A method and a JIG for setting a positional relationship between a container precursor holding device and a container precursor working tool in a filling and sealing machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of setting a positional relationship between a container precursor holding device (400, 410) and a container precursor working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260', 270, 280) held by a working tool holder (500) in a workstation (WS1, WS2, WS3) of a filling and sealing machine (1), in which machine (1) container precursors (100) are moved through a series of work stations (WS1, WS2, WS3) at which the container precursors (100) are formed, filled, and sealed, the working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260', 270, 280) comprising at least one reference surface (201, 211, 212, 213, 221, 222, 231, 241, 251, 261, 261', 262, 262', 268, 271, 262, 262'), the method comprising a. positioning the container precursor holding device (400, 410) in a predefined holding device operating position (HOP) in the workstation (WS1, WS2, WS3), b. positioning a first jig (300, 310, 320, 340, 350, 360, 380) comprising at least one tool adjustment surface (301, 311, 312, 313, 321, 322, 323, 324, 341, 351, 361, 362, 363, 381, 382, 391, 392) in a known position relative to the holding device (400, 410), c. positioning the container precursor working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260', 270, 280) in a predefined working tool operating position (WOP) in the workstation, d. releasing the working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260', 270, 280) from the working tool holder (500) allowing positional adjustment of the working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280) relative to the working tool holder (500), e. moving the working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260', 270, 280) bringing the at least one reference surface (201, 211, 212, 213, 221, 222, 231, 241, 251, 261, 261', 262, 262', 268, 271, 262, 262') into contact with the at least one adjustment surface (301, 311, 312, 313, 321, 322, 323, 324, 341, 351, 361, 362, 363, 381, 382, 391, 392), f. securing the working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260', 270, 280) to the working tool holder (500), g. removing the jig (300, 310, 320, 340, 350, 360, 380). The invention furthermore relates to a jig (300, 310, 320, 340, 350, 360, 380, 390) for carrying out the method above.

Description

[0001] A METHOD AND A JIG FOR SETTING A POSITIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A CONTAINER PRECURSOR HOLDING DEVICE AND A CONTAINER PRECURSOR WORKING TOOL IN A FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention generally relates to a forming, filling, and sealing machine for food stuff cartons or containers, and more particularly to a method of setting a positional relationship between a container precursor holding device and a container precursor working tool in a forming, filling, and sealing machine. The invention also relates to a jig for use in such method.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Within the art of paperboard-based packaging, it is known to produce a blank which is folded and sealed to produce a container. The container may then be utilised to hold a pourable product, e.g. a liquid, such as dairy products like milk or yoghurt, or juices. The pourable product is typically filled into the container within a filling and sealing machine that also forms and seals the bottom and top of the container. Such machines may be referred to as a forming, filling, and sealing machine, or simply a filling and sealing machine.

[0006] In a filling and sealing machine, the containers are conveyed along various steps to form the container from a flat, tubular sleeve, to a closed and sealed container containing a liquid.

[0007] A loader device of the machine supplies open container sleeves to a rotating turret having a number of, typically four or six, radially extending mandrels. The turret is configured to carry the received container sleeves on one of its mandrels and to rotationally index the container sleeves through a series of bottom processing stations which fold, close and seal the container bottoms to produce an open-top container with side walls and a sealed bottom. This partially formed container is then removed from the mandrel and placed into container receiving elements in the form of container pockets of a conveyor for transfer to subsequent stations of the machine including at least filling of a liquid, top folding and sealing.

[0008] As the container is used to hold a liquid, it is important that the bottom and top of the container is properly sealed to avoid deficiencies such as leakage and potentially reduced shelf life. Thus, it is important that the forming and sealing of the bottom and top of the container is performed with precision for every single container being processed in the machine. Various different tools are used in the workstations of the machine to e.g. fold panels of the container or press and seal a portion of the formed container. The precise positioning of these tools within the machine is crucial to ensure accurate and efficient operation and to maintain integrity of the container. Minor deviations can lead to significant defects of the final product, reduced efficiency, and increased operational costs. Current methods for setting the position of tools often rely on manual adjustments which is time consuming and may affect the accuracy and repeatability. Therefore, there is a need for an improved method for accurately setting the position of such tools within a filling and sealing machine to enhance precision, reliability, and overall performance during operation.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An object according to the present invention is to remedy at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages or problems.

[0011] Thus, an object according to the present invention is to reduce time needed for setting the position of work tools of a filling and sealing machine. It is also an object to increase accuracy and / or repeatability when setting the position of the work tools.

[0012] It is further an object to make the process of setting the work tools easier and / or more convenient for the operator and to eliminate or reduce the necessity for training of personnel.

[0013] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention.

[0014] With the abovementioned challenges in mind, the present invention brings forward an efficient, easy and precise method for setting the positional relationship between a container precursor working tool and a container precursor holding device in a workstation of a filling and sealing machine.

[0015] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method of setting a positional relationship between a container precursor holding device and a container precursor working tool held by a working tool holder in a workstation of a filling and sealing machine, in which machine container precursors are moved through a series of work stations at which the container precursors are formed, filled, and sealed, the working tool comprising at least one reference surface, the method comprising a. positioning the container precursor holding device in a predefined holding device operating position in the workstation, b. positioning a first jig comprising at least one tool adjustment surface in a known position relative to the holding device, c. positioning the container precursor working tool in a predefined working tool operating position in the workstation, d. releasing the working tool from the working tool holder allowing positional adjustment of the working tool relative to the working tool holder, e. moving the working tool bringing the at least one reference surface into contact with the at least one adjustment surface, f. securing the working tool to the working tool holder, g. removing the jig.

[0016] The step of positioning the jig in a known position relative to the holding device may be done by positioning the jig on or in the holding device, or positioning the jig on a device which is in fixed position relative to the holding device.

[0017] The predefined working tool operating position may be an end position of the operational movement path of the working tool.

[0018] The step of moving the working tool may comprise a translational and / or a rotational movement. The translational movement may be a linear movement. The translational movement may be along one, two, or three orthogonal axes, i.e. the x-, y-, and x-axis. The rotational movement may be about one, two, or three rotational axes.

[0019] Releasing the working tool from the working tool holder may involve disengaging the working tool from the working tool holder or by loosening the working tool, e.g. by unscrewing one or more fastening screws. The work tool may be released to allow linear movement in one, two, or three directions, and / or to allow rotational movement about one, two, or three axes.

[0020] Bringing the at least one reference surface of the working tool into contact with the at least one adjustment surface may comprise bringing the at least one reference surface against the at least one adjustment surface.

[0021] For practical reasons, in some embodiments the step of positioning the jig is performed before the step of positioning the container precursor working tool, while in other embodiments the step of positioning the container precursor working tool is performed before the step of positioning the jig. This depends e.g. on the location of the adjustment surface and reference surface, on the movement of the working tool, and / or on the available space. The reference surface may be a working surface of the tool or a surface in a fixed positional relationship with a working surface of the tool.

[0022] One working tool may have reference surfaces in two or three orthogonal planes. The jig may comprise two or three corresponding adjustment surfaces.

[0023] The positional relationship to be set between the container precursor holding device and the container precursor working tool may be a distance and / or an angular relationship.

[0024] The distance may be a distance between a working surface of the working tool and the holding device.

[0025] When the working tool is configured for a linear operational movement path, e.g. moving a tool towards and away from the holding device, the positional relationship between the container precursor holding device and the container precursor working tool may at least comprise a distance along an axis corresponding to that of the linear movement.

[0026] When the working tool is configured for a curved operational movement path, i.e. a swinging motion, the positional relationship between the container precursor holding device and the container precursor working tool may at least comprise a first distance and a second distance, the first and second distances being orthogonal and arranged in the plane of the operational movement path.

[0027] The workstation may be a container precursor loading station, a bottom folding station, or a top sealing station.

[0028] The container precursor typically moves from the loading station to the bottom folding station, then to a filling station, and then to a top sealing station. The container precursor may also move through various other stations within the filling and sealing machine before, in between, or after the above-mentioned stations. Before entry to the loading station, the container precursor is in the form of a tubular sleeve with an open top and bottom. At the bottom folding station, the bottom panels are folded to form the bottom of the container and sealed. After the container has been filled with a liquid, the top of the container is closed and sealed at the top sealing station.

