Optimizing a multiple machine production line, in which operation of at least some of the machines depends on others. A productivity system examines performance indicators of a set of machines, which are disposed to cooperate in a production line, and sets control variables for each of those machines, with the effect of optimizing the production line. The productivity system receives a set of KPIs for each machine, and provides a set of control variables for each machine. The productivity system determines the control variables for each machine so as to optimize the production line.
G05B 13/04 - Systèmes de commande adaptatifs, c.-à-d. systèmes se réglant eux-mêmes automatiquement pour obtenir un rendement optimal suivant un critère prédéterminé électriques impliquant l'usage de modèles ou de simulateurs
G05B 19/418 - Commande totale d'usine, c.-à-d. commande centralisée de plusieurs machines, p. ex. commande numérique directe ou distribuée [DNC], systèmes d'ateliers flexibles [FMS], systèmes de fabrication intégrés [IMS], productique [CIM]
A robotic controller (120) includes a vision system (140) that determines a location and orientation of incoming bundles (201), a tracking system (150) that communicates between the controller and a conveyor (130), and a robot (110) that coordinates its movement with the bundles. The tracking system identifies the location and orientation of each bundle, informs the controller, and causes the robot to track its location and orientation with incoming bundles. The controller receives information on the location and orientation of each bundle. The controller instructs the robot to move in coordination with each incoming bundle, instructs the robot where and at what orientation to pick up the bundle, and instructs the robot how to move the bundle to a tier-and- stacking position. The controller can instruct the robot how to pick up each bundle on the fly as the bundle moves into range on the incoming conveyor.
B65G 47/08 - Dispositifs pour alimenter en objets ou matériaux les transporteurs pour alimenter en objets à partir d'un seul groupe d'objets rangés en ordre, p. ex. pièces à usiner en magasin espaçant ou groupant les objets pendant l'alimentation
B65G 61/00 - Utilisation d'appareils de prise ou de transfert, ou de manipulateurs, pour empiler ou désempiler des objets, non prévus ailleurs
A method and apparatus are disclosed that allow items to be placed on a stack of items in a manner that minimizes interference with the existing stack. Further, a method and apparatus are disclosed for stacking items such that marking of the items is minimized while the item is stacked. In some embodiments, the method and apparatus may include employing a plurality of forks, where a first fork (65) in the plurality includes a belt (215) that rotates at least partially within a tapered housing of the fork(65). In some embodiments, the plurality of forks is vertically movable, and the method and apparatus may include a squaring mechanism that is separate from the plurality of forks. The overall throughput of the method and apparatus may be increased by employing this independent squaring mechanism.
An apparatus (100) for stacking sheet material that may include a trim section (104) and a stacking section (108), the stacking section (108) being downstream the trim section (104) for receiving the blanks of sheet material, forming bundles each having a plurality of blanks, and transferring the bundles downstream. The apparatus may further include a plurality of longitudinal positioning systems for independently longitudinally positioning a plurality of components in at least one of upstream or downstream directions so as to create an operator access space. In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include an incline conveyor section (106) downstream the trim section (104) and upstream the stacking section (108), and the trim section (104) may have a takeaway conveyor (300) for conveying the plurality of blanks of sheet material to the incline conveyor (106). In certain embodiments, the plurality of longitudinal positioning systems can individually longitudinally position at least two of the takeaway conveyor (300), the incline conveyor (106), or the stacking apparatus (500).
B65H 29/18 - Délivrance ou progression des articles à la sortie des machinesProgression des articles vers ou dans les piles par contact d'une face uniquement des rubans, courroies ou chaînes mobiles et introduisant les articles dans une pile
B65H 31/32 - Dispositifs auxiliaires pour recevoir les articles pendant l'enlèvement d'une pile achevée
B65H 33/16 - Formation de lots comptés dans les piles ou dans le courant de délivrance des articles en déposant les articles en lots sur des supports mobiles
B65H 31/30 - Dispositions pour enlever les piles achevées
A system for conveying sheets of corrugated paperboard material or other materials. The system includes a processing module (30) configured for transferring the material in a conveying direction (C), the processing module having a first nip point (40). A conveyor (50) is positioned downstream of the processing module and also configured for transferring the material in the conveying direction. The conveyor includes a first support roller (102B) and second support roller having a first conveyor belt (96) wound therearound, with the belt defining a deflector section extending from the first support roller to the second support roller. Similar to the processing module, the conveyor includes a second nip point (60). An adjustment drive (70) can be operatively associated with either or both of the first and second support rollers and configured to adjust the position of the second nip point in or counter to the delivery direction.
B65H 29/12 - Délivrance ou progression des articles à la sortie des machinesProgression des articles vers ou dans les piles au moyen du resserrement entre deux rubans ou courroies mobiles, ou entre deux jeux de rubans ou courroies
B65H 35/04 - Délivrance d'articles à partir de machines à découper ou à perforer linéairementAppareils délivrant des articles ou des bandes, comportant des dispositifs pour couper ou perforer linéairement, p. ex. distributeurs de bande adhésive à partir de coupeuses ou de perforatrices transversales ou avec ces appareils
B65H 35/00 - Délivrance d'articles à partir de machines à découper ou à perforer linéairementAppareils délivrant des articles ou des bandes, comportant des dispositifs pour couper ou perforer linéairement, p. ex. distributeurs de bande adhésive
B65H 35/08 - Délivrance d'articles à partir de machines à découper ou à perforer linéairementAppareils délivrant des articles ou des bandes, comportant des dispositifs pour couper ou perforer linéairement, p. ex. distributeurs de bande adhésive à partir de coupeuses ou de perforatrices transversales ou avec ces appareils à partir de découpeuses ou perforatrices rotatives, p. ex. à cylindre, ou avec ces appareils
The present disclosure relates to a bundle orienting device ( 50 ) in-line with a conveyor configured for transporting bundles in a conveying direction. The bundle orienting device can include a plurality of selectively actuatable orientation elements ( 80 ) that, collectively, laterally and/or angularly displace a bundle as it travels in the conveying direction through the bundle orienting device. In addition, the present disclosure relates to a method for rotating bundles traveling in a conveying direction along a conveyor system. The method includes conveying a bundle along a conveyor to pass through a bundle orienting device, thus described.
B65G 47/244 - Dispositifs pour influencer la position relative ou l'orientation des objets pendant le transport par transporteurs présentant les objets selon un orientement donné en les faisant tourner autour d'un axe sensiblement perpendiculaire au plan de transport
B65H 9/16 - Bande inclinée, rouleau ou positionneurs latéraux analogues, servant à l'avance des articles
Sheet deceleration apparatus and methods for decelerating a sheet of material for use in a sheet stacking or other application. The deceleration apparatus includes a rotatable cam nip (35), rotatable about a first axis (40) and provided on one side of the travel path, such that the sheet of material can pass by the cam nip. The cam nip includes a lobe end (38), such that when the lobe end is away from the travel path, the sheet of material can pass substantially unimpeded past the cam nip, and when the lobe end is near the travel path, the sheet of material is nipped by the cam nip decelerating the sheet of material from the first speed to a second speed.
B65H 29/14 - Délivrance ou progression des articles à la sortie des machinesProgression des articles vers ou dans les piles au moyen du resserrement entre deux rubans ou courroies mobiles, ou entre deux jeux de rubans ou courroies et introduisant les articles dans une pile
B65H 29/68 - Réduction de la vitesse des articles en mouvement
B65H 29/66 - Progression en courants d'articles se chevauchant
A method of forming layered stacks of bundles (B) includes providing a gripping appliance (100) comprising a first gripping assembly (120) and a second gripping assembly (130). The first gripping assembly is configured for grasping one or more first bundles (B) and the second gripping assembly is configured for grasping one or more second bundles (B). The first and second gripping assemblies (120, 130) are configured such that first and second bundles grasped thereby may be reoriented relative to one another. The method further includes retrieving from a first location one or more first bundles with the first gripping assembly (120) and one or more second bundles with the second gripping assembly (130) and transporting the first and second bundles to a second location, During transport of the first and second bundles, the bundles are reoriented relative to one another. The bundles are deposited at a selected position in the second location to form at least a partial layer of a layered stack of bundles.
The present disclosure relates to sheet deceleration apparatus and methods for decelerating a sheet of material for use in a sheet stacking or other application. The deceleration apparatus includes a pair of rotatable rollers (26, 28), being rotatable about first and second axes, the rollers positioned on opposite sides of the travel path. At least one of the rollers is moveable relative to the other to nip the sheet between the rollers to reduce the travel speed of the sheet (15). A vacuum conveyor (60) is further provided along the travel path subsequent the pair of rollers to control delivery of the sheet to a stacking hopper(ll). A third rotatable roller(72), or similar apparatus, may be included in some embodiments, for pushing the sheet of material away from the vacuum conveyor at the appropriate time.
B65H 29/68 - Réduction de la vitesse des articles en mouvement
B65H 29/32 - Délivrance ou progression des articles à la sortie des machinesProgression des articles vers ou dans les piles par chute à partir de transporteurs pneumatiques, p. ex. aspirants
The present disclosure relates to a bundle separator for separating bundles from a log traveling along a conveyor, the log having a plurality of stacked sheets with a weakened separation path, and the weakened separation path of each sheet being substantially aligned in the stack. The separator includes a first platen (52) mounted for vertical reciprocating movement generally on a first side of the separation path and a second platen (54) mounted for vertical reciprocating movement generally on a second side of the separation path, each platen having a plurality of moveable guided rails (56). The second platen (54) is also mounted for movement away from the first platen (52). The moveable guided rails (56) on each of the first and second platens (52,54) are each independently moveable in the upstream or downstream direction of travel of the log.
The present disclosure includes an apparatus for feeding a stack (102) of sheet stock in blocks (104). The apparatus includes a backstop (114), a block pusher plate (116), and at least one sensor for determining a height differential between the stack at generally near a lead edge (112) of the stack and the stack at generally near a trail edge (308) of the stack. The apparatus automatically adjusts for warp in the sheet stock. The present disclosure further includes a method comprising obtaining a first measurement at generally near a lead edge side of the stack, obtaining a second measurement at generally near a trail edge side of the- stack, comparing the first and second measurements, and pushing the portion of sheet stock from the stack with a block pusher plate when the 'second measurement is within a predetermined tolerance of the first measurement.
The present disclosure relates to a sheet feeding method and apparatus (10) by which sheets of material can be fed, one at a time, into a processing or finishing machine. The present disclosure includes a continuously moving feed means that is driven and moves continuously at line speed. The continuously, moving feed means (14) are provided with vacuum means (11, 12) to pull the sheet (17) into engagement with the feed means. A feed plate (15) is provided for movement between a lowered, feed position in which the feed plate is lowered to a position below the feed means and a raised, no feed position in which the feed plate is raised to a position just above the feed means to prevent a sheet from being fed. In one embodiment, the movement of the feed plate is provided and controlled via a rotating, profiled eccentric which is driven by a servo electric motor (40).
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