Patent ID: 7571587

Claim:
A flaps closing apparatus for closing boxes comprising: a flaps closing assembly operatively associated with a first brake mechanism, said flaps closing assembly further including one or more pairs of closing bars operatively associated with a second brake mechanism; said first brake mechanism being adapted to control the vertical motion of said flaps closing assembly with respect to said flaps closing apparatus; said second brake mechanism being adapted to hold each of said one or more pairs of closing bars in an angled configuration, and at a first predetermined vertical position permitting said one or more pairs of closing bars to pivot to a horizontal configuration; wherein said first brake mechanism is pneumatically controlled and said second brake mechanism is pneumatically controlled; a vertical movement mechanism adapted to bring said flaps closing apparatus into operative proximity to the box; and a flaps sealing assembly including a pair of compression plates positioned outside said flaps closing assembly and a compression plate actuating mechanism adapted to draw said pair of compression plates inwardly to urge side flaps of each of the boxes into contact with sides of each of the boxes at a second predetermined vertical position.