[0029] The container precursor loading station may comprise a loading assembly. It is important for the final integrity of the container that the container precursor is placed at the correct depth onto the mandrel before it proceeds to the bottom folding station. The bottom folding station may comprise a bottom folding assembly. At the bottom folding station, the bottom of the container precursor is folded to produce an opentop container with side walls and a sealed bottom. The open -top container is placed in a container pocket on the conveyor for transport to the subsequent workstations.

[0030] The top sealing station may comprise a top sealing assembly. At the top sealing station, the top fins of the container are pressed together and sealed to obtain a closed container.

[0031] The jig may comprise two or more jig parts and the step of positioning the first jig may comprise assembling the jig parts to form the jig.

[0032] The tool adjustment surface may be on a first jig part, while an interface allowing the jig to be positioned in the known position relative to the holding device is on a second jig part.

[0033] The first of the jig parts may e.g. be configured to be placed on or in the container precursor holding device, e.g. it may be a container dummy for placement in the container pocket. The first jig part may comprise a first mating feature. The second jig part may comprise the at least one adjustment surface and a complementary second mating feature for engagement with the first mating feature of the first jig part allowing the parts to be assembled to form the jig.

[0034] When the jig is assembled, the at least one adjustment surface is in a known position relative to the holding device.

[0035] The jig may comprise two or more adjustment surfaces for adjusting respective reference surfaces of each of a number of working tools of the workstation, and wherein the steps c.- f. may be performed for each working tool while the jig is in the known position relative to the holding device.

[0036] Thus, the same jig may be used for setting the positional relationship between the holding device and multiple working tools working within the same workstation.

[0037] The at least one reference surface of the working tool may be a non-planar surface. The jig may comprises two tool adjustment surfaces for adjusting the non-planar adjustment surface in two different directions. In this case, the step of bringing the at least one reference surface into contact with the at least one adjustment surface comprises bringing the non-planar surface into contact with both of the two adjustment surfaces.

[0038] The non-planar surface may e.g. be a cylindrical surface of a roller which may be brought into contact with two orthogonal reference surfaces, thereby adjusting e.g. the height position and the lateral position of the working tool

[0039] The working tool may be configured to operate between a start position and an end position for operating on the container precursor, wherein the at least one adjustment surface defines the end position of the working tool relative to the holding device.

[0040] The holding device may be a mandrel on a rotatable turret and wherein the step of positioning the holding device in the holding device operating position may comprise rotating the turret until the mandrel is in the predefined holding device operating position.

[0041] Typically, when the workstation is a container precursor loading assembly, the container precursor is moved from a magazine onto a mandrel on the turret, and the holding device is thus the mandrel.

[0042] Typically, when the workstation is a bottom folding station, the container precursor is placed on the end of a mandrel on the turret with the bottom panels extending out and away from the mandrel end, and the holding device is thus the mandrel.

[0043] The rotatable turret may rotate to index the mandrel from one station to another, e.g. from the loading station to the bottom folding station. The rotatable turret may comprise several, e.g. four or six, mandrels.

[0044] The holding device may be a container pocket on a conveyor of the machine and the step of positioning the holding device in the holding device operating position may comprise actuating the conveyor until the container pocket is in the predefined holding device operating position.

[0045] Typically, when the workstation is a top sealing station, the container precursor is placed, with the already folded and sealed bottom, in a container pocket on the conveyor, and the holding device is thus the container pocket. The conveyor comprises a number of adjacent container pockets, and the conveyor thus moves each container precursor through a series of workstations, e.g. sterilization and filling, after the bottom has been folded and sealed. The container precursor working tool may be a container pusher and the container precursor holding device may be a mandrel, wherein the container pusher may be configured to operate between a start position and an end position for pushing a container precursor onto the mandrel, wherein the adjustment surface defines the end position of the pusher relative to the mandrel.

[0046] The container pusher may operate between a retracted and an extended position wherein the extended position is the end position of the container pusher operation. The positional relationship in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel, between the container precursor pusher and the mandrel is thus to be set by the jig. The reference surface of the pusher may be the pusher working surface. The jig may comprise an interface, e.g. a rim, for placement of the jig on the mandrel end and an adjustment surface arranged towards the pusher working surface when the jig is placed on the mandrel end. The jig thus determines the distance between the working surface of the pusher and the mandrel end surface, when the pusher is in the end position, e.g. the extended position.

[0047] The container precursor working tool may be a breaker wing of a bottom folding assembly and the container precursor holding device may be a mandrel, the breaker wing being configured to move or rotate inwardly from a start position to an end position for pressing inwards a bottom panel of the container precursor, wherein the at least one adjustment surface may comprise an end position adjustment surface defining the end position of the breaker wing relative to the end of the mandrel.

[0048] The container precursor working tool may be a bottom panel folder and the container precursor holding device may be a mandrel, the bottom panel folder being configured to rotate inwardly from a start position to an end position for folding a bottom panel of the container precursor, wherein the at least one adjustment surface may comprise an end position adjustment surface defining the end position of the bottom panel folder relative to the end of the mandrel.

[0049] The at least one adjustment surface may also comprise a height position adjustment surface defining the operating height of the bottom panel folder relative to an end face of the mandrel.

[0050] The pair of opposing inwardly rotating bottom panel folders are configured to each fold one of the bottom panels, i.e. a leading bottom panel and a trailing bottom panel, inwards to overlap and form the bottom wall of the container.

[0051] In one embodiment the leading bottom panel folder is a cylindrical roller and the outer perimeter of the roller provides the reference surface for the end position and height position. The jig may comprise an interface, e.g. one or more rims, for placement of the jig on the mandrel end and one adjustment surface for each reference surface, each adjustment surface being arranged towards a respective reference surface when the jig is placed on the mandrel end.

[0052] The working tool may be a tab retainer of a bottom folding assembly and the container precursor holding device may be a mandrel, the tab retainer may be configured to move between a start position and end position for contacting and temporarily retaining a tab of a bottom closure panel while the bottom closure panel is folded inwards, wherein the at least one adjustment surface may comprise an end position adjustment surface defining the end position of the movement of the tab retainer relative to the mandrel end face. The tab may be on the trailing panel.

[0053] The end position may define a distance to the mandrel end face.

[0054] The at least one adjustment surface may comprise an angular position adjustment surface defining the angle of the tab retainer relative to the mandrel end face.

[0055] The at least one adjustment surface may also comprise a lateral position adjustment surface defining the lateral operating position of the tab retainer relative to the mandrel. This ensures that the tab retainer engages the tab of the trailing panel accurately without interfering with the remaining part of the trailing panel.

[0056] The tab retainer may comprise several reference surfaces which may be a rear surface, a side surface, and an end surface. The jig may comprise an interface, e.g. one or more rims, for placement of the jig on the mandrel end and one adjustment surface for each reference surface, each adjustment surface being arranged towards a respective reference surface when the jig is placed on the mandrel end.

[0057] The container precursor working tool may be a top sealer frame comprising a pair of cooperating sealer jaws arranged on the top sealer frame, and the holding device may be a container pocket on the conveyor, wherein the adjustment surface defines a working position of the top sealer frame, in which working position a working surface of the sealer jaws is laterally aligned with the container pocket.

[0058] The positional relationship in the transverse direction, i.e. in the direction of movement of the conveyor, between the top sealer frame and a container pocket is thus to be set by the jig.

[0059] The jig may comprise a container dummy for placement in the container pocket and an adjustment surface arranged towards the reference surface of the top sealer frame when the dummy is placed in the container pocket on the conveyor. The reference surface of the top sealer frame may be a side wall surface of the frame. The container precursor working tool may be a sealer jaw assembly comprising a sealer jaw and a toggle joint, the toggle joint defining the movement of the sealer jaw, and the container precursor holding device may be a container pocket on the conveyor, wherein the jig may comprise at least one adjustment surface defining a position of the toggle joint when the sealer jaw is in an end position.

[0060] The jig may be comprise a first adjustment surface defining the position of the toggle joint of a first sealer jaw of a pair of sealer jaws when in the end position and a second adjustment surface defining the position of the toggle joint of a second sealer jaw of a pair of sealer jaws when in the end position.

[0061] The working tool may be a first sealer jaw, and the container precursor holding device may be a container pocket on the conveyor, the first sealer jaw may be configured to operate between a start position and an end position for pressing the top fins of the container precursor against an opposing, second sealer jaw, wherein the adjustment surface defines the end position of the sealer jaw relative to the container pocket.

[0062] The positional relationship in the operational direction of the sealer jaw between the sealer jaw and a container pocket on the conveyor is to be set. The reference surface of the sealer jaws is the working surface. The jig may comprise a container dummy for placement in the container pocket and an adjustment surface arranged towards the working surface when the dummy is placed in the container pocket on the conveyor.

