CH710960B1 - Method and collecting device for collecting flat, in particular sheet-shaped goods. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for collecting flat, in particular sheet - shaped goods in the form of a stack in a collecting device (1) which has a plurality of collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e) arranged one above the other, with the following steps: feeding a individual goods or a prefabricated sub-group from a plurality of goods to a first collecting subject (a) and depositing the individual good or the prefabricated sub-group in the first collecting subject (a); Feeding a single good or a prefabricated sub-group from a plurality of goods to at least one second collecting compartment (b) and depositing the individual good or the prefabricated sub-group in the second collecting compartment (b); Simultaneous removal of the individual goods or the prefabricated sub-groups from all filled collecting compartments (a, b) to form a stack. The invention further relates to a collecting device for collecting flat goods in the form of a stack.

Description

Description: The invention relates to a method for collecting flat and, in particular, sheet-shaped goods in the form of a stack in a collecting device and a collecting device for collecting flat goods in the form of a stack.

Collecting devices for collecting flat goods, e.g. Sheets or envelopes made of paper or flat cards made of cardboard or plastic, and for forming stacks of goods from individual goods or subgroups of such goods are well known from the prior art. For this purpose, gathering tracks can be used, for example, which have a conveyor device with a plurality of collection areas arranged one behind the other, in which the goods can be stacked and transported away by the conveyor device. The goods are stored in docking stations, which are arranged above and along the conveyor so that the goods can be stored in the defined collection areas. Such a gathering track is known, for example, from US Pat. No. 4,177,979 B. However, collecting flat goods in the form of stacks by means of such a gathering track proves to be time-consuming and not very flexible. In order to deposit the goods in a predetermined collecting area of the collating path, the function of the feeder must be synchronized with the movement of the conveyor device, for example via a complex mechanical coupling, as described in US Pat. No. 4,177,979, so that the feeder arrives at the goods stored in the correct position be able to store predetermined collection points of the gathering track. The known collating lanes only allow the goods to be stacked in a stacking direction from bottom to top, i.e. with a collating lane the goods can only be collected in an ascending direction in the form of a stack of goods and stored in the collecting points of the collating lane.

Furthermore, stationary collecting stations are known from the prior art, which can receive serially supplied goods, which are collected in the form of a stack and then transported away. With such stationary collecting stations, the supplied goods can also be collected in the stack in ascending order in the order in which they are fed to the collecting station. The formation of sub-groups is possible.

In order to be able to stack flat goods, such as sheets in descending order, that is, from top to bottom, collecting devices with movable switching elements are known from the prior art, which move the goods transported serially along a transport path in different directions can deflect so that the goods diverted from the original direction of transport can either be placed on the top of a partial stack already stored in a collecting compartment or pushed under the partial stack. This makes it possible to collect the goods in the stack in ascending as well as in descending order. Such collecting devices are known for example from DE 9 301 072 U1 and EP 0 655 983 B1. However, these collecting devices with a switchable deflection device are complex in construction and prone to errors in operation. A group or subgroup of several single sheets can be pushed under a pre-collected partial stack only with difficulty, for example if the sheets have perforations or cutouts. Due to the weight of the sub-stack and a high level of friction between the top of the goods or sub-group to be pushed under the sub-stack and the bottom of the sub-stack that has already been deposited, it often proves difficult to insert the goods or sub-groups of goods without kinking under the sub-stack. Difficulties arise when collecting in descending order in such collecting devices, in particular also in the case of folded sheets, in particular if these have different fold lengths. When a subset of folded sheets or a single folded sheet is pushed under a pre-stacked partial stack, the folded sheets can get caught under one another, which can ultimately lead to a sheet jam in the collecting device or damage to the sheets.

From US 5 435 534 a device and a method for folding and collecting paper sheets is known, wherein the paper sheets are first fed individually by means of a conveyor to a dual collecting device. The dual collecting device comprises two collecting compartments arranged one above the other, each of which defines a collecting level. To insert a sheet of paper fed by the conveyor into one or the other collecting compartment, a switchable guide element is arranged between the conveyor and the collecting compartments, which guides the incoming paper sheets either into the upper or into the lower collecting compartment. A folding device is arranged downstream of the dual collecting device, with which the sheets collected in the form of stacks of sheets can be folded. Since the folding device can only fold stacks of sheets with a limited height, an entire group of sheets which is to be placed in an envelope, for example in folded form, is first divided into two sub-groups by being placed in the two collecting compartments of the dual-collecting device, a first sub-group is placed in the upper collecting compartment and a second sub-group in the lower collecting compartment of the dual collecting device, each in the form of a stack. After dividing the group of sheets into the first and second subgroups, the second subgroup is first removed from the lower collecting compartment and fed to the folding device arranged downstream, in which the first subgroup is folded and then passed on to another collecting device with a single collecting compartment. The first subgroup is then removed from the upper collecting compartment of the dual collecting device and fed to the folding device, in which the first subgroup is then also folded and finally placed on the folded stack of the second subgroup in the further collecting device. The stack of sheets stored in the collecting compartments of the dual collecting device are subsequently

CH 710 960 B1 are transported from each other out of the respective collecting compartment and fed to the downstream folding device. This is time consuming and slows down the stacking process. This reduces the throughput of the collecting device.

Proceeding from this, the invention has for its object to show an improved method for collecting flat and in particular sheet-shaped goods in the form of stacks and a collecting device with which a reliable collection of the most efficient way and with the highest possible throughput with low susceptibility to errors flat goods in stack form. The collecting device should have a construction that is as simple as possible, low in maintenance and less prone to errors and should enable the stacking of serially supplied goods both in ascending and descending order. The method and the collecting device are also intended to be able to collect partial groups of flat goods and in particular also folded sheets or partial groups of folded sheets in stack form.

These objects are achieved with a method for collecting flat goods in the form of a stack with the features of claim 1 and a collecting device with the features of claim 12. Preferred embodiments of the inventive method and the inventive collecting device can be found in the dependent claims ,

The collecting device according to the invention comprises at least two collecting compartments arranged one above the other in a vertical direction, each of which forms a collecting plane, the collecting planes being spaced apart and preferably parallel to one another. Each collecting compartment expediently has at least one at least substantially horizontally level shelf, the surface of which defines the collecting level for supporting the goods or sub-groups of goods.

The collecting device according to the invention further comprises a feed device for feeding individual goods or prefabricated sub-groups from a plurality of goods to the collecting compartments. The goods are flat and in particular sheet-shaped goods, for example paper sheets, in particular in printed form. The goods can also be folded sheets or other flat goods such as Trade cards out of cardboard or plastic. The goods can, for example, be printed and possibly folded sheets of paper that form the content of a mail item and include a cover letter with a recipient address and associated attachments. The content of such a mail item can be collected into a sheet stack with the collecting device according to the invention and then inserted into an envelope by means of an inserting device. The letter of such a mailing with the printed recipient address represents a leading document in the stack, which expediently lies on the top or on the bottom of the stack, so that the printed recipient address is visible on the top or bottom of the stack , This is expedient, for example, if the sheet stack forming a mail item is inserted into an envelope with a viewing window.

[0010] In the collecting device according to the invention, the feed device and the collecting compartments can be moved or pivoted relative to one another. This makes it possible to introduce individual goods or prefabricated sub-groups of goods, which are brought to the collecting compartments by means of the feed device, into a specific and predetermined collecting compartment and to store them there. For this purpose, for example, the feed device can be moved in the vertical direction relative to the fixed collecting compartments or its angular orientation can be pivoted with respect to the horizontal. Moving or pivoting the feed device and the collecting compartments relative to one another enables the goods or the subgroups which are fed from the feed device to be stored in a (any) predetermined collecting compartment. In this way it is possible, for example, to store the goods or sub-groups of goods serially supplied by the feed device in ascending or descending order in the stacking compartments arranged one above the other. This enables both ascending and descending collection of the goods in the stack to be formed, in relation to the transport sequence in which the individual goods or the subgroups are fed from the feed device to the collecting compartments one after the other. The order in which the collecting compartments are filled is arbitrarily possible and changeable with the collecting device according to the invention. In particular, the order in which the collecting compartments are filled is thus independent of the arrangement and sequence of the collecting compartments arranged one above the other in a vertical direction.

To remove the goods or subgroups of goods stored in the collecting compartments, the collecting device according to the invention comprises a conveyor. This expediently has one or more conveying element (s) for removing the goods or sub-groups from the filled collecting compartments. According to the invention, the conveyor device is designed such that it pushes the goods or subgroups of goods stored in the filled collecting compartments all out of the collecting compartments at the same time. For this purpose, at least one movable conveying element is expediently provided, which at the same time intervenes in all the collecting compartments and pushes the goods or sub-groups stored therein all out of the collecting compartments at the same time. The movable conveying element can be, for example, a slide which is attached to a movable belt or belt. When the belt or belt moves, the slider attached to it moves into all the collecting compartments at the same time and pushes the goods or sub-groups inside out of the collecting compartments at the same time.

Alternatively, it can also be provided that each collecting compartment or a plurality of collecting compartments is assigned a single conveying element, the individual conveying elements being coupled with one another in such a way that their travel movement is synchronized with one another in such a way that all the conveying elements are in at the same time the

CH 710 960 B1 Drive in the assigned compartment and push out the goods or subgroups inside at the same time.

The simultaneous removal of the goods or sub-groups located in the individual collecting compartments enables a very efficient collection of the goods in the form of a stack and a very high throughput of the collecting device. When the goods or subgroups are removed from the filled collecting compartments, the individual stacks are stacked up from the individual collecting compartments in the form of a stack and appropriately transferred to a stack transfer device arranged downstream of the collecting compartments. The stack transfer device expediently comprises a transport device for removing the stack formed. Furthermore, a passage is expediently provided in the stack transfer device, which has a resilient element and a stationary element, through which the stack formed when the goods or subgroups are removed from the filled collecting compartments is carried out. The resilient element is preferably biased relative to the stationary element, for example by a spring element or an elastic element such as e.g. a rubber or foam roller, and the stationary element is, at least in comparison to the flexible element, rigidly formed and suspended immovably. When the goods or goods subgroups stacked to form the stack are passed through the feedthrough, the stack presses the flexible element against the pretension and thereby opens or enlarges a gap between the movable element and the stationary element, through which the stack can then be carried out. It is also possible to arrange a flexible element on both sides of the feedthrough, which are pressed away from one another when the stack is being passed through, in order to open or enlarge the gap between the two flexible elements.

In order to ensure a uniform alignment of the individual goods or subgroups of goods in stack form in the individual collecting compartments, the collecting device expediently has one or more stop elements which engage in the collecting compartments when the goods or subgroups are put down and form a stop there, on which the front edge of the goods or sub-groups of goods imported into the collecting compartment comes to rest when they are put down. For this purpose, a single stop element can be provided, which engages in all collecting compartments at the same time, or a plurality of stop elements can also be provided, such a stop element being assigned to each collecting compartment. When the goods or sub-groups of goods are placed in a collecting compartment, the front edge of the goods or sub-group comes into contact with the stop of the respective collecting compartment and usually bounces from there to the shelf of the respective collecting compartment or on which it is already resting to drop the existing partial stack.

Like the or each conveyor element, the or each stop element can be retractable into the collecting compartments and can be designed to be removable from the collecting compartments. The or each stop element is expediently formed by a stopper which is fastened to a circumferential belt or band and engages in one or each collecting compartment when the circumferential belt or the circumferential band is moved into a corresponding engagement position. These and further features and advantages of the collecting device and method according to the invention result from the exemplary embodiment described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, the figures showing:

1: side view of a schematically illustrated embodiment of a collecting device according to the invention with a feed device and a plurality of collecting compartments;

Fig. 2: Detailed view of the feed device of the collecting device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3: Detailed view of the collecting compartments of the collecting device of Fig. 1 in a first position of the assigned feed device (Fig. 3a) and a second position of the assigned feed device (Fig. 3b);

FIG. 4: detailed representation of the collecting compartments of the device from FIG. 1 in the filled state; FIG.

Fig. 5: Detailed view of the collecting compartments of the device of Fig. 1 during the removal of the goods or sub-groups of goods stored therein in a first phase (Fig. 5a) and a second phase (Fig. 5b);

6: perspective top view of a preferred embodiment of a collecting device according to the invention;

FIG. 7: View of the collecting compartments of the collecting device from FIG. 6 in the conveying direction.

