PROGRAMMABLE RANDOM SIZE CASE SEALING MACHINE

摘要

PROGRAMMABLE RANDOM SIZE CASE SEALING MACHINE A machine for sealing the top and/or bottom flaps of random size cases is disclosed. The location of the front and rear of cases moved through the machine by a conveyor is continuously monitored by a programmable controller that uses the location information to control the operation of various case alignment, flap folding, and glue-applying mechanisms. Case entry is initially prohibited by a raised gate. When the conveyor reaches a predetermined position the gate is lowered and a case enters the machine. As a case enters the machine, the case is aligned along the center of the case path of travel throughthe machine; and, a T-deck drops to allow the bottom major flaps to separate from the bottom minor flaps. Such separation is necessary for the bottom flaps to be sealed simultaneously with the top naps. If the bottom flaps are sealed when the case enters the machine, no separation occurs. As the case continues to move through the machine, a kicker carriage is lowered, top rails (mounted onthe kicker carriage) are moved inwardly and a kicker (also mounted on the kickercarriage) is actuated. As a result, the upper minor flaps of the case are first folded, followed by a partial folding of the upper major flaps. The case is thenmoved past top and bottom glue heads that apply glue (if programmed to do so) to the top and bottom flaps at front and rear locations in an operator programmed (continuous or intermittent) pattern. The length of the glue pattern is also operator programmable. After the glue is applied, the case moves under acompression carriage that is lowered to apply vertical pressure that causes the major flaps to adhere to the minor flaps in regions where glue is applied by theglue heads. As the case moves beneath the compression carriage discharge rails are moved inwardly to maintain the case alignment. After each of their functions has been performed, the various movable mechanisms (the infeed, top and discharge rails, and the kicker and compression carriages) are repositioned for the next case being moved through the machine. In this regard, two cases may be sequentially moved through the machine by the conveyor mechanism, with the front and rear of both cases being continuously monitored by the programmable controller.