Carton infeed and erecting apparatus

Claim 2

In an apparatus for erecting flattened cartons of the type having a first end panel and a first side panel at one side of the flattened carton joined along edge fold lines to a second side panel and a second end panel at the other side of the flattened carton, said panels including wall portions and end flaps on the ends of at least some of the wall portions; the apparatus having conveyor means for advancing cartons in a forward direction along a path, means for holding a stack of flattened cartons adjacent said path, and means for moving the end carton of the stack to an erecting station at the conveyor means where the carton is generally squared; the combination therewith of: an upper flap depressor mounted for swinging movement abOut an axis crosswise of the conveyor means at a level above the cartons and adjacent said erecting station, means for moving the upper flap depressor between an elevated position and a lowered position in which it engages the forwardmost upper flap of a carton at the erecting station and depresses it forward to a generally horizontal position, a retractable support located immediately forward of the upper flap depressor, means mounting the retractable support for movement between a retracted position and a support position where it engages the forwardmost upper flap and holds it from bowing forwardly, means for retracting the retractable support correlative with the movement of the upper flap depressor to its lowered position so that the upper flap may be depressed without interference by the retractable support, and an abutment on the apparatus for stopping the support at the supporting position.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 in which the retractable support is swingably mounted about the same axis as the upper flap depressor.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 in which the means for retracting the support is a pusher mounted on the upper flap depressor for engaging the support and moving it to its retracted position.

Claim 5

The combinaton of claim 1 including means for adjusting the position where the abutment is engaged.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 including means for resiliently urging the support toward the supporting position.

Claim 7

In an apparatus for erecting flattened cartons of the type having a first end panel and a first side panel at one side of the flattened carton joined along edge fold lines to a second side panel and a second end panel at the other side of the flattened carton, said panels including wall portions and end flaps on the ends of at least some of the wall portions; the apparatus having conveyor means for advancing cartons in a forward direction along a path, means for holding a stack of flattened cartons adjacent said path, and means for moving the end carton of the stack to an erecting station at the conveyor means where the carton is generally squared; the combination therewith of: an upper flap depressor mounted for swinging movement about an axis crosswise of the conveyor means at a level above the cartons and adjacent said erecting station, means for moving the upper flap depressor between an elevated position and a lowered position in which it engages the forwardmost upper flap of a carton at the erecting station and depresses it forward to a generally horizontal position, a retractable support located immediately forward of the upper flap depressor, means mounting the retractable support for movement between a retracted position and a support position where it engages the forwardmost upper flap and holds it from bowing forwardly, means for retracting the retractable support correlative with the movement of the upper flap depressor to its lowered position so that the upper flap may be depresseD without interference by the retractable support, the upper flap depressor including first and second members both mounted for swinging movement about said axis, the means for moving the upper flap depressor including means for moving the first member between the elevated and lowered position in timed relation with the movement of the conveyor means, and means providing a lost-motion connection between the first and second members so that the second member remains at the lowered position temporarily after the first member has started to move to the elevated position and until the support is substantially at the supporting position.

Claim 8

In an apparatus for erecting flattened cartons of the type having a first end panel and a first side panel at one side of the flattened carton joined along edge fold lines to a second side panel and a second end panel at the other side of the flattened carton, said panels including wall portions and end flaps on the ends of at least some of the wall portions; the apparatus having conveyor means for advancing cartons in a forward direction along a path, means for holding a stack of flattened cartons adjacent said path, and means for moving the end carton of the stack to an erecting station at the conveyor means where the carton is generally squared; the combination therewith of: an upper flap depressor mounted for swinging movement about an axis crosswise of the conveyor means at a level above the cartons and adjacent said erecting station, means for moving the upper flap depressor between an elevated position and a lowered position in which it engages the forwardmost upper flap of a carton at the erecting station and depresses it forward to a generally horizontal position, a retractable support located immediately forward of the upper flap depressor, means mounting the retractable support for movement between a retracted position and a support position where it engages the forwardmost upper flap and holds it from bowing forwardly, means for retracting the retractable support correlative with the movement of the upper flap depressor to its lowered position so that the upper flap may be depresseD without interference by the retractable support, the upper flap depressor including first and second members both mounted for swinging movement about said axis, the means for moving the upper flap depressor including means for moving the first member between the elevated and lowered position in timed relation with the movement of the conveyor means, and means providing a lost-motion connection between the first and second members so that the second member remains at the lowered position temporarily after the first member has started to move to the elevated position and until the support is substantially at the supporting position.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6 wherein the first member has an arcuate surface for engaging the forwardmost upper flap, said arcuate surface having a forward portion at a higher curvature than the remainder, and wherein the second member has an arcuate surface with a forward portion at a lower curvature than the forward portion of the first member.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 6 wherein the means providing a lost-motion connection between the first and second members includes: means providing a surface on one of the members, and a laterally extending pin engageable with said surface when the first member is moved toward the elevated position.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 6 wherein the conveyor means is operative to advance the containers in step fashion; and wherein the means for moving the end carton to an erecting station includes vacuum operated gripper means for gripping the end carton, and means for oscillating the gripper means between a first position at the stack of flattened cartons and a second position at the erecting station; and including means responsive to movement of the end carton for opening the same, and means on the conveyor means engageable with the opened carton for advancing the same and including a laterally extending member which extends generally entirely across the trailing end panel of the erected carton to help square the carton.

