Device for supporting the end caps of shutter apron slats

Abstract

Title: Device for supporting end caps of shutter apron slats Device for supporting end caps of shutter apron slats, of the type comprising a rectilinear part (4) onto which the end caps are intended to be threaded, which have for this purpose an opening in the middle part, and one of the ends (5) of which is shaped as a stop. It is made of a semi-rigid material, and it comprises at its end part opposite that shaped as a stop (5), a section (6) comprising an elastically deformable part (60), capable of taking at least two different configurations, a first, at rest, where it has dimensions preventing the escape of an end cap, and a second where it retracts under the effect of the passage of an end cap subjected to a force (F) parallel to the rectilinear part (4), so as to allow the escape of the end cap as well as those also subjected to the force (F). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Device for supporting the end caps of shutter apron slats

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for supporting the end caps of shutter apron slats.

[0002] It is known, in particular from document DE 37 42 874, to arrange end pieces at the ends of the shutter table blades. The blades are generally hollow, obtained by extrusion, and are cut to size, and in order to ensure the finish, an end piece is arranged at each of the ends of the blades, essentially by interlocking, then fixed by appropriate methods which can be of different natures, such as, but not limited to, screwing or gluing.

[0003] Document FR 2 904 251 relates to a machine enabling these operations of placing end caps at the ends of blades and fixing them by screwing. These operations are automated, the blade ends are brought one by one opposite a unitary end cap dispensing means, in order to be equipped with them. Upstream of the dispensing means, the end caps are stored in a magazine comprising vertical slides between which the end caps are arranged one after the other.

[0004] To avoid having to use a vibrating bowl to feed the tip storage magazine, the tips are packaged in a strip, by threading them onto the rectilinear part of a support, said tips having for this purpose an opening which can be closed or not. This rectilinear part is of non-round section to prevent the tips from pivoting, and preferably conforms to at least part of said opening for indexing purposes. The rectilinear part must allow continuous stacking without overlapping of the tips.

[0005] In practice, the bar thus formed is introduced into the magazine and then the support is removed to release the tips.

[0006] There are several embodiments of these supports.

[0007] The most frequently used support is shown in [Fig. 1], it consists of a tab 1 made of thermoformed plastic material, intended to carry end pieces 2, only two of which are shown in this figure, and one of which is shown in [Fig.2]

[0008] The tab 1 is intended to be introduced into an opening 20, which each of the end pieces 2 has, and which is visible in [Fig.2].

[0009] This tab 1 comprises on the one hand a main body 10, shaped to said opening 20 so as to prevent the pivoting of the end pieces 2, on the other hand to a end a protrusion 11 which forms a stop for the end pieces 2, and on the other hand, at its other end, a flexible tongue 12 which is not shaped, capable of being bent, as shown in broken lines, in order to create a loop by being partially introduced into the stacked end pieces 2, in order to prevent the end pieces 2 from escaping.

[0010] It is also possible to use tabs cut to size from a sheet of plastic material, to create at one end a widening forming a stop, which has the advantage of being able to quickly correspond to several types of end pieces, but with the disadvantage of less resistance due to excessive flexibility. Such a tab is shown in document FR 2 904 251, where it cooperates with end pieces which each have an unclosed opening.

[0011] These tabs have another disadvantage: they have to be loaded manually and cannot be loaded mechanically, due to their flexibility and the closing system by folding the end.

[0012] Finally, some use metal supports, in the form of a U-shaped steel ring on the branches of which the tips are threaded, while an elastic bracelet is arranged around the free ends of the branches to prevent the tips from escaping. These metal supports are more expensive than the aforementioned plastic tabs, so that, unlike the latter which are disposable after use, they are returnable, which requires providing for return operations to the manufacturer. In addition, handling the elastic bracelets does not facilitate loading the machines.

[0013] The present invention aims to propose a device for supporting end caps of shutter apron slats, making it possible to combine all the advantages of existing devices, without having their disadvantages. The aim is thus to propose a disposable support device, sufficiently rigid and easy to handle, and which allows automated loading of end caps.

[0014] The device for supporting end caps of shutter apron slats according to the invention is of the type comprising a rectilinear part onto which said end caps are intended to be threaded, which have for this purpose an opening in the middle part, and one of the ends of which is shaped as a stop, and it is characterized in that it is made of a semi-rigid material, and in that it comprises at its end part opposite that shaped as a stop, a section comprising an elastically deformable part, capable of taking at least two different configurations, a first, at rest, where it has dimensions preventing the escape of an end cap, and a second where it retracts under the effect of the passage of an end cap subjected to a force parallel to said rectilinear part, so as to allow the escape of said end cap as well as those also subjected to said force.

[0015] According to an additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, the end shaped as a stop consists of a widening.

[0016] According to another additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, the elastically deformable part consists of at least one curved and detached blade, projecting laterally to extend beyond the plane of the edge of the rectilinear part, and capable of being placed in alignment with said plane under the action of an axial force.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the elastically deformable part comprises two curved and detached blades projecting laterally on either side of the section comprising said elastically deformable part.

[0018] According to another additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, it is molded from a semi-rigid plastic material.

[0019] In a non-limiting manner, this plastic material may consist of polypropylene.

[0020] According to another additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, the rectilinear part has a structure comprising bars forming a lattice.

[0021] This characteristic makes it possible to give the rectilinear part a certain rigidity, while using a material whose flexibility is necessary for the deformability of the elastically deformable part.

[0022] According to another additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, the end, beyond the section which comprises the elastically deformable part, has a pointed shape.

[0023] The advantages and characteristics of the device for supporting the end caps of shutter apron slats according to the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and which refers to the appended drawing, which represents a non-limiting embodiment thereof.

[0024] In the attached drawing:

[0025] [Fig-1] represents a schematic perspective view of a support device of end caps for shutter apron slats of the state of the art,

[0026] [Fig.2] represents a schematic plan view of a blade end cap of shutter apron,

[0027] [Fig.3] represents a partial plan view of a tip support device of shutter apron blade ends according to the invention,

[0028] [Fig.4] represents a side view of the same tip support device according to the invention.

[0029] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, a device 3 for supporting end caps of shutter apron blades according to the invention can be seen.

[0030] This support device 3 is in the form of an elongated part, comprising at one end of a rectilinear middle part 4, a widening 5 forming a stop, and at the other end a section 6 comprising an elastically deformable part 60.

[0031] The support device 3 is molded from a plastic material, in order to save material, while combining flexibility and rigidity, it has a peripheral rib 30, which borders a central part which only comprises a web 31, while, essentially at the level of the rectilinear part 4, a lattice of bars 32 provides rigidity.

[0032] In this embodiment, the rectilinear part 4 has a rectangular cross-section, which corresponds to the opening 20 of the end piece 2, so that an end piece 2 can slide without pivoting, the widening 5 having at least one dimension preventing the passage of an end piece 2.

[0033] The elastically deformable part 60 of the section 6 comprises, in this embodiment, two curved blades 61 projecting outwards, extending beyond the outer plane of the part, and detached from the rest of the section by the presence of voids 62. In fact, the blades 61 consist of portions of the peripheral rib 30.

[0034] It will be understood that the blades 61 form a protrusion of a dimension greater than the width of the rectilinear part 4, as well as the width of the opening 20 of the end piece 2, so that an end piece 2 engaged on the rectilinear part 4 cannot escape therefrom, unless a force F is exerted on this end piece, parallel to the rectilinear part and in the direction of the section 6, and sufficient to deform the blades 61.

[0035] It will be noted that the engagement of the end pieces on the rectilinear part 4, of course requires exerting a force opposite to F. Furthermore, to facilitate such engagement, the free end 63 of the section 6 is shaped into a point.

[0036] The passage of an end piece 2, in one direction as in the other, is not only linked to the deformability of the blades 61, but to the fact that the latter are curved, in fact, and that the transition between them and the rectilinear part 4 as well as the free end 63, is made through a slightly inclined plane.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for supporting end caps of shutter apron slats, of the type comprising a rectilinear part (10; 4) onto which said end caps (2) are intended to be threaded, which have for this purpose an opening (20) in the middle part, and one of the ends (11; 5) of which is shaped as a stop, characterized in that it is made of a semi-rigid material, and in that it comprises at its end part opposite that shaped as a stop (5), a section (6) comprising an elastically deformable part (60), capable of taking at least two different configurations, a first, at rest, where it has dimensions preventing the escape of an end cap (2), and a second where it retracts under the effect of the passage of an end cap (2) subjected to a force (F) parallel to said rectilinear part (4), so as to allow the escape of said end cap (2) as well as those also subjected to said force (F).

2. Device (3) for supporting tips according to claim 1, characterized in that the end (5) shaped as a stop consists of a widening.

3. Device (3) for supporting tips according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the elastically deformable part (60) consists of at least one curved and detached blade (61), projecting laterally to extend beyond the plane of the edge of the rectilinear part (4), and capable of being placed in alignment with said plane under the action of an axial force (F).

4. Device (3) for supporting end pieces according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastically deformable part (60) comprises two curved and detached blades (61) projecting laterally on either side of the section (6) comprising said elastically deformable part (60).

5. Device (3) for supporting tips according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is molded from a semi-rigid plastic material.

6. Device (3) for supporting tips according to claim 5, characterized in that the rectilinear part (4) has a structure comprising bars (32) forming a lattice.

7. Device (3) for supporting tips according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free end, beyond the section (6) which comprises the elastically deformable part (60), has a point shape (63).

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