The present invention relates to the technical sector concerning production and packing of tiles, for example tiles made of a ceramic material.

In particular, the invention relates to a device usable for the application and the positioning of a protecting element ("corner piece") at a corner, for example an upper corner, of a stack of tiles, before the stack of tiles is packed inside a relative packaging or cardboard pack.

Usually the tiles, once the production cycle thereof has been completed, are compacted and stacked one above the other to form a series of stacks of tiles; each of the stack thus-formed is then destined to be conveyed towards the station responsible for the packing thereof in cardboard packs or plastic stretch or heat-shrinking material.

In this regard, the stacks of tiles are arranged, spaced apart from each other, above a conveyor line, for example constituted by a conveyor belt or by a pair of looped straps, which is activated intermittently to convey the stacks, one after the other, to the packing station.

The line is activated intermittently, that is, in a stepped fashion, such that at each pause the stack of tiles that has reached the packing station can be subjected to the packing/packaging operations.

At present, before packaging and with the aim of protecting the tiles from breakage once packed, and preventing damage thereto during the pack/package storing operations, during transport to the final destination thereof and during loading/unloading operations, a specially-deputed operative manually positions protecting elements (corner pieces) at each of the upper corners of the stack of tiles. This operation is done when a stack of tiles is halted along the conveyor line.

The "corner pieces" are elements having an angular shape, being an L-shape, for example made of plastic or cardboard, provided between the two wings of the "L" with a sort of a lip or small wall that is destined to rest on the top tile of the stack of tiles when the two wings of the "corner piece" are placed in contact against the side walls of the stack of tiles.

The corner pieces are then incorporated together with the stack of tiles inside the packing/packaging of cardboard or stretch plastic or heat-shrink plastic, remaining "trapped" between the cardboard and the stack of tiles, giving the final package an increase in resistance to shocks exactly at the edges which are at greatest risk of collisions, impacts, etc.

Clearly the use of the manual-type operations by a suitable operative for the application and positioning of the "edge protection" is not optimal in relation to the automatic or semi-automatic modes with which other production line operations are carried out, such as stacking, packing, etc.

Document US 5.564.254 discloses an apparatus for positioning a protecting element at a corner of a stack of tiles to be packed according to the preamble of claim 1.

Therefore, the aim of the present invention is to disclose a device for positioning a protecting element ("corner piece") at an edge of a stack of tiles, before the stack of tiles is packaged inside a relative pack or packaging made of cardboard or stretch plastic or heat-shrinking plastic.

A particular aim of the present invention is to provide a device which can, in a totally automatic way, collect the protecting elements from a respective storage location and position them at the edges of a stack of tiles resting on a relative conveying line used for the transfer of the tile stack towards a packaging station.

This aim is attained by a device for the positioning of protecting elements ("corner pieces") at the edges of a stack of tiles in accordance with the contents of claim 1.

Further advantageous features of the device that is the object of the present invention are set down in the various claims dependent upon claim 1.

The characteristics of the device for positioning of the protecting elements on the corners of a stack of tiles and the characteristics of the store for containing the protecting elements, provided with the present invention, are shown in the following description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• figures 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D are perspective views of the device of the present invention in its entirety, according to a possible embodiment and in different and successive operating steps of collecting a protecting element from a vertically-disposed store and a subsequent positioning and release of the protecting element at a corner, for example an upper corner, of a stack of tiles paused on a conveyor line (stack of tiles and conveyor line visible only in figure 1D for reasons of clarity);
• figures 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D illustrate lateral views of the device of the present invention in different operational phases of figures 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D;
• figures 3A, 3B are lateral views of two further possible preferred embodiments of the device object of the present, where only some significant components of these two further embodiments are illustrated; these embodiments can be used for example in the case of removal of protecting elements from a horizontally-arranged store;
• figures 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D are schematic lateral views of the various possible operating phases of the transfer of a protecting element from the horizontal store to the edge of a stack of tiles in the case of two embodiments of figures 3A, 3B;
• figure 5 shows a perspective view of the store for containing the protecting elements of the present invention, usable with the device of the previous figures;
• figure 6 shows a second plan view of the store according to figure 5, while figure 7 shows the view according to section A-A of figure 6;
• figure 8 shows the use of a system for the application and positioning of protecting elements at edges of a stack of tiles stationed along a conveyor line, the system comprising four operating groups each of which is given by combination of the device and of the store of the preceding figures in the case where the tiles to be packed exhibit a quadrilateral shape, i.e. with four edges.

With reference to the figures reference (D) denotes the device for positioning a protecting element (S) at a corner of a stack (P) of tiles to be packed. As illustrated for example in figure 1D, or for example in figures 2A to 2D, or in figures 4A to 4D, the stack (P) of the tiles is positioned on a conveyor line (L) (for example a belt or a pair of belts or closed-loop chains) which can be operated intermittently to convey the stack (P) of tiles to a packing station (not shown) in which the stack of tiles is to be packaged in a pack made of cardboard, stretch plastic or heat-shrinking plastic.

Before the stack (P) of tiles reaches the packaging station, and during a pause in the advancement of the conveyor line (W), the device (D) of the present invention will apply a protecting element (S) at an edge of the stack (see for example figure 4D).

In the accompanying figures preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the device (D) of the present invention are illustrated, used for positioning the protecting element (S) at for example the top corner of the stack of tiles. The device can also be used to position the protecting element at a lower corner of the stack of tiles, simply by adjusting the position thereof with respect to the position of the stack of tiles arranged on the conveyor line (L).

The protecting element (S) to be positioned on the corner of the stack of tiles by the device (D) according to the present is contained in a store (M) which is located laterally to the conveyor line (L) of the stacks of tiles, and can be arranged vertically (as for example shown in figures 1A to 1D and 2A to 2D), or horizontally (as for example shown in figures 3A, 3B and 4A to 4D).

The store (M) that contains the protecting elements (S) can also be arranged according to different orientations, and not necessarily in a horizontal or vertical arrangement as in the accompanying figures.

In cases where the tiles exhibit a quadrangular shape (for example rectangular or square), as shown for example in the accompanying figures, four corresponding devices for the application of the protecting elements will be used, one on each of the four corners.

The device (D) provided by the present invention comprises a frame (1), which is positioned at the side of the conveying line (L), between the line (L) and the store (M) in a position corresponding to a pause position of a stack (P) of tiles along the line (L) during the stepped advancing; pick-up means (2) which are activated to grip a protecting element (S) and deactivated for the subsequent release of the protecting element (S); and a support element (3), for supporting the pick-up means (2), the support element (3) being constrained rotatably to the frame (1).

The device further comprises actuator means (4, 41, 42) for alternatingly rotating the support element (3) with respect to the frame (1) between a first position (Z1), in which the pick-up means (2) are facing towards the store (M), such as to enable activation of the pick-up means (2) for picking up a protecting element (S) (see for example figure 1A, 2A, 4A), and a second position (Z2), in which the pick-up means (2) are facing towards a corner of the stack (P) of tiles paused on the line (L), in order to enable deactivation of the pick-up means (2) such as to release the protecting element (S) at the corner (see for example figure 1D, 2D, 4C).

In particular, the actuator means (4, 41, 42) are activatable such as to set the support element (3) in rotation such as to bring and position the pick-up means (2) into the first position (Z1) facing towards the store (M), in order to enable activation of the pick-up means (2) for gripping a protecting element (S), and the actuator means (4, 41, 42), after the protecting element (S) has been picked up by the pick-up means (2), are also activatable to set in rotation the support element (3) such as to bring and position the pick-up means (2) in the second position (Z2) facing towards a corner of the stack (P) of tiles paused on the line (L), in order to enable deactivation of the pick-up means (2) for the release of the protecting element (S) at the corner.

In this way, when a stack of tiles (P) reaches the device, and during a pause in the advancement of the line (L), the pick-up means (2) can be positioned facing towards the store (M) and activated to pick up a protecting element (S) and then brought, following the rotation of the support element (3) by the actuator means (4, 41, 42), to a position facing towards a corner of the stack (P) of tiles for the release of the protecting element (S) at the corner and following deactivation thereof.

According to the position of the frame (1) and therefore the support element (3) and the pick-up means (2) borne thereby, with respect to the store (M) and the height of the stack (P) of tiles, on the conveyor line (L), the pick-up means (2) can preferably be translatable alternatively with respect to the support element (3) such as to near/distance from the store and the stack of tiles.

The possibility that the gripping means (2) can be translatable with respect to the support element (3) is also particularly useful and advantageous for extracting the protecting element from the store (M), disengaging it from another higher protecting element present in the store (M), when the store is arranged vertically, for example, or by a further protecting element flanked thereto, when for example the store is horizontally positioned.

As shown in the figures, the protecting elements (S) to be applied on the corners of the stacks of tiles are accumulated stacked on one another, or flanked to one another, internally of the store (M).

In this regard, the device (D) comprises an actuator element (23) for setting the pick-up means (2) in alternating translation with respect to the support element (3).

The actuator element (23), when the pick-up means (2) are positioned in the first position (Z1) facing towards the store (M), is activatable to translate the pick-up means (2) towards the store (M) in order to enable picking up the lowest (or first) protecting element (S) from the stack of pick-up elements present in the store (M), following activation of the pick-up means (2), and thereafter is activatable such as to translate the pick-up means (2) distancingly from the store (M) such as to extract the protecting element (S) from the stack and thereafter extract it from the store (M) (see for example figures 1B, 1C and figures 2B, 2C and 4B).

Further, and preferably, the actuator element (23), following rotation of the support element (3) with which rotation (3) the pick-up means (2), with the protecting element (S) supported thereby, are positioned in the second position (Z2) facing towards a corner of the stack (P) of tiles, is also activatable such as to translate the pick-up means (2) towards the corner such as to enable release of the protecting element (S) on the corner following deactivation of the pick-up means (2) (see for example figures 2D, 4D).

According to various preferred though not-exclusive embodiments of the device (D), illustrated in the various appended figures, the gripping means (2) can comprise, for example, a plate (21) and at least a sucker means (V) borne by the plate (21) and connectable to a source of depression, while the support element (3) comprises a jacket (31) and two guide stems (22) freely slidable in the jacket (31) and constrained to the plate (21).

In further possible embodiments, not illustrated, the pick-up means (2), in the place of the sucker pick-up means, can have pick-up organs in the form of pliers or the like.

The above-cited actuator element (23) in turn comprises a piston (23) predisposed in the jacket (31) such that an end thereof is external of the jacket (31) and connected to the plate (21), the piston (23) being activatable, for example hydraulically or pneumatically, in alternating translation in the jacket (31) such as to set the plate (21) in alternating translation with respect to the jacket (31) of the support element (3) according to the above-described modalities.

A further detail (not illustrated) of the device (D) provided by the present invention, in the various embodiments thereof, consists in the fact that the frame (1) is configured such that the position of the support element (3) constrained thereto is adjustable such as to be suited to a height of the stack (P) of tiles with respect to the conveyor line (L). This can enable, as mentioned above, predisposing the device (D) of the present invention such as to be used for positioning a protecting element (S) at an upper corner or a lower corner of the stack of tiles.

On the basis of a first embodiment of the device as illustrated in figures from 1 A to 1D, from 2A, to 2D, the above-cited actuator means preferably comprise a jack (4), for example hydraulic or pneumatic, borne by the frame (1) and hinged by an end thereto to the support element (3).

Preferably, and for example when the store (M) containing the protecting elements (S) is arranged vertically laterally to the line (L), the jack (4) is activatable in such a way as to command rotation of the support element (3) with respect to the frame (1) in an alternating rotation movement by an angle of 90°, such as to be able alternatively to position the pick-up means (2) in both the first position (Z1) below and facing the store (M)for picking up a corresponding protecting element (S), and in the second position (Z2) facing towards the corner of the stack (P) of tiles paused on the line (L) on which the protecting element (S) is to be positioned and released (see for example figures from 2A to 2D).

In a further possible, preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the device (D), as illustrated for example in figure 3A, the actuator means (4, 41, 42) comprise a motor means (41) and a rotation element (44) commandable in rotation by the motor means (41), the rotation element (44) being rigidly fixed on the support element (3); in this way the motor means (41) can activate the support element (3) in rotation via the rotation of the rotation element (44).

In a further but not exclusive embodiment of the device, as illustrated for example in figure 3B, the actuator means (4, 41, 42), comprise a motor means (42) and a first pulley (46) mounted thereon, and a second pulley (47) rigidly mounted on the support element (3) and connected by means of a belt or chain (48) to the first pulley (46); in this way the motor means (41) can activate the support element in rotation by activating the belt or chain (48).

In accordance with the latter two embodiments, and for example when the store (M) containing the protecting elements (S) is arranged horizontally laterally to the line (L), the motor means (41, 42) is preferably activatable in such a way as to command rotation of the support element (3) with respect to the frame (1) in an alternating rotation movement by an angle of 180°, such as to be able alternatively to position the pick-up means (2) in both the first position (Z1) facing the store (M), for picking-up a corresponding protecting element (S), and in the second position (Z2) facing towards the corner of the stack (P) of tiles on which the protecting element (S) is to be positioned and released (see for example figures 3A and 3B, or figures from 4A to 4D in which for greater clarity only the positions of the support element (3) with the relative pick-up means (2) are illustrated, while the other components of the devices in the various embodiments are omitted).

Further, in a case in which the store (M) is arranged by a flank of the conveyor line of the invention in an inclined orientation with respect to the vertical and/or the end thereof from which the protecting elements is at a different height from the corners on which the protecting elements are to be applied, the motor means (41, 42) can be activatable in such a way as to command the rotation of the support element (3) with respect to the frame in an alternative rotating motion by an angle variable between 90° and 180°, and even greater than 180°.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate a store (M) according to the present invention that is particularly suitable for containing protecting elements (S) to be applied on the corners of the stacks (P) of tiles before packing thereof in packaging or cardboard packs, stretch plastic material or heat-shrinking plastic, and usable with the above-described device (D).

