EP0510338A1 - Procédé et dispositif pour empiler des feuilles - Google Patents

Procédé et dispositif pour empiler des feuilles Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0510338A1
EP0510338A1 EP92104022A EP92104022A EP0510338A1 EP 0510338 A1 EP0510338 A1 EP 0510338A1 EP 92104022 A EP92104022 A EP 92104022A EP 92104022 A EP92104022 A EP 92104022A EP 0510338 A1 EP0510338 A1 EP 0510338A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sheet material
release
suction members
suction
passageway
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP92104022A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Robert E. Welty
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
IOWA PRECISION INDUSTRIES Inc
Iowa Precision Ind Inc
Original Assignee
IOWA PRECISION INDUSTRIES Inc
Iowa Precision Ind Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by IOWA PRECISION INDUSTRIES Inc, Iowa Precision Ind Inc filed Critical IOWA PRECISION INDUSTRIES Inc
Publication of EP0510338A1 publication Critical patent/EP0510338A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/24—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by air blast or suction apparatus
    • B65H29/241—Suction devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/26—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by dropping the articles
    • B65H29/32—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by dropping the articles from pneumatic, e.g. suction, carriers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2406/00—Means using fluid
    • B65H2406/30—Suction means
    • B65H2406/34—Suction grippers
    • B65H2406/344—Suction grippers circulating in closed loop

