WO2008065063A1 - Dispositif de découpe de récipients - Google Patents

Dispositif de découpe de récipients Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008065063A1
WO2008065063A1 PCT/EP2007/062794 EP2007062794W WO2008065063A1 WO 2008065063 A1 WO2008065063 A1 WO 2008065063A1 EP 2007062794 W EP2007062794 W EP 2007062794W WO 2008065063 A1 WO2008065063 A1 WO 2008065063A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
containers
cut
conveyor system
container
movements
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2007/062794
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Matteo Zoppas
Marco Tarzariol
Fausto Azzalini
Original Assignee
S.I.P.A. Società Industrializzazione Progettazione E Automazione S.P.A.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by S.I.P.A. Società Industrializzazione Progettazione E Automazione S.P.A. filed Critical S.I.P.A. Società Industrializzazione Progettazione E Automazione S.P.A.
Publication of WO2008065063A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008065063A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
    • B23K26/08—Devices involving relative movement between laser beam and workpiece
    • B23K26/0823—Devices involving rotation of the workpiece
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
    • B23K26/08—Devices involving relative movement between laser beam and workpiece
    • B23K26/082—Scanning systems, i.e. devices involving movement of the laser beam relative to the laser head

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a container cutting device, specifically to a laser device for cutting plastic containers.
  • a container cutting device specifically to a laser device for cutting plastic containers.
  • a subsequent laser cutting device made some improvements.
  • the containers which come by means of a continuous belt either from the production machine or from the storage warehouse, are introduced in preferably horizontal position, by means of pneumatic cylinders, into specific seats in a vertically arranged rotating drum conveyor system, which by turning carries them to a cutting station.
  • the container to be cut after having been inserted and positioned in a seat of the drum, respectively in a loading and positioning station, is transferred to said cutting station in front of a laser beam emission spot.
  • Said laser beam cuts the required part of the containers and subsequently the cut containers are unloaded by the conveyor system and sent either back to the line, to the palletiser or to the storage warehouse.
  • This cutting device however presents some disadvantages.
  • a first disadvantage is represented by the fact that the device does not guarantee a perfect insertion and positioning of the container to be cut in the corresponding seat of the rotating drum, essential condition for a precise laser cutting of the containers.
  • This drawback is caused by laggings of the container insertion and positioning movements with respect to the rotation of the drum in the passage from one working station to the other.
  • Two pneumatic cylinders are used for inserting, positioning and extracting the containers from the drum and specific sensors are contemplated to check the position of the concerned cylinders. From this check, it is inferred whether an expected movement occurred so as to enable to proceed with the subsequent operations.
  • the machine software and calibration are thus rather complex and not very efficient in preventing lagging in the synchronisation of the movements of parts of the device.
  • a second disadvantage is further represented by the fact that if the cut part of the container is still attached to the container itself, e.g. in the case in which the laser may not have worked correctly or the surface to be cut is thicker than that cuttable by the laser, etc., the faulty container is however unloaded onto the outlet belt and considerable resources are required to reject the faulty parts and to manage the production process if this drawback is frequently repeated, with consequent drop in productivity.
  • a further object is to make a cutting device which minimises the rejects due to cutting faults, thus increasing the productivity.
  • the present invention thus suggests to reach the above-discussed objects by making a container cutting device which according to claim 1 , comprises a least one fixed laser beam source, wherein there are provided scanning means adapted to make a laser beam follow a predetermined cutting path, such as to cut portions of said containers, loading means suitable for advancing the containers to be cut and inserting them in a rotating drum conveyor system, defining a longitudinal axis rotation system, adapted to convey and hold said containers still in front of said scanning means for the time needed for the cut, and to remove said containers after the cut has been performed, wherein the envelop produced by the movement of said laser beam defines a cone having its axis essentially parallel to the drum conveyor system axis and wherein there are provided synchronisation means of the loading means movements with the rotating drum conveyor system movements so as to determine a perfect insertion and positioning of the containers on said conveyor system.
  • the containers are introduced in preferably horizontal position into specific seats of a drum conveyor system which carries them in front of a laser beam emission spot.
  • a laser beam appropriately managed by a scanning head, performs the precise cut of the required part of the containers while these are static.
  • the obtained containers e.g. wide neck containers, are subjected to an advantageous check that the cut part has been detached. If they have been perfectly cut, they are unloaded from the conveyor system onto a specific station of the drum system and returned either to the line, to the palletiser or to the storage warehouse; otherwise, they are unloaded from the conveyor system into a further station allocated for unloading production rejects.
  • any cutting profile may be made by the laser, e.g. circular, triangular, square, elliptical, star-shaped.
  • the cutting speed of the device of the invention is very high, e.g. from 60 to 80 metres per minute, approximately one container every 0,3-0,8 seconds.
  • the movement synchronisation mechanism of the various parts of the device of the invention ensures a perfect insertion and positioning of the container on the rotating drum, and thus a very high cutting precision.
  • Such synchronisation mechanism comprises mechanical actuation means, connected to an electronic system, comprising a ratiomotor coupled to a cam indexer.
  • the synchronised movements may be transmitted to the various parts of the device for example by means of a system of linkages fastened to the indexer.
  • the edge generated by the cut does not present sharp edges, instead the edges are rounded, and thus does not generate a danger for the end user of the container. Indeed, sharp edges may cause cuts and/or abrasions if the fingers or the hand is inserted within the container itself.
  • the shape of such edge in the case in which the containers are capped with aluminium foil, such as in the case of pots of yogurt, jam, milk, etc., it is guaranteed that the aluminium foil is perfectly sealed on the surface of the container.
  • Fig. 1 shows a front view of the device of the invention
  • Fig. 2 shows a side view of the device in Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the device in Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the device in Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 5 shows a detail of the container after the cut;
  • Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the device of the invention
  • Fig. 7 shows a further perspective view of the embodiment in Fig. 6.
  • numeral 1 indicates globally a container cutting device comprising the following macro assemblies:
  • a scanning head 3 which allows to perform the cut by driving the movement of the laser beam, with both source 2 and container 4 to be cut being static;
  • the containers which come either from the production machine, e.g. a blow moulding machine, or from the storage warehouse, are introduced into a conveyor system 5 of the rotating drum type.
  • Such drum system comprises a container vertical positioning plate 9 on which appropriately shaped baskets 8 are present to accommodate therein the containers to be cut with their axis essentially coinciding with the horizontal.
  • Drum conveyor system 5 is suitable to displace the containers, defining a corresponding axis, along a preferably circular conveying path, perpendicular to said axis.
  • eight baskets are present on plate 9, but this number may also be different, either higher or lower than eight.
  • the alignment of scanning head 3, which controls the laser beam, with the longitudinal axis of container 4 may occur along the vertical.
  • a loading belt 7 receives containers 4 and then transfers them to a loading zone or station 10 where they are transferred one by one into corresponding basket 8 of plate 9, by means of an insertion block 21 driven by a bracket or runner 22 which in turn acquires its own translation movement, in a particular embodiment, from a system of linkages 23 which are fastened to indexer 24 which generates the rotation of drum conveyor system 5.
  • Plate 9, by turning anticlockwise with respect to Fig. 1 displaces basket 8 with inside container 4 from loading station 10 to a positioning zone or station 20 in which the stabile and precise positioning of the container within the basket is checked by making it abut by means of a suitable positioning block or simply positioner 1 1 , also actuated by said runner 22.
  • basket 8 arrives in cutting zone or station 30 in front of scanning head 3.
  • the device of the invention may cut also two or more containers at a time, in virtue of its particular configuration. Specifically, a source of several laser beams may be contemplated to cut several containers at the same time.
  • laser beam of source 2 reaches scanning head 3, where two mirrors are present which, by their movement, generate the displacement of laser beam 6 on the cutting plane.
