Unit and method for feeding blanks

Abstract

A blanks feeding unit includes a storage device, at least one retaining element, a pressure sensor, and an adjusting device. The storage device is for containing a stack of blanks and displacing the stack along a movement direction towards an outlet section of the storage device. The retaining element is provided at the outlet section and configured to abut an advanced blank of the stack at least at a portion of the advanced blank. The pressure sensor is operatively connected to the retaining element and configured to detect the pressure exerted on the retaining element by the advanced blank. The adjusting device is operatively connected to the pressure sensor and configured to adjust the position of the retaining element based on the pressure detected by the pressure sensor.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A feeding unit comprising:
 a storage device for containing a stack of blanks and displacing said stack along a movement direction towards an outlet section of said storage device,   a first retaining element provided at said outlet section and configured to abut an advanced blank of said stack at least at a portion of said advanced blank,   a pressure sensor operatively connected to said first retaining element and configured to detect a pressure exerted on said first retaining element by said advanced blank, and   an adjusting device operatively connected to said pressure sensor and configured to adjust a position of said first retaining element based on the pressure detected by said pressure sensor.   
     
     
         21 . The feeding unit according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a second retaining element provided at said outlet section and configured to abut said advanced blank of said stack at least at a further portion of said advanced blank distinct from said portion.   
     
     
         22 . A feeding unit comprising:
 a storage device for containing a stack of blanks and displacing said stack along a movement direction towards an outlet section of said storage device,   a first retaining element provided at said outlet section and configured to abut an advanced blank of said stack at least at a portion of said advanced blank,   a second retaining element provided at said outlet section and configured to abut said advanced blank at least at a further portion of said advanced blank distinct from said portion,   a pressure sensor operatively connected to said first retaining element and configured to detect a pressure exerted on said first retaining element by said advanced blank, and   an adjusting device operatively connected to said pressure sensor and configured to adjust the position of said second retaining element based on the pressure detected by said pressure sensor.   
     
     
         23 . The feeding unit according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein said adjusting device is configured to displace at least one of said first retaining element and said second retaining element along a first displacement direction parallel to the movement direction of said stack.   
     
     
         24 . The feeding unit according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein at least one of said first retaining element and said second retaining element is positioned to abut said advanced blank at an edge portion of said advanced blank.   
     
     
         25 . The feeding unit according to  claim 24 ,
 wherein said adjusting device is configured to displace at least one of said first retaining element and said second retaining element along at least one of:
 i) a first displacement direction transverse to the movement direction and transverse to an edge of the edge portion on which at least one of said first retaining element and said second retaining element is positioned to vary an interference of said at least one of said first retaining element and said second retaining element with said advanced blank, and 
 ii) a second displacement direction transverse to the movement direction and parallel to the edge of the edge portion on which said at least one of said first retaining element and said second retaining element is positioned to vary at least one of the position of said first retaining element and a position of said second retaining element on the advanced blank. 
   
     
     
         26 . The feeding unit according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein said adjusting device is configured to oscillate at least one of said first retaining element and said second retaining element around a respective rotation axis perpendicular to said movement direction to vary an orientation of said at least one of said first retaining element and said second retaining element with respect to said advanced blank.   
     
     
         27 . The feeding unit according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a plurality of retaining elements including said first retaining element, and   a plurality of pressure sensors, each sensor of said plurality of pressure sensors being associated with a respective retaining element of said plurality of retaining elements.   
     
     
         28 . The feeding unit according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a movement device for moving said stack along the movement direction, said movement device comprising a plurality of movement elements configured to interact with distinct edge portions of said blanks.   
     
     
         29 . The feeding unit according to  claim 28 , further comprising:
 wherein said adjusting device comprises an adjusting element for adjusting a movement speed of said movement device.   
     
     
         30 . The feeding unit according to  claim 28 , further comprising:
 an operating device for operating a movement speed of said movement device.   
     
     
         31 . A method for feeding blanks comprising the steps of:
 storing a stack of blanks in a storage device having an outlet section,   moving said stack towards said outlet section along a movement direction, said stack comprising an advanced blank,   retaining said stack of blanks at said outlet section by a first retaining element configured to abut a portion of said advanced blank,   detecting a pressure exerted on said first retaining element, and   adjusting a position of said first retaining element based on the pressure detected in said detection step.   
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 further retaining said advanced blanks by a second retaining element configured to abut a further portion of said advanced blank distinct from said portion.   
     
     
         33 . A method for feeding blanks comprising the steps of:
 storing a stack of blanks in a storage device having an outlet section,   moving said stack towards said outlet section along a movement direction, said stack comprising an advanced blank,   retaining said stack of blanks at said outlet section by a first retaining element configured to abut a portion of said advanced blank,   further retaining said stack of blanks by a second retaining element configured to abut a further portion of said advanced blank distinct from said portion,   detecting a pressure exerted on said first retaining element, and   adjusting a position of said second retaining element based on the pressure detected in said detection step.   
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein said adjusting comprises at least one of:
 i) displacing at least one of said first retaining element and said second retaining element along a first displacement direction parallel to the movement direction, and   ii) displacing at least one of said first retaining element and said second retaining element along a second displacement direction transverse to the movement direction,   
       to vary a position of said at least one of said first retaining element and said second retaining element with respect to said advanced blank. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 32 ,
 wherein said retaining comprises retaining said advanced blank at least at one edge portion of said advanced blank,   wherein said adjusting comprises at least one of:
 i) further moving at least one of said first retaining element and said second retaining element along a first displacement direction transverse to the movement direction along said edge portion of said advanced blank to vary a position of said at least one of said first retaining element and said second retaining element on the advanced blank, and 
 ii) further moving at least one of said first retaining element and said second retaining element along a second displacement direction transverse to the movement direction transversely to said edge portion of said advanced blank to vary an interference of said at least one of said first retaining element and said second retaining element with said advanced blank. 
   
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein said adjusting comprises oscillating at least one of said first retaining element and said second retaining element around a rotation axis positioned perpendicularly to said movement direction. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 31 , further comprising displacing said stack along said movement direction by at least one movement device, wherein said adjusting further comprises adjusting a movement speed of said at least one movement device to vary a movement speed of said stack. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 31 , further comprising displacing said stack along said movement direction by at least one movement device, wherein the movement speed of said at least one movement device is varied. 
     
     
         39 . An apparatus for packaging boxed articles comprising a feeding unit according to  claim 20 .