US3247646A - Case flap opening machine - Google Patents

Description

April 26, 1966 D, Mc|NTYRE CASE FLAP OPENING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1963 April 26, 1966 n. MCINTYRE CASE `FLAP OPENING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 4, 1963 April 26, 1966 D. MCINTYRE CASE FLAP OPENING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1963 i 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 m W R W, m A 6 M Q 5 im W @TT m United States Patent() 3,247,646 CASE FLAP OPENING MACHINE Daniel McIntyre, Portland, Conn., assignor to Emhart Corporation, Bloomfield, Conn. Filed June 4, 1963, Ser. No. 285,303 11 Claims. (Cl. 53-382) This invention relates to a case opening machine and, more particularly, to a machine for opening the four top llaps of a case that may be empty or that may have containers in it which are to be removed and iilled. The machine of this invention serves a purpose similar to the two-1iap machine of Patent 3,081,589.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a machine that will operate in a substantially foolproof manner and at high speed to open the top flaps of a succession of paperboard cases of the type having four flaps, i.e., side ilaps that are folded inwardly to closed position over inwardly folded end aps at the top of the case.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a machine which includes a conveyor for moving the cases endwise and preferably in spaced apart relationship and to provide means supported along the conveyor to open the side flaps and the rear end Hap of each case passing therealong and to also provide a reciprocating carriage over the conveyor to move along a port-ion of the conveyor with each passing case and to open the front iiap of each such case. Thus, there is provided in accordance with this invention a machine for opening the top aps of cases being moved along a conveyor that will not require the cases to be stopped for the purpose of opening the aps thereof.

lt is a further feature of the present invention to provide airfoil means for initially raising all of the case iiaps from their closed position. More specifically, airfoilshaped plates are supported along the conveyor so as to be adjacent to the side flaps of passing cases, and means are provided for directing an air stream across these plates to create a low pressure area rtherebelow that will cause the side ilaps to rise. A similar plate is arranged for similar operation with respect to the rear end flap, and a generally similar airfoil plate is carried on the` aforementioned carriage to initiallywraise the front end flap. Independent means are provided to engage and spread each flap outwardly after it has risen.

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be describeLbut it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as dening or limiting the scope of the invention, 'the claims forming a part of this speciiication being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. l is a front elevational view of a case flap opening machine constructed in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the top portion of the machine with parts removed to prevent obscurity and showing one phase of the flap opening operation;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG, 2 showing a further phase Vof flap opening;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken near the right-hand end of FIGS. 2 and 3 and looking toward the left so as to provide an end view of the side flap opening elements with parts removed to avoid obscurity;

FlG. 5 is a top plan view taken near the right-hand end of the machine in FIG. 1 with some parts removed; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view4 of the airfoil structure used to raise the rear end flap of each passing case.

As shown in FIG. l, the machine of this invention com- 3,247,646 Patented Apr. 26, 1966 ICC prises a frame structure indicated generally by the reference number 10 that supports a longitudinally extending plate 12 over which the cases C, C are moved to have their flaps opened. The case conveyor comprises an endless chain 14 that extends longitudinally along each side of the plate 12. A series of spaced apart ilight bars 16, 16 are connected between the chains 14, 14 to engage the rear end of the series of cases C, C which are thus moved over the plate 12 in equally spaced apart endwise movement. The conveyor chains 14, 14 are: entrained over end sprockets 18, 18 mounted on suitable shafts, the front sprocket shaft being driven by means bf a chain and sprocket connection indicated generally at 2l) with a speed reducing unit 22 that is connected with the drive motor 24 for the machine. A feed conveyor 26 introduces the closed cases to the machine so that they can be moved along in succession by the conveyor that has -been described.

It will also be seen in FIG. l that the upper portion of the frame 10 supports a carriage indicated generally by the reference number 28 over the case conveyor. This carriage is reciprocated in timed relationshipwith movement of the conveyor so that it will move along with each case C passing through the machine over a portion of the longitudinal extent of the conveyor. The means for reciprocating the carriage 28 in timed relationship with movement of the conveyor chains 14, 14 comprises` a series of chain and sprocket units 30, 32, 34, and 36 which serve to connect the drive motor 24 with a pair of longitudinally extending endless chains 38, 318 which are entrained over sprockets suitably supported in a iixed position over the conveyor in the upper part of the frame structure 10. The endless chains 38, 38 are also shown in FIG. 5, and it will be observed that connecting rods 40, 40 extend between these chains and suitable connections on the respective longitudinal side plates 42, 42 of the carriage 28. Thus, as. the endless chains 38, 38 move about their end sprockets, the carriage -28 is reciprocated. `Such movement of the carriage is accommodated by means of pulley- like rollers 44, 44 on each side plate 42 of the carriage, the ' rollers 44, 44 being arranged to ride on a pair of longitudinally extending rods 46, 46 which are supported by the frame structure 10.

` a series of cams, suchl as the cam 52 thereon. These cams engage valve actuators, such as the actuator 54, to operate a series of valves within a housing 56, and these valves control the ilow of air streams at a plurality of airfoil units that raise lthe case aps as will be described hereinafter.

As viewed in FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, the cases C, C move from right to left and as each case enters the right-hand end of the machine its flaps are closed. The side aps of each case are opened first as the case passes along the conveyor by a pair of airfoil units 58, 58 which are vertically and pivotally adjustably mounted on rods 6I), 60 depending from the upper part of the frame structure 10.

The airfoil units 58, 58 each includes an airfoil-shaped plate 62 that is supported at an angular position and in spaced relationship over the closed side ilaps of a case passing therealong. Each such unit also includes a jet 64 connectible as by a hose (not shown) through valving in the housing 56 with a source of air under pressure. The jet 64 directs a stream of air across the underside of the associated plate 62 so as to create a low pressure area therebelow that will cause a side Hap to rise as a case moves past.

As will be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the raised side flaps of each case passing along the conveyor will be engaged by a plow 66 at about the time they lose association with the airfoil units 58, 58. The plow 66 serves to spread the side flaps outwardly and to hold them in an elevated position as shown in FIG. 4 until they can be engaged by additional plow means 68 (FIGS. 2 and 3) beneath the reciprocating carriage 28. A rudder-shaped plate 70 is adjustably supported by the frame in a vertical llongitudinal plane to hold each case down as its side flaps are being spread by the plow 66.

As each case C passes below the plow 66, its rear end flap passes' below an airfoil unit 72 which is shown in enlarged scale at FIG. 6. The airfoil unit 72 is rigidly supported in adjustable positions by the frame and, like the airfoil units 58, 58, it includes an airfoil-shaped plate 74 and a jet 76. The jet 76 is connectible as by a hose 78 through a valve in the housing 56 to a source of pressurized air, and the jet is arranged to direct an air stream across the bottom side of the plate 74 as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 6. This air stream creates a low pressure area below the plate 74, causing the rear end ap of each passing case to rise. It will be understood, of course, that the valving controlling ow to the various airfoil units is not continuously open. That is, the cams on the cam shaft 50 are arranged to open these valves in timed relationship to movement of the cases so that air flows and the airfoils are eective only when a case is in position with respect to the various airfoils to be operated upon.

After a rear end ap on a passing case has been caused to rise slightly, its leading edge is engaged by the weighted or hooked end 80 of a rod 82 (FIGS. 1-3) that is suspended from the upper portion of the frame 10 in the path of movement of the cases. This rod is pivotally connected to the frame and spring biased toward the right as viewed in FIGS. 1-3 so that its end 80 will be sure to engage the edge of a raised rear case flap. Then, as a case continues to pass along the conveyor, the rod will raise and spread outwardly the rear flap.

As shown in FIG. 1, at about the same time that the rear ap is being raised by the airfoil unit 72, the front flap of a passing case is raised by an airfoil unit 84 on one end 86 of a crescent-shaped lmember 88 that is rotatably supported on the carriage 28. The crescent-shaped member 88 is oscillated, as will be described, so that its airfoil unit 84 on said one end will initially raise the front end ap of a passing case and so that its other end 90 which is hook-shaped will then engage the underside of the front ap and spread it outwardly. This occurs as the carriage 28 moves along a portion of the conveyor with each passing case. Like the other airfoil units, the unit 84 is connected with suitable control valving and has a plate 92 and a jet 94. The oscillation and operation of the crescent-shaped member 88 with respect to the front llap will be understood by comparing FIGS. 1 to 3.

A parti-circular or half disc-shaped member 96 is also rotatably supported on the carriage 28 for the purpose of holding the front and rear flaps in an outwardly spread condition until the associated case leaves operational association with the carriage. As shown in FIGS. l-3, the disc 96 is rotated so that its convex edge will engage and roll over the front and rear case flaps holding them in an outwardly spread position during movement of the carriage 28 in a left-hand direction. A bracket 95, having a rearwardly extending blade 97, is mounted on the carriage 28 to help retain the spread condition of the rear llap of'each case moving with the carriage. Then, as the carriage starts to move toward the right, a rudder shaped blade 98 on its left-hand end passes over the spread front and rear flaps of the case with which the carriage was just associated to retain the aps in spread condition until they pass under a rigidly axed plow 100 which continues to maintain the spread condition of the flaps as each passing case moves out of the left-hand end 4 o the machine toward a case packing machine or the li e.

The drive for the crescent-shaped member 88 and for the parti-circular member 96 comprises the chain and sprocket units 102, 104, and 106 which connect the drive motor 24 with a shaft to which the parti-circular member 96 is connected for rotation. The said parti-circular member 96 rotates throughout 360 in timed relationship to movement of the cases through the machine, and it is connected to the crescent-shaped member 88 by a crank arm 108 that causes the crescent-shaped member to oscillate as the parti-circular member rotates. This oscillation is, of course, in timed relationship throughout to movement of the cases through the machine so that the front flap of each case passing through the machine will be 4opened as described. Further, the air stream for the front ilap raising airfoil unit 84 is controlled by the previously mentioned valving to be operable in timed relationship to case movement.

In a brief summary of the operation of the case flap opening machine that has been described, it can be said that a driven conveyor is provided for moving the cases in spaced apart end-to-end relationship through the machine. Airfoil means 58, 58 are supported along the conveyor to raise and spread the side ilaps of each passing case in association with the plow 66. Then, the passing case moves beneath the airfoil unit 72 which raises the rear end flap which is spread on upwardly and outwardly by the arm 82. Then, the carriage 28 which is supported over the conveyor to move along a portion of the conveyor with each passing case takes over the flap opening operation by means of its oscillatable crescent-shaped member 88. One end of the crescent-shaped member serves to raise the front llap of an associated case and the other end serves to spread it outwardly. Then, the parti-circular member 96 takes over the operation by having its convex edge engage the spread front and rear flaps to retain them in such position until the case leaves association with the carriage. Means are provided in the path of movement of the cases to retain the spread condition of all of the aps as the cases move on toward a case packing machine or the like.

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine for opening cases having end flaps that are folded inwardly at the top thereof, said machine comprising a driven conveyor for moving the cases endwise, means supported along the conveyor to raise and spread the rear end ap of each passing case, a carriage supported over said conveyor, means for reciprocating said carriage so that it travels along a portion of the conveyor with each case, a generally crescent-shaped member rotatably supported on the carriage on an axis transverse to the conveyor, a parti-circular member rotatably supported on the carriage on an axis transverse to the conveyor, means for moving said members in timed relationship to carriage movement so that an end ofthe crescent-shaped member will spread the front end flap of each case and so that the convex edge of the particircular member will then hold both end flaps in spread condition, and means supported along the conveyor for retaining the flaps of each case spread after association with said carriage.

2. A machine for opening cases having end flaps that are folded inwardly at -the top thereof, said machines comprising a driven conveyor for moving the cases in spaced apart end-to-end relationship, means supported along the conveyor to raise and spread the rear end flap of each passing case, a carriage supported over said conveyor, means for reciprocating said carriage so that it travels along a portion of the conveyor with each case, a generally crescent-shaped member supported on said carriage with its ends facing downwardly and for oscillation on an axis transverse to the conveyor, a parti-circular member supported on said carriage for rotation on an axis transverse to the conveyor, means for respectively oscillating and rotating said members in timed relationship to carriage movement so that one end of the crescentshaped member will raise the front end ap `of each case and the other end will engage and spread it, and so that the convex edge of the parti-circular member will then hold both end flaps in spread condition, and means supported along the conveyor for retaining the flaps of each case spread after association with said carriage.

3. A machine for opening cases as set forth in claim 2 wherein an airfoil shaped plate is supported on said one end of the crescent-shaped member, and means are provided to direct an air stream across the plate to create a low pressure area below the plate to cause the front end flap of each associated case to rise.

A machine for opening cases as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for raising and spreading the rear end flap of each case comprises an airfoil shaped plate supported over the conveyor, means for'directing an air stream across the plate to create a low pressure area therehelow that will `cause each rear flap to rise, and means suspended over the conveyor to engage and spread each risen flap as the cases pass.

5. A machine for opening cases as set forth in cla-im 4 wherein an airfoil shaped plate is supported on said one end of the crescent-shaped member, and means are provided to direct an air stream across lthe plate to create a low pressure area therebelow to cause the front end flap of each associated case to rise.

6. A machine for opening cases as set forth in claim 5 wherein means is provided to control both of said air streams for operation thereof in timed relationship to carriage reciprocation.

7 A machine for opening cases having side aps closed over end aps at `the top thereof, said machine comprising a driven lconveyor for moving the cases in spaced apart end-to-end relationship, means supported along the conveyor to raise and spread the side flaps of each passing case, means supported along the conveyor to raise and spread the rear end flap of each passing case, a carriage supported over said conveyor, means for reciprocating said carriage so that it travels along a portion of the conveyor with each case, a generally crescent-shaped member supported on said carriage with its ends facing downwardly and for oscillation on an axis transverse to the conveyor, a parti-circular member supported on said carriage for rotation on an axis transverse to the conveyor, means for respectively oscillating and rotating said members in timed relationship to carriage movement so that one end of the crescent-shaped member will raise the front end flap of each case and the other end will engage and spread it, and `so that the convex edge of the parti-circular member will then hold both end flaps in spread condition, and means for retaining all of the said flaps of each case spread after association with said carriage.

8. A machine for opening cases as set forth in claim 7 wherein an airfoil shaped plate is supported on said one end of the crescent-shaped member, and means are provided to direct an air stream across the plate to create a low pressure area below the plate to cause the front end flap of each associated case to' rise.

9. A machine for opening cases as set forth in claim 7 wherein the means for raising and spreading the rear end flap of each case comprises an airfoil shaped plate supported over the conveyor, means for directing an air stream across the plate to create a low pressure area therebelow that will cause each rear flap to rise land means suspended over the conveyor to engage and spread each risen ap as the cases pass.

lil. A machine for opening cases as set forth in claim 9 wherein an airfoil shaped plate is supported on said one end of the crescent-shaped member, and means are provided to direct an air stream across the plate to create a low pressure area therebelow to cause the front end flap of each associated case to rise.

11. A machine for opening cases as set forth in claim il@ wherein means is provided to control both of said air Stroms for operation thereof in timed relationship to carriage reciprocation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A MACHINE FOR OPENING CASES HAVING END FLAPS THAT ARE FOLDED INWARDLY AT THE TOP THEREOF, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING A DRIVEN CONVEYOR FOR MOVING THE CASES ENDWISE, MEANS SUPPORTED ALONG THE CONVEYOR TO RAISE AND SPREAD THE REAR END FLAP OF EACH PASSING CASE, A CARRIAGE SUPPORTED OVER SAID CONVEYOR, MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID CARRIAGE SO THAT IT TRAVELS ALONG A PORTION OF THE CONVEYOR WITH EACH CASE, A GENERALLY CRESCENT-SHAPED MEMBER ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON THE CARRIAGE ON AN AXIS TRANSVERSE TO THE CONVEYOR, A PARTI-CIRCULAR MEMBER ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON THE CARRIAGE ON AN AXIS TRANSVERSE TO THE CONVEYOR, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MEMBERS IN TIMED RELATIONSHIP TO CARRIAGE MOVEMENT SO THAT AN END OF THE CRESCENT-SHAPED MEMBER WILL SPREAD THE FRONT END FLAP OF EACH CASE AND SO THAT THE CONVEX EDGE OF THE PARTICIRCULAR MEMBER WILL THEN HOLD BOTH END FLAPS IN SPREAD CONDITION, AND MEANS SUPPORTED ALONG THE CONVEYOR FOR RETAINING THE FLAPS OF EACH CASE SPREAD AFTER ASSOCIATION WITH SAID CARRIAGE.

Images