EP3209585A1 - Device for laterally positioning a plate element - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) for laterally positioning a plate element (20, 20') in a machine for processing plate elements, comprising a detection lever (130) that is hinged about a horizontal axis and is capable of carrying out a downward movement from a high position to a low position. A first end (132) of the detection lever (130) is arranged so as to come into contact, in the low position, with an upper surface of the plate element (20, 20'). A second end (133) of the detection lever (130) is provided with a target (135) that interacts with a position detector (140) in order to generate a signal dependant on the thickness of the plate element (20, 20') and on the number of plate elements (20, 20') present in the region of the first end (132) of the detection lever (130).

Description

 DEVICE FOR POSITIONING THE SIDE OF A PLATE ELEMENT

The present invention relates to a device for lateral positioning of a plate element, such as a sheet, in particular for an insertion station. The present invention also relates to an insertion station comprising such a device and a plate element processing machine comprising such an insertion station. On such a margin table located upstream of a cutting machine or platen press, the flat member is advanced against one or more front stops by first means, such as endless belts or rollers, and is then moved by second means against one or more lateral locating tabs before the front edge of this member is grasped by a series of clamps mounted on a clamp bar mounted on a chain train.

 Such a device is used for the precise lateral positioning of flat elements having already received one or more impressions, the subsequent operation can be either a stamping process, for example hot known as hot foil stamping in a platen press, a cutting operation and ejection of waste in such a press. This subsequent operation must be performed in strict accordance with previous impressions.

 Lateral positioning devices used to date provide jogging of the sheets. They comprise first a lower wheel rotated, disposed transversely to the direction of movement of a sheet, and close to a lateral latch located on the left side of the table, as also seen in the direction of travel of the sheet, usually called side driver side. These devices then comprise an upper roller mounted vertically to the wheel, at the end of an arm which, at rest, is in the up position. This arm is regularly lowered at each arrival of a flat member against the front stops, so that the upper roller pinches the flat member against the motorized lower roller which generates, by traction on this element, a correction movement to side latch.

State of the art

EP 0669274 discloses a device for lateral positioning of a flat element in a margin table, exhibiting elements of grip of the element flat (by pulling or pushing) with extended surfaces. In this way, it is desired to avoid damaging the gripping surfaces of the flat element. Here, the uniqueness of the flat element engaging in the lateral positioning device is verified by a complementary device situated at the entry of the positioning device, comprising an upper roller and a lower roller located in the same vertical plane. and whose spacing is set to the thickness value of a single flat element.

 JP 3426850 discloses a positioning device in which the flat member is moved laterally in either of the directions of the transverse direction, by means of a guiding device comprising two pairs of upper and lower rollers located in the same vertical plane, each mounted on a different side. Each pair of rollers can be disengaged and the direction of rotation of the rollers can be reversed to allow the driving of the flat element in the direction required to correct its positioning. However, this method of setting tends to mark corrugated cardboard flat elements that are more sensitive to pinching than flat cardboard.

 The document JPS 6047751 U describes a device with a pivoting lever arm carrying at its end directed towards the flat element a freely rotating roller located above a drive wheel rotated continuously by a worm in order to take the flat element together and to pull it against the lateral stop. The roller of the pivoting lever can be moved away or removed in order to go from the mode of displacement of the flat element by pulling to a mode of displacement of the flat element by pushing.

 Document JPH 0430203 (JPS62147642) discloses a positioning device in which the flat member is moved laterally in either direction of the transverse direction, by means of a guide device comprising a pair of upper rollers. and lower located in the same vertical plane. The upper roller is free mounted and the direction of rotation of the lower roller can be reversed to allow the drive of the flat element in the direction required to correct its positioning. This same guiding device is present on each side of the positioning station.

Presentation of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a lateral positioning device free from the limitations of known devices. Another object of the invention is to provide a lateral positioning device of simple and economical design which carries out a control of the thickness of the plate element during its lateral positioning.

 Thus, it is to allow, by the detection of a double thickness, to realize the abnormal presence of two superposed plate elements. More generally, it is sought to provide a device capable of detecting a thickness of the abnormally large plate element, in order to be aware of the abnormal presence of more than one plate element. Indeed, despite all the care taken upstream for the plate elements arrive one by one, it happens that a pair of superposed plate elements is in place of a single plate element, particularly because of electrostatic forces that may exist between faces facing two superposed plate elements.

 Such detection makes it possible to stop the operation of the processing machine in advance of any jamming incident, to remove the superfluous plate element in the presence of a pair of superposed plate elements or more generally to remove any arrangement of plate element not in accordance with the expected thickness, and thus allow a quick restart of the machine. In this way, the downtime of the machine has been reduced to a minimum, which is advantageous in terms of the efficiency of the machine.

 Also, the present invention aims to provide a lateral positioning device adaptable to the thicknesses and rigidity of very variable plate elements, ranging from flat board of any grammage, through single-layer corrugated board, bilayer or multilayer, up to multilayer complex board combining flat board and corrugated board. According to the invention, a device for lateral positioning of a plate element, in a plate element processing machine, is characterized in that it comprises a detector lever, articulated with respect to a horizontal axis, and capable of downwardly moving from a high position to a low position, a first end of the detector lever being arranged to come into low position in contact with an upper face of the plate member, and

a second end of the detector lever being provided with a target cooperating with a position detector to generate a signal depending on the thickness of the plate element and the number of plate elements present at the first end of the lever detector. Thus, the lateral positioning device further comprises a system for detecting the presence of two superimposed plate elements by measuring the distance between a detector wheel, mounted, optionally freewheeling, on the first end of a detector lever and the upper face of the receiving support of the plate element.

 This solution has the advantage over the prior art of allowing the detection of the presence of a double sheet during an operation performed simultaneously with that of the lateral positioning, and not during a separate control operation, dedicated to this single check. Also, the use of a rocker-shaped detector lever, having a support roller at the end of one of its arms, and a detection element at the end of the other arm, makes it possible to amplify the displacements of the support roller (detecting the upper face of the plate element), which makes it possible to use a less sensitive sensor at the other end of the lever. In addition, this solution to deport the measurement at the other end of the lever, so possibly outside the margin table area covered with the plate member, which can be advantageous in terms of design and maintenance.

 According to a preferred arrangement, the lateral positioning device further comprises a main lever carrying at its first end a support roller and arranged so that at the end of the downward stroke of its first end, the first end of the lever principal is

 is lowered, in a first configuration, to apply the support roller against the upper face of the plate member, so as to press the plate member against a tablet of the margin table,

 is raised, according to a second configuration, to avoid crushing the plate element. Thus, there is a lateral positioning device completely adaptable to different types of plate elements, such as plate elements for example corrugated sheet type.

In another possible arrangement, the lateral positioning device further comprises a feed wheel for pressing the plate member against the lateral margin stop. Advantageously, such a feed wheel has a rotational movement alternately in one direction and then in the other direction, for the individual clockwise drive of each plate member on the shelf in the direction of the lateral margin stop. In this case, preferably, the main lever carries the support roller which is adapted to approach the feed wheel, during a downward movement of the first end of the main lever, when the lateral edge of the plate element is close to or against the lateral margin stop. According to a preferred arrangement, the second end of the detector lever is equipped with a metal target which cooperates with a detection head of the position detector, equipped with an inductive proximity sensor. In this way, the proximity sensor realizes, without contact, the measurement of the distance between the metal target and the detection head, which makes it possible to deduce from this, when the detector roller bears on the upper face of an element plate, the thickness of the latter.

 Advantageously, the detector lever is coupled to the main lever. The coupling of the movement of the detector lever to the movement of the main lever makes it possible, by a single command, to lower the support roller in the direction of the plate element which is subjected to its lateral positioning (with or without contact between the support roller and the plate member) and lowering the sensor roller to contact with the same plate member for measuring its thickness.

 According to another preferred arrangement, the device further comprises a braking system for slowing the downward movement of the first end of the detector lever during the downward movement of the first end of the main lever. In this way, it prevents the sensor roller from striking the plate element, which could damage its surface, and to avoid a rebound movement of the detector roller on the upper face of the plate element, which could disturb and distort the measurement of its thickness.

 According to a preferred arrangement, the brake is a passive brake with permanent magnets whose magnets cooperate with a braking portion of the detector lever having a variable surface depending on the position of the detector lever. Such an Foucault type brake is very easy to implement, requires no power source and as it operates without contact, it does not interfere with the movements of the various mechanisms and in particular the movements of the main lever and the detector lever.

 Preferably, the detector lever is rotatably mounted around a shaft on which is disposed a helical spring mounted preload so as to exert a force tending to drive down the first end of the detector lever. Such an arrangement ensures that in the low position of the first end of the detector lever, the sensor roller down well until it bears on the upper face of the plate element, and this to ensure a correct thickness measurement.

According to a preferred arrangement, in a first sniper mode configuration of the lateral positioning device object of the present invention, during the descent of the first end of the main lever, the support roller is able to come in abutment against the upper face of a plate element disposed on the receiving support, between the support roller and the feed wheel, so as to allow pinching of the plate element which is driven by the feeding wheel in the direction of and up to the lateral margin stop, whereby lateral positioning of the plate member against the lateral margin stop is achieved. This first configuration allows the lateral positioning device to position the plate element laterally correctly by pulling it towards the lateral margin stop, its engagement being ensured between the superimposed support roller and the feed wheel, which rotate. in opposite directions of one another around parallel axes of rotation.

 Furthermore, advantageously, the lateral positioning device further comprises:

 a pusher element disposed above the tablet, the pusher being able to pass from a rest position, in which a plate element disposed on the tablet remains below the pusher, at a working position in which an element in plate disposed on the tablet is at the same height as the pusher, and

- A drive system performing a movement back and forth in the lateral direction, which cooperates with the pusher only in its working position so that the pusher performs a back and forth between a retracted position and an advanced position, suitable pushing a plate member disposed on the shelf, to a predetermined lateral position by the advanced end position of the pusher. Thus, the plate member is positioned laterally according to the predetermined predetermined position which corresponds to the end position of the pusher. The plate element disposed on the shelf is for example previously brought near the lateral positioning device by the feed wheel. The pusher drive system is for example a cam system.

According to a preferred arrangement, in a second pusher mode configuration of the lateral positioning device object of the present invention, at the end of the downward stroke of the first end of the main lever, the support roller remains above the feeding wheel and at a distance from the feed wheel preventing its support against the upper face of a plate member disposed between the support roller and the feed wheel. Thus, in this second configuration, the support roller is in a raised position preventing its support against the upper face of a plate element disposed on the receiving support. This second configuration of the device, which is implemented as an alternative to the first aforementioned configuration, allows the lateral positioning device to position laterally correctly the plate member by pushing it with the pusher by one of its side, and thus to advance this plate member to the desired position.

 There are situations in which the type of plate elements to be processed by the plate processing machine must be changed. Thanks to the coexistence of the first and second configuration, the lateral positioning device according to the present invention is adaptable to any type of plate element, including any type of cardboard, such as cardboard and corrugated cardboard. This avoids having to dismantle from the margin table a lateral positioning device of a first type, in particular of the shooter type, and which would therefore only be suitable for compact plate elements, to mount a device in its place. lateral positioning of a second type, in particular pusher type, and which would therefore be suitable for relatively thick plate elements. Instead, the first configuration will be used for sufficiently compact cartons so that their lateral pinch positioning between the support roller and the feed wheel does not produce a visible mark on the surface of the carton. This first configuration is thus usable for cardboard plates of any thickness and in particular for cartons of small thickness, for example of thickness between 0.1 mm and 3 mm. The second configuration is preferably reserved for less compact plate-like elements which would be surface-marked by pinching. In particular, the second configuration is used for volume plate elements or plate elements containing corrugated cardboard. In practice, this second configuration can for example be used for plate elements having a thickness greater than or equal to 2 mm.

 In the first configuration of the lateral positioning device, the pusher is in the rest position and serves as a stop for the shooter. In this way, the pusher does not act by advancing and does not push the plate member that arrives in this case to its desired lateral position, being first sandwiched and pinched between the feed wheel and the support roller, then driven by the rotational movement of the feed wheel which rotates while the plate member is still slightly pinched between the feed wheel and the support roller, the lateral displacement of the plate member stopping when it comes against the lateral margin stop which blocks any possibility of lateral displacement.

In the second configuration, the pusher is in the working position. In this way, the pusher can push the plate element from its initial position to its final position corresponding to the desired lateral position, when the pusher advances from its retracted position to its advanced position.

 It will be understood that for its lateral positioning sought by means of the lateral positioning device according to the invention, the direction of movement of the plate element is different and reversed between the first configuration and the second configuration.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the lateral margin stop and the pusher belong to the same part. Also, a plate element disposed on the shelf is at the same height as the pusher in its rest position, so that, in the first configuration of the device, the plate element is able to be driven by the wheel of brought in the direction of and to the pusher, by which one realizes its lateral positioning. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to correctly position a plate element laterally either by pulling it to the workpiece or by pushing it to the desired position by means of the workpiece which forms both the lateral margin stop and the pusher. .

 The invention also relates to an introduction station comprising the lateral positioning device having one or more technical characteristics described and claimed, on one of the two sides of the conductive side and the opposite side of the conductor. Advantageously, such an insertion station further comprises a complementary lateral positioning device disposed on the other of the conductive side and the opposite side of the conductor.

 The invention also relates to a plate element processing machine comprising a device having one or more technical characteristics described and claimed, mounted in an introduction station, upstream of a treatment station.

Description of the drawings

 The invention will be better understood and its various advantages and different characteristics will emerge more clearly from the following description, of the nonlimiting exemplary embodiment, with reference to the appended figures, in which:

 Figure 1 illustrates in side view partially in section a lateral positioning device according to the invention in the first configuration, with the first end of the main lever lowered;

Figure 2 is a side view of the lateral positioning device of Figure 1 in the first configuration, with the first end of the main lever raised; Figure 3 illustrates in side view partially in section the lateral positioning device of Figure 1 in the second configuration, with the first end of the main lever lowered;

 Figure 4 is a side view of the lateral positioning device in the second configuration, with the first end of the main lever raised;

 Figure 5 is a partial view from above of a margin table of the lateral positioning device of Figures 1-4;

 Figure 6 is a sectional view in the VI - VI direction of the lateral positioning device of Figure 5;

 Figure 7 is a sectional view along the direction VII - VII of the lateral positioning device of Figure 5; and

 Figure 8 is a sectional view along the direction VIII - VIII of Figure 6. Detailed discussion of preferred embodiments

 In the present text, the term "lateral" designates a direction perpendicular to the advancing direction of the plate elements, such as sheets, in a processing machine, and in particular in an insertion station 10 partially visible on the Fig. 5. In FIG. 5, the arrow P designates the advancing direction of the sheets to be treated, from upstream to downstream, the arrow L1 denotes the left lateral side or CC for "driver's side" and the arrow L2 indicates the right lateral side or COC for "opposite side to the driver".

 The lateral positioning device 100 visible in FIG. 5 is located in this example of the driver's side and is intended to ensure the correct lateral positioning of a plate element such as a printed cardboard sheet, before its treatment, such as a platinum cut, while the correct positioning longitudinal (in the direction A) is provided by a not shown front positioning device.

The principle of operation of the lateral positioning device 100 is exposed in relation with FIGS. 1 to 4 on which the lateral positioning device 100 is seen from upstream. A feed wheel 102 which rotates clockwise alternately in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction forms the drive means for introducing a plate member 20: In Figs. 1 and 2, the lateral positioning device 100 is in a first configuration adapted to effect the lateral jogging of a plate member 20, which may be of very variable thickness, and in particular between 0.2 mm and 4 mm. Classically, it is a flat cardboard printed with a multitude of subassemblies that will be precut in the unit next, to form cardboard blanks which after assembly will constitute packaging.

 In FIG. 1, the plate member 20 rests on a front cleat table 1 01 having a window at the location of the feed wheel 102 to allow the periphery of the latter to come into contact with the underside of the sheet to drive it on the lateral side L1 with the aid of the feed wheel 1 02. The sheet is pulled from the lateral side L2 using the COC cleat. A main lever 1 rotatably mounted around the direction P on its pivot 1 1 1 of horizontal axis, has at its first end 1 1 2 (right in Figs 1 to 4 and 6) a support roller 1 14, here represented in the form of a rolling bearing, placed above the receiving support. Here, the main lever 1 1 0 is articulated around a horizontal axis. The arrangement makes it possible, when tilting the main lever 1 1 0 in the direction of descent of the first end 1 1 2, to the support roller 1 14 to be placed directly above the supply wheel 102. (see Figs 1 and 3) with the two axes of rotation of the support roller 1 14 and the feed wheel 1 02 parallel to each other. More specifically, in the lower position of the first end 1 1 2, the axis of rotation of the support roller 1 14 is in line with the axis of rotation of the feed wheel 1 02 as can be seen in FIG. 1, while the raised position of the first end 12 is visible in FIG. 2.

 In FIG. 1, in the low position of the first end 1 12, there is a slight back pressure exerted by the support roller 1 14 downwards, so as to slightly pinch the sheet 20 between the feed wheel 1 02 and the support roller 1 14 and ensure by this intake, its transfer in the direction of the rotational movement of the feed wheel 102, which is then the counterclockwise direction, until the abutment of its side edge against the face of the lateral margin stop 121 turned towards the feed wheel 102: in this position, the sheet 20 is disposed laterally in the desired position. A preliminary adjustment of the low position of the first end 1 1 2 is made according to the thickness of the sheet 20. The main lever 1 10 is driven by an electric motor and cams for its tilting with up-down cycle according to the cycle machine for each packaging element 20.

 Thus, in this first configuration, the lateral positioning device

100 operates in shooter mode, since the wedging in the desired lateral position of the sheet is achieved by pulling this packing element 20, pinching and advancing between the support roller 1 14 and the feed wheel 1 02, up to when this packing element 20 comes into abutment against the lateral margin stop 1 21.

In parallel with the clocked movement of the main lever 1 10, there is a movement clocked on the same rhythm of a secondary lever, coupled with the lever main 1 10, called the detector lever 130. This detector lever 1 30 is parallel to the main lever, being located next to and upstream of the main lever 1 1 0, relative to the direction of advance P of the plate elements 20. The detector lever 130 switches around the direction P on its pivot 1 31 of horizontal axis, and has at its first end 1 32 (on the right in Figs 1 to 4 and 6) a detector wheel 134 formed of a wheel crazy placed above the tablet 1 01.

 The arrangement makes it possible, during the tilting of the main lever 1 1 0 in the direction of the descent of the first end 1 1 2, to lower the first end 132 of the detector lever 1 30 to allow the sensor roller 134 to be placed exactly against the upper face of the sheet 20 as shown in FIG. 1. In this position, the second end 133 of the detector lever 130 is raised. A metal target 1 35 is disposed on this second end 133. This metal target 135 belongs to a proximity detector 140, which is for example an inductive sensor, and which is located under a detection head 141 which is calibrated to measure the distance d between its lower face 142 and the metal target 1 35. The value d measured when the sensor roller 134 touches the sheet 20 can be deduced very precisely the thickness e of this packaging element.

 The mechanical coupling between the main lever 1 10 and the detector lever 1 30 is provided during the raising of the main lever 1 10 by a pin 1 16, disposed on the side of the first end 1 12 of the main lever 1 10, protruding towards the upstream. This pin 1 1 6 extends over a sufficient length in order to cooperate with the first end 1 32 of the detector lever 1 30 by pressing under a stud 136 present on this first end 132 of the detector lever 130, so that during the mounted the first end 1 12 of the main lever 1 1 0, the pin 1 1 6 pushes the pad 1 36 upwards and up by driving in its stroke the first end 1 32 of the detector lever 1 30.

 When the main lever 1 1 0 goes down, the descent of the pin 1 1 6 breaks this support of the stud 1 36 by the pin 1 16, leaving the first end 132 of the detector lever 130 to go down at least as low as the position of the pin 1 16. The arrangement of the levers 1 10 and 130 is such that when the first end 1 1 2 of the main lever 1 1 0 is in its lowest position, the support roller 1 14 is in contact on the sheet 20, the pin 1 1 6 is lower than the pad 1 36 while the sensor roller 134 is in contact with the upper face of the sheet 20.

In order to constrain downwardly the first end 132 of the detector lever 130 when the stud 136 is not coupled to the pin 1 1 6, the shaft 131 around which pivots the detector lever 130 is surrounded by a helical spring 1 37 prestressed . This prestressing also makes it possible to generate a bearing force ensuring the contact of the detector roller 134 on the sheet 20 and therefore a measurement of correct thickness.

 A selection system, with the pin 1 1 6 and a support 1 1 7 for the pin 1 16, allows the sensor lever 1 30 to be raised regardless of the position of the main lever 1 10.

 To ensure contact between the detector roller 1 34 and the sheet 20 without marking its upper face, arrangements are made to slow the downward movement of the second end 132 of the detector lever 1 30. For this purpose, a system of braking 1 50 passive. In the embodiment shown, it is a permanent magnet brake or Foucault type brake operating as follows: the detection lever 1 30 comprises, between the second end 1 33 and the pivot 1 31, a braking portion 138 formed of a metal plate oriented vertically upwards. Furthermore, the device 100 comprises, next to the detection head 141, two permanent magnets in the form of a frame 152 parallel to one another and extending vertically which delimit an air gap in which the braking portion 138 engages. The surface of the braking portion 138 which is in the gap is variable and increases during the downward movement of the detector roller 1 34, which slows down this downward movement.

 A check of the value of the thickness e measured for each new packaging element 20 which occurs at the level of the lateral positioning device 1 00 makes it possible to stop the processing machine if necessary for an operator to check and remove the sheet 20 or set of sheets 20 non-compliant.

 In FIG. 3, the main lever 1 10 has been adjusted so that, in the low position of the first end 1 1 2, there is a slight back pressure exerted by the support roller 1 14 on the sheet 20 'which is more thick that the sheet 20 of Figs. 1 and 2.

 Furthermore, the lateral positioning device 100 operates in a second configuration shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In this case, it is desired to avoid pressurization of the support roller 1 14 on the sheet 20 ', for example because this packing element 20' is not very dense, its surface is easily marked with an impression under the pressure of a roller. This is particularly the case if this packing element 20 'contains one or more layers of corrugated cardboard. In the example shown, this packing element 20 'has a thickness e' greater than the thickness e of the sheet 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This thickness e 'corresponds to a distance between the metal target 135 and the detection head 141.

In this second configuration, the support roller 1 14 is raised relative to its position of the first configuration so as not to be able to touch the surface upper sheet 20 'when the first end 1 12 of the main lever 1 1 0 is lowered. To compensate for this rise of the support roller 1 14, and still allow the sensor roller 134 to go down to reach the upper surface of the sheet 20 ', the height position of the pin 1 16 has also been shifted by turning 180 Its support 1 1 7 about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the feed wheel 1 02.

 The lateral margin abutment acts as a pusher element 121 and is placed just above the tablet January 01 and the other side of the feed wheel 102 relative to the support roller 1 34. This element pusher 121 has a thrust surface against which the side edge of the sheet 20 'bears. It is the pusher 1 21 that performs a horizontal translational movement (from left to right in Figs 3 and 4) from a retracted position visible in Figs. 3 and 4, to an advanced position adjusted so that at the end of travel, the sheet 20 'is arranged laterally in the desired position.

 Thus, in this second configuration, the lateral positioning device

100 operates in pusher mode, since the stalling in the desired lateral position of the sheet 20 'is carried out by pushing this packing element 20', passing from the retracted position to the advanced position of the pusher 1 21, to the brought into the lateral position of this packing element 20 'corresponding to the end of stroke (advanced position) of the pusher 1 21.

 In this second configuration, the control of the thickness of the sheet present on the margin table is unchanged from what has previously been described in connection with the first configuration. In order to understand how the transition from the first configuration (shooter mode) to the second configuration (push mode) takes place and vice versa, reference is made to Figs. 5-8.

 As it appears in FIG. 7, the pusher 121 is locked in the forward position and serves as a stop to the shooter. An adjusting screw 150 allows by its rotation to raise or lower a setting support 152 having a beveled lower edge which cooperates with a beveled upper edge of the block forming both the pusher and the lateral margin stop 1 21. Thus, the descent of the adjustment support 1 52 advances in horizontal translation the pusher 121, to the right in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The pusher 121 is integral with the slider 155, itself integral with the cam follower 1 56 (see Fig. 6). The position of Figs. 6 and 7 corresponds to the aforementioned second configuration of the lateral positioning device: in this case, the cam follower 156 is housed in a receiving space of the cam 1 60, which is animated by a permanent cyclic movement, in a position allowing a go movement and comes from the right and left of the slider 1 55. It is this coming movement that allows the pusher 121 to perform the pushing positioning of the sheet 20 '. To go into the first configuration, the adjustment support 152 is lowered by means of the adjusting screw 150, whereby the pusher 1 21 advances towards the right in a position which remains in the receiving space of the cam 1 60, but this time the pusher 1 21 is no longer able to follow the movement of the cam 160 which rotates in vacuum in the direction since the cam 1 60 no longer drives the pusher 121.

 The introduction station 1 0 which has the lateral positioning device 100 which has just been described preferably comprises a complementary lateral positioning device situated on the other side, at the same axial position as the lateral positioning device 1 00. Thus, if the lateral positioning device 100 is on the driver's side, the complementary lateral positioning device is on the opposite side to the conductor. In a first variant, the complementary lateral positioning device is identical to the lateral positioning device 1 00, except the adaptation to the opposite side to the conductor by modifying the structure of the lateral positioning device 100 by a symmetry with respect to the median vertical plane of the tablet 101. In a second variant, the complementary lateral positioning device does not include the detector lever 130 and all the elements of the detection system for the presence of two superposed plate elements making it possible to control the thickness of the sheet 20 or 20 '.

 Advantageously, the complementary lateral positioning device comprises (elements identical to those of the lateral positioning device 1 00 are referenced with the same reference sign):

 a lateral margin stop 1 21 protruding upwards from the upper face of the tablet 101,

 a main lever 1 1 0 carrying at its first end a support roller 1 14 adapted to approach the feed wheel 1 02, during a downward movement of the first end of the main lever 1 1 0, when the lateral edge of the sheet 20, 20 'is close to or against the lateral margin stop 121.

 According to another preferred arrangement, such a complementary lateral positioning device further comprises:

- A feed wheel 1 02 plate elements having a rotational movement alternately in one direction and then in the other direction, for the cadence of each packaging element 20, 20 'in the direction of the margin stop lateral 121. Preferably, such a complementary lateral positioning device further comprises:

 the pusher 121 disposed above the tablet 101, the pusher 121 being able to pass from a rest position, to a working position in which a packing element 20, 20 'disposed on the tablet 101 is at the same height as the pusher 121, and

 - A drive system, in particular by cams, performing a movement back and forth in the lateral direction, which cooperates with the pusher 1 21 only in its working position so that the pusher 1 21 performs a race back and forth between a retracted position and an advanced position, able to push a packing element 20 and 20 'disposed on the margin table to a predetermined lateral position by the advanced position (end of stroke 1 21).

 When using the introducer station 10, several possibilities exist depending on the size and type of packaging element supported by the margin table. According to a second possibility, only the lateral positioning device 100 or only the complementary lateral positioning device is used, which is placed either in the first configuration or in the second configuration.

Claims

claims Lateral positioning device (100) of a plate element (20, 20 ') in a plate element processing machine, characterized in that it comprises a detector lever (130), articulated with respect to a horizontal axis, and adapted to perform a downward movement from a high position to a low position, a first end (132) of the detector lever (130) being arranged to come into a low position in contact with an upper face of the plate member (20, 20 '), and a second end (133) of the detector lever (130) being provided with a target (135) cooperating with a position detector (140) for generating a signal dependent on the thickness of the plate member (20, 20 ' and the number of plate elements (20, 20 ') present at the first end (132) of the detector lever (130). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a braking system, for slowing the downward movement of the detector lever (130). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the braking system is an eddy brake. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor lever (130) is rotatably mounted around a shaft, on which are arranged return means (137), able to exert a force generating the downward movement the detector lever (130). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second end (133) of the detector lever (130) is equipped with a metal target (135) which cooperates with a detection head (141) of the position detector ( 140), equipped with an inductive proximity sensor. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a main lever (1 10), carrying at its first end (1 12) a support roller (1 14) and arranged so that at the end of the race down from its first end (1 1 2), the first end (12) of the main lever has:  a first lowered configuration for applying the support roller against the upper face of the plate member (20, 20 ') so as to laterally drive the plate member, and  a second raised configuration, to avoid crushing the plate element (20). 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the sensor lever (1 30) is mechanically coupled to the main lever (1 1 0). 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a selection system (1 16, 1 17), allowing the detector lever (130) to be raised regardless of the position of the main lever (1 10). 9. Device according to one of claims 6 to 8, further comprising a feed wheel (1 02), adapted to jog the plate member (20, 20 ') against a lateral margin stop (121). 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that in a first configuration, during the descent of the first end of the main lever (1 10), the support roller (1 14) is adapted to bear against the upper face of a plate member (20) disposed on a shelf (1 01), between the support roller (1 14) and the feed wheel (102), so as to allow the pinching of the element in a plate (20) which is driven by the feed wheel (1 02) in the direction of and up to the lateral margin stop (1 21), whereby the lateral positioning of the plate member is achieved (20) against the lateral margin stop (121). 1 1. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises: a pusher (121) disposed above a shelf (101), the pusher (1 21) being adapted to move from a rest position to a working position in which a plate member (20, 20 ' ) disposed on the shelf (1 01) is at the same height as the pusher (121), and a drive system reciprocating in a lateral direction, which cooperates with the pusher (121) only in its working position so that the pusher (121) reciprocates between a retracted position and an advanced position, able to push a plate member (20, 20 ') disposed on the shelf (1 01) to a predetermined lateral position by the advanced position. 12. Device according to claim s, characterized in that in a second configuration, at the end of the descent stroke of the first end of the main lever (1 10), the support roller (1 14) remains above of the feed wheel (1 02) and at a distance from the feed wheel (102) preventing its support against the upper face of a plate element (20, 20 ') arranged between the support roller ( 1 14) and the feed wheel (102). 13. Device according to claim 1 1 or 12, characterized in that in the first configuration, the pusher (1 21) is in the rest position. 14. Device according to one of claims 1 1 to 1 3, characterized in that in the second configuration, the pusher (121) is in the working position. 15. Plate processing machine comprising a device according to one of the preceding claims, mounted in an introduction station (1 0), upstream of a treatment station.