US 12,168,534 B2
Packaging machine and method of packaging articles
Jean-Christophe Bonnain, Chateauroux (FR)
Assigned to WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Nov. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/980,034.
Application 17/980,034 is a continuation of application No. 16/605,116, granted, now 11,505,348, previously published as PCT/US2018/018666, filed on Feb. 20, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/486,696, filed on Apr. 18, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0047750 A1, Feb. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. B65B 21/04 (2006.01); B65B 35/16 (2006.01); B65B 35/58 (2006.01); B65B 43/54 (2006.01); B65B 57/14 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 21/04 (2013.01) [B65B 35/16 (2013.01); B65B 35/58 (2013.01); B65B 43/54 (2013.01); B65B 57/14 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A packaging machine for packaging articles comprising an article manipulation apparatus, the article manipulation apparatus comprising:
a first conveyor for conveying packages, the packages each comprising a carton having at least one displaceable article disposed therein;
an article orientation device comprising a tool head movable in a downstream direction of the first conveyor for a first stroke, and movable in an upstream direction for a second stroke, and having at least one article gripper for engaging with a displaceable article in a carton, the at least one article gripper being rotatably mounted to the tool head,
wherein the tool head is configured to reciprocate between the first stroke and the second stroke with the at least one article gripper engaged with at least one respective displaceable article for the first stroke, and disengaged from the at least one respective displaceable article for the second stroke;
at least one sensor for determining the orientation of the displaceable article;
a drive mechanism for rotating the at least one article gripper to place the displaceable article in a predefined orientation; and
an article displacement device comprising a first working reach, wherein the article displacement device engages with the displaceable article over the first working reach so that the displaceable article is moved relative to the carton.