Can blank handling apparatus

A can blank accumulating and transfer device for moving can blanks from a slitter to a welder hopper, comprising:

• blank receiving means at an output of the slitter for forming a plurality of side-by-side stacks of blanks as the blanks are received from the slitter;
• storage means for storing the plurality of side-by-side stacks in side-by-side arrangement;
• means for transferring the side-by-side stacks from said blank receiving means to said storage means;
• single stack transfer means for selectively receiving single stacks from said storage means and lifting and rotating said single stacks individually to a removal position;
• and
• removal means for removing said single stacks individually from said single stack transfer means when in said removal position and for lifting and carrying said single stacks removed from said single stack transfer means to the welder hopper and subsequently placing said single stacks into the welder hopper.

A can blank accumulating and transfer device for moving can blanks from a slitter to a welder hopper, comprising:

• a side-by-side arrangement of blank receiving locations positionable at an output of the slitter, said side-by-side arrangement including means for accumulating into stacks a plurality of can blanks output by the slitter so that the stacks are in side-by-side relation, said side-by-side arrangement including a plurality of generally vertically disposed walls on a base defining side-by-side pockets to receive the blanks from the slitter;
• means for intermittently contacting an edge of the stacks during accumulation of the blanks into stacks in said side-by-side arrangement to align the blanks in the stacks relative to one another;
• an indexing station selectively positionable along side said side-by-side arrangement, said indexing station including means for receiving the stacks from said side-by-side arrangement, said indexing station including a plurality of generally vertically disposed walls on a base defining side-by-side pockets to receive the blanks from said side-by-side arrangement, said walls of the indexing station defining slightly wider pockets than said pockets of said side-by-side arrangement;
• blank supporting surfaces in each of said pockets of said side-by-side arrangement and of said indexing station to support a bottom-most blank of the stacks, said blank supporting surfaces each lying at an angle to horizontal, said blank supporting surfaces each including a plurality of parallel disposed rollers on which the bottom-most blanks are supported for rolling movement between said side-by-side arrangement and said indexing station;
• first means for transferring the stacks accumulated in said side-by-side arrangement into said indexing station, said first means for transferring transfers all the stacks in said side-by-side arrangement into said indexing station substantially simultaneously;
• means for moving said side-by-side arrangement from a position at the output of the slitter into a position along side said indexing station to permit transfer of the stacks by said first means for transferring;
• a single stack receiving station including means for receiving single stacks from said indexing station, said single stack receiving station including:
• means for lifting a single stack of the blanks from a received position at which the stack is received from said indexing station to a predetermined height above said received position, said means for lifting further comprises means for moving the single stack from a position at an angle to horizontal to a horizontal position,
• means for rotating a single stack of blanks from a received position at which the stack is received from said indexing station to an engagement position at a predetermined angle relative to said received position;
• second means for transferring one stack at a time from said indexing station to said single stack receiving station;
• means for engaging the stack of blanks in said single stack receiving station and for moving the engaged stack to the welder hopper;
• and
• a support base including a bearing supporting said side-by-side arrangement and said indexing station and said single stack receiving station as a unit for rotation relative to the slitter.