Patent GB-718018-A (GB)
Title: Suction-operated device for picking up flatly collapsed folding boxes from a pile
IPC: B31B100/00
Filed: 1951-04-25
Abstract: 718,018. Feeding sheets. HESSER MASCHINENFABRIK AKT.-GES., F. April 25, 1951 [April 29, 1950; Sept. 20, 1950], No. 9647/51. Class 100 (1). [Also in Group XVII] Sheet separators.-A suction-operated device for picking up flatly collapsed folding boxes from a pile is characterized in that the suction nozzle of the suction tool is moved along a closed curve to engage the pile and suck on one side of one folding box, to open the folding box on the further travel of the nozzle by co-operation with guide means acting upon the picked-up folding box and to reclose it oppositely to its original position whereupon the nozzle after turning off the suction delivers the box to a conveying device. A suction tool 4 journalled in an arm 7 of a rotated sleeve has secured thereon a pinion 6 meshing with a stationary internally-toothed ring 11, concentric with the sleeve, so that, as the sleeve carries the tool 4 around, the pinion 6 rolls on the ring 11 and the suction nozzle 3 of the tool 4, the face of which nozzle is tangential to the pinion 6, moves in a hypocycloid path. The suction nozzle withdraws the leading collapsed folding box from a pile 1 and in conjunction with a guide 14 opens the box up and re-collapses it in the reverse direction against a loosely-mounted roller 15, the suction being released as the nozzle approaches the roller 15. A rotated semi-cylindrical roller 16 co-operates with the roller 15 and with a roller 16<SP>1</SP> to feed the re-collapsed folding box to rollers 30, 31 and 32, 33. These rollers then feed the collapsed folding box to opening means comprising pushers 20 each carried by one arm of a rotating member 18<SP>1</SP> and one arm of a rotating member 18<SP>11</SP>, the member 18<SP>11</SP> being positively rotated about a pin 34 and the member 18<SP>1</SP> being loosely mounted on a parallel pin 46. The pusher 20, engages the collapsed folding box and moves it into an opening 22 in a conveyer 5 causing it to open. In another embodiment, Figs. 7, 8, 9, the suction nozzle is moved in an epicycloid path being slidably mounted in its pinion 6, which is carried by an arm on a rotating wheel member 8<SP>1</SP> and rolls on a stationary externallytoothed ring 11<SP>1</SP> concentric with the wheel 81. A roller 28 at the lower end of the suction tool runs in a cam track 29 so that the suction nozzle is in its highest position when withdrawing a collapsed folding box from the pile 1. The recollapsed carton is fed by a roller with interrupted surfaces 205, 205<SP>1</SP>, and by a roller 40 through a series of further rollers to the reopening means and the conveyer 5. In another embodiment, Figs. 18, 19, the suction nozzle is moved in an elliptical path, the re-collapsed folding box being fed away by a roller 125 and a roller 131 with interrupted surfaces. Two suction nozzles 103, 103<SP>1</SP> are provided with their pinions 106, 1061 rolling around the interior of stationary toothed rings 111, 111<SP>1</SP> of twice the diameter of the pinions. The pinion 106 is rotatably mounted in a rotated carrier member 135 and the pinion 106<SP>1</SP> is carried round its ring 111<SP>1</SP> by a crank 120 carried by the member 135. The suction face of the nozzle lies outside the periphery of its pinion. The suction nozzle 3 may be pivotally mounted in its support 4, Fig. 14, to allow a certain amount of play about its longitudinal axis, springs 56 urging the nozzle to a central position.