Embodiments include a carton feeding device for feeding cartons to a conveyor track, comprising a pick-up head with a plurality of vacuum cups, an erecting finger pivotally suspended at the pick-up head, where the pick-up head has a pick-up position (P1) and an insertion position (P2), where the carton is held with an angle ? between the holding plane of the pick-up head and the bearing surface of the erecting finger, wherein the angle ? differs from 90 degrees with at least 10 degrees in the insertion position (P2), where the carton is inserted between two parallel teeth of the conveyor track, and where the distance between the teeth is substantially equal to the width of the upper wall of the carton.

A unit for boxing packaged food products including a rotary element with at least one first seat for receiving a blank; a first transfer station for transferring the blank from a magazine for feeding blanks to a folding mould; a folding station for opening up, at least partly, the blank; a second transfer station for transferring the blank folded open from mould to the first receiving seat; an insertion station for inserting the packaged food products inside the blank folded open positioned on the first receiving seat; a closing station for closing the blank folded open, positioned on the second receiving seat and containing the packaged food products.

The present invention includes an apparatus (01) and a method for expanding and erecting collapsed or folded cardboard packagings (02) to a standing position. The method includes holding the topmost cardboard packaging (02), coming from above, at its top flat side (23) of a cardboard packaging wall (22) and removing it from a stack (41) of flatly collapsed cardboard packagings (02). Subsequently also holding the cardboard packaging (02), at its bottom flat side (24) from below, and increasing the vertical distance between the top flat side (23), and the bottom flat side (24), by oppositely pulling so far until the cardboard packaging (02) has been expanded. Then releasing the top flat side (23) of the cardboard packaging (02), and rotating the lying, expanded set of cardboard packaging (02) still being held at its bottom flat side (24), where the rotating is about a horizontal pivoting axis (13). The bottom flat side (24) is subsequently also released to achieve an expanded and now erected set of compartments and/or the outer packagings (03). The apparatus (01) comprises a cardboard packaging supply (04) comprising at least one stack (41) of flatly collapsed cardboard packagings (02) arranged lying on top of each other, an erecting device (05) arranged next to the cardboard packaging supply (04) as seen in the direction of a horizontal axis (11), and a gripping device (06) for simultaneously seizing respectively one topmost cardboard packaging (02) from each stack (41) of the cardboard packaging supply (04).

An operating group for a cartoning machine is arranged to move a blank that is intended to form a carton adapted to contain one or more products, and includes a magazine suitable for housing a plurality of blanks folded in a planar manner; gripping arrangement that is configured for retaining the blank and is movable at least between a removing position in which the gripping arrangement removes the blank arranged in the magazine in a planar configuration, which is horizontal, and a delivery position in which the gripping arrangement delivers the blank arranged in a tridimensional unfolded configuration, which is vertical with respect to the planar configuration; in which the gripping arrangement is rotated around a rotation axis such as to travel along a closed loop path; the removing position from the magazine being arranged above the closed loop transfer path travelled by the gripping arrangement, such that the gripping arrangement can remove directly from the magazine said blank in the horizontal folded planar configuration.

A system is claimed for forming a container from a tubular blank comprising a plurality of panels and flaps interconnected to provide a generally flattened tubular configuration. A first and second panels are provided with the second panel being rotatable relative to the first panel. The system may comprise a first engagement device for engaging the first panel and a second engagement device for engaging the second panel, and being located on a panel rotating apparatus operable to rotate the second panel from an orientation generally parallel to the first panel to a second orientation at an angle to the first panel. The generally flattened tubular blank may be reconfigured from a generally flattened configuration to an open configuration.

An apparatus for use in the packaging industry comprises a first member for collecting a tubular box in a flattened configuration from a store positions the tubular box in a lowered position, retaining the box with first suction means at a first wall of the box. A second member, a third member and a fourth member are provided for movement of a fifth member which, when activated in rotation, abuts and retains, via second suction means a second wall of the tubular box, causing it to rotate with respect to the first wall, to open out the tubular box. A sixth member is included, with third suction means which is moved by a system to abut and retain the box in the opened-out configuration and transfer it, following the disengagement of the first member and of the fifth member, at a receiving station.

A system is claimed for forming a container from a tubular blank comprising a plurality of panels and flaps interconnected to provide a generally flattened tubular configuration. A first and second panels are provided with the second panel being rotatable relative to the first panel. The system may comprise a first engagement device for engaging the first panel and a second engagement device for engaging the second panel, and being located on a panel rotating apparatus operable to rotate the second panel from an orientation generally parallel to the first panel to a second orientation at an angle to the first panel. The generally flattened tubular blank may be reconfigured from a generally flattened configuration to an open configuration.

A method of making a container having a separable inner lining and outer shell comprises the steps of: forming an outer shell having a base, a sidewall and a rim surrounding an opening of the shell; preforming a flexible lining, at least a part of the lining conforming to a complete internal shape of the shell; inserting the pre-formed lining into the shell so that a first part of the lining is within the shell and a second part of the lining protrudes from the opening of the shell; adhering the first part to an internal surface of the shell; conforming the second part to an external surface of the shell; and attaching to the lining around said rim a sealing layer covering the opening, the sealing layer being peelable from the lining such that the lining remains intact, and the adhesion between the lining and the internal surface of the shell being such that the lining is peelable from the shell while remaining intact.

A machine for forming a carton from a carton blank using a forming cavity uses at least one gripper for gripping and transporting the carton blank toward the forming cavity along a path of travel (such as from the hopper to a transporter in a linear fashion). A plurality of grippers may be provided for gripping and transporting the carton blank toward the forming cavity along the path of travel. The or each gripper may be adapted for gripping a lateral side of the carton blank, and the gripper(s) may be connected to a transporter adapted for moving in a reciprocal fashion along a linear path of travel. The machine may also include a forming cavity adapted for being raised and lowered, as well as a low level hopper for holding the carton blanks such that each is raised to associate with the gripper(s). Related methods are also disclosed.

A machine for forming a carton from a carton blank using a forming cavity uses at least one gripper for gripping and transporting the carton blank toward the forming cavity along a path of travel (such as from the hopper to a transporter in a linear fashion). A plurality of grippers may be provided for gripping and transporting the carton blank toward the forming cavity along the path of travel. The or each gripper may be adapted for gripping a lateral side of the carton blank, and the gripper(s) may be connected to a transporter adapted for moving in a reciprocal fashion along a linear path of travel. The machine may also include a forming cavity adapted for being raised and lowered, as well as a low level hopper for holding the carton blanks such that each is raised to associate with the gripper(s). Related methods are also disclosed.