EP2414244B1 - Installation and method for packaging components in the form of strips - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to the tools for conditioning the parts at the output of the production machines and, more particularly, to a method and a packaging installation in the form of a stack and to the clipping of parts comprising a through recess, a stack of interlocked parts. which we will call later "bar".

At the output of the production machines, for example thermoplastic injection molding machines, the parts, all identical, must be packaged to allow their transport to other stations where they will be assembled, for example, with other parts, in a manufacturing process.

To achieve this function, we know machines, including vibrating bowls that ensure the automatic lifting of loose parts. However, the lifting is made difficult in the case of parts that have complex geometric shapes and the entanglement of parts is not controllable.

Room stacking machines are also known which include an outside guide thereto. Guiding is done by means of openwork laterally or completely closed, such as wells, sheaths or cases. These devices do not make it possible to completely control the fall of the parts in the guiding device, hence the risk of overturning or skewing the parts, which necessitates the addition of devices for controlling the fall and repositioning. position of the badly arranged pieces.

In addition, with this type of device, the constitution of rigid piles is complex because it requires plunging a long form inside each guide device to transmit the pressure to clamp the parts against each other. This shape, depending on its length, is subject to deformation and / or decentering by the game generated by the repetition of the movements, it can even break.

At the end of the process, the release and extraction of the pressed piles is also complex, either it is necessary to disengage from the support plate all the guiding, control and repositioning devices, or it is necessary to bring above this technical assembly. very complex device for extracting, from above, each stack of each guide device.

It is conceivable that such a tool is complex and therefore expensive and that at each stage of the process it is subject to malfunctions that increase and the time and cost of said process.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a machine for stacking parts and the simultaneous constitution of a large number of solid bars in a simple and perfectly reliable manner.

• Un dispositif d'empilage composé d'une pluralité de broches aptes à recevoir, à coulissement guidé, les évidements des pièces, montées, de façon amovible, dans une plaque support placée au-dessous d'un plateau de chargement pourvu de perçages en face des broches montées sur le support et dans lesquels sont engagées, libres en translation verticale, lesdites broches et un dispositif de manoeuvre en translation verticale du support.
• Un système de guidage en translation axiale du dispositif d'empilage vers le dispositif de pressage, et inversement, dans le cas ou la zone de chargement est différente de la zone de pressage.
• Un dispositif de pressage composé d'une plaque d'appui, disposée horizontalement au-dessus du plateau de chargement, munie de perçages traversant aptes à recevoir, à coulissement libre, les broches portées par la plaque support, d'une platine sur laquelle s'exerce la force de compression verticale fournie par un mécanisme approprié et qui est rendue solidaire de la plaque d'appui au moyen de colonnes.

For this purpose, one of the objects of the invention is a packaging installation in the form of strips of parts comprising a through recess. This installation comprises:

• A stacking device consisting of a plurality of pins adapted to receive, guided sliding, the recesses of the parts, removably mounted in a support plate placed beneath a loading plate provided with holes in front pins mounted on the support and in which are engaged, free in vertical translation, said pins and a device for maneuvering in vertical translation of the support.
• A guide system in axial translation of the stacking device to the pressing device, and vice versa, in the case where the loading zone is different from the pressing zone.
• A pressing device consisting of a support plate, arranged horizontally above the plateau of loading, provided with through bores adapted to receive, free sliding, the pins carried by the support plate, a plate on which the vertical compression force provided by a suitable mechanism is exerted and which is secured to the plate d support by means of columns.

• La section des broches est calculée pour s'adapter à la forme de l'évidement intérieur de la pièce à conditionner en assurant une chute guidée et sans obstacle de ladite pièce le long de la broche.
• En variante, les broches sont constituées d'un dispositif comportant au moins deux tiges, dimensionnées au diamètre et en écartement en fonction de la forme de l'évidement intérieur de la pièce à conditionner, fixées en partie basse dans la plaque support et avantageusement reliées entre elles au sommet pour maintenir leur écartement et assurer la rigidité de l'ensemble.
• La plaque support du dispositif d'empilage porte des colonnes engagées, libres en translation, dans le plateau de chargement pour guider le mouvement de translation verticale de la plaque support et des broches par rapport audit plateau.
• La plaque d'appui du dispositif de pressage comporte des perçages traversant aptes à recevoir, à coulissement libre, les colonnes portées par la plaque support.
• Le dispositif de pressage comporte des colonnes de guidage de la plaque d'appui traversant, libres en translation, ladite plaque.
• Un peigne est disposé au voisinage du dispositif d'empilage et entraîné en translation perpendiculairement au déplacement du plateau de chargement pour rassembler les barrettes et les diriger vers une table de stockage adjacente audit plateau.

