Apparatus for processing predominantly stiff material sheets or material webs, and method for changing the configuration of such an apparatus

Abstract

A converting machine for processing sheets or webs of corrugated board has several processing devices with different tools in variable arrangements, movable transversely to the transport direction of the sheets or web. Several such devices are assembled in a variable sequence to form a converting machine.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a conversion machine for processing corrugated board sheets or corrugated board webs according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for changing the configuration of a conversion machine for corrugated board sheets or corrugated board webs according to the preamble of claim 12.

[0002] Converting machines are known for processing rigid sheets or webs, especially those made of corrugated board. These machines can perform various processing steps such as printing, cutting, embossing, creasing, die-cutting, perforating, gluing, and / or stapling. Sheets are frequently processed and trimmed in converting machines with form-bound die-cutting and cutting devices. For this purpose, several processing stations are arranged sequentially in one transport direction of the sheets.

[0003] From DE102017008061A1, a device for longitudinally cutting material webs or sheets, particularly of cardboard or paperboard, is known, comprising several cutting units designed as circular shears. Several of the circular shears are arranged concentrically along a transverse axis and can be individually positioned along the feed width. For this purpose, the cutting units are moved one after the other by a common feed device along a linear guide. Upon reaching the target position, a brake on the cutting unit locks its position. The brakes are connected to the device's control system. Frequent changes of position result in a high setup time, especially with long travel distances.

[0004] WO2021094096A1 discloses a conversion machine with a sheet feeder and several devices of different types arranged in series. One processing step is performed per segment. Such machines are configured according to the products to be manufactured. If, for example, products requiring a different process sequence or different processes are to be manufactured at a later date, this is not possible. In some cases, the machine could be extensively rebuilt, but this is not economical.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved device and method compared to the prior art, which overcomes at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art identified and satisfies the increased requirements for versatility while maintaining at least the same product quality.

[0006] This problem is solved by a device according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 12.

[0007] A device is provided for this purpose, through which the material is transported for processing in a linear motion. All locations occupied by the arc or track together form the transport path.

[0008] The individual components of the device are housed in a common frame. Vertical supports, connected by one or more horizontal beams, form the frame. The supports can be columns or walls. They are arranged opposite each other on both sides of the transport path, so that the arch is transported between them.

[0009] The frame houses processing units. These units act on the sheet or web. The material can be stationary, or the processing can take place during its continuous transport movement. Processing operations that occur both when the material sheet is stationary and while in motion are not excluded.

[0010] Several of the machining units are mounted in the frame via a common linear guide. The linear guide is oriented transversely to the transport direction so that the machining units can be moved across the width of the transport path.

[0011] These processing devices each have one or more actuators. The actuators can be of different types. They are connected to an electronic control system for data transmission. This allows for a high degree of flexibility in a compact design. In particular, the device can be automatically or at least semi-automatically adjusted to different products to be processed or manufactured.

[0012] Preferably, a transport device with a controllable drive is integrated into the frame. The transport device moves the material to be processed along the processing elements of the device in the transport direction. Advantageously, the transport device includes a detection device. This device is directed along the transport path. It detects the moment when the material reaches a specific position, or it detects the position the material reaches at a specific time.

[0013] This acquired data is transmitted to the device's control unit. It is used to control or regulate various actuators of the device, particularly the transport drive. This enables very high positioning accuracy for machining operations in the transport direction. This is especially advantageous for devices of this design arranged consecutively.

[0014] The machining devices mounted on a common linear guide can be of different types. In this way, a very compact device with a high functional density can be realized.

[0015] The actuators and sensors exchange data with the controller via cables. To allow for easy removal or addition of components to the device, the cables are equipped with connectors.

[0016] As an alternative to cables, data exchange can take place via radio or other wireless connections. This reduces the number of cables that need to be disconnected when removing processing equipment or connected when adding it.

[0017] Several such devices are assembled into a conversion machine for processing corrugated cardboard. For this purpose, the devices are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction in such a way that they form a common straight transport path.

[0018] At least one of the devices can be moved along the transport direction in such a way that a gap can be created between two immediately consecutive devices of the same machine. This significantly improves the accessibility of the individual devices, for example for maintenance purposes.

[0019] Preferably, a rail system is provided on which the devices are mounted together. The rails run parallel to the direction of transport. In this way, the respective position and orientation of the corresponding devices are fixed, with the exception of their position in the direction of transport. This makes the position of the interfaces between the individual devices reproducible without further effort.

[0020] In a further embodiment, a dispensing device is positioned transversely to the transport direction and incorporated as a processing device in a first device. The dispensing device can be, for example, a device for applying adhesive or a printing device, in particular an inkjet printing device. Any second device following this first device in the transport direction comprises one or more second processing devices that can be positioned transversely to the transport direction. These second processing devices are in contact with the material being processed during processing. In particular, the second processing devices comprise at least one transport roller.

[0021] Data connections between the positioning drives of the dispensing unit and the subsequent secondary processing units of different devices, all linked to the same control system of the conversion machine, are particularly advantageous. This makes it easy, and even automated, to position the contact area of ​​the secondary processing units with the sheet or web outside the area of ​​material applied by the dispensing unit.

[0022] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the devices forming a conversion machine, especially those enclosed between terminal devices, have identical interfaces. This allows the sequence of devices to be easily adapted to different preferred sequences of processing steps.

[0023] The invention is then explained with reference to the figures, to which reference is made for all details not mentioned in the description, using an exemplary embodiment. The figures show: Fig. 1 a first perspective view of a device for processing bows; Fig. 2 a perspective view of a grooving device; Fig. 3 a second perspective view of a device for bow processing; Fig. 4 a conversion machine with several devices for sheet processing.

[0024] The illustrations Fig. 1 and Fig. 2Figure 2 shows a device 2 for processing sheets 30 or webs. The device has a frame 6 in which all further components 7, 8, 9 are housed. The frame 6 forms a structure through which the material 30 to be processed is transported in a straight line along a horizontal transport direction 100. In its movement through the device 2, the material 30 describes a transport path 130.

[0025] The frame 6 consists of two vertical walls 11, which are arranged opposite each other on either side of the transport path 130. The walls 11 are connected by horizontal crossbeams 12. The crossbeams 12 run transversely to the transport direction 100.

[0026] Guide rails 13 of linear guides are arranged on the crossbeams 12. Rack and pinion gears 14 are also attached to them. The rack and pinion gears 14 run parallel to the linear guides 13. Together they are aligned transversely to the transport direction 100. Machining devices 8, 9 are arranged on the linear guides 13, which can be moved or positioned across the width of the sheets 30 or paths to be machined by means of the rack and pinion gears 14.

[0027] Also included in the frame 6 is a transport device 7. It comprises a transport roller 71 arranged between the walls 11. It is located directly below the transport path 130. The conveying area of ​​the roller 71 extends over the maximum permissible width of the material 30 to be processed.

[0028] Above the transport roller 71, the transport device 7 comprises several transport rollers 76 distributed across the width of the transport path 130. Together, they clamp the sheet 30 or the web. These transport rollers 76 are each arranged separately on one of the guide rails 13 transversely to the transport direction 100 and are movable independently. They are positioned individually by a common feed device 77. The feed device utilizes the rack associated with the linear guide.

[0029] The transport device 7 has a controllable drive 72. One in Fig. 4 The light barrier 74 shown is mounted above the transport path 130. It detects the time at which an arc 30 reaches and leaves the monitored position in the transport direction 100. In this way, the transport can be controlled and processing operations can be precisely positioned in the transport direction.

[0030] The frame has 11 rollers 16 attached to the walls. These run on a pair of rails 5 running parallel to the transport direction 100. In this way, the entire device 2 can be moved in the transport direction 100. This movement can be carried out manually by personnel, or another delivery device, not shown in the illustrations, can be used.

[0031] Fig. 4 Figure 1 shows a converting machine for corrugated board sheets 30, which is assembled from several devices 2, 3, 4 of the previously described setup. These devices 2, 3, 4 run on a common pair of rails. At the end, a further device 1 is provided, which is stationary and accommodates a control unit 10 of the machine.

[0032] The individual devices 1, 2, 3, 4 differ in their processing devices 8, 9, 21. In the Fig. 4In the exemplary configuration shown, a printing device is installed in the first device 4, viewed in the transport direction 100. In contrast, grooving devices 8 and scoring devices 9 are arranged in a device 2 shown with dashed lines. Further processing devices of various types are housed in the remaining devices 1 and 3, which will not be discussed further.

[0033] The in Fig. 1 The groove devices 8 shown are in Fig. 2 They are shown enlarged. They are mirror images of each other. Therefore, the further description is limited to one of the two grooving devices 8.

[0034] The creasing tool consists of a pair of creasing knives 81, forming a die and a male die. The creasing knives 81 are arranged above and below the transport path 130 and interact together. Each creasing knife 81 is mounted in a carriage 85. The carriages 85 run on previously described rails 13 of the frame 6 transversely to the transport direction 100. The creasing knives 81 are driven by a non-circular, frame-mounted shaft via a sliding fit.

[0035] For positioning the grooving device 8, a feed device with a controllable feed drive 82 is provided on the carriage 85. It acts via a gear 15 on the rack 14 attached to the crossbeam 12 of the frame 6. The feed drive 82 is connected to the control unit 10 via data lines 83 with connectors 84.

[0036] Following the creasing unit 8 in the transport direction 100, scoring units 9 of the same design are provided. Similar to the creasing unit 8, the scoring unit 9 has a circular blade 91 mounted in a carriage. The carriage runs on a rail 13 of the frame 6 oriented transversely to the transport direction 100. Unlike the creasing tools 81, the scoring blade 91 does not have its own drive.

[0037] The carriage with the scoring blade 91 is positioned along its guide rail 13 by a controllable feed device 93. For this purpose, it has a gear that engages in a frame-mounted rack and is driven by a controllable motor.

[0038] Fig. 3Figure 1 shows a loading position 150 for devices that can be moved transversely to the transport direction, such as the scoring devices 9. The loading position 150 is defined by a segment of the described guide rail 13. This segment is removable. To remove a processing device 9, it is placed onto the removable segment and removed together with it. Adding a processing device 9 is done in the same way.

[0039] A printhead 21 mounted above the transport path 130 in device 4 prints on the top side of the conveyed sheet 30. It is movable transversely to the transport direction 100 via a delivery device (not shown).

[0040] The control of the delivery movements perpendicular to the transport direction 100 is in Fig. 4The arrows pointing to tools 21, 76, 81, and 91 indicate the following: The feed movements can occur when the machine is at a standstill or during the continuous transport movement of the sheet 30.

[0041] Data transmission between the individual devices 1, 2, 3, 4 and their equipment 7, 8, 9, 21 with a control unit 10 of the conversion machine is carried out via cables 18 with plug connections 19 between the individual devices. Alternatively, a radio connection can also be used, with a transmitter and receiver unit 20 installed in each of the devices.

[0042] The dashed representation of a device 2 in Fig. 4 This indicates that it does not necessarily have to be present in the conversion machine shown or in the position shown. Rather, the combination of different devices 1, 2, 3, 4 to form a combined conversion machine can easily be modified.

[0043] For this purpose, the pair of rails 5 is provided, on which three devices 2, 3, 4 of the in Fig. 4 The four devices shown 1, 2, 3, 4 are movable parallel to the transport direction 100.

[0044] To change the configuration of the conversion machine, the plug connections 84 of the affected devices 1, 2, 3 are first disconnected. This step can be omitted if alternative data transmission is via radio. Likewise, the mechanical locks 17 between devices 1, 2, 3 are opened.

[0045] Subsequently, devices 2, 3, 4 are positioned on rails 5 at a distance from each other such that device 2 can be removed without risk of damage. The removal of device 2 is carried out in Fig. 4 symbolized by the arrow 300.

[0046] Alternatively or additionally, another device, not shown, can be added. After the individual devices 1, 2, 3, 4 have been moved together, the locking mechanisms 17 are closed to secure the movable devices 2, 3, 4 against unintentional movement. After connecting the relevant plugs 84 or starting the radio connections, the conversion machine can be operated in its new configuration. Reference sign

[0047] 1 first device 71 roller 2 second device 72 controllable drive 3 third device 73 Data line 4 fourth device 74 Light barrier 5 rail 75 Data line 6 frame 76 Transport roller 7 Transport equipment 77 Delivery facility 8 Grooving device 81 Grooving knife 9 Slot device 82 Delivery drive 10 steering 83 Data line 11 Wall 84 Plug 12 traverse 85 Sleds 13 rail 86 Wave 14 rack and pinion 91 scratch knife 15 gear 93 Delivery facility 16 role 100 Direction of transport 17 Locking mechanism 130 Transport route 18 Data line 150 Charging position 19 Plug 200 Close 20 Transmitter / Receiver 300 Remove 21 printhead 22 Data line 23 Data line 30 corrugated cardboard sheets

