US2440840A - Carton erecting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

P. .L LAcK wELL CARTON EREQT ING APPARATUS Filed March. 24, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l May 4, 1948. P. J. BLACKWELL T 2,440,840

' CARTON ERECTING APPARATUS Filed March 24, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 4, 1948 UNITED STATES ATEN T FF CARTON ERECTING Animus i Preston]. Blackwell, Emerson, N. 3., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Robert-GrailCompany,

N. Y., a corporation v of New Y Application March 24, 1945,Serial No.]584,' 71 2 (ores- 53) l l a This invention relates particularly to theerection from a vflat knock-downcondition of a cellular carton of the type having cross partitions mounted in slots of the carton body 'walls, to an extended position in" which notches at the ends of the partitions are interenga'ged'withthe ends of the body slots,therebyholdingthe side walls angularly open and the cellular compartments free for the reception of eggs or other articles.

Heretoforecartons of this nature have been erected by hand or by somewhat complicated machines for effecting thenece'ssary operation. ,This

fore to provide an apparatus utilizing a double belt feed which engages the blanks at places which become opposite walls and eventually covers of the carton, and for advancing the blank continuously tofspread the walls, to set and interlock the cross partitions with the body walls, and to 13 Claims.

deliver the erected cartons from the opposite ends of the belts.

I A'iurther object of the invention is toprovide 'fixed guides and supports in association with the belts so thatthe carton blanks-with associated partitions are moved-continuously through the variousstages and operations without requiring other timing and operational parts which ,.are complicated and likely to get out of order.

Qther objects of the invention will appear in the specification and will be apparent from theaccompanying drawings, in which; n

Fig." l is a top plan view of a carton erecting apparatus'in accordance with this invention; n

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of theapparatus shown in Fig, 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional viewtaken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; showingthe condition. of the carton blank and partitions at this location; 1

Fig. '4 is a perspective view of a carton blank triple-foldedto providefour plies between the inner two of which'the partitions are disposed inflatwise relation, the center fold being uppermost as in the position when the blankis to be erected by the apparatus of this invention;

discharged from the apparatus. in V Cellular cartons ofth'etype to which this invention relates comprise a slotted blank having three Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the carton erected from the blank of Fig. 4, the carton wallsbeing extended upwardly as when ready for reception or removal of contents;

Fig. dis a sectional view taken on line 6-5 of Fig. 2, showing the condition of a carton blank and partitions at this location;

Figfv'lwhich a sectional, view takenon line 1-1 of Fig. 2, shows the condition of the carton b l'ankvand partitions at this location; and

Fig; j8 is anend view of the apparatus showing t e erectedcarton jin inverted position; ready to be parallel folds, one in the center which is opposite the 'otheratogether with a plurality of partitions, one entered through registering slots in the two "inner plies 'of the blankso folded. In this condition, with the'partitions lying flatwise between the outer plies of the blank, the blanks occupy the minimum space forshipmen't and storing. To use the cartons,they must first be set up or erected by opening theouter and inner plies of the blank. In this operation a condition of distension I is reached whereupon the partitionsjswing to transversepositions where they may be engaged and locked at theirends within registering slots provided forthis purpose... This erection is al laborious task if done by hand aseach partition must be engaged withits particular, slot. Q .1 The present invention is concerned with a'simplef typeo'f carton erector in which fiat, folded cartons may be fed into one end of the apparatus where they are engaged and moved along by belts Which aclvance thecartons processionally to perform in succession the operations of opening out orfspreading the several plies of the blank, rotating the cross partitions to transverse engaging positions, v successively interengaging w each cross partitionwith'the corresponding slots in the sides f the g k advancing the carton blank along until all of the cross partitions are engaged, and then .discharging the carton in a completely erected condition. H 1

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, thecinvention maybe more easily understood from a considerationof the flat and erected cartons asshown in Figs. 4 and 5. Each carton blank is center. folded at 20 and then folded twice again at I2 to provide two inner plies ll between outer plies l3, the latter being formed with fold lines '23 which, in the. erected carton, define cover sections l i lla A blank so formed and folded is adapted to be opened out and distended but, with the inner plies ll partly restrained from separawhich are bowed 'endwise in general conformity tion by means hereinafter noted, spreading movewith the curvature of the guides 21. Each bar ment therebetween will be confined to those poris supported from the adjacent edge of the top tions M which are furthest removed from the cenplate by a number of brackets 39 adapted to holdter fold (see Fig. 5). The inner and outer plies 5 the deflecting bars 38 in a slightly inclined posiof the ,b lanlg are formed with registe in slots ticn at the starting end, t e barslying nearly 15 so thattransireijsepartitions relievin steps horizontally toward th tartin enga e the ap- I! may initially be mounted in the slots I5 of the p ratus (see F and then twi ng ra l inner plies for hinging movement so as to be fold Until ey pp a h a al DOSition (See able flatly on opposite sides thereof when the car'- '10 7). The upp r dge of each bar is disposed subton blank is triple-folded or collapsed as siitvii iii t y fie zl e to the re w d d y Fig. 4. L

The slot l1 formed in the up partition adapts it for seating wit gfif t of the deflecting bars 38 are m g;- ow commencing at a point spaced "from clined portion of the top rail 35 (see Fig, 2).

plies of the blank, and at the top edge of each 15 the Starting lqi the apparatus and at Point partition is a locking projection It adflptgd $9 yvhere theguides 21 are nearly but not quite at; be seated in one of a plura ty of hot'cff's 19 their maximum separation. The reason for: this formed along the center fold 2o, thereby holding .isthe t deflecting s 38 o not come o each partition in place with respect to the carton -5I515i7i'0h until after th Outer P s f a ca n blanlg initially nd to the erected carton struc- 20 blank h l been" .912 1 y t t re at be In men 'Ab j spending slot, l 5 .of I becomes ,one of the si ton, the resiliency t 9 ll ttb en es; e t the outer. end. of th 'tliieiri, theczlft H tained in its exte rded 1 e1 'efi l in. g- '5 I lbri'itl'idinalsore the 611 r 1 5? at r ie'eher 'e Mounted 'aloii' Ope mtion t a H fi ef idceft e the outer plies straddling Th the tilde bloc s 3j3fait t e rear 'Eirtending overthle guideis thereof is a ton guidj p cross pieces 36 sfijpo'itedfit 1315 31 'er'ected upon the "siibiierf't theofitr sides of the be1ts'28.

blank until the partition edges which then are uppermost become engaged by the under surface of the top guide 35, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6.

At a point between the position shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 6, the deflecting bars 38 engage the outer plies l3 of the carton blank to depress them to a partially flattened position -(see Fig. 6). Here the lowermost edges of the cross partitions are supported by the bottom support 40 which is inclined upwardly from the starting end.

a As the partially erected carton is advanced further between the lower support 40 and the upper guide 35, the central part of the structure is gradually raised, but the deflecting bars 38, whose elevation above the guides 21 remain substantiallyunchanged, continue to engage the outer plies l3 and maintain the inner faces of their folds 23 in engagement with the tops of the guides 21, there'- by forcing these plies inwardly to the point that the proximate ends of the slots l5 are positioned below the pointed extremities 22 of the notches 2|. At this point, the spacing of the guides 21 and the positioning of the deflecting bars 38 is such that the partition and notches 2! may interengage and lock with the slotted outer plies 13 of the blank which now become the outer walls of the carton with the result that a self-sustaining structure is produced as shown in cross section in Fig. 8.

This setting-up operationcauses all of the partitions to become engaged with the outer walls of the carton which, as thus erected, is then dis charged from the exit end of the apparatus by the continued movement of the belts. The cartons which are made of a suitable fiber or paper board have sufficient resilience and flexibility to be moved continuously by the belts without breaking, and the blank plies are maintained yieldingly at all times againstthe guides 21. An apparatus of this kind is preferably three or four times the length of the cartons. No particular means is shown for feeding the'folded blanks or for removing the erected cartons, these operations being optionally done by hand or mechanical means.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention to limit the invention to the mechanism shown, since variations therefrom are permissible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An erecting apparatus for a flat folded carton having side walls with free edges extending substantially together and folded medially inward with transverse slots in the inner side walls extending into the medially folded portion and having cross partitions hingedly seated in the slots of the medially folded portion and lying flatwise between the side walls, guide means insertable the partitions as the cartons are moved atone other at the discharge end, a pair of belts each between the free edges of a carton at one end rounded outwardly intermediate their ends and approaching each other at the other end, a belt extending along the outer face of each of the guide means, means to rotate the belts, spring pressed means along the inner run of each belt to press it against its guide means, the partitions being swung transversely of a carton when the side walls of the carton are moved outwardly by the guide means, means for supporting the upper and lower edges of the partitions when swung to transverse positions, and outer deflecting bars for engaging the outer face of the side walls of a carton to depressthe sidewalls and engage the ends of the slots therein with the ends of engaging and extending along the outer face of one of the guides, means to yieldingly press the inner run of each belt against the outer face of its guide, upper and lower guide means for engaging the upper and lower edges of cross partitions as they are moved endwise of the side guides, and a pair of inclinedouter deflecting bars extending from a substantially horizontal position near the starting end parallel with and within the side guides and turned into substantially vertical position at the discharge end.

3. In an apparatus for erectingflatly folded cartons composed of integral inner and outer plies and provided with hinged cross partitions, a pair of side guides arranged close together at the front end and rounded outwardly intermediate of their ends and spaced apart at their rear ends a distance less than the space between the outwardly rounded intermediate portions, a pair of pulleys adjacent each end of the side guides, a air of belts extended between one pulley of each pair and engaging the outer faces of the guides and running lengthwise of the same and contact ting with the guides throughout substantially the entire length of said guides to receive the freeedges of outer plies of a flatly folded carton blank: between the belts and the guides and thereby engage and move the carton blank lengthwise upon the guides to spread the outer plies and. separate the inner plies and permit the cross par-- titions to swing transversely opposite registeringslots in the plies, the rear portions of the guides: causing the outer plies of the carton to move inwardly as the cross partitions are advanced. into the slots, and driving means interconnect ing one pulley of each pair for causing the two belts to move in unison.

4. In an apparatus for erecting flatly folded. cartons composed of integral inner and outer plies and provided with hinged cross partitions; a. pair of side guides having vertical faces-- arranged close together at their front ends and rounded outwardly intermediate their ends: and. spaced apart at their rear ends a distance less: than the distance between the outwardly rounded intermediate portions, a pair of pulleys adjacent:

each end of the side guides, a pair of belts ex tended between one pulley ofeach pair and engaging the vertical faces of the guides and run-- ning lengthwise thereof to receive the free edges; of the outer plies of a flatly foldedcarton blank: between the belts and the guides, thereby to engage and move the carton blanklengthwise upon the guides to spread the outer plies and separate the inner plies and permit the cross partitions to be arranged transversely of the carton opposite registering slots in the plies, the rear ends of the side guides causing the outer plies of the carton to move together as the cross partitions advance in said slots and drivin means interconnecting one pulley of each pair for causing the two belts to move in unison.

5. A carton erecting machin for flatly folded cartons composed of integral inner and outer plies and provided with hinged cross partitions, comprising a pair of side guides arranged to spread the outer plies of the carton and cause separation of the inner plies and permit the cross partitions to be arranged transversely of meter e eee @eo eee fie eei terinee ots;. et eeyes.eei tzenexegs I r of pulleys j cent each end :9: $1.19 ee iegithe 1.15.101? .edyen inethe cmse 11. Pain 01? ndless 'belte; xtended.h t Mqnemw r, istering sl t tneteer nds o D1}! o f eqch pair and ex eegin .the ,ute geees the guides permitting the side walls to moye toe th side eu clqs. 9. rece ve, d: when 9. e d 5 ethen he ettitiqns. are admncea into: the thegelgy to enge, ge en m w th cegtqg 1 1; 1; 7 e vle thwiee: u m hew v e .e d 193? A: h-Aeeenetflusfxar erect n fle y folded cer- 2% QH ecute ie d .e et ee; 025: 2 19 t oz peeed .ofgjintq rel. inner apdouter plies end. oy dwith inge ss. Pa t t s, Qmf siqeieul es i l ren ed q ese to; Q1 3...emiz.and., ounded ioutwardly ntqm te hei; ..e .d.s,.e d... ppnoeehing e .r er en a pee-n. of .pe lexsadiacen 'i :u. i .1 @ltS xtend d e: .eee air nd en agi g-the u des pd extend n alon he..side.tle1ls.. and means engage inne -e e fb he elrte ho mde eee e Q. l

plies and v hieeed; c a e pazt ee th .s me 29, e.f ee...edees efiet y eq ept i xe is deeui esex e iee cleeetee. m be e t e be t.$..i nd he uide e .1 pe e ee e eerteie nd...t et etzieme etbeee en. ne hwiseto he ed es. @eet and enm v themte t. ...emeensierengeen ee .ue e and qwe d e epert h qr.nzevieeeaid. r qns .e emeetw ...tt '.b iy..we11s. the m V811: irem 9P9 E 19 I heo her v. t he reatibor io e the m mqv ment. i he. d em e e eq-i te en ge: nd drivin meme n ery of each pair for ce si g 'n .fiefi s ed; ar. andputeri pl e .1. 5. nd-P d; ithh eee cm ep rfitienecem:

An. par tus; rec in fletlsci lee cee 35. P 1 of .sis e.. ei es.. x enee,d. e e to- Qn-t Qmmsfi- 9 in QgreL-f ne end ter. Plies nd e ,rq insied out an provi d wi h hin ed 5 end reeed @n ;.e than pe dedi ter:

a Pai 9- :.I?l.l .l X.?-dJ'@Q -v j each .dee e ts ex end d. etwe n eehpeii feed enga in he uter d exe d e al ne h same fle lx qlded er en $1 11 wi h r byfie carton lengthwise to sfJread the edges die e iens, a pai o Pul eys edieeemi... @5 end of the side guides, belts eggterg degi betvyeep l ee lesfr Qf eee e r n neee p the e Q? he uidesv .e dfj xt d ee en thwise a rt. a d pe t e the emsg, titipn s toewi g eeit eb e i he e t e ema. .ee de fan Ye lte cart W W si- 'teehj ie qin .oiilf r id idi means. rree t ee tem. eee eeeee he'eed ime er: flee .tqm th fl e x e in esi n or e ti ne'w ih ets. i t e sid wal ottkl when. I ecegt n is mqved a one he] e e tiqn Q th eeieemevi .t esix e el a dl e he e it ens dvance. in. aid. slots; flee e Yiee. eans nterqqnnee t z e. Qne. e et. bf: a hip i- 1 or ausi th wo bel s t9;

iflqve in 1 1 111SQ1:1. v A" el eret s ere e yt lded ntons Y T d. of nte l nnenf hdeutereli l we Q 1'1 dii E 'l re ed h h ed pres pe tit eee. 1m ee me iiiie av n the t out. end ose tQe th-req nse ebl'e b twe e r e e ge f a ar n; aid. u de x e din en thwi e he. neeretus ed ro nd d. twer y nter-me: ieteflfinefid end eqed ene -t a he mt r ends a distance. less the r; the space between the outwardly rounded intermediate portions, means moving" lengthwise of the guidesend meeting with the inserted free edges of a. 'cartpn to grip the *certen free'edges and spread them apart; whileadyancing the. carton lengthwise alongthe. edges apart end ermit. the est aid. means perating else. to. spreadthe ergsenartitionfiitd swing transver el of the car-.. folded; WIFUOB 'and'permitztheipartitionstasWingi75 ton and then td movie the sidewalls together at the rear portions of the side guides, upper and lower longitudinally disposed guide means arranged to engage the upper and lower edges of the cross partitions for maintaining the same in position for engaging slots in the side walls of the carton, carton deflecting bars located between the side guides and the upper guide means and arranged in substantial parallelism with the side guiding means in position for engaging the carton for forcing the cross partitions into engagement with said slots, and driving means interconnecting one pulley of each pair for causing the two belts to move in unison.

12. An apparatus for erecting flatly folded cartons composed of integral inner and outer plies and provided with hinged cross partitions, comprising a pair of side guides arranged close together at their front ends and rounded outwardly at their intermediate portions and approaching each other at their rear ends, a pair of pulleys adjacent each end of the side guides, belts extended between one pulley of each pair and engaging the outer faces of the guides and extending along the same to receive the free edges of a flatly folded carton between the belts and the guides and thereby to move the carton lengthwise to spread the edges apart and permit the cross partitions to swing transversely of the carton, and then to move the side walls together at the rear portions of the side guides, upper and lower longitudinally disposed guide means arranged to engage the upper and lower edges of the cross partitions for maintaining the same in position for engaging slots in the side walls of the carton, carton deflecting bars located between the upper edges of the side guides and the upper guide means and extending along the side guides in substantial parallelism with the same from the outwardly rounded portions thereof to approximately the rear ends of the side guides, and twisted from a substantially horizontal starting position to a gradually vertical finishing position to maintain their carton engaging faces in flush contact with the side walls of the carton for forcing the cross partitions into engagement with said slots, and driving means interconnecting one pulley of each pair for causing the two belts to move in unison.

13. An apparatus for erecting flatly folded car- 10 tons composed of integral inner and outer plies and provided with hinged cross partitions, comprising a pair of side guides arranged close together at their front ends and rounded outward- 'ly at their intermediate portions and approaching each other at their rear ends, a pair of pulleys adjacent each end of the side guides, belts extended between one pulley of each pair and engaging the outer faces of the guides and extending along the same to receive the free edges of a flatly folded carton between the belts and the guides and thereby to move the carton lengthwise to spread the edges apart and permit the cross partitions to swing transversely of the carton and then to move the side walls together at the rear portions of the side guides, upper and lower longitudinally disposed guide means arranged to engage the upper and lower edges of the cross partitions for maintaining the same in position for engaging slots in the side walls of the carton, carton deflecting bars located between th upper edges of the side guides and the upper partition guiding means, said deflecting bars extending approximately from the widest of the outwardly rounded portions of the side guides to the rear ends of the same and arranged to engage and depress the side walls of a carton as it is moved along the guides to force the slots of the side walls into engagement with the partitions, said deflecting bars being arranged in substantial parallelism with the adjacent portions of the side guides to effect the said engagement of the slots of the side walls with the cross partitions, and driving means interconnecting one pulley of each pair for causing the two belts to move in unison.

PRESTON J. BLACKWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 709,501 Munson Sept. 23, 1902 845,837 Wines Mar. 5, 1907 1,883,307 Livingston et a1. Oct. 1%, 1932 1,956,149 Feibel Apr. 24, 1934 2,072,065 Brown et al. Feb. 23 1937

Images