DISPOSITIVO PARA ARMAZENAMENTO DE UMA PILHA DE FOLHAS EM UMA MÁQUINA DE CONVERSÃO E MÁQUINA DE CONVERSÃO

Abstract

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CELL RESELECTION, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INFORMATION TRANSMISSION, AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE. The present invention relates to a device for storing a stack of sheets in a converting machine (10) comprising a transfer mechanism (28) for distributing sheets (22) in a stacking area (26) of the device (22), and a sampling plate (44) that is adjustable between a sampling position and an access position, wherein the upper part of the stacking area (26) is covered by the sampling plate (44) when the sampling plate (44) is in the sampling position and the upper part of the stacking area (26) is free when the sampling plate (44) is in the access position. Furthermore, a converting machine is described.

Description

1 / 15 DEVICE FOR STORING A STACK OF SHEETS IN A CONVERTING MACHINE AND CONVERTING MACHINE

[0001] The invention relates to a device for storing a stack of sheets in a converting machine and to a converting machine.

[0002] Converting machines are used in the packaging industry to process raw materials, for example, cardboard, paper or sheets, into intermediate or finished products, usually in the form of sheets. Converting operations may include printing, cutting, creasing, stamping and / or folding. Therefore, the term converting machine here also generally means sheet processing machine. The sheets may be collected in vertical stacks after converting in a designated stacking area of ​​the converting machine.

[0003] In order to control the quality of the sheets produced, it is necessary to regularly collect sheet samples during the operation of the converting machine. For this purpose, converting machines may have mechanisms to temporarily create access to the stacking area so that an operator can manually collect sample sheets from the stack of produced sheets. However, to ensure controlled and safe access for the operator, known mechanisms require redundant safety systems that restrict the space available to the operator and / or require the converting machine to stop sheet production for extended periods of time.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a device that allows for easier collection of sample sheets in a converting machine. Preferably, the device allows for a reduction in the downtime of a converting machine. Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, page 6 / 49 2 / 15

[0005] The object of the invention is solved by a device for storing a stack of sheets in a converting machine, wherein the device comprises a transfer mechanism for distributing sheets in a stacking area of ​​the device, and a sampling plate that is adjustable between a sampling position and an access position, wherein the top of the stacking area is covered by the sampling plate when the sampling plate is in the sampling position and the top of the stacking area is free when the sampling plate is in the access position.

[0006] The expression "the stacking area is covered" here means that the sampling plate is positioned above the stacking area so that plates distributed by the transfer mechanism can no longer reach the stacking area, but are collected by the sampling plate.

[0007] The sampling plate especially completely covers the top of the stacking area.

[0008] The sheets are subjected to one or more converting operations by the converting machine, for example, printing, cutting, creasing, stamping and / or folding, and are fed by the converting machine via the transfer mechanism to the stacking area.

[0009] The transfer mechanism may be the same transfer mechanism used in the converting machine in general, or it may be connected to an additional transfer mechanism of the converting machine.

[0010] During operation of the converting machine, the sheets are stacked in a vertical stack in the stacking area of ​​the device, provided that the sampling sheet is in the access position. If the sampling plate is in the sampling position, Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, page 7 / 49 3 / 15 of the sheets produced by the converting machine are collected on the sampling plate.

[0011] Preferably, in the sampling position, the sampling plate is parallel to the sheets in the sheet stack, so that other sheets produced by the converting machine can be placed on the sampling plate in the same way that they would be stacked in the sheet stack.

[0012] The sheets can be made from cardboard, paper, aluminum foil, or a composite material.

[0013] The device according to the invention allows for the easy collection of sample sheets by adjusting the position of the sampling plate. At least one sample sheet on the sampling plate can be collected and subsequently checked for its quality.

[0014] Preferably, an operator can reach the sampling plate to collect the sheets when the sampling plate is in the access position while the converting machine is in operating mode, i.e., processing sheets. In this way, the downtime of the converting machine is reduced.

[0015] The sampling plate can be adjusted from the access position to the sampling position manually and / or by a drive.

[0016] In one variant, the sampling plate extends at least partially outside of a device housing when in the access position.

[0017] The device housing can also be the housing for the conversion machine.

[0018] In other words, the sampling plate extends, preferably at least partially, outside the converting machine to allow the operator to easily pick up the sheets. Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, page 8 / 49 4 / 15 collected by the sampling plate without the need to access the internal parts of the converting machine.

[0019] In another variant, the sampling plate is removablely engageable with an opening in the housing. In this way, it is possible to insert the sampling plate into the device only when necessary, i.e., when leaves need to be collected.

[0020] The sampling plate may have a folding edge to rotate over the part of the sampling plate that extends from the housing. This allows for more compact storage of the sampling plate when it is not necessary to collect the leaves.

[0021] In another variant, the sampling plate comprises several segments that can be at least partially folded against each other. This allows non-linear movements of the sampling plate when it is adjusted between the sampling position and the access position.

[0022] The device preferably comprises a guide rail that extends at least partially along a lateral boundary of the stacking area and along which the sampling plate moves when adjusted between the access position and the sampling position.

[0023] At least the part of the guide rail that extends along the lateral boundary of the stacking area may be parallel to the sheets of the sheet stack.

[0024] The guide rail ensures controlled movement of the sampling plate when the sampling plate is adjusted to the sampling position.

[0025] Preferably, the device comprises two guide rails on opposite lateral limits of the stacking area. In this way, the movement of the sampling plate is safer and the displacement Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, page 9 / 49 5 / 15 and the inclination of the sampling plate is avoided.

[0026] One or more guides extend especially from the device housing over the entire length of the respective lateral limit of the stacking area.

[0027] Preferably, the device comprises a sheet aligner (jogger) that is arranged between the sampling plate and a front boundary of the stacking area when the sampling plate is in the access position.

[0028] The sheet aligner is used to align the sheets in the sheet stack when and / or after they are and / or have been distributed by the transfer mechanism. For this purpose, the sheet aligner can be tilted forward and backward towards the front edge of the stacking area, so that the sheets in the stacking area are aligned with each other.

[0029] The front edge of the stacking area is especially perpendicular to the side edge of the stacking area.

[0030] The sheet aligner extends especially along the entire length of the front boundary of the stacking area.

[0031] In addition, the device may include at least one side sheet aligner located at the side boundary of the stacking area.

[0032] The side sheet aligner is also used to align the sheets in the sheet stack when and / or after they are and / or have been distributed by the transfer mechanism. For this purpose, the side sheet aligner may be tilted forward and backward toward the side boundary of the stacking area and out of it.

[0033] The device may comprise several side sheet aligners, especially at least one side sheet aligner on both side boundaries of the stacking area.

[0034] The side sheet aligner can extend across the entire Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, page 10 / 49 6 / 15 length of the lateral boundary of the stacking area.

[0035] In one embodiment, the sheet aligner and / or at least one side sheet aligner can be adjusted between an operating position and an unblocking position by a drive element, wherein the sampling plate can only be adjusted to the sampling position when the sheet aligner and / or at least one side sheet aligner is / are in the unblocking position.

[0036] In this embodiment, the sheet aligner and / or the side sheet aligner do not need to be mounted so that they are always below or above the level at which the sampling plate is moved over the stacking area. This allows for a reduction in the required size of the device.

[0037] At the same time, the sheet aligner and / or the side sheet aligner prevents the sampling plate from accidentally blocking the stacking area.

[0038] The drive element may consist of a piston that may be actuated electrically, pneumatically, and / or hydraulically.

[0039] The device may comprise a sensor adapted to monitor the position of the sampling plate.

[0040] The sensor is specifically located between the device housing and the stacking area, preferably between the device housing and the sheet aligner.

[0041] The sensor allows you to determine if the sampling plate is moved out of the access position. In this case, the sheet aligner and / or one or more side sheet aligners can be automatically adjusted to the release position.

[0042] The sensor can be a light barrier.

[0043] The objective of the invention is further solved by a Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, page 11 / 49 7 / 15 converting machine comprising a device as described above.

[0044] Other advantages and features will become apparent from the following description of the invention and the accompanying figures which show a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the invention, and in which:

[0045] - Figure 1 shows a schematic conversion machine comprising a device according to the invention;

[0046] - Figure 2 shows a perspective view of parts of the device in Figure 1 with a sampling plate in an access position;

[0047] - Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the sheet aligner of the device in Figure 1;

[0048] - Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a side sheet aligner of the device in Figure 1;

[0049] - Figure 5 shows a cross-section of a detail of the side sheet aligner of Figure 4;

[0050] - Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a cross-section of the device in Figure 2 along plane AA with the sampling plate in the access position; and

[0051] - Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a cross-section of the device in Figure 2 along plane AA with the sampling plate in a sampling position.

[0052] Figure 1 shows a conversion machine 10 according to the invention. The conversion machine 10 is composed of several modules that are arranged one after the other. In the embodiment shown, the conversion machine 10 comprises a loading station 12, a feeder 14, a conversion station 16, a discharge station 18 and a device 20 according to the Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, page 12 / 49 8 / 15 invention.

[0053] The converting machine 10 has a direction of travel R that is defined by the direction in which the sheets are being processed.

[0054] Loading station 12 is used to supply converting machine 10 with raw sheets to be processed. The raw sheets can be produced from cardboard, paper, or plastic.

[0055] Individual raw sheets are removed from loading station 12 by feeder 14 and fed into converting station 16.

[0056] The converting station 16 can be a cutting station, a stamping station, or a stamping station. In the embodiment shown, the converting machine consists of a plate press 24. In the converting station 16, the raw sheets are converted into sheets 22.

[0057] Discharge station 18 is used to transfer sheets 22 from conversion station 16 to a stacking area 26 of device 20. Discharge station 18 can also be used to ensure correct alignment of sheets 22.

[0058] Sheets 22 are moved along the direction of travel R by a transfer mechanism 28. The transfer mechanism 28 is adapted to individually transfer each sheet 22 from feeder 14 to device 20.

[0059] The transfer mechanism 28 comprises several gripper bars 30 that take turns holding a sheet 22 on its front edge and pulling the sheet 22 through the stations of the converting machine 10.

[0060] The claw bars 30 are connected to a chain 32 that moves in a closed circle. The chain 32 moves in a way Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, page 13 / 49 9 / 15 gradual, with sheet 22 being moved to the next station of the converting machine 10 at each step.

[0061] In device 20, sheets 22 are released from the transfer mechanism 28 to form a stack of sheets in the stacking area 26, for example, on a pallet 34.

[0062] Consequently, in the embodiment presented, only a single transfer mechanism 28 is used for all modules of the conversion machine 10, including the device 20. Generally, the device 20 could comprise its own transfer mechanism 28 which is connected to another transfer mechanism of the conversion machine.

[0063] On a front boundary 36 of the stacking area 26, a sheet aligner 38 is arranged. The sheet aligner 38 is used to align the processed sheets 22 along the direction of travel R in the stacking area 26. This is done by providing a flat surface by the sheet aligner 38 against which the sheets 22 can be pushed when distributed in the stacking area 26 by the transfer mechanism 28.

[0064] Furthermore, device 20 consists of a sheet aligner 39 which is arranged on the back side of the stacking area 26, opposite the front side of the stacking area 26. Thus, the rear sheet aligner 39 is arranged on the opposite side to the sheet aligner 38.

[0065] In addition, the sheet aligner 38 can tilt forward and backward to align the sheets 22 in the stacking area 26.

[0066] Device 20 comprises a housing 40 which, in the embodiment shown, is also part of the housing of the conversion machine 10.

[0067] Accommodation 40 comprises a window 42 so that a Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, page 14 / 49 10 / 15 converting machine operator 10 can look at converting machine 10, especially at sheets 22 in stacking area 26.

[0068] Housing 40 also has an opening 43 through which a sampling plate 44 extends partially out of housing 40. The sampling plate 44 further comprises handles 45 which can be used by the operator to adjust the position of the sampling plate 44.

[0069] In addition, the device 20 has a display unit 46 with a display 48 and control elements 50. The display 48 can also be a touch-sensitive display. In this case, the control elements 50 can be incorporated into the display 48. The display 46 can be used by an operator to control the device 20, preferably to control all modules of the converting machine 10.

[0070] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the parts of device 20.

[0071] Sheet aligner 38 and sheet aligner 39 extend essentially over the entire length of the front and rear surfaces of stacking area 26, respectively.

[0072] As can be seen in Figure 2, in addition to the sheet aligner 38 and the sheet aligner 39, the device 20 also includes two side sheet aligners 52. The side sheet aligners 52 are arranged on side surfaces of the stacking area 26, wherein each of the two side sheet aligners 52 are arranged oppositely on opposite side surfaces of the stacking area 26.

[0073] Device 20 further comprises two guides 54, each extending along one of the lateral boundaries of the stacking area 26. The guides 54 extend partially outward from Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, p. 15 / 49 11 / 15 accommodation 40.

[0074] Sampling plate 44 is arranged on guide rails 54.

[0075] In Figures 1 and 2, the sampling plate 44 is in an access position. In the access position, the top of the stacking area 26 is free so that the sheets 22 can be transferred by the transfer mechanism 28 to the stacking area 26, forming a stack of sheets.

[0076] Furthermore, the sheet aligner 38 is arranged at such a height that the sampling plate 44 cannot slide along the guides 54 on the stacking area 26, i.e., the sheet aligner 38 blocks the movement of the sampling plate 44. This position of the sheet aligner 38 is called the operating position.

[0077] The device 20 further comprises a sensor 55 that can detect the position of the sampling plate 44. The sensor 55 can be a light barrier.

[0078] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of sheet aligner 38 in more detail. As illustrated in Figure 3 by the double arrow J, sheet aligner 38 can be moved forward and backward to and from stacking area 26.

[0079] Furthermore, the sheet aligner 38 can be moved up and down as illustrated by the double arrow K in Figure 3 to move from the operating position to a sampling position in which the sheet aligner 38 no longer blocks the movement of the sampling plate 44 along the guide rails 54.

[0080] The sheet aligner 38 can be moved along the J and K directions by drive elements 56 which are cylinders with electrically actuated pistons. The sheet aligner 38 can also have separate drive elements 56 for the respective movements along the J and K directions. Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, page 16 / 49 12 / 15

[0081] Figure 4 shows one of the side sheet aligners 52 in more detail. The sheet aligner 52 can be moved laterally along the directions illustrated by the double arrow L and up and down along the directions illustrated by the double arrow M.

[0082] Figure 5 shows a cross-section along the center of the extension direction of the side sheet aligner 52 of Figure 4.

[0083] The drive element 56 of the side leaf aligner 52 comprises two cylinders 58 and 60, one with a piston 62 moving along the L direction and a second with a piston 64 moving along the M direction. The pistons 62, 64 can either be actuated electrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically. The pistons 62, 64 can also use different drive mechanisms.

[0084] The side sheet aligners 52 can also be adjusted to a working position in which the movement of the sampling plate 44 along the guides 54 is blocked by the side sheet aligners 52 and to a sampling position in which the side sheet aligner 52 no longer blocks the movement of the sampling plate 38 along the guides 54.

[0085] Next, the operating mode of device 20 will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 which show perspective views of a cross-section along plane AA shown in Figure 2.

[0086] During standard operation of converting machine 10, sheets 22 will be processed and distributed by transfer mechanism 28 to stacking area 26.

[0087] The sheet aligner 38, the rear sheet aligner 39 and the side sheet aligners 52 are used to align the sheets 22 distributed to the stacking area 26. Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, page 17 / 49 13 / 15

[0088] Sampling plate 44 is in the access position in which it extends partially out of housing 40. Thus, sampling plate 44 is out of the way of sheets 22 towards stacking area 26.

[0089] The operator of converting machine 10 can observe the sheets 22 arriving at the stacking area 26 through the window 42. If the operator decides to take sample sheets, for example, to check the quality of the processed sheets 22, he can start a sampling process by pressing a sampling button which is one of the control elements 50 of the display unit 46.

[0090] This prevents the transfer mechanism 28 from distributing new sheets 22 to the stacking area 26 for a pre-selected time period t1, for example, from 1 to 3 seconds.

[0091] In addition, the sheet aligner 38 and the side sheet aligners 52 are moved down into their sampling positions by their respective drive elements 56 so that the guides 54 are no longer blocked.

[0092] Next, the display unit 46 gives the operator a signal that the sampling plate 44 can be moved to the sampling position. The signal can be given visually on the display 48 or acoustically by means of a loudspeaker (not shown).

[0093] The sampling plate 44 can then be pushed through the opening 43 by the operator using handles 45 until the sampling plate 44 covers the stacking area 26 (shown in Figure 7). The sampling plate 44 can also be moved by a drive (not shown).

[0094] Alternatively, the sheet aligner 38 and the side sheet aligners 52 could also automatically switch to their respective sampling positions as soon as the sensor 55 Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, page 18 / 49 14 / 15 detected that sampling plate 44 had been moved out of its access position.

[0095] After the time period t1, the transfer mechanism 28 provides a predefined number of plates 22 to the device 20. As the stacking area 26 is now covered by the sampling plate 44, these sheets 22 are collected on the sampling plate 44.

[0096] The number of sheets 22 can be a number defined based on the desired quantity of sample sheets and / or the total height of the sample sheets collected on the sample plate. The predefined number of sheets 22 can also be entered manually or adjusted by the operator with the display unit 46.

[0097] The number of sheets 22 must be small enough to allow movement of the sampling plate 44 and the collected sampling sheets through the opening 43.

[0098] After collecting the predefined number of sample leaves, the transfer mechanism 28 again distributes the leaves 22 for a pre-determined time period t2.

[0099] The time periods t1 and t2 can have the same length or different lengths, and can be adjusted and / or chosen by the operator independently of each other.

[00100] During time period t2, the operator can move sampling plate 44 back to the access position, thereby removing the collected sampling sheets from housing 40.

[00101] After the time period t2, the sheet aligner 38 and the side sheet aligners 52 are moved back to their operating positions and the transfer mechanism 28 again begins to distribute the processed sheets 22 to the stacking area 26. Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, page 19 / 49 15 / 15

[00102] The operator can easily remove the sample sheets from sample plate 44 out of housing 40 while the converting machine starts up again.

[00103] Consequently, device 20 makes it possible to reduce the downtime of the converting machine 10 and provides an easier way to collect the sample sheets. Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, page 20 / 49

Claims

1 / 2 CLAIMS 1. Device for storing a stack of sheets in a converting machine (10), wherein the device (20) comprises: a transfer mechanism (28) for distributing sheets (22) into a stacking area (26) of the device (22), and a sampling plate (44) that is adjustable between a sampling position and an access position, wherein the top of the stacking area (26) is covered by the sampling plate (44) when the sampling plate (44) is in the sampling position so that the sheets (22) delivered by the transfer mechanism (28) are collected by the sampling plate (44), and wherein the top of the stacking area (26) is free when the sampling plate (44) is in the access position, characterized in that the sampling plate (44) at least partially extends out of a housing (40) of the device (20) when it is in the access position.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (20) comprises a guide rail (54) extending at least partially along a lateral boundary of the stacking area (26) and along which the sampling plate (44) moves when adjusted between the access position and the sampling position.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device (20) comprises a sheet aligner (38) which is disposed between the sampling plate (44) and a front boundary of the stacking area (26) when the sampling plate (44) is in the access position. Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, page 21 / 49 2 / 2 4. Device, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (20) comprises at least one side sheet aligner (52) disposed at the side limit of the stacking area (26).

5. Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the sheet aligner (38) and / or at least one side sheet aligner (52) can be adjusted between an operating position and a compensation position by a drive element (56), wherein the sampling plate (44) can be adjusted to the sampling position only when the sheet aligner (38) and / or at least one side sheet aligner (52) is / are in the compensation position.

6. Device, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (20) comprises a sensor (55) adapted to monitor the position of the sampling plate (44).

7. Converting machine characterized in that it comprises a device (20), as defined in any of the preceding claims. Petition 870260026161, dated 03 / 20 / 2026, p. 22 / 49

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