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(11) | EP 0 979 622 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Machine for connecting tongues to buckles |
| (57) A machine includes a buckles receiving station (S1), which is situated on a first
elevator (10) and which forms a seat for receiving buckles in an intermittent way
and according to predetermined orientation, from a feeding and orientation unit (S0,
L). The orientation unit (S0, L) is situated at the side of the buckles receiving
station (S1). A feeding station (S2) is situated on a second elevator, beside the
receiving station (S1), on the side opposite to said orientation station (S0), for
feeding tongues (170) for the buckles. The machine includes also pliers (50) sliding
longitudinally over the above mentioned stations, between a retracted position and
an forwarded position. By means of suitable working combinations between the pliers
(50) and the two elevators, the tongue is taken over from the station (S2), hitched
by the pliers (50), then transferred over the station (S1). Then, after the central
leg of the buckle has been introduced into the tongue eye, the tongue is deformed
by the jaws (51) of the pliers (50), thus connecting the tongue with the buckle. |
[0002] At present this operation is performed by a manually operated mechanical press, which closes the tongue.
[0003] A tongue, whose one end is provided with an eye, is delivered to the operator, who deforms it around the relative leg of the buckle, thus connecting the eye with the buckle and then places the buckle-tongue assembly over the press punch.
[0004] The press is operated manually to deform the eye, and consequently, to define a hinge connection between the tongue and the leg.
[0005] One of the disadvantages of this way of connection is a limited production throughput, resulting from a non automatic process.
[0006] Another drawback derives from the fact that the quality of the connection basically depends on the operator's ability, and thus it is not always the best.
[0008] The object of the present invention is to avoid the above mentioned drawbacks using a machine for automatically connecting tongues to relative buckles, which increases the production rate and improves the quality of the connection thus obtained, all this by a combination of simple means and/or devices which require limited maintenance operations.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to propose a machine, which is safe for the operator.
[0011] The characteristics of the invention have been pointed out in the following, with a particular reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a close loop buckle with three parallel legs;
- Figure 2 shows a schematic, lateral view of the machine, being the subject of the present invention, with the pliers in retracted position;
- Figures 3a, 3b and 3c show section views taken along the section line III-III of Figure 2, in different working steps;
- Figures 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d show a buckle receiving station in different working steps;
- Figures 5a and 5b show a plan view of the above mentioned buckles receiving station in two different working steps;
- Figure 6 shows a schematic lateral view of the machine, with the pliers in forwarded position;
- Figures 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d show section views taken along the plane VII-VII of Figure 6 in different working steps;
- Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a different embodiment of the close loop buckle without central leg;
- Figure 9 shows a working particular of the connection between a tongue and a buckle of the type shown in Figure 8;
- Figure 10 shows a schematic plan view of another embodiment of the proposed machine;
- Figure 11 shows a section view taken along XI-XI of Figure 10;
- Figure 12 shows a schematic plan view of a step, in which a buckle is transferred to the buckles receiving station;
- Figure 13 shows a section view of a step subsequent to the transfer step, taken along XIII-XIII of Figure 12;
- Figures 14, 15, 16 show schematic section views taken along XIV-XIV, XV-XV, XVI-XVI of Figure 10, respectively;
- Figure 17 shows the pliers according to this embodiment, in the same view as in Figure 3;
- Figures 18a, 18b show the pliers according to this embodiment, in the same view as in Figure 2, respectively before and after the buckle with the relative tongue has been disengaged from the pliers.
[0012] With reference to Figure 2, the reference numeral 80 indicates a buckle, whose shape is shown in Figure 1. S1 indicates a buckles receiving station, S2 indicates a tongues feeding station, and 50 indicates the pliers moving along a slide 60.
[0013] The slide 60 is supported by a support column 100, which is an integral part of the machine frame 200.
[0015] This station S0 includes a plate 40, which, together with two strips 41, all carried by the frame 200, define a seat for receiving the buckle 80, whose extremity legs 80a touch the relative longitudinal surfaces of these strips (Figure 5a).
