Carton lidding and stacking apparatus and process
AssigneePunchbowl Automation IP Limited
InventorsRobert Lindsay Craig, Simon John Craig, Mark Francis Roche
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process of manipulating a closable carton with lid panels extending from walls of the carton and tabs received in slots formed in the lid panels to secure the lid panels to close the carton. The process has a step of moving a folding element transverse to each wall from which a lid extends to move the one or more lids into a position which closes the carton. The process has a step of lifting the closed carton past a non-return support and into engagement with another carton to provide a stack of closed cartons supported by the non-return support. The process has a step of the support then releasing a stack of closed cartons to a conveyor.
Claims19
A process of preparing a closable carton having one or more lid panels extending from respective one or more walls of the carton, having one or more tabs and having respective one or more slots each adapted to receive a tab to secure the lid panels in a closed configuration in which the one or more lid panels provides a closure for the carton, the process comprising the step of moving a folding element transversely to each wall from which a lid extends to move the one or more lids into a closed configuration to close the carton, wherein the step of moving the folding element comprises rolling a folding element comprising a roller with a slot formed in a position which is aligned with a tab over the carton.
An apparatus comprising:
- a fixture which secures a first carton;
- one or more lid-closing elements that move over a secured first carton and fold one or more lid panels of the first carton to close the first carton, wherein the one or more lid panels extend from respective one or more walls of the first carton;
- one or more pushing elements which push the first carton upwards from the one or more fixtures;
- one or more supports located above the fixtures to that support a second carton above the first carton, wherein the lid closing element comprises a roller and wherein the roller has a slot formed therein to admit a closure tab while the roller moves over the first carton to allow the roller to move over the carton with a clearance that is less than the height of the closure tab extending from the wall of the carton.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.