FR3069804A1 - MACHINE FOR PREPARING POSTERS, ESPECIALLY POSTERS FOR RETAIL ADVERTISING PANELS - Google Patents

Abstract

Automated machine for preparing individual posters, in particular the posters being subsequently intended to be assembled to obtain a train of posters for use in scrolling advertising panels, the machine comprising driving means (4, 4 ') intended to drive in a running direction (X) a continuous sheet on which are printed visuals to be prepared as individual posters, cutting means (9A), deposition means (9B) of assembly systems of the zip type, characterized in that the deposition means (9B) of the zip type assembly systems are implemented transversely to the direction of travel.

Description

MACHINE FOR PREPARING POSTERS, PARTICULARLY POSTERS FOR ROLL-OUT ADVERTISING SIGNS

The invention relates to a machine for preparing posters intended to be subsequently assembled in order to obtain a train of posters for their use in scrolling advertising panels.

The invention will be more particularly described with regard to posters for scrolling advertising panels, without however being limited thereto.

Once the visuals intended to become posters, and printed at a printer on a continuous sheet one after the other, the sheet is wound in the form of a reel and sent to a specialized poster preparation workshop, which prepares the visuals in individual posters which can later be assembled in the form of posters.

The reel of printed visuals is unrolled and the visuals are cut together according to their width to be individually prepared in the form of posters. The standard dimensions of a poster are either 2 m ² (so-called small posters) with a width of 2500 mm, or 8 or 9 m ² (so-called large posters) with a respective width of 3200 mm or 3600 mm.

In the following description, the term "width" or "width" of a poster means the horizontal dimension of the poster relating to a vertical notion of positioning of the poster when looking at its graphic impression / its visual. . Its edges

The term "lateral" means the dimension corresponding to the height of the poster in the display viewing position, that is to say the direction perpendicular to the width.

The edges parallel to the width and perpendicular to the lateral edges are called transverse edges.

The preparation of a poster consists in cutting out (trimming) its lateral edges, possibly affixing on said cut edges a reinforcing adhesive (mainly for large posters), then attaching means of assembly of the zip type on the two edges transverse bottom and top of the width, if necessary add an additional adhesive for a reinforced fixing of the zips on the poster, and finally rewind the individual posters prepared for their delivery.

Today, poster preparation is done in several manual or semi-automated stages.

There are partial preparation machines which, after unwinding the printed visuals, trim the lateral edges of the posters and cut the posters (visuals) parallel to the width of the sheet. However, these machines do not allow you to deposit zip. The zips are deposited manually on each separate poster, as well as the reinforcing adhesives.

However, the manual preparation work which follows the cuts is tedious for the operator and any gain in productivity is impossible.

We also know machines that apply the zip continuously (during scrolling) on an unwound reel, then temporarily stops the machine to individually cut the posters. However, these machines do not allow large posters of 8 or 9 m ² to be processed. In addition, they do not allow the affixing of reinforcement adhesives if necessary on the lateral edges of the posters, and on the zips once these have been applied.

The object of the invention is therefore to propose an automated preparation machine which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks, in particular by carrying out all of the preparation operations, including those optional, in an automated, reliable and rapid manner, while allowing when necessary a winding of individually prepared posters. The object of the invention is also, thanks to such a fully automated machine, to allow it to be installed directly at the printers who will then be able to deliver the ready-made posters directly to the displays, the latter no longer necessarily having to resort to subcontractors for the preparation of posters. In addition, the same machine aims to process posters both small (2 m ² ) and large (8 or 9 m ² ).

According to the invention, the automated machine for preparing individual posters, in particular the posters being subsequently intended to be assembled in order to obtain a train of posters for their use in scrolling advertising panels, comprises drive means intended for drive in a direction of travel X a continuous sheet on which are printed visuals to be prepared in individual posters, cutting means, means for depositing (fixing) assembly systems of the zip type, and is characterized in that the depositing means of the zip-type assembly systems are implemented transversely to the direction of travel.

The term "assembly systems" means means made integral with the posters and intended to subsequently allow the assembly of at least two posters by their width to produce a train of posters.

Thus, at the end of the preparation of the posters, these can if necessary be rolled up for packaging immediately after the assembly of the zips. The winding being parallel to the longitudinal direction of the assembly systems (zip), it is done in continuity at the exit of the machine without having to angularly modify the arrival of the posters, since the posters come out with their zip already placed parallel to the winding direction. This winding step in the continuity of the direction of scrolling of the posters with the prior operation of fixing the zip perpendicular to the direction of scrolling, is impossible in the prior art for which the zip is on the contrary assembled in the direction of scrolling. which does not allow to roll up immediately after the posters which would otherwise need to be rotated 90 °.

In addition, this machine which makes it possible to process posters whatever their width, in particular posters of wide width (large width of 5 m for example), authorizes the printers to print posters of wide width, posters of larger width than those now processed by existing automated machines that fix the zips, saving printing and production time. Indeed, as the printing progresses, the sheet is rolled up parallel to its width; when the sheet is then unrolled by the machine of the invention, the fixing of the zip will be done according to the width since it will be perpendicular to the direction of unrolling. On the contrary, the machines of the prior art which fix the zip in an automated manner carry out the operation in the direction of unwinding, that is to say perpendicular to the printing width, imposing on the printers printing widths which are today at most of the order in particular of 3.2 m so that the visual once the poster in place in a rollout panel is in the right direction from top to bottom. Today, the zip fastening for large poster widths can only be done manually.

Furthermore, the machine of the invention allows the processing of directly printed posters; it can thus be associated immediately at the output of a printer.

According to one characteristic, the machine comprises additional functional means which in combination with the drive means, the cutting means, the deposition means of the assembly systems, constitute automated means designed to supply from a continuous sheet. printed with consecutive visuals, individual cut posters which have on the one hand, according to the width on their top and bottom transverse edges, edges perpendicular to the axis of travel of the machine, assembly systems of the zip type, and possibly reinforcing adhesives placed on the base of the assembly systems, and on the other hand, on at least one lateral edge perpendicular to the transverse edges, one or more marking elements of the type with reflecting function and / or with induction detection , such as labels with reflective coating of the aluminum type, and possibly on the two opposite lateral edges of the adhesives of r enfort.

Consequently, the machine of the invention, which forms a unitary assembly, makes it possible to carry out in an automated manner, without manual intervention, all the processing operations which the continuous printed sheet must undergo in order to provide individual posters fully prepared and ready for their production. use.

“Processing operations” means all the operations undergone by the sheet, of affixing of marking elements, of cutting, of deposition of assembly systems, of affixing of adhesive.

According to one characteristic, the drive means which are motorized also constitute means for unwinding the continuous sheet when the latter is present at the entry of the machine in the form of a reel.

The direction of unwinding and scrolling of the unrolled sheet, or even winding of the posters once prepared, corresponds to the dimension which is intended to constitute the height of the posters.

According to the invention, the machine comprises (towards its downstream), so-called transverse cutting means capable of cutting the sheet along the width perpendicular to the direction of travel to separate the visuals into individual posters, means for depositing systems of assembly such as zips, preferably in addition, means for affixing reinforcing adhesive to a part of the assembly systems (the base of the zips), said means for cross-sectioning, means for depositing, means for apposition being implemented during temporary stops of the scrolling, preferably said means of cross-section, deposition means, affixing means being carried consecutively (in a linearly adjacent manner) by a common support which is able to move perpendicular to the scroll direction.

According to the invention, the machine for preparing posters comprising the drive means, the cutting means, the means of filing assembly systems of the zip type, and the additional functional means is designed (has means) for combine the following steps:

unwind a reel of a wound sheet and ensure the scrolling of the unwound sheet of the reel perfectly parallel to the direction of travel X (i.e. the lateral edges of the unwound sheet are perfectly parallel to the direction of travel X), continuously affix marking elements on the sheet on at least one lateral edge, possibly cutting (trimming) the two opposite lateral edges of the sheet and / or cutting the sheet into several widths (in order to provide the posters with the desired dimensions with regard to the width), possibly affixing continuously after the cutting of the opposite side edges a reinforcing adhesive on said side edges, temporarily stop the sheet and cut it transversely to the direction of travel X to provide at each stop downstream of the cut at least one individual poster (it is possible to provide two adjacent individual posters if the width of the sheet was previously split in two), affix concomitantly two zip-type assembly systems, respectively on the bottom edge of the poster just cut out and on the top edge of the consecutive sheet, and optionally affix an adhesive of reinforcement on assembly systems.

Thus, although the machine stops the scrolling of the reel during the transverse cutting and the affixing of the zips, this machine has the advantage of combining all the preparation operations, including those optional, in minimum time. Consequently, surprisingly, despite a semi-continuous scrolling of a continuous sheet of visuals / posters to be prepared by temporarily stopping the machine to carry out the successive operations of transverse cutting and affixing of zip, this machine does not cause a loss of yield but on the contrary makes it possible to ensure all of the operations including those optional in a completely optimized time. The machine generates in particular a production of at least two posters prepared per minute for large sizes and at least three posters prepared per minute for small sizes, when all operations including optional are carried out, i.e. at least 60 posters per day. hour, which represents a very good yield compared to the current figure of 30 posters per hour. In addition, this yield is fully compatible with the speed of printing posters which is half as fast.

By "top" and "bottom" when looking at a poster, we mean the opposite transverse edges of a poster with a zip.

In the following description, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” are understood by qualifying elements with respect to the direction of travel of the sheet, from upstream to downstream.

The front part of the machine corresponds to the upstream end part and constitutes the side from which is arranged, the sheet to be treated if it is already introduced flat in the machine, or the reel of the sheet to be unrolled will be loaded on the machine.

In the remainder of the description, the term “lateral” of an element of the machine is understood to mean an element placed at an edge of the machine considered in a direction parallel to the direction of travel X.

In the following description of the term "height", the qualifiers "upper", "lower", "high" and "low" of an element of the machine are used in the context of a normal installation of the machine, that is to say relating to a vertical concept with respect to a horizontal flat ground on which the machine would be placed, and with respect to a horizontal plane P containing the sheet to be treated.

The expression "continuously" in the description, with regard to an operation of the machine (of an element of the machine), is understood by an operation which is implemented while the sheet advances / scrolls in continuous without being stopped.

According to one characteristic, the drive means comprise at least one traction roller which is motorized, and at least one pushing roller which is motorized and cooperates with the traction roller by rotating in a direction opposite to it, the sheet being intended to be sandwiched between the two traction and push rollers, said two rollers being capable of being stopped to temporarily stop the running in order to ensure the steps of transverse cutting of the sheet, filing of the assembly systems / zip and affixing of adhesive reinforcement on the base of the zip.

According to another characteristic, the machine comprises tying rollers arranged immediately upstream of the drive means and means ensuring the possible operations of adhesive deposition on the side edges and of side cuts (trimming of the side edges). The interlocking rollers are rollers situated under the sheet processing plane P, which ensure that the sheet is lowered from the plane P to the level of their lower peripheral surface by cooperating with said lower surface and then following the peripheral contour, a rise of the sheet to the plane P

Preferably, the machine comprises means for regulating the unwinding of a reel intended to be placed upstream of the machine and comprising the sheet of visuals to be unwound and to be treated, preferably said regulating means comprising a motorized regulating jig.

Advantageously, the cutting means comprise cutting / trimming means called lateral cutting means which are associated with the lateral edges of the machine and capable of cutting / trimming the lateral edges of the sheet from the underside of the sheet (being located below the plane P), and so-called intermediate cutting means arranged between the lateral cutting means for cutting the width at least in two parts from the underside of the sheet, preferably the lateral and intermediate cutting means being motorized by turning at the same speed of rotation as the sheet drive means, and are retractable between a low rest position and a high cutting position, and are capable before cutting to be translated perpendicular to the direction of travel ( that is to say, translated parallel to the length of the width) to be positioned ad hoc in line with the cuts to be made.

According to another characteristic, the machine comprises, upstream of drive means, support surfaces for the sheet and at least one device for affixing marking elements and at least two devices for affixing lateral adhesives. for the lateral edges of the sheet, said devices for affixing marking elements and lateral adhesives being arranged at right angles and above the bearing surfaces and operating continuously during scrolling.

The devices for affixing marking elements, the devices for affixing lateral adhesives and the lateral and intermediate cutting means are used continuously, that is to say when the sheet is scrolled, and upstream of the transverse cutting means and of the deposition means of the assembly systems, while the said transverse cutting means and of the deposition means of the assembly systems are used during phases of stopping the scrolling.

Advantageously, the machine comprises position detection means cooperating with one of the lateral edges of the sheet, in particular the detection means identifying the position of the edge of the sheet, and the position of lateral marking elements and lines of separation of the visuals on the sheet.

According to yet another characteristic, the machine comprises means for supporting a reel to be unwound by the machine, which comprise two remote supports intended to cooperate with the lateral ends of the reel, at least one of the supports being able to be mobile in translation perpendicular to the travel to adapt to each reel width and to correct the drift of the width during the travel.

Finally, other technical characteristics can be added to the machine, such as: means for picking up crop and cuttings;

means at the downstream end for discharging the individual posters prepared, such as a blowing system and / or a table inclined downwards, and / or means for winding the individual posters individually or in groups;

upstream (before any treatment means), a connection table, in particular a suction table, and a connection device arranged above the connection table, the connection table and the connection device being used during a connection , at the end of the sheet at the end of the unwinding of a reel, from the beginning of a sheet of a following reel.

Finally, the machine comprises an automated control system (S) which controls the machine, in particular as a function of the measurement of data supplied by position detection means with which the machine is provided.

The invention also relates to an installation comprising at least one printer and at least one machine according to the invention, the machine being arranged after the printer.

The present invention is now described using examples which are only illustrative and in no way limit the scope of the invention, and from the attached illustrations, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view from above of a machine according to the invention intended to process / prepare individual posters from upstream to downstream of the machine, from a reel of a continuous sheet wound up and printed consecutive visuals;

Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the machine of Figure 1 at the treatment plane P (without the base base on which the machine frame is placed), with further illustrated, a table and a device connection upstream of the machine, and a coil carried at the input by the machine;

FIG. 3a is a schematic view in vertical section of the machine, parallel to the traveling axis X from upstream to downstream, and showing the manual unwinding of the reel before the automated operation of the machine;

Figure 3b illustrates Figure 3a during automated operation of the machine; Figure 4 illustrates a schematic top view of a partially unwound reel;

Figure 5 is a schematic top view of a poster prepared after treatment by the machine of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic top view of a poster prepared downstream of the machine and of the following partially prepared poster;

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic sectional view along the axis Y of the machine perpendicular to the travel, means for cross-sectioning, depositing the zips and affixing reinforcing adhesive on the base of the zips.

The figures remain schematic and are not to scale to facilitate reading.

The machine 1 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3b is intended to process / prepare a reel 2 of a sheet 2 'to be unrolled and containing consecutive visuals VI, V2, etc. as illustrated in FIG. 4, which are to be cut out and prepared in the form of individual posters such as the poster 2A in FIG. 5.

The reel 2 is arranged as visible in FIGS. 2 to 3b at the input of the machine, to reach the output of the supply machine by following individual prepared posters 2A, 2B, etc., as illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 6.

The reel 2, as illustrated in FIG. 4, partially unwound outside the machine for better understanding, comes from an impression of a multiplicity of visuals VI, V2, etc. which have been continuously printed one after the other on a support sheet 2 ′ (paper-based), the sheet having been afterwards wound in the form of a reel for further processing. Each visual is intended to correspond to a poster.

The posters before treatment are presented as in FIG. 4. When the reel 2 is unwound, the sheet 2 ′ has a direction X of unwinding and scrolling of the machine 1, which corresponds to the height of the posters, and a transverse direction Y which corresponds to the width of the posters and the cutting direction of the reel to separate the posters / visuals individually. Each visual VI, V2 (and therefore posters before processing) is made distinct from the following by at least one, preferably two parallel and spaced marking lines 20 and 21.

The machine 1 is intended to separate the visuals VI, V2, etc. and prepare them as individual posters 2A, 2B, etc. such as that 2A shown in Figure 5.

According to the invention, the machine 1 automatically groups all the operations to ensure, without any manual task, the preparation of the posters 2A, 2B, etc.

The preparation of the posters consists, starting from the reel 2, in providing individual posters 2A, 2B, etc. (Figure 5) which each have:

an exact width / width whose opposite lateral edges (height of the posters) 22A and 22B are cut cleanly and optionally each provided with a lateral reinforcing adhesive 23A, respectively 23B, marking elements 24 such as reflective means of the aluminum type , preferably arranged on and transversely to a lateral edge, such as 22A, of each poster, to ensure when using the posters in their final destination, their positioning / temporary ad hoc stop in a scrolling advertising panel, the means reflectors 24 being for example able to cooperate in the final destination of the posters with detectors which in response to the detection temporarily stops the poster in position;

assembly means 25A and 25B of the zip type secured respectively to the top 22C and bottom 22D edges of a poster parallel to the width (along the Y axis); in the position of use in a scrolling panel, two consecutive posters are assembled so that the bottom zip 25B of the first poster cooperates with the top zip 25A of the second poster;

possibly reinforcing adhesives 26A and 26B covering the base of each respective zip 25A, 25B.

