US 12,330,827 B2
Case-handling system with flap openers
Bryce J. Fox, Honesdale, PA (US); and William J. Menta, West Wyoming, PA (US)
Assigned to SIGNODE INDUSTRIAL GROUP LLC, Tampa, FL (US)
Filed by Signode Industrial Group LLC, Tampa, FL (US)
Filed on Dec. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/063,155.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/265,630, filed on Dec. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0192337 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. B65B 43/39 (2006.01); B65B 43/26 (2006.01); B65B 43/52 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 43/39 (2013.01) [B65B 43/265 (2013.01); B65B 43/52 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A case-handling system comprising:
a conveyor;
a rotatable first flap opener comprising a first set of multiple spaced-apart flap-engaging fingers;
a rotatable second flap opener spaced apart from the first flap opener and comprising a first set of multiple spaced-apart flap-engaging fingers;
one or more actuators operably connected to the first and second flap openers and configured to rotate the first and second flap openers in opposing rotational directions; and
a controller operably connected to the conveyor to drive the conveyor and to the one or more actuators to rotate the first and second flap openers,
wherein the first and second flap openers are positionable such that, when a case having first and second upper major flaps and first and second upper minor flaps is conveyed by the conveyor between and past the first and second flap openers:
the first flap opener engages an inner surface of the first upper major flap to fold the first upper major flap outwardly, and
the second flap opener engages an inner surface of the second upper major flap to fold the second upper major flap outwardly.