US3096693A - Carton transferring apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 9, 1963 A. M. SIMPSON CARTON TRANSFERRING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 17, 1961 lnuenlor 144 mm /7.' J/Mpso/v July 9, 1963 A. M. SIMPSON CARTON TRANSFERRING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1961 Inventor M S/MPSQA/ July 9, 1963 A. M. SIMPSON CARTON TRANSFERRING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 17, 1961 I nvenlor 4 mm M SIMPSON B I I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 17, 1961 Inventor M 3/14 1290 July 9, 1963 A. M. SIMPSON 3,096,693 CARTON TRANSFERRING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 17, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor #zmm/V. Sm s v United States Patent 3,096,693 CARTON TSFERRING APPARATUS Alfred Mouncy Simpson, Swindon, England, assignor to The Metal Box Company Limited, London, England,

a British company Filed Aug. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 132,161 Claims priority, application Great Britain Sept. 8, 1960 Claims. (CI. 93-51) This invention relates to carton transferring apparatus and in particular to apparatus for transferring cartons from a setting-up die to a delivery conveyor.

In some forms of carton setting-up machines a carton is removed from the setting-up die by a reciprocable suction device which moves in a vertical plane and draws the carton downwards through the bottom of the die, the carton being deposited by the suction device on a delivery conveyor. This necessitates the use of an intermittent conveyor because the sucker device must cross the path of the conveyor and entails loss of operational time because when the sucker device has deposited a carton in the path of the conveyor it cannot be again operated to remove a carton from the die until the conveyor has completed its movement to remove the carton out of the path of the sucker device. It is a main object of the present invention to provide a carton transferring apparatus which will permit the carton setting-up machine to operate at a higher rate than heretofore by reducing the waiting time of the sucker device before it can return towards the die to remove a further set-up carton therefrom.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for receiving cartons removed from a setting-up die, comprising a support aligned with and spaced from the exit end of a setting-up die by a distance which permits a set-up carton extracted from the die to rest on the support, an extractor device movable between the die and the support to extract a carton from the die and to deposit it on the support, a conveyor to receive cartons from the support, and a transfer element operable to transfer a carton from the support into the path of the conveyor, said transfer element 'being movable across the path of the extractor device to efliect the transfer of the carton into the path of the conveyor and returnable after the extractor device has been moved towards the die and out of the path of the transfer element.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of apparatus according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a top plan of apparatus according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is a section on line IIIIII, FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a view looking in the direction of arrow IV, FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a top plan illustrating a modification to the apparatus shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 is a section on line VI-VI, FIG. 5, with some parts omitted, and

FIG. 7 is a view looking in the direction of arrow VII, FIG. 5, with some parts omitted.

Like reference numerals refer to like or similar parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates diagrammatically apparatus for eifecting the simultaneous setting-up of two cartons. The cartons are set-up from blanks, not shown, by being pressed, in known manner, into dies 1 by vertically reciprocable punches 2. The construction of the dies and punches is of any suitable 3,096,693 Patented July 9, 1963 kind forming no part of the present invention and is not described in detail herein.

After withdrawal of the punches 2 from the dies 1 the cartons set-up in the dies are removed therefrom, through the open bottom ends of the dies, by extractor devices which, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, comprise suction devices which include suction members 3 supported by and communicating with the interior of hollow members 4. The hollow members 4 are supported by tubes 5 which extend laterally from the members 4 and which are connected with a vertically reciprocable carriage '6. The carriage 6 is guided for reciprocation by fixed vertical rods 7 and reciprocation is effected by a track eam 8, FIG. 3, rotatable with a shaft 9 and connected with the carriage 6 by links, 10, 11, a bell-crank lever 12, and connecting rod 13. The carriage 6 is connectable through valves 14, FIG. 2, with a source of suction, such as suction pump not shown, and controls the application, through the tubes 5, of suction to the suction members 3.

When the extractor devices are lowered they draw set-up cartons out of the dies 1 and deposit them on supports each formed, as shown in FIG. 2, by a pair of elements 15, 16 which are supported in spaced relation on opposite sides of the path of transfer elements, described below. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the shape of the members 4 permits the free passage of the members past the support elements 15, 16 during reciprocation of the members 4.

