US 4,433,774 AGranted

Blank conveyor apparatus

AssigneeStone Container Corporation

InventorRichard R. Lopes

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Abstract

An improved conveyor system for transporting die-cut blanks from a rotary die cutter to a blank stacking device includes a blank take-up section comprising a spring biased take-up guide which insures that blanks are positively engaged by the conveyor system before they are released by the die cutter. The conveyor system includes a vacuum belt which serves to suspend and transport die-cut blanks while maintaining them in precise registry to a blank stacking device. An improved snubbing device is disclosed which decelerates blanks without damage to the blanks themselves and then causes the decelerated blanks to rebound back toward the die cutter for improved stacking. A ramp structure is disclosed which flexes blanks near the blank release section of the conveyor system such that the trailing edge of transported blanks snap away from the conveyor system, thereby positively disengaging the blanks from the conveyor.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An improved conveyor system for conveying die cut blanks from a rotary die cutter to a blank stacking device, said conveyor system comprising:

vacuum belt conveyor means for suspending and transporting blanks from the rotary die cutter to the blank stacking device, said conveyor means comprising a perforated belt, means for translationally moving the belt, and means for generating a subatmospheric pressure on one side of the belt such that blanks brought into contact with the other side of the belt are held against the belt by atmospheric pressure, said conveyor means having a blank take-up section and a blank release section;
and
means for positioning the conveyor means between the rotary die cutter and the stacking device such that the blank take-up section is adjacent the die cutter, the blank release section is adjacent the stacking device, and the perforated belt of the conveyor means operates automatically to engage blanks before they have been released by the die cutter, to retain blanks in registry as they are transported to the stacking device, and then to release the in-registry blanks to the stacking device;
said positioning means further comprising a frame positioned between the die cutter and the blank stacking device, and first means, mounted to slide along the frame and secured to the conveyor means adjacent the blank take-up section, for mounting the blank take-up section of the conveyor means to the frame.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/243,358Filed 13 Mar 1981
Granted: 28 Feb 1984
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

B65G 15/58
Belts or like endless load-carriers: with means for holding or retaining the loads in fixed position, e.g. magnetic
B65G 47/82
Feeding, transfer, or discharging devices of particular kinds or types: rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or…
B65G 57/11
By adding to the top of the stack: the articles being stacked by direct action of the feeding conveyor
B65H 29/242
Suction devices: suction bands or belts