Untitled record

March 31, 1964

3,127,027

R. A. ROSER ETAL

CAM FOR CARTON

HANDLING MACHINE

Filed Dec. 14, 1962

Sheets-Sheet 1

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INVENTORS

2oSfXr rf. FOSFK _ ^BY Paw L. Anderson ^rroXNeys

March 31, 1964

3,127,027

R. A. ROSER ETAL

CAM FOR CARTON HANDLING MACHINE

Filed Dec. 14, 1962

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US3127027A_D0002.tif" />

March 31, 1964

3,127,027

R. A. ROSER ETAL

CAM FOR CARTON HANDLING MACHINE

<img file="US3127027A_D0003.tif" />

R. A. ROSER ETAL

3,127,027

CAM FOR CARTON HANDLING MACHINE

March 31, 1964

Filed Dec. 14, 1962

Sheets-Sheet 4

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INVENTORS

PoBS%7 4. KoSf>Z

BY Paul L. Akoerso>j

ArroxAiers

United States Patent Office

3,127,027

Patented Mar. 31, 1964

3,127,027

CAM FOR CARTON HANDLING MACHINE, Robert A. Roger, Hopkins, and Paul L. Anderson, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors io Thiele Engineering Company, Minneapolis, Mina., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Dec. 14,1962, Ser. No. 244,646

Claims. (CI. 214—1)

The present invention has relation to carton handling machinery and more particularly to a cam for use with a carton handling device utilized to move folded carton blanks from a storage rack to position wherein they will be set up.

In setting up carton blanks it has been found to be necessary to move individual carton blanks from a storage rack, rotate them approximately 90 degrees and also move them to a remote location. In order to do this in a continuous operation, various devices have been advanced. The devices are usually cam actuated. As the cam movement is complex the structures previously advanced have utilized springs and other aids to obtain proper function. Also, because a complex framework is involved, two matched cams, one on each side of the framework were necessary.

The cam made according to the present invention utilizes two parts which cooperate to give the desired amount of rotation and also transfer the carton blank to the desired location. The cam is operated without use of springs in a positive mechanical action.

With the device of the present invention, only one cam is necessary for the carton blank handling structure, thus eliminating much expensive machining and simplifying the device considerably. The cam is rugged, easy to manufacture, and does not rely on spring forces in any manner.

It is an object of the present invention to present a cam for operating carton blank handling equipment.

It is a further object of the present invention to present a cam which will actuate mechanism to move carton blanks from a stored position to a working position wherein the plane of the blank is rotated from its stored position.

It is a further object of the present invention to present a cam for carton processing machines which gives rotation and translation and which operates without the use of springs.

Other and further objects are those inherent in the invention herein illustrated, described, and claimed, and will become apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this invention then comprises features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

The invention is illustrated by reference to the drawings in which corresponding numerals refer to the same. parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a right side perspective view of a carton blank handling machine having a cam made according to the present invention installed thereon;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a cam device in FIG. 1 after the cam follower has started a work stroke;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of FIG. 2 as the cam follower is further moved;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton blank handling machine of FIG. 3 shown in carton delivering position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG.

IS as taken from the left side thereof and showing mechanism for operating the carton blank handling machine;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second form of a cam made according to the present invention corresponding in position to that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of FIG. 6 shown after the cam follower has traveled part of the way on its work stroke;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of FIG. 7 after the cam follower has traveled further in its work stroke; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 8 after it has moved further toward the blank delivering position.

Referring to the drawings and the numerals of reference thereon, a carton blank handling machine illustrated generally at 15 includes a chute 16 for holding a plurality of flat carton blanks 17. The chute 16 is supported from a main frame assembly 18 comprising two side members or plates 19 and 20, respectively, and supported on upright support rods 21 and 22 which are attached to the side members. The chute 16 is adjustably supported with blocks 23 so that the chute can be vertically slid along the support rods. In addition, braces 24 are utilized to transfer the load from the outer end portions of the chute into a cross rod 25 forming part of the main frame and extending between side members 19 and 20.

A guide rod 29 is positioned at the rear end of a chute and helps to support the carton blanks 17 upright and yet permits removal of the blanks from the chute.

A main cross shaft 3® is rotatably mounted between side plates 19 and 20 in suitable bearings 31. The main cross shaft 30 has two drive arms 32, 32 mounted thereon and extending upwardly therefrom. An auxiliary or second cross shaft 33 is rotatably mounted between the arms 32, 32 at an end thereof opposite from main cross shaft 30. Auxiliary cross shaft 33 has a plurality of vacuum conduit support arms or levers 34 adjustable clamped thereon. The support arms 34 have elongated slots 35 therein. A separate rigid vacuum conduit 36 is adjustably mounted in each of the support arms 34 through its respective slot 35 and is clamped thereto with suitable threadable means 37. Each of the rigid conduits 36 has a suction cup 38 at an outer end thereof. Also, a separate flexible conduit 41 is attached to each of the rigid conduits 36 and these lead to a vacuum manifold 42 which is mounted on a lever 43 that in turn is mounted to auxiliary shaft 33.

