CA1040915A - Means for and the method of expanding a carton - Google Patents
Means for and the method of expanding a cartonInfo
- Publication number
- CA1040915A CA1040915A CA289,875A CA289875A CA1040915A CA 1040915 A CA1040915 A CA 1040915A CA 289875 A CA289875 A CA 289875A CA 1040915 A CA1040915 A CA 1040915A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- carton
- flap
- flaps
- expanding
- collapsed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Means for and the method of expanding and transferring a carton from a stack of collapsed cartons in a magazine to a bucket on a conveyor wherein the cartons comprise at one end thereof two side flaps and a front flap which includes a tuck flap. Stationary cams are utilized to partially expand a carton while it is being transferred and pushing the front flap inwardly while the carton is partially expanded which spreads the second one of the side flaps outwardly. This second side flap is then held while the front flap is released and the first side flap and front flap are spread outwardly from the inside Finally, all the flaps are maintained in a spread position while the carton is fully expanded.
Means for and the method of expanding and transferring a carton from a stack of collapsed cartons in a magazine to a bucket on a conveyor wherein the cartons comprise at one end thereof two side flaps and a front flap which includes a tuck flap. Stationary cams are utilized to partially expand a carton while it is being transferred and pushing the front flap inwardly while the carton is partially expanded which spreads the second one of the side flaps outwardly. This second side flap is then held while the front flap is released and the first side flap and front flap are spread outwardly from the inside Finally, all the flaps are maintained in a spread position while the carton is fully expanded.
Description
1(~4Q9~5 This application is a division from Canadian Patent Application No. 236,933, filed October 2, 1975.
This invention relates to packaging machines, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for expanding collapsed cartons. Prior art machines utilize a single pivoted suction device which removes the lowermost carton of a stack of collapsed cartons and deposits the carton in the bucket of a conveyor by either stradling the conveyor or passing between a split conveyor. Means are employed between the stack and the con-10 veyor to expand the carton. The speed of this type of machine is limited in that the suction device cannot be brought back to the ,, stack of collapsed cartons until the carton moves out of the way.
t Attempts to solve this problem include the use of two or more elements to transfer the carton in different stages which greatly ,f complicates the machine. One of the simplest of these mechanisms comprises a pair of spaced transfer wheels provided with cutouts.
'f A pivoted suction device is used to extract the` carton from the ~, magazine and to deposit it within the cutouts of the transfer wheels. The carton is then transferred from the wheels to a con-~ 20 veyor bucket. Some variations in carton size can be accommodated 3 ~ by offsetting the cutouts of one wheel to *he othe`r,,however, ' only a limited size range can be accommodated.
~ In addition to expanding-the carton,,the flaps at 1 one end of thè carton mus~ be'spread outwardly so that they do not ' , interfere with the insertion d a product into the expanded carton.
The'flaps of the carton typical~ly comprise tw~ equal side flaps ~ and a front flap which includes a tuck flap at the end the're,cf'f'and ,~
,~ whi'ch'extends beyond the side flaps. Since the front flap extends ; be'yon~ thé side- flaps it is reIative,Iy easy to employ a stationary f 30 cam surface' for engaging the'front flap and spreading it back'as s ~., 16~4$~)915 the expanded carton is advanced past the cam surface. However, the side flaps present a problem since they are of equal length.
This problem is solved by employing a rotating or reciprocating member which is timed to wipe against one of the side flaps and spread it back as the expanded carton is being transferred from a stack to a conveyor. With one side flap spread back, it is then relatively easy to spread the other~ side flaps back by conveying the opened carton by a stationary cam surface as long as the carton is orientated so that the remaining side flap to be spread ' 10 is the trailing flap of the moving carton.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a -~novel method of and means for expanding a carton during transfer and spreading the flaps of at least one end of a carton during transfer to enable a product ~ be easily inserted in the expanded carton.
The present invention provides a packaging machine ', having a conveyor with'spaced buckets for carrying expanded car-l .
j tons and a magazine having an opening therein for extracting -~
said cartons from said magazine,' each'of said collapsed cartons 20 having flaps at at least one end thereof which'lie'in the same ''' plane as the sides of the carton from which they extend and which they extend and which comprise a irst side'flap, a second side flap, and front flap including a-tuck flap, said front-flap ex- -tending beyond said side flaps and lying in the same plane as said first side flap, in which''the invention comprises mean~ for ' -transferring and expanding collapsed cartons from a magazine to a ' "
carton conveyor and spreading the flaps thereof, said means com-prising: means for engaging and extracting from said stack'a ''' ''' single carton through'the opening in said magazine'and carrying '' said carton -along a path'to a co~ve~or bucket; a first stationary .~ .
i cam surace for'engaging the longitudinal edge'and side of a col-'~f ~.
