Various types of prior art blank feeding apparatus are known, in which blanks can be picked from a stack before being passed to a carton forming apparatus (for example). Generally, it is convenient to pick the blanks from the bottom of the stack, so that the magazine or feed box containing the stack of blanks can be easily filled from the top.

One aspect of the present invention provides apparatus for handling blanks comprising a magazine for receiving a stack of blanks and including means for supporting the stack, endless conveyor means for receiving successive lowermost blanks from the stack, said conveyor means including at least one blank pick-up device arranged to receive and convey blanks from the stack, and support means carried by the endless conveyor means for at least partly supporting the stack between pick-up operations of said pick-up device.

In a preferred arrangement the endless conveyor means is driven continuously, and may carry a plurality of spaced pick-up devices between which are arranged a plurality of spaced support members. The endless conveyor means may comprise a rotary member rotatable about an axis which is parallel to a plane in which the lowermost blank of the stack extends. Each pick-up device may include an arm pivoted about an axis parallel to this axis and control means may be provided for controlling the angular position of the arm as the rotary member rotates about the axis. In this way, the arm may be arranged to reciprocate about its pivot axis so that a peripheral arcuate surface for receiving a blank performs a rolling action relative to the stack so as to receive a lowermost blank.

The support members may include arcuate surfaces at least approximately coaxial with the axis of said rotary member and arranged to engage successive lowermost blanks in the stack. The support members and pick-up devices may be so disposed as to allow a support member to engage the stack during a pick-up operation, i. e. as a blank is being withdrawn by a pick-up device the next blank is already being supported by the following support member.

A further aspect of the invention provides apparatus for handling

blanks comprising a magazine for receiving a stack of blanks and including means for supporting the stack, endless conveyor means for receiving successive lowermost blanks from the stack, said conveyor means including at least one blank pick-up device arranged to receive and convey blanks from the stack, wherein said endless conveyor means comprises a rotary member rotatable about an axis and said pick-up device includes an arm pivoted about an axis parallel to said axis, and control means for controlling the angular position of the arm as said rotary member rotates about said axis.

Preferably each arm is arranged to reciprocate about its pivot axis, e. g. so as to pivot in the region of the magazine from a forward position to a rearward position, thereby providing a rolling action against the base of the stack. This pivotal motion of each arm may be achieved by a cam and follower arrangement, although it may also be achieved, for example, by suitable crank operated drive linkages. In a preferred arrangement a pivotable follower means is engaged with a fixed cam track: the follower means may be independently pivoted to the arm.

A still further aspect of the invention provides apparatus for handling blanks comprising a magazine for receiving a stack of blanks and including means for supporting the stack, endless conveyor means for receiving successive lowermost blanks from the stack, said conveyor means including at least one blank pick-up device arranged to receive and convey blanks from the stack, said supporting means including means for supporting opposed edges of the lowermost blank of the stack including retractable elements respectively at the leading and trailing edges of a lowermost blank, and means for sequentially retracting said elements in synchronism with movement of the pick-up device to receive said lowermost blank.

The supports for the opposed edges of the stack may comprise respective pivotally mounted support fingers at the leading and trailing edges of the lowermost blank, which are arranged to be successively retracted, as the blank is removed from the bottom of the stack, by a further cam drive mechanism.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of a blank handling apparatus;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a pick-up arm assembly and an associated cam track in the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevational view showing the relative position of the cam track of Figure 2 in the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a part-sectional side elevation of a drive mechanism of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a blank support mechanism in the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of a blank magazine of the apparatus of Figure 1; and Figures 7A to 7G respectively illustrate successive rotational positions of a blank feed mechanism in the apparatus of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, which illustrates the overall layout of the apparatus, a magazine 2 containing a stack of blanks 3, e. g. card blanks for hinged lid cigarette packets, includes pairs of stack support fingers 4 and 6, which are pivotally mounted at 8 and 10 respectively on a cam driven mechanism which enables them to be retracted outwardly away from the stack, when required, as explained in more detail below.

Respective links 12 and 14 are arranged to move the fingers 4,6, in synchronism with the rest of the apparatus, via a cam drive mechanism indicated generally at 16.

A rotatable drum assembly 18 supports four pivotally mounted pick-up arms, indicated respectively at 20,22,24 and 26, between axially-spaced inner and outer drum plates 74 and 84 (see also Figure 4). The arms are pivotally mounted on the plate 84 by means of journals 28,30,32 and 34 respectively, and carry at their outer ends respective suction pick-up heads 36,38,40 and 42. At each intermediate position of the drum assembly 18, between the pairs of pick-up heads, an outer guide or support member 44,46,48 or 50 is fixed to the drum assembly 18 so as to support the stack when it is not engaged by one of the pick-up heads.

Finally, beneath the drum assembly 18, a discharge conveyor 52 is arranged to receive blanks from the pick-up heads, in order to transport them to the next stage of the assembly operation.

As shown in Figures 2-4, the motion of the pick-up arms is controlled by means of a fixed cam track 54, comprising a groove in a fixed pad 56, in which a generally triangular slotted link 58 is guided, by means of a pair of cam followers 60 and 62 engaging on opposite sides

of the track.

The radially outward corner of the triangular link 58, relative to the pivotal axis 30 of the pick-up arm 22, is also pivotally connected to the drum assembly 18 at 64, and thus, as the assembly rotates, the link 58 is caused to oscillate about the pivot 64 by engagement of the cam followers 60 and 62 with the track 54. Consequently, the radially innermost corner 66 of the link 58 oscillates about the pivot 64, with the rotation of the drum assembly 18, and this corner carries an elongate slot 67 in which is engaged a pin 68 connected to a lever 70. The lever 70 is fixed to one end of a shaft 72 which carries the pick-up arm 22.

Consequently, the oscillation of the inner corner 66 of the triangular link 58 is translated by the link 70, via the follower pin 68, to provide a wiping movement for the pick-up arm 22, as explained in more detail below. It will be understood that the other pick-up arms 20,24 and 26 are mounted on the drum assembly 18 in the same way as the pick-up arm 22.

The motion of the pick-up arms 20 etc may be controlled by other cam and link mechanisms than that shown in the drawings, or by a series of gear wheels.

Figure 4 illustrates the general arrangement of the mechanism shown in Figures 2 and 3 in side elevation, and it will be seen that the inner end of shaft 72 is journalled at 76 in the rotatable inner drum plate 74. The pivot 64 of the slotted link 58 is also journalled in the drum plate 74. Drive is transferred to the inner drum plate 74 by means of an outer casing 78 which is in turn rotated by a main drive pulley 80. A secondary drive pulley 82 drives the stack support finger mechanism, as described in more detail below.

The outer drum plate 84, which supports the other end of the pick-up arm shaft 72 by means of the journal 30, is connected to the inner plate 74 by four fixed struts 85 which respectively carry the support members 44,46,48,50, which each comprise axially spaced elements, as seen in Figure 4. The drum assembly 18, including the plates 74 and 84, is rotatably supported on a fixed shaft 87. The outer surface of the outer drum plate 84 is in sliding contact, by way of a carbon ring 91, with a fixed frame member 93 which contains an arcuate suction manifold 95 communicating with its face adjacent the drum plate 84. Adjacent each shaft 72 the plate 84 is provided with a port 86 communicating with passages in the shaft and pick-up arm, so as to provide vacuum to a

plurality of suction pads 88 carried on the pick-up head 38 at suitable points in the rotation of the drum assembly 18, corresponding to positions where the port 86 is adjacent the manifold 95. For convenience of indicating its arcuate extent relative to the axis of the drum assembly 18 only, the shape of the manifold 95 is indicated in Figure 3, from which it will be noted that the manifold is in two arcuate sections extending from the region of the magazine 2 to the region of the conveyor 52 (Figure 1). The suction pads 88 are arranged in circumferential rows separated by blank support guides 89 which have arcuate edges. Each pick-up arm 22 could have a part-cylindrical peripheral surface provided with a series of suction openings which draw a blank against the surface, instead of the arrangement of suction pads 88 and guides 89.

Figure 5 illustrates the operation of the stack support fingers 4,6 of the magazine, the mechanism being driven by a pulley 92 by way of a belt (not shown) passing also around the secondary drive pulley 82 of the drum assembly 18 (Figure 4).

The pulley 92 drives a disc 94, whose rear surface (as seen in Figures 3 and 5) carries a cam track which is engaged by a follower 96 fixed to an actuating arm 100. Similarly, another disc 97 carries a cam track which is engaged by a follower 98 fixed to an actuating arm 102.

The outer ends 104,106 of the arms 100,102 are pivoted to fixed points on the apparatus, so that the rotation of the cam discs 94,97 causes their opposite ends 108,110, to rise and fall in a predetermined pattern, actuating the links 12 and 14 whose upper ends are in turn pivoted to the ends 108,110. This transfers movement to the leading and trailing sets of support fingers 4 and 6, so as to release the corresponding edges of the blanks 3 in the stack in the required sequence.

Referring particularly to Figure 6, there are three pairs of stack support fingers 4,6 at the base of the magazine 2. In addition, the magazine 2 has a number of vertically-extending guide rods 112 placed so as to assist in location of the stack of blanks 3 in the magazine.

Further vertically-extending guides 114, 116, having engagement faces adapted to the shape of the blanks 3, are provided to further aid precise location and prevent any tendency of the lowermost blank to twist as it is received on a pick-up head 36 etc. So as to facilitate this, the lower ends of the guides 114,116 extend slightly below the level of the lowermost blank when retained by the fingers 4,6, so as to maintain control of the

blank between that level and the pick-up head 36 etc on which the blank is deposited. As a further aid to control of the stack in the magazine 2, a pair of inclined spring steel strips 118 (see also Figure 3) carried by fixed mounting blocks 120 is provided to engage the trailing edges of the lowermost blanks 3. These help to ensure that only the lowermost blank 3 is released onto each pick-up head 36 etc. Note that it is the trailing edge of each lowermost blank 3 which is first engaged by a pick-up head.

The suction pads 88 (or suction apertures in the part-cylindrical pick-up head described hereinbefore) may engage the blanks at positions related to features of the blanks, e. g. to engage a side flap or main panel or extend across a fold line, as indicated respectively at 88A, B and C in Figure 6. Particularly where suction apertures are provided, these need not be circular and could, for example, be elongated, as indicated at 88D in Figure 6. It will be understood that the positions of the pads or apertures 88A-D are indicated in Figure 6 for reference purposes only and do not indicate a typical or full complement of such positions.

Although three pairs of support fingers 4,6 have been shown in Figure 6, two pairs may be sufficient. Particularly in this case, however, the ends of the lowermost blank 3 in the magazine 2 may sag slightly. In order to prevent premature interference between these ends and the corresponding outer elements of the support members 44 etc, the leading ends of the outermost support members may be shortened slightly, as indicated at 44A in Figure 1.

The sequence of pick-up operations is illustrated in Figures 7A to 7G by reference to movement of one pick-up head 38. Figure 7A shows the pick-up head 38 in a radially oriented position, i. e. in which the pick-up head is exactly midway between the two adjacent support members 44 and 46. With the drum assembly 18 rotating in the counter-clockwise direction as seen in the figures, Figure 7B shows the pick-up head 38 rotating forward as it approaches the bottom of the blank stack in the magazine 2. At this point the stack is being supported by the leading support member 44, as well as the leading and trailing stack support fingers 4 and 6.

As the drum assembly 18 rotates further, towards the position shown in Figure 7C, it will be seen that the shape of the cam track 54 at this rotational position is such that the pick-up head 38 begins to rotate in the opposite (i. e. reverse) direction, as it engages with the underside

of the lowermost blank in the magazine 2, and at this point vacuum will be supplied to the pick-up head, while the trailing stack support fingers 6 are disengaged from the corresponding edge of the stack, under control of the cam mechanism 16.

In the position shown in Figure 7D the pick-up head has rotated further in the reverse direction, and peeling of the lowermost bank continues, so that the removal of the trailing edge of the lowermost blank from the stack enables the trailing support fingers 6 to be moved back into engagement with the remaining blanks. At the same time, the trailing support member 46 begins to engage under the central part of the remainder of the stack, while the leading support finger is retracted to release the leading edge of the current blank on to the pick-up head 38.

Note that conveyed blanks are not shown in Figure 7.

In the position of Figure 7E the peeling of the current blank is complete, and the pick-up head 38 begins to rotate forwards again, towards the radial position, while the stack is supported by the guide 46, and subsequently, in the position shown in Figure 7F, the leading support fingers 4 are re-engaged with the stack, while the pick-up head is approaching the point of delivery of the blank onto the discharge conveyor 52 (Figure 1). Finally, in the position shown in Figure 7G, the pick-up head 38 has reached the radial position, and the blank is released onto the discharge conveyor 52.

It will be understood that, by providing the suction manifold 95 in two parts, it is possible to provide suction separately to these parts and hence, when required, suction could be turned off in the region of the magazine 2, so that no further blanks 3 are picked up, while blanks already picked up are conveyed to the conveyor 52. This may be useful in providing an ordered shut-down of the apparatus.

The fingers 4,6 are pivoted above the level of the lowermost blank 3 in the stack 2 such that the motion of the supporting parts of the fingers towards and away from their supporting positions are substantially horizontal. As a consequence, it is important that the respective edges of the next-to-lowermost blank should not fall significantly after the lowermost blank has been released but before the fingers 4,6 return from their retracted positions, otherwise the fingers will be unable to engage below this blank and may even damage it on their return. The support members 42 etc assist in maintaining the position of the next-to-lowermost blank. Maintaining its position can be made less

critical if the support fingers are arranged to move upwards during the final stage of their return to the stack support positions. One way of achieving this, at least in part, is to shorten the fingers 4,6 and/or lower their pivot axes. Alternatively, fingers, which need not necessarily be pivoted, could be moved on a closed loop path on which they are withdrawn in a substantially horizontal direction but returned on a path which has a final upward portion, so that if a blank has fallen slightly the fingers will engage under and lift it. A cam-controlled pivoted link mechanism could achieve this motion path for the fingers.