US2671385A

US2671385A - Method and mechanism for unfolding, refolding, setting up, and transporting tubular cartons in spaced relationship

Info

Publication number: US2671385A
Authority: US
Inventors: Johenning Franz; Baums Otto
Original assignee: Jagenberg Werke AG
Current assignee: Jagenberg AG; Jagenberg Werke AG
Priority date: 1952-02-13
Filing date: 1952-02-13
Publication date: 1954-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 1971-03-09

Description

- Filed Feb. 13, 1952 March 9, 1954 F JOHENNING ETAL 71,38

' METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR UNFOLDING, REFOLDING, SETTING UP, AND TRANSPORTING ULAR CARTONS IN SPACED RELA NSHIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1.22/2) enters Patented Mar. 9, 1954 METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR UNFOLD- ING, REFOLDING, SETTING TUBULAR- CART ONS IN TRAN SPORTIN G UP, AND

SPACED RELATIONSHIP Franz Johenning and Otto Baums, Dusseldorf,

Germany, assignors of one-half to Jagenberg- Werke Akt.-Gcs., Dusseldorf, Germany Application February 13, 1952, Serial No. 271,312

19 Claims. (01. 93-53) The present invention relates to the art of handling tubular cartons.

More particularly the invention relates to a method and mechanism for unfolding, refolding, setting up and transporting tubular cartons in spaced relationship.

Specifically the invention relates to improved mechanism for effecting the removal of carton blanks from a stack of blanks, manipulating the same through a series of steps providing for unfolding the blank from its flattened condition, refolding the blank into a reversely flattened condition and moving the carton to a spacing conveyor arrangement in a manner permitting the carton to automatically set itself up into an opened condition so that a series of cartons continuously move through the various steps embodied in the mechanism in an effective manner.

Specifically the invention relates to mechanism for spacing, unfolding, refolding, setting up and conveying tubular cartons in spaced relationship utilizing vacuum applying heads in combination with feed rolls and conveyor means all operating in a continuous cycle.

In the art of handling cartons involving manipulation of a blank that has been out, scored, fiattened, and glued so that the tubular carton is in flattened condition it has been known to partly or entirely remove folded cartons from the front plane of a stacker mechanism and to preliminarily open the same by suction heads in order to permit the introduction of a mandrel or blade into the carton and by a subsequent swinging or rotating movement of the carton relative to the blade effect the setting up of the carton. It is obvious that in such arrangement the reciprocation of the suction head in accordance with its working cycle as well as the timed and synchronized insertion of the mandrel or blade into the preliminarily opened carton will impose limitations upon the mechanism as regards the speed of operation thereof.

A similar disadvantage as regards speed of operation is attendant in other known arrangements in which suction heads are applied to either side of the carton plane sinc in order to permit of the attachment of the suction heads to the cartons or the gripping of the cartons, the flattened carton has to be, in the known mechanisms, completely removed from the front face of the stacker and at least one of the suction heads must perform a reciprocating movement according to the direction of opening movement of the carton.

Additionally it has been proposed, in mechanisms of this character which utilize only one suction head, to control the motion of the head in such a fashion that the vacuum cup contacts, at the end of a determined curved path, the ront surface of the stacker and withdraws from the latter after the removal of a carton along a path of another curve. This known mechanism in addition to necessitating a plurality of parts for controlling the movement of the suction head so that the change of direction of motion of the same is efiected is also limited in its efficiency and does not insure an effective removal and unfolding of the carton.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide mechanism for handling and manipulating cartons to effect removal of a fiattened blank from a stacker and manipulate the same through stages until the cartons are set up and conveyed away in spaced relationship which is effective as regards the movement of the carton through the successive stages of removal from the stack and the unfolding, and includes a refolding and automatic setting up, incorporated with the simultaneous arrangement of the set up cartons in spaced relationship on a conveyor for removal and subsequent handling.

It is a specific object to provide mechanism of the aforementioned character which operates in a continuous cycle, eliminates the necessity of complex controls and is effective in all stages of its operation so as to accelerate the Working cycle and thereby handle more cartons in a given period Of time.

