Apparatus for producing cartons

Abstract

An apparatus for producing a carton whereby the carton is initially obtained in the folded condition for storage and handling and whereby the carton can then be unfolded for use. The apparatus is designed for handling different types of blanks which, generally speaking, include a plurality of panels comprising side, top and bottom panels of the carton. The bottom panels are provided with flaps, and a first folding structure is provided for folding the bottom panels over onto adjacent side panels. Simultaneously, second folding means serve to fold flaps over onto the associated bottom panels, and adhesive applying means serve to locate adhesive on the blanks in selected positions. A third folding means folds the outside ends of the blank over onto the inside portions of the blank at which time folded flaps become adhesively secured. Additional adhesive or other handling means secure the outside ends of the assembly together whereby a flat condition of the carton is obtained. The carton can then be unfolded when ready for use and will automatically assume a position for loading.

We claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for producing a folded carton comprising a bed for supporting a carton blank, said blank including side panels and bottom panels connected to the side panels, means defined by said bottom panels for holding the bottom panels together when the carton is unfolded, said bottom panels being situated in side-by-side relationship in said blank, flaps defined by at least one of said bottom panels, first folding means for folding the bottom panels in over-lying relationship relative to adjacent side panels, .Iadd.including flippers engaging said bottom panels to move the bottom panels upwardly, said flaps being formed on a pair of bottom panels, .Iaddend.second folding means .Iadd.aligned with said first folding means in a direction transverse to the movement of said carbon blank .Iaddend.for .[.engaging.]. .Iadd.restraining .Iaddend.said flaps to thereby .Iadd.reversely .Iaddend.fold said flaps over onto the bottom panels carrying the flaps, .Iadd.said second folding means including a pair of stationary ploughs positioned in line with said flaps and engaging said flaps during upward movement of the bottom panels, said flaps being driven against the ploughs to fold the flaps over onto the associated panels, .Iaddend.means for applying adhesive to selected surface portions of said bottom panels, third folding means for folding each end of the blank over onto inside portions of the blank, each blank end comprising a side and bottom panel, the adhesive on said blank being positioned for contact with said flaps to secure said ends in the folded position, and means for securing said ends together. 
     
     
       2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means for releasably positioning said folding means whereby the folding means can be laterally adjusted to accommodate carton blanks of different designs. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means for conveying a blank toward said first folding means, said blank being disposed on said bed with the outer edges of said bottom panels extending in a line perpendicular to the direction of movement of the blank, said outer edges comprising the leading edge of the blank during movement toward said first folding means. .[.4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said first folding means comprise flippers engaging said bottom panels to move the bottom panels upwardly, said flaps being formed on a pair of the bottom panels, and including a pair of stationary ploughs positioned in line with said flaps and engaging said flaps during upward movement of the bottom panels, said flaps being driven against the ploughs to fold the 
     
     
        flaps over onto the associated panels..]. 5. An apparatus in accordance with claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.including an oscillating shaft, said flippers being tied to said shaft for movement therewith, said flippers defining engaging ends movable from a position below the plane of movement 
     
     
        of a blank to a position above said plane of movement. 6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said ploughs define engaging ends located above the plane of movement of said blank for engagement with said flaps upon upward movement of the bottom panels in response to the operation of 
     
     
        said flippers. .[.7.  An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 including means supporting said ploughs comprising members extending around said 
     
     
        shaft, said shaft being movable within said supporting members..]. 8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said adhesive is applied to areas on bottom panels adjacent the panels carrying said flaps, said flaps 
     
     
        being folded into contact with said areas by said third folding means. 9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 including additional flap portions located adjacent said areas, said additional flap portions being free of engagement with other areas of the blank, said additional flap portions serving as means for locking the carton in position when 
     
     
        unfolded. 10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said flaps comprise triangular shaped members positioned at the corners of bottom panels, said first mentioned flaps and said additional flaps being located 
     
     
        in side-by-side relationship in the unfolded blank. 11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for holding the bottom panels together comprise tabs formed in alternating bottom panels and tab receiving slots formed in the other bottom panels, said tabs entering said 
     
     
        slots when said carton is unfolded. 12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for securing the ends of the carton together comprise an extended portion formed in one side panel and means for applying additional adhesive to the blank, said extended portion being secured to the blank by means of said additional adhesive upon folding of said ends by means of said third folding means. .[.13. In an apparatus for producing a folded carton comprising a bed for supporting a carton blank, said blank including side panels and bottom panels connected to the side panels, said bottom panels having portions secured together whereby the bottom panels are held together when the carton is unfolded so that the carton is then automatically set-up and ready for loading, said bottom panels in the blank being situated in side-by-side relationship, and a flap defined by at least one of said bottom panels, the improvements in said apparatus comprising first folding means for folding the bottom panels in overlying relationship relative to adjacent side panels, second folding means for engaging said flap to thereby fold said flap over onto the bottom panel carrying the flap, means for applying adhesive to selected surface portions of said bottom panels, third folding means for folding each end of the blank over onto inside portions of the blank, each blank end comprising a side and bottom panel, the adhesive on said blank being positioned for contact with said flap to secure the flap to an end, and means for securing said ends together..]. .[.14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 including means for releasably positioning said folding means whereby the folding means can be laterally adjusted to 
     
     
        accommodate carton blanks of different designs..]. 15. In an apparatus for producing a folded carton comprising a bed for supporting a carton blank, said .Iadd.first and second .Iaddend.blank including side panels and bottom panels connected to the side panels, said bottom panels having portions secured together whereby the bottom panels are held together when the carton is unfolded so that the carton is then automatically set-up and ready for loading, said bottom panels in the blank being situated in side-by-side relationship, and flaps defined by a pair of said bottom panels, the improvement wherein said blank is disposed on said bed with the outer edge of at least one bottom panel extending in a line perpendicular to the direction of movement of the blank, said outer edge comprising the leading edge of the blank, first folding means for folding the bottom panels in over-lying relationship relative to adjacent side panels, second folding means for .[.engaging.]. .Iadd.restraining .Iaddend.said flaps to thereby .Iadd.reversely .Iaddend.fold said flaps into engagement with the bottom panels carrying the flaps, said first folding means comprising flippers engaging said bottom panels to move the bottom panels relative to adjacent side panels, and .Iadd.said second folding means .Iaddend.including stationary ploughs engaging said flaps during movement of the bottom panels, said flaps being driven against the ploughs to fold the flaps into engagement with the associated panels, .Iadd.said second folding means aligned with said first folding means in a direction transverse to the movement of said carton blank .Iaddend.means for applying adhesive to selected surface portions of said bottom panels, third folding means for folding each end of the blank into engagement with inside portions of the blank, each blank end comprising a side and bottom panel, the adhesive on said blank being positioned for contact with said flaps to secure said ends in the folded position, and means for securing 
     
     
        said ends together. 16. In an apparatus for producing a folded carton comprising a bed for supporting a carton blank, said blank including side panels and bottom panels connected to the side panels, said bottom panels having portions secured together whereby the bottom panels are held together when the carton is unfolded so that the carton is then automatically set-up and ready for loading, said bottom panels in the blank being situated in side-by-side relationship, and flaps defined by a pair of said bottom panels, the improvement wherein said blank is disposed on said bed with the outer edge of at least one bottom panel extending in a line perpendicular to the direction of movement of the blank, said outer edge comprising the leading edge of the blank, first folding means for folding the bottom panels in overlying relationship relative to adjacent side panels, second folding means for engaging said flaps to thereby fold said flaps onto the bottom panels carrying the flaps, said first folding means comprising flippers engaging said bottom panels to move the bottom panels relative to adjacent side panels, and .Iadd.said second folding means .Iaddend.including stationary ploughs .[.engaging.]. .Iadd.restraining .Iaddend.said flaps during such movement of the bottom panels, said flaps being driven against the ploughs to .Iadd.reversely .Iaddend.fold the flaps into engagement with the associated panels, said ploughs defining engaging ends displaced from the plane of movement of said blank for engagement with said flaps upon said movement of the bottom panels in response to the operation of said flippers, said ploughs being supported immediately adjacent said flippers whereby said flaps are driven against said ploughs while the flippers are in engagement with the bottom panels, means for applying adhesive to selected surface portions of said bottom panels, third folding means for folding each end of the blank into engagement with inside portions of the blank, each blank end comprising a side and bottom panel, the adhesive being positioned to secure adjacent bottom panels together in pairs by means of said flaps, and means for 
     
     
        securing said ends to each other. 17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16 including an oscillating shaft, said flippers being tied to said shaft for movement therewith, said flippers defining engaging ends movable from a position below the plane of movement of a blank to a position above 
     
     
        said plane of movement. 18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 including means supporting said ploughs comprising members extending around said shaft, said shaft being movable within said supporting 
     
