Automatic case erector and sealer

• US 4,553,954 A
• Filed: 09/16/1983
• Issued: 11/19/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Western Precooling Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Western Precooling Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Rundle, Gregory E., Sewell, Peter C., Hanson, Karl L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Godici, Nicholas P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROWAN, KURT C
• Application Number:
  US06/532,824
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 493/122, 493/126, 493/127, 493/183, 493/309, 493/310, 493/162, 493/130, 493/131
• US Class Current: 493/309
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2100/00 Rigid or semi-rigid containers made by folding single-piece sheets, blanks or webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2120/30 collapsible; temporarily collapsed during manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/00 Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/004 Closing boxes
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/005 involving a particular layout of the machinery or relative arrangement of its subunits
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/006 Controlling; Regulating; Measuring; Improving safety
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/78 Mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/80 Pneumatically

Abstract

An automatic case erector and sealer apparatus useful in the erecting of packaging cases, boxes and cartons from flats, utilizing case puncturing and gripping pins, spraying adhesive onto the interior surfaces of the case flaps, while the flaps are in a semi-open position, and sealing the minor and major flaps of the erected flats with compression to thereby secure the major and minor flaps for subsequent filling of the formed case, box or carton with consumer goods.

Claims

1. A method of gripping a penetratable case flat on a case erecting apparatus which comprises impaling an edge of the flat with a sharp pin which extends into the flat between and parallel to the two outside surfaces forming the flat, wherein the case flat is constructed of corrugated cardboard and the pin extends into one of the spaces formed by the corrugation of the cardboard.

2. A method of holding and erecting a rectangular shaped case from a case flat comprising:

(a) ejecting the case flat from a magazine of case flats in a manner such that two edges of the case flat are impinged respectively upon at least two article impaling means, one of the impaling means being mounted on a first support means, and the second of the impaling means being mounted on a second support means, the two support means being parallel to one another, with the first and second impaling means on the first and second support means facing one another, the first and second support means being pivotally movable in relationship to one another;

(b) the two edges of the case flat once being respectively impinged and gripped on the first and second impaling means, being pivotally opened from the parallel closed position of (a) to a position where the sides of the cases are at right angles to one another, by pivotally opening the first support means and the second support means so that they are at right angles to one another.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the case once opened is moved away from the case flat magazine.

4. A method according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the support means can be raised or lowered in relation to the case flat magazine.

5. A method according to claim 2 wherein flaps of the erected case are subsequently adhesively sealed by applying cold liquid adhesive on either or both of the interior surfaces of major and the exterior surfaces of minor flaps of the case while the major flaps are in only a slightly raised position, utilizing a liquid adhesive applicator means which can penetrate into the space between the slightly raised major flaps and closed minor flaps of the case body and apply liquid adhesive onto either or both of the interior surfaces of the major and the exterior surfaces of the minor flaps of the case.

6. A method according to claim 2 wherein the interior surfaces of major flaps and exterior surfaces of the minor flaps of the erected case are sprayed with adhesive comprising:

(a) first electric sensing means being capable of detecting the leading edge of a case as it moves laterally past the first electric switching means;

(b) a second electric sensing means arranged in a path with the first electric sensing means parallel to the path of travel of the case, the second sensing means being capable of detecting the leading edge of the case as it moves laterally past the second electrical sensing means;

(c) a third electric sensing means arranged in a path with the first and second electric sensing means, parallel to the path of travel of the case, the third sensing means being capable of detecting the leading edge of the case as it moves laterally past the third sensing means, the third sensing means being connected to an electrical power supply, the third sensing means sending an electrical signal to a solenoid which upon receiving the signal actuates an air valve which in turn actuates a liquid adhesive spray means which commences to spray adhesive upon either or both of the interior surfaces of the major and the exterior surfaces of the minor flaps of the case;

(d) a fourth electrical sensing means arranged in a path with the first, second and third electrical sensing means parallel to the path of travel of the case, the fourth electrical sensing means being capable of detecting the leading edge of the case as it moves laterally past the fourth sensing means;

the fourth sensing means being connected to an electrical power supply and upon sensing the leading edge of the case, emits an electrical signal to the solenoid which deactivates the solenoid, which in turn stops further spraying of liquid adhesive on the flaps of the case;

(e) the first electrical signal (a), upon detecting the trailing edge of the case as it moves laterally by the row of electrical sensors, being connected to an electrical power supply source, emitting a signal to the solenoid thereby causing the solenoid to activate an air valve, which in turn causes the adhesive head to spray adhesive on either or both of the interior surfaces of the major and the external surfaces of the minor flaps of the case at a second location; and

(f) the second electrical sensor (b) upon detecting the trailing edge of the case as it moves laterally by the row of electrical sensors being connected to an electrical power supply source, emitting a signal to the solenoid, which thereby deactivates the solenoid, and in turn stops the spraying of adhesive upon the flaps of the case.

7. An apparatus for gripping sheet material on a case erecting apparatus comprising:

(a) a support means having a raised surface thereon; and

(b) article impaling means extending to the raised surface for impaling each of at least two edges of the sheet material and holding the sheet material against the raised surface, the article impaling means including one end secured against to the raised surface, and a free end spaced above the raised surface, wherein the article impaling means is secured to the support means by a retaining block.

