Gripping header for handling piles of loose signatures, sheets, advertising brochures and other similar products

Abstract: It is a gripping header, adapted to handle piles of loose signatures, sheets, advertising brochures and other similar products, which is applied to the arm (2) of a robot which, through anthropomorphous motions, allows the above header to first grip the pile (3), arranged on a conveyor belt (4) and afterwards, always through anthropomorphous motions, to lay it on the pallet (5). The header is characterised in its particular configuration, which is provided with a frame (6) supporting a horizontal plate (8) to which there is applied a vertical plate (9) to which there is fastened the support element (10) of the small presser (11), which provides to maintaining loose signatures compressed during the movement of the same pile.

Description: The present invention relates to a gripping header for handling piles of loose signatures. As it is well known, in graphic industry the palletisation of printed products such as books, magazines, sheets and other, is currently performed in a totally automated way through machines that provide to withdraw the product laid on a conveyor belt and to their successive laying on pallets, to be stocked in a store. According to the features of the product to be palletised, such as piles of different size and weight, consisting of strapped or simply piled products, the automatic machine varies its configuration, ranging from complex mechanisms, such as that described in patent EP 1 024 098 A, filed by the same Applicant or as described in patent DE 3 024 133, to simple robots provided with gripping comb. Purpose of the present finding is the realisation of a palletising mechanism, particularly adapted for handling loose signatures, sheets for brochures, leaflets, advertising folders and other similar products arranged on non-stripped piles. This is obtained by providing gripping header according to claim 1 that, applied to the arm of a robot, withdraws piles of loose signatures from a conveyor belt and lays them in an ordered manner onto a pallet. The dependent claims define preferred embodiments. PLC means programmable logic controller. The features of the header of the finding are highlighted with the description of a possible embodiment, illustrated by way of a non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings. In such drawings: Figure 1 (Table I) shows an overall view of the palletising plant provided with the header of the finding; Figures 2-4 (Table II) show, in a sequence, the withdrawing steps of the pile from the conveyor belt; Figures 5-7 (Table III) show, in a sequence, the laying steps of the pile onto the pallet. As it can be seen in figure 1, header 1 is applied to arm 2 of a robot which, through anthropomorphous motions (reference shall be made to the arrows) allows the above header to grip pile 3, arranged on conveyor belt 4 and, always through anthropomorphous motions (reference shall be made to the arrows), to lay it onto pallet 5, according to an order set on the PLC that controls the motion of the same robot. Constructively, header 1 consists of a frame 6, anchored to flange 7 of the robot arm 2, which supports the horizontal plate 8 on which there is frontally applied the vertical abutment plate 9 of pile 3. On plate 8 there is also fastened support 10 of presser 11, commanded by the pneumatic cylinder 12, which provides to keep the loose signatures compressed during the movement of pile 3. On the lower side of the horizontal plate 8 there are applied prismatic guides 13, on which upright 14, provided with comb 15 carrying pile 3, slides. The alternate rectilinear sliding of upright 14 on guides 13 for allowing the action of insertion/extraction of comb 14 under pile 3, is realised through a rack 16, which is integral to the same upright through bracket 17, which is alternately moved by pinion 18, actuated by motor 19, applied on frame 6. Operatively, as it can be seen in figures 2-4, the gripping of pile 3 is realised first through an approaching action of header 1; afterwards, comb 15 inserts with its teeth under the above pile 3, arranged on the conveyor belt 4 and after that, press 11 is lowered to compress the loose signatures and keep them locked on the above comb. Operatively, as it can be seen in figures 5-7, the laying of pile 3 onto pallet 5 is realised first through an approaching action of header 1; afterwards, comb 15 abuts onto pallet 5 and after that, with the sliding of upright 14, the comb withdraws from pile 3, which thus abuts onto the pallet and finally, press 11 is lifted, thus allowing the header to restore to its starting position for a new grip. A further feature of the finding consists in the possibility of automatically adjusting the gripping position of the comb so as to adapt it to the different lengths of the signature piles, which is simply realised by adjusting the stroke of upright 14; in fact, the more upright 14 stops in the proximity of the abutment plate 9, the more the comb teeth protrude from the above plate. Finally, the finding provides for comb 15 to be removable from upright 14 so as to be replaced in function of the width of the pile to be handled. Of course, different embodiments are possible, in particular consequent to the use of different handling members, without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims: GRIPPING HEADER, for handling piles of loose signatures, sheets, advertising brochures and other similar products, which is applied to the arm (2) of a robot which, through anthropomorphous motions, allows the above header to first grip the pile (3), arranged on a conveyor belt (4) and afterwards, always through anthropomorphous motions, to lay it on the pallet (5), according to an order set on the PLC that controls the motion of the same robot, said gripping header (1) characterised in that it comprises a frame (6), anchored to the flange (7) of the robot arm 2, which supports a horizontal plate (8) on which there is frontally applied a vertical abutment plate (9) of the pile (3), on said vertical plate (9) there being fastened the support (10) of the presser (11) commanded by the pneumatic cylinder (12), which provides to keep the loose signatures compressed during the movement of the same pile. GRIPPING HEADER according to claim 1, characterised in that a comb (15) carrying the pile (3) is supported by an upright (14) adapted to alternately slide on prismatic guides (13) applied on the fixed horizontal plate (8). GRIPPING HEADER, according to claim 2, characterised in that the alternate rectilinear movement of the upright (14) for allowing the action of insertion/extraction of the comb (14) under the pile (3) is realised through a rack (16) which is integral to the same upright through a bracket (17), which is alternately moved by the pinion (18), actuated by the motor (19), applied on the fixed frame (6). GRIPPING HEADER, according to claim 2, characterised in that it can be provided with the automatic adjustment of the gripping position of the comb, so as to adapt it to the different lengths of the signature piles, by simply adjusting the stroke of the upright (14), there being provided that the more said upright stops in the proximity of the abutment plate (9), the more the comb teeth protrude from the above plate. GRIPPING HEADER according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that the comb (15) is removably connected to the upright (14) so as to be replaced according to the width of the pile (3).

Inventors: DAL ZOTTO GIOVANNI, MARIANI PAOLO, DAL ZOTTO, GIOVANNI, MARIANI, PAOLO
Applicants: MARIANI S A S DI MARIANI FEDER, MARIANI S.A.S. DI MARIANI FEDERICO & C.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B65G61
IPC codes: B65G61, B65G57, B65H31, B65G47