FR2587015A1 - CONVEYOR FOR MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING PAPER SHEETS AND MACHINES BY APPLYING - Google Patents

Abstract

BINDING. THE CARRIER CONFORMING TO THE INVENTION INCLUDES: TWO SETS 17A, 17B OF TAPPERS OCCUPYING SLOTS 15 THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE TABLE AND ASSOCIATED WITH TWO MECHANISMS 18, 24, 25, 26 DRIVING IN SYNCHRONIZED MOVEMENTS IN THE TWO SETS ACCORDING TO TWO RECTANGULAR CYCLES INCLUDING, RESPECTIVELY, AN ACTIVE SCROLLING STROKE IN ONE DIRECTION OF THE PROJECTED TAPPETS IN RELATION TO THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE TABLE AND A PASSIVE BACK SCROLLING STROKE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION OF THE DELETED PUSHBUTTONS IN RELATION TO THE SAID SURFACE; -AND MEANS 36 OF SYNCHRONIZING THE MECHANISMS ACCORDING TO TWO IDENTICAL CYCLES SHIFTS OF A STROKE. APPLICATION TO MODULAR ASSEMBLIES.

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of the assembly of

  sheets of paper to be organized in orderly bundles, so that they can then be connected by any means

  suitable and, in particular, by broaching.

  To ensure the constitution of ordered bundles of

  sheets of paper or the like, the known technique proposes

  so-called assemblers, delineating a number of aligned boxes. These boxes receive packets of identical sheets for one box and different from one box to another. These sheets must be taken one by one and superimposed, so as to be organized and ordered in a coherent continuous sequence to form

a bundle.

  To this end, it is known to implement a

  transfer system, in particular with pneumatic action, in charge of pre-

  raise one sheet of each package to deposit it on a transpor-

  it extends parallel to the alignment of the boxes and can be animated by a continuous or intermittent movement. The leaves are taken simultaneously packets and placed on the carrier on which are thus constituted wads of increasing number of

leaves.

  The carrier, responsible for moving the succes-

  terminally in proximity relation with each of the packets to facilitate the transfer, may be of several designs. Among those generally used the most are escalator type conveyors, endless scroll conveyors and alternative stroke push carriers. Stair carriers consist of sets of fixed ramps and sets of moving ramps which move relatively in rectilinear reciprocating motion. The mobile ramps thus make it possible to lift the sheets previously deposited and supported by the fixed ramps, to bring them into the vertical plane of a following slot which receives these sheets during the erasure of the movable ramps. Such a device is satisfactory but constitutes a

  heavy, cumbersome, expensive, of a certain maintenance and pos-

  sedant, anyway, necessarily a run back empty

  limiting its rate of operation.

  Endless scroll type conveyors generally comprise two endless chains whose strands

  are placed in such a way that the pushers they carry

  tent protrude through slits presented by a table.

  These carriers are simpler and less expensive to manufacture

and maintenance.

  It is conceivable, however, that the pushers worn by the

  Endless paths travel a curved local path during winding.

  chains on the return wheels. As a result, at the entrance of the conveyor, a curved approach path must be located out of the transversal alignment with the first box

  to take care of the first sheet correctly

  rectly. It also results in the obligation to add to the exit

  of the table an evacuation device with a speed of

  greater than that of the chains to prevent the trajec-

  curve of the pushers does not cause pinching and

  ration of the packet of sheets being transferred.

  Such carriers therefore imply the existence of

  two extreme extreme beaches that are reserved, one for

  rication and support by pushers at the beginning of trans-

  port and the other erasing said pushers at the end of the race and

  to the support of a clean evacuation device.

  These constructive obligations increase the size of a machine and increase its cost price, particularly by

  the existence of the recovery evacuation device.

  Reciprocating push-pull conveyors involve sets of pushers moving within

  cracks in the table and animated by a cycle, of a substantially

  tangentially, by a motion transformation device, for example of the type-connecting rod-crank. Such a construction is, in particular, described in the French utility certificate 77-00 350

(2,337,680).

  Such a structure imposes on the pushers a substantially rectilinear displacement protruding from the table during

  an active race, then a simultaneous erasure of all the

  evening in relation to the table, in order to make possible a return race in complete erasure, followed by a resurgence race

in the original position.

  Such a structure knows, obligatorily also, a race of return empty which limits the possibilities of increase

operating rate.

  All these types of carriers have, moreover, an additional disadvantage, constituting an unacceptable limit

  of use of the machines to be assembled. Indeed, the machines

  are usually designed to have a fixed number of boxes reserved for the receipt of as many packets of

leaves.

  In general, a user acquires such a machine by planning to buy the model supplied by the manufacturer and having, for his own use, a smaller number of boxes than the maximum number of sheets in front of him. to enter the constitution of the bundles which it is in charge to prepare. However, no user is, in

  reality, confronted, in a practical and permanent way, with such a

  bleme, so that in the majority of cases a machine

  as a fixed number of boxes is used by not putting in

  actual operation than a lower number.

  Investment, that every user is therefore

  of consent, is, in fact, never adapted to the majority of the assembly work to be done, which increases the

the cost of such work.

  It could be considered that the above problem could be solved by planning to build modular assembly machines. It could, for example, be to propose a first module having a three-box distributor station and to offer the user the possibility of completing such a machine by adding one or more complementary identical modules to it. Such a proposal can not, in fact, be

  because the structures of known carriers, such as

  peeled above, do not lend themselves to such construction.

  The object of the invention is to propose a new transmission

  carrier whose design is chosen, so as to make practical

  possible construction machine construction, in the form of

  modular, to allow any user a more just

  investment according to the types of works it is

brought to run.

  The new conveyor according to the present invention is designed to make possible a manufacture of fully autonomous modules, having the particularity of being able to be associated with each other in case of need, without creating problems.

  interface or mechanical synchronization link.

  Another object of the invention is to propose a new

  calf carrier offering the particularity of being able to

  dragging of the pushers relative to the table, indifferently in one direction or the other. This particularity

  makes it possible to use a machine with two modules, in

  to work a module in one direction for the execution of a first type of document bundles and the second module in the other direction

  for the simultaneous production of a second type of bundles.

  To achieve the above objectives, the object of the invention is characterized in that it comprises:

  - two sets of pushers occupying slots

  swam the entire length of the table and

  associated with two mechanisms leading to

  synchronized the two sets according to two rectangular cycles including, respectively, an active running stroke going in one direction pushers protruding from the upper surface of the table and a passive run back scroll in the other direction of the pushers effaces with respect to said surface, and means for synchronizing the mechanisms according to two identical cycles offset by one stroke. The invention also aims, as a new product, a machine comprising at least one module comprising a conveyor

according to the invention.

  Various other features emerge from the

  description below with reference to the accompanying drawings which show

  trent, as non-limiting examples, embodiments

of the subject of the invention.

  Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a

  machine for assembling sheets of paper comprising a conveyor

according to the invention.

  Fig. 2 is a plan view taken along the line

II-II of FIG. 1.

  Fig. 3 is a schematic view taken, to larger

  scale, according to line III-III of fig. 2.

  Fig. 4 is a partial cross-section, partly cut away, taken on a larger scale along line IV-IV

of fig. 2.

  Fig. 5 is a lateral elevation taken according to the

line V-V of FIG. 4.

  Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view taken according to

Line VI-VI of FIG. 3.

  Figs. 7A to 7F are schematic views illustrating different phases of operation of some of the elements

constituting the carrier.

  Figs. 8A to 8E are schematic views illustrating operating states in relation to the phases of FIGS. 7A to 7F.

  Figs. 9 to It are schematic elevations corresponding to

  laying at some of the operating phases according to FIGS. 7A to 7F. Fig. 12 is a plan view illustrating a development of a machine from the constructive characteristics of the machine.

carrier according to the invention.

  Figs. 1 and 2 show a machine to assemble

  sheets of paper to be made into bundles by superpowers

  according to an orderly succession. Such a machine comprises a distributor station I delimiting n boxes 2 aligned reserved for the introduction of different packets P sheets corresponding to the same criterion for each box. In the example shown, the station I comprises three cells 21, 22, 23, but a different number can, of course, be considered. In known manner, each box 2 is mounted on the frame 3 of the machine by a lifting device 4 for placing the top sheet of the package P in the vicinity

  of a table 5 carried by the frame 3. Table 5 forms one of the ele-

  constituent parts of a carrier 6 extending in parallel to the

boxes 2.

  The machine comprises a transfer device 7, for example of the pneumatic type, formed of arms 8 carrying suction cups 9. The arms 8 are associated with a motor member 10 loaded with the

  reciprocate in the direction of the arrow fl.

  In the rest position of the device 7, the suction cups 9 are placed above the edge of the sheets adjoining the table 5. Thus, the suction cups 9 are made to support, simultaneously, a sheet of the package of each box and are responsible for transferring these leaves on the table 5 where they are deposited. The device 7

  then reoccupies its original position.

  The conveyor 6 is responsible for causing the displacement of the sheets taken from the value of a step in the direction of the arrow f2 for example, so that the sheet corresponding to the box 21 is presented in front of the box 22 and that which has been

  taken from this box shall be taken in box 23.

  An operating cycle identical to that previously

  described, allows a new series of sheets to be superimposed

  collected and thus constitute, after two cycles of operation,

  preliminaries, a bundle of three sheets for each sampling cycle.

  Each bundle is moved by the carrier 6

  than a rack It jacks and storage, from which each

  bundle can be resumed to undergo an assembly operation pro

  said, that is to say, noted stitching.

  So that each packet P.sub.Pi represents a stable stack occupying a determined reference position, at least in the two horizontal directions, each box 2 is associated with

  transverse jogging means consisting of stops 12 and 13

  in the relative position in the width direction inside the box. In the case illustrated in FIG. 2, the stops are

  adjusted according to the width of the leaves and the direction of movement.

  according to the arrow f2 of the carrier 6 and assign,

  quence, a reference position to the right of each box.

  The carrier 6 comprises, according to FIGS. 2 to 5, one

  table 5 delimiting, along its length and parallel to the food

  2, at least two parallel slots 15 opening on the two transverse edges of the table. The slots 15 are intended to be occupied by two sets A and B of pushers 16a, 16b, each set having two series 17 of pushers. aligned. Each slot 15 is occupied by a series 17a and a series 17b of pushers each belonging to a distinct set A, B. In each series, the pushers 16a, 16b successive between them a spacing or not corresponding to that of the boxes 2 and are in a number equal to that of boxes 2o

  30 It should be considered that Table 5 could

  ter a different number of slots 15 and, in such a case, the two sets A and B of pushers would then each have as many

series 17.

  Games A and B may be considered to be of identical constitution, at least in part. For this reason, only the game A is described in the following, it being understood that the same elements

  components of Game B are designated by the same references

of the index b.

  The set of pushers A comprises a horizontal frame 18a, carried by the frame 3 of the machine, so that it can be moved in the two directions of the vertical arrow f3 (FIG 4). The frame 18a is constituted by two longitudinal members 19a which are interconnected by cross members 20a. Many embodiments can be

  adopted to form or form sleepers 20a which are,

  sometimes, preferably constituted by threaded rods. The work

  20a verses support, by tabs 21a, two slides 22a in the form of open tubular section and, preferably, cross-section

  transverse "C" shape, so as to have a longitudinal opening

  Laterally. The slides 22a extend parallel to the slots 15a by being arranged under the table 5. The slides 22a contain two complementary slides 23a carrying laterally the pushers 16a which are placed in a vertical plane passing through

  the slots 15. The threaded rods constituting the sleepers

  set exactly the transverse position of the slides

  and slides in positional relationship with the slots 15.

  Fig. 4 shows that the set B has two slides 22b inverted with respect to the slides 22a, so that the series pairs 17a, 17b are placed in two parallel vertical planes passing through the corresponding slot 15. The pushers 16a and 16b consist, in the present case, of vertically protruding fingers spaced successively by a distance

  equal to the spacing step of cells 2, that is to say in the case

  feel, at their width. Figs. 3 and 4 show, moreover, that the frame 18b of the set B always extends in a horizontal plane

below the plane of the frame 18a.