As mentioned in the preamble hereto, the protecting elements (S) to be applied on the corners of the stacks of tiles exhibit an L-shaped angle and are provided with a projecting lip (7) between the winds (A1, A2) of the L-shape; the lip (7) being destined to rest on the upper surface of the stack of tiles when the protecting element (S) is applied by the device (D) against a corner of the stack (P).

Owing to the presence of the lip (7), when the protecting elements (S) are stacked on one another (or one following another), each lip (7) of each element (S) laterally contacts the lip (7) of the element stacked above it.

Consequently, for the thickness of the lip (7), a lateral displacement of the protecting elements (S) is created, progressively as they are stacked on one another, such as to increase the volume of the stack of protecting elements (S).

In this regard, the present invention discloses a store (M) having a special shape which enables the above drawback to be obviated.

The store (M) is formed by a U-shaped profiled element (8) which seen in cross-section exhibits a base (81) and two lateral wings (82, 83), where end portions (820, 830) of the two wings (82, 83) are partially folded internally towards the base (81) such as to define a sort of internal housing of the element (8) of such dimensions as to be able to house internally thereof the protecting elements (S) stacked on one another and arranged with the relative lip (7) facing towards the base (81).

The profiled element (8) has at an end thereof retaining means for releasably retaining the protecting elements, for example straps or flexible walls made of a plastic material, from which the device collects and extracts a corresponding protecting element.

Further, in particular, the store (M) is provided with a cylindrical element (9) arranged longitudinally over a whole longitudinal length of the base (81) of the U-shaped element (8) in such a way as to abut the lip (7) of each of the protecting elements (S) when they are stacked on one another (or one following another) and arranged in the housing.

The presence of the cylindrical element (9) abutting the lip (7) of the protecting elements is such that each thereof is forced to incline externally of the housing.

In this way, by maintaining the various protecting elements (S) arranged one above another (or one following or flanked to another) in the housing inclined externally, lateral displacement of the elements is prevents, which would instead occur if they were arranged perfectly vertically one above another.

The end portions (820, 830) of the two wings (82, 83) of the U-shaped element (8) are folded internally towards the base (81) defining, with the wings (82, 83), an angle of greater than or equal to 90°.

The store (M) can be mountable on the frame (1) of the device (D) in such a way that the profiled element (8) is arranged vertically.

Alternatively the store (M), in a further use, can be mountable on the frame (1) of the device (D) in such a way that the profiled element (8) is horizontally arranged or arranged in any inclined orientation.

Figure 8 illustrates a system for applying and positioning protecting elements (S) at the stack (P) of tiles before packing them, which uses a device (D) and a store (M) as disclosed in the present invention and as previously described in detail.

The system is preferably usable for positioning protecting corner-shaped elements (S) at corners of stacks (P) of tiles positioned on a conveyor line (L) activatable in a stepped motion such as to convey the stacks (P) of tiles one after another to a packing station.

It comprises at least an operating group (G1, G2, G3, G4), given by a combination of a device (D) as described herein above, and a store (M) as described herein above, for each of corners the stacks (P) of tiles.

Each of the each of the device (D)-store (M) operating group (G1, G2, G3, G4) is positionable laterally to the conveyor line (L) in a position corresponding to a pause position of the stack (P) of tiles and in such a way as to be facing a corresponding corner of the stack (P) of tiles.

In the particular case of figure 8, where the tiles have a quadrangular shape, the system will comprise four operating groups, each of which comprises a combination of a device (D) and a store (M) as disclosed by the present invention and as described herein above.

From the above it emerges clearly that the present invention provides a device which automatically and effectively enables collecting angular-shaped protecting elements from a store thereof and transferring and positioning them at the corners of stacks of tiles before packing them in relative packs or packages made of cardboard, stretch plastic or heat-shrink plastic materials.

The use of the device of the invention further does not require any modifying interventions or variations to the structures of the production, stacking and packing of tiles already in existence, as it is easily positionable by a flank of the conveyor line (L) already existing and used for transferring, in a stepped advancement, tiles once they have been ordered and stacked one on another on the other towards the packing station.

In particular, the device, in combination with a relative containing store of the protecting elements, can be positioned between the stacking station of the tiles and the packing station at a pause position of the stacks of tiles during transfer thereof towards the packing station.

Further, with the store (M) the present invention as described herein above provides a particularly effective way of accumulating a series of angular-shaped protecting elements by predisposing them one above another (either on a flank or one following another), and has a transversal dimension that is particularly small.

The above has been described by way of non-limiting example, and any eventual constructional variants are understood to fall within the scope of the following claims.