US3848519A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Packaging machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-05-14
•
Granted: 1974-11-19
•
Expires: 1993-05-14
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for automatically opening collapsed, cellular bottle carriers or cartons which are formed of paperboard or similar foldable material and which are adapted to be loaded through an open bottom which is thereafter closed by folding a pair of bottom wall forming panels into bottom closing position and connecting overlapping margins thereof, which opening apparatus is supported in a frame disposed above a bottle carrying and grouping conveyor and comprises an endless traveling conveyor for advancing successive carriers in flattened condition, which conveyor is mounted for operating in a vertical plane normal to the plane in which the bottle conveyor is operating and which delivers the carriers to pairs of vacuum head assemblies carried on traveling chains at opposite sides of the delivery conveyor and which cooperate to grip the exterior faces of the end wall panels of the collapsed carriers and swing the end panels so as to open up each carrier as the carriers advance down a vertical path between the vacuum head assemblies and which release the opened up carriers at the bottom of the vertical path for deposit on groups of bottles of the proper number to fill the cells therein.
Inventors
- 👤 R Ganz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:30
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B43/00; B65B43/26; B65B43/30; B65B43/305; B65B21/00; B65B21/24; B65B21/242; B31; B31B; B31B2100/00; B31B2120/00; B31B2120/20; B31B2120/30; B31B2241/00; B31B2241/001; B31B50/00; B31B50/74; B31B50/76; B31B50/81
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
An apparatus for opening a folded tubular packaging container of the type which comprises a plurality of hingedly connected wall panels adapted to be unfolded by hinging in opposite directions the panels adjacent fold lines at opposite ends of the container, said apparatus comprising means for advancing successive containers in folded condition along a predetermined path with the container end fold lines extending in the direction of travel, panel gripping head assemblies, means for supporting said panel gripping head assemblies in paired relation for travel along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means which supporting means comprises conveyor members mounted for travel in a path which extends in part along the path of travel of the containers, means on said gripping head assemblies for engaging in gripping relation with panels adjacent said container end fold lines which panels are disposed on opposite side faces of the container, means for moving said gripping head assemblies into position for engaging with opposite faces of each successive folded container while each said container is advancing, means for pivoting said panel gripping heads in opposite directions about axes extending in the direction of travel so as to hinge the panels which are gripped in opposite directions about said end fold lines and thereby open the container into tubular form.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
218 words
An apparatus for opening a folded tubular packaging container of the type which comprises a plurality of hingedly connected wall panels adapted to be unfolded by hinging in opposite directions the panels adjacent fold lines at opposite ends of the container, said apparatus comprising means for advancing successive containers in folded condition along a predetermined path with the container end fold lines extending in the direction of travel, panel gripping head assemblies, means for supporting said panel gripping head assemblies in paired relation for travel along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means which supporting means comprises conveyor members mounted for travel in a path which extends in part along the path of travel of the containers, means on said gripping head assemblies for engaging in gripping relation with panels adjacent said container end fold lines which panels are disposed on opposite side faces of the container, means for moving said gripping head assemblies into position for engaging with opposite faces of each successive folded container while each said container is advancing, means for pivoting said panel gripping heads in opposite directions about axes extending in the direction of travel so as to hinge the panels which are gripped in opposite directions about said end fold lines and thereby open the container into tubular form.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
205 words
An apparatus for opening a folded tubular packaging container of the type which comprises a plurality of connected wall panels adapted to be unfolded by hinging in opposite directions the panels adjacent fold lines at opposite ends of the container, said apparatus comprising means for advancing successive containers in folded condition along a predetermined path with the container end fold lines extending in the direction of travel, panel gripping head assemblies, means for supporting said panel gripping head assemblies in paired relation for travel along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, said means for supporting said panel gripping head assemblies including endless carriers having a portion of their paths of travel extending in generally parallel, spaced relation along opposite sides of the path along which said folded containers are advanced, means on said gripping head assemblies for engaging in gripping relation with panels adjacent said container end fold lines and disposed on opposite side faces of the contAiner, means for pivoting said panel gripping heads in opposite directions about axes extending in the direction of travel so as to hinge the panels which are gripped in opposite directions about said end fold lines and thereby open the container into tubular form.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
205 words
An apparatus for opening a folded tubular packaging container of the type which comprises a plurality of connected wall panels adapted to be unfolded by hinging in opposite directions the panels adjacent fold lines at opposite ends of the container, said apparatus comprising means for advancing successive containers in folded condition along a predetermined path with the container end fold lines extending in the direction of travel, panel gripping head assemblies, means for supporting said panel gripping head assemblies in paired relation for travel along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, said means for supporting said panel gripping head assemblies including endless carriers having a portion of their paths of travel extending in generally parallel, spaced relation along opposite sides of the path along which said folded containers are advanced, means on said gripping head assemblies for engaging in gripping relation with panels adjacent said container end fold lines and disposed on opposite side faces of the contAiner, means for pivoting said panel gripping heads in opposite directions about axes extending in the direction of travel so as to hinge the panels which are gripped in opposite directions about said end fold lines and thereby open the container into tubular form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said panel gripping head assemblies are pivotally mounted on said endless carriers and said means for pivoting said panel gripping heads is cam controlled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said panel gripping head assemblies include vacuum cups for engaging the container panels, means for connecting said vacuum cups to a vacuum source and means controlling the application of vacuum during a predetermined portion of the travel of said head assemblies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said endless carriers are mounted on support frames and travel in generally parallel offset planes so as to position said gripping head assemblies for engaging opposite side faces of containers which are carried on said container advancing means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
205 words
An apparatus for opening a folded tubular packaging container of the type which comprises a plurality of connected wall panels adapted to be unfolded by hinging in opposite directions the panels adjacent hinge forming fold lines at opposite ends of the container, said apparatus comprising means for advancing successive containers in folded condition along a predetermined path with the container end fold lines extending in the direction of travel, panel gripping head assemblies, means for supporting said panel gripping head assemblies in paired relation for travel along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, means on said gripping head assemblies for engaging in gripping relation with panels adjacent said container end fold lines and disposed on opposite side faces of the container, means for pivoting said panel gripping heads in opposite directions about axes extending in the direction of travel so as to hinge the panels which are gripped in opposite directions about said end fold lines and thereby open the container into tubular form, said means for pivoting said panel gripping head assemblies comprising means pivotally mounting said head assemblies and cam operated means for turning said gripping head assemblies on said pivotal mountings as they are advanced along said path.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
205 words
An apparatus for opening a folded tubular packaging container of the type which comprises a plurality of connected wall panels adapted to be unfolded by hinging in opposite directions the panels adjacent hinge forming fold lines at opposite ends of the container, said apparatus comprising means for advancing successive containers in folded condition along a predetermined path with the container end fold lines extending in the direction of travel, panel gripping head assemblies, means for supporting said panel gripping head assemblies in paired relation for travel along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, means on said gripping head assemblies for engaging in gripping relation with panels adjacent said container end fold lines and disposed on opposite side faces of the container, means for pivoting said panel gripping heads in opposite directions about axes extending in the direction of travel so as to hinge the panels which are gripped in opposite directions about said end fold lines and thereby open the container into tubular form, said means for pivoting said panel gripping head assemblies comprising means pivotally mounting said head assemblies and cam operated means for turning said gripping head assemblies on said pivotal mountings as they are advanced along said path.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
232 words
An apparatus for opening a folded tubular packaging container of the type which comprises a plurality of connected wall panels adapted to be unfolded by hinging in opposite directions the panels adjacent hinge forming fold lines at opposite ends of the container, said apparatus comprising means for advancing successive containers in folded condition along a predetermined path with the container end fold lines extending in the direction of travel, panel gripping head assemblies, means for supporting said panel gripping head assemblies in paired relation for travel along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, means on said gripping head assemblies for engaging in gripping relation with panels adjacent said container end fold lines and disposed on opposite side faces of the container, means for pivoting said panel gripping heads in opposite directions about axes extending in the direction of travel so as to hinge the panels which are gripped in opposite directions about said end fold lines and thereby open the container into tubular form, said means for supporting said panel gripping head assembles comprising endless traveling carrier members and means mounting said carrier members for travel in transversely spaced paths extending along opposite sides of the path of the containers so as to bring said panel gripping head assemblies into position for engaging in gripping relation the container end panels on opposite side faces of a folded container.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
