Device for handling sheets of paper.

Abstract

 A device for handling sheets of paper comprises means (6) for supporting a plurality of sheets (2) of paper stacked together in a block (4), an element (7) for picking up one sheet (2) of paper at a time; the pick up element (7) rotating about an axis (X) and comprising means (16) for engaging with and moving each sheet (2) which, as the pick up element (7) rotates, engage with an end portion (5) of the sheet (2) in such a way as to detach the portion (2) from the block (4).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for handling sheets of paper.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a device for separating sheets of paper which are stacked in a collection station (or magazine).

[0003] As is known, devices for handling sheets of paper are used to separate a single sheet of paper from a group of sheets stacked on top of each other in a collection station and to transfer one sheet at a time from the collection station to a subsequent station where various types of processing are carried out on each sheet of paper.

[0004] Alternatively, the devices for handling sheets of paper are used exclusively for separating one sheet of paper at a time from a group of sheets, allowing the number of sheets in the group to be counted: said configuration is used, for example, in the banking sector for counting bank notes.

[0005] In the pharmaceutical sector, devices for handling sheets of paper are used to transfer information leaflets relating to a medicine from a collection magazine, where the leaflets are stacked on top of each other, to a folding station, where each leaflet is folded so that it can be inserted in the box containing the medicine.

[0006] Prior art handling devices comprise a leaflet set down and feed station, where the leaflets are placed stacked on top of each other, forming a parallelepiped block, and a leaflet extraction unit, adjacent to the set down and feed station and positioned downstream of it.

[0007] The set down and feed station consists of a supporting surface, on which the block of leaflets is positioned.

[0008] The extraction unit is located at the base of the block of leaflets.

[0009] The extraction unit comprises one or more teeth designed to be inserted between a pair of adjacent leaflets.

[0010] The teeth of the extraction unit are connected to a cam mechanism and move with a vertical reciprocating motion, between a raised position and a lowered position.

[0011] When they are in the raised position, the teeth are inserted between the leaflet at the bottom of the block and the leaflet adjacent to it.

[0012] Then the teeth, moved by the cam mechanism, move towards the lowered position, also carrying downwards the leaflet at the bottom of the block.

[0013] Positioned below the teeth there is a pair of opposite rollers rotating in opposite directions and separated by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of one leaflet.

[0014] The teeth push the bottom leaflet downwards until a portion of the leaflet is inserted between the two opposite rollers, the rollers drawing the leaflet towards a subsequent processing station.

[0015] Such prior art devices have several disadvantages.

[0016] The cam mechanism for moving the teeth significantly limits the device operating speed.

[0017] Moreover, the presence of the cams for moving the teeth makes the construction very bulky and complex, consequently increasing device production costs.

[0018] Therefore, the present invention has for an aim to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing a device for handling sheets of paper which is simple to make, economical and allows high operating speeds to be achieved.

[0019] The technical features of the present invention, in accordance with the above aim, are apparent from the content of the appended claims, in particular claim 1 and, preferably, any of the claims directly or indirectly dependent on claim 1.

[0020] The advantages of the present invention are more apparent in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a device made in accordance with the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the device of Figure 1, in a first operating configuration;
• Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the device of Figure 1, in a second operating configuration;
• Figure 4 is a schematic side view of the device of Figure 1, in a third operating configuration;
• Figure 5 is an enlarged schematic perspective view of a detail of the device of Figure 1;
• Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view from a different angle of the detail of Figure 5;
• Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 2;
• Figure 8 is an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 3;
• Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 4;
• Figure 10 illustrates a second, alternative embodiment of a detail of the device of Figure 1;
• Figure 11 is a schematic side view of the detail of Figure 10;
• Figure 12 is a schematic perspective view of the detail of Figure 10;
• Figure 13 illustrates a second, alternative embodiment of the device of Figure 1;
• Figure 14 is an enlarged view of a detail of the device of Figure 13.

[0021] With reference to drawings 1 to 14, the numeral 1 denotes as a whole a device for handling sheets 2 of paper made according to the present invention.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the device 1 for handling sheets 2 of paper comprises a supporting surface 3 for a plurality of sheets 2 of paper.

[0023] The sheets 2 of paper are stacked on top of each other on the supporting surface 3, forming a block 4 which substantially has the shape of a parallelepiped.

[0024] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 12, the supporting surface 3 is set at a predetermined angle α.

[0025] As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the block 4 of sheets 2 partly rests on the supporting surface 3, so that an end portion 5 of the sheets 2 forming the block 4 extends beyond the supporting surface 3.

[0026] The supporting surface 3 forms handling device 1 supporting means 6.

[0027] The device 1 also comprises a sheet pick up element 7, positioned at the end portion 5 of the sheets which extends beyond the supporting surface 3.

[0028] In more detail, the pick up element 7 is positioned below the sheet 2 located at the bottom of the block 4, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

[0029] The pick up element 7 is designed to engage with the end portion 5 of each sheet 2, said portion 5 extending beyond the supporting surface 3, and to pick up one sheet 2 at a time, one after another, from the block 4.

[0030] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the pick up element 7 comprises an element 8 having the shape of a truncated cone with an upper base 9, a lower base 10 and a lateral wall 11. The element 8 having the shape of a truncated cone can rotate about a predetermined axis X and is driven by an electric motor of the known type and therefore not illustrated.

[0031] The axis X of rotation of the truncated cone-shaped element 8 is transversal to the plane P identified by each sheet 2 forming the block 4.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the truncated cone-shaped element 8 is positioned below the block of sheets, so that the lower face 12 of the sheet 2 at the bottom of the block 4 is in contact with the upper base 9 of the truncated cone-shaped element 8.

[0033] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, there is a spiral groove 13 on the lateral wall 11 of the truncated cone-shaped element 8.

[0034] The spiral groove 13 has an inlet 14, at the upper base 9, and an outlet 15, at the lower base 10.

[0035] In more detail, the spiral groove 13 originates at the upper base 9 of the truncated cone-shaped element 8 and extends from the upper base 9 to the lower base 10 and is designed to receive the end portion 5 of each sheet 2 and to move it from the top downwards as the truncated cone-shaped element 8 rotates, as described in detail below.

[0036] The depth of the spiral groove 13 varies from the upper base 9 towards the lower base 10.

[0037] In particular, the depth of the spiral groove 13 is reduced from the upper base 9 towards the lower base 10.

[0038] The spiral groove 13 forms means 16 for engaging with and moving each sheet 2 which, as the pick up element 7 rotates, engage with the end portion 5 of the sheet 2, detaching the portion 5 from the block 4.

[0039] As Figures 5 and 6 show, there are three holes 17 located on the upper base 9 of the truncated cone-shaped element 8, the holes being positioned upstream of the spiral groove 13 inlet 14.

[0040] The three holes 17 form suction means for each sheet 2.

[0041] The three holes 17 are in fluid communication with a suction pump of the known type and therefore not illustrated.

[0042] In that way, when they are below a sheet 2, the holes 17 in the truncated cone-shaped element 8 apply a sucking action, detaching the sheet from the block 4 and guiding its insertion in the groove 13.

[0043] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, positioned below the truncated cone-shaped element 8 there is a pair of rollers 18 rotating in opposite directions.

[0044] The rollers 18 are separated by a predetermined distance D, forming a slot 19 whose thickness is substantially equal to the thickness of one sheet 2.

[0045] The rollers 18 are designed to extract one sheet 2 at a time from the block 4, according to the methods described in detail below.

[0046] In an alternative embodiment, illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12, the pick up element 7 is a cylindrical element 20, made in the same way as the truncated cone-shaped element 8, except that its outline is cylindrical rather than having the shape of a truncated cone. Therefore, for a detailed description of the cylindrical element 20, reference should be made to the description of the truncated cone-shaped element 8.

[0047] In practice, the electric motor drives rotation of the truncated cone-shaped element 8 in the direction indicated by the arrow F of Figure 2.

[0048] As the truncated cone-shaped element 8 rotates, when the first of the three holes 17 in the upper base 9 moves below the sheet 2 at the bottom of the block 4, the sucking action generated by the suction means draws the lower face 12 of the sheet 2 towards the upper base 9 of the truncated cone-shaped element. The sucking action increases as the truncated cone-shaped element 8 rotates when the second and third holes 17 also move below the lower face 12 of the sheet 2.

[0049] In that condition the end portion 5 of the sheet 2 is detached from the block 4 and held in contact with the upper base 9 of the truncated cone-shaped element 8.

[0050] Further rotation by the truncated cone-shaped element 8 causes the end portion 5 of the sheet 2 to be inserted in the spiral groove 13.

[0051] As the truncated cone-shaped element 8 rotates, the end portion 5 of the sheet 2, engaged with the spiral groove 13, is moved downwards by the action of the spiral groove 13, as illustrated in Figure 3.

[0052] When the truncated cone-shaped element 8 has completed a 360° rotation, the end portion 5 of the sheet 2 is at the spiral groove 13 outlet 15, at the lower base 10 of the truncated cone-shaped element 8.

[0053] At that point, the end portion 5 of the sheet 2 is inserted in the slot 19 formed by the two rollers 18 rotating in opposite directions.

[0054] The opposite rotation of the rollers 18 applies a pulling action on the sheet 2. In that way, the sheet 2 is extracted from the block 4 and transferred to a subsequent station, as shown in Figure 4.

[0055] Each time the pick up element 7 completes a 360° rotation, the sheet 2 located at the bottom of the block 4 is extracted.

[0056] Figure 13 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the device made according to the present invention.

[0057] According to said alternative embodiment, the device comprises a supporting surface 21 on which a plurality of sheets 2 stacked in a block is placed. The pick up element 7 comprises a cylindrical element 22 having an upper base 23, a lower base 24 and a lateral wall 25.

[0058] On the lateral wall there is a spiral groove 26 designed to engage with an end portion 27 of each of the sheets 2.

[0059] According to said alternative embodiment, the spiral groove 26 inlet 28 is at the lower base 24 and the outlet 29 is at the upper base 23.

[0060] The cylindrical element 22 can rotate about an axis Y which is transversal to the plane identified by each of the sheets 2.

[0061] Moreover, the cylindrical element 22 is connected to a vertical guide 30 and can move along the axis Y, between a first, raised position in which the cylindrical element 22 is facing the sheet 2 of paper located at the top of the block 4 and a lowered position, in which the cylindrical element 22 is facing the sheet of paper located at the bottom of the block 4.

[0062] The device comprises counter means, of the known type and therefore not illustrated, connected to the cylindrical element 22 and designed to calculate the number of sheets forming the block.

[0063] In practice, the cylindrical element 22 is placed alongside the sheet 2 located at the top of the block 4, as shown in Figure 13.

[0064] As the cylindrical element 22 rotates, the sheet 2 at the top of the block is inserted in the spiral groove 26 through the inlet 28.

[0065] After the cylindrical element 22 has completed a 360° rotation, the sheet 2 disengages from the spiral groove 26 through the outlet 29 and rests on the upper base 23 of the cylindrical element 22.

[0066] The cylindrical element 22 simultaneously moves downwards, positioning itself at the next sheet 2 in the block 4, so that said sheet 2 can engage with the spiral groove 26.

[0067] Like the first sheet 2, the next sheet 2 also engages with the spiral groove 26 and when the cylindrical element 22 has completed a 360° rotation the sheet disengages from the groove 26, through the outlet 29, resting on the upper base 23 of the cylindrical element 22.

[0068] Said operation continues until the cylindrical element 22 is moved downwards to the last sheet 2 located at the bottom of the block 4.

[0069] Each time the cylindrical element 22 completes a 360° rotation, the counter means increase the number of sheets counted by one unit.

[0070] The invention brings important advantages.