.lf , 2 , . .
1~4$9~S
.
lapsed carton from which said first side flap extends as said carton is carried along said path for partially expanding said carton; a second stationary cam surface for engaging and partially closing the front flap of said partially expanded carton as said carton is carried along said path so that it spreads said second side flap outwardly, said second cam surface being effective to disengage from said front flap as said carton `
is carried along said path; a third stationary cam surface for engaging the inside of said second side flap before said front flap is disengaged from said second stationary cam to engage the ' inside surfaces of said first and front flaps and spread them outwardly as said carton is carried along said path and by said conveyor bucket; and a fourth stationary cam surface for cooper-ating with said conveyor buckets and being effective to fully -^~ expand said carton within a conveyor bucket. ~
;-~ The present invention aiso provides a method of ex- . :
panding a collapsed carton and spreading the flaps of at least one end of said carton, the flaps of said carton, when it is in the collapsed state, lie in thè same:plane as the sides of the . 20 carton from which they extend and while said carton is in the collapsed s~te, said flaps comprise a first side flap, a second side flap and a front flap including a.tuck flap, said front j flap extending beyond said side.flaps and lying in the same plane as said first side flap,.said method comprises: partiallys-~
expanding said carton; closing said front flap while said carton is partially expanded and thereby spreading said sadond flap outwardly; holding said second flap open while spreading said first and front flaps outwardly b~ applying pressure from the:
inside.surfaces thereof; and fu~ly expanding said carton .while holding said first, second and ~front flaps in their spread position.
";~ .
., 1~4~915 The invention further provides a method of expanding a collapsed carton and spreading the flaps of at least one end of said carton, the flaps of said carton, when it is in the collap-sed state, lie in the same plane as the sides of the carton from which they extend and while said carton is in the collapsed state, said flaps comprise a first side flap, a second side flap and a front flap including a tuck flap, said front flap extending beyond said side flaps and lying in the same plane as said first side flap, said method comprises: stacking collapsed cartons in 10 a magazine with the front and first flaps down; extracting a carton from said stack by means of a suction device and transport-ing said carton downwardly; partially expanding said carton dur~
i ing said ~ownward motion; closing said front flaps while said -~;
carton is partially expanded during said downward motion and thereby spreading said second flap outwardly; partially rotating .
¦ said carton around its longitudinal axis during said downward motion so that second flap extends below the remainder of said ~ carton; engaging the inside surface of said second flap with a ` :-3 rigid member; and rotating said carton around its longitudinal ~¦ 20 axis during said downward motion while releasing said front flap .
¦ so that said first and front flaps will be spread outwardly from the inside by said rigid member; and fully expanding said carton while holding said first, second and front flaps in their open - -position.
In the drawings:
F ~ re 1 i8 a view in side elevation showing apparatus or transferring and expanding collapsed cartons and embodying r . :
~':. '.
1~:34'~1t915 the principles of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary exploded view of a valve for controlling the vacuum to the second suction device; and Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary views illustrat-ing the sequence of steps for expanding a carton and spreading the flaps thereof as the carton is transferred from a magazine stack to a bucket conveyor.
Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2 the packaging machine to which the invention is applied is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and includes framework indicated at 12. A conveyor generally indicated by the reference numeral 14, extends longitudinally of the machine and is provided with a plurality of spaced pairs of lugs 16 which form pockets or buck-ets 18 the~ebetween. Buckets 18 are adapted to receive expanded cartons and carry them along the machine to be subsequently filled with product by mechanism not shown but well known to the_ art.
The magazine for supporting the collapsed cartons is identified by the reference numeral 20 and is mounted on the framework 12. Magazine 20 comprises an upper wall 22 and lower wall 24 which are adjustable towards each other for accommodating different sizes of cartons. The collapsed cartons indicatedby the reference numeral C are arranged in a stack within the maga-zine. The mechanism for extracting cartons from the magazine and transferring them to the conveyor 14 comprises a first suction means generally indicated at 26 and a second suction means gener-ally indicated by the reerence numeral 28.
~ .
~ ~5~ ; ~
,, ~ .
1~4~9~5 Suction means 26 includes a block 30 fixed to a pivoted shaft 32 and a pair of hollow arms 34 adjustably mounted in block 30. A pair of suction cups 36 are mounted near the end of each arm 34 and are pneumatically connected to the hollow interior of the arm. Tubes 38 connect the opposite ends of arms 34 to a source of air at sub-atmospheric pressure indicated at 40 to create suction in cups 36. Arms 34 are reciprocated by drive `
mechanism within the enclosed framework 12 between a carton extruding position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 to and 10 slightly beyond a first point or position shown in full lines in Figure 1. As arms 34 move away from the dotted line position, the lowermost carton is extracted from the stack within magazine 20.
Escapement mechanism, not shown but well known in the art, allows the cartons to be extracted one at a time.
Suction means 28 includes a block 42 fixed to a shaft 44 and three suction units 46 mounted at equid istant points on the ,~ block 42. Each unit 46 includes a bracket 48 which supports a ~ pair of tubes 50. There is a suction cup 52 mounted on the ends :~ of each tube 50. Shaft 44 is rotated by drive mechanism within .:
~ 20 enclosed framework 12 in synchronism with the first suction means 26 so that shaft 44 makes one revolution for each three recipro~
~: cations of arms 34. The timing is such that the suction cups 52 ~ -of one of the units 46 will engage a carton being transported by suction cqps 36 when arms 34 reach the first position indicated ,s b~ full lines in Figure 1. The suction to cups 34 is cut off by a valve 54 located intermediate lines 38 and source 40. A cam 56 driven in timed relation with the second suction means 28 closes ~-,~, , ,~ .
lf~4~91S
valve 54 to deactivate first suction means 26 when it is in the full line position as shown in Figure 1. The carton is thereby released from first suction means 26 just after it is engaged and held by the suction cups 52 of second suction means 28.
Arms 34 have a small amount of overtravel after suction is cut off to the cups 36 to allow the carton to be swung down by one of the units 46 of second suction means 28 from the first point o~ position represented by partially expanded carton Cl to a second point or position within one of the conveyor buckets 18 just ahead of the position shown by fully-expanded carton C2.
Valve means generally indicated by the reference num-~ eral 58 in Figure 3 operated in timed relation with first suction `i1 means 28 to activate each unit 46 when it reaches the position of engagement with a carton at the first point indicated by carton -:~ :
Cl and to deactivate the unit after it has placed the carton within a bucket 18.
Block 42 has a port 59 for each unit 46. The tubes 50 -~
of each unit 46 are connected to their respective ports by channels 60 within the block, see Figure 2. Valve 58 comprises a first stationary disc 62 which contains a radial slot 64 and a ~econd disc 66 which is fixed to shaft 44 for rotation therewith.
Slot 64 is pneumatically connected to subatmospheric pressure source 40 by an air line 68 so that a vacuum condition is always present in slot 64. Disc 66 has three slots 70 which extend . :
along the face of disc 66 which abuts disc 62. Slots 70 are dis-~ posed at equidistant pointæ along the face of disc 66 and i pneumatically communicate with slot 64 during periods of alignment ., ~ .
_7_ "
1C~4~915 therewith as disc 66 rotates relative to disc 62. Air lines 72 connect slots 70 to corresponding ports S9 in block 42 so that as each unit 46 moves from the first position to the second posi-tion above the conveyor, its corresponding slot 70 will be aligned with slot 64 and the unit will be activated. The unit will be deactivated during the remainder of its travel as its corresponding slot 70 will not be aligned with slot 64. Each unit 46 will be activated in turn as it travels between the first and second positions. Additional blocks 42 with units 46 could be employed for large packages if desired. The air lines 72 could be split to accommodate additional units. By the same token some of the suction cups 52 or 36 could be removed and the openings sealed to accommodate smaller packages.
The means for expanding the cartons and spreading the flaps thereof as the cartons are transferred, comprise several stationary cams. The collapsed cartons in the magazine have ~ flaps which must be spread at at least one end thereof to enable ,~ product to be easily inserted within the expanded carton. These ` flaps comprise a first side flap 74, a second side flap 76 and a , 20 front flap 78 with a tuck portion 80 which lie in the same planes '~ as the sides of the cartons from which they extend. The first . ~ide flap and front flap lie in the same plane when the carton is in the collapsed state in the magazine.
. The steps of expanding a carton and spreading the flaps are shown diagrammatically in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7. After arms .) .
34 have extracted a collapsed carton from the stack in the maga-zine, the ~pper leading edge 82 and the surface 83 of the carton 1~4~915 strike the lower surface of a first stationary cam 84 which causes the carton to expand as shown in Figure 4. While the carton is partially expanded, the f~ont flap 78 strikes the inside surface of a second stationary cam 88. This forces front 1ap 78 inward ly toward the carton and since the carton is only partially expanded, second side flap 76 is engaged by the front flap and spread outwardly as shown in Figure 4. As the carton continues to be moved downwardly, flap 76 which now extends below the carton strikes the inside surface of a third cam 90.
10 Flap 76 is held in the spread position by cam 90 as the carton continues to move down so that front flap 78 springs free of cam 88 as shown in Figure 5. At this point, the carton is trans-ferred from first suction means 26 to second suction means 28.
