EP0882666A1 - Method and installation for automatically preparing advertising notice orders - Google Patents

Abstract

The procedure, e.g. for assembling sections of a 4m x 3m poster in sets of eight, uses a rotary turntable (1) on which the sections (E1-E8) are placed in individual stacks. The turntable rotates with a stepped motion, halting as each stack reaches a counter (8) with a blade to separate and lift the sections one at a time from the top of each stack until a complete set of eight sections is formed. The resulting set of poster sections is then transferred to an output unit in readiness for dispatch.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and to an installation for the automatic preparation of advertising poster orders.

An advertising poster consists of several sheets called "pieces", for example 8 pieces for a poster format of 4m x 3m. A poster order corresponds to a package of several posters, for example 10, therefore 10 x 8 sheets, if a poster consists of 8 pieces.

The machines used in the process manufacture of posters, such as offset printers or guillotines, process sheets in large batches of identical sheets, for example 1000, in order to increase the productivity of the machine by reducing the setting times.

Consequently, a compilation step is mandatory at the end of the manufacturing process different pieces of posters, to group the different sheets constituting the posters object of orders, from batches of identical sheets coming out of print and guillotine and usually stacked on pallets, this step being the preparation some orders.

We know the manual preparation tables which have the disadvantage of not being able to adapt large variations in work volume, linked to large variations in order volume.

We also know the poster folding machines whose only function is folding sheets one by one a.

Order preparation is taking place manually, which is tedious work and tedious, time consuming, except to use an abundant workforce.

It therefore appears that it is highly desirable automate the order preparation stage, because the poster activity is planned at very short term, like many campaigns advertising. Indeed, a poster printer does not receives only orders to fulfill under one or two weeks. Most stages of the process making posters, such as printing, or massicottage, are automated in response to this constraint. The order preparation stage must follow this imperative, because it is not possible today to base on the efficiency of the hand of work a work whose volume can vary from one to ten, overnight.

The subject of the invention is therefore a method and a installation for automating the preparation of orders for advertising posters, simple, reliable and efficient way.

According to the method of the invention, the batteries of sheets or "pieces" corresponding, each, to a part of the poster, are presented one after the others in front of a sheet counter, using a carousel or other moving transport device step by step and with as many locations as there are sheets or "pieces" to be treated in the operation of order preparation, we count, by means of this counting machine, a determined number of sheets or pieces from the top of the stack parked in front of said counting machine, we lift the batch of sheets or pieces counted and a tray of separation and guidance extending from the counting station to a destocking station, we move the stack sheets including the batch of sheets counted up to audit destocking station while the stack of next sheet is brought in front of the cash counter sheets, the batch of counted sheets is then extract from the pile of leaves parked in front of the destocking station, then transferred to a folding.

The installation according to the invention is remarkable in that it includes a means of transport moving step by step, preferably consisting of a carousel, and having a plurality of locations for receiving stacks of sheets or pieces identical to make a poster, counting means for counting a number set of sheets from the top of each stack sheets, a means of separating, at least on a portion of its surface, the batch of leaves counted from the rest of the stack, a separator tray allowing to maintain a separation between the batch of leaves counted and the rest of the stack during the displacement of said stack to a destocking comprising gripping means for removal of the batch of counted leaves.

It is understood that the installation according to the invention allows handling of stacks of sheets or pieces identical whose flat assembly is intended for constitute a large poster and which are usually stored on pallets, sheet counting to extract from each pile, separation and removal batches of leaves counted. He is then possible to group sheets counted from different lots to compose the package corresponding to an order, then to folding and strapping of the parcel, which are operated by means of a automatic folding table integrated into the installation according to the invention.

Another advantage of the machine according to the invention is that it avoids very strenuous manual labor from handling bundles of sheets, if you consider that operators generally raise multiple tons of paper per day.

On the other hand, this machine can be integrated in a poster printing workshop, downstream of guillotines, and upstream of the cellophaning machines and labeling machines for orders to be delivered.

The above goals, features and benefits, and others will emerge better from the description which follows and attached drawings in which :

Figure 1 is a top view of an example of conformation of the machine according to the invention shown in a position that one piles of leaves is stopped in front of the post counting, while the previous stack of sheets parked in front of the destocking station.

Figure 2 is a side view of the machine shown in Figure 1.

FIG. 3 is a detail view, in plan and in larger scale, in Figure 1, showing the post count.

Figure 4 is a detail view, side and larger scale, showing the metering station and for selecting batches of counted leaves.

Figure 5 is a detail view, side and larger scale, illustrating the destocking station of the installation.

Figure 6 is a front view of the table folding the installation.

Figure 7 is a side view of Figure 6.