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to apparatus for stacking and separating thin sheet material.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus that can be used with all types of thin sheet material and which will be relatively simple and less costly, than known machines.
  • the present invention provides an apparatus for stacking pieces of relatively stiff sheet material moving in a predetermined direction, said apparatus comprising a plurality of suction members moveable along a path above the sheet material and in the direction of the sheet material, carrier means for moving the suction members along the path, the path of the suction members being sufficiently close to the sheet material so that the suction members will engage the sheet material to grip it and carry it along the path, valve means operatively combined with each suction member to provide for the creation of a pressure differential that causes the suction member to grip and hold the sheet material, release means selectively engageable with the valve means to equalize the pressure and provide for release of the sheet material from the grip of the suction members, and means to control operation of the release means to provide for controlled release of the sheet material at the desired time onto a stack of sheet material.
  • the apparatus of the invention utilizes a plurality of relatively small suction cups, each cup having its own release valve, with a plurality of cups being mounted in line on an endless moveable chain or belt.
  • a plurality of chains or belts, each containing a plurality of suction cups, the chains are mounted for movement in planes parallel to the direction of movement of the material to be stacked.
  • each of the chains and their respective drives are independently moveable relative to each other transversely to the direction of movement of the material, thus allowing a piece of material picked up by one of the drives to be moved away from the adjacent drive so that the pieces of material can be separated the desired distance for formation of separate, adjacent stacks.
  • the apparatus utilizes a unique vacuum-suction cup which has its own valve that is normally closed.
  • the suction cup engages a piece of material and pressure is applied to the cup, the air between the cup and the material will be forced out, and as the edges of the cup are sealed on the material, a vacuum will be created allowing the cup to grip the material.
  • the pressure is equalized merely by opening slightly the valve for each cup. This allows the cups gripping a piece of material to simultaneously release the material merely by tripping simultaneously the actuators for the valve of the cups holding the material.
  • the drives are moveable transversely relative to each other so that the material can be moved laterally a predetermined distance before the cups release the pieces onto their respective stacks.
  • the pieces are gripped, cut, moved sideways and then dropped onto stacks in a quick and efficient manner.
  • the apparatus of this invention can be produced at a lower cost and will reduce substantially the amount of maintenance required by known machines.
  • the stacker is normally part of a line of equipment that includes an uncoiler and a shear upstream from the stacker to which the invention relates.
  • the stacker of the invention receives the individual pieces of thin material as they are cut by the shear and stacks them in one or more stacks. Therefore, the material is fed from a shear, represented schematically at 10, onto a guide plate 12 and a plurality of rollers 14.
  • a shear represented schematically at 10
  • the type of material normally handled is a thin sheet of material, usually metal, and may or may not be prepainted.
  • One of the advantages of the apparatus of the invention is that it can handle and stack prepainted material without marring the painted surface.
  • the material As the leading edge of the material is fed into the apparatus from the shear 10, the material has not yet been cut to the desired length. Cutting by the shear 10 into individual pieces of the desired length occurs while the leading edge of the material is in the stacker and held by it on top of the guide plate 12 and rollers 14. The length to which the individual pieces are cut depends upon how far the material is advanced into the stacker before being cut by shear 10. Therefore, the material can be cut to any predetermined desired length, as will be understood from the description hereinafter.
  • FIGS 1 and 2 of the drawings illustrate two stackers positioned end to end, but it will be understood that in many applications, a single stacker will be used.
  • Each of the stackers is positioned above a standard lift table 16 of any well known design.
  • the purpose of the lift table 16 is to hold the stack of individual pieces of material until they are moved off the lift table for further processing or use.
  • the height of the lift table 16 is variable, with the lift table 16 automatically lowering in increments as the pieces of material are stacked on it so that the top level of the stack remains constant within an acceptable range.
  • Such lift tables, and the system for automatically lowering or raising them is well known to those skilled in the art, and lift tables are commercially available and commonly used. Therefore, further details of the lift table 16 will not be described since such details form no part of the invention.
  • the stacker as longitudinal extending side frame members 18 which are supported and positioned in any suitable manner so as to position the working portions of the stacker in proper alinement and height with the other components of the processing equipment.
  • the supporting components for the stacker have not been shown except as indicated in Figures 1 and 2 which show a portion of the vertical supports 20 connected to the side frame members 18 and therefore suspending the side frame members 18 above the lift table 16.
  • Each stacker includes a plurality of what are designated handling units each indicated by the reference numeral 22, there being four such handling units 22 shown.
  • the number of handling units 22 will depend upon the particular application of the stacker and the number of stacks to be formed. In the preferred embodiment, there are shown four handling units 22 which will create three stacks, side by side, in the manner described hereinafter.
  • the handling units 22 are shown in detail in Figures 4, 5, and 6, each unit 22 consisting of a main longitudinal support member 24 connected to the vertical supports 20 ( Figure 2). At the upstream end of the support member 24 are a pair of sprockets 26 mounted on shaft 28, while at the downstream end of support member 24 are a second pair of sprockets 30 driven by drive shaft 32 which is operatively connected to all of the units 22 to simultaneously power them.
  • Sprockets 30 and 26 support and drive a pair of endless drive chains 34, there being one chain for each pair of sprockets 26 and 30.
  • a pickup unit 36 Connected to and spaced evenly along each of the drive chains 34 is a pickup unit 36 that is comprised of a valve 38 and a suction cup 40.
  • each pickup unit 36 is affixed to the chain 34 by L shaped links 42 and fasteners 44.
  • the pickup units 36 at the upstream end travel in a path that is somewhat irregular and brings each pickup unit 36 down at an angle so as to gradually engage the sheet material 46 to be picked up.
  • This gradual engagement and angle of approach of the suction cup 40 of each pickup unit 36 is designed to assure positive engagement of the suction cup 40 with the sheet material 46 while preventing the edge of the suction cup 40 from being bent inwardly and malfunctioning.
  • the path of the pickup units 36 once the suction cups 40 have engaged the sheet material 46 is a straight path in a horizontal plane just above lift table 16.
  • valve 38 that forms a part of the pickup unit 36.
  • the valve 38 has a U-shaped body 48 the bottom legs 50 of which are directed outwardly to facilitate attachment of the pickup unit 36 to the drive chain 34 in the matter previously described.
  • the main part of the valve body 48 contains a lateral passageway 52 that communicates with a vertical passageway 54.
  • Each suction cup 40 is removably attached to the body 48 by a threaded fastener 56 that contains an opening 58 extending through it so as to provide communication between the passageway 52 and the interior area of the suction cup 40.
  • a valve member 60 extends through the lateral passageway 52 and has a first valve seat 62 at one end and a second valve seat 64 at the other end.
  • Valve seats 62 and 64 seat against the outside surface of the body 48 to normally seal the ends of the passageway 52.
  • the edges of the cup 40 will seal against the surface of the sheet material 46, and the pressure differential created between the atmosphere and the inside of suction cup 40 will allow the suction cup 40 to grip the material 46 with sufficient force that the material 46 can be easily held and moved under control of the handling units 22.
  • the sheet material 46 can be advanced as the drive chains 34 move, and under the control of the drive chains 34 advancement of the sheet material 46 can be stopped at any desired position.
  • the apparatus of the invention provides a simple and positive release mechanism. All that is necessary to release the grip of a suction cup 40 on the material 46 is to break one of the seals 62 or 64.
  • the valve member 60 By making the valve member 60 of a soft and flexible material, adequate seals are provided between the seats 62 and 64 and the body 48. In order to break the seal, it is only necessary to move slightly one of the valve seats 62 or 64 until the seal between it and the main body 48 is broken.
  • valve member 60 Since the material of the valve member 60 is soft and flexible, this can be accomplished by applying force generally transversely to the valve member 60. Because of the flexibility of the valve member 60, force applied to the outer end of valve seat 62 or 64 will bend the valve member 60 sufficiently to break the seal, thus equalizing the pressure and causing the suction cup 40 to release its grip on the piece of sheet material 46.
  • valve seat 64 extends outwardly a sufficient distance to accommodate an annular shaped actuator 66 formed of a wear-resistant material.
  • a valve release bar 68 is supported along each side of the member 24 of each handling unit 22, the bar being supported on guide pins 70 which extend through slots 72 in the bar 68.
  • an actuating arm 74 is attached to bar 68 and extends upwardly where it is pivotly connected to the operating rod 76 of cylinder 78, which can be air or hydraulic operated.
  • the release bar 68 will be move forwardly and downwardly to engage the actuators 66 on the valve members 60 thereby releasing the grip of the suction cups 40 on the piece of sheet material 46.
  • the piece will drop onto the stack being formed on the lift table 16, and as the leading edge of the material is advanced onto the guide plate 12 and rollers 14, the material will once again be picked up by the descending suction cups 40 traveling around sprockets 26. The process just described will then be repeated.
  • handling units 22 Since the material being discharged by the shear 10 may also be cut longitudinally, multiple pieces of sheet material 46 may therefore be produced during a single cycle of pick up and release by the handling units 22.
  • handling units 22 there are shown four handling units 22. These units are all driven by drive shaft 32 which is powered by a single motor 80. Motor 81 drives a plurality of screws 86, 88, 90 and 92 which extend transversely to and are operatively connected to respective ones of the support members 24 of the handling units 22. Screws 86, 88, 90 and 92 are also connected by a suitable means, such as chains 94, to screws 86a, 88a, 90a and 92a, each of which is also operatively connected to respective ones of the support members 24 of handling units 22.
  • suitable means such as chains 94
  • screws 86 and 86a are driven simultaneously, as are screws 88 and 88a, 90 and 90a, and 92 and 92a.
  • cross member 98 interconnects the vertical supports 20 in a manner to allow the vertical supports 20 to move along the cross member 98 as the handling units 22 are moved transversely by the screws 86, 88, 90 and 92.
  • Control wheels 100 are provided at the end of each of the screws 86, 88, 90 and 92 to allow manual positioning of the handling units 22 laterally across the path of travel of the sheet material 46. This permits the handling units to be properly positioned depending upon the number of stacks of the material to be formed.
  • the apparatus is programmed so that when the clutches 102 are engaged with screws 86 and 92, the two outer handling units 22 will move outwardly a slight distance away from the two inner handling units 22. If the pieces of sheet material 46 have been cut longitudinally to form three stacks as illustrated in Figure 5, the two inner handling units 22 will be engaged with the piece of sheet material in the center and marked "B" in Figure 5, while the two outer handling units 22 will be engaged with the outer pieces of sheet material 46 marked "A" and "C” in Figure 5. After the sheet material 46 has been advanced to the proper predetermined distance by the handling units 22, the handling units 22 are stopped.
  • FIG. 5 The structure shown in Figure 5 is not illustrated in Figures 1, 2 or 3, but it should be understood that this structure would be positioned beneath the handling units 22 just above the lift table 16 with the cross supports 104 and 106 supporting a plurality of separator plates 108.
  • Figure 1 shows two identical stackers which are operatively connected together by a sprocket 110 on drive shaft 34, chain 112 and sprocket 114.
  • the two stackers can be operated and coordinated or can individually be operated as well. Illustration of the two stackers positioned end to end illustrates the variety of applications and flexibility of use of the principles of the invention.
  • the invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment of it which carriers out the principles of the invention.
  • the invention eliminates the need for vacuum lines and complex valving and control arrangements.
  • the suction cup arrangement By the use of the suction cup arrangement and its simplicity, the invention can be used to handle all types of materials, not just those metallic materials for which magnetic systems have been designed.
  • the simplicity of the system is evident from the foregoing description.
  • the capability of selectively moving multiple handling units laterally depending upon the number and spacing of the stacks of material desired provides for use of the apparatus of the invention in many different applications. Also, by proper control systems, a single apparatus can be varied depending upon the particular size of material being produced at any particular time.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
  • Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)
EP92104022A 1991-04-24 1992-03-09 Procédé et dispositif pour empiler des feuilles Withdrawn EP0510338A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US69063191A 1991-04-24 1991-04-24
US690631 1991-04-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0510338A1 true EP0510338A1 (fr) 1992-10-28

Family

ID=24773266

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92104022A Withdrawn EP0510338A1 (fr) 1991-04-24 1992-03-09 Procédé et dispositif pour empiler des feuilles

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0510338A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH05213508A (fr)
CA (1) CA2066910A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1501285A (en) * 1974-05-22 1978-02-15 Roland Offsetmaschf Printing press including a chain conveyor
DE2720030B2 (de) * 1977-05-04 1979-04-05 Zarges Leichtbau Gmbh, 8120 Weilheim Vorrichtung zum Transport und Ablegen bzw. Stapeln von Platten
WO1980000955A1 (fr) * 1978-11-06 1980-05-15 Ventive Ab Procede d'empilage de feuilles
EP0095218A1 (fr) * 1982-05-26 1983-11-30 Agfa-Gevaert N.V. Distributeur de feuilles

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1501285A (en) * 1974-05-22 1978-02-15 Roland Offsetmaschf Printing press including a chain conveyor
DE2720030B2 (de) * 1977-05-04 1979-04-05 Zarges Leichtbau Gmbh, 8120 Weilheim Vorrichtung zum Transport und Ablegen bzw. Stapeln von Platten
WO1980000955A1 (fr) * 1978-11-06 1980-05-15 Ventive Ab Procede d'empilage de feuilles
EP0095218A1 (fr) * 1982-05-26 1983-11-30 Agfa-Gevaert N.V. Distributeur de feuilles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2066910A1 (fr) 1992-10-25
JPH05213508A (ja) 1993-08-24

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