EP1073603B1 - Stacking and transferring device for printed sections in the form of cartridges - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic device for the horizontal stacking and transfer of booklets in the form of bundles of stacked booklets. The invention consists in that the device comprises a transfer unit coacting with a distribution unit for plates which permit it to operate at high speeds. Use in the stacking and transfer of booklets in the form of bundles, at high speed.

Description

The subject of the present invention is an automatic stacking and transfer device for printed notebooks in the form of cartridges of said notebooks which are then packaged, preferably by strapping, then palletized for dispatch. The invention relates more particularly to a device for horizontal stacking of printed notebooks which can operate at very high rates.

In a device of this type, each movable element has its own cycle time. The cycle of a mobile element is defined by the series of movements it performs and the cycle time is the time it takes to perform this series of movements and return to its initial state. Each mobile element has a minimum cycle time and the minimum cycle time of the complete device is then the longest of all the minimum cycle times of the mobile elements constituting the device. Also, the search for a device that can operate at high speed consists in obtaining a device having the shortest possible cycle time.

In a device for stacking and transferring booklets printed in the form of cartridges, the longest cycle always comes from the pressing and transfer elements of the stacked cartridge to a packaging device.

The minimum cycle time of such a stacking and transfer device is therefore the time taken by the notebook transfer elements to press and transfer the cartridge from the stacking part to a packaging device and to return to their initial state.

Installations for the treatment of printed notebooks are known which allow them to be stacked horizontally and transferred online in the form of cartridges, in which a presser carriage movable under the stacking table and consisting of two elements connected by jacks allows the taking of a cartridge of notebooks formed to take it to a packing station, in particular by strapping, said cartridge being lifted by said carriage during its transfer. Another mobile carriage under the stacking table, provided with stacking fingers, keeps a new cartridge in formation. The cartridge preferably receives a board at the front when a new cartridge appears and is then taken by the pressing carriage to a dispensing station for a second board, with counter fingers being brought against the rear. of the cartridge so as to be able to move the pressing carriage back and form a space between said counter fingers and the pressing carriage in which the second board is inserted.

In addition to the problems of soiling the notebooks linked to the presence of the counter fingers, the processing time is relatively long due in particular to the advance of the presser carriage and its recoil during the insertion of the rear board. In addition, the installation of the first plate intervening directly on the new cartridge in training, in the case of high rates, it is difficult to synchronize this insertion of the front board.

EP-A-0 709 330 discloses a notebook transfer device consisting of a carriage having two parts, a lower part for driving in translation of said carriage carrying an upper part arranged to project into the table. stacking for lifting the printed notebooks so as to transfer them, pneumatic drive means between the lower part and the upper part making it possible to raise and lower the upper part. Such a device therefore has a transfer carriage whose length limits the length of the notebook cartridge to be transferred.

EP-A-0 623 542 discloses a device for forming cartridges of horizontal notebooks from a vertical arrival path. This device comprises a separator formed by two separable parts which is inserted within the flow of notebooks, between two notebooks, from below the stacking table and, once said separator inserted, the two parts of the separator move apart. delimiting respectively a cartridge formed and a cartridge being formed. The cartridge formed can then be grasped by a transport device to bring it to a pressing station. This transport device consists of two movable elements positioned above the stacking table and which can slide along said stacking table to a strapping station, each movable element consisting of two parts which extend transversely to the direction of advance of the stacking table. These parts can slide relative to each other so as to move away from either side of the table and to approach above the stacking table, thus interposing on the path d stacking. Therefore, when the movable element of the transport device serves to support the front end of a cartridge, the two parts of said element are close to each other while the two parts of the movable element of the transport device suitable for positioning at the end of a formed cartridge are spaced on either side of the stacking table and do not are close to each other to serve as a stop that, when the separator has provided a separation within the flow of notebooks.

This cartridge-forming device furthermore proposes to put in place, using the elements of the transport device, end boards for a cartridge coming from a magazine located next to the stacking table, said boards. being lifted and brought to the stacking table using the transport elements. Thus, the rear plate is inserted between the separating element at the rear of the formed cartridge and the mobile transport element for the rear end, the separating element is then erased and the mobile transport element for the rear end holds the rear board against the end of the cartridge.

Once the formed cartridge has been brought to another station, the two mobile transport elements trap between them a board which they bring to the front end of a cartridge in formation, the mobile element intended to rest at the rear of the cartridge spreads its two parts on either side of the stacking table to release the board facing the front end of the cartridge and the separating element resting against said front end can then be erased under the table stacking, the board resting between the front end and the mobile transport element for the front end.

Such a device has several drawbacks. On the one hand, it is of a relatively complicated and bulky structure from the point of view of the transport device housed above the stacking table which must be sliding above, and along, the stacking path notebooks and who moreover has elements sliding transversely to said path. This device requires a protective casing which prevents an operator from accessing the cartridge in training to comply with the safety standards in force.

On the other hand, such a device, when applied to devices for stacking notebooks at a high rate, has a relatively long processing cycle insofar as the phase of placing the boards using the means of transport of the cartridge requires a certain amount of time which lengthens the length of the cartridge formation cycle, which can be inconvenient.

By AT-B-393 820, a device is known for stacking printed notebooks in the form of cartridges in which a cartridge is formed by introducing separation elements between two printed notebooks. These separating elements are positioned above the stacking table and therefore engage between two notebooks from above the stacking. These separation elements are carried by two separate and independent supports positioned above said stacking table so as to be driven in translation along, and above said table. Thus, once the separation elements introduced between two notebooks stacked, these elements are separated from each other so as to separate the printed notebooks into a formed cartridge and a cartridge in formation. This device further comprises stop means positioned on the path for advancing the supports of the separating elements and which cooperate with them to allow the placement of boards at the rear of a formed cartridge and at the front of the cartridge in formation. Thus a board is inserted between the separating elements at the rear of the formed cartridge and those at the front of the forming cartridge which arrives so that, when the separating elements are removed at the rear of the formed cartridge , the board is put in place at the rear of the formed cartridge and is held by the front of the forming cartridge provided with the other separating elements, then the separating elements are again introduced at the rear of the board. This type of device therefore offers a separation within a stack by means of separating elements driven separately, one cooperating further with a support stop to take the formed cartridge while the other synchronizes with the advancement of the stacking table.

Such a device has drawbacks insofar as, for high stacking and transfer rates, the positioning of the boards results in a too long cycle time, this positioning using the elements for separating the stacking and an advance time of the cartridge in formation. In addition, additional time is necessary to then bring in additional transfer elements to take charge of the cartridge formed and drive it to another treatment station so as to release the abutment support as well as the separation elements. In addition, during the placement of the boards, from a side magazine to the stacking table, the board is positioned so that it can cause notebooks during its establishment or else it can tip over onto said board. stacking table. In addition, during the introduction of the separation elements, there is a risk of damaging the notebooks. This device is also dangerous for an operator.

EP-A-0 741 101 discloses a device for separating bundles of notebooks stacked horizontally in which a vertical inlet wall of the notebooks is provided on a stacking table, said wall being able to tilt backwards with respect to at the point of stacking the notebooks on said table, a first mobile carriage under the stacking table having separation corners and deployable separation teeth above the stacking table, as well as a second carriage provided with stop teeth and support teeth. To separate a formed cartridge from the rest of the notebook flow, the vertical wall is tilted backwards while the carriage carrying the separation corners moves towards the formed cartridge, the protruding corners above the stacking table abutting against the lower edge of a notebook forming the last notebook of the cartridge. The space formed by the tilting of the vertical wall accommodates the following notebooks which therefore fall apart from the last notebook of the cartridge formed. The separation teeth integral with the separation corners and the abutment teeth of the second carriage are introduced between the last notebook of the cartridge formed and the first notebook of the new cartridge in formation while the support teeth of said second carriage rest on the front of the cartridge.

The cartridge formed is then taken by the second carriage between the abutment teeth and the support teeth to another post of the stacker while the first carriage moves with the new cartridge in formation in abutment on the separation teeth, the vertical supply wall of the notebooks being tilted to its initial position. The second carriage is then brought back with its abutment teeth set back under the stacking table while its projecting support teeth come to rest at the front of the cartridge in formation. The separation teeth are then brought back under the stacking table and the separation carriage is brought back to the stacking point of the notebooks. In this type of device, the separation phase is triggered using detectors when a determined length of cartridge is detected, corresponding in particular to the length of the second carriage.

The second cart can consist of two telescopically connected elements, which allows for different cart lengths.

However, such a device does not offer a safe separation of a cartridge within a continuous stacking flow, in particular on high-speed stacking devices. Indeed, the tilting of the vertical path of the notebooks can cause significant disturbances in the flow of the notebooks and in the regularity of their horizontal stacking. In addition, the introduction of the separation corners can also cause disturbances in that a notebook back can be pushed back by said corners and no longer be properly stacked.

In addition, in this device, the placement of front and rear boards at the ends of the cartridge is most often carried out after the inline transfer of the cartridge formed using the second carriage. In this type of device, said positioning of the boards can be carried out at the same stage as the pressing of the cartridge, the boards being put in place using pressing clamps arranged at the front and the rear of the cartridge. Therefore, in a device as described above, either one chooses not to press the cartridge formed during its transfer to avoid damaging the printed notebooks directly in contact with the abutment and support teeth of the carriage and therefore, we have a slow transfer speed, or we choose a fast transfer speed and we press the cartridge formed despite the risk of damaging the notebooks.

In addition, a device comprising a telescopic carriage for transporting the cartridge has the drawback of being limited in its ability to move closer and apart between the front end and the rear end due to its construction.

In US-A-4 824 093, a stacking device is described which does not include a vertical stacking head, the notebooks being brought in the form of a sheet and then lifted by lateral oblique stops during their training on a carpet. A such a device is therefore already very slow from the point of view of stacking.

This device comprises three means for retaining the notebooks, one coming at the front of the cartridge in formation, the other coming at the rear while the third is placed at the front of the cartridge formed from an intermediate position. on the stacking table, position at which a board is distributed at the front of the cartridge. A strapping station is provided in line with the stacking table, a station in which the cartridge is brought between the third retaining means at the front and the second retaining means at the rear to come into abutment against a means of clamp mounted on a cylinder. This clamping means against which the cartridge is in abutment makes it possible to compress the cartridge in relation to the retaining means arranged at the rear of the cartridge.

Such a device cannot be used to form good quality cartridges at high rates since there is no stacking head but a lifting of the notebooks, where the tightening must take place after the stop of the cartridge against a clamping means and furthermore the retaining means coming at the front of the cartridge is limited in its movement so that one has to wait for the arrival of the front of the cartridge at a point fixed stacking table so that it abuts against said retaining means. In addition, the length of the cartridge cannot be freely varied during the same production, the second retaining means moving only over part of the stacking table and not over its entire length.

All these devices for horizontal stacking of notebooks, in addition to the drawbacks stated above, therefore do not allow use in the case of stacking at high speed. In addition, the means of transferring the cartridges or the means support against which rests a cartridge in formation are generally limited from the point of view of their displacement relative to the stacking table which limits the freedom of choice in the length of the cartridges that can be manufactured by such a device.

Furthermore, the pressing carried out by pneumatically or hydraulically controlled means is imprecise and difficult to adjust, which can cause damage in the cartridge.

In US-A-4,772,003, a device for stacking notebooks is described on an inclined stacking table comprising a first support receiving the most forward end and gradually lowering from the position of loading of the notebooks to '' at an intermediate position on the stacking table, a second support taking over from this intermediate position to an unloading position for the cartridge and a third support supporting the rear end all along the stacking table , each support being arranged to operate in relation to the others.

Halfway through the stacking table, there is a plank distribution station. When a formed cartridge arrives at said board distribution point, its rear end coincides with the board distribution station which includes a means for feeding the board to the rear of the cartridge behind the third support, the latter s 'Erased under the stacking table and the means for feeding the board remains in place to hold the rear of the cartridge provided with a board.

The board is supplied for the front by the second support which has a notch in which a board is distributed from the board distribution station when this support returns to the front of a cartridge in formation. At the end of the stacking table, the second support at the front of the cartridge abuts against a fixed element mounted on the stacking table and this support placed at the front of the cartridge then disappears under the stacking table and leaves the board at the front of the cartridge against the fixed stop element. Thus, the cartridge is kept provided with boards by the stop element at the front and by the means for placing boards at the rear. The cartridge formed is then driven to a clamping station parallel to the stacking table and arranged along the latter, the cartridge being housed between two clamping plates connected to one another by jacks.

