Apparatus for storing and supplying sheet like materials

Abstract

An apparatus for storing and supplying folded container blanks where the blanks are temporarily stored in a pile and are then removed one at a time for the next processing step. The apparatus includes a guide member for vertically guiding the blanks and a vertical mover having confronting support members which project into the guide member at the upper loading position where the blanks are loaded onto the support members of vertical mover. The blanks thus loaded on the vertical mover are downwardly transferred to a lower position where the support members release the blanks. The apparatus further includes a pile setter located beneath the vertical mover which receives the blanks as they are released from the vertical mover so that the blanks are removed from the bottom of the vertical mover and a pressing assembly which is provided beneath the vertical mover and above the setting members which presses the blanks down with their own weight so that at least one blank is pressed against the setting members. The pressing assembly has claws which project into the guide member when the number of blanks on the setting members decrease to a number less than a predetermined amount and retract when pressed backward by the downwardly moving vertical mover. The apparatus also has a pull-out unit having a suction port which pulls the blanks out of the pile setter one at a time so as to transfer each blank to the next processing step.