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US 7,631,474 B2Granted
Packaging system having loading carousel
AssigneeGraphic Packaging International, Inc.
InventorColin P. Ford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A packaging system utilizes two sides of a loading carousel, which reduces both the height and footprint of the packaging system. Mass and inertia are also reduced, allowing higher operational speeds. The loading carousel receives opened cartons on a first side and lowers them over product groups on a second side.
Claims9
A method of forming packages, comprising:
- conveying articles along a first path of travel;
- conveying cartons along a second path of travel in a direction substantially parallel to and opposite from the first path of travel;
- grouping the articles into article groups;
- opening the cartons to a configuration for receiving the article groups therein;
- conveying the opened cartons into alignment with the article groups, wherein the conveying of the opened cartons comprises engaging each carton with a carrier moving about a loading carousel;
- picking up the cartons with the carriers along the second path of travel;
- raising the cartons after pickup;
- after raising the cartons, lowering the cartons onto the article groups;
- and
- packaging the article groups within the cartons to form packages.
7 more elements
A method of forming packages, comprising:
- conveying articles along a first path of travel;
- conveying cartons along a second path of travel in a direction substantially parallel to and opposite from the first path of travel;
- grouping the articles into article groups;
- opening the cartons to a configuration for receiving the article groups therein;
- conveying the opened cartons into alignment with the article groups;
- wherein the conveying cartons along the second path of travel comprises providing cartons to a first side of a loading carousel;
- conveying the cartons from the first side to a second side of the loading carousel;
- providing the article groups to the loading carousel;
- loading the article groups into the cartons along the second side of the loading carousel;
- wherein the conveying of the cartons from the first side to the second side of the loading carousel comprises:
- picking up the cartons at a pickup position;
- and
- raising the cartons to a raised location;
- wherein the loading of the article groups into the cartons comprises lowering the cartons onto the article groups;
- and
- packaging the article groups within the cartons to form packages, and the packaging of article groups within the cartons comprises closing the cartons.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.