GB1268874A - A flap opener for a box - Google Patents

Abstract

1,268,874. Opening flaps of boxes. J. J. SHUTTLEWORTH. 2 June, 1969, No. 27799/69. Heading B8C. A flap opener 10 for a box 55 having four flaps 56, 56, 57, 100 comprises a first conveyer 11 adapted to move boxes longitudinally thereof, a support 111 arranged at right angles to the length of the first conveyer at one side thereof for receiving boxes which have moved off of the first conveyer, means for opening a first flap 57 of the four flaps of a box moving on the conveyer, the first flap 57 being hinged to the box with the hinge axis parallel to the direction of movement of the box on the conveyer 11, the first flap being on the edge of the box at the one side of the conveyer, the means for opening a first flap comprising an arm 41 positioned over the conveyer, means for projecting the arm into the box moving on the conveyer and for moving the arm transversely of said conveyer and out of the box to open the first flap 57 of the four flaps of the box, means 110 for moving the box in a path transversely of the conveyer and on to the support 111 with the first flap 57 leading, and flap guide means 200 fixed to said support 111 and positioned over the support and arranged to plough into, to open and to maintain open the second, third and fourth flaps as the box moves on to the support. As shown, the conveyer 11 is carried by a frame 15, wnich is adjustable for height relative to the support 111 which includes a further conveyer, by means of simultaneously operated screw devices (21). Fluid-operated kicker arm assemblies 31, 32, carried by the frame 15, each comprises a kicker arm 41 pivotally connected to an arm 40 for movement into and out of a box 55 on the centre line thereof and transversely of the conveyer 11, whereby to open flaps 57 and 100. The flaps are retained in their open positions by means of flap guides 62, 63, Fig. 2, each of which includes a hinge member 61, one part 60 of which is biased by a spring 76 towards a stop 75. As the box moves along the conveyer, the flaps 57, 100 are picked up by guide rods 65, 66. The remaining flaps 56, 56 are partially opened by the action of the kicker arm assemblies 31, 32. Each box 55 is then moved on to the conveyer 111 by a fluid-operated pusher mechanism 110 which includes a pusher pad 260 having a tapered extension to back up the boxes following the box being pushed, to prevent obstruction by the following boxes. Guide rods 201, 202, 203 of the flap guide means 200 which form part of a case packer 112, operate to overbend one flap 56 which constitutes the lead flap into the packer 112 and to maintain the other flaps substantially horizontally. The kicker arms are timed to operate as the pusher pad 260 pushes.