CH705360A1 - Method and device for collecting flat objects. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (40.2) for collecting flat objects (50) and for conveying the collected objects (50) further as a stack. The device contains a plurality of receiving units (41) arranged one behind the other, which are movable along a closed conveyor track in a conveying direction (Fc), wherein the receiving units (41) form a supporting surface at least along a collecting line (S), to which the articles (50 ) can be stored. Furthermore, the device contains at least one transfer station (55a ... 55d) for transferring the articles (50) to the receiving units (41). The device further includes a feeder device for feeding individualized, provided with an identification information items (50) to the receiving units (41). Said device comprises a memory unit (48) for providing the individualized objects (50) in stack formation and a separating unit (49) for separating the individualized objects (50), a control unit (51) for checking the identification information on the objects (50) and a transfer station (55a ... 55d), via which the individualized objects (50) are transferred to the receiving units (41).

Description

The invention is in the field of conveyor technology and relates to an apparatus and a method for collecting and assembling flat objects into a unit which is to be supplied for further processing.

The invention relates to a device and a method according to the preamble of claims 1 and 9.

STATE OF THE ART

Devices for collating printed products and creating shipping stacks are known in the art. For example, WO 2010/051 651 and EP 2 107 023 describe a device and a method for collating printed products and for conveying the collated printed products further as a stack. For this purpose, the device has a plurality of receiving units which are movable in a conveying direction along a closed conveying path defined by a conveying member. Furthermore, the device also comprises a plurality of support elements, which define at least in a collation area of the conveyor track an inclined in the conveying direction support surface on which the objects can be stored.

The device is designed for the collection of non-individualized printed products, such as promotional material, magazines, brochures and newspapers, which are collected in the recording units to collections. The shipping stacks formed in this way are then welded into a plastic film and addressed for shipping. The collections wrapped in the plastic film form addressed shipping units, which are handed out to a delivery service. The address is on the outside of the plastic film attached.

Since the collected printed products are not individualized, it does not matter which specific copy of a particular type of printed products z. B. is supplied from a memory of a recording unit. It is only important that a copy of a particular type of printed matter be delivered to the recording units.

From the field of the postal service, however, the processing of individualized flat objects, such as mail, known. The individualization is characterized in that each supplied item is provided with a recipient address or an address code from which the recipient address can be determined. It is known to sort the addressed items by recipient address and to manufacture delivery units or mailing stacks from addressed items, such as mail. Objects with the same recipient address are each assigned to a common delivery unit. However, the apparatus and methods for creating such delivery units are often complex and cumbersome in operation.

As part of the letter processing is increasingly the need to supplement the addressed to a recipient mail with non-individualized supplements, such as advertising supplements. This means that the shipping piles put together for the recipient should be supplemented with non-individualized supplements, in particular advertising supplements, in addition to the letter. In order that advertising supplements can also be sent to recipients who do not want unaddressed advertising by means of corresponding notes on mailboxes or in telephone books, it is advantageous that the shipping stack can also be addressed as such. For this, however, the shipping stack must be surrounded by an addressable shell.

DE 3 731 589 describes a method and apparatus for sorting mail and summarizing the same in sorted form. This is done by separating the postal items and then depositing the separated postal items in an intermediate conveyor. The postal items sorted in this way are fed by means of delivery units to collection containers with a target. However, the device and the associated method are extremely complex.

EP 0 710 930 describes a mail processing system with a mailpiece authorization which allows the identification of the mailpieces. However, the document does not describe a method of creating delivery units from multiple flat items.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a first object of the invention to provide an apparatus and a method which allow to combine a plurality of flat objects into units, wherein the units are to be fed to a further processing. In particular, the units should be able to be conveyed in a shingled stream without the division being broken up into units and the objects merging together to form a continuous product stream. The formation of these units should, however, manage with the least possible effort and low costs and with the least possible retrofitting for existing facilities.

A second object is to propose a device and a method by means of which individualized objects can be grouped into units with similar individualization features and further processed. In particular, the invention should make it possible to supply the units produced for further processing.

The solution of the two objects involves two objects, each representing an independent invention and claimed in independent patent applications. The first subject of the invention represents the solution of the first object, while the second subject of the invention relates to the solution of the second object. However, the combination of the two subjects of the invention leads to a preferred embodiment of both inventions, for which reason the following description of the invention will be described in the following description.

The first subject of the invention is concerned with the collection of flat objects to units, in such a way that they remain distinguishable or distinguishable also in the subsequent further processing.

The second subject of the invention, which is claimed in the present application, is concerned with the grouping of individualized items into units with similar individualization features.

The second object of the invention relating to the first object is solved by the features of the independent claims 1 and 9. Further preferred embodiments and developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims. Characteristics of the method claims are analogously combined with the device claims and vice versa. At this point it should also be emphasized that features disclosed in connection with the first subject of the invention can be combined with features of the second subject of the invention.

Collecting flat objects is to be understood to mean the formation of collections from in each case a plurality of objects which, as a unit, are to be supplied to further processing. The collections can be formed by collating objects into stacks or by nesting objects or by a combination of the two aforementioned processes. The unit is preferably a delivery unit. Such a delivery unit is characterized in that the items contained therein are delivered to a common recipient address. The individualization features of the flat objects correspond to a recipient address or an address code from which a recipient address can be derived.

The collection may e.g. a juxtaposition of objects or a. Insert items into a recording. In this case, a group of flat objects each forms a loose stack of objects lying horizontally on one another or vertically next to one another or in an inclined arrangement of adjacent ones. The objects lie in each case with their surface side together. The term "stack" should be interpreted accordingly in this aspect.

The invention is based in particular on a device for collecting flat objects and for further conveying the collected objects as a unit. For this purpose, the device contains a plurality of receiving units arranged one behind the other, which are moved in a conveying direction along a closed conveying path defined by a conveying member. The receiving units are each guided through a collecting line, along which the receiving units via transfer stations successively objects are supplied. The receiving units form at least along the collection path from a support surface on which the objects are stored.

The flat objects may be printed products, such as newspapers, magazines, brochures, advertising supplements, leaflets or flyers, or additional items, also called add-on's. Additional articles are in particular samples, such as CD's, DVD's, teabags, flags, T-shirts or foiled products or gimmicks. The additional articles may be attached to printed products. The flat objects can be individualized and provided with identification information, such as address or address code. The flat objects can not be individualized. The flat objects can be flexible or rigid. The flat objects may also include letters, which are provided with identification information, such as address or address code. In particular in connection with the second subject of the invention, the merging of addressed mail to delivery units plays a central role. A mixed collection of individualized and non-individualized flat objects into units is also possible.

