US3728945A

US3728945A - Apparatus for erecting cartons

Info

Publication number: US3728945A
Application number: US00207071A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Vuilleumier
Original assignee: Container Corp
Current assignee: Container Corp
Priority date: 1971-12-13
Filing date: 1971-12-13
Publication date: 1973-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 1990-04-24
Also published as: GB1340669A; DE2260936C3; JPS553211B2; JPS4865076A; DE2260936A1; DE2260936B2

Abstract

Apparatus for erecting cartons from a flattened condition thereof including a conveyer for moving flattened cartons at regular intervals; structure for directing a blast of air at a pressure greater than ambient against an end of the carton to partially erect the same while being conveyed; structure opposing the air blast; structure in spaced relationship to the conveyor and in increasing spaced relationship thereto to accommodate the erecting movement and to prevent dislodgement of the partly erected blank by the air blast; and structure for trapping and removing the erected carton.

Description

United States ?atent Vuilleumier 5] Apr. 24, 1973 I APPARATUS FOR ERECTlNG 3,269,087 8/1966 Cloud et al. .53/l83 CARTONS 3,197,936 211325 Evlessmer 3,340,679 1 7 h so 53 385 [75] Inventor: Ralph O. Vuilleumier, Malvern, Pa. O n n [73] Assignee: Container Corporation of America, Primary ExaminerAndrew Juhasz Chicago, "1 Assistant Examiner lames F. COan [22] F] d D 13 1971 Att0rneyRichard W. Carpenter 1 e ec. 21 Appl No.: 207,071 [571 ABSTRACT I Apparatus for erecting cartons from a flattened condi- U.S R tiOn thereof including a conveyet for moving flattened /8 4 cartons at regular intervals; structure for directing a [5 1] Int Cl B3) 1/80 blast of air at a pressure greater than ambient against [58] Fie'ld 53 BF an end of the carton to partially erect the same while 93/53 LP SD 49 84 i 84 being conveyed; structure opposing the air blast; 53/l83 88 structure in spaced relationship to the conveyor and in increasing spaced relationship thereto to accommodate the erecting movement and to prevent [56] References cued dislodgement of the partly erected blank by the air UNITED STATES PATENTS blast; and structure for trapping and removing the erected carton. 3,682,052 8/1972 Vuilleumeir et a1. ..93/53 R 2,541,607 2/1951 Piazze ..93/53 R 12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDAPR24I975 I r v Q 3.728 945 I SHEET 1 [IF 2 v INVENTOR ATTORNEYS 'RALPH O-vUlLLEUMlER APPARATUS FOR ERECTING CARTONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for erecting cartons from the flattened condition thereof. The structure according to the present invention comprehends the use of a blast of air directed against an end of a flattened folded carton, the individual blank being conveyed at regularly spaced intervals past the structure providing the blast of air. While being so conveyed, the partial erection takes place, the completion of the erecting operation taking place on a second conveyer structure having carton engaging lugs mounted on orbitally movable members which trap an individual carton therebetween in an erected position.

2. The Prior Art The prior art has disclosed structure for erecting a flattened bag made of film material for the subsequent placement in the erected bag of an elongate article such as a bread loaf or the like. Jarund U.S. Pat. No. 3,367,087 is an example of structure illustrating such practice. The prior art is also found with examples whereby a bag is partially inflated and subsequently filled with an article of commerce. Messmer U.S. Pat. No. 3,197,936 and Cloud et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,269,087 are examples of patents illustrating such structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The structure according to the present invention makes it possible to feed a flattened carton along an endless orbitally movable conveyer past a plenum source directing a blast of air against one end of the flattened carton to partially erect the same. The blast of air from the plenum may be opposed by a baffle or abutment extending along an opposite side of the conveyer and maintaining the pressure within the flattened carton at a value greater than the ambient. Devices are provided in spaced relationship to the conveying means, these devices gradually changing in distance therefrom, to accommodate the erecting movement of the individual carton.

The cartons which have been partially erected by the air current are trapped between lugs of a second conveyer. The lugs thereof have a pitch distance substantially equal to the greatest transverse dimension of the carton.

In another embodiment of the invention structure may be employed for folding the closure flaps at one 'end of the carton at right angles to the plane of the side and main panels, the partially erected carton moving past an abutment plate to prevent the escape of air employed for the erecting process.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view showing carton erecting apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevational view of structure for conveying the cartons in the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic isometric view showing another form of apparatus according to the present invention.

The improved apparatus for erecting cartons is denoted generally by the reference numeral and includes a hopper H for holding a stack of flattened cartons B therein. The lowermost carton of the stack is adapted to be engaged at the trailing edge thereof, and to be removed therefrom to move along a conveying reach CR including a pair of laterally spaced orbitally movable sprocket chains 12 each of which is trained about a tail idler sprocket 13A mounted on an idler shaft 13C, and about other idler sprockets 15A, see FIG. 2. The sprocket chains are moved by driving sprockets, not seen in FIG. 2.

Laterally spaced pick-off lugs 14 are regularly spaced along the orbitally movable sprocket chains 12 and are arranged to remove the bottommost carton from the stack thereof. The precise details of the pickoff lugs 14 form no part of the present invention, but it may be noted that the spacing thereof along the sprocket chains 12 is greater than the width of a main panel MP plus a side panel SP of the flattened carton B.

As the cartons move with the orbitally movable chains 12, they move past a plenum P located to one side of the conveying reach CR. Plenum P supplies a blast of air at a pressure greater than that of the ambient to cause the opposed main panels MP of the carton B to separate from each other and partially erect the same. It may be noted that the cross-sectional area of plenum P is somewhat larger than the transferse cross section of the cartons B being erected. It may also be noted that the dimension of plenum P along the conveying reach CR is at least equal to the dimension of the carton B in the flattened condition thereof, and about equal to the pitch distance between lugs 14. The height of plenum P is not as critical, but probably should not be less than three-fourths of the width of a side panel SP, and may be considerably higher if desired.

In order to prevent the blast of air from blowing the carton B from the conveying reach CR, hold-down rails R are disposed in spaced overlying relationship to the conveying reach CR, the spacing from the conveyer reach CR increasing gradually as the cartons move along the conveying reach CR.

In order to maintain the pressure within the partly erected blank B at a value to maintain the partly erected condition thereof, the blast from the plenum P may be opposed by a blast of air from an opposite plenum OP disposed at the opposite side of the conveying reach CR in directly opposed relationship to the plenum P.

Alternately, and to maintain the pressure within the partly erected carton, an abutment plate AP may be disposed at an opposite side of the conveyer reach CR, abutment plate AP contacting the edges of end flaps EF of the carton, thereby trapping air at a pressure greater than ambient within the partly erected carton.

In order to complete the erection of the carton and to cause the same to have a rectangular configuration in cross section, the partly erected cartons B are trapped between elements movable with a second conveyer structure, such elements being spaced along said second conveyer structure by a pitch distance substantially equal to the width of the main panels MP of the carton.

As seen particularly in FIG. 2, there is provided a second endless conveyor 16 for a pair of laterally spaced sprockets 17 mounted on an idler shaftI7A,

there being an endless sprocket chain 18 trained about each sprocket 17 and about a driving sprocket, not shown, at this discharge end of the apparatus 10. Laterally spaced lugs 19 are mounted on the spaced sProcket chain l8, the pitch distance between the lugs 19 being equal to or slightly greater than the width of the main panels MP, the movement of the lugs 19 being such as to trap the blank B therebetween and to complete the erection thereof, as seen more clearly in FIG. 2.

It may be noted by reference to FIG. 2 that the lugs 14 mounted on the sprocket chains 12 are trained in such a fashion that they move out of the plane of the conveying reach CR after the trapping lugs 19 move upward and through the conveying reach CR. The blank is thereby disengaged from the lugs 14, and the trapping lugs 19 are in engagement with the trailing edge of the partly erected blank. By reason of the pitch distance between the lugs 19 being equal to the width of main panel MP, and by reason of the height of lugs 19, the carton assumes a rectangular shape in cross section.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown another form of structure for achieving the erection of the cartons B, the structure seen in FIG. 3, including the plenum P for supplying a blast of air at a pressure greater than ambient. The cartons B seen in FIG. 3 have end flaps EF of a type not being readily sealed against the abutment plate AP of FIG. 1 and accordingly a plow PL is provided to fold the end flaps EF at right angles to the main panel MP and the side panel SP, the plow PL also operating to provide resistance to the blast of air in the plenum P.

It may be noted that the apparatus disclosed consists of a conveyer having a horizontal conveying reach with air erecting means mounted for operation in a horizontal direction. It is within the scope of the invention to provide a conveying reach cooperating with vertical air erecting means and vertically standing carton blanks.

I claim:

1. In a machine for erecting carton sleeves from a flattened condition thereof:

a. first endless conveyer means for moving flattened individual cartons at regular intervals by engagement of a carton at a trailing edge thereof;

b. plenum means extending along one side of said first conveyer means with an opening therein directed against the end of a carton sleeve for applying a blast of air under pressure greater than ambient to partially erect said carton sleeve while the same is conveyed along said conveying means;

c. said plenum means having a dimension along said conveyer means at least equal to the dimension of said carton sleeve in the flattened condition thereof;

d. means extending along an opposite side of said first conveyer means and disposed with reference to an opposite end of said carton sleeve in opposition to said blast of air to minimize loss of pressure above ambient of said blast therewithin;

e. means extending in increasing spaced relation to the conveyer means to accommodate the erecting movement of said cartons as they are conveyed along said first conveyer means and to prevent dislodgement of individual partly erected cartons from said first conveyor means by said blast of air;

f. other means including regularly spaced means thereon to trap an erected carton sleeve therebetween to complete the erection thereof.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said first conveyer means is provided with carton engaging lugs having a pitch distance greater than the combined width of a main panel and a side panel of said carton sleeve, and wherein said other means includes trapping lugs having a pitch distance equal to the width of a main panel.

3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein said trapping lugs extend along the side panels of the erected carton sleeve to maintain the erected carton sleeve with a rectangular cross section.

4. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said other means includes a second conveyer having an orbitally movable strand, and wherein the means thereon includes trapping lugs engaging side walls of an erected carton sleeve.

5. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said first endless conveyer means and said other means move along a conveying reach, and wherein said first conveyer means is provided with regularly spaced carton sleeve engaging lugs thereon which move out of the plane of said reach as said other means engages a carton sleeve for erecting movement thereby.

6. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the means extending along the opposite side of said conveyer means includes an abutment plate contacting the opposite end of said carton to trap air therein to erect said carton sleeve.

7. In a conveyer for erecting cartons from a flattened condition thereof:

. means disposed to one side of said first conveyer means with an opening therein directed against the end of a carton for applying a blast of air under pressure greater than ambient to partially erect said carton while the same is conveyed along said conveying means;

. means extending along an opposite side of said first conveyer means and disposed wIth reference to an Opposite end of said carton in opposition to said blast of air to minimize loss of pressure above ambient of said blast within said carton;

. means extending along said conveyer means in increasing spaced relationship to the conveyer means to accommodate the erecting movement of said cartons as they are conveyed along said first conveyer means and to prevent dislodgement of individual partly erected cartons from said first conveyer means by said blast of air;

e. other means including regularly spaced means thereon to trap an erected carton therebetween to complete the erection thereof.

8. A machine according to claim 7 wherein said first conveyer means iS provided with cartonengaging lugs having a pitch distance greater than the combined width of a main panel and a side panel of said carton, and wherein said other means includes trapping lugs having a pitch distance equal to the width of a main panel.

move along a conveying reach, and wherein said first conveyer means is provided with regularly spaced carton engaging lugs thereon which move out of the plane of said reach as said other means engages a carton for erected movement thereby.

12. A machine according to claim 7 wherein the means extending along the opposite side of said conveyer means includes an abutment plate contacting the opposite end of said carton to trap air therein to erect said carton.

Claims

1. In a machine for erecting carton sleeves from a flattened condition thereof: a. first endless conveyer means for moving flattened individual cartons at regular intervals by engagement of a carton at a trailing edge thereof; b. plenum means extending along one side of said first conveyer means with an opening therein directed against the end of a carton sleeve for applying a blast of air under pressure greater than ambient to partially erect said carton sleeve while the same is conveyed along said conveying means; c. said plenum means having a dimension along said conveyer means at least equal to the dimension of said carton sleeve in the flattened condition thereof; d. means extending along an opposite side of said first conveyer means and disposed with reference to an opposite end of said carton sleeve in opposition to said blast of air to minimize loss of pressure above ambient of said blast therewithin; e. means extending in increasing spaced relation to the conveyer means to accommodate the erecting movement of said cartons as they are conveyed along said first conveyer means and to prevent dislodgement of individual partly erected cartons from said first conveyor means by said blast of air; f. other means including regularly spaced means thereon to trap an erected carton sleeve therebetween to complete the erection thereof.

7. In a conveyer for erecting cartons from a flattened condition thereof: a. first endless conveyer means for moving flattened individual cartons at regular intervals by engagement of a carton at a trailing edge thereof; b. means disposed to one side of said first conveyer means with an opening therein directed against the end of a carton for applying a blast of air under pressure greater than ambient to partially erect said carton while the same is conveyed along said conveying means; c. means extending along an opposite side of said first conveyer means and disposed wIth reference to an Opposite end of said carton in opposition to said blast of air to minimize loss of pressure above ambient of said blast within said carton; d. means extending along said conveyer means in increasing spaced relationship to the conveyer means to accommodate the erecting movement of said cartons as they are conveyed along said first conveyer means and to prevent dislodgement of individual partly erected cartons from said first conveyer means by said blast of air; e. other means including regularly spaced means thereon to trap an erected carton therebetween to complete the erection thereof.

8. A machine according to claim 7 wherein said first conveyer means iS provided with carton engaging lugs having a pitch distance greater than the combined width of a main panel and a side panel of said carton, and wherein said other means includes trapping lugs having a pitch distance equal to the width of a main panel.

9. A machine according to claim 8 wherein said trapping lugs extend along the side panels of the erected carton to maintain the erected carton with a rectangular cross section.

10. A machine according to claim 7 wherein said other means includes a second conveyer having an orbitally movable strand, and wherein the means thereon includes trapping lugs engaging side walls of an erected carton.

11. A machine according to claim 10 wherein said first endless conveyer means and said other means move along a conveying reach, and wherein said first conveyer means is provided with regularly spaced carton engaging lugs thereon which move out of the plane of said reach as said other means engages a carton for erected movement thereby.