DE2533874A1 - SORTING DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

Patent attorneys Dipl-Ing. H.Weickmann, Dipl.-Phys. Dr. K. Fincke

Dipl.-Ing. FA "WEicKi'ANN, Dipl.-Chem. B. Huber

8 MUNICH 86, DEN

PO Box 860 820

MÖHLSTRASSE 22, CALL NUMBER 98 39 21/22

John Albert Long, 45 Hemlock Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Sorting device

The invention relates to a sorting device for paper supplies, such as greeting or greeting cards or the like.

Sorters are used to sort a number of different To stack cards of a set, for example to make packs of Christmas cards put together, each pack having a certain number of different individual cards. Sorting devices that are currently are in use, operate relatively slowly or unreliably. Nor can they choose a predetermined number of individual cards and sort or shuffle along with a predetermined number of other individual cards.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of a soaking device with improved mechanical operation to create the Cards at high speed and giving up a predetermined number of cards of cards at each station or posting device.

The present invention is broadly in a sorting apparatus for stacking sheets of paper, such as greeting or greeting cards or the like, to be seen, which is characterized by a base frame

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with an elongated main platform arranged on this base frame; a variety of task before directions, optionally on the base frame at a distance from each other above the main platform are attachable, with each feed device being a secondary platform carries above the main platform; Devices on each feeder to hold a stack of cards and a predetermined one To post a number of individual cards from the stack onto the secondary platform; an endless conveyor provided on the base frame is and carries a number of combs that are movable along the secondary platform to the aforementioned number of individual cards from of the secondary platform on and along the main platform, successively the aforementioned number of individual cards on the main platform and form sorted sentences.

In a preferred embodiment, the endless conveyor device is arranged below the main platform and each comb runs simultaneously through aligned slots in the main platform and the secondary platforms.

In a further preferred embodiment, the feed device can be characterized by a conveyor comprising a flat forward moving belt and drive means for this tape; a holding device for holding a stack of cards above the belt in an obliquely forward and forward lowering direction Position, wherein the holding device comprises a rear holding or support plate and a front guide rail, of which the Holding plate is inclined obliquely downward and forward and the guide rail has a forwardly tapering lower arch part to Fan the lower cards of the stack forwards when the cards are in the holding device between the holding plate and the guide rail slide down under the weight of the stack; a rotatable one

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Friction roller, which is above the platform (belt) in front of the holding plate of the Holding device is arranged in a vertical plane in the conveying direction runs, wherein the friction roller has a distance from the platform (belt) to a gap for the free passage of an individual Form card and move down over the arched portion of the guide rail protruding to form an exposed arc that the leading edge of the bottom card of the stack that holds the card is used to move downward. and advancing the cards comes into contact; and by a drive device for the friction roller to the lowermost card in the direction to move towards the gap.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention result from the claims in connection with the following description and the drawing in which the invention is illustrated by way of example. In this drawing show:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an individual card task -

device arranged above a conveyor;

FIG. 2 shows the loading device according to FIG. 1 with a stack of cards; FIG.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the lower part of the feeding device of Fig. 1;

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the feeding device according to FIG. 3, showing the conveyance of a card;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the device according to FIG. 1 Illustration showing the operation of the sorter unit and the conveyor;

6 shows a section along line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a representation similar to FIG. 5, the conveyor in FIG is shown advanced;

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Figure 8 is a side view of the front end of the conveyor of Figure 5;

9 shows a schematic side view of a plurality of sorting device units according to Figure 1 in connection with the conveyor;

Fig. 10 is a circuit diagram of the photoelectric connections for the Device according to Figure 1 in use as a sorting device; and

Fig. U is a circuit diagram of the photoelectric connections for the Device according to Fig. 1 in use as a counting device for cards.

The exemplary embodiment of a sorting device shown in the figures has at least one station, which is represented by a loading device which is removably attached to a base frame 22 is. The loading device 20 comprises a frame 24 which has upright side walls 26 and 27. The side wall 26 has a n Foot 28 which is supported in a U-profile 30 which is fastened on one side of the base frame 22. The side wall 27 is at the same time a part of a motor and transmission housing 35, which rests on a ledge 29, which is along the base frame 22 on the the U-profile 30 extends opposite side. The ledge 29 and the U-profile 30 allow the feed device 20 in the longitudinal direction of the base frame 22 for precise adjustment in relation to the base frame and in relation to others arranged on the base frame To move feeding devices. A handover before he is 31 formed by a plurality of tensioned upper endless belts 32 and a plurality of tensioned lower endless belts 33. The bands 32 and 33 are carried by a plurality of idler wheels 34 which are mounted on an idler shaft 36, which is in the transverse direction on the side walls 26 of the frame 24 is adjustable. Continue to embrace the

