Patent ID: 6202912
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: B21C

Abstract:
A band product accumulation unit comprising;a mechanism for controlling the running of a band along a longitudinal direction;a fixed frame;a wrap-around carriage which is moveable on a track between a return position of minimum accumulation length and an out position of maximum accumulation length, wherein movement towards the out position increases a length while movement towards the return position decreases the length;the band being adapted to pass over at least one return member mounted on the wrap-around carriage so as to form at least an out portion and at least a return portion and defined by at least two spaced levels;a plurality of intermediate supporting members arranged along the track, each comprising at least one separating arm extending horizontally on at least one intermediate level disposed between two running levels of the band, each separating arm being fixed to a shaft which is pivotal about a vertical axis with respect to the fixed frame;a mechanism for controlling the pivoting of each separating arm between an open position which allows the wrap-around carriage to move to the return position and a closed position wherein each separating arm extends transverse to and between the two running levels of the band;a control mechanism for controlling the pivoting of each separating arm between the closed position and the open position, the control mechanism comprising;a first lever arm coupled to the shaft and adapted to cause the shaft to rotate, the first lever arm having an end,at least one follower device,at least one active surface disposed on a cam-operated device, the cam-operated device being mounted on the wrap-around carriage,the follower device having a configuration which is offset, with respect to the pivoting axis of the at least one separating arm so as to be ahead thereof, by an offset distance corresponding to an anticipation period,a deformably articulated mechanism for controlling a closing and an opening of each separating arm, the articulated mechanism connecting the at least one follower device to the end of the first lever arm, wherein the articulated mechanism comprises two stable extreme positions, a first stable position corresponding to the open position of each separating arm and a second stable position corresponding to the closed position of each separating arm, anda removable retaining device for locking the articulated mechanism in at least the second stable position,the removable retaining device being actuated solely by the follower device which cooperates with the cam-operated device when the wrap-around carriage moves away from the out position such that the articulated mechanism is blocked towards the return position such that the articulated mechanism is released,wherein the articulated mechanism provides for a self-locking configuration in which any undesirable action is prevented such that the separating arm in the closed position until the cam-operated device activates the follower device.