US3861515A

US3861515A - Machine for arranging carton blanks in streams

Info

Publication number: US3861515A
Application number: US338073A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth R Runyan; Quentin E Honnert; Ronald H Porter
Original assignee: Multifold-International Inc
Current assignee: Multifold-International Inc
Priority date: 1973-03-05
Filing date: 1973-03-05
Publication date: 1975-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 1992-01-21

Abstract

A machine for arranging carton blanks in streams shingle fashion as the carton blanks are delivered by a blank forming machine. Streams of carton blanks are advanced sidewise of the direction of carton blank delivery to form spaced streams and are accelerated so that the carton blanks separate sidewise and end from end. The carton blanks are arranged so that the trailing edge of each carton blank is spaced from the leading edge of the next following carton blank. The carton blanks of each stream are then slowed so that the carton blanks overlap to form shingled streams.

Description

Runyan et al.

[111 3,861,515 [451 Jan. 21, 1975 MACHINE FOR ARRANGING CARTON BLANKS IN STREAMS Inventors: Kenneth R. Runyan, Dayton;

Quentin E. Honnert, Cincinnati; Ronald H. Porter, Milford, all of Ohio Multifold-International, Inc., Milford, Ohio Filed: Mar. 5, 1973 Appl. No.2 338,073

Assignee:

US. Cl 198/34, 198/35, 271/64, 7 271/182, 271/202 Int. Cl. 865g 47/26, B65g 57/11 Field of Search 271/80, 52, 51, 76,69, 271/46, 64, 202, 182; 83/88, 89, 107, 106,

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I 6/1954 Monroe et al. 83/88 X 2/1960 Lindberg 198/35 3,148,877 9/1964 Brearley 271/52 3,198,046 8/1965 De Angelo. 83/88 X 3,301,550 l/l967 Reinecke r 271/80 X 3,433,476 3/1969 Baucke 271/64 Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk Assistant ExaminerBruce H. Stoner, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-James W. Pearce; Roy F. Schaeperklaus [57] ABSTRACT A machine for arranging carton blanks in streams shingle fashion as the carton blanks are delivered by a blank forming machine. Streams of carton blanks are advanced sidewise of the direction of carton blank delivery to form spaced streams and are accelerated so that the carton blanks separate sidewise-and end from end. The carton blanks are arranged so that the trailing edge of each carton blank is spaced from the leading edge of the next following carton blank. The carton blanks of each stream are then slowed so that the carton blanks overlap to form shingled streams.

5 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] JAN2 I I975 SHEET OZUF 10 PATENTEI] JANE] I975 SHEET 050? 10 FIG. 5

PATENTEUJANZ] I915 a; as 1 ,515

SHEET UBUF 1O PATENTED JANZ I I975 SHEET 070F 10 PAramao m 3.861.515

Y SHEET DBUF 10 PATENTED JAN 21 I975 sum 100F1O MACHINE FOR ARRANGING CARTON BLANKS IN STREAMS as they issue from a printing press or the like and for arranging the carton blanksin streams.

An object of this invention is to provide such a machine which arranges the carton blanks of each stream shingle fashion with the trailing edge of each carton blank overlying the leading edge of the next following carton blank in the stream.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a machine in which the streams ofcarton blanks are separated before they are arranged shingle fashionso that the carton blanks of one stream do not interfere with carton blanks of an adjacent stream as the carton blanks are arranged shingle fashion.

A furtherobject of this invention is to provide a carton blank diverting device for a machine of this type which can automatically divert the carton blanks of a selected stream. t

Briefly, this invention provides a machine which receives cartons from a printing press, separates streams of carton blanks laterally of the direction of carton blank flow and speeds up the rate of carton blank flow to separate each carton blank from the next following blank, and then passes the carton blanks over a diverting device which causes the carton blanks to be diverted upwardly while the rate of carton blank advance is slowed to causeshingle formation. Separate diverting devices are provided for each stream, and the divertingdevices can be turned from an upward directing position in which the carton blanks are shingled to a downward'directing position at which a selected stream of carton blanks is directed out of the machine.

The above and other features and objects of the invention will be apparentto those skilledin the art to which this invention pertains from the following detailed description and the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic view in side elevation of a carton blank handling machine constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention, a frag mentary portion .of a printing press and a fragmentary portion of a machine which receives streams of carton blanks therefrom being shown in association with the carton blank handling machine, a diverter operating mechanism being partly broken away;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat schematic plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 1, some details of shafts and shaft supporting devices thereof being omitted for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a view in section taken on the line 4-4 in FIG. 2; Y

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken generally on the line 55 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a view in section taken on the line 6-6 in FIG. 2;

- FIG. 7 is a view in section taken on the line 7-7 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view in side elevation taken in the direction of the arrows 8-8 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a view in section taken on the line 9' 9 in FIG. 8; I

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view in side elevation ofthe machine taken in the direction of the arrows 1010 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view in section on a reduced scale taken on the same line as FIG. 9 showing construction of a first diverter and supporting structure therefor, details of a second diverter structure being omitted for clarity;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view in section taken on a re cluced scale on the same line as FIG. 11 showing construction of the second diverter and supporting struc ture therefor, details of the first diverter structure being omitted for clarity; and

FIG. 13 is a view in section taken on the line 13-13 in FIG. 10.

In the following detailed description and the drawings, like reference characters indicate like parts.

InFIG. 1 is shown a machine 21 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention. The machine 21 receives carton blanks 22 from a printing press, not shown in detail. Exit rolls 23' and 24 of the printing press direct the carton blanks across a table 26 of the printing press and across a table 27, which is a part of the machine 21.

The machine 21 includes

side frame plates

29 and 31, which are mounted on

fraine plates

32 and 33, respectively. The

frame plates

32 and 33 are a part of a machine 34, which receives the carton blanks from the As shown in FIG. 2, the carton blanks leave the print-- ing press in streams which are in engagement as the blanks 22A and 22B are shown, and the streams of carton blanks cross the table 27 and pass under first stream diverting

upper rolls

39 and 41. As carton blanks 22C and 22D pass under'the

rolls

39 and 41, they diverge outwardly as shown. The

rolls

39 and 41 are angled outwardly as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to cause the streams of carton blanks to diverge as they cross the table 27. Second'stream diverting

upper rolls

390 and 410 cause the streams to'diverge further. The supports for the

rolls

39 and 41 and related structures are similar, and only the support for the roll 39 will be described in detail. I

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, theroll 39 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 44 (FIG. 5) supported'on an inverted generally channel-shaped frame 46. The frame 46 includes side arms 47 and 48 (FIG. 3) which are linked by a cross member 49 (FIG. 4). The cross member 49 carries a stud 50 which extends upwardly through an upright bore 501 in a cross bar portion 51 of a U-shaped swinging frame 52. A nut 521 holds the stud 50 and the channel-shaped frame 46 in position.

As shown in FIG. 2,

side arms

53 and 54 of the frame 52 are pivotally mounted on pivot pins- 56 and 57 mounted on side plates 31 and '29, respectively. The

mounted in and extending upwardly' from the cross bar portion 51 through an opening 63 in the transverse bar 61. A compression spring 64 mounted on the stud 62 and bearing on washers 65 and 66 which engage the cross bar portion 51 and the transverse bar 61, respectively, urges the cross bar portion 51 downwardly. An adjustment nut 67 threaded on the stud 62 can be turned to raise or lower the normal position of the cross bar portion 51 to raise and lower the

rolls

39 and 41. A lock screw 68 threaded in the adjustment nut 67 locks the nut in position.

A first crank assembly 71 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is pivotally mounted on the shaft 44 and extends outwardly therefrom. The crank assembly 71 includes

arms

72 and 73, which are pivotally mounted adjacent opposite ends of the shaft 44 and extend parallel to the roll 39 to a cross bar 74. The cross bar 74 is carried by a stud 76. The cross bar 74 spans bearing

support legs

77 and 771 to which the

arms

72 and 73 are attached. The

bearing support legs

77 and 771 support a cross shaft 78 on which the roll 390 is rotatably mounted. The stud 76 extends upwardly through

openings

79 and 81 in

frames

82 and 83. The

frames

82 and 83 are mounted on a cross frame 84, which is attached to and spans the

side plates

29 and 31.

Clamp bolts

86, 861, 862 and 863 (FIG. 3) hold the

frames

82 and 83 in selected position on the cross frame 84. Nuts 88 and 89 (FIG. 4) threaded on the stud 76 support the stud 76 and the crank assembly 71. A compression spring 91 mounted on the stud 76 and bearing on

washers

92 and 93, which engage the frame 82 and the cross bar 74, urges the crank assembly 71 and the roll 390 downwardly. The

frames

82 and 83 can be moved along the transverse bar 84 for adjusting the angle at which the

rolls

39 and 390 are directed while keeping the

rolls

39 and 390 in alignment.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the roll 39 is urged downwardly toward a roll 93 mounted on a shaft 94. The shaft 94' is supported in bearings 96 and 97 (shown schematically in FIG. which are carried by

plates

961 and 971. The

plates

961 and 971 are attached to the underside of a cross plate 98. The cross plate 98 is attached to and spans the

side plates

29 and 31. The table 27 is supported on the cross plate 98. The roll 93 extends upwardly through openings l01 and 102 in the cross plate 98and in the table 27 into a position at which the carton blanks can be engaged between the

rolls

39 and 93. As shown in FIG. 3, the shaft 94 is an gled so that theaxes of the rolls 93 and 39 (FIG. 5) are parallel. A pulley 103 mounted on the shaft 94 is driven by a belt 1031.

As shown in FIG. 4, the roll 390 is urged downwardly toward a roll 104, which is mounted on a shaft 106. As shown in FIG. 5, the shaft 106 is rotatably mounted in

bearings

107 and 108 which are mounted on

plates

109 and 110, respectively. The

plates

109 and 110 are mounted on the underside of a cross plate 111. The cross plate 111 is mounted on and spans the

side plates

29 and 31. A table 112 is mounted on the cross plate 111. The carton blanks pass over the table 112 as they pass between the

rolls

390 and 104. A pulley 113 is mounted on the shaft 106. A belt 114 runs on the pulley 113. As shown in FIG. 6, the

belts

1031 and 114 are driven by

pulleys

116 and 117, respectively. The

pulleys

116 and 117 are mounted on

shafts

118 and 119 rotatably mounted in appropriate bearings, one of which is shown at 121.

Pulleys

122 and 123 are mounted on the shafts 118'and 119, respectively, and carry a belt 124 which causes the

shafts

118 and 119 to turn together. The belt 124 passes over an adjustable idler pulley 125. The shaft 118 is driven by a pulley 126 (FIG. 2) which is driven by a belt 127. The belt 127 is driven by a pulley 128 (FIG. 1) carried on a shaft, not shown in detail, carried by the printing press exit roll 24 so that the

rolls

39 and 390 are driven in timed relation to the printing press.

The belts and pulleys are so arranged that the roll 93 is driven at a somewhat greater peripheral speed than the exit rolls of the printing press and the roll 104 is driven at a somewhat lesser peripheral speed than the printing press exit rolls so that the carton blanks separate end from end as they pass under the roll 39, as shown in FIG. 2, and then are overlapped shingle fashion as they pass under the roll 390. As shown in FIG. 7, pulleys 131 and 132 are mounted on the

shafts

118 and 119 and drive belts 133 and 134, respectively. The belts 133 and 134 are arranged to drive pulleys 136 and 137 (FIG. 1) mounted on

shafts

138 and 139, respectively. The

shafts

138 and 139 carry rolls 141 and 142 which underlie the rolls 41 and 410 (FIG. 2), respectively, so that the stream of carton blanks which travels under the

rolls

41 and 410 is driven in the same manner as the stream of carton blanks which travels under the

rolls

39 and 390. The roll 141 can be driven at the same speed as the roll 93 and the roll 142 can be driven at the same speed as the roll 104. The

rolls

93 and 141 can be driven at a peripheral speed which is sufficient to advance the carton blanks along the machine at approximately 1 15 percent of the peripheral speed of the exit rolls of the printing press and the

rolls

104 and 142 can be driven at a peripheral speed sufficient to advance the carton blanks along the machine at approximately 65 percent of the peripheral speed of the exit rollsof the printing press. The

rolls

41 and 410 can be supported by a roll supporting assembly (not shown) which can be similar to the assembly already described in connection with the support of the

rolls

39 and 390, and the

shafts

138 and 139 can be rotatably supported by mounting structures similar to those by which the

shafts

94 and 106 are supported.

In normal operation of the machine, the streams of carton blanks pass from the table 27 (FIGS. 1 and 4) in separate streams over a first diverter member 151 and a second diverter member 152 (FIG. 2). As shown schematically in FIG. 1, the stream of carton blanks which is directed by the diverter member152 is diverted upwardly as the carton blank 27C is shown in FIG. 1. Then, as the leading portion of the next preceding carton blank 27D is slowed by the

rolls

142 and 410, the leading edge of the carton blank 27C enters beneath the trailing edge of the carton blank 27D to form a stream of carton blanks arranged shingle fashion. The stream of carton blanks is directed downwardly toward the table 112 by a carton guide 153 which is attached to the cross bar portion 51. The stream of carton blanks passes shingle fashion over the table 112 to be received between

conveyor belts

154 and 156, which are part of the machine 34 that receives the streams from the machine of this invention. The belt 154 runs on a pulley 157, and the belt 156 runs on a pulley 158. The stream of carton blanks is received between an upper course of the belt 156 and a lower course of the belt 154, and the stream of carton blanks is carried upwardly between the

belts

154 and 156. The

belt conveyors

154 and 156 can be advanced by appropriate drive mechanism (not shown) at a rate such as '25 percent of the peripheral speed of the printing press exit rolls so that the carton blanks are further shingled as they enter between the belt conveyors. The stream of carton blanks passing under the rolls 39 and 390 (FIG. 2) can be directed downwardly by a carton guide 160 (FIG. 2) and can be received between similar belt conveyors (not shown) carried by pulleys 161 and 162 (FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG; 4, the diverter 151 includes an upper plate 167 and a lower plate 168 which meet at a diverter point 169. The

plates

167 and 168 of the diverter 151 are mounted on a sleeve 171, The sleeve 171 is rotatably mounted on a cross rod 172 (FIG. 11). The diverter 152 (FIG. 12) is similar in construction and is mounted on a sleeve 173 which is also rotatably mounted on the cross rod 172. The

sleeves

171 and 173 are rotatably mounted in

bearings

174 and 176 mounted on the

side plates

31 and 29, respectively. The

sleeves

171 and 173 extend outwardly through

openings

177 and 178 in the

side plates

29 and 31, respec- .tively.

The diverter 151 can be swung between the full line normal position of FIG. '4' and a dot-dash line discharge position indicated at 151A. The diverter 152 (FIG. 12) can similarly be swung between a normal and a discharge position. When the diverter 151 is in the full line position, carton blanks are directed upwardly as already described. When the diverter is in the discharge position 151A, the carton blanks are directed downwardly to a discharge chute 181. The discharge chute 181 includes

side walls

182 and 183 and a sloping bottom panel 184. As shown in FIG. 1,' the discharge chute 181 is mounted on a cross rod 186 whichis mounted on and spans the

frame plates

32 and 33 as shown in FIG. 2. i

The diverters' 151 and 152 can be swung between normal and'discharge positions by action of handlecarrying cranks 187 and 188 (FIGS. 8 and 9). The crank 187 is keyedto the cross rod 172. As shown in 'FIGSJIO and 1J3,'a crank 189 is also keyed to the cross rod 172. A crank 191 is keyed to the sleeve 171. A tension spring "192

links studs

193 and 194, which extend outwardly of the cranks'189 and 191, respectively.,The spring 192 urges the

cranks

189 and 191 to the full line position of -FIG. at which the diverter 151 is in normal position and to the position atwhich these cranks are indicated at 189A and 191A in dotdash lines and at which the diverter 151 is in its discharge position. Stop

bolts

196, 197, 198 and 199 mounted in stop frames l and 202 carried by the side plate 3] limit swinging of the

cranks

189 and 191.