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Belts 32 and 33 drive wheels 37 which are mounted on a drive shaft 38 are rotatably mounted in the frame 24 and connected to a drive device (not shown) in the gear housing 35, which is attached to the side wall 27. As can be seen from Fig. 6, the bands 32 and 33 are arranged at a distance from one another to a Pass beam of a light source 39 of a photoelectric element to impinge on a photoelectric cell, the Light source 39 on the side wall 26 above the transfer conveyor 31 and the photoelectric cell 40 below the same also on the Side wall 26 is arranged. The lower run of the belt 32 and the upper run of the belt 33 are approximately in one plane To enable a card to be captured between these bands, as shown in FIG. The belts 32 and 33 can be adjusted be arranged to vary the pressure of the ribbons 32 and 33 against the cards which pass between them.

Another shaft 42 is arranged behind the gap at a distance, the is formed by the bands 32 and 33, and carries a keyed rose 44, the shaft 42 is suitably by a not shown Motor driven and is mounted on the side walls 26 and 27 of the frame in a pair of bearing supports 46 which are adjustable on the side walls are held by a console 48. An endless belt 50 is provided below the roller 44. The barui is from an idle roller 52, which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 54 which is adjustably held in the frame 24. Also, the tape is 50 over a drive shaft 56 is drawn, which lies immediately below the roller 44 and is keyed on a drive shaft 58 which is in the side walls 26 of the frame 24 is rotatably mounted. The drive shaft 58 is suitably connected to a drive device in the transmission housing 3 5 connected.

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A curved guide rail 60 attached to a forwardly projecting Plate 62 is attached, is disposed above tape 50. The upper part of the guide rail 60 has a portion 64 which extends obliquely downwards and backwards, and a curved portion which is provided in the lower region and a forwardly projecting one Tongue 68 forms. This lower arcuate portion is spaced from the belt 50 to form a passage 70 (Figures 3 and 4).

The roller 44 is in a slot 72 in the arch 66 of the guide rail arranged and mounted so that its rim 74 protrudes down slightly below the lower surface of the tongue 68, but in the side Direction does not protrude beyond the rear surface of section 64 or sheet 66, i.e. only the lower part of roller 44 is exposed below the guide rail 60. A gap 76 is formed between the lowermost point of the wheel rim 74 and the belt 50.

The rim 74 of the roller 44 is made of hard rubber or another Material with a high coefficient of friction, such as a "Widia metal coating" on steel.

As can be seen from Fig. 2, the plate 62 is by a plurality of Screws 77 are held adjustably on a holder 78, which is mounted on a pair of transverse struts 80 on the frame 24 that run at a distance from one another can be moved laterally. The screws 77 and the holder 78 allow an adjustment of the guide rail 60 forwards and backwards and inwards Direction of inclination. A lateral guide bracket 82 is also displaceable arranged on one of the cross struts 80 on the side opposite the side wall 27 of the motor and transmission housing 35. A holding and support plate 86 is provided at a distance behind the guide rail 60 and is for universal and lateral adjustment held on a cross member 88 on the frame 24.

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As can be seen from Figures 1 and 5 of the drawing, there is a secondary platform arranged in the form of a fork 90 in the horizontal direction on the frame 24 below the belts 33, which down and forward in the direction are inclined on the fork. One of the prongs 92 of the fork 90 forms a U-profile and carries a photoelectric cell 94, which in one place in front the belts 32 and 33 and oriented upwards, in alignment A light source 96 is arranged with the photoelectric cell 94 and is fastened to an overhanging support 98 which is arranged on the wall 27 is. The carrier 98 also carries one in the lateral direction extending row of brushes 100 facing downwardly and contacting prongs 92 of fork 90. Both the fork 90 and the supports 98 are slidable forwards and backwards in slots 99 and 101, respectively.

The base frame 22 carries a plurality of slats 102 with the side Distance to each other are attached to end brackets 104 and in a horizontal plane below the fork 90 to form a main platform 106 with a plurality of longitudinal slots 108 to form. A Endless conveyor 110 is parallel to these and below the slats 102 arranged in the vicinity of the same. The endless conveyor 110 consists of a pair of laterally spaced chains 112, which are guided over a pair of drive sprockets 116 in the base frame 22 are rotatably mounted. A plurality of combs 118 are spaced apart along the conveyor 110 and connect the Chains 112 together. Each comb 118 comprises a cross bar 120 which is freely rotatably mounted in brackets 122 on the chains 112 and one Row of prongs 124 extending through slots 108 of the main platform 106 protrude upwards. Each rod 120 terminates at one end in a curved finger 126 which, with a tapered end 128, is a Slide guide rail 129 comes into contact, which is arranged on the base frame in the vicinity of the upper run of a chain 112a. The one Prong 124 closest to finger 126 is on its free one

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"« ■

End bent to form a dog 132 that connects to chain 112a comes into engagement. A lug 131 from the chain 112a in the vicinity of each bracket 122 protrudes, acts as a stop against an open · » upward movement of the finger 126 away from the slide 128.

As can be seen from Fig. 10 of the drawing, the photoelectric Cell 94 and light source 96 with a DC power source 172 and above an amplifier 174 is connected to a relay 176 and a delay element 180, the relay 176 also being connected to a motor 178 of the Feed device 20 and the delay element 180 are connected to a clutch 182 and a brake 184 of the conveyor 11 0.

A photoelectric element 39, 40 is via a counter 183 with a Power source 184 connected. The counter 183 is connected to a manually operable reset switch 186, as can be seen from FIG is. The counter 183 is also connected to the feeder motor 178 and the clutch 182 of the conveyor 110.

When operating the device according to the embodiment, there are several Task devices 20 mounted on the base frame 22 to form a row along the main platform 106, as shown schematically is shown in Fig. 9 of the drawing.

Each feeder 20 is then made up of a stack 130 from individual cards, loaded. The cards in each deck are the same as each other, but differ from deck to deck. The embodiment is designed to dispense from each feeder, and hence from each stack, to form a set.

The embodiment is put into operation by moving the endless conveyor 110 in the direction of arrow 140 shown in FIGS. 5, 7, 8 and 9 in motion. Each comb 118 pivots about the drive

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sprocket 114 around, the dog 132 pressing against the chain 112a, allowing the curved finger 126 to move with the tapered End 128 of the sliding guide rail 129 to come into contact which moves the prongs 124 to the upright position in which they pass through the slots 108 of the main platform 106. After everyone Comb runs off at the other end of the sliding guide rail 129, he falls into the free position on the chain 112 to pass underneath the shaft 115 and be ready for the next cycle.

During the operation of each loading device 20, the stack of cards arranged between the guide rail 60 and the holding plate 86, such as this can be seen from Fig. 2, the deck of cards descending downward in a forward direction. To align the stack 130, allow the screws 77 a lateral displacement of the plate 62 along the cross braces 80. The position of the roller 44 in the slot is adjustable in the vertical direction by the bearing supports 46, which adjust the size of the gap 56 between the roller and the belt 50. Because of the curvature of the guide rail 60, the inclination of the supports. *> · plate 86, the weight of the stack 130 and the friction of the bottom card of the stack as it moves forward, become the bottom cards of the stack fanned out to the front. When the bottom of the stack or the first card 142 of the stack 130 moves down, the touches Leading edge of this card the tape 50 and is pulled into the gap 76 by the uniform movement of the tape in the direction of arrow 144, as can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, the band is kept in circulation by a drive shaft 58. The forward movement of the lowest card 142 enables the rear one to come free Edge of the lowermost card from the holding plate 86 to fall onto the belt 50. The gap 76 is adjustable to a sufficiently large height so that only a single card 142 can freely pass therethrough.

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When the leading edge of the lowermost card 142 fits into the gap 76, the leading edges of the cards immediately above, namely the second card 146 and the third card 148, due to the Dead weight of the stack and the inclination of the holding plate 86 pushed forward, this movement being pushed by the from the stack after is supported by the lowermost card 142 being pulled. At this point the leading edge of the card 146 comes into contact with the roller 44, which is slightly over the arch 66 of the guide rail protrudes downwards. The roller 44 is driven to rotate at an extremely low speed, that is, at a ratio of 1: 3,000 in relation to the speed of the belt 50. The Roller pulls the card 146 further forward to a position in which it is located its leading edge is on the lowermost card 142 and closer to the gap 76. The bottom card 142 continues moving and is through the tape 50 conveyed through the gap 7 6 and given up in a transfer conveyor 31. When the card 142 has passed through the gap 76 is, the leading edge of the next card 146 falls onto the belt and is conveyed forward, with the trailing edge of the card 146 from the retaining plate 86 is released, whereupon the card 146 through the gap 76 and passageway 70 passes through in the same manner as card 142.

The transfer conveyor 31 moves the card 142, as shown in FIG. 5 6 and 6, and conveys it onto the secondary platform or fork 90 where it lies in the light beam of the light source 96, the Brushes 100 free movement of the card forward out of the light beam prevent out. A comb 118 following through the fork 90 is moved forward, touches the card 142 and pushes this card towards the free end of the fork 90 on the main platform 106, such as this can be seen from Fig. 7, where the card continues to be carried along by the comb. The following feed devices 20 work in the same way and give cards to their assigned secondary

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platforms or forks 90, which then through the combs 118 on the Main platform 106 are conveyed. As the comb 118 passes under each feeder 20, it collects one card until one Set of cards 150 assembled and piled up like this Fig. 8 can be seen. This stack is in the direction of the free end of the main platform 106 and from there onto a receiving device, such as e.g., an endless conveyor 160, pushed.

The execution s form according to the invention is synchronized so that the Feeders 20 dispense cards through the combs 118 at a suitable rate for further processing. In order to make this possible, the motor 178 of the feeder 20 is driven by the photoelectric Element 94, 96 actuated when there is no card on the fork 90, while at the same time the conveyor device 110 by actuation the clutch 182 is placed in neutral. If there is no card on the fork 90 within a predetermined time after pressing the Clutch 182 appears, brake 184 is applied to stop conveyor 110. The device is electrically connected in such a way that that the conveyor 110 is stopped if after a predetermined one Time no card corresponding to the predetermined sequence appears, thereby preventing the comb 118 from crossing the corresponding one Station runs out. As can be seen from FIG. 10, the beam from the light source 96 strikes the cell 94 when the comb 118 is a card 142 from the fork 90 is removed, whereby the delay member 180 is actuated. When the next card 146 falls from the transfer conveyor 31 onto the fork, this card interrupts the light beam, whereby the delay element 180 is stopped. The delay element 180 is set to a predetermined time and if no card interrupts the light beam, the clutch 182 is disengaged and the brake 184 in operation is set to stop the conveyor 110.

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The feed device 20 can also be used as a counter by the application a photoelectric element 39, 40 can be used. By connecting the photoelectric elements 39 and 40 to a counter 183 both the motor 178 of the feeder and the coupling ment 182 is deactivated in order to put the feed device 20 into operation and to stop the conveyor 110. If a number of cards, preselected by the counter 183, are promoted to the fork 90, the task em ot or 178 is stopped and the clutch 182 is activated to the To restart conveyor 110. This sequence can be repeated continuously. The counter 183 can be operated manually through a switch 186 be reset for another repetitive count.

Claims

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Claims (16)

