Patent ID: 8127518

Claim:
A method of packaging products comprising: moving a series of carton blanks along a path of travel, each of the carton blanks comprising a substantially flat sheet of a carton material having top and base panels connected by a rear panel, first, second, third, and fourth side flaps respectively hingedly connected to the top and base panels and respectively including cooperating locking elements formed therein, the locking elements including a locking projection and a corresponding locking receptacle, and upper and lower front flaps respectively hingedly attached to the top and base panels; for each carton blank, engaging and urging the top panel toward the base panel; as the top panel of each carton blank is moved downwardly toward the base panel, guiding the first and second side flaps of each carton blank toward the third and fourth side flaps; engaging the locking projection along at least one of the first and second side flaps of each carton blank with a locking lug and urging the locking projection into the corresponding locking receptacle formed in a corresponding one of the third and fourth side flaps to lock the side flaps together and form a carton having an open end; loading products into the open end of each carton; and closing the upper and lower front flaps of each carton.