Semi-automatic machine for cutting and scoring packaging structures

Abstract

A new and improved semi-automatic machine, for forming slits within side wall members of a packaging structure so as to render successive sections of the packaging structure articulated with respect to each other whereby the packaging structure can be folded into a packaging container, includes a pair of oppositely disposed circular saw blade assemblies which are disposed at a cutting station and which are mounted upon a vertically movable reciprocating carriage mechanism. The carriage mechanism is initially disposed at a first ELEVATED INOPERATIVE position, the packaging structure is fed into the machine and stopped at a predetermined longitudinal position at which it is desired to cut or slit the packaging structure, and the carriage mechanism is moved vertically downwardly toward a second LOWERED OPERATIVE position at which the pair of circular saw blades cut the oppositely disposed dependent side wall members of the packaging structure. Subsequently, the circular saw blade assemblies are retracted vertically upwardly as a result of moving the carriage mechanism back to the first ELEVATED INOPERATIVE position, the packaging structure is advanced further and stopped at another predetermined axial position at which it is desired to cut the packaging structure, and the entire operative cycle is repeated as necessary.

1 . Apparatus for forming slits within an elongated structure, so as to fabricate the elongated structure in integrally connected, articulated sections, comprising: 
 a conveyor path along which an elongated structure can be conveyed;    cutting means, disposed at a cutting station defined at a predetermined position along said conveyor path and movable between a first ELEVATED, INOPERATIVE position and a second LOWERED, OPERATIVE position, for cutting slits within an elongated structure;    means for conveying the elongated structure along said conveyor path in an intermittent manner so as to successively dispose longitudinally spaced locations of the elongated structure at said cutting station; and    means for repetitively moving said cutting means between said first ELEVATED, INOPERATIVE position and said second LOWERED, OPERATIVE position such that said cutting means can successively cut slits within the elongated structure at the longitudinally spaced locations of the elongated structure so as to fabricate the elongated structure in integrally connected, articulated sections.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said cutting means comprises a pair of oppositely disposed cutting mechanisms for cutting a pair of slits within oppositely disposed sides of the elongated structure.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said means for repetitively moving said cutting means between said first ELEVATED, INOPERATIVE position and said second LOWERED, OPERATIVE position comprises: 
 a framework;    a carriage mechanism;    means for mounting said pair of oppositely disposed cutting mechanisms upon said carriage mechanism;    means mounted upon said framework and operatively connected to said carriage mechanism for moving said carriage, and said pair of oppositely disposed cutting mechanisms upon said carriage mechanism, between said first ELEVATED, INOPERATIVE position and said second LOWERED, OPERATIVE position.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 means for adjustably mounting said pair of oppositely disposed cutting mechanisms upon said carriage mechanism at one of a plurality of predetermined positions such that said pair of oppositely disposed cutting mechanisms can cut slits within different elongated structures having different width dimensions.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 means for removably mounting one of a plurality of differently sized pairs of cutting dies, having slots defined therein for respectively accommodating said pair of oppositely disposed cutting mechanisms, upon said framework so as operatively cooperate with said pair of oppositely disposed cutting mechanisms when said pair of oppositely disposed cutting mechanisms are disposed at any one of said plurality of predetermined positions.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said means for conveying the elongated structure along said conveyor path in an intermittent manner, so as to successively dispose the longitudinally spaced locations of the elongated structure at said cutting station, comprises a stepper motor mounted upon said framework, an infeed drive roller operatively connected to said stepper motor, and a first driven roller operatively engageable with said infeed drive roller;    edge sensor means is mounted upon said framework for detecting the forward edge portion of the elongated structure;    rotary encoder means is mounted upon said framework for determining how far the elongated structure has been conveyed by said stepper motor; and    a programmable logic controller (PLC) is mounted upon said framework for controlling said stepper motor in response to signals transmitted from said edge sensor means and said rotary encoder means.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 outfeed drive motor means, mounted upon said framework and operatively connected to said programmable logic controller (PLC), for discharging the elongated structure when all slits have been cut within the elongated structure;    an outfeed drive roller operatively connected to said outfeed drive motor means; and    a second driven roller operatively engageable with said outfeed drive roller.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 means for moving said first and second driven rollers between a first position, at which said first and second driven rollers are disposed in engagement with said infeed and outfeed drive rollers such that said infeed and outfeed drive rollers and said first and second driven rollers can respectively convey the elongated structure along said conveyor path, and a second position at which said first and second driven rollers are disengaged from said infeed and outfeed drive rollers such that said infeed and outfeed drive rollers and said first and second driven rollers cannot respectively convey the elongated structure along said conveyor path.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 scoring dies mounted upon said carriage mechanism and said cutting dies so as to score the elongated structure at positions corresponding to the longitudinally spaced locations of the elongated structure at which the slits are cut within the elongated structure.    
   
