BE1031113B1 - Stacking device for stacking substrates - Google Patents

Abstract

A stacking device (1) for stacking substrates (2; 2') comprises: a frame (10), an input area (11) and an output area (12). The stacking device comprises at least one conveyor element (13A, 13B) mounted on the frame (10) so as to be completely rotatable about an axis of rotation (D1, D2) and having a gripping section (130) for conveying a substrate (2; 2') located in the input area (11) to the output area (12).

Description

Stacking device for stacking substrates

The invention relates to a stacking device for stacking substrates, a

Printing system with such a stacking device and a method for

Stacking of substrates.

For example, print media printed one after the other by a printer are typically output on a stack. The stack or part of it can be removed by a user. Several principles are conceivable for this purpose. For example, the last printed print medium can be placed on top of a

Alternatively, the most recently printed media can be fed into a stack from below. Feeding from below into a stack accessible to a user from above has the advantage that the media printed first

Print medium is also available first

DE 10 2020 120 256 AT describes a printer for printing plate-like

Media, namely for printing on marker cards with markers for marking electrical devices, The printer comprises a housing and at least one

Input station for the marker caries to be printed, a printing station with a

Printing device and an output station for the printed marker cards. The output station has a magazine device which stores one or more

Guide devices, wherein the respective guide device further comprises a stacking unit which is pivotally mounted and for

Stacking is swiveled back and forth, in the DE 10 2013 104 780 Al is a magazine device for printed

Marking elements are described which have a horizontal conveyor and a vertical lifting device which is moved in a shaft. The shaft has two symmetrical flaps which can be pivoted back and forth.

The known devices have in common that they are based on a complex and

Mechanisms that tend to jam are based

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and reliable

To enable stacking of print media.

This object is solved by an article having the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, a stacking device for stacking substrates, in particular printing media, comprises a frame, an entrance area and a

Output area, wherein at least one fully rotatable about a rotation axis on the

Frame-mounted conveyor with a gripping section for conveying a

Substrate, especially printing medium, located in the entrance area for

Output area is provided.

This is based on the idea of providing a FIFO principle (“first in — first out”), in which the substrate, in particular the printing medium, that is fed in first is also the first to be fed out, with a particularly simple and robust mechanism. By providing the conveyor element that can rotate completely around the axis of rotation, which is connected to the

Since the gripping section grips and transports the respective substrate, in particular the printing medium, no change in the direction of movement is necessary. This makes the mechanism particularly simple and at the same time robust and therefore reliable. For the substrates, in particular

Print media can be particularly rigid objects which, unlike paper, for example, do not deform or only deform insignificantly due to their own weight,

The at least one conveyor element can have a

have a recess, into which a substrate can engage during transport by the at least one conveyor element. This enables a particularly compact

Design, as this allows the axis of rotation to be positioned particularly close to the substrate.

Optionally, the at least one conveyor element has an outer circular arc section. A substrate arranged in the output area can be supported on the circular arc section. This allows the conveyor element to be moved to the outside after the conveyance of a first

Substrais must be repositioned to place a second substrate in the

The circular arc section then slides past the first substrate, whereby the position of the first substrate remains unchanged. The conveyor element thus has a double function,

The at least one conveyor element can be designed to lift one or more substrates vertically against gravity into the output area. This makes it possible to create a stack that can be removed particularly easily.

The output area may have a guide for guiding a stack of substrates, This allows an orderly stacking of a large number of substrates to be achieved,

The stacking device can comprise a drive unit arranged laterally offset relative to the output area. This creates a particularly compact

This allows for a design that can also be easily implemented in a modular manner.

The at least one conveying element can be rotated unidirectionally several times, in particular as often as desired, around the axis of rotation, e.g. in order to convey several substrates one after the other to the

For example, every complete revolution produces a

Substrate is taken along. This enables a continuous and uniform

Promotion,

At least one conveyor element can be disc-shaped, which allows a narrow design and at the same time a simple construction.

The stacking device can have two oppositely rotating

Conveyor elements between which a substrate can be arranged. This allows a particularly smooth-running construction to be achieved.

Furthermore, the stacking device can comprise a first pair of conveyor elements which can be rotated in the opposite direction to a second pair of conveyor elements. Thus, each

For example, substrate can be lifted at four corners at the same time, which allows particularly orderly stacking without jamming.

Furthermore, the stacking device can have a two-shaft, to the already mentioned

Output area have a separate output area, whereby the substrates alternatively to the output area from the input area into the separate

Output area can be output.

Optionally, the stacking device is designed to stack flat and rigid substrates, in particular printing media. For example, the stacking device is designed to stack printing media in the form of label elements, each with several break-out labels. Such label elements are also referred to as marking elements. The stacking device is particularly well suited to the efficient stacking of such printing media.

The stacking device may comprise at least one flat, rigid substrate, in particular

Print medium, particularly in the form of a sign board with several break-out identification labels. This can be arranged in the entrance area and in the exit area.

According to one aspect, a printing system is provided.

Printing system comprises the stacking device according to any embodiment described herein. Furthermore, the printing system comprises a printer 19 and a transport device for transporting the substrates in the form of

Print media from the printer to the stacking device. Regarding the advantages, reference is made to the above information on the stacking device.

The transport device of the printing system comprises, for example, at least one rail for guiding the printing media. In the at least one rail, a recess can be provided for

Engagement by at least one conveying element. This results in a particularly compact design.

According to one aspect, a method for slapping substrates, in particular

Printing media, in particular using the siphoning device according to any embodiment described herein. The siphoning device comprises a frame, an input area, an output area and at least one conveyor element mounted on the frame so as to be completely rotatable about an axis of rotation. The method comprises the following steps: arranging a substrate, in particular

Printing medium, in the input area; and conveying the substrate, in particular printing medium, arranged in the input area with a gripping section of the at least one conveying element to the output area by rotating the at least one conveying element at least once about the axis of rotation. With regard to the advantages, reference is again made to the above information on the stacking device.

The idea underlying the invention will be explained below with reference to the

The embodiments shown in the figures are explained in more detail. They show:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a printing system for

Printing on print media;

Fig. 2 is a view of a printing medium in the form of a sign mat with several break-out identification plates;

Fig. 3A to 3C views of a loading device of the printing system 5 according to Fig. 1 in different stages of conveying a

printing medium;

Fig. 4 a view of a stack of print media in a

Output area of the stacking device according to Fig. 3A to 36;

Fig. 5 is a view of the stacking device according to Figs. 1A to 30, showing an additional output area;

Fig. 6 is a view of the stacking device according to Fig. JA Dis 30, showing a drive unit of the stacking device; and

Fig. 7 is a view of a passage of the siphoning device according to Fig. 3A to 3C.

Fig. 1 shows a printing system 3 for printing on several individually printable substrates in the form of printing media. For this purpose, the

Printing system 3 a separating device 30 into which a stack of print media can be automatically or manually fed, A

Transport device 31 transports individual print media output by the singling device 30 to a printer 32 of the printing system 3.

The printer 32 prints the individual print media one after the other. The printer 32 transports the print media to a

The stacking device 1 stacks the individual printed print media into a stack, which can then be removed manually or automatically from the stacking device 1.

Fig. 2 shows an example of such a substrate in the form of a printing medium 2. The

Print medium 2 comprises a variety of identification labels 20. The

Identification plates 20 are each formed on (at least) one of several webs 21. The webs 21 are parallel to each other and with the identification plates

20 arranged between two guides 22, the webs 21 are each on both

Guides 22. The pressure medium 2 is formed in one piece. For example, it is an injection-molded part. In particular, the pressure medium 2 can be made of a

Plastic or contain a plastic. The individual

Identification plates 20 can be broken off from the webs 21. This allows a

Printer 32 printed label 20 can be attached to an electrical or electronic component, for example, in order to mark it. The

For this purpose, identification plates 20 each have locking elements for locking with a respective component,

The printing medium 2 can also be referred to as a card or a sheet. It is plate-shaped and rigid. Due to the weight of the printing medium 2, the printing medium 2 does not bend or only bends insignificantly, for example if it is only held on one side or corner,

The printing medium 2 has a length, a width and a height. The height is smaller than the length and the width. The width is smaller than the length. The guides 22 extend along the length. The end faces of the printing medium 2 extend across its width.

Depending on the required shape and size of the identification plates 20, the

Print medium 2 a larger or smaller number of identification labels 20 and

webs 21 for holding the identification plates 20.

Fig. 3A to 3C show the stacking device 1 and its operation,

The stacking device 1 comprises a frame 10, an input area 11 and an output area 12. The output area 12 is, when used as intended,

Use of the stacking device 1 is arranged vertically above the input area 11. By means of the transport device 31, a printing medium is 2° from the

Printer 32 can be moved into the input area 11, in this case displaceable. For this purpose, the transport device 31 has a pair of rails 310, wherein each of the guides 22 of the respective printing medium sits 2° on one of the rails 310 and is thereby guided longitudinally displaceably. Fig. 3A illustrates with an arrow the conveyance of the

In Fig. 3A shown printing medium 2 into the arrangement shown in the figure of the

Printing medium 2' in the entrance area 11. The rails 310 of the transport device 31 are spaced apart from each other. The rails 310 of the transport device 31 run parallel to each other. In the intended use of the stacking device 1 (and the printing system 3), the rails 310 extend horizontally.

Furthermore, the stacking device 1 generally comprises at least one conveyor element 13A, 138, in the example shown exactly four conveyor elements 13A, 135. Each of the

Conveyor elements 13A, 135 are completely, i.e. 360 degrees, around a respective axis of rotation

D1, D2 are rotatably mounted on the frame 10. As can be seen in particular in Fig. 5 and 7, the stacking device 1 comprises a first pair of conveyor elements 13A, which can be rotated in a first direction (in the view according to Fig. 3A counterclockwise), and a second pair of conveyor elements 13B, which can be rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction {in the view according to Fig. 3A clockwise}. Alternatively, however, it would also be conceivable, for example, that the

Stacking device has exactly two conveyor elements, which are arranged, for example, on opposite sides of the entrance area 11, so that they are arranged on opposite sides of a pressure medium located in the entrance area 11,

Of the four conveyor systems 13A, 13B, two (namely the first pair) are arranged on one side of the entrance area 11, two more (namely the second

Pair) on an opposite side of the entrance area 11, and thus also on opposite sides of a

Pressure medium 2. The conveying elements 13A, 13B engage in the example shown on the

Front sides of the printing medium 2'. Specifically, the conveying elements 13A, 138 in the example shown are arranged such that they are arranged at four corners of a rectangular printing medium 2' positioned in the entrance area 11.

In the present case, the conveyor cements 13A, 136 are designed identically to one another, with the first pair being oriented in the opposite direction to the second pair.

Each of the conveyor elements 13A, 135 has a gripping section 130 for gripping a

pressure medium 2 located in the input area 11 and for conveying the

Print medium 2° to the output area 12. The gripping section 130 is designed in the form of a projection. By rotating the respective conveyor element 13A, 135 about the corresponding axis of rotation DT, D2, the gripping section 130 grips under the

The pressure medium positioned in the input area 11 is moved 2° and raised, as will be explained in more detail below.

Adjacent to the gripping section 130, a recess 131 is formed in the conveying element 13A, 13B. When conveyed by the conveying elements 13A, 13B, the

Print medium 2’ into the respective recesses 131.

Furthermore, the conveyor elements 13A, 135 each have a circular arc section 132. On the circular arc section 132, a

Pressure medium 2° can be supported while the conveyor element 13A, 13B continues to rotate. The

Circular arc section 132 is arranged concentrically to the respective axis of rotation Di, D2,

The gripping section 130 is formed eccentrically to the circular arc section 132 (and to the rotation axis 19 Di, D2}. The gripping section 130 extends in the radial direction perpendicular to the rotation axis Di, De further outwards than the circular arc section 132. The

Gripping section 130 of a respective conveyor element 13A, 13B is aligned so that it points in the respective direction of rotation of the conveyor element 13A, 13B. The extended

Gripping sections 130 enable the print media 2' to be picked up without having to lift them using separate elements. The respective print medium 2' remains at a transport height in the entrance area 11 until it is picked up by the gripping sections 130. No additional mechanics are necessary.

The conveyor elements 13A, 13B are flat (along the axis of rotation Di, D2}, The

Conveyor elements 13A, 138 are in the form of discs. The conveyor elements 13A, 138 can also be referred to as profiled discs. Stacking is therefore carried out by profiled discs,

The stacking device 1 is mounted on the transport device 31. The

Feeding sieves 13A, 135 are each mounted on one of the rails 310 of the

Transport device 31. In each of the two rails 310, a recess 311 is formed for each two of the conveyor elements 13A, 135 (i.e. one recess 311 per conveyor element 13A, 138). The

Gripping sections 130 of the conveyor sieves 13A, 13B when they move around the respective

Rotation axis D1, D2 rotate, thereby allowing the gripping sections 130 to easily grip under the pressure medium 2’ sitting on the rails 311. The

Conveying elements 13A, 135 are each inserted into the guides 22 of the pressure medium Z.

This ensures that the pressure medium 2’ sits securely during transport.

Referring to Figs. 3A to 3C and 4, a method for stacking

Printing media 2’ with the stacking device 1 is explained.

In a first step, a printing medium, for example the one shown in Fig. 2

Printing medium 2 or the printing medium 2 shown in Fig. 3A-3C, in the

Input area 11, as shown in Fig. 3A by the arrow. This

In the example shown, the shift is in the horizontal direction. Then the

Printing medium 2' is ready in the entrance area 11. The conveyor elements 13A, 138 were previously arranged so that the gripping sections 130 do not stand in the way of the displacement of the printing medium 2 along the rails 310. For example, the

Conveying elements 13A, 13B are rotated so that the gripping sections 130 point upwards.

Next, the print medium 2’ arranged in the entrance area 11 is

Gripping sections 130 of the conveyor belts 13A, 13B by rotating the at least one

Conveyor elements 13A, 13B are transported around the rotation axis D1, D2 to the output area 12.

The conveyor elements 13A, 13B each rotate and mesh with the front sides of the

printing medium 2. In the present case, the conveyor elements 13A, 138 are rotated completely around the rotation axis Di, D2, i.e. by 360 degrees, for each printing medium 2' to be stacked. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable that the conveyor elements 13A, 135 each have two (or more) gripping sections, so that for each complete

Two (or more) print media 2' can be transported per revolution. Because the

Conveyor elements 13A, 135 are fully rotatable about the rotation axes D1, D2, the

Autstapein several print media 2’ by a unidirectional rotation, i.e. without switching the direction of rotation, This allows a particularly simple

Drive mechanism, which will be described in more detail below, and which also does not tend to jam due to the lack of a switching of the direction of rotation.

The rotary movement can be stopped between the conveyance of two printing media 2' or alternatively can run continuously. All conveying elements 13A, 13B move synchronously. The movements of the conveying elements 13A, 13B are coupled with each other,

Fig. 35 shows a moment in which the gripping sections 130 dip into the recesses 311 in the rails 310 of the transport device 31, shortly before they are inserted under one of the webs 21 (and/or one of the

Guides 22) of the pressure medium 2'. As soon as the gripping sections 130 in

If the pressure medium 2' comes into contact with the webs 21, the pressure medium 2' is

Rotation of the conveyor elements 13A, 138 in the vertical direction, opposite to the direction of the

Gravity, as illustrated by an arrow in Fig. 3C.

Fig. 30 shows a moment in which the gripping sections 130 have already rotated further and their ends are no longer in contact with the pressure medium 2'. Rather, the pressure medium 2' rests on the respective conveyor element 13A, 135 at a transition to the circular arc section 132. When the conveyor element 13A, 135 rotates further, the pressure medium 2' slides on the circular arc sections 132. These rotate under the pressure medium 2' while the pressure medium 2 remains stationary in the output area 12. The pressure medium 2' then rests on the respective outer diameter of the conveyor elements 13A, 13B.

Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of a plurality of print media 2' into a stack in the

Output area 12, The unloading device 1 supplies the slapel with further

Print media 2' closes from below, thereby lifting the overlying

stack.

The output area 12 has a guide 120 for guiding a stack of

Print media 2‘. The guide 120 borders the output area 12 laterally, The

Guide 120 forms a slot for the print media 2'. The guide 120 is open at the top so that the stack of printed print media 2 can be removed.

To facilitate removal, the guide 120 has two opposite lateral

Slots, as can be seen from Fig. 5 and 6, in Fig. 5 is also an optional separate output area 14 of the

Stacking device 1 is shown. A respective print medium 2; 2 can be selectively stacked either by the stacking device 1 in the output area 12 or individually from the input area 11 into the separate

Output area 14, e.g. by means of the transport device 31.

Preferably, the separate output area 14 is inclined relative to the rails 311 to facilitate its removal. The separate output area 14 can also be

This can be referred to as imposition. If, for example, it is determined that a single print medium is incorrectly printed or is of the wrong type, it can be ejected into the separate output area 14 so that it does not end up in the stack. Even if a print medium is to be processed with priority, it can be

stack are passed.

Fig. 6 and 7 show a drive unit 15 of the stacking device 1. The

Drive unit 15 comprises a motor 150 and several gears 151, 152. Furthermore, it can be seen that each pair of conveyor elements 13A, 13B is each rotationally fixed to a

Shaft 133 is fixed. On each of the two shafts 133, one of the gears 152 is also fixed in a rotationally fixed manner. In order to effect the opposite directions of rotation of the pairs of conveyor elements 13A, 138 (and of the two shafts 133), the drive unit 15 for the first pair and the second pair has a different number of gears 151, 152 connected in series by one. Thus, a drive pinion of the motor 150 drives the

Fig. 6 on the left drives the shaft 133 via a total of two gears 151, 152, while the drive pinion drives the shaft 133 arranged on the right in the view of Fig. © via a total of three gears 151, 152,

A sensor (e.g. in the motor 15) detects the position of the conveyor elements 13A, 13B, in particular a current angle of rotation (e.g. relative to the frame 10).

Motor 15 adjusts the stacking to the conveying by means of the transport device 31,

As can be seen in particular from Fig. 6 and 7, the frame 10 has two arms 100. While the guide 120 of the output area 12 extends vertically upwards, the arms 100 extend vertically downwards. A passage 101 is formed between the arms 100. The passage 101 is designed to accommodate a

Section of the transport device 31 of the printing system 3. In the assembled state, the transport device 31 of the printing system 3 extends in the passage 101.

The drive device 15 is arranged laterally offset from the output area 12.

This frees up the installation space under the output area 12. This enables a particularly compact and modular design. Furthermore, this allows

Arrangement the inclusion of the separate output area 14, because the installation space on the

Transport height is not blocked. In addition, the installation space in front of and behind the

Sometimes the print media 2 is not blocked by the drive.

The stacking device can also be used as a

Separation device for separating and feeding stacked print media 2 can be used. This results in a large number of equal points.

Specifically, the drive device 15 is mounted on one of the arms 100. The

Drive device 15 is arranged below the output area 12.

The stacking device 1 shown enables stacking according to the FIFO

Principle, so that a first printed print medium 2, 2° is also available first

The conveying elements 13A, 13B actively lift the pressure media 2, 2' and no external force is necessary which could deform the pressure media 2, 2'.

Furthermore, the printing media 2, 2 are raised in steps, which enables a very simple and inexpensive construction.

Since the picking up, lifting and retaining of the print media 2.2° by a

Since the rotational movement (13A, 135 per conveyor system) is realized in only one direction of rotation, an idle stroke can be avoided. Furthermore, alternating loads and the corresponding wear are eliminated. In addition, very few components are required, thus achieving low complexity and susceptibility to failure.

The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can in principle also be implemented in a completely different way.

Reference symbols 1 stacking device 10 frame 100 arm 101 passage 11 entrance area 12 output area 120 guide 13A, 13B conveyor system 130 gripping section 131 recess 132 circular arc section 133 shaft 14 separate output area 15 drive unit 150 motor 151 gear 152 gear 8,2 printing medium 20 identification plate 21 seal 22 guide 3 printing system

Separation device 31 Transport device 310 Rail 311 Recess 32 Printer 30 DI, D2 Rotary axis

Claims (16)

Patent claims 1. A stacking device (1) for stacking substrates (2; 2), comprising: - a frame (10), - an input area (11) and - an output area (12), characterized by at least one conveyor element (13A, 13B) mounted on the frame (10) which is completely rotatable about an axis of rotation (D1, D2) and has a gripping section (130) for conveying a substrate (2; 2%) located in the input area (11) to the output area (12). 2. Stacking device {1} according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one conveying element (13A, 138) has a recess (131) adjacent to the gripping section (130) so that a substrate (2; 2) engages therein during conveyance by the at least one conveying element (13A, 135). 3. Stacking device {1} according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one conveying element (13A, 138) has an outer circular arc section (132) on which a substrate (2; 2) arranged in the output area (12) can be supported, 4. Stacking device {1} according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one conveyor element (13A, 13B) is designed to lift the substrates (2; 2") vertically into the output area (12). 5, Stacking device {1} according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the output area (12) has a guide (120) for guiding a stack of subsidiaries (2; 2). 6. Stacking device {1} according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a drive unit (15) arranged laterally offset from the output area (12). 7. Stacking device {1} according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one conveying element (13A, 136) is unidirectionally rotatable several times about the axis of rotation (Di, D2) in order to convey several substrates (2; 2) one after the other to the output area (12). 8, Stacking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one conveyor element (13A, 13B) is disc-shaped. 9. Stacking device (0) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by two oppositely rotatable conveyor elements (13A, 13B) between which a substrate (2; 2%) can be arranged. 10, stacking device {1} according to claim 9, characterized by a first pair of conveyor elements (13A) which is rotatable opposite to a second pair of conveyor elements (13B), 11. Stacking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a separate output area (14) into which substrates {2; 2} can be output from the input area (11). 12. Stacking device {1} according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stacking unit (1) is designed to stack substrates (2; 2} in the form of flat, rigid printing media, in particular in the form of slides each with several break-out identification plates. 13. Stacking device {1} according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one rigid substrate (2; 2°), in particular in the form of a sign plate with several break-out identification plates. 14, Printing system (3) comprising: - The stacking device {1} according to one of the preceding claims, - a printer (32) and - a transport device (31) for transporting the substrates (2; 2) in the form of printing media from the printer (32) to the stacking device (1). 15. Printing system {3} according to claim 14, characterized in that the transport device (31) comprises at least one rail (310) for guiding the substrates (2; 2), in which a recess (311) is formed for engagement by the at least one conveyor element (13A, 13B). 16. Method for stacking substrates (2; 2°) with a stacking device {1}, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 13, comprising a frame {10}, an input area (11), an output area (12) and at least one conveyor element (13A, 138) mounted on the frame (10) so as to be completely rotatable about an axis of rotation (D1, D2), the method comprising the following steps: - arranging a substrate (2; 2°) in the input area (11); and - conveying the substrate (2; 2°) arranged in the input area {11} with a gripping section (130) of the at least one conveyor element {13A, 138} to the output area (12) by rotating the at least one conveyor element (13A, 138) completely about the axis of rotation (D1, D2).