Specifically the present invention has for an object to provide mechanism that partially re- 0 moves the foremost flattened carton blank from the front face of the stacker to move the same into the sphere of action of continuously circulating vacuum heads which attack or grasp the blank from opposite sides of its flattened plane to effectively unfold or open the carton and so controlling the action of the suction heads that the grip on one side of the plane is released while it is maintained on the opposite plane and in the continuous circulation of the open carton the same is refolded in a reverse flattened condition and positively fed to a continuously circulating conveyor mechanism in such fashion that the carton is automatically set up and arranged in spaced relationship on the conveyor for removal for subsequent handling or processing.

It is a more specific object to provide mechanism which moves the suction heads that effect the unfolding, assist in the refolding and reflattening of the carton in its opposite flattened condition in a closed circulating path in such manner that there is no necessity to change the direction of motion of the suction head.

It is an additional object to provide mechanism which not only effectively removes the front carton blank from the stacker but also positively insures the unfolding of the carton by grasping the same on opposite sides of the plane of the flattened carton.

It is a further and more. specific object to provide in combination with the continuously circulating suction heads an arrangementoficontinuously rotating feed rolls cooperating there with which permit of a quicker cycle of operation and therefore substantial improvement in the overall efficiency of the various stages of manipulating the carton blank between its'fiat tened condition and its ultimate arrangement set up spaced relationship and thereby substantially improving the eiflciency of this-carton handling operation.

It is an additional more specific object tocprovidein' combination with the feed rolls anda'suce tion heads an ejector mechanism which cooperates with the rear of each' blank in ltSI'll-E- flattened condition to positively @SSiSlZjlihBilllUi/E ment of the blank in its cycle ofmovement be tween the unfolding and refolding means'and the conveyor which retransports' the set up-caw ton for subsequent processing.

Further and more specific objects'will betapparent from the following description of the' invene tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1.illustrates the invention diagrammaticalIy and is' a top plan view partly in section.

Figure 2 illustrates onan enlargedv scale: the suction members in the position assumed during the unfolding operation.

Figure 3 is a similar view but illustrating: the suction heads at the stage when a cartontblank is substantially unfolded;

Figure 4 illustrates the invention partlyinsection and with particular" reference to" the position of the suction heads andthe ejector mechanism during the delivery of the 'reflattened carton tothe conveyor mechanism; and

Figure 5 is a partial view in top planillustratinga modification of the ejectormeans cooperating with the stacker for assisting the removal of the flattened blanks from the stack;

Figure 6 isa sectionalside view'of Fig. 1' inasmuch as it is indicated by line 6-6.

As illustrated in the drawings the tubular flattened carton blanks are arranged in a stack in a stacker mechanism andthe' ejector or pusher member 3 reciprocating in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 1 abuts the'rear folded 'edge of the front blank 2 and removes same from the front face of the stacker a distance sufficient so that the front folded edge passes into the bight between the pair of feed rolls 4 and 5 disposed immediately adiacentthe stacker mechanism I. As indicated in the. drawings. the plane of reciprocation of the ejector member '3 lies in the plane substantially coinciding with the plane of the front face of the stacker and which plane also passes through the plane of contact of the feed rolls 4 and-5'. The feed rolls 4 and 5 are arranged on opposite sides-of the planeof the front face of the stacker and are so dimensioned and timed that as ejector pushes the carton partially off. of the stack it .is gripped by these rolls and: then subsequent movementof the blank until it is fully removed from 4 the stack is effected by the rolls and suction heads associated therewith.

As illustrated in Figure 5 the ejector member can constitute feeding pins 3 arranged on a continuously circulating chain belt or the like The particular; carton illustrated is of the type which includes opposite short sides and opposite long sides, in other words the type that has narrow end faces and wide front and rear faces. The-'feed roll 1 is vprovided in the embodiment shownwiththree circumferentially spaced suction heads or vacuum cups 6 communicating with the periphery of the roll. The space he tweeni'the heads issuch that the perimeter of the roll' 4 between the heads cooperates with the perimeter of the roll 5 in completely removing the-blank from. the stack and moving the same downwardly as viewed in the drawings a distance such that by the time the suction head is horizontal as shown in Figure 1 it is adjacent the narrow side of the carton. As illustrated the suction heads are in communication with the suction conduit 9- arranged in a stationary axle 8 during the interval. between their horizontal movement whenthe heads are adjacent the stacker through an arc of movement to the right of Figure l of approximately 120 so that during this swinging motion the narrow face or surface A of each carton will be grasped by one of the suction heads 6 on the roll 4. Each suction head of course is in communication through a conduit 1. with the suction conduit 9 in the axle or shaft during this particular are of move ment.

