Blank feeding unit for a packer machine and provided with a position reference element

A unit (13) to feed blanks (1) in a packer machine and comprising:

• a frame (14);
• a hopper (15), which is supported by the frame (14), is designed to hold a stack of blanks (1) and has a pick-up opening (16), through which one blank (1) at a time can be picked up from the stack of blanks (1);
• and
• a conveyor (17), which is supported by the frame (14) and moves the blanks (1) along a moving path (P), which ends in the hopper (15);
• wherein, in order to contain blanks (1) with different formats, the feeding unit (13) can be adjusted by means of a format change operation, which entails changing the feeding unit (13) from a first configuration, which is suited to contain a first format of the blanks (1), to a second configuration, which is suited to contain a second format of the blanks (1), which is different from the first format;
• wherein the hopper (15) comprises a first reference element (23), which, in use, is placed in contact with the stack of blanks (1), establishes a position reference for the blanks (1) of the stack of blanks (1), is, relative to the frame (14), in the same position regardless of the format of the blanks (1) and, hence, is not moved, relative to the frame (14), due to a format change operation;
• wherein the conveyor (17) comprises at least one conveyor belt (35), which is mounted on the frame (14) and is arranged under the blanks (1) so as to support the blanks (1);
• wherein the conveyor belt (35) is mounted on the frame (14) in a movable manner so as to move, during a format change operation, along at least one adjustment direction (D1), which is perpendicular to the moving path (P) along two adjustment directions (D1, D2), which are perpendicular to one another and perpendicular to the moving path (P);
• wherein the conveyor (17) comprises:
• at least one carriage carrying the conveyor belt (35);
• and a sliding guide, which is parallel to the adjustment direction (D1) and along which the carriage slides in order to move the conveyor belt (35) along the adjustment direction (D1).

A unit (13) to feed blanks (1) in a packer machine and comprising:

• a frame (14);
• a hopper (15), which is supported by the frame (14), is designed to hold a stack of blanks (1) and has a pick-up opening (16), through which one blank (1) at a time can be picked up from the stack of blanks (1);
• and
• a conveyor (17), which is supported by the frame (14) and moves the blanks (1) along a moving path (P), which ends in the hopper (15);
• wherein, in order to contain blanks (1) with different formats, the feeding unit (13) can be adjusted by means of a format change operation, which entails changing the feeding unit (13) from a first configuration, which is suited to contain a first format of the blanks (1), to a second configuration, which is suited to contain a second format of the blanks (1), which is different from the first format;
• wherein the hopper (15) comprises a first reference element (23), which, in use, is placed in contact with the stack of blanks (1), establishes a position reference for the blanks (1) of the stack of blanks (1), is, relative to the frame (14), in the same position regardless of the format of the blanks (1) and, hence, is not moved, relative to the frame (14), due to a format change operation;
• wherein a plurality of different and interchangeable hoppers (15) is provided, each associated with a corresponding format of the blanks (1);
• wherein each hopper (15) is fixed to the frame (14) in a removable manner in order to be replaced during a format change operation so that the format change operation entails replacing a first hopper (15) associated with the first format with a second hopper (15) associated with the second format.