1. Sorting device for stacking sheets of paper, such as greeting or greeting cards or the like, characterized by a base frame (22) with an elongated main platform (106) arranged on this base frame; a plurality of feeding devices (20), which are optionally mountable on the base frame (22) at a distance from one another above the main platform (106), wherein each feeding device (20) carries a secondary platform (90) above the main platform (106) and each The feeder is constructed and arranged to hold a stack of cards (130) and ^{dispense a predetermined number of individual cards from the stack * 1} * onto the secondary platform (90); a plurality of means (178) for driving each feeder (20); an endless conveyor device (110) which is provided on the base frame (22) and carries a number of combs (118) which can be moved along the secondary platform (90) in order to transfer the aforementioned number of individual cards from the secondary platform (90) to the main platform (106) and move along the same, sequentially picking up the aforementioned number of individual cards on the main platform (106) and forming sorted sets (150); and by a drive device (3 5) for the endless conveyor device (110). 2. Sorting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the Endless conveyor device (HO) below the main platform (106) 509887 / 04U is ordered and each comb (118) simultaneously through aligned slots in the main platform (106) and the secondary platforms (90) is running. 3. Sorting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that the endless conveyor device (HO) has a pair of parallel endless chains (112), that each comb (118) is pivotable on one of the chains has mounted cross bar (120) and a plurality of prongs (124), which protrude from the crossbar (120), and that a guide device (12,9) is provided on the base frame (22), which with the Crossbar (120) cooperates to bring the comb into the upright position when it is below the main platform (106) runs along. 4. Sorting device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that that each feed device (2 0) has a photoelectric device (94, 96) which is electrically connected to the drive (178) the feed device (20) is connected that the beam of foto ^ electrical device intersects the conveying surface of the feeder and that the photoelectric device is also electrical is connected to the drive device (182) of the endless conveyor device (HO), whereby in the absence of a card in the photoelectric Beam activates the drive device (178) of the feed device (20) and the drive device (182) of the endless conveyor device (HO) is deactivated. 5. Sorting device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that each feed device (20) has a photoelectric device (39, 40) which is connected to a counter (183) is that the counter (183) is electrically connected to the drive device (178) of the feeder and that the photoelectric device has a ray that follows the path of the task- 609 88 7/04 H. device (ZO) dispensed card (142) cuts, each counter (183) is electrically connected to the drive device (182) of the endless conveyor device (HO), whereby each feed device is activated to give up an optional before certain number of cards on the secondary platform (90) before this number of Cards on the main platform (106) is advanced. 6. Sorting device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that that brushes (100) are provided which face away from the secondary platform (90) in the vicinity of its feed device (20) Ends touching, causing a card (142) to move onto the main platform (106) exempted by the action of a the combs (118) is prevented. 7. Sorting device according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the Infeed device is characterized by a conveyor device comprising a flat forward moving belt (50) and a drive device for this tape; a holding device (60, 86) for * » Holding a stack of cards (130) above the belt (50) in a position that is sloping forward in the conveying direction, the holding device a rear holding or support plate (86) and a front guide rail (60), of which the holding plate (86) is inclined is inclined downwards and forwards and the guide rail (60) has a forward tapering lower arch portion (68) to the lower Fan the cards in the stack (130) to the front when the cards are in the holding device slide down between the holding plate (86) and the guide rail (60) under the weight of the stack; a rotatable friction roller (44) above the platform (of the belt 50) in front of the holding plate (86) of the holding device in a vertical position Plane is arranged, which runs in the conveying direction, wherein the friction roller (44) has a distance from the platform (belt 50) to a gap (76) for the free passage of a single card 509887 / (HU form and down over the curved part (68) of the guide rail (60) protrudes to form an exposed sheet with which the leading edge of the lowermost card (142) of the stack (130) containing the Card holds, comes into contact when moving cards down and forward; and by a drive device for the friction roller (44) to move the lowermost card (142) towards the gap (76). 8. Sorting device according to claim 7, characterized in that the drive device that drives the friction roller (44) is a reduction gear which is connected to the drive device for the platform (belt 50) and to the friction roller (44). 9. Sorting device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that that the friction roller (44) has a wheel rim (74) with a high coefficient of friction having. 10. Sorting device according to claim 9> characterized in that The friction roller is made of steel and a wheel rim (74) is made of \ Yidia metal having. 11. Sorting device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that that the friction roller (44) at least in the direction of the platform (belt 50) during the movement of the platform (the belt 50) is adjustable. 12. Sorting device according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that that the friction roller (44) is keyed onto a shaft (42), that a pair of struts (46) are arranged at a distance from one another and on a fixed frame (24) is rotatably mounted, that adjustment devices are provided on each strut on one side of the axis of rotation and that the shaft (42) is freely rotatably mounted in each strut (46) on the other side of the axis of rotation. 509887 / (HU " ¹ 13. Sorting device according to claim 12, characterized in that the drive device for the friction roller (44) or friction device has a reduction gear that drives the platform (Belt 50) and the friction device or friction roller (44) is connected by an endless drive and that a device is provided is to keep the endless drive taut when adjusting the friction device or friction roller (44). 14. Sorting device according to one of claims 7 to 13, characterized ge « indicates that the forwardly extending lower arch part (46) of the guide rail (60) has a slot (72) and that the lower part of the friction device or friction roller (44) through the Slot (72) protrudes downward and forms an exposed arch. 15. Sorting device according to one of claims 7 to 14, characterized in that that the guide rail (60) comprises a tongue (68) projecting forward from the lower arch part (66), which tongue (68) leads to the platform (Band 50) has a spacing. ** 16. Sorting device according to one of claims 7 to 15, characterized in that that the guide rail (60) is adjustable for alignment with the friction roller (44) and that the guide rail (60) and the holding plate (86) are adjustable to hold the stack of cards (130) in relation to the platform (band 50). 509887 / (HH Blank page