IT201600080945A1 - AUTOMATIC FILLING MACHINE - Google Patents

Description

AUTOMATIC STACKING MACHINE.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an automatic machine for smoothing the edges of sheet materials, particularly suitable for operating on glass sheets and, even more particularly, suitable for operating dry.

As is known, in the field of industrial glass sheet processing there is a need to smooth the cutting edges of the sheets after the cutting operation thereof.

The aforementioned bevel, called "filleting" in technical jargon, allows to eliminate the irregularities of the cut that could cause the sheet to break during the subsequent stages of processing or during use, in addition to eliminating the sharp edges of the sheet so as to make more safe and easy handling of the same by the operators.

The bevel is particularly advantageous for double-glazed sheets, since the edges of the sheets, if not beveled, tend to get stuck in the wooden frames used for the assembly of the double-glazed units.

The chamfering of the edges of the glass sheets is carried out with known machines, called "filleting machines", of which there are manual and automatic versions.

The automatic filleting machines are able to carry out processing on all four edges of the plate without the need for intervention by the operator.

In general, an automatic filleting machine comprises a support structure for the plate to be processed.

The machine also comprises a work head which supports a pair of abrasive tools in the form of rotating discs, diamond wheels, diamond belts or the like, associated with servo-controlled actuators which press each tool against a corresponding edge of the edge of the plate.

The work head is equipped with a washing system which, during processing, sprays a liquid, generally water, on the edge of the plate, which has the function of both lubricating the tools and removing glass dust in order to avoid spreads in the environment and / or deposits on the plate and causes unwanted smears during subsequent processing.

A first known embodiment provides for the movement of the processing head around the slab so as to work two or more sides of the same.

A second known embodiment, on the other hand, provides for the rotation of the plate with respect to the handling head, so as to arrange the sides of the plate, in succession, facing the processing head itself.

The filleting machines according to the aforementioned known embodiments have the drawback of being mechanically complex and, therefore, relatively expensive.

A further drawback of the aforesaid known filleting machines is that they have a relatively large bulk, deriving from the need to move the processing heads and / or the plate. The aforementioned known filleting machines have the further drawback of being relatively slow, due to the particular movement of the processing heads and / or the plate.

Furthermore, the aforesaid known filleting machines have the drawback of requiring rather frequent cleaning interventions to remove the glass powder slurry and the liquid that tends to accumulate in the machine.

The aforementioned sludge entails the further inconvenience of requiring adequate disposal, with the related costs.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome all the aforementioned drawbacks pertaining to automatic filleting machines of the known types described above.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide an automatic filleting machine, in particular for the chamfering of glass sheets, which has a lower cost than known automatic machines for the same obtainable processing quality. It is also an object of the invention to realize an automatic filleting machine which allows to process a sheet more quickly than known automatic filleting machines.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an automatic filleting machine which requires more limited maintenance than known automatic filleting machines.

It is a further aim of the invention to create an automatic filleting machine that has a limited operating space.

The above objects are achieved by a filleting machine in accordance with the main claim.

Further detailed characteristics of the filleting machine of the invention are given in the related dependent claims. Advantageously, the limited cost, the processing speed and the reduced maintenance allow to reduce the unit cost of the pieces machined with the machine of the invention compared to those machined with known machines.

Still advantageously, the limited size of the machine of the invention facilitates the optimization of the production lines.

The aforementioned purposes and advantages, together with others that will be mentioned below, will be highlighted during the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is given as an indication but not as a limitation with reference to the attached drawing tables, where:

- fig. 1 represents the machine of the invention, in front view; - fig. 2 shows the machine of fig. 1, side view;

- figs. from 3 to 5 shows the machine of fig. 1 in different operative configurations, in front view;

- figs. 6 to 8 show in detail a machining head of the machine of fig. 1, according to three different views. The filleting machine of the invention, indicated in fig. 1 as a whole with 1, is particularly suitable for automatically filleting all four corners of a quadrangular glass plate 21, delimited in the direction of the thickness by two opposite faces.

The filleting machine 1 comprises a frame 2 for resting on the ground, to which a feeding device 3 is associated for the advancement of the plate 21 according to a feed direction X parallel to the faces of the plate itself. The filleting machine 1 also comprises a first filleting head 4 fixed with respect to the frame 2, suitable for filleting a first edge 22 of the plate 21 arranged parallel to the feed direction X during the advancement of the plate itself.

The filleting machine 1 also comprises a second filleting head 5 opposed to the first filleting head 4, suitable for filleting a second edge 23 of the plate 21 parallel to the feed direction X and opposite the aforementioned first edge 22 during the advancement of the plate.

There is also a third filleting head 6, associated with a motorization unit for movement according to a first movement direction Y incident on the feed direction X. The third filleting head 6 is suitable for filleting a third edge 24 of the plate 21 the feed direction X is incident and is arranged upstream of the first threading head 4 according to the direction of advancement of the sheet.

Preferably, there is also a fourth filleting head 7, associated with the motorization unit for movement according to a third direction of movement Y incident to the feed direction X. The fourth filleting head 7 is suitable for filleting a fourth edge 25 of the plate 21 incident in the feed direction X and is arranged downstream of the first threading head 4 according to the direction of advancement of the plate.

Obviously, the first filleting head 4 and the second filleting head 5 allow to simultaneously fillet the two opposite edges 22, 23 of the plate 21 during the feed movement of the latter, as can be seen in fig. 4. In particular, if the plate 21 is rectangular, the filleting heads 4 and 5 can be kept fixed with respect to the frame 2 during the above operation.

In any case, the second filleting head 5 can operate while remaining fixed with respect to the feeding direction X, to the advantage of the mechanical simplicity of the filleting machine 1. As regards the front edge 24 of the plate, that is, the one that first reaches the feeding zone. work of the third filleting head 6 during the advancement of the plate 21, it is processed by the third filleting head 6, as can be seen in fig. 3.

The fourth filleting head 7, on the other hand, allows the rear edge 25 of the plate to be filleted, ie the one opposite the aforementioned front edge 24, after moving the plate 21 in the feed direction X, as can be seen in fig. 4.

It is therefore understood that the filleting machine 1 just described is capable of automatically filleting all four edges 22, 23, 24, 25 of the plate 21.

Furthermore, the presence of several filleting heads capable of independently processing the various edges of the plate 21 allows the movements of the latter to be reduced to a single advancement movement according to the direction of advancement X. In particular, the aforementioned advancement it takes place in a single direction, thus avoiding return movements of the plate 21. This allows to achieve the aims of reducing the processing time of each plate, increasing the productivity of the machine and thus reducing the processing costs for each plate.

At the same time, the movements of the filleting heads are very simple, since the first filleting head 4 and the second filleting head 5 can remain fixed during processing, while the third filleting head 6 and the fourth filleting head 7 can move in simple straight lines. This allows to limit the movement mechanisms of the filleting heads in the filleting machine 1, thus achieving the aim of limiting its costs.

Preferably, the third filleting head 6 and the fourth filleting head 7 comprise support means which support the plates during their movement and facilitate the movement itself and which, preferably, comprise rollers or other sliding devices.

Therefore, the aforementioned filleting heads 6 and 7 carry out the upward processing and, at the end of the processing, return to the lower position before the plate is moved in the feeding direction X.

However, it is evident that, in embodiments of the invention not shown, the two filleting heads 6 and 7 can operate forward to work one sheet and back to work the next sheet, avoiding the return time of the filleting heads and, therefore, further limiting the processing time.

The fact that the plate moves exclusively in a feed direction X parallel to the plate 21 and maintains its orientation unchanged also allows the aim of limiting the operating dimensions of the filleting machine 1 to be achieved.

Still advantageously, the fourth filleting head 7 and the third filleting head 6 can work simultaneously on two different plates 21 and 21 '. In particular, the third filleting head 6 can work the third edge 24 of a new slab 21 'while the fourth filleting head 7 is working the fourth edge 25 of the previous slab 21, as can be seen in fig. 5. This allows for a further reduction in processing time.

However, it is evident that, in executive variants of the invention, the fourth filleting head 7 could be omitted, leaving the processing of the fourth edge 25 of the plate 21 to the third filleting head 6, which can have an actuation device capable of modifying the arrangement of the tools according to whether the third edge 24 or the fourth edge 25 is to be machined.

Reference will be made hereinafter to the version provided with the fourth filleting head 7, it being however clear that what has been said can be extended to the variant in which the fourth head is absent, its function being fulfilled by the third filleting head.

Preferably, the directions of movement Y of the third and fourth filleting head 6, 7 are both perpendicular to the feeding direction X and parallel to the plane of the plate 21.

However, it is evident that, in executive variants of the invention particularly suitable for processing non-rectangular glass, the aforementioned directions of movement may not be perpendicular to the feeding direction X and the processing of a sheet with an edge perpendicular to this direction can take place by combining the handling of the filleting heads with the sheet feeding motion.

Preferably, the filleting machine 1 comprises a first sensor, not shown in the figures but known per se, configured to detect the size of each plate 21 according to a direction incident to the feed direction X.

Advantageously, the aforementioned first sensor allows the stroke of the third and fourth filleting heads 4, 5 to be limited in order to reduce the processing time.

Still advantageously, the first sensor allows the filleting machine 1 to be used to fillet plates 21 which differ from each other in height, i.e. in the dimension in the direction orthogonal to the feed direction X.

This is preferably obtained by associating the second filleting head 5 to the aforementioned motorization unit for its movement according to a second movement direction Y incident to the feed direction X. The aforementioned movement allows the distance between the first filleting head to be varied. 4 and the second filleting head 5 so as to make it equal to the height of each plate. Preferably, the aforementioned second direction of movement is perpendicular to the feed direction X and parallel to the plane of the plate 21, although in executive variants of the invention this direction may be different from that just described.

Preferably, the first sensor is integral with the third filleting head 6, so as to detect the height of the plate 21 directly during the processing carried out by the third filleting head 6 on the third edge 24.

As regards the motorization unit that controls the movements of the filleting heads 5, 6, 7, it is preferably configured to move the third filleting head 6 and the fourth filleting head 7 independently of each other. To this end, the drive unit comprises two distinct actuators for each of the aforementioned heads 6 and 7.

In this way, advantageously, it is possible to operate the fourth filleting head 7 so that the stroke of the latter corresponds to the height of the previous slab, to which the fourth edge 25 belongs, regardless of the height of the next slab, whose third edge is processed by the third filleting head 6.

The motorization unit preferably comprises a plurality of linear guides developed according to the direction of movement of the heads, which couple with respective abutment elements belonging to the heads themselves. The drive unit also includes chains, belts or any other device designed to move the heads along their respective guides, associated with a drive unit.

Preferably, the motorization unit is controlled by a control logic unit in order to move the second, third and fourth filleting heads 5, 6 and 7 based on the height data acquired by the aforementioned first sensor.

Preferably, each filleting head 4, 5, 6, 7 comprises two abrasive tools operating on respective working planes incident to each other, configured to act on two respective opposite edges of a corresponding edge of the plate 21.

Preferably and as can be seen in fig. 8, each of the aforementioned abrasive tools comprises an abrasive disc 26 associated with a corresponding motor 27 for rotation around its axis. The aforementioned work surface corresponds to the surface of the abrasive disc 26.

Preferably, the work surfaces of the two abrasive discs 26 of each filleting head are perpendicular to each other and each is inclined by 45 ° with respect to the plate 21, so that the bevels obtained are 45 °.

It is also evident that, in executive variants of the invention, the two abrasive discs 26 can be arranged in different configurations from the one described above, according to the processing requirements.

Preferably and as can be seen in fig. 7, each filleting head 4, 5, 6, 7 comprises two sliding elements 15, 16, which can be positioned in contact with respective opposite faces of the plate 21 being worked and facing respectively the aforementioned abrasive tools. Advantageously, the aforementioned sliding elements 15, 16 keep the plate 21 in position, preventing the plate from flexing due to the action of the abrasive tools, causing inaccuracies in the processing or, worse, the breaking of the plate. Preferably, each sliding element 15, 16 is a respective wheel.

Still preferably, each filleting head 4, 5, 6, 7 comprises an adjustment device 17 for modifying the distance between the respective abrasive tools and / or between the respective sliding elements 15, 16 according to the direction of the thickness of the plate 21. Advantageously, the aforementioned adjustment device 17 allows the configuration of the filleting heads to be adapted to the thickness of the plate 21 to be processed.

Preferably and as can be seen in figs. 6 and 7, the adjustment device 17 comprises actuators which, by means of sliding guides 29, move the motors 27 in a direction perpendicular to the plate 21.

From this point of view, the filleting machine 1 preferably comprises a second sensor configured to detect the thickness of each plate 21, so as to adapt the configuration of each filleting head accordingly. Still preferably, the logic control unit described above controls the aforementioned adjustment device 17 based on the thickness data received from the second sensor.

It is evident that, in executive variants of the invention, one or more of the filleting heads 4, 5, 6, 7 may have a different configuration from the one described above,

As regards the device 3 for feeding the sheets 21, it is preferably configured to define a first support plane 9 parallel to the feeding direction X, adapted to support one face of the sheet 21.

As can be observed in particular in fig. 1, the filleting heads 4, 5, 6, 7 are arranged on a single column orthogonal to the feed direction X near the center line of the first support surface 9. This further limits the operating dimensions of the filleting machine 1 .

Preferably, the first support plane 9 is defined by sliding members 28 which, while keeping the plate 21 in the correct position, allow it to move according to the feeding direction X. Such sliding members 28 can comprise, for example, rolling elements such as rollers, surfaces in low friction material, pneumatic levitation devices and / or any other known type system.

Still preferably, the first support surface 9 is inclined with respect to the horizontal.

Advantageously, the inclination of the first support surface 9 allows the slab 21 to be supported in an inclined position, so as to reduce the horizontal bulk of the slab itself during processing.

Still advantageously, the inclination of the first support surface 9 allows to use the own weight of the plate 21 to ensure that the lower edge of the latter automatically rests against a guide surface, thus avoiding the need to provide devices for positioning the plate. .

Preferably, the aforementioned inclination with respect to the horizontal is greater than 70 ° and, even more preferably, greater than 80 °, so that the plate 21 is in a vertical or almost vertical position. Advantageously, this facilitates the coupling of the filleting machine. 1 with glass processing machines operating with vertical sheets, integrating them into a single production line.

Preferably, the feeding device also comprises a second support plane 10 orthogonal to the aforementioned first support plane 9 and parallel to the feeding direction X, adapted to support the first edge 22 of the plate 21, i.e. the edge which, during the processing step, is located in the lower position.

Preferably, the second supporting plane 10 is defined by motorized belts 11 adapted to drag each plate 21 in the feeding direction X.

According to an executive variant of the invention not shown, the second support surface 10 is defined by a plurality of motorized rollers in replacement of, or in combination with, the aforementioned motorized belts.

Preferably, the feeding device 3 comprises one or more suction cups 12 facing the first support surface 9, associated with a motorization device for their movement according to the feeding direction X. Advantageously, the aforementioned suction cups 12 allow the precise movement of plates of any size, in particular of small size slabs.

In fact, since the motorized belts 11 or the motorized rollers have an interruption in correspondence with an intermediate zone of the second support surface 10, in correspondence with the operative zone of the first, third and fourth filleting head 4, 6 and 7, the aforesaid devices they cannot tow the slabs in the aforementioned intermediate zone. As long as the length of the sheets according to the direction of advancement X is significantly greater than the length of the aforementioned intermediate zone, the feeding device 3 is able to pull the sheets in a sufficiently efficient and precise manner, which remain resting on the second support surface. 10 upstream and downstream of the aforementioned intermediate zone. This does not happen for plates of reduced length, for which it is therefore advantageous to use the aforementioned suction cups 12.

Preferably, the filleting machine 1 also comprises a suction unit 18 provided with a suction duct 19 developed between first openings facing respectively each filleting head 4, 5, 6, 7 and a second opening associated with a suction unit d 'air.

The aforementioned suction unit 18 sucks up the dusts produced by the processing and prevents them from depositing on the plate. Therefore, the suction unit 18 allows to carry out the dry filleting process, without the need to use detergent liquids to remove the aforementioned powders, thus allowing to reach the aim of limiting the maintenance of the machine 1 compared to the machines of the known type using liquids. detergents, also avoiding having to dispose of the related processing residues.

Preferably, the aforementioned first openings 20 are arranged inside suitable casings 30, visible in particular in figs. 6 to 8, each of which surrounds a respective abrasive tool leaving only the abrasive surface facing the slab free

21. Advantageously, the aforementioned casings 30 increase the suction capacity of the suction unit 18.

Since the first filleting head 4 and the second filleting head 5 act at different moments from the third filleting head 6 and the fourth filleting head 7, there is preferably a selector device, not shown in the figures but known per se, which puts the aforementioned second opening in communication with the first openings facing the first head 4 and the second head 5 or, alternatively, with the first openings facing the third head 6 and the fourth head 7.

Advantageously, the aforementioned selector device allows the power of the air intake unit to be halved, consequently limiting its overall dimensions, energy consumption and noise.

The filleting machine 1 is described below from the operational point of view.

A first slab 21 is arranged to rest on the first support surface 9 and is made to advance by the feed device 3 until it reaches the work area of the third filleting head 6. A sensor connected to the logic control unit , not shown in the drawings but known per se, detects the passage of the front edge of the plate 21 during the aforementioned advancement so that the logic control unit can establish the extent of the further advancement of the plate 21 necessary for the said edge is in the correct machining position.

At the same time, the second sensor detects the thickness of the plate 21 and communicates it to the control logic unit, which adjusts the first, second and third filleting head accordingly.

When the plate 21 is in the working position, the third head of

filleting 6 is moved so as to carry out the processing on the front edge 24 of the plate 21, as can be seen in fig. 3. During the aforementioned movement, the first sensor detects the height of the plate 21 and communicates it to the control logic unit.

At the end of the aforementioned processing of the front edge 24, the third filleting head 6 is brought out of the movement space of the plate 21, preferably in a lower position as described above, while the second filleting head 5 is positioned according to the height of the plate 21.

Subsequently and as can be seen in fig. 4, the plate 21 is made to advance by the conveyor belts 11 according to the direction of advancement X, so that the two upper edges 22 and lower 23 are processed by the first filleting head 4 and by the second filleting head 5.

At the same time, a second plate is made to advance towards the filleting heads, until it assumes the position of the previous plate.

At the end of the aforesaid advancement, the rear edge 25 of the first slab is processed by the fourth filleting head 7, as can be seen in fig. 5, while the third filleting head 6 processes the front edge 24 of the second plate, after both filleting heads have been adjusted according to the thicknesses of the respective plates.

At this point, the processing of the first slab is completed and the processing can continue with the second slab and with any further slabs.

From what has been said so far, it is understood that the filleting machine for sheet materials described above achieves all the purposes of the invention.

In particular, the simplicity of handling the heads of

filleting and of the plate allows to limit the cost of the machine with respect to known automatic machines.

In addition, the arrangement of several independent filleting heads, able to process the plate during the advancement of the latter according to a single feeding direction, allows to limit the processing time.

The advancement of the plate according to a single feeding direction parallel to the plate itself and the positioning of the filleting heads along the aforementioned feeding direction avoid having to rotate the plate or arrange a filleting head that moves around the plate itself, so as to limit the operating dimensions of the machine.

