ES2681961B1 - Device and procedure for the transport of flexible sheets - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Device and procedure for the transport of flexible sheets

Technical sector of the invention

The device and method for transporting flexible sheets of the present invention is one that allows the transport of flexible sheets of those used in the graphic arts sector or packaging industry, between different handling stations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the graphic arts or packaging industry it is usual to have to transport flexible sheets, for example between a feeding station and a printing station or between a rotary mill and a stacking station. The rotary milling machine formats materials initially wound in a coil and, therefore, flexible in the longitudinal direction, so that, after the sheets are cut in the transverse direction, they must be transported to be subsequently stacked or manipulated. These flexible sheets are made of materials such as paper, cardboard, plastic or the like, and particularly of single-sided corrugated cardboard, consisting of two papers, one smooth or "liner1" and one corrugated or "fining".

It is important that the transport takes place in a controlled manner so that the position of the sheets is well in the stacking station or other handling stations, such as a printing station, and that they do not roll up on themselves during transport by the lack of rigidity in its longitudinal sense that at the same time is the sense of transport, instead of staying flat.

For the transport of sheets, devices such as that described in patent document EP0363662 are known. This document presents a device provided with a set of drive rollers combined with an air extractor to transport sufficiently rigid elements, such as double-sided or double / double corrugated cardboard sheets, in a suspended manner.

However, when the elements to be transported are not sufficiently rigid, as when these elements are flexible sheets, the device described in this document does not allow the transport of these flexible sheets at high speeds, since the air currents are generated during the transport of each flexible sheet can separate the sheet of the device, initially bending its front edge and finally separating the sheet of the device, causing the sheet to move out of the longitudinal direction of transport and be arranged to obstruct the passage of other sheets . This situation requires that an operator has to intervene to remove the sheet that obstructs the passage, being necessary to stop the transport device, with the corresponding loss of time.

A solution to this drawback would be to increase the force exerted by the air extractor in order to achieve that the sheets were more glued to the driving rollers. However, since the flexible sheets would be risk of damaging them during transport due to the action of the rollers on the sheet, in addition the sheets would brake when rubbing against the plate through which the rollers protrude.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for the transport of flexible sheets that allows to transport flexible sheets at a higher speed without damaging them.

Explanation of the invention

The device for transporting flexible sheets of the present invention is one of those combining mobile support means on which a sheet may be applied and which are adapted to move the sheet in a direction of travel, preferably straight and preferably horizontal; and suction means for keeping the sheet applied against the support means.

In essence, the device is characterized in that the support means are configured so that a sheet applied against the support means assumes a cambered shape in a plane transverse to the direction of travel, which may be, for example, grooved or tile-shaped. Naturally, the warped shape can be both convex and concave, as well as be undulated, presenting convex sections and concave sections, advantageously allowing the sheet to be moved keeping the warped shape thus increasing the resistance to bending of its front part and supporting higher accelerations and speeds without separating from the device and without being damaged.

In a variant embodiment, the warped shape has a curve whose relation between the string and the sagite is less than 100, that is, they fit 100 sagittas or less in the string, of so that the variation of trajectory of the curve is sufficiently high so that the sheet is sufficiently warped so as to achieve a resistance to bending in the direction of transport.

In another variant of embodiment, the warped shape has a curve whose relation between the string and the sagittal is greater than 10, that is to say, 10 sagittas or more can fit in the string, so that the variation of the trajectory of the curve is sufficiently low so that the foil can sag sufficiently but without getting damaged.

Preferably, it is provided that the cambered shape has a curve whose relation between the cord and the sagite is less than 100 and greater than 10, that is to say that they fit between 10 and 100 sagittas in the cord, so as to confer good resistance to the sheets to bend in the longitudinal direction of transport without damaging them.

In a variant of interest, the cambered form has a curve whose sagit is greater than 20 millimeters, said form being suitable for the transport of flexible cardboard sheets in warped or corrugated form.

In a variant of interest, the mobile support means comprise drive axes parallel to each other, perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sheets and which follow a curved path in the plane transverse to the direction of movement of the sheets, said axes being provided with wheels. Said wheels determine a transport surface of the sheets through which the sheets can be transported when pushed by the wheels. Each drive shaft can be independently driven by a motor, thus controlling the speed of rotation of each axis so as to accelerate and slow the blades by gradually increasing or decreasing the speed of rotation of consecutive axes as appropriate. This speed control can be controlled by a computer through which instructions are sent to the different motors that drive the axles, as well as other means of support, such as a conveyor belt.

According to a variant embodiment, the curved path that each drive axis follows in its transverse plane to the direction of travel of the sheets is equal to the curve of the transport surface in that same transverse plane.

In a variant embodiment, the drive shafts comprise straight sections whose ends they are connected to rotating transmission parts coupled to both sides of the same wheel, thus allowing the rotation of all the wheels of an axle, thus enabling the transmission to be transmitted to all the wheels of the same axle.

In a variant of interest, the wheels are provided with lateral recesses for coupling the turning transmission parts that allow the rotation of the section to be transmitted to the wheel and the wheel transmits the rotation to the next section through its part. transmission.

In a variant embodiment, the profile of the transmission parts of rotation and of the recesses of the wheels is complementary, being in a variant of interest the complementary profile a complementary toothed profile.

It is also known that in a variant embodiment the wheels are made of a material that is more flexible than the rotary transmission parts, thus allowing consecutive straight sections to vary the trajectory of the axis when slightly deforming the turning transmission parts. incoming wheels. To achieve this effect, in a variant of interest the wheels are expected to be made of polyurethane or any other flexible material.

In a variant embodiment, the device further comprises means for ejecting defective sheets disposed between the axes, so that when said ejection means is operated by an operator, push a defective sheet to remove it from the device. It is pointed out that by slightly separating the sheet from the device, it will detach, allowing it to fall into a reject container disposed under the ejection means. These means of ejection means will preferably be retractable, that is to say, they can hide inside the device and can comprise a pneumatic piston that when operated allows to quickly push the sheet out of the device and remove the ejection means, thus removing only the defective sheet and avoiding that the rest of the sheets, that would not present defects, be expelled.

In another variant embodiment, the support means in the direction of travel comprise a conveyor belt, which allows a better control of the sheets, especially for braking and positioning with precision.

It is also known that the device can comprise an acceleration section in which the mobile support means comprise drive axes parallel to each other, perpendicular to the direction of movement of sheets and following a curved path in the plane transverse to the direction of movement of the sheets, said axes being provided with wheels, and a final section in which the support means comprise a conveyor belt, In this way, in the acceleration section, the blades can increase and decrease their speed as the different drive axes are activated keeping the blades fixed to the device and in the final section the blades can be controlled better, fastened more firmly and even released by deactivating in this final section the suction means, for example for stacking.

Even when the device described above comprises an acceleration section in which the mobile support means comprise drive axes parallel to each other, perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sheets, said axes being provided with wheels, and a final section in which the means of support comprise a conveyor belt, a sufficient transport of the sheets could be achieved even if these were not warped, that is, they would be transported flat, although in this case speeds and accelerations as high as when transporting warps would not be supported. Naturally, the devices described above could also be considered in which the movable support means on which a sheet can be applied and which are adapted to move the sheet in a direction of movement, are configured so that a sheet applied against the means of support will adopt a flat shape in a plane transverse to the direction of travel, although speeds and accelerations as high as when combats are transported would not be supported.

The device of the present invention thus makes it possible to carry out a method for transporting flexible sheets comprising applying a flexible sheet against mobile support means which are adapted to move the sheet in a direction of movement; and maintaining the sheet against the support means by suction means, so that the flexible sheet adopts a warped shape in a plane transverse to the direction of travel, that is, the process for transporting flexible sheets comprises warping the sheets in a plane transverse to the direction of travel, thus giving greater resistance to bending the sheets at the front during transport and allowing the sheets to be transported at higher speeds and accelerations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to facilitate the understanding the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to the present specification in which, with illustrative and non-limiting character, the following has been represented:

Fig. 1a presents a bottom view of a variant embodiment of the device of the present invention;

Fig. 1b presents a sectional view in a transverse plane of the device of Fig. 1a; Fig. 2 presents a diagram of the section in a transverse plane of the device;

Fig. 3a presents a sectional view in a transverse plane of another variant embodiment of the device of the present invention;

Fig. 3b presents a detail of the sectional view of Fig. 3a;

Fig. 4 presents a sectional view of the wheels of the device of Figs. 3a and 3b in a lacing correlative position;

Fig. 5 presents a perspective view of the wheels of Figs. 3a and 3b in a lacing correlative position;

Fig. 6a presents a bottom view of another variant embodiment of the device of the present invention;

Fig. 6b presents a sectional view in a transverse plane of the device of Fig. 6a; Fig. 6c presents a side view of the device of Fig. 6a;

Fig. 7 presents a system incorporating the device of the present invention between a rotary mill and a stacking station;

Figs. 8a, 8b and 8c present the curvature of the sheets of the device of Fig. 7 in different sections;

Fig. 9 presents another system incorporating the device of the present invention between a stacking station and a printing station; Y

Fig. 10 presents another system incorporating the device of the present invention between a stacking station and a battery distribution station.

Detailed description of the drawings

Figs. 1a and 1b presents a bottom view and in section of a first variant embodiment of the device 1 for the transport of flexible sheets 2 of the present invention which has movable support means 3 on which a sheet 2 can be applied and which are adapted to move the sheet in a direction of travel, to transport a sheet 2 or a succession of sheets 2 between different stations. As illustrated and as will be seen later, the sheets 2 will be transported preferably suspended or hung from the device 1, that is to say, arranged between the device 1 and the ground, allowing an operator to better visualize the transport of sheets from the ground.

As can be seen, the mobile support means 3 are wheels 8 arranged on axes 7 which allow the sheets 2 to be pushed during transport. Between the axes 7 and the sheets 2 a plate 18 is arranged, so that the wheels 8 pass through the plate 19 through windows 20 conveniently made in the plate 19 that allow the wheels 18 to protrude and push the sheets 2 into the direction of transport, as illustrated in Fig. 1. It is provided that the same plate 19 has perforations 21 through which air can be sucked, so that a suction means 5, which can be formed by one or more extractors 22 of air, allow the sheets 2 to be applied against the support means 3, that is, against the wheels 8. The plate 18 also has ejection means 24 of defective sheets 2, which when being driven, preferably by means of a piston a tire that would be activated, for example, when an operator detects a defective sheet 2, protrudes from the plate 18 causing the sheet 2 to be removed from the device 1.

As can be seen, the mobile support means 3 comprise driving axes 7 parallel to each other, perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sheets 2 and following a curved path in the plane transverse to the direction of movement of the sheets 2, said axes provided with wheels 8 that determine the sheet transport surface 4. It is envisaged that each axis 7 is driven by an independent motor and can rotate at different speed, so as to be able to vary the transport speed of the sheets 2, accelerating or braking the sheets 2 so that they can move at greater or lesser speed and separating or coming together without increasing the velocity causing the sheets 2 to separate from the device 1 and clog the passage of other sheets 2. In this way, it is also possible to sufficiently separate the sheets 2 between handling stations of the sheets 2 in which the sheets 2 have to arrive distanced for their correct processing.

As can be seen, the path traveled by each driving axis 7 in its plane transverse to the direction of movement of the sheets 2 is equal to the curve 6 of the transport surface in that same transverse plane, so that all the wheels 8 of the same axis 7, which will have the same radius, turn at the same angular velocity and will propel the sheet 2 at the same speed along the entire axis 7 conferring the curved shape 6 to the sheet 2.

Advantageously, the movable support means 3 are configured so that the sheets 2 applied against the support means 3 adopt a cambered or grooved shape in a plane transverse to the direction of displacement, that is, they adopt a tile shape that confers to the 2 sheets greater resistance to bending on the front when they are transported at high speeds between different stations, without damaging them. The sheets 2 will preferably maintain an essentially straight shape in a longitudinal plane to the direction of travel, so that they do not offer resistance to their transport.

Therefore, it can be considered that the support means 3 determine a surface 4 for the transport of sheets 2 which in turn has a cambered or grooved shape, the section of this transport surface 4 determining in a plane transverse to the direction of displacement of the sheets 2 a curve 6, which can be both convex and concave or even a combination between convex and concave portions forming a ripple. Of course, as a sheet 2 is arranged on the transport surface 4 by the effect of the suction means 5, it will assume the same shape as the surface 4.

It is envisaged that the support means 3 may be discrete, such as the set of wheels 8 presented in Figs. 1a and 1b whose ends would determine the transport surface 4, as continuous, as a conveyor belt 12 that allows the passage of air therethrough and which would determine the transport surface 4, such as a perforated belt or a net or mesh, for example, a metal mesh, as will be described later. As further observed in Figs. 1a and 1b, the perforations 21 in the plate 19 are distributed between the wheels 8 of the support means 3, thus achieving that the force exerted by the suction means 5 is well distributed along the axis 7.

As can be seen in Fig. 1b, in order to get the sheets to assume the warped shape, the support means 3 are arranged in such a way that the transport surface 4 determines a curve 6 which will be the shape that the sheets 2 will adopt during his transport. In order to ensure that the sheets 2 have sufficient resistance to frontal bending during transport, it is foreseen that the curved shape adopted by a curve 6 whose relation between the rope c and the sagitta s is less than 100, that is, the distance of the rope c be 100 times or less the distance of the sagita s, in other words, that they fit 100 sagitas or less in the rope. As can be seen, this same curved shape 6 will be presented both by the support means 3, for example the axes 7 will follow the same curve 6, as the plate 19.

Although it is envisaged that the sheets 2 are flexible, it is convenient that the sheets 2 do not assume a shape that is too warped since they could be damaged. To avoid damaging, especially when the sheets 2 are made of cardboard, it is convenient that the warped shape has a curve 6 whose relation between the rope c and the sagittal s is greater than 10, that is, the distance of the rope c is 10 times or more the distance of the sagita s, in other words, that they fit 10 sagitas or more in the rope. Usually, it is envisaged that the warped shape has a curve 6 whose sagite s is greater than 20 millimeters, so that the device 1 is especially suitable for the transport of flexible sheets 2 of standard size.

Fig. 3 presents a cross-sectional view of a device 1 according to the present invention together with a detail of the device 1 in which it can be seen how the mobile support means 3 and the aspiration means 5 are combined. observe, the driving axes 7 are mounted through supports 23 of the plate 19 and comprise straight sections 9 whose ends are connected to rotating transmission parts 10 coupled on both sides of the same wheel 8, the wheels 8 being provided with recesses 11 laterals for the coupling of the rotary transmission parts 10, so that the axis 7 is curved. This curvature of the axle 7 is achieved by slightly deforming by pressure the rotating transmission parts 10 the wheels 8, which are provided to be more flexible than the rotary transmission parts 10, such as polyurethane. The rotating transmission parts 10 of the wheels are provided to be of a more rigid material, such as polyethylene, polyoxymethylene, other plastics or even of a metallic material or also of any other material more rigid than the material of the recesses 11 of the wheels 8. It is envisaged that the deformation exerted by the rotary transmission parts 10 on the wheels 8 will allow consecutive straight sections 9 to rotate by approximately 0.5 degrees, so that the rotation of the straight sections 10 is transmitted correctly to the wheels 8. It is also envisaged that the rotary transmission parts 10 can fit into the lateral recesses 11 of the wheels 8 so that the rotary transmission parts 10 can move axially within each recess 11, alternately in the inward and outward direction. of the wheel 8, during the rotation of the axle 7. Naturally, it is envisaged that not all the wheel 8 is made of this flexible material, but could be sufficient if only e the area of the entrants 11 outside this flexible material.

It is envisaged that the suction means 5 incorporate an extractor 22 that exerts a suction effect through the perforations 21 of the plate 19 that allow to maintain the sheet 2 against the support means 3. Naturally, it is also provided that the means of aspiration 5 are formed by different extractors, so that the aspiration can be controlled in

one

different sections of the device 1, allowing for example releasing the sheet 2 at the end of its transport. It is provided that when the support means 3 are provided with wheels 8, and the plate 19 is provided with windows 20 through which the wheels 8 pass, it is possible that the plate 19 does not need perforations 21 if the suction exerted by the suction means 5 through the windows 21 was sufficient.

