Package making – Methods – Closing package or filled receptacle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-08
2001-05-08
Gerrity, Stephen F. (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
Closing package or filled receptacle
C053S377400, C053S383100, C493S128000, C493S147000, C493S183000, C493S333000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226965
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for sealing cartons, particularly overlap flap type cartons, more specifically the present invention relates to an inline sealing system wherein the carton being sealed is moved in substantially a straight line for application of adhesive and the flap folding operations in a overlap flap box closure system
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the closing of overlap flap boxes (i.e. cartons wherein at least one and generally both the major flaps each have an area and shape essentially more than half the width of the carton) it is the practice to direct the carton in a first direction and apply adhesive and particular closing steps to the carton flaps and then move the carton in a direction at 90° to the first direction to complete the adhesive and closing operations. Generally these machines are relatively expensive and operate relatively slowly. Mechanical or flap interference in folding and holding-down flaps is a major problem in the closing of overlap flap cartons.
Inline flap closing systems for handling and closing ordinary flap type boxes (as opposed to overlap flap boxes or cartons) are known (see for Example U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,852 issued Aug. 15, 1995 to Lam). In this particular system the leading flap (leading in the direction of movement of the carton through the machine) is first folded, then the trailing flap is folded followed by simultaneous folding of the two flaps with their longitudinal axes parallel to the direction of flow through the machine. In the arrangement the leading and trailing flaps are minor flaps and the other two flaps are the major flaps. This system does not lend itself without substantial modification to closing of overlap flap cartons or boxes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is the main object of the present invention to provide a simplified system for closing overlap flap type boxes or cartons.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus to fold four (4) flaps for closing one end of the box ore carton in a particular sequence so as to have both flap folding and flap holding occur without interference.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for inline movement (i.e. movement along a straight line) during adhesive application and flap folding to close an overlap flap box or carton.
Broadly the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for closing a carton having mutually perpendicular side and end walls and an inner major overlap flap and an opposed outer major overlap flap each having dimensions more than half the width of said carton and each foldably connected along one side via a longitudinal fold line to it adjacent of said side walls and a pair of opposed minor flaps each foldably connected along one side via a transverse fold line to its adjacent of said end walls, each said minor flap having a length corresponding to a that of said end wall of said carton to which it is connected and a width extending from said transverse fold line to a free edge of said minor flap significantly shorter than length of said fold line comprising positioning said carton with said major and minor flaps in planes substantially parallel to said end or side wall to which it is connected, moving said carton with said flaps so positioned along a path in a direction parallel to said planes in which said major flaps are positioned, retaining said major flaps in their respective said plane, applying adhesive to an inner surface of said outer major flap and to an outer surface of said inner major flap while said flaps are so retained, folding said inner major flap into a position substantially perpendicular to said side wall to which it is connected without disrupting said adhesive applied to said inner major flap, folding the one of said minor flaps trailing in said direction of movement into a position overlying said inner major flap as said carton is moved long said path, holding said inner major flap and said trailing minor flap in folded position and folding another of said minor flaps leading in said direction of movement over said inner major flap as said carton is moved along said path, holding said trailing and said leading minor flaps and said inner major flap in folded position and folding said outer major flap into overlying relation with said minor flaps and said inner major flap and pressing said outer major flap onto said minor and said inner major flap.
Preferably said without disrupting said adhesive applied to said inner major flap comprises applying said adhesive to said inner flap in a pattern leaving a longitudinal portion of said inner major flap extending parallel to and adjacent to said fold line connecting said inner major panel to it adjacent side wall and along the full length of said inner major flap substantially free of adhesive to provide an adhesive area free area on said outer surface of said inner major flap wherein a folding element used to apply pressure to said inner major flap for said folding of said inner major flap into said position substantially perpendicular to said side wall may contact said outer surface of said inner major flap.
Preferably said longitudinal portion extends over at least 40% of said outer surface.
Preferably said pattern also leaves a central portion between adhesive applied areas extending said adhesive free area from said longitudinal portion between said adhesive applied areas toward a free edge of said inner major flap remote from said fold line connecting said inner major flap to its said side wall.
Preferably said pressing of said outer flap occurs in a pressing station when said carton is stationary.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3716962 (1973-02-01), Langen et al.
patent: 4010597 (1977-03-01), Nelson
patent: 4109444 (1978-08-01), Lee
patent: 4213285 (1980-07-01), Mancini
patent: 4422282 (1983-12-01), Marchetti
patent: 4545175 (1985-10-01), Beckett
patent: 5063726 (1991-11-01), Boisseau
patent: 5106359 (1992-04-01), Lott
patent: 5393291 (1995-02-01), Wingerter
patent: 5440852 (1995-08-01), Lam
patent: 5511362 (1996-04-01), Morita et al.
patent: 5520602 (1996-05-01), Jenkins
patent: 5531852 (1996-07-01), Walsh et al.
Belcor Industries Inc
Desai Hemant M.
Gerrity Stephen F.
Rowley C. A.
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