Adjustable carton feeder
A carton feeder has a plurality of suction-cup stations for engaging cartons. A valve mechanism which includes a rotating valve, a stationary valve and a change-over valve selectively applies vacuums to different ones of the plurality of suction-cup stations such that particular combinations of suction-cup stations can be activated or deactivated to engage particular sizes and styles of cartons. Changeover of the application of vacuum is accomplished by changing the alignment of vacuum apertures in the changeover valve and vacuum apertures in the stationary valve with respect to one another whereby a first alignment provides vacuum to a first combination of suction-cup stations and a second alignment provides vacuum to a second combination of suction-cup stations.
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/175,675, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,286 on Apr. 10, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to continuous-motion cartoning machines and, more particularly, relates to a carton feeder for such a machine wherein the feeder can be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of cartons.
Continuous-motion cartoning machines are useful for packaging multiple articles such as beverage cans in cartons or other packaging components. An example of a continuous-motion cartoning machine is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,806 to Ziegler et al.
Carton feeders are generally mechanisms in cartoning machines that engage a carton at a first location of the machine and place the carton at a second location of the machine. Usually the first location is a carton hopper from which the feeder removes the carton. The second location is usually downstream of the first location. An example of a feeder mechanism is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,385 to Calvert, which is owned by the same owner of the present invention, namely, The Mead Corporation.
A cartoning machine is more useful if it is able to package more than one size and style of carton. Thus, it can be appreciated that it would be useful to have a carton feeder that can be adjusted to accommodate more than one size and style of carton.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a carton feeder has a plurality of suction-cup stations for engaging cartons. A valve mechanism that includes a rotating valve, a stationary valve and a change-over valve selectively applies vacuums to different ones of the plurality of suction-cup stations such that particular combinations of suction-cup stations can be activated or deactivated to engage particular sizes and styles of cartons. Changeover of the application of vacuum is accomplished by changing the alignment of vacuum apertures in the changeover valve and vacuum apertures in the stationary valve with respect to another whereby a first alignment provides vacuum to a first combination of suction-cup stations and a second alignment provides vacuum to a second combination of suction-cup stations.
Other advantages and objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same or like features of the invention.
Referring first to
Reference is now particularly made to the adjustable carton feeder 20 illustrated in
Suction cups 212, 232, 252 mounted upon a plurality of suction-cup stations 214, 234, 254 of the feeder wheel assemblies 210, 230, 250 are the means by which the wheel assemblies 210, 230, 250 engage the surfaces of cartons C. A vacuum is applied to each suction-cup station 214, 234, 253 and its associated suction cups 212, 232, 252 through distinct vacuum tubes. Because the operation of each wheel assembly 210, 230, 250 is similar, the description of the invention will now focus upon the structure and operation of the first feeder wheel assembly 210. As can be seen from the drawings, the first feeder wheel assembly 210 is more simply configured than the second wheel assembly 230 and the third wheel assembly 250 although it operates in the same manner. In the preferred embodiment, the first wheel assembly 210 is simple because it contains fewer suction-cup stations 212.
Reference is now made to
The rotating valve 280 in turn receives its vacuum from a stationary valve 290 whose position is fixed relative to the rotational motion of the rotating valve 280. Referring now also to
Referring now particularly to
Now referring particularly to
Referring now particularly to
In operation, a vacuum tube through which a vacuum is drawn is connected to the vacuum port 226 of the changeover valve 220. A tube delivering air pressure is connected to the air port 299 of the stationary valve. When the valve assembly is joined as shown in
Alignment may be achieved by way of several typical means of alignment; however, in the preferred embodiment illustrated a pin placed through the alignment aperture 217 in the changeover valve 220 and seated one of the alignment apertures 218, 219.
The changeover valve permits distinct modes of vacuum application to be selected. In a first mode, in which all of the suction-cup stations 262, 264, 266, 268 are enabled to draw vacuums the alignment aperture 217 is fixed in alignment with the pin-receiving aperture 219 which is closest to the vacuum apertures 292, 294. In this alignment, the inner vacuum aperture 222 (and end of the vacuum notch 225) of the changeover valve is in direct alignment with the inner aperture 292 of the stationary valve 290. In addition, in this first mode/position, the outer aperture 224 of the changeover valve 220 is in direct alignment with the outer aperture 294 of the stationary valve 290. In this alignment, vacuum is drawn through both of the vacuum apertures 292, 294 of the stationary valve 290 and, in turn, also through both of the arcuate vacuum grooves 291, 293. As previously discussed above, the rotating valve 280 rotates in the direction 201 with respect to the stationary valve 290 such that the inner (first) apertures 284, 288 and outer (second) apertures 282, 296 travel the counter-clockwise annular path of the respective arcuate vacuum grooves 291, 293. It is to be again noted that the direction arrow 201 in
As the apertures 284/288, 282/286 travel circumferentially along the path of the respective arcuate grooves 291, 293 vacuum is drawn through those apertures and ultimately through the respective ports 274/278, 272,276 and respective suction-cup stations 264/268, 262/266. In this manner the suction cups of each one of the suction-cup stations draw vacuum during a designated period (that is, the time each one of the apertures 282, 284, 286, 288 travels along the arcuate groove 291, 293 with which it is radially aligned). Each aperture 282, 284, 286, 288 draws a vacuum through the suction cups 212 of a corresponding suction-cup station 262, 264, 266, 268. Because of the angular separation of the apertures 282, 284, 286, 288 with respect to one another each suction-cup station begins to draw vacuum and discontinues the vacuum in sequence. As each aperture 282, 284, 286, 288 leaves its corresponding arcuate groove 291, 293, the vacuum is discontinued. To ensure that the vacuum is discontinued and that the carton C drawn to the suction cups is released, positive air pressure (that is, in comparison to the negative flow of a vacuum) is passed from the air cavity 295 through the apertures 282, 284, 286, 288 to the suction cups 212, thereby breaking the seal between an engaged carton C and the suction cups 212.
The vacuum-activation of all of the suction-cup stations is suitable in the preferred embodiment for feeding of cartons C of small configuration wherein one carton C is engaged by each suction-cup station. When it is necessary to feed larger cartons that extend over two adjacent suction-cup stations, such as stations 284 with 286, and 288 with 282, it is necessary to disable one of the adjacent stations so that a carton which extends over two adjacent stations can be properly released without the trailing suction-cup still engaging the carton when it should be released. The ability to selectively disable (from suction) alternating suction-cup stations is made possible by the angular displacement of the vacuum apertures 282, 284, 286, 288 with respect to one another and the radial offset of alternating ones of the vacuum apertures 282, 284, 286, 288. That is, one set of apertures (the inner apertures 284, 288 in the preferred embodiment) is always connected to vacuum (as will be explained below) while the other set of apertures (the outer apertures 282, 286 in the preferred embodiment) can be selectively enabled and disabled.
To disable the outer set of vacuum apertures 282, 286 and their associated suction-cup stations 262, 266, the changeover valve 220 is moved to a position with respect to the stationary valve 290 wherein the alignment aperture 217 is aligned with the pin-receiving aperture 218 which is farthest from the stationary valve vacuum apertures 292, 294. In this alternative, disabling alignment, the non-apertured end of the vacuum notch 225 is aligned over the inner vacuum aperture 292 of the stationary valve 290 whereby a vacuum continues to travel from the vacuum port 226, through the aperture 222, along the vacuum notch 225 and along the inner (first) arcuate groove 291. On the other hand, the outer vacuum aperture 294 of the stationary valve is in direct alignment with vent aperture 227 of the changeover valve such that the outer (second) arcuate groove 293 of the stationary valve 290 [and ultimately the outer (second set of) apertures 282, 286 of the rotating valve 280 and suction-cup stations denoted by numerals 262, 266] are vented to the atmosphere, thereby disabling the suction cups 212 at the stations denoted by numerals 262, 266.
Modifications may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. For example, although the invention has been described in the context of having apertures and vacuum grooves disposed at two radii, the teachings of the invention contemplate a distribution of apertures and corresponding vacuum grooves at multiple radii. Thus, the multiple may not only be two, but may be three or higher multiples.
Claims
1. A valve mechanism comprising:
- a rotating valve rotatable about an axis including a rotating-valve body defining a perimeter, said rotating-valve body having a plurality of rotating-valve bores radially disposed therein for fluid flow therethrough, said plurality of rotating-valve bores respectively terminating at first ends in a series of rotating-valve ports spaced around said perimeter and respectively terminating at second ends in a plurality of rotating-valve apertures radially disposed in a first valve face of said rotating-valve body over a plurality of radii from said axis;
- a stationary valve including a stationary-valve body having a second valve face disposed in contacting relationship with said first valve face of said rotating valve such that said rotating valve is coaxially rotatable with respect to said stationary valve, having a plurality of arcuate grooves inscribed in said second valve face at radii corresponding to and in alignment with said plurality of rotating-valve apertures, a stationary-valve bore extending from each of said arcuate grooves terminating in a stationary-valve aperture in a third valve face opposing said second valve face, a fluid cavity inscribed in said second valve face in arcuate radial alignment with and spaced apart from said plurality of arcuate grooves in fluid-flow communication with a stationary valve port in said stationary-valve body; and
- a changeover valve including a changeover valve body having a fourth valve face disposed in contacting relationship with said third valve face of said stationary valve such that orientation of said fourth valve face with respect to said third valve face is adjustable through a plurality of selective orientations, having a plurality of fluid passageways each terminating at a first end at an orifice for receiving a first source of fluid pressure and terminating at respective second ends in a plurality of changeover-valve apertures disposed in said fourth face so as to be correspondingly aligned with all of said stationary-valve apertures in a first one of said selective orientations, having a fluid-passageway notch inscribed in said fourth valve face extending from at least one of said changeover-valve apertures to a remote region distal said changeover-valve aperture and at least one vent passageway have a first end terminating at a second source of fluid pressure and having a second end terminating in said fourth face at a vent aperture wherein said remote region of said fluid-passageway notch and said vent aperture are aligned with said stationary valve apertures in an alternate one of said selective orientations,
- wherein fluid pressure from said source of fluid pressure is ultimately applied to all of said rotating-valve ports when said orientation of said fourth valve face with respect to said third valve is in said first one of said selective orientations, and
- wherein fluid pressure from said source of fluid pressure is ultimately applied to at least one predetermined one of said rotating valve ports and at least one of said rotating-valve ports is in fluid-flow communication with said second source of fluid pressure equal to or greater than atmospheric pressure when said orientation of said fourth valve face with respect to said third valve face is in said alternate one of said selective orientations.
2. The valve mechanism of claim 1, wherein said plurality of radii comprise two radii.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 9, 2001
Publication Date: Feb 17, 2005
Inventors: Johnny Hunter (Woodstock, GA), Will Culpepper (Covington, GA)
Application Number: 09/828,736