The diverter 152 (FIG. 12) is actuated by the handlecarrying crank 188 and a crank 204 (FIGS. 8, 9 and 12). The crank 204 is .keyed to the sleeve 173. The crank 188 is rotatably mounted on the cross rod-172. A tension spring 206

links studs

207 and 208 mounted on the

cranks

188 and 204, respectively. The spring 206 urges the

cranks

188 and 204 to the full line position of FIG. 8 and to a dot-dash line position at which these cranksare indicated at 188A and 204A. In the full line position, the diverter 152 is in its normal position. In the dot-dash line position, the diverter 152 is in its discharge

position.1Stop bolts

211, 212, 213 and 214 mounted in stop frames 216 and 217 carried by the side of the faster moving succeeding carton blank to allow As the carton blanks issue from the exit rolls 23 and 24 (FIG. 1) of the printing press and pass beneath the first stream diverting upper rolls 39 and 41 (FIG. 2), the streams of carton blanks are diverted sidewise of the direction of stream advance so that the carton blanks of one stream do not interfere with the carton blanks of the other adjacent stream. As the carton blanks of the streams are separated sidewise, the carton blanks in each stream are separated end from end as the carton blanks are advanced more rapidly by the first stream diverting rolls than they are advanced by the printing press. Then, as the carton blanks are diverted upwardly by the

diverter members

151 and 152 and then downwardly by the

guides

153 and 160, the leading edge of each carton blank enters below the trailing edge of the next preceding carton blank so that shingled streams are formed as the speed of stream advance is reduced to less than the speed of advance of the printing press. Eachofthe upper stream diverting rolls is urged downwardly to grip the carton blanks passing thereunder. The upper stream diverting roll 39 is kept in alignment with the roll'390 by the first crank assembly 71 (FIG. 3) and the rolls 41 and 410 (FIG. 2)

are similarly kept in alignment by a second crank as-- sembly (not shown).

The carton blank stream shingling machine illustrated in the drawings and described above is subject to structural modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 1

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for arranging carton blanks in streams shingle fashion as the carton blanks are delivered by a blank forming machine at a predetermined rate in adjacent streams, the combination comprising means for engaging the carton blanks of each stream and for advancing the carton blanks sidewise of the direction' of carton blank advance to form spaced streams and for accelerating the rate of carton blank advance to aspeed' greater than thepredetermined speed so that the carton blanks in eachstream separate end from end, diverter member'means in the path of the streams,

the diverter member means'including a guide plate portion extending transversely of the direction of stream flow for diverting the carton blanks of each stream so that the trailing edge of each carton blank 'is spaced from the leading edge of the next following carton blank transversely thereof and of the direction of stream flow and means for advancingthe carton blanks of each stream from the diverter member means at a rate less than the predetermined rate, the guide plate portion of the diverter member having a normally stationary guidesurface which is upwardly inclined in the direction of sheet travel'to raise the trailing edge of the the first drive rolls being directed to advance the carton Y blanks sidewise of and along the direction of carton blank flow from the blank forming machine, the carton blanks leaving the first table in spaced streams, the carton blanks engaging the diverter member means as the carton blanks leave the first table, a second table receiving the carton blanks from the diverting means, second drive rolls underlying the second table in position to engage the streams of carton blanks, the second drive rolls being directed to advance the carton blanks along the direction of carton blank flow from the blank forming machine, means for driving the first drive rolls at a rate to advance the carton blanks at the speed greater than the predetermined speed, means for driving the second drive rolls at a rate to advance the carton blanks at the speed less than the predetermined speed, a hold-down roll overlying each of the drive rolls, and means for resiliently urging each of the holddown rolls toward the associated drive roll.

3. A machine as in claim 1 wherein the means for ad- I vancing the carton blanks includes a first table receiving the carton blanks from the blank forming machine, first drive rolls underlying the first table in position to engage the streams of carton blanks crossing the table, the first drive rolls being directed to advance the carton blanks sidewise of and along the direction of carton blanks flow from the blank forming machine, the carton blanks leaving the first table in spaced streams, the carton blanks engaging the diverter member means as the carton blanks leave the first table, a second table receiving the carton blanks from the diverter member means, second drive rolls underlying the second table in position to engage the streams of carton blanks, the second drive rolls being directed to advance the carton blanks sidewise of and along the direction of carton blank flow from the blank forming machine, means for driving the first drive rolls at a rate to advance the carton blanks at the speed greater than the predetermined speed, means fordriving the second drive rolls at a rate to advance the carton blanks at the speed less than the predetermined speed, a hold-down roll overlying each of the drive rolls, and means for resiliently urging each of the hold-down rolls toward the associated drive roll.

4. A machine as in claim 1 wherein the diverter member means includes-an elongated rod extending transversely of the direction of carton blank advance, a first diverter member rotatably mounted on the elongated rod in the path ofa first of the streams of carton blanks, a second diverter member rotatably mounted on the elongated rod in the path of a second of the streams of carton blanks, and means for swinging each of the diverter members between a normal position in which the stream of carton blanks engaged thereby is diverted upwardly and a discharge position in which the stream of carton blanks engaged thereby is diverted downwardly out of the machine.

5. ln a machine for arranging carton blanks in streams shingle fashion as the carton blanks are delivered by a blank forming machine at a predetermined rate in adjacent streams, the combination comprising means for engaging the carton blanks of each stream and for advancing the carton blanks sidewise of the direction of carton blank advance to form spaced streams and for accelerating the rate of carton blank advance to a speed greater than the predetermined speed so that the carton blanks in each stream separate end from end, means for diverting the carton blanks of each stream so that the trailing edge of each carton blank is spaced from the leading edge of the next following carton blank transversely thereof and of the direction of stream flow, and means for advancing the carton blanks of each stream from the diverting means at a rate less than the predetermined rate so that the carton blanksoverlap to form shingled streams, the means for advancing the carton blanks including a first table receiving the carton blanks from the blank forming machine, first drive rolls underlying the first table in position to engage the streams of carton blanks crossing the table, the first drive rolls being directed to advance the carton blanks sidewise of and along the direction of carton blank flow from the blank forming machine, the carton blanks leaving the first table in spaced streams, the carton blanks engaging the diverting means as the carton blanks leave the first table, a second table receiving the carton blanks from the diverting means, second drive rolls underlying the second table in position to engage the streams of carton blanks, the second drive rolls being directed to advance the carton blanks along the direction of carton blank flow from the blank forming machine, means for driving the first drive rolls at a rate to advance the carton blanks at the speed greater than the predetermined speed, means for driving the second drive rolls at a rate to advance the carton blanks at the speed less than the predetermined speed, a hold-down roll overlying each of the drive rolls, and means for resiliently urging each of the holddown rolls toward the associated drive roll, the means for resiliently urging each of the hold-down rolls toward the associated drive roll including a swinging frame having a portion overlying the first drive rolls and movable up and down thereover, a stationary frame overlying said movable frame portion, means on the stationary frame for resiliently urging the overlying portion downwardly, means on the overlying portion for rotatably supporting one of the hold-down rolls above each of the first drive rolls for rotation about an upright axis and for rotation about a horizontal axis, a crank frame pivotally mounted on the horizontal axis, a second one of the hold down rolls being rotatably mounted on each of the crank frames remote from the pivot thereof and overlying one of the second drive rolls, a second stationary frame overlying the second drive rolls, and means on the second stationary frame urging each of the crank frames downwardlyabout the pivot thereof.

Claims

1. In a machine for arranging carton blanks in streams shingle fashion as the carton blanks are delivered by a blank forming machine at a predetermined rate in adjacent streams, the combination comprising means for engaging the carton blanks of each stream and for advancing the carton blanks sidewise of the direction of carton blank advance to form spaced streams and for accelerating the rate of carton blank advance to a speed greater than the predetermined speed so that the carton blanks in each stream separate end from end, diverter member means in the path of the streams, the diverter member means including a guide plate portion extending transversely of the direction of stream flow for diverting the carton blanks of each stream so that the trailing edge of each carton blank is spaced from the leading edge of the next following carton blank transversely thereof and of the direction of stream flow and means for advancing the carton blanks of each stream from the diverter member means at a rate less than the predetermined rate, the guide plate portion of the diverter member having a normally stationary guide surface which is upwardly inclined in the direction of sheet travel to raise the trailing edge of the slower moving carton blank relative to the leading edge of the faster moving succeeding carton blank to allow the leading edge of the succeeding carton blank to underly the trailing edge, so that the carton blanks overlap to form shingled streams.

2. A machine as in claim 1 wherein the means for advancing the carton blanks includes a first table receiving the carton blanks from the blank forming machine, first drive rolls underlying the first table in position to engage the streams of carton blanks crossing the table, the first drive rolls being directed to advance the carton blanks sidewise of and along the direction of carton blank flow from the blank forming machine, the carton blanks leaving the first table in spaced streams, the carton blanks engaging the diverter member means as the carton blanks leave the first table, a second table receiving the carton blanks from the diverting means, second drive rolls underlying the second table in position to engage the streams of carton blanks, the second drive rolls being directed to advance the carton blanks along the direction of carton blank flow from the blank forming machine, means for driving the first drive rolls at a rate to advance the carton blanks at the speed greater than the predetermined speed, means for driving the second drive rolls at a rate to advance the carton blanks at the speed less than the predetermined speed, a hold-down roll overlying each of the drive rolls, and means for resiliently urging each of the hold-down rolls toward the associated drive roll.

