Apparatus and method for sealing box blanks
AssigneeInternational Paper Box Machine Co., Inc.
InventorPaul Burnside
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for the manufacture of folded paper boxes with a hemmed seal. One of two edges to be overlapped is skived and folded into a hem. After the edges are locally heated, blanks move individually and successfully along a conveyor for folding and sealing. Just before sealing, the hemmed edge passes between a hem holder and the conveyor to maintain the hemmed edge. The hem holder is heated to prevent the edges from cooling. In one embodiment hot air directed onto the hem from the hem holder forms an air cushion between the hem and the hem holder thereby to minimize any contact between the hem holder and the blank.
Claims14
In a paper box folding and gluing apparatus for sealing the flaps of a blank to form a box with sealed seams by overlapping portions of first and second edge sections on a blank including means for storing and feeding blanks onto a conveyor means for transport to different operating zones in said machine, the box having a heat-activated sealing material at least at said first and second edge sections, said apparatus comprising:
- A. skiving zone means for removing a first portion of the first edge section to produce a skived edge portion,
- B. hemming zone means for folding an end section of the skived edge section over a second, adjacent section thereby to form a hem at the first edge section,
- C. means for activating the sealing material at said first and second edge sections,
- D. means for overlapping portions the first and second edge sections including the hem,
- E. hem holder means at said overlapping means for directing heated air toward the skived edge portion for forcing the skived edge portion toward the first edge section thereby to maintain the skived edge sections in a hem configuration, and
- F. sealing means for thereafter pressing the overlapped portions together hereby to form a seal with the skived edge portion intermediate the first and second edge sections.
A method for folding, gluing and sealing the edge of a blank to form a paper box with a hemmed seal, said method comprising the steps of:
- A. skiving a portion of first edge section thickness to produce a skived edge portion,
- B. forming a hem by folding the skived edge portion over an adjacent portion of the first edge section,
- C. selectively heating portions of first and second edge sections to be overlapped,
- D. folding concurrently said first and second edge sections to overlap,
- E. directing hot air toward the hem for forcing the skived edge portion toward the first edge section thereby to maintain the skived edge portion section against the adjacent portion of the first edge section in a hem configuration while said folding overlaps the hem with a heated portion of the second edge section, and
- F. thereafter sealing the overlapped said first and second edge sections together to form a seal with a skived portion intermediate second edge section and the remaining portion of the first edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.