Carton erecting machine

An apparatus for erecting folded cartons having flaps, comprising in combination:

• a first and a second carton track established in a substantially L-shaped configuration;
• each of said first and second tracks having a first and a second end;
• carton magazine means disposed adjacent said first track;
• first track movement means for moving a folded carton on said first track from said carton magazine means to said second track;
• carton erecting means proximate the intersection of said first and second track for erecting the folded carton;
• second track movement means for moving the erected carton from said first end of said second track to said end of said second track;
• flap folding means disposed adjacent said second track for folding the flaps of the carton;
• sealing means proximate said second track for sealing the flaps of the erected carton into a rigid structure;
• first means for driving said first track movement means in a reciprocal movement for serially moving said plurality of cartons from said first end to said second end of said first track;
• second means for driving said second track movement means for serially moving said plurality of cartons from said first end to said second end of said second track;
• means for synchronizing the movement along said first and second tracks;
• one of said first and second track movement means including a first and a second rotatable member space relative to one another;
• flexible means about said rotatable members and having a driving portion on said flexible means for generating a reciprocal movement of said driving portion relative to said track;
• and
• means cooperating with said driving portion for intermittently and sequentially moving cartons along said track upon rotation of said rotatable members.