EP0730833B1 - Pneumatic membrane-type press - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to membrane bells pneumatic suitable for a press intended in particular for bonding or analog of bands on a body like, for example but not exclusively, soles on shoes or the like.

We already know such bells, for example those described and illustrated in GB-A-2 151 904, DE-A-35 16 577 and EP-A-0 141 183.

However, the object of the present invention is to produce a bell with pneumatic membrane adapted to a press intended in particular for bonding or the like of bands on bodies such as shoes, which has a greater operational safety than bells known in the art prior.

• un support dudit corps,
• un plateau entourant ledit support,
• un couvercle en creux dont le bord présente une forme adaptée pour venir au contact dudit plateau,
• une membrane souple,
• des moyens pour solidariser la bordure de ladite membrane avec ledit couvercle pour définir, avec le fond de celui-ci, un volume fermé,
• un conduit débouchant par une extrémité dans ledit volume fermé et apte à être connecté, par son autre extrémité, à une source de gaz comprimé,
• des moyens pour monter ledit couvercle en déplacement par rapport audit plateau de façon qu'il puisse prendre au moins deux positions, une première position dans laquelle le bord dudit couvercle repose sur ledit plateau et une seconde position dans laquelle le bord dudit couvercle est éloigné dudit plateau, ces moyens pour monter ledit couvercle en déplacement par rapport audit plateau étant constitués par des moyens de rotation, ces moyens de rotation comportant un arbre fixe par rapport audit plateau, un palier monté en rotation sur ledit arbre par une surface de friction, ledit palier étant solidaire dudit couvercle, et
• des moyens d'obturation commandables permettant d'obturer ledit conduit quand le couvercle est sensiblement dans sa seconde position et de l'ouvrir quand le couvercle est dans sa première position,

caractérisée par le fait que le conduit comporte au moins :

• une première percée borgne réalisée selon l'axe dudit arbre,
• un orifice reliant ladite première percée avec la paroi latérale dudit arbre et étant réalisé suivant un axe sensiblement perpendiculaire à l'axe dudit arbre, et
• une seconde percée réalisée dans le palier et débouchant par une première extrémité dans ledit volume et par son autre seconde extrémité sur la surface de friction dudit palier monté en pivotement sur ledit arbre, et que lesdits moyens d'obturation commandables dudit conduit sont constitués par le fait que ladite seconde percée est réalisée dans ledit palier de façon que, lorsque ledit couvercle est dans sa première position, la seconde extrémité de la seconde percée soit en regard dudit orifice et que, lorsque ledit couvercle est dans sa seconde position, la surface de friction obture la sortie dudit orifice.

More specifically, the subject of the present invention is a bell with a pneumatic membrane adapted to a press intended in particular for bonding or the like to strips on a body, comprising:

• a support for said body,
• a tray surrounding said support,
• a hollow cover, the edge of which has a shape suitable for coming into contact with said tray,
• a flexible membrane,
• means for securing the edge of said membrane with said cover to define, with the bottom thereof, a closed volume,
• a conduit opening at one end into said closed volume and capable of being connected, at its other end, to a source of compressed gas,
• means for mounting said cover in displacement with respect to said tray so that it can take at least two positions, a first position in which the edge of said cover rests on said tray and a second position in which the edge of said cover is remote from said plate, these means for mounting said cover in displacement with respect to said plate being constituted by rotation means, these rotation means comprising a fixed shaft with respect to said plate, a bearing mounted for rotation on said shaft by a friction surface, said bearing being integral with said cover, and
• controllable closure means making it possible to seal said duct when the cover is substantially in its second position and to open it when the cover is in its first position,

characterized by the fact that the conduit comprises at least:

• a first blind breakthrough made along the axis of said shaft,
• an orifice connecting said first breakthrough with the side wall of said shaft and being produced along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of said shaft, and
• a second breakthrough made in the bearing and opening by a first end in said volume and by its other second end on the friction surface of said bearing pivotally mounted on said shaft, and that said controllable closure means of said conduit are constituted by the causes said second breakthrough to be made in said bearing so that, when said cover is in its first position, the second end of the second breakout is opposite said orifice and that, when said cover is in its second position, the surface of friction closes the outlet of said orifice.

La figure 1 représente, en coupe, une vue de côté d'une cloche selon l'invention à membrane pneumatique adaptée sur une presse, dans une application au collage d'une semelle sur une chaussure, ladite cloche étant représentée avec le couvercle en position relevée pour permettre le positionnement de la chaussure,

La figure 2 représente, en coupe, une vue de côté de la cloche selon la figure 1, mais avec le couvercle en position rabattue dite "de travail",

La figure 3 représente une coupe transversale de la cloche en position de travail,

La figure 4 représente un vérin de bridage en position serrée,

La figure 5 représente en détail une vue à plat d'une partie de la bride de serrage,

La figure 6 représente le vérin de serrage en position de desserrage pour le changement de la membrane, le couvercle étant en position relevée,

La figure 7 représente les différents positionnements de la bride de serrage lors du changement de la membrane, et

La figure 8 représente une vue de dessous de la cloche, montrant la membrane retenue par la bride de serrage ainsi que l'axe d'articulation et le moyen de fixation de la cloche sur la presse.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear during the following description given with reference to the drawings annexed by way of illustration, but in no way limitative, in which:

FIG. 1 represents, in section, a side view of a bell according to the invention with a pneumatic membrane adapted on a press, in an application to the bonding of a sole on a shoe, said bell being represented with the cover in position raised to allow the shoe to be positioned,

FIG. 2 represents, in section, a side view of the bell according to FIG. 1, but with the cover in the folded position called "working",

FIG. 3 represents a cross section of the bell in the working position,

FIG. 4 represents a clamping cylinder in the tight position,

FIG. 5 shows in detail a flat view of part of the clamping flange,

FIG. 6 shows the clamping cylinder in the loosening position for changing the membrane, the cover being in the raised position,

FIG. 7 shows the different positions of the clamp when changing the membrane, and

Figure 8 shows a bottom view of the bell, showing the membrane retained by the clamp as well as the hinge pin and the means for fixing the bell on the press.

The eight figures represent the same embodiment of a bell with pneumatic membrane adapted to a press according to the invention. In consequence the same references designate the same elements there, whatever either the figure on which they appear.

The pneumatic diaphragm bell adapted to a press intended in particular when bonding or the like to strips on a body 7 such as a shoe, comprises a support 20 of the body 7, a plate 19 surrounding this support, a hollow cover 1 whose edge has a shape suitable for come into contact with the plate, a flexible membrane 2, and means 4 for secure the edge of the membrane with the cover to define, with the bottom of it, a closed volume 50.

In an advantageous embodiment, the means 4 for secure the edge of the membrane 2 with the cover have a clamp 3 to trap the edge of the membrane with a complementary part of the cover and means 51 for controlling the movement of the clamp 3 relative to the cover 1. These means 51 to control the movement of the clamp relative to the cover are chosen from the following: screws, cylinder. In the mode of illustrated embodiment, the control means 51 are constituted by a plurality of cylinders distributed around the cover 1 and actuated for example by a single command button. These cylinders can be of any type, electric, pneumatic, etc.

The bell further comprises a conduit 52 opening through one 53 of its ends, in the closed volume 50 and able to be connected, by its other end 54, to a source of compressed gas (not shown), and means for mounting the cover 1 in displacement relative to the plate 19 so that it can take at least two positions, a first position in which the edge of the cover rests on the plate 19 and a second position in which the edge of the cover is distant from the plate 19.

According to an important characteristic of the invention aimed at achieve the goal defined in the preamble to this description, the bell further comprises controllable sealing means of the conduit 52 to close the conduit when the cover is substantially in its second position and open it when the cover is substantially in its first position.

In an advantageous embodiment, the means for mounting the cover 1 moving relative to the plate 19 are constituted by rotation means 14 comprising a fixed shaft relative to the plate 19 and a bearing secured to the cover 1 and mounted in rotation on the shaft by a friction surface.

The conduit 52 then comprises a first blind breakthrough made along the axis 12 of the shaft, an orifice connecting this first breakthrough with the wall lateral of this tree and being produced along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis 12 of the shaft, a second breakthrough 15 made in the bearing and emerging through a first end 53 in the closed volume 50 and by its other second end 16 on the friction surface of the bearing which is pivotally mounted on the shaft, and a pipe portion 57 including one end is connected to the opening of the first breakthrough and the other of which end constitutes the end 54 of the conduit 52 defined above.

Controllable means for opening the conduit when the cover 1 is substantially in its first position and close it when it is substantially in its second position, are constituted by the fact that the second breakthrough 15 is made in the bearing so that when the cover 1 is in its first position, its second end 16 is opposite the orifice and that, when the cover is in its second position, the second end 16 of the second breakthrough 15 is not opposite the orifice, the friction surface closing the outlet of the orifice.

