Carton feeder system and method for simultaneously feeding a plurality of cartons to a conveyor track using a plurality of pick-up heads

A carton feeding system for feeding a plurality of cartons to a conveyor track, comprising:

• a plurality of feeding devices, where each feeding device comprises:
• a pick-up head with a plurality of vacuum cups each having a front, the front of the plurality of vacuum cups defining a holding plane, the pick-up head being moveable between:
• a pick-up position (P1) in which the holding plane of the pick-up head is positioned parallel to a folded carton blank that is to be picked up, and
• an insertion position (P2) in which the carton blank is oriented for insertion into the conveyor track, and
• an erecting finger having a bearing surface and pivotally suspended at the pick-up head, wherein the erecting finger is pivotal with respect to the holding plane of the pick-up head between:
• a first position in which the bearing surface of the erecting finger is substantially parallel to the holding plane when the pick-up head is in the pick-up position (P1) such that the erecting finger supports the folded carton blank received on the holding plane of the pick-up head, and
• a second position in which the bearing surface is transverse to the holding plane of the pick-up head when the pick-up head is in the insertion position (P2) to engage the carton blank and at least partially open the carton blank and align the erecting finger with the conveyor for insertion of the carton into the conveyor, wherein the pick-up head and the erecting finger are released from the carton blank at the insertion position (P2) when the carton is inserted into the conveyor;
• wherein at least two of feeding devices of the plurality of feeding devices are operable in parallel to insert and release at least two cartons simultaneously at respective ones of the insertion positions (P2) located along the conveyor track.