Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The invention relates to a method of handling round,
flat, substantially identical ends for tins, in which packed
stacks of ends are supplied to an unpacking space and the sheet
forming the packing is cut up by cutting means and peeled from
the stack whilst the stack is rotated about its longitudinal axis.
Such a method is known from US-A-4390135. With this
prior art method the packed stacks are laid in the unpacking space.
The packing is probably cut by hand in longitudinal direction at
its top. After the stack has been automatically peeled the stack
of ends is removed from the unpacking space, probably also by
hand.
The aim of the invention is to provide a method which can
automatically be applied with a simple, short device. In this aim
the invention provides a method of above mentioned kind in which
the packed stack is moved transversely of its direction of length
into the unpacking space and the unpacked stack is removed in its
axial direction from the unpacking space. The invention also
provides a device for handling round, flat, substantially identical
ends for tins, comprising a plurality of rotatable journal led
rollers bounding an unpacking space for receiving a stack ox ends
packed in a sheet, for example of paper, said unpacking space
being furthermore bound by cutting means for cutting up the sheet,
characterized by transport means for introducing the packed stack
into the unpacking space in a transverse direction thereof and by
removing transport means moving the unpacked stack of ends in an
axial direction out of the unpacking space.
It is noted that an automatic method and device for
unpacking stacks of ends is disclosed in GO 2010 771, wherein
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21766-~
each time a packed stack of ends:
is axially supplied on a conveying belt;
is transversely transverse from the belt into a cutting
space;
and is transferred in axial direction from the cutting
space into a peeling space;
and wherein the unpacked stack is transferred trays-
tersely from the storage space into a delivery space;
and in which this stack is finally axially delivered
from the delivery space.
This method requires an expensive device which cannot
be constructed as a compact embodiment.
In order to treat the ends free of disturbance, whilst
packed stacks of undefined and varying length are supplied, the
invention provides a device wherein a stack supply device for
supplying stacks of ends -to -the transport means comprises:
guide means bounding an unpacking space and extending
in the axial direction of the transport means;
a retaining support located at the end of the unpacking
place near the transport means, and
a pusher located at the end of the unpacking space
remote from the transport means and that the retaining support
and the pusher are each movable in the axial direction of the
transport means.
The invention will now be described more fully by way
of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings
wherein:
Figure 1 is a drastically simplified, schematic
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perspective view of a complex machine comprising a device embody-
in the invention,
Figure 2 is a sectional view II-II in Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a sectional view III-III in Figure 1,
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of
a combined machine in accordance with the invention,
Figure 5 is a further detailed, fragmentary, perspective
view of detail V of Figure 4 on an enlarged scale,
Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of the detail of Figure
5,
Figure 7 is a cross sectional view VII-VII of Figure 5,
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view VIII-VIII in Figure 5,
Figure 9 is on an enlarged scale detail IX of Figure 1, Jo
Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a stack supply
device of a further device embodying the invention,
Figure 11 is on an enlarged scale the stack unpacking
device of Figure 10,
Figures 12 to 14 and 16 to 19 are fragmentary longitudinal
views of a stack supply device to be arranged at the inlet end of
the transport device embodying the invention in consecutive
operational positions,
Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the stack unpacking
device of Fig. 10 to be arranged at -the input end of the
transport device embodying the invention,
Figs. 20 and 21 schematic views of the inlet end of the
transport device of Fig. 1 embodying the invention in two
5 different positions,
Fig. 22 a fragmentary side elevation of an inlet end of
a further transport device embodying the invention, with
which the stack supply device of Figs. 10 tot 19 can be
connected,
Figs. 23 and 24 schematic sectional views taken on the
lines XXIII-XXIII and XIV-XIV respectively in Fig. 22 and
Fig. 25 a preferred variant of the sectional view of
Fig. 23 on an enlarged scale.
Fig. 1 shows a combined machine 1 for introducing stacks
154 of ends 3 to the closing devices 2, which comprise means
for shutting tins by a supplied end 3.
The stacks 4 of ends 3 are successively supplied in
a stack supply device 89 in the direction of the arrow 5 by
means not shown in Fig. 1 to a guide shoot 6 to which is
agenda a reciprocatory pestle 7 for supplying a stack 4 of
ends 3 alternatively from transport devices 8 and 9 according
to the invention. For this alternating supply the inlet ends
of the transport devices 8, 9 are coupled and movable in the
direction of the arrow 10 so that alternately the inlet end
off the device 8 and that of the device 9 are located in line
with the guide shoot 6, which is illustrated in Figs. 2, 20
and 21.
A stationary frame 30 carries two brackets 28 pivoted
thereto with the aid of shafts 87 for the devices 8 and 9
respectively. These brackets 28 and 29 are pivot able, as shown
in Figs. 20 and 21, by means of a hydraulic ram 88 between two
positions in which the devices 8 and 9 respectively adjoin
the guide shoot 6. Thus a stack 4 of ends 3 is alternately
supplied to the devices 8 and 9. The brackets 28 carry rollers
disunited by 14, about which endless ropes 11, 12, 13 are
passing. A stack 4 of ends 3 is indicated by a broken circle.
The devices 8 and 9 have similar structures. Therefore,
only the device 8 will be further described.
This device 8 comprises a transport member having the
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three endless ropes 11 ,12,13. A motor 15 with a transmission
16 serves to drive the ropes 11, 12, 13 with equal speeds v2.
The operative parts ox the two lower ropes 11, 12 and the
upper rope 13 are parallel and are spaced apart by distances
5 such that these operative parts together are capable of no-
twining the end 3 to be transported by clamping and of
transporting them. The ropes 11, 12, 13 are adjoined through
a transition zone 17 three further endless ropes 18, 19, 20.
As shown in Fig. 3 the frame 30 carries at the transition
10 zone 17 the rollers 14, about which are passed the endless
ropes 11, 12 13 and the ropes 18, 19, 20. A motor 24 serves
to drive the ropes 18, 19, 20 with a speed V3, which is
about half the speed v2 of the ropes 11, 12, 13. In order to
ensure that the magazine 22 always contains the same stock
15 of ends 3, a monitoring member 25 is coupled through a
connection indicated by a dot-and-dash line to the motor 24
for control. The speed v1 of the ropes 18, 19, 20 is a
variable speed determined by the working rate of the closing
device 2 and may be 5 my a minute. If the speed v2 of the
20 ropes 11, 12, 13 is equal to 10 ms/sec, the stacks 4 of
ends 3 are axially introduced in the ropes 11, 12, 13 at
a rate of, for example, 15 ms/sec, at least a higher rate 43
than the speed v2 of the ropes 11, 12, 13, because stops
introduced stacks 4 are laced at the end 149 of a continuous
end snake 148 (Fig. 9). The last end 3 of this end
snake 148 is held safely and stably in its adjoining position
because the ropes 11, 12, 13 exert a propelling effect at
three places of the circumference of the end pa in the
direction of the speed v2, since the speed of said end pa
30 is equal to the lower speed V1~ It is ensured that a next
stack 4 of ends 3 is laced to the end 149 of the end snake
148 before this end 149 has reached the transition zone 17
to a next set of ropes 18, 19, 20.
Turing the introduction of a stack 4 the foremost cover
35 3b is exposed along its circumference to a braking force
exerted by the ropes 11, 12, 13 and pushing this end 3b
towards the stack 4 so that the end 3b cannot fall off.
jig. 4 shows a complex machine 32. It comprises a feeding
device 33 for supplying stacks 38 of ends 3 to ropes 35,
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36, 37 driven by a motor 34 with a speed v2. These ends 3
are waken over via a transition zone 39 by three further
transport ropes 40, 41, 42 after which the ends are guided
around a bend 43 by a guide disc 62.
Along two further bends 44, 45 the ends are guided
further to a closing device 46, above which is located the
magazine 47 for the ends 3, the contents of which are
maintained between two extreme values by moans of two monk-
ions 48, 49. The latter control a motor 50, which drives
10 the ropes 40, 41, 42 with a variable speed V1.
Fig. 5 shows in further detail the structure of the
bend 45, which is similar to that of the bends 43 and 44.
It will be obvious that owing to the presence of a bend
the angular speed of ropes being in different positions
15 relative to the centre of rotation has a value such that
transported ends 3 can be in an inclined position after
having passed around the bend. In order to avoid this, the
angular speed of the ropes in the bend must everywhere be
the same, which implies that ropes lying further outwards
20 should have a higher linear speed Two lower ropes 52,
53 and an upper rope 54 transport covers 3 along the
bend 45. The rope 52 is guided by its active part by a guide
55, the rope 53 by a guide 56 and the rope 54 by a guide 57
formed, as is shown more in detail in Fig. 8, by a U-shaped
25 profile beam I in which is located a U-shaped beam 59
movable from and towards the transport space i.e. the space
bounded by the active parts of the ropes 52, 53, 54. Setting
of said beam can be carried out by means of screws 60. They
may also be used for adjusting the spring pressure exerted
30 by the rope 54 on the transported ends. It is noted here
that the ropes 52, 53 shown in Fig. 5 have no freedom of
movement so that it is necessary to use separate spring means
for transporting the ends in a clamped state. The rope
52 is guided in the bend by a guide disc 61. The guide disc
35 61 has for this purpose on the underside a continuous groove
63. On the corresponding top side the guide disc 61 has a
rope 64 formed by a fixed, circulating belt. In the zone in
which the belt 64 transports the ends 3 in the bend 45 the
rope 54 is put out of operation and guided straight on to
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follow the bend around a guide roller 65. Locally the effect
of -the rope 54 is taken over by a rope 66 arranged on a
driven toothed belt 67.
Fig. 6 shows -the construction described in an elevation Al
5 view in which the take-over of the functions of the respect
live ropes is shown more clearly. From this Figure it
appears how the toothed belt 67 is guided by its active part
i.e. the part facing the guide disc 62 by an arcuate guide 68.
Fig. 8 shows the construction described with reference
10 to Fig. 5 on the inlet side of the bend 45.
The stack supply device 91 of Figs. 10 to 19 comprises
as a variant of the stack supply device 89 three rollers 92,
93 and 94 forming guide means for a stack 4 of ends 3 and
extending mainly in the axial direction of the set of ropes
15 211, 212, 213 of the front end of the transport device 210
of Figs. 20 tot 25. The stack supply device 91 has a stock
holder 95 for stacks 4 of ends 3 packed in sheets, for
example, of paper, a bottom of which slopes downwards to
a chain conveyor 97 bounding the stock holder and having
20 chains 103 passed around sprockets 102 and having transverse
bars 98 and a guide plate 99.
Between the transverse bars 98 there are stack receiving
spaces 100 so that when the chain conveyor 97 is driven in
the direction of the arrow 101 a stack 4 of ends 3 is
25 received in each space 100 and then supplied rolling along the
guide plate 99 to an unpacking device 104, which comprises
three rollers 92, 93 and 94. The roller 93 co-operates with
a roller 107 as a pair for conducting away a sheet 108. The
rubber-coated rollers 107 and 93 are driven by a motor 110
30 via a chain drive 109 so that the rollers 93 and 107 and
also the rollers 92 and 94 indirectly driven via the stack 4
rotate in the direction indicated by arrows 111.
The unpacking device 104 comprises a knife holder 112,
which is urged by means of a leaf spring 113 in the direction
35 of the arrow 114 towards the stack 4 until a hard steel stop
115 fastened to the knife holder 112 strikes the stack 4 in
order to hold a knife 116 of the knife holder 112 along the
stack 4 so that the sheet 108 forming the packing is cut off
the stack 4, however, without damaging the ends. The knife
holder 112 is ad~ustably fastened to a frame 11~ by means of
set screws 117 and fastening bolts 120 lying in elongate
holes 119. The stop 115 co-operating with the roller 93 to
form a bulging part 143 in which the preferably milled knife
5 116 can start cutting.
The rollers 92, 93 and 103 are rotatable journal led in
the frame 121 comprising guide bars 122 for guiding a support
123 in the axial direction of ropes 211 to 213. An air Solon-
don 124 moves the support 123 in the direction of the arrow
10 125 to and fro. The support 123 has an arm 127 that can be
turned by means of a cylinder 126 and that carries at the
lower end a retaining support 128. The rope 213 is arranged
centrally on the underside and the ropes 211 and 212 are
arranged slightly above the middle of the stack 4 (see Fig.
15 23), so that the retaining support 128 can engage from above
the stack 4 between the ropes 211 and 212. The ropes 211 and
212 are each guided in a rope guide 129, which is arranged
with springs 130 in a U-profile. As shown in Fig. 25 these
springs are leaf springs. Thus the stuck 4 is stably enclosed
20 between the ropes 211, 212 and 213.
In order to enhance the safety against falling over of
the covers 3 the transport space between the ropes 211, 212,
213 is bounded on the underside by guide plates 218, which
are outwardly and upwardly directed at an angle of 60 to
25 the horizon When ends 3 of a different diameter are treated,
the two ropes 211 and 212 are displaced by displacing the
associated U-profiles 131 connected with brackets 219 by means
of setting means with respect to a frame 220, for example,
into the positions indicated by broken lines. The setting
30 means comprise fastening plates 221 and 222 being at an angle
of preferably 4830' to the horizon and being mutually
displaceable by means of bolts 223 lying in slots in the
direction of the arrows 224.
The length of the rollers 92, 93~ 94 is such that stacks
35 4 of great and different lengths can be processed. The pestle
l32 is fastened to a support 133, which is reciprocated by
means of a motor 134 driving a screw spindle 135 in the axial
direction of the ropes 211 to 213. As an alternative the pestle
132 may be reciprocated by means of a pneumatic cylinder, pro-
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fireball a known air cylinder, the piston of which has a
fastening arm extending through a longitudinal slot of the
cylinder, whilst means are provided for sealing the cylinder
slot.
The control of -the unpacking device 104 is illustrated
in successive stages in Figs. 12 to 19.
In the position shown in Fig. 12 the retaining support
128 and the pestle 132 are located at the two ends of the us-
packing space and the roller 94 is in the deflected position
10 indicated by broken lines in Fig. 10 so that a packed stack
4 can roll between the rollers 92, 93 and 94 in the affection
of the arrow 136. Roy pestle 132 then moves into the position
shown in Fig. 13 in which the packed stack 4 is urged against
the retaining support 128, after which the pestle 132 is
15 moved back over a small distance of, for example, 5 mums twig.
14) in order to leave some clearance at both ends of the
stack 4 for releasing the sheet 108.
As shown in Fig. 15 the stack 4 is rotated by driving
the rollers 92, 93 and 107, whilst the knife 116 cuts up the
20 sheet 108 and peels it off the stack 4. The sheet 108 is con-
dueled away between the rollers 93 and 107.
As shown in Fig. 16 the unpacked stack 4 is driven by
the pestle 132 with the above mentioned speed V3, which
exceeds the speed v2 of the ropes 211, 212, 213, the pestle
25 pushing in front of it the retaining support 12~ together with
the support 123, whilst the stack 4 is clamped tight. The air
cylinder 124 then operates as a counter-pressure spring. When
the stack is engaged over a sufficient length between the
ropes 211 to 213, so that these ropes produce sufficient
30 counter-pressure, the retaining support 128 is turned away by
means of the cylinder 126 from between the ropes (Fig. 17).
Fig. 18 shows that the whole stack 4 is located between
the ropes 211 to 213~ Then the pestle 132 and the retaining
support 128 move back to their initial positions (Fig. 19),
35 whilst the stack 4 is further transported by the ropes 211
to 213. Ryan a next packed stack 4 of Fig. 12 can drop in be-
tweet the rollers.
Fig. 22 shows that the ropes 211 to 213 can be commonly
driven with the same speed v2 by a motor 137 having pulleys
139 mounted on a common horizontal shaft 138~ The ropes 211
to 213 are all positioned in a vertical plane and passed
along guide discs 140 and stretching discs 141~
