FR2607798A1 - Machine for handling flat articles, especially bags or sachets being output from a manufacturing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The manufacturing machine includes an output conveyor, for example a drum, which successively delivers the articles 3 one by one onto a stationary output table 4. The handling machine includes: means for counting the articles delivered to the output table; movable separating means 9 which are sensitive to the counting means and which include fingers or stylets 10 which can take up a position behind the last article of a batch delivered to the table in order to create a space between this last article and the first article of the next batch; means 11 for retaining the successive batches of articles 3 on the table 4; and a transfer drum 12, which rotates intermittently and always in the same direction and can pick up from the table 4 the complete batch of articles present between the retention means 11 and the separating means 9, this batch being spaced apart from the next batch, in order to bring the said complete batch into a substantially horizontal position on a second conveyor 13.

Description

 The present invention relates to a machine for handling flat articles, for example bags or sachets, this machine being coupled to the output of a machine for manufacturing these articles.

 Its purpose is to provide a machine of this kind which can count the articles, constitute batches or handles comprising a predetermined number of articles, and evacuate these batches for later manipulation, for example for the constitution of packets of 'articulations which include several batches stacked and juxtaposed, while adapting to the high rate of the manufacturing machine.

 The invention applies in particular to a machine of this kind which is coupled to the output of a machine for manufacturing bags or sachets along two lines in parallel, the bags or sachets having at one end an excess thickness formed by a flap closing the bottom of the bag.

 To this end, the machine according to the invention, for handling flat articles, in particular bags or sachets, at the outlet of a manufacturing machine which comprises an outlet conveyor, for example a drum, delivering to the unit and successively said articles in a substantially vertical position and in facial contact on a fixed output table, is characterized in that it comprises - means for counting the articles delivered to the output table - movable, sensitive separating means with counting means and having their own fingertips or styli to be placed behind the last article of a batch delivered to the output table to create a space between this last article and the first article of the following batch - means for retaining successive batches of articles on the table - and a transfer drum, with intermittent rotation and always in the same direction, suitable for removing from the output table the complete batch of articles present between the means retaining means and the separating means and spaced from said next batch, to bring said complete batch substantially in a horizontal position on a second conveyor.

 Thanks to such a machine, the articles, at the outlet of the manufacturing machine, are handled automatically by being counted, accumulated according to a predetermined number to constitute a batch or handle, this batch then being evacuated downstream.

 The machine according to the invention is preferably coupled to a manufacturing machine, the output conveyor of which consists of a drum which has circular grooves situated in planes parallel to the direction of travel of the articles, and the fingers or styli of the means. separators can be housed, for their inactive retracted waiting position, in at least part of these grooves, and preferably in all the grooves to make usable the entire width of the output conveyor.

 Preferably, the fingers or styli of the separating means are mounted on a common mobile support which is moved in an alternating movement, being urged downstream by the action of the articulations themselves coming from the manufacturing machine and towards the 'upstream by return means, the fingers being retracted under the output table to return to the standby position.

 To allow interpenetration of the successive elements of the machine, the output table is constituted by spaced parallel longitudinal bars, the fingers or styli of the separating means are inserted between said bars, the retaining means are constituted by elastic fingers which insert between said bars and which are each located in a longitudinal vertical plane, the transfer drum comprises radial fingers and annular rods which are inserted between said bars and between the elastic fingers, and the second conveyor comprises parallel longitudinal rods fixed and movable belts between which pass the radial fingers of the transfer drum.

The successive elements of the machine can thus interfere with each other like combs.

 The articles which are delivered to the output table are retained downstream by the elastic fingers of the retaining means, these elastic fingers being carried by a common transverse support which is resiliently biased towards the output conveyor, these retaining fingers being elastically driven back downstream during the rotation of the transfer drum for the evacuation of a batch.

 Preferably, the length of the radial fingers of the transfer drum is adjustable so that it can be adapted to the thickness of the batches to be handled.

 The transfer drum is rotated intermittently and always in the same direction by motor means which are arranged to first accelerate the transfer drum from zero speed at the start of its rotation for removing the complete batch from the table exit, then to decelerate it to zero speed at the end of this rotation, so as to deposit almost without inertia said complete batch of articles stacked on the second conveyor.

 According to an advantageous characteristic, security means can be associated with the transfer drum which are used in the event of a resistant overload applied to the transfer drum.

 According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, applicable in particular when the articles have an excess thickness at one end, as is the case for paper bags or sachets whose bottom is formed and closed by a flap, the machine comprises, in downstream of the second conveyor, means of rotation for rotating 900 alternately in one direction and in the other the successive complete batches deposited on the second conveyor, this rotation being in the plane of the articles, so that the excess thickness existing at one end of the lots is alternately on one side and the other at the outlet of the machine, with a view to compensation during the stacking of successive lots for the constitution of packages.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the machine according to the invention is mounted at the outlet of the manufacturing machine, the latter possibly being an existing machine, and the counting means include light means for coupling with the manufacturing machine, for counting the
items delivered by the outbound carrier, the whole
being such that it makes it possible to couple the machine according to the invention
downstream of the manufacturing machine without intervention on
this one and without mechanical connection between the two machines.

The above provisions apply to a machine
of manufacturing which delivers the articles either along a line
single, either along two lines in parallel.

The invention will be clearly understood on reading the
additional description which follows and with reference to
attached drawings in which
- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a
handling machine established according to the invention.

- Figure 2 is a schematic side elevational view of
the machine of figure l;
- the line in Figure 3 is a schematic plan view
showing the movement of batches of items from their pick
from the work table to their exit
- Figures 4 to 6 are detail views, in elevation
lateral, showing for three positions separating means,
retaining means and the transfer drum, the manu
tention of articles.

- Figure 7 shows in elevation the mounting method of the fingers
or styli of the separating means
FIG. 8 is a view in longitudinal section showing the
structure of the separating means, their mounting means and
their control means
- Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the
structure and mounting of the retaining means
- Figure 10 is a radial section of the transfer drum
showing its structure and the means to adjust the length
active fingers- radial
- Figure 11 is an axial section along the line XI-XI of
figure 10
- Figure 12 is a schematic side view showing the safety means for the transfer drum; and - Figures 13 to 15 are views similar to Figure 3 and show the handling of lots according to three variants.

 We will describe first; with reference to Figures 1 to 6, the general structure of the machine and its operation.

 The machine according to the invention is intended to be mounted downstream of a machine 1 for manufacturing articles of which only the output conveyor 2, for example a transverse drum, is shown.

 In the preferred application of the invention, the machine 1 makes, from a reel, paper bags or sachets 3, the initial sheet of paper being successively printed, cut, folded, glued, cut transversely and again cut folded transversely to form the bags 3. This manufacturing machine is itself known and will not be described here in more detail.

 However, it will be indicated that the manufacturing machine 1 can deliver the articles 3 either in a single line, or, as shown, along two parallel lines which are produced simultaneously, which increases the production rate.

 The articles 3, at the outlet of the manufacturing machine 1, are delivered to the unit and successively in a substantially vertical position on a fixed outlet table 4 which is slightly inclined downward and downstream, for example by 5 . On the table 4, the articles 3 accumulate in facial contact and are driven gradually downstream by the articles 3 delivered by the drum 2.

 The articles 3 which are delivered to the fixed table 4 are counted during their passage on the output drum 2 by light means 5 which constitute an optical coupling between the manufacturing machine 1 and the machine according to the invention, without mechanical intervention on machine 1 and without mechanical connection between the two machines. For example, these light means comprise a source 6 and a receiver 7 which are mounted on the machine according to the invention, and a set of mirrors 8, for example four in number, which are mounted on the periphery of the drum 2, these mirrors 8 being angularly distributed at the pitch of the bags 3 on the drum. At each passage of a bag, the detector 7 receives a light pulse which is then processed by an appropriate counting circuit emitting a signal when a predetermined count is reached, this count being for example fifty or one hundred.

 The machine according to the invention comprises mobile separating means 9 which are controlled from the counting means and which include fingers or styli 10 suitable for being placed behind the last article 3 of a batch delivered to the output table 4 when the account has been reached to create a space between this last article and the first article of the next batch. As shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fingers 10 protrude upwards relative to the table 4 for their active separation position and they are gradually driven downstream by the articles 3 delivered by the drum 2. For their inactive position, as shown in Figure 6, the fingers are located under the table 4, in the retracted position.

 The articles 3 which are delivered on the table 4 are retained downstream by retaining means 11 which pass through the table 4 upwards and which are of the elastic and retractable type. These retaining means 11 are gradually driven downstream by the articles 3 themselves.

 The machine according to the invention also comprises a transfer drum 12, with intermittent rotation and always in the same direction, this drum being arranged to take from the table 4 the complete batch of articles 3 which is there and which is present between the retaining means 11 and the separating means 9, to raise it and tilt it 90 "so as to deposit it in a substantially horizontal position on a second conveyor 13.

 The transfer drum 12 has a horizontal transverse axis which is located in the inclined plane of the output table 4.

 In known manner, the output drum 2 has circular grooves 14, in which are housed the upstream ends of the fixed table 4, and also the pointed ends 15 of the fingers or stylets 10 of the separating means for the inactive retracted standby position. of these.

 Thus, on the one hand, it is ensured that no article 3 can remain on the drum 2 beyond the table 4 and, on the other hand, any interference of the separation fingers 10 with the bags is avoided. when these fingers are in the waiting position.

Furthermore, for this waiting position, the fingers 10 are in the immediate vicinity of the periphery of the drum 2 and projecting upwards relative to the table 4, which allows them to come into the active position for separating the articles by a movement of small amplitude. Preferably, each groove 14 of the outlet drum 2 is associated with a finger 10, so that the entire width of the drum is made usable, which allows the machine according to the invention to process articles of any width compatible with that of the manufacturing machine 1.

 In operation, the fixed table 4 interferes with the drum 2, the separating fingers 10, the retaining means 11, and the lifting drum 12, while the latter interferes with the second conveyor 13. To allow this interference, the output table 4 is constituted by parallel and spaced apart longitudinal bars 16, the separating fingers 10 are inserted between the bars 16, the retaining means 11 are constituted by elastic fingers 11 made of metal wire which are inserted between the bars 16 and which are each located in a longitudinal vertical plane projecting from the fixed table 4 upwards, the transfer transfer drum 12 comprises radial fingers 18 and annular rods 19 each extending over approximately 90, the radial fingers 18 and the rods annulars 19 inserted between the fixed bars 16 and the elastic fingers 17, and the second conveyor 13 is constituted by an alternation of fixed parallel longitudinal rods 20 and belts or movable cords 21 between which pass the radial fingers 18 and the annular rods 19 of the drum 12. Thus, the various above organs interfere and cooperate with each other in the manner of combs.

 The operation of the machine described at this point will now be briefly described.

 The separating fingers 10 being retracted into the inactive standby position in the grooves 14 of the drum 2 (FIG. 4), the articles delivered by the drum 2 gradually accumulate on the output table 4 by driving out the articles 3 already present on this and pushing them downstream against the elastic action of the retaining means 11. Simultaneously, the articles 3 are counted by the optical means 5, and, when the count is reached, the separating fingers 10 are suddenly moved downstream for a short distance, projecting from table 4 to separate the last article 3 from the complete batch in relation to the following articles. As the next batch is being formed, the previous complete batch is biased downstream to a position for which the transfer drum 12 is actuated, this drum picking up by its fingers 18 'the complete batch of the table 4 to raise it, tilt it 90 "and deposit it in hor position horizontal on the second conveyor 13. When the complete batch has been removed from table 4, the retaining means 11 spring back upstream to bear against the first article of the following batch and the separating fingers 10 are retracted under the table 3 to be brought upstream then immobilized in the high position in the grooves 14 of the drum 2, pending the end of the formation of the next batch (fig. 4).

 We will now describe in more detail, with reference to Figures 7 and 8, the structure and the control means of the separating fingers 10. The fingers 10 are constituted by metal blades which are located in longitudinal planes and whose lower ends are located under the output table 4 and are each secured to a sole 22, the soles 22 being secured to each other by a transverse support 23 on which they are rigidly mounted. The support 23 is carried by a carriage 24 which can roll in a reciprocating motion on longitudinal rectilinear rails 25 by means of upper rollers 26 and lower rollers 27 provided at the front and at the rear of the carriage. 25 are rigidly mounted on a second carriage 28 which can move obliquely in a longitudinal plane by rolling on fixed rails 29 carried by the frame of the machine, the rolling being carried out on each side by rollers 30 arranged on either side other of the associated rail 29. The carriage 28 is moved on the rails 29 in a reciprocating rectilinear movement under the control of a jack 31 whose body 32 is articulated at 33 around a fixed transverse axis of the machine and whose rod 34 is articulated at 35 on the second carriage 28.

The jack 31 allows, by the upward or downward vertical component which it gives to the carriage 28, and therefore to the separating fingers i0, to put the fingers 10 in the high position when these are waiting in the grooves 14 or in the active position for separating two successive articles, and lowering the fingers 10 into the retracted position under the table 4 during the return stroke upstream after the lifting drum 12 has removed from the table 4 the complete batch of articles.

 The carriage 24 moves upstream on its rails 25 under the control of a jack 36 with an axis parallel to the rails 25, the body 37 of which is mounted on a plate 38 integral with the carriage 28, and the rod 39 of which carries at its end a heel 40 adapted to cooperate unilaterally with a stop 41 carried by the carriage 91. The role of this jack 36 is to bring the separating fingers 10 upstream after the lifting drum 12 has removed the complete batch of items of the output table 4. The carriage 24 is also returned to its upstream position by a counterweight 42 which is suspended from a cable 42 'passing over a pulley 43 carried by the plate 38, the cable 42' being attached at 44 on the carriage 24.In operation, the carriage 24 is thus permanently recalled upstream, but it moves downstream by the hunting effect caused by the successive articles 3 which accumulate between the separating fingers 10 and the periphery of the output drum 2. Putting the separating fingers 1 0 in the active separation position is carried out from the retracted waiting position in the grooves 14, by a compression spring 45 which is disposed between the carriage 28 and the carriage 24 and which biases the latter downstream at the start of the deployment of the jack 36. When the predetermined count has been reached, the jack 36 is deployed and, from the start of this stroke, the spring 45 acts in the manner of a trigger to instantly release the separating fingers 10 from the grooves 14, this spring 45 overcoming the antagonistic action of the counterweight 42. As the articles 3 of the following batch are delivered on the table 4, behind the separating fingers 10, they exert on them an action directed downstream which overcomes the counterweight return force 42.

 According to one embodiment, the transverse support 23 carrying the separating fingers 10 by the flanges 22 can be secured to the carriage 24, in which case the separating fingers move parallel to themselves.

 As a variant, as shown in FIG. 8, means can be provided for angularly tilting the separating fingers 10 between their inactive waiting position in the grooves 14 and their active separation position.

According to this variant, the support 23 is integral with an auxiliary carriage 46 which can roll by rollers 47 on rails 48 carried by the carriage 24 and in an arc centered on the tip 15 of the fingers 10. The carriage 46 is coupled , by a transverse articulation 49, on a pin 50 integral with the lower strand 51 of a closed belt 52 circulating around a mad high upstream hen 53 and a low downstream pulley 54, carried by the carriage 24. The strands of the belt 52 are substantially parallel to the rope defined by the arc of a circle of the rails 48. The driving pulley 54 is driven by an endless belt 55 which extends parallel to the rails 25 and whose axes of the extreme pulleys are also carried by the carriage 24. The lower strand 56 of the endless belt 55 fixedly carries a pin 57 which is integral with the stop 41 of the carriage 24. The upper strand 58 of the endless belt 55 carries a pin 59 to which is hooked one end a tension spring 60 d have the other end is hooked to the carriage 24. In operation, when the return cylinder 36 is returned to the contracted position, the heel 40 of its rod cooperates with the stop 41 integral with the carriage 24 and the lower strand 56 to bring the carriage 24 to the rear and, simultaneously, turn the belt 55 counterclockwise (fig. 8), against the action of the return spring 60. As a result, the belt 52 is also driven in the same direction and the pin 50 carried by its lower strand 52 drives the auxiliary carriage 46 upstream and upward by tilting the separating fingers 10 to bring them into a position close to the tangent to the output drum 2. When the actuation of the actuator 36 is carried out, at the end of the predetermined count, the compression spring 45 slightly displaces the carriage 24, and consequently the stop 41 and the pin 57, downstream, by turning the belt 55 clockwise, this movement being further facilitated by the tension spring 60. As shown in solid lines in the figure 8, the separating fingers 10 are then in the active position for separating the articles, in a position inclined relative to the position they had in the grooves 14, the tips 15 of the fingers 10 being at a sufficient distance from the periphery of the drum 2 for the reception of the first article 3 of the following lot.

 A more detailed description will now be given, with reference to FIG. 9, of the structure and mounting of the retaining fingers 17 belonging to the retaining means 11. The fingers 17 each consist of a metal wire which is bent to present its convexity towards the 'upstream. The lower ends of the fingers 17 are located under the table 4 and they are fixed, for example by welding, on vertical blades 61 which are carried by a common transverse support 62 articulated at 63, around a transverse axis, on a support fixed 64. A spring 65, of adjustable position, is hooked at one end on the tilting support 62 and, at its other end, on the fixed support 64. In operation, the retaining fingers 17 move downstream, under the hunting effect of the articles 3 arriving on the output table 4. This displacement can be analyzed, on the one hand, by a bending of the fingers 17 themselves and, on the other hand, by a tilting of the support 62 against the action of the return spring 65. When the transfer drum 12 removes the complete batch from the table 4, the fingers 17 are strongly stressed downstream, retracting between the lifting fingers 18 and between the annular rods 19 of the drum 12. When the complete batch being withdrawn has failed applied to the fingers 17, these return to the maximum upstream position, due to their own elasticity and the return action of the spring 65 to come to bear on the first article 3 of the following batch, after which the fingers 10 are brought back upstream in the waiting position.

 We will now describe in more detail, with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the structure and the operation of the lifting drum, this transfer 12. As indicated above, the drum 12 comprises radial fingers 18 and annular bars 19. In the embodiment shown, the drum 12 comprises four sets of aligned fingers 18 which are angularly distributed at 90 ". The drum 12 comprises radial flanges 66 (fig. 11) which carry, at their periphery, four longitudinal bars 67 crossed by the fingers 18.

The bars 67 support the folded ends of the peripheral bars 19 and they have radial bores 68 in which the radial fingers can slide 18. The radially inner ends of each set of radial fingers 18 are fixed to a longitudinal bar 69 which, at each end , is articulated around an axis 70 at one end of a control rod 71 whose other end is articulated at 72 on a radial tab 73 of a nut 74 locked in rotation. Each nut 74 can be moved axially by a screw 75 having two threads 76, 77 of opposite pitch, this screw being controlled in rotation from the outside by its end 78. By the operation of the control screw 75, the operator moves axially in opposite directions the two nuts 74, which causes, as the case may be, the retraction or the exit of the longitudinal bars 69 via the connecting rods 71, and consequently a variation in the active length of the gripping fingers 18.

 As seen in particular in Figure 10, the free end of the gripping fingers 18 has a spout 82 whose role is to come cooperate- in a retaining action with the last article 3 of the batch taken from the table 4 by the drum 12, the spouts 82 aligning with the fingers 10 during gripping.

 FIG. 12 shows the motor 83 for driving the transfer elevator drum (not shown). This motor 83, as well as the drum itself, are mounted on a support 84 which can oscillate around a fixed transverse axis 85 coinciding with the axis of the drum 12. The weight of the motor 83 is balanced by a counterweight 86 carried by the support 84. A damper 8 is arranged between the support 84 and the fixed frame of the machine. A proximity detector 88 cooperates with the support 84 to emit an emergency stop signal in the event of the support 84 dfl tilting to a resistant overload applied to the drum 12.

 The motor 83 drives a reduction gear 83 'which, in a manner known per se, is arranged so that, from a constant speed of rotation of the output shaft of the motor 83, it controls the rotation of the drum 12 according to a movement which is first accelerated from a zero speed to a maximum speed, then decelerated to a zero speed which is reached after a rotation of 90 "of the drum, corresponding to the removal of the complete batch of articles on the second transporter 13. Thus, on the one hand, the complete batch of articles 3 is taken from the output table 4 with a low initial speed, and it is gently deposited on the transporter, which avoids its disturbance.

 The motor 83 is actuated by a signal which comes either from the counting means, or from a limit switch. In both cases, it is possible, for example, to wait for a few items 3 of the following batch to be delivered to the table 4. When the motor 83 is activated, the beaks 82 of the fingers 18 of the drum 12 are aligned with the fingers 10 to lodge in the space defined by them and separating the complete batch to be withdrawn from the next batch being formed, the fingers 18 thus ensuring perfect removal of the complete batch.

 Referring again to Figures 1 to 3, another characteristic of lc is illustrated. present invention according to which means are provided for rotating 90 "alternately in one direction and in the other successive complete batches of articles which are deposited on the second conveyor 13, this rotation taking place in the plane of the articles, c that is to say in a horizontal plane in the example considered, so that the allowance which may exist at one end of the lots is alternately on one side and the other at the outlet of the machine, in view compensation for excess thicknesses during the stacking of successive batches, for the constitution of packages.

 This characteristic is particularly advantageous in the case where the articles 3 consist of bags or sachets which, at one end, for example the downstream end on the drum 2 and therefore the upstream end on the conveyor 13, have an induced excess thickness by a flap 3a for constituting and closing the bottom of the bags 3.

When the batches arrive successively on the conveyor 13, the cumulative excess thicknesses give the batches a trapezoid shape. Thanks to the 90 "rotation alternately on one side and the other, the extra thicknesses, at the exit of the machine, are located alternately to the left and to the right, the alternation being done from one batch to the other if machine 1 has only one production line, or in pairs of batches if machine 1 has two production lines.

 In the preferred application mode considered here, the manufacturing machine 1 comprises two production lines, the means of rotation therefore comprise two vertical tanks 89 without bottom which are located downstream of the conveyor 13 and which are capable of two movements: a movement of rotation at 90 "in one direction or the other around a vertical axis, and a vertical upward or downward movement parallel to this axis. Each bin, for the batch receiving position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has a total opening upstream and has three vertical side walls 90. Each tank is therefore in the form of a U open upstream. The tanks 89 are fixedly suspended from a plate 91 secured to the lower end a urtical rod 92 located in the median longitudinal plane of the machine. The vertical rod 92 is carried by a fixed bracket 93 which further supports means 94, for example an electric motor, for rotating the rod 92 of 90 "in one direction or the other, and means 95, for example a double-acting cylinder, for vertically moving the rod 92. The motor 94 and the cylinder 95 are controlled to cause the following sequence of operations , from the position in FIG. 1 for which the trays 89 are in the low position for receiving the two batches of articles. When the batches are ready to enter the trays, by the means described below, and the end of this penetration being for example indicated by optical means comprising the interruption of a transverse light beam which crosses aligned notches 96 of the four side walls 90 parallel to the tanks, the rod 92 rotates 90 "in one direction or in the 'other, in the opposite direction to the rotation applied to the previous pair of lots, so as to cause the two lots to be aligned on the longitudinal direction of the machine, the extra thicknesses of the lots which were initially upstream then being , after this rotation, to the left or to the right, the elevation of the rod 92 for the lifting of the tanks 89, so as to clear the tanks from the lots and allow these to be routed downstream, then the return of the tanks in the initial position by lowering and rotating 90 "in the other direction.

 The bottom of the tanks 89 is constituted by a movable surface 97 belonging to a conveyor 98 which, preferably, is distinct from the conveyor 13 and which, also preferably, is constituted by a full endless belt. The conveyor 98 is intermittently driven to move continuously until the end of the rotation of the trays, to stop at the end of this rotation at least until the end of the lifting of the trays, and to move at again until the end of the rotation associated with the next cycle. The conveyor 98 must be driven during the rotation of the trays 89 so as to maintain in the corresponding tray that of the batches of articles which, during the rotation, moves downstream. At the end of the rotation and during the lifting of the bins, the transporter 98 must be stopped so as not to drive the lower part of the batches while their upper part still cooperates with the bins. When the bins are completely raised, the transporter 98 is again actuated to drive the batches thus turned 90 ° downstream. The transporter 98 is followed, downstream, by another transporter 99 which ensures the evacuation of the batches in view of their manual or automatic manipulation for the constitution of packages by stacking lots.

 As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, various variants can be provided for the rotation of the batches of articles transferred to the conveyor 13 by the drum 12. In FIG. 13, the batches are first shifted transversely relative to the machine, while being brought into abutment against each other to then be routed downstream: and be rotated by a single bin 89 '. In the variant of Figure 14, the two lots are first spread transversely, then they are each rotated by an individual bin 89 ". In the variant of Figure 15, a pair of lots out of two is shifted transversely, as in Figure 13, and there are provided two separate sets of rotation, arranged transversely one next to the other, one of these sets comprising a single tank 89 'of the kind of that of Figure 13, and the other assembly comprising two tanks 89 of the kind of those of FIGS. 1 and 2.

 With the arrangement of FIG. 13, a single line of pairs of lots turned in pairs is obtained and output with the arrangement of FIG. 11, two parallel lines of lots are turned alternately to the left and to the right; and with the arrangement of FIG. 15, two parallel lines of lots are obtained at the output which are rotated in pairs.

 I1 emerges from the above that the invention allows the automatic handling of articles 3 at the outlet of the manufacturing machine 1, this handling can be done thanks in particular to the movement of the transfer drum 12 always in the same direction, by absorbing the production rate of machine 1 which can be very high; for example, this production rate can be 45,000 bags / hour, which represents, for batches of 100 bags, a cycle lasting 8 seconds for the separation means 9, the transfer drum 12 and the means of rotation, this duration being compatible with the structure given to the various means of the invention.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments, nor to the mode of application, which have been described; one could on the contrary conceive various variants without leaving as much sc. frame.

Claims (20)

 1 - Machine for handling flat articles (3), in particular bags or sachets, at the outlet of a manufacturing machine (1) of said articles, the latter comprising an outlet conveyor (2), for example a drum delivering successively said articles (3) to the unit in a substantially vertical position and in facial contact on a fixed output table (4), characterized in that it comprises  - means (5) for counting the articles (3) delivered to the output table (4)  - mobile separating means (9), sensitive to the counting means and comprising fingers or styli (10) suitable for being placed behind the last article (3) of a batch delivered to the output table (4) to create a space between this last article and the first article of the next batch  - Means (11) for retaining successive batches of articles (3) on the table (4)  - And a transfer drum (12), intermittently rotating and always in the same direction, suitable for removing from the output table (4) the complete batch of articles (3) present between the retaining means (11) and the separating means (9) and spaced from said next batch, for bringing said complete batch substantially in a horizontal position on a second conveyor (13).  2 - Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet conveyor (2) has grooves (14) located in planes parallel to the direction of travel of the articles (3), and the fingers or styli (10) separator means (9) are suitable for being housed, for their inactive retracted waiting position, in at least part of said grooves (14), and preferably in all the grooves (14), to make the entire width of the output conveyor (2).  3 - Machine according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the separating means (9) are mounted on a mobile carriage (24, 28) carried by guide means (25, 29) and moved in the direction of return to the inactive position of the separating means (9) by motor means (31, 36), in particular at least one jack, and, in the other direction, first by means (45) pci- put the fingers or styli (10) in the active position, projecting from the output table (4), to separate two successive articles (3), then, against the action of return means (42), by the following articles (3) themselves, which arrive on the output table (4) and drive downstream the articles already present on it.  4 - Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the guide means (25, 29) are arranged so that, in their downstream movement, the fingers or styli (10) of the separating means (9) are in projecting from the table (4) and that, in their return movement upstream, they are retracted under the table.  5 - Machine according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the means for putting the fingers or styli (10) in the active position consist of at least one spring (45) which is made active when the driving means return (31, 36) are at rest.  6 - Machine according to one of claims 3 to i, characterized in that the return means (42) are constituted by a counterweight.  7 - Machine according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the mobile carriage (24) carries an auxiliary carriage (46) directly supporting the fingers or styli (10), this auxiliary carriage moving on means of ramp guide (48) so that the fingers or styli (10) tilt between their inactive standby position and their active position for separating two successive articles (3), in particular by tilting in an arc centered on the point (15) fingers (10).  8 - Machine according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the outlet table (4) is constituted by spaced apart longitudinal bars (16); the fingers or styli (10) of the separating means (9) are inserted between said bars (16); the retaining means (11) consist of elastic fingers (17) which are inserted between said bars (16) and which are each located in a longitudinal vertical plane; the transfer drum has radial fingers (18) and annular rods (19) which are inserted between said bars (16) and between said elastic fingers (17); and the second conveyor (13) has fixed parallel longitudinal rods (20) and movable belts (21) between which the radial fingers (18) and the annular rods (19) of the transfer drum (12) pass.  9 - Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the elastic fingers (17) of the retaining means (11) are carried by a common transverse support (62) which is resiliently biased towards the output conveyor (2).  10 - Machine according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the free end of the radial fingers (18) of the transfer drum (12) has a spout (82), the spouts (82) coming s' align with your fingers or styli (10) to collect the entire batch.  11 - Machine according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the transfer drum (12) comprises means for adjusting the active length of the radial fingers (18) for adaptation to the thickness of the batch .  12 - Machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the adjustment means comprise  - a longitudinal bar (69) for mounting the inner ends of each set of radial fingers (18)  - And at least one connecting rod (71) arranged to move said bar (69) radially and articulated on an element (74) which can be moved axially.  13 - Machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the element (74) movable axially consists of a nut locked in rotation and cooperating with a screw (75) controlled from the outside.  14 - Machine according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it comprises motor means (83, 83 ') stepping drive of the transfer drum (12), to accelerate the transfer drum from a zero speed at the start of its rotation for removing the complete batch of articles from the table (4), then to decelerate it to a zero speed at the end of said rotate: .n, so as to deposit almost without inertia said complete batch of articles stacked on the second conveyor (13).  15 - Machine according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it comprises means (88) for safety in the event of a resistant overload applied to the transfer drum (12).  16 - Machine according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that it comprises, downstream of the second conveyor (13), rotation means (89 - 98) for rotating 90 "alternately in one direction and in the other the successive complete batches deposited on the second conveyor (13), this rotation being in the plane of the articles (3), so that the excess thickness existing at one end of the batches is alternately on one side and on the other at the exit of the machine, for compensation during the stacking of successive batches for the constitution of packets.  17 - Machine according to claim 16, characterized in that the rotation means comprise  - a bottomless tank (89, 89 ', 89 ") which has three side walls (90) and a side entry, this tank being arranged so that the batch comes to lodge there by itself during its movement towards downstream  - motor means (94) to rotate 90 "in one direction or the other, said container containing the batch  - And means (95) for, on the one hand, lifting the bin at the end of said rotation to release it from the batch and allow it to be routed downstream after its rotation and, secondly hand, lower it against a movable lower surface (97) for supporting the batches.  18 - Machine according to claim 17, characterized in that the movable lower surface (97) belongs to a conveyor (98), preferably separate from the second conveyor (13) and preferably comprising a solid strip, which is controlled so intermittent to move continuously until the end of said rotation, to stop during lifting of the tank, and to move again until the end of the rotation of the next cycle.  19 - Marhine according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the counting means (5) comprise light means for coupling with said machine (1) for manufacturing articles (3), for counting the articles delivered by said outlet conveyor (2), the assembly being such that it makes it possible to couple said handling machine downstream of the manufacturing machine (1) without intervention or mechanical connection.  20 - Machine according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that it comprises, like the manufacturing machine (1), two lines of articles (3) which are manufactured and then handled simultaneously side by side.