According to the invention, the machine 1 of the invention makes it possible to automatically combine different operations to obtain as a result the poster 2A illustrated in FIG. 4, made of a sheet cut at least parallel to the lines 20 and 21 (FIG. 4) and at the level of said lines to constitute the upstream / top 22C and downstream / bottom 22D edges (parallel to the Y axis) and downstream 22D (FIG. 5), while providing the latter with zip-type assembly means 25A and 25B and possibly reinforcing adhesive 26A, 26B on the base of the zips, and by providing at least one lateral edge 22A with one or more marking elements 24, and optionally the cut sheet being provided with reinforcing adhesives 23A, 23B on its edges.

To achieve this result, the machine 1 of the invention performs the following operations in an automated manner, once the coil 2 is loaded at the input of the machine and partially unwound to drive means:

a) unwind the reel,

b) regulate the unwinding of the reel,

c) tow, drag and push the unrolled sheet,

d) measure and correct if necessary the drift of the width, the width must continuously be perfectly parallel to the axis Y so that the lateral edges of the unrolled sheet are perfectly parallel to the axis X of unwinding / scrolling of the machine ,

e) depositing at least one, preferably marking elements 24, in particular two spaced marking elements 24,

f) optionally continuously cutting in the direction X the two opposite lateral edges 22A and 22B of the unrolled sheet and picking up the cutting edges,

g) optionally continuously applying reinforcing adhesives 23A and 23B,

h) possibly splitting the width continuously along the X axis to separate it in two, two distinct visuals having been printed on the width of the spool which should be separated (for example to obtain two adjacent posters of 2 m wide )

i) temporarily and periodically stopping the unwinding of the reel while keeping the unwound sheet 2 'flat and in position, the holding in position preferably being carried out by suction under the lower surface of the sheet,

j) during the first unwinding of the unwinding, apply the first top zip 25A of the first unrolled poster 2A, and possibly thereafter deposit an additional reinforcement adhesive 26A,

k) during the second stop of the unwinding, cut along the Y axis and lines 20 and 21 to separate the first poster 2A in the form of an individual poster, from the next 2B still forming part of the unwound sheet 2 ', immediately fix following the cutting of the bottom zip 25B of the first upstream poster 2A and concomitantly the top zip 25A of the second consecutive downstream poster 2B, and possibly after the fixing of the zip, deposit an additional bottom reinforcement adhesive 26B, and high 26A on the zips just deposited 25B of the upstream poster 2A, and respectively 25A of the downstream poster 2B,

l) capture the cutting edges along the Y axis,

m) evacuate the first individual poster prepared 2A, and repeat the operations of step k) above to cut out the second poster 2B and finish preparing it, while the next poster associated with the unrolled sheet is being preparation and so on.

In order to ensure the various operations above, the machine 1 of the invention comprises, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3b and 7, different functional means carried by the chassis of the machine and for some actuated, controlled by an automated system of command S illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1. The different functional means are as follows: support means 3 for the coil 2 also able to participate in the correction of a defect in parallelism of the lateral edges of the sheet unwound with respect to the 'X scrolling axis (also called width drift);

means for feeding and supporting 3 ′ of the unwound sheet 2 ′ at the level of the work surface P, that is to say of the processing plane of the unwound reel for the cuts, the applications of the reinforcing adhesives and zip;

drive and traction and unwinding means 4 of the coil; drive and pushing means 4 'for the unrolled sheet, cooperating with the pulling means 4, the pulling drive 4, and pushing means 4' being able to be stopped to temporarily stop the unwinding, means / support surfaces 5 of the sheet unrolled at the work surface P;

several tying rollers, preferably three tying rollers 60, 61 and 62 distributed from upstream to downstream;

means 6 for regulating the unwinding of the coil;

position detection means 7 cooperating with one of the lateral edges of the unrolled sheet 2 ′, a device 8 for depositing the marking elements 24;

two devices 8A and 8B for depositing reinforcing adhesive on the respective lateral edges of the unrolled sheet;

cutting means 9 and 9 ′ of the lateral edges and possibly so-called intermediate cutting means 9 for dividing the width in two (the cutting means being illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 2 for a better understanding but arranged below the second tether roller 61);

advantageously carried by a common support 90A,

- Cross-cutting means 9A (FIG. 7) capable of cutting the sheet unwound parallel to the Y axis to separate the visuals into individual posters;

- Zip storage and fixing means 9B (Figure 7);

- means 9C for applying / applying reinforcing adhesive (FIG. 7) on the base of the zip fastening strip;

a support table 10 provided with suction means 11 for supporting the unwound sheet and holding it in position to ensure on it the operations of transverse cutting and fixing of the zip and deposit of reinforcement adhesive; preferably, means for picking up the cutting edges of the paper on the whole machine, in particular means not illustrated for picking up the cutting edges of the lateral edges, means 12 for picking up the cropping / transverse cutting of the lines 20 and 21 separating two visuals / posters;

preferably, means 13 for evacuating individual posters downstream of the machine;

optionally, a winding system 14 for the individual posters at the machine outlet;

preferably, a connection table 33 located upstream of the machine and a connection device 34 arranged above the connection table 33 (the table and the connection device being only illustrated in FIG. 2).

The automated control system S manages the operation of the machine; it comprises in particular a programmable automaton and / or a speed variator and electronic processing means for processing the acquisition of the measurements made by the detection means 7 and generating all the control orders for the various technical elements of the machine to be actuated.

The support means 3 are arranged at the upstream end of the machine to carry the coil 2 parallel to the axis Y and unwind it in the direction X.

The support means 3 are arranged in the lower part of the machine, below the work plane P.

The support means 3 comprises a first lateral support 3A which is fixed, and arranged on one of the lateral edges of the machine, and a second remote lateral support 3B which is opposite to the first in a plane parallel to the axis Y.

Each support 3A, 3B comprises on the one hand a shaft 31 on which is intended to be mounted one end of the coil, the shaft cooperating with the hollow axis of the coil, and on the other hand a flange 32 of transverse plane to the shaft 31 and against which is intended to abut the end of the coil.