As illustrated above, it is achieved that the sheets 2 can be transported suspended, the support means 3 being movable, such as wheels 8, which, when rotating, allow the sheets 2 to be moved along a transport surface 4, which upon adopting a curved or tile form, advantageously allowing the flexible sheets 2 to be moved at higher speeds than if the sheets 2 were flat, preventing them from separating from the device 1.

Fig. 4 presents a detailed view of the section of the wheels 8 of the device 1 of Fig. 3 in correlative position of fitting with straight segments 9 of the axis 7. As can be seen, the ends of the straight sections 9 are provided with a threaded pin 14 that will pass through a hole 15 in each rotary transmission part 10 in which a nut 13 is secured, so that the straight section 9 is firmly attached to the rotary transmission part 10, thus achieving by rotating the shaft 7, each straight section 9 rotates the rotary transmission parts 10 attached to their ends. The rotary transmission parts 10 are adapted to fit and be coupled in the lateral recesses 11 arranged on both sides of the same wheel 8, so that a straight section 9 that is driven by a motor transmits the rotation to the rest of straight sections. 9 through the respective wheels 8. As described above, it is envisaged that the material around the lateral recesses 11 be flexible and allow successive straight sections 9 to be slightly inclined to each other when yielding this material around the recesses laterally, but allowing the rotation to be correctly transmitted both to the wheel 8 and to the next straight section 9 of the axle 7. Naturally it is provided that the fastening of the straight sections 9 to the rotary transmission parts 10 can be carried out in other alternative ways. which secure the fixing of the straight sections 9 to the rotating transmission parts 10, such as a slotted shaft, a conical shaft or even an integral shaft during the molding process of the rotating transmission part 10, among others.

As can best be seen in the perspective view presented in FIG. 5, the profile of the rotary transmission parts 10 and of the recesses 11 of the wheels 8 is complementary, so that the rotation of the straight sections 9 can be transmitted to wheel 8 and this can transmitting it to the next straight section 9 via the rotary transmission parts 10. A particularly advantageous shape of the profile of the rotary transmission parts 10 and of the recesses 11 of the wheels 8 is a complementary toothed profile, such and as illustrated in Fig. 5 and also presented in the previous Figures 3 and 4, although it was not evident from the presented sectional views. However, other complementary profiles that allow the rotation to be transmitted correctly could be used, such as geometric shapes or other irregular shapes that allow the fitting between the rotating transmission parts 10 and the recesses 11 of the wheels 8 and the transmission of the rotation of the axle 7. It is also emphasized that the profiles of the recesses 11 of the wheels 8 shown are the same and have a cogwheel on both sides, so that it is possible to use identical turning transmission parts 10, one of the recesses 11 being rotated with respect to the other.

Fig 6a presents another variant embodiment of the device 1 in which the support means 3 comprise a conveyor belt 12, such as a conveyor belt that allows the passage of air, so that the suction means 5 allow the sheet to remain applied against the conveyor belt 12 and can move on the transport surface 4, which in this case coincides with the conveyor belt 12. Unlike the previous variants in which the support means 3 were formed by different axes 7 that could rotate at different speed, in the variant shown in Fig. 6a the conveyor belt 12 will advance at the same speed, it being impossible to accelerate sheets to separate them from each other by means of a single device 1. One option to solve this drawback would be to arrange different devices 1 in series, so that the conveyor belt 12 of each device 1 has a higher or lower speed than the previous one, as it is also expected that the conveyor belt 12 is formed by different longitudinal belts, for example 10 longitudinal belts of 40 mm each, provided with flexible, homokinetic couplings, between them, so that they restrain the warped shape and the drag of all of them can be done by means of a single motor.

Naturally, the sectional view of the variant of Fig. 6a in which the support means 3 comprises a conveyor belt 12 will also present the curved section that allows the sheets 2 to be transported in the form of a tile, so as to allow reaching higher speeds without damaging the sheets 2, in the same way as described above, the suction means 5 being adapted to exert a suction force that maintains the sheet 2 against the conveyor belt 12.

As illustrated in Fig. 6c, the conveyor belt 12, which can be a belt or any other transport surface that allows the passage of air, such as a mesh or grid, can be operated by a single motor.

Naturally, it is envisaged that the support means 3 may have different sections, that is to say that some sections of the support means 3 are formed by axes 7 provided with wheels 8, so that the speed of each axis 7 can be controlled in a manner independent to separate or join sheets 2 consecutive, for example in an acceleration section T1 and other sections are formed by conveyor belt 12, so that although the speed of the conveyor belt 12 is the same, you can use a single motor to drive the tape, for example in a final section T2 as illustrated below.

Fig. 7 presents a system formed by a device 1 of the present invention for transporting sheets 2 between a rotary ream 16 and a stacking station 17. The rotary ream 16 is adapted to format materials initially wound on a reel and therefore , flexible in the longitudinal direction by cutting sheets 2 from the material previously wound in the coil in its transverse direction.

The rotary mill 16 provides one by one the flexible sheets 2 to the device 1, although initially they can be flat on the supporting means 3, as indicated by the section A illustrated in FIG. 8a, progressively the supporting means 3 will curve the flexible sheet 2, reaching a curvature as indicated by section B illustrated in Fig. 8b. until you adopt the curved tile form indicated in section C and illustrated in Fig. 8c. This warped shape will allow it to be transported at high speed as described above, before, before arriving at the stacking station 17 in which it must be laid flat, return the sheet 2 from its curved transport position to the flat end position, adapted for storage in the stacking station 17. The system presented in Fig. 7 utilizes a rotary mill 16 and a stacking station 17 of those known in the state of the art that provide and require 2 straight sheets, so it is This transition between the flat and curved transport position of the sheets 2 is necessary. However, if the rotary mill 16 already provided the curved sheets 2, similarly to the section C, the device 1 could take and transport the sheets 2 directly. curved without needing to bend it progressively. The same would happen with the stacked station 17 if, for example, the sheets 2 assume the flat shape simply by separating from the device 1. Advantageously, when the sheets 2 assume the cambered shape of the tile, not only do they avoid separating from the device 1 during transport , but also prevent the sheets, which are obtained from an initially rolled material, have a tendency to re-roll.

one

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the device 1 has an acceleration section T1 in which the support means 3 will be formed by axes 7 provided with wheels 8, so that the speed of each axis 7 can be controlled in a manner independent to separate or join consecutive sheets 2, and a final section T2 formed by conveyor belt 12, so that, although the speed of the conveyor belt 12 is the same, a single motor can be used to drive the belt. Naturally, the support means 3 could also be integrally formed by shafts 7 provided with wheels 8 or by one or more conveyor belts 12, as well as different combinations of sections. As illustrated, the sheets 2 are preferably transported suspended or hung from the device 1, that is, arranged between the device 1 and the ground, allowing not only an operator to better visualize the transport of sheets from the ground, but also allowing to transport sheets 2 such as single-sided corrugated cardboard with the wave open upwards, thus achieving its stack with the wave open upwards, as they have to be preferably provided to the end customer.

Fig. 9 presents another system formed by a device 1 of the present invention for transporting sheets 2 between a stacking station 17, in which are stacked a set of flexible sheets 2 and a printing station 18 in which the device 1 must transfer the sheets 2. As can be seen, the feeding station 17 will provide one by one the flexible sheets 2 to the device, which although initially can be flat on the support means 3, as indicated by section A illustrated above in Fig. 8a, the support means 3 will progressively bend the flexible sheet 2, to present a curvature as indicated by section B illustrated above in Fig. 8b. until it adopts the curved tile form indicated in section C and illustrated above in Fig. 8c, which will allow its high-speed transportation as described above, before reaching the printing station 16 in which it must be laid flat, returning the sheet from its curved transport position to the flat end position, adapted for insertion into the printing station. The system presented in Fig. 7 uses a stacking station 17 and a printing station 16 of those known in the state of the art that provide and require straight sheets 2, so this transition between the flat and curved position is necessary. Of transport. However, if the feeding station already provided the curved sheets 2, similarly to the section C, the device 1 could take and transport directly the curved sheets 2 without needing to bend it progressively. The same would happen with the printing station 16 if it accepted folded sheets 2. In this way, it is possible to transport sheets 2 by applying a flexible sheet 2 against the movable support means 3 adapted to move the sheet 2 in one direction. direction of movement and maintain the sheet 2 against the support means 3 by means of suction means 5, so that the flexible sheet assumes the warped shape in a plane transverse to the direction of travel. Naturally, it is envisaged that the device 1 of the present invention can be used to transport sheets 2 among many other types of stations, such as stationing stations, among others.

Fig. 10 again presents the device 1 of the present invention, now between a stacking station 17 and a stack distribution station 24, allowing to transport the sheets 2 of the stacking station 17 in the manner described above but now releasing the sheets 2 after exceeding a stretch of acceleration T1 and reaching a final section T2, grouping the sheets in pairs or even in larger groups in order to redistribute the sheets 2 that were initially stacked in the stacking station 17 in different stacks in the battery distribution station 24, so that the size of each stack is smaller and the sheets can later move more easily. In this way, for example as illustrated in Fig. 10, the device 1 will wait for three sheets 2 to reach the final section T2 of the device 1 and then the suction means 5 of the final section T2 will be deactivated, allowing the sheets 2 are each stacked in a stack of the battery distribution station 24. Naturally, the device would also allow transportation between a rotary mill 16 and a battery distribution station 24, analogously.

Although in the above-described variants of the device 1 the flexible sheets 2 are transported suspended, with the support means 3 remaining above the sheets 2, it is also provided that in other variants of embodiment the flexible sheets 2 remain above the means of support 3, for example when the device is mounted directly on the ground. Advantageously, when the flexible sheets 2 are transported suspended their observation by an operator is facilitated, so that defective sheets 2 can be visually detected. These defective sheets 2 could be removed from the device 1 by the operation by the operator of ejecting means 25 of sheets, such as a pneumatic piston projecting from the support means 3, so that the defective sheet 2 could be detached from the device 1 and fall into a rejection container disposed below the pneumatic piston. Also, if it were not necessary for the speed or acceleration of the sheets 2 to be raised, one could even contemplate devices similar to those previously represented in which the sheets 2 were transported flat, that is, that the support means determined a transport plane. flat and were configured so that a sheet applied against the support means would adopt a flat shape with respect to a plane transverse to the direction of travel.

one

Claims (17)

1. Device (1) for the transport of flexible sheets (2) that combines: - mobile support means (3) on which a sheet can be applied and which are adapted to move the sheet in a direction of movement; Y - suction means (5) to keep the sheet applied against the support means, characterized in that the support means are configured so that a sheet applied against the support means adopts a grooved shape. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the grooved shape has a curve whose relation between the cord (c) and the sagitta (s) is less than 100. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grooved shape has a curve whose relation between the cord (c) and the sagitta (s) is greater than 10. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grooved shape has a curve whose sagit (s) is greater than 20 millimeters. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile support means (3) comprise driving axes (7) parallel to each other, perpendicular to the direction of movement of sheets and following a curved path, being said axes provided with wheels (8). Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the curved path that follows each driving axis (7) is equal to the curve (6) of the transport surface Device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that the driving axes (7) comprise straight sections (9) whose ends are connected to rotating transmission parts (10) coupled on both sides of the same wheel (8). Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the wheels (8) are provided with lateral recesses (11) for coupling the rotary transmission parts (10). Device (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 8, characterized in that the profile of the transmission transmission parts (10) and the recesses (11) of the wheels (8) is complementary. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the profile of the turning transmission parts (10) and of the recesses (11) of the wheels (8) is a complementary toothed profile. Device (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the wheels (8) are made of a more flexible material than the rotary transmission parts (10). Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the wheels (8) are made of polyurethane. Device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that it further comprises ejection means (25) of sheets (2) arranged between the axes (7). Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the ejection means (25) comprise a pneumatic piston. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support means (3) in the direction of travel comprise a conveyor belt (12). Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an acceleration section (T1) in which the mobile support means (3) comprise motor axes (7) parallel to each other, perpendicular to the direction of displacement of sheets (2) and following a curved path, said axes being provided with wheels (8) and a final section (T2) in which the support means comprise a conveyor belt (12). 17. Process for transporting flexible sheets (2) in a direction of travel, characterized in that it comprises grooving the sheets. one