US Patent 7163502 Carton erecting apparatus

Rotary transfer mechanism is mounted on a frame for removing a flat folded carton from a storage hopper to move the carton to a flight conveyor assembly and in cooperation therewith erect the carton to be in an open rectangular condition. The transfer mechanism includes end plates rotated in one angular direction and vacuum cup assemblies rotated therewith and relative thereto in the opposite angular direction. The cup assemblies include transversely opposite cups having adjacent sides less flexible than their remote sides and intermediate cups having buttons therein to form dimples in a carton panel when grippingly engaged. The flight assembly includes guideways to have lugs of flight devices extend into their channels as devices move along the upper run of an endless conveyor. The flight devices include flight bars extending vertically above the lugs as the lugs move in said channels.