Method of positioning sheet elements in the introduction station of a processing machine and a system for performing the method
First Claim
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1. A method for positioning a sheet element, which is displaceable along a travel path between an introduction station and subsequent downstream stations of a processing machine, comprising the steps of:
- engaging the sheet element with shelf grippers of a shelf in a starting position of the shelf at the introduction station;
advancing the shelf with the engaged sheet element along the travel path;
determining positioning coordinates of the sheet element during advancement of the shelf along the travel path using opto-electronic detectors;
controllably actuating shelf actuators in response to determination of the positioning coordinates of the sheet element in such a manner that the shelf is selectively displaceable parallel to the travel path, transversely to the travel path and askew to the travel path toward a predetermined position of a leading edge of the sheet element while the shelf is displaceable along the travel path;
stopping the shelf when the leading edge of the sheet element reaches the predetermined position;
engaging the leading edge in the predetermined position using transport grippers of a transport system;
releasing the shelf grippers to allow the transport system to displace the sheet element toward the subsequent downstream stations; and
returning the shelf to the starting position.
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Abstract
A device for positioning a sheet element in a processing machine has a movable base, a shelf movable with and relative to the movable base, and actuators which are operative to controllably displace the shelf relative to the movable base in such a manner that a front edge of the sheet element engaged by the shelf is stopped in a predetermined position.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for positioning a sheet element, which is displaceable along a travel path between an introduction station and subsequent downstream stations of a processing machine, comprising the steps of:
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engaging the sheet element with shelf grippers of a shelf in a starting position of the shelf at the introduction station;
advancing the shelf with the engaged sheet element along the travel path;
determining positioning coordinates of the sheet element during advancement of the shelf along the travel path using opto-electronic detectors;
controllably actuating shelf actuators in response to determination of the positioning coordinates of the sheet element in such a manner that the shelf is selectively displaceable parallel to the travel path, transversely to the travel path and askew to the travel path toward a predetermined position of a leading edge of the sheet element while the shelf is displaceable along the travel path;
stopping the shelf when the leading edge of the sheet element reaches the predetermined position;
engaging the leading edge in the predetermined position using transport grippers of a transport system;
releasing the shelf grippers to allow the transport system to displace the sheet element toward the subsequent downstream stations; and
returning the shelf to the starting position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 10)
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4. A method for positioning a sheet element displaceable along a travel path between an introduction station and subsequent stations of a processing machine, comprising the steps of:
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engaging the sheet element with shelf grippers of a shelf in a starting position of the shelf at the introduction station, thereby advancing the shelf with the sheet element toward a predetermined position of a leading edge of the sheet element along the travel path;
detecting positioning errors of the sheet element while it is displaceable along the travel path with the shelf;
controllably actuating shelf actuators to selectively displace the shelf transversely and askew to the travel path in response to detection of the positioning errors, thereby adjusting a position of the sheet element in such a manner that the leading edge of the sheet element is stopped in the predetermined position thereof;
engaging the leading edge of the sheet element with transport grippers in the predetermined position to advance the sheet element toward the subsequent stations upon disengaging the shelf grippers.
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5. A device for positioning a sheet element at an introduction station of a processing machine, the sheet element has a front edge and side edges, the device comprising:
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a shelf displaceable reciprocally along a travel path between a rear position and a front position, the shelf having a leading edge provided with notches;
a shelf gripper displaceable with the shelf and releasably engaging the sheet element along the travel path to advance the sheet element toward a predetermined position of the front edge of the sheet element, the front position of the shelf corresponding to the predetermined position of the front edge of the sheet element;
opto-electronic detectors located downstream from the rear position along the travel path and operative to detect a position of the sheet element while it is displaceable toward the predetermined position of the front edge along the travel path, the opto-electronic detectors being operative to generate signals in response to detection of the position of the sheet element;
a controller operative to receive the signals from the opto-electronic detectors and to determine positioning errors of the detected position of the sheet element, the controller being operative to generate at least one output signal in response to determining the positioning errors;
a plurality of actuators operatively connected to the controller and selectively displacing the shelf parallel to, transversely to and askew to the travel path in response to at least one output signal to adjust the detected position of the sheet element in such a manner that the shelf is stopped when the front edge of the sheet element reaches the predetermined position thereof;
a gripper bar having a plurality of bar grippers which are aligned with the notches of the leading edge of the shelf in the predetermined position of the front edge of the sheet element, the bar grippers being operative to engage the front edge of the sheet element in the predetermined position. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
a central elongated guide attached to the shelf and displaceable therewith transversely to the travel path in response to actuation of the central linear electric motor, the central elongated guide extending along a longitudinal axis parallel to the travel path;
a central carriage slidable along the central elongated guide parallel to the travel path in response to actuation of the side line electric motors, and a central pivot extending between the central carriage and the shelf, the shelf being displaceable askew to the travel path when it rotates about the central pivot in response to asynchronous displacement of the rotors of the side linear electric motors.
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14. The device defined in claim 13, further comprises:
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first and second elongated side guides spaced apart in opposite direction from the central guide and extending transversely to the travel path, each of the side guides being attached to a respective rotor of the side linear electric motor;
first and second side carriages slidable along the first and second elongated side guides, respectively, in response to actuation of the central linear electric motor; and
first and second side pivots attached to the first and second side carriages, respectively, and extending toward and attached to the shelf to provide displacement of the shelf askew to the travel path during the asynchronous displacement of the rotors of the side linear motors.
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15. The device defined in claim 5, wherein the opto-electronic detectors are selected from the group consisting of photoelectric cells and strips CCD, the opto-electronic detectors being arranged along the path to detect the front edge and the side edges of the sheet element.
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16. A device for positioning a sheet element at an introduction station of a processing machine, the sheet element has a front edge, the device comprising:
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a shelf movable reciprocally along a path between an upstream and downstream position;
a shelf gripper displaceable with the shelf and releasably engaging the sheet element along the path to advance the sheet element toward a predetermined position of the front edge of the sheet element;
at least one positioning detector located along the path and operative to detect a position of the sheet element on the shelf, the at least one positioning detector being operative to generate at least one signal in response to detection of the position of the sheet element on the shelf while it advances along the path;
a controller operative to receive the at least one signal from the positioning detector and to determine a positioning error of the detected position of the sheet element with respect to a reference position, which is stored in the controller, the controller being operative to generate at least one output signal in response to determining the positioning error; and
at least one actuator operatively connected to the controller and selectively displacing the shelf parallel to, transversely to and askew to the travel path in response to the at least one output signal to adjust the detected position of the sheet element in such a manner that the shelf is stopped in the downstream position thereof when the front edge of the sheet element reaches the predetermined position.
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Specification