3. A machine as in claim 1 wherein the means for advancing the carton blanks includes a first table receiving the carton blanks from the blank forming machine, first drive rolls underlying the first table in position to engage the streams of carton blanks crossing the table, the first drive rolls being directed to advance the carton blanks sidewise of and along the direction of carton blanks flow from the blank forming machine, the carton blanks leaving the first table in spaced streams, the carton blanks engaging the diverter member means as the carton blanks leave the first table, a second table receiving the carton blanks from the diverter member means, second drive rolls underlying the second table in position to engage the streams of carton blanks, the second drive rolls being directed to advance the carton blanks sidewise of and along the direction of carton blank flow from the blank forming machine, means for driving the first drive rolls at a rate to advance the carton blanks at the speed greater than the predetermined speed, means for driving the second drive rolls at a rate to advance the carton blanks at the speed less than the predetermineD speed, a hold-down roll overlying each of the drive rolls, and means for resiliently urging each of the hold-down rolls toward the associated drive roll.

4. A machine as in claim 1 wherein the diverter member means includes an elongated rod extending transversely of the direction of carton blank advance, a first diverter member rotatably mounted on the elongated rod in the path of a first of the streams of carton blanks, a second diverter member rotatably mounted on the elongated rod in the path of a second of the streams of carton blanks, and means for swinging each of the diverter members between a normal position in which the stream of carton blanks engaged thereby is diverted upwardly and a discharge position in which the stream of carton blanks engaged thereby is diverted downwardly out of the machine.

5. In a machine for arranging carton blanks in streams shingle fashion as the carton blanks are delivered by a blank forming machine at a predetermined rate in adjacent streams, the combination comprising means for engaging the carton blanks of each stream and for advancing the carton blanks sidewise of the direction of carton blank advance to form spaced streams and for accelerating the rate of carton blank advance to a speed greater than the predetermined speed so that the carton blanks in each stream separate end from end, means for diverting the carton blanks of each stream so that the trailing edge of each carton blank is spaced from the leading edge of the next following carton blank transversely thereof and of the direction of stream flow, and means for advancing the carton blanks of each stream from the diverting means at a rate less than the predetermined rate so that the carton blanks overlap to form shingled streams, the means for advancing the carton blanks including a first table receiving the carton blanks from the blank forming machine, first drive rolls underlying the first table in position to engage the streams of carton blanks crossing the table, the first drive rolls being directed to advance the carton blanks sidewise of and along the direction of carton blank flow from the blank forming machine, the carton blanks leaving the first table in spaced streams, the carton blanks engaging the diverting means as the carton blanks leave the first table, a second table receiving the carton blanks from the diverting means, second drive rolls underlying the second table in position to engage the streams of carton blanks, the second drive rolls being directed to advance the carton blanks along the direction of carton blank flow from the blank forming machine, means for driving the first drive rolls at a rate to advance the carton blanks at the speed greater than the predetermined speed, means for driving the second drive rolls at a rate to advance the carton blanks at the speed less than the predetermined speed, a hold-down roll overlying each of the drive rolls, and means for resiliently urging each of the hold-down rolls toward the associated drive roll, the means for resiliently urging each of the hold-down rolls toward the associated drive roll including a swinging frame having a portion overlying the first drive rolls and movable up and down thereover, a stationary frame overlying said movable frame portion, means on the stationary frame for resiliently urging the overlying portion downwardly, means on the overlying portion for rotatably supporting one of the hold-down rolls above each of the first drive rolls for rotation about an upright axis and for rotation about a horizontal axis, a crank frame pivotally mounted on the horizontal axis, a second one of the hold down rolls being rotatably mounted on each of the crank frames remote from the pivot thereof and overlying one of the second drive rolls, a second stationary frame overlying the second drive rolls, and means on the second stationary frame urging each of the crank frames downwardly about the pivot thereof.