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 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 a box cutout;
(d) a first detector configured to detect the presence of a box cutout and trigger application of glue thereto;
(e) a backstop configured to halt movement of a box cutout in the plunging area;
(f) a plunger located in the plunging area configured to apply force to a central portion of a box cutout disposed below the plunger so as to effect downward movement of such a box cutout;
(g) a second detector configured to detect the presence of a box cutout and trigger plunging thereof by the plunger;
(h) one or more structures positioned and configured to effect at least partial folding of a box cutout being plunged by the plunger;
(i) one or more guide wheels located below the plunging area, the guide wheels being configured to guide a box cutout being plunged by the plunger;
(j) opposed grab wheels located below the one or more guide wheels, 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; and
(k) a collector configured to collect a box cutout propelled downward by the grab wheels and place such collected box cutout in a collection pen;
(l) wherein the backstop and one of the drive wheels are each positioned relative to the plunger based on dimensions of a particular box cutout; and
(m) 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 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 a box cutout; (d) a first detector configured to detect the presence of a box cutout and trigger application of glue thereto; (e) a backstop configured to halt movement of a box cutout in the plunging area; (f) a plunger located in the plunging area configured to apply force to a central portion of a box cutout disposed below the plunger so as to effect downward movement of such a box cutout; (g) a second detector configured to detect the presence of a box cutout and trigger plunging thereof by the plunger; (h) one or more structures positioned and configured to effect at least partial folding of a box cutout being plunged by the plunger; (i) one or more guide wheels located below the plunging area, the guide wheels being configured to guide a box cutout being plunged by the plunger; (j) opposed grab wheels located below the one or more guide wheels, 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; and (k) a collector configured to collect a box cutout propelled downward by the grab wheels and place such collected box cutout in a collection pen; (l) wherein the backstop and one of the drive wheels are each positioned relative to the plunger based on dimensions of a particular box cutout; and (m) 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, 17)
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18. A machine configured to transition a box cutout from a flat unfolded configuration to a collapsed 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) a plunger located in the plunging area configured to apply force to a central portion of a box cutout disposed below the plunger so as to effect downward movement of such a box cutout; (c) a detector configured to detect the presence of a box cutout and trigger plunging thereof by the plunger; and (d) 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; (e) wherein the backstop is positioned relative to the plunger based on dimensions of a particular box cutout; and (f) 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 (19)
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20. A machine configured to transition a box cutout from a flat unfolded configuration to a collapsed 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) a plunger located in the plunging area configured to apply force to a central portion of a box cutout disposed below the plunger so as to effect downward movement of such a box cutout; (c) a detector configured to detect the presence of a box cutout and trigger plunging thereof by the plunger; and (d) 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.
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Specification