[0063] The method may comprise, after having removed the first jig,

[0064] - positioning the first and second sealer jaws in a predefined working tool operating position, the second sealer jaw comprising at least one reference surface,

[0065] - positioning a second jig comprising at least one tool adjustment surface in a known position relative to the first sealer jaw,

[0066] - releasing the second sealer jaw from the working tool holder allowing positional adjustment of the second sealer jaw relative to the holder,

[0067] - moving the second sealer jaw bringing the at least one reference surface into contact with the at least one adjustment surface,

[0068] - securing the second sealer jaw to the working tool holder,

[0069] - removing the second jig.

[0070] The invention also relates to a jig for carrying out the method according to any of the above paragraphs.

[0071] The jig may comprise a holding device interface configured for placing the jig on or in the holding device or for placing the jig on a device which is in a fixed position relative to the holding device. This interface may comprise one or more rims, flanges or protruding parts for engaging the mandrel end. The interface may comprise an outer boundary, such as an outer bottom and outer wall, for placement against a bottom and inner wall of the container pocket of the conveyor.

[0072] The jig may comprise a container precursor dummy for insertion into a container pocket on the conveyor.

[0073] The dummy may be a first jig part of the jig and may be configured for engaging a second jig part comprising the at least one adjustment surface.

[0074] The jig may be designed for use in a single operation station or a double operation station.

[0075] A double operation station is a station where a pair of tools simultaneously perform identical operations on each container precursor of successive pairs of container precursors. If the top sealing workstation is configured as a double operation station, the convoy is a double indexing conveyor.

[0076] The present invention also relates to a use of a jig for setting a positional relationship between a container precursor holding device and a container precursor working tool in a filling and sealing machine, wherein the jig comprises a holding device interface and one or more adjustment surfaces, wherein the holding device interface is configured for positioning the jig in a known position relative to the holding device, and wherein the one or more adjustment surfaces are arranged on the jig such that when the jig is in the known position relative to the holding device, each of the one or more adjustment surfaces functions as a reference for the desired positional relationship of the working tool.

[0077] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0078] The following drawings are appended to facilitate the understanding of the invention. The drawings show embodiments of the invention, which will now be described by way of example only, where:

[0079] Figure 1 is a top view of a blank.

[0080] Figure 2 is a top view showing the folding of the blank according to Fig. 1 to prepare for bottom- sealing. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bottom of the container made from the blank according to Fig. 1 after having been folded.

[0081] Figure 4 is a perspective view from above of a container.

[0082] Figure 5 is a schematical illustration, seen in perspective, of a jig for setting the positional relationship between a container precursor pusher tool and a mandrel.

[0083] Figure 6 is a side view of the jig of Fig. 5.

[0084] Figure 7 is a schematical illustration of a jig according to Fig. 5 in use.

[0085] Figure 8 is a schematical illustration, seen in perspective, of a jig for setting the positional relationship between a bottom panel folder and a mandrel.

[0086] Figure 9 is a side view of the jig of Fig. 8.

[0087] Figure 10 is a schematical illustration of a jig according to Fig. 8 in use.

[0088] Figure I la is a schematical illustration of a jig for setting the positional relationship between a tab retainer and a mandrel.

[0089] Figure 11b shows a cross-section through a jig as in Fig. I la placed on the mandrel

[0090] Figure 11c shows a tab retainer.

[0091] Figure 12 is a schematical illustration of a jig for setting the positional relationship between a bottom folding assembly frame and a mandrel.

[0092] Figure 13 is a schematical illustration of a jig for setting the position of a toggle joint of a sealer jaw assembly.

[0093] Figure 14 is a schematical illustration of a jig comprising multiple jig parts.

[0094] Figure 15 is a schematical illustration, seen in a side view, of a jig according to Fig.

[0095] 14 in use for a sealer jaw.

[0096] Figure 16 is a schematical illustration, seen in a top view, of a jig according to Fig.

[0097] 14 in use for a top sealer frame.

[0098] Figure 17 is a schematical illustration, seen in a side view, of a jig for aligning a pair of sealer jaws.

[0099] Figure 18 is a schematical illustration, seen in a top view, of the jig according to Fig. 17 in use.

[0100] Figure 19 is a schematical illustration, seen in a side view, of a jig for setting the positional relationship between a pre-breaking tool and a mandrel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0101] Having generally described this invention, a further understanding can be obtained by reference to certain specific embodiments, which are provided herein for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims unless otherwise specified.

[0102] The blank for forming the container 10

[0103] A container precursor 100 in the form of a carton blank 100’ is disclosed in Fig. 1. The blank 100’ is disclosed with the surface configured to form the outside surface of the container 1 facing the viewer.

[0104] The blank 100’ is made from a multi-ply paper or paperboard sheet on which is laminated one or a plurality of barrier layers for holding content, e.g. a liquid, and / or prevent migration of air and flavour degrading substances through the sheet. At least portions of the blank may be coated with a layer of thermoplastic material allowing the container 1 formed from the blank to be sealed by plastic welding.

[0105] The blank 100’ is generally rectangular and comprises a first, bottom edge 101, a second, top edge 103 and parallel, third and second, side edges 105, 107. The side edges 105 and 107 are linear and parallel, whereas the top and bottom edges 101 and 103 have an irregular shape. The blank 100’ also comprises a plurality of crease lines defining folding lines along which the blank 100’ is configured to be folded when formed into the container.

[0106] The blank 100’ comprises five panels, P1-P5, separated by longitudinal crease lines 102, 104, 106 and 108 defining folding lines extending across the panel 100 from the bottom edge 101 to the top edge 103.

[0107] Each panel P1-P5 comprises a first sub-panel 110, 112, 114, 116, 118 forming a bottomclosure sub-panel, a second sub-panel 120, 122, 124, 126, 128 forming a wall section subpanel, and a third sub-panel 130, 132, 134, 136, 138 forming a top-closure sub-panel. The bottom closure sub-panels 110, 112, 114, 116 and 118 are configured to form a bottom closure of the container, and the top-closure sub-panels 130, 132, 134, 136, 138 a top closure of the container. The wall section sub-panel 120 of the first panel Pl is configured to form a rear wall of the container and the wall section sub-panel 124 of the third panel P3 a front wall. The wall sections 122 and 126 of the second and fourth panels P2, P4 are configured to form side walls of the container. The fifth panel P5 is configured to be attached to an inside surface of the first panel Pl adjacent the side edge 105 when the container is formed.

[0108] The blank 100’ displays positions TCI, TC2, TC3, TC4, BC1, BC2, BC3 andBC4 defining top and bottom corners of the container when formed. The top corner positions TCI, TC2, TC3 and TC4 are arranged along a line extending across the panels P1-P5 orthogonal to the side edges 105 and 107. Likewise, the comer positions BC1, BC2, BC3 and BC4 are arranged along a line extending across the panels P1-P5 orthogonal to the side edges 105 and 107 parallel to the line along which the top comer positions TCI, TC2, TC3 and TC4 is arranged.

[0109] The first panel Pl comprises a bottom crease line 140 extending from the position BC1 to a position on the side edge 105 level to BC1. In other words, the bottom crease line 140 extends transversely across the panel Pl in a direction which is orthogonal to the side edge 105 and to the longitudinal crease line 102. The bottom crease line 140 forms a border between the bottom-closure sub-panel 110 and the wall section sub-panel 120 of the panel. Further, the first panel Pl comprises a top crease line 150 extending from the position TCI to a position on the side edge 105 level to TCI. Consequently, the top crease line 150 also extends transversely across the panel Pl in a direction which is orthogonal to the side edge 105 and to the longitudinal crease line 102, i.e. parallel to the bottom crease line 140. The top crease line 150 forms a border between the wall section sub-panel 120 and the topclosure sub-panel 130.

[0110] The bottom-closure sub-panel 110 comprises a flap or tab 111 which assists in securing a safe closure of the bottom of the container. The tab 111 is to be folded backwards over the remaining part of the sub-panel 110 during forming of the bottom B, so that it lies between sub-panel 110 and 114 in the closed bottom B of the container 10 (as shown in Fig. 3), thereby preventing a raw edge of the carton, when filled with a liquid, from coming into contact with the liquid inside the container 10. Within the art of carton production, the function of such tabs is known as such and the function of the tab 111 will not be discussed further here.

