Method and an apparatus for picking up flat folded tubular blanks from a magazine and for moving them to an erecting station

An apparatus for picking up flat folded tubular blanks from a magazine and for moving the blanks to an erecting station, with two opposite sheets defined in each tubular blank of said tubular blanks and connected to each other at two opposite ends, so as to define a flat folded configuration, said blank having longitudinal creasing lines for facilitating folding, so that a box to be obtained will assumes a substantially parallelepiped shape with a longitudinal axis passing through two opposed openings of a thus obtained box, and transversal creasing lines for facilitating folding of relevant flaps of said blank, and with said magazine having an open bottom for picking up the above mentioned flat folded tubular blanks one by one, with one end of the two connecting ends of said blank turned downwards, the apparatus comprising:

• a horizontal shaft for transmission of a rotation movement, the shaft having a rotation axis parallel to opposite, lower and upper edges of said open bottom of said magazine, said shaft being operated by first actuating means and situated beside said open bottom of said magazine;
• a functional arm hinged at one side to a projection of said transmission shaft about a first articulation axis, perpendicular to the shaft, so as to receive a motion transmitted by said shaft;
• second actuating means for rotating said functional arm about said first articulation axis, in time relation with activation of said first actuating means, between an alignment position, with said functional arm in alignment with said transmission shaft, and a square position, with said functional arm forming a 90 degrees angle with respect to the rotation axis of said transmission shaft, and vice versa;
• an arrangement control mechanism hinged to a free side of said functional arm about a second articulation axis orthogonal to said first articulation axis;
• a pick up arm, fastened to said arrangement control mechanism and carrying pick up means for picking up a flat folded tubular blank through the open bottom of said magazine;
• said arrangement control mechanism being operated in suitable time relation with activation of said first and second actuation means, to operate, said pick up arm between a pick up station for picking up a flat folded tubular blank through the open bottom of said magazine, with said functional arm located in the alignment position and said pick up arm arranged with an arm longitudinal axis parallel to the open bottom of said magazine, and a tubular blank erecting station, with said functional arm located in the square position and the tubular blank arranged with said longitudinal axis vertical, and vice-versa.