Patent ID: 7216468

Claim:
A method of operating a flaps closing apparatus including a flaps closing assembly including one or more pairs of closing bars, a first brake mechanism in operative association with the flaps closing assembly and a second brake mechanism operatively associated with the one or more pairs of closing bars, a flaps sealing assembly including a pair of compression plates positioned outside said flaps closing assembly and a compression plate actuating mechanism connected to said pair of compression plates, and a vertical movement mechanism comprising: providing a full flap box in an open condition with a pair of top flaps in a vertical position; locking the first and second brakes; lowering the flaps closing apparatus with the vertical movement mechanism; contacting the pair of top flaps with the one or more pairs of closing bars being in an angled condition; releasing the second brake to permit the closing bars to pivot to a horizontal position thereby urging the pair of top flaps closed; contacting a top edge of the box with the pair of closing bars; releasing the first brake to permit the flaps closing assembly to float upwardly relative to the flaps sealing assembly; activating the flaps sealing assembly to produce inward movement of the compression plates to urge end parts of the pair of top flaps toward sides of the box; stopping the vertical movement mechanism at a predetermined position, and contacting the sides of the box with the end parts of the top flaps to seal the box.