IT202100009782A1 - EQUIPMENT FOR HANDLING SHEETS OF CORRUGATED CARDBOARD. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

The present found ? relating to an equipment for handling corrugated cardboard sheets.

In particular, the equipment finds application in the handling of corrugated cardboard sheets of the so-called ?bare wave? or ?single face? in technical jargon, what? that type of cardboard in which the external cover is missing and in which the corrugation remains uncovered. This type of corrugated cardboard is used in packaging in the same state in which it is formed or coupled with a coated paper or other type.

The equipment in question? usable downstream of a cutter to move the sheets that have been cut so as to arrange them in a configuration in which they are prepared for subsequent use, for example stacked.

In practice, the cutter ? disposed and acting downstream of an unwinder in which a reel of corrugated cardboard is unwound to be divided into sheets of predetermined length, or downstream of a line which produces corrugated cardboard. The apparatus object of the present invention picks up the sheets coming out of the cutter and places them in a shape suitable for possible subsequent processing, storage or transport.

In general, the equipment in question can? be used directly in the exit area of a cutter or in an area connected to it.

The bare wave corrugated cardboard? remarkably flexible and deformable why? its structure (formed only by a smooth sheet, or cover, joined to a corrugated sheet) cannot? guarantee the characteristics of resistance to bending and compression which instead offer corrugated cardboards in which the corrugated? enclosed between two covers, such as those of the simple, double or triple wave type.

At present, the handling of the corrugated cardboard sheets is carried out by means of wedge-shaped elements which are arranged at two opposite edges of the sheet. For the handling of the sheet, the latter can? be arranged in a partially arched configuration to increase stiffness. The handling of corrugated cardboard sheets with bare wave? however characterized by difficulty? objective in the manipulation of this type of material that can cause problems related to the possibility? of damage to the product and/or speed? of production.

The present invention relates to an apparatus which allows the handling of the corrugated cardboard sheets in a fast and effective way.

Yes to this result? received, in compliance of the present invention, adopting the idea of realizing an apparatus having the characteristics indicated in claim 1. Other characteristics of the present invention are the object of the dependent claims.

Among the advantages of the present invention the following can be listed by way of non-limiting title: with the apparatus in question the bare wave corrugated cardboard sheets are gripped in a secure manner at one of their edges to be moved towards a collection area, with a movement that is suitable not to damage the sheets themselves and that allows a speed? relatively high operational; the sheet withdrawal means are mechanically activated and therefore allow a secure grip; with the? equipment in question ? is it possible to clamp and move more? sheets also of different widths, managing to effectively handle the substantial totality of cut sheets having as width a submultiple of the width of the whole corrugated cardboard strip; the sheets are not damaged by the picking and handling means; the equipment has a relatively limited cost compared to the advantages offered and keeps its innovative characteristics unchanged over time.

These and other advantages and features of the present invention will be more and better understood by any person skilled in the art thanks to the following description and the annexed drawings, supplied by way of example but not to be considered in a limiting sense, in which: - Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 represent a possible example of realization of a? equipment in conformity? of the invention, represented, respectively, in a schematic perspective view from above (Fig.1), in a perspective view of a detail with an enlarged portion (Fig.2), in a perspective view of another detail (Fig. 3 ), in another perspective view from above (Fig. 4) and in a perspective view from below (Fig. 5);

- Figs.6 and 7 relate to two details which schematically show how the gripping means of the corrugated cardboard sheets are activated;

- Fig. 8 ? a diagram that represents the positioning of the equipment in its possible use;

- Fig. 9 ? a diagram which represents another possible embodiment of the invention in which the apparatus comprises a guide which supports linear motors;

- Fig. 10 ? a diagram that represents a possible example of disposition of the grippers delegated to the gripping and the handling of the corrugated cardboard sheets in accordance with? of the found. With reference to the attached drawings which represent only an example of implementation, an apparatus (1) for handling sheets of corrugated cardboard with bare wave can be used disposed and acting downstream of the exit area of a cutter (3) which divides a corrugated cardboard strip into a plurality? of sheets (10).

In the drawings the equipment (1) ? represented immediately downstream from the cutter (3) but its use pu? also be advantageous in an area not immediately downstream but connected to the exit section of the cutter (3).

Advantageously, the apparatus (1) ? provided with means (2) for gripping and moving the sheets (10), shaped and arranged so as to temporarily grip an edge (10A) of one of said sheets at at least two points and move the sheet (10) itself for a stretch of pre-established length cos? to be placed in a subsequent processing station or collection of the sheets themselves.

In a preferable embodiment, represented in the illustrated examples, the gripping and handling means (2) are shaped and arranged so as to temporarily grip the flap (10A) along substantially its entire extension, for example in a number of ?order of tens (ten pairs of jaws in the example). The clamping of the sheet (10) in correspondence of relatively short intervals allows to support the sheet (10) with safety, limiting the possibility? of damage.

