Method and apparatus for magazine pressure control

• US 20060197272A1
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Hendricks, Timothy W., Disrud, Jeff, Moncrief, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,404,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 271/31
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2100/00 Rigid or semi-rigid containers made by folding single-piece sheets, blanks or webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2120/30 collapsible; temporarily collapsed during manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/024 Rotating holders, e.g. star wheels, drums
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/06 from stacks
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 1/025 with controlled positively-acting mechanical devices for advancing the pile to present the articles to the separating device

Abstract

A magazine pressure control is provided with pressure control wheels that are designed to regulate pressure on carton blanks being fed to a folder/gluer in a carton forming operation. These wheels are disposed around the periphery of the carton blank to urge the edges of the cartons forward and to straighten misaligned cartons. A separately controlled motor operates each half of the magazine pressure control. Each motor is controlled by a pressure sensor assembly and regulates the progression of the carton blanks through the magazine pressure control to equalize the pressure around the periphery of the carton blanks as they are presented to the pick face of the folder/gluer.

Claims

1. A method of controlling pressure exerted by carton blanks at a pick face of a carton forming machine, comprising the steps of:

feeding a stack of carton blanks toward the pick face;

engaging at least a portion of the periphery of the carton blanks with pressure control wheels and operating the wheels to feed the carton blanks toward the pick face while the stack of blanks is being fed;

discontinuing the feeding of the carton blanks when the pressure exerted by the carton blanks in the direction of feeding reaches a predetermined value.

2. The method of claim 1, including sequentially picking each lead carton blank in turn from the stack, and resuming feeding of the blanks when said pressure decreases.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the feeding of the carton blanks at one side of the carton blanks is discontinued when the pressure exerted by that side of the carton blanks in the direction of feeding reaches a predetermined value, and the feeding of the carton blanks at the opposite side of the carton blanks is discontinued when the pressure exerted by said opposite side of the carton blanks in the direction of feeding reaches a predetermined value.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the feeding of the carton blanks at said one side and at said other side are discontinued at different times.

5. A method of aligning carton blanks which are being fed toward a pick face of a carton forming machine, comprising the steps of:

in response to pressure exerted on at least a first pressure sensor assembly proximate a first side of the carton blanks, discontinuing feeding said first side of the carton blanks when that side exerts a predetermined value of pressure in the feed direction at the pick face; and

in response to pressure exerted on at least a second pressure sensor assembly proximate a second side of the carton blanks, discontinuing feeding said second side of the carton blanks when that side exerts said predetermined value of pressure in the feed direction at the pick face;

whereby the carton blanks will be aligned perpendicular to the feed direction at the pick face.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the feeding of said first side and the feeding of said second side are discontinued at different times.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the feeding of said first side of the carton blanks includes feeding the blanks toward the pick face by the operation of first pressure control wheels, and the feeding of said second side of the carton blanks includes feeding the blanks toward the pick face by the operation of second pressure control wheels.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the feeding of the carton blanks and operation of the wheels at said one side and at said other side are discontinued at different times.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the feeding of the carton blanks is resumed when the pressure exerted at each pressure sensor assembly decreases.

10. Apparatus for regulating pressure exerted by carton blanks being fed toward a pick face of a carton-forming machine, comprising:

at least one first feeder for feeding at least one side of the carton blanks toward the pick face;

at least one second feeder for feeding at least the opposite side of the carton blanks toward the pick face;

at least a first pressure sensor assembly located proximate the pick face to be engaged by said one side of the carton blanks;

at least a second pressure sensor assembly located proximate the pick face to be engaged by said opposite side of the carton blanks;

the first pressure sensor assembly being connected to discontinue operation of the first feeder when said one side of the carton blanks exerts a predetermined value of pressure on said first pressure sensor assembly; and

the second pressure sensor assembly being connected to discontinue operation of the second feeder when said opposite side of the carton blanks exerts a predetermined value of pressure on said second pressure sensor assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first feeder includes first pressure control wheels which engage the edges of the carton blanks on said one side;

and

the second feeder includes second pressure control wheels which engage the edges of the carton blanks on said opposite side.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the pressure control wheels has a circumference provided with teeth for engaging the side edges of the carton blanks.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first pressure control wheels and first feeder are driven by a first motor and the second pressure control wheels and second feeder are driven by a second motor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first pressure sensor assembly controls power to the first motor, and the second pressure sensor assembly controls power to the second motor.

15. Apparatus for use with the feeding of carton blanks toward a carton-forming machine, comprising:

a frame having an opening therethrough sufficient to permit the passage of the carton blanks being fed;

rotatable shafts at one side of the frame adjacent the top, side and bottom of the opening;

rotatable shafts at the opposite side of the frame adjacent the top, side and bottom of the opening;

means for rotating the shafts at one side of the frame independently of the shafts at the opposite side of the frame; and

a plurality of pressure control wheels mounted on the shafts for rotation therewith to engage the edges of carton blanks being fed through the opening.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for rotating also drive a feed for the carton blanks.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for rotating comprises a first motor for rotating the shafts at said one side of the frame, and a second motor for rotating the shafts at said opposite side of the frame.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the operation of the first motor is controlled by at least a first pressure sensor assembly, and the operation of the second motor is controlled by at least a second pressure sensor assembly.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each pressure sensor assembly comprises a movable member which engages a proximity switch to control power to the respective motor.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the movable member is biased away from engagement with the proximity switch.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a part of the movable member is contacted by the carton blanks to move the member against the bias.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the part of the movable member which is contacted by the carton blanks comprises at least one roller.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one roller is mounted on a shaft which is releasably attached to the movable member.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the part of the movable member which is contacted by the carton blanks comprises a plurality of vertically aligned rollers.

25. Apparatus for controlling pressure exerted by carton blanks at a pick face of a carton forming machine, comprising:

means for feeding a stack of carton blanks toward the pick face;

means for engaging at least a portion of the periphery of the carton blanks and for feeding the carton blanks toward the pick face while the blanks are being fed; and

means for discontinuing the feeding of the carton blanks toward the pick face when the pressure exerted by the carton blanks in the direction of feeding reaches a predetermined value.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the means for discontinuing the feeding of the carton blanks comprises means for discontinuing the feeding at one side of the carton blanks when the pressure exerted by that side of the carton blanks in the direction of feeding reaches a predetermined value, and means for discontinuing the feeding of the carton blanks at the opposite side of the carton blanks when the pressure exerted by said opposite side of the carton blanks in the direction of feeding reaches a predetermined value.