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). The bottom closure flap (23) is folded upwardly by a bending rod (82) as the frame (74) moves the carton (12) to its open condition. After an unload arm (84) is secured to the first end panel (18), tucking arms ( 102, 104, 106) are pivoted to tuck the remaining bottom closure flaps (22, 24, 25), with the last tucking arm (106) carrying a taping machine (114) to apply a tape piece (116) to the carton (12). The unload arm (84) is then pivoted about a first axis from the pickup position to a drop position and is simultaneously pivoted about a second axis from a first condition to a second condition to place the erected carton (12) in a chute (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 its opposite end secured to a stationary reference point when the unload arm (84) is pivoted about the first axis.