In Fig. 1, a collecting device according to the invention for collecting flat, in particular sheet-shaped goods in the form of a stack is shown schematically. The collecting device 1 has a feed device 5 for feeding individual goods G or prefabricated sub-groups G ′ from a plurality of such goods. A subgroup G 'can be composed, for example, of 1 to 20 individual goods and is already supplied by the feed device 5 as a prefabricated subgroup G' in the form of a stack of goods. The individual goods G or goods subgroups G ', which can also be present as folded sheets or as a folded subgroup, are transported in series in the feed device 5 along a transport direction. The feed device 5 expediently comprises a first one, not a drawing here

CH 710 960 B1 shown transport route, which lies at least substantially in a horizontal plane, along which the goods G or the goods sub-groups G 'are transported by means of a transport device, for example a conveyor belt or transport rollers. The feed device 5 further comprises a transport element 6, which adjoins the first transport section downstream and, in the exemplary embodiment shown here, has two transport belts 6a, 6b, each rotating over rollers 6c, which are set in motion by the driven rollers 6c. The upper run of the lower belt 6a and the lower run of the upper belt 6b are arranged at a distance and parallel to one another, so that there is a transport gap between them through which the goods G or the goods subgroups G 'can be transported along a transport direction T.

The transport element 6 is designed to be pivotable in the embodiment shown in the drawing and for this purpose has a frame part 6d which can be pivoted about a pivot axis A and which is shown in FIG. 2. For reasons of clarity, the pivotable frame part 6d is not shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2 hides the conveyor belts 6a, 6b arranged behind it. The rollers 6c of the rotating conveyor belts 6a, 6b are rotatably arranged on the pivotable frame part 6d.

The pivotable frame element 6d is pivotally articulated on a stationary frame element 6e. The pivot axis A is arranged at the upstream end of the transport element 6. At the downstream end of the transport element 6, a pivoting mechanism is provided, which in the exemplary embodiment shown here is formed by an eccentric with an eccentric wheel 6f and an eccentric rod 6g placed thereon. The eccentric wheel 6f driven by an eccentric drive, not shown here, is rotatably attached to the stationary frame part 6e. The lower end of the eccentric rod 6g is rotatably articulated on the eccentric wheel 6f in the region of its outer circumference and the upper end of the eccentric rod 6g is rotatably attached to the pivotable frame part 6d. By rotating the eccentric wheel 6f, the pivotable frame part 6d can be pivoted relative to the fixed frame part 6e within a predetermined angular range (with respect to the horizontal plane). By pivoting the pivotable frame part 6d, the position and in particular the tilting of the conveyor belts 6a, 6b relative to the horizontal plane and thereby the direction of transport T of the transport element 6 can be adjusted.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, an arrangement with a plurality of collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e adjoins the transport element 6 downstream. The collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction and each have a flat shelf 9, the surface of which forms a collecting level. The collection levels of the collection compartments a, b, c, d, e are thus arranged in the vertical direction at a distance and parallel to one another, the collection levels expediently being at least essentially horizontal. The collecting levels of the individual collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e serve to support the goods G or the goods sub-groups G ', which are fed by the feed device 5 and in particular by the transport element 6. The pivotability of the transport element 6 (in particular the pivotable frame part 6d) enables the goods G or goods component groups G 'fed by the transport element 6 to be introduced into an arbitrarily selectable collecting compartment a, b, c, d, e.

In Fig. 3a, the pivotable transport element 6 is shown in a first position for clarification, in which a transported by the transport element 6 in the transport direction T good G is inserted into the lowest collecting compartment a. For this purpose, the pivotable frame part 6d (Fig. 2) is pivoted into its lowest position, in which the downstream end of the transport gap formed between the belts 6a and 6b is at least approximately at the same height (with respect to the vertical direction) as the collecting plane of the lowest collecting subject a. A goods G guided in the transport direction T by means of the transport element 6 is thus introduced into the lowest collecting compartment a in this position of the transport element 6 and deposited there.

