A packaging machine for placing articles into a carton includes rotating flight assemblies that receive a carton or carton blank, and rotate the carton blank and carton with articles while the flight assemblies move downstream. The flight assemblies each include two fixed segments and one segment that includes a block and associated bracket that rotate as the flight assembly is pulled through the machine by a conveying system. A method includes carton blanks being fed by a carton feeder onto the flight assemblies. Articles are formed into an article group, which is then placed onto a carton blank. As the blank and article group move in a downstream direction, the side panels of the carton blank are wrapped around the article group and the carton and article group are rotated to assist in closing the carton end flaps.

A flap folding arrangement is disclosed. The flap folding arrangement includes an axially extending rim that initially contacts a flap of a product to partially fold the flap as the product is dropped from a feed conveyor into a first pocket of a rotator pan. A controller is adapted to rotate the rotator pan away from a first position which drives the flap into contact with a flap-folding flange and a radially extending rim until the product is positioned at a second position under a flap-folding gate. The controller is adapted to drive a product discharger into contact with the product to drive the product out of the first pocket and away from the folding assembly after rotation of the rotator pan.

A folding unit for producing folded packages of pourable food products from sealed packs, comprising: movable conveyor which are fed with a plurality of packs at an input station, which feed packs along a forming path and output folded packages at an output station; and folder cooperating with each pack to perform at least one folding operation on pack comprising: at least one pair of shells which are integrally movable along the forming path and are movable relative to each other along a direction transversal to the forming path; shells of each pair may be set along the direction in: a fully closed position in which they exert a pressure onto a relative pack, so as to at least complete a folding operation onto relative pack; and an open position in which they are detached from the corresponding folded package.

A folding unit for producing folded packages of pourable food products from sealed packs, comprising: movable conveyor which are fed with a plurality of packs at an input station, which feed packs along a forming path and output folded packages at an output station; and folder cooperating with each pack to perform at least one folding operation on pack comprising: at least one pair of shells which are integrally movable along the forming path and are movable relative to each other along a direction transversal to the forming path; shells of each pair may be set along the direction in: a fully closed position in which they exert a pressure onto a relative pack, so as to at least complete a folding operation onto relative pack; and an open position in which they are detached from the corresponding folded package.

A packaging machine for placing articles into a carton includes rotating flight assemblies that receive a carton or carton blank, and rotate the carton blank and carton with articles while the flight assemblies move downstream. The flight assemblies each include two fixed segments and one segment that includes a block and associated bracket that rotate as the flight assembly is pulled through the machine by a conveying system. A method includes carton blanks being fed by a carton feeder onto the flight assemblies. Articles are formed into an article group, which is then placed onto a carton blank. As the blank and article group move in a downstream direction, the side panels of the carton blank are wrapped around the article group and the carton and article group are rotated to assist in closing the carton end flaps.

A packaging machine for placing articles into a carton includes rotating flight assemblies that receive a carton or carton blank, and rotate the carton blank and carton with articles while the flight assemblies move downstream. The flight assemblies each include two fixed segments and one segment that includes a block and associated bracket that rotate as the flight assembly is pulled through the machine by a conveying system. A method includes carton blanks being fed by a carton feeder onto the flight assemblies. Articles are formed into an article group, which is then placed onto a carton blank. As the blank and article group move in a downstream direction, the side panels of the carton blank are wrapped around the article group and the carton and article group are rotated to assist in closing the carton end flaps.

Apparatus for winding, folding and stretching a film about a cosmetics container, includes a winding station, in which a film is wound about longitudinal walls of the container so as to form a tubular winding of the film, a sliding plane wound in the tubular winding of film, and a pushing device of a series of spaced paddles for pushing the enveloped container into the tubular winding of film along the sliding plane. A pair of wings are mounted and predisposed rotatably on a corresponding end of a paddle. The wings are rotated with respect to the paddle, so that the wings can first abut a backward portion of the ends of the tubular winding of film and, continuing in rotation with respect to the paddle, can fold and extend the backward portion against the heads of the container during the translation of the paddle above the sliding plane.

A frame (10) used in a packaging assembly for retaining a product within a box. The frame includes a panel (16) having a panel width (W1) greater than the box width. A front panel flap fold zone (26) corresponds to the front closure flap fold line of the box. A rear panel flap fold zone (30) corresponds to the rear closure flap fold line of the box. A central panel portion (34) extends between the front and rear panel flap fold zones. Front and rear panel flaps (36, 38) extend from the front panel flap fold zone and the rear panel flap fold zone, respectively. A detachment line (40) extends from the left edge (19) to the right edge (20) of the panel in the central panel portion to delineate front and rear central panel portions (42, 44). A sheet (18) extends across the central panel portion and attaches to the panel at opposing regions of the panel outside of the central panel portion.

A processing section of a packaging machine includes a conveyor configured to be driven by a first drive member, and at least one additional conveyor including at least one tray folding member configured to selectively extend about and ride on the conveyor. The at least one additional conveyor is configured to be driven by a second drive member that is distinct from the first drive member.

A method of processing a plurality of articles through a processing section of a packaging machine includes guiding a plurality of articles supported on a support tray blank onto at least one additional conveyor extending about and riding on a conveyor, folding at least one of a leading edge flap and trailing edge flap of the support tray blank with at least one tray folding member provided on the at least one additional conveyor to form a portion of a support tray, and shifting the support tray along the conveyor.