232 words
An apparatus for opening a folded tubular packaging container of the type which comprises a plurality of connected wall panels adapted to be unfolded by hinging in opposite directions the panels adjacent hinge forming fold lines at opposite ends of the container, said apparatus comprising means for advancing successive containers in folded condition along a predetermined path with the container end fold lines extending in the direction of travel, panel gripping head assemblies, means for supporting said panel gripping head assemblies in paired relation for travel along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, means on said gripping head assemblies for engaging in gripping relation with panels adjacent said container end fold lines and disposed on opposite side faces of the container, means for pivoting said panel gripping heads in opposite directions about axes extending in the direction of travel so as to hinge the panels which are gripped in opposite directions about said end fold lines and thereby open the container into tubular form, said means for supporting said panel gripping head assembles comprising endless traveling carrier members and means mounting said carrier members for travel in transversely spaced paths extending along opposite sides of the path of the containers so as to bring said panel gripping head assemblies into position for engaging in gripping relation the container end panels on opposite side faces of a folded container.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
248 words
An apparatus for opening a folded tubular packaging container of the type which comprises a plurality of connected wAll panels adapted to be unfolded by hinging in opposite directions the panels adjacent fold lines at opposite ends of the container, said apparatus comprising means for advancing successive containers in folded condition along a predetermined path with the container end fold lines extending in the direction of travel, panel gripping head assemblies, means for supporting said panel gripping head assemblies in paired relation for travel along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, means on said gripping head assemblies for engaging in gripping relation with panels adjacent said container end fold lines and disposed on opposite side faces of the container, means for pivoting said panel gripping heads in opposite directions about axes extending in the direction of travel so as to hinge the panels which are gripped in opposite directions about said end fold lines and thereby open the container into tubular form, said means for advancing the folded containers having associated means for guiding the opposite ends of the containers so as to turn the folded containers about an axis extending in the direction of travel and to bring opposite ends thereof into a position for advance on opposite sides of the path of travel of cooperating gripping head assemblies which gripping head assemblies are positioned on said supporting means so as to grip the endmost panels on opposite sides of a folded container.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
248 words
An apparatus for opening a folded tubular packaging container of the type which comprises a plurality of connected wAll panels adapted to be unfolded by hinging in opposite directions the panels adjacent fold lines at opposite ends of the container, said apparatus comprising means for advancing successive containers in folded condition along a predetermined path with the container end fold lines extending in the direction of travel, panel gripping head assemblies, means for supporting said panel gripping head assemblies in paired relation for travel along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, means on said gripping head assemblies for engaging in gripping relation with panels adjacent said container end fold lines and disposed on opposite side faces of the container, means for pivoting said panel gripping heads in opposite directions about axes extending in the direction of travel so as to hinge the panels which are gripped in opposite directions about said end fold lines and thereby open the container into tubular form, said means for advancing the folded containers having associated means for guiding the opposite ends of the containers so as to turn the folded containers about an axis extending in the direction of travel and to bring opposite ends thereof into a position for advance on opposite sides of the path of travel of cooperating gripping head assemblies which gripping head assemblies are positioned on said supporting means so as to grip the endmost panels on opposite sides of a folded container.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
229 words
An apparatus for opening a folded tubular packaging container of the type which comprises a plurality of connected wall panels adapted to be unfolded by hinging in opposite directions the panels adjacent fold lines at opposite ends of the container, said apparatus comprising means for advancing successive containers in folded condition along a predetermined path with the container end fold lines extending in the direction of travel, panel gripping head assemblies, means for supporting said panel gripping head assemblies in paired relation for travel along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, means on said gripping head assemblies for engaging in gripping relation with panels adjacent said container end fold lines and disposed on opposite side faces of the container, means for pivoting said panel gripping heads in opposite directions about axes extending in the direction of travel so as to hinge the panels which are gripped in opposite directions about said end fold lines and thereby open the container into tubular form, said means for advancing said folded containers comprising an endless traveling conveyor member having spaced pairs of lugs thereon for engaging in apertures in said folded containers and guide members mounted along opposite sides of said conveyor member for guiding opposite ends of successive containers so as to tilt the containers about an axis extending in the direction of advance of said containers.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
229 words
An apparatus for opening a folded tubular packaging container of the type which comprises a plurality of connected wall panels adapted to be unfolded by hinging in opposite directions the panels adjacent fold lines at opposite ends of the container, said apparatus comprising means for advancing successive containers in folded condition along a predetermined path with the container end fold lines extending in the direction of travel, panel gripping head assemblies, means for supporting said panel gripping head assemblies in paired relation for travel along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, means on said gripping head assemblies for engaging in gripping relation with panels adjacent said container end fold lines and disposed on opposite side faces of the container, means for pivoting said panel gripping heads in opposite directions about axes extending in the direction of travel so as to hinge the panels which are gripped in opposite directions about said end fold lines and thereby open the container into tubular form, said means for advancing said folded containers comprising an endless traveling conveyor member having spaced pairs of lugs thereon for engaging in apertures in said folded containers and guide members mounted along opposite sides of said conveyor member for guiding opposite ends of successive containers so as to tilt the containers about an axis extending in the direction of advance of said containers.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for opening a collapsed tubular container of the type which is characterized by a series of hingedly connected wall panels adapted to collapse by folding on axially extending, parallel hinge forming fold lines into a common plane and to be opened by swinging the panels at opposite ends in opposite directions about their connecting hinge folds, said apparatus comprising conveyor means for advancing successive containers in collapsed condition along a predetermined path with the hinge forming end fold lines thereof extending in the direction of travel, gripping head assemblies, means supporting said gripping head assemblies for travel in paired, laterally spaced relation in paths extending along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, means on each of said gripping head assemblies for engaging in gripping relation a panel adjacent an end fold line of a container which is advanced thereto by said container advancing means, means swingably mounting each of said panel gripping means on said supporting means on an axis extending in the direction of travel of the containers, and means for swInging said panel gripping means of each pair thereof in opposite directions so as to swing the panels which are gripped in opposite directions about the hinge forming end fold lines and thereby open the container into tubular form.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for opening a collapsed tubular container of the type which is characterized by a series of hingedly connected wall panels adapted to collapse by folding on axially extending, parallel hinge forming fold lines into a common plane and to be opened by swinging the panels at opposite ends in opposite directions about their connecting hinge folds, said apparatus comprising conveyor means for advancing successive containers in collapsed condition along a predetermined path with the hinge forming end fold lines thereof extending in the direction of travel, gripping head assemblies, means supporting said gripping head assemblies for travel in paired, laterally spaced relation in paths extending along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, means on each of said gripping head assemblies for engaging in gripping relation a panel adjacent an end fold line of a container which is advanced thereto by said container advancing means, means swingably mounting each of said panel gripping means on said supporting means on an axis extending in the direction of travel of the containers, and means for swInging said panel gripping means of each pair thereof in opposite directions so as to swing the panels which are gripped in opposite directions about the hinge forming end fold lines and thereby open the container into tubular form.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
222 words
An apparatus for opening a collapsed tubular container of the type which is characterized by a series of hingedly connected wall panels adapted to collapse by folding into a common plane and to be opened by swinging the panels at opposite ends in opposite directions about their connecting hinge folds, said apparatus comprising means for advancing successive containers in collapsed condition along a predetermined path with the end fold lines thereof extending in the direction of travel, gripping head assemblies supported for travel in paired, laterally spaced relation along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, traveling conveyor members on which said gripping head assemblies are supported which traveling conveyor members are supported for traversing a path extending in part along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, means on each of said gripping head assemblies for engaging in gripping relation a panel adjacent an end fold line of a container which is advanced thereto by said container advancing means, each said panel gripping means being swingably mounted, and means for swinging the panel gripping means of each pair thereof in opposite directions about axes extending in the direction of travel so as to swing the panels which are gripped in opposite directions about the end fold lines and thereby open the container into tubular form.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
222 words
