Machine for joining sheet material, preferably cardboard

Abstract

Machine (1) for joining sheet material (20), comprising a sheet-material joining station (2) arranged between two sheet-material storage regions (3, 4), and a control unit (5), the joining station (2) forming a guide path (6) for sheet material (20) that develops longitudinally from one of the storage regions (3, 4) to the other storage region, the guide path (6) comprising two edges (7) and, arranged between the edges (7), at least one driver (8) and a unit (9) for joining sheet material (20), each joining unit (9) comprising at least one gluing and / or stapling device (10). Each driver (8) comprises at least one drive member (81) and each joining unit (9) is an activatable / deactivatable unit, each joining unit (9) being in the inactive state when the at least one drive member (81) is in the driven state in one of the directions of rotation thereof.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a machine for joining sheet material, preferably cardboard.

[0002] It relates in particular to a machine for joining sheet material, preferably cardboard, said machine comprising a sheet material joining station arranged between two sheet material storage areas and a control unit, said joining station providing a sheet material guidance path extending between the sheet material storage areas and extending longitudinally from one of the storage areas, referred to as the first storage area, to the other storage area, referred to as the second storage area, said guidance path comprising two edges and, arranged between said edges, at least one sheet material feeder and at least one sheet material joining group, each joining group comprising at least one gluing and / or stapling device, each feeder comprising at least one drive unit.

[0003] A machine for joining sheet material is known as illustrated in US document 2003 / 022776.

[0004] Such a machine allows for the joining of edges of the same sheet material or the joining of two sheet materials, for example, to produce the four lateral faces of a rectangular box. In these prior art machines, the first storage area holds the sheet materials to be joined or assembled, while the second storage area holds the joined or assembled sheets. A visual inspection of the join is performed by the operator in the second storage area to verify that it is correctly made. If the join is incorrect, the operator initiates a new joining operation from the first storage area after making any necessary adjustments to the machine. The observation is that the join inspection step is time-consuming and tedious for the operator.

