EP4724364A1 - Apparatus for the automatic loading of tubular articles - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus for the automatic loading of tubular articles in a machine using said articles comprises a spindle (10) associated with a support frame (11) according to a substantially horizontal axis (A) and adapted to support a plurality of articles (2) approached one another along the same spindle (10). Thrust means (20) are configured to cause the stepwise advancement of said articles (2) along said spindle.

Description

Description

APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC LOADING OF TUBULAR ARTICLES

Technical field

[01] The present invention relates to an apparatus for the automatic loading of tubular articles in a machine using said articles.

Prior art

[02] It is currently known, in various technical sectors, the use of automatic machines that use tubular articles, such as for example reels of strip material, for manufacturing or packaging articles. The operation of these automatic machines presupposes replacing the materials in use, at the time when the material has been completely used up. Depending on the type of production, this operation can be required with relative frequency.

[03] By way of example, apparatuses have been developed capable of automatically changing reels of strip material, without interrupting the normal operating cycle of the machine. These apparatuses essentially provide for joining the tail of the used up reel with a head flap of a new reel. The operator in charge must therefore periodically supply the apparatus with one or more new reels of strip material; the apparatus then automatically performs the change when the reel being used completely runs out.

[04] Patent application IT 102021000031487 in the name of the Applicant illustrates an apparatus that allows to automatically operate the change of reels of strip material in a machine using said strip material.

[05] A specific need that arises in the sector considered is to make the loading of the reels on the user machine faster. In some production sectors, in fact, a single reel of strip material can run out in a few minutes and therefore the reel change must be repeated with great frequency. In particular, it is required that the reels be loaded onto the machine without damaging the strip material, which is sometimes very thin. Ultimately, there is a felt need to equip the machines using strip materials with a reel loading system that allows to highly automate the steps of replenishment of the reels of strip material to the machine.

Disclosure

[06] The task of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems, by devising an apparatus that allows to optimally operate the automatic loading of tubular articles in machines that use such tubular articles for manufacturing or packaging articles.

[07] Within this task, a further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the automatic loading of tubular articles that ensures the achievement of a high production speed.

[08] Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the automatic loading of tubular articles that preserves the integrity of the material used.

[09] A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the automatic loading of tubular articles that is of simple constructive and functional design, provided with reliable operation, versatile use, as well as relatively inexpensive cost.

[10] The aforementioned objects are achieved, according to the present invention, by the apparatus for the automatic loading of tubular articles according to claim 1 .

[11] According to an embodiment of the invention, said tubular articles consist of reels of strip material.

[12] In particular, said tubular articles axially have a cylindrical hole.

[13] The apparatus for the automatic loading of tubular articles in a machine using said articles comprises a spindle associated with a support frame according to a substantially horizontal axis and adapted to support a plurality of tubular articles approached one another along the same spindle.

[14] Thrust means are configured to cause the stepwise advancement of said tubular articles along said spindle.

[15] Advantageously, said spindle comprises a cylindrical shaft fixed to said support frame; a tubular element mounted coaxial and freely rotatable on said cylindrical shaft; a plurality of transfer elements distributed circularly, in regularly spaced positions, around said tubular element and adapted to engage said tubular articles.

[16] Preferably, said transfer elements protrude radially from said tubular element at least for a stretch along an upper semicircle thereof, whilst they do not protrude radially from the tubular element at least for a stretch along a lower semicircle thereof, so that the transfer elements themselves come into contact with a respective cylindrical hole of the tubular articles only along a portion at the stretch along the lower semicircle where they protrude radially, wherein the upper semicircle and the lower semicircle of the tubular element are separated by a medial plane arranged substantially horizontal and passing through the axis of said spindle.

[17] Preferably said transfer elements are rods.

[18] Preferably said rods are respectively housed in corresponding grooves made longitudinally on the surface of said tubular element.

[19] Preferably, said support frame has an upright that extends from support feet and carries at least one said spindle in a cantilevered manner.

[20] According to the present invention, said thrust means are associated with said rods to operate the alternating axial translation of the rods themselves along said tubular element so as to cause the stepwise advancement of said tubular articles along said spindle.

[21] According to one aspect of the present invention said thrust means comprise abutment means of said rods extending on an oblique plane with respect to the axis of said spindle. [22] Preferably said abutment means are arranged substantially at the rear end of said spindle.

[23] Preferably said abutment means comprise rolling means extending on said oblique plane with respect to the axis of said spindle.

[24] Advantageously, said rolling means comprise a bearing having an inner ring that is locked, with a suitably adjustable inclination, on a connection member constrained to said cylindrical shaft and an outer ring to which said rods are constrained rearwardly.

[25] According to another aspect of the invention, said tubular articles are mounted with play on said spindle so that the axial cylindrical hole of the same tubular articles is in contact with said rods arranged in the upper part of the tubular element and is instead spaced from the rods arranged in the lower part.

[26] Preferably said rods are mounted slidable along corresponding grooves made longitudinally on the surface of said tubular element of the spindle.

[27] Preferably, said rods are adapted to protrude in turn, in the step of loading said tubular articles, in front of said tubular element of the spindle.

[28] Preferably, said support frame has an upright configured to carry said spindle in a cantilevered manner.

[29] The present invention also concerns a system for the automatic loading of tubular articles in a machine using said tubular articles comprising said loading apparatus in combination with an apparatus for the automatic change of said tubular articles on said machine, having a coupling member adapted to receive a single tubular article from said loading apparatus.

[30] Advantageously, said tubular element of the spindle has at the front end a mouth adapted to be engaged, in use, by said coupling member of the apparatus for the automatic change of said tubular articles, said coupling member being adapted to be rotatably driven so as to bring into rotation, with respect to said cylindrical shaft, the same tubular element bearing said rods slidable.

[31] Preferably said tubular element extends frontally for a stretch configured to move forward the free end of said cylindrical shaft so as to define said mouth adapted to be engaged, in use, by said coupling member.

Description of the drawings

[32] The details of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for the automatic loading of tubular articles in a machine using said tubular articles, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus for the automatic loading of tubular articles according to the present invention; figure 1a shows an enlarged detail of the apparatus illustrated in figure 1 ; figures 2 and 3 respectively show a front view and a sectional view according to a horizontal plane of the apparatus in question; figure 2a shows an enlarged detail of the apparatus illustrated in figure 2; figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 respectively show said longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus in question in different steps of loading the tubular articles on an automatic machine that uses said tubular articles for production purposes.

Description of embodiments of the invention

[33] With particular reference to these figures, the apparatus for the automatic loading of tubular articles 2 to be fed to an automatic machine that uses said tubular articles for production purposes is indicated as a whole with 1.

[34] By way of non-limiting example, in the following description reference has been made to an embodiment of the invention, in which said tubular articles are made up of reels of strip material. However, what has been described, in a non-limiting manner, is applicable to the automatic loading of tubular articles of any kind, in particular axially having a cylindrical hole.

[35] The apparatus 1 comprises a spindle 10 associated with a support frame 11 according to a substantially horizontal axis A. The spindle 10 is adapted to support a plurality of reels 2 of strip material, approached one another along the same spindle 10.

[36] The support frame 11 has an upright 12 that extends from a pair of support feet 13 and carries said spindle 10 in a cantilevered manner. In the illustrated case, the support frame 11 carries a pair of spindles 10 arranged with parallel axes on a horizontal plane. Obviously it is possible to provide that a single support frame 11 carries a different number of spindles 10, differently placed.

The spindle 10 comprises a cylindrical shaft 14 of tubular shape that is made integral with the support frame 11 , according to said horizontal axis A, by means of a suitable attachment member 15. A tubular element 16 is coaxially mounted on the cylindrical shaft 14. The tubular element 16 is freely rotatable on the cylindrical shaft 14 by means of suitable rolling members 17.

[37] It should be noted that the tubular element 16 extends frontally for a stretch beyond the free end of the cylindrical shaft 14 so as to define a mouth 18 adapted to be engaged, in use, by a coupling member 30 of an apparatus 3 for changing the reels of strip material in said automatic machine. As specified below, the coupling member 30 is adapted to be rotatably driven so as to bring into rotation, with respect to said cylindrical shaft 14, the same tubular element 16.

[38] According to the present invention, the apparatus 1 comprises thrust means 20 configured to cause the stepwise advancement of the reels 2 of strip material along said spindle 10.

[39] Said thrust means 20 are associated with a plurality of parallel transfer elements 21 , distributed on the cylindrical outer surface of said tubular element 16 and arranged in positions regularly spaced from each other. Preferably said transfer elements are rods.

[40] In particular, said rods 21 are respectively housed in corresponding grooves made longitudinally on the surface of the tubular element 16.

[41] The rods 21 are adapted to engage the reels 2 of strip material inserted on the spindle 10. More in particular, as more precisely described below, the rods 21 are adapted to abut, for a portion, the inner surface of the tube 22 of the reels 2 of strip material.

[42] The rods 21 are mounted slidable along the tubular element 16 of the spindle 10. In particular, the rods 21 are adapted to protrude in turn, in the step of loading the reels 2, in front of the tubular element 16 of the spindle 10.

[43] More specifically, the transfer elements 21 protrude radially from the tubular element 16 at least for a stretch along an upper semicircle TH thereof, whilst they do not protrude radially from the tubular element 16 at least for a stretch along a lower semicircle BH thereof, so that the transfer elements 21 come into contact with a respective cylindrical hole 22 of the tubular articles 2 only along a portion at the stretch along the lower semicircle BH where they protrude radially, wherein the upper semicircle TH and the lower semicircle BH of the tubular element 16 are separated by a median plane MP arranged substantially horizontal and passing through the axis A of said spindle 10 (see fig. 2a).

[44] According to one aspect of the present invention, said thrust means 20 comprise abutment means 23 extending on an oblique plane B with respect to the axis A of the spindle 10, substantially at the rear end of the same spindle 10 (see fig. 1a). Preferably, said abutment means 23 consist of rolling means comprising a bearing having an inner ring that is locked, with a suitably adjustable inclination, on a connection member 24 constrained to the cylindrical shaft 14 and an outer ring to which the rods 21 are constrained rearwardly.

[45] Obviously, it is possible to provide that said abutment means are made differently, for example by means of any surface extending on an oblique plane with respect to the axis A of the spindle 10, in particular having a circumferential shape.

[46] The operation of the apparatus for the automatic loading of tubular articles of strip material can be easily understood from the following description.

[47] The loading apparatus in question allows to arrange a plurality of tubular articles, in the illustrated case consisting of reels 2 of strip material, at the automatic machine that uses this strip material. The apparatus bearing the reels of strip material is appropriately transported to the workstation by means of an automatic guided vehicle, of the type commonly known as AGV.

[48] Obviously, the number of reels to be arranged is commensurate with the needs of the machine, in particular its operating speed and consequently the frequency with which the change of the reels themselves is required. Therefore, it is possible to provide for the arrangement of a plurality of the apparatuses in question, also arranged, for example, on a special framing.

[49] In use, the loading apparatus in question is configured to cooperate with an apparatus for the automatic change of tubular articles, in the illustrated case consisting of reels of strip material, on the machine using such tubular articles. Advantageously, the apparatus for the automatic change of reels of strip material is of the type described in patent application IT 102021000031487 which is fully referred to herein.

[50] The apparatus for the automatic change of reels of strip material comprises a coupling member 30 adapted to receive a single reel 2 to be fed to the user machine. The coupling member 30 is adapted to be rotatably driven by special motor members. The coupling member 30 consists essentially of a cylindrical hub 31 on which the sleeve 22 of the reel 2 of strip material is adapted to engage.

[51] To operate the loading of the reels, the coupling member 30 is arranged in axial alignment with the spindle 10 of the loading apparatus (see figure 4). The coupling member 30 is then approached and engaged within the mouth 18 of the spindle 10 (see figure 5).

[52] The coupling member 30 is then set in rotation in order to bring into rotation the tubular element 16 of the spindle 10 bearing the rods 21. The rods 21 are therefore obliged to follow the alternating movement impressed by the thrust means 20.

[53] In particular, during the half-turn in which the hooking point of the rods 21 to the upper ring of the bearing runs, on the oblique lying plane of the bearing, the advancement trajectory, the rods 21 advance in the direction of the front end of the spindle 10. In the subsequent half-turn, the rods 21 instead perform the ascent movement.

[54] It should be noted that the axial cylindrical hole of the articles, in the illustrated case consisting of the sleeve 22 of the reels 2, has an appropriate clearance p with respect to the spindle 10. Therefore, this sleeve 22 is in contact with the rods 21 arranged in the upper part of the tubular element 16, whilst it is spaced apart from the rods 21 arranged in the lower part. Consequently, in the advancement step of the rods 21 along the spindle 10, the rods 21 themselves shift forward by one step the reels 2 arranged on the spindle 10 itself; whilst in the return travel, the rods 21 do not interact with the same reels 2. In this way, the reel 2 arranged at the front end of the spindle 10 is transferred onto the hub 31 of the coupling member 30 (see figure 6).

[55] After loading the reel 2, the coupling member 30 is retracted and the same reel 2 is suitably moved into the working position on the machine (see figure 7).

[56] In practice, the advancement of the set of reels 2 on the spindle 10 allows the transfer from time to time of a single reel 2 on the coupling member 30.

[57] Obviously, reversing the direction of rotation imposed by the coupling member 30 to the tubular element 16 of the spindle 10 also reverses the direction of advancement of the reels 2 on the same spindle. In this way, the described apparatus is also able to operate the withdrawal of the reels from an outer member.

[58] The described apparatus achieves the purpose of optimally operating the automatic loading of tubular articles, for example reels of strip material, in machines that use such articles for manufacturing or packaging articles.

[59] In particular, the apparatus for the automatic loading of tubular articles according to the present invention allows to ensure the machine a high production speed.

[60] It should be noted that the apparatus in question allows the tubular articles to be transferred to the machine while constantly keeping the axis of the articles themselves in a horizontal position. In this way, the integrity of the strip material is better preserved.

[61] Another prerogative of the invention is constituted by the fact that the apparatus in question is connected to the apparatus for changing the tubular articles, from which in particular it receives motion. This makes the apparatus particularly simple and ultimately relatively inexpensive.

[62] The apparatus described by way of example is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations according to different needs.

[63] In the practical implementation of the invention, the materials employed, as well as the shape and sizes, may be any according to requirements.

[64] Where technical features mentioned in each claim are followed by reference marks, such reference marks have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the understanding of the claims and consequently they do not have any limiting value on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference marks.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the automatic loading of tubular articles in a machine using said tubular articles, said apparatus comprising

- a spindle (10) associated with a support frame (11) at a rear end and extending along a substantially horizontal axis (A), said spindle being configured to support a plurality of tubular articles (2) approached one another along the same spindle (10); and

- thrust means (20) configured to cause the stepwise advancement of said tubular articles (2) along said spindle, characterized in that said spindle (10) comprises

- a cylindrical shaft (14) fixed to said support frame (11 );

- a tubular element (16) mounted coaxial and freely rotatable on said cylindrical shaft (14); and

- transfer elements (21) circumferentially distributed on board the cylindrical shaft (14) and configured to engage said tubular articles (2); said thrust means (20) being associated with said transfer elements (21 ) to operate their axial translation along said tubular element (16), so as to cause the stepwise advancement of said tubular articles (2) along said spindle (10).

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said transfer elements (21 ) comprise a plurality of rods (21 ) distributed circularly, in regularly spaced positions and mounted axially slidable along corresponding grooves made longitudinally on the surface of said tubular element (16) of the spindle (10).

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein said thrust means (20) comprise abutment means (23) of said transfer elements (21 ) and extend on an oblique plane (B) with respect to the axis (A) of said spindle (10), substantially at the rear end of the same spindle (10).

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said abutment means comprise rolling means (23) extending on said oblique plane with respect to the axis (A) of said spindle (10).

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said rolling means (23) comprise a bearing having an inner ring which is constrained to said cylindrical shaft (14) and an outer ring to which said transfer elements (21) are constrained rearwardly.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said bearing is mounted on a connection member (24) so as to be able to adjust its inclination with respect to the axis (A) of the spindle (10).

7. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said transfer elements (21) protrude radially from the tubular element (16) at least for a stretch along an upper semicircle (TH) thereof, whilst they do not protrude radially from the tubular element (16) at least for a stretch along a lower semicircle (BH) thereof, so that the transfer elements (21 ) come into contact with a respective cylindrical hole (22) of the tubular articles (2) only along a portion at the stretch along the lower semicircle (BH) in which they protrude radially, wherein the upper semicircle (TH) and the lower semicircle (BH) of the tubular element (16) are separated by a median plane (MP) arranged substantially horizontal and passing through the axis (A) of said spindle (10).

8. A system for the automatic loading of tubular articles (2) in a machine using said articles (2), characterized in that it comprises a loading apparatus (1 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims in combination with an apparatus (3) for the automatic change of said tubular articles (2), said apparatus (3) for the automatic change of said tubular articles (2) being configured to receive a single tubular article (2) at a time from said loading apparatus (1).

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said tubular element (16) of the spindle (10) extends beyond the free end of the cylindrical shaft (14) so as to define a mouth (18) configured to be engaged, in use, by a coupling member (30) of the apparatus (3) for the automatic change of said tubular articles (2), said coupling member (30) being configured to be rotatably driven and to bring into rotation, with respect to said cylindrical shaft (14), the tubular element (16) bearing said transfer elements (21 ) slidable.

10. A method for the automatic loading of tubular articles in a machine using said articles (2), comprising the steps of:

- arranging a spindle (10) of an apparatus (1) for the automatic loading of tubular articles (2), said spindle (10) extending along a substantially horizontal axis (A) and comprising a cylindrical shaft (14) fixed to a frame (11) at a rear end and a tubular element (16) mounted coaxial and freely rotatable on said cylindrical shaft (14);

- fitting a plurality of tubular articles (2) approached one another along said spindle (10);

- transferring a tubular article (2) at a time from the spindle (10) to an apparatus (3) for automatic change by means of transfer elements (21); characterized in that in the step of transferring said tubular article (2), said apparatus (3) for automatic change is hooked to a free end of the tubular element (16) of the spindle (10) and sets it in rotation, the rotation of the tubular element (16) in turn driving the axial movement of said transfer elements (21) to transfer the tubular article (2) onto the apparatus (3) for automatic change.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said transfer elements (21 ) are mounted on board the tubular element (16) and rotate with it while they are driven with axial movement.

12. The method of claim 10 or 11 , wherein the axial movement of said transfer elements (21 ) is obtained by thrust means (20) interposed between the fixed cylindrical shaft (14) and said transfer elements (21) to operate the alternating axial translation of said transfer elements (21) along said tubular element (16) so as to cause a stepwise advancement of said tubular articles (2) along said spindle (10).

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said thrust means (20) comprise a bearing (23) arranged on a plane inclined (B) with respect to the axis (A) of the spindle (10), said bearing (23) having a fixed inner ring and an outer ring constrained behind said transfer elements (21).

14. The method of any one of claims 10-13, wherein in the transferring step, at least one of said transfer elements (21) radially engages said tubular articles (2).

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said transfer elements (21 ) protrude radially from the tubular element (16) at least for a stretch along an upper semicircle (TH) thereof, whilst they do not protrude radially from the tubular element (16) at least for a stretch along a lower semicircle (BH) thereof, so that the transfer elements (21) come into contact with a cylindrical hole (22) of the tubular articles (2) only along said at least a stretch of the upper semicircle (TH) of the tubular element (16).