Apparatus for packaging articles in a wire-bound box assembly

Abstract

An apparatus for packaging cartons in a wire-bound box assembly includes a folding assembly which supports the unassembled box in a horizontally positioned blank, a shuttle platform which is loaded with a number of cartons and the end boards of the box assembly, a drive mechanism for reciprocatably carrying the loaded shuttle platform to a position above the bottom board of the blank, a stripper assembly including a plate which is downwardly pivotable from a position above the shuttle to a position engaging the ends of the cartons and end boards after the shuttle platform has been moved above the bottom panel, and clamping arms for holding the end boards against the cartons while the shuttle platform is removed. After the stripper plate has been lowered and the clamping arms are in place, the shuttle platform is retracted past the stripper plate such that the end boards and cartons drop onto the bottom panel of the blank. The folding assembly is then actuated to bend the side boards of the blank upwardly and thereafter the top board downwardly so that the wire loops at the top edge of the front side board of the blank can be inserted through the wire loops at the leading edge of the top board thereof to complete the assembly of the box about the cartons.