EP0337039A1 - Machine for handling flat articles, particularly small paper bags, at the exit of a production machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine is interposed between a machine (1) for producing such articles (3), comprising an exit conveyor from the machine (2) supplying the successive individual articles (3) and a second removal conveyor (13) so as to form batches of a predetermined number of stacked articles and to transfer these batches onto the removal conveyor (13). In order to accelerate the transfer onto the removal conveyor (13), the rotary transfer component (12) having radial fingers (18) is coupled to an independent driving device (83, 83') having an electrical motor (83) controlled by the counting means so as to drive the transfer component (12) in intermittent rotation, on each occasion that a complete batch of articles has been formed on the exit table (4), by first of all accelerating it from a zero speed to a maximum speed and then by decelerating it to a zero speed at the end of the said rotation, in such a manner as to deposit, virtually without inertia, the said complete batch of stacked articles onto the second conveyor (13). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for handling flat articles, for example bags or sachets, this machine being coupled to the output of a machine for manufacturing these articles, and more particularly a machine of this kind which can count the articles, constitute batches or handles comprising a predetermined number of articles, and evacuate these batches for later handling, for example for the constitution of bundles of articles which comprise several batches stacked and juxtaposed, while adapting to the high speed of the manufacturing machine.

Machines of this kind are already known as described, for example, in the patents FR-A-2 461 581 and FR-A-2 569 171. In particular the machine according to the patent FR-A-2 461 581 comprises a device feeding successive individual articles in a substantially vertical position and in contact with one another on a fixed output table, means for counting the articles delivered on the fixed output table, mobile separating means comprising fingers or styles for creating a space between the last article of a batch delivered on the output table and the first article of the following batch, means for retaining successive batches of articles on the table and a transfer member, with reciprocating rotational movement, to take from the outlet table, using radial fingers, the complete batch of articles formed on this table and bring it substantially in a horizontal position on a second horizontal conveyor for discharging batches of stacked articles.

Furthermore, the machine according to patent FR-A-2 569 171 comprises, as a transfer member, a rotary drum with radial arms which is driven in rotation, at constant speed, around a horizontal axis, from the device for feeding successive individual articles, via a transmission mechanism. This supply device consists of parallel rosettes provided with spiral-shaped notches and each containing an article. The transfer drum with radial arms is coupled to the rosettes in such a way that when the rosettes perform a rotation which corresponds to the number of notches which is equal to the number of articles which it is desired to stack, the transfer drum performs a rotation which corresponds to two successive presences d '' an arm rotating at the bearing surface which receives the items from the rosettes. According to a particular embodiment, while the rosettes rotate continuously, the drive device is such that a rotating arm accelerates its rotation when it passes in line with the bearing surface which receives the envelopes, then slows it down before the stack of items reaches the horizontal conveyor.

The invention applies in particular to a machine of this kind which is coupled to the output of a machine for manufacturing bags or sachets along two lines in parallel, the bags or sachets having at one end an excess thickness formed by a flap closing the bottom of the bag.

To this end, this machine for handling flat articles, in particular bags or sachets, at the outlet of a machine for manufacturing such articles, the latter comprising a device for feeding successive individual articles in a substantially vertical position and in contact against each other on a fixed output table, means for counting the articles delivered on the fixed output table, mobile separating means comprising fingers or styli to create a space between the last article of a batch delivered on the output table and the first article of the next batch, means for retaining successive batches of articles on the table and a rotary transfer member for removing from the output table, using radial fingers, the batch full of articles formed on this table and bringing it substantially to a horizontal position on a horizontal conveyor for discharging batches of articles, stacked, is characterized in that the transfer member radial finger rotary actuator is coupled to an independent electric motor drive controlled by the counting means so as to drive the transfer member in intermittent rotation, each time a complete batch of articles has been formed on the output table, first accelerating it from zero speed, at the start of its rotation for removing the complete batch of articles from the table, up to a maximum speed and then decelerating it to zero speed at the end of said rotation, so as to deposit said complete batch almost without inertia 'items stacked on the second conveyor.

Thanks to such a machine, the articles, at the outlet of the manufacturing machine, are handled automatically by being counted and accumulated in a predetermined number to constitute a batch or handle, this batch then being transferred very quickly to the evacuation conveyor downstream, without modification of the integrity of the batches

The machine according to the invention is preferably coupled to a manufacturing machine, the output conveyor of which comprises a drum which has circular grooves situated in planes parallel to the direction of travel of the articles, and the fingers or styli of the separating means can come to be housed, in their inactive retracted waiting position, in at least part of these grooves, and preferably in all the grooves to make the entire width of the output conveyor usable.

Preferably, the fingers or styli of the separating means are mounted on a common mobile support which is moved in an alternating movement, being urged downstream by the action of the articles themselves coming from the manufacturing machine and towards the 'upstream by return means, the fingers being retracted under the output table to return to the standby position.

To allow interpenetration of the successive elements of the machine, the output table is constituted by spaced parallel longitudinal bars, the fingers or styli of the separating means are inserted between said bars, the retaining means are constituted by elastic fingers which '' insert between said bars and which are each located in a longitudinal vertical plane, the rotary transfer member comprises radial fingers and annular rods which are inserted between said bars and between the elastic fingers, and the evacuation conveyor comprises fixed parallel longitudinal rods and movable belts between which pass the radial fingers of the rotary transfer member. The successive elements of the machine can thus interfere with each other like combs.

The articles which are delivered to the output table are retained downstream by the elastic fingers of the retaining means, these elastic fingers being carried by a common transverse support which is resiliently biased towards the output conveyor, these retaining fingers being elastically pushed back downstream during the rotation of the rotary transfer member for the evacuation of a batch.

Preferably, the length of the radial fingers of the rotary transfer member is adjustable so that it can be adapted to the thickness of the batches to be handled.

The rotary transfer member is driven in intermittent rotation and always in the same direction by motor means which are arranged to first accelerate the transfer member from a zero speed, at the start of its rotation for removing the batch. complete from the output table, to a maximum speed, then to decelerate it to zero speed at the end of this rotation, so as to deposit almost without inertia said complete batch of articles stacked on the second conveyor.

According to an advantageous characteristic, security means can be associated with the transfer member which are used in the event of a resistant overload applied to this transfer member.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, applicable in particular when the articles have an extra thickness at one end, as is the case for paper bags or sachets whose bottom is formed and closed by a flap. the machine comprises, downstream of the second conveyor, rotation means for turning ner 90 ° alternately in one direction and in the other successive complete batches deposited on the second conveyor, this rotation being in the plane of the articles, so that the excess thickness existing at one end of the batches is alternately one side and on the other at the exit of the machine, in order to compensate during the stacking of the successive batches for the constitution of packages.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the machine according to the invention is mounted at the outlet of the article manufacturing machine, the latter possibly being an existing machine, and the counting means comprise light means for coupling with the manufacturing machine, to count the articles delivered by the output conveyor, the assembly being such that it makes it possible to couple the machine according to the invention downstream of the manufacturing machine without intervention on it and without mechanical connection between the two machines .

The above provisions apply to a manufacturing machine which delivers the articles either along a single line, or along two lines in parallel.

• La figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'une machine de manutention établie selon l'invention.
• La figure 2 est une vue schématique en élévation latérale de la machine de la figure 1.
• La ligne de la figure 3 est une vue schématique en plan montrant le mouvement des lots d'articles depuis leur prélèvement de la table de travail jusqu'à leur sortie.
• Les figures 4 à 6 sont des vues de détail, en éléva­tion latérale, montrant pour trois positions des moyens séparateurs, des moyens de retenue et de l'organe de trans­fert rotatif, la manutention des articles.
• La figure 7 montre en élévation le mode de montage des doigts ou stylets des moyens séparateurs.
• La figure 8 est une vue en coupe longitudinale mon­trant la structure des moyens séparateurs, leurs moyens de montage et leurs moyens de commande.
• La figure 9 est une vue en coupe longitudinale mon­trant la structure et le montage des moyens de retenue.
• La figure 10 est une vue en coupe transversale du tambour de transfert montrant sa structure et les moyens pour régler la longueur active des doigts radiaux.
• La figure 11 est une coupe axiale suivant la ligne XI-XI de la figure 10.
• La figure 12 est une vue latérale schématique mon­trant les moyens de sécurité pour l'organe de transfert.
• Les figures 13 à 15 sont des vues analogues à la figure 3 et montrent la manutention des lots suivant trois variantes.

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended drawing in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a handling machine established according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation view of the machine of Figure 1.
• The line in Figure 3 is a schematic plan view showing the movement of the batches of articles from their removal from the work table to their exit.
• Figures 4 to 6 are detail views, in side elevation, showing for three positions separating means, retaining means and the rotary transfer member, the handling of articles.
• Figure 7 shows in elevation the mounting mode of the fingers or styli of the separating means.
• Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of the separating means, their mounting means and their control means.
• Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure and mounting of the retaining means.
• Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the transfer drum showing its structure and the means for adjusting the active length of the radial fingers.
• FIG. 11 is an axial section along the line XI-XI of FIG. 10.
• Figure 12 is a schematic side view showing the safety means for the transfer member.
• Figures 13 to 15 are views similar to Figure 3 and show the handling of lots in three variants.

We will first describe, with reference to Figures 1 to 6, the general structure of the machine and its operation.

The machine according to the invention is intended to be mounted downstream of a machine 1 for manufacturing articles of which only the output conveyor 2, for example a transverse drum, is shown.

In the preferred application of the invention, the machine, of any known type, makes paper bags or sachets 3 from a sheet of paper unwound from a reel. This manufacturing machine is itself known and will not be described here in more detail.

However, it will be indicated that the manufacturing machine 1 can deliver the articles 3 either in a single line, or, as shown, along two parallel lines which are produced simultaneously, which increases the production rate.

The articles 3, at the outlet of the manufacturing machine 1, are delivered one after the other, in a substantially vertical position, on a fixed table outlet 4 which is slightly inclined downward and downstream, for example 5o . On table 4, which consists of bars parallel and spaced 16, the articles 3 accumulate in facial contact and are driven gradually downstream by the articles 3 delivered upstream by the drum 2.

The articles 3 which are delivered to the fixed table 4 are counted by any appropriate means and for example during their passage on the output drum 2 by light means 5 which constitute an optical coupling between the manufacturing machine 1 and the machine according to the invention, without mechanical intervention on the machine 1 and without mechanical connection between the two machines. For example, these light means comprise a light beam source 6 and a receiver 7 of this beam which are mounted on the machine according to the invention, and a set of mirrors 8, for example four in number, which are mounted at the periphery of the drum 2, these mirrors 8 being angularly distributed at the pitch of the articles 3 on the drum 2. At each passage of an article 3, the detector 7 receives, from a mirror 8 appearing between two successive articles, a light pulse which is then processed by an appropriate counting circuit emitting a signal when a predetermined account is reached, this account being for example fifty or one hundred.

The machine according to the invention comprises mobile separating means 9 which are controlled from the counting means and which include fingers or styli 10 suitable for being placed behind the last article 3 of a batch delivered to the output table 4 when the intended account has been reached, to create a space between this last article and the first article of the next batch. As shown schematically in Figures 4 and 5, the fingers 10 protrude upward relative to the table 4, in their active position of separation, passing between the fixed parallel bars 16 constituting the table 4, and they are gradually driven out downstream by the articles 3 delivered upstream by the drum 2. In their inactive position, as shown in FIG. 6, the fingers are located under the table 4, in the retracted position.

The articles 3 which are delivered on the table 4 are retained downstream by retaining means 11 which pass through the table 4 upwards and which are of the elastic and retractable type. These retaining means 11 are gradually driven downstream by the articles 3 themselves, during the formation of each.

The machine according to the invention also comprises a transfer member 12, with intermittent rotation and always in the same direction, constituted by a drum arranged to take from the table 4 the complete batch of articles 3 which is there and which is present between the retaining means 11 and the separating means 9, for raising and tilting it 90o so as to deposit it in a substantially horizontal position on a second horizontal conveyor 13 for evacuating stacked articles 3.

The transfer drum 12 has a horizontal transverse axis which is located in the inclined plane of the output table 4.

In known manner, the outlet drum 2 has, at its periphery circular grooves 14, in which are housed respectively the upstream ends of the parallel fingers of the fixed table 4, and also the upper pointed ends 15 of the fingers or styli 10 of the means separators, in the retracted inactive position waiting for them.

Thus, on the one hand, it is ensured that no article 3 can remain on the drum 2 beyond the table 4 and, on the other hand, any interference of the separation fingers 10 with the articles is avoided when these fingers are in the waiting position. Furthermore, in this waiting position, the fingers 10 are in the immediate vicinity of the periphery of the drum 2 and projecting upwards relative to the table 4, which allows them to come into the active position for separating the articles by a movement of small amplitude. Preferably, each groove 14 of the outlet drum 2 is associated with a finger 10, so that the entire width of the tam bour is made usable, which allows the machine according to the invention to process articles of any width compatible with that of the manufacturing machine 1.

In operation, the fixed table 4 interferes with the output drum 2, the separating fingers 10, the retaining means 11, and the transfer drum 12, while the latter interferes with the second horizontal conveyor 13. To allow this interference, the output table 4 is constituted, as already indicated by longitudinal bars 16 parallel and spaced, the separating fingers 10 are inserted between the bars 16, the retaining means 11 are constituted by elastic fingers 17 made of metal wire which are inserted between the bars 16 and which are each located in a longitudinal vertical plane projecting from the fixed table 4 upwards. The transfer drum 12 has radial fingers 18 distributed over its length in four groups of fingers 18 longitudinally aligned and spaced from each other, these groups of fingers being distributed at 90 ° from each other. At each of its two ends, the transfer drum 12 comprises four arcuate rods 19 each extending over approximately 90 °, in the same transverse plane. The radial fingers 18 and the arcuate rods 19 are inserted between the fixed bars 16 and the elastic fingers 17, and the second horizontal conveyor 13 is itself constituted by an alternation of fixed parallel longitudinal rods 20 and belts or moving cords 21 between which pass the radial fingers 18 and the arcuate rods 19 of the drum 12. Thus, the various above organs interfere and cooperate with each other in the manner of combs.

The operation of the machine described at this point will now be briefly described.

The separating fingers 10 being retracted in the inactive standby position in the grooves 14 of the output drum 2 (FIG. 4), the articles delivered by this drum 2 gradually accumulate on the output table 4 by driving out the articles 3 already present on the latter and driving them downstream, against the elastic action of the means 11. At the same time, the articles 3 are counted by the optical means 5, and, when the desired count is reached, the separating fingers 10 are suddenly moved downstream over a short distance while projecting from the table 4 to separate the last article 3 of the complete batch from the following articles. As the next batch is being formed, the previous completed batch is biased downstream to a position for which the transfer drum 12 is actuated, this drum 12 then picking up, by its radial fingers 18, the complete batch from table 4 to raise it, tilt it 90 ° and place it in a horizontal position on the second conveyor 13. When the complete batch has been removed from table 4, the retaining means 11 spring back towards the 'upstream to lean against the first article of the next batch and the separating fingers 10 are retracted under the table 4 to be brought upstream then immobilized in the high position in the grooves 14 of the output drum 2, pending of the end of the formation of the next batch (figure 4).

We will now describe in more detail, with reference to Figures 7 and 8, the structure and the control means of the separating fingers 10. The fingers 10 are constituted by metal blades which are located in longitudinal planes of which the lower ends are located under the output table 4 and are each secured to a sole 22, the soles 22 being secured to each other by a transverse support 23 on which they are rigidly mounted. The support 23 is carried by a carriage 24 which can roll, in a reciprocating motion, on longitudinal rectilinear rails 25, by means of upper rollers 26 and lower rollers 27 provided at the front and at the rear of the carriage . The rails 25 are rigidly mounted on a second carriage 28 which can move obliquely in a longitudinal plane by rolling on fixed rails 29 carried by the frame of the machine, the rolling being done on each side by rollers 30 arranged on the side and other side of the associated rail 29. The carriage 28 is moved on the rails 29 following a reciprocating rectilinear movement under the control of a jack 31 whose body 32 is articulated at 33 around a fixed transverse axis of the machine and whose rod 34 is articulated at 35 on the second carriage 28. The jack 31 allows , by the upward or downward component of vertical movement which it gives to the carriage 28, and therefore to the separating fingers 10, to put the fingers 10 in the high position when these are waiting in the grooves 14 or in the active separation position of two successive articles, and to lower the fingers 10 into the retracted position under the table 4 during the return stroke upstream after the transfer drum 12 has removed from the table 4 the complete batch of articles.

The carriage 24 moves upstream on its rails 25 under the control of a jack 36 with an axis parallel to the rails 25, the body 37 of which is mounted on a plate 38 integral with the carriage 28, and the rod 39 of which carries at its end a heel 40 adapted to cooperate unilaterally with a stop 41 carried by the carriage 24. The role of this jack 36 is to bring upstream the separating fingers 10 after the transfer drum 12 has removed the complete batch d 'articles of the output table 4. The carriage 24 is also returned to its upstream position by a counterweight 42 which is suspended from a cable 42 ′ passing over a pulley 43 carried by the plate 38, the cable 42 ′ being attached in 44 on the carriage 24. In operation, the carriage 24 is thus permanently recalled upstream, but it is displaced downstream by the hunting effect caused by the successive articles 3 which accumulate between the separating fingers 10 and the periphery of the output drum 2. Putting the separator fingers s 10 in the active separation position is carried out from the retracted waiting position in the grooves 14, by a compression spring 45 which is disposed between the carriage 28 and the carriage 24 and which biases the latter downstream at start of deployment of the extension of the jack 36. When the predetermined count has been reached, the jack 36 is extended and, from the start of this stroke, the spring 45 acts in the manner of a trigger to release ins both the separating fingers 10 in the active position, this spring 45 pushing the carriage 24 and the separating fingers 10 downstream, overcoming the antagonistic action of the counterweight 42. As the articles 3 of the following batch are delivered on the table 4 behind the separating fingers 10, they exert an action directed downstream which overcomes the counterweight return force 42.

