Machine for joining sheet material

Abstract

Machine (1) for joining sheet material comprising a joining station (2) providing a guidance path (9) from an inlet (7) to an outlet (8) for evacuating sheet material, a joining group (3) equipped with a stapling head (4), a sheet material drive device (5), and a pilot unit (6), the joining groups (3) comprising two longitudinal traffic lanes (11, 12) having a bearing surface of sheet material to be joined, said lanes (11, 12) each having a first track section at which the bearing surfaces are arranged at different heights with at least partial overlap, and a second track section at which the bearing surfaces are coplanar.The said machine (1) comprises at least one pressure member (13) positionable at the level of the second section, opposite the bearing surface of the tracks (11, 12) of the second section in the axial extension of the area of ​​the first section at which the bearing surfaces partially overlap and upstream of the stapling head (4). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Machine for joining sheet material

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

[0002] It relates in particular to a machine for joining sheet material, said machine comprising a joining station, at least one joining group equipped with at least one stapling head, a sheet material drive device, and a control unit, the joining station comprising a sheet material feed inlet and a sheet material discharge outlet and providing a guide path delimited by two edges extending longitudinally from the sheet material feed inlet to the sheet material discharge outlet, the joining group or each joining group and at least part of the drive device being arranged between the edges of the guide path, the joining group or at least one of the joining groups comprising two so-called longitudinal traffic lanes extending in the direction of the inlet / outlet of the joining station,Each of the tracks having a bearing surface to receive a portion of a sheet material to be joined with a portion of a sheet material of the other track, said tracks each having a first track section at which the bearing surfaces are arranged at different heights with at least partial overlap, and a second track section located downstream of the first section, measured with respect to the direction of movement of the sheet material from the entrance towards the exit of the junction station, and at which the bearing surfaces are substantially coplanar.

[0003] It should be noted that substantially coplanar bearing surfaces are understood to be bearing surfaces extending in planes separated from each other by no more than 5 mm.

[0004] Machines for joining sheet materials are known, as illustrated, for example, by French patent FR 3 132 292. However, the quality of the joining currently presents several drawbacks. In particular, the thickness of the sheet materials at the joining point results in an excess thickness which, when joined sheet materials are stacked at the output of the processing unit, leads to instability of the resulting stack. Furthermore, this excess thickness can impair the quality of the stapling. Finally, localized air gaps can be observed, leading to heterogeneity in the final product.

[0005] One object of the invention is to propose a machine of the aforementioned type whose design makes it possible to solve the problems mentioned above.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a machine for joining sheet material, said machine comprising a joining station, at least one joining group equipped with at least one stapling head, a sheet material drive device, and a control unit, the joining station comprising a sheet material feed inlet and a sheet material discharge outlet and providing a guide path delimited by two edges extending longitudinally from the sheet material feed inlet to the sheet material discharge outlet, the joining group or each joining group and at least a part of the drive device being disposed between the edges of the guide path, the joining group or at least one of the joining groups comprising two longitudinal traffic lanes extending in the inlet / outlet direction of the joining station,each of the tracks having a bearing surface for receiving a portion of a sheet material to be joined with a portion of a sheet material of the other track, said tracks each having a first track section at which the bearing surfaces are arranged at different heights with at least partial overlap, and a second track section arranged downstream of the first section taken with respect to the direction of movement of sheet material from the entrance towards the exit of the junction station and at which the bearing surfaces are substantially coplanar, characterized in that said machine comprises at least one pressure element positionable at the level of the second section, opposite the bearing surface of the tracks of the second section,said pressure element being disposed in the axial extension of the zone of the first section at the level where the bearing surfaces partially overlap, called the overlap zone, and upstream of the stapling head, taken with respect to the direction of movement of sheet material from the inlet towards the outlet of the junction station for in-line positioning of said overlap zone, of the pressure element(s) and of the stapling head.

