Untimed mechanical transfer means for right angle folding machines

Claim 2

An untimed, right-angular paper box blank folding machine having a first flap-folding section, a second flap-folding section at right angles to said first section, and a blank transfer zone at the junction of said sections, said machine characterized by pressure roll means having a nip extending transversely of said first section, just in advance of said transfer zone, for advancing each successive blank, received from said first section, into said transfer zone while firmly gripping said blank to prevent lateral shift thereof until the trailing edge of said blank is released by said nip, and a plurality of individual, resilient means, mounted along the side of said transfer zone opposite to said second flap-folding section, in the path of the adjacent side edge portion of each blank so advanced into said zone, said means jointly flicking said blank sidewise into said second section upon release of said blank by said nip.

Claim 3

A machine as specified in claim 1, wherein each said resilient means is a leaf spring.

Claim 4

A machine as specified in claim 1, wherein said plurality of individual resilient means comprises a row of individual leaf springs normally in parallelism and obliqued at an angle of about 45* to the path of blanks advancing into said transfer zone.

Claim 5

A machine as specified in claim 1, wherein each said individual resilient means is a leaf spring having a base firmly anchored on said apparatus, alongside the path of a blank advancing into said transfer zone, and having a free terminal portion extending into said path, said free portion having a predetermined coefficient of elasticity insufficient to damage the leading edge of a blank when distorted by the passage thereof, but sufficient, when jointly and simultaneously released from such distortion, to shift said blank laterally partially out of said path.

Claim 6

A machine as specified in claim 1, wherein said pressure roll means comprises an upper and lower roll and drive mechanism operably connected to at least one said roll, said drive mechanism being independent of the drive of said machine for rotating said rolls at a predetermined speed to impart a predetermined propelling force to each blank advanced thereby into said transfer zone even when said machine is being slowly operated or inched.

Claim 7

A machine as specified in claim 1, plus: a friction roll extending transversely of said first flap-folding section, within said transfer zone just in rear of said pressure nip, said roll having its upper face at a level slightly above the level of said nip to elevate the trailing edge of a blank, discharged from said nip and moving laterally in said zone, while guiding the leading edge of the next successive blank under said trailing edge into overlapped position.

Claim 8

A machine as specified in claim 1, wherein said pressure roll means includes an upper and a lower roll forming said nip and a friction roll in rear of said nip, having its upper face slightly above the level of said nip, drive mechanism, independent of the drive of said machine for rotating said rolls at a predetermined speed, and an overrunning clutch in said drive mechanism for permitting said rolls to pass without damage blanks advanced thereinto by said first flap-folding section at greater than said predetermined speed.

Claim 9

A machine as specified in claim 1, plus a register bar extending transversely of said transfer zone in the path of the leading edge of each blank advanced into said zone, said bar being spaced a predetermined distance from said nip slightly greater than the length of a blank and free of protuberances to serve as a side edge guide leading to said second flap-folding section.

Claim 10

A machine as specified in claim 1, plus a pair of upper and lower guides extending in parallelism along the said side of said transfer zone opposite to said second flap-folding section, said guides being spaced apart to form an elongated slot therebetween for slidably receiving the adjacent side edge portion of each blank so advanced into said transfer zone, said slot being positioned to guide the edge of each blank into the central portion of said resilient means to prevent vertical deflection of said blank.

Claim 11

A machine as specified in claim 1, wherein said pressure roll means comprises an upper and lower roll forming said nip, said nip being at a predetermined level, and a friction roll extending transversely of said first flap-folding section, within said transfer zone, just in rear of said pressure nip, said element having its upper face at a level slightly above the level of said nip to elevate the trailing edge of a blank discharged from said nip, thereby permitting the leading edge of the next blank to shingle thereunder.

Claim 12

A machine as specified in claim 10, wherein said upper roll includes a longitudinally grooved surface arranged to receive the trailing edge of each successive blank discharged from said nip and guide the same as the blank travels sidewise into said second section, under the influence of said resilient means.

Claim 13

In a right-angular paper box folding machine of the type having a first flap-folding section extending along a first path, a transfer zone at the terminus of said first path and a second flap-folding section extending from said transfer zone in a second path at right angles to said first path, the combination of: automatic, untimed, transfer apparatus in said transfer zone for laterally shifting folded paper box blanks from said first path into said second path, said apparatus comprising a pair of driven pressure rolls forming a pressure nip extending transversely of said first path, just in advance of said transfer section, said rolls restraining each successive blank from lateral movement out of said first path until the trailing edge of the blank has emerged from said nip, and a plurality of individually resilient members spaced along said transfer zone on the side thereof opposite to said second path, said members being normally in the path of the adjacent side edge portion of each blank advanced into said zone by said pressure roll nip and arranged to be individually and successively distorted thereby with a predetermined, relatively light, resistance to passage of said blank, said distorted resilient members jointly recovering the normal shape thereof, and propelling said blank transversely of said path into said second path, upon the release of the trailing edge thereof by said pressure nip.

Claim 14

In a right-angular paper box folding machine of the type having a first flap-folding section extending along a first path, a transfer zone at the terminus of said first path and a second flap-folding section extending from said transfer zone in a second path at right angles to said first path, the combination of: automatic, untimed, transfer apparatus in said transfer zone for laterally shifting folded paper box blanks from said first path into said second path, said apparatus comprising a pair of driven pressure rolls forming a pressure nip extending transversely of said first path, just in advance of said transfer section, said rolls restraining each successive blank from lateral movement out of said first path until the trailing edge of the blank has emerged from said nip, and a plurality of individually resilient members spaced along said transfer zone on the side thereof opposite to said second path, said members being normally in the path of the adjacent side edge portion of each blank advanced into said zone by said pressure roll nip and arranged to be individually and successively distorted thereby with a predetermined, relatively light, resistance to passage of said blank, said distorted resilient members jointly recovering the normal shape thereof, and propelling said blank transversely of said path into said second path, upon the release of the trailing edge thereof by said pressure nip.

Claim 15

The untimed method of laterally shifting flat paperboard blanks, advancing individually and successively along a first path, into a second path at right angles to said first path by means of a row of independent, yieldable, resilient members, said method comprising the steps of: successively feeding each blank along said first path into a position opposite said second path, while holding said blank against lateral movement out of said first path, and while individually and successively engaging the side edge of said blank opposite to said second path with said members to distort said members into spring biased condition, and then releasing said blank to free lateral movement in the direction of said second path, thereby releasing said members to flick said blank laterally into said second path.

Claim 16

The untimed method of laterally shifting flat paperboard blanks, advancing individually and successively along a first path, into a second path at right angles to said first path by means of a row of independent, yieldable, resilient members, said method comprising the steps of: successively feeding each blank along said first path into a position opposite said second path, while holding said blank against lateral movement out of said first path, and while individually and successively engaging the side edge of said blank opposite to said second path with said members to distort said members into spring biased condition, and then releasing said blank to free lateral movement in the direction of said second path, thereby releasing said members to flick said blank laterally into said second path.