Claims

1. Conversion machinefor processing corrugated board sheets (30) or corrugated board webs with at least two devices (1, 2, 3, 4), each comprising at least: • a transport path (30) in which the corrugated board sheets (30) are transported one after the other or the material web is transported through the device in a linear transport direction (100); • an electronic control (10); and • a frame (6) with at least two substantially vertical supports (11) arranged on both sides outside the transport path (130); a substantially horizontal beam (12) connecting the at least two supports (11); and a linear guide (13) arranged on the horizontal beam (12) with a guide direction oriented transversely to the transport direction (100); and • two processing devices (8, 9) arranged by means of the common linear guide (13), wherein each of these processing devices (8,9) is movable separately transversely to the transport direction (100) by means of the linear guide (13) and has at least one tool (21, 81, 91) acting on the material sheet (30), wherein the at least two processing devices (8, 9) are each connected to the control (10) of the device by means of data transmission (18, 19, 20, 22, 23), wherein the at least two devices (1, 2, 3, 4) are arranged successively such that their respective transport paths form a common, substantially horizontal transport path (130) of the corrugated board sheet (30) or corrugated board web through the converting machine, , characterized by the fact that at least one of the at least two devices (1, 2, 3, 4) is arranged to be movable along the transport direction (100).

2. Conversion machine according to claim 1, characterized byat least one linear guide parallel to the transport direction (100) with at least one rail (5), wherein the device (2, 3, 4) or the devices (2, 3, 4) that can be positioned along the transport path (130) are each mounted on the at least one rail (5).

3. Conversion machine according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized byat least • a dispensing device (21) as a processing device with a first delivery device, wherein the first delivery device is configured to bring the dispensing device (21) transversely to the transport direction (100) into a first predetermined position, wherein the first delivery device is connected to the control (10) of the conversion machine via means for data transmission (18, 19, 20), and • a second processing device (8, 9) following the at least one dispensing device (21) in the transport direction (100) with a second delivery device separate from the first delivery device, wherein the second delivery device is configured to bring the second processing device (8, 9) transversely to the transport direction (100) into a second predetermined position, wherein the second delivery device is connected to the same control (10) of the conversion machine via means for data transmission (18, 19, 20).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one cable (18) as a means of data transmission to at least one of the at least two processing devices (8, 9) with at least one separable and lockable plug connection (19) between the processing device (8, 9) and the control (10) of the device.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that at least one of the means for data transmission of at least one processing device (8, 9) with the control (10) of the device has at least one transmission unit (20) for electromagnetic waves.

6. Proceedingsfor changing the configuration of a conversion machine for processing corrugated board sheets (30) or corrugated board webs from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein the conversion machine has a transport path (130) with a linear transport direction of the corrugated board (30) and several devices (1, 2, 3, 4) arranged consecutively in the transport direction (100), wherein each of the devices (1, 2, 3, 4) has a frame (6) enclosing the transport path (130) with at least one linear guide (13) extending transversely to the transport direction (100), several processing devices (8, 9) arranged on the linear guide (13) and separately movable along it, and a means (18, 19, 20) for data transmission with the processing devices (8, 9).9) has a connected control unit (10) and wherein the devices each have identical interfaces to each other and are arranged to be movable by means of a common linear guide (5) substantially parallel to the transport direction (100), comprising at least the steps of: • Moving at least one first device (2, 3, 4) parallel to the transport direction (100) from a first position to a second position, wherein the first device (2, 3, 4) in its first position is arranged immediately adjacent to the preceding and / or subsequent further device (1, 2, 3, 4) and wherein the first device (2, 3, 4) in its second position has a distance to the same preceding and / or subsequent further device (1, 2, 3, 4), • Disconnecting the data connection between the control unit (10) and at least the processing devices (8, 9) arranged in the first device (2, 3, 4),• Removing (300) or adding a device (2, 3, 4), • Connecting the data connections between the control (10) and the processing devices (8, 9) arranged in the conversion machine, • Closing (200) existing gaps between the devices (1, 2, 3, 4) arranged inside the conversion machine by moving at least one of the devices (1, 2, 3, 4) forming the gaps parallel to the transport direction, and • Setting the control (10) correspond to the second configuration of the conversion machine.

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