According to one embodiment, the transverse support 23 carrying the separating fingers 10 by the flanges 22 can be secured to the carriage 24, in which case the separating fingers move parallel to themselves.

As a variant, as shown in FIG. 8, means can be provided for angularly tilting the separating fingers 10 between their inactive waiting position in the grooves 14 and their active separation position. According to this variant, the support 23 is integral with an auxiliary carriage 46 which can roll, by rollers 47, on rails 48 carried by the carriage 24 and in an arc centered on the tip 15 of the fingers 10. The carriage 46 is coupled, by a transverse articulation, to a pin 50 integral with the lower strand 51 of an endless belt 52 passing around a high idle upstream pulley 53 and a low downstream driving pulley 54, carried by the carriage 24. The strands of the belt 52 are substantially parallel to the cord defined by the arc of the rails 48. The driving pulley 54 is rotated by an endless belt 55 which extends parallel to the rails 25 and whose axes of the extreme return pulleys are also carried by the carriage 24. The lower strand 56 of the endless belt 55 fixedly carries a pin 57 which is integral with the stop 41 of the carriage 24. The upper strand 58 of the endless belt 55 carries a pawn 59 to which one end is hung a tension spring 60, the other end of which is attached to the carriage 24. In operation, when the return cylinder 36 is brought back into the contracted position, the heel 40 of its rod cooperates with the stop 41 secured to the carriage 24 and of the lower strand 56 to bring the carriage 24 backwards and simultaneously rotate the belt 55 anticlockwise (Figure 8), against the action of the return spring 60. As a result, the belt 52 is also driven in the same direction and the pin 50 carried by its strand lower 52 drives the auxiliary carriage 46 upstream and upward by tilting the separating fingers 10 to bring them into a position close to the tangent to the output drum 2. When the control of extension of the jack 36 is carried out, at the end of the predetermined count, the compression spring 45 slightly displaces the carriage 24, and consequently the stop 41 and the pin 57, downstream, by turning the belt 55 clockwise, this movement being further facilitated by the tension spring 60. As shown in solid lines in FIG. 8, the separating fingers 10 are then in the active position for separating the articles, in a position inclined relative to the position they had in the gorges 14, the tips 15 of fingers 10 being at a sufficient distance from the periphery of drum 2 to allow reception of the first article 3 of the following batch, behind fingers 10.

A more detailed description will now be given, with reference to FIG. 9, of the structure and mounting of the retaining fingers 17 belonging to the retaining means 11. The fingers 17 each consist of a metal wire which is bent to present its convexity towards the 'upstream. The lower ends of the fingers 17 are located under the table 4 and they are fixed, for example by welding, on vertical blades 61 which are carried by a common transverse support 62 articulated at 63, around a transverse axis, on a support fixed 64. A spring 65, of adjustable position, is hooked at one end on the tilting support 62 and, at its other end, on the fixed support 64. In operation, the retaining fingers 17 move downstream, under the flushing effect of the articles 3 arriving on the output table 4. This displacement can be analyzed, on the one hand, by a deflection of the fingers 17 themselves and, on the other hand, by a tilting of the support 62 against the action of the spring of reminder 65. When the transfer drum 12 takes the complete batch from the table 4, the fingers 17 are heavily stressed downstream, retracting between the lifting fingers 18 and between the arched rods 19 of the transfer drum 12. When the complete batch being removed has escaped from the fingers 17, these return to the maximum upstream position, due to their own elasticity and the return action of the spring 65 to come to bear on the first article 3 of the batch next, after which the fingers 10 are returned upstream in the standby position.

