US3130650A - Suction feeder - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1964 A. F. SHIELDS 3,130,550

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United States Patent O 3,130,650 SUCTIGN FEEDER Albert F. Shields, Forest Hills, NSY., assignor to S & S Corrugated Paper Machinery Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 173,727 1G Claims. (Cl. 93-49) The instant invention relates to box making machinery in general and more particularly to a novel suction device for feeding blanks from the bottom of a stack.

A machine of the general type which converts dat corrugated box blanks into folded tubular boxes is described in my U.S. Patent No. 2,982,189, issued May 2, 1961, entitled Power Driven Adjusting Means for Slotting, Scoring, Creasing and Slitting Machine, and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention. In the device of the aforesaid patent box blanks are fed one at a time from the bottom of a stack into a portion of the machine which slots and scores the blank. The blanks then pass to a portion of the machine which applies glue to a lap of each blank and thereafter folds the outer panels of the blank inwardly to forrn a folded tubular box. The folded tubular boxes are then formed into an underfeed stack and periodically a predetermined number of blanks are removed from the top of the stack. In order to maintain registry with the slotting knives and to assure that a predetermined number of blanks are removed each time, the operation of the feed-in device must be synchronized with operation of the slotter-scorer and stacking sections.

Traditionally, feed-in devices for this purpose have been either mechanical or suction devices. For the most part, the mechanical devices utilize a reciprocated feed stack which engages the trailing edge of the bottom most blank in the stack and projects this blank forward. In the case of suction devices, it was always felt that the bottom most blank in the stack must be engaged at, or near, the leading edge thereof.

In order for the mechanical feeder to operate at practical production speeds it was necessary for the blanks to have a substantially continuous trailing edge extending perpendicular to the feed line. Similarly, for suction feeders to be operable at practical production speeds it was necessary for the blanks to have a substantially continuous leading edge on a line positioned perpendicular to the feed line. In recet years, die cut box blanks have been designed with both the leading and trailing edges thereof being highly irregular in shape. This immediately rules out the mechanical feeder. It has been found that suction feeders which engage the blank near the leading edge thereof are not capable of extreme high speed operation on this type of blank without causing the blanks to cock thereby bringing the fold lines out of parallelism with the feed line.

The feed-in device of the instant invention represents a radical departure from traditional thinking in that a suction means is utilized to engage the bottom most blank in the stack at a point intermediate the leading and trailing edges of the blank. Engagement of the blank takes place at a continuous portion thereof rather than the leading or trailing portion edges thereof which are marked by transverse indentations.

In operation, the stack of box blanks rests upon a support table partially defined by a plurality of strips arranged in spaced parallel relationship extending parallel to the feed line. The strips are positioned above a wide belt of flexible material arranged to travel in a closed loop which surrounds a chamber connected to for means producing a vacuum within the chamber. The belt moves parallel to the feed line and is provided with a slot of substantial width extending transverse to the strips. While the belt lies below the feed table the leading and trailing sides of the slot are delined by yieldable members provided with slots to receive the strips forming thereby permitting the yieldable members to extend above the table structure and seal against the bottom most blank in the stack.

For each cycle of the belt the suction means securely grips the sheet at a selected advantageous point so that the blank is carried into the feed rolls without the blank becoming cocked, even at extremely high operating speeds. The speed with which the belt moves is coordinated with the speed of the folding and stacking sections. Because of this, stacking is facilitated and an accurate count is obtained for the folded tubular boxes as they are delivered from the stack.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a novel construction for box machinery feed-in devices.

Another object is to provide a novel suction feed-in device which is capable of high speed operation, with box blanks having highly irregular leading and trailing edges.

Still another object is to provide a suction feed-in device in which operation thereof is coordinated with operation of a stacking device.

A further object is to provide a suction feed-in device in which the stack of blanks to be fed are supported by a table defined by a grid-like structure.

A still further object is to provide a suction feed-in device in which there is a continuously moving belt having a suction introducing slot defined by notched rubber elements which receive the strips of the grid-like table so that these elements may extend above the table and engage the bottom most blank in the stack.

These objects, as well as other objects of this invention, shall become readily apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevation of a box making machine embodying the teachings of the instant invention.

FIGURES 2A-2C are schematics showing the transformation of a box blank into a folded tubular box.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the novel suction feeder of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a View similar to FIGURE 3 with the grid-like stack supporting table removed.

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the suction feeder.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of the suction feeder with several of the elements cut away to reveal the internal elements.

FIGURE 7 is a cross section taken through line 7-7 of FIGURE 6 looking in the direction of arrow 7-7.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view illustrating the manner in which the yieldable members by defining the moving slot of the belt are secured to the belt.

FIGURE 8A is a cross section taken through line SA-SA of FIGURE 8 looking in the direction of arrows 8A-8A.