Claim 12

In an apparatus for erecting flattened cartons of the type having end panels and side panels, at least some of the panels including end flaps at the upper end thereof; the apparatus having an erecting station, a conveyor for advancing cartons from the erecting station in a forward direction; and an upper flap depressor at the erecting station and movable for depressing the forwardmost upper flap to a generally horizontal position; the improvement comprising: a retractable hold-down swingably mounted immediately forward of the upper flap depressor, the retractable hold-down including an arm and a contacting surface on the arm, the contacting surface operative in a holding position to hold the depressed upper flap in the horizontal position, means mounting the arm for swinging movement so that the contacting surface is movable between the holding position and a retracted position removed therefrom, means for moving the hold-down to its retracted position as the upper flap is depressed and to its holding position after the upper flap is depressed, and deflecting means on the retractable hold-down for deflecting outwardly one upper flap at the lateral side of the carton disposed 90* to said forwardmost upper flap.

Claim 13

In an apparatus for erecting flattened cartons of the type having end panels and side panels, at least some of the panels including end flaps at the upper end thereof; the apparatus having an erecting station, a conveyor for advancing cartons from the erecting station in a forward direction; and an upper flap depressor at the erecting station and movable for depressing the forwardmost upper flap to a generally horizontal position; the improvement comprising: a retractable hold-down swingably mounted immediately forward of the upper flap depressor, the retractable hold-down including an arm and a contacting surface on the arm, the contacting surface operative in a holding position to hold the depressed upper flap in the horizontal position, means mounting the arm for swinging movement so that the contacting surface is movable between the holding position and a retracted position removed therefrom, means for moving the hold-down to its retracted position as the upper flap is depressed and to its holding position after the upper flap is depressed, and deflecting means on the retractable hold-down for deflecting outwardly one upper flap at the lateral side of the carton disposed 90* to said forwardmost upper flap.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the upper flap depressor and the retractable hold-down are both mounted for swinging movement about the same axis, and the means for moving the hold-down comprises a laterally extending member on the upper flap depressor and arranged to engage the mounting arm of the hold-down as the upper flap depressor moves to engage the forwardmost upper flap of the carton.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including a spring mounted circumjacent said axis for urging the hold-down toward the holding position, and including a stop engaged by the hold-down to stop the same at the holding position.

Claim 16

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the deflecting means includes a finger extending from the contacting surface in a forward direction and at an angle extending upwardly and outwardly to a point beyond the lateral side of the carton.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the carton has four flaps at the top; the upper flap depressor and the retractable hold-down are both mounted for swinging movement about the same axis; and the means for moving the hold-down comprises a pushing surface on the upper flap depressor for engaging the mounting arm as the upper flap depressor moves to engage the forwardmost upper flap of the carton; and including means for moving the upper flap depressor between an elevated position and a lowered position, and for maintaining the upper flap depressor in said lowered position until said conveyor has advanced the carton at least part way past the upper flap depressor so that it operates to deflect the rearmost upper flap rearwardly; and means for deflecting outwardly the other upper flap at the lateral side of the carton whereby all four upper flaps are deflected outwardly of the carton.

Claim 18

Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein the upper flap depressor includes first and second members mounted for swinging movement about said axis, and means providing a lost-motion connection between the two members so that one member remains at the lowered position temporarily after the other member has started to move to the elevated position.

