Feed mechanism

Abstract

A feed mechanism for feeding a material ( 1,2 ) to be processed into a working assembly ( 3 ) included in a sheet processing line, said feed mechanism comprising equipment ( 4,5 ) for handling both single sheets ( 2 ) and a strip ( 1 ) unloaded from a reel, and which equipment optionally provides a guidance either for the single sheets ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ) onto an entry track ( 6 ) to the working assembly ( 3 ). The feed mechanism comprises at least one web guide ( 14,22 ), a first feeder ( 9 ), a barrier ( 11 ) for determining the position for a leading edge ( 13 ) of the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ), a feeding means ( 12 ) for bringing the leading edge ( 13 ) of the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ) against said barrier ( 11 ), at least one arrest cylinder ( 18 ) for immobilizing the processed sin sheet ( 2 ) or strip ( 1 ) relative to the entry track ( 6 ), a second feeder ( 19 ).

1 . A feed mechanism for feeding a material ( 1 ,  2 ) to be processed into a working assembly ( 3 ) included in a sheet processing line, the working assembly having an entry side, an exit side and an entry track said feed mechanism comprising equipment ( 4 ,  5 ) for handling both single sheets ( 2 ) and a strip ( 1 ) unloaded from a reel, and which equipment optionally provides a guidance either for the single sheets ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ) onto an entry track ( 6 ) to the working assembly ( 3 ), characterized in that the feed mechanism comprises 
 at least one first web guide ( 14 ) provided on the entry side ( 7 ) of the working assembly ( 3 ) on either side of the entry track ( 6 ) for guiding sides ( 15 ,  16 ) of the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ) which are parallel to the entry track ( 6 ), such that at least one of the web guides ( 14 ) present on the opposite sides of the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ) is equipped with a positioning element ( 17 ) for shifting the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ) to a desired position in a direction crosswise to the entry track's ( 6 ) lengthwise direction,    a first feeder ( 9 ), provided on the working assembly's ( 3 ) entry side ( 7 ) and shuttling co-directionally with the entry track ( 6 ), which is equipped with grippers ( 25 ) taking hold of the opposite sides ( 15 ,  16 ) of the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ) and being adapted to move by one or more positioning elements ( 10 ) for shifting the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ) to a desired position in a direction crosswise to the direction of the entry track,    a barrier ( 11 ) for determining the position for a leading edge ( 13 ) of the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ),    a feeder ( 12 ) provided on the working assembly's ( 3 ) entry side ( 7 ) for bringing the leading edge ( 13 ) of the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ) against said barrier ( 11 ),    at least one first arrest cylinder ( 18 ) provided on the working assembly's ( 3 ) entry side ( 7 ) for immobilizing the subsequently processed single sheet ( 2 ) or strip ( 1 ) relative to the entry track ( 6 ),    at least one second web guide ( 22 ) provided on either side of the entry track ( 6 ) on the working assembly's ( 3 ) exit side ( 8 ) for guiding the sides ( 15 ,  16 ) of the single sheet ( 2 ) or strip ( 1 ) which are parallel to the entry track ( 6 ), such that at least one of the web guides ( 22 ) present on the opposite sides of the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ) is equipped with a positioning element ( 17 ) for shifting the single sheet ( 2 ) or strip ( 1 ) to a desired position in a direction crosswise to the entry track's ( 6 ) lengthwise direction,    a second feeder ( 19 ), provided on the working assembly's ( 3 ) exit side ( 8 ) and adapted to shuttle parallel to the entry track ( 6 ), which is equipped with a gripper ( 21 ) taking hold of the leading or side edge ( 13 ,  15 ,  16 ) of the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ) or a piece ( 20 ) to be removed from the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ), said gripper being adapted to travel in a direction crosswise to the direction of the entry track ( 6 ), and    at least one second arrest cylinder ( 18 ) provided on the working assembly's ( 3 ) exit side ( 8 ) for immobilizing the processed single sheet ( 2 ) or strip ( 1 ) relative to the entry track ( 6 ).    
   
   
       2 . A feed mechanism as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the first feeder ( 9 ) has its positioning element ( 10 ) adapted to center the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ) relative to a longitudinal center line ( 23 ) of the entry track ( 6 ).  
   
   
       3 . A feed mechanism as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the barrier ( 11 ) comprises an immobilizing stopper.  
   
   
       4 . A feed mechanism as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the feeder ( 12 ) for bringing the leading edge ( 13 ) of the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ) against the barrier ( 11 ) includes a flexible element ( 24 ) for urging said leading edge ( 13 ) tightly against the barrier ( 11 ).  
   
   
       5 . A feed mechanism as set forth in  claim 4 , characterized in that the flexible element comprises a suction pad, a magnet or gripper element ( 24 ) functioning as a gripper element of the feeder ( 12 ).  
   
   
       6 . A feed mechanism as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the first web guides ( 14 ,  22 ), provided on the working assembly's ( 3 ) entry side ( 7 ) and exit side ( 8 ) and mounted on the opposite sides ( 15 ,  16 ) of the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ), are adapted to center the entry track ( 6 ) relative to the longitudinal center line ( 23 ).  
   
   
       7 . A feed mechanism as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the feeder ( 19 ) has its gripper/grippers ( 21 ) further adapted to travel in a vertical direction.  
   
   
       8 . A feed mechanism as set forth in  claim 7 , characterized in that the grippers ( 21 ) are adapted to perform vertical motions thereof independently of each other.  
   
   
       9 . A feed mechanism as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the working assembly's ( 3 ) exit side ( 8 ) is provided with a first conveyor ( 26 ), extending parallel to the entry track's ( 6 ) plane, and with a second conveyor therebelow, and that further provided is an adjustable guide element ( 28 ) for guiding the pieces ( 20 ) to be removed from the strip ( 1 ) or the single sheet ( 2 ) onto the desired conveyor ( 26 ,  27 ).  
   
   
       10 . A feed mechanism as set forth in  claim 2 , characterized in that the barrier ( 11 ) comprises an immobilizing stopper.  
   
   
       11 . A feed mechanism as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the feeder ( 12 ) for bringing the leading edge ( 13 ) of the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ) against the barrier ( 11 ) includes a flexible element ( 24 ) for urging said leading edge ( 13 ) tightly against the barrier ( 11 ).  
   
   
       12 . A feed mechanism as set forth in  claim 11 , characterized in that the flexible element comprises a suction pad, a magnet or gripper element ( 24 ) functioning as a gripper element of the feeder ( 12 ).  
   
   
       13 . A feed mechanism as set forth in  claim 12 , characterized in that the first web guides ( 14 ,  22 ), provided on the working assembly's ( 3 ) entry side ( 7 ) and exit side ( 8 ) and mounted on the opposite sides ( 15 ,  16 ) of the single sheet ( 2 ) or the strip ( 1 ), are adapted to center the entry track ( 6 ) relative to the longitudinal center line ( 23 ).  
   
   
       14 . A feed mechanism as set forth in  claim 13 , characterized in that the feeder ( 19 ) has its gripper/grippers ( 21 ) further adapted to travel in a vertical direction.  
   
   
       15 . A feed mechanism as set forth in  claim 14 , characterized in that the grippers ( 21 ) are adapted to perform vertical motions thereof independently of each other.  
   
   
       16 . A feed mechanism as set forth in  claim 15 , characterized in that the working assembly's ( 3 ) exit side ( 8 ) is provided with a first conveyor ( 26 ), extending parallel to the entry track's ( 6 ) plane, and with a second conveyor therebelow, and that further provided is an adjustable guide element ( 28 ) for guiding the pieces ( 20 ) to be removed from the strip ( 1 ) or the single sheet ( 2 ) onto the desired conveyor ( 26 ,  27 ).