초록 ▼

A method of and an apparatus for erecting a carton, and a method of and an apparatus for closing a carton. The carton has 180° fold lines with a compressed area at each end and a slit joining the compressed areas. A carton is erected by moving the blank in a first direction against a stop to form a

A method of and an apparatus for erecting a carton, and a method of and an apparatus for closing a carton. The carton has 180° fold lines with a compressed area at each end and a slit joining the compressed areas. A carton is erected by moving the blank in a first direction against a stop to form a first set of 90° folds, holding the blank stationary with a suction while pushing the blank in a second direction to form a second set of 90° folds, erecting the carton. A filled carton is closed by advancing it through the central opening of a V-shaped member to increasingly fold the carton top panels. The closed carton is sealed by advancing it through a second V-shaped member and into contact with a pivotally supported sealing device.

대표청구항 ▼

1. Apparatus for automatically erecting a carton from a carton blank comprising a pair of blanks, each blank including a side panel having substantially parallel first and second end edges and substantially parallel top and bottom edges extending substantially perpendicular to the end edges; an end

1. Apparatus for automatically erecting a carton from a carton blank comprising a pair of blanks, each blank including a side panel having substantially parallel first and second end edges and substantially parallel top and bottom edges extending substantially perpendicular to the end edges; an end panel having first and second side edges substantially parallel with the side panel end edges, and having substantially parallel top and bottom edges, said end panel extending from said side panel with the end panel first side edge joined to the side panel second end edge to define a first 90° fold line and with the end panel top and bottom edges being extensions of the side panel top and bottom edges respectively; a top panel having first and second side edges substantially parallel with the side panel top edge, and having substantially parallel first and second end edges, said top panel extending from said side panel with the top panel first side edge joined to the side panel top edge to define a second 90° fold line and with the top panel first and second end edges being extensions of the side panel first and second end edges respectively; a bottom panel having first and second side edges substantially parallel with the side panel bottom edge, and having substantially parallel first and second end edges, said bottom panel extending from said side panel with the bottom panel first side edge joined to the side panel bottom edge to define a third 90° fold line and with the bottom panel first and second end edges being extensions of the side panel first and second end edges respectively; a first, top fold-in panel having first and second end edges substantially parallel with the end panel top edge, and having substantially parallel first and second side edges, said first fold-in panel extending from said end panel with the first fold-in panel first end edge joined to the end panel top edge to define a fourth 90° fold line, with the first fold-in panel side edges being extensions of the end panel first and second side edges respectively, and with the first fold-in panel first side edge joined to the top panel second end edge to define a first 180° fold line; a second, bottom fold-in panel having first and second end edges substantially parallel with the end panel bottom edge, and having substantially parallel first and second side edges, said second fold-in panel extending from said end panel with the second fold-in panel first end edge joined to the end panel bottom edge to define a fifth 90° fold line, with the second fold-in panel side edges being extensions of the end panel first and second side edges respectively, and with the second fold-in panel first side edge joined to the bottom panel second end edge to define a second 180° fold line; each fold-in panel having 180° fold lines extending from a point on the second end edge thereof substantially midway between the first and second side edges thereof to points at the intersections of the first end edge thereof and the first and second side edges thereof, the pair of blanks overlying each other with the end panel of one blank overlying a portion of and joined to the side panel of the other blank thereof at their respective second side and first end edges and the fold-in panels of the one blank overlying portions of and joined to the top and bottom panels of the other blank at their respective second side and first end edges, the joined panels between the blanks defining further fold lines at their joined edges, said apparatus comprising:an erecting surface for supporting said carton blank with said pair of blanks overlying each other; a stop member on said erecting surface; a first actuator for advancing the carton blank in a first direction against the stop member to cause the blanks thereof to form 90° folds on the first 90° fold line, the first and second 180° fold lines, and the further fold lines to partially erect a carton; a vacuum source for applying suction beneath the bottom panel of the underlying one of the blanks, a second actuator for pressing against the partially erected carton on a side of the partially erected carton opposite said one of the bottom panels and advancing the carton blank in a direction perpendicular to the first direction while suction from the vacuum source maintains the bottom panel of the underlying one of the blanks substantially stationary to cause the blanks to form 90° folds on the 90° fold lines defined between the bottom panels and their adjoining side panels and between the bottom fold-in panels and their adjoining end panels and to form 180° folds on the 180° fold lines in the bottom fold-in panels and on the 180° fold lines and on the further fold lines defined between the bottom fold-in panels and their adjoining bottom panels to close the bottom of the partially erected carton; and a sealing mechanism for sealing the bottom panels of the two blanks together. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first actuator is provided adjacent one end of the erecting surface, said second actuator is provided adjacent one side of the erecting surface, and said vacuum source applies said suction beneath the bottom panel of the underlying one of the blanks adjacent the corner of the erecting surface remote from the actuators.3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said vacuum source applies said suction through openings in a vacuum belt positioned adjacent said corner of the erecting surface.4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said vacuum belt moves a carton from said erecting position over said sealing mechanism for sealing the bottom panels of the two blanks together.5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sealing mechanism is a tape sealing unit.6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for closing the top of a carton erected by said apparatus after the carton has been filled.7. An apparatus for automatically closing the bottom of a partially erected carton having side panels and end panels which bridge the side panels, and first and second bottom panels and first and second bottom fold-in panels which bridge the bottom panels adjacent respective ones of the side and end panels, the apparatus comprising:an arrangement for securing one of the bottom panels of the partially erected carton in an erecting position while the bottom panels and bottom fold-in panels are folded inwardly; an actuator for pressing against the partially erected carton on a side of the partially erected carton opposite said one of the bottom panels in a direction to advance the carton to cause the first and second bottom panels and the first and second bottom fold-in panels to fold inwardly, closing the bottom of the carton, while the one of the bottom panels is secured in said erecting position. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said arrangement includes a vacuum source for applying suction beneath the one bottom panel for securing the one bottom panel in said erecting position.9. The apparatus according to claim 7, including a sealing mechanism for sealing the closed bottom panels together.10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said actuator advances in the direction of said one bottom panel for causing the bottom panels and bottom fold-in panels to fold inwardly, closing the bottom of the carton.