  The set of pushers A comprises, moreover, for each slide 23a, a bar 24a extending vertically and fixed by its base on an axis 25a fitted on one of the links of a

  endless chain 26a forming a loop extending along a variable plane

  tical. The two endless chains 26a cooperate with pinions 27a

2 5 8 7 0 15

  mounted on shafts 28a carried by bearings 29a fixed on beams mounted on the frame 3. FIG. 6 shows that the shafts 28a extend parallel to each other and orthogonally to the slots 15, being placed in the same horizontal plane. The bearings 29a of one of the shafts 28a are carried by two parallel beams 30 on

  which are also mounted the bearings 29b of the homogenous shaft

  28b, while the bearings 29a of the second shaft 28a, and the bearings 29b of the second shaft 28b are carried by two other

  parallel beams 31 which are mounted on the frame 1 by lu-

  32. This arrangement makes it possible to adjust, simultaneously

  the tension of the chains 26a and 26b by acting only on

the pair of beams 31.

  The tabs 24a and 24b have a length determined according to the position of the plane of the frame 18a and 18b on the frame, so that the pushers can be, respectively, either

  erased from the top of table 5, as illustrated

  in fig. 3 for the pushers 16b, either to cross the

  table 5 to protrude out of the upper face, as illustrated

  by the pushers 16a, when the frames occupy, respectively

  their low and high positions according to the amplitude f3 and vice versa. One of the two shafts 28a and 28b carries a pinion 33a, 33b for driving in rotation in the same direction via a chain 34 and a motor member 35 of the type

  electric. The chain 34 then also assumes a function of

  synchronized motorization device for scrolling the chains 26a, 26b. The means described above constitute, for each set A or B, a drive mechanism for moving the pushers

  according to a rectangular cycle which will be described in what follows.

  These two mechanisms are interconnected by two

  side synchronization positive units 36 (Fig. 3 d 5) which are each

  each constituted by two levers 37 mounted articulated in their middle

  on the frame 3 by pins 38. The levers 37 extend parallel to each other.

  between them and are connected by their ends to the frames 18a

  and 18b by joints, respectively 40a and 40b. The dis-

  synchronization positives 36 therefore each present a conformity

  deformable parallelogram formation, occupying a vertical orientation, each parallelogram carried by the frame 3 by the hinge points 38 being constituted by the two levers 37 and the corresponding longitudinal members 19a and 19b constituting the frames 18a

and 18b.

  The geometric characteristic of these parallelograms 36 is chosen, in particular by the length of the levers 37, so that in a position of maximum opening, corresponding to the inclination of the levers 37, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the pushers 16a protrude from the upper surface of the table 5 when the attachment pins 25a are carried by the upper strands of the endless chains 26a, while the pushers 16b are erased from the upper face of the table 5 , being disposed below the latter, when, simultaneously, the axes 26b are carried by the lower strands of the chains without

corresponding end 26b.

  The carrier described above works the way

next.

  Fig. 7A corresponds to a start of the operating cycle

  ment in which game A is placed, through its own

  moving drive mechanism and synchro-

  36, in the high position. In this state, the pushers 16a protrude from the upper face of the table 5 and each pusher 16a occupies a position of alignment with the position of

  reference of the packets P determined by the setting of the means of

  12 and 13 of each box. In this position, the first push

  16a of each series 17a is substantially aligned with the transverse input edge of the table 5, in consideration of the direction of active movement of the conveyor according to the arrow f2 'The game B pushers is placed, by the synchronization devices, in an erase position relative to the

  5. The position of the games A and B corresponds to the maximum opening

  Male parallelograms 36, as shown in FIG. 9.

  The device 7 is controlled to ensure the transfer of three sheets F1 ,, F F3 on the table 5, each sheet having been taken from the packet of the corresponding box. This state is

schematized in fig. 8A.

  The synchronized motor device 34, 35 is then powered to scroll the chains 26a and 26b in the direction of the arrows f4. The bars 24a and 24b then cause the sliding of the slides 23a and 23b in the slides 22a and 22b. During this operating phase, illustrated in FIG. 7B, the series of pushers 17a push the sheets F1 to F3 and move them, so that each of them is slid from the position facing the box from where it was extracted, until

  a position facing the next box, as shown in FIG. 8B.

  This phase of operation corresponds to a race

  active rectilinear assumed by the series 17a of the game A of pushers.

  Simultaneously, the chains 26b move the bars 24b which slide the slides 23b in the opposite direction to that of the arrow f2 to bring the series 17b to the position shown in FIG. 7C. This operating phase corresponds to a passive rectilinear run back of the game B during which the pushers 16b are moved in the opposite direction under the table 5. FIG. 7C shows that at the end of rectilinear races active and passive the axes 25a and 25b follow the periphery of the wheels 27a and 27b. It follows that the bars 24a and 24b are biased respectively in downward traction and in ascending traction. The frames 18a and 18b are thus moved vertically

  concomitantly by the synchronization devices 36.

  In the state shown, the series 17a of pushers are then effacen relative to the table 5, while the series 17b are brought closer without projecting therefrom. The erasing of the pushers 16a corresponds to a limit of movement of the sheets P which are immobilized on the table 5, each next to the next box 2, the sheet F3 having been removed from the

table 5 (Fig. 8C).

  This position is reached when the parallelograms

  my deformable 36 occupy that illustrated in FIG. 10.

  Fig. 7D shows a third step in the operational cycle

  tion, corresponding to the clearing of the pushers 16a and the output of the pushers 16b. In this state, the device 7 ensures the

  transfer of a new series of three sheets F, as said before

  cédemment. Fig. 8D shows this state in which table 5 sup-

  then go to square 2! a sheet FI, facing the box 22 0 a package being formed including the first sheet F1 previously moved and covered with the sheet F2 and facing the box 23 a second package comprising the first sheet F2

  previously moved and covered with the F3 sheet.

  During another phase of operation, illustrated

  in fig. 7E, the pushers 16b are moved in a straight stroke.

  while the pushers 16a perform their passive return stroke simultaneously. This phase produces the displacement of the sheets F1 and wads during formation in the direction of the arrow f2 'as shown in FIG. 8E. During this phase, the

  position of the parallelograms 36 is illustrated in FIG. 11.

  Fig. 7F shows the respective positions of the sets A and B in a simultaneous erasure position, as previously illustrated in FIG. 7C. In this position, the axes 25a and 25b are located at the outer periphery of the opposite pinions 35a and 35b, while being placed simultaneously in the same horizontal plane.

  passing through the axes of rotation of the shafts 28a and 28b.

  As is apparent from the examination of FIGS. 7A to 7F, the sets of pushers A and B enter into active phase alternately with

  an offset of one step corresponding to the spacing between two boxes 2.

  These sets of pushers each perform, alternately, a race

  active rectilinear, in the direction of arrow f2. a race of

  sition corresponding to the clearing of the pushers 16 with respect to the table 5, a passive return stroke below the table 5, then a new transition stroke corresponding to the elevation of the pushers 16 relative to the table for the unfolding a

new cycle.

  To take into account the curved path of approach and erasure of each of the games relative to the table 5, as shown in Figs. 7B and 7E, it is provided to shift the respective positions of the frame assemblies 18 and motorization devices 34, 35, so that the lifting stroke of the pushers is effected, with respect to the direction of the arrow f2 'upstream the position of the sheets F deposited on the table 5 and that the erase stroke of these pushers ends with the same reference position with a stroke of one step, as is apparent from the comparative examination of FIGS. 7A to 7F. In this way, the bundles of sheets do not undergo any deterioration of support or evacuation, the latter phase can be carried out naturally by gravity or forcibly by using a storage rack and jogging 11 occupant, as illustrated in FIG. 2

  an inclined position and provided with a vibration generator 43.

  As is clear from the foregoing, the transpor-

  according to the invention makes it possible to constitute an autonomous, modular assembly, since the effective stroke of the games A and B of the pushers

  allows you to delete any device or range of approach and output.

  It thus becomes possible to juxtapose two or more modules to form a unitary assembly machine having a capacity of 2 boxes in relation to the number of sheets to enter the

  constitution of each bundle to be formed.

  In order to provide a possibility of juxtaposing an indeterminate number of sets placed side by side, the conveyor, as described above, comprises a motor assembly 50 that can be coupled, as illustrated in the case

  of fig. 12, with the module 50 'of an assembly 1', via

  of a synchronization block 51.

  The operation of the sets 1 and 1 'is taken in

  loaded by the block 51, so that the transfer devices 7 and 7 'are animated. of movements or movements exactly in

  phase and that the elementary transporters 6 and 6 'form a single transporter, capable of ensuring the simultaneous displacement of all the packages being formed from box 2'1 to the box

2 'according to the example of fig. 12.

  Depending on the needs, the motorization kits 50

  may be designed to control the traveling movement

  end of chat 26a and 26b or intermittently

of these ..

  Since the carrier 6 is symmetrical in all points of its structure concerning the games A and B, it becomes possible to control their operation, indifferently in one direction and the other. This makes it possible to use a machine

* assembler consisting of several modular sets for the ass-

  appearance of leaves according to two series of independent bundles.

  In such a case, the engine block, for example ', is controlled to cause the transport of the carrier 6' in the opposite direction to that of the arrow f2 to move the various packages being formed towards a locker

  resumption, jogging and storage 11 'clean.

  So that such a possibility can actually be put into practice, taking into account the approach and erasure

  curves, it is necessary, in such a case, to determine the posi-

  reference of the packets P, for example of the module 6 ', by means of the transverse jogging stops 13, while that of the packets of FIG.

  of the module 6 is determined by the stops 12, as illustrated

tré by fig. 1.

  The fig. 4 and 5 show that it can be advantageous to add, to each endless chain 26, rails 61 and 62 of

  guiding and supporting upper and lower strands.

  The invention is not limited to the examples described and represented, since various modifications can be made to it.

without leaving his frame.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS: - Carrier for machines for assembling sheets of paper, of the type comprising, in parallel with a dispenser (1) composed of n boxes (2) aligned at the receiving of packets (P) of sheets, a horizontal table (5) ) carried by a frame (3) and delimiting longitudinal slots (15) parallel to the alignment of the boxes and reserved for the dafilation of n pushers (16) appearing successively in front of the boxes, characterized in that it comprises: two sets (17a-17b) of pushers occupying slots (15) arranged along the entire length of the table and associated with two mechanisms (18, 24, 25, 26) which move the two sets synchronously in two rectangular cycles in each case; - cluant, respectively, an active course of travel go in a direction of the pushers protruding from the upper surface of the table and a passive run back in the other direction of the pushers cleared by rappo rt to said surface, - and means (36) for synchronizing the mechanisms according to two identical cycles offset by one stroke. 2 - conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that the length of the forward travel is equal to the spacing step of the boxes and in that the pushers (16) of each set (17a, 17b) are distant from a measure equal to this step.   3 - Carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that each set (1-7) of pushers comprises at least two parallel series of pushers aligned with each other transversely to the axis of the slots, each series being arranged in relation to a slot   (15) who is .commune to the homologous series of the second game.   4 - Carrier according to claim 1 or 39 charac-   risO in that the mechanism of each game includes:   at least two slides (22) extending   similarly to each other while being worn   rigidly by a frame (18) mounted vertically mobile -...-   wedge under the table, - at least two slides (23) sliding in the slideways, carrying the pushers (16) and rigidly connected to two vertical bars (24);   two motor chains (26) without end   blies in two parallel vertical planes,   means (28) for synchronizing the modem strings of the two games,   and at least one synchronization device (36) acting on the frames.   Carrier according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the synchronization device (36) comprises two deformable parallelograms arranged vertically parallel to each other and to the slideways and each comprising two levers (37) articulated at their centers on a frame and by their ends on the moving frames (18a, 18b) carrying the slides of two games of pushers.   6 - A conveyor according to claim 4, characterized in that the endless drive chains (26) of the two mechanisms are supported by pinions (27) mounted at the end of two sets of two shafts (28) moved in simultaneous rotations, each set of shafts corresponding to one set of pushers and the counter shafts of the two sets being mounted by bearings (29) on two pairs of   beams (30, 31) parallel to each other and to the slides and adjusted. in relative axial spacing.   7 - Carrier according to claim 4 or 6, characterized   characterized in that each end drive chain (26) comprises, under its upper and lower horizontal strands, support rules   (61, 62) placed in the plane of the chain.   8 - Machine for assembling sheets of paper comprising   at least one work module (1) consisting of n boxes (2)   and a parallel conveyor (5) according to one of the claims 1 to 8.   9 - Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that it is constituted by at least two modules (1 and 1 ') of which   the motor assemblies (50) are driven by a synchronization block tion or inversion (51).