: sheet handling machine

Abstract

Sheet handling machine 1, and related method, comprising: - storage bays 5 vertically stacked, each storage bay 5 being configured to removably accommodate a respective pallet 11 for sheets 12, - an elevator 6 vertically movable among the storage bays 5 and comprising onboard the elevator: - a loading bay 7 to support a load pallet 11, and - a movement system 8 to move the load pallet 11 between the loading bay 7 and each storage bay 5; and - a loading system 20 to pick up one sheet 12 to be processed at a time from the loading bay 7 onboard the elevator, and to transport it to, and release in, a release area 21 the sheet 12 to be processed.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Title: SHEET HANDLING MACHINE

[0003] Technical field of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is a sheet handling machine, for example for servicing (e.g. feeding of sheets to be processed and / or discharging of processed sheets) sheet processing machines, such as 2D laser cutting machines, and / or for servicing machines for the transport of sheets, for example machines with benches or trolleys or rollers or belts.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] Sheet handling machine are known, used for example for servicing a 2D laser cutting machine.

[0007] For example EP2239092A1 describes a sheet handling machine designed to store a plurality of stacks of sheets in a respective plurality of storage bays vertically stacked in a tower. In the lower part of the tower are found, vertically stacked with the storage bays, a loading bay of the sheets to be processed and a discharge bay of the processed sheets. Each of the aforesaid bays is structured to accommodate a pallet (or skid) to support a respective stack of sheets (to be processed or processed). The loading bay is provided, in its upper part with a stationary horizontally sheet peeling system and comprising a battery of suction cups vertically movable to allow the resting of the suction cups on the top sheet and the subsequent lifting of the sheet to separate the sheet from the stack.

[0008] The aforesaid machine comprises an elevator vertically movable along substantially an entire side of the tower. The elevator is provided with a movement system of a single pallet suitable to temporarily support the pallet and move the pallet, empty or loaded with a stack of sheets, selectively from any one of the storage, loading, and discharge bays to any one of the same bays. The elevator is furthermore provided with a handling system for sheets configured to pick up one sheet at a time from the loading bay in the tower, temporarily support the sheet, and transport the sheet to the interlocking area of the processing machine.

[0009] Abstract of the invention

[0010] By "sheet" it is meant a sheet, typically substantially rigid, of any material, e.g., metal (typically), or plastic, or glass, of any shape (typically rectangular) and dimensions in plan view, and of any thickness (typically within a few cm or mm). The Applicant has realized that known machines for sheet handling present some disadvantages or can be improved in some aspects.

[0011] The Applicant has faced the problem of realizing a sheet handling machine with limited space occupation, in particular in height, and / or with limited costs (of initial investment and / or operational) and / or with high performances, for example in terms of capacity of storage of sheets to be processed and / or in terms of speed of sheet handling.

[0012] According to the Applicant one or more of the aforesaid problems are solved by a machine in accordance with the appended claims and / or having one or more of the following features.

[0013] According to one aspect the invention relates to a machine for sheet handling comprising:

[0014] - one or more storage bays mutually vertically stacked, wherein each storage bay is configured to removably accommodate a respective pallet for sheets,

[0015] - an elevator vertically movable among said one or more storage bays and comprising onboard the elevator:

[0016] - a loading bay configured to support a load pallet, and - a movement system structured to move said load pallet between said loading bay and each of said one or more storage bays; and

[0017] - a loading system structured to pick up one sheet to be processed at a time from said loading bay onboard the elevator, and to transport to, and release in, a release area said sheet to be processed.

[0018] According to an aspect the invention relates to a sheet processing system, the system comprising the sheet handling machine according to the present invention, in one or more of the embodiments, and at least one sheet processing machine, preferably a cutting machine (e.g., 2D laser cutting) of sheets, having a sheet changing area coinciding with said release area.

[0019] According to an aspect the invention relates to a method of sheet handling performed by means of the sheet handling machine according to the present invention. Preferably, the method comprises:

[0020] - retrieving, by said loading system, a single sheet to be processed from a stack of sheets to be processed on said load pallet in said loading bay,

[0021] - by said loading system, transporting to, and releasing in, said release area said sheet to be processed.

[0022] The Applicant has realized that the loading system capable of retrieving one sheet to be processed at a time from the loading bay onboard the elevator (that is, from a stack of sheets arranged on the pallet in the loading bay), and to transport to and release in the release area the sheet, does not necessarily require the presence of a loading bay vertically stacked with the storage and discharge bays (e.g., inside the tower structure), as is the case in the known art. In fact, the elevator also integrates the function of the loading bay, and the loading system retrieves the sheet to be processed directly from the elevator. In this way, the sheet handling machine is vertically more compact with respect to the known art, given the same storage capacity (function of the number and / or height of the storage bays), and / or with greater storage capacity compared to the known art, given the same heigh. The Applicant has, for example, verified that for the same height with respect to known sheet handling machines, the present invention allows for the presence of two additional storage bays of conventional height.

[0023] The present invention also allows for the presence of an additional loading bay stacked with the storage bays: in such case, the presence of the loading bay onboard the elevator and the aforementioned characteristics of the loading system provide additional functionalities to the machine, as better explained below.

[0024] Furthermore, the present invention can reduce the time required to retrieve the sheet to be processed and / or for replacing the pallet with the stack of sheets to be processed (e.g., due to depletion of the stack or change of the type of sheets to be processed). For example, compared to the known art (e.g., EP2239092A1), the time needed to extract the pallet to be replaced from the loading bay in the tower and to insert the new pallet into the loading bay in the tower is eliminated. In fact, in the present invention, the pallet with the sheets to be processed remains on the elevator throughout the entire operation of loading the sheets to be processed.

[0025] The present invention may have one or more of the following preferred features.

[0026] Preferably said release area is a sheet changing area (that is, an area in which the processed sheet is replaced by the sheet to be processed). Alternatively said release area belongs to sheet transport machines (e.g., a conveyor belt or a sheet transport shuttle), without a sheet changing function. Preferably the machine comprises a discharge bay configured to removably accommodate a respective pallet for sheets.

[0027] In one embodiment said discharge bay and said release area are vertically stacked with each other and with said one or more storage bays.

[0028] Preferably the machine comprises a tower structure (e.g. comprising vertical uprights and transverse reinforcement crossbeams), wherein one or more of said one or more storage bays, said discharge bay and said release area are inside a volume of said tower structure. Preferably said elevator is movable along a first side of said tower structure.

[0029] Preferably said release area is arranged lower than, and vertically stacked with, said one or more storage bays, and more preferably said discharge bay, for example in a lower portion (e.g. at the base) of said tower structure. Preferably said discharge bay is arranged above said release area and / or below said one or more storage bays. Preferably said one or more storage bays are arranged in an upper portion (e.g. at the top) of said tower structure. In this way the machine, and the related sheet processing system are structurally rational and compact.

[0030] Preferably the machine comprises a plurality of storage bays, e.g. at least six storage bays. In this way the machine has a high storage capacity.

[0031] Preferably one or more of said one or more storage bays, said discharge bay, and said loading bay comprises a respective guide or roller system configured to support a respective pallet (and preferably one and only one at a time). In this way each bay is simply implemented, wherein the pallet is supported by the guide system (e.g., when the pallet is provided with wheels or sliding skids) or rollers (to facilitate the movement of the pallet even without wheels).

[0032] In one embodiment said movement system is structured to move a respective pallet also between said discharge bay and each of said one or more storage bays.

[0033] Preferably said movement system comprises a motorized belt or chain system, wherein more preferably said belt or chain is equipped with one or more pawls to engage one or more corresponding hooks on the pallet to be moved. In this way the pallet is moved effectively.

[0034] Preferably said elevator is vertically movable between said discharge bay and said release area.

[0035] Preferably said machine comprises a discharge system configured to retrieve a processed sheet from the sheet changing area and insert the processed sheet into said discharge bay.

[0036] In one embodiment said discharge system is onboard the elevator. Preferably said discharge system comprises a motorized comb to move alternately between a retracted position, in which it remains completely within a footprint (in plan view) of said elevator (e.g. not engaging said one or more storage bays, said discharge bay, and said release area as it is outside a footprint of said tower structure) and an advanced position in which it engages one of said one or more storage bays, said discharge bay, and said release area (e.g. within a footprint of the tower structure), more preferably along a direction of motion parallel to a respective development plane of each of said one or more storage bays, said discharge bay, and said release area (said direction of motion being preferably horizontal and more preferably orthogonal to said first side of the tower structure). In this way the comb can retrieve, in the advanced position where it engages the sheet changing area, a processed sheet from the sheet changing area, can transport it, in the retracted position, to the level of the discharge bay, and, engaging the discharge bay in the advanced position, can discharge the processed sheet into the discharge bay. Preferably said loading system, during said retrieval, is at least partly onboard said elevator and / or at least partly vertically stacked with said one or more storage bays.

[0037] Preferably said loading system comprises a support body and a battery of suction cups mounted on the support body (more preferably below the support body) and vertically movable with respect to the support body.

[0038] Preferably said loading system comprises a pneumatic system to create a vacuum at said suction cups. In this way it is possible to retrieve and / or release the sheet to be processed effectively.

[0039] Preferably said loading system is structured to translate said battery of suction cups (more preferably said support body) alternately between said loading bay (e.g. when the elevator is aligned with said loading system) and said release area, more preferably along a translation direction parallel to the direction of motion as defined above. In this way the sheet to be processed is moved effectively.

[0040] Preferably said loading system comprises a guide system for the sliding of said support body. Preferably said guide system comprises a first portion disposed below, and vertically stacked with, said one or more storage bays, more preferably mounted on said tower structure, and a second portion onboard of said elevator, more preferably distinct and separated from the first portion. Preferably, said second portion of the guide system is located above said loading bay.

[0041] In one embodiment said first portion of the guide system overlaps said release area (e.g. for the purpose of the compactness of the system).

[0042] Preferably each portion of the guide system comprises a respective pair of rails parallel to each other and parallel to the translation direction (e.g. horizontal). Preferably said loading system comprises a series of wheels (e.g., idle wheels), mounted on said support body, that slidably engage said guide system, e.g. the wheels slide above said rails. Preferably said loading system comprises a motorized gear wheel, mounted on said support body, and a rack engaged (e.g., below) by said gear wheel. Preferably said rack extends at least in correspondence with the first portion of the guide system (e.g., above said release area). In this way, the weight of the support body is supported by the tower structure.

[0043] In one embodiment said loading system comprises a telescopic system configured to telescopically translate said battery of suction cups (more preferably said support body) with respect to a fixed base, e.g. mounted onboard said elevator or, more preferably, integral with said one or more storage bays (e.g. mounted on said tower structure).

[0044] Preferably said sheet processing machine comprises a sheet changing system comprising two movable tables alternately between a processing space inside said sheet processing machine and said sheet changing area. In this way in the sheet changing area the processed sheet (e.g. cut) is deposited, that it is removed before releasing the sheet to be processed.

[0045] Preferably said handling machine comprises a service area located outside the footprint in plan view of said one or more storage bays (in other words the service area is at a distance from a plan view footprint of the storage bays and / or from said tower) and on the opposite side of said elevator with respect to said one or more storage bays. Preferably said loading system is structured to translate said battery of suction cups (more preferably said support body) to said service area, more preferably along said translation direction. Preferably said guide system comprises a third portion, more preferably continuous with said first portion of the guide system, extending away from said elevator to overhang said service area. Preferably said third portion comprises a respective pair of rails, more preferably straight, continuous, and aligned respectively with the rails of the second portion. Preferably said rack also extends in correspondence with the third portion of the guide system. In this way\ the handling machine acquires extended functionality, as described below.

[0046] In one embodiment said loading system is structured to retrieve a respective sheet to be processed at a time from said service area and to transport to, and release in, said release area said respective sheet to be processed. In this embodiment it is envisaged to translate said battery of suction cups to said service area, retrieve a respective sheet to be processed from said service area (e.g. from a shuttle or a table with a pallet loaded with sheets to be processed and positioned in the service area, for example belonging to an external warehouse to the handling machine), and transport to, and release in, said release area said respective sheet to be processed. In this way the loading system can retrieve the current sheet to be processed indifferently from the loading bay onboard the elevator or from the service area (which acts as an additional loading bay), thus enabling the feeding of sheets of two different types in quick time.

[0047] In one embodiment, said service area coincides with said release area, preferably with said sheet changing area of the sheet processing machine. In this way, the handling machine can serve one or more sheet processing machines at a distance from the tower, thereby also allowing the adaptation of existing systems.

[0048] In one embodiment, said sheet processing system comprises at least one further sheet processing machine, preferably a further cutting machine (e.g. 2D laser cutting) of the sheet metal, having a further sheet changing area positioned more distally from said sheet changing area with respect to said elevator, wherein said loading system is structured to transport said sheet to be processed to, and release in, said further sheet changing area. Preferably, said third portion of the guide system extends away from said elevator to also overhang said further sheet changing area. In this way, the machine of the present invention can serve more than one processing machine.

[0049] Preferably said sheet handling machine comprises a further loading bay, more preferably fixed (e.g. mounted on said tower structure), configured to support a respective load pallet and disposed below, and vertically stacked with, said one or more storage bays and more preferably disposed below, and vertically stacked with, said second portion of the guide system, for example in a lower portion (e.g. at the base) of said tower structure. Preferably the loading system is structured to retrieve one sheet to be processed at a time from said further loading bay, and to transport said sheet to be processed to, and release in, said sheet changing area and / or said further sheet changing area. Preferably said movement system is structured to move a respective pallet between said further loading bay and each of said one or more storage bays. In this way the loading system can retrieve the sheet to be processed indifferently from the loading bay onboard the elevator (when at the same level as the loading system) or from the further loading bay (fixed onboard the tower), thereby enabling the feeding of sheets of two different types to one or two processing machines in quick time.

[0050] In one embodiment said support body comprises said discharge bay. Preferably said discharge system, during said retrieving, is located above said sheet changing area and / or said further sheet changing area. Preferably, the discharge system comprises a pair of semi-combs that are vertically movable and can be moved toward and away from each other. In this way the semi-combs retrieve the processed sheet and release it onto the discharge bay onboard the support body.

[0051] Brief description of the figures

[0052] Figures 1-6 show schematically and in side view the machine of the present invention in a first embodiment, respectively in different operational stages;

[0053] Figures 7-9 show schematically and in side view the machine of the present invention in a second embodiment, respectively in different operational stages.

[0054] Detailed description of some embodiments of the invention

[0055] The features and advantages of the present invention will be further clarified by the following detailed description of some embodiments, presented by way of example and not limitation of the present invention, with reference to the attached figures.

[0056] In the figures number 10 indicates a sheet processing plant, comprising the sheet handling machine 1 according to the present invention, and at least one sheet processing machine, such as a 2D laser cutting machine, not shown in detail as it is, for example, of a known type.

[0057] In general, some construction details of the present invention will be omitted as they are, for example, of a known type (see for example the aforementioned EP2239092A1) and / or within the scope of a person skilled in the art.

[0058] Typically the sheet processing machine comprises a sheet changing system including two alternately movable tables 2 between a processing space inside the processing machine and a sheet changing area 3. Each table 2 presents a plurality of sawtooth strips to minimize the contact surface between the table 2 and the sheet being processed.

[0059] Preferably the machine 1 comprises a tower structure 4, e.g. with beams made through vertical uprights and transverse reinforcement crossbeams.

[0060] Preferably the sheet handling machine 1 comprises a plurality (e.g. nine in the illustrated examples) of storage bays 5, vertically stacked with each other and realized within the tower structure in an upper portion of the tower structure. The present invention also contemplates a single storage bay (5).

[0061] Preferably, the machine 1 comprises an elevator 6 vertically movable between the storage bays 5, for example sliding along a first vertical side (exemplarily on the right in the figures) of the tower structure 4. The movement of the elevator can be achieved by means of a motor, tie rods, guides and wheels for example as shown in EP2239092A1 .

[0062] The machine 1 comprises a loading bay 7 onboard the elevator.

[0063] Preferably the machine 1 comprises a discharge bay 9.

[0064] Each of said storage bays 5, loading bay 7 and discharge bay 9 is configured to removably accommodate one and only one respective pallet 11 for sheets 12. For example each bay comprises a plurality of fixed and idle rollers (exemplarily shown only in Figures 7-9 for the bays 5) that support the respective pallet and facilitate the insertion and extraction of the pallet 11.

[0065] The machine 1 comprises, onboard the elevator 6, a movement system 8 structured to move one pallet at a time between the loading bay 7 and each storage bay 5 (and, at least in the first embodiment, also the discharge bay 9). The movement system 8 is shown and described only schematically, as it may for example be as shown in the aforementioned EP2239092A1 (comprising a motorized double-belt or chain system, each provided with a pair of opposed pawls to engage a corresponding hook protruding from the pallet to be moved). The machine 1 comprises a loading system 20 structured to pick up one sheet 12 to be processed at a time from the loading bay 7 onboard the elevator 6 and to transport such sheet 12 to be processed to a release area 21 for therein releasing the sheet 12.

[0066] In the shown embodiments, the release area 21 coincides with the respective sheet changing area 3 of the processing machine, where a table 2 (empty or with the processed sheet) is located. In further non-shown embodiments the release area may be located on a conveyor belt or a sheet transport shuttle that moves the sheet without a sheet changing function.

[0067] In some embodiments, including the first embodiment, the release area 21 is arranged below, and vertically stacked with, the storage bays 5, in a lower portion of the tower structure and inside the footprint of the tower structure 4.

[0068] In the first embodiment, the discharge bay 9 is fixed and arranged above the release area 21 and below the storage bays 5, inside the tower structure 4.

[0069] Preferably the loading system 20 comprises a support body 22 and a battery of suction cups 23 mounted on the support body 22 below the support body and vertically movable (e.g. through a respective dedicated movement system mounted on the support body, for example of the known type with tie rods and not further described) with respect to the support body 22. Preferably, the loading system 20 comprises a pneumatic system, not shown (e.g. mounted on the support body and / or on the tower structure, for example of the known type), to removably create the vacuum at the suction cups 23.

[0070] Preferably the loading system 20 is structured to translate the support body 22 (and thus the battery of suction cups 23) alternately between the loading bay 7 and the release area 21 , along a horizontal translation direction.

[0071] Preferably, as in the illustrated embodiments, the loading system 20 comprising a guide system 24 for the sliding of the support body 22, and a series of idle wheels mounted on the support body (preferably at two opposite ends of the support body), which smoothly engage the guide system 24. In other words, the support body is a translating shuttle. Preferably the guide system 24 comprises a first portion 25 fixedly mounted on the tower structure 4 and disposed beneath, and vertically stacked with, the storage bays 5, and a second portion 26 mounted onboard the elevator 6, distinct and separated from the first portion 25, above the loading bay 7. By way of example, each portion 25, 26 of the guide system comprises a respective pair of rails parallel and horizontal to each other, with the wheels of the support body sliding over the rails.

[0072] In an embodiment not shown, the loading system may comprise fixed and idle wheels over which respective skids of the support body slide.

[0073] Preferably the loading system comprises a motorized toothed wheel 27 (shown only schematically in figures 1-6 of the first embodiment and omitted in the remaining figures), e.g. a pinion of a motor (also onboard the shuttle 22), mounted on the support body 22, and a rack engaged below by the toothed wheel and extending at least at the first portion 25 of the guide system (e.g. the rack is at least partially mounted on the tower structure).

[0074] In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the rack is entirely located onboard the elevator.

[0075] In a further alternative embodiment, not shown, the loading system comprises, instead of a pinion and rack system, a telescopic system configured to telescopically translate the support body (with the battery of suction cups) with respect to a fixed base, integrally mounted on the elevator or on the tower structure. In this case, the battery of suction cups (and / or the support body) can be kept always cantilevered with respect to the fixed base, or supporting guides may be provided (e.g., on the tower structure or respectively on the elevator) at the end stroke of the battery of suction cups.

[0076] In the first embodiment, characterized by a footprint in compact plan view, the first portion 25 of the guide system overshoots the release area 21 or the sheet changing area 3.

[0077] In the second embodiment, the sheet changing area 3 of the sheet processing machine is located beside, and at a distance from, the tower structure 4, that is outside the footprint in plan view of the storage bays.

[0078] In this case the guide system 24 comprises a third portion 28, continuous with the first portion 25, which extends away from the elevator 6 until it stands above the sheet changing area 3. Exemplarily, the third portion 28 comprises a respective pair of straight, continuous tracks and aligned respectively with the tracks of the second portion 25. Preferably, the rack also develops in correspondence with the third portion 28 of the guide system.

[0079] The sheet processing plant 10 may comprise one or more additional sheet processing machines (not shown), e.g. 2D laser cutting, having an additional sheet changing area located further distally from the sheet changing area 3 with respect to the elevator 6 (i.e. in figure 7-9 to the left of the sheet changing area 3), where the loading system is structured to transport the sheet to be processed to, and release it in, the additional sheet changing area. Preferably, the third portion 28 of the guide system extends away from the elevator until it also overshoots the additional sheet changing area.

[0080] In a further embodiment, not shown, the machine 1 is of the type shown in figures 1-6 (where the release area 21 coincides with the sheet changing area 3 at the base of the tower 4), and further comprises the third portion 28 of the guide system 24 of the type shown in figures 7-9, so as to be able to translate the support body with the battery of suction cups 23 to a service area placed where the release area 21 is exemplarily shown in figures 7-9. In such service area an additional shuttle, or similar, is placed, for example being part of an external sheet warehouse to the machine 1 , which supports a stack of respective sheets to be processed. In other words, the service area in such embodiment acts as an additional loading area (with respect to the one onboard the elevator), from which the loading system can retrieve one sheet to be processed at a time and release it in the release area.

[0081] Preferably the machine 1 of the second embodiment comprises an additional loading bay 40, also configured to support a respective pallet (e.g. via appropriate rollers), mounted in a fixed position on the tower structure 4, and positioned below, and vertically stacked with, the storage bays 5 and the second portion 25 of the guide system, in a lower portion of the tower structure (for example, in place of the release area of the first embodiment). Preferably the loading system 20 is structured to retrieve one sheet to be processed at a time from the additional loading bay 40, and to transport the sheet to be processed to, and release it in, the sheet changing area 3 and / or the additional sheet changing area. Preferably the movement system 8 of the elevator 6 is structured to move a respective pallet between the additional loading bay 40 and each of the storage bays.

[0082] Preferably the machine 1 comprises a discharge system 30 configured to retrieve a processed sheet 12 from the sheet changing area 3 and insert it into the discharge bay 9.

[0083] In the first embodiment the discharge system 30 is entirely mounted onboard the elevator 6. Preferably the discharge system 30 comprises a motorized comb 31 (e.g. as described in the aforementioned EP2239092A1) to move alternately between a retracted position, in which it remains completely within the footprint in plant view of the elevator (e.g. not engaging said one or more storage bays, said discharge bay and said release area since outside a footprint of said tower structure) and an advanced position in which it engages one of the storage bays 5, the discharge bay 9 or the release area 21 (e.g. inside a footprint of the tower structure), along a horizontal direction of motion and orthogonal to the first side of the tower structure 4. Preferably the discharge bay 9 is provided with a counter-comb (not shown, e.g. as described in the aforementioned EP2239092A1) movable between a disengaged position, where it does not interfere with the comb 31 , and an engaged position, where it intermeshes with the comb. In this way, the counter-comb facilitates the discharge of the processed sheet when the comb retracts from the discharge bay.

[0084] In the second embodiment the support body 22 superiorly comprises the discharge bay 9. Preferably the discharge system 30, at least during the retrieval of the processed sheet, is positioned above the sheet changing area 21 and / or the additional sheet changing area. Preferably the discharge system 30 comprising a pair of vertically movable semicombs 32 which are vertically movable and mutually approachable and removable, for example as known. In the case of two or more sheet processing machines, the semi-combs 32 can move alternately between the sheet changing area and the additional sheet changing area.

[0085] In the following it will be described a method for handling sheets performed by means of the sheet handling machine 1 according to the present invention, with reference to the figures.

[0086] With reference to the first embodiment, in the operational phase shown in figure 1 , all the storage bays 5 are occupied by a respective pallet 11 that supports a respective stack of sheets (which may be either to be processed or already processed). Typically the sheets are homogeneous within each stack and may vary from stack to stack in material, thickness, dimensions in plan, and / or shape. The elevator 6 is positioned at the level of a storage bay 5 with the comb 31 retracted. The loading bay 7 onboard the elevator supports a load pallet 11 on which a stack of sheets 12 to be processed is placed. The table 2 supports a processed sheet 19 in the sheet changing area 3.

[0087] As shown in figure 2, the elevator 6 is lowered to a position where the rails of the second portion 26 of the guide system 24 are aligned with those of the first fixed portion 25. In such position, the support body 22 can translate until it is positioned above the loading bay 7 onboard the elevator 6. It is noted that the motorized toothed wheel 27 remains engaged with the rack mounted onboard the tower structure 4. At this point the suction cups 23 are lowered vertically until contacting the top sheet 12 of the stack of sheets to be processed in the loading bay 7 (in the case of a telescopic system fully cantilevered with respect to the tower, it is possible, instead of the shuttle, to alternatively raise the elevator 6 to achieve such contact, even while holding the suction cups still). After creating the vacuum in the suction cups, the latter are vertically lifted to pick up only the top sheet 12 from the stack of sheets to be processed in the loading bay 7. Alternatively, in the case of the aforementioned cantilevered telescopic system, it is possible to lower the elevator 6 to lift the top sheet.

[0088] At this point, the shuttle 22 returns above the sheet changing area 3 to transport the sheet 12 to be processed to the sheet changing area 3 (fig. 3).

[0089] Before releasing the sheet to be processed, the processed sheet 19 is retrieved. For this purpose the elevator 6 is raised (figure 4) to an appropriate height to allow the comb 31 to move forward to the advanced position, where it engages the sheet changing area 3, where the teeth of the comb interlock with the serrated slats of the table 2. Through a slight lifting of the elevator 6, the comb retrieves the processed sheet 19 from the sheet changing area 3 and returns to the retracted position to allow the elevator to lift to the level of the discharge bay (fig 5). Here the comb is advanced to the advanced position to engage the discharge bay 9 (fig 6). From there, the comb, returning to the retracted position (fig 1), discharges the processed sheet 19 into the discharge bay 9, possibly with the help of the counter-comb.

[0090] It is noted that in all stages the load pallet 11 with the sheets to be processed remains in the loading bay 7 onboard the elevator 6.

[0091] Once the sheet exchange area 3 is cleared of the processed sheet 19, the loading system 20 can release, by lowering the suction cups, the sheet 12 to be processed in the sheet exchange area 3 (fig. 5). It is noted that the operations of retrieval of the processed sheet 19 (fig. 4) can also be performed before the peeling of the sheet 12 to be processed from the loading bay 7 (fig. 2-3).

[0092] With reference to the second embodiment, as shown in operational stages in figure 7 and 8, the elevator 6 is positioned at a height to allows the retrieval (e.g, as described above) of the sheet 12 to be processed from the loading bay 7 onboard the elevator (fig. 7), as well as, optionally, from the additional fixed loading bay 40 in the tower structure 4 (fig. 8).

[0093] The figure 9 shows the support body 22 translated to the sheet changing area 3, where it releases the sheet to be processed (not shown), and where it optionally receives into the discharge bay 9 the processed sheet by the discharge system 30 with the two semi-combs 32.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Sheet handling machine (1) comprising:- one or more storage bays (5) mutually vertically stacked, wherein each storage bay (5) is configured to removably accommodate a respective pallet (11) for sheets (12),- an elevator (6) vertically movable among said one or more storage bays (5) and comprising, onboard the elevator:- a loading bay (7) configured to support a load pallet (11), and- a movement system (8) structured to move said load pallet (11) between said loading bay (7) and each of said one or more storage bays (5); and- a loading system (20) structured to pick up one sheet (12) to be processed at a time from said loading bay (7) onboard the elevator, and to transport to, and release in, a release area (21) said sheet (12) to be processed.