The gripping and handling means (2) of the sheets (10) in the example of Figs-1-8, comprise at least two grippers (2) fixed to a belt (4) in a first direction (V) and formed by a jaw fixed upper jaw (20) and by a lower jaw (21) movable in a second direction (Z) orthogonal to the first towards the upper jaw (20) to grip the edge (10A) of said sheet (10).

The gripping of the sheet (10) takes place thanks to the reciprocal approach of the two jaws; the arrangement of the fixed jaw in the upper position and the mobile jaw in the lower position can? be overturned, i.e. with the upper jaw movable and the lower one fixed. In an alternative solution not shown in the drawings could? a pincer system must be provided which brings the two jaws together with vertical movement of both.

Also, how will it come? described below, the solution that provides for the belt (4) can? be replaced by a motion system including linear motors.

In particular, the first direction (V) ? horizontal and the second direction (Z) orthogonal to the first ? vertical. This ? the ?standard? configuration because? normally the cutter (3) releases the sheets (10) with the main surface in horizontal arrangement. As visible in the drawings, each lower jaw (21) ? connected to a rod (22) that moves vertically according to the horizontal movement of the belt (4).

In particular, the lower jaw (21), which ? shaped like ?L? in the examples, ? supported by a stem (22) which in turn ? connected to a support body (22A) in turn connected to a sliding carriage in a first elliptical guide (51); to the support body (22A) ? connected a cursor element consisting of a wheel (23) which ? inserted in a second curved guide (24). The curvilinear guide (24) has a variable profile and, in particular, passes between two different heights (whose difference D is indicated in the drawings) causing the reciprocal approach and distance between the two jaws (20, 21). In practice, referring for example to Figs.6, 7 and 8, when sheet (10) is coming out of the cutter (3) the cursor (23) ? in the most? bottom of the guide (24) and in this configuration the two jaws (20, 21) are separate; subsequently, moving to the left (in the views of Figs. 6 and 7, the system rotates clockwise) the gripper closes. As the gripper moves to the left (still in the reference of Figs. 6 and 7) following the cam defined by the guide (24), it lifts and closes, gripping the sheets. In the diagram of Fig.8, the cursor reaches the highest quota? raised and drags the lower jaw (21) upwards (direction Z) determining the clamping of the flap (10A) of the sheet (10). When the cursor (23) moves again, it reaches a portion of the guide (24) which has a lower height and brings the lower jaw (21) downwards causing the release of the sheet (10) in the collection station (5).

In the examples, all the gripping and handling means (2) are supported by dragging bars (25) which are fixed to the handling belts (4) in Figs.1-8, while they are supported by linear motors (29) in the example of Fig.9. The movement belts (4) are internally toothed and engaged on corresponding toothed pulleys (40) connected to motor means (M). In particular, the pulleys (40) are keyed onto shafts (42) in correspondence with central portions of the same shafts (42) which are arranged between two parallel sides (12). At the ends? of the shafts (42), externally to the sides (12), there are two transmission pulleys (43) which are driven, by means of corresponding belts (44), by motor means (M). In the drawings, with (12I) ? the internal face of the side (12) is indicated and with (12E) the external face.

In the example of Fig. 9 the equipment (1) ? disposed downstream of a cutter (3) and ? provided with a guide (51) on which the linear motor agents (29) are supported. Furthermore, ? there is a guide (24) which has an arched portion with an ascending slope so as to cause an upward movement of the cursors (23) which determine the vertical movement (Z) of the jaws. The guide (51) can? have an ascending and a descending portion (useful for lifting sheet 10, traversing the section and lowering to leave it); the opening and closing of the caliper ? however determined by the cursors (23) which are driven by the curvilinear guide (24), as in the other example. In other words, pairs of guides (51) with linear motors are housed inside the two sides 12 (better visible, for example , in Fig. 1), one on each side and exactly opposite. Also housed inside the sides (12) is the curvilinear guide (24) which acts as a cam, with one curvilinear guide on each side, exactly opposite. The linear motors move along the guide (51) and each pair of motors (29) to the right and left ? joined by the dragging bar (25), on which the jaws/stem/slider etc are housed. In practice, the linear motors act as a transmission, replacing the belt and the traditional motors, with the same gripper system.

Advantageously, linear motors (2) use the electromagnetic principle. The electromagnetic force produces linear movement, without the use of gears, belts or other mechanical parts. In fact, the motor consists of only two parts: the cursor (represented by the motors 29) and the stator supported by the guide (51). The motors (29) can be manufactured with magnetic material, for example neodymium magnets.

In this embodiment of the invention, each support body (22A) is enclosed between two linear motors (29) and supports, in a similar way to the previous example, the stem (22) and the opening/closing system of the gripper (2), with the difference that it? the lower jaw (21) to be fixed, with the upper jaw (20) which ? vertically mobile. This type of movement allows us to add more than four dragging bars for the pliers (22A) on which the jaws/stem/slider etc are housed. allowing speed? of higher collection.

As previously expressed, the equipment (1) ? advantageously provided with means (2) for gripping and moving the sheets (10) shaped and arranged so as to grip the flap (10A) along its entire development in a plurality of of points of the order of ten; in other words, the grippers (2) are in such a number and arrangement as to collect portions of the corrugated cardboard tape having a full width or equal to a submultiple of this value.

By way of example, with reference to the non-limiting example of Fig.10, the apparatus (1) is provided with a support bar (25) which carries eleven pliers (2), spaced apart by a value (L1) which can? be equal to 175mm; each gripper (2), formed by the two jaws as previously described, has a width indicated by (L2) and which can be equal to 60mm. In this way the pincers (2) cover a ?front? (L10) equal to 1810mm.

In this way the equipment (1) can? be used for sheets having a width of any value (obviously in the context of the types of corrugated cardboard normally used). This makes it possible to overcome a limitation of conventional machines of the known type which allow to collect sheets formed from the full-width or half-cut corrugated cardboard strip. With this equipment ? It is possible, for example, to also collect the tape cut into three or four parts.

In other words, while with the traditional system from a paper tape 1600 mm wide ? It is possible to collect a sheet of 1600mm wide format or two sheets of 800mm format, with this system, in addition to the formats indicated above, we can also collect three sheets of 530mm wide format, or four 400mm sheets.

In practice, in correspondence with any format (compatibly within the ambit of formats on the market) the equipment (1) will ammorser? the sheet with at least three pliers (2).

In the example of Fig. 10 the following values were used as an example: W10 for 1800mm, W3 for 600mm, W4 for 400mm, W5 for 950mm.

In both possible embodiments shown in the drawings (which do not exclude others falling within the scope of the following claims)? It is evident that the gripping and handling of the corrugated cardboard sheets with bare wave are extremely advantageous, both in order to maintain the integrity of the product, both as regards the speed? operation and safety of the equipment. The execution details can in any case vary in an equivalent manner in the shape, dimensions, arrangement of the elements, nature of the materials used, without however departing from the scope of the idea of the solution adopted or of the inventive concept and therefore remaining within the limits of the protection afforded by the claims.

Claims (10)

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for handling bare wave corrugated sheets disposed and acting downstream of the exit area of a cutter which divides a bare wave corrugated web into a plurality of corrugated sheets. of sheets , equipment (1) characterized by the fact that ? equipped with means (2) for gripping and moving said sheets (10), shaped and arranged so as to temporarily grip an edge (10A) of one of said sheets at at least two points and move the sheet (10) itself to a stretch of pre-established length ta cos? to be placed in a subsequent processing station or collection of the sheets themselves. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that means (2) for gripping and moving the sheets (10) comprise at least two grippers (2) fixed to a moving belt (4) movable, in a section, according to a first direction (V) and formed by an upper jaw (20) and a lower jaw (21), movable towards each other in a second direction (Z) orthogonal to the first to grip the edge (10A) of said sheet (10) . 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least two grippers (2) of the gripping and handling means (2) are shaped so as not to damage the corrugated cardboard sheet. 4. Apparatus according to claim 2 and/or 3, characterized in that said first direction (V) ? horizontal and determined by a first guide (51) in which a support body (22A) of the grippers (2) slides, and said second direction (Z) orthogonal to the first? vertical and determined by a second guide (24) in which a slider (23) connected to said support body (22A) slides. 5. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said lower jaw (21) is? connected to a rod (22) that moves vertically according to the horizontal displacement of the belt (4), said rod (22) being connected to a cursor element (23) sliding in a curvilinear guide (24), the sliding of said cursor (23 ) in the guide (24) determines the reciprocal approach and distance between the two jaws (20, 21). 6. Equipment according to one or more of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said lower jaw (21) is shaped like an ?L?. 7. Equipment according to one or more of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a plurality? of drive belts (4), internally toothed and engaged on corresponding toothed pulleys (40) connected to motor means (M). 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 and/or 2, characterized in that means (2) for gripping and handling the sheets (10) comprise a plurality of of linear motors (29) which support corresponding support bodies (22A) of said grippers (2) and which move along a first guide (51), said support bodies (22A) are connected to corresponding cursors (23) which travel along a curvilinear guide (24) which has an inclined portion of a given value, the displacement of the cursor element (23) dragged by the linear motor (29) along the guide (51), determining the approach of the jaws (20, 21 ) which form the pliers (2). 9. Equipment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means (2) for gripping and moving the sheets (10) are shaped and arranged so as to grip the flap (10A) along its entire development in a plurality of of points of the order of ten. 10. Equipment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means (2) for gripping and moving the sheets (10) are supported by dragging bars (25) which extend transversely to the apparatus (1), enclosed between two sides of the apparatus itself ( 1).