A main supply vacuum carrying conduit 44 is open to manifold 42 and is supported on an ear 45 which is fixed to frame side member 20. The main supply conduit 44 leads to a suitable source of vacuum pressure (not shown).

.Auxiliary cross shaft 33 has a cam actuator lever 46 drivably mounted thereon outside of one of the arms 32. The cam actuator lever 46 has a main cam· follower roller 47, which is rotatably mounted as -at 48 to an intermediate portion of the lever 46. In addition, an auxiliary cam follower roller 51 is rotatably mounted as at 52 to an outer end of the lever 46.

A cam block assembly 53 is mounted onto the inner surface of frame member 19 and has a main cam track 54 defined therein. The main cam track 54 is adapted to receive the main follower roller 47. However, auxiliary roller 51 is not mounted in the main cam track 54 and is free to move with respect to the cam plate or block 53.

An auxiliary cam block 56 having a provided receptacle 55 defined by an edge surface positioned at right angles to the plane of the cam block is mounted on cam plate or block 53 and is positioned spaced from the cam track 54. As will be further explained later the auxiliary cam re

3,127,027 ceptacle is adapted to receive the auxiliary roller 51 when the cam lever 46 is moved to proper position.

Referring specifically to FIG. 5, -it can be seen that an actuating lever 58 is drivably mounted to main shaft 3®. A connecting rod 59 is pivotally mounted as at 6·) to an outer end of lever 58 and is also pivotally mounted as at 61 to a crank arm 62. The crank arm 62 is drivably mounted to an output shaft 63 of an electric motor 64. The electric motor 64 is powered through suitable power means and as the motor shaft 63 rotates the crank arm 62 also rotates and causes the connecting rod 59 to move up and down. This in turn causes lever 58 to move up and down about the axis of shaft 30 in direction as indicated by double arrow 65. The lever 58 drives shaft 30 and this in turn moves arms 32 between positions shown in dotted lines at 66 and in dotted lines at 67 in FIG. 5. Dotted line position 66 corresponds to the solid line position 68 of lever 32 in FIG. 1 and the dotted line position 67 corresponds to the solid line position 69 of lever 32 in FIG. 4.

The action of the cam is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, as the arms 32 move between their two extreme positions. As can be seen in FIG. 1, with the arms 32 in their up position illustrated at 63 the suction cups 38 on the end of conduits 36 are against the end carton blank 17 in the chute 16. The vacuum acting through conduits 36 holds the carton blank tightly against the cups 38. As the arms 32 move to position as shown in FIG. 2, it can be seen that the main cam follower roller 47 follows the configuration of cam track 54 and as the arms move, the cups 38 pull one of the blanks 17 out of the chute 16. The roller leads a plane defined by the axis of shafts 30 and 33 in direction of movement. The cam 54 has a straight portion illustrated generally at 73. When the main roller 47 moves along this portion the auxiliary roller 51 moves in direction to enter the auxiliary cam. receptacle 55. As the lever 58 continues to move the arms 32 also continue to move in direction as indicated by arrow 74. The main cam follower roller then moves over a curved portion 75 of the cam track 54 and the auxiliary roller 51 enters the auxiliary receptacle 55. This causes the cam lever 46 to pivot about the axis of roller 51 as the pivotal axis of roller 47 approaches the plane defined by the axes of shafts 30 and 33. The axis of roller 47 passes through this plane or “goes over center” as the arms continue to move. Without the positive holding action of receptacle 55 on roller 51, the roller 47 could follow the track 54 without passing through the plane defined by the axes of shafts 39 and 33.

The holding action of receptacle 55 in turn causes the shaft 33 to rotate in direction as indicated by arrow 76 and the cups 38 move so that the plane defined by the edges thereof (or the flat blank held by the cups) moves toward a horizontal position.

As the arms 32 continue to move in direction as indicated by arrow 74 the auxiliary cam roller 51 moves out of the auxiliary receptacle 55 and the main cam roller 47 moves down along the lower portion 77 of the cam track 54. The main cam roller 47 is now trailing the plane defined by the axes of shafts 30 and 33. As can be seen in FIG. 3 the cups 38 move so that the blank carried thereby is moving toward horizontal position. As can be seen in FIG. 4 when the arms 32 are in their lowered position 69 the blank has been moved to the location desired and will be picked up by suitable mechanism for further processing. A rotary vacuum manifold 78 is mounted on shaft 3Θ and controls flow of vacuum through main conduit 44 when shaft 38 is moved so arms 32 are in their lowest position the vacuum is shut off and cups 38 no longer hold the blank. The blank is released where desired.

When the arms move in direction opposite from that indicated by arrow 74 the movement of the cam and lever is reversed. The roller 47 will again be leading the shaft 33 (and the plane defined by the axes of shafts 30 and

33) in direction of movement. The cam roller 51 will enter receptacle 55 and will cause the main cam roller to again pass through the plane defined by the axes of shafts 39 and 33, or in other words go over center with respect to the shafts 33 and 30, in opposite direction. This will cause the shaft 33 to rotate, thereby returning the cups 38 positively to their starting position against the stack of blanks 17 in chute 16.

The action of the cam is positive and there is no tendency for the main cam roller to follow the cam without the over center action. The auxiliary receptacle 55, which controls the auxiliary roller 51 causes this positive over center action and eliminates the springs previously needed in this type of device. Also the action of the cam is smooth, not affected by inertia and does not cause eccentric loads on the mechanism or twisting between the arms 32, 32. Therefore, only one cam block 53 is necessary, eliminating costs and expensive assembly operations. Also, the cam is well adapted for high speed operations.

In FIGS. 6 through 8, a cam made according to a second form of the present invention is illustrated. All of the structure is exactly the same except that the cam block and follower are different. The over center action between the main cam roller and the shafts 33 and 30 is positively accomplished with a different mechanism. As can be seen, the shaft 33 is rotatably mounted in arms 32 as in the first form of the invention. However, a modified lever 85 is utilized in place of the lever 46. A cam block 86 is also different from the cam block 53 in this form of the invention. The lever 85 is drivably mounted to the shaft 33 and has a main lobe 87 on which a main cam roller 88 is rotatably mounted, as at 89. The main cam roller follows a main cam track 90 defined in cam block 86. A pair of auxiliary lobes 91 and 92 respectively are integral with the lever 85. The auxiliary lobes 91 and 92 have auxiliary rollers 93 and 94 rotatably mounted thereon as at 95 and 96, respectively. A line drawn between the axes of rollers 93 and 94 is perpendicular to a line drawn between the axes of shaft 33 and roller 88.

The arms 32 in this form of the invention are driven in direction as indicated by arrow 100, by a crank arm, as in the first form of the invention. The shaft 33 also supports vacuum tube support arms 34 which have rigid conduits 36 and cups 38 mounted thereon for receiving blanks 17. The arms 32 and shaft 30 are driven as in the first form of the invention.

As the arm 32 move in direction as indicated by arrow 100 the main cam roller leads the plane defined by the axis of shafts 30 and 33. When the arms have moved to position as shown in FIG. 7 auxiliary roller 93 will start to contact an edge surface 101 of an auxiliary cam block 192 which is raised from the surface of main cam block 86. The edge surface 101 is engaged by roller 93 and this in turn causes shaft 33 to rotate in direction as indicated by arrow 103. As the arms 32 continue to move in direction as indicated by arrow 100 the main roller 88 is moved into a pocket 104 as shown in FIG. 8. The axis of the main cam roller 88 passes through the plane defined by the axes of shafts 39 and 33. As the arm 32 moves further the second auxiliary roller 94 contacts an edge surface 105 of the auxiliary block 102 and the roller 88 is pulled through a curved portion 106 of the cam track 90. The roller 88 is then trailing the plane defined by the axes of shafts 30 and 33. As can be seen in FIG. 9 the arms will then move to position holding the blank 17 in horizontal position and will place it in its desired location for further processing.

On the return stroke the arms 32 will move upwardly, the roller 88 is again leading the plane defined by the shaft axes and roller 94 will contact edge surface 195 of auxiliary block 102. This will force the lever 85 to go over center or again pass through the plane of the shaft axes when the pivots of shafts 33 and 30 and roller

3,127,027 ⁵ become aligned. As the arm 32 continues to move upwardly the roller S8 will follow track 90 along the upper portion 110 of the cam and will again be trailing the plane.

Thus the cam is controlled by the auxiliary rollers 93 5 and 94. The lever 85 is forced to go over center when the axes of roller 88 and shafts 33 and 30 are aligned during movement of arm 32 in either direction. When the arms are moving in direction as indicated by arrow 100 this is caused by roller 93 acting on edge surface 101 10 and when the arms are moving upwardly the over center action or tripping action is caused by the roller 94 acting on edge surface 105.

Thus it can be seen that both of cam follower levers of both forms of the invention have auxiliary cam means 15 for positively forcing the main cam lever over center when the pivot of the main cam roller, the pivot of the cam lever, and the pivot of a moving arm 32 go into a straight line. This over center action control is positive, efficient and operates smoothly at high speeds. For 20 example, the machine of the present invention utilizing cams as shown can opearte in the range of 90 to 120 cycles per minute without damage or excessive acceleration forces on the mechanism. The unit will operate for arm rotation up to 108 degrees. The over center action 25 of the mechanism gives the necessary rotation of the carton blanks and the arm movement provides translation or horizontal movement.

Use of only one cam block reduces the costs of the unit considerably and elimination of springs formerly neces- 30 sary to get the over center action also reduces cost and eliminates whipping caused by inertia in the spring and other inertia forces.

The cam action illustrated herein can be adapted to many different mechanisms for use in moving objects, such 35 as carton blanks, from one position to another and rotating them during the moving process. The setting up of carton blanks in particular is greatly aided by this mechanism.

As many widely apparently different embodiments of 40 this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the specific embodiments herein.