EP3283238B1 - Method and machine for sorting bags - Google Patents

Method and machine for sorting bags Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3283238B1
EP3283238B1 EP16730872.5A EP16730872A EP3283238B1 EP 3283238 B1 EP3283238 B1 EP 3283238B1 EP 16730872 A EP16730872 A EP 16730872A EP 3283238 B1 EP3283238 B1 EP 3283238B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bag
bags
calibrated
machine
visual inspection
Prior art date
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Application number
EP16730872.5A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP3283238A1 (en
Inventor
Cédric Ritondo
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Holweg Group SAS
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Holweg Group SAS
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/04—Sorting according to size
    • B07C5/12—Sorting according to size characterised by the application to particular articles, not otherwise provided for
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/02—Measures preceding sorting, e.g. arranging articles in a stream orientating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/04—Sorting according to size
    • B07C5/06—Sorting according to size measured mechanically
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/04—Sorting according to size
    • B07C5/10—Sorting according to size measured by light-responsive means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/34—Sorting according to other particular properties
    • B07C5/342—Sorting according to other particular properties according to optical properties, e.g. colour
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/58—Article switches or diverters
    • B65H29/62—Article switches or diverters diverting faulty articles from the main streams
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H43/00—Use of control, checking, or safety devices, e.g. automatic devices comprising an element for sensing a variable
    • B65H43/04—Use of control, checking, or safety devices, e.g. automatic devices comprising an element for sensing a variable detecting, or responding to, presence of faulty articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2220/00—Function indicators
    • B65H2220/01—Function indicators indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/44—Moving, forwarding, guiding material
    • B65H2301/447—Moving, forwarding, guiding material transferring material between transport devices
    • B65H2301/4473—Belts, endless moving elements on which the material is in surface contact
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/44—Moving, forwarding, guiding material
    • B65H2301/447—Moving, forwarding, guiding material transferring material between transport devices
    • B65H2301/4474—Pair of cooperating moving elements as rollers, belts forming nip into which material is transported
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
    • B65H2404/60—Other elements in face contact with handled material
    • B65H2404/63—Oscillating, pivoting around an axis parallel to face of material, e.g. diverting means
    • B65H2404/632—Wedge member
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/20—Location in space
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/11—Dimensional aspect of article or web
    • B65H2701/111—Plane geometry, contour
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
    • B65H2701/191—Bags, sachets and pouches or the like

