Random case sealer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12134495-B2
Application number	US-202318327263-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2023
Priority date	Mar 19, 2018
Publication date	Nov 5, 2024
Grant date	Nov 5, 2024

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a random case sealer. The case sealer includes a top-head-actuating assembly configured to vary the speed of the top-head assembly when ascending (to make room for the case beneath the top-head assembly) and when descending onto the case (to engage the top surface of the case during sealing). This maximizes the speed of the top-head assembly while limiting overshoot (when ascending) and preventing damage to the case (when descending). In certain embodiments the case sealer includes a tape cartridge configured to limit the forces imparted onto the leading and top surfaces of the case during sealing. These features result in increased throughput as compared to prior art random case sealers without requiring stronger cases or more protective dunnage.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of operating a case sealer to seal a case, the method comprising:
moving a case through the case sealer and below at least part of a tape cartridge of the case sealer;
moving, via a roller-arm actuator, a front roller arm of the tape cartridge from a front-roller-arm extended position to a front-roller-arm retracted position;
applying tape from a tape supply of the tape cartridge to the case; and
moving, via a cutter-arm actuator, a cutter arm of the tape cartridge from a cutter-arm retracted position to a cutter-arm extended position without assistance from a spring to cut the tape from the tape supply.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein moving the front roller arm from the front-roller-arm extended position to the front-roller-arm retracted position comprises moving the front roller arm without assistance from a spring.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein moving the front roller arm from the front-roller-arm extended position to the front-roller-arm retracted position comprises moving the front roller arm without assistance from a spring.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the roller-arm actuator comprises a pneumatic cylinder, wherein moving the front roller arm from the front-roller-arm extended position to the front-roller-arm retracted position comprises directing air into the pneumatic cylinder.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein moving the front roller arm from the front-roller-arm extended position to the front-roller-arm retracted position comprises moving the front roller arm without assistance from a spring.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutter-arm actuator comprises a pneumatic cylinder, wherein moving the cutter arm from the cutter-arm retracted position to the cutter-arm extended position comprises directing air into the pneumatic cylinder.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein moving the cutter arm from the cutter-arm retracted position to the cutter-arm extended position comprises moving the cutter arm without assistance from a spring.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the pneumatic cylinder comprises a cutter-arm pneumatic cylinder, wherein the roller-arm actuator comprises a roller-arm pneumatic cylinder, wherein moving the front roller arm from the front-roller-arm extended position to the front-roller-arm retracted position comprises directing air into the roller-arm pneumatic cylinder.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein moving the front roller arm from the front-roller-arm extended position to the front-roller-arm retracted position comprises moving the front roller arm without assistance from a spring, wherein moving the cutter arm from the cutter-arm retracted position to the cutter-arm extended position comprises moving the cutter arm without assistance from a spring.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving, via the cutter-arm actuator, the cutter arm from the cutter-arm extended position to the cutter-arm retracted position before moving the cutter arm from the cutter-arm retracted position to the cutter-arm extended position to cut the tape from the tape supply.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising simultaneously moving the front roller arm from the front-roller-arm extended position to the front-roller-arm retracted position and the cutter arm from the cutter-arm extended position to the cutter-arm retracted position.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining that the case has reached a first position in the case sealer and in response simultaneously moving the front roller arm from the front-roller-arm extended position to the front-roller-arm retracted position and the cutter arm from the cutter-arm extended position to the cutter-arm retracted position.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising moving, via the roller-arm actuator, the front roller arm from the front-roller-arm retracted position to the front-roller-arm extended position after moving the front roller arm from the front-roller-arm extended position to the front-roller-arm retracted position.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising simultaneously moving the front roller arm from the front-roller-arm retracted position to the front-roller-arm extended position and the cutter arm from the cutter-arm retracted position to the cutter-arm extended position.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising determining that the case has moved past the first position in the case sealer and in response simultaneously moving the front roller arm from the front-roller-arm retracted position to the front-roller-arm extended position and the cutter arm from the cutter-arm retracted position to the cutter-arm extended position.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising determining that the case has reached the first position and has moved past the first position via feedback from a sensor configured to detect the case.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the case is not in contact with the tape cartridge when the case is at the first position.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the case is in contact with the tape cartridge when the case has moved past the first position.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the tape from the tape supply to the case comprises applying the tape to leading, upper, and trailing surfaces of the case.

20. A method of operating a case sealer to seal a case, the method comprising:
moving a case through the case sealer and below at least part of a tape cartridge of the case sealer;
moving, via a roller-arm actuator, a front roller arm of the tape cartridge from a front-roller-arm extended position to a front-roller-arm retracted position;
applying tape from a tape supply of the tape cartridge to the case; and
moving, via a cutter-arm actuator comprising a pneumatic cylinder, a cutter arm of the tape cartridge from a cutter-arm retracted position to a cutter-arm extended position by directing air into the pneumatic cylinder to cut the tape from the tape supply.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein moving the cutter arm from the cutter-arm retracted position to the cutter-arm extended position comprises moving the cutter arm without assistance from a spring.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the pneumatic cylinder comprises a cutter-arm pneumatic cylinder, wherein the roller-arm actuator comprises a roller-arm pneumatic cylinder, wherein moving the front roller arm from the front-roller-arm extended position to the front-roller-arm retracted position comprises directing air into the roller-arm pneumatic cylinder.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein moving the front roller arm from the front-roller-arm extended position to the front-roller-arm retracted position comprises moving the front roller arm without assistance from a spring, wherein moving the cutter arm from the cutter-arm retracted position to the cutter-arm extended position comprises moving the cutter arm without assistance from a spring.

Assignees

• Signode Ind Group Llc

Inventors

• Menta William J
• Fox Bryce J

Classifications

• B65B59/003

  Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material · CPC title

• B65B2210/04

  Customised on demand packaging by determining a specific characteristic, e.g. shape or height, of articles or material to be packaged and selecting, creating or adapting a packaging accordingly, e.g. making a carton starting from web material · CPC title

• B65H2701/377

  Adhesive tape · CPC title

• B65H35/0013

  and applying the article or the web by adhesive to a surface (B65H35/002 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65B67/02

  Packaging of articles or materials in containers · CPC title