US3896601A

US3896601A - Packaging machine using two-blank carton system

Info

Publication number: US3896601A
Application number: US480160A
Authority: US
Inventors: James L Vickers; Edmund A Waycie
Original assignee: Stone Container Corp
Current assignee: Stone Container Corp
Priority date: 1972-08-31
Filing date: 1974-06-17
Publication date: 1975-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 1992-07-29

Abstract

A packaging machine operative to sequentially fold separate cooperating carton blanks about lading and discharge a sealed package containing the lading in a automatic operation. The packaging machine is particularly adapted to cooperate with a lading loading ram which could be provided by a conventional case packer having a discharge horn through which the ram moves a quantity of lading. The carton blank system includes a body blank having a center panel and alternate side panels with flanges hingedly connected along the longitudinal edges of the panels and along the ends of the side panels and a cover blank having a center panel and alternate side panels. The machine includes means for positioning the body blank in a generally vertical plane opposite the loading ram, means for folding the flanges and the panels about the lading in cooperation with said loading ram to form a generally U-shaped formation, means for holding the said formation in place, means for moving the formation to an end flange folding station and thereafter to a discharge station, means for positioning a cover blank opposite the outlet of the discharge station, means for moving the formation against the cover blank, means for folding the cover blank about the formation, and means for securing the inner facing margin of the cover blank to the outer facing surfaces of the folded flanges of the body blank to form a sealed package or carton. Formation and sealing of the package is achieved along a horizontal path of movement.

Description

[451 July 29, 1975 separate cooperating carton blanks about lading and discharge a sealed package containing the lading in a automatic operation. The packaging machine is particularly adapted to cooperate with a lading loading ram which could be provided by a conventional case packer having a discharge horn through which the ram moves a quantity of lading. The carton blank system 111. includes a body blank having a center panel and alternate side panels with flanges hingedly connected along June 1974 the longitudinal edges of the panels and along the ends Applv No.: 480,160 of the side panels and a cover blank having a center panel and alternate side panels. The machine includes means for positioning the body blank in a generally vertical plane opposite the loading ram, means for folding the flanges and the panels about the lading in cooperation with said loading ram to form a generally u 53/32; 53/185; 53/207 U:shape d firmation, mteans for holding the said for- B65b 11/18 matign in pfalcde, means or movng t e ormatnon to an 53/32 207, 208 [85 end ange 0 mg station and t ereafter to a discharge station, means for positioning a cover blank opposite the outlet of the discharge station, means for moving the formation against the cover blank, means for folding the cover blank about the formation, and means 53/ for securing the inner facing margin of the cover blank 53/32 to the outer facing surfaces of the folded flanges of the body blank to form a sealed package or carton. Formation and sealing of the package is achieved along a horizontal path of movement.

23 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures United States Patent Vickers et al.

1 1 PACKAGING MACHINE USING TWO-BLANK CARTON SYSTEM [75] Inventors: James L. Vickers, Harbert, Mich.; Edmund A. Waycie, River Forest, 111.

[73] Assignee: Stone Container Corporation,

Chicago,

122 Filed:

Related U.S. Application Data [631 Continuation-in-part of Scr. Nos. 285,211, Aug. 31, 1972, Pat. No. 3,817,018, and Scr. Nov 446,124, Feb. 27, 1974, Pat. No. 3.872.650.

152] U.S. 1...... [51] Int. [58] Field of Search [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,315,435 4/1967 Gunyou 3585.776 6/1971 Primary Examiner-'1ravis S. McGehee Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Silverman & Cass, Ltd.

[57] ABSTRACT A packaging machine operative to sequentially fold w 4 V a ,0 a 4% 9 t i a /i V a L SVBSRSO];

PATENTED JUL 2 9!?175 SHEET PATENTED JUL 2 9 \975 MACHINE USING TWO-BLANK CARTON SYSTEM CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of the earlier copending applications of James L. Vickers, namely, application Ser. No. 285,2ll filed Aug. 31, 1972, now U.S. PatpNo'. 3,-8l7 ,()l8, and application Ser. No. 446,124 filed Feb. 27, 1974. now US. Pat. No. 3,872,650. The present application and the prior applications refer'redto above are owned by the same assignee.

BACKGROUND or THE lNVENTlON PACKAGING Ser. No. 446,124 referred to above. According to the prior method, the flanged blank is positioned at a first station of a machine and the lading is positioned adjacent the center panel thereof. Then the flanged blank is folded into'a U-slia'pe'd formation partially surrounding the la'ding. The longitudinal flanges are folded inwardly generally perpendicular to the associated panels and the end flanges are then folded to aposition generally perpendicular to'the associated side panels. Next, an unflanged blank is'positioned adjacent the folded blankand lading with the centerpanelof the unflanged blank adjacent thefolded end flanges of the folded blank. Then the unflanged blank folded into a generally U-shape around the exposed lading with the margin of the unflanged'blank enaging the flanges of the folded flanged blank so that the entire lading is enclosed between the' folded blanks. The flanges of the folded blanks are adhesively secured to the margin of the unflanged blankfor sealing the package with the lading enclosed. 1

In prior application, Serial Number 446,124 referred to above, there is disclosed a machine for forming the sealed package according to the method described above. The machine includes a setup station where a I quantity of lading is positioned on and supported by the center panel'of a body blank having flanges along the edges thereof. The'machine further includes a first mechanism for folding the body blank into a generally U-shaped formation partially surrounding the lading as the lading and body blank are moved downwardly and such that the center panel formsZan end wall and the side panels form two side walls of a partially formed carton, a second mechanism for folding the flanges along each longitudinal edge ofthe blank to a position generally perpendicular to the associated side walls and end wall as thebod'y blank and lading are moved down- .wardly, a third mechanism for folding end flanges to a position generallyperpendicular to the associated side walls as the formation ismov'ed laterally from a holding station, a fourth mechanism for positioning an unflanged cover-blank above an assembly station to which the formation comprising the folded body blank and lading has been moved and in a position where the center panel of the cover blank overlies the end flanges of the folded body blank, a fifth mechanism for folding the cover blank into a generally U-shaped formation surrounding the lading exposed in the first formation while and as. the first formation is being moved upwardly and such that the margin of the cover blank overlies the flanges of the body blank, and a sixth mechanism for securing the flanges of the body blank to the margin of the cover blank to form a sealed package or carton with lading enclosed therein.

