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US 11,919,683 B2Granted
Box opening movement with guides
AssigneeWestRock Packaging Systems, LLC
InventorAlexis Manneux
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of processing boxes includes shuttling a box in a first direction and cutting to separate outer flaps of the box from one another as the box moves past a cutting tool in the first direction, wherein the outer flaps overlie inner flaps. The method includes engaging a set of opening guides with the outer flaps of the box to drive the outer flaps open. The method includes opening inner flaps using shape memory and shuttling the box in the first direction over an inclined plane after the inner and outer flaps are open to flatten the box.
Claims6
A box comprising:
- a plurality of side panels formed around an interior space;
- a pair of opposed outer flaps foldably connected to two of the respective side panels, wherein the outer flaps are secured in a closed position to enclose one side of the box;
- and
- a pair of opposed inner flaps, wherein the outer flaps overlie the inner flaps,
- wherein at least one of the side panels is configured to form an end of the box and comprises a pair of guide holes, wherein the pair of guide holes are defined in the end of the box, wherein each of the pair of guide holes is configured to receive a respective opening guide for opening the outer flaps, the pair of guide holes are shaped to allow the respective opening guide to engage with a respective one of the pair of guide holes for movement in two different directions to open the outer flaps without engaging with the inner flap,
- wherein the inner flaps are biased by shape memory to open upon opening of the outer flaps.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.