The receiving units form for holding and supporting the collected objects in each case preferably two mutually opposite support elements, which form a receiving space for receiving the flat objects. The support elements can be connected to each other or not connected to each other.

The receiving unit preferably forms a support surface for the flat objects along the collecting route. The bearing surface is preferably inclined along the collecting route in the conveying direction. The inclination of the support surface is preferably such that the objects are aligned by gravity on a stop described below. The support surface is preferably formed by a support element, in particular by a lower support element. The inclination is z. B. at least 10 ° (angular degree) and a maximum of 60 °. The inclination is in particular 20-30 °.

The receiving units may be formed as receiving pockets, receiving cells, grippers or carriages. The recording units can, for. B. part of a cellular wheel, which forms radially arranged around a rotation axis receiving cells with a radially outwardly arranged receiving opening. The support elements of the receiving cells can, for. B. be formed by two relatively movable cell walls. Devices with cell wheels of the aforementioned type are described, for example, in WO 2009/043 358, in particular in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6, and in EP-B-1 090 867, in particular in FIGS. 1 and 2, shown and described.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device, the receiving units include grippers, each with a first and second gripper arms for clamping holding the units after completion of the collection process. The gripper legs are for this purpose relative to each other between an open position, in which a receiving space is formed, and a closed position, in which the unit is clamped, movable. The gripper legs can now be designed as support elements themselves. For this purpose, the grippers preferably have an extended, lower gripper limb, which forms the (inclined) support surface for the objects. The grippers are preferably pivotable relative to the conveyor track, with a pivot axis transverse to the conveying direction.

It is also possible that the support member of the grippers of the receiving units are independent elements, which z. B. are guided by means of an independent support elements conveyor along its own conveyor track, and which are conveyed along the collection line parallel to the grippers. Such a solution is z. As disclosed in WO 2010/051651.

The receiving units and in particular the associated gripper form at least along the collection line a stop for the arranged in the receiving space, in particular resting on the support surface of objects. If grippers are provided, then the stop is preferably formed by the connecting region between the two gripper limbs.

The conveyor track, along which the receiving units, and in particular the grippers are guided, preferably comprises two superimposed web sections, which are interconnected by arcuate, in particular circular arc-shaped transition sections. The collection line is formed here in the upper track section. The collecting route and preferably the upper path section preferably run linearly. They are particularly preferably formed horizontally. The lower and upper web sections furthermore preferably run parallel to one another. The receiving units, in particular their grippers, extend in the lower track section expediently by 180 ° (degrees of angle) turned to the oppositely extending upper track section.

Along the collection line connect at least one, preferably a plurality of transfer stations arranged one behind the other, via which individual or a group of objects are passed to the receiving units conveyed past them. The transfer of the objects preferably takes place during the movement of the receiving units. The movement is preferably at a continuous rate. The transfer station is in each case part of a supply device, via which objects are supplied from a storage or a conveying device to the receiving units.

The transfer stations can be designed as investors, by means of which the objects z. B. in a curved path the receiving units or the gripper mouth of the gripper are supplied. The objects can z. B. by means of a transfer conveyor belt as part of the transfer station to the receiving units. The objects or the group of objects intended for a specific recording unit are supplied in cycles to the recording units, the clock of the transfer stations being synchronized with the clock of the recording units passing them. The objects or groups of objects are z. B. via the transfer conveyor belt one behind the other, but spaced apart the receiving units. Are z. B. no items for handover provided for a receiving unit, a gap between the objects is introduced on the transfer conveyor belt.

The device preferably also includes a transfer device to which the units are transferred from the receiving units of a removal device. The removal device is preferably a belt conveyor. The units are preferably individually and spaced apart or deposited as a scale flow on the belt conveyor and further promoted. The units are preferably stored with the leading collar on the belt conveyor. If the receiving units comprise grippers, the units held by the grippers are fed to the transfer device and transferred to the belt conveyor while opening the grippers or deposited thereon. The transfer device is preferably arranged in the region of an arcuate transition section and / or in the lower track section.

The device for collecting objects or the removal device preferably also comprises a printing device on which units of flat objects, in particular delivery units, can be printed with identification information, such as address, address code and / or delivery circle. The printing device preferably contains or consists of an addressing station. The printing device may also include a printing station for printing units with advertising messages or a logo. The advertising messages may include multi-color and / or three-dimensional representations. The printing device may comprise one or more printing stations arranged one behind the other, one of the stations being an addressing station. The printing is preferably carried out on the enclosing unit, and in particular on one of the enclosing sections. For this purpose, z. B. an ink jet method can be used.

The printing device is preferably arranged at the end of the collecting section. In principle, the printing device can also be placed elsewhere in the device. In particular, the sheets can also be printed or addressed to a removal device before the collection line or after transfer of the units. Accordingly, the printing device is arranged in front of the collection line or in a subsequent conveying device.

The device according to the invention also comprises a control device which controls the delivery and delivery of the flat objects to the receiving units, the movement of the receiving units along their Umlautbahn and the delivery of the units to a removal device. The control device is connected via bidirectional data lines to the corresponding devices of the device.

The first subject of the invention now relates to a method for collecting flat objects and for further conveying the collected objects by means of receiving units, wherein the receiving units for holding and supporting the collected objects each have two mutually opposite support elements, which form a receiving space.

The inventive method is characterized by the following process steps: - Providing along a bending line partially weakened flat, flexible Umfassungsseinheit, and Bending the flat enclosing unit along the bending line to form two, separated by the bending line Umfassungsabschnitte, Inserting the bent enclosing unit into the receiving space, wherein in a non-weakened area along the bending line on the curved enclosing unit a restoring force acts in the direction of a planar position of the enclosing unit, and - The Umfassungsabschnitte the enclosing unit is pressed by the restoring force to form a receiving pocket in the receiving space to the adjacent support members and the curved enclosure unit is held by the pressing force in the receiving space; - feeding at least one flat object into the receiving pocket of the curved enveloping unit; - Closing the curved enclosing unit by merging the two enclosing sections.

The enclosure unit is flexible and flexible. It preferably contains pulp fibers, such as cellulose fibers, which are particularly preferably anisotropically oriented. The enclosing unit may be a sheet with a single or multi-layered construction. Preferably, at least one layer or layer of paper, cardboard or paperboard. Several layers can z. B. glued together. Other layers can also be made of metal or plastic. The plastic layer can be added to the layer composite by means of extrusion, lamination or lacquering. The flat, flexible enclosing unit may also consist of a plastic, in particular a plastic film. The enclosing unit can be a single or multi-leaf product. This multi-leaved product may be bound, stapled or glued. The enclosure unit can have different surface dimensions and geometries and z. B. polygonal, round or combined forms. The enclosing unit is preferably rectangular. The enclosing unit may in particular also have the form of a strip. The enclosing sections may be smaller in area than the objects collected therein.

The enveloping unit, which is partially weakened along the bending line, forms an open envelope or a jacket for receiving the flat objects. The enclosing unit is preferably open on three sides. A rectangular enclosing unit has, for example, a bending line and three edges along which the enclosing unit is open. The enclosing unit forms a stop in the region and along the bending line for the objects pushed into the receiving pocket of the enclosing unit.

The enclosing unit is preferably an arc, wherein the Umfassungsabschnitte the sheet sections and the peripheral edges correspond to the sheet edges. The sheets are made of paper with a basis weight of z. B. 20 g / m <2> to 200 g / m <2>, in particular of z. From 40 g / m 2 to 120 g / m 2. However, the grammages can be higher. The bow can z. B. also be made of cardboard. As is usual with paper, the sheets have a fiber distribution with anisotropic fiber orientation.

The weakening along the bending line may be in the form of a groove, a fold, a cut or a perforation. The weakening may also be due to wetting along the bending line, z. B. by a line-shaped wetting, be formed. The weakening is preferably designed as a weakening line. In the area of the weakening line, the restoring force of the bow is canceled or at least reduced. The weakening line is preferably a fold line. A cut or a perforation can be made by means of a cutting or punching tool. In order to ensure a sufficient restoring force of the enclosing sections, preferably 90% of the bending line or less remain unimpaired. Furthermore, preferably at least 15% of the bendline is not weakened. However, this value also depends on the material properties, such as fiber content, fiber orientation, basis weight or thickness of the sheets or possible coatings. Consequently, the restoring force can be adjusted via the height of the ratio of the total length B of the one or all weakening lines along the bending line to the total length A of the bending line. The ratio B: A can be, for example, 0.1 to 0.7 and is always less than 1. The smaller the ratio, the greater the restoring force of the enclosing sections.

For this purpose, the device preferably contains an enclosing unit feeding device for feeding a enclosing unit which is partially weakened along the bending line and for transferring the enclosing unit into the receiving space of the receiving unit. The wrapping unit feeding device is preferably designed to be capable of inserting the wrapping unit, which is partially weakened along the bending line, into the receiving space in a bent state, the wrapping unit pressing against the supporting elements with its enclosing sections, which are bending sections, as a result of the restoring force of the support elements is held. The enclosing unit supply device can be designed as a feeder, by means of which the enclosing units z. B. in an arcuate path to the receiving units or the gripper mouth of the gripper are supplied.

The restoring force of the enclosing unit causes spreading of the enclosing portions of the enclosing unit, wherein the enclosing portions are applied to the support elements. The spreading process is therefore limited by the support elements. The contact pressure of the Umfassungsabschnitte on the support elements causes a relatively high static friction, so that the enclosing unit can not be moved without a minimal effort in the receiving unit.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of objects are deposited via one or more transfer stations to form a (small) stack in the receiving pockets. The receiving units are for this purpose moved in the conveying direction along the closed conveyor track. The articles are preferably introduced transversely to or against the direction of movement of the receiving units into the receiving pockets formed in the receiving units along the collecting route. For this purpose, the objects are preferably deposited on a surrounding portion of the bent enveloping unit in the receiving pocket.

If the receiving units include grippers, the gripper legs preferably form the supporting elements. According to this embodiment, the gripper legs in the open position form the receiving space, in which the enclosing unit is held to form the receiving pocket. In the closed position of the gripper arms, the enclosing sections are brought together and thus the receiving pocket is closed, wherein the gripper legs clamp the collected objects together with the enclosing unit.

In a further development of the invention, the method also comprises the creation of at least one line of weakness along a bending line on the enclosing unit. According to the invention, the at least one weakening line is shorter than the bending line and only extends over a part of the bending line. If the weakening line is a fold line, then the folding operation is carried out by means of a folding device. The folding device may be part of the device for collecting flat objects. The folding device is coupled, for example, to the enclosing unit feeding device. Thus, for example, enclosing units can be fed to the folding device, partially folded in the folding device and fed to the receiving units at the beginning of the collecting line via the enclosing-unit feeding device. The processing of the enclosing units in the folding device is preferably done inline and isochronous with the movement of the recording units.

The folding device for creating the Teilfalzes can work, for example, the Taschenfalzprinzip, which is known from the prior art. For this purpose, the folding device contains a lateral pocket stop for the enclosing unit and two rotating folding rollers, wherein an upsetting space is formed between the folding rollers, in which the enclosing unit abutting the stop is compressed and pulled between the folding rollers to form a rebate. In order to form a partial fold along the bending line, the folding rollers now do not extend in the direction of their axes of rotation over the entire length of the bending line but only over that section of the bending line in which a fold break is to be produced.

The folding device can also operate on the Schwertfalzprinzip, which is also known from the prior art. The folding device contains here in addition to the two rotating folding rollers nor a sword, which pushes the enclosing unit along a bending line between the folding rollers. The sword virtually replaces the compression of the Umfassungsseinheit causing pocket stop. In order to form a partial fold along the bending line, the folding rollers now do not extend in the direction of their axes of rotation over the entire length of the bending line but only over that section of the bending line in which a fold break is to be produced. Furthermore, the sword can also extend only over that section along the bending line, in which a fold break is to be generated. The folding is basically preferably transversely to the conveying direction.

The folding device may further include a creasing unit in which the enclosing units are grooved along the fold line to be produced before folding. The creasing is preferably transverse to the conveying direction. The Rill unit is designed accordingly. The individual enclosing unit is therefore grooved only over that section along the bending line, in which subsequently also a fold line is created. Correspondingly, the scoring tool, such as scoring blades, also extends only over that part of the way along the bending line in which a fold line is subsequently produced.

Folding means in paper processing the production of a sharp bending edge, also called fold line or fold break with the aid of a tool or a machine. Folding causes breakage of fibers crossing the fold line so that layers or plies containing pulp fibers, e.g. As paper, along the fold line the residual stress, which causes a restoring force when bending, completely or at least partially loses.

