US2289820A - Machine for opening shipping cases from the flat - Google Patents

Description

E. ARDELL July 14, 1942,

MACHINE FOR OPENING SHIPPING CASES FROM THE FLAT 9 Sheets-Sheet l \NVENTOR BY W, 24424,,

H/S ATTORNEYS Filed March 14, 1940 July 14, 1942. E. ARDELL MACHINE FOR OPENING SHIPPING CASES FROM THE FLAT Filed March 14, i940 9 Sheets-Shei 2 INVENTOR 506/ 17 fliflfll July 14, .1942. E. ARDELL 2,239,320

MACHINE FOR OPENING'SHIPPING CASES FROM THE FLAT e Filed March 14,1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 /5 ATTORNEYS J l 14,'1942.- IEARDELL 2,289,820

MACHINE FOR OPENING SHIPPING GASES FROM THE FLAT Filed 3.51.2011 14, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 506.6 flfiDEZL BY I Hi6 ATTORNEYS E. ARDELL July 14, 1942.

MACHINE FOR OPENING SHIPPING CASES FROM THE FLAT I Filed March 14, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 a H15 ATTORNEYS J n F u 2 5 fix? ,L 5 0/ mam 111.

E. ARDELL July 14, 1942.

MACHINE FOR OPENING SHIPPING CASES FROM THE FLAT 7 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 14, 1940 E. ARDELL July 14, 1942.

' MACHINE FOR OPENING- SHIPPING CASES FROM THE FLAT Fil ed March 14, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet "r INVENTOR 0621 BY P4144422. M M2 4 Z 4 M145 Hi5 ATTORNEYS July 14, 1942; 2,289,820 MACHINE i onormnme SHIPPING CASES FROM THE F1 1 E. ARDELL.

Filed March 14, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR E0641? .4205;

HAS ATTORNEYS F l nH l l... ll

1. 1 Iu II I.

' Julyl4, 1942. E. ARDELL ,289,8

MACHINE FOR OPENING SHIPPING CASES FROM THE FLAT Filed March 14, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 r'f mazkz z" fig/J I 10 l/IGH .9 JUPPLY JI/PPL Y a; 0M5 or owv;

DETECTOR. /77 f v n" EZOLE/VO/D BRAKE 43 TIMI/VG T/M/NG V 9 {N0 045:) (No 0M5) 'BYFM WWW fl/S ATTORNEYS Patented July 14,. 1942 ,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,289,820 MACHINE FOR OPENING SHIPPING CASES FROM TEE FLAT Jackson Heights, N. Y., assignor to Corporation, Long Island segm- Ardell,

Standard-Knapp City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 14, 1940, Serial No. 323,878 29 Claims. (o1. 93-6) This invention relates to machines for opening folded or collapsed shipping or packing cases, folding the flaps of one or both ends in any desired manner to partially or wholly form the end walls and delivering the thus set-up cases for packing or otherwise. More particularly th invention relates to machines for opening such cases, partially forming, by flap folding, the end which is to become the bottom of the case and placing the thus-formed case upon the funnel or horn of a case packing machine.

-In shipping orstoring various articles such as cans or like containers containing food, beverages or other products, as well as rectangular cartons or packages containing cereals, confectionery and the like, or articles such as cakes of soap; etc., it is customary to place them in shipping or packing cases constructed of heavy fibrous material, for example, "corrugated board, fibre board or the like. These articles are packed in the shipping or packing cases by means of a case packing machine which usually is provided with a funnel, or horn, through which the charge of articles is pushed into the case. The shipping cases are placed in horizontal position partially telescoped upon the mouth of the funnel, being held there by a pivoted arm or"drop-ofi lever until the charge is received. Then the drop-off lever lowers the filled case (turning it to upright position) onto a support such as a conveyor which carries the case to a sealing machine.

The shipping case blanks come from the manufacturer in collapsed condition, i. e., folded fiat,

for convenience in handling, and the operator of the case packer removes them one at a time from their shipping bundle and sets them up by hand, opening or squaring them up, folding the inner and outer flaps of one end closed, or nearly so, and spreading out the flaps at the opposite end which is to form the top of the case, and then places the case on the funnel of the case packer.

In food, beverage and other plants where the product is packed in cans, after filling and closing the cans, they commonly go to-a labelling machine, thence to the case-packing machines and from there to the case-sealing machines. In many plants the delivery of cans at the beginning of such a line is substantially continuous, as, for example, in the case of can-filling machines, and

the operation of all of the subsequent machines in the line is automatic so that the cans flow through the line constantly at a predetermined rate. The only part of the line that depends upon the human element is the setting up and placing of the shipping cases on the funnel of the casepacking machine. If the operator fails to supply the case packer witnesses at a sufficiently rapid rate, either intentionally or otherwise, the operation of the entire packing line is' interfered with.

The general object of the present invention is therefore to provide a machine for receiving the shipping cases in the flat and opening or squaring them up, appropriately folding their flaps,

and delivering them to a desiredstation, orplacing themon the funnel of the case-packing machine, at an extremely rapid rate, which is substantially higher than is possible by manual operation.

Another object is to provide a machine of this I kindwhich will operate withoutattention other than keeping the magazine filled with folded or collapsed casesin the condition in which they are received from the manufacturer.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a machine which will positively open or square up the collapsed case and appropriately fold the flaps without damaging the case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine arranged in as small compass as possible so that it will not occupy an excessive amount of space.

The invention will be better understood and its.

advantages will be apparent froni'a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings exemplifying a machine for setting up cases and placing them on the funnel of a can packer.

