US2625084A - Apparatus for setting up folding cartons and the like - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 1.3, 1,953V l A. J. wElss 2,625,084

vAPPARATUS FOR SETTING UP FOLDING cARToNs AND THE Lm; Filed haben 2. 1'949 2 SHEETS-SHEET r1 vll/,111" 'Illlllllf/L F" 1 INVEN-roR ARTHUR I W ISS BY f - ATT NEY Patented `lan. 13, 1953 APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP FOLDING CARTONS AND THE LIKE Arthur J. Weiss, West Englewood, N. J., assignor to Robert Gair Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a. corporation of Delaware Application March 2, 1949, Serial No. 79,286

The invention relates to apparatus for setting up folding cartons and the like.

Folding cartons of the kind commonly known in the paperboard carton trade as the simplex type have side walls with end extensions attached to the end walls. These end extensions have diagonal score lines, usually pre-broken for ease of folding during the operation of setting up the folded carton. In the fiat folded carton the end walls are not folded, but are coplanar with the bottom. The side walls and side wall extensions are inwardly folded, flat against the bottom, the side wall extensions being integral with the side edges of the end walls. The diagonal score lines of the side wall extensions proceed from the corners of the bottom, defining in each extension two approximately triangular' panels. As the carton is set up, substantially simultaneous erection of the side and end walls brings these triangular panels into superimposed carton, diiiiculty is frequently experienced by reason of the necessity for erecting the side and end Walls substantially at one and the same time. This is particularly true when setting up the carton by hand. Experienced operators can do it all right, but it is a tricky manipulation and when it comes to setting up the larger sizes of cartons such as shirt boxes and other long boxes the diculties are increased. This is particularly so when the girls who do this work have small hands and cannot reach the side wall panels with their thumbs at thesame time that they are pulling in on the end walls with their fingers as is necessary with simultaneous erection'of the four walls. In such a case, one end of the folded carton must be held against the operators body, the side walls then being raised slightly while the other end is raised, the hands then being shifted quickly to complete the infolding of first one end and then the other. This takes more time because it increases the number of steps in the operation, and the manipula# manual'operation, but holds the carton in such 4 Claims. (Cl. 93-53) a manner that by a diiferent and simpler manipulation even the largest cartons can set up rapidly and easily by almost anyone'and with scarcely any preliminary training. My apparatus holds the ends of the carton raised into a slightly inclined position, i. e. the ends are sprung upwardly, and are so held while the operator performs the first part of the operation of erecting the side walls of the carton. Both hands are free for lifting the side walls to partly erected position. Because of the inward compressing action of my apparatus the side walls snap into this partly erected position and remain that way without further attention on the part of the operator'. This again leaves both hands free, and the fingers or palms of the hands are pressed against the inclined ends of the carton to bring them fully erect while at the same time the infolding end flaps are pushed with the thumbs and the hands slipped inside the erected carton to snug these iiaps into their final locking position.

My apparatus, in its general arrangement, comprises spaced ngers and supporting arms arranged to cradle the folded carton, the fingers being arranged to be brought into a position suchthat they are spaced apart by a distance. less than what would be the length of the folded carton if it were lying flat, i. e. by a distance less. than the length of the flat-folded carton when perfectly iiat. This arrangement provides a cradle for the folded carton, or for a stack of folded cartons, having a substantially fiat central portion and inclined ends with vertical retaining iingers or brackets on the inclined ends adaptedto hold the folded cartons with their ends sprung upwardly.

