Patent GB-1487498-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for opening a collapsed tubular container
IPC: B65B21/24
Filed: 1975-05-12
Abstract: 1487498 Bottle packaging machine; endless chain conveyers FEDERAL PAPER BOARD CO Inc 12 March 1975 [15 May 1974] 19820/75 Headings B8A and B8C The invention relates to an apparatus for opening a collapsed tubular container B, Fig. 4, which has a series of hingedly connected side, S 1 , S 2 , and end E 1 , E 2 , wall-forming panels, Fig. 29, adapted to collapse by folding, into a common plane and to be opened, by swinging the end wall forming panels E 1 , E 2  at opposite ends about their connecting hinge folds TC1-TC3, the container having top, UM, UF, and bottom LF, LM, wall-forming panels hingedly connected, at LC4, LC6, and LC5, LC7, to oppositely-disposed side wall panels, S 1 , S 2 , and which are in the plane of the associated side wall panels, S 1 , S 2  in the collapsed condition. According to the invention the apparatus comprises means 12 for receiving successive containers B in collapsed condition and for advancing them along a predetermined path with the hinge folds, TC1-TC3, thereof extending transversely of the direction of travel, means 50, 52. Fig. 2A, for forming a narrow guide channel in laterally-spaced relation along one side of the path of the container conveyer means 12, means 44 for engaging a lowermost bottom wall-forming panel LM on each successive carton and for guiding it into said channel in a verticallyextending position, Fig. 4, means 53-57 associated with the container advancing means for swinging each successive container about the hinge connection LC7 with the panel LM which is confined in the channel so as to bring the container into a vertical position, and means, 62, 64, 68, operative on the upstanding container to cause the end wall panels E 1 , Eg to swing about the vertically disposed end fold lines, TC1-TC3, and thereby open the container and position it in open tubular form. Collapsed cartons B, formed from blanks, Fig. 29, glued at G and folded as shown in Fig. 4, are fed, in succession, along a pair of laterally-spaced chain conveyers 24, 25, a knock-down disc 44 being periodically rotated to fold the bottom wall-forming panel LM of each carton downwardly so that it passes, in a vertical position, into the narrow guide channel formed by the guide plate 50 and guide bar 52. Each carton is advanced to an unfolding station 16 where an upwardly, and outwardly-curved edge of a plough 54 swings the carton about the hinge line LC7 to raise the carton into a vertical plane. The carton is next engaged by a horizontally-movable roller 62 in a manner to strike the panel UM and open the carton into tubular form, Figs. 9, 10, as it is released on to a bottom plate 80 which extends from the end of the guide rod 52. An outwardlyslanting edge 82 of the plate 80 squares up the panel L.F., the panels S1 S2 being held in line respectively by plates 93, 83 as the open carton is advanced along the plate 80, first by lugs 85 on a conveyer chain 86, Fig. 2A, and then by clamps 110, 112 on a chain conveyer 100, Fig. 1A. As the carton is advanced beyond the leading end of the chain 25 a pair of plough-forming plates 114, 115, suspended beneath the plate 80, turn the panels LF, LM outwardly to a horizontal position, Fig. 14. As shown in Figs. 1A, 2B a double row of bottles C is advanced on an infeed conveyer 123, located below the chains 24, 25, to a grouping conveyer 126 travelling slightly faster than the conveyer 23 and having grouping lugs 133 to pick up successive groups of six bottles C and advance them to a carton-deposit section 18. Successive cartons are lowered on to groups of bottles while advancing on the conveyer 126 by upper end lower endless pairs of inclined conveyers 134, 135 and 134<SP>1</SP>, 135. The latter are arranged on each side of the conveyers 100, 126 and have panel-engaging members 136, 137, and 136<SP>1</SP>, 137<SP>1</SP> respectively which engage in centre heel holes CH in the bottom wall-panels LM, LF when they are travelling along the parallel lower and upper runs of the chains 134, 134<SP>1</SP> and 135, 1351. The bottle and carton assemblies continue their advance along the conveyer 126 beneath an inverted U-shaped cross frame 162, Figs. 1B, 2C, which supports plough members 163, 163<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 2C, which turn down the bottom wall-forming panels LM, LF into vertical planes. Laterally-spaced conveyer chains 166, 166<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 2B, advance the bottle and carton assemblies while they are supported by a plate 180, Fig. 1B. A support plate 183 with a curved entrance edge 184, depends between the bifurcated entrance end of the support plate 180 for engaging the hold-down tab HT of a divider panel D, Fig. 31, which is positioned between the two rows of bottles, a plate 185 swinging the tab HT to a position on top of the support plate 180. A plough 186, Fig. 2B, then folds the panel LF up into a horizontal position whereupon a plough 187 folds up the panel LM ready for locking. The bottle assembly is advanced by a pair of transversely-spaced conveyers with operating fingers 188, 188<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 22, which engage in apertures EH, CH to draw the bottom panels tight over a bottom panel-latching assembly of known kind. As the bottle and carton assembly advances between a pair of chain conveyers 194, 194<SP>1</SP>, Figs. 2c, 22, outwardly-directed fingers 195, 195<SP>1</SP> fold the top wall-forming panels UM, UF into tight top wall-forming positions before they are advanced beneath a panel latching mechanism 214.