AU2010231282A1

AU2010231282A1 - Installation and method for packaging components in the form of strips

Info

Publication number: AU2010231282A1
Application number: AU2010231282A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Pascal Falcoz; Didier Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-03-31
Filing date: 2010-03-16
Publication date: 2011-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-16
Also published as: ES2503554T3; WO2010112724A1; FR2943632B1; EP2414244B1; AU2010231282B2; FR2943632A1; EP2414244B8; EP2414244A1

Abstract

An installation for packaging components in the form of strips, each of the components having a through-aperture, while the strips consist of a stack of components, characterized in that it comprises: a stacking device composed of a plurality of pins (4) able to take, by guided sliding, the apertures in the components fitted on a mount plate (5) placed underneath a charging plate (6) provided with perforations opposite the pins fitted on the plate (5) and in which said pins are inserted, free to move translationally vertically, and with a device for manoeuvring the mount (5) translationally vertically. A pressing device composed of a support plate, arranged horizontally above the plate (6) and provided with through-perforations able to take, by sliding freely, the pins (4), held by the mount plate (5), of a printed circuit board on which the vertical compression force of a mechanism is exerted and which is secured to the support plate by means of posts.

Description

1 INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING COMPONENTS IN THE FORM OF STRIPS The invention relates to the tools for packaging components at the output of production machines and, more particularly, a method and an installation for packaging in the form of strips of components comprising a through 5 aperture. At the output of production machines, for example injection moulding machines for thermoplastics, the components, all identical, must be packaged in order to allow them to be transported to other stations where they 10 will be assembled, for example, with other components, in a manufacturing process. In order to carry out this function, machines are known, in particular vibratory bowl feeders which provides for the automatic lifting of the bulk components. 15 However the lifting is made difficult in the case of components that comprise complex geometric shapes and the entanglement of the components cannot be controlled. Machines for stacking components comprising a guiding via the exterior of the latter are also known. 20 The guiding is carried out by means of devices that are 2 added laterally or that are entirely closed, such as wells, ducts or cases. These devices do not make it possible to fully control the falling of the components into the guiding device, leading to risks of turning over 5 or placing askew of the components, which requires the adding of devices for controlling the falling and the putting back into position of poorly arranged components. Furthermore, with this type of device, the constitution of rigid stacks is complex as it requires 10 plunging a long shape into each guiding device in order to transmit the pressure making it possible to squeeze the components against each other. This shape, according to its length, is subject to deformation and/or decentring by the play generated by the repetition of the 15 movements, it can even break. At the end of the process, the clearing and the extracting of the pressed stacks is also complex, either all of the device for guiding, controlling and putting back into position must be cleared from the plate support, 20 or a device making it possible to extract, from above, each pile from each guiding device must be brought above this highly complex technical unit. It can be conceived that such a tool is complex and therefore costly and that at each step of the process it 25 is subject to malfunctions which increase the time and the cost of said process. The purpose of the invention is therefore to propose a machine allowing for the stacking of the components and the simultaneous constitution of a large number of solid 30 strips, in a simple and perfectly reliable manner. To this effect, one of the objects of the invention is an installation for packaging in the form of strips of 3 components comprising a through-aperture, This installation comprises: - A device for stacking comprised of a plurality of pins able to take, by guided sliding, the apertures of 5 the components, fitted, in a removable manner, in a mount plate placed underneath a charging plate provided with perforations opposite the pins fitted on the support and in which are inserted, free to move translationally vertically, said pins and a device for manoeuvring the 10 mount translationally vertically. - A system for the guiding in axial translation of the device for stacking towards the pressing device, and inversely, in the event the charging zone is different from the pressing zone. 15 - A pressing device comprised of a support plate, arranged horizontally above the charging plate, provided with through-perforations able to take, by sliding freely, the pins held by the mount