EA034665B1 - Clipping staple feed mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to food industry, in particular to equipment designed for packaging various products in tubular or bag-like sleeve casing, in particular to produce sausages. The claimed invention solves the problem of developing a paper clip feed mechanism for a clipper that would enable using paper clips with legs of varying length and various types of shells. The task set is solved the following way: the device includes the feed mechanism (5) to feed clip (6) to the clipper fitted with a bottom clamping tool (7) controlled by the cam (22) of the drive of the lower clamping tool (7), the cam containing feed fork (24) mounted on axis (28) and controlled by the lever (27) of the drive mechanism (5) feeding the clip (6), the device difference is that the drive of the clip feeding mechanism (5) (6) is fitted with a separate profiled cam (23) connected to the lever (25) of the clip (6) feeding mechanism (5) to actuate the feeding (24) in its reciprocating motion in the vertical plane, and a controlled linear drive to actuate the feeding fork (24) in a reciprocating rotational motion around the said axis (28) via the second lever (27), the cam profile (23) of staple mechanism (5) feeding clip (6) and the cam profile (22) of the drive of the lower clamping tool (7) are designed to synchronize motions of the lower clamping tool (7) and the lever (25) of the drive of feeding mechanism (5) that feeds clip (6).

Description

The invention relates to the food industry, and in particular to equipment designed for packaging various products in a tubular or bag-like sleeve casing, in particular in the production of sausages.

The invention relates to an automatic clipper, designed for automatic pinching and corking with H2-H21 clips in accordance with TU RB 03327523.008 of various plastic fillers in polymer, cellophane, protein and other used for mechanical clipping, sleeve casings, cutting the shell between the loaves, interacting with the pumping device and if necessary, securing the twine loop under the paper clip, applying the manufacturing date (or expiration date) by branding the paper clip.

Such clippers contain in most cases a cam drive that defines the law of movement of the locking levers with clamping tools fixed to them. To transfer force to the closing levers, for example, a simple lever or a crank-lever mechanism are used [1].

For the clippers described above, staples are usually used, made of stamped aluminum wire tape, interconnected at the ends of their legs, thus forming a common bond plane. The clips made in this way are wound on a coil having a certain inner diameter. A reel with the required number of staples is mounted on the clipper.

The free end of the chain of clips is introduced into the guide channel, through which the clip is fed to the lower clamping tool (matrix) using a feed mechanism.

The movement of the rapprochement of the clamping tools is performed with a time offset by means of mechanical coupling, which allows you to set the necessary law of motion. First, a paper clip is fed, laying it on the matrix, the lower locking lever carrying the matrix is rotated to the locked position of the tools. In this position, the very first clip is installed in the corresponding matrix slot and is preloaded by a spring-loaded clip and a formed sheath bundle (flagellum). As long as the lower clamping tool (die) remains in this position, the upper clamping tool (punch) is moved to the lower clamping tool by turning around the same axis.

Immediately prior to closing the clip, the frontmost clip is separated from the subsequent chain of clips using the cutting elements provided on the clamping tools. At this moment, the separated clip is free and pressed against the lower clamping tool only by tensioning the sheath bundle. As the clamping tools come closer together, the clip deforms until the clamping tools approach the end point of the closure and the clip is completely closed around the sheath bundle.

In modern conditions of using automatic clippers, there is a need for clipping various types of products into various types of sleeve casings. For various types of shells, it is necessary to apply various types of paper clips both in physical properties (the material from which they are made) and in geometric parameters (paper pitch, thickness, overall dimensions, etc.). When using various clips, both the size of their clamp and the opening angle of both closing levers moving relative to each other change. As a result of this, depending on the length of the legs of the undeformed clip, the upper clamping tool acts on both legs simultaneously.

This problem is solved in the technical solution according to [2].

The clipper according to the specified patent contains a housing with a clamping mechanism mounted on it, made in the form of 2 pairs of converging shaped cheeks, an axial pulling mechanism for the cheeks, a clip supply mechanism to the clipping zone and a clip clip mechanism made in the form of movable relative to each other to a friend between the open position and the locking position of the lower and upper clamping tools, and the lower clamping tool is configured to move from the open position to the locking position due to gates around the axis, and the upper clamping tool is made with the possibility of rectilinear movement from the open position to the position of the circuit.

As mentioned earlier, for the devices described above, staples made of stamped aluminum wire tape are usually used, interconnected at the ends of their legs, forming a common bond plane. The clips made in this way are wound on a coil having a certain inner diameter. A reel with the required number of staples is mounted on the clipper.

The free end of the staple chain is introduced into the guide channel, through which the staple is fed to the lower clamping tool using the staple feed mechanism. In this position, the very first clip is installed in the corresponding socket of the lower clamping tool and is preloaded by a spring-loaded clip. When winding from the reel, the chain of staples retains the residual curvature from the winding, which leads to incorrect orientation of the staple when the lower clamping tool is installed in the bed. At the time of separation, the clip is free and pressed against the lower clamping tool only due to the tension of the sheath bundle. When using sufficiently strong shells, a paper clip

- 1 034665 can partially be pressed against the lower clamping tool (matrix) due to the tension of the flagellum. However, if the clipper is used for clipping various types of sheaths, then the weak effect of the flagellum formed from a less durable sheath on the paper clip can lead to the displacement of the paper clip, which will damage the sheath. As a result of this, the action of the upper clamping tool on the legs of the paper clip can lead to asymmetric closure of the paper clip, and this, in turn, leads to leaky corking of the product, which is unacceptable.

The closest to the claimed design of the paper clip feeding mechanism [3] is known for clippers of this kind, in which the paper clip feeding mechanism is integrated in the matrix drive lever and has a rigid kinematic connection with the cam shaft using drive roller chains. The feed plug of this device works synchronously with the matrix drive lever, performing useful work (feeding a clip to the desired step) in a certain phase of the operation cycle. The feed is carried out at the moment when the process of clamping the paper clip is completed and the drive lever of the matrix begins to return to its original position (lower position).

Known unwanted effects:

1. At the start of the supply phase, the clip portion engaged with the feed fork and the clip portion located in the clip input channel are at a relatively large angle. Each time the paper clip is moved to the required step, the chain of paper clips experiences an additional load from the friction forces moving along such a channel path, overcoming the friction forces caused by the bending of the paper chain. Since the clipper is used to work with various types of shells, there is a need to use staples with various geometric and mechanical properties. When using staples with worse mechanical properties, there is a possibility of stretching the staple chain, and hence violation of the pitch between the staples. As a result, the engagement conditions of the feed fork and the staple chain are violated.

For this reason, the paper clip is deformed, and as a result, the paper clip is jammed in the guide channel, which can lead to malfunctions of the clipper.

2. The drive of the clip feeder is connected to the main drive using a chain roller transmission, therefore, excess power is transferred to the fork of the clip feeder. In the event of congestion caused by stretching the paper clip, the feed mechanism experiences increased loads, which can cause breakdown of one of the components of the paper clip supply mechanism, or chain stretching. When the drive chain is stretched, the engagement condition of the feed fork and the staple chain is violated, which can lead to malfunctions of the clipper.

3. The use of a roller chain as a drive element is undesirable from the point of view of sanitization in view of the difficulty of washing out all the chain links. Attempts to protect the chain drive dramatically worsen service conditions.

To make adjustments to the clip clamp value (stroke value of the upper clamping tool - punch), clippers use the already known punch stroke adjustment mechanism [4].

The known design of the regulator of the stroke of the punch consists of the following main components: screw, nut, cover, plate, scale.

The adjustment knob is installed in the nut hole. Using a wrench, a nut is rotated, which, through a threaded connection, transmits torque to the screw. Since the screw is fixed against rotation, an axial linear movement of the screw occurs. The clip clamp is determined by the thread pitch between the screw and nut. If the direction of the thread winding is right, then when the nut is turned clockwise, the screw rises, the axis moves up, the punch travel decreases, therefore, the height of the clamped paper clip increases and the clip clamp size decreases.

To ensure the rotation of the nut with the muscular power of the operator, a clearance between the nut and the cover is necessary. There is always a gap in the screw connection between the screw and nut. The presence of all these gaps adversely affects the height of the clamped paper clip. During the operation of the equipment there are vibrations and shock loads. These loads adversely affect the threaded connection between the screw and nut; since they lead to loosening of the nut and, as a result, during operation, it is possible to change the height of the clamped paper clip.

