EP1311383B1 - Sheet processing machine for making packages - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine for treating sheets, said machine comprising drive means (14, 16, 18) for driving the sheets, treatment tooling (52, 62) for forming cutouts or folds in said sheets that extend transversely to the drive direction (F) in which the sheets are driven. The treatment tooling is carried by at least one carrier shaft (52, 62) driven by a shaft motor (M52, M62). The sheets are driven at a substantially constant drive speed through the machine, and said machine further comprises a control unit (UC) which, as a function of said drive speed, and of information relating to the position of a sheet in the machine, control the shaft motor (M52, M62) such that, for treating said sheet, the tooling is in contact with a predetermined region of the sheet and is driven at a treatment speed whose tangential component is equal to the drive speed at which the sheet is driven.

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for the treatment of sheets, in particular for the manufacture of packaging materials such as cardboard or plastic, including means of training, driven by at least one drive motor and able to drive leaves in a direction of training to through a treatment area located between the entrance and the exit of the machine, treatment equipment intended to practice in these leaves of the cuts and / or folds arranged transversely by report to the direction of training, means to determine information relating to the position of a leaf in the area of treatment and means for controlling treatment equipment according to said information.

Such a machine is known from US 6 059 705 A.

For the manufacture of packaging from cardboard sheets or plastic, we know, on the one hand, the machines "transverse" of the aforementioned type, in which the cuts or folds, at least majority of them are practiced transversally in relation to the direction of advancement of the sheets in the machine. We know, on the other hand, "longitudinal" machines, for example of the type described in patent application EP 0 539 254 in the name of the plaintiff, in which the majority of folds and cuts are practiced in the direction of advancement of the leaves in the machine.

Longitudinal machines reach speeds of high manufacturing. The different stages of manufacture are made by cylinders rotating at high speed. The developed of each cylinder determines the length of the leaves that it is possible to process in the machine. As a result, given longitudinal machine, it is only possible to manufacture packages whose length varies in a narrow range, determined by the minimum and maximum developed of the machine.

In transverse machines of known type, the different tools (cutting tools, push tools) are worn by beams that are arranged transversally to the sense of advancement of the leaves and which can be moved vertically between a work position and a retracted position. Various tools can be mounted on the beams, allowing make a variety of packaging. However, the operations of processing of the leaves made by the cutting tools or can only be achieved when these leaves are arrested. Thus, the means of training advance the sheets not step by step between each treatment step. As a result, production rates of known transverse machines are very low since they reach for example only 300 crates on time.

The invention proposes to improve transverse machines of the type cited in the preamble to enable them to achieve significantly higher production rates, for example the order of 1000 cases per hour.

This goal is achieved thanks to the fact that the treatment tool is carried by at least one transverse carrier shaft driven in rotation by a tree engine, the fact that the means of training are driven by a main drive motor and are able to to drive the sheets at a speed of training substantially constant between the entrance and the exit of the machine and in particular in said treatment zone, the fact that the motor shaft is separate from said main motor and that the machine has a suitable control unit, depending on the said driving speed and information relating to the position of a sheet in the treatment area, to control the motor tree so that, for the treatment of this leaf, the tool is in contact with a predetermined region of the sheet and is animated with a processing speed whose component tangential is equal to said speed of training.

Unlike the known technique for machines transversal, which caused the leaves in the machine not to not, the invention therefore proposes to drive the sheets at a speed substantially constant, without stopping phase. Tools intended for practice cutting or transverse folds is carried by the tree carrier which is arranged transversely to the direction drive of the leaves and which is driven by a shaft motor which is specific to him. The control unit of the machine, knowing the speed of drive of the leaves, the position of tooling on the transverse carrier shaft, the position of a sheet in the treatment area and the positions of the cuts or folds to be practiced in this sheet, order, not the means of driving the leaf, but the shaft motor of the tree to ensure that, during processing of the sheet, the tooling is precisely in contact with the region of the sheet in which a fold or a cut must be made, and then be animated with a speed of treatment equal to the speed of training.

In other words, the invention provides, not to stall the training of the leaves on a predetermined position of the tools processing, but rather, using a control unit electronics, to stall the positions of the processing tools and their speed relative to the sheet and its speed of training.

The shaft motor must be sufficiently responsive and flexible to that his speed can increase and decrease in a very short time to settle on a specific value which is that of the training of the leaves. For example, a motor of positioning such as a multi-axis axis motor, which delivers a substantially constant torque at both low speed and speed high may be suitable. You can also choose an engine asynchronous electric motor or a brushless motor.

In the known transverse machines one could climb different tools on the same beam aligning them transversely. In such a case, cuts or folds in front of be made in two regions of the sheet spaced according to its direction of advancement were to be operated either by the same beam during two successive stops of the sheet passing under this beam, either by two spaced beams.

Always with the aim of increasing production rates, the invention advantageously makes it possible to carry out two treatments (cuts or folds) of the leaf in two spaced areas one of the other in the direction of training of this sheet, this using the same carrier tree.

Thus, advantageously, the machine comprises a tree angularly adjustable tool carrier comprising a hub, a tool holder fixed to this hub and a movable toolholder integral with a mobile support which cooperates with the hub via position adjusting means for adjusting the position angle of the movable tool holder relative to the fixed tool holder.

In this case, it is not only possible to treat two areas of the sheet spaced using the tools respectively worn by each of the two tool holders, but it is also possible to quickly adapt the machine to types of packaging different, for which the spacings between these areas are different, by moving the movable tool holder relative to the tool holder fixed.

In this case, advantageously, the fixed tool holder is fixed to hub being disposed in a first cylinder generator, the movable support comprises at least one crown on which is fixed the movable tool holder according to a second cylinder generator, this ring being coaxial with the hub, having a toothing inside and extending, in the region of the first generator, in a space between the outer surface of the tool holder fixed and the hub, and the position adjusting means comprise a pinion pin, which is disposed between the hub and the ring gear cooperating with the internal toothing of this crown and means for driving the pinion axis in rotation, so as to make turn the crown relative to the hub and thus adjust the angular positioning of the second generator relative to the first generator.

This simple and reliable installation allows you to quickly change the angular spacing between the movable tool holder and the fixed tool holder, to adapt the machine to the manufacture of packaging different.

Advantageously, the carrier shaft comprises at least one tool holder equipped with quick fastening means for a tool, which comprise a longitudinal fixing groove located on the outer surface of the tool holder, at least one of the edges longitudinal grooves of this groove being movable and being delimited by a movable wedging piece between a locking position in which it delimits with the opposite edge a retaining profile suitable for retain a fastening rib having a complementary profile, and a unlocking position in which this edge is separated from the edge opposite to allow the introduction of the binding rib into said groove, by a radial displacement of this rib towards the axis of the bearing tree.

In the general aim of avoiding any waste of unnecessary time during the use of the machine, the invention thus makes it possible to simplify the putting tools in place on the carrier shaft by means of quick fastening.

Advantageously, the machine comprises a carrier shaft to multiple tools capable of carrying at least a first and a second angularly spaced tool and the control unit is suitable for controlling the shaft motor of said multi-tool carrier shaft according to a cycle comprising a treatment phase with the first tool, wherein said first tool is in contact with a first specified region of a leaf located in the treatment area of the machine and is animated with a tangential speed equal to the speed of this sheet, a phase of positioning at the during which the multi-tool carrier shaft is driven to position the second tool in a situation of treating a second determined region of the leaf and a phase of treatment by the second tool, in which the second tool is in contact with said second region and is animated with an equal tangential velocity at the speed of training.

With the angular adjustment tool carrier shaft, comprising a fixed tool holder and a movable tool holder, it is possible to adjust the position of the movable tool holder so that this bearing shaft turns to the same speed (which, converted to tangential speed, is equal to the drive speed of the sheets in the machine), during the treatment phase by the first tool, during the phase of positioning and during the treatment phase by the second tool. In this case, the angular spacing between the two tools corresponds to the distance between the two treatment areas in which both tools must act respectively. In some case, even with this angular adjustment tool shaft, the phase of However, positioning can take place at a speed different from the drive speed of the leaves.

However, the multi-tool carrier shaft can also wear different tools in specific areas and be trained during the positioning phase at a higher speed or weaker than the speed of training leaves to stall the second tool in the right position for the phase of treatment by this second tool.

Advantageously, the machine comprises means for move the multi-tool carrier shaft away from the advancing path of leaves in the treatment area during the positioning.

For example, the multi-tool carrier shaft may carry 3 or 4 tools spaced angularly, an intermediate tool being inserted between the first and second tools mentioned above, for example to be optionally used. In this case, the tool carrier shaft multiple is driven at a speed corresponding to the speed training of the leaves for the treatment phase by the first tool, is removed from the path of advancement of the leaves and, in this situation, can be moved quickly to position the second tool in situation to treat the second region determined of the sheet, without the intermediate tool coming into contact with this last.

According to an advantageous variant, the drive means cooperate with adjustable drive rollers which are mounted on pebble supports and the machine has means for adjusting the positions of these supports transversely relative to the direction of drive of the leaves in the machine.

It is desirable to have the drive rollers in positions determined according to the width of the sheet, measured in the transverse direction. For example, these pebbles Adjustable position drive must support the particular leaf or make some cut-outs or some folds that must be arranged parallel to the direction training of the leaves.

In this case, the machine advantageously comprises at least an adjustment belt arranged transversely with respect to the drive direction of the sheets, means for driving this belt and coupling means adapted to be ordered between a mating situation in which they make a roller support integral with said belt and a stopping situation in which they render said roller support secured to a fixed blocking part.

Thus, the pebble supports, and therefore the pebbles they carry, can be easily moved relative to each other without that it is necessary to disassemble them.

• la figure 1 est une vue de la machine en coupe dans un plan vertical ;
• la figure 2 montre le flan d'un emballage après son traitement par la machine ;
• la figure 3 illustre schématiquement les principaux organes de la machine et sa cinématique ;
• la figure 4 est une vue synoptique en perspective des principaux organes de la machine, avec le principe de leurs commandes ;
• les figures 5 et 6 sont deux vues partielles en coupe verticale faites à l'entrée de la machine ;
• la figure 7 est une vue en coupe dans un plan vertical et parallèle à la direction d'entraínement des feuilles dans la machine, montrant un arbre porteur à réglage angulaire d'outil ;
• la figure 8 est une vue du même arbre en coupe dans un plan vertical et perpendiculaire à la direction d'entraínement des feuilles dans la machine, illustrant une région d'extrémité de cet arbre ;
• les figures 9, 10 et 11 illustrent le montage rapide d'un outil sur un porte-outil de l'arbre des figures 7 et 8 ;
• les figures 12A, 12B, 12C et 12D sont des schémas de principe illustrant les déplacements d'un arbre porteur à outils multiples ;
• la figure 13 montre, dans un plan vertical, le montage d'un galet d'entraínement à position réglable ; et
• les figures 14 et 15 sont des schémas pris dans un plan vertical perpendiculaire au sens d'entraínement des feuilles dans la machine, illustrant le mode de réglage de la position de ce galet.

The invention will be better understood and its advantages will appear better on reading the detailed description which follows, of an embodiment shown by way of non-limiting example. The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a sectional view of the machine in a vertical plane;
• Figure 2 shows the blank of a package after its treatment by the machine;
• Figure 3 schematically illustrates the main organs of the machine and its kinematics;
• Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the main organs of the machine, with the principle of their commands;
• Figures 5 and 6 are two partial views in vertical section made at the entrance of the machine;
• Figure 7 is a sectional view in a vertical plane and parallel to the drive direction of the sheets in the machine, showing a carrier shaft with angular adjustment tool;
• Figure 8 is a view of the same shaft in section in a vertical plane and perpendicular to the direction of drive of the sheets in the machine, illustrating an end region of this shaft;
• Figures 9, 10 and 11 illustrate the rapid mounting of a tool on a tool holder of the shaft of Figures 7 and 8;
• Figs. 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D are block diagrams illustrating the movements of a multi-tool carrier shaft;
• Figure 13 shows, in a vertical plane, the mounting of a drive roller with adjustable position; and
• Figures 14 and 15 are diagrams taken in a vertical plane perpendicular to the drive direction of the sheets in the machine, illustrating the manner of adjusting the position of the roller.

The machine shown in Figure 1 has a table 10 on which is disposed a sheet 12, by for example, a material such as cardboard or plastic, with a view to his treatment in the machine.

The latter has an entry zone E, a zone of treatment T and an output zone S successively arranged in the direction F of advancement of the leaves. In the entry area, the sheets are supported by means of training 14 which drive them at a constant speed through the treatment area. In the example shown, this treatment zone T comprises two processing units, respectively U1 and U2 arranged one following each other in the direction F. Between these two units find means of training relays 16. Means 18 are also provided at the exit S of the machine.

The machine is used to treat leaves to conform them with so that they can then be folded to form a packaging. For example, Figure 2 shows a blank processed by the machine from a full sheet. This blank 20 has cutouts 22 and folds 24 which are arranged transversely by report to the direction F of advancement of the sheet in the machine. Tooling of treatment units U1 and U2 located in the area T processing of the machine allow to practice these cuts and these folds. These tools include cutting tools or knives that form the cutouts 22 and tools to repress or pressers that form folds 24.

The blank shown in Figure 2 also shows folds 26 which are arranged parallel to the drive direction F.

As will be seen in the following, these folds can be made to the help of pressure rollers that cooperate with the means drive. The blank still has specific cuts, for example, openings 28 serving to form handles in packaging, which are carried out in one of the processing units U1 or U2.

The drive means of the machine comprise drive rollers in the form of disks which are driven by rotation. We see for example in Figure 1, at the entrance of the machine, lower drive rollers 30 and 32, and rollers higher training 34 and 36. Similarly, at the exit, the means 18 have lower rollers 38 and 40 and upper rollers 42 and 44. The relay means 16 also include lower rollers 46 and upper 48. In Figure 1, the drive means 14 and 18 each comprise two rows of lower rollers and higher. For simplicity, we have only represented one row of rollers in schematic figures 3 and 4.

Thus, FIG. 4 shows, at the entrance, lower rollers 30 and upper rollers 34 respectively mounted on a shaft lower 31 and on an upper shaft 35. Similarly, at the exit, the lower and upper rollers 38 and 42 are mounted on two shafts 39 and 43, while the intermediate rollers 46 and 48 of the relay 16 are mounted on two shafts 47 and 49. The drive means are driven by a main drive motor M50. The different trees are connected to each other by means of transmission such as belts 51.

As will be seen later and as suggested by variant of FIG. 3, the rollers for training, for example those at the entrance and / or exit, may not be mounted directly on their drive shafts, but be mounted on pebble supports that allow the adjustment of their respective positions.

The schematic view of Figure 3 which illustrates the kinematics of the machine represents side by side elements which, in reality, are find one above the other. We thus see side by side the lower and upper trees 31 and 35, the trees 47 and 49 and the trees 39 and 43.

It should be noted that the entry areas E, treatment T and output S can be located in separable modules, to which case the main motor M50 drives directly a shaft A50, by example located in the treatment area, which itself is mated by means of the Oldham joint type to driven trees A50E for the input and A50S for the output.

Each of the processing units U1 and U2 comprises a tree carrier who is wearing a treatment tool. We first describe the unit U1, with its carrier shaft 52, referred to in the following carrier shaft with angular adjustment of the tool.

This tree is located above the plane P of advancement of leaves in the machine and it cooperates, through the tools he wears, with a counterpart tree 54 located under this plane. This counterpart shaft carries a coating 56, for example in a material such as polyurethane, sufficiently flexible for allow tools to perform their functions, for example by folding or by cutting the leaf. Similarly, a counterpart tree 54 ' located under the carrier shaft 62 of the processing unit U2.

Matching trees, as well as pebbles lower drive, can be moved vertically for adapt to sheets of different thicknesses.

Counterpart trees can be rotated in the same way as the means of training, for example to using the M50 main engine. However, they are advantageously driven by an engine M54 annex, for example an engine asynchronous with frequency converter, which is controlled for drive leaves at the same speed as the means of training, that is to say that the tangential speed of the trees of counterpart is the same as the tangential speed of the pebbles of training, despite their different diameters.

The transverse bearing shaft 52 is rotated by a M52 shaft motor which is distinct from the engine (s) of the means training and counterpart trees. This is for example an asynchronous motor, a brushless motor, or so general, of a positioning motor. The shaft 52 is coupled to the output of this motor by a drive shaft 53.

As seen in FIG. 4, the machine comprises a UC control unit which, depending on information relating to the position of a sheet 12 in the treatment zone T, command the M52 shaft motor by a L52 command line so that, for the treatment of this sheet by a tool that carries the shaft 52, this tool is in contact with a region of the sheet and that it moves at the same speed tangential as the speed of drive of the sheet.

The control unit knows the speed of the means 14, 16 and 18. For example, by a line of command L50, it controls the main drive motor M50. In addition, it receives information from a speed sensor C50, for example a tachymeter in rotation with one of the trees means of training, by an information input line EL50. It can thus adjust its control of the M50 engine.

She also knows the position of a sheet in the machine. To do this, it receives information from position sensors such as photocells C1, C2 and C3 successively arranged on the path of advancement of leaves, and which are connected to it by lines of entry LC1, LC2 and LC3 respectively.

For example, as seen in Figures 5 and 6, the sheet 12 is detected at the input by the sensor C1 and is optionally retained by a movable stop 60. At the chosen moment, the training of the sheet begins, that is to say that the stop 60 retracts and that the sheet is pinched between the lower and upper coaches, such as the rollers 32 and 36. The sensor C2 is disposed downstream of the C1 sensor, for example just downstream of the rollers 30 and 34 and detects the arrival of the sheet. This allows, if necessary, correct the speed of the M50 engine or correct the data serving when the M52 engine is actuated if, due to any slippage, the speed of displacement of the sheet between the sensors C1 and C2 is not not strictly equal to the speed of the drive means.

Thus, the control unit knows precisely the speed progress and the position of the sheet in the machine. In consequently, depending on the parameterization means MP entered in the control unit to memorize which processing (cutting, fold) should be applied to which region of the sheet, this can be control the M52 engine regardless of the means to place his tools in the right place, at the right place moment and at the right speed.

The tool-carrying shaft 62 is referred to as the tool carrier shaft multiple. This shaft 62 is disposed above the plane P in the treatment area and cooperates with the counterpart shaft 54 ' similar to the shaft 54. The shaft 62 is rotated by a M62 engine, for example a motor similar to the M52 engine of the shaft 52 and which, as the latter is distinct from the engine (s) training means and counterpart trees. As the M52 engine, the M62 engine is controlled by the control unit UC, by a command line L62, to stall the speed and the position of the shaft 62 so that the tools it carries cooperate with the leaves in the right place, at the right time and at the good speed.

By lines LE52 and LE62 connected to sensors, the unit of control knows the speeds of the shafts carrying tools 52 and 62 and can, based on these data, modify his order of M52 and M62 engines. By line LE54, also connected to sensors, she still knows the speed of the counterpart trees 54 and 54 'and it can correct the engine control accordingly M54.

The leaves are driven into the machine at a speed substantially constant drive. The UC control unit, knowing this speed and the position of the leaf, control the M52 engine or the M62 engine between a waiting phase, in which its speed is zero or substantially zero, a phase of positioning in which his speed is different from the speed of training (she is usually superior) to come correctly position the ad hoc tool in relation to the position will reach the region of the sheet to be processed by this tool. The positioning phase is followed by a treatment phase in which engine M52 or M62 is controlled when this region of the leaf is next to the tree 52 or 62. In this processing phase, the tangential velocity of this tool is equal to the speed of advancement to perform the desired treatment. A new waiting phase follows the treatment phase.

This cycle is repeated one or more times per sheet, in function of the treatment or treatments (cuts, folds ...) to be applied.

Between the waiting phase and the positioning or processing, the motor 52 or 62 undergoes a phase of acceleration or very fast deceleration.

The setting means correspond to a type of treatment chosen from among various possible treatments corresponding, each, to a type of packaging to manufacture (leaf size, shape of packages after folding and hanging of leaves, positioning accordingly folds and cuts).

The angular adjustment tool carrier shaft 52 carries two tools spaced angularly. As we see better on the 7, it comprises a shaft hub 64 which is coupled to the axis 53. It also comprises a stationary tool holder 66 which is integral with the hub 64 and a movable tool holder 68 which is secured to of a mobile support 70 constituted, in this case, by one or more mobile crowns. Figure 7 shows the tools worn by both tool holders 66 and 68 spaced angularly from an angle α but, on Figures 1 and 8, for the convenience of drawing, these two tool holders are diametrically opposed.

The fixed tool holder 66 is arranged according to a first G1 cylinder generator being fixed to the hub, for example by fixing and bracing shoes 72. The movable tool holder is fixed on the ring 70 by being arranged according to a second G2 cylinder generator. The tool holders 66 and 68 are arranged such that their bearing surfaces of respective tools S66 and S68 are on the same cylindrical surface.

Due to the thickness of the tool holders, these surfaces S66 and S68 are projecting radially from the cylindrical surface S52 from the rest of the shaft 52, in particular determined by the crown 70. As a result, when a portion of the shaft 52 between the tool holders 66 and 68, is next to the current sheet of treatment, this portion is not in contact with said sheet, so that it is not necessary to separate the shaft 52 from the path progress of the sheet.

The ring 70 has an internal toothing 70A on which meshes with a pinion axis 74 disposed between the hub 64 and the crowned. Optionally, this axis is carried by a bearing 76 suitable for slide on the surface of the hub 64. As seen in FIG. 8, a space 78 is provided between the outer surface S66 of the tool holder fixed and the hub 64 to allow the passage of the crown circular 70. In the present case, this annular space is made in the outer face of the shoe 72. As can also be seen in the figure 8, several crowns 70 of similar conformation and several shoes 72 may be arranged along the hub 64.

It is understood that when the pinion shaft 74 is rotated, moves the crown 70, that is to say, it also moves the tool holder mobile. The dimensions of the shoe 72 determine the space minimum that can be achieved between the fixed and mobile.

It is possible to drive the rotating pinion shaft using a manual device such as a crank that is put in place only when it is necessary to move the movable tool holder.

In this case, the means for driving the pinion shaft 74 into rotation, comprise a gear wheel 80 coaxial with the axis 53 of the shaft 52 and free rise around this axis (Figures 3 and 8). This toothed wheel meshes with the pinion shaft 74 and cooperates with rotating drive means. We see on the 8, the end of the shaft 74 carries a gear wheel 82 which cooperates with the wheel 80.

Thus, to move the movable tool holder, it is sufficient to drive rotation of the toothed wheel 80. It can be seen in FIG. coupled to an M80 auxiliary engine via a differential D80. For simplicity, this M80 engine is not shown on the block diagram of Figure 4. It is understood, however, that can be controlled by the control unit using a line of L80 command.

The carrier shaft 52 or 62 advantageously comprises a tool holder which is equipped with quick fastening means for a tool. In this case, this is the case of the tree 52 and one understands better the conformation of these means in Figures 7 and 9 to 10.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, only one of the tool holders 66 and 68, by example, the tool holder 66 is shown in section perpendicular to the axis of the bearing shaft. We see that its bearing surface S66 has a longitudinal fixing groove 84 whose edge longitudinal 84A is movable. It is indeed delimited by a piece of mobile wedging 86 which has the shape of a longitudinal rod. This rod is movable between a locking position (Figure 10) in which the edge 84A delimits, with the opposite edge 84B of the groove 84, a retaining profile and an unlocking position (Figure 9) in which the edge 84A is spaced from the edge 84B to allow the setting in place of a tool in the groove. In this case, edge 84A is delimited by a recess made in the rod 86 and the latter rotates about its longitudinal axis between its positions of unlocking and locking.

For example, the retaining profile of the groove 84 may be a dovetail profile or T-profile. The back of the tool 88 has a fastening rib 90 having a retaining profile complementary, which can be embedded in the groove. By example, the tool itself (for example formed by two 94) is carried by a plate or base 92 whose curvature delimits a cylindrical surface so that, during the rotation of the carrier shaft for processing a sheet in the machine, the distance between the tool and the plane P remains constant.

The machine has cutting tools such as the tool 88 shown in Figures 9 to 11 which each include a portion of cutting (knives 94), and tools to push back such as the tool 88 ' of Figure 11 which each include a portion of discharge (rib 96). These tools also include a 92 base the rib 90. Once the ribs 90 inserted into the groove 84, the tools can be moved in translation to be arranged against each other. Thus, tools 88 and 88 'can be placed against the tool 88 "of Figure 11.

