Abstract:
Device for generating a composite movement comprising, in a first movement section, a linear movement running in a longitudinal direction and, in a subsequent second movement section, a predetermined transverse movement including a component perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the device comprising a linear member movably guided in the longitudinal direction and a transverse member movably guided on the linear member along a compensatory movement path, the compensatory movement path including directional components in the longitudinal direction and perpendicular thereto, and said transverse member being mechanically forcibly guided within the second movement section of the linear member in order to execute a relative displacement in the longitudinal direction between the transverse member and the linear member such that, as a consequence of a kinematic superposition of the linear movement and a forcibly guided movement along the compensatory movement path, the predetermined transverse movement of the transverse member results.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a national stage application of PCT/DE2004/002255 filed Oct. 12, 2004 claiming priority to DE 103 48 078.1 filed Oct. 13, 2003. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The invention relates to a device for generating a composite movement comprising, in a first movement section, a linear movement running in a longitudinal direction and, in a subsequent second movement section, a predetermined transverse movement including a component perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, as set forth in claim  1 .  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The problem of the invention consists in creating a device for generating a movement composed of a linear movement and a subsequent transverse movement of, for example, a gripper member, said device making it possible to generate rapid accelerations despite being simple in design, i.e. with which short cycle times are possible when performing working cycles with reciprocating movements.  
         [0004]     This problem is solved in accordance with the invention by a device for generating a composite movement comprising, in a first movement section, a linear movement running in a longitudinal direction and, in a subsequent second movement section, a predetermined transverse movement including a component perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the device comprising a linear member movably guided along the longitudinal direction and a transverse member movably guided on the linear member along a compensatory movement path, the compensatory movement path including directional components in the longitudinal direction and perpendicular thereto, and the transverse member being mechanically forcibly guided within the second movement section of the linear member in order to execute a relative displacement in the longitudinal direction between the transverse and linear members, such that, as a consequence of a kinematic superposition of the linear movement and a forcibly guided movement along the compensatory movement path, the predetermined transverse movement of the transverse member results.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The device of the invention can be used, for example, in the field of injection technology, where, within short cycle times, finished moulded articles have to be removed from moulds between opened mould halves, and/or where inserts, such as labels, have to be placed in a mould cavity.  
         [0006]     The invention preferably provides that the transverse movement is straight and runs at a predetermined angle to the longitudinal direction.  
         [0007]     It may be appropriate for the compensatory movement path to run in a straight line.  
         [0008]     One preferred embodiment provides that the transverse movement runs perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.  
         [0009]     It may be appropriate for the compensatory movement path to run in a straight line at 45° to the longitudinal direction. In this case, it may be advantageous for the transverse member to be forcibly guided in such a way that, within the second movement section of the linear member, it remains absolutely still in the longitudinal direction, so that, relative to the linear member, it is displaced in the longitudinal direction, corresponding to the linear movement thereof, but in the opposite direction.  
         [0010]     In one embodiment, it is provided that the transverse member is forcibly guided by means of a slide rod.  
         [0011]     The slide rod may, at a first end, be pivotably connected to the transverse member and, at a second end, be guided by means of a stationary guide path having one part running in the longitudinal direction, corresponding to the first movement section, and one part running perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, corresponding to the second movement section. A curved transition portion may be provided between the first and second parts.  
         [0012]     One advantageous embodiment is characterised by the fact that the second end of the slide rod is pivotably connected to a free end of a pivoting lever which is mounted on the linear member and is connected in a torsionally resistant manner to a control lever, the free end of which is guided in the guide path.  
         [0013]     It may be provided that a holding and/or gripping means is arranged on the transverse member for holding, picking up and/or putting down an article. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     The invention will now be described in more detail on the basis of a working embodiment with reference to a drawing, in which  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a linear member of a device according to the invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows a top plan view of a device according to the invention with a linear member in accordance with  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]     FIGS.  3  to  6  show top plan views of the device according to  FIG. 2  in an initial position ( FIG. 3 , corresponds to  FIG. 2 ), in an intermediate position ( FIG. 4 ), in a further position ( FIG. 5 ) and in an actuating position ( FIG. 6 ); and  
         [0018]     FIGS.  7  to  10  show major components of the device of the invention in the initial position ( FIG. 7 , corresponds to  FIG. 3 ), the intermediate position ( FIG. 8 , corresponds to  FIG. 4 ), the further position ( FIG. 9 , corresponds to  FIG. 5 ) and the actuating position ( FIG. 10 , corresponds to  FIG. 6 ). 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the general construction of a device according to the invention for generating a composite movement, which, in the embodiment shown, is implemented in the form of an insertion device  1  used for inserting labels into mould cavities of two-part injection moulds during the production of plastic containers in so-called “inmould-labelling processes”. The problem here consists in accurately inserting labels made of thin plastic material in the correct position in mould cavities of a two-part injection mould (not shown), and in doing so within the short period in which the mould is open and in which the plastic containers produced during the previous working cycle must also be removed at the same time. The sequence of movements to be performed by a holding device for the labels to be inserted consists of a straight movement starting from a position outside the injection mould to inside the injection mould at the level of the mould cavity, and then, starting from that position, into the mould cavity in a direction perpendicular to the previous movement. After putting down the label in the mould cavity, e.g. by means of electrostatic forces, the holding device performs the sequence of movements described above in the opposite direction, two finished parts being removed in the process.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a linear member  2 , which can be moved to and fro in a straight line in the longitudinal direction  4  on a linear guide, which is not shown in detail (slideway or linear guidance system with recirculating linear ball bearings), the drive being provided by a motor (not shown).  
         [0021]     The linear member  2  is tubular in overall structure and has a root portion  8  offset by 90° and a substantially cylindrical cantilever portion  10 . The root portion  8  serves to provide a mount and holds the drive, while the cantilever portion  10  serves to execute the holding and/or gripping functions of the insertion device.  
         [0022]     As  FIG. 2  shows, in which a top plan view of the insertion device  1  is illustrated, the linear member  2  bears, at its free end at the end of the cantilever portion  10 , a transverse member  6 . The transverse member  6 , which is held and guided on the linear member  2 , can be moved relative thereto along compensatory movement paths  12  and bears two conical holding means  36 , corresponding to the shape of the containers to be produced in the injection moulding machine to be operated, for inserting labels. In the embodiment illustrated, the compensatory movement paths  12  run straight (linear guides) and form an angle β of 45° to the longitudinal direction  4  (direction of movement) of the linear member  2 .  
         [0023]     In the region of the transition between the root portion  8  and the cantilever portion  10  of the linear member  2 , a lever arbor  14  is rotatably attached to the linear member  2 , at one end of which there is a pivoting lever  16 , the free end  16   a  of which is pivotably connected to a first end of a slide rod  18 , the other end of which is coupled to a drag bearing  20  with the transverse member  6 .  
         [0024]     On the lever arbor  14  there is also a control lever  22  in the same angular alignment as the pivoting lever  16 , so that in the top plan view (along the axial direction of the lever arbor  14 ) in FIGS.  2  to  8  only the control lever  22  is visible. On a free end of the control lever  22  there is a guide roller  24 , which is guided in a stationary guide path  26 , which is indicated in outline. As  FIG. 2  shows, the guide path  26  has a straight portion  28 , at the end of which is a 90° arcuate portion  30 , after which there is another straight portion  32 , which is aligned perpendicular to the straight portion  28 . The guide path  26  comprising the three portions described may be designed, for example, as a groove-like indentation in the underside of a stationary, horizontal guide plate  34  attached above the linear member  2 . When the linear member  2  moves, the guide roller  24  then moves in the longitudinal direction  4  or in a transverse direction  40  along the guide path  26 .  
         [0025]     FIGS.  3  to  6  illustrate the functioning of the insertion device  1  of the invention,  FIG. 3  being an illustration in accordance with  FIG. 2  on a reduced scale. Attention is also drawn to FIGS.  7  to  10 , which illustrate on an enlarged scale the regions of the insertion device  1  relevant to the sequences of movements essential to the invention, namely the lever arbor  14  with the pivoting lever  16  and the control lever  22 , and the transverse member  6  with the compensatory movement paths  12 .  
         [0026]     The first, straight movement section of the linear member  2  is designated L 1  and corresponds to that part of the straight portion  28  of the guide path  26  which is located between its one end in the position of the guide roller  24  according to  FIGS. 2, 3  and the beginning of the 90° portion  30 . When the linear member  2  moves within this first movement section L 1 , the control lever  22  maintains its position relative to the linear member  2  unchanged, so that the positions of the slide rod  18  and the transverse member  6  also remain unchanged relative to the linear member  2 .  
         [0027]     As soon as the linear member  2 , moving towards the right, proceeding from the initial position shown in  FIG. 3 , has reached a point at which the guide roller  24  enters the 90° portion  30  (intermediate position), the second movement section L 2  begins.  FIG. 4  shows the position of the linear member  2  in this position, i.e. at the end of the first movement section L 1  and at the beginning of the second movement section L 2 .  FIG. 5  shows a further position of the linear member  2 , in which the guide roller  24  has already partially passed through the 90° portion  30 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  shows the linear member  2  in its end position (actuating position), after it has passed completely through the second movement section L 2 . As can be seen in greater detail in FIGS.  8  to  10 , the entry of the guide roller  24  into the 90° portion  30  of the guide path  26  causes the control lever  22  and thus also the pivoting lever  16  to begin an increasingly rapid pivoting movement about the lever arbor  14 , running in an anti-clockwise direction in the top plan view, at the beginning of the second movement section L 2 , which leads to a relative movement between the guide roller  24  and the linear member  2  and thus also to a relative movement between the slide rod  18  and the linear member  2  in the longitudinal direction  4 . The relative movement perpendicular to the longitudinal direction  4  which occurs at the same time because of the pivoting movement of the guide roller  24  and the concomitant slight change in the alignment of the slide rod  18  is basically negligible in this connection. As soon as the guide roller  24  has reached the end of the 90° portion  30  and the transition portion to the straight portion  32  of the guide path  26 , the guide roller  24  comes to an absolute standstill when seen in the longitudinal direction  4  and is displaced relative to the linear member  2  to the same extent as the latter moves relative to the guide plate, i.e. corresponding to its longitudinal movement.  
         [0029]     The relative movement between the slide rod  18  and the linear member  2  within the second movement section L 2  of the linear member  2 , as just described, causes a relative movement of the transverse member  6 , running in the same direction when seen in the longitudinal direction  4 . This means that the transverse member  6  stands still in absolute terms as soon as the guide roller  24  is prevented from moving further in the longitudinal direction  4  because of the guide path  26  (portion  32 ).  
         [0030]     Owing to the kinematic forced coupling between the transverse member  6  and the linear member  2  by the compensatory movement path  12 , which is orientated at 45° to the longitudinal direction  4 , the relative movement described above leads to a forcibly guided movement of the transverse member  6  in the transverse direction  40 . This resulting transverse movement is exactly perpendicular to the longitudinal direction  4  while the guide roller is located within the portion  32 , disregarding the inaccuracies due to mechanical reasons because of the displacement of the guide roller  24  transversely to the longitudinal direction  4 .  
         [0031]     In this embodiment, the predetermined transverse movement of the transverse member  6  runs perpendicular to the longitudinal movement of the linear member  2 , and, in the process, a superposition of a movement along the longitudinal direction  4  and a movement along the compensatory movement path  12  leads to the desired transverse movement. Since the slide rod  18  causes the guide path  26  to produce a forced guidance of the transverse member  6  along the compensatory movement path  12 , the resulting transverse movement of the transverse member  6  is determined not only by the shape and direction of the compensatory movement path  12 , but also by the way in which the transverse member is guided along the compensatory movement path, i.e. the relative displacement of the transverse member  6  along the compensatory movement path as a function of the longitudinal movement of the linear member  2  in the longitudinal direction  4 . The straight portion  32  of the guide path  26  could, for example, run at an inclined angle other than 90° to the longitudinal direction  4 , which would then result in a transverse movement of the transverse member  6  which would likewise be orientated at an angle other than 90° to the longitudinal direction  4 . Conversely, arranging the straight compensatory movement path  12  at an angle other than 45° to the longitudinal direction  4  would likewise produce a corresponding displacement of the resulting direction of the transverse movement of the transverse member  6 .  
         [0032]     Transverse movements of the transverse member  6  which are not straight are also possible, provided that either the compensatory movement path  12  does not run straight or that the relative displacement of the transverse member  6  during the movement of the linear member  2  within the second movement section does not run in a linear manner. One example of this can already be seen in the 90° portion  30  of the guide path  26 , which results in a corresponding arcuate displacement of the transverse member  6 , which is desirable and necessary in practice, in order to avoid excessively great mass forces at the end of the linear movement L 1 , owing to acceleration.  
         [0033]     While the transverse member  6  is implemented as an insertion member for a label in the embodiment described, a very wide variety of other embodiments are also conceivable, such as in a pick-and-place application, where a gripping means is disposed on the transverse member and any article must be picked up in the appropriate orientation in the initial position and placed down in the actuating position or vice versa. It goes without saying that the transverse movement may occur in any appropriate orientation, i.e. vertically upwards or downwards, sideways or in an inclined direction.  
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS  
       [0000]    
       
           1  Insertion device  
           2  Linear member  
           4  Longitudinal direction  
           6  Transverse member  
           8  Root portion  
           10  Cantilever portion  
           12  Compensatory movement path  
           14  Lever arbor  
           16  Pivoting lever  
           16   a  Free end  
           18  Slide rod  
           20  Drag bearing  
           22  Control lever  
           24  Guide roller  
           26  Guide path  
           28  Straight portion  
           30  90° portion  
           32  Straight portion  
           34  Guide plate  
           40  Transverse direction  
          L 1  First movement section  
          L 2  Second movement section  
          β Angle between 12 and 4