DEVICE FOR ALIGNING A STACK OF PROFILES

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device and a method for aligning a stack of profiles, preferably comprising rigid profiles, in particular with a minimum stack length of 1000 mm, a minimum stack width of 300 mm, and a minimum stack height of 100 mm. An alignment unit is provided, into and from whose receiving area the stack of profiles is inserted via a sliding plane.is conveyable, wherein the alignment unit comprises a stacking support, a depth stop, two side stops opposite each other in a stop direction and movable relative to each other, and a hold-down device movable transversely to the stop direction and cooperating with the top side of the profile stack, wherein the stacking support, the depth stop, the side stops and the hold-down device are jointly pivotable about a rotation axis parallel to the stop direction between a receiving position and an alignment position by a pivot angle, and wherein the stacking support, the depth stop, the side stops and / or the hold-down device are arranged on a common frame which is pivotable about the rotation axis between a receiving position and an alignment position.

[0002] In practice, handling stacks of profiles regularly presents the challenge that the stacks must be aligned as flush as possible, especially for transport purposes. Devices are known (DE2432738C3) for use with stacks of profiles, such as stacks of wooden boards, which have side stops arranged on a longitudinal conveyor and movable transversely to the longitudinal direction. However, applying pressure to the stack on its sides facing the side stops only achieves flush alignment with respect to the stack width. Consequently, additional measures must subsequently be taken to ensure flush alignment with respect to the stack length as well.

[0003] Furthermore, a device according to the preamble of independent claim 1 is known from US 2021 / 155433 A1.

[0004] The invention is therefore based on the objective of designing a device for aligning a stack of profiles in such a way that reliable flush alignment of profile stacks is enabled in the most efficient way possible and with simple constructive means.

[0005] The invention solves the stated problem starting from a device of the type described above by connecting the common frame to a vibration drive in such a way that the profile stack in alignment position can be subjected to oscillating movements pivoting essentially around the axis of rotation.

[0006] As a result of these measures, the stacking support, the depth stop, the side stops, and the hold-down clamp together define the receiving area, which is thus accessible on one side via the insertion plane, which defines a vertical plane, for the profile stack to be aligned. Structurally favorable conditions arise when the stacking support, the depth stop, the side stops, and the hold-down clamp each define stop or working planes, so that these, together with the insertion plane in the receiving position, define an essentially cuboid receiving space. In particular, the opposing side stop planes form the corresponding end faces, the planes of the hold-down clamp and the stacking support, which are perpendicular to them, form the top and bottom faces, respectively, and the depth stop plane forms the back face, while the insertion plane or the open side of the receiving space corresponds to the front face.For alignment, the profile stack, inserted into the receiving area and resting on the stacking support there, can be positioned with its rear side opposite the insertion plane against the depth stop and pre-positioned in the receiving position by moving the corresponding side stops and the hold-down device. Preferably, in the receiving position, the top surface of the profile stack associated with the hold-down device forms its uppermost surface. The invention is based on the finding that, with certain profile stacks, particularly those based on wooden board or panel profiles, the resulting static friction makes it difficult to move adjacent profiles relative to each other, which is necessary for aligning the stack, depending on the surface roughness and any vacuum effect that may occur.According to the invention, it is therefore proposed to pivot the profile stack, pre-positioned in the receiving area, from a receiving position to an alignment position by a pivot angle such that the necessary relative displacement of the individual profiles for alignment can be carried out with the aid of gravity, while the profile stack is fixed flush by the side stops, the hold-down clamp, and the depth stop. In the alignment position, the pivoted profile stack rests with its rear side on the depth stop, essentially due to gravity. In this position, the uppermost surface of the profile stack is defined not by the top side of the profile stack associated with the hold-down clamp, but by the front side of the profile stack, which initially runs parallel to the insertion plane in the receiving position. It is generally possible that the side stops are only partially engaged during the pivoting process.After the profile stack has been pivoted into the alignment position, it is shifted relative to itself and thus only fully aligned with the profile stack with respect to its end faces once in the alignment position. The pivot angle required for alignment is preferably greater than 45°, more preferably greater than 60°, more preferably between 70° and 110°, more preferably between 80° and 100°, and particularly preferably 90°. After the profile stack has been aligned, it is pivoted back into the receiving position, released, and conveyed out of the receiving area.

[0007] A compact and robust design is achieved by arranging the stacking support, depth stop, side stops, and / or hold-down device on a common frame, which can pivot around the axis of rotation between the receiving position and the alignment position. Particularly advantageous design conditions arise when corresponding actuating cylinders are mounted on the frame at both ends, relative to the direction of the stop. These cylinders are rotatably mounted on the frame and / or a base frame about an axis of rotation parallel to the direction of the stop. Accordingly, the effective axis of each actuating cylinder is perpendicular to this axis of rotation. Preferably, the frame is supported at both ends exclusively by the pivot bearings assigned to the respective actuating cylinders on the base frame.

[0008] According to the invention, the common frame is connected to a vibration drive in such a way that the profile stack, in its aligned position, can be subjected to oscillating movements that pivot essentially around the axis of rotation. The actuating cylinders mentioned above can form the vibration drive. Due to the oscillating movements, even strongly adhering profiles are separated from one another so that they can easily slide past each other, and the profile stack can be aligned flush in its aligned position. The hold-down clamp remains at a predetermined distance from the top surface of the profile stack, thus ensuring the necessary clearance for the profiles during the alignment process. The predetermined distance of the hold-down clamp to the top surface of the profile stack can, for example, be 1 to 5% of the profile stack height. In this context, it is therefore generally advisable that the clamp only be adjusted during the vibration or...The oscillation movements of the side stops press against the end faces of the profile stack. To facilitate reliable alignment and reduce the risk of damage to the profile stack, it is recommended that the oscillation frequency be in the range of 1 to 5 Hz. The oscillation amplitude can be in the range of + / - 1 mm to + / - 50 mm, preferably referring to the corresponding actuating cylinders.

[0009] In principle, both side stops can be designed to be movable by means of actuating drives. It can also be provided that the corresponding actuating drive(s) also form a vibration drive, so that the profile stack can be subjected to an oscillating movement via at least one side stop. The at least one side stop can repeatedly strike the end face of the profile stack facing it, so that the momentum of the resulting oscillation can be advantageously used for aligning the profile stack. Preferably, the repeated striking of the end face of the profile stack, and the associated oscillation, occurs 2 to 5 times. It is recommended that the side stop(s) only press against the end faces of the profile stack once the oscillation movements of the profile stack, pivoting around the axis of rotation as described above, have already taken place.. In In a preferred embodiment, only one of the side stops can be displaced relative to the stationary side stop opposite it in the direction of travel by means of a linear drive. It goes without saying that the hold-down device for positioning against the top side of the profile stack is also connected to a corresponding actuating drive.

[0010] To easily align profile stacks with varying dimensions, it is proposed that a side stop have several spaced-apart stop elements that can be inserted into corresponding recesses in the hold-down device extending in the direction of the stop. The stop elements, on the one hand, and the recesses in the hold-down device, on the other, are preferably designed such that they interlock when the side stop containing the stop elements is moved in the direction of the stop, thus ensuring that even profile stacks with shorter stack lengths can be securely fixed between the side stops.

[0011] In Favorable design conditions arise in this context when the recesses of the hold-down device extending in the direction of travel are formed by parallel bars spaced apart from one another. Preferably, the stop elements are also arranged parallel to each other. The stop elements extend, particularly vertically, at a right angle to the hold-down device or its bars. The bars can be mounted cantilevered or freestanding on a bearing arm of the hold-down device, so that the free ends of the bars face the stop elements of the corresponding side stop.

[0012] To ensure that the aligned profile stack can be easily removed from the receiving area without the risk of becoming jammed, it is proposed that the stop surface of the stationary side stop form an opening angle of over 90°, preferably 96°, with the insertion plane. This creates a certain gap between the stationary side stop and the profile stack side as it moves towards it, preventing the latter from being obstructed by the side stop during removal from the receiving area. The opening angle should be selected so that the maximum permissible lateral overhang of the profile stack does not exceed 4 cm. Accordingly, an angle of approximately 96° has proven particularly advantageous.

[0013] To improve handling of the profile stack and reduce the risk of damage, the depth stop can include a row of rotatably mounted support rollers extending in the direction of the stop. Alternatively, the stack support can also have a row of rotatably mounted support rollers, in which case the row must run perpendicular to the direction of the stop, or the individual support rollers must extend parallel to the direction of the stop. Similarly, it is conceivable that the stationary side stop includes a row of rotatably mounted support rollers, in which case the row runs perpendicular to the direction of the stop in the direction of the depth stop, or the individual support rollers extend vertically perpendicular to the direction of the stop.

[0014] The measures according to the invention create the conditions that allow any stacks of profiles to be aligned along a conveyor line formed by a longitudinal conveyor to be aligned largely decoupled from the longitudinal conveyor, so that the basic conveying flow is hardly interrupted or slowed down by the alignment process. For this purpose, several alignment units according to the invention can, in principle, be arranged along the conveyor line next to the longitudinal conveyor running in a longitudinal conveying direction. Corresponding transverse conveyors can be provided for transferring a stack of profiles to be aligned from the longitudinal conveyor to an alignment unit in a transverse direction. For example, the longitudinal conveyor can have parallel conveying elements, e.g., conveyor belts, running in the longitudinal conveying direction and arranged at a distance from each other, with corresponding extendable and retractable transverse conveying elements, e.g., conveyor rollers, arranged in the corresponding spaces between them.To support lateral conveying, it may also be provided that any support rollers of the stacking support are connected to a conveying drive.

[0015] The invention also relates to a method for aligning a stack of profiles using a device according to the invention. The stack of profiles to be aligned is conveyed through the feed plane, for example from a longitudinal conveyor, into the receiving area of ​​the alignment unit and its rear side, opposite the feed plane, is positioned against the depth stop. To secure the stack of profiles, the side stops and the hold-down device are positioned against the stack. The stack support, the depth stop, the side stops, and the hold-down device are then pivoted together around the axis of rotation parallel to the direction of the stops by a pivot angle from the receiving position and the alignment position, and finally pivoted back into the receiving position. Finally, the aligned stack of profiles is conveyed from the receiving area of ​​the alignment unit, for example, back to the longitudinal conveyor.Preferably, it can be provided that, in the aligned position, the pivoted profile stack is subjected to oscillating movements in the direction of rotation and / or in the direction of the stop. In principle, the side stops can only be partially displaced relative to each other during the pivoting process or after the profile stack has been pivoted into the aligned position, and thus only fully positioned against the profile stack with respect to its end faces once in the aligned position.

[0016] In The drawing illustrates the subject matter of the invention by way of example. It shows Fig. 1 a schematic oblique view of a device according to the invention with a frame in receiving position, Fig. 2 a of the Fig. 1 corresponding, reverse-viewed representation with the frame in alignment position, Fig. 3 one of the Fig. 1 corresponding illustration with angled side stop and hold-down device and Fig. 4 a top view on a larger scale with a detail section of a stationary side stop.

[0017] An inventive device for aligning a stack of profiles 1, comprising profiles stacked one above the other at a height H, includes an alignment unit 2, which has a stacking support 3, a depth stop 4, two side stops 5, 6 opposite each other in a stop direction A and movable relative to each other, and a hold-down device 8 movable transversely to the stop direction A and cooperating with the top side 7 of the profile stack 1. The stacking support 3, the depth stop 4, the side stops 5, 6 and the hold-down device 8 define a receiving area 9. As can be seen in particular from the Fig. 1 bis 3 As can be seen, the depth stop 4 has a row of rotatably mounted support rollers extending in the stop direction A. The stacking support 3 also has a row of rotatably mounted support rollers, but in this case, the row runs transversely to the stop direction A, or the individual support rollers of the stacking support 3 extend parallel to the stop direction A.

[0018] The receiving area 9 is thus accessible from one side via an insertion plane defining a vertical plane for the profile stack 1 to be aligned, whereby this imaginary insertion plane is located in the Fig.1 The shown position is parallel to the front face 10 of the profile stack 1. The profile stack 1 to be aligned, or ultimately aligned, is transferred between a longitudinal conveyor 11 running in a longitudinal conveying direction L and the alignment unit 2 by means of a transverse conveyor (not shown) in a transverse conveying direction Q. The longitudinal conveying direction L and the stop direction A run parallel to each other, whereas the transverse conveying direction Q runs perpendicular to the longitudinal conveying direction L. The transverse conveyor can, for example, have transverse conveying elements in the form of conveyor rollers with axes of rotation running parallel to the longitudinal conveying direction L, wherein such conveyor rollers are arranged to be extendable and retractable in the spaces between the longitudinal conveying elements, which are designed, for example, as conveyor belts.

[0019] The stacking support 3, the depth stop 4, the side stops 5, 6 and the hold-down device 8 are arranged on a common frame 12, which rotates about an axis of rotation between the receiving position according to Fig. 1 and the alignment position according to Fig. 2 The common frame 12 is pivotable. The common frame 12 is connected to a vibration drive formed by actuating cylinders 14 in such a way that the profile stack 1, in its aligned position, can be subjected to oscillating movements that pivot essentially around the axis of rotation. The actuating cylinders are each articulated to both the frame 12 and a base frame 15, as can be seen in the drawing. Due to the oscillating movements, even strongly adhering profiles are separated from each other so that they can easily slide past one another, and the profile stack 1 can be aligned flush in its aligned position.

[0020] The side stop 5 can be displaced relative to the stationary side stop 6 opposite it in the stop direction A by means of a linear drive 16. The linear drive 16 can also be configured as a vibration drive, so that the profile stack 1 can be subjected to an oscillating movement in the stop direction A via the side stop 5. The hold-down device 8 is also connected to a corresponding actuating drive (not shown) for positioning against the top side 7 of the profile stack 1.

[0021] In Fig. 3 It is clearly visible that the movable side stop 5 has several stop elements 17 arranged at a distance from each other, which can be inserted into corresponding recesses in the hold-down device 8 extending in the stop direction A, so that the stop elements 17 mesh into the recesses of the hold-down device 8. This allows even stacks of profiles with different stack dimensions to be reliably aligned. The recesses of the hold-down device 8 are formed by parallel bars 18 arranged at a distance from each other.

[0022] As can be seen in the top view in Fig. 4To illustrate this, the stop surface 19 of the stationary side stop 6 does not form a right angle with the insertion plane, but rather forms an opening angle of over 90°, preferably 96°, with it. Thus, taking into account a maximum permissible lateral overhang on the profile stack 1, it can be conveyed out of the receiving area 9 after release without being obstructed by the stationary side stop 6.

Claims

1. A device for aligning a stack of profiles (1) with a minimum stack length of 1000 mm, a minimum stack width of 300 mm, and a minimum stack height of 100 mm, wherein an alignment unit (2) is arranged such that the stack of profiles (1) can be fed in or out via a feed plane from or to its receiving area (9), wherein the alignment unit (2) comprises a stack support (3), a depth stop (4), two side stops (5, 6) which are opposite each other in an stop direction (A) and can be moved relative to each other, and a downholder (8) which is movable transversely to the stop direction (A) and cooperates with the top surface (7) of the stack of profiles (1), wherein the stack support (3), the depth stop (4), the side stops (5, 6) and the downholder (8) are jointly pivotable about a rotation axis running parallel to the stop direction (A) between a receiving position and an alignment position, and wherein the stack support (3), the depth stop (4), the side stops (5, 6) and / or the downholder (8) are arranged on a common frame (12) which is pivotable about the rotation axis between a receiving position and an alignment position, characterized in that the common frame (12) is drivingly connected to a vibration drive in such a way that the stack of profiles (1) can be acted upon with oscillating movements essentially pivoting about the rotation axis in the alignment position, wherein at both ends of the frame, with respect to the stop direction (A), actuating cylinders (14) act on it, which are rotatably mounted on the frame (12) and / or on a base frame (15) about a rotation axis running parallel to the stop direction (A).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the side stops (5) has a plurality of stop elements (17) arranged at a distance from each other, which can be inserted into corresponding recesses in the downholder (8), which recesses are running in the stop direction (A).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the recesses in the downholder (8) running in the stop direction (A) are formed by parallel bars (18) arranged at a distance from each other.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that one of the side stops (5) can be moved, by means of a linear drive (16), relative to the stationary side stop (6) located opposite it in the stop direction (A).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the stop surface (19) of the stationary side stop (6) forms an opening angle of more than 90°, preferably of 96°, with the feed plane.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the depth stop (4) comprises a row of rotatably mounted support rollers, which row is running in the stop direction (A).

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by a longitudinal conveyor (11) for the stack of profiles (1), which longitudinal conveyor (11) runs in a longitudinal conveying direction (L), and a transverse conveyor for transferring the stack of profiles (1) between the longitudinal conveyor (11) and the alignment unit (2) in a transverse conveying direction (Q).

8. Method for aligning a stack of profiles (1), using a device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the stack of profiles (1) to be aligned is fed through the feed plane into the receiving area (9) of the alignment unit (2) and its rear side opposite the feed plane is placed against the depth stop (4), and in that the side stops (5, 6) and the downholder (8) are moved onto the stack of profiles (1) to fix it, wherein the stack support (3), the depth stop (4), the side stops (5, 6) and the downholder (8) are jointly pivoted about the rotation axis running parallel to the stop direction (A) from the receiving position and the alignment position by a pivoting angle and finally pivoted back into the receiving position, after which the aligned stack of profiles (1) is fed out of the receiving area (9) of the alignment unit (2), characterized in that, in the alignment position, the pivoted stack of profiles (1) is acted upon with oscillating movements running in the direction of rotation and / or in the stop direction (A), wherein during the oscillating movements, the predetermined distance between the downholder (8) and the top surface (7) of the stack of profiles (1) is 1 to 5% of the stack height.