US2863369A

US2863369A - Set up machine

Info

Publication number: US2863369A
Application number: US644513A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walton B Crane
Original assignee: Allied Plastics Co
Current assignee: Allied Plastics Co
Priority date: 1957-03-07
Filing date: 1957-03-07
Publication date: 1958-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1975-12-09

Description

W. B. CRANE SET UP MACHINE Dec. 9, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March '7, 1957 IN V EN TOR.

W. B. CRANE SET UP MACHINE Dec. 9, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March '7, 1957 EE CWQCE INVENTOR.

W. B. CRANE Dec. 9, 1958 SET UP MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 7, 1957 IN V EN TOR.

W. B. CRANE SET UP MACHINE 'Dec. "9, 1958 Filed March 7, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INIL'ENTOR.

} WWW Dec. 9, 1958 w. B. CRANE 2,863,369

SET UP MACHINE Filed March 7, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet s VILVE INLET 1 (u;

- l w ns'ruau I i I if g a7 /22 l i /:4 I l mfpazahZ/m United States Patent SET UP MACHINE Walton B. Crane, South Pasadena, Calif., assignor to Allied Plastics Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application March 7, 1957, Serial No. 644,513

12 Claims. (CI. 9337) This invention relates to packaging machinery and is particularly concerned with improvements in a machine which is adapted for use in folding or setting up Wall forming members of corrugated paperboard crates or containers for handling and shipping fruit, vegetables and similar products.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a machine for use in automatically folding or erecting cross partition and end wall panel members of a folded corrugated board receptacle, which, in the fully set up condition, is in the form of an open topped tray or crate and which is adapted to be used for receiving a plurality of standard size berry boxes or similar produce containers.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a machine for automatically folding into wall forming position cross partition panels and inner end wall panels of a produce handling and shipping container which container is formed from a single blank of bendable corrugated board material with the blank being cut and creased to divide the same into a series of connected wall forming panels and being adapted to be initially folded to provide a tubular section having a rectangular cross section for presentation to the machine.

It is a still more specific object of the invention to provide a folding machine for use in setting up a corrugated board container of the berry crate type wherein the machine is adapted to receive the container after it is partially set up or folded to form a tube having a rectangular cross section and wherein a series of hingedly mounted folder plates are provided with a common operating means for swinging the same from a generally horizontal position,'above a horizontal folding chamber into which the partially set up container is inserted, downwardly to a generally vertical position within the chamber thereby to fold downwardly into the tube, wall forming panel sections which are cut from the top wall of the tube and which are adapted to be swung into cross wall and end wall forming position within the interior of the container in its fully set up condition.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the machine which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation, with portions broken away, of a folding machine which embodies therein the principal features of the invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation of an adjoining side or end of the machine, with portions thereof being broken away;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the side of the machine which is opposite that shown in Figure l, with portions thereof being broken away;

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, with portions thereof being broken away;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1, to an enlarged scale;

2,863,369 Patented Dec. 9, 1958 Ice the condition in which it is discharged from the machine.

Referring first to Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings, there is illustrated a foldable corrugated board receptacle or container of the berry crate type which has incorporated therein wall forming panels adapted to be folded into wall forming position by the machine of the present invention. The container 10 is formed from a single sheet of relatively stiff corrugated paperboard material which is cut and creased to provide, when set up, oppo sitely disposed upstanding side walls 11 depending from a top panel structure and hingedly connected thereto on the top corner or side edge forming fold lines 12. The side walls 11 have extending flaps 13 at both ends which cooperate with end flaps 14 integrally hinged to the end of the top panel structure to form the outer end walls of the container. A pair of cooperating bottom wall forming flaps 15 extend inwardly of the bottom side edge forming fold lines or creases 16 and have marginal portions 17 and 18 which are overlapped and interlocked at 19. Four rectangular cross Wall forming panels are cut from the top panel structure which are folded by the present machine down into the interior of the container. The two center cross panels 20 which form cooperating center cross partition wall panels are hinged on the double hinge line 21 and the two outermost cross panels 22 which form the inner end walls are hinged on the transverse end edge forming crease lines 23. The free marginal edge of each of the center cross partition panels 20 is creased on the fold line 24 and cut to provide a pair of spaced locking tabs 25 which extend in the plane of the body of the panel 20 and a marginal flange forming portion 26 which is adapted to fold about the crease line 24 and to be engaged with the bottom wall formed by the panels 15, the locking tabs projecting into the cooperating locking apertures 27 in the bottom wall forming panels 15. Each of the inner end wall panels 22 is creased on the line 28 adjacent its free margin and cut to provide spaced flange sections 29 and the locking tab 30 between the same, the latter being adapted to extend in the plane of the body of panel 22 and into the center aperture 31 provided at the end of the bottom wall formed by the panels 15. Semi-circular tab members 32. are cut from each of the end wall panels 22 which are adapted to hinge with the marginal flange sections 29 to space each panel 22 from the outer end wall panel 14. A more specific description of the container structure may be had by reference to my copending application, Serial No. 585,513, filed May 17, 1956, for Paperboard Shipping Crate and Interlocked Crate Unit, the form of the container structure which is described herewith being illustrated in Figures 20 to 26 of the drawings therein.

necting oppositely disposed

bottom end bars

48 and 49 extending between the main frame members 41. All of the main frame and subframe members may be angle bars.

Identical guide funnels 50 are supported at opposite ends or sides of the subframe 011 the

end cross bars

48 and 49. The guide funnels 50 extend between the pairs of

end posts

46 and 47 and have aligned interior openings or passageways which are the same shape and slightly larger than the cross section of the container when it is in its initial tubular shape for folding in the machine. The guide funnels provide for feeding the machine from either of the two opposite ends and portions of the folding mechanism between the same are arranged symmetrical about a center line'extending transversely of a folding compartment or chamber 51 in which the partially erected container is adapted to be placed for the folding operations.

As the tubed container is inserted in a guide funnel 50 and moved into the folding compartment 51, it is supported on a base plate 52 (Figure 4). The base plate 52 is arranged on the top flanges of

side angle bars

53 and 54 which extend between the

end angle bars

48 and 49, with the former adjacent the oppositely disposed

subframe end posts

46 and 47 and the latter adjacent the main frame corner members 41 at the opposite side of the machine. The base plate 52 is provided with a center cross slot 55 and two end cross slots 56 and 56', the latter being L-shaped. The side angle bar 53 is notched at 57, 58 and 58' in alignment with the

slots

55, 56 and 56 to provide clearance for the projecting ends of the

locking tabs

25 and 30 when the container 10 is ejected or discharged from the machine. The base plate 52 has an apron 59 which is bent downwardly away from the supporting bar 53 at the discharge side of the machine over which the container 10 moves as it is ejected from the machine.

Hinged folder plate members are mounted on the subframe above the folding compartment 51 on spaced side angle bars 60 and 61 which folder plates are arranged to operate on the two sets of

panels

20 and 22 at the opposite ends of the container (Figure 10), the latter being symmetrical about its transverse center line. Only one set of folder plates will be described, the corresponding members of the other set being indicated by the same numerals primed. The

folder plates

62 and 63 are adapted to fold down the center or cross partition panel 20 and the inner end wall panel 22, respectively. The

folder plate members

62 and 63 are supported on

parallel cross shafts

64 and 65 with the oppositely disposed edges of the respective members secured to the shafts. The

shafts

64 and 65 are journaled at their ends in suitable bearing

bracket members

66, 67 and 68, 69 supported on the side bars 60 and 61.

The

folder plates

62 and 63 are swung from a horizontal position (Figure 5) to a depending position (Figure 1) about the

shafts

64 and 65 for accomplishing the folding of the

panels

20 and 22 by a vertically reciprocating yoke member 70 (Figure l), the plates being connected to the reciprocating yoke by a pair of link members 71 and 72. The link member 71 has one end pivoted at 73 to a pair of bearing ears 74 provided on the upper face of the folder plate 62 and the link 72 has one end pivotally connected at 75 to a pair of bearing ears 76 provided on the uppermost face of the folder plate 63. The two links 71 and 72 are pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the pin '77 carried on the one leg 78 of the yoke member 70. The yoke 70 is reciprocated in a pair of identical grooved guideway forming bracket members 79 which are supported in oppositely disposed spaced relation on a horizontal frame 80 forming part of the subframe structure and extending between the

end frame posts

46 and 47 intermediate the top and bottom ends thereof. The bracket members 79 are arranged so that the yoke 70 operates in the confronting guideway forming grooves therein and each bracket member preferably has anti-friction rollers 81 in its guideway groove engaging with the side edges of the yoke 70. The yoke 70 is connected at 83 to the lower end of the vertically disposed piston 84 of an hydraulic operating cylinder 85, the latter being supported by suitable bracket members 86 on the top frame portion 45 of the main frame of the machine. The

folder plates

62 and 63 have their free marginal portions slotted with the slots in offset relation so that the finger-like edge portions resulting from the slotting interleave when the plates are swung into a generally horizontal plane above the folding chamber 51 to permit the insertion of the partially set up container. The outermost folder plate 63 (Figure 6) is slotted to provide a relatively wide finger forming portion 87 in the center of the inner or free margin thereof which has mounted thereon a pivoted flipper device 88 (Figures 6 and 7). The flipper device 88 comprises an inverted L-shaped flipper member 90 having its two plate-

like legs

91 and 92 in planes which are normal to each other. The L-shaped flipper member 90 has the one leg 91 extending in a vertical plane which is normal to the plane of the body of the plate 63. The leg 91 projects through an aperture 93 in the plate 63 and is pivoted on a pin 94 extending between the legs of an inverted U-shaped mounting bracket member 95 which is secured to the upper or innermost face of the finger'part 87 of the plate 63. The other'leg 92 of the L-shaped flipper member 90 is adapted to be received in a recess 96 provided in the opposite face of the plate finger portion 87 where it will engage with the uppermost face of the container end wall panel 22 as indicated in Figure 7 when the plate 63 is swung downwardly and outwardly for the folding operation. The flipper leg 92 extends beyond the free edge of the folder plate 63 and has its free edge beveled at 97 on the inner or upper side so that it engages against the locking tab 30 and insures that the latter is moved into the locking aperture 31 in the bottom wall of the container 10 at the end of the folding operation. The flipper leg 91 is rounded at 98 and positioned in the somewhat larger plate aperture 93 so that the flipper leg 92 is free to rotate clockwise about pivot 94 a suflicient distance to insure that it will be moved out of the aperture 31 without tearing the wall material around the same when the folder plate is retracted after the folding operation. The innermost folder plate 62 is slotted on its free marginal edge to provide two similar finger forming portions 100 which are in spaced relation on opposite sides of the center line of the plate and which have mounted thereon flipper devices 101 of the same construction as flipper device 88 for insuring that the locking tabs 25 on the cross partition panel 20 will be properly seated in the apertures 27 in the bottom wall forming panels 15 of the container 10 when the folder plate 62 is swung to the position shown in Figure 1. The

folder plates

62 and 63 are, of course, provided with slots which are properly located and which are of a width and depth sufficient to accommodate the

finger portions

87 and 101 when the plates are moved to non-folding position (Figure .5).

The folding compartment 51 is normally closed on the discharge side by a gate member 105 (Figures 3 and 5) in the form of an elongate rectangular plate which is pivoted by the hinge brackets 106 to the side support bar 60 and adapted to swing outwardly to open the side of the folding compartment 51 after the folding operation and permit the container to be ejected from the machine. In its closed position the gate member 105 provides a side wall or guide for the folding compartment 51. The gate member 105 is pivotally connected at 107 to the lower end of an operating piston 108 on an hydraulic cylinder 109. The cylinder 109 (Figure 2) has its opposite end pivoted at 110 to a supporting bracket 111 mounted on a cross frame member 112 extending between corner frame members 41. Operation of the cylinder 109 swings the gate member 105 upwardly after the folding of the

panels

20 and 22 is completed and opens the side of the folding compartment 51 to permit the container to be ejected in a sidewise direction.

The container 10 is ejected from the folding compartment 51 after the

panels

20 and 22 are folded down and the

folder plate members

62 and 63 are retracted by means of a pusher bar 113 (Figures 1, 2 and 4) which is supported on a bracket 114 mounted on the end of the horizontally disposed piston 115 of an hydraulic operating cylinder 116. The cylinder 116 is mounted, by means of suitable bracket members 117, on the supporting frame channel member 54 at the one side of the machine opposite the gate member 105. The bracket member 114 reciprocates horizontally across the compartment 51 and has a depending portion 118 which extends through the center slot 55 in the bottom plate 52. A pair of L-shaped angle bars 119 (Figure 4) are arranged with their longer legs in alignment to form a bottom side guide for the container 10 at the pusher side of the compartment 51, the shorter legs extending to the supporting channel member 54 and being spaced to accommodate the bracket 114 for the pusher bar 113. The'pusher bar 113, when in retracted position, forms a partial side wall for the folding compartment 51. Top cross guide rollers 120 (Figure l) are supported by suitable brackets on the frame members 60 and 61 adjacent the guide funnels 50 to hold down the container 10 as it is positioned in the compartment 51 for the folding operation.

Suitable electric and hydraulic control devices are provided for automatic operation of the machine. As schematically illustrated in Figure 9,

cylinders

85, 109 and 116 are controlled by solenoid operated valves with the solenoids being in turn actuated by microswitches. The mechanism is placed in operation by manually operated microswitches (not shown) at opposite sides of the machine which are under the control of the operator. In the initial position of the mechanism, the yoke 70 is in the retracted position (Figures 1, 2 and 4) and holds the

folder plates

62 and 63 in a horizontal plane or retracted position above the folding chamber 51, so that a partially set up. container 10 may be moved into the folding chamber 51 (Figure 3), the pusher bar 113 being retracted and the gate member 105 being closed. When the container 10, in the initial tubular form, is moved into the folding chamber 51 to the proper position for aligning the

panels

20 and 22 beneath the retracted

folder plates

62 and 63, the projecting end flap 13 at one side of the leading end of the container engages with a projecting arm 121 (Figures 4 and 8) on a combined stop and switch actuator device 122 located at the end of the folding chamber 51 on the pusher bar side of the same. A duplicate actuator device 122 is located at the other end of the folding chamberfor operation by a container which is fed into the same from the opposite end of the machine.

The actuator device 122 comprises the arm member 121 which extends into the path of the container, a switch operating arm member 123 and an upstanding pivot pin 124 on which the two arm members 121 and 123 are swingably mounted. The arm member 121 has the pivoted end bifurcated to provide spaced bearing ears 125 which have aligned bores for receiving the pivot pin 124. The arm member 123 has its end pivoted on the pin 124 between the ears 125 and a torsion spring 126 connects the two arm members tending to urge the arm members 121 and 123 in opposite directions aboutthe pivot pin 124. A stop pin 127 on the arm member 123 engages in a recess in the lowermost bearing ear 125 and limits the relative movement of the arm members in the one direction while permitting relative movement in the other direction against the force of the spring .126. The arm members 121 and 123 are normally held in the position shown in Figure 4 by tension spring 128 and stop pin 129 associated with the switch operating arm member 123 while stop plate 130 limits the movement of the arm member 121 in the switch operating direction.

When the container flap 13 engages the arm member 121 it moves the latter against the stop plate 130 which stops the forward movement of the container and operates the starting switch 131 through movement of the arm member 123. The switch 131 operates the valve which controls cylinder for swinging the

folder plates

62 and 63 downwardly to fold the

panels

20 and 22 into depending or setup position. The vertically reciprocating yoke 70 carries a pin 132 (Figure 1) which actuates, through the pivoted arm 133, a microswitch 134. The switch 134 operates the valve controlling the cylinder 109 automatically opening the gate to permit ejection ofthe container from the folding compartment 51 by the pusher bar member 113. As the gate 105 moves to the open position it engages the actuator arm 135 (Figure 3) of a switch 136 controlling the operating valve for cylinder 116 and automatically sets the pusher bar 113 in motion to push the container 10 through the open side of the folding compartment 51 and clear the same for the entry of a succeeding container. The pusher bar bracket 114 (Figure 2) carries on the lower portion 118 a depending switch actuating member 137 which is adapted to engage the operating arm 138 of a switch 139 when the pusher bar 113 has reached the end of its movement. The switch 139 operates the valves which control the

cylinders

109 and 116 to return the gate 105 and the pusher bar 113 to their initial positions. The mechanism is then in condition for the operator to insert the next succeeding container 10 through a guide chute 50 into the folding compartment 51 and the cycle is repeated.

While particular details have been referred to in describing the illustrated form of the machine, it will be understood that various modifications thereof may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A machine for folding into wall forming position cross partition and end wall forming panels of a traylike container which is fabricated from a blank of paperboard material cut and creased to provide a series of connected wall forming panels, the container being initially set up in the form of a tube with the panels which are to be folded being located in the plane of the uppermost wall of the tube, said machine comprising an upright main supporting frame having means forming a folding compartment which is open on at least one end for receiving the tube, said compartment forming means including a pair of top folder plates extending transversely in the top wall of said compartment, said folder plates being swingably mounted for movement inwardly of the compartment and into engagement with the cross partition and end wall forming panels in the top of the tube when the latter is positioned in the folding compartment, a vertically reciprocating operating member supported on said frame above said compartment and connected to said folder plates to swing the latter into and out of the folding compartment, means to actuate said reciprocating member, and means to eject said container from said folding compartment when said folder plates are swung out of said folding compartment.

2. A machine as recited in claim 1, and link members connecting said folder plates with said vertically reciprocating member.

3. A set up machine for folding hinged top side wall panels into wall forming position in a tubular container, said set up machine comprising an upright frame, means on said frame forming an open ended folding compartment for receiving the tubular container in an endwise direction, an outwardly hinged wall forming member mounted in one side of the folding compartment, a transversely reciprocable ejector member mounted in the opposite side of the folding compartment, a pair of folder plates hingedly mounted in the top wall of the folding compartment for movement into and out of the compartment, said folder plates, said hinged wall member andsaid ejector member being connected to hydraulic members,.and means actuated by movement of said tubular container, said hinged wall member and said ejector member for automatically controlling the operation of said hydraulic members in proper sequence to move the folder plates into and out of engagement with the hinged wall panels, to move the hinged wall member outwardly and to reciprocate the ejector member for discharging the container from the folding compartment.

4. In a machine for folding into cross wall forming position top wall panels in a container which is characterized by being initially set up in the form of a tube, a supporting frame having means thereon defining an open ended compartment into which the initially tubed container is adapted to be inserted in an endwise direction, said compartment defining means comprising a swingable side wall, a laterally movable container ejecting member mounted in the opposite side wall, and folder plates mounted on transversely extending spaced pivots in the top wall thereof, said folder plates being of the same general shape as the cross wall forming panels, means connected to the folder plates for pivoting the folder plates in opposite directions from a normal horizontal position into and out of generally vertical position in said compartment, and means for locating said initially tubed container within said compartment with said cross wall forming panels aligned beneath said folder plates when said folder plates are in horizontal position.

5. In a machine for folding into cross wall forming position top wall panels in a container which is characterized by being initially set up in the form of a tube, a supporting frame having means thereon defining an open ended compartment into which the initially tubed container is adapted to be inserted in an endwise direction, said compartment defining means comprising folder plates swingably mounted in the top wall thereof, said folder plates being of the same general shape as the cross wall forming panels, panel engaging members pivotally mounted adjacent the free edges of said folder plates and having portions extending beyond the free edges of said folder plates, means for swinging the folder plates into and out of generally vertical position in said compartment, and means for positioning said initially tubed container within said compartment with said cross wall forming panels located in the path of movement of said folder plates.

6. In a folding machine as recited in claim 5, and panel engaging members pivotally mounted on the free marginal edges of said folder plates for swinging movement thereon at one side of said folder plates.

7. A set up machine for folding hinged top wall panels into a tubular container, said set up machine comprising an upright frame, means on said frame forming an open ended folding compartment for receiving the tubular container in an endwise direction, an outwardly hinged wall forming member forming one side of the folding compartment, a transversely reciprocable ejector member mounted at the opposite side of the folding compartment, a pair of hinged folder plates mounted in the top wall of the folding compartment, said ejector member, said hinged wall member and said folder plates being connected to hydraulic operating members, means for controlling said hydraulic operating members including operating elements in the path of movement of the container, the folder plate operating member and the ejector operating member for automatically actuating said hydraulic operating members in sequence whereby to fold the hinged wall panels, to move the hinged wall outwardly and to reciprocate the ejector member.

8. A machine for folding into wall forming position cross partition and end Wall forming panels of a tray-like container which .is fabricated from a blank of cut and creased paperboard material, the container being initially set up 'in the form of a tube with the panels which are to be folded being in the plane of the uppermost wall of the tube, said machine eomprising'an upright supporting frame having means forming a folding compartment which is open at opposite ends, said compartment forming means including a swingably mounted side wall formingmember, a reciprocable ejector member and a pair of top folder plates extending transversely in the top of said compartment, said folder plates being swingably mounted for movement into the compartment to move therein the cross partition and end wall forming panels in the top of the tubed container when the latter is positioned endwise in the folding compartment, a vertically reciprocating member supported in said frame above said folding compartmentand'connected by links to said folder plates to swing the latter into and out of the folding compartment, means to operate said vertically reciprocating member, means to swing said wall member to an open position, and means to operate said ejector member to move said container from said folding compartment through the open side wall thereof.

9. In a machine for folding into cross wall forming position top wall panels in a container which is characterized by being initially set up in the form of a tube, a supporting frame having means thereon defining an open ended compartment in which the initially tubed container is adapted to be inserted in an endwise direction, said compartment defining means comprising a swingable side wall, a laterally movable container ejecting member in the opposite side wall, and folder plates swingably mounted in the top wall thereof, said folder plates being of the same general shape as the cross wall forming panels and being in a generally horizontal plane when in non-folding position, said folder plates being mounted on parallel pivots which are spaced a lesser distance apart than the combined Width of the folder plates, said folder plates having their freeedges slotted to form finger sections which interleave with each other when the folder plates are in the non-folding position, means for swinging the folder plates into and out of generally vertical position in said compartment, and means for positioning said initially tubed container within said compartment with said cross wall forming panels located in the path of movement of said folder plates.

10. A machine for folding into wall forming position cross partition and end wall forming panels of a tray-like container which is formed from a blank of cut and creased paperboard material, the container being initially set up in the form of a tube with the panels which are to be folded being cut in the uppermost wall of the tube, said machine comprising an upright main supporting frame, a subframe thereon, said subframe having means forming a folding compartment which is open on at least one end to receive the tubed container,- said compartment forming means including a swingably mounted side wall forming member and a pair of top folder plates extending transversely of said compartment, said folder plates being swingably mounted in the top of said compartment forming means for movement into engagement with the cross partition and end wall forming panels in the uppermost wall of a tubed container positioned in the folding compartment and then into generally vertical position in said folding compartment, a vertically reciprocating member supported in said subframe and connected to said folder plates to swing the latter into and out of the folding compartment, means connected to said reciprocating member for reciprocating said member and means connected to said wall member to swing said wall member to and from an open position, and means to eject said container from said folding compartment through the open side when said side wall member is swung to an open position.

11. A set up machine for folding hinged top wall panels in a tubular container, said set up machine comprising an upright frame, means on said frame forming an open ended folding compartment for receiving the tubular container in an endwise direction, an outwardly hinged wall forming member at one side of the folding compartment, a transversely reciprocated container ejector member mounted at the opposite side of the folding compartment, a pair of hinged folder plates mounted in the top of the folding compartment, said folder plates, said hinged wall member and said ejector member being connected to hydraulic operating members, and control means responsive to movement of the container in the compartment for automatically actuating said hydraulic operating members to swing the folder plates into the compartment and thereby fold the hinged wall panels into the container, to move the hinged wall of the compartment outwardly and to reciprocate the container ejector member, in sequence. I

12. A machine for folding into wall forming position cross partition and end wall forming panels of a tray-like container which is fabricated from a blank of cut and creased paperboard material, the container being initially set up in the form of a tube with the panels which are to be folded being in the plane of the uppermost wall of the tube, said machine comprising an upright supporting frame having means forming a folding compartment which is open at opposite ends, said compartment forming means comprising a swingably mounted side wall forming member and a pair of top folder plates extending transversely and forming the top wall of said compartment, said folder plates being swingably mounted for movement in a direction inwardly of said compartment and into engagement with the cross partition and end wall forming panels in the top of the tubed container when the latter is inserted endwise into the folding compartment thereby to force said panels into upright position in said compartment, a member supported in said frame above said compartment for vertical reciprocation and connected to said folder plates for swinging said folder plates into and out of said folding compartment, means to reciprocate said folder plate swinging member, means to swing said wall member to and from an open position, means to eject said container from said folding compartment through the side wall thereof, and control means at opposite ends of said folding compartment, which is actuated by movement of the container, for said member reciprocating means, said wall member swinging means, and said container ejecting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS