EP0685418A1 - Device for controlling the gripping of a plate shaped element by grippers within a machine for processing said elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The device controls the upper mechanism of the positioning pieces, the sheet layer and the opening mechanism of the gripper of sheets of paper from the outlet of a feed table. It comprises a horizontal axle (30) which rotates cyclically through a predetermined angle. The mechanism has, parallel to and near each side wall of the feed table frame, a lever (60) rotating about an axle (61) near its upper front end. The lever rear end carries a wheel (62) resting on the segment of a cam (22) of the cam lever (20). Each lever is pulled from a fastener (65), located at about a third of its lower edge, downwards by a spring (66). The spring lower end is fixed to a fastener (67) of the frame side wall. The upper edge of this lever carries a locking wheel. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a device for controlling the setting of a plate element, such as sheets of paper or cardboard, by a series of clamps mounted on a movable bar within a machine for treating such elements. .

Such a processing machine usually comprises first of all an introduction station in which a stack of sheets is installed, each sheet being successively removed from the top of the stack to be sent to a margin table. On this table, each sheet is placed in position against front and side cleats before being gripped at its front edge by a series of pliers mounted along a transverse bar, each end of which is attached to a train of side chains taking the bar, and therefore the sheet, to the following treatment stations. The processing stations can be a platen cutting press, the latter being followed by a waste ejection station. These processing stations are followed by a receiving station in which each sheet released by the clamps is jogged by falling on top of a stack accumulating on an output pallet.

More precisely, when the sheet arrives on the margin table, a plurality of operations must be initiated simultaneously or successively. First, the chain of trainers comes to a stop as soon as it has brought a bar of empty pliers to a sheet receiving position in front of the downstream edge of the margin table. As the chain train stop is more or less precise, the final position of the bar must be readjusted in relation to this fixed table. For this purpose, pushers come to bear on either side of the bar on stops to induce a slight displacement of the latter relative to the chains of chains, and this against the effect of springs housed in the fasteners of the chain bar.

A lower shelf carrying at its downstream edge tabs for adjusting the frontal position of the sheet is then lifted so that these tabs are found, at the level of the clamps, in the plane of passage of the sheet. In addition, a transverse sheet folded in the form of a half-funnel, known as a "leaf-abatement", is placed in position so that the edge, possibly too high, of a sheet can be brought down, in the direction of the clamps and cleats. during arrival.

A device then controls the opening of the clamps. This device can be a pusher coming to lift an arm secured to the end of a camshaft mounted on the clamp bar, each cam raising the upper finger of a clamp. Alternatively, this device may include a comb with vertical teeth facing upwards, each tooth lifting the upper finger of a clamp when the comb is mounted.

After a certain period of time reserved in advance of the sheet against the positioning tabs, the control device closes the clamps, lowers the tab of the tabs, releases the sheet-cutter and releases the clamp bar which can then start again towards the next station, usually the first platen press. If a wrong position of the sheet in the clamps is detected, this sheet not having reached one of the front or lateral stops until a relay is engaged, an additional device can control the reopening of the clamps and the stop of the machine.

In known machines, the four movements described above, namely the positioning of the gripper bar, the shelf, the sheet-shutter and the opening of the grippers, are controlled separately by autonomous devices. For considerations of space and connection to the main drive shaft, each current device is based on a pair of lower cams, one on each side of the machine, acting on a pair of reading levers each moving a pull tab vertical connected to a particular upper mechanism.

A current machine therefore comprises no less than eight cams, levers and pulls, which constitutes heavy kinematics, expensive to produce and thereby increasing the drive energy necessary for setting in motion.

The object of the present invention is a device for controlling the gripping of a plate element by pliers, in particular respective mechanisms for positioning the pliers bar, the cleat-holding shelf, the lampshade. sheet and clamp opening mechanism, these mechanisms being located at the outlet of a margin table of a plate element processing machine, which is particularly simplified, while remaining effective at each machine cycle and reliable in the long term.

