Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G61/00—Use of pick-up or transfer devices or of manipulators for stacking or de-stacking articles not otherwise provided for
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
  • B65G47/74—Feeding, transfer, or discharging devices of particular kinds or types
  • B65G47/90—Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials
  • B65G47/91—Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials incorporating pneumatic, e.g. suction, grippers
  • B65G47/918—Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials incorporating pneumatic, e.g. suction, grippers with at least two picking-up heads

Definitions

• the object of this patent is a system and a machine for moving panels. It is used particularly for loading and unloading stacks, b y automatically placing or removing rows of wooden panels positioned side by side as stated in the main claim.
• this invention regards a machine used to automatically unload or load stacks of panels made from any kind of material, which are lined up side by side, in a regular fashion b y lining them up transversally and longitudinally one on top of the other, or by picking them up from fixed positions in order to stack them in other positions determined on a 360° radius, apart from the pick-up positions.
• the suction pad unit is made up of a casing with an upper suction hole with a uniform, flat surface divided into sectors divided by close-pore sponge rubber and a suction hole which is large enough to guarantee that there is an acceptable level of vacuum.
• a further aim of this invention is to obtain a machine which is more efficient, more reliable and more simple.
• Another aim of this invention is to obtain a plant which includes the said transport mechanism or machine, along with means for cutting and automatically depositing the panels, and also for preparing spacer elements to be placed between the layers or adjacent rows of panels which are loaded to from the stacks.
• the lifting points may be programmed by an operator by means of special equipment (such as transfer mechanisms and support surfaces with radial bearings) lined up at the head of one or more points of the rows of panels which come off a production machine, such as a log saw for the rows of panels which form the stack.
• special equipment such as transfer mechanisms and support surfaces with radial bearings
• the advantage is that there is a machine for transporting the rows of panels or any other type of material placed in stacks to b e loaded or unloaded, characterised by the fact that it has: - a motorised transport means with a radial movement, and mechanical block for the support arm of the pick-up mechanism; - a means for the horizontal and radial movement of the pick- up mechanism unit; - a means for the vertical movement of the unit; horizontal and radial movement with the pick-up means; a support means for the slat holder unit, to distribute the spacer elements between the rows of adjacent panels; - a support means for the slat discharge unit with a horizontal movement, opposite the collecting rake for the spacer elements; - a means for fastening the arm movement unit to the ground; - a means on the ground with a sliding support surface, horizontal reference stops for the mobile transfer chains and pusher rolls for butting and lining up the panels in rows of pre-set sizes.
• Fig. 1 a side view of a machine for picking up rows of wooden panels and a collection and alignment support surface according to the invention in a preferred application.
• Fig. 2 a top view of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 a sectional view along the A-A axis in Fig. 2.
• Fig. 4 a sectional view along the B-B axis in Fig. 2.
• Fig. 5 a sectional view along the C-C axis in Fig. 2.
• Fig. 6 an enlargement of a part of Fig. 4.
• Fig.7 a top view of the enlargement in Fig. 6.
• Fig.8 a sectional view along the D-D axis in Fig. 2.
• Fig. 9 a view of Fig. 8 along line E.
• Fig. 10 an enlargement of a part of Fig. 8.
• Fig. 11 a top view of Fig.10.
• Fig. 12 an enlargement of a part of Fig. 1.
• Fig. 13 a side view of Fig. 12.
• Fig. 14 an enlargement of a part of Fig. 12.
• Fig. 15 an enlargement of a part of Fig. 14.
• Fig. 16 a mechanism attached to Figs.12-13.
• those parts which are the same or which carry out the same function have the same references.
• a machine 10 for picking up rows of panels includes one or more pick-up stations 12 with one or more deposit stations 13 to form the stacks. Similarly, a machine 10 may pick up rows of panels 11 from the stacking zone 13 and deposit them in dedicated stations 12.
• Fig. 2 illustrates a n example of how the panels 11 are fed from a log saw 16 used for the production of panels across a roller table 14 with a slide 15.
• the wooden panels which are to be loaded up which have a thickness ranging from 2 to 12 cm, a width ranging from 5 to 1 00 cm and a length ranging from 1 to 6 m, are suitable for being stacked up on top of each other on parallel surfaces positioned next to each other in rows at the same level surface.
• the stacks formed from rows of panels which are perfectly lined up may hold a large amount of wooden panels 1 1 , according to their width and height.
• the stacks 13 may be formed either alongside each other, or in a semicircle, with a considerable reduction in the time required for moving them, since they are no longer moved one at a time.
• wooden spacers 17 are placed between them.
• a device 18 Fig. 16 which is fixed to the pick-up unit 19 Fig. 1, which is used to collect the spacers 17 in dedicated containers 19 on the ends of the stacks 13 Fig.12. This occurs in the case of taking slats 17, for rows of panels to be stacked up, which are deposited by the containers 19, and deposited in other, larger containers.
• the device 18 deposits the slats 17 on the panels 11 by means of a loading unit 20 Fig. 16.
• the pick-up means 21 are fixed elastically and modularly on the right hand side and on the left hand side of a structure for the pick-up means 22, made from metal plates and fixed centrally to a rotating shaft 23.
• the said pick-up means 21 hang, one next to the other, on two round supports 24 on the right and on the left, which is then supported centrally at its ends by the plates of the structure 22 and by two slings (lifting-type) fastened in place by clamps 25 (Figs. 1 2 and 13).
• the pick-up means 21 are made out of aluminium or other similar material, which means that the pick-up structure for rows of panels has a high capacity in spite of its low weight. Furthermore, since it is modular, there is also the advantage that it is extremely simple and requires very little effort to adapt the flat width of the pick-up means to the width of the rows of panels.
• the pick-up means are made up of vacuum suction pads 21, which are inserted into round supports 24 and held apart from each other elastically by springs 26 positioned between free washers and spacers 27 held in place by screws (Fig. 13).
• the suction pad 21, illustrated in the enlargement Fig. 14, is made up of a horizontal plate 30 formed in aluminium, and by a vertical plate with a slot according to the minimum and maximum dimensions of the panel 11 to be picked up.
• the horizontal plate 30 of the suction pad is machined on the inside and around its perimeter (see enlargement, Fig, 15).
• a suitably-sized, rectangular, closed-pore foam rubber piece which is extremely flexible and elastic, and which is mixed with rubber in order to be more resistant to actions such as compression and stretching, etc.
• Fig. 15 the form of the channel 33 where the rubber piece is inserted is highlighted. In the part which sticks to the panel, the channel is very large and blended, so that the rubber, which sticks out about 10-15 mm, may be compressed, thus expanding into the channel 33 which protects it from being squashed and sheared between the wood and the aluminium.
• the size of the standard channel 33 is a few tenths of a millimetre smaller than the thickness of the rubber piece, which is also to guarantee that it sticks to the aluminium plate.
• a vertical plate made out of aluminium, or a similar light material, is screwed to the horizontal plate of the suction pad 30.
• I t has two symmetrical slots 36, whose width is slightly higher than the diameter of the round piece 24, and whose length is equal to the stroke of the suction pad when it adapts itself to the panel.
• a regulation valve 37 or section regulator for the passage of the vacuum in the chamber of the suction pad
• a control device 3 2 to measure the vacuum in the chamber of the suction pad formed by the lower surface of the suction pad plate 30, the perimeter of the seal 32 and the contact surface of the panel 11.
• the device 38 for checking the vacuum known as a vacuostat, by means of an electrical contact which is closed by hand, indicates the phasing in the suction pad chamber by means of the minimum value of the vacuum, and opens the electrical contact when this said minimum value is exceeded.
• Each suction pad 21, by means of tube 39, is connected to the vacuum suction system through section regulator 37, valve 40 for opening and closing the vacuum passage section, distributor header 41, zone valve 42 for opening and closing the vacuum, empty tank 50, tubes 45, 46 and 51 and fittings 47 and 4 8 connected to the vacuum pump 44 driven by the electric motor 49.
• the flow rate of the pump and the power of the motor depends on the number of suction pads which are in use, which depends on the width of the row of panels to be picked up. These values are limited at all times, however, even when moving large loads, compared with the machines used up until now and which use a centrifugal pump system to create the vacuum.
• This invention considering the comparisons described above, is able to determine exactly whether there is a minimum vacuum level for each suction pad, and if the result is negative, that suction pad is excluded and every vacuum loss is closed off, thu s guaranteeing the maximum vacuum levels in the suction pads being operated.
• By using pumps with a minimum flow rate the maximum yield and the highest working safety levels are reached, even when there is a lack of current due to the absence of vacuum loss, and because the hold on the panels is always guaranteed due to the u se of the tank (50).
• the pump 44 together with the tank 50 and the maximum/minimum vacuostats, maintains the vacuum level which varies between 75% and 90% vacuum, and by means of the vacuum opening and shut-off valves 42 for each zone (in this case there two (see Fig. 13) but there may be three or even more).
• a measuring instrument 3 8 to measure the level of vacuum.
• the said measuring instrument through an electrical contact which is normally closed, sends an electrical impulse if the vacuum level is inferior to a value which is pre-set by means of regulation screws (normally 0.2-0.4% vacuum).
• the suction pads By acting upon the regulation valve according to the flow rate of the pump, all the suction holes of the free suction pads are progressively closed in order to reach a vacuum level with the pre- set value of 0.2-0.4%.
• the suction pads are divided into two or more zones, with the rest of them which test for the presence of a vacuum for each single zone. Only in those suction pads which press on panels with suitable surfaces, and due to a slight contact pressure, will a vacuum level of 0.2-0.4 be formed inside the chamber.
• the first one is to make the general release of the vacuum 42 easier when the peripheral vacuum 40 valves are operated, while the second function is to blow air on the single panels to be picked up so that they are cleaned before the suction pads press on their surface.
• the pick up means or suction pads 21 are rectangular, but may be any other shape. They hold on to the panel by means of a rubber seal 33 which is, in turn, compressed against the flat surface of the springs 35, which is then compressed by the support structure 54 (Fig. 1) which is moved by a hydraulic cylinder or a jackscrew 63.
• the pick-up means are connected by means of a series of flexible and rigid pipes to a tank 50 which is, in turn, connected b y means of pipes to a vacuum pump 44 driven by a motor 49.
• the movement means and pick-up means are made up of a structure 22 which, by means of the round parts 24, support the suction pad unit.
• the structure 22 is screwed to two plates which are welded to a rotating tube 23.
• the said rotating tube by means of bearings, bushes and other components, rotates around another support tube which is fixed with plates to the square-sectioned tube 57 which slides longitudinally and parallel to the flat surface where the panels 1 1 are picked up and set down.
• the said tube 57 is preferably square, but may be any shape as long as it can not rotate around its own axis.
• a hydraulic motor or motorised means 55 which is connected to cogs or a transmission 56, determines the pre-set angular rotation of the tube 23, and the rotation is controlled by an encoder or other similar means, which is also moved by the transmission 56.
• the axial support pipe 57 slides axially and horizontally by means of a hydraulic cylinder or a jackscrew 58, and the upper and lower p arts slide on bearings or other rolling means, while the side is guided b y slip pads or guide blocks made out of low friction material.
• Both the bearings and the guides are mounted on a structure made from steel plates 60.
• An electronic control unit or encoder 69 controls, b y means of a cog or transmission unit, the forward and backward positions of the arm 57 and, therefore, the whole of the pick-up unit.
• the said arm which has the said vacuum suction means 44-49 acting as a counterweight, is connected to the rotating column 64 which has a section sufficient to support the forces which it has to support.
• the upper lever 61 has a smaller section than the other one and acts a s a tie rod, while the other lever 62 has a larger section and acts as a support arm and, at its rear end, the vacuum tanks 50, the vacuum pump 44 and counterweights in heavy steel plate or any other material are welded.
• the stem of a hydraulic cylinder or jackscrew 63 for lifting purposes is hinged, around which the upper and lower levers 61 and 62 rotate, and since it is hinged equidistant, they lift and raise the arm 57 and, therefore, the entire suction pad unit parallel to the surface where the panels are picked-up and set-down.
• the cylinder or jackscrew 63 is fixed with pins to two steel plate ears which are welded to the structure of the rotating support column 64. If a hydraulic cylinder is used for movement and lifting purposes, it is good safety practice to connect a non-return lock valve 65 on the feed side.
• a linear, impulse-type control device 70 is welded on, and controls the movement of the cylinder 63.
• the 360° rotation of the rotating column 64 is controlled by a pair of cogs driven by a hydraulic motor, which is driven by a motor 55 and controlled by an electronic encoder 69 which are fixed to a support structure 71 made out of large diameter tube, which is then screwed down to a concrete base 72, or is fastened b y anchoring means to the floor below ground level.
• a brake 6 7 fastened to the structure 71 and controlled by a hydraulic cylinder 68 controls the rotation of the column 64, and holds it in the desired position by the brake disc 66 which is screwed to it.
• a motor-driven 73 hydraulic power plant 75 drives the hydraulic pump which, by means of the valves 74 and the piping, drives the motors 55 and 54 and the cylinders 63, 58 and 68.
• the stacks of panels are formed from rows of panels 11 which are distributed with wooden slats 17 between them to allow air to circulate and dry the panels 11.
• 1 6 illustrates the discharge and collection mechanism for the slats with the suction pad unit, and a device 18 and 20 above which is used to remove the slats from the stack to be unloaded or, vice versa, to place the slats on the stack which is being formed.
• Cylinder 118 controls the lifting and the lowering of the pantograph-type pusher unit, made up of levers 114, pins 117 and anchoring arm 116.
• Cylinder 115 controls the left-hand and right- hand opening and closing of the pantograph, which has the unit with the cartridge 20 for the slats 17 at the end.
• the release of the slats 117 is controlled by cylinders 110 and 111.
• a roller table 14 used to feed the panels which come from a log saw, for example, go down a slide with wheels 94 and come to a halt against a mobile stop 96 controlled b y a cylinder 97.
• the panels slide along, pulled by the mobile chain-driven transfer unit 80 and 85, which is controlled b y cylinder 79 for lifting purposes when it is empty, and lowering purposes when the panels reach the fixed stop 90 on the right.
• the panels sit on tubular elements 81 and 82 with rotating elements 99, so that the panels may slide transversally and longitudinally without friction and without effort. They are covered by a central, pointed shaft 950 which has a support 960 at the end, and with a bearing 970 screwed to it on which the panels slide.
• the chain-driven transfer unit 80 and 85 is controlled by a motor reducer 93 or similar device, and transfers the panels towards the fixed positioning stop 90.
• the mobile chain-driven transfer unit 106 transports the panels which are on it towards the mobile stop 98, and lines them up towards the left hand side.
• the butting of the tables is carried out by eccentric toothed rolls 86 which are mounted on shaft 91 controlled by motor reducer 87 and 88 by means of a chain 89. Rolls 86 push the panels against a longitudinal stop, made from angle iron fastened sideways to a mobile structure 76, whose raising and lowering is controlled b y levers 104 hinged to a fixed structure 103 and moved by cylinders 72 and 78.
• a chain 102 is mounted on the mobile structure, with bearings 100 fastened by screws 101 to the lateral plates of the links, so that the panels may slide on it laterally with respect to the movement of the chain, which is controlled in both directions b y motor reducer 105.
• the raising and lowering of the structure 76, as with the movement of the chain 102 to the right and to the left, is controlled by the photocells 83 and 84 or other similar device, which the operator activates or deactivates by pushing the panels forwards or backwards in order to put them in the opposite position with respect to their normal feeding sequence, or to store them on the outer surface of the tube 81, to wait to put them back in the operation cycle.
• 104 indicates the lever system of the intermediate transversal transport unit 105 (section B-B, Fig. 2) with its respective motor reducer used for movement purposes 107.
• 108 indicates the jackscrew-type movement system 109 of the transversal transport unit according to section C-C in Fig. 2, to the side and below the stop 98.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)
• Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=11460489

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (4)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (3)

• 2001
  • 2001-02-08 IT ITUD20010019 patent/ITUD20010019A1/it unknown
• 2002
  • 2002-02-01 WO PCT/IT2002/000061 patent/WO2002062686A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (3)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events