Figures 8 to 10 illustrate three stages of automatic folding of the bundles of sheets, using the installation folding table.

Reference is made to said drawings to describe a advantageous but in no way limiting example of setting process and installation work according to the invention.

This installation includes a means of transport moving step by step, having a plurality spaces for receiving sheets or pieces necessary for the constitution of posters of large and usually present in the form of stacks of leaves placed on pallets. The means of transport is, for example, advantageously constituted by a carousel 1 comprising a horizontal receiving surface with eight locations E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6, E7, E8, regularly spaced for the reception of eight pallets each supporting a stack of sheets or poster pieces.

This carousel 1 is supported on a path circular bearing 2 and it is rotated, step by step, around a vertical axis 3, by via a gear motor 4 or other motorization device.

A presser arm 5 provided with a support head 6 is mounted, with tilting ability, close to each location E1, E2, ... E8. These presser arms 5 whose tilting is ensured by jacks 7 arranged under the receiving surface of the carousel 1, are shaped so that their head 6 can come resting on the top of the stack of sheets arranged where they’re associated, or find distant from the upper surface of said battery. The presser arms prevent the leaves of the top of stacks can move during rotation carousel.

The installation according to the invention comprises a station CO counting of a predetermined number of sheets stacked and separating the batch of counted sheets from the rest of the stack.

This station includes a counting machine 8 which is of the type which counts the leaves at a corner of the stack, from the top of the latter.

Carousel 1 includes an indexing device in rotation, adjusted to immobilize, successively, each stack of sheets in front of the counting machine 8, in a position such that a corner or angle of the stack is located opposite said counting machine 8 (FIG. 1). These measures indexing is for example of the contactless type, consisting of a photoelectric cell fixed on the counting frame, and eight reflectors positioned on the carousel, at the locations of the eight pallets. When a reflector passes in front of the cell, the rotational movement of the carousel is stopped.

The counting machine 8 is fixed to a device for horizontal translation 9 allowing to approach it against the corner P1 'of the stack of sheets P1 parked in front of said counter, without moving the pallet, or move it away from the rear.

The counting machine 8 and the translation device horizontal are fixed on a translation device vertical 34 for automatic search the top of the stack, regardless of the height of this one.

The counting machine 8 has several degrees of freedom in order to interface perfectly with the corner of the battery under the single pressure of the device horizontal translation.

More precisely, the counting machine is free in translation in the two axes of the horizontal plane, and it is free to rotate around a vertical axis, thanks to a pivoting system 8a.

The counting machine 8 is provided with a separating blade mobile 10 which it activates at the end of each operation counting, so as to insert said blade separator between the batch of counted leaves and the rest of stack, in an area corresponding to the corner from said pile, in order to lift the counted leaves higher than a finger can do counting machine.

The vertical translation device of the counting machine is then used to separate the batch from leaves counted from the rest of the stack, over a height a few centimeters in order to slide a means of separation and guidance, for example consisting of a intermediate plate 11 which takes over from the blade separator to separate the sheets on one more large surface, this tray having a shape elongated and extending from the CO counting station to DE clearance station. This infill tray engages under the sheets counted at the corner kept raised by the separating blade 10, then commits even more between the sheets to cover the entire sheet width to a depth sufficient, for example of the order of 25 cm.

The intermediate plate 11 is provided with a roller swallower 12 on the edge which engages between the sheets, the presence of this roller to prevent the leaves wrinkle or move together compared to others.

The intermediate plate 11 allows the sheets counted to stay separate from the rest of the stack for moving the latter from the post of CO counting up to the DE destocking station, movement corresponding to one step of the carousel 1 driven in step-by-step rotation.

Once the sheets are separated and the tray interlayer engaged between the batch of counted sheets and the rest of the stack, carousel 1 turns one step to present the stack in front of the destocking station. During the rotation of the carousel, the batch of leaves counted slides on the infill plate and stays so separated from the rest of the stack.

The destocking station includes: - a clamp front 13 subject to a translation device horizontal 14 consisting of a slide and a jack 14a, and to a vertical translation device 15 composed of a slide 15a and a motorization 15b, by motor and belt; - a destocking tray 16 also subject to a translation device horizontal 17 consisting of a slide 17a and a motorization 17b, by motor and belt, and at one vertical translation device 18 composed of a slide 18a and motorization by motor 18b and chains 18c; - and a rear clamp 19. The front clamp 13 includes sensors 13a making it possible to control its vertical position relative to the counting machine.

When the stack of sheets stops in front of the destocking station, the front clamp 13 moves in direction of said P2 stack and closes on the batch of counted leaves it raises. On the other hand, the destocking plate 16 also moves in P2 stack direction and engages between the batch of leaves counted and the rest of the stack, all over the area of counted leaves. The destocking tray has sensors 16a for controlling its vertical position relative to that of the clamp before 13, before the transfer of the batch of sheets counted.

