Movement of the case conveyor is terminated with the leading flap aligned with a flap engaging element mounted above the case on the end shaft. The shaft is rotated to cause the element to engage and partially open the leading flap. The shaft is supported by a carriage which is movable along a track extending in the direction of conveyor movement. As the element reaches its final rotational position, movement of the carriage along the track is initiated, causing the element to pivot the leading flap to the open position. Movement of the conveyor is then resumed as the carriage returns to its initial position. The rotational and translational movements of the element are independently actuatable and adjustable.

Apparatus is disclosed for opening the major and minor flaps of a box container being conveyed on an article loading machine designated generally as (A). The apparatus includes a flap opening foot (54) carried on the end of a rocker shaft (46) which is, in turn, carried on a carriage (48). The end of the rocker shaft is attached to a bell-crank lever having an arm (80) and a pin (82) which travels in a cam slot (52) formed in an elongated guide plate (50). The guide plate (50) is clamped onto the edge of a side flap engaging plate (68). The slot (52) is contoured to impart a rocking motion to the foot (54) through the bell-crank linkage so that the foot dips under a closed flap (16a) of the box and lifts it toward an open position. An elastic cord (110) engages the flap and retains it in the open position. A rear minor flap opening device is illustrated at (102) which includes a claw (104). The arm (102) is pivotable and as the box (16) is conveyed therebeneath, the claw (104) catches a closed end flap (16d). The forward conveyance of box (16) causes the flap to unfold toward its open position and when engaged by the elastic cord (110) the flap is pushed fully open and held therein. The side flaps (16d) and (16c) remain held by flap engaging pairs of plates (68) and (69).

A packing case flap opener apparatus for use on a packing case moved through a fixed course and wherein a control or travel cylinder is positioned to move parallel to the carton axis; the cylinder controls the position of a shaft operatively secured thereto and extending out to position a flap opening device which, in turn, engages an associated control member so that as the control cylinder is moved along on its axis of movement, the flap opening device is brought into engagement with both the leading and then later the trailing flap of a case for opening same by controlled flap opening action.

Three wheels rotate together to achieve sequential movement of the leading top flap of a conventional packing case such that the case has its top flaps out-folded prior to the arrival of the case at a load station in a continuous motion packer.

A unitary panel sorting and packing machine receives vinyl siding panels from an extruded production line. The machine includes a panel receiving section which includes lifting and flipper arms for selectively inverting panels for packing efficiency. From the panel receiving section, the panels are transferred to a panel accumulation section. The machine also includes a box folding section for folding corrugated paper box blanks along predetermined score lines. The box folding section is preferably parallel and adjacent to the panel receiving section and the panel accumulation section and includes retractable arms which selectively position the box in a ready position for packing panels therein. After the box is full, conveyor mechanisms carry the box from the box folding section through a box lid glue applying station and then into a box end folding and gluing station. This machine can substantially reduce repetitive stress caused injury to the operator.