Case cutter assembly

An apparatus for cutting a container having a top, a bottom, and two pairs of opposed sides, the apparatus comprising:

• a conveyor moving the container in a single direction of movement;
• a first cutting assembly positioned along the conveyor for cutting the first pair of opposed sides of the container;
• and
• a second cutting assembly positioned along the conveyor for cutting the second pair of opposed sides of the container,
• wherein the conveyor moves the container through the first cutting assembly and the second cutting assembly in the single direction of movement.

A container cut by an assembly comprising a conveyor, a first cutting assembly positioned along the conveyor, and a second cutting assembly positioned along the conveyor, the container comprising:

• a top;
• a bottom;
• a first side extending between the top and the bottom, having a first cut line extending across the first side and positioned at a first height from the bottom;
• a second side extending between the top and the bottom, having a second cut line extending across the second side and positioned at a second height from the bottom;
• a third side extending between the top and the bottom, having a third cut line extending across the third side and positioned at a third height from the bottom;
• a fourth side extending between the top and the bottom, having a fourth cut line extending across the fourth side and positioned at a fourth height from the bottom,
• wherein the first height and the second height are substantially the same, the third height and the fourth height are substantially the same, and the first and second cut lines are offset from the third and fourth cut lines such that first and second heights are different from the third and fourth heights.

An apparatus for cutting a container having a planar top, a planar bottom, and first, second, third, and fourth planar sides, the first side and second side being opposed and generally parallel, and the third side and fourth side being opposed and generally parallel, the apparatus comprising:

• a conveyor moving the container in a single direction;
• a measuring device measuring a length, a width, and a height of the container;
• a controller for controlling the apparatus and for receiving information from the measuring device;
• a first cutting assembly positioned along the conveyor, the first cutting assembly comprising:
• an indexing assembly holding the container in a predetermined position during cutting, the indexing assembly including a retractable stop abutting a front surface of the container and a moveable bar abutting a side surface of the container,
• a carriage moveable along a cutting axis transverse to the direction of the conveyor and adjustable relative to the measured height of the container,
• a first cutting blade attached to the carriage for cutting the first side of the container, and
• a second cutting blade attached to the carriage for cutting the second side of the container, the second cutting blade adjustable relative to the measured length of the container;
• and
• a second cutting assembly positioned along the conveyor, the second cutting assembly comprising:
• a carriage adjustable relative to the measured height of the container;
• a first belt and a second belt operably connected to the carriage, each belt having a cleat thereon abutting the container and pushing the container through the second cutting assembly in the direction of the conveyor, the first belt adjustable relative to the measured width of the container,
• a third cutting blade operably connected to the carriage for cutting the third side of the container, and
• a fourth cutting blade operably connected to the carriage for cutting the fourth side of the container, the second cutting blade adjustable relative to the measured width of the container.