8. An automatic case erecting and sealing apparatus comprising:

(a) means for receiving a case flat from a supply of case flats;

(b) means for penetrating each of at least two edges of the case flat, thereby gripping same;

(c) means for causing the penetrating means to move the case flat wherein the penetration means opens the case flat while it is moving the case flat; and

(d) a random glue switch means which can determine the front or trailing edge of a case as it is moved along the apparatus, and regulate the spray time and location of adhesive spray on the flaps of the case.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 which includes minor flap tucker means for first tucking the minor flaps of an erected case, and major flap tuckers for tucking the major flaps of the erected case after the minor flaps have been tucked.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 which includes two pairs of rotatable fingers, one pair positioned on each side of the apparatus, each pair serving to grip the two major flaps of the case and holding the case down as the pins are withdrawn from the case.

19. An apparatus according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the protrusion means and support means are mounted on the movable means such that one support means remains parallel to the moving means as the support means is moved upwardly or downwardly.

26. An apparatus according to claim 10 including at least two switches, the switches having sensors mounted thereon, the sensors being capable of detecting the leading and trailing edges of objects as they pass by the switches, the pair of switches, upon being activated by the sensors, respectively emitting an electrical signal by being connected to an electrical power source, and a sensor activating means associated with the orientation of the case, whereby the case, upon being moved along the apparatus, moves the activating means, which in turn triggers the sensor of the switch.

11. An automatic case erecting and sealing apparatus comprising:

(a) means for receiving a case flat from a supply of case flats;

(b) means for penetrating each of at least two edges of the case flat, thereby gripping same;

(c) means for causing the penetrating means to move the case flat; and

(d) means for adhesive spraying the interior surface of at least one flap of the case without causing the flap to be completely open relative to the case body.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 which includes a pressure applicator for applying pressure to seal a case flap once the interior surface thereof has been sprayed with adhesive.

22. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein a pair of adhesive nozzle means and a corresponding pair of air nozzles, in combination, are mounted on one support body.

23. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the nozzle mounting means is affixed to a thin mounting and supply fin.

24. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the nozzle mounting means is mounted on a thin mounting and supply fin which has therein a plurality of distinct channels which can be used respectively to supply liquid adhesive and air respectively to the adhesive nozzles and the air nozzles.

25. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the apparatus includes on-off adhesive and air actuator means for starting and stopping the flow of liquid adhesive from the nozzle and the emission of air from the air nozzle.

13. An apparatus for gripping and erecting case flats, taken from a magazine of case flats, comprising:

(a) at least two sharp, pointed protrusions, one mounted on one support means, the second mounted on a second support means, the two support means being pivotally arranged in association with one another whereby the two support means can move from a closed position where the two support means are parallel to one another, to a position where the two support means are at right angles to one another; and

(b) means for removing one case flat from the case flat magazine and causing the two protrusions to penetrate into two respective edges of the case flat, one protrusion being forced into one edge of the case flat, and the second protrusion being forced into the second edge of the case flat.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein respective guide means are mounted on the first and second support means and are respectively located immediately ahead of the sharp points of the two protrusions.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the protrusion is a pair of sharp pointed pins arranged in parallel orientation to one another and of approximately equal distance, the points extending in the same direction, with a dome positioned immediately below the sharp points of the pair of pins, the height of the dome being slightly less than the height of the points above the support means.

16. An apparatus according to claim 13, 14 or 15 wherein the protrusion means comprises at least two sets of pins supported on the first support means, and at least two pairs of pins are supported on the second support means.

17. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the protrusion means and the support means are mounted on a movable means whereby the protrusion means and support means can be moved towards or away from the case flat magazine.

18. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the protrusion means and support means can be moved upwardly and downwardly as well as towards or away from the case flat magazine.

20. An apparatus according to claim 13 including an adhesive spray apparatus comprising:

(a) adhesive nozzle means for spraying liquid adhesive onto at least one flap of the case flat; and

(b) air nozzle means mounted proximate to and at right angles to the direction of adhesive emission from the adhesive nozzle spray means whereby adhesive emitted from the adhesive nozzle is caused by air emitted from the air nozzle to spray at right angles to the nozzle.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the adhesive spray air nozzle is rotatable.

27. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the switches are connected electrically to a solenoid actuation means, which activates an air valve, which then delivers compressed air to a glue head, the glue head being capable of spraying liquid adhesive onto the case.

28. A method of gripping a penetratable flat or erected flat on a case erecting apparatus which comprises impaling an edge of the flat with a sharp pin which extends into the flat between and parallel to the two outside surfaces forming the flat wherein the flat is constructed of corrugated cardboard and the pin extends into one of the spaces formed by the corrugation of the cardboard.

29. A method of gripping a penetratable flat or erected flat on a case erecting apparatus which comprises impaling an edge of the flat with a flat impaling means which extends into the flat between and parallel to the two outside surfaces forming the flat, wherein the flat is constructed of corrugated cardboard and the flat impaling means extends into one of the spaces formed by the corrugation of the cardboard.

30. An automatic case erecting and sealing apparatus comprising:

(a) means for receiving a case flat from a supply of case flats;

(b) means for penetrating at least two edges of the case flat, thereby gripping same;

(c) means for causing the penetrating means to move the case flat wherein the penetration means opens the case flat while it is moving the case flat; and

(d) a random glue switch means which can determine the front or trailing edge of a case as it is moved along the apparatus, and regulate the application time and location of adhesive application on the flaps of the case.

31. An automatic case erecting and sealing apparatus comprising:

(a) means for receiving a case flat from a supply of case flats;

(b) means for penetrating at least two edges of the case flat, thereby gripping same;

(c) means for causing the penetrating means to move the case flat; and

(d) means for applying adhesive to the interior surface of at least one flap of the case without causing the flap to be completely open relative to the case body.