US 6,318,049 B1 · Slitter machine for tab lock cases

Abstract

A slitter machine of the type where tab lock cases of varying height, width, and length are advanced therethrough in a product flow direction on a machine bed by a main drive motor, is presented. The slitter machine includes a frame, a centerline, a leading flap lifter and a trailing flap lifter. The leading flap lifter and trailing flap lifter are mounted are mounted to the frame on opposite sides of the centerline, and extend at an incline relative to the machine bed. Each flap lifter includes a tear drop assembly attached to a drive chain and actuated by a pair of cams to rotate the leading flap and the trailing flap toward a closed position. A chain track is disposed in each of the flap lifting assemblies, with the drive chains disposed therein. Each chain track has a first section having a first distance between the drive chains and a second section having a second distance between the drive chains. The second distance is greater than the first distance.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A slitter machine of the type where tab lock cases of varying height, width, and length are advanced therethrough in a product flow direction on a machine bed by a main drive motor, the cases having a leading flap, a trailing flap, a leading end and a trailing end, a top and a bottom, the slitter machine having a frame, a centerline, a leading flap lifter assembly having a leading flap lifter and a trailing flap lifter assembly having a trailing flap lifter mounted to the frame at an incline relative to the machine bed, the leading flap lifter and the trailing flap lifter are mounted on opposite sides of the centerline, each flap lifter having tear drop assemblies attached to a respective drive chain and actuated by a pair of cams to rotate the leading flap and the trailing flap toward a closed position, the improvement comprising a chain track disposed in each of the flap lifting assemblies and each of the drive chains disposed within the chain track wherein the chain track has a first section having a first distance between the drive chains and a second section having a second distance between the drive chains, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

An apparatus for tucking flaps on a case in a slitter machine, the case having a leading flap and a trailing flap, the apparatus comprising:

a frame;
a case transport chain operably connected to said frame, said case transport chain configured to transport the case along a plane;
a leading flap lift assembly operably connected to said frame on a first side of said case transport chain, said leading flap lift assembly including:
a first chain track operably connected to said frame at an angle relative to said plane, said first chain track including a first section and a second section,
a first drive chain disposed within said first chain track,
a first tear drop assembly disposed on said first drive chain,
a first cam disposed proximate said first chain track, said first tear drop assembly contacting said first cam to rotate the leading flap towards a closed position;
a trailing flap lift assembly operably connected to said frame on a second side of said case transport chain opposite said first side, said trailing flap lift assembly including:
a second chain track including a third section generally parallel to said first section and a fourth section generally parallel to said second section, said first section and said third section are separated by a first distance, said second section and said fourth section are separated by a second distance greater than said first distance,
a second drive chain disposed within said second chain track,
a second tear drop assembly disposed on said second drive chain, and
a second cam disposed proximate said second chain track, said second tear drop assembly contacting said second cam to rotate the trailing flap towards a closed position.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Slitter machine for tab lock cases

Life of this patent

Slitter machine for tab lock cases

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12