According to other advantageous features of the invention:

• The section of the pins is calculated to adapt to the shape of the inner recess of the room to be conditioned by ensuring a guided and unobstructed fall of said piece along the spindle.
• As a variant, the pins consist of a device comprising at least two rods, dimensioned to the diameter and spacing according to the shape of the internal recess of the part to be conditioned, fixed in the lower part in the support plate and advantageously connected between them at the top to maintain their spacing and ensure the rigidity of the whole.
• The support plate of the stacking device carries translatory free columns in translation in the loading tray for guiding the vertical translation movement of the support plate and the pins relative to said plate.
• The support plate of the pressing device comprises through bores adapted to receive, free sliding, the columns carried by the support plate.
• The pressing device comprises guide columns of the support plate traversing, free in translation, said plate.
• A comb is disposed in the vicinity of the stacking device and driven in translation perpendicular to the movement of the loading tray to gather the bars and direct them to a storage table adjacent to said tray.

• Aménagement, en sortie des outils de fabrication, des pièces à conditionner au dessus du dispositif d'empilage, engagement de l'évidement de chacune des pièces sur une des broches de façon à toujours présenter, à leur réception sur la table de chargement, une face identique sur le dessus de la pile ainsi formée.
• Transport des broches chargées de piles des pièces au-dessous du dispositif de pressage et compression des piles par ledit dispositif avec une force suffisante pour rendre les pièces de chaque pile solidaires les unes des autres de façon à former une barrette solide.
• Retrait du plateau de chargement de la zone de pressage.
• Retrait du dispositif d'empilage pour libérer les barrettes.
• Rassemblement des barrettes pour les diriger vers une table de stockage adjacente au plateau.

Finally, the subject of the invention is also a packaging method for implementing the installation which comprises the following steps:

• Arrangement, at the output of the manufacturing tools, of the parts to be packaged above the stacking device, engagement of the recess of each of the pieces on one of the pins so as to always present, when they are received on the loading table, a identical face on the top of the stack thus formed.
• Transporting the battery-loaded pins of the parts below the pressing device and compressing the batteries by said device with sufficient force to make the parts of each cell integral with each other so as to form a solid bar.
• Removing the loading tray from the pressing zone.
• Removing the stacking device to release the strips.
• Gathering the strips to direct them to a storage table adjacent to the tray.

As a variant of the process, one or more intermediate pressing phases are carried out in order to consolidate the cells being produced, and to make the pressing pressure homogeneous.

• La figure 1 est une vue de la face supérieure d'un exemple de pièce à conditionner,
• La figure 2 est une vue de la face inférieure de la même pièce,
• La figure 3 est une vue de l'installation selon l'invention en position de chargement des pièces
• La figure 4 est une vue analogue à la figure 3 en position de pressage des pièces,
• La figure 5 est une vue de côté de l'installation, en position de pressage des pièces,
• La figure 6 est une vue en coupe axiale du système de chargement des pièces,
• La figure 7 est une vue en coupe axiale du système de pressage, en phase de pressage des pièces,
• La figure 8 est une vue analogue à la figure 7, en phase d'amenée des pièces,
• La figure 9 est une vue de dessus de l'installation.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear from reading the description below, given for information with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• The figure 1 is a view of the upper face of an example of a piece to be packaged,
• The figure 2 is a view of the underside of the same coin,
• The figure 3 is a view of the installation according to the invention in the loading position of the parts
• The figure 4 is a view similar to the figure 3 in the pressing position of the parts,
• The figure 5 is a side view of the installation, in the pressing position of the parts,
• The figure 6 is an axial sectional view of the parts loading system,
• The figure 7 is an axial sectional view of the pressing system, in the pressing phase of the pieces,
• The figure 8 is a view similar to the figure 7 , in the supply phase of the parts,
• The figure 9 is a top view of the installation.

For example, Figures 1 and 2 represent respectively the views of the upper face and the lower face of a part (1) made by injection and conditioned by the apparatus according to the invention. This piece has a recess (2) of complex geometric shape practiced throughout the thickness thereof. It is conceivable that such parts must be packaged in an orderly manner at the exit of the injection press to prevent their entanglement.

The installation, as shown on the figures 3 and 4 , comprises two work areas mounted on a frame (3) common.

Zone (A) is devoted to the loading of the pieces in vertical piles and zone (B) to the formation of the bars.

The zone (A) of loading is composed, as we see better on the figure (3 , 4 and 6 ), pins (4) on which are intended to stack the parts (1).

Therefore, the section of these pins is determined by the shape of the inner recess (2) of the workpiece (1). The shape of the section corresponds to the perimeter of this recess less a shrinkage function of the thickness of the room and reduces to its simplest possible expression.

For this purpose, the points of contact necessary for guiding the workpiece during its fall along the spindle are determined and the parts of the inner shape that can cause a catch are eliminated. The shape of the definitive section of the spindle is then reduced from the only minimal points retained.

The pins (4) are mounted, advantageously removably, in a support plate (5) in which they are arranged in line and in rows. The plate (5) is placed beneath a plate (6) provided with holes in front of the pins mounted on said plate and in which are engaged, free in vertical translation, said pins. Removably mounting the pins allows the user to mount other types of pins for stacking other pieces of different shapes.

Advantageously, the number of pins carried by the support plate is equal to the number of parts made in a single operation by the production machine. For example, this number corresponds to that of the impressions of the injection mold.

The support plate (5) still carries columns (7) engaged, free in translation, in the plate (6) and intended to guide the vertical translation movement of the plate (5) and the pins (4) relative to this tray.

The vertical translation movement of the plate (5) is provided by a suitable mechanism, for example a jack (8).

As can be seen more particularly in figure 6 on each of the two lower side edges of the plate (6) is still fixed a profile (9) inverted U cooperating with a rail (10) mounted on the frame (3) to form a guide system in axial translation of the plate (6) of the zone (A) loading to the zone (B) shaping the bars, and vice versa.

As illustrated in figure 7 , the zone (B) is composed of a pressing plate (11) arranged horizontally above the plate (6) when it is brought into the zone (B), guide columns (12) passing through the plate (11) through conduits (13) of a cylinder (14) whose pressing force is transmitted by a plate (15) to the plate (11) by means of columns (16).

The plate (11) has through holes (17 and 18) adapted to receive, free sliding, respectively, the pins 4 and the columns (7), carried by the support plate (5).

It will be specified that the height of the columns (16) is calculated to prevent contact of the pins (4) with the plate (15) during the pressing operation.

We will now expose, in connection with the description above, the process for implementing the installation.

At the output of the manufacturing tools, the parts (1) are brought, either manually or with the aid of a robotic device (not shown) above the zone (A), engaged on the pins (4) and received on the loading tray (6), so as to always have an identical face (19) on the top of the stack.

At the end of the loading of the pins ( figure 6 ), the plate (6) carrying said pins, is transported by translation of the profiles (9) on the rails (10), below the pressing device of the zone (B).

Preferably, the parts comprise clipping means for assembling them with each other, by pressing. As shown on Figures 1 and 2 , one of the faces (19) of the parts (1) carries, for example, lugs (20) projecting while the opposite face (21) has recesses (22) shaped to receive the lugs (20).

As has been explained above, the parts are loaded on the pins, the same face (19) of each piece being always on the top of the stack so that it is in contact with the face (21). ) of the next piece, which puts the lugs (20) it carries in contact with the recesses (22) of said upper part.

The pressing plate (15), controlled by the jack (14), causes the lowering plate (11) guided by the guide columns (12) to be lowered onto the pins (4) ( figure 7 ) so that the plate (11) comes into contact with the parts (1) and, thanks to the pressing force exerted on them ensures the engagement of the lugs (20) in the recesses (22). All the parts constituting the stack of each pin (4) are thus made integral with each other ( figure 8 ) and form a bar (23) easily manipulated.

At the end of the formation process of the bars, the assembly formed by the plate (6) and the support plate (5) is brought into the zone (A), then the cylinder (8) drives down the plate (5). ) carrying the pins (4) and the guide columns (7). At the same time, the pressing assembly is driven upwards by the jack (14) releasing the plate (6) on which only the bars (23) remaining ready to be brought to the next station remain.

A comb (24) provided with at least two lateral wings (25) and driven in translation by a jack (26), perpendicular to the displacement of the plate (6), collects the bars (23) to direct them to a storage table (27) adjacent to the tray.

Preferably, this table is equipped with grooves (28) for guiding the bars in translation.

Advantageously, the grooves tighten in the direction of travel of the comb to form a neck that allows a gathering of the bars in the transverse direction.

At the end of the course, the bars are clamped against each other in compact blocks able to be covered with a packaging film or a packaging board.

The pressing force exerted on the piles to fasten the pieces together is calculated to then allow them to be detached, either manually or by means of a vending machine.

Thus, the method and the installation that has just been described allow the gravity stacking over a large height of identical parts, including a complex geometric shape comprising a central vacuum through, and their packaging in solidarity and homogeneous bars. They also allow the maintenance of the batteries being built and the control of the positioning of each new stacked part.

The installation provides great precision in the positioning of parts and in the distribution of the pressing force. This results in greater consistency in the quality of the bars which provides an advantage for their use, especially with an automatic dispensing device.

It is understood that the pins (4) for holding the parts during their descent have a section adapted to the through cut of the workpiece, however they are mounted removably in the support plate (5), which allows easily adapt the installation to several types of rooms.

