Multiple Closure Flaps Patents (Class 53/376.4)
  • Patent number: 11661227
    Abstract: A carton sizing system that has a frame, a controller, one or more cutters movably mounted to the frame and operatively connected to the controller, one or more markers movably mounted to the frame and operatively connected to the controller. The carton sizing system also has a measuring means that is operatively connected to the controller and configured to determine, in use, the footprint of an open top carton and to determine the height of one or more objects contained within the carton. The controller is configured to position the one or more cutters based on the determined footprint and to cut vertical edges of the carton based on the determined height and also to position the one or more markers based on the determined footprint and height and to score or crease vertical walls of the carton between the vertical edges to at least partially define foldable panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: WestRock Linkx Systems Limited
    Inventors: Daniel Benterman, David Hayward
  • Patent number: 11312516
    Abstract: An entity positioning and supporting mechanism for closing side tongues of a box of a full-automatic packaging machine for flexible materials, comprising retractable positioning baffle mechanisms and retractable pressing head mechanisms respectively installed symmetrically on both sides of a box conveying passage of the main body of the packaging machine, a lifting entity supporting insertion plate mechanism provided on an upper portion of the main body of the packaging machine, a lifting oblique pushing mechanism located at the bottom of the box conveying passage; wherein said retractable positioning baffle mechanism is composed of a retractable positioning baffle having guide rods and a linear moving unit of the retractable positioning baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI WEISHILI MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Libang Zhao, Heng Zhao, Jinzhong Huang, Guoxing Niu, Wubo Wang, Yidong Wang
  • Patent number: 8499530
    Abstract: An apparatus for closing flaps of a rectangular cuboid includes a pair of first flap closing guide members to guide a first flap from an open position to a closed position. A pair of second flap diverting members divert a second flap away from engaging the first flap closing guide members and a pair of second flap closing guide members that guide the second flap from an open position to a closed position. A machine having the closing apparatus and a method of closing a rectangular cuboid are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works
    Inventors: Joseph M. Fisher, Timothy J. Green, William B. Elliott, Eric Spina
  • Publication number: 20120317931
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown for securing a top for a cardboard carton where the carton has a bottom wall and integral sidewalls defining an initially open interior and initially open top flaps with outwardly extending ears, the initially open top flaps being integrally formed with a first pair of opposing sidewalls of the carton. The top flaps are folded to a carton closing position which closes off the initially open interior of the cardboard carton. The ears are also folded to a position in contact with a second set of opposing sidewalls of the carton intermediate the first set of opposing sidewalls. A set of rotatable punches are aligned with the folded ears of the carton and rotated to force a first layer of cardboard from a respective top flap through an associated second layer of an underlying sidewall of the carton. A set of platens are located so as to underlie and reinforce the sidewalls of the carton as the punching operation takes place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Plains Dairy, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher
  • Patent number: 8297029
    Abstract: In an apparatus for folding cardboard boxes, an area of each of four top portion flaps of a corrugated cardboard box is locked by a locking member having an elastic member, and an area of each of the four top portion flaps of the corrugated cardboard box is pushed down by an overlapping folding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seisaku Iwasa, Yuji Yokota
  • Patent number: 8282537
    Abstract: Several implementations of a fan folding mechanism for folding flaps of a case into a fan fold arrangement are disclosed and described. In one implementation, the fan folding mechanism comprises four shoes, arranged to allow one shoe to contact a flap on each of four sides of the case. A finger, carried by each of the four shoes is configured for movement between a retracted position and an extended position, such that in the retracted position, each finger is in contact with a leading corner of a different flap of the case and the flaps are in an open position and in the extended position, each finger is in contact with the same leading corner of the same flap, and the flap is in the closed position. Four suction cups, each configured for releasable attachment to a trailing corner of a flap, may inhibit contention between flaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Al Gebhardt, Derick Charles Baker, Christopher Carl Eickstadt, Douglas Alan Boozer, Troy Scott
  • Patent number: 8181426
    Abstract: A Closing apparatus (1) for closing packaging elements, in particular cardboard boxes, comprises conveying device (2) for conveying the packaging elements, a folding device (4) for folding down at least one section of the packaging element concerned, a first closing device (6) for closing at least one section of the packaging element concerned, arranged on a first longitudinal side of the conveying device (2), wherein the closing apparatus further comprises a second closing device (8) for closing at least a section of the packaging elements concerned that is mounted on a second longitudinal side of the conveying device (2) opposite the first longitudinal side of the conveying device (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Ligmatech Automationssysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Bodo Tonnigs
  • Patent number: 7886503
    Abstract: A machine for closing and sealing cardboard boxes or other packaging cases with random sizes of cases presented. An input gate controls passage of cases onto at least one conveyor that moves the cases through the machine. An input positioning stage centers and squares the case. A measuring station performs a primary measurement of the width and height of the open case. A closing station and tape sealing station are adjusted to the primary case size measurement. The case closing station then closes the case. The side major flaps are closed using a major flap closer with crossed arms pivoted at separated pivot axes. The sealing station has a secondary or closed case measurement detector which more accurately adjusts the tape applicator height. Lateral support heads engage the sides of the case to prevent distortion while tape is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: R.A. Pearson Company
    Inventors: Al Chase, Donald Parker, Richard R. Lile
  • Patent number: 7832183
    Abstract: A packaging apparatus in an automated packaging process, for sealing a carton having minor flaps and a bottom end flap, comprising: means for holding the minor flaps in a closed position; and a cycle stop compression plate for, upon the occurrence of a cycle stop operation, folding the bottom end flap over the minor flaps and holding the bottom end flap in place until the carton is sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: MedWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Jacob, John W. Cash, III, Michael F. Flagg
  • Patent number: 7587884
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for adjusting height of a crate or box made of flexible material, having a base and at least four side walls by folding. After the base has been placed in a generally horizontal, a horizontal crease is produced on each side wall, parallel to the base and at a height substantially equal to a top of a stack of objects. At least one oblique crease is produced in each corner of the crate, with one end located at the intersection between two horizontal creases and the other end located on an upper ridge of one side wall. The upper part of each side wall is folded towards the center of the crate, at an angle substantially equal to 90°. The various flaps are folded on one another, being separated by oblique creases, bringing the upper part of side walls in a substantially horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: B Plus Development, Societe Anonyme
    Inventors: Claude Durand, Frédéric Duffes
  • Patent number: 7571587
    Abstract: A flaps closing apparatus for closing full flap boxes is provided. The apparatus includes a flaps closing assembly with a first brake mechanism and closing bars with a second brake mechanism. The first brake mechanism controls the vertical motion of the flaps closing assembly with respect to the flaps closing apparatus. The second brake mechanism holds the closing bars in an angled configuration and at a first predetermined vertical position permits the bars to pivot to a horizontal configuration. A flap sealing assembly includes a pair of compression plates positioned outside the flaps closing assembly. A compression plate actuating mechanism draws the compression plates inwardly to urge side flaps of the full flap box into contact with sides of the full flap box at a second predetermined vertical position. A vertical movement mechanism lowers and raises the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Prototype Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Goodman
  • Patent number: 7509790
    Abstract: A random case former accepts an opened-up flat corrugated material representing an unformed box with open bottoms and tops. The random case former automatically adjusts to the dimensions of the box by closing in on the unformed box with flap folders from one or more sides. As the flap folders close in on the box, they first fold the minor-flaps and then the major-flaps on the bottom of the unformed box, thereby forming a box with a closed bottom and an open top into which items can then be placed. The automatic adjustment of the random case former to the box size avoids time-consuming manual adjustment and provides efficiency and speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Inventor: Zoltan Filep
  • Publication number: 20090031676
    Abstract: Method and combined machine for cutting and closing boxes with inserted void-filling bags The invention relates to the making of boxes of a variable volume adapted in each case to the height of the packed products, including cutting the box along its vertical edges and forming fold lines at a suitable height around the sides of the box to define top flaps; and then folding these flaps onto the contents of the prefilled box. At least one inflated or inflatable void-filling bag is inserted into the box, around and/or above the packed products, after the fold lines have been formed, and before the flaps are folded onto the contents of the box. The invention also provides a combined machine that cuts, marks, prepares and inserts void-filling bags, and closes boxes. Applicable to order filling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: SAVOYE
    Inventors: Michel Boigues, Joel Foulon
  • Patent number: 7216468
    Abstract: A flaps closing apparatus for closing full flap boxes is provided. The apparatus includes a flaps closing assembly with a first brake mechanism and closing bars with a second brake mechanism. The first brake mechanism controls the vertical motion of the flaps closing assembly with respect to the flaps closing apparatus. The second brake mechanism holds the closing bars in an angled configuration and at a first predetermined vertical position permits the bars to pivot to a horizontal configuration. A flap sealing assembly includes a pair of compression plates positioned outside the flaps closing assembly. A compression plate actuating mechanism draws the compression plates inwardly to urge side flaps of the full flap box into contact with sides of the full flap box at a second predetermined vertical position. A vertical movement mechanism lowers and raises the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Inventor: James A. Goodman
  • Patent number: 7174698
    Abstract: A method and device for folding an end portion of a substantially elliptical-section, tubular wrapping for a group of cigarettes, whereby the end portion of the tubular wrapping is folded by forming three first and three second folded flaps located on opposite sides of a major axis of the elliptical section of the tubular wrapping; the first and second flaps being defined respectively by a respective central flap and by two respective lateral flaps, each of the second flaps being specular with a corresponding first flap, and being located between the major axis of the elliptical section and a packing wheel supporting the tubular wrapping; the first flaps being folded first, commencing with the first central flap; and the second flaps being folded subsequently, commencing with the second lateral flaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: G.D Societa' per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Spatafora, Fabrizio Tale'
  • Patent number: 6968668
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an apparatus for packaging goods in a box. The apparatus comprises a box erecting apparatus for erecting the box to receive at least one good. The apparatus further comprises an elevator lift apparatus operatively positioned below the box erecting apparatus, such that the elevator lift apparatus is positioned to lift at least one good into the erected box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E Dimario, Francis H Carragher, James M Hall
  • Patent number: 6948293
    Abstract: A method for packing containers, in particular bottles, in transport boxes in which on the inside, on flat-lying transport boxes, flat-lying multi-piece packagings are releasably fastened or compartment units are fastened, the transport boxes and the multi-piece packagings or compartment units contained therein are set up, containers are applied through openings of the set-up transport boxes into receivers of the multi-piece packages or compartment units, and the openings of the transport boxes are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: A & R Carton GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Eckermann, Lambert Brinks, Bernard Skolik
  • Patent number: 6887191
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming the bottom end wall of a carton from a rectangular carton blank having oppositely disposed scored end panels and oppositely disposed unscored end panels includes a rotating mandrel assembly adapted to receive an open-ended carton blank through an open top end of the carton blank, a heating station, a folding station and a sealing station. The folding station has a pair of oppositely disposed reciprocating break fingers to contact and fold inwardly the scored bottom end panels and biasing means for folding inwardly down the unscored bottom end panels. The folding station is rotatable 90° between two functional orientations, a first orientation wherein the break fingers are aligned in the direction of mandrel movement, and a second orientation in which the break fingers are perpendicular to the direction of mandrel movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventors: Allen Bressler, Lyle Knutson
  • Patent number: 6880309
    Abstract: A self-dimensioning machine for closing upper flaps of parallelepiped boxes including a base with support surface for the boxes, a couple of drive belts placed at the two sides of the support surface for engagement with the sides of the boxes, a device for detecting the position and horizontal dimensions of the boxes for controlling the movement of the drive belts, a rod pivoted on a head above the support surface descending from a rest position to engage, straighten and partially close the front flaps of the boxes, a vertically mobile touching group for detecting the height of the boxes and successively to the head in the advancement direction of the boxes, a central longitudinal guide carried by the touching group and positioning itself in a horizontal position above the support surface at a height corresponding to the height of the boxes for completing the closing of the front flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Antonio Marchetti
  • Patent number: 6722101
    Abstract: A packing apparatus which includes a feed conveyor adapted to convey articles to a pick up station and a case conveyor adapted to sequentially convey cases, having an open top and a plurality of flaps, to a feed station. Pick up and grid heads are provided and are adapted to pick up successive slugs of the articles at the pick up station and to sequentially deposit the slugs in each of the cases while they are in the release station. A removal conveyor is provided to successively receive the slug filled cases from the release station and pass them onto a case sealing apparatus which is arranged over the removal conveyor and is operative to apply an adhesive to certain of the flaps and to then move the flaps over the open top into a secured closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hartness International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Patterson Hartness, Richard M. Wiernicki, Robert Leslie Dillard, David Lee Scott
  • Patent number: 6626810
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming the bottom end wall of a carton from a rectangular carton blank having oppositely disposed scored end panels and oppositely disposed unscored end panels includes a rotating mandrel assembly adapted to receive an open-ended carton blank through an open top end of the carton blank, a heating station, a folding station and a sealing station. The folding station has a pair of oppositely disposed reciprocating break fingers to contact and fold inwardly the scored bottom end panels and biasing means for folding inwardly down the unscored bottom end panels. The folding station is rotatable 90° between two functional orientations, a first orientation wherein the break fingers are aligned in the direction of mandrel movement, and a second orientation in which the break fingers are perpendicular to the direction of mandrel movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventors: Allen Bressler, Lyle Knutson
  • Patent number: 6595410
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a paper pack for containing milk or beverages, etc. sanitary and for keeping the refrigerator cleanly preventing the smell. More particularly, it relates to a sanitary pack, which provides a method for opening and closing a paper pack without occurring any inconvenience, by sealing up the room of paper gap tightly as itself without any supplementary attachments or devices such as clip, pin, etc. this sanitary pack offer prevention of over flowing of the contents of beverage by falling over during its use after its opening and convenience of keeping the contents of beverage clean with easiness by folding the cutting section of the paper pack in the refrigerator as well. It is highly effective promoting the degree of airtight of paper pack itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventors: Seahuy Lee, Jaehwon Lee, Jaesun Lee
  • Patent number: 6588175
    Abstract: A device for folding vertical flaps of a container (1) moved along a line (100) for packaging products (3) into these containers (1) includes a (cam) member (11), guided along a cyclical trajectory (T) by support and operating means (20) cooperating with trajectory correcting means (6). The trajectory (T) includes a first part (T1), along which the (cam) member (11) moves close to container (1), upstream of said rear vertical flap (5) with respect to the container (1) movement direction (W), and a second part (T2), along which the rear vertical flap (5) is pushed. The second part (T2) is substantially parallel to the direction (W) and concordant therewith. The supporting and operating means (20) include a pulley (21) and a connecting rod (22), aimed at guiding the (cam) member (11) and a bar (13), connected thereto, along a circumference arc. The trajectory correcting means (6) include a rotating body (31), aimed at receiving slildingly the bar (13) in a seat (32) made therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
    Inventor: Rodolfo Gaudenzi
  • Patent number: 6571539
    Abstract: A carton manipulating device for rotating a carton in a packaging machine, which apparatus comprises carton pick up means adapted to engage at least one carton from the infeed stream and to convey the carton through a working reach of the apparatus and wherein the pick up means is rotatable intermittently along the working reach to cause the carton to be rotated during continuous forward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Gendre, Pascal Martini, Pierre Genty
  • Patent number: 6571535
    Abstract: A container-forming device comprises a container conveyor (21) having a plurality of holders (34) which each include a bottom plate (51) and side plates (52) projecting upwardly from the bottom plate for receiving the container body M1 and intermittently drivable so as to halt the holders (34) at an ear bonding station (S3) in succession, and upper ear pressing member (61) disposed above the ear bonding station (S3) and being moveable upward or downward for pressing upper ears (U1) against an upper wall of a container body (M1), and a pair of lower ear pressing members (62) arranged at opposite sides of the ear bonding station (S3) and being openable or closable for pressing lower ears (L1) against respective side walls of the container body (M1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Sato, Masafumi Fujimoto, Kiyomi Yoshida, Michio Ueda
  • Patent number: 6357212
    Abstract: A box folding and article packaging apparatus has a lower tool section positioned below a work support surface and several upper tool sections positioned above the work support surface. The lower tool section includes four modular corner units each with folding flaps and a fixed support element. The four support elements together define the work support surface. The four corner units are displaceable relative to each other for adapting the apparatus for handling blanks of different sizes. A precut and precreased blank is first placed on the work support surface. The article to be packaged is then placed on the blank whereupon folding begins. One upper tool section also includes folding elements for folding a cover portion of a box and closing the box. Another upper tool section includes either adhesive applicators or staplers or the like for fastening folded blank sections to one another to complete the carton around the article or articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Winkler & Duennebier AG
    Inventors: Thomas Salm, Bernfried Kutsch
  • Patent number: 6318049
    Abstract: A slitter machine of the type where tab lock cases of varying height, width, and length are advanced therethrough in a product flow direction on a machine bed by a main drive motor, is presented. The slitter machine includes a frame, a centerline, a leading flap lifter and a trailing flap lifter. The leading flap lifter and trailing flap lifter are mounted are mounted to the frame on opposite sides of the centerline, and extend at an incline relative to the machine bed. Each flap lifter includes a tear drop assembly attached to a drive chain and actuated by a pair of cams to rotate the leading flap and the trailing flap toward a closed position. A chain track is disposed in each of the flap lifting assemblies, with the drive chains disposed therein. Each chain track has a first section having a first distance between the drive chains and a second section having a second distance between the drive chains. The second distance is greater than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Standard Knapp Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Raudat, Emilio N. CoFrancesco, Jeffrey Reilly
  • Publication number: 20010029721
    Abstract: A container forming device comprises a container conveyor 21 having a plurality of holders 34 and intermittently drivable so as to halt the holders 34 at an ear bonding station S3 in succession, an upper ear pressing member 61 disposed above the ear bonding station S3 so as to be movable upward or downward for pressing upper ears U1 against an upper wall of a container body M1, and a pair of lower ear pressing members 62 arranged at opposite sides of the ear bonding station S3 so as to be openable or closable for pressing lower ears L1 against respective side walls of the container body M1. Each of the holders 34 comprises a bottom plate 51 extending in parallel to a container transport path, and a side plate 52 projecting upward from the bottom plate 51 and extending orthogonal to the container transport path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: SHIKOKU KAKOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Sato, Masafumi Fujimoto, Kiyomi Yoshida, Michio Ueda
  • Patent number: RE37915
    Abstract: A container is assembled from several panels generally comprised of one or more layers of relatively rigid stiffening material (such as corrugated cardboard) sandwiched between two layers of a strong, flexible material, such as woven polypropylene. These panels form four side wall assemblies and, in combination with a flexible bottom panel, form a self-supporting, generally cubic material receiving box. An integral closure assembly, including cover flap, front flap and side flaps, advantageously enable the container to conveniently and safely secure relatively large volumes of dense debris without spillage even when the fully laden container is dropped during handling. The container, when empty, may be collapsed for convenient storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Citizens Bank New Hampshire
    Inventor: John H. Lapoint, III
  • Patent number: 4937590
    Abstract: A thermal printing head and controller include a serial input port for receiving a serial image bit means for storage of successive lines of serial image data. A multiplexer is connected to the RAMs to produce simultaneous micropulse bits. The micropulse bits are received simultaneously by serial inputs of a plurality of shift registers. The shift registers control the states of a plurality of thermal styli.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Gould Electronique S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Robillard, Roger Lepee