[0005] One aim of the invention is to provide a machine of the aforementioned type whose design allows for time savings during the pre-setting of the machine before launching mass production.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a machine for joining sheet material, preferably cardboard, said machine comprising a sheet material joining station disposed between two sheet material storage areas and a control unit, said joining station providing a sheet material guidance path extending between the sheet material storage areas and running longitudinally from one of the storage areas, referred to as the first storage area, to the other storage area, referred to as the second storage area, said guidance path comprising two edges and, disposed between said edges, at least one sheet material feeder and at least one sheet material joining unit, each joining unit comprising at least one gluing and / or stapling device, each feeder comprising at least one drive element,characterized in that the drive element(s) of the drive unit(s) is a drive unit with two directions of rotation to allow the sheet material(s) to be moved from one storage area to the other storage area and vice versa, and in that the connecting group(s) is an activatable / deactivatable group, the connecting group(s) being in the inactive state when driven by each two-way drive unit in one of its directions of rotation. The ability of the drive element(s) of at least one of the drive units to rotate in two directions allows, under certain conditions, the return of one or more sheet materials from the second storage area, where the sheet material(s) for which at least one connection has been made are stored, to the first storage area. Thus,The operator can avoid any movement between the first and second storage areas, as was the case with prior art, since visual inspection can be carried out from the first storage area without the operator having to leave this area, where the controls for the various machine settings are generally located. The operator can then visually check the quality of the joint(s) from the first storage area without having to move. This results in time savings and reduced operator fatigue. The ability to deactivate the joining group(s) allows the sheet material(s) already joined from the second storage area to the first storage area to be moved safely, i.e., without the already assembled sheet material(s) undergoing a further joining operation.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, the machine comprises a first operating mode, referred to as test mode, and a second operating mode, referred to as production mode, these operating modes being selectively activated. In production mode, each drive element with two directions of rotation of the drive unit(s) is driven in a single direction of rotation. This results in a high production rate.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured, in the activated state of test mode, to control the drive unit(s) with two directions of rotation of the drive unit(s) in a first direction of rotation corresponding to a drive moving the sheet material(s) from the first storage zone to the second storage zone, and in a second direction of rotation corresponding to a drive moving the sheet material(s) from the second storage zone to the first storage zone. Each junction group is in the inactive state when the drive unit(s) with two directions of rotation are driven in the second direction of rotation. The second storage zone, located downstream of the junction station, is the storage zone for the sheet material(s) coming from the junction station. In this second storage zone, each sheet material has been subjected to at least one junction.The first storage area contains at least one sheet material requiring at least one joint. One or more sheet materials that have undergone at least one joint from the second storage area may be brought into this first storage area for a quality control check, generally visual, of said joint.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to, in the activated state of production mode, control each drive element in two directions of rotation of the or at least one of the drives following a single direction of rotation corresponding to a drive in movement of the sheet material(s) from the first storage area to the second storage area and each junction group is in the active state.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the machine includes a manually operated test validation / invalidation system and the control unit is configured to control each drive element in two directions of rotation of the or at least one of the drives and the or each junction group according to an operating cycle depending on the actuation of the test validation / invalidation system.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, in the activated state of the test mode, the control unit is configured to control each two-way rotating drive element of the or at least one of the drives and the or each junction group according to an operating cycle comprising a first phase during which each two-way rotating drive element of the or at least one of the drives is in the driven state moving in a first direction of rotation corresponding to a drive moving the sheet material(s) from the first storage area to the second storage area and the or each junction group is in the active state,a second phase during which each drive unit with two directions of rotation of the drive unit(s) is in the driven state, moving in a second direction of rotation corresponding to a drive moving the sheet material(s) from the second storage zone to the first storage zone, and the junction group(s) is in the inactive state, said operating cycle comprising, in the actuated state of the test validation / invalidation system in the direction of test validation, a third phase during which each drive unit with two directions of rotation of the drive unit(s) is in the driven state, moving in a first direction of rotation corresponding to a drive moving the sheet material(s) from the first storage zone to the second storage zone, and the junction group(s) is in the inactive state. Thus, at the end of the second phase,The operator performs a visual inspection of the joint(s). If the joint(s) are compliant, the operator activates the test validation / invalidation system to validate the test. This activation of the test validation / invalidation system triggers a third phase during which each drive unit with two directions of rotation of the drive(s) is in the driven state, moving in the first direction of rotation, corresponding to the movement of the sheet material(s) from the first storage zone to the second storage zone, and each joint group is in the inactive state. This third phase allows the assembled sheet material(s), i.e., subjected to at least one joint and visually inspected, to be returned to the second storage zone. Mass production can then begin. Conversely,If one or more junctions are non-compliant, the operator activates the test validation / invalidation system to invalidate the test. This activation of the test validation / invalidation system, after any necessary machine adjustments, triggers the first phase of a new operating cycle. These operating cycles, comprising the first and second phases, can be repeated as many times as necessary until the junction(s) are deemed correct by the operator. These operating cycles can be repeated without requiring the operator to move between the first and second storage areas, resulting in time savings.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, when the test mode is activated and the test validation / invalidation system is actuated in the direction of test validation, the control unit is configured to activate production mode at the end of the third phase. The machine can thus automatically switch to production mode at the end of the third phase. When the test mode is activated and the test validation / invalidation system is actuated in the direction of test invalidation, the control unit is configured to initiate a new operating cycle at the end of the second phase. The operator can then immediately perform a new test after removing the non-conforming sheet material(s) from the first storage area and those from the second storage area.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the machine includes at least one sheet material detection device disposed, preferably, in at least one of the storage areas and the control unit is configured to control the transition from one phase to another of the operating cycle at least according to the data provided by said at least one sheet material detection device.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the guide path comprises at least one sheet material transport surface, and at least a portion of the transport surface is defined by at least a portion of the drivers. This transport surface is generally a movable flat surface.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the drives comprises at least two endless transmission elements, each associated with a drive element with two directions of rotation. These endless transmission elements are mounted to move freely between a widely spaced position and a position close to each other, in which they define a pinching zone for the sheet material. Alternatively, at least one of the drives comprises at least one endless transmission element associated with a drive element with two directions of rotation and at least one rolling element, such as a roller. These endless transmission elements and the at least one rolling element are mounted to move freely between a widely spaced position and a position close to each other, in which they define a pinching zone for the sheet material.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, for the or at least one of the trainers, in the activated state of the test mode and in the driven state of rotation of at least one rotary driving element of said trainer over a predetermined angular stroke following a second direction of rotation corresponding to a drive in displacement of sheet material from the second storage zone to the first storage zone, said angular stroke is divided into a first part and a second part, and the endless transmission elements of said trainer are in a position close to each other on the first part of the angular stroke of said at least one rotary driving element and in a position far apart from each other on the second part of the angular stroke.This arrangement avoids any risk of injury to an operator located in the first storage area by means of the sheet material(s) coming from the second storage area and carried in movement by the conveyor(s).Alternatively, for the or at least one of the trainers, in the activated state of the test mode and in the driven state of rotation of at least one rotary drive element of said trainer over a predetermined angular stroke following a second direction of rotation corresponding to a drive in movement of sheet material from the second storage area to the first storage area, said angular stroke is divided into a first part and a second part, and the endless transmission element and the at least one bearing element of said trainer are in a position close to each other on the first part of the angular stroke of said at least one rotary drive element and in a position far apart from each other on the second part of the angular stroke.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the activatable / deactivatable junction groups is a junction group mounted movable along a so-called vertical direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the guide path between at least two positions, one of the positions corresponding to the inactive state of the junction group, the other of the positions corresponding to the active state of the junction group.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the switchable / switchable joining groups comprises a U-shaped guide piece lying down with at least one wing and the gluing and / or stapling device is carried by said guide piece.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, each edge of the guide path is formed by at least one guide element, said edges are mounted movable in the direction of approaching or separating each other to vary the width of the guide path and the driver or each driver and the junction group or each junction group are arranged between said edges along at least one line transverse to the longitudinal direction of the guide path.

[0020] The invention further relates to a method for joining sheet material, preferably cardboard, by means of a machine comprising a sheet material joining station disposed between two sheet material storage areas and a control unit, said joining station providing a sheet material guidance path extending between the sheet material storage areas and running longitudinally from one of the storage areas, referred to as the first storage area, to the other storage area, referred to as the second storage area, said guidance path comprising two edges and, disposed between said edges, at least one sheet material feeder and at least one sheet material joining group, each joining group comprising at least one gluing and / or stapling device, each feeder comprising at least one drive element,characterized in that the drive unit(s) or at least one of the drive units(s) being a drive unit with two directions of rotation to allow for the movement of sheet material from one storage area to the other storage area and vice versa, and the junction group(s) being an activatable / deactivatable group, the junction group(s) being in the inactive state and in the driven state of each drive unit with two directions of rotation along one of its directions of rotation, and the machine comprising a first operating mode called test mode and a second operating mode called production mode, said operating modes being selectively activatable, said process comprising, in the activated state of test mode,at least one control step for each two-way drive unit of the or at least one of the drives following a first direction of rotation corresponding to a drive moving sheet material from the first storage zone to the second storage zone during which each junction group is in the active state and one control step for each two-way drive unit of the or at least one of the drives following a second direction of rotation corresponding to a drive moving sheet material from the second storage zone to the first storage zone during which each junction group is in the inactive state.

[0021] The above process may further include, for a machine comprising a manually operated test validation / invalidation system, after the step of controlling each drive element in two directions of rotation of the or at least one of the drives following a second direction of rotation corresponding to a drive in moving sheet material from the second storage area to the first storage area during which each junction group is in the inactive state,a step of actuation of the test validation / invalidation system in the direction of a test validation followed by a step during which each drive unit with two directions of rotation of the or at least one of the drives is in the driven state in movement along a first direction of rotation corresponding to a drive in movement of sheet material from the first storage area to the second storage area and during which the or each junction group is in the inactive state. Brève description des dessins

[0022] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings in which: [ Fig. 1 ] represents a schematic view of a machine according to the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] represents a partial view of a machine in the inserted state of sheet materials from the first storage area into the junction station and in the driven state of sheet materials towards the second storage area, the junction units being in the active state; Fig. 3 ] represents a partial view of a machine in the positioned state of sheet materials that have undergone at least one joining in the second storage area; Fig. 4 ] represents a partial view of a machine in the positioned state of assembled sheet materials, i.e., having been subjected to at least one joining in the second storage zone during the transition of the joining groups to the inactive state; [ Fig. 5 ] represents a partial view of a machine in the positioned state of sheet materials assembled in the second storage area and deactivated from the joining groups, and in the driven state of said sheet materials assembled towards the joining station for return to the first storage area; Fig. 6 ] represents a partial view of a machine in the positioned state of sheet materials assembled in the first storage area and in the driven state of said sheet materials assembled towards the junction station for return to the second storage area, said junction units being in the inactive state; Fig. 7 ] represents a partial view of a machine in the driven state of said sheet materials being assembled towards the second storage area for return to the second storage area, said joining groups being in the process of transitioning from the inactive state to the active state; [ Fig. 8 ] represents a partial schematic view of a trainer; [ Fig. 9 ] represents a partial schematic view of two junction groups and [ Fig. 10 ] represents a partial schematic cross-sectional view of sheet materials being joined with a schematic representation of the joining groups.

[0023] As mentioned above, the invention relates to a machine 1 for joining one or more sheet materials 20, such as cardboard sheets, as in the example shown where the sheets can be pre-folded and scored if necessary. The machine 1 shown is used to join a sheet of cardboard at, for example, the edges of said cardboard sheet, or several sheets of cardboard, in this case two folded cardboard sheets, to form, after assembly, a band that can constitute at least the side walls of a parallelepiped-shaped box.

[0024] Machine 1 includes, as illustrated in the figure 1 A sheet material junction station 2 is located between two sheet material storage zones 3 and 4, and a control unit 5 is also included. The junction station 2 extends between storage zones 3 and 4 and forms a communication zone between said storage zones 3 and 4. This junction station 2 provides a guidance path 6 extending between storage zones 3 and 4 and connecting said storage zones 3 and 4. This guidance path 6 runs longitudinally, that is, along its longitudinal axis, from one of the storage zones, referred to as the first storage zone 3, towards the other storage zone, referred to as the second storage zone 4. The first storage zone 3 is a storage zone for sheet materials not yet subjected to at least one junction, while the second storage zone 4 is a storage zone for sheet materials that have been subjected to at least one junction.

[0025] In the examples shown, the first storage zone 3 is simply defined by a substantially horizontal flat surface on which at least 20 sheet materials requiring at least one splicing can be stored flat. The second storage zone 4 is implemented here as a belt conveyor onto which the sheet material(s) from the splicing station are deposited. This belt conveyor defines a transport surface with two directions of movement: one towards the splicing station, and the other towards a gap from the splicing station. The direction of movement of the belt conveyor's transport surface is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide path 6 defined by the splicing station 2.

[0026] The guide path 6 of the junction station 2 comprises two edges 7 and, arranged between said edges 7, at least one trainer 8 of sheet material 20 and at least one group 9 of junction by gluing and / or stapling of sheet material 20.

[0027] In the examples shown, each edge 7 of the guide track 6 is formed by a guide element in the form of an elongated piece parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide track, forming a walkway. These edges 7 are mounted to move towards or away from each other to vary the width of the guide track 6. The driver(s) 8 and the connecting group(s) 9 are arranged between these edges 7 along at least one line transverse to the longitudinal direction of the guide track 6. To allow such movement of the edges 7 towards or away from each other, the edges 7 are mounted on a rail transverse to the longitudinal axis of the guide track 6 and are equipped with a motor controllable by the control unit 5 for automatic movement of the edges 7 along the rail.Each joining group 9 includes at least one gluing and / or stapling device 10. In the examples shown, two joining groups 9 are provided. At least one, preferably each of the joining groups 9, is an activatable / deactivatable joining group 9. This joining group 9 is mounted to move along a vertical direction, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the guide path 6, between at least two positions, one of which corresponds to the inactive state of the joining group 9, and the other to the active state of the joining group. In practice, at least one, preferably each of the activatable / deactivatable joining groups 9 includes a U-shaped guide piece 11 with at least one flange, and the gluing and / or stapling device 10 is carried by said guide piece 11. As illustrated in Figure 1. figure 10 The inverted U-shaped guide piece 11 of one of the junction groups is oriented towards one bank 7, and the inverted U-shaped junction piece 11 of the other junction group is oriented towards the other bank 7. Thus, the inverted U-shaped guide pieces 11 face each other back-to-back. Each inverted U has a vertical wing perpendicular to one of the U's arms and located at the end of that arm. The junction groups are arranged at different heights, and one of the junction groups is called the lower group, while the other is called the upper group. The wing of the inverted U of the lower junction group is supported by the lower arm of the U. The wing of the inverted U of the upper junction group is supported by the upper arm of the inverted U.Each sheet material is inserted by one of its edges into the interbranch space of one of the inverted U-shaped sections and rests by its other edge on the outside of the U, against one of the branches of the U at the level of the other inverted U. This assembly is a classic one with such 9 junction groups, the basic architecture of which is known.

[0028] The gluing and / or stapling device 10, fitted to each joining group, allows, in this position, the assembly, by stapling and / or gluing, of one or more sheet materials 20 at each guide piece 11. Again, each gluing and / or stapling device 10 is well known to those skilled in this field and can conventionally be formed of a stapling or gluing head.

[0029] In the inactive state of the joining groups, corresponding to a position separated from each other along a so-called vertical direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the guide path 6, the guide pieces 11 of the joining groups 9 are arranged outside the path followed by the sheet material(s) 20 in the joining station for the passage from the first storage zone 3 to the second storage zone 4 or vice versa.

[0030] In the active state of the joining groups, corresponding to a position close to one another along a vertical direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the guide path 6, the guide elements 11 of the joining groups 9 are arranged on the path followed by the sheet material(s) 20 in the joining station for the passage from the first storage zone 3 to the second storage zone 4. This path of the sheet material(s) 20 in the joining station is defined by the guide(s) 8. Indeed, the guide path 6 includes at least one transport surface 14 for the sheet material(s) 20, and at least a part of the transport surface 14 is defined by at least a part of the guide(s) 8. This transport surface 14 defines a horizontal plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of the guide path 6.The junction groups 9 are in the inactive state arranged one above, the other below this transport surface 14.

[0031] Each trainer 8 includes one or more motor elements 81. The motor element(s) 81 of the trainer(s), preferably of each trainer, is a motor element with two directions of rotation to allow the material(s) 20 in sheet form to be moved from the first storage area towards the second storage area and vice versa, i.e. from the second storage area to the first storage area.

[0032] In the examples shown, at least one, here each drive 8, comprises two endless transmission members 82, each formed by a belt. Each transmission member 82 is associated with a drive member 81 with two directions of rotation. The transmission members 82 are mounted to move between a position separated from and a position close to each other, in which they define between them a pinching zone of sheet material 20.

[0033] The transport surface 14 mentioned above is defined by at least a portion of the drives 8. Thus, in the examples shown, the endless transmission elements 82 being endless belts, at least the upper strand of the lower belt forms the transport surface 14 for the sheet material(s) of the guide path, allowing the sheet material(s) to move from one storage area to another within the junction station. The endless transmission elements 82 of a drive 8 are mounted to move in the direction of approaching or separating from each other. For this purpose, in the example shown in the figure 8 , each endless transmission element 82 is mounted on a rail, called horizontal, extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the guide path 6 and the rails are movable parallel to themselves in the direction of a coming together or a moving apart from each other.

[0034] Each transmission element 82 is also axially movable along the rail using a preferably motorized drive system to allow adjustment in position of the transmission elements 82 along the rail.

[0035] Each connecting group 9 is in the inactive state when driven by the drive elements 81 of a drive unit in one of its directions of rotation. In particular, each connecting group 9 is in the inactive state when driven by the drive element(s) of a drive unit in the direction of rotation that allows for the movement of the sheet material(s) 20 from the second storage zone 4, corresponding to the storage zone 4 of the sheet material(s) in the assembled state (i.e., subjected to at least one connection), to the first storage zone 3. Thus, when the sheet material(s) 20 are moved from the second storage zone 4 to the first storage zone 3, this sheet material(s) 20 cannot be subjected to at least one connection by means of the connecting group(s) 9.

[0036] In the example shown, machine 1 has two operating modes: a test mode and a production mode. These modes can be selectively activated. Generally, the test mode is the default mode when the machine starts up.

[0037] As mentioned above, machine 1 includes a control unit 5. This control unit is an electronic and computer system that includes, for example, a microprocessor and working memory. In a particular configuration, the control unit may be a programmable logic controller (PLC).

[0038] In other words, the functions and steps described can be implemented as a computer program or via hardware components (e.g., programmable gate arrays). Specifically, the functions and steps performed by the control unit or its modules can be implemented by instruction sets or computer modules implemented in a processor or controller, or by dedicated electronic components, or by components such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). It is also possible to combine computer and electronic components.

[0039] When it is specified that the unit or means or modules of said unit are configured to perform a given operation, this means that the unit includes computer instructions and the corresponding means of execution which enable said operation to be performed and / or that the unit includes corresponding electronic components.

[0040] The control unit 5 is configured, in the activated test mode, to drive each two-way motor 81 of the drive unit(s) 8, preferably each of the drive units 8, in a first direction of rotation corresponding to a drive moving the sheet material(s) 20 from the first storage zone 3 to the second storage zone 4, and in a second direction of rotation corresponding to a drive moving the sheet material(s) 20 from the second storage zone 4 to the first storage zone 3. Each junction group 9 is in the inactive state when driven by the two-way motor(s) 81 in the second direction of rotation.

[0041] The control unit 5 is further configured to, in the activated state of production mode, control the motor(s) 81 in two directions of rotation of the or at least one of the drivers 8 in a single direction of rotation corresponding to a drive in movement of the sheet material(s) 20 from the first storage zone 3 to the second storage zone 4 and each junction group is in the active state in this operating mode.

[0042] Machine 1 also includes a manually operated test validation / invalidation system 13. This manually operated test validation / invalidation system 13 is located in the first storage area 3 as illustrated in the figure 1 This test validation / invalidation system 13 can be comprised of two buttons arranged on a housing forming a human-machine interface. One button corresponds to test validation, the other to test invalidation. The control unit 5 is configured to control the motor(s) 81 of the drive unit(s), preferably each of the drive units 8, and the junction group(s) 9 according to an operating cycle determined by the actuation of the test validation / invalidation system 13.Thus, in the activated state of test mode, the control unit 5 is configured to control the two-way motor(s) 81 of the or at least one, preferably each, of the drives 8 and the or each group 9 of junction following an operating cycle comprising a first phase during which the two-way motor(s) of at least one, preferably each, of the drives is in the driven state in movement in a first direction of rotation corresponding to the drive in movement of the sheet material(s) 20 from the first storage area to the second storage area and the or each group 9 of junction is in the active state.

[0043] Thus, during this first phase, the sheet material(s) may be subjected to at least one joint between them, as illustrated in the figures 2 And 3The operating cycle includes a second phase during which the drive unit(s) 81 with two directions of rotation of the drive unit(s), or at least one, preferably of each of the drives 8, is in the driven state, moving in a second direction of rotation corresponding to a drive movement of the sheet material(s) 20 from the second storage zone 4 to the first storage zone 3, and the connecting group(s) 9 is in the inactive state. This second phase is illustrated in figures 4 And 5The joining groups 9 are separated from each other to enter the inactive state, and the belt conveyor of the second storage zone 4 and the endless transmission elements 82 of at least one of the drives generate a movement of the sheet materials 20 from the second storage zone 4 to the first storage zone 3. Thus, the sheet material(s) 20 that have just undergone at least one joining return to the first storage zone 3 where the operator is positioned. During this second phase, the two-way drive element(s) 81 of the drive(s) or at least one of the drives, preferably of each of the drives, are driven in rotation through a predetermined angular stroke in a second direction of rotation corresponding to a drive that moves the sheet material(s) 20 from the second storage zone 4 to the first storage zone 3.

[0044] The angular stroke is divided into a first part and a second part, and the endless transmission members 82 of said drive 8 are in a position close to each other during the first part of the angular stroke of said rotary motor member 81 and in a position further apart during the second part of the angular stroke, so that during the second part of the angular stroke, they no longer drive the sheet material(s) 20 in motion. This arrangement allows that at the end of the stroke of the sheet material(s), i.e., when approaching the first storage zone, the sheet material(s) are pushed with less force towards the operator located at the first storage zone, as illustrated in the figure 1 , otherwise risking injury. The operator then performs a visual inspection of the joint(s). If, after the visual inspection, the operator is satisfied, they can activate the test validation / invalidation system 13 to validate the test. To do this, the operator simply presses the test validation button. In this case, the operating cycle includes a third phase during which the two-way rotating drive(s) 81 of the drive unit(s), or at least one of the drives, preferably each of the drives 8, are in the driven state, moving in a first direction of rotation corresponding to the movement of the sheet material(s) 20 from the first storage zone 3 to the second storage zone 4, and the joint group 9 is in the inactive state.The sheet material(s) 20 having undergone at least one joining are thus brought back into the second storage area, as illustrated in the figure. figure 7 , to then be evacuated or not from this second storage area.

[0045] With the test mode activated and the test validation / invalidation system 13 engaged in the test validation state, the control unit 5 is configured to activate production mode at the end of the third phase. If, after visual inspection, the operator is dissatisfied with the quality of the joint(s), the operator can activate the test validation / invalidation system 13 to invalidate the test. To do this, the operator simply presses the test invalidation button. Simultaneously, the operator removes from the first storage area any non-conforming sheet material(s) that have just undergone at least one joint. The operator can, if necessary, adjust settings at the jointing station. The operating cycle resumes at phase 1, and a new test is initiated until the operator finally validates the test.

[0046] For example, to ensure that the direction of the drive units 81 reverses at the desired time based on the movement of the sheet material(s), the machine includes at least one sheet material detection unit 12, preferably located in at least one of the storage areas. The control unit 5 is configured to control the transition from one phase to another in the operating cycle based on the data provided by this at least one sheet material detection unit 12. This sheet material detection unit 12 can take many forms and can, for example, be a sensor, an encoder, a timer, or something similar.

[0047] In practice, only one sensor is placed in the second storage zone 4.

[0048] It is understood that the operating cycle described above prevents the operator from having to move to check a junction. This results in time savings and less operator fatigue.

[0049] In summary, the operator is located at the level of the first storage area, as illustrated in the figure 1 And since the operator has entered the dimensions of the sheet materials into the human-machine interface, it is assumed that the machine has set the position of the feeders, edges, and joining groups according to the entered data. The test mode is automatically activated.

[0050] The joining process described above then comprises: A step involving the manual or automatic positioning of one or more, for example, two sheet materials stored in the first storage area within the guideway 6 of the junction station; a step involving the joining of the sheet material(s) by the junction unit(s) of the junction station in parallel with the feed of the sheet material(s) 20 into the second storage area by the drive unit(s) 8; a step involving the reversal of the direction of the drive units with two directions of rotation of the drive units and the inactivity of the junction units, followed by the return of the sheet materials to the first storage area. During this return phase, the edges may move apart.In this first storage area, the process includes either a test validation step followed by a return of the sheet material(s) to the second storage area, or a test invalidation step followed by the launch of a new test following the procedure described above after possible change of machine setting.

Claims

1. A machine (1) for joining sheet material (20), preferably cardboard, said machine (1) comprising a sheet material joining station (2), disposed between two sheet material storage zones (3, 4), and a control unit (5), said joining station (2) forming a guide path (6) for sheet material (20) extending between the zones (3, 4) for storing sheet materials (20) and extending longitudinally from one of the storage zones (3, 4), referred to as first storage zone (3), to the other storage zone, referred to as second storage zone (4), said guide path (6) comprising two lateral bounding means (7) and, disposed between said lateral bounding means (7), at least one driver (8) for sheet materials (20) and at least one unit (9) for joining said sheet materials (20), each joining unit (9) comprising at least one adhesive bonding and / or stapling device (10), each driver (8) comprising at least one motor member (81), characterized in that the motor member or at least one of the motor members (81) of the driver or of at least one of the drivers (8) is a bidirectional motor member (81) for moving the one or more sheet materials (20) from one of the storage zones (3, 4) toward the other storage zone and vice versa, and in that the or each joining unit (9) is an activatable / deactivatable unit, the or each joining unit (9) being in the inactive state when each bidirectional motor member (81) is being driven in one of its directions of rotation.

2. The machine (1) for joining sheet material (20), preferably cardboard, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the machine (1) comprises a first operating mode referred to as test mode and a second operating mode referred to as production mode, said operating modes being selectively activatable.

3. The machine (1) for joining sheet material (20), preferably cardboard, as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the control unit (5) is configured to, when the test mode is activated, make the or each bidirectional motor member (81) of the driver or of at least one of the drivers (8) rotate in a first direction of rotation corresponding to a movement of the one or more sheet materials (20) from the first storage zone (3) to the second storage zone (4) and in a second direction of rotation corresponding to a movement of the one or more sheet materials (20) from the second storage zone (4) to the first storage zone (3) and in that each joining unit (9) is in the inactive state when the or each bidirectional motor member (81) is being driven in the second direction of rotation.

4. The machine (1) for joining sheet material (20), preferably cardboard, as claimed in either of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the control unit (5) is configured to, when the production mode is activated, make each bidirectional motor member (81) of the driver or of at least one of the drivers (8) rotate in a single direction of rotation corresponding to a movement of the one or more sheet materials (20) from the first storage zone (3) to the second storage zone (4) and in that each joining unit (9) is in the active state.

