Erecting aid

A corrugated box erecting aid, comprising:

• a table having a length extending between a first end and a second end and having an upper surface upon which a partially folded corrugated box may be positioned;
• a panel adjustably coupled to a side of said table, wherein said panel extends upwardly relative to said upper surface of said table such that said panel and said upper surface of said table form an acute angle, said panel having a proximal end, a distal end, a top edge, and a bottom edge, said bottom edge being disposed adjacent to said table and said top edge being disposed further from said upper surface than said bottom edge, said panel comprising a planar surface extending between said proximal end, said distal end, said top edge, and said bottom edge of said panel;
• a track cooperating with said table and having a length extending along at least a portion of said length of said table between said first end and said second end;
• and
• a clamp operatively associated with said track, said clamp comprising:
• a stationary first clamp portion secured in a stationary position adjacent said first end of said table, said stationary first clamp portion extending upwardly relative to said upper surface of said table such that said stationary first clamp portion can engage a partially folded corrugated box positioned on said upper surface of said table;
• a movable second clamp portion, said movable second clamp portion being biased towards said first end of said table and being selectively movable along said track towards said second end of said table, said movable second clamp portion being movable relative to and in a direction generally parallel to said panel, wherein said movable second clamp portion moves toward said second end of said table and away from said stationary first clamp portion as a partially folded corrugated box is inserted between said stationary first clamp portion and said movable second clamp portion;
• and
• one or more clearance zones between said stationary first clamp portion and said table and between said movable second clamp portion and said table,
• wherein said movable second clamp portion, said stationary first clamp portion, said table, and said panel are configured to collectively hold in place folded portions of a partially folded corrugated box.

A method of erecting a corrugated box, comprising:

• providing an erecting aid comprising:
• a generally planar table surface,
• a panel disposed along and extending upwardly relative to an operative portion of said generally planar table surface, the panel having a proximal end, a distal end, a top edge, and a bottom edge, the bottom edge being disposed adjacent to the generally planar table surface and the top edge being disposed further from the generally planar table surface than the bottom edge, the panel comprising a planar surface extending between the proximal end, the distal end, the top edge, and the bottom edge of the panel, and
• a clamp comprising a stationary clamp portion and a movable clamp portion, the movable clamp portion being continuously biased toward said stationary clamp portion and movable relative to said generally planar table surface and said panel, said stationary clamp portion extending upwardly relative to said generally planar table surface;
• receiving a corrugated box template;
• making initial folds in said corrugated box template to form a partially folded corrugated box template;
• after making said initial folds, placing said partially folded corrugated box template in the erecting aid, wherein placing said partially folded corrugated box template in the erecting aid comprises:
• inserting said partially folded corrugated box template between and in contact with said stationary clamp portion and said movable clamp portion such that said movable clamp portion is moved away from said stationary clamp portion and the biasing of said movable clamp portion toward said stationary clamp portion exerts a clamping force on said partially folded corrugated box template;
• supporting said partially folded corrugated box template on said generally planar table surface;
• and
• positioning at least a portion of said partially folded corrugated box template against said panel;
• stabilizing folded regions of said partially folded corrugated box template, such that said partially folded corrugated box template remains in its partially folded state;
• and
• performing additional folds to completely erect the corrugated box from said corrugated box template.

An erecting aid for erecting a box from a box template, comprising:

• a planar table having a length extending between a proximal end and a distal end thereof and having an upper surface upon which a box template may be positioned;
• a panel coupled to a side of said planar table at least partially between said proximal end and said distal end of said planar table, said panel extending upwardly relative to said upper surface of said planar table, a bottom edge of said panel being disposed adjacent to said planar table and a top edge of said panel being disposed further from said planar table than said bottom edge;
• and
• a clamp operatively associated with said planar table, said clamp comprising:
• a first clamp portion, said first clamp portion being secured in a fixed and stationary position relative to said planar table and extending upwardly relative to said upper surface of said planar table such that said first clamp portion can engage a box template positioned on said upper surface of said planar table;
• a second clamp portion, said second clamp portion being movable along at least a portion of said length of said planar table between said proximal end and said distal end of said planar table and relative to said panel, said second clamp portion being continuously biased towards said first clamp portion in a manner that creates a clamping force between said first clamp portion and said second clamp portion;
• and
• one or more clearance zones between said first clamp portion and said upper surface of said planar table and between said second clamp portion and said upper surface of said planar table, wherein said one or more clearance zones permit said first clamp portion and said second clamp portion to compress two opposing side panels of said box template such that said two opposing side panels hold a third portion of said box template in a folded position;
• wherein said planar table, said panel, and said clamp are configured to stabilize and maintain said box template in a partially assembled state during an erecting process that occurs on said planar table.