Claim 19

In an apparatus for erecting flattened cartons of the type having a first end panel and a first side panel at one side of the flattened carton joined along edge fold lines to a second side panel and a second end panel at the other side of the flattened carton, said panels including wall portions and end flaps on the ends of at least some wall portions, the apparatus having conveyor means for advancing cartons in a forward direction along a path, a carton magazine laterally offset from said path for holding a stack of flattened cartons, gripper means engageable with a face of the carton at the end of the stack, means for moving the gripper means from a first position adjacent the end carton in the magazine to a second position at the conveyor means where the carton is erected and generally squared, and upper flap depressor means mounted for swinging movement about an axis extending crosswise of the conveyor means at a level above the cartons and adjacent said second position; characterized in that the upper flap depressor means includes first and second members mounted for swinging movement about said axis between an elevated position and a lowered position, means for moving the first member between said positions in timed relation with the movement of the conveyor means and the gripper means, means providing a lost-motion connection between the first and second members so that the second member remains at the lowered position temporarily after the first member has started to move to the elevated position, the first member having an arcuate surface for engaging the forwardmost upper flap of a carton and depressing it forward to a generally horizontal position as the first member is moved to the lowered position, and the second member having a surface for engaging the depressed upper flap and holding it in its depressed position while the first member starts to move to the elevated position.

Claim 20

In an apparatus for erecting flattened cartons of the type having a first end panel and a first side panel at one side of the flattened carton joined along edge fold lines to a second side panel and a second end panel at the other side of the flattened carton, said panels including wall portions and end flaps on the ends of at least some wall portions, the apparatus having conveyor means for advancing cartons in a forward direction along a path, a carton magazine laterally offset from said path for holding a stack of flattened cartons, gripper means engageable with a face of the carton at the end of the stack, means for moving the gripper means from a first position adjacent the end carton in the magazine to a second position at the conveyor means where the carton is erected and generally squared, and upper flap depressor means mounted for swinging movement about an axis extending crosswise of the conveyor means at a level above the cartons and adjacent said second position; characterized in that the upper flap depressor means includes first and second members mounted for swinging movement about said axis between an elevated position and a lowered position, means for moving the first member between said positions in timed relation with the movement of the conveyor means and the gripper means, means providing a lost-motion connection between the first and second members so that the second member remains at the lowered position temporarily after the first member has started to move to the elevated position, the first member having an arcuate surface for engaging the forwardmost upper flap of a carton and depressing it forward to a generally horizontal position as the first member is moved to the lowered position, and the second member having a surface for engaging the depressed upper flap and holding it in its depressed position while the first member starts to move to the elevated position.

Claim 21

The combination of claim 16 wherein the means for moving the first member is arranged to temporarily maintain the second member generally at the lowered position so that the members operate to deflect the rearmost upper flap rearwardly.

Claim 22

The combination of claim 16 including hold-down means for holding the forwardmost flap in its horizontal position.

Claim 23

The combination of claim 18 wherein at least a portion of the hold-down means is retractable in response to movement of the upper flap depressor to its lowered position.

Claim 24

The combination of claim 18 wherein the hold-down means includes an arm swingably mounted about the same axis as the upper flap depressor means, and wherein the upper flap depressor means incLudes means for engaging the arm when the members are moved to lowered position to push the hold-down means to a retracted position.

Claim 25

The combination of claim 20 wherein the means for engaging the arm is carried by the first member, and said surface of the second member holds the upper flap depressed until the hold-down means is moved to a holding position engaged with the depressed flap.

Claim 26

In an apparatus for erecting flattened cartons of the type having end panels and side panels, at least some of the panels including end flaps at the upper end thereof; the apparatus having an erecting station, a conveyor for advancing cartons from the erecting station in a forward direction, and an upper flap depressor at the erecting station and movable for depressing the forwardmost upper flap to a generally horizontal position; characterized in that the upper flap depressor includes first and second members mounted for swinging movement about an axis extending crosswise of the conveyor at a level above the cartons, means for moving the first member from an elevated position to a lowered position in timed relation with the movement of the conveyor to depress the forwardmost upper flap forwardly, and lost-motion means connecting the first and second members to move the second member when the first member is moved but to provide a dwell of the second member at the lowered position.

Claim 27

In an apparatus for erecting flattened cartons of the type having end panels and side panels, at least some of the panels including end flaps at the upper end thereof; the apparatus having an erecting station, a conveyor for advancing cartons from the erecting station in a forward direction, and an upper flap depressor at the erecting station and movable for depressing the forwardmost upper flap to a generally horizontal position; characterized in that the upper flap depressor includes first and second members mounted for swinging movement about an axis extending crosswise of the conveyor at a level above the cartons, means for moving the first member from an elevated position to a lowered position in timed relation with the movement of the conveyor to depress the forwardmost upper flap forwardly, and lost-motion means connecting the first and second members to move the second member when the first member is moved but to provide a dwell of the second member at the lowered position.

Claim 28

Apparatus for erecting flattened cartons as set forth in claim 22 wherein the lost-motion means includes a surface on one of the members, and a laterally-extending projection on the other member and arranged to engage said surface when the first member is moved toward the elevated position.

Claim 29

Apparatus for erecting flattened cartons as set forth in claim 23 wherein the first member has an arcuate surface at the bottom and front for engaging the forwardmost upper flap, said arcuate surface having a forward portion at a higher degree of curvature than the remainder, and wherein the second member has an arcuate surface with a forward portion at a lower degree of curvature than the forward portion of the first member.

Claim 30

Apparatus for erecting flattened cartons as set forth in claim 24 including a retractable hold-down movable between a retracted position and a holding position for engaging and holding the forwardmost flap in its horizontal position.

Claim 31

Apparatus as set forth in claim 25 wherein the retractable hold-down is mounted for swinging movement about said axis, and including means on the first member for engaging the hold-down as the first member moves to its lowered position to move the hold-down to its retracted position.

Claim 32

Apparatus as set forth in claim 26 including a spring for urging the hold-down toward its holding position.

Claim 33

A kit for improving carton breaking in a machine for erecting flattened cartons of the type having a first end panel and a first side panel at one side of a flattened carton joined along edge fold lines to a second side panel and a second end panel at the other side of the flattened carton, said panels including wall portions and end flaps on the upper ends of at least some of the wall portions; the machine having a motor, conveyor means driven by the motor for advancing cartons in a forward direction, a magazine for supporting a stack of flattened cartons adjacent the conveyor means, and vacuum operated gripper means for gripping the face of a panel on the end carton in the magazine and moving the carton to an erecting station at the conveyor means; the kit comprising: a support tube for mounting crosswise of the conveyor means at a level above the cartons and adjacent said erecting station and defining an axis thereat, a first flap depressor rotatably mounted on the axis for movement between an elevated position and a lowered position in which it engages the forwardmost upper flap of a carton at the erecting station and depresses it forward, a second flap depressor rotatably mounted on the axis and having a lost-motion connection to the firsT flap depressor, means including an eccentric and a pitman driven by the motor for reciprocating the first flap depressor between said positions, a retractable hold-down rotatably mounted on the support tube for movement between a retracted position and a holding position where it engages the depressed forwardmost upper flap and holds it in the depressed position, a spring circumjacent the support tube for urging the retractable hold-down toward the holding position, a stop on the machine and positioned for engaging and stopping the retractable hold-down at the holdinG position, means on the first flap depressor for engaging the retractable hold-down and moving it to its retracted position as the first flap depressor moves to its lowered position, and means including a cam, cam follower and pitman for moving the vacuum operated gripper means in timed relation with the first flap depressor and the conveyor means.

Claim 34

A kit for improving carton breaking in a machine for erecting flattened cartons of the type having a first end panel and a first side panel at one side of a flattened carton joined along edge fold lines to a second side panel and a second end panel at the other side of the flattened carton, said panels including wall portions and end flaps on the upper ends of at least some of the wall portions; the machine having a motor, conveyor means driven by the motor for advancing cartons in a forward direction, a magazine for supporting a stack of flattened cartons adjacent the conveyor means, and vacuum operated gripper means for gripping the face of a panel on the end carton in the magazine and moving the carton to an erecting station at the conveyor means; the kit comprising: a support tube for mounting crosswise of the conveyor means at a level above the cartons and adjacent said erecting station and defining an axis thereat, a first flap depressor rotatably mounted on the axis for movement between an elevated position and a lowered position in which it engages the forwardmost upper flap of a carton at the erecting station and depresses it forward, a second flap depressor rotatably mounted on the axis and having a lost-motion connection to the firsT flap depressor, means including an eccentric and a pitman driven by the motor for reciprocating the first flap depressor between said positions, a retractable hold-down rotatably mounted on the support tube for movement between a retracted position and a holding position where it engages the depressed forwardmost upper flap and holds it in the depressed position, a spring circumjacent the support tube for urging the retractable hold-down toward the holding position, a stop on the machine and positioned for engaging and stopping the retractable hold-down at the holdinG position, means on the first flap depressor for engaging the retractable hold-down and moving it to its retracted position as the first flap depressor moves to its lowered position, and means including a cam, cam follower and pitman for moving the vacuum operated gripper means in timed relation with the first flap depressor and the conveyor means.

