FR2552743A1 - Stacking machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a stacking machine in which once a stack of flat objects has been formed, the stack support surface 8 moves into coincidence 10 with the floor 7 of a container 2 provided to receive this stack. Different kinds of containers are envisaged, but in all these containers the floor has means, generally cut-outs 10 or joints, for taking the place of the stack support surface for keeping the stack of objects in position.

Description

STACKING MACHINE
The present invention relates to a stacking machine for stacking flat objects in receptacles. These flat objects can be sheets, mechanographic cards or mail folds. The invention applies in particular to postal sorting where each receptacle contains a set of folds corresponding to a given destination.

 In such applications, the set of items corresponding to a given destination must undergo multiple manipulations: in particular once gathered in a sorting center, the items corresponding to a set must be sent to another sorting center located geographically nearby of the destination in question. Once this routing carried out, this whole is taken again to be sorted in sub-assembly corresponding to zones of distribution of the mail to be able to reach their recipient.

In known materials, the stacking machines store the folds in a stack or in a row on a stacking support pad or in boxes which cannot be separated from the machine. Manual intervention is then necessary to empty the stacking machines of their contents and to hold together the folds corresponding to the same destination. This manual operation is expensive because, repetitive, it employs a lot of manpower. It is also delicate because a stack or a row of flat objects is difficult to grasp.

The invention overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a stacking machine whose stacking support surface comprises means for cooperating with a suitable receptacle, in such a way that the entire receptacle once loaded by the folds - to be conveyed can be handled automatically. These adapted receptacles having fixed dimensions and being moreover rigid, their
handling can then be carried out rationally by means of automatic handling devices. Certain manual interventions can then be eliminated.

 The invention relates to a stacking machine of the type for stacking flat objects in receptacles provided with walls and bottom, characterized in that the output member of this machine comprises a stacking support surface, in that the receptacles are movable relative to this support range between a position corresponding to the stacking of objects and a position corresponding to the evacuation of the receptacle, and in that it comprises means so that when passing from the stacking position in the evacuation position, the walls of a receptacle circumscribe the stacking support area.

 The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows and on examining the figures which accompany it. This description and these figures are not limitative of the characteristics of the invention. In the figures, the same references designate the same elements. These figures represent: - Figure la, a stacking machine according to the invention; - Figure lb, a variant of a receptacle for cooperating with the previous machine; - Figure 2, another receptacle which can cooperate with a stacking machine according to the invention; - Figures 3a and 3b of the particularities of evacuation of the receptacle of the previous figure out of the stacking machine.

 Figure la shows a stacking machine according to the invention. This machine stacks flat objects 1 such as postal envelopes, in receptacles 2 provided with walls and bottom. The walls denoted 3 to 6 are integral with the bottom 7 of the receptacle 2. This machine comprises a stacking support area 8 formed here by a conveyor belt 9 the active part of which, in contact with the lower edges of the stacked objects 1, moves in the direction of arrow F1. A single conveyor belt 9 has been shown here to make the stacking area 8 only in order not to overload the drawing. It is obvious that other trans-carrier bands such as 9 can be juxtaposed in a plane, substantially parallel to the plane of the bottom 7 of the receptacle 2.

 The support area 8 is obtained by means of the conveyor belts circulating on a holding structure in the form of a crank and of which only the holding rollers of the strip 9 have been shown. In the application which is shown, the strip 9 is motorized by means that are not visible. It is quite possible, however, that the strip 9 is not directly motorized: in this case it is driven by means which will be studied later. This stacking support range is movable relative to the bottom 7 of the receptacle. It can pass through this bottom by a cutout 10 made in this bottom by undergoing a vertical translational movement oriented downwards (arrow FV) where possibly a rotational movement also oriented downwards (arrow FR). the entire active part of the belt 9 can be retracted below the receptacle 9. The introduction of the structure 8 can also be carried out by a compound movement.

In this case the cut 10 becomes the cut 100 materialized in dashes. This cutout 100 extends both in the bottom 7 and in a wall of the receptacle: for example the wall 5. The known movement laid comprises a first translation along F1 to introduce the structure 8 through the part of the opening 100 located in the wall 5. I1 also includes a second translation in the opposite direction to FV in order to set up the stacking support area by passing the vertical arm 28 through the part of the opening 100 located in the bottom 7.

 Firstly the track 8 is in the low position and a receptacle 2 is approached from the machine. Once this receptacle is in place, the support area 8 is raised to come to face the stacking means of the machine. These stacking means can be arbitrary and in particular comprise a set of conveyor belts 11 and 12 rotating on pulleys such as 13 and holding between them the folds 1 to be stacked. The belts 11 and 12 are motorized by any means synchronously with one another. The belts 11 and 12 open (arrow F4) at their end by pulleys such as 13 on a known device 14 of the comma type. When a stack to be stacked arrives near the comma 14, a detector 15 detects the presence of this fold and sends a detection signal SD to a control circuit 16 which sends a command C in the direction of the decimal point 14. The eccentric parts 17 and 18 of the decimal point 14 then retract in the direction of the arrow F2 in front of the front before fold 1 which arrives. The decimal 14 then turns one turn. When the eccentric parts 17 and 18 return, they rub on the fold 1 which has been approached and favor the jogging against a jogging edge 19 where this fold comes into abutment, while pushing in the direction of the arrow F1 the pile of folds already stacked.

 The motorization of the belts 9 of the stacking area 8 then helps this pushing operation. Consequently, the motorization of the belts 9 can be synchronized with the rotation of the device 14; in an intensive stacking phase, this motorization can even be continuous to correspond to a speed of the evolution of the stack. However, as the thicknesses of the postal folds are not constant, in such an application, the advance of the belt 9 is preferably controlled by the position of the top of the stack. The jogging edge 19 integral with the machine maintains by a cleat 50 a rail 20 which supports without swinging a pallet 21. The pallet 21 is supported by the rail 20 by means of a carriage 22 and can be constantly recalled by means of a spring 23 in the direction of the decimal point 14 to compact the stack well. The displacement along the arrow F1 of the pallet 21 can be obtained by resting the lower edge 24 of this pallet on the belt 9. The belt (s) 9 thus drive the pallet 24. The friction of the edge 24 on the belt 9 can be the means of motorization of this belt. In this case, it is the carriage 22 which is motorized to move on the rail 20 according to the evolution of the stack.

 In a simplified version, the belt or belts 9 are replaced by a set of smooth bars. Each of these bars is shaped like a crank in a similar way to the belt holding structure. The upper part of this busbar then constitutes the stacking support area. When the belts 9 are replaced by a busbar, the displacement of the folds placed on edge on these bars can be improved by tilting the entire stacking machine with respect to the horizontal so as to facilitate the sliding of these folds in the direction of arrow F1.

 It is detected that the maximum size of the stack is reached by means, for example, of a detector 25 placed opposite the pallet 21 opposite a light 51. This detector sends a detection order SM to the control circuit 16, l the stacking operation is then stopped. Then an operator grasps the end of the stack corresponding to the last folded stack and holds it against the pallet 21 by a thrust exerted according to F1. Then it activates the device for retracting the support area 8 which descends according to the arrow FV taking with it the entire stack of folds. As soon as the track 8 has disappeared under the bottom 7, the operator releases its holding action and the stack of folds is stored in the receptacle 2. The latter is then evacuated to make room for another receptacle 2 and the The operation begins again. It can therefore be seen that during the transition from the stacking position of the plies to the evacuation position of the receptacle, the walls 3 to 6 of this receptacle circumscribe the stacking support area. Finally, it is noted that the wall 3 of the receptacle 2 is situated slightly set back, from a distance d, from the vertical line of the jogging edge 19, to allow good nesting of the stack of plies in the receptacle. The retracting members of the support area can be any and in particular comprise a jack.

 In FIG. 1b we see a receptacle 26 having in its bottom 7 at least one cutout 10 to allow the passage of the belt 9 at the end of a stacking phase. This cut 10 is extended in the wall 5 of the receptacle 26 by a cut 27 rising to the upper edge of this wall. This cutting 27 provides an advantage to the rack 26 allowing it to be put in place in the stacking machine while stacking on the support area 8 has already started. Indeed, this cutout 27 allows the passage of the vertical arm 28 now the structure of the belt 9 of Figure la. To compensate for the spacing efforts that this rack 26 undergoes during handling when it is full, it is possible to add to it a hoop preventing this spacing by pressing on the walls 4 and 6 of the receptacle 26. conditions the evacuation of such a receptacle and the establishment of a new one can be done while the stacking is already restarted hence a less loss of time. The roll bar is removable, it is not shown.

 In Figure 2 there is another type of lockers 30 which can cooperate with the stacking means of Figure la. The bottom 29 of this latter receptacle 30 is articulated, by means of an axis 31, on an upper edge of one of the walls of this receptacle. During installation, the rack 30 is routed horizontally against a comma type device identical to that of FIG. The receptacle 30 comprises, on its wall 32 which is placed against the decimal point 14, a cutout 33 in the form of a portion of crown with an axis of revolution common with the axis 31. This cutout 32 is dimensioned to allow free passage of the ends 17 and 18 of the eccentrics of the point 14 whatever their rotational position according to F2 (FIG. 1a).

 When the receptacle 30 is put in place, a finger 33 comes to bear under the bottom 29 while a set of tabs such as 34 and 35 disappearing in the direction of the arrows F3 allows the rotation of all the walls of the locker 30 around the axis 31 while maintaining the frame of this locker. In doing so the edge 36 of the wall of the rack 30, facing the edge supporting the axis 31, disappears under the plane of the bottom 29. Under these conditions the rack is ready for the insertion of the folds between the face 32 and a pallet 37. This pallet 37 is pushed elastically in the direction of the stacking members by a spring 38 resting moreover on a tongue 52 secured to the bottom 29. The bottom 29 is connected to the edge 31 by a edge 39 which during the stacking operation serves as a jogging edge. The bottom 29 has a double function: firstly it serves as a stacking support in the position shown in FIG. 2 and secondly it serves as a bottom for the rack 30. It is indeed movable between two positions, the first which is a stacking position, and the second which is a discharge position in which the walls of the receptacle 30 exactly define the support area which had been created. The position of the edge used for the articulation of the bottom relative to the receptacle can be different from that indicated in the figure. It can in particular be located on an edge 40 located, in the evacuation position, at the bottom of the receptacle 30.

 In the position where it is shown in FIG. 2, the bottom 29 plays the same role as the stacking area 8 in FIG. The pallet 37 which is retained laterally by a lug 43 sliding in a slide 44 made in the edge 39 plays the same role as the pallet 21 in FIG. La, with the only difference that it is not motorized. To ensure this motorization, it is quite possible to make in the bottom 29 cutouts such as the cutouts 10 made in the bottom 7 of the receptacle 2 so as to project slightly above this bottom, one or more belts such as 9 so as to drive the stacked folds and / or the pallet 37. In this case the useful vertical displacement along the arrow FV of the arm 28 is not significant since the bottom 29 is always located in the same plane.

 The receptacle 30 also has two advantages over the previous solution. The first advantage is that of linking the holding pallet to this receptacle. This allows the storage of folds to be stored in receptacles that are not completely filled. The second advantage lies in the elimination of the manual operation which was necessary at the end of stacking when the receptacle was filled. Figures 3a and 3b show in a top view how we can do without this intervention.

 In FIG. 3a the stacking is completed and a distinction is made between the end 18 of the upper eccentric of the decimal point 14 which compacts the plies 1 against the pallet 37. When the walls of the receptacle 30 are straightened around the axis 31, the cutout 33 allows the wall 32 not to catch the decimal point 14. Once this straightening operation has been carried out, the decimal point 14 is made to rotate about a quarter of a turn so as to free the ends of the eccentrics 17 and 18 (Figure 3b). Under the combined action of the spring 38 and the natural decompression of the folds, the last stacked fold comes to bear against the inner face of the wall 32. The movement of about a quarter of a turn of the comma 14 can be obtained, by example, by motorizing this decimal point by a stepping motor by sending it a number of pulses equal to a quarter of the number of pulses necessary for this decimal point to make a revolution. Under these conditions the logic circuit 7 is capable of developing two types of orders, the C orders to make the decimal point turn one turn on itself when stacking a fold and the CE orders to make it turn. of a quarter turn during the evacuation of the receptacle 30. In practice the decimal point 14 is in the position of FIG. 3a only when it is driven by a speed substantially equal to the speed of introduction of a crease in the stack. This means that the preceding explanation is a simplified explanation. The rest position of the decimal point is substantially that of FIG. 3b. The three quarters of a turn which allow it to reach the position of FIG. 3a are necessary for it to speed up. So the real logical sequence is as follows: Figure 3b (end of stacking), Figure 3a (pushing back the stack and raising the rack frame) and Figure 3b (decompressing the stack, removing the rack). The purpose of the CE order is therefore to cause the decimal point to perform three quarters of a turn at first and then a quarter of a turn at the second. The control circuit 16 is a sequential action circuit as is commonly used in handling techniques.

 It may include a time relay logic circuit. In a preferred embodiment, it comprises a microprocessor.

 To ensure the routing of the receptacles to their future destination, it is possible to provide one of the walls of these receptacles with an identification mark capable of automatic writing or reading. For example, they may be bar codes printed on a label, which label is stuck in a suitable place on a wall of a receptacle. These receptacles may include means of known type, to allow them to be stacked one above the other so as to rationalize the routing operation. Each of them may finally include handle-type means so that they can be entered manually.

Claims (10)

 1. Stacking machine, of the type for stacking flat objects (1) in receptacles (2) provided with walls (3-6) and bottom (7), characterized in that the member (11-18) output of this machine comprises a stacking support area (8) and in that the receptacles are movable (FV, FR) relative to this support area between a position corresponding to the stacking of the objects and - a position corresponding to the evacuation of the receptacle and in that it comprises means (9,10,28) so that when passing from the stacking position to the evacuation position the walls of a receptacle circumscribe the stacking support area .  2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the receptacles are movable (FR, F3) in rotation relative to the support area.  3. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the receptacle bottoms are articulated (31) and constitute (29) the stacking support surface of the machine.  4. Machine according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the bottom (29) of a receptacle (30) is articulated (31) on an axis fixed on an edge (31) of one of the walls of this receptacle.  5. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the stacking support area comprises at least one conveyor belt (9) for retracting through a cutout (10) made in the bottom of the receptacle and to ensure the displacement (F1) of the battery in the receptacle.  6. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the stacking support surface comprises at least one retractable bar for retracting through a cutout made in the bottom of the receptacle.  7. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the stacking support surface comprises means (20-24, 37, 38) for holding the stacked flat objects on edge and in that these holding means are movable laterally ( F1) relative to the direction of exit (F4) of flat objects out of the machine.  8. Machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the stacking support range is inclined relative to the horizontal.  9. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (32) for holding the stack of objects when passing from the stacking position to the evacuation position.  10. Use of a machine according to claim 1 at the outlet of a postal sorting machine.