Takeoff and restacking device for cup-like containers

摘要

A takeoff and restacking device is operated in coordination with printing apparatus that applies decorations to the outside of cup-like containers. The apparatus includes a plurality of container holding mandrels extending radially from a turret which moves in angular steps between stations spaced by a distance equal to the space between adjacent mandrels. At one of these stations (takeoff station) a bellows-type suction head mounted on a support arm of the device engages a decorated container and carries it to a stacking region where the container is added to a stack at the rear thereof. The support arm is pivotally mounted to a drive arm on a movable pivot located at one end of the drive arm and intermediate the ends of the support arm. The end of the drive arm remote from the movable pivot is mounted to a fixed pivot about which the drive arm oscillates. The end of the support arm remote from the suction head mounts a cam follower engaged with a stationary cam slot which controls the angular relationship between the support and drive arms as the latter oscillates about the fixed pivot.