The machine embodying the herein invention differs from the machine disclosed in application, Serial Number 446,124, in that it utilizes different mechanisms arranged in a different manner for folding a body blank and cover blank about lading. Additionally, the folding operation in the present machine is entirely along a horizontal path of movement with attendent advantages over the prior machines referred to which will be discussed hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a machine for forming a sealed package containing lading from a generally rectangular body blank of paperboard material and a generally rectangular cover blank of paperboard material. The body blank included a center panel, alternate, hingedly connected side panels and flanges hingedly connected along the longitudinal edges of the center and side panels and along the ends of the side panels. The cover blank included a center panel and alternate hingedly connected side panels. Said machine includes first means for positioning the body blank in a generally vertical plane adjacent the outlet of a lading moving station from which a quantity of lading is moving horizontally in one direction, conveying means positioned for horizontal movement in a direction laterally of said one direction, said conveying means including a receiving station adjacent said lading moving sation and a discharge station spaced downstream from said receiving station, second means at said receiving station for folding the body blank into a generally U-shaped formation partially surrounding a quantity of lading with the center panel forming an end wall and the side panels forming two side walls of the formation as the quantity of lading is moved from the lading moving station, engages the body blank and moves onto said conveying means, third means at said receiving sation for folding the flanges along each Iongitudinal edge of the body blank to positions generally perpendicular to the associated side walls and end wall during movement of the lading against the body blank and onto said conveying means, fourth means for folding the end flanges to a position generally perpendicular to the associated side walls, said conveying means being operative to move the folded body blank and Iading to said discharge station, fifth means for positioning the cover blank in a generally vertical plane adjacent said discharge station, sixth means at said discharge station for moving the folded body blank and lading laterally off of said conveying means and against the cover blank, seventh means at said discharge station for folding the cover blank into a U-shaped formation partially surrounding the lading with the margin of the cover blank positioned overlying the flanges of the folded body blank as the folded body blank formation is moved off of said conveying means and eighth means adjacent said discharge station for securing the flanges of the body blank to the adjacent facing margin of the cover blank.

Also. according to the invention there is provided a method for forming a sealed package containing lading from a generally rectangular body blank of paperboard material and a generally rectangular cover blank of paperboard material. the body blank including a center panel, alternate. hingedly connected side panels and flanges hingedly connected along the longitudinal edges of the center and side panels and along the ends of the side panels. and the cover blank including a center panel and alternate hingedly connected side panels. said method including the steps of positioning the body blank in a generally vertical plane adjacent the outlet of a lading moving station; moving a quantity of lading horizontally in one direction and against the body blank; folding the body blank into a generally U-shaped formation partially surrounding the lading with the panels lying in generally vertical planes and with the center panel forming an end wall and the side panels forming two side walls of the formation as the lading is moved from the lading moving station; folding the flanges along each longitudinal edge of the body blank to positions generally perpendicular to the associated side walls and end wall during movement of the lading against the body blank; folding the end flanges to positions generally perpendicular to the associated side walls; moving the folded body blank and lading in a direction laterally of said one direction to a discharge station. positioning the cover blank in a generally vertical plane adjacent the discharge station, moving the folded body blank and lading in a third direction laterally of said second direction and against the cover blank; folding the cover blank into a U-shaped formation partially surrounding the lading with the margin of the cover blank positioned overlying the flanges of the folded body blank as the folded body blank formation is moved against said cover blank and securing the flanges of the body blank to the adjacent facing margin of the cover blank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a flow diagram illustrating the manner in which two blanks are folded about a quantity of lading to form a sealed package and illustrating the successive steps that are followed in practicing the packaging method of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the packaging machine of the invention with portions broken away to show details;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the machine as viewed along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the packaging machine as viewed along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the machine viewed along line 55 of FIG. 2 and with portions broken away;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of one embodiment of a body blank moving mechanism,

Referring now to FIG. I, the invention is shown as utilizing two separated blanks of paperboard material comprising a body blank 10 and a cover blank 12 which form a sealed package 14 by wrapping the two blanks around a quantity or stack of lading 16. The body blank 10 includes a center panel 18 and alternate hingedly. connected

side panels

19 and 20. Flanges 21, 22. and 23 are hingedly connected along the side edges of the panels l8, l9, and and end flanges 24 are hingedly connected along the ends of the

side panels

19 and 20. The cover blank 12 is unflanged and includes a center panel 28 and alternate hingedly connected

side panels

29 and 30.

The method and machine of the invention are particularly adapted for use with a conventional semiautomatic case packer, generally designated 32, a portion of which is shown in FIG. I. The machine of the inven- FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the mechanism I tion is designated generally by'the reference numeral 34.

Referring to FIGS. I and 4, the case packer 32 includes an infeed conveyor 36 on which articles of lading 38 are moved to a lading ejecting station 40. At station 40, the articles 38 are elevated by a conventional elevating mechanism until a quantity of the articles is grouped to form the stack 16 of lading. Then a pusher mechanism or lading moving ram 42 vis activated to push the stack 16 in a horizontal direction, indicated by the arrow 43 through a discharge funnel 44 at the lading ejecting station 40. as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. The discharge funnel 44 is commonly referred to as a horn. In the conventional case packer use. a pa rtially formed carton set up from a one-piece use. a partially formed carton set up from a one-piece blank and closed on five sides would be fitted over the horn to receive a quantity of lading ejected through the horn 44 and thereafter deposited on a conveyor. Then. the partially assembled packages must be sealed manually by folding the end flaps of the carton. With the machine 34 of the present invention. the packaging of each lading stack 16 is effected automatically and continuously using a twoblank carton system.

The machine 34 includes a conveyor mechanism 48 which includes an endlessconveyor assembly 50 having an upper run or'reach 52 which moves in a horizontal direction 55 laterally of the direction 43 of the pusher mechanism 42. The conveyor mechanism 50 includes a receiving station 58 at one end and .a discharge station 60 at the other end of the conveyor assembly 50. Additionally. the conveyor mechanism 48 includes an intermediate station 62 where end flanges 24 of a folded body blank.l0 are folded.

The machine 34 further includes a pushermechanisrn 64 at the discharge station for moving a folded body blank formation off the conveyor assembly 50 and against a cover blank 12. acompression chamber 66 into which the resulting two-blank formation is moved. a magazine 68 of body blanks. a magazine 70 of cover blanks. and various other mechanisms for moving a blank from either

ofthe magazines

68 or 70 to a desired position adjacent the receiving station 58 or the discharge station 60, and various devices and mechanisms to be described below for effecting the folding of a body blank about the lading 16 at the receiving station 58 and for folding a cover blank 12 about the folded body blank formation at the discharge station 60. The operation of the machine and a detailed description of the various devices and mechanisms referred to above will now be described having particular reference to FIG. I.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. I, there is illustrated a vacuum or suction cup assembly 74 which is utilized for moving a body blank 10 from the magazine 68 downwardly to a position between the lading ejecting station 40 and the receiving station 58. The assembly 74 includes a framework 76 which mounts two pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders 78 each of which has a suction cup 80 mounted to the distal end of a piston rod extending therefrom. The suction cups 80 are connected by fluid lines not shown to a source of vacuum. The framework 76 is secured to the lower end ofa vertically movable piston rod 84 which extends from a pneumatic or hydraulic operated cylinder 86.

In the operation of the assembly 74, the cylinders 78 are actuated to move the suction cups 80 forward toward the outlet end of the magazine 68 and into engagement with one side of a blank 10. Then vacuum is applied to the suction cups 80 so that they can hold the blank 10 thereto. Next, the cylinders 78 are actuated to retract the suction cups 80 with a blank held thereto. Subsequently, the cylinder 86 is operated to move the framework 74 downwardly thereby to carry the blank 10 downwardly. When the piston rod 84 has reached the lower extent of its vertical movement, vacuum is released from the suction cups 80 to allow the blank 10 to slide downwardly. Although not shown in FIG. 1, it will be understood that vertically extending guide members are provided for maintaining proper positioning of the body blank 10 as it is moved downwardly. Also, and as is shown in FIG. 1, a seating member or bar 90 is situated between the lading ejecting station and the receiving station in position to provide a stop or rest for supporting the cover blank 10 two

stations

40 and 58.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 a modified form ofa cover blank moving assembly is illustrated and generally designated by the reference numeral 94. The mechanism 94 operates without the use of vacuum in moving a cover blank from the magazine 68. The moving mechanism 94 includes a framework 96 connected to the lower end of a piston rod 98 extending from a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 100. The framework 96 is generally H-shaped and includes vertically extending legs I01 and 102. As shown an edge-engaging member 104 extends between and is secured to the upper ends of the legs 10] and 102 and has a shoulder 106 (FIG. 7) dimensioned and arranged to engage the upper one of the two longitudinal edges of the blank 10. Attached to the lower end of each

leg

101 and 102 is a pad 111, I 12. Each of the pads has a plurality of teeth 114 extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom as shown in FIG. 7. These teeth are arranged to engage and dig into a body blank at the outlet end of the magazine 68 adjacent the lower longitudinal edge of the blank 10 and in cooperation with the shoulder 106 move the blank 10 downwardly between two guide rails I21 and 122 to the desired position adjacent the entrance and to the receiving station 58.

From FIG. 7, it is apparent that the mechanism 94 has a thinner profile than the assembly 74 which permits the mechanism 94 easily to move between the lading ejecting station 40 and the receiving station 58. To provide space between the outlet end of the lading ejecting station 40 and the entrance to the receiving station 58, the conveyor assembly 50 is spaced a short distance from the lading ejecting station and the conveying mechanism 48 includes a cylinder 130 for moving the conveyor assembly 50 toward and away from the born 44 in a direction laterally of the direction of movement of the conveyor assembly 50 as indicated by the arrow 131. As will be described in more detail hereinafter, several functions are accomplished when this lateral movement is effected, one of which is the movement of the receiving station 58 closer to the lading ejecting station 40. In this way, folding members, more specifically a pair of vertical folding rollers I34 and a pair of flange folding bars 136, are moved closer to the blank 10 if not into actual engagement with the blank 10. As shown the rollers 134 are located on either side of the entrance to the receiving station 58 and the folding bars 136, only one of which is shown in the Figures. are positioned above and below the entrance to the receiving station 58.

As shown in FIG. 1, after the quantity of lading 16 has been assembled, the pusher mechanism 42 is operated and moves forward in the direction indicated by the arrow 43 to move the quantity 16 of lading through the discharge funnel or horn 44 (FIGS. 2 and 4) and aganist the blank 10 positioned adjacent the discharge end of the lading ejecting station 40 and the entrance end to the receiving station 58 of the conveyor mechanism 50. As the lading 16 is moved against the blank 10, it forces the blank 10 against the rollers 134 and the bars 136 which fold over the

panels

19 and 20 and the flanges 21-23.

In the first folding operation, the blank 10 is first positioned as shown, the cylinder 130 is operated to move the conveyor 50 closer to the lading ejecting station 40 and then the pusher 42 is operated to move the lading 16 through the discharge horn 44 and against the center panel 18 of the blank 10. Further movement causes the

panels

19 and 20 to engage the rollers 134 which fold the

panels

19 and 20 against the lading 16 to form the body blank 10 into a generally U-shaped formation partially surrounding the lading 16. At the same time, the folding bars 136 fold over the

flanges

21, 22, and 23 to a position degrees with respect to the associated

panels

18, 19 and 20. To facilitate the folding action, the folding bars 136 preferably have a curved or beveled surface 140 which is best shown in FIG. 8. In this way, the folding bars 136 function as plow members which plow over the

flanges

21, 22 and 23 as the pusher 42 is moving the lading through the funnel 44 and into the receiving station 58 of the conveyor mechanism 50. The resulting formation 142 of folded blank 10 and lading 16 is now at the upstream end of the upper run 52 of the conveyor assembly 50. Next, the cylinder is operated to move the conveyor assembly 50 back to its former position.

Then the conveyor assembly 50 is indexed to move the formation 142 to the intermediate or end flange folding station 62. In FIG. I, a formation 1420 is shown in this position. A subsequent quantity of lading 16 is then stacked at the lading ejecting station and another body blank 10 is moved into position. After these two subsequent events have occurred, the cylinder 130 is again actuated to move the conveyor assembly forward. This will result in the movement of the end flanges 24 of the formation 142a against a pair of end flange folding mechanisms 148 only one of which is shown in FIG. 1. Each of the mechanisms 148 includes a vertically extending pivotally mounted plate 150 which is spring-biased to an inclined position toward the conveyor mechanism 50 as shown in FIG. 1. It will be apparent that as the conveyor assembly 50 is moved laterally in the direction indicated by the arrow 131, the end flanges 24 will engage the plates 150 and will be bent inwardly of the formation 142a as the plate 150 is moved backwardly to a position perpendicular to the direction of the arrow 131 at which point the end flanges 24 will be completely folded over to positions perpendicular to the associated

panels

19 and 20.

At the same time, a subsequent blank 10 is being folded into a U-shaped about lading to form another formation 142 at the receiving station 58 as shown in FIG. 1. Next, the cylinder 130 is operated and the conveyor assembly 50 is indexed again, this time to bring the formation 142a to the discharge station with the end flanges 24 folded over as shown by the formation l42b at the discharge station in FIG. 1. At the same time the second formed formation 142 is moved to the position of the formation 142a. The previously described operations are repeated and while the conveyor assembly 50 is in the forward position, the pusher mechanism 64 is operated to push the formation l42b out of the discharge station and against a cover blank 12. Prior to this operation, however, other mechanisms have been operated to move a cover blank 12 from the outlet end of the magazine 70 to a desired position adjacent the exit end of the discharge station 60. Also, if the cover blanks 12 had not been previously treated with an adhesive along the margin on one side thereof, adhesive is applied to the margin of the cover blank 12 as will be described below.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, there is illustrated adjacent the outlet end of the magazine 70 an adhesiveapplying device 156. The device 156 includes two applicator heads 158 mounted at spaced-apart locations on a horizontally extending arm 160 which extends from a framework 161 journaled on two vertical guide rods 162. A suitable drive mechanism such as the piston and cylinder device 164 shown in FIG. 3 is connected to the arm 160 for moving the same upwardly or downwardly thereby to move the heads 158 in one vertical stroke along the longitudinal side margins on one side of a cover blank 12 at the outlet end of the magazine 70. Of course, other suitable drives such as a motor and chain arrangement can be utilized. An adhesive pump 166 is mounted on the framework 161 and is operated when the framework 161 is moved upwardly or downwardly to pump adhesive to the applicators 158. For this purpose, the pump 166 has a shaft 168 extending therefrom and first and second oneway pinion gears 171 and 172 are mounted thereon. A rack 173 is positioned adjacent to and engages the pinion 171. Likewise, a rack 174 is positioned adjacent to and engages the pinion 172. The pinion gears 171 and 172 are mounted with oneway clutches onto the shaft 168 such that on one stroke of upward or downward movement the pinion 172 will rotate on the rack and freely on the shaft 168 while the pinion 171 will rotate on the rack 173 and be fixed to the shaft 168 thereby causing rotation of the shaft 168 in one direction. Then. when the framework 161 is moved in the opposite direction. the pinion gear 171 will rotate freely and the pinion 172 will rotate the shaft 168 in said one direction. In this way, on either upward or downward movement of the framework 161, the shaft 168 will always be rotated in the same direction to properly operate the pump 166 for pumping adhesive to the applicators 158. I

After the platform 161has been moved upwardly or downwardly and an adhesive has been applied to the longitudinal margins of the cover blank 12 at the outlet of the magazinei70, a blank moving mechanism is operated to move the cover blank 12 laterally of the magazine 70. The moving mechanism 180 illustrated in FIGS. 1 2, and 3 includes a suction cup assembly similar to the suction cup assembly 74. In this respect the mechanism 180 includes a frame member 182 mounting two cylinders 184 from which extend'piston rods having suction cups 186 at the distal ends thereof. The suction cups 186 areponnected to a source of vacuum not shown. The frame member=182 is mounted to the distal end of apiston rod 188 extending from a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 190.

After adhesive has been applied to the longitudinal marginof the blank 12, the cylinders184 are operated to move the suction cups .186 against the cover blank 12 and vacuum is applied thereto to secure the cover blank 12 to the mechanism 180.,Then the cylinder 190' is operated to movethe whole assembly laterally to the left viewing the same in FIG. 1 to move the cover blank 12 from the outlet end of the magazine 70. During this movement, a pair of vertically spaced apart adhesive applicators or glue heads 192 are operated to apply adhesive to the upper and lower margins of the cover blank 12 adjacent the end edges of the coverblank 12. After the cover blank 12 has been moved a short distance laterally of the magazine 70, operation of the cylinder 190 is terminated and operation of a gripping mechanism 196 is initiated to move a pair of grippers 198 into position to grip the cover blank 12 adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof. The gripping mechanism 196 includes a vertical positioned frame member 199 which mounts the pair of grippers at each end thereof.

A piston and cylinder mechanism 200 is connected to the frame member l99 for moving the frame member to and from the position shown in FIG. 1. As best shown in FIG. 9, each gripper 198 includes a pair of ary and the other jaw 2041s pivotablebetween an open; position and. a closed position. Also, it will be noted that the jaw 204 is L-shaped with a long leg 205 and a short leg 206 forming the gripping portion so that the jaw 204 can extend about a line 207 of adhesive on the margin adjacent the oneedg'e of the blank 12. Also, it will be noted that the fixed jaw 202 has an outwardly bent end or lip 208 to facilitate movement of the gripper 198 past the edgeofthe cover blank 12. In this respect. when the cylinder 200 is operated; the jaw 204 is in an open position and this permits the lip 208 to slide behind the cover blank l2until the path of movement of the grippingportion 206 of the jaw 204 is beyond the line ofadhesive .207, at which point a cylinder 210 is operated to move the jaw 204 to the jaw closed position and thereby grip the cover blank 12 as shown in FIG. 9. Then the cylinder 200 is operated to retract the gripping mechanism 196 thereby to pull the cover blank 12 to a desired position adjacent'the outlet end of a discharge funnel 214 (FIG. 3) at the discharge station 60.

In the desired position. the cover blank 12 rests on a support member 216 (FIGS. 1 and 3) and the cylinders 210 are now operated to move the jaw 204 to a jaw open position thereby to release the cover blank so it can be folded about the exposed lading l6 and the folded flanges of body blank 10 when the formation 1421) is moved against the cover blank 12. It will be understood that the vertical spacing between the grippers 198 can be varied so as to provide for the most efficient folding of the cover blank 12 when the

panels

29 and 30 engage a pair of folding rollers 218 as the formation 142i; is moved against the center panel 28 of the cover blank 12.

In a modified embodiment of the machine 34, the blank moving mechanism 130 is replaced by a blank edge pusher 220 shown in FIG. 10. The edge pusher 200 includes a vertical member 222 having an L- shaped cross section embodying a shoulder for engaging the longitudinal side edge of a cover blank 12 to move the same laterally from the magazine 70 towards the position adjacent the outlet end of the discharge station 60. The mechanism 220 also includes a piston and cylinder device 224 connected to the member 222 for moving the same. It will be apparent that since the blank edge pusher 220 does not firmly grip the cover blank 12 as does the mechanism 180, the pusher 220 is only operable to move the cover blank 12 a short distance from the magazine 70. Of course, it is only necessary to move the cover blank 12 a distance sufficient to enable the gripping mechanism 196 to engage and grip the cover blank 12 adjacent the opposite longitudinal edge thereof as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1. The stroke of cylinder 200 can be adjusted for whichever device, mechanism 180 or pusher 220, is utilized.

When the cover blank 12 has been moved to the de sired position adjacent the exit end of the discharge funnel 214 at the discharge station 60, the pusher 64 is operated to move the formation 1421; into the funnel 214 and then into engagement with the cover blank 12. The walls of the funnel 214 will maintain the side panels 19, and side flanges 21-23 folded in place. However, the end flanges 24 may tend to spring outwardly due to the natural flexibility of the paperboard material. Accordingly, if desired, a pair of secondary end flange folding device 228 may be provided as shown in FIGS. 2 and 11. Each of the secondary end flange f0lding devices 228 includes a pneumatic or hydraulic cyl' inder 232 suitably mounted adjacent the outlet of the funnel 214. The distal end of the piston rod extending from each cylinder 232 is connected to a vertically extending plate 234 which may have any desired vertical dimension and in FIG. 11 is shown with a short vertical dimension. Inasmuch as the end flanges 24 had been initially folded at the flange folding station 62, the flanges 24 will not spring all the way out to their original position but instead will only spring slightly outwardly so as to be inclined as shown in FIG. 11.

In one mode of operation of the machine 34, the cylinders 232 are operated to move the plates 234 to a position adjacent the end of the funnel 214 when the pusher 64 is operated to move the formation l42b into the funnel 214. The length of the stroke of movement of the pusher 64 in this mode of operation is such that the formation l42b is moved up to but not past the extended position of the plates 234. In this respect, the end flanges 24 will be moved into engagement with the plates 234 and bear thereagainst so as to fold them back to their folded position extending degrees from the

side panels

19 and 20. It will be understood that the secondary flange folding devices 228 move with the funnel 214 and the conveyor assembly 50 when the conveyor assembly 50 is moved by the cylinder 130. The plates 234 will now hold the end flanges 24 in the folded positions until a subsequent operation of the pusher 64 which will push a subsequent formation 1421? into the funnel 214. At this point in time the devices 223 are operated to retract the plates 234 and allow the formation 142b in the funnel 214 to be moved against the cover blank 12. Also, it will be understood that the funnel 214 will have been moved a short distance forward toward the cover blank 12 and to a position where the exit end thereof is closely adjacent the center panel of the cover blank 12. The pusher 64 is now operated and will move one formation 142i; into the funnel while moving the formation 14212 in the funnel against the cover blank 12 the

side panels

29, 30 of which engage the rollers 218 to cause folding over of the cover blank 12 about the exposed lading and folded flanges 21-23 as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1. As the cover blank 12 is being folded over as shown in FIG. 1, the two

blanks

10 and 12 as well as the lading 16 are moved into the compression chamber 66.

The compression chamber 66 may take any one of several forms andtypically will have side walls and top and bottom walls which can be moved toward and away from each other so that the distance between the walls can be made slightly less than the dimensions of a carton or package 14 formed from the two

blanks

10 and 12 with the lading 16 enclosed therein. As a result pressure is applied to the side walls of the carton thereby to hold the margin of the cover blank 12 against the folded flanges 21-23 of the body blank 10 while the adhesive therebetween sets. The frictional pressure of the walls of the compression chamber 66 against the thusly formed package will also serve to retard movement of a completed package through the compression chamber 66. As a result, the wall formed by the center panel 18 of the body blank 10 will bear against the center panel 28 of the cover blank 12 of a subsequently formed package and thereby force the margins of the center panel 28 0f the cover blank 12 of the subsequent package against the end flanges 21-23 of the body blank 10 of the subsequent package to hold them against each other while the adhesive therebetween sets.

It will be understood from the foregoing description of the construction and operation of the machine 34 that it is designed to operate automatically and intermittently. In this respect it will take a short time to collect a quantity of lading and stack it in the manner shown in FIG. 1 and the machine will operate in a stepwise fashion in the manner just described to automatically and intermittently in step by step fashion form packages which are fully sealed by the time each completed package 14 reaches the outlet end of the compression chamber 66. Also it will be understood that the machine 34 will include suitable electrical, hydrauhe and/or pneumatic controls of known type for controlling the opertaion of the machine 34 such that the above-described operations areperformed in a proper timed sequence. I

It will be apparent from FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 that the conveyor mechanism 50 includes a framework 240 for supporting the conveyor assembly 50. Also, it will be noted that the framework 240 supports a pair of guide plates 242 (FIG. 2) which hold the folded flanges 2l23 at the upper side of the formation 142 in place as the formation 142 is intermittently moved by the conveyor assembly 50 from the receiving station 58 to the discharge station 60. Also, it will be understood that the folded flanges at the lower side of the forma tions 142 will be held in place by the slats forming the upper run 52 of the endless conveyor assembly 50. Moreover, and as best shown in FIG. 1, there are two elongate guide plates 244 extending between the intermediate station 62 and the discharge station 60. These guide plates 244 are arranged to engage the folded end flanges 24 and hold the same in place while the formation 1420 is being moved to the position of the formation 142b at the discharge station 60.

The magazine 68 is supported by a framework 250 above the lading ejecting station 40 as shown in FIG. 4. Also, a chain conveyor mechanism 254 including a pair of chains is located beneath and forms a part of the magazine 68. A bracket 258 is secured to the chains 256 and is arranged to engage the back side of the stack of body blanks in the magazine 68. A pair of dual acting piston and cylinder devices 260 are arranged to engage the chains so as to urge the bracket 258 against the back side of the stack of body blanks 10. In this respect, the distal end of a piston rod 261 from each piston and cylinder device 260 has a pall 262 which ratchetly engages lugs (not shown) on one of the conveyor chains 256. Control pressure is applied to the device 260 and suitable control valves are utilized in conjunction therewith such that pressure is applied to extend the piston rod until the piston reaches the forward end of the cylinder 260 at which time fluid pressure is applied to the forward end of the cylinder 260 to retract the piston to the rearward end of the cylinder causing the pall 262 to ratchet over other lugs. Then pressure is again applied to the rearward end of the cylinder 260 to cause the pall to engage another lug and thereby continuously urge the bracket 258 against the back side of the stack of body blanks 10 in the magazine 68.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the magazine 68 also includes a pair of guide rails 263 which have an in verted V-shaped cross section. It will be noted that each of the cover blanks has a V-shaped notch therein at the junction between the

flanges

22, 23 connected to the side panels 19, and the flanges 21 connected to the center panel 18. Each V-shaped notch allows the flanges to be folded over and form a miter joint therebetween as shown in the formations 142 in FIG. 1. The V-shaped notches also facilitate and permit proper guiding and locating of the cover blanks they are moved through the magazine 68 by reason of the mat ing fit between the inverted V-shaped support members 263 received in the V-shaped notches. Thus, the members 263 hold the body blanks 10 in proper alignment during their movement through the magazine 68 so that as each body blank 10 reaches the outlet end of the magazine 68, it is in proper position to be moved downwardly to the folding position between the lading ejecting station 40 and the receiving station 58.

V I As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the magazine is posi-,- I tioned adjacent and laterally to the side of the compression chamber 66. In the magazine 7!), the cover blanks 12 are also arranged in a. horizontally extending stack but with the cover blanks 12 supported on an end edge thereof as opposed to a side edge, as is the case with the body blanks 10 in the magazine 68. The magazine 70 has side walls 264 (only shown in FIG. 2) to maintain the cover blanks in proper alignment. Also, the magazine 70 includes a conveyor chain arrangement 268. including a bracket 270, and a pair of piston and cylinder devices 272. The piston and cylinder devices 272 operate in the same manner as the piston and cylinder devices 260 to continuously urge the bracket 270 against the back end of the stack of cover blanks 12.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the machine 34 provides a number of advantages some of which have been described above and others of which are inherent in the machine. Specifically, the machine 34 can be fully automatic as well as semiautomatic in operation. Also, the movement of the lading through the machine is on one horizontal level although in three directions through the machine. Moreover, the component parts of the machine such as the conveyor mechanism 48, the

magazines

68 and 70 and the compression chamber 66 are arranged to take up a relatively small amount of space and are very conveniently arranged to fit around and about a conventional case packing machine. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is only to be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims.

What it is desired to cover by Letters Patent inthe United States is:

l. A machine for forming a sealed package containing lading from a generally rectangular body blank'of paperboard material and a generally rectangular cover blank of paperboard material, the body blank including a center panel, alternate, hingedly connected side panels and flanges hingedly connected along the longitudinal edges of the center and side panels and along the ends of the side panels, and the cover blank including a center panel and alternate hingedly connected side panels, said machine including first means for positioning the body blank in a generally vertical plane adjacent the outlet of a lading moving station from which a quantity of lading is moved horizontally in one direction, conveying means positioned for horizontal movement in a direction laterally of said one direction, said conveying means including a receiving station adjacent said lading moving station and a discharge station spaced downstream from said receiving station, second means at said receiving station for folding the body blank into a generally U-shaped formation partially sur-" rounding a quantity of lading with the center panel forming an end wall and the side panels forming two side walls of the formation as the quantity of lading is moved from the lading moving station, engages the body blank and moves onto said conveying means,

third means at said receiving station for folding the flanges along each longitudinal edge of the body blank to positions generally perpendicular to the associated side walls and end wall during movement of the lading against the body blank and onto said conveying means, fourth means for folding the end flanges to a position generally perpendicular to the associated side walls,

said conveying means being operative to move the folded body blank and lading to said discharge station, fifth means for positioning the cover blank in a generally vertical plane adjacent said discharge station, sixth means at said discharge station formoving the folded body blank and lading laterally off of said conveying means and against the cover blank, seventh means at said discharge station for folding the cover blank into a U-shaped formation partially surrounding the lading with the margin of the cover blank positioned overlying the flanges of the folded body blank as the folded body blank formation is moved off of said conveying means and eighth means adjacent said discharge station for securing the flanges of the body blank to the adjacent facing margin of the cover blank.

2. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said first means for positioning the body blank include a vacuum cup assembly comprising at least two vacuum cups, means for moving said vacuum cups in a given direction to and from a position adjacent the outlet end of a magazine for body blanks whereby, when said vacuum cups are disposed adjacent the outlet end of the magazine, vacuum can be applied to said cups for pulling a body blank from the magazine and holding the same in a vertical plane and means for moving said vacuum cup assembly with the body blank held thereto in a direction transversely of said given direction thereby to move the body blank to a position adjacent the outlet of the lading moving station.

3. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said first means for positioning the body blank include a blank gripping assembly comprising at least two pads.

having inclined teeth arranged thereon, an elongate shoulder formation fixed to said assembly and spaced from said pads and means for moving said assembly toward and away from the lading moving station and past the outlet of a magazine containing a supply of body blanks, said pads being arranged to engage a body blank at the magazine outlet adjacent one edge of the blank and said shoulder formation being arranged to engage the opposite edge of the body blank when said moving means is operated to move said assembly toward the lading moving station, said teeth on said pad being inclined toward the lading moving station so as to dig into one face of the body blank up movement toward the lading moving station and to disengage and brush across the one face of the body blank upon movement away from the lading moving station.

4. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said second means for folding the panels of the body blank include a pair of generally upright rollers each positioned on one side of said receiving station and operable to engage and fold over the side panels of the body blank as the lading engages the center panel of the body blank and pushes the body blank onto said conveying means.

5. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said third means for folding the flanges along the longitudinal edges of the body blank include two elongate horizontally extending members positioned respectfully at the top and bottom of said receiving station, each member having a curved baffle-forming surface facing toward the lading moving station, and said baffle-forming surfaces being arranged to engage and fold over the flanges connected to the side edges of the center and side panels as the lading engages the body blank and moves the body blank onto said conveying means.

6. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said conveying means include upper elongate plate means extending horizontally between said receiving station and said discharging station and arranged to engage the folded flanges on the upwardly facing side of the folded body blank formation and to maintain the flanges folded during the conveying of the formation to said discharge station.

7. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said conveying means include an endless conveyor assembly having an upper run for supporting and transporting the body blank formation and means for moving said conveyor assembly laterally of the direction of movement of said upper run thereby to move said receiving station toward and away from the lading moving station.

8. The machine according to claim 7 including an intermediate station located adjacent said conveying means intermediate said receiving station and said discharge station, said fourth means being located at said intermediate station and including a pair of spring biased vertically extending horizontally deflectible plates, each plate being positioned to engage one of the end flanges after the folded body blank formation has been indexed by said conveyor assembly to said intermediate station and said conveyor assembly is moved by said moving means laterally of the direction of movement of said upper run to move said receiving station toward the lading moving station for receiving another body blank and lading and simultaneously to move the first folded body blank formation toward said deflectible plates which engage and fold over the end flanges.

9. The machine according to claim 8 wherein said conveying means include elongate plate means extending horizontally between said intermediate station and said discharge station and position along one side of said conveyor assembly for engaging the folded end flanges to maintainthe end flanges folded when said conveyor assembly is -again indexed to move the folded body blank formation .from said intermediate station to said discharge station.

10. The machinev according to claim 1 wherein a discharge funnel is positioned at said discharge station adjacent one side'of said conveying means, said sixth means being located at the opposite side of said conveying means and being operative to push said folded body blank formation into said discharge funnel and subsequently to push a second body blank formation against the body blank formation in the funnel thereby to push the first body blank formation against a cover blank which is positioned at the outlet end of said discharge funnel.

11. The machine according to claim 10 including secondary end flange folding members positioned at said outlet end of said discharge funnel, said secondary end flange folding members being movable to positions adjacent opposite sides of said funnel for engaging and refolding the end flanges which may have sprung outwardly due to the resiliency of the paperboard material before the folded body blank formation engages the cover blank.

12. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said fifth means for positioning the cover blank include a suction cup assembly comprising at least two suction cups, a mechanism for moving said cups in a given direction to and from a position adjacent the outlet end of a magazine containing a supply of cover blanks whereby, when said cups are positioned; adjacent the outlet end of the magazine, the suction cups; can: be connected to a source of vacuum forpulling a cover blank fromthe magazine, and means. for rnoving the suction cup assembly in a direction transversely of the, given direction to move a cover blank to the position tion.

i 14. The machine according to claim 13 wherein said gripper means includes at least, two grippers, each gripper including a pair ofjaws and at least one of said jaws being pivotable to and from a blank-engaging position,

said gripper means being operable when said blank has been moved to a position adjacent the discharge station to cause said movable jaw to move to a nongripping position thereby releasing the cover blank to allow the cover blank to be folded about the folded body blank formation as the formation is moved from said discharge station against the cover blank.

15. The machine according to claim 13 wherein said fifth means further include a blank edge pusher positioned adjacent one side of a magazine containing a supply of cover blanks said blank edge pusher including seating means for engaging a side edge ofa cover blank when said blank edge pusher is operated to move a cover blank at least part way from the magazine and to a position where said gripper means can reach and grip the cover blank adjacent the opposite side edge of the cover blank,

16. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said seventh means for folding the cover blank include a pair of horizontally extending folding rollers vertically spaced apart adjacent said discharge station and being operative to engage the side panels of the cover blank adjacent the respective connection of each side panel to the center panel of the cover blank when and as the folded body blank formation is moved from said discharge station against the cover blank.

17. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said eighth means for securing the cover blank to the body blank include vertically reciprocable means for applying adhesive to the longitudinal margin of the cover blank prior to the movement of the cover blank to the position adjacent said discharge station said means being operable on one stroke of movement to apply two strips of adhesive to the cover blank, each strip being along one longitudinal margin of the cover blank and subsequently on a reverse stroke of movement to apply adhesive to a subsequent cover blank in a similar manner.

18. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said I eighth means for securing the cover blank to the body lit) of'the cover blank to-holdthe same in engagement with .the flanges of the" body blank bearing against the inner facing margin"ofr;th.eside -panels while an adhesive therebetween sets, and said means, for, applying pressure to the sid' e p anels .Qfthe. cover vblank -being operative to retardjnio vement-of a package throughthe compression chamber so, that the center panel of a cover blank of one package-will engage and bear against the center panel of the body blank of a preceding package in said compression chamber thereby to urge the inner facing-margin of the center panel of the coverblank of the subsequent package against the end flanges of the body blank of the subsequent package and hold the same in place while the adhesive therebetween sets.'

20. The machine according to claim l l.including a magazine containing a supply of body blanks, said magazine being'supported above the lading moving station and including means for urging the body blanks toward an outlet end of said magazine located above and gen erally in alignment with the outlet of the lading moving station and the entrance to said receiving station, each bodyblank having two Vshaped notches in each longi-- tudinal side edge thereof, each notch separating the flange connected to a side panel from the flange .con-

nected to the center panel and said magazine including two elongate supporting members each having an inverted V-cross section whereby each support member r receives therein one of the V-shaped notches on one side of each body blank and together said support members serve as a guide means for maintaining the body blanks in proper alignment as they are urged to ward the outlet end of said magazine.

21. The machine according to claim 19 including a magazine containing a supply of cover blanks, said magazine being elongate and being disposed parallel to and alongside of said compression chamber, and said magazine including means for urging the cover blanks toward an outlet end of said magazine, said outlet end of said magazine being aligned with the outlet of said discharge station and theinlet to. said compression chamber.

22. A machine for forming a sealed package contaiing lading from a generally rectangular body blankof paperboard material and a generally rectangular cover is ejecting the lading through said discharge funnel, and

said machine including means, for positioning the body blank in a generally vertical plane adjacent the outlet of said discharge funnel from which a quantity of lading is ejected horizontally in one diection, conveying means positioned for horizontal movement in adirection laterally of .said one direction, said conveying means including areceivingistation adjacent said lading ejecting station anda discharge station spaced downstream fromsaid receiving station, means at said receiving station fo'rfolding the body blank into a generally U-shapedformation partially surrounding a quantity of lading with the center panel forming an end wall and the side panels forming two side walls of the formation as the quantity of lading is ejected from the lading ejecting station, engages the body blank and moves onto said conveying means, means at said receiving station for folding the flanges along each longitudinal edge of the body blank to positions generally perpendicular to the associated side walls and end wall during movement of the lading against the body blank and onto said conveying means, means for folding the end flanges to a position generally perpendicular to the associated side walls, said conveying means being operative to move the folded body blank and lading to said discharge station, means for positioning the cover blank in a generally vertical plane adjacent said discharge station, means at said discharge station for moving the folded body blank and lading laterally off of said conveying means and against the cover blank, means at said discharge station for folding the cover blank into a U-shaped formation partially surrounding the lading with the margin of the cover blank positioned overlying the flanges of the folded body blank as the folded body blank formation is moved off of said conveying means and means adjacent said discharge station for securing the flanges of the body blank to the adjacent facing margin of the cover blank.

23. A method for forming a sealed package containing lading from a generally rectangular body blank of paperboard material and a generally rectangular cover blank of paperboard material, the body blank including a center panel, alternate, hingedly connected side panels and flanges hingedly connected along the longitudina] edges of the center and side panels and along the ends of the side panels, and the cover blank including a center panel and alternate hingedly connected side panels, said method including the steps of positioning the body blank in a generally vertical plane adjacent the outlet of a lading moving station; moving a quantity of lading horizontally in one direction and against the body blank; folding the body blank into a generally U- shaped formation partially surrounding the lading with the panels lying in generally vertical planes and with the center panel forming an end wall and the side panels forming two side walls of the formation as the lading is moved from the lading moving station; folding the flanges along each longitudinal edge of the body blank to positions generally perpendicular to the associated side walls and end wall during movement of the lading against the body blank; folding the end flanges to positions generally perpendicular to the associated side walls; moving the folded body blank and lading in direction laterally of said one direction to a discharge station, positioning the cover blank in a generally vertical plane adjacent the discharge station. moving the folded body blank and lading in a third direction laterally of said second direction and against the cover blank; folding the cover blank into a U-shaped formation partially surrounding the lading with the margin of the cover blank positioned overlying the flanges of the folded body blank as the folded body blank formation is moved against said cover blank and securing the flanges of the body blank to the adjacent facing margin of the cover blank.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE QERTIFECATE 0F CORRECTION PATENT NO.

DATED |NVENTOR(S) Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column [SEAL] 2 of Abstract, line 2, change "a" v o ll, l3, l4, l5, 15,

July 29,

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown betow:

line

40, delete the words "use, a partially formed"; 41, delete the words "carton set up from a one-piece"; 44, after "10, insert which has been lowered into the desired position between the--; 21, change "shaped" to shape-; 44, change "vertical" to vertically; 24, change "200" to 220-;

2, change "opertaion" to operation-; 45, change "up" to -upon; 37, change "position" to positioned-; 8, change "adjacents" to -adjacent-; 29, before "said", insert a comma Signed and Emalcd thls fourteenth Day Of October 1975 Attest:

RUTH C. MASON Arresting Officer to an;

C. MARSHALL DANN (ummissiuner 0f Parents and Trademarks

Claims

1. A machine for forming a sealed package containing lading from a generally rectangular body blank of paperboard material and a generally rectangular cover blank of paperboard material, the body blank including a center panel, alternate, hingedly connected side panels and flanges hingedly connected along the longitudinal edges of the center and side panels and along the ends of the side panels, and the cover blank including a center panel and alternate hingedly connected side panels, said machine including first means for positioning the body blank in a generally vertical plane adjacent the outlet of a lading moving station from which a quantity of lading is moved horizontally in one direction, conveying means positioned for horizontal movement in a direction laterally of said one direction, said conveying means including a receiving station adjacent said lading moving station and a discharge station spaced downstream from said receiving station, second means at said receiving station for folding the body blank into a generally U-shaped formation partially surrounding a quantity of lading with the center panel forming an end wall and the side panels forming two side walls of the formation as the quantity of lading is moved from the lading moving station, engages the body blank and moves onto said conveying means, third means at said receiving station for folding the flanges along each longitudinal edge of the body blank to positions generally perpendicular to the associated side walls and end wall during movement of the lading against the body blank and onto said conveying means, fourth means for folding the end flanges to a position generally perpendicular to the associated side walls, said conveying means being operative to move the folded body blank and lading to said discharge station, fifth means for positioning the cover blank in a generally vertical plane adjacent said discharge station, sixth means at said discharge station for moving the folded body blank and lading laterally off of said conveying means and against the cover blank, seventh means at said discharge station for folding the cover blank into a U-shapEd formation partially surrounding the lading with the margin of the cover blank positioned overlying the flanges of the folded body blank as the folded body blank formation is moved off of said conveying means and eighth means adjacent said discharge station for securing the flanges of the body blank to the adjacent facing margin of the cover blank.

3. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said first means for positioning the body blank include a blank gripping assembly comprising at least two pads having inclined teeth arranged thereon, an elongate shoulder formation fixed to said assembly and spaced from said pads and means for moving said assembly toward and away from the lading moving station and past the outlet of a magazine containing a supply of body blanks, said pads being arranged to engage a body blank at the magazine outlet adjacent one edge of the blank and said shoulder formation being arranged to engage the opposite edge of the body blank when said moving means is operated to move said assembly toward the lading moving station, said teeth on said pad being inclined toward the lading moving station so as to dig into one face of the body blank up movement toward the lading moving station and to disengage and brush across the one face of the body blank upon movement away from the lading moving station.

9. The machine according to claim 8 wherein said conveying means include elongate plate means extending horizontally between said intermediate station and said discharge station and position along one side of said conveyor assembly for engaging the folded end flanges to maintain the end flanges folded when said conveyor assembly is again indexed to move the folded body blank formation from said intermediate station to said discharge station.

10. The machine according to claim 1 wherein a discharge funnel is positioned at said discharge station adjacent one side of said conveying means, said sixth means being located at the opposite side of said conveying means and being operative to push said folded body blank formation into said discharge funnel and subsequently to push a second body blank formation against the body blank formation in the funnel thereby to push the first body blank formation against a cover blank which is positioned at the outlet end of said discharge funnel.

12. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said fifth means for positioning the cover blank include a suction cup assembly comprising at least two suction cups, a mechanism for moving said cups in a given direction to and from a position adjacent the outlet end of a magazine containing a supply of cover blanks whereby, when said cups are positioned adjacent the outlet end of the magazine, the suction cups can be connected to a source of vacuum for pulling a cover blank from the magazine, and means for moving the suction cup assembly in a direction transversely of the given direction to move a cover blank to the position adjacents said discharge station.

13. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said fifth means for positioning a cover blank include gripper means operable to grip a cover blank adjacent one edge thereof and pull the cover blank from a source of cover blanks to the position adjacent the discharge station.

14. The machine according to claim 13 wherein said gripper means includes at least two grippers, each gripper including a pair of jaws and at least one of said jaws being pivotable to and from a blank-engaging position, said gripper means being operable when said blank has been moved to a position adjacent the discharge station to cause said movable jaw to move to a nongripping position thereby releasing the cover blank to allow the cover blank to be folded about the folded body blank formation as the formation is moved from said discharge station against the cover blank.

15. The machine according to claim 13 wherein said fifth means further include a blank edge pusher positioned adjacent one side of a magazine containing a supply of cover blanks said blank edge pusher including seating means for engaging a side edge of a cover blank when said blank edge pusher is operated to move a cover blank at least part way from the magazine and to a position where said gripper means can reach and grip the cover blank adjacent the opposite side edge Of the cover blank.

18. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said eighth means for securing the cover blank to the body blank include means for applying adhesive to the margins of the cover blank adjacent the end edges of the cover blank as the cover blank is moved to the position adjacent said discharge station.

19. The machine according to claim 1 wherein said eighth means include a compression chamber located adjacent the outlet end of said discharge station, said compression chamber including means for applying pressure to the outer facing margin of the side panels of the cover blank to hold the same in engagement with the flanges of the body blank bearing against the inner facing margin of the side panels while an adhesive therebetween sets, and said means for applying pressure to the side panels of the cover blank being operative to retard movement of a package through the compression chamber so that the center panel of a cover blank of one package will engage and bear against the center panel of the body blank of a preceding package in said compression chamber thereby to urge the inner facing margin of the center panel of the cover blank of the subsequent package against the end flanges of the body blank of the subsequent package and hold the same in place while the adhesive therebetween sets.

20. The machine according to claim 1 including a magazine containing a supply of body blanks, said magazine being supported above the lading moving station and including means for urging the body blanks toward an outlet end of said magazine located above and generally in alignment with the outlet of the lading moving station and the entrance to said receiving station, each body blank having two V-shaped notches in each longitudinal side edge thereof, each notch separating the flange connected to a side panel from the flange connected to the center panel and said magazine including two elongate supporting members each having an inverted V-cross section whereby each support member receives therein one of the V-shaped notches on one side of each body blank and together said support members serve as a guide means for maintaining the body blanks in proper alignment as they are urged toward the outlet end of said magazine.

21. The machine according to claim 19 including a magazine containing a supply of cover blanks, said magazine being elongate and being disposed parallel to and alongside of said compression chamber, and said magazine including means for urging the cover blanks toward an outlet end of said magazine, said outlet end of said magazine being aligned with the outlet of said discharge station and the inlet to said compression chamber.

22. A machine for forming a sealed package contaiing lading from a generally rectangular body blank of paperboard material and a generally rectangular cover blank of paperboard material in combination with a semiautomatic case packer, the body blank including a centEr panel, alternate, hingedly connected side panels and flanges hingedly connected along the longitudinal edges of the center and side panels and along the ends of the side panels, and the cover blank including a center panel and alternate hingedly connected side panels, said case packer including an infeed conveyor, a lading ejecting station adjacent to and above said conveyor, a discharge funnel at said station and means for grouping lading on the conveyor, for raising the lading and for ejecting the lading through said discharge funnel, and said machine including means for positioning the body blank in a generally vertical plane adjacent the outlet of said discharge funnel from which a quantity of lading is ejected horizontally in one diection, conveying means positioned for horizontal movement in a direction laterally of said one direction, said conveying means including a receiving station adjacent said lading ejecting station and a discharge station spaced downstream from said receiving station, means at said receiving station for folding the body blank into a generally U-shaped formation partially surrounding a quantity of lading with the center panel forming an end wall and the side panels forming two side walls of the formation as the quantity of lading is ejected from the lading ejecting station, engages the body blank and moves onto said conveying means, means at said receiving station for folding the flanges along each longitudinal edge of the body blank to positions generally perpendicular to the associated side walls and end wall during movement of the lading against the body blank and onto said conveying means, means for folding the end flanges to a position generally perpendicular to the associated side walls, said conveying means being operative to move the folded body blank and lading to said discharge station, means for positioning the cover blank in a generally vertical plane adjacent said discharge station, means at said discharge station for moving the folded body blank and lading laterally off of said conveying means and against the cover blank, means at said discharge station for folding the cover blank into a U-shaped formation partially surrounding the lading with the margin of the cover blank positioned overlying the flanges of the folded body blank as the folded body blank formation is moved off of said conveying means and means adjacent said discharge station for securing the flanges of the body blank to the adjacent facing margin of the cover blank.

23. A method for forming a sealed package containing lading from a generally rectangular body blank of paperboard material and a generally rectangular cover blank of paperboard material, the body blank including a center panel, alternate, hingedly connected side panels and flanges hingedly connected along the longitudinal edges of the center and side panels and along the ends of the side panels, and the cover blank including a center panel and alternate hingedly connected side panels, said method including the steps of positioning the body blank in a generally vertical plane adjacent the outlet of a lading moving station; moving a quantity of lading horizontally in one direction and against the body blank; folding the body blank into a generally U-shaped formation partially surrounding the lading with the panels lying in generally vertical planes and with the center panel forming an end wall and the side panels forming two side walls of the formation as the lading is moved from the lading moving station; folding the flanges along each longitudinal edge of the body blank to positions generally perpendicular to the associated side walls and end wall during movement of the lading against the body blank; folding the end flanges to positions generally perpendicular to the associated side walls; moving the folded body blank and lading in direction laterally of said one direction to a discharge station, positioning the cover blank in a generally vertical plane adjacent the discharge station, moving the foLded body blank and lading in a third direction laterally of said second direction and against the cover blank; folding the cover blank into a U-shaped formation partially surrounding the lading with the margin of the cover blank positioned overlying the flanges of the folded body blank as the folded body blank formation is moved against said cover blank and securing the flanges of the body blank to the adjacent facing margin of the cover blank.