DE19915506A1 - Method for feeding series of sheets of paper or card on to stack uses first conveyor along which the sheets are normally conveyed and branch conveyor which takes them over longer path when stack requires changing - Google Patents

Abstract

The method for feeding a series of sheets of paper or card (40) on to a stack (44) uses a first conveyor (I) along which the sheets are conveyed, then braked so that they form a row of overlapping sheets (42) which is fed on at reduced speed to the stacking point (30). When the stack requires changing, sheets are fed onto a branch conveyor (II) which takes them over a longer path before feeding them back on to the first conveyor with a gap between the last of the sheets transported directly to the stacking point using the first conveyor and the first sheet of the batch arriving from the branch conveyor. An Independent claim is included for a device for carrying out the process.

Description

The invention relates to a method for feeding a series of flat bodies, in particular sheets of paper, cardboard or the like, in a stack in which the Flat body lying one behind the other along a first transport route transported, then braked, thereby overlapping arrangement brought to a stacking station with reduced transport speed be transported. The invention further relates to a device for through implementation of such a method, with a first transport device to Transport of the flat body along the first transport route first in a row different arrangement and then in mutually overlapping arrangement with reduced transport speed to the stacking station.

Such methods and devices are known in many forms and are used for various purposes. In particular, be uses such methods and devices for bundling sheets of paper, before they are glued and bound for the production of booklets or blocks the.  

One problem here is changing the stack or the one carrying it Pallet in the stacking station. Because a regular stack or pallet change is necessary because the height of the stacks is limited; however, there should be a sub If possible, break the production process for economic reasons be avoided. Thus, it is necessary to take appropriate measures that it allow you to change stacks or pallets without turning on the flow to interrupt supplied flat bodies.

For this purpose, for example, DE 31 14 102 A1 proposes a scaled one Row of arcs, i.e. within a row of arcs already overlapping one another, an interruption by moving the transfer area between one first and a second conveyor in the transport direction of the sheets at the same time To increase the transport speed of the second conveyor. There by the front part of the row of arches becomes without the other part Stopping the remaining part accelerated, so that the still on the first fjord The remaining part of the row of sheets is temporarily not on the subsequent switched second conveyor is handed over. This creates one Gap between the front and the rest of the row of arches, the temporal can be used for stack or pallet changes.

In contrast, DE 36 16 470 C2 proposes to bridge the time to use an auxiliary stack floor when changing the stack.

However, both of the known measures mentioned above are technically correct complex.

It is therefore an object of the present invention in one method and one Device of the type mentioned provide simpler measures that enable a stack or pallet change without interrupting operations.

This is achieved in a method of the type mentioned at the outset solved that for a stack change the row of flat bodies from the first Trans branched off onto a second transport route, along the second trans portweges transported and from there either directly to the stacking station or is returned to the first transport route, the length of the second transport route and / or the transport speed (s) along the second transport route are chosen so that in the row of flat bodies without Interruption between the end of the still along the first transport route  guided part of the row of flat bodies and the beginning of the second Transport route branched part of the row of flat bodies is generated. Further This object is achieved in that the device mentioned at the beginning ten type a second transport device is provided, which is the row of flat body branches off from the first transport route and along a second transport route either transported directly to the stacking station or back to the trans portweg returns.

In the solution according to the invention, the second transport route is accordingly used created a bypass over which the row of flat bodies temporarily trans be ported. By appropriate choice of the length of the second transport route and / or the transport speed (s) along the second transport route the second transport route receives the function of a buffer store without thereby interrupting the flow of further flat bodies supplied. This is achieved according to the invention in that the branch on the two th transport path the fed flat body row into a leading part and a trailing part is divided. The leading part of the flat body row continues on the first transport route to the stacking station during the trailing part is redirected to the second transport route. Along the The branched-off trailing part of the flat bodies becomes the second transport route row so delayed that there is sufficient time for a stack or pallet change is after the leading part of the (then scaled) flat body row from first transport route completely onto the stack to be subsequently removed has reached and before the trailing branched part of the flat body row from second transport route from the stacking station and thus the one located there new and empty pallet reached. Subsequently, the river can follow Flat bodies are switched back to the first transport route, whereby of course a synchronization of the movements between the second and first transport should be done to both a collision between rows of flat bodies as well as to prevent an interruption.

The advantages of the invention are obvious. For one, it offers a simple one Construction, since in particular a complex mechanism is not required, such as for example, both for relocating the transfer area between two consecutive conveyors as well as for retracting an auxiliary stacking floor is needed. Rather, in the solution according to the invention in standard components are essentially used. This affects advantageous to the manufacturing and operating costs. Furthermore, the erfin  Solution according to the invention a certain redundancy, because in the event that on one Transport route technical problems occur on the other transport route can be evaded without the flow of flat bodies and in this case thus having to interrupt the process flow.

To the necessary delay on the second transport route compared to the To achieve the first transport route, the second Trans longer than the section of the first transport route can be selected. Alternatively or additionally, the Transport speeds on the second transport route essentially be set lower than on the first transport route. Usually follows this also results in a higher degree of overlap of the flat bodies on the second Transport route compared to that on the first transport route.

The flat bodies are usually also closed on the second transport path next in succession with a higher transport speed trans ported, then slowed down, thereby in mutual overlapping arrangement brought and then continue at a lower transport speed transported.

A currently particularly preferred embodiment of the invention in which the Flat body on the first transport route initially along a first partial route one after the other with a higher transport speed and then ß along a second path overlapping each other with a lower one Transport speed can be transported and thus the transport device correspondingly has a first means of transport and a second means of transport, is characterized in that for a stack change the flat body from the first Branch of the first transport route branched onto the second transport route become. Furthermore, the flat bodies can move from the second transport path to the second Partial route of the first transport route can be returned.

In addition, the second transport device can be a third transport means that the Flat body first along a first partial path of the second transport path transported in a row at a higher transport speed, and have a fourth means of transport, which the flat body then along of a second partial route of the second transport route overlapping one another Arrangement transported at a lower transport speed.  

The transport speeds on the first transport route are usually up set a certain nominal value. After switching the transport of the Row of flat bodies from the second transport path to the first transport path However, once the stack has been changed, the transport speed should on the first transport route for a short time beyond such a nominal value be increased to the transport speeds on both transport routes so to each other so that the again along the first Trans port-guided trailing part of the flat body row essentially seamless to the end of the leading one led out of the second transport route Part of the flat body row can connect.

Further preferred designs are specified in the dependent claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to FIG accompanying drawings explained in more detail. Show it:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the device in the normal operating state. such as

Fig. 2 to 5 are schematic representations of successive stages of the operation of the device for stacking or changing pallets.

The device shown in the figures is preferably used to transport Sheets of paper from a processing station to a stack station, the sheets of paper on their way through the device into each other overlapping arrangement are brought to one in the stacking station Pile to be piled up.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the embodiment shown has a large number of conveyors, each of which consists of an endless belt conveyor in the present exemplary embodiment.

On the input side - at the left end according to FIG. 1 - the device has a first conveyor 2 , which is followed by a first switch 4 . A second conveyor 6 and a third conveyor 8 are connected to this first switch 4 . The third conveyor 8 leads to a reject container 10 , in which faulty sheets of paper get, so that the first switch 4 is controlled accordingly.

The second conveyor 6 leads to a second switch 12 , to which a fourth conveyor 14 and a fifth conveyor 16 are connected. The fourth conveyor 14 is followed by a sixth conveyor 18 , while the fifth conveyor 16 is followed in series by a seventh conveyor 20 , an eighth conveyor 22 and a ninth conveyor 24 . The sixth conveyor 18 and the ninth conveyor 24 each lead to a third switch 26 , which is followed by a tenth conveyor 28 . The tenth conveyor 28 leads to a stacking station 30 , shown on the right in FIG. 1, which has a lifting table 32 on which a pallet 34 lies.

The first conveyor 2 , the second conveyor 6 , the fourth conveyor 14 , the sixth conveyor 18 and the tenth conveyor 28 together form a first transport port I, while the fifth conveyor 16 , the seventh conveyor 20 , the eighth conveyor 22 and the ninth Conveyors 24 together form a second transport path II, which represents a bypass for the section of the first transport path I consisting of the fourth conveyor 14 and the sixth conveyor 18 .

The first conveyor 2 , the second conveyor 6 and the fourth conveyor 14 have a relatively high transport speed, so that the paper sheets are transported in succession in the section of the first transport path I formed by these conveyors 2 , 6 and 14 , one after the other, as shown in FIG is shown. 1 by the reference numeral 40th In contrast, the sixth conveyor 18 and the tenth conveyor 28 have a lower transport speed, as a result of which the sheets of paper at the beginning - according to FIG. 1 at the left end - of the sixth conveyor 18 are braked and brought into an overlapping arrangement, also called a "scaled" arrangement are, as indicated in Fig. 1 by the reference numeral 42 . The shingled row of paper sheets 42 then moves at a relatively low speed to the stacking station 30 , where the individual sheets of paper form a stack 44 on the pallet 34 .

In order to achieve synchronous transport, the first conveyor 2 , the second conveyor 6 and the fourth conveyor 14 each have the same relatively high transport speed and the sixth conveyor 18 and the tenth conveyor 28 each have the same relatively low transport speed.

In Fig. 1, the normal operation state is shown, in which the paper sheet row is transported through the first transport path I to the stacking station 30.