Such a device therefore does not make it possible to manufacture cartridges of small and long lengths during the same production without it being necessary to stop the machine, for example to modify the position of the stop element, and that the clamping members mounted with cylinders can only have a maximum length and a minimum length. In addition, such a device does not make it possible to achieve high production rates, the installation of the boards taking time insofar as it is necessary for the cartridge to be brought into abutment against said abutment element so that the board is placed at its end.

The main object of the invention is to propose an automatic device for horizontal stacking and transfer of notebooks in the form of cartridges, of an embodiment and of a design such that it makes it possible to easily stack the notebooks, the separation of a cartridge of said stacked notebooks and its transport, the transfer means of said device being such that they offer an efficient cycle time, greater freedom for their drive in translation along the table and for their minimum and maximum lengths spacing between their part resting at the front of a formed cartridge and their part resting at the rear of a formed cartridge, while the pressing of the formed cartridge is ensured efficiently and precisely with greater freedom while leaving an operator free and safe access to the cartridge in formation.

• une tête d'empilage horizontal des cahiers à chemin d'amenée vertical (1) desdits cahiers,
• une table d'empilage sur laquelle les cahiers viennent reposer sur leur dos,
• des moyens agencés pour former une séparation entre deux cahiers empilés de manière à former une cartouche de cahiers,
• des moyens de transfert d'une cartouche de cahiers formée, mobiles sous, et le long de, la table d'empilage, comportant au moins un élément d'appui en saillie au-dessus de la table d'empilage et escamotable sous la table d'empilage et contre lequel s'appuie l'extrémité avant d'une cartouche, ledit élément d'appui étant porté par un premier chariot et au moins un élément de butée entraînable entre une position effacée sous la table d'empilage et une position en saillie au-dessus de la table d'empilage, position à laquelle ledit élément de butée s'étend contre l'extrémité arrière d'une cartouche formée, ledit élément de butée s'introduisant entre deux cahiers séparés et étant porté par un deuxième chariot, lesdits chariots étant entraînables en déplacement sous, et le long de, la table d'empilage,
• un organe d'appui pour une nouvelle cartouche en formation porté par un troisième chariot mobile sous, et le long de la table d'empilage, ledit organe d'appui étant entraînable entre une position effacée au-dessous de la table d'empilage et une position en saillie au-dessus de la table, et
• des moyens pour la distribution et la mise en place de planches avant et arrière aux extrémités d'une cartouche depuis un magasin de planches, caractérisé en ce que le premier chariot, le deuxième chariot et le troisième chariot sont entraînables en déplacement de manière indépendante les uns des autres dans le sens d'avancée de la table d'empilage et dans son sens contraire, au cours de l'empilage des cahiers, le deuxième et le troisième chariots étant respectivement entraînables en déplacement relatif dans le sens d'avancée de la table d'empilage et dans le sens contraire par rapport à une planche mise en place transversalement sur la table d'empilage par les moyens de distribution et de mise en place des planches disposés au voisinage du point d'empilage, lors de l'apparition de l'espace de séparation au sein des cahiers empilés, pour mettre en place une planche à l'extrémité arrière de la cartouche formée et une planche à l'extrémité avant de la cartouche en formation.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an automatic device for horizontal stacking and transfer of notebooks in the form of cartridges of stacked notebooks, of the type comprising: a conveyor for feeding the notebooks printed in the form of a sheet,

• a horizontal stacking head for the notebooks with a vertical feed path (1) of said notebooks,
• a stacking table on which the notebooks come to rest on their backs,
• means arranged to form a separation between two notebooks stacked so as to form a cartridge of notebooks,
• means for transferring a cartridge of formed notebooks, movable under and along the stacking table, comprising at least one support element projecting above the stacking table and retractable under the table stacking device and against which the front end of a cartridge bears, said support element being carried by a first carriage and at least one stop element that can be driven between a position erased under the stacking table and a position protruding above the stacking table, position at which said stop element extends against the rear end of a formed cartridge, said stop element being inserted between two separate notebooks and being carried by a second carriage, said carriages being movable under, and along, the stacking table,
• a support member for a new cartridge in formation carried by a third carriage movable under, and along the stacking table, said support member being able to be driven between a retracted position below the stacking table and a projecting position above the table, and
• means for distributing and placing front and rear boards at the ends of a cartridge from a board store, characterized in that the first carriage, the second carriage and the third carriage are independently movable in displacement in the direction of advancement of the stacking table and in its opposite direction, during the stacking of the notebooks, the second and the third carriages being respectively movable in relative displacement in the direction of advance of the stacking table and in the opposite direction relative to a board placed transversely on the table stacking by the distribution and positioning means of the boards arranged in the vicinity of the stacking point, when the separation space appears within the stacked notebooks, to set up a board rear end of the formed cartridge and a board at the front end of the forming cartridge.

Thus, in a particularly advantageous manner, the second and third mobile carriages being movable in displacement independently of one another in the direction of advance of the notebooks and in the opposite direction, undergoing deceleration and / or acceleration while stacking and separation are carried out, it is then possible to make them cooperate with the board distribution means in such a way that the time for setting up the boards is completely masked in the cycle time.

Advantageously, the second carriage and the third carriage but also the first mobile carriage can be driven in displacement independently of each other, preferably by electrical control means, which makes it possible to confer precisely on both others independent, modifiable and modifiable displacement speeds, to make them undergo acceleration or deceleration and to drive them in the direction of advance of the stacking table or in the opposite direction, independently, each carriage being driven synchronously according to the different operating phases of the device.

Consequently, the formation of cartridges is favored without risk of deterioration of the latter, in particular during the pressing and transfer of the cartridge formed, since the device according to the invention makes it possible to put the boards in place. front and rear of a cartridge when the separation between a formed cartridge and a cartridge in formation appears, that is to say before the transfer of said formed cartridge. This occurs advantageously, without the processing cycle being lengthened, which makes it possible in particular to use such a device as a stacking and transfer device at high speed.

A device according to the invention therefore allows the boards at the ends of the cartridge to be put in place efficiently, safely and quickly and is part of a production cycle at a high rate.

In addition, the device according to the invention allows placement of the boards at the front end of a cartridge in formation and then at the rear end of a cartridge formed completely independently of the length of the cartridge. There is therefore much greater freedom than with the devices mentioned above.

According to another advantage, of the device according to the invention, the first and second movable carriages constituting the transfer means being completely independent in their drive and as for their direction of drive relative to the stacking table, it is possible to introduce within the cartridge, between these transfer carriages, a pressure adjustable by the respective speed of the second and third carts. Thus, a motorized cartridge pressing is obtained.

In addition, this pressing occurs regardless of the length of the cartridge, since the carriages being independent, it is possible to produce, with the same device, cartridges of notebooks of different lengths and, in theory, without length limits. Thus, the minimum spacing between the two carriages is more advantageous than in devices provided with telescopic transfer means.

In addition, the cartridge being pressed by its transfer means, there is a saving of time, the cartridge not needing to be manipulated or sent to other organs to be pressed which allows to optimize the time cycle.

Advantageously, it is possible to establish or not a pressure within the cartridge and to adjust said pressure according to the type of notebooks transported. With a device according to the invention, it is therefore possible to tighten very tightly notebooks which are symmetrical and stable or very little a cartridge of asymmetrical notebooks (for example having a thicker fold) which would burst at the slightest longitudinal tightening exerted pneumatically by known means.

Preferably, the pressure is electrically adjustable by the respective speed of said carriages and the torque imposed by the electrical control means such as motors of the two carriages. In addition, the motors can be controlled digitally. The adjustment and adjustment of this pressure is therefore carried out in a finer and more precise manner than with pneumatically or hydraulically operated pressing means.

Preferably, the pressure applied is in the range of 0 to 500 kg.

The first and second carriages being placed under the stacking table, access to said stacking table is possible as soon as the support and stop elements carried by said first and second carriages are retracted under the table, that said carriages are mobile or stationary. Thus, an operator can visually control a cartridge in formation and intervene on said cartridge in formation, for example, to remove a torn or badly positioned notebook in said cartridge without it being necessary to stop the device for safety reasons and operator protection.

The support element projecting above the level of the stacking table and against which the front end of a cartridge bears is also retractable under the stacking table, when the first and second carriages are brought back towards the stacking head, no support or stop element protrudes above the stacking table, which ensures greater safety for the assembly, in particular when an operator intervenes on the cartridge in formation.

The means arranged to form a separation between two notebooks so as to separate a stack of notebooks into a formed cartridge and a cartridge in formation can be any suitable separation means known per se. Preferably, the device according to the invention comprises, as means arranged to form a separation between two notebooks, a device for separating notebooks in the supply sheet of notebooks so as to create a separation space between two notebooks at the level from the stacking point.

Advantageously, the means for distributing and placing a board at the front end of a cartridge are the same as those for putting the board at the rear end of the cartridge and include outraged means for retaining the notebooks interposable in the advancement path of the stack near the stacking point and cooperating with the stop element of the second mobile carriage or the support member carried by the third mobile carriage so as to create, between said retaining means interposed on the path for advancing the stack and said abutment element or said support member, a space for receiving a rear or respectively front board for a cartridge, said means retainer being positioned so that said space is created in correspondence with the distribution means, known per se, of a board from a storage store, the second movable carriage or the third movable carriage allowing respectively to drive the element abutment or the support member so that it can trap the board at the rear end of the cartridge formed or before the cartridge being formed.

Thus, advantageously, the second mobile carriage being driven in translation independently of the first mobile carriage, said second mobile carriage can move in translation to cooperate with the retaining means without disturbing the advance of the first mobile carriage.

Advantageously, the retaining means consist of two flaps disposed respectively on either side of the stacking table and can be driven in translation transversely to the direction of advance of the notebooks stacked in approach to one another. so that they are interposed on the advance path of the stacking table and in separation from each other so that they erase and release the advance path of the stack.

When a separation appears between two notebooks, for example by the appearance of a separation space at the stacking point, this separation or separation space is located before the retaining means on the stacking table.

The support element of the first mobile carriage rests against the front end of the cartridge which was previously in formation. The stop element of the second movable carriage is then introduced at the rear end of the cartridge formed at the separation space and drives the rear of said cartridge formed beyond the means for retaining the notebooks in the path of advance of the stack which, then interposed in the path of advance of the stack, form between them and the stop element of the second carriage a receiving space in which the distribution means of a board introduce a board, said abutment element then disappearing below the stacking table and being driven by the second movable carriage moving in the opposite direction to the direction of advance to come into coincidence or behind the retaining means between which said abutment member is again protruded above the stacking table behind the rear board at the rear end of the formed cartridge. The cartridge is then taken by said first and second movable carriages to a packing station such as a strapping station whose strapping tunnel is positioned in line at the end of the stacking table.

Thus, when the board is inserted between the retaining means and the abutment element of the second mobile carriage, the latter can be erased under the stacking table insofar as the retaining means hold the board and the notebooks. the rear end of the cartridge, consequently avoiding the collapse of the stack of notebooks, until the stop element is again protruding behind the board.

Advantageously, the second mobile carriage being driven in displacement independently with respect to the first mobile carriage, the support element of which extends against the front end of the cartridge formed, a speed higher than said second mobile carriage is printed. for drive the rear of the cartridge formed beyond the retaining means and bring said abutment element behind the distributed board so that this distribution and this positioning of the rear board takes place in a very short time or almost masked with respect to the cycle time.

Preferably, the support member carried by the third mobile carriage is also introduced between two separate notebooks, for example in the separation space at the stacking point, so as to rest against the front end of a new cartridge in formation and, when it reaches the vicinity or coincides with the retaining means interposed in the stacking path, said support member is driven by the third mobile carriage beyond said retaining means so as to create a space between said retaining means and said support member, space in which the distribution means of a board introduce a board for the front end of the cartridge in formation, said support member being then brought back substantially in coincidence with the retaining means so as to trap the front board while the retaining means are actuated to release the advance path from the stack.

Thus, the notebooks of the cartridge in formation are retained by the retaining means interposed in the stacking path while the support member is spaced from the front of the cartridge. Advantageously, the positioning of the board is also carried out in masked time with respect to the cycle of formation of the cartridge since this positioning of the board is carried out during the formation of the cartridge while the preceding cartridge is transported. In addition, one obtains a positioning of the board with a precision and a reliability completely independent of the speed of production of the arriving notebooks, the displacement drive of the support member by its mobile carriage then being completely independent of the advancing speed of the cartridge in formation and not disturbing it.

