Apparatus and method for attaching fitments to cartons

Abstract

A fitment comprising a pouring spout having a peripheral flange at one end and a closure at a second end is attached to a paperboard carton formed with a hole in a side panel. The carton is moved intermittently along a conveyor, such as that used in a filling machine. An arm having a spud oscillates about a horizontal axis parallel to the conveyor. The arm is pivoted to down position as the carton reaches the fitment attaching station so that the fitment enters the open end of the carton with the spud aligned with the carton hole. The arm is mounted on a first carriage which reciprocates horizontally in a first direction to project the closure through the hole until the flange abuts the inside of the carton panel. An ultrasonic welding horn is mounted on a second carriage which reciprocates in alignment with the first carriage in a second direction opposite the first direction. The horn welds the fitment flange to the inside of the carton panel.

What is claimed:  
     
       1. A method for attaching a fitment to a vertical carton positioned on a conveyor wherein each said carton moves substantially horizontally parallel to a first substantially vertical plane and comprises a rectangular tube having a wall and an open upper end, the wall being formed with a hole and wherein said fitment comprises a spout smaller than the hole and a peripheral flange at one end of said spout larger than the hole, said method comprising the steps of 
       moving a carton horizontally along a path substantially parallel to a first substantially vertical plane to a fitment application position,  
       positioning the carton stationary in said fitment application position with the open end exposed,  
       moving an arm substantially parallel to a second substantially vertical plane transverse to said first plane to a first arm position, said arm having a spud,  
       applying a fitment to said spud while said arm is in first arm position,  
       moving said carton horizontally along a path substantially parallel to said first substantially vertical plane to a fitment application position,  
       
         positioning the carton stationary in said fitment application position with the open end exposed, 
       
       moving said arm substantially parallel to said second plane to a second arm position with said spud and a fitment on said spud inside said carton and said fitment aligned with said hole,  
       moving said spud substantially parallel to said second plane from a first spud retracted position to a first spud advanced position and thereby moving the fitment laterally so that the spout protrudes out through the hole and said flange engages the inside of the wall.  
     
     
       2. A method according to claim  1  which further comprises moving an annular welding head substantially horizontally substantially parallel to said second plane from a welding head retracted position to a welding head projected position to engage a wall of the tube and surrounding the hole, the spout fitting inside said welding head, 
       clamping the wall and the peripheral flange between said welding head and said spud, and  
       welding the flange to the wall.  
     
     
       3. A method according to claim  2  further comprising 
       feeding the carton into said fitment application stage  position and retaining the carton stationary until said welding step is completed.  
     
     
       4. A method according to claim  2  in which said horn  welding head is horizontally aligned with said spud when said arm is in second arm position. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim  2  which further comprises providing a discharge box for fitments and a track for fitments leading to said box, said box being adjacent said spud when said arm is in first arm position and which further comprises, 
       placing fitments in said box, and  
       moving one fitment at a time from said box onto said spud.  
     
     
       6. Apparatus for attaching a fitment to a carton wherein said fitment comprises a spout and a peripheral flange adjacent an end of said spout and said carton has an open top and a wall formed with an aperture and 
       wherein said apparatus comprises a conveyor arranged to advance a vertical carton substantially horizontally parallel to a first substantially vertical plane to a fitment applying station and a base mountable on a filler machine at said fitment applying station, the improvement comprising  
       means for moving an arm mounted on said base substantially parallel to a second substantially vertical plane transverse to said first substantially vertical plane, a spud on a distal end of said arm, said arm clearing  being above said top when said carton arrives at said fitment applying station, means for moving said arm to move said spud between an applying position at the level of said aperture and an upwardly-outwardly slanted loading upward position,  
       a fitment discharge above said base receiving fitments from a source and positioning fitments to be transferred one at a time onto said spud when said spud is in loading upward position,  
       said arm having a retracted position with said spud in applying position inside said carton and an advanced position with said spout extending through said aperture and said flange against the inside of said wall.  
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim  6  in which when said arm is in applying position said arm extends upwardly-outwardly to a level above said top and then downwardly-outwardly so that said spud is inside said carton. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus according to claim  6  in which further comprises mounting means for said arm located above and transverse to the path of movement of cartons on said conveyor. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus according to claim  8  in which said mounting means comprises a shaft, said arm being pivoted to a carriage sliding along said shaft. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus according to claim  9  which further comprises a second shaft substantially vertically aligned with said first shaft, said carriage mounted on said second shaft. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus according to claim  6  in which said means for moving said arm comprises an oscillating cylinder, a rod for said cylinder, and a link pivoted at one end to said rod and pivoted at another end to said arm. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus according to claim  6  which further comprises a track for fitments to convey said fitments to said fitment discharge and means for removing one fitment at a time from said box and engaging said one fitment on said spud. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus according to claim  6  in which said spud has a boss shaped to fit inside said first end of said spout and said arm has an anvil flange shaped to fit against a surface of said fitment flange. 
     
     
       14. For use in apparatus for attaching a fitment to a vertical carton, said fitment having a spout and a peripheral flange adjacent an end of said spout and said carton having an open top and a wall formed with an aperture and 
       wherein said apparatus has a base mountable on a filler machine at said  a fitment applying station for  of said machine and wherein the vertical carton advances along a conveyor  substantially parallel to a first substantially vertical plane,  
       a fitment handling mechanism comprising,  
       a carriage, mounting means for mounting said carriage on said base for reciprocation transverse to the path of movement of said carton on a conveyor  substantially horizontal  horizontally parallel to a second substantially vertical plane transverse to said first plane, reciprocating means for reciprocating said carriage for movement substantially parallel to said second plane, an arm on said carriage, pivot means pivoting said arm to said carriage  for movement substantially parallel to said second plane between a loading first position and an applying second position, a spud on a distal end of said arm, said arm extending upwardly and  distally of said pivot means to clear  be above the top of the carton when at said fitment applying station  first position, oscillating means oscillating said arm to move said spud between an applying  said first position and said second position at the level of the aperture and an upwardly-outwardly slanted loading position .  
     
     
       15. Mechanism according to claim  14  which further comprises said oscillating means comprising a double acting cylinder attached to said arm.