Collapsed, tubular carton erecting apparatus

Device for erecting a collapsed carton, with the carton including first, second, third, and fourth side panels connected together about hinge connections, with the second and fourth panels being spaced and located intermediate the first and third side panels, with the carton including first and second major bottom closure flaps connected to the first and third side panels and first and second minor bottom closure flaps connected to the second and fourth side panels, comprising, in combination:

• a frame for supporting the third panel and including means for removable securement to the third panel;
• means for moving the frame from an attachment position and an open position, with the frame in the attachment position being vertically above and horizontally offset from the open position, with the frame being horizontally orientated in the attachment and open positions and intermediate the attachment and open positions;
• means for placing the carton at an operative position with the first and second panels in a linear arrangement and the third and fourth panels in a linear arrangement, with the third panel located vertically below and underlying at least the second panel and with the frame in the attachment position abutting the third panel, with the placing means holding the first panel at an operative position while the frame moves from the attachment position to the open position, with the closure flaps extending generally linearly to the first, second, third, and fourth panels in the operative position, with the closure flaps each including first and second outside corners;
• and means for pushing the first corner of the first major closure flap simultaneously inward and forward and prior to the second corner of the first minor closure flap, for pushing the first corner of the first minor closure flap simultaneously inward and forward and prior to the second corner of the second major closure flap, for pushing the first corner of the second major closure flap simultaneously inward and forward and prior to the second corner of the second minor closure flap, and for pushing the first corner of the second minor closure flap simultaneously inward and forward and prior to the second corner of the first major closure flap, with the first corners of the first and second major closure flaps and of the first and second minor flaps being pushed simultaneously until extending generally perpendicularly to the panels of the carton and forming the bottom of the carton.