US 5,601,669 AGranted

Apparatus and method for attaching fitments to cartons

AssigneePortola Packaging, Inc.

InventorsRodger A. Moody, Gerald M. Blain, Ronald J. Billet

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A fitment comprising a pouring spout having a peripheral flange at one end and a closure at a second end is attached to a paperboard carton formed with a hole in a side panel. The carton is moved intermittently along a conveyor, such as that used in a filling machine. An arm having a spud oscillates about a horizontal axis parallel to the conveyor. The arm is pivoted to down position as the carton reaches the fitment attaching station so that the fitment enters the open end of the carton with the spud aligned with the carton hole. The arm is mounted on a first carriage which reciprocates horizontally in a first direction to project the closure through the hole until the flange abuts the inside of the carton panel. An ultrasonic welding horn is mounted on a second carriage which reciprocates in alignment with the first carriage in a second direction opposite the first direction. The horn welds the fitment flange to the inside of the carton panel.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method of attaching a fitment to a carton wherein said carton comprises a rectangular tube having walls and an open upper end, one said wall being formed with a hole and wherein said fitment comprises a spout smaller than said hole, and a peripheral flange at one end of said spout larger than said hole, said method comprising the steps of

moving said carton substantially horizontally parallel to a first substantially vertical plane to a fitment application position with said open end exposed, holding said carton stationary,
moving a first carriage substantially parallel to a second substantially vertical plane, substantially perpendicular to said first vertical plane to a first carriage retracted position,
oscillating an arm pivotally mounted on said first carriage substantially parallel to said second vertical plane, to a first arm position, said arm having a spud,
applying a fitment to said spud while said arm is in first arm position adjacent said fitment application position,
oscillating said arm substantially parallel to said second vertical plane to a second arm position with said spud and said fitment inside said carton and said fitment aligned with said hole,
moving said first carriage substantially horizontally substantially parallel to said second vertical plane from said first carriage retracted position to a first carriage advance position and thereby moving said fitment laterally so that said spout protrudes out through said hole and said flange engages the inside of said one wall,
moving a second carriage on which is mounted an annular welding head substantially horizontally substantially parallel to said second vertical plane from a second carriage retracted position to a second carriage projected position with said head engaging said one wall and surrounding said hole, said spout fitting inside said welding head,
clamping said one wall and said flange between said welding head and said arm, and
welding said flange to said one wall in weld.

6 more elements

Apparatus for attaching a fitment to a carton of the type comprising a hollow tube open at its upper end and having a hole formed in a wall of said carton, said fitment comprising a spout smaller than said hole and having a peripheral flange at one end larger than said hole, said apparatus comprising,

a frame on which said apparatus is mounted, conveying means on said frame intermittently movable to convey a carton to said apparatus parallel to a first substantially vertical plane with said upper end exposed,
a first carriage reciprocably mounted on said frame for reciprocation substantially horizontally substantially parallel to a second substantially vertical plane substantially perpendicular to said first vertical plane,
an arm mounted on said first carriage having a spud shaped to fit inside said spout and a welding area shaped to engage said fitment flange,
arm actuating means for pivotally mounting said arm for oscillating movement parallel to said second vertical plane between a first arm position and a second arm position, said arm actuating means being mounted on said first carriage means for reciprocating said first carriage between retracted and projected positions,
means for oscillating said arm to said first arm position to fit a fitment to said spud and then oscillating said arm to said second arm position to insert said spud and a fitment fitted thereon into said upper end of said carton and into alignment with said hole and then to reciprocate said first carriage to said projected position to move said spout to protrude through said hole and said fitment flange to engage an inside wall of said carton.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/317,561Filed 4 Oct 1994
Granted: 11 Feb 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification25 codes

B29C 65/08
By heating, with or without pressure: using ultrasonic vibrations
B29C 65/7838
Positioning the parts to be joined, e.g. aligning, indexing or centring: from the inside, e.g. of tubular or hollow articles
B29C 65/7841
Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles , e.g. means for handling sheets, plates, web-like…:…
B29C 66/12441
Characterised by the male part, i.e. the part comprising the tongue: being a single wall