US 5,653,671 A · Carton feeder assembly

Abstract

A carton feeder assembly is positioned substantially at the infeed conveyor level and includes a carton supply assembly, a carton selector, a carton opener, and a carton erector. The carton supply assembly has a carton supply position, a carton holding position, and a carton selecting position. The carton selector includes a pair of feeder wheels with corresponding suction devices and respective motion defining assemblies. The motion defining assemblies cause the suction devices to move along a linear pick line as the feeder wheels rotate, so that the suction devices can apply a suction on a carton to be selected. The selected carton is brought into contact with the feeder wheels by retraction of the suction devices caused by respective motion defining assemblies, so that the carton moves with the feeder wheels to the carton opener. The carton opener includes a vacuum belt which applies suction to one surface of the selected carton as a carton opening wheel applies a suction to a second side of the selected carton. As the vacuum belt moves the carton in a linear direction, the carton opening wheel rotates the second side of the carton so that the carton opens. The vacuum belt then feeds the opened carton into leading lugs on respective chains of the carton erector. Trailing lugs rotate into position behind the opened carton to hold the carton in an erect position suitable for loading the carton with articles such as bottles or cans.

Claims39

Dependent claims

A method of feeding and opening a carton, the carton being held in a carton supply position at a carton magazine, said method comprising the steps of:

a) positioning a spaced pair of generally parallel feeder wheels adjacent the carton magazine;
b) providing at least one suction device mounted on a support shaft extending perpendicularly between said feeder wheels for forming a carton selector assembly, and positioning said at least one suction device on said support shaft with respect to the periphery of each of said feeder wheels;
c) rotating said feeder wheels together in a first direction with respect to the carton magazine;
d) rotating said at least one suction device in a second direction opposite said first direction as said feeder wheels are being rotated in the first direction;
e) moving said at least one suction device along a carton pick line radial to said feeder wheels and the carton being held in the carton supply position;
f) extending said at least one suction device into a fully extended position along said pick line and engaging the carton in the carton supply position with said at least one suction device in response thereto;
g) moving said at least one suction device into a fully retracted position along said pick line toward the periphery of said feeder wheels, withdrawing the carton from the magazine along said pick line, and placing the carton on the periphery of said feeder wheels in response thereto;
and
h) feeding the carton placed on the periphery of said feeder wheels to a carton opener assembly.

6 more elements

An apparatus for opening a carton, the carton having a first side and a second side and a third side each hingedly connected to the first side, the apparatus having an elongate framework, said apparatus comprising:

an endless vacuum belt supported on the framework, said vacuum belt having a spaced series of vacuum holes defined in the surface thereof and being sized and shaped for communication with at least one vacuum chamber supported on the framework, said at least one vacuum chamber being generally sealed on at least a portion of said vacuum conveyor belt for creating a first suction force against the first side of the carton;
a carton opening wheel supported on the framework with respect to said vacuum conveyor belt, said carton opening wheel having at least one suction cup for creating a second suction force on the second side of the carton;
and
means for varying the speed of said carton opening wheel with respect to the speed of said vacuum conveyor belt for opening the carton.

1 more element

A carton feed and opening machine, each carton having a first side wall and a second and a third side wall each hingedly connected to the first side wall of the carton, said machine comprising:

an elongate framework having an infeed end, a discharge end spaced from said infeed end, and a path of travel extending from the infeed end toward the discharge end of the machine;
a carton magazine supported on the infeed end of said framework, said carton magazine having a supply of pre-scored and folded cartons with at least one folded carton being held in said magazine in a carton supply position for being removed from said magazine;
a carton selector assembly supported on said framework, said carton selector assembly being positioned with respect to said carton magazine and having a spaced pair of generally parallel feeder wheels supported for rotation on a main shaft mounted on said framework, a plurality of support shafts extending between said feeder wheels, each of said support shafts being rotatably supported on said feeder wheels, and at least one suction device supported on each said support shaft for engaging said at least one folded carton in said carton supply position;
means for rotating said feeder wheels in the direction of the path of travel, each of said at least one suction cups on each of said support arms being constructed and arranged to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of the path of travel as said feeder wheels are rotated;
an endless vacuum conveyor belt positioned on said framework with respect to said carton selector assembly for receiving folded cartons from said feeder wheels;
a carton opening wheel assembly positioned on said framework with respect to said vacuum conveyor belt for receiving one of the sides of the folded cartons from said vacuum conveyor belt and opening the cartons in response thereto;
and
a chain conveyor supported on said framework and extending in the direction of the path of travel toward the discharge end of the machine, said chain conveyor being constructed and arranged to receive opened cartons from said vacuum conveyor belt and said carton opening wheel assembly for erecting the cartons on the chain conveyor.

5 more elements

A method of feeding and opening a folded carton on a packaging machine, the packaging machine including an elongate framework having an infeed end and a spaced discharge end, a path of travel extending from the infeed end toward the discharge end of the framework, a carton magazine positioned at the infeed end of the framework, the carton magazine having a supply of folded cartons with at least one folded carton held in a carton supply position, said method comprising the steps of:

a) positioning a spaced pair of feeder wheels, said feeder wheels being formed about a main shaft supported on the framework, with respect to the carton magazine;
b) rotating said spaced pair of feeder wheels with a first drive means in the direction of the path of travel;
c) reciprocably moving one of a spaced series of suction devices supported on and between said feeder wheels along a fixed radial pick line emanating from said main shaft toward the at least one folded carton held in the carton supply position and engaging the at least one folded carton with at least one of said suction devices, applying a first suction force to the at least one folded carton, and withdrawing the at least one folded carton from the carton magazine in response thereto;
d) holding the at least one folded carton withdrawn from the carton magazine on the periphery of said feeder wheels with said first suction force;
and
e) passing the at least one folded carton between a spaced series of nip rollers and an endless vacuum conveyor belt positioned on the framework with respect to said feeder wheels, said nip rollers being positioned on the framework with respect to the vacuum conveyor belt, and releasing the at least one folded carton from said first suction force in response thereto.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Carton feeder assembly

Life of this patent

Carton feeder assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims39