Box Erecting Device

A box erecting device, said device receiving a box moved by a robotic arm along said device, said device comprising:

• a spine;
• a first rail and a second rail, each of said first rail and said second rail having a fore end and an opposite aft end;
• said spine positioning between said first rail and said second rail;
• a fore upright perpendicular to said spine and connecting to the fore end of said first rail and to the fore end of said second rail away from said spine;
• a fore leg extending perpendicular to said spine opposite said fore upright and positioning between said fore upright and said middle member;
• a cross member transverse to said spine and opposite said fore upright, said cross member connecting to said first rail and said second rail outward from said spine and before the aft ends of each of said first rail and said second rail;
• a middle member connecting to said spine ahead of said cross member and coplanar with said fore upright;
• an aft upright mutually parallel to said fore upright and spaced away from said fore upright, said aft upright connecting to said spine behind said middle member;
• an aft leg extending perpendicular to said spine opposite said aft upright and positioning outward from said aft upright, said aft leg being mutually parallel to said fore leg;
• said fore leg connecting to a baseplate opposite said spine, and said aft leg connecting to another baseplate opposite said spine, wherein each baseplate is adapted to secure to a supporting surface;
• and
• wherein the fore end of said first rail and the fore end of said second rail are coplanar.

A box erecting method, said method manipulating a flat product from a stack supply of them towards becoming an open box, the box including two of its own ends and each end having two minor flaps and two major flaps perpendicular to said minor flaps, said method comprising:

• providing a first rail and a second rail;
• providing a frame to which said first rail and said second rail connect, each of said first rail and said second rail having a fore end and an opposite aft end;
• a spine between said first rail and said second rail;
• a fore upright perpendicular to said spine and connecting to the fore end of said first rail and the fore end of said second rail away from said spine;
• a cross member transverse to said spine and opposite said fore upright, said cross member connecting to said first rail and said second rail outward from said spine and before the aft ends of each of said first rail and said second rail;
• a middle member connecting to said spine ahead of said cross member and in the same direction as said fore upright;
• an aft upright mutually parallel to said fore upright and spaced away from said fore upright, said aft upright connecting to said spine behind said middle member;
• and wherein said aft upright, said middle member, the fore end of said first rail, and the fore end of said second rail attain a coplanar orientation;
• connecting said first rail and said second rail to said frame by mechanical devices;
• picking a flat product from a supply stack;
• opening the product to a substantially rectangular, hollow, tubelike state;
• moving the product to press a bottom minor flap of the product upon said first rail and said second rail and then to press the second bottom minor flap against said first rail and said second rail;
• moving the product having its bottom minor flaps folded along a horizontal path of travel along said first rail and said second rail;
• holding the bottom flaps in their folded position and moving the product in a lateral direction nearly perpendicular to the horizontal path of travel;
• folding both bottom major flaps upward against the folded bottom flaps;
• and
• moving the product forward upon said first rail and said second rail thus sealing the bottom major flaps in a closed state.