Separator Equipment for Converting Machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a separator device (22) for a folding-gluing machine, the separator device being configured to separate a shingle-like stream of folded boxes into separate batches, the separator device comprising a vertically movable separator device head and at least one upper discharge conveyor belt. The lower conveyor system (30) comprises a lower discharge conveyor belt, and the folded boxes are clamped between the upper discharge conveyor belt and a lower second conveyor belt, so that they are transported together by the upper discharge conveyor belt and the lower second conveyor belt.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a converting machine for producing folding or flatpack boxes. In particular, the present invention relates to a separator device for a converting machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Converting machines are used in the production of paperboard and corrugated boxes, such as folding boxes. These machines include multiple workstations that print, cut, score, fold, count, and stack the blanks. The blanks are first placed in a feeder module and transported through the different workstations.

[0003] The converting machines need to be adapted to different box types, which often leads to adjustments of the position of the conveyor belt system or the conveying length of the conveyor belt system.

[0004] EP 1350617 discloses a separator module for a converting machine. The separator module separates the shingle-like stream of boxes into batches of a predefined number. The separator module comprises a separator machine head which moves vertically up and down. The separator machine head comprises a thrust plate (also called a stop plate) and an upper discharge conveyor belt. The discharge conveyor belt is connected to the separator machine head and can be accelerated to increase the conveying speed of the separated batches. The discharge conveyor belt abuts against a number of idle rollers which allow free acceleration of the boxes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] European Patent No. 1350617 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In view of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a separator device with improved accuracy and alignment during conveying of separated boxes. This object is solved by a separator device as claimed in claim 1. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a separator apparatus for a folding-gluing machine, the separator apparatus being configured to separate a stream of folding box roof shingles into separate batches, the separator apparatus comprising: a vertically movable separating head configured to move vertically up and down between a counting position, in which the separating head is not in contact with the box, and a separating position, in which the separating head is in contact with the box; at least one upper discharge conveyor belt in the form of an endless upper discharge conveyor belt having a contact portion that contacts an upper surface of the folded box when the separating head is in the separating position, the upper discharge conveyor belt being configured to be driven at a discharge speed when contacting the folded box; Equipped with the separator apparatus further comprises a lower conveyor system having a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt arranged one after the other in a conveying direction of the boxes; when the separator apparatus is in the counting position, the first conveyor belt is configured to operate at a first speed and the second conveyor belt is configured to operate at a second speed; the second conveyor belt is configured to accelerate to a third speed when the separating head is in the separating position; The boxes are clamped between the upper discharge conveyor belt and the lower second conveyor belt and are transported together by the upper discharge conveyor belt and the lower second conveyor belt.

[0008] Preferably, the third speed is equal to the discharge speed of the upper discharge conveyor belt.

[0009] The first conveyor belt may be referred to as an inlet conveyor belt, the second conveyor belt may be referred to as a discharge conveyor belt, and the separation position may be referred to as a discharge position.

[0010] In one embodiment, the first rate and the second rate are equal.

[0011] In one embodiment, each of the first and second conveyor belts of the lower conveyor system has a modifiable contact length, and the transition point between the first and second conveyor belts is displaceable in the conveying direction. Preferably, the sum of the contact lengths of the first and second conveyor belts is constant.

[0012] The transition point between the first lower conveyor belt and the second lower conveyor belt can be located upstream of the separator device head in the conveying direction.

[0013] In one embodiment, the separator apparatus further comprises a control system including a control unit and a memory including a program enabling the control unit to calculate a theoretical longitudinal position of the separator apparatus head and a theoretical longitudinal position of the transition point between the first and second lower conveyors.

[0014] In one embodiment, the memory includes an indication of the number of boxes included in each batch, and the separator apparatus further includes a detection device configured to detect the passing of a front leading edge of a box and send information to the control system to initiate lowering of the separating head.

[0015] In one embodiment, each respective contact length of the conveyor belts is supported by a support structure including a plurality of rollers mounted on roller frames, the roller frames being interconnected by a linkage mechanism to form a row. At least one distal roller frame is fixed and the remaining roller frames are movable in the conveying direction. A displacement mechanism is coupled to the movable distal roller frame of each of the support structures and configured to displace the movable roller frame a displacement distance in the conveying direction, whereby each of the support structures is extendable and retractable in the conveying direction.

[0016] In one embodiment, the linkage is configured to provide equal displacement distances between the roller frames. Preferably, all of the rollers are in contact with the conveyor belt.

[0017] In one embodiment, the coupling mechanism includes a plurality of pivotable coupling links.

[0018] The pivotable connecting link can include a first straight connecting element and a second straight connecting element, the connecting elements forming a cross shape, the first and second straight connecting elements having their central pivot point at the center of the cross shape, and a connection to each roller frame is provided at the central pivot point.

[0019] In one embodiment, the conveyor system further comprises a linking frame attached to the movable roller frame of the first conveyor belt and the movable roller frame of the second conveyor belt, the linking frame being coupled to the displacement mechanism and configured for reciprocating movement in the conveying direction.

[0020] In one embodiment, the linking frame further includes a correction roller for the first conveyor belt and a correction roller for the second conveyor belt, whereby a displacement of the linking frame modifies both the contact length and the return length of the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt.

[0021] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like features are designated with the same reference numerals, and in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1a] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a converting machine of the folder-gluer. [Figure 1b] FIG. 1b is a top view of a blank being placed in a feeding device of the converting machine of FIG. [Figure 1c] FIG. 1b is a top view of a folding box produced by the converting machine of FIG. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a transfer module of a conventional conversion machine; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a counter-separator module according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conveyor system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a displacement mechanism of the conveyor system of FIG. 4. [Figure 6a] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a support mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6b] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a support mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6c] 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a support mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view showing the connection between the support mechanism and the displacement mechanism. [Figure 8a] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a conveyor system with two conveyor belts according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8b] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a conveyor system with two conveyor belts according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9a] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing maximum extension and retraction of the conveyor system. [Figure 9b] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing maximum extension and retraction of the conveyor system. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a detailed schematic perspective view of a displacement mechanism. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a conveyor system mounted on a frame of a working module; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] 1a and 1b, there is shown a converting machine in the form of a folding-gluing machine 1 and a blank 2' that is produced and processed therein. The folding-gluing machine 1 is adapted to receive a blank 2' that has a peripheral edge 4 that defines the shape of the flaps 6 and further has crease lines 8 that allow folding along predetermined lines. At the end of the converting machine 1, the blank 2 has been converted into a folding box 2.

[0024] The folding-gluing machine 1 comprises a series of various workstations in modular form, which include, from the inlet to the outlet, a feeder module 10, a pre-crease module 12, a gluing module 14 and a folding module 16. After the folding and gluing modules, a conditioning section 20 can be provided, which has the purpose of counting and separating the stream of folded box shingles into separate batches and arranging them together in a strip-like stack. The conditioning section 20 of the folding-gluing machine 1 can comprise a counting and separator module 22, optionally a shingle inverter 24, a transfer module 26 arranged after the shingle inverter 24, a stacker module 28 arranged for arranging the folded boxes in a stack, and a bundling module 29.

[0025] Several types of modules may need to have transport means adapted to the type of box 2 being produced, such as for example a transfer module 26 as shown in Figure 2, a counting-separator module 22 as shown in Figure 3 and an alignment module as described in GB Patent No. 182645.

[0026] As can be best seen in Figures 1a, 2 and 3, the blanks 2 are transported in a conveying direction D through the different work modules. The transport of the blanks 2 is partly performed by a conveyor system 30 comprising at least one conveyor belt 32. As can be best seen in Figure 2, the conveyor belt 32 is in the form of an endless belt, contacting the blanks 2 over a contact length Lc and comprising a return path Pr of length Lr during which the conveyor belt 32 is not in contact with the blanks 2.

[0027] The inventors have found that the working module of the converting machine 1 can comprise a conveyor system 30 having a variable contact length Lc of at least one conveyor belt 32. Such variation of the contact length Lc, in terms of variable position, variable distance and variable conveying speed, can have various advantageous technical effects and applications.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 2, for example, it may be desirable to change the longitudinal position of the inlet end 34 or the outlet end 36 of the conveyor belt 32. In this way, the longitudinal position of the transition point between two working modules can be changed. The transfer module 26 in Fig. 2 can be located upstream of the stacker module 28. The position of the outlet end 36 of the conveyor belt 32 can be set so that the rear edge 5b of the folding box 2 is correctly positioned in the stacker module 28. Since the dimensions of the boxes 2 vary between different working batches, it is advantageous to change the longitudinal position of the outlet end 36 of the conveyor belt 32.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 3, the present invention can also be used to realize a conveyor system 30 having a constant total length L_tot distributed over a plurality of conveying segments S1, S2 having variable longitudinal contact lengths ΔLca, ΔLcb in the conveying direction D. Such a conveyor system 30 can have a first conveyor belt 32a and a second conveyor belt 32b arranged one after the other in the conveying direction D. The contact lengths ΔLca, ΔLcb of each conveyor belt 32a, 32b can be changed, while the total contact length L_tot of the conveyor system 30 remains unchanged. This is advantageous in applications where the first conveyor belt 32a and the second conveyor belt 32b are driven differently, for example at different speeds V1, V2.

[0030] A possible application of this configuration is a conveyor system 30 for a separator module 22, in which a batch of boxes 2 is separated and separated from the upstream shingle-like flow of boxes 2. This is preferably done by a separator head 94, which momentarily stops the upstream shingle-like flow of boxes 2 while accelerating the batch to be separated at a high speed in the conveying direction D.

[0031] 4 and 5, a conveyor system 30 according to the present invention comprises at least one conveyor belt 32, a support structure 38, and a displacement mechanism 40. The support structure 38 is configured to support the conveyor belt 32 over at least a portion of the contact length Lc from an entrance roller 34' to an exit roller 36'.

[0032] The trajectory of the return path Pr is supported by a number of guide rollers 42, a compensation roller 44, and a drive sprocket 46. The compensation roller 44 is configured to change the trajectory of the conveyor belt 32 in the return path. Thus, the compensation roller 44 accommodates the change in the contact length Lc by modifying the return length Lr of the conveyor belt 32 in the return path Pr.

[0033] 5 and 6, the compensation roller 44 can be coupled to a displacement mechanism 40 configured to change the position of the compensation roller 44 so that the return length Lr is changed. As the compensation roller 44 moves, the return length Lr of the conveyor belt 32 in the return path Pr is modified.

[0034] The drive sprocket 46 is coupled to a motor (not shown) and is configured to drive movement of the conveyor belt 32. The conveyor belt 32 may include engagement means, such as a recessed surface, for engaging the drive sprocket 46.

[0035] 6a, 6b and 7, the support structure 38 includes a plurality of support rollers 52 connected to roller frames 54 and a linkage 62 located between the roller frames 54. Each roller frame 54 preferably further includes a slider 57a connected to a guide rail 57b, which is connected to the longitudinal frame members 60.

[0036] Thus, the contact length Lc of the conveyor belt 32 is supported by the support rollers 52 arranged in a row and extending in the conveying direction D. Over the contact length Lc, a first distal roller 34' can be configured as an entrance roller 34' and a second distal roller 36' can be configured as an exit roller 36'. Each support roller 52 is rotatably mounted to a roller frame 54 by a pin 58. The support rollers 52 are preferably idle rollers.

[0037] The conveyor system 30 may have one of the entrance rollers 34' and exit rollers 36' fixedly disposed, while the other roller 34', 36' may be movable in the conveying direction D. The roller frames 54 of the fixedly disposed rollers 34', 36' may be fixedly connected to the longitudinal frame members 60 of the work module. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the distal central pivot 66 of the linkage 62 is fixed, while the exit roller 36' is displaceable in the conveying direction D.

[0038] The slider 57a of the roller frame 54 is slidably attached to a guide rail 57b. The guide rail 57b is fixedly attached to the longitudinal frame member 60. The guide rail 57b limits the movement of the roller frame 54 in the conveying direction D.

[0039] The roller frames 54 are connected to one another in a row by a connecting mechanism 62. The connecting mechanism 62 is extendable and retractable in the conveying direction D, and is capable of changing the distance d1 between the support rollers 52.

[0040] The coupling mechanism 62 includes a plurality of pivotable coupling links 64. The pivotable coupling links 64 are disposed between each of the roller frames 54. The coupling mechanism 62 is configured such that a change in contact length ΔLc of the conveyor belt 32 is distributed with an equal distance displacement across the plurality of pivotable coupling links 64. Thus, the pivotable coupling links 64 are configured to provide an equal distance displacement Δd between the roller frames 54. This means that when one of the roller frames 54 is displaced by a distance Δd, the remaining roller frames 54 are displaced by the same distance Δd.

[0041] Equidistant displacements are Δd=ΔLc / N It can be calculated as follows: Δd: Displacement distance between rollers ΔLc: Change in contact length of conveyor belt N: Number of pivotable connecting links It is.

[0042] To limit the displacement to be equidistant and maintain equal distance d1 between the rollers 56, a pivotable connecting link 64 includes a center pivot 66, an upper pivot 68, and a lower pivot 70 connected to each roller frame 54. The pivotable connecting link 64 may be provided by two straight elements 64a, 64b.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment, the pivotable connecting links 64 are symmetrical about a horizontal axis H that extends through the central pivot 66. The horizontal axis H is coincident with the longitudinal extension L of the support structure 38.

[0044] In this configuration, the pivotable connecting links 64 form a plurality of "X's" with a central pivot 66 connected to each roller frame 54. By connecting the roller frames 54 to the central pivot 66, the horizontal position of the central pivot 66 remains constant. However, the distance h1 between the central pivot 66 and the top pivot is variable. As best seen in Figures 6a and 6b, the top pivot 68 and the bottom pivot 70 move in a vertical direction V as the support structure 38 expands or contracts in the conveying direction D. The X's also ensure that the resulting force Fr from the actuator is linear at the connection to the roller frames 54.

[0045] The pivotable connecting link 64 can be provided by two straight elements 64a, 64b, each with a first convex shape 65a and a second convex shape 65b. The convex shapes allow the stress deformation to be better distributed in the connecting link 64. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 7, the pivotable connecting link 64 can be a straight element with a uniform width and thickness.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 7, the displacement mechanism 40 is coupled to a linkage mechanism 62. The displacement mechanism 40 may include a piston actuator 41, which may be directly coupled to the movable roller frame 54 of the movable roller 34' via an actuator rod 43. Alternatively, the piston actuator 41 may be coupled to the movable roller frame 54 via a central pivot 66. The movable roller 34' may move in the conveying direction D in response to a change in the stroke length of the actuator rod 43.

[0047] 5, the displacement mechanism 40 may include a drive mechanism 72 and a connecting frame 76. The connecting frame 76 is connected to the movable distal roller 36' via the roller frame 54. The drive mechanism 72 is configured to displace the connecting frame 76 in the conveying direction D. The drive mechanism 72 may include a displacement conveyor 78 attached to the connecting frame 76 and a motor configured to move the displacement conveyor 78. Alternatively, the drive mechanism 72 may include a piston.

[0048] The connecting frame 76 can also be connected to the compensation roller 44 and configured to provide equal displacement of the movable distal roller 36' and the compensation roller 44. In this way, the absolute amount of displacement of the contact length Lc and the return length Lr are equal. If the contact length Lc increases by a length ΔLc, the return length Lr decreases by a length ΔLc, and vice versa.

[0049] 3, the conveyor system 30 includes a first conveyor belt 32a and a second conveyor belt 32b arranged one after the other in a conveying direction D. In this embodiment, each conveyor belt 32a, 32b contacts a separate support structure 38.

[0050] As shown in Figures 8a, 8b, 10 and 11, the displacement mechanism 40 for the conveyor system 30 may comprise an elongated frame member 76 connected to the exit roller 36' of the first conveyor belt 32a and the adjacent entrance roller 34' of the second conveyor belt 32b. The elongated frame member 76 is movable in a reciprocating manner in a conveying direction D, which coincides with the longitudinal extension direction of the first conveyor belt 32a and the second conveyor belt 32b. Thus, the adjacent rollers 34', 36' are fixedly attached to the elongated frame member 76. This ensures that the distance Dp between the rollers 34', 36' at the transition point T between the rollers 34', 36' remains unchanged. Moreover, this also has the consequence that an increase in the contact length ΔLc of one conveyor belt 32a, 32b gives a similar reduction in the contact length ΔLc of the other conveyor belt 32a, 32b.

[0051] This is further illustrated in Figures 9a and 9b, where Figure 9a shows a configuration in which the contact length ΔLca of the first conveyor belt 32a is in its most extended position, and Figure 9b shows a configuration in which the contact length ΔLcb of the second conveyor belt 32b is in its most extended position.

[0052] Preferably, as best seen in Figure 10, the frame member 76 is also connected to the first and second compensating rollers 44a, 44b of the first and second conveyor belts 32a, 32b. In this manner, equal displacements of the moveable end rollers 34', 36' and the compensating rollers 44a, 44b are effected in response to displacement of the elongated frame member 76 in the conveying direction D.

[0053] 11, the conveyor system 30 can be mounted on a frame 31 of a working module. The working module can comprise a number of conveyor systems 30 mounted in parallel in the conveying direction D.

[0054] The conveyor system 30 shown in Figures 3, 8b, 8b, and 11 is suitable for the separator module 22. The separator module 22 is configured to separate the shingle-like stream of boxes 2 into separate batches and further transport the batches to the bundling module 29, which utilizes retaining bands to gather the boxes 2 into bundles.

[0055] 3, the separator module 22 includes an inlet section 91 and a separator apparatus 22'. The separator apparatus 22' includes a vertically movable separating head 94 and a lower conveyor system 30. The separator module 22 may also further include a counting device 92 configured to count the bins 2.

[0056] The separation head 94 is configured to move up and down in a vertical direction V between a counting position A and a separation position B. The batches are separated from the shingle stream of the upstream bin 2 as the separation head 94 moves down from the counting position A to the separation position B. The separation position B may also be referred to as a discharge position.

[0057] The separating head 94 comprises a thrust plate 96 and a discharge conveyor 98. The discharge conveyor 98 comprises at least one upper discharge conveyor belt 99. Preferably, the discharge conveyor 98 comprises two parallel upper discharge conveyor belts 99. This allows the discharge conveyor 98 to transport the boxes 2 while preventing the boxes 2 from rotating.

[0058] The thrust plate 96 is configured to abut the front edge 5a of the shingle flow of the upstream box 2 such that the box 2 is stopped momentarily. A longitudinal separation point Ps can be defined by the position of the thrust plate 96. During the stop of the upstream box 2, the discharge conveyor belt 99 moves with a speed V3. Preferably, the speed of the discharge belt 99 changes from zero to V3.

[0059] The counting device 92 is configured to count the number of bins 2 passing through the counting device 92. The counting device 92 may comprise a photocell that optically detects the front leading edge 5a of the bins 2. Alternatively, a mechanical counting device 92 may be used. For example, a counting wheel may contact the shingle-like stream of overlapping bins 2 and may be configured to count in response to a detected up and down movement of the counting wheel.

[0060] Once the desired number of boxes 2 have passed through the counting device 92, the separating head 94 is moved downwards to a separating position B to stop the shingle-like flow of the remaining boxes 2. The separated batch is then conveyed further towards the bundling module 29.

[0061] Advantageously, the conveying speed of the separated batch can be increased downstream of the separation point Ps in order to move the separated batch further away from the shingle-like flow of upstream boxes 2. To increase the conveying speed, the box batch is accelerated after the position of the thrust plate 96.

[0062] To provide the speed differential, the lower conveyor system 30 includes a first conveyor belt 32a and a second conveyor belt 32b as shown in Figures 3, 8a, 8b, 9a, and 9b and as described above. The first conveyor belt 32a may be referred to as the inlet conveyor belt 32a and the second conveyor belt 32b may be referred to as the lower discharge conveyor belt 32b.

[0063] The first conveyor belt 32a is driven at a speed V1. The second conveyor belt 32b is configured to accelerate between a second speed V2 and a third speed V3. The second speed V2 can be equal to the first speed V1 of the first conveyor belt 32a. The third speed V3 is higher than the first speed V1. Also, the third speed V3 is higher than the second speed V2.

[0064] The drop of the thrust plate 96 is preferably located above the second conveyor belt 32b. Alternatively, the thrust plate 96 can be located at the transition point T between the first conveyor belt 32a and the second conveyor belt 32b.

[0065] When the separator machine head 94 is in counting position A, the second conveyor belt 32b of the lower conveyor may be driven at the same speed V1 as the first conveyor belt 32a of the lower conveyor system 30.

[0066] The upper discharge belt 99 and the lower discharge belt 32b move at the same speed V3 when the separator head is at the separation position B. Both the upper discharge belt 99 and the lower discharge belt 32b are accelerated when the separator head 94 reaches the separation position B.

[0067] The conveyor system 30 may further be connected to a control system 100 comprising a control unit 102 and a memory 104. The control system 100 is configured to determine the longitudinal position (in the conveying direction D) of the separating head 94 in relation to the number of boxes 2 contained in each bundle and the type of boxes 2. The longer the boxes 2 in the conveying direction D and / or the more boxes 2 contained in each bundle, the longer the accumulation distance L_coll on the second conveyor belt 32b is required (see FIG. 3).

[0068] The control system 100 may be configured to determine a theoretical longitudinal separation point Ps of the separating head 94 based on the box dimensions inputted into the control system 100. However, there may be some variability in the transport of the boxes 2. Thus, the separating head 94 may be further configured to adapt its longitudinal position in response to information from the counting device 92.

[0069] The counting device 92 indicates the number of boxes 2 that have passed downstream of the separation point Ps. Upon passing of the last box 2 in a given number of batches, the counting device can also provide the separator head 94 with the time of passage of the front leading edge 5a of the last box 2 indicating the detection position. In this way, the separator head 94 can be accurately lowered to keep a constant and predetermined number of boxes 2 in each batch.

[0070] A transition point T between the first conveyor belt 32a and the second conveyor belt 32b can be determined from the position of the separator device head 94. For example, the transition point T can be located a predetermined distance ds from the separator head. The transition point T between the first conveyor belt 32a and the second conveyor belt 32b can dynamically track the longitudinal position of the separator device head 94 for each batch of boxes 2.

[0071] The first mechanism allowing such adjustment is the upper frame part 95 of the counter-separator module on which the separator device head 94 is movably mounted. The upper frame part 95 may comprise slide rails 93 on which the separator device head is slidably mounted (see FIG. 3). In this way, the separator device head 94 can be moved in the conveying direction D and positioned at a desired position.

[0072] The boxes 2 are clamped between the upper discharge conveyor belt 99 and the lower discharge conveyor 32b. This results in improved stability of the shingle-like flow of boxes 2, and smaller box formats can be handled with greater stability, as the boxes are supported on the top and bottom sides.

[0073] The conveyor system 30' can comprise a first lower conveyor system 30a and a second lower conveyor system 30b arranged parallel to each other. Both conveyor systems thus comprise a first conveyor belt 32a and a second conveyor belt 32b. In this embodiment, the upper discharge conveyor preferably also comprises a first discharge conveyor belt 99 and a second discharge conveyor belt 99. In this way, the boxes 2 are sandwiched and clamped between the four conveyor belts 99. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 2 Folding Box 22 Separator equipment 30 Lower Conveyor System 32a First conveyor belt 32b Second Conveyor Belt 94 Separate Head 99 Top discharge conveyor belt

Claims

1. A separator device (22') for a folding-gluing machine, configured to separate a stream of roof shingles of folding boxes (2) into separate batches, a vertically movable separating head (94) adapted to move up and down in a vertical direction (V) between a counting position (A) in which said separating head is not in contact with the box, and a separating position (B) in which said separating head is in contact with the box; at least one upper discharge conveyor belt in the form of an endless upper discharge conveyor belt (99) having a contact portion which contacts the upper surface of the folded box when the separating head is in the separating position, said upper discharge conveyor belt being configured to be driven at a discharge speed (V3) when it contacts the folded box; Equipped with The separator device further comprises a lower conveyor system (30) having a first conveyor belt (32a) and a second conveyor belt (32b) arranged one after the other in a conveying direction (D) of the boxes, when the separator apparatus is in a counting position (A), the first conveyor belt is configured to operate at a first speed (V1) and the second conveyor belt is configured to operate at a second speed (V2); when the separating head is in the separating position (B), the second conveyor belt (32b) is configured to be accelerated to a third speed (V3); The boxes are clamped between the upper discharge conveyor belt and the lower second conveyor belt (32b) and transported together by the upper discharge conveyor belt and the lower second conveyor belt (32b).

2. 2. The separator apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first velocity (V1) and the second velocity (V2) are equal.

3. 2. The separator apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second conveyor belts of the lower conveyor system (30) has a modifiable contact length (ΔLca, ΔLcb), and a transition point (T) between the first and second conveyor belts is displaceable in the conveying direction (D).

4. 4. The separator apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sum of the contact lengths (ΔLca, ΔLcb) of the first and second conveyor belts is constant.

5. 5. A separator apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the transition point (T) between the first and second lower conveyor belts is located upstream of the separating head in the conveying direction.

6. 6. The separator apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a control system (100) including a control unit (102) and a memory (104), the memory including a program enabling the control unit to calculate a theoretical longitudinal position of the separating head and a theoretical longitudinal position of the transition point (T) between the first and second lower conveyors (32a, 32b).

7. 7. The separator apparatus of claim 6, wherein the memory includes an indication of the number of boxes included in each batch, the separator apparatus further comprising a counting device (92) configured to detect the passing of a front leading edge of the box (2) and send information to the control system (100) to initiate descent of the separating head.

8. a respective contact length (ΔLca, ΔLcb) of each of said conveyor belts (32a, 32b) being supported by a support structure (38a, 38b) including a plurality of rollers mounted on roller frames, said roller frames being interconnected to each other by a linkage (62) to form a row; At least one distal roller frame is fixed and the remainder of the roller frames are movable in the conveying direction; 8. The separator apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a displacement mechanism is coupled to a movable distal roller frame of each of the support structures (38a, 38b) and configured to displace the movable roller frames by a displacement distance (Δd) in the conveying direction, whereby each of the support structures is extendable and retractable in the conveying direction (D).

9. 9. The conveyor system of claim 8, wherein the linkage is configured to provide an equal displacement distance (Δd) between each of the roller frames.

10. A conveyor as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein all rollers are in contact with the conveyor belt (32a, 32b).

11. A conveyor system as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a plurality of pivotable coupling links (64).

12. 12. The conveyor system of claim 11, wherein the pivotable connecting link comprises a first straight connecting element (64a) and a second straight connecting element (64b), the first and second connecting elements (64a, 64b) together forming a cross shape, the first and second straight connecting elements having their central pivot points (66) at a center of the cross shape, and the connections to each roller frame (66) are provided at the central pivot points.

13. 13. The conveyor system of claim 12, further comprising a linking frame (76) attached to the moveable roller frame of the first conveyor belt and the moveable roller frame of the second conveyor belt, the linking frame coupled to the displacement mechanism and configured for reciprocating movement in the conveying direction.

14. 14. The conveyor system of claim 13, further comprising a correction roller (44a) of the first conveyor belt and a correction roller (44b) of the second conveyor belt attached to the connecting frame, whereby a displacement of the connecting frame modifies both a contact length (Lc) and a return length (Lr) of the first and second conveyor belts.

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