After the set-up cartons are deposited on the support elements 15, 16 the suction is cut-oif so that the cartons rest freely on the support elements and the cartons are removed from the support elements by transfer elements 17 which are reciprocable across the support elements 15, 16, in a horizontal plane and move the cartons from the support elements between guides 18 and into the path of a continuously movable conveyor formed by an endless chain 19 carrying pusher elements 20, FIG. 2.

The transfer elements 17 are carried by cranked members 21 the cranked portions thereof being, as can be seen from FIG. 2, movable in paths exterior to the paths of the members 4. The cranked members 21 are secured to an operating member 22 which is common thereto and which is reciprocated by a cam 23, FIG. 4, mounted on a shaft 24 which is rotated in timed relation with shaft 9. Cam 23 is connected with the operating member 22 through a lever 25 and link 26.

It will be understood that when the transfer elements 17 are operated to move cartons oh the support elements 15, 16 the extractor devices 3, 4 are disposed below the upper surfaces of the support elements. The cranked members 21 move above the guides 18 and in the extreme forward positions thereof the elements 17 are located, as viewed in FIG. 2, between the members 4 and the conveyor 19, 20. Thus as soon as the transfer elements 17 have passed over the members 4 the members 4 can be, and are, moved upwards towards the dies 1 to remove further cartons set-up in the dies. The movement of the transfer elements 17 is so timed that the return movement thereof, to the positions shown in FIG. 2, commences just about the time that the members 4 have been raised to a position just above the path of transfer elements 17 so that the members 4 do not obstruct the return movement of the transfer elements.

FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate a modification to the apparatus described above designed to effect stopping of the operation of the apparatus in the event that a carton becomes jammed in the region of the support elements 15, 16. In this modified form of the apparatus the elements 15, 16 are spaced apart on opposite sides of the paths of the transfer elements 17 and are carried by a frame 27 pivsceaeos oted at 28, FIG. 6, to the machine frame portion 29. A spring 30, FIG. 7, retains the guide elements 15, 16 in the normal positions thereof. The frame 27 also carries a switch actuator 31, FIG. 7, which, if the frame 257 is rocked downwards as received in FIG. 6, effects operation of an electric switch 32 connected in the circuit for the motor, not shown, by which the apparatus is operated.

In the event that a badly formed carton should fall from a member 4 and be misplaced relative to the elements 15, 16; or should a transfer element 17 fail to remove a carton from the elements 15, 16, the obstructing carton will, during the succeeding machine cycle, be trapped between the member 4 and the support elements and the continued movement of the member 4 causes the elements 15, 16 to be rocked about pivot 28 thus causing the actuator 31 to operate the switch 32 and effect stopping of the machine so that the faulty carton can be removed from the apparatus.

Thus it will be understood that with apparatus as described above it is possible to effect the return movement of the extractor devices 3, 4 immediately the transfer elements have passed over the extractor devices thus reducing to a minimum the period of dwell of the extractor devices at the bottom of the stroke thereof, and it is also possible to utilise a continuously movable conveyor for the purpose of removing the set-up cartons from the setting-up machine.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for receiving cartons removed from a setting-up die, comprising a support aligned with and spaced from the exit end of a setting-up die by a distance which permits a set-up carton extracted from the die to rest on the support, an extractor device movable between a first position thereof at which it is operable to extract 'a carton from the die and a second position thereof at which it deposits the extracted carton on the support, a conveyor to receive cartons from the support, a pusher movable over the extractor device in the second position thereof to move a carton from the support and to deliver it to the conveyor, a reciprocable operating memher to effect said movement of the pusher, and 1a connecting element connecting the pusher with the operating member, said connecting element spacing the pusher from the operating member and extending between said member and pusher at a position displaced laterally from the path of the extractor device whereby While the p usher is located in the position thereof at which it delivers a carton to the conveyor the extractor device is permitted to return to the forward position thereof through the space between the pusher and the operating member.

2. Apparatus for receiving cartons removed from a setting-up die, comprising an extractor device reciprocab le between a setting-up die and supports spaced apart from each other and from the die, said extractor device being operable to extract a set-up carton from the die and movable between the supports to a position beneath the supports to deposit the carton on the supports, a conveyor to receive cartons from the supports, a pusher movable over the extractor device while said device is beneath the supports to move a carton from the supports and to deliver it to the conveyor, a reciproca'ble operating member to eiiect said movement of the pusher, and a connecting element connecting the pusher with the operating member, said connecting element spacing the pusher from the operating member and extending between said member and pusher at a position displaced laterally from the path of the extractor device whereby while the pusher is located in the position thereof at which it delivers a carton to the conveyor the extractor device is permitted to return through the space between the pusher and the operating member to extract a further set-up car-ton from the die.

3. Apparatus for receiving cartons removed from a setting-up die, comprising a hollow member provided With suction members to engage the bottom of a carton set-up in the die, a reciprocable carriage connectable with a source of suction, a tube extending laterally from the hollow member and effecting communication between said hollow member and carriage to permit suction to be applied to the suction members, supports spaced apart from each other and from the die and between which the hollow member is movable to a position beneath the supports to deposit a carton thereon, a conveyor to receive cartons from the supports, a pusher movable over suction members while they are located beneath the supports to move a carton from the supports and to deliver it tothe conveyor, a reciprocable operating member to effect said movement of the pusher, and a connecting element connecting the pusher with the operating member and extending between the operating member and pusher at a position displaced laterally from the path of said hollow member whereby while the pusher is located in the position thereof at which it delivers a carton to the conveyor the hollow member is permitted to return through the space between the pusher and the operating member to extract a further set-up carton from the die.

4. Apparatus for receiving cartons removed from setting-up dies, comprising two setting-up dies disposed in side-by-side spaced relation, a carriage connectable with a source of suction and'reciprocable in a path intermediate the dies, hollow members disposed one on each of opposite sides of the carriage and aligned one with each of the dies, suction members carried by each of the hol- [low members to engage the bottoms of cartons set-up in the dies, tubes extending laterally from the hollow members and effecting communication between the hollow members and carriage to permit suction to be applied to the suction members, supports spaced apart from each other and from the dies and between which the hollow members are respectively movable to positions beneath the supports to deposit thereon cartons removed from the dies by the suction members, a conveyor to receive cantons from the supports, pushers movable respectively one over each' of the hollow members and suction members carried thereby while the hollow members and suction members are located beneath the supports to move cartons from the supports and to deliver them to the conveyor, :1 reciprocable operating member common to the pushers to effect said movement of the pushers, and connecting elements, one for each pusher, connecting the pushers with the operating member and extending between the operating member and the pushers at positions displaced laterally from the paths of the hollow members whereby while the pushers are located in the positions thereof at which they deliver cartons to the conveyor the hollow members are permitted to return through the space between the pushers and the operating member to extract further set-up cartons from the dies.

Wilcox May 1, 1956 Tonna Apr. 26, 1960

Claims (1)

1. APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING CARTONS REMOVED FROM A SETTING-UP DIE, COMPRISING A SUPPORT ALIGNED WITH AND SPACED FROM THE EXIT END OF A SETTING-UP DIE BY A DISTANCE WHICH PERMITS A SET-UP CARTON EXTRACTED FROM THE DIE TO REST ON THE SUPPORT, AN EXTRACTOR DEVICE MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION THEREOF AT WHICH IT IS OPERABLE TO EXTRACT A CARTON FROM THE DIE AND A SECOND POSITION THEREOF AT WHICH IT DEPOSITS THE EXTRACTED CARTON ON THE SUPPORT, A CONVEYOR TO RECEIVE CARTONS FROM THE SUPPORT, A PUSHER MOVABLE OVER THE EXTRACTOR DEVICE IN THE SECOND POSITION THEREOF TO MOVE A CARTON FROM THE SUPPORT AND TO DELIVER IT TO THE CONVEYOR, A RECIPROCABLE OPERATING MEMBER TO EFFECT SAID MOVEMENT OF THE PUSHER, AND A CONNECTING ELEMENT CONNECTING THE PUSHER WITH THE OPERATING MEMBER SAID CONNECTING ELEMENT SPACING THE PUSHER FROM THE OPERATING MEMBER AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID MEMBER AND PUSHER AT A POSITION DISPLACED LATERALLY FROM THE PATH OF THE EXTRACTOR DEVICE WHEREBY WHILE THE PUSHER IS LOCATED IN THE POSITION THEREOF AT WHICH IT DELIVERS A CARTON TO THE CONVEYOR THE EXTRACTOR DEVICE IS PERMITTED TO RETURN TO THE FORWARD POSITION THEREOF THROUGH THE SPACE BETWEEN THE PUSHER AND THE OPERATING MEMBER.

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