ES3001684T3 - Device and method for separating flat goods and feeding flat goods to a processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for separating sheet-shaped products (08) from a stack arranged in a stacking area (09) and for feeding them into a processing unit, in particular for feeding sheets into one or more processing units, in particular printing and/or varnishing units, a coating machine or the like, with a transport device (01) which is arranged on the side of the stacking area facing the processing unit above the stacking area and comprising a pneumatic clamping element (04) actuated by at least one drive (02; 03), wherein the pneumatic clamping element performs a cyclically repeating transport movement with a vertical movement component, wherein a control device is connected to at least one means for detecting the format length of the sheet-shaped products and is designed to control at least one drive as a function of the format length. The invention also relates to a method for separating sheet-shaped products from a stack arranged in a stacking area and feeding them into a processing machine. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, no legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Device and method for separating pin-shaped products and feeding them to a processing unit The invention relates to a device and a method for separating pin-shaped products from a stack arranged in a stacking area and for feeding them to a processing unit.

The separation of pin-shaped products, for example, panels, particularly metal panels, and their feeding to a processing unit, in particular to a printing or coating unit of a veneer coating machine, must be carried out with sufficient process reliability.

For this purpose, feeders operating on the leading edge separation principle can be used. Such a feeder is known from document DE 19937450 A1. The feeder comprises a lifting vacuum arranged above a leaf stack delimited by a leaf stop in the front region of the stack. The lifting vacuum can move vertically and horizontally. Above the leaf stack, a vertical separating vacuum is arranged in the rear region of the stack. A blower unit is attached to the rear edge of the leaf stack.

According to document DE 196 11 149 A1, the configuration of vibrating vacuum cleaners for separating boards in the feeder of a board processing machine and for subsequently transporting the separated boards to the board processing machine is known.

In panel feeders with forward and reverse vibrating lifting suction devices, the duration of the extension movement of the lifting suction devices and the lifting of the respective panel depends, among other things, on the stroke to be executed, the vacuum level in the lifting suction device, the weight of the panel, the wear level, and the degree of contamination of the lifting suction device. When controlling the oscillating movement of the lifting suction devices, it must be taken into account that a panel can only move vertically once it has been lifted by the lifting suction devices to a height level above the front stops.

Furthermore, the lifting vacuum can only be extended when the end of the previous board is no longer in the extension path of the lifting vacuum.

This is ensured by the well-known board feeders, which control the movement of the swinging lifting suction cups back and forth, always designed for the maximum format length of the boards that can be accommodated by the board feeder.

This limits the maximum speed achievable with known board feeders.

Document DE 102009046086 A1 discloses an alignment unit for a sheet processing machine. The alignment unit comprises a sheet arrival sensor and a sheet position sensor, the signals of which are processed and used to control alignment agents, for example, in the form of two alignment wheels. The invention is based on the objective of creating an alternative device and an alternative method for separating planiform products from a stack arranged in a stacking area and for feeding them to a processing unit.

The invention is based in particular on the objective of creating a device and a method for separating planiform products from a stack arranged in a stacking area and for feeding them to a processing unit that allow greater speed in the handling of planiform products.

The objective is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1 or 9.

One advantage that can be achieved with the invention is that flat-shaped products with different format lengths can be handled at the maximum speed achievable for the respective format length. This avoids technologically unnecessary downtimes between the handling of successive flat-shaped products with format lengths below the maximum format length.

The invention can also advantageously improve process reliability during the separation of planar products without increasing the maximum achievable speed by extending the separation process phase, in particular for planar products with format lengths shorter than the maximum format length.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail below. They show:

Figure 1 shows a device for separating pin-shaped products from a stack arranged in a stacking area and for feeding them to a processing unit;

Figure 2 shows the transport device of Figure 1 in a first working position;

Figure 3 shows the transport device of Figure 1 in a second working position;

Figure 4 shows the transport device of Figure 1 in a third working position;

Figure 5 shows the transport device of Figure 1 in a fourth working position;

Figure 6 shows the transport device of Figure 1 in a fifth working position;

Figure 7 a first travel/angle diagram of the machine;

Figure 8 a second travel/angle diagram of the machine;

Figure 9 a first speed/time gain diagram;

Figure 10 a second speed/format length diagram.

The device shown in Figure 1 may be part of a coating machine. Preferably, the device shown in Figure 1 is configured as a feeder or is a component of a feeder, and will be described using the example of a feeder also representing other embodiments.

In particular, the coating machine may be a lacquering machine and/or a printing machine.

The coating machine can be configured in particular to process planar products 08 in the form of boards, in particular made of metal.

The coating machine processes, for example, panels, in particular metal sheets. The planar products 08 are fed into the coating machine in a stack, placed in a stacking area 09 of the feeder of the coating machine, and separated. Once separated, the planar products 08 are conveyed along a conveying path in a conveying direction 15 to one or more processing units, in particular printing and/or lacquering units, and are processed, for example, by printing and/or lacquering on at least one of their sides in one or more processing units. The conveying of the planar products 08, for example, panels, in particular metal sheets, takes place in a non-staggered manner, in a consecutive arrangement, i.e., individually in a lying position and spaced apart from one another. The device shown in Figure 1 for separating the planiform products 08 from a stack arranged in a stacking area 09 and for feeding them to a processing unit comprises a transport device 01, which is arranged above the stacking area 09 on the side of the stacking area 09 facing the processing unit.

The stacking area 09 is preferably formed between a stationary stop 05 and a stop 06, which can be moved relative to the stationary stop 05 to adapt to the format. The stationary stop 05 is preferably configured on the side of the stacking area 09 facing the processing unit, and the movable stop 06 is formed on the side of the stacking area 09 facing away from the processing unit. The oscillating vacuum cleaner 01, designed as a transport device 01, comprises at least one pneumatic clamping element 04, actuated by at least one drive 02; 03. The pneumatic clamping element 04 performs a cyclically repeating transport movement. The pneumatic clamping element 04 can be configured as a suction disc 04.

Preferably, to carry out the transport movement of the fixing element 04, a drive 02, in particular pneumatic, is configured, which generates a vertical movement component of the fixing element 04, and another drive 03, which generates a horizontal movement component or a horizontal and vertical movement component of the fixing element 04.

If the fastening element 04 is designed as a component of a swing-type vacuum cleaner 01, the drive 02 is formed by the piston and cylinder of a lifting vacuum cleaner. The lifting vacuum cleaner, also known as a spring vacuum cleaner, can be designed in a known manner. When a vacuum is applied, it extends until the suction disk 04 connected to the piston rests on the flat-shaped product 08 to be held, and a suction opening formed in the suction disk 04 closes. Closing the suction opening changes the force relationships in the cylinder, such that the suction disk 04 connected to the piston moves back to its initial position, thereby lifting the flat-shaped product 08 held by it, in particular the one being sucked in. The lifting vacuum cleaner can be mounted on a support so that it can be moved horizontally or pivoted on an axis or shaft extending transversely to the conveying direction 15.

The additional drive 03 can act on the lifting vacuum cleaner, to move it horizontally or pivot it, or on the shaft 15 extending transversely to the conveying direction, to rotate it, and can also be configured to act pneumatically. The additional drive 03 can, in particular, be an oscillating drive.

On the side of the stacking area 09 facing away from the processing unit, a separating vacuum cleaner 07 can be arranged above the stacking area 09. The separating vacuum cleaner 07 can also be configured as a lifting vacuum cleaner. Its design and mode of operation correspond to the design and mode of operation of the lifting vacuum cleaner described as a component of the oscillating vacuum cleaner 01.

The separating aspirator 07 is preferably connected to the movable stop 06.

On the side of the stacking area 09 facing away from the processing unit, a loosening blower 10 can also be configured. The loosening blower 10 can also be connected to the movable stop 06.

Preferably, the movable stop 06, which can be formed by a plurality of vertically movable elements of prismatic cross-section, the separation aspirator 07 and the loosening blower 10 form a group and can move together for adaptation to the format.

The at least one drive 02; 03 is connected to a control device and is controlled by it. The control device can be configured as a mechanical or electronic cam-type switching unit.

The control device is connected to at least one agent for detecting the format length of the planar products 08 and is configured to control the at least one drive 02; 03 depending on the format length.

In the case of a configuration consisting of one drive 02 and an additional drive 03, the control device can be configured to control drive 02 based on the format length and additional drive 03 independently of the format length. The advantage of this solution lies in its improved process reliability when separating planar products 08.

The control device can also be configured to control both drive 02 and additional drive 03 depending on the format length. The advantage of this solution lies in the fact that the maximum achievable speed can be improved, especially for planar products 08 with shorter format lengths.

The at least one agent for detecting the length of the format is formed by a sensor.

The sensor is preferably associated with the stacking area 09 and/or is configured to detect the format length of the planiform products 08 arranged in the stacking area 09.

The sensor is preferably an optical sensor, more preferably a video camera or, in particular, a distance sensor.

The at least one agent for detecting the format length may also be a sensor that detects the position of the movable stop 06 relative to the stationary stop 05 or to a reference position. In particular, the at least one agent for detecting the format length may be a sensor that detects the distance between the stationary stop 05 and the movable stop 06.

In other words, the format length can be determined simply, for example, by measuring the distance between the feeder frame and the downstream separation axis to which the movable stop 06 is associated with a sensor configured as an optical distance measuring sensor. The advantage of this solution is that the format length is determined simply and the operator does not need to explicitly enter the format length.

Not according to the invention, the at least one agent for detecting the format length may also be a control panel or an interface to a production planning system, through which the production planning system transmits the format length.

A further conveyor device 11 is preferably arranged between the conveyor device 01 and the processing unit. The further conveyor device 11 may comprise conveyor belts 13 guided by deflection rollers 12 and a cycle roller 14 which can act on the conveyor belts cyclically by means of a cycle roller drive.

Preferably, the drive of the cycle roller is also connected to the control device and is controlled by the control device depending on the format length.

A method is described below for separating pin-shaped products 08 from a stack arranged in a stacking area 09 and for feeding the pin-shaped products 08 to a processing unit, in particular for feeding boards to a printing and/or lacquering unit of a coating machine or the like.

In particular, embodiments of the described device can be used to carry out the method for separating planiform products 08 from a stack arranged in a stacking area 09 and feeding them to a processing unit.

The individual steps of the procedure are illustrated in particular in Figures 2 to 6 using the example of an oscillating vacuum cleaner 01.

The oscillating vacuum cleaner 01 shown comprises a fixing element 04 configured as a suction disk 04, a drive 02 embodied by a pneumatic cylinder and an additional drive 03 configured as an oscillating drive.

According to the procedure, the following process steps are carried out for a series of 08 planiform products in a recurring cycle for each 08 planiform product in the series.

The starting point is the state shown in Figure 2.

There is no negative pressure in the fixing element 04 or in the drive 02, which is represented by a pneumatic cylinder.

First, the securing element 04 of the transport device 01 moves in each case to the topmost flat-shaped product 08 in the stack. This is achieved by applying negative pressure to the drive 02, represented by a pneumatic cylinder. See Figure 3.

The topmost planar product 08 in the stack is then fixed by the fixing element 04 using negative pressure.

The fixing element 04 with the respective planar product 08 is then lifted vertically over a predetermined or predeterminable distance 16 and is thus separated from the rest of the stack.

The predetermined travel 16 is greater than the length by which the stationary stop 05 protrudes vertically from the stack. The predetermined travel 16 can be either 7 millimeters or 17 millimeters. See Figure 4.

Following or partially overlapping the vertical lifting of the fastening element 04, the fastening element 04 with the respective planar product 08 is moved with a horizontal movement component in order to transfer the respective planar product 08 to another transport device 11. For the transfer, the negative pressure applied to the fastening element 04 is deactivated and the respective planar product 08 is released from the fastening element 04.

In addition to the horizontal movement component, the fixing element 04 can also move with a vertical movement component. The horizontal and vertical movement components for transfer can be part of a swinging movement. At the end of the swinging movement, the fixing element 04 can be tilted 11.5 degrees relative to the horizontal and/or its initial position. See Figure 5.

Once transferred to the additional conveying device 11, the respective planar product 08 is transported by the additional conveying device 11 to the processing unit. The transfer is supported in particular by the cycle roller 14, which is positioned, in particular cyclically, on the conveyor belts 13 and thus places the respective planar product 08 onto the conveyor belts 13.

The additional transport device 11 preferably accelerates the respective flat product 08 to the speed of the processing unit. The clamping element 04 then moves back to its initial position at the beginning of the cycle and can start a new cycle. See Figure 6.

Before clamping the first planar product 08 in the series, which corresponds to the time before the start of the first cycle in the series, the format length of the planar products 08 is recorded. The movement of the clamping element 04 is monitored for each cycle in the series based on the format length. The movement of the clamping element 04 can be determined, in particular calculated, for each cycle in the series once the format length has been detected.

Preferably, the format length of the pin-shaped products 08 is detected by sensors in the stacking area 09.

Preferably, the format length is measured before each stroke start for the pin-shaped products 08, in particular before each start of the board stroke, and the measured value is used to determine, in particular to calculate, the start time for the movement of the fixing element 04.

If a control device designed as a cam switching unit is used, the measured value is used to calculate the anticipation of the start of the cam signal for the movement of the fixing element 04.

Preferably, a new movement cycle of the fixing element 04 for a respective planiform product 08

It starts precisely when a previous planar product 08 has left the area through which the element passes

fixing 04 during its movement towards the respective planiform product 08.

The movement cycle of the fixing element 04 for a respective planar product 08 can also be started a predetermined period of time before the time at which a previous planar product 08 has left the machine.

of the area through which the fastening element 04 passes during its movement towards the respective planar product 08. The specified period of time is calculated in such a way that the displaced fastening element 04

does not intersect the path traveled by the trailing edge of the preceding planar product 08 until the trailing edge of the preceding planar product 08 has already left the intersection point.

The respective planar product 08 is released by the clamping element 04 when the clamping element 04 has its greatest velocity in the horizontal direction. In other words, the horizontal velocity of the clamping element

04 is greater when the transfer of a respective planar product 08 to the additional transport device 11 takes place.

The path/machine angle diagram in Figures 7 and 8 shows more details of the motion sequences.

In this respect, point P1 of the curve represents the earliest moment at which the trailing edge of a planiform product 08 has passed the fixing element 04 and, in other words, the suction disc 04 is

free. Point P2 on the curve represents the moment at which the fixing element 04 or the suction disc 04 extends or, in other words, leaves its initial position.

Point P3 on the curve represents the moment at which the leading edge of the planar product 08 rises above the stationary stop 05. Point P4 on the curve marks the moment at which the fixing element 04 touches

the planar product 08 after its displacement. Point P5 on the curve represents the moment at which the element

fixing disc 04 has returned to its initial position or, in other words, the suction disc 04 has been retracted.

Curve P6 shows the movement of the leading edge of the planar product 08.

Curve P7 shows the movement of the trailing edge of a long format planar product 08

Curve P8 shows the movement of the trailing edge of a planar product 08 of minimum format length

Line P9 represents the point in time where cycle roller 14 moves toward the conveyor belt

13, in particular the gap formed between the conveyor belt 13 and the cycle roller 14 is closed.

Curve P10 describes the movement of the fastening element 04 back and forth in the transport direction 15.

Lines P11 and P12, in particular the distance between them, represent the width of the stationary stop 05 in the transport direction 15.

Line P13 represents the transfer point of the planiform product 08 from the fixing element 04 to the

conveyor belt 13.

The boundary conditions specified for controlling the movement of the clamping element 04 are that the clamping element 04 can only move in the vertical direction to grip the planar product 08 after

that the trailing edge of the preceding planar product 08 has passed the clamping element 04 and the oscillating movement has ended. This ensures that the clamping element 04 extends as quickly as possible. The earliest possible moment is at a machine angle of 241 degrees, taking into account the limiting conditions for a board format according to curve <p>8.

Compared to a fixed time or switching time, which is based on the maximum format length and is 320 degrees, with 78 degrees or 99 milliseconds at 6500 t/h (boards/hour) more time is available for the separation of the planiform products 08.

The time gain relative to format length is shown in Figure 9.

The time saved during separation means that, in theory, it is also possible to transport smaller formats at speeds exceeding 6,500 t/h.

The maximum speed can be significantly increased by format-dependent control. Assuming that the clamping element 04 is fully retracted again before the oscillating movement is initiated, the current maximum speed is 4,000 t/h for all format lengths. In practice, however, flat products 08 can also be loaded at a speed > 6,500 t/h. This is due to the fact that the clamping element 04 only has to lift the flat product 08 5 to 7 mm above the stationary stop 05. As soon as the flat product 08 is raised above the stationary stop 05, the oscillating movement can be initiated. This can also be done when the clamping element 04 is not yet fully retracted.

In other words, in partial temporary overlap with the vertical elevation of the fixing element 04, the fixing element 04 with the respective planar product 08 is displaced with a horizontal movement component to transfer the respective planar product 08 to a transport device 11 or an additional one.

The superposition of this movement preferably begins at 4,001 t/h. The resulting time gain P16 is shown in Figure 8 and is obtained between curve P14, which describes the vertical movement of the clamping element 04, in particular the lifting movement of the suction disc 04 according to the prior art, and curve P15, which describes the optimized movement of the clamping element 04, in particular the lifting movement of the suction disc 04.

The maximum achievable speed as a function of the format length is shown in Figure 10. In this respect, curve P17 represents the association according to the state of the art and curve P18, the dependence according to the invention.

List of references

01 Transport device, oscillating vacuum cleaner, pneumatic

02 Drive, pneumatic

03 Drive, other

04 Fixing element, suction disc

05 Stop, stationary

06 Stop, movable

07 Separator vacuum cleaner

08 Product, flat

09 Stacking area

10 Loosening blower

11 Transport device, other

12 Deflection roller

13 Conveyor belt

14 Feed roller

15 Transport Direction

16 Route

P1 Point of the curve

P2 Point of the curve

P3 Point of the curve

P4 Point of the curve

P5 Curve point

P6 Curve

P7 Curve

P8 Curve

P9 Line

P10 Curve

P11 Line

P12 Line

P13 Line

P14 Curve

P15 Curve

P16 Time Saving

P17 Curve

P18 Curve

Claims (14)

1. Device for separating pin-shaped products (08) from a stack arranged in a stacking area (09) and for feeding them to a processing unit, in particular for feeding boards to a printing and/or lacquering unit of a coating machine or the like, with a transport device (01) which is arranged above the stacking area (09) on the side of the stacking area (09) facing the processing unit and comprising a pneumatic clamping element (04) actuated by at least one drive (02; 03), the pneumatic clamping element (04) executing a cyclically repeating transport movement with a vertical movement component, characterized in that a control device is connected to at least one agent configured as a sensor for detecting the format length of the planiform products (08) and is configured to control the at least one drive (02; 03) as a function of the format length. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pneumatic fixing element (04) is the suction disc (04) of an oscillating vacuum cleaner (01). 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a drive (02) generates a vertical movement component of the fixing element (04) and a further drive (03) generates a horizontal movement component of the fixing element (04) or a horizontal and vertical movement component of the fixing element (04), and the control device is configured to control the drive (02) as a function of the format length or the drive (02) and the further drive (03) as a function of the format length. 4. Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the sensor is associated with the stacking area (09) and/or is configured to detect the format length of the planiform products (08) arranged in the stacking area (09). 5. Device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the stacking zone (09) is formed between a stationary stop (05) and a movable stop (06) with respect to the stationary stop (05) to adjust the format, and the at least one agent for detecting the length of the format is a sensor that detects the position of the movable stop (06) with respect to the stationary stop (05) or to a reference position. 6. Device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the at least one agent for detecting the format length is an optical sensor. 7. Device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that the stop or a movable stop (06) is configured on the side of the stacking area (09) facing away from the processing unit and is connected to at least one separating vacuum cleaner (07) arranged above the stacking area (09) and/or to a loosening blower (10) directed towards a side surface of the stack. 8. Device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that a further transport device (11) is arranged between the transport device (01) and the processing unit, the further transport device (11) comprising transport belts (13) guided by means of deflection rollers (12) and a cycle roller (14) which can be advanced towards the transport belts in cycles by means of a cycle roller drive, the cycle roller drive being connected to the control device and being controlled or controllable as a function of the format length. 9. Method for separating planiform products (08) from a stack arranged in a stacking area (09) and for feeding the planiform products (08) to a processing unit, in particular for feeding boards to a printing and/or lacquering unit of a coating machine or the like, in particular using a device according to one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, moving for a series of planiform products (08) in a repetitive cycle. - first, a fixing element (04) of a transport device (01) towards the planiform product (08) located in each case higher in the stack, - the topmost flat product (08) in the stack is then secured by the securing element (04), - the fixing element (04) then being raised vertically with the respective planar product (08) over a predetermined or predeterminable distance (16), - moving after or partially overlapping the vertical elevation of the fastening element (04), the fastening element (04) with the respective planiform product (08) is moved with a horizontal movement component in order to transfer the respective planiform product (08) to another transport equipment (11), and - the respective planiform product being released after the transfer from the fastening element (04) and being transported by the additional transport equipment (11) to the processing unit, -characterized in that, before fixing the first planiform product (08) of the series, the format length of the planiform product (08) is detected by a sensor and the movement of the fixing element (04) is controlled as a function of the format length. 10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the format length of the planiform products (08) is detected by sensors in the stacking area (09). 11. Method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that a movement cycle of the fixing element (04) for a respective planiform product (08) is started when a preceding planiform product (08) has left the area through which the fixing element (04) passes during its movement towards the respective planiform product (08). 12. Method according to claim 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that the planiform products (08) are transported in a consecutive arrangement after separation. 13. Method according to claim 9, 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that the respective planiform product (08) is released from the fixing element (04) when the fixing element (04) has its greatest speed in the horizontal direction. 14. Method according to claim 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13, characterized in that the horizontal movement component for transferring the respective flat product (08) to an additional transport equipment (11) is generated by the additional drive (03) of a vibrating vacuum cleaner (01).