Stacking and turning device for a machine producing packaging box blanks

A blank stacking and turning device for a printing/cutting machine producing packaging boxes, said device comprising a frame consisting of two lateral members connected to one another by profiled pieces;

• means for forming a closed circuit situated in a vertical plane, said means including a circular rotary support being mounted in said frame;
• four movable stores being capable of containing one stack of blanks being arranged at 90.degree. on the periphery of the support of the means for forming a closed circuit;
• four fixed stations being arranged at regular distances around the rotary support to be aligned with the four stores with the support in a stopped position, said fixed stations including a first station for forming a stack in a store positioned at said first station, a second station for aligning blanks in a stack, a third station for removing the stack from the store and fourth station being a standby stations with no stacks in the corresponding store;
• and means for achieving a simultaneous transfer of all stores from one station to the next following station and including indexing means for controlling a 90.degree. stop-and-go rotation of the support in order to insure the transfer of stores between stations so that in the course of said transfer between adjacent stations, every stack will carry out a revolution through approximately 90.degree. around an essentially horizontal axis and that in this way, beginning with the essentially flat position of the blanks within the first station, the stack, when in the second station, will rest on the edges of the blanks in the store, and in the third station the blanks will be in a flat position that will be turned 180.degree. with regard to the position of the blanks in the first station.