IT9021027A1 - MACHINE AND PROCEDURE FOR SELECTION AND COLLECTION IN HOMOGENEOUS PACKAGES OF PUBLICATIONS, FILE AND SIMILAR ITEMS. - Google Patents

Description

INTITOLATED INVENTION

MACHINE AND PROCESS OF SELECTION AND COLLECTION IN HOMOGENEOUS PACKAGES OF PUBLICATIONS, FILE AND SIMILAR ITEMS

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a machine and a process for selecting and collecting in homogeneous packs of publications, brochures and similar articles of any type, as long as they are of suitable configuration to allow them to be stacked together.

As is known, for example, the publications of issues and periodicals, that is mainly newspapers and magazines, are sent by the publishing houses to the distributors of the Arizona sales account. In turn, the latter send the publications in the required quantities on consignment to newsstands or resales of their relevance.

Newsstands or resales subsequently return all unsold publications to the distributors and therefore they must carefully check all the quantities returned from each single sales point and then send them, divided by newspapers or titles, to the respective publishing houses in packs packed in the quantities requested or imposed by these last.

Since the number of newspapers or printed titles distributed daily is very high, it is evident that the sorting and selection of returns that is the responsibility of the area distributors assumes considerable economic and operational dimensions. Currently, this work is essentially carried out manually, with extensive use of personnel to maintain, within a reasonable time, the completion of all operational phases.

But despite the vast use of personnel and the very high costs associated with it, it is not always possible to respect the expected production times and rhythms, nor is the perfect homogeneity of the packaged editorial packs always guaranteed, as errors and distractions by the employees are possible. .

In this situation, the technical task at the basis of the Invention is to devise a selection and collection machine that makes every operational phase of the selection and collection operations automated and fast, for example the operations for the return of unsold publications and files, or other.

Within the scope of this technical task, an important object of the invention is to provide a machine that is easily adaptable to different dimensions and operational needs.

A further object is to provide a machine of high reliability and precision in forming homogeneous packs of publications and booklets.

Yet another object is to devise a flexible and versatile machine both for the wide variety of types and sizes of publications or similar articles that can be handled, and for the dimensional variety of homogeneous packs that can be packaged.

The aforementioned technical task and the specified purposes are substantially achieved by a machine and by a procedure for selecting and collecting in homogeneous packs of publications, booklets and similar articles, which are characterized by the fact that they present one or more of the technical solutions claimed hereinafter. .

A detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a machine and a process according to the invention is now reported, as an indication and not of limitation, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a top view of the machine;

figure 2 illustrates a section taken along the section plan II-II of figure 1;

Figure 3 shows an enlarged area of Figure 1;

Figure 4 presents a side elevation view of the machine; figure 5 is an enlargement of some details of figure 4; figure 6 is a perspective view of a pocket container; Figure 7 schematises a partially sectional side view of the pocket container of Figure 6;

figure 8 represents the closing and opening means of the pocket containers of figure 6;

figure 9 illustrates in front view a diversion group; figure 10 shows a side elevation view of a portion of the machine of figure 1;

Figure 11 is a front elevation view of a portion of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 12 is a partial perspective view of an accumulation tank present in the machine;

figure 13 is a side view of the accumulation tank;

Figures 14 and 15 schematize, respectively, a front view and a side view of the storage tank;

Figures 16, 17, 18 and 19 illustrate successive operating steps. With reference to the aforementioned figures, the machine according to the invention is globally indicated with the number 1.

It comprises a feed conveyor 2 having an oblique work surface 2a in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of articles 1a arranged individually and consecutively thereon, for example printed publications or printed booklets, recognized and counted by a recognition and counting 3.

In this way the articles, whatever their size, s1 rest on a reference edge 2b.

The recognition and counting device 3 can be of any type and structure, for example based on the use of photocells and / or sensors and / or suitably calibrated mobile strikers and / or load cells and / or barcode or other detectors. elements . By means of said elements it is possible both to count the number of articles la passing in correspondence with the device 3, and to recognize them 1.

The device 3 can also make use of the visual control and the Interventions of a special operator who cooperates in selecting, by means of suitable commands, the items la. In the case of the presence of a relatively small number of types of articles la to be selected, or in the case of substantial separation of the flows of these articles on the feed conveyor 2, the device 3 can also be completely based on the commands of an operator.

Downstream of the device 3 there are one or more diversion groups 4, each in correspondence with a transfer area 5 of the feed conveyor 2 and a sorting and collection module 6.

Each sorting and collection module 6 comprises, in turn, a bearing structure 7, a plurality of storage boxes 8 fixed in terms of location, for the formation of homogeneous packs, aligned on two rows parallel to the interior of the bearing structure 7.

Towing elements 9 are then provided, comprising a motorized chain, extending into a ring and supported by the bearing structure 7 above the accumulation boxes 8.

The pulling elements 9 engage pocket containers 10 arranged consecutively to each other, so as to define a sorting apparatus 11 which also develops in a ring, and movable with continuous motion above the accumulation boxes 8. The sorting apparatus 11 has at least one substantially straight supply section 11a, adjacent and parallel to the transfer area 5 extending above it.

The diversion assembly 4 is interposed and substantially aligned between the supply section 11a and the transfer area 5.

Each pocket container 10 has an inlet element 12 positioned in correspondence with the deviation assembly 4 and a discharge element 13 or door facing the accumulation tanks 8 and to which a cam follower element 13a is engaged. The discharge element 13 is kept in the closed position by a spring 14.

Furthermore, the pocket container 10 has, at least in correspondence with the discharge element 13, a pair of guide walls 15 comprising a first side wall 15a and a second sliding wall 15b whose position and orientation in space are determined by the conformation of an anchor block 16 Engaged with the towing elements 9.

In particular, the first side wall 15a lies substantially in a side plane parallel to the direction of advancement of the pocket containers 10 and oblique with respect to the vertical so as to define a reference side of the articles lying on the sliding wall 15b, regardless of the dimensions of them.

The second sliding wall 15b lies in a sliding plane perpendicular to a vertical plane parallel to the direction of advancement of the pocket containers 10 and oblique with respect to the same direction of advancement so as to define a dispensing direction 17 substantially at least partially opposite to the direction of advancement of the same pocket containers 10.

The discharge element 13 of each pocket container 10 can be operated by closing and opening means 18 engaged to the bearing structure 7 and arranged in correspondence with each accumulation tank 8.

Said closing and opening means 18 comprise a cam element 19 having a main segment 20 engaged to the supporting structure 7 and parallel in a position displaced to the trajectory of the cam follower element 13a; an Inlet segment 21 rotatably engaged at a first end of the main segment 20, movable by rationing a fluid-dynamic cylinder 22 between a position aligned with the main segment 20 and a displaced position of Interference with the trajectory of the cam follower element 13a; and a return segment 23 oscillally engaged at a second end of the main segment 20.

Each accumulation box 8 comprises a pair of mutually integral stacking walls 24, forming a dihedral angle between them open in the direction of advancement of the pocket containers 10, and defined by a first wall 25 and by a second wall 26 respectively transversal and parallel to the direction of travel.

Engaged with the stacking walls 24 is a bottom wall 27 above which an accumulation plane 28 consisting of an accumulation conveyor belt forming part of transfer means 29 of homogeneous packs 1b is positioned. The transfer means 29 also comprise a transfer motor 28a for moving the belt 28.

The latter extends transversely to a first collection conveyor 30, positioned between the accumulation boxes 8.

The transfer of the homogeneous packs 1b from the accumulation plane 28 to the first collection conveyor 30 is facilitated by vertical rollers 31 suitably positioned in the contiguity area between the latter.

Translation means 32 allow to transfer the accumulation plane 28 parallel to the edge 24a of the aforementioned dihedral angle between an initial position and a final position corresponding, respectively, to the beginning of the formation and to the completion of the homogeneous pack 1b. The translation means 32 comprise a translating cylinder 32a and guide rods 32b.

Also provided are overturning means 33 adapted to vary the inclination of the edge 24a between a position substantially orthogonal to the dispensing direction 17 (illustrated in figures 16 and 17), corresponding to the step of forming the homogeneous pack 1b, and a vertical position (illustrated In fig. 19) corresponding to the unloading phase of the homogeneous pack 1b on the first collection conveyor 30. The overturning means 33 comprise overturning cylinders 33a supported by fixed frames 7a and able to rotate the walls 24 around two tilting joints 33b orthogonal between They.

Downstream of the first collection conveyor 30 a second collection conveyor 34 is provided transversely thereto and in correspondence with the supply section 11a to start the homogeneous packs 1b for further operations, for example tying or wrapping transparent plastic wrapping sheets.

It should be noted that the illustrated collection conveyor 34 has a flow direction opposite to that of the overlying feeding conveyor 2 and flows onto an accumulation conveyor 34a, with a belt, where the packs are closely adjacent to each other. In fact, the accumulation conveyor moves only for small sections each time a new pack arrives in ace, moving the previous packs only enough to accommodate the new pack.

The deviation unit 4, located upstream and in correspondence with the supply section 11a, comprises selective deviation means 35, for example comprising a fluid-dynamic cylinder, active on a mobile section 36 of the supply conveyor 2, and an auxiliary conveyor 37 arranged downstream of the mobile section 36.

The auxiliary conveyor 37 is divided into a plurality of auxiliary and successive segments 37a each of which is equipped with a stop partition 38 able to selectively block each article, so as to impose a predetermined sending rhythm to the sorting module 6 and more precisely to the refueling section 11a.

Upstream of the first diverting unit 4 and downstream of the recognition and counting device 3 there are at least two auxiliary outlets 39 fed by two mobile sections 36 and adapted to selectively divert the articles transported by the feed conveyor 2 towards auxiliary collection areas.

In particular, s1 provides that one of said auxiliary outlets 39 is foreseen for articles possibly not intended to be stacked, while the other is foreseen for articles possibly not recognized by the device 3.

Furthermore, the feed conveyor 2 is equipped with through holes 2c and a suction apparatus 40 arranged under the work surfaces 2a to facilitate the adherence of the articles to the same work surface 2a.

Finally, means are provided for controlling all the transport and sorting phases of each article and for forming each homogeneous pack. These control means are made with per se known component elements, suitable for the described operations.

For example, for the control of the various operations elements are mainly of the electronic type, which provide a processing unit 41 and a chain of sensors and photocells suitably positioned and distributed in the various parts of the machine.

The processing unit 41 is connected both to the recognition and counting device 3 and to the distributed sensors and photocells. Therefore it can either attribute an Ideal number or mark to each article or follow each article through 1 sensors as it is advanced along the machine 1, without confusing it with the Immediately adjacent articles, as all the handling phases are strictly sequential. .

Furthermore, these handling phases are for the most part carried out with fixed and programmed speeds and rhythms and therefore, once the moment of passage of a certain article in correspondence with the device 3 is known, it is also possible to know the subsequent positions of each article by means of temporal type controls.

To impose on each article, followed step by step in its movement, the programmed destination in relation to the type of article, the unit

of processing 41 is active on the various actuators already described, located in correspondence with the various parts of the machine and consisting of preferably pneumatic cylinders and electric motors.

The intervention of the unit 41 on these actuators is also carried out with elements known per se, for example electric switches for the electric motors and selector valves for the cylinders. The selector valves are electrically operated and select the direction of flow of the compressed air supplying the various cylinders.

The operation of the machine, described above in a predominantly structural sense, is as follows.

The articles 1a to be selected and collected in homogeneous packs, arranged in advance and individually on the feed conveyor 2 and recognized by the recognition and counting device 3, arrive at the transfer area 5, if they have not been previously sent through the auxiliary outlets 39 in the AusH1ar1a collection area, since, for example, these are unrecognized items or items destined not to form piles.

Through the diversion group 4 each single article is selectively diverted from the feed conveyor 2 to one of the sorting and collection modules 6. article in each pocket container 10 which passes through the supply section 11a.

Each pocket container 10, passing in correspondence with the predetermined accumulation box, deposits, for the opening of the discharge element 13 controlled by the action of the opening and closing means 18, the article 1a contained therein.

It should be noted, as can be clearly seen in Figure 17, that the accumulation plane 28 on which homogeneous articles are subsequently deposited, is initially in a raised position so that the sliding wall 15b of the pocket container 10 can gradually accompany the transfer of an article about it or the stack of articles already formed. Furthermore, both the guide walls 15 of the pocket container 10 and the stacking walls 24 are suitably inclined, the latter only for the stacking step, so as to always make the edge 24a match the corresponding edge of each article, Regardless of its size and thus allow the formation of perfectly aligned stacks.

At the end of the formation phase of the pack of homogeneous articles, each accumulation box 8 is straightened by the overturning means 33 and the conveyor belt 28 transfers the homogeneous pack 1b onto the first collection conveyor 30 which, in turn, sends it to the second collection 34.

