Vacuum holder for automated carton erecting machine
AssigneeDavis Engineering, LLC
InventorEllis W. Davis, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vacuum holder for use with an automated carton erecting and packing line and mountable on a rotary carton placer for removing cartons into which product is to be placed includes vacuum cup for removing a carton from a store of cartons. The cartons including a foldable flap. The vacuum holder includes a set of vacuum cups that will engage a flap and at an appropriate time in the carton erection sequence will be positively actuated under control of a power actuator to fold the flap to a desired position prior to depositing the carton on a conveyor line. A rotary manifold carries both vacuum for vacuum cups holding the carton, and fluid pressure for the power actuators to the rotating carton placer.
Claims9
A rotary placer for receiving a carton from a carton supply, and carrying the carton to a second station, the carton having a main portion and a flap that is to be folded from a first flap position to a second flap position for use, comprising a base, a frame rotatably drivably mounted on the base for rotation about a first axis, a first arm mounted on the frame and rotating with the frame, a carton pickup head mounted on an end of said arm and having a first set of vacuum cups mounted thereon for engaging a main portion of a carton in the carton supply, said carton pickup head having a support bracket mounted thereon, a flap engaging second vacuum cup, a second arm mounting the second vacuum cup pivotally mounted relative to the first set of vacuum cups on the support bracket for pivoting to move the second vacuum cup between first and second vacuum cup positions, a valving manifold, a vacuum connection from the valving manifold to connect a source of vacuum to the first set of vacuum cups when the first set of vacuum cups engages a carton in the carton supply, said first set of vacuum cups engaging and holding a carton to remove it from the carton supply and carry it toward the second station as the frame rotates, a vacuum connection from the valving manifold to the second vacuum cup to cause the second vacuum cup to hold a flap of a carton engaged by the first set of vacuum cups, and an actuator mounted on the first arm and connected to the second arm mounting the second vacuum cup, and operable to pivot the second arm and the second vacuum cup and a flap held thereby substantially 90.degree. from a first flap position to a second flap position after the carton has been removed from the carton supply and as the frame rotates to carry the carton to the second station.
A rotary placer, including a frame, a rotary carton pickup head mounted on the frame, a valving manifold assembly mounted on the frame and having a rotary section rotating with the carton pickup head, the rotary carton pickup head having a first set of vacuum cups mounted thereon connected to the rotating section of the valving manifold, the valving manifold selectively providing vacuum to the first set of vacuum cups in synchronism with desired positions of the rotary carton pickup head, a synchronized drive to rotate the rotary carton pickup head to positions where the first set of vacuum cups engages a main panel portion of a carton defining a plane and is provided with vacuum to remove the carton from a supply and carry it toward a second station, a second set of vacuum cups for engaging a panel of the carton held by the first set of vacuum cups, pivotally mounted relative to the first set of vacuum cups, a fluid pressure actuator mounted on a support for the first set of vacuum cups a linkage connected between the actuator and the second set of vacuum cups, a source of fluid under pressure connected to the valving manifold, the valving manifold providing fluid under pressure to the actuator to move the linkage to pivot a second set of vacuum cups 90.degree. after the carton has been removed from the supply, said second set of vacuum cups pivoting the panel of the carton held thereby and when the second set of vacuum cups is pivoted, the carton panel being folded from a first position to a second position out of the plane of the main panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.