[0016] The strips are fastened to the plate 40 by bolts 42, which are introduced into transversal slots made in these strips; in this way it is possible to adjust the mutual distance between these surfaces, which is advantageous when the buckle size change is required.
[0017] A rectangular section recess 40a is made in the central part of the plate 40, along a longitudinal direction Y, and extends from the side of the plate facing the station S1.
[0018] A slide 49 is carried by the stem 45 of a vertical jack 46 so that it is situated inside this recess.
[0019] The cylinder of the jack 46 is carried by a stem 47 of a horizontal jack 48 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the recess.
[0021] In the raised and retracted position (Figures 4a, 5a), the upper part of this slide is located so as to be complementary to the plate 40 and has two guides 43, which are symmetrical to the longitudinal plane of the slide and which define between themselves a seat for the buckle central leg 80b.
[0022] The end of each guide 43 facing the station S1 forms a stop step 43a while the other end of each guide forms a slope 43b.
[0023] The receiving station S1 is situated on a first elevator 10, which is carried by the stem 55 of a jack 151 disposed vertical.
[0024] Also, the receiving station S1 includes three vertical walls 12, two of them are spaced out and face each other, while the third one is set crosswise on one side of the other walls. In this way, the three walls form a "C"-like structure.
[0025] Every wall 12 has, at its top, an upper extending flange 11, which form a seat 13 which receive a respective external portion of the buckle. The flange 11 of the two facing-each-other walls hold the external legs of the buckle 80, while the flange 11 of the side wall 13 holds a corresponding side leg of the buckle. In this way, the buckle 80 is kept firmly in the predetermined orientation imposed in the unit S0 (see Figures 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d).
[0026] The station S2 for feeding the tongues 170 is situated beside the station S1 on the part opposite to the unit S0 (Figures 2, 6).
[0027] The station S2 includes a vertical flat support 23 (Figure 3a) carried by the stem 21 of a vertical jack 22, so as to move in vertical direction.
[0028] The flat support 23 has a shape adapted to receive the first tongue 170 of a row of tongues coming from a feeding line, situated next to the station S2.
[0029] The pliers 50, sliding over the buckles receiving station S1 and the tongues feeding station S2, are moved longitudinally along the slide 60 by the stem 53 of a jack 52 fastened to the load bearing column 100.
[0030] The pliers 50 have two characteristic positions: a retracted position situated in the region of the tongues 170 feeding station S2 (Figure 2) and a forwarded position, situated in the region of the buckles receiving station S1 (Figure 6).
[0031] The pliers 50 are formed by two jaws 51 pivoted in a point 51a, situated in their central part, to a relative case 600 and held separated by a push away-to-open mechanism 70, which includes rollers 70a.
[0032] The push away-to-open mechanism moves vertically due to the action of the stem 76 of a jack 77.
[0033] A screw nut 71, situated between the jack 77 and the stem 76 and coupled with the latter, allows to adjust the jaws 51 opening.
[0034] A spring 72 acts on the internal longitudinal walls of the jaws 51, in their part under the push away-to-open mechanism 70, so as to maintain them open in rest position (Figure 3a).
[0035] A screw 74, situated near one of the operative ends 51b of the two jaws 51, passes through the longitudinal walls of the relative jaw and is fastened to the external wall by a screw nut 73. The screw 74 is situated between the internal walls of the jaws 51 and avoids their touching thus adjusting their closing, by means of the screw nut 73.
[0037] The slide 49 begins its operative cycle from a rest position, in which the buckle 80 is placed on the plate 40.
[0038] Due to the retraction of the stem 47 (Figure 4b), the slide 49 moves from the raised and forwarded position (Figure 4a) to the left (with reference to the same Figure 4a), so as to bring the buckle 80 that is held along the relative transversal legs 80c by the step 43a, to the buckle receiving station S1.
[0040] Afterwards, the stems 47 and 45 extend in reciprocal time relation and the slide 49 returns to the rest position with a motion to right and rising, thus completing the working cycle (Figure 4d).
[0041] The elevator 10 is kept in the lowered position at least until the slide 49 is within the operative space thereof.