If it is necessary to send the items directly to the second collection conveyor 34, without therefore previously packing homogeneous packs, it is possible to keep 1 pocket containers 10 open in correspondence with the transfer area 5. The latter are thus dispensed directly on the second collection conveyor 34.

The invention also realizes a new process which also forms an integral part of the present invention patent.

In it s1 provides that, once substantially static collection elements have been prepared, commensurate in number to the homogeneous packs to be produced, publications, brochures and similar articles are distributed individually and consecutively to a plurality of movable sorting elements.

The sorting elements are at least as many as the collection elements and each article is randomly and individually ascertained to a sorting element. Then each sorting element is routed to a collection element.

It is envisaged that each article is subjected to a phase of recognition before its insertion in a sorting element, and that each sorting element is handled and treated according to the article contained therein.

The handling takes place by circulating the sorting elements along a closed trajectory alongside the positions of the collection elements.

An important phase of the procedure provides that the delivery of each item from a disposal element to a collection element is carried out by making said article flow by gravity in the opposite direction to that of the advancement of the disposal element, so as to obtain a minimum speed of said article with respect to the element. collection.

In detail, the delivery of each article from a sorting element to a collection element is carried out by making the forward-facing end of said article flow against an abutment wall of the collection element and then gradually dispensing the article with a movement of the dismantling element in the direction of away from the wall, as shown in figure 16.

A high important aspect of the procedure consists in the fact that the articles are always made to flow in an inclined position and placed on one of their ribs. In fact, the sorting and collection elements are inclined so as to always define an abutment edge for said coast. Thus the dimensions of the articles become substantially irrelevant, since there is always a certain reference area, corresponding to the reference edge.

The invention achieves important advantages.

In fact, it is emphasized in particular that the inclination of all the components of the machine intended to receive and support the articles to be collected in homogeneous packs allows to have reference sides irrespective of the size of the same articles and therefore to always perfectly pack homogeneous packs.

Furthermore, the position of the deflection unit 4, aligned with the straight supply section 11a, allows the articles to be transferred from the same deflection unit 4 to each pocket container 10 according to a linear and orderly flow and therefore without problems.

inlet and sliding.

The invention, applicable to the most disparate sectors of the art where a selection and a collection is necessary or appropriate, is susceptible of numerous variations, falling within the scope of the inventive concept. Furthermore, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements and in the practical embodiment of the invention the materials, the shapes and the dimensions can be any.

Claims (19)

