Semi-automatic case forming, holding and sealing machine

Abstract

A semi-automatic case handling machine includes a case holding and forming section with laterally movable spaced apart walls, bottom major flap kickers movable with the walls, and a bottom minor flap kicker movable axially. A case sealing section of the machine includes a bottom taper for taping bottom major flaps, an upper taper for taping upper major flaps, the upper taper movable vertically, and a pair of spaced apart conveyors for moving cases past the bottom taper and the upper taper for taping, wherein the spaced apart conveyors are movable laterally. An adjustment system includes a memory storing a plurality of machine set ups, wherein each machine set up includes data corresponding to (i) lateral positions for the spaced apart walls, the spaced apart bottom major flap kickers and the spaced apart conveyors, (ii) axial position for the bottom minor flap kicker and (iii) vertical position for the upper taper.

1 . A semi-automatic case handling machine, comprising:
 a case holding and forming section, including:
 spaced apart walls that are movable laterally to adapt to different case widths; 
 spaced apart bottom major flap kickers for moving bottom major flaps of a case upward, the bottom major flap kickers movable with the walls; 
 a bottom minor flap kicker movable axially to adapt to different case lengths; 
   a case sealing section axially downstream of the case holding and forming section, the case sealing section including:
 a bottom taper for taping bottom major flaps; 
 an upper taper for taping upper major flaps, the upper taper movable vertically to adapt to different case heights; 
 a pair of spaced apart conveyors for moving cases past the bottom taper and the upper taper for taping, wherein the spaced apart conveyors are movable laterally to adapt to different case widths; 
   an adjustment system including a memory storing a plurality of machine set ups, wherein each machine set up includes data corresponding to (i) lateral positions for the spaced apart walls, the spaced apart bottom major flap kickers and the spaced apart conveyors, (ii) axial position for the bottom minor flap kicker and (iii) vertical position for the upper taper.   
     
     
         2 . The semi-automatic case handling machine of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment system further includes:
 a lateral adjustment system for powered movement of the spaced apart walls, the spaced apart major flap kickers and the spaced apart conveyors;   an axial adjustment system for powered movement of the bottom minor flap kicker; and   a vertical adjustment system for powered movement of the upper taper.   
     
     
         3 . The semi-automatic case handling machine of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the lateral adjustment system includes a first motor linked for effecting lateral movement of the spaced apart walls, the spaced apart major flap kickers and the spaced apart conveyors;   wherein the axial adjustment system includes a second motor linked for effecting axial movement of the bottom minor flap kicker;   wherein the vertical adjustment system includes a third motor linked for effecting vertical movement of the upper taper.   
     
     
         4 . The semi-automatic case handling machine of  claim 2 , wherein the adjustment system further comprises a scanning unit for scanning a code associated with items to be placed in a case, and a controller that selects one of the machine set ups based upon the scanned codes and automatically controls the first motor, the second motor and the third motor to set up the machine according to the data of the selected machine set up. 
     
     
         5 . The semi-automatic case handling machine of  claim 4 , wherein the scanner is a hand-held scanner. 
     
     
         6 . The semi-automatic case handling machine of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to output an indicator that communicates to an operator the case size to be selected for the items. 
     
     
         7 . The semi-automatic case handing machine of  claim 6 , wherein the code is associated with a pick tray holding the items, wherein the indicator is associated with a case holding rack. 
     
     
         8 . The semi-automatic case handling machine of  claim 2 , wherein the adjustment system further comprises a user interface enabling a machine operator to select or input a case size code, and a controller that selects one of the machine set ups based upon the case size code and automatically controls the first motor, the second motor and the third motor to set up the machine according to the data of the selected machine set up. 
     
     
         9 . A method of forming, loading and taping a case using a semi-automated case handling machine that includes a plurality of components that are position adjustable based upon case size to be formed, loaded and taped, the method comprising:
 (a) inputting a case size code to a controller of the machine via one of:
 scanning the case size code associated with a pick tray holding one or more items to be loaded into a case; 
 or 
 manually selecting the case size code via a user interface of the machine; 
   (b) the controller automatically effecting movement of the plurality of components to respective positions corresponding to a case size associated with the case size code, in preparation for forming, loading and taping the case.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the case handling machine is located alongside a conveyance path for pick trays. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the inputting of the case size code is achieved by scanning the case size code associated with a pick tray holding one or more items to be loaded into a case. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a plurality of case racks are located proximate an operator side of the machine, and the method further includes the controller automatically providing an annunciator output indicating a particular one of the case racks from which the operator should select a case, wherein particular one of the case racks holds the case size associated with the case size code. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the provided annunciator is energizing of a visual output element located on or near the particular one of the case racks. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the visual output element is a light.