These goals are achieved because the device comprises, slightly below the downstream edge of the margin table, a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of movement of the sheets, movable in rotation about its longitudinal axis, and rotated cyclically by a predetermined angle by at most one pair of lower lateral devices, and the fact that each lateral end this axis carries in common a symmetrical series of articulation arms and / or cams, each lateral pair of cams or arms respectively actuating the upper mechanism for positioning the gripper bar, of the cleat support shelf, the leaf cutter and the upper clamp opening mechanism.

In other words, this rotary axis located slightly below the margin table and set in motion by only a single lower device, or at most a pair of lower devices, constitutes a setting in motion relay common to all the mechanisms. superiors. Indeed, it turned out that it is always possible to resize the length of an articulation arm or the diameter and the profile of a cam according to the same predetermined angle of rotation of the common axis. to obtain the activation of the corresponding upper mechanism.

Preferably, the lower drive device for setting the common axis angular movement is unique, and comprises a cam acting on the first reading arm of a lever, the other arm of which lowers a connected pull tab, in rotation, to a torque arm secured to the axis; as well as an elastic return means, such as a spring, acting between a fixed point of the machine and a second torque arm opposite the first. When correctly dimensioned, such a single device can perfectly set in motion all of the upper mechanisms in a reliable and repetitive manner.

Usefully, the first and second torque arms of the lower mechanism form an integral part of the same part, moreover comprising a part in the form of a cam segment or acting as a lever arm for one of the upper mechanisms. This configuration allows a first saving of parts, the advantage of which is found in the overall cost of production.

Also usefully, two arms or two cams or a neighboring arm and a cam acting respectively on two first mechanisms can hold between them, in rotation, a pull rod acting on a third mechanism. Thus, the implementation of a common axis already carrying a plurality of cams or arms allows the economy of an additional lever arm when possible.

Alternatively, depending on the space available under the margin table and depending on the location of the end of the main drive shaft, the common axis can be rotated by a device comprising a cam acting directly on a lever secured to the axis, or comprising a toothed wheel acting on a part in a circular toothed sector of a plate secured to the axis.

According to a preferred embodiment, the upper mechanism for locking a bar of pliers and for lowering the leaf cutter comprises a cross member movable in rotation about its longitudinal axis and located at the same time little upstream relative to to the common axis to which it is parallel and little above the plane of passage of the sheets, this crosspiece carrying in the middle the leaf abatement, and, on each side, a lever arm whose downstream end carries a roller of reading based on a cam integral with the common axis, each lever arm being pulled down by a return means, such as a spring, acting between a lower point of the side wall of the machine and a fastener located substantially in the middle of the lower edge of the lever, the upper edge of each lever arm carrying a caster provided to press a stopper for attaching a bar of pliers to its chain of chains.

According to a preferred embodiment, the upper gripper opening mechanism comprises, on each side of the machine, a pusher connected, in rotation, at its lower end to an arm secured to the common axis and at its upper end to the downstream end of a jaw movable in rotation around its upstream end, the two jaws carrying between them a transverse comb whose teeth oriented upwards can bear against the lower faces in correspondence of the upper fingers of the pliers.

Advantageously, the pusher is a jack in the retracted state which, after a first closing of the clamps following a partial rotation of the common axis, can be taken out to raise the jaws and the comb again in order to reopen the clamps in the event sheet misalignment.

According to a preferred embodiment, the upper lifting mechanism of the stopper shelf, this shelf being movable around its downstream edge, comprises, on each side of the machine, a pusher connected in rotation at its lower end to an arm secured to the common axis and at its upper end to the upstream edge of the shelf.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the common axis and the upper mechanisms are contained in the same removable upper module in one piece. out of the machine. Indeed, this module being connected to the lower device for rotating the common axis only by a single pull tab, or at most a pair of pull tabs, its disassembly is easy, which particularly facilitates the repair of the machine or its re-use following a jam of sheets.

• la figure 1 est une vue partielle de côté du dispositif de commande selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue partielle de devant du dispositif selon la figure 1,
• les figures 3a et 3b illustrent, de côté, le détail du mécanisme de verrouillage d'une barre de pinces et de l'abaissement de l'abat-feuilles, et ce respectivement en position inactive et en position active,
• les figure 4a à 4c illustrent, de côté, le détail du mécanisme d'ouverture des pinces respectivement en position dégagée, d'ouverture et de réouverture en cas de mauvais alignement de la feuille, et
• les figures 5a et 5b illustrent, de côté, le détail du mécanisme de levée de la tablette porte-taquets, respectivement en position abaissée et relevée.

The invention will be better understood from the study of an exemplary embodiment taken without any limitation being implied and illustrated in the appended figures in which:

• FIG. 1 is a partial side view of the control device according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a partial front view of the device according to FIG. 1,
• FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate, from the side, the detail of the locking mechanism of a pliers bar and of the lowering of the leaf cutter, in the inactive position and in the active position respectively,
• FIGS. 4a to 4c illustrate, from the side, the detail of the mechanism for opening the clamps respectively in the disengaged position, for opening and for reopening in the event of misalignment of the sheet, and
• Figures 5a and 5b illustrate, from the side, the detail of the lifting mechanism of the cleat support shelf, respectively in the lowered and raised position.

FIG. 1 illustrates a device for controlling a plurality of mechanisms not illustrated in this figure but represented in FIGS. 3 to 5, these mechanisms being located at the outlet of a margin table 4 and ensuring gripping in an exact position of a sheet 2 by a series of clamps 8 mounted on a bar driven on either side by a chain of chains 7.

This control device is centered on a horizontal axis 30, oriented transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the sheets, and held at its two ends in the side walls 5 of the machine, and this in rotation in bearings 32.

This axis 30 is rotated cyclically by an angle of the order of 50 ° by an underlying drive device comprising a control cam 10 whose position is read by the first arm of a lever 12, the other of which arm is connected, in rotation, to a substantially vertical zipper 14. The upper end of this zipper 14 is connected by a fastener 23 to a cam lever 20 made integral in rotation with the axis 30 by a key 34. The axis of rotation of the cam 10 passes through the side wall of the machine frame to be connected to the general drive of the machine, for example by a chain. The axis of the lever 12 is held in this same side wall of the frame, also by a bearing.

Furthermore, the cam lever 20 is connected by a fastener 24 to the first end of a spring 25, the other lower end of which is connected to a fixed point 26 of the side wall of the frame. As can be clearly seen in this FIG. 1, the tie rod attachment point 23 and the spring attachment point 24 are situated on either side of the axis of rotation 30 so that the rotation in the opposite direction clockwise from the lever-cam 20 induced by a pull downwards on the pull-tab 14 is effected against an elongation of the spring 25 which later returns this cam lever 20 to the initial position when the lever reading roller 12 again passes into a lower part of the cam 10.

As soon as this lower drive device is correctly dimensioned, it is not no need to repeat it against the other side wall of the frame.

More particularly according to the invention, each end of the axis 30 is completed with a long key 34 making it possible to simultaneously drive in rotation a plurality of mechanical drive members 20, 40, 50 situated side by side as illustrated in figure 2.

More specifically, the first member, namely the lever-cam 20 mentioned above, has in its upper part a cam segment 22 used to actuate the mechanism for locking the position of a clamp bar and the positioning a leaf cutter as shown in Figure 3.

This mechanism of FIG. 3 first comprises, parallel to and close to each side wall of the frame, a lever 60 movable in rotation about an axis 61 located close to its upper upstream end, and the other downstream end of which carries a reading wheel 62 resting on the cam segment 22 of the underlying cam lever 20. Each lever 60 is pulled from a fastener 65, located about a third of its lower edge, downwards by an underlying spring 66 whose lower end is fixed to a fastener 67 of the side wall of the frame. In contrast, the upper edge of this lever 60 carries a locking wheel 64.

The two lateral levers 60 are in fact integral with the same cross-member 68 of non-circular section except for the two ends respectively engaged in a bearing included in the side wall of the frame and constituting the axis of rotation 61. This cross-member 68 carries, in its middle, a sheet 69 oriented downstream relative to the direction of movement of the sheets and folded at least once obliquely downward.

FIG. 3a illustrates a sequence of the cycle during which a bar of pliers 8 is brought into position by a chain train 7. During this period, the cam lever 20 having been turned completely anticlockwise, the read wheel 62 is in contact with the lowest part of the cam segment 22 causing the lever 60 to be in its low position.

Shortly after the chain train 7 brought the gripper bar 8 to the leaf receiving position, the clockwise rotation of the cam lever 20 quickly raised this lever 60 which pushed the upper caster 64 against a bearing stop 9 formed on the floating part of the attachment of the clamp bar 8 to the chain train 7. This bearing of the caster 64 on the stop 9 causes the position of the bar clamps 8 is no longer established with reference to the chain of chains 7 but with reference to the frame of the machine.

In addition, in its raised position, the sheet 69 known as a "sheet-cutter" is able to guide the front edge of a sheet towards the clamps 8.

A second mechanism driving member rotating simultaneously with the common axis 30 is the plate 50 mounted, on this axis, parallel to the cam lever 20 and this on the interior of the machine. As best seen in FIG. 5, this plate 50 is connected within a recess 52, in rotation about an axis 45, at the lower end of a vertical pusher 54 whose upper end is also connected mobile in rotation, at the downstream edge of a shelf 90 which can rotate about an axis 94 parallel and close to its upstream edge. This shelf carries, at its downstream edge, a plurality of front tabs 92. FIG. 5b illustrates how, after rotation of the axis 30 clockwise, the pusher 54 has lifted the shelf 90 until bringing the tabs 92 between the clamps 8 open. The position of these tabs 92 is previously adjusted more or less forward in the clamps 8 to the ultimate position 92 ′ depending on the format of the plate elements.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a third upper mechanism drive member is constituted by a jack 40 which is not directly connected to the axis 30, but which is suspended, in the manner of a pendulum, by a horizontal axis 42 held on one side by the cam lever 20 and on the other side by the plate 50. This jack is supplied by hydraulic conduits 46.

As best seen in Figures 4, the upper end in the shape of a female knuckle 44 of this pendulum jack 40 is connected in rotation by a pin 45 to the downstream end of a jaw 70 rotating at its upstream edge around a horizontal axis 72. Similarly to the mechanism described above, each jaw moves in a plane parallel and close to the corresponding side wall of the frame. These two lateral jaws hold together, by fixing bolts 75, a transverse comb 74 which, as best seen in FIGS. 4b and 4c, is provided for lifting the upper fingers of each of the clamps 8 after rotation of the common axis 30 clockwise. The lifting of the downstream end of the jaw 70, following this rotation of the axis 30, is limited by an adjustable stop 76 secured to the frame. Closure of the clamps occurs very quickly after the start of rotation in the opposite direction to the common axis 30.

As described above in its function, a simple push rod could have replaced the actuator 40. However, it may happen that a sheet does not reach the positioning cleat and that it is caught obliquely by the pliers. This condition is detected because the sheet will not have triggered a switch located near each of the tabs. The passage of the actuator from a retracted state to an extended state (as illustrated in FIG. 4b in FIG. 4c) then allows the jaw 70 to be temporarily raised against the stop 76 so as to reopen the clamps 8 which then release the wrong sheet. The stopping of the machine to release this sheet is then very short because this sheet is still present on the margin table, therefore in a very accessible place.

As we could see from reading this presentation, the use of a crossbar 30 allows the simultaneous and coordinated implementation of a plurality of upper mechanisms illustrated in Figures 4 to 5 from '' a single lower basic workout 10-14.