In order to enable a uniform orientation of the goods or goods sub-groups stored there on one another when storing goods G or goods sub-groups G 'in a collecting compartment a, b, c, d, e, in each collecting compartment a, b, c, d, e a stop element 2 is provided, which engages in the respective collecting compartment and forms a stop 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e there, against which the front edge V comes to rest when the goods G or the goods subgroups G 'are put down. 3b shows a phase of the method according to the invention, in which the bottom collecting compartments a, b, c and d are already filled with goods G, the front edge V of which on the respective stop 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d of the associated collecting compartment a, b, c, d is present. When the goods G or goods subgroups G 'are introduced into one of the collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e, the front edge V of the goods G or the goods subgroup G' first comes into contact with the stop 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e and then bounces off. The goods G or the goods subgroup G 'introduced into a collecting compartment a, b, c, d, e then fall onto the shelf 9 of the respective collecting compartment a, b, c, d, e or onto a partial stack already placed thereon of goods G.

The stop element 2 can be, for example, a stopper 2 'which is fastened to a circumferential stopper band 2. The rotating stopper belt 2 is - as shown in the figures - guided around rollers 2 'which are driven by a stopper drive. As a result, the stop element 2 can be moved into and out of the collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e from the collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e. It is possible to provide a single stop element 2 (in particular a single stopper 2 ') which can simultaneously engage in all or at least in several adjacent collecting compartments. However, it is also possible to assign a stop element, for example a stopper 2 ', to each collecting compartment, which engages only in the respectively assigned collecting compartment and forms a stop 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e there. In the illustrated embodiment

CH 710 960 B1, a lower stop element 2a and an upper stop element 2b are provided, wherein the lower stop element 2a can engage in the lower collecting compartments a, b and c and the upper stop element 2b in the upper collecting compartments c, d and e. A plurality of stoppers 2 ′ can also be attached to each stopper band 2 at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the stopper band. In the illustrated embodiment, two stoppers 2 'are arranged on each stopper band 2. This makes it possible to move the stopper band 2 only in one direction without having to make a change of direction in order to be able to bring a stopper 2 'into or out of engagement with an associated collecting compartment. The one or more stoppers 2 'can expediently be fixed at any position in the longitudinal direction (conveying direction) of the collecting compartments. This makes it possible to adapt the position of the stop 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e in the collecting compartments to the format of the goods, in particular their extension in the conveying direction.

In order to be able to store individual goods G or goods subgroups G 'in the collecting compartments b to e arranged above the lowest collecting compartment a, the pivotable transport element 6 is pivoted such that its downstream end comes to lie vertically at the level of the collecting compartment, in which the goods G or the goods sub-groups G 'are to be inserted. 3b shows, for example, a position of the pivotable transport element 6 in which the goods G can be inserted into the uppermost collecting compartment e. The underlying compartments a, b, c, d are already filled with goods G or goods sub-groups G 'and their front edge V lies against the stop 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d of the respective collecting subject a, b, c, d.

If all goods G, which are part of a group of goods to be collected in a predetermined order in the collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e, all collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e are emptied simultaneously by by means of a conveyor the goods G or goods sub-groups G 'stored in the filled collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e are all pushed out of the collecting compartments at the same time. To remove the goods from the collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e, the conveying device expediently comprises a movable conveying element 3 which engages in the collecting compartments in order to push out the goods stored therein (all at the same time). It is possible to provide a single movable conveying element 3, which engages in all the collecting compartments at the same time and, by moving along a downstream conveying direction, pushes the goods stored in the collecting compartments out of the collecting compartments at the same time. However, it is also possible to provide two or more conveying elements 3a, 3b, the movement of which is coupled and synchronized with one another in such a way that all conveying elements 3a, 3b engage in the collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e and through the collecting compartment at the same time be moved in the conveying direction to ensure that the goods stored in the collecting compartments are all pushed out of the collecting compartments at the same time. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, a lower conveying element 3a and an upper conveying element 3b are provided, the lower conveying element 3a in the lower collecting compartments (a, b, c) and the upper conveying element 3b in the upper collecting compartments (c, d, e ) intervenes. Both the lower conveying element 3a and the upper conveying element 3b comprise a slide element 3 ', which is fastened to a circumferential slide belt 3. The revolving slide belt 3 is guided over drivable rollers 3 and set in motion when the rollers 3 are driven.

