Patent ID: 9623993
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: B31B,B65B

Claim:
1. A method of taping containers in different orientations, the method comprising the steps of: advancing a first container in a machine direction to a taping apparatus, wherein the first container comprises first and second opposing side walls; third and fourth opposing side walls connected with the first and second side walls; a first end flap; and a second end flap, wherein the first and second end flaps each include a proximal region and a distal region, wherein the proximal region of the first end flap is pivotally connected with the first side wall and the proximal region of the second end flap is pivotally connected with the second side wall, wherein a slit extends in a first direction between the first end flap and the second end flap, wherein the taping apparatus comprises a taping member; stopping the first container from advancing in the machine direction; applying a continuous length of tape from the taping member to the distal regions of the first and second end flaps of the first container while the first container is stopped by moving the taping member in the first direction adjacent to the first and second end flaps of the first container; advancing the first container in the machine direction away from the taping apparatus; advancing a second container in the machine direction to the taping apparatus, wherein the second container comprises first and second opposing side walls; third and fourth opposing side walls connected with the first and second side walls; a first end flap; and a second end flap, wherein the first and second end flaps each include a proximal region and a distal region, wherein the proximal region of the first end flap is pivotally connected with the first side wall and the proximal region of the second end flap is pivotally connected with the second side wall, wherein a slit extends in a second direction between the first end flap and the second end flap, wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction; re-orienting the taping member after moving the taping member in the first direction so that the taping member can move in the second direction; stopping the second container from advancing in the machine direction; and applying the continuous length of tape from the taping member to the distal regions of the first and second end flaps of the second container while the second container is stopped by moving the taping member in the second direction adjacent to the first and second end flaps of the second container.