EP0030988B1

EP0030988B1 - Box blank feed, transfer and glueing control apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP0030988B1
Application number: EP79303041A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Raymond André Labombarde
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-12-24
Filing date: 1979-12-24
Publication date: 1985-03-13
Also published as: DE2967409D1; EP0030988A1

Description

The invention concerns apparatus for use in feeding, folding and glueing box blanks. It has heretofore been proposed to use "bumper" type feeds in the magazines of folding paper box machines for assuring that only the leading edge of the lowermost blank in a stack of identical, flat box blanks will be advanced through the gateway of the magazine gauge and along the horizontal paper line of the machine.
One type of bumper feed is disclosed in U.S Patent 3,406,963, wherein the upper reaches of a plurality of endless carrier belts advance under the lower surface of the lowermost blank in a stack and are liftable into contact with that surface to advance the lowermost blank by means of cams.
In another type of bumper feed disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,612,512, the lifting members are between the carrier belts and instead of raising the belts into contact with the lower blank they lift the lower blank out of contact with the belts for controlling feed.
The bumper feed of this invention is timed and of the type disclosed in U.S Patent 3,612,512 in that elongated lifter bars mounted in the space between feed belts, are raised and lowered to control the feed of each successive lowermost blank out of the gateway at the bottom of the stack. Such a bumper feed was made and sold by the International Paper Box Machine Company of Nashua, New Hampshire in February 1971 on a straight line folder-gluer.
In US-A-3626820 there is disclosed a carton folder and gluer of the above identified type in which there are first and second conveying means in first and second folding zones respectively, and transfer means in a transfer zone, the conveying means and transfer means being drivingly coupled to feed means for the carton blanks so that the passage of the blanks through the folder and gluer is completely controlled in a timed manner. In US-A-3111885 a carbon blank operates a switch in the transfer zone to actuate a kicker to transfer the blank from a first conveying means to a second conveying means.
Known carton folder and gluer machines are subject to limitations of speed for proper control of the carbon blanks to be maintained throughout the folding and glueing stages.
According to this invention there is provided a carton folder and gluer of the right angle type as defined in claim 1. The advantage of this invention is that timed control is obtained while using higher speed carrier belts in the first fold and second fold zones, thereby improving speed accuracy and efficiency.
Preferred embodiments of the carton folder and gluer of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.
The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings and in which:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of part of a right angle carton folder and gluer generally in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, and shows the bumper feed positively connected mechanically to the right angle transfer arm in semi-timed relationship;
Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 showing the bumper feed, right angle transfer bar and pattern glue wheel positively connected in fully timed relationship;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end elevation in section on line 4-4 of Fig. 5, and shows the bumper feed adjustment;
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the transfer mechanism in the transfer zone; and
Fig. 7 is a side elevation in section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6, the transparent cover being removed.

