Patent ID: 7163502
Filing Date: 2007-01-16
Classification: B31B

Abstract:
1. Carton erecting apparatus for erecting transversely elongated flat folded cartons having top, bottom and first and second side panels and end flaps, including first and second top flaps, extending transversely outwardly of each of the respective panels, comprising a longitudinally elongated frame, a storage hopper for storing a supply of flat folded cartons with one in front of another, a flight conveyor assembly mounted to the frame for receiving a carton that has been removed from the storage hopper and moving an erected carton in a forward direction, and rotary transfer mechanism mounted to the frame for removing the forwardmost flat folded carton from the hopper, moving the flat folded carton relative to the flight conveyor to in cooperation therewith open the flat folded carton to an erected generally rectangular open condition, and depositing the erected carton on the flight conveyor assembly for being moved in a forward direction, the rotary transfer mechanism including a driven shaft mounted to the frame and having a transverse center axis of rotation, end plates mounted to the driven shaft for rotation therewith in one angular direction, a vacuum cup assembly mounted to the plates in radial space relationship to the driven shaft for rotation therewith and relative thereto for grippingly engaging the forwardmost flat folded carton on the hopper and moving the gripped carton to in cooperation with the flight conveyor erect the flat folded carton as the vacuum cup assembly and end plates rotate and means for drivingly rotating the vacuum cup assembly in the opposite angular direction from the direction of rotation of the driven shaft, the vacuum cup assembly including a transversely elongated assembly shaft having a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion extending between the shaft first and second end portions, a first and a second vacuum cup mounted to the first and second end portions respectively for gripping the first and second top flaps respectively and at least one third vacuum cup mounted to the assembly shaft intermediate the first and second cups for grippingly engaging the top panel of the carton, each of the cups having a terminal peripheral edge, the first and second cups having transversely adjacent halves and transversely opposite halves that are of a greater flexibility than the adjacent halves, the cups, when in a relaxed position out of engagement with the carton, having their peripheral edges in substantially the same plane.