Box flap opener

Claim 2

A flap opener for a box comprising a support for said box, said box having a flap which is hinged to the box for pivoting about an axis, first means for attachment to a flap, a mounting member for said means, said mounting member being pivotal about said axis, and second means connected to said first means by said mounting member and operable to move said first means against said flap to attach to said flap and to move said first means pivotally about said axis while restrained against movement toward and away from said axis to pull said flap open.

Claim 3

The flap opener of claim 1 wherein said means for attachment comprises a suction cup.

Claim 4

A flap opener for a box comprising a support for said box, said box having a flap which is hinged to the box for pivoting about an axis, means for attachment to a box, a mounting member for said means, said mounting member being pivotal about said axis, and means for pivoting said mounting member to move said attachment means against said flap to attach to said flap and for pivoting said mounting member to move said attachment means to pull said flap open, and wherein said means for attachment comprises a suction cup, said means for pivoting said mounting member comprises a base fixed in relation to said support; a lever pivoted to said base; means connected between said lever and said base for pivoting said lever; a pair of parallel links connecting said suction cup mounting member to said lever; a sprocket and chain coupling between one of said links and said base and including a pair of sprockets of equal number of teeth one fixed to said base and one fixed to said one lever with a chain coupling said sprockets; said lever, links and suction cup mounting member being connected together in the shape of a parallelogram with the connections being pivotal and with said links forming two parallel sides and said lever and cup mounting member forming two parallel sides.

Claim 5

A flap opener for a box comprising a support for said box, said box having a flap which is hinged to the box for pivoting about an axis, means for attachment to a box, a mounting member for said means, said mounting member being pivotal about said axis, and means for pivoting said mounting member to move said attachment means against said flap to attach to said flap and for pivoting said mounting member to move said attachment means to pull said flap open, and wherein said means for attachment comprises a suction cup, said means for pivoting said mounting member comprises a base fixed in relation to said support; a lever pivoted to said base; means connected between said lever and said base for pivoting said lever; a pair of parallel links connecting said suction cup mounting member to said lever; a sprocket and chain coupling between one of said links and said base and including a pair of sprockets of equal number of teeth one fixed to said base and one fixed to said one lever with a chain coupling said sprockets; said lever, links and suction cup mounting member being connected together in the shape of a parallelogram with the connections being pivotal and with said links forming two parallel sides and said lever and cup mounting member forming two parallel sides.

Claim 6

The flap opener of claim 3 additionally comprising a rigid arm fixed to one of said links; said rigid arm having an inverted U-shape configuration, said arm having a distal end portion which is positioned to block closure of said flap after said flap has been opened by said suction cup.

Claim 7

The flap opener of claim 3 wherein said means connected between said lever and said base for pivoting said lever comprises a fluid cylinder motor and a spring, said spring being connected between said lever and said base, saiD fluid cylinder motor having a piston, a slotted clevis mounted on said piston, and a pin secured to said lever and extending through the slot in said slotted clevis.

Claim 8

The flap opener of claim 2 wherein said second means comprises a base fixed in relation to said support; a first lever pivoted to said base; means connected between said lever and said base for pivoting said lever; an elongate bar connecting said suction cup mounting member to said lever; said lever being pivotal about said axis and positioned on one side of said box, and means for pushing said box away from said lever.

Claim 9

A flap opener for a box comprising a support for said box, said box having a flap which is hinged to the box for pivoting about an axis, means for attachment to a box, a mounting member for said means, said mounting member being pivotal about said axis, and means for pivoting said mounting member to move said attachment means against said flap to attach to said flap and for pivoting said mounting member to move said attachment means to pull said flap open, and wherein said means for attachment comprises a suction cup, said means for pivoting said mounting member comprises a base fixed in relation to said support; a first lever pivoted to said base; means connected between said lever and said base for pivoting said lever; an elongate bar connecting said suction cup mounting member to said lever; said lever being pivotal about said axis and positioned on one side of said box, and means for pushing said box away from said lever, and additionally comprising conveyor means adapted to move said box in a direction on said support, a stop fixed with relation to said support and arranged to stop the box against further movement in said direction on said support, said means for pushing said box being arranged to push said box perpendicularly of the direction of movement of said box on said support.

Claim 10

A flap opener for a box comprising a support for said box, said box having a flap which is hinged to the box for pivoting about an axis, means for attachment to a box, a mounting member for said means, said mounting member being pivotal about said axis, and means for pivoting said mounting member to move said attachment means against said flap to attach to said flap and for pivoting said mounting member to move said attachment means to pull said flap open, and wherein said means for attachment comprises a suction cup, said means for pivoting said mounting member comprises a base fixed in relation to said support; a first lever pivoted to said base; means connected between said lever and said base for pivoting said lever; an elongate bar connecting said suction cup mounting member to said lever; said lever being pivotal about said axis and positioned on one side of said box, and means for pushing said box away from said lever, and additionally comprising conveyor means adapted to move said box in a direction on said support, a stop fixed with relation to said support and arranged to stop the box against further movement in said direction on said support, said means for pushing said box being arranged to push said box perpendicularly of the direction of movement of said box on said support.

Claim 11

The flap opener of claim 7 additionally comprising a first limit switch fixed relative to said support and arranged to sense a box stopped by said stop, said first limit switch being arranged to operate said means for pivoting said lever, a second limit switch fixed relative to said support and arranged to sense when a flap has been opened, said second limit switch being arranged to operate said means for pushing said box.

Claim 12

The flap opener of claim 6 additionally comprising an elongate rod extending parallel to said elongate bar, a second lever pivoted to said first lever and having said rod secured thereto, stop means fixed to said first lever and limiting downward swinging of said second lever relative to said first lever, said rod being positioned to be cammed by said box beyond the edge of said flap when said cup engages said flap whereby said rod will pivot behind said flap under action of gravity when said flap is opened.

Claim 13

A flap opener for a box comprising a support for said box, said box having a flap which is hinged to the box for pivoting about an axis, first means for attachment to a flap, a mounting member for said means, said mounting member being pivotal about said axis from completely on one side of said axis to completely on another side of said axis, and second means for pivoting said mounting member to move said first means against said flap to attach to said flap and for pivoting said mounting member to move said first means to pull said flap open.

Claim 14

A flap opener for a box comprising a support for said box, said box having a flap which is hinged to the box for pivoting about an axis, first means for attachment to a flap, a mounting member for said means, said mounting member being pivotal about said axis from completely on one side of said axis to completely on another side of said axis, and second means for pivoting said mounting member to move said first means against said flap to attach to said flap and for pivoting said mounting member to move said first means to pull said flap open.