Abstract An automatic machine for forming a paperboard box from an integral blank, about the articles to be packaged. The machine has an infeed opening to an erection chamber over which is disposed the blank, carrying articles. A vertically movable vacuum assembly or elevator in the chamber is movable from an upper position past a plurality of surrounding forming rods and abutments to a lower position so as to cause the front, side and rear wall forming panels of the blank to be erected partially. The semi-erected blank is then moved toward the rear of the machine along a horizontal path past other folding members to fold top and side wall-forming panels downwardly. The partially erected box is then received by a carriage and moved laterally in the same horizontal plane toward an elongate compression section, during which movement the front-forming flap, also known as a corner-joining flap, is folded to complete assembly or erection of the box. At the end of the carriage travel, the completed box is pushed forwardly into the compression section for ejection through a discharge chute at the front end of the machine. Several completed packages are accumulated in the compression section and when the machine is operating one box is discharged or ejected from the chute as a completed box is pushed forward from the lateral carriage path. The rearward, lateral and forward movements of the partially and completely erected box are along a U-shaped path lying in a single horizontal plane. The discharge chute is provided with inwardly pressing side plates to firmly hold the side flaps against the side panels during the setting of the glue.
A machine for sequentially erecting creased paperboard blanks carrying articles into completed packages, said blanks each including at least a front flap and a front panel adapted to cooperate when assembled with adhesive therebetween to form the manufacturer''s joint of each package, said machine comprIsing: a. a support frame providing an infeed opening in the upper surface of the machine and an erection chamber positioned below said opening; b. elevator means movable within the chamber between an elevated position adjacent said opening and a retracted or lower position within the frame; c. first folding means for partially erecting the blanks during their movement in the chamber, said folding means being mounted to the frame within and about the periphery of the chamber between said opening and said lower position of the elevator means; d. rearward pusher means for moving the partially erected blanks from said lower position rearwardly out of said erection chamber; e. second folding means positioned rearward of said chamber for folding at least the top panel of said partially erected blanks; f. carriage means for receiving said partially erected blanks from the rearward pusher means and moving said blanks laterally to form said manufacturer''s joint; g. an elongate compression section having a discharge chute elevated above the base of the machine forward of said carriage means, the compression section including a pair of laterally adjustable side plates; h. forward pusher means for disengaging the packages from said carriage means and moving said packages forwardly into said compression section such that the packages are maintained within the compression section by the side plates in abutting relationship with the manufacturer''s joint of each package sandwiched by the immediately preceding package to maintain the joint in tight assembled condition during setting of an adhesive applied thereto; i. the rearward, lateral and forward movement of said blanks forming a substantially horizontal single plane path of generally U-shaped configuration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
317 words
A machine for sequentially erecting creased paperboard blanks carrying articles into completed packages, said blanks each including at least a front flap and a front panel adapted to cooperate when assembled with adhesive therebetween to form the manufacturer''s joint of each package, said machine comprIsing: a. a support frame providing an infeed opening in the upper surface of the machine and an erection chamber positioned below said opening; b. elevator means movable within the chamber between an elevated position adjacent said opening and a retracted or lower position within the frame; c. first folding means for partially erecting the blanks during their movement in the chamber, said folding means being mounted to the frame within and about the periphery of the chamber between said opening and said lower position of the elevator means; d. rearward pusher means for moving the partially erected blanks from said lower position rearwardly out of said erection chamber; e. second folding means positioned rearward of said chamber for folding at least the top panel of said partially erected blanks; f. carriage means for receiving said partially erected blanks from the rearward pusher means and moving said blanks laterally to form said manufacturer''s joint; g. an elongate compression section having a discharge chute elevated above the base of the machine forward of said carriage means, the compression section including a pair of laterally adjustable side plates; h. forward pusher means for disengaging the packages from said carriage means and moving said packages forwardly into said compression section such that the packages are maintained within the compression section by the side plates in abutting relationship with the manufacturer''s joint of each package sandwiched by the immediately preceding package to maintain the joint in tight assembled condition during setting of an adhesive applied thereto; i. the rearward, lateral and forward movement of said blanks forming a substantially horizontal single plane path of generally U-shaped configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of packages are accumulated in the compression section for ejection sequentially, there being one package ejected concurrently with insertion of a blank into the compression section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compression section includes means for adjusting the lateral dimension of said section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
The machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein the compression section lateral adjusting means include: a. a pair of mountings each having an oppositely threaded bore and each mounting being fixedly secured to a side plate; b. a pair of aligned oppositely threaded shafts, each shaft engaging the mating bore of a mounting; and c. means for coupling the shafts so that when said shafts are rotated the side plates move inwardly or outwardly with respect to one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein said compression section further comprises a plurality of rearwardly extending support rails along which the packages move and are supported.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein each support rail has a threaded bore extending laterally therethrough, and each bore threadably engages the threaded portion of said shaft so that said rail is laterally movable.