Method and apparatus for opening lid of box

A method of opening a lid from a box which can be freely opened and closed and is constructed such that vertical portions of the lid are superimposed on peripheries of side surface portions of a main body of the box, said method comprising the steps of:

• injecting gas, into a gap formed between an inner side surface of at least one of said vertical portions of said lid of said box and an outer side surface of said main body, with injection nozzle means disposed by a side of said main body to thereby push up said lid to a height at which a lower portion of said lid is not separated from an upper portion of said main body;
• and
• while part of a top plate of said lid is in contact with a lid rotating stopper disposed at a position spaced a given distance upwardly from said main body and in opposition to said injection nozzle means, further injecting said gas into said gap.

A method of opening a lid from a box which can be freely opened and closed and is constructed such that vertical portions of the lid are superimposed on peripheries of side surface portions of a main body of the box, said method comprising the steps of:

• injecting gas into a gap formed between an inner side surface of at least one of said vertical portions of said lid of said box and an outer side surface of said main body by use of lower position injection nozzle means disposed by a side of said main body to thereby push up said lid to a height at which a lower portion of said lid is not separated from an upper portion of said main body;
• and
• injecting gas into said gap by use of higher position injection nozzle means disposed at a position higher than said lower position injection nozzle means to thereby open said lid from said main body.

An apparatus for opening a lid from a box which can be freely opened and closed and is constructed such that vertical portions of the lid are superimposed on peripheries of side surface portions of a main body of the box, said box being positioned on a support surface, said apparatus comprising:

• injection nozzle means disposed beside a said support surface by a side of said main body for injecting gas into a gap formed between an inner side surface of at least one of said vertical portions of said lid of said box and an outer side surface of said main body;
• and
• a lid rotating stopper disposed at a position spaced a given distance upwardly from said support surface and in opposition to said injection nozzle means, said stopper being contacted by part of a top plate of said lid at a height where a lower portion of said lid is not separated from an upper portion of said main body.

An apparatus for opening a lid from a box which can be freely opened and closed and is constructed such that vertical portions of the lid are superimposed on peripheries of side surface portions of a main body of the box, said box being positioned on a support surface, said apparatus comprising:

• lower position injection nozzle means disposed beside said support surface by a side of said main body for injecting gas into a gap formed between an inner side surface of at least one of said vertical portions of said lid of said box and an outer side surface of said main body to thereby push up said lid from said main body to a height where lower portion of said lid is not separated from an upper portion of said main body;
• and,
• higher position injection nozzle means disposed at a position higher than said lower position injection nozzle means for injecting gas into the gap to separate said lid from said main body.

An apparatus for opening a lid from a box which can be freely opened and closed and is constructed such that vertical portions of the lid are superimposed on peripheries of side surface portions of a main body of the box, said box being positioned on a support surface, said apparatus comprising:

• conveyor means for conveying said box onto said support surface;
• lower position injection nozzle means disposed beside said support surface by side of said main body for injecting gas into a gap formed between an inner side surface of at least one of said vertical portions of said lid of said box and an outer side surface of said main body to thereby push up said lid from said main body to a height where a lower portion of said lid is not separated from an upper portion of said main body;
• higher position injection nozzle means disposed at a position higher than said lower position injecting nozzle means, and located downstream in said moving direction of said conveyor means for separating said lid from said box.