[0042] In this way the slide 49 feeds the receiving station S1 intermittently with the buckles 80 oriented in predetermined way.
[0043] The seats 13 and the flanges 11 keep firmly the buckle 80 in the right position, so that the tongue can be mounted precisely (Figure 5b).
[0044] From the working steps illustrated in Figures 3a, 3b, 3c, it appears quite clear how the jack 22 of the elevator 20, relative to the tongues 170 feeding station S2, co-operates with the pliers 50 being in the retracted position.
[0045] In fact, after a first tongue coming from the feeding line 30 has been received by the vertical flat support 23, in suitable time relation with the pliers 50 in the retracted position, the second elevator 20 is operated, so as to raise and bring the tongue eye to the pliers 50 situated above (see Figure 3b), and then, after the tongue has been hitched, to lower again (Figure 3c).
[0046] In their forwarded position (working steps illustrated in Figures 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d), the pliers 50, carrying the tongue, are brought near the elevator 10 and co-operate therewith in suitable time relation, so as to introduce the central leg 80b of the buckle 80 into the tongue eye (Figure 7a).
[0048] At this point, the push away-to-open mechanism 70, facilitated by its rollers 70a, goes down along its axis and along the internal walls of the jaws 51, making their operative ends 51b to close partially, which results in the deformation of the buckle tongue eye and completion of the tongue mounting on the central leg 80b of the buckle 80 (Figure 7c).
[0049] When the connection is completed, the elevator 10, without the buckle 80, goes down returning to the rest position (Figure 4a), while the push away-to-open mechanism 70 goes up along the stem 76, until the screw nut 71 blocks its upward movement, thus allowing the jaws 51 to open due to the action of the spring 72 and consequently, to release the buckle-tongue assembly.
[0050] At this point, a jet of air 75, coming from a pipe 91, prevents the buckle-tongue assembly from falling onto the receiving station S1 (Figure 7d), when the jaws 51 open, and deviate this group laterally, so as to fall into a collecting container, not illustrated.
[0051] The pipe 91, situated beside and under the jaws 51, is carried by a bar 90, supported by the bearing column 100.
[0053] In fact, the operative combinations between the stations S1, S2, the unit S0 and the pliers 50 result undoubtfully in increasing the production rate, an unquestionable better quality of the buckle-tongue connection, since no longer depending on the operator's ability, and bigger safety for the operator.
[0054] It is to be noted that the proposed machine can be used, in a semi-automatic way, for connecting also buckles and tongues of different forms, e.g. close loop buckles 190 with only two legs (Figures 8,9).
[0055] The buckle feeding and orienting unit can be carried out in a different way, illustrated in the Figures 10-18.
[0056] This unit, indicated with L, includes: an endless belt 300, driven by known, not shown means, with the upper run 300a of this belt being perpendicular to the mid-plane of the receiving station S1.
[0057] A stationary longitudinal stop 301 is situated immediately over the upper run 300 and is aimed at stopping and guiding an extreme leg 80a of the buckles resting on the upper run.
[0058] First longitudinal guiding means 302 are situated over and upstream of the run 300a for guiding the surface of the buckle central leg 80b facing the stationary stop 301.
[0059] Second longitudinal guiding means 303 are situated over the upper run 300a and downstream of the first guiding means 302, for guiding the other surface of the buckle central leg. The first guiding means 302 and the second guiding means 303 have initial parts facing each other.
[0060] Third longitudinal guiding means 304 face the downstream part of the second guiding means and are aimed at guiding the surface of the buckle central leg that is not engaged by other guiding means.
[0061] Detecting means 305a, 305b are situated in a detecting station F, downstream of the ends of the second and third guiding means 303, 304 for detecting the leading buckle of the upper run.
[0062] A device 310 is provided for transferring said leading buckle from the upper run 300a to the receiving station S1.
[0063] The position of the stationary stop 301 can be adjusted (in known way) crosswise to the direction H of the upper run 300a, in both direction R1 and R2 in relation to the buckles size.
[0064] Also the positions of the first, second and third guiding means 302, 303, 304 (composed of e.g. rods) are adjustable crosswise as well as their height, in relation to this size.
[0065] This device includes an arm 311 oscillating with respect to an axis perpendicular to the plane defined by this upper run 300a.
[0066] More in detail, this arm is carried by a shaft 312 which is operated in known way, so that the arm oscillates, according to angular forward and backward strokes of 90°, between two extreme positions, first P1 and second P2.
[0067] When in the first position P1, the arm 311 is situated over the detecting station F, while in the second position P2, it is situated over the flanges 111 of the station S1.
[0068] It is to be pointed out that the shaft 312 moves vertically between a raised position W1 (Figure 12) and a lowered position W2 (Figure 10).
[0069] The arm 311 has two parallel extensions 313 turned downward and positioned in such a way, as to be situated on both sides of the buckle central leg 80b, when this arm 311 is in the receiving station S1 and the shaft 312 in the lowered position W2 (Figure 10).
[0070] A bracket 330 is fastened to the case 600, that supports the articulation pins 51a of the jaws 51, and carries, hinged to its upper part, the cylinder 331a of a pneumatic jack 331.
[0071] The stem 331b of the jack 331 is pivoted to one side of a rocker 333 which has its central part pivoted to the lower end of the bracket 330.
[0072] An ejecting arm 335, turned toward the jaws, is cantilevered from the other side of the rocker 333, and is perpendicular thereto.
[0074] Activation of the jack makes the rocker rotate with respect to its pin (in counter-clockwise direction with respect to the Figures 17a, 17b): the ejecting arm is brought to the lowered position Y2, skimming, during its rotation, the ends of the jaws 51.
[0075] The buckles 80 are arranged (manually or automatically) on the upper run 300a of the belt 300 in the region of the first guiding means 302 and upstream of the second guiding means 303, with an outer side 80a touching the stationary stop 301.
[0076] Possible alignment errors are compensated for by the combined action of the first guiding means together with the pulling action of the supper run 300a.
[0077] Afterwards, the buckle is guided by the combined action of the second guiding means 303 and the stop 301 and, finally, downstream of this stop 301, by the second and third guiding means 303, 304 (Figure 15).
[0078] A line of buckles 80 is formed on the run 300a, and the belt is stopped when a buckle is in the detecting station F, since the detecting means control the deactivation of the belt driving means.
[0080] The arm 311, in its raised configuration W1, is brought to the first position P1, then, in time relation with the detection of a buckle 80 in the detection station F, the arm is first brought to the lowered position W2, and then it is rotated by 90° in the direction M (Figure 9).
[0081] This lowering of the arm 311 places the extensions 313 on both sides of the buckle central leg 80b (Figure 10), while the rotation of the arm 311 makes these extensions engage and pull the buckle transversal leg 80c, which rests freely first on the run
[0083] When the arm 311 rotation has been completed, the buckle is placed on the flanges 111 in the station S1. At this point, the arm 311 is brought to the position W1 (figure 12) and rotated in the direction opposite to the direction M, so as to allow the buckle to be raised, as has been described previously.
[0085] The jack 331 is activated in time relation with this fastening and subsequent jaws opening, and causes the lowering of the ejecting arm 335, which hit the buckle-tongue assembly and pushes it toward a collecting station 500 (Figure 18b).
a unit (S0,L) for feeding and orientating the buckles;
a station (S2) for feeding tongues (170) supplied by the feeding line (30) situated beside, said station (S2) moving vertically between a lowered position, in which the first tongue is taken from said feeding line, and a raised position;
a station (S1) for receiving buckles, situated between said units (S0,L) and said station (S2) and moving vertically between a lowered position, in which it receives a buckle fed by said orientation unit (S0,L), and a raised position;
pliers (50) carried by a slide (60), moving longitudinally over said stations (S1,S2), between a retracted position, in which said pliers (50) co-operate with said tongues feeding station (S2) being in the raised position, so as to hitch, between the jaws (51) of said pliers (50), the eye of the relative tongue, and an forwarded position, in which said pliers co-operate with said buckles receiving station (S1) being in raised position, so as to allow first, the introduction of the buckle central leg into the eye of said tongue situated between the jaws (51) of the pliers (50), and then the permanent deformation of said eye, so as to connect the tongue eye with the relative buckle leg;
means for moving the buckle-tongue assembly, released by the jaws (51), in a predetermined direction.
