Carton feeding system

摘要

A carton feeding system is provided for feeding selected cartons from a stack of cartons contained within a carton magazine to a downstream carton conveyor such as for a product packaging machine. A carton picking device removes a selected carton from the stack of cartons within the magazine, after which the carton is engaged between a carton engaging segment of the primary segment wheel and a draw roller, which pulls the carton from the magazine and feeds the carton along a first path of travel. Thereafter, a secondary segment wheel engages and redirects a leading portion of the carton toward a second path of travel. The carton then is fed along its second path of travel toward engagement between a pair of downstream nip rolls that feed the carton into the downstream carton conveyor.

主权项

1. A carton feeder, comprising:
a magazine for presenting a stack of cartons; a primary segment wheel having at least one carton engaging segment defined therealong, the at least one carton engaging segment comprises a recessed area defined by a leading edge, and wherein the leading edge is adapted to engage and urge a leading portion of a selected carton from the stack of cartons of the magazine; a draw roller adjacent the magazine and spaced from the primary segment wheel a distance adapted to enable the selected carton of the stack of cartons to be engaged at a fist pinch point between the draw roller and the at least one carton engaging segment of the primary segment wheel for drawing the selected carton from the stack of cartons within the magazine and moving the selected carton along a first path of travel, the first path of travel being in a first direction passing through the first pinch point between the draw roller and the primary segment wheel; and a secondary segment wheel positioned along the first path of travel adjacent the draw roller, the secondary segment wheel spaced from the draw roller in a position to receive the selected carton moving in the first direction and engaged between the draw roller and carton engaging element of the primary segment wheel and including a carton engaging surface rotatable into alignment with the carton engaging segment of the primary segment wheel for engaging the selected carton therebetween at a second pinch point; whereby the selected carton is engaged at the second pinch point between the carton engaging surface of the secondary segment wheel and the carton engaging segment of the primary segment wheel to redirect the selected carton along a second path of travel in a second direction passing through the second pinch point, the second direction differs from the first direction of the first path of travel of the selected carton.