Referring now to the drawings, a right angle folder gluer 30 includes a box blank, or sheet, feeding zone 31, a first folding zone 32, a right angle transfer zone 33, a glueing zone 34, a second folding zone 35 and a discharge zone 36.
A bottom feed magazine 37, in the feed zone 31, supports a stack 38 of carbon blanks, or sheets, 39, the leading edge 41 of the lowermost blank 42 being opposite the gateway 43 to permit passage of only one blank 39 at a time.
A bumper type feed mechanism 44 in sheet feeding zone 31 includes a plurality of laterally spaced, endless, feed belts 45 with at least one stack lifter 46 in the space 47 between adjacent belts. Feed control means 48 comprises a rotatable variable eccentric 49 rotated by a shaft 51 and mounted within a yoke 52 to vertically lift and lower the turnbuckle adjustment rod 53 and the stack lifter 46. The stack lifter 46 is guided on the pair of parallel links 54 and 55 which are pivoted to a frame piece 56.
The turnbuckle adjustment rod 53 permits variation in the limit, or length, of travel of the stack lifters 46 in accordance with the variable throw of the eccentric 49. The throw of the eccentric is variable by means of the slots 57, bolts 58 in the yoke 52. The throw of the eccentric is adjustable to conform to the length of the blanks 39 being fed along the paper line of the machine.
Preferably there are a pair of identical variable, eccentric mechanisms 49 each adjustable to conform to the length of the blanks in a run and each supporting one end of a cross piece 61, the cross piece 61 carrying the stack lifter bars 46.
A mechanically actuated, positive, right angle, transfer means 62 is provided in transfer zone 33 of the right angle folder gluer 30 and includes a pusher element, or bar, 63 movably mounted in position to engage the side edge 64 of each folded blank 39 advanced into the zone 33 and to push the blank, in a direction normal to its previous direction of advance, over into the glueing zone 34.
As best shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the mechanical transfer means 62 includes a reciprocable carriage 65 mounted for lateral motion on brackets 66 pivotal on a rod 67 and an eccentric 68 rotatable in a yoke 69 on a shaft 70, the yoke 69 being connected by pin 71 and crank 72 to the carriage to impart reciprocation thereto. A transparent cover in the zone 33 and coextensive in area with the slotted base 73 holds down the folded flaps, walls or tabs of the blanks while the folded blanks move through the zone. A turn handle 74 and threaded mechanism 75 permits manual adjustment of a backstop 76 which is in the path of the leading edge 41 of each blank 39 to align the edge properly for advance into the glueing zone. A threaded lock 77 holds the backstop at the desired location.
A pair of spring biased, pivoted fingers 78 and 79 are mounted on pusher bar 63 and arranged to yield resiliently under impact of the leading edge of an entering blank as the carriage is on its retraction stroke. Thus one blank can be advancing under the influence of the nip 81 of carrier belts 82 of the second conveyor means 83, while the carriage retracts and the next successive blank advances into the transfer zone and under the preceding blank (Fig. 6) thus avoiding the delay of waiting for the preceding blank to clear the zone. While the fingers yield (as shown in Fig.
6) the right angular tips 84 thereof spring back into position to push the side edges 64 of the blanks in a direction normal to the path through the first folding zone.
A conventional glue pot means 60 may be mounted in glueing zone 34, to apply a strip of adhesive along a portion of each successive blank passing thereunder or thereabove, through the glueing zone (Fig. 2). However, pattern gluer 85, having one or more pattern glue wheels 86 rotated by a shaft 87 is preferably provided so that a pattern of adhesive spots may be deposited on selected portions of blanks passing thereunder.
As shown in Fig. 1, in one form of the invention, the feed drive shaft 51 of feed control means 48 is driven by a variable speed drive unit and motor 88 by timing belt, or chain 89. Each individual and successive lowermost blank 42 in the vertical stack 38 of magazine 37 is fed by the lifter bars 46 of the bumper feed 44, through the gateway 43 onto conveyor 95 and is carried through the first folding zone 32 for folding by the first folding means. Pattern, or spot, glueing is possible in the first folding zone, if desired, by operably connecting the shaft of the pattern glue wheels to the first conveyor means.
Instead of first and second registration chain conveyor means, in the first folding zone as shown in Fig. 1 and in the glueing and second folding zones, it has been found that the feed, transfer and glueing control apparatus of the invention permits untimed endless carrier belt conveyors to advance the blanks along the paper line for much more rapid article actuated folding. Thus as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 7, a pair of upper and lower carrier belts 99 and 101, extending along the first folding zone 32, receive each successive blank from magazine 37 and advance the blanks individually and successively in spaced formation along the horizontal paper line in the elongated nip 102 thereof. Thus while the bumper feed 44 is timed the first conveyor means 103 comprising belts 99 and 101 is untimed, the folding is article actuated, or by elongated folder bars or belts of known type, and delivery into the right angle transfer zone 33 is untimed.
In right angle transfer zone 33, timed control is regained by reason of the gear 104, driven by the shaft 51 of the bumper feed 44, and driving gear 105 on shaft 106, shaft 106 positively driving shaft 70 of transfer means 62 through sprockets 107 and 108 and chain 109.
A semi-timed control of the blanks is thus achieved, together with the high speed and accurate folding of the untimed conveyor belts and untimed folding means.
To obtain fully timed operation of the right angle folder gluer 30, while still having untimed carrier belts and folding mechanism, a pair of upper and lower endless carrier belts 111 and 112 form the second conveyor means 113 for advancing the blanks received from the transfer zone 33 along a horizontal path, normal to the path through the first folding zone, and extending to the glueing zone 34 and from zone 34 to the second folding zone 35. Suitable second folding means 114 in the form of article actuated hooks, folder bars or folder belts of known type are provided for completing the glueing and folding of each blank to form a flat collapsed carton or tray. Full timing is obtained by connecting the shaft 87 of the pattern glue wheels 86 to the shaft 70 of the right angle transfer means by sprockets 115 and 116 and chain 117 (Fig. 3). Thus the bumper feed controls the timing of the feed, transfer and pattern glueing while the blanks advance at high speed between the zones in untimed but accurately spaced relation and the control is achieved entirely by mechanical drive means without reliance on electric switches, photo cells, spring transfer or other relatively unreliable and sometimes inaccurate connections.

Claims

1. A carton folder and gluer of the right angle type having a feed zone (31), a first folding zone (32), a transfer zone (33), a glueing zone (34) and a second folding zone (35), comprising, in combination, timed feed means (44) in said feed zone (31) for advancing carton blanks (39) individually and successively from a magazine (37) into said first folding zone (32); first conveyor means (103) in said first folding zone (32) for advancing said blanks (39) individually and successively along a path through said first folding zone (32), folding means in said first folding zone for folding each successive blank advancing therethrough along fold lines extending in the direction of said path, blank transfer means (62) in said transfer zone (33) for moving each said folded blank (39) in a direction normal to said path, second conveyor means (83) in second folding zone (35) for advancing said blanks (39) individually and successively along a path through said zone (35), glueing means (40) in said glueing zone (34) for glueing each successive blank, second folding means (114) in said second folding zone (35) for folding each glued blank (39) advancing therethrough, and mechanical drive means including a common drive train means (51, 104-109, 115-117), positively connecting said feed means (44) to said transfer means (62) and said glueing means (60) for synchronizing the right angle transfer and the glueing of each blank (39) with the feed thereof, characterised in that said first and second conveyor means (103,83) convey said blanks (39) in untimed manner, said transfer means (62) includes a mechanically actuated pusher bar (63) connected to said feed means (44) and said blank transfer means (62) moves each folded blank (39) into said glueing zone (34) through which said blanks (39) are advanced by said second conveyor means (83).

2. A carton folder and gluer as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said glueing means (60) includes a glueing roll (85) and said common drive train means (51, 104-109, 115-117) positively connects said feed means (44), said pusher bar (63) and said glueing roll (85).

3. A carton folder and gluer as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said feed means (44) comprises feed control means (48) operably connected to said magazine (37) for feeding each sheet (39) in a stack in said magazine individually and successively to said first conveyor means (103) for advance through said first folding zone (32).

4. A carton folder and gluer as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said blank transfer means (62) includes pusher elements (78, 79) movably mounted on said pusher bar (63) for engaging the side edge (64) of a sheet (39) advanced into said transfer zone (33) by said first conveyor means (103) and pushing said sheet (39) in a direction normal thereto into said second conveyor means (83) and said first conveyor means (103) comprises endless, untimed, carrier belts (99, 101) and said folding means in said first folding zone is untimed and sheet actuated.

5. A carton folder and gluer as specified in claim 3, characterised in that said feed control means (48) is of the "bumper" feed type with a variable eccentric (49) for lifting and lowering the bumper, and said variable eccentric (49) is positively connected to the drive of said blank transfer means by a common drive shaft (51).

6. A carton folder and gluer as claimed in claim 5 characterised in that said feed means (44) are formed by laterally spaced feed belt means (45) continuously moving in the direction of feed under a stack of sheets (39) in said magazine (37) and through a sheet gateway (43), adapted to pass one sheet only at a time, up to said first conveyor means (103), and at least one stack lifter (46) located in the space between adjacent feed belts (45), and mounted to move in a vertical path to lift and lower said stack to cause each successive lowermost sheet therein to engage said feed belts (45) and be advanced through said gateway (43), said feed control means (48) for actuating said stack lifter (46) comprising a rotatable, variable, eccentric (49) for lifting and lowering said stack lifter (46) with a pre-selected throw conforming to the length of the sheets (39) being fed, drive means (88, 89) for rotating said eccentric (49) at a predetermined speed for conforming the same with the speed of said first, untimed conveyor means (103), and turnbuckle means (53) connecting said stack lifter (46) with said eccentric (49) for varying limits of travel of said lifter (46) in accordance with the variable throw of said eccentric (49).

7. A carton folder and gluer as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said said drive means (88, 89) is a variable speed drive unit whereby said stack lifter (46) serves as a means for spacing said sheets (39) to handle irregular shaped, flat carton blanks and permit any given sized sheet to be fed into any given sized spacing.

8. A carton folder and gluer as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that said blank transfer means (62) includes a crank (72) for reciprocating said pusher bar (63), a drive shaft (70) for turning said crank (72), driven by connection to said feed control means (48) and said pusher elements (78, 79) are a pair of spring biased, pivoted pusher fingers adapted to yield to the leading edge (64) of a sheet (39) entering said transfer zone (33) and spring back to engage the side edge of said blank for pushing the same.

9. A carton folder and gluer as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that said blank transfer means (62) includes a carriage (65) supporting said pusher bar (63), means (66, 67) for adjusting the position of said carriage (65) in said transfer zone (38) and a back stop (76) movably positioned on said carriage (65) whereby said transfer means (62) may be adjusted to conform to the dimensions of sheets of different sizes.

10. A carton folder and gluer as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that said second conveyor (113) comprises endless carrier (111, 112) belts extending along a path normal to said first conveyor means (103) from said transfer zone (33) to a glueing zone (34) and from said glueing zone (34) through a second folding zone (35).

11. A carton folder and gluer as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that said glueing means (60) includes a pattern glue roll (85) for applying a predetermined pattern of adhesive on said sheets (39) and said common drive means (115, 117) positively connects the pattern glue roll (85) of said glueing means to the pusher bar (63) of said blank transfer means, whereby said feed control means (48), the pusher bar (63) of said sheet transfer means and the pattern glue roll (85) of said glueing means are fully timed and synchronized while permitting the use of said endless untimed carrier belts (99, 101, 111, 112) and said article actuated folding means in said first and second folding zones.

12. A carton folder and gluer as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that said common drive train means (51, 104-109, 115-117) comprises a first common drive train (51, 104-109), positively connecting said rotatable variable eccentric (49) with said crank (72) for synchronizing said feed control with said sheet transfer.

13. A carton folder and gluer as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that said common drive train means (51, 104-109, 115--117) further comprises a second common drive train (115-117) positively connecting said glue roll (85) with said crank (72) and with said variable eccentric (49) for synchronizing said feed control, said transfer and said subsequent glueing.