In order to assist others in practicing my invention and in obtaining its fullest advantages, I shall here describe what I now consider to be its best embodiment. In the drawings, which illustrate this embodiment:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus, partly broken away in vertical cross section, with a folding carton in place and ready for setting up.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, but with the carton removed.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view. taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, but with the carton removed.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views illustrating the operation of setting up one form of car- `ton* with use ofthe apparatus shown in Figs. l3.' v Y Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the preferred form of apparatus will be seen to comprise two pairs of opposed brackets I mounted on a base or table 8. These brackets have portions 9 inclined outwardly and upwardly. Mounted on the inclined portions of the brackets 1 are retaining brackets III carrying vertically arranged fingers II with opposed serrated surfaces I2 for engagement with the respective ends of a folded carton C, or a series or stack of such cartons. The construction described forms a cradle having a substantially flat central portion and inclined ends with vertical retaining brackets on the inclined ends adapted to hold a stack of molded paper boardl cartons or the like with their ends sprung upwardly. Y

I prefer to have at least one of the sets of brackets 'I (i. e., at least one of the brackets' of' each pair) adjustable to permit variation of the distance between the ngers I I of each pair. Also I prefer to have thek brackets I adjustable. Thesev adjustments. allow the adaptation. of. the device for use with cartons of. different sizes and proportions, although ofcourse no adjustment need be provi'ded'ifthe device-is to be used exclusively in setting` up just one size and design of carton. In general,I the ad'iustmentwill'be such that' the fl'atcentral portion ofthe'cradl'e Will'be substantially equal in length to the' length of the bottom of the carton, and the distance from the ngers I I to the point where the inclined ends of the cradle adjoin its flat central portion will be substantially equal to the height of the carton ends.

In the preferred' apparatus shown, these adjustments are providedin the manner now tov be` described. Base 8 hasa pair of channels 'I3' in its` upper surface, the width' of' these channels being about equal to the width of bracketsl 1, and their'depth about equal to thethickness of the brackets so the brackets will4 be slidably received in the channelsand be flush with the'base. Slots I4 in the base 8, in line with channelsA I3, accommodatev clamping; screws I5 whichY cooperate-with-the horizontal portion of eachfbracket-'I and a clamping plate I6 in holding the bracket in itsselected position of adjustment. Clamping plates I6 are slidably carried in channels If!` irr the undersideof the base 8 paralleling channels I3. When the screws I5- are loosened?, the

brackets I and' plates I6 can be.V moved alongk their respective channels to adjust the distancebetween the brackets of each pair to a position in which the fiat central portionv of the cradle will be substantially equal to the length of'the l bottom of the cartonV C.`

The inclined portion 9 of. each bracket l" is'v slotted as at I8 to receive a, threaded stud I9 mounted on the bracket I0. A wing nut serves to clamp bracket I0 in its selected position of adjustment, such that the distance fromrfinger II' to the pointwherethe inclined Vend of the cradlel adjoins its flat central portion' will be. substan-V tially equal to the heightY of the ends of the carton C.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I-have illustrated'th'e opera; tion of setting up one form of carton with the useof my apparatus; For simplicity ofY illustration, the apparatus itself is not shown infthese views, but it will be understoodrthat the carton is resting in the cradle. In Fig. 4, thefca'rtonis considered as being held betweentheserrationsv I2of fingers I I exactly as shown in Fig: 1. Carton C which I have selected for. illustration,.is of theklnd commonlyknown-in the paperboard car-V ton business as the simplex type. WhileI 4 refer to this as a carton, it has a construction which also may be used, and frequently is used, as a, cover for a carton. Also it may be put to other uses such as display baskets, etc. For simplicity, I will continue the description by reference merely to a carton or carton and the like.

A carton of the particular@ type here illustrated has a bottom panel with adjoining side walls 2|, end walls 22 and infolding end wall extensions 23. Side wall extensions 24 are integral with both side and end walls, adjoining the side walls 2| at fold lines 25 and the side edges of the end Awalls 22 at fold lines 26. Fold lines 26` are inlinel with the fold line between the sidewalls and the bottom of the carton. End extensions 24 have diagonal score lines 21, usually pre-broken" for ease of folding during the operation of setting up the carton. In the flat folded carton the end walls are not folded but are coplanar with the bottom. The vside walls and side wall extensions are inwardly fol'dd. at against the bottom, substantially as'shown in Fig'. 4, except that the en'ds of the cartn' lie Y down flat instead of` being' sprung. upwardly in the cradled position shown. The diagonal' score' lines 2'1' of the sidewall extensions proceed fro'i the' corners of they bottom). defining in e'achex'- tension two approximately triangularpan'els 28 and 29. As the carton is set up', substantially simultaneous erection of the side and end' walls' brings these triangular panels into superimposed relationship, and ther infolding end flaps 23 are snugged down inside the carton to-hold it in its erected form. These naps 23 may have extensions 24 which assist in holding them" in their locking position.

