US 11,939,102 B2
Front flap lifting mechanism
Robert Leslie Dillard, Easley, SC (US); Jon Paul Laskis, Simpsonville, SC (US); and J. Mark Nunn, Simpsonville, SC (US)
Assigned to ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed by ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed on Oct. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/499,250.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/105,560, filed on Oct. 26, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0127027 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. B65B 7/20 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 7/20 (2013.01) 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A lifting apparatus for a case on a conveyor system, the lifting apparatus comprising:
a chain adapted to vertically hang over a conveyor belt;
a hook positioned on an end of the chain, wherein the hook is adapted to engage a front flap of an open case on the conveyor belt at a first position;
a piston configured to retract and extend the chain; and
a chain guide track wherein the piston is configured to at least partially retract the chain into the chain guide track at a second position while the hook is engaged with the front flap and wherein the case is adapted to continuously move on the conveyor belt while at the first position and the second position.