FIGURES 9 and l0 are schematics illustrating, in plan View, the bottom most blank of the stack and its position on the feed table. In particular, FIGURE 9 illustrates the position of the feed-belt slot at the time when initial movement of the blank is about to take place While FIG- URE 10 illustrates the position of the vacuum chamber top opening with relation to the blank prior to movement thereof.

Now referring to the gures. Box making machine 19 includes feed-in section 20 which removes blanks one at a time from the bottom of stack 21 and sends them into folding section 22 where glue is applied to the blanks and they are folded by belt means 23. As the folded blanks issue from folding section 22 they are received by stacking and delivery section 24 where they are assembled into an underfed stack 25. Pusher plate 26 of stacking and delivery section 24 periodically engages the top portion 27 of stack 25 for removal thereof.

As best seen in FIGURE 2A, each of the blanks 2S of stack 21 includes panels A, B, C, D defined by score lines 29-33. Panels A-D will become the side panels of the erected box. Lines 29-31 extend parallel to the feed path or feed line of direction as indicated by arrow E of FIGURE 2A whe score lines 32, 33 extend at right angles to this feed path.

Glue from drum 16 is applied to lap 34, adjacent to panel A, prior to the folding operation. FIGURE 2B illustrates blank 28 with its outer panels A and D partially folded. This folding is done slightly out of phase so that panel D will overlie glue flap 34 as seen in FIGURE 2C. This figure shows the blank 28 transformed into a folded tubular box 35 which comprises stack 25.

It is noted that blank 28 is formed by a so called die cutting process. In the particular blank construction shown, both the leading 36 and trailing 37 edges are of extremely irregular shape. This is typical of blank constructions required for boxes having interlocking llaps which will maintain the boxes in errected condition.

As is well known to the art, it is essential for score lines 29-31 to remain parallel to the feed path during the feed-in operation so that these score lines will remain parallel to the feed path while belt means 23 is performing the folding operation. The feed-in device 2i), which is the heart of the instant invention, shall now be described in detail.

Feed-in device Ztl, as best seen in FIGURE 6, is pro- `vided with feed table 4i) which supports stack 21. The

leading edges of liaps 42, 43 extending forward to panels A and C, respectively, rest against front guides 44, 45, respectively. Front guides 44, 45 are mounted on conventional front gauge members 46 in such a manner that the bottom edges of guides 44, 45 are considerably below the bottom edges of 46. Guides 45, 46 are then set vertically by adjusting member 46 so that the bottom edges of front guides 44, 45 are spaced from table 40 by a distance greater than the thickness of a single blank 2S but less than twice this thickness.

The rear end of stack 21 is supported by the rollers of adjustable rear gage 41. This relieves the bottom most blank in the stack from supporting a substantial portion of the stack weight and also causes the leading edges of aps 42, 43 to rest against the grid bars 40a on table 40. Side guides 46, 47 determine the transverse position of stack 21 on table 40. Positioned below feed table 46 are a pair of transverse shafts 48, 49 each of which carry a pair of spaced sprockets, shaft 48 carrying brackets 50a, 5b and shaft 49 carrying sprockets 51a, Sib. Closed loop chain 52a extends around sprockets ba, 51a while closed loop chain 52b extends around sprockets 5019, SIb. The upper flights of chains 52a, 52b are each supported for substantial portions of the length thereof in a horizontal position by guide slats 53a, 53h. It is noted that the upper flights of chains 52a, 52h as they leave sprockets Sila, Stb are inclined upwardly in order to reach the trailing ends of supports 53a, 53b. Driving power is supplied to chains 52a, 5217 through chain 55 which drives sprocket 56 keyed to shaft 4S.

Belt means 66, closed except for a single relatively large transverse slot 61, is secured along its side edges to chains 52a, 5217 for movement in unison therewith. Chamber 62 is disposed within the loop transversed b y belt 6) and occupies a substantial portion of this loop. The sides of chamber 62 are each provided with openings 63 which are joined to the exits of bifurcated coupling member 64. The single inlet of member 64 is connected through bendable conduit 65 to a means for producing suction within chamber 62. Typically, this means (not shown) comprises centrifugal 'blower with conduit 65 connected to the intake of the blower. It is noted that the top of chamber 62 is open and is positioned relatively close to the lower side of feed table 4i?.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, feed table 49 comprises a plurality of spaced parallel bars 46a joined at their forward ends to member 4b and at their rear ends to member 40C. Bars 49a extend parallel to the feed path.

As seen in FIGURES 8 and 8a, each chain link compirses spaced brackets 70, 71 pivotally secured to roller '72 at opposite ends thereof. Each of the brackets 70, 71 are provided with an offset portion 73 with these offset portions being positioned in the same plane. The side edges of belt 6) are secured to brackets 70, 71 by means of screws 76.

