Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
  • B65H3/08—Separating articles from piles using pneumatic force
  • B65H3/12—Suction bands, belts, or tables moving relatively to the pile
  • B65H3/124—Suction bands or belts
  • B65H3/128—Suction bands or belts separating from the top of pile
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
  • B65H3/08—Separating articles from piles using pneumatic force
  • B65H3/0808—Suction grippers
  • B65H3/0816—Suction grippers separating from the top of pile
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
  • B65H1/04—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated adapted to support articles substantially horizontally, e.g. for separation from top of pile
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
  • B65H29/003—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by grippers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
  • B65H29/24—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by air blast or suction apparatus
  • B65H29/241—Suction devices
  • B65H29/242—Suction bands or belts
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
  • B65H3/08—Separating articles from piles using pneumatic force
  • B65H3/0808—Suction grippers
  • B65H3/0883—Construction of suction grippers or their holding devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
  • B65H3/44—Simultaneously, alternately, or selectively separating articles from two or more piles
  • B65H3/443—Simultaneously, alternately, or selectively separating articles from two or more piles simultaneously
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
  • B65H5/02—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by belts or chains, e.g. between belts or chains
  • B65H5/021—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by belts or chains, e.g. between belts or chains by belts
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
  • B65H5/08—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by grippers, e.g. suction grippers
  • B65H5/10—Reciprocating or oscillating grippers, e.g. suction or gripper tables
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
  • B65H2404/20—Belts
  • B65H2404/26—Particular arrangement of belt, or belts
  • B65H2404/264—Arrangement of side-by-side belts
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
  • B65H2404/20—Belts
  • B65H2404/26—Particular arrangement of belt, or belts
  • B65H2404/269—Particular arrangement of belt, or belts other arrangements
  • B65H2404/2693—Arrangement of belts on movable frame
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2801/00—Application field
  • B65H2801/03—Image reproduction devices
  • B65H2801/21—Industrial-size printers, e.g. rotary printing press

Definitions

• Machines are known for printing combinations of writings and/or logos and/or designs on sheets, in particular panels, comprising (see figure 1) a work plane L sliding longitudinally, in outward runs N1 and return runs N2, so as to subject one or more panels, arranged thereon, to the action of printing means; the printing is defined after a predetermined number of the runs.
• the work plane includes an area useful for printing, defined by a longitudinal height (i.e. in the movement direction of the plane) and a transversal height; this useful area receives either a panel or a plurality of panels, longitudinally flanked.
• the following relates to a single panel, though it is understood that depending on a length thereof also two or more panels can be treated.
• the loading and unloading of the panels onto and from the work plane is done in pause stations of the work plane.
• the present invention relates to apparatus for supplying sheets (e.g. panels) to the work plane.
• the known apparatus comprise a loading plane C (see figure 1) flanked to the station S in which the work plane L pauses, the height of which is such as to enable gripping means associated to the pause station to grip the panel situated on the loading plane C with the aim of transferring it onto the work plane L.
• a lift E is used, provided with a table (T) on which the stack(s) P1 and. P2-P4 of panels F are arranged.
• the lift is activated in step-fashion so as to enable the head panel of the stack to be collected from panel-gripping and transfer means M associated to the loading plane C which position the panel on the loading plane.
• the size of the lift E reduces the height of the stack P of panels; further, the work of the operators on the loading plane C is made very problematic as the lift E - stack(s) P combination is arranged on the front part of the loading plane C (see figure 1).
• the aim of the invention is to provide an apparatus for supplying sheets to the work plane of a printer, which obviates the drawbacks present in the prior art.
• a further aim of the invention is to provide an apparatus that is structurally simple considering the performance it offers, plus the fact that it is extremely functional.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus of known type, mentioned in the preamble hereto, for supplying panels to a printing machine;
• FIG. 2 is a schematic lateral view of the apparatus of the invention.
• FIG. 3 are two perspective views of the apparatus of figure 2 which supplies the above-mentioned printing machine respectively with largest- format panels and smallest-format panels;
• FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a variant of the conveyor used with the apparatus
• figure 6 is a schematic lateral view of the detail I of figure 5;
• FIG. 7A.7B are section views of section VII-VII of figure 5, relating to the rest configuration and work configuration of a further variant of the conveyor;
• FIG. 8A, 8B are schematic section views of the apparatus of the present invention according to a variant, in different operative configurations;
• FIG. 9 is a schematic lateral view of the apparatus of the invention according to a further variant.
• L denotes the work plane of a known printer 100 denoted in its entirety as of known type; as already mentioned, the work plane
• L is mobile in the outward N1 and return N2 runs, which in figure 2 are both perpendicular to the plane of the sheet.
• the apparatus of the present invention is arranged by a side of the pause station S of the work plane L.
• the apparatus comprises a gantry 1 which supports, with known means 2A, 2B, a work plane 3 constituted by the upper branch 4A of a closed-loop conveyor 4 borne by the gantry; in the illustrated embodiment, the conveyor is constituted by a series of flanked belts 80A, 80B, 80C, 80D, winding on a common drive roller 90A and a common driven roller, not illustrated.
• the loading plane 3 is vertically mobile (directions X1 , X2), powered by known-type motors (not illustrated).
• the conveyor 4 is motorisable (in a known way, not illustrated) in step-fashion, or continuously, so that the upper branch 4A translates in direction Y; note that the longitudinal development of the upper branch is at least equal to the longitudinal height of the work plane L, and the width thereof is at least equal to the width of the work plane L.
• a receiving station 70 of a stack 15 of panels 200, 300, arranged on a relative bench 30A, 30B, is located flanked to the gantry 1 , on an opposite side with respect to the work plane L.
• the depth B of the stack is not greater than the width of the useful area of the work plane L; the longitudinal dimension of the stack 15 is not greater than the longitudinal height of the useful area.
• FIG 3 illustrates the maximum format of the panels 200 on which the printing machine 100 can print; figure 4 illustrates a panel format 300 that is smaller than the maximum possible.
• the panel 20 gripping and transfer M means, borne by the loading plane 3, are denoted in figures 2-4 generically as they can be made in any way. The functioning of the apparatus of the invention will now be described.
• the operator loads at least a stack 15 into the receiving station 70.
• the loading plane 3 is translated so as to be positioned at the head panel of the stack 15; the first operating position K of the loading plane 3 (indicated with a broken line in figure 2) corresponding to the height H of the stack.
• the first operating position K is height-variable as it depends on the height of the stack which diminishes with the collection of the head panels from the stack.
• the apparatus 1 comprises detecting means of the height of the head panel of the stack 15 and detecting means of the height of the loading panel 3: these means have not been denoted since they belong to the prior art.
• the means M are activated, and first grip the head panel of the stack 15 before transferring the panel onto the loading plane 3, more precisely on the upper branch 4A of the conveyor 4.
• the loading plane 3 In phase relation with the completion of the transfer (disengagement of the means M from the panel), the loading plane 3 is newly moved (directions X1 or X2) with the aim of positioning the loading plane 3 optimally, and predeterminedly, with respect to the pause station S of the work plane L, the second operating position Q (figure 2) being fixed as it is a function of the height of the work panel L.
• the transfer of the panel from the upper branch 4A to the work plane L can be optimised according to the variant illustrated in figures 7A, 7B.
• This variant includes a series of shafts 50, parallel to one another and located at a same height, each being located at the space 60 afforded between the opposite edges of the upper branches of two adjacent belts; each shaft 50 affords a longitudinal flattening 50A.
• the shafts 50 are motorised in synchrony using known systems, and a positioned so as not to interfere with the relative flattenings 50A, and with the shafts in the rest position R, against the topmost panel borne by the belts: see figure 7A.
• the motor means vertically moving the loading plane 3 depend on the detecting means of the head panel of the stack and the detecting means of the loading plane; these means act in combination to define the first K and second Q operating positions.
• Figure 3 illustrates the maximum format of the panels; the head panel 200A of the stack is transferred onto the upper branch 4A of the conveyor 4; in this case the upper branch is not moved.
• Figure 4 illustrates a panel, the format of which is smaller than the maximum format.
• the means M position the head panel 300A of the stack 15 on the initial part of the upper branch 4A of the conveyor 4 (position Z1 denoted in a broken line in figure 4); in phase relation with this operation, the upper branch 4A translates in direction Y by an amount greater than the longitudinal dimension (i.e. direction Y) of the panel: the conveyor moves in step-fashion.