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of sorting by a visual inspection system of bags after their production. It also relates to a sorting machine implementing said method.
  • the manufacture of bags is performed on machines working continuously from a web of reel material or from pre-cut sheets on a stack, such as paper in its entirety, or with plastic parts, on which are performed in particular folding operations, cutting and gluing.
  • the finished bags leave the machine, for example, flat one after the other separated by an interval before being received by a stacking device that forms piles.
  • the transport of the bags is carried out between pairs of rollers distributed on the road or by pairs of conveyor belts mounted in a loop and which run on both sides of the bags.
  • Production rates can be high and reach a few hundred pieces per minute.
  • the document EP 2 433 872 proposes to perform an operation of detecting bags of poor quality, interposing between the production machine and the stacker device a visual inspection system.
  • the Stacker device downstream of the inspection system includes a sorting device for stacking only those bags considered acceptable by the visual inspection system. Unacceptable bags spin without being stacked and are collected further after passing through the stacking zone.
  • the inspection system includes a station at which the bags rest on one side on conveyor belts to allow full visual access to the opposite side of the conveyor belt.
  • This post includes a lighting device and a camera or several cameras. It allows to control various parameters, such as the presence of handles, their number, their position, the quality of the fold of the bottom of the bag, the quality of the printing or the presence of glue
  • the aim of the invention is to provide a method and a machine for sorting by visual inspection which remedy these problems, in particular which do not introduce any risk of jamming when very poor quality bags leave the production machine.
  • a first sorting is applied which can be easily implemented, for example by using cells such as optical, mechanical or capacitive, inductive or other presence sensors, so as to determine whether the bag is present. big defects compared to its external dimensions. Indeed, the risk of jamming from bags whose parts are partially detached, folded or torn. These defects result in significant differences in the size of the bag and are easily detected.
  • This sorting can be implemented while maintaining the bag between the conveyor belts. The removal of such bags greatly reduces the risk of jamming, especially in the visual inspection system when the bags are less well maintained. Fault detection can also be carried out in a complementary manner on the production machine, for example with glue presence detectors (by humidity or by heat in the case of hot glue).
  • a bag is uncalibrated if the width or length of the bag is outside a predetermined range.
  • the position of the longitudinal edges it is determined what is the width of the bag. If this is outside an interval around the expected value, it is deduced that the bag has a defect and is not calibrated.
  • the position of the front and back edges determines how long the bag is. If this is outside an interval around the expected value, it is deduced that the bag has a defect, such as a badly cut edge, a badly folded leg or a part torn off. The bag is then declared not calibrated.
  • a bag is uncalibrated if its front edge is distant from the rear edge of the previous bag by a range greater than a predetermined threshold. A distance greater or less than the expected value is the sign of an anomaly on the bag which is thus declared uncalibrated.
  • a bag is uncalibrated if its front edge is distant from the rear edge of the previous bag by an interval greater than a first predetermined threshold or lower than a second predetermined threshold. This determines the length of the bag which must be between the first and the second threshold to be considered as that of a calibrated bag.
  • a bag is also declared uncalibrated if its thickness is greater than a predetermined threshold; for example, a device that rises when the bag passes too thick activates a contactor and the bag is thus declared uncalibrated.
  • a large thickness is generally related to the layering of layers of the constituent material in a non-compliant manner.
  • the switch comprises a spout pivotally mounted about a transverse axis, the spout having an end and pivoting between an erasure position in which the bags follow a path to the visual inspection system along a path. an outer face of the spout, and a raised position in which the end of the spout protrudes to orient the front of the bag which moves on the side of an inner face of the spout opposite to the outer face.
  • the nozzle is placed in front of the uncalibrated bag to point it to a different path than to the inspection system. The bag continues moving, but by the other way.
  • the first transport means 2 are conventionally formed by pairs of conveyor belts 20 mounted in a loop and between which the bags 1 pass.
  • the control station 3 comprises for example several photocells emitting and receiving a light beam may be interrupted by the bag to control.
  • the edges of the bag in the transport direction must interrupt the beam of a first cell and not interrupt the beam of a second cell adjacent to the first, and this in a time interval corresponding to the theoretical period of passage of the bag. If during this interval the beam of the second cell is interrupted or if the beam of the first cell is not, it is considered that the bag has a defect.
  • Other combinations of controls can be implemented.
  • the first cell detects the gap between the leading edge of a bag and the trailing edge of the previous bag. If this interval is greater than a predetermined threshold, the front edge of the bag is late and it is considered that the bag has a defect.
  • control the thickness of the bag which makes it possible to determine if the bags have a major formation defect and to choose whether to immediately discard them or not.
  • the control is in this case carried out for example by a feeler provided with a shoe, a caster bearing elastically on the bags that scroll or by a laser or ultrasonic sensor.
  • some of these checks can be performed upstream, on the manufacturing machine, the control station receiving the non-compliance information being able to determine when the non-calibrated bag passes at the switch .
  • the switch 4 can be operated quickly according to the result provided by the control station 3.
  • the switch 4 comprises a spout 40 pivotally mounted about a transverse axis between a position of erasure in which the calibrated bags 1a follow a path to the visual inspection system 6 along an outer face 401 of the spout 40, and a raised position in which an end of the spout 40 projects to orient the front of the bag not calibrated 1b which moves on the side of an inner face 402 of the spout 40 opposite to the outer face 401.
  • the uncalibrated bags 1b are sent for example in a first recovery tank 8.
  • the calibrated bags 1a are taken in charge by the second transport means 5 to be brought to the visual inspection system 6.
  • the second transport means 5 support the bags 1a on a single face 11, of such that the opposite face 12 is completely unobstructed and visually accessible.
  • the visual inspection system 6 determines whether the bag inspected is acceptable or not.
  • the bag 1 is then delivered to the selection system 7 which is configured to stack the acceptable bags 1c and guide the unacceptable bags 1d to a second recovery tank 9.

Description

Domaine techniqueTechnical area

La présente invention se rapporte à un procédé de tri par un système d'inspection visuelle de sacs après leur production. Elle se rapporte également à une machine de tri mettant en œuvre ledit procédé.The present invention relates to a method of sorting by a visual inspection system of bags after their production. It also relates to a sorting machine implementing said method.

Etat de la techniqueState of the art

La fabrication de sacs, comme par exemple des sacs en papier, est réalisée sur des machines travaillant en continu à partir d'une bande de matière en bobine ou à partir de feuilles prédécoupées sur une pile, tel que du papier en totalité, ou avec des parties en matière plastique, sur lequel sont réalisées en particulier des opérations de pliage, de découpage et de collage. Les sacs finis sortent de la machine par exemple à plat les uns à la suite des autres séparés par un intervalle avant d'être reçus par un dispositif empileur qui forme des piles. Le transport des sacs est réalisé entre des paires de galets réparties sur le chemin ou par des paires de bandes transporteuses montées en boucle et qui défilent de part et d'autre des sacs.The manufacture of bags, such as paper bags, is performed on machines working continuously from a web of reel material or from pre-cut sheets on a stack, such as paper in its entirety, or with plastic parts, on which are performed in particular folding operations, cutting and gluing. The finished bags leave the machine, for example, flat one after the other separated by an interval before being received by a stacking device that forms piles. The transport of the bags is carried out between pairs of rollers distributed on the road or by pairs of conveyor belts mounted in a loop and which run on both sides of the bags.

Les cadences de production peuvent être élevées et atteindre quelques centaines de pièces à la minute.Production rates can be high and reach a few hundred pieces per minute.

Il arrive que dans des phases transitoires de mise en route ou quand des paramètres de la production varient, des sacs de mauvaise qualité soient produits. Même si des opérateurs surveillent la production, ils ne peuvent réagir instantanément de telle sorte que des produits de mauvaise qualité se mélangent à des produits de bonne qualité.Sometimes in transitional phases of start-up or when production parameters vary, poor quality bags are produced. Even though operators monitor production, they can not react instantly so that poor quality products mix with good quality products.

Le document EP 2 433 872 propose de réaliser une opération de détection de sacs de mauvaise qualité, en interposant entre la machine de production et le dispositif empileur un système d'inspection visuelle. Le dispositif empileur en aval du système d'inspection comprend un dispositif de tri pour n'empiler que les sacs considérés acceptables par le système d'inspection visuelle. Les sacs non acceptables filent sans être empilés et sont recueillis plus loin après avoir traversé la zone d'empilement. Le système d'inspection comporte un poste au niveau duquel les sacs reposent d'un seul côté sur des bandes transporteuses, afin de laisser un accès visuel complet à la face du sac opposée aux bandes transporteuses. Ce poste comporte un dispositif d'éclairage et une caméra ou plusieurs caméras. Il permet de contrôler divers paramètres, tels que la présence de poignées, leur nombre, leur position, la qualité du pli du fond du sac, la qualité de l'impression ou la présence de colleThe document EP 2 433 872 proposes to perform an operation of detecting bags of poor quality, interposing between the production machine and the stacker device a visual inspection system. The Stacker device downstream of the inspection system includes a sorting device for stacking only those bags considered acceptable by the visual inspection system. Unacceptable bags spin without being stacked and are collected further after passing through the stacking zone. The inspection system includes a station at which the bags rest on one side on conveyor belts to allow full visual access to the opposite side of the conveyor belt. This post includes a lighting device and a camera or several cameras. It allows to control various parameters, such as the presence of handles, their number, their position, the quality of the fold of the bottom of the bag, the quality of the printing or the presence of glue

Un tel système s'est montré efficace dans la plupart des cas. Cependant, pendant les phases de réglage, de redémarrage après un arrêt, ou en cas d'incident divers, il arrive que l'état du sac à la sortie de la machine soit si mauvais que le sac ne puisse pas passer par le système d'inspection, en particulier au niveau du poste dans lequel le sac n'est supporté par les bandes transporteuses que sur une face, et qu'il provoque un bourrage. Il est alors urgent d'arrêter la production pour effectuer un débourrage manuellement.Such a system has been effective in most cases. However, during adjustment phases, restarting after a stop, or in case of various incidents, it happens that the state of the bag at the exit of the machine is so bad that the bag can not go through the system. inspection, especially at the station in which the bag is supported by the conveyor belts only on one side, and it causes a jam. It is then urgent to stop the production to perform a manual debourrage.