The groove in turn means in the paper processing, the impressions of a fracture line to the folding of a pulp fibers containing layer or layer, for. B. paper, simplify. The grooves cause a linear mass displacement or a pre-breaking of the fibers. This happens z. B. by means of pressing tools to create a bending capacity for the material.

As already mentioned, the single enclosing unit has a bending line extending between two edges. Bending line means that the enclosing unit is bent along this line to form two enclosing sections, without, however, necessarily producing a line of weakness. The bending line now expediently contains a plurality of partial sections, wherein at least one partial section forms a weakening line and at least one partial section does not form a line of weakness. Preferably, partial sections with a weakening line and partial sections without a weakening line alternate along the bending line in each case.

According to a first embodiment of an enclosing unit, a middle section of the bending line has a weakening line, while the two, extending to the edges of the edges extending side sections have no line of weakness.

According to a second embodiment of an arc, the two, extending to the edges of the edges extending side sections on a line of weakness, while lying between the lateral sections, middle section of the bending line has no line of weakness.

In a further development of the invention, the method also includes the closing of the gripper after completion of the collecting process of objects and the gripping of the curved enclosing unit with the objects collected in these by the gripper arms in the manner described above. The held by the gripper units are on this way preferably further conveyed along the conveyor track, before this z. B. be transferred to a transfer device of a removal device.

The opening and closing of the gripper along the orbit is done in a known manner, for example via a slotted guide, which cooperates with actuating means, such as control rollers, with the grippers.

In a further development of the method according to the invention, the enclosing unit, together with the objects held in it, is transferred as a unit via a transfer device to a removal device.

According to a possible embodiment of the inventive method, the enclosing unit after completion of the unit directly, z. B. at the end of the collection line, or indirectly following the collection process, for. B. in a removal device, to form a continuous fold line along the bending line completely folded .. For this purpose, a corresponding folding device may be provided. In principle, the gripper can also be configured in such a way that the continuous fold line and thus the complete folding are carried out simultaneously with the closing of the gripper.

The second aspect of the invention now relates to a device and a method for assembling presorted mail to form so-called delivery units, for which purpose the device described above for collecting objects is used. The above units correspond here to the aforementioned delivery units.

The second invention is now characterized in that the means for collecting objects includes a feeder device for feeding or supplying individualized, provided with an identification information items to the receiving units. The feeder device further includes a storage unit for providing the individualized objects in stack formation, in particular as a rod, as well as a singulation unit for singulating the individualized objects. In addition, the feeder device includes a checking unit for checking the identification information on the objects and at least one transfer station, via which the individualized objects are transferred to the receiving units. The checking unit can also be designed to check the separation of the objects. In this way, malfunctions, such as the simultaneous removal of several items from the storage unit, can be determined. The determined information is processed accordingly in a control device.

The term "individualized" should not be confused with the term "isolated". Individualized objects contain identification information, by means of which they differ from other, similar objects and z. B. can be assigned to a recipient address. The recipient address can be a household, a person, a company or a building. Isolated objects, however, are individually present objects.

The associated method is characterized by the following steps: - Moving the recording units in the conveying direction along the collecting path of the closed conveyor track; Providing grouped, presorted, individualized items, - separating individualized objects from the group, Checking an identification information, such as address, of the separated objects, - feeding the checked objects to a transfer station and - Passing the objects to the receiving units along the collection path of the conveyor track.

The grouped objects can, for. B. in rod or stack formation. The checking unit checks the identification information acquired on the item. For this purpose, the checking unit is connected to a control device which, on the basis of the checking result, correctly assigns the objects to the subsequent further processing units via an allocation unit. The purpose of the check is to ensure that objects with matching identification information are transferred to a common recording unit and objects having different identification information are transmitted to different recording units.

According to a preferred embodiment, the individualized objects in the stack formation are already presorted according to their identification information, wherein objects with matching identification information are arranged directly following one another. The checking unit now compares the acquired identification information with identification information stored in a data memory which corresponds to the presorting of the objects. In this way, it should be checked whether the objects actually exist in the presorted order or deviate from it.

The individualized objects are now assigned via an allocation unit either indirectly, in particular via a buffer system, or directly to a transfer station, wherein objects with matching identification information, such as address or address codes, are stored in a common recording unit.

According to a first embodiment of the second invention, the feeder for feeding individualized articles includes a plurality of transfer stations and an allocation unit. The checked objects are assigned to the individual transfer stations by means of the allocation unit and transferred by these to the receiving units. In this case, the allocation unit feeds articles with the same address to successive transfer stations, via which the objects which are fed to the receiving unit passing to the transfer stations are supplied. Objects with the same address are thereby transferred via a plurality of transfer stations arranged along the collection route to a common receiving unit.

According to a second embodiment of the second invention, the feeder for feeding individualized items includes a cache system having a plurality of buffers for each of a group of items. Furthermore, the said feeder device also contains an allocation unit and at least one, preferably exactly one transfer station. The checked objects are allocated to the temporary storage of the intermediate storage system via the allocation unit and optionally grouped there into groups of several objects. A group formed in a cache each comprises items with the same identification information.

The individual groups are then transferred from the latches via the transfer station to the receiving units, wherein a group of objects is transferred to a common receiving unit. If there is only one object for an identification information, it goes without saying that this object is stored individually in a buffer. That is, a group can contain one or more items. The buffer system represents a kind of sorting memory, in which groups of individualized objects are formed and buffered, which will deliver to recording units in a subsequent step. Therefore, it is basically sufficient if said feeder comprises only a single transfer station, which is sequentially loaded with groups of articles from the latches.

The allocation unit according to both embodiments preferably comprises a switch system, via which the checked objects can be assigned to the corresponding buffers of the buffer system or the corresponding transfer stations.

Of course, advertising supplements can be customized via a corresponding printing device before the collection route, z. B. addressed, and are supplied as individualized items the receiving units. Again, the control device provides an isochronous processing of the objects that the individualized advertising supplements are assigned to the correct recording units.

