Abstract:
An improved process and system for producing folded boxes which system includes a device for printing sheets of material with the configuration of boxes, a device for die cutting the box blanks from the printed sheets and producing piles of box blanks, a folding and gluing machine to form a folded box from the box blank, characterized by a device for transferring the piles of box blanks between a discharge of the device for die cutting and a receiving station of the folding and gluing machine. The transfer device includes means for loading at least one pile of box blanks onto an empty pallet, a conveyor for conveying the loaded pallet to a storage area of loaded pallets, a device for removing a loaded pallet from the storage area and transporting the loaded pallet individually to an unloading station, a device for unloading each of the piles disposed on a loaded pallet to form an empty pallet and transporting the piles to the receiving station, a conveyor device to transport the empty pallets to a storage station for empty pallets and a device for removing the empty pallets from the storage station and transporting the empty pallets to the device for loading piles thereon. Preferably, the system includes two stacking units and two unstacking units which are utilized to stack the loaded pallets into a stack of loaded pallets for transfer to the storage area and unstacking device for unstacking the pallets prior to being conveyed to the unloading device for unstacking the pallets prior to being conveyed to the unloading station, a second stacking device for stacking the empty pallets into a stack of empty pallets for transfer to the storage station and a second unstacking device for unstacking the empty pallets prior to being conveyed to the loading station.
Abstract:
A machine is disclosed for erecting cases stored in upright, flattened positions in storage magazines. The machine includes means for extracting end member cases from the magazines, for dropping the extracted cases into drop chutes, for urging the cases in a generally horizontal direction out of the drop chutes, for opening the flattened cases by spreading the case sides apart, for tucking in lower case end flaps, for folding one case bottom panel in under the tucked end flaps, for applying adhesive to the bottom surface of the folded bottom panel, for folding another bottom panel in under the bottom panel having adhesive thereon, and for compressing the two bottom panels together.
Abstract:
An apparatus for inserting a plug pad into a recess formed between opposed bottom flaps of a semirigid folded carton. The pad inserting apparatus is designed to be utilized in conjunction with a carton forming machine. It can be integral with the forming machine or separate from it. It includes a magazine for receiving and supporting a horizontal stack of plug pads. A biasing assembly is utilized to force the stack toward a magazine discharge end. Adjacent the discharge end is a pad stripping mechanism. It operates to take pads one at a time from the magazine and move them to a remote mandrel loading station to be received by a movable mandrel. The pads toward the inside end of the stack are elevationally offset by an inclined surface as they are indexed toward the pad stripping mechanism. The stripping mechanism further includes a positioning feature whereby the end pad is first moved laterally of the remainder of the stack to a preselected position before being shifted to the loading station. This is done as the pad previously located at the inside end of the stack is moved to the mandrel loading station. The mandrel is operated to move the successive pads into the open end of a waiting container. A pad ejecting mechanism is included on the mandrel that is responsive to engagement of the mandrel with a carton bottom to force a pad forwardly into the recess between flaps along the carton bottom.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a carton stop assembly for use in a machine which performs operations on a carton blank, and which includes a rotatable hub carrying a plurality of spaced radial mandrels, and insertion mechanism for telescopically inserting a carton blank over one of the mandrels. The carton stop assembly includes a track parallel to the one mandrel, having plurality of detents spaced therealong. An axially-reciprocable shaft has a first end overlying the one mandrel, and a second end overlying the track. The shaft carries track-engaging members at its second end, which enclose the detents on the track thereby stopping the shaft at a plurality of detent positions. A carton-engaging bracket is carried on the first end of the shaft and is arranged to overlie the one mandrel. As the shaft is reciprocated to a number of detent positions, the carton-engaging bracket is also placed at a number of positions along the mandrel.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method are disclosed for serially and automatically folding and gluing container body blanks, with optional lamination of a liner to the body blank prior to folding and gluing thereof. The apparatus includes a blank conveyor arrangement which intermittently advances a body blank along a horizontal straight-line work path through the apparatus. Arrangements are provided for applying adhesive to a flap portion of the body blank, folding the body blank about spaced parallel score lines thereof, and applying pressure to the blank to form a so-called manufacturer's joint at the flap portion. The present apparatus further includes an arrangement for advancing an inner liner into the apparatus in a direction transverse of the body blank work path, with an arrangement provided for maintaining the liner in a horizontally fixed stopped position above the blank work path, and for subsequently lowering the liner into superposition on a container body blank prior to folding and gluing of the blank.
Abstract:
The disclosed apparatus and method automatically secures three substantially planar sheet members in registration with respective portions of a sheet of material such that (1) one of the sheet members is centered between the other two, (2) the outer oppositely disposed edges of the other two are mutually spaced from one another by a predetermined distance as well as precisely positioned with respect to a first edge of the sheet of material, and (3) another edge of each of the other two sheet members is substantially aligned with the other and with an edge of the center sheet member, all of the aligned edges of the members being precisely positioned with respect to a second edge of the sheet.
Abstract:
Gate has two carton restrainers. First restrainer holds the lead carton in magazine stack while the second is inoperative. For take-down of the lead carton, first restrainer is moved away while at the same time the second restrainer engages and holds the carton next to the lead carton to prevent the same (and the cartons behind it) from popping out of the gate.
Abstract:
A power unit, comprising a telescopically joined plunger assembly and barrel assembly, is internally configured to define a pair of separate fluid chambers, each of which is alternately communicated to a common source of fluid energy. The plunger and barrel assemblies are coaxially mounted on a common support shaft along which the power unit travels in incremental steps. The external end of each of the plunger and barrel assemblies is internally fitted with a set of unidirectionally acting locking rings, each set being normally biased against an associated locking wedge and into canted positions frictionally locked onto the supporting shaft. Alternate pressurization and venting of the pair of fluid chambers alternately unlocks one set of rings and effects a limited increment of inboard movement of either the plunger assembly or barrel assembly, the other assembly remaining locked to the support shaft. The pair of wedges are keyed to the support shaft to normally support a feed paddle in driving contact with one end of a supply of articles held in a feed magazine. By means of a handle on the feed paddle, the plunger and barrel assemblies can be turned on the pair of locking wedges to mechanically unlock the two sets of rings to deactivate the device to permit its withdrawal along the shaft in the outboard direction.
Abstract:
A machine is disclosed for erecting cases stored in upright, flattened positions in storage magazines. The machine includes means for extracting end member cases from the magazines, for dropping the extracted cases into drop chutes, for urging the cases in a generally horizontal direction out of the drop chutes, for opening the flattened cases by spreading the case sides apart, for tucking in lower case end flaps, for folding one case bottom panel in under the tucked end flaps, for applying adhesive to the bottom surface of the folded bottom panel, for folding another bottom panel in under the bottom panel having adhesive thereon, and for compressing the two bottom panels together.
Abstract:
A machine for forming a precut paperboard blank into carton form with the lid extending vertically from its related back wall in unfolded condition. The forming means includes spring pressed rollers acting in cooperation with a mandrel to fold the carton side panels from horizontal to vertical and other means to cause interlocking of end tabs on the front and back panels with slits in the end panels. The structure also includes vertical slots enabling the unbent end flaps on the lid to pass downwardly therethrough as the carton is formed.