Stripper apparatus for paperboard blanks

An apparatus for stripping precut portions of paperboard from a paperboard sheet supported on an apertured table unit, the apertures in said apertured table unit being constructed and arranged so as, in position of use, to be in respective positions of registry with waste portions precut but not separated from said paperboard sheet, said stripping assembly comprising, in combination, upper and lower pin support frames, each of said frames including a pair of opposed end rails, a plurality of elongated pin mounting tracks being secured at their respective ends to said end rails, each of said tracks having inwardly directed margins defining elongated slots in said tracks, a plurality of pin support brackets associated with each mounting track, each of said tracks having associated therewith a fastener for each pin support bracket, each of said pin support brackets having a fastener for affixing a pin assembly thereto, and a pin assembly associated with each of said pin support brackets, each of said pin assemblies comprising a pin support having a shank portion, a neck portion and a pin extending axially outwardly of one end thereof, and having means on the other end thereof for receiving said pin support fastener, each of said pins being of generally cylindrical form and having a substantially flat end face portion adapted to engage one surface of said precut portions on said paperboard sheet, said mounting tracks and pin support brackets and their associated fasteners being arranged so that the position of said upper and lower pin assemblies may be adjusted with respect to said tracks to a plurality of vertically registered positions, whereby said end faces of said pins may be moved in use toward and away from positions of engagement with the paperboard lying in said precut areas to grip said precut areas therebetween, said upper and lower frames being mounted for reciprocation with respect to each other and also for reciprocation as a unit to grip said precut areas, removing them from the plane of said table and then release them, said pin support brackets and said mounting tracks each being of generally L-shaped cross section, and comprising vertical and horizontal flange portions and being arranged in position of use with said respective vertical flange portions on said support brackets lying along said vertical flange portions of said support tracks, said horizontal flange portions of said pin support brackets having an area not more than twice to three times the end face area of said shank portion of said pin assembly to present minimal surface area for retention of scrap paperboard taken from said precut area.