US3130648A

US3130648A - Apparatus for assembling carrier blanks

Info

Publication number: US3130648A
Application number: US200867A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence E Arneson
Original assignee: Federal Paper Board Co Inc
Current assignee: Federal Paper Board Co Inc
Priority date: 1962-06-07
Filing date: 1962-06-07
Publication date: 1964-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 1981-04-28

Description

April 28, 1964 1.. E. ARNESON 3,130,648

APPARATUS F OR ASSEMBLING CARRIER BLANKS Filed June 7, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 P 23, 1964 E. ARNESON 3,130,648

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING CARRIER BLANKS Filed June '7, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 28, 1964 L. E. ARNESON 3,130,648

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING, CARRIER BLANKS Filed June '7, 1962 Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

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April 28,1964

L. ARNESON APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING CARRIER BLANKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 7, 1962 limlmlal lmlwl u m fi v D E Q INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,139,638 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING CAREER BLANKS Lawrence E. Arneson, Morris, 31., assignor to Federal Faper Board Company, line, Bogota, NE, a corpora- 11011 of New York Filed June 7, 1962, Ser. No. 229,867 14 Claims. (Cl. 93-36) This invention relates to apparatus for use in connection with the fabrication of article carriers of the type which are formed of sheet material cut and folded so as to provide a tray-like cellular compartment for the articles and a center partition and associated handle structure.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for incorporation in a gluing and folding machine for manufacturing article carriers of the type illustrated in Patent No. 3,029,977. Such a carrier is characterized by opposed pairs of vertical, flexible side and end Walls, by a longitudinal partition and handle structure extending in a vertical plane between the end walls and parallel with the side walls, and by flexible cross partition straps which are disposed in longitudinally spaced, vertical planes and are integrally hinged on vertical fold lines to side walls and to the longitudinal partition and handle structure. The carrier is formed from a blank which can be cut from printed or unprinted fiberboard or paperboard stock sheets creased and folded with certain partition forming portions being adhesively secured so as to provide a collapsed bottom wall forming panel having side wall forming panels foldably connected thereto, which side panels have a raised center section with inturned cross partition forming straps hinged to the ends thereof, paired end wall forming panels foldably connected to the side wall panels and joined in hinged relation by integral inturned center partition securing flaps with a multi-ply, longitudinal partition and handle structure formed by pairs of handle sections which are foldably connected at one end thereof to end extensions of adjacent center partition se curing flaps and a handle facing flap foldably connected to the top edge of one of the handle sections and adhesively secured to the other handle section. A pair of supplemental partition forming members are provided in the carrier which are each subdivided into three panels and disposed in the center cells in the carrier with the top margins of the two end panels adhered to a pair of cross partition straps so as to provide substantially full depth separation between articles in the center cells and articles in the adjoining end cells on each side of the center partition.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide in a gluing and folding machine for carriers of the type referred to an apparatus for advancing supplemental partition members from a supply thereof and assembling the same with the main blanks for forming the carrier as the carrier blanks are advanced into the gluing and folding machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus for incorporation in a machine for gluing and folding cellular article carriers of the type referred to which apparatus comprises mechanism for feeding successive supplemental partition members from a magazine, mechanism for folding one of the end panels of each partition member over onto the center panel while advancing the partition member to a point adjacent the path of travel of the main carrier blank and mechanism for thereafter conveying the folded partition member first in a direction opposite to the direction of advance of the main carrier blank and then in the same direction and depositing the partition member on an advancing carrier blank.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supplemental partition feeding and depositing apparatus of the V See type described wherein provision is made for applying an adhesive to the marginal portion of one of the partition panels for adhering the same to the carrier blank when the partition member is deposited thereon.

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

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a supplemental partition feeding and positioning apparatus which illustrates the invention, the apparatus being shown mounted on a gluing and folding machine for fabricating article carriers of the type involved from cut and creased carrier forming blanks, and portions or" the apparatus being broken away or omitted;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view illustrating the folding and feeding of one of the supplemental blanks;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic elevation of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective View of a carrier, in erected condition, which is adapted to be fabricated on a gluing and folding machine having attached thereto the apparatus of the present invention.

Referring first to FIGURES 1, 4 and 6, the carrier involved is fabricated from a blank 18 which is generally rectangular and cut and creased so as to form the carrier walls and partition panels. The cut and creased blank 10 is, with certain exceptions which are noted, substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal center line. It is divided (FIGURES 1 and 4) so as to provide on one side of the center line a panel 11 forming half of a bottom wall, a side wall forming panel 12, adjoining end wall forming panels 13 and 14 separated therefrom by crease lines 15 and 16, and longitudinal partition forming panels 1'7 and 18 at opposite ends of the blank which are separated from the adjoining end wall forming panels 13 and 14 by hinge forming crease lines It? and 20, extending transversely of the blank 10. A handle forming panel 21 is hinged on an extension 29' of the hinge line 20 which handle forming panel is taken from the outside margin of the blank and is separated from the side wall panel 12 along the cutting line 22 and from the end wall panels along the

cutting lines

23 and 24. A handle reinforcing panel member 25 adjoins the main handle panel 21 which is adapted to fold on the crease line 26 onto the main handle panel member 21. Cross partition forming

strap members

27 and 28 are cut from the outside corners of the side wall forming panel 12 and connected by hinge forming creases 29 and 29' to the side wall panel 12 and by portions of the crease lines 15 and 15 to the main handle panel member 21 and the handle reinforcing panel member 25, respectively, so that when the carrier is set up, the

cross partition straps

27 and 28 extend in hingedly connected relation between the side wall 12 and the longitudinal partition and handle structure as shown in FIGURE 6. The handle reinforcing panel 25 on one side of the blank (FIGURE 1) is subdivided by the longitudinally extendingcrease line 3% and the outside marginal panel 31 is folded over upon the remainder of the panel to reinforce the hinge connection of the cross straps with the handle structure. Each handle panel 21 has a hand hole 32 and the handle panel 21 on one side of the blank (FIGURE 1) has a glue flap 33 along the outside edge. The glue flap 33 is not required on the opposite half of the blank and the handle reinforcing panel on the opposite half of the blank is not subdivided but has a hand hole cut therein to align with the hand hole in the main handle panel.

Two supplemental cross partition members 34- are proa, al

vided in the completed carrier which are identical and which are disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal partition and handle structure as shown in FIGURE 6. Each of the supplemental partition members 34 is formed from a rectangular paperboard blank which is cut and creased to divide the same into a center panel 35 and end panels 36 and 37, the latter being separated from the center panel 35 by fold forming

crease lines

38 and 39 with the one end panel 36 extending a short distance beyond the edge of the

adjacent panels

35 and 37 at one side of the blank. The center panel 35 is adapted to be disposed in the plane of the longitudinal partition in the set up carton while the end panels 36 and 37 are secured at their top forming margins to the

cross partition straps

27 and 28.

The carrier blanks 10 are fed to a gluing and folding machine of standard construction which machine includes a base structure indicated at 40 in FIGURE 1, a pair of laterally spaced endless conveyor chains 41, and a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending

side guides

42 and 43. The chain 41 has longitudinally spaced lugs 44 which engage with the trailing edge of successive carrier blanks 10 so as to advance the blanks along the

side guides

42 and 43 and through the machine.

The apparatus for feeding the supplemental partition blanks 34 and assembling the same with the carrier blanks 10 is indicated at 45 in FIGURE 1. This apparatus, which is mounted on the gluing machine, comprises a frame structure 46 which extends transversely of the base structure 40 of the gluing and folding machine. The apparatus 45 includes identical mechanism on opposite sides of the machine for feeding the supplemental partition blanks 34 and for positioning the individual blanks 34 on the carrier blank 10 on opposite sides of the center line of the latter, the apparatus being constructed to assemble two of the blanks 34 with each of the carrier blanks 10. Only the mechanism on one side of the machine, for handling the one supplemental partition blank 34, will be described, it being understood that the corresponding mechanism on the other side of the machine, for handling the other blank 34, is of the same construction and operates in the same manner.

A chute-type supply magazine 47 (FIGURES 1 and 2) is supported on a table forming bracket 48 attached to one side of the frame structure 46 for receiving a stack of the blanks 34. The blanks 34 are fed from the magazine 47 by a feed roller 49 which is mounted on a shaft 50 supported in

suitable bearings

51 and 52 on

bracket forming members

53 and 54 extending from an upright side frame 55 forming part of frame 46. The shaft 50 carries alongside the feed roller 49 the upper one of a pair of vertically aligned end support rollers or pulleys 56 and 57 for a pair of relatively narrow endless belts 58 and 59. The lower belt support roller 57 is carried on a shaft 60 which is mounted in a pair of spaced bearings 61 supported on suitable brackets 62 extending from the side frame 55. The shaft 60 carries a bevel gear 63 which engages with a bevel gear 64 on a driven shaft 65 extending transversely of the gluing and folding machine and supported by end bearing 66 on the bracket 62 adjacent the gear 64. The shaft 65 is driven in a suitable manner from the drive for the gluing and folding machine. The

shafts

60 and 50 are connected in driving relation by a pair of

gears

67 and 68.

The two belts 58 and 59 are supported at one end on the rollers or pulleys 56 and 57 and at the other end on somewhat smaller rollers or pulleys 69 and 70 mounted on shafts 71 and 72 which are journaled in a support frame 73 mounted in suspended relation between

cross frame members

74 and 75. The belts 58 and 59 are arranged so that opposed lower and upper runs of the two belts are disposed in a horizontal plane and grip the blanks 34 as they are fed between the end support rollers 56 and 57 by the feed rollers 49. The blank gripping belt runs are supported on a series of small rollers 76 which are mounted on a vertically disposed frame plate 77. Two pressure applying rollers 78 and 80 are supported above the blank gripping runs of the belts on arms 81 and 82 which are pivotally mounted on brackets 83 and 84, the latter being adjustably supported on a horizontally disposed frame bar 85. Tensioning rollers 86 and 87 are provided for the upper belt 58 which are supported on a bracket 88 and like tensioning rollers 90 and 91 are provided for the lower belt 59 which are mounted on the vertically disposed frame member 77. An edge guide 92 is disposed along the one side of the blank carrying belt runs which is mounted on the frame plate 77. On the opposite side of the belt runs an elongate folding plow member 93 is supported on the lower end of a depending bracket forming post member 94 which is carried at its upper end on a frame bracket plate 95 extending from the cross member 74. The belts 58 and 59 advance successive blanks 34 to a transfer table 96 (FIGURES 2 and 3) which extends horizontally and in the direction longitudinally of the folding and gluing machine 40. The table 96 is in the same horizontal plane as the top run of a pair of parallel, endless transfer chains 97 and 98. The transfer table 96 is in two parts, and 101, with the part 100 extending be tween the top run of the chains 97 and 98 and being suspended from the

cross frame members

74 and 75 by hanger bolt and

bracket assemblies

100 and 101 and with the part 101 having a stop forming flange 102 and being suspended from the top cross frame 74 by a hanger bolt and bracket assembly 103. A top guide or guard plate or bar 104 is supported by a hanger bolt and bracket assembly 105 from a top frame member and has a pair of extension bars 106 which curve down over the

end sprockets

107 and 108 carrying the chains 97 and 98 and which are supported at their upper ends from the cross frame member 74 by hanger bolt and bracket as semblies 109. The guide bars 106 are supported also from cross frame member 110 by hanger bolt and bracket assemblies 111.

The folded blanks 34 are advanced against the stop flange 102 of the transfer table 96 by a roller 112 (FIG- URES 2 and 3) which may have a surface of rubber or similar material. The blank forwarding roller 112 is mounted on a shaft 113 journaled in the legs of a downwardly facing U-shaped supporting bracket 114 which is supported from the frame 73 by a bracket member 115. A sprocket 116 on the shaft 113 is connected by a drive chain 117 with a sprocket 118 on the shaft 71 so that the roller 112 is driven and picks up the blanks 34 as they are released by the belts 58 and 59. The chains 97 and 98 are provided with lugs 120 which extend above the transfer table 96 and pick up the blanks 34, changing their direction of movement to a path parallel with and above the chains 41 which advance the carrier blanks 10. a

The chains 97 and 98 are carried at their leading ends on the

sprockets

107 and 108 which are mounted on a cross shaft 121. At their trailing ends the chains are carried on driven sprockets 122 and 123 carried on the drive shaft 65 and on the lower idler sprockets 124 and 125 carried on the shaft 126 so that the lower run of the chains 97 and 98 is parallel with and slightly above the chains 41 of the gluing and folding machine. The shaft 126 is journaled in the lower ends of hanger bracket assemblies 127 supported on the frame cross member 128.

A glue fountain 130 having a glue dispensing roller 131 is supported on bracket plates 132. depending from the cross frame member 110 adjacent the sprocket 107 and a cooperating back up arm 133 is secured on the shaft 121 so as to rotate with the sprocket 107. The back up arm 133 is located relative to the chain lugs 120 so as to support the extended marginal edge of the panel 36 of the blank 34 and cause the same to engage the glue roller 131 which places thereon a line of quick setting glue. The glue fountains 130 may be heated and a hot melt type quick setting glue applied to the dispensing roller 131 in a well known manner.

In using the apparatus, a supply of the insert blanks 34 is provided in each of the magazines 47 on opposite sides of the machine which are fed by the wheels 49 to the belts 58 and 59. The blanks are advanced by the belts 58 and 59 past the plow 93- which folds over the panel 36 and a folded blank is delivered to the transfer table 96 on each side of the gluing and folding machine where it is picked up by a pair of oncoming lugs 129' on the chains 97 and 98 and carried down around the

end sprockets

107 and 108. A line of quick setting glue is ap lied by the glue roller 131 to the exposed end of panel 36. The chains 97 and 98 deposit the blank 34 on the carrier blank which has previously been provided with a slower setting glue on the surface of the cross strap to which the insert blank 34 is to be secured. The travel of the carrier blank advancing chains 41 and the insert applying chains '97 and 98 is synchronized so that the insert blanks 34 are deposited in proper position on the carrier blank.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for feeding, folding and positioning a foldable partition forming insert blank on a cellular carrier forming blank which is supported in unfolded condition on a horizontal run of a traveling conveyor, said apparatus comprising a supporting frame extending transversely of the traveling conveyor, a magazine for receiving a supply of insert blanks mounted on said supporting frame, a pair of blank gripping endless traveling conveyor members mounted on end supports on said supporting frame so as to extend from the magazine to a horizontal transfer table positioned on said supporting frame above the path of travel of the carrier blank conveyor, means for feeding successive insert blanks to the gripping conveyor members, means associated with the gripping conveyor members for folding an end panel of each insert blank upon an adjoining panel of said insert blank, a pair of endless traveling transfer conveyor members mounted on said supporting frame and disposed vertically with their upper runs in the plane of the transfer table and having means thereon for advancing the blanks in a path which is parallel with the path of travel of the carrier blanks and in the opposite direction, said transfer conveyor members being supported on end members which are positioned so as to bring the lower return runs thereof parallel with and immediately above the carrier blank conveyor for deposit of the insert blanks on successive carrier blanks on the carrier blank conveyor.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, and a glue applying apparatus associated with the transfer conveyors for applying a line of glue to the one end margin of a panel of each insert blank.

3. A mechanism for attachment to a machine for gluing and folding a cellular carrier blank of the type which has cross partition forming strap members, said machine including a horizontally disposed, traveling conveyor on which the carrier blanks are advanced into the machine, said mechanism comprising a frame adapted to be positioned crosswise above the carrier blank conveyor, a magazine mounted at one end of said frame for receiving a supply of cross partition insert forming blanks, a pair of endless belt conveyors mounted on said frame which are disposed one above the other in a vertical plane with opposed horizontal runs thereof cooperating to advance successive insert blanks from the supply magazine to an endless traveling trasfer conveyor which is disposed in a longitudinally extending vertical plane above the carrier blank conveyor, said transfer conveyor being mounted on longitudinally spaced end support members journaled in said frame so as to bring the bottom run thereof parallel with and immediately above the carrier blank conveyor, said transfer conveyor having means for engaging insert blanks delivered to the top run thereof from said insert blank advancing conveyors and being driven in a direction to move said insert blanks around the one end support member of said transfer conveyor to the lower run thereof for deposit in inverted relation on a blank carried on the carrier blank conveyor while traveling in the same direction.

4. A mechanism as recited in claim 3, and a transfer table at the discharge end of said insert blank advancing conveyors for supporting the insert blanks in position for engagement by the blank engaging means on the transfer conveyor.

5. Apparatus for feeding, folding and positioning a foldable partition forming insert blank on a blank for forming a cellular carrier which blank is supported in unfolded condition on a horizontally disposed traveling conveyor run, said apparatus comprising a supporting frame extending transversely of said traveling conveyor, a magazine for receiving a supply of insert blanks mounted on said supporting frame, an insert blank gripping endless traveling conveyor mounted on spaced end supports on said supporting frame so as to extend from the magazine to a transfer station above the path of travel of the carrier blank conveyor, means for feeding successive insert blanks to said gripping conveyor, means associated with said gripping conveyor for folding an end panel of each insert blank upon an adjoining panel of the insert blank, an endless traveling transfer conveyor mounted on said supporting frame and disposed with the upper run thereof aligned with the insert blank conveyor at the transfer station, means thereon for engaging the insert blanks so as to advance the insert blanks in a path which is parallel with and above the path of travel of the carrier blanks, said transfer conveyor being supported on longitudinally spaced end members which are positioned so as to bring the lower return nun thereof parallel with and immediately above the carrier blank conveyor for deposit of the insert blanks on successive carrier blanks on the carrier blank conveyor while traveling in the same direction.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 5, and a glue applying apparatus associated with the transfer conveyor for applying glue to the one end margin of a panel of each insert blank.

7. Apparatus for feeding, folding and positioning a foldable partition forming insert blank on a blank for forming a cellular article carrier which is supported in flat unfolded condition on a horizontally disposed traveling conveyor run, said apparatus comprising a supporting frame extending transversely of said traveling conveyor, magazine forming means mounted on said supporting frame for receiving a supply of insert blanks, a blank gripping endless traveling conveyor mounted on spaced end supports on said supporting frame so as to extend from the magazine to a horizontal transfer station above the path of travel of the carrier blank conveyor, means forming a transfer table at said transfer station, means for feeding successive insert blanks to the gripping conveyor, a folding plow mounted on said supporting frame at one side of said gripping conveyor in a position for engaging and folding an end panel of each insert blank upon an adjoining panel of said insert blank, an endless traveling chain transfer conveyor mounted on longitudinally spaced end supporting sprockets carried on shafts journaled in said supporting frame, said transfer conveyor being disposed vertically with an upper run in the plane of the transfer table and having means thereon for engaging the insert blanks so as to advance the blanks in a path which is parallel with the path of travel of the carrier blanks and spaced above the same, said transfer conveyor being disposed with the lower return run thereof parallel with and immediately above the carrier blank conveyor so that the insert blanks are advanced for deposit in inverted relation on successive carrier blanks as the carrier blanks are advanced by the carrier blank conveyor.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 7, and a glue applying apparatus mounted adjacent the end sprocket of the transfer conveyor for applying glue to the one end margin of a panel of each insert blank.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 8, and said glue applying apparatus comprising a glue fountain having a dispensing roller extending into the path of travel of the insert blanks and a back-up member traveling with the transfer conveyor for pressing an end margin of each insert against said dispensing roller.

10. Apparatus for feeding, folding and positioning a foldable partition forming insert blank on a blank for forming a cellular carrier which carrier blank is supported in flat condition on a traveling conveyor run, said apparatus comprising a support frame extending transverse- 1y of the traveling conveyor run, means on the support frame forming a magazine for a supply of insert blanks, a pair of blank gripping endless traveling conveyors mounted one above the other on spaced end supports on said supporting frame with opposed runs thereof extending from the magazine to a horizontal transfer table on said supporting frame which is disposed above the path of travel of the carrier blank conveyor, means for feeding successive insert blanks between the :opposed runs of the gripping conveyors, plow means adjacent the gripping conveyors for folding an end panel of each insert blank upon an adjoining panel of said insert blank, an endless traveling transfer conveyor comprising laterally spaced endless chains mounted on said supporting frame and disposed vertically with parallel upper and lower runs, the upper runs being in the plane of the transfer table and having means thereon for advancing the blanks in a path which is parallel with the path of travel of the carrier blanks and spaced above the same, the lower runs of said chains being disposed so as to travel parallel with and immediately above the carrier blank conveyor whereby the insert blanks are moved into predetermined position above successive carrier blanks on the carrier blank conveyor for deposit thereon.

11. Apparatus as recited in claim 10, and a driven roller above the transfer conveyor for advancing each insert blank from the discharge end of the blank gripping conveyors to the transfer table.

12. Apparatus as recited in claim 11, and said transfer table being slotted to accommodate the upper run of at least one of the endless chains and having a stop forming edge flange.

13. In a mechanism for attachment to a machine for gluing and folding a cellular carrier blank of the type which has cross partition forming strap members, said machine including a horizontally disposed, traveling conveyor on which the carrier blanks are advanced into the machine, said mechanism being adapted to assemble sup plemental cross partition forming blanks with said carrier blanks, comprising a support frame adapted to be positioned crosswise above the carrier blank conveyor, means on said support frame forming supplemental cross partition blank magazines at opposite sides of said travel= ing conveyor, endless belt conveyors mounted on said frame which are disposed vertically with horizontal runs thereof cooperating to advance successive supplemental blanks from the supply magazines to endless traveling transfer conveyors which are disposed in longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, vertical planes above the carrier blank conveyor, said transfer conveyors being mounted on longitudinally spaced end support members journaled in said support frame so as to bring the bottom runs thereof parallel with and immediately above the can trier blank conveyor, said transfer conveyors having means for engaging supplemental blanks delivered to the top runs thereof from said supplemental blank advancing conveyors and for holding said supplemental blanks while they are advanced around the support members at one end of said transfer conveyors to the lower runs thereof for deposit in inverted relation on a predetermined area of a carrier blank carried on the carrier blank conveyor.

14. Ina mechanism as recited in claim 13, and a trans: fer table at the discharge end of each of said supplemental blank advancing conveyors having a stop forming inner flange for supporting in predetermined position the supplemental blanks for engagement by' the blank engaging means on the carrier blank transfer conveyor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,987,224 Bergstein "Jan. 8, 1935 2,227,439 Carruth Jan. 7, 1941 2,605,920 Hammel Aug. 5, 1952 2,703,043 Novick et a1. Mar. 1, 1955 2,850,195 Van Dam Sept. 2, 1958 3,009,558 Novick Nov. 21, 1961

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR FEEDING, FOLDING AND POSITIONING A FOLDABLE PARTITION FORMING INSERT BLANK ON A CELLULAR CARRIER FORMING BLANK WHICH IS SUPPORTED IN UNFOLDED CONDITION ON A HORIZONTAL RUN OF A TRAVELING CONVEYOR, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUPPORTING FRAME EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE TRAVELING CONVEYOR, A MAGAZINE FOR RECEIVING A SUPPLY OF INSERT BLANKS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING FRAME, A PAIR OF BLANK GRIPPING ENDLESS TRAVELING CONVEYOR MEMBERS MOUNTED ON END SUPPORTS ON SAID SUPPORTING FRAME SO AS TO EXTEND FROM THE MAGAZINE TO A HORIZONTAL TRANSFER TABLE POSITIONED ON SAID SUPPORTING FRAME ABOVE THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE CARRIER BLANK CONVEYOR, MEANS FOR FEEDING SUCCESSIVE INSERT BLANKS TO THE GRIPPING CONVEYOR MEMBERS, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE GRIPPING CONVEYOR MEMBERS FOR FOLDING AN END PANEL OF EACH INSERT BLANK UPON AN ADJOINING PANEL OF SAID INSERT BLANK, A PAIR OF ENDLESS TRAVELING TRANSFER CONVEYOR MEMBERS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING FRAME AND DISPOSED VERTICALLY WITH THEIR