[0111] The top-closure sub-panel 130 comprises a top-fin crease line 160 extending transversely across the panel Pl parallel to the top crease line 150, i.e. in a direction which is orthogonal to the side edge 105 and to the longitudinal crease line 102. The top-fin crease line 160 defines a folding line 60 forming a border between a roof panel section 170 and a top -fin panel section 180 of the top-closure panel 130.

[0112] The second panel P2 comprises a bottom crease line 142 extending transversely across the panel P2 between positions BC1 and BC2. BC1 and BC2 are level, i.e. arranged along a line which is orthogonal to the longitudinal crease lines 102 and 104. Consequently, the bottom crease line 142 extends transversely across the panel P2 in a direction which is orthogonal to the longitudinal crease lines 102 and 104. The bottom crease line 142 forms a border between the bottom-closure sub-panel 112 and the wall section sub-panel 122. The second panel P2 further comprises a top crease line 152 extending across the panel P2 between positions TCI and TC2 and defining a folding line 52 forming a border between the wall section sub-panel 122 and the top closure sub-section 132. TCI and TC2 are level, i.e. are arranged along a line which is orthogonal to the longitudinal crease lines 102 and 104. The top-closure sub-panel 132 comprises a top-fin crease line 162 extending transversely across the panel Pl parallel to the top crease line 152, i.e. in a direction which is orthogonal to the longitudinal crease line 102 and to the longitudinal crease line 104. The top-fin crease line 162 defines a folding line 62 forming a border between a gusset panel section 172 and a top-fin panel section 182 of the top-closure panel 132.

[0113] The gusset panel section 172 of the top-closure panel 132 comprises diagonal crease lines 173a, 173b and the top-fin panel section 182 comprises a vertical crease line 183, the crease lines 173a, 173b, 183 forming folding lines which are to assist folding of the top-closure sub-panel 132 when the bottom closure of the container is to be formed.

[0114] The bottom-closure sub-panel 112 comprises diagonal crease lines 113a, 113b forming folding lines which are to assist folding of the bottom-closure sub-panel 112 when the bottom closure of the container is to be formed.

[0115] The third panel P3 comprises a bottom crease line 144 extending transversely across the panel P3 between positions BC2 and BC3. BC2 and BC3 are level, i.e. arranged along a line which is orthogonal to the longitudinal crease lines 104 and 106. Consequently, the bottom crease line 144 extends transversely across the panel P4 in a direction which is orthogonal to the longitudinal crease lines 102 and 104. The bottom crease line 144 defines a folding line forming form a border between the bottom-closure sub-panel 114 and the wall section sub-panel 124 of the panel P3. Further, the third panel P3 comprises a top crease line 154 extending across the panel P3 between the top corner positions TC2 and TC3, which top crease line 154 defines a folding line forming a border between the wall section sub-panel 124 and the top-closure sub-panel 134.

[0116] The top-closure sub-panel 134 comprises a top-fin crease line 164 extending transversely across the panel P3 in a direction which is orthogonal to the longitudinal crease lines 104 and 106, i.e. parallel to the bottom crease line 144. The top-fin crease line 164 defines a folding line forming a border between a roof panel section 174 and a top-fin panel section 184 of the top-closure panel 134.

[0117] The fourth panel P4 comprises a bottom crease line 146 extending transversely across the panel P4 between positions BC3 and BC4. BC3 and BC4 are level, i.e. arranged along a line which is orthogonal to the longitudinal crease lines 106 and 108. Consequently, the bottom crease line 146 extends transversely across the panel P4 in a direction which is orthogonal to the longitudinal crease lines 106 and 108. The bottom crease line 146 defines a folding line forming a border between the bottom-closure sub-panel 116 and the wall section sub-panel 126. The fourth panel P4 further comprises a top crease line 156 extending across the panel P4 between positions TC3 and TC4 defining a folding line 56 forming a border between the wall section sub-panel 126 and the top closure sub-section 136. TC3 and TC4 are level, i.e. are arranged along a line which is orthogonal to the longitudinal crease lines 106 and 108. The top-closure sub-panel 136 comprises a top-fin crease line 166 extending transversely across the panel Pl parallel to the top crease line 156, i.e. in a direction which is orthogonal to the longitudinal crease line 106 and to the longitudinal crease line 108. The top-fin crease line 166 defines a folding line 66 forming a border between a gusset panel section 176 and a top-fin panel section 186 of the top-closure panel 136.

[0118] The gusset panel section 176 of the top-closure panel 136 comprises diagonal crease lines 177a, 177b and the top-fin panel section 186 comprises a vertical crease line 187, the crease lines 177a, 177b, 187 forming folding lines which are to assist folding of the top-closure sub-panel 136 when the bottom closure of the container is to be formed.

[0119] The bottom-closure sub-panel 116 comprises diagonal crease lines 117a, 117b defining folding lines configured to assist folding of the bottom-closure sub-panel 116 when the bottom closure of the container is to be formed.

[0120] In the fifth panel P5, two co-linear bottom crease lines 148 a, 148b define a folding line extending across the panel P5, which folding line is co-linear to the bottom crease lines 140, 142, 144, 146 in panels P1-P4 and forms a border between the bottom-closure subpanel 118 and the body sub-panel 128 of panel P5. Also, two co-linear top crease lines 158a, 158b define a folding line which is generally co-linear to the top crease line 150 of the first panel Pl, which folding line forms a border between the body sub-panel 128 and the top-closure sub-panel 138. Furthermore, two co-linear top-fin crease lines 168a, 168b define a folding line 68 which is generally co-linear to the top-fin crease lines 160 and 164 of panels Pl and P3, which folding line 68 forms a border between a roof panel section 178 and a top-fin panel section 188 of the top-closure sub-panel 138.

[0121] The container 1 may be provided with a circular through-going opening 200 for receiving a pour spout fitment, e.g. in the roof panel section 174, to facilitate opening of the container by the consumer.

[0122] The process of forming the container 10 in the filling and sealing machine 1

[0123] In the following, the process of forming a container 10 from a tubular sleeve 100” will be explained using a blank 100’ as illustrated in Fig. 1 as example.

[0124] As explained in the background section, in a filling and sealing machine 1 the container precursors 100 are conveyed along various steps to form the container 10 from a tubular sleeve 100” with open top and bottom, to a closed and sealed container 10 containing a liquid. The process and the working tools at the loading station WS1, the bottom folding station WS2, and the top sealing station WS3 will first be explained briefly, before describing the inventive method and jig. A filling and sealing machine 1 may comprise various other operations and stations that are not described here, such as sterilization or adding a closure cap to the container. The tubular sleeve 100” is first fed to a loading station WS1 within the machine 1. At the loading station WS1, a pusher tool 200 pushes the tubular sleeve 100” onto a mandrel 400 of a rotating turret 3, so that the sleeve 100” is in correct position on the mandrel 400 before further processing at the bottom folding station WS2. The sleeve 100” may e.g. be formed by a blank 100’ as shown in Figure 1, wherein the fifth panel P5 is attached to an inside surface of the first panel Pl adjacent the side edge 105. The sleeve 100” thus comprises an open top and an open bottom wherein the bottom closure sub-panels 110, 112, 114, 116 forms an extension at a bottom end of the panels 120, 122, 124, 126 and the top closure sub-panels 130, 132, 134, 136 forms an extension at the opposite top end of the panels 120, 122, 124, 126.

[0125] The pusher tool 200 operates by extending out from a tool holder 500 for pushing the sleeve 100” in on the mandrel 400 to a predefined depth and then retracting before repeating the operation for the next sleeve 100”. The mandrel 400 is one out of several mandrels 400, e.g. four or six mandrels 400, arranged on a rotatable turret 3 of the machine 1. The mandrels 400 extend radially outwards from the turret 3 in an equally spaced manner. The mandrel 400 is elongate, comprises a square or rectangular cross section, substantially with the same shape as the interior of the sleeve 100”, and has a substantially flat end surface 401.

[0126] When a sleeve 100” is to be pushed in on the mandrel 400 by the pusher 200, one of the mandrels 400 on the turret 3 is in a predefined holding device operating position HOP at the loading station WS1. Each mandrel 400 is indexed to the next operational station by rotation of the turret 3. Thus, the turret 3 rotates stepwise so that for each rotation step, the mandrel 400 having received a tubular sleeve 100” from the pusher 200 at the loading station WS1 is indexed to the subsequent operation step and the next mandrel 400 on the turret 3 approaches its operating position HOP in the loading station WS1.

[0127] Fig. 2 illustrates how the bottom closure sub-panels of a blank 100’ are folded together to form the closed bottom B of the container 10. The bottom forming and closing process is performed in a bottom folding station WS2 comprising a bottom folding assembly. The bottom folding assembly comprises a pair of breaker wings 240, a leading bottom panel folder 230, a trailing bottom panel folder 220, and a tab retainer 210.

[0128] At the bottom folding station WS2, the bottom closure sub-panels 110, 112, 114, 116 of the sleeve 100” are folded to form a closed bottom B, as shown in Figure 3. Before folding, the bottom closure sub-panels 110, 112, 114, 116 extend outwardly as an extension of the container precursor side wall panels 120, 122, 124, 126. The opposite panel 110 is referred to as the trailing panel and comprises the tab 111. Between these panels are the side panels 112, 114 with the triangular section formed by lines 113a, 113b, 117a, 117b.

[0129] Firstly, a pair of opposing breaker wings 240 swing or move inwardly towards the longitudinal center axis of the mandrel 400 to force the triangular sections of the side panels 112, 116 inwards to form an inwards pre-fold, ensuring that when the leading and trailing panels 110, 114 are folded inwards, the triangular sections of the side panels 112, 116 will be folded inwards against the interior of the container 10.

[0130] Then, a tab retainer 210 is moved to a working tool operating position WOP before a pair of bottom panel folders 220, 230 are rotated inwardly and downwardly towards the longitudinal center axis C of the mandrel 400, as shown by the black arrows in Figure 10. When moving to the working tool operating position WOP, the end of the tab retainer 210 is lowered to an end position inside the interior space defined by the bottom closure sub-panels 110, 112, 114, 116 as they are before folding. The contact surface 214 of the tab retainer 210 (ref. Fig. 11c) faces the inside of the bottom closure sub-panel 110 and is centered relative to the tab 111. When the tab retainer 210 is in its working tool operating position WOP, it is positioned so that when the bottom closure sub-panel 110 is folded inwards about the fold line 140, a free edge of the tab 111 comes into contact with the contact surface 214 of the tab retainer 210.

[0131] The bottom closure sub-panel 110 of panel Pl is folded inwards by the trailing bottom panel folder 220 and the bottom closure sub-panel 114 of panel P3 is folded inwards by the leading bottom panel folder 230. As the bottom closure sub-panels 110, 114 are pressed inwards by the bottom panel folders 220, 230, the bottom-closure subpanels 112, 116 will fold inwards at the diagonal crease lines 113a, 113b and 117a, 117b. The bottom closure sub-panel 110 of panel Pl, will then fold over the bottom closure sub-panels 112, 116, and the bottom closure sub-panel 114 of panel P3, will fold over the bottom closure sub-panel 110 of panel Pl. The tab retainer 210 is configured to engage and retain the tab 111 of the bottom closure sub-panel 110, due to contact with the contact surface 214, essentially bending it backwards while the trailing bottom panel folder 220 presses the sub-panel 110 inwards. The tab 111 is thus folded back over the sub-panel 110 to lie between the outer sub-panel 114 and the sub-panel 110, thereby preventing a raw edge of the carton, when filled with a liquid, from coming into contact with the liquid inside the container 10.

[0132] The bottom closure sub-panels may be heated prior to folding. After having performed their respective operations on the container precursor 100, the breaker wings 240, the bottom panel folders 220, 230 and the tab retainer 210 return to their start position and repeats the operation for the next container precursor. Figure 3 illustrates the closed bottom B of the container precursor 100 obtained after folding as explained above. The part 110a of the bottom-closure sub-panel 110 of panel Pl is exposed to the outside when the blank 100’ is folded to produce the container 1. The part 110b of the bottom-closure sub-panel 110 of panel Pl is intended to be sealed to the bottom-closure sub-panel of panel P3.

[0133] There is no crease line between the parts 110a and 110b of the first, bottom -closure sub-panel 110.

[0134] After processing at the bottom folding station WS2, the turret 3 rotates the mandrel 400 with the container precursor 100 to the next operational step, which will not be explained in detail here. The container precursor 100 is, after finishing all processing steps while on the mandrel 400, removed from the mandrel 400 and placed in one out of a series of container pockets 410 on a conveyor 2 for transport to subsequent operations. Eventually, the container precursor 100 is filled with a liquid, e.g. milk or juice, and continues to the top sealing station WS3 after the top closure sub-panels 132, 136 have been pre-folded by a breaker tool.

[0135] At the top sealing station WS3, the top closure sub-panels 130, 134 are folded towards each other and the top-fin panel sections 180, 184 are pressed against each other by a pair of opposing sealer jaws 260, 260’. Heat is applied to seal the top fin. The sealer jaws 260, 260’ operate by extending towards each other for pressing the top fins of a container precursor 100, and retracting to their start positions, the movement being controlled by a toggle joint 265 for each sealer jaw 260, 261. The sealer jaws are arranged on a top sealer frame 270, which positions the sealer jaws 260, 260’ laterally, i.e. in the direction of the conveyor movement so that the sealer jaws 260, 260’ are positioned correctly to act on the top-fin panels 180, 184. It is important that this position is accurate to obtain a high integrity seal and avoid deficiencies such as poor attachment or leakage. It is also important that the pair of sealer jaws 260, 260’ acting together are aligned to get an even pressure. It is further important that the toggle joints 265 are correctly positioned so that the linear movement controlled by the toggle joint 265 is correct, i.e. that the length of the extension to the end position of the sealer jaw 260, 260’ is correct and precise.

[0136] In the pair of sealer jaws 260, 260’, one of the sealer jaws 260’ operates with an overtravel, i.e. when abutting against the opposite sealer jaw 260 with the top-fin panels 180,184 in-between, the overtravel sealer jaw 260’ applies a further predefined pressure against the opposite sealer jaw 260. It is important that this pressure is correct. Too much pressure can cause damage to the top fin and too little pressure can cause an insufficient seal. The top of the container 10 is now formed and sealed. Figure 4 illustrates the container 10, formed following folding, bottom- and sidesealing, filling and top-sealing of a blank 100’. The container 10 of fig. 4 may for example be made from the blank 100’ illustrated in fig. 1.

[0137] The invention is not limited to a blank 100” as shown in Fig. 1, and may be used on other blanks having a different configuration that are also processed from a tubular sleeve to form a closed and sealed bottom and top by folding bottom closure subpanels and top closure sub-panels.

[0138] Jig for use at the loading station

[0139] Figure 5 and Figure 6 shows a jig 300 for setting the positional relationship between a container precursor pusher tool 200 and an end of a mandrel 400 in a loading station WS1 of a filling and sealing machine 1, in a perspective view and a side view, respectively.

[0140] Figure 7 shows a schematical illustration of the jig 300 placed on the end of the mandrel 400 and the pusher tool 200 to be adjusted. The pusher tool 200 operates between a retracted start position and an extended end position, see black arrow in Fig. In Figure 7, the pusher tool 200 is shown in the end position.

[0141] The jig 300 is placed on the end of the mandrel 400 when the mandrel 400 is in the predefined holding device operation position HOP at the loading station WS1 , the jig 300 being suspended over the end of the mandrel by the rim or flange 310.

[0142] The jig 300 comprises an adjustment surface 301 which is used to adjust the position of the pusher 200. The jig 300 is designed so that the adjustment surface 301 defines a position of the working surface 201 of the pusher tool 200 when in a predefined working tool operating position WOP, which operating position WOP is the end position of the working surface 201 of the pusher 200. Thus, when setting the position of the pusher 200 using the jig 300, the jig 300 is first placed on the end of the mandrel 400 and the pusher 200 is positioned in its end position, i.e. fully extended. The pusher tool 200 is released from the tool holder 500 so that the end surface 201 of the tool can be arranged against the adjustment surface 301 of the jig 300. When the end surface 201 is placed against the adjustment surface 301 on the jig 300, the pusher tool 200 is again secured to the holder 500 and the jig 300 can be removed. It is thus ensured that the pusher tool 200 is correctly positioned on the tool holder 500 to accurately push each sleeve 100” onto a mandrel 400 at the correct depth so that the subsequent processing of the bottom closure sub-panels 110, 112, 114, 114 can be performed correctly and with optimal precision.

[0143] Jigs for use at the bottom folding station Figure 8 and Figure 9 shows a jig 320 for setting the positional relationship between a leading bottom panel folder 230 and an end of a mandrel 400 and between a trailing bottom panel folder 220 and an end of a mandrel 400 in a bottom folding station WS2 of a filling and sealing machine 1 when the mandrel 400 is in the operating position HOP within the workstation WS2. Figure 8 shows a side view of the jig 320 and Figure 9 shows a perspective view. The bottom panel folders 220, 230 each operate by swinging downwardly and inwardly towards the longitudinal center axis C of the mandrel 400, as illustrated by the black arrows in Fig. 10, from a start position to an end position, which end position is illustrated in Fig. 10.

[0144] Figure 10 shows schematically the jig 320 placed on the end of the mandrel 400. The jig 320 is designed to adjust reference surfaces 221, 222 of the trailing bottom panel folder 220 and reference surface 231 of the leading bottom panel folder 230 when the bottom panel folders 220, 230 are in a predefined working tool operating position WOP and the mandrel 400 is in the predefined holding device operating position HOP. The predefined working tool operating position WOP is the respective end positions of the bottom panel folders 220, 230. At the end position, the height, i.e. the distance above the end face 401 of the mandrel 400, in the direction of the longitudinal axis C on Figure 10, and the lateral position, i.e. the lateral distance from the center axis C are specifically important to obtain precise folding of the bottom closure sub-panels 110, 114. Thus, the jig 320 comprises two adjustment surfaces 321, 322 for adjusting the height and the lateral position of the trailing bottom panel folder 220, and two adjustment surfaces 323, 324 for adjusting the height and lateral position of the leading bottom panel folder 230. The jig 320 is placed on the end of the mandrel 400 by placing the rim or flange 328 over the end of the mandrel. Since the leading bottom panel folder 230 comprises a cylindrical roller, the outer perimeter of the roller forms the reference surface 231 which is to be adjusted against the adjustment surfaces 323, 324 of the jig 320. When setting the position of the bottom panel folders 220, 230 using the jig 320, the jig 320 is first placed on the end of the mandrel 400, when in its operating position HOP, and the bottom panel folders 220, 320 are positioned in their respective end positions. The leading bottom panel folder 230 is released from its holder 500 so that the outer surface 231 of the tool can be arranged against both the adjustment surfaces 323, 324 on the jig 320. The trailing bottom panel folder 220 is also released from its holder 500 so that the bottom surface 221 and the rear surface 222 of the tool can be arranged against the adjustment surfaces 321, 322 on the jig 320. When these tool surfaces are placed against the adjustment surfaces, each tool is again secured to its holder 500 and the tools 220, 230 are now in the correct end position for operation. The jig 320 can then be removed. It is thus ensured that both tools will act on the bottom closure sub-panels at the correct height and that they will swing inwardly to the correct position to obtain an accurate fold. A jig 340, as shown in Fig. 19, may also be used to set the positional relationship between a breaker wing 240 of a pair of breaker wings 240, and a mandrel 400 when the mandrel 400 is in the operating position HOP and when the breaker wing 240 is in a working tool operating position WOP. The breaker wings 240 are configured to swing inwardly to pre-fold the bottom closure side panels 112, 116. The jig 340 is placed on the end of the mandrel 400 and is designed to adjust a reference surface 241 on each of the breaker wings 240 when the breaker wings 240 are in a predefined operating position WOP. In order to obtain precise engagement with the side panels 112, 116 during operation, it is important that the distance to the mandrel 400, when in the end position, is correct. Thus, the reference surface may be the contact surface 241 of the breaker wing, which contacts and presses the panel inwards. In the end position, this contact surface is typically at an angle, e.g a 45 degree angle, relative to the end face 401 of the mandrel. The jig 340 may thus be designed with an adjustment surface 341 for each breaker wing 240, the adjustment surface 341 being at an angle relative to the end face 401 of the mandrel 400 and defining the position of the contact surface 241 of the breaker wing 240 when in the end position. In Fig. 19, the breaker wings are not shown in their end position to better illustrate the different surfaces of the breaker wings and the jig 340. When in the correct end position, the reference surface 241 of each of the breaker wings 240 are in contact with the adjustment surfaces 341 on the jig 340.

[0145] Figure I la shows schematically a jig 310 for setting the positional relationship between a tab retainer 210 and a mandrel 400 when the mandrel 400 is in the operating position HOP and when the tab retainer 210 is in a working tool operating position WOP. Figure 11b shows a cross-sectional view of the jig 310 placed on a mandrel 400, and Figure 11c shows a tab retainer 210. The tab retainer 210 is configured to be moved downwards, closer to the mandrel end face 401, to be positioned in its working tool operating position WOP, in which position it remains for contacting and temporarily retaining a tab 111 of the trailing panel 110 while the trailing panel 110 is folded inwards. It is important that the tab retainer 210 engages the tab 111 precisely without interfering with the remaining part of the panel 110 and that it retains the tab 111 for as long as possible while the bottom closure sub- panels 110, 114 are folded inwards by the bottom panel folders 220, 230. Thus, the jig 310 comprises three adjustment surfaces 311, 312, 313 for setting the position of three references surfaces 211, 212, 213 on the tab retainer 210 so as to set the position in three different directions. The jig 310 comprises a top flange 315, a side flange (not visible on Fig. 11) and a mandrel end face contact surface 317, for positioning the jig 310 at an exact position on the end of the mandrel 400. When setting the position of the tab retainer 210, the jig 310 is placed on the mandrel 400 with the top flange 315, side flange and the mandrel end face contact surface 317 against the mandrel 400 so that the jig 310 is in a known position on the mandrel 400. The tab retainer 210 is then released from its holder 500 to allow it to rotate and be moved so that the reference surfaces 211, 212, 213 can be placed against the adjustment surfaces 311, 312, 313. The tab retainer 210 can then again be secured to its holder 500 and the jig 310 can be removed. It is now ensured that the tab retainer 210 is in the correct position relative to the mandrel 400 and will thus engage the tab 111 of a container precursor 100 correctly and accurately to ensure a correct folding of the bottom B of the container 10. The adjustment surface 311 defines the end position of the movement of the tab retainer 210. The adjustment surface 312 defines the angle of the tab retainer 210, and the adjustment surface 313 defines the lateral position of the tab retainer 210, aligning the tab retainer 210 with the tab 111.

[0146] Figure 12 shows schematically a side view of a jig 350 for setting the positional relationship between a bottom folding assembly frame 250 and a mandrel 400 when the mandrel 400 is in the operating position HOP. The bottom folding assembly frame 250 holds the breaker wings 240, tab retainer 210, and bottom panel folders 220, 230. It is thus important that the bottom folding assembly frame 250 is correctly aligned relative to the mandrel 400. This particular adjustment can be important for example after having replaced the bottom folding assembly frame 250.

[0147] The jig 350 comprises an elongated main body with a contact surface 355 configured for placement against a side surface of the mandrel 400 and an adjustment surface 351 which is parallel to the contact surface 355 and which defines the position of a reference surface 251 of the bottom folder assembly frame 250 relative to the side surface of the mandrel 400.

[0148] When aligning the bottom folding assembly frame 250 with the mandrel 400, the jig 350 can be placed with the contact surface 355 against the mandrel side surface and the bottom folding assembly frame 250 is released from its holder 500 so as to allow the frame 250 to be moved so that the reference surface 251 of the frame 250 can be brought against the adjustment surface 351 of the jig 350. The jig 350 thus ensures that the bottom folding assembly frame 250 is at the correct angle relative to the mandrel 400 and at the correct lateral position relative to the mandrel 400, i.e. relative to the longitudinal centre axis C. This alignment, if needed, is advantageously performed before setting the position of the working tools within the bottom folding assembly. The adjustments surface 251 is here parallel because the reference surface 251 of frame 250 is to be set parallel to the side surface of the mandrel 400. However, if another surface is used as reference surface, or the reference surface is at an angle relative to the side surface of the mandrel 400, the adjustment surface 251 can be arranged on the jig with that angle relative to contact surface 355. Jigs for use at the top sealing station

[0149] Figure 13 shows schematically a side view of a jig 380 for setting the positional relationship between a sealer jaw 260, 260’ of a sealer jaw assembly 280 and a container pocket 410 on the conveyor 2, when the container pocket 410 is in the operating position HOP. The sealer jaw assembly 280 comprises the sealer jaw 260, 260’ and a toggle joint 265 defining the movement of the sealer jaw 260, 260’ between the start position and the end position.

[0150] The toggle joint 265 may comprise two links connected by a pivot element 267, wherein one of the links is fixed to the top sealer frame 270 and the other link is connected to the sealer jaw 260, 260’ . The working tool holder 500 may comprise an actuator determining the height of the pivot element 267 of the toggle joint 265.

[0151] In Figure 13 the jig 380 is placed on top rim 275 of the top sealer frame 270. The top of the top sealer frame 270 will always be in a fixed height above the container pockets 410 of the conveyor. Thus, the top rim 275 may be used to place the jig 380 in a known position relative to the holding device, i.e. the container pocket 410. Figure 13 further illustrates a pair of opposing sealer jaws 260, 260’ being in their end positions without a container precursor 100 present. When in actual operation, a top fin of a container 10 will be pressed and sealed in between the two jaws 260, 260’. It is shown that the toggle joint 265 controls the extension and retraction movement, illustrated by the black arrows in Fig. 13.

[0152] The jig 380 comprises a longitudinal beam comprising a first toggle joint positioner

[0153] 385 for setting the height of the pivot element 267 of the toggle joint 265 of a first sealer jaw 260 of the pair and a second toggle joint positioner 386 for setting the height of the pivot element 267 of the toggle joint 265 of the opposing sealer jaw 260’, the toggle joint positioners 385, 386 each extending vertically downwards from the beam. At the end of the toggle joint positioners 385, 386, there is an adjustment surface 381, 382. The height of the pivot elements 267 determines the angle of the toggle joint 265 when the sealer jaws 260, 260’ are in the end position, thus ensuring that the length of the extension of the sealer jaws 260, 260’ is correct. When using the jig 380, a reference surface 268 of each of the pivot elements 267 is brought into contact with the respective adjustment surface 381, 382.

[0154] The jig 380 comprises a notch at each end for placement over the top rim 275 at each side of the top sealer frame 270, to ensure that the toggle joint positioners 385,

[0155] 386 are correctly positioned relative to the toggle joints 265. Figure 14 shows a jig 360 for setting the positional relationship between a sealer jaw 260’ and a container pocket 410 on the conveyor 2 when the container pocket 410 is in the operating position HOP.

[0156] The jig 360 comprises three jig parts; two container dummies 360a and an adjustment plate 360b. The jig 360 is designed for a double operation station, where two adjacent container precursors 100 are processed simultaneously, i.e. two pairs of opposing sealer jaws 260, 260’ acts on two adjacent container precursors 100. In a variant, the jig 360 is designed for a single operation station, where the jig comprises only one container dummy 360a, and the adjustment plate 360b is adapted thereto. In yet a variant, the container dummy or dummies 360a and the adjustment plate 360b are attached to one another, e.g. they may be formed as one piece. Having two separate parts, as illustrated in Fig. 14, provides flexibility and convenience for the operator.

[0157] The container dummies 360a are configured to establish one or more references for the adjustment of the top sealer frame 270 and the sealer jaw 260, 260’. They comprise a slit 365a extending from a top surface of the dummy 360a and downwardly for receiving an insert portion 365b of the adjustment plate 260b, so that the parts can be assembled in a fixed manner, i.e. when the dummies 360a are placed in the container pockets 410 and the adjustment plate 360b is slid downwards with the insert portion 365b within the slit 365a of the dummies 360a until reaching the bottom of the slit, the adjustment plate 360b cannot move relative to the dummies 360a, except for being pulled upwards again.

[0158] Figure 15 shows schematically a side view of a jig 360 placed in two adjacent conveyor pockets 410 of the conveyor 2. Figure 16 shows schematically a top view of the jig 360 together with one side of the pair of sealer jaws 260’ and part of the top sealer frame 270. The opposing sealer jaws 260 are not visible on this Figure but would be arranged on the opposite side of the adjustment plate 360b relative to the sealer jaws 260’, as is shown in Fig. 13. The black arrow F on Fig. 16 illustrates the direction of movement of the conveyor 2.

[0159] The jig 360 is used to set the positional relationship between two different working tools of the top sealer station WS3 and a container pocket 410 on the conveyor, as will be described below. Ultimately, both of these positional relationships ensure a correct and accurate position and pressure of the sealer jaws 260, 260’ during top sealing.

[0160] Firstly, the jig 360 is designed to adjust reference surface 271 on the top sealer frame 270 which defines the lateral position of the frame 270 in the direction of movement of the conveyor 2, for aligning the working surface 261, 261 ’ of the sealer jaws 260, 260’ laterally with the container pocket 410. Thus, the jig 360 comprises a first adjustment surface 362 facing an inner wall 271 of the top sealer frame 270. When the dummies 360a are placed in the container pockets 410 and the adjustment plate 360b is inserted in the slits 365a, this adjustment surfaces 362 is in a known position relative to the container pocket 410.

[0161] Secondly, the jig 360 is designed to adjust a reference surface 261’ on at least one of the sealer jaws 260’ of the pair of jaws, when the sealer jaw 260’ is in a predefined operating position WOP. This predefined operating position WOP is the respective end position of the sealer jaw 260’, which is the position shown in Figure 13. In order to obtain precise pressure on the top fins during operation, it is important that the distance towards the longitudinal center axis D of the container pocket 410, when the sealer jaw 260’ is in the end position, is correct. Thus, the jig 360 comprises two opposing second adjustment surfaces 361, one facing the working surface 261 of the sealer jaws 260 and one facing the working surface 261’ of the sealer jaw 260’ . The jig 360 further comprises third adjustment surfaces 363 for aligning the sealer jaw 260, 260’ laterally relative on the top sealer frame 270.

[0162] When the dummies 360a are placed in the container pockets 410 and the adjustment plate 360b is inserted in the slits 365a, these adjustment surfaces 361 are in a known position relative to the container pocket 410. It is primarily the working surface 261’ of the overtravel sealer jaw 260’ that is to be adjusted, using the working surface 261 of the opposite sealer jaw 260 as an opposing support surface.

[0163] When setting the position of the top sealer frame 270 and sealer jaw 260’ using the jig 360, the container dummies 360a are first placed in two adjacent container pockets 410, when the container pockets are in the operating position HOP, and the adjustment plate 360b is inserted with the insert portions 365b in each dummy 360a. The top sealer frame 270 is then released from a top frame holder 500 so that the frame 270 can be moved sideways, in the direction showed by the sideways black arrow S on Fig. 16, i.e. in the direction of movement of the conveyor 2, such that an inner wall surface 271 of the frame 270 can be brought into contact against the adjustment surface 361b on the adjustment plate 360b. The top sealer frame 270 is then again secured to the holder 500.

[0164] The sealer jaws 260, 260’ are positioned in their respective end positions. The sealer jaw 260’ is released from its holder 500 so that the jaw can be moved forwards or rearwards in the direction of the black arrow T on Fig. 16, to arrange the outer surface 261 ’ of the tool against the facing adjustment surface 361 on the jig 360. It can also be moved sideways, in the direction of movement of the conveyor 2, to align side surface 262’ against adjustment surface 363. The sealer jaw 260’ can then again be secured to the holder 500. The top sealer frame 270 now aligns the pair of sealer jaws 260, 260’ with the container pocket 410 and the sealer jaw 260’ is in the correct end position for operation. The jig 360 can then be removed.

[0165] Figure 17 and Figure 18 shows, in a side view and a top view respectively, a jig 390 for aligning one sealer jaw 260, 260’ with the opposing sealer jaw 260, 260’ of a pair, when the sealer jaws 260, 260’ are in the end position. This alignment is advantageously performed after having set the positional relationship of the overtravel sealer jaw 260’ using jig 360, as described above. The jig 390 in the figures is adapted for a double operation station, i.e. it can align two adjacent pairs of sealer jaws, but it could equally be adapted for a single operation station. The jig 390 comprises a main body configured to be placed on top of the sealer jaws 260, 260’ and three downwardly extending adjustment plates 395 forming two lateral adjustment surfaces 391, 392 for each pair of sealer jaws 260, 260’. Thus, adjustment surface 391 adjust the left sides of the left pair of sealer jaws in Figure 18, and the left sides of the right pair of sealer jaws in Figure 18. Adjustment surface 392 adjusts the right sides of the left pair of sealer jaws as they are shown in Figure 18, and the right sides of the right pair of sealer jaws as they are shown in Figure 18. It is thus ensured that the working surface of two cooperating sealer jaws 260, 260’ of a pair are precisely aligned to ensure an accurate press on the top fin of the container precursor 100.

[0166] Although folding is described here for a container where the bottom sub-panel of the third panel P3 is folded over the bottom sub-panel of the first panel Pl, those skilled in the art will recognize that containers made from a different blank design and thus having a different folding configuration may be folded using similar working tools. The method and jigs described herein are suitable also for other these blank configurations without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0167] In the preceding description, various aspects of the independent claims have been described. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, systems and configurations were set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention and its workings. However, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and variations of the illustrative embodiment, as well as other embodiments of the system, which are apparent to persons skilled in the art to which the disclosed subject matter pertains, are deemed to lie within the scope of the present invention as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of setting a positional relationship between a container precursor holding device (400, 410) and a container precursor working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260’, 270, 280) held by a working tool holder (500) in a workstation (WS 1, WS2, WS3) of a filling and sealing machine (1), in which machine (1) container precursors (100) are moved through a series of work stations (WS1, WS2, WS3) at which the container precursors (100) are formed, filled, and sealed, the working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260’, 270, 280) comprising at least one reference surface (201, 211, 212, 213, 221, 222, 231, 241, 251, 261, 261’, 262, 262’, 268, 271, 262, 262’), the method comprising a. positioning the container precursor holding device (400, 410) in a predefined holding device operating position (HOP) in the workstation (WS1, WS2, WS3), b. positioning a first jig (300, 310, 320, 340, 350, 360, 380) comprising at least one tool adjustment surface (301, 311, 312, 313, 321, 322, 323, 324, 341, 351, 361, 362, 363, 381, 382, 391, 392) in a known position relative to the holding device (400, 410), c. positioning the container precursor working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260’, 270, 280) in a predefined working tool operating position (WOP) in the workstation, d. releasing the working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260’, 270, 280) from the working tool holder (500) allowing positional adjustment of the working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280) relative to the working tool holder (500), e. moving the working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260’, 270, 280) bringing the at least one reference surface (201, 211, 212, 213, 221, 222, 231, 241, 251, 261, 261’, 262, 262’, 268, 271, 262, 262’ ) into contact with the at least one adjustment surface (301, 311, 312, 313, 321, 322, 323, 324, 341, 351, 361, 362, 363, 381, 382, 391, 392), f. securing the working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260’, 270, 280) to the working tool holder (500), g. removing the jig (300, 310, 320, 340, 350, 360, 380).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the positional relationship to be set between the container precursor holding device (400, 410) and the container precursor working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260’, 270, 280) is a distance and / or an angular relationship.

3. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the workstation (WS) is a container precursor loading station (WS1), a bottom folding station (WS2), or a top sealing station (WS3).

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the jig (360) comprises two or more jig parts (360a, 360b) and wherein the step of positioning the first jig (360) comprises assembling the jig parts (360a, 360b) to form the jig (360).

5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the jig (320, 360) comprises two or more adjustment surfaces (321, 322, 323, 324, 361, 362, 363) for adjusting respective reference surfaces (221, 222, 231, 261, 261’, 262, 262’, 271) of each of a number of working tools (220, 230, 260, 260’, 270) of the workstation, and wherein the steps c.- f are performed for each working tool (220, 230, 260, 260’, 270) while the jig (320, 360) is in the known position relative to the holding device (400, 410).

6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 260, 260’, 280) is configured to operate between a start position and an end position for operating on the container precursor (100), wherein the at least one adjustment surface defines the end position of the working tool relative to the holding device (400, 410).

7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the holding device (400, 410) is a mandrel (400) on a rotatable turret (3) and wherein the step of positioning the holding device (400) in the holding device operating position (HOP) comprises rotating the turret (3) until the mandrel (400) is in the predefined holding device operating position (HOP).

8. The method according to any of the claims 1-6, wherein the holding device (400, 410) is a container pocket (410) on a conveyor (2) of the machine (1) and wherein the step of positioning the holding device in the holding device operating position (HOP) comprises actuating the conveyor (2) until the container pocket (410) is in the predefined holding device operating position (HOP).

9. The method according to any of the claims 1-7, wherein the container precursor working tool is a container pusher (200) and the container precursor holding device is a mandrel (400), wherein the container pusher (200) is configured to operate between a start position and an end position for pushing a container precursor (100) onto the mandrel (400), wherein the adjustment surface (301) defines the end position of the pusher relative to the mandrel (400).

10. The method according to any of the claims 1-7, wherein the container precursor working tool is a breaker wing (240) of a bottom folding assembly and the container precursor holding device is a mandrel (400), the breaker wing (240) being configured to move inwardly from a start position to an end position for pressing inwards a bottom panel (112, 116) of the container precursor (100), wherein the at least one adjustment surface comprises an end position adjustment surface (341) defining the end position of the breaker wing (240) relative to the end of the mandrel (400).

11. The method according to any of the claims 1-7, wherein the container precursor working tool is a bottom panel folder (220, 230) and the container precursor holding device is a mandrel (400), the bottom panel folder (220, 230) being configured to rotate inwardly from a start position to an end position for folding a bottom panel (110, 114) of the container precursor (100), wherein the at least one adjustment surface comprises an end position adjustment surface (322, 324) defining the end position of the bottom panel folder (220, 230) relative to the end of the mandrel (400).

12. The method according to any of the claims 1-7, wherein the working tool is a tab retainer (210) of a bottom folding assembly and the container precursor holding device is a mandrel (400), the tab retainer (210) being configured to move between a start position and end position for contacting and temporarily retaining a tab (111) of a bottom closure panel (110) while bottom closure panel (110) is folded inwards, wherein the at least one adjustment surface comprises an end position adjustment surface (311) defining the end position of the movement of the tab retainer (210) relative to the mandrel end face (401).

13. The method according to any of the claims 1-6 or 8, wherein the container precursor working tool is a top sealer frame (270) comprising a pair of cooperating sealer jaws (260, 260’) arranged on the top sealer frame (270), and the holding device is a container pocket (410) on the conveyor (2), wherein the adjustment surface (362) defines a working position of the top sealer frame (270), in which working position a working surface (261, 261’) of the sealer jaws (260, 260’) is laterally aligned with the container pocket (410).

14. The method according to any of the claims 1-6 or 8, wherein the container precursor working tool is a sealer jaw assembly (280) comprising a sealer jaw (260, 260’) and a toggle joint (265), the toggle joint (265) defining the movement of the sealer jaw (260, 260’) and wherein the container precursor holding device is a container pocket (410) on the conveyor (2), wherein the jig (380) comprises at least one adjustment surface (381, 382) defining a position of the toggle joint (265) when the sealer jaw (260, 260’) is in an end position.

15. The method according to any of the claims 1-6 or 8, wherein the working tool is a first sealer jaw (260, 260’), and the container precursor holding device is a container pocket (410) on the conveyor (2), the first sealer jaw (260, 260’) being configured to operate between a start position and an end position for pressing the top fins of the container precursor (100) against an opposing, second sealer jaw (260, 260’), wherein the adjustment surface (361) defines the end position of the sealer jaw relative to the container pocket (410).

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising, after having removed the first jig (360),- positioning the first and second sealer jaws (260, 260’) in a predefined working tool operating position (WOP), the second sealer jaw (260, 260’) comprising at least one reference surface (262, 262’, 263, 263’),- positioning a second jig (390) comprising at least one tool adjustment surface (391, 392) in a known position relative to the first sealer jaw (260, 260’),- releasing the second sealer jaw (260, 260’) from the working tool holder (500) allowing positional adjustment of the second sealer jaw (260, 260’) relative to the holder (500),- moving the second sealer jaw bringing the at least one reference surface (262, 262’, 263, 263’) into contact with the at least one adjustment surface (391, 392),- securing the second sealer jaw to the working tool holder,- removing the second jig.

17. A jig (300, 310, 320, 340, 350, 360, 380, 390) for carrying out the method according to any of the claims 1-16.

18. The jig according to claim 17, wherein the jig (360) comprises a container precursor dummy (360a) for insertion into a container pocket (410) on the conveyor (2).

19. The jig according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the jig (300, 310, 320, 340, 350, 360, 380, 390) is designed for use in a single operation station or a double operation station.

20. Use of a jig (300, 310, 320, 340, 350, 360, 380) for setting a positional relationship between a container precursor holding device (400, 410) and a container precursor working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260’, 270, 280) in a filling and sealing machine (1), wherein the jig comprises a holding device interface and one or more adjustment surfaces, wherein the holding device interface is configured for positioning the jig (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260’, 270, 280) in a known position relative to the holdingdevice (400, 410), and wherein the one or more adjustment surfaces are arranged on the jig such that when the jig (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260’, 270, 280) is in the known position relative to the holding device (400, 410), each of the one or more adjustment surfaces functions as a reference for the desired positional relationship of the working tool (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 260’, 270, 280).

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