WO2000040494A1

WO2000040494A1 - Device for stacking sections in cartridge form

Info

Publication number: WO2000040494A1
Application number: PCT/FR2000/000025
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Pierre Bodereau
Original assignee: Realisations, Etudes & Commercialisation De Materiel Pour L'industrie, Recmi
Priority date: 1999-01-08
Filing date: 2000-01-07
Publication date: 2000-07-13
Also published as: ATE247595T1; FR2788261A1; EP1144293B1; DE60004631D1; DE60004631T2; FR2788261B1; PL348779A1; EP1144293A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for stacking sections in cartridge form, comprising a stacking head (E) with a vertical path supplying a stream of sections (C) from the top downwards on a horizontal stacking table (T), the vertical path supplying the sections (C) being defined between a first series of drive belts (1) defining an inner vertical wall and a second series of drive belts (2) opposite said inner vertical wall. The invention is characterised in that the stacking device comprises a detecting device and means for preventing the sections from being jammed including means for measuring the moving speed of the sections (C) in the vertical supply path, at least means for comparing said measured speed with the theoretical forward movement speed of the sections in the stacking device, and means provided to clear from the vertical supply path the outer drive belts, to bring said belts to their initial position on the basis of the measured speed. The invention is applicable to section stacking devices.

Description

Device for stacking notebooks in the form of a cartridge

The present invention relates to a device for stacking notebooks in the form of a cartridge, of the type comprising a stacking head with a vertical path for feeding a sheet of notebooks from top to bottom on a horizontal stacking table, said said notebooks coming to rest on the stacking table side by side so as to form a cartridge of notebooks, the vertical path of the notebooks being defined between a first series of drive belts defining an interior vertical wall and a second series of external drive belts extending opposite the internal vertical wall up to the top of the notebooks resting on the cartridge stacking table at the stacking point, a manual or automatic adjustment device being , preferably, provided to bring the external belts flush with the notebooks of the cartridge in formation as a function of the dimensions of the notebooks to be pounded.

The first series of belts therefore forms an internal vertical wall from the stacking head to the stacking table while the second series of belts facing said stack wall extends outside the stacking head to flush with the upper end of the notebooks resting on the stacking table at the stacking point. As a result, the outer belts are in contact with the notebooks resting on the cartridge stacking table at the outlet from the stacking point, which ensures that said notebooks are properly placed in the cartridge. The height of the outer belts is therefore preferably adjustable according to the height of the notebooks to be stacked.

During a stacking, a jam of notebooks can occur, for example due to the presence of notebooks accidentally thrown on the conveyors for feeding the notebooks or even due to improperly folded notebooks or even when these stick between them and slip poorly relative to each other at the stacking point.

An excess thickness due to the jamming of the notebooks at the stacking point then occurs and this excess thickness can cause deterioration of the stacking material such as an output of the drive belts out of their guides or even the breakage of certain mechanical parts.

In order to avoid such deterioration, jamming detection devices have been proposed enabling the detection of an excess thickness at the stacking point and which, in particular, control the stopping of production or the deviation of production to another stacking device when a jam is detected.

These detection devices can include an optical overthickness detection cell, or the external drive belts of the notebooks can be mounted on a tilting frame which, during an overthickness, switches and actuates a switch controlling the stopping of the production. Such devices, if they make it possible to avoid deterioration of the equipment by controlling the stopping of the operation of the device, do not consequently allow continuity in production and an operator must intervene in order to be able to restart this production towards the stacking device.

In addition, it is necessary to determine for each production an authorized thickness and a prohibited thickness corresponding to the detection of a jam and this adjustment being dependent on the operator, it does not always guarantee good detection of a jam.

In addition, these jam detection devices are relatively slow to respond. Thus, these devices detect an excess thickness at a time when the stuffing is already effective, a notebook having, for example, been immobilized for a long time across the stacking point and having caused this extra thickness characteristic of the stuffing. At high production speed for large thicknesses of notebooks, jamming detection does not take place quickly enough to prevent certain belts of the vertical feed path from coming out of their guides or to prevent breakage of certain mechanical parts.

