DE102020116074B4 - Device and method for depositing and positioning a stack forming aid - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for depositing and positioning a stacking aid (5) on a stack (9) in a system (1) which is suitable for stacking, comprising a gripping unit (6) and a guide system (12), the guide system (12) being at the level of the ejection of the stackable object (11) is arranged outside the stack (9), the guide system (12) comprising at least one guide rod (13) with a receptacle (14) for the gripping unit (6), the gripping unit (6) being in the receptacle (14) is movable, the receptacle (14) being movable with the gripping unit (6) around and along the guide rod (13), the gripping unit (6) having a unit (7) for receiving the stacking aid (5), wherein the movement space of the gripping unit (6) is limited, the gripping unit (6) being movable into a basic position via means.

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for depositing and positioning a stack-forming aid on a stack in a system that is suitable for stacking, such as a printing machine, in particular a sheet-fed printing machine, a punching machine, laminating machine, etc.

In the delivery of a sheet-fed offset printing machine, for example, it is common for the operator to place a wedge by hand into the delivery stack while the machine is running in order to achieve better stack formation. Here, particularly in the area of the stack, there is a risk of injury for the operator due to the rotating sheet transport elements when reaching into the producing machine, since the distance from the stack surface to the rotating transport elements is small. If you are careless, your hand and/or the wedge to be positioned can be caught by the rotating gripper systems. Personal injury and damage to machinery are possible.

The object of the invention is to develop a device and a method for improving the stacking of stackable objects in such a way that the risks to the operator are kept as low as possible.

The solution to the problem with regard to the device is characterized by the features of claim 1 and with regard to the method by the features of claim 7.

Advantageous further developments result from the subclaims, the description and the drawings.

With the device according to the invention, it is possible for the operator to position and deposit a stacking aid on a stack in a safe manner, since his arms or hands do not come close to systems such as the rotating gripper systems in a sheet-fed printing press. Furthermore, flexible positioning of the stack formation aid is possible. The stack formation aid can be individually placed on and/or in the stack. For example, in the direction of travel of the object to be placed directly to the end of the stack or at a distance from the rear edge and/or side edge of the stack. An oblique positioning of the stack formation aid on the stack is also conceivable. A larger format range can be achieved using the device. Furthermore, the device can be installed universally and variably on a system that is suitable for stapling and can also be retrofitted.

The device for depositing and positioning a stacking aid on a stack in a system that is suitable for stacking includes a gripping unit and a guide system. The guide system is arranged outside the stack at the level where the stackable object is ejected. This can be to the right, left and/or after the stack when viewed in the direction of travel. A stackable object can be, for example, a sheet, a film, a panel, any other substrate suitable for printing, or the like. The guide system includes at least one guide rod with a receptacle for the gripping unit. The gripping unit can be moved in the holder. The holder with the gripping unit can be moved around and along the guide rod. The gripping unit has a unit for receiving the stack formation aid. The range of motion of the gripping unit is limited. The gripping unit can be moved into a basic position using means.

By means of a method for depositing and positioning a stack-forming aid on a stack in a system that is suitable for destacking, the stack-forming aid is deposited and positioned on the stack by means of a gripping unit with a unit for receiving the stack-forming aid. The gripping unit is guided and moved in a holder. The gripping unit with the holder is moved around and along a guide rod. The movement of the gripping unit is restricted by a movement space. The gripping unit is moved into a basic position using means. The stack formation is influenced by the stack formation aids.

The guide rod can be round, square, rectangular or oval. It is advantageous if the guide rod is designed to be long enough to ensure that the areas from the maximum to the minimum format length of the machine, in particular a sheet-fed printing press, can be reached.

The gripping unit can be a gripper arm, a gripper or a robot arm. The gripping unit can be moved in the holder. It can be moved in all three axial directions. It is therefore possible to pivot, tilt, rotate and/or rotate the gripping unit in the receptacle. This pivoting can be limited or locked. According to a further development, it is provided that the stack formation aid is inserted parallel to the stack surface. For this purpose, an anti-twist device is advantageous, which prevents the gripping unit from rotating around its own longitudinal axis.

A rectangular design of the arm of the gripping unit is advantageous. The rectangular shape of the arm prevents the arm from twisting or Rotation around its own longitudinal axis is restricted in the recording. This design provides anti-twist protection. Other shapes of the arm of the gripping unit are also conceivable. An anti-twist protection is achieved by a design of the arm of the gripping unit that deviates from a round shape.

According to a further development, it is provided that various stacking aids can be picked up on the gripping unit by means of the unit for receiving the stacking aid.

The stacking aid can have different shapes and sizes (length, width, height) and consist of a wide variety of materials. What is crucial is that there is a smooth transition between the stacking surface and the object that can be stacked.

A stacking aid can be, for example, a wedge or the like. A wedge-like shape has the advantage that a smooth transition is created between, for example, sheets that have already been placed on the stack and sheets that are still to be placed. An abrupt edge is avoided with a wedge-like shape, so that, for example, in arches, there is no kink in the arch.

According to a further development, it is provided that a storage area for the object that can be stacked is changed by means of the stacking aid positioned on the stack. The storage contour is, so to speak, changed in such a way that, for example, a slope, a channel, a trough or something similar is created on the stack. If the stack formation aid is placed on the right and left in the direction of travel of the object to be deposited, a kind of trough or channel is created on the stack, into which, for example, a sheet can be deposited more easily. The arch can center itself in this trough or channel. Such a stacking aid is particularly helpful in stacking thin materials. Depending on the shape and/or size and/or the printing material, the stacking aid can be inserted individually.

In a sheet-fed printing machine, it occasionally happens that a stacking aid in the form of a wedge is placed on the pallet in the delivery right at the beginning, so that the advantages of stacking according to the invention can be used right from the start of stacking. The stack formation can be influenced by the stack formation aid.

According to a further development, it is provided that a limiting device limits the movement space of the gripping unit.

In order to prevent the gripping unit from colliding with other systems in the system, damaging them or causing the machine to stop, the range of motion of the gripping unit is restricted by means of a limiting device. The limiting device can be designed mechanically and/or electronically. The limiting device can be a rod (limiting rod), a sheet metal, a stop or a light barrier. Furthermore, the movement of the gripping unit can be restricted by the limiting device, for example by means of a clutch and/or brake, for example by preventing the gripping unit from being moved further.

In a sheet-fed printing press, there are gripper systems rotating above the stack in the delivery. In order to prevent the gripping unit from colliding with this gripper system in the boom and possibly causing damage to the sheet-fed printing press, a limiting device is provided on the guide system. The gripper arm can still be moved in all directions, but the angle or upward movement is limited by the limiting device. The limiting device can be fixed or adjustable.

The gripping unit is advantageously designed in the colors black and yellow, like a barrier tape. This signals to the operator that an obstacle is protruding into the space behind and/or next to the system and the stack.

The gripping unit can be moved to the basic position independently, automatically or manually. According to a further development, it is provided that the means for moving the gripping unit into the basic position is a tension or compression spring, a cable pull or a chain. Furthermore, the movement of the gripping unit into the basic position can be carried out using gravity, counterweight, magnetic force, pneumatically or motorically.

According to a further development, it is provided that the receptacle is suitable for guiding the gripping unit, and that the receptacle is designed in such a way that the gripping unit is secured against twisting about its own longitudinal axis and is thus prevented from twisting.

This makes it easier to position the stack formation aid on the stack as intended. A wedge would then be placed directly with its underside parallel to the stack surface.

A twisted gripping unit can lead to mispositioning of the stack forming aid or the systems located above the stack could be achieved, which leads to the risks already mentioned.

The receptacle for the gripping unit can be designed in different ways. It should be adapted to the contour of the gripping unit in such a way that anti-twist protection is guaranteed. Furthermore, the holder with the gripping unit can be moved around and along the guide rod.

According to a further development, it is provided that the unit for receiving a stacking aid is a pair of pliers, an unlockable clamping device, a positive adaptation to the stacking aid or magnetic. An example of a positive adaptation is an inflatable bellows that adapts to the stacking aid and is deflated again when released. In the magnetic embodiment, for example, the stacking aid is held magnetically by the unit for receiving the stacking aid. For example, when the electric magnet is deactivated, the stacking aid is released from the stacking aid receiving unit.

In a printing press, for example, a mounting plate, sheet metal or connecting element is attached to the delivery in the direction of sheet travel in order to mount the guide system on it. The guidance system can also be attached to the machine using existing structural conditions.

Automated operation of the gripping unit is conceivable. A robot arm would preferably be used for this. But other variants are also possible. According to the invention, it is proposed that the stack formation aid is placed automatically on the stack at known positions, which were obtained, for example, through empirical values.

• 1 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Anlage bei der abgestapelt wird,
• 2 zeigt eine Draufsicht einer Maschine bei der abgestapelt wird und mögliche Positionen der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung,
• 3 zeigt eine Ansicht auf eine mögliche Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung

A device according to the invention is shown schematically in the drawings:

• 1 shows a schematic side view of a system where stacking takes place,
• 2 shows a top view of a machine in which stacking takes place and possible positions of the device according to the invention,
• 3 shows a view of a possible embodiment of the device according to the invention

1 shows a schematic side view of a system 1 in which an object 11 that can be stacked is stacked onto a stack 9. In particular, a typical sheet processing machine that is used today for printing on sheets. It shows a feeder 2, from which printed sheets are continuously fed to the first module 3 in a scale-like manner via a belt table. Further modules 4 are connected to feeder 2 and the first module 3. The modules can be printing units, coating units, transfer modules, turning modules, etc. In order to place the printed sheets on a stack 9, a delivery 8 is connected. The boom 8 usually consists of an endlessly rotating chain conveyor 10 with gripper systems 16 and picks up the stack 9. During transport from the last module 4 to the stack 9 in the boom 8, the printed sheets are only held at their front edge with the help of a gripper system 16 of the chain conveyor 10.

