Device and method for changing a sheet pile in a sheet feeder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11858766-B2
Application number	US-202017424470-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2020
Priority date	Feb 11, 2019
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

A device ( 12 ) for changing a sheet pile in a sheet feeder ( 10 ) for a sheet treating machine is described. The device ( 12 ) comprises a main pile supporting unit ( 18 ) having a supporting surface ( 22 ) adapted to support a pallet ( 16 ) carrying a sheet pile. Furthermore, the device ( 12 ) comprises a residual pile supporting unit ( 24 ) with a plurality of residual pile bars ( 28 ), which can be moved into a sheet pile region ( 30 ) when the sheet pile is to be changed. The residual pile bars ( 28 ) are then carrying the sheet pile. When in the sheet pile region ( 30 ), each of the residual pile bars ( 28 ) is movable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the supporting surface ( 22 ), wherein the residual pile bars ( 28 ) are movable independently from each other. Furthermore, a method for changing the sheet pile in a sheet feeder ( 10 ) for a sheet treating machine is explained.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for changing a sheet pile in a sheet feeder for a sheet treating machine, the device comprising:
a main pile supporting unit comprising a supporting surface adapted to support a pallet carrying a sheet pile; and
a residual pile supporting unit
comprising a plurality of residual pile bars extending substantially parallel to each other and being substantially parallel to the supporting surface,
the plurality of residual pile bars are coupled to a bar actuating unit adapted to move the plurality of residual pile bars into a sheet pile region and retract the plurality of residual pile bars from the sheet pile region,
the plurality of residual pile bars are arranged in the residual pile supporting unit-such that the plurality of residual pile bars are positionable in respective slots of the pallet being supported on the main pile supporting unit when the plurality of residual pile bars are in the sheet pile region,
each of the plurality of residual pile bars are movable within a predefined range of movement in a direction substantially orthogonal to the supporting surface, and the plurality of residual pile bars are movable independently from each other.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of residual pile bars has a lowest position and a highest position, and the device further includes a locking unit adapted to lock all of the plurality of residual pile bars in respective lowest positions.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the locking unit comprises a locking profile movable into a locking position and an unlocking position,
the bar actuating unit comprises a first supporting bar extending in a substantially orthogonal direction with respect to the plurality of residual pile bars and being substantially parallel to the supporting surface,
respective first end sections of each of the plurality of residual pile bars are coupled to the first supporting bar, and
the locking profile is slidably supported on the first supporting bar and extends substantially parallel to the first supporting bar.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the bar actuating unit comprises a first supporting bar extending in a substantially orthogonal direction with respect to the plurality of residual pile bars and being substantially parallel to the supporting surface, and
respective first end sections of each of the plurality of residual pile bars are coupled to the first supporting bar.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of residual pile bars comprises a guide rod being connected to a respective first end section,
each guide rod of the plurality of residual pile bars is guided inside a corresponding guide opening,
each guide opening is arranged on the first supporting bar, and
each guide rod and each guide opening extend substantially orthogonal to the supporting surface.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein each guide rod is tilted with respect to a respective guide opening, when a corresponding residual pile bar of the plurality of residual pile bars is in a highest position and in the sheet pile region, such that each guide rod is canted inside the respective guide opening.

7. The device of claim 6 , further including an unlocking means being adapted to bring one or more of guide rod into a non-tilted position with respect to the respective guide opening or guide openings.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the bar actuating unit comprises a plurality of residual pile bar actuating units, and
each of the plurality of residual pile bars are coupled to one single residual pile bar actuating unit such that the plurality of residual pile bars are adapted to being moved into a sheet pile region independently from each other and/or being retracted from the sheet pile region independently from each other.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of residual pile bar actuating units comprises a slider carriage, and
each of the plurality of residual pile bars are coupled to a corresponding slider carriage.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein each slider carriage is coupled to a residual pile bar via a cam mechanism.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of residual pile bars has a lowest position and a highest position, and the device further includes a locking unit adapted to lock all of the plurality of residual pile bars in respective lowest positions, the locking unit includes a locking recess as a part of each cam mechanism.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein end sections of the plurality of residual pile bars facing away from the bar actuating unit are supported on a supporting bar, when the plurality of residual pile bars are in the sheet pile region.

13. A method for changing a sheet pile in a sheet feeder for a sheet treating machine, the method comprising:
detecting a limit height of a sheet pile being processed in the sheet feeder, wherein the sheet pile is supported on a pallet being arranged on a main pile supporting unit,
supporting the sheet pile by a residual pile supporting unit by pushing a plurality of residual pile bars into respective slots of the pallet,
withdrawing the pallet on the main pile supporting unit from the sheet pile and placing a replacement pallet carrying a replacement sheet pile on the main pile supporting unit,
bringing an upper end of the replacement sheet pile in contact with the plurality of residual pile bars such that the plurality of residual pile bars are engaged between a lower end of the sheet pile and the upper end of the replacement sheet pile, and
retracting the plurality of residual pile bars from a sheet pile region such that the sheet pile is supported on the replacement sheet pile, wherein the plurality of residual pile bars are freely movable in a direction orthogonal to a pallet surface while being retracted.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein, during supporting the sheet pile, withdrawing the pallet, and placing the replacement pallet, all of the plurality of residual pile bars are locked in a lowest position.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein, during or after bringing the upper end of the replacement sheet pile in contact with the plurality of residual pile bars, the plurality of residual pile bars are unlocked, and
during bringing the upper end of the replacement sheet pile in contact with the plurality of residual pile bars and/or retracting the plurality of residual pile bars, one or more of the plurality of residual pile bars are moved out of a lowest position.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein, during bringing the upper end of the replacement sheet pile in contact with the plurality of residual pile bars, a contact between the upper end of the replacement sheet pile and each of the plurality of residual pile bars is individually detected for each of the plurality of residual pile bars.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein during retracting the plurality of residual pile bars, the plurality of residual pile bars are retracted independently from each other.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein, after retracting the plurality of residual pile bars, all of the plurality of residual pile bars are moved to their respective lowest position.

19. A device for changing a sheet pile in a sheet feeder for a sheet treating machine, the device comprising:
a residual pile supporting unit comprising a plurality of residual pile bars extending substantially parallel to each other and being substantially parallel to a supporting surface,
the plurality of residual pile bars being coup

Assignees

• Bobst Mex Sa

Inventors

• Rod Michel
• Cordelier Jeremy

Classifications

• B65H1/263 Primary

  Auxiliary supports for keeping the pile in the separation process during introduction of a new pile · CPC title

• B65H1/14

  comprising positively-acting mechanical devices {(B65H1/025 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65H2301/42256

  Pallets; Skids; Platforms with feet, i.e. handled together with the stack · CPC title

• B65H2403/51

  Cam mechanisms · CPC title

• B65H2405/3231

  Cantilever during insertion but supported on both sides of the pile upon full insertion · CPC title