5. The machine (1) for joining sheet material (20), preferably cardboard, as claimed in one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the machine (1) comprises a manually actuated test validation / invalidation system (13) and in that the control unit (5) is configured to control each bidirectional motor member (81) of the driver or of at least one of the drivers (8) and the or each joining unit (9) in accordance with an operating cycle on the basis of the actuation of the test validation / invalidation system (13).

6. The machine (1) for joining sheet material, preferably cardboard, as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that, when the test mode is activated, the control unit (5) is configured to control each bidirectional motor member (81) of the driver or of at least one of the drivers (8) and the or each joining unit (9) in accordance with an operating cycle comprising a first phase during which each bidirectional motor member (81) of the driver or of at least one of the drivers (8) is being moved in a first direction of rotation corresponding to a movement of the one or more sheet materials (20) from the first storage zone (3) to the second storage zone (4) and the or each joining unit (9) is in the active state, and a second phase during which each bidirectional motor member (81) of the driver or of at least one of the drivers (8) is being moved in a second direction of rotation corresponding to a movement of the one or more sheet materials (20) from the second storage zone (4) to the first storage zone (3) and the or each joining unit (9) is in the inactive state, said operating cycle comprising, when the test validation / invalidation system (13) has been actuated in the sense of validating the test, a third phase during which each bidirectional motor member (81) of the driver or of at least one of the drivers (8) is being moved in a first direction of rotation corresponding to a movement of the one or more sheet materials (20) from the first storage zone to the second storage zone (4) and the or each joining unit (9) is in the inactive state.

7. The machine (1) for joining sheet material (20), preferably cardboard, as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that, when the test mode is activated and when the test validation / invalidation system (13) has been actuated in the sense of validating the test, the control unit (5) is configured to command activation of the production mode at the end of the third phase.

8. The machine (1) for joining sheet material (20), preferably cardboard, as claimed in either of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the machine comprises at least one sheet material detector (12) preferably disposed in at least one of the storage zones and in that the control unit (5) is configured to command the passage of the operating cycle from one phase to the next at least on the basis of the data supplied by said at least one sheet material detector (12).

9. The machine (1) for joining sheet material (20), preferably cardboard, as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the guide path (6) comprises at least one surface (14) for transporting sheet material (20) and in that at least one portion of the transporting surface (14) is defined by at least one portion of the drivers (8).

10. The machine (1) for joining sheet material (20), preferably cardboard, as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one of the drivers (8) comprises at least two endless transmission members (82) each associated with a bidirectional motor member (81), said endless transmission members (82) being mounted movably between a position away from one another and a position closer to one another in which they define a zone between them for clamping sheet material (20).

11. The machine (1) for joining sheet material (20), preferably cardboard, as claimed in claim 10 in combination with claim 2, characterized in that, for the driver or at least one of the drivers (8), when the test mode is activated and when the at least one rotary motor member (81) of said driver (8) is being rotated through a predetermined angular travel in a second direction of rotation corresponding to a movement of sheet material (20) from the second storage zone (4) to the first storage zone (3), said angular travel is divided into a first portion and a second portion, and in that the endless transmission members (82) of said driver (8) are in the position closer to one another through the first portion of the angular travel of said at least one rotary motor member (81) and in the position away from one another through the second portion of the angular travel.

12. The machine (1) for joining sheet material, preferably cardboard, as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least one of the activatable / deactivatable joining units (9) is a joining unit (9) which is mounted movably in a direction referred to as vertical direction which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the guide path (6) between at least two positions, one of the positions corresponding to the inactive state of the joining unit (9) and the other one of the positions corresponding to the active state of the joining unit (9).

13. The machine (1) for joining sheet material, preferably cardboard, as claimed in one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at least one of the activatable / deactivatable joining units (9) comprises a sideways U-shaped guide part (11) with at least one flange and in that the adhesive bonding and / or stapling device (10) is borne by said guide part (11).

14. The machine (1) for joining sheet material (20), preferably cardboard, as claimed in one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that each lateral bounding means (7) of the guide path (6) is formed by at least one guide element, in that said lateral bounding means (7) are mounted so as to be able to be moved closer to or further away from one another in order to vary the width of the guide path (6) and in that the or each driver (8) and the or each joining unit (9) are disposed between said lateral bounding means (7) along at least one line transverse to the longitudinal direction of the guide path (6).

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