By these simple fixing means, one can very easily arrange the tools in a chosen order, side by side on the tool holder, and at selected spacings, so that adapt to the manufacture of different packaging.

The shafts 52 and 62 can each carry several tools, and can therefore be trained according to a cycle comprising a phase treatment with a first tool, a positioning phase and a treatment phase by a second tool. For the shaft 52, for which the spacing between the tools is adjustable and for which the tools are protruding from its cylindrical surface so that it it is not necessary to remove it from the path of the leaves, the positioning phase may simply consist of continuing to drive it at the same speed between the two phases of treatment.

The shaft 62 also carries several spaced tools angularly, but its cylindrical surface S62 is, in the position of work, close to the plane P of advancement of the leaves. For example, tools can be mounted on simple plates that are screwed in threads. radials on the cylindrical surface of the shaft 62. It can be seen in FIG. 4 that the shaft 62 bears, for example, a tool 100 having a knife for practicing orifices such as the openings 28 of the blank of FIG.

In FIGS. 12A to 12D, there is shown diagrammatically this tree 62 in cross section and it carries four numbered tools from 100 to 103, which are angularly spaced. We have indicated on these figures, a sheet 12 arranged on the plane P of advancement of leaves. After the treatment of a first determined region of the R1 sheet by the first tool 100, and before the treatment of a second determined region of the sheet R2 by another tool, for example example the tool 103, the shaft 62 is driven according to its phase of positioning. Since its cylindrical surface S62 is too close to the sheet in working position, this shaft 62 is discarded the progress of leaves in the treatment area during the positioning phase.

The means controlling this separation are represented on Figures 4 and 12A to 12D. They include a spreader shaft 106 which carries at least one eccentric 108. The bearing shaft 62 is mounted on a movable shaft 110 which is supported by the shaft spacing 106 through the eccentric.

In this case, the shaft 106 is fixed relative to the frame of the machine and the eccentric 108 is formed by a roller which is connected in an eccentric position. This roller 108 is driven in rotation by an M108 spacing motor, around its axis geometric. Thus, during its rotation, the roller 108 moves around the center of the tree 106 through the different positions shown in Figures 12A-12D.

The axis 110 of the shaft 62 is supported by the spacer shaft 106 through the roller 108. More precisely, the roller is connected to the shaft 62 via a connecting rod system 112. In the species, the tree 106 extends transversely inside the zone treatment and, at each of its ends, it carries a roller 108 rotating at the first end of a connecting rod 112, the second of which end is connected to the shaft 62 by being articulated with respect to him. In this case, this connection is indirect and uses a lever 114 as shown below.

Advantageously, the movable axis 110 is integral with a lever which carries a counterweight to facilitate upward movement of the bearing tree.

In FIG. 4, it can be seen that each connecting rod 112 is articulated by its second end on a lever 114 having an end portion directly carries the axis 110 of the shaft 62 and whose opposite end carries a counterweight 116. The levers 114 are pivotally mounted around a pivot axis A114. The counterweight 116 is balanced by relative to the shaft 62 so that the force needed to raise this tree 62 is weak.

In FIG. 12A, the shaft 62 is lowered so that the tool 100 come into contact with the sheet 12. During the treatment phase, rotates at such a speed that the tool moves exactly to the same speed as the sheet. As soon as the treatment of the R1 region is complete, the M108 engine is controlled by the control unit UC, to which it is connected by a command line L108, to to raise the carrier shaft 62. During this phase of positioning, the M62 engine is controlled by the command so as to bring the tool to perform the following treatment, for example the tool 103, in a situation to perform this treatment. Figures 12B and 12C show this phase of positioning. By a line LE108 connected to a sensor, the unit of control is informed of the speed of the M108 engine, to adjust it Consequently.

The drive means comprise pebbles such as those of Relay 16, which it is not necessary to change the spacing in the direction transverse to the machine. Similarly, items 14 and 18 may include fixed rollers in translation. However, in some cases, it may be necessary to change the positions of the rollers. We can, by the way, add some pebbles that are not just for training, but also to carry out certain operations such as that cuts or folds arranged longitudinally according to the direction of advancement of the sheet.

In Figure 3, we have chosen to represent the lower rollers 30 and higher 34 of the entry station 14, as well as the pebbles 40 and higher 44 of the exit station 18, in the form of rollers with adjustable position.

By way of example, FIG. 13 shows a roller 30. As other adjustable rollers, it is mounted on a roller bracket 120 which can be moved transversely to the direction F. For this, the machine comprises a belt of setting 122 which is driven transversely to the direction F. This belt is driven by means such as an engine M122 (Figure 3).

The roller supports 120 can be coupled with this belt to allow movement of pebbles or, conversely, be uncoupled from the belt and blocked to maintain the rollers in position.

