Flap folder for moving carton blanks - uses second parallel and faster moving band to hold flaps after folding

摘要

Carton blanks (F), ready scored for folding, are carried forward in succession on a conveyor belt (1), above which a shorter belt (4) fitted with hooks moves at somewhat greater speed. The trailing edge of each blank is caught by a passing hook, which folds it over into a flap (6) and passes on. The invention introduces a flexible band (7) which runs parallel to the conveyor belt and close enought to it to hold the finished flaps folded - for which purpose it must itself be moving faster than the conveyor. The method alleviates the problem of synchronizing this operation with others in the complete folding machine.