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US 8,915,497 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for sheet and carton blank aligning using caster effect
AssigneeTamarack Products, Inc.
InventorDavid E. Machamer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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AssigneeTamarack Products, Inc.
InventorDavid E. Machamer
Estimating the term…
An improved apparatus and method for properly orienting and aligning flat sheets or strip material, such as in the form of folding carton blanks, on a conveying system such as used in carton folders/gluers is disclosed. A moving sheet is engaged on at least one surface by plural non-driven movable casters oriented at an angle relative to the sheet's intended direction of travel, or target direction. The casters apply a lateral force to the sheet so that a linear lateral edge of the sheet is brought into contact with an adjacent guide member aligned with the target direction, with the sheet assuming a predetermined orientation relative to the target direction. Each caster is resiliently biased such as by a spring at a predetermined angle relative to the target direction. With the sheet's lateral edge in intimate contact with the guide member, the moving sheet is in the aforementioned predetermined orientation relative to, and is displaced in, the target direction.
A method for providing a moving sheet with a predetermined orientation and aligning a linear edge of the moving sheet with an intended direction of travel of the sheet, said method comprising:
Apparatus for providing a moving sheet with a predetermined orientation and aligning a flat lateral edge of the moving sheet with an intended direction of travel of the sheet, said apparatus comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.