Packaging machine

Abstract

A packaging machine for packaging one or more articles in a package; the packaging machine comprising a first article path and a second article path; wherein the packaging machine comprises a first apparatus for packaging articles in a paperboard carton; and a second apparatus for packaging articles in a plastics material; the packaging machine comprising at least one transfer device for transferring articles between a pair of conveyors to select either the first article path or the second article path; the packaging machine being configurable such that the articles may follow either the first or second article path such that the articles may be packaged in either or both of the paperboard carton and the plastics material.

1 . A packaging machine for packaging one or more articles in a package;
 the packaging machine comprising a first article path and a second article path;   wherein the packaging machine comprises a first apparatus for packaging articles in a paperboard carton;   and a second apparatus for packaging articles in a plastics material;   the packaging machine comprising at least one transfer device for transferring articles between a pair of conveyors to select either the first article path or the second article path;   the packaging machine being configurable such that the articles may follow either the first or second article path such that the articles may be packaged in either, or both, of the paperboard carton and the plastics material.   
     
     
         2 . A packaging machine comprising an input conveyor for conveying an input stream of articles;
 a first conveyor for conveying cartons on a first article path;   a second conveyor coupled to a wrapping station for applying a wrapping film on a second article path;   a transfer device for transferring the articles on the input conveyor to either the first conveyor or the second conveyor, wherein the transfer device either loads articles into the cartons on the first conveyor or places the articles upon the second conveyor for wrapping and wherein the first conveyor bypasses the wrapping station.   
     
     
         3 . A packaging machine according to  claim 2  wherein the first conveyor and the second conveyor are each coupled to a third conveyor which merges the first article path and the second article path together such that packages from each article of the first or second paths follow the same path downstream of the third conveyor. 
     
     
         4 . A packaging machine according to  claim 3  wherein the third conveyor is coupled to a tertiary packaging apparatus for loading packages into a tertiary package. 
     
     
         5 . A packaging machine according to  claim 4  wherein the tertiary packaging machine is coupled to a second wrapping station by a fourth conveyor, such that the tertiary package or packages are wrapped in a film of plastics material. 
     
     
         6 . A packaging machine for packaging one or more articles in a package,
 the packaging machine comprising a first article path and a second article path;   wherein the packaging machine comprises a first conveyor supplying an input stream of articles;   a second conveyor including a carton packaging apparatus for packaging articles in a paperboard carton, and a wrapping apparatus for wrapping articles or cartons in a plastics material;   a first transfer device for loading articles into cartons on the second conveyor, the first conveyor being arranged such that articles may bypass the carton packaging apparatus; and   a second transfer device for transferring articles to the second conveyor at a position downstream of the carton packaging apparatus such that articles may be initially packaged in a film of plastics material.