According to a second embodiment, the board distribution means are positioned adjacent to the stacking table in the vicinity of the stacking point and consist of a board magazine and a gripper for gripping a mounted board. at the end of an articulated arm, said clamp successively bringing two boards into the separation space created between a formed cartridge and a cartridge in formation, one at the rear of the formed cartridge, the stop element retaining the rear of the cartridge being retracted under the table and being driven by the second carriage which carries it to the rear of the board held by the clamp across the stacking table, said stop element being brought again protruding and brought back to the back of the cartridge, thus trapping the board, and the other board at the front of the cartridge in formation, the clamp bringing the second board into the separation space, i.e. -dire the front of a cartridge in formation, the support member at the front of said cartridge being retracted under the table and driven by the third carriage beyond the board then being driven again projecting above of the table to come and press said board to the front of the cartridge.

These distribution means make it possible to position the board reliably and the actuation of the clamp can be anticipated, which further improves the saving of time during the cycle. In addition, the rear board is put very early in the cycle which allows for a path from the stack to a strapping station without interruption, therefore faster since there is only one acceleration and deceleration for the whole journey.

In addition, this embodiment has an additional advantage compared to the first embodiment, insofar as the positioning of the board at the front no longer depends on the passage between the retaining flaps which allows perform this positioning of the front plate out of sync with the ejection of the formed cartridge.

All the movements for setting up the board at the front of the cartridge and at the rear of said cartridge are carried out in perfect synchronization with the relative stacking speed, this synchronization being permitted due to the control of the speeds. drive independent mobile carriages in translation, in particular due to the digital control of the speed control of the motors driving said carriages.

In particular, using certain engine technologies, the engines are stopped with blocking and perfect conservation of the pressure within the cartridge.

Advantageously, with the device according to the invention, a cartridge is thus obtained having a board at its two ends so that it is possible, without damaging the cartridge, to press it between the two mobile carriages from the eject the cartridge and impose a high transfer speed during the online transfer of the cartridge to another station by sliding said cartridge on the stacking table. This device is therefore suitable for use as a device for stacking notebooks, for forming cartridges of said notebooks and for transferring said cartridges at high speed.

Preferably, a packing station such as a strapping station is placed at the end of the stacking table, which is thus in line with the stacking device according to the invention, the first and second said carts device driving on-line a cartridge formed up to said strapping station.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the abutment element of the second mobile carriage is produced in the form of at least one abutment finger which can be driven between a position where it projects above the table stacking and a position where it is cleared under the stacking table, a strap whose ends are fixed to the carriage being wound around the finger passing through the upper end and the lower end of said finger provided respectively with a rotating roller so that, when a stop finger protrudes above the stacking table to come into abutment against the rear end of the formed cartridge, the ends of the finger roll along the loop formed by the strap and said strap driven by the finger applies its surface against the surface of the notebook and, when erasing said finger, the strap unwinds and moves away from the surface of said notebook. The surface of the belt therefore remains stationary relative to the surface of the notebook, that is to say without sliding, during the introduction or retraction of the stop finger.

Preferably, the support element of the first mobile carriage is produced in the form of at least one support finger of a type known per se or produced in the same manner as a stop finger as described above. above.

Preferably, each flap of the notebook retaining means also has at least one strap forming a loop surrounding said flap, the ends of the strap being fixed relative to said flap so that the flap moves in said strap and when notebooks come in abutment against said flaps, the belt is applied against the surface of the notebooks and when the flaps deviate on either side of the stacking table to releasing the notebooks, the belt unrolls and moves away from the surface of the notebooks without friction on said notebooks.

This avoids any risk of damage, smearing of notebooks related to friction and sliding of the finger or fingers or flaps against the notebooks during the sliding movement of said stop or support fingers or retaining flaps.

• les figures 1a et 1b représentent respectivement une vue latérale et une vue du dessus d'une partie du dispositif selon une première forme de réalisation de l'invention lors de l'apparition d'un espace de séparation dans l'empilage ;
• les figures 2a et 2b représentent respectivement une vue latérale et une vue du dessus du dispositif selon les figures la et 1b lors du dégagement de la cartouche formée ;
• les figures 3a et 3b représentent respectivement une vue latérale et une vue du dessus d'un dispositif selon une seconde forme de réalisation de l'invention lors de l'apparition d'un espace de séparation dans l'empilage ;
• les figures 4a et 4b représentent respectivement une vue latérale et une vue du dessus d'un dispositif selon les figures 3a et 3b lors du dégagement de la cartouche formée ;
• les figures 5a et 5b représentent une vue latérale d'un doigt de butée du deuxième chariot d'un dispositif selon l'invention ;
• les figures 6a et 6b représentent respectivement une vue latérale du poste de cerclage d'un dispositif selon l'invention et une vue avant dudit poste ; et
• les figures 7a et 7b représentent respectivement une vue latérale d'une variante du poste de cerclage d'un dispositif selon l'invention et une vue avant dudit poste.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

• Figures 1a and 1b respectively show a side view and a top view of a part of the device according to a first embodiment of the invention when a separation space appears in the stack;
• Figures 2a and 2b respectively show a side view and a top view of the device according to Figures la and 1b when disengaging the cartridge formed;
• Figures 3a and 3b respectively show a side view and a top view of a device according to a second embodiment of the invention when a separation space appears in the stack;
• Figures 4a and 4b respectively show a side view and a top view of a device according to Figures 3a and 3b when disengaging the cartridge formed;
• Figures 5a and 5b show a side view of an abutment finger of the second carriage of a device according to the invention;
• Figures 6a and 6b respectively show a side view of the strapping station of a device according to the invention and a front view of said station; and
• Figures 7a and 7b respectively show a side view of a variant of the strapping station of a device according to the invention and a front view of said station.

FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b show, for reasons of clarity, only part of the stacking device according to the invention, the path for feeding the sheet-type notebooks, the means arranged to form a separation between two notebooks in the example shown here, a device for separating notebooks within the supply sheet and the packing station at the outlet of the device not being shown insofar as they can be of types known per se.

The stacking head, which may be of a type known per se, is also partially shown, FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b showing only the vertical feed path 1 of notebooks C to the stacking point on the stacking table 2.

The device according to the invention comprises transfer means allowing the supply of a formed cartridge to another treatment station for the formed cartridge such as a strapping station.

These transfer means consist of first and second independent carriages movable under and along the stacking table 2. The first mobile carriage 3 comprises a support element consisting of at least one support finger 3a, preferably two, projecting above the stacking table 2 and adapted to extend against the front end of a cartridge. Preferably, the support fingers 3a are made erasable under the stacking table 2.

A support member 6 for receiving the notebooks C of a new cartridge in formation is carried by a third carriage 7 movable under and along the stacking table 2.

The second mobile carriage 4 is positioned behind the first mobile carriage 3 in the direction of advancement of the stacking table 2 and carries a stop element 4a which can be driven in sliding with respect to said carriage 4 between a position where it is erased under the stacking table 2 and a position where it projects above the stacking table 2 so as to abut against the rear end of a formed cartridge.

A cartridge is formed when a separation space 5 appears within the stack resulting from the action of the separation means of the notebooks in the supply sheet.

When the separation space 5 appears on the stacking table 2, the stop element 4a of the second mobile carriage 4 positioned under the stacking table 2 near the stacking point is synchronously driven projecting from the above said table 2 inside the separation space 5 so as to abut against the last notebook stacked before this separation space 5, the support fingers 3a resting against the front of the cartridge.

Similarly, the support member 6 is introduced into said separation space 5 to receive the notebooks of the new cartridge in formation arriving after the separation space 5. This support member 6 is carried by the third carriage 7 and is slidable with respect to said carriage 7 between a position erased under the table 2 and a projecting position above the table 2.

The two carriages 3 and 4 of the transfer means and the carriage 7 of the support member 6 can be driven in displacement under, and along the stacking table, in the direction of advance of said table and the direction on the contrary, independently of one another and preferably using electric control means.

Preferably, the carriages 3 and 4 move guided in longitudinal rails 13 positioned under the table 2 substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of the table 2 while the third mobile carriage 7 is guided along a longitudinal rail substantially in the center of the table 2. The carriages 3 and 4 are provided with rotary rollers 15 guided in said rails 13, 14. Any other suitable drive means and of type known per se can be used.

Preferably, the stop element 4a of the second transfer carriage 4 is produced in the form of two stop fingers which can be driven between a position where they protrude above the stacking table 2 and a position where they are cleared under the stacking table 2.

A belt 11 whose ends 11a are fixed to the carriage 4 is wound around each finger 4a passing through the upper end and the lower end of said finger 4a provided respectively with a rotary roller 12. Thus, during the setting in projection, of a stop finger 4a above the stacking table 2 to come into abutment against the rear end of the formed cartridge, the ends of finger 4a roll along the loop formed by the belt 11 and said belt 11 driven by finger 4a applies its surface against the surface of notebook C and, when erasing said finger 4a, belt 11 unwinds and moves away from the surface of said notebook C.

Thus, the surface of the belt 11 always remains stationary relative to the surface of the notebook C, that is to say without sliding, during the introduction or retraction of the stop finger 4a.

The support fingers 3a retractable under the stacking table 2 can be of a type known per se or they can be made in the same way as the stop fingers 4a.

The device according to the invention further comprises means for distributing and placing boards at the two ends of a cartridge before the transfer thereof.

According to an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b 2a and 2b, the means consist of a magazine for the boards and means of distributing the boards per se known (not shown), as well as means for retaining the notebooks which can be interposed in the stacking advancement path.

These retaining means, each comprising at least one belt operating like the belt 11 of the stop element, cooperate either with the stop element 4a to form a space in which is inserted a board at the rear end of a cartridge formed, either with the support member 6 to form a space into which is inserted a board for the front end of a cartridge in formation.

These retaining means that can be interposed in the advancement path of the stack consist of two flaps 8, also called cones, positioned on either side of the stacking table 2 and can be moved transversely in the direction d 'advance of the stacking table in approach and spacing from each other (according to the double arrow A in Figures 1b and 2b), the flaps 8 thus being respectively interposed in the path of advance of notebooks C or erased from said path.

The device of the present invention operates in the following way, notebooks C are brought in the form of a sheet of notebooks C to a horizontal stacking head with vertical feed path 5 and a separation is made, for example, between two notebooks within the tablecloth before arriving at the stacking head so that a space of separation 5 will be created within the notebooks stacked horizontally on the stacking table 2 at the outlet of the stacking head at the stacking point.

The first carriage 3 movable under the stacking table 2 is brought to the front end of a cartridge in formation so that the support fingers 3a which it carries rest against the front of the cartridge in formation provided with a front board 10, the second movable carriage 4 having been brought back under the stacking table 2 near the stacking point, its stop element 4a being erased under the table 2.

When the separation space 5 appears in the stack of notebooks C, there is introduced there the stop element 4a projecting above the table 2, said stop element 4a then resting against the rear end of the last notebook stacked with the cartridge thus formed. The second mobile carriage 4 then drives the rear end of the cartridge beyond the retaining means or flaps 8 of the notebooks C in the path of advancement of the stack, said retaining means 8 being then positioned so as to s '' interpose in the advancement path at the rear of the cartridge. Then introduced from a store (not shown) positioned in correspondence along the stacking table 2, a rear board 9 between the retaining means 8 and the stop element 4a at the rear of the cartridge, erases said stop element 4a under the stacking table 2 and the second movable carriage 4 then brings said stop element 4a substantially in coincidence with the retaining means 8 behind the board 9 where it is driven again projecting above of the table 2. The retaining means 8 are erased from the advancement path of the stack and the stop element 4a then extends against the rear board 9 positioned at the end of the cartridge formed.

In this sequence, the carriage 3 advances independently of the carriage 4 but synchronously with the latter.

This cartridge has a front plate 10 and a rear plate 9 and the first and second movable carriages 3, 4 can then transfer said cartridge while tightening it towards a strapping station for example constituted by a strapping tunnel 30 positioned at the end of the stacking table. At the strapping station, once the cartridge is strapped, the support fingers 3a of the first movable carriage 3 and the stop fingers 4a of the second movable carriage 4 can be retracted under the stacking table 2 in the strapping tunnel 30, said first and second movable carriages 3, 4 being able to be brought back towards the stacking head 1 while leaving available access to the stacking table 2 while the encircled cartridge is ejected towards another station, for example a palletizing station. Thus, an operator intervening on a cartridge in formation does not prevent the return of said carriages 3, 4 towards the stacking head 1 but does not risk being injured by the support fingers 3a or the stop fingers 4a in projection above the stacking table 2.

When the separation space 5 appears within the stacked notebooks, the support member 6 also carried by the third movable carriage 7, which has hitherto been retracted under the stacking table 2, is introduced, and which then serves as support for the notebooks of the new cartridge in formation. This support member 6, when it arrives substantially in coincidence with the retaining means 8 which are in the interposed position in the path of advance of the stack, is driven by its mobile carriage 7 beyond said retaining means 8 so as to move away from the front of the cartridge in formation. A board 10 is then introduced into the space between the retaining means 8 and the support member 6. The support member 6 is then brought back to the vicinity or in coincidence with the retaining means 8 erased from the path advance of the stack, the cartridge in formation having a front plate 10.

Once the board 10 is in place, the cartridge continues its advance on the stacking table 2 and, when the first movable carriage 3 of the transfer means is brought back after having transferred a cartridge, its support fingers 3a are retracted under the stacking table 2 and are brought up above said stacking table 2 to come to rest against the front board 10 of the cartridge in formation. The support member 6 which previously held the cartridge in formation is erased under the stacking table 2 and is brought by the third movable carriage 7 at the stacking point of said table 2 so as to be able to be introduced into a new separation space 5.

The insertion space of the front 10 or rear 9 board is therefore always beyond the retaining means 8 in the direction of advance in correspondence with the board distribution means 9, 10.

In Figures 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b is shown another embodiment of the board distribution means. These are positioned adjacent to the stacking table 2 in the vicinity of the stacking point and consist of a board magazine (not shown) and a gripper 20 for a board 9, 10 and mounted at the end of an articulated arm (not shown).

The clamp 20 successively brings two boards 9, 10 into the separation space created between a formed cartridge and a cartridge in formation, one 9 at the rear of the formed cartridge and the other 10 at the front.

Thus, when the separation space 5 appears between two notebooks forming a formed cartridge and a cartridge in formation, the clamp 20 brings a first board 9 into said space 5, the board 9 extending transversely to the stacking table 2 (Figures 3a, 3b). The stop element 4a retaining the rear of the cartridge is then retracted under the table 2 and the second carriage 4 is brought under the stacking table 2 behind the board 9 held by the clamp 20 across the table stacking 20.

The stop element 4a is again protruded and driven by the carriage 4 at the rear of the cartridge, thus trapping the board 9 at the rear of the formed cartridge which can be ejected by the first and the second carriages 4, 3.

Another board 10 is then brought by the clamp 20 into the space 5 at the front of the cartridge in formation, the support member 6 at the front of said cartridge then being retracted under the table 2 and driven to the beyond the board 10 by the third carriage 7. Said support member 6 is then driven again projecting above the table 2 and then bring the cartridge in formation back towards the front to press said board 10 to the front of the cartridge being formed (Figure 4a, 4b).

Preferably, the strapping station consists of a strapping tunnel 30 positioned in line at the end of the stacking table 2 so that the first and second carriages 3, 4 bring in line a cartridge formed in said strapping station 30, the cartridge receiving surface of which consists of rollers 36, rotatable, extending longitudinally at the outlet of the stacking table 2, the carriages 3 and 4 being able to be positioned under the rollers 36 and the support elements 3a and stop 4a being engaged between two rollers 36.

This strapping tunnel 30 preferably has a closing arm 31 put in place when a cartridge is brought into said tunnel 30. This closing arm 31 is positioned at the entrance end of the tunnel so as to extend vertically between the upper part and the lower part of said tunnel and is mounted sliding in translation along at least one transverse axis 32, 33 to the tunnel 30 between an open position of the tunnel 30 (left position of FIG. 4b) where it is driven in translation in separation from said opening and a closed position (right position of FIG. 4b) where it is interposed in said opening of the tunnel 30.

Thus, the closing arm 31 is mounted sliding in translation along at least one transverse guide axis 32, 33 to the strapping tunnel 30 so as to extend vertically between the upper part and the lower part of the tunnel at l entry of said tunnel and is slidably driven along said axis 32, 33 by a jack 34, preferably without rod with which it is connected.

Preferably, the closing arm 31 is mounted, by means of ball bushings 35 on two parallel guide axes 32, 33 extending transversely to the tunnel 30 in its upper part and is also in connection with a jack 34, preferably without rod which can be driven in translation from left to right and from right to left as can be seen in FIGS. 4a and 4b. Such a sliding movement of the closing arm 31 is thus obtained in a simple and rapid manner and in masked time with respect to the removal of the support elements 3a and of the stop 4a holding the cartridge.

Such a strapping tunnel 30 makes it possible in particular not to lengthen the cycle time for processing a cartridge. In addition, once the cartridge is strapped, the stop elements 4a and support 3a are retracted under the receiving surface of the tunnel 30 so as to be brought back towards the stacking head to take a new cartridge while the drive in rotation of the rollers 36 of the receiving surface of the strapping tunnel allows to drive the cartridge to another station.

The strapping tunnel 30 has at its end the strapping machine 37 (FIG. 6a). During the strapping, the front end of the cartridge is distant from the strapping machine 37 by the thickness of the fingers 3a carried by the carriage 3. We then observe an arrow due to the tension of the link and a loosening of the link due to the position of the weld of the link which is located behind said support fingers 3 in the strapping machine 37, this weld then being pressed under the effect of the tension.

According to a preferred form of the strapping station, the strapping machine 37 has, on its wall 37a facing the front end of the cartridge, notches 38 in which the fingers 3a constituting the support element carried by the first carriage 3 undertake. In this way, the plane of the front end of the cartridge and the plane of the strapping machine are made to coincide. There is therefore no longer an arrow, or it is at least greatly reduced, since the welding is carried out in alignment with the plane of the cartridge. It is therefore not necessary to tension as strongly as before for the same tension result on the strapped cartridge.

Preferably, the synchronized control in action of all the members constituting the device according to the invention is obtained by an electronic control management unit using appropriate means known per se.

With the invention, a device is obtained, the placing of the boards mainly in masked time, the pressing and the transfer of the cartridge are done online, as soon as the cartridge is ejected from the stacking part and whose transfer speed cartridge and the pressing force is easily adjustable so that this device can advantageously be used with stacks at high speed.

Claims (12)

1. Automatic device for horizontal stacking and transfer of books in the form of bundles of stacked books, of the type comprising:

   - a feed conveyor for printed books (B) in the form of an array,

   - a horizontal stacking head for the books (B) having a vertical feed track (1) for the said books,

   - a stacking table (2) on which the books (B) come to bear on their backs,

   - means equipped to make a separation between two stacked books so as to form a bundle of books (B),

   - means for transferring a bundle of books (B) formed, which means are mobile below, and along, the stacking table (2), comprising at least one bearing element (3a) projecting above the stacking table (2) and retractable below the stacking table (2) and against which the front end of a bundle bears, the said bearing element being carried by a first carriage (3), and at least one stop element (4a) that can be driven between a position retracted below the stacking table (2) and a position projecting above the stacking table (2), in which position the said stop element (4a) extends against the rear end of a bundle formed, the said stop element (4a) entering between two separated books (B) and being carried by a second carriage (4), it being possible for the said carriages (3, 4) to be driven in movement below, and along, the stacking table (2),

   - a bearing member (6) for a new bundle being formed, carried by a third carriage that is mobile (7) below, and along, the stacking table, it being possible to drive the said bearing member (6) between a position retracted below the stacking table and a position projecting above the table, and

   - means for distribution and positioning of front and rear boards at the ends of a bundle from a board magazine,

   characterised in that it is possible to drive the first carriage (3), the second carriage (4) and the third carriage (7) in movement independently of one another in the direction of forward movement of the stacking table (2) and in the reverse direction thereof during stacking of the books, it being possible for the second and the third carriages (4, 7), respectively, to be driven in relative movement in the direction of forward movement of the stacking table and in the reverse direction with respect to a board placed transversely on the stacking table by the means for distribution and positioning boards arranged in the vicinity of the stacking point, during the appearance of the separation space within the stacked books, in order to position a board (9) at the rear end of the bundle formed and a board (10) at the front end of the bundle being formed.
2. Device according to Claim 1,
   characterised in that it is possible to drive the three mobile carriages in movement by electrical control means.
3. Device according to one of Claims 1 and 2,
   characterised in that the first and the second carriages (3, 4) constituting transfer means set up within a formed bundle a pressure that can be controlled by the speed of the said carriages (3, 4).
4. Device according to Claim 3,
   characterised in that the pressure can be controlled electrically by the respective speed of the said carriages (3, 4) and the torque applied by the electrical control means for the said carriages (3, 4).
5. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4,
   characterised in that the stop element (4a) of the second mobile carriage (4) and/or the bearing element (3a) of the first mobile carriage (3) are implemented in the form of at least one stop finger (4a) or bearing finger (3a) that can be driven between a position where it projects above the stacking table (2) and a position where it is retracted below the stacking table (2), a belt (11), the ends (11a) of which are fixed to the carriage (3, 4), being wound around each finger (3a, 4a) passing via the upper end and the lower end of the said finger (3a, 4a) provided, respectively, with a rotary guide roller (12) such that when a stop finger (4a) or bearing finger (3a) is being made to project above the stacking table (2) to make contact with the rear end of the bundle formed and/or with the front end, the ends of the finger (3a, 4a) roll along the loop formed by the belt (11) and the said belt (11) driven by the finger (3a, 4a) applies its surface to the surface of the book and, during retraction of the said finger (3a, 4a), the belt (11) peels off and moves away from the surface of the said book.
6. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 5,
   characterised in that it comprises, as means equipped to make a separation between two books, a device for separating books in the feed array of books (B) so as to create a separation space (5) between two books (B) at the location of the stacking point.
7. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
   characterised in that the means for distribution and positioning of boards (9, 10) comprise retention means (8) for the books that can be inserted in the path of forward movement of the stack close to the stacking point and interacting with the said stop element (4a) of the second mobile carriage (4) or the said bearing member (6) carried by the third mobile carriage (7) so as to create, between the said retaining means (8) inserted in the path of forward movement of the stack and the said stop element (4a) or the said bearing member (6), a space for receiving a rear board (9) or, respectively, front board (10) for a bundle, the said retaining means (8) being positioned such that the said space is created in correspondence with the means for distribution of a board (9, 10) from the board storage magazine, the second mobile carriage (4) or the third mobile carriage (7) enabling, respectively, the stop element (4a) or the bearing member (6) to be driven such that this is able to confine the board at the rear end of the bundle formed or the front end of the bundle being formed.
8. Device according to Claim 7,
   characterised in that the retention means consist of two flaps (8) arranged, respectively, on either side of the stacking table and able to be driven in translational movement transversely to the direction of forward movement of the stacked books (B), towards one another such that they are inserted in the path of forward movement of the stacking table (2) and away from one another such that they retract and free the path of forward movement of the stack.
9. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
   characterised in that the means for distribution of boards consist of a board magazine and a gripper clamp (20), for a board (9, 10), mounted at the end of an articulated arm, the said clamp (20) successively feeding two boards (9, 10) into the separation space (5) created between a bundle formed and a bundle being formed, the one (9) at the rear of the bundle formed, the stop element (4a) retaining the rear of the bundle being retracted below the table (2) and being driven by the second carriage (4) which brings it to the rear of the board (9) held by the clamp (20) across the stacking table (2), the said stop element (4a) being again moved into the projecting position and brought back to the rear of the bundle, thus confining the board (9), and the other board (10) at the front of the bundle being formed, the clamp (20) feeding the second board (10) into the separation space (5), that is to say at the front of a bundle being formed, the bearing member (6) at the front of the said bundle being retracted below the table (2) and driven by the third carriage (7) beyond the board (10) and then being driven such that it projects above the table (2) again so that it presses against the said board (10) at the front of the bundle.
10. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 9,
    characterised in that it comprises a strapping tunnel (30) positioned in line with the end of the stacking table (2) and into which a bundle is fed by the first and second carriages (3, 4), the said tunnel (30) having a closing arm (31) positioned at the entry end of the tunnel (30) so as to extend vertically between the upper part and the lower part of the said tunnel (30) and is (sic) fitted such that it slides in translational movement along at least one shaft (32, 33) transverse to the tunnel (30) between a position for opening the tunnel (30) where it is driven away from the said opening and a closing position where it is placed in the said opening of the tunnel (30).
11. Device according to Claim 10,
    characterised in that the closing arm (31) is driven in sliding movement along the said shaft (32, 33) under the influence of a jack (34) to which it is linked.
12. Device according to one of Claims 10 and 11,
    characterised in that the strapping machine (37) has recesses (38) on its wall (37a) facing the front end of the bundle, in which recesses (38) the fingers (3a) making up the bearing element carried by the first carriage (3) engage so as to merge the plane of the front end of the bundle with the plane of the strapping machine (37), the weld being made in the alignment of the plane of the bundle.