As the carton blank is removed from the stack and passedbetween therolls iand 5 it is moved into the sphere of action of the second, likewise continuously rotating suction head IQ. This suction head Id nearly contacts the swing cycle ofthe suction. head 5, and is similarly provided. witha-suction-conduit l2 likewise stationary and by-means of the channel I! is in communication with the nozzle or head during a determined portion of its path of rotation which. as shown, is during an approximate movement of the head inmoving from right to left in the direction of the arrow. The suction head It grasps the flattened carton at its bread or wide surface or face B, that is adjacent the narrow surface or face A grasped by the head ii. As is apparent from the-relationship of Figure 1 the two heads'seize the carton on opposite sides of its' folded plane but grasp adjacent sides when consideringthe cartonias set up.

The carton thus grasped on either side of its plane by the-heade E" and ill will be positively opened as isapparent from Figure 2 during the subsequent rotating motion of the heads in their movementrawayfronroneanother. The suction headi0-is-.-provided:with a nozzle l9 which is swiveledl with :respect to the head Iii-so that it can adapt itself to the particular position of the cartonsurface-zgrasped-byit-.. ltisthusapparent that. :inpthecontinued movementirof .the heads- 6 and loraway-ifromone-another.thecartonrblank 2 is unfolded almost completely. 'As this move, ment continues the channel I l passes out of communication with the suction conduit l2 so that the gripping action of the nozzle H3 ceases and the carton is. merely retained in the grasp-of the suction headfi as shown inFigure 3. Continued rotation of. the roll or drum. 42 carries the unfolded carton forward: until the broad surface C abuts a switch or abutment plate I3. Since the face A is still grasped by the suction head 6 the continued movement of the roll or drum 4 causes the carton to be refolded between the abutment I3 and the perimeter of the roll 4 and this refolding is in the opposite. direction as compared with the direction of fold of the plane in the stacker I. As indicated the switch I3 is disposed tangentially with respect to the circulating path of move ment of the suction head 6. As is clear from Figure l the refolded carton blank is gripped by the head 5 until the leading folded edge thereof, as regards its direction of motion, is gripped between the conveying roll I4 and the feed roll or cylinder 4. The suction head 6 now has swung through an arc such that the suction conduit or channel I is no longer in communication with the channel 9 so that the carton is no longer grasped by the suction heads and it is no longer positively held against the face of the cylinder 4 so that the conveying roll I4 continues the movement of the reflattened blank in a direction toward the continuously circulating chain conveyor noted at I 5. As indicated this conveyor is provided with spacer means I5.

In order to insure the effective delivery of the cartons to the conveyor mechanism I5 the feed cylinder t is provided with a plurality of radial feed pins I5 as shown in Figure 4. Each pin, in the particular example there being a number corresponding to the number of suction heads, is located between a pair of suction heads a distance such that, as is apparent from Figures 1 and 2, when the suction head 6 holding the narrow face of the carton is about to pass out of communication with its suction conduit I the feed pin I6 is adjacent the rear folded edge or" the refolded blank. Each pin I6 is provided with a nose which engages this rear folded edge and the several pins are each normally urged inwardly of the periphery of roll or cylinder 4 by springs I'I acting on plunger heads on the inner end of the pins which plunger heads ride in contact with an eccentric head or cam I8 which is likewise stationary so that as the cylinder 4 rotates the pins I6 are projected against the action of springs IT as they reach the position assumed in Figure 2 so that the nose or edge thereof in continued movement of the feed cylinder grasps the rear folded edge of the reflattened blank and positively ejects the same from between the rolls i and I4 along the rear or upward portion of the switch plate I3 and feeds the cartons between two of the spacer elements I5 on the continuously circulating conveyor mechanism I5. The arrangement is such that the carton which had been flattened in an opposite condition between the rolls I 4 and 4 when ejected from between these rolls in its action to resume its original flattened condition automatically sets itself up or reopens so that by the time it is grasped between the two spacing devices on the conveyor chain it is fully set up for conveyance to subsequent processing. A guide plate I5" cooperates with the conveyor to retain the cartons in set up spaced condition during their subseqquent movement.

