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(11) | EP 0 769 365 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Blank feeder |
| (57) A blank feeder comprising a magazine (13) having an outlet (12) at a lower end thereof
for accommodating a plurality of blanks (B) as arranged from the lower end to an upper
end thereof in the form of a stack so that the blanks (B) are movable inside the magazine
(13) toward the outlet (12) under gravity, a conveyor (14) providing a path of transport
for supporting the lower ends of a plurality of blanks (B) as arranged closely face-to-face
on the conveyor (14) from a terminal end of the path to a starting end thereof without
allowing the blanks (B) on the conveyor (14) to move on the conveyor (14) under gravity,
the blank (B) at the terminal end of the path being supported at its upper end by
the uppermost blank (B) within the magazine (13), a sensor (41-43) for producing a
non-detection signal when the quantity of blanks (B) remaining within the magazine
(B) has decreased to not greater than a predetermined value and producing a detection
signal upon the quantity of remaining blanks exceeding the predetermined value, and
drive means for driving the conveyor (14) in response to the non-detection signal
of the sensor (41-43) and discontinuing the operation of the conveyor (14) in response
to the detection signal. |