Blank feeder and method for controlling the same.

摘要

A blank feeder for feeding blanks. It has a feed table (1) on which a plurality of blanks (W) are stacked, a suction unit (8) provided under the table to suck the lowermost one of the stack downward, a motor-driven first feed rolls (4) mounted in the suction unit and adapted to feed the lowermost blank (6) in contact therewith, and second feed rolls (5) located downstream of the first feed rolls and adapted to be driven at a constant speed. The first feed rolls (4) are accelerated from zero speed to the speed of the second feed rolls (5) before the front end of the blank (6) reaches the second rolls (5), then driven synchronized with the second feed rolls, and decelerated to zero speed again by the time the next cycle begins. A kicker (2) for pushing out the blanks may be provided. The kicker (2) is moved forward so as to be synchronized with the second feed rolls before the front end of the blank reaches the second feed rolls. Once synchronized, this state is maintained until the rear end of the blank (6) gets off from the kicker (2).