Box blank folding apparatus

Box blank folding apparatus comprising in combination:

• first and second laterally spaced endless conveyor means for serially advancing box blanks continuously through said apparatus;
• first and second upper rail means spaced above each of said conveyor means respectively and defining edges against which outer panels of said blanks may be folded to a substantially upright position;
• first and second folding means underlying said outer panels near an upstream end of each of said conveyor means respectively and extending to a position overlying a top surface of said conveyor means for folding said outer panels from a horizontal position to said upright position as said blanks advance along said conveyor means;
• a first bar folder means above said first conveyor means and downstream from said first folding means;
• and
• a second bar folder means above said second conveyor means and downstream from said second folding means,
• both of said bar folder means operable for folding said outer panels from said upright position to a substantially horizontal position over inner panels of said box blanks,
• said bar folding means being pivotable from a substantially upright position adjacent said upright outer panels to a substantially horizontal position and being longitudinally reciprocable in an upstream direction during a first portion of pivotable movement of said bar folder means in a downward direction from said substantially upright position to said substantially horizontal position and being longitudinally reciprocable in a downstream direction during the remaining portion of pivotable movement of said bar folder means in said downward direction.

Box blank folding apparatus comprising in combination:

• first and second laterally spaced endless conveyor means for advancing box blanks through said apparatus;
• first and second laterally spaced lower rail means for supporting said first and second conveyor means respectively;
• first and second upper rail means spaced above each of said conveyor means respectively and defining edges against which outer panels of said blanks may be folded to a substantially upright position;
• first and second flexible rod means underlying said outer panels near an upstream end of said conveyor means respectively and extending to a position above a top surface of said conveyor means for folding said outer panels from a horizontal position to said upright position as said blanks advance along said conveyor means;
• a first bar folder means downstream from said first rod means and pivotable from an upright position adjacent a first of said outer panels to a horizontal position for folding said first panel over a first inner panel of said box blank;
• a second bar folder means downstream from said second rod means and pivotable from an upright position adjacent a second of said outer panels to a horizontal position for folding said second panel over a second inner panel of said box blank after folding of said first outer panel;
• a third bar folder means downstream from said first bar folder means and pivotable from an upright position adjacent said first outer panel to a horizontal position for folding said first panel over said first inner panel after folding of said second outer panel;
• drive shaft means extending laterally between said lower rail means;
• first, second, and third gear means connecting said drive shaft means to said first, second, and third bar folder means respectively,
• said gear means being operative to pivot said first, second, and third bar folder means and to longitudinally reciprocate each of said bar folder means in the direction of travel of said blanks so that said bar folder means moves with said blanks during at least a portion of said longitudinal reciprocation;
• and
• selector means for selectively operating said first and third gear means and consequently said first and third bar folder means connected thereto to cause said first outer panel to be folded ahead of or after folding of said second outer panel.