Method and apparatus for producing a gusseted container

摘要

A method and apparatus for producing a gusseted container, which method includes the steps of feeding unfolded, corrugated paper, die cut blanks sequentially from the feed module of a corrugated paper box folding apparatus through the prefold, fold and final fold modules, applying glue to the die cut blanks, creasing three gusset areas of the blanks, gathering and pleating the gusset areas, folding a panel tab against the adjacent blank panel, pressing the folded gussets and panel tab against the glue on the blanks and folding the blanks and panel tab to define the gusseted container. The apparatus for producing the gusseted container includes lifting fingers or creasing bars for creasing the respective gusset areas of the die cut blanks, variable speed gathering wheels for gathering the gusset areas to define gussets, upper and lower skis for supporting and stabilizing the blanks, tracker wheels for further stabilizing the blanks on the lower skis, guide bars, fold bars and a folding shoe for biasing the gussets and a panel tab onto the respective adjacent panels of the die cut blanks, glue heads for applying glue to the gussets and panel tab prior to folding the gussets and panel tab against the panels, creasing swords for creasing the gusset panel margins and fold belts for folding the respective blank panels after the respective gussets have been glued to the panels.