FR2588200A1 - AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR SELECTING AND ADJUSTING PROFILE BARS BY WEIGHT IN MACHINES PRODUCING EXTRUDED PLASTIC PROFILES - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION CONCERNS AN AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR SELECTING AND ADJUSTING PROFILE BARS 11 IN MACHINES 10 PRODUCING EXTRUDED PLASTIC PROFILES, SUCH APPARATUS BEING OF THE TYPE PLACED DOWNSTREAM OF AN EXTRUDER GROUP 12, OF A DRIVE GROUP AND AN EXTRUDED CONTINUOUS PROFILE BAR CUTTING GROUP. THIS APPARATUS INCLUDES A BASE 14 CARRYING AT THE UPPER PART A PLAN 15 FOR THE SUPPORT AND SLIDING OF THE SAID PROFILE, MEANS 21 FOR THE VERTICAL DISPLACEMENT OF THE SAID SUPPORT PLAN BETWEEN A POSITION ALIGNED WITH RESPECT TO THE EXTRUDER GROUP AND A CORRESPONDING LOWERED POSITION HAS 40 WEIGHING MEANS OF SAID CUT BARS, MEANS FOR LATERAL DISCHARGE TOWARDS THE TWO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CUT BARS, THE SAID MEANS BEING CONTROLLED SELECTIVELY BY THE SAID WEIGHING MEANS IN LOWERED POSITION.

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic apparatus for selection

  and the adjustment of profile bars in machines producing extruded plastic profiles. A production line is known.

  thermoplastics extruded continuously, particularly

  consists of a variable speed extruder, a chiller-trainer unit that determines the external dimensions of the profile, a variable speed drive unit that pulls the profile at the desired speed, a chain saw to cut the bar to a predetermined dimension and finally a reception group

  and unloading the section sections once cut.

  The extruded plastic profiles thus obtained may have dimensional deformations

  compared to the desired model, either because of the profile itself

  even because of the thickness of the walls of the profiles.

  In fact, the outer profile of the extruded profiles made of thermoplastic material is obtained by extrusion of material through a die, then cooling and

  calibration externally by means of machining with

  my kind and complementary to those of the model that

we want to get.

  With regard to the thicknesses of the walls, it should be noted that the thermoplastic material being, in the extrusion phase, soft or plastic, it can be drawn and

  lengthened more or less by the action of the traction group.

  It is therefore possible to obtain thicknesses and therefore volumes and weights, for the profile, greater or less than those of the model to be obtained according to the speed of

traction imposed by the operator.

  It is therefore obvious that the operator, to obtain

  the uniformity of the shape of the profile, must con-

  the thickness and weight of the profile and ensure

  manually, and with a rough approximation

  the tensile speed, obtaining more or less satisfactory results depending mainly on its

  ability and timeliness of its rectification

  cation. We know that in order to form, polish and cool

  uniformly the profile, the chiller-trainer-

  calibrator must receive a profile having the dimensions of

expected volume and weight.

  In addition, extrusion and machining operations cor-

  Respondents can not, for various causes, such as variable particle size, the non-homogeneity of the material, food, moisture, etc ..., provide a precise and continuous unit quantity of extruded product, which forces operator to a continual control intervention with consequent adjustments to the speed of the

traction group.

  As a result, a normal extrusion line, such as

  described above, in which automatic checks

  weight ticks are not provided, requires, for

  hold the shape of the bar, the permanent presence of a

  an operator skilled enough to carry out

  the checks and adjustments

and focus.

  A first object of the invention is to eliminate the

  the aforementioned need to carry out manual

  bare thicknesses and / or weight of the extruded profiles by making automatic and more reliable the aforesaid operation

and its setting.

  Another object of the invention is to be able to separate automatically

  extruded thermoplastic profile bars

  comply with the requirements, from those which are defective

  as to their shape or profile, because of the inadequacy

  accuracy of thickness and weight.

  These objects are achieved according to the invention by providing an automatic apparatus for the selection and adjustment of

  profile bars in machines producing these products

  extruded plastics, said apparatus being located downstream of an extruder group, a traction group and a group of

  bar section of the continuous extruded profile, and being

  characterized in that it comprises a base which carries at the upper part a bearing and sliding plane for said profile, means for the vertical displacement of said support plane between an aligned position with respect to said extruder group and a position lowered corresponding to the weighing means of said cut bars, which are

  integral with said base, means for lateral unloading

  to two opposite sides of the cut bar,

  selectively by said weighing means in the lowered position, and an electronic system capable of comparing the value read by said weighing means with a predetermined value so as to cause unloading of said bars on one side or the other, and of correct the setting of the machine producing the plastic profiles. The structure and operation characteristics and the advantages of the apparatus according to the present invention

  will be better understood by reading the following description

  is given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevational view of an apparatus according to the invention fed by a bar continuously; Figure 2 is an elevational view equivalent to that of Figure 1, in a different operating phase; Figure 3 is a section along the line IIIIII of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a side elevational view of an alternative unloading means; FIG. 6 is a side view along arrow VI of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a side view along arrow VII.

of Figure 5.

  Referring to the drawings, an automatic apparatus 10 for selecting and regulating the profile bars 11

  placed in a machine producing plastic profiles.

  ticks, downstream of an extruder, not shown, provided with a pulling group schematically in 12, and a chainsaw

  13, which cuts the bar continues to a predetermined extent.

  The automatic apparatus 10 comprises a base 14 with respect to which a support plane moves vertically, effectively supported by a crossmember 16 passing through pairs of jacks 17-17a arranged transversely to said plane, said crossmember 16 being guided vertically relative to at lateral end shoulders 18 by guide columns 19 sliding in orifices 20

pierced in said cross.

  The vertical displacement of the crosspiece 16 is controlled by a pair of jacks 21 or means of vertical displacement, for example) neumatic, connected to the cross

  in 22 and articulated on the base 14 in 23.

  The two pairs of jacks 17-17a, acting as lateral discharge means, are pivotally mounted at 24 on the crosspiece 16 and pivotally supported by the ends of their rods 25, pivots 26 fixed below

  the support plan 15. Support cradles 27 in solid V

  16, are provided to guide the

  pivots 26 in their rotation towards one of the longitudinal sides

  of the supporting plane 15 during the lateral unloading step by spill, in order to make the selection of

profile bars 11.

  At the lower part of said support plane 15, is connected to a support stirrup 28 in the shape of omega reversed a cylinder 29 which carries at the end of its rod 30 a support bar 31 for a pair of rollers 32 of lateral guidance of the extruded plastic section, so as to produce a mobile guide group referenced as a whole

38 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  A pair of orifices 33, made in the support plane

  15 allows the vertical displacement of said guide wheels.

  32 between an operative upper position and a

  lower position below the plane 15 in the phase of de-

  lateral loading. Small guide columns 34

  are provided for the vertical displacement of the rollers 32.

  These columns are connected to the support stirrup 28 at 35 and are slidably mounted in bosses 37 and

  orifices 36 located on the bar 31.

  The support plan 15 also presents, in its center

  o is placed the profile bar 11, a series of three

  openings 39 which allow the passage of weighing plates

  , in full lowering position of the crosspiece 16.

  These weighing plates 40 are placed on vertical columns 41 standing on the base 14 to which they are secured. They are supported by load chambers 42, interposed between arms 43 integral with the columns 41 and arms 44 carrying said plates 40, so as to achieve particular means or groups of

  Weighing referenced as a whole by 45.

  The three charging chambers 42 are connected by

  lines 46 to an electronic device, shown schematically

  47, which determines the final weighing value of the profiled bar 11 under examination, and compares it with the approximation of the predetermined and tolerated value,

  and as a result, selects the profile bars.

  In addition to the comparison of the value recorded by

  weighing means 45 with a predetermined value, the

  positive electronic 47 intervenes via a command line 49, on the machine producing the profiles or groups 12 to correct the adjustment so as to reduce to a correct value the bars of

profiled during production.

  The operating phases are as follows: the continuously extruded thermoplastic profile moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 48. When it reaches the predetermined length, it is cut by the chainsaw 13. The support plane 15 connected to the 16, is then lowered, as shown in Figure 2, by means of the cylinders 21 to a position of end of: stroke completely lowered. The remaining part of the extrusion profile continues its production run in the direction

of the arrow 48.

  The section bar 11 cut thus comes to rest on the plates 40 of the weighing groups 45, as shown in FIG. 2, since said plates 40 pass to

  through the openings 39 of the support plane 15.

  The charging chambers 42 emit a signal proportional to the load undergone and transmit this signal via the lines 46 to the electronic unit 47, which adds up the charges to the three chambers 42 and marks the

weight of profile bar 11.

  As a result, if the weight falls within the preset tolerance limits, the support plane 15 is lifted at one of its longitudinal sides by the action of the pneumatic piston pairs 17 operating in thrust, as shown in phantom on Figure 3, while

  that the other longitudinal side of the support plane 15 is now

  held in the low position by the pneumatic cylinders 17a operating in tension via the pivot 26

  and leaning on support cradles 27.

  On the contrary, if the weight exceeds the predetermined tolerance limits, the support plane 15 is lifted on its opposite longitudinal side by the thrust actuating cylinders 17a, while the other side of the support plane 15 is

  maintained at the bottom by the cylinders 17 operating in tension.

  It can thus be seen that the profile bar 11 can be discharged by spillage or to a planned location

  to collect the compliant bars, either to a location

  opposite direction for non-compliant bars.

  The profile bar I1l can not slide down on either side as long as it is held by the rollers 32 carried by the guide groups 38, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 4. When the bearing plane 15 has reached the maximum inclination, the guide rollers 32 are brought into the retracted position by the pneumatic cylinders 29 placed under the plane 15 and the

  profile bar 1il can slide down.

  In addition, if the weight error exceeds the limits of tolerance, the electronic device besides signaling the error by sound or visual means with digital readout or other of the obtained weight, performs, via the line

  49, the correction and adjustment of the driving speed

  or the extruder 12 or the metering device (not shown), so that the weight returns to a value within the weight tolerance limits. If the re-entry within the tolerance limits does not

  produced, after a number of bars 11 weighings, predetermined

  undermined by the operator, the device automatically

  all the operations necessary for the cessation of

the whole installation.

  Preferably, the means for lateral discharge of the bars 11 by spillage, as described above, are arranged to operate in the intended location

  to collect the non-compliant bars.

  If it is necessary to have bars cut and arranged in an orderly manner, without slipping on the outer surfaces so that they do not undergo deformations, the lateral unloading means shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 can be used. Laterally to the automatic apparatus 10, shown schematically in broken lines, is placed a means of unloading or lateral displacement referenced as a whole 50, able to operate on the bars 11 which arrive on the plane

support 15 of the extruder 12.

  The lateral unloading means 50 comprises respectively

  a series of three lateral displacement groups 54, arranged transversely to the support plane 15, and constituted by columns 56 carrying on one side a fixed plane 57 with a bracket, and on the opposite side, an arm of

  guide 53, which protrudes intermittently and which is

  In the arm 53 is slidably guided a chain 63, driven by motorized gear wheels 64, a push member 65 of the bars being

  further provided, in solidarity with said chain 63 and

  slipping manner so as to drive said bars 11 of the support plane 15 towards a plane 66 fixed above the

columns 56.

  In addition, each of the three lateral displacement groups 54 is associated with a loading device 52 carrying a stack of U-shaped appropriate plates 59 capable of accommodating a plurality of bars 11 therein and which can be superposed while serving as spacer

  in order to protect the profiled bars they contain

  all possible deformations due to weight.

  The stack of plates 59 is placed on a train 58 driven vertically by a worm 61 placed on a corresponding nut (not shown) integral with said sled 58, said screw 61 being rotatably mounted on a frame 71 and connected by means of a transmission 51 to

a geared motor 62.

  Above said frame 71 is placed an element

  60 which acts to remove the last plate 59 which is above the stack, pushing it in the operative position on the fixed plane 57, when the previous plate was removed. The geared motor 62 is actuated so as to cause the stack to rise with a pitch equal to

the height of a plate 59.

  A frame 55, for example having the shape of a door

  that is placed parallel to one side of the bars 11 which are collected over a plane 66 and carries a device

  for gripping and transporting said plates 59.

  A pair of sleepers 72, attached to one end

  of the frame 55 carry actuating elements 67 pro-

  horizontal movement of at least one pair of forceps 69. The clips are provided with a

  ieOperating device 73 for opening or closing

  by widening or reciprocal approximation of

arm 69.

  Other actuating means 74 are slidably mounted

  vertically on guides 68 by clamps 69, so as to raise or lower these relative to

  the support and unloading plan.

  The plates 59 loaded with bars I1l are then deposited and stacked one on the other on a support 70

an evacuation trolley 75.

  The operation of the means of unloading and

  Lateral transport 50 is as follows: when the group operates

  When the selection has found the correct weight tolerance of the profile bar 11, the pusher 65 transports to a predetermined end-of-travel (not shown) the cut profile 11, dragging it onto the planes 66, and then returns immediately to its original position. this is

  allowed by the presence of seats dug in a proper

  in the automatic apparatus 10. After the

  evening 65 transported sections of cut profiles 11 and placed them side by side in contact or spaced apart, a means of limit or proximity contact, of which

  it is equipped, complete the quantity of pre-established profiles.

  Previously, the charger element 60 had placed a plate

59 on the static shot 57.

  At this time, the transport and gripping group formed by the horizontal actuating devices 67, 73 and vertical actuators 74 actuate the spaced arms 69. These actuating devices are pneumatically controlled,

  hydraulically or mechanically by means of

  known and which are not described. When the predetermined amount of profiles 11 is reached on the planes 66, the prehensile arms descend on the guides 68, returning towards the center, seizing by

  below the plate 59 resting on the plane 57, the

  thus with all the profiles and transporting it upwards. The horizontal actuators 67 are placed laterally. They transport the plate 59 filled with profiled bars 11 and deposit it on the

support 70 of the carriage 75.

  The arms 69 are also provided with contacts, not shown.

  which cause the arms to open outwards when they come into contact with the support 70 or

  plates 59 already deposited and supported by it.

  The plates 59 may be simply flat but are more particularly provided in the shape of a wide U with two edges raised to contain the profiles without these weigh their weight on the successive layers

  and thus avoid any possibility of deformation.

  Once the carriage 75 has been loaded, it must be sent to the storage area or

  the packaging of the profile package and replaced by another.

  Although the charging devices 52, the lateral displacement devices 54, the clamps 69 are represented in the number of three in the example shown, they must be at least two for the unloading means 50

can work.

Claims (15)

  An automatic apparatus for the selection and adjustment of profile bars (11) in machines (10) producing extruded plastic profiles, said apparatus being of the type placed downstream of an extruder group (12), a driving unit and an extruded continuous profile bar cutting unit, characterized in that it comprises a base (14) carrying at the upper part a plane (15) for supporting and sliding said profile, means (21) for the vertical displacement of said support plane   between an aligned position with respect to said extraneous group   and a lowered position corresponding to weighing means (40) of said cut bars, integral with said base, means (17, 17a) for lateral discharge to two opposite sides of said cut bars, said means being selectively controlled by said means   in the lowered position, and an electronic device   (47) for comparing the value read by said weighing means with a value   predetermined, so as to cause the unloading of   bars on one side or the other and to correct the   glage of the machine producing plastic profiles.   2. Automatic device according to claim 1,   characterized in that said lateral discharge means   ral are arranged at the edge of a cross member (16) connected to said means for vertical displacement and supporting said support plane (15).   3. Automatic device according to claim 1, characterized in that said support plane (15) has   openings (39) arranged at the center according to the   said profiled bar (11), said weighing means (40) passing through said openings when the   support plane is in lowered position.   4. Automatic device according to claim 1, characterized in that said weighing means comprise support plates (40) of said bar, said plates being placed on charging chambers (42) which   operate by reacting with respect to said base (14).   5. Automatic device according to claim 1, characterized in that lateral guiding means (32) of said profile bar are provided integral with said support plane, these lateral guide means moving between an operative position, above said support plane   (15) and a unloading position of said bar below said support plane.   6. Automatic device according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for moving   vertical of said plane are constituted by jacks (21).   7. Automatic device according to claim 2, characterized in that said lateral discharge means of said profile bar are constituted by means spill.   8. Automatic device according to claim 7, characterized in that said discharge means are constituted by pairs of jacks (17, 17a), arranged transversely to said bearing plane and operating by pivoting relative to said crosspiece (16). and said support plane (15), said jacks being actuated on one side of said apparatus or the other according to the value of the weight raised.   9. Automatic device according to claim 1, characterized in that there is further provided an electronic unit (47) which raises the weighing values of the bars and stops the groups of the machine producing the profile after a certain number of values. false Weighing   10. Automatic device according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for the lateral unloading of said profile bars are pushing elements (65) arranged transversely to said support plane, sliding between guides which move the bars a   selected on a plane parallel to the first one,   interposed between them, means (59) for receiving said selected and spaced apart bars are further provided below said parallel plane.   11. Automatic device according to claim 10, characterized in that said receiving means (59) are fed below said parallel plane by a charger device (54), vertically movable step by step, a loader horizontal element being furthermore provided for said receiving means on a fixed solidarity plane said transverse guides.   12. Automatic device according to claim 10, characterized in that said receiving means are   flat U-shaped plates (59) with end flanges.   13. Automatic device according to claim 10, characterized in that clip means (69) are further provided for gripping said receiving means (59) loaded with bars for lifting, transporting them laterally and depositing them on a carriage discharge (75).   14. Automatic device according to claim 11,   characterized in that said charging device (54) comprises   takes a support frame (71) carrying a worm   (61) driven by a transmission (51) by means of a motor   reducer (62), a nut integral with a sled (58) carrying said receiving means (59) stacked one on the other cooperating with said screw.   15. Automatic device according to claim 13, characterized in that said gripping means comprise a frame (55) carrying on projecting crosspieces (72) a pair of prehensile grippers (69) operating   by spacing and approximation by an actuating element   (74), other actuating means being provided to cause horizontal and vertical displacement by relative to said sleepers.