Rotary feeder for the accurate placing of sheet elements on flat supports

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a feeder wherein it includes at least one fixed magazine (10) for storing stacked sheet elements (8), one press roller (11) cooperating with a device (4) for continuously feeding each flat support (2) to be provided with one sheet element (8), at least one member (22) for picking up and laying down the sheet elements one at a time by means of suction, and means (12 to 17) for supporting and actuating said picking up member (22), said means being disposed so as to provide said member with at least a partly hypocycloidal trajectory (30, 30') so that two points (31, 32) for turning back the hypocycloid coincide with firstly the point for picking up a sheet element (8) in said magazine (10), and secondly with the point for transferring said element (8) to said press roller (11).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotary feeder for accurately placing sheet elements on flat supports, comprising: at least one fixed, translation-adjustable magazine for storing stacked sheet elements;   a suction cylinder cooperating with a device for continuously feeding flat supports, each flat support to be provided with one sheet element;   a press roller located adjacent to and cooperating with said suction cylinder;   at least one picking up member for picking up and transferring the sheet elements one at a time to said suction cylinder; and   moving means for supporting and driving said picking up member along an at least partly hypocycloidal trajectory so that two turning back points of the hypocycloidal trajectory coincide with a first point for picking up each sheet element in said magazine and a second point for transferring each sheet element to said suction cylinder adjacent said press roller and so that said picking up member, from said second point, avoids said press roller while transferring each sheet element to said suction cylinder;   whereby each sheet element is attached at the first point to said picking up member with a relative nil speed between said picking up member and said fixed magazine, and at the second point each sheet element is disengaged from said picking up member during a turning back movement of said picking up member with respect to said press roller, thus ensuring an accurate continuous positioning at high speed of the sheet elements on the flat supports.   
     
     
       2. A rotary feeder according to claim 1 wherein said suction cylinder is located adjacent said device, said device comprising a conveyor for feeding the flat supports adjacent to said cylinder. 
     
     
       3. A rotary feeder according to claim 1 wherein said device comprises a conveyor belt. 
     
     
       4. A rotary feeder according to claim 1 wherein said picking up member comprises at least one suction cup; and said moving means comprises at least one suction sup carrier mounted on a support for rotation around a carrier axis parallel to an axis of said suction cylinder and driven in rotation with said support around a trajectory axis which is parallel to said axis of said suction cylinder and in synchronism with a speed of rotation of said suction cylinder, said carrier having indexing means for providing said suction cup with the two turning back points along the hypocycloidal trajectory at respectively the first and second points of picking up and transferring the sheet elements. 
     
     
       5. A rotary feeder according to claim 4 wherein said moving means comprises a gear fastened by wedges onto said carrier axis of the suction cup carrier and a fixed circular toothing centered on said trajectory axis engagable with said gear. 
     
     
       6. A rotary feeder according to claim 4 wherein said magazine comprises bags to be placed on carton blanks of composite boxes, said bags being integral and detachable by pulling up on heels on said bags, said bags with said heels being bundled and stored in said magazine; and said picking up member has back means for providing the picking up member with a slight, well-defined backward movement when a bag is picked up to facilitate the pulling up of the bags.   
     
     
       7. A rotary feeder according to claim 6 wherein said back means further includes rotation means for providing said circular toothing with a slight rotation around said trajectory axis to return the circular toothing to a normal position. 
     
     
       8. A rotary feeder according to claim 7 wherein said rotation means comprises a cam provided with a recess acting on a push-button joined to a bearing on said circular toothing, said cam being indexed by rotation of said support. 
     
     
       9. A rotary feeder according to claim 6 wherein the suction cup carrier comprises first and second suction cups, said first suction cap being oriented to engage the bag close to a pulling up line thereof, said second suction cup being oriented to engage the bag close to an opposite extremity thereof, said second suction cup being disposed to engage the bag before said first suction cup. 
     
     
       10. A rotary feeder according to claim 6 wherein said magazine comprises fixed fingers engagable in holes provided in said heels of the bags, and pushing means for pushing said heels towards a bag in picking up plane defined by a presentation frame provided with positioning fingers, said pushing means removing the heels after pulling up of the bags. .Iadd. 
     
     
       11.  A method for accurately placing sheet elements on flat supports, said method comprising storing a plurality of sheet elements in a storage device, feeding individual flat supports to a location to be joined to a sheet element supplied from said storage device, picking up by at least one picking up member individual sheet elements from said storage device and releasing said individual sheet elements to be joined to said flat supports being fed, driving said picking up member over a curved path including a hypocycloidal trajectory having a first and second turning back point, said first turning back point coinciding with a first point for picking up individual sheet elements from said storage device and said second turning back point coinciding with a second point for releasing each of said sheet elements for joining to said flat supports, said picking up member being driven from said first point along a hypocycloidal trajectory, then along a circular path to said second point, and then along a hypocycloidal trajectory to said first point. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. A method of claim 11, further including attaching said sheet elements at said first point to said picking up member with relative nil speed between said picking up member and said storage device. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. A method of claim 12, further including releasing said sheet elements from said picking up member at said second point onto a suction cylinder. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. A method of claim 12, wherein said picking up member is driven from said first point along a hypocycloidal trajectory for about 90°, then along a circular path for about 180° to said second point, and then along a hypocycloidal trajectory for about 90° to said first point. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. A method of claim 11, wherein said sheet elements are received from said nicking up member at said second point with relative nil speed between said picking up member 
     
     
        and said suction cylinder. .Iaddend..Iadd.16.  A method for accurately placing sheet elements on flat supports, said method comprising storing a plurality of sheet elements in a storage device, feeding flat supports to a location to be joined to a sheet element supplied from said storage device, picking up individual sheet elements one at a time from said storage device by at least one picking up member, releasing said sheet elements to be joined to said flat supports from said at least one picking up member, transferring the released sheet elements one at a time by a transfer device to a location for joining to said flat supports, driving said at least one picking up member along an at least partially hypocycloidal trajectory so that two turning back points of said hypocycloidal trajectory coincide with a first point for picking up each of said sheet elements from said storage device and a second point wherein each of said sheet elements are released from said at least one picking up member, said driving said at least one picking up member being along a circular path to said second point and then along a hypocycloidal trajectory to said first point, whereby each of said sheet elements are attached at said first point to said at least one picking up member with relative nil speed between said at least one picking up member and said storage device, and at said second point each of said sheet elements are released from said at least one picking up member during a turning back movement of said at least one picking up member thereby avoiding said transfer device, thus ensuring an accurate continuous positioning at high 
     
     
        speed of said sheet elements on said flat supports. .Iaddend..Iadd.17.  A method of claim 16, wherein said driving said at least one nicking up member is in synchronization with the operation of said transfer device whereby said sheet elements are transferred from said at least one picking up member to said transfer device at relative nil speed therebetween. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. A rotary feeder for accurately placing sheet elements on flat supports, said rotary feeder comprising storage means for storing a Plurality of sheet elements, transfer means for feeding flat supports to a location to be joined to said sheet elements supplied from said storage means, at least one picking up member for picking up individual sheet elements from said storage means and releasing said individual sheet elements to be joined to said flat supports fed by said transfer means, and moving means for driving said at least one picking up member over a curved path including a hypocycloidal trajectory having a first and second turning back point, said first turning back point coinciding with a first point for picking up individual sheet elements from said storage means and said second turning back point coinciding with a second point for releasing each of said sheet elements for joining to said flat supports fed by said transfer means, said moving means driving said at least one picking up member from said first point along a hypocycloidal trajectory, then along a circular path to said second point, and then along a hypocycloidal trajectory to said first point. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. A rotary feeder according to claim 18, wherein said moving means in cooperation with said at least one picking up element is operative for attaching individual sheet elements at said first point to said at least one picking up member with relative nil speed between said at least one picking up member and said storage means, and is operative for releasing from said at least one picking up member said individual sheet elements at said second point for joining to said flat supports fed by said transfer means. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. A rotary feeder according to claim 19, wherein said moving means drives said at least one picking up member from said first point along a hypocycloidal trajectory for about 90°, then along a curved path for about 180° to said second point, and then along a hypocycloidal trajectory for about 90° to said first point. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. A rotary feeder according to claim 18, wherein said sheet elements are received from said at least one picking up member at said second point during a turning back movement of said at least one 
     
     
        picking up member with respect to said second point. .Iaddend..Iadd.22.  A rotary feeder of claim 18, further including a suction cylinder for transferring said sheet elements from said at least one picking up member to said flat supports to be joined thereto. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. A rotary feeder of claim 22, wherein said sheet elements are received by said suction cylinder from said at least one picking up member at relative nil speed therebetween. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. A rotary feeder for accurately placing sheet elements on flat supports, said rotary feeder comprising storage means for storing a plurality of sheet elements, first transfer means for feeding flat supports to a location to be joined to a sheet element supplied from said storage means, at least one picking up member for picking up individual sheet elements one at a time from said storage means and releasing said individual sheet elements to be joined to a flat support fed by said first transfer means, second transfer means for transferring individual sheet elements released from said at least one picking up member to a location adjacent said first transfer means for joining to a flat support fed thereby, and moving means for driving said at least one picking up member along at least a partially hypocycloidal trajectory so that two turning back points of said hypocycloidal trajectory coincide with a first point for picking up each said sheet element in said storage means and a second point for transferring each said sheet element to said second transfer means so that said at least one picking up member, from said second point, avoids said second transfer means while transferring each said sheet element thereto, wherein said moving means drives said at least one picking up member along a curved path to said second point and then along a hypocycloidal trajectory to said first point, whereby each said sheet element is attached at said first point to said at least one picking up member with relative nil speed between said at least one picking up member and said storage means, and at said second point each said sheet element is discharged from said at least one picking up member during a turning back movement of said at least one picking up member with respect to said second transfer means, thus ensuring an accurate continuous positioning at high speed of said sheet 
     
     
        elements on said flat supports. .Iaddend..Iadd.25.  A rotary feeder of claim 24, wherein said storage means comprises a translation-adjustable fixed magazine. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. A rotary feeder of claim 25, wherein the operation of said second transfer means is synchronized with the operation of said moving means such that said sheet elements are transferred from said at least one picking up member to said second transfer means with relative nil speed therebetween. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. A rotary feeder of claim 26, wherein said sheet elements from said first point to said second point travels along a circular path having said portion tangent to an outer surface of said second transfer means. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. A rotary feeder of claim 24, wherein said second transfer means comprises a suction cylinder. .Iaddend..Iadd.29. A rotary feeder of claim 24, wherein said second transfer means comprises a press 
     
     
        roller. .Iaddend..Iadd.30.  A method for accurately placing sheet elements on flat supports, said method comprising storing a plurality of sheet elements in a storage device, feeding individual flat supports to a location to be joined to a sheet element supplied from said storage device, picking up by at least one picking up member individual sheet elements from said storage device and releasing said individual sheet elements to be joined to said flat supports being fed, driving said picking up member over a curved path including a hypocycloidal trajectory having a first and second turning back point, said first turning back point coinciding with a first point for picking up individual sheet elements from said storage device and said second turning back point coinciding with a second point for releasing each of said sheet elements for joining to said flat supports, releasing said sheet elements from said picking up member at said second point onto a suction cylinder, said picking up member being driven from said first point along a hypocycloidal trajectory, then along a circular path to said second point, and then along a hypocycloidal trajectory to said first point. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. A method for accurately placing sheet elements on flat supports, said method comprising storing a plurality of sheet elements in a storage device, feeding individual flat supports to a location to be joined to a sheet element supplied from said storage device, picking up by at least one picking up member individual sheet elements from said storage device and releasing said individual sheet elements to be joined to said flat supports being fed, driving said picking up member over a curved path including a hypocycloidal trajectory having a first and second turning back point, said first turning back point coinciding with a first point for picking up individual sheet elements from said storage device and said second turning back point coinciding with a second point for releasing each of said sheet elements for joining to said flat supports, said picking up member being driven from said first point along a hypocycloidal trajectory for about 90°, then along a circular path for about 180° to said second point, and then along a hypocycloidal trajectory for about 90° to said first point. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. A rotary feeder for accurately placing sheet elements on flat supports, said rotary feeder comprising storage means for storing a plurality of sheet elements, transfer means for feeding flat supports to a location to be joined to said sheet elements supplied from said storage means, at least one picking up member for picking up individual sheet elements from said storage means and releasing said individual sheet elements to be joined to said flat supports fed by said transfer means, and moving means for driving said at least one picking up member over a curved path including a hypocycloidal trajectory having a first and second turning back point, said first turning back point coinciding with a first point for picking up individual sheet elements from said storage means and said second turning back point coinciding with a second point for releasing each of said sheet elements for joining to said flat supports fed by said transfer means, said moving means driving said at least one picking up member from said first point along a hypocycloidal trajectory for about 90°, then along a circular path for about 180° to said second point, and then alone a hypocycloidal trajectory for about 90° to said first point. .Iaddend..Iadd.33. A rotary feeder for accurately placing sheet elements on flat supports, said rotary feeder comprising storage means for storing a plurality of sheet elements, first transfer means for feeding flat supports to a location to be joined to a sheet element supplied from said storage means, at least one picking up member for picking up individual sheet elements one at a time from said storage means and releasing said individual sheet elements to be joined to a flat support fed by said first transfer means, second transfer means for transferring individual sheet elements released from said at least one picking up member to a location adjacent said first transfer means for joining to a flat support fed thereby, and moving means for driving said at least one picking up member along at least a partially hypocycloidal trajectory so that two turning back points of said hypocycloidal trajectory coincide with a first point for picking up each said sheet element in said storage means and a second point for transferring each said sheet element to said second transfer means so that said at least one picking up member, from said second point, avoids said second transfer means while transferring each said sheet element thereto, said sheet elements from said first point to said second point travel along a circular path having a portion tangent to an outer surface of said second transfer means, whereby each said sheet element is attached at said first point to said at least one picking up member with relative nil speed between said at least one picking up member and said storage means, and at said second point each said sheet element is discharged from said at least one picking up member during a turning back movement of said at least one picking up member with respect to said second transfer means, the operation of said second transfer means synchronized with the operation of said moving means such that said sheet elements are transferred from said at least one picking up member to said second transfer means with relative nil speed therebetween, thus ensuring an accurate continuous positioning at high speed of said sheet elements on said flat supports. .Iaddend.