Patent Description:
The need to handle hides between different processing stations is known in the sector of leather processing and/or treatment, in particular in the leather tanning sector, for example for collecting or positioning hides from/in storage areas and/or processing machines intended for a specific treatment.

According to the known technique, the hides can be stored on a machine bed and stacked in a substantially horizontal position or stored on a stand and arranged astride said support/stand, stacked and supported in their central area while their side edges hang laterally according to more or less inclined directions defined by the specific shape of the stand used.

Automated hide handling devices are known which provide for gripping the hide and pulling it between the various stations.

A known device of the type mentioned above is described in the Italian patent application <CIT> and comprises suction cups that are positioned on the hide and lift one of its edges so that the latter is held by the action of pliers which hold the hide by exerting a thrusting force against the suction cups. Once the edge has been lifted, a hide supporting rod is inserted under the hide and then moved to the point of destination.

Said handling system has a first drawback related to the compression force which is exerted by the pliers and to which the hide is subjected. Said compression can negatively affect the intrinsic characteristics of the hide, damaging and/or ruining it locally at the level of the gripping points.

For example, the valuable surface of the hide can be damaged by the tip of the pliers which is placed in direct contact with it.

A further drawback is represented by the structural complexity of the system, which needs a plurality of pneumatic cylinders to handle the suction cups and the pliers so as to guarantee the desired gripping force and the correct handling of the hide.

Another drawback lies in the space occupied by said handling means (pneumatic cylinders).

Thus, the hide handling devices of the known type have said drawbacks.

The main object of the present invention, therefore, is to resolve or at least partially overcome the problems that characterize the solutions known in the art. It is one object of the present invention to provide a device for handling hides which makes it possible to act in the least invasive way against the surface of the hide to be handled.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for handling hides which has reduced overall dimensions compared to the systems of the known type.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for handling hides with higher holding capacity compared to the systems of the known type. Devices according to the state of the art are known from document <CIT>.

The present invention is based on the general consideration that it is possible to provide a device for handling hides comprising a rotary tubular element provided with negative pressure areas where the hide can be gripped.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the subject of the same is, therefore, a device for handling a hide comprising gripping means suited to grip said hide and moving means suited to move said gripping means, wherein said gripping means comprise:.

According to a preferred embodiment, the moving means comprise a supporting structure and motorized means suited to move said gripping means along at least one direction.

In a preferred embodiment, said at least one direction comprises at least one of the directions that define a two-dimensional or a three-dimensional space.

Preferably, the motorized means comprise at least one motor driven kinematic mechanism associated with a respective direction of movement, said at least one motor driven kinematic mechanism preferably comprising a rack and pinion system or a belt and pulley system.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device comprises detection means suited to detect the presence of the hide, preferably dimming photocells or a camera.

In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a central supporting shaft around which said tubular element can rotate.

Preferably, the central shaft is hollow and comprises one or more through openings, said central shaft defining a suction pipe.

According to a preferred embodiment, the suction pipe can be connected to a suction unit, more preferably one end of the suction pipe can be connected to a suction unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises second rotation means suited to rotate the central supporting shaft.

Preferably, said at least one negative pressure area corresponds to the area of the external surface where said at least one through hole ends.

According to a preferred embodiment, the external surface comprises at least one groove which communicates with said at least one through hole, in such a way that said at least one negative pressure area extends on the groove.

In a preferred embodiment, said at least one groove extends on the external surface according to a direction which is perpendicular to said main axis. Preferably, said groove extends on the external surface in an inclined direction with respect to the main axis, preferably to define a helicoidal development pattern for the groove on the external surface.

Preferably, the tubular element comprises a hollow cylinder.

According to a preferred embodiment, the suction unit comprises a suction pump. Preferably, the angle of the suction sector is adjustable.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the subject of the same is a system comprising a device for handling a hide between a first area and a second area of said system, wherein the device is made as described above.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first area and/or the second area comprise/s a hide storage station.

In a preferred embodiment, the storage station comprises a plurality of hides stacked on a substantially horizontal supporting area.

In an alternative embodiment, the storage station comprises a plurality of hides stacked on a stand.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hides are supported at the level of their central area while their side edges hang laterally along more or less inclined directions defined by the stand.

Further advantages, objectives and characteristics as well as further embodiments of the present invention are defined in the claims and are clarified below through the following description making reference to the attached drawings; in the drawings, corresponding or equivalent characteristics and/or component parts of the present invention are identified by the same reference numbers. More specifically:.

Even though the present invention is described below with reference to its embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below and illustrated in the drawings.

On the contrary, the embodiments described herein and illustrated in the drawings clarify some aspects of the present invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims.

The present invention can be especially but not exclusively applied in the leather tanning sector for the processing of natural leather. More specifically, the hide handling device can be advantageously used in a system, as described in detail below, between a hide storage station and a hide thickness measuring/detection unit, or thickness gauge.

It should, however, be underlined that the use of the handling device is not limited to said application. On the contrary, the present invention can be conveniently applied in a system where the hides need to be moved between two or more areas.

A first embodiment of the hide handling device <NUM> according to the present invention is described below with reference to Figures from <NUM> to <NUM>. For the sake of illustration simplicity, in the continuation of the present description the hide handling device <NUM> can be even referred to simply with the term "device <NUM>".

The hide handing device <NUM> according to the invention is essentially defined by gripping means <NUM> suited to grip the hide and moving means <NUM> suited to move the gripping means <NUM>.

The moving means <NUM> preferably comprise a supporting structure <NUM> and motorized means <NUM>, <NUM> suited to move the gripping means <NUM> along at least one direction. For the sake of illustration simplicity, the motorized means <NUM>, <NUM> are shown only in <FIG>, and are described in greater detail below.

The moving means <NUM> allow the movement to take place preferably along a first axis X which defines a horizontal direction and preferably along a second axis Z which defines a vertical direction.

Said two movements preferably allow the device <NUM> to be used inside a system as shown, for example, with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

For example, as described in greater detail below with reference to Figures from <NUM> to <NUM>, the device <NUM> according to the invention is used inside a system <NUM> to collect a hide P and move it from a hide storage area <NUM> to a measuring station <NUM> where the parameters of the hide are measured (for example, a hide thickness measuring/detection unit, or thickness gauge). The measuring station <NUM> shown in the figures is of the type known per se and therefore is not described in detail here below. It is worth noting that preferably there is a conveyor belt <NUM> that receives the hide and makes it advance towards the actual measuring/detection area.

The same can be said with reference to Figures from <NUM> to <NUM>, in which the device <NUM> according to the invention is used inside a system <NUM> to collect a hide and move it from a hide storage area <NUM> to a measuring station <NUM> where the parameters of the hide are measured (for example, a hide thickness measuring/detection unit <NUM>, or thickness gauge).

The difference between the two systems <NUM>, <NUM> lies in the different configuration of the storage area <NUM>, <NUM>.

In the first case, the storage station <NUM> comprises a plurality of hides stacked on a substantially horizontal supporting area, for example a machine bed <NUM>.

In the second case, the storage station <NUM> comprises a plurality of hides stacked on a stand <NUM>.

As is known, the hides are supported at the level of their central area, while their side edges hang laterally along more or less inclined directions defined by the specific shape of the stand <NUM> used.

In both systems <NUM>, <NUM> the moving means <NUM> are shaped to allow, preferably, the movement along a first axis X that defines a horizontal direction and along a second axis Z that defines a vertical direction, as explained above (two-dimensional movement).

The movements along said two axes X, Z, that is, movements of the forward-backward and up-down type, are sufficient to move the hides in said systems from the storage area <NUM>, <NUM> to the measuring/detection unit <NUM>, more preferably to move them until the conveyor belt <NUM> of the measuring/detection unit <NUM>.