In these drawings;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the case opening machine with part of the magazine broken away;

Fig. 1a is a perspective view of a collapsed shipping case, and Fig. 1b a similar view of a shipping case which has been opened or sciuared up but whose flaps which are to form the bottom and top end walls have not been folded;

Fig. 2 is a view showing the machine partly in plan and partly in horizontal section taken on the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of the case feeding plunger taken on line 3--3of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the case opener and of a portion of the can packing machine onto the funnel of which the set-up packing cases are being delivered;

Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sections, Fig. 6 being taken on line 6-15 of Fig. 4, illustrating the case opening or squaring-up mechanism. Fig. 5 shows I this mechanism in engagement with a collapsed '3, l and 3',

case ready to open it, and Fig. 6 shows the position of the mechanism after the case is opened;

Fig. '7 is a. horizontal section taken on line T-I of Fig. 1 illustrating the main shaft of the machine and associated parts;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on line 88 of Fig. 1 showing the mechanism for spreading the outer flaps ofthe end of the case which is to form the bottom and also showing parts of the case delivery mechanism;

Fig: 9 is a horizontal'section taken on broken line 99 of Fig. 8 showing the mechanism for folding the inner bottom flaps of the case;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on line Ill-l of Fig.- 8 showing the inner flap folding mechanism holding the inner bottom flaps closed and with one of the outer bottom flaps folded thereover, the opposite outer flap being left in its origi- --nal position, the case being ready for delivery onto the funnel of the case packer;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a part of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 10 for folding the upper outer flap;

Figs. 12 and 13 are enlarged views of the delivery mechanism for transferring the set-up case from 'the opening or squaring up station onto the funnel of the case packer;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on line l4-l4 of Fig. '7 showing the vacuum control valve of the squaring-up mechanism;

Figs. 15 and 16 are similar views taken respectively on lines |-l5 and I6-l6 of Fig. 8 showing two cam operated timing switches forming part of the electricalcontrol for the machine;

Fig. 1'7 is a diagrammatic view of the lower runway 01 the case packer provided with can operated control switches;

Fig. 18 is a diagram of the electrical connections of the control system;

Fig. 19 is a timing diagram showing the relative movements of the principal elements of the case, opener; and

Figs-20 and 21 (on sheet 1) are views showing the overlapping positions of a squared-up case leaving the squaring-up station and a collapsed case leaving the magazine and approaching the squaring-up station. Fig. 20 is avertical section taken on line 20-20 of Fig. 21.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig.

-13 shows the shipping or packing cases made of corrugated, board, or fibre board, or the like,

as received from the manufacturer in fiat, folded condition. These cases have major and minor side portions I and 2 to form the side walls or body -of the case and corresponding extensions or flaps 3, 4 and 3' and 4'. The apparatus will also handle square cases. In Fig. 1b the collapsed case has been opened or squared up by bending the material of the sides at the creases or score lines 5 which are provided at the corners. The flaps 4', when folded, form-the bottom and top end walls of the case (referring to the case in upright position after being packed with cans). The flaps 4 and 4' which are extensions of the minor side walls 2 are folded to closed position first'and will be referred to as the inner flaps, while the flaps 3 and 3' are closed over them and will be referred to as the outer -flaps.

In reference first to the general operation of the case opener, and tracing the progress of a case through the machine, the collapsed cases such as shown in Fig. 1a are fed one at a time from a storage magazine 6 by means of a reciprocating plunger 7 to a case opening or squaring up station indicated generally by reference numeral S1. The case being fed from magazine 6 is indicated by reference numeral A. A1 (Fig. 5) indicates the case after reaching the opening station S1 but while still in collapsed condition.

The case, after being squared up is indicated by A2 and is in the condition shown in Fig. 1b with its flaps 3, 4, 3', 4' at both ends projecting straight out as extensions of the sides of the case. While at the opening station S1 the two inner flaps 4 and 4' are folded to closed position and the outer flap 3 at the upper side of the case is folded downwardly at least partially over the inner flaps somewhat as shown in Figs. 10 and 13. The case is then advanced, in a direction at right angles to the feeding movement, by

means of a reciprocating carriage 8 to a delivery of the bottom flaps.

station S2, which in the instance illustrated comprises the funnel 9a of a can packing machine 9. A3 indicates this position of the case.

The lower outer flap 3' is folded upwardly over the inner flaps by means of the drop-off lever ID of the can packer as it rises .to hold the case on the funnel. This completes the closing of all The flaps at the opposite end of the case which is to be the top are spread out by the funnel of the can packer as the case is pushed into slightly telescoping position thereon, but these flaps are not otherwise manipulated.

The case, after receiving a charge of cans from the can packer is turned to upright position A4' the closed but unsealed bottom flaps as well as the open top flaps.

The can packingmachine 9 may be of any suitable construction so long as it is provided with a drop-off lever (such as lever III) which swings upwardly to hold the case in position on the funnel and downwardly after the case has received its charge of cans so as to turn the case to upright position on the conveyor. The can packer which is indicated in Fig. 4 of drawings is of the sort shown and described in Patent No. 2,127,924, granted August 23, 1938, to W. D. Kimball, Cornelius I. Braren and George P. Schaefer, except that it is arranged to pack three rows of four cans each instead of four rows of three cans each.

The cans are delivered ina single line through.

an inclined chute I2 into the mouth l3 of adividing apparatus which distributes the cans equally into three runways (not shown), by means of which they are conveyed to three superposed shelves I4. The cans roll on their sides along the chute, through the divider, and along the runways and shelves l4. After the charging layer is formed on the shelves M, the cans are pushed endwise by the pushers I5 through the funnel 9a into the case. One of the can runways just referred to is illustrated in Fig. 17 and indicated by reference numeral l6 and will be referred to again later on.

The can packer is driven by its own independent source of power (not shown) such as an electric motor, which operates continuously. This motor, through a one-revolution clutch, indicated diagrammatically by numeral l1, drives an operating cam l8 which causes the plungers l5 to operate in such manner that a complete charge of cans is placed in the case each time the onerevolution clutch is tripped.

the

- end to a hand lever 20 which'is fixed to a cross shaft 2|. Also fixed to shaft 2| is a short arm 22 which is connected by means of a chain 23 passing over idler sprocket 24 to the gripping member 25. Hence whenever rod I9 is shifted I to the right as viewed in Fig. 4, it causes the tripping of the one-revolution clutch l1 and the operation of the can packer to place a charge of cans in the case on the funnel. This movement of rod l9 and rocking of lever 20 not only trips the one-revolution clutch l1, but also (and previous to tripping this clutch), causes the drop-off arm III to rise from the dotted position to the full line position to hold the case on the funnel. This'is efiected by a pawl 26 fixed to shaft 2| which, when the shaft is rocked, is lifted to release it from a shoulder 21 behind which the pawl dropped when shaft 28, which carries drop-off arm l0, turned when the previous case was lowered to upright position on the conveyor The details of this drop-off mechanism are set forthin Patent No. 2,148,820, granted February 28, 1939, to Wallace D. Kimball, Cornelius I. Braren and .John H.

Mosley.

Referring now to the case opening apparatus, with the object of providing a machine which will operate at 'a high rate.of speed, the machine is arranged so that at approximately the same time that a case leaves the opening station S1 to be delivered by the reciprocating carriage 8 to the delivery station S2, asucceeding-case leaves the magazine 6. For this same reason and also in order to facilitate the manipulation of the flaps and to deliver the case in telescoping relation to the funnel 9a, the delivery movement and the feeding movement are at right angles to one another.

Accordingly the feed plunger 1 is actuated by 48 and permits replenishing the magazine from this position. t a

The dribbling device 45 comprises a horizontal bar4fl having an inwardly rounded surface extending preferably throughout the width of the rear side of the magazine and one or more cam members 48 preferably attached to the bar. The purpose of this device is to limit the number of cases resting on the case A which is being fed, and hence limit the friction caused by the weight of these cases. The dribble device 45 is adjustable vertically soas to obtain the right pressure on the lowermost case A to cause the feeding plunger I to operate properly.

Dribble device 46 functions to cause the cases to be urged against the front wall of the magazine by the wedging action of cam members 48 means of an oscillatirm lever 29 to which it' is connected by a link 30, and the reciprocating carriage 8 is actuated by a second oscillating lever 3| to which it is connected by a link 32. Lever 29 is keyed to a horizontal shaft 33 and lever 3| to a vertical shaft 34, these shafts being operatively connected by bevelled gearing 35. In

' this way the oscillating levers 29 and 3| are caused to move in unison and the desired oscillating movement is imparted to them by means of a crank 36 (Figs. 1 and 4) and a connecting link 31 which is pivoted to lever 29 at 38. Crank 36 is fixed to the end of the slow speed shaft 39 of a speed-reducing gearing which is contained within a housing 40. The high speed shaft 4| of this gearing'is belted to a drivirg motor 42, this motor being provided with a solenoid brake, the operating coil 43 of which is illustrated in Fig. 18. i a

The magazine 6 is a rectangular tower slightly larger in its dimensions than the folded'cases and of a suitable height to hold a comparatively large quantity of these fiat cases lying one upon another. The magazine is constructed of angle members 44 forming the corners and sheet metal sides 45 connecting these angle members. The side at'the rear or left-hand side 'of the magazine as viewed in Fig. 1 is preferably omitted leaving the comer angle bars to guide the cases. This permits access to the cases should they fail properly to feed downwardly. The side wall 45 at the front of the-machine as viewed in Fig. 1

and arrest the downward movement of the cases, each case being temporarily supported at its opposite edges by the bar 41 and the opposite wall of the magazine. This causes the case to bow downwardly at its center due to the weight of the cases above it. The bowed center of the case is supported by the cases below it. Inasmuch as these cases are continuously being removed by the feed plunger, however, the case resting on the dribble bar bows more and more until the end springs past the bar and joins the body of cases in the lower section of the magazine.

The magazine 6 is tilted away from the opening station S1 as shown in Fig. 1, both to provide more space between the magazine and the setting-up mechanism at the opening station Si, and in order to reduce the length of the delivery stroke of carriage B, or in other words the distance through which the opened up case must be moved in order to place it on the funnel 8a of the case packer. This is illustrated in Figs. 1a and la but will be described later on.

Feed plunger 1 slides on two parallel bars 49 positioned centrally below the magazine, and the case being fed out of the magazine is supported centrally by a pair of inclined rails 50 which are parallel with the bars 49. It is also supported at its side margins by a second pair of inclined rails 5|. Rails 50 and 5| are inclined as far as the point indicated by'reference numeral 52, beyond which these rails become horizontal so that the case in theposition A1 (Fig. 5) at the opening station is horizontal. Hence the case as it slides along the rails 50 and 5| under the action of plunger 1 undergoes a turning or dropping movement as the center of the case passes the point 52. This raises the rear of the case away from the inclined rails.

Plunger I has a cross member ,53 upon the top of which is pivoted an adjustable main catch member 54 having a lip 55 biased upwardly by a helical spring 56 to engage the rear edge of the lowermost case to feed it forward. Due to the fibrous nature of the material of which the cases'arev made they possess considerable resiliency and this is apt to vary with changing climatic conditions. This varies the height of the center of the rounded edge of the case which,

isto be engaged by lip 55. For this reason and is terminated slightly above a dribbling device also to accommodate cases of inherently different thickness, it is desirable to make the height of lip 55 adjustable, as, for example/by means of adjusting screw 51. The height of lip 55 of the main catch is adjusted so that the upper edge of the catch member rubs' lightly on the succeeding case B. This assures that the lip attains the best possible bite on the rounded edge the front wall of the magazine, the pressure of the cases in the magazine is removed. The resilience of the fibrous material causes an expansion or thickening of the case which tends I to raise the rounded rear edge of the case above the lip 55 of the main catch. Also the turning of the case after its center passes the point 52 of the supporting rails causes the rear edge of the case to move or swing upwardly out of range of the main catch. In order to overcome this difficulty an auxiliary catch 58 is provided. This bolt 14 catch is pivoted at 59 to the main catch and is biased upwardly by means of a second helical spring 68. A cross pin 6| limits its upward movement.

When plunger -1 is at the end of its rearward stroke, auxiliary catch 58 is held in depressed position with its lip slightly to the rear of lip 55 of the main catch by means of a member 62 which is preferably adjustably mounted on the rear of the magazine. As soon as the plunger moves forward enough for auxiliary catch 58 to clear the inner wall of the magazine, the catch moves upwardly under the action of spring 53 and slides along the lower surface of the next succeeding case B until case A emerges from the magazine when the auxiliary catch 58 is still held in depressed position by means'of a member 63 which is mounted for vertical adjustment upon and projecting centrally from the front wall 45 of the magazine. However,

member 63 is so adjusted that its lower surface (which may be either straight or curved as shown) permits auxiliary catch 58 to rise above the lip 55 of themain catch so that the plunger will continue to engage the case being fed and advance it against the stop 64 at the opening station $1. l

Member 63 also serves an additional function. The sudden expansion or thickening of the rounded edge at the rear of the case A being fed, which takes place upon the release of the compression pressure of the cases above it as it emerges from the magazine, tends to. make the case spring forward away from the plunger. It is important to prevent this because otherwise neither of the lips or 58 may re-engage the edge of the case, in which event the case is apt to become jammed. Member 63 prevents this springing away since its position is the right distance from the point 52 on the rails to apply a degree of pressure to,the rising upper sur-' face of the case as the case turns vertically about point 52.

The main shaft 65 of the machine extends transversely beneath the opening station S1 and carries the-series of cams which actuate the squaring-up mechanism, the flap folding mechanism and various control devices. This shaft is driven by means of a chain 66 from the slow speed shaft 39 of the reducing gear 46.

The squaring-up mechanism (Figs. 5 and 6) comprises one or more vacuum cups 6! arranged to engage the lower major side of the case and one or more vacuum cups 68 which engage the opposite major side of the case. These are timed by mechanism to be described so as to engage the case in the position shown in Fig. 5 at the 64. Vacuum is simultaneously applied. As soon as this engagement takes place the plunger 1 releases the case and commences its return stroke.

Lower vacuum cups 6'! are mounted on an arm 69 pivoted at 18 adjacent the stop 64 and the front end of the unfolded case. When no case is at the opening station, arm 69 rests upon a fixed stop H lowering the vacuum cup sufficiently to be out of the path of an incoming case. The arm is raised by means of a roller 12 on a rock member 13 which is pivoted on a (Fig. '7) passing through the rail members 50 which serve to support the central portion of the case at position A1. It is rocked in one direction by means of a cam 15 on main shaft 65, and in the opposite direction by a helical spring 16.

The upper vacuum cups 68 are mounted on an arm .11 which by means of a parallelogram linkage indicated generally by numeral 18 is maintained always parallel to the horizontal portions of rails 50 and is swung from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6, to open or square up the case. The two arms of the parallelogram linkage 18 are pivoted at 19 and 88 adjacent and in front of the stop member 64. One of these arms has ashort extension 8| which by means of a link 82 is operatively connected at 83 to the right hand end of rock member 13.

Arms 69 and 11 have air passageways shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 by means of which the vacuum cups 6! are connected with a flexible tubing 84 and vacuum cups 68 to a tubing 85. These tubes are preferably joined together and connected to a conduit which leads to vacuum control valve 87 (Figs. 14 and 7). The inlet conduit 88 of this control valve is connected to a suitable source of vacuum (not shown). This valve is opened and closed by a cam 89 on main shaft 65, the valve being opened. during the period when the roller 96 is on the high part of the cam.

It will be understood that as the cam 15 rotates, vacuum cup arms 69 and 11 will be moved into the position shown in Fig. 5 so as to cause vacuum cups 61 and 68 to engage the case in position A1, roller 9! on rock member 13 then being at the low spot of cam 15. As the cam rotates, rock member 13 is tilted about its pivot, causing roller 12 to rel-ease the lower vacuum cup arm 19 and by a downward movement of link 82 causing the parallelogram linkage 18 to swing to the vertical position shown in Fig. 6, thereby lifting the upper major side of the case and swinging the minor sides as indicated by the dotted arrows in Fig. 6 so as to square-up'the case.

The vacuum valve cam 89 is so timed as to open this valve about simultaneously with the engagement of the vacuum cups with the case in position A1 and to close it shortly after the right hand minor side of the case in position A2 engages stop members 92 and 93 which are appropriately positioned directly above stop 64.

As the case swings into squared-up position the corner diagonally opposite stop 64 lifts a latchlike member 94 which is also the actuating lever of a case detector svi -tch 95, closing this switch for a short interval, the switch being opened again as soon as the lever 94 drops behind the left hand side wall of the case as shown in Fig. 6 to hold the case in squared-up position against the stops 92 and 93. This detector switch is included in the circuit diagram of Fig. 18- which will be referred to later on.

The cases as they come from the manufacturer instant the front edge of the case reaches stop are scored at the base of each flap soas to facilitate the bending of the flap, but even so the hinge is quit'e stiff and resistant.to bending, and not infrequently the flap has a tendency to bend at one side'or the other of the score line which would make the flap either too short or too long and interfere with the proper closing of the end of the case. It is, possible to provide straight edges along the exterior bottom-and top sides of the case at the score lines to assure the formation of the hinge of the flap in a straight line, but this is not so easy to accomplish as to the inner flaps which extend from the vertical sides of the case. If these sides bulge even to a small extent at the time the inner flaps are folded, the case is liable to buckle in such a manner as to seriously weaken it and even to destroy its usability. I have devised a method for manipulating both the outer andinner flaps which avoids thisdifliculty and assures that the flap hinges are straight and correctly positioned at the base of each flap;

In accordance with this method, I first spread outwardly the two outer flaps as shown, for

example, in Fig. 8, preferably engaging the outer surfaces of the upper and lower sides of the case with straight edge members 96 and 91 which are disposed exactly at the base of each flap where it is desired to have the bending take place to form the flap hinge. The spreading of these outer flaps 3 and 3 places the vertical side walls of the 'case under tension and stretches them straight,

the tension being the greatest just before the'fiap hinges break. While the vertical side walls of the case are placed under tension in this manner, I commence the folding of the inner flaps 4 and 0' which extend from these vertical walls. Inasmuch as the breaking of the hinges of these inner flapstakes place while the vertical walls are under such tension, and therefore without bulges, the hinges form straight and at the correct locations. The outward spreading of the outer flaps 3 and 3 having broken the flaps at the score lines, the flaps may then easily be folded inwardly to closed position later on.

The particular flap-spreading and flap-folding mechanism which I nave provided is illustrated in several of the figures, particularly Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 7. These mechanisms are drivenfrom a short shaft 98 which in turn is driven by a bevelled gearing 99 from main shaft 65. The flapspreading members are shown at I00 in Fig. 8

and are arranged to rotate continuously in opposite directions on two parallel horizontal shafts IM and I02. They engage the flaps near their outer edges and as soon as they have spread them v slightly more than indicated in Fig. 8, the spreading members rotate past the edges of the flaps and release them.

Shaft IOI of the up'per flap spreader I00 is driven by means of a chain I03 which passes over a pair of idler sprockets I04 and around a driving sprocket I05. This-sprocket is fixed on a short collar I00 which also has a second sprocket I01 fixed thereon. Passing around sprocket I0'I is a main driving chain I08 which passes over an idler sprocket I09 and thence around driving sprocket IIO on shaft 90. The back of this chain then drives a sprocket on a second collar III which drives this collar in the opposite direction of rotation from that of shaft IN. A second sprocket II} fixed to this second collar drives shaft I02 by means of a short chain II3, so that shaft I02 and shaft IOI are driven in opposite directions.

The straight edge members 95 and 91 are located one directly above the other, and thecase as it is fed to the position S1 by the feeding plunger 1 is correctly positioned to bring the edges of these members 96 and 91 at the respective score lines of the flaps Sand 3 by means of adjustable guides IIS (Fig. 2). The upper straight edge member is mounted on the' which also rotate continuously in opposite directions and, are driven by bevelled gearing H8 and I I9 from shaft 98. On each of the vertical shafts us and III there are two auxiliary folders m and one main folder I2I. Each of the auxiliary folders I20 is an L-shaped member (to reach around the end of the flap) having a roller I22 at its outer end. The main folder I2I has a long straight arm from the end of which a curved wiping portion I23 extends to a point opposite the end of auxiliary folder I20, its outer surface being slightly to the rear of, the surface of roller .I22, so that as the folders rotate, the roller will strike the surface of the flap first.

In operation the two auxiliary folders carrying the rollers I22 engage one of the inner flaps at.

two spaced points as shown in Fig. 10 and at a position towards the outer edge of the flap away from its base as shown in Fig. 9. These auxiliary folders are thusable to exert 'sufflcient pressure against the flaps without marring them so as to initially break the base of the flap at the score line and thus form the hinge I24. It

will be remembered that the vertical side walls of the case from which these inner flaps 4 and 4' extend are being held straight under the tension imparted by the spreading members I00 at the instant that this breaking of the hinges I24 of the inner flaps 4 and 4' by rollers I22 takes place. The curvature of the folding portions I23 of the main flap folders I2I is such that very shortly after the initial movement of the flaps by rollers I22, these curved portions contact the surfaces of the flaps and move them with a wiping action to fully closed position as shown in full lines in Fig. 9. During the squaring up of the case and th folding of the inner flaps the carriage 8 returns from its delivery of a previous case to the full line position shown in Figs. 12 and 13. The squaring up of the case is completed, however,

' during the first half of this return stroke so that case engaging both the top and side margins.

Delivery carriage 8 is provided with a pivoted pushing arm I28 which pushes the squared-up case A2 forward while it is held by the members I25 and I20 which hold the case in squared-up condition after it leaves the squaring up station S1 where it is thus held by the stops 04, 92 and 93 and the catch lever 94. Pushing arm H8 is arranged to be lifted to the horizontal position short extension I3I which carries -a roller I32 for engaging a holding bar I33, the function and operation of which will shortly appear.

In order to swing arm I28 to the lower or vertical position, the opposite end of shaft I28 is providedwith a control arm I34 having a roller I35 which is engaged by a vertically movable short control bar I36. This control bar is car'- ried by a head piece I3'I at the upper end of a vertical rod I38 which extends downwardly alongside of main shaft 65. This rod slides in suitable brackets carried by the machine frame and fixed upon it near its lower end there is a member I39 carrying a roller I40 which cooperates with a cam I on main shaft 65.

As cam I4I permits member I39 and rod I38 to move downwardly under their own weight, control bar I36 depresses roller I35 and control arm I34 thereby swinging pushing arm I28 from the horizontal to the vertical position as shown in Fig. 13. This movement is timed to take place just after the inner flaps are folded and during the initial forward or delivery stroke of carriage 8, as may be seen from'the timing diagram, Fig. 19. This at least partially folds the upper outer flap 3 over the closed inner flaps and starts the case on its delivery movement.

This movement swings extension I3I from its 45 position to the right, as shown in Fig. 12, to a 45 position to the left. asv shown in Figs. .11 and 13. Inasmuch as control bar I36 overlaps holding bar I33,,roller I32 on extension I3I will engage the lower surface of the holding bar before roller I35 of control arm I34 is released by control bar I36, and as shown in Fig. 11, holding bar I 33 will consequently maintain pushing arm I28 in its vertical position until carriage 8 reaches the end of its delivery stroke. When roller I32 leavesthe right hand end of holding bar I33 it engages the vertical face of a stop I42. The final movement of the carriage causes pushing arm I28 to force the case in position A3 onto the funnel 9a of the canpacking machine and firmly fold the outer flap 3 against the bottom of the case where it is held by the drop-off lever I which rises to vertical position at this time.

During the first part of the return stroke of carriage 8, roller I32 rollsv first upwardly and then downwardly on the vertical face of stop I42 as helical spring I30 on shaft I29 returns pushing arm I28v to horizontal position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12. Extension I3I has now swung back to its original right hand position and roller I 32 again engages the lower surface of holding bar I33. Before the return stroke of the, carriage is completed, cam I will have raised rod I38 and control bar I36 to their original upper position, as shown in Fig. 12 and in dotted lines in Fig. 11 so as to be ready for a repetition of the cycle just described in order to deliver the next succeeding case.

The operation of the case-opening apparatus has been described along with the description of the construction so that a repetition is believed ranged that a new case is fed out of the magazine 6 at about the same instant that the.

squared-up case leaves the squaring-up station S1, and since these two movements are at right.

angles to one another, a considerably longer delivery stroke would be required, thus making the apparatus occupy more floor space, were it not for' the arrangement of the slideway for the collapsed cases leaving the magazine which is'disposed at an angle to the case support at the opening station $1. This is evident from Figs. 20 and 21. The upper surfaces of the left hand portion of rails 59 being inclined as far as the point 52, and the portion of these rails to the right of this point being horizontal, the forward edge of case A can overlap the lower outer flap 3 of case A2 which is moving out of the squaring-up station S1 and towards the case position As on the funnel of the can packer. But for this overlapping, either the feeding stroke or the delivery stroke would have to be increased by approximately the width of flap 3'.

In order to control the operation of the'case opener and the can packer, the operation of the can packer is made dependent upon that of the case opener. That is to say, the case opener initiates the operation of the can packer each time a case is placed on the can packer funnel 9.. In addition, automatic controls are provided for stopping the case opener, should the supply of cans in the can packer reach a predetermined low point, and for re-starting the case opener as soon as the supply of cans is replenished. Also provision is made for stopping the case opener should the supply of cases run out in magazine 6 and no case be delivered onto the can packer funnel, or should the squaring-up mechanism fail to open up the case at the case opening station.

The control for stopping the case opener if the roller I44 rides into the valley of the cam, under the pressure of spring I46, rod I9 is shifted to the right and actuates the tripping lever 29 of the can packer.

However, a catch mechanism is provided at one end of lever I45 to prevent this movement inthe event that no case. has been delivered onto the funnel 9a of the case packer. This catch mechanism comprises a plate I41 on lever I45, and a cooperating catch lever I48 which is pivoted to move into and out of the path of plate I41. This lever is actuated by a rod I49, connected to a lever I50 adapted to be engaged by the lower flap of the case when properly placed in position A: on the can packer funnel.

The control of the case opener which is responsive to the supply of cans in the case packer and to the failure of the squaring-up mechanism properly to square up a case is electrical and is included in the diagram of connections illustrated in Fig. 18; The driving motor 42 of the case opener illustrated is a three-phase A. 0. motor having three leads II. the solenoid brake is connected between two of these leads so that this coil is energized to'release the brake whenever the motor is energized.

, The motor leads I5I are connected through the main contacts I52 of a main switch I53 to the supply conductors I54, I54; and I546. Main switch I53 is an electromagnetically operated switch having an operating coil I55 which, when energized, closes the main switch contacts as well as a pair ofholding contacts I56.

The coil 43 of' and therefore opens'the main switch I53 stopping motor 42! I The opening of timing switch I12 will have the same eflect and cam I16 is timed so that roller Manual control ofthe case opener operation is provided for by means of apush button control switch I51. Included in this switch there is a normally open starting switch I58, a nor.-

' mally ,closed stopping switch I59 and a threeposition control switch I60. With control switch I60 in the hand position, the motor 42 can be started by-pushing the start switch I58 but the motor will operate only so long as this switch is held closed by hand. The circuit established by closing this switch comprises. a conductor I6I' from supply-line. 54a. to operating coil I55 of the main switch, thence through conductor I62 8 to contact I63 of control switch I60, through this switch to conductor I64 and thence through the contacts of. starting switch I58 to-conductor' 'matic position shown in full lines in Fig. 18, the

energization of operating coil I55 of main switch I58 is placed under the control of a relay I61.

This, as will be seen presently, (1) enables motor 62 to be stopped by pushing the stopping switch I58; (2) causes the automatic stopping of motor 82 in the event nocase has been squared up at the squaring-up station S1; (3) stops motor 42 in case the supply of cans in the can packing machine is low; (4) automatically restarts motor 82 as soon as the supply of cans returns to normal.

- Assuming that control switch I 60 is in the automatic position, pressing the starting switch i58 will close a circuit from supply conductor i54, conductors I66 and I65, then through the starting switch to conductor I64 and control switch I 60 to a conductor I68 which leads to the operating coil I69 of relay I61; thence through conductor I10 to conductor I6I and supply conductor I54s. This causes therelay armature to rise, closing its main contacts "I and closing holding contacts I12. Closing main contactsI1I energizes coil I55 of themain switch through circuits to be described. I

The closing of holding contacts I12 establishes a circuit which keeps relay I61 in its closed positime after the starting "switch I58 is released,

This circuit is from conductor I65 through the normally closed contacts ofst'opping switch I59 to conductor I18; thenceythrough the contacts oi a normally closed timing switch I14'having a roller I15 which cooperates with .a cam I16 on mainshaft'65 to open and close thisswitch. The circuit continues from switch I14 through 0011-. ductors I11 and I18 through controlling contacts I15 will open switch I14 during the latter part of the operation of the vacuum cup mechanism to open the case, as is to be seen from Fig. 19.

As previously described, however, the case-detector switch 95 is closed momentarily as its actuating lever'is raised by the corner of the case during the final-squaring up movement. The timing is such that under normal operation switch 95 will be closed while timing switch I14 is opened, and as the contacts of switch 95 are in parallel with the contacts of switch I14, the holding circuit of operating coil I69 of the relay will not be opened. Should the squaring-up mechanism fail properly-to square up a case so asto close switch 95, however, this circuit would be opened by the opening of switch I14 and this would de-energize the relay coil and stop motor 42.

The automatic stopping of motor 42, should. the supply of cans in the can packer become low,

and the re-starting when the supply is replenished, is accomplished by means of a low supply I12, conductor I19, conductor I80, relay operating coil I69 and conductors I10 and I6I to supply conductor I549,-

Obviously, pressing the stopping switch I59 opens this circuit, de-energizes the relay coil I69 a conductor I89.

stopping switch I8I and a high supply starting switch I82, and by means of a normally closed cam operated timing switch I83. The low and high switches I8I and I82 are actuatedby pivoted counterbalanced can runway sections I84 and I85, respectively-,as illustrated in,Fig. l7.

Under normal conditions of operation, low stopping switch I8I is closed and high starting switch I82 is open, just the same as the main 1 stop and start buttons I59 and 15a. Should the supply of cans shown in solid lines on the runway be reduced somewhat, the pivoted runway section I84 would rise, opening stopping switch I8I, and this, as will presently be seen, de-energizes the operating coil I55 of main switch I53, thereby stopping motor 42. Thereafter as soon as the supply of cans increases to about the extent shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 17, low switch II" will be re-closed and high starting switch I82 will also be closed. This re-energizes coil I55 and re-starts the case opener motor 42.

The circuit arrangement is such, however, that when the low supply stopping switch I8I is opened, motor 42 will be maintained in operation until the feed plunger 1 and the delivery carriage 8 have completed their strokes and returned to their initial positions. This effect is produced .by means of the timing switch I83 which is actuated by means of a roller I86 which cooperates energizing circuit of coil I55 has previously been traced from supply conductor I54athrough the coil and to conductor I62. Fromthis conductor "the circuit is through conductor I88,vthrou'gh main contacts "I of the relay I61 and then to' The circuit fromthis pointback to the supply conductor I54 may become pleted in either of two ways. So long as the supply of cans isopen low switch I8 I the circuit is through conductor I90holding contacts I56 otm'ain switch I53, conductor I9I, conductor I93, low supply stopping switch I8I and conductors I93, I94-and normal (that is, the number of cans on the runway is not-depleted enough to I66 to supply conductor I54. Should the supply of cans reach a point low enough to open switch II", the circuit would then be temporarily maintained from conductor I9I through conductor I95, tiniing switch I83 and conductors I96 and I66 back to supply wire I54, so that main switch I53 would not open until the plunger 1 and car- .riage 8 returned to their initial positions, at

which instant timing switch I83 would open and stop the motor 42.

Assuming the machine has been thus stopped due to the supply of cans being depleted, when the supply is replenished so that the high supply starting switch I82 is closed, a circuit will be established from the main contacts "I of relay I 51 (which is still held in its upward or closed position), through conductor I89, conductor I96,

switch It: and conductors I91, I94, and I66 back to supply conductor I54.- This re-establishes the circuit through operating coil I55 of main switch I53 and closes this switch, thereby re-starting the operating motor of the case opener.

Because ofthe arrangement and timing 'of the present case opening apparatus, it is intended to square up corrugated board or fibre board shipping cases and place them on the funnel of a case packing machine at a rate of operation higher than is attainable by hand opening even when several men are operating in short shifts,

,an'd'also at a considerably higher speed than is attainable with any apparatus of which I am aware.

It will be understood that the above description and" the. appended drawings exemplify my improved apparatus for opening shipping cases and delivering them to a delivery station, together with the automatic controls which I have dewith a case packing machine, but that the purpose of such disclosure ismerely for illustrative I yised for operating this machine in association purposes rather than to delimit the invention.

. from the flat, a magazine for holding collapsed cases, reciprocating feeding means for feeding the cases one at a time to an opening station, means for squaring up the case at the opening station, and reciprocating delivering means operating at substantially right angles to the feeding cases, feeding means for feeding cases edgewise one at a time'to an opening station, means for squaring up the case at the opening station, reciprocating delivery means operating at substantially right angles to the feeding means for advancing the squared-up case to a delivery station, said delivery means including a carriage having means for engaging the upper side margins'of the case and a pushing member for engaging the rear of the case.

4. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazine for holding collapsed cases, feeding means for feeding cases edgewise one at a time to an opening station, means for squaring up the case at the opening station, reciprocating delivery means operating at substantially right angles to the feeding means for advancing the squared-up case to a delivery station, said delivery means including a carriage having means for engaging the upper side margins of the case and a pushing member for engaging the rear of the case, and means for controlling said arm to cause it to fold the adjacent flap at the rear of the case prior to pushing the case forward and to clear the next succeeding case on the return movement of the delivery means.

5'. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazine for holding-collapsed cases, means for feeding the same one at'a time from the magazine to an opening station having case-supporting means, mechanism for squaring up the case at the opening station, means operating simultaneously with said feeding means for advancing a squared-up case to a delivery station, said movement being at about right angles to the feeding movement of the case, and said feeding means including a slideway for the collapsed cases which is disposed at an angle to the case-supporting means at the squaring up station.

6. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the fiat, a magazine for holding collapsed cases, means for feeding the same one at a time atright angles to the axis of the magazine to an opening station, case-supporting means at said station, mechanism for squaring up the case at the opening station, means operating simultaneously with said feeding means for advancing a. squared-up case to a delivery station, said movement being at about right angles to the feeding movement of" the case, the axis of said magazine being tilted with respect to the axis" of the case when squared up at the opening station, whereby the collapsed cases are delivered to the opening station at an angle to the case-supmeans for advancing the squared-up case to a delivery station. and means ,for reciprocating the feeding means and the delivering means simul taneously so as to cause a collapsed case to leave the magazine at approximately the same instant that a squared-up case leaves the opening station. 2. In a magazine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazine for holding collapsed cases, feeding means for feeding cases one at a time to an opening station, means for squaring up the case at the opening station, reciprocating delivery means operating at substantially right angles to the feeding means for advancing the squared-up case to a delivery station, said delivery means including a carriage, and means for bl supporting the same, said carriagehaving members tocooperate with the squared-up case tohold it in squared-up position;

3. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazine for holding collapsed porting means thereof.

-7. In 'a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazine for holding a stack of collapsed cases, a reciprocating plunger arranged toslide the cases one at a time from the bottom of the magazine, an upwardly biased main catch carried by the plunger for engaging the rear edge of the lowermost case of the stack to push it for-' ward, said catch having limited upward movement to avoid scarring the adjacent case in the stack, the engageable portion of the rear edge of the case rising out of range of said catch after the case leaves the stack, and an auxiliary catch carried by the plunger arranged to move upwardly and engage the case as the rear edge thereof rises out of range of the main catch.

8. In a machine for opening shipping *cases from the flat, a magazine for holding a stack of collapsed cases, a reciprocating plunger arranged toislidefl the cases one at a time from the bottom of the magazine, an upwardly biased catch carried by the "plunger for engaging the rear edge of the lowrmostcase of the stack to push it me o forward, said catch" having limited upward movement to avoid scarring the adjacent case in the stack, and'means for adjusting the limit of the upwardmovement of the catch in order to accommodate cases of differentthickness.

9. -Ina machinefor opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazine for holding a stack of collapsed cases a reciprocating plunger arranged to slide the cases one at a time from the bottom gaging the upper side of the case, and actuating means for shifting the first vacuum cup upwardly into engagement with the lower side of the case and for swin ing the linkage mechanism to bring the second vacuum cup into engagement with the upper side of the case and thereafter swinging said mechanism in the opposite direction to open of the magazine, thecases being resilient andv tending to expand in thickness when the pres sure of thestackis removed, an upwardly biased catch carried by the plunger for engaging the rearedge of the lowermost case of the stack to ward movement to avoid scarring the adjacent case of the stack, and a dribble bar within the magazine to limit the ,weight of the stack resting on the bottom case so as to keep the successive suit the height of said catch. I

10. In a machine of the class described, a magazine for holding a stack of collapsed cases, a reciprocating plunger arranged to slide the cases one at a timefrom the-bottom of the magazine, a slideway for supporting the cases, the outer portion of said-slideway changing its direction so as to cause thefront of the case to drop and the push it forward, said catch having limited up- 1 bottom cases compressed to uniform thickness to rear of the case to rise, and a guide member to frictionally engage the upper surface of the rear margin of the case as the rear of the case rises so as to prevent the resiliency of the case from causing it to spring away from the plunger.

11. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazine for holding collapsed cases, means for feeding them one ata time from the magazine to an opening station, a stop at said station for engaging the forward edge of the collapsed case, ineans for squaring up the case while maintaining'ltin engagement with said stop, a control circuit including a switch the opening of which stops the machine, and an actuating lever therefor arranged tobe moved by the comer. of

the case diagonally. opposite from said stop, said lever being adapted to engage the squared-up case to, engage said corner of the case after it is squared up to maintain the case in squared-up condition.-

12. In a machine" for opening shippingcases from the fiat, a magazine for holding collapsed cases, meansfor feeding them one at a time from the magazine to an opening station, a stop at said station for engaging the forward edge of the collapsed case and mechanism for squaring up the case at the opening station comprising a vacuum cup for holding one side of the case and a parallelogram linkage mechanism pivoted adjacent said stop and carrying an arm all positions of which are parallel to one another, a vacuum cup on said arm for engaging the opposite side of the case and meansto actuatesaid linkage mechanism. Y r 1 13. m. a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazine for holding collapsed cases, means for feeding them one at a time from the magazine to an opening station, a stop at said station for engaging the forward edge of the col-' lapsed case andmechanism for squaring up the case at the opening station comprising an up- I wardly shiftable vacuum cup adjacent the lower side of the case, and a parallelogram linkage mechanism pivoted adjacent said'stop and carrying 'an arm all positions of which are parallel the case.

