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BR-102019026286-B1 - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADVANCING PRODUCTS TO BE MOLDED

BR102019026286B1BR 102019026286 B1BR102019026286 B1BR 102019026286B1BR-102019026286-B1

Abstract

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADVANCING PRODUCTS TO BE MOLDED. The present invention relates to a method of advancing that uses an advancing apparatus (1) to advance a plurality of sheet metal products in the form of a sheet to be formed to perform the following steps: transporting a first product (P1) from a plurality of products (P1, P2, P3) to a first zone (1a) of the advancing apparatus (1); in the first zone (1a), taking the first pressure devices (2) to touch the first product (P1) moving the first pressure devices (2) at least along a first direction (D1); advancing said first product (P1) from the first zone (1a) to a second zone (1b) of said advancing apparatus (1) along a second direction (D2) that is transverse to the first direction (D1) initially with continuous movement and subsequently with intermittent movement; transport a second product (P2) from the aforementioned plurality of products (P1, P2, P3) to the aforementioned first zone (1a); take the aforementioned second pressure devices (3) to movably press along the aforementioned first direction (D1) onto the aforementioned second product (P2); advance the aforementioned second product (P2) to the second (...).

Inventors

  • Marco Mirri
  • Fabrizio Villa

Assignees

  • SACMI COOPERATIVA MECCANICI IMOLA SOCIETA COOPERATIVA

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20191211
Priority Date
20181213

Claims (15)

  1. 1. METHOD FOR ADVANCING PRODUCTS IN THE FORM OF METAL SHEETS, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: a) transporting a first product (P1) from a plurality of products (P1, P2, P3) in a first zone (1a) of a forwarding apparatus (1); b) in said first zone (1a) adjacent to the first pressure device (2), movable at least along a first direction (D1), against said first product (P1); c) by means of said first pressure devices (2), advancing said first product (P1) from said first zone (1a) to a second zone (1b) of said forwarding apparatus (1) along a second direction (D2), transverse to said at least one first direction (D1), with continuous movement and subsequently with intermittent movement; d) transporting a second product (P2) from said plurality of products (P1, P2, P3) in said first zone (1a); e) bringing it into contact with the second pressure device. (3), moving along said first direction (D1) at least once, against said second product (P2); f) by moving said second pressure devices (3) advancing said second product (P2) towards said second zone (1b) along said second direction (D2) initially with continuous movement and subsequently with intermittent movement, said step f) being carried out at least partially simultaneously with said step c); g) in said second zone (1b) moving said first pressure devices (2) away from said first product (P1), moving said first pressure devices (2) along at least one third direction (D3), transverse to said second direction (D2), to avoid hindering the subsequent passage of said second product (P2); h) continuously moving said first pressure devices (2) along a fourth direction (D4) parallel and opposite to said second direction (D2) to bring said first pressure devices (2) back to said first zone (1a), while said second pressure devices and/or 3) continue advancing with said second product (P2) along said second direction (D2); i) move said first push devices (2) along said at least one first direction (D1) to bring said first push devices (2) against a third product (P3) of said plurality of products (P1, P2, P3) which, meanwhile, was transported in said first zone (1a); wherein said at least one first direction (D1), said second direction (D2), said at least one third direction (D3) and said fourth direction (D4) define a closed path in which said first push devices (2) and said second push devices (3) are mobile.
  2. 2. METHOD, according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one first direction (D1), said second direction (D2), said at least one third direction (D3) and said fourth direction (D4) define a first closed path in which said first pressure device (2) is mobile and a second closed path in which said second pressure medium (3) is mobile.
  3. 3. METHOD, according to claim 2, characterized in that said step c) and/or said step f) comprises pushing at least one edge (Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd) of said first product (P1) by means of said first pushing devices (2) and at least one edge (Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd) of said second product (P2) by means of said second pushing devices (3).
  4. 4. METHOD, according to claim 3, characterized in that said step c) comprises advancing said first pressure devices (2) with continuous motion for a first tract (L1) and with intermittent motion for a second tract (L2), said first tract (L1) and said second tract (L2) extending parallel to said second direction (D2) between said first zone (1a) and said second zone (1b); and said step f) comprises advancing said second pressure devices (3) with continuous motion for a third tract (L3) and with intermittent motion for a fourth tract (L4), said third tract (L3) and said fourth tract (L4) extending parallel to said second direction (D2) between said first zone (1a) and said second zone (1b); said first tract (L1) being substantially equal in length to said third tract (L3) and said second tract (L2) being substantially equal in length to said fourth tract (L4).
  5. 5. METHOD, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said step f) comprises advancing said first product (P1) with intermittent motion while said second product (P2) is still in said first zone (1a) or advances with continuous motion.
  6. 6. METHOD, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in said steps f) and g) at least a safety distance (X1, X2, X3) between said first product (P1) and said second product (P2) is maintained.
  7. 7. METHOD, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said at least one first direction (D1) is parallel and opposite to said at least one third direction (D3), said at least one first direction (D1) and said at least one third direction (D3) inclined at an angle between 40° and 45° with respect to said second direction (D2), in particular at an angle of 42°.
  8. 8. METHOD, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said step g) comprises moving said first pressure devices (2) downwards along said at least one third direction (D3) and said steps b) or i) comprise moving said first pressure devices (2) upwards along said at least one first direction (D1).
  9. 9. ADVANCEMENT APPARATUS characterized in that it is for advancing a plurality of products (P1, P2, P3) in sheet form, in particular for performing a method as defined by any of claims 1 to 8, said advancement apparatus (1) comprising: - first pressure devices (2) movable along at least one first direction (D1) to bring a first product (P1) into contact with a first zone (1a) of said advancement apparatus (1); along a second direction (D2), transverse to said first direction (D1), to advance said first product (P1) from said first zone (1a) to a second zone (1b) of said advancement apparatus (1); along at least one third direction (D3), transverse to said direction (D2), to move away from said first product (P1); and along a fourth direction (D4), parallel and opposite to said second direction (D2), to move towards said first zone (1a); - first motor devices (6) connected to said first pressure devices (2) and actuatable to advance said first pressure devices (2) along said second direction (D2) with continuous and/or intermittent movement and to move said first pressure devices (2) along said fourth direction (D4) with continuous movement; - first drive devices (8) connected to said first pressure devices (2) to move said first pressure devices (2) along said at least one first direction (D1) and/or along said at least one third direction (D3); - second pressure devices (3) movable along said at least one first direction (D1) to bring a second product (P2) into said first zone (1a); along said second direction (D2) to advance said second product (P2) from said first zone (1a) to said second zone (1b); along said at least one third direction (D3) to move away from said second product (P2); and along said fourth direction (D4) to change direction to said first zone (1a); - second motor devices (7) connected to said second pressure devices (3) and actuatable to advance said second pressure devices (3) along said second direction (D2) with continuous motion or with intermittent motion at least partially while said first motor devices (6) advance said first pressure devices (2), said second motor devices (7) also being actuatable to move said second pressure devices (3) along said fourth direction (D4) with continuous motion; - second drive devices (9) connected to said second pressure devices (3) to move said second pressure devices (3) along said at least one first direction (D1) and/or along said at least one third direction (D3); wherein said at least one first direction (D1), said second direction (D2), said at least one third direction (D3) and said fourth direction (D4) define a closed path. in which the aforementioned first pushing devices (2) and the aforementioned second pressure devices (3) are movable.
  10. 10. APPARATUS, according to claim 9, characterized in that said at least one first direction (D1), said second direction (D2), said at least one third direction (D3) and said fourth direction (D4) define a first closed path in which said first pressure device (2) is movable and a second closed path in which said second pressure device (3) is movable.
  11. 11. APPARATUS, according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that each of said first pressure devices (2) and said second pressure devices (3) comprises a support plate (2c, 3c) on which a first pressure element (2a, 3a) and a second pressure element (2b, 3b) are mounted; said first pressure element (2a, 3a) and said second pressure element (2b, 3b) being dimensioned to abut at least one edge (Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd) of said first product (P1) and/or said second product (P2)
  12. 12. APPARATUS, according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that said first motor devices (6) are actuated to advance said first push devices (2) with continuous motion to a first tract (L1) and with intermittent motion to a second tract (L2), said first tract (L1) and said second tract (L2) extending parallel to said second direction (D2) between said first zone (1a) and said second zone (1b); and wherein said second motor devices (7) are actuated to advance said second push devices (3) with continuous motion to a third tract (L3) and with intermittent motion to a fourth tract (L4), said third tract (L3) and said fourth tract (L4) extending parallel to said second direction (D2) between said first zone (1a) and said second zone (1b); the first tract (L1) being substantially equal in length to the third tract (L3), and the second tract (L2) being substantially equal in length to the fourth tract (L4).
  13. 13. APPARATUS, according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that said first motor devices (6) are actuated with intermittent motion, while said second motor devices (7) are still or are actuated with continuous motion.
  14. 14. APPARATUS, according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that said first motor devices (6) and said second motor devices (7) are actuated to advance said first pressure devices (2) and said second pressure devices (3) along said second direction (D2), maintaining at least a safety distance (X1, X2, X3) between said first product (P1) and said second product (P2).
  15. 15. APPARATUS, according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that said at least one first direction (D1) is parallel and opposite to said at least one third direction (D3), said at least one first direction (D1) and said at least one third direction (D3) being inclined at an angle between 40° and 45° relative to said second direction (D2), in particular at an angle of; and/or wherein said first actuating devices (8) are actuated to move said first pressure devices (2) downwards along said at least one third direction (D3) and to advance towards said first pressure devices (2) along said at least one first direction (D1); and/or wherein said second actuation devices (9) are actuated to move said second push devices (3) downward along said at least one third direction (D3) and to move said second push devices (3) upward along said at least one first direction (D1).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [001] The present invention relates to a method and/or apparatus for advancing products to be molded. [002] Specifically, but not exclusively, the present invention can be applied to the advancement of sheet metal alloy or aluminum alloy products to be molded. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [003] In the technical molding sector, for the production of, for example, components intended for manufacturing caps used to close the opening of a container or bottle, crown caps, screw caps and so on, the different markets constantly face the need to “produce more with less”, that is, to improve productivity and production efficiency. [004] In the context of forming machines, production lines are known to comprise apparatus for advancing sheet-shaped products that are connectable to similarly known forming apparatus. Sheet metal has one dimension substantially smaller than the other dimensions, for example, the thickness (on the order of one tenth of a millimeter) is substantially smaller than the width (comprising, for example, between 200 and 300 millimeters) and the length and/or comprising, for example, between 800 and 900 millimeters). [005] Some known production lines comprise a cyclically driven press for pressing a sheet of metal, a first handling device that is movable along a first substantially horizontal direction of translation to approach and/or move away from the press, and a second handling device that is movable along the first direction of translation and along a second transverse direction that is orthogonal to the first direction of translation. The first handling device comprises a gripper mounted at its first end for grasping an edge of the sheet and translating the sheet in steps along the first direction, while the second handling device also comprises a gripper mounted at its first end for grasping the edge of the sheet in a portion different from that grasped by the first handling device and translating the edge of the sheet in steps along the first and second directions. A sheet of metal is provided to the die via the first handling device to perform a first part of the pressing cycles; the sheet of metal is then transferred from the first handling device to the second handling device to perform a second part of the pressing cycles. In the first part of the pressing cycle, at the end of each advance or retraction step of the first handling device, pressing is performed on the sheet metal by pressing a series of shapes. In the second step of the pressing cycle, the first handling device releases the sheet metal from the grip, and the second handling device grips and converts the aforementioned sheet metal by executing a movement given by the combination of movements from the step along with the first (advance and/or retraction and/or direction (one side and/or the other)). [006] Other known production lines comprise a transport unit comprising, in turn, two parallel rails spaced apart from each other, so as to act as sliding guides for a workpiece to be transferred, a bar positioned between the two rails and suitable for ensuring support during the sliding of the workpiece. The transport unit further comprises a trolley that can slide along a guide bar consisting of a substantially trapezoidal structure. The trolley is moved by a chain which in turn is driven by a toothed wheel which is an integral part of the shaft of a geared motor. At the ends of the trolley, a first rod and a second rod are mounted, a first crossbar is mounted on the first rod and a second crossbar is mounted on the second rod. Each crossbar has molded elements at the end, suitable for abutting the edges of the workpiece and translating the workpiece forward. In use, the carriage can advance from an initial position to bring the molded elements of the first cross-piece to abut a first workpiece and advance the first workpiece from a predefined first position to a predefined second position. The carriage is retracted to return to the first position, leaving the first workpiece in the second position; the carriage is then advanced again to bring the molded elements of the first cross-piece to abut a second workpiece and to bring the molded elements of the second cross-piece to abut the first workpiece, which remains stationary in the aforementioned second position. Due to the carriage's structural configuration and movements, it is possible to achieve the advancement of multiple workpieces with alternating motion for a machine tool, for example, a molding machine. [007] One disadvantage of using the manipulators and transport unit that has just been disclosed is that the advancement of the products is decidedly slow, with the products being brought towards and inserted into the molding machine only with intermittent movement. Furthermore, the structure of the production lines that has just been disclosed is complex and the operation is not very reliable: in fact, if one of the two manipulators or th