Detailed Description
Referring to fig. 1, the present invention illustrates a mobile device 1 that moves a running assembly 100 toward and away from a cargo placed on a rack 2, such as a pallet, or a rack with roller or chain motion.
The moving device 1 associated with the running assembly 100 should be installed in the winding machine 1000, which is capable of winding the load on the rack 2 with a film for a preset number of turns.
The winder 1000 may include a carriage and winder assembly, not shown, that supports and winds the number of turns of film by relative rotation about the carriage and winder assembly and the load placed on the carriage 2. The relative rotation occurs on a substantially vertical winding axis W.
As used herein, "substantially perpendicular" refers to an axis that is substantially parallel to the gravitational acceleration vector.
For winding a predetermined number of turns of film around the load on the support frame 2, for this relative rotation the device is associated with a support and unreeling assembly in the vertical direction, i.e. substantially parallel to the winding axis.
In particular, the winding machine 1000 may include a rotary cargo model supported by a rotary table. In this case, the winding machine 1000 should include a rotary table for supporting the load placed on the stand 2. In use, the cargo rotates about an axis of rotation that coincides with the perpendicular direction to the winding axis W.
The running gear 100 may be connected to the moving device 1, in particular in a rigid manner, so that near the end of the operation or process of wrapping the load with film, i.e. when a predetermined number of wrapping turns have been applied to the load, the running gear 100 may be moved to a position close to the load in order to perform work on the load.
To perform these operations, and with particular reference to FIG. 2, the present running assembly 100 may include a cutting assembly 110 for cutting the film, a sealing assembly 120 for sealing the film to the film wrapping ring around the cargo, particularly the outermost (i.e., furthest from the vertical axis of rotation of the cargo) portion of the sealing wrapping ring, and a grasping assembly 130 for grasping the film to begin the cargo wrapping ring as an initial wrap.
Thus, the operations that the running assembly 100 may perform on the cargo include sealing the film to the portion of the winding ring furthest from the vertical axis of rotation of the cargo, a film shear phase to obtain the film edge, and a grab or hold phase to package the subsequent cargo.
The film is made of an elastic and/or plastic material, such as an elastically stretchable film, which can be used around the cargo and can hold the cargo together in a stable manner. The film, in particular, comprises a heat-sensitive film.
The movement device 1 comprises lever means for supporting the running gear 100 close to or away from the load placed on the support frame 2.
The mobile device 1 further comprises actuation means 12 connected to the lever means for moving the mobile device 1 between a closed configuration C of minimum space and an open configuration a of maximum space.
The drive means 12 are used for moving the lever means relative to the load.
In the closed configuration C, the mobile device 1 is located away from the cargo. In this position, the running assembly 100 is also located away from the load, where it does not interact with the film wrapped load. In other words, the position remote from the cargo corresponds to a position in which the mobile device 1 is fully retracted relative to the cargo.
On the other hand, in the open configuration A, the mobile device 1 is proximate to or disposed about the cargo, not in the closed configuration C, and in a position closest to the cargo, the running assembly 100 is also positioned closer to the cargo, and the running assembly 100 may interact with the film wrapped cargo to perform the above-described operations. In other words, the position close to the load corresponds to the maximum projected position of the mobile device 1 with respect to the load.
The drive means 12 comprise a drive actuator in an assembly, the whole assembly comprising a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder and an electromechanical actuator.
The mobile device 1 further comprises a trajectory modification assembly 20 connected to the leverage means for dynamically controlling the leverage means so that the running assembly 100 can follow a linear trajectory at a constant height relative to the cargo as it moves between the distal position and the proximal position.
The linear trajectory is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cargo.
With this configuration, the progress of the running assembly at a constant height in the direction of the load is perfectly horizontal, facilitating the identification of the final position of interaction with the load itself (otherwise, for an arc-shaped trajectory of varying height, determining the final contact point of the running assembly with the load would be more difficult or not straightforward).
The linear trajectory obtained by the algorithm of the invention can determine the height of the running assembly. This avoids the handling of different parts of the load by the operating assembly. In this way, the package, such as during a contour inspection, is not discarded due to being positioned at an outer cargo portion (e.g., at least a portion of the rack) that is not identifiable by the running assembly due to the incorrect height of the running assembly.
The track modifying assembly 20 includes an anti-bar assembly 10 coupled to a lever assembly.
The lever means comprise a first lever means 3 and a second lever means 4, which are rotatably connected to a first articulation element 5 of the mobile device 1, rotatable along a first rotation axis R1 and a second rotation axis R2, respectively.
The first living hinge element 5 is rigidly connected to the running assembly 100 by known means of connection, such as screws and bolts.
In use, the running gear 100 may be moved on the mobile device 1 by moving the first living hinge element 5 along a linear trajectory toward or away from the cargo. In other words, the first living hinge element 5 will also move along a linear trajectory at the same critical height when the mobile device 1 moves between the open configuration a and the closed configuration C.
The first lever device 3, the second lever device 4 and the first movable hinge element 5 support the running assembly 100 close to or away from the load.
The first living hinge element 5 as well as the running assembly 100 can be moved by means of the lever arrangement, the track modification assembly 20 and the drive 12, i.e. in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement D1 of the load.
As shown in fig. 3, the drive means 12 are designed to exert a pulling and/or pushing action on the lever means in a direction of movement X transversely thereto, the inclination of the first living hinge element 5 relative to the direction of movement X being variable when it is moved in the direction of movement X.
The lever means further comprise a third lever means 6 and a fourth lever means 7, which are rotatably connected to the first fixed hinging element 8 of the moving device 1, rotatable along a third rotation axis R3 and a fourth rotation axis R4, respectively.
The first stationary hinge element 8 remains stationary, i.e. the mobile device 1 is stationary when it moves between the open configuration a and the closed configuration C.
The counter lever means 10, the second lever means 4 and the driving means 12 are adapted to move the first movable hinge member 5 along a linear trajectory so as to maintain a substantially equal distance D between the second rotation axes R2 and to pass through a horizontal plane P, indicated by a broken line in fig. 3, between the fourth rotation axes R4.
Furthermore, the first lever device 3, the second lever device 4, the third lever device 6, the fourth lever device 7 are connected to the second articulation element 9 of the mobile device 1 in a rotatable manner with respect to each other, rotatable along a fifth rotation axis R5, a sixth rotation axis R6, a seventh rotation axis R7 and an eighth rotation axis R8, respectively.
The second movable hinge member 9 is moved, i.e. moved between the open configuration a and the closed configuration C, by means of the lever arrangement, the trajectory modification assembly 20 and the drive device 12, in particular with a variable size trajectory with respect to the load, i.e. a variable size with respect to the horizontal plane P.
In particular, the counter lever means 10 should be rotatably connected to the second lever means 4 so that these counter lever means 10 and the second lever means 4 are rotatable about a ninth rotation axis R9, and the counter lever means 10 is also rotatably connected to the second stationary hinge element 11 on the moving means 1 and rotatable about a tenth rotation axis R10.
The second stationary hinge element 11 remains stationary, i.e. the mobile device 1 is stationary when it moves between the open configuration a and the closed configuration C.
The driving means 12 are connected to one of the above-mentioned first 3, second 4, third 6, fourth 7 joystick means for manoeuvring the moving means 1 between a minimum closed configuration C, in which the second and tenth rotation axes R2, R10 reach a minimum distance dmin, and a maximum open configuration a, in which the second and tenth rotation axes R2, R10 reach a maximum distance dmax.
The first living hinge element 5, the second living hinge element 9, the first stationary hinge element 8 and the second stationary hinge element 11 comprise connection blocks 13, 14, 15 and 16, respectively, each having a substantially parallel shape. For example, each of the connection blocks 13, 14, 15, and 16 may have a square outer shape.
The first movable hinge element 5, the second movable hinge element 9, the first stationary hinge element 8 and the second stationary hinge element 11 may also each comprise at least one connection plate 21a, 22a, 23a and 24a, respectively, mounted on the corresponding connection plate 13, 14, 15 and 16, respectively, each connection plate 13, 14, 15 and 16 and each connection plate 21a, 22a, 23a and 24a being connected to the first lever arrangement 3, the second lever arrangement 4, the third lever arrangement 6 and/or the fourth lever arrangement 7, or the counter lever arrangement 10, the drive arrangement 12, respectively, in an articulated manner.
