WO2024115330A1

WO2024115330A1 - A supporting device and a cardboard processing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2024115330A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/083055
Authority: WO
Inventors: David GENTIL; Roy YAN
Original assignee: Bobst Mex Sa
Priority date: 2022-12-02
Filing date: 2023-11-24
Publication date: 2024-06-06

Abstract

A supporting device (11) for a pressing station of a cardboard processing machine (10), in particular a die-cutting and/or creasing machine, is provided, comprising a support plate (28, 30) and at least one locking device (36) being provided at the support plate (28, 30) configured to fix a tooling plate (32) to the support plate (28, 30), wherein the locking device (36) comprises a rotatable actuating element (38) and a latch (40), wherein the latch (40) is rotatable with the actuating element (38) upon rotation of the actuating element (38) in a first rotation range and height adjustable upon rotation of the actuating element (38) in a second rotation range, wherein the first rotation range is different from the second rotation range. Furthermore, a cardboard processing machine (10) is provided.

Description

A supporting device and a cardboard processing machine

The present invention refers to a supporting device for a pressing station of a cardboard processing machine and a cardboard processing machine, in particular to a die-cutting and/or creasing machine.

In cardboard processing machines, especially in die-cutting and creasing machines, a cardboard arranged in a feeding station is gripped and transported through a pressing station, a waste ejection station and a blanking station.

In the pressing station, a cardboard may be cut and creasing lines may be created. A creasing line is a compression of the cardboard where the cardboard is configured to be folded to create a box. In order to create a cut or creasing line, the pressing station has a lower support plate and an upper support plate being arranged above the lower support plate, wherein the support plates are moveable towards each other. To each support plate, a tooling plate may be attached which carries knives and/or elevations respectively slots corresponding to the knives and/or elevations.

The tooling plate is individual for a specific cardboard design and has to be exchanged after every production job.

Currently, the tooling plates are screwed to the respective support plates, which is time consuming and not ergonomic.

DE 60 2004 005 659 T2 discloses an assembly with a fastening mechanism configured to fasten a tooling plate to the assembly. The fastening mechanism comprises an actuation element, which is a rotatable handle and works as a latch but does not comprise any height adjustments.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved solution how to fix a tooling plate to a support plate.

This object is achieved by a supporting device for a pressing station of a cardboard processing machine, in particular a die-cutting and/or creasing machine, comprising a support plate and at least one locking device. The locking device is provided at the support plate and is configured to fix a tooling plate to the support plate. The locking device comprises a rotatable actuating element and a latch, wherein the latch is rotatable with the actuating element upon rotation of the actuating element in a first rotation range and height adjustable upon rotation of the actuating element in a second rotation range, wherein the first rotation range is different from the second rotation range.

The inventive supporting device allows an exchange of tooling plates in a very easy and ergonomic manner.

Due to the height adjustment of the latch, the latch can act upon the tooling plate such that the tooling plate is fixed and pressed to the support plate. Thus, no tools and fastening elements are required for exchanging the tooling plate, in particular no screws, which are easily lost when being unscrewed from the support plate.

The actuating element is preferably fixed to the support plate and is thus always at hand and cannot be lost.

For example, the actuating element is a handle which can be actuated manually by a user. In an alternative embodiment, the actuating element is a pneumatic or motorized actuator.

Upon rotation of the actuating element in the first rotation range the latch is brought in a position above the tooling plate for fixing the tooling plate or for deinstalling the tooling plate in a position beside the tooling plate, depending on the swivel direction of the actuating element.

For example, the latch does not rotate when being height adjusted and vice versa.

According to one aspect, the latch comprises a first abutment element and the locking device is configured such that the abutment element abuts a stop surface upon transition of the actuating element from the first rotation range to the second rotation range. The abutment element in combination with the stop surface prevents further rotation of the latch when the actuating element rotates in the second rotation range. Thus, the latch is kept in a preferred position in which a sufficient overlap with the tooling plate is achieved.

The latch may comprise a stop surface and the locking device may be configured such that the actuating element abuts the stop surface of the latch upon transition of the actuating element from the second rotation range to the first rotation range. Thereby, it is ensured that the actuating element takes along the latch, i.e. rotates the latch, upon transition from the second rotation range to the first rotation range.

For example, the latch is coupled to the actuating element by means of friction. Thereby, the actuating element and the latch are coupled in a simple manner. Also, due to the frictional connection, it is possible that the connection between the actuating element and the latch is overcome such that the actuating element may be rotated with respect to the latch in the second rotation range.

According to one aspect, the locking device comprises a base part wherein the actuating element and the latch are attached to the base part. It is thus possible to pre-assemble the locking device and the mounting of the locking device at the support plate is particularly easy.

Preferably, the base part is embedded in the support plate in a rotatably fixed manner and the actuating element and the latch are rotatable with respect to the base part, in particular at least in sections. Due to the base part being embedded in the support plate, the base part does not collide with the tooling plate.

For example, the actuating element comprises an inclined section and the base part comprises a corresponding ramp, in particular wherein the ramp is arranged in the second rotation range, wherein the actuating element moves up or down on the ramp upon rotation in the second rotation range to adjust the height of the latch. Due to the ramp, a rotation causes a height adjustment. In particular, by means of a ramp a rotational movement is converted in a vertical movement in an easy manner.

By means of the latch being fixed to the actuating element with respect to a direction along a rotation axis of the actuating element, the latch is lowered or lifted when the actuating element is rotated in the second rotation range.

The actuating element is for example formed from two parts, i. e. a handhold and a rotary disc attached to the handhold, wherein the inclined section is formed at the rotary disc, in particular when the actuating element is a handle. By forming the handle from two parts, the production of the handle is kept simple, i. e. the geometry of the separate parts is less complex than a handle formed from one piece.

According to one embodiment, the base part comprises a second ramp on the side opposed to the first ramp. The second ramp supports lifting the actuating element respectively the latch upon transition of the actuating element from the second rotation range to the first rotation range. In particular, the second ramp is placed at the transition from the first to the second rotation range and slopes down towards the second rotation range.

Preferably the locking device comprises an elastic element which impinges the latch against the actuating element. For example, the elastic element is a spring washer. The elastic element compensates tolerances between the latch and the actuating element and also contributes to the tightening strength of the locking device.

The object is further achieved by a cardboard processing machine, in particular a die-cutting and/or creasing machine, comprising a pressing station with a lower support plate and an upper support plate being arranged above the lower support plate, wherein the support plates are moveable towards each other in order to cut or crease a cardboard blank being arranged between the plates, with an inventive supporting device comprising one of the lower support plate and the upper support plate.

The cardboard processing machine may comprise a centring device configured for aligning the tooling plate at the support plate. Thus, the tooling plate can be positioned very accurately which contributes to a high quality of the processed cardboards.

Further features and advantages of the invention may be derived from the following description and the enclosed drawings. In the drawings

Figure 1 schematically shows an inventive cardboard processing machine,

Figure 2 shows a top view on an inventive supporting device of the cardboard processing machine with support plate and a tooling plate attached thereto,

Figure 3 shows a locking device of the cardboard machine in an unlocked position which allows exchange of a tooling plate, Figure 4 shows the locking device of Figure 3 in a transition position,

Figure 5 shows the locking device of Figure 3 in a locking position,

Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the locking device,

Figure 7 shows a base part and a rotary disc of the locking device,

Figure 8 shows a side view of the locking device,

Figure 9 shows a section through the locking device,

Figure 10 shows a section through the support plate with a tooling plate at a transverse edge of the support plate,

Figure 11 a further embodiment of an inventive supporting device, wherein the locking device is in a locked position, and

Figure 12 supporting device of Figure 11 , wherein the locking device is in an unlocked position.

Figure 1 shows a cardboard processing machine 10, in particular a die-cutting and/or creasing machine.

The cardboard processing machine 10 comprises a feeding station 12 in which cardboard blanks 14 to be processed are piled.

Further, the cardboard processing machine 10 comprises a pressing station 16 in which the cardboard blanks 14 are cut or creased.

In a waste ejection station 18 which follows after the pressing station 16 waste is separated from the cardboard blank 14.

In a piling station 20, the cardboard blanks 14 can be piled before they are withdrawn from an ejection station 22.

The blanks 14 can be moved along a processing direction by means of gripper bars 24, which are attached to a drive chain 26.

In the following, the pressing station 16 is described in more detail.

In particular, the pressing station 16 comprises a lower support plate 28 and an upper support plate 30. The upper support plate 30 is arranged above the lower support plate 28. The support plates 28, 30 are moveable towards each other in order to cut or crease a cardboard blank 14 being arranged between the plates 28, 30.

In the exemplary embodiment, the upper support plate 30 is fixed and the lower support plate 28 is moveable. Thereby, the mechanism of the pressing station 16 is less complex.

In order to cut or crease the cardboard blanks 14, a tooling plate 32 (see Figure 2) carrying knives and/or elevations may be attached to the upper or lower support plate 28, 30.

To the other support plate 28, 30, a tooling plate 32 with slots or grooves corresponding to the knives and/or elevations is attached.

Figure 2 shows a top view on a support plate 28, 30 which can be the lower support plate 28 or the upper support plate 30 with a tooling plate 32 attached thereto. However, the tooling plate 32 is depicted in a simplified form without any knives, elevations or slots.

The tooling plate 32 is exchangeable since different tooling plates 32 are necessary for different production jobs.

The cardboard processing machine 10 comprises a centring device 34 configured for aligning the tooling plate 32 at the support plate.

Moreover, the cardboard processing machine 10 comprises locking devices 36 being provided on at least one of the support plates 28, 30.

The support plate 28, 30 and the locking devices 36 form a supporting device 11.

In the depicted embodiment, a support plate 28, 30 of the supporting device 11 comprises four locking devices 36, in particular two locking devices 36 on opposing sides, respectively.

The locking devices 36 are configured for fixing a tooling plate 32 to a support plate 28, 30.

A locking device 36 will be described in detail with reference to the following figures. Figure 3 shows a locking device 36 at a support plate 28, 30 in an unlocked condition. When all locking devices 36 at one support plate 28, 30 are in the unlocked condition, the tooling plate 32 can be removed from the support plate 28, 30 and a new tooling plate 32 can be placed on the support plate 28, 30.

The locking device 36 comprises an actuating element 38, which in the depicted embodiment is a rotatable handle, and a latch 40. The actuating element 38 can be gripped by a user and rotated in a locking direction indicated by an arrow in Figure 3 in order to bring the locking device 36 into a locking position which is depicted in Figure 5.

In an alternative embodiment, which is not depicted in the Figures for reasons of simplicity, the actuating element 38 is a pneumatic or motorized actuator.

When the locking device 36 is in its locked position, the tooling plate 32 is fixed to the support plate 28, 30.

Figure 6 shows the locking device 36 in an exploded view.

Apart from the actuating element 38 and the latch 40, the locking device 36 also comprises a base part 42, an elastic element 44 and a washer 46.

The base part 42 has a plate like shape.

In the depicted embodiment, the actuating element 38 is made from two parts, i. e. a handhold 48 and a rotary disc 50 attached to the handhold 48. The rotary disc 50 is attached to the handhold 48 in a rotationally fixed manner, i. e. by means of screws.

The actuating element 38 and the latch 40 are attached to the base part 42 (see also Figure 8, which shows a side view of the locking device 36).

The base part 42 is embedded in the support plate 28, 30, thereby fixing the locking device 36 to the support plate 28, 30 (see Figures 3 to 5). In the depicted embodiment, the base part 42 is fixed to the support plate 28, 30 by means of screws.

The actuating element 38 is fixed to the base part 42 by means of the handhold 48 and the rotary disc 50 being arranged on two opposing sides of the base part 42. The base part 42 has an opening 51 , in particular a circular opening, through which the actuating element 38 extends. The actuating element 38 is thus mounted on the base part 42 in a rotatable manner.

The latch 40 is fixed to the base part 42 by means of the washer 46. In particular, the latch 40 and the washer 46 are arranged on opposing sides of the base part 42 respectively the actuating element 38 and fixed to each other. In the depicted embodiment, the latch 40 is screwed to the washer 46 (see Figure 8).

The elastic element 44 is placed between the actuating element 38 and the washer 46, precisely said between the rotary disc 50 and the washer 46. Thus, the elastic element 44, which is a spring washer in the embodiment, compensates tolerances and ensures that the latch 40 rests flat on the actuating element 38.

The actuating element 38 comprises an inclined section 52, which is in particular formed at the rotary disc 50. More precisely, the inclined section 52 extends over an angular section of the rotary disc 50.

The base part 42 comprises a corresponding ramp 54 which is visible in Figure 7.

The ramp 54 faces the inclined section 52.

In particular, two inclined sections 52 and two corresponding ramps 54 are present in the locking device 36. Thereby, tilting of the actuating element 38 is inhibited.

Moreover, the base part 42 has a second ramp 55 on the side opposed to the first ramp 54.

Figure 8 shows a side view of the locking device 36 in an assembled condition.

From the side view, it is clear that the inclined section 52 of the actuating element 38 is in contact with the ramp 54 of the base part 42.

In a rotational direction, the latch 40 is coupled to the actuating element 38 by means of friction, such that the latch 40 is rotatable together with the actuating element 38. To increase the friction, a rubber ring 56 (see Figure 9) is provided between the latch 40 and the actuating element 38 in a radial direction. The elastic element 44 also contributes to an increased friction between the actuating element 38 and the latch 40.

However, it is possible to overcome the friction such that the actuating element 38 can be rotated with respect to the latch 40.

Precisely said, the latch 40 is rotatable with the actuating element 38 upon rotation of the actuating element 38 in a first rotation range.

The first rotation range is different from the second rotation range.

Upon rotation of the actuating element 38 in a second rotation range, the actuating element 38 is rotatable with respect to the latch 40.

The first rotation range is the range the actuating element 38 is rotated from the unlocked position (see Figure 3) to a transition position. In Figure 4, the actuating element 38 is shown in the transition position between the first rotation range and the second rotation range.

The second rotation range is the range the actuating element 38 is rotated from the transition position to the locked position (see Figure 5).

As long as the actuating element 38 is rotated within the first rotation rage, the latch 40 and the actuating element 38 are coupled by means of friction and are rotated together.

When the actuating element 38 reaches the transition position, a further rotation of the latch 40 is blocked.

This is achieved by means of the latch 40 comprising a first abutment element 58 and the locking device 36 being configured such that the abutment element 58 abuts a stop surface 60 upon transition of the actuating element 38 from the first rotation range to the second rotation range.

In the embodiment, the stop surface 60 is formed at the base plate 42. However, it is also possible that the stop surface 60 is provided at the support plate 28, 30.

Moreover, the latch 40 comprises a stop surface 62 which is located such that the actuating element 38 abuts the stop surface 62 of the latch 40 upon transition of the actuating element 38 from the second rotation range to the first rotation range.

In the depicted embodiment, the stop surface 62 is provided at a protrusion 64 extending downward from the latch 40.

In the following, the operating principle of the locking device 36 is explained.

At the beginning, in particular before mounting a tooling plate 32, the actuating element 38 as well as the latch 40 is in an unlocked condition as shown in Figure 3.

When the actuating element 38 is now rotated by a user, the latch 40 rotates together with the actuating element 38 due to the friction between the actuating element 38 and the latch 40.

When the actuating element 38 reaches the transition position, the abutment element 58 of the latch 40 abuts the stop surface 60 at the base part 42, such that a further rotation of the latch 40 in the locking direction is blocked.

When the abutment element 58 is in contact with the stop surface 60, the latch 40 is in a position above the tooling plate 32. Thus, the tooling plate 32 cannot be lifted anymore. However, the tooling plate 32 is still loose as there is no pressure on the tooling plate 32.

When the actuating element 38 is further rotated in the locking direction, i.e. in the second rotation range, the inclined section 52 contacts the ramp 54. The ramp 54 is arranged in the second rotation range.

Due to the slope of the inclined section 52 and the ramp 54, the actuating element 38 is forced in an axial direction along a rotation axis of the actuating element 38 upon rotation.

As the actuating element 38 acts on the latch 40 in an axial direction, in particular indirectly via the elastic element 44 and the washer 46, the latch 40 is forced in an axial direction as well.

Thereby, upon rotation of the actuating element 38 in the second rotation range, the latch 40 is height adjustable. More precisely, the actuating element 38 moves up or down on the ramp 54 upon rotation in the second rotation range to adjust the height of the latch 40.

Due to the height adjustment of the latch 40, the latch 40 acts upon the tooling plate 32 such that the tooling plate 32 is securely fixed to the support plate 28, 30.

The length of the inclined section 52 in the angular direction in the embodiment is less than the second rotation range. In particular, as shown in Figure 8, a flat section 66 adjoins the inclined section 52. Also, a corresponding flat section 68 adjoins the ramp 54. Thereby, better support of the actuating element 38 in the locking position is achieved.

For unlocking the locking device 36, the actuating element 38 is rotated in the unlocking direction, whereby the latch 40 is lifted from the tooling plate 32. The unlocking direction is indicated by an arrow in Figure 5.

When the actuating element 38 reaches the transition position during an unlocking movement, the actuating element 38 abuts the stop surface 62 of the latch 40. Thereby, upon further rotation, the latch 40 is coupled to the actuating element 38 not only by friction, but also in a form fitting manner.

The latch 40 is then rotated together with the actuating element 38 to the position shown in Figure 3 and the locking device 36 is unlocked.

When unlocking the locking device 36, the actuating element 38 moves over the second ramp 55 being formed on the base part 42. The second ramp 55 supports the lifting of the actuating element 38.