To remove the individual goods G or goods subgroups G 'from the filled collecting compartments, the movable conveying elements 3 and 3a, 3b are set and controlled at predetermined times so that they intervene in the collecting compartments at the same time and are passed through the collecting compartments in order to push the goods or goods sub-groups stored in them all at the same time out of the filled collecting compartments. If a plurality of movable conveying elements 3a, 3b are provided, their movement is synchronized in such a way that all conveying elements 3a, 3b engage in the collecting compartments assigned to them at the same time. In the above-mentioned embodiment, in which a single movable conveying element 3 is provided, the simultaneous engagement of this conveying element 3 in all collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e takes place automatically.

On each slide band 3, a plurality of sliders 3 'can be fastened at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the band. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing, two slides 3 ′ are arranged on each slider band 3. This makes it possible to move the slide band 3 only in one direction without having to change direction in order to be able to bring a slide 3 'into or out of engagement with an associated collecting compartment. This contributes to an increase in throughput, because the further slide 3 'can already be used for the removal of the next stack from the collecting compartments after the first slide 3' has been brought into external engagement with the collecting compartments.

So that the stop elements 2 and 2a, 2b do not represent an obstacle when removing the goods from the collecting compartments, these are moved out before the removal of the goods from the collecting compartments. 4 shows the collecting device 1 in a position in which the collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e are filled with goods G and the goods are ready for transport. In the position shown in FIG. 4, the stop elements 2 and in particular the stoppers 2 'are still in engagement with the collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e. For the removal of the goods G from the collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e, the stop elements 2, in particular the stoppers 2 ', are first moved out of the collecting compartments. Subsequently or at the same time, the conveying elements 3, in particular the slides 3 ', move into the upstream end of the collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e and through the collecting compartments in the downstream direction. The goods stored in the collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e are all pushed through at the same time in the conveying direction to the downstream end of the collecting compartments.

At the downstream end of the collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e, a stack transfer device 4 is arranged. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, this comprises a lower conveyor 4a and an upper one

CH 710 960 B1

Conveyor 4b, which each have a conveyor belt 4 'rotating around driven rollers 4, the lower conveyor belt 4' being inclined upwards and the upper conveyor belt 4 'being inclined downwards, in each case seen in the downstream direction and with respect to the horizontal. The upper conveyor 4b comprises a resilient element 7a, which is formed by the downstream roller 4. This resilient element 7b is biased by a spring element 8 against a stationary element 7a. The stationary element 7a is formed by the downstream roller 4 of the lower transport device 4a. The stationary element 7a and the flexible element 7b are arranged in a basic position at a distance from one another, so that a gap is formed between the stationary element 7a and the movable element 7b. This gap forms a passage 7 through which the stack formed by the collecting device 1, which forms a finished group of goods, can be passed through for the removal of the stack.

5 shows two successive phases of the removal of the goods from the collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e and the resulting formation of the stack S and the removal of the stack S formed. 5a shows how the goods G located in the collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e are all pushed out of the collecting compartments in the downstream direction by the conveying element 3 or the two conveying elements 3a, 3b at the same time , 5, the inclined position of the conveyor belts 4a, 4b obliquely upwards or obliquely downwards, the goods G led out from the collecting compartments are fed towards one another in the vertical direction to form a stack S and from which in a transport direction T. moving conveyor belts 4 'through the passage 7, which is formed by the gap between the stationary element 7a and the movable element 7b. The resilient element 7b is pressed upward against the restoring force of the spring element 8. The restoring force of the spring element 8 or the elastic property of the resilient element 7b ensures that the goods G forming the stack S are pressed firmly against one another and are thus compressed into the stack S. Downstream of the bushing 7 there is a removal device 19 for removal of the stack S formed (FIG. 1).

6 and 7 show a preferred embodiment of a collecting device according to the invention. Each collecting compartment a, b, c, d, e has two separate shelves 9, 9 ′ therein. The shelves 9, 9 'of a collecting compartment a, b, c, d, e are arranged transversely to the transport direction at a distance from one another, so that a gap is created between the shelves 9, 9' of a collecting compartment. In this gap, the conveyor with the conveyor elements 3 or 3a and 3b is arranged for the removal of the goods from the collecting compartments. In particular, the lower conveying element 3a and the upper conveying element 3b are arranged in this gap, with the sliders 3 'which are encompassed by them and which pass through the collecting levels of the collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e. In each of the shelves 9, 9 'of a collecting compartment a, b, c, d, e there is a slot 9a, 9a' through which a movable stop element 2, in particular the stoppers 2 ', penetrate and thereby into the respective collecting compartment a, b, c, d, e can intervene. The two shelves 9, 9 'of a collecting compartment a, b, c, d, e are expediently displaceable relative to one another transversely to the transport direction. This enables, for example, an exchange of the stop elements 2 and / or the conveying elements 3; 3a, 3b, if they should be damaged by wear. Furthermore, the width of the collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e can be adapted to the format of the goods G to be collected due to the displaceability of the shelves 9, 9 ′ transversely to the transport direction. Upstream of the divided collecting compartments, in this embodiment of the collecting device, as can be seen in FIG. 5, two separate transport elements 6, 6 ′ are expediently provided, which are arranged at a distance from one another transversely to the conveying direction. Correspondingly, two separate stack transfer devices 4, 4 'are provided downstream of the divided collecting compartments and are arranged at a distance from one another transversely to the conveying direction.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown here in the drawing. Instead of the pivotability of the feed device 5 shown here and in particular the pivotability of the transport element 6 relative to the fixed collecting compartments a, b, c, d, e, it is also possible to move the feed device 5 and in particular its transport element 6 in a vertical direction relative to the collecting compartments a, b , c, d, e to train. In this embodiment of the device according to the invention, the feed device 5 and, in particular, its transport element 6 can be moved in the vertical direction in the manner of a lift between the lowest collecting compartment a and the uppermost collecting compartment e, in order to enable goods to be stored in any desired collecting compartments and in any order. As an alternative to this, it is also possible to design the feed device 5 and in particular its transport element 6 to be stationary and to design the collecting compartments to be movable in the vertical direction, again in the manner of a lift.

Instead of the conveyor device 3 described here in detail with the synchronously movable conveyor elements 3a, 3b, other conveyor devices can also be provided for the removal of the goods from the collecting compartments, such as e.g. driven rollers or belts. These are driven synchronously for the simultaneous removal of all goods from the filled collecting compartments, so that all goods can be moved out of the collecting compartments at the same time.

Unlike shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the collecting compartments can also have continuous shelves 9. To engage the conveying elements 3a, 3b (in particular their slide 3) and the stop elements 2 (in particular their stopper 2), slots extending in the longitudinal direction (conveying direction) of the shelves 9 can be provided.

Furthermore, it is possible to arrange several collecting devices of the type described above one behind the other in the conveying direction. On the one hand, this enables large stacks with a large number of goods to be collected, since partial stacks can already be generated in a first collecting device, which are then stored in a collecting compartment of the downstream second collecting device and with further goods or partial goods stacks for formation

CH 710 960 B1 of a larger stack can be merged. On the other hand, the total number of collecting compartments can be increased without the device being too high. In this case, the feed device of the second collecting device is expediently connected downstream of the stack transfer device of the first collecting device, etc. However, it is also possible to arrange further processing stations between successive collecting devices.

Claims (20)

