Device for rotating panels

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for conveying panels (2, 3) placed on a conveyor belt (1) and rotating the panel (2) by means of a rotating device (4), the rotating device (4) having a rotating arm (5) that performs both rotational and lateral movements to rotate the panel (2).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] Device for rotating panels

[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for conveying panels placed on a conveyor belt and for rotating the panels by means of a rotating device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] DE 1 958 785 U has already disclosed such an apparatus, which is there referred to as a plate rotating mechanism, in which the plates are fed via a cylinder or roller conveyor.

[0004] The plate rotation mechanism has rotating arms arranged in a star shape to lift the plates off the roller conveyor.

[0005] Clamping devices for clamping and holding the panels on the rotating arms are also provided between the rotating arms. The plate rotation mechanism then rotates until the previously bottom side of each clamped plate is now on top. With the plate in this position, the clamping device is released. The slab is lifted and passed by another roller conveyor now located below it, so that the next slab can be placed on the surface freed by the previous slab.

[0006] The known star-shaped rotating devices have the disadvantage that the longitudinal movement of the panels rotating on the roller conveyor suddenly decelerates and the panels undergo a rotational acceleration from the decelerated horizontal movement from which, after the rotation process is completed during a rotation of about 180°, they again decelerate to zero rotational speed and again accelerate in the horizontal direction, i.e. in the direction of the roller conveyor.

[0007] In the case of known rotating devices, the speed of the turning process is therefore limited, since otherwise the edges of the panels can be particularly damaged by accelerations and speed changes. The surfaces on the roller conveyor and the rotating arms of the rotating device on which the panels rest can also be damaged. The object of the present invention is to create a turning device which performs the transition from the conveyor belt to the turning device and from the turning device to the conveyor belt without strong decelerations and accelerations.

[0008] The object is solved as defined in claim 1.

[0009] The rotating device according to the invention has a rotating arm that performs both rotational and lateral movements to rotate the panel, the panel moved laterally by the conveyor belt is lifted by the pushing movement of the rotating arm, undergoes a stepwise deceleration from the lateral movement, and then undergoes a small rotational acceleration due to the stepwise pivoting movement, which ensures a smooth rotation process without the risk of damaging the plate.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings, in particular in conjunction with the associated description.

[0011] Specific advantages include the use of a control device to coordinate the rotation and lateral movement of the rotating arms. The rotating device lifts plates from the conveyor belt, while the movement of the panels lifted by the rotating device relative to the conveyor belt is coordinated by the control device. This allows the rotating mechanism to lift plates moving at the speed of the conveyor so that they decelerate and then accelerate in stages to a rotational acceleration that rotates the plates lifted by the rotating mechanism and then places them back on the conveyor without damaging the plates.

[0012] The invention allows for accurate placement of panels, in particular panels placed on the conveyor belt that have not previously been fed to the rotating device, i.e. panels that have remained on the conveyor belt without being rotated, at designated positions on the conveyor belt. Thus, a pair of stacked boards is formed from a series of boards placed on the conveyor belt, each having an A-side and a B-side, the A-sides of which face each other in the stacked state.

[0013] Therefore, the rotating device according to the present invention is suitable for all types of panels with different A and B sides, such as building panels, gypsum boards, vinyl panels and glass panels.

[0014] The control device advantageously has mechanical and / or electronic means. Since the lateral and rotational movements overlap without interfering with each other when the plate is rotating, it is possible to use both types of movement by separate drive means, for example an H.To control engine, especially in connection with the transmission. The lateral movement can also be resolved into a movement component parallel to the movement of the conveyor belt and a movement component perpendicular to the movement of the conveyor belt. The vertical component of movement is required to lift the panels to be rotated so that they can be placed on the non-rotating panels. The invention allows for example a precise setting of the placement position of the rotating panels, which may also slip off the rotating device.

[0015] With electronic control, the height of the rotating device can also be easily adjusted, thus making it possible to accommodate panels of different thicknesses.