Claim 35

In an apparatus for erecting flattened cartons of the type having a first end panel and a first side panel at one side of the flattened carton joined along edge fold lines to a second side panel and a second end panel at the other side of the flattened carton, said panels including wall portions and end flaps on the ends of at least some of the wall portions; the apparatus having conveyor means for advancing cartons in a forward direction along a path, means for holding a stack of flattened cartons adjacent said path, and means for moving the end carton of the stack to an erecting station at the conveyor means where the carton is generally squared; the combination therewith of: an upper flap depressor mounted for swinging movement about an axis crosswise of the conveyor means at a level above the cartons and adjacent said erecting station, means for moving the upper flap depressor between an elevated position and a lowered position in which it engages the forwardmost upper flap of a carton at the erecting station and depresses it forward to a generally horizontal position, a retractable support located immediately forward of the upper flap depressor and swingably mounted about the same axis as the upper flap depressor, means mounting the retractable support for movement between a retracted position and a support position where it engages the forwardmost upper flap and holds it from bowing forwardly, and a pusher mounted on the upper flap depressor for engaging the retractable support and moving it to its retracted position correlative with the movement of the upper flap depressor to its lowered position so that the upper flap may be depressed without interference by the retractable support.

Claim 36

In an apparatus for erecting flattened cartons of the type having a first end panel and a first side panel at one side of the flattened carton joined along edge fold lines to a second side panel and a second end panel at the other side of the flattened carton, said panels including wall portions and end flaps on the ends of at least some of the wall portions; the apparatus having conveyor means for advancing cartons in a forward direction along a path, means for holding a stack of flattened cartons adjacent said path, and means for moving the end carton of the stack to an erecting station at the conveyor means where the carton is generally squared; the combination therewith of: an upper flap depressor mounted for swinging movement about an axis crosswise of the conveyor means at a level above the cartons and adjacent said erecting station, means for moving the upper flap depressor between an elevated position and a lowered position in which it engages the forwardmost upper flap of a carton at the erecting station and depresses it forward to a generally horizontal position, a retractable support located immediately forward of the upper flap depressor and swingably mounted about the same axis as the upper flap depressor, means mounting the retractable support for movement between a retracted position and a support position where it engages the forwardmost upper flap and holds it from bowing forwardly, and a pusher mounted on the upper flap depressor for engaging the retractable support and moving it to its retracted position correlative with the movement of the upper flap depressor to its lowered position so that the upper flap may be depressed without interference by the retractable support.

Claim 37

In an apparatus for erecting flattened cartons of the type having end panels and side panels, at least some of the panels including end flaps at the upper end thereof; the apparatus having an erecting station, a conveyor for advancing cartons from the erecting station in a forward direction; and an upper flap depressor at the erecting station and mounted for swinging movement about an axis for depressing the forwardmost upper flap to a generally horizontal position; the improvement comprising: a retractable hold-down mounted immediately forward of the upper flap depressor, the retractable hold-down including an arm and a contacting surface on the arm, the contacting surface operative in a holding position to hold the depressed upper flap in the horizontal position, means mounting the arm for swinging movement about the same axis as the upper flap deflector so that the contacting surface is movable between the holding position and a retracted position removed therefrom, means for moving the hold-down to its retracted position as the upper flap is depressed and to its holding position after the upper flap is depressed, and the last-mentioned means including a laterally extending member on the upper flap depressor and arranged to engage the mounting arm of the hold-down as the upper flap depressor moves to engage the forwardmost upper flap of the carton.

Claim 38

In an apparatus for erecting flattened cartons of the type having end panels and side panels, at least some of the panels including end flaps at the upper end thereof; the apparatus having an erecting station, a conveyor for advancing cartons from the erecting station in a forward direction; and an upper flap depressor at the erecting station and mounted for swinging movement about an axis for depressing the forwardmost upper flap to a generally horizontal position; the improvement comprising: a retractable hold-down mounted immediately forward of the upper flap depressor, the retractable hold-down including an arm and a contacting surface on the arm, the contacting surface operative in a holding position to hold the depressed upper flap in the horizontal position, means mounting the arm for swinging movement about the same axis as the upper flap deflector so that the contacting surface is movable between the holding position and a retracted position removed therefrom, means for moving the hold-down to its retracted position as the upper flap is depressed and to its holding position after the upper flap is depressed, and the last-mentioned means including a laterally extending member on the upper flap depressor and arranged to engage the mounting arm of the hold-down as the upper flap depressor moves to engage the forwardmost upper flap of the carton.

Claim 39

Apparatus as set forth in claim 30 including a spring mounted circumjacent said axis for urging the hold-down toward the holding position, and including a stop engaged by the hold-down to stop the same at the holding position.