When the destocking plate 16 is located positioned below the batch of counted leaves, the front clamp 13 releases said batch and is retracted by a backward movement, while said plateau of destocking is withdrawn by carrying the batch of leaves counted, outside the perimeter of the carousel.

The cycle between the counting operation and the destocking operation is, of course, repeated for each stack of sheets or pieces positioned on locations E1, E2, ..., E8 of the carousel 1.

Advantageously, the installation according to the invention also includes a folding table designated as a whole by the reference 20 to the Figure 2, and more specifically illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, this folding table being positioned below the trajectory of the destocking tray 16.

The destocking plate 16 is movable in horizontal translation in order to move the batches of sheets counted and removed from stacks until folding table 20. It is also mobile in translation vertical so that you can position yourself at the height of the front clamp 13, which corresponds to the height of the stack of sheets P parked in front of the destocking station, and then to be able to position at the height of the stack being training on the folding table.

When the destocking plate 16 is located brought above the folding table 20, by through its translation device horizontal 17 and vertical 18, the leaves are found on said tray, are gripped by the clamp rear 19, to allow the latter to withdraw and leaves to deposit on said table.

The rear part 19 is carried by the frame of the destocking station.

The destocking plate 16 includes a device leaf patching, making it possible to constitute a very straight stack on the folding table 20. At the end of the cycle for removing the number of sheets corresponding to a command, on all the batteries placed on the carousel 1, the folding table 20 groups the sheets counted from each of said stacks for the formation of a package.

The folding table 20 includes a surface upper mainly consisting of two shutters exterior 21, 22 and two interior shutters 23, 24, all of these flaps being fitted with an aptitude tilting towards the middle part of the table. The two external pivoting flaps 21, 22 are fold over the leaves to fold each third outside of the leaf pack, on the central third, to form an intermediate package of width equal to one third of the width of the sheet package; while that the two interior flaps 23, 24 fold over the intermediate package to fold it in half and the keep it folded during the strapping operation.

Cylinders 25 and 26 arranged below the table top surface, pivot tilting exterior shutters 21 and 22, respectively, while a jack 27 controls, by via a transmission 28, the pivoting interior tilting flaps 23 and 24.

Advantageously, the upper surface of the folding table has a narrow central part fixed extending from one end to the other of said table. This fixed part is, for example, constituted by a V-shaped support plate 29 and it is arranged between the two interior tilting flaps 23, 24, to allow centering of the formed package. This support sheet has, at the bottom of V, a slot longitudinal 30, for passage and displacement an evacuation finger 31 of the formed package C out of the folding table, this evacuation finger 31 which can be move from one end to the other of the slot 30, in the groove 29, being actuated by a jack 32.

A strapping machine 33 is installed at one end of the folding table 20 in the extension of the slot 30, at the end of the V-shaped support plate 29.

Figures 6 and 8 to 10 illustrate the different stages of operation of the folding table.

In figure 6, we see a bundle of leaves F counted resting on the top surface of the table folding.

The first step is to identify one (21) of the outer flaps 21, 22 from its horizontal position of rest to a position beyond the vertical, at cylinder 25, which has the effect of folding the first outer third F1 of the sheet package on the central third F2 of said packet (FIG. 8). The second step is to raise the second exterior flap symmetrical 22 from its horizontal rest position to a position beyond the vertical, for the action of cylinder 26, which has the consequence of fold the second outer third F3 of the package leaves on the first outer third F1 previously folded down on the central third F2 (figure 9). The third step is to simultaneously identify the two interior flaps 23, 24 of their position horizontal rest to a position beyond the vertical, via the cylinder 27 and the transmission 28, which folds the package in two, in the vertical plane (figure 10) and keep in the folded state during the strapping operation which is the last step in the formation of the package C and which consists of dragging the package, to using the pusher 31, in the guide constituted by the two interior flaps 23, 24 and the support sheet in form of V 29, to advance it step by step in the strapping machine 33 located at the end of V.

The folding table 20 is not used for large orders. In this case, in fact, called "mode palette ", the leaves counted and removed from the stacks are not folded and assembled in strapped packages, but are stacked on a pallet.

Claims (23)

Process for the automatic preparation of advertising poster orders, characterized in as stacks (P, P1, P2) of sheets or "pieces" intended to constitute a poster, are presented, one after the other, in front of a cash counter sheets (8), by means of a carousel (1) or other transport device moving step by step and with as many locations (E1, E2, ..., E8) for receiving said stacks of leaves or pieces necessary for the constitution of said displays, we count, by means of this counting machine (8), a specified number of sheets or pieces, starting from top of the stack (P1) parked in front of said counting machine (8), lift the batch of leaves or pieces counted, for example, using a blade separator 10, over part of the surface of said sheets, the stack (P1) of sheets or pieces posters being then moved to a post of destocking, while maintaining the batch of leaves counted partially separated from the rest of said stack, said batch of counted sheets being extracted from the stack when the latter is stopped in front of said station destocking. Method according to claim 1, characterized in what the sheets are counted and separated from the rest of the stack, in a corner of it. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the leaves are kept on the stack during their counting and lifting, as well that during the displacement of said stack until destocking station, by exerting pressure on the top of the stack. Method according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a stack of leaves is found stopped in front of the counting and selection, while the previous stack is stopped in front of the destocking station. Installation for automatic preparation of advertising poster orders, characterized in that it includes a means of transport (1) to step by step movement, preferably consisting of a carousel, and having a plurality of locations (E1, E2, ..., E8) for receiving batteries (P, P1) from identical sheets or pieces for making a poster, a counting device, for example consisting of a counter (8) for counting a set number of sheets from the top of each stack of sheets (P, P1), a means (10) allowing to separate, at least on a portion of their area, the batch of leaves counted from the rest of the battery, a means (11) for maintaining this separation between the batch of sheets counted and the rest of the stack during movement of said stack up to a destocking station (DE) with means (13, 16) for gripping and removing the batch of counted leaves. Installation according to claim 5, characterized in that the counting machine (8) is positioned so as to count the leaves from a corner of the stack of sheets (P1) stopped in front of it, and in this that said installation includes a device indexing to stop, successively, each stack of sheets in front of the counter (8), in a position such that a corner of said stack is in front of said counting machine. Installation according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the destocking station (DE) and the metering station (CO) are positioned in such a way so that when a stack of sheets (P2) is stopped in front of the destocking station (DE), the stack of next leaves (P1) is stopped in front of the metering station (CO). Installation according to any of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that each location (E1, E2, E3, ..., E8) intended for receipt of stacks of sheets (P, P1, P2), is provided a presser arm (5) whose head (6) is intended to lean on top of stack of leaves disposed near said arm. Installation according to any of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the counting machine (8) is subject to a horizontal translation (9). Installation according to any of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the counting machine (8) is subject to a vertical translation (34). Installation according to any of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the counting machine (8) is mounted with several degrees of freedom of movement of translation and rotation. Installation according to any of claims 5 to 11, characterized in that the station counting (CO) includes a separating blade (10) operated by the counting machine (8) and intended to be inserted in the corner of the batch of counted sheets. Installation according to any of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that it comprises an intermediate plate (11) which extends from the metering station (CO) to the destocking station (OF). Installation according to claim 13, characterized in that the intermediate plate (11) has a swallowing roller (12) on its edge frontal. Installation according to any of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the station destocking (DE) includes a front clamp (13) for gripping and removing the batch of leaves counted, this clamp being subject to a device vertical translation (15) and fitted with a sensor allowing to control its vertical position to that of the counting machine (8). Installation according to claim 15, characterized in that the front clamp (13) is subject to a horizontal translation device (14). Installation according to any of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that the station of destocking (DE) includes a plate of destocking (16) subject to a vertical translation device (18). Installation according to claims 15 and 17, characterized in that the destocking plate (16) is fitted with a sensor for controlling its position vertical with respect to that of the front clamp (13). Installation according to any of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that the station destocking (DE) includes a rear clamp (19) allowing gripping of the batch of counted leaves, previously transferred to the destocking tray (16), and their deposition on a receiving surface, by example constituted by a folding table (20). Installation according to any of Claims 1 to 19, comprising a folding table (20), characterized in that the upper surface of said folding table comprises, on either side of its central part, an external flap (21, 22) and a interior flap (23, 24), all of these flaps being mounted with a tilting ability in direction of said central part, the flaps outer (21, 22) folding over the sheets to fold each outer third (F1, F3) of the package sheets (F) on the central third (F2) of the latter, so as to form an intermediate package of width substantially equal to a third of the width of said package, the two inner flaps (23, 24) are then folding down on the intermediate package for the fold in half and keep it folded during the operation of strapping. Installation according to claim 20, characterized in that the upper surface of the folding table includes a fixed central part having a groove (29) having a shaped profile of V. Installation according to claim 21, characterized in that a longitudinal slot (30) is formed in the bottom of the groove (29) and in that a movable evacuation finger (31) passing through said slot is mounted with a suitability for movement in said throat. Installation according to one of claims 21 or 22, characterized in that the folding table (20) is fitted with a strapping machine (33) placed at one of the ends of the groove (29).

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