ITBO20130032A1 - EQUIPMENT FOR FEEDING SHEETS TO A PRINTER MACHINE - Google Patents

Description

EQUIPMENT FOR FEEDING SHEETS TO A PRINTER MACHINE

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Machines are known for printing combinations of writings and / or logos and / or drawings on sheets, in particular panels, comprising (see fig. 1) a working plane L sliding longitudinally, according to outward strokes N1 and back N2, so as to subject one or more panels, arranged on it, to the action of printing means; the print is defined after a predetermined number of such strokes.

This work surface involves a useful area for printing, defined by a longitudinal dimension (ie in the direction of movement of the same plane) and a transversal dimension; this useful area receives either a panel or more panels placed side by side longitudinally.

In the following we will refer to a panel, it being understood that, depending on the length of the latter, two or more panels can also be treated.

The loading and unloading of the panels on and from said work surface takes place in the latter's parking stations.

The present invention is directed to equipment for feeding sheets (eg panels) to said work surface.

The known apparatuses have a loading surface C (see fig. 1), next to the station S where the work surface L stops, whose height is such as to allow gripping means, associated with said parking station, to hook the panel located on the loading surface C in order to transfer it to the work surface L.

In a known solution the panel is manually placed by an operator on

this loading plan; the costs deriving from the use of labor are evident, whose productivity and reliability tend to decrease due to fatigue.

A further known solution (see again Fig. 1) provides for the use of an elevator E provided with a table T on which stack P1, stack P2-P4 of panels F is / are arranged.

This elevator is operated intermittently so as to allow the top panel of the stack to be picked up by means M for hooking and handling panels associated with said loading surface C which arrange for the panel to be placed on the latter.

There are several drawbacks of the above known solution.

In fact, the overall dimensions of the elevator E reduces the height of the stack P of panels; moreover, the intervention of the operators on the loading surface C is rather problematic, since the E-pile / e P elevator complex is arranged on the front side of the latter (see fig.1).

In the event that two or more panels F are fed on the loading surface, it is necessary to load on the elevator E as many P1-P4 stacks which must be disengaged from the relative protective casings, placed side by side and have the same height in order to optimize the operation of the cited means M for hooking and moving panels F associated with the loading surface.

Both the complexity of such a procedure and the use of manpower are evident.

The prerogative of the invention is to propose an apparatus for feeding sheets to the worktable of a printer, which overcomes the drawbacks of the state of the art.

A further prerogative of the invention is to propose an equipment

structurally simple, in relation to the performances achieved with it, and extremely functional.

These prerogatives are obtained in accordance with the content of the claims. The characteristics of the invention are highlighted below with reference to the attached tables of which:

- fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a known type of apparatus, referred to in the introduction, for feeding panels to a printer;

- fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of the apparatus object of the invention;

- figs. 3, 4 show as many perspective views of the apparatus of fig. 2 which feeds the aforementioned printing machine respectively with panels of a maximum size and of a size smaller than the latter;

- fig. 5 illustrates, schematically according to a perspective view, a variant of the conveyor provided in the aforementioned apparatus;

- fig.6 shows a schematic side view of detail I of fig.5;

- figs. 7A, 7B show the view of the section VII-VII of fig. 5 relating to the rest and work configurations of a further variant of said conveyor.

With reference to these figures, L indicates the aforementioned work surface of a known printer 100, indicated generically as it is of a known type; as already specified, this work surface L remains mobile according to the aforementioned outward strokes N1 and return N2, which with reference to fig. 2 are both perpendicular to the plane of the sheet.

To the side of the rest station S of the worktop L is the equipment object of the present invention, indicated as a whole with the reference

10.

This apparatus comprises a frame 1 which supports, by known means 2A, 2B, a loading surface 3 constituted by the upper branch 4A of a closed loop conveyor 4 carried by said frame; in the embodiment considered, this conveyor consists of a series of side-by-side belts 80A, 80B, 80C, 80D winding on a common drive roller 90A and a common driven roller, the latter not illustrated.

This loading surface 3 is vertically movable (directions X1, X2) by means of motor means of a known type (not illustrated).

The conveyor 4 can be motorized (in a known way not shown) in step, or continuously, so that the relative upper branch 4A moves in the Y direction; it should be noted that the longitudinal development of this upper branch is at least equal to the longitudinal height of the work plane L, and its width is at least equal to the width of the latter.

At the side of the frame 1, on the opposite side with respect to the aforementioned work surface L, there is a station 70 for receiving a stack 15 of panels 200, 300 arranged on a relative pallet 30A, 30B.

The depth B of this pile is not greater than the width of the aforementioned useful area of the work surface L; the longitudinal dimension of the pile 15 is not greater than the longitudinal dimension of this useful area.

In fig. 3 the maximum format of the panels 200 on which the printer machine 100 can intervene to print is shown; Figure 4 illustrates a panel format 300 smaller than the maximum format.

The means M for hooking and moving panels 20, carried by the loading surface 3, in figs. 2-4 are generically indicated as they can be made in

any way.

The operation of the proposed equipment is now described.

It should be noted that in station 70 the operator places at least one pile 15.

Depending on the height H of this pile (indicated by dotted line and dot in fig. 2) with respect to the reference line â € œOâ € (see again fig. 2) the loading surface 3 is moved so as to position itself in correspondence with the top panel of the stack 15: first operating position K of the loading surface 3 (indicated in broken lines in fig. 2) corresponding to the height H of the stack.

This first operating position K is variable in height as it depends on the height of the stack which decreases with the removal of the head panels from it.

It is understood that the equipment 1 includes means for detecting the height of the top panel of the pile 15 and means for detecting the level of the loading surface 3: these means have not been indicated as assets of the state of the art. At this point the means M are activated which firstly hook the top panel of the stack 15 and then transfer this panel onto the loading surface 3, more precisely on the upper branch 4A of the conveyor 4.

In phase relation with the completion of this transfer (disengagement of the means M from the panel) the loading surface 3 is moved again (verses X1, or X2) in order to position it in an optimal and predetermined manner with respect to the station stop S of the worktop L: second operating position Q (fig. 2) which is fixed as a function of the height of the worktop L.

This allows the MP pick-up means associated with the parking station S of the

printing machine, to hook the panel located on the upper branch 4A of the conveyor 4 in order to place it on the work surface L of the printing machine (see a phase of this operation indicated with dashed line U in fig. 2).

The transfer of the panel of the upper branch 4A to the work surface L can be optimized according to the variant illustrated in figs 7A, 7B.

This variant provides for a series of trees 50 parallel to each other and placed at the same height, each positioned in correspondence with the space 60 existing between the opposite edges of the upper branches of two adjacent belts; each shaft 50 forms a longitudinal flattening 50A.

The shafts 50, driven in synchrony by known systems, are positioned in such a way as not to interfere with the relative flattening 50A, and with the shafts themselves in the rest position R, against the overlying panel carried by the belts: see Figure 7A.

The synchronous rotation of the shafts 50 in the direction P causes (working position W), the lifting of the panel (which, therefore, is disengaged by the belts) and the translation of the latter (arrow G) towards the parking station of the machine. printer: this makes it easier to hook the same panel by the aforementioned MP gripping means.

The motor means which move the loading surface 3 vertically are enslaved by the aforementioned detection means of the top panel of the stack and to the detection means of the aforesaid loading surface; these means act in combination to define said first K and second Q operating positions.

In fig. 3 the maximum format of the panels is shown; the top panel 200A of the stack is transferred to the upper branch 4A of the conveyor 4; in this case this upper branch is not moved.

Fig. 4 shows a panel whose size is less than the maximum.

The head panel 300A of the stack 15 by means M is placed on the initial part of the upper branch 4A of the conveyor 4 (position Z1 indicated in broken lines in Fig. 4); in phase relationship with this operation, the upper branch 4A translates according to Y by a portion greater than the longitudinal dimension (that is, according to Y) of the aforesaid panel: stepwise movement of the conveyor.

It follows that a series of panels 300 (positions Z1, Z2, Z3, â € ¦) are arranged on this upper branch 4A until they affect the entire longitudinal extension of the branch 4A itself; this allows, by means of MP means, to transfer the aforementioned series of panels onto the worktop L.

It is understood that between one transfer and another of panels from the stack 15 to the upper branch 4A, the loading surface 3 translates vertically so as to arrange itself cyclically in the aforementioned first H and second Q operating positions: this optimizes these transfers.

A further variant of the conveyor 4 is provided which is particularly advantageous with the latter being continuously motorized (see figs 5, 6).

With reference to these last figures, 55 indicates abutments positioned transversely to the direction Y of translation of the upper branch of the conveyor 4. Each abutment is constituted by a sort of comb whose prongs 56 are arranged in correspondence with the aforementioned spaces 60 and have dimensions such as to be freely inserted between the latter.

The downstream striker 55A is fixed, while the other strikers are made movable (in a known way, not shown) from a lowered position A1 (indicated with solid line in fig.

6) to a raised position A2 (shown in broken lines in fig. 6).

In the raised position A2 the tines 56 constitute as many stops for the relative ones

panels placed on the upper branch of the conveyor and correspondingly arranged upstream of the same: in this situation there is a sliding between the panels and the underlying belts.

In the lowered position A1 the prongs 56 do not interfere with the movement of the panels in the Y direction.

With panels 200 of maximum size (fig. 3), the strikers 55 are kept in the lowered position A1; it follows that each panel transferred onto the conveyor 4 abuts against the fixed abutment 55A.

With panels 300 having a smaller size than the maximum one, for example as illustrated in fig. 4, the strikers 55 are activated cyclically (lowered A1 and raised A2 positions) in phase relationship with the activation of the aforementioned panel gripping and transfer means M, so as to define the aforementioned positions Z1, Z2 for each panel 300, Z3â € ¦ ..

In the preferred embodiment of the apparatus only one battery is used; this allows to move a single pile at station 70 with all the advantages that this entails.

In this last station there is no elevator which makes available the space which, in the known art, is occupied by the latter; in addition, access to the loading surface 3 is facilitated.

Having foreseen the vertically movable loading surface allows to optimize both the coupling from the top panel of the pile and its transfer on the same loading surface, and the transfer of the panel (s) from this last floor to the worktable L of the printer.

It is understood that the above has been described by way of non-limiting example, so that any variants, for example in station 70, can be

two or more stacks are provided, they are understood to fall within the protective scope of the present invention as described above and claimed hereinafter.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS 1) Apparatus for feeding sheets to a printing machine 100 with the latter comprising: a working plane L sliding longitudinally, according to outgoing N1 and N2 back strokes, so as to submit one or more sheets, arranged on the itself, to the action of printing means; at least one station S, in which the aforementioned work surface rests, provided with gripping means MP for transferring said sheets from said apparatus to said work surface L with the latter parked in said station S; with said apparatus characterized in that it comprises: a frame 1 carrying a loading surface 3 positioned to the side of said parking station S and made vertically movable, by means of motor means, from a first operating position K, variable in height, to a second operative position Q flanked to said rest station S; a station 70 for receiving a stack 15 of sheets, placed at the side of said frame on the opposite side with respect to said work surface L, the height of the top sheet 15A of said stack defining the aforementioned first variable operating position K; means M for gripping and transferring sheets, carried by said loading surface, intended, with said loading surface 3 in said first operating position K, to hook the top sheet 200A, 300A of said stack 15 to transfer it to the same loading surface 3. 2) Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that said loading surface 3 is identified in the upper branch 4A of a closed loop conveyor 4 carried by said frame, with said conveyor which can be motorized stepwise or continuously. 3) Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said branch upper is flanked to said parking station S of the aforementioned printing machine. 4) Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said motor means are enslaved to means for detecting the height of the pile, and to means for detecting the height of said loading surface 3 acting in combination with the previous means for defining said operating positions before K and second Q. 5) Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said conveyor is constituted by a series of belts 80A-80D mutually spaced according to spaces 60, characterized in that it comprises means, arranged in said spaces 60, for the disengagement of the sheets from the upper branches of said cinghioli. 6) Apparatus according to rev. 5, characterized in that said means comprise: parallel shafts 50, located at the same height, of which at least one is located in a corresponding said space 60, with each shaft forming a longitudinal leveling 50A; means for synchronously operating said shafts in rotation to define for the latter a rest position R, of non-interference with at least one overlying sheet, and work W of interception of said sheet with at least the lifting of the latter to favor the € ™ hooking of the same by the aforementioned MP gripping means. 7) Apparatus according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein said conveyor is constituted by a series of belts 80A-80D mutually spaced according to spaces 60, characterized in that it comprises means, arranged transversely to the upper branches of said belts, made from a lowered position A1, in which they do not intercept at least one overlying sheet involving said upper branches, to a raised position A2, in which they define a stop for said sheet. 8) Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said means 55 are comb-shaped, the prongs 56 of which are freely inserted into said spaces 60. 9) Apparatus according to rev. 7 or 8, characterized by the fact of providing, in the downstream end of the upper branches of said belts, a fixed abutment 55A shaped like a comb, the prongs of which are inserted in said spaces 60 to define a stop for the aforementioned at least one sheet in resting on the upper branches of said straps.