HIGH SPEED FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CLAMSHELL DIE CUTTER

摘要

A processing station (10) for high speed printing, handling and die cutting of blanks or blanks (26) is provided which includes a clamshell-type die cutter (12), as well as a feeding device (14) including a transfer mechanism (16) and pickup member (18). The station (10) may also include a printing assembly (20) and a cut blank removal assembly (22). In operation, individual blanks (26) from a stack (28) are successively fed by the transfer mechanism (16) and are picked up by the member (18); the blanks are delivered to the die cutter (12) when the latter is open and after die cutting the removal assembly (22) is employed to lift the cut blank (26) from the cutter (12) and shift the blank (26) to a slide plate (116). A pusher bar (122) then operates to move the cut blank (26) to an outfeed conveyer (146). The station (10) is capable of handling relatively thick corrugated blanks (26) at high speed and without constant operator attendance.