Packaging Apparatus and Method

摘要

A method and apparatus are shown for securing a top for a cardboard carton where the carton has a bottom wall and integral sidewalls defining an initially open interior and initially open top flaps with outwardly extending ears, the initially open top flaps being integrally formed with a first pair of opposing sidewalls of the carton. The top flaps are folded to a carton closing position which closes off the initially open interior of the cardboard carton. The ears are also folded to a position in contact with a second set of opposing sidewalls of the carton intermediate the first set of opposing sidewalls. A set of rotatable punches are aligned with the folded ears of the carton and rotated to force a first layer of cardboard from a respective top flap through an associated second layer of an underlying sidewall of the carton. A set of platens are located so as to underlie and reinforce the sidewalls of the carton as the punching operation takes place.