Box erecting machine
AssigneePacksize LLC
InventorsRyan Osterhout, Brady Sjoblom, George Davies, Clinton Engleman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A box erecting machine includes a transport mechanism that can move an un-erected box from an entry portion of the box erecting machine to a forward portion of the box erecting machine. The transport mechanism can include pivot arm(s) and clamp(s) for securing and moving the un-erected box. The machine can also include a box erecting assembly that erects the un-erected box. The box erecting assembly can include an opening or unfolding mechanism that opens or unfolds the un-erected box into a generally rectangular tube. The machine can also include a folding mechanism and a closure mechanism for folding and securing the bottom flaps of the box.
Claims28
A method for erecting an un-erected box into a box, comprising:
- providing an un-erected box having first, second, third, and fourth sidewall panels and first, second, third, and fourth bottom flaps extending from the corresponding first, second, third, and fourth sidewall panels, the un-erected box being folded between the second and third sidewall panels and the first and fourth sidewall panels being secured to one another;
- folding one or more of the bottom flaps relative to the corresponding sidewall panel(s) such that the one or more bottom flaps and the corresponding sidewall panel(s) form one or more angles of greater than 0°;
- arranging the un-erected box so that the first, second, third, and fourth sidewall panels form a generally rectangular tube while the one or more bottom flaps are oriented at an angle of greater than 0° relative to the corresponding sidewall panel(s);
- folding the first and third bottom flaps to a closed position;
- and
- folding the second and fourth bottom flaps to a closed position.
A box erecting assembly configured to erect an un-erected box into an erected box, the un-erected box comprising first, second, third, and fourth bottom flaps extending from corresponding first, second, third, and fourth sidewall panels, the box erecting assembly comprising:
- an opening or unfolding mechanism configured to open or unfold the un-erected box from a first configuration into a second configuration where the first, second, third, and fourth sidewall panels form a generally rectangular tube;
- a folding mechanism configured to fold bottom flaps of the un-erected box, the folding mechanism being configured to fold one or more of the bottom flaps into an angled orientation relative to the associated sidewall panel(s), the folding mechanism being configured to maintain the one or more bottom flaps in an angled orientation while the opening or unfolding mechanism opens or unfolds the un-erected box into the second configuration;
- and
- a closure mechanism that is configured to secure the bottom flaps in the closed configuration.
A box erecting machine comprising:
- a transport mechanism that can pivot between a rear position and a forward position to transport an un-erected box from an entry portion of the box erecting machine to a forward portion of the box erecting machine, the transport mechanism comprising:
- one or more pivot arms that can pivot the transport mechanism between the rear position and the forward position;
- and
- a clamp configured to selectively clamp onto an un-erected box, the clamp being movable to reposition the un-erected box along a width of the box erecting machine as the transport mechanism pivots between the rear and forward positions, the clamp being rotatable about an axis, rotation of the clamp about the axis being configured to reorient the un-erected box from a generally horizontal orientation to a generally vertical orientation.
A method for erecting a box, comprising:
- providing an un-erected box having a plurality of sidewall panels and a plurality of flaps extending from the plurality of sidewall panels, at least one sidewall panel of the plurality of sidewall panels having a crease or fold extending therethrough;
- folding at least one flap associated with the at least sidewall panel relative to the at least one sidewall panel, wherein folding the at least one flap relative to the at least one sidewall panel flattens or unfolds the crease or fold extending through the at least one sidewall panel;
- and
- while the at least one flap is folded relative to the at least one sidewall panel, arranging the un-erected box so that the plurality of sidewall panels form a generally rectangular tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.