Smart die output lane assembly

1 . A die output lane assembly for receiving one or more blank from a cutting die of a die-cutter machine, the die output lane assembly comprising:

a frame for positioning adjacent to the die-cutter machine, the frame comprising:

a first frame member configured to be removably attached to the cutting die of the die-cutter machine,

a second frame member spaced apart from the first frame member so that the second frame member is in a spaced relationship with the cutting die when the first frame member is connected to the cutting die, and

a plurality of spaced apart support structures extending between and supported by the first and second frame members to define one or more lane that receives the one or more blank from the die-cutter machine and temporarily stores the one or more blank in the one or more lane,

wherein the first and second frame members span the plurality of support structures; and

one or more memory device in a fixed relationship with the frame and storing data associated with the die output lane assembly thereon, the data including each of the following: a dimension of the die output lane assembly, a dimension of the cutting die of the die-cutter machine, a dimension of the one or more blank, a pick position for removing the one or more blank by a robot arm, a retraction path for removing the one or more blank by the robot arm, a speed of the robot arm for part handling, and a placement position for storing the one or more blank by the robot arm.

2 . The die output lane assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensor supported on the frame and configured to detect a capacity of the one or more lane.

3 . The die output lane assembly of claim 2 , wherein the one or more sensor is configured to output a signal representative of the capacity of the one or more lane to a controller of a robot.

4 . The die output lane assembly of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises one or more reinforcing brace connected to the first and second frame members.

5 . The die output lane assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more pressure plate movable along the plurality of spaced apart support structures.

6 . The die output lane assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a pneumatic system at least partially supported on the frame and that biases the one or more pressure plate toward a one or more opening of the cutting die of the die-cutter machine to maintain the one or more blank in a vertical orientation.

7 . The die output lane assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an ethernet cable connected to the one or more memory device for transmitting the data associated with the die output lane assembly to a controller of a robot.

8 . The die output lane assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more memory device comprises non-volatile memory.

9 . The die output lane assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and second frame members defines at least a portion of the one or more lane.

10 . The die output lane assembly of claim 1 , wherein a lane of the one or more lane defined by the plurality of spaced apart support structures is coaxial with an opening of the cutting die of the die-cutter machine when the frame is positioned adjacent to the cutting die.

11 . A die output lane assembly for receiving a plurality of blanks from a cutting die of a die-cutter machine, the die output lane assembly comprising:

a frame for positioning adjacent to the die-cutter machine, the frame comprising:

two or more spaced apart frame members, at least one of the two or more frame members being configured to removably attach to the cutting die of the die- cutter machine and defining a portion of a plurality of lanes,

a plurality of spaced apart support structures extending between and supported by the two or more frame members to define a portion of the plurality of lanes, wherein the two or more frame members span the plurality of support structures,

one or more first pressure plate movable along one or more of the plurality of support structures and having a first shape corresponding to blanks of the plurality of blanks that exit the cutting die at a first orientation, and

one or more second pressure plate movable along one or more of the plurality of support structures and having a second shape corresponding to blanks of the plurality of blanks that exit the cutting die at a second orientation that is different than the first orientation; and

one or more memory device in a fixed relationship with the frame and storing data associated with the die output lane assembly thereon, the data including each of the following: a dimension of the die output lane assembly, a dimension of the cutting die of the die-cutter machine, a dimension of the plurality of blanks, pick positions for removing the plurality of blanks by a robot arm, retraction paths for removing the plurality of blanks by the robot arm, a speed of the robot arm for part handling, and a placement position for storing the plurality of blanks by the robot arm.

12 . The die output lane assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first orientation is a vertical, upright orientation.

13 . The die output lane assembly of claim 12 , wherein the second orientation is a vertical, upside down orientation.

14 . The die output lane assembly of claim 11 , wherein the frame comprises:

a plurality of braces connected to the two or more spaced apart frame members, and

one or more leg supporting the plurality of braces.

15 . A system for producing sidewalls of paper cups from a web, the system comprising:

a die-cutter machine comprising—

a cutting die with a plurality of openings for forming the sidewalls, and

a punch configured to press the web against the cutting die and push the sidewalls formed therein out of the openings;

a die output lane assembly temporarily attached to the cutting die, the die output lane assembly comprising—

a plurality of support structures that define a plurality of lanes, the support structures operable to receive the sidewalls from the openings of the cutting die,

a frame comprising:

a first frame member configured to be temporarily attached to the cutting die and spanning the plurality of support structures to support first ends of the plurality of support structures,

a second frame member spaced apart from the first frame member so that the second frame member is in a spaced relationship with the cutting die when the first frame member is connected to the cutting die, the second frame member spanning the plurality of support structures to support second ends of the plurality of support structures,

sensors attached to the frame and configured to generate data representative of capacities of the plurality of lanes, and

a memory device secured to the frame and storing data associated with the die output lane assembly thereon, the data including each of the following: a dimension of the die output lane assembly, a dimension of the cutting die of the die-cutter machine, a dimension of the one or more blank, a pick position for removing the one or more blank by a robot arm, a retraction path for removing the one or more blank by the robot arm, a speed of the robot arm for part handling, and a placement position for storing the one or more blank by the robot arm;

a robot arm operable to remove the sidewalls from the die output lane assembly; and

a controller remote from the die output lane assembly and in communication with the robot arm, the controller being configured to:

connect to the memory device,

receive the data associated with the die output lane assembly,

direct the robot arm to remove the sidewalls from the die output lane assembly,

receive the data representative of capacities of the plurality of lanes, and

transmit a signal representative of at least one of an instruction to the robot arm to adjust a speed of operation of the robot arm or an instruction to the die-cutter machine to adjust an operation rate based at least in part on the data representative of the capacities of the plurality of lanes.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the die output lane assembly comprises a plurality of pressure plates movable along the plurality of support structures and operable to maintain the sidewalls in the plurality of lanes so that the sidewalls form horizontal stacks in the plurality of lanes of the die output lane assembly.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of pressure plates comprises: one or more first pressure plate having a first shape corresponding to some of said sidewalls that exit one or more of the plurality of openings of the cutting die at a first orientation, and one or more second pressure plate movable along one or more of the plurality of support structures and having a second shape corresponding to some of said sidewalls that exit the one or more of the plurality of openings of the cutting die at a second orientation that is different than the first orientation.