Screw-nut means 75 secures member 74 to portion 73 of bracket 7@ while screw-nut means 76 secures both member 74 and belt 6b to portion 73 of bracket 71. Spacer 77 interposed between belt 6i) and the bottom of portion 73 of member 71 positions belt 6i? at the pitch line of the sprocket teeth to reduce exing of belt 60. Screw-nut means 77, positioned more inboard than screwnut means 76, secures belt 60 directly to member 74.

The forward edge of slot 61 is defined by transverse member S2 which the rear edge of slot 61 is defined by transverse member 81. Members S1 and S2 are each constructed of a plurality of relatively soft resilient material such as rubber of medium hardness. Member 82 is secured in operative position by being mounted to transverse slat 83 which is connected at its opposite ends to chains 52a, 52h. A rear narrow portion of member 82 is sandwiched between member S3 and transverse clamping slats 84 with a plurality of screws 85 extending through the sections of members 84 and 82 as well as through slat 83. The forward portion of members 81 and S2 are enlarged. Transverse slat 83a, adjacent to slat 83 on the forward side thereof, supports the forward portion of member 81. A securement means substantially identical to that provided for member 82 is also provided for member 81.

The ends of the elements forming members 81, 82 are spaced apart to define a plurality of transverse slots S3 (FIGURE 7) which receive bars 46a. Thus, even though belt 60 is also positioned below feed table 40, portions of members 81, S2 extend above table 46 to engage the underside of the bottom-most blank 28 in stack 21. Movable plate 89 rests upon the top of feed table 40 and is positioned so as to cover a required portion of the top opening in chamber 62, to assure that members 81, 82 engage the proper areas of each blank 2S. It is noted that a plurality of braces 90 extend over the top of chamber 62. In a direction parallel to the feed path and provide support for the portion of belt 64B passing over chamber 62.

In operation, drive motor 92 of machine 19 is connected through suitable chains, gear and shafts, in a manner well know to the art, to drive belt 93 which in turn drives sprocket 122 keyed to shaft 93a. Sprocket 95 is freely mounted on shaft extension 94 of drive shaft 93a while collar 121 is keyed to shaft 93a and axially movable thereon. With collar 121 moved to the left with respect to FIGURE 7, clutch pins 121a, carried by collar 121, are brought into driving engagement with drive sprocket 95.

Continued movement of belt 60 is effective to move the bottom-most blank in the stack 21 below front guides 44, 45 and deliver this blank to feed rollers 96, 97. Rollers 96, 97 deliver the blank to folding section 22 where, as previously explained, the blank is glue and folded forming folded tubular box 35. The folded tubular box 3S is moved to stacking and delivery section 24 which includes spaced lift screws 99 positioned on opposite sides of the feed path so as to engage the folded tubular boxes along the side edges 93a, 98h thereof.

In a typical arrangement the driving connections between lift screws 99 and motor 92 are such that lift screws 99 rotate through one complete turn for each blank issuing from folding section 22. Since belt 60 is provided with a single slot 61 and a blank 28 is removed from stack 21 each time slot 61 passes below stack 21 it is seen that lift screws 99 go-throngh one revolution each time belt 60 traverses its closed loop path.

The suction feeder is arranged to be taken in or out of use as required by the type of work to be run. When not required the entire unit may be lowered out of the way of the conventional feeding means. This adjustment takes place by means of four screws 2101-104 each of which are threadably mounted to frame member 106. The upper ends of screws i-104 support feed table 46 While the lower ends of screws 101-104 are each provided with a sprocket 109. Chain 110 is in operative engagement with all four sprockets 109 so that all of the screws 101-104 will be rotated in unison. The adjustment rotation may be performed by either hand or power operated means.

1t is noted that even though the preferred embodiment of my invention has hereinbefore been described in connection with the feeding of blanks 28 oriented with projecting flap 18 at the forward edge, the principles of my invention are also applicable to a feeding arrangement wherein projecting ap 18 is positioned to the rear. It is also noted that the large opening 61 in belt 60 enables a sufficient suction force to act against the blank being delivered so that this blank is firmly gripped by belt 60 and because of this the engagement of leading edge 36 of blank 28 by feed rollers 96, 97 will not cause cocking of blank 28. Further, the principles of my invention are applicable for use with die cutting machines and many other devices requiring timed high speed feeding.

It has been found that the timing relationship obtained with feed-in device 20 is so accurate, even for extremely high speed operation, that feeder 20 may then be used to supply blanks to a slotter scorer.

For details of prior art devices referred to but not hereinbefore described in detail, reference is made to the following of my U.S. patents and copending applications:

Serial No. 812,703, filed May 12, 1959, now Patent No.

Serial No. 87,870, led February 8, 1961 Patent No. 2,982,189, issued May 2, 1961 In the foregoing I have described my invention only in connection with preferred embodiments thereof. Many variations and modifications of the principles of my invention within the scope of the description herein are obvious. Accordingly, I prefer to be bound not by the specific disclosure herein but only by the appending claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are dened as follows:

1. A feeder device for removing blanks one at a time from the bottom of a stack and moving these blanks along a feed path extending parallel to fold lines of the blanks in the stack, said feeder device including a belt, rst means for moving said belt in a direction parallel to said feed path, second means for guiding movement of said belt along a loop, third means for supporting a stack of blanks above said belt, fourth means delinng a slot in said belt extending across a substantial portion of the belt width, means for producing reduced air pressure within said loop, fifth means for directing said reduced air pressure at said slot when the slot is below said stack, said third means operatively positioned in close proximity to said belt so that when said slot is below the stack the bottom blank thereof will seal against said fourth means and be moved forward with said belt.

2. The feeder device of claim 1 in which the fourth means engages each blank only at portions thereof which will constitute side panels of an erected box.

3. The feeder device of claim l in which the fourth means is constructed of relatively soft resilient material.

4. The feeder device of claim 1 in which the third means comprises a plurality of spaced bars extending parallel to the feed path.

5. The feeder device of claim 4 in which the fourth means is constructed of relatively soft resilent material including a first and a second strip of this material positioned transverse to the feed path, each of said strips having a plurality of notches to receive the bars thereby enabling portions of said strips to extend above the slats and engage the bottom blank in the stack.

6. The feeder device of claim 5 in which the strips engage each blank only at portions thereof which will constitute side panels of an errected box.

7. A box making machine comprising a feeder device for removing blanks one at a time from the bottom of a stack and moving these blanks along a feed path extending parallel to fold lines of the blanks in the stack, a folding device for receiving blanks hom said feeder device and transforming these blanks into folded tubular boxes, and a stacking device for receiving boxes from said folding device; said feeder device including a belt, first means for moving said belt in a direction parallel to said feed path, second means for guiding movement of said belt along a loop, third means for supporting a stack of blanks above said belt, fourth means defining a slot in said belt extending across a substantial portion of the belt width, means for producing reduced air pressure within said loop, fifth means for directing said reduced air pressure at said slot when the slot is below said stack, said third means operatively positioned in close proximity to said belt so that when said slot its below the stack the bottom blank thereof will seal against said fourth means and be moved forward with said belt.

8. The box making machine of claim 7 in which the belt includes but one slot and the stacking device includes a lift screw means rotated once for each complete journey of the belt around the loop.

9. The box making machine of claim 7 in which the fourth means engages each blank only at portions thereof which will constitute side panels of an erected box.

10. The box making machine of claim 7 in which the third means comprises a plurality of spaced slats extending parallel to the feed path, said fourth means constructed of relatively soft resilient material including a first and a second strip of this material positioned transverse to the feed path, each of said strips having a plurality of notches to receive the slats thereby enabling portions of said strips to extend above the slats and engage the bottom blank in the stack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,749,118 Kerr et al .Tune 5, 1956 2,837,333 Sindzinski et al. June 3, 1958 2,952,457 Fliegner Sept. 13, 1960 2,982,189 Shields May 2, 1961 3,034,784 Lopez May 15, 1962

Claims (1)

1. 7. A BOX MAKING MACHINE COMPRISING A FEEDER DEVICE FOR REMOVING BLANKS ONE AT A TIME FROM THE BOTTOM OF A STACK AND MOVING THESE BLANKS ALONG A FEED PATH EXTENDING PARALLEL TO FOLD LINES OF THE BLANKS IN THE STACK, A FOLDING DEVICE FOR RECEIVING BLANKS FROM SAID FEEDER DEVICE AND TRANSFORMING THESE BLANKS INTO FOLDED TUBULAR BOXES, AND A STACKING DEVICE FOR RECEIVING BOXES FROM SAID FOLDING DEVICE; SAID FEEDER DEVICE INCLUDING A BELT, FIRST MEANS FOR MOVING SAID BELT IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO SAID FEED PATH, SECOND MEANS FOR GUIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID BELT ALONG A LOOP, THIRD MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A STACK OF BLANKS ABOVE SAID BELT, FOURTH MEANS DEFINING A SLOT IN SAID BELT EXTENDING ACROSS A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE BELT WIDTH, MEANS FOR PRODUCING REDUCED AIR PRESSURE WITHIN SAID LOOP, FIFTH MEANS FOR DIRECTING SAID REDUCED AIR PRESSURE AT SAID SLOT WHEN THE SLOT IS BELOW SAID STACK, SAID THIRD MEANS OPERATIVELY POSITIONED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAID BELT SO THAT WHEN SAID SLOT ITS BELOW THE STACK THE BOTTOM BLANK THEREOF WILL SEAL AGAINST SAID FOURTH MEANS AND BE MOVED FORWARD WITH SAID BELT.

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