Automated Bag in Box Assembly and Contents Fill

Abstract

A BIB carton ( 150 ) conjoins a bag ( 12 ) with a carton ( 11 ) preparatory to carton fill, with an intervening locating collar ( 14 ) upon a bag neck upstand ( 52 ); an assembly and fill process brings successive individual cartons ( 41 ) into juxtaposition with a bag ( 51 ) in a continuous bag web ( 55 ), using the neck ( 52 ) for alignment and registration; a locating retention collar ( 14 ) is applied to secure bag neck ( 52 ) to carton ( 41 ), to create a sub-assembly web stack ( 71 ) of conjoined flat-pack BIB cartons ( 20 ); an inflation (test) station ( 110 ) retrieves these sub-assemblies ( 20 ) and inflates/fills them via successive valve caps ( 111 ) secured to collars ( 14 ); bag ( 51 ) inflation/fill causes carton ( 41 ) formation around it, before a taping machine closes and seals top ( 56, 42, 48 ) and bottom ( 57, 58 ) carton flaps.

1 . A BIB carton assembly process comprising the steps of: wrapping a carton ( 41 ) element around a bag ( 51 ) element and securing these together, with a locating retention collar ( 14 ), to create a sub-assembly ( 20 ), capable of being flat-packed for efficient transport or storage. 
   
   
       2 . A BIB carton assembly process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: securing a handle ( 13 ) to sub-assembly ( 20 ). 
   
   
       3 . A BIB carton assembly process of  claim 1 , wherein locating retention collar ( 14 ), is integrated with a handle ( 13 ) element. 
   
   
       4 . A BIB carton assembly process of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: inflating and/or filling sub-assembly ( 20 ), by supporting collar ( 14 ), to allow bag ( 51 ) inflation and/or fill and attendant surrounding carton ( 41 ) configuration; and completion by closure and sealing of top ( 56 , 42 ,  48 ) and bottom ( 57 , 58 ) carton flaps. 
   
   
       5 . A BIB carton assembly process of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of: injecting air into bag ( 51 ), to act as a leak test, prior to contents fill. 
   
   
       6 . A BIB carton assembly process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: erecting sub-assembly ( 20 ) into a completed pack after transfer to a remote fill line. 
   
   
       7 . A BIB carton assembly process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: erecting sub-assembly ( 20 ) into a completed pack at a local fill line. 
   
   
       8 . A BIB carton assembly process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: erecting sub-assembly ( 20 ) into a completed pack preparatory to filling. 
   
   
       9 . A BIB carton assembly process of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: erecting sub-assembly ( 20 ), by selective holding and folding of carton ( 41 ) flaps; sealing top ( 56 , 42 ,  48 ) and bottom ( 57 , 58 ) carton flaps ; and inflating and/or filling bag ( 51 ). 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A BIB carton assembly machine, with wrap means to wrap a carton ( 41 ) element around a bag ( 51 ) element and secure these together, with a locating retention collar ( 14 ), to create a sub-assembly ( 20 ). 
   
   
       12 . A BIB carton assembly machine of  claim 11 , with securing means to secure a handle ( 13 ) onto sub-assembly ( 20 ). 
   
   
       13 . A BIB carton assembly machine of  claim 11 , with collar fitting means to fit an integrated locating retention collar ( 14 ), and handle ( 13 ) element. 
   
   
       14 . A BIB carton assembly machine of  claim 11 , with further means to inflate and/or fill sub-assembly ( 20 ), by supporting collar ( 14 ), and allowing bag( 51 ) inflation and/or fill and attendant surrounding carton ( 41 ) configuration; and means to close and seal top ( 56 , 42 ,  48 ) and bottom ( 57 , 58 ) carton flaps. 
   
   
       15 . A BIB carton assembly machine of  claim 14 , with further means to inject air into bag ( 51 ), to act as a leak test, prior to contents fill. 
   
   
       16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . A BIB carton assembly process comprising the steps of: erecting a carton element with a profiled opening, inserting a collar element with attached bag element into said opening, such that the bag is disposed inside the carton and the collar secures the bag and carton elements together. 
   
   
       28 . A BIB carton assembly process of  claim 27 , wherein the collar is integrated with the bag. 
   
   
       29 . A BIB carton assembly process of  claim 27 , wherein bag and collar elements are attached in a pre-assembly step. 
   
   
       30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . (canceled) 
   
   
       32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 . (canceled) 
   
   
       34 . (canceled) 
   
   
       35 . (canceled) 
   
   
       36 . (canceled) 
   
   
       37 . (canceled) 
   
   
       38 . (canceled)