초록 ▼

A barrel formed from a sheet of blank material includes a plurality of side wall panels for forming sides of the barrel including a front panel, a rear panel, two opposing end panels, and at least one diagonal corner panel, at least one bottom flap for forming a bottom of the barrel, and a plurality

A barrel formed from a sheet of blank material includes a plurality of side wall panels for forming sides of the barrel including a front panel, a rear panel, two opposing end panels, and at least one diagonal corner panel, at least one bottom flap for forming a bottom of the barrel, and a plurality of top flaps for forming a top of the barrel including a top front flap foldably connected to the front panel, a top rear flap foldably connected to the rear panel, and two opposing top end flaps each foldably connected to one of the end panels. The top front flap and the top rear flap include at least one closure slot. Each of the two opposing top end flaps includes at least one locking finger. The locking fingers are inserted within the closure slots for securing the top of the barrel in a closed position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A machine for forming a barrel from a blank of sheet material, said machine comprising: a body;a mandrel mounted on the body and having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of the barrel, the mandrel comprising: a central longitudinal axis; anda plurality of

1. A machine for forming a barrel from a blank of sheet material, said machine comprising: a body;a mandrel mounted on the body and having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of the barrel, the mandrel comprising: a central longitudinal axis; anda plurality of side walls substantially circumscribing the central longitudinal axis, wherein at least one side wall of the plurality of side walls is moveable towards the longitudinal axis to decrease a size of an outer periphery of the mandrel during ejection of the barrel;an ejector plate coupled to the mandrel and substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis, the ejector plate movable along the central longitudinal axis to eject the barrel from the mandrel;at least one member mounted on the body adjacent the mandrel for applying a force to the blank for at least one of folding a portion of the blank around the mandrel and securing portions of the blank together; andat least one servomechanism operatively connected to the at least one member for electrically driving and controlling movement including an angular speed and an angular position of the at least one member, wherein the angular position ranges from an unengaged position where the at least one member does not apply the force to the blank to at least one selected engaged position where the at least one member applies the force to the blank for forming the barrel, the at least one servomechanism configured to rotate the at least one member relative to the body in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction. 2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of side walls are substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis. 3. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the ejector plate is retractable along the central longitudinal axis to a position located between the plurality of side walls. 4. A machine in accordance with claim 3, wherein the ejector plate is configured to eject the barrel from the mandrel when a first end of the barrel is formed and a second end of the barrel is not formed, the ejector plate moved toward the first end to eject the barrel from the machine. 5. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the at least one member is rotatably mounted on the body. 6. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the at least one member is selectively positionable through a range of angular positions including between the at least one selected engaged position wherein the at least one member applies the force on the blank and the unengaged position wherein the at least one member withdraws the force on the blank. 7. A machine in accordance with claim 6, wherein the at least one servomechanism is configured to electrically control an angle between the at least one member and the body as the at least one member is rotated by the at least one servomechanism between the first position and the second position, wherein the first position includes the at least one member proximate the blank but not directly contacting the blank, and wherein the second position includes the at least one member proximate a face of the mandrel, the at least one member wrapping the portion of the blank around the mandrel as the at least one member rotates between the first position and the second position. 8. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the at least one member comprises a pair of retractable miter bars that are positioned on opposing sides of the mandrel, wherein the at least one servomechanism is configured to actuate the miter bars to move the miter bars towards and away from the mandrel, the miter bars are configured to press the blank against the mandrel and to fold at least one corner panel along a fold line for forming the barrel. 9. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the at least one member comprises a pair of retractable finger mechanisms that are positioned on opposing sides of the mandrel, wherein the at least one servomechanism actuates and pivots the finger mechanisms to move the finger mechanisms towards and away from the mandrel, the finger mechanisms are configured to press the blank against the mandrel and to fold at least one panel along a fold line for forming the barrel. 10. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the at least one member comprises a retractable end panel presser assembly comprising a retractable end panel presser and an actuating mechanism, wherein the at least one servomechanism actuates and pivots the end panel presser to move the end panel presser towards and away from the mandrel, the end panel presser is configured to press the blank against the mandrel and to fold at least one panel along a fold line for forming the barrel. 11. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the at least one member comprises at least one servo lifting assembly. 12. A machine according to claim 11 wherein the servo lifting assembly comprises a lateral presser assembly comprising an actuator and an engaging bar, wherein the at least one servomechanism is configured to actuate and angularly control the engaging bar to move the engaging bar towards and away from the mandrel, the engaging bar is configured to press the blank against the mandrel and to fold at least one panel along a fold line for forming the barrel. 13. A machine according to claim 11 wherein the servo lifting assembly comprises a folding arm assembly comprising a rotating mechanism and a folding arm, wherein the at least one servomechanism is configured to actuate and angularly control the folding arm to move the folding arm towards and away from the mandrel, the folding arm is configured to press the blank against the mandrel and to fold at least one panel along a fold line for forming the barrel. 14. A machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said machine is configured to form the barrel from a blank comprising: a plurality of side wall panels for forming sides of the barrel, the plurality of side wall panels comprising a front panel, a rear panel, two opposing end panels, and at least one diagonal corner panel;at least one bottom flap for forming a bottom of the barrel; anda plurality of top flaps for forming a top of the barrel, the plurality of top flaps comprising a top front flap foldably connected to the front panel, a top rear flap foldably connected to the rear panel, and two opposing top end flaps each foldably connected to one of the end panels, wherein each of the top front flap and the top rear flap include at least one closure slot, and each of the two opposing top end flaps include at least one locking finger, wherein the locking fingers are inserted within the closure slots for securing the top of the barrel in a closed position. 15. A machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one servomechanism is configured to rotate the at least one member relative to the body in the first direction at a first angular speed, the at least one servomechanism further configured to selectively control and vary the first angular speed of the at least one member to apply the force to the blank to facilitate wrapping the portion of the blank around the mandrel. 16. A machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one member comprises a first end rotatably mounted to the body and a second end opposite the first end, the at least one servomechanism configured to electrically control an angle of rotation of the at least one member to position the second end a predetermined distance from a face of the mandrel, wherein the predetermined distance positions a panel of the blank in face-to-face contact with the face of the mandrel without the at least one rotating member contacting the mandrel. 17. A machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one servomechanism is configured to adjustably control the at least one member by electrically controlling a movement of the at least one member to apply a variable force to the blank. 18. A machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ejector plate is movable from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position by an eject servomechanism configured to control a speed and a position of the ejector plate. 19. A machine in accordance with claim 18, wherein to eject the barrel, the eject servomechanism is configured to move the ejector plate from the fully retracted position to the fully extended position immediately after the at least one sidewall moves towards the longitudinal axis. 20. A machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one side wall of the plurality of side walls of the mandrel is moveable to facilitate reducing friction forces between the barrel and the mandrel during ejection of the barrel.