Stapling device

Abstract

A stapling device comprising: - a table (1) for supporting an article to be stapled (M), the table (1) being provided with at least one stapling anvil (15) for closing a staple (S) around the article (M), - a frame (2) disposed above the table (1), the frame (2) supporting at least one stapler (3) delivering staples (S) so as to cooperate with said at least one stapling anvil (15) of the table (1) through the article to be stapled (M). "Figure 3" for abbreviations

Description

Title of the invention: Stapling device

[0001] The present invention relates to a stapling device for stapling an article or more particularly several parts of an article to secure them. The parts can be connected together or separated before stapling.

[0002] In the prior art, sludge settling cell units are already known, which are implemented in wastewater treatment or purification plants. These are produced by stacking basic modules formed of two identical profiled plates which are arranged in mirror symmetry, so as to be joined at respective parallel longitudinal contact zones so as to form parallel cylindrical settling cells, having a hexagonal or honeycomb cross-section. The plates are made of plastic by a hot suction process. The plates thus define offset planar longitudinal contact zones and oblique longitudinal connection zones connecting two offset planar longitudinal contact zones.

[0003] To produce a basic module, two stacked plates, arranged in mirror symmetry, are connected together at the respective parallel planar longitudinal contact areas, which are adjacent and contiguous. Generally, the areas are welded together in the factory: in situ welding at the site of the treatment plant is not easy.

[0004] Once the basic modules are manufactured, they are sent to the site. For a settling cell unit consisting, for example, of ten basic modules stacked one on top of the other, the space requirement is considerable for a very low weight. Therefore, many trucks are needed to transport the basic modules needed to manufacture the sludge settling cell units for a wastewater treatment plant. Once they arrive on site, the basic modules are stacked and stapled at each end of the cell. Sometimes, blocks of basic modules are made in the factory and sent as is, when the site is not too far away. The space requirement in the trucks is even greater.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to propose transportable equipment allowing the basic modules to be formed at the site of the treatment plant, in order to avoid the use of numerous trucks, as explained above. Thus, the plates can be transported by being nested within each other, so as to minimize free spaces. Instead of ten trucks, only one would be enough to transport the same number of plates.

[0006] The mobile or portable equipment of the invention finds a particularly advantageous application in the field of sludge decantation cell units, but can also be used in any field where it is necessary to connect two parts of an article, which is made of a stapleable material, such as cardboard, paper, wood, textile or even metal plates, plastic plates, etc.

[0007] To do this, the present invention proposes a stapling device comprising: - a table intended to support an article to be stapled, the table being provided with at least one stapling anvil intended to close a staple around the article, and - a gantry fixedly arranged above the table, the gantry supporting at least one stapler delivering staples so as to cooperate with said at least one anvil of the table through the article to be stapled.

[0008] In a conventional stapler, the two articulated arms, one forming the anvil and the other the stapler itself (staple magazine and push plate), are intimately coupled to each other by a pivot axis, which considerably limits the type of articles to be stapled. The anvil and the stapler of the invention are, on the contrary, decoupled, one being mounted on the table and the other on the gantry, which increases the degree of use on the most diverse articles, and in particular large and thick articles.

[0009] For a basic module as set out above, it would indeed be feasible to staple the respective parallel planar longitudinal contact areas with a conventional stapler, but only those arranged on the two opposite edges of the plates, so that all other contact areas would not be stapled together. This would quickly lead to the formation of a belly between the plates and to an impairment of the settling function of the cell unit.

[0010] Thanks to the stapling device of the invention, the two plates of the base module can be arranged in mirror symmetry on the table below the gantry and all the contact areas can be stapling, including those located in the middle of the plates.

[0011] Advantageously, the table comprises at least one guide rail for guiding the article in translation on the table, said at least one guide rail advantageously extending perpendicular to the gantry. Preferably, the anvil is mounted on the guide rail. Thus, an operator can move the article in translation on the table by pushing it by one edge along the guide rails. When he decides to do so, he releases his thrust on the article and triggers the stapler or staplers mounted on the gantry, which will push the staple or staples through the article. The two free ends of the staple are then urged inwardly towards each other by the underlying anvil. The operator then pushes the article along the rails to the next stapling position. In the end, all contact areas are stapled evenly along their entire length.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, the stapling device of the invention comprises several guide rails arranged in parallel, adjustment means being provided for varying the spacing of the guide rails. Furthermore, several staplers can be mounted on the gantry, adjustment means also being provided for varying the spacing of the staplers. Thus, the spacing of the anvils and staplers can be adjusted accordingly depending on the article to be stapled.

[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, the gantry is mounted on the table, said at least one stapler being advantageously pivotally mounted on the gantry. This depends on the method of loading the stapler(s). If loading is lateral, the stapler can be fixedly mounted on the gantry. On the other hand, if loading is carried out from below, access must be obtained below the stapler and pivoting it is then preferable or necessary.

[0014] According to a practical embodiment, the gantry may comprise at least two lateral uprights fixed respectively on two opposite lateral edges of the table and a transverse bar extending between the two lateral uprights and supporting said at least one stapler, the article to be stapled being moved on the table between the two lateral uprights below the transverse bar. The gantry then takes the form of a bridge mounted on the table and spanning the article to be stapled, which is movable by sliding on the rails perpendicular to the main axis of the gantry or bridge.

[0015] The present invention also defines a method of manufacturing a base module of a sludge settling cell unit by means of the stapling device as defined above, said base module being produced by stapling profiled plates so as to form parallel cylindrical settling cells, advantageously having a hexagonal cross-section.

[0016] The present invention also defines a sludge settling cell unit made up of basic modules formed of two identical profiled plates arranged in mirror symmetry, so as to be joined at respective parallel longitudinal contact zones, so as to form a basic module, preferably in the form of honeycombs, characterized in that the parallel longitudinal contact zones of the two profiled plates are stapled together in a substantially regular manner over their entire length.

[0017] Advantageously, the base modules each comprise parallel longitudinal contact zones which extend to the edges of the profiled plates and more central parallel longitudinal contact zones which are more or less distant from the edges of the profiled plates, all the parallel longitudinal contact zones of a base module being stapled together in a substantially regular manner over the entire their length.

[0018] And once the basic modules are stacked, they simply need to be stapled together with a conventional hand stapler at the top and bottom at each cell. This results in a sludge settling cell unit that is solid and stable, but above all can be assembled in situ, simply with the stapling device of the invention and a conventional hand stapler. Transport of the individual nested stacked plates is made easier and only the necessary quantity of basic modules need be assembled on site, thus saving two times.

[0019] The spirit of the invention lies in freeing up as much space as possible around the stapling point, so as to be able to circulate the article to be stapled with a large amplitude. This amounts to decoupling or dissociating the stapler from its anvil. The rails supporting the anvils are also an advantageous feature.

[0020] The invention will now be described in greater detail, with reference to the attached drawings, giving by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of the invention.

[0021] In the figures:

[0022] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a schematic perspective view of a stapling device according to the invention, with the staplers in the loading position,

[0023] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a view of the stapling device of [Fig.l] in the operating position tional, and used by two operators to staple a base module of a sludge settling cell unit, and

[0024] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a very schematic view in vertical cross-section at through the stapling device according to the invention.

[0025] Reference will first be made to Figures 1 and 2 to describe the structure of a stapling device according to the invention.

[0026] In [Fig.l], it can be seen that the stapling device comprises two essential entities, namely a table 1 and a gantry 2, the latter supporting staplers 3.

[0027] The table 1 is a stable structure obtained by assembling tubes, bars or profiles, which can be made of steel or aluminum. Thus, the table 1 comprises four vertical legs 11 connected together at the bottom by stability bars 12a and 12b. It is even possible to provide a stability upright 12c which extends vertically. The four stability bars 12a, 12b form a rectangle connecting the four vertical legs 11. At their upper ends, the legs 11 are connected together by tabletop bars 13a, 13b, which also form a rectangle which connects the upper ends of the legs 11. According to the invention, guide rails 14 are mounted on the tabletop bars 13b, parallel to the tabletop bars 13a. In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the table 1 comprises nine parallel guide rails 14.These guide bars 14 are fixed to the tray bars 13b in a removable manner, so that one or more rail(s) can be removed or added. guide rails 14. Furthermore, it is possible to adjust the spacing of the guide rails 14 depending on the article to be stapled. More generally, it can be said that the table 1 comprises adjustment means for adjusting the spacing of the guide rails 14, as well as their number.

[0028] The table 1 also comprises stapling anvils 15, which are here mounted on the guide rails 14. Since the number of guide rails 14 and their spacing are adjustable, the number and spacing of the stapling anvils 15 are also correspondingly adjustable.

[0029] The gantry 2 is fixedly mounted on the table 1, and more particularly on the table top bars 13a, which form the two opposite lateral edges of the table top. It may be noted in particular that the gantry 2 comprises four vertical uprights 21 which are mounted on the table top bars 13a. The gantry 2 also comprises transverse bars 22 which connect the vertical uprights 21. In this particular embodiment, the staplers 3 are mounted on a pivoting frame 23 which is part of the gantry 2. The frame 23 can pivot about a horizontal axis 23a by actuation of two jacks 23b. In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the pivoting frame 23 supports eight staplers 3. In [Fig. 1], the pivoting frame 23 is raised, while in [Fig. 2] the pivoting frame 23 is lowered and in the stapling position. The pivoting frame 23 is implemented when the staplers 3 have a staple loading carriage accessible from below.Otherwise, with side-loading staplers, this pivoting frame 23 is not necessary. It can be fixedly mounted without rotation and remain in the position as shown in [Fig.2].

[0030] Just like the guide rails 14, the number and spacing of the staplers 3 are adjustable, so that each stapler 3 is associated with a stapling anvil 15.

[0031] In [Fig. 2], the staplers 3 are in operational position, above their respective stapling anvils 15, and a base module M of a sludge settling cell unit is arranged on the table 1 below the staplers 3. The detailed structure of this base module M will be described below with reference to [Fig. 3]. It may however be noted that the base module M forms longitudinal grooves which can adapt to the guide rails 14, so that the base module M can be moved in translation and in sliding on the table 1 along the guide rails 14. The usefulness of the means for adjusting the number and spacing of the guide rails 14 is clearly understood, which must be adapted to the spacing and number of grooves formed by the base module M.The latter can thus be handled by one or two operators, one of whom can be responsible for moving the base module M on the table 1 and the other operator being responsible for operating the staplers 3.

[0032] We will now refer to [Fig. 3], which is a very schematic representation, but also very illustrative. Table 1 is represented diagrammatically by a bar of plate 13b, supporting four guide rails 14, each supporting a stapling anvil 15. The gantry 2 is represented diagrammatically by the two vertical lateral uprights 21 and two transverse bars 22 on which four staplers 3 are mounted. The staples S have also been represented in the form of an inverted U arranged below each stapler 3. It can be noted that the staples S are aligned vertically with the stapling anvils 15, the purpose of which is to close the staples around and below the article to be stapled.

[0033] In the present case, this stapled article is a basic module M used to constitute sludge settling cell units, usable in purification or wastewater treatment plants. The structure of this basic module M will now be described. The basic module M shown in [Fig.3] is purely theoretical since it only forms three cells A, whereas a conventional basic module has many more cells, around ten. First of all, it can be seen that the basic module M is formed from two profiled plates P, which are identical, but arranged in mirror symmetry. If, for example, the top profiled plate is turned over, it can be arranged on the bottom profiled plate with perfect interlocking. However, in this mirror symmetry arrangement, the two profiled plates P together form three longitudinal cells A having a hexagonal or honeycomb-shaped section.Each profile plate P is formed from flat longitudinal strips or areas that are joined, but with offset orientations and positions. If we consider the profile plate P arranged at the bottom, we can see that it first forms two edge areas Z10, which form the flat outer edges of the profile plate P. Then, further inward, the profile plate P forms two inclined strips Z3 and Z4, with opposite orientations. The profile plate P then forms a lower flat area Z2 that again connects to an inclined strip Z3, Z4. The profile plate P then forms a raised contact area Z11, Z12, which is arranged in contact with the stapling anvil 15, just like the edge areas Z10. Thus, each profiled plate P consists of inclined strips Z3, Z4, of different orientations, connecting lower zones Z2 and upper zones Z1 1, Z12, which are axially offset, but parallel to each other.The upper zones Z10, Z11 and Z12 constitute parallel longitudinal contact zones which rest on the rails 14 supporting the stapling anvils 15. The upper profile plate P is identical to that arranged below, but turned over so as to be arranged in mirror symmetry. Thus, the edge zones Z10 of the upper plate P are arranged contiguous with the corresponding zones Z10 of the lower plate P. The zones Z11 also come into contact with each other, as do the zones Z12. The staples S are located directly above the contact zones Z10, Z11 and Z12. The two plates . P profiles thus forming the basic module, define three sludge decantation cells A, the section of which is identical along their entire length.

[0034] It is then easily understood that the staples S pushed by the staplers 3 can pass through the contiguous contact zones Z10, Z11 and Z12 and be folded and closed on themselves on the stapling anvils 15. Returning to [Fig.2], the two operators handling the basic module M will be able to staple the two profiled plates P together along all the contiguous contact zones, including the contact zones Z11 and Z12 arranged away from the edge zones Z10. In the end, a basic module M is obtained with staples S distributed regularly over its entire surface, and thus having sufficient rigidity to constitute a unit of sludge settling cells. To do this, several basic modules M are stacked on top of each other and stapled together at the two opposite ends of the cells A, using a conventional hand stapler.

[0035] Of course, instead of the basic module M, any article to be stapled can be placed on the table 1 of the stapling device of the invention. The number and spacing of the guide rails 14 and the staplers 3 simply need to be adapted according to the article to be stapled.

[0036] Thanks to the invention, it is possible to staple large articles by moving the article on the table 1 below the staplers 3. Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is even possible to imagine that the gantry 2 is open on one lateral side to allow an even greater degree of movement of the article on the table 1. It is even conceivable that the gantry 2 is not mounted on the table 1, but supported by a structure independent of the table 1. It is sufficient for the gantry to be arranged in a corresponding manner so that the staplers 3 are located at the level of the stapling anvils 15 of the table 1.

Claims

Claims

1. Stapling device comprising: - a table (1) intended to support an article to be stapled (M), the table (1) being provided with at least one stapling anvil (15) intended to close a staple (S) around the article (M), - a gantry (2) arranged above the table (1), the gantry (2) supporting at least one stapler (3) delivering staples (S) so as to cooperate with said at least one stapling anvil (15) of the table (1) through the article to be stapled (M).

2. Stapling device according to claim 1, wherein the table (1) comprises at least one guide rail (14) for guiding the article (M) in translation on the table (1), said at least one guide rail (14) advantageously extending perpendicular to the gantry (2).

3. A stapling device according to claim 2, wherein the stapling anvil (15) is mounted on the guide rail (14).

4. Stapling device according to claim 2 or 3, comprising several guide rails (14) arranged in parallel, adjustment means being provided for varying the spacing of the guide rails (14).

5. A stapling device according to claim 2, 3 or 4, comprising a plurality of staplers (3) mounted on the gantry (2), adjustment means being provided for varying the spacing of the staplers (3).

6. A stapling device according to any preceding claim, wherein the gantry (2) is mounted on the table (1), said at least one stapler (3) being advantageously pivotally mounted on the gantry (2).

7. Stapling device according to claim 6, wherein the gantry (2) comprises at least two lateral uprights (21) fixed respectively on two opposite lateral edges (13a) of the table (1) and a transverse bar (22) extending between the two lateral uprights (21) and supporting said at least one stapler (3), the article to be stapled (M) being moved on the table (1) between the two lateral uprights (21) below the transverse bar (22).

8. Method of manufacturing a base module (M) of a sludge settling cell unit by means of the stapling device according to any one of the preceding claims, said base module (M) being produced by stapling two profiled plates (P) so as to form parallel cylindrical settling cells (A), advantageously having a hexagonal cross-section.

9. Sludge settling cell unit made up of basic modules (M) obtained according to the method of claim 8, in which the two identical profiled plates (P) are arranged in mirror symmetry, so as to be joined at respective parallel longitudinal contact zones (Z10, Z11, Z12) so as to form a basic module (M), preferably in the form of honeycombs, characterized in that the parallel longitudinal contact zones (Z1) of the two profiled plates (P) are stapled together in a substantially regular manner over their entire length.

10. Sludge settling cell unit according to claim 9, wherein the base modules (M) each comprise parallel longitudinal contact zones (Z 10) which extend to the edges of the profiled plates (P) and more central parallel longitudinal contact zones (Zl 1, Z12) which are more or less distant from the edges of the profiled plates (P), all the parallel longitudinal contact zones (Z 10, Zll, Z12) of a base module (M) being stapled together in a substantially regular manner over their entire length. * * *

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