An apparatus for opening a collapsed tubular container of the type which is characterized by a series of hingedly connected wall panels adapted to collapse by folding into a common plane and to be opened by swinging the panels at opposite ends in opposite directions about their connecting hinge folds, said apparatus comprising means for advancing successive containers in collapsed condition along a predetermined path with the end fold lines thereof extending in the direction of travel, gripping head assemblies supported for travel in paired, laterally spaced relation along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, traveling conveyor members on which said gripping head assemblies are supported which traveling conveyor members are supported for traversing a path extending in part along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, means on each of said gripping head assemblies for engaging in gripping relation a panel adjacent an end fold line of a container which is advanced thereto by said container advancing means, each said panel gripping means being swingably mounted, and means for swinging the panel gripping means of each pair thereof in opposite directions about axes extending in the direction of travel so as to swing the panels which are gripped in opposite directions about the end fold lines and thereby open the container into tubular form.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for swinging said panel gripping means comprises a cam follower mounted on said panel gripping means and means forming cooperating cam tracks extending along opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said gripping head assemblies each comprise a bracket mounted on said traveling conveyor member and having a pivot member thereon constituting a swingable mounting for said panel gripping means, said panel gripping means comprising a support member fixed on said pivot member and a vacuum cup on said support member, means connecting said vacuum cup with a vacuum source and means controlling the application of vacuum during a portion of the travel of the head assembly.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for advancing said containers in collapsed condition comprises a traveling conveyor having spaced container engaging lugs thereon and associated means extending along a portion of the path traversed by said conveyor for confining the ends of the containers to a predetermined path.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said means for confining the ends of the containers to a predetermined path comprises channel forming guide members extending adjacent said traveling conveyor and providing guide paths for the ends of the containers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 said traveling conveyor members on which said head assemblies are supported, are mounted on generally rectangular, laterally spaced frames disposed on opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means with portions of the paths thereof in laterally spaced, parallel relation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
70 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said traveling conveyor members each have mounted in spaced relation thereon a plurality of said gripping head assemblies and on one of said conveyor members there are mounted associated trailing members for engaging portions of the opened container for guiding the container as it is advanced along a lateral path upon the release of the opened container by the gripping means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein each of said gripping head assemblies includes a pair of cooperating plate members which are adapted to close on a portion of the container when thE panel gripping means is operated to swing the container panel which it engages to open position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein back up means is provided at each side of the path of advance of the containers which is positioned to engage the opposite face of the collapsed container when an end panel is engaged by said panel gripping means so as to insure that the panel gripping means seats on the panel for effective gripping thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said back up means comprises a roller member mounted on a pivotally mounted arm and means operating in timed relation to the movement of said panel gripping means to swing said back up means into operative position.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for opening collapsed tubular containers of the type which are characterized by a plurality of hingedly connected wall panels adapted to be opened into squared up condition by swinging the panels at the opposite ends about hinge lines at said opposite ends, said apparatus comprising a pair of laterally spaced support frames disposed in a generally vertical common plane, a traveling conveyor on each frame having mounted thereon a series of container panel gripping head assemblies which are arranged for travel in oppositely disposed, paired relation and in paths which have laterally spaced, parallel portions, means for feeding collapsed containers downwardly between said frames, means on said gripping head assemblies for engaging container panels at the ends of collapsed containers and on opposite faces of said collapsed containers and means for operating said gripping head assemblies so as to grip said panels and swinging the same in opposite directions about the associated hinge lines to open up the containers.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for opening collapsed tubular containers of the type which are characterized by a plurality of hingedly connected wall panels adapted to be opened into squared up condition by swinging the panels at the opposite ends about hinge lines at said opposite ends, said apparatus comprising a pair of laterally spaced support frames disposed in a generally vertical common plane, a traveling conveyor on each frame having mounted thereon a series of container panel gripping head assemblies which are arranged for travel in oppositely disposed, paired relation and in paths which have laterally spaced, parallel portions, means for feeding collapsed containers downwardly between said frames, means on said gripping head assemblies for engaging container panels at the ends of collapsed containers and on opposite faces of said collapsed containers and means for operating said gripping head assemblies so as to grip said panels and swinging the same in opposite directions about the associated hinge lines to open up the containers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said gripping head assemblies have vacuum cup members mounted thereon for gripping engagement with the container panels, and means connecting the vacuum cups with a source of vacuum.