[0016] Similarly, the speed of the rolling process must be adjusted depending on the speed at which the panels are transported, their relative distance on the conveyor belt, and the length of the panels.

[0017] For example, a particularly simple and flexible solution for the rotation process can be implemented if a single motor is used for each movement component (two lateral movements and one rotational movement) and that motor is controlled independently of the other motors. If mechanical components are used instead of a purely electronic control with three motors, or if mechanical control is only performed partially or during certain periods in the movement cycle to perform the rotation process, the control device preferably comprises a push rod acting on an eccentric via a first rotary joint, which in turn articulates with a second swivel joint, and a rotating arm rotates via the second swivel joint.

[0018] Advantageously, it is further provided that the rotating arms are driven via a chain or belt drive to generate the lateral movement.

[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment it is provided that the rotating arm for generating the lateral movement can be guided on a straight or curved contour, along a cam disc or through a cam mechanism.

[0020] The electronic controller preferably has at least a first motor for generating lateral movement of the rotating arm in at least one spatial direction, and a second motor for generating rotational movement of the rotating arm.

[0021] It proves to be particularly advantageous if the movement of the panel rotated by the rotating device can be synchronized with the movement of the conveyor belt.

[0022] The plate is preferably divided into a first and a second plate which are placed in turn on the conveyor belt, so that the first plate is gripped by the rotating arm and turned over on the conveyor belt or placed on or between the second plate, which requires that the rotating process be synchronized with the transport speed of the conveyor belt.

[0023] According to the invention, a simple design of the rotating device is provided, which comprises a rotating arm having a first and a second leg, which are connected to each other at their ends, between which one of the plates is received by being pushed onto the first leg.

[0024] Preferably, according to the invention it is provided that the first plate is held between the legs by lateral and rotational movements of the rotating arms so as to perform a rotational movement relative to the conveyor belt.

[0025] In this case, the first panel is advantageously rotated so that it is placed on the second panel after the completion of the rotation process. This means that the first plate only performs a rotational movement relative to the conveyor belt and no lateral movements. Compared to the second plate, this, by its height, is only shifted upwards.

[0026] In another alternative embodiment, it is also possible to use the gravity of the plates when performing the rotation process, so that the first plate can pivot between the two legs during the rotational movement of the rotating arm, thereby being positioned from the first leg onto the second leg, and finally positioned onto the second plate or onto the conveyor belt itself after the rotation and lateral movement of the rotating arm is completed by sliding from the second leg of the rotating arm.

[0027] A further advantage of the present invention is that the rotating arm is rotatably mounted on the first swivel joint at the outer end of the second leg, and the rotating arm is swivellable via the swivel joint while simultaneously performing lateral movement.

[0028] Preferably, the rotation of the panels corresponds at the same time to a lateral movement of the panels towards the conveyor belt by the length of the panels in the conveying direction, so that the lateral and rotational movement of the rotating arms is synchronized with the lateral movement of the conveyor belt. In one embodiment of the present invention, the panels rotated by the rotating device rotate so that they rest on a plate resting on the conveyor belt without rotating. During this rotation process, the rotating panels essentially only perform a rotational movement about their rear end resting on the conveyor belt, and are slightly lifted by the rotating device in order to be placed thereon, depending on the height of the panels still resting on the conveyor belt.

[0029] In accordance with the present invention, the use of a rotating device in conjunction with a connecting rod allows for lateral displacement of the rotating panel relative to the position of the conveyor belt.

[0030] The rotating arm of the present invention is configured to accommodate multiple plate formats, i.e. multiple panel width formats.

[0031] The panels rotate above these large surfaces, with widths of, for example, 600 mm to 1400 mm. This type of plate can be rotated by the same rotating device with the same rotating arms, and there is no need to rebuild the rotating device or accept downtime, as is the case with conventional rotating arms.

[0032] This advantage of the rotating arm results from the fact that the first leg, from which the plate is pushed out, is at least half as long as the second leg. It is particularly advantageous if the first leg has a length up to three-quarters of the length of the second leg. So that the rotating panel can slide easily onto the first leg, it preferably comprises rollers as support for the panel. Furthermore, the first plate may have a sliding strip made of a rubber material. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0033] The invention will now be explained in more detail in exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view of a rotating device disposed above a conveyor belt for rotating panels placed on the conveyor belt. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of a rotating device disposed above a conveyor belt for rotating panels placed on the conveyor belt. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of a rotating device disposed above a conveyor belt for rotating panels placed on the conveyor belt. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view of a rotating device disposed above a conveyor belt for rotating panels placed on the conveyor belt. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a side view of a rotating device disposed above a conveyor belt for rotating panels placed on the conveyor belt. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a side view of a rotating device disposed above a conveyor belt for rotating panels placed on the conveyor belt.

[0034] [Figure 7] FIG.

[0035] [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows a rotating arm according to FIG. 7 in an isometric view.

[0036] [Figure 9] 1 shows an isometric view of a rotating device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] The panels 2, 3 are transported in the direction of arrow A on a driven conveyor belt 1 (figures 1 to 6) which comprises several partial belts arranged next to each other in the conveying direction. For manufacturing reasons, the panels 2, 3 are arranged in pairs on the conveyor belt 1, one behind the other.

[0038] The conveyor belt 1 consists of a plurality of spaced apart, parallel individual belts. The partial turners of the turner 4 are in each case arranged in the free space between the bands. At least two partial turners are available for taking up the panels 2. Depending on the panel width of the panels 2, the partial turners can be arranged at different positions between the individual bands of the conveyor belt 1. Preferably, the distance between the partial turners can also be varied. In particular, the partial turners can be mounted between different belts of the conveyor belt 1.

[0039] It is provided that only panels 2 are rotated by a rotating device 4 while panels 3 remain in their position on the conveyor belt 1 .

[0040] The rotating device 4 comprises a rotating arm 5 which in turn comprises two legs 6, 7 (figures 7, 8).

[0041] The leg 6, which is placed downwards in the receiving position (Figure 1), is moved slightly upwards by the rotational movement of the rotating device 4 about the rotary joint 8 so that its front end is placed in a variable position, whereby the panel 2 is pushed by the conveyor belt 1 onto the leg 6 and can slide with its front end onto the leg 6. The leg 6 is provided with a coating on its surface, which allows the panel 2 to be sufficiently slowed down and not affect the area 9 where the two legs 6, 7 are connected to one another.

[0042] The panel 2 is then lifted from its front end by further rotation of the rotating device 4 in the direction of rotation arrow B about pivot 8 (Figure 2), whereby it preferably slides upwards between the two legs 6, 7 whilst the rear end of panel 2 rests against the front end of panel 3.

[0043] The rotational movement of the rotating device 4 is brought about by a drive 10 which drives a connecting rod 11, which, via an eccentric 12, rotates the rotary joint 8 to reach position 8' (Fig. 2). At the same time, the rotating device 4 performs a lateral movement, which is now limited by a frame 13, which is adapted to the dimensions of the panel 2 and, furthermore, a chain drive or another drive is preferably present to implement the lateral part of the rotating device 4. The movement of the rotating device is preferably limited by a contour, for example a curved contour, attached to the frame 13 or by a cam disc.

[0044] The panel 2 is pushed up by the rotational movement of the pivot 8 and moves towards the area 9 (FIGS. 3 and 4) whilst remaining resting on the conveyor belt 1 at its rear end.

[0045] The backward movement of the connecting rod 11 shifts the pivot point of the rotating device 4 to position 8'''''''' whilst the panel 2 is set up between the legs 6, 7 (Figure 4).

[0046] By further rotating the rotating device 4, panel 2 is placed onto panel 3 (Figs. 5, 6). The movement of the connecting rod 11 then completes the reverse movement of the rotating device 4, which returns it to its original position, ready to receive another panel 2.

[0047] The rotating arms 5 have at least one continuous bore 14 (figures 7, 8) or an additional secondary bore 15, whereby all rotating arms 5 of the rotating device 4 are connected to one another by a connecting rod 15 (figure 9). The rotating arms 5 are mounted on a frame 20 and, if necessary, are arranged at different distances from one another on the frame 20, e.g. shifted with respect to one another. Since the distance between the rotating arms 5 is variable, the rotating device 4 can be easily installed in different conveyor devices and can be adapted to different distances between the belts 17 of the conveyor belt 1.

[0048] The panel 2 is transported via a conveyor belt 1 to the rotating arm 5 of the rotating device 4 so that it can be lifted between the legs 6 and 7 of the rotating arm 5 as soon as the latter is brought into the pick-up position by the drive 10 via a connecting rod 11. In this way, the panels 2, 3 arranged one after the other in the direction of the arrow A are superimposed by the preceding panel 2 which is placed on the succeeding panel 3 by means of a rotational movement by the rotating device 4.

[0049] Sliding the panel 2 onto the legs 6 is preferably facilitated by the fact that the legs carry rollers 18, 19 on their upper surface. Alternatively, runners are provided on the legs 6, for example made of a material with low sliding friction.

[0050] The invention thus forms a machine for continuously rotating panels of building material.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for rotating a plurality of plates by a rotating device, the apparatus comprising: a conveyor belt for conveying a plurality of plates placed on the conveyor belt, the apparatus comprising: the rotating device having a rotating arm that is used to rotate the plurality of plates with both rotational and lateral motion; The rotation axis of the rotational motion is perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt and parallel to the surface of the conveyor belt; the lateral motion is resolved into a motion component parallel to the motion of the conveyor belt and a motion component perpendicular to the motion of the conveyor belt; The apparatus, wherein the rotating arm has a first leg and a second leg connected to each other at an end, and is capable of accommodating one of the plurality of plates between them by sliding the one of the plurality of plates onto the first leg.

2. 10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a controller for coordinating the rotational and lateral movement of the rotating arm.

3. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the control device comprises mechanical and / or electronic means.

4. 4. The apparatus of claim 2 or 3, wherein the control device comprises a push rod or crank rod acting through a first swivel joint on an eccentric which in turn articulates to a second swivel joint about which the rotating arm can rotate.

5. An apparatus as described in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the rotating arm for generating the lateral movement is drivable via a chain or belt drive.

6. An apparatus as described in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the rotating arm for generating the lateral movement can be driven along a cam disc with a straight or curved contour or guided by a cam mechanism.

7. 7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control device comprises at least a first motor for generating the lateral movement of the rotating arm in at least one spatial direction and a second motor for generating the rotational movement of the rotating arm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the movement of the plurality of plates rotated by the rotating device is synchronizable with the movement of the conveyor belt.

9. the first leg is at least half as long as the second leg; or 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first leg has a length up to three-quarters of the length of the second leg.

10. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first leg has rollers as support for the plurality of plates.

11. A method for conveying a plurality of plates placed on a conveyor belt and rotating the plurality of plates by a rotating device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising: the plurality of plates are divided into a first plate and a second plate, each plate being placed one behind the other on the conveyor belt; The first plate is gripped by the rotating arm and rotated; The first plate is positioned and rotated on the conveyor belt or on the second plate; method.

12. The method described in claim 11, wherein the first plate is held between the first leg and the second leg by the lateral and rotational movements of the rotating arm so as to perform a rotational movement relative to the conveyor belt.

13. The first plate is held by gravity between the first leg and the second leg of the rotating arm; the first plate is disposed from the first leg onto the second leg of the rotating arm during the rotational movement of the rotating arm; 13. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein after the rotational and lateral movements of the rotating arms are completed, the first plate is placed onto the second plate by sliding the first plate from the second leg of the rotating arm.

14. The rotating arm is rotatably mounted on a swivel joint at an outer end of the second leg, 14. The method of any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the rotating arm is pivotable via the swivel joint while simultaneously performing the lateral movement.

15. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the lateral and rotational movement of the rotating arm is synchronized with the lateral movement of the conveyor belt.

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