claims 1. A method for collecting flat, in particular sheet-shaped goods (G) in the form of a stack in a collecting device (1) which has a plurality of collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e) arranged one above the other, with the following steps: Feeding a single good (G) or a prefabricated sub-group (G ') from a plurality of goods to a first collecting compartment (a) and depositing the individual good or the prefabricated sub-group in the first collecting compartment (a), - feeding a single good (G) or a prefabricated sub-group (G ') from a plurality of goods to at least one second collecting compartment (b) and storing the individual good or the prefabricated sub-group in the second collecting compartment (b), - Simultaneous removal of the individual goods (G) or the prefabricated sub-groups (G ') from all filled collecting compartments (a, b) to form a stack (S) from the removed goods or sub-groups of goods. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the order of the goods (G) or the prefabricated subgroups (G ') in the stack (S) formed corresponds to the order of the stacked compartments (a, b, c, d, e). 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a stop (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e) is provided in the collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e), on which when the goods are deposited ( G) or the prefabricated subgroups (G) in the respective collecting compartment (a, b) whose front edge (V) comes into contact. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that a stop element engages in all collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e) in order to form a stop (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e) there, on the when storing the goods (G) or the prefabricated sub-groups (G ') in the respective collecting compartment (a, b, c, d, e) whose front edge (V) comes to rest. 5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a movable conveyor element is provided for the simultaneous removal of the goods (G) or the prefabricated sub-groups (G ') from the collecting compartments (a, b), which during the removal of the goods (G ) or the prefabricated subgroups (G ') other rear edge comes into contact. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the conveying element (3) all goods (G) or sub-groups (G ') simultaneously from the collecting compartments (a, b) to form a stack (S) on or in a stack transfer device (4th ) pushes out. 7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the conveying element engages in all collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e) in order to the simultaneous removal of the goods (G) or the prefabricated sub-groups (G ') from the To attack collecting compartments (a, b) at the rear edge and to push all goods (G) or sub-groups (G ') out of the filled collecting compartments (a, b) at the same time. 8. The method according to claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the stop element in the collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e) can be moved in and out of the collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e). 9. The method according to claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the conveying element in the collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e) can be moved in and out of the collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e). 10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e) each have an at least substantially horizontal collecting level on which the goods (G) or sub-groups (G ') are stored and the Collection compartments (a, b, c, d, e) are arranged one above the other in a vertical direction such that the collection levels of the collection compartments (a, b, c, d, e) run at least approximately parallel to one another. 11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the order of filling the collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e) is arbitrary and changeable and in particular independently of the arrangement and order of the stacking compartments (a, b, c, d, e). 12. Collection device (1) for collecting flat, in particular sheet-shaped goods (G) in the form of a stack, with - a plurality of stacked compartments (a, b, c, d, e), - A feed device (5) for feeding and depositing individual goods (G) or prefabricated sub-groups (G ') from a plurality of goods in the collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e), the feed device (5) and the Compartments (a, b, c, d, e) can be moved or swiveled relative to one another, - And a conveyor for removing the individual goods (G) or the prefabricated sub-groups (G ') from the filled with goods (G) or sub-groups (G'), (a, b), characterized in that CH 710 960 B1 - With the conveyor, the goods (G) or sub-groups (G) stored in the filled collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e) can all be transported out of the collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e) at the same time are. 13. Collecting device according to claim 12, characterized in that the conveying device contains at least one conveying element (3) which engages in the collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e), the or each conveying element (3) at the same time in the collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e) intervene in order to push the goods (G) or sub-groups (G ') stored therein all out of the filled collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e) at the same time. 14. Collecting device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e) are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction and each collecting compartment (a, b, c, d, e) at least one at least in Has essentially horizontally lying shelf (9, 9), the surface of which defines a collecting level for supporting the goods (G) or the subgroups (G ') of goods. 15. Collecting device according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the feed device (5) has a vertically movable or pivotable deflection or transport element (6). 16. Collecting device according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized by a movable stop element (2) which engages in all collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e) in order to have one stop (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) there , 12e) on which the front edge (V) comes to rest when the goods (G) or the prefabricated sub-groups (G ') are deposited in the respective collecting compartment (a, b, c, d, e). 17. Collecting device according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized by a downstream of the collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e) arranged stack transfer device (4) for receiving the stack (S) formed, which forms a stack receiving plane, the stack transfer device (4) in particular comprises a transport device (19) for removing the stack (S) formed. 18. Collecting device according to claim 17, characterized in that the stack transfer device (4) has a bushing (7) with a resilient element (7b) and a stationary element (7a), through which the individual goods (G) or the prefabricated subgroups (G ') from the filled collecting compartments (a, b) formed stacks (S) is carried out. 19. Collection device according to claim 18, characterized in that the resilient element (7b) is biased relative to the stationary element (7a), in particular by a spring element (8). 20. Collecting device according to one of claims 12 to 19, characterized in that each of the collecting compartments (a, b, c, d, e) has at least two separate shelves (9, 9 ') which are transverse to the direction of transport of the goods (G ) can be moved against each other. CH 710 960 B1 CH 710 960 B1 CH 710 960 B1 CH 710 960 B1 CH 710 960 B1 CH 710 960 B1 CH 710 960 B1 CH 710 960 B1 CH 710 960 B1