In variant embodiments, however, the moving means can be shaped in a different manner to allow the movement to take place along several axes conveniently distributed in space (for example, three-dimensional movements) and possibly even along a single axis, for example along a single rectilinear direction.

The supporting structure <NUM> preferably comprises a casing <NUM> (<FIG>) resting on the floor. It is possible to identify a first structure <NUM> movable along the axis of movement X and supporting a second structure <NUM> movable along the axis of movement Z.

The first movable structure <NUM> is preferably defined by a frame moved by the first motorized means <NUM>. Said first motorized means <NUM>, shown in <FIG>, preferably comprise a motor driven kinematic mechanism, preferably a belt-pulley kinematic mechanism. Preferably, it is possible to identify a first motor 4A integral with the casing <NUM> and a belt 4B, fixed to the first movable structure <NUM>, moved by a pulley (not shown in the figures) associated with the first motor 4A.

The second movable structure <NUM> preferably comprises a first movable upright <NUM> and a second movable upright <NUM>, both preferably moved by the second motorized means <NUM>. Said second motorized means <NUM>, shown in <FIG>, preferably comprise a motor driven kinematic mechanism, preferably a rack-pinion kinematic mechanism. Preferably, it is possible to identify a second motor 6A integral with the first movable structure <NUM> and a rack 6B, fixed to the first movable upright <NUM> and meshing with a pinion (not shown in the figures) which is moved by the second motor 6A.

The lower ends 306A, 308B of the movable uprights <NUM>, <NUM> support said gripping means <NUM>, as described in detail below.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures from <NUM> to <NUM>, the gripping means <NUM> preferably comprise a tubular element <NUM> suited to define an inner cavity <NUM> and having a portion of external surface <NUM> suited to be positioned, through the moving means <NUM>, at the level of the hide to be handled. The tubular element <NUM> develops longitudinally along a main rotation axis X1 and comprises a plurality of through holes <NUM> suited to place the external surface <NUM> in communication with the inner cavity <NUM>.

More preferably, the tubular element <NUM> is constituted by a hollow cylinder and therefore its external surface is cylindrical in shape. In variant embodiments, as shown for example in <FIG>, the tubular element <NUM>, <NUM> can have a different shape and, preferably, its external surface can have a non-cylindrical shape such as, for example, the shape of a parallelogram with square base and preferably rounded corners (<FIG>) or the shape of a prism with dodecagonal base and preferably rounded corners (<FIG>).

First rotation means <NUM>, better described below with reference to <FIG>, allow the tubular element <NUM> to rotate around the main axis X1.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the device <NUM> comprises air suction means <NUM>, shown by way of example only in <FIG>, which are suited to act in said inner cavity <NUM> of the tubular element <NUM> to define a plurality of negative pressure areas on the external surface <NUM> of the tubular element <NUM> by means of the air sucked through the thorough holes <NUM>. When the external surface <NUM> of the tubular element <NUM> is positioned at the level of the hide P, the negative pressure areas serve the function of gripping the hide P and holding it on the tubular element <NUM>.

The hide P is therefore gripped and held on the external surface <NUM> of the tubular element <NUM>.

The function of gripping the hide P is carried out even when the tubular element <NUM> is set rotating.

In this case, in addition to the gripping function, the rotation of the tubular element <NUM> also serves the function of rolling up and displacing the hide P for at least one section around its external surface <NUM>, as shown for example in <FIG> and <FIG> which illustrate some operating steps of the device <NUM>.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the negative pressure areas on the external surface <NUM> extend on the external surface <NUM> of the tubular element <NUM> over a sector S1 smaller than <NUM>°.

In this regard, preferably, the device <NUM> is provided with air confining means <NUM> associated with the suction means <NUM> suited to define said suction sector S1 around the longitudinal axis X1 and inside the inner cavity <NUM>. The suction sector S1 clearly extends over an angle that is smaller than <NUM>°.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the suction sector S1 around the longitudinal axis X1 of the tubular element <NUM> extends over an angle equal to <NUM>°.

The hide P is thus gripped and held onto the external surface <NUM> of the tubular element <NUM> over an area corresponding to that of the suction sector S1.

In the case where the tubular element <NUM> rotates, too, the hide P is preferably gripped and moved on the external surface <NUM> of the tubular element <NUM> over an area corresponding to that of the suction sector S1, smaller than <NUM>°, thus preventing the hide from rolling up and overlapping on the tubular element <NUM>. Therefore, during operation, if the tubular element <NUM> rotates, the hide P is gripped/held and handled around the tubular element <NUM> over an angle equal to <NUM>°. Outside said sector S1, the hide P is not subjected to any negative pressure effect by the tubular element <NUM> and is not gripped/held onto the external surface <NUM> (and therefore can be released, as shown for example in <FIG> and <FIG>).

The tubular element <NUM> and the terminal areas of the same are shown in detail in Figures from <NUM> to <NUM>.

The tubular element <NUM> is set rotating around a central supporting shaft <NUM>, preferably a hollow central shaft. The central supporting shaft <NUM> develops longitudinally along the main rotation axis X1 and is coaxial with and internal to the tubular element <NUM>.

The inner cavity <NUM> is preferably defined between the tubular element <NUM> and the central supporting shaft <NUM>.

The tubular element <NUM> can rotate with respect to the central supporting shaft <NUM> through suitable rolling means <NUM>, preferably bearings (<FIG>).

The first rotation means <NUM>, which allow the tubular element <NUM> to rotate around the main axis X1, are preferably associated with a first end 14A of the tubular element <NUM> (the right end 14A with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>).

The first end 14A of the tubular element <NUM> is preferably supported by the lower end 306A of the first movable upright <NUM>.

Rolling means <NUM>, preferably bearings, allow the tubular element <NUM> to rotate with respect to the first movable upright <NUM>.

The first rotation means <NUM> suited to rotate the tubular element <NUM> around the main axis X1 preferably comprise a motor <NUM> integral with the first movable upright <NUM>, more preferably an electric motor, suited to set a drive pin <NUM> rotating. The drive pin <NUM> is then connected to the tubular element <NUM> by means of a flange <NUM>.

Second rotation means <NUM> allow the central shaft <NUM> to rotate around the main axis X1 independently of the tubular element <NUM> and are preferably associated with a first end 30A of the central shaft <NUM> (the left end 30A with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>).

The first end 30A of the central shaft <NUM> is preferably supported by the lower end 308A of the second movable upright <NUM>.

Rolling means <NUM>, preferably bearings, allow the central shaft <NUM> to rotate with respect to the second movable upright <NUM>.

The second rotation means <NUM> suited to rotate the central shaft <NUM> around the main axis X1 preferably comprise a motor <NUM> integral with the second movable upright <NUM>, a belt 56A and a pulley 56B integral with the central shaft <NUM>. The pulley 56B is set rotating by said belt 56A.

In the embodiment illustrated, the tubular element <NUM> and the central shaft <NUM> are carried out in a modular manner using two respective parts conveniently joined at the centre, as can be seen in <FIG> and <FIG>. In variant embodiments, the tubular element can be made in a single piece or even using more than two modules.

The suction means <NUM> acting on said inner cavity <NUM> of the tubular element <NUM> preferably comprise one or more through openings <NUM> defined on the hollow central shaft <NUM>, as can be seen in <FIG> and <FIG>. Said through openings <NUM> place the inner cavity <NUM> in communication with the inside of the central shaft <NUM>. Preferably, the left end 30A of the hollow central shaft <NUM> can be connected to a suction unit <NUM>, for example a suction pump schematically shown in <FIG>.

A coupling <NUM>, integral with the second movable upright <NUM>, is preferably associated with the left end 30A of the central hollow shaft <NUM> to facilitate the connection with the suction unit <NUM>.

Rolling means <NUM>, preferably bearings, allow the hollow central shaft <NUM> to be rotated with respect to the coupling <NUM>.

The hollow central shaft <NUM> substantially serves as a suction pipe to create the suction air flow in the inner cavity <NUM> and the negative pressure areas on the external surface <NUM> of the tubular element <NUM> by means of the through suction holes <NUM>.

The air confining means <NUM> suited to define the suction sector S1 are defined in the inner cavity <NUM>, as can be seen again in <FIG>, and preferably comprise delimiting elements/partitions <NUM> mutually positioned to form the angle desired for the sector S1.

Preferably, said delimiting partitions <NUM> can be adjusted to define the operating angle desired for the sector S1 from time to time.

The air confining means <NUM> are preferably integral with the hollow central shaft <NUM>. The rotation of the latter, therefore, determines the corresponding rotation of the air confining means <NUM>.

Therefore, through the second rotation means <NUM>, the central shaft <NUM> and the air confining means <NUM> can be rotated around the main axis X1 and therefore the sector S1 is consequently rotated and positioned as desired with respect to the tubular element <NUM>, as better described below.

A further advantageous aspect of the present invention, related to the efficiency in gripping the hide P on the external surface <NUM> of the tubular element <NUM>, is described with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in the figures, the external surface <NUM> of the tubular element <NUM> comprises a plurality of grooves <NUM>. Preferably, the through holes <NUM> are distributed on the tubular element <NUM> in such a way that they end into said grooves <NUM>. Advantageously, the negative pressure area generated by the air sucked through the through holes <NUM> extends along each groove <NUM>. Advantageously, the area where the hide P is gripped/held through adhesion on the external surface <NUM> of the tubular element <NUM> is in turn extended, thus increasing the holding and stretching efficiency.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, the grooves <NUM> extend rectilinearly on the external surface <NUM> of the tubular element <NUM>, in a perpendicular direction with respect to the main axis X1.

In preferred variant embodiments, however, the grooves can extend according to different directions and/or development patterns, for example according to a not necessarily rectilinear development pattern and/or along inclined directions with respect to the main axis, for example a groove which defines a helicoidal development pattern around the external surface <NUM> or one or more crossing or irregular grooves.

In a further preferred variant embodiment, moreover, the external surface of the tubular element may be without grooves, that is, substantially smooth.

The negative pressure areas suited to hold the hide are therefore located at the points of the external surface of the tubular element where the through holes end.

Figures from <NUM> to <NUM> show the hide handling device <NUM> inside a system <NUM>, as described above, and possible operating modes for collecting and moving one hide at a time from the storage station <NUM> to the measurement station <NUM>.

The storage station <NUM> comprises a plurality of hides stacked on a machine bed <NUM>. For the sake of illustration simplicity, only the upper hide P to be moved from the machine bed <NUM> to the conveyor belt <NUM> of the measuring/detection unit <NUM> is shown.

The hide P is arranged on the machine bed <NUM> in such a way that it has a first side P1 facing upwards and a second side P2 facing downwards.

For example, as is known in the leather tanning sector, the hide P has a grain side and a flesh side. The hides can therefore be stored on the machine bed with the grain side facing upwards or downwards, that is, with the grain side coinciding with the first side P1 or with the second side P2 of the hide P according to the explanation provided above.

<FIG> show a first method for moving a hide P from the machine bed <NUM> to the conveyor belt <NUM> of the measuring/detection unit <NUM>.

According to said method, the hide P is collected from the machine bed <NUM> by its first side P1 facing upwards and is positioned on the conveyor belt <NUM> with the first side P1 facing downwards, that is, actually the hide P is moved and at the same time overturned.

<FIG> show a second method for moving a hide P from the machine bed <NUM> to the conveyor belt <NUM> of the measuring/detection unit <NUM>.

Even according to this method, the hide P is collected from the machine bed <NUM> by its first side P1 facing upwards and is positioned on the conveyor belt <NUM> with its first side P1 facing downwards, that is, actually the hide P is moved and at the same time overturned.

<FIG> show a third method for moving a hide P from the machine bed <NUM> to the conveyor belt <NUM> of the measuring/detection unit <NUM>.

According to said method, the hide P is collected from the machine bed <NUM> by its first side P1 facing upwards and is positioned on the conveyor belt <NUM> with its first side P1 still facing upwards, that is, actually the hide P is moved but not overturned as is the case with the two methods previously described.

<FIG> show a fourth method for moving a hide P from the machine bed <NUM> to the conveyor belt <NUM> of the measuring/detection unit <NUM>.

Even according to said method, the hide P is collected from the machine bed <NUM> by its first side P1 facing upwards and is positioned on the conveyor belt <NUM> with its first side P1 still facing upwards, that is, actually the hide P is moved but not overturned.

The handling methods described above can be applied in a substantially equivalent manner to collect and move one hide at a time from the storage area <NUM> to the measuring area <NUM> inside the system <NUM> shown with reference to Figures from <NUM> to <NUM>, where the hides are stacked on the machine bed <NUM>. The left edge Bs or the right edge Bd of the hide P on top of the stack created on the stand <NUM>, in fact, can be gripped in a way similar to that described above with reference to collection from a machine bed <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment, the hide handling device according to the invention is also preferably provided with detection means suited to locate the position of the hide. Said detection means advantageously make it possible to correctly position the tubular element at the level of the hide edges, for example of the left or the right edge according to the description provided above, and to guarantee the correct alignment of the tubular element on the hide during operation.

The detection means preferably comprise systems such as dimming photocells (emitter and receiver or reflector) or cameras.

Advantageously, according to the description provided above, the hide gripping system obtained through the tubular element makes it possible to act only on one side of the hide itself, for example side P1 as described above. Therefore, the hide is not subjected to surface compression forces which can negatively affect its intrinsic characteristics and damage it.

Advantageously, according to the description provided above, the tubular element of the gripping means makes it possible to effectively hold and move the hide.

Advantageously, the device according to the invention makes it possible to handle the hide thanks to an embodiment with reduced overall dimensions compared to the systems of the known type.

It has thus been shown, through the preceding detailed description of the embodiments of the hide handling device illustrated in the drawings, that the device according to the present invention makes it possible to achieve the set objects. More specifically, the device according to the present invention makes it possible to obtain a hide handling device which acts in the least invasive manner against the surfaces of the hide to be handled.

Even though the present invention has been illustrated above through the detailed description of its embodiments represented in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments represented in the drawings and described above.

Claim 1:
Device (<NUM>) for handling a hide (P), comprising gripping means (<NUM>) suited to grip said hide (P) and moving means (<NUM>) suited to move said gripping means (<NUM>), wherein said gripping means (<NUM>) comprise:
- a tubular element (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) suited to define an inner cavity (<NUM>) and having a portion of external surface suited to be positioned at the level of said hide (P) through said moving means (<NUM>), said tubular element (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) developing longitudinally along a main rotation axis (X1) and comprising at least one through hole (<NUM>) suited to place said external surface (<NUM>) in communication with said inner cavity (<NUM>);
- first rotation means (<NUM>) for rotating said tubular element (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) around said main axis (XI);
- air suction means (<NUM>) suited to act in said inner cavity (<NUM>) of said tubular element (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) in order to define at least one negative pressure area on said external surface (<NUM>) through said at least one through hole (<NUM>), said negative pressure area defining a gripping surface for said hide (P);
- air confining means (<NUM>) associated with said air suction means (<NUM>) and suited to define a suction sector (S1) that extends over an angle smaller than <NUM>° around said main axis (X1) and inside said inner cavity (<NUM>); wherein said moving means (<NUM>) comprise a supporting structure (<NUM>) and motorized means (<NUM>, <NUM>) suited to move said gripping means (<NUM>) along at least one direction (X, Z);
the device (<NUM>) characterized in that said at least one direction (X, Z) comprises at least one of the directions that define a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space.