Richard M Hahn

US Patent:

46011587, Jul 22, 1986

Filed:

Nov 23, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/554977

Inventors:

Richard Hahn - Trenton NJ

Assignee:

Champale, Inc. - Trenton NJ

International Classification:

B65B 720

US Classification:

53491

Abstract:

Container flap folding apparatus and method in which closable flap containers having outwardly and downwardly prefolded front and back end top flaps are conveyed along a path, a puller at a lower position in the path contacts an oncoming container front end below the outer free edge of its front flap and is displaced to an upper position above yet adjacent the container top portion to pull upwardly and urge relatively rearwardly and fold inwardly and downwardly such flap across the top portion, a pusher upstream of the puller and at a lower position out of the path is generally simultaneously displaced into the path to an upper position above yet adjacent the container top portion to push upwardly and forwardly the back flap to locate its outer free edge relatively forwardly of the container back end, a directing mechanism, including a forwardly downwardly inclined moving belt, cooperating with the pusher forwardly directs the so pushed back flap inwardly and downwardly to fold it across the top portion, and a control system automatically displaces the puller and pusher to their upper positions upon contact of the puller with the container and back to their lower positions, such as with a sensing switch arrangement to maintain the puller in its upper position until the container moves therepast before it returns to its lower position for contact with the front end of the next oncoming container.