In order to overcome this drawback, the object of the present invention is to propose a stacking device of the type mentioned comprising a device allowing both rapid detection of the jamming but also making it possible to evacuate this jamming beyond the stacking point. without the production being stopped.

To this end, the subject of the present invention is a device for stacking notebooks in the form of a cartridge, of the type comprising a stacking head with a vertical feed path for a sheet of notebooks from top to bottom on a table. horizontal stacking, said notebooks coming to rest on the stacking table side by side so as to form a notebook cartridge, the vertical feed path of the notebooks being defined between a first series of drive belts defining an interior vertical wall and a second series of exterior drive belts extending opposite said inner vertical wall up to the level of the upper part of the notebooks resting on the cartridge stacking table at the stacking point, a manual or automatic adjustment device being preferably provided for adjusting the height of the external belts and bring them flush with the notebooks of the cartridge being formed as a function of the dimensions of the notebooks to be stacked, characterized in that it comprises a device for detecting and evacuating an accumulation of notebooks or jamming of notebooks, comprising means for measuring the running speed of the notebooks in the vertical feed path, at least comparison means of this speed measured with respect to a speed value corresponding to the theoretical advancement speed of the notebooks in the stacking device, as well as means arranged to at least partially erase the external drive belts from the vertical feed path , when detecting a running speed of the notebooks significant of a jam and to return said belts to their initial position when detecting a running speed corresponding to the theoretical advancement speed of the notebooks.

Thus, when a notebook is blocked, the others come into abutment behind and gradually stop between the interior and exterior belts and the notebooks can no longer slide towards the stacking table. This blocking, or more precisely this accumulation of notebooks located substantially at the stacking point, therefore causes a measurable change in the running speed of the notebooks. Advantageously, the measurement of the speed and the comparison with the theoretical speed make it possible to detecting a discrepancy between the measured speed and the theoretical speed, which then controls the at least partial erasure of the external drive belts of the vertical feed path.

As a result, the external belts being erased from the vertical feed path in the vicinity of the stacking point where the accumulation of notebooks takes place, said belts no longer block the advance of the pile of notebooks and the accumulation of blocked notebooks, which are then entrained in the cartridge in formation on the stacking table.

As soon as the speed of the notebooks in the vertical feed path is measured and detected in accordance with the theoretical speed, the external drive belts are returned to their initial operating position.

Thus, by erasing the external drive belts, preferably upon detection of a running speed of the notebooks different from the theoretical speed, the accumulation of notebooks which has been entrained within the cartridge in formation without the need to stop the stacking of notebooks and before an excess thickness linked to the jam really forms as in the systems by detection of excess thickness.

The improperly positioned notebooks due to jamming can then be removed from the cartridge later by an operator.

Such a device for detecting and removing a jam from notebooks is simpler to implement since it no longer involves a device requiring an adjustment such as determining the excess thickness to be detected as a function of the thickness of the notebooks in production. This device allows furthermore rapid detection and also rapid and simple correction without stopping production.

In addition, even if the operator forgets to remove a jam within the cartridge being formed, production continues.

Preferably, the means for measuring the running speed of the notebooks in the vertical feed path consist of a mechanical sensor associated with an inductive detector. The mechanical sensor can ^" be a wheel mounted to rotate freely and kept in contact with the notebooks running in the vertical feed path, the speed of rotation of which is measured to measure the running speed of the notebooks. Thus, the wheel is preferably a symmetrically hollowed out wheel and the inductive detector emits an electrical signal the frequency of which is proportional to the speed of rotation of the wheel This information concerning the measurement of the speed is then sent to a logic unit comprising the comparison means which process said information by comparing the speed detected with a theoretical speed of movement of the notebooks in the stacking head Preferably, the logic unit also comprises means for reading information received from the speed measurement means, a memory in which is stored at least the theoretical speed of advancement of the notebooks as well as means for controlling the means ens arranged to erase the outer belts.

According to a first embodiment, the means arranged to at least partially erase the external drive belts from the vertical drive path and return them to their initial position, are constituted by means for translational drive of the drive belts outside, along the vertical wall, away from the cartridge being formed when detecting a scrolling speed of the notebooks significant of an accumulation of notebooks or jamming and approaching the cartridge to the bottom of the notebooks when detecting a scrolling speed corresponding to the theoretical advancement speed of the notebooks.

Preferably, the belts are mounted on a support and the translational drive means of the external belts are constituted by pneumatic or hydraulic actuation means such as jacks mounted on the stacking head and connected to the support of the belts for drive it in translation along the inner wall, in separation and in approximation of the outer belts of the cartridge being formed on the stacking table.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the means arranged to erase at least partially from the vertical supply path the external belts and return them to their initial position are constituted by means for pivoting the external belts in spacing and closer to the inner vertical wall. Thus, the outer belts are moved apart by pivoting the vertical feed path upon detection of a significant speed of a risk of jamming which frees the passage to an accumulation of notebooks then are then brought back to their initial position by reconciliation by pivoting.

The present invention also relates to a device for automatically detecting and discharging an accumulation of notebooks or padding of notebooks intended for a device for stacking notebooks in the form of a cartridge, of the type comprising a stacking head with path vertical supply of a sheet of notebooks from top to bottom on a horizontal stacking table, said notebooks coming to rest on the stacking table side by side so as to form a cartridge of notebooks, the feed path vertical notebooks being defined between a first series of belts drive defining an inner vertical wall and a second series of outer drive belts extending opposite said inner vertical wall to the level of the upper part of the notebooks resting on the cartridge stacking table, a device manual or automatic adjustment device being preferably provided for adjusting the height of the external belts and bringing them flush with the notebooks of the cartridge being formed as a function of the dimensions of the notebooks to be stacked, characterized in that it comprises measuring means the running speed of the notebooks in the vertical feed path of the stacking device, at least means for comparing this measured speed with respect to a speed value corresponding to the theoretical advancement speed of the web in said stacking device as well as means arranged to at least partially erase the drive belts from the vertical feed path ent external, when detecting a running speed of the notebooks significant jamming and return said belts to their initial position when detecting a running speed corresponding to the theoretical advancement speed of notebooks.

Such a device incorporates all of the characteristics set out above.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawing in which:

Figure 1 shows a partial side view of a stacking device according to the invention;

Figures 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e and 2f show the different stages of operation of the device of Figure 1 when a jam occurs. A stacking device according to the invention comprises a stacking head E with a vertical feed path for the notebooks C on a horizontal stacking table T.

The vertical feed path of the notebooks C is defined between two series of drive belts 1, 2 of the notebooks C. A first series of belts 1 (shown in dotted lines) defines an interior vertical wall in the stacking head E and a second series of belts 2 (shown in dotted lines) is arranged opposite said internal vertical wall towards the outside of the stacking head, the notebooks C being guided between the internal vertical wall and the external drive belts 2.

These external drive belts 2 are mounted on a support and, more precisely, said belts 2 are stretched around a frame 3 extending along the inner vertical wall, the belts 2 being at least guided on rollers. guide 4 mounted free to rotate at the lower end of the chassis 3.

The notebooks C therefore arrive in the vertical feed path guided towards the stacking table T from top to bottom between the internal belts 1 and the external belts 2 (FIG. 2a).

At the end of the said path, the notebooks C rest with their backs on the stacking table T one behind the other so as to form a cartridge.

The end of the frame 3 carrying the external belts 2 rests above the notebook cartridge being formed at the stacking point as can be seen in FIG. 1 and the belts 2 extend along the vertical wall inside up to the top of the notebooks so that they are in contact with said part of the C notebooks just after the stacking point and thus contribute to the correct placement of the C notebooks in the form of a cartridge.

