Adjustable carton feeder

Abstract

A carton feeder has a plurality of suction-cup stations for engaging cartons. A valve mechanism which includes a rotating valve, a stationary valve and a change-over valve selectively applies vacuums to different ones of the plurality of suction-cup stations such that particular combinations of suction-cup stations can be activated or deactivated to engage particular sizes and styles of cartons. Changeover of the application of vacuum is accomplished by changing the alignment of vacuum apertures in the changeover valve and vacuum apertures in the stationary valve with respect to one another whereby a first alignment provides vacuum to a first combination of suction-cup stations and a second alignment provides vacuum to a second combination of suction-cup stations.

1 . A valve mechanism comprising: 
 a rotating valve rotatable about an axis including a rotating-valve body defining a perimeter, said rotating-valve body having a plurality of rotating-valve bores radially disposed therein for fluid flow therethrough, said plurality of rotating-valve bores respectively terminating at first ends in a series of rotating-valve ports spaced around said perimeter and respectively terminating at second ends in a plurality of rotating-valve apertures radially disposed in a first valve face of said rotating-valve body over a plurality of radii from said axis;    a stationary valve including a stationary-valve body having a second valve face disposed in contacting relationship with said first valve face of said rotating valve such that said rotating valve is coaxially rotatable with respect to said stationary valve, having a plurality of arcuate grooves inscribed in said second valve face at radii corresponding to and in alignment with said plurality of rotating-valve apertures, a stationary-valve bore extending from each of said arcuate grooves terminating in a stationary-valve aperture in a third valve face opposing said second valve face, a fluid cavity inscribed in said second valve face in arcuate radial alignment with and spaced apart from said plurality of arcuate grooves in fluid-flow communication with a stationary valve port in said stationary-valve body; and    a changeover valve including a changeover valve body having a fourth valve face disposed in contacting relationship with said third valve face of said stationary valve such that orientation of said fourth valve face with respect to said third valve face is adjustable through a plurality of selective orientations, having a plurality of fluid passageways each terminating at a first end at an orifice for receiving a first source of fluid pressure and terminating at respective second ends in a plurality of changeover-valve apertures disposed in said fourth face so as to be correspondingly aligned with all of said stationary-valve apertures in a first one of said selective orientations, having a fluid-passageway notch inscribed in said fourth valve face extending from at least one of said changeover-valve apertures to a remote region distal said changeover-valve aperture and at least one vent passageway have a first end terminating at a second source of fluid pressure and having a second end terminating in said fourth face at a vent aperture wherein said remote region of said fluid-passageway notch and said vent aperture are aligned with said stationary valve apertures in an alternate one of said selective orientations,    wherein fluid pressure from said source of fluid pressure is ultimately applied to all of said rotating-valve ports when said orientation of said fourth valve face with respect to said third valve is in said first one of said selective orientations, and    wherein fluid pressure from said source of fluid pressure is ultimately applied to at least one predetermined one of said rotating valve ports and at least one of said rotating-valve ports is in fluid-flow communication with said second source of fluid pressure equal to or greater than atmospheric pressure when said orientation of said fourth valve face with respect to said third valve face is in said alternate one of said selective orientations.    
   
   
       2 . The valve mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of radii comprise two radii.