Packaging system having loading carousel
View Patent ↗A packaging system utilizes two sides of a loading carousel, which reduces both the height and footprint of the packaging system. Mass and inertia are also reduced, allowing higher operational speeds. The loading carousel receives opened cartons on a first side and lowers them over product groups on a second side.
1. A method of forming packages, comprising:
conveying articles along a first path of travel;
conveying cartons along a second path of travel in a direction substantially parallel to and opposite from the first path of travel;
grouping the articles into article groups;
opening the cartons to a configuration for receiving the article groups therein;
conveying the opened cartons into alignment with the article groups, wherein the conveying of the opened cartons comprises engaging each carton with a carrier moving about a loading carousel;
picking up the cartons with the carriers along the second path of travel;
raising the cartons after pickup;
after raising the cartons, lowering the cartons onto the article groups; and
packaging the article groups within the cartons to form packages.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the packaging of the article groups within the cartons comprises placing the cartons over the article groups.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the packaging of the article groups within the cartons comprises closing bottoms of the cartons.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the articles are beverage containers.
5. A method of forming packages, comprising:
conveying articles along a first path of travel;
conveying cartons along a second path of travel in a direction substantially parallel to and opposite from the first path of travel;
grouping the articles into article groups;
opening the cartons to a configuration for receiving the article groups therein;
conveying the opened cartons into alignment with the article groups;
wherein the conveying cartons along the second path of travel comprises providing cartons to a first side of a loading carousel;
conveying the cartons from the first side to a second side of the loading carousel;
providing the article groups to the loading carousel;
loading the article groups into the cartons along the second side of the loading carousel;
wherein the conveying of the cartons from the first side to the second side of the loading carousel comprises:
picking up the cartons at a pickup position; and
raising the cartons to a raised location;
wherein the loading of the article groups into the cartons comprises lowering the cartons onto the article groups; and
packaging the article groups within the cartons to form packages, and the packaging of article groups within the cartons comprises closing the cartons.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the closing of the cartons comprises closing bottoms of the cartons.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the articles are beverage containers.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the conveying of the cartons from the first side to the second side of the loading carousel comprises conveying carriers along a cam track with the cartons being supported by the carriers.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein:
the picking up of the cartons comprises picking up cartons traveling along a first direction;
the loading of the article groups into the cartons comprises loading article groups moving along a second direction; and
the first direction is substantially opposite to the second direction.