WO2009115974A1

WO2009115974A1 - A panel handling device

Info

Publication number: WO2009115974A1
Application number: PCT/IB2009/051071
Authority: WO
Inventors: Piergiorgio Benuzzi
Original assignee: Giben International S.P.A.
Priority date: 2008-03-20
Filing date: 2009-03-16
Publication date: 2009-09-24
Also published as: ITBO20080182A1

Abstract

Described is a device for handling wooden panels comprising: a mounting frame (5) interposed between a panel saw machine (3) for cutting wooden panels (2) and conveying means (4); a supporting element (9) associated with the mounting frame (5) for engaging at least one panel (2) feeding out of the panel saw machine (3) and first movement means coupled with the mounting frame (5) for moving the supporting element (9) between a pick-up position where the element (9) is positioned in an unloading area (3 a) of the panel saw machine (3) for receiving the at least one panel (2), and a release position where the element (9) is positioned in a loading area (4a) of the conveying means (4) to place the panel (2) on the means (4).

Description

Translation (Rule 12.3) 16 MARCH 2009

Description

A panel handling device

Technical Field

This invention relates to a panel handling device. hi particular, the invention relates to a device for handling and transferring wooden panels as they move out of a panel saw machine towards a pick-up 5 station, such as, for example, a line for feeding the cut panels.

Background Art

As is known, panel saw machines are designed to cut large size panels several times lengthways and crossways to obtain smaller panels of predetermined 10 size.

The cut panels are fed one after the other to an outfeed station of the panel saw machine equipped with an air cushion table on which the panels are picked up individually and fed to further processing stations.

As they feed out of the panel saw machine, the panels are picked up and

15 transferred by an operator who removes the single panels or stacks of panels from the cutting line outfeed table, preferably of the air cushion type, and feeds them to a pick-up station in the form, for example, of a feeder such as a roller conveyor, which this specification expressly refers to but without losing in generality.

Generally speaking, the operator places the single panels or stacks of panels 20 on the roller conveyor in ordered succession, placing them one on top of the other to form a pile, that is to say, a set of stacked panels all of the same size.

The stack is then fed manually or automatically by the feeder to a further processing station where the panels are finished or packaged.

The operator's action during transfer of the panels from the panel saw 25 machine has major drawbacks, however.

It should be remembered that the panels may be extremely large and thus extremely cumbersome and heavy, with obvious disadvantages for the operator who has to handle and transfer them manually.

Further, the formation of the stack of panels is a highly time-consuming task since the panels have to be transferred manually and owing to the distance between the panel saw machine and the roller conveyor.

Another major drawback is due to the operational limits caused by manual operations, especially during the formation of the stack, where the panels are not always stacked and aligned precisely.

Disclosure of the Invention

This invention therefore has for an aim to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages by providing a panel handling device that is capable of transferring the panels automatically, precisely and quickly.

In accordance with the invention, this aim is achieved by a panel handling device according to one or more of the appended claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings The technical characteristics of the invention, with reference to the above aim, are clearly described in the claims below and its advantages are more apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention provided merely by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which:

- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a panel handling device according to the invention in a first operating position, downstream of the panel saw machine;

- Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 1 in a second operating position; - Figure 3 is a side elevation, longitudinal section view of the panel handling device according to the invention;

- Figure 4 shows a front elevation view of the panel handling device according to the invention with some parts cut away in order to better illustrate others; - Figure 5 is a front elevation, longitudinal section view of the device of

Figure 4;

- Figure 6 illustrates a detail of the panel handling device in a schematic view from A with reference to Figure 4.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety a device for handling panels 2, made of wood, for example.

In particular, the device 1 according to the invention is used preferably for handling and transferring wooden panels 2 fed out of a panel saw machine 3, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, towards a pick-up station, for example, comprising conveying means 4. For example, still with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the conveying means 4 may be in the form of one or more roller conveyors positioned alongside the panel saw machine 3 to feed the one or more cut panels 2.

It should, however, be specified that the device 1 may be used in any kind of installation where one or more panels need to be transferred from one processing station to another, whether adjacent or at a distance from each other.

More in detail, the device 1 comprises a mounting frame 5 interposed between the panel saw machine 3 and the conveying means 4.

More specifically, the frame 5 is located between an area 3 a for unloading the machine 3, where the cut panels 2 are positioned on air cushion tables 3b, and an area 4a for loading the conveying means 4, where a stack of panels 2 is positioned so that it can be fed towards further finishing or packaging stations which are not described or illustrated since they are outside the scope of this invention. In the example illustrated, the conveying means 4, that is, the roller conveyor, extend parallel to the air cushion supporting tables 3b.

The mounting frame 5 comprises a substantially vertical upright 6 extending along a respective longitudinal axis "X".

The upright 6 has the shape of a tube with a substantially square cross section, and has a top end 6a and, opposite the top end, a bottom end 6b where a cavity 7 is formed (Figures 3 to 5).

More specifically, the cavity 7 is delimited by a hollow block 7a inserted in the upright 6 and fixed to the same.

The device 1 also comprises first movement means 8 coupled with the upright 6 for moving a supporting element 9 (better described below) associated with the upright 6 between a pick-up position (Figure 1) where the element 9 is positioned in the unloading area 3 a for receiving at least one panel 2, and a release position (Figure 2) where the element 9 is positioned in a loading area 4a of the conveying means 4 to place the panel 2 on the means 4. With reference in particular to Figures 3 to 5, it should be noticed that the first movement means 8 comprise a supporting base 10, rotatably engaged with the upright 6 in such a way as to allow the upright 6 itself to turn between the pick-up position and the release position. m particular, the supporting base 10 comprises an anchoring portion 11 attached to the floor and having a substantially flat shape. From the anchoring portion 11 there extends a pin 12 upwardly of the anchoring portion 11 itself and coaxially housed in the cavity 7 of the upright 6.

In this situation, the upright 6 is rotatably fitted over the pin 12 which is rigidly attached to the anchoring portion 11. Thus, the entire upright 6 is rotatable relative to the pin 12 about the longitudinal axis "X".

With reference in particular to Figures 4 and 6, the device 1 comprises limit stop means 30 for stopping the rotational motion of the upright 6 about the axis X substantially at the above mentioned pick-up and release positions.

The means 30 comprise an arm 31 which extends radially from the upright 6 and rotates as one with the latter.

The means 30 also comprise two stops 32a, 32b diametrically opposite each other with respect to the upright 6 and against which the arm 31 stops after turning about the axis X. hi particular, the stop 32a is designed to stop the upright 6 in the release position, whilst the stop 32b is designed to stop the upright 6 in the pick-up position of the conveying means 4.

Advantageously, the stops 32a, 32b comprise a respective adjuster 33a, 33b, for example, a nut, for adjusting the stop position.

As shown in Figure 6, the panel handling device comprises means 34 for locking the upright 6 in the pick-up and release positions to guarantee the safety of the operator during loading and unloading operations.

The locking means 34 comprise a bolt 35 mounted on the upright 6.

The bolt 35 is mobile between a position in which it locks the pin 12 and a position in which it releases it, illustrated with a dashed line. More in detail, the pin 12 has a hole 36 passing through it, preferably diametrically, in which the bolt 35 can slide.

The bolt 35 is mounted on the upright 6 through a respective mechanism 37 for driving the bolt 35 and suitably controlled by control means schematically represented by a block 38. Preferably, the bolt 35 is normally engaged with the pin 12; when the control means 38 are activated, the bolt 35 is retracted and allows the upright 6 to rotate.

Upon completion of rotation, that is to say, after turning through 180 sexagesimal degrees as in the example illustrated, the retracted bolt 35 is lined up with the through hole 36 again and engages it in such a way as to stop the upright 6 once more. hi other embodiments, rotation is stopped at different angular values, depending on the position of the pick-up position relative to the unloading area 3a.

For example, if rotation through 90 sexagesimal degrees is required, the hole 36 can be suitably shaped to allow the bolt 35 to engage it at the pick-up and release positions of the upright 6.

This prevents unwanted turning of the device 1 when the panels are loaded or unloaded on or from the forks.

To facilitate movement of the upright 6 about the axis "X", a grip portion 13, protruding from the upright 6 and designed to be gripped manually by the operator, is provided.

Advantageously, the grip portion 13 comprises a handle 14 extending from the outside surface 6 perpendicularly to the longitudinal extension of the upright 6 itself and equipped with a series of ergonomic portions 14a designed to be gripped by the operator turning the upright 6.

As better illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the supporting element 9 comprises a plurality of forks 15 protruding in cantilever fashion from the mounting frame 5 and each of which has a surface 15a for supporting at least one wooden panel 2.

The accompanying drawings show three forks 15, extending transversally to the longitudinal extension of the upright 6 and parallel to each other to form a table for supporting the panel 2.

Each fork 15 is attached to a load-bearing structure 16 under it; the load- bearing structure 16 preferably comprises a series of vertical bars 16a joined to each other by respective crossbars 16b. As shown in Figure 4, the bottom of each fork 15 is attached to a respective vertical bar 16a.

It should also be noticed that the size and relative position of the forks 15 are such that each fork can be inserted between two adjacent rollers of the conveying means 4 when the supporting element is in the release position (Figure

2). hi this way, by lowering the supporting element 9 to a level below the conveying means 4 it is possible to insert the forks 15 between the rollers and to place the panel 2 on the cylindrical outside surface of the rollers themselves.

Preferably, the supporting element 9 is moved in height in a substantially vertical direction corresponding to the longitudinal axis "X" through second movement means 17 illustrated in detail in Figures 3 to 5.

In particular, the second movement means 17 comprise at least one sliding guide 18, associated with the outside surface of the upright 6 and running along the longitudinal axis "X".

Preferably, as illustrated in Figure 4, the upright 6 is fitted with two parallel sliding guides 18, with a pair of slide shoes 19 running on each.

Ln this situation each pair of slide shoes 19 is rigidly engaged with the load- bearing structure 16 of the supporting element 9 to move the entire element 9 along the axis "X" as the slide shoes 19 themselves move along on the guides 18.

The movement of the slide shoes 19 is imparted by a connecting element 21 which is housed inside the upright 6 and which connects a geared motor 20 to the slide shoes 19.

The geared motor 20, which is not described or illustrated in detail since it is of well known type, is preferably engaged with the outside surface of the upright 6 at the top end 6a of the latter. From the geared motor 20 there extends a revolving shaft which is conveniently coupled to the connecting element 21 and which extends into the upright 6.

More in detail, the connecting element 21 comprises two pulleys 22 positioned at the ends 6a and 6b of the upright 6. It should be noticed that the pulley 22 at the top end 6a of the upright 6 is keyed to the revolving shaft of the geared motor 20.

The pulleys 22 are connected to each other by a transmission belt 23, operatively connected to at least one slide shoe 19 and extending along the longitudinal axis "X" to move to and fro towards the top end 6a or lower end 6b of the upright 6.

Preferably the transmission belt 23 comprises a chain 24 interrupted at a respective rigid coupling portion 25 attached to the slide shoe 19 in such a way as to move the latter vertically in opposite feed directions.

As better illustrated in Figure 3, the chain 24 has two rigid coupling portions 25, each of which has a connecting rod 26 protruding perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis "X" and extending outside the upright 6. The upright 6 has a long lateral opening 27 (Figure 4) parallel to the longitudinal extension of the upright 6 and designed to allow the passage of the rods 26.

Each rod 26 is rigidly coupled to one of the slide shoes 19 in each pair so as to drive the slide shoes 19 in a vertical direction towards/away from, the bottom end 6b.

The second movement means 17 further comprise an electronic control unit, not illustrated or described in detail since it is of known type, associated with the geared motor 20 to activate the latter and determine the feed direction of the belt 23.

This invention also relates to a panel saw installation 100 comprising a panel saw machine 3, means 4 for conveying the panels as they feed out of the panel saw machine 3 and a handling device 1 for moving the panels from the panel saw machine 3 to the conveying means 4. Advantageously, starting from the condition shown in Figure 1 where the supporting element 9 is in the pick-up position, the forks 15 are positioned in such a way that their supporting surfaces 15a lie in the same plane as the supporting tables 3b of the machine 3 to enable the single panels 2 to slide on the forks 15 themselves. In this way, by lowering the supporting element 9 in steps below the level of the tables 3b the panels 2 can be placed on top of one another on the forks 15 to form a stack of panels 2 (Figure 3).

The downward movement of the supporting element 9 is controlled by the operator using appropriate buttons on the electronic control unit. This activates the second movement means 17 which move the supporting element 9 vertically.

Once the stack of panels 2 has been formed, the operator grips the gripping portion 13 to turn the upright 6 about the longitudinal axis "X" until the supporting element 9 is over the conveying means 4 (Figure 2).

The supporting element 9 is moved downwards to place the stack of panels 2 on the roller conveyor. As specified above, during the movement of the supporting element 9 towards the conveying means 4, the forks 15 are inserted between the two ajacent rollers so that the panels 2 can be released on the rollers. At this point, the stack of panels 2 is made to advance manually or automatically on the conveying means 4 so that the forks can be re-lifted above the rollers and the element 9 moved back to the pick-up position. Advantageously, the single panels 2 or the stack of panels 2 are conveyed entirely by the device 1, avoiding manual operation by the operator. Indeed, all the operator has to do is turn the upright and control the vertical movement of the supporting element 9. Thus, the panels 2 are no longer handled and transferred manually, with obvious advantages in terms of speed of handling and ease of transfer. It should also be noticed that the device 1 is extremely compact, occupying very little space thanks to the structure of the upright 6 which has built into it the second means 17 for mechanically moving the forks 15. The invention described above is susceptible of industrial application and may be modified and adapted in many ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.

Claims

1. A device for handling panels characterized in that it comprises:

- a mounting frame (5) that can be positioned between a panel saw machine (3) for cutting wooden panels (2) and conveying means (4);

- a supporting element (9) associated with the mounting frame (5) for engaging at least one panel (2) feeding out of the panel saw machine (3); and

- first movement means (8) coupled with the mounting frame (5) for moving the supporting element (9) between a pick-up position where the element (9) is positioned in an unloading area (3 a) of the panel saw machine (3) for receiving the at least one panel (2), and a release position where the element (9) is positioned in a loading area (4a) of the conveying means (4) to place the panel (2) on the means

(4).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first movement means (8) comprise a supporting base (10), rotatably engaged with the mounting frame (5) to turn the frame (5) itself between the pick-up position and the release position of the supporting element (9).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the supporting base (10) comprises an anchoring portion (11) attached to the floor, and a pin (12) emerging out of the anchoring portion (11) and rotatably housed in a cavity (7) made in the mounting frame (5).

4. The device according to the previous claim, characterized in that the mounting frame (5) comprises an upright (6) extending along a respective longitudinal axis (X) and having a bottom end (6b) in which the cavity (7) that houses the pin (12) is made; the upright (6) being rotatable relative to the pin (12) about the longitudinal axis (X).

5. The device according to the previous claim, characterized in that the first movement means (8) also comprise a grip portion (13), protruding from the upright (6) and designed to be gripped manually to turn the upright (6) and the respective supporting element (9) about the longitudinal axis (X).

6. The device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the frame (5) comprises second movement means (17) to move the supporting element (9) along the longitudinal axis (X) in a substantially vertical direction.

7. The device according to the previous claim, characterized in that the second movement means (17) comprise: at least one sliding guide (18), associated with the upright (6) and running along the longitudinal axis (X); at least one slide shoe (19) engaged with the supporting element (9) and slidable along the sliding guide (18); and a connecting element (21) associated with the slide shoe (19) in such a way as to move the latter along the longitudinal axis (X).

8. The device according to the previous claim, characterized in that the connecting element (21) comprises: two pulleys (22) positioned at the bottom end (6b) and at a top end (6a) of the upright (6); a transmission belt (23), operatively associated with the pulleys (22) and engaged with the slide shoe (19); and a geared motor (20) associated with the upright (6) and connected to one of the pulleys (22) in order to drive the transmission belt (23) to and fro in opposite feed directions.

9. The device according to the previous claim, characterized in that the transmission belt comprises a chain (24) having a rigid coupling portion (25) attached to the slide shoe (19) in such a way as to move the latter vertically.

10. The device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the second movement means (17) comprise an electronic control unit associated with the geared motor (20) to activate the geared motor (20) and determine the feed direction of the belt (23).

11. The device according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the supporting element (9) comprises a plurality of forks (15) protruding in cantilever fashion from the mounting frame (5) and each of which has a surface (15a) for supporting at least one panel (2).

12. The device according to the previous claim when it depends on any of the claims from 7 to 10, characterized in that the supporting element (9) also comprises a load-bearing structure (16) rigidly engaged with the slide shoe (19); the forks (15) being mounted on the load-bearing structure (16).

13. The device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, when the supporting element (9) is in the release position, each fork (15) can be inserted between two parallel adjacent rollers of the conveying means (4) so as to place the panel (2) on the cylindrical outside surface of the rollers themselves.

14. The device according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that it comprises limit stop means (30) for stopping the rotational motion of the upright (6) at the pick-up and release positions.

15. The device according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that it comprises means (34) for locking the upright (6) in the pick-up and release positions.

16. An installation for processing panels (2) comprising a panel saw machine (3), means (4) for conveying the panels (2) feeding out of the panel saw machine (3), the installation being characterized in that it comprises a panel (2) handling device (1) according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 15 operating between the panel saw machine (3) and the conveying means (4).