This lower drive is dimensioned so as to be powerful enough to transmit the necessary mechanical power. On the other hand, this unique drive saves no less than five previous traditional drives, which represents a considerable reduction in parts. This coordinated training of a plurality of mechanisms has been, among other things, made possible by the particular shapes given to the drive members 20, 40 and 50, shapes represented in an exact manner, but on a reduced scale, in FIGS. 1 and 2. This coordination is also made possible by corresponding dimensions of the lever 60 of the mechanism according to FIG. 3, of the jaw 70 of the mechanism according to FIG. 4 and of the pusher 54 of the mechanism according to FIG. 5, dimensions represented in these figures on the same scale as the adjacent parts to reveal the proportions.

In addition, it has been possible to accommodate the axis 30 with its drive members 20, 40, 50 and the mechanisms of Figures 3, 4 and 5 within the same housing which can be installed or removed of a block.

Many improvements can be made to this control device within the scope of the claims.

Claims (9)

Device for controlling the gripping of a plate element by pliers at the outlet of a margin table of a plate element processing machine, in particular for controlling the respective upper bar positioning mechanisms of pliers (60-67), of the leaf cutter (60, 68, 69), of the cleat-holder shelf (90-94), and of the mechanism for opening the pliers (70-76), characterized in what the device comprises, a little below the downstream edge of the margin table, a horizontal axis (30) transverse to the direction of movement of the sheets, movable in rotation about its longitudinal axis, and rotated cyclically by an angle predetermined by at most one pair of lower lateral drive devices (10-20), and in that each lateral end of this common axis (30) carries a symmetrical series of articulation arms and / or cams (20, 40, 50), each lateral pair of cam (20) or arms (40, 50) respectively actuating an upper mechanism ur. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower drive device for angular movement of the common axis (30) is unique, and comprises a cam (10) acting on the first reading arm of a lever (12), the other arm of which lowers a pull tab (14) connected, in rotation, to a torque arm (23) secured to the axis (30); as well as an elastic return means (25) acting between a fixed point (26) of the machine and a second torque arm (24) opposite the first. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the first (23) and the second (24) torque arms of the lower mechanism are part integral with the same part (20) additionally comprising a part in cam segment (22) or acting as a lever arm for one of the upper mechanisms. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two neighboring arms or two cams or an arm (50) and a cam (20) acting respectively on two first mechanisms hold between them, in rotation, a pull tab (40) acting on a third mechanism. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper locking mechanism of a clamp bar (8) and of the lowering of the sheet-filler (69) comprises a cross-member (68) movable in rotation around its longitudinal axis (61) and located at the same time little upstream with respect to the common axis (30) to which it is parallel and little above the plane of passage of the sheets, this cross member carrying in its middle the abatement sheet (69), and, on each side, a lever arm (60) whose downstream end carries a reading roller (62) resting on a cam (22) integral with the common axis (30), each arm lever (60) being pulled down by a return means (66) acting between a lower point (67) of the side wall of the machine and a fastener (65) located on the lower edge of the lever, the upper edge of each lever arm carrying a caster (64) intended to press on a stop (9) of the attachment of a clamp bar (8 ) to its chain of chains (7). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper clamp opening mechanism (7) comprises, on each side of the machine, a pusher (40) connected, in rotation, at its lower end (42) on one arm integral (20, 50) with the common axis (30) and at its upper end (45) with the downstream end of a jaw (70) movable in rotation around its upstream end (72), the two jaws bearing between them a transverse comb (74) whose teeth oriented upwards can bear against the lower faces in correspondence of the upper fingers of the pliers (8). Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the pusher (40) is a jack in the retracted state which, after a first closing of the clamps (8) following a partial rotation of the common axis (30), can be pulled out to lift the jaws (70) and the comb (74) again to reopen the clamps (8) in the event of misalignment of the sheet. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper lifting mechanism of the tab (90) cleat holder (92), this tablet being movable around its downstream edge (94), comprises, on each side of the machine, a pusher (54) connected in rotation at its lower end (56) to an arm (50) secured to the common axis (30) and at its upper end to the upstream edge of the shelf (90). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the common axis (30) carrying the cams and articulation arms, as well as the upper mechanisms (60-94) are contained in the same upper module removable from a standing alone out of the machine.

Images