Lifter mechanism employing a carton gripper and carton bottom seal configuration for use therewith

摘要

A gable-bottom carton gripper is disclosed for lifting and transporting container blanks between various positions within a packaging machine. Container blanks are sealed in a gable-bottom configuration using predesigned sealing jaws. The sealing jaws feature strategically placed ribs which, during ultrasonic sealing of the container bottoms, cause the formation of a longitudinal bubble disposed along a bottom fin of each gable-bottom container. A carton gripper is adapted to grip the bottom fin while supporting the bottom panels of the container. The gripper includes a rigid member bent to conform to the shape of a gable-bottom container, with a gripping edge defining a fin channel to secure the bottom fin within a fin chamber. The longitudinal bubble prevents the fin from being displaced from the fin chamber during the lifting and transporting process.