Non-stop rack device for a converting machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9481541-B2
Application number	US-201314388355-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2013
Priority date	Mar 28, 2012
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

A non-stop rack device for temporary receipt of the flat elements in the form of sheets in a converting machine, the device comprising a plurality of parallel bars which are integral with a mobile support which can be displaced between a receipt position, in which the bars can support temporarily the flat elements which are being stacked, and a released position, in which the said bars are placed spaced from any stack of flat elements. Each non-stop bar is mounted so as to be mobile in transverse displacement relative to the mobile support, and the non-stop rack device also comprises a blocking arrangement, which can block the transverse mobility of each non-stop bar.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Non-stop rack device for temporary receipt of flat elements in the form of sheets in a converting machine, the device comprising a plurality of parallel bars which are integral with a mobile support which is displaceable between a receipt position, in which the bars can support temporarily the flat elements which are being stacked, and a released position, in which the bars are placed spaced from any stack of flat elements,
characterized in that each non-stop bar is mounted such as to be mobile in transverse displacement relative to the mobile support,
in that the non-stop rack device also comprises a blocking arrangement, which can block the transverse mobility of each non-stop bar, and
in that the blocking arrangement comprises at least one contact unit which can press against at least one non-stop bar, in order to block any transverse mobility by means of static friction.

2. Non-stop rack device according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a guide arrangement which can guide each non-stop bar in transverse translation relative to the mobile support.

3. Non-stop rack device according to claim 1 , characterized in that each contact unit is constituted by a resiliently deformable element which can be expanded between a passive position in which it is kept away from any non-stop bar, and an active position, in which it is pressed against at least one non-stop bar.

4. Non-stop rack device according to claim 3 , characterized in that each resiliently deformable element has a hollow structure which can be expanded when a pressurized fluid is injected into its interior.

5. Non-stop rack device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the blocking arrangement comprises a single contact unit, which is arranged substantially transversely, and can immobilize all the non-stop bars simultaneously.

6. Non-stop rack device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the transverse displacement of each non-stop bar is guided by two parallel rails which are positioned spaced from one another, and the blocking arrangement exerts its action on the part of each non-stop bar which extends between the two guide rails.

7. Non-stop rack device according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises an actuating arrangement which can displace each non-stop bar in an automated manner relative to the mobile support, when the blocking arrangement is not operative.

8. Non-stop rack device according to claim 7 , characterized in that the actuating arrangement comprises a coupling element which can co-operate by fitting together with a part of each non-stop bar, a first actuator, which can displace the coupling element between a position of withdrawal in which it is kept spaced from any non-stop bar, and a coupling position, in which it can be fitted together with each non-stop bar, as well a second actuator, which can displace the coupling element along the entire width of the mobile support.

9. Non-stop rack device according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a first detector, which can locate an initial position of each non-stop bar relative to the mobile support.

10. Non-stop rack device according to claim 9 , characterized in that the non-stop bars are disposed so as to extend through a tool of the converting machine when they are in the receipt position, the non-stop rack device comprises a positioning template, a profile of which corresponds to that of the tool, as well as a second detector which can locate the theoretical position of each non-stop bar, provided by the profile of the said positioning template.

11. Non-stop rack device according to claim 10 , characterized in that the non-stop bars are designed to extend through a tool of the converting machine when they are in the receipt position, and the non-stop rack device comprises a third detector which can determine the theoretical position of each non-stop bar directly, according to the transverse profile of the tool.

12. Non-stop rack device for temporary receipt of flat elements in the form of sheets in a converting machine, the device comprising a plurality of parallel bars which are integral with a mobile support which is displaceable between a receipt position, in which the bars can support temporarily the flat elements which are being stacked, and a released position, in which the bars are placed spaced from any stack of flat elements,
characterized in that each non-stop bar is mounted such as to be mobile in transverse displacement relative to the mobile support,
in that the non-stop rack device also comprises a blocking arrangement, which can block the transverse mobility of each non-stop bar,
in that the blocking arrangement comprises at least one contact unit which can press against at least one non-stop bar, in order to block any transverse mobility by means of static friction,
in that the non-stop rack device also comprises a guide arrangement which can guide each non-stop bar in transverse translation relative to the mobile support; and
in that each non-stop bar is integral with two carriages, which are mounted so as to slide respectively along two parallel guide rails, which are secured transversely on the mobile support, the carriages associated with the said guide rails forming the guide arrangement.

13. Non-stop rack device according to claim 12 , characterized in that the guide arrangement comprises two pairs of guide rails, which co-operate respectively and alternately with one non-stop bar out of two non-stop bars.

14. Non-stop rack device according to claim 13 , characterized in that the guide rails of each pair of rails are positioned alternately relative to the guide rails of the other pair of rails.

15. Non-stop rack device according to claim 12 , characterized in that each non-stop bar is mounted such as to be detachable relative to a body integral with the two carriages which are responsible for the transverse sliding of the said bar.

16. Non-stop rack device according to claim 15 , characterized in that each non-stop bar can fit together, according to a longitudinal direction, with the body which is associated with it, and in that the non-stop rack device additionally comprises a locking arrangement which can block the mobility of the said bar according to its direction of fitting together.

17. Non-stop rack device according to claim 15 , characterized in that an intermediate body which forms a spacer is interposed between each non-stop bar and the body which is associated with it.

18. Converting machine for flat elements in the form of sheets, characterized in that it comprises at least one non-stop rack device according to claim 1 , and at least one additional work station juxtaposed with said non-stop rack device to form a unit assembly for processing a succession of sheets.

Assignees

• Bobst Mex Sa

Inventors

• Cugnoni Daniel

Classifications

• B65H31/32 Primary

  Auxiliary devices for receiving articles during removal of a completed pile · CPC title

• B65H2701/1764

  Cut-out, single-layer, e.g. flat blanks for boxes · CPC title

• B65H2405/323

  Cantilever finger member, e.g. reciprocating in parallel to plane of handled material · CPC title

• B65H2553/43

  Bar code reader · CPC title

• B65H2301/4212

  of articles substantially horizontal · CPC title