The carton is thereby carried downwardly and partially rotated : -' around its longitudinal axis as it swings along an arc from the center of shaft 44. This motion brings the first side flap 74 into contact with cam 90 and is spread outwardly as the carton continues to be carried down as shown in Figure 6. -Front flap 78 rides over cam 90 and continues to ride 20 over an extending portion 92 of cam 90 after the carton is brought to the fecond position into a hucket 18. The suction to the unit 46 carrying the carton is cut off at the second point and the carton is then transported horizontally by the trailing lug 16 which forms part of the bucket 18 into which the carton is depos-ited. Extension 92 continues to maintain side flaps 74 and 76 in the sprefad po~ition. The carton is nearly expanded as the lugs as~ume a vertical position as shown in Figure 7. Full expansion ~ _ 9_ ,, .
1~4~9~5 to the point where the carton is completely squared or expanded occurs when the carton engages the lower surfaces of a pair of fourth cams 94 and is pushed down to the conveyor so that the opening 96 of the opened carton is below extension 92 to receive a product as shown in Figure 7. Walls 98 of a product conveyor which travels in synchronism with conveyor 14 are aligned with : the carton as it travels horizontally within a bucket 180 The inside surface of extension 92 maintains the side flaps 74 and 76 in the spread position as the carton is fully expanded. When the carton reaches its final lower position as indicated by carton C3 in Figure 7 the inside edge of walls 98 maintain side flaps 74 and ,-76 in the spread position. Front flap 78 is spread outwardly by ~ the inside surface of extension 92 as the carton is forced down j by cams 94 as illustrate~ by carton C3 in Figure 7. At this :.-point all of the flaps are spread, the carton is fully expanded and is ready for the insertion of a product. -.-.
~ .
.~ . .
.s --10--,S
This invention relates to packaging machines, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for expanding collapsed cartons. Prior art machines utilize a single pivoted suction device which removes the lowermost carton of a stack of collapsed cartons and deposits the carton in the bucket of a conveyor by either stradling the conveyor or passing between a split conveyor. Means are employed between the stack and the con-10 veyor to expand the carton. The speed of this type of machine is limited in that the suction device cannot be brought back to the ,, stack of collapsed cartons until the carton moves out of the way.
t Attempts to solve this problem include the use of two or more elements to transfer the carton in different stages which greatly ,f complicates the machine. One of the simplest of these mechanisms comprises a pair of spaced transfer wheels provided with cutouts.
'f A pivoted suction device is used to extract the` carton from the ~, magazine and to deposit it within the cutouts of the transfer wheels. The carton is then transferred from the wheels to a con-~ 20 veyor bucket. Some variations in carton size can be accommodated 3 ~ by offsetting the cutouts of one wheel to *he othe`r,,however, ' only a limited size range can be accommodated.
~ In addition to expanding-the carton,,the flaps at 1 one end of thè carton mus~ be'spread outwardly so that they do not ' , interfere with the insertion d a product into the expanded carton.
The'flaps of the carton typical~ly comprise tw~ equal side flaps ~ and a front flap which includes a tuck flap at the end the're,cf'f'and ,~
,~ whi'ch'extends beyond the side flaps. Since the front flap extends ; be'yon~ thé side- flaps it is reIative,Iy easy to employ a stationary f 30 cam surface' for engaging the'front flap and spreading it back'as s ~., 16~4$~)915 the expanded carton is advanced past the cam surface. However, the side flaps present a problem since they are of equal length.
This problem is solved by employing a rotating or reciprocating member which is timed to wipe against one of the side flaps and spread it back as the expanded carton is being transferred from a stack to a conveyor. With one side flap spread back, it is then relatively easy to spread the other~ side flaps back by conveying the opened carton by a stationary cam surface as long as the carton is orientated so that the remaining side flap to be spread ' 10 is the trailing flap of the moving carton.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a -~novel method of and means for expanding a carton during transfer and spreading the flaps of at least one end of a carton during transfer to enable a product ~ be easily inserted in the expanded carton.
The present invention provides a packaging machine ', having a conveyor with'spaced buckets for carrying expanded car-l .
j tons and a magazine having an opening therein for extracting -~
said cartons from said magazine,' each'of said collapsed cartons 20 having flaps at at least one end thereof which'lie'in the same ''' plane as the sides of the carton from which they extend and which they extend and which comprise a irst side'flap, a second side flap, and front flap including a-tuck flap, said front-flap ex- -tending beyond said side flaps and lying in the same plane as said first side flap, in which''the invention comprises mean~ for ' -transferring and expanding collapsed cartons from a magazine to a ' "
carton conveyor and spreading the flaps thereof, said means com-prising: means for engaging and extracting from said stack'a ''' ''' single carton through'the opening in said magazine'and carrying '' said carton -along a path'to a co~ve~or bucket; a first stationary .~ .
i cam surace for'engaging the longitudinal edge'and side of a col-'~f ~.
.lf , 2 , . .
1~4$9~S
.
lapsed carton from which said first side flap extends as said carton is carried along said path for partially expanding said carton; a second stationary cam surface for engaging and partially closing the front flap of said partially expanded carton as said carton is carried along said path so that it spreads said second side flap outwardly, said second cam surface being effective to disengage from said front flap as said carton `
is carried along said path; a third stationary cam surface for engaging the inside of said second side flap before said front flap is disengaged from said second stationary cam to engage the ' inside surfaces of said first and front flaps and spread them outwardly as said carton is carried along said path and by said conveyor bucket; and a fourth stationary cam surface for cooper-ating with said conveyor buckets and being effective to fully -^~ expand said carton within a conveyor bucket. ~
;-~ The present invention aiso provides a method of ex- . :
panding a collapsed carton and spreading the flaps of at least one end of said carton, the flaps of said carton, when it is in the collapsed state, lie in thè same:plane as the sides of the . 20 carton from which they extend and while said carton is in the collapsed s~te, said flaps comprise a first side flap, a second side flap and a front flap including a.tuck flap, said front j flap extending beyond said side.flaps and lying in the same plane as said first side flap,.said method comprises: partiallys-~
expanding said carton; closing said front flap while said carton is partially expanded and thereby spreading said sadond flap outwardly; holding said second flap open while spreading said first and front flaps outwardly b~ applying pressure from the:
inside.surfaces thereof; and fu~ly expanding said carton .while holding said first, second and ~front flaps in their spread position.
";~ .
., 1~4~915 The invention further provides a method of expanding a collapsed carton and spreading the flaps of at least one end of said carton, the flaps of said carton, when it is in the collap-sed state, lie in the same plane as the sides of the carton from which they extend and while said carton is in the collapsed state, said flaps comprise a first side flap, a second side flap and a front flap including a tuck flap, said front flap extending beyond said side flaps and lying in the same plane as said first side flap, said method comprises: stacking collapsed cartons in 10 a magazine with the front and first flaps down; extracting a carton from said stack by means of a suction device and transport-ing said carton downwardly; partially expanding said carton dur~
i ing said ~ownward motion; closing said front flaps while said -~;
carton is partially expanded during said downward motion and thereby spreading said second flap outwardly; partially rotating .
¦ said carton around its longitudinal axis during said downward motion so that second flap extends below the remainder of said ~ carton; engaging the inside surface of said second flap with a ` :-3 rigid member; and rotating said carton around its longitudinal ~¦ 20 axis during said downward motion while releasing said front flap .
¦ so that said first and front flaps will be spread outwardly from the inside by said rigid member; and fully expanding said carton while holding said first, second and front flaps in their open - -position.
In the drawings:
F ~ re 1 i8 a view in side elevation showing apparatus or transferring and expanding collapsed cartons and embodying r . :
~':. '.
1~:34'~1t915 the principles of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary exploded view of a valve for controlling the vacuum to the second suction device; and Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary views illustrat-ing the sequence of steps for expanding a carton and spreading the flaps thereof as the carton is transferred from a magazine stack to a bucket conveyor.
Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2 the packaging machine to which the invention is applied is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and includes framework indicated at 12. A conveyor generally indicated by the reference numeral 14, extends longitudinally of the machine and is provided with a plurality of spaced pairs of lugs 16 which form pockets or buck-ets 18 the~ebetween. Buckets 18 are adapted to receive expanded cartons and carry them along the machine to be subsequently filled with product by mechanism not shown but well known to the_ art.
The magazine for supporting the collapsed cartons is identified by the reference numeral 20 and is mounted on the framework 12. Magazine 20 comprises an upper wall 22 and lower wall 24 which are adjustable towards each other for accommodating different sizes of cartons. The collapsed cartons indicatedby the reference numeral C are arranged in a stack within the maga-zine. The mechanism for extracting cartons from the magazine and transferring them to the conveyor 14 comprises a first suction means generally indicated at 26 and a second suction means gener-ally indicated by the reerence numeral 28.
~ .
~ ~5~ ; ~
,, ~ .
1~4~9~5 Suction means 26 includes a block 30 fixed to a pivoted shaft 32 and a pair of hollow arms 34 adjustably mounted in block 30. A pair of suction cups 36 are mounted near the end of each arm 34 and are pneumatically connected to the hollow interior of the arm. Tubes 38 connect the opposite ends of arms 34 to a source of air at sub-atmospheric pressure indicated at 40 to create suction in cups 36. Arms 34 are reciprocated by drive `
mechanism within the enclosed framework 12 between a carton extruding position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 to and 10 slightly beyond a first point or position shown in full lines in Figure 1. As arms 34 move away from the dotted line position, the lowermost carton is extracted from the stack within magazine 20.
