Apparatus and method for constructing a package

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11407539-B2
Application number	US-201917254817-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2019
Priority date	Jun 20, 2018
Publication date	Aug 9, 2022
Grant date	Aug 9, 2022

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an apparatus and method of packaging one or more articles. The device being adapted to applying a plurality of top-engaging carriers to a plurality of groups of articles simultaneously. The device comprises a metering base for facilitating arranging a plurality of articles into groups of articles and an applicator for pressing top-engaging carriers onto groups of articles. The metering base comprises a spacer structure for maintaining a predetermined space between each group of articles and at least a next adjacent group of articles; and a first aligning feature. The applicator comprises an applicator plate having a plurality of receiving cavities each for receiving a top of an article and a second aligning feature for engaging the first aligning feature for sliding movement with each other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for applying a plurality of top-engaging carriers to groups of articles respectively, the device comprising: a metering base for facilitating arranging a plurality of articles into groups of articles; and an applicator for pressing top-engaging carriers onto groups of articles respectively, the metering base comprising:
a spacer structure for maintaining a predetermined space between each group of articles and at least a next adjacent group of articles; and
a first aligning feature;

wherein the applicator comprises:
an applicator plate;
a plurality of receiving cavities in the applicator plate each for receiving a top of an article; and
a second aligning feature for engaging the first aligning feature for sliding movement with each other.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of top-engaging carriers comprises a set of connected blanks each for forming a top engaging carrier, wherein the blanks are detachably connected together in a matrix fashion wherein each blank has a plurality of top-receiving apertures.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the applicator comprises a separation device for severing frangible connections between adjacent ones of the set of connected blanks.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the applicator comprises an end stop for limiting travel of the applicator with respect to one of: the articles or the metering base.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein each of the plurality of receiving cavities in the applicator plate comprises a hole at least partially closed at an upper end thereof.

6. A device according to claim 1 comprising at least one riser for elevating one or more articles above a base panel of the metering base.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the riser comprises at least one article positioning device for aligning at least one article.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the at least one article positioning device comprises a recess defined in an upper surface of the riser.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the riser comprises at least one handling device comprising an orifice disposed in the recess of the at least one article positioning device.

10. A device according to claim 7 wherein the riser comprises at least one handling device for aligning an article located within said at least one article positioning device.

11. A device according to claim 7 wherein the at least one article positioning device comprises an upstanding wall defined in an upper surface of the riser.

12. A device according to claim 6 wherein the riser comprises at least one handling device for aligning an article.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the at least one handling device comprises one of the following: (a) a pair of orifices in the upper surface of the riser, (b) a pair of cutaways in the upper surface of the riser, and (c) a cutout and an orifice defined in the upper surface of the riser.

14. A method of applying a plurality of top-engaging carriers to groups of articles respectively, the method comprising:
(a) providing an application device of claim 1 ;
(b) providing a plurality of top-engaging carriers;
(c) placing a plurality of articles into contact with the metering base, whereby arranging the plurality of articles into a plurality of spaced apart groups;
(d) placing the top-engaging carriers over the groups of articles such that the top engaging carriers are guided by the first aligning feature into vertical alignment with the groups of articles respectively;
(e) placing the applicator over the top-engaging carriers such that the first and second aligning features are in engagement with each other to bring the cavities into vertical alignment with the tops of the articles of the groups respectively;
(f) lowering the applicator with respect to the groups of articles so that the top of each article of the groups are received in a respective one of the cavities whereby the top-engaging carriers are also lowered into engagement with the groups of articles respectively; and
(g) lifting the applicator to separate the applicator from the groups of articles to which the top-engaging carriers have been applied respectively.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the step of providing a plurality of top-engaging carriers comprises providing a set of connected blanks each for forming a top engaging carrier, wherein the blanks are detachably connected together in a matrix fashion wherein each blank has a plurality of top-receiving apertures.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the set of connected blanks comprises two or more alignment openings, wherein the first aligning feature comprises two or more posts projecting upward from the metering base, wherein the step of placing the top-engaging carriers over the groups of articles comprises resting the set of connected blanks upon the articles such that the posts are received in the alignment openings respectively.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the alignment openings are provided by cutaways defined in the set of connected blanks, wherein the cutaways are provided in edges of the blanks such that the openings are disposed between a pair of adjacent ones of the blanks.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the alignment openings each is struck in part from each of the pair of adjacent ones of the blanks.

19. A method according to claim 16 wherein the alignment openings each is provided by a handle aperture in the blanks.

20. A method according to claim 14 wherein the step of lowering the applicator with respect to the groups of articles comprises separating the set of connected blanks from each other.

Assignees

• Westrock Packaging Systems Llc

Inventors

• Zacherle Matthew E
• Kooc Linh L
• Chesnet Lauren N

Classifications

• B65B17/025 Primary

  the articles being joined by a top carrier element · CPC title

• B65B35/30

  Arranging and feeding articles in groups · CPC title