EP0389751B1 - Lateral-adjustment device for a slotting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is directed to a device for sidewise shifting and positioning of a tool in a slotting station situated within a machine used for processing sheet-like workpieces. The station includes a creasing tool, a counter tool, which are mounted on a first pair of vertical, arranged horizontally extending shafts, a slotting tool and counterpart, both fitted on a second pair of shafts arranged downstream of the first pair, a master plate being held in the transfer direction of the workpiece by two crosswise shafts, one of which is for guiding and the other is for shifting the master plate on the guiding shift, the plate having an arrangement for gripping each of the upper tools of the pairs of tools, which arrangement includes an arrangement for laterally shifting the arrangement for one of the two tools relative to the master plate while holding the tool simultaneously fully parallel to the master plate.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for shifting the lateral position of a tool mounted on a rotating shaft in the notching station within a machine transforming thick or corrugated cardboard plates into boxes. For the record, this station performs, in the direction of movement of the plates, a first upsetting operation preparing parallel lines for subsequent folding and a second operation of cutting notches in the upstream and downstream edges of the plate, normally located in the extension of the previously marked lines, which notches define the future folding parts of the box. To ensure a smooth progress of this machining, a drive operation is frequently interposed between the two operations mentioned above.

For each of these operations, the plate elements pass between pairs of circular tools: an active tool and its counterpart, mounted in correspondence on two horizontal shafts, one upper and one lower, which are arranged transversely to the direction of movement of the elements in plate. The station thus usually comprises three vertical pairs of shafts: a discharge section at the inlet, a middle drive section and a slit section at the outlet. This station also includes mechanisms for moving laterally together each triplet of pairs of tools located along the same line parallel to the direction of movement of the plate elements, which makes it possible to maintain, during adjustments relating to the format of the boxes to be manufactured, the slitting tools in the axis of the upsetting tools.

Each of these mechanisms essentially consists of a master plate for each triplet of upper or lower tools, this plate having on its periphery means for guiding the lateral position of the tools on their respective shaft. A guide means can be, for example, a notch in a semicircle having the effect of a fork coming to engage in the transverse groove of the circular tool which can thus continue to rotate freely driven by its shaft. Another guiding means can consist of a notch in a wider semicircle completed by added fingers or pads which, in turn, engage in the transverse groove of the tool. Other embodiments are also possible, in particular by the use of a protruding wear disc rotating with the tool and caught between two wear pads mounted on either side of the master plate.

Each master plate is held vertically in the direction of movement of the sheets by at least two shafts: a smooth guide shaft passing through a fork of the plate which is completed by an upper and lower guide block in contact with this shaft, and a shaft threaded passing through a ball nut also integral with this plate. So, by turning thanks to an electric motor the threaded shaft which acts on the ball nut of the plate, it is possible to move this plate laterally, i.e. to the right or to the left, while maintaining it at all points vertical oriented in the direction of movement of the sheets. This plate then simultaneously drives the triplet of upper tools which therefore always remains along the same line. A lower analog device moves the triplet of counterpart tools in correspondence. Such a mechanism is known from US-A-3,257,882.

It is evident that, for a notching station comprising six parallel rows of machining tools, the upper devices for adjusting the position of the tools require at least one common guide shaft and three threaded adjusting shafts if the Cut shapes have symmetry about the center line of the station, or six individual trees, three coming from each side, otherwise. It is also necessary to provide an identical number of trees for the lower part.

It has however proved useful, thereafter, to be able to slightly offset laterally, over a short distance, the upsetting tool with respect to the slitting tool so that the future bending takes place a little closer of one of the flaps than of the other. Indeed, when folding the box, there comes a time when a first flap must be folded inward in the middle of the other three still vertical. In this case, if the folds are exactly centered in relation to the slots, it suffices that one of the adjacent flaps is slightly oblique so that the operation is difficult. Conversely, if this folding is carried out exactly in the extension of the edge of the adjacent flap, therefore that the pushing has been carried out in the extension of the side of the slot, then the width of this same slot constitutes during this folding operation a safety margin available on both sides.

A first solution would consist in providing, in the upper part only, for each triplet of tools belonging to the same line, a first device for positioning the upsetting tool only and a second device for positioning the slitting tool and any associated driving tool. This solution would result in doubling the number of guide shafts and threaded shafts thereby increasing the weight of this station, increasing its cost while the corrections are small compared to the initial displacements.

The currently selected solution consists in dismantling the active part of the pressure tool from the body fixed on the shaft, and reassembling it by inserting laterally one or more wedges in the form of a transverse disc of standardized thickness. This solution however involves very long adjustment times during the transition from production from one type of box to another. Indeed, after each test, the operator must dismantle the faulty tool or tools to change the shims, then continue his tests until a satisfactory final result.

The object of the present invention is a device allowing precise and easy shifting of the lateral position of the delivery tool with respect to the line of action of the corresponding splitting tool, or of the splitting tool with respect to the repressor tool. Such a device must allow a displacement of a large mass over a short distance in a jerky manner so that stopping in the chosen position can be easily achieved. Obviously, this device must remain simple in design to ensure its solidity and therefore reliability.

These aims are achieved by means of a device for shifting the lateral position of a delivery tool in the notching station located in a machine machining plate elements. This station comprises at least tools for upsetting and counterpart mounted in correspondence on a first vertical pair of horizontal parallel shafts arranged transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the plate elements. This station also includes slitting and counterpart tools mounted on another pair of shafts arranged downstream in a manner similar to the first. This station further comprises mechanisms for lateral lateral positioning of all the upper tools located on the same line parallel to the direction of movement of the plate elements. In this station, each mechanism essentially consists of a master plate kept vertical oriented in the direction of movement of the plate elements by at least two transverse shafts: one for guiding and one thread, the latter being able to impart lateral displacement to the plate. , which master plate presents on its periphery of the lateral guide means of the respective tools. According to the invention, the lateral guide means for a tool to be offset at will relative to the other tools are located on a secondary plate attached to the master plate by mechanical means making it possible to impart a translational movement to this secondary plate. orthogonal to the master plate while keeping it at all points parallel to this same master plate.

• une broche horizontale fixée orthogonalement à la plaque maîtresse et présentant un orifice transversal vertical,
• un bloc métallique solidaire de la plaque secondaire, tous deux étant traversés par un orifice orthogonal à la plaque secondaire leur permettant d'être engagés sur la broche le long de laquelle ils peuvent coulisser. Ce bloc présente de plus un orifice vertical croisant la broche au niveau de son orifice tranversal vertical,
• une tige verticale dont le pivot inférieur est engagé dans l'orifice transversal vertical de la broche, dont la partie inférieure située dans l'orifice vertical du bloc est cylindrique excentrée et dont la partie supérieure terminée par une tête est maintenue, mobile en rotation, à la plaque maîtresse par un support. Alors, tout mouvement de rotation imprimé au niveau de la tête à la tige se traduit par interaction de la partie cylindrique excentrée dans l'orifice vertical du bloc en un mouvement de translation latérale de l'ensemble bloc/plaque secondaire le long de la broche.

According to a first embodiment, the mechanical means comprise:

• a horizontal pin fixed orthogonally to the master plate and having a vertical transverse orifice,
• a metal block secured to the secondary plate, both being traversed by an orifice orthogonal to the secondary plate allowing them to be engaged on the spindle along which they can slide. This block also has a vertical orifice crossing the spindle at its vertical transverse orifice,
• a vertical rod, the lower pivot of which is engaged in the vertical transverse orifice of the spindle, the lower part of which is located in the vertical orifice of the block is eccentric cylindrical and the upper part of which ends in a head is held, movable in rotation, to the main plate by a support. So, any rotational movement imparted at the level of the head to the rod results in interaction of the cylindrical part eccentric in the vertical orifice of the block in a lateral translational movement of the block / secondary plate assembly along the spindle.

It then proved useful to provide the head of the vertical rod at its upstream end with a bar crossing it vertically. This bar can be pushed back down by return means to engage its lower end in holes present on the upper face of the support. This bar can also be completed at its upper end by a button allowing it to be lifted against the action of the return means. Thus, this bar makes it possible to block the angular position of the head with respect to the support at predetermined values, therefore the lateral position of the secondary plate with respect to the master plate.

• une broche horizontale fixée orthogonalement à la plaque maîtresse (ou à la plaque secondaire)
• au moins une vis traversant othogonalement la plaque maîtresse (ou secondaire), la partie filetée ou hélicoïdale étant située du côté de la broche, la partie lisse étant tenue mobile en rotation dans la plaque maîtresse (ou secondaire) d'une part par la tête et d'autre part par un épaulement médian ou par une rondelle.
• une plaque secondaire (ou maîtresse) présentant un orifice lisse en correspondance de la broche et un orifice taraudé en correspondance de la vis de telle sorte que, une fois cette plaque secondaire engagée sur cette vis et broche (ou une fois la broche et la partie filetée de la vis engagées dans les orifices correspondants de la plaque maîtresse), toute rotation combinée de la ou des vis par action sur la tête provoque une translation orthogonal guidée par la broche de la plaque secondaire par rapport à la plaque maîtresse.

According to another embodiment, the mechanical means comprise:

• a horizontal pin fixed orthogonally to the master plate (or to the secondary plate)
• at least one screw othogonally passing through the master (or secondary) plate, the threaded or helical part being situated on the side of the spindle, the smooth part being held movable in rotation in the master (or secondary) plate on the one hand by the head and on the other hand by a median shoulder or by a washer.
• a secondary plate (or master) having a smooth orifice in correspondence with the spindle and a tapped orifice in correspondence with the screw so that, once this secondary plate is engaged on this screw and spindle (or once the spindle and the part thread of the screw engaged in the corresponding orifices of the master plate), any combined rotation of the screw or screws by action on the head causes an orthogonal translation guided by the spindle of the secondary plate relative to the master plate.

Advantageously then, the periphery of the screw head has a series of orifices allowing the angular position of the screw to be maintained by means of a ball pushed by a return means out of its housing located close to the head.

• la figure 1 est une vue de perspective d'un premier mode de réalisation du dispositif tel qu'observé de l'entrée de la station d'encochage,
• les figures 2a à 2c sont des vues en coupe selon le plan II de la figure 1 illustrant la position de l'ensemble bloc/plaque secondaire en fonction de la poignée d'action donc de la position de la tige verticale.
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un second mode de réalisation du dispositif.

The invention is described below in more detail with the aid of non-limiting exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the device as seen from the entrance to the notching station,
• Figures 2a to 2c are sectional views along plane II of Figure 1 illustrating the position of the block / secondary plate assembly as a function of the action handle, therefore of the position of the vertical rod.
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the device.

In FIG. 1 are shown a discharge tool 60 on a shaft 40 with its counterpart 75 mounted on a shaft 50. Further downstream, we can observe the right face of the upper drive tool 26 mounted on a shaft 20 Its counterpart as well as the tools further downstream of the slitting are not shown for better clarity of the drawing.

A master plate 100 for controlling the lateral position of the upper tools is held vertically oriented in the direction of movement of the sheets by two shafts: a guide shaft 30 and a threaded shaft 10. To improve the clarity of FIG. 1, the shaft guide 30 has been shown in sectioned form. Normally, this shaft is continuous smooth and chrome-plated to allow the guides 110 of the guide fork 105 of the master plate 100 to slide easily along this shaft. Two ball nuts 108 are fixed on either side of the nut 109 of the master plate 100. The threaded shaft passes through these two ball nuts 108, which nuts impose the master plate 100 on its vertical support orthogonal to the threaded shaft 10. In addition, when the threaded shaft 10 rotates in one direction or another, these ball nuts transmit to the plate 100 a corresponding displacement to the right or to the left.

This master plate 100 has on its periphery several notches in the form of a semicircle having fork effect which engage in a circular groove of the corresponding tool. The fork 107 of the splitting tool and the fork 106 engaged in the upper drive tool are visible in FIG. 1. In the device according to the invention, the fork of the master plate 100 with respect to the the delivery tool is replaced by an enlarged part which does not come into contact with this delivery tool 60. Instead, the groove 70 of the delivery tool 60 is engaged by the fork 226 belonging to a secondary plate 225. This secondary plate 225 is carried with its block 220 secured by a spindle 130. This spindle 130 is securely fixed orthogonally to the master plate 100 with respect to the delivery tool 60.

The spindle 130 has a vertical transverse orifice 135. Likewise, the block 220 has a vertical orifice 222 crossing the spindle at the level of the transverse orifice 135. A support 205 is moreover solidly fixed against the master plate vertically spindle 130. This support 205 holds a vertical rod 208 from above, the pivot 210 at the lower end of which is engaged in the orifice 135 of the spindle 130, and the part 209 of which is located inside the orifice 222 of the block 220. This vertical rod 208 is terminated at its upper end by a head 207. This head 207 is provided on the one hand, upstream side, with a handle 212 and on the other hand, downstream side, an extension through which passes a vertical bar of which only the upper button 213 is visible. Inside this extension, a return means such as a spring pushes this bar down. For example, this spring can act between a lower shoulder of the bar and the upper face of the housing containing this spring and this bar. This bar can engage in blocking orifices 211 present on the upper face of the support 205, thus blocking the angular position of the head 207 relative to the support 205.

The interaction of the eccentric cylindrical part 209 of the vertical rod 208 in the orifice 222 of the block 220 will be better understood on reading FIGS. 2a, b and c having, seen in cross section along the plane II of FIG. 1, the detail of the parts. We recognize in particular, underlying, a pivot 210 engaged in the spindle 130 itself integral with the master plate 100. It is further recognized, sliding along this spindle 130, part of the secondary plate 225 associated with the block 220. The cylindrical part 209 is offset by a distance d relative to the vertical axis of the pivot 210 and the vertical rod 208. The cross section of the orifice 222 of the block 220 is not exactly circular but consists of two semicircles of radius slightly greater than that of the cylindrical part 209, semicircles spaced apart in the direction parallel to the secondary plate by a distance d. As illustrated in FIG. 2a, the lower edge of this orifice 222 corresponds to the low position of the cylindrical part 209 when the handle is turned completely to the right or to the left. Conversely, the upper edge of this orifice 222 corresponds to the position of the cylindrical part 209 when the lever 212 is parallel to the secondary plate 225 as illustrated in FIG. 2b.

As will be readily seen from the view of FIGS. 1 and 2, any action on the handle 212 after lifting of the button 213 results in a rotation of the vertical rod 208 around the pivot of the 210 and inside its support 205. This rotation of the rod 208 implies a rotation of the cylindrical part 209 pushing on one side or the other the block 220, therefore moving the secondary plate 225 relative to the master plate 100. The operator usually accomplishes this rotation up to '' to be able to re-engage the bar in a new orifice 211 of the support 205. This lateral displacement of the secondary plate 225 has induced a similar displacement of the discharge tool 60 by the engagement of the fork 226 inside the groove 70. The counterpart 75 being sufficiently wide with respect to the small printed offset, it is not necessary to reconsider its position.

In Figure 3 is illustrated in perspective a second embodiment of the device according to the invention. Parts similar to those described above bear identical references. In particular, there is recognized a discharge tool 60 carried by the shaft 40 and its counterpart 75 carried by the shaft 50. The master plate 101 is held vertically in the direction of movement of the plate elements by a guide shaft 30 and a threaded shaft 10 acting on the nut 109 through two ball nuts 108.

In this FIG. 3, two other modes of lateral tool guiding by the master plate 101, namely: guiding the driving tool 28 and the slitting tool 124. The tool 28 has a projecting circular disc 27 caught between two wear pads 120 located on either side of the plate 101. The tool 124 has a transverse circular groove 127 similar to the groove 70 of the tool 60. But in this case, the notch 125 in the form of an arc of a circle of the master plate 101 is widened, and these are two drive fingers 126 fixed on the periphery of this notch 125 which engage the tool 124 in the groove 127. As will be readily understood, the advantage of these other modes of guidance is that the parts which can wear during operation can be replaced.

In this embodiment, the secondary plate 325 is connected to the master plate 101 by a pin 131 and a screw which are horizontal and parallel to each other.

As illustrated, the pin 131 passes orthogonally through the secondary plate 325 where it is secured by wedging or welding, and it enters a corresponding orifice arranged in the master plate 101 in which it can slide. A reverse arrangement can also be envisaged: that is to say a spindle 131 secured to the master plate and a secondary plate 325 then sliding along this spindle.

The screw, the threaded part 145 of which is oriented towards the master plate 101, passes through the secondary plate 325 in its smooth part 140. This smooth part 140 is held axially in the master plate, but movable in rotation, by a shoulder or washer 144 on the side of the master plate and a head 141 on the other side. The threaded part 145 of this screw is engaged in a tapped orifice in correspondence with the master plate 101. The head 141 is also completed on its periphery by a handle 147 and by a series of semi-spherical orifices. Close to this head 141 is a housing containing a spring 143 pushing out of this housing a small ball 142, which ball enters one of the orifices of the head 141. This device of orifices and ball makes it possible to index the angular position of the screw.

It then becomes obvious that, by action on the handle 147, the screw can be turned which, by feedback from the threaded part 145 in its tapped hole, moves to the right or the left according to the direction of rotation printed by taking with it the secondary plate 325 due to the presence of the shoulder 144 and the head 141. No jamming is possible given the larger diameter of the spindle 131 and the excess thickness of the secondary plate at this level . One can also provide a helical ramp in place of the threaded portion 145 and a corresponding arrangement of the orifice to improve the continuity of the translational movement.

Obviously, one can also envisage a reverse arrangement for the screw in which the smooth part 140 is taken in the master plate (101) with the threaded part 145 acting in a threaded orifice of the secondary plate 325. The operating principle then remains identical.

According to another variant, the spindle 131 is replaced by a second screw, the threaded part of which penetrates into a second orifice tapped in correspondence in the master plate, and the head of which is held longitudinally in a manner movable in rotation by the secondary plate. A displacement device authorizes the driving of the second screw by the first.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the means for guiding the delivery tool 60 by the secondary plate is in the form of a semi-circular fork directly engaging the groove 70 of the tool. Obviously, this means is in no way limiting and it is easy to adapt the other guide means previously described on this secondary plate 325.

Barely weighing down the very devices for initial lateral position adjustments, this shift device according to the invention significantly reduces the downtime of the machine during a transition from production from one type of box to another. Depending on the number of locking holes 211 present on the top of the support 205 or on the periphery of the screw head 141, the operator can adjust this offset to 1 / 8th, 1/4 or half the width of the split.

Claims (6)

1. Device for sidewise shifting of a tool in a slotting station situated within a machine processing plate-like workpieces, the said station having at least creasing tools (60) and counter-parts (75) fitted in a corresponding fashion on a first vertical pair of parallel horizontal shafts (40, 50) arranged perpendicularly to the travelling direction of the plate-like workpieces, slotting tools (124) and appropriate counter-parts fitted on another pair of shafts arranged downstream in a fashion similar to the firstly named pair, as well as mechanisms for simultaneous sidewise positioning of all upper tools situated on a common line parallel to the travelling direction of the plate-like workpieces, every mechanism consisting essentially of a master plate (100, 101) held in vertical position and orientated in the travelling direction of the plate-like workpiece by at least two crosswise shafts, one with a guiding function (30) and the other one provided with a threading (10), the latter being able to impart to the master plate (100, 101) a crosswise shifting motion for which purpose the said master plate (100, 101) is provided on its periphery with means (106, 107, 126, 120) for lateral guiding of the respective tools, characterised by the fact that the means for lateral guiding of a tool (60) supposed to be shifted as required with regard to other tools are situated on a secondary plate (225, 325) itself connected to the master plate (100, 101) with mechanical means allowing to impart to this secondary plate (225, 325) a translational motion orthogonal to the master plate (100, 101), simultaneously holding it in parallel position with regard to this same master plate.
2. Device for sidewise shifting of a tool in a slotting station according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the mechanical means comprise :

   - a horizontal spindle (130) fitted orthogonally on the master plate (100) and provided with a vertical crosswise aperture (135),

   - a metal block (220) permanently fitted on the secondary plate (225) both being provided with an aperture orthogonal to the plate (225), enabling them to be engaged on the spindle (130) along which they may slide, the block (220) having, moreover, a vertical aperture (222) made across the spindle at the level of the crosswise aperture (135),

   - a vertical rod (208) the lower pivot (210) of which is engaged in the crosswise aperture (135) of the spindle of which the lower part situated within the aperture (222) of the block (220) is cylindrical and off-centered, and the upper part topped by a head (207), movable rotarily, is held on the master plate (100) by a support (205), every rotary motion imparted at the level of the head (207) to the rod (208) develops by interaction of the cylindrical off-centered part (209) within the aperture (222) of the block (220) into a translational motion of the assembly block (220) and secondary plate (225) along the spindle (130).
3. Device for sidewise shifting of a creasing tool in a slotting station according to claim 2, characterised by the fact that the head (207) of the vertical rod (208) is provided at its upstream end with a small bar crossing it vertically and to be pushed downward by pull-back means in order to engage its lower end in the apertures (211) existing on the upper side of the support (205), and completed at its upper end with a knob (213) allowing to raise the said small bar by overcoming the pull-back means, the said small bar allowing to interlock at predetermined rates the angular position of the head (207) with regard to the support (205), ie the lateral position of the secondary plate (225) with regard to the master plate (100).
4. Device for sidewise shifting of a tool in the slotting station according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the mechanical means comprise :

   - a horizontal spindle fitted orthogonally on the master plate,

   - at least one screw crossing orthogonally the master plate, the threaded or helical part being situated on the spindle side, the smooth part rotarily movable being held within the master plate by the head as well as by a centered shoulder,

   - a secondary plate provided with a smooth aperture corresponding to the spindle as well as with a threaded aperture corresponding to the screw and designed in such a way that once the secondary plate is engaged on this screw and this spindle, any combined rotation of the screw(s) under the influence of the head will cause an orthogonal translational motion guided by the spindle of the secondary plate with regard to the master plate.
5. Device for sidewise shifting of a tool in a slotting station, according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the mechanical means comprise :

   - a horizontal spindle (131) fitted orthogonally on a secondary plate (325),

   - at least one screw crossing orthogonally the secondary plate (325), the threaded or helical part (145) being situated on the spindle side, the smooth part (140) rotarily movable being held within the secondary plate (325) by the head (141) as well as by a centered shoulder (144),

   - a master plate (101) provided with a smooth aperture coresponding to the spindle (131) as well as with a threaded aperture corresponding to the threaded part (145) of the screw and designed in such a way that once the spindle (131) and the threaded part (145) of the screw are both engaged in the corresponding apertures of the master plate, any combined rotation of the screw(s) under the influence of the head (141) will cause an orthogonal translational motion guided by the spindle (131) of this secondary plate (325) with regard to the master plate (101).
6. Device for sidewise shifting of a tool in a slotting station, according to claim 4 or 5, characterised by the fact that the periphery of the screw head (141) has an adequate number of apertures allowing to keep the angular position of the screw by means of a ball (142) pushed out of its seat near the head (141) by the action of the pull-back means (143).

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