2 shows an example of a top view of a system 1 in which stacking takes place. These can be a sheet-fed printing machine, punching machine, laminating machine, etc. In the running direction 17 of the system 1, a boom 8 is arranged after the last module 4. The stack 9 on which the stackable object 11 is placed is located in the boom 8. A stackable object 11 can be a sheet, a film, a board or the like. The device according to the invention can be arranged at various positions outside the stack 9 on the boom 8 of the machine. In the running direction 17, the guide system 12 with the gripping unit 6 adjoins the stack 9. Alternative positions are shown in dashed lines and are provided to the right and/or left of the stack 9.

3 shows a perspective view of a possible embodiment of the device according to the invention, which is arranged to the left of the stack 9 when viewed in the running direction 17. However, the device can also be arranged to the right and/or after the stack 9 as viewed in the running direction 17. The device comprises a gripping unit 6 and a guide system 12. The gripping unit 6, here designed as gripping tongs, comprises at least one unit 7 for receiving the stacking aid, an arm 6a with a rectangular cross section, and an actuation unit 6b by means of which the unit 7 can be operated . A rectangular design of the arm 6a is advantageous because it ensures protection against rotation. The unit 7 for receiving the stacking aid 5 is designed as a pair of pliers. As already mentioned above, the gripping unit 6 and the unit 7 can be designed differently. The guide system 12 includes at least one guide rod 13 which is round and to which the receptacle 14 for the gripping unit 6 is attached. The receptacle 14 is movable around and along the guide rod 13, as described above. Furthermore, the gripping unit 6 is guided in the receptacle 14 and, as described above, can be moved in all three axial directions. The limiting device 15 is in the form with two rods, which limits the movement space of the gripping unit 6. The limiting device 15 serves to ensure that the gripping unit 6 does not collide with the rotating gripper systems 16 in the boom 8.

With the device according to the invention, the task of avoiding injuries to the operator or damage to the system is avoided. Since the stack forming aid is inserted into the stack with the help of the gripping unit and no longer by hand by the operator. The limiting device also prevents the other systems from detecting the stacking aid.

Reference symbol list

1

Attachment

2

investor

3

First module

4

More modules

5

Stacking aids

6

Gripping unit

6a

poor

6b

Actuation unit

7

Unit for receiving the stacking aid

8th

boom

9

stack

10

Chain conveyor

11

stackable item

12

Management system

13

Guide rod

14

Recording for the gripping unit

15

Limiting device

16

Gripper system

17

Running direction

Claims (10)

Device for depositing and positioning a stacking aid (5) on a stack (9) in a system (1) which is suitable for stacking, comprising a gripping unit (6) and a guide system (12), wherein the guide system (12) is arranged outside the stack (9) at the level where the stackable object (11) is ejected, wherein the guide system (12) comprises at least one guide rod (13) with a receptacle (14) for the gripping unit (6), wherein the gripping unit (6) can be moved in the receptacle (14), wherein the receptacle (14) can be moved with the gripping unit (6) around and along the guide rod (13), wherein the gripping unit (6) has a unit (7) for receiving the stacking aid (5), whereby the movement space of the gripping unit (6) is limited, wherein the gripping unit (6) can be moved into a basic position via means. Device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that various stacking aids (5) can be picked up on the gripping unit (6) by means of the unit (7) for receiving the stacking aid (5). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a limiting device (15) limits the movement space of the gripping unit (6). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for moving the gripping unit (6) into the basic position is at least one tension or compression spring, a cable pull or a chain. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacle (14) is suitable for guiding the gripping unit (6), and that the receptacle (14) is designed such that the gripping unit (6) is prevented from rotating about its own Longitudinal axis is secured. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the unit (7) for receiving a stacking aid is a pair of pliers, an unlockable clamping device, a positive adaptation to the stacking aid or magnetic. Method for depositing and positioning a stacking aid (5) on a stack (9) in a system (1) which is suitable for stacking, the stacking aid (5) being used by means of a gripping unit (6) with a unit (7) for receiving the stacking aid (5) is placed and positioned on the stack (9), the gripping unit (6) being guided in a receptacle (14), the gripping unit (6) being moved in the receptacle (14), the gripping unit (6) is moved with the receptacle (14) around and along a guide rod (13), the movement of the gripping unit (6) being carried out a movement space is restricted, the gripping unit (6) being moved into a basic position via means, the stack formation being influenced by the stack formation aids (5). Procedure according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the movement of the gripping unit (6) into the basic position takes place by means of gravity, counterweight, magnetic force, pneumatically or motorically. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stack formation aid (5) is inserted parallel to the stack surface. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a storage area for the stackable object (11) is changed by means of the stacking aid (5) positioned on the stack.

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