It is thereby clear that the present invention provides for applying movement to one folded edge of a flattened blank to partially eject the same from a stack and project the same a distance such that it will be grasped between cooperating rolls which continue the ejecting movement and remove the flattened blank from the stack and in the removal thereof the narrow face of the carton, on the front side of the plane of the flattened blank in relation to the direction of feed, is grasped by one of the suction heads or cups 6 so that this face is held against the periphery of the feed cylinder 4 and as the opposite end of the carton blank'is projected beyond the rolls 4 and 5, the universally mounted nozzle head I8 of the continuously rotating suction head I9 comes into contact with and grasps the rear broad or wide face B of the carton on the rear side of the plane of the flattened blank, that is the face when considering the flattened plane of the carton blank opposite to the face grasped by the head 6 so that the continued movement of the heads 6 and III away from one another positively unfolds the blank until it is fully unfolded. Immediately prior to the blank assuming its fully unfolded condition, the suction to the head I0 is cut off so that the carton is only retained by the head 6 and the broad face 0 of the carton opposite to that previously grasped by the head III abuts a switch blade or plate while the carton is still grasped at its narrow face. The continued circulating movement of the head grasping the carton effects a refolding and reflattening of the blank in the opposite direction, first of all between the switch plate and the feed roll and subsequently between the feed roll I4 and an additional feed or conveying roll located adjacent the periphery of the feed roll 4 with its axis disposed approximately at the point where the arc of movement of the head 6 reaches when suction is out off to this head so that the reflattened carton is moved between the rolls I-4 and 4. In order to effectively eject the carton from between these rolls, ejector mechanism including radial projectable pins' located in alternate relationship with the suction head 6 and cooperating with a cam means abuts the rear folded edge of each of the reflattened cartons and ejects the same into the path of movement of the spacing devices on the conveyor mechanism so that the carton when it leaves the sphere of action of the rolls I4 and 4 is automatically set up by its effort to resume its original flattened condition.

In connection with the mechanism illustrated it is of course to be understood that the stacker I is provided with a conventional stack advancer which feeds the stack of flattened blanks so that each outer or end blank is successively partially removed by the movement of the pusher member 3.

Likewise it is to be pointed out that the continuously circulating conveyor I5 is so arranged with relation to the spacing between the spacer elements I5 and the distance between the surface of the conveyor I5 and the perimeter of the feed cylinder 4 is such as to be at least slightly in excess of the thickness of a completely set up carton whereby the blanks that have been reversely reflattened and are ejected from between the cylinder 4 and the roll It can automatically set themselves up into open condition in the movement between the cylinder 4 and the adjacent surface of the conveyor l5 between the spacer elements I5.

It is further apparent that while the present embodiment has been described and illustrated with relation to mechanism in which the axis of the cylinder and various rolls and the rotating head It are vertical, the invention is likewise susceptible to reduction to practice when the various axes are disposed horizontally. In other words the drawings illustrate top views but the invention can be effected in a manner such that the various mechanisms illustrated in top plan view in the drawings are arranged in such fashion 7- that. the appearances. thereof. as shown in the drawings, would'be: thesame' butthe views" would becorresponding side views.v

Having now described an embodiment of the invention, what is. desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1.. In mechanism for removing folded and fiattened tubular carton blanks from a stack and unfolding, refolding, setting up or squaring and conveying the same, the combination of means for. partially removing the end blank from a stack and at least, one continuously rotating suction head disposed on each of the opposite sides of the plane of'movement of the blank for grasping the blank on opposite sides of said plane, the head onone side continuously rotating reversely as regards the continuous rotation of the head onthe opposite side whereby the heads in moving away from one another unfold the blank while bothheads are moving. I

2. In mechanism as defined in and by claim 1, and means controlling the application of suction to saidheads whereby suction is efiective during part=of the rotation of the heads and said means shutting off application of suction to one head prior to the. cessation of application of suction to the other. head.

3. In mechanism-for removing folded and flattened tubular carton blanks from a stack and unfolding, refolding, setting up and conveying thereby at least. partially removing the same from thestack. atleast one continuously rotatable suction head rotatable aboutan axis in front of the plane of' movement of the partially removed blankand rotatable in a direction toward said blank, means controlling the application of suction to said/head. so that suction is operative during part of the rotation of the head so that the head grasps the blank on the front thereof ad-jacentsaid edge,,at least one continuously rotatable suction head rotatable about an axis disposed to the rear of said plane of movement and located in advance of the axis of said first mentioned head as regards the path of movement of the blank, said second mentioned head being rotatable in a direction toward said blank, and

means controlling suction applied through said second mentionedhead so that suction is operative during part of the rotation of said second mentioned head so that the same grasps the blank on the rear thereof at an area in advance of the area grasped by saidfirst mentioned head whereby said heads in continuously moving away from one another. unfold the blank.

4. In mechanismfor removing folded and flattened tubular carton blanks from a stack and unfolding, refolding, setting up and conveying the same, the combination of means movable transversely of the axis. of'the; stack and engageable with an edge of the endblank of "the stack for pushing thesame. laterally of the stack and thereby at least partially removing the same from the stack, at' least one continuously rotatable suction head rotatable about an axis in front of the plane of movement of the partially removed blank and rotatable in a direction toward said. blank, means controlling the application of suction: to said head so thatsuction is operative during part-.- of the. rotation. ofthehead so that .the. head grasps the blank on the front thereof adjacent: said edge, atleast one" continuously rotatable suction head rotatable about an axis disposed-to the'rear of said plane of movement and located in advance of the axis of said first mentioned head as regards the path of movement of the blank, said second mentioned head being rotatable in a direction toward said blank, means controlling suction applied through said second mentioned head so that suction is operative duringpart of the rotation of said second mentioned head so that the same grasps the blank on the rear thereof at an area in advance of the area grasped by said first mentioned head whereby said heads in continuously moving away from one another'unfold the blank, and wherein said heads continuously rotate in closed paths without changing the direction of motion and said means for controlling the application of suction to said headsincludes means individually controlling the application of suction to the respective heads operative to cut off suction to said second mentioned head prior to cutting off suction to said first mentioned head so that said first mentioned head holds and moves said unfolded carton, and means in the path of movement of said unfolded carton engageable therewith and cooperable with said head to reversely refold and refiatten said carton into a reversely folded blank.

5. Mechanism. as defined in and by claim 4 whereinsaid last mentioned means also includes a continuously rotatable roll for feeding said reversely folded blank.

6. Mechanism as' defined in and by claim 5 wherein a continuously movable conveyor is located in advance of said roll and spaced therefrom a distance at least slightly in excess of the thickness of a set up carton whereby said reversely folded blank automatically sets itself up in passing from said roll to said conveyor.

'7. Mechanism for removing folded and fiattened tubular carton blanks from a stack and unfolding, refolding, setting up and conveying the same, including means confining a plurality of folded and flattened tubular carton blanks in a stack, means movable transversely to the axis of the stack and successively engageable with an edge of the successive end blanks of the stack for successively moving each of the same laterally of the stack thereby at least partially removing each blank from the stack, a feed cylinder and a counter-roll each located on an opposite side of theplane of movement of the blank being removed and each continuously rotating toward the blank, said cylinder and counter-roll receiving the partially ejected removed blank and continuing' the removal thereof from the stack, said feed roll incorporating suction heads and means controlling application of suction to said heads during at least that part of the rotation of the heads when each of the same reaches a position immediately adjacent said edge of the blanks being removed so that the heads are effective to grasp one side of each successive carton blank while-the same is in flattened condition and continuethe movement thereof, another suction head mounted for continuous rotation about an axis in alignment with the axis of the counterroll and said second mentioned head being located in advance of the path of movement of the blank being removed whereby the same grasps the blank on the side opposite to that grasped by the first mentioned head, means controlling the'suction applied through said second head during only a part of itsrotational movementwhereby as -the heads rotate with the blank grasped thereby from opposite sides the movegems 9 ment of the heads away from one another effects an unfolding of the blank.