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said gripping head assemblies each comprise a supporting bracket member, a pivot member mounted at one end thereon, a support block on the free end of said pivot member, a vacuum cup on said support block, vacuum passageways extending through said block, said pivot member and said bracket member and means connecting said passageways with a source of vacuum.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein said pivot member has a radial arm, a linkage connecting said radial arm with a plate member pivotally mounted on an arm extending from said bracket and carrying a cam follower, and means forming a cam track along the path of travel of said head for receiving said cam follower so as to control the movement of said vacuum cup support block.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said traveling conveyors are mounted on opposite faces of said support frames and arranged to travel in offset, parallel vertical paths.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said support frames are disposed in generally parallel, vertical planes which are offset relative to each other and said traveling conveyors are mounted on opposite faces of said frames.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said gripping head assemblies have means for engaging the container end panels which comprises a vacuum cup, a mounting block for said vacuum cup, a pivot support for said mounting block and cam means for pivoting said mounting block into gripping relation with the container panel so as to grip said panel.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
86 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said traveling conveyors are arranged to carry the gripping head assemblies away from the containers at the bottom of the laterally spaced paths and said gripping head assemblies on one of said traveling conveyors each have associated container engaging arm members in trailing relation for engaging top portions of the opened container when they reach the bottom of saId path so as to advance the open containers when the containers are freed from said gripping head assemblies.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
95 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said gripping head assemblies each have vacuum cup means pivotally mounted thereon and associated means for swinging the vacuum cup means into engagement with an end panel on a container when the head assembly is advanced along said parallel path, means connecting the vacuum cup means with a source of vacuum and control means for applying vacuum while the vacuum cup means is traversing said parallel path so as to grip the container panel and to release the container at the bottom end of the path.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
228 words
An apparatus for opening a collapsed tubular container of the type which comprises a series of wall panels which are hingedly connected on parallel, axially extending hinge forming fold lines for collapse into a common plane and adapted to be opened by hinging the panels at opposite ends in opposite directions about hinge forming end folds, said apparatus comprising means for advancing successive containers in collapsed condition downwardly along a generally vertical path with the container end folds extending in the direction of travel, panel gripping assemblies, means supporting said panel gripping assemblies for travel in oppositely disposed, paired relation on opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, means on each said gripping assembly for engaging in gripping relation with a panel adjacent an end fold of each said container, means for turning the panel gripping means on said supporting means in opposite directions about pivotal axes extending in the direction of travel of said containers so as to hinge in opposite directions the panels which are gripped and thereby open the container into tubular form, means for releasing the panel gripping means so as to free the open containers, conveyor means for advancing assemblies of articles in a path below the container opening apparatus, and means associated with the opening apparatus for guiding the opened containers as they are dropped onto successive article assemblies.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
228 words
An apparatus for opening a collapsed tubular container of the type which comprises a series of wall panels which are hingedly connected on parallel, axially extending hinge forming fold lines for collapse into a common plane and adapted to be opened by hinging the panels at opposite ends in opposite directions about hinge forming end folds, said apparatus comprising means for advancing successive containers in collapsed condition downwardly along a generally vertical path with the container end folds extending in the direction of travel, panel gripping assemblies, means supporting said panel gripping assemblies for travel in oppositely disposed, paired relation on opposite sides of the path of said container advancing means, means on each said gripping assembly for engaging in gripping relation with a panel adjacent an end fold of each said container, means for turning the panel gripping means on said supporting means in opposite directions about pivotal axes extending in the direction of travel of said containers so as to hinge in opposite directions the panels which are gripped and thereby open the container into tubular form, means for releasing the panel gripping means so as to free the open containers, conveyor means for advancing assemblies of articles in a path below the container opening apparatus, and means associated with the opening apparatus for guiding the opened containers as they are dropped onto successive article assemblies.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |