EP3426449A1 - Ejector member and machine for processing sheet-form elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an ejector member (2) for evacuating sheet waste on the fly from a machine for processing sheet-form elements (1), comprising a comb (4) having a plurality of teeth (10), characterized in that the comb (4) is configured to be able to take up a first, low-speed position and at least one second, high-speed position, the centre of the comb (4) being set back from the lateral ends of the comb (4) in the second, high-speed position, the centre of the comb (4) being set back further in the second, high-speed position than in the first, low-speed position. The invention also relates to a machine for processing sheet-form elements comprising such an ejector member.

Description

 EJECTOR MEMBER AND MACHINE FOR PROCESSING SHEET-SHAPED ELEMENTS

The present invention relates to an ejector member for disposing of leaf waste on the fly in a sheet-like processing machine. The invention also relates to a sheet-like processing machine comprising such an ejector member.

 The separation of the poses consists, after shaping and ejection of waste, to break the points of attachment between the poses of a sheet and to receive the poses in the reception area. The remaining part of the sheet, also called waste, remains pinched in the clips of the gripper bar of the sheet conveyor to be driven to the waste disposal station.

 The clamp bar is driven in the usual way by two loop chains respectively disposed on both sides of the cutting press and to which are fixed the two ends of the clamp bars. A static ejector comb-shaped extending transversely to the direction of movement of the waste transported by the clamp bar, is arranged in the waste disposal station.

 The trajectory of the gripper bar is synchronized with its opening in the waste disposal station so that when climbing the loop of the chain trains, the bar clamps open by crossing the ejector . The sheet driven by the clip bar is released before striking the comb with the teeth that pass between the clips of the clip bar so that it tilts on the conveyor belt.

 The ejection is called "on the fly" because it uses directly the trajectory in turn of the clamp bar in the waste station to tilt the cut sheet on the conveyor belt. Ejecting on the fly saves a bar of pliers. Indeed without the ejection on the fly, to remove the cut sheet of the clamp bar, the machine should include an additional waste disposal station in which the clamp bar would stop to deposit the waste sheet. The chain trains should then be extended by an additional bar of tongs, which is expensive and cumbersome.

 This on-the-fly disposal method works provided that once the clip bar is open, the comb-to-tongs crossing allows the comb to come in contact with the waste sheet and allows for the passage of the tongs. between the teeth of the comb without contact with the latter.

However, when the clamp bar realizes its U-turn, it is subjected to a centrifugal force whose intensity increases with the increase of the machine rate. At high rate, such as at 10,000 sheets / hour and beyond, the clamp bar deforms under the effect of this centrifugal force. The crossing conditions between the gripper bar and the static ejector can then no longer be guaranteed and the waste disposal function can then no longer be properly ensured.

 One of the aims of the present invention is therefore to propose an improved ejector member, making it possible to guarantee the on-the-fly ejection of the waste at both low and high speed.

 To this end, the subject of the present invention is an ejector member for discharging leaf waste on the fly in a sheet-like processing machine comprising a comb comprising a plurality of teeth, characterized in that the comb is configured to be able to take a first low-rate position and at least a second high-speed position, the center of the comb being set back from the lateral ends of the comb in the second high-speed position, the center of the comb being further set back in the second high rate position than in the first low rate position.

 The position of the comb in the second high-speed position when the clamp bar is deformed or in the first low-speed position when the clamp bar is straight, makes it possible to adapt the curvature of the comb according to the machine speed so that crossing between the bar clamps and the comb, the shape of the comb follows at best the curvature of the bar clamp moving. The clamps can then pass between the teeth of the comb that strikes the leaf waste both in the center of the clamp bar and on its ends without risk of collisions.

 According to one or more characteristics of the ejector member, taken alone or in combination,

 in the first low-speed position, the overall shape of the comb is straight; in the second high-speed position, the general shape of the hollow comb is formed by at least two straight portions connected by their ends, the angle between two portions; adjacent straight lines being less than 180 °,

 in the second high-speed position, the general shape of the comb is in a triangle,

 in the second high-speed position, the center of the comb is set back a distance of between 1 and 5 millimeters from the position of the center of the comb in the first low-speed position,

the comb comprises at least one deformable zone, the deformable zone is formed by a thinning and / or at least one orifice,

the comb comprises at least one articulation,

 the comb comprises at least two straight portions interconnected and movable relative to one another,

 the ejector member comprises two straight portions connected together in the middle of the comb,

 the at least two straight portions are connected to each other and to a base of the ejector member by at least three deformable zones of the comb,

 at rest, the comb is in the second high-speed position,

 the ejector member comprises an actuation mechanism configured to make the comb take the first low-speed position or a second high-speed position,

 the ejector member comprises two supports configured to be fixed to a respective chain-train guiding device of the processing machine, the supports cooperating with a respective lateral cheek carried by a base of the ejector member connected to the comb to fix the base to the supports with an inclination adjustable with respect to the supports.

 The invention also relates to a machine for processing sheet-shaped elements, characterized in that it comprises an ejector member as described above, arranged on a chain guiding device of a machine transport device. processing downstream of a station receiving the poses of the processing machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages and characteristics will appear on reading the description of the invention, as well as on the appended figures which represent a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the invention and in which:

 FIG. 1 very schematically illustrates an example of a machine for processing sheet-shaped elements.

 Figure 2 shows a side view of elements of an ejector member mounted on a transport device, for three different angular orientations of the ejector member.

Figure 3 shows the ejector member of Figure 2 in the second high rate position. Figure 4 shows the ejector member of Figure 2 in the first low rate position.

 Figure 5 shows an enlarged view of a deformable end zone of the comb.

 In these figures, the identical elements bear the same reference numbers. The following achievements are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference relates to the same embodiment, or that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments may also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

 The longitudinal, vertical and transverse directions indicated in the figures are denoted

1 and 3 by the trihedron (L, V, T). The transverse direction T is the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of movement of the sheets D. The horizontal plane corresponds to the plane (L, T).

 The terms upstream and downstream are defined with reference to the direction of movement of the plate elements, as illustrated by the arrow D in FIG. These elements move from upstream to downstream, generally following the longitudinal main axis of the machine, in a movement clocked by periodic stops.

The terms "flat elements" and "sheets" will be considered equivalent, and will include both corrugated and cardboard components, paper or any other material commonly used in the packaging industry. It is understood that throughout this text, the terms "sheet" or "sheet element" or "sheet-shaped element" refer very generally to any sheet-like printing medium such as, for example , sheets of cardboard, paper, plastic, etc. Fig. 1 shows an example of processing machine 1 for sheet processing. This processing machine 1 is conventionally composed of several workstations which are juxtaposed but interdependent one by one to form a unitary unit. There is thus an introduction station 100, a processing station 300 for cutting the sheets, such as comprising a platen press 301, a waste ejection station 400, a stationary separation station 500 where the transformed sheets are reconditioned in stack and a waste disposal station 600 where the cut sheet waste (generally in the form of a grid) is discharged on the fly. The transformation operation of each sheet takes place in the transformation station 300, for example between a fixed plate and a lower movable mounted plate of the press 301 for cutting the sheets in a matrix corresponding to the developed shape that the it is desired to obtain, for example to obtain a plurality of boxes of a given form. The movable platen rises and lowers successively once during each machine cycle.

 A transport device 70 is also provided for individually moving each sheet from the output of the introduction station 100 to the waste disposal station 600, through the processing station 300 per press.

 The transport device 70 comprises a plurality of transverse bars provided with clamps, commonly known as gripper bars 75, each of which, in turn, grip a sheet at its front edge, before successively pulling it into the different stations of the stations 300, 400, 500, 600 of the machine 1.

 The ends of the gripper bars 75 are each respectively connected to a side chain forming a loop, commonly called a chain train 80. Two chain trains 80 are thus arranged laterally on each side of the gripper bars 75.

 The transport device 70 also comprises at least one chain guide device 90 configured to guide a respective chain train 80.

 Through a movement transmitted to the chain trains 80 at the driving wheels 72, the set of clamp bars 75, from a stopped position, accelerate, reach a maximum speed decelerate, and then stop, thus describing a cycle corresponding to moving a sheet from a workstation to the next workstation. The chain trains 80 move and stop periodically so that during each movement, all the clamp bars 75 are moved from one station to the adjacent downstream work station. Each station performs its work in synchronism with this cycle, which is commonly called a machine cycle.

The number and nature of the treatment stations in a processing machine 1 may vary depending on the nature and complexity of the operations to be performed on the sheets. In the context of the invention, the concept of processing machine thus covers a very large number of embodiments because of the modular structure of these sets. Depending on the number, the nature and the arrangement of the workstations used, it is indeed possible to obtain a multitude of different processing machines. It is also important to point out that there are other types of workstations than those mentioned, such as embossing, push-ups, or such as tape loading stations. for a stamping machine or hot foil stamping machine where the plates of a press are made to deposit on each sheet some patterns from a film from one or several bands to stamp. Finally, it is understood that the same processing machine may very well be equipped with several stations of the same type.

 Elements of a transport device 70 in FIG. 1 are schematised. In this figure, the plurality of clamp bars 75, eight in the example, making it possible to move the sheets in the various stations of the stations 300, 400, 500, 600 of the machine 1, a chain train 80 and a device chain guide 90 arranged in the waste disposal station 600, downstream of the stack separation station 500. The driving wheels 72 driving the moving chain trains 80 are arranged on the opposite side, close to the station of introduction 100.

 Better visible in Figure 2, each chain guide device 90 comprises for example a pulley 91 or a chain wheel or a simple cylindrical guide, and for example an upper chain guide 92 arranged substantially horizontally in the machine 1, for guiding the chain train 80 at the outlet of the pulley 91 and a lower chain guide 93, having a curved shape for guiding the chain train 80 on a bend of the loop, towards the pulley 91. The chain guide devices 90 may be interconnected by a transverse shaft of the machine 1 or may be separately connected to a movable part on each side.

 The waste disposal station 600 comprises an ejector member 2 for discharging on the fly the waste of the cut sheet whose front edge is in engagement with the gripper bar 75.

 The ejector member 2 comprises a base 3, a comb 4 connected to the base 3 and two lateral supports 5 configured to be fixed to a respective chain guide device 90, for example to a protective cover of the lower chain guide 93. (not shown)

 The base 3 has for example a hollow parallelepipedal general shape, for example made of sheet metal. The base 3 carries for example lateral cheeks, extending vertically, cooperating with the supports 5.

The comb 4 has a plurality of teeth 10, ten in the example (Figures 3 and 4). The teeth 10 have substantially identical dimensions and are regularly spaced apart to allow the grippers of the gripper bars 75 to pass into the interposed spaces between the teeth 10. The number and position of the teeth 10 may vary depending on the type of gripper bar used. The comb 4 is for example formed of two distinct materials, for example superimposed in a plate, as can be seen in FIG. 5. The teeth 10 comprise, for example, a plastic material 4 a in the lower part, making it possible to limit the noise of the impact and a metallic material 4b in the upper part, allowing good mechanical rigidity.

 The supports 5 are configured to cooperate with a respective lateral cheek carried by the base 3 to fix the base 3 with a flexible inclination relative to the supports 5 (Figure 2). The inclination of the comb 4 can thus be oriented according to the thickness of the waste sheet, which makes it possible to ensure that the clamps of the gripper bar 75 are sufficiently open when they cross the teeth 10 of the comb 4.

 According to an exemplary embodiment, the ejector member 2 is configured to be able to tilt according to a predefined number of distinct orientations allowing the passage of different thicknesses of cardboard. FIG. 2 thus illustrates an example for three angular positions that can take an ejector member 2 as a function of the thickness of the sheet waste.

 The comb 4 is further configured to take a first low rate position (Figure 4) and at least a second high rate position (Figure 3).

 In the first low cadence position, the comb 4 extends for example linearly in the transverse direction T perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of displacement of the sheet-shaped elements D. The comb 4 in the first low-cadence position thus has for example a general shape straight, or substantially straight, complementary to that of the gripper bar 75 for a machine 1 operating at low speed, for example for a machine rate less than a predetermined rate threshold, such as of the order of 10,000 sheets / hour (f / h).

 In the second high-speed position, the shape of the comb 4 is withdrawn in recess, the center of the comb 4 being set back with respect to its lateral ends in the longitudinal direction of displacement of the sheet-shaped elements D. In this second high position cadence, the center of the comb 4 is more set back than in the first position low cadence.

The center of the comb 4 is set back by a distance d for example of between 1 and 5 millimeters, such as of the order of 3 mm, with respect to the first low-speed position. The curvature of the comb 4 in the withdrawn position has a shape approaching the curvature of the gripper bar 75 in motion for a machine 1 operating at a high speed, that is to say for a machine speed greater than the cadence threshold predetermined. The position of the comb 4 in the second high-speed position when the clamp bar 75 is deformed or in the first low-speed position when the clamp bar 75 is straight, makes it possible to adapt the curvature of the comb 4 as a function of the machine speed. so that at the intersection between the gripper bar 75 and the comb 4, the shape of the comb 4 best follows the curvature of the gripper bar 75 in motion. The clamps can then pass between the teeth 10 of the comb 4 which strikes the sheet waste both in the center of the clamp bar 75 and on its ends without risk of collisions.

 The comb 4 can be configured to take a first low rate position and a single second high rate position. It may also be envisaged that the comb 4 may take several second high-speed positions with a more or less accentuated hollow depending on the machine rate to better follow the shape of the gripper bar 75, itself a function of the machine speed.

 In the second high-speed position, the general shape of the recessed comb 4 may be formed by at least two straight portions 9a, 9b connected by their ends, the angle between two straight portions 9a, 9b adjacent being less than 180 °.

 The general shape of the recessed comb 4 can thus be formed by two straight portions 9a, 9b placed end to end, the general shape of the comb 4 forming part of a triangle as can be seen in FIG. 3. The triangle in which the general shape of the comb 4 is thus formed by the two straight portions 9a, 9b interconnected to the lateral ends of the comb 4 by a transverse line. This form is particularly simple to achieve.

 The comb 4 comprises for example at least two straight portions 9a, 9b, rigid, and movable relative to each other. The straight portions 9a, 9b are connected to each other and to the base 3 by at least three connections made for example by articulations or deformable areas of the comb 4 or by at least one joint and at least one deformable zone.

 The comb 4 comprises for example at least one deformable zone 12a, 12b for connecting the straight portions 9a, 9b to each other and / or to the base 3. A deformable zone 12a, 12b can be made by a zone of weakness formed by a Thinning and / or at least one orifice 15. Other embodiments may be envisaged for the deformable zones, such as the insertion of flexible materials.

 The comb 4 may comprise at least one joint for connecting the straight portions 9a,

9b to each other and / or to the base 3, such as a rod-type joint, pivot connection, hinge, slide rail or other (not shown). According to an exemplary embodiment, the comb 4 comprises at least two straight portions 9a, 9b connected together and to the base 3 by at least three deformable zones 12a, 12b. Two straight portions 9a, 9b are for example interconnected in the middle of the comb 4. Each straight portion 9a, 9b thus has the same number of teeth 10.

 The deformable zones 12b connecting the base 3 to the lateral ends of the comb 4 may be formed of a respective perforated wall (FIG. 5). These deformable zones 12b also take up the efforts generated by the impact of the waste sheet.

 The deformable zone 12a located centrally between the straight portions 9a, 9b is for example formed of a perforated wall having a small thickness, of the order of a few millimeters.

 Because of the very small angular deformation of the walls of the deformable zones 12a, 12b of the comb 4, of the order of 0.5 degrees, a comb 4 having a deformable structure formed by zones of weakness is advantageous because it is very simple to realize, is inexpensive, has a reduced number of parts and is wear-free pivot point and no play.

 It can also be envisaged that the comb 4 has a larger number of deformable zones or articulations, arranged so that in the second high-speed position, the comb 4 has a more curved, concave shape, best matching the deformed shape of the clip bar 75.

 The general shape of the comb 4 in the second high-speed position may thus for example comprise more than two straight portions 9a, 9b connected by their ends, such as three straight portions forming a generally trapezoidal shape. The trapezium in which fits the general shape of the comb 4 is thus formed by three straight portions placed end to end and connected to the lateral ends of the comb 4 by a transverse line.

 The comb 4 is for example configured to take a second high-speed position at rest. It is then necessary to exert a force on the comb 4 to make him take the first position low cadence. The second default high-speed position ensures that leaf waste can be ejected at high speed even in the event of a problem, such as a power failure or other.

The ejector member 2 comprises for example at least one actuating mechanism configured to make the comb 4 take the first low-rate position or the second high-speed position, by deforming the comb 4 or by moving at least one straight portion 9a, 9b comb. The actuating mechanism is for example configured to push longitudinally a deformable zone 12a of the central comb 4 to straighten it in the first low rate position. This also makes it possible to take up the vertical forces and to guarantee the lateral positioning of the comb 4.

 According to an exemplary embodiment, the actuating mechanism comprises at least one actuator 13, such as a pneumatic cylinder. The movable end of the actuator 13 is fixed to the central deformable zone 12a for example by screws arranged between two weak areas. The pneumatic supply of the jack longitudinally pushes the wall of the deformable zone 12a to straighten the comb 4 in the first low-rate position.

 The actuator 13 is on board, it is for example received and fixed in the base 3.

 In the case where the comb 4 has more than two straight portions 9a, 9b, the ejector member 2 may comprise several actuators 13. Alternatively, the actuator 13 may be configured to deform several deformable zones 12a, 12b at a time or for move several straight portions 9a, 9b at a time.

 According to another example not shown, the actuating mechanism comprises a transmission device, manually operable by the operator such as a fork, rods and / or chains or belts, to deport the actuation in an accessible area by the operator, operable between the two low and high speed positions, for example by means of a lever or a steering wheel.

 In operation, the trajectory of the gripper bar 75 is synchronized with its opening in the waste disposal station 600 so that when the gripper bar 75 is raised in the turn of the loop of the chain trains 80, the tongs open by crossing the ejector member 2. The waste is driven by the clip bar 75 is released before striking the comb 4 with the teeth 10 which pass between the clamps of the clip bar 75 so that it toggles on the evacuation mat.

 The "on-the-fly" ejection uses the half-turn path of the clip bar 75 in the waste station 600 to tilt the cut sheet on the discharge mat, thereby making it saving a pincers bar. This method of disposing of waste on the fly can work at low speed as well as at high speed because it is possible to modify the curvature of the comb 4 according to the machine rate by making it take a first low-rate position or at least a second one. high speed position.

Claims

 1. Ejector member (2) for disposing of waste leaves on the fly in a sheet-like processing machine (1) comprising a comb (4) having a plurality of teeth (10), characterized in that the comb (4) is configured to take a first low-rate position and at least a second high-speed position, the center of the comb (4) being set back from the lateral ends of the comb (4) in the second high-speed position, the center of the comb (4) being further back in the second high-speed position than in the first low-speed position.  2. ejector member (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that in the first low speed position, the general shape of the comb (4) is straight.  3. ejector member (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the second high-speed position, the general shape of the comb (4) recessed is formed by at least two straight portions (9a, 9b) connected at their ends, the angle between two adjacent straight portions (9a, 9b) being less than 180 °.  4. ejector member (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the second high-speed position, the general shape of the comb (4) is in a triangle.  5. ejector member (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the second high-speed position, the center of the comb (4) is set back a distance (d) between 1 and 5 millimeters by relative to the center position of the comb (4) in the first low rate position.  6. ejector member (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the comb (4) comprises at least one deformable zone (12a, 12b).  7. ejector member (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the deformable zone (12a, 12b) is formed by a thinning and / or at least one orifice (15). 8. ejector member (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the comb (4) comprises at least one hinge.  9. ejector member (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the comb (4) comprises at least two straight portions (9a, 9b) interconnected and movable relative to each other. 10. ejector member (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises two straight portions (9a, 9b) interconnected in the middle of the comb (4). 1 1. Ejector member according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the at least two straight portions (9a, 9b) are connected to each other and to a base (3) of the ejector member (2) by at least three deformable areas (12a, 12b) of the comb (4). 12. ejector member (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at rest, the comb (4) is in a second high speed position.  13. ejector member (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an actuating mechanism (13) configured to make the comb (4) the first low-rate position or a second high-speed position .  14. ejector member (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two supports (5) configured to be attached to a respective chain gear guiding device (90) of the processing machine ( 1), the supports (5) cooperating with a respective lateral cheek carried by a base (3) of the ejector member (2) connected to the comb (4) for fixing the base (3) to the supports (5) with a adjustable inclination with respect to the supports (5). Sheet-shaped element processing machine (1), characterized in that it comprises an ejector member (2) according to one of the preceding claims, arranged on a device for guiding chains (90) of a device. transport (70) of the processing machine (1) downstream of a station for receiving the blanks (500) of the processing machine (1).