Method and Device for Separating and Conveying a Number of Flat Objects

Abstract

A device ( 2 ) is described for separating and conveying towards a packaging station ( 5 ) a predetermined number of flat objects fed in piles ( 13. 13 ′) by a folding unit ( 1 ). The device ( 2 ) comprises: a conveying surface ( 20, 120 ) provided with a plurality of slots ( 21 ), a plurality of shoes or carriages ( 24 ) which support a plurality of racks ( 31 ) moveable from a lowered position to a raised position in which the prongs ( 32 ) of the racks pass through the slots ( 21 ) of the conveying surface ( 20, 120 ) to protrude upward therefrom. A predetermined number of flat objects are separated from a pile ( 13, 13 ′) being formed to form a pack ( 113, 113 ′) between a pair of racks ( 31 ) supported by a pair of carriages ( 24 ), which are made to translate so as to convey the pack ( 113, 113 ′) towards the packaging station ( 5 ).

1 . A device ( 2 ) for separating and conveying towards a packaging station ( 5 ) a predetermined number of flat objects fed in piles ( 13 ,  13 ′) from a folding unit ( 1 ), the device ( 2 ) comprising:
 a conveying surface ( 20 ,  120 ) provided with a plurality of longitudinal through slots ( 21 ),   a plurality of shoes or carriages ( 24 ) mounted slidably on guides ( 22 ,  23 ) beneath the conveying surface,   a plurality of racks ( 31 ) mounted movable on said carriages ( 24 ) to pass from a lower lowered position beneath said conveying surface ( 20 ,  120 ) to a raised position in which the prongs ( 32 ) of the racks pass through the longitudinal slots ( 21 ) of the conveying surface ( 20 ,  120 ) to protrude upward therefrom,   wherein said racks ( 31 ) are operated so as to separate, from a pile being formed ( 13 ,  13 ′), a predetermined number of flat objects to form a pack ( 113 ,  113 ′) between a pair of racks ( 31 ) supported by a respective pair of carriages ( 24 ) which are made to translate on their guides so as to convey the pack ( 113 ,  113 ′) towards the packaging station ( 5 ), and wherein the device ( 2 ) comprises a plurality of pairs of carriages ( 24 ), each pair consisting of a rear carriage ( 24   a ,  24   a ′,  24   c ,  24   c ′) and a front carriage ( 24   b ,  24   b ′,  24   d ,  24   d ′), wherein the front carriage is driven by a motorization and connecting means ( 27 ,  28 ) are provided to constrain integrally the rear carriage to the front carriage.   
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . A device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said connection means ( 27 ,  28 ) comprise a rod ( 27 ) connected to said rear carriage ( 24   a ,  24   a ′,  24   c ,  24   c ′) and protruding forward therefrom substantially parallel to the guides ( 22 ,  22 ′) and a sleeve ( 28 ) provided in said front carriage ( 24   b ,  24   b ′,  24   d ,  24   d ′) to slide on said rod ( 27 ), said sleeve ( 28 ) comprising locking means to be locked integrally in position on said rod ( 27 ). 
   
   
       4 . A device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1  characterized in that said guides comprise a pair of guide bars ( 22 ,  22 ′) parallel to said conveying surface ( 20 ,  120 ) and parallel and spaced apart from each other so as to leave a space ( 23 ) within which said carriages ( 24 ) can slide. 
   
   
       5 . A device ( 2 ) according to  claim 3 , characterized in that it comprises four pairs of carriages ( 24 ): a first pair ( 24   a ,  24   b ), disposed on the outer side of the first guide bar ( 22 ), a third pair ( 24   c ′,  24   d ′) disposed on the inner side of the second guide bar ( 22 ′) and a fourth pair ( 23   a ′,  24   b ′) disposed on the outer side of the second guide bar ( 22 ′). 
   
   
       6 . A device ( 2 ) according to,  claim 1  characterized in that each rack ( 31 ) is supported by a traverse bar ( 30 ) which cantilevers on a shaft ( 29 ) of a linear actuator provided on the respective carriage ( 24 ). 
   
   
       7 . A device ( 2 ) according to  claim 5 , characterized in that each rack ( 31 ) has a width equal to about half the width of said conveyor ( 20 ,  120 ) and the transverse bars ( 30 ) of the outer carriages ( 24   a ,  24   b ,  24   a ′,  24   b ′) cantilever inward, whereas the transverse bars ( 30 ) of the inner carriages ( 24   c ,  24   d ,  24   c ′,  25   d ′) cantilever outward, wherein the height of each rack ( 31 ) is less than the extension of the shaft ( 29 ) when the racks ( 31 ) are in a raised position. 
   
   
       8 . A device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1  characterized in that each carriage ( 24 ) comprises pairs of wheels ( 25 ) which run on tracks ( 125 ) disposed above and below on said guides ( 22 ,  22 ′). 
   
   
       9 . A device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1  characterized in that upstream of said conveying surface ( 20 ,  120 ) separator-pushing means ( 19 ) able to separate from said plies ( 13 ,  13 ′) a predetermined number of flat objects and to push them forwards on the conveying surface ( 20 ,  120 ) are provided. 
   
   
       10 . A device ( 2 ) according to  claim 8 , characterized in that said separator-pushing means ( 19 ) comprise a pair of separating plates ( 18 ) mounted on respective pistons ( 17 ) mounted retractably, extendably and rotatably in respective cylinders ( 16 ). 
   
   
       11 . A device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1  characterized in that said conveying surface ( 20 ,  120 ) comprise a slightly downward sloping conveying surface ( 20 ) and a tilting surface ( 120 ) disposed beneath the packaging station ( 5 ) and hinged to said sloping conveying surface ( 20 ) to pass from an inclined position with a slope equal to that of the sloping conveying surface ( 20 ) to a horizontal position. 
   
   
       12 . A device ( 2 ) according to  claim 10 , characterized in that said tilting surface ( 120 ) is operated by a linear actuator ( 122 ) disposed at its end. 
   
   
       13 . A device ( 2 ) according to  claim 1  characterized in that said packaging station ( 5 ) comprises a vertically movable front plate ( 50 ), a horizontally movable rear plate ( 51 ) and an upper plate ( 52 ) integrally supporting two side plates ( 53 , 54 ) said upper plate ( 520  being vertically and transversally movable. 
   
   
       14 . A method of separating and conveying towards a packaging station ( 5 ) a predetermined number of flat objects fed in piles ( 13 ,  13 ′) from a folding unit ( 1 ) using a device ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , the method comprising the following steps:
 separating from a bile being formed ( 13 ,  13 ′) a predetermined number of flat objects so as to form a pack ( 113 ,  113 ′) between a pair of racks ( 31 ) supported by a pair of carriages ( 24 ) sliding on guides ( 22 ,  22 ′) in which said racks comprise prongs ( 32 ) which pass through slots ( 21 ) formed in a conveying surfaces ( 20 ,  120 ) and   conveying the pack ( 113 ,  113 ′) between the pair of racks ( 31 ) by means of translation of the respective pair of carriages ( 24 ) on the guides ( 22 ,  22 ′) towards the packaging station ( 5 ); said separation step taking place by means of a raising movement of said racks ( 31 ) and by means of the action, on said pile being formed ( 13 ,  13 ′), of separating and pushing means ( 19 ) disposed upstream of said conveying surface.   
   
   
       15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 13 , characterized in that said conveying step comprises the step of integrally constraining said pair of carriages ( 24 ) consisting of a rear carriage ( 24   a ,  24   a ′,  24   c ,  24   c ′) and a front carriage ( 24   b ,  24   b ′,  24   d ,  24   d ′), and moving at least on of said two carriages constrained to each other. 
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 14 , characterized in that said conveying surface ( 20 ,  120 ) is able to convey two parallel lines of packs ( 113 ,  113 ′), in that said packaging station is able to receive a pair of packs ( 113 ,  113 ′) and in that said carriages ( 24 ) are synchronized so as to convey said packs ( 113 ,  113 ′) side by side or offset from each other. 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 15 , characterized in that two pairs of carriages ( 24 ) act alternately on each line of said conveyor ( 20 ,  120 ). 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 16 , characterized in that said conveying surface ( 20 ,  120 ) comprises a slightly downward sloping surface ( 20 ) tilting surface ( 120 ), wherein said tilting surface passes from a position with a slope equal to that of the sloping surface ( 20 ) when the packs ( 113 ,  113 ′) are conveyed into the packaging station ( 5 ) to a horizontal position, when the packs ( 113 ,  113 ′) are compressed and ejected from the packaging station ( 5 ). 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 17 , characterized in that said packaging station comprises a vertically movable front plate ( 50 ) and a horizontally movable rear plate ( 51 ) and in that said packaging step entails:
 lifting of the front plate ( 50 ) to allow the pack ( 113 ,  113 ′) to pass,   lowering of the front plate ( 50 ) and rearward movement of the rear plate ( 51 ) to compress the pack ( 113 ,  113 ′),   wherein during said packaging step the carriages ( 24 ) return to their starting position to pick up a new pack.   
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 18 , characterized in that said packaging station further comprises an upper plate ( 52 ) integrally supporting two side plates ( 53 ,  54 ), and in that said packaging step further entails:
 lowering of said upper plate ( 52 ) so that a first pack ( 113 ′) is positioned between the two side plates ( 53 ,  54 ) to be compressed,   a sideways movement of said upper plate ( 52 ) so that the first pack ( 113 ′) is transferred to an outlet conveyor ( 7 ),   a raising and sideways movement of said upper plate ( 52 ) so as to bring it into register with a second pack ( 113 ),—of said upper plate ( 52 ) so that the second pack ( 113 ) is situated between the two side plates ( 53 ,  54 ),   a sideways movement of said upper plate ( 52 ) so that the second pack ( 113 ) is transferred to the outlet conveyor ( 7 ).