Importance

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Abstract

A carton flap folding assembly (10) and a method of folding carton flaps is disclosed. The carton flap folding assembly includes a modular housing (12) positioned on the framework (22) of a packaging machine, and along the path of travel of articles of product moved along the packaging machine. The carton flap folding assembly includes a drive gear (26) which moves a drive pulley (28) and a star wheel assembly (29) in a timed relationship with respect to one another and with the groups of articles of product conveyed along a path of travel past the assembly. A spaced series of generally protruding lugs (33) are formed along the length of an endless lug belt (32), and a top star wheel disc (84) and a spaced bottom star wheel disc (85), each having a spaced series of generally protruding teeth (86) formed thereon are also provided as a part of the carton blank flap folding assembly. The teeth of the star wheel discs are moved into the prescored flap areas of a carton blank to break the flaps open, whereupon lugs from the lug belt are moved into the carton blank through the prescored flap areas, moving the flaps thereof into tangential engagement with the exterior surface of the bottles within the group of bottles, the side wall of the carton blank being simultaneously moved toward the bottles by a top guide (90) and a bottom guide (91).

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First Claim