High speed carton feeder

Apparatus for feeding flat folded cartons into a cartoner comprising,

• a generally horizontal conveyor for receiving a stack of cartons on their edges in a generally vertical orientation,
• a metering wheel at the downstream end of said conveyor,
• means for rotating said metering wheel,
• means for driving the conveyor to advance said cartons toward said metering wheel,
• a blade on the surface of said metering wheel to slide between the edges of first and second leading cartons to thrust the edge of said carton forward from said stack,
• a feed mechanism forward of said conveyor for receiving cartons one at a time and advancing them into said cartoner,
• said means for rotating said metering wheel including a flexible shaft connected to and timed to said feed mechanism,
• and means for mounting said metering wheel above said conveyor for lateral and vertical adjustment with respect to said conveyor.

Apparatus for feeding flat folded cartons into a cartoner comprising,

• a generally horizontal conveyor for receiving a stack of cartons on their edges in a generally vertical orientation,
• a metering wheel at the downstream end of and above said conveyor,
• means for rotating said metering wheel from zero rpm to at least about 250 rpm,
• means for driving the conveyor to advance said cartons toward said metering wheel,
• a blade on the surface of said metering wheel said blade having a first section presenting a leading edge to slide between the upper edges of first and second leading cartons to thrust the edge of said carton forward from said stack to swing said cartons to a horizontal attitude,
• said blade having a second section spaced slightly downstream of said first section and presenting a surface to hold back the upstream cartons,
• said blade having a trailing edge spaced downstream from said leading edge for partially releasing said cartons,
• a horizontal feed chain forward of said conveyor and having spaced feed lugs for receiving cartons one at a time and advancing them into said cartoner,
• and a release plate downstream from said blade and formed as a part of a circle to capture cartons from said blade at low speeds and to release cartons in timed relation to said feed lugs on said chain.

Apparatus for feeding flat folded cartons into a cartoner comprising,

• a generally horizontal conveyor for receiving a stack of cartons on their edges in a generally vertical orientation,
• mechanical means for separating leading cartons from said stack, and
• a blower means for delivering separated cartons through approximately 90.degree. to a generally horizontal attitude to a receiving conveyor associated with said cartoner,
• said mechanical means including a carton release member disposed adjacent said blower means for releasing cartons from said stack to be acted upon by said blower means

Apparatus for feeding flat articles from a generally horizontal stack of articles, onto a receiver means, said apparatus comprising,

• mechanical means for separating articles from said stack and for releasing articles so separated, and
• a blower means for pivoting articles through about 90.degree. to said receiver means from said mechanical means,
• said blower means comprising a first nozzle for primarily blowing articles initially from said mechanical means and a second nozzle for blowing released articles onto said receiver means, and
• said articles moving from a generally vertical, toward a generally horizontal disposition.

A method for feeding cartons from a generally horizontal stack onto a receiving conveyor, wherein generally vertically disposed cartons in said stack are laid onto said receiving conveyor in a generally horizontal disposition, said method including the steps of:

• advancing cartons to a discharge end of said stack,
• engaging endmost cartons of said stack with mechanical carton separating and release means,
• blowing air onto said endmost cartons to urge them against said mechanical means,
• releasing said cartons from said mechanical means, and
• blowing said cartons through about 90.degree. onto said conveyor.

A method of feeding cartons from a generally horizontal stack onto a receiving conveyor including the steps of,

• advancing cartons in said stack to a discharge end of said stack disposed in an air flow zone,
• engaging endmost cartons at said discharge end with mechanical carton separating and release means,
• separating an endmost carton from said stack and mechanically releasing such carton into said air flow zone,
• rotating said released carton through about 90.degree. by means of air flow in said zone, and
• conveying said carton onto said receiving conveyor by means of air flow in said zone.

A method of transferring flattened cartons from an inclined stack into a cartoner wherein flattened cartons are opened, filled with product, and closed, said cartoner including a carton receiving conveyor for receiving cartons from said stack and moving cartons through said cartoner by means of conveyor lugs, said inclined stack including a plurality of cartons in generally vertical dispositions resting on lower edges thereof, and said method including the steps of:

• advancing cartons in said stack to a discharge end thereof, said discharge end being located in an air flow zone,
• pressing an endmost carton against a stop at the carton bottom,
• engaging said endmost carton proximate upper edges thereof with carton separating and release means,
• blowing said endmost carton against said separating and release means,
• separating said endmost carton from said stack by means of a helical metering wheel,
• blowing air between said endmost carton and said stack to separate said endmost carton therefrom,
• releasing the top of said endmost carton and blowing air thereagainst to rotate said carton through about 90.degree. about a bottom edge thereof, and to convey said carton onto said receiving conveyor.