US3748972A

US3748972A - Method and apparatus for erecting and bottom sealing cartons

Info

Publication number: US3748972A
Application number: US00194642A
Authority: US
Inventors: B Barton
Original assignee: Newfrey LLC
Current assignee: Newfrey LLC; New Standard Knapp Inc
Priority date: 1971-11-01
Filing date: 1971-11-01
Publication date: 1973-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-31
Also published as: DE2253240B2; JPS4853893A; CA982860A; BR7207658D0; GB1388329A; DE2253240A1; JPS5326545B2

Abstract

Flat carton blanks having front and rear pairs of side panels, each panel having an associated top and bottom flap, are stored on edge in a magazine. The endmost blank is fed from the magazine in its own plane to a folding station, thence to an erection station, and finally through a gluing station to a compression station. The folding station has upper and lower pivoted plows for folding the top and bottom flaps respectively to the same side of the plane defined by the flat carton blank. Certain of these flaps are subsequently folded back through this plane so that the flaps project from the carton in both directions. One of the bottom flaps is left folded to its ''''wrong'''' side and this particular flap is used to erect the carton at the erection station.

Description

United States Patent 1 Barton July 31, 1973 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ERECTING AND BOTTOM SEALING CARTONS Inventor: Bruce H. Barton, South Windsor,

Conn.

Assignee: Emhart Corporation, Bloomfield,

Conn.

Filed: Nov. 1, 1971 Appl. No.: 194,642

U.S. Cl. 93/53 M, 933/53 R, 93/53 SD Int. Cl B311) 5/02 Field of Search 93/53 M, 53 BF, 53 SD,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1963 Salwasser et al. 93/53 R 9/1971 Allen 93/53 R 1/1969 Pearson 93/53 SD X FOLDING 38 STATION MAGAZINE Primary ExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz Assistant ExaminerJames F. Coan Attorney.|ohn C. Hilton et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Flat carton blanks having front and rear pairs of side panels, each panel having an associated top and bottom flap, are stored on edge in a magazine. The endmost blank is fed from the magazine in its own plane to a folding station, thence to an erection station, and Finally through a gluing station to a compression station. The folding station has upper and lower pivoted plows for folding the top and bottom flaps respectively to the same side of the plane defined by the flat carton blank. Certain of these flaps are subsequently folded back through this plane so that the flaps project from the carton in both directions. One of the bottom flaps is left folded to its wrong side and this particular flap is used to erect the carton at the erection station.

19 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures GLUING STATION I28 ERECTION STATION COMPRESSION STATION PAIENIEU JUL3 1 ma SHEEI 1 [IF 7 PATENIED M3 1 SHEU 3 OF 7 PATENIED 1 973 saw u or 1 m N QE PATENIED JUL3 1 I975 sum 1 or 7 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ERECTING AND BOTTOM SEALING CARTONS SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for erecting and bottom sealing cartons of the type having interconnected top flaps. More particularly, an apparatus and method is disclosed, having particular usefulness for erecting such cartons, although the apparatus could be adapted for use in erecting conventional cartons from the flat. The purpose of the interconnected top flaps is to prevent such flaps from interfering with subsequent filling of the carton. When the top flaps have been folded back against the sides of the carton blank, and the carton blank subsequently expanded, these top flaps cannot protrude outwardly from the carton side walls but remain adjacent to the side walls or panels during the erection and subsequent filling of the carton. These interconnected top flaps can be cut at some later time to release them for gluing, after filling of the carton.

A method and apparatus is disclosed for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the flat, said cartons having front and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines, and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap connected to its associated side panel on secondary fold lines. While the top flaps may be interconnected as described above, all of these panels and flaps are arranged in a common plan when the carton is in its flat configuration. The flat cartons are stored in a magazine from which the endmost carton can be fed in its own plane to a folding station. At this folding station the bottom and top flaps are folded in the same direction, and through a substantial angle, out of the plane of the side panels so that the carton initially assumes a generally U-shaped configuration with the top and bottom flaps comprising the legs of the U and side panels comprising the base of the U. The top and bottom flaps of the front side panels are thereafter folded back through this plane and through a substantial angle in the opposite direction to provide a carton which has a generally I- shaped cross section. However, at least one of the bottom flaps, associated with one of the front side panels, is left in its initially folded condition, that is to the wrong side, in order to provide a convenient attachment point for mechanism for erecting the carton. The carton is then fed to an erection station where this particular bottom flap is grasped by a vacuum device, and swung through 90, about anaxis coincident with one of the primary fold lines of the carton blank so as to erect the carton. The bottom flap associated with the other front side panel, opposite the last mentioned bottom flap used to erect the carton, is tucked under as the erected carton is again fed downstream. Glue is applied to the projecting bottom flaps assocaited with opposite side panels as the carton is fed through a glue station. The top flaps are interconnected, and will have been previously plowed down adjacent the side panels and these top flaps remain in this position during the erection process as described above. The glued bottom flaps are then folded inwardly under the bottom flaps or glue. The carton is thereby rendered ready for the filling process, with the top flaps held in position by the interconnected top flaps described above.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for erecting and gluing up cartons of the type described above, which apparatus is capable of operating at relatively high speeds so as to handle cartons for loading in a modern bottling plant or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus and method which takes peculiar advantage of quick setting glue by the application of pressure to the bottom flaps for only a short period of time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1, comprising FIGS. 1A and 1B, is an overall elevational view of the machine showing the magazine, the folding station, the erection station, the gluing station and the compression station with the drive means associated particularly with the magazine the folding station erection station and the gluing station.

FIG. 2, comprising FIGS. 2A and 2B, is an overall plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the configuration of the carton as it passes through the machine, with certain carton engaging components of the apparatus being shown in schematic fashion.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view taken at the folding station illustrating the configuration of the carton blank just prior to the folding operation.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating the carton blank at a slightly latter instant of time, and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrating the carton ready to leave the folding station.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the lower portion of the folding station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 3 best illustrates the overall functional concept of the machine components. As shown in magazine is provided at one end of the machine, in which a plurality of carton blanks C, C are provided in stacked relationship, being mounted on edge and supported by three

feed screws

10, 12 and 14. The feed screws move the carton blanks in the direction of the arrow 16, and also urge the carton blanks toward a fixed guide 18 provided for this purpose at one side of the magazine.

Means is provided for rotating these leadscrews l0, l2 and 14, and as best shown in FIG. 2A said means includes a series of belt driven sprockets, indicated generally at 20 arranged one on each of the far ends of the

lead screws

10, 12 and 14. The sprockets 20 are driven from the belt 22 which in turn is driven through a shaft 24, which shaft is in turn chain driven from a gear box 30, which gear box is in turn driven from the motor M. The gear box 30 also drives a chain 32 associated with driving other components of the machine to be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 3 an air cylinder 34 is provided with a device 36 for stripping the endmost carton from the stack of cartons in the magazine so that each carton is entered between driven rolls, indicated generally at 38, so as to be fired at relatively high speed against a stop 41. These continuously driven rolls 38 are journalled at either end in fixed structure of the apparatus, and as best shown in FIG. 1A, drive means 42 is provided below the magazine for rotating said rolls.

The stop 41 for interripting downstream movement of the carton blank C comprises an air cylinder 41 which has its movable part adapted for extension into the path of movement of the flat blank. A cantilevered flight bar best shown in FIG. 2A is continuously driven so that it runs through an inactive portion of its cycle between the position shown in FIG. 3, and a position at the upstream edge of the carton at the folding station where it will then move through its active cycle to advance the carton from the folding station to an erection station to be described. This flight bar 40 is shown in FIG. 2A at this upstream position, and is supported by two runs of two

chain conveyors

44, 44 for movement in the active direction, and for return movement out of the path of movement of the cartons.

Prior to describing the apparatus and means for folding the flaps of the carton blank at the folding station, the configuration of the carton blank itself will be discussed. The carton blank is of conventional construction, and comprises a pair of front side panels, A and B, which are intergrally connected to one another on a primary fold line 50 preformed in the carton blank before it is inserted in the magazine. Two similar, but oppositely arranged rear side panels C and D, are provided on the back side of the prefolded carton blank, and these rear side panels C and D are also connected an associated primary fold line (not shown]. Further fold lines are provided between the front and. rear side panels, A and D respectively, and between the side panels B and C, and these latter fold lines will be referred to as the leading and trailing edges respectively of the carton blank C shown at the folding station in FIG. 3.

Each of the side panels A, B, C and D has associated therewith a pair of end flaps, which will be referred to herein as top and bottom flaps, E and F respectively, for the side panel A, and top and bottom flaps G and H for the side panel B. Top and bottom flaps L and M are carried by the side panel D, and J and K for the side panel C. These top and bottom flaps, E through M inclusively, are connected to the associated side panels by secondary fold lines, as indicated generally at 52 and S4 for example. Thus, the carton blanks are prefolded and prescored to permit them to be readily erected for use. It should be noted that the top flaps E, G, J and L are connected to one another by interconnecting tabs, as indicated generally at 56, so as to keep these top flaps in position during the erection process.

As mentioned above the cantilevered flight bar 40 is continuously driven in the directions described above with reference to FIG. 2A, and said bar 40 provides a means for advancing the carton from the folding station to the erection station. The carton is held at the folding station by fixed guide rails, best shown at 43 and 45 in FIG. 4., and is folded into the configuration shown at 100 in FIG. 3 by carton folding means, which means is best shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 and serves to fold all of the top and bottom flaps, E through M, in the same general direction and through a substantial angle, preferably on the order of 90, so that the initially flat carton assumes a generally U-shape as suggested in FIGS. 4 and 5, and more particularly so that upper and lower portions of the carton are bent respectively into generally L-shaped configurations by upper and lower carton folding means, 60 and 70 respectively.

The upper carton folding means 60 comprises a plow 61 mounted on depending arms, 62 and 64, the upper ends of which arms are journaled on a rock shaft 66 best shown in FIG. 1A carried in the fixed frame of the machine and oscillated to and from, or through the positions shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 to accomplish the desired motion of the plow 61. The upper carton folding plow 61 is thus adapted for transverse movement across the plane defined by the initially adjacent side panels A, B, C and D of the flat carton blank, first in one direction, as shown in FIG. 5, so as to fold all of the top flaps E, G, J and L in one direction, and to subsequently fold the top panels E and G, associated with the front side panels A and B, back through the above described plane of the side panels as the plow 61 returns in the opposite direction as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. More particularly, the plow 61 serves to fold all the top flaps E, G, .I and L rearwardly and a vacuum device 68 then grips the lowermost top flap J to hold it, and the other top flap L which is connected thereto by means of the connecting tab 56, in the L-shaped configuration depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6. As the two top flaps G and E spring back toward their original vertical orientation, when the plow 61 clears the ends thereof, return movement of said plow 61 serves to continue folding these flaps G and E toward the FIG. 6 position wherein the carton blank assumes a generally I-shaped configuration with the top flaps projecting laterally outwardly from the plane of the side panels A, B, C and D.

The vacuum device 68 comprises an evacuated chamber with a perforated upper side wall which can be evacuated so as to hold the top flaps J and L in the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The top flap folding means 60 also includes an elongated L-shaped guide 63, which will continue to hold the top flaps J and L even when the evacuated chamber is vented to atmosphere prior to moving the carton downstream.

The bottom flaps, F, Hand K, M, are folded in a substantially similar fashion by the movable plow means 70, but for the fact that one bottom flap H is left folded to the wrong side in order to provide a convenient means for erecting the carton at the erection station. More particularly, the lower plow means 70 is rotatably supported for oscillatory movement about a rock shaft (not shown) substantially similar to the shaft 66 described above. The lower plow means comprises a lower plow 71 supported by crank

arms

72, 72 for movement about the rock shaft axis from and to the positions shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The plow 71 is adapted to engage all of the bottom flaps and to move them from their initial position, shown in FIG. 4 to a generally L-shaped configuration wherein all of these bottom flaps project rearwardly at a substantial angle. The plow 71 then moves past the free edges of these bottom flaps, and a vacuum device 78 holds the-bottom flap M in the FIG. 5 position while the bottom flap F springs back toward the vertical. The vacuum device includes a fixed housing 78 provided with'a lower wall which is adapted to be selectively evacuated so as to support the bottom flap M associated with the rear side panels C and D in this folded position. A fixed lower guide 45 is provided for supporting the lower portion of the carton blank during the folding movement of the lower plow 71.

The lower plow means 70 also includes a second movable plow 75 supported on an arm 76, which arm is in turn carried on a rock shaft (not shown) other than the rock shaft which carries the

arms

72 and 74. Thus, the second plow 75 is adapted to being oscillated through an angular displacement which is retarded slightly with respect to the plow 71. This configuration allows all the bottom flaps to be folded initially by the plow 71, including flaps H and K; but, as the plow 71 releases these flaps by traveling past their free edges as described above, the second plow 74 holds the lowermost bottom flap H and the adjacent flap K, as best shown in FIG. 5, allowing only bottom flap F to be released as described above. This second plow 74 remains in position for so supporting bottom flaps H and K wile plow 71 returns to fold bottom flap F to the right side, as best shown in FIG. 6. The

vacuum devices

68 and 78 can now be released and the carton adequately supported for transfer to the erection station. In this connection, it should be noted that the initially flat carton blank is supported at the folding station on shelf means comprising a ledge 77 which ledge is itself movable as a result of being carried on supports 79 welded to an L-shaped guide 73. The guide surface 73 is similar to the guide 63 referred to above and supports the folded bottom flaps as the blank leaves the folding station.

As mentioned above, the flight bar 40 serves to feed the carton blank, in the I-shaped configuration shown at 100 in FIG. 3, from the folding station to the erection station. At the erection station a fixed housing, including a perforated bottom wall, is provided for engaging the rear flap K of the carton blank in order to hold the carton blank in place at the erection station. This vacuum device is shown generally at 102 in FIG. 3. A fixed guide 104 is also provided at the erection station in conjunction with a pivoted guide 106, located in spaced generally parallel relation to the fixed guide 104, to fold the laterally projecting top flaps E, G, J and L downwardly from their projecting positions, shown at 100, to positions where they overlie the outsides of the side panels A, B, C and D respectively. The guide 104 is fixed in the frame of the machine, whereas the guide 106 is mounted on a crank arm structure 108, which crank arm structure is generally U-shaped in configuration including

parallel links

110 and 114, and connecting link 112 as best shown in FIGS., 1A and 2A. It should be noted that the lower crank arm 114 is journaled on a rock shaft 116, which rock shaft is adapted to being oscillated between the position shown in FIG. 3 and that shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A, by mechanism, indicated generally at 118, in timed operation with other components of the machine. It is further noted that the axis of rotation of the rock shaft 116 is provided in accurately aligned relationship with the trailing edge of the carton as defined by the primary fold line which is the connection between the side panels B and C.

Still-with reference to the rock shaft 116 and to the lower crank arm 114 associated therewith, vacuum means 120 is also provided on the crank arm 114 for grasping the bottom flap H from underneath so as to swing this flap H about an axis coinciding with the primary fold line referred to above, and to erect the carton on the deadplate 122 provided for this purpose at the erection station. The vacuum device 120 is provided with vacuum pressure when needed so as to engage the underside of the bottom flap H when a carton is positioned as shown in FIG. 3 and to swing the carton from its partially folded condition, as there shown, to

its erected condition, as indicated generally at 1.22 in FIG. 3. The deadplate is provided with a cutout'l24 to give adequate clearance for the U-shaped structure during this swinging movement of this vacuum device 120.

When the carton blank has been erected to the condition shown at 122 in FIG. 3, a flight bar 126, provided cantilevered fashion on the flight bar conveyor 128, will have arrived at a position for engaging the side panel B of the erected carton to advance said erected carton downstream through the gluing station and finally to a compression station. As the erected carton moves across the deadplate the bottom flap M, associated with the side panel D of the carton, will be engaged by a flap tucking device, indicated generally at 132 in FIGS. 1B and 2B. This flap tucking device 132 includes a finger 134 which carries a cam follower operated by a cam 136, so as to be raised and lowered in timed relationship with movement of the'flight bar 126 and hence of the erected carton in order to tuck the bottom flap M downwardly into a closed position corresponding to that of the bottom flap H. The said flap 1-1 will have been prepositioned as a result of erecting the case. The case at the gluing station in FIG. 3 is so configurated while the flap M night be left in position for being prepositioned in the same manner as that of the flap H, it has been found that in erecting certain types of cartons interference results when both bottom flaps are prepositioned in this manner, hence the requirement for the flap tucker 132.

Continued downstream movement of the erected carton through a gluing station in timed operation with segmented glue rolls, indicated generally at 138, causes strips of quick set glue or other adhesive to be layed on the exposed underside of the unfolded bottom flaps F and K. Finally, fixed plows downstream of the gluding station are adapted to engage these projecting bottom flaps F and K to fold these glued bottom flaps downwardly and inwardly and then upwardly against the previously folded bottom flaps H and M to provide an upwardly open backing case to the compression station.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B, a compression station is provided at the downstream end of the machine, at which station a vertically reciprocable plunger 142, having a platform or the like at its lower end, and operated through a crank arm '144 through the air cylinder 146, is provided for compressing the bottom flaps against a platen therebetween to set the adhesive. The plunger 142 drops momentarily into the upwardly open packing case after it has been deposited on the platen, provided for this purpose at the downstream end of the machine, and after the flight bar 126 has relinquished control of the case. After the bottom flaps have been compressed the plunger is raised, and the next succeeding case formed by the apparatus described above displaces the compressed case downstream on the ways 148 and the plunger 142 compresses the next succeeding case.

As described above the upwardly open packing case is thus conveniently configured for filling, the interconnecting

tabs

56, 56 holding the top flaps E, G, J and L in the position shown at 150 in FIG. 3 during the filling operation. Once the case has been filled, these tabs can be readily severed to allow the top flaps to be folded over the case in a conventional fashion.

I claim:

l. in an apparatus for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the flat, said cartons having front and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap also connected thereto on secondary fold lines, all of these panels and flaps being arranged in a common plane when said carton is in its flat configuration, the improvement comprising:

a. means for storing a stack of such flat cartons,

b. means for withdrawing the endmost carton from the stack and feeding it to a folding station,

0. lower carton folding means at said folding station for folding said bottom flaps in the same direction and through a substantial angle so that the initially flat carton assumes a generally L-shaped configuration,

d. means for retaining at least one of said bottom flaps in said L-shaped configuration,

e. means for folding at least one other bottom flap back through the plane defined by said side panels and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite to that of said lower carton folding means,

f. means for feeding the partially folded carton from said folding station downstream to an erection station,

g. vacuum means for grasping at least one of the bottom flaps oriented at a substantial angle to the plane of said side panels, and

b. means for swinging said vacuum means about an axis coinciding with one of said primary fold lines to erect the carton.

2. In an apparatus for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the flat, said cartons having front and and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap also connected thereto on secondary fold lines, all of these panels and flaps being arranged in a common plane when said carton is in its flat configuration, the improvement comprising:

a. means for storing a stack of such flat cartons,

c. lower carton folding means at said folding station for folding said bottom flaps in the same direction and through a substantial angle so that the initially flat carton assumes a generally L-shaped configuration,

f. upper carton folding means for folding said top flaps through a substantial angle and in the same direction so that the initially flat carton has an L- shaped configuration for its upper portion as well as for its lower portion at said folding station,

g. means for retaining at least one of said top flaps in said L-shaped configuration,

h. means for folding at least one other top flap back through the plane defined by said side panels and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite to that of said upper carton folding means,

i. means for feeding the partially folded carton from said folding station downstream to an erection station,

j. a deadplate at said erection station for holding said bottom flaps in their partially folded positions,

. k. top flap engaging means at said erection station for folding said top flaps downwardly against their associated side panels as said partially folded carton reaches said erection station.

3. The combination recited in claim 2 further characterized by vacuum means for grasping at least one of the bottom flaps oriented at a substantial angle to the plane of said side panels, and means for swinging said vacuum means about an axis coinciding with one of said primary fold lines to erect the carton on said deadplate.

4. In an apparatus for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the flat, said cartons having front and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap also connected thereto on secondary fold lines, all of these panels and flaps being arranged in a common plane when said carton is in its flat configuration, the improvement comprising:

a. means for storing a stack of such flat cartons,

f. said lower carton folding means comprising lower plow means movable transversely across the plane of said side panels in one direction past the free edges of said bottom flaps to first fold ail of said bottom flaps as aforesaid, and

g. said lower plow means having a second plow portion which is not movable beyond at least one of said bottom flaps so as to hold said one bottom flap to said one side of said plane, and

h. said plow means causing at least one of said bottom flaps to return in a direction opposite said one direction during return movement.

5. in an apparatus for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the flat, said cartons having from and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap also connected thereto on secondary fold lines, all of these panels and flaps being arranged in a common plane when said carton is in its flat configuration, the improvement'comprising:

a. means for storing a stack of such flat cartons,

(1. means for retaining at least one of said bottom flaps in said L-shaped configuration,

i. said lower carton folding means comprises lower plow means movable transversely across the plane of said side panels in one direction past the free edges of said bottom flaps to first fold all of said bottom flaps as aforesaid, and

j. said lower plow means having a second plow portion which is not movable beyond at least one of said bottom flaps so as to hold said one bottom flap to said one side of said plane, and

k. said plow means causing at least one of said bottom flaps to return in a direction opposite said one direction during return movement.

6. The combination recited in claim wherein said upper carton folding means comprises upper plow means movable transversely across the plane of said side panels in one direction to first fold all of said top flaps as aforesaid, and said upper plow means being movable beyond the free edges of said top flaps so as to fold at least one of them back through said plane when said upper plow means returns in a direction opposite said one direction.

7. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein said means for retaining at least one of said bottom flaps at said folding station comprises a movable shelf with an attached ledge for supporting the initially flat carton blank as said blank enters the folding station, said shelf including a guide surface to support the folded bottom flap as the carton leaves the folding station, and a housing with a lower wall which can be selectively evacuated to retain at least one bottom flap during the folding of said bottom flaps.

8. The combination recited in claim 6 wherein said means for retaining at least one of said bottom flaps at said folding station comprises a fixed lower housing having a lower wall which can be selectively evacuated to retain at least one bottom flap, said means for retaining at least one of said top flaps at said folding station comprising a fixed upper housing located generally above said lower housing, said upper housing having an upper wall which is selectively evacuated to retain said one top flap at said folding station.

9. The combination recited in claim 8 further characterized by vacuum means at said erection station for grasping said one from side panel bottom flap which is folded just below said rear side panel bottom flap, and means for swinging said vacuum means about an axis coinciding with one of said primary fold lines to erect the carton on said deadplate.

10. The combination recited in claim 9 further characterized by bottom flap tucking means located downstream of said erection station, and means for moving the erected carton from said erection station through a glue station downstream thereof, said tucking means serving to close the bottom flap opposite said one front side panel bottom flap as the erected carton moves from said erection station to said gluing station.

11. The combination recited in claim 10 wherein said glue station comprises segmented glue rolls arranged in spaced sets to apply strips of glue to the underside of the remaining two projecting bottom flaps as the erected carton is moved continuously through said glue station, and fixed plow means downstream of the glue station to fold said remaining two projecting bottom flaps and to form a bottom for the erected carton.

12. The combination recited in claim 8 wherein said second portion of said lower carton folding means moves with said bottom flap folding plow in said one direction but trails said plow, and wherein said second portion remains stationary at least momentarily to support said one bottom flap as aforesaid even as said plow returns in said opposite direction to refold said at least one bottom flap as aforesaid.

13. A method for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the fiat, said cartons having front and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap connected to its associated side panel on secondary fold lines, all of these panels and flaps being arranged in a common plane when the carton is in its flat configuration, said method comprising the successive steps of:

a. folding said bottom flaps in the same direction and through a substantial angle out of the plane of said side panels so that a lower portion of the initially flat carton assumes a generally L-shaped configuration, I

b. holding at least one of said bottom flaps in said L- shaped configuration,

c. folding at least one other bottom flap back through the plane defined by said side panels and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite said directon of folding referred to in step (a) above,

(1. grasping one of the bottom flaps oriented at a substantial angle to the plane of said side panels, and

e. swinging the flap so grasped about an axis coincident with one of said primary fold lines, through to erect the carton.

14. A method for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the flat, said cartons having front and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap connected to its associated side panel on secondary fold lines, all of these panels and flaps being arranged in a common plane when the carton is in its fiat configuration, said method comprising the successive steps of:

a. folding said bottom flaps in the same direction and through a substantial angle out of the plane of said side panels so that a lower portion of the initially flat carton assumes a generally L-shaped configuration,

b. holding at least one of said bottom flaps in said L- shaped configuration,

0. folding at least one other bottom flap back through the plane defined by said side panels and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite said direction of folding referred to in step (a) above,

d. folding the top flaps through a substantial angle and in the same direction so that an upper portion of the initially flat carton assumes an L-shaped configuration,

e. holding at least one of said top flaps in said L- shaped configuration,

f. folding at least one other top flap back through the plane defined by said side panel and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite said direction referred to in step (d) above,

g. grasping one of the bottom flaps oriented at a substantial angle to the plane of said side panels, and

h. swinging the flap so grasped about an axis coincident with one of said primary fold lines, through 90,to erect the carton.

15. In an apparatus for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the flat, said cartons having from and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap also connected thereto on secondary fold lines, all of these panels and flaps being arranged in a common plane when said carton is in its flat configuration, the improvement comprising:

a. means for storing a stack of such flat cartons,

c. lower carton folding means at said folding station for folding said bottom flaps in the same direction and through a substantial angle so that the intially flat carton assumes a generally L-shaped configuration,

g. means for holding one of said rear panels and its associated bottom flap at said erection station, and

h. means for swinging one of said front panels and its associated bottom flap on an axis coincident with one of said primary fold lines to erect the carton.

16. The combination recited in claim 15 further characterized by a deadplate at said erection station for holding said bottom flaps in their partially folded positions during said swinging motion of said front panel and its associated bottom flap.

17. The combination recited in claim 16 further characterized by bottom flap tucking means located downstream of said erection station, and means for moving the erected carton from said erection station through a glue station downstream thereof, said tucking means serving to close the bottom flap opposite said one front side panel bottom flap as the erected carton moves from said erection station to said gluing'station.

18. The combination recited in claim 17 wherein said glue station comprises segmented glue rolls arranged in spaced sets to apply strips of glue to the underside of the remaining two projecting bottom flaps as the erected carton is moved continuously through said glue station, and fixed plow means downstream of the glue station to fold said remaining two projecting bottom flaps and to form a bottom for the erected carton.

19. A method for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the flat, said cartons having front and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap connected to its associated side panel on secondary fold lines, allof these panels and flaps being arranged in a common plane when the carton is in its fiat configuration, said method comprising the successive steps of:

b. holding at least one of said bottom flaps in said L- shaped configuration,

c. folding at least one other bottom flap back through the plane defined by said side panels and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite said direction of folding referred to in step (a) above,

d. holding one of said rear panels and its associated bottom flap,

e. swinging one of said front panels and its associated bottom flap on an axis coincident with one of said primary fold lines to erect the carton.

Patent No. I

fiERTEFiCATE GE? CQERECTIGN.

Dated Jul 31 1973 Inventor(s) Bruce H. Barton It is certified that error appears in tHebove-identified patent and that said Letters-Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col.

line 51, "assocaited" should be --ass ociated-- libel}, "interripting" should be --interrupting--.

iihe 13, 'wile" shouldbe -whi1e--.i .v

line 25 "night" should be --I night--.

line 37, "gludi'rig" should be "gluin Q "backing" should be packing-- line 41,

Signed and sealed this 25th day of December 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHEIR,JR. Attesting Officer RENE D. TEGTD EYER Acting Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. In an apparatus for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the flat, said cartons having front and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap also connected thereto on secondary fold lines, all of these panels and flaps being arranged in a common plane when said carton is in its flat configuration, the improvement comprising: a. means for storing a stack of such flat cartons, b. means for withdrawing the endmost carton from the stack and feeding it to a folding station, c. lower carton folding means at said folding station for folding said bottom flaps in the same direction and through a substantial angle so that the initially flat carton assumes a generally L-shaped configuration, d. means for retaining at least one of said bottom flaps in said L-shaped configuration, e. means for folding at least one other bottom flap back through the plane defined by said side panels and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite to that of said lower carton folding means, f. means for feeding the partially folded carton from said folding station downstream to an erection station, g. vacuum means for grasping at least one of the bottom flaps oriented at a substantial angle to the plane of said side panels, and h. means for swinging said vacuum means about an axis coinciding with one of said primary fold lines to erect the carton.

2. In an apparatus for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the flat, said cartons having front and and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap also connected thereto on secondary fold lines, all of these panels and flaps being arranged in a common plane when said carton is in its flat configuration, the improvement comprising: a. means for storing a stack of such flat cartons, b. means for withdrawing the endmost carton from the stack and feeding it to a folding station, c. lower carton folding means at said folding station for folding said bottom flaps in the same direction and through a substantial angle so that the initially flat carton assumes a generally L-shaped configuration, d. means for retaining at least one of said bottom flaps in said L-shaped configuration, e. means for folding at least one other bottom flap back through the plane defined by said side panels and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite to that of said lower carton folding means, f. upper carton folding means for folding said top flaps through a substantial angle and in the same direction so that the initially flat carton has an L-shaped configuration for its upper portion as well as for its lower portion at said folding station, g. means for retaining at least one of said top flaps in said L-shaped configuration, h. means for folding at least one other top flap back through the plane defined by said side panels and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite to that of said upper carton folding means, i. means for feeding the partially folded carton from said folding station downstream to an erection station, j. a deadplate at said erection station for holding said bottom flaps in their partially folded positions, k. top flap engaging means at said erection station for folding said top flaps downwardly against their associated side panels as said partially folded carton reaches said erection station.

4. In an apparatus for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the flat, said cartons having front and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap also connected thereto on secondary fold lines, all of these panels and flaps being arranged in a common plane when said carton is in its flat configuration, the improvement comprising: a. means for storing a stack of such flat cartons, b. means for withdrawing the endmost carton from the stack and feeding it to a folding station, c. lower carton folding means at said folding station for folding said bottom flaps in the same direction and through a substantial angle so that the initially flat carton assumes a generally L-shaped configuration, d. means for retaining at least one of said bottom flaps in said L-shaped configuration, e. means for folding at least one other bottom flap back through the plane defined by said side panels and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite to that of said lower carton folding means, f. said lower carton folding means comprising lower plow means movable transversely across the plane of said side panels in one direction past the free edges of said bottom flaps to first fold all of said bottom flaps as aforesaid, and g. said lower plow means having a second plow portion which is not movable beyond at least one of said bottom flaps so as to hold said one bottom flap to said one side of said plane, and h. said plow means causing at least one of said bottom flaps to return in a direction opposite said one direction during return movement.

5. In an apparatus for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the flat, said cartons having front and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap also connected thereto on secondary fold lines, all of these panels and flaps being arranged in a common plane when said carton is in its flat configuration, the improvement comprising: a. means for storing a stack of such flat cartons, b. means for withdrawing the endmost carton from the stack and feeding it to a folding station, c. lower carton folding means at said folding station for folding said bottom flaps in the same direction and through a substantial angle so that the initially flat carton assumes a generally L-shaped configuration, d. means for retaining at least one of said bottom flaps in said L-shaped configuration, e. means for folding at least one other bottom flap back through the plane defined by said side panels and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite to that of said lower carton folding means, f. upper carton folding means for folding said top flaps through a substantial angle and in the same direction so that the initially flat carton has an L-shaped configuration for its upper portion as well as for its lower portion at said folding station, g. means for retaining at least one of said top flaps in said L-shaped configuration, h. means for folding at least one other top flap back through the plane defined by said side panels and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite to that of said upper carton folding means, i. said lower carton folding means comprises lower plow means movable transversely across the plane of said side panels in one direction past the free edges of said bottom flaps to first fold all of said bottom flaps as aforesaid, and j. said lower plow means having a second plow portion which is not movable beyond at least one of said bottom flaps so as to hold said one bottom flap to said one side of said plane, and k. said plow means causing at least one of said bottom flaps to return in a direction opposite said one direction during return movement.

6. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said upper carton folding means comprises upper plow means movable transversely across the plane of said side panels in one direction to first fold all of said top flaps as aforesaid, and said upper plow means being movable beyond the free edges of said top flaps so as to fold at least one of them back through said plane when said upper plow means returns in a direction opposite said one direction.

9. The combination recited in claim 8 further characterized by vacuum means at said erection station for grasping said one front side panel bottom flap which is folded just below said rear side panel bottom flap, and means for swinging said vacuum means about an axis coinciding with one of said primary fold lines to erect the carton on said deadplate.

13. A method for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the flat, said cartons having front and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap connected to its associated side panel on secondary fold lines, all of these panels and flaps being arranged in a common plane when the carton is in its flat configuration, said method comprising the successive steps of: a. folding said bottom flaps in the same direction and through a substantial angle out of the plane of said side panels so that a lower portion of the initially flat carton assumes a generally L-shaped configuration, b. holding at least one of said bottom flaps in said L-shaped configuration, c. folding at least one other bottom flap back through the plane defined by said side panels and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite said directon of folding referred to in step (a) above, d. grasping one of the bottom flaps oriented at a substantial angle to the plane of said side panels, and e. swinging the flap so grasped about an axis coincident with one of said primary fold lines, through 90*, to erect the carton.

14. A method for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the flat, said cartons having front and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap connected to its associated side panel on secondary fold lines, all of these panels and flaps being arranged in a common plane when the carton is in its flat configuration, said method comprising the successive steps of: a. folding said bottom flaps in the same direction and through a substantial angle out of the plane of said side panels so that a lower portion of the initially flat carton assumes a generally L-shaped configuration, b. holding at least one of said bottom flaps in said L-shaped configuration, c. folding at least one other bottom flap back through the plane defined by said side panels and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite said direction of folding referred to in step (a) above, d. folding the top flaps through a substantial angle and in the same direction so that an upper portion of the initially flat carton assumes an L-shaped configuration, e. holding at least one of said top flaps in said L-shaped configuration, f. folding at least one other top flap back through the plane defined by said side panel and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite said direction referred to in step (d) above, g. grasping one of the bottom flaps oriented at a substantial angle to the plane of said side panels, and h. swinginG the flap so grasped about an axis coincident with one of said primary fold lines, through 90*, to erect the carton.

15. In an apparatus for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the flat, said cartons having front and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap also connected thereto on secondary fold lines, all of these panels and flaps being arranged in a common plane when said carton is in its flat configuration, the improvement comprising: a. means for storing a stack of such flat cartons, b. means for withdrawing the endmost carton from the stack and feeding it to a folding station, c. lower carton folding means at said folding station for folding said bottom flaps in the same direction and through a substantial angle so that the intially flat carton assumes a generally L-shaped configuration, d. means for retaining at least one of said bottom flaps in said L-shaped configuration, e. means for folding at least one other bottom flap back through the plane defined by said side panels and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite to that of said lower carton folding means, f. means for feeding the partially folded carton from said folding station downstream to an erection station, g. means for holding one of said rear panels and its associated bottom flap at said erection station, and h. means for swinging one of said front panels and its associated bottom flap on an axis coincident with one of said primary fold lines to erect the carton.

17. The combination recited in claim 16 further characterized by bottom flap tucking means located downstream of said erection station, and means for moving the erected carton from said erection station through a glue station downstream thereof, said tucking means serving to close the bottom flap opposite said one front side panel bottom flap as the erected carton moves from said erection station to said gluing station.

19. A method for erecting prefolded and prescored cartons from the flat, said cartons having front and rear pairs of side panels connected to one another on common primary fold lines and each side panel having a top and a bottom flap connected to its associated side panel on secondary fold lines, all of these panels and flaps being arranged in a common plane when the carton is in its flat configuration, said method comprising the successive steps of: a. folding said bottom flaps in the same direction and through a substantial angle out of the plane of said side panels so that a lower portion of the initially flat carton assumes a generally L-shaped configuration, b. holding at least one of said bottom flaps in said L-shaped configuration, c. folding at least one other bottom flap back through the plane defined by said side panels and through a substantial angle in a direction opposite said direction of folding referred to in step (a) above, d. holding one of said rear panels and its associated bottom flap, e. swinging one of said front panels and its associated bottom flap on an axis coincident with one of said primary fold lines to erect the carton.