     
        members. 19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said adhesive is applied to areas on bottom panels adjacent the panels carrying said flaps, said flaps being folded into contact with said areas by said 
     
     
        third folding means. 20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19 including additional flap portions located adjacent said areas, said additional flap portions being free of engagement with other areas of the blank, said additional flap portions serving as means for locking the 
     
     
        carton in position when unfolded. 21. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein said flaps comprise triangular shaped members positioned at the corners of bottom panels, said first mentioned flaps and said additional flaps being located in side-by-side relationship in the 
     
     
        unfolded blank. 22. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said means for holding the bottom panels together comprise tabs formed in alternating bottom panels and tab receiving slots formed in the other bottom panels, said tabs entering said slots when said carton is unfolded. 
     
     
        3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said means for securing the ends of the carton together comprise an extended portion formed in one side panel and means for applying additional adhesive to the blank, said extended portion being secured to the blank by means of said additional adhesive upon folding of said ends by means of said third 
     
     
        folding means. .Iadd.24.  An apparatus for producing a folded carton comprising a bed for supporting a carton blank, said blank including side panels and bottom panels connected to the side panels, means defined by said bottom panels for holding the bottom panels together when the carton is unfolded, said bottom panels being situated in side-by-side relationship in said blank, flaps defined by at least one of said bottom panels, first folding means including flippers for folding the bottom panels in overlying relationship relative to adjacent side panels, said first folding means also including an oscillating shaft to which said flippers are tied, said shaft reciprocating said flippers from a position below the plane of movement of said blank to a position above said plane of movement, second folding means for restraining said flaps to thereby reversely fold said flaps over onto the bottom panels carrying the flaps, said second folding means aligned with said first folding means in a direction transverse to the movement of said carton blank means for applying adhesive to selected surface portions of said bottom panels, third folding means for folding each end of the blank over onto inside portions of the blank, each blank end comprising a side and bottom panel, the adhesive on said blank being positioned for contact with said flaps to secure said ends in the folded position, and means for securing said ends together. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. An apparatus in accordance with claim 24 including means for releasably positioning said first and second folding means whereby the folding means can be laterally adjusted to accommodate carton blanks of different designs. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. An apparatus in accordance with claim 24 including means for conveying a blank toward said first folding means, said blank being disposed on said bed with the outer edges of said bottom panels extending in a line perpendicular to the direction of movement of the blank, said outer edges comprising the leading edge of the blank during movement toward said first folding means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. An apparatus in accordance with claim 26 wherein said first folding means comprise flippers engaging said bottom panels to move the bottom panels upwardly, said flaps being formed on a pair of bottom panels, and said second folding means including a pair of stationary ploughs positioned in line with said flaps and engaging said flaps during upward movement of the bottom panels, said flaps being driven against the ploughs to fold the flaps over onto the associated panels. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. An apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein said ploughs define engaging ends located above the plane of movement of said blank for engagement with said flaps upon upward movement of the bottom panels in response to the operation of said flippers. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. An apparatus in accordance with claim 28 including means supporting said ploughs comprising members extending around said shaft, said shaft being 
     
     
        movable within said supporting members. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30.  An apparatus for producing a folded carton comprising a bed for supporting a carton blank, said blank including side panels and bottom panels connected to the side panels, means defined by said bottom panels for holding the bottom panels together when the carton is unfolded, said bottom panels being situated in side-by-side relationship in said blank, flaps defined by at least one of said bottom panels, first folding means for folding the bottom panels in over-lying relationship relative to adjacent side panels, including flippers engaging said bottom panels to move the bottom panels upwardly, said flaps being formed on a pair of bottom panels, an oscillating shaft, said flippers being tied to said shaft for movement therewith, second folding means for engaging said flaps to thereby fold said flaps over onto the bottom panels carrying the flaps, said second folding means including a pair of stationary ploughs positioned in line with said flaps and engaging said flaps during upward movement of the bottom panels, said flaps being driven against the ploughs to fold the flaps over onto the associated panels, means supporting said ploughs comprising members extending around said shaft, said shaft being movable within said supporting members, means for applying adhesive to selected surface portions of said bottom panels, third folding means for folding each end of the blank over onto inside portions of the blank, each blank end comprising a side and bottom panel, the adhesive on said blank being positioned for contact with said flaps to secure said ends in the folded position, and means for securing said ends together..Iaddend.