EP3747809B1 - Device and method for feeding blanks to a machine for further processing - Google Patents
Device and method for feeding blanks to a machine for further processing Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3747809B1 EP3747809B1 EP20177980.8A EP20177980A EP3747809B1 EP 3747809 B1 EP3747809 B1 EP 3747809B1 EP 20177980 A EP20177980 A EP 20177980A EP 3747809 B1 EP3747809 B1 EP 3747809B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- blanks
- stack
- aligning
- belt
- feed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000001133 acceleration Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000013536 elastomeric material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000000123 paper Substances 0.000 description 3
- 235000019504 cigarettes Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 241000208125 Nicotiana Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000002637 Nicotiana tabacum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004026 adhesive bonding Methods 0.000 description 1
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- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000087 stabilizing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
- B65H1/02—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated adapted to support articles on edge
- B65H1/025—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated adapted to support articles on edge with controlled positively-acting mechanical devices for advancing the pile to present the articles to the separating device
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
- B65H7/02—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2406/00—Means using fluid
- B65H2406/30—Suction means
- B65H2406/32—Suction belts
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- 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
- B65H2511/24—Irregularities, e.g. in orientation or skewness
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2513/00—Dynamic entities; Timing aspects
- B65H2513/10—Speed
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2513/00—Dynamic entities; Timing aspects
- B65H2513/20—Acceleration or deceleration
-
- 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
- B65H2701/17—Nature of material
- B65H2701/176—Cardboard
Definitions
- This invention relates to a device and a method for feeding blanks to a machine for further processing.
- the invention addresses the field of the processing of blanks - for example (but not necessarily) of paper - for example in the sector of the production of packets, where blanks of rigid or semi-rigid material are folded and welded or glued to form packets for containing articles.
- the context of this invention is the production of packets of rod-shaped articles such as cigarettes or the like.
- the prior art teaches feeding blanks in a stack where the blanks, which are planar shaped, are superposed on each other to define a succession of blanks whose large surfaces are in mutual contact.
- the stack of blanks is fed to a guide channel where the stack is progressively advanced so that the blank at the end of it in the outfeed direction is presented to a pickup device which transfers it for further processing, such as, for example, folding processes.
- a mail items delivery unit which has a conveying portion with lower belts to convey a stack of mail items arranged upright and a pick up mechanism at the end of the conveying portion to extract the foremost item from the stack.
- the unit has a compensating mechanism to arrange the foremost items according with a vertical arrangement optimal for extraction by the pick up mechanism.
- the stack may be inserted in an inclined or vertical guide channel along which it is pushed by gravity or it may be urged towards the pickup device by suitable pushing elements, such as elastic elements, for example.
- suitable pushing elements such as elastic elements, for example.
- the height of the stack is reduced, making it necessary to top up with more blanks, usually by periodically adding a bundle of new blanks.
- the axial thrust applied by the stack of blanks - under its own weight, for example - creates a tendency to produce unwanted curvatures ("bulges") in the stack itself, especially in the blanks at the leading end of the stack, directed towards the pickup device.
- the curvature is all the more accentuated in the case of blanks made of recycled cardboard, whose fibres are oriented in random directions, thus reducing the flexural rigidity of the blanks, or in the case of blanks having one surface that is stiffer than the one opposite to it (for example, blanks with labels pre-applied on them.
- This invention therefore has for an aim to provide a device and a method for feeding blanks to a machine for further processing and capable of attaining high standards of process reliability.
- the numeral 1 in the accompanying drawings denotes in its entirety a device for feeding blanks 100 to a machine for further processing.
- the expression "machine for further processing” is used to mean a generic machine (not illustrated because it is of known type) configured to receive single blanks one after the other in succession and to subject them to further processes, such as, for example: folding, gluing, printing, application of additional elements (such as stamps, coupons, labels or generic stickers) or even to transfer the blanks to storage units.
- a machine might be a cigarette packing machine and the device 1 configured to feed the cardboard blanks intended to make hinge-lid packets.
- the device 1 comprises feed means 2 for feeding a stack P of blanks 100 disposed in succession in a superposed configuration, for example defining a feed space for feeding the stack P of blanks 100 along a feed direction A.
- the feed direction A is horizontal and the blanks 100 of the stack P can be pushed towards an outfeed section 3 by a generic mechanical pushing element (not illustrated), for example elastic, adapted to generate a force F directed towards the outfeed section 3.
- the blanks 100 are positioned in a vertical or substantially vertical plane.
- the feed direction A may be inclined at an angle to the horizontal plane, preferably an acute angle between 1° and 30°. In such a case, the stack P of blanks 100 is pushed towards the outfeed section 3 at least partly by gravity.
- the feed means 2 comprise at least a fixed bottom wall 12 delimiting at least part of a bottom side of the feed space.
- a transfer device 200 of known type
- stop elements 4 may differ in number and/or location, provided always that they perform the same function of controlling the release of the end blank 100 to be picked up by the transfer device 200.
- At least one stop element 4a for blocking the feed movement of the stack P and positioned preferably in such a way as to intercept and block a lower part of the stack P, hence located at a position such that it is positioned upstream (or on the leading edge) of the end blank 100 along the trajectory of the transfer device 200.
- the stop element 4a may be fixed.
- an additional stop element (not illustrated), preferably fixed, positioned in such a way as to intercept and block an upper part of the stack P.
- the feed means 2 also comprise at least one compensating belt 6 having an upper section 7 running parallel to the feed direction A of the stack P of blanks 100 and defining a bottom support of a predefined portion of the stack of blanks 100 so that the predefined portion of the stack P rests, preferably rests exclusively on, the upper section 7 of the compensating belt 6.
- the "predefined portion" of the stack P refers to the part of the stack P positioned on top of the upper section 7 of the compensating belt 6 and whose length, along the feed direction A, is constant over time.
- the operating section 7 of the compensating belt 6 has a length L of between 20 and 40 cm (for example, 27 cm) along the feed direction A and/or ends at a distance d of between 10 and 15 cm (for example, 13 cm) from the end blank 100.
- the upper section 7 of the compensating belt 6 is raised above the fixed bottom wall 12, so that the blanks 100 are not in sliding contact with the bottom wall 12 as they advance and are not therefore slowed by friction with the bottom wall 12.
- the operating section 7 of the compensating belt 6 lies in a plane (horizontal in the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings but in any case preferably parallel to the bottom wall 12) is preferably at a height between 0.2 and 2 mm (for example, 0.5 mm) above the bottom wall 12.
- the compensating belt 6 is a suction belt connected to a source of pneumatic suction (not illustrated).
- the compensating belt 6 is provided with a plurality of through holes 8 configured to transmit the pneumatic suction and disposed along a feed direction A of the belt 6.
- the holes are between 4 and 15 mm (for example, 8 mm) in diameter.
- the holes 8) are disposed along one or more rows parallel to the feed direction A of the compensating belt 6.
- the holes 8 are disposed along two rows parallel to the feed direction A, where the holes 8 of the first row are not completely aligned with the holes 8 of the second row, so that all the blanks 100 resting on the compensating belt 6 are subjected to suction.
- the compensating belt 6 (which may be a toothed belt) is driven by a respective drive pulley 9, connected to a respective drive unit, not illustrated. Further, the compensating belt 6 is preferably made of a non-porous flexible material, specifically rubber or elastomeric material. Alternatively, the compensating belt 6 may be made of porous material, with or without the holes 8.
- the device 1 further comprises, under the upper section 7 of the compensating belt 6, a suction support panel 10 configured in such a way that each hole 8 of the upper section 7 of the compensating belt 6 remains connected to the pneumatic suction source as the compensating belt 6 advances.
- the upper section 7 of the compensating belt 6 may be disposed in sliding support relationship on the support panel 10.
- the support panel 10 is flat and is provided with at least one elongate recess 11 connected to the pneumatic suction source and aligned with a feed trajectory of the holes 8 so it is simultaneously connected to a plurality of holes 8.
- connection of the recess 11 to the suction source may be accomplished by providing the recess 11 with respective suction ports 11a, or holes, connected at the bottom to the pneumatic suction source.
- the suction ports 11a are disposed in succession along the feed direction A, at a different spacing compared to the holes 8 of the compensating belt 6, specifically at a smaller spacing ( Figure 4 ).
- the support panel 10 may have two or more elongate recesses 11 which, in that case, are separated from each other by a separating wall 11b whose size, along the feed direction A, is smaller than the diameter of the holes 8 of the compensating belt 6.
- the device 1 comprises two compensating belts 6 running side by side and disposed symmetrically about a longitudinal feed plane (perpendicular to the blanks) of the stack P of blanks 100.
- the compensating belt 6 is associated with adjustment means configured to adjust the feed speed of the compensating belt 6 in such a way as to vary the pushing action on the stop element 4a.
- the adjustment means comprise at least one thrust sensor (not illustrated) associated with the at least one stop element 4a and a control unit configured to vary the feed speed of the compensating belt 6, specifically by feedback, as a function of the thrust value measured by the at least one thrust sensor.
- the control unit is preferably configured to keep the thrust value of the stack P of blanks 100 on the at least one stop element 4a constant, specifically at a predetermined or settable value.
- the thrust sensor comprises, for example, an analogue sensor or a load cell, applied on at least one of the stop elements 4, 4a.
- the thrust sensor is applied on at least on stop element: for example, the bottom one (preferred). Where the feed direction A is horizontal, however, it is preferable for each stop element 4, 4a to be associated with a respective thrust sensor.
- one or more compensating belts 6, as described above, allows ensuring that the pushing action applied in the feed direction by the stack P of blanks 100 on the end blank 100 is kept constant at an optimum value, compensating for any variations over time on account of the stack P getting shorter or longer: for example, when a new bundle of blanks 100 is added.
- the device 1 preferably comprises a support surface 16 which is configured to support the stack P of blanks 100 and above which there is a levelling device 13, configured and/or disposed to operate on a portion of the stack P of blanks 100 resting on the support surface 16 to push the single blanks 100 against the support surface 16 and aligns them with each other.
- the configuration of the levelling device 13 is selected between a belt (embodiment shown in Figure 1 ), a roller or a fixed (elastically deformable) baffle.
- the device 1 further comprises, between the compensating belt 6 and the stop element 4, 4a, at least one aligning belt 14 disposed and/or configured to come into local contact with an outfeed end stretch P2 of the stack P of blanks 100 and in such a way as to ensure that each blank 100 of the outfeed end stretch P2 is progressively aligned with a positioning plane, specifically by localized acceleration or deceleration performed by the aligning belt 14 on the blanks of the outfeed end stretch P2.
- the aligning belt 14 has the effect of locally deforming the blanks 100 of the outfeed end stretch P2, specifically through local acceleration or deceleration performed by the aligning belt 14 so as to bring forward the rearmost zones of the blanks or to hold back the frontmost portions, thus causing the blanks 100 to gradually adopt a shape as planar as possible in a plane perpendicular to the feed direction of the stack P ( Figure 5 ).
- the aligning belt 14 has a respective drive device (not illustrated: a motor-driven pulley, for example) and is fed at a higher or lower speed than the feed speed of the stack P of blanks 100. Further, this feed speed is different, hence higher or lower, than the feed speed of the compensating belt 6.
- the purpose of the aligning belt 14 is to come into contact with a perimeter portion of each blank 100 of the outfeed end stretch P2 of the stack P of blanks 100 so as to bring forward or hold back the perimeter portion relative to the rest of the blank 100 in order to reduce or eliminate curvatures or bulges in the blanks 100.
- the blanks 100 of the outfeed end stretch P2 of the stack P of blanks 100 bulge forward - that is to say, have a backward facing concavity, where the lateral edges lag behind - the aligning belt 14 could compensate for the bulge by locally accelerating the lagging edge, thereby varying the positioning plane of the blank 100 so as to give the blank a "flatter” shape.
- a backward bulge - that is to say, a blank 100 with a forward facing concavity, where the lateral edges are at the front - can be reduced or eliminated by slowing the aligning belt 14 that is in contact with the edges at the front.
- the aligning belt 14 may be disposed below and/or beside the blanks 100 relative to their feed direction A and, in some cases, above them.
- This configuration can advantageously serve to reduce or eliminate forward facing bulges of the blanks 100, specifically curvatures of the blanks about a substantially vertical axis (having the shape of a C in the plan view of Figure 2 ).
- the aligning belts 14 are in contact with lagging (laterally outermost) portions of the bottom edge of the blanks 100 and accelerating these portions would make the blanks 100 at the outfeed end P2 of the stack P adopt a flatter shape which makes them easier to be picked up by the transfer device 200.
- the aligning belts 14 are preferably positioned under the stack of blanks and their respective upper sections 15 are parallel, preferably coplanar, with the upper sections 7 of the compensating belts 6.
- the lateral aligning belt has a lateral operating section positioned parallel to the feed direction A of the stack P of blanks 100 and defining a lateral support for the end portion P2, so that the latter laterally abuts the lateral operating section of the aligning belt to support it, preferably to exclusively support it.
- aligning belts 14 are advantageous in the case of blanks 100 made of recycled or thin card material which tend to bend, hence bulge, more easily, whilst the use of a single aligning belt 14 is recommended in the case of material of non-uniform thickness (for example, a stack of blanks with labels on them, hence thicker where the labels are).
- the aligning belt 14 may act on a respective side or perimeter portion of the blanks 100 which the stop element 4 does not act on.
- the aligning belt 14 and the stop element 4 act on respective, different sides or perimeter portions of the blanks 100, so as not to interfere with each other.
- the aligning belt 14 and the stop element 4 may act on the same sides or perimeter portions of the blanks 100.
- the operating section (in contact with the blanks 100, specifically at the bottom, side, or top thereof) of the aligning belt 14 has a length I of between 15 and 45 mm (for example, 30 mm) and terminates preferably at the end blank 100 or in the proximity thereof.
- the aligning belt 14 acts on a different stretch or section of the stack P of blanks 100 than the compensating belt 6, specifically further downstream thereof.
- the compensating and aligning actions do not interfere with each other but take place at different positions and instants.
- the aligning belt 14 and the compensating belt 6 might be partly opposite to each other in the direction orthogonal to the feed direction A. In that case, a part of the blanks might be subjected simultaneously to the compensating and aligning action.
- the aligning belt 14 is made of flexible, preferably non-porous material, specifically rubber or elastomeric material, and may be a toothed belt.
- the aligning belt 14 may have a porous and/or perforated configuration to act as a suction belt or, alternatively, it may be a non-suction belt acting on the blanks 100 only by friction.
- the feed speed of the aligning belt 14 may be adjusted by feedback as a function of the shape of the blanks (detected, for example, by sensors, optical sensors, for example) or, alternatively, it may be kept constant at a predetermined or presettable value.
- the thrust sensor detects the instantaneous pushing action applied by the stack P on the respective stop element 4 and sends a corresponding signal to the control unit which, based on the value transmitted with the signal, instantaneously corrects the feed speed of the compensating belt 6 by actuating the drive unit of the belt 6 accordingly.
- the control unit may compare the value of the pushing action measured and a predetermined or presettable reference value and, based on the comparison, determines the extent of the corrective action to be applied to the feed speed of the compensating belt 6.
- the blanks of the end stretch P2 of the stack P are operated on by the aligning belt 14 which is, for example, set to a feed value determined as a function of the corrective action to be applied on the shape of the blanks 100, specifically to locally vary the speed of a peripheral zone of the blanks 100 of the end stretch P2, in such a way as to locally deform the blanks 100, varying the geometry of the positioning plane to compensate the curvature or bulging of the blanks.
- the feed speed of the aligning belt 14 is thus selected in such a way that it is greater than or less than the feed speed of the stack P of blanks 100.
- the aligning action might be accomplished not by one or more aligning belts but by one or more generic aligning means configured to locally accelerate or decelerate a peripheral zone of the blanks 100.
- the aligning means might be an aligning wheel or roller whose axis is transverse or perpendicular to the feed direction A of the stack P of blanks.
- the present invention achieves the preset aims, overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art.
- the action of the compensating belts allows keeping constant the thrust applied by the stack of blanks on the end blank (hence on the stop element), ensuring the optimum conditions for the transfer device to pick up the blanks.
- the suction applied by the compensating belt allows removing the air between the blanks above, which are thus made to adhere more closely to each other to form a compact block of blanks.
- This compact block, held by the suction of the compensating belt also acts as a "screen" against the variable pushing action of the trailing end of the stack of blanks, thereby making the pushing action applied on the end blank (hence on the stop element) even more uniform.
- the action of the aligning belts allows stabilizing the shape of the blanks in the proximity of the transfer device (making them flatter), thereby increasing the reliability with which the single blanks at the end of the stack are picked up.
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Description
- This invention relates to a device and a method for feeding blanks to a machine for further processing.
- More specifically, the invention addresses the field of the processing of blanks - for example (but not necessarily) of paper - for example in the sector of the production of packets, where blanks of rigid or semi-rigid material are folded and welded or glued to form packets for containing articles. By way of non-limiting example, the context of this invention is the production of packets of rod-shaped articles such as cigarettes or the like. The prior art teaches feeding blanks in a stack where the blanks, which are planar shaped, are superposed on each other to define a succession of blanks whose large surfaces are in mutual contact.
- The stack of blanks is fed to a guide channel where the stack is progressively advanced so that the blank at the end of it in the outfeed direction is presented to a pickup device which transfers it for further processing, such as, for example, folding processes.
- In this context, it is known from document
DE10350623 that discloses the preamble ofclaims - It is also known, from
US2007/052154 , a paper sheet delivery unit which conveys a stack of sheets along a conveying direction at the end of which an extracting device is located, and wherein the stack is supported onto adjusting belts operated to push the foremost sheets with a differential pressure so as to enter in contact with different pressures and with inclined arrangement at two front rollers of the extracting device. - It is further known from
EP2497728 a paper sheet take-out apparatus with return belts arranged at the bottom of the sheets at the outfeed region and operated depending on the stack density at the outfeed region detected by a stack-density sensor. - To ensure that the stack moves "naturally" in the direction of the pickup device, the stack may be inserted in an inclined or vertical guide channel along which it is pushed by gravity or it may be urged towards the pickup device by suitable pushing elements, such as elastic elements, for example. At the outfeed end of the guide channel, there is at least one movable stop element configured to hold back the end blank or to release it to enable it to be picked up by the pickup device.
- As the blanks at the end of the stack are picked up one by one, the height of the stack is reduced, making it necessary to top up with more blanks, usually by periodically adding a bundle of new blanks.
- Disadvantageously, it has been noticed that the axial thrust applied by the stack of blanks - under its own weight, for example - creates a tendency to produce unwanted curvatures ("bulges") in the stack itself, especially in the blanks at the leading end of the stack, directed towards the pickup device. The curvature is all the more accentuated in the case of blanks made of recycled cardboard, whose fibres are oriented in random directions, thus reducing the flexural rigidity of the blanks, or in the case of blanks having one surface that is stiffer than the one opposite to it (for example, blanks with labels pre-applied on them. This may negatively affect the operation by which the blank is picked up, in particular because it is impossible to guarantee a precise pickup action on account of the unpredictable extent and geometry of the curvature. This leads to the risk of a blank failing to be picked up or of unwanted interference between the pickup device and the blank, leading to tearing or damage to the blank.
- This invention therefore has for an aim to provide a device and a method for feeding blanks to a machine for further processing and capable of attaining high standards of process reliability.
- The technical purpose indicated and the aim specified are substantially achieved by a device and a method for feeding blanks to a machine for further processing according to the appended claims.
- Further features and advantages are more apparent in the non-limiting description which follows a device and a method for feeding blanks to a machine for further processing, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
- -
Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a device according to this invention; - -
Figure 2 shows a schematic plan view of the device ofFigure 1 , with the stack of blanks omitted to illustrate normally hidden parts; - -
Figure 3 is an enlarged detail from the view ofFigure 1 ; - -
Figure 4 is an enlarged detail from the view ofFigure 2 , showing also the hidden lines; - -
Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of a portion of the device ofFigure 1 in an operating configuration. - The
numeral 1 in the accompanying drawings denotes in its entirety a device for feedingblanks 100 to a machine for further processing. The expression "machine for further processing" is used to mean a generic machine (not illustrated because it is of known type) configured to receive single blanks one after the other in succession and to subject them to further processes, such as, for example: folding, gluing, printing, application of additional elements (such as stamps, coupons, labels or generic stickers) or even to transfer the blanks to storage units. By way of example, in the context of rod-shaped articles, specifically of the tobacco industry, such a machine might be a cigarette packing machine and thedevice 1 configured to feed the cardboard blanks intended to make hinge-lid packets. - The
device 1 comprises feed means 2 for feeding a stack P ofblanks 100 disposed in succession in a superposed configuration, for example defining a feed space for feeding the stack P ofblanks 100 along a feed direction A. In the accompanying drawings, the feed direction A is horizontal and theblanks 100 of the stack P can be pushed towards anoutfeed section 3 by a generic mechanical pushing element (not illustrated), for example elastic, adapted to generate a force F directed towards theoutfeed section 3. In this configuration, theblanks 100 are positioned in a vertical or substantially vertical plane. In an embodiment not illustrated, however, the feed direction A may be inclined at an angle to the horizontal plane, preferably an acute angle between 1° and 30°. In such a case, the stack P ofblanks 100 is pushed towards theoutfeed section 3 at least partly by gravity. - As represented schematically in
Figures 1 and2 , the feed means 2 comprise at least afixed bottom wall 12 delimiting at least part of a bottom side of the feed space. - At the outfeed
section 3, there is at least one movable stop element 4 (of known type) disposed at a first end P1 of the stack (P) ofblanks 100 and configured to allow or prevent picking up the front end blank from the stack P by a transfer device 200 (of known type) acting in conjunction with the feed means 2 to pick upsingle blanks 100 from the first end P1 of the stack P and to transfer thesingle blanks 100 to a machine for further processing. - In the embodiment illustrated, there are two movable stop elements 4 for each side of the stack P, applied on the
same support 5 and operating respectively on an upper zone and a lower zone of the same lateral edge of the end blank 100. - In the context of this invention, however, the stop elements 4 may differ in number and/or location, provided always that they perform the same function of controlling the release of the end blank 100 to be picked up by the
transfer device 200. - In addition or alternatively to the movable stop elements 4 at the
outfeed section 3, there may also be provided at least onestop element 4a for blocking the feed movement of the stack P and positioned preferably in such a way as to intercept and block a lower part of the stack P, hence located at a position such that it is positioned upstream (or on the leading edge) of the end blank 100 along the trajectory of thetransfer device 200. Thestop element 4a may be fixed. - There may also be an additional stop element (not illustrated), preferably fixed, positioned in such a way as to intercept and block an upper part of the stack P.
- Since the number of
blanks 100 in the stack P varies over time as thetransfer device 200 picks them up, the height of the stack P (in the feed direction) varies, thus varying the amount of the force F applied by the pushing device and/or by gravity in the direction of thestop element 4a. The force F, therefore, is not constant during the operation of thedevice 1. The feed means 2 also comprise at least onecompensating belt 6 having anupper section 7 running parallel to the feed direction A of the stack P ofblanks 100 and defining a bottom support of a predefined portion of the stack ofblanks 100 so that the predefined portion of the stack P rests, preferably rests exclusively on, theupper section 7 of thecompensating belt 6. - More specifically, the "predefined portion" of the stack P refers to the part of the stack P positioned on top of the
upper section 7 of thecompensating belt 6 and whose length, along the feed direction A, is constant over time. - Preferably, the
operating section 7 of thecompensating belt 6 has a length L of between 20 and 40 cm (for example, 27 cm) along the feed direction A and/or ends at a distance d of between 10 and 15 cm (for example, 13 cm) from the end blank 100. - The
upper section 7 of thecompensating belt 6 is raised above thefixed bottom wall 12, so that theblanks 100 are not in sliding contact with thebottom wall 12 as they advance and are not therefore slowed by friction with thebottom wall 12. - More specifically, the
operating section 7 of thecompensating belt 6 lies in a plane (horizontal in the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings but in any case preferably parallel to the bottom wall 12) is preferably at a height between 0.2 and 2 mm (for example, 0.5 mm) above thebottom wall 12. - Further, the compensating
belt 6 is a suction belt connected to a source of pneumatic suction (not illustrated). In a preferred embodiment, the compensatingbelt 6 is provided with a plurality of throughholes 8 configured to transmit the pneumatic suction and disposed along a feed direction A of thebelt 6. Preferably, the holes are between 4 and 15 mm (for example, 8 mm) in diameter. - In an embodiment, the holes 8) are disposed along one or more rows parallel to the feed direction A of the compensating
belt 6. In particular, in a preferred embodiment, theholes 8 are disposed along two rows parallel to the feed direction A, where theholes 8 of the first row are not completely aligned with theholes 8 of the second row, so that all theblanks 100 resting on the compensatingbelt 6 are subjected to suction. - The compensating belt 6 (which may be a toothed belt) is driven by a
respective drive pulley 9, connected to a respective drive unit, not illustrated. Further, the compensatingbelt 6 is preferably made of a non-porous flexible material, specifically rubber or elastomeric material. Alternatively, the compensatingbelt 6 may be made of porous material, with or without theholes 8. - As shown in
Figure 3 , thedevice 1 further comprises, under theupper section 7 of the compensatingbelt 6, asuction support panel 10 configured in such a way that eachhole 8 of theupper section 7 of the compensatingbelt 6 remains connected to the pneumatic suction source as the compensatingbelt 6 advances. Theupper section 7 of the compensatingbelt 6 may be disposed in sliding support relationship on thesupport panel 10. - The
support panel 10 is flat and is provided with at least oneelongate recess 11 connected to the pneumatic suction source and aligned with a feed trajectory of theholes 8 so it is simultaneously connected to a plurality ofholes 8. - The connection of the
recess 11 to the suction source may be accomplished by providing therecess 11 withrespective suction ports 11a, or holes, connected at the bottom to the pneumatic suction source. Preferably, thesuction ports 11a are disposed in succession along the feed direction A, at a different spacing compared to theholes 8 of the compensatingbelt 6, specifically at a smaller spacing (Figure 4 ). - More in detail, the
support panel 10 may have two or moreelongate recesses 11 which, in that case, are separated from each other by a separatingwall 11b whose size, along the feed direction A, is smaller than the diameter of theholes 8 of the compensatingbelt 6. - In the embodiment illustrated, as shows in
Figure 2 , thedevice 1 comprises twocompensating belts 6 running side by side and disposed symmetrically about a longitudinal feed plane (perpendicular to the blanks) of the stack P ofblanks 100. In other embodiments not illustrated, there may be only one compensating belt, disposed in a central or laterally offset position, or more than two compensating belts running side by side perpendicularly to the feed direction A. - Advantageously, the compensating
belt 6 is associated with adjustment means configured to adjust the feed speed of the compensatingbelt 6 in such a way as to vary the pushing action on thestop element 4a. - More specifically, the adjustment means comprise at least one thrust sensor (not illustrated) associated with the at least one
stop element 4a and a control unit configured to vary the feed speed of the compensatingbelt 6, specifically by feedback, as a function of the thrust value measured by the at least one thrust sensor. - The control unit is preferably configured to keep the thrust value of the stack P of
blanks 100 on the at least onestop element 4a constant, specifically at a predetermined or settable value. - The thrust sensor comprises, for example, an analogue sensor or a load cell, applied on at least one of the
stop elements 4, 4a. In the case of two ormore stop elements 4, 4a for each side, as inFigure 1 , the thrust sensor is applied on at least on stop element: for example, the bottom one (preferred). Where the feed direction A is horizontal, however, it is preferable for eachstop element 4, 4a to be associated with a respective thrust sensor. - The use of one or more compensating
belts 6, as described above, allows ensuring that the pushing action applied in the feed direction by the stack P ofblanks 100 on theend blank 100 is kept constant at an optimum value, compensating for any variations over time on account of the stack P getting shorter or longer: for example, when a new bundle ofblanks 100 is added. - Upstream of the compensating
belt 6, thedevice 1 preferably comprises asupport surface 16 which is configured to support the stack P ofblanks 100 and above which there is a levellingdevice 13, configured and/or disposed to operate on a portion of the stack P ofblanks 100 resting on thesupport surface 16 to push thesingle blanks 100 against thesupport surface 16 and aligns them with each other. Preferably, the configuration of the levellingdevice 13 is selected between a belt (embodiment shown inFigure 1 ), a roller or a fixed (elastically deformable) baffle. - The
device 1 further comprises, between the compensatingbelt 6 and thestop element 4, 4a, at least one aligningbelt 14 disposed and/or configured to come into local contact with an outfeed end stretch P2 of the stack P ofblanks 100 and in such a way as to ensure that each blank 100 of the outfeed end stretch P2 is progressively aligned with a positioning plane, specifically by localized acceleration or deceleration performed by the aligningbelt 14 on the blanks of the outfeed end stretch P2. That way, the aligningbelt 14 has the effect of locally deforming theblanks 100 of the outfeed end stretch P2, specifically through local acceleration or deceleration performed by the aligningbelt 14 so as to bring forward the rearmost zones of the blanks or to hold back the frontmost portions, thus causing theblanks 100 to gradually adopt a shape as planar as possible in a plane perpendicular to the feed direction of the stack P (Figure 5 ). - More in detail, the aligning
belt 14 has a respective drive device (not illustrated: a motor-driven pulley, for example) and is fed at a higher or lower speed than the feed speed of the stack P ofblanks 100. Further, this feed speed is different, hence higher or lower, than the feed speed of the compensatingbelt 6. - In effect, the purpose of the aligning
belt 14 is to come into contact with a perimeter portion of each blank 100 of the outfeed end stretch P2 of the stack P ofblanks 100 so as to bring forward or hold back the perimeter portion relative to the rest of the blank 100 in order to reduce or eliminate curvatures or bulges in theblanks 100. - For example, where the
blanks 100 of the outfeed end stretch P2 of the stack P ofblanks 100 bulge forward - that is to say, have a backward facing concavity, where the lateral edges lag behind - the aligningbelt 14 could compensate for the bulge by locally accelerating the lagging edge, thereby varying the positioning plane of the blank 100 so as to give the blank a "flatter" shape. Conversely, a backward bulge - that is to say, a blank 100 with a forward facing concavity, where the lateral edges are at the front - can be reduced or eliminated by slowing the aligningbelt 14 that is in contact with the edges at the front. - For this purpose, the aligning
belt 14 may be disposed below and/or beside theblanks 100 relative to their feed direction A and, in some cases, above them. - In the embodiment illustrated, there are two aligning
belts 14 alongside each other, on opposite sides relative to the feed direction A, preferably further apart than the two compensatingbelts 6 so they are positioned on the "outer" sides of the compensatingbelts 6. - This configuration, shown in
Figure 5 , can advantageously serve to reduce or eliminate forward facing bulges of theblanks 100, specifically curvatures of the blanks about a substantially vertical axis (having the shape of a C in the plan view ofFigure 2 ). In effect, the aligningbelts 14 are in contact with lagging (laterally outermost) portions of the bottom edge of theblanks 100 and accelerating these portions would make theblanks 100 at the outfeed end P2 of the stack P adopt a flatter shape which makes them easier to be picked up by thetransfer device 200. - Moreover, in the configuration of
Figure 2 , as also shown inFigure 1 , the aligningbelts 14 are preferably positioned under the stack of blanks and their respectiveupper sections 15 are parallel, preferably coplanar, with theupper sections 7 of the compensatingbelts 6. - Alternatively, in embodiments not illustrated, there may be (in addition or instead of one or more bottom aligning belts) one or more lateral aligning belts, mounted in such a way as to act on respective lateral portions of the outfeed end section P2 of the stack P of
blanks 100. This makes it possible to locally accelerate or "brake" one or more corresponding lateral edges of theblanks 100. In such a situation, the lateral aligning belt has a lateral operating section positioned parallel to the feed direction A of the stack P ofblanks 100 and defining a lateral support for the end portion P2, so that the latter laterally abuts the lateral operating section of the aligning belt to support it, preferably to exclusively support it. More specifically, it has been noted that the use of two or more aligningbelts 14 is advantageous in the case ofblanks 100 made of recycled or thin card material which tend to bend, hence bulge, more easily, whilst the use of a single aligningbelt 14 is recommended in the case of material of non-uniform thickness (for example, a stack of blanks with labels on them, hence thicker where the labels are). The aligningbelt 14 may act on a respective side or perimeter portion of theblanks 100 which the stop element 4 does not act on. In other words, the aligningbelt 14 and the stop element 4 act on respective, different sides or perimeter portions of theblanks 100, so as not to interfere with each other. Alternatively, the aligningbelt 14 and the stop element 4 may act on the same sides or perimeter portions of theblanks 100. - Irrespective of the position of the aligning
belt 14, the operating section (in contact with theblanks 100, specifically at the bottom, side, or top thereof) of the aligningbelt 14 has a length I of between 15 and 45 mm (for example, 30 mm) and terminates preferably at the end blank 100 or in the proximity thereof. - Preferably, also, the aligning
belt 14 acts on a different stretch or section of the stack P ofblanks 100 than the compensatingbelt 6, specifically further downstream thereof. The compensating and aligning actions do not interfere with each other but take place at different positions and instants. Alternatively, the aligningbelt 14 and the compensatingbelt 6 might be partly opposite to each other in the direction orthogonal to the feed direction A. In that case, a part of the blanks might be subjected simultaneously to the compensating and aligning action. - In a preferred embodiment, the aligning
belt 14 is made of flexible, preferably non-porous material, specifically rubber or elastomeric material, and may be a toothed belt. - Further, the aligning
belt 14 may have a porous and/or perforated configuration to act as a suction belt or, alternatively, it may be a non-suction belt acting on theblanks 100 only by friction. - The feed speed of the aligning
belt 14 may be adjusted by feedback as a function of the shape of the blanks (detected, for example, by sensors, optical sensors, for example) or, alternatively, it may be kept constant at a predetermined or presettable value. - In use, as the stack P of
blanks 100 advances, the thrust sensor detects the instantaneous pushing action applied by the stack P on the respective stop element 4 and sends a corresponding signal to the control unit which, based on the value transmitted with the signal, instantaneously corrects the feed speed of the compensatingbelt 6 by actuating the drive unit of thebelt 6 accordingly. More specifically, the control unit may compare the value of the pushing action measured and a predetermined or presettable reference value and, based on the comparison, determines the extent of the corrective action to be applied to the feed speed of the compensatingbelt 6. - At the same time, the blanks of the end stretch P2 of the stack P are operated on by the aligning
belt 14 which is, for example, set to a feed value determined as a function of the corrective action to be applied on the shape of theblanks 100, specifically to locally vary the speed of a peripheral zone of theblanks 100 of the end stretch P2, in such a way as to locally deform theblanks 100, varying the geometry of the positioning plane to compensate the curvature or bulging of the blanks. The feed speed of the aligningbelt 14 is thus selected in such a way that it is greater than or less than the feed speed of the stack P ofblanks 100. By way of an example, the aligning action might be accomplished not by one or more aligning belts but by one or more generic aligning means configured to locally accelerate or decelerate a peripheral zone of theblanks 100. For example, a different embodiment of the aligning means might be an aligning wheel or roller whose axis is transverse or perpendicular to the feed direction A of the stack P of blanks. - The present invention achieves the preset aims, overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art.
- In effect, the action of the compensating belts allows keeping constant the thrust applied by the stack of blanks on the end blank (hence on the stop element), ensuring the optimum conditions for the transfer device to pick up the blanks. Moreover, the suction applied by the compensating belt allows removing the air between the blanks above, which are thus made to adhere more closely to each other to form a compact block of blanks. This compact block, held by the suction of the compensating belt, also acts as a "screen" against the variable pushing action of the trailing end of the stack of blanks, thereby making the pushing action applied on the end blank (hence on the stop element) even more uniform.
- Moreover, the action of the aligning belts allows stabilizing the shape of the blanks in the proximity of the transfer device (making them flatter), thereby increasing the reliability with which the single blanks at the end of the stack are picked up.
Claims (17)
- A device for feeding blanks (100) to a machine for further processing in particular to a packing machine, comprising:- feed means (2) for feeding a stack (P) of blanks (100) disposed in succession in a superposed configuration;- at least one stop element (4, 4a) disposed at a first end (P1) of the stack (P) of blanks (100) and configured to retain the stack (P) of blanks (100);wherein the feed means (2) are configured to feed the stack (P) of blanks (100) in such a way that the stack (P) of blanks (100) is subjected to a pushing action (F) in the direction of the at least one stop element (4, 4a), in particular by gravity and/or by means of a pushing member applied to a second end of the stack, opposite to the first end; wherein the feed means (2) further comprise at least one aligning element (14) operating on an outfeed end stretch (P2) of the stack (P) of blanks (100),characterized in that the aligning element (14) is configured to come into local contact with the blanks (100) of the outfeed end stretch (P2) in such a way as to locally deform the blanks (100) of the outfeed end stretch (P2) so as to bring forward the rearmost zones of the blanks (100) or to hold back the frontmost portions of the blanks (100), thus causing the blanks (100) to gradually adopt a shape as planar as possible in a plane perpendicular to the feed direction of the stack (P) and in such a way as to ensure that each blank (100) of the outfeed end stretch (P2) is progressively aligned with a positioning plane, specifically by localized acceleration or deceleration performed by the aligning element (14).
- The device according to claim 1, wherein the aligning element (14) has at least one movable portion designed to come into contact with the blanks (100) of the outfeed end stretch (P2) and having a speed component along a feed direction of the stack (P), and wherein the aligning belt (14) is associated with a respective motor configured to move the movable portion of the aligning element (14) at a higher or lower speed than the stack (P) of blanks (100).
- The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the aligning element (14) comprises an aligning belt (14) having an upper operating section (15) running parallel to the feed direction (A) of the stack (P) of blanks (100) and defining a bottom support of the outfeed end stretch (P2) of the stack (P) of blanks (100) in such a way that the outfeed end stretch (P2) rests, preferably rests exclusively on, the upper operating section (15) of the aligning belt (14).
- The device according to claim 3, comprising two aligning belts (14) running side by side, preferably a pair of aligning belts (14) disposed symmetrically about a longitudinal feed plane of the stack (P) of blanks (100) and, in particular, whose respective upper operating sections (15) are coplanar with each other.
- The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one aligning element (14) comprises at least one aligning belt having a lateral operating section running parallel to the feed direction of the stack (P) of blanks (100) and defining a lateral support of the outfeed end stretch (P2) of the stack (P) of blanks (100) in such a way that the outfeed end stretch (P2) laterally abuts, preferably exclusively, against the lateral operating section of the aligning belt (14).
- The device according to claim 5, comprising two aligning belts (14) disposed laterally opposite and/or facing each other, preferably a pair of aligning belts (14) disposed symmetrically about a longitudinal feed plane of the stack (P) of blanks (100).
- The device according to one or more of the claims 3 to 6, wherein the operating section (15) of the aligning belt (14) has a length of between 15 and 45 cm and ends preferably at the end blank (100).
- The device according to one or more of claims 3 to 7, wherein the aligning belt (14) is a belt made of a flexible, preferably non-porous material, specifically rubber or elastomeric material.
- The device according to one or more of claims 3 to 8, wherein the aligning belt (14) is a suction belt.
- The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one compensating belt (6) disposed upstream of the at least one aligning element (14) and having at least one operating section (7) running parallel to the feed direction (A) of the stack (P) of blanks (100) and defining a bottom support of a predefined portion of the stack (P) of blanks (100) so that the predefined portion of the stack (P) of blanks (100) rests, preferably rests exclusively on, the operating section (7) of the at least one compensating belt (6), wherein the compensating belt (6) is a suction belt connected to a pneumatic suction source and is associated with adjustment means configured to adjust the feed speed of the compensating belt (6) in such a way as to vary the thrust on the at least one stop element (4, 4a).
- The device according to claim 10, wherein the adjustment means comprise at least one thrust sensor associated with the at least one stop element (4, 4a) and a control unit configured to vary the feed speed of the compensating belt (6), specifically by feedback, as a function of the thrust value measured by the at least one thrust sensor.
- The device according to claim 10 or 11, comprising a pair of compensating belts (6) running side by side and preferably disposed symmetrically about a longitudinal feed plane of the stack (P) of blanks (100).
- The device according to one or more of claims 10 to 12, wherein the at least one aligning element (14) is configured and/or disposed to operate on a respective portion of the stack (P) of blanks (100) laterally further out than the at least one feed belt (6) relative to a longitudinal feed plane of the stack (P) of blanks (100).
- The device according to one or more of claims 10 to 13, wherein the at least one aligning element (14) and the at least one feed belt (6) operate on, or are in contact with, distinct stretches of the stack (P) of blanks (100).
- A method for feeding blanks to a machine for further processing, in particular to a packing machine, and preferably using a device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a step of:- feeding a stack (P) of blanks (100) disposed in succession in a superposed configuration along a feed direction (A) towards a stop element (4, 4a);wherein the stack (P) of blanks (100) is subjected to a pushing action (F) in the direction of the at least one stop element (4, 4a), in particular by gravity and/or by means of a pushing member applied to a second end of the stack (P) of blanks (100), opposite to the first end (P1); wherein it comprises a step of placing the blanks (100) of an outfeed end stretch (P2) of the stack (P) of blanks (100) in contact with an aligning element (14) configured to come into local contact with the blanks (100) of the outfeed end stretch (P2),characterized in that the aligning element (14) is operated in such a way to locally deform the blanks (100) of the outfeed end stretch (P2) so as to bring forward the rearmost zones of the blanks (100) or to hold back the frontmost portions of the blanks (100), thus causing the blanks (100) to gradually adopt a shape as planar as possible in a plane perpendicular to the feed direction of the stack (P) and in such a way as to ensure that each blank (100) of the outfeed end stretch (P2) is progressively aligned with a positioning plane, specifically by localized acceleration or deceleration performed by the aligning element (14).
- The method according to claim 15, wherein the aligning element (14) has at least one movable portion designed to come into contact with the blanks (100) of the outfeed end stretch (P2) and having a speed component along a feed direction of the stack (P), and wherein the movable portion of the aligning element (14) is fed at a feed speed that is higher or lower speed than the feed speed of the stack (P) of blanks (100).
- The method according to claim 16, wherein the higher or lower speed is selected as a function of a convex or concave shape of the blanks (100) and is implemented in such a way as to reduce or eliminate the convexity or concavity of the blanks (100) placed in contact with the aligning element (14).
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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IT201900008115 | 2019-06-05 |
Publications (2)
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EP3747809A1 EP3747809A1 (en) | 2020-12-09 |
EP3747809B1 true EP3747809B1 (en) | 2023-11-08 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP20177980.8A Active EP3747809B1 (en) | 2019-06-05 | 2020-06-03 | Device and method for feeding blanks to a machine for further processing |
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EP (1) | EP3747809B1 (en) |
PL (1) | PL3747809T3 (en) |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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IT1304035B1 (en) * | 1998-07-15 | 2001-03-02 | Gd Spa | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE FEEDING OF BLINDS IN A PACKAGING MACHINE. |
DE10350623B3 (en) * | 2003-10-30 | 2005-04-14 | Siemens Ag | Mail item separation device has transport section between mail stack input region and at least one separation region with coordinated control of conveyor drives for transport stage and separation stage |
JP4468272B2 (en) * | 2005-09-07 | 2010-05-26 | 株式会社東芝 | Paper sheet take-out device |
JP2012188274A (en) * | 2011-03-11 | 2012-10-04 | Toshiba Corp | Paper sheet take-out device |
-
2020
- 2020-06-03 EP EP20177980.8A patent/EP3747809B1/en active Active
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PL3747809T3 (en) | 2024-05-06 |
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