Carrier loading cartoner

1. A method of loading product into a carton comprising:

loading the product into a carrier having opposing sidewalls, the carrier maintaining positive control of the product;

reciprocating the sidewalls of the carrier relative to each other prior to extending the carrier into the carton;

extending the carrier and the product together into the carton;

restraining the product in the carton; and

removing the carrier from the product and the carton.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

extending a stripper member into engagement with the carton to restrain the product in the carton.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sliding the carrier along a carrier cam to extend and remove the carrier into the carton.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the sidewalls reciprocate linearly with a rack and pinion.

5. A method of loading product into a carton comprising:

loading the product into a carrier having opposing sidewalls;

reciprocating the sidewalls of the carrier relative to each other to condition the product;

closing the sidewalls of the carrier toward the product;

extending the carrier and the product into the carton;

extending a restraint between the product and an edge of the carrier; and

removing the carrier from the product and the carton.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the carrier travels under control of a sidewall cam to reciprocate the sidewall.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein a carrier cam controls motion of the carrier into and out of the carton.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of:

synchronizing movement of the carrier and the carton using a servomechanism.

9. A system for loading product into a carton comprising:

a carrier conveyor having a plurality of carriers, each carrier of the plurality of carriers accommodating and transporting at least one product between a pair of opposing sidewalls, wherein each carrier includes a pair of opposing sidewalls, the sidewalls reciprocable between a first linear position and a second linear position;

a carton chain transporting a plurality of cartons adjacent to the carrier conveyor;

a mechanism for inserting and withdrawing each carrier and the at least one product together into each carton of the plurality of cartons; and

a stripper for maintaining the at least one product in the carton as the carrier is withdrawn from the carton.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the mechanism is a carrier cam follower attached with respect to each carrier and a carrier cam positioned with respect to the carrier conveyor.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a sidewall cam follower attached with respect to each carrier; and

a sidewall cam positioned relative to the carrier conveyor, the sidewall cam follower sliding relative to the sidewall cam to move the sidewalls between the first linear position and the second linear position.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the stripper comprises a finger that extends into contact with an outer edge of the carton as the carrier is withdrawn from the carton.

13. A system for loading product into a carton comprising:

a carrier conveyor having a plurality of carriers, each carrier of the plurality of carriers accommodating at least one product between a pair of opposing sidewalls, the sidewalls moveable between a first linear position and a second linear position;

a sidewall cam follower attached with respect to each carrier; and

a sidewall cam positioned relative to the carrier conveyor, the sidewall cam follower sliding relative to the sidewall cam to reciprocate the sidewalls between the first linear position and the second linear position resulting in settling the at least one product in the carrier.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a carton chain positioned adjacent the carrier conveyor, the carton chain transporting a plurality of cartons; and

a mechanism for inserting and removing each carrier into each carton of the plurality of cartons.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a stripper for maintaining the at least one product in the carton as the carrier is removed.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a rack and pinion gear set for reciprocating the pair of sidewalls.