  • scanning head 3 By means of a suitable mirror movement, managed by a program loaded on a computer connected to the device, any perimeter, circular, triangular, square, elliptical, star-shaped, etc., may be obtained.
  • the cut parts of the containers fall by gravity into specific collection boxes or tanks, thus eliminating a further operation for their removal.
  • the cutting operation in corresponding station 30 is accompanied by a blowing of air useful to evacuate the fumes possibly generated by the cut from the container, thus safeguarding the container from the hygienic/environmental point of view.
  • part of such air is used to facilitate and accelerate the downward falling of the cut part; this allows to decrease the working cycle time of the machine and prevent the cut part from getting "jammed” in the container from which it has just been cut.
  • the blowing is further useful to cool down the heated parts near the cut.
  • station 40 is provided with a control apparatus or sensor of the mechanical, optical or proximity type, which allows to check that the cut part is no longer present on the container and has previously fallen into the specific collection tank.
  • the aforesaid sensor detects the presence thereof and is suitable to transmit to a program loaded on the computer connected to the device the command to unload the container not into the subsequent unloading or ejection station or zone 50, allocated for unloading the perfectly cut containers, but into a further subsequent station 60 of the drum, preferably arranged in a position diametrically opposite to cutting station 30, allocated to unload the imperfectly cut containers, i.e. the containers to be rejected.
  • appropriate unloading devices 31 ' of faulty containers, i.e. of rejects operated for example by means of the linkages which move the loading and positioning systems are contemplated in such station 60.
  • Such unloading means may be made in different shapes.
  • a further advantage is represented by the fact that if the sensor detects more than 5-10 consecutive imperfectly cut containers, said sensor is suitable to transmit an alarm signal to the computer.
  • the fault may depend on the calibration or malfunctioning of the laser or on the incorrect formation of the container during the blowing process.
  • the alarm intervention however allows an immediate intervention by maintenance personnel which will considerably reduce the number of rejects due to cutting faults.
  • basket 8 with perfectly cut container 4 reaches ejection station 50 where appropriate extraction means 31 , which may be made in different shapes, take cut container 4 and deposit it on an unloading belt 12.
  • extraction means 31 which may be made in different shapes, take cut container 4 and deposit it on an unloading belt 12.
  • the perfectly cut containers are sent either back to the line, to the palletiser or to the storage warehouse.
  • the movements of vertical plate 9 of drum, of loading or supplying belt 7, of unloading belt 12, of insertion block 21 and of positioning block 1 1 , of correctly cut container extraction means 31 and possible reject unloading means 31 ' are synchronised by means of appropriate synchronisation means comprising an electronic system and mechanical actuation means.
  • the synchronised movement is obtained by means of a ratiomotor coupled with a cam indexer 24, suitable to transmit a translation movement to insertion block 21 and positioning block 1 1 , to extraction means 31 and to unloading means 31 ' by means of a system of mechanically actuated linkages 23.
  • the use of rigid mechanical connections prevents the various movements from lagging one with respect to the others.
  • Such indexer 24 contains within a cylinder on which cam paths or profiles are obtained by means of which it is possible, by means of guides, to perform constantly synchronised simultaneous movements.
  • the ratiomotor and indexer 24 will always be rotating, while the parts or assemblies of the device of the invention connected to it will be static when the cam is on its flat part and will move when the path of the same changes inclination.
  • indexer 24 and an appropriate cam profile obtained therein advantageously generate an oscillatory movement of indexer output shaft 25 and consequently a swinging of a crank 26 fastened thereto.
  • crank 28 being appropriately hinged to a fastening point 29 around a fastening pin, allows the transmission of motion to runner 22 which supports insertion block 21 , positioning block 1 1 , and correctly cut container extraction means 31 , as shown in Fig. 6.
  • a further crank 28' appropriately hinged in a fastening point 29' about a further fastening pin, having a first end connected to connecting rod 27 in a predetermined point 32' and a second end connected to a further runner 22' which supports unloading means 31 ' of the incorrectly cut containers, i.e. of the rejects.
  • unloading means are synchronised with the drum conveyor system movements.
  • a further advantage is in that the movement of container supply belt 7 and container unloading belt 12 is of the stepper type, due to the specific conformation of the indexer cam, instead of being continuous. This advantageously allows to reduce possible "scratches" which may be generated by supplying belt 7 on the side surface of the containers waiting to be positioned in loading station 10.
  • device 1 may be used to make wide mouth pots or containers. In this case, indeed, it is convenient to make a preform, by means of injection moulding, with a narrow neck but without threading, adapted to grip the preform and convey it towards other machining stations.
  • such preforms are also more easily procurable with respect to those with a wide neck.
  • the threading of the wide neck container is performed in a subsequent step, by blow moulding, in a lower zone of the narrow neck. Problems of circularity and possible shrinkage are less likely to occur in this zone of the container.
  • the upper, narrower part of the container is then cut with the device of the invention, thus obtaining a pot with a perfect threading. Indeed, such threading has acquired by blowing the same qualities as the rest of the blown container, not remaining in an amorphous state.
  • the device of the invention presents an extreme flexibility for container type changes, and in order to change the cutting profile, it is enough to load the program corresponding to the required profile on the computer which manages the device.
  • the cutting speed of the device of the invention is very high, e.g. from 60 to 80 metres per minute, approximately one container every 0.3-0.8 seconds. Such time, however, depends on the cutting perimeter length.
  • the laser power is preferably approximately 400W, mainly for the reason that the thickness of the surface to be cut may not be always constant. This is due to inconsistencies of the container blow moulding machine processes, variable blowing parameters of the same, etc.
  • the number of laser beam passes may instead vary from one to a maximum of three; in order to perform several passes, it is however necessary to increase the power because the laser spot runs faster on the surface to be cut, but it may occur the risk that the cut part may generate "drops" of molten material get stuck back onto the container.
  • the control apparatus or sensor contemplated in station 40 allows to automatically select the possible production reject. It is however preferable to cut the container in a single pass.
  • FIG. 5 shows a shape of a cut-generated edge 15 straddling between internal wall 16 and external wall 17 of a container. The shape of such edge guarantees that an aluminium foil is perfectly sealed on the surface of the container without the need for further interventions, such as for example the use of a block.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Laser Beam Processing (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un dispositif de découpe (1) de récipients (4) apte à réaliser tout profil de découpe à grande vitesse avec une très grande précision grâce à un mécanisme de synchronisation des mouvements des parties du dispositif. À partir d'une machine de production ou d'un entrepôt de stockage, les récipients (4) sont introduits dans une position horizontale de préférence dans des supports spécifiques d'un système de transport à tambour rotatif (15) qui les transporte devant un point de faisceau laser (6). Un faisceau laser, contrôlé de manière appropriée par une tête de balayage (3), effectue une découpe précise de la partie souhaitée des récipients. Suite à la découpe, les récipients obtenus sont déchargés depuis le système transporteur et renvoyés vers la chaîne de production, vers un palletiseur ou vers l'entrepôt de stockage.
PCT/EP2007/062794 2006-11-27 2007-11-26 Dispositif de découpe de récipients WO2008065063A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000630A ITRM20060630A1 (it) 2006-11-27 2006-11-27 Dispositivo di taglio di contenitori
ITRM2006A000630 2006-11-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008065063A1 true WO2008065063A1 (fr) 2008-06-05

Family

ID=38461223

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2007/062794 WO2008065063A1 (fr) 2006-11-27 2007-11-26 Dispositif de découpe de récipients

Country Status (2)

Country Link
IT (1) ITRM20060630A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2008065063A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2501673A (en) * 2012-03-23 2013-11-06 Deart Internat Ltd Laser System

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4539463A (en) * 1984-02-24 1985-09-03 Continental Packaging Company, Inc. Trimming of polyester containers using a laser
EP1452263A1 (fr) * 2003-02-27 2004-09-01 Osmotica Corp. Système et méthode de perçage par laser

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4539463A (en) * 1984-02-24 1985-09-03 Continental Packaging Company, Inc. Trimming of polyester containers using a laser
EP1452263A1 (fr) * 2003-02-27 2004-09-01 Osmotica Corp. Système et méthode de perçage par laser

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2501673A (en) * 2012-03-23 2013-11-06 Deart Internat Ltd Laser System

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITRM20060630A1 (it) 2007-02-26

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