US 5,131,899 A · Magazine and method of feeding articles

Abstract

A magazine for holding a plurality of articles, such as cartons, which are to be singularly withdrawn at a downstream end, and a method of feeding articles. The magazine includes guides, spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the cartons in their folded condition, thereby creating a gap between an inner guide surface and one of the edges of the cartons. A pair of stoppers oppositely project toward each other and are spaced apart by a distance less than the width of the cartons, to thereby hold the most downstream carton in a position to facilitate its withdrawal at the discharge end of the magazine. The stoppers are positioned to engage the particular edges of the cartons of which the distance between them is not apt to be variable, to thereby reduce the likelihood of the cartons becoming jammed within the magazine. At least one feed roller projects from one inner guide surface toward the other inner guide surface upstream of the discharge end. At least one carton is engaged between the roller and the other inner guide surface to isolate a predetermined number of folded cartons downstream of the feed roller from a second predetermined quantity of folded cartons upstream of the feed roller. Further, due to the engagement of the edges of the most downstream carton and the stoppers, as the carton is withdrawn from the magazine, the carton is more fully opened to thereby facilitate its subsequent complete opening. A supply conveyor is provided upstream of the guide surfaces. The supply conveyor and the feed roller can be driven synchronously in response to the sensing of a reduction in the quantity of cartons in the downstream portion of the magazine.

Claims49

Dependent claims

A magazine for holding a plurality of stacked, flatwise folded cartons which are to be singularly withdrawn therefrom at a downstream end thereof, said magazine comprising:

an upper guide and a lower guide each having a respective inner surface between which said stacked cartons are held, said upper guide and said lower guide being spaced apart by a distance greater than a given distance between a pair of edges of respective cartons in their flatwise folded condition, thereby creating a gap at least at said downstream end of said magazine between said upper guide and one of said pair of edges of respective cartons;
a first stopper and a second stopper oppositely projecting from respective portions of said magazine toward each other, said first stopper and said second stopper being spaced apart by a distance less than a given distance between a pair of edges of said cartons;
at least one feed roller, at least a portion of which projects from said lower guide surface toward said upper guide surface and is spaced from said upper guide surface by a distance less than said given distance between said pair of edges of said respective cartons, said distance by which said upper guide and said lower guide are spaced apart being greater downstream of said one feed roller than said distance upstream of said one feed roller;
means for driving said at least one feed roller for rotation toward said downstream end of said magazine;
and
a sensor operatively associated with said driving means for controlling said rotation of said at least one feed roller as a function of the quantity of cartons positioned downstream of said at least one feed roller.

3 more elements

An apparatus for storing folded articles in a supply and for facilitating withdrawal of said articles from said supply, said articles having fold lines which extend in a predetermined direction, and at least a pair of edges which are spaced from each other in said predetermined direction, said apparatus comprising:

(a) means for guiding said articles for movement from an upstream position to a downstream position comprising at least two guide surfaces;
(b) a discharge end located at a downstream portion of said guiding means for which said articles can be withdrawn from said supply;
(c) means located along said guiding means, upstream of said discharge end, for substantially isolating a first quantity of said articles in said supply from a second quantity of said articles positioned upstream of said first quantity of said articles, said guide surfaces being spaced apart by a distance downstream of said isolating means greater than a distance upstream of said isolating means;
and
(d) at least a pair of stoppers which are positioned downstream of said isolating means so as to be adapted to engage said articles proximate said pair of edges, said pair of stoppers extending in a direction generally transverse to said pair of edges.

2 more elements

(a) means for guiding said articles for movement in a direction from an upstream position to a downstream position comprising at lest two guide surfaces;
(b) a discharge end located at the most downstream portion of said guiding means from which said articles can be withdrawn from said supply;
(c) means located along said guiding means, upstream of said discharge end, for substantially isolating a first quantity of said articles in said supply from a second quantity of said articles positioned upstream of said first quantity of said articles;
and
(d) means for engaging said articles proximate said pair of edges for arresting movement of said first quantity of articles at said discharge end of said guiding means and for permitting withdrawal of articles at said discharge end of said guiding means from said first quantity of articles generally in said direction.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Magazine and method of feeding articles

Life of this patent

Magazine and method of feeding articles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims49