EP0998419A1

EP0998419A1 - Uquii

Info

Publication number: EP0998419A1
Application number: EP99916977A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Maurice Remericq
Original assignee: Sierem SA
Current assignee: Sierem SA
Priority date: 1998-05-22
Filing date: 1999-05-03
Publication date: 2000-05-10
Also published as: BR9906467A; FR2778898A1; WO1999061359A1; NO20000326L; TW446671B; CN1272093A; AR019558A1; CO4880808A1; JP2002516244A; NO20000326D0; FR2778898B1; KR20010022119A

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for alternating the direction for stacking flat objects (3) which are received and arranged mutually parallel by a device (1), so that they can form batches (2), said device (1) comprising a plurality of compartments. Said method is characterised in that, in order to assemble products for forming batches (2) of products (3) wherein at least two products (3) are arranged head-to-tail, while the sections are moving past in front of the loading station (C), it consists in: extracting a product (3) from a compartment (1A); and modifying the extracted product (3) direction so that, in a predetermined empty compartment, it can be arranged head-to-tail relative to the initial direction (S1) in which it was inserted; inserting said reoriented product (3) in a predetermined location, called reinsertion site.

Description

PROCESS FOR ALTERNATING THE SENSE OF STACKING FLAT AND FLEXIBLE OBJECTS. MEANS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR CONSTITUTING LOTS EQUIPPED WITH SUCH MEANS

The invention relates to a method for alternating the direction of stacking of flat and flexible objects which are intended to be stacked in order to constitute batches ready to be packaged.

The invention also relates to the means for implementing the method and to the batching facilities equipped with these means.

The invention particularly but not exclusively concerns a process used in an industrial installation for building up batches of flat objects, operating at high speed.

Although this is not limiting, by installation operating at high speed, we mean an installation which operates with an object processing rate greater than several hundred objects per minute.

Flat objects are, for example, flexible products which can be deformed according to their thickness, such as hygiene products made of absorbent material.

In these batches, the flat objects are arranged substantially parallel to one another, one against the other, so that they can be placed in a box or in a bag of envelope volume, in particular, substantially rectangular parallelepiped, of size as small as possible.

When these hygiene products are folded on themselves before being packaged, whether it is a folding in two or in three, they have an extra thickness at the level of at least one fold.

The extra thicknesses of the different products in a batch are added and induce the formation of batches, two of the opposite faces of which are located in intersecting planes.

In other words, the built-up lots affect a wedge shape. This wedge shape is prejudicial to the packaging of said lots in a reduced volume.

The phenomenon of excess thickness is increased when, on the one hand, the products are profiled according to their thickness to present thinned edges and, on the other hand, they incorporate so-called "superabsorbent" substances which are concentrated in an area affected by folding.

A radical solution to this problem of forming corner lots consists of alternating the stacking directions of the products. However, this solution is technically difficult to implement.

Indeed, the aforementioned hygiene products are produced at rates higher than several hundred products per minute and their output speed from the manufacturing machine is therefore high.

This speed is so high that the constitution of lots of a determined number of these products implies that they are previously braked and received on a device in which they are arranged substantially parallel to each other, so that they can then be batch extracts.

The invention especially relates to a method, capable of performing a function of alternating products, without affecting the manufacturing process of said products.

The invention also relates to batch building installations equipped with these means.

One result which the invention aims to obtain is a method of alternating products which can be implemented without affecting the operation of an existing installation, or involving substantial modification of the installation.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a method for alternating the direction of stacking of flat and flexible objects which are intended to be stacked in order to constitute batches ready to be packaged, this method being in particular characterized in that , to produce sets of products capable of constituting batches of products in which at least two products are arranged head to tail, during the movement of the compartments in front of the loading station, upstream of this station:

- at a specific site, called extraction site, at least one product is extracted from a compartment in which it has been placed and, - the orientation of each extracted product is changed so that it can, in an empty compartment determined, be placed head to tail in relation to its initial direction of introduction at the loading station and, - At a determined site, called reintroduction site, said redirected product is introduced into a free compartment.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description below given with reference to the drawing by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the attached drawing which represents:

FIG. 1: in top view, an installation implementing a device for constituting batches of a determined number of products successively from a production machine,

- Figures 2 and 3: on a larger scale, a detail of embodiment of means for the implementation of the method,

- Figure 4: a view along AA of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, we see an installation 1 for the constitution of lots 2 of a determined number of products 3 successively from a production machine 4. This batch building facility 1 accommodates the products

3 as and when they are produced and arranged, side by side, substantially parallel to one another, so that they can constitute said lots 2.

To this end, the installation 1 comprises a plurality of compartments 1A supported by an element 1 B for movement between at least two stations 1 C, 1 D including, on the one hand, a loading station 1 C of said compartments 1 A with products 3 successively delivered in a defined direction S1 of introduction and, on the other hand, a station 1 D for unloading at least one set E of products capable of constituting a batch 2. For example, the installation 1 comprises an endless element 1 B which circulates on return members and carries pallets 1 E arranged so as to constitute compartments 1A able to accommodate the products.

Remarkably, to produce sets of products E capable of constituting batches 2 of products 3 in which at least two products 3 are arranged head to tail, during the movement of the compartments 1A in front of the loading station 1 C, upstream of this post 1 C:

at a given site A, called the extraction site, at least one product 3 is extracted from a compartment 1A in which it has been placed and, the orientation of each extracted product 3 is modified so that it can, in a given empty compartment 1A, be placed head to tail with respect to its direction of initial introduction S1 at the loading station 1 C and,

- At a determined site B, called reintroduction site, said product 3 reoriented is introduced into a free compartment 1A.

It is in this way that the method of the invention makes it possible to alternate the direction of stacking of at least some of the products.

In Figure 1, there is shown the direction of orientation of some of the products by means of an arrow marked S1 or S2. The arrows S1 and S2 are arranged next to products to represent their relative orientation, that is to say with respect to each other.

The direction S1 of orientation corresponds to the direction of introduction but this is not limiting.

The direction S2 of a product marked R is opposite to the direction S1 of a product marked 3.

The product marked 3R is a product that has been returned, while product 3 is a product whose orientation has not been changed.

The products marked 3R and 3 are therefore arranged head to tail.

Also remarkably, the products 3 are extracted and then reintroduced successively, that is to say that we proceed unitarily.

Notably, each product 3 is reintroduced into a compartment 1A which, relative to the direction of travel, is located upstream of compartment 1A in which the extraction has been carried out.

For example, as shown, extract then reintroduce product 3 out of two.

Even more notably, to turn each product 3 extracted from a compartment 1A upside down, it is made to describe a curved trajectory T1 situated in a plane P1 approximately parallel to a plane P2 containing the trajectory

T2 for scrolling compartments 1A between the extraction site A and the reintroduction site B in a compartment 1A.

Preferably, a device 1 R groups together the means M1, M2, M3 for implementing the method, these means consisting of: a means M1 for extracting at least one product 3 from the compartments 1A at a determined site A, called the extraction site A and,

a means M2 for modifying the orientation of each product 3 extracted so that it can, in a determined compartment 1A, be arranged head to tail relative to its initial direction of introduction and,

a means M3 for introducing said product 3 redirected into a free compartment 1A, at a site B also determined, called site B for reintroduction,

a means M4 for controlling the operation of the aforementioned means M1, M2, M3 in synchronism with the device 1 for constituting batches 2.

The means M1 of extraction consists of a means M1 of unitary extraction of a product 3.

The extraction means M1 comprises a motor element 11 and for guiding at least one extraction abutment 12 on a trajectory, called the accompanying trajectory, that is to say a trajectory T3 which intersects the trajectory T2 of the compartments 1A in a plane of projection of these trajectories is oriented in such a way that each extraction stop 12 which comes into contact with a product 3 pushes it out of its compartment 1 A, on the extraction site A, and this at less until said product 3 has been engaged in the means M2 for modifying its orientation.

The means M2 for modifying the orientation of each product 3 extracted, that is to say the means M2 for turning head to tail each product 3 extracted from a compartment 1A, consists of a means M2 for guiding the product 3 on a trajectory T1 curve located in a plane approximately parallel to a plane containing the trajectory T2 of passage of the compartments 1A, between the site A of extraction and the site B of reintroduction in a compartment 1A.

This means M2 is arranged to receive each product 3 extracted from a compartment 1A by means M1 for this purpose.

The means M3 of unitary introduction of each product 3 into a free compartment 1A is constituted by a means M3 of displacement of each product 3 on a trajectory T4 which, intersecting the trajectory of the compartments 1A in a plane of projection of these trajectories is oriented in such a way that each product 3 is pushed into compartment 1 A, and this, at least until said product 3 has been completely engaged in said compartment 1A.

The means M4 for controlling the operation of the aforementioned means M1, M2, M3 in synchronism uses conventional elements for managing the operation of electric motor means and is not described in more detail.

The means M2 for modifying the orientation of each product 3 extracted from a compartment 1A essentially comprises a set of two belts C1, C2 which, moved by a driving means (not shown), circulate on return members R1 to R9 and have two adjacent strands B1, B2, which strands B1 define a means both of pinching a product 3 according to its thickness and of displacing this product 3 on a substantially curved path T1, these adjacent strands B1, B2 and , for this purpose:

on the one hand, each extends between site A for extraction of a product 3 from a compartment 1 A and site B for reintroduction of this product 3 into a compartment 1A,

- on the other hand, are located in a plane approximately parallel to a plane containing the trajectory T2 of movement of the compartments 1A, between said extraction and reintroduction sites A, B.

Advantageously, the means M2 for modifying the orientation of the products comprises a deflection member R1 whose diameter D is such that by a substantial fraction of its circumference, it defines a curved trajectory T1 tangentially connected to the extraction trajectories T3, T4 and reintroduction of products 3.

The means M2 for modifying the orientation of the products comprises return members R2, R3 which are arranged so as to deflect and separate the belts C1, C2 approximately as far as in a plane substantially tangent to the compartments and thereby to constitute at least partially the means M3 for unitary introduction of each product 3 into a free compartment 1A.

