System and method for activating article protection features of a carton
A system and method for activating a series of article protection features formed in product cartons in which a series of articles have been packaged includes an actuating assembly mounted along a path of travel for the cartons. The actuating assembly will include a series of actuating elements that are selectively moved into engagement with the article protection features of the cartons. The article protection features are urged into the cartons, between the articles therein and into positions engaging and supporting the articles.
1. A carton defined by a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end, the carton including a first article protection feature; the first end and the second end of the carton being open; the carton being a product of a method comprising:
loading a plurality of articles into the first end or the second end of the carton; the plurality of articles including a first article and a second article;
closing the first end and the second end to form a loaded carton with the top, the bottom, the first side, the second side, the first end, and the second end closing the plurality of articles in an interior of the loaded carton; and,
after the plurality of articles have been closed in the interior of the loaded carton, moving the first article protection feature into the loaded carton;
wherein the first article protection feature engages at least the first article and moves the first article.
2. The carton of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
stopping the moving of the first article protection feature into the loaded carton upon encountering a back pressure.
3. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the loaded carton further includes a second article protection feature, the plurality of articles including a third article and a fourth article, the method further comprising:
moving the second article protection feature into the loaded carton;
wherein the second article protection feature engages at least the third article and moves the third article.
4. The carton of claim 3 , wherein the second article protection feature is moved into the loaded carton after the first article protection feature is moved into the loaded carton.
5. The carton of claim 4 , wherein the first article protection feature is moved into the loaded carton in a first direction and the second article protection feature is moved into the loaded carton in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.
6. The carton of claim 4 , wherein the first article protection feature is farther from one of the first side or the first end than the second article protection feature, and wherein the first article protection feature and the second article protection feature are in a row.
7. The carton of claim 6 , wherein the carton is formed of paperboard and, with the first article protection feature engaged with at least the first article in the loaded carton, the first article is separated from the second article by at least two layers of the paperboard.
8. The carton of claim 3 , wherein the first article protection feature is moved into the loaded carton in a first direction and the second article protection feature is moved into the loaded carton in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.
9. The carton of claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises:
stopping the moving of the second article protection feature into the loaded carton upon encountering a back pressure.
10. A carton loaded with a plurality of articles to form a loaded carton, the plurality of articles including a first article and a second article; the loaded carton being defined by a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end; the top, the bottom, the first side, the second side, the first end, and the second end of the loaded carton being closed around the plurality of articles; the loaded carton including a first article protection feature and a second article protection feature; the plurality of articles being tightened in the loaded carton by a method; the method comprising:
moving the first article protection feature into the loaded carton;
moving the second article protection feature into the loaded carton;
wherein the first article protection feature engages at least the first article and moves the first article;
wherein the first article protection feature is moved into the loaded carton in a first direction and the second article protection feature is moved into the loaded carton in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.
11. The carton of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
stopping the moving of the first article protection feature into the loaded carton upon encountering a back pressure.
12. The carton of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of articles further includes a third article and a fourth article, and
wherein the second article protection feature engages at least the third article and moves the third article.
13. The carton of claim 12 , wherein the second article protection feature is moved into the loaded carton after the first article protection feature is moved into the loaded carton.
14. The carton of claim 13 , wherein the first article protection feature is farther from one of the first side or the first end than the second article protection feature, and wherein the first article protection feature and the second article protection feature are in a row.
15. The carton of claim 14 , wherein the carton is formed of paperboard and, with the first article protection feature engaged with at least the first article, the first article is separated from the second article by at least two layers of the paperboard.
16. A carton being a product of a method comprising:
providing a blank; the blank including a first article protection feature;
loading a plurality of articles onto the blank; the plurality of articles including a first article and a second article;
folding the blank around the plurality of articles to form a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end of the carton; the first end and the second end being open;
closing the first end and the second end to form a loaded carton with the top, the bottom, the first side, the second side, the first end, and the second end closing the plurality of articles in an interior of the loaded carton; the first article being a first distance from the second article; and,
moving the first article protection feature into the interior of the loaded carton;
wherein the first article protection feature engages at least the first article and moves the first article; wherein, with the first article protection feature moved into the interior of the loaded carton, the first article is a second distance from the second article; the second distance being greater than the first distance.
17. The carton of claim 16 , further comprising:
stopping the moving of the first article protection feature into the loaded carton upon encountering a back pressure.
18. The carton of claim 16 , the blank further including a second article protection feature, the plurality of articles further including a third article and a fourth article, the method further comprising:
moving the second article protection feature into the interior of the loaded carton;
wherein the second article protection feature engages at least the third article and moves the third article.
19. The carton of claim 18 , wherein the second article protection feature is moved into the loaded carton after the first article protection feature is moved into the loaded carton.
20. The carton of claim 19 , wherein the first article protection feature is moved into the loaded carton in a first direction and the second article protection feature is moved into the loaded carton in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.
21. The carton of claim 18 , wherein the first article protection feature is moved into the loaded carton in a first direction and the second article protection feature is moved into the loaded carton in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.
22. The carton of claim 18 , wherein the first article protection feature is farther from one of the first side or the first end than the second article protection feature, and wherein the first article protection feature and the second article protection feature are in a row.
23. The carton of claim 22 , wherein the carton is formed of paperboard and, with the first article protection feature engaged with at least the first article, the first article is separated from the second article by at least two layers of the paperboard.
24. The carton of claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:
stopping the moving of the second article protection feature into the loaded carton upon encountering a back pressure.
25. A carton formed by a method comprising:
providing a loaded carton having an interior with a plurality of articles packed in the interior of the loaded carton; the interior being closed by a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end; the plurality of articles including a first article and a second article;
tightening the packing of the plurality of articles by urging a first portion of the loaded carton into the interior of the loaded carton against at least the first article to move the first article; and,
tightening the packing of the plurality of articles by urging a second portion of the loaded carton into the interior of the loaded carton;
wherein the first portion is urged into the loaded carton in a first direction and the second portion is urged into the loaded carton in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.
26. The carton of claim 25 , further comprising:
stopping the urging of the first portion into the loaded carton upon encountering a back pressure.
27. The carton of claim 25 , wherein the plurality of articles further including a third article and a fourth article, and wherein
urging of the second portion into the loaded carton includes urging the second portion against at least the third article to move the third article.
28. The carton of claim 27 , wherein the second portion is urged into the loaded carton after the first portion is urged into the loaded carton.
29. The carton of claim 28 , wherein the first portion is farther from the first end than the second portion, and wherein the first portion and the second portion are in a row.
30. The carton of claim 29 wherein the loaded carton is formed of paperboard and, with the first article moved by the urging of the first portion into the loaded carton against at least the first article, the first article is separated from the second article by at least two layers of the paperboard.