WO2006131654A2

WO2006131654A2 - Marking device comprising an improved driving mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2006131654A2
Application number: PCT/FR2006/001302
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick Chessari
Original assignee: Technifor
Priority date: 2005-06-08
Filing date: 2006-06-08
Publication date: 2006-12-14
Also published as: FR2886884A1; WO2006131654A3; FR2886884B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a marking device comprising: a frame; two rotary motoring means, which are mounted on said frame; a flexible drive member, such as a belt (112) adapted to be driven by said motoring means; a carriage (118) adapted to be driven relative to said frame by said flexible drive member, along a first direction (Y), while being secured to said frame along another direction (X) perpendicular to said first direction; a support (136), bearing a marking tool (130), said support being linked to the carriage along the first direction (Y) while being secured to the flexible drive member, so as to be moved by said flexible drive member relative to the carriage, along the second direction (X).

Description

MARKING DEVICE HAVING AN IMPROVED TRAINING MECHANISM

The present invention relates to a marking device comprising an improved drive mechanism.

In the context of the invention, the generic term "marking device" designates any device making it possible to produce a pattern on the surface of a part, whether by printing, vaporization, deformation or removal of material at this surface.

In known manner, a marking device comprises a frame supporting a drive mechanism of a marking tool, which may be a pneumatic or electromagnetic stylus, or an engraving head. Usually, such a drive mechanism comprises a fixed element relative to the frame, provided with flanges on which are arranged two guide bars. A first carriage is slidably mounted thereon and is itself provided with two additional bars, perpendicular to the first pair of bars, which are intended for receiving a second carriage which is subject to the marking tool. Through the use of this so-called "cross-carriages" system, the marking tool is able to move in two directions perpendicular to each other, with respect to the fixed element.

That being said, the invention aims to improve the marking device of the aforementioned type, in particular with regard to the drive mode of the marking tool.

For this purpose, it relates to a marking device comprising: - a building;

two rotary motor means, which are mounted on this frame;

- A flexible drive member, such as a belt or at least one cable, adapted to be driven by said motor means;

- A carriage adapted to be driven relative to the frame by said flexible drive member in a first direction, while being integral with the frame in another direction perpendicular to this first direction;

a support, carrying a marking tool, this support being connected to the carriage in said first direction, while being integral with the flexible drive member, so as to be displaced by this flexible drive member relative to the carriage in said second direction.

According to other features of the invention:

the flexible drive member forms an endless loop; the flexible drive member has two free ends, each of which can be wound and unrolled relative to a corresponding motor means;

the carriage is provided with at least one movable first return adapted to cooperate with the flexible drive member, so as to induce the displacement of this carriage in said first direction, in a first direction, as well as at least one second mobile return adapted to cooperate with this flexible drive member so as to induce the displacement of the carriage relative to the frame in this first direction, in an opposite direction;

- There is provided means for guiding the carriage relative to the frame; - The guide means comprise at least two guide members, including rods or rails integral with the frame, which extend in said first direction; - There is further provided means for guiding the support relative to the carriage, including a shaft or a rail, extending in said second direction;

- The support is slidable along an outer edge of the carriage. The invention will be described below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given solely by way of non-limiting examples, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a marking device according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of this marking device, in which certain mechanical elements, previously illustrated in FIG. 1, are no longer represented; Figure 3 is a perspective view, illustrating more particularly a drive carriage and a marking tool belonging to the device of Figures 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the marking device of the preceding figures; FIGS. 5 to 8 are diagrammatic views, similar to FIG. 4, illustrating four different phases of displacement of the marking device represented in this FIG. 4; and Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views, similar in particular to Figure 2, illustrating an alternative embodiment of the marking device according to the invention.

The marking device according to the invention, illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, comprises all first a frame, which consists of a plate 2, and two housings 4. Note that these mechanical members are more precisely illustrated in Figure 1 while in Figure 2, one of these cases n ' is not represented, just like platinum.

Each housing receives a motor 6, of a type known per se, which has a not shown rotary axis, driving a corresponding gear 10i and 10 ₂ . These pinions, only 10 celui of which is illustrated in Figure 2, engage with a toothed belt 12, also of known type, which forms an endless loop as will be seen precisely in what follows.

The plate 2 also supports two fixed references 14, adapted to cooperate with the toothed belt 12. Finally, there are two rods 16, mounted on the plate 2, of which only the ends are illustrated in FIG. 1. These rods 16, forming guiding members, can be replaced by any equivalent solution, in particular by rails. The marking device according to the invention also comprises a carriage 18, more particularly visible in FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in particular in FIG. 3, this carriage 18, which has a shape that is approximately rectangular, is hollowed out. a middle notch 20. Furthermore, it is provided, on the first side, a lateral bearing 22 own to receive one of the rods 16 and, on the other side, a leaf spring 24 adapted to cooperate with the other of these rods 16. In accordance with the teaching of FR-A-2 840 658, during the sliding of the carriage along the rods, the presence of this blade spring 24 makes it possible to compensate for any defects of parallelism, existing between the guide rods 16.

On a first side of the notch 20, ie above it with reference to FIG. 4, provision is made two referrals 26, mounted on the carriage by any appropriate means. Moreover, two other references 28 are provided below the notch 20, in contrast to those 26. These references 26 and 28, which are adapted to cooperate with the belt 12 as will be seen in the following, are called mobile, as opposed to those 14, insofar as they are integral with the carriage 18 which is slidably mounted on the rods 16.

Finally, the marking device according to the invention is provided with a marking tool 30, of a type known per se, which is integral with the toothed belt 12. For this purpose, a tab 32 is mounted on this belt 12, by means of an auxiliary plate 34, more particularly visible in FIG. 3. This tab 32, which penetrates through the notch 20, is fixed to a support 36, on which the aforementioned marking tool is mounted. .

As shown in particular in Figure 3, this support 36 slides along a shaft 38, which is provided with the drive carriage 18. Note that this shaft 38 extends substantially perpendicular to the guide rods 16.

The implementation of the marking device, described above, will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of this marking device, as represented in FIGS. 1 to 3. thus the two casings 4, the two pinions 10i and IO ₂ , the belt 12, the fixed returns 14, the rods 16, the carriage 18, the mobile returns 26 and 28, the marking tool 30 and its support 36, and that the transverse shaft 38.

We also note X and Y the two directions of the plane. As seen above, the carriage 18, as well as the references 26 and 28, are movable relative to the frame according to Y, but are related to the latter according to X. Furthermore, the marking tool 30 is connected to the carriage along Y, while it is adapted to move relative thereto along X. Now suppose that, from the arrangement of FIG. 4, the motors are actuated so that the pinion 10i rotates clockwise f _lr and the pinion IO ₂ rotates counterclockwise f 2. In this case, if these gears turn at the same speed, the upper belt strands 12i and 12 ₂ elongate, while the lower strands 12 ₃ and 124 are shortened at the same amplitude. Under these conditions, these lower strands 12 ₃ and 12 ₄ exert an action on the mobile links 28, which tends to move the carriage 18 according to the arrow Fi, namely downwards in FIG.

However, since the engine rotational speeds are identical, the intermediate belt flight 12 ₅ which is located between the movable references 28, is not constrained to move relative to the carriage. Under these conditions, the marking tool 30 moves only along the arrow Fi relative to the frame, since it is stationary in the direction Y relative to the carriage 18.

FIG. 6 illustrates the case, in which the pinions 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ are rotated in opposite directions, respectively f ₁ and f ₂ , with respect to FIG. 5. Under these conditions, the belt strands 12 and 12 ₂ exert an action on the references 26, which tends to move the carriage 18 and the tool 30 upwards, according to the arrow F ₂ . Note that, for the same reasons as those mentioned above, this tool 30 can not move relative to the carriage according to X.

Now suppose, with reference to Figure 7, that the two gears 10i and IO2 are rotated in the same anti-clockwise direction (f'i and f ' ₂ ) and at the same speed. The carriage 18 is thus stationary relative to the frame, while the tool 30 is constrained to move with respect to this carriage, along the guide shaft 38.

Under these conditions, the movement of the tool 30 relative to the frame consists of a single translation to the right, along X. This movement is represented by the arrow F ₃ in this FIG.

FIG. 8 illustrates the case in which the two pinions 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ are rotated, at the same speed, both in the clockwise direction and i i. In a manner similar to that explained with reference to Figure 7, the movement of the tool 30 relative to the frame is a single translation along X, to the left, which is shown by the arrow F ₄ . Thus, as is apparent from FIGS. 5 to 8, the marking device of the invention makes it possible to move the carriage 18 relative to the frame in four movements, corresponding to the two directions for each direction X and Y. For this purpose, it is possible to It is appropriate to adjust the direction and speed of rotation of the motors 6.

In the example of FIGS. 1 to 8, the belt generally affects the shape of an H. Thus, each pinion 10 forms, with a corresponding fixed return 14, a vertical bar of this H, whereas the various mobile references 26 and 28 form the horizontal bar of this H. However, the invention is not limited to this embodiment.

In this regard, Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a second embodiment of a marking device according to the invention. In these Figures 9 and 10, the mechanical elements similar to those of Figures 1 to 8 are assigned the same reference numbers, increased by 100.

This variant of FIGS. 9 and 10 differs first of all from the first embodiment in that the carriage 118 does not have a rectangular shape, but substantially the shape of T. The carriage 118 has a body 118 and _lΛ and a middle branch 118 _2.

In addition, in the second embodiment, only three mobile references are provided, carried by the carriage 118. Thus, there are two references 128, called lateral, arranged at the ends of the body 118i, as well as a single reference 126, said median, arranged on the branch 118 ₂ -

Furthermore, the support 136 of the tool 130 is not received in a recess of the carriage, as in the first embodiment, but slides along an outer edge, denoted II8 ₃ , of this carriage 118. more, this support 136 is not guided relative to the carriage 118 via a shaft. Thus, as shown in particular in FIG. 9, this carriage is provided with a rail 138, of a type known per se, along which this support 136 slides.

HO ₁ and HO ₂ pinions are also provided, as well as fixed references 114, similarly to the first embodiment. Under these conditions, the belt 112 is able to circulate, in an endless loop, between the pinions 110, the fixed returns 114 and the various mobile references 126 and 128. Unlike the first embodiment where it affects a shape of H, the belt 112 has approximately a shape of W. The implementation of the marking device, described with reference to Figures 9 and 10, is similar to that of the first embodiment of the invention. For this purpose, reference will be made in particular to FIGS. 5 to 8, explained above. The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown.

Thus, it can be provided to use a flexible drive member, which is different from an endless loop belt. In particular, this body drive may have two free ends, and consist for example of one or more cables. In this regard, each free end is disposed on a corresponding motor, suitable for winding and unwinding the or each cable, according to its direction of rotation.

The invention makes it possible to achieve the objectives mentioned above.

Indeed, it eliminates the use of an onboard motor, as in the prior art using the crosscar system. This is advantageous since the use of such an onboard motor is accompanied by a significant loss of energy, particularly related to the mass of the engine.

Moreover, thanks to the invention, the height of the marking tool is constant. This is also advantageous since this measurement makes it possible to obtain a constant marking quality, whatever the position of this marking tool.

Finally, it will be noted that the use of guide means of the carriage with respect to the frame, as well as possibly of the support relative to the carriage, is also advantageous. Indeed, this gives a particularly satisfactory precision to the driving of the marking tool.

Claims

A marking device comprising: - a frame (2, 4; 102, 104);

two rotary motor means (6; 106), which are mounted on this frame; a flexible drive member, such as a belt (12; 112) or at least one cable, adapted to be driven by said drive means;

- A carriage (18; 118) adapted to be driven relative to the frame by said flexible drive member, in a first direction (Y), while being integral with the frame in another direction (X) perpendicular to this first direction ;

a support (36; 136) bearing a marking tool (30; 130), this support being connected to the carriage in said first direction (Y), while being integral with the flexible drive member so as to be moved by this flexible drive member relative to the carriage, according to said second direction (X).

2. Marking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible drive member (12; 112) forms an endless loop.

3. Marking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible drive member has two free ends, each of which can be wound and unrolled relative to a corresponding motor means.

4. Marking device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carriage (18; 118) is provided with at least one movable first return (26; 126) adapted to cooperate with the drive member. flexible (12; 112), so as to induce the displacement of this carriage in said first direction (Y), in a first direction (F ₂ ), and at least one second movable return (28; 128) adapted to cooperate with this flexible drive member so as to induce the displacement of this carriage relative to the frame in this first direction, in an opposite direction (Fi).

5. Marking device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means (16; 116) for guiding the carriage (18; 118) relative to the frame (2, 4; 102, 104) are provided. ).

6. marking device according to claim 5, characterized in that the guide means comprise at least two guide members, including rods (16; 116) or rails, integral with the frame (2, 4; 102, 104). which extend in said first direction (Y).

7. Marking device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is further provided means for guiding the support (36; 136) relative to the carriage (18; 118), in particular a shaft (38; ) or a rail (138) extending in said second direction

(X) -

8. Marking device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier (136) is slidable along an outer edge (II8 ₃ ) of the carriage (118).