8. A mechanism as defined in and by claim 'I in which at least one of said suction heads is provided with a movable nozzle operative to adapt itself to the momentary position of the carton face being engaged thereby.

9. A mechanism as defined in and by claim 7 in which the means controlling the suction applied through all said heads is operative so that suction is applied to said first mentioned heads during a longer are of rotation than the arc of rotation passed through by said second mentioned head with the suction applied whereby said second. mentioned head is released from engagement with said carton just prior to completion of the unfolding thereof.

10. A mechanism as defined in and by claim 9, and a stationary switch plate disposed in advance of the path of movement of the unfolded carton and engageable With the face thereof opposite to that grasped and released by said second mentioned head whereby said first mentioned heads in continuing the movement of the successive cartons will refold the same in a reversely flattened condition between said cylinder and said switch plate.

11. A mechanism as defined in and by claim 10, and a feed roll continuously rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of said cylinder and located so that the periphery of said roll cooperates with said cylinder in grasping said reflattened blank, said means controlling the suction applied to said first mentioned head cutting off suction when said head has reached a position immediately adjacent the blank contacting portion of said feed roll and projectable pins mounted radially within said cylinder rearwardly of said heads and cooperable with the rear edge of said reflattened blanks when projected for positively ejecting the same from said cylinder and feed roll and a continuously circulating conveyor means receiving the ejected blanks, said conveying means being spaced from said cylinder and roll a distance such that each reversely reflattened blanks in moving from said roll to said conveyor automatically unfolds and sets itself up.

12. A mechanism as defined in and by claim 11 in which said cylinder is provided with radial bores receiving each said pin, spring means within the bores normally urging said pins inwardly of the periphery of the roll and cam means operative against the action of said spring to successively project said pins during a portion of the rotation of said roll so that the pins when projected. contact and move the rear edge of successive reflattened blanks.

13. A mechanism as defined in and by claim 7 in which said feed cylinder and said second mentioned suction head are each mounted for rotation about stationary hollow shafts constituting suction cups constituting the means controlling the suction applied through the heads constituting an aperture in each of said shafts and conduit means movable with the heads during rotation about said shafts whereby said conduit means communicate with said apertures during only a part of the rotation of said heads.

14. A mechanism as defined in and by claim 7 in which the means movable transversely to the axis of the stack for successive engagement with the edge of successive blanks constitutes a reciprocable pusher member.

15. A mechanism as defined in and by claim 'I in which the means movable transversely of 10 the axis of the stack and successively engageable with an edge of successive end blanks constitutes rotatable means embodying a plurality of abutment portions each engageable with a successive blank.

16. A method of manipulating carton blanks comprising feeding a stack of successive flattened blanks of the type embodying opposite wide faces and opposite narrow faces and in which in flattened condition a wide and narrow face are flattened adjacent one another on opposite front and rear sides of the plane of the flattened blank in relation to the direction of feed, partially removing the end blank of the stack in a direction transverse to the axis of the stack, continuing the removal movement of the end blank and grasping the narrow face of the flattened blank on the front side of the plane containing the flattened blank, continuing the movement of the grasped blank and grasping the wide face of the blank on the opposite rear side of the plane of the flattened blank, and continuing the movement of the blank in an arcuate path while retaining the grasp on the adjacent narrow and wide faces of the blank to at least substantially unfold the blank.

