Case erector apparatus

• US 7,510,517 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2006
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prototype Equipment Co.
• Original Assignee: Prototype Equipment Co.
• Inventors: Goodman, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DESAI, HEMANT
• Application Number:
  US11/526,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20070072757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 493123-125, 493/309, 493/313, 493/317, 534/58, 535/64, 535/66, 535/73, 533/811, 533/821
• US Class Current: 493/313
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2100/00 Rigid or semi-rigid containers made by folding single-piece sheets, blanks or webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2100/0024 having all side walls attached to the bottom
• 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 50/0044 the boxes having their opening facing upwardly
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/78 Mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/80 Pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/802 for setting-up boxes having their opening facing upwardly
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/804 using two or more suction devices on a rotating element
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/265 Opening, erecting or setting-up boxes, cartons or carton blanks
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/305 specially adapted for boxes, cartons or carton blanks

Abstract

A case erector is provided which is easily adaptable to different sizes and shaped of R.S.C. cases and the like. The case erector includes a case erector system including a pair of vacuum heads, the range and motion of each being actuated by linear servos. A first vacuum head travels in a longitudinal direction relative to the flow of cases through the case erector. A second vacuum head travels in a direction transverse to the flow of cases through the case erector. The action of the pair of vacuum heads and the motion thereof erects or expands the cases.

Claims

1. An apparatus for erecting cases, comprising:

a first vacuum head operatively controlled by a first mechanism;

a second vacuum head operatively controlled by a second mechanism;

said first mechanism providing motion to said first vacuum head in a first longitudinal direction through said apparatus and said second mechanism providing motion to said second vacuum head in a second transverse direction, wherein there is an approximately 90 degree differential between said second direction and said first direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second mechanisms include servo mechanisms.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first vacuum head is adapted to attach to a first major case panel of the case and said second vacuum head is adapted to attach to a second major case panel opposite the first major case panel.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first vacuum head is adapted to move the first major case panel in an reverse flow direction along said first direction while said second vacuum head is adapted to move the second major panel of the case in a direction outward from said first direction along said second direction to erect the case.

5. An apparatus for erecting cases, comprising:

a frame having a longitudinal direction;

a case magazine mounted to said frame, said case magazine including a case magazine conveyor;

a case transfer system positioned adjacent the case magazine for receiving cases from said case magazine conveyor, said case transfer system including a servo controlled case transfer vacuum head;

a first vacuum head operatively controlled by a first mechanism to move along a first longitudinal direction, and positioned at a starting position to receive cases from said case transfer system; and

a second vacuum head operatively controlled by a second mechanism to move along a second direction wherein there is an approximately 90 degree differential between said second direction and said first direction.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said first and second mechanisms include servo mechanisms.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said first vacuum head is adapted to attach to a first major case panel of the case and said second vacuum head is adapted to attach to a second major case panel opposite the first major case panel.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first vacuum head is adapted to move the first major case panel in an reverse flow direction along said first direction while said second vacuum head is adapted to move the second major panel of the case in a direction outward from said first direction along said second direction to erect the case.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, including a retractable pin positioned at said starting position.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, including a side conveyor assembly positioned downstream from said first and second vacuum heads.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said side conveyor assembly includes a spaced pair of pivoting arms positioned downstream from said first and second vacuum heads to receive erected cases.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further including a pair of side belts;

each of said pair of side belts being positioned on one of said pair of pivoting arms for conveying erected cases.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said pair of side belts function to convey erected cases through one or more case loading and case closing device.