Abstract:
A machine for erecting, filling and closing rectangular cartons, comprises a magazine for storing a plurality of flat folded cartons in a stack which has a bottom discharge opening for individual removal of each carton. A support bar located below the discharge opening defines a first station to which each carton in succession is moved past deflection means which effect a preliminary erection of the carton by deflecting side walls upwardly from the bottom. The shifting member is movable backwardly and forwardly over the support bar and has means for maintaining the carton in an upright erected condition while moving it and while it is being filled. A product stuffer includes a product magazine for storing a stack of individual products to be filled into the container which is located adjacent the first station and which includes a movable product support member carrying the lower portion of the stack which is movable away from the remaining portion of the stack to transport the lower portion away and to support the remaining portion. The product stuffer also includes a sliding member which is movable to push the products which have been removed from the stack into the individual carton. Pusher means are also provided for engaging the filled carton and for moving it out of the first station to a second station spaced from the first station at which the carton is engaged by closing devices for closing the flaps.
Abstract:
A plurality of collapsed open ended sleeve-type cartons are withdrawn in sequence from a hopper by feeder means which engages a single wall of each carton and moves in such a direction as to cause another wall of the carton to engage fixed cam means having a camming surface disposed at an angle to the general direction of feeding movement of cartons from the hopper so as partially to set up the open ended sleeve-type carton. A carton feeding operation is performed by a main feeding arm to which a supplementary feeder arm is pivotally connected and biased to impart desired pressure to the carton to facilitate setting the carton up during initial stages of a withdrawal operation. After a carton is withdrawn from the hopper, the feeder means moves into cooperative relationship with a carton stripper which insures that the feeder arm disengages the carton and immediately thereafter an oscillatable pusher advances the carton in partially set-up condition into cooperative engagement with a plurality of spaced flight bars which control the movement of the open ended carton while loading of the carton is effected from both ends simultaneously by suitable guides following which carton end closure panels are folded by machine guides into closed positions and subsequently interlocked by locking means which operates in synchronism with the flight bars to complete the package.
Abstract:
Apparatus for automatically opening and closing the flaps of a plurality of mailing envelopes. The apparatus includes means for forcing open flaps which have become stuck to the associated envelope body and has means for closing the flaps of such envelopes. Storage means are provided for handling envelopes in large volume and automatic feeder means are provided for feeding said envelopes into a flap processing section of the apparatus. Material flattening and ejection means automatically draw the processed envelopes through the feeder means and flap processing sections and eject said envelopes from the device by way of a conveying section after the flaps thereon have been processed.
Abstract:
A carton feeder assembly is positioned substantially at the infeed conveyor level and includes a carton supply assembly, a carton selector, a carton opener, and a carton erector. The carton supply assembly has a carton supply position, a carton holding position, and a carton selecting position. The carton selector includes a pair of feeder wheels with corresponding suction devices and respective motion defining assemblies. The motion defining assemblies cause the suction devices to move along a linear pick line as the feeder wheels rotate, so that the suction devices can apply a suction on a carton to be selected. The selected carton is brought into contact with the feeder wheels by retraction of the suction devices caused by respective motion defining assemblies, so that the carton moves with the feeder wheels to the carton opener. The carton opener includes a vacuum belt which applies suction to one surface of the selected carton as a carton opening wheel applies a suction to a second side of the selected carton. As the vacuum belt moves the carton in a linear direction, the carton opening wheel rotates the second side of the carton so that the carton opens. The vacuum belt then feeds the opened carton into leading lugs on respective chains of the carton erector. Trailing lugs rotate into position behind the opened carton to hold the carton in an erect position suitable for loading the carton with articles such as bottles or cans.
Abstract:
An automated cartoner for packaging a product in a carton having score lines is provided. The automated cartoner includes a carton feed for storing a plurality of cartons. A carton slide is provided and is coupled to the carton feed for receiving cartons from the carton feed. A pre-break station is positioned at approximately the midpoint of the carton slide. The pre-break station is provided for flexing the score lines on the carton. A product feed is provided for storing a plurality of products, for example, videotape cassettes. A product slide is provided and is connected at approximately a 90.degree. angle to the carton slide at one end below the pre-break station to form a packaging station. The other end of the product slide is connected to the product feed for receiving product from the product feed. The product slide delivers product to the packaging station. At least one motor is provided for driving the carton slide and the product slide in reciprocating directions with respect to one another. The carton on the carton slide is driven towards the packaging station, while the product on the product slide is driven towards the packaging station and drives the product into the carton to form a packaged product.
Abstract:
A basket style carton is set up by a machine which imparts inward movement to one end wall so as to allow the adjacent locking tab to clear the associated end notch. A first pusher engages the bottom wall and allows the notch to receive the locking tab. Continued inward movement imparted to the one carton end wall causes the locking tab at the opposite end of the bottom wall to clear the associated notch. A second pusher then depresses the bottom wall and allows the associated locking tab to clear the associated notch.
Abstract:
A box forming apparatus for folding and securing the bottom flaps of a box including a bottom flap folding mechanism and top pressing mechanism located above the bottom flap folding mechanism for controlling box lifting during a box folding operation. The novel features of the claimed invention allow for controlled guiding of a box frame throughout a folding and sealing operation.
Abstract:
A carton having a collapsed bottom wall is erected by a machine which engages opposed side walls and draws these walls apart. Simultaneously the side walls are separated by movement in a transverse direction and the bottom wall panels are interlocked.
Abstract:
A carton erecting and finishing machine is disclosed as including a conveying system for directing stacks of flat carton blanks to a lifting station whereat a stack is vertically lifted to present the topmost blank to a feed station. A blank separating device is arranged to feed each of the blank seriatim to a carton erecting station to be actetd upon by vacuum caps to open the carton by erecting the side panels. While at the erecting station and immediately after erecting of the side panels, a first pair of flap-folding devices are activated to fold the bottom end flaps of the erected carton. While still at the erecting station and immediately after activation of the first set of flap-folding devices, a second pair of flap-folding devices are activated to partially fold the bottom side panels over the previously folded end flaps. A raking device is next activated to move the erected carton to a gluing station where gluing devices are arranged to apply glue to the folded bottom end flaps. After the application of glue, a compression plunger is directed through the interior of the carton to compress the side panels upon the end panels thereby finishing the mounting of the open carton preparatory to the use thereof.
Abstract:
Folding boxes (10) are held in readiness for filling in the flat folded state in magazines in conjunction with packagaing machines. An erection of the folding boxes is necessary for this purpose. For this purpose there is provided a gripping arm (33) movable pivotably and in translation and having suction cups (34), which removes the respective front folding box (10) from the magazine (19), transports it to a stationary holder, also having suction cups (38), (37) and then erects the folding box conjointly with the stationary holder.