Vertical cartoner

1. A method of loading product into a carton having a score line between a machine-side flap and a vertically aligned opening and a generally vertical carton sidewall, the method comprising:

providing a bucket assembly having a gate and a lower portion forming a funnel having a funnel sidewall at an angle relative to a vertical, wherein the gate is connected to the bucket assembly by a hinge;

loading the product into the bucket assembly;

conveying the gate and the funnel on a product chain in a machine direction;

conveying the carton on a carton chain in the machine direction in a synchronized manner with the product chain;

positioning the funnel sidewall relative to the vertical carton sidewall;

lowering a portion of the funnel into the carton with a cam;

opening the gate away from the score line of the carton;

vibrating the funnel with a first shaker to urge the product into the carton;

vibrating the carton with a second shaker to urge the product into the carton; and

streaming the product across the gate and along the funnel sidewall into the vertically aligned opening of the carton.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

controlling a speed of opening the gate.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

dampening the opening of the gate.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

loading a plurality of bucket assemblies; and

positioning each bucket assembly of the plurality of bucket assemblies over a corresponding carton.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

staggering the opening of each gate of the plurality of bucket assemblies across a timed cycle.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

loading the product into the bucket assembly at two loading stations.