Claims
- 1. An apparatus for extending diverter tabs outwardly from the walls of a shipping and display box, said apparatus comprising:
- means for supporting a blank used for forming the shipping and display box;
- means for holding the blank on the apparatus;
- means for extending the diverter tabs outwardly from the box walls to create openings through the shipping and display box and releasing the holding means so that the blank can be removed from the apparatus; and
- actuator means for actuating the extending means against the diverter tabs, wherein as the actuator mans moves substantially translationally the extending means moves rotationally.
- 2. A method for forming a shipping and display box of the type having diverter tabs that extend outwardly from the box walls, said method comprising:
- supporting a blank used for forming the shipping and display box in a forming apparatus;
- folding the blank on the forming apparatus to form the box walls;
- holding the blank substantially stationary on the forming apparatus;
- extending the diverter tabs outwardly from the box walls with the forming apparatus to create openings through the shipping and display box; and
- releasing the blank subsequent to the diverter tabs being fully extended outward from the box wall so that it can be removed from the forming apparatus.
- 3. An apparatus for forming a shipping and display box of the type having diverter tabs that extend outwardly from the box walls, said forming apparatus comprising:
- a guide plate for supporting a blank used for forming the shipping and display box;
- a catcher plate used for holding the blank on the forming apparatus;
- a diverter tab lever for extending the diverter tabs outwardly from the box walls to create openings through the shipping and display box; and
- an actuator for urging the diverter tab lever against the diverter tabs, the actuator allows the catcher plate to be released so that the blank can be removed from the forming apparatus, wherein the catcher plate provides resistance against the blank as the diverter tab lever pushes the diverter tabs outwardly from the box walls and the diverter tab lever releases the resistance against the catcher plate after the diverter tabs have been fully extended such that the catcher plate is released and the blank can be removed from the forming apparatus.
- 4. An apparatus for forming a shipping and display box of the type having diverter tabs that extend outwardly from the box walls, said forming apparatus comprising:
- a guide plate for supporting a blank used for forming the shipping and display box;
- a catcher plate used for holding the blank on the forming apparatus;
- a diverter tab lever for extending the diverter tabs outwardly from the box walls to create openings through the shipping and display box; and
- an actuator for urging the diverter tab lever against the diverter tabs, the actuator allows the catcher plate to be released so that the blank can be removed from the forming apparatus, wherein as the actuator moves substantially translationally, the diverter tab lever moves rotationally.
- 5. An apparatus for forming a shipping and display box of the type having diverters tabs that extend outwardly from the box walls, said forming apparatus comprising:
- a guide plate for supporting a blank used for forming the shipping and display box;
- a catcher plate used for holding the blank on the forming apparatus; a diverter tab lever for extending the diverter tabs outwardly from the box walls to create openings through the shipping and display box; and
- an actuator for urging the diverter tab lever tab against the diverter tabs, the actuator allows the catcher plate to be released so that the blank can be removed from the forming apparatus wherein the diverter tab lever comprises:
- a first set of diverter tab levers joined to the actuator by an actuator lever; and
- a second set of diverter tab levers joined to the first set of diverter tab levers by actuator linkage.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein:
- the actuator lever rotates about a rotation point, a first end of the actuator lever being longer than a second end of the actuator lever;
- the actuator being pivotally joined to the first end of the actuator lever on a first side of the rotation point;
- the first set of diverter tab levers being joined to the actuator lever;
- the actuator linkage being pivotally joined at a first end to the second end of the actuator lever on a second side of the rotation point; and
- the second set of diverter tab levers being joined to a second end of the actuator linkage such that as the actuator is moved substantially translationally it rises along an arc centered about the rotation point and the first set of diverter tab levers and the second set of diverter tab levers move rotationally toward the diverter tabs.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the catcher plate is weighted more on a second end than a first end such that as the actuator rises along the arc the catcher plate rotates around a pivot point.
- 8. An apparatus for forming a shipping and display box of the type having diverter tabs that extend outwardly from the box walls, said forming apparatus comprising:
- a guide plate for supporting a blank used for forming the shipping and display box;
- a catcher plate used for holding the blank on the forming apparatus;
- a first set of diverter tab levers for extending a first set of diverter tabs outwardly from a first box wall;
- a second set of diverter tab levers joined to the first set of diverter tab levers by an actuator linkage for extending a second set of diverter tabs outwardly from a second box wall; and
- an actuator joined to the first set of diverter tab levers by an actuator lever for urging the first set of diverter tab levers against the first set of diverter tabs and the second set of diverter tab levers against the second set of diverter tabs, the actuator allows the catcher plate to be released so that the blank can be removed from the forming apparatus.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:
- the actuator lever rotates about a rotation point, a first end of the actuator lever being longer than a second end of the actuator lever;
- the actuator being pivotally joined to the first end of the actuator lever on a first side of the rotation point;
- the first set of diverter tab levers being joined to the actuator lever;
- the actuator linkage being pivotally joined at a first end to the second end of the actuator lever on a second side of the rotation point; and
- the second set of diverter tab levers being joined to a second end of the actuator linkage such that as the actuator is moved substantially translationally it rises along an arc centered about the rotation point and the first set of diverter tab levers and the second set of diverter tab levers move rotationally toward the diverter tabs.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the catcher plate is weighted more on a second end than a first end such that as the actuator rises along the arc the catcher plate rotates around a pivot point.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/192,108, filed Feb. 4, 1994.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
192108 |
Feb 1994 |
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