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 container from a blank of sheet material, said machine comprising: an outer body frame;a mandrel mounted to the body frame and having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of the container, the mandrel comprising a central longitudinal

1. A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material, said machine comprising: an outer body frame;a mandrel mounted to the body frame and having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of the container, the mandrel comprising a central longitudinal axis and a plurality of side faces, wherein the blank includes a plurality of side panels, the blank positionable beneath the mandrel;a lifting assembly coupled to the body frame, the lifting assembly movable in a first direction and an opposite, second direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel;a lateral presser assembly and a folding arm assembly coupled to the lifting assembly, the folding arm assembly comprising a support frame and a folding arm rotatable relative to the support frame; anda first servomechanism operatively connected to the lifting assembly,wherein the first servomechanism electrically controls at least one of a speed and a timing of movement of the lifting assembly independently of a speed and a timing of rotational movement of the folding arm relative to the support frame, the first servomechanism causing the lifting assembly to move towards the mandrel in the first direction and wrap a first portion of the blank around the mandrel to at least partially form the container. 2. A machine according to claim 1, further comprising a second servomechanism and a gripping mechanism mounted to the body frame for gripping and transferring the blank from an elevator section to a transfer section, the second servomechanism operatively connected to the gripping mechanism for electrically controlling the speed and position of at least a portion of the gripping mechanism. 3. A machine according to claim 1, further comprising a third servomechanism and a transfer assembly for transferring the blank to the lifting assembly, the third servomechanism operatively connected to the transfer assembly for electrically controlling the speed and position of at least a portion of the transfer assembly. 4. A machine according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of retractable miter bars that are positioned on opposing sides of the mandrel, wherein a fourth servomechanism is operatively connected to the miter bars for electrically controlling the speed and position of the miter bars, and wherein the fourth servomechanism moves the miter bars towards and away from the mandrel, and the miter bars press at least a portion of the blank against the mandrel. 5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the lateral presser assembly and the folding arm assembly each comprise an engaging bar, wherein the engaging bars press the first portion of the blank against the mandrel when the lifting assembly moves towards the mandrel. 6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein the lateral presser assembly further comprises a pivot mechanism to rotatably couple the engaging bar to the lateral presser assembly, and wherein a sixth servomechanism electrically controls an angular speed and an angular position of the engaging bar, wherein the engaging bar presses at least another portion of the blank against the mandrel. 7. A machine according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of retractable side flap finger mechanisms that are positioned on opposing sides of the mandrel, wherein a seventh servomechanism is operatively connected to the side flap finger mechanisms for electrically controlling the speed and position of the side flap finger mechanisms, wherein the seventh servomechanism moves the side flap finger mechanisms towards and away from the mandrel, and the side flap finger mechanisms press at least a portion of the blank against the mandrel. 8. A machine according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of retractable bottom front flap finger mechanisms that are positioned on opposing sides of the mandrel, wherein an eighth servomechanism is operatively connected to the bottom front flap finger mechanisms for electrically controlling the speed and position of the bottom front flap finger mechanisms, wherein the eighth servomechanism moves the bottom front flap finger mechanisms towards and away from the mandrel, and the bottom front flap finger mechanisms press at least a portion of the blank against the mandrel. 9. A machine according to claim 1, further comprising a retractable bottom back flap plate that is positioned adjacent to the mandrel, wherein a ninth servomechanism is operatively connected to the bottom back flap plate for electrically controlling the speed and position of the bottom back flap plate, wherein the ninth servomechanism moves the bottom back flap plate towards and away from the mandrel, and the bottom back flap plate presses at least a portion of the blank against the mandrel. 10. A machine according to claim 1, further comprising a retractable end panel presser assembly that is positioned adjacent to the mandrel, wherein a tenth servomechanism is operatively connected to the end panel presser assembly for electrically controlling the speed and position of the end panel presser assembly, wherein the retractable end panel presser assembly comprises a retractable end panel presser and an actuating mechanism, wherein the tenth servomechanism moves the end panel presser towards and away from the mandrel, and the end panel presser presses at least a portion of the blank against the mandrel. 11. A machine according to claim 1, further comprising an ejection assembly that is coupled to the mandrel, wherein an eleventh servomechanism is operatively connected to the ejection assembly for electrically controlling the speed and position of the ejection assembly, wherein the ejection assembly comprises an ejector plate, wherein the eleventh servomechanism moves the ejector plate towards and away from the mandrel, and the ejector plate pushes the container away from the mandrel. 12. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of side faces of the mandrel comprises eight side faces, the plurality of side faces substantially circumscribing the central longitudinal axis, and at least one of the eight side faces being inwardly movable towards the central longitudinal axis. 13. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of side faces of the mandrel comprises six side faces, the plurality of side faces substantially circumscribing the central longitudinal axis, and at least one of the six side faces being inwardly movable towards the central longitudinal axis. 14. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of side faces of the mandrel comprises four side faces, the plurality of side faces substantially circumscribing the central longitudinal axis, and at least one of the four side faces being inwardly movable towards the central longitudinal axis. 15. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the folding arm assembly further comprises a second servomechanism operatively connected to the folding arm assembly for electrically controlling movement of the folding arm relative to the support frame including an angular speed and an angular position of the folding arm, wherein the angular position ranges from an unengaged position where the folding arm does not apply the force to the blank to at least one selected engaged position where the folding arm applies the force to the blank for forming the container, the second servomechanism rotates the folding arm relative to the support frame in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction. 16. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the first servomechanism is a servo motor. 17. A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material, said machine comprising: an outer body frame;a mandrel mounted to the body frame and having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of the container, the mandrel comprising a central longitudinal axis and a plurality of side faces, wherein the blank includes a plurality of side panels, the blank positionable beneath the mandrel;a lifting assembly coupled to the body frame, the lifting assembly movable in a first direction and an opposite, second direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel;a lateral presser assembly and a folding arm assembly coupled to the lifting assembly, the folding arm assembly comprising a support frame and a folding arm rotatable relative to the support frame, wherein the lifting assembly is configured to move the folding arm assembly in the first direction and the second direction; anda first servomechanism operatively connected to the lifting assembly,wherein the first servomechanism electrically controls at least one of a speed and a timing of movement of the lifting assembly independently of a speed and a timing of rotational movement of the folding arm relative to the support frame, the first servomechanism causing the lifting assembly to move the folding arm assembly towards the mandrel in the first direction, the first servomechanism further causing the lifting assembly to position a first portion of the blank against the mandrel. 18. The machine according to claim 17, wherein the first servomechanism is a servo motor. 19. A machine according to claim 17, further comprising a second servomechanism and a gripping mechanism mounted to the frame for gripping and transferring the blank from an elevator section to a transfer section, the second servomechanism operatively connected to the gripping mechanism for electrically controlling the speed and position of at least a portion of the gripping mechanism. 20. A machine according to claim 17, further comprising a third servomechanism and a transfer assembly for transferring the blank to the lifting assembly, the third servomechanism operatively connected to the transfer assembly for electrically controlling the speed and position of at least a portion of the transfer assembly. 21. A machine according to claim 17, further comprising a pair of retractable miter bars that are positioned on opposing sides of the mandrel, wherein a fourth servomechanism is operatively connected to the miter bars for electrically controlling the speed and position of the miter bars, and wherein the fourth servomechanism moves the miter bars towards and away from the mandrel, and the miter bars press at least a portion of the blank against the mandrel. 22. A machine according to claim 17, wherein the lateral presser assembly and the folding arm assembly each comprise an engaging bar, wherein the engaging bars press the first portion of the blank against the mandrel when the lifting assembly moves towards the mandrel. 23. A machine according to claim 22, wherein the lateral presser assembly further comprises a pivot mechanism to rotatably couple the engaging bar to the lateral presser assembly, and where a sixth servomechanism electrically controls an angular speed and an angular position of the engaging bar, wherein the engaging bar presses at least another portion of the blank against the mandrel. 24. A machine according to claim 17, further comprising a pair of retractable side flap finger mechanisms that are positioned on opposing sides of the mandrel, wherein a seventh servomechanism is operatively connected to the side flap finger mechanisms for electrically controlling the speed and position of the side flap finger mechanisms, wherein the seventh servomechanism moves the side flap finger mechanisms towards and away from the mandrel, and the side flap finger mechanisms press at least a portion of the blank against the mandrel. 25. A machine according to claim 17, further comprising a pair of retractable bottom front flap finger mechanisms that are positioned on opposing sides of the mandrel, wherein an eighth servomechanism is operatively connected to the bottom front flap finger mechanisms for electrically controlling the speed and position of the bottom front flap finger mechanisms, wherein the eighth servomechanism moves the bottom front flap finger mechanisms towards and away from the mandrel, and the bottom front flap finger mechanisms press at least a portion of the blank against the mandrel. 26. A machine according to claim 17, further comprising a retractable bottom back flap plate that is positioned adjacent to the mandrel, wherein a ninth servomechanism is operatively connected to the bottom back flap plate for electrically controlling the speed and position of the bottom back flap plate, wherein the ninth servomechanism moves the bottom back flap plate towards and away from the mandrel, and the bottom back flap plate presses at least a portion of the blank against the mandrel. 27. A machine according to claim 17, further comprising a retractable end panel presser assembly that is positioned adjacent to the mandrel, wherein a tenth servomechanism is operatively connected to the end panel presser assembly for electrically controlling the speed and position of the end panel presser assembly, wherein the retractable end panel presser assembly comprises a retractable end panel presser and an actuating mechanism, wherein the tenth servomechanism moves the end panel presser towards and away from the mandrel, and the end panel presser presses at least a portion of the blank against the mandrel. 28. A machine according to claim 17, further comprising an ejection assembly that is coupled to the mandrel, wherein an eleventh servomechanism is operatively connected to the ejection assembly for electrically controlling the speed and position of the ejection assembly, wherein the ejection assembly comprises an ejector plate, wherein the eleventh servomechanism moves the ejector plate towards and away from the mandrel, and the ejector plate pushes the container away from the mandrel. 29. A machine according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of side faces of the mandrel comprises eight side faces, the plurality of side faces substantially circumscribing the central longitudinal axis, and at least one of the eight side faces being inwardly movable towards the central longitudinal axis. 30. A machine according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of side faces of the mandrel comprises six side faces, the plurality of side faces substantially circumscribing the central longitudinal axis, and at least one of the six side faces being inwardly movable towards the central longitudinal axis. 31. A machine according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of side faces of the mandrel comprises four side faces, the plurality of side faces substantially circumscribing the central longitudinal axis, and at least one of the four side faces being inwardly movable towards the central longitudinal axis.