GB2300624A

GB2300624A - Feeding flat items from a pile to a machine

Info

Publication number: GB2300624A
Application number: GB9608013A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Osvaldo Vezzoli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-05-08
Filing date: 1996-04-18
Publication date: 1996-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2016-04-18
Also published as: IT1274446B; ITMI950919A1; DE19618500A1; GB2300624B; GB9608013D0; ITMI950919A0

Description

2300624

Description of a patent application for industrial invention entitled: "Automatic loader".

Applicant: Osvaldo vezzoli. DESCRIPTION

This invention refers to an automatic loader for flat details of any shape to be submitted to workings by operating machines, substantially f ormed by at least a removable carriage on which said details are loaded and aligned by means of f ixed guides or adjustable positioners. Each carriage becomes in this way a mobile store of details to be worked, which can be positioned in alignment with a fixed structure coupled to each operating machine. A sliding cross bean is included on said structure and supports suction-cup-like adjustable catching means, and a mobile arms equipped with adjustable catching pliers.

The details to be worked, brought in alignment on the mobile store, are collected one by one by the suction cups, lifted and aligned, with or without a bearing plate, with the catching pliers which, after possible translations of the details by means of dragging pulleys, grasps the same and, after the lowering of the sliding cross beam, positions them in' alignment with the operating heads of the machines, by means of translation and/or rotation motions.

As is known, at present one of the main drawbacks of the working of flat details in general and details of leather or imitation leatherwares or fabric or the like, such as belts, linings, profiles, jackets, bags, clothing accessories and so on, arises from the difficulty of aligning the same under the working heads of the operating machines, such as sewing machines, studding 1 machines and the like.

At present such operations are still carried out by hand by skilled workers, with an obvious loss of time, high costs and reduced productivity, or by means of half-automatic mechanical means which however do not provide adeguate guarantees of productivity nor of quality of the product.

object of this invention is to eliminate the above drawbacks: the invention, as is characterized by the claims, solves the problem by means of an automatic loader by which the following results are obtained: the details to be treated are pre-positioned, aligned and slipped on mobile stores which are, in their turn, engageable and aligneable with fixed structure for the unloading and controlled connection of the details, coupled to the operating machines; the mobile stores are provided with fixed guides or adjustable positioners by means of which the details are stably positioned with the wished orientation with respect to the working conditions and the foreseen and planned intervention; several mobile stores may by coupled to each machine, for the loading roratory engagement, even during the operating stages; the details are collected sequentially, one by one, by the suction-cup-like catching means and aligned with the pliers which, through controlled translations, places the same in alignment with the operating heads, with perfectly equal and regularly repetitive sequences; both the suction-cup- like means and the pliers are adjustable both in function of the material forming the details to be handled and of their plane geometrical configuration.

2_ The advantages obtained through this invention lie essentially in that such operations of alignment, collection and positioning are performed in a fully automatic manner, with the utmost precision and operating uniformity; the rotatory loading of the storecarriages ensures a substantial reduction in idle times f or the preparation of the machine; the automatism of the positioning stages allows a remarkable time saving, a reduction in costs, a greater productivity and a guarantee of quality uniformity of the worked products.

The invention is described more in detail in the following with reference to some embodiments which are proposed by way of non limitative examples, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a mobile store, seen laterally coupled to the f ixed structure coupled to a machine, and seen frontally, for the treatment of long and narrow products, such as belts and the like; Fig. 2 shows the plan view of the fixed structure; Fig. 3 shows the same structure fixed in two different positions of the mobile cross beam; Fig. 4 shows the side view of a second type of mobile store coupled to a fixed structure with a different arrangement of the suction-cup-like catching means:

Figs. 5 and 6 show the plan view of alignment examplesk, on the mobile stores of details to be treated having a different peripheral configuration, and Fig. 7 shows the front view of the f ixed structure of Fig. 4, in the low and the high positions of the mobile cross beam.

The f igures illustrate automatic loaders of f lat details to be submitted to sewing, studding and like workings on operating machines (1).

In a f irst embodiment proposed by way of example, the loader is especially designed for the treatment of elongated flat details, such as f or instance belts (2) and the like: in this case the mobile store (3), mounted on wheels (4), comprises a bearing plate (5) or small vertical rods or bars (6) which circumscribe the width of the space in which the belts (2) are introduced flatly one on top of the other.

The vertical bars (6) may be either fixed or transversally adjustable depending on the width of the belts (2).

The so loaded mobile store (3) is approached to and engaged in alignment with a fixed structure (7), which is in relation of side connection with an operating machine (1), such as for instance a sewing machine.

The fixed structure (7) comprises uprights (8) with side guides (10) on which supports (12) slide which bear a cross beam (13) which is caused to move by a pneumatic piston (14). Catching means (15) equipped with suction cups (16) are positioned on the cross beam (13), which are hinged on the back in (17) and are provided with small pistons (18) for their lifting andlor lowering through holes (19) obtained on a fixed upper plate (20). A lower bearing plate (21) tiltable downwards by means of a pneumatic control, is located in opposition on the upper fixed plate.

Coupled to the suction-cup catching means (16) a horizontal axis 4motor-driven pulley (22) is provided, whose external diameter extends under said fixed upper plate (20).

By side of the cross beam (13) an arm is provided, which translates or rotates (23) with a piston (24) to which a transversal bar (25) is. connected which supports at least one or more pliers (26), and whose position is adjustable in function of the details to be treated. In case of belts (2), there are at least two pliers, far from one another and aligned horizontally.

During the operating stage, with the mobile store engaged in alignment with the f ixed structure (7), the cross beams (13) is caused to lower together with the suction cups (16) which, when they engage with the top belt of the store, are suctionactivated. With the belt catched by the suction cups, the cross beam (13) raises until it can place the same belt in alignment with pliers (26), while the lower resting plate tilts upwards, enclosing belt (2) between the same and the upper fixed plate (20), adhering to the peripheral surface of the motor-driven pulley (22): The suction cups (16) are unloaded and lifted by the small pistons (18).

By means of pulley (22), belt (2), engaged. between plates (20) and (21), is caused to run in either direction, until the wished alignment is obtained through an end of stroke in function of one of the ends of said belt.

Now piston (24) causes the sliding of the transversal bar (25), leading pliers (26) to couple and catch the belt that is transversal to the same. The pliers are caused to close and then to move backwards; the cross beam (13) lowers and arm (23) is shifted (in the case in point it is caused to rotate by 900), to align with the operating heads belt (2) engaged between pliers (26). Once the belt is placed in the right working position, for instance the sewing position, and the conventional catching and work starting devices are started, pliers (26) is caused to open, arm (23) goes back to its starting position and the cross beam (13) starts a new operating cycle of collection of another belt.

All the handling, catching, dragging and translation devices are controlled by an electronic device which, by operating on the electrovalves controlling the various pistons, regulate their stroke and the alignment in the wished positions by means of sensors, wchih may be of the proximity type, optical or of any other suitable type, or by means of adjustable ends-of stroke.

For the application on details to be worked (21) andlor (211) having flat, non elongated shapes as have belts, but having any peripheral profile, the mobile stores are equipped with a bottom platform (27), at least an intermediated guide section (28) and a plurality of guide bars (29) kept in position by stirrups (30). Guide bars (29) are so positioned as to form peripheral reference points corresponding to the profiles of the details to be submitted to working (21, 211); the latter are threaded into one another in the space comprised between said guide bars, after which the mobile store (31) is aligned and engaged with the fixed structure (7), integral with the operating machine (1). In case of details to be worked with different shapes, such as the aforementioned ones (211) and (211), also the suction-cup-like catching means mounted on the cross beams (13) are different, in function of said details, and are orientable to operate correctly on the same. Said means (161) need not being tiltable like the preceding ones, are there is no need for either the alignment translation or the translation pulley. The lifting of the details to be worked involves an' alignment with pliers (26) which is provided on the transversal bar (25) of arm (23) and operates in the same way already described. It must be stressed that the aforementioned handling with pneumatic pistons has been illustrated and described according to a preferred embodiment, from both the economic and the functional points of view. In this case, such configuration is proposed only by way of non limitative example, as the same sliding motions of the cross bean (13), translation or rotation motions of arm (23) and forwards or backwards motions of the transversal bar (25) carrying pliers (26) can be obtained also with other known means, of a mechanical, electromechanical, hydraulic, mixed type and the like.

While this invention has been illustrated and described according to embodiments suggested by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications in the structure, the mechanical details, the operating sequence, the orientation of the parts relatively to the controls and the activating means may be made without exceeding the field and scope of the invention.

1

Claims

1. An automatic loader f or operating machines (1) suitable to perform sewing, studding operations and the like on flat details, characterized in that it comprises at least a mobile store (3) on which the f lat details (2) to be worked are slided on in alignment one on top of the other by means of f ixed (6) or adjustable (29) guide elements, and whose whole is engageable in approachment or alignment with a f ixed structure (7) which, in its turn, is connected with an operating machine (1), said f ixed structure comprising movements gears (14) f or a cross beam (13) on which catching means (15) such as suction cups (16), either f ixed or oscillating, are positioned f or the lif ting engagement of said details (2) and their alignment with respect to catching pliers (26), movable and adjustable, supported by a translating or rotating arm (23), aligneable with the operating head of said machine (1).

2. The automatic loader of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises mobile stores (3) provided with wheels (4) and guide elements (6), formed by vertival bars, which may be either fixed or transversally adjustable in function of the width of the details (2) to be stored, threaded one into another and having a flat elongated configuration.

3. The automatic loader of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that on the mobile cross beam (13) catching means (15) with suction cups (16) of the oscillating type with back-pivot (17) and small handling pistons (18) are positioned; said means (15) be ing coupled to a fixed upper plate (20) with through-holes (19) for said suction cups (16), to a downards tiltable lower bearing 19 plate (21), and to at least one horizontal axis motor-driven pulley (22), whose external diameter extends under said lower bearing plate (21).

4. The automatic loader of claims 1 through 3, characterized in that the operating sequeintial loading stages of the flat details (2) having an elongated shape arranged on the mobile store (3), already engaged in alignment with the fixed structure (7) comprise: approaching of the cross beam (13) to the flat detail (2) located on top of the heap and aligned on the mobile store (3), and engagement on said detail of the suction cups (16); suction activation of the cups, return of the cross bean (13) with alignment of detail (2) engaged by the suction cups with respect to the catching pliers (16); upwards tilting of the lower bearing plate (21) and resting engagement on the same of detail (2), engaged by the suction cups with respect to the catching pliers (16); upwards tilting of the lower bearing plate (21) and resting engagement on the same of detail (2) released by the suction cups; engagement on detail (2) of pulley (22) and rotation of the same in either direction with dragging of detail (2) up to a wished alignment marked by an end of stroke; forwards notion of pliers (26) in a transversal position relatively to detail (2) and closing on it of the same; backwards motion of the pliers which keeps detail (2); lowering of the cross beam (13) according to the cycle start stage; translation or rotation of arm (23) supporting pliers (26) with alignment of detail (2) with the operating head of machine (1). 1

5. The automatic loader of claim 1, characterized in that it 9 comprises mobile stores (31) provided with wheels (4), a bottom platform (27), at least an intermediante guide section (28), and a plurality of guide bars (29) kept in position by stirrups (30), said bars (29) being positionable and orientable, based on the peripheral configurationof the flat details (2f), (211),, threaded into one another on the bottom (27), along said perimeter.

6. The automatic loader of claims 1 and 3, characterized in that catching means (15), with suction cups (16f), of a non tiltable type and orientable in function of the configuration of details (z,'), (211) to be lifted are positioned on the mobile cross beam.

7. The automatic loader of claims 1. 5 and 6, characterized in that the operating sequential loading stages of the flat details (21), (211) of any configuration whatever arranged on the mobile store (3f), already engaged in alignment with the fixed structure (7) comprise: approaching of the cross beam (13) to the flat detail (21), (211) located on top of the leap aligned on bottom (27) of the mobile store (31); engagement on said detail of the suction cups (16t); suction activation of the cups; return of the cross beam (13) with alignment of detail (2,), (211) engaged by the suction cups with respect to the catching pliers (26), forwards notion of pliers (26) in transversal position relatively to said detail (21), (211) and closing on the same of said pliers; release of the suction cups; backwards motion of pliers (26) which keeps detail (21), (211); lowering of the cross beam (13) according to the cycle start stage; translation or rotation of arm (23) supporting pliers (26), with alignment of detail (2 (211) with the operating head of machine (1).

8. The automatic loader of claims 1 through 7, characterized in ic that the translation notions of the cross beam (13), the tilting notions of the catching means (15), the f orwards and backwards motions of arm (25) supporting pliers (26), tha translatory or rotatory notion of arm (23) are obtained by means of pneumatic pistons (14), (18), (24j, controlled by a programmable electronic device which acts on the electrovalves that activate said pistons, regulating their stroke and the alignment of the wished positions, by means of sensors of any type.

9. The automatic loader of claims 1 through 7, characterized in that the translation motions of the cross beam (13), the tilting motions of the catching means (15), the forwards and backwards motions of arm (25) supporting pliers (26), the translatory or rotatory motion of arm (23) are obtained by means of mechanical, or hydraulic or electromechanical or also mixed means, and are controlled by a programmable electronic device which acts on the activators, regulating their stroke and the alignment of the wished positions by means of sensors.

10. The automatic loader as described and with the reservation of the last period of the descriptive pa rt, as claimed and illustrated in the attached drawings and for the purposes specified.

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