Patent ID: 6626810
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: B31B

Abstract:
An apparatus for forming a bottom end wall of a carton from a rectangular carton blank having open top and bottom ends, first, second, third and fourth body panels adjoining first, second, third and fourth bottom end closure panels, respectively, with the first and third bottom end closure panels oppositely disposed and scored to fold inwardly when the second and fourth bottom end closure panels are folded inwardly down to form the bottom of the carton, comprising:a) a mandrel adapted to receive said carton blank through said open top end of said carton blank, with said bottom end closure panels extending beyond a distal free end of said mandrel, said distal free end indexable through a sequence of carton processing stations; b) a folding station including: i) a pair of oppositely disposed reciprocating break fingers aligned in the direction of mandrel movement to contact and fold inwardly said first and third bottom end closure panels; and ii) a hooder unit having first and second side edges and first and second bottom angled surfaces for folding inwardly down said second and fourth bottom end closure panels as the hooder unit is moved toward the mandrel, each of the first and second bottom surfaces being angled acutely upward and inward from the first and second side edges, respectively; the hooder unit further comprising an overhanging region of said first bottom angled surface which extends over said second bottom angled surface to form a paper guide path and a J-flap pull finger recessed within said first hooder element and extending acutely past the plane of said first angled surface, said J-flap pull finger oriented to catch and fold a scored J-flap region of said second or fourth bottom end closure panel.