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US20030025265A1 - Sheet separator in a loading system and method for separating sheets during loading - Google Patents

Sheet separator in a loading system and method for separating sheets during loading Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20030025265A1
US20030025265A1 US10/187,428 US18742802A US2003025265A1 US 20030025265 A1 US20030025265 A1 US 20030025265A1 US 18742802 A US18742802 A US 18742802A US 2003025265 A1 US2003025265 A1 US 2003025265A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
rods
sheets
separator
suction cups
grippers
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/187,428
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Dan Mordechay
Oleg Bortchek
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Aprion Digital Ltd
Original Assignee
Aprion Digital Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Aprion Digital Ltd filed Critical Aprion Digital Ltd
Priority to US10/187,428 priority Critical patent/US20030025265A1/en
Assigned to APRION DIGITAL LTD. reassignment APRION DIGITAL LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MORDECHAY, DAN, BORTCHEK, OLEG
Publication of US20030025265A1 publication Critical patent/US20030025265A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/08—Separating articles from piles using pneumatic force
    • B65H3/0808—Suction grippers
    • B65H3/0816—Suction grippers separating from the top of pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2220/00—Function indicators
    • B65H2220/09—Function indicators indicating that several of an entity are present
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2406/00—Means using fluid
    • B65H2406/30—Suction means
    • B65H2406/34—Suction grippers
    • B65H2406/342—Suction grippers being reciprocated in a rectilinear path
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2555/00—Actuating means
    • B65H2555/10—Actuating means linear
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/17—Nature of material
    • B65H2701/176—Cardboard
    • B65H2701/1768—Book covers and the like

Definitions

  • Loading devices are commonly used to handle sheets of rigid or semi-rigid material such as cardboard during various processing operations such as industrial packaging printing.
  • cardboard sheets are supplied by the manufacturer in stacks.
  • sheets may be loaded, one by one, from the top of the stack by a loader.
  • the sheet may then be moved into a processing unit, such as, for example, a printing system.
  • a delivery system may remove the processed sheet to another stack or to another processing unit.
  • Electrostatic charges, vacuum forces, and residual adhesive substances may cause sheets to cling together such that a conventional loader may lift more than one sheet at a time. Whenever two or more sheets are accidentally loaded together, human intervention may be needed in order to separate them causing a decline in manufacturing throughput.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a loader according to some embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a gripper and a vertical motion unit according to some embodiments of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a loader according to some embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a gripper coupled to a vacuum pump according to some embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustration of a sheet separation method according to some embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 6A and 6B are exemplary schematic representations of a sheet separation method according to some embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 7A and 7B are exemplary schematic representations of another sheet separation method according to some embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 8A and 8B are exemplary schematic representations of another sheet separation method according to some embodiments of the present invention.
  • Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for separating sheets of rigid or semi-rigid material during a loading process such that only one sheet may be loaded onto a loading plane at a time.
  • rigid or semi-rigid sheets suitable for some embodiments of the present invention may be cardboard, paper, metal and plastic.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a loader according to some embodiments of the present invention.
  • Loader 10 may comprise a transport mechanism, generally designated 12 , and a gripping mechanism 14 coupled to the transport mechanism. Gripping mechanism 14 may grip a sheet 15 from the top of a stack of sheets 16 and then transport mechanism 12 may move sheet 15 onto a loading plane (not shown) for further processing.
  • Gripping mechanism 14 may grip a sheet 15 from the top of a stack of sheets 16 and then transport mechanism 12 may move sheet 15 onto a loading plane (not shown) for further processing.
  • horizontal refers to being parallel to the stack of sheets and the term vertical refers to being perpendicular to the stack of sheets.
  • Transport mechanism 12 may comprise one or more rails 18 positioned above and substantially parallel to stack 16 and a motorized carriage 20 movable along rails 18 .
  • Carriage 20 may comprise two or more bars 22 positioned perpendicular to rails 18 .
  • Gripping mechanism 14 may comprise two or more arrays of grippers 24 , each array attached to one of bars 22 .
  • Gripping mechanism may further comprise two or more vertical-motion units 26 , each attached to one of bars 22 .
  • Loader 10 may further comprise a vacuum pump 28 coupled to grippers 24 and an energy source 29 coupled to motion units 26 .
  • Loader 10 may further comprise a controller 30 coupled to vacuum pump 28 and to energy source 29 .
  • Energy source 29 may be able to supply energy to enable vertical movement within motion unit 26 .
  • Non-limiting examples of such an energy source may be a an air pressure unit, an electromechanical device, a hydraulic device and a pneumatic device and any other device capable of generating a vertical movement.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment for which a vacuum lift force is used.
  • motion units 26 may be coupled to vacuum pump 28 and to an air pressure unit 31 .
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a gripper and a vertical motion unit according to some embodiments of the present invention.
  • Gripper 24 may comprise a vertical rod 32 and a suction cup 34 coupled to rod 32 .
  • Gripper 24 may further comprise a spring 36 within rod 32 to enable good contact with the top surface of the sheet, which may not be totally flat.
  • Rod 32 may be coupled to a vacuum pump 28 via a pipe 38 and a valve 40 .
  • Valve 40 may be coupled to controller 30 , which may activate valve 40 when needed.
  • Vertical-motion unit 26 may comprise a tube 42 and a rod 44 and may be coupled to air pressure unit 31 via pipes 46 A and 46 B and a valve 48 . Alternatively, vertical-motion unit 26 may be coupled to another energy source. In other embodiments, which will be described with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4, unit 26 and gripper 24 may be integrated into a single unit.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a loader according to some embodiments of the present invention and to FIG. 4, which is a schematic illustration of a gripper according to some embodiments of the present invention.
  • Loader 50 may comprise a transport mechanism, generally designated 52 , and a gripping mechanism 54 coupled to the transport mechanism. Gripping mechanism 54 may grip a sheet 15 from the top of a stack of sheets 16 and then transport mechanism 52 may move sheet 15 onto a loading plane (not shown), [such as a printing table] for further processing.
  • a loading plane not shown
  • Transport mechanism 52 may comprise one more arms 56 positioned above and substantially parallel to stack 16 , each arm movable within a corresponding support tube 58 .
  • Gripping mechanism 54 may comprise one or more arrays of two or more grippers 60 , each array attached to a corresponding arm 56 .
  • grippers 60 A, 60 B, 60 C and 60 D are shown. However, the invention is not limited to this configuration only.
  • gripper 60 may comprise a tube 62 , a piston-type rod 64 able to move inside tube 62 , and a suction cup 66 attached to rod 64 .
  • Suction cup 66 may be coupled to vacuum pump 28 via a pipe 68 and a valve 70 .
  • Controller 30 may activate valve 70 to apply vacuum to suction cups 66 .
  • Tube 62 may be coupled to vacuum pump 28 and to air pressure unit 31 via a pipe 72 and a valve 74 .
  • Controller 30 may activate valve 74 to apply alternately vacuum and pressure to tube 62 , thus causing rod 64 to move up and down within tube 62 .
  • FIG. 5 is a flowchart diagram of a method for separating sheets according to some embodiments of the present invention.
  • First suction cups may be brought into contact with the top surface of a top sheet of stack 16 (block 500 )
  • a vacuum force may then be applied substantially simultaneously to suction cups 64 (block 502 ).
  • the loader may then be moved upward while lifting one or more sheets (block 504 ).
  • controller 30 may activate energy source 29 , such as air pressure 31 to move vertically piston-type rod 64 or motion unit 26 according to a predefined scheme (block 506 ).
  • the predefined scheme may determine the amplitude, frequency and duration of up and down rapid movements.
  • the sheets gripped by suction cups 64 are moved accordingly.
  • Rod 44 or 64 may be rapidly moved up and down within tube 42 or 62 .
  • vacuum pump 28 and/or air-pressure unit 31 is the energy source for the vertical movement, alternate pressure and vacuum may be appled to rods 44 or 64 .
  • the rapid movement may cause sheets that may stick to the top sheet to fall back onto stack 16 (block 508 ).
  • the transport mechanism may move a single sheet to a loading plane (block 510 ).
  • the method described hereinabove may be useful to overcome vacuum or electrostatic forces causing the sheets to stick together.
  • the rapid movements may create a force that is stronger than the sticking force but weaker than the suction force. Therefore, the lower sheets may separate from the upper sheet, which is held by the suction force.
  • the amplitude, frequency and duration of the rapid movements may be determined according to the material and the rigidity of the sheets.
  • FIGS. 6A and 6B schematically illustrate a method for separating sheets according to some embodiments of the present invention.
  • the grippers may lift sheets 15 A and 15 B parallel to stack 16 (FIG. 6A).
  • Grippers 80 A and 80 B may then move simultaneously rapidly up and down in a vertical direction, causing sheet 15 A to separate from top sheet 15 B and fall back onto stack 16 (FIG. 6B).
  • FIGS. 7A and 7B schematically illustrate a method for separating sheets according to some embodiments of the present invention.
  • sheets 15 A and 15 B may be lifted to an inclined position above stack 16 such that gripper 80 A is closer to stack 16 than gripper 80 B.
  • Grippers 80 A and 80 B may then move rapidly alternately vertically in opposite directions. For example, as shown in FIG. 7B, gripper 80 A is moved upward lifting one side of the sheets upward, while gripper 80 B is moved downward pushing the other side of the sheets downwards.
  • the rapid alternating movements may induce temporary distortions in the flatness of the top sheet, which may cause the lower sheet 15 A to separate from the top sheet 15 B.
  • FIGS. 8A and 8B schematically illustrate a method for separating sheets according to some embodiments of the present invention.
  • sheets 15 A and 15 B may be lifted to an inclined position above stack 16 such that one side of sheet 15 A touches stack 16 (FIG. 8A).
  • a downward pressure force may be applied to gripper 80 A so that top sheet 15 B may be slightly bent, causing sheet 15 A to separate from sheet 15 B.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
US10/187,428 2001-07-02 2002-07-02 Sheet separator in a loading system and method for separating sheets during loading Abandoned US20030025265A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/187,428 US20030025265A1 (en) 2001-07-02 2002-07-02 Sheet separator in a loading system and method for separating sheets during loading

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US30181501P 2001-07-02 2001-07-02
US10/187,428 US20030025265A1 (en) 2001-07-02 2002-07-02 Sheet separator in a loading system and method for separating sheets during loading

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20030025265A1 true US20030025265A1 (en) 2003-02-06

Family

ID=23165010

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/187,428 Abandoned US20030025265A1 (en) 2001-07-02 2002-07-02 Sheet separator in a loading system and method for separating sheets during loading

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US20030025265A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2002345338A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2003004387A2 (fr)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2872499A1 (fr) * 2004-07-02 2006-01-06 Jean Claude Jeandeaud Dispositif et procedes de transfert de flans et installation et procede de travail de flans
US20060170146A1 (en) * 2005-02-02 2006-08-03 Komori Corporation Sheet convey apparatus
US20080079213A1 (en) * 2006-09-29 2008-04-03 Weyerhaeuser Co. Box Blank Feeder for Narrow Spacing
ITBO20080713A1 (it) * 2008-11-27 2010-05-28 Emmeci Spa Apparato e procedimento per prelevare fogli di cartone.
CN108483073A (zh) * 2018-03-30 2018-09-04 重庆华康印务有限公司 一种发票印刷纸张运输装置
CN110790046A (zh) * 2018-08-01 2020-02-14 日本梅克特隆株式会社 薄膜取出装置以及柔性印刷电路板的制造方法
EP4644062A1 (fr) * 2024-04-30 2025-11-05 J. Schmalz GmbH Dispositif de préhension avec unité de poussée

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2957905B1 (fr) 2010-03-29 2012-04-06 Otor Sa Procede et dispositif de transfert de decoupes pour boites d'emballage
US20210130118A1 (en) * 2017-08-10 2021-05-06 Colin Maxwell Wade Vacuum lifter

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3330554A (en) * 1965-12-13 1967-07-11 Harris Intertype Corp Sheet handling apparatus
BE791606A (fr) * 1972-07-10 1973-03-16 Pilot Pen Co Ltd Procede et appareil pour aspirer et soulever la feuille la plussuperieure d'une pile de feuilles de ce type
JP2866771B2 (ja) * 1992-09-24 1999-03-08 富士写真フイルム株式会社 シート体枚葉装置
DE69416911T2 (de) * 1993-08-19 1999-07-08 Amada Co., Ltd., Isehara, Kanagawa Entstapelvorrichtung für plattenförmiges Gut

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2872499A1 (fr) * 2004-07-02 2006-01-06 Jean Claude Jeandeaud Dispositif et procedes de transfert de flans et installation et procede de travail de flans
WO2006013265A1 (fr) * 2004-07-02 2006-02-09 Arcelor Steel Service Centres Dispositif et procedes de transfert de flans et installation et procede de travail de flans
US20060170146A1 (en) * 2005-02-02 2006-08-03 Komori Corporation Sheet convey apparatus
US20080079213A1 (en) * 2006-09-29 2008-04-03 Weyerhaeuser Co. Box Blank Feeder for Narrow Spacing
ITBO20080713A1 (it) * 2008-11-27 2010-05-28 Emmeci Spa Apparato e procedimento per prelevare fogli di cartone.
CN108483073A (zh) * 2018-03-30 2018-09-04 重庆华康印务有限公司 一种发票印刷纸张运输装置
CN110790046A (zh) * 2018-08-01 2020-02-14 日本梅克特隆株式会社 薄膜取出装置以及柔性印刷电路板的制造方法
TWI791873B (zh) * 2018-08-01 2023-02-11 日商日本美可多龍股份有限公司 薄膜取出裝置以及柔性印刷電路板的製造方法
EP4644062A1 (fr) * 2024-04-30 2025-11-05 J. Schmalz GmbH Dispositif de préhension avec unité de poussée

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2003004387A2 (fr) 2003-01-16
WO2003004387A3 (fr) 2004-03-18
AU2002345338A1 (en) 2003-01-21

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AS Assignment

Owner name: APRION DIGITAL LTD., ISRAEL

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MORDECHAY, DAN;BORTCHEK, OLEG;REEL/FRAME:013485/0637;SIGNING DATES FROM 20021016 TO 20021020

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION