US 4,650,448 AGranted

Machine for forming full overlap shipping container

AssigneeWeyerhaeuser Company

InventorPatrick F. Urso

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Abstract

The invention is a mahcine for forming a full overlap-type shipping container from two similar blanks. A full overlap container normally has the end flaps of double thickness to withstand high top-to-bottom compression loads. This container has double thickness in both the end flaps and the laminated side walls. The machine is designed so that a first blank is transported on a main conveyor to a retractable stop located at a first combining section. Adhesive is applied to one of the side panels during transport. A second blank is then transported on a cross-conveyor to a second stop. This blank is lifted over the stop, and one side panel is positioned over the adhesive covered panel of the first blank. Pressure rolls then come into play to combine the panels. Assembly can now be completed on conventional equipment, such as folder-gluer, or may be done on an extended portion of the machine. In the latter case, the blanks are transported to a second combining station. During transport, adhesive is appropriately applied to a second side panel. A retractable stop holds the panel in place while folder arms complete the assembly. After folding, a second set of pressure rolls holds the newly bonded side panels in place until the adhesive has set.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A machine for forming a full overlap shipping container blank or like article from two similarly configured planar container blanks, each planar blank having a main panel and longitudinal side panels on each side of the main panel, which comprises:

(a) main conveyor means for conveying a first container blank to a combining station;
(b) retractable first stop means located adjacent the first conveyor means for temporarily holding the first container blank at the combining station, said combining station being located on the main conveyor upstream from the first stop means;
(c) adhesive applicator means adjacent the main conveyor for applying adhesive to one longitudinal side panel of the first blank during transport;
(d) a cross conveyor means situated laterally adjacent and normal to and essentially coplanar with the main conveyor means and in-line with the combining station for transporting a second container blank to a predetermined position adjacent the combining station;
(e) second stop means situated adjacent to the main conveyor means for temporarily retaining the second container blank adjacent to the first conveyor;
(f) translatable lifting and indexing means for moving the second blank from its position at the second stop means into register over the first blank so that one side panel of the second blank is positioned over the adhesive covered side panel of the first blank;
(g) pressure means situated over the first combining station for combining the registered side panels into a first glueline;
(h) means to convey the glued container blanks from the machine;
(i) drive means for conveyors;
(j) a frame supporting the conveyors, stop means, adhesive applicator means, lifing and indexing mean, pressure means, and drive means;
and
(k) control and timing means operatonally connected to the conveyors, first stop means, lifing and indexing menas, and pressure means for controlling the sequence of operational steps.

9 more elements

A machine for forming a full overlap shipping container or like article from two similarly configured planar container blanks, each planar blank having a main panel and longitudinal side panels on each side of the main panel, which comprises:

(a) main conveyor means for conveying a first container blank to a first combining station;
(b) retractable first stop means located adjacent the main conveyor means for temporarily holding the first container blank at the first combining station, said first combining station being located on the main conveyor upstream from the first stop means;
(c) first adhesive applicator means for applying adhesive to one longitudinal panel of the first blank during transit;
(d) cross conveyor means situated laterally adjacent and normal to and essentially coplanar with the main conveyor means and in-line with the first combining station for transporting a second container blank to a predetermined position adjacent the first combining station;
(e) second stop means situated adjacent ot the main conveyor means for temporarily retaining the second container blank adjacent to the first conveyor and combining station;
(f) translatable lifting and indexing means for moving the second blank from its position at the second stop means into register over the first blank so that one side panel of the second blank is positioned over the adhesive covered side panel of the first blank;
(g) first pressure means situated over the first combining station for combining the registered side panels into a first glueline;
(h) transporting means for further advancing the once bonded blanks while still in essentially planar form to a second combining and folding station;
(i) retractable third stop means located adjacent the transporting means for temporarily holding the once bonded blanks at the second combining and folding station;
(j) second adhesive applicator means adjacent the transporting means for applying adhesive to the uncombined flap of either blank while being conveyed to the second combining station;
(k) first folding means for folding the main panel having the adhesive-free flap into a flat configuration so that said panel and flap overlie the other main panel;
(l) second folding means for folding the adhesive-coated flap into a flat configuration overlying the adhesive-free flap;
(m) second pressure means for combining the now registered second flaps into a second glueline;
(n) means to convey the glued container blanks from the machine;
(o) drive means for the conveyors;
(p) a frame supporting the conveyors, stop means, adhesive applicator means, lifting and indexing means, pressure means, folding means, and drive means;
and
(q) control and timing means operationally connected to the conveyors, stop means, lifting and indexing means, pressure means and folding means for controlling the sequence of operational steps.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.