The height of the chassis 3 in the stacking head E is adjustable by a manual or automatic adjustment device according to the dimensions of the notebooks C to be stacked on the stacking table T so as to bring the external belts 2 flush with the notebooks of the cartridge in formation. This setting is a standard setting.

The stacking head E further comprises a device for detecting and removing a jam from the notebooks at the stacking point.

This device includes means for measuring the running speed of the sheet of notebooks C in the vertical feed path. These measurement means here consist of a mechanical sensor such as a wheel 5 carried by an arm 6 articulated on the chassis 3 by means of a spring 7 always ensuring contact of the wheel 5 with the sheet of notebooks scrolling and associated with an inductive detector 8. The freewheel 5 in rotation is driven in rotation by the scrolling of the notebooks C, consequently when the scrolling of the notebooks C is disturbed, the speed of rotation of the wheel 5 indicative of the speed of scrolling of the tablecloth is modified. The wheel 5 is hollowed out in a symmetrical manner and the inductive detector emits an electrical signal whose frequency is proportional to the speed of rotation of the wheel 5 and therefore of the running speed of the notebooks, the frequency of the electrical signal emitted by the inductive detector 8 also being modified when this scrolling speed changes.

The information relating to the speed of rotation of the measured wheel 5 is then sent to comparison means of said speed with the theoretical running speed of the notebooks.

When a scrolling speed of the notebooks is detected different from the theoretical speed it reveals an accumulation of notebooks at the stacking point or jam B. Indeed, when a jam B occurs, the notebooks C are blocked and accumulate the one behind the other and the notebook C in contact with the means for measuring the speed ι no longer advances. The accumulation of notebooks C can cause an overthickness incompatible with the path defined between the internal belts 1 and the external belts 2 which risks causing deterioration and in particular an exit of the belts out of their guides.

Also, as soon as the running speed is detected as revealing an accumulation of notebooks at the stacking point P or stuffing B by the comparison means (FIG. 2b), associated control means are used to actuate means of at least partial erasure of the vertical path of the external belts. These erasing means are in the example shown constituted by means of translational drive of the outer belts 2 in spacing thereof relative to the stacking table T and the cartridge in formation. That is to say that the translational drive means separate the chassis 3 carrying the belts 2 from the notebooks resting on the stacking table T. The chassis 3 has at least one arm 10 connected to a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 9 mounted in the stacking head E.

Thus, the frame 3 is driven in translation along the vertical wall of the stacking head E away from the stacking point P (according to arrow A in Figure 2c) so that the notebooks C blocked in the form of a jam B escape the external belts 2 which are raised (Figure 2d) and said notebooks C can be driven by the stacking table T to be removed from said stacking point P (FIG. 2e).

Once the running speed is again detected in accordance with the theoretical running speed or having reached a predetermined threshold approaching the theoretical running speed, the translational drive of the chassis 3 is again triggered to bring the latter back in its operating position, that is to say in approaching the stacking point P (according to arrow A 'in FIG. 2e) so that the belts 2 come into contact with the upper part of the notebooks C just after the stacking point thus contributing to good stacking.

An operator can then remove the notebooks C from the jam which are in the cartridge (Figure 2f).

The invention therefore provides a stacking device provided with a device for detecting and removing a jam from notebooks in a simple, rapid and efficient manner.

Claims

1. Device for stacking notebooks (C) in the form of a cartridge, of the type comprising a stacking head (E) with a vertical path for feeding a sheet of notebooks (C) from top to bottom on a table horizontal stacking (T), said notebooks (C) coming to rest on the stacking table (T) side by side so as to form a cartridge of notebooks (C), the vertical feed path of the notebooks (ιC) being defined between a first series of drive belts (1) defining an interior vertical wall and a second series of exterior drive belts (2) extending opposite said interior vertical wall as far as the upper part notebooks resting on the cartridge stacking table at the stacking point, a manual or automatic adjustment device being preferably provided for adjusting the height of the external belts (2) and bringing them flush with the notebooks (C) of the cartridge in formation according to the dimensions d es notebooks (C) to be stacked, characterized in that it comprises a device for detecting and removing an accumulation of notebooks or stuffing of notebooks comprising means for measuring the running speed of the notebooks (C) in the vertical feed path, at least means for comparing this measured speed with respect to a speed value corresponding to the theoretical advancement speed of the notebooks in the stacking device, as well as means arranged to erase at least partially of the vertical drive path of the external drive belts, when detecting a running speed of the notebooks significant of a jam and to return said belts to their initial position when detecting a corresponding running speed at the theoretical speed of advancement of the sheet of notebooks.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for measuring the running speed of the notebooks (c) in the vertical feed path consist of a mechanical sensor associated with an inductive detector (8).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the mechanical sensor is a wheel (5) mounted free in rotation and kept in contact with the notebooks (C) running in the vertical feed path and the speed of which is measured. rotation to measure the running speed of the notebooks (C).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the wheel (5) is a symmetrically hollowed wheel, the inductive detector (8) emitting an electrical signal whose frequency is proportional to the speed of rotation of the wheel (5), this information concerning the measurement of the speed then being sent to a logic unit comprising the comparison means which process said information by comparing the speed detected with a theoretical speed of movement of the notebooks in the stacking head.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the external drive belts (2) are mounted on a support, preferably said belts (2) being tensioned around a frame (3) s 'extending along the inner vertical wall, the belts 2 being at least guided on guide rollers (4) mounted free in rotation at the lower end of the frame (3).

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the means arranged to erase the external belts (2) at least partially from the vertical feed path and return them to their initial position consist of translational drive means (9,10) of said outer drive belts (2), along the vertical wall, in separation from the cartridge being formed when detecting a running speed of the notebooks (C) significant of a jam (B) and in approaching the cartridge to the level of the notebooks (C) during the detection of a scrolling speed corresponding to the theoretical advancement speed of the sheet of notebooks (VS) .

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the drive means in translation of the external belts (2) are constituted by pneumatic or hydraulic actuating means such as jacks connected to the support of the external belts (2) for driving said support in translation along the inner vertical wall.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the frame (3) carrying the external belts (2) has at least one arm (10) connected to a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder (9) mounted in the stacking head.

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the means arranged to erase at least partially from the vertical supply path the external belts (2) and return them to their initial position are constituted by means d 'drive in pivoting of said outer belts (2) in spacing and approximation of the inner vertical wall.

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a logic unit comprising means for reading information received from the speed measurement means (5, 8), a memory in which is stored at least the theoretical speed of advancement of notebooks, the comparison means as well as means for controlling the means arranged to erase the external belts.

11. Device for automatic detection and evacuation of an accumulation of notebooks or padding of notebooks intended for a device for stacking notebooks (C) in the form of a cartridge, of the type comprising a stacking head (E) with a path vertical supply of a sheet of notebooks (C) from top to bottom on a horizontal stacking table (T), said notebooks (C) coming to rest on the stacking table (T) side by side so forming a notebook cartridge (C), the vertical feed path of the notebooks (C) being defined between a first series of drive belts (1) defining an interior vertical wall and a second series of exterior drive belts (2) extending opposite said interior vertical wall up to the level of the upper part of the notebooks resting on the cartridge stacking table at the stacking point, a manual or automatic adjustment device preferably being intended to adjust the height of outer belts (2) and bring them flush with the notebooks (C) of the cartridge being formed as a function of the dimensions of the notebooks (C) to be stacked, characterized in that it includes means for measuring the running speed of the notebooks (C) in the vertical feed path of the stacking device, at least means for comparing this speed measured with respect to a speed value corresponding to the theoretical advancement speed of the web in said stacking device as well as means arranged to erase at least partially from the vertical feed path the external drive belts (2), upon detection of a running speed of the notebooks (C) significant of a jam (B) and return said belts (2) to their initial position when a running speed corresponding to the theoretical advancement speed of the sheet of notebooks (C) is detected.