Escapement mechanism, not shown but well known in the art, allows the cartons to be extracted one at a time.
Suction means 28 includes a block 42 fixed to a shaft 44 and three suction units 46 mounted at equid istant points on the ,~ block 42. Each unit 46 includes a bracket 48 which supports a ~ pair of tubes 50. There is a suction cup 52 mounted on the ends :~ of each tube 50. Shaft 44 is rotated by drive mechanism within .:
~ 20 enclosed framework 12 in synchronism with the first suction means 26 so that shaft 44 makes one revolution for each three recipro~
~: cations of arms 34. The timing is such that the suction cups 52 ~ -of one of the units 46 will engage a carton being transported by suction cqps 36 when arms 34 reach the first position indicated ,s b~ full lines in Figure 1. The suction to cups 34 is cut off by a valve 54 located intermediate lines 38 and source 40. A cam 56 driven in timed relation with the second suction means 28 closes ~-,~, , ,~ .
lf~4~91S
valve 54 to deactivate first suction means 26 when it is in the full line position as shown in Figure 1. The carton is thereby released from first suction means 26 just after it is engaged and held by the suction cups 52 of second suction means 28.
Arms 34 have a small amount of overtravel after suction is cut off to the cups 36 to allow the carton to be swung down by one of the units 46 of second suction means 28 from the first point o~ position represented by partially expanded carton Cl to a second point or position within one of the conveyor buckets 18 just ahead of the position shown by fully-expanded carton C2.
Valve means generally indicated by the reference num-~ eral 58 in Figure 3 operated in timed relation with first suction `i1 means 28 to activate each unit 46 when it reaches the position of engagement with a carton at the first point indicated by carton -:~ :
Cl and to deactivate the unit after it has placed the carton within a bucket 18.
Block 42 has a port 59 for each unit 46. The tubes 50 -~
of each unit 46 are connected to their respective ports by channels 60 within the block, see Figure 2. Valve 58 comprises a first stationary disc 62 which contains a radial slot 64 and a ~econd disc 66 which is fixed to shaft 44 for rotation therewith.
Slot 64 is pneumatically connected to subatmospheric pressure source 40 by an air line 68 so that a vacuum condition is always present in slot 64. Disc 66 has three slots 70 which extend . :
along the face of disc 66 which abuts disc 62. Slots 70 are dis-~ posed at equidistant pointæ along the face of disc 66 and i pneumatically communicate with slot 64 during periods of alignment ., ~ .
_7_ "
1C~4~915 therewith as disc 66 rotates relative to disc 62. Air lines 72 connect slots 70 to corresponding ports S9 in block 42 so that as each unit 46 moves from the first position to the second posi-tion above the conveyor, its corresponding slot 70 will be aligned with slot 64 and the unit will be activated. The unit will be deactivated during the remainder of its travel as its corresponding slot 70 will not be aligned with slot 64. Each unit 46 will be activated in turn as it travels between the first and second positions. Additional blocks 42 with units 46 could be employed for large packages if desired. The air lines 72 could be split to accommodate additional units. By the same token some of the suction cups 52 or 36 could be removed and the openings sealed to accommodate smaller packages.
The means for expanding the cartons and spreading the flaps thereof as the cartons are transferred, comprise several stationary cams. The collapsed cartons in the magazine have ~ flaps which must be spread at at least one end thereof to enable ,~ product to be easily inserted within the expanded carton. These ` flaps comprise a first side flap 74, a second side flap 76 and a , 20 front flap 78 with a tuck portion 80 which lie in the same planes '~ as the sides of the cartons from which they extend. The first . ~ide flap and front flap lie in the same plane when the carton is in the collapsed state in the magazine.
. The steps of expanding a carton and spreading the flaps are shown diagrammatically in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7. After arms .) .
34 have extracted a collapsed carton from the stack in the maga-zine, the ~pper leading edge 82 and the surface 83 of the carton 1~4~915 strike the lower surface of a first stationary cam 84 which causes the carton to expand as shown in Figure 4. While the carton is partially expanded, the f~ont flap 78 strikes the inside surface of a second stationary cam 88. This forces front 1ap 78 inward ly toward the carton and since the carton is only partially expanded, second side flap 76 is engaged by the front flap and spread outwardly as shown in Figure 4. As the carton continues to be moved downwardly, flap 76 which now extends below the carton strikes the inside surface of a third cam 90.
10 Flap 76 is held in the spread position by cam 90 as the carton continues to move down so that front flap 78 springs free of cam 88 as shown in Figure 5. At this point, the carton is trans-ferred from first suction means 26 to second suction means 28.
The carton is thereby carried downwardly and partially rotated : -' around its longitudinal axis as it swings along an arc from the center of shaft 44. This motion brings the first side flap 74 into contact with cam 90 and is spread outwardly as the carton continues to be carried down as shown in Figure 6. -Front flap 78 rides over cam 90 and continues to ride 20 over an extending portion 92 of cam 90 after the carton is brought to the fecond position into a hucket 18. The suction to the unit 46 carrying the carton is cut off at the second point and the carton is then transported horizontally by the trailing lug 16 which forms part of the bucket 18 into which the carton is depos-ited. Extension 92 continues to maintain side flaps 74 and 76 in the sprefad po~ition. The carton is nearly expanded as the lugs as~ume a vertical position as shown in Figure 7. Full expansion ~ _ 9_ ,, .
1~4~9~5 to the point where the carton is completely squared or expanded occurs when the carton engages the lower surfaces of a pair of fourth cams 94 and is pushed down to the conveyor so that the opening 96 of the opened carton is below extension 92 to receive a product as shown in Figure 7. Walls 98 of a product conveyor which travels in synchronism with conveyor 14 are aligned with : the carton as it travels horizontally within a bucket 180 The inside surface of extension 92 maintains the side flaps 74 and 76 in the spread position as the carton is fully expanded. When the carton reaches its final lower position as indicated by carton C3 in Figure 7 the inside edge of walls 98 maintain side flaps 74 and ,-76 in the spread position. Front flap 78 is spread outwardly by ~ the inside surface of extension 92 as the carton is forced down j by cams 94 as illustrate~ by carton C3 in Figure 7. At this :.-point all of the flaps are spread, the carton is fully expanded and is ready for the insertion of a product. -.-.
~ .
.~ . .
.s --10--,S
Claims (5)
1. A packaging machine having a conveyor with spaced buckets for carrying expanded cartons and a magazine having an opening therein for extracting said cartons from said magazine, each of said collapsed cartons having flaps at at least one end thereof which lie in the same plane as the sides of the carton from which they extend and which comprise a first side flap, a second side flap, and a front flap including a tuck flap, said front flap extending beyond said side flaps and lying in the same plane as said first side flap, in which the invention comprises means for transferring and expanding collapsed cartons from a magazine to a carton conveyor and spreading the flaps thereof, said means comprising: means for engaging and extracting from said stack a single carton through the opening in said magazine and carrying said carton along a path to a conveyor bucket; a first stationary cam surface for engaging the longitudinal edge and side of a col-lapsed carton from which said first side flap extends as said car-ton is carried along said path for partially expanding said carton;
a second stationary cam surface for engaging and partially closing the front flap of said partially expanded carton as said carton is carried along said path so that it spreads said second side flap outwardly, said second cam surface being effective to disengage from said front flap as said carton is carried along said path; a third stationary cam surface for engaging the inside of said sec-ond side flap before said front flap is disengaged from said second stationary cam to engage the inside surfaces of said first and front flaps and spread them outwardly as said carton is carried along said path and by said conveyor bucket; and a fourth station-ary cam surface for cooperating with said conveyor buckets and being effective to fully expand said carton within a conveyor bucket.
a second stationary cam surface for engaging and partially closing the front flap of said partially expanded carton as said carton is carried along said path so that it spreads said second side flap outwardly, said second cam surface being effective to disengage from said front flap as said carton is carried along said path; a third stationary cam surface for engaging the inside of said sec-ond side flap before said front flap is disengaged from said second stationary cam to engage the inside surfaces of said first and front flaps and spread them outwardly as said carton is carried along said path and by said conveyor bucket; and a fourth station-ary cam surface for cooperating with said conveyor buckets and being effective to fully expand said carton within a conveyor bucket.
2. The packaging machine of claim 1 wherein said engaging and extracting means comprises a pivoted arm, at least one suction cup attached to said arm, a source of air at sub-at-mospheric pressure, an air line connecting said suction cup to said source, and drive means for reciprocating said pivoted arm between said magazine and an intermediate position.
3. The packaging machine of claim 1 or 2 wherein said engaging and extracting means further comprises a rotating shaft, at least one bracket assembly extending from said shaft, at least one suction cup attached to said bracket assembly, a source of air at sub-atmospheric pressure, and an air line con-necting said suction cup to said source.
4. A method of expanding a collapsed carton and spreading the flaps of at least one end of said carton, the flaps of said carton, when it is in the collapsed state, lie in the same plane as the sides of the carton from which they extend and while said carton is in the collapsed state, said flaps comprise a first side flap, a second side flap and a front flap including a tuck flap, said front flap extending beyond said side flaps and lying in the same plane as said first side flap, said method comprises:
partially expanding said carton; closing said front flap while said carton is partially expanded and thereby spreading said second flap outwardly; holding said second flap open while spreading said first and front flaps outwardly by applying pres-sure from the inside surfaces thereof; and fully expanding said carton while holding said first, second and front flaps in their spread position.
partially expanding said carton; closing said front flap while said carton is partially expanded and thereby spreading said second flap outwardly; holding said second flap open while spreading said first and front flaps outwardly by applying pres-sure from the inside surfaces thereof; and fully expanding said carton while holding said first, second and front flaps in their spread position.
