Carton handling apparatus

Claim 2

In apparatus for handling cartons, in combination, an upright magazine having a short vertical stack of cartons from which successive lowermost cartons are withdrawn, a reservoir of cartons arranged on edge adjacent said magazine, and means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the top and bottom edges of the cartons for transferring cartons from said reservoir into said magazine to replenish those withdrawn therefrom.

Claim 3

In apparatus for handling cartons, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartoNs, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, and means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the top and bottom edges of the cartons for transferring cartons from said reservoir to said upright magazine to replenish those withdrawn therefrom.

Claim 4

In apparatus for handling cartons, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartoNs, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, and means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the top and bottom edges of the cartons for transferring cartons from said reservoir to said upright magazine to replenish those withdrawn therefrom.

Claim 5

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, and means for transferring cartons from said reservoir to said upright magazine including means engageable with the top and bottom edges of the cartons comprising upper and lower driven belts for advancing and releasing successive foremost cartons to fall by gravity from an upright to a horizontal position into the upper end of said upright magazine.

Claim 6

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, and means for transferring cartons from said reservoir to said upright magazine including means engageable with the top and bottom edges of the cartons comprising upper and lower driven belts for advancing and releasing successive foremost cartons to fall by gravity from an upright to a horizontal position into the upper end of said upright magazine.

Claim 7

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons from which successive lowermost cartons are withdrawn, a substantially horizontal magazine supporting a supply of cartons on edge, and means for transferring cartons from the supply to the upright magazine comprising means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the top and bottom edges of the cartons for advancing the cartons in the supply, and means for releasing the top edges of successive endmost cartons from the supply to fall fanwise into the upper end of said upright magazine.

Claim 8

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons from which successive lowermost cartons are withdrawn, a substantially horizontal magazine supporting a supply of cartons on edge, and means for transferring cartons from the supply to the upright magazine comprising means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the top and bottom edges of the cartons for advancing the cartons in the supply, and means for releasing the top edges of successive endmost cartons from the supply to fall fanwise into the upper end of said upright magazine.

Claim 9

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons from which successive lowermost cartons are withdrawn, an elongated inclined magazine supporting a reservoir of cartons on edge, means for transferring cartons from the reservoir to the upright magazine comprising means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the upper and lower edges of the cartons for advancing and releasing successive cartons in the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, and means for controlling said transfer operation including means for engaging and disengaging the upper driven belts to maintain a substantially constant supply of cartons in said upright magazine.

Claim 10

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons from which successive lowermost cartons are withdrawn, an elongated inclined magazine supporting a reservoir of cartons on edge, means for transferring cartons from the reservoir to the upright magazine comprising means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the upper and lower edges of the cartons for advancing and releasing successive cartons in the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, and means for controlling said transfer operation including means for engaging and disengaging the upper driven belts to maintain a substantially constant supply of cartons in said upright magazine.

Claim 11

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the upper and lower edges of the cartons for transferring cartons from said reservoir to said upright magazine, and control means including means for detecting partial depletion of the cartons in said upright magazine, and means responsive to said detecting means for initiating operation of said transfer means.

Claim 12

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the upper and lower edges of the cartons for transferring cartons from said reservoir to said upright magazine, and control means including means for detecting partial depletion of the cartons in said upright magazine, and means responsive to said detecting means for initiating operation of said transfer means.

Claim 13

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the upper and lower edges of the cartons for advancing and releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, and control means including means for detecting a partial depletion of the cartons in said upright magazine, and means responsive to said detecting means for initiating operation of said advancing and releasing means.

Claim 14

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the upper and lower edges of the cartons for advancing and releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, and control means including means for detecting a partial depletion of the cartons in said upright magazine, and means responsive to said detecting means for initiating operation of said advancing and releasing means.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the detecting means includes a photoelectric cell disposed a short distance below a nominal height of said vertical stack.

Claim 16

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successivE lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, means for advancing and releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, and control means including means for detecting a partial depletion of the cartons in said upright magazine, and means responsive to said detecting means for initiating operation of said advancing and releasing means, said advancing means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the corresponding edges of the cartons at the forward end of said inclined magazine.

Claim 17

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successivE lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, means for advancing and releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, and control means including means for detecting a partial depletion of the cartons in said upright magazine, and means responsive to said detecting means for initiating operation of said advancing and releasing means, said advancing means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the corresponding edges of the cartons at the forward end of said inclined magazine.

Claim 18

Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the advancing means further includes an electrical circuit having a motor for driving said upper and lower belts, said control means further including means for limiting the operation of said advancing means.

Claim 19

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said control means further includes means for periodically barring release of cartons from the reservoir and for operating said advancing belts for a short time to reorganize in contiguous relation the group of cartons at the forward end of the reservoir whereby to maintain a uniform release during a succeeding transfer operation.

Claim 20

Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the barring means includes barriers mounted to rock into and out of engagement with the front of the reservoir of cartons.

Claim 21

Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein provision is made for lifting said upper belts out of engagement with the upper edges of the cartons during the reorganizing operation.

Claim 22

Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the control means includes provision for effecting a reorganizing operation after each transfer operation.

Claim 23

Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein provision is made for operating the transfer means at a rate substantially faster than the rate of withdrawal from the upright magazine.

Claim 24

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons from which successive lowermost cartons are withdrawn, an elongated inclined magazine supporting a reservoir of cartons on edge, a weighted follower engaging the rear of said reservoir, means for transferring cartons from the reservoir to the upright magazine comprising means for advancing and releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, means for controlling said transfer operation to maintain a substantially constant supply of cartons in said upright conveyer, and means for periodically reorganizing in contiguous relation the group of cartons at the forward end of the reservoir whereby to maintain a uniform release during a succeeding transfer operation.

Claim 25

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons from which successive lowermost cartons are withdrawn, an elongated inclined magazine supporting a reservoir of cartons on edge, a weighted follower engaging the rear of said reservoir, means for transferring cartons from the reservoir to the upright magazine comprising means for advancing and releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, means for controlling said transfer operation to maintain a substantially constant supply of cartons in said upright conveyer, and means for periodically reorganizing in contiguous relation the group of cartons at the forward end of the reservoir whereby to maintain a uniform release during a succeeding transfer operation.

Claim 26

Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the control means includes an electrical circuit having a timing motor provided with a one revolution cam shaft, a plurality of microswitches in said circuit, and cams on said shaft for cooperation with said switches to effect said transfer and reorganizing operations.

Claim 27

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the upper and lower edges of the cartons for advancing and releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, control means including means for detecting a partial depletion of the cartons in said upright magazine, means responsive to said detecting means for initiating operation of said advancing and releasing means, and means operative after each transferring operation for reorganizing in contiguous relation the cartons at the forward end of the reservoir, said last named means including means for barring forward movement of the leading end of the reservoir.

Claim 28

In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the upper and lower edges of the cartons for advancing and releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, control means including means for detecting a partial depletion of the cartons in said upright magazine, means responsive to said detecting means for initiating operation of said advancing and releasing means, and means operative after each transferring operation for reorganizing in contiguous relation the cartons at the forward end of the reservoir, said last named means including means for barring forward movement of the leading end of the reservoir.

Claim 29

IN apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, means for advancing and releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, said advancing means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the corresponding edges of the cartons at the forward end of said inclined magazine, the lower belts extending forwardly of said upper belts whereby the upper edges of the cartons are first released to permit pivoting of the lower edges of the cartons on the lower belts to fall forwardly into said upright magazine.

Claim 30

IN apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, means for advancing and releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, said advancing means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the corresponding edges of the cartons at the forward end of said inclined magazine, the lower belts extending forwardly of said upper belts whereby the upper edges of the cartons are first released to permit pivoting of the lower edges of the cartons on the lower belts to fall forwardly into said upright magazine.