# US 9,434,148 B2 · Device for the fine weeding of a multilayer sheet comprising a support liner and at least one adhesive film coupled with the liner

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- Number: US 9,434,148 B2
- Document ID: US9434148B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/437,319
- Filed: 2013-10-23
- Published: 2015-10-08
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-10-29
- Assignees: Esanastri S.R.L.
- Applicants: Esanastri S.r.l.
- Inventors: Roberto Posarelli; Giuliano Vegni; Giorgio Dinelli; Cesare Stefanini; Federico Carnasciali
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434148B2

## CPC

- B32B 43/006: {Delaminating}
- B25J 15/0028: {with movable, e.g. pivoting gripping jaw surfaces}
- B25J 15/0033: {with gripping surfaces having special shapes}
- B25J 15/0057: {mounted on a turret}
- B25J 15/0475: {Exchangeable fingers}
- B25J 15/10: with three or more finger members {(B25J15/0009 takes precedence)}
- B25J 19/0091: {Shock absorbers (in general F16F)}
- B32B 38/10: Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically
- B44C 1/16: for applying transfer pictures or the like
- B32B 2451/00: Decorative or ornamental articles
- B32B 2519/00: Labels, badges
- Y10T 156/1168: Gripping and pulling work apart during delaminating
- Y10T 156/19: Delaminating means
- Y10T 156/195: Delaminating roller means
- Y10T 156/1994: Means for delaminating from release surface
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50})
- B44C: PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS (processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general B05D; shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; printing processes to produce transfer pictures B41M3/12; thermographic duplication or marking methods B41M5/00); MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK (imitation of mosaic or tarsia work patterns B44F11/04); PAPERHANGING {(labels G09F; multi-step processes for making paper labels or tags B31D1/02)}
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present invention concerns the field of graphic apparatuses and in particular its object is an apparatus for the so-called “weeding” of plastic or paper films having or more self-adhesive, double sided adhesive or electrostatic layers coupled with a support liner treated with a non-stick agent. The apparatus comprises a gripper (3) with a pinching head (8) comprising a plurality of self-centering jaws (16).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for the fine weeding of a multilayer sheet comprising a support liner and at least one adhesive film coupled with the liner, the film comprising a plurality of graphic elements peripherally encircled by cuts, and a weed among said graphic elements, the device comprising: a gripper with a pinching head having an axial-symmetric development around a central axis (Z, Z′), the head comprising a plurality of self-centering jaws radially movable close to and away from said central axis (Z), and respective pinching means for pinching and lifting portions of said weed, mounted on said jaws, wherein said pinching means comprise for each jaw respective blocks having front facets, protruding from the each jaw, the front facets of the respective blocks being adapted to mutually contact each other in a closed position of the head, and said front facets having an axial extension such that, in cooperation with a slanting wall of the block, a pyramidal projection is formed with a shaped prismatic tip for gripping the weed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein each of said tips has an elevation, measured along the axis (Z) of the device and starting from the slanting wall, comprised between three and eight tenths of millimeter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein three jaws mutually angled at 120° are provided, each block having a couple of front facets in turn forming an angle of 120° with each other.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein said jaws are mounted on, and driven by, a self-centering chuck, the jaws having respective bases for connection with the chuck and struts that axially project from the bases for supporting, the struts having free ends supporting the respective blocks.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein said pinching head is mounted on a damper adapted to ensure the exertion of a constant pressure on the multilayer sheet, the damper comprising elastic means elastically opposing the movement of a stem to which said head is connected.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device according to claim 5, wherein said head comprises a ring-like tool supporting flange adapted to be coaxially and releasably connected to said stem of the damper, pegs being further provided radially projecting from the flange, whereby, once released from said stem, the flange is adapted to be held via said pegs in a tool replacement station.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, comprising: a sheet support plane; support means for said gripper adapted to keep the gripper substantially orthogonal with said support plane; drive means adapted to move said pinching head in a Cartesian orthogonal system (XYZ) defined by said plane and by said central axis (Z) orthogonal with the plane.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The device according to claim 7, comprising two or more grippers arranged in a carousel fashion to hide an unloading step of the removed weed by a gripper in an unloading position, with respect to another gripper in a pinching position, shelf means being further provided, integral with said support means and arranged to collect the weed that is gripped by said grippers.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The device according to claim 8, wherein said carousel arrangement comprises a revolving plate driven into rotation around an axis parallel with said central axis (Z′) of each gripper by actuation means, said grippers being mounted on said revolving plate with a linear reciprocating degree of freedom along the respective central axis (Z′) of the grippers.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The device according to claim 9, comprising an elastic pusher secured with said plate acting on a tail of the gripper in a pinching position to calibrate the force applied in the pinching step, springs being arranged between the grippers and said plate in order to compensate for variations in height between said pinching position and said unloading position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, comprising air ejection means arranged to assist detaching the weed from the pinching means in an unloading stage.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, comprising or associated with an adhesive belt for collecting the weed that is gripped by the grippers.