US3075332A

US3075332A - Angular feed carton flap opening machine

Info

Publication number: US3075332A
Application number: US23798A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert F Krupp; Jan K Wagner
Original assignee: Gerber Products Co
Current assignee: Gerber Products Co
Priority date: 1960-04-21
Filing date: 1960-04-21
Publication date: 1963-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-29

Description

Jan. 29, 1963 R. F. KRUPP ETAL ANGULAR FEED CARTON FLAP OPENING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2l. 1960 INVENTORS Robert F. Krupp By Jan K.Wagner Jan. 29, 1963 R. F. KRUPP ETAL ANGULAR FEED CARTON ELAP oPENNG MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2l, 1960 INVENTORS Robert F. Krupp By Jan K. Wagner Jan. 29, 1963 R. F. KRUPP ETAL ANGULAR FEED CARTON FLAP oPENNG MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 21, 1960 2 3 fo /IK 7 6u|||||iV 2/ 3l B/r 11 8 6 2 2l? 3 I 9 ...u ma mv. m n 4 12 ll 27 n 2 8 2 24 6 M n. a., 4 .m X3 C2 2 wall 3 X c g 3 2 l .I o F.

IBI

INVENTORS F. Krupp K. Wagner Jan. 29, 1963 R. F. KRUPP ETAL 3,075,332

ANGULAE FEED CARTON FLAP oPENNG MACHINE Filed April 2l, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.7. H sa im i mmvToRs Robert F. Krupp y By Jan K.Wagner Jan. 29, 1963 R. F. KRUPP ETAL 3,075,332

ANGULAR FEED CARTON FLAP OPENNG MACHINE Filed April 2l, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Robert F. Krupp f By Jan K. Wagner p53/fm 3,525,332 Patented Jan. 29, l

3,il75,332 ANGULAK'?. FEED CARTON FLAP @PENlNG MACHINE Robert F. Krupp and .lan K. Wagner, Oakland, Calif., assigner-s to Gerber Products Company, Fremont, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 21, 1950, Ser. No. 23,798 13 Claims. (Ci. Sil- 382) This invention relates to a new and improved angularly disposed jar handling machine, and more particularly relates to that type of machine in which cartons containing glass jars, or the like, are opened. The cartons, with upper flaps closed but unglued, are deposited in a magazine and fed into the machine one at a time in a first direction in timed sequence to the operation of the machine. The Outer flaps of the carton are then opened. Thereafter, the carton is moved in a second direction at right angles to the rst direction of movement thereof, and the inner flaps are opened. in subsequent stations the jars are unloaded from the carton, washed, and then converged into a single file for subsequent filling.

Reference is made to the following patents which disclose certain features of the machine hereinafter described: 2,826,207; 2,818,987; 2,865,490.

Reference is also made to the following co-pending patent applications which disclose other features of the machine hereinafter described: n

S. N, 672,618, filed .luly 18, 1957 for Case Feeding And Opening Means; and SN. 738,762, filed May 29, 1958 for Case Feeding And Opening Means.

Although other machines have been produced wherein outer and inner aps are opened by rst moving the carton in one direction and then moving the carton perpendicular to its first direction of movement, the present invention employs certain features and possesses certain advantages of material importance.

One of the features of the present invention is the use of a pivoted, tapered stop arm located adjacent the iirst ilap opener which pushes the carton toward one side guide rail and insures that the carton remains in contact with the pusher bar which pushes it through the machine. Thus, the pivoted arm stops the progress of the carton until the proper time in the sequence of operation of the machine. It further insures the proper lateral placement of the box as the flap opening cycle commences and functions as a brake on the movement of the box during the flap opener cycle. f

Another feature and advantage of the machine is the manner and means whereby the outer iiaps are opened. Provision is made for first depressing the outer liaps so that they are substantially horizontally inwardly directed, and thus their position is uniform for each carton that is opened. As soon as the outer flaps are depressed, impaling pins revolving above the carton impale the flaps. The combination of forward movement of the carton as it is pushed by the pusher bar and the upward rotation of the impaling pins raises the flaps and partially opens them. The raising of the iiaps is augmented by the use of a flexible idler on the chain which drives the shaft which rotates the impaling pins and permits non-uniform motion of the pins while they are pulling out of the case flaps and while the carto-n is moving forwardly at uniform speed.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of limit stops which depend from the super-structure of the flap opening station. Two of the stops engage the top ofthe carton adjacent the outer side edges of the carton and prevent the carton (as distinguished from the outer flaps) from rising under the raising, actionof the impaling pins. The other two limit stops are at a higher elevation than the first-mentioned and located more centrally of the machine; these function to aid the removal of the impaling pins by limiting the outer flap opening.

After the outer flaps are opened, the carton then pro ceeds at right angles to its original movement. A second flap opening mechanism similar to the first opens the inner ilaps. Associated with this mechanism are means to hold the outer ilaps open, inner llap pick-up arms and inner flap opener stops which limit the opening movement of the inner deps and are cam-driven from the shaft which drives the inner ap opener pick-up arms.

A further feature of the machine is provision of a cam shear coupling which has a shear pin which parts when an overload is placed on the machine. This coupling employs two cams, each having approximately 18() degrees high dwell and angularly spaced apart lll()` degrees. When the shear pin is intact, the cam follower which is placed to ride on both cams always rides high because it is retracted by one or the other high dwells. However, when the shear pin breaks, the angular position of the two cams shifts so that a low dwell of one cam coincides with at least a portion of the low dwell of another cam, and this permits the cam follower roller to drop into the low dwell and operate a switch to stop the drive motor of the machine.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each. of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a top plan view of a portion of the machine.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the structure of lili?. l.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation thereof.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken substantially alongthe line i-Lt of FlG. l.

FG. 5 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line S-E of FIG. l.

FlG. 6 is a fragmentary Vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 6*@ of Fifi. l.

PiG. 7 is an enlarged top plan View of station C.

FiG. 8 is a side elevation of the structure of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the structure of FIG. l showing the shear coupling switch.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line lli-itl of FiG. 9 showing the shear pin intact.

FIG. 1l is a View similar to FIG. l0 showing the shear pin broken.

FIG. l2 is a schematic view of cartons and jars.

The present invention is intended for use with rectangular cartons received with closed but unglued top outer flaps attached to sides and inner liaps attached to ends. Contained in the cartons .il are glass jars l2 shown here arranged in six columns of four rows each.

For convenience, the machine may be considered as comprising three stations:

(A) Magazine.

(B) Outer Flap Opener.

(C) Inner Flap Opener.

One of the features of the present invention is the fact that the Magazine Station (A) and the Outer Flap Opener Station (B) are located in line and in contiguous relationship to each other, but are at right angles to the direction of the Inner Flap Opener Station (C). The frame for Station (A) and Station (B) is unitary and continuous, consisting of a pair of horizontally disposed right and left

channels

21 and 22` on opposite side of the machine which are continuous through Stations (A) and (B) and are supported by vertical legs 23 and frame member 33, and tied together by transverse members 24.

At Station (B) is a super-structure 26 elevated above

channels

21 and 22 by legs 2.7 and consisting of top and bottom longitudinal members 2S and 29 on either side of the machine tied together by transverse members 31.

At Station (C) are left and

right channels

32 and 33 at approximately the same elevation as

channels

21 and 22. Legs 34

support channels

32 and 33. Extending longitudinally of Station (C) is superstructure 39 for Station (C). The superstructure 39' consists of angle 36 extending longitudinally centrally of Station (C) supported at one end by angle 37 on legs 38 above

channels

32 and 33. Angle 36 is supported at its other end by a depending support from the uncaser frame 44.

The drive for Stations (A) to (C) is derived from a power -source here indicated by gear box 51 which is connected to adjacent gear box 52 by shaft 53. Gear box 52 has a rst horizontal take-olf shaft 54 at right angles to shaft 53 and a second horizontal take-off shaft 56 in alignment with shaft 53.

First shaft 54 is journaled in frame member 42 and carries sprocket 57 driving chain 5S which drives sprocket 59. An idler tightener sprocket 60 engages the top stretch of chain S to maintain it tight and a second idler sprocket 60a maintains the chain horizontal.

A common means of preventing overload of the drive mechanism for machines, in the event that there is a jamming or some other malfunctioning of the machine, is the provision of a shear pin which fractures under undue stress and disconnects a drive means from a driven means thereby stopping operation of the driven means. The present invention comprises an improved device of this type.

In the drive for Stations (A) and (B) there is provided a chain 5S which turns sprocket 59 which is mounted on an elongated transversely extending collar 62 concentric with shaft 63, but rotatable relative thereto. On the outer end of collar 62 is a cam 64 which turns therewith. Spaced outwardly from the cam 64 is a second cam 66 which is fixed to collar 67 which is in turn fixed to shaft 63. A shear pin 68 passes through

collars

67 and 62 and

cams

64 and 66, and when intact causes collar 67 to rotate with collar 62 and `thus causes shaft 63 to be driven as sprocket 59 turns. In the event that an overload occurs in Station (A) or (B), as, for instance, in the event that a carton jams against a stationary portion of the machine the overload causes shear pin 68 to fracture and thus the normal position of cam 64 relative to cam 66 is displaced.

As best indicated in FIGS. and ll, each

cam

64 and 66 consists of a high dwell 71 and a low dwell 72, each having an arcuate length of approximately 180 degrees. In the normal position of the two cams-ie., when the shear pin 68 is intact (FIG. 10), the high dwells 71 are approximately 180' degrees apart. However, when the shear pin 68 is severed, this angular relationship is disturbed as shown in FIG. l1.

Mounted

adjacent cams

64 and 66 and in line therewith is a micro-switch 73 having an outwardly projecting plunger 74 which is biased outwardly and carries on its outer end a roller 76. The center of roller 76 lies on ythe parting plane between the two

cams

64 and 66 so that the high dwells 71 of both cams contact roller '76. Because of the fact lthat the two high dwells 71 are each of approximately 180 degrees length and are displaced from each other 180 degrees, so long as shear pin 68 is intact, one or the other of the two high dwells is always in contact with the roller 76 and maintains the roller in retracted position. However, as soon as the shear pin 63 is fractured, the low dwells 72 of the two cams coincide for at least a small arc, and when the cam follower roller 76 encounters the arcuate portion wherein the low dwells coincide, plunger 74 projects. Projection of the plunger 7 4 operates to open switch 73 which operates a relay (not shown) which shuts off the drive motor of the machine. Thus, any tendency of the motor to overrun when the `shear pin 68 breaks is overcome by reason of the fact that the motor is stopped. After the con- 4 dition causing the overload is remedied, the shear pin 68 is replaced thereby restoring normal operation of the machine.

Shaft 63 carries sprocket d1 which `drives chain 82 which, in turn, drives sprocket 83 on ytransverse shaft 34 and passes around sprocket 88 on idler shaft 39. Shaft 63 carries second drive sprocket 91 which drives chain: 92 which drives sprocket 93 on transverse shaft 94 onY super-structure 26 at the rear 'of Stations (B) above the level of the cartons passing through Station (B). Chain 92 also passes around movable idler sprocket 96.v

Idler sprocket 96 is mounted on a link 97 which isl pivoted to leg 34 by means lof a pivot 98. 'Ihe provision: of the idler sprocket 96 is of importance in that it' in# sures uniform motion of shaft 94 which is necessary fori proper operation of the machine.

On either end of shaft 94 are large sprockets 101 which drive longitudinally extending carton advancing chains 102 which pass around sprockets 103 on shaft 104 at the forward end of Station (B). Extending transversely interconnecting chains 102 at xed intervals are cross bars 106 which engage behind cartons to advance them through Station (B). Mounted on 'shaft 104 is sprocket 107 which drives chain 108 which drives sprocket 109 on impaling pin shaft 111 mounted on the super structure 26. Movable idler sprocket 112y engages the top of chain 10S and bears down against the same. Movable sprocket 112 is mounted on the outer end of link 113 pivoted by pivot 114 to super-structure 26. The force of gravity (augmented if necessary by a spring or counterweight) (not shown) tends to tighten chain 108. This arrangement allows non-uniform motion of shaft 111 which permits shaft 111 to lslow down or stop momentarily in ythe sequence of operation of the machine. Shaft 94 also carries timing cam 116 to operate switch 117 which controls the release of cartons 11 from Station( A) into Station (B).

Shaft 56 carries on either side of the machine drive sprockets 118 which drive carton moving chains 119 which pass around sprockets 121 on idler shaft 122 at the forward end thereof. At intervals along chain 119 are` transverse bars 123 supported by links 124 attached to' chains 119 and moving behind the cartons to advance' them through Station (C).

Shaft 56 also carries sprocket 131 which drives chain 132. Chain 132 drives sprocket 134 on shaft 136 in the superstructure 39. Chain 132 also passes around fixed idler sprocket 137 and movable sprocket 138. Movable sprocket 138 is located on link 139 pivoted to frame 32 and biased downward by spring 141. Movement of link 139 permits non-uniform motion of shaft 136.

(A) Magazine At the Magazine Station, cartonsv are fed into the subsequent Outer Flap Unloader Station (B) one at a time in timed sequence to the operation of the remainder of the machine. This magazine is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. Reference is also made to co-pending patent appiication Serial No. 672,618, which also shows a magazine or feed station.

'Ihe Magazine Station comprises a longitudinally moving belt 151 driven by pulley 152 on shaft 84 and pulley 153 on idler shaft 154. The upper stretch of belt 151 extends horizontally slightly above the level of the top of

channels

21 and 22. The upper stretch of belt 151 is held substantially horizontally by a plurality of trans` versely extending rollers 156, the ends of which are supported by longitudinally extending bars 157 mounted on

channels

21 and 22 by supports 158.

Located at the rearward end of the magazine in line with the side guides 161 and 162, and on either side of the machine is an air actuated stop 163 which projects inwardly from the side guides 161 and 162 and blocks advance of the cartons until the stops 163 are retracted by air cylinders 164 in timed sequence to the operation of the machine. Timing of the retraction of stops 163 is controlled by cam 116 on shaft 94 at Station (B). The means for control of stops 163 is similar to that shown in patent application Serial No. 672,618. Forwardly of stops 163, a distance slightly greater than the length of one cart-on, is a brake 166 which is also actuated by a pneumatic cylinder 167. The energization of brake 166 is such that when stops 163 are retracted brake 166 is projected, and this prevents a second carton from following the rst carton until the stops 163 have a chance to be projected and block the passage of the second carton.

(B) Guter Flap Opener Station The Outer Flap Opener Station is a continuation of the Magazine Station (A). Cartons 11 are moved oif belt 131 by cross bars 106 and deposited on platen 171 which is a horizontally extending plate running the length of Station (B). The level of bars 1196 is slightly above the level of platen 171. Cartons are guided along platen 171 by side guides 17).

Mounted on one side of Station (B) at the forward end thereof is a stop bar 172 which projects inwardly from the left-hand side of the machine and is pivoted at its outer end by means of pivot 173 to extension 174 from frame member 22. The inner end of stop bar 172 is formed with a bevel 176 directed rearwardly, inwardly. Stop 172 is attached at its inner end to spring 177 which extends horizontally forwardly and outwardly and is fastened to a bracket 17S on frame member 22. The function of spring 177 is to maintain stop 172 in position to block forward movement of the cases. The function of the stop 172 is to locate the carton at stopped position on belt 151, to function as a brake on the carton during the outer Iiap opening operation and to insure that the carton remains in contact with its cross bar 106 and the right hand side guide 17d during the commencement of the flap opening operation.

Shaft 111 carries a pair of radially extending arms 181 driven in timed sequence to the operation of the machine.

vArms 1551 contain rounded iiap depressors 182 on their leading edges which function to contact and push downwardly the outer aps of the carton. Immediately behind the iiap depressors 182 are impaling pins 183 which impale the outer flaps 13. The provision of the depressors 132 and impaling pins 163 in close relationship to each other is to insure uniformity of operation in that the depressors 132 insure that the aps 13 are always down at the instant when the impaling pins 183 pierce them.

Located behind shaft 111 are four vertical downwardly extending stops 1d6-136-137-137 which depend from transverse member 183 on super-structure 26. The outer two stops 136 are case lifting stops which contact the case 1-1 adjacent its outer edge and prevent it from lifting up off the platen 171 as the impaling pins 133 are withdrawn. The two inner stops 137 terminate slightly higher in elevation as compared with stops 186 and function as iiap opener stops in that they prevent the flaps 13 from opening too wide under the action of impaling pins 183. Thus, the inner stops function to allow the outer flaps 13 to open about to an angle of l5 degrees, which is sufcient to complete the opening operation as hereinafter explained, but prevents the flaps from opening so wide as to interfere with operation of other portions of the machine.

Immediately beyond the stops 136187 is a plow 191 which is supported from the super-structure by means of brackets 192 and has a tapered converging, leading edge 193. The function of the leading edge or nose 193 of the plow is to hold the inner flaps 14a, 146 down during the subsequent complete opening of the flaps '13. After the outer iiaps 13 are raised by impaling pins 183, the plow enters under the tiaps and prevents them from subsequently closing. Immediately behind the plow 193 are outwardly, upwardly curving bars 19d supported from the plow 191 which function to open the flaps outwardly to a horizontally, outwardly extending position as the carton is moved along by the pusher bars 106. Flap opener retainer bars 196 are extensions of bars 194 and hold the flaps 13 in open position for the rearward length of the Outer Flap Opener Station (B).

At the rearward end of Station (B) is shaft 94 mounted on superstructure 26. Extending radially from shaft 94 are kicker bars 201 which function to force the carton oit' the platen 171 and into the next station of the machine. Kicker bars have curved leading edges 262 which move up behind the cartons and push them forwardly. In order to prevent interference of the carton 11 with the operation of the kicker bars, the latter are notched out as indicated by reference numeral 263 to prevent contact with the trailing carton end.

Cartons discharged from Station (B) are pushed on to horizontally disposed supports 211 which extend longitudinally of Station (C). Suspended from the superstructure at the point of transfer from Station (B) to Station (C) is a curved shoe 205 which holds the inner flaps 1de, 14h in position at the time of transfer. Shoe 265 also provides a positive depressing of the outer flaps 13 under bar 36 in the event that pins 183 have failed to lift the liaps above plow 121. Spaced above the level of supports 211 is a left-hand guide 212 in line with the center of Station (B) and on the right-hand side of the machine is a right-hand guide 213 which is of shorter length. The carton 11 moves on to the supports 211 and then is moved longitudinally by bars 123 on chains 119, the two guides 212 and 213 functioning to hold the carton in the center of Station (C). Side guides 212 and 213 are supported above the level of supports 211 by legs 214.

Shaft 136 carries radially projecting therefrom on either side of the machine front outer flap depressors 222 which contact the front outer iiap 13 and depress the same. Shaft 136 carries arms 220 having radially extending inner flap depressors 225 and immediately behind the depressors 225 are radially projecting pins 223.

Depressors 22:3 depress the inner flaps 1de, Mb so that they are in proper position for the impaling pins 223 to impale and lift up the inner flaps. Rearwardly of shaft 136 is a second shaft 226 which is not power driven. Extending radially from shaft 226 is cam 227 and mounted on shaft 136 are radially extending arms 228 carrying cam follower roller 229. As shaft 136 revolves, roller 229 contacts cam 227 and causes an oscillatory movement of shaft 226. Shaft 226 carries radially projecting arms 231 which have the irregular shape shown in FIG. 8. Garter spring 232 on the super-structure biases cam 227 into contact with cam roller 229. Arms 231 function to stop upward movement of the inner flaps 14a, 14-b so that they do not open too Wide, and hence pins 223 are stripped out of the inner aps. The shape of cam 227 is such that arms 231 retract to clear the inner flaps when they are moved to fully opened position by plow 236 and rods 237.

Immediately beyond shaft 226, located at the lower level of the machine is plow 236 which functions to enter below the partially opened inner flaps 14a, 14h and lift the same. Plow 236 merges into curved upwardly, outwardly disposed inner flap opener rods 237 which function to move the flaps upwardly and outwardly until they project substantially horizontally open. Shoe 240 depends from the super-structure and holds the carton down as the pins 223 are withdrawing and insures proper carton trztvel in the event any flaps have not been opened proper y.

At this point in the operation of the machine all four iiaps have been laid open and the contents 12 of the carton exposed.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for pun pose of clarity of understanding, it is understood that cer. tain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a carton opener machine for cartons having aps, a frame, conveyor means for advancing a carton longitudinally of said frame, a flap opener shaft, flap depressor means for first depressing said flaps toward closed position, iiap impaling means on said flap opener shaft for impaling at least one of said flaps, and means for driving said shaft from said conveyor means irst in timed rela- `tion to movement of said conveyor means and then at a speed at variance with said conveyor m-eans upon exertion of a drag on said iiap -by said impaling means whereby to raise said ap to open position as said carton is advancedA 2. In a machine according to claim 1, a carton limit stop on said frame in proximity to said impaling means to restrain upward movement of said carton under action of said impaling means.

3. In a machine according to claim 1, a ilap limit stop on said frame in proximity to said impaling means to limit upward movement of said flap beyond a predetermined distance under action of said impaling means.

4. In a carton opener machine for cartons having flaps, a frame, conveyor means for advancing a carton longitudinally of said frame, a flap opener shaft, a flap depressor mounted on said shaft to depress said liap toward closed position, an impaling pin mounted on said shaft to impale at least one of said flaps, and means for rotating said shaft, said last mentioned means being driven from said conveyor means and including means to permit retarding rotation of said shaft upon exertion of said shaft upon exertion of a drag on said iiap.

5. In a carton opener machine for cartons having flaps, a frame, conveyor means for advancing a carton longitudinally of said frame, a flap opener shaft, a flap depressor mounted on said shaft to depress said flap toward closed position, an impaling pin mounted on said Shaft to impale at least one of said flaps, and means for rotating said shaft, a iirst sprocket driven by said conveyor means, a second sprocket on said shaft, an idler sprocket, an arm carrying said idler sprocket, means pivotally mounting said arm on said frame, a chain of extended length meshing with said first, second and idler sprockets, and resilient means urging said arm in one direction to cause said shaft to turn in timed relation to said conveyor means, said last mentioned means being movable to permit said shaft to 'turn at lesser speed upon exertion of a drag on said flap whereby to raise said flap toward open position.

6. In a carton opener machine for cartons having flaps, a frame, a conveyor means for advancing a cartonlongitudinally of said frame, a flap opener shaft, flap depressor lmeans for iirst depressing said flaps toward closed position, ap impaling means on said flap opener shaft for impaling at least one of said iiaps, and means for driving said shaft from said conveyor means first in timed relation to movement of said conveyor means and then at a speed at variance with said conveyor means upon exertion of a drag on said flap by said iiap impaling whereby to raise said Hap to open position as said carton is advanced, a stop bar, means pivotally mounting said bar on said frame, and resilient means biasing said bar into .means for advancing said cartons and then at a speed the path of said conveyor means to stop 'forward motion `of said carton along said conveyor means in advance of said conveyor means.

7. Av machine according to claim 6 in which the inner end of said bar is bevelled to direct said carton toward one side of said conveyor means.

8. ln a carton opening machine for cartons having outer flaps and inner ilaps, a frame having a rst stretch and a second stretch disposed at an angle to said iirst stretch in plan, first conveyor means for advancing a carton along said irst stretch, a first iiap opener shaft ron said rst stretch, iirst flap depressor means for iirst ldepressing said outer iiaps toward closed position, first flap impaling pins on said first flap opener shaft for impaling said outer iiaps, second conveyor means for advancing said carton along said second stretch, a second flap opener shaft on said second stretch, means for driving said first and second conveyor means, means for driving said first tiap opener shaft, means for driving .said second flap opener shaft, second iiap depressor means for iirst depressing said inner flaps, and second flap impaling pins on said second iiap opener shaft to impale said inner flaps.

9. In a machine according to claim 8, kicker means for kicking said carton olf said iirst conveyor means and onto said second conveyor means, said kicker means ybeing driven in timed relation to said conveyor means.

10. In a machine according to claim 9, a shoe mounted 'on saidframe at the point of transfer from said rst to said second conveyor means and holding said outer flaps and inner aps in position during said transfer.

11. In a machine according to claim 9 which further `comprises inner iiap hold-down stops, means mounting said inner iiap hold-down stop for oscillatory motion,

cam means connected to Said inner flap hold-down stops and said inner flap impaling pins for holding down said -inner iiaps to strip said impaling pins from said inner flaps during a portion of the cycle of operation of the machine.

12. In a carton opening machine for cartons having lopen outer iiaps and closed inner flaps, means for advanc- .ing said cartons, a first rotary shaft, impaling pins on vsaid lirst shaft to impale said inner iiaps, a second shaft,

means for imparting oscillatory motion to said second shaft, and hold-down arms on said second shaft movable Vbetween an operative position to contact said inner aps and strip said pins from said inner flaps and an inoperative position out of Contact with said inner iiaps.

13. In a machine according to claim 12, means for driving said lirst shaft first in timed relation to said substantially less than in timed relation to said means for advancing said cartons.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,652,914 Christensen Sept. 22, 1953 2,684,799 Holstein July 27, 1954 2,761,263 Bruce Sept. 4, 1955 2,781,118 Pechy Feb. 12, 1957 2,890,569 Nigrelli et al. June 16, 1959 2,918,773 Krupp et al. Dec. 29, 1959 3,019,924 Krupp et al. Feb. 6, 1962`

Claims

1. IN A CARTON OPENER MACHINE FOR CARTONS HAVING FLAPS, A FRAME, CONVEYOR MEANS FOR ADVANCING A CARTON LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID FRAME, A FLAP OPENER SHAFT, FLAP DEPRESSOR MEANS FOR FIRST DEPRESSING SAID FLAPS TOWARD CLOSED POSITION, FLAP IMPALING MEANS ON SAID FLAP OPENER SHAFT FOR IMPALING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FLAPS, AND MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID SHAFT FROM SAID CONVEYOR MEANS FIRST IN TIMED RELATION TO MOVEMENT OF SAID CONVEYOR MEANS AND THEN AT A SPEED AT VARIANCE WITH SAID CONVEYOR MEANS UPON EXERTION OF A DRAG ON SAID FLAP BY SAID IMPALING MEANS WHEREBY TO RAISE SAID FLAP TO OPEN POSITION AS SAID CARTON IS ADVANCED.