Patent ID: 7322171
Filing Date: 2008-01-29
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a carton containing a group of articles, which method comprises placing first and second sets of the articles onto spaced apart loading panels of a carton blank so that the article sets are spaced apart with an unloaded further panel of the blank disposed between the article sets, raising the spaced loading panels together with the respective sets of articles to transfer the sets of articles to the unloaded further panel so that said unloaded further panel becomes a loaded base of the carton and those spaced apart areas of the loading panel become opposed side panels of the carton; wherein the carton blank in substantially flat form is transferred from a supply to a forming jig so that spaced apart loading panels of the blank are placed on spaced outer sections of the jig with the further panels of the blank disposed there between on an inner section of the jig and so that opposed end closure panels of the blank automatically are folded out of the plane of respective loading panels and loading a set of articles onto each of said loading panels; wherein reinforcing panels, hinged to the end closure panels are folded relative to the end closure panels so that a reinforcing panel is caused to overlie the endmost articles in each set such that each endmost article is substantially surrounded by a loading panel, an end closure panel and a reinforcing panel; wherein a separator device is positioned between each article set substantially to prevent movement of the article sets, on their respective loading panels towards one another; and wherein the spaced outer sections of the jig are raised so that the loading panels with their respective articles sets are raised, and retracting the separator device as the article sets are brought together and the loading panels are brought into an upright attitude whereby the article sets are brought together with the ends of the articles in each set brought to rest on said further panel of the blank, destined to become a base panel of the carton, with the loading panels providing opposed side panels of the carton.