17. A method of manipulating carton blanks comprising feeding a stack of successive flattened blanks of the type embodying opposite wide faces and opposite narrow faces and in which in flattened condition a wide and narrow face are flattened adjacent one another or opposite front and rear sides of the plane of the flattened blank in relation to the direction of feed, partially removing the end blank of the stack in a direction transverse to the axis of the stack, continuing the removal movement of the end blank and grasping the narrow face of the flattened blank on the front side of the plane containing the flattened blank, continuing the movement of the grasped blank and grasping the wide face of the blank on the opposite rear side of the plane of the flattened blank, continuing the movement of the blank in an arcuate path while retaining the grasp on the adjacent narrow and wide faces of the blank to at least substantially unfold the blank, releasing the grasp from the wide face of the blank while maintaining the narrow face grasped and continuing the movement of the now substantially unfolded blank, and abutting the wide face of the blank opposite to that originally grasped and removed while continuing the arcuate movement of the blank with its narrow face grasped to reversely refiatten the blank.

18. A continuous method of squaring collapsed or flattened carton blanks comprising feeding a stack of successive flattened blanks of the type embodying opposite Wide faces and opposite narrow faces and in which in flattened condition a wide and narrow face are flattened adjacent one another or opposite front and rear sides of the plane of the flattened blank in relation to the direction of feed, partially removing the end blank of the stack in a direction transverse to the axis of the stack, continuing the removal movement of the end blank and grasping the narrow face of the flattened blank on the front side of the plane containing the flattened blank, continuing the movement of the grasped blank and grasping the wide face of the blank on the opposite rear side of the plane of the flattened blank, continuing the movement of the blank in an arcuate path while retaining the grasp on the adjacent narrow and Wide faces of the blank to at least substantially unfold the blank, releasing 11.1 lv :the: gras from; theawideriace zofitheizlank Whil -maintainingsthe; narrowiaoeigrasped sandman- :tinuing 2 the :movementnf :the; nowzsoubstanti lly unfolded blank, abutting the wide face ,of:;.tbe 'nblank opposite :to :that aoriginally rgrasped and :removedmhile continuing; the arcuate; movement .ofrvtheblankewith its narrow; face graspedmorecversely reflatten the o blank, releasing". the grasp :fnom :.the narrow: face of .the blank Whi e 00.n-

;..the;1movement41of;the reverselyrfiattened -blank :and final-1y releasing the blank permitting -the- ;same :to automatically set itself up into a :Ltubular. carton in its effort toresume its original flattened condition.

119., A- continuous method of squaring collapsed :or flattenedcarton blanks comprising feeding-a w:stackofsuccessive.flattened blanks of the-type oe nhodying opposite wide faces and opposite -narrowifaces-and in;.which in flattened condition ,:a-iwidef.and narrow face are flattened adjacent one-another oropposite front andrear sides of lithe-plane. of the; flattened blank in relation to the :direction of feed, partially removing the end blank :.of theistackina direction transverse to the axis of the stack, continuing the removal movement of zthesendcblankl andigrasping-tthe narrow face of :theilattened blank.- on the front side of the plane :containing: the z-flattened 1 blank, continuing the ;movement;,of the. grasped blank and grasping the -wide facerof -the blank on the opposite rear side :that, ori i; ...;l

12 l. of the plane of the flattened blank,-=conti-nujng i hem ve nen o therhlank in-sa earcuat p .whil rretaininathei raspcntheiadiac nttnarr w .7 anidvwida-iace tc ath ;b nk-; teat leastssubstanstially unf d; th rhlan irreleasine;t l ras ztrom the wide face of the,blanhwhilema ntaining the marrow iac a rasnedzand continuin 1 the-m menttof th znow 1 substantial y u ded (b ank, :abntting theawid fac .o ith iblan r pp it tt v. rasn dzand:removed wh l -nonrtinuingrtheiarcuate movement: ofqthe-blankcwith its narrow face grasped" to 'reversely; refiatten: the blank, releasing the'grasp from thenarrow face of the-blank-gwhile continuing the :movement of the; reverselwfiattened;blank and finally releasing the blank permitting the; same toautomat- -ically,:-set itself upjnto a tubular carton in its efiort to resume its original-flattened condition, while arranging the1successive blanks in spaced relationship and :successively moving the setup cartons inm-utually equally spaced relationship.

:FRANZ JOHENNING. :OTTO BAUMS.

ReferenceszCited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date "2,217,784 Bennett--- Oct.,15, 1940 v2,399,934: 'Monroe. v May'7, l946