With the device according to the invention and the associated method, individualized objects, such as addressed letters, can be processed and combined with non-individualized objects, such as advertising inserts, to form individualized delivery units. This distinguishes the present device and method from known devices and methods in which non-individualized items, such as newspapers, magazines, or advertising inserts, are collected into collections, packaged, and individualized at the end by printing an address on the wrapping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the subject invention will be explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each show schematically: <Tb> FIG. 1: <sep> an unfolded sheet; <Tb> FIG. 2: <sep> a partially folded sheet according to a first embodiment; <Tb> FIG. 3. <sep> a partially folded sheet according to a second embodiment; <Tb> FIG. 4: <sep> a side view along the collecting route of the conveyor; <Tb> FIG. 5: <sep> is a perspective view of a sheet feeder; <Tb> FIG. 6: <sep> is a perspective view of a creasing-folding device; <Tb> FIG. 7 shows a simplified plan view of the device for collecting articles in the region of the collection line according to a first embodiment; <Tb> FIG. 8 shows a simplified plan view of the device for collecting articles in the region of the collection line according to a second embodiment; <Tb> FIG. 9a: <sep> is a perspective view of a delivery unit; <Tb> FIG. 9b: <sep> is a perspective view of another delivery unit.

Basically, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures. In the following figures, the enclosing unit is shown and described as a bow. However, this should not be construed as limiting the embodiments to enclosing units of sheets. Furthermore, in the following embodiments, sheets with fold lines are described. Of course, as described above, instead of fold lines, weakening lines may be provided quite generally.

WAYS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows an unfolded, planar sheet 1.1, which forms the starting material to form a partially folded, three-sided open envelope for receiving flat objects. The sheet 1.1 has a, from a first to an opposite, second arc edge extending bending line 2, along which the sheet 1.1 is bent in a later process step and partially folded.

2 and 3 each show along the bending line 2 partially folded sheet 1.2 and 1.3. The bending line 2 divides the sheet 1.2 in two arc sections 8a, 8b.

According to the embodiment according to FIG. 2, a fold line 5, which is shorter than the bending line 2, is arranged along a middle section of the bending line 2. It is flanked by two non-folded sections 4a, 4b arranged laterally along the bending line 2 lead to the edges of the sheet.

According to the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the bending line 2 has two laterally arranged folding lines 6a, 6b, which lead to the sheet edges. The fold lines 6a, 6b, close along the bending line 2 a non-folded, middle section 7 a. The sheet according to FIGS. 2 and 3 now has a residual stress along its bending line 2, at least in the region of the non-folded middle section 7, which exerts a restoring force on the sheet sections 8a, 8b laterally of the bending line 2 from a curved to a planar position.

4 shows a limited section of a device 10 for collecting objects from the region along the collecting line S. The device 10 has receiving units 11 in the form of grippers. The grippers 11 are spaced apart in the conveying direction F attached to a conveyor chain 13. The conveyor chain 13 is guided with the grippers 11 along a guide device 14. The grippers 11 have an upper, first gripper limb 12a and a lower, second gripper limb 12b movably arranged relative to the first gripper limb 12a along the collection line S. The second gripper limb 12a is extended relative to the first gripper limb 12a and forms a support surface for the objects 9a, 9b to be collected.

The gripper arms 12a, 12b form a gripper mouth, which corresponds to the receiving space for a bent along the bending line 2 and partially folded sheet 1.2, 1.3. On that, the gripper mouth opening opposite side of the gripper 11, a stop 15 is formed in each case.

For the purpose of feeding curved partially folded sheets 1.2 into the gripper jaw of the grippers 11, a sheet feeding device 20 is provided. The sheet feeding device 20 is designed for the supply of sheets 1.2, in which the fold line 5 is arranged along a middle section 7 of the bending line 2. About the sheet feeding device 20 partially folded sheet 1.2 are now supplied to the grippers 11. The sheet feeding apparatus 20 has a spring-loaded take-up roller 16 cooperating with a take-over conveyor 23, which takes over the partially folded sheets from the folding device and feeds them to a delivery unit of the sheet feeder 20. The feed roller 16 may be made of foam or contain this to ensure a gentle pressure on the sheet in the region of the central portion in which lies the fold line. The delivery unit comprises a double belt conveyor 21, by means of which the sheets are conveyed to a discharge point. The double belt conveyor 21 is designed so that the curved sheet 1.2 are guided on both curved sections 8a, 8b by a conveyor belt and held in a clamping manner. The individually required sheet 1.2 are, however, only in the central portion of the bending line 2, in which the fold line is arranged, in the conveying engagement with the two conveyor belts of the belt conveyor 21. In the region of the lateral sections in which the unfolded sections 4a, 4b of the bending line. 2 Although the sheet 1.2 is guided, it is not covered by the conveyor belts, so that in this area no fold line is formed by the pressing force of the belt conveyor 21.

In principle, in the entire sheet feeding device 20, the sheet 1.2 only with those sections in the conveying engagement with the corresponding conveying members, such as belt conveyors arrive, in which the sections of the bending line 2 lie with a fold line. In this context, conveying engagement means, in particular, a contact pressure exerted on the sheet for producing a frictional contact with the sheet for the purpose of transmitting a movement moment, for B. from a conveyor belt or conveyor rollers on the bow.

In the present sheet feeding device, the non-conveyed side portions of the bent sheet 1.2 are supported and guided with the non-folded sections by a surface guide member 22 in the form of a guide plate along the conveying direction Fb. The sheets 1.2 are delivered at a transfer point of the sheet feeder 20 (not shown).

The single sheet 1.2 is inserted in the transfer in the bent state with the bending line 2 ahead in the gripper mouth of the gripper 11. The bending line 2 is thereby pushed into the gripper mouth up to the stop 15. By the force exerted by the unfolded sections of the bending line 2 on the arc sections 8a, 8b restoring force the arc sections 8a, 8b spread apart. The sheet sections 8a, 8b are applied to the gripper legs 12a, 12b while exerting a pressing force in the gripper jaw. The pressure force generates a frictional connection, so that the sheet 1.2 is held in the gripper jaw and is secured against lateral displacement. The sheet 1.2 is at least partially opened according to the opening width of the gripper jaw and forms a receiving pocket for the subsequently collected flat objects 9a, 9b.

Following the collection of the flat objects 9a, 9b, the grippers and thus the sheet 1.2 are closed by merging the two sheet sections 8a, 8b for the further request. The gripper arms 12a, 12b hold the collected objects 9a, 9b between the bow sections 8a, 8b in a clamping manner. The closed sheets 1.2 with the flat objects 9a, 9b collected therein are transferred by the grippers 11 to a removal device for further processing (not shown).

