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.
Claims11
A valving manifold assembly for transferring fluid pressure between a stationary frame and a rotary frame comprising a distribution manifold section connected to rotate with the rotary frame, a stationary manifold hub mounted on the stationary frame and forming part of the manifold assembly, a piston having a cylindrical outer surface carried by and surrounding said hub and having a plurality of part annular grooves on an outwardly facing first end surface thereof which first end surface is perpendicular to an axis of rotation, the part annular grooves having an annular length to provide fluid pressure to ports on the surface of the distribution manifold section aligning with the part annular grooves on the first end surface of the piston during selected portions of rotation of the distribution manifold section, a pressure chamber formed on a second end surface of the piston opposite from the outwardly facing first end surface to provide a force on the piston urging the piston toward the distribution manifold section, the part annular grooves on the first end surface of said piston having a smaller area than the second end surface of the piston, and a conduit for carrying pressure from the distribution manifold section to a remote actuator on the rotary frame to operate the actuator.
A manifold assembly for transferring both fluid vacuum and fluid pressure across a rotating joint comprising a first frame and a second frame rotatably mounted relative to each other, a manifold hub mounted on the first frame and forming part of the manifold assembly, a piston carried by and surrounding said hub, the piston having a cylindrical outer surface, said piston having a plurality of part annular grooves on a first end surface thereof, a distribution manifold mounted on said second frame and movable therewith, the distribution manifold having a distribution manifold surface mating with end surface of the piston and having ports thereon aligning with the part annular grooves on the end surface of the piston during selected portions of rotation of the distribution manifold assembly relative to the hub, a pressure chamber open to a second end surface of the piston opposite from the first end pressure in the pressure chamber providing a force on the piston urging the piston toward the distribution manifold mating surface, the part annular grooves on the first end surface of the said piston having a smaller area than the second end surface of the piston open to the pressure chamber, and a source of fluid pressure selectively connected to the pressure chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.