A more detailed description will now be given, with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, of the structure and operation of the transfer elevator drum 12. As indicated above, the drum 12 has radial fingers 18 and arched rods 19. In the embodiment shown, the drum 12 comprises four sets of aligned fingers 18 which are angularly distributed at 90 °. The drum 12 has transverse flanges 66 (Fig. 11) which carry, at their periphery, four longitudinal bars 67 crossed by the fingers 18. The bars 67 support the folded ends 19a of the peripheral bars 19 and they have radial bores 68 in which can slide the radial fingers 18. The radially inner ends of each set of radial fingers 18 are fixed to a longitudinal bar 69 which, at each end, is articulated around an axis 70 at one end of a control rod 71 the other end of which is articulated at 72 on a radial tab 73 of a nut 74 blocked in rotation. Each nut 74 can be moved axially by a screw 75 having two threads 76,77 of opposite pitch, this screw being controlled in rotation from the outside by its end 78. By the operation of the control screw 75, the operator moves axially in opposite directions the two nuts 74, which causes, as the case may be, the retraction or the exit of the longitudinal bars 69 via the connecting rods 71, and consequently a variation in the active length of the gripping fingers 18.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 10, the free end of the gripping fingers 18 has a spout 82 whose role is to come to cooperate, in a retaining action, with the last article 3 of the batch taken from the table 4 by the drum 12, the spouts 82 aligning with the fingers 10 during gripping.

FIG. 12 shows the motor 83 for driving the transfer lift drum 12 (not shown). This motor 83, as well as the drum itself, are mounted on a support 84 which can oscillate around a fixed transverse axis 85 coinciding with the axis of the drum 12. The weight of the motor 83 is balanced by a counterweight 86 carried by the support 84. A damper 87 is arranged between the support 84 and the fixed frame of the machine. A proximity detector 88 cooperates with the support 84 to emit an emergency stop signal in the event of the support 84 tilting due to a resistant overload applied to the drum 12.

The motor 83 drives a reduction gear 83 ′ which, in a manner known per se, is arranged so that, from a constant speed of rotation of the output shaft of the motor 83, it controls the rotation of the drum 12 according to a movement which is first accelerated from a zero speed to a maximum speed, then decelerated to a zero speed which is reached after a rotation of 90 ° of the drum, corresponding to the removal of the complete batch of articles on the second horizontal conveyor 13. Thus, on the one hand, the complete batch of article 3 is taken from the output table 4 with a low initial speed, but then increasing then decreasing very quickly and it is gently deposited on the conveyor , which avoids its disturbance.

The motor 83 is actuated by a signal which comes either from the counting means, evening from a limit switch. In both cases, it is possible, for example, to wait for a few items 3 of the following batch to be delivered to the table 4. When the motor 83 is actuated, the beaks 82 of the fingers 18 of the drum 12 come to align with the fingers 10 to stay in the space defined by them and separate rant the complete batch to be withdrawn from the next batch during formation, the fingers 18 thus ensuring perfect sampling of the complete batch.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 to 3, another characteristic of the present invention is illustrated according to which means are provided for rotating 90 °, alternately in one direction and in the other, successive complete batches of articles which are deposited on the second conveyor 13, this rotation taking place in the plane of the articles, that is to say in a horizontal plane in the example considered, so that the excess thickness which may exist at one end of the batches, is located alternately on one side and the other at the outlet of the machine, for compensation of the excess thicknesses during the stacking of successive batches, for making up packages.

This characteristic is particularly advantageous in the case where the articles 3 consist of bags or sachets which, at one end, for example the downstream end on the drum 2 and therefore the upstream end on the conveyor 13, have an increased thickness by a flap 3a for constituting and closing the bottom of the bags 3. When the batches arrive successively on the conveyor 13, the accumulated extra thicknesses give the batches a trapezoid shape in vertical and longitudinal section. Thanks to the 90 ° rotation alternately on one side and the other, the extra thicknesses, at the exit of the machine, are located alternately to the left and to the right, the alternation being done from one batch to the other if machine 1 has only one production line, or in pairs of batches if machine 1 has two production lines.

