초록 ▼

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

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.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus, comprising: a first and second minor-flap folder to fold inward a first and second minor-flap on a bottom of a box, wherein the second minor-flap folder remains stationary while the first minor-flap folder moves towards the box until it comes in contact with the

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus, comprising: a first and second minor-flap folder to fold inward a first and second minor-flap on a bottom of a box, wherein the second minor-flap folder remains stationary while the first minor-flap folder moves towards the box until it comes in contact with the box and stops, thereby adjusting to a length of the box, after which the first and second minor-flap folders pivot upward and fold the first and second minor-flaps of the box; a first and second major-flap folder to fold inward a first and second major-flap on the bottom of the box after the first and second minor-flaps are folded, wherein the first and second major-flap folders move towards the box until they come in contact with the box and stop, thereby adjusting to a width of the box, after which the first and second major-flap folders pivot upward and fold the first and second major-flaps of the box; wherein the first minor-flap folder and the first and second major-flap folders pull back to their original positions when the box is removed from the apparatus, thereby allowing the apparatus to automatically adjust to length and width of boxes placed within it; and the first major-flap folder comprising a first and second roller held by a first and second arm pivoting around a first pivot point, the first roller to come in contact with a first box wall and roll upward along the first box wall as the first major-flap folder moves towards the box, the second roller to come in contact with the first major-flap and fold the first major-flap as the first major-flap folder moves towards the box. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, the second major-flap folder comprising a third and fourth roller held by a third and fourth arm pivoting around a second pivot point, the third roller to come in contact with a second box wall and roll upward along the second box wall as the second major-flap folder moves towards the box, the fourth roller to come in contact with the second major-flap and fold the second major-flap as the second major-flap folder moves towards the box. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first and second arms are at substantially right angle to each other, and the third and fourth arms are at substantially right angle to each other. 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pivoting of the first and second minor-flap folders is powered by air pressure. 5. The apparatus of claim 2, the first minor-flap folder comprising a fifth and sixth roller held by a fifth and sixth arm pivoting around a third pivot point, the fifth roller to come in contact with a third box wall and roll upward along the third box wall as the first minor-flap folder moves towards the box, the sixth roller to come in contact with the first minor-flap and fold the first minor-flap as the first minor-flap folder moves towards the box. 6. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: a first actuator to move the first minor-flap folder towards the box and away from the box; a second actuator to move the first major-flap folder towards the box and away from the box; and a third actuator to move the second major-flap folder towards the box and away from the box. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first, second and third actuators are powered by air pressure. 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first and second minor-flap folders are sufficiently narrow so as to not interfere with the first and second major-flap folders. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first and second minor-flap folders are substantially centered with respect to the width of the box, and wherein the first and second major-flap folders move evenly towards the box, thereby allowing the first and second minor-flap folders to remain substantially centered with respect to the width of the box. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first and second major-flap folders are spring loaded to prevent them from pivoting downwards. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a spring tension of the first and second major-folders is adjustable, thereby allowing adjustment of the force with which the first and second major-flap folders hold the box. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first and second major-flap folders apply sufficient force to the bottom of the box to allow loading items into the box while the box is in the apparatus. 13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the unformed box is placed within the apparatus between the first and second minor-flap folders and the first and second major-flap folders by an operator of the apparatus. 14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a counter to keep track of the number of boxes of different sizes formed by the apparatus. 15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: one or more linear motion encoders to determine the width and length of the box being formed by the apparatus. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a communication element for sending the width and length of the box to a sealer station for sealing the bottom of the box, thereby allowing the sealer station to pre-adjust to the width and length of the box.