Material or article handling – Article reorienting device – Article inverting means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-29
2001-05-22
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Article reorienting device
Article inverting means
C414S759000, C198S403000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234742
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a process and an apparatus for decorating flat self-supporting articles.
It will be noted at this point that the term decorate is used herein in a broad sense to embrace printing for example text on an article, applying graphics to the article, and so forth.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are certain articles and more especially flat self-supporting articles such as CDs that need to be printed upon, on both sides thereof. For reasons of cost the endeavour is for the articles to be printed upon, at both sides, in one pass through the machine. That however generally presupposes that, after printing or decoration of some other kind has been applied to the articles on one side thereof, the articles are turned so that the second side thereof is made accessible to the printing units and possibly also other treatment units, for example driers or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a process for decorating a flat self-supporting article which makes it possible without major difficulty to turn the articles as they pass through the machine, generally through 180° so that the two sides of the article are accessible prior to and after being turned.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a process for decorating a flat self-supporting article which involves an operating procedure such that it can take account of particularities of the article whereby the handling steps involved in turning the article for decoration on the two sides thereof do not result in damage to the article or other consequences such as to adversely affect the properties and qualities of the articlesuch as CDs.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for decorating a flat self-supporting article on both sides thereof, which can reliably provide for turning the article for decoration on respective sides thereof in succession, while being of a reliable and compact structure in terms of the turning arrangement.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for decorating flat self-supporting articles at both sides thereof, wherein the article can be satisfactorily and reliably turned between respective procedures for decorating respective sides of an article, without adversely affecting the quality of the article or damaging same.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention the foregoing and other objects are achieved by a process for decorating a flat self-supporting article on respective sides thereof, by picking up an article disposed in a receiving means of an article holder, in an initial or starting position thereof, by virtue of that article being engaged by a first pivoting means adapted to engage the article at a first side thereof by means of a suction effect. The first pivoting means which thus carries the article is moved into an intermediate position by the implementation of a pivotal movement. A second pivoting means is moved into a position for engaging the article in the intermediate position, at the second side of the article which is remote from the first side thereof, the second pivoting means engaging the second side of the article with a suction effect to support the article. After release of the suction effect between the article at the first side thereof and the first pivoting means, the article is then supported by the suction effect of the second pivoting means which pivots into a position for depositing the article held thereby in the receiving means of an article holder.
Further in accordance with the principles of the invention in the apparatus aspect the foregoing and other objects are attained by an apparatus for decorating a flat self-supporting article comprising an article holding means provided with a receiving means for receiving an article to be decorated. The apparatus further includes a turning means including first and second pivoting means, each of which includes a suction means and means for mounting the pivoting means movably between a first position associated with a receiving means for the article and an intermediate position. The respective pivoting means are pivotable in such a way that the article carried by the suction means of the respective pivoting means is pivoted successively by the first and second pivoting means relative to the plane in which the article extends in a receiving means. The first and second pivoting means are arranged in mutually opposite relationship when in the intermediate position in such a way that the article is transferred from the first pivoting means to the second pivoting means by suitable control of the suction means.
As will become apparent from the description hereinafter of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the invention affords the possibility of removing an article from its receiving means of the article holder, after that article has passed through one or more decorating units such as printing units and/or one or more other treatment stations, for the purposes of applying decoration or printing to a first side of the article, then turning the article over and then putting it back into a receiving means. It will be noted here that, if the receiving means is transported forwardly at the same time as the turning operation is implemented, the receiving means which receives the turned article may be identical to the receiving means from which the article had been previously taken prior to being turned. The apparatus which is used to carry out that procedure can be summarised to the effect of being provided with first and second arms which are movable along a curved path and possibly linearly, each arm being provided with a suction means whereby the first arm removes an article from a receiving means and moves it into an intermediate position, in the course of which the article is pivoted to turn it round. At the latest in the intermediate position, the suction means of the second arm is brought into engagement with the second side of the article whereby, after a reduction in or elimination of the suction effect at the suction means of the first arm, the article is engaged by the second arm, more specifically the suction means thereof, and carried thereby in a further pivotal movement, in the course of which the turning operation is completed, to move the turned article into a receiving means. As noted above, that receiving means may be the same receiving means as that from which the article had previously been picked up by the operation of the first arm.
Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof.
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Abraham and Fegley, “Automatic Wafer Transfer and Turnover Tool”, Western Electric Technical Digest, Jan. 1978.
Redeker Ralf Rudi
Rodefeld Dietrich
McAllister Steven B.
Olszewski Robert P.
Seidel Gonda Lavorgna & Monaco, PC
Werner Kammann Maschinenfabrik GmbH
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