Carton erection and sealing apparatus

Apparatus for erecting and sealing flattened cardboard cartons, said cartons having a pair of major flaps and a pair of minor flaps, comprising:

• a. conveyor means for moving an initially flattened carton forward at a constant rate, said flattened carton disposed on said conveyor means in a horizontal plane;
• b. flat folding means cooperating with said conveyor means for folding a first pair of a minor flap and a major flat upward and a second pair of a minor flap and a major flap downward;
• c. mechanical clamping means for grasping both sides of the upward folded major flap;
• d. erecting means for drawing said clamping means upward as said conveyor means moves said carton forward thereby opening said carton, said erecting means releasing said clamping means when said carton is fully open;
• e. means maintaining said container in an erect condition during said movement,
• f. glue applying means adjacent said conveyor means for applying glue to said minor flaps as said carton moves past said glue applying means;
• g. major flap folding means for folding said upward and downward folded flaps inward and in contact with said glue on said minor flaps;
• h. platen means moving in said direction and at the same rate as said conveyor means, said platen means extending into said carton for contacting the inside surfaces of said minor flaps after folding in of said major flaps;
• and
• i. platen backing means adjacent said conveying means for contacting said folded in major flaps as said conveying means moves said carton along said platen backing means, said platen means applying pressure to said minor and major flaps against said platen backing means.