In contrast, the second transport route II is required for changing the pallet 34 in the stacking station 30 . The various phases of the operation of the device during the stack or pallet change are shown in FIGS. 2 to 5.

For an upcoming stack or pallet change, the second switch 12 is designed so that the subsequent sheets of paper reach the fifth conveyor 16 and thus the second transport path II. Thus, the previously continuous flow of paper sheets 40 , 42 is divided, the leading part 44 of the paper sheet row is still in the first transport path I and from this to the stack 44 , while the trailing part 46 of the paper sheet row is now in the second transport path II arrives, as Fig. 2 shows.

After all the sheets of paper have reached the stack 44 from the leading part 42 of the paper sheet row, the pallet 34 can be replaced in the stacking station 30 . At this point in time, the branched off part 46 of the row of paper sheets has moved further on the second transport path II, but it is still at a clear distance from the third switch 26 , as can be seen in FIG. 3.

Thus, an interruption or gap is formed between the former leading part 42 of the paper sheet row (see FIG. 2) and the trailing part 46 of the paper sheet row guided via the second transport path II, which creates an interval such that there is sufficient time for a stack or pallet change is available in the stacking station 30 . This time delay is achieved on the one hand by the fact that the second transport path fl is longer than the section of the first transport path I bridged by it and consisting of the fourth conveyor 14 and the sixth conveyor 18 , and by the fact that the transport speed of the fifth conveyor 16 and the seventh conveyor 20 compared to that of the fourth conveyor 14 and the transport speed of the eighth conveyor 22 and the ninth conveyor 24 compared to that of the sixth conveyor 18 are respectively lower.

The fifth conveyor 16 and the seventh conveyor 20 serve in the same way as the first conveyor 2 , the second conveyor 6 and the fourth conveyor 14 for transporting the sheets of paper in sequence in a row. Thus, the fifth conveyor 16 and the seventh conveyor 20 must not only be matched to one another in terms of their transport speed, but also to the first conveyor 2 and the second conveyor 6 . This means that after switching the second switch 12 to the second transport path II, the transport speed of the first conveyor 2 and the second conveyor 6 must be reduced accordingly.

The transport speed of the eighth conveyor 20 and the ninth conveyor 24 is - similar to the transport speed of the sixth conveyor 18 compared to that of the fourth conveyor 14 in the first transport path I - lower than that of the fifth conveyor 16 and the seventh conveyor 20 . As a result, in the same way as on the first transport path I, the flow of the paper sheets is also slowed down in the second transport path II, as a result of which they overlap and then along the eighth conveyor 22 and the ninth conveyor 24 along a shingled row of paper sheets moved away, as also Fig. 3 reveals. The trans port speed of the eighth conveyor 22 and the ninth conveyor 24 can preferably be set so that the degree of overlap is a little higher than in the first transport path I, which contributes to the delay effect.

Fig. 4 shows the operating state after changing to the new pallet 34 ', which is reached from the beginning of the (originally trailing) part 46 of the paper sheet row, so that now a continuous flow of paper sheets over the second Trans port II has arisen.

Finally, the second switch 12 is put back on the first transport path I, so that the following part of the row of paper sheets is then again guided over the first transport path I. This is shown in Fig. 5, it can be seen from the further that the rest of the paper sheet row 46 the second transport path 11, exiting in the direction of the stacking station 30 during the nachlau Fende new part enters 48 of the paper sheet set in the first transport path 1 and this is again led to the stacking station 30 . So that no collisions or interruptions occur between the two parts 46 and 48 of the paper sheet rows, the transport speed of the eighth conveyor 22 and the ninth conveyor 24 must now be increased a little. In any case, the transport speeds of the conveyor in the second transport route II should be set against the transport speeds of the conveyor in the first transport route I so that the trailing part 48 of the row of paper sheets is essentially seamlessly connected to the end of the now leading conveyor leading out of the second transport route II Can connect part 46 of the paper sheet row.

Claims (17)

