Blank feeding unit for a packer machine and provided with a series of interchangeable hoppers

A feeding 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 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;
• 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);
• and
• 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).

A feeding 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 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;
• wherein the hopper (15) supports at least two movable holding teeth (22), which project into said pick-up opening (16) in order to prevent the blanks (1) from getting out through the pick-up opening (16);
• wherein each movable holding tooth (22) can move between an extracted position, in which it projects into the pick-up opening (16) to a greater extent, and a retracted position, in which it projects into the prick-up opening (16) to a smaller extent;
• for each movable holding tooth (22) there is an elastic element (39), which pushes the holding tooth towards the extracted position;
• wherein each movable holding tooth (22) is associated with a position sensor (40), which is configured to detect the position of the movable holding tooth (22);
• and
• wherein a control unit (41) is provided, which is configured to adjust the moving speed of the conveyor (17) depending on the information received from the position sensors (40).

A feeding 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 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;
• wherein the hopper (15) comprises:
• a containing wall (18), which is perforated at the centre so as to be crossed by a stack of blanks (1);
• a plurality of support brackets (20), which are designed to support the stack of blanks (1) and are mounted on the containing wall (18);
• and a plurality of holding teeth (21, 22), which project into the pick-up opening (16) in order to prevent the blanks (1) from getting out, are mounted on the containing wall (18) and, are connected to the support brackets (20).

A feeding 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 a plurality of different and interchangeable hoppers (15) is provided, each associated with a corresponding format of the blanks (1);
• and
• 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;
• wherein the frame (14) comprises a support body (25), which is provided with a seat designed to house the hopper (15);
• wherein the support body (25) has two upper seats (29) and two lower seats (30);
• wherein each hopper (15) comprises two pins (31), which are configured to be inserted into the corresponding lower seats (30);
• and
• wherein each hopper (15) comprises two hooking mechanisms (32), which are configured to be inserted into the corresponding upper seats (29) and can be operated so as to lock the hopper (15) to the support body (25).