EP3931139B1 - Station for receiving sheet elements for a machine for manufacturing packaging, corresponding machine for manufacturing packaging, and method for receiving sheet elements for a machine for manufacturing packaging - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a station for receiving plate elements and discharging packs of plate elements for a packaging manufacturing machine. The invention also relates to a machine for manufacturing packaging from plate elements, comprising a station for receiving, stacking and discharging packs of plate elements. The invention also relates to a method for receiving plate elements for a packaging manufacturing machine.

A packaging manufacturing machine is commonly used to produce cardboard boxes or crates from sheet elements, for example in the form of corrugated cardboard sheets. The sheet elements are successively fed into the machine, advancing continuously from upstream to downstream in the longitudinal drive direction. They are automatically flexographically printed, cut and upturned, so as to form crate blanks. At the outlet of the machine, the sheet elements are received and stacked, and the resulting bundles are then evacuated. A receiving station is responsible for receiving sheet elements and making bundles of sheet elements.

State of the art

The document EP0666234 describes a stacking, separating and evacuating station for packs of plate elements. The station comprises a vertically movable lifting table, receiving falling plate elements to be stacked. The table gradually descends to the level of an output conveyor, recovering and evacuating a pack of plate elements after its formation. A separator moves vertically and horizontally. After the formation of a pack, the separator comes to overhang the lifting table and then comes to interpose itself to support the plate elements of the next pack. The lifting table then transfers the pack just formed, towards the output conveyor which evacuates the pack. The separator is then retracted and the lift table can then retrieve the plate elements from the next pack.

Such a station has disadvantages. First, the plate element at the bottom of the package is very often damaged when the separator is retracted. In addition, the separator has a certain inertia. Its movement during a cycle proves difficult to achieve at a speed compatible with the stacking rates required for the plate elements. Such a separator may also prove incompatible with certain methods of transverse alignment of the plate elements.

The document EP 0501213 describes a station for stacking, separating and discharging packs of plate elements. The station comprises means for feeding the plate elements, retractable supports forming a temporary stacking magazine, placed above a pack discharging device.

Such a station has disadvantages. In particular, the first sheet element arriving in the stacking magazine will come into contact with, and be damaged by, the retractable supports. In addition, due to the fixed height position of the retractable supports, the temporary stacking magazine will be saturated more quickly with sheet elements arriving at high speed, which limits the overall productivity of the printing or converting line.

Other documents included in the state of the art are: EP3378811 , JP4774350 , JP2006069034 And US5613673 .

The document EP3378811 discloses a sheet stacking arrangement configured to produce stacks having staggered sheet bundles. The arrangement includes a vertically movable stacking platform.

JP4774350 discloses a machine for producing corrugated cardboard boxes. The machine includes a lifting table adapted to receive a stack of sheet elements. When the stack is complete, a pusher device evacuates the stack from the lifting table.

JP2006069034 discloses a machine arranged to produce boxes. The machine comprises a stacking device comprising a lifting table vertically movable and a temporary receiving element configured to transiently receive the formed stack and lower it onto the lifting table.

The document US5613673 discloses a sheet stacking apparatus configured to produce a continuous stack and comprising a stack separating element. The separating element is horizontally movable and adapted to separate the sheet stream into separate stacks.

Disclosure of the invention

The invention aims to solve one or more of these drawbacks. A main objective of the present invention is to develop a station for receiving plate elements that makes it possible to prevent plate elements and packages from falling. A second objective is to produce a packaging manufacturing machine comprising a station for receiving plate elements and for discharging package of plate elements, installed at the downstream outlet of the machine. Yet another objective is to succeed in implementing a method for receiving plate elements for a packaging manufacturing machine.

• un agencement d'amenée des éléments en plaque successivement les uns à la suite des autres,
• une table élévatrice, mobile selon une direction verticale, comprenant plusieurs courroies de transport sans fin, s'étendant selon une direction horizontale longitudinale, pour recevoir les éléments en plaque sous forme de paquet,
• un transporteur de sortie, pour évacuer les éléments en plaque sous forme de paquet, et
• un séparateur, mobile selon la direction verticale, comprenant plusieurs bras de réception se déployant selon la direction horizontale longitudinale, pour recevoir de manière transitoire les éléments en plaque sous forme de paquet, les bras étant disposés de manière à pouvoir croiser selon la direction verticale sans interagir avec les courroies de transport sans fin de la table élévatrice.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a plate element receiving and plate element pack discharging station for a packaging manufacturing machine comprises:

• an arrangement for feeding the plate elements successively one after the other,
• a lifting table, movable in a vertical direction, comprising several endless conveyor belts, extending in a longitudinal horizontal direction, for receiving the plate elements in the form of a package,
• an output conveyor, to evacuate the plate elements in the form of a package, and
• a separator, movable in the vertical direction, comprising several receiving arms deploying in the longitudinal horizontal direction, to temporarily receive the plate elements in the form of a package, the arms being arranged so as to be able to cross in the vertical direction without interacting with the endless transport belts of the lifting table.

In other words, with the separator the package is received transiently and transferred without falling from the separator to the lifting table thanks to their vertical crossing. The transport belts of the lifting table are arranged alternately, so as to be able to cross with the arms of the separator. The arms of the separator constitute a grid for receiving the package being formed, and are able to pass between the transport belts of the lifting table. The package is thus transferred smoothly and without falling from the arms of the separator to the belts of the lifting table, thanks to their vertical crossing.

A sheet element is defined, by way of non-exhaustive example, as being made of a material such as paper, cardboard, corrugated cardboard, laminated corrugated cardboard, flexible plastic, or other materials.

According to a particular feature, the arms of the separator can be able to move in the longitudinal horizontal direction, from downstream to upstream, so as to be able to position them above the lifting table, and from upstream to downstream, so that they can be retracted outside the travel of the lifting table.

• un support, le support étant monté coulissant selon une direction verticale,
• au moins un bras, le ou les bras étant monté en étant aptes à se déplacer selon la direction horizontale longitudinale par rapport au support, le déplacement du ou des bras modifiant la longueur du ou des bras en porte à faux par rapport au support d'un premier côté selon la direction horizontale longitudinale, et
• un système d'entrainement pour déplacer le ou les bras selon la direction horizontale longitudinale, système d'entrainement étant configuré pour simultanément entraîner le bras en déplacement selon la direction horizontale longitudinale et maintenir escamoté un autre des bras dans sa position longitudinale.

According to a particular characteristic, the separator can preferably comprise:

• a support, the support being mounted to slide in a vertical direction,
• at least one arm, the arm(s) being mounted so as to be able to move in the longitudinal horizontal direction relative to the support, the movement of the arm(s) modifying the length of the arm(s) cantilevered relative to the support on a first side in the longitudinal horizontal direction, and
• a drive system for moving the arm(s) in the longitudinal horizontal direction, the drive system being configured to simultaneously drive the arm in movement in the longitudinal horizontal direction and keep another of the arms retracted in its longitudinal position.

According to a particular characteristic, the separator thus firstly comprises a vertically movable support. And, the receiving arms of the separator are driven by a longitudinal horizontal translation movement, separately from the movement of the support.

According to a particular feature, and in a favorable manner, the lifting table can be movable between a high position under the supply arrangement of the plate elements and a low position in a plane analogous to the plane of the discharge conveyor of the package. Since the lifting table is located in its maximum height position directly under the supply arrangement of the plate elements, the plate elements will arrive and descend directly on the lifting table.

According to a particular characteristic, the belts of the lifting table can advantageously be capable of driving the package from upstream to downstream on the output conveyor.

According to a particular characteristic, and preferably, the output conveyor may comprise at least one belt, which is capable of carrying the package from upstream from the lifting table towards downstream.

According to another aspect of the invention, a packaging manufacturing machine is characterized in that it comprises a station for receiving plate elements and discharging packs of plate elements, installed at the downstream outlet of the machine, and having one or more technical characteristics described and claimed below.

• déposer successivement des éléments en plaque sur une table élévatrice mobile verticalement, de façon à former un premier paquet d'éléments en plaque;
• faire descendre verticalement la table élévatrice avec les éléments en plaque déposés successivement pour terminer la formation du premier paquet d'éléments en plaque;
• faire entrer un séparateur mobile verticalement au-dessus de la table élévatrice, ledit séparateur comprenant plusieurs bras de réception se déployant selon la direction horizontale longitudinale;
• déposer successivement les éléments en plaque sur le séparateur, de façon à former un deuxième paquet d'éléments en plaque;
• évacuer horizontalement hors de la table élévatrice le premier paquet formé;
• faire descendre verticalement le séparateur avec les éléments en plaque déposés successivement pour terminer la formation du deuxième paquet d'éléments en plaque;
• faire remonter verticalement la table élévatrice;
• faire croiser la table élévatrice remontant verticalement à vide avec le séparateur descendant verticalement, les courroies de transport de la table élévatrice étant disposées en alternance, de manière à croiser avec les bras de réception du séparateur, et de façon à récupérer le deuxième paquet d'éléments en plaque à partir du séparateur vers la table élévatrice; et
• faire sortir le séparateur hors de la course de déplacement de la table élévatrice.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method of receiving plate elements for a packaging manufacturing machine is characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

• successively depositing plate elements on a vertically movable lifting table, so as to form a first pack of plate elements;
• vertically lower the lifting table with the successively deposited plate elements to complete the formation of the first pack of plate elements;
• introducing a movable separator vertically above the lifting table, said separator comprising several receiving arms deploying in the longitudinal horizontal direction;
• successively place the plate elements on the separator, so as to form a second pack of plate elements;
• horizontally discharge the first package formed from the lifting table;
• vertically lower the separator with the successively deposited plate elements to complete the formation of the second pack of plate elements;
• raise the lifting table vertically;
• cross the lifting table going up vertically when empty with the separator descending vertically, the conveyor belts of the lifting table being arranged alternately, so as to cross with the receiving arms of the separator, and so as to recover the second pack of plate elements from the separator towards the lifting table; and
• move the separator out of the travel path of the lifting table.

Thanks to the dynamic operation of the vertically movable table and the vertically movable separator, the package is thus transferred smoothly from the vertically movable separator which descends to the vertically movable table which rises.

According to a particular characteristic, the step of making the mobile separator enter vertically can preferably be done in the longitudinal horizontal direction from downstream to upstream towards the top of the circulation plane of the plate elements, then in the vertical direction from the top of the circulation plane, towards the bottom of the circulation plane.

According to a particular feature, the step of bringing out the vertically movable separator can be done favorably in the longitudinal horizontal direction from upstream to downstream.

Brief description of the drawings

• [Fig.1] représente une vue latérale de la station de réception d'éléments en plaques et d'évacuation de paquets montée en aval ;
• [Fig.2] représente une vue latérale détaillée de la station de la Figure 1 ;
• [Fig.3] représente une vue selon l'axe longitudinal de la table et du séparateur de la station ; et
• [Fig.4],
• [Fig.5],
• [Fig.6],
• [Fig.7],
• [Fig.8],
• [Fig.9],
• [Fig.10],
• [Fig.11],
• [Fig.12],
• [Fig.13],
• [Fig.14] et
• [Fig.15] représentent des vues successives illustrant le procédé de réception d'éléments en plaque.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description given below, for information purposes only and without limitation, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• [ Fig.1 ] represents a side view of the downstream plate element receiving and package evacuation station;
• [ Fig.2 ] represents a detailed side view of the station of the Figure 1 ;
• [ Fig.3 ] represents a view along the longitudinal axis of the table and the separator of the station; and
• [ Fig.4 ],
• [ Fig.5 ],
• [ Fig.6 ],
• [ Fig.7 ],
• [ Fig.8 ],
• [ Fig.9 ],
• [ Fig.10 ],
• [ Fig.11 ],
• [ Fig.12 ],
• [ Fig.13 ],
• [ Fig.14 ] And
• [ Fig.15 ] represent successive views illustrating the process of receiving plate elements.

The longitudinal direction is defined by referring to the direction of travel or drive of the plate elements in the packaging manufacturing machine, in the plate element receiving station, along their median longitudinal axis. The transverse direction is defined as the direction perpendicular in a horizontal plane to the direction of travel of the plate elements. The upstream and downstream directions are defined by referring to the direction of movement of the plate elements, following the longitudinal direction throughout the packaging manufacturing machine, from the machine inlet to the machine outlet and the plate element receiving station.

Detailed disclosure of preferred embodiments

As illustrated by the Fig. 1 , a packaging manufacturing machine, such as a flexographic printing machine 1 for corrugated cardboard sheets 2, comprises a station for receiving plate elements and discharging packs 23, 24 of plate elements 3. The entire flexographic printing part, including the various printing units 4, is partially shown in dashed lines. The receiving station 3 is mounted downstream of the last printing unit of the machine 1.

Station 3 comprises a frame 6 with vertical side posts 7. Station 3 comprises a sheet feed arrangement 8, mounted partly upper part of the frame 6. The arrangement 8 includes in particular a suction to create a vacuum 9. The arrangement 8 further comprises transport belts 11 and a grid provided with longitudinal bars, the upper face of the sheets 2 being in contact with the transport belts 11. The sheets 2 which are printed arrive one after the other from upstream to downstream in a circulation plane by being driven upstream of the station 3 by rollers and a vacuum suction (not visible), known under the name of ceiling, then they are released at the level of the arrangement 8.

The arrangement 8 comprises a leaf-breaking device 12 mounted on the grid to separate the leaves 2 from the conveyor belts 11 and cause them to fall (see Fig. 2 ). The leaf-cutting device 12 comprises, for example, a crank-type connecting rod mechanism 13 actuated sequentially depending on the arrival of the leaves 2.

Station 3 comprises an output conveyor 14 in the form of a conveyor belt or several conveyor belts 15, transporting the final package 23, 24 from upstream of station 3 to the output downstream.

Station 3 comprises a lifting table 16 movable in the vertical direction. Table 16 comprises several endless conveyor belts 17 extending in a longitudinal horizontal direction. Belts 17 are driven by a suitable motor and transport the final package 23, 24 from upstream to the output conveyor 14. Table 16 rises and falls while being driven by a motor and chains 19.

The station 3 comprises a separator 21, which comprises several receiving arms 22 deploying in the longitudinal horizontal direction. The arms 22 are movable longitudinally from upstream to downstream and vice versa. Some arms 22 can remain in the retracted position in the downstream position, this for example depending on the size of the sheets 2 constituting the bundle 23, 24. The separator 21 rises and falls in the vertical direction while being driven by a motor and toothed belts.

According to the invention, when the table 16 crosses the separator 21, the receiving arms 22 are inserted between the belts 17, without there being any interaction between the arms 22 and the belts 17 (see Fig. 3 ).

The method of receiving plate elements 2 and discharging bundles 23, 24 of plate elements 3 for the packaging manufacturing machine is illustrated in the Figs. 4 to 15 .

In a first step of the process ( Figs. 4 and 5 ), plate elements, in the form of sheets 2, arriving successively (Arrow F in Fig. 5 ) from the flexo printing part 4 of the flexo printing machine 1 are successively deposited on the vertically movable table 16, so as to form a first pack of sheets 23.

In a second step of the process ( Figs. 5 And 6 ), table 16 with the successively deposited sheets is lowered vertically (Arrow DT in Fig. 5 ), to complete the formation of the first packet of leaves 23.

In a third step of the process ( Figs. 5 And 6 ), the vertically movable separator 21 is entered (Arrow ES in Fig. 5 ), with several of its arms 22 being inserted above the table 16. In its starting waiting position (see Fig. 5 ), the separator 21 with its arms 22 is positioned above the leaf feed arrangement 8 and the leaf-removing device 12. In its functional arrival position (see Fig. 6 ), the separator 21 with its arms 22 is positioned above the first bundle of leaves 23 and below the leaf feed arrangement 8 and the leaf-removing device 12.

In a fourth step of the process ( Figs. 6 to 14 ), sheets 2 arriving successively (Arrow F in Figs. 6 and 7 ) from the flexo printing part 4 of the flexo printing machine 1 are successively deposited on the separator 21, and more precisely on its arms 22, so as to form a second pack of sheets 24.

In a fifth step of the process ( Figs. 6 to 12 ), the first packet formed 23 is evacuated horizontally (Arrows O in Figs. 6 to 12 ) out of the table 16. The endless conveyor belts 17 of the table 16 are driven from upstream to downstream. The conveyor belt or belts 15 of the output conveyor 14 are simultaneously driven from upstream to downstream.

In a sixth step of the process ( Figs. 7 to 9 ), the separator 21 with the successively deposited sheets is lowered vertically (Arrow DS in Figs. 7 to 9 ) to complete the formation of the second pack of leaves 24.

In a seventh step of the process ( Fig. 9 ), table 16 is raised vertically (UT arrow in Fig. 9 ). Table 16 is empty and no longer carries any packages.

In an eighth step of the process ( Fig. 10 ), the table 16 rising vertically empty (UT) is crossed with the separator 21 descending vertically (DS). This crossing movement of the endless transport belts 17 of the table 16 with the arms 22 of the separator 21 makes it possible to recover the second pack of sheets 24 from the separator 21 towards the table 16.

In a ninth step of the process ( Figs. 11 And 12 ), separator 21 is out (OS arrow in Fig. 11 ) out of the travel path of the table 16. The arms 22 of the separator 21 are moved horizontally from their crossed upstream position at the level of the table 16 ( Fig. 10 ) to a downstream position located substantially above the outlet conveyor 14 ( Fig. 12 ).

In another step of the process ( Fig. 13 ), the separator 21 is raised vertically (US arrow in Fig. 13 ) up to the horizontal level of the leaf feed arrangement 8 and the leaf-cutting device 12.

In a final step of the process ( Figs. 14 and 15 ), the separator 21 with its arms 22 is repositioned above the leaf feed arrangement 8 and the leaf-removing device 12. The arms 22 of the separator 21 are moved (Arrow IS in Fig. 14 ) horizontally from their upstream position located substantially above the outlet conveyor 14 ( Figs. 12 to 14 ) to an upstream waiting position located substantially above the leaf feed arrangement 8 and the leaf-cutting device 12 ( Fig. 15 ). The upstream waiting position ( Fig. 15 ) is substantially similar to the starting position ( Figs. 4 and 5 ).

The cycle can thus begin again.

Claims (10)

1. Station for receiving sheet elements and for discharging bundles of sheet elements (3) for a machine for manufacturing packaging, comprising:

   - an arrangement for feeding sheet elements successively one after another (8),

   - a lifting table (16), which is movable in a vertical direction, comprising a plurality of endless conveyor belts (17) extending in a longitudinal horizontal direction, for receiving the sheet elements in bundle form, and

   - an output conveyor (14) for discharging the sheet elements in bundle form, characterised in that it further comprises:

   - a separator (21), which is movable in the vertical direction, comprising a plurality of receiving arms (22) that open out in the longitudinal horizontal direction, for temporarily receiving the sheet elements in bundle form, the arms (22) being disposed so as to be able to cross in the vertical direction without interacting with the belts (17) of the lifting table (16).
2. Station according to claim 1, characterised in that the arms (22) of the separator (21) are able to move in the longitudinal horizontal direction, from downstream to upstream, so as to position them above the lifting table (16), and from upstream to downstream, so as to retract them out of the path of the lifting table (16).
3. Station according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the separator (21) comprises:

   - a support mounted so as to slide in a vertical direction,

   - at least one arm mounted so as to be able to move in the longitudinal horizontal direction with respect to the support, the movement of the arm modifying its overhanging length with respect to the support on a first side in the longitudinal horizontal direction, and

   - a drive system for moving the arm in the longitudinal horizontal direction, said system being configured to simultaneously drive the arm for movement in the longitudinal horizontal direction and keep another of the arms retracted in its longitudinal position.
4. Station according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lifting table (16) is movable between a high position under the feeding arrangement (8) and a low position in a plane similar to the plane of the output conveyor (14).
5. Station according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the belts (17) of the lifting table (16) are capable of driving the bundle from upstream to downstream on the output conveyor (14).
6. Station according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the output conveyor (14) comprises at least one belt capable of driving the bundle from upstream of the table (16) to downstream.
7. Packaging manufacturing machine, characterised in that it comprises a station for receiving sheet elements and discharging bundles of sheet elements (3) according to any of the preceding claims, said station being installed at the downstream outlet of the machine (1).
8. Method for receiving sheet elements for a packaging manufacturing machine (1), characterised in that it comprises the steps of:

   - successively depositing sheet elements on a vertically movable lifting table (16) comprising a plurality of endless conveyor belts (17) extending in a longitudinal horizontal direction, so as to form a first bundle of sheet elements (23);

   - lowering the lifting table (16) vertically with the sheet elements deposited successively to complete the formation of the first bundle of sheet elements (23);

   - bringing in a vertically movable separator (21) above the lifting table (16), said separator comprising a plurality of receiving arms (22) extending in the longitudinal horizontal direction;

   - successively depositing the sheet elements on the separator (21), so as to form a second bundle of sheet elements (24);

   - horizontally discharging the first formed bundle (23) from the lifting table (16);

   - lowering the separator (21) vertically with the sheet elements deposited successively to complete the formation of the second bundle of sheet elements (24);

   - vertically raising the lifting table (16);

   - crossing the vertically rising unloaded lifting table (16) with the vertically lowering separator (21), the conveyor belts (17) of the lifting table (16) being arranged alternately, so as to cross with the receiving arms (22) of the separator and recover the second bundle of sheet elements (24) from the separator (21) to the lifting table (16);

   - taking the separator (21) out of the travel path of the lifting table (16).
9. Method according to claim 8, characterised in that the step consisting of bringing in the separator (21) is carried out in the longitudinal horizontal direction from downstream to upstream above the plane of circulation of the sheet elements, and then in the vertical direction from above the plane of circulation to below the plane of circulation.
10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the step consisting of taking out the separator (21) is carried out in the longitudinal horizontal direction from upstream to downstream.

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