Thus, each roller support 120 includes a skid 124 and a coupling counter 126 which are arranged on either side of the belt 122 (on one of the arms of the loop it forms). The pad 124 can be placed in a position coupling (FIG. 14) in which it presses the belt 122 against the counterpart 126, so that the roller support 120 and the roller it is moved with the belt. This skate can also occupy an inactive position (Figure 15), in which he is dismissed of the belt.

Each roller support 120 further includes a skid stop 128 which can be placed in a stop position (FIG. 15) in which it cooperates with a fixed locking piece 130 for make the roller support 120 integral with this part and block it in the desired position, and which can be placed in a position inactive (Figure 14), in which it is removed from this piece of blocking 130.

The machine comprises means for controlling the pad coupling 124 and the stopper 128 which are able to place the coupling shoe in its coupling position when the stop shoe occupies its inactive position and which are suitable for placing the stop shoe in its off position when the coupling pad is in its inactive position.

Simply, the skid 128 and the skate coupling 124 can be arranged at each of the two ends of a rod 132 moving back and forth. This rod is by example commanded between its two positions by a jack pneumatic.

The fixed blocking part may be constituted by a belt fixed which is stretched parallel to the strand of the belt 122 with which cooperates the shoe 124, or by another piece such as a fixed plate or other. If necessary, it can be arranged between skate 130 and a counterpart 131 to be pinched between these pieces in the off position.

As seen in FIG. 13, the roller support 120 is solidary of the fluted axis of training 31. It presents indeed a toothed wheel whose inner periphery meshes with this axis and which, itself, drives a system of gear wheels for the transmission of the drive to the roller 30. The mode of connection mechanical with the fluted axis 31 allows the support 120 to be moved in translation along this tree. The support 120 is worn by a console 134, which is itself supported by a beam of support 136 arranged transversely to the direction F. The console 134 slides by slideways 138 on the lower end of this beam. The pads 124 and 128, as well as the counterparts 126 and 131 are carried by an arm 134A of the console 134. The belt 122 is arranged vertically, the pad 128 cooperating with one of its horizontal strands (the lower strand). A 134B other arm of the console 134 supports a jack 137 which serves to adjust the vertical position of the roller 30 relative to its support 120, to adapt this position to different thicknesses of sheets.

Claims (18)

1. A machine for treating sheets (12), in particular for manufacturing packaging made of materials such as cardboard or plastic, said machine comprising drive means (14, 16, 18) having at least one drive motor and suitable for driving sheets in a drive direction (F) through a treatment zone (T) situated between the inlet (E) and the outlet (S) of the machine, treatment tooling (88, 88', 88"; 100, 101, 102, 103) designed to form cutouts (22) and/or folds (24) that are disposed transversely relative to the drive direction (F) in said sheets, means (C1, C2, C3) for determining information relating to the position of a sheet in the treatment zone (T), and control means (UC) for controlling the treatment tooling as a function of said information;
   said machine being characterised in that the treatment tooling is carried by at least one transverse carrier shaft (52, 62) rotated by a shaft motor (M52, M62), in that the drive means (14, 16, 18) are driven by a main drive motor (M50) and are suitable for driving the sheets (12) at a substantially constant drive speed between the inlet (E) and the outlet (S) of the machine and in particular in said treatment zone (T), in that the shaft motor (M52, M62) is distinct from said main motor (M50), and in that said machine comprises a control unit (UC) suitable for acting as a function of said drive speed and of the information relating to the position of a sheet in the treatment zone, to control the shaft motor (M52, M62) such that, for treating said sheet, the tooling is in contact with a predetermined region (R1, R2) of the sheet and is driven at a treatment speed whose tangential component is equal to said drive speed.
2. A machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the control unit (UC) is suitable for controlling the shaft motor (M52, M62) in cycles comprising a waiting stage, a positioning stage in which said motor angularly positions the tooling of the transverse carrier shaft (52, 62), and a treatment stage, in which said tooling is driven at a tangential velocity equal to the drive speed and treats said predetermined region of the sheet.
3. A machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the control unit (UC) is suitable for controlling the shaft motor (M52, M62) as a function of parameterizing means (MP) corresponding to a selected type of treatment.
4. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that it has a carrier shaft with angular tool adjustment (52) comprising a hub (64), a fixed tool holder (66) secured to the hub, and a moving tool holder (68) secured to a moving support (70) which co-operates with the hub (64) via position adjustment means making it possible to adjust the angular position of the moving tool holder (68) relative to the fixed tool holder (66).
5. A machine according to claim 4, characterised in that the fixed tool holder (66) is fixed to the hub (64) by being disposed on a first cylinder generator line (G1), in that the moving support comprises at least one band (70) to which the moving tool holder is fixed along a second cylinder generator line (G2), said band being coaxial with the hub, having an inner set of teeth (70A) and extending, in the region of the first generator line (G1) in a space provided between the outside surface (S66) of the fixed tool holder (66) and the hub (64), and in that the position adjustment means comprise a cog shaft (74) which is disposed between the hub (64) and the band (70) while co-operating with the inner set of teeth (70A) of said band, and means (M80, 80) for driving the cog shaft in rotation, so as to cause the band (70) to turn relative to the hub (64) and thus to adjust the angular positioning (a) of the second generator line (G2) relative to the first generator line (G1).
6. A machine according to claim 5, characterised in that the means for driving the cog shaft (74) in rotation comprise a toothed wheel (80) coaxial with the drive pin (53) of the carrier shaft with angular tool adjustment (52) and mounted to rotate freely about said pin, said toothed wheel meshing on the cog shaft (74) and co-operating with the rotary drive means (80).
7. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the carrier shaft has at least one tool holder (66, 68) equipped with fast fixing means for a tool (88, 88', 88"), which means comprise a longitudinal fixing groove (84) situated on the outside surface (S66, S68) of the tool holder (66, 68), at least one of the longitudinal edges (84A) of said groove being a moving edge and being defined by a wedging piece (86) that is mounted to move between a locking position, in which it co-operates with the opposite edge (84B) to define a retaining profile suitable for retaining a fixing rib (90) having a complementary profile, and an unlocking position, in which the edge is spaced apart from the opposite edge to enable the fixing rib (90) to be inserted into said groove, by moving the rib radially towards the axis of the carrier shaft.
8. A machine according to claim 7, characterised in that the wedging piece is formed by a longitudinal rod (86) whose cross-section has a setback defining the moving longitudinal edge (84A), said rod being suitable for turning about its longitudinal axis between its unlocking and locking positions.
9. A machine according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterised in that it has cutting tools (88, 88") and scoring tools (88'), each of which has a cutting portion (94) or a scoring portion (96), and a base (92) carrying a fixing rib (90) suitable for co-operating with the fixing groove (84) in a tool holder (66, 68), it thus being possible for said tools to be disposed in any chosen order side-by-side on the tool holder.
10. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it has a multiple tool carrier shaft (52, 62) suitable for carrying at least first and second tools (88, 88', 88"; 100, 101, 102, 103) spaced angularly apart, and in that the control unit (UC) is suitable for controlling the shaft motor (M52, M62) of said multiple tool carrier shaft in compliance with a cycle comprising a first tool treatment stage during which the first tool (100) is in contact with a first determined region (R1) of a sheet (12) situated in the treatment zone (T) of the machine and is driven at a tangential velocity equal to drive speed at which said sheet is driven, a positioning phase during which the multiple tool carrier shaft (62) is driven to position the second tool (103) in a situation in which it can treat a second determined region (R2) of the sheet (12), and a second tool treatment stage, during which the second tool (103) is in contact with said second region and is driven at a tangential velocity equal to the drive speed.
11. A machine according to claim 10, characterised in that it has means (106, 108, 112, M108) for moving the multiple tool carrier shaft (62) away from the advance path along which the sheets (12) advance through the treatment zone (T) during the positioning stage.
12. A machine according to claim 11, characterised in that it has a moving-away shaft (106) carrying at least one eccentric cam (108) and in that the carrier shaft (62) is mounted on a moving axle (110) supported by the moving-away shaft (106) via said eccentric cam (108).
13. A machine according to claim 12, characterised in that the moving axle (110) is secured to a lever (114) which carries a counterweight (116) serving to make it easier for the carrier shaft (62) to move upwards.
14. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the drive means (14, 18) co-operate with adjustable-position drive wheels (30, 34; 40, 44) which are mounted on wheel supports, and in that it has means (122, 124, 128) for adjusting the positions of said supports transversely relative to the drive direction in which the sheets are driven through the machine.
15. A machine according to claim 14, characterised in that it has at least one adjustment belt (122) disposed transversely relative to the drive direction (F) in which the sheets are driven, means (M122) for driving said belt, and coupling means (124, 128) suitable for being caused to go between a coupling situation (Figure 14) in which they secure a wheel support (120) to said belt (122), and a stop position (Figure 15) in which they secure said wheel support (120) to a fixed locking part (130).
16. A machine according to claim 15, characterised in that each of the supports (120) for the adjustable-position drive wheels (30) comprises a coupling shoe (124) and a coupling backing shoe (126) disposed on either side of the belt (122), said shoe being mounted to move between a coupling position (Figure 14) in which it presses the belt (122) against said coupling backing shoe (126) and an inactive position (Figure 15) in which it is spaced apart from the belt.
17. A machine according to claim 16, characterised in that each of the supports (120) for the adjustable-position drive wheels (30) further comprises a stop shoe (128) mounted to move between a stop position (Figure 15) in which it co-operates with the fixed locking part (130) to secure the support (120) to said part, and an inactive position (Figure 14) in which it is spaced apart from said locking part (130), and in that it has means for controlling the coupling shoe (124) and the stop shoe (128), which means are suitable for placing the coupling shoe in its coupling position when the stop shoe is in its inactive position, and are suitable for placing the stop shoe in its stop position when the coupling shoe is in its inactive position.
18. A machine according to claim 17, characterised in that the stop shoe (130) and the coupling shoe (128) are disposed at respective ends of a rod (132) that is mounted to move back and forth.

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