Patent ID: 8109062
Filing Date: 2012-02-07
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for closing and sealing cases of different sizes, comprising: an input stage having an input gate, the input gate having a first position to prevent passage of an open case and a second position to allow passage of the open case; a case measuring stage, to receive the open case from the input stage and to measure a height and a width of the open case, wherein a calculated closed case height is derived from the measuring of the height and width of the open case; a case closing stage, having a height set according the calculated closed case height, to receive the measured open case from the case measuring stage and to close flaps on the open case and to thereby produce a closed case, wherein the case closing stage comprises a dynamic closing mechanism comprising: a case sealing stage, vertically movable to an initial height set according to the calculated closed case height before the closed case arrives from the case closing stage, to seal the closed case, and to thereby produce a sealed case; a secondary height detection system, within the case sealing stage, to measure a height of the closed case and to direct the case sealing stage to move from the initial height to a subsequent height, the subsequent height determined according to the measured height of the closed case; and an output stage to accelerate the sealed case upon departure from the case sealing stage.