US3122068A - Box erecting machine - Google Patents

Description

M. B. DUNN BOX ERECTING MACHINE Feb. 25, 1964 V4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 4, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 \i ||||l I l I I I INVENTOR.

MAURICE B. DUNN Feb. 25, 1964 M. B. DUNN BOX ERECTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1962 Feb. 25, 1964 M. B. DUNN 3,122,068

BOX ERECTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 XV4 i444 MAURICE B. DUNN %@V MW AITORNEYS Feb. 25, 1964 M. B. DUNN 3,122,063

BOX ERECTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

MAURICE B. DUNN BY HTTOR/VEXS United States Patent 3,122,068 BOX ERECTING MACHINE Maurice B. Damn, Charlotte, N.C., assignor to Memeo Machinery Corporation, Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Jan. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 164,235

19 Claims. (1. 9351) This invention relates to a machine for setting up or erecting paperboard cartons into condition for use in the packaging of commodities and, more particularly, to improvements in such maclr'nes for setting up into box or tray form a cut and scored fiat box blank of the corner locking type whereby three sidewalls are raised and interlocked leaving a fourth sidewall unraised and in the plane of the bottom panel of the box blank.

Box erecting machines capable of setting up into box form a cut and scored fiat box blank are well known in the art. In general, such machines include a mechanism for removing one at a time, a flat box blank from a stock or collection thereof, and feeding successive individual flat box blanks between a plunger and die assembly which cooperates in response to relative vertical reciprocating movement to efiect erecting of each blank into box form. Further mechanism is provided for receiving the erected boxes and conveying them from the settingup machine for subsequent operations.

In many prior instances, for example, as described in the Dunn application Serial No. 819,101, filed June 9, 1959, which matured April 17, 1962 as Patent No. 3,029,- 712, and of which the present application is a continuation-in-part, four sides of a box blank were raised as walls prior to the insertion of the commodity to be packaged thereby requiring the commodity to be inserted from the open top side thereof. With all four side walls raised however, problems occur in the methods of positioning the box or tray rela.'ve to the merchandise immediately prior to insertion thereof. The technique and the mechanism employed was exacting, and it was decided that it would be much easier to insert merchandise into a box having only three sidewalls previously raised through the opening or passage provided by the single remaining unraised sidewall.

The present invention, therefore, contemplates raising three sides of a four sided box blank such that the commodity to be packaged might he slipped within the confines of the box blank through the opening provided by the unerected fourth sidewall. After the commodity to be packaged has been inserted within the box, the box is moved to a later station on the assembly line where the fourth sidewall is raised and interlocked into engagemeat with the previously raised sidewalls. A machine for rais ng the fourth sidewall may be of the type disclosed in the copending Dunn application entitled Universal Closure Unit Assembly and bearing Serial No. 164,234, filed January 4, 1962.

It will be understood that the present plunger and die assembly is arranged to receive box blanks from any suitable box blank feeding means and to discharge the blanks in partially erected box or tray form onto a suitable conveying means.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plunger and die assembly operable during movement of the plunger through the die cavity to open at least two of the cuts especially in potential sidewalls of a box blank of the type described and to insert and interlock the adjacent sidewall end tabs and the opened cuts at only two corners of the blank in a simple and efficient manner such that three sidewalls are raised into a vertically disposed position leaving a fourth sidewall in a substantially horizontal position in the plane of the bottom panel of the box blank.

Another object of this invention in conjunction with the foregoing object is the provision of apparatus for opening the cuts in the ends of the erected opposing sidewalls which cuts are adjacent the unerected sidewall.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a plunger and die assembly of the type described having improved means for preventing buckling of the blank as a result of the leading edge thereof engaging the die during its movement during operative position thereon.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a plunger and die assembly of the type described which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture and maintain.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a plunger and die assembly of the type described having means for raising and interlocking three sidewalls of a box blank and including means for raising one end tab formed at the extremity of the fourth un raised sidewall.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide projection means formed on the plunger sidewalls a spaced distance from the extremities of the associated box blank side walls for cooperation with the tab receiving cuts formed therein associated with the tabs of the fourth unraised sidewall, and relief means formed on the surface of the box blank wall engaging means coextensive with the projection means for receiving the cut portions of the tabs when opened by the projection means.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent throughout the course of the following detailed description and the appended claims in reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating the erecting machine die assembly embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1 with plunger added;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 1 but showing in phantom a box blank situated in overlying position over the die cavity;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation view of the assembly shown in FIGURES l and 2, wherein the plunger is in its raised position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view partially broken away for purposes of clear illustration showing the wall engaging means located at the rear wall of the die for effecting interlocking of the tabs within the cuts of the raised sidewalls;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view partially broken away showing means for preventing buckling of the leading edge of the box blank and recess means formed in a side wall cooperating with a projection formed on the plunger to effect opening of a slot associated with the tab of the fourth unraised sidewall;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view with the plunger removed for reasons of clarity and showing the box blank in phantom prior to operation thereon by the plunger;

FIGURE 8 is a view in perspective similar to that shown in FIGURE 7, partially cut away and in section showing the box blank with three sidewalls raised and in condition for movement to a subsequent operation in the packaging process; and

FEGURE 9 is a partial View showing a cut opening plate secured to the plunger and cooperating with the relieved portions of the plunger.

As best shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 4, the present plunger and die assembly is particularly adapted to fold flat box blanks into the form illustrated in FIGURE 8. The blanks and resetting boxes include a main bottom panel 19 having hingedly connected along score lines at opposite edges thereof, a pair of opposed sides 12, each of which as shown also in FIGURE 3 is preformed with an angular cut 14 adacent forwardly disposed ends and with flaps of tabs 16 at the rearwardly disposed ends. Each cut 1'4 defines on the associated side 12 an outer end portion 18 adjacent an inner end portion 29, the end portions 18 and 2%) being deflectable, relative to each other to open the cut 14.

The box blank and resulting box also includes a pair of opposed sides 22 and 24 hingedly connected along suitable score lines to the other opposite edges of the main bottom panel 16).

As shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3, the bottom panel is preferably rectangular, with the sides 22 and 24 preferably being longer and extending in a direction,

perpendicular to the sides 12. Side 22 has angular cuts 26 formed adjacent the opposite ends thereof. These cuts 26 are similar to the cuts 14 formed in the sides 12 and likewise respectively define outer end portions 28 adjacent respective inner end portions 39, the end portions 28 and 39 being deflectable relative to each other to open the cuts 26. The side 24 located at the front of the box blank has a pair of flap members 32 respectively at the outer end extremities thereof and hingedly connected along suitable score 'lines. Each flap 32 has its outer extremity cut to form a tab arranged to enter the openly deflected associated cuts 14 in an operation subsequent to that described in the instant application. A mechanism for erecting the fourth sidewall 24 in such a subsequent operation is described in the aforementioned Dunn application, Serial No. 164,234.

The plunger and die assembly of the present invention is arranged to receive successive blanks therein and to set up such blanks into partially erected box or tray form by a relatively vertical reciprocating movement between the plunger and die. In normal operation, the assembly is used with a machine for feeding successive blanks thereto. To this end, there is shown in FIGURES 3, 7 and 8 a portion of the arrangement for guiding successive blanks horizontally into operative position between the plunger and die assembly. As shown, this guide arrangement includes a pair of tranversely spaced guide members 34 preferably in the form of angle irons. Preferably each angle iron is disposed such that one of its flanges is horizontal and the other flange is vertical and extends upwardly from the first. In addition, the angle irons are positioned so as to converge slightly toward the plunger and die assembly in order to have a guiding effect on the blanks as they are moved therealong by means not shown. The horizontal surface of each blank is preferably supported by a pair of transversely spaced supporting plates 36, each secured to the horizontal flange of the associated guide member 34.

The die of the present plunger and die assembly comprises elongated rear and front sidewall members 38 and 4% preferably in the form of plates of vertical elongated rectangular cross sectional configuration. The sidewall members are mounted and spaced in parallel relation by any suitable means, such as lower cross braces 42 extending between opposite ends of the sidewall members adjacent the lower surfaces thereof and upper cross braces 44 extending between the sidewall members adjacent the upper surfaces thereof. The central portion of the sidewall member, 38 defines a sidewall engag'ng and folding means of the die.

It will be noted that the upper surfaces of the blank supporting plates 36 are disposed in a plane above the plane of the upper surface of the sidewall member 38, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4. vln order to guide the blank into proper position over the die and beneath the plunger, each upper cross brace 44 has mounted thereon a guide member 52 in the form of an angle iron having one flange disposed horizontally in engagement with the upper surface of the associated cross brace 44 and secured therewith by any suitable means, such as bolts 54 exl tending through transversely elongated slots 55 formed in the horizontal flange of the guide members. Each guide member 52 also includes a flange extending upwardly from the horizontal flange and allowed to engage an edge of the flat blank as it is moved horizon-tally into operative position over the die.

Mounted on the forward end of the vertical flange of each guide member 52, or on supporting plate 60, is a stop block 58 which is arranged to engage the leading edges of the side panels 12 as a box blank is fed to the die cavity. The guide members 52 thus serve to position each blank in proper relation to the die in one direction while the stop blocks 58 serve to properly position the blank in the other direction. Supporting plate 60 is secured to the upper surface of each cross brace 42 inwardly adjacent the associated vertical flange of the guide member 52 to support the associated sides of the blank as it is moved horizontally into operative position.

In order to prevent the possibility of the blank buckling as a result of the leading edge of sidewall 24 of the blank engaging plate 40 of the die during movement of the blank into operative position, there is provided a receiving ledge 62 mounted to the top side of the sidewall member 49. The ledge extends downwardly and inwardly toward the die cavity such that the leading side 24 of the blank during its horizontal movement into'operative posi: tion over the die may be engaged by the inclined surface portion thereof. In this manner, side 24 will be prevented from curling under in any circumstance since even when side 24 in its forward movement tends to hang down, it will be engaged by the upper surface of the receiving ledge 62 and thereby'forced upwardly over the upper surface of the ledge until its leading edge rests adjacent the top edge of the sidewall member 40, as in dicated most clearly in FIGURES 4 and 7.

The inner surfaces of the sidewall members 38 and-4t define two sides of a cavity 64 of the die, the remaining sides of which are formed by a pair of sidewall members 66 and 68. As shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 7, sidewall member 68 has both of its ends extending within a respective vertically elongated recess 76 formed in the sidewall members 38 and 40, and is pivotally connected to both ends near its top edge to the remaining thickness of walls 38 and 4G by a respective set of pivot pins 72 extending into the sidewall members 38 and 40.

From the drawings it is apparent that the-sidewall member 66 is sustantially shorter than the sidewall member 68. However, it is pivotally mounted at both ends also, in respective recesses 79 with pins 72 in sidewall 38 and in a support member 80 which laterally extends inwardly toward the die cavity. Although the side wall member 66 is somewhat shorter than the sidewall member 68 it is similar to the latter in all other respects.

It will be noted that the inner edges of the recesses 70 engage the bottom ends of the associated side wall members 66 and 68 so as to limit the extent of their inward pivotal movement. The bottom edges of each of the side wall members 66 and 68 is inwardly biased about their pivots toward the die cavity by any suitable means, such as a respective horizontally disposed coil spring 82 (FIGURE 2) suitably connected between the lower end of the sidewall members 66 and 68 and their associated lower cross braces 42.

Carried by the sidewall member 38 adjacent each rear corner of the cavity 64 is an outer sidewall blank-engaging assembly 84 (see particularly FIGURE 5). Each assembly 84 includes a spring biased member in the form of a ball 36 mounted within a horizontally extending aperture 88 passing through the sidewall member 38. A vertically extending bar 99 is secured to the outer surface of the sidewall member 38 adjacent the aperture 88 and has an aligned aperture 92 formed therein. A coil spring 94 is mounted within the aperture 92 and has one end thereof disposed in engagement with a plate 96 suitably secured to the bar 96 and its other end disposed in engagement with the ball to resiliently urge the latter toward the cavity. The inner end of the aperture 88 is reduced in cross section to prevent movement of the ball beyond a limiting position so that it cannot be pushed out of aperture 88 but can have its periphery extending into the die cavity as may be seen also in FIGURES 1 and 7.

The plunger of the present plunger and die assembly as shown in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5 comprises a body generally indicated at 98, which is preferably in the form of a casting. The body 98 includes a pair of sidewalls 102 extending downwardly with an outward inclination of approximately 5, while the other sidewalls 194 and 106 extend straight so as to be parallel to each other. Formed in the rear face of the back sidewall 106 at each end thereof vertically extending slot or recess 108 (see FIG- URE 5), each slot being spaced from the associated end Wall 102 a distance slightly greater than the corresponding distance of the cut 26 from the associated end of the side flap 22. The purposes of each recess is to permit ready entry thereinto of the associated tab 16 following interlocking of the tab and cut. The portion of each sidewall extending from each recess 108 to the associated end of the body is relieved or inwardly sloped as indicated at 110. As shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the relief 110 is preferably along a plane which extends in a horizontal direction inwardly from the remainder of wall 196 at an angle of approximately 7 /2 and which extends vertically inwardly and upwardly approximately 7 /2 Associated with each slot 108 is a plate 114 (see especially FIGURE 9) rigidly secured, as by bolts 116, to the outer surface of sidewall 106 adjacent to and inwardly of each slot. The upper outer end of each plate 114 has an inclined blank-receiving knife edge 118 formed thereon and disposed at an angle of approximately 45 with respect to the horizontal. Each plate also includes a vertical outer edge 120 spaced inwardly from the adjacent outer side wall to define a space for receiving the associated blank tab. The side walls 102, 164, and 196 of the die body 98 have their lower surfaces disposed in a common horizontal plane as indicated at 122, for the purpose of engaging the bottom panel of the blank. It will be understood that the peripheral dimensions of the surface 122 are slightly less than the corresponding perimeter of the die cavity.

To the degree that the plunger and die assembly here-- inabove described are the same as that in the aforesaid Dunn application Serial No. 819,191, now Patent No. 3,029,712, reference may be made thereto for any further structural and operational details desired.

Formed on each of the sidewalls 192 of the plunger 98 is a projection 139, which cooperates with a respective relief slot 132 formed in the sidewalls 66 and 68 of the die. These projections and relief slots are formed coextensive with the forward tab receiving cuts 14 formed in the side walls 12 of the box blank and cooperate to open the cuts by pushing the portions 20 outwardly upon relative movement between the plunger and die.

Operation As noted above, the plunger and die assembly described above is arranged to be used with a machine having means for feeding successive flat box blanks thereto and means for receiving the set-up box blanks and conveying the same away from the machine. Preferably, the feeding means is arranged so as to move successive blanks horizontally into an operative position over the die cavity. To this end, the plates 36 serve to support the blanks for horizontal movement into such position while the vertical flanges of the guide members 34 to serve to insure that the blank will move into proper operative position between the flanges of the die guide members 52. As each blank is moved over the die cavity, the leading edge of the leading side panel 24 may engage the inclined surface of the receiving ledge 62 and, under such conditions, will then be forced upwardly and maintained generally in the plane of the blank as it rests upon the supporting plates 69. This action insures that the leading edge will not buckle during its movement into operative position. The horizontal movement of the blank is limited by engagement thereof with stop blocks 58. In operative position, the blank is disposed as clearly indicated in dotted lines in FIGURES 3 and 7, with the main bottom panel 10 of the blank in transverse and longitudinal registry with the die cavity, and the side walls 12 of the blank resting on the plates 6%.

It will be understood that when the present plunger and die assembly is embodied in an operative machine, means will be provided for etfecting a relative vertical reciprocation between the plunger and die. Preferably, the side wall members 38 and 40 are rigidly secured to the frame of the machine while the die is suitably carried by a cross head (not shown) mounted for vertical reciprocation on the frame of the machine. In this way, the plunger is mounted for vertical reciprocation into and out of the cavity of the die.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 2 and 4, it will be noted that the plunger is disposed in a raised position above the die as the blank is moved into operative position over the die. The blank is set up or folded during the subsequent downward movement of the plunger into and through the die cavity. During the initial engagement of the lower surface 122 of the plunger body with the bottom panel 10 of the blank, the side wall 22 and the end flaps 16 begin their upward folding mlove-t rnent.

Subsequently, the side walls 12 and the right end flap 32 (as viewed in FIGURE 8) of the blank engage the upper end surfaces of the side wall members 66 and 68 of the die and begin their upward folding movement. As the plunger progresses downwardly into the die cavity, the spring pressed balls 86 will engage the outer end portions 28 of the sidewall 22 of the blank, the latter being moved progressively downwardly past the balls so that the outer end portions 28 are deflected inwardly against the relieved portions 119 of the plunger. The inner end por tions 30 of the sidewall 22 of the blank are maintained in the plane of the sidewall 106 of the plunger by engaagement of the cut opening plates 114 therewith. This operation has the effect of opening the cuts 26 by relative deflection of the inner end portions 30 with respect to the outer end portions 28 adjacent the cut.

Further downward movement of the plunger results in the further folding of the sidewalls into their upright positions, which also effects a comparable movement of the associated end flaps or tabs 16 past the associated spring pressed balls 86 so that the tabs will move within the opened cuts 26, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 8. It will be noted that the outer edge of each tab during its movement through an opened cut 26 is guided inwardly past the associated plate edge by the associated inclined knife edge 118 and is allowed to enter the recess 108. Of course, the sidewall members 66 and 68 pivot into vertical alignment against the action of the springs 82 as the plunger passes through. As the folding movement of the sidewalls 12 and 22 of the blank into an upright position is completed, the tabs 16 will have moved completely through the cuts and into the slots 108 and thus become interlocked with their associated sidewall end portions.

As the plunger, moving into the die cavity, urges the blank downward, the leading sidewall 24 of the blank is caused to rotate about its bend line as it moves downward against the inclined surface of the receiving ledge 62. The sidewall 24 will continue to rotate about its bend line until the leading edge thereof passes the rear edge of thhe ledge 62. At this point, the sidewall 24 will snap back until it once again assumes its original position and lies substantially in the plane of the bottom panel 10 of the box blank as indicated in FIGURE 8.

Also, in the manner indicated previously, movement of the plunger 28 into the die cavity moves the projections into engagement with the sidewalls 12 adjacent the cuts 14 causing the inner end portions 29 to deflect outwardly relative to the outer end portions 18 and into the relief slots 132, thereby opening the cuts. During the process, the inner and outer end portions are so deflected as to cause a fairly permanent set, as it were, whereby the cuts 14 will remain open subsequent to the operation of the tray erecting machine.

, The downward movement of the plunger continues until the upper edges of the erected box passes beneath the lower edge of the die cavity defining members. In this regard, it will be noted that the indirect resiliency of the paperboard material of the blank will cause the sidewalls thereof to bow out as they pass under the die cavity defining structure. Thus, when the plunger begins its upwmd travel, the upper edges of the set-up box will engage the lower surface of the cavity defining members and be stripped from the plunger, the spring urged pivotal mounting of the sidewall members 66 and 68 aiding in this action. As previously noted, the stripped box with only three sides erected is arranged to be received by means embodied in the machine for conveying the same away. To aid in conveying the boxes away from'the machine,'it is pointed out that one end tab 32 (at the right as viewed in FIGURE 8) on the side wall 24 has been raised toja substantiaily vertical position- In this way a number of set-up boxes may ride together with their sidewalls 12 positioned immediately adjacent one another on a suitable conveyor, the end flap 32 of the forward lowered sidewall 24 lying in the plane of the bottom panel of the box and positioned beneath the sidewall 24 of the adjacent box. Thus, the so set-up boxes ride smoothly and evenly on the conveyor deck and do not tend to twist and turn while positioned thereon.

It will thus be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. While the form of apparatus described herein constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, but that various changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

. What is claimed is:

1Q In a machine for partially setting up into box form three sidewalls of a cut and scored fiat box blank having a bottom panel, four sidewall panels hinged to said bottom panel, each adjacent pair of sidewall panels defining a pair of adjacent sidewall panel end portions, one of the end portions of each pair of end portions having a flap hinged to the extremity thereof, the other end portion of each pair of end portions having a tab receiving cut formed therein at a position spaced inwardly from the extremity thereof, each flap having a locking tab insertable into the associated tab receiving cut to lock the associated end portions in upstanding relation with re-' spect to said bottom panel, the combination comprising: a die having a box blank sidewall engaging means defining a cavity of a size generally conforming to the size of said bottom panel and formed to engage three sidewalls of the box blank; a cooperating plunger movable relative to said die through the cavity thereof to set up three sidewalls of the blank positioned between said plunger and said die, said plunger having at least three sidewalls, at least one of which is disposed in a vertical plane, said one sidewall having a vertically extending recessformed therein in communicating relation to the bottom surface of said plunger and in'spaced relation from at least one end of said plunger in a horizontal distance sufficient to permit entry of the associated box blank .tab therein during the setting up of the latter, the surface of said one plunger sidewall'extending from said one end thereof to said recess being defined by a first line forming the associated plunger corner, and a spaced second line forming the adjacent side of said recess, said first line lying in the vertical plane of said one plunger sidewall, the second line at its lower end being disposed in said associated vertical plane and extending inwardly and upwardly, said plunger recess having a box blank inner end portion engaging plate extendfrom the opposite side thereof over the. same and terminating in spaced relation to the second line forming side of said recess; means carried by said die cooperating with said plunger surface for interlocking the associated locking tab and cut during the relative movement between said plunger and die; projectionmeans formed on the surfaces of a pair of said plunger sidewalls positioned a spaced distance from the extremitiesof their associated box blank sidewalls for cooperation with the tab receiving cuts formed therein for opening said tab. receiving cuts for reception thereinof tabs formed at the extremities of the fourth sidewall of the blank, and relief means formed in the surface of said box blank wall engaging means coextensive with said projection means for receiving the cut portions of the tabs when opened by said projection means.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said plate includes an outer surface disposed in the vertical plane of the associated sidewall and an inclined knife edge formed on the outer upper portion thereof.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said die sidewall engaging means includes first and second sidewall members disposed in vertical planes and a third wall member extending between said first and second sidewall members and wherein said die interlocking means includes a horizontally extended ball receiving opening formed in said third sidewall members in closely spaced relation to said first and second sidewall members;

a revolvaole ball mounted in each opening for horizontal movement therein, the inner end of each opening being shaped to prevent horizontal movement of the associated ball toward said cavity beyond a hmiting position wherein the periphery of the ball extends into said cavity, and spring means in each opening for resiliently biasing the associated ball into said limiting position.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said third sidewall member provides recess means for receiving the associated ends of said first and second sidewall members.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said first and second sidewall members is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending through the upper portion thereof, the structure defining the inner end of the associated third sidewall member recess means serving to limit the inward pivotal movement of the lower portion of each of said first and second sidewall members; and spring means resiliently urging each of said first and second sidewall members into its limiting position.

6. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said die includes a fixed sidewall and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls, pivotally mounted to and extending transverse of said fixed sidewall.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein said spaced apart sidewalls extend substantially perpendicular of said fixed sidewall and are pivotally mounted adjacent their topmost portion.

8. The combination defined in claim 6 further comprising resilient means biasing said spaced apart side walls toward each other.

9. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said die includes a fixed sidewall, a first pivoted sidewall mounted to and extending transversely of said fixed sidewall, said first pivoted sidewall extending a length equal to that of its associated wall panel of the box blank, 21 second pivoted sidewall spaced from said first pivoted sidewall mounted to and extending transversely of said fixed sidewall, said second pivoted sidewall being longer than said first pivoted sidewall and extending a length equal to that of its associated wall panel of the box blank and further extending a distance to engage an end tab formed at one of the extremities of the fourth unraised sidewall panel whereby three sidewalls and an 0.. end tab of the fourth sidewall wi l be raised into position perpendicular with respect to the bottom panel of the box blank upon relative operation of said plunger and die.

10. The combination defined in claim 9 wherein said first and second pivoted sidewalls extend perpendicularly of said fixed sidewall and are pivotaliy mounted adjacent their topmost portions.

ll. The combination defined in claim 10 further comprising resilient means biasing said first and second pivoted sidewalls toward each other.

12. Apparatus for erecting sides of a box from a fiat box blank having a bottom panel with a plurality of sides and integral therewith a like number of side panels respectively hinged to the sides of said bottom panel, one of each two adjacent ones of said side panels having integral therewith a locking flap hinged to its end extremity with the other one of each two adjacent side panels having a cut formed therein in a position spaced inwardly from the end extremity thereof for receiving the associated locking flap, said apparatus comprising means for forming a cavity efiectively open on at least one side but efiectively closed on the remaining sides including means for supporting said box blank with the corresponding bottom panel sides in substantial registry with the said remaining sides of said cavity, means movable relative to said cavity forming i -eans for pushing said box blank into the cavity and folding at their respective hinges with said bottom panel only the number of side panels corresponding to the numbe of said remaining sides to a position substantially perpendicular to said bottom panel, means for interlocking only the so-positioned side panels via their respective flaps and cuts during the aforesaid pushing by said pushing means, thereby leaving at least one of said side panels, at least to the extent of its coextensiveness with the corresponding side of said bottom panel, in substan ially the same plane as said bottom panel, said apparatus being for use with a box blank of the type aforesaid and which the said one side panel has one of the said locking flaps at each of its opposite end extremities, and means in said cavity tfornn'ng means for folding only one of the said flaps of said one side panel to a position substantially perpendicular to said one side panel and said bottom panel.

13. Apparatus for erecting sides of a box from a fiat box blank having a bottom panel with a plurality of sides and integral therewith a like number of side panels respectively hinged to the sides of said bottom panel, one of each two adjacent ones of said side panels having integral therewith a locking flap hinged to its end extremity with the other one of each two adjacent side panels having a cut formed therein in a position spaced inwardly from the end extremity thereof for receiving the associated locking flap, said apparatus comprising means for forming a cavity effectively open on at least one side but etl'ectively closed on the remaining sides including means for supporting said box blank with the corresponding bottom panel sides in substantial registry with the said remaining sides of said cavity, means movable relative to said cavity forming means for pushing said box blank into the cavity and folding at their respective hinges with said bottom panel only the number of side panels corresponding to the number of said remaining sides to a position substantially perpendicular to said bottom panel, means for interlocking only the so-positioned side panels via their respective flaps and cuts during the aforesaid pushing by said pushing means, thereby leavin at least one of said side panels, at least to the extent of its coextensiveness with the corresponding side of said bottom panel, in substantially the same plane as said bottom panel, and means operatively connected with said cavity forming means for momentarily folding said one side panel along its hinge to said bottom panel during 1d the pushing by said pushing means of said box blank into sad-d cavity.

14. Apparatus as in claim 13 for use with means for feeding said tbox blank to said apparatus, said apparatus including means for guiding said box blank into the aforesaid substantial registry, and said momentary folding means comp-rising A ems for preventing said one side panel from drooping during the approach or" said box blank to said substantial registry including a ledge disposed near the said open side of said cavity and at an acute angle relative to the bottom surface of said bottom panel when sm'd box blank is on said supporting means.

15. Apparatus for erecting sides of a box from a flat box blank having a bottom panel with a plurality of sides and inte ral therewith a like number of side panels respectively hinged to the sides of said bottom panel, one of each two adjacent ones of said side panels having integral therewith a locking flap hinged to its end extremity with the other one of each two adjacent side panels having a cut formed therein in a position spaced inwardly from the end extremity thereof for receiving the associated locking flap, said apparatus comprising means for forming a cavity effectively open on at least one side but efiectively closed on the remaining sides including means for supporting said box blank with the corresponding bottom panel sides in substantial registry with the said remaining sides of said cavity, means movable relative to said cavity forming means for pushing said box blank into the cavity and folding at their respective hinges with said bottom panel only the number of side panels corresponding to the number of said remaining sides to a position substantially perpendicular to said bottom panel, means for interlocking only the so-positioned side panels via their respective flaps and cuts during the aforesaid pushing by said pushing means, thereby leaving at least one of said side panels, at least to the extent of its coextensiveness with the corresponding side of said bottom panel, in substantially the same plane as said bottom panel, said apparatus being for use with a box blank of the type aforesaid and in which at least one of the said side panels which gets interlocked at one end with another side panel when said apparatus operates on a box blank as aforesaid has at its other end one of said cuts, said apparatus including means for opening said lastmentioned cut when said pushing means enters said cavity.

16. Apparatus as in claim 15 for use with a box blank in which the said one side panel has one of the said locking flaps at each of its opposite end extremities, and wherein said apparatus includes means in said cavity forming means for folding only one of the said flaps of said one panel to a position substantially perpendicular to said one side panel and said bottom panel.

17. Apparatus as in claim 15 including means operatively connected with said cavity forming means for momentarily folding said one side panel along its hinge to said bottom panel during the pushing by said pushing means of said box blank into said cavity.

18. Apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said cut opening means includes means projecting outwardly from a side of said pushing means.

19. Apparatus as in claim 15 for use with box blanks in which both of the said side panels which get interlocked at one end and with another side when said apparatus operates on a box blank as aforesaid, have at their respective other ends one of said cuts, said pushing means including projection means for opening said lastmentioned cuts when said pushing means is in said cavity.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS

Claims (1)

1. IN A MACHINE FOR PARTIALLY SETTING UP INTO BOX FORM THREE SIDEWALLS OF A CUT AND SCORED FLAT BOX BLANK HAVING A BOTTOM PANEL, FOUR SIDEWALL PANELS HINGED TO SAID BOTTOM PANEL, EACH ADJACENT PAIR OF SIDEWALL PANELS DEFINING A PAIR OF ADJACENT SIDEWALL PANEL END PORTIONS, ONE OF THE END PORTIONS OF EACH PAIR OF END PORTIONS HAVING A FLAP HINGED TO THE EXTREMITY THEREOF, THE OTHER END PORTION OF EACH PAIR OF END PORTIONS HAVING A TAB RECEIVING CUT FORMED THEREIN AT A POSITION SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE EXTREMITY THEREOF, EACH FLAP HAVING A LOCKING TAB INSERTABLE INTO THE ASSOCIATED TAB RECEIVING CUT TO LOCK THE ASSOCIATED END PORTIONS IN UPSTANDING RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID BOTTOM PANEL, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A DIE HAVING A BOX BLANK SIDEWALL ENGAGING MEANS DEFINING A CAVITY OF A SIZE GENERALLY CONFORMING TO THE SIZE OF SAID BOTTOM PANEL AND FORMED TO ENGAGE THREE SIDEWALLS OF THE BOX BLANK; A COOPERATING PLUNGER MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID DIE THROUGH THE CAVITY THEREOF TO SET UP THREE SIDEWALLS OF THE BLANK POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID PLUNGER AND SAID DIE, SAID PLUNGER HAVING AT LEAST THREE SIDEWALLS, AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH IS DISPOSED IN A VERTICAL PLANE, SAID ONE SIDEWALL HAVING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING RECESS FORMED THEREIN IN COMMUNICATING RELATION TO THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF SAID PLUNGER AND IN SPACED RELATION FROM AT LEAST ONE END OF SAID PLUNGER IN A HORIZONTAL DISTANCE SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT ENTRY OF THE ASSOCIATED BOX BLANK TAB THEREIN DURING THE SETTING UP OF THE LATTER, THE SURFACE OF SAID ONE PLUNGER SIDEWALL EXTENDING FROM SAID ONE END THEREOF TO SAID RECESS BEING DEFINED BY A FIRST LINE FORMING THE ASSOCIATED PLUNGER CORNER, AND A SPACED SECOND LINE FORMING THE ADJACENT SIDE OF SAID RECESS, SAID FIRST LINE LYING IN THE VERTICAL PLANE OF SAID ONE PLUNGER SIDEWALL, THE SECOND LINE AT ITS LOWER END BEING DISPOSED IN SAID ASSOCIATED VERTICAL PLANE AND EXTENDING INWARDLY AND UPWARDLY, SAID PLUNGER RECESS HAVING A BOX BLANK INNER END PORTION ENGAGING PLATE EXTENDING FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE THEREOF OVER THE SAME AND TERMINATING IN SPACED RELATION TO THE SECOND LINE FORMING SIDE OF SAID RECESS; MEANS CARRIED BY SAID DIE COOPERATING WITH SAID PLUNGER SURFACE FOR INTERLOCKING THE ASSOCIATED LOCKING TAB AND CUT DURING THE RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID PLUNGER AND DIE; PROJECTION MEANS FORMED ON THE SURFACES OF A PAIR OF SAID PLUNGER SIDEWALLS POSITIONED A SPACED DISTANCE FROM THE EXTREMITIES OF THEIR ASSOCIATED BOX BLANK SIDEWALLS FOR COOPERATION WITH THE TAB RECEIVING CUTS FORMED THEREIN FOR OPENING SAID TAB RECEIVING CUTS FOR RECEPTION THEREIN OF TABS FORMED AT THE EXTREMITIES OF THE FOURTH SIDEWALL OF THE BLANK, AND RELIEF MEANS FORMED IN THE SURFACE OF SAID BOX BLANK WALL ENGAGING MEANS COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID PROJECTION MEANS FOR RECEIVING THE CUT PORTIONS OF THE TABS WHEN OPENED BY SAID PROJECTION MEANS.

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