plate, of a printed circuit board on which the vertical compression force provided by 20 an appropriate mechanism and which is secured to the support plate by means of posts. According to other advantageous characteristics of the invention: - The section of the pins is calculated in order to 25 adapt to the shape of the interior aperture of the component to be packaged by providing a guided falling and without obstacle of said component along the pin. - Alternatively, the pins are constituted of a device comprising at least two rods, dimensioned in 30 diameter and in spacing according to the shape of the interior aperture of the component to be packaged, fixed at the lower portion in the mount plate and 4 advantageously connected together at the top in order to maintain their spacing and provide the rigidity of the unit. - The mount plate of the device for stacking holds 5 inserted posts, free to move translationally, in the charging plate in order to guide the vertical translation movement of the mount plate and of the pins in relation to said plate. - The support plate of the pressing device comprises 10 through-perforations able to take, by sliding freely, the posts held by the mount plate. - The pressing device comprises guide posts of the support plate passing through, free to move translationally, said plate, 15 - A comb is arranged in the vicinity of the device for stacking and driven_ in translation perpendicularly to the displacement of the charging plate in order to group the strips together and direct them to a storage table adjacent to said plate. 20 Finally, the invention further has for object a method for packaging for the implementation of the method for packaging which comprises the following steps: - Arrangement, at the output of manufacturing tools, of the components to be packaged above the device for 25 stacking, engaging of the aperture of each of the components on one of the pins in such a way as to always have, when they are received on the charging table, an identical face on the top of the stack formed as such. - Transport of the pins charged with stacks of 30 components underneath the pressing device and compression of the stacks by said device with a sufficient force in 5 order to secure the components of each pile to each other in such a way as to form a solid strip. - Removal of the charging plate from the pressing zone. 5 - Removal of the device for stacking in order to release the strips. - Grouping together of the strips in 'order to direct them towards a storage table adjacent to the plate, Alternatively to the method, one or several 10 intermediary phases of pressing are carried out in order to consolidate the stacks that are currently being formed, and make the pressing pressure homogenous. Other' characteristics and advantages of the invention shall appear clearly when reading the 25 description hereinafter, provided for the purposes of information in reference to the annexed drawings wherein; - Figure 1 is a view of the upper face of an example of a component to be packaged, - Figure 2 is a view of the lower face of the same 20 component, - Figure 3 is a view of the installation according to the invention in charging position of the components, - Figure 4 is a view analogous to figure 3 in the pressing position of the components, 25 - Figure 5 is a side view of the installation, in the pressing position of the components, - Figure 6 is an axial cross-section view of the system for charging components, - Figure 7 is an axial cross-section view of the 30 pressing system, in the pressing phase of the components, - Figure 8 is a view analogous to figure 7, in the phase of bringing the components, 6 - Figure 9 is a top view of the installation. By way of example, figures 1 and 2 show, respectively the views of the upper face and of the lower face, of a component (1) made via injection and packaged 5 by the device 1 according to the invention. This component contains an aperture (2) of a complex geometric shape made through the entire thickness of the latter. It is conceivable that such components must be packaged in an orderly manner at the output of the injection moulding 10 machine in order to prevent the entanglement thereof. The installation, such as is shown in figures 3 and 4, comprises two working zones fitted on a common frame (3). The zone (A) is devoted to the charging of the 15 components in vertical stacks and the zone (B) to the formation of the strips. The charging zone (A) is comprised, as can- be seen better in figure (3, 4 and 6), of pins (4) whereon the components (1) are intended to be stacked. 20 Consequently, the section of these pins is determined by the shape of the interior aperture (2) of the component (1) . The shape of the section corresponds to the perimeter of this aperture less a recess according to the thickness of the component and reduced to its 25 simplest expression. For this, the points of contact required for the guiding of the component during its fall along the pin are determined and the portions of the interior form than can cause a catching are eliminated. The final shape of 30 the section of the pin is then reduced using only the minimum points retained.

-7 The pins (4) are fitted, advantageously in a removable manner, into a mount plate (5) wherein they are arranged in a line and in rows. The plate (5) is placed underneath a plate (6) provided with perforations 5 opposite the pins fitted on said plate and in which are inserted, free to move translationally vertically, said pins. Fitting the pins in a removable manner allows the user to fit other types of pins for the stacking of other components of different shapes. 10 Advantageously, the number of pins held by the mount plate is equal to the number of components carried out in a single operation by the production machine. For example, this number corresponds to that of the indentations of the injection mould. 15 The mount plate (5) further holds inserted posts (7), free to move translationally, in the plate (6) and intended to guide the vertical translation movement of the plate (5) and of the pins (4) in relation to this plate. 20 The vertical translation movement of the plate (5) is provided by an appropriate mechanism, for example a cylinder (8). As can be seen more particularly in figure 6, on each of the two lower lateral edges of the plate (6) is 25 further fixed an inverted U shape profile (9) cooperating with a rail (10) fitted on the frame (3) in order to constitute a system for guiding in axial translation the' plate (6) from the charging zone (A) to the zone (B) for forming strips, and inversely. 30 As is shown in figure 7, the zone (B) is comprised of a pressing plate (11) arranged horizontally above the plate (6) when the latter is brought into the zone (13), 8 of guide posts (12) passing through the plate (11) through the conduits (13) of a cylinder (14) of which the pressing force is transmitted by a printed circuit board (15) to the plate (11) by means of posts (16). 5 The plate (11) comprises through-perforations (17 and 18) able to take, by sliding freely, respectively, the pins 4 and the posts (7), held by the mount plate (5). Note that the -height of the posts (16) is calculated in order to prevent the contact of the pins (4) with the 10 printed circuit board (15) during the pressing operation. In liaison with the description hereinabove, the process that makes it possible to implement the installation shall now be disclosed. At the output of the manufacturing tools, the 15 components (1) are brought, either manually, or using a robotised device (not shown) above the zone (A), inserted on the pins (4) and taken on the charging plate (6), in such a way as to always have an identical face (19) on the top of the stack, 20 At the end of the charging of the pins (figure 6), the plate (6) holding said pins, is transported by translation from the profiles (9) on the rails (10), underneath the pressing device of the zone (B), More preferably, the components comprise means of 25 snap-fitting making it possible to assemble them to each other, by pressing. As shown in figures 1 and 2, one of the faces (19) of the components (1) holds, for example, protruding lugs (20) while the opposite face (21) comprises recesses (22) shaped to take the lugs (20), 30 As such as has been disclosed hereinabove, the components are charged on the pins, with the same face (19) of each component always being on the top of the 9 stack in such a way that it is in contact with the face (21) of the immediately upper component, which places the lugs (20) that it holds in contact with the recesses (22) of said upper component, 5 The pressing printed circuit board (15), controlled by the cylinder (14), cause the descent of the support plate (11) guided by the guide posts (12) on the pins (6) (figure 7) in such a way that the plate (11) comes into contact with the components (1) and, thanks to the 10 pressing force exerted on the latter provides the insertion of the lugs (20) into the recesses (22). All of the components constituting the stack of each pin (4) are as such secured to each other (figure 8) and form a strip (23) that can be manipulated easily. 15 At the end of the strip forming process, the unit constituted by the plate (6) and the mount plate (5) is brought to zone (A), then the cylinder (8) drives downwards the plate (5) holding the pins (4) and the guide posts (7). At the same time, the pressing unit is 20 driven upwards by the cylinder (14) releasing the plate (6) whereon remains only the strips (23) ready to be brought to the next station. A comb (24) provided with at least two latter wings (25) and driven in translation by a cylinder (26), 25 perpendicularly to the displacement of the plate (6), brings together the strips (23) in order to direct them to a storage table (22) adjacent to the plate. More preferably, this table is provided with grooves (28) in order to guide the strips in translation. 30 Advantageously the grooves become closer in the forward direction of the comb in order to form a chute 10 which allows for a grouping together of the strips in the transversal direction. At the end of travel, the strips are squeezed against each other into compact blocks able to be covered 5 with a packaging film or a packaging carton. The pressing force exerted on the stacks in order to attach the components together is calculated in order to make it possible to then detach them, either manually, or by means of an automatic dispenser. 10 As such, the method and the installation that has just been described allow for the stacking by gravity over a high height of identical components, in particular with a complex geometrical shape comprising a central through-hole, and their packaging into solid and 15 homogeneous strips. They further make it possible to maintain the stacks being constituted and the control of the positioning of each new component stacked, The installation provides great precision in the positioning of the components and in the distribution of 20 the pressing force. From this stems greater consistency in the quality of the strips which provides an advantage for their use, in particular with an automatic dispensing device. It is well understood that the pins (4) making it 25 possible to maintain the components during their descent have a section that is adapted to the cross cutting of the component, however they are fitted in a removable manner in the mount plate (5), which makes it possible to easily adapt the installation to several types of 30 components. The guiding system makes it possible to use pins of a substantial height while still preserving their 11 rigidity and the precision of their positioning at the upper point, with the pins not undergoing any mechanical stress. This therefore provides a perfect centring in relation to the components presented by the grasping hand 5 of the charging robot. Furthermore, the recourse to a pressing plate through which the pins pass makes it possible to exert a precise pressure on the stacks. These properties which eliminate the problems of 10 breakage or of wear due to the decentring are essential for the proper operation and the longevity of the tool, Of course the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment which has just been described, it includes all of the technical equivalents of these means 15 as well as combinations of them. This is as. such, for example, that the components can be assembled together by elastic pinching, stapling or any attaching system that can be implemented by an adapted pressure and then detached later. 20 Alternatively, the comb (24) can be provided with teeth spaced by an interval that is substantially equal to the width of the strips in such a way as to form as many rows as there are intervals when they are collected. In another embodiment, the pins are constituted of a 25 device comprising at least two rods dimensioned in diameter and in spacing in such a way as to constitute an internal guide along which the components slide vertically, by gravity, in order to create the stacking. These rods are fixed at the lower portion into the mount 30 plate and connected together at the top in order to maintain their spacing and provide the rigidity of the unit.

12 In order to consolidate and homogenise the squeezing pressure of the stacks in the process of elaboration, it is also possible to provide one or several intermediary phases of pressing carried out, possibly, with a pressure 5 that is less than that used for the final operation of forming the strips, According to an alternative embodiment, a device can be conceived according to which 'the charging zone (A) would be confounded with the pressing zone (B). 10

Claims

1. Installation for packaging in the form of strips (23) of components (1) with each of the components comprising a through-aperture (2), while the strips are constituted by a stacking of components characterised in that it 5 comprises: - A device for stacking comprised of a plurality of pins (4) able to take, by guided sliding, the apertures (2) of the components (1), fitted, on a mount plate (5) placed underneath a charging plate (6) provided with 10 perforations opposite the pins fitted on the plate (5) and in which are inserted, free to move translationally vertically, said pins and a device(8) for manoeuvring the mount(5) translationally vertically. - A pressing device composed of a support plate (11), 15 arranged horizontally above the plate (6), provided with through-perforation 5 (17) able to take, by sliding freely, the pins (4) held by the mount plate (5), of a printed circuit board (15) on which the vertical compression force provided by a mechanism (14) and which is secured 20 to the support plate (11) by means of posts (16).

2. Installation for packaging according to claim 1, characterised in that the mount plate (5) of the device for stacking holds inserted posts (7), free to move 25 translationally, in the plate (6) in order to guide the vertical translation movement of the plate (5) and of the pins (4) in relation to plate (6).

3. Installation for packaging according to one of the 30 preceding claims, characterized in that the support plate 14 (11) of the pressing device comprises through perforations (18) able to take, by sliding freely,- the posts (7) held by the mount plate (5), 5

4. Installation for packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pressing device comprises pillars (12) for guiding the through support plate (11), free to move translationally. 10

5. Installation for packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the section of the pins (4) is calculated in its shapes and in its dimensions to the shape of, the interior aperture (2) of the components (1) to be packaged by providing a guided 15 falling and without obstacle of said component along the pin.

G. Installation for packaging according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the pins are constituted of 20 a device comprising at least two rods, dimensioned in diameter and in spacing according to the shape of the interior aperture of the component to be packaged, fixed at the lower portion in the mount plate (5) and connected together at the top in order to maintain their spacing 25 and provide the rigidity of the unit.

7. Installation for packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a comb (24) is arranged in the vicinity of- the device for stacking and 30 is driven in translation perpendicularly to the displacement of the plate (6) in order to group together 15 the strips (23) and to direct them towards a storage table (27) adjacent to said plate,

8. Installation for packaging as claimed in any preceding 5 claim, characterised in that it comprises a guiding system (9, 10) in axial translation of the device for stacking towards the pressing device and inversely.

9. Components intended to be packaged in strips by the 10 installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that they comprise means of snap-fitting making it possible to assemble them together, during the pressing. 15

10. Method for packaging for the implementation of the installation according to the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises the following steps: - Arrangement, at the output of manufacturing tools, of the components (1) above the device for stacking (4, 5, 20 6), engaging of the aperture (2) of each of the components (1) on one of the pins (4) in such a way as to always have, when they are received on the charging table (6), an identical face (19) on the top of the stack formed as such, 25 - Transport of the pins charged with stacks of components underneath the pressing device (11, 15, 16) and compression of the stacks by said device with a sufficient force in order to secure the components of each pile to each other in such a way as to form a solid 30 strip (23). - Removal of the pins (4) and of the pressing unit in order to release the strips (23). 16 - Removal of the charging plate (6) of the pressing zone, - Grouping together of the strips (23) in order to direct them towards a storage table (27) adjacent to the plate. 5

11. Method for packaging according to claim 10, characterised in that one or several intermediary phases of pressing are carried out in order to consolidate the stacks in the process of elaboration.