A machine for forming cartons from pre-cut and pre-scored blanks comprising a carton blank storage and first feed subassembly for feeding blanks linearly from a stack thereof and which is adjustable to accommodate blanks of different lengths, widths and thicknesses; a second feed sub-assembly for accepting the blanks and including a pair of endless travelling belts for feeding the carton blanks linearly; a flap bending and glue or hot melt applicator subassembly for bending certain of the flaps upwardly and holding certain others of the flaps downwardly for applying glue or hot melt to said certain others of the flaps of certain blanks fed thereto, this subassembly being adjustable to accommodate blanks of different widths and lengths; and a forming subassembly including front and rear formers and side formers which together form a well which is adjustable to accommodate blanks of different widths and lengths, and a forming block which is movable and adjustable with the front and rear and side formers for accommodating blanks of different widths and lengths and which is movable into the well for erecting the blanks into cartons.
A programmable, dynamically adjustable die stamping apparatus for die-stamping of cardboard blanks used in production of packaging trays, and a process for operating such apparatus. The apparatus includes a dimensionally adjustable die having a plurality of separate movable parts each coupled to threaded adjustment rods and drive motors; a programmable control is coupled to the drive equipment and can selectively adjust and lock the die parts to conform the die to any one of a plurality of cardboard blank formats. Plural air-operated lockable jacks coupled to movable members of a stamp are also provided, and the jacks operate to automatically adjust the stamp to conform to the selected dimensions of the die. The apparatus can accept plural magazines of cardboard blanks and a plurality of different blanks supplied successively; under program control, the apparatus can automatically change the dimensions of the die and stamp to conform to the desired dimensions of the finished tray.
Case erector and bottom sealer apparatus having a pick up assembly for grippingly engaging a flat folded case blank on the top of a plurality of case blanks in vertical stacked relationship and elevating and moving the picked up blank forwardly, an infeed conveyor assembly for receiving the picked up case blank in its forward position and moving it to an erector station, an erector assembly at the erector station for grippingly engaging opposite sides of the blank and opening the case blank, folder assemblies movable between retracted and folded positions for first folding the bottom minor flaps of the erected blank and then partially folding the bottom major flaps to retain the bottom minor flaps in a folded condition, a walking stick assembly for moving the erected case from the erector station to a compression station, a glue gun assembly for applying adhesive to the bottom minor flaps as the erected case is moved to the compression station, a compression assembly at the compression station to complete the folding of the bottom major flaps and compress the folded bottom major and minor flaps to complete the formation of the sealed case bottom closure, and controls for controlling the operation of the above mentioned assemblies.
