Continuous motion apparatus and method for sealing cartons

An apparatus for sealing the bottom flaps of cartons as they are delivered in succession from a high speed carton erecting machine comprising carton squaring and bottom flap folding means near the delivery end of a carton erecting machine, a bottom flap support and compression conveyor moving away from said squaring and flap folding means and receiving cartons in succession from the latter with their bottom flaps closed, overhead endless path continuous motion means engageable with each carton substantially at said squaring and flap folding means and moving with each carton as the same travels with said bottom flap support and compression conveyor and exerting a continuing downward compressive force on the bottom flaps of the carton during such moving to complete the sealing of the bottom flaps, said continuous motion means then separating from each carton near the downstream end of said bottom flap support and compression conveyor, and a horizontal endless belt carton transfer and timing device adjacent said bottom flap folding means engaging cartons and transferring them onto said bottom flap support and compression conveyor.

In combination with a high speed carton erecting machine and for placement adjacent to the discharge end of such erecting machine where erected cartons are delivered with their bottom outer flaps coated with glue in an unfolded and unclosed condition, a continuous motion apparatus including means for closing said bottom outer flaps and for applying compression thereto over a considerable time interval while cartons are traveling with the continuous motion apparatus, said continuous motion apparatus being an endless path apparatus having spaced flap compression devices adapted to enter the tops of empty cartons as they rest upon said conveyor and to descend into compressive engagement with the carton bottom flaps, means to raise and lower said flap compression devices during movement thereof with said cartons, and a moving support bed for the bottoms of the cartons traveling in unison with and at the same speed as said continuous motion apparatus.

A continuous motion method of sealing the bottom flaps of cartons as the cartons are delivered in a regular succession from a high speed carton erecting machine comprising the steps of briefly interrupting the movement of each carton to square it in relation to its line of travel and folding and closing the bottom flaps of the carton while it is briefly interrupted, releasing the carton and engaging it with a continuous motion endless path bottom flap compression device by introducing such device through the open top of the carton and moving the device downwardly into compressive contact with the bottom of the carton, and substantially simultaneously supporting the bottom of the carton and moving the supported carton in the same direction and at the same speed as said continuous motion endless path compression device.

A method of sealing the bottom closure flaps of open top empty cartons comprising the steps of supporting open top empty cartons in spaced relation on a horizontally moving support which underlies folded and closed bottom carton flaps, and progressively moving plates respectively through the interior of said cartons for engaging the bottom carton flaps through the open tops of cartons while they are horizontally moving and being supported and for applying compression to the tops of the carton flaps in opposition to the horizontally moving support.