Apparatus and method for assembling enclosure assemblies

1. An apparatus ( 21 ) for assembling a collapsible enclosure assembly ( 1 ) onto a container ( 11 ), the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) being of the type comprising a plurality of collapsible walls ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) and which is adapted to be supported, when erected, on the container ( 11 ) so that, in situ, the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) encloses a region above the container ( 11 ), the apparatus ( 21 ) comprising:

a carriage configured to move a collapsed enclosure assembly ( 1 ) from a storage position to an assembly position ( 36 ), wherein the carriage comprises a first planar element ( 41 ) that is movable between the storage position and the assembly position ( 36 ) and against which the collapsed enclosure assembly ( 1 ) can rest, and a retainer to grab a collapsed enclosure assembly ( 1 ) from the storage position and to retain the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) on the first planar element ( 41 );

an actuator to move the walls ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) of the collapsed enclosure assembly ( 1 ) when in the assembly position ( 36 ) relatively apart to expand the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) so as to be of generally tubular form, the actuator including a finger ( 47 ) positionable externally of the enclosure assembly and positionable internally of the enclosure assembly, wherein when internally located, the finger ( 47 ) engages with an internal surface of one of the walls of the enclosure assembly and when driven, the finger ( 47 ) expands the walls relatively apart, wherein the actuator to move the walls ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) of the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) relatively apart is arranged to pull an opposed wall away from a first wall of the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) and includes a second planar element ( 51 ) against which the opposed wall of the collapsed enclosure assembly ( 1 ) can rest, and wherein the finger is movable between a first orientation where the finger ( 47 ) is insertable through an aperture of the respective wall ( 2 , 3 ) of the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) to a second orientation whereby the finger ( 47 ) retains the respective wall ( 2 , 3 ) of the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) on the second planar element ( 51 ) but is not removable through the aperture; and

a mounter to mount the expanded enclosure assembly ( 1 ) on a corresponding container ( 11 ).

2. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 1 wherein the apparatus ( 21 ) is adapted to assemble collapsible enclosure assemblies ( 1 ) of the type comprising a first two opposed walls ( 2 , 3 ) and a second two opposed walls ( 4 ), the enclosure assembly ( 1 ), when expanded, being of quadrilateral cross section.

3. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising a storage assembly for storing at least one collapsed enclosure assembly ( 1 ).

4. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 3 wherein the storage assembly comprises a chute ( 25 ), the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) being located between parallel side walls of the chute ( 25 ) in a substantially upright condition with the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) being adjacent to an end wall ( 27 ) of the chute ( 25 ).

5. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 4 wherein the chute ( 25 ) is inclined with the end wall ( 27 ) being lowermost.

6. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 4 wherein a base of the chute ( 25 ) is provided with a conveyor ( 29 , 31 ) to convey a collapsed enclosure assembly ( 1 ) towards the end wall ( 27 ) of the chute ( 25 ).

7. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 4 wherein the end wall ( 27 ) is spaced from the end margins of the side walls of the chute ( 25 ) by a distance greater than the thickness of the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) when in the collapsed condition.

8. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 6 wherein the conveyor ( 29 , 31 ) is of walking beam type comprising two parallel beams ( 31 ) that sequentially move upwardly, forwardly and then downwardly to sequentially lift the enclosure assembly ( 1 ), move the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) towards the end wall ( 27 ) of the chute ( 25 ) and to lower the enclosure assembly ( 1 ).

9. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 4 wherein the chute ( 25 ) stores multiple collapsed enclosure assemblies ( 1 ) in a substantially horizontal row.

10. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 1 wherein the retainer is configured to grab and retain the first wall of the enclosure assembly ( 1 ).

11. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 1 wherein the first planar element ( 41 ) of the carriage ( 37 ) is movable along a guide rail ( 35 ) on the apparatus ( 21 ).

12. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 11 wherein the guide rail ( 35 ) is located substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the chute ( 25 ).

13. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 1 wherein the second planar element ( 51 ) is movable between a position adjacent the first planar element ( 41 ) in which the finger grabs and retains the opposed wall of the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) against the second planar element and when so retained, is movable to a position distal from the first planar element ( 41 ), the movement from the position adjacent the first planar element ( 41 ) to the position distal the first planar element ( 41 ) pulling the opposed wall of the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) away from the first wall of the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) to expand the enclosure assembly ( 1 ).

14. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 13 wherein each planar element ( 41 , 51 ) comprises a plate.

15. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 1 wherein the finger is rotatable between the first and second orientation.

16. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 15 wherein the rotatable finger ( 47 ) is mounted on a shaft ( 45 ) that is operative to extend the finger ( 47 ) through the aperture and rotate the finger ( 47 ) to the second orientation.

17. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 16 wherein the finger ( 47 ) extends substantially perpendicularly from the longitudinal axis of the shaft ( 45 ).

18. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 1 wherein two fingers ( 47 ) are provided for the second planar element.

19. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 1 wherein the retainer comprises a suction cup adapted to suck onto a wall of the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) using a vacuum.

20. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 19 wherein the suction cup is connected to a vacuum source.

21. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 1 wherein the apparatus ( 21 ) further comprises a container storage assembly ( 56 ).

22. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 21 wherein the container storage assembly ( 56 ) is located distal from the assembly position ( 36 ).

23. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 21 wherein the container storage assembly ( 56 ) stores multiple containers ( 11 ) in a substantially vertical stack.

24. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 21 wherein a conveyor is provided to convey a container ( 11 ) from the container storage assembly ( 56 ) to the assembly position ( 36 ) such that the container ( 11 ) is positioned beneath an enclosure assembly ( 1 ) when the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) is in the expanded condition at the assembly position ( 36 ).

25. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 1 wherein the mounter comprises a lift ( 61 ) to lift the container ( 11 ) into engagement with the expanded enclosure assembly ( 1 ) to enable the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) to be mounted on the container ( 11 ).

26. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 25 wherein the lift ( 61 ) comprises a pivotable arm ( 63 ) on which the container ( 11 ) rests, the arm ( 63 ) being pivotable between a lowered position and a raised position.

27. The apparatus ( 21 ) of claim 26 wherein the arm ( 63 ) is pivotable using a hydraulic ram ( 67 ).

28. A method of assembling a collapsible enclosure assembly ( 1 ) of the type comprising a plurality of collapsible walls ( 2 , 3 4 ) and which is adapted to be supported, when erected, on a container ( 11 ) so that, in situ, the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) encloses a region above the container ( 11 ), the method comprising:

moving a collapsed enclosure assembly ( 1 ) from a storage position to an assembly position ( 36 ) with a carriage that comprises a first planar element ( 41 ) that is movable between the storage position and the assembly position ( 36 ) and against which the collapsed enclosure assembly ( 1 ) can rest, and a retainer to grab a collapsed enclosure assembly ( 1 ) from the storage position and to retain the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) on the first planar element ( 41 );

moving the walls ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) of the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) relatively apart to expand the collapsed enclosure assembly ( 1 ) when in the assembly position ( 36 ) so that the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) is of generally tubular form with an actuator that includes a finger ( 47 ) positionable externally of the enclosure assembly and positionable internally of the enclosure assembly and a second planar element ( 51 ), wherein the walls are moved by

inserting the finger ( 47 ) through an aperture of the respective wall ( 2 , 3 ) of the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) in a first orientation such that the finger ( 47 ) engages with an internal surface of the enclosure assembly, retains the respective wall ( 2 , 3 ) of the enclosure assembly on a second planar element ( 51 ) of the actuator and is not removable through the aperture;

driving the finger ( 47 ) to expand the walls relatively apart by pulling an opposed wall away from a first wall of the enclosure assembly ( 1 ); and

mounting the expanded enclosure assembly ( 1 ) on a corresponding container ( 11 ).

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) comprises a first two opposed walls ( 2 , 3 ) and a second two opposed walls ( 4 ), the method comprising moving the first two opposed walls ( 2 , 3 ) relatively apart and then moving the second two opposed walls ( 4 ) apart.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the method comprises initially retaining the first wall of the enclosure assembly ( 1 ) and moving the retained enclosure assembly ( 1 ) to the assembly position ( 36 ).

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising conveying a container ( 11 ) from a container storage assembly ( 56 ) to the assembly position ( 36 ) and positioning the container ( 11 ) beneath the expanded enclosure assembly ( 1 ).

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the method further comprises lifting the container ( 11 ) into engagement with the expanded enclosure assembly ( 1 ).