1. A method for feeding a series of flat bodies ( 40 , 42 ), in particular re sheets of paper, cardboard or the like, to a stack ( 44 ), in which the flat bodies ( 40 , 42 ) along a first transport path (I ) first transported one behind the other, then braked, thereby brought into overlapping arrangement ( 42 ) and transported at reduced transport speed to a stacking station ( 30 ), characterized in that for a stack change the row of flat bodies ( 46 ) from the first transport path ( I) branches off onto a second transport path (II) and is led back from the second transport path (II) back to the first transport path (I), the length of the second transport path (II) and / or the transport speed (s) along the second transport path (II) are selected so that in the row of flat bodies ( 42 , 46 ) there is an interruption between the end of the still along the first transport path (I) transported part ( 42 ) of the row of flat bodies and the beginning of the part ( 46 ) of the row of flat bodies branched off onto the second transport path (II). 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the second transport path (II) is longer than the section ( 14 , 18 ) of the first transport path bridged by the second transport path (II) (I). 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transport speeds on the second Transport route (II) substantially lower than on the first transport route (I) are. 4. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transport speeds on the second transport path (II) compared to the transport speeds on the first transport path (I) are set so that the degree of overlap of the flat body ( 46 ) the second transport route (II) is higher than on the first transport route (I). 5. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the flat body ( 46 ) on the second transport path (II) first ported one behind the other with a higher transport speed trans, then braked, thereby brought into an overlapping arrangement and then with a lower transport speed can be transported further. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the flat body ( 42 ) on the first transport path (I) first along a first partial path ( 2 , 6 , 14 ) one behind the other at a higher transport speed and then along a second partial path ( 18 , 28 ) overlapping each other at a low transport speed, characterized in that the flat bodies ( 46 ) are branched off from the first partial route ( 2 , 6 ) of the first transport route (I) to the second transport route (II) for a stack change. 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the flat bodies ( 46 ) from the second transport path (II) to the second partial path ( 28 ) of the first transport path (II) are returned. 8. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, in which the Transport speeds on the first transport route (I) usually to one certain nominal value are set, characterized in that after switching the transport of the flat body row he from the second transport route (II) to the first transport route (I) after one Stack change the transport speeds on the first transport route (I) can be temporarily increased beyond the nominal value. 9. Device for feeding a series of flat bodies ( 40 , 42 ), in particular sheets of paper, cardboard or the like, to a stack ( 44 ) with a first trans port device ( 2 , 6 , 14 , 18 , 28 ) for transporting the flat bodies ( 40 , 42 ) along a first transport path (I) first in a row and then in a mutually overlapping arrangement with reduced transport speed to a stacking station ( 30 ), characterized by a second transport device ( 16 , 20 , 22 , 24 ), which branches off the row of flat bodies ( 46 ) from the first transport path (I) and returns along a second transport path (II) to the first transport path (I), the length of the second transport path (II) and / or the transport speed (s) of the second transport device ( 16 , 20 , 22 , 24 ) are selected so that in the row of flat bodies there is an interruption between the end of the still along the first transport paths s (I) transported part ( 42 ) of the row of flat bodies and the beginning of the part ( 46 ) of the row of flat bodies branched off on the second transport path is produced. 10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the second transport path (II) is longer than the section ( 14 , 18 ) of the first transport path (I) bridged by the second transport path (II). 11. The device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the transport speeds of the second transport device ( 16 , 20 , 22 , 24 ) are substantially lower than that of the first transport device ( 2 , 6 , 14 , 18 , 28 ). 12. The device according to at least one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the transport speeds of the second transport device ( 16 , 20 , 22 , 24 ) compared to the transport speeds of the first transport device ( 2 , 6 , 14 , 18 , 28 ) are set the degree of overlap of the flat bodies ( 46 ) on the second transport path (II) is higher than on the first transport path (I). 13. The device according to at least one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the second transport device ( 16 , 20 , 22 , 24 ), the flat body ( 46 ) on the second transport path (II) initially one behind the other with a higher transport speed and then into each other transported over a lapping arrangement at a lower transport speed. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first transport means a first transport means ( 2 , 6 , 14 ), the flat body ( 40 ) first along a first partial path ( 2 , 6 , 14 ) of the first transport path (I) one behind the other transported at a higher transport speed and having a second transport means ( 18 , 28 ) which then transports the flat bodies ( 42 ) along a second partial path ( 18 , 28 ) of the first transport path (I) in an overlapping arrangement at a lower transport speed, characterized in that the second transport device ( 16 , 20 , 22 , 24 ) branches off the row of flat bodies ( 46 ) from the first tell path ( 2 , 6 ) of the first transport path (I) to the second transport path (II). 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the second transport device ( 16 , 20 , 22 , 24 ) the row of flat bodies ( 46 ) from the second transport path (II) to the second partial path ( 28 ) of the first transport path (I) again leads back. 16. The device according to at least one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the second transport means a third transport means ( 16 , 20 ), the flat body ( 46 ) first along a first partial path ( 16 , 20 ) of the second transport path (II ) transported one behind the other at a higher transport speed, and has a fourth transport means ( 22 , 24 ) which then transports the flat bodies ( 46 ) along a second partial path ( 22 , 24 ) of the second transport path (II) in an overlapping arrangement at a lower transport speed . 17. The device according to at least one of claims 9 to 16, wherein the transport speeds of the first transport device ( 2 , 6 , 14 , 18 , 28 ) are usually set to a certain nominal value, characterized in that after switching the transport of the Flachkörperrei he from second transport path (II) on the first transport path (I) after a stack change, the transport speeds of the first transport device ( 2 , 6 , 14 , 18 , 28 ) are briefly increased above the nominal value.