Carton opening device for opening cartons of differing geometries
AssigneeMeadWestvaco Packaging Systems, LLC
InventorsKevin Biraud, Pascal Martini
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for opening pre-glued, pre-folded sleeves into cartons. The device includes a cam wheel (20) to which are connected one or more suction arms (22). The cam wheel can be controlled to rotated at different angular velocities. A first angular velocity allows sleeves comprising a certain number of panels to be opened, and a second angular velocity allows sleeves of a different number of panels to be opened.
Claims17
A device for at least partially opening a first type of sleeve having a bottom panel to form a first type of carton or a second type of sleeve having a bottom panel to form a second type of carton, as said first or second type of sleeve is disposed upon a conveyor and travels, said first or second type of sleeve has a speed and a direction of motion through a working reach of said device, said device comprising a cam mechanism that is controlled to function at different angular velocities including a first angular velocity for at least partially opening a first type of sleeve, and a second angular velocity for at least partially opening a second type of sleeve, wherein said cam mechanism comprises a suction arm that engages said first or second type of sleeve, and wherein the at least partial opening of said first type of sleeve is effected causing said suction arm to move with the same speed as said first type of sleeve in a direction substantially the same as said direction of motion of said first type of sleeve and simultaneously to move normal to said direction of motion of said first type of sleeve, and wherein the at least partial opening of the second type of sleeve is effected by causing the suction arm to be moved in a direction substantially parallel to said direction of motion of said second type of sleeve and simultaneously to move normal to said direction of motion of said second type of sleeve and wherein the suction arm moves with a velocity that is greater than that of said bottom panel of said second type of sleeve.
A packaging machine comprising an opening mechanism to enable said packaging machine of form cartons for containing cans or bottles, which opening mechanism comprises a cam mechanism that is controlled to function at different angular velocities, said angular velocities including a first angular velocity for at least partially opening a first type of sleeve having a bottom panel, and a second angular velocity for at least partially opening a second type of sleeve having a bottom panel, wherein said cam mechanism comprises a suction arm that engages said sleeve, and wherein at least partial opening of said first type of sleeve is effected causing said suction arm to move with the same speed as said first type of sleeve in a direction substantially the same as said direction of motion of said first type of sleeve and simultaneously to move normal to said direction of motion of said first type of sleeve and wherein said suction arm possesses an appreciable velocity relative to said bottom panel of said first type of sleeve, and wherein at least partial opening of said second type of sleeve is effected by causing said suction arm to be moved in a direction substantially parallel to said direction of motion of said second type of sleeve and simultaneously to move normal to said direction of motion of said second type of sleeve and wherein said suction arm moves with a velocity that is greater than that of said bottom panel of said second type of sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.