Carton delivery and expanding apparatus

Claim 2

In an apparatus for expanding and folding initially collapsed cartons having opposed side panels and end panels, each including lower flaps extending from the carton walls and foldable about scored lines between the flaps and respective walls: a supporting framework; horizontal upwardly open trough means on the framework moveable between a first position at which the trough receives and elevationally locates the lower flap edges of a vertically oriented collapsed carton and a second position at which the trough is clear of such cartons; first vacuum means along side and above said trough operable to selectively grip one carton panel; and means on said framework operatively connected to said trough means for moving said trough means to its second position following actuation of said first vacuum means.

Claim 3

The apparatus set out in claim 1 further comprising: second vacuum means movably mounted on said framework for selectively gripping a panel of each carton opposite to said one panel and moving it apart from said one panel to expand to the carton horizontally.

Claim 4

The apparatus set out in claim 2 further comprising: rear flap folding means in the path of each carton as it is expanded by operation of said second vacuum means to partiallY fold the lower rear flap of each carton during horizontal expansion of the carton.

Claim 5

The apparatus set out in claim 3 further comprising: front flap folding means on said framework movably mounted so as to be positioned partially under each carton after horizontal expansion thereof and to engage the front lower flap to partially fold said flap inwardly prior to forward movement of the expanded carton.

Claim 6

In an apparatus for expanding and folding initially collapsed cartons having opposed side panels and end panels, each including lower flaps extending from the carton walls and foldable about scored lines between the flaps and respective walls: a supporting framework; carton magazine means on the framework for storing a stack of collapsed cartons; a carton receiving station on the framework comprising horizontal support means for engaging the upper and lower edges of an upright collapsed carton in a vertical orientation; carton feed means on said framework for individually transferring collapsed cartons from the carton magazine means to said carton receiving station; first carton gripping means on said framework at said carton receiving station for engaging one carton panel while engaged by said horizontal support means to thereby fix the position of the carton panel relative to said framework; power means operatively connected between the framework and said horizontal support means for selectively freeing the lower edge of each carton at said receiving station from engagement by said support means subsequent to engagement of the carton panel by said first carton gripping means; and second carton gripping means movably mounted to said framework adjacent to said carton receiving station for selectively gripping a second panel of each carton opposed to the first panel thereof and subsequently moving the second carton panel apart from its first panel to horizontally expand the carton adjacent to the carton receiving station.

Claim 7

In an apparatus for expanding and folding initially collapsed cartons having opposed side panels and end panels, each including lower flaps extending from the carton walls and foldable about scored lines between the flaps and respective walls: a supporting framework; carton magazine means on the framework for storing a stack of collapsed cartons; a carton receiving station on the framework comprising horizontal support means for engaging the upper and lower edges of an upright collapsed carton in a vertical orientation; carton feed means on said framework for individually transferring collapsed cartons from the carton magazine means to said carton receiving station; first carton gripping means on said framework at said carton receiving station for engaging one carton panel while engaged by said horizontal support means to thereby fix the position of the carton panel relative to said framework; power means operatively connected between the framework and said horizontal support means for selectively freeing the lower edge of each carton at said receiving station from engagement by said support means subsequent to engagement of the carton panel by said first carton gripping means; and second carton gripping means movably mounted to said framework adjacent to said carton receiving station for selectively gripping a second panel of each carton opposed to the first panel thereof and subsequently moving the second carton panel apart from its first panel to horizontally expand the carton adjacent to the carton receiving station.

Claim 8

In an apparatus for expanding and folding initially collapsed cartons having opposed side panels and end panels, each including lower flaps extending from the carton walls and foldable about scored lines between the flaps and respective walls: a supporting framework; a carton receiving station on the framework; feed means for directing individual collapsed cartons to a fixed position at the receiving station in a vertical carton panel orientation; carton expanding means laterally adjacent to the carton receiving station for gripping and horizontally expanding each carton; rear flap folding means on said framework at a location rearwardly and transversely adjacent to the receiving station, said rear flap folding means being movably mounted to the framework for forward movement across the carton receiving station and engagement of each expanded carton at an elevation such that the rear lower flap thereof is bent upward to a horizontal position, said rear flap folding means further including an element intersecting the location of each carton rear wall to thereby push the expanded carton forwardly from the carton receiving station; front flap folding means on said framework forwardly and laterally adjacent to the carton receiving station in the path of movement of expanded cartons, said front flap folding means being vertically moveable to clear the path of an expanding carton at the carton receiving station and for location in the path of an incoming forward lower carton flap moved along with an expanded carton in response to operation of said rear flap folding means.