5. A method of expanding a collapsed carton and spreading the flaps of at least one end of said carton, the flaps of said carton, when it is in the collapsed state, lie in the same plane as the sides of the. carton from which they extend and while said carton is in the collapsed state, said flaps comprise a first side flap, a second side flap and a front flap including a tuck flap, said front flap extending beyond said side flaps and lying in the same plane as said first side flap, said method comprises: stacking collapsed cartons in a magazine with the front and first flaps down; extracting a carton from said stack by means of a suction device and transporting said carton downwardly; partially expanding said carton during said downward motion; closing said front flaps while said carton is partially expanded during said downward motion and thereby spreading said second flap outwardly; partially rotating said carton around its longitudinal axis during said downward motion so that second flap extends below the remainder of said carton; engaging the inside surface of said second flap with a rigid member; and rotating said carton around its longitudinal axis during said downward motion while releasing said front flap so that said first and front flaps will be spread outwardly from the inside by said rigid member; and fully expanding said carton while holding said first, second and front flaps in their open position.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US05/512,763 US3956976A (en) | 1974-10-04 | 1974-10-04 | Apparatus for expanding and transferring a carton |
| CA236,933A CA1030375A (en) | 1974-10-04 | 1975-10-02 | Means for and the method of expanding and transferring a carton |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1040915A true CA1040915A (en) | 1978-10-24 |
Family
ID=25668102
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA289,875A Expired CA1040915A (en) | 1974-10-04 | 1977-10-31 | Means for and the method of expanding a carton |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1040915A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN112721299A (en) * | 2020-11-18 | 2021-04-30 | 江西华利包装科技有限责任公司 | Automatic forming and processing device for corrugated paper packaging box |
| CN114536852A (en) * | 2022-02-24 | 2022-05-27 | 淮安市昊天自动化设备有限公司 | Box unsealing device for horizontal high-speed box opener and box unsealing method thereof |
-
1977
- 1977-10-31 CA CA289,875A patent/CA1040915A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN112721299A (en) * | 2020-11-18 | 2021-04-30 | 江西华利包装科技有限责任公司 | Automatic forming and processing device for corrugated paper packaging box |
| CN114536852A (en) * | 2022-02-24 | 2022-05-27 | 淮安市昊天自动化设备有限公司 | Box unsealing device for horizontal high-speed box opener and box unsealing method thereof |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US3956976A (en) | Apparatus for expanding and transferring a carton | |
| US5664401A (en) | Carton folding mechanism for wraparound cartons | |
| US5473868A (en) | Carton opening and feeding apparatus | |
| US9821526B2 (en) | Packing method and unit for folding a blank on a packing machine | |
| US4802324A (en) | Vertical cartoning assembly and method | |
| US5027586A (en) | Side loading machine | |
| US20130121799A1 (en) | Carton feeder device and method for feeding a carton to a conveyor track | |
| US5215515A (en) | Automatic carton opening and feeding apparatus with improved breaking and supporting mechanism | |
| NO320561B1 (en) | Device and method for picking and straightening cardboard blanks | |
| US2601481A (en) | Means for opening and loading carton blanks on the conveyer of a packaging machine | |
| EP3280647B1 (en) | Packing case erection | |
| ITMO20100015A1 (en) | WRITING CONVEYOR OF A PACKAGING MACHINE | |
| US3275189A (en) | Tray feeding apparatus | |
| KR102061432B1 (en) | Vacuum packing machine | |
| US2887021A (en) | Apparatus for feeding blanks to a container fabricating machine | |
| CA1040915A (en) | Means for and the method of expanding a carton | |
| US3996843A (en) | Method of expanding a carton | |
| JPS60229743A (en) | Device for extracting, erecting and delivering folding corrugated box | |
| KR100302527B1 (en) | Carton folding mechanism for wraparound carton | |
| SU1135429A3 (en) | Cigarette-packing machine for packing cigarettes by means of hollow mandrel | |
| US3665674A (en) | Automatic cartoning machine for glue end carton | |
| EP3197780B1 (en) | Folding machine for folding flaps of a wrapper | |
| US2399934A (en) | Container fabricating machine | |
| WO1993014011A1 (en) | Rotary hopper transfer mechanism | |
| ITGE930081A1 (en) | SHEET FEEDER DEVICE WITH PACKAGING WHEEL, IN PARTICULAR IN CIGARETTE PACKING MACHINES. |