The guidance system makes it possible to use pins of high height while preserving their rigidity and the precision of their positioning at the high point, the pins not undergoing any mechanical stress. This ensures a perfect centering compared to the parts presented by the gripping hand of the loading robot.

In addition, the use of a pressing plate through which the pins pass allows to exert accurate pressure on the batteries.

These properties which eliminate the problems of breakage or wear due to off-centering are essential for the proper functioning and longevity of the tooling

Obviously the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment just described, it includes all the technical equivalents of these means and their combinations.

Thus, for example, the parts can be assembled together by elastic nipping, stapling or any fastening system that can be implemented by a suitable pressure and subsequently disconnected.

Alternatively, the comb (24) may be provided with teeth spaced apart by an interval substantially equal to the width of the bars so as to form as many rows as there are intervals during their collection.

In another embodiment, the pins consist of a device comprising at least two rods dimensioned in diameter and spacing so as to constitute an inner guide along which the pieces slide vertically, by gravity, to create the stack. These rods are fixed at the bottom in the support plate and interconnected at the top to maintain their spacing and ensure the rigidity of the assembly.

In order to consolidate and homogenize the clamping pressure of the stacks during production, it is also possible to provide one or more intermediate pressing steps carried out, if necessary, at a pressure lower than that used for the final operation. of formation of the bars.

According to an alternative embodiment, one could design a device according to which the loading zone (A) would be merged with the pressing zone (B).

Claims (10)

1. Packaging installation for parts (1) which are stacked up and clipped together in the form of a bar (23), each of said parts comprising a through-clearance (2), characterised in that said installation comprises:

   - a stacking device composed of a plurality of pins (4) which are capable of receiving, with guided sliding motion, the clearances (2) in the parts (1) and which are mounted on a supporting plate (5) which is placed underneath a loading tray (6) which is provided with bores opposite the pins mounted on the plate (5), into which bores the said pins are fitted in a manner free in vertical translation, and with a device (8) for manoeuvring the support (5) in vertical translation;

   - a pressing device composed of a supporting plate (11), which is disposed horizontally above the tray (6) and is provided with through-bores (17) capable of receiving, with free sliding motion, the pins (4) carried by the supporting plate (5), and with a platen (15) on which the vertical compressive force supplied by a mechanism (14) is exerted and which is fastened to the supporting plate (11) by means of columns (16).
2. Packaging installation according to Claim 1, characterised in that the supporting plate (5) of the stacking device carries columns (7) which are fitted, in a manner free in translation, into the tray (6) in order to guide the vertical translatory movement of the plate (5) and of the pins (4) in relation to said tray (6).
3. Packaging installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the supporting plate (11) of the pressing device comprises through-bores (18) which are capable of receiving, with free sliding motion, the columns (7) carried by the supporting plate (5).
4. Packaging installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pressing device comprises pillars (12) for guiding the supporting through-plate (11), which are free in translation.
5. Packaging installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cross-section of the pins (4) is calculated, in its shapes and dimensions, according to the shape of the internal clearance (2) in the parts (1) to be packaged, thus bringing about guided falling, without obstruction, of the said part along the pin.
6. Packaging installation according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the pins are made up of a device comprising at least two rods, which are dimensioned, in terms of their diameter and distance apart, in dependence upon the shape of the internal clearance in the part to be packaged, and are fixed at the bottom part in the supporting plate (5) and connected to one another at the top in order to maintain their distance apart and ensure the rigidity of the unit.
7. Packaging installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a comb (24) is disposed in the vicinity of the stacking device and is driven in translation, perpendicularly to the displacement of the tray (6), in order to bring the bars (23) together and direct them towards a storage table (27) adjacent to the said tray.
8. Packaging installation according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a system (9, 10) for guiding the stacking device in axial translation towards the pressing device, and in the opposite direction.
9. Method of packaging using the installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said method comprises the following stages:

   - the arrangement, at the exit from the manufacturing tools, of the parts (1) above the stacking device (4, 5, 6), the fitting of the clearance (2) in each of the parts (1) over one of the pins (4) so as to always present, when they are received on the loading tray (6), an identical face (19) on the top of the stack thus formed;

   - the transporting of the pins loaded with stacks of the parts underneath the pressing device (11, 15, 16) and the compressing of the stacks by the said device with sufficient force to fasten the parts in each stack to one another by clipping-together so as to form a solid bar (23);

   - the withdrawal of the pins (4) and of the pressing unit in order to free the bars (23);

   - the withdrawal of the loading tray (6) from the pressing zone;

   - the bringing-together of the bars (23) in order to direct them towards a storage table (27) adjacent to the tray.
10. Method of packaging according to Claim 9, characterised in that one or more intermediate pressing phases are carried out in order to consolidate the stacks which are being manufactured.

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