Automated container cutting apparatus
OwnerJay Mark Dugatinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated container cutting apparatus configured to cut various sized rectilinear containers without unnecessary costs or lack of transportability. The automated container cutting apparatus includes a right angle transfer conveyor that positions a container in a first cutting position. The apparatus also includes a cutting mechanism configured to cut the container on two adjacent edges while in the first cutting position. The cutting mechanism further includes two cutting elements supported at right angles to one another for horizontally cutting a container on two adjacent edges.
Claims12
An automated container cutting apparatus, comprising:
- a frame:
- cutting mechanisms positioned within the frame, each of the cutting mechanisms comprising:
- a vertical rail;
- a corner brace slidably connected to the vertical rail for movement therealong;
- a first support arm and a second support arm connected to the corner brace;
- a first cutting element connected to the first support arm to cut in a first horizontal direction;
- and
- a second cutting element connected to the second support arm to cut in a second horizontal direction;
- and
- a conveyor mechanism positioned within the frame, comprising:
- a first linear conveyor to direct a container in a first direction relative to the cutting mechanisms;
- and
- a first right angle conveyor at a right angle to the first linear conveyor to direct the container in a second direction between the cutting mechanisms;
- wherein the cutting mechanisms are supported about the conveyor mechanism to cut the container on two adjacent edges while the container is adjacent one of the cutting mechanisms.
An automated container cutting apparatus, comprising:
- a frame;
- a conveyor mechanism positioned within the frame, the conveyor mechanism comprising a first conveyor and a second conveyor, the second conveyor at a right angle to the first conveyor;
- and
- cutting mechanisms positioned within the frame, each of the cutting mechanisms positioned at a different location about the frame, each of the cutting mechanisms comprising:
- a vertical rail connected to the conveyor mechanism;
- a corner brace slidably connected to the vertical rail for movement therealong;
- first and second supports connected to the corner brace, the first support extending in a first direction from the corner brace, the second support extending in a second direction from the corner brace, the second direction at an angle to the first direction;
- a first cutting element connected to the first support to cut in the first direction;
- a second cutting element connected to the second support to cut in the second direction;
- a first drive mounted to the first support and operatively connected to the first cutting element to selectively translate the first cutting element;
- and
- a second drive mounted to the second support and operatively connected to the second cutting element to selectively translate the second cutting element;
- whereby the first and second cutting elements of a first of the cutting mechanisms are positionable to cut a first set of adjacent edges of a container when in a first cutting location and wherein the first and second cutting elements of a second of the cutting mechanisms are positionable to cut a second set of adjacent edges of the container when in a second cutting location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.