Apparatus for separating and erecting folding boxes

An apparatus for separating and erecting foldable boxes, comprising a magazine adapted to contain a stack of flat boxes provided with flaps extending outwardly from opposite sides thereof, at least one movable gripper means adapted to remove said flat boxes seriatim from said magazine, an endless conveyor having opposite side portions provided with carriers positioned in proximity to said magazine and said gripper means, said gripper means adapted to successively remove one of said flat boxes from said magazine and thereafter transfer said flat box to said endless conveyor, means for revolving said gripper means to transverse an arc-shaped path to which the forwardmost of said foldable boxes in said magazine, is tangent said endless conveyor including an arcuate portion which conforms to said arc-shaped path of said gripper means and further includes a horizontal planar portion co-terminus with said arcuate portion which lies in a horizontal plane, said endless conveyor being guided by oppositely disposed spaced arc-like guide rails spaced on an arc-like stretch adjacent to said magazine and said arc-shaped path of said gripper means and blower means disposed in a zone laterally of said horizontal planar portion of said endless conveyor, said blower means being adapted to erect said flat boxes seriatim into an open position by emitting pressurized air through nozzles into said flat boxes.