[0007] The inline arrangement of the overlapping zone, the pressure element(s), and the stapling head allows for the simultaneous pressing of the two superimposed sheet materials by the pressure element, this pressing occurring at the joint zone. This makes it possible to obtain a joint thickness identical or substantially identical to the thickness of the sheet panels without compromising the simplicity of the machine. The result is a stable stack of sheet materials exiting the machine's processing station.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the bearing surface of at least one of the tracks comprises, in its zone forming a transition between the first and second sections of said track, a leveling element in the form of a ramp or of a step. Thus, continuous monitoring and guidance of the sheet materials are carried out.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sheet material drive device comprises a plurality of drives and one or more drive motors operating said drives, and at least some of the drives are arranged opposite the bearing surface of the tracks of the or at least one of the junction groups to form, in cooperation with the opposite bearing surface in at least one configuration, a pinching zone for a sheet material suitable for being driven by said drive. A drive is understood to be an active mechanical drive system for the movement of at least one sheet material.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, each drive unit is an endless belt following a looped path, and each operating control motor of at least one drive unit is a drive motor for the movement of the endless belt constituting said drive unit. Preferably, the active mechanical drive system for the movement of at least one sheet material is therefore a mechanical belt drive system.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, at the first section of each track, the driver or at least one of the drivers is mounted to move between an active position close to the track support surface and an inactive position away from said support surface. This arrangement allows the operator to introduce the sheet material(s) to be joined, i.e., to be bonded by stapling, between the driver and the track support surface before pinching the sheet material(s) to be bonded by stapling between the driver and the track support surface.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, for one or at least one of the joining groups, for each track, the drive unit positioned opposite the bearing surface of the first section of said track and the drive unit positioned opposite the bearing surface of the second section of said track are configured to operate synchronously. Since the drive unit positioned opposite the bearing surface of the first section of said track and the drive unit positioned opposite the bearing surface of the second section of said track are configured to operate synchronously, that is, to drive a sheet material at the same travel speed, this results in a smooth drive of the sheet material(s) along the track.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, for the junction group or at least one of the junction groups, for each track, the drive unit positioned opposite the bearing surface of the first section of said track and the drive unit positioned opposite the bearing surface of the second section of said track are at least partially common and are formed by the same strip, and the drive motor for moving the strip of one of the tracks is common to the drive motor for moving the strip on the other side of the tracks. This results in simpler manufacturing and a guarantee of synchronous operation.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, each joining group is a reversible group having two operating positions: one in which the joiner, or at least one of the joiner group's drivers, extends above the support surface with which it cooperates to form a pinching zone for the sheet material to be driven; the other in which it extends below the support surface with which it cooperates to form a pinching zone for the sheet material to be driven. A joining machine may comprise at least two joining groups, referred to respectively as lower and upper, when, for example, the sheet material(s) are folded back on themselves to form a flattened tube structure, with the upper joining group(s) providing a bond at the upper surface of the tube and the lower joining group(s) providing a bond at the lower surface of the tube.The reversibility of the junction group allows it to be used interchangeably as an upper or lower junction group by simple reversal.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pressing member is a rotating member equipped with a rotary drive motor system at least partially shared with a part of the sheet material drive device. This results in a simpler machine.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pressing member, which is a rotating member, is arranged adjacent to a driver to be driven in rotation by contact with said driver.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the machine includes a gluing device comprising at least one nozzle oriented to project a flow of glue at the level of the first section in the area where the tracks partially overlap, this flow of glue being oriented towards the bearing surface of the track covered by the bearing surface of the other track in at least one position of use of the joining group.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the machine includes at the exit of the first section of each track of the or of a junction group taken with respect to the direction of movement of sheet material from the inlet towards the exit of the junction station a so-called front stop for referencing the or each sheet material introduced into the junction group, said stop being a retractable stop.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, at the first section of each traffic lane of a junction group, the bearing surface of said traffic lane is longitudinally bordered by an edge, the edge, the bearing surface and a part of the drive device arranged opposite the support surface forming between them a horizontal U-shaped housing open towards one bank of the guide path, the U of the housing formed by one of the tracks being open towards one of the banks, the U of the housing formed by the other of the tracks being open towards the other of the banks. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021] [Fig-1] represents a partial schematic view of a machine conforming to the invention during the introduction by an operator of sheet materials into the processing station;

[0022] [Fig.2] represents a partial schematic view of the junction station;

[0023] [Fig.3] represents a so-called lower junction group and a so-called junction group superior to illustrate the reversibility of a junction group;

[0024] [Fig.4] represents a schematic view, partially in perspective, of the paths of circulation of a junction group;

[0025] [Fig.5] represents a cross-sectional view of [Fig.4];

[0026] [Fig.6] represents a partial perspective view of the trainer at the level of a junction group linked to the pressing element;

[0027] [Fig.7] represents a partial schematic perspective view of a station junction;

[0028] [Fig.8] represents a partial cross-sectional view of [Fig.7] to illustrate the position separated from the trainers of the track support surface at the level of the first section;

[0029] [Fig.9] represents a partial schematic perspective view of a station junction;

[0030] [Fig. 10] represents a partial cross-sectional view of [Fig.9] to illustrate the close position of the track support surface drivers at the level of the first section;

[0031] [Fig. 11] represents a partial perspective view of a junction group taken from the output side of the processing station;

[0032] [Fig. 12] represents a portion in perspective of a junction group taken on the outlet side of the processing station to illustrate the pressure element;

[0033] [Fig. 13] represents a schematic longitudinal sectional view of sheet materials at a junction group with three associated sectional views taken respectively along A, B and C;

[0034] [Fig. 14] represents a schematic cross-sectional view of a junction station.

[0035] As mentioned above, the machine 1, the object of the invention, is a machine designed to allow the joining of sheet materials 30 by stapling, in particular cardboard blanks as shown in the figures. The joining can be carried out either between two parts of the same sheet material or between two sheet materials. The machine 1 therefore comprises a joining station 2 and at least one joining group 3 equipped with at least one stapling head 4.

[0036] Such a machine 1 can include several joining groups 3, as illustrated in [Fig.1] where the product to be joined is formed of two sheet materials 30 folded, each in half, and positioned with their opening facing each other and partially overlapping so as to form a flattened loop.

[0037] The upper strand of the loop includes a junction to be made by the so-called upper junction group 3, while the lower strand of the loop includes a junction to be made by the so-called lower junction group 3.

[0038] The junction station 2 includes an inlet 7 for supplying sheet material 30 and an outlet 8 for evacuating sheet material 30, providing a guide path 9 delimited by two edges 10 extending longitudinally from the sheet material inlet 7 to the sheet material outlet 8.

[0039] The machine 1 includes a sheet material drive device 5 adapted to drive sheet materials from the inlet 7 to the outlet 8 of the junction station 2. The junction station(s) 3, and at least part of the drive device 5, are arranged between the edges 10 of the guide path 9. The edges 10 of the guide path 9 may be formed by rails, as illustrated in [Fig. 2]. These rails are movable in the direction of moving closer together or further apart to vary the width of the guide path 9.

[0040] For this purpose, a motorized belt following a loop path can be coupled with the upper strand of the loop at one of the banks and with the lower strand of the loop at the other bank to allow a synchronous movement of the rails in the direction of a coming together or a moving apart of each other according to the direction of movement of the loop, as illustrated in [Fig.2].

[0041] The joining groups 3 can, similarly, be connected by a motorized belt to change their position in the direction of a separation or a coming together of each other in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the sheet materials.

[0042] Machine 1 further comprises a control unit 6. This control unit 6 is in the form of an electronic and computer system which includes, for example, a microprocessor and working memory. In a particular configuration, the control unit may be in the form of a programmable logic controller (PLC). 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.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.

[0043] Each junction group 3, as illustrated in [Fig. 3], comprises two longitudinal traffic lanes 11 and 12 extending in the direction of the inlet 7 / outlet 8 of the junction station 2. Each of the lanes 11 or 12 has a bearing surface for receiving a portion of a sheet material 30 to be joined with a portion of a sheet material 30 of the other lane. Said lanes 11 and 12 each have a first track section at which the bearing surfaces are arranged at different heights with at least partial overlap, and a second track section located downstream of the first section with respect to the direction of movement of the sheet material 30 from the inlet 7 towards the outlet 8 of the junction station 2, and at which the bearing surfaces, represented by 113 and 123 in the figures, are substantially coplanar.

[0044] Thus, track 11 has a bearing surface 113 and comprises a first track section 110 and a second track section 111. Track 12, on the other hand, has a bearing surface 123, a first track section 120, and a second track section 121. The area of ​​the first section of each of tracks 11 and 12, where the bearing surfaces 113 and 123 overlap, is called the overlap zone 20. This overlap zone 20 is visible in [Fig. 2]. At this overlap zone 20, the track bearing surfaces are arranged in a superimposed state.

[0045] The sheet material drive device 5 comprises a plurality of drives 15 and one or more motors 16 for operating said drives 15. Each drive 15 is an active mechanical system for driving at least one sheet material. In the example of Figures 1 to 3. Each drive 15 is an endless belt following a loop path. Each operating control motor 16 drives at least one drive 15. Each drive 15 can cooperate with an adjacent drive 15 or with a bearing surface of a junction group 3 to form, in at least one configuration, a pinch zone. Each drive extends in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the sheet material from the inlet towards the outlet of the junction station 2, that is, along the longitudinal axis of the guide path 9, this longitudinal axis extending parallel to the edges of the guide path 9.

[0046] As illustrated in [Fig.5], at the first section of each traffic lane of a junction group 3, the bearing surface 113, or respectively 123, of said traffic lane 11, or respectively 12, is bordered longitudinally by a rim 114, or respectively 124. The rim 114, or respectively 124, the bearing surface 113, or respectively 123, and a part of the drive device 5 disposed opposite the bearing surface 113, or respectively 123, together form a housing 115, or respectively 125, in the shape of a horizontal U open towards an edge 10 of the guide path 9. The U of dwelling 115, formed by track 11, is open towards one of the banks 10. The U of dwelling 125, formed by the other track 12, is open towards the other bank 10.

[0047] Parts of the sheet material to be joined are inserted, each by an edge of the sheet material, one into one of the inverted U-shapes, and the other into the other inverted U-shape, as can be seen in [Fig. 8]. This U-shaped architecture is conventional. It corresponds to the part called the swan neck of the joining group 3.

[0048] As can be seen when moving from [Fig.8] to [Fig. 10] at the first section of each track, the or at least one of the drivers 15 is mounted movably between an active position close to the track support surface and an inactive position away from the support surface 113, or respectively 123, of the track.

[0049] Indeed, the machine 1 comprises, at the exit of the first section 110, or respectively 120, of the track 11, or respectively 12, of the junction group 3, measured with respect to the direction of movement of the sheet material 30 from the inlet 7 towards the exit 8 of the junction station 2, a stop 19, referred to as a front stop, for referencing the sheet material(s) 30 introduced into the junction group 3. This front stop 19 is a retractable stop, allowing it to move from an active position, in which it prevents the sheet material(s) from continuing to move towards the exit of the junction station, to an inactive position, in which continued movement is permitted.

[0050] Thus, when the front stop 19 is lowered, the operator feeds the sheet material(s) from the junction station inlet into the U-channels until the material(s) are pressed against the front stop. During this operation, the drive 15 is in a position away from the opposite support surface 113 or 123, which corresponds to an inactive position of the drive 15. As soon as the alignment by pressing against the front stop is achieved, the operator activates a control, such as a pedal, and the control unit 6 is configured to command the retraction of the front stop 19 and the bringing of the drives 15 closer to the opposite support surfaces 113 and 123 of the drives 15 to generate a movement of the sheet material(s) towards the second section.

[0051] As illustrated in [Fig.4], the bearing surface of one of the tracks includes, in its area forming a transition between the first and second sections of said track, a leveling element 14 in the form of a ramp or a step.

[0052] In the example shown in [Fig.4], the leveling element 14 is in the form of a ramp with a downward slope from the entrance towards the exit of the junction station 2. This leveling element 14 is fitted to the uppermost track, shown in 12, which partially overlaps the other track, shown in 11, when the junction group is the upper junction group, i.e. the driver is positioned above the track support surface, as illustrated in the lower view of [Fig.3].

[0053] When the junction group is a lower junction group, as illustrated in the top view of [Fig.3], i.e. the trainer extends below the support surface with which it cooperates to form a pinch zone, the leveling element 14 equips the lowest track and is formed by an inclined ramp with an upward slope from the entrance towards the exit of the junction station.

[0054] As illustrated in [Fig. 3], each joining group 3 is a reversible group with two operating positions. The first operating position is one in which one or at least one of the drivers 15 of the joining group 3 extends above the support surface 113, or 123, with which it cooperates to form a pinching zone for a sheet material 30 to be driven. The other position is one in which it extends below the support surface 113, or 123, with which it cooperates. Thus, it is simply a matter of rotating the joining group 3 by 180° to use it in the other position. Therefore, the joining groups 3 are identical regardless of their orientation.

[0055] Figure 1 illustrates a machine with two identical joining groups, but one of which is reversed relative to the other. One of the tracks therefore has, at the first section, an ascending inclined ramp followed by a flat section on which the material The sheet material rests on the flat surface, the upward inclined ramp simply serving to help the sheet material come into contact with the flat surface after entering the junction box. This flat surface is followed by a downward inclined ramp to reach the level of the other track and then form two tracks with coplanar bearing surfaces. This path is visible in [Fig. 13]. The sheet material of the other track, meanwhile, moves in a single horizontal plane. Obviously, leveling could have been achieved by shaping the bearing surfaces of the two tracks without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0056] To simplify the design of the junction group 3 and as can be seen in Figures 3 and 6, for at least one of the junction groups 3 for each track 11, or respectively 12, the driver 15 arranged opposite the bearing surface 113, or respectively 123, of the first section 110, or respectively 120, of said track and the driver 15 arranged opposite the bearing surface 113, or respectively 123, of the second section of said track 11, or respectively 12, are at least partially common and are formed by the same strip 151.

[0057] Similarly, the drive motor 16 for moving the strip 151 of track 11 is common to the drive motor 16 for moving the strip 151 of the other track represented in 12.

[0058] In this embodiment, a cylinder 21 visible in [Fig.3] is housed inside the part of the loop formed by the endless belt arranged opposite the support surface 113 of the first section 110 of the track 11, or of the support surface 123 of the first section 120 of the track 12. This cylinder 21 allows the control of the approach or separation of the belt 151 from the opposite support surface to allow the passage of the driver 15 formed by the endless belt 151 from an active state to an inactive state, or vice versa.

[0059] For smooth feeding of the sheet material, and by design, the drive 15 located opposite the bearing surface 113 of the first section 110 of the track 11 and the drive 15 located opposite the bearing surface 113 of the second section 111 of the track 11 are configured to operate synchronously, that is, to feed the sheet material at the same speed. The same applies to track 12, where the drive 15 located opposite the bearing surface 123 of the first section 120 of said track 12 and the drive 15 located opposite the bearing surface 123 of the second section 121 of said track 12 are configured to operate synchronously. Achieving this synchronization is facilitated when the operating control motor 16 of a trainer is common to all the trainers in the junction group as is the case in [Fig.3].To assist in training the moving sheet material at the leveling catch-up element, the part of the trainer that... The extension, positioned parallel to the leveling element, facilitates the movement of the sheet material by providing precise guidance.

[0060] The machine 1 includes at least one pressure member 13 positionable at the level of the second section 111, or respectively 121, opposite the bearing surface 113, or respectively 123, of the tracks 11, or respectively 12, of the second section 111, or respectively 121. This pressure member 13 is disposed in the axial extension of the zone of the first section 110, or respectively 120, at the level of which the bearing surfaces 113, or respectively 123, partially overlap, this zone being called the overlap zone 20.

[0061] This pressure member 13 is further positioned upstream of the stapling head 4, relative to the direction of movement of the sheet material from the inlet 7 towards the outlet 8 of the joining station, for in-line positioning of the overlap zone 20, the pressure member(s), and the stapling head 4. This pressure member 13 is visible in [Fig. 12]. This pressure member 13 is a rotary member equipped with a rotary drive motor system 17. Ideally, and as shown, this rotary drive motor system 17 is at least partially shared with a portion of the sheet material conveying device 30.

[0062] Indeed, the pressing member 13, which is a rotating member, is arranged adjacent to a driver 15 to be driven in rotation by contact with said driver 15.

[0063] In the example shown, this trainer 15 also constitutes the trainer of the sheet material at the level of the first and second sections of the traffic lanes of group 3 of junction.

[0064] Indeed, the band 151 forming part of the drive 15 of each track at least partially drives the pressure member 13 to rotate it during the loop movement of the band 151. The in-line positioning of the track overlap zone 20, the pressure member 13, and the stapling head 4 along the inlet 7 / outlet 8 direction of the joining group 3 allows, as can be seen in the cross-sectional views along B and C of [Fig. 13], for a junction with a thickness substantially identical to that of the sheet material. Eliminating any excess thickness at the junction allows the sheet materials to be stacked at the exit of the joining station without causing instability in the resulting stack. The pressure member 13 ensures compression of the sheet material at the point where the sheet materials overlap.

[0065] It should be noted that the track support surfaces are at the level of the second section coincide in the part of the support surfaces extending in the continuation of the overlap zone 20.

[0066] To complete this stapling connection, the machine 1 includes a gluing device 18 comprising at least one nozzle 181 oriented to project a flow of glue onto the first section 110, or respectively 120, in the area where tracks 11 and 12 partially overlap. This flow of glue is directed towards the bearing surface of the track covered by the bearing surface of the other track in at least one operating position of the joining unit.

[0067] Thus, in the operating position in which the or at least one of the drivers 15 of the joining group 3 extends above the bearing surface 113 or 123 with which it cooperates to form a pinching zone of a sheet material 30 to be driven, the flow of glue is directed towards the bearing surface 113 of the track 11 at least partially covered by the bearing surface 123 of the other track 12, such is the case of the upper joining group.

[0068] In the operating position in which the or at least one of the joint group 3 drivers 15 extends below the bearing surface 113 or 123 with which it cooperates to form a pinching zone of a sheet material 30 to be driven, the flow of glue is directed towards the bearing surface 113 of the track 11, coming into at least partial overlap of the bearing surface 123 of the other track 12. Such a projection of glue can then be spread by the pressure member 13. The presence of glue makes it possible to reinforce the mechanical resistance of the joint.

[0069] In practice, the operation of the machine, as described above, is as follows.

[0070] It is assumed that the junction groups 3 trainers 15 are in the inactive position at the first track sections, that the front stop 19 is in the non-retracted position and that the operator has introduced the two sheet materials into each junction group up to the front stop, as illustrated in [Fig.7].

[0071] When the operator controls the junction by actuation of a pedal or other means, the junction group drivers are brought into active position at the first track sections, the front stops retract and the drivers drive the sheet materials to move in the direction of entry 7 / exit 8 of junction station 2, as illustrated in [Fig.9].

[0072] During this movement, one of the sheet materials can be glued by the gluing nozzles 181. At the level of the joining group, shown in [Fig.9], and forming an upper joining group, the highest sheet material, referred to as the upper one, is placed in the track 12 and is forced to deform under the action of the associated driver 15 and to join the lower sheet material by following the inclined ramp forming the leveling element 14.

[0073] The lower and upper sheet materials pass under the pressing member 13 at their overlapping zone where they are crushed. This crushing allows to spread the glue between the two sheet materials and thus make the bond reliable, to reduce the air gaps in the cardboard interstices and thus make the cardboard more homogeneous and facilitate the introduction of the staple through, to obtain a junction thickness identical to the thickness of the sheet materials to allow the creation of straight stacks and not accordion-style stacks at the exit of the junction station.

[0074] After pressing, the sheet materials are stapled by the stapling head, then evacuated from the joining station to be stacked outside the machine.

[0075] A staple detection sensor 22, visible in [Fig.9], can be integrated into one of the trainers arranged downstream of the stapling head to detect the staples placed.

[0076] The fact that the pushing member 13 is capable of simultaneously pressing two sheet materials makes it possible to avoid an excess thickness at the junction of the sheet materials.

Claims

1. Demands Machine (1) for injecting sheet material (30), said machine (1) comprising a joining station (2), at least one joining group (3) equipped with at least one stapling head (4), a sheet material (30) drive device (5), and a pilot unit (6), the joining station (2) comprising a sheet material (30) inlet (7) and a sheet material (30) discharge outlet (8) and providing a guide path (9) delimited by two edges (10) extending longitudinally from the sheet material inlet (7) to the sheet material discharge outlet (8), the joining group(s) and at least a portion of the drive device (5) being disposed between the edges (10) of the guide path (9), the joining group(s) comprising two traffic lanes (11, 12) longitudinal extending along the inlet (7) / outlet (8) direction of the junction station (2),Each of the tracks (11, 12) having a bearing surface (113, 123) for receiving a portion of a sheet material (30) to be joined with a portion of a sheet material (30) of the other track, said tracks (11, 12) each having a first track section (110, 120) at which the bearing surfaces (113, 123) are arranged at different heights with at least partial overlap, and a second track section (111, 121) located downstream of the first section (110, 120) with respect to the direction of movement of the sheet material (30) from the inlet (7) towards the outlet (8) of the joining station (2) and at which the bearing surfaces (113, 123) are substantially coplanar, characterized in that said machine (1) comprises at least one pressure element (13) positionable at the second section (111, 121), opposite the bearing surface (113, 123) of the tracks (11, 12) of the second section (111, 121),said pressure member (13) being disposed in the axial extension of the zone of the first section (110, 120) at the level of which the bearing surfaces (113, 123) partially overlap said overlap zone (20) and upstream of the stapling head (4) taken with respect to the direction of movement of sheet material from the inlet (7) towards the outlet (8) of the junction station (2) for an in-line positioning of said zone (20) of, covering, of the or at least one of the pressing members (13) and of the stapling head (4).

2. Machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing surface (123) of at least one (12) of the tracks (11, 12) comprises, in its area forming a transition between the first and second sections (120, 121) of said track (12), a leveling element (14) in the form of a ramp or a step.

3. Machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the sheet material drive device (5) comprises a plurality of drives (15) and one or more operating control motors (16) of said drives (15), and in that at least some of the drives (15) are arranged opposite the bearing surface (113, 123) of the tracks (11, 12) of the or at least one of the joining groups (3) to form in cooperation with the opposite bearing surface (113, 123) in at least one configuration a pinching zone of a sheet material (30) suitable for being driven by said drive (15).

4. Machine (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that each drive (15) is an endless belt following a loop path and in that each operating control motor (16) of at least one drive (15) is a drive motor moving the endless belt constituting said drive (15).

5. Machine (1) according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that, at the level of the first section (110, 120) of each track (11, 12), the or at least one of the drivers (15) is mounted movably between a so-called active position close to the support surface (113, 123) of the track (11, 12) and a so-called inactive position away from said support surface (113, 123).

6. Machine (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, for the or at least one of the joining groups (3), for each track (11, 12), the driver (15) disposed opposite the bearing surface (113, 123) of the first section (110, 120) of said track (11, 12) and the driver (15) disposed opposite the bearing surface (113, 123) of the second section (111, 121) of said track (11, 12) are configured to operate in synchronicity.

7. Machine (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that for the or at least one of the joining groups (3), for each track (11, 12), the drive (15) is arranged opposite the surface support surface (113, 123) of the first section (110, 120) of said track (11, 12) and the driver (15) arranged opposite the support surface (113, 123) of the second section (111, 121) of said track (11, 12) are at least partially common and are formed by the same strip and in that the drive motor (16) for moving the strip (151) of one (11) of the tracks (11, 12) is common to the drive motor (16) for moving the strip (151) of the other (12) of the tracks (11, 12).

8. Machine (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that each joining group (3) is a reversible group having two operating positions, one in which the or at least one of the drivers (15) of the joining group (3) extends above the support surface (113, 123) with which it cooperates to form a pinching zone of a sheet material (30) to be driven, the other in which it extends below the support surface (113, 123) with which it cooperates to form a pinching zone of a sheet material (30) to be driven.

9. Machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the pressing member (13) is a rotating member equipped with a rotational drive motor system (17) at least partially common with a part of the sheet material (30) drive device (5).

10. Machine (1) according to claim 9 taken in combination with claim 3, characterized in that the pressing member (13) which is a rotating member is arranged contiguous to a driver (15) to be driven in rotation by contact with said driver (15).

11. Machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a gluing device (18) comprising at least one nozzle (181) oriented to project a flow of glue at the level of the first section (110, 120) in the area where the tracks (11, 12) partially overlap, this flow of glue being oriented towards the bearing surface (113) of the track (11) covered by the bearing surface (123) of the other track (12) in at least one operating position of the joining group.

12. Machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises, at the exit of the first section (110, 120) of each track (11, 12) of the or a group (3) of junction taken with respect to the direction of movement of sheet material (30) from the inlet (7) towards the outlet (8) of the junction station (2), a stop (19) called front for referencing the or each sheet material (30) introduced into the junction group (3), said stop (19) being a retractable stop (19).

13. Machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at the first section (110, 120) of each traffic lane (11, 12) of a junction group (3), the bearing surface (113, 123) of said traffic lane (11, 12) is longitudinally bordered by an edge (114, 124), the edge (114, 124), the bearing surface (113, 123) and a portion (5) of the drive device disposed opposite the bearing surface (113, 123) forming between them a U-shaped recess (115, 125) open towards one edge (10) of the guide path (9), the U of the recess (115) formed by one (11) of the lanes (11, 12) being open towards one of the banks (10), the U of the dwelling (125) formed by the other (12) of the roads (11, 12) being open towards the other of the banks (10).

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