Method and apparatus for forming containers

A system for forming a container from a tubular blank comprising a plurality of panels and flaps interconnected to provide a generally flattened tubular configuration, wherein said plurality of panels comprise a first panel, and a second panel interconnected to said first panel, said second panel being rotatable relative to said first panel, said system comprising:

• (a) a magazine for storing a stack of blanks in a generally flat configuration;
• (b) an erector head for retrieving a carton blank from said stack in said magazine and opening said carton blank, said erector head comprising:
• (i) a first engagement device for engaging said first panel of said blank;
• and (ii) a second engagement device for engaging said second panel of said blank;
• said second engagement device being located on a panel rotating apparatus operable to rotate said second panel of said blank from a first orientation wherein said first panel is in a generally parallel relation to said second panel, to a second orientation wherein second panel is oriented at an angle to said first panel, such that said generally flattened tubular blank may be reconfigured from a generally flattened configuration to an open configuration;
• (c) a folding and sealing apparatus;
• (d) a movement system having at least one movement apparatus connected to said erector head for moving said erector head along a cyclical path extending between said magazine and said folding and sealing apparatus.

A movement apparatus for handing a blank of a container, said movement apparatus comprising:

• a vertical movement device, said vertical movement device adapted for connection to a first erector device;
• a horizontal movement device connected to a frame, said horizontal movement device operable sliding longitudinal movement relative to said frame;
• said vertical movement device being interconnected to said horizontal movement device for vertical sliding movement relative to said horizontal movement device;
• a drive apparatus operable to drive said horizontal movement device horizontally and drive said vertical movement device vertically relative to said horizontal movement device;
• a controller to control said drive apparatus;
• whereby through operation of said drive apparatus, said controller can cause said vertical movement device and said horizontal movement device to move said erector device along a path in space having vertical and longitudinal components.

A movement apparatus for handling a blank of a container, said movement apparatus comprising:

• a continuous belt;
• a generally vertically oriented support member having a first pulley positioned proximate an upper end of said belt support member, said support member adapted for connection to a first erector device;
• a slidable pulley block, said block being adapted for sliding longitudinal movement on a support member, and said block having a series of spaced pulleys, said vertical support member being interconnected to said pulley block for vertical sliding movement relative to said pulley block;
• first and second longitudinally spaced belt drives, each of said belt drives being independently operable to rotate at varying speeds and in the same and opposite directions to each other, said belt drives both operable to drive said belt on opposed sides of said vertical support member;
• a controller to control the speed and direction of rotation of said belt drives;
• said vertical support member being received adjacent said block and being supported by said belt for vertical sliding movement relative to said block, said belt extending from a fixed location on said vertical support tube upwards to a first pulley on said block, longitudinally to said first belt drive, from said first belt drive over a second pulley of said block, upwards to said first pulley of said vertical member, downwards to a third pulley of said block to said second belt drive;
• from said second belt drive and longitudinally to over a fourth pulley of said slide block, and then downward to a second fixed location of said vertical member;
• whereby through operation of said first and second belt drives, said controller can cause said vertically oriented support member and said first erector device connected thereto, to be moved up and down relative to said block and move longitudinally right and left with said block between said first and second belt drives with said block on said block support member such that said erector device follows a path in space having vertical and longitudinal components.

A system for forming a container from a blank comprising:

• (a) a magazine for storing a stack of blanks in a generally flat configuration;
• (b) an erector head for retrieving a carton blank from said stack in said magazine;
• (c) a folding and sealing apparatus;
• (d) a movement sub-system having at least one movement apparatus connected to said erector head for moving said erector head along a cyclical path extending between said magazine and said folding and sealing apparatus;
• (e) a controller operable to control the operation of said erector head;
• (f) an information reader operable to read information about a blank located in said magazine, said information reader being in communication with said controller, said controller controlling the operation of movement apparatus based on information provided by said information reader.

A method for forming a container from a tubular blank, said blank comprising a plurality of panels and flaps interconnected to provide a generally flattened tubular configuration, where said plurality of panels comprise a first panel and a second panel interconnected to said first panel, said second panel being rotatable relative to said first panel, said method comprising:

• (a) retrieving a blank from a magazine storing a plurality of carton blanks in a generally flat tubular configuration;
• (b) transferring said retrieved blank from said magazine to an opening apparatus, said opening apparatus comprising:
• (i) a first engagement device for engaging said first panel of said blank;
• (ii) a second engagement device for engaging said second panel of said blank;
• said second engagement device being located on a panel rotating apparatus operable to rotate said second panel of said second panel from a first orientation wherein said first panel is in an opposed face to face relation with said first panel, to a second orientation wherein second panel is oriented at an angle to said first panel, such that said generally flattened tubular blank may be reconfigured to an open position;
• (c) engaging said first panel with said first engagement device;
• (d) engaging said second panel with said second engagement device;
• (e) rotating said second panel with said rotating device from a first orientation wherein said second panel is in an opposed face to face relation with said first panel, to a second orientation wherein second panel is oriented at an angle to said first panel, such that said generally flattened tubular blank is reconfigured to an open configuration.

A system for forming a container from a blank comprising a plurality of panels and flaps interconnected to provide a generally flattened configuration, said system comprising:

• a. a magazine for storing a stack of blanks in a generally flat configuration;
• b. an erector device for retrieving a carton blank from said stack in said magazine a folding and sealing apparatus;
• c. a movement system having at least one movement apparatus connected to said erector head for moving said erector device along a cyclical path extending between said magazine and said folding and sealing apparatus;
• d. a controller for controlling the movement system to control the movement of said erector device along said path.