Signode Industrial Group LLC

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Other

Bryce James Fox

William Joseph Menta

Robert C Cheich

Robert Thane Rickard

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a case-handling device including movable folding guides positionable relative to a case to facilitate folding the case's upper major flaps outwardly along their respective fold lines before the case's upper minor flaps are closed.

Case-handling device with folding guides

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a case-handling system including movable flap openers positionable relative to a case and operable to fold the upper major flaps of the case outwardly before the upper minor flaps of the case are folded inwardly and closed.

Case-handling system with flap openers

Various embodiments provide a case-handling system including multiple flap-suppressing devices that can be vertically moved independently of one another to, when processing a case, enable the case-handling system to prepare for and receive the next case to-be-processed while the case-handling system is still folding the upper major flaps of the current case, which increases throughput.

Case-handling system with independently movable flap-suppressing devices

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a random case sealer. The case sealer includes a top-head-actuating assembly configured to vary the speed of the top-head assembly when ascending (to make room for the case beneath the top-head assembly) and when descending onto the case (to engage the top surface of the case during sealing). This maximizes the speed of the top-head assembly while limiting overshoot (when ascending) and preventing damage to the case (when descending). In certain embodiments the case sealer includes a tape cartridge configured to limit the forces imparted onto the leading and top surfaces of the case during sealing. These features result in increased throughput as compared to prior art random case sealers without requiring stronger cases or more protective dunnage.

Random case sealer

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a case former configured to receive a case in a blank configuration, open the case into a tubular configuration, fold the lower minor flaps to manipulate the case into a partially closed-bottom configuration, square the case while in the partially closed-bottom configuration, and fold and tape the lower major flaps shut to manipulate the case into a closed-bottom configuration. The squaring step ensures that the case has a rectangular cross-section after taping rather than a rhomboid cross-section.

Case former with case-squaring assembly

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a random case sealer including a pneumatically-controlled top-head-actuating assembly configured to vary the speed of the top-head assembly when ascending (to make room for the case beneath the top-head assembly) and when descending onto the case (to engage the top surface of the case during sealing). The case sealer includes a pressure sensor that monitors the pressure of gas incoming from a gas source delivered to the top-head-actuating assembly via one or more valves. A controller controls the open level and/or the open time of the valves based on the pressure of the incoming gas to ensure the top-head-actuating assembly operates as desired regardless of whether the pressure of the incoming gas is equal to, below, or above a desired pressure. These features result in increased throughput compared to prior art random case sealers without requiring stronger cases or more protective dunnage.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a case former configured to receive a case in a blank configuration, open the case into a tubular configuration, fold the lower minor flaps to manipulate the case into a partially closed-bottom configuration, square the case while in the partially dosed-bottom configuration, and fold and tape the lower major flaps shut to manipulate the case into a closed-bottom configuration. The squaring step ensures that the case has a rectangular cross-section after taping rather than a rhomboid cross-section.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a box sealer including a first box measurer including a top flap engager configured to move downwardly from a disengaged position above a box at a box measuring position to an engaged position in which the top flap engager engages one or more of the four upright open top flaps of the box. The amount of movement of the top flap engager is partially used to determine the height of the box. The determined height is then used to position a combined flap closer and flap sealer at an appropriate position.

Automatic random box sealer and method of sealing boxes of different sizes

A cutting mechanism assembly for use with a tape cartridge includes a support arm having first and second opposing ends and adapted to be coupled to the tape cartridge. The cutting mechanism assembly also includes a mount for a biasing element. The mount is coupled to the support arm and the biasing element is configured to couple the mount to the tape cartridge. Further, the cutting mechanism assembly includes a support plate for a mechanism for reducing a biasing force from the biasing element. The support plate is coupled to the support arm and the mechanism is configured to couple the support plate to the tape cartridge.

Tape cartridge

An application roller arm assembly for use with a tape cartridge includes a support arm having first and second ends and adapted to be coupled to the tape cartridge. The application roller arm assembly also includes a coupling for a biasing element. The coupling is coupled to the support arm and the biasing element is configured to be coupled to the coupling and the tape cartridge. Further, the application roller arm assembly includes a mechanism for reducing a biasing force from the biasing element. The mechanism is configured to be coupled the support arm and the tape cartridge.

A quick change knife blade assembly, for use in conjunction with a tape roll dispensing cartridge assembly of a case sealing machine, comprises a knife blade mounted upon a knife blade mounting plate. A pin plate is fixedly connected to mounting pins passing through the knife blade, and springs are interposed between the pin plate and the mounting plate so as to normally bias the pin plate to a position at which the mounting pins prevent the removal of the knife blade from the mounting plate. When the pin plate is depressed against the biasing forces of the springs, the mounting pins are moved so as to permit the knife blade to be removed from the mounting plate.

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Honesdale, PA, United States of America

Bryce James Fox