Description de l'inventionDescription of the invention

L'invention vise à fournir un procédé et une machine de tri par inspection visuelle qui remédient à ces problèmes, en particulier qui n'introduisent pas de risques de bourrage lorsque des sacs de très mauvaise qualité sortent de la machine de production.The aim of the invention is to provide a method and a machine for sorting by visual inspection which remedy these problems, in particular which do not introduce any risk of jamming when very poor quality bags leave the production machine.

Avec ces objectifs en vue, l'invention a pour objet un procédé de tri de sacs selon lequel :

  • on fournit des sacs plats défilant les uns à la suite des autres en étant séparés par un intervalle ;
  • on présente chaque sac devant un système d'inspection visuelle pour déterminer une qualité acceptable ou non acceptable du sac inspecté ; et
  • on empile les sacs acceptables et on rejette les sacs non acceptables après leur passage devant le système d'inspection visuelle ;
le procédé étant caractérisé en ce qu'avant l'inspection visuelle, on contrôle les bords extérieurs de chaque sac pour déterminer si le gabarit et la position du sac correspondent à un sac calibré ou non calibré, on éjecte les sacs non calibrés en amont du système d'inspection visuelle, et on présente les sacs calibrés au système d'inspection visuelle.With these objectives in view, the subject of the invention is a bag sorting method according to which:
  • flat bags are presented one after the other, separated by an interval;
  • presenting each bag in front of a visual inspection system to determine acceptable or unacceptable quality of the bag being inspected; and
  • the acceptable bags are stacked and unacceptable bags are rejected after passing through the visual inspection system;
the method being characterized in that prior to the visual inspection, the outer edges of each bag are checked to determine if the template and the position of the bag correspond to a calibrated or uncalibrated bag, the uncalibrated bags are ejected upstream of the bag. visual inspection system, and the calibrated bags are presented to the visual inspection system.

Selon l'invention, on applique un premier tri qui peut être mis en œuvre facilement, par exemple en utilisant des cellules telles que des cellules optiques, mécaniques ou des détecteurs de présence capacitifs, inductifs ou autres, de manière à déterminer si le sac présente de gros défauts par rapport à ses dimensions extérieures. En effet, les risques de bourrage proviennent de sacs dont des parties sont partiellement détachées, repliées ou déchirées. Ces défauts se traduisent par des écarts importants sur le gabarit du sac et sont détectés facilement. Ce tri peut être mis en œuvre tout en maintenant le sac entre les bandes transporteuses. La mise à l'écart de tels sacs diminue fortement les risques de bourrage, en particulier au niveau du système d'inspection visuelle lorsque les sacs sont moins bien maintenus. La détection de défaut peut aussi être réalisée de manière complémentaire sur la machine de production, avec par exemple des détecteurs de présence de colle (par l'humidité ou par la thermique dans le cas de colle chaude).According to the invention, a first sorting is applied which can be easily implemented, for example by using cells such as optical, mechanical or capacitive, inductive or other presence sensors, so as to determine whether the bag is present. big defects compared to its external dimensions. Indeed, the risk of jamming from bags whose parts are partially detached, folded or torn. These defects result in significant differences in the size of the bag and are easily detected. This sorting can be implemented while maintaining the bag between the conveyor belts. The removal of such bags greatly reduces the risk of jamming, especially in the visual inspection system when the bags are less well maintained. Fault detection can also be carried out in a complementary manner on the production machine, for example with glue presence detectors (by humidity or by heat in the case of hot glue).

Selon une disposition, on détermine qu'un sac est non calibré si la largeur ou la longueur du sac est en dehors d'une plage prédéterminée. En déterminant la position des bords longitudinaux, on détermine quelle est la largeur du sac. Si celle-ci est en dehors d'un intervalle autour de la valeur attendue, on en déduit que le sac présente un défaut et qu'il n'est pas calibré. De même, en déterminant la position des bords avant et arrière, on détermine quelle est la longueur du sac. Si celle-ci est en dehors d'un intervalle autour de la valeur attendue, on en déduit que le sac présente un défaut, comme un bord mal découpé, une patte mal repliée ou une partie arrachée. Le sac est alors déclaré non calibré.According to one arrangement, it is determined that a bag is uncalibrated if the width or length of the bag is outside a predetermined range. By determining the position of the longitudinal edges, it is determined what is the width of the bag. If this is outside an interval around the expected value, it is deduced that the bag has a defect and is not calibrated. Similarly, by determining the position of the front and back edges, determines how long the bag is. If this is outside an interval around the expected value, it is deduced that the bag has a defect, such as a badly cut edge, a badly folded leg or a part torn off. The bag is then declared not calibrated.

Selon une autre disposition, on détermine en outre qu'un sac est non calibré si son bord avant est distant du bord arrière du sac précédent d'un intervalle supérieur à un seuil prédéterminé. Une distance supérieure ou inférieure à la valeur attendue est le signe d'une anomalie sur le sac qui est ainsi déclaré non calibré.According to another provision, it is further determined that a bag is uncalibrated if its front edge is distant from the rear edge of the previous bag by a range greater than a predetermined threshold. A distance greater or less than the expected value is the sign of an anomaly on the bag which is thus declared uncalibrated.

Selon encore une autre disposition, on détermine qu'un sac est non calibré si son bord avant est distant du bord arrière du sac précédent d'un intervalle supérieur à un premier seuil prédéterminé ou inférieur à un deuxième seuil prédéterminé. On détermine ainsi la longueur du sac qui doit être comprise entre le premier et le deuxième seuil pour être considérée comme celle d'un sac calibré.According to yet another provision, it is determined that a bag is uncalibrated if its front edge is distant from the rear edge of the previous bag by an interval greater than a first predetermined threshold or lower than a second predetermined threshold. This determines the length of the bag which must be between the first and the second threshold to be considered as that of a calibrated bag.

Selon encore une autre disposition, un sac est également déclaré non calibré si son épaisseur est supérieure à un seuil prédéterminé; par exemple un dispositif qui se relève lors du passage de sacs trop épais active un contacteur et le sac est ainsi déclaré non calibré. Une forte épaisseur est en général liée à la superposition de couches du matériau constitutif d'une manière qui n'est pas conforme.According to yet another provision, a bag is also declared uncalibrated if its thickness is greater than a predetermined threshold; for example, a device that rises when the bag passes too thick activates a contactor and the bag is thus declared uncalibrated. A large thickness is generally related to the layering of layers of the constituent material in a non-compliant manner.

L'invention a aussi pour objet une machine de tri de sacs comportant :

  • une entrée pour recevoir des sacs plats défilant les uns à la suite des autres en étant séparés par un intervalle ;
  • un système d'inspection visuelle pour faire défiler les sacs devant un appareil optique et pour déterminer une qualité acceptable ou non acceptable du sac inspecté ; et
  • un système de sélection pour rejeter les sacs non acceptables et empiler les sacs acceptables ;
la machine étant caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte une station de contrôle entre l'entrée et le système d'inspection visuelle pour contrôler les bords extérieurs de chaque sac et déterminer si le gabarit et la position du sac correspondent à un sac calibré ou non calibré, et un aiguillage en amont du système d'inspection visuelle pour éjecter les sacs non calibrés.The invention also relates to a bag sorting machine comprising:
  • an inlet for receiving flat bags scrolling one after the other separated by an interval;
  • a visual inspection system for scrolling bags in front of an optical apparatus and for determining an acceptable or unacceptable quality of the inspected bag; and
  • a selection system to reject unacceptable bags and stack acceptable bags;
the machine being characterized in that it comprises a control station between the entrance and the visual inspection system to control the outer edges of each bag and determine if the jig and the position of the bag correspond to a calibrated bag or not calibrated, and a switch upstream of the visual inspection system to eject the unsized bags.

Selon une disposition constructive, l'aiguillage comporte un bec monté pivotant autour d'un axe transversal, le bec comportant une extrémité et pivotant entre une position d'effacement dans laquelle les sacs suivent un chemin vers le système d'inspection visuelle le long d'une face extérieure du bec, et une position relevée dans laquelle l'extrémité du bec fait saillie pour orienter l'avant du sac qui se déplace du côté d'une face intérieure du bec opposée à la face extérieure. Le bec s'interpose à l'avant du sac non calibré pour l'orienter vers un autre chemin que vers le système d'inspection. Le sac continue son déplacement, mais en empruntant l'autre chemin.According to a constructive arrangement, the switch comprises a spout pivotally mounted about a transverse axis, the spout having an end and pivoting between an erasure position in which the bags follow a path to the visual inspection system along a path. an outer face of the spout, and a raised position in which the end of the spout protrudes to orient the front of the bag which moves on the side of an inner face of the spout opposite to the outer face. The nozzle is placed in front of the uncalibrated bag to point it to a different path than to the inspection system. The bag continues moving, but by the other way.

Brève description des figuresBrief description of the figures

L'invention sera mieux comprise et d'autres particularités et avantages apparaîtront à la lecture de la description qui va suivre, la description faisant référence à :

  • la figure 1 qui est une vue schématique d'une machine de tri conforme à une mode de réalisation de l'invention.
The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will appear on reading the description which follows, the description referring to:
  • the figure 1 which is a schematic view of a sorting machine according to an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION DETAILLEEDETAILED DESCRIPTION

Une machine de tri de sacs selon l'invention est représentée sur la figure 1. La machine est prévue pour recevoir des sacs 1 à la sortie d'une machine de fabrication desdits sacs 1 et comporte successivement dans le sens de déplacement des sacs 1 :

  • une entrée 21 pour recevoir des sacs 1 défilant à plat les uns à la suite des autres en étant séparés par un intervalle ;
  • des premiers moyens de transport 2 pour faire défiler les sacs 1 devant une station de contrôle 3 pour contrôler les bords extérieurs de chaque sac et déterminer si le gabarit et la position du sac correspondent à un sac calibré 1a ou non calibré 1b ;
  • un aiguillage 4 pour éjecter les sacs non calibrés 1b ;
  • de deuxièmes moyens de transport 5 pour transporter les sacs calibrés 1a vers
  • un système d'inspection visuelle 6 pour faire défiler les sacs calibrés 1a devant un appareil optique 60 et pour déterminer une qualité acceptable ou non acceptable du sac inspecté ; et
  • un système de sélection 7 pour rejeter les sacs non acceptables 1d et empiler les sacs acceptables 1c.
A bag sorting machine according to the invention is shown on the figure 1 . The machine is designed to receive bags 1 at the output of a machine for manufacturing said bags 1 and comprises successively in the direction of movement of the bags 1:
  • an inlet 21 for receiving bags 1 scrolling flat one after the other separated by a gap;
  • first transport means 2 for scrolling the bags 1 in front of a control station 3 to control the outer edges of each bag and determine if the template and the position of the bag correspond to a calibrated bag 1a or not calibrated 1b;
  • a switch 4 to eject the unsized bags 1b;
  • second transport means 5 for transporting the calibrated bags 1a to
  • a visual inspection system 6 for scrolling the calibrated bags 1a in front of an optical apparatus 60 and for determining an acceptable or unacceptable quality of the inspected bag; and
  • a selection system 7 to reject the unacceptable bags 1d and stack the acceptable bags 1c.

Les premiers moyens de transport 2 sont formés de manière classique par des paires de bandes transporteuses 20 montées en boucle et entre lesquelles les sacs 1 défilent. La station de contrôle 3 comporte par exemple plusieurs cellules photoélectriques émettant et recevant un faisceau lumineux susceptible d'être interrompu par le sac à contrôler. Les bords du sac dans la direction de transport doivent interrompre le faisceau d'une première cellule et ne pas interrompre le faisceau d'une deuxième cellule adjacente à la première, et ce dans un intervalle temporel correspondant à la période de passage théorique du sac. Si pendant cet intervalle le faisceau de la deuxième cellule est interrompu ou si le faisceau de la première cellule ne l'est pas, on considère que le sac présente un défaut. D'autres combinaisons de contrôles peuvent être mises en œuvre. La première cellule permet de détecter l'intervalle entre le bord avant d'un sac et le bord arrière du sac précédent. Si cet intervalle est supérieur à un seuil prédéterminé, le bord avant du sac est en retard et on considère que le sac présente un défaut.The first transport means 2 are conventionally formed by pairs of conveyor belts 20 mounted in a loop and between which the bags 1 pass. The control station 3 comprises for example several photocells emitting and receiving a light beam may be interrupted by the bag to control. The edges of the bag in the transport direction must interrupt the beam of a first cell and not interrupt the beam of a second cell adjacent to the first, and this in a time interval corresponding to the theoretical period of passage of the bag. If during this interval the beam of the second cell is interrupted or if the beam of the first cell is not, it is considered that the bag has a defect. Other combinations of controls can be implemented. The first cell detects the gap between the leading edge of a bag and the trailing edge of the previous bag. If this interval is greater than a predetermined threshold, the front edge of the bag is late and it is considered that the bag has a defect.

Il est possible également de contrôler l'épaisseur du sac, ce qui permet de déterminer si les sacs ont un défaut de formation majeur et de choisir s'il faut les écarter immédiatement ou non. Le contrôle est dans ce cas effectué par exemple par un palpeur muni d'un sabot, d'une roulette en appui élastique sur les sacs qui défilent ou par un capteur laser ou à ultrasons.It is also possible to control the thickness of the bag, which makes it possible to determine if the bags have a major formation defect and to choose whether to immediately discard them or not. The control is in this case carried out for example by a feeler provided with a shoe, a caster bearing elastically on the bags that scroll or by a laser or ultrasonic sensor.

Par ailleurs, certains de ces contrôles peuvent être réalisés en amont, sur la machine de fabrication, la station de contrôle recevant l'information de non-conformité en étant apte à déterminer à quel moment le sac non calibré passe au niveau de l'aiguillage.Furthermore, some of these checks can be performed upstream, on the manufacturing machine, the control station receiving the non-compliance information being able to determine when the non-calibrated bag passes at the switch .

En aval de la station de contrôle 3, l'aiguillage 4 peut être actionné rapidement en fonction du résultat fourni par la station de contrôle 3. L'aiguillage 4 comporte un bec 40 monté pivotant autour d'un axe transversal entre une position d'effacement dans laquelle les sacs calibrés 1a suivent un chemin vers le système d'inspection visuelle 6 le long d'une face extérieure 401 du bec 40, et une position relevée dans laquelle une extrémité du bec 40 fait saillie pour orienter l'avant du sac non calibré 1b qui se déplace du côté d'une face intérieure 402 du bec 40 opposée à la face extérieure 401. Les sacs non calibrés 1b sont envoyés par exemple dans un premier bac de récupération 8.Downstream of the control station 3, the switch 4 can be operated quickly according to the result provided by the control station 3. The switch 4 comprises a spout 40 pivotally mounted about a transverse axis between a position of erasure in which the calibrated bags 1a follow a path to the visual inspection system 6 along an outer face 401 of the spout 40, and a raised position in which an end of the spout 40 projects to orient the front of the bag not calibrated 1b which moves on the side of an inner face 402 of the spout 40 opposite to the outer face 401. The uncalibrated bags 1b are sent for example in a first recovery tank 8.

Les sacs calibrés 1a sont pris en charge par les deuxièmes moyens de transport 5 pour être amenés au système d'inspection visuelle 6. Contrairement aux moyens de transport classiques, les deuxièmes moyens de transport 5 soutiennent les sacs 1a sur une seule face 11, de telle sorte que la face opposée 12 est totalement dégagée et accessible visuellement. Le système d'inspection visuelle 6 détermine si le sac inspecté est acceptable ou non. Le sac 1 est alors délivré au système de sélection 7 qui est configuré pour empiler les sacs acceptables 1c et orienter les sacs non acceptables 1d vers un deuxième bac de récupération 9.The calibrated bags 1a are taken in charge by the second transport means 5 to be brought to the visual inspection system 6. Unlike the conventional means of transport, the second transport means 5 support the bags 1a on a single face 11, of such that the opposite face 12 is completely unobstructed and visually accessible. The visual inspection system 6 determines whether the bag inspected is acceptable or not. The bag 1 is then delivered to the selection system 7 which is configured to stack the acceptable bags 1c and guide the unacceptable bags 1d to a second recovery tank 9.

Claims (13)

  1. A bag sorting method (1) whereby:
    - bags (1) are provided, filing flat one after the other while being separated by a gap;
    - each bag is presented in front of a visual inspection system (6) to determine an acceptable or unacceptable quality of the bag (1) inspected; and
    - the acceptable bags (1c) are stacked and the unacceptable bags (1d) are rejected after they have passed in front of the visual inspection system (6);
    - the method being characterized in that, before the visual inspection, the outer edges of each bag (1) are checked to determine whether the template and the position of the bag (1) correspond to a calibrated bag (1a) or non-calibrated bag (1b), the non-calibrated bags (1b) are ejected upstream of the visual inspection system (6), and the calibrated bags (1a) are presented to the visual inspection system (6).
  2. The method as claimed in claim 1, whereby a bag (1) is determined to be non-calibrated if the width or the length of the bag is outside of a predetermined range.
  3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, whereby a bag (1) is determined to be non-calibrated if its front edge is separated from the rear edge of the preceding bag by a gap greater than a predetermined threshold.
  4. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, whereby a bag (1) is determined to be non-calibrated when its thickness is greater than a predetermined threshold.
  5. A bag sorting machine (1) comprising:
    - an input (21) for receiving bags (1) flat, filing one after the other while being separated by a gap;
    - a visual inspection system (6) for making the bags (1) file in front of an optical apparatus (60) and for determining an acceptable or unacceptable quality of the bag inspected; and
    - a selection system (7) for rejecting the unacceptable bags (1d) and stacking the acceptable bags (1c);
    the machine being characterized in that it comprises a checking station (3) between the input (21) and the visual inspection system (6) for checking the outer edges of each bag and determining whether the template and the position of the bag correspond to a calibrated (1a) or non-calibrated (1b) bag, and a switch (4) upstream of the visual inspection system (6) for ejecting the non-calibrated bags (1b).
  6. The machine as claimed in claim 5, in which the switch (4) comprises a nose (40) mounted to pivot about a transverse axis, the nose (40) comprising an end (403) and pivoting between a receded position in which the calibrated bags (1a) follow a path to the visual inspection system (6) along an outer face (401) of the nose (40), and a raised position in which the end of the nose (40) protrudes to orient the front of the non-calibrated bag (1b) which is displaced on the side of an inner face (402) of the nose (40) opposite the outer face (401).
  7. The machine as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that it implements a bag sorting method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3.
  8. The machine as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a checking station (3) comprising several cells for checking the outer edges of each bag and determining whether the template and the position of the bag correspond to a calibrated (1a) or non-calibrated (1b) bag.
  9. The machine as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that the cells are optical, mechanical cells or capacitive or inductive presence sensors.
  10. The machine as claimed in one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that:
    - said machine implements a bag sorting method as claimed in claim 4; and
    - a device which is raised upon the passage of bags that are too thick activates a contactor, the bag being thus declared non-calibrated.
  11. The machine as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that:
    - the machine comprises first transport means (2) for making the bags (1) run in front of a checking station (3), said first transport means (2) being formed by pairs of conveyor belts (20) mounted in loop fashion and between which the bags (1) run;
    - the machine comprises further second transport means (5) for transporting the calibrated bags (1a) to a visual inspection system (6) to make the calibrated bags (1a) run in front of an optical apparatus (60); and
    - a checking station (3) comprises several photoelectric cells emitting and receiving a light beam that can be broken by the bag to be checked, such as:
    -- the edges of the bag in the direction of transportation must break the beam of a first cell and not break the beam of a second cell adjacent to the first, and do so within a time interval corresponding to the theoretical period of passage of the bag; and
    -- if, during this interval, the beam from the second cell is broken or if the beam from the first cell is not, the bag is considered to exhibit a defect.
  12. The machine as claimed in the preceding claim , characterized in that:
    - said machine implements a bag sorting method as claimed in claim 4; and
    - a feeler provided with a shoe or a roller bearing elastically on the bags which run.
  13. The machine as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that:
    - said machine implements a bag sorting method as claimed in claim 4; and
    - a laser or ultrasound sensor performs a check on the thickness of the bag.
EP16730872.5A 2015-04-14 2016-04-07 Method and machine for sorting bags Active EP3283238B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1553245A FR3035013B1 (en) 2015-04-14 2015-04-14 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR SORTING FLAT BAGS
PCT/FR2016/050809 WO2016166452A1 (en) 2015-04-14 2016-04-07 Method and machine for sorting bags

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3283238A1 EP3283238A1 (en) 2018-02-21
EP3283238B1 true EP3283238B1 (en) 2019-12-11

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP16730872.5A Active EP3283238B1 (en) 2015-04-14 2016-04-07 Method and machine for sorting bags

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US (1) US10220417B2 (en)
EP (1) EP3283238B1 (en)
FR (1) FR3035013B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2016166452A1 (en)

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US10737454B2 (en) * 2017-09-24 2020-08-11 Steve Kohn Method and machine for quality control inspection of pinch bottom and flat bottom bags
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR3035013A1 (en) 2016-10-21
EP3283238A1 (en) 2018-02-21
US20180154396A1 (en) 2018-06-07
WO2016166452A1 (en) 2016-10-20
US10220417B2 (en) 2019-03-05
FR3035013B1 (en) 2017-04-14

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