A DEVICE FOR DIRECTING SHEET-SHAPED ARTICLES TO STACKING SECTIONS THEREOF

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the technical sector concerning stacking machines for piling sheet-shaped articles supplied by a feeder.

In more detail, the invention relates to a device for directing sheet-shaped articles to stacking sections of the articles themselves.

BACKGROUND ART

Stacking machines are generally used in intermediate stations of plants for treating sheet-shaped articles, and have the function of piling a plurality of these sheet articles in stacks, stopping when a predetermined number and/or composition thereof is reached.

Each stack of articles can then be folded, bound etc. by other stations of the plant, located downstream of the stacking machines.

Generally each machine is supplied by a feeder group which provides single sheet articles ordered in a predetermined way.

The feeder group supplies articles at a substantially faster rate than a rate at which they are stacked in the corresponding stacking sections.

Stacking machines known as double-stage stackers are known, provided with a pair of stacking sections, into which the feeder continuously supplies articles.

In these machines, downstream of the feeder, there is a deflector which alternatingly directs the sheets towards one or another stacking section.

In this regard, document EP 0.455.494 B1 describes a double-stage stacker for piling a series of paper sheets singly fed in from a feeder, comprising:

a first pair of facing conveyor belts for individually conveying and stacking at least a sheet, such as to form a first stack at a first stacking section defined by the belts;

a second pair of facing conveyor belts for individually conveying and stacking at least a sheet, such as to form a second stack at a second stacking section defined by the belts;

a feeder which can singly supply sheets to each pair of conveyor belts;

diverting means, interposed between the two pairs of belts and the feeder, activated by corresponding control organs between two extreme operative positions in order to deviate the sheets singly supplied by the feeder respective towards the first or the second pair of conveyor belts.

The above stacking machine does not guarantee the production capacity required by work cycles, and in particular is not able to best exploit the downstream apparatus, which are generally folder machines.

Folder machines must of necessity be continuously supplied at the highest frequency in order to guarantee maximum production capacity.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide a device for directing sheet- shaped articles to stacking sections for the articles which can guarantee high production capacity of the work line under any functioning conditions, in particular the machines lying downstream thereof.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a particularly suitable device for a multi-stage stacking machine, preferably provided with three stacking sections.

To this can be added the desire to provide an extremely functional and reliable device, able to guarantee easy and rapid stages of installation and maintenance thereof.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a stacking machine which stacks sheet-shaped articles supplied singly by a feeder group and provided with the device of the invention.

The above-indicated aims are all obtained in agreement with the contents of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of the invention will emerge from the following description, in which some non-exclusive preferred embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which:

figures 1 , 2, 3, 4 schematically illustrate sides views of the device at successive operating stages thereof;

figure 5 is a schematic overall lateral view of a stacking machine provided with the device of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to the above figures of the drawings, 1 denotes in its entirety the device for directing sheet articles 3 to stacking sections thereof, which device 1 cooperates with a feeder 2 supplying sheet articles 3, preferably singly.

The device 1 of the invention comprises central means 4 for individually conveying the sheet articles 3 towards an adjacent central stacking section S4 provided downstream; lower means 5 and upper means 6, provided in

proximity of the central means 4 for conveying individual sheet articles 3 towards adjacent stacking sections , of which a lower stacking section S5 and an upper stacking section S6, provided downstream; selector means, of which first selector means 50 and second selector means 60, interposed one after another between the feeder line 2 and the central means 4, activated such as to define three operating configurations able to direct the sheet articles 3 supplied by the feeder 2 respectively towards the central means 4, the lower means 5 and the upper means 6.

The device 1 of the invention further includes sensor means able to detect transit through the selector means 50, 60 of a last sheet article 3 destined for a stacking section S6, S4, S5, and consequently destined to activate the switching of the selector means 50, 60 in order to supply the successive stacking section S4, S5, S6.

In a preferred embodiment the first selector means 50 are activated between two extreme configurations in order to enable the articles 3 to be directed respectively towards the central means 4, the lower means 5 and the upper means 6, which the second selector means 60, provided downstream of the first selector means 50, are activated between two extreme configurations in order to enable the articles 3 directed towards the central means to be directed towards the said central means 4 or to be diverted towards the lower means 5 and the upper means 6.

In the accompanying figures of the drawings, a preferred embodiment is illustrated in which the first selector means 50 deflect the articles 3 respectively towards the central means 4 or towards the lower means 5, while the second selector means 60 enable direction of the sheet articles 3 towards the central means 4, or deflect the sheet articles 3 towards the upper means 6.

The central means 4, the lower means 5 and the upper means 6 comprise corresponding pairs of facing conveyor belts which enable transport of individual sheet articles 3 towards the respective adjacent stacking sections

(S4, S5, S6).

The switching of the selector means (50, 60) between the operating configurations advantageously enables directing the sheet articles 3 in order towards the upper means 6, the central means 4 and the lower means 5 and vice versa.

Figure 1 illustrates a first operating configuration A of the device 1 in which the articles 3 supplied by the feeder 2 are directed by the first selector means 50 towards the central means 4 and are then diverted by the second selector means 60 downstream towards the upper means 6.

Figure 2 illustrates a second operating configuration B of the device 1 in which the articles 3 supplied by the feeder 2 are directed by the first selector means 50 towards the central means 4 and the second selector means 60 do not intervene, and enable supply to the central means 4.

Configuration B of figure 2 differs from configuration A of figure 1 due to the simple switching of the second selector means 60 which do not divert the articles 3 towards the upper means 6 but enable transit thereof towards the central means 4.

Figure 3 illustrates a third operating configuration C of the device 1 in which the articles 3 supplied by the feeder 2 are deviated by the first selector means 50 definitively towards the lower means 5, with the second selector means 60 unable to intervene.

Configuration C denoted in figure 3 differs from configuration B shown in figure 2 due to the simple switching of the first selector means 50 which divert the articles 3 towards the lower means 5, instead of enabling transit thereof towards the central means 4.

Figure 4 illustrates a fourth operating configuration D of the device in which the articles 3 supplied by the feeder 2 continue to be diverted by the first selector means 50 definitively towards the lower means 5, but with the second

selector means 60 switching in order to prepare for the first configuration A, in which they will divert the articles 3, directed by the first selector means 50 towards the central means 4, towards the upper means 6.

Configuration D illustrated in figure 4 differs from configuration C represented in figure 3 by the simple switching of the second selector means 60 which become predisposed to divert towards the upper means 6 those articles 3 which will be made to transit by the following switch of the first selector means 50.

In a preferred activating mode, the selector means (50, 60) can be switched prior to complete transit there-through of the last sheet article 3 destined to one of the stacking sections.

In this case, the selector means (50, 60) can comprise advantageously- pivoted plates downstream with respect to the advancement direction of the sheet articles 3, as shown in figures from 1 to 4.

With reference to configurations A, B, denoted in figures 1 , 2, this means that it is possible to switch the second selector plate 60 when it is still diverting the final sheet article 3 directed towards the upper stacking section S5, in order to enable transit of the following article 3 towards the central means 4 and the associated central stacking section S4 in advance.

Likewise, with reference to configurations B, C denoted in figures 2, 3, the first selector plate 50 can be switched when it is still diverting the final sheet article 3 directed towards the central stacking section S4, in order to enable transit of the following article 3 towards the lower means 5 and the associated lower stacking section S5 in advance.

Likewise, with reference to configurations D, A illustrated in figures 4, 1 , the first selector plate 50 can be switched when it is still diverting the final sheet article 3 directed towards the lower stacking section S5, in order to enable transit of the following article 3 towards the central means 4 and thereafter towards the upper means 6, due to the diversion operated by the second

selector plate 60.

Figure 5 schematically illustrates an overall lateral view of a stacking machine for stacking sheet articles 3 supplied by the feeder 2, preferably singly.

It is provided with the device 1 of the invention and comprises conveyor organs (13, 14, 15) interposed between the upper means 6, the central means 4 and the lower means 5 of the device 1 and each stacking section (S6, S4, S5).

Each conveyor organ (13, 14, 15) comprises corresponding pairs of facing conveyor belts which enable conveying of the articles 3 towards the relative stacking sections (S4, S5, S6).

From the above it is clear how the device for directing sheet articles to stacking sections therefor, enables a high productive capacity to be obtained in the operating line in each functioning condition.

The device is particularly suitable for a multi-stage stacking machine, preferably provided with three stacking sections.

The stacking machine is thus able to fully exploit the downstream apparatus, generally the folding apparatus, which must of necessity be supplied continuously at maximum frequency, in order to guarantee maximum productive capacity.

The passage between the operating configurations is obtained thanks to the switching of a selector means at a time, with a consequent simplification of the control activation.

The possibility of activating the selector means signifies that progressively faster feeders can be worked with, and ever-closer sheet articles can be supplied, offering great benefits in terms of productivity.