Apparatus for producing cartons

Claim 2

Apparatus for opening and refolding a prescored and sideseamed carton initially folded along two longitudinal score lines, comprising, in combination, a conveyor including a pair of spaced chains provided with a pocket, said pocket comprising a leading member and a rockingly mounted trailing member carried by and movable with said chains, means including a platform for supporting a side-seamed carton in the path of a pocket to be engaged and moved thereby, a pair of spaced rails along which the carton is moved by said pocket, and means operative during movement of the pocket for opening and refolding the carton along the two remaining longitudinal score lines, said last-named means including means for rocking said trailing member to an upright position to effect opening of the carton to a squared-up condition, and means for continuing folding the squared-up carton forwardly along said two remaining longitudinal score lines.

Claim 3

Apparatus for opening and refolding a prescored and side-seamed carton initially folded along two longitudinal score lines comprising, in combination, a conveyor provided with a pocket, means for supporting a side-seamed carton in the path of a pocket to be received thereby, means operative during movement of the pocket for opening and refolding the carton along the two remaining longitudinal score lines, said pocket comprising a leading member supporting one folded edge of the carton and a trailing member supporting the other folded edge of the carton, said trailing member being movable relative to the leading member whereby to effect opening of the carton to a squared-up condition, guide means engaging the top of the carton in its squared-up condition, and means for continuing folding the squared-up carton forwardly along said two remaining longitudinal score lines.

Claim 4

Apparatus for opening and refolding a prescored and side-seamed carton initially folded along two longitudinal score lines comprising, in combination, a conveyor provided with a pocket, means for supporting a side-seamed carton in the path of a pocket to be received thereby, means operative during movement of the pocket for opening and refolding the carton along the two remaining longitudinal score lines, said pocket comprising a leading member supporting one folded edge of the carton and a trailing member supporting the other folded edge of the carton, said trailing member being movable relative to the leading member whereby to effect opening of the carton to a squared-up condition, guide means engaging the top of the carton in its squared-up condition, and means for continuing folding the squared-up carton forwardly along said two remaining longitudinal score lines.

Claim 5

Apparatus for opening and refolding a prescored and side-seamed carton initially folded along two longitudinal score lines comprising, in combination a conveyor provided with a pocket, means for supporting a side-seamed carton in the path of a pocket to be received thereby, means operative during movement of the pocket for opening and refolding the carton along the two remaining longitudinal score lines, said pocket comprising a leading member supporting one folded edge of the carton and a trailing member supporting the other folded edge of the carton, said trailing member being movable relative to the leading member whereby to effect opening of the carton to a squared-up condition guide means engaging the top of the carton in its squared-up condition, and means for continuing folding the squared-up carton forwardly along said two remaining longitudinal score lines, said guide means being bent downwardly to complete the folding operation along said remaining score lines.

Claim 6

Apparatus for opening and refolding a prescored and side-seamed carton initially folded along two longitudinal score lines comprising, in combination a conveyor provided with a pocket, means for supporting a side-seamed carton in the path of a pocket to be received thereby, means operative during movement of the pocket for opening and refolding the carton along the two remaining longitudinal score lines, said pocket comprising a leading member supporting one folded edge of the carton and a trailing member supporting the other folded edge of the carton, said trailing member being movable relative to the leading member whereby to effect opening of the carton to a squared-up condition guide means engaging the top of the carton in its squared-up condition, and means for continuing folding the squared-up carton forwardly along said two remaining longitudinal score lines, said guide means being bent downwardly to complete the folding operation along said remaining score lines.

Claim 7

Apparatus for opening and refolding a prescored and side-seamed carton initially folded along two longitudinal score lines comprising, in combination, a continuously movable conveyor provided with a plurality of pockets, each pocket having a leading member and a rockingly mounted trailing member, means including a platform for supporting successive side-seamed cartons in the path of successive pockets to be engaged and moved thereby, a pair of spaced rails along which the carton is moved by said pocket, said leading and trailing members supporting a carton along the initially folded edges with the carton in a slightly open position, means for moving said trailing member to effect squaring up of the carton in cooperation with said leading member, and means engageable with the squared-up carton for folding the same forwardly along the two remaining longitudinal score lines.

Claim 8

Apparatus for opening and refolding a prescored and side-seamed carton initially folded along two longitudinal score lines comprising, in combination, a continuously movable conveyor provided with a plurality of pockets, each pocket having a leading member and a rockingly mounted trailing member, means including a platform for supporting successive side-seamed cartons in the path of successive pockets to be engaged and moved thereby, a pair of spaced rails along which the carton is moved by said pocket, said leading and trailing members supporting a carton along the initially folded edges with the carton in a slightly open position, means for moving said trailing member to effect squaring up of the carton in cooperation with said leading member, and means engageable with the squared-up carton for folding the same forwardly along the two remaining longitudinal score lines.

Claim 9

Apparatus for opening and refolding a prescored and side-seamed carton initially folded along two longitudinal score lines comprising, in combination, a continuously movable conveyor provided with a plurality of pockets, each pocket having a leading and a trailing member, means for supporting successive side-seamed cartons in the path of successive pockets to be received thereby, said leading and trailing members supporting a carton along the initially folded edges with the carton in a slightly open position, means for moving said trailing member to effect squaring up of the carton in cooperation with said leading member means engageable with the squared-up carton for folding the same forwardly along the two remaining longitudinal score lines, and stationary rails on which the leading edge of the carton is supported in cooperation with said leading member of the pocket, said rails having an upwardly inclined portion arranged to elevate said leading edge relative to said leading member whereby to facilitate release of the carton upon initiation of the forward-folding operation.

Claim 10

Apparatus for opening and refolding a prescored and side-seamed carton initially folded along two longitudinal score lines comprising, in combination, a continuously movable conveyor provided with a plurality of pockets, each pocket having a leading and a trailing member, means for supporting successive side-seamed cartons in the path of successive pockets to be received thereby, said leading and trailing members supporting a carton along the initially folded edges with the carton in a slightly open position, means for moving said trailing member to effect squaring up of the carton in cooperation with said leading member means engageable with the squared-up carton for folding the same forwardly along the two remaining longitudinal score lines, and stationary rails on which the leading edge of the carton is supported in cooperation with said leading member of the pocket, said rails having an upwardly inclined portion arranged to elevate said leading edge relative to said leading member whereby to facilitate release of the carton upon initiation of the forward-folding operation.

Claim 11

In apparatus for handling side-seamed cartons prepared from prescored carton blanks and folded along two longitudinal score lines, in combination, means for reverse folding the cartons along the two remaining score lines to provide a side-seamed carton prebroken along all four longitudinal score lines, said means comprising a continuously moving chain conveyor having a plurality of spaced pockets carried by said chain conveyor, each pocket provided with leading and trailing members engageable with the leading and trailing folded edges of the carton, a pair of spaced rails along which the cartons are moved by said pockets, the trailing member of each pocket being movable relative to the leading member whereby to effect opening and squaring up of the carton along said two remaining score lines, and means mounted above said conveyor engageable with the trailing sidewall of the carton for bending the carton forwardly to effect continued folding of the carton along the two remaining longitudinal score lines.

Claim 12

In apparatus for handling side-seamed cartons prepared from prescored carton blanks and folded along two longitudinal score lines, in combination, means for reverse folding the cartons along the two remaining score lines to provide a side-seamed carton prebroken along all four longitudinal score lines, said means comprising a continuously moving chain conveyor having a plurality of spaced pockets carried by said chain conveyor, each pocket provided with leading and trailing members engageable with the leading and trailing folded edges of the carton, a pair of spaced rails along which the cartons are moved by said pockets, the trailing member of each pocket being movable relative to the leading member whereby to effect opening and squaring up of the carton along said two remaining score lines, and means mounted above said conveyor engageable with the trailing sidewall of the carton for bending the carton forwardly to effect continued folding of the carton along the two remaining longitudinal score lines.

Claim 13

In apparatus for handling side-seamed cartons prepared from prescored carton blanks and folded along two longitudinal score lines, in combination, means for reverse folding the cartons along the two remaining score lines to provide a side-seamed carton prebroken along all four longitudinal score lines, and means comprising a continuously moving conveyor having a plurality of spaced pockets, each pocket provided with leading and trailing members engageable with the leading and trailing folded edges of the carton, the trailing member of each pocket being movable relative to the leading member whereby to effect opening and squaring up of the carton alonG said two remaining score lines, and means engageable with the trailing sidewall of the carton for bending the carton forwardly to effect continued folding of the carton along the two remaining longitudinal score lines, said folding means further including downwardly inclined guide means under which the forwardly bent cartons are passed.

Claim 14

In apparatus for handling side-seamed cartons prepared from prescored carton blanks and folded along two longitudinal score lines, in combination, means for reverse folding the cartons along the two remaining score lines to provide a side-seamed carton prebroken along all four longitudinal score lines, and means comprising a continuously moving conveyor having a plurality of spaced pockets, each pocket provided with leading and trailing members engageable with the leading and trailing folded edges of the carton, the trailing member of each pocket being movable relative to the leading member whereby to effect opening and squaring up of the carton alonG said two remaining score lines, and means engageable with the trailing sidewall of the carton for bending the carton forwardly to effect continued folding of the carton along the two remaining longitudinal score lines, said folding means further including downwardly inclined guide means under which the forwardly bent cartons are passed.

Claim 15

In apparatus for handling side-seamed cartons prepared from prescored carton blanks and folded along two longitudinal score lines, means for reverse folding the cartons along the two remaining score lines to provide a side-seamed carton prebroken along all four longitudinal score lines, said reverse-folding means comprising a conveyor having a plurality of spaced pockets, each pocket having a relatively stationary leading member and a pivotally mounted trailing member, a pair of spaced rails along which the cartons are moved by said pocket, means including a platform for supporting successive side-seamed cartons in the path of successive pockets to be received thereby, means for transferring successive cartons onto said supporting means, said pockets effecting transfer of the carton from the platform to the rails, means operative during the continued movement of the pocket for rocking said trailing member to effect opening of the carton, and means for refolding the carton along said two remaining score lines, said refolding means including means supported above the conveyor for bending the squared-up carton forwardly, and stationary guide means for continuing the bending operation during continued movement of said pocket.

Claim 16

In apparatus for handling side-seamed cartons prepared from prescored carton blanks and folded along two longitudinal score lines, means for reverse folding the cartons along the two remaining score lines to provide a side-seamed carton prebroken along all four longitudinal score lines, said reverse-folding means comprising a conveyor having a plurality of spaced pockets, each pocket having a relatively stationary leading member and a pivotally mounted trailing member, a pair of spaced rails along which the cartons are moved by said pocket, means including a platform for supporting successive side-seamed cartons in the path of successive pockets to be received thereby, means for transferring successive cartons onto said supporting means, said pockets effecting transfer of the carton from the platform to the rails, means operative during the continued movement of the pocket for rocking said trailing member to effect opening of the carton, and means for refolding the carton along said two remaining score lines, said refolding means including means supported above the conveyor for bending the squared-up carton forwardly, and stationary guide means for continuing the bending operation during continued movement of said pocket.

Claim 17

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, means for producing side-seamed cartons from prescored carton blanks having sidewall panels defined by score lines comprising a conveyor, means on said conveyor for folding the blanks along two score lines and for adhesively securing the side seam, a second conveyor arranged at right angles to said first conveyor and provided with pockets, means including a platform on said second conveyor arranged to receive and support a carton discharged from said first conveyor in the path of a pocket to be received thereby, a pair of spaced rails along which the cartons are moved by said pockets, each of said pockets having a leading and a trailing member, the trailing member of said pocket being movable relative to the leading member whereby to effect opening and squaring up of the carton by bending along the two remaining score lines, and means supported above the conveyor for bending the squared-up carton forwardly, and guide rails arranged to continue the folds along said remaining score lines whereby to provide a side-seamed carton precreased on all four longitudinal lines.

Claim 18

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, means for producing side-seamed cartons from prescored carton blanks having sidewall panels defined by score lines comprising a conveyor, means on said conveyor for folding the blanks along two score lines and for adhesively securing the side seam, a second conveyor arranged at right angles to said first conveyor and provided with pockets, means including a platform on said second conveyor arranged to receive and support a carton discharged from said first conveyor in the path of a pocket to be received thereby, a pair of spaced rails along which the cartons are moved by said pockets, each of said pockets having a leading and a trailing member, the trailing member of said pocket being movable relative to the leading member whereby to effect opening and squaring up of the carton by bending along the two remaining score lines, and means supported above the conveyor for bending the squared-up carton forwardly, and guide rails arranged to continue the folds along said remaining score lines whereby to provide a side-seamed carton precreased on all four longitudinal lines.

Claim 19

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, means for reverse folding side-seamed cartons prepared from prescored carton blanks and folded along two longitudinal score lines, said means comprising a continuously moving conveyor having a plurality of pockets provided with leading and trailing members, said members adapted to support the leading and trailing folded edges of the carbon therebetween, means including a platform for presenting successive cartons in the path of successive pockets to be received thereby, a pair of spaced rails along which the cartons are moved by said pocket, the trailing member of each pocket being movable relative to the leading member whereby to effect squaring up of the carton by bending along the two remaining score lines, means disposed above the conveyor and engageable with the trailing sidewall of the squared-up carton for continuing the bending forwardly along said remaining score lines, and stationary guide means for continuing the bending operation during continued movement of said pockets whereby to provide a side-seamed carton precreased along all four longitudinal score lines.

Claim 20

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, means for reverse folding side-seamed cartons prepared from prescored carton blanks and folded along two longitudinal score lines, said means comprising a continuously moving conveyor having a plurality of pockets provided with leading and trailing members, said members adapted to support the leading and trailing folded edges of the carbon therebetween, means including a platform for presenting successive cartons in the path of successive pockets to be received thereby, a pair of spaced rails along which the cartons are moved by said pocket, the trailing member of each pocket being movable relative to the leading member whereby to effect squaring up of the carton by bending along the two remaining score lines, means disposed above the conveyor and engageable with the trailing sidewall of the squared-up carton for continuing the bending forwardly along said remaining score lines, and stationary guide means for continuing the bending operation during continued movement of said pockets whereby to provide a side-seamed carton precreased along all four longitudinal score lines.