Apparatus for applying a fitment to pre-formed carton at the infeed to a packaging machine
AssigneeTetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
InventorDavid J. Sweeney
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for attaching a fitment to an erected carton through ultrasonic welding at an infeed to a packaging machine is disclosed herein. The apparatus has two anvils that oscillate in a horizontal plane and oscillate along a vertical plane at a carton infeed to a packaging machine. As one anvil is attaching a fitment to a carton, the other anvil picks a fitment for attachment to the next carton.
Claims8
A method for attaching a fitment to an erected carton as the carton is transferred from a magazine to a packaging machine along and between a pair of guide rails, the carton being erected and horizontally oriented and being conveyed horizontally, the method comprising:
- providing an erected carton for conveyance along and between the guide rails;
- providing a pair of anvils, one of each of the pair of anvils disposed about and associated with one of each of the pair of guide rails;
- oscillating a first one of the pair of anvils in a first plane, with a fitment thereon, into an interior portion of the erected carton;
- moving the first one of the pair of anvils in a second plane, generally transverse to the first plane, to insert the fitment from the interior portion of the carton through a pre-punched hole in the carton;
- engaging an ultrasonic horn with the fitment inserted through the hole of the carton;
- welding the fitment to the carton;
- oscillating and moving the first one of the pair of anvils through the first and second planes, respectively, out of the interior portion of the carton and into a position for receipt of a subsequent fitment;
- providing a second erected carton for conveyance along and between the guide rails;
- oscillating a second one of the pair of anvils in a first plane, with a second fitment thereon, into an interior portion of the second erected carton;
- moving the second one of the pair of anvils in a third plane, generally transverse to the first plane and parallel to the second plane, to insert the second fitment from the interior portion of the second carton through a pre-punched hole in the second carton;
- engaging an ultrasonic horn with the second fitment inserted through the hole of the
- welding the fitment to the second carton;
- and
- oscillating and moving the second one of the pair of anvils through the first and third planes, respectively, out of the interior portion of the second carton and into a position for receipt of a subsequent fitment.
An apparatus for applying a fitment to an erected carton as the carton is transferred from a magazine to a packaging machine, the apparatus comprising:
- a pair of guide rails along which the carton is conveyed, the carton being positioned in a horizontal manner between one of each of the pair of guide rails;
- a pair of anvils, one of each of the pair of anvils disposed about and associated with one of each of the pair of guide rails, each of the anvils having a lobe thereon for engagement with a fitment;
- a pair of chutes for delivering a supply of fitments from a source, one of each of the pair of chutes delivering fitments to one of each of the pair of anvils, the anvils being movable in a first plane through a generally horizontal path defining a first generally horizontal plane from a position outside of the cartons to a position interior of the cartons, the anvils configured to carrying the fitments from the position outside of the cartons to the position interior of the cartons;
- means for moving each of the anvils independent of each other through the first generally horizontal plane;
- means for moving each of the anvils between the first horizontal plane and a second horizontal plane;
- and
- an ultrasonic horn disposed about the guide rails, the ultrasonic horn adapted for movement in a vertical plane, substantially parallel to the movement of the anvils between the first and second horizontal planes,
- wherein the anvils are independently movable in the first and second planes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.