Apparatus for erecting and sealing flat containers and associated methods

A container erecting and sealing apparatus for enhancing the production speed of container erecting and sealing, the apparatus comprising:

• collapsed container dispensing means for dispensing one of a plurality of stacked collapsed containers, the one collapsed container having a front panel, a rear panel and a pair of major side panels connected by a plurality of common fold lines, a pair of major top panels each connected to and extending outwardly from a respective one of the pair of major side panels along common fold lines, a pair of minor top panels each connected to and extending outwardly from a respective one of the front and rear panels along common fold lines, a pair of major bottom panels each connected to and extending outwardly from a respective one of the pair of major side panels along common fold lines, and a pair of minor bottom panels each respectively connected to one of the front and rear panels along common fold lines, the pairs of major and minor top panels and the pairs of major and minor bottom panels respectively define a plurality of top panels and a plurality of bottom panels;
• collapsed container erecting means positioned downstream from said collapsed container dispensing means on a first predetermined path of travel for erecting the one collapsed container during travel along the first predetermined path;
• first bottom panel folding means positioned in the first predetermined path of travel for folding at least a pair of the plurality of bottom panels inwardly toward a closed position, said bottom panel folding means including bottom panel positioning and container advancing means positioned along opposing sides of the erected container to move at least a pair of the plurality of bottom panels of each erected container inwardly toward each other and advance the erected container downstream along the first predetermined path of travel, said bottom panel positioning and container advancing means including a pair of upwardly extending arm members, an arm member driving means connected to the pair of arm members for driving the arm members between a position adjacent the dispensing means and a position adjacent the second bottom panel folding means, and a flap member connected to and extending outwardly from each of the arm members and positioned to pivotally contact a pair of bottom panels to thereby move the pair of bottom panels inwardly therefrom;
• second bottom panel folding means positioned to overlie at least one of the non-folded bottom panels of the erected container and downstream from the first bottom panel folding means along the first predetermined path of travel for inwardly folding the at least one of the non-folded bottom panels downwardly to thereby contact the folded bottom panels;
• conveying means positioned along a second predetermined path of travel transverse to the first predetermined path of travel for receiving and conveying the erected container along the second predetermined path of travel;
• third bottom panel folding means positioned adjacent said conveying means along the second predetermined path of travel for folding the remaining non-folded bottom panel inwardly to a position closely adjacent to previously folded bottom panels;
• adhesive applying means positioned downstream from the third bottom panel folding means along the second predetermined path of travel for applying adhesive only to selected portions of the bottom panels;
• and
• compressing means positioned downstream from said adhesive applying means for compressing the outer surfaces of the bottom panels to thereby seal the bottom panels in a closed position.

A container erecting and sealing apparatus for enhancing the production speed of container erecting and sealing, the apparatus comprising:

• a container conveyor positioned along a second predetermined path of travel transverse to a first predetermined path of travel for receiving a plurality of erected containers from the first predetermined path of travel and conveying the plurality of erected containers along the second predetermined path of travel during simultaneous dispensing, erecting, and advancing of collapsed containers along a first predetermined path of travel;
• a bottom panel folder positioned adjacent said container conveyor along the second predetermined path of travel for folding at least one non-folded bottom panel of each of the plurality of erected containers inwardly toward a closed position;
• an adhesive applicator positioned downstream from the bottom panel folder along the second predetermined path of travel for applying adhesive only to selected portions of bottom panels of each of the plurality of erected containers during simultaneous folding of at least one non-folded bottom panel of another of the plurality of containers by the bottom panel folder;
• and
• a container panel compressor positioned downstream from the adhesive applicator along the second predetermined path of travel for compressing surfaces of the bottom panels of each of the plurality of containers to thereby seal the bottom panels in a closed position, during simultaneous application of adhesive to another of the plurality of containers by the adhesive applicator.

A method of erecting and sealing a flat container for enhancing the production speed of container erecting and sealing, the method comprising the steps of:

• erecting each of a plurality of collapsed containers during travel along a first predetermined path, the plurality of collapsed containers each having a plurality of non-folded bottom panels, the bottom panels each having front and rear portions;
• inwardly folding a pair of the plurality of non-folded bottom panels of each of the plurality of erected containers during advancement of the erected container downstream along the first predetermined path of travel;
• inwardly folding the at least one of the non-folded bottom panels of each of the plurality of erected containers downwardly to thereby contact the folded bottom panels when each of the plurality of erected containers is positioned along the first predetermined path of travel;
• conveying the plurality of erected containers along a second predetermined path of travel;
• folding a remaining non-folded bottom panel of each of the plurality of erected containers inwardly to a position closely adjacent the previously folded bottom panels when the plurality of erected containers travel along the second predetermined path of travel;
• applying adhesive only to selected portions of the bottom panels when each of the plurality of erected containers travel along the second predetermined path of travel;
• and
• compressingly contacting the front portion of the bottom panels against a cushioned wall member and rear portion of the bottom panels against a bottom panned compressing member when each of the plurality of erected containers travel along the second predetermined path of travel to thereby seal the bottom panels in a closed position.

A method of erecting and sealing containers, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of erected containers from a first predetermined path of travel;
• simultaneously conveying the plurality of erected containers along a second predetermined path of travel receiving another plurality of containers from the first predetermined path of travel;
• folding at least one non-folded bottom panel of each of the plurality of erected containers inwardly toward a closed position during travel along the second predetermined path of travel;
• simultaneously applying adhesive only to selected portions of bottom panels of each of the plurality of erected containers during travel along the second predetermined path of travel and folding at least one non-folded bottom panel of another of the plurality of containers;
• and
• simultaneously compressing surfaces of the bottom panels of each of the plurality of erected containers along a second predetermined path of travel to thereby and applying adhesive to selected portions of bottom panels of another plurality of containers.