Fig. 6 illustrates a possible embodiment of a folding device for producing partially folded sheet 1.2. The folding device is designed as a creasing device 30. The creasing folding device 30 includes a feed section via which individual planar sheets 1.1 are fed in a feed direction Fa by means of a conveyor belt 31. The sheets are aligned on the feed path along a Richtnockenbandes by leading cam 34 of the slower running Richtnockenbandes come to rest on the leading edges of the sheet 1.1 and so evenly spaced and align the sheet 1.1 apart.

The creasing folding device 30 includes a creasing unit 32 in which the single sheet 1.1 is first grooved along a bending line 2 along the part line (s) in which a crease line 5 is subsequently applied. The creasing unit is designed so that it acts only on the section (s) of the bending line 2 in which or which a folding line 5 is to be created. Following the groove, the sheet 1.2 is partially folded in a Taschenfalzaggregat, wherein the Taschenfalzaggregat designed so that the associated folding rollers acts only on the grooved sections of the bending line and not on the entire bending line 2 of the sheet 1.2. This means in particular that the folding rollers do not extend over the entire extent of the bending line 2 but only over one or more part of it.

After attaching the fold line 5 of the sheet 1.2 is discharged from the creasing-folding device 30 and passed, for example via a sheet feeding device 20 described above to the receiving units 12.

The described creasing device 30 and sheet feeding device 20 are not mandatory features of the device 10 for collecting objects but only preferred embodiments of such devices, with which the inventive device 10 can be supplemented particularly advantageous. The sheets can in fact be folded in other ways and fed to the device 10 in other ways. In particular, the sheets do not need to be in-line, i. to be folded in the production line, but may well already be provided with the Teilfalz retrieved from a cache.

FIGS. 7 and 8 now show two particular embodiments of a device 40.1, 40.2 for collecting articles according to the second subject of the invention. The partially folded sheets 1.2, 1.3 as an envelope for collecting flat objects as described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 5, are particularly well suited for use in the two devices 40.1, 40.2 described below. Furthermore, the creasing folding device 30 according to FIG. 6, the sheet feeding device 20 according to FIG. 5 and the conveying device with grippers 11 according to FIG. 4 are also particularly well suited for use in the two devices 40.1, 40.2.

The devices according to FIGS. 7 and 8 involve the creation of ready-to-ship delivery units. This is primarily about the processing of mail. The present invention is based on two subtasks. On the one hand, letters with the same address are to be combined into one delivery unit, so that the delivery agent can combine the letters as a single unit and not deliver them individually to the recipient. The delivery unit should also be addressed as a whole. A second sub-task is the delivery units not individualized, z. B. not addressed supplements, such as advertising supplements or additional items to attach. Since the delivery unit, which in addition to addressed letter post also ad inserts adresses, is addressed as a whole, advertising can also serve those recipient groups, which do not want non-individualized advertising.

The objects are now achieved by mail and non-individualized supplements, which are addressed to a recipient, are loosely collected in a partially folded sheet. The bow forms a kind of envelope, which serves in particular to hold collections together and separate from other collections.

The device 40.1, 40.2 according to FIGS. 7 and 8 now has one with a plurality of receiving units 41 which are movable in a conveying direction Fe along a closed conveying path defined by a conveying member. The receiving units 41 and the conveying member are preferably designed according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. The device 40.1, 40.2 forms a collection line S, along which the flat objects 50 are collected.

At the beginning or in front of the collecting line S, according to the invention, according to the invention, sheets are partially folded over a creasing device 30 according to FIG. 6 and fed to the receiving units 41 via a sheet feeding device 20 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. The creasing folding device 30 in turn receives the sheets 1.1 from a sheet buffer store 57, which stores the sheets 1.1 in stack form and delivers them via a separating unit to the feed path of the creasing folding device 30. However, the feeding of the sheet 1.1 and the folding derselbigen and the transfer to the receiving units 41 and the related devices can also be configured differently. In particular, the buffer memory 57, the creasing device 30, the sheet feeding device 20 and the receiving units 41 with the associated conveying member 13, as already mentioned above, be designed differently.

The device 40.1 and 40.2 according to FIGS. 7 and 8 further includes a feeding device 80 for feeding flat, addressed objects 50 into the receiving pockets of the partially folded sheets 1.2, which are arranged in the receiving units 41. The term "addressed" means in the broadest sense that the objects are provided with identification information, which allow the object to be assigned to a specific recipient address either manually or via a data processing device. This can be z. As the address itself or a machine-readable address code. The objects are primarily letters. The term "letter is in the broadest sense, an information carrier packed in an addressed envelope, such. As an information written on paper to understand.

The feeder 80 includes a storage unit 48 which provides the letters 50 in a stack formation. The letters are already sorted. In particular, letters with the same recipient address are preferably arranged directly behind one another. Furthermore, the letters are preferably already ordered by Zustellkreis or even delivery route. Thus, the letters of a Zustellkreises can be arranged one behind the other, so that they can be fed directly into a transport device following the collection process without further sorting, which z. B. is assigned to the responsible for a delivery circle delivery. Preferably, the letters, as mentioned not only according Zustellkreis but also already on Zustellroute, along which the delivery, the letters to the recipients deliver sorted.

In this connection, the device 40.1, 40.2 according to the invention comprises an electronic data memory 47, in which the address information of the previously electronically recorded letters is stored. Furthermore, the sorting sequence of the letters stacked in the storage unit 48 is also stored in the electronic data memory 47. The electronic data memory 47 with the address and sorting information is connected to a control device 45. The control device is connected via bidirectional data or control lines 46 to, among other things, the separating unit 49, the transfer stations 55, 55a... 55d, the creasing device 30 of the sheet feeding device 20 and the drive 44 of the receiving units 41.

The data memory 47 may contain further data, so the individual stored address information individual information or receiver profiles may be assigned. Such recipient profiles can z. B. include interests, occupation, hobbies, gender, age or origin of the recipient behind the address information. Receiver-specific delivery units can now be created via the control device. Thus, the individual delivery units targeted recipient specific items, such as advertising supplements, be added. Furthermore, the sheet can also be specifically printed with advertising messages in addition to the address. So z. B. in the delivery unit of a motorcycle enthusiast targeted advertising for motorcycles or motorcycle events are introduced.

In terms of control technology, the device is set up so that the delivery units in the device according to the invention can be identified by the control device. The creation and promotion of the delivery units in the inventive device is therefore clock-controlled. The delivery units are assigned to individual cycles, with the control device always knowing in which cycle a specific delivery unit is currently located. For this purpose, the control device creates, for example, a virtual clock image of the device. This also allows the correct addressing of the sheet so that the address on the sheet matches the address of the sheets being held in the sheet.

The separating unit is preferably controlled or regulated independently of the movement of the receiving units along the collecting line and has z. B. a different clock than the recording units. Since groups of letters are handed over to the receiving units, the separating device usually has a higher working cycle than the receiving units along the collecting line. The above-mentioned embodiments of the clock-controlled operation of the device generally apply to devices and methods which fall under the present claims, and are not limited to the embodiments shown.

The memory unit 48 is assigned a separating device 49 and a checking or control unit 51. At the separating device 49, the letters 50 are individually taken from the stack formation and fed to the control unit 51. At the control unit 51, the address of the letters is checked and compared with the information stored in the data memory 47. In particular, it is checked whether the removed letter 50 is actually singulated and is in the correct position in the sorting sequence as stored in the data memory 47. Furthermore, it is also checked whether the detected address matches the stored address data. The control unit 51 may include a camera system which acquires the address data from the letters by means of an imaging method and converts it via corresponding data processing software into digital address information.

According to the embodiment according to FIG. 7, the separated letters 50 are conveyed on to an allocation unit 52 after passing through the control unit 51. The allocation unit 52, which z. B. may be a switch system, the letters 50 individual, along the collection line S successively arranged letter transfer stations 55a ... 55d passes. At the letter transfer stations 55a... 55d, the letters 50 are transferred to the receiving units 41 by being deposited or inserted into the receiving pockets of the sheets 1.2 located in the receiving units 41. For this purpose, the receiving units 41 are guided along the collecting line S past the letter transfer stations 55a ... 55d. The cooperating with the receiving units 41 conveying member is driven by the drive 44, which in turn is controlled by the control device 45.

The device is now controlled via the control device 45 so that letters with the same recipient address of a common recording unit 41 and letters with different addresses in different recording units 41 are plugged. This happens, for example, in that letters 50 having the same recipient address, which according to pre-sorting pass directly through one another the allocation unit 52, are assigned to adjacent letter transfer stations 55a... 55d. A recording unit guided past the letter transfer stations 55a... 55d now undertakes in sequential order all the letters 50 with the same recipient address from the letter transfer stations 55a... 55d arranged one behind the other and collects them in the receiving pocket of the sheet 1.2 for a particular recipient address a delivery unit with all letters created with the same recipient address.

According to the slightly modified embodiment of Fig. 8, the letters 50 are assigned via an allocation unit 52 to a storage system 53 having a plurality of individual latches 53a ... 53d. The device 40.2 is controlled via the control device 45 so that letters 50 with the same recipient address are assigned to a shared buffer 53a ... 53d and letters 50 having different addresses to different latches 53a ... 53d.

The feeder 80 further also includes a letter transfer station 55. The units formed in the latches 53a ... 53d of letters with the same recipient address are each forwarded as a group via a switch 54 to the letter transfer station 55 and from there the Transfer recording units 41. Since the units of letters 50 are formed with the same recipient address in contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 7 already in the buffer system 53 and not only in the receiving units, according to the present embodiment, a single transfer station is sufficient. The temporary storage system acts as a sorting memory, in which the units of letters are retained until they are ready for forwarding to the letter transfer station 55, the control device 45 ensures that only completely created delivery units of letters to the letter transfer station 55 forwarded.

As already mentioned, this embodiment has the advantage that the feeder device 80 in principle with a single letter transfer station 55 or at least substantially less letter transfer station 55, z. B. with the two, gets along as according to the embodiment of FIG. 7 are used. As a result, for example, there is more space for more transfer stations, eg. B. for supplying non-individualized advertising supplements, available. Otherwise, the collection section can be made shorter and the system can be made more compact.

[0103] Before and / or following the letter transfer stations 55a... 55d for the mail, further transfer stations 42a... 42c can be arranged, as already mentioned, via which further individualized or non-individualized, i.e. addressed or unaddressed flat objects, such as advertising inserts.

According to the two embodiments according to FIGS. 7 and 8, transfer stations 42a... 42c for advertising inserts are arranged along the collection route S following the letter transfer stations 55, 55a... 55d for addressed letters. After the transfer of the letters 50 in the receiving units 41 42c non-individualized advertising inserts are now introduced into the receiving pockets of the sheet 1.2 via the further transfer stations 42a, delivery units with a partially folded sheet and arranged in the receiving pocket letters with the same recipient address and not -addressed advertising supplements are trained.

Following the collection route S or at the end of the collection line S or in the removal device 58 (both alternatives shown) is a printing device 43, z. As an ink-jet printer, arranged. The printing device 43 comprises an addressing station. At the printing device 43 and the associated addressing station, the possibly guided in the receiving unit 41 sheet 1.2 are addressed. The address corresponds with the address on the lying in the receiving pocket of the sheet letters. Furthermore, on the sheet and advertising messages as well as other information such. B. the delivery circle or the delivery route, the name of the deliverer, etc. are printed. For this purpose, the printing device may contain further printing stations. In principle, the addressing unit can also be placed elsewhere in the device. The bows 1.2. In particular, they can also be addressed to a removal device before the collection line S or only after delivery of the delivery units. So z. B. in the sheet feeding to the creasing-folding device 30, a printing unit 60 may be provided. The allocation and transfer of the addressed letters to the receiving units must be coordinated in any case by the control device with the addressing and transfer of the sheets to the receiving units.

A delivery unit can thus contain one or more letters with the same recipient address. It can also be provided that a delivery unit does not contain a letter but only advertising supplements. Since the sheet is addressed anyway, a delivery unit need not necessarily contain addressed letters. So z. B. be provided that in principle for each registered recipient in a delivery circle or along a delivery route a delivery unit is created with at least advertising supplements, regardless of whether addressed to the individual recipient mail or not.