Advantageously, the second support 3B is able to be movable parallel to the axis Y. It is arranged on a movable carriage which is movable in translation along one or two rails 3C and 3D parallel to the axis Y.

The second support 3B by being mobile makes it possible to adapt the separation distance of the two supports 3A and 3B to fix there reels of different width, in particular a reel of 3200 mm or 3600 mm wide for posters respectively of 8 or 9 m ² , or a 2500 mm wide reel for 2 m ² posters.

In addition, the second support 3B is movable by being slaved to the control system S to adjust the parallelism of the width of the unrolled sheet, as will be seen below.

The supply and support means 3 ′ of the reel unwound at the height of the work surface P are immediately placed downstream of the support means 3. The supply and support means 3 ′ comprise a roller parallel to the axis Y, of length greater than the width of the reel 2, and located at the height of the plane P.

The reel drive / unwinding and pulling means 4 make it possible to pull the sheet of the reel to unwind it and make it advance from upstream to downstream. They are placed towards the downstream end of the machine, being arranged immediately upstream of the transverse cutting means 9A and of the deposition means 9B for the zips and for deposition of reinforcing adhesive 9C on the zips.

The traction means 4 comprise a roller 40 which is motorized. This motorized roller 40 extends parallel to the axis Y and is arranged so that its upper surface is tangential to the plane P. It is motorized so as to rotate in the counterclockwise direction to pull the sheet from upstream to downstream.

The drive and push means 4 ′ of the unwound sheet participates in the advancement of the sheet and especially in its push once the transverse cutting along the axis Y has taken place. The drive and thrust means 4 ′ comprise a motorized thrust roller 41 extending along the axis Y and located to the right of the traction roller 40, and cooperating with the latter by turning in the opposite direction.

The unrolled sheet is pinched between the traction roller 40 and the push roller 41 to ensure, once the upstream poster 2A has been cut and processed and that the top edge of the next poster 2B has been treated concomitantly while still being integral with the sheet, to continue advancing the next sheet downstream of the machine.

Preferably, the pulling roller 40 and the pushing roller 41 have their peripheral surface coated with a material promoting both the adhesion and the motricity of the sheet, for example rubber.

The support means / surfaces 5 of the sheet unrolled at the work surface P are arranged downstream of the supply and support means 3 'and upstream of the traction means

4.

The bearing surfaces 5 make it possible to arrange the sheet flat on a short portion of direction X to operate on (the upper face of) the unwound sheet, in particular affix the marking elements 24 on one of the lateral edges of the sheet. , and if necessary the lateral reinforcement adhesives 23A and 23B. The bearing surfaces 5 comprise two first longitudinal cylinders 50 and 51 extending parallel to the axis Y, close to each other, and arranged at the height of the plane P, so that the sheet rests on their surface upper device to be flat when the marking elements 24 are deposited remotely via the deposition device 8.

The marking elements 24 are deposited in line with the cylinders 50 and 51 via the deposition device 8 continuously.

In addition, the bearing surfaces 5 comprise an additional cylinder 52 downstream of the first cylinders 50 and 51, and at the level of which the lateral reinforcing adhesives are deposited. The devices for depositing side adhesives 8A and 8B are arranged on each side edge of the machine vertically above the additional cylinder 52 and are retractable between a low active position for cooperation with the surface of the cylinder (the plane P) and therefore of the unrolled sheet, and an inactive high position above the plane P, respectively to ensure or not the deposit of the adhesive. The deposit operation is carried out continuously, while the sheet 2 scrolls.

The devices for depositing 8A and 8B of the side adhesives are known per se. They are also able to be translated along the Y axis to be positioned appropriately, before the start of application of the adhesive, facing the desired deposition surfaces of the sheet along the width of the sheet. They each have an application roller 80.

With reference to Figures 3a and 3b, the tying rollers 60 to 62 participate in the smooth running of the reel. They are retractable between a high position located above the plane P (Figure 3a) and a low position (Figure 3b) located below the plane P. The high position allows the sheet to pass flat at the start during the initial and manual unwinding of the reel before the automated start-up of the machine.

The manually unrolled sheet then rests as illustrated in FIG. 3a on the support roller 3 ', the support cylinders 50 to 52, and the motorized traction roller 40. Then, keeping the unrolled sheet in position, in particular in maintaining the downstream end of the sheet via the suction means 11 of the support table 30, the tying rollers 60 to 62 are tilted in the low position to press in a controlled manner on the unwound sheet (FIG. 3b). The unrolled sheet then cooperates with the lower peripheral surface of the tying rollers 60 to 62 to rise after each roll to the plane P.

The actuation of the retraction of the rollers is carried out by the control system

S. It can for example be triggered in response to a manual command from the operator.

The automated unwinding can start as well as the various preparation operations. The suction of the sheet 2 'is cut off as soon as the scrolling begins.

The first tying roller 60 is insulated by being located between the support roller 3 'and the support cylinders 50 and 51. This first tying roller 60 is part of the means 6 for regulating the unwinding of the reel as described later.

The second tying roller 61 cooperates with the additional support cylinder 52 by being placed immediately upstream and below it, to ensure the passage of the sheet from the lower surface of the second tipping roller 61 to 'at the upper surface of the additional support cylinder 52.

The third tying roller 62 cooperates with the traction roller 40 by being arranged there immediately upstream (vertically offset upstream) and below, to ensure the passage of the sheet from the lower surface of said third roller. interlocking 62 to the upper surface of the traction roller 40.

The second and third tying rollers 61 and 62, and the thrust roller 41 are preferably mounted on a common frame 63 capable of being moved in translation along an inclined axis 64 positioned under the plane P, the displacement being activatable by pneumatic means 65. The tying rollers 61 and 62 and thrust 41 are positioned ad hoc on the frame to be arranged above the plane P in the high position of the frame, and after translation of the frame, be placed below the plane P, cooperating respectively with the support cylinder 52 for the second tether roller 61 and the traction roller 40 for the third tether roller 62 and thrust roller 41.

Advantageously, the deposition devices 8A and 8B are also on board the frame 63 so that their application roller 80 cooperates with the right of the support cylinder 52 in the low position of the frame.

The regulation means 6 of the unwinding of the coil allow a smooth regular unwinding of the coil and without excessive tension. They act on the tension imposed on the sheet upstream of its unwinding so that the sheet is stretched appropriately to avoid on the one hand any wrinkling, and on the other hand too stretched stretching of the sheet risking otherwise tearing this last. The regulating means 6 are arranged just downstream of the supply and support means 3 'and upstream of the support surfaces 5 (the first support cylinders 50 and 51). As a preferred example, the regulating means 6 consist of a motorized regulating jig which is a device known per se for regulating the unwinding of a reel. The puppet is able to pivot about a horizontal median axis so that its pivoting downstream end 60, which advantageously corresponds to the first locking cylinder, cooperates with the sheet 2 'to press on it and make it descend more or less the sheet below the plane P in order to adjust the tension of the sheet between the support roller 3 ′ and the first support cylinder 50 at the height of the work plane P, and in the end ensuring that the traction of the unrolled sheet does not pull on the reel 2.

The motorized regulation puppet 6 is controlled by the control system S. The control / control of the sheet tension is carried out by the control system S in response to the reception of the measurement of the angle of the puppet via a potentiometer.

The detection means 7 are arranged immediately downstream of the first support cylinders 50 and 51. They detect the edge of the sheet, the marking elements 24, and the location / separation lines 20 and 21 of the visuals. The data measured by the detection means 7 are processed by the control system S which in response:

- controls the deposition of the marking elements 24 at the appropriate places by the deposition device 8,

- controls the deposition of the lateral reinforcement adhesives 23A and 23B by the deposition devices 8A and 8B,

- controls the momentary stops and the resumptions of the scrolling and unwinding for the implementation of the transverse cutting means 9A and of the deposition means 9B of zip and 9C of reinforcing adhesive,

- corrects any defect in the distance between the edge and the lateral edge of the machine (by sending a movement order to the mobile support 3B).

In response to the measurement of the edge of the sheet edge, the system S commands the mobile support 3B to translate it to the right or the left of the machine in order to adjust the parallelism of the width with the direction of travel X.

The unrolled sheet 2 'must be cut if necessary at its lateral edges, in particular for large widths, and sometimes cut in half for example in the direction of scrolling to divide the width in half and separate two adjacent visuals (side by side across the width). In this regard, the cutting means 9 and 9 'of the lateral edges, and the intermediate cutting means 9 are arranged to cut from the lower surface of the sheet and in line with the second tying roller 61, downstream of the means of detection 7 and immediately upstream of the deposition of the lateral reinforcement adhesives 8A and 8B. The lateral cutting means 9, 9 ′, and intermediate 9 each comprise a motorized cutting wheel, rotating at the same speed as the speed of the traction roller 40, and capable of being translated in height, for example by pneumatic means, to cooperate or not to cooperate with the sheet. The lateral cutting means 9,9 ′, and intermediates 9 are controlled by the control system S. Furthermore, the cutting means are either in limited number, as illustrated here five in number, of which the three intermediaries 9 are able to be moved in translation along the Y axis to be positioned in line with the cuts to be made along the width of the width, or are fixed relative to the Y axis and their number is a function of the different widths that the machine can process .

As a final cut made by the machine, the cross-cutting means 9A make it possible to cut the sheet 2 'parallel to the axis Y to separate the visuals into individual posters, along lines 20 and 21. This operation is carried out by temporarily stopping scrolling. Following this transverse cutting, the zip deposition means 9B and possibly the means 9C for applying reinforcing adhesive to the fastening strip for the zips are immediately used. Advantageously, the cross-section means 9A, and the zip deposition means 9B and the means of application 9C of reinforcing adhesive, are carried by a common support 90A movable along a gantry 90 which is disposed at- above the work surface P and parallel to the Y axis. While the scrolling is stopped, the support 90A is capable of being translated along the Y axis, each of the cutting means 9A, and of the zip deposition means 9B and application of adhesive 9C being implemented consecutively. In this regard, they are arranged linearly on the common support 90A by being positioned one after the other. They are intended to be applied against the sheet by translation of the common support 90A over the entire length of the width. In addition, at least the adhesive application means 9C can be actuated in a vertical plane so as to be brought into the same horizontal plane as the cutting means 9A and the zip deposition 9b, if they are to be used at following these.

The transverse cutting is done from the upper surface of the unwound sheet 2 'at the two marking lines 20 and 21 in the stopped position of the sheet. The cutting means 9A comprises two cutting wheels 91 and 92 (FIG. 3a) which are spaced by a distance corresponding to the spacing of the marking lines 20 and 21. In FIG. 3a, the cutting wheels 91 and 92 do not are not yet activated.

To support the sheet unwound flat in the plane P during the cutting operations, zip fastening and application of reinforcing adhesive, the machine 1 comprises the support table 10 which is advantageously provided with suction means 11 to maintain in place on the one hand the downstream part cut from the sheet and corresponding to the individual poster 2A and on the other hand the upstream part 2B of the sheet corresponding to the following visual of the next poster to be cut. In addition, the support table 10 is in two parts, a fixed upstream part 10A and a downstream part 10B able to be movable in translation in the direction X to move away from the upstream part just before the cutting and deposition operations. zips, and possibly reinforcing adhesives. The opening of the table makes it possible to provide a slot 10C (FIG. 3b), the width of which in the direction X corresponds to a little less than the separation distance of the marking lines 20 and 21. The cutting wheels 91 and 92 act in line with lines 20 and 21 which are respectively located on, the downstream part of the sheet intended to correspond to the poster 2A and maintained by the downstream part 10B of the table, and the upstream part of the sheet intended to become the displays 2B and held in place on the upstream part 10A of the table. Once the strip has been cut, the cutting edge falls by gravity through this slot 10C. The gripe can be removed by the suction means 12 arranged under the slot 10C. Cutting wheels

Preferably, the zip deposition means 9B are, as already explained, on board with the cutting means 9A on the unitary support 90A while being offset along the axis Y. The implementation of the unitary support 90A generates the operation for fixing the zip immediately after cutting, then follow if necessary the adhesives deposit. Only the unitary support 90A is to be ordered. The implementation of the support 90A is carried out by the control system S.

With regard to FIG. 3b, the means of depositing and fixing 9B of the zips comprise two depositing rollers 93 and 94 which are arranged above the plane P and spaced apart by a distance suitable for fixing the bottom zip 25B of the poster. downstream 2A and the top zip 25A of the next poster 2B (still attached to the sheet 2 '), and capable of being applied concomitantly against the upper face and the edges of the respective posters 2A and 2B by traversing the whole of the length of the width of the posters. When applying the zips, the table 10 is always split in two and the suction means 11 are always in operation for the plating of the posters. The zip depositing and fixing means are not further described since they are known per se in their operating principle. A magazine 95 for the zip is provided next to the machine 1 to automatically feed the two deposit rollers 94 and 95.

If necessary, the means 9C for depositing the reinforcing adhesive on each of the zip fastening strips can be used. These deposition means comprises two application rollers, one of which is a roller 96 visible in FIG. 7, which are spaced by the appropriate distance to cooperate with the fixing bands of the bottom zip 25B of the downstream poster 2A and of the top zip.

25A of the following poster 2B. These deposition means are known per se in their operating principle.

As soon as the operations of cross section, deposition of zip and possibly deposition of adhesive reinforcement are completed, the table 10 is closed and the scrolling begins again. The closing of the table is necessary to allow the passage of the upper part of the following poster 2B, which has been prepared up above the movable part 10B of the table. The reopening of the table to operate on the lower part of the next poster 2B is done in hidden time.

After processing the bottom edge of the upstream poster 2A (and concomitantly with the processing of the top edge of the following poster 2B), the upstream poster 2A which has become individual is evacuated by the evacuation means 13 comprising for example by a system of blowing arranged under the movable table 10B and blowing air upward and inclined downstream of the machine.

The individual posters are either evacuated individually to be stored flat or rolled up later, individually or in groups, or directly rolled up at the end of the machine by means of the winding system 14 arranged after the downstream end of the movable part 10B of the support table 10 and parallel to the Y axis (therefore perpendicular to the X axis of travel).

The individual posters are rolled up parallel to their width, that is to say parallel to the longitudinal axis of the zip.

When the entire reel 2 has been processed to deliver individual posters all prepared, another reel can be intended to be installed. In order to avoid having to retract the tying rollers 60 to 62 in the high position and to manually pull the start of the other reel and repeat the operations of placing the unwound sheet before actuation of the automatic unwinding, the machine 1 preferably comprises the connection table 33 which is arranged immediately after the upstream support roller 3 ′ and before the regulating junction 6. This connection table 33 is suction to hold in place the end of the sheet unrolled from the first reel and the beginning of the unwound sheet of the second reel. The second reel is loaded on the support means 3 of the machine having previously removed the first empty reel, and is unwound above the support roll 3 'and the suction connection table 33.

Above the connection table 33 is provided a connection device 34 capable of moving parallel to the axis Y and comprising, optionally means for cutting each edge of the end of the first reel and the start of the second coil to ensure perfect parallelism of the edges, and bonding means for bonding the two respective end edges of the first and second coil. The connection is thus automated.

The implementation of the machine 1 of the invention for preparing individual posters from the reel 2 is as follows:

a) the operator installs the reel 2 on the support means 3 and manually unwinds the start of the reel to ignite the sheet in the machine;

b) while the regulating shoe 6 and the frame 63 are in the high position, the operator unwinds the beginning of the reel by passing the sheet 2 ′ over the support roller 3 ′, the support cylinders 50 to 52 , and the traction roller 40 until the downstream end of the sheet is positioned on the movable part 10B of the table 10 while the suction means 11 are active;

c) once the sheet has been positioned, the operator actuates a button to confirm the activation of the control system S;

d) the engagement of the machine generates the translation of the frame 63 in the low position and the pivoting in the low position of the dummy 6, then once the low positions have been reached, the sheet 2 ′ scrolls and the reel 2 is unwound. activated; there will be a loss at the start

e) the detection means 7 make it possible, via the processing of the data by the control system S, in particular from the detection of the first tracking lines 20 and 21, to continuously trigger from upstream to downstream at the appropriate times, l 'affixing the marking elements 24 by the associated deposition device 8, the cutouts of the lateral edges of the sheet by the cutting means 9 and 9' then the deposition of reinforcing adhesive on the lateral edges by the deposition devices 8A and 8B, and finally the momentary stopping of the scrolling which corresponds to the appropriate positioning of the locating lines 20 and 21 in line with the common support 90A of the transverse cutting means 90A, and of the deposition means 9B of zip and 9C of adhesive of reinforcement;

f) the momentary stop generates the aspiration of the table 10, its opening, and the translation of the common support 90A to finalize the processing operations, namely cutting the sheet along lines 20 and 21, fixing the zips and possibly the reinforcement adhesive;

g) table 10 is closed and scrolling resumes;

h) once the support 90A has reached the end of its travel, the individual downstream poster processed is evacuated and the sheet scrolling resumes;

i) operations e) to h) are repeated until the end of the reel unwinding.

Throughout the scrolling, the data acquired by the detection means 7 are also processed to possibly correct in response a drift of the width and act on the mobility of the support 3B of the coil.

Consequently, the automated machine of the invention alone makes it possible to carry out all the operations of preparing an unrolled sheet of printed visuals to transform it into individual posters ready for their use and suitable for being rolled up for their packaging and their transport parallel to the assembly zip with which they are fitted.

Claims (16)

1. Automated machine for preparing individual posters, in particular the posters being subsequently intended to be assembled to obtain a train of posters for their use in scrolling advertising panels, the machine comprising drive means (4, 4 ') intended to drive in a direction of travel (X) a continuous sheet on which are printed visuals to be prepared in individual posters, cutting means, depositing means (9B) of assembly systems of the zip type, characterized in that the deposition means (9B) of the zip-type assembly systems are implemented transversely to the direction of travel. 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises additional functional means (5, 6, 7, 8, 8A, 8B, 9, 9 ', 9' ', 9B, 9C, 30, 31A, 31B ) which in combination with the drive means (4, 4 '), the cutting means (9A), the deposition means (9B) of the assembly systems constitute automated means designed to supply from a sheet continuous printed with consecutive visuals, individual posters (2A, 2B) cut out which have on the one hand, according to the width on their transverse edges top (22C) and bottom (22D), edges perpendicular to the axis of movement of the machine , assembly systems of the zip type (25A, 25B), and possibly reinforcing adhesives (26A, 26B) partially disposed on the assembly systems, and on the other hand on at least one perpendicular lateral edge (22A) at the transverse edges, one or more marking elements (24) of the type with reflecting function and / or with induct detection ion, and optionally on the two opposite lateral edges (22A, 22B) of the reinforcing adhesives (23A, 23B). 3. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises cutting means, called transverse cutting means (9A) which are capable of cutting the sheet along the width perpendicular to the direction of travel to separate the visuals in individual posters, means of deposition (9B) of assembly systems such as zips, preferably in addition, means of affixing (9C) of reinforcing adhesive to a part of the assembly systems (the zip base), said transverse cutting means (9A), depositing means (9B), affixing means (9C) being used during temporary stops in the running, preferably said transverse cutting means (9A), deposition means (9B), affixing means (9C) being carried consecutively by a common support (90A) which is able to move perpendicular to the direction of travel. 4. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (3 ', 4, 4', 5, 60, 61, 62, 8, 8A, 8B, 9, 9 ', 9 ”, 9A, 9B, 9C) to unwind a reel of a wound sheet and ensure the scrolling of the unwound sheet of the reel perfectly parallel to the direction of scrolling X, continuously affix locating elements on the sheet on at least one lateral edge, optionally cut the two opposite lateral edges of the sheet continuously and / or cut the sheet into several widths, possibly affix continuously after the cutting of the opposite lateral edges a reinforcing adhesive on said lateral edges, provisionally stop the sheet and cut it transversely to the direction of scrolling X to provide at each stop downstream of the cut at least one individual poster, affix simultaneously two assembly systems of the zip type, respectively on the bottom edge of the display he just cut and on the top edge of the consecutive sheet, and possibly apply a reinforcing adhesive on the assembly systems. 5. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive means (4, 4 ') comprise at least one traction roller (40) which is motorized, and at least one push roller (41 ) which is motorized and cooperates with the traction roller (40) by rotating in a direction opposite to it, the sheet being intended to be sandwiched between the two traction (40) and thrust (41) rollers, said two rollers being able to be stopped to temporarily stop the running. 6. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises tying rollers (60, 61, 62) arranged immediately upstream of the drive means (4,4 ') and of means ensuring possible operations of depositing of adhesive on the lateral edges and of lateral cuts / trimming of the lateral edges. 7. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for regulating (6) the unwinding of a reel, preferably said regulating means comprising a motorized regulating puppet. 8. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting means comprise cutting / trimming means (9, 9 ') said to be lateral which are associated with the lateral edges of the machine and capable of cutting / trimming the lateral edges of the sheet from the underside of the sheet, and so-called intermediate cutting means (9 '') arranged between the lateral cutting means (9, 9 ') for cutting the width at least in two parts from the underside of the sheet, preferably the lateral and intermediate cutting means (9, 9 ', 9' ') are motorized by rotating at the same speed of rotation as the driving means (4, 4') of the sheet , are retractable between a low rest position and a high cutting position, and are suitable before cutting to be translated perpendicular to the direction of travel to be positioned ad hoc in line with the cuts to be made. 9. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, upstream of drive means (4), bearing surfaces (50, 52) for the sheet and at least one device for affixing of marking elements (8) and at least two devices for affixing lateral adhesives (8A, 8B) for the lateral edges of the sheet, said devices for affixing marking elements and lateral adhesives being arranged at right and above the bearing surfaces and operating continuously during scrolling. 10. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises position detection means (7) cooperating with one of the lateral edges of the sheet, in particular the detection means identifying the position of the edge. of the sheet, and the position of lateral marking elements and lines of separation of the visuals on the sheet. 11. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises support means (3) for a reel to be unwound by the machine, which comprise two distant supports (3A, 3B) intended to cooperate with the lateral ends of the spool, at least one of the supports (3B) being able to be movable in translation perpendicular to the travel to adapt to each width of the spool and to correct the drift of the width during the travel. 12. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for picking up the crop and cutouts. 13. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at the downstream end means for evacuating the individual posters prepared, such as a blowing system and / or a table inclined downwards, and / or means for winding up individual posters individually or in groups. 14. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises upstream (before any processing means), a connection table (33) 5 in particular suction, and a connection device (34) arranged above the connection table (33), the connection table and the connection device being implemented during a connection, at the end of the sheet at the end of the unwinding of a reel, from the beginning of a sheet of a following reel. 15. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that 10 that it comprises an automated control system (S) which controls the machine, in particular as a function of the measurement of data supplied by position detection means (7) with which the machine is provided. 16. Installation comprising at least one printer and at least one machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the machine (1) being arranged following 15 the printer.