Compression drive mechanism for container panel sealing

A compression drive system for sealing panels of a box, the compression drive system comprising:

• a frame;
• a motor mechanically coupled to the frame;
• a compression drive crank operably coupled to the motor;
• a crank arm, having a retracted position, mechanically coupled to the compression drive crank;
• a guide track mechanically coupled to the frame;
• a carriage operably coupled to the crank arm wherein the carriage is also operably coupled to the guide track allowing the carriage to translate along the guide track;
• one or more compression cylinders mechanically coupled to the carriage;
• one or more pressure pads mechanically coupled to the one or more compression cylinders;
• and
• a home proximity switch communicatively coupled to the motor configured to define the retracted position of the crank arm.

A method for sealing panels of a box using a compression drive system, the method comprising:

• providing a compression drive system comprising:
• a motor;
• a compression drive crank operably coupled to the motor;
• a crank arm, having a retracted position, mechanically coupled to the compression drive crank;
• one or more compression cylinders operably coupled to the crank arm;
• one or more pressure pads mechanically coupled to the one or more compression cylinders;
• and
• a home proximity switch communicatively coupled to the motor configured to define the retracted position of the crank arm;
• activating the motor to rotate the compression drive crank to move the crank arm from a retracted position;
• pressing, by the one or more pressure pads, against at least one minor panel of the box;
• and deactivating, by the home proximity switch, the motor before the crank arm reaches the retracted position allowing the crank arm to glide back into the retracted position.