and glue module which is operable for engaging an end flap of a product carton and gluing the end flap to a portion of the carton to seal the carton end as the carton moves along said path;
- said module mount and glue module being movable from said module support and said module support further being adapted for receiving another sealing module and associated module mount for operating on an end of a product carton to seal said carton end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.