a plate (40), carried by a frame (200) and having a rectangular section recess (40a) made in its central part, extending from the part facing the receiving station (S1);
two strips (41), fastened to the upper part of said plate (40) and having longitudinal surfaces parallel and symmetric with respect to the longitudinal direction (Y), said strips (41) together with said plate (40) defining a seat for receiving a buckle (80);
a slide (49), guided longitudinally in said recess (40a) of the plate (40), between a position, in which the buckle is received, and a position, in which said buckle is released to the buckles feeding station (S1).
two identical jaws (51) pivoted in the point (51a), which is situated in their central part, said jaws arranged symmetrically to a vertical plane;
first means, which are situated over said point (51a) and which move the lower ends of said jaws close to each other, against the action of elastic means (72) situated below these first means;
second means, situated below said point (51a) for adjusting the minimum closing position of said operative ends.
an endless belt (300), whose upper run (300a) is perpendicular to the mid-plane (T) of the receiving station (S1) and is fed with buckles (80);
driving means for operating said endless belt (300);
a flat surface (400) joined to and co-operating with said upper run of said endless belt (300) for receiving the buckles therefrom, said flat surface carrying said buckle receiving station (S1);
guiding means, situated over said upper run and co-operating therewith to guide the buckles arranged thereon in a row while maintaining the orientation of said buckles;
sensor means, placed in a detecting station situated downstream of said guiding means, said sensor means activating and deactivating said endless belt driving means depending on the presence or absence of the row leading buckle in said detecting station;
a transferring device working in time relation with said sensor means and with said buckles receiving station (S1), and co-operating functionally with said upper run and with said flat surface (400) for conveying said row leading buckle from the detecting station (F) to the buckles receiving station (S1).
an arm (311), oscillating with respect to a shaft (312) perpendicular to said upper run between two extreme positions, first (P1), in which said arm (311) is situated over the detecting station (F) and second (P2), in which it is situated over said buckles receiving station (S1), with said shaft (312) moving vertically between a raised position (W1) and a lowered position (W2);
two parallel extensions (313), fastened to said arm (311) and turned downward, said extensions being positioned and spaced out in such a way as to be situated on both sides of the central leg (80b) of the buckle present in said detecting station (F), when said arm is in said first position (P1) and said shaft (312) is in the lowered position (W2), with said extensions (313) being aimed at engaging said buckle front leg (80c) and then at dragging the buckle front leg (80c) from the detecting station (F) on said upper run (300a) to said buckles receiving station (S1) located on said flat surface (400), due to the arm rotation from the first to the second position and with said shaft (312) kept in the lowered position (W).
a bracket (330), fastened to the case 600 supporting the articulation pins (51a) of the jaws (51) forming said pliers;
a rocker (333), which has a central part pivoted to said bracket (330);
an ejecting arm (335), turned toward said jaws (51) and cantilevered from the lower end of said rocker (333), said ejecting arm being positioned in such a way as to skim the ends of said jaws (51), due to rotation of the rocker (333);
an actuator (331), fastened to said bracket and acting on the upper end of said rocker arm, and operating, in time relation with the jaws opening, the ejecting arm, which strikes the buckle-tongue assembly and moves it to a collecting station (500).
at least one stationary longitudinal stop (301) situated immediately over said upper run (300) and aimed at guiding an extremity leg (80a) of the buckles resting on the upper run;
first longitudinal guiding means (302) situated over and upstream of said run (300a), aimed at guiding a first surface of the buckle central leg (80b) facing said stationary stop (301);
at least one second longitudinal guiding means (303), situated over the upper run (300a) and downstream of the first guiding means (302), for guiding other surface of the buckle central leg, with the first guiding means (302) and the second guiding means (303) having initial parts facing each other;
third longitudinal guiding means (304), which in their downstream part face the second guiding means and are aimed at guiding a surface of the buckle central leg that is not guided by other guiding means.