The feeding of the sheet 1.2 to the receiving units 41, the transfer of the letters from the letter transfer station to the receiving units 41 and the transfer of the advertising supplements to the receiving units 41 preferably runs inline and isochronous to the movement of the receiving units 41 through the collection line. Favor is also the processing of the sheets in the folding device 30 and optionally the singling of the unfolded sheets from the stack of sheet buffer in-line and isochronous with the movement of the receiving units 41st

FIGS. 9a and 9b show two embodiments of delivery units 70.1, 70.2. The delivery units 70.1, 70.2 each contain a collection 71 of a plurality of flat objects of the above-mentioned type. The objects are in the form of a stack and are held by a enclosing unit 72.1, 72.2 in the form of a partially folded sheet. The partially folded sheet 72.1, 72.2 has a bending line 74, which has a middle section 76 along which a fold line is arranged. The middle section 76 of the bending line is flanked on each side by a lateral section 75a, 75b, which extend to the lateral edge of the sheet. The lateral sections 75a, 75b of the bending line 74 are not folded. The arc 72.1, 72.2 is divided along the bend line 74 into two arc sections. On the outside of an arc section 78.1, 78.2 a recipient address 73 is printed. Furthermore, the sheet 72.1, 72.2 is also used to attach advertising messages. On the sheet 72.1 or on an associated sheet section 78.1 of a first delivery unit 70.1 according to FIG. 9a, advertising messages 77.1 are printed in the form of three-dimensional representations. On the sheet 72.2 or on an associated sheet section 78.2 of a second delivery unit 70.2 according to FIG. 9b, advertising messages 77.2 are printed in the form of multicolored representations.

Claims (17)

A device (40.1, 40.2) for collecting flat objects (9a, 9b, 50) and for further conveying the collected objects (9a, 9b, 50) as a stack, comprising a plurality of successively arranged receiving units (11, 41) along a closed, by a conveying member (13) defined conveying path (U) in a conveying direction (Fe) are movable, wherein the receiving units (11, 41) at least along a collecting path (S) form a bearing surface on which the objects (9a , 9b, 50) and at least one transfer station (55, 55a ... 55d) for transferring the articles (9a, 9b, 50) to the receiving units (11, 41), characterized in that the device ( 40.1, 40.2) at least one feeder device (80) for feeding individualized, provided with an identification information items (9a, 9b, 50) to the receiving units (11, 41), and the at least one Zubringvorrich a storage unit (48) for providing the individualized objects (9a, 9b, 50) in stack formation and a separating unit (49) for separating the individualized objects (9a, 9b, 50), a control unit (51) for checking the Identification information on the objects (9a, 9b, 50), as well as at least one transfer station (55, 55a ... 55d), via which the individualized objects (9a, 9b, 50) are handed over to the receiving units (11, 41). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the feeder device (80) contains a plurality of transfer stations (55a ... 55d) and an allocation unit (52), by means of which the checked, individualized objects (9a, 9b) of a transfer station ( 55a ... 55d) and from this a receiving unit (11, 41) can be passed. 3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the feeder device (80) for supplying individualized objects (9a, 9b, 50), a memory system (53) with a plurality of latches (53a .... 53b) for each a group of individualized Objects (9a, 9b, 50) and an allocation unit (52), wherein the checked, individualized objects (9a, 9b, 50) via the allocation unit (52) the latches (53a ... 53d) of the storage system (53) supplied are, and from the latches (53a ... 53d) by means of the transfer station (55) the receiving units (11,41) can be transferred. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the allocation unit (52) comprises a switch system over which the checked, individualized objects (9a, 9b, 50) the corresponding latches (53a ... 53d) or the corresponding transfer stations (55a ... 55d) can be assigned. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the receiving units (11, 41) at least along a collecting line (S) of the conveyor track (U) define a in the conveying direction (Fe) inclined bearing surface. 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the receiving units as a gripper (11) and the support elements as gripper arms (12a, 12b) are formed, which relative to each other between an open position in which the gripper (11) Forming receiving space, and a closed position in which the grippers (11) hold the items by clamping, are movable. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the inclined support surface is formed by an extended gripper limb (12b). 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the conveyor track (U) comprises two superimposed web sections, which are interconnected by arcuate transition sections, and the collecting route (S) is formed in the upper track section. Method for collecting addressed, flat objects (9a, 9b, 50) and for conveying the collected objects (9a, 9b, 50) as a stack, using a device (40.1, 40.2) for collecting flat objects (9a, 9b, 50) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: Moving the receiving units (11, 41) in the conveying direction (Fe) along the collecting path (S) of the closed conveying track (U), Providing grouped, presorted, individualized objects (9a, 9b, 50), - separating individualized objects (9a, 9b, 50) from the group, Checking identification information, such as address, of the individualized individual items (9a, 9b, 50), - supplying the checked individualized objects (9a, 9b, 50) to a transfer station (55, 55a ... 55d) and Transferring the individualized objects (9a, 9b, 50) to the receiving units (11, 41) along the collecting route (S), wherein the individualized articles (9a, 9b, 50) are assigned directly or indirectly to a transfer station (55, 55a ... 55d) via an allocation unit (52), and wherein articles (9a, 9b, 50) having matching identification information are shared Recording unit (11, 41) are stored. 10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the feeder device (80) a plurality of transfer stations (55a ... 55d) and the allocation unit (52) objects with matching identification information each successive transfer stations (55a ... 55d) feeds and of the transfer stations (55a ... d) a common, on the transfer stations (55a ... 55d) passed over receiving unit (11, 41) are passed. 11. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the feeder device comprises a memory system (53) with a plurality of latches (53a ... 53d) for each of a group of individualized objects (9a, 9b, 50), and individualized objects (9a, 9b, 50) with matching identification information via the allocation unit (52) are supplied to a shared buffer (53a ... 53d), and the individualized objects (9a, 9b, 50) collected in the buffer (53a..53d) as a group Transfer station (55) supplied and transferred from this as a group of a receiving unit (11, 41). 12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the control unit (51) checks the identification information of the individualized objects (9a, 9b, 50), wherein a control device (45) on the basis of the verification result, the individualized objects (9a , 9b, 50) via the allocation unit (52), the latches (53a ... 53d) and the transfer stations (55a ... 55d) assigns. 13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the individualized objects (9a, 9b, 50) are pre-sorted in the memory unit (48) according to their identification information, wherein objects are arranged with the same identification information immediately consecutive. 14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the device further transfer stations (42a ... 42c) for the transfer of other, flat, individualized or non-individualized objects, such as advertising supplements, has. 15. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the separating unit (49) is controlled or regulated independently of the movement of the receiving units (11, 41) along the collecting line (S), and preferably has a higher conveying cycle than the recording units (11.41). 16. Delivery unit (70.1, 70.2) comprising a collection (71) of flat objects, the collection (71) including at least one individualized item provided with identification information (73) and the collection (71) in the receiving pocket of a flat, flexible item Enclosing unit (72.1, 72.2) is merged, wherein the enclosing unit (72.1, 72.2) is also individualized and the same identification information (73) as the at least one individualized object of the collection (71) bears. 17. Delivery unit according to claim 16, characterized in that the enclosing unit (72.1, 72.2) is partially weakened along a bending line.