Abstract: Flap folding plates are provided for use with a carton taping machine, the plates normally being disposed in upright orientation and maintained such by bias applied thereto. Further the plates are arranged so that the top corner structure at the sides of the carton strike the plates to cause the plates to pivot rearwardly in folding movement against the carton side flaps thereby absorbing at the said corner structures the force that might otherwise be transmitted to the front edges of the upright side flaps which could result in tearing or ripping of the side flaps where said flaps are joined to associated side walls.

Abstract: Pull tabs are applied to the two ends of the sealing courses of pressure sensitive tape applied to rectangular shipping cartons. A masking material is applied to the pressure sensitive tape during the taping operation so that the masking material will be adhered to a part of the sealing tape as a pull tab means which is applied to the rear wall of the carton being sealed and a part will be left on the tape stock to provide a pull tab means on the front wall of the carton to be next taped from the tape stock. An apparatus for forming these pull tab means also is provided.

Abstract: A machine is provided for applying vertical tape courses to the ends of cartons. Cartridges carrying taping members are stroked downwardly to tape the cartons. Return or upwardly directed travel of the cartridges is either delayed while a taped carton is off-feeding from the machine or the taping arms and cutter in the cartridge are retracted to allow the cartridge to be immediately returned upwardly following taping. This precludes cartridge travel interfering with carton off-feed or carton entry to the taping station.

Abstract: Perimeter seals are applied to cartons to seal them in courses which encircle a carton wall at which the transverse edges of infolded carton closure flaps are disposed. Such perimeter seals create a seal of the carton interior to prevent access thereto by dust in the atmosphere, moisture, etc. Apparatus for applying the seals includes devices to apply tape around the carton wall and wipe that applied tape onto perimeter areas of the encircled wall as well as marginal areas of the four walls adjacent and orthogonal thereto.

Abstract: Machine for taping cartons of shorter height ranges and taller height ranges. One upper taping cartridge is used for the shorter height cartons, whereas, at that time the taping arms of a lower cartridge are retracted. When a taller height carton is to be taped, the lower cartridge arms are released for taping purposes and they with the upper cartridge are used to tape the taller height carton.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying tape to a forwardly traveling carton includes a first projecting tape applicator which lies in the path of carton travel. As the carton strikes the first applicator, tape is applied to the carton front panel, the traveling carton depressing the applicator to allow it to apply and wipe tape around the corner formed by the front panel and onto a horizontal panel. A push finger carried on the tape applicator engages for a time with a tape cutter. On engagement of the push finger with a cam near completion of unit depression travel, the finger disengages the cutter and releases it to sever a tape length from the tape supply. A roller in the depressed applicator unit wipes the severed tape length along the horizontal panel for the length that the tape extends along the panel. A second tape applicator unit which moves from projecting to depressed position in tandem with the first unit is located downstream of the first applicator.

Abstract: A pair of wipe down rollers are carried on a respective pair of rotatable arms to which arms force can be applied through separate air actuated cylinders so as to provide that the wipe down roller which engages in wipe down contact with the trailing vertical edge of a carton being sealed with tape applies a higher magnitude of positive wipe down pressure to such trailing vertical edge, than is applied by the wipe down roller which engages the carton leading vertical edge.

Abstract: In a machine for sealing forwardly traveling cartons with adhering tape lapping folded stacked flaps as top and/or bottom closure means to prevent normally projecting tape applicator means from applying to such closure means of each carton excessive inward pressure which may cause such deflection thereof as to catch into and break back out an edge portion of the carton back end wall. Movable mounted tape applicator means is projectable into a defined path of forward travel of a folded stacked flap closure of an advancing carton for depression by the latter as it travels forwad thereover for application of tape to such forwadly traveling closure. Mechanism that is alternately projectable and depressible of the tape applicator means is located initially in the path of forward travel of each such carton for depressive manipulation of this projecting applicator means upon contact by the advancing carton.

Abstract: Carton setting up and loading machine to facilitate an operator successively setting up in empty chamber-defining shape a plurality of cartons in upright position on their flat stack of bottom closing flaps folded inward and the loading of their chambers to release them to remainder of the machine for sealing of their tops and bottoms. Lateral machine bed has an entrance end and a discharge end with transport means to move a loaded carton laterally forward along a path from the former end to the latter end while sealing closed at least the folded top flaps thereof. A carton setting up and loading lateral support or table top precedes the entrance end of the machine bed adjacent thereto.

Abstract: Tape applying mechanism of carton sealing machines for feeding pressure sensitive tape having an uncoated back side and an adhesively coated face and to apply the latter to end panels of an advancing carton and lap it over the opposed longitudinal edges of folded-in side flaps of such carton. It includes means to guide the tape along a path extending toward and for lap against a wipe-on applicator cylindrical roller that is movably supported for swing toward and away from a carton travel path with the adhesively coated face exposed outward away from this roller.

Abstract: Tape sealing machine elevator head control equipment which avoids tipping up a loaded and tape-sealed carton as it is being advanced to the machine discharge end for withdrawal of its trailing end from beneath lowered and loading elevator head bearing down on this carton during the application of tape thereto. Powered means is provided to raise and lower the elevator head and to dictate the loading thereof down on the carton top as the carton is being advanced through the machine. There is also provided control means responsive to the forwardly traveling carton in the vicinity of the machine discharge end section to activate the powered means for raising the elevator head up from the carton top for a relatively short period of time sufficient to relieve the carton back end of the load of the head as this carton back end is withdrawn from therebeneath.

Abstract: In an automatic carton closing machine means to support temporarily from below down-folded lateral top side flaps of each carton as it travels through forward machine section and its folded top flaps are there being anchored. Raisable and lowerable elevating head carries downwardly infolding top flaps folding means to fold top end flaps inward toward each other with this head at the carton top and then top side flaps downward thereover as carton advances to pass through forward flap anchorage equipment with the forward head section carrying some of this anchorage equipment. Such head-supported anchorage equipment includes elongated, relatively stiff plate structure which extends laterally along the carton path approximately at the elevation of the carton top so that as such side flaps are folded down and inward above the infolded top end flaps they are lapped over this plate structure as supporting means therebelow while thereafter permitting the carton to advance with slide out of this plate structure.

Abstract: Automatic carton closing machine equipped with a swingable stop paddle between a bottom prone position allowing carton advance thereover; an upright carton stopping position in the carton advancing path; and an intermediate oblique upwardly and forwardly sloping ramp position for guiding up and forward over an adhesive applicator head the upfolded bottom end flaps when dropping down because of carton contained load thereon. Specific operating mechanism which may be preferred can be pneumatically driven manipulator means so controlled and governed as to provide when desired relatively slow swinging rise from the prone position to the upright position as the clamping side guide rails separate to receive therebetween an oncoming loaded carton and then inward to opposite sides of the latter with strong clamping action as the upright stop paddle stops this carton.

Abstract: In an automatic carton closing machine, adjustable holding mechanism for a pair of elongated longitudinal clamping rails which converts them to laterally spaced side guide rails extending through the machine to define a path of carton forward travel therebetween and provides sliding clearance for all loaded cartons of a group intended to be of about the same size while accommodating small degrees of variances in widths thereof. For this purpose there are provided means to move at least one of the pair of side guide rails inward toward the other to cause them to be spaced apart with location thereof closely adjacent to opposite sides of a loaded carton of a single size group as it enters the machine for forward guided transport therebetween past flaps manipulating and anchoring mechanisms of the machine, and means to adjust such spacing between these rails to assure attainment of the desired relatively small degree of additive tolerance.

Abstract: Elevating flap-folding and flap-anchoring head of automatic carton closing machine is provided with balancing suspension by flexible tether means from support tower or equivalent in any of a variety of ways so that progressively applied forces of operational actions upon top of each carton as it is progressively advanced and closed therebeneath is easily accommodated and offset by such supporting mechanism and reaction thereof.