CLAIMS 1) Selection and collection machine in homogeneous packs of publications, issues and similar articles, characterized by the fact of including: - a conveyor for feeding said articles, arranged individually and consecutively to each other; - a device for recognizing and counting each article transported by said feed conveyor, - at least one diverting unit arranged downstream of said recognition and counting device and contiguous to said feed conveyor, - at least one sorting and collection module arranged downstream of said diversion group and comprising: a plurality of fixed accumulation boxes for the formation of homogeneous packs, a plurality of movable pocket containers above said accumulation boxes, each having at least one inlet element that can be positioned in correspondence with said deviation group and at least one discharge element facing said accumulation tanks, means for transferring said homogeneous packs from said accumulation tanks, - and means of control and management of all the operational phases of transport and sorting of each item and of the formation of each homogeneous pack. 2) Machine according to claim 1, wherein said sorting module comprises: a bearing structure, towing elements developing in a ring, supported by said bearing structure and engaging said pocket containers, said pocket containers being arranged consecutively to each other in a to define a sorting apparatus developing into a ring, and means for opening and closing said unloading element of said pocket containers positioned at least in correspondence with each said accumulation tank. 3) Machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, in particular 2, wherein said feed conveyor has at least one transfer area extending above said at least one sorting module and wherein said sorting apparatus has at least one section adjacent and parallel to said transfer zone, said deviation assembly being interposed and substantially aligned between said transfer zone and said supply section. 4) Machine according to one or more of the claims. above, in particular 3, in which downstream of said means for transferring said homogeneous packs from said accumulation boxes a first conveyor for collecting said homogeneous packs, transversal to said transfer area of said feeding conveyor and to the height of said accumulation boxes, and a second collection conveyor arranged downstream of said first collection conveyor and in correspondence with said supply section of said sorting apparatus. 5) Machine according to one or more of the claims. above, in particular 1, in which at least two auxiliary outlets are provided downstream of said recognition and counting device and upstream of said deviation unit, adapted to selectively divert the articles transported by said feed conveyor towards auxiliary areas collection. 6) Machine according to one or more of the claims. above, in particular 1, in which said feed conveyor, said deviation group, said pocket containers and said accumulation boxes have at least one oblique working position in a plane perpendicular to the relative direction of movement of said articles in a manner suitable for defining sides of reference for said articles. 7) Machine according to one or more of the r1v. above, in particular 2, in which each said pocket container comprises a cam follower element and in which said opening and closing means comprise in correspondence with each said accumulation tank a cam element having a main segment engaged to said bearing structure and parallel in displaced position to the trajectory of said cam follower element, and an Inlet segment rotatably engaged to said main segment movable between a position aligned with said main segment and an Interference position with said trajectory with said follower element, said segment inlet being moved by a fluid-dynamic cylinder. 8) Machine according to one or more of the rev. above, in particular 2, in which said pocket containers have, at least in correspondence with said discharge element, at least one pair of guide walls for said articles comprising a first side wall and a second sliding wall, said first side wall substantially forming in a side plane parallel to the direction of advancement of said pocket containers and oblique with respect to the vertical, so as to define a reference side independent of the dimensions of said articles lying on said sliding wall. 9) Machine according to one or more of the rev. above, in particular 8, in which said second sliding wall lies in a sliding plane perpendicular to a vertical plane parallel to the direction of advancement and oblique with respect to the direction of advancement so as to define a dispensing direction having at least one component opposite to said direction of advance. 10) Machine according to one or more of the rev. above, in particular 1, in which each of said accumulation tanks comprises: at least one pair of silage walls integral with each other and forming a dihedral angle with a normal straight section, a bottom wall engaged with said stacking walls, a plane of accumulation arranged above said bottom wall and translation means of said accumulation plane adapted to move the same parallel to the edge of said dihedral angle between an initial upper position and a final lower position corresponding respectively to the beginning and completion of said pack homogeneous, said accumulation plane being constituted by a conveyor belt extending transversely to said first collection conveyor and defining said transfer means. 11) Machine according to one or more of the rev. above, in particular 9 and 10, in which said stacking walls are defined by a first wall substantially transverse to the direction of advancement of said pocket containers and by a second wall substantially parallel to said direction of advancement, said stacking walls presenting said dihedral angle open in said direction of advancement, and in which overturning means are provided for varying the inclination of the corner of said dihedral angle between a position substantially orthogonal to said delivery direction and a vertical position, said substantially orthogonal position corresponding to the step of forming said homogeneous pack and said vertical position corresponding to the step of unloading said homogeneous pack on said first collection conveyor. 12) Machine according to one or more of the r1v. above, in particular 1, in which said deflection assembly comprises: selective deflection means active on a movable section of said feed conveyor, and an auxiliary conveyor arranged downstream of said movable section and divided into a plurality of successive auxiliary segments each of which is provided with a stop partition adapted to selectively block each said article so as to impose a predetermined sending rate of said articles to said sorting and collection module. 13) Process of selection and collection in homogeneous packs of publications, issues and similar articles, characterized by the fact of consisting of: - in arranging a plurality of substantially static collection elements, commensurate in number with the homogeneous packs to be made, - in individually and randomly distributing said articles to a plurality of mobile sorting elements, and in selectively directing each said sorting element to a respective collecting element, - said sorting elements and said collection elements being selected from time to time on the basis of the article treated from time to time. 14) Process according to claim 13, wherein each of said articles is subjected to a recognition step before its insertion in a said sorting element, and wherein each sorting element is moved and treated in relation to said article therein content. 15. Process according to claim 13, wherein said sorting elements are made to circulate along a closed trajectory flanking the positions of said collection elements. 16) Process according to claim 13, wherein the delivery of each said article from a said sorting element to a said collecting element is carried out by making said article flow by gravity in the opposite direction to that of advancement of said sorting element, so as to obtain a minimum speed of said article with respect to said collection element. 17) A process according to claim 16, wherein said dispensing of each said article from a said sorting element to a said collecting element is carried out by making the facing end of said article flow against an abutment wall and then gradually dispensing said article with said movement of said sorting element in the direction away from said wall. 18) Process according to claim 13, in which said articles are made to flow in an inclined position and rested on one of their ribs, said sorting elements and said collection elements being arranged inclined so as to always define an abutment edge for said rib. 19) Machine and procedure for the selection and collection in homogeneous packs of publications, booklets and similar articles, characterized by the fact of including one or more of the technical solutions described or illustrated, for the specified purposes.