Packaging machine

Abstract

A tool assembly ( 20 ) for folding a carrier (H) comprising a first pair of fingers ( 24 a ) for gripping a blank (B) for forming the carrier (H), a second pair of fingers ( 24 b ) for gripping the blank (B), the first pair of fingers ( 24 a ) being pivotally coupled with respect to one another, and the second pair of fingers ( 24 b ) being pivotally coupled with respect to one another, the first and second pairs of fingers being coupled to an actuator for movement between a receiving position and a gripping position wherein the fingers are operable to engage a blank (B) in the receiving position and fold said blank (B) when disposed in the gripping position, at least one pair of fingers being rotationally mounted to a body ( 42 ) of a tool head ( 22 ) and coupled to a drive mechanism ( 32 a, 32 b ) for rotation with respect to the body ( 42 ), such that a first portion of the blank (B) is foldable with respect to a second portion.

1 . A tool assembly for folding a blank to form a carrying handle, the tool assembly comprising: a first pair of fingers for gripping a blank and a second pair of fingers for gripping the blank, the fingers of the first pair of fingers being pivotally coupled with respect to one another, and the fingers of the second pair of fingers being pivotally coupled with respect to one another, the fingers of each of the first and second pairs of fingers being coupled to an actuator for movement between a receiving position and a gripping position wherein the fingers of the first and second pairs of fingers are configured to engage a blank in the receiving position and configured to fold said blank when disposed in the gripping position, at least one of the first and second pairs of fingers being rotationally mounted to a tool head and coupled to a drive mechanism for rotation with respect to the tool head, such that the tool assembly is configured to grip first and second portions of the blank and to fold the first portion of the blank with respect to the second portion of the blank. 
     
     
         2 . The tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein the tool head is slidably mounted to a carriage for linear movement with respect to the carriage. 
     
     
         3 . The tool assembly of  claim 2  wherein the carriage is mounted to a conveyor. 
     
     
         4 . A method of packaging groups of articles comprising:
 (i) forming a carrying handle from a blank, wherein the forming comprises folding a first portion of the blank about a longitudinally extending fold line, and holding the first portion in said folded condition whilst folding said first portion about a transverse fold line to be substantially perpendicular to a second portion; and   (ii) inserting said first portion into an aperture or void disposed between four adjacent articles forming part of a group of articles, wherein the first portion comprises a first engaging edge for locking with a second engaging edge of the group of articles, the first engaging edge engaging with said second engaging edge by at least partially unfolding the first portion about the longitudinal fold line.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  comprising folding a third portion of the blank about a longitudinally extending fold line, holding the third portion in said folded condition whilst folding said third portion about a transverse fold line to be substantially perpendicular to the second portion and inserting said third portion into a second aperture or void defined by four adjacent articles in the group of articles and unfolding the third portion about said longitudinally extending fold line so as to engage an engaging edge of the third portion with an engaging edge of the group of articles thereby locking the third portion within the second aperture or void. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the entire blank is folded about a longitudinally extending fold line and wherein the second portion is unfolded into a substantially flat condition when the first and/or third portions are folded to be perpendicular to the second portion. 
     
     
         7 . A packaging machine for packaging a group of articles comprising:
 (i) a conveyor for providing a group of articles;   (ii) a conveyor for providing a blank for forming a carrying handle;   (iii) a tool assembly comprising a pair of fingers for folding a first portion of the blank about a longitudinally extending fold line;   (iv) the fingers being pivotally mounted to a tool head of the tool assembly for folding the first portion of the blank to be substantially perpendicular to a second portion of the blank;   (v) wherein the tool head is slideably mounted to a carriage for insertion of the first portion into an aperture or void in the group of articles.   
     
     
         8 . The packaging machine of  claim 7  wherein the fingers grip the blank and hold the first portion of the blank in a folded condition when in a closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging machine of  claim 7  wherein the fingers hold the first portion of the blank in a folded condition whilst folding the first portion about a transverse fold line so as to be substantially perpendicular to the second portion. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging machine of  claim 7  wherein the tool assembly comprises a second pair of fingers mounted to the tool head for folding a third portion of the blank about a longitudinally extending fold line, the fingers being pivotally mounted to the tool head for folding the first portion of the blank to be substantially perpendicular to the second portion, whilst the third portion is held in a folded condition about the longitudinally extending fold line. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging machine of  claim 7  comprising a lug or mandrel mounted on a conveyor for engaging with the blank for facilitating folding of the blank about the longitudinal fold line. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging machine of  claim 7  comprising at least one guide for insertion between a pair of articles in the group of articles, the at least one guide aligns the first portion or third portion of the blank during insertion into the group of articles and maintains the first or third portion in a folded condition. 
     
     
         13 . A packaging machine for packaging a group of articles comprising a guide for insertion between a pair of articles in the group of articles, the guide comprising a recess for receiving and maintaining a first portion of a carrying handle in a folded condition during insertion of the first portion of the carrying handle into the group of articles. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the entire blank is folded about a longitudinally extending fold line and wherein the second portion is unfolded into a substantially flat condition when the first and/or third portions are folded to be perpendicular to the second portion. 
     
     
         16 . The packaging machine of  claim 8  comprising at least one guide for insertion between a pair of articles in the group of articles, the at least one guide aligns the first portion or third portion of the blank during insertion into the group of articles and maintains the first or third portion in a folded condition. 
     
     
         17 . The packaging machine of  claim 9  comprising at least one guide for insertion between a pair of articles in the group of articles, the at least one guide aligns the first portion or third portion of the blank during insertion into the group of articles and maintains the first or third portion in a folded condition. 
     
     
         18 . The packaging machine of  claim 10  comprising at least one guide for insertion between a pair of articles in the group of articles, the at least one guide aligns the first portion or third portion of the blank during insertion into the group of articles and maintains the first or third portion in a folded condition. 
     
     
         19 . The packaging machine of  claim 8  comprising a lug or mandrel mounted on a conveyor for engaging with the blank for facilitating folding of the blank about the longitudinal fold line. 
     
     
         20 . The packaging machine of  claim 9  comprising a lug or mandrel mounted on a conveyor for engaging with the blank for facilitating folding of the blank about the longitudinal fold line. 
     
     
         21 . The packaging machine of  claim 10  comprising a lug or mandrel mounted on a conveyor for engaging with the blank for facilitating folding of the blank about the longitudinal fold line.