Automatic carton closing machine equipped with balancing tether suspensions of the elevating flap-folding and flap-anchoring head

Claim 1

In an automatic carton closing machine for folding down and inward upwardly extending top flaps of cartons being transported longitudinally therethrough along a lateral path defined by a lateral base structure, the combination with an upwardly and downwardly movable elevator head for effecting the folding of such top flaps when in the vicinity of the top of such a carton and the latter passes forward along the carton lateral path, said elevator head being appreciably elongated longitudinally in the direction of the carton lateral path with support thereby in longitudinal succession of both flap folding equipment and folded flap anchoring equipment to hazard longitudinal tipping resulting from unbalanced longitudinal distribution of forces, of 1. an elevator head-supporting tower structure comprising a plurality of upright members supported by the base structure and located on opposite sides of the carton lateral path, means defining upwardly extending guide tracks on at least some of said tower upright members located to opposite sides of the carton lateral path and movably engageable by follower means carried by said elevator head on opposite sides of said path for up and down motion of said head while constraining its movement in the direction generally parallel to the carton path, said tower and base structures carrying at least a pair of transversely separated flexible-tether guide means located to opposite sides of said carton path below said elevator head and a second pair of such transversely spaced guide means above said elevator head; 2. a pair of flexible tethers each having one end anchored to a first portion of said elevator head and extending down to and lapped up as an inverted loop about the one of said first pair of guide means on the same side of said carton path, then up over the one of said second pair of guide means on the same side of this carton path and finally down as a second loop on the same side of this carton path to anchorage on a second portion of said head appreciably spaced longitudinally from said first head portion whereby lateral orientation of said head is maintained in up and down elevating movement of the latter; and power driving means connected to said head to lift and lower the latter.