Abstract: A carton erector apparatus for setting up foldable carton blanks. The apparatus includes a carton blank storage section, a carton blank setup section and a bottom flap folding section. The carton setup section includes a carton opening assembly comprising a pivot arm assembly pivotally secured to a folding arm assembly. The pivot arm assembly is movable between first and second positions respectively parallel and perpendicular to the folding arm assembly. A first grasping device is secured to the pivot arm assembly to grasp a side panel of the forward carton in the carton blank storage section such that movement of the pivot arm assembly and the folding arm assembly into their second positions is effective to set up the carton blank into a tubular form. A second grasping device grasps an end panel of the setup carton and a third grasping device grasps the other side panel of the setup carton. Bottom flap folding assemblies are provided to infold the bottom flaps of the setup carton.

Abstract: A machine is provided for forming three-dimensional cardboard boxes starting from a blank folded flat. The machine has a supporting frame which includes a magazine containing many flat blanks for taking one blank at a time from the magazine. The machine is capable of opening the blank, closing the lower smaller flaps of the blank, closing the lower larger flaps, and ejecting a formed box. The lower smaller flaps are closed virtually simultaneously with the opening of the blank in such a manner so as to prevent interference by the smaller flaps with the adjacent larger flaps and thus facilitate closing of the smaller flaps. The opening mechanism rotates around pins, each located at a corner of a box to be formed. At least one of the rotation pins is adjustable in position. Retractable suction cup members make up the opening mechanism.

Abstract: High speed apparatus for the extraction and opening of bags contained in a magazine in which they are arranged in a flattened condition so as to form a pack. The apparatus is composed of a pair of extracting devices comprising elements provided with suction cups and supported oscillating between a position of extraction of the bags from the magazine and one of release of said bags onto a receiving device. The suction elements are actuated in opposite phase so that while one element, after extracting the related bag, is about to transfer it onto the receiving device, the other element is in the return phase. In order to prevent the extracting elements from colliding with one another, it is provided that the path followed by the elements during the extracting and transfer phase be different from the path followed during the return phase. The apparatus also provides an extended time for opening the bags.

Abstract: An arrangement for the raising and transferring flattened tubular packing container blanks (2) from a magazine (3) to a conveyor arrangement comprises suction elements (18a and 18b) arranged on arms (15) movable in a curved path away from each other. The placing of the elements is such that the suction elements in a certain position (receiving position) of the arms are directed towards each other so as to allow engagement with, and attachment to, two opposite sides of a flat blank.

Abstract: An automatic machine for placing a plastic bag into a larger feedstuff bag. The plastic bag and feedstuff bag to open by the action of two vacuum holders connected to the upper and lower vacuum tanks. A push rod is then introduced, via the opening of the plastic bag to push the plastic bag into the feedstuff bag.

Abstract: A carton erector apparatus for setting up folding carton blanks and folding their bottom flaps. The apparatus includes a carton blank storage section, a carton blank set-up section and a bottom flap folding section. The carton blank storage section includes a magazine assembly for storing and urging knocked-down carton blanks towards the carton set-up section. The carton set-up section includes a carton opening assembly comprising a pivot arm assembly pivotally secured to the folding arm assembly. The pivot arm assembly is movable between first and second positions respectively parallel and perpendicular to the folding arm assembly. A grasping arrangement is secured to the pivot arm assembly to grasp the side panel of the forward carton in the magazine assembly such that movement of the pivot arm assembly and the folding arm assembly into their second positions is effective to set-up the carton blank into a tubular form.

Abstract: A box-erecting machine is provided which comprises a frame (1) including an arrangement for receiving a stack of box blanks (17), and an arm (5) provided with suction cups (15) which can be pressed against the leading wall (16) of the forwardmost blank. The machine provides for moving the arm (5) in a horizontal direction and at right angles to the leading wall (16) of the blank (17), and for thereafter rotating the arm (5) with respect to the erected box, as well as for bringing the arm (5) back to its starting position. A roller (33) is provided at one end of a carrying arm (34), the other end of which is pivotably connected to a guide member (36) so to provide support for the box during erecting thereof.

Abstract: A carton erector apparatus for setting up folding carton blanks and unfolding their bottom flaps. The apparatus includes a carton blank storage section, a carton blank set-up section and a bottom flap folding section. The carton blank storage section includes a magazine assembly for storing and urging knocked-down carton blanks towards the carton set-up section. The carton set-up section includes a carton opening assembly mounted on a substantially horizontal carriage plate movable in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the carton blanks in the magazine assembly. A pivot arm assembly is pivotally secured to the folding arm assembly and is movable between first and second position respectively parallel and perpendicular to the folding arm assembly.

Abstract: Carriers of the top gripping type and having downwardly depending side and end walls and stacked in collapsed condition in a hopper are fed in sequence by oscillatable feeder means which engages a lower planar element of the lowermost carton in the stack of cartons and draws that element outwardly from its associated face contacting element by means of inwardly extending projections fixedly mounted on the hopper and arranged to engage parts of the upper planar elements which coincide with edge notches formed on the lower planar element so that movement of the lower planar element away from the upper planar element initiates setting up of the carrier and also effects withdrawal of the lowermost carrier from the hopper.

Abstract: Case erector and bottom sealer apparatus having a pick up assembly for grippingly engaging a flat folded case blank on the top of a plurality of case blanks in vertical stacked relationship and elevating and moving the picked up blank forwardly, an infeed conveyor assembly for receiving the picked up case blank in its forward position and moving it to an erector station, an erector assembly at the erector station for grippingly engaging opposite sides of the blank and opening the case blank, folder assemblies movable between retracted and folded positions for first folding the bottom minor flaps of the erected blank and then partially folding the bottom major flaps to retain the bottom minor flaps in a folded condition, a walking stick assembly for moving the erected case from the erector station to a compression station, a glue gun assembly for applying adhesive to the bottom minor flaps as the erected case is moved to the compression station, a compression assembly at the compression station to complete the

Abstract: An arrangement for the raising and transporting of packing container blanks is used in a packaging machine of the type which converts tubular packing container blanks to filled and sealed packing containers. The arrangement has a carrier plate which by a plurality of suction heads grips a flattened packing container blank situated in a magazine and transports the same to a conveyor (4). During the transport the packing container blank is converted with the help of stationary supports, situated in the path of movement of the blank, so that it obtains a substantially square cross-section.

Abstract: An intermittently cycled packaging machine for erecting, filling, closing and sealing cartons with hot meal adhesive. A reciprocation carton transfer mechanism is cycled in response to filling of a carton at the filling station and is operative to advance cartons in step fashion from a carton erecting station past a lower carton closing station, the filling station and an upper carton closing station with the last flap to be folded at the lead side of the carton, and the adhesive applying nozzles and the lead flap folding apparatus are located in relation to each other and to the stroke of the transfer mechanism such that adhesive is applied to the end flaps on the carton and the lead flap is infolded as the carton is advanced in a continuous forward step. Lead flap guides are provided for deflecting the lead end flap forwardly of the lead panel during erecting of the carton.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that comprises grasping suction pads designed to grip the bottom blank in a pile and, in cooperation first of all with second grasping suction pads, then with an intermediate arm, and finally with third grasping suction pads, to open the blank while it is held stably in a forming station through the contemporaneous gripping of two lateral walls that are maintained orthogonal by the first and second grasping suction pads. At the forming station, first folding devices attend to the folding of the flaps that define the bottom of the container, subsequently to which a pile of articles is placed inside the container. Once this has been done, second folding devices attend to the folding of the flaps that define the cover of the container.

Abstract: A case opening and sealing apparatus comprises a magazine having a plurality of flattened case blanks stacked therein, a conveyor underlying the magazine, and a plurality of suction cups for opening each case into tubular form for subsequent filling. Each forward case blank in the magazine is precisely ejected into proximity with the suction cups for opening purposes by a shuttle mechanism which functions to sequentially (1) engage a lower edge of the case blank to initially prevent removal thereof from the magazine, (2) move the case blank upwardly to release the lower edge thereof from the magazine, and (3) push the case blank downwardly onto the conveyor and into close proximity with the suction cups which function to open the case into tubular form.

Abstract: An erector mechanism for setting-up article carriers of the basket type from a collapsed condition to a set-up condition comprises a pivotal arm arranged to oscillate between a pair of spaced carrier erector locations. The erector locations each include a pivotal leg having suction elements to withdraw collapsed carriers from a supply and maintain them in position for setting-up and the pivotal arm includes two opposed sets of suction elements for cooperation with the suction elements of the respective pivotal legs in that position so that the carrier side walls are drawn apart to set up the carrier. The pivotal legs are timed from a cam system to withdraw carriers from a supply at each erector section alternately and the pivotal arm is synchronized by the cam system to cooperate in the carrier setting-up procedure with each pivotal leg in turn while the other pivotal leg is actuated to withdraw the next succeeding carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for erecting a rectangular carton from a flat blank. The apparatus features:a pair of parallel guide rails, one of which is elevated above the other;a hopper, located at one end of the guide rails, for holding a stack of blanks between the guide rails, so that the bottom blank of the stack is on the guide rails and is upwardly inclined in the cross-direction of the guide rails with the foldably connected edges of its side panels extending in a direction parallel to the guide rails; anda pair of suction cups that are located adjacent the other end of the guide rails and that can fold an upwardly inclined blank on the guide rails; the suctions cups being adapted to hold by suction two adjacent side panels of the blank, that are contiguous to the lower guide rail and on vertically opposite sides of the blank, and to rotate in opposite directions about the lower guide rail until the suction cups are 90.degree. apart, so that the two adjacent side panels are folded 90.degree.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for erecting folded cartons comprising a first and a second carton track established in a substantially L-shaped configuration. A carton magazine is mounted at one end of the first track whereas a carton erector is secured relative to the junction of the first and second tracks. A flap folder is mounted along the second track for folding the flaps of the carton with a carton sealer being located at the terminal end of the second carton track. A first drive provides reciprocal movement along the first carton track for serially moving the cartons from the carton magazine to the carton erector. A second drive moves the carton along the second track from the carton erector to the carton sealer. The first drive may comprise an air cylinder controlled in accordance with the movement of the second drive. The second drive may comprise a reciprocal mechanical linkage for driving the cartons along the second track.

Abstract: Blanks which are made of cardboard or the like and wherein the neighboring panels are flexible relative to each other are converted first into flat tubular preforms which are thereupon expanded prior to a change of orientation and introduction into a filling machine. The conversion is carried out on a horizontal support during stepwise transport of successive blanks along a stationary elongated one-piece flat pattern having progressively narrower portions at several successive deforming stations. At the first deforming station, a lap which is integral with one outermost panel of each blank is flexed relative to the respective outermost panel; at the second deforming station, the lap and the respective outermost panel are folded over the adjacent portion of the pattern; and the other outermost panel is bonded to the lap at the third deforming station.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for erecting folded cartons having top and bottom flaps. The apparatus comprises a carton track with a carton magazine disposed at one end thereof. First track movement means moves a folded carton on the track from the carton magazine to a first position. A top flap folder folds the top flaps of the carton to be substantially parallel to the sides of the carton. A second track movement means intermittently moves the cartons from the first station to the second end of the track. A carton erector is disposed at a position on the second track for erecting the folded carton. A bottom flap folding means is disposed at a third position on the track for folding the bottom flaps of the carton. A sealer is disposed at a fourth position on the track for sealing the bottom flaps of the erected rigid structure.