GB2047663A - Method and apparatus for handling blanks - Google Patents

Abstract

Blanks for cigarette packets or cartons are supplied to a consuming machine, such as a cigarette packing machine, by delivery in batches (34) from a trolley (12) to a hopper (38) at a loading station (36). The batches (34) are supported on vertically movable platforms (24) in the trolley (12) and are successively lifted into the range of a pusher (44) which moves the batches towards the hopper (38). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for handling blanks This invention relates to a method and apparatus for handling blanks, particularly for supplying substantially flat blanks to packet or carton making machines. The invention is particularly usefully applied in the cigarette industry where the blanks may be for making hinged lid packets for cigarettes or cartons for batches of cigarette packets.

According to one aspect of the invention a method of supplying substantially flat blanks to a consuming machine comprises conveying separate batches of parallel blanks in a direction parallel to said blanks, and successively transferring said batches to the consuming machine so that successive batches are formed into a substantially continuous stream of blanks moving in a direction transverse to said blanks. Preferably the batches are conveyed in said parallel direction intermittently so that batches are successively moved into a transfer position at which they are stationary prior to said transfer.The path on which said batches are moved in said parallel direction may include paths substantially at right angles; for example, vertically disposed batches may be moved in a substantially horizontal direction into alignment with the transfer position at which at which at least some of the batches may be transferred following vertical movement to said transfer position.

According to another aspect of the invention apparatus for handling blanks comprises batchconveying means for moving batches of substantially flat blanks in a direction substantially parallel to said blanks, said batch-conveying means including means separating successive batches, a receiving station including means for successively transferring batches from said batch-conveying means onto receiving means; and biank-conveying means for conveying batches received by said receiving means as a substantially continuous stream of blanks moving in a direction transverse to said blanks.

The blank-conveying means may be constituted by said transferring means. The blank-conveying means may comprise a trolley or other conveyance.

The batches may be supported by said batchconveying means on the edges of the blanks. The receiving station may include drive means for said batch-conveying means; thus said batch-conveying means may comprise a trolley having movable separating means, drive for movement of the trolley and of said separating means within a trolley being derived from means associated with the station.

In a preferred arrangement the batch-conveying means comprises a trolley having at least one series of vertically disposed compartments separated by movable platforms each supporting a batch. The receiving station includes hoist means for successively moving the platform into alignment with a pusher which transfers the batches onto a surface leading to the hopper of a consuming machine. The receiving station may include means for temporarily storing the platform after the batches supported thereby have been transferred.

Storage and conveyance of blanks for making cigarette packets or cartons in trolleys is a particular ly convenient way of supplying a consuming machine, i.e. a packet or carton making machine, since such trolleys can be filled from the blank producing machine held for use when the consum ing machine requires them. In this way a buffer reservoir of blanks can be created between the blank producing and blank consuming machines so that each can operate, at least for a limited period, if the other machine is out of action for any reason.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a trolley unloading batches of packet blanks at an unloading station; Figure2 is a view on the line ll-ll of Figure 1; and Figure3 is aplan view of the trolley and .part of the unloading station af Figure 1.

The trolley 10 is provided with a base 12, sides 14, and ends 16. Wheels 18 are mounted on the base 12.

A centrai partition 20, parallel to the ends 16, divides the inside of the trolley 10 onto two compartments 22. Each compartment 22 is normally vertically sub-divided by four platforms 24.

The platforms 24 are vertically movable in each of -the compartments 22 and-are guided by means of integral guide lugs 26 which are slidable in vertical slots 28 formed in.the ends 16 and central partition 20. Each platform 24 has four lugs 26, the lugsof respective-platforms in each compartment 22 being respectively offset so that they are guided in diffe rent slots 28. The slots 28 for each platform 24 end at the same vertical level in abutments 30 which define the normal resting place of the platform in the compartment 22. The levels of the abutments 30 are arranged so that the lowermost platform 24 normal ly lies on the base 12 with the other platforms approximately equally spaced between it and the top of the compartment 22.Each platform 24 has four hoist-iugs 32 at its corners, which project between the sides 14 and the ends 16 or central partition 20 of the trolley 10.

-When full a trolley 10 contains eight separate batches 34 of packet blanks, e.g. for making cigarette packets or cartons for such packets, each batch being arranged with the side edges of the blanks resting on-a platform 24. As shown in the drawings the trolley 10 is positioned at an unloading station 36 for supplying the blanks to a hopper 38 which feeds a consuming machine (e.g-. a packet or carton making machine).

The-unloading station 36 includes two pairs of hoist chains 40 provided-with appropriately-spaced abutments 42 for simultaneously engaging the hoist lugs 32 on the platforms 24 in a trolley compartment 22. An unloading pusher 44 is positioned above the spaced between the chains 40 and is aligned with a surface 46 leading to the hopper 38. The station 36 also includes a pair of worm gears 48 for storing platforms 24 during unloding of a trolley 10, as will be explained hereinafter.

In use-a full trolley 10 is moved to the unloading station 36, in a direction generlly transverse to the direction of movement of the pusher 44, until the leading compartment 22 is in alignment with the pusher As the trolley 10 is moved into this position the abutments 42 on the hoist chains 40 engage underneath the projecting lugs 26 of the platforms 24 in the leading compartment 22. In order to commence unloading of the trolley 10 the chains 40 are driven to move the abutments 42 upwards by a distance equal to the spacing between the platforms 24. The uppermost platform 24 is thereby raised to the level of the surface 46. Subsequently the batch 34 on the platform 24 is transferred by the pusher 44 onto the surface 46 and into abutment with blanks already on that surface.Further movement of the pusher 44 causes blanks on the surface 46 to pass into the hopper 38, with the aid of a rotatable brush roller 50 which ensures that the blanks are properly orientated on entry to the hopper.

Note that drive means (not shown) associated with the receiving station may be provided for continuously moving blanks on the surface 46. Such drive means could include retractable pushers similar to the pushers 46 or 158 as disclosed in British Patent Appiication No. 9689/76. The pushers of this drive means could then be synchronised with the pusher 44 so that they take over from the pusher 44 after a batch of blanks has been delivered to the surface 46. The pusher 44 could be arranged to move batches more rapidly than the blanks move on the surface 46 so that successive batches are moved into abutment on the surface.The pusher 44 could be arranged to slow to the speed of blanks on the surface 46 after the leading end of the batch it is conveying has reached the blanks already on the surface; in this case the puhser 44 would convey the blanks at this slower speed for only a short distance until the pushers of the retractable drive means take over.

After a batch 34 has been removed from the uppermost plaform 24 the pusher 44 is retracted and the chains 40 indexed again. The initial upward movement causes the now empty uppermost platform 24 to engage with the thread of the worm gears 48 which are driven to engage the platform and convey it upwards to a storage position above the line of batches moved by the pusher 44. After the chains 40 have been fully indexed upwards the next batch 34 is pushed onto the surface 46 by the pusher 44. Subsequently the empty platform 24 is again moved into a storage position, just below the first platform 24, by the worm gears 48. The last two batches 34 in the compartment 22 are similarly removed for transfer to the hopper 38 but the lowermost platform 24 is not moved into a temporary storage position between the worm gears 48.

Instead, after the last batch has been removed from the lowermost platform 24, the hoist chains 40 are moved in the reverse direction to lower the platform in the compartment 22. Atthe same time the worm gears 48 are powered and driven in the reverse direction to return the three uppermost platforms 24 into the compartment 22. On return to the compartment 22 each platform 24 returns to its original level by virtue of the engagement of its lugs 26 with the abutments 30 in the appropriate slots 28.

The trolley 10 is indexed to bring the second compartment 22 into alignment with the unloading station 36 and the unloading process is repeated for this compartment. Subsequently another trolley 10 can be brought to the unloading station 36, as required to keep the consuming machine working.

The trolley 10 may be adapted for indexing movement as disclosed in British Patent Specification No. 1,117,236 or 1,404,141. Each trolley 10 could have a different number of compartments 22 and each compartment may have a different number of platforms 24 for storing batches 34.

It may be noted that the lower part of the thread of the worm gears 48 is of greater pitch than the upper part; this allows the platforms 24 to be stored in a relatively small additional height once they have cleared the line of movement of batches 34 moved by the pusher 44. Alternatively, the thread of the gears 48 could have constant pitch and the gears be successively lowered to pick up platforms 24 and raised to the storage position. Lifting devices other than the worm gears 48, e.g. pneumatically-operated means engaging the hoist lugs 32, could be used.

The trolleys 10 may be ioaded with batches 34 of blanks from a blank making machine in a manner analogous to the disclosed method of unloading in which motion of the batches and platforms 24 is reversed. Thus, the batches 34 may be successively transferred to the platforms 24 for storage in the compartments 22.

The transfer of blanks between a blank making machine and a blank consuming machine may be carried out in ways analogous to those disclosed in British Patent Specifications Nos. 1,404,141 and 1,404,142 with respect to batches of rod-like articles.

In particular, trolleys full of blanks could be used for temporary storage of blanks so that the trolleys may act as a buffer reservoir between the making and consuming machines.

Claims (2)

1. A method of supplying substantially flat blanks to a consuming machine comprising conveying separate batches of parallel blanks in a direction parallel to said blanks, and successively transfering said batches to the consuming machine so that successive batches are formed into a substantially continuous stream of blanks moving in a direction transverse to said blanks.

2. Apparatus for handling blanks comprising batch-conveying means for moving batches of substantiallyflat blanks in a direction substantially parallel to said blanks, said batch-conveying means including means separating successive batches, a receiving station including means for successively transfering batches from said batch-conveying means onto receiving means, and blank-conveying means for conveying batches received by said receiving means as a substantially continuous stream of blanks moving in a direction transverse to said blanks.