Turning apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for turning substantially flat and rigid work pieces through an angle of approximately 90* comprising: a blank transporting conveyor means operable at a first velocity to transport said blank in a predetermined direction, means forming a single first blank engaging nip substantially stationary with respect to movement in said direction and cooperating with said conveyor to maintain one portion of an engaged blank at said first velocity, said means forming said first blank engaging nip comprising said conveyor and a first idler disk cooperating with said conveyor, and means forming a single second blank engaging nip, also substantially stationary with respect to movement in said direction and positioned laterally of said first nip and adjacent said conveyor for driving a second portion of said blank at a second velocity in order to turn said blank through an angle of approximately 90*, said means forming said second blank engaging nip comprising a driven disk and a second idler disk cooperating with the driven disk.

Claim 3

Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means for feeding blanks onto said conveyor means with a side edGe portion projecting beyond said conveyor means, said second nip being in the path of said projecting side edge portion.

Claim 4

Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for varying the distance between the adjacent nips to permit adjustment of the turning angle of said blanks.

Claim 5

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first idler disk is freely mounted on a first shaft above said conveyor means to form a nip between said first idler disk and said conveyor means.

Claim 6

Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said driven disk is secured to said first shaft and said second idler disk is freely mounted on a second shaft parallel to said first shaft, the second idler disk being positioned below said driven disk and adjacent said conveyor.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first free-wheeling disk and said driven disk are mounted upon a common first shaft located above and transverse to said conveyor.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said first free-wheeling disk rotates with respect to said first shaft and said driven disk is secured to said shaft to receive driving force therefrom.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said second free-wheeling disk is mounted on a conveyor shaft means parallel to said common first shaft and beneath said first shaft and said conveyor for supporting said second free-wheeling disk in a nip-forming position with respect to said driven disk.

Claim 10

Apparatus as in claim 1 including magazine means located at a discharge end of said conveyor for receiving the turned blanks.

Claim 11

Apparatus for turning a substantially flat rigid carton blank through an angle of approximately 90* comprising a blank transporting belt conveyor means operable to transport a blank at a first velocity in a direction toward a discharge end of said conveyor, said discharge end including a belt supporting pulley rotatable about a first axis, said belt moving in said direction toward said pulley, then around said pulley and in a generally opposite direction, a first freewheeling disk mounted on a second axis located above and parallel to said first axis, said first disk forming a first nip with said conveyor belt for engaging and maintaining a portion of said blank at said first velocity, said first nip being substantially stationary with respect to movement in said direction, a freewheeling second disk mounted on said first axis adjacent said conveyor belt, a driven third disk mounted on said second axis directly above said second disk, and forming with said second disk a second nip spaced laterally of said first nip for engaging and driving an outwardly extending second portion of said blank at a second velocity greater than said first velocity in order to turn said blank, said second nip being substantially stationary with respect to movement in said direction, and the relationship between said first and second velocities and the spacing apart of said nips being adjusted to turn said blank through an angle of approximately 90*.

Claim 12

Apparatus for turning a substantially flat rigid carton blank through an angle of approximately 90* comprising a blank transporting belt conveyor means operable to transport a blank at a first velocity in a direction toward a discharge end of said conveyor, said discharge end including a belt supporting pulley rotatable about a first axis, said belt moving in said direction toward said pulley, then around said pulley and in a generally opposite direction, a first freewheeling disk mounted on a second axis located above and parallel to said first axis, said first disk forming a first nip with said conveyor belt for engaging and maintaining a portion of said blank at said first velocity, said first nip being substantially stationary with respect to movement in said direction, a freewheeling second disk mounted on said first axis adjacent said conveyor belt, a driven third disk mounted on said second axis directly above said second disk, and forming with said second disk a second nip spaced laterally of said first nip for engaging and driving an outwardly extending second portion of said blank at a second velocity greater than said first velocity in order to turn said blank, said second nip being substantially stationary with respect to movement in said direction, and the relationship between said first and second velocities and the spacing apart of said nips being adjusted to turn said blank through an angle of approximately 90*.

Claim 13

Apparatus for turning a substantially flat rigid carton blank through an angle of approximately 90* comprising: a blank transporting conveyor means operable to transport a blank of a first velocity in a first direction, a portion of said blank extending outwardly of said conveyor, a first axis of rotation location located above and generally transverse to said conveyor, a first disk freewheeling about said axis above said conveyor and forming with said conveyor a first blank engaging nip for engaging and maintaining a second portion of said blank at said first velocity, said nip being substantially stationary with respect to movement in said first direction, a second disk on said axis, said disk being connected to a rotatable driving source driving said disk at a peripheral velocity different from said first velocity, a second axis of rotation located below and generally transverse to said conveyor, a third disk freewheeling about said second axis and foRming with said second disk a second blank engaging nip for engaging and maintaining said outwardly extending portion of said blank at said peripheral velocity in order to turn said blank through an angle of approximately 90*.

Claim 14

Apparatus for turning a substantially flat rigid carton blank through an angle of approximately 90* comprising: a blank transporting conveyor means operable to transport a blank of a first velocity in a first direction, a portion of said blank extending outwardly of said conveyor, a first axis of rotation location located above and generally transverse to said conveyor, a first disk freewheeling about said axis above said conveyor and forming with said conveyor a first blank engaging nip for engaging and maintaining a second portion of said blank at said first velocity, said nip being substantially stationary with respect to movement in said first direction, a second disk on said axis, said disk being connected to a rotatable driving source driving said disk at a peripheral velocity different from said first velocity, a second axis of rotation located below and generally transverse to said conveyor, a third disk freewheeling about said second axis and foRming with said second disk a second blank engaging nip for engaging and maintaining said outwardly extending portion of said blank at said peripheral velocity in order to turn said blank through an angle of approximately 90*.