• the loading plane 3 translates vertically so as to cyclically be arranged in the first H and second Q operating position: this optimizes the transfers.
• a further variant of the conveyor 4 is comprised, which is particularly advantageous, with the conveyor being driven in continuous motion (see figures 5, 6).
• the conveyor being driven in continuous motion (see figures 5, 6).
• 55 denotes abutments positioned transversally to the translation direction Y of the upper branch of the conveyor 4.
• Each abutment is constituted by a sort of comb, tines 56 of which are arranged at the spaces 60 and exhibit dimensions such as to freely insert in the spaces.
• the downstream abutment 55A is fixed, while the other abutments are made mobile (in a known way, not illustrated) from a lowered position A1 (denoted in an unbroken line in figure 6) to a raised position A2 (denoted in a broken line in figure 6).
• the tines 56 constitute a same number of abutments for the panels located on the upper branch of the conveyor and arranged correspondingly upstream thereof; in this situation there is a dragging between the panels and the underlying belts.
• the abutments 55 are activated cyclically (lowered position A1 and raised position A2) in phase relation with the activation of the panel gripping and transfer means M, such as to define, for each panel 300, the positions Z1 , Z2, Z3...)
• one stack alone is used; this enables moving one stack only to the station 70 with all the advantages that this brings.
• No lift is included in the last station, which makes available the space which, in the prior art, is occupied by the lift; further, access to the loading plane 3 is facilitated.
• the gripping of the panel, at the head of the stack is optimised as well as transfer thereof onto the loading plane and transfer of the panel or panels from the loading plane to the work plane L of the printer.
• the apparatus further comprises conveyor means 16 having a longitudinal development parallel to the longitudinal development of the loading plane 3, which are arranged on the same plane as the apparatus (in particular, considering a plan view of the apparatus, flanked to the loading plane 3), and which extend upstream of the loading plane 3, to the receiving station 70.
• the conveyor means 16 are conformed and dimensioned so as to support a plurality of stacks 15 of sheets flanked to one another (in particular a plurality of sets each formed by a stack 15 and a relative bench 30A, 30B flanked to one another), and are activatable (stepped or continuously) so as to transfer each stack 15 of sheets from the loading station 160 to the receiving station 70 (in a first advancement direction V, indicated by the arrow of figures 8A - 8C, 9).
• the activated conveyor means 16 transfer the stacks 15 of sheets one at a time to the receiving station 70 (see figure 8A), in which the sheets are picked up as described above. During the picking-up of the sheets from a stack 15, the conveyor means 16 are clearly deactivated (situation of figure 8B).
• the conveyor means 16 newly activated, transfer the empty bench 30A, 30B to an unloading station 161 , downstream of the receiving station 70.
• another stack 15 of sheets is conveyed to the receiving station 70 (see in particular figure 8C).
• the apparatus of this variant can further comprise sensor means 18 (illustrated schematically and visible in particular in figures 8A and 8B), arranged along the extension of the conveyor means 16, downstream of the loading station 160 and upstream of the receiving station 70, so as to detect the conveying of a stack 15 of sheets to the receiving station 70 and for consequently deactivating the movement of the conveyor means 16.
• the sensor means 8 detect the transfer of a stack 15 of sheets to the receiving station 70, and deactivate the movement of the conveyor means 16 so as to enable picking-up of the sheets by the gripping and transfer means .
• the conveyor means 16 can alternatively be activated and deactivated manually by an operator, who acts for example on a button (this situation is not illustrated).
• the conveyor means 16 comprise a roller conveyor.
• the conveyor means 16 can alternatively comprise two roller conveyors, a first and a second, arranged aligned and adjacent to one another.
• the variant described in the following and illustrated in figure 9 is especially advantageous in a case of stacks of sheets exhibiting different parameters to one another, such as for example stacks of sheets 15, 15' of different materials.
• the apparatus further comprises a waiting station 162, arranged downstream of the receiving station 70 (and upstream of the loading station 161). Further, the conveyor means 16 extend from the loading station 160 to the waiting station 162 (therefore beyond the receiving station 70) so as to convey, towards the waiting station 162 (following activation thereof in the first advancement direction V), a stack 15' of sheets which has reached the receiving station 70 and which must remain in waiting mode before the relative sheets can be gripped by the gripping and transfer means M and transferred to the printing machine 100 (for example a stack 15' of sheets of a determined material which is to be processed subsequently, as will become clearer in the following).
• the conveyor means 16 are further activatable in a second advancement direction V, opposite the first advancement direction V (along the same direction) so as to be able to newly transfer the stack of sheets 15' from the waiting station 162 to the receiving station 70.
• the apparatus can further comprise reading means 19, arranged along the extension of the conveyor means 16 (between the loading station 160 and the receiving station 70), so as to verify whether each stack of sheets 15, 15' is to be conveyed towards the waiting station 162, as will become clearer in the following.
• this stack 15' is temporarily transferred (activating the conveyor means 16 in the first advancement direction V) to the waiting station 162, until the processing of the sheets of the first material has concluded.
• the conveyor means 16 are activated in the second advancement direction V so as to process the stack 15' of sheets of the second material.
• a bar code for example, can be included on each bench 30A, 30B supporting a stack 15, 15'; the bar code identifies the type of material of the sheets of the stack 15, 15' supported by the bench 30A, 30B.
• the reading means 19 can comprise for example a bar-code reader for conveying, if necessary, the stack 15, 15' towards the waiting station (i.e. in a case where from a reading of the bar codes it is established that the sheets of the stack 15' are constituted by a different material from the material of the sheets under process).
• Figure 9 clearly shows the above-described variant, and in particular a stack of sheets 15 of a first type of material is illustrated, the sheets of which are about to be picked up by the gripping and transfer means M, and a further stack of sheets 15' of a second type of material in waiting mode in the waiting station 162.
• This variant is advantageously especially flexible in a case of stacks of sheets 15, 15' of different materials, as it avoids having to halt the printing process and optimises the total working times.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Pile Receivers (AREA)
• Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=50156812

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (20)

• 2014
  • 2014-01-24 WO PCT/IB2014/058517 patent/WO2014115108A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2014-01-24 EP EP14706100.6A patent/EP2935059B1/en active Active
  • 2014-01-24 DE DE14706100.6T patent/DE14706100T1/de active Pending
  • 2014-01-24 US US14/762,947 patent/US20150321864A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2014-01-24 CN CN201480008421.7A patent/CN104981420B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (5)

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