In the illustrated implementation, the first lever means 3 comprise a connecting rod 3a, the end 17 of which is hinged to a first face of the connecting block 13 of the first living hinge element 5, and the end 18, opposite to the end 17, is hinged to a first face 19a of the connecting block 15 of the second living hinge element 9. In particular, the connecting rod 3a may be connected to the connecting blocks 13 and 15, respectively, so that the first rotation axis R1 and the second rotation axis R5 pass through respective points arranged near the vertices of the respective connecting blocks 13, 15.
Specifically, one end 17 of the link 3a is rotatably mounted between the connection block 13 and the connection plate 21a, and the other end 18 of the link 3a is rotatably mounted between the connection block 15 and the connection plate 23 a.
The second lever means 4 comprise a profiled bar 4a consisting of a first portion 25 of the connecting rod and a second portion 26 of the connecting rod, extending over an angle α of 110 ° to 150 °, in particular over an angle of 120 °. The link first portion 25 and the link second portion 26 are connected to the link region 27, between the link first portion 25 and the link second portion 26, as a common end of the link first portion 25 and the link second portion 26. The link region 27 is hinged to an outer surface 28 of the connection plate 23a on the second living hinge element 9.
The first portion 25 of the connecting rod is also provided with an end 29 located opposite the connecting rod region 27, in particular hinged to the outer surface 30 of the connecting plate 21a on the first living hinge element 5.
The second portion 26 of the link is also provided with an end 31 located in the opposite position to the link region 27, in particular hinged to the counter-bar means 10 so as to be able to rotate about the ninth rotation axis R9.
The first link portion 25 may comprise a "U" -shaped loop portion 32 and is arranged to at least partially surround the drive means 12 in order to reduce the footprint of the mobile device 1 in the closed configuration C.
The third lever means 6 may comprise a cross bar 6a, the end 33 of which is hinged to the first face 19a of the connecting block 15 of the second mobile hinging element 9, and the end 34, opposite to the end 33, is hinged to the first face 35 of the connecting block 14 of the first fixed hinging element 8.
In particular, the end 33 of the crossbar 6a is rotatably mounted between the connection block 15 and the connection plate 23a, and the other end 34 of the crossbar 6a is rotatably mounted between the connection block 14 and the connection plate 22 a.
The fourth lever means 7 may comprise an oblong element 7a, one end 36 of which is hinged to the outer surface 28 of the connecting plate 23a on the second movable hinging element 9, and the other end 37, opposite to the end 36, is hinged to the outer surface 38a of the connecting plate 22a on the first fixed hinging element 8.
The oval element 7a is generally shaped as a link or a crossbar.
The oblong element 7a may comprise a projection 39, facing the second lever means 4, on which the driving means 12 are mounted, for manoeuvring the mobile device 1 between the open configuration a and the closed configuration C.
The counter rod means 10 may comprise a counter rod 10a, one end 40 of which is hinged to the end 31 of the second portion 26 of the connecting rod on the profiled rod 4a, and the other end 41, opposite to the end 40, is hinged to the outer surface 42a of the connecting plate 24a on the second fixed hinge element 11.
The driving means 12 may comprise a pneumatic actuator 12a and an associated rotatable hollow body 43, in particular a sliding valve stem 44 connected to the outer surface of the connection plate 24a of the second fixed hinging element 11, and to the hollow body 43.
In the illustrated implementation, the head 45 of the valve stem 44 is connected to the oblong element 7a, in particular to the protruding portion 39, moving the oblong element 7a, thus, thanks to the connection of the first 3, second 4, third 6, fourth 7 joystick means with the trajectory correction assembly 20 and the hinging elements 5, 8, 9, 11, the movement of the mobile device 1 between the open configuration a and the closed configuration C is achieved. In other words, the pneumatic actuator 12a used pulls and/or pushes the oblong element 7a in an operating direction transversely spaced from the movement direction X, during which the inclination with respect to the movement direction X is variable, i.e. the first living hinge element 5 is moved in the movement direction X.
The mobile device 1 may be symmetrical about a substantially vertical symmetry plane S, as shown in fig. 4. In particular, the mobile device 1 may comprise components aligned with respect to a vertical symmetry plane S. This allows symmetrical support of the running gear 100 and also allows a heavy weight load of the running gear 100 to be supported on the mobile device 1.
In this case, the first living hinge element 5, the second living hinge element 9, the first fixed hinge element 8 and the second fixed hinge element 11 may each comprise an additional connection plate 21b, 22b, 23b, 24b, each additional connection plate 21b, 22b, 23b, 24b being mounted on the corresponding connection block 13, 14, 15, 16 so as to be placed substantially symmetrically on the connection plate 21a, 22a, 23a, 24a of the corresponding hinge element 5, 8, 9, 11, symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry S perpendicular to the mobile device 1.
Furthermore, for a mirror-symmetrical displacement device 1, the first lever device 3 may comprise an additional link 3b, one end 46 of which is articulated to a second face 47 of the connecting piece 13 on the first movable articulation element 5. The second face 47 is opposite to the first face of the connection block 13 of the first living hinge element 5. The additional link 3b is also provided with an end 48, opposite the other end 46, hinged to the second face 19b of the connecting block 15 on the second mobile hinging element 9.
The links 3a and the additional links 3b are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical symmetry plane S.
Furthermore, for a mirror-symmetrical mobile device 1, the second lever device 4 may also comprise an additional shaped bar 4b, which may be shaped like the shaped bar 4a in fig. 1. The profile bars 4a and the additional profile bars 4b are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical symmetry plane S
The first portion 49 and the second portion 50 of the additional profile rod 4b extend with respect to each other, forming an angle β of 110 ° to 150 °, in particular 120 °. The first portion 49 and the second portion 50 are connected to a connection zone 51, which is located between the first portion 49 and the second portion 50 as a common end of the first portion 49 and the second portion 50. In particular, the connection zone 51 is hinged to the outer surface 52 of the additional connection plate 23b on the second living hinge element 9.
The first portion 49 of the additional profiled bar 4b is also provided with an end 53, opposite the connection zone 51, hinged to the outer surface 54 of the additional connection plate 21b on the first living hinge element 5.
The second portion 50 of the additional profiled bar 4b is also provided with a terminal end 55, located opposite the connection zone 51, hinged to the counter-bar means 10 for rotation about a ninth rotation axis R9.
The first portion 49 of the linkage may comprise a profiled portion 56 of "U" shape and is arranged to at least partially surround the drive means 12 in order to reduce the footprint of the mobile device 1 in the closed configuration C.
Furthermore, for a mirror-symmetrical mobile device 1, the third lever means 6 may also comprise an additional crossbar 6b, which may be shaped like the crossbar 6a. The crossbar 6a and the additional crossbar 6b are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical symmetry plane S.
The additional crossbar 6b may comprise an end 57 hinged to the second face 19b of the connection block 15 of the second movable hinging element 9, and an end 58 opposite the end 57 hinged to the second face of the connection block 14 of the first fixed hinging element 8.
Furthermore, for a mirror-symmetrical mobile device 1, the fourth joystick device 7 may also comprise an additional oblong element 7b, which may be shaped like the oblong element 7a. The oval elements 7a and the additional oval elements 7b are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical symmetry plane S.
The additional oblong element 7b is hinged at one end 59 to the outer surface 52 of the additional web 23b of the second movable hinging element 9 and at the other end 60 opposite the end 59, to the outer surface 38b of the web 22b of the first fixed hinging element 8.
The additional oblong element 7b may comprise a projection 61, facing the second lever means 4, on which drive means 12 are mounted for manoeuvring the mobile device 1 between the open configuration a and the closed configuration C.
Furthermore, for a mirror-symmetrical mobile device 1, the counter rod device 10 may further comprise an additional counter rod 10b, the counter rod 10a and the additional counter rod 10b being arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical symmetry plane S.
The additional counter rod 10b is hinged at one end 62 to the end 55 of the second portion 50 of the connecting rod on the shaped rod 6b and at the other end 63 opposite to the end 62, to the outer surface 42b of the connecting plate 24b on the second fixed hinging element 11.
The counter rod assembly 10 may further comprise one or more connecting elements 70 for connecting the counter rod 10a and the additional counter rod 10b. These coupling elements 70, in addition to the additional counter rod 10b, provide a more stable structure for the counter rod assembly 10.
Furthermore, for a mirror-symmetrical displacement device 1, the drive device 12 may also comprise an additional pneumatic actuator 12b, a pneumatic actuator 12a and an additional pneumatic actuator 12b, which are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical symmetry plane S.
The additional pneumatic actuator 12b is provided with an associated rotatable hollow body 64, in particular, an outer surface 42b of the additional web 24b connected to the second fixed hinging element 11 and a sliding valve stem 65 of the inner surface of said hollow body 64.
In the illustrated implementation, the head 66 of the valve stem 65 is connected to the additional oblong element 7b, in particular to the protruding portion 61, moving the additional oblong element 7b, and thus, thanks to the connection of the first 3, second 4, third 6, fourth 7 lever means with the trajectory modification assembly 20 and the hinging elements 5, 8, 9, 11, the movement of the mobile device 1 between the open configuration a and the closed configuration C is achieved.
In use, the pneumatic actuator 12a and the additional pneumatic actuator 12b may be actuated simultaneously, if necessary.
In particular, with reference to fig. 6, the first fixed hinging element 8 and the second fixed hinging element 11 are connected to a shaped support plate 67, which in turn is connected to a rotation lever 68, by motorized means, not shown, the mobile device 1 is rotated about the rotation axis R, in a raised position M, fig. 1-6, the mobile device 1 protrudes above a plane tangential to the support 2, in an inclined position N (fig. 7), the mobile device 1 being situated below a reference plane tangential to the support 2. In other words, when the mobile device 1 (including the running assembly 100) is in the tilted position N, it is located under the stand 2, and therefore, the movement of the component from the raised position M to the tilted position N causes the telescopic movement of the mobile device 1 under the stand 2.
The support surface may comprise a lower region of one or more slats 69, the slats 69 being adapted to maintain the stand 2 in a particular plane, such as the ground.
In a version not shown, the mobile device 1 may include additional leverage means (e.g., a device generally similar to the leverage means 3, 4,6, 7 described above), additional drive means (e.g., a device generally similar to the drive means 12 described above), and additional trajectory modification assemblies (e.g., a device generally similar to the trajectory modification assemblies described above) for supporting and moving the associated running assembly 100 toward or away from cargo. These additional lever means, additional drive means and additional trajectory modification assemblies may be associated with the hinge elements 5, 8, 9, 11 or additional hinge elements connected to the hinge elements 5, 8, 9, 11.
By means of these additional lever devices, additional drives and additional track-modifying assemblies, the structure articulated to the additional lever devices, additional drives and additional track-modifying assemblies can be reproduced in large numbers and the movement support can be adjusted to the movement of the displacement device 1 in accordance with the size of the load weight.
The preset movement of the moving device 1 in the trajectory modification assembly 20 is dynamically controlled by the lever means 3,4, 6, 7, the running assembly 100 following a linear trajectory at a constant height of the load when moving between the distal and proximal positions along the direction of movement X, whereas the driving device 12 of the moving device 1 in the closed configuration C, which is moved transversely to the direction of movement X, becomes more compact, facilitating the running assembly 100 to perform the desired machining operation on the load on the stand 2 in a predetermined position. This predetermined position can be deduced, for example, from the height of the load placed by the running gear 100, i.e. the position of the first movable hinge element 5 to which the running gear 100 is connected, since the position remains unchanged in the direction of movement X.
As is evident from the above, the mobile device 1 according to the invention successfully achieves all the preset aims mentioned previously.
The description and illustrations in the figures are provided for the purpose of illustrating the innovative functioning of the mobile device 1.
Modifications and/or additions may be made to the description and illustrations of the drawings.