Apparatus and methods relating to corrugated materials, containers, and packaging
First Claim
1. A machine configured to transition a box cutout from a flat unfolded configuration to a collapsed folded box configuration, the machine comprising:
- (a) one or more drive wheels configured to drive a box cutout towards a plunging area;
(b) one or more freely rotating wheels, each freely rotating wheel being disposed directly opposite to one of the one or more first drive wheels;
(c) one or more glue applicators configured to apply glue to the box cutout;
(d) a first detector configured to detect the presence of the box cutout and trigger application of glue thereto;
(e) a backstop configured to halt movement of the box cutout in the plunging area;
(f) one or more rotational fingers configured to effect folding of the box cutout disposed in the plunging area;
(g) one or more clamps configured to hold the box cutout in position during folding by the one or more rotational fingers;
(h) a plunger located in the plunging area configured to apply force to a central portion of the box cutout disposed below the plunger so as to effect,(1) at least partial collapsing of the box cutout, and(2) downward movement of the box cutout;
(i) a second detector configured to detect the presence of the box cutout and trigger folding thereof by the one or more rotational fingers and plunging thereof by the plunger;
(j) one or more guide wheels located below the plunging area, the guide wheels being configured to engage the box cutout being plunged by the plunger;
(k) opposed grab wheels located below the one or more guide wheels, the grab wheels being configured to engage the box cutout that has been plunged downward by the plunger, facilitate collapse of the box cutout, and propel the box cutout further downward; and
(l) a collector configured to collect the box cutout propelled downward by the grab wheels and place such collected box cutout in a collection pen;
(m) wherein the backstop and one of the drive wheels are each positioned relative to the plunger based on dimensions of the particular box cutout being constructed; and
(n) wherein a length of a plunging head of the plunger corresponds to the length of a portion of a score line of the particular box cutout.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A machine for transitioning a box cutout from a flat configuration to a collapsed box configuration includes a first drive wheel configured to drive a box cutout towards a plunging area; a plunger configured to apply force to a central portion of a bottom panel of the box cutout so as to fold the box about a lateral bisecting axis and propel at least a portion of the box cutout downward; and opposed second and third drive wheels configured to grab a box cutout propelled downward by the plunger and further draw the box cutout downward into a collapsed box configuration within a collection area. A box cutout transitioned to a collapsed box configuration in this manner may include a bottom panel having plurality of unbroken minor score lines and broken major score lines.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A machine configured to transition a box cutout from a flat unfolded configuration to a collapsed folded box configuration, the machine comprising:
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(a) one or more drive wheels configured to drive a box cutout towards a plunging area; (b) one or more freely rotating wheels, each freely rotating wheel being disposed directly opposite to one of the one or more first drive wheels; (c) one or more glue applicators configured to apply glue to the box cutout; (d) a first detector configured to detect the presence of the box cutout and trigger application of glue thereto; (e) a backstop configured to halt movement of the box cutout in the plunging area; (f) one or more rotational fingers configured to effect folding of the box cutout disposed in the plunging area; (g) one or more clamps configured to hold the box cutout in position during folding by the one or more rotational fingers; (h) a plunger located in the plunging area configured to apply force to a central portion of the box cutout disposed below the plunger so as to effect, (1) at least partial collapsing of the box cutout, and (2) downward movement of the box cutout; (i) a second detector configured to detect the presence of the box cutout and trigger folding thereof by the one or more rotational fingers and plunging thereof by the plunger; (j) one or more guide wheels located below the plunging area, the guide wheels being configured to engage the box cutout being plunged by the plunger; (k) opposed grab wheels located below the one or more guide wheels, the grab wheels being configured to engage the box cutout that has been plunged downward by the plunger, facilitate collapse of the box cutout, and propel the box cutout further downward; and (l) a collector configured to collect the box cutout propelled downward by the grab wheels and place such collected box cutout in a collection pen; (m) wherein the backstop and one of the drive wheels are each positioned relative to the plunger based on dimensions of the particular box cutout being constructed; and (n) wherein a length of a plunging head of the plunger corresponds to the length of a portion of a score line of the particular box cutout. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A machine configured to transition a box cutout from a flat unfolded configuration to a collapsed folded box configuration, the machine comprising:
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(a) a backstop configured to halt forward movement of a box cutout in a plunging area; (b) one or more rotational fingers configured to effect folding of a box cutout disposed in the plunging area; (c) a plunger configured to apply force to a central portion of a box cutout disposed below the plunger so as to effect (1) at least partial collapsing of that box cutout and (2) downward movement of that box cutout, the plunger comprising a plunging head configured to engage such a box cutout; (d) a detector configured to detect the presence of a box cutout and trigger folding thereof by the one or more rotational fingers and plunging thereof by the plunger; and (e) opposed grab wheels located below the plunging area, the grab wheels being configured to engage a box cutout that has been plunged downward by the plunger, facilitate collapse of such box cutout, and propel such box cutout further downward; (f) wherein the backstop is positioned relative to the plunger based on dimensions of a particular box cutout; and (g) wherein a length of the plunging head of the plunger corresponds to the length of a portion of a score line of the particular box cutout. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A machine configured to transition a box cutout from a flat unfolded configuration to a collapsed folded box configuration, the machine comprising:
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(a) one or more drive wheels configured to drive a box cutout towards a plunging area; (b) one or more freely rotating wheels, each freely rotating wheel being disposed directly opposite to one of the one or more first drive wheels; (c) one or more glue applicators configured to apply glue to the box cutout; (d) a first detector configured to detect the presence of the box cutout and trigger application of glue thereto; (e) a backstop configured to halt movement of the box cutout in the plunging area; (f) one or more rotational fingers configured to effect folding of the box cutout disposed in the plunging area; (g) one or more clamps configured to hold the box cutout in position during folding by the one or more rotational fingers; (h) a plunger located in the plunging area configured to apply force to a central portion of the box cutout disposed below the plunger so as to effect at least partial collapsing and downward movement of the box cutout; (i) a second detector configured to detect the presence of the box cutout and trigger folding thereof by the one or more rotational fingers and plunging thereof by the plunger; (j) one or more guide wheels located below the plunging area, the guide wheels being configured to engage the box cutout being plunged by the plunger; (k) opposed grab wheels located below the one or more guide wheels, the grab wheels being configured to engage the box cutout that has been plunged downward by the plunger, facilitate collapse of the box cutout, and propel the box cutout further downward; and (l) a collector configured to collect the box cutout propelled downward by the grab wheels and place such collected box cutout in a collection pen; (m) wherein the backstop and one of the drive wheels are each positioned relative to the plunger based on dimensions of the particular box cutout being constructed; (n) wherein a length of a plunging head of the plunger corresponds to the length of a portion of a score line of the particular box cutout; (o) wherein the machine further includes a cutout receiving area configured to receive a plurality of box cutouts for processing by the machine; and (p) wherein the machine further includes a deflector disposed adjacent the plunger, the deflector being shaped and positioned to deflect a box cutout downward. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification