Patent ID: 7641607

Claim:
A packaging machine for closing an end of an end loaded carton, the carton having leading and trailing side end flaps, the packaging machine comprising: a carton conveyor for transporting said carton in a flow direction along a first path; and a folding apparatus, comprising: a lug assembly, comprising at least one folding lug that travels along a second path, said at least one folding lug comprising an extending bar and protrusions said protrusions being spaced along the length of said bar, and said at least one folding lug traveling in said flow direction along at least a portion of said second path that is substantially parallel to said first path; a separation guide, comprising deflecting guide rails having spaces between and attached to a support bar, disposed at an upstream end of said folding apparatus; and a combination guide, comprising closing guide rails having spaces between and attached to a translating structure, disposed at a downstream end of said folding apparatus; wherein said protrusions of said at least one folding lug are vertically offset from said deflecting guide rails and said closing guide rails such that said protrusions can move through said spaces between said deflecting guide rails and said spaces between said closing guide rails as said at least one folding lug travels along said second path.