Furthermore, the dust extraction device with which the machine is equipped avoids having to use detergent liquids to remove the aforementioned dust and, therefore, allows to limit the maintenance of the machine, therefore the relative costs, increasing its duration and reducing the costs of disposal of processing residues.

Claims (16)

CLAIMS 1) Filleting machine (1) for processing quadrangular plates, comprising: - a frame (2) for support on the ground; - a feeding device (3) for the advancement of a plate (21) to be processed according to a feeding direction (X) parallel to the faces of said plate (21); - a first filleting head (4) fixed with respect to said frame (2) to fillet a first edge (22) of said plate (21) parallel to said feed direction (X) during said advancement; - a second filleting head (5) opposite to said first filleting head (4) to fillet, during said advancement, a second edge (23) of said plate (21) parallel to said feeding direction (X) and opposite to said first edge (22); - a third filleting head (6) associated with a motorization unit for its movement according to a first movement direction (Y) incident said feed direction (X) to fillet a third edge (24) of said plate (21) incident said feed direction (X), said third filleting head (6) being arranged upstream of said first filleting head (4) according to the direction of said feed. 2) Filleting machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a first sensor configured to detect the size of said plate (21) according to an incident direction said feed direction (X). 3) Filleting machine (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said first sensor is integral with said third filleting head (6) so as to detect said dimension of said plate (21) during the displacement of said third head of filleting (6) according to said first movement direction (Y). 4) Filleting machine (1) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said second filleting head (5) is associated with said motorization unit for its movement according to a second incident direction of movement (Y) called feed direction (X). 5) Filleting machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a fourth filleting head (7) associated with said motorization unit for movement according to a third movement direction (Y) incident on said feed direction (X) to fillet a fourth edge (25) of said plate (21) incident to said feed direction (X), said fourth filleting head (7) being arranged downstream of said first filleting head (4) according to the direction of said advancement. 6) Filleting machine according to claim 5, characterized in that said motorization unit is configured to move said third filleting head (6) and said fourth filleting head (7) independently of each other. 7) Filleting machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a second sensor configured to detect the thickness of said plate (21). 8) Filleting machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said feeding device (3) defines a first support plane (9) inclined with respect to the horizontal and parallel to said feeding direction (X) for supporting one face of said slab (21) and a second supporting plane (10) orthogonal to said first supporting plane (9) and parallel to said feeding direction (X) to support said first edge (22) of said slab ( 21). 9) Filleting machine (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said second support surface (10) is defined by one or more motorized belts (11). 10) Filleting machine (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said second supporting surface (10) is defined by a plurality of motorized rollers. 11) Filleting machine (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that said feeding device (3) comprises one or more suckers (12) facing said first support surface (9), said suckers ( 12) being associated with a motorization device for their movement according to said feeding direction (X). 12) Filleting machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that at least one of said filleting heads (4, 5, 6, 7) comprises two abrasive tools operating on corresponding work surfaces incident to each other, said two tools abrasives being configured to act on two respective opposite edges of a corresponding edge of said plate (21). 13) Filleting machine (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that said at least one filleting head (4, 5, 6, 7) comprises two sliding elements (15, 16) which can be positioned in contact with corresponding opposite faces of said plate (21) and facing respectively said abrasive tools. 14) Filleting machine (1) according to any one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that said at least one filleting head (4, 5, 6, 7) comprises an adjustment device (17) to modify the distance between the corresponding abrasive tools and / or between the corresponding sliding elements (15, 16) according to the direction of the thickness of said plate (21). 15) Filleting machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a suction unit (18) comprising a suction duct (19) developed between first openings facing respectively each of said filleting heads (4, 5, 6, 7) and a second opening associated with an air suction unit. 16) Filleting machine (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that said suction unit (18) comprises a selector device for putting said second opening in communication with the first openings facing said first head (4) and said second head (5) or, alternatively, with the first opening facing said third head (6).