Figure 10 shows a section through the support plate 28 with a tooling plate 32 at a transverse edge of the support plate 28.

Along the transverse edge, a bar 70 acting as a hold down device is arranged.

The bar 70 improves the holding force on the tooling plate 32.

In particular, with the bar 70 being present, two locking devices 36 are sufficient to hold the tooling plate 32 when one locking device 36 is arranged on each side of the support plate 32. Figures 11 and 12 show a further embodiment of a supporting device 11 with a support plate 28, 30 and locking device 36 and a tooling plate 32.

Figure 11 shows the locking device in the locked position. In Figure 12 the unlocked position is visualized by dashed lines.

The locking device 36 also comprises an actuating element 38, which is a handle in the depicted embodiment, and a latch 40.

The latch 40 according to the embodiment depicted in Figures 11 and 12 has an L-shape.

The locking device 36 according Figures 11 and 12 works with an eccentric 72.

When the actuation element 38 is rotated in a first rotation range, the latch 40 is raised from respectively lowered onto the tooling plate 32.

The eccentric 72 rotates along with the actuation element 38.

During the first rotation range, the latch 40 is raised from its lower position.

The latch is coupled by friction to the eccentric. Upon further rotation of the actuation element 38 in the second rotation range, the latch 40 is rotated away from the support plate 28, 30 such that the tooling plate 32 can be removed.

In reverse, when the actuating element is rotated in the other direction, the latch rotates by friction with the eccentric during the first rotation range until it abuts against a stop which keep it into position above the cutting plate.

In the second rotation range, the eccentric keeps rotating and lower the latch onto the cutting plate to lock it on the support plate 28. The device is design in a way that when the actuating element reaches its final position, a down force is applied on the cutting plate to keep it from sliding against the support plate.

Claims

1 . A supporting device (11) for a pressing station of a cardboard processing machine (10), in particular a die-cutting and/or creasing machine, comprising a support plate (28, 30) and at least one locking device (36) being provided at the support plate (28, 30) configured to fix a tooling plate (32) to the upper or lower support plate (28, 30), wherein the locking device (36) comprises a rotatable actuating element (38) and a latch (40), wherein the latch (40) is rotatable with the actuating element (38) upon rotation of the actuating element (38) in a first rotation range and height adjustable upon rotation of the actuating element (38) in a second rotation range, wherein the first rotation range is different from the second rotation range and wherein the latch (40) does not rotate with the actuating element (38) in the second rotation range.

2. The supporting device (11) according to claim 1 , wherein the latch comprises a first abutment element (58) and wherein the locking device (36) is configured such that the abutment element (58) abuts a stop surface (60) upon transition of the actuating element (38) from the first rotation range to the second rotation range.

3. The supporting device (11) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the latch (40) comprises a stop surface (62), and the locking device (36) is configured such that the actuating element (38) abuts the stop surface (62) of the latch (40) upon transition of the actuating element (38) from the second rotation range to the first rotation range.

4. The supporting device (11) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the latch (40) is coupled to the actuating element (38) by means of friction.

5. The supporting device (11) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the locking device (36) comprises a base part (42), wherein the actuating element (38) and the latch (40) are attached to the base part (42).

6. The supporting device (11) according to claim 5, wherein the base part (42) is embedded in the support plate (28, 30) in a rotatably fixed manner and the actuating element (38) and the latch (40) are rotatable with respect to the base part (42).

7. The supporting device (11) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the actuating element (38) comprises an inclined section (52) and the base part (42) comprises a corresponding ramp (54), in particular wherein the ramp (54) is arranged in the second rotation range, wherein the actuating element (38) moves up or down on the ramp (54) upon rotation in the second rotation range to adjust the height of the latch (40).

8. The supporting device (11) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the base part (42) comprises a second ramp (55) on the side opposed to the first ramp (54).

9. The supporting device (11) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the locking device (36) comprises an elastic element (44) which impinges the latch (40) against the actuating element (38).

10. A cardboard processing machine (10), in particular a die-cutting and/or creasing machine, comprising a pressing station (12) with a lower support plate (28) and an upper support plate (30) being arranged above the lower support plate (28), wherein the support plates (28, 30) are moveable towards each other in order to cut or crease a cardboard blank (14) being arranged between the plates (28, 30), and a supporting device (11) according to any of the preceding claims comprising one of the lower support plate (28) and the upper support plate (30).

11. A cardboard processing machine (10) according claim 10, wherein the machine (10) comprises a centring device (34) configured for aligning the tooling plate (32) at the support plate (28, 30).