Case opening apparatus
AssigneeSimplimatic Engineering Company
InventorJohn A. Wiseman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Movement of the case conveyor is terminated with the leading flap aligned with a flap engaging element mounted above the case on the end shaft. The shaft is rotated to cause the element to engage and partially open the leading flap. The shaft is supported by a carriage which is movable along a track extending in the direction of conveyor movement. As the element reaches its final rotational position, movement of the carriage along the track is initiated, causing the element to pivot the leading flap to the open position. Movement of the conveyor is then resumed as the carriage returns to its initial position. The rotational and translational movements of the element are independently actuatable and adjustable.
Claims28
Apparatus for opening the flaps of a case or the like comprising leading flap engaging means, means for rotating said leading flap engaging means to engage and partially open the leading flap, means for moving said leading flap engaging means relative to said case to fully open the leading flap and means for actuating said rotating means and thereafter actuating said moving means, in sequence.
Apparatus for opening the flaps of a case or the like comprising leading flap engaging means, means for rotating said leading flap engaging means to engage and partially open the leading flap, means for moving said leading flap engaging means relative to the case to fully open the leading flap, said rotating means and said moving means being operably independent, said moving means comprising means for causing translation of said leading flap engaging means and further comprising means for actuating said translation causing means in response to a given rotational position of said leading flap engaging means.
Apparatus for opening the flaps of a case or the like comprising a case conveyor, means adapted to engage and open the side flaps of the case, as the case is moved along said conveyor, means, located downstream of said side flap opening means, for detecting the presence of a case, leading flap engaging means, means for rotating said leading flap engaging means to engage and partially open the leading flap, means for causing translation of said leading flap engaging means relative to the case to fully open the leading flap, means for actuating said translation means in response to a given rotational position of said flap engaging means, said detecting means being effective, when the presence of a case is detected, to deactuate said conveyor and actuate said rotating means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.