The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 12, 1985
Filed:
Nov. 30, 1984
Lloyd D Johnson, Portland, CT (US);
Standard-Knapp, Inc., Portland, CT (US);
Abstract
Cardboard packing cases, which have been loaded with bottles or the like, are fed to apparatus for severing the top flap connecting tabs at diagonally opposite corners of the case. These tabs are provided to hold the top flaps of the case in place during loading, but must be severed prior to closing and/or gluing of the top flaps at a succeeding stage in the packing of the product. The apparatus includes an infeed station where the cases are separated, by slowing each case on a flight bar conveyor having its flight spaced less than the length of the case, and then accelerating the case on the infeed conveyor to match the speed of a pocket chain conveyor. The case has its forward end lifted, and opposite corners tilted, on this pocket chain conveyor to spread the top flaps at the two corners of the case without connecting tabs. Guide plates on either side of the pocket chain conveyor serve to guide the case so that fixed knives cut both tabs without necessity for turning the case through 90 degrees. The front tab is cut by dropping the front end of the case downwardly as it returns to a horizontal position on the pocket chain conveyor. Front and rear top flap tuckers follow an upwardly inclined path to cam the front and rear top flaps away from the continuously moving case, and a rotating flap closing wheel moves these front and rear top flaps inwardly onto the top of the case so that the side flaps can be subsequently plowed into place.