Carton folding mechanism for wraparound cartons

Abstract

A device is used in a machine for packaging articles in a wraparound carrier. The carrier is formed from a blank having a pair of foldable flaps struck therefrom. The packaging machine is arranged to advance the blank and articles associated therewith along a predetermined path. The device is positioned along the path to fold the flaps inwardly of the blank. The device includes a rotational disc defining an axis of rotation, a fixed cam plate disposed adjacent to the rotational disc and having an endless cam track disposed around the axis, drive means for rotating the rotational disc about the axis in synchronization with movement of the blank and the articles, a pair of blank-engaging fingers carried by the rotational disc for pivotal movement about respective pins so as to engage the flaps, and an actuating mechanism carried by the rotational disc to pivotally move the fingers away from each other and toward each other. The actuating mechanism includes a cam follower riding in the cam track so as to move radially inwardly and outwardly of the disc in response to rotation of the disc, and a converting mechanism for converting radial movement of the cam follower into pivotal movement of the fingers so that the fingers are simultaneously pivoted about the pins in response to radial movement of the cam follower.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.