DALLAN SERGIO (IT)
| US5027700A | 1991-07-02 | |||
| EP0080063A1 | 1983-06-01 |
C L A I M S
1 . A packeting machine for U- and C-shaped metal profiles, characterised by comprising:
- a feed line (4) for the profile pieces (6, 6', 6"), - means (48) for transferring pairs of said pieces towards a device (22) for coupling said pieces together with their cavities mutually facing,
- means (10, 12, 14, 16, 18) for their driving along a rectangular vertical path,
- support means (34) for said coupled pieces,
- first means (56) for transferring at least two side-by-side pairs of coupled pieces from said support means (34) towards means (36) for stacking said pairs of pieces,
- second means (44) for transferring said stacked side-by-side pairs,
- means for binding said stacked side-by-side pairs of pieces.
2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the transfer means consist of a chute (48) provided with a device (54) for locking the pieces, said device enabling one pair of pieces at a time to be released towards the coupling device (22).
3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the coupling device consists of two lifters (22, 22') comprising a seat (28) into which those pairs of pieces to be coupled together with their cavities mutually facing fall by gravity.
4. A machine as claimed in claims 1 and 3, characterised in that the drive means consist, for each lifter, of two chains (14, 14'), each of which is deviated about a lower sprocket wheel (10, 10') and about two upper sprocket wheels (16, 18) of diameter less than the lower wheels, to form a rectangular path, the lower wheels being connected together by a further chain (12), one of said lower sprocket wheels being fixed to the motor shaft. 5. A machine as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the support means consist of ramps (34). 6. A machine as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the transfer means consist of an appendix (56) mounted on the coupling device, said appendix being movable between a position in which it does not interfere with said pairs of pieces and a position in which it interferes with said pairs when said pairs lie side by side, substantially in contact, on said support means. 7. A machine as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the stacking means (36) consist of supports which are vertically movable to enable stacking of at least two pairs on at least two pairs of profiles already positioned on them. 8. A machine as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the second transfer means consist of pushers (44) for translating at least four pairs of side-by-side pieces superposed in pairs. |
PACKETING MACHINE FOR U- AND C-SHAPED METAL PROFILES
The present invention relates to a packeting machine for U- and C- shaped metal profiles.
An object of the invention is to provide a machine which enables C- or U-shaped metal profiles to be easily and comfortably packeted.
This and other objects which will be apparent from the ensuing description are attained according to the invention by a packeting machine for U- and C-shaped metal profiles as described in claim 1 .
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine according to the invention,
Figure 2 is a side view thereof, Figures 3-22 illustrate the machine operating cycle.
As can be seen from the figures the packeting machine of the invention comprises substantially a packeting bench 2 faced by a conveyor belt 4 for advancing the C- or U-shaped metal profile pieces 6, 6', 6".
At both ends 8 of the bench two sprocket wheels 10, 10' of parallel axes are provided, one of which is motorized, they being connected together by a rigid chain 12. On the same rotation shafts as the wheels 10 and 10' there are fixed two further sprocket wheels 14, 14', these being connected to wheels 16, 18 by chains 20.
To the links of the chains 20 there are connected two lifters 22, 22' consisting substantially of a horizontal arm 24 secured to the chains, and with a profiled appendix indicated overall by 26.
Said appendix 26 comprises essentially a groove 28 of trapezoidal cross-section defined by an inclined surface 30 and a vertical part 32.
Two ramps 34 are provided on the upper surface of the bench, they extending inclined from an edge of the bench towards its centre, at their upper ends they being faced by two horizontal bars 36 movable vertically under the control of pistons 38. Two counteracting members 40 also movable vertically under the control of a piston 42 are interposed between the bars. On the bench there are also mounted two pushers 44 movable horizontally towards rollers 46 coplanar with the surface of the bars 36 when these are in their lowered configuration, and advancing parallel to the axis of the belt 4.
Between the belt 4 and the bench two chutes 48 are provided along which the profile pieces are disposed side by side with their cavities facing upwards.
The chutes 48 are provided with blocks 50, movable under the control of pistons 52, which halt the profile travel. A gripping member 54 is also provided, the purpose of which is clarified hereinafter.
The machine operates in the following manner, starting from the configuration shown in Figure 3 in which the lifters 22 and 22' are completely lowered, the bars 36 are raised, the counteracting members 40 are raised and the pushers 44 are in their configuration most distant from the roller table 46.
While in this configuration a plurality of profiles, originating from an upstream profiling and cutting line, are positioned on the chutes by automatic operations.
The block 50 is made to withdraw so that the two side-by-side profiles 6, 6' are able to slide along the chutes and reach their lowest position.
During this step the gripping member 52 retains the profile 6" upstream of these two profiles 6, 6' to prevent it descending with them.
The motor operating the sprocket wheels 10, 10' is started to drive the lifters 22, which with their groove 28 interfere in sequence with the two profiles 6, 6', the shape of the inclined surface 30 being such as to cause these two profiles to position themselves inside the groove 28 with their cavities facing each other (see Figures 4, 5 and 6), to form the first pack A.
As a result of the interference of the ramps with the pack A, this becomes positioned on them, the lifters then returning to the position shown in Figure 4 to collect two further profiles which in the meantime have been released by the block 52.
The further upward travel of the lifters has as its effect not only the positioning of a second pack B of profiles on the ramp 34 but also the advancement of the first pack A caused by the thrust provoked by the vertical part 32 of the appendix 26 (see Figure 8). By continuing with the movement of the lifters the third pack C is brought onto the ramps while simultaneously the vertical parts 32 move the two side-by-side packs A and B along the ramps (see Figure 9). In the next step in which the pack D is positioned on the inclined surface a pusher member 56 is operated such that, during the horizontal movement of the lifter (see Figure 1 1 ) it interferes with the two packs A and B to shift them onto the bars 36 which, as already stated, are in the facing configuration at the end of the ramps (see Figures 12 and 13).
During this step those profiles 40 which have been completely raised act as a stop for the side-by-side packs A and B. Continuing with the operating cycle, the pusher member 56 is again returned to a position in which it does not interfere with the packs, the two
bars 36 then being again lowered under the control of the pistons 38 (see Figure 14).
A fifth pack E is then loaded onto the inclined surface (see Figure 15), then during the loading of the sixth pack F (see Figure 16) the pusher is again made to interfere with the packs C and D, which are dragged into position above the packs A and B (see Figures 17 and 18).
At this point, while the lifters continue to rotate and to bring new packs onto the ramps, the stops 40 are firstly lowered (see Figure 19) and the two pushers 44 are then operated to cause the packs A, B, C and D to translate onto the roller table 46 (see Figure 20).
During this step the bars 36 are again made to rise (see Figure 21 ) and the pushers 44 are returned to the configuration in which they are most distant from the roller table, to commence a new operating cycle.
The four packs A, B, C and D are then advanced along the rollers 46 compacted at their front and rear ends, and are wrapped by a tape.
From the aforegoing it is apparent that the packeting machine presents the advantage of easily and comfortably packeting for packs of profiles.