Case tab-lock slitting and flap sealer in combination with a continuous radial motion case packing apparatus and method

A case packing and case flap closure apparatus for picking up groups of articles at a pickup station and packing the articles into cases;

• said cases being transported from a case delivery section to a case exit section;
• and said cases having first and second minor and major flaps interconnected in folded positions adjacent end walls and sidewalls of the case by first and second tab-locks wherein said apparatus comprises:
• a frame;
• a plurality of reciprocating pickup heads carried by said frame for rotation in a radial path about a single vertical axis for picking up said articles at said pickup station and placing said articles in said cases;
• a rotary conveyor plate rotating with said pickup heads about said single axis having a radial transport path, said conveyor adapted to receive and transport successive cases from said case delivery section to said case exit section;
• a case packing and flap separation station disposed between said case delivery section and said case exit section along said radial transport path where said articles are inserted and packed into said cases and said major and minor flaps are separated from said case end walls and sidewalls for closure and sealing;
• said case packing and flap separation station including a first tab slitting section for severing said first tab-lock to provide separated first minor and major flaps, and a second tab slitting section for severing said second tab-lock to provide separated second minor and major flaps;
• and
• said rotary conveyor plate transporting said cases through said case packing and flap separation station along said radial transport path;
• whereby cases are continuously packed with articles, tab-lock severed, and case flaps are separated for closure while conveyed along said radial transport path about said single axis.

A case packing and case flap closure apparatus comprising:

• a single, central vertical axis;
• a rotating conveyor plate continuously rotating about said central vertical axis having a radial transport path passing through a case delivery section where empty cases are delivered onto said conveyor plate;
• and a case exit section where packed cases are removed from said conveyor plate;
• a case packing and flap separation station disposed along said radial transport path having an article insertion section where articles are inserted into the cases, and first and second flap tab-lock slitting sections where tab-locks are severed so that interconnected major and minor flaps by said tab-locks are separated from one another;
• engaging members adapted to engage and elevate said first and second separated minor and major flaps within said case packing and flap separation station;
• and
• a plurality of pickup heads picking up and gripping said articles while rotating in a radial path about said central axis and said pickup heads adapted to insert said gripped articles into the transported cases at said article insertion section.

A method for picking up articles, packing the articles into cases having side major flaps and end minor flaps secured to sidewalls and end walls of the case by tab-locks, and separating said flaps from the sidewalls and end walls of the cases to facilitate closing, said method comprising:

• continuously rotating a plurality of vertically reciprocating pickup heads in a radial path about a central axis to pick up successive groups of the articles;
• continuously transporting a plurality of empty indexed cases about said central axis along a radial transport path;
• placing the articles in said empty cases along a section of said radial transport path to provide packed cases;
• and
• severing at least one of said tab-locks securing said major and minor flaps along a section of said radial transport path after said articles are placed in said packed cases.