The bell further comprises controllable means for putting in communication volume 50 with the ambient environment, with the aim of deflate or at least partially empty this volume preferably before the cover 1 does not pass from its first position to the second.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the means controllable to port volume 50 with the environment ambient are advantageously constituted by a valve or the like controlled manually, pneumatically, etc., for example a two-way pneumatic distributor 55 mounted in series on the duct 52, advantageously on the pipe portion 57. A first passing lane is defined from end 54 to end 53, the second is defined from the end 53 towards the outlet 56 which is a venting.

The bell structure described above is advantageous because it prevents the conduit 52 supplying the volume 50 with compressed gas is moved at the same time as cover 1, as would be the case if the conduit led directly into the volume without passing through the shaft and the bearing. Indeed, as this cover is very heavy, it is necessary, as it will be mentioned below, that he is balanced during his movements of his first position to second and vice versa, and it's almost impossible to achieve such balancing with a floating conduit, itself very heavy to because of its reinforced structure, which leads directly into volume 50.

This structure also has the following advantage: if the cover 1 is actuated from its first position to the second while, by error, the distributor 55 was not correctly positioned (having remained by example in its passageway "54 to 53"), volume 50 will only receive one small additional amount of compressed gas. Likewise, it will prevent the volume 50 does not receive compressed gas too soon before cover 1 has been locked on the tray 19.

In an advantageous embodiment, the bell further comprises means for moving the support 20 of the body 7 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the plate 19 and a stop 9 integral with the cover 1 located in the closed volume 50, this stop being positioned on the path of movement of the support 20 when the cover is in its first position. In the illustrated embodiment, the support 20 is provided with a removable plate 21 defining a light 22 intended to receive, by example as illustrated, a shoe 7, the removable plate being placed on a movable base 23 vertically adjustable by means for example of a bigorne 24 controlled by a motor 25.

In an advantageous embodiment, this support 20 can be constituted several auxiliary supports, for example two as illustrated on the figures. The two auxiliary supports are respectively controlled by two bigornes 24, 26 mounted in parallel and controlled respectively by two motors 25, 27 which, in the case where the body 7 is constituted by a shoe, respectively control the front of the shoe (the bighorn 24) and the heel (bighorn 26).

For the main purpose announced in the preamble to this description, it is advantageous that the bell also includes means for lock the cover on the tray. These means can take different forms. One of their possible embodiments was schematically illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. They are in this case constituted by at least one hook 28 which hooks onto the plate 19 when the cover 1 is in its closed position.

Preferably, the bell further comprises one or more vision windows 6 made in the cover 1, which allow to see in inside the volume 50 after closing the cover 1 and checking, in particular, the positioning of the membrane 2 on the body 7.

Of course, the cover must be able to pass from one of its positions to each other easily. For this purpose, the bell has means to control the rotation of the cover 1 relative to the plate. These means can be constituted, as illustrated in the figures, by a jack 13 of any type of which one end is connected to the cover 1. In the embodiment illustrated, its other end is connected to the frame 11 of the bell by a member turning 35.

Advantageously, the bell also includes means for balance the cover in its rotation around the shaft. These means can be of any type, for example a spring, a counterweight, etc., and it is recalled that, as the structure described above avoids the presence of a conduit floating connected to the cover, balancing the cover is easier to achieve and remains constant whatever the position of the cover relative to the tray. Incidentally, the bell also includes, for example, screens protectors 17, 18 surrounding the shaft and the rotating bearing, these screens being advantageously secured to the frame 11 of the bell.

Figure 2 shows the pneumatic diaphragm bell when the cover 1 is folded back in the closed position. Compressed air is supplied by the conduit 52 to volume 50, membrane 2 swells and hugs the entire surface of sole 29 of shoe 7, the pressure exerted by the membrane allowing the sole to adhere perfectly to the upper of the shoe 7. The pressure on the sole is reinforced by means of a fixed stop 9 advantageously on a metal cross member 8 on the upper part 5 of the cover 1. This stopper acts as a reaction to a booster 10 located at the bottom of the frame 11. It is of an appropriate shape corresponding to that of the sole 29 to stick on the upper of the shoe.

FIG. 3 shows a transverse view in which the cover 1 is in the closed position, the membrane 2 applied to the sole 29 of the shoe 7. The cover 1 is locked by means of the hooks 28 coming from fit through the lights 30 made in the plate 19.

