Patent ID: 6409647
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
In a collapsible container having side walls which are pivotal with respect to one another, having no top and a detachable base pallet, the base pallet having a ridge means to receive the walls of the container, wherein the later is secured to the sidewalls by means of a pair of clips, a clip being permanently affixed to each of a pair of opposite walls and engaging the base pallet through openings in corresponding opposing base pallet ridges, a system for manipulating collapsible containers which unfolds collapsed containers and places them on base pallets, the system comprising:a. first and second bases; b. a first upright support member supported by the first base; c. a roller slide member supported on and movable up and down the first upright support member; d. a motor means which is capable of moving the roller slide up and down the support member; e. a switch engagable by the roller slide mounted on the first upright support member; f. a first horizontal arm fixedly attached to the roller slide and directed towards the second base member; g. a rail member pivotally attached to the first horizontal support arm, the rail member comprising a first frame, an inverted T-rail being supported by and suspended from the first frame and having a riding surface on each side; h. a tilting means which is mounted between and to the first horizontal arm and rail member; i. a trolley means suspended from and movable along the riding surfaces of the T-rail; j. first and second braking means mounted on the ends of the rail member; k. a first grasper capable of releasibly engaging a sidewall of a collapsed collapsible container attached to the trolley member, the first grasper comprising a first grasper frame, a grasping means mounted on the underside of the first grasper frame, a second contact switch capable of being engaged by a wall of the collapsed collapsible container attached to the underside of the grasper frame; l. a second upright member supported by the second base; m. a second lateral arm mounted on the second upright support member and directed towards the first horizontal arm; n. a second grasper mounted on the distal end of the lateral arm, the second grasper comprising a frame, a grabbing means mounted on the frame, the grabbing means being capable of releasibly receiving an unfolded container from the first grasper, a third contact switch capable of being engaged by a collapsed collapsible container and activating the grasper; o. a means to pivot the second grasper being mounted on the second upright support member; p. a sensor means capable of detecting that the second grasper has pivoted downwards.