The claimed invention solves the problem of creating a paper clip feeding mechanism for a clipper, allowing the use of paper clips with legs of different heights and various types of shells.

The problem in the paper clip feed mechanism for a clipper equipped with a lower clamping tool controlled from a lower clamping tool drive cam containing a feed fork mounted on an axis and controlled by a paper clip supply drive lever is solved by the mechanism drive having a separate profile drive mechanism cam a paper clip coupled to a drive lever of a paper clip feeding mechanism for giving a reciprocating fork in a vertical plane and controlling yaemym linear actuator for imparting the drive lever via a second feeding clip feed mechanism fork reciprocating rotary motion in said second axis, wherein the profile of the cam actuator and the clip feeding mechanism of the cam profile of the lower clamping tool drive formed for synchronous

- 2 034665 movements of the lower clamping tool and the drive lever of the staple feed mechanism.

All linear drives used in the claimed devices are preferably made in the form of pneumatic cylinders controlled by a clipper control system.

Examples of the implementation of the claimed clip feeding mechanism for the clipper as part of the corresponding clipper and the procedure for their operation are shown in the following non-limiting drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the claimed clipper;

FIG. 2 is a view A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 - paper feed mechanism in the paper feed position;

FIG. 4 - region B in FIG. 3, increased;

FIG. 5 is a paper clip feeding mechanism in a preparation position for a paper clip feeding;

FIG. 6 - region B in FIG. 5, increased;

FIG. 7 - regulator of the magnitude of the stroke of the upper clamping tool in the adjustment position; FIG. 8 - regulator of the magnitude of the stroke of the upper clamping tool in the locked position; FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a filler assembly with a clipper during operation;

FIG. 10 - possible positions of the paper clip in case of various residual deformations of the paper chain after unwinding from the coil;

FIG. 11 - region G in FIG. 10, increased;

FIG. 12 - movement of clamping tools;

FIG. 13 - the position of the paper clip at the time of the beginning of the action of the upper clamping tool;

FIG. 14 - position of the paper clip at the moment of contact with the cutting part of the upper clamping tool;

FIG. 15 - position of the paper clip at the time of separation;

FIG. 16 - the position of the legs of the paper clip at the point of closure;

FIG. 17 - clip clips at the maximum point of closure of the clamping tools.

The clipper includes a housing 1 (see Fig. 1, 2) with a pinch mechanism 2 mounted on it, made in the form of 2 pairs of converging shaped cheeks 3 and 4 (see Fig. 9), made with the possibility of axial broaching (mechanism axial broaching of the cheeks in the drawing is not shown), the mechanism 5 for supplying the paper clip 6 (see Fig. 3-6) to the clipping zone and the clamping mechanism for the paper clip 6, made in the form of installed with the possibility of movement in relation to each other between the open position and the closing position lower clamping tool (hereinafter matrix) 7 and upper clamping tool a (hereinafter punch) 8.

On the surface of the punch 8 (see Fig. 11, 13-17) in the region of convergence of the legs of the clip 6, a centering protrusion 9 is made, made in this example with a triangular cross section, with an angle at the apex directed towards the matrix 7. Form of the cross section the centering protrusion can be different: trapezoidal, semicircular or biconcave, the main thing is that its sides are equal and made inclined so that their intersection point is directed towards the matrix 7 for uniform folding of the legs of the clip 6 when clip IAOD.

The clipper is equipped with upper curved guides 10 (see Fig. 12) for moving the said punch 8 along the radius R under the influence of the lever 11 mounted on the first axis 12, made with the possibility of changing position. The axis 12 is connected by an additional lever 13 to the regulator of the stroke 14 of the punch 8. The regulator of the stroke 14 of the punch 8 (see Fig. 7, 8) consists of a screw 15 with a transverse beam 16 fixed to it, connected to the specified additional lever 13 and by means of a thread - with an adjusting nut 17; the base plate 18 and the cover 19. The regulator of the stroke 14 of the punch 8 is equipped with a controllable linear actuator made in this example in the form of a pneumatic cylinder 20 with the possibility of transmitting the force directed towards the action of the working load during clipping onto the screw 15 by acting on the crosshead 16.

The matrix 7 is made with the possibility of movement from the open position to the position of the circuit under the influence of the lever 21 of the drive matrix (see Fig. 3-6) associated with the profile cam 22 of the drive matrix. The drive of the feed mechanism 5 of the clip 6 is equipped with a separate profile cam 23 connected to the feed fork 24 through a lever 25 to give the feed fork 24 a vertical reciprocating movement and controlled by a linear actuator in this example in the form of a pneumatic cylinder 26 controlled by a clipper control system (in the drawing not shown), for giving, through the second lever 27, the feed fork 24 of the reciprocating movement on the second axis 28. The profiles of the cam 23 of the drive mechanism 5 for feeding the paper clip 6 and the cam 22 of the drive matrix 7 are us to synchronize movements of the die 7 and the drive lever 25 of the feeder 5 6 staples.

Before the start of the work cycle, the clip clamp is adjusted (i.e., the stroke of the punch).

The stroke amount controller 14 of the punch 8 is further shown in FIG. 7 and 8 in the upper and lower extreme positions.

Using the adjusting knob (not shown), which is installed in the hole 29, rotate the nut 17. The linear axial movement of the nut 17 is limited by the end surfaces

- 3 034665 mi cover 19 and the base plate 18. The nut 17 due to the threaded connection transmits the torque to the screw 15. The beam 16 is rigidly connected to the screw 15. Since the screw 15 from rotation is fixed by the lever 13 and the first axis 12, there is an axial linear movement of the screw 15. The thread pitch between the screw 15 and the nut 17 determines the size of the clip clip. The preferred direction of thread winding is right. Therefore, rotating the nut 17 clockwise, lift the screw 15 and, accordingly, decrease the clamping value of the paper clip 6, the axis 12 moves up, the stroke of the punch 8 decreases, the height of the clamped paper clip 6 increases. Rotating the nut 17 counterclockwise, lower the screw 15 and increase the clamping value of the paper clip 6, the axis 12 moves down, the stroke of the punch 8 increases, the height of the clamped paper clip 6 decreases.

After supplying the control signal to the pneumatic cylinder 20, it transfers its force directed towards the action of the working load during clipping to the screw 15 through the yoke 16. As a result, the gaps in the thread between the screw 15 and the nut 17, as well as the gaps between the nut 17 and the cover, are selected 19. In this operating position, the muscular strength of the operator is not enough to turn the nut 17 with the knob. There is no clearance in the threaded connection between the screw 15 and the nut 17. The absence of gaps positively affects the height of the clamped paper clip. Fluctuations and impact loads do not affect the threaded connection between the screw 15 and the nut 17 and do not lead to the unscrewing of the nut 17. As a result, the height of the clamped paper clip is excluded during operation.

The claimed clipper operates as shown in FIG. 9.

A sleeve casing 31 is put on the filling tube 30.

A brake device 32 is mounted on the tube 30 with the sheath 31 on. The braking device 32 creates the required holding force of the sheath 31 when it is filled with the product and prevents air from entering the interior of the sheath with the product (loaf 33).

Clamping of the shell 31 is performed, while the cheeks 3 and 4 of the clamping mechanism 2 approach radially with respect to the clipping shell with the product. The casing 31 is clamped. After that, the cheeks 3 perform axial displacement in the direction of the loaf 33, creating a stretched flagellum 34 from the casing 31. To form the flagellum 34, the casing 31 is pulled through the cheeks 4 and the braking device 32 using the supply of the casing 31 located on the handset 30.

The filing of the paper clip is as follows (see Fig. 3-6).

The paper feed mechanism 5 and the matrix drive lever 21 are divided as two independent mechanisms, each of which is driven by its own cam profile 23 and 22, respectively. The engagement and disengagement of the feed fork 24 and the chain of clips 6 are carried out by synchronizing the movement of the lever 21 of the drive matrix 7 and the lever 25 of the drive mechanism 5 of the paper clip 6. The mutual movement of the lever 21 of the drive matrix 7 and the lever 25 of the drive mechanism 5 of the paper clip 6 achieved by mutual coordination of the control profiles of the cams 22 and 23 of these mechanisms, respectively.

The lever 21 of the drive matrix 7, the lever 25 of the drive mechanism 5 feed clip 6, as well as the clamping bar 35 have a common axis of rotation, therefore, the engagement of the feed fork 24 and the chain of clips 6 is possible at any of the angles of the path of movement of the levers 25 and 21. The feed fork 24 makes oscillatory movement around axis 28, ensuring the chain of clips 6 is lifted above the matrix 7 and the paper clip is fed to the desired step H. The driving force of the fork 24 is obtained from the rotation of the eccentric shaft 36, which has an eccentricity C at an angle of X °, which, in turn, is driven by action through lever 27 from the controlled pneumatic cylinder 26. The pneumatic cylinder 26 is fixed to the lever 27 of the paper feed mechanism 5 with a swivel at point P. The moment of switching on the pneumatic cylinder 26 can be adjusted with a delay or ahead of the cycle time using the clipper control system (not shown in the drawing).

When the lever 21 of the drive matrix 7 moves to the clipping point (see Fig. 5, 6), the lever 25 of the mechanism 5 for feeding the paper clip 6 moves in the same direction, but with a delay. At the moment when the lever 21 carrying the matrix 7 reaches the clipping point, the feed fork 24 is completely out of engagement with the chain of clips 6. The clip 6 is installed in the place necessary for clipping and is pressed by the bar 35. The bar 35 is spring-loaded with respect to the lever 21 sec using the elastic element 37, ensuring reliable fixation of the chain of clips 6 on the lower clamping tool (matrix) 7. At the command of the clipper control system, the pneumatic cylinder 26 makes a return stroke, forcing the supply fork 24 to return to its original state (floor engagement when applying voltage shown in FIG. 6 in phantom). Thus, the synchronization of the movements of the matrix 7 and the lever 25 of the paper clip feeding mechanism 5 is made in such a way that the input fork 24 and the chain of paper clips 6 are engaged at the end of the clipping cycle (the drive lever of the matrix 7 is in its lowest position (see Fig. 4)).

The fixation of the chain of clips 6 on the matrix 7 occurs along the last two clips. After the last paper clip is detached during clipping, the paper clip following it remains securely locked in its installation position 38. When the lever 21 of the matrix drive 7 is returned to the lower position (see Fig. 2), the step-by-step linking of the chain of paper clips 6, feed forks 24 and matrices 7.

In automatic mode, the cycle is repeated many times.

- 4 034665

The matrix 7 is made with the possibility of movement from the open position to the position of the circuit due to rotation around an axis with a radius of rotation r, the punch 8 is made with the possibility of movement from the open position to the position of the circuit along a curved path in the form of a section of a circle with radius R, while r << R (see Figs. 1 and 12).

Paper clips 6 are fed into the clipping zone as described above (see Fig. 9) already pre-installed and fixed on the matrix 7. When the punch 8 and the matrix 7 come together, one clip 6 is separated from the chain of clips, and they are simultaneously clamped around the flagellum formed from the sheath 31 34. It should be noted that two clips 6 of two parallel chains are applied to the formed flagellum 34. One paper clip 6 is placed at the end of the previous loaf 33, the other at the beginning of the next.

The punch 8 moves in guides 10 along a curved path (see Fig. 12), first acting on the free leg of the paper clip 6 (see Fig. 13), being installed in the desired position in the matrix 7 (see Fig. 14). The radius R of the rapprochement of the punch 8 is much larger than the radius r of the motion of the matrix 7, so the installation of the clip 6 occurs without additional deformation of the free leg. After this, the connected leg is separated and at the same time the clamping of the free leg begins. The moment of separation of the paper clip 6 from the chain of paper clips and the moment of the beginning of deformation of the paper clip 6 are combined. With such simultaneous action on both legs, there is a possibility that one of the legs can reach the clamping point earlier, due to unequal force actions from the punch 8 on both legs of the clip 6. But for the correct closing of the legs of the clip 6, they must converge symmetrically with respect to the axis of symmetry of the clip.

On the profile of the punch 8 at the point where the legs of the clip 6 should close, a centering protrusion 9 is made (see Fig. 11, 13-17), which stops the overrun of any of the legs relative to the axis of symmetry of the clip 6 and into which the leg of the unevenly laid paper clip rests 6, shifting it and giving the correct position. Further movement of the punch 8 leads to a reduction of its legs symmetrical about the axis of symmetry of the paper clip 6 (see Fig. 13-17) and closes the paper clip 6.

Then, the flagellum 34 is divided between the clips with a cutting knife 39 (see Fig. 9).

During the rest of the work cycle, all mechanisms return to their original state. At the end of the work cycle, two clips are simultaneously fed. The sticky loaf 33 is removed from the clipping zone using an unloading tray.

Through the inner part of the tube 30, the product 31 is filled with the product for the next portion. Filling takes place using a pumping device that is not part of this technical system.

After filling the desired portion, the operator starts the claimed clipper in automatic mode. In this case, all the above operations are cyclically performed until the entire supply of the shell 31 located on the filling tube 30 is used up.

Thus, the task in the claimed clipper is solved by the following technical results:

the moment of separation of the paper clip from the chain of paper clips and the moment of the beginning of deformation of the paper clip are combined, and the punch moves in curved guides having a radius of curvature significantly greater than the radius of movement of the lower clamping tool (matrix);

on the profile of the punch at the point where the legs should be closed, a protrusion of the claimed form is made, compensating for the asymmetric placement of the paper clip and ensuring its symmetrical closure;

there are no gaps in the moving elements of the regulator of the stroke of the upper clamping tool (punch), which adversely affect the height of the compressed paper clip;

the convenience of adjusting the size of the clip clip;

the use of an independent linear drive of the staple feed mechanism allows the necessary and sufficient force to be applied to the staple chain. In case of violation of the pitch of the staples in the chain for any reason, there is no likelihood of failure of the staple feed mechanism due to excessive applied force.

The use of a time-controlled clip feed mechanism allows the clip to be automatically fed sequentially several steps forward without completing a complete clipping cycle. Using the control system, you can carry out half the cycle of work and return to its original position, while separation and deformation of the paper clip will not occur. Such an opportunity is in demand during adjustment procedures or in the case when it is necessary to advance the chain of staples a few steps forward when detecting violations of the geometry of staples without completing complete work cycles (removing the defective section of staples).

The use of pneumatic cylinders as all of these linear actuators improves the conditions of sanitary treatment, as well as the conditions of maintenance and commissioning. To adjust the pitch of the staple feed, it is enough to adjust the length of the linear actuator stem and, in manual mode, control the progress of the feed fork. In already known designs with a chain drive, to check the correctness of the step setting, it is necessary to carry out a full duty cycle, since the feed fork feeds the fastener only at a certain moment of the clipping cycle. When moving in the opposite direction, the supply of a chain of staples in the opposite direction occurs.

Sources of information.

European patent EP 1428760, publ. 01/17/2007.

2. Patent of Russia RU 2386573, publ. 20.04.2010.

3. Poly-clip company website: https: /www.voutube.com/watch? V = t6yD531ijic (prototype).

4. European patent EP 1731432, publ. 06/17/2009.

Claims (2)

1. The paper clip supply mechanism (5) (6) for a clipper equipped with a lower clamping tool (7) controlled from a cam (22) of a lower clamping tool drive (7), comprising a feed fork (24) mounted on an axis (28) and controlled by the lever (27) of the drive mechanism (5) for supplying the paper clip (6), characterized in that the drive of the mechanism (5) for feeding the paper clip (6) is equipped with a separate profile cam (23) associated with the lever (25) of the drive mechanism (5) paper clips (6) to give the feed fork (24) a reciprocating movement in a vertical plane controlled linear drive to give through the second lever (27) the feed fork (24) of the reverse movement on the specified axis (28), and the profile of the cam (23) of the drive mechanism (5) feed the paper clip (6) and the profile of the cam (22) of the drive the lower clamping tool (7) is designed to synchronize the movements of the lower clamping tool (7) and the lever (25) of the drive mechanism (5) for supplying the paper clip (6). 2. The mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the linear actuator is made in the form of a pneumatic cylinder (26) controlled by a clipper control system.