In Figure 4, is shown, in the clamped position, a cylinder clamping tire 51 adapted to cover 1, allowing tightening snapshot of the flange 3 energetically plating the edge of the membrane 2 on the edge of the cover 1 and the quick change of the membrane 2.

FIG. 5 shows in detail a flat view of part of the clamping flange 3 of the membrane 2, provided with an oblong hole 31 facilitating, by simple movement of the clamp 3, the release of the means of fixing 32 of the jack 51 on the clamping flange 3, as well as a groove 34 of suitable shape cooperating with the lower part 36 of the bell for retain the edge of the membrane 2 in the form of a molding 33.

FIG. 6 shows a detail of the pneumatic clamping cylinder 51 representing the fixing means 32 in the released position, the molding 33 of the membrane 2 which can then be released from the groove 34 of the clamping flange 3.

In Figure 7 are shown the different positions of the clamp 3 when changing the membrane 2. The pneumatic cylinder clamp 51 is in the released position and the clamp 3 has been moved, releasing the fixing means 32 through the oblong hole 31.

Figure 8 shows a bottom view of the cover 1 making appear the membrane 2 retained by the clamp 3 with the holes oblong 31 allowing the release of the fixing means 32 of the flange tightening 3, during assembly or disassembly of the membrane 2, as well as the axis of articulation with a means 35 for fixing the bell on the frame 11 and the conduit 52 for the arrival of compressed air inside the closed volume 50 closed at 16 to ensure greater security, the air thus being unable to penetrate into the closed volume only when the cover 1 is locked on the plate 19 at by means of hooks 28.

Claims (9)

1. A pneumatic membrane bell fitted to a press intended in particular for applying strips to a body (7) by adhesive or the like, comprising:

   a support (20) for said body;

   a plate (19) surrounding said support;

   a hollow lid (1) whose edge is of a shape adapted to come into contact with said plate;

   a flexible membrane (2);

   means for securing the margin of said membrane to said lid so as to co-operate with the end wall of the lid to define a closed volume (50);

   a duct (52) having one end (53) opening out into said closed volume and suitable for having its other end (54) connected to a source of compressed gas;

   means for mounting said lid (1) movably relative to said plate (19) in such a manner as to enable it to take up at least two positions, a first position in which the edge of said lid rests on said plate (19), and a second position in which the edge of said lid is at a distance from said plate, said means for mounting said lid movably relative to said plate being constituted by rotary means (14), said rotary means comprising a shaft that is fixed relative to said plate, and a bearing mounted to rotate on said shaft via a friction surface, said bearing being secured to said lid; and

   controllable closure means enabling said duct (52) to be closed when the lid is substantially in its second position and to be opened when the lid is in its first position;

      characterized by the facts that the duct (52) comprises at least:

   a first blind bore made on the axis (12) of said shaft;

   an orifice connecting said first bore to the side wall of said shaft and made along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of said shaft; and

   a second bore (15) made through the bearing and opening out via a first end (53) in said volume (50) and via its other or second end (16) to the friction surface of said bearing pivotally mounted on said shaft;

      and that said controllable means for closing said duct (52) are constituted by the fact that said second bore (15) is made in said bearing in such a manner that when said lid (1) is in its first position, the second end (16) of the second bore (15) is in register with said orifice and when said lid is in its second position, the friction surface closes the outlet of said orifice.
2. A bell according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it further comprises means for moving said support (20) of said body (7) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said plate (19), and an abutment (9) secured to said lid, said abutment being situated in said closed volume (50) and being positioned on the displacement path of said support (20) when said lid (1) is in its first position.
3. A bell according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the means for securing the margin of said membrane (2) to said lid comprise a clamp (3) for holding said margin of the membrane captive with a complementary portion of said lid, and means (4) for controlling displacement of said clamp relative to said lid.
4. A bell according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the means (4) for controlling displacement of the clamp (3) relative to said lid (1) are selected from the following elements: screw; actuator.
5. A bell according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that it further comprises means (28) for locking said lid (1) on said plate (19).
6. A bell according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that said support (20) is constituted by a plurality of auxiliary supports and comprises means (20, 24, 25, 26, 27) for displacing said auxiliary support relative to said plate (19) in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of said plate.
7. A bell according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that it includes at least one inspection porthole (6) formed in said lid (1).
8. A bell according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that it comprises means (13) for controlling rotation of said lid (1) relative to said plate (19).
9. A bell according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by the fact that it comprises means for balancing said lid (1) in its rotation about said shaft.

Images