Box making machines and method of retrofitting

• US 6,179,763 B1
• Filed: 03/10/1999
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sun Automation Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sun Automation Inc.
• Inventors: Phillips, Daniel Cunnington III
• Primary Examiner(s): Gerrity, Stephen F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAWFIK, SAMEH
• Application Number:
  US09/265,816
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 493/60, 493/66, 493/71, 493/115, 493/64, 493/55, 493/362, 493/361, 493/473, 493/471, 493/477, 532/01, 531/67, 101/232, 271/112, 271/194, 271/196
• US Class Current: 493/60
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/00 Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/02 Feeding or positioning sheets, blanks or webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/024 Rotating holders, e.g. star wheels, drums

Abstract

An existing box-making machine is retrofitted by first removing the pull rolls and impression cylinder and other associated parts and cross-ties. However, the heavy duty side frames and drums, including the print cylinder are left intact in the box-making machine. A vacuum transfer machine is then inserted in the box-making machine and mounted to the existing frame to replace the pull rolls that were removed. The vacuum transfer machine includes a hood enclosure having an impression cylinder for printing, and transport rolls on opposite sides of the impression cylinder for conveying the corrugated boards through the impression and print cylinders and to the die cutter. The boards are held against the transport rolls and the impression cylinder by vacuum generated in a vacuum chamber in the hood which also contains the transport rolls and the impression cylinder. The vacuum chamber contains a plurality of vacuum dampers for controlling the vacuum area in accordance with the size of the boards being processed. For creating vacuum in the vacuum chamber, high performance “volume blowers” are included on the top of the vacuum transfer machine. Exhaust air from the vacuum chamber is dispersed through filters located adjacent to the blowers. The hood is suspended from a cross-tie which is part of the vacuum transfer machine and adapted to be mounted to the opposite side frames of the existing box-making machines. The cross-tie has a vertically adjustable portion for adjusting the nip of the impression cylinder.

Claims