   
       10 . Apparatus for forming slits within an elongated structure, so as to fabricate the elongated structure in integrally connected, articulated sections, comprising: 
 an elongated structure;    a conveyor path along which said elongated structure can be conveyed;    cutting means, disposed at a cutting station defined at a predetermined position along said conveyor path and movable between a first ELEVATED, INOPERATIVE position and a second LOWERED, OPERATIVE position, for cutting slits within said elongated structure;    means for conveying said elongated structure along said conveyor path in an intermittent manner so as to successively dispose longitudinally spaced locations of said elongated structure at said cutting station; and    means for repetitively moving said cutting means between said first ELEVATED, INOPERATIVE position and said second LOWERED, OPERATIVE position such that said cutting means can successively cut slits within said elongated structure at said longitudinally spaced locations of said elongated structure so as to fabricate said elongated structure in integrally connected, articulated sections.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said cutting means comprises a pair of oppositely disposed cutting mechanisms for cutting a pair of slits within oppositely disposed sides of said elongated structure.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said means for repetitively moving said cutting means between said first ELEVATED, INOPERATIVE position and said second LOWERED, OPE-RATIVE position comprises: 
 a framework;    a carriage mechanism;    means for mounting said pair of oppositely disposed cutting mechanisms upon said carriage mechanism;    means mounted upon said framework and operatively connected to said carriage mechanism for moving said carriage, and said pair of oppositely disposed cutting mechanisms upon said carriage mechanism, between said first ELEVATED, INOPERATIVE position and said second LOWERED, OPERATIVE position.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 means for adjustably mounting said pair of oppositely disposed cutting mechanisms upon said carriage mechanism at one of a plurality of predetermined positions such that said pair of oppositely disposed cutting mechanisms can cut slits within different elongated structures having different width dimensions.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 means for removably mounting one of a plurality of differently sized pairs of cutting dies, having slots defined therein for respectively accommodating said pair of oppositely disposed cutting mechanisms, upon said framework so as operatively cooperate with said pair of oppositely disposed cutting mechanisms when said pair of oppositely disposed cutting mechanisms are disposed at any one of said plurality of predetermined positions.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said means for conveying said elongated structure along said conveyor path in an intermittent manner, so as to successively dispose said longitudinally spaced locations of said elongated structure at said cutting station, comprises a stepper motor mounted upon said framework, an infeed drive roller operatively connected to said stepper motor, and a first driven roller operatively engageable with said infeed drive roller;    edge sensor means is mounted upon said framework for detecting the forward edge portion of said elongated structure;    rotary encoder means is mounted upon said framework for determining how far said elongated structure has been conveyed by said stepper motor; and    a programmable logic controller (PLC) is mounted upon said framework for controlling said stepper motor in response to signals transmitted from said edge sensor means and said rotary encoder means.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 outfeed drive motor means, mounted upon said framework and operatively connected to said programmable logic controller (PLC), for discharging said elongated structure when all slits have been cut within said elongated structure;    an outfeed drive roller operatively connected to said outfeed drive motor means; and    a second driven roller operatively engageable with said outfeed drive roller.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 means for moving said first and second driven rollers between a first position, at which said first and second driven rollers are disposed in engagement with said infeed and outfeed drive rollers such that said infeed and outfeed drive rollers and said first and second driven rollers can respectively convey said elongated structure along said conveyor path, and a second position at which said first and second driven rollers are disengaged from said infeed and outfeed drive rollers such that said infeed and outfeed drive rollers and said first and second driven rollers cannot respectively convey said elongated structure along said convey- or path.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 scoring dies mounted upon said carriage mechanism and said cutting dies so as to score said elongated structure at positions corresponding to said longitudinally spaced locations of said elongated structure at which said slits are cut within said elongated structure.    
   
   
       19 . A method for forming slits within an elongated structure, so as to fabricate the elongated structure in integrally connected, articulated sections, comprising: 
 providing a conveyor path along which an elongated structure can be conveyed;    positioning cutting means at a cutting station defined at a predetermined position along said conveyor path;    conveying said elongated structure along said conveyor path such that a first location of said elongated structure, at which a first slit is to be formed, is positioned at said cutting station;    moving said cutting means from a first ELEVATED, INOPERATIVE position to a second LOWERED, OPERATIVE position so as to cut said first slit within said elongated structure at said first location;    moving said cutting means from said second LOWERED, OPERATIVE position back to said first ELEVATED, INOPERATIVE position;    conveying said elongated structure along said conveyor path such that a second location of said elongated structure, longitudinally spaced from said first location of said elongated structure and at which a second slit is to be formed, is positioned at said cutting station;    moving said cutting means from said first ELEVATED, INOPERATIVE position to said second LOWERED, OPERATIVE position so as to cut said second slit within said elongated structure at said second location;    whereby a plurality of slits are formed within said elongated structure at longitudinally spaced locations of said elongated structure so as to fabricate said elongated structure in integrally connected, articulated sections.    
   
   
       20 . The method as set forth in  claim 19 , further comprising the step of: 
 simultaneously scoring said elongated structure at said first and second longitudinally spaced locations so as to facilitate folding of said integrally connected, articulated sections with respect to each other.