COLLAPSED, TUBULAR CARTON ERECTING APPARATUS

An apparatus (10) for erecting collapsed, tubular cartons (12) is disclosed including a device (32) for removing the top carton (12) of a vertical stack of cartons (12) in a hopper (26) and moving it in a horizontal orientation to an operative position. In the operative position, the second side panel (16) of the collapsed carton (12) underlies at least the first end panel (18) which is in a linear arrangement with the first side panel (14). Suction cups (76) carried by a frame (74) are secured to the second side panel (16) in an attachment position and moved by a parallelogram linkage to an open position located vertically below and coinciding with the first side panel (14). In a first preferred form, the folded closure flaps (22-25) are held by a tape piece (116) applied by a taping machine (114) carried by the last tucking arm (106). In another preferred form, the folded closure flaps (22-25) are fan folded by rotating and sliding folding arms (140-143) of a device (120) so that tape pieces (116) or similar agents to hold the closure flaps (22-25) are not needed. An unload arm (84) is then pivoted about a first axis from a pickup position to a drop position and is simultaneously pivoted about a second axis from a first condition to a secon d condition to place the erected carton (12) in achute (118) at an offset location and in a horizontal orientation. In the most preferred form, the unload arm (84) is pivoted about the second axis by a crank arm (98) secured to the unload arm (84) and a connector (100) having i ts opposite end secured to a stationary reference point when the unload amp (84) is pivoted about the first axis.