In the various figures, arrows (not marked) symbolize the direction of rotation or movement of the main members.

Claims

1. Method for alternating the stacking direction (3) of flat and flexible objects which, as they are produced, are, by a device (1), received and arranged side by side substantially parallel to each other others, so that they can constitute lots (2), said device (1) comprising a plurality of compartments (1A) supported by an element (1 B) for movement between at least two stations (1C, 1 D) of which, on the one hand, a loading station (1 C) of said compartments (1A) with products (3) successively delivered in a defined direction (S1) of introduction and, on the other hand, a station (1 D) of unloading of at least one set (E) of products capable of constituting a batch (2), this process being CHARACTERIZED in that, to produce sets of products (E) capable of constituting batches (2) of products ( 3) in which at least two products (3) are arranged head to tail, during the scrolling of the compartments (1A) in front of the post e (1C) of loading, upstream of this station (1C):

at a given site (A), called the extraction site, at least one product (3) is extracted from a compartment (1A) in which it has been placed and,

- the orientation of each extracted product (3) is modified so that it can, in a given empty compartment (1A), be placed head to tail relative to its direction (S1) of initial introduction at the level of the loading (1C) and,

- At a determined site (B), said reintroduction site, said product (3) redirected is introduced into a free compartment (1A).

2. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the products are then extracted and then reintroduced successively (3), that is to say that we proceed unitarily.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that each product (3) is reintroduced into a compartment (1A) which, relative to the direction of travel, is located upstream of the compartment (1A) in which one has carried out extraction.

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that, to turn head to tail each product (3) extracted from a compartment (1A), it is made to describe a curved trajectory (T1) located in a plane (P1) approximately parallel to a plane (P2) containing the trajectory (T2) of movement of the compartments (1A) between the extraction site A and the reintroduction site (B) in a compartment (1A).

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the means consist of:

a means (M1) for extracting at least one product (3) from the compartments (1A) at a determined site (A), called the extraction site (A) and,

a means (M2) of modifying the orientation of each product (3) extracted so that it can, in a determined compartment (1A), be placed head to tail with respect to its initial direction of introduction and,

a means (M3) for introducing said product (3) redirected into a free compartment (1A), at a site (B) also determined, called reintroduction site (B),

- A means (M) 4 for controlling the operation of the aforementioned means (M1, M2, M3) in synchronism with the device (1) for constituting batches (2).

6. Means for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the means (M1) for extraction comprises a motor element (11) and for guiding at least one stop of extraction (12) on a trajectory, called an accompaniment, that is to say a trajectory (T3) which, intersecting the trajectory (T2) of the compartments (1A) in a projection plane of these trajectories is oriented in such a way that each extraction stop (12) which comes into contact with a product (3) pushes it out of its compartment (1 A), on the extraction site (A), and this, at least until said product (3) has been engaged in the means (M2) of modifying its orientation.

7. Means according to claim 6 characterized in that the means (M2) for modifying the orientation of each product (3) extracted, that is to say the means (M2) for turning each product upside down (3) extracted from a compartment (1A), consists of a means (M2) for guiding the product (3) on a curved trajectory (T1) situated in a plane approximately parallel to a plane containing the trajectory (T2) of movement of the compartments 1A , between the extraction site (A) and the reintroduction site (B) in a compartment (1A).

8. Means according to claim 6 characterized in that the means (M3) for unitary introduction of each product (3) into a free compartment (1A) consists of means (M3) for moving each product (3) on a trajectory (T4) which, intersecting the trajectory of the compartments (1A) in a plane of projection of these trajectories, is oriented in such a way that each product (3) is pushed into the compartment (1A), and this, at least up to 'that said product (3) has been fully engaged in said compartment (1A).

9. Means according to claim 6 characterized in that the means (M2) for changing the orientation of each product (3) extracted from a compartment (1A) essentially comprises a set of two belts (C1, C2) which , moved by a driving means (R1), circulate on return members (R1 to R9) and have two adjacent strands (B1, B2), which strands (B1) define a means at the same time for gripping a product ( 3) according to its thickness and displacement of this product (3) on a substantially curved trajectory (T1), these adjacent strands (B1, B2) and, for this purpose:

- on the one hand, each extend between the site (A) for extracting a product (3) from a compartment (1A) and the site (B) for reintroducing this product (3) into a compartment (1 A),

- on the other hand, are located in a plane approximately parallel to a plane containing the trajectory (T2) of movement of the compartments (1A), between said extraction and reintroduction sites (A, B).

10. Means according to claim 9, characterized in that the means (M2) for modifying the orientation of the products comprises:

- firstly, a return member (R1) whose diameter (D) is such that by a substantial fraction of its circumference, it defines a curved trajectory (T1) tangentially connected to the extraction trajectories (T3, T4) and reintroduction of products (3), and

- on the other hand, return members (R2, R3) which are arranged so as to deflect and separate the belts (C1, C2) approximately as far as in a plane substantially tangent to the compartments and thereby at least partially constitute the means (M3) for the unitary introduction of each product (3) into a free compartment (1A).

11. Installation for constituting batches of objects, characterized in that it comprises the means according to any one of claims 6 to 10.