Patent ID: 7828708
Filing Date: 2010-11-09
Classification: B31B,B65B

Abstract:
1. An automated case erecting apparatus for use in erecting case blanks, the apparatus comprising: a case blank feeder configured to hold a plurality of upstanding case blanks arranged face-to-face, the case blank feeder including a path along which the case blanks are directed; and a case erecting assembly that receives a case blank from the case blank feeder at a case receiving location, the case erecting assembly including a first arm carrying a first gripper element and a second arm carrying a second gripper element, the first arm and associated first gripper element arranged and configured such that the first gripper element grips a first flap of the case blank, the second arm and associated second gripper element arranged and configured such that the second gripper element grips a second flap of the case blank, the case erecting assembly configured to move in a conveying direction from the case receiving location toward a case bottom fold and seal station to carry the gripped case blank toward the case bottom fold and seal station, wherein the first gripper element comprises a plurality of upwardly extending pin assemblies arranged on the first arm, and the second gripper element comprises a plurality of upwardly extending pin assemblies arranged on the second arm, and wherein the case erecting assembly is positioned below the end of the path of the case blank feeder when in the case receiving location, the first flap is a bottom flap and the second flap is a bottom flap, free ends of pins of the pin assemblies of the first arm and second arm point upward to engage bottom edges of the first and second flaps.