Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
The present invention relates to a two piece pin and sleeve stripping system. In particular, this invention relates to stripping system that utilizes a concentrated stream of air to remove a folding carton or envelope waste material from a two piece pin that is mounted to a rotating separating cylinder.
In manufacturing folding cartons, envelopes or other similar items from a sheet or web, a waste product or skeleton is typically produced. Generally, a sheet is first cut into a blank, which is the pattern of the folding carton, envelope or other desired pattern using a die or other type of cutting device. After the blank is cut, a skeleton remains surrounding the blank or within the blank if a window portion is incorporated into the folding carton. To separate the skeleton from the blank using the devices of the prior art, both the skeleton and blank are fed into a separating mechanism. The separating mechanism typically includes an upper and a lower cylinder, with the lower cylinder having a plurality of two-piece pin and sleeve assemblies that extend therefrom. Each of the pin and sleeve assemblies include a pin with a sleeve slidably coupled thereto. As the skeleton is fed between the cylinders, the pins are arranged so they penetrate and couple the skeleton to the lower cylinder while the folding carton blank continues through the manufacturing process. The skeleton is removed from the lower cylinder by sliding the sleeve over the pin to force the skeleton from the pin.
Currently, different types of mechanisms have been used to slide the sleeve over the pin to remove the waste material from the pin. For instance, the sleeves may be slid over the pin through the use of magnetic force. Specifically, a magnet is mounted within the stripping device and uses its magnetic polarity to slide the sleeve over the pin. Using a magnet to remove the waste from the pin also suffers from a number of drawbacks. In particular, the magnets are sometimes heavy and difficult to mount within the cylinders of the stripping mechanism.
Further included in the current carton and envelope manufacturing processes are assemblies which transfer the blank and skeleton from the cutting mechanism to the separating mechanism. In some instances, the assembly is a guide roller assembly by which the blank and skeleton are moved or slid along a support plate by rollers. There is a danger in utilizing such a system that the blank and skeleton will not be moved precisely together, thereby not remaining in registration with one another. If the relative positioning of the blank and the skeleton are thus altered, there is a chance that the pins of the stripping device may inadvertently pierce, and thereby destroy, the blank instead of or in addition to piercing the skeleton.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a stripping system that will efficiently remove waste material from the pins of a two piece pin and sleeve assembly. The present invention fills this need, as well as various other needs.
In order to overcome the above-stated problems and limitations, and to achieve the noted objects, there is provided a device for separating and stripping waste material from a blank during a carton or envelope manufacturing process.
In general, the device includes first and second separating cylinders. At least one pin and sleeve assembly is coupled to the second separating cylinder and includes a sleeve slidably coupled with a pin. Further, a tube or hollow bar having first and second ends is coupled to the second separating cylinder and has at least one slot formed therein. This tube may extend within an interior portion of the second separating cylinder and may extend across a substantial length thereof. Further, the slots may be generally aligned with the pin and sleeve assembly. In stripping the waste material from the blank, the pin is used to couple the waste material to the second separating cylinder. A fluid such as compressed air is then forced into first and second ends of the tube and proceeds to flow out of the slot to slide the sleeve over the pin. The sleeve thus operates to strip the waste material from the pin.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views:
Referring now to the drawings in detail, and initially to
As best seen in
Dies 14, 16 are generally used to cut the sheet or web into the blank or shape of the folding carton, envelope, or other desired product. In particular, male die 14 includes a raised peripheral portion 30 arranged in the shape of the desired blank. Female die 16 has a corresponding raised portion which extends from its surface and includes a medial channel therewithin, which medial channel is adapted to receive raised portion 30 when the two dies 14, 16 converge to cut the blank. In use, when the sheet passes between dies 14, 16, the desired blank is cut into the sheet as the peripheral portion 30 of die 14 is received in the corresponding medial channel of die 16.
Positioned between the cutting mechanism 12 and the separating mechanism 10 is intermediate guide assembly 18 which is adapted to support the blank and skeleton as they advance therebetween. Guide assembly 18 is best seen by reference to FIG. 7. Guide assembly 18 can be any suitable conveyor system which typically includes a transport surface 32 mounted to housing 26 by any suitable means. Guide assembly 18 can further include a plurality of longitudinally spaced conveyor belts or a plurality of guide rollers which transport the blank and skeleton from the cutting mechanism 12 to the separating mechanism 10, while keeping the blank and skeleton in registration with one another.
In operation, the blank and the skeleton advance from cutting mechanism 12 toward separating mechanism 10 by means of intermediate guide assembly 18. The blank and skeleton are retained firmly in place on the transport surface 32, and move in registration with each other, assuring that they will be properly positioned when they reach separation mechanism 10, the importance of which will be discussed below.
As best seen in
Referring now to
As best seen in
Pin 68 is positioned within base 64 and is sized so that there is a cylindrical channel formed between pin 68 and base 64 to allow sleeve 70 to fit slidably therebetween. An upper portion 86 of pin 68 extends beyond outer surface 78 of bottom separating cylinder 48 and includes a pointed end 88. Pointed end 88 is used to penetrate the waste material produced in the folding carton or envelope manufacturing process and couple the waste material to pin and sleeve assembly 60. A rod 90 is secured within channels 82, 84 and is used to fixedly position pin 68 relative to base 64.
Sleeve 70 is slidably mounted between base 64 and pin 68 and may be selectively moved between retracted and extended positions to selectively couple or release the waste material from upper portion 86 of pin 68. In particular, an elongated slot 92 is formed in sleeve 70 and includes a forward edge 94 and a rear edge 96. Rod 90 is positioned transversely through slot 92, thereby allowing sleeve 70 to slide outwardly to the extended position only to a point where rod 90 comes into contact with rear edge 96. Further, sleeve 70 may slide inwardly towards interior portion 54 of bottom separating cylinder 48 to the retracted position only to a point where rod 90 comes into contact with forward edge 94. In addition, sleeve 70 includes a closed bottom end 114.
As best seen in
With reference to
In operation, a web or sheet is first fed through and cut by cutting mechanism 12. Specifically, bottom roll 24 is rotated in a clockwise direction by a main drive gear, not shown, which is in turn rotated by a power source. As bottom roll is rotated, the splines 28 on top and bottom rolls 22, 24 engage each other, and top roll 22 is thereby rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The rotation of top and bottom rolls 22,24 operates to feed the web or sheet therebetween, and as the dies 14, 16 come into contact with each other, the sheet is cut by the action of raised peripheral portion 30 and the corresponding medial channel of die 16, thereby forming the desired blank and the skeleton or waste product. As stated above, the skeleton may surround the blank, or may also be located within the blank if a window portion is to be formed in the blank. It is understood that in certain circumstances, the skeleton may be located solely within the blank. It is further understood that bottom roll 24 could be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, thereby causing top roll 22 to rotate in a clockwise direction.
The intermediate guide assembly 18 retains the blank and skeleton in registration with one another as they advance between cutting mechanism 12 and the separating mechanism 10. Specifically, the blank and the skeleton advance from cutting mechanism 12 toward separating mechanism 10 by means of the conveyor system of guide assembly 18, assuring that they will be properly positioned when they reach separation mechanism 10. It is critical that the blank and skeleton are in proper registration so that when they reach the pin assembly 60, the precisely positioned pins 68 pierce the skeleton only, and not any portion of the blank. If the blank and skeleton do not move together, there is a chance not only that the skeleton may fail to be removed, but also that the blank may be pierced by pins 68 and consequently ruined.
The blank and skeleton are then fed into separating mechanism 10. Bottom separating cylinder 48 may rotated in a clockwise direction by the same main drive gear that rotates the top and bottom rolls 22, 24 in cutting mechanism 12. Splines 52 on cylinders 46,48 engage each other, and top separating cylinder 46 is thereby rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The rotation of top and bottom separating cylinders 46, 48 operates to advance the blank and skeleton therebetween. One or more pin tips 88 then pierce the skeleton adjacent the region at which the cylinders 46, 48 are closest together. Specifically, as best seen in
With reference to
As best seen in
Sleeve 70 remains in the extended position after waste material is removed from bottom separating cylinder 48 due to gravity. Bottom separating cylinder 48 continues to rotate in a clockwise direction, and as the pin and sleeve assembly 60 having an extended sleeve approaches top separating cylinder 46, the force of gravity causes such extended sleeve 70 to slide into the retracted position, wherein rod 90 is in contact with forward edge 94 of sleeve 70. Thus, upper portion 86 of pin 68 is exposed and in a position to penetrate and couple the waste material to bottom separating cylinder 48.
It can, therefore, be seen that the invention is one that is designed to utilize a concentrated stream of compressed air or other suitable fluid to move the sleeve of a two-piece pin and sleeve assembly from a retracted position to an extended position, whereby the waste material is stripped from the pin and thus removed from the bottom separating cylinder.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto, since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3266388 | Jones | Aug 1966 | A |
3671033 | Coast | Jun 1972 | A |
3877353 | Smith et al. | Apr 1975 | A |
4705152 | Linker et al. | Nov 1987 | A |
5087237 | Nunley | Feb 1992 | A |
5108358 | Mounce | Apr 1992 | A |
5154689 | Modoux et al. | Oct 1992 | A |
5300009 | Bittenbender | Apr 1994 | A |
5895584 | Sakota | Apr 1999 | A |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20040110620 A1 | Jun 2004 | US |