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:
May. 13, 1986
Filed:
Aug. 06, 1984
Thomas S Hartness, Greenville, SC (US);
E Leon Hopkins, Greenville, SC (US);
Hartness International, Inc., Greenville, SC (US);
Abstract
Apparatus is disclosed for opening the major and minor flaps of a box container being conveyed on an article loading machine designated generally as (A). The apparatus includes a flap opening foot (54) carried on the end of a rocker shaft (46) which is, in turn, carried on a carriage (48). The end of the rocker shaft is attached to a bell-crank lever having an arm (80) and a pin (82) which travels in a cam slot (52) formed in an elongated guide plate (50). The guide plate (50) is clamped onto the edge of a side flap engaging plate (68). The slot (52) is contoured to impart a rocking motion to the foot (54) through the bell-crank linkage so that the foot dips under a closed flap (16a) of the box and lifts it toward an open position. An elastic cord (110) engages the flap and retains it in the open position. A rear minor flap opening device is illustrated at (102) which includes a claw (104). The arm (102) is pivotable and as the box (16) is conveyed therebeneath, the claw (104) catches a closed end flap (16d). The forward conveyance of box (16) causes the flap to unfold toward its open position and when engaged by the elastic cord (110) the flap is pushed fully open and held therein. The side flaps (16d) and (16c) remain held by flap engaging pairs of plates (68) and (69).