When a carton of this general typeA is to' be set up with the'use of my apparatus, itis dropped into the cradle so thatits ends are raised to' an inclined position asshown inl Figs. 1 andV 4, and are held in that position during the rst part of the operation of erecting the side walls of the carton. riChat is, the ends of thev carton are sprung upwardly by reason o'f the compressing action exerted by the fingers-I I.

In the preferred embodiment of myV apparatusas illustrated, a series or 'st'ackWof folded cartons C can be accommodated: inthe cradle at the same time. I prefer to handle aboutv six cartons at a time, and' in this c'a'se theoperator will take the-six cartonsY and' drop vth'ern into the cradle from the-top'. As thel'rca'rtons drop into First the side Walls' 2I` are raised slightly'until they snap into the partly erected'posit'ion'shown Note that the operator lia'sboth"hands`- in 5. free'for this step in the operation. Because. of

the'inward compressingjaction ofthe n'gersl II'.v the 4sidewalls EI will remain in the partly'erectedy position of Fig. w'ithout further attention on the part of-theroperator.v This againleaves'both` hands free, and the-iingersor'palrnsofz the'hands' are pressed against the inclinedA en`ds26 'off the carton to raisethem in the' direction".` indicated by the arrows 3U (lCig.v 5)' a'n'dbring thernfully erect,.whileat the sameA time the' infolding end flaps23 are pushed with the thumbsfin thef dlrection indicated by thefa'rrows' 3|. (Fig. 6`),.andv

the hands slipped insidetheerected' cartonto snug. these aps into theirv` lockingV position;-

The last part of this operation is illustrated in Fig. 6.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the apparatus does not take the place of the operation as previously performed by hand, but holds the carton in such a manner that by a different and simpler manipulation even the largest of cartons can be Set up rapidly and easily and with very little preliminary instruction.

The term carton and the expression carton and the like as used herein and in the appended claims are intended to include both carton bodies and carton covers, having in mind that both bodies and covers may be of similar construction and that the apparatus herein disclosed is useful and advantageous in setting up both bodies and covers. Also, I include within this denition other types of folding paperboard articles such as display baskets, display stands, f

etc., for the invention relates to the apparatus, and it will be appreciated that this apparatus is useful in setting up folding paperboard articles of any type in which the setting up operation is facilitated by springing up the ends of the folded article and holding them so during a subsequent step or manipulation affecting other elements of the article being operated on. All of the terms and expressions which I have employed are used in a descriptive and not a limiting sense, and I have no intention of excluding such equivalents of the invention described, or of portions thereof, as fall within the purview of the claims.

I claim:

l. A cradle for setting up folding cartons and the like, comprising a base member, pairs of opposed brackets mounted on said base member, said brackets having portions inclined outwardly and upwardly, and fingers mounted to be clamped in fixed operating position on said in clined portions of the brackets for engagement with the respective ends of the folding carton.

2. A cradle as defined by claim 1 in which said fingers have vertically arranged serrated fingers to permit a stack of folded cartons to be dropped between them in superimposed relationship with the serrated surfaces in engagement with the respective ends of the cartons in the stack.

3. A cradle for setting up folding cartons and the like, comprising a base member, opposed brackets mounted on said base member, said brackets having portions inclined outwardly and upwardly, and fingers mounted to be clamped in fixed operating position on said inclined portions of the brackets for engagement with the respective ends of the folding carton.

4. A cradle as defined by claim 3 in which said fingers have vertically arranged serrated fingers to permit a stack of folded cartons to be dropped between them in superimposed relationship with the serrated surfaces in engagement with the respective ends of the cartons in the stack.

ARTHUR J. WEISS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,486,074 Spinale Oct. 25, 1949 2,516,624 Guyer July 25, 1950

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