	US 11,866,082 B2
	Magazine for bundles of blanks
Salvatore Carboni, Bologna (IT); Andrea Biondi, Bologna (IT); and Antonio Vitali, Molinella (IT)
Assigned to G.D.S.P.A., Bologna (IT)
Filed by AZIONARIA COSTRUZIONI MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE A.C.M.A. S.p.A., Bologna (IT)
Filed on Apr. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/220,390.
Claims priority of application No. 102020000007087 (IT), filed on Apr. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0309272 A1, Oct. 7, 2021
Int. Cl. B62B 3/00 (2006.01); B62B 3/04 (2006.01); B62B 3/10 (2006.01); B65G 1/14 (2006.01)

CPC B62B 3/006 (2013.01) [B62B 3/04 (2013.01); B62B 3/108 (2013.01); B65G 1/14 (2013.01); B62B 2203/30 (2013.01); B62B 2203/60 (2013.01); B62B 2203/72 (2013.01); B65G 2201/022 (2013.01)]

11 Claims

1. A magazine for bundles of blanks, comprising:

a vertical channel configured for inserting and extracting bundles of blanks through a top opening of the vertical channel;

a succession of groups of supporting parts spaced along a height of the vertical channel at predetermined distances from each other, so that each of the supporting parts is located at a respective level of the vertical channel to support an underside of a respective bundle of blanks, each of the supporting parts being movable between an extracted position, in which the supporting part projects from an inside wall of the vertical channel towards an inside of the vertical channel to intercept the respective bundle of blanks moving down the vertical channel and to provide a steady support for the respective bundle of blanks, and a retracted position in which the supporting part is aligned or recessed with respect to the inside wall of the vertical channel to allow the respective bundle of blanks to move along the vertical channel towards a portion under the supporting part;

for each of the supporting parts, an actuating device configured to promote passage of the supporting part from the retracted position to the extracted position and controllable by an operator;

for each of the supporting parts, a retaining device configured to promote holding the supporting part at the retracted position;

wherein the retaining device comprises a magnetic coupling to apply a magnetic force of attraction between the supporting part and a pusher or a fixed abutment, the pusher being configured to apply an impulsive force on the supporting part to overcome the magnetic force of attraction.

10. A method for using a magazine, comprising the following steps:

providing a magazine for bundles of blanks, comprising:

a vertical channel configured for inserting and extracting bundles of blanks through a top opening of the vertical channel;

for each of the supporting parts, an actuating device configured to promote passage of the supporting part from the retracted position to the extracted position and controllable by an operator;

for each of the supporting parts, a retaining device configured to promote holding the supporting part at the retracted position;

A) preparing the magazine in an empty configuration and wherein all the supporting parts, except a first, lowermost level, are disposed at the retracted position, while the supporting parts of the first, lowermost level are disposed at the extracted position;

B) inserting a first bundle of the bundles of blanks into the vertical channel from above so as to rest the first bundle on the supporting parts of the first, lowermost level;

C) operating on the supporting parts of a second level, just above the first, lowermost level, so as to place the supporting parts at the extracted position;

D) inserting a second bundle of the bundles of blanks into the vertical channel from above so as to rest the second bundle on the supporting parts of the second level;

repeating steps C) and D) until a required number of the bundles of blanks has been inserted into the vertical channel.