In the preferred application mode considered here, the manufacturing machine 1 comprises two manufacturing lines, the rotation means therefore comprise two vertical tanks 89 without bottom which are located downstream of the conveyor 13 and which are capable of two movements: a rotational movement 90 ° in one direction or the other around a vertical axis, and a vertical upward or downward movement parallel to this axis. Each bin, for the batch receiving position shown in Figures 1 and 2, has a total opening upstream and has three vertical side walls 90. Each tray is therefore in the form of a U open upstream. The tanks 89 are fixedly suspended from a plate 91 secured to the lower end of a vertical rod 92 situated in the median longitudinal plane of the machine. The vertical rod 92 is carried by a fixed bracket 93 which further supports means 94, for example an electric motor, for rotating the rod 92 by 90 ° in one direction or the other, and means 95, for example a double-acting cylinder, for vertically moving the rod 92. The motor 94 and the cylinder 95 are controlled to cause the following sequence of operations, starting from the position in FIG. 1 for which the tanks 89 are in the low position of receipt of the two batches of articles. When the batches have finished entering the tanks, by the means described below, the end of this penetration being, for example, indicated by optical means comprising the interruption of a transverse light beam which crosses aligned notches 96 of the four parallel side walls 90 of the tanks, the rod 92 rotates 90 ° in one direction or the other, in the opposite direction to the rotation applied to the previous pair of lots, so as to cause the two lots to be aligned according to the longitudinal direction of the machine. The extra thicknesses of the lots which were initially upstream, are then, after this rotation, to the left or to the right. The rod 92 is then raised to cause the tanks 89 to be raised, so as to free the tanks from the lots and allow them to be routed downstream. Then the tanks 89 are brought back to the initial low position, by lowering and rotating the rod 92 90 ° in the other direction.

The bottom of the tanks 89 is constituted by a movable surface 97 belonging to a conveyor 98 which, preferably, is distinct from conveyor 13 and which, also preferably, is constituted by a full endless belt. The conveyor 98 is intermittently driven to move continuously until the end of the rotation of the trays, to stop at the end of this rotation at least until the end of the lifting of the trays, and to move again until the end of the rotation associated with the next cycle. The conveyor 98 must be driven during the rotation of the tanks 89 so as to maintain in the corresponding tank that of the batches of articles which, during the rotation, moves downstream. At the end of the rotation and during the lifting of the bins, the transporter 98 must be stopped so as not to drive the lower part of the batches while their upper part still cooperates with the bins. When the tanks are fully raised, the transporter 98 is again actuated to drive the batches thus turned 90 ° downstream. The transporter 98 is followed, downstream, by another transporter 99 which ensures the evacuation of the batches with a view to their manual or automatic manipulation for the constitution of packages by stacking the batches.

As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, various variants can be provided for the rotation of the batches of articles 3 transferred to the conveyor 13 by the drum 12. In FIG. 13, the two batches of articles 3, aligned transversely, are first offset transversely relative to the machine, while being brought into abutment against each other to then be routed downstream and be rotated by a single tray 89 ′. In the variant of FIG. 14, the two batches of articles 3, aligned transversely, are first separated from one another transversely, then they are each rotated by 90 ° by an individual tray 89˝. In the variant of FIG. 12, one pair of batches out of two is offset transversely, as in FIG. 13, and two distinct sets of rotation are provided, arranged transversely next to each other, one of these assemblies comprising a single container 89 ′ of the kind of that of FIG. 13, and the other assembly comprising two containers 89 of the kind of those of FIGS. 1 and 2.

With the arrangement of FIG. 13, a single line of pairs of lots turned in pairs is obtained at the output; with the arrangement of Figure 14, we get out tie two parallel lines of lots turned alternately left and right; and with the arrangement of FIG. 15, two parallel lines of lots are obtained at the output which are rotated in pairs.

It appears from the above that the invention allows the automatic handling of articles 3 at the outlet of the manufacturing machine 1, this handling being able to be done in particular thanks to the movement of the transfer drum 12 always in the same direction, by absorbing the production rate of machine 1 which can be very high; for example, this production rate can be 45,000 bags / hour, which represents, for batches of 100 bags, a cycle lasting 8 seconds for the separation means 9, the transfer drum 12 and the means of rotation, this duration being compatible with the structure given to the various means of the invention.

Although the above description relates to a machine for handling bags or sachets, it goes without saying that it can be used with any type of flat item, such as envelopes, bags or bellows envelopes. , square bottom bags or envelopes, etc ...

Claims (13)

1.-Machine for handling flat articles (3), in particular bags or sachets, interposed between a manufacturing machine (1) for such articles, comprising an output conveyor from the machine (2) delivering the individual articles successive (3) and a second evacuation conveyor (13) in order to form batches of a predetermined number of stacked articles and to transfer these batches to the evacuation conveyor (13), this conveyor handling machine (2 ) comprising, at the outlet of the conveyor (2) from the manufacturing machine, a fixed table (4) receiving the successive articles in a substantially vertical position and in contact with one another, means (5) for counting the articles delivered to the fixed outlet table (4), mobile separating means (9) comprising fingers or styli (10) to create a space between the last article (3) of a batch delivered on the fixed outlet table (4) and the first article of the following batch, means (11) for retaining eue successive batches of articles on the table (4) and a rotary transfer member (12) for removing from the output table (4), using radial fingers (18), the complete batch of articles formed on this table (4) and bring it substantially to a horizontal position on a second horizontal conveyor (13) for evacuating batches of articles, stacked, characterized in that the rotary transfer member (12) with fingers radials (18) is coupled to an independent drive device (83,83 ′) with an electric motor (83) controlled by the counting means so as to drive the transfer member (12) in intermittent rotation, each time that '' a complete batch of articles has been formed on the output table (4), first accelerating it from zero speed, at the start of its rotation for removing the complete batch of articles from the table (4) , up to a maximum speed and then decelerating it to a zero speed at the end of said rotation, so as to deposit almost without inertia l edit complete batch of articles stacked on the second conveyor (13). 2.- Machine according to claim 1 characterized in that the counting means (5) are of the light type and allow to optically couple the handling machine and the manufacturing machine (1) without intervention or mechanical connection, by controlling the mobile separating means (9). 3.- Machine according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises means (88) for safety in the event of a resistant overload applied to the rotary transfer member (12). 4.- Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, the separating means (9) are mounted on a mobile carriage (24,28) carried by guide means (25,29) and moved, in the direction of return to the inactive position of the separating means (9), by at least one jack (31, 36) and, in the other direction, against the action of return means (42) with counterweight, by the articles ( 3) arriving on the output table (4), characterized in that the separating means (9) are moved in the direction of the active position also by springs (45) acting in the manner of a trigger to instantly exit the separator fingers (10) in active position. 5.- Machine according to the one of claims (4) whose fingers or styli (10) are, in the active position, in their movement downstream, projecting relative to the table (4) and, in their return movement upstream, retracted under the table (4), characterized in that the fingers or styli (10) assume their positions depending on the arrangement of the guide means (25,29). 5. Machine according to claim (4) whose fingers or styli (10) tilt between their inactive waiting position and their active position of separation of two successive articles (3), by tilting in an arc of a circle, characterized in that the movable carriage (24) carries an auxiliary carriage (64) directly supporting the fingers or styli (10), this auxiliary carriage moving on guide means (48) with ramp to perform the tilting of the fingers or styli (10). 7.- Machine according to claim 1 characterized in that the elastic fingers (17) of the retaining means (11) are carried by a common transverse support (62) resiliently biased towards the output conveyor (2). 8.- Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, the free end of each of the radial fingers (18) of the rotary transfer member (12) has a spout (82), characterized in that the spouts (82 ) of radial fingers (18) are aligned with the fingers or styli (10) for the removal of the complete batch. 9. Machine according to claim 1, the transfer member (12) of which comprises means for adjusting the active length of the radial fingers (18) for adapting to the thickness of the batch, characterized in that the means for adjustment comprise a longitudinal bar (69) for mounting the inner ends of each set of radial fingers (18) and at least one connecting rod (71) arranged to move said bar (69) radially and articulated on a movable element (74) axially. 10.- Machine according to claim 9 characterized in that the element (74) axially movable is constituted by a nut locked in rotation and cooperating with a screw (75) controlled from the outside. 11.- Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises, downstream of the second conveyor (13) for evacuating the rotation means (89-98) to rotate 90 ° alternately, in one direction and in the other, the successive complete batches deposited on the second evacuation conveyor (13), this rotation taking place in the plane of the articles (3), so that the excess thickness existing at one end of the batches is found alternately on one side and the other at the output of the machine, for compensation during the stacking of successive batches for the constitution of packages. 12.- Machine according to claim 11 characterized in that the rotation means comprise a tank (89,89 ′, 89˝) without bottom which has three side walls (90) and a side entrance, this tank being arranged so that the batch comes to lodge there by itself during its movement downstream on a movable lower surface (97) of the motor means (94) to rotate 90 ° in either direction said tank containing the batch and means (95) for, on the one hand, lifting the bin at the end of said rotation, to release it from the batch and allow it to be routed downstream after its rotation and, on the other hand, lower it against the movable lower surface (97) supporting the lots. 13.- Machine according to claim 12 characterized in that the movable lower surface (97) belongs to a conveyor (98), preferably separate from the second evacuation conveyor (13) and preferably comprising a solid strip, which is controlled intermittently to move continuously until the end of said rotation, to stop during lifting of the tank, and to move again until the end of the rotation of the next cycle.

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