Claim 9

In an apparatus for expanding and folding initially collapsed cartons having opposed side panels and end panels, each including lower flaps extending from the carton walls and foldable about scored lines between the flaps and respective walls: a supporting framework; a carton receiving station on the framework; feed means for directing individual collapsed cartons to a fixed position at the receiving station in a vertical carton panel orientation; carton expanding means laterally adjacent to the carton receiving station for gripping and horizontally expanding each carton; rear flap folding means on said framework at a location rearwardly and transversely adjacent to the receiving station, said rear flap folding means being movably mounted to the framework for forward movement across the carton receiving station and engagement of each expanded carton at an elevation such that the rear lower flap thereof is bent upward to a horizontal position, said rear flap folding means further including an element intersecting the location of each carton rear wall to thereby push the expanded carton forwardly from the carton receiving station; front flap folding means on said framework forwardly and laterally adjacent to the carton receiving station in the path of movement of expanded cartons, said front flap folding means being vertically moveable to clear the path of an expanding carton at the carton receiving station and for location in the path of an incoming forward lower carton flap moved along with an expanded carton in response to operation of said rear flap folding means.

Claim 10

The apparatus set out in claim 6 where the path of forward motion of said rear flap folding means longitudinally overlaps the front flap folding means.

Claim 11

In an apparatus for expanding and folding initially collapsed cartons having opposed side panels and end panels, each including lower flaps extending from the carton walls and foldable about scored lines between the flaps and respective walls: a sUpporting framework; an upwardly open longitudinal trough mounted to the framework; longitudinal guides mounted to the framework at positions above the trough; carton feed means on said framework for individually positioning collapsed cartons in said trough and between said guides at a fixed position on the framework; first vacuum means upwardly adjacent to said trough for selectively gripping a first panel of each carton when at said fixed position; first power means operatively connected to said trough for moving the trough clear of each carton while gripped by said first vacuum cup means; and second vacuum cup means at an elevation upwardly adjacent to that of said trough for selectively gripping a second panel of a carton when at said fixed position and for subsequently moving said second panel relative to said first panel of the carton to thereby bend the carton to a stationary expanded position on the framework located laterally adjacent to said fixed position.

Claim 12

In an apparatus for expanding and folding initially collapsed cartons having opposed side panels and end panels, each including lower flaps extending from the carton walls and foldable about scored lines between the flaps and respective walls: a sUpporting framework; an upwardly open longitudinal trough mounted to the framework; longitudinal guides mounted to the framework at positions above the trough; carton feed means on said framework for individually positioning collapsed cartons in said trough and between said guides at a fixed position on the framework; first vacuum means upwardly adjacent to said trough for selectively gripping a first panel of each carton when at said fixed position; first power means operatively connected to said trough for moving the trough clear of each carton while gripped by said first vacuum cup means; and second vacuum cup means at an elevation upwardly adjacent to that of said trough for selectively gripping a second panel of a carton when at said fixed position and for subsequently moving said second panel relative to said first panel of the carton to thereby bend the carton to a stationary expanded position on the framework located laterally adjacent to said fixed position.

Claim 13

The apparatus set out in claim 8 wherein said guides include: a moveable member engageable with the carton side opposite to that gripped by said first vacuum means, said member being moveable so as to be clear of the upright surfaces of the carton upon expansion thereof.

Claim 14

The apparatus set out in claim 8 further comprising: rear flap folding means on said framework for moving the lower rear flap of each carton forwardly and upwardly to a horizontal folded position, said rear flap folding means comprising: a forwardly-facing surface leading upwardly and rearwardly to a horizontal ledge that is coplanar with the scored lines between the carton walls and lower flaps at said stationary expanded position; an upright shoulder projecting upwardly from said surface adapted to engage a carton wall above the lower rear flap folded thereby; and second power means connected between the framework and said surface for moving said surface and shoulder forwardly in a longitudinal direction through the machine area occupied by a carton while at said stationary expanded position.

Claim 15

The apparatus set out in claim 10 further comprising: downwardly facing guide means extending longitudinally along the framework at an elevation immediately above the carton stationary expanded position, such guide means being adapted to prevent upward elevational movement of an expanded carton relative to the framework.

Claim 16

The apparatus set out in claim 11 further comprising: front flap folding means for moving the lower front flap of each carton rearwardly and upwardly to a horizontal folded position, said front flap folding means comprising: a rearwardly-facing surface extending upwardly and forwardly to a horizontal forward ledge coplanar with the scored lines between the carton walls and lower flaps at said stationary expanded carton position, said rearwardly facing surface being longitudinally located along the framework at a position forwardly adjacent to the carton stationary expanded position.

Claim 17

The apparatus set out in claim 12 further comprising: third power means on said framework operatively connected to said rearwardly-facing surface for selectively moving it clear of the path of the moving panels of a carton being expanded by operation of said second vacuum means.

Claim 18

The apparatus set out in claim 10 further comprising: laterally opposed belt flights along the framework for receiving and engaging the side panels of expanded cartons directed there between in response to forward movement of said rear flap folding means.

Claim 19

The apparatus set out in claim 14 further comprising: a pair of upwardly and forwardly converging longitudinal guides fixed to said framework in the path of the respective lower side flaps of an expanded carton between said belt flights for progressively folding the side flaps inwardly and upwardly to a horizontal configuration during movement of a carton along said belt flights.