[0071] The continuous rotating movement of the pick up element allows a large number of sheets of paper to be handled in each operating cycle. Moreover, the simple structure of said element, which continuously rotates about an axis, significantly reduces the inertias to which the device is subjected and allows the elimination of the complex and expensive cam mechanisms used in prior art devices.

[0072] The invention described above is susceptible of industrial application and may be modified and adapted in several 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 sheets of paper comprising:

- means (6) for supporting a plurality of sheets (2) of paper, said sheets (2) being stacked together in a block (4);

- an element (7) for picking up, from the block (4), one sheet (2) of paper at a time, the pick up element (7) being designed to engage with an end portion (5) of the sheet (2), the device being characterised in that the pick up element (7) rotates about an axis (X) and comprises means (16) for engaging with and moving the sheet (2) which, when the pick up element (7) rotates, engage with the end portion (5) of the sheet (2) in such a way as to detach the portion (5) from the block (4).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the means (16) for engaging with and moving the sheet (2) comprise a spiral groove (13) designed to receive the end portion (5) of the sheet (2).

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the pick up element (7) comprises a cylindrical element (20) which can rotate about an axis (X) that is transversal to the plane (P) identified by each of the sheets (2) and which has an outer lateral wall (11), an upper base (9) and a lower base (10).

4. The device according to claim 2, characterised in that the spiral groove (13) is provided on the lateral wall (11) of the cylindrical element (20) and is designed to receive the end portion (5) of the sheet (2).

5. The device according to claim 4, characterised in that the spiral groove (13) extends from the upper base (9) to the lower base (10).

6. The device according to claim 5, characterised in that the spiral groove (13) has a variable depth from the upper base (9) towards the lower base (10) of the cylindrical element (20).

7. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the pick up element (2) is an element (8) having the shape of a truncated cone which rotates about an axis (X) that is transversal to the plane (P) identified by each of the sheets (2) and which has an outer lateral wall (11), an upper base (9) and a lower base (10).

8. The device according to claim 7, characterised in that the spiral groove (13) is provided on the lateral wall (11) of the element (8) which has the shape of a truncated cone and is designed to receive the end portion (5) of the sheet (2).

9. The device according to claim 8, characterised in that the spiral groove (13) extends from the upper base (9) to the lower base (10).

10. The device according to claim 9, characterised in that the spiral groove (13) has a variable depth from the upper base (9) towards the lower base (10) of the element (8) which has the shape of a truncated cone.

11. The device according to any of the claims 2, 3 or 7, characterised in that it comprises a pair of rollers (18) rotating in opposite directions positioned below the pick up element (7) and forming a slot (19) whose thickness is substantially equal to the thickness of one of the sheets (2), and also being characterised in that the spiral groove (13) has a profile shaped in such a way that following a 360° rotation of the pick up element (7) the end portion (5) of the sheet (2), engaged with the spiral groove (13), is moved away from the block (4) downwards and is inserted in the slot (19), in such a way that the sheet (2) is extracted from the block (4) and drawn by the rollers (18) rotating in opposite directions.

12. The device according to any of the claims from 11, characterised in that the pick up element (7) comprises sheet (2) suction means (17) designed to detach the end portion (5) of the sheet (2) from the block (4) in such a way as to associate the end portion (5) with the means (16) for engaging with and moving the sheet.

13. The device according to claim 12, characterised in that the suction means (17) comprise at least one suction hole (17) made in the pick up element (7) upstream of the spiral groove (13), with reference to the direction of rotation of the pick up element (7).

14. The device according to any of the claims from 1 to 10, characterised in that the pick up element (7) can move vertically along the axis (X) of rotation of the pick up element (7).

15. The device according to any of the claims from 1 to 14, characterised in that the supporting means (6) comprise a supporting surface (3).

16. The device according to claim 15, characterised in that the supporting surface (3) is set at a predetermined angle (α).

17. The device according to claim 15 or 16,
characterised in that the block (4) of sheets (2) partly rests on the surface (3), in such a way that the end portion (5) extends beyond the supporting surface (3).

Drawing