2. The machine (1) according to claim 1 , wherein said loading system (20) includes a support body (22) and a battery of suction cups (23) mounted on the support body (22) below the support body (22) and movable vertically relative to the support body (22), wherein said loading system (20) is structured to translate said battery of suction cups (23) alternately between said loading bay (7) and said release area (21),- wherein said loading system (20) comprises a guide system (24) for the sliding of said support body (22), wherein said guide system (24) includes a first portion (25) disposed below, and vertically stacked with, said one or more storage bays and a second portion (26) onboard said elevator, distinct and separated from the first portion (25), and wherein said second portion (26) of the guide system is located above said loading bay (7), or- wherein said loading system (20) comprises a telescopic system configured to telescopically translate said battery of suction cups (23) with respect to a fixed base, mounted onboard said elevator (6) or integral with said one or more storage bays (5).

3. The machine (1) according to claim 2, wherein each portion (25, 26) of the guide system (24) comprises a respective pair of rails parallel to each other and parallel to a translation direction of the support body (22), wherein said loading system (20) includes a series of wheels mounted on said support body (22) that slidingly engage said rails, and wherein said loading system (20) includes a motorized gearwheel (22), mounted on said support body (22), and a rack engaged by said gear wheel, wherein said rack extends at least in correspondence with the first portion (25) of the guide system (24).

4. The machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a discharge bay (9) configured to removably accommodate a respective pallet (11) for sheets (12), wherein said movement system (8) is structured to move a respective pallet (11) also between said discharge bay (9) and each of said one or more storage bays (5), wherein said release area (21) is a sheet changing area (3) and wherein the machine (1) includes a discharge system (30) configured to pick up a processed sheet (19) from the sheet changing area (3) and to insert it in said discharge bay (9).

5. The machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a tower structure (4), wherein said one or more storage bays (5), said discharge bay (9), and said release area (21) are within a footprint of said tower structure (4), wherein said discharge bay (9) and said release area (21) are vertically stacked with each other and with said one or more storage bays (5), wherein said release area (21) is disposed below, and vertically stacked with, said one ormore storage bays (5) and said discharge bay (9), wherein said discharge system (30) is onboard the elevator (6) and includes a motorized comb (31) to move alternately between a retracted position, in which it remains completely within a footprint of said elevator (6) and an advanced position in which it engages one among said one or more storage bays (5), said discharge bay (9), and said release area (21).

6. The machine (1) according to claim 2 and any of the claims from 3 to 5, wherein said loading system (20) is structured to translate said battery of suction cups (23) up to a service area located outside of a footprint of said one or more storage bays (5) and on the opposite side to said elevator (6) with respect to said one or more storage bays (5), wherein said guide system (24) includes a third portion (28), continuous with said first portion (25) of the guide system (24), extending away from said elevator (6) to overhang said service area, wherein said third portion (28) includes a respective pair of continuous rails aligned respectively with the rails of the second portion (26), wherein said rack also extends in correspondence with the third portion (28) of the guide system.

7. The machine (1) according to claim 6, comprising an additional loading bay (40) fixed and configured to support a respective load pallet (11) and disposed below, and vertically stacked with, said one or more storage bays (5), wherein the loading system (20) is structured to pick up one sheet (12) to be processed at a time from said additional loading bay (40), and to transport said sheet to be processed to, and release in, said sheet changing area (3), and wherein said support body (22) comprises said discharge bay (9) upwardly.

8. A sheet processing plant (10), comprising the sheet handling machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims and at least one sheet processing machine having a sheet changing area (3) coinciding with said release area (21).

9. The plant (10) according to claim 8, comprising at least one additional sheet processing machine having a further sheet changing area positioned more distally from said sheet changing area (3) relative to said elevator, wherein said loading system (20) is structured to transport said sheet (12) to be processed to, and release in, said further sheet changing area.

10. A method for handling sheets performed by means of the sheet handling machine (1) according to any of the claims from 1 to 8, the method comprising:- picking up, by said loading system (20), a single sheet (12) to be processed from a stack of sheets to be processed on said load pallet (11) in said loading bay (7),- transporting, by said loading system (20), to, and releasing in, said release area (21) said sheet (12) to be processed.

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