14. In a machine for opening shipping case blanks from the flat, means for supporting a case blank, in squared-up position including rigid members having a substantially straight edge supporting the exterior of the case body adjacent the flap fold lines of two opposite sides, and means for spreading the flaps forcing their fold lines against the straight edges of said supporting members to initially bendthem along these fold linesto. facilitate the subsequent closing of- I 15. In a' machine for opening shipping case blanks from the flat, means'fon supporting a case blank in squared-up position including members engaging the exterior of the case body adjacent the flap fold lines of two opposite sides, rotary devices for spreading the flaps to initially hand them along these fold lines to facilitate the subsequent closing of the flaps, and rotary devices operating during the spreading of said flaps for folding the intermediate flaps.

16. In a machine for opening shipping case blanks from the flat, means for supporting a case blank in squared-up position, and means for folding a flap thereof to closed position comprising main and auxiliary rotary folders, the auxiliary folder engaging the flap to break the same along its fold line,and the main folder engaging the broken flap to .fold it to closed position,. and means for rotating said folders.

17. In a machine for opening shipping case blanks from the flat, means for supporting a case blank in squared-up position, means for folding .a flap thereof during formation of an end wall of the case comprising main andauxiliary folders, the auxiliary folder engaging the flap to break the same along its fold line, and the main folder engaging the broken flap to fold it to closed position, a commonshaft carrying said folders, and means for rotating the same.-

18. In a machine for opening shipping case blanks from the flat, means for supporting a case blank in squared-up position, means for folding a flap thereof to closed position comprising a shaft disposed outwardly from the flap hinge and arranged to rotate in parallel relation'thereto, and means for rotating the shaft, said shaft carrying an auxiliary folder arranged to engage the outer portion ofthe flap to initiallybend the I same at its hinge portion, and a main folderon said shaft arranged to contact the flap progressively closer to the flap hinge asthe shaft rotates thus folding theiiap to closed position.

19. In a machine of the classdescribed,a case packing machine having a funnel for receiving thereon a case to be filled and including a storage runway for articles to be packed, a case opening machine adapted to receive collapsed cases,

square them up and deliver them to the funnel of the case packing machine, mechanism actuated by the articles in the storage runway for stopping the operation of the case opening machine when there is a failure in the supply of articles in the storage runway, and means actuated by the articles in the storage runway for re-starting the case-opening machine when the to one another, a vacuum cuponisaidarmiorenms.

' ing up the case at said station. comprising a lower pair of suction cups to engage the bottom side of said collapsed case, an upper pair of suction cups adapted to engage the top side of said case and parallel-motion mechanism for raising the upper pair of suction cups while maintaining them parallel with the lower suction cups so as to square up the case.

21. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazine for holding collapsed cases. means for feeding said cases one at a time from the magazine to stationary position at a squaring up station and mechanism for squaring up the case at said station comprising a lower pair of suction cups to engage the bottom side of said collapsed case, an upper pair of suction cups to engage the top side of said case and parallel-motion mechanism including an arm pivoted adjacent the lower side of the case and carrying the upper pair of suction cups and adapted 25. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazine for holding collapsed to swing them upwardly while maintainingthem parallel with the lower side of the case thereby to square up the case.

22.-In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazine for holding collapsed cases, means for feeding said cases one at a time from the magazine to stationary position at a squaring up station and mechanism for squaring up' the case at said station comprising a lower pair of suction cups to engage the bottom side of said collapsed case, an upper pair of suction cups to engage the top side of said case and parallel-motion mechanism including an arm pivoted in the plane of the lower side of the case and carrying the upper pair of suction cups and adapted to swing them upwardly while maintaining them parallel with the lower side of the case thereby to square up the case.

23. In a machine of the class described, the combination of case packing mechanism having a predetermined cycle of operation for inserting a. charge of articles within a case and having a funnel through which the charge is passed into the case, a tripping device for initiating the said cycle of operation, squaring up mechanism having a; predetermined cycle of operation independent of said packing mechanism including means for squaring out case blanks and delivering them successively to said funnel, tripping device actuating means operated in timed relation to the squaring-up mechanism to actuate said tripping device in timed relation to the delivery of each successive case to said funnel, and means actuated by the case on the funnel for controlling said tripping device actuating means.

24. In a machine of the class described, the

. combination of case packing mechanism having a predetermined cycle of operation for inserting a charge of articles within a case and having a funnel through which the charge is passed into the case, a tripping device for initiating the said cycle of operation, squaring up mechanism having a predetermined cycle of operation independ-' ent of said packing mechanism including meansfor squaring out case blanks and delivering them cases, means for feeding them one at a time from the magazine to an opening station, mechanism operating while-the case is at rest at the opening station for squaring-up the case, devices operating while the case is in stationary position at the opening station for folding the flaps thereof to form one end of the case, and delivering means for moving the squared-up case from the opening station. a.

26. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the'fiat, a magazine for holding collapsed cases, means for feeding them one at a time from the magazine to an opening station, mechanism operating while the case is at rest at the opening station for squaring-up the case, rotary devices at the opening station adjacent one end of the squared-up case adapted to fold the flaps at that end of the case to form one end to the case, and delivery means for removing the squaredup case from the opening station.

'27. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the fiat, a magazine for holding collapsed cases, means for feeding them one, at a time from the magazine to an opening station, mechanism operating while the case is at rest at the opening station for squaring-up the case, devices operating while the case is in stationary position at the opening station for folding the flaps thereof toform one end' of the case, delivering means for removing the squared-up case from the opening station, and means for actuating said feeding means and delivering means simultaneously.

28. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat, a magazine for holding collapsed cases, means for feeding them one at a time from the magazine to an opening tation, mechanism operating while the case is at rest at the opening station for squaring-up the case, rotary devices at the opening station adjacent one endof the squared-up case adapted to fold the flaps at that end'of the case to form one end of the case, delivery means. for removing the squared-up case from'the opening station, and

means for actuating said feeding mean and delivering means simultaneously.

29. In a machine for opening shipping cases from the flat,- a magazine for holding collapsed cases, means for feeding said cases one at a time from the magazine to stationary position at a squaring-up station and mechanism for squaring up the case at said station comprising a lower pair of suction cups to engage the bottom side of the collapsed case, an upper pair of suction cups to engage the top side of said case and parallel-motion mechanism carrying the upper pair of suction cups and adapted to swing them upwardly'while maintaining them parallel with the lower side of the case thereby; to square-sup

Images