DE3430255C2 - - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for separating each because the topmost object in a singling station tion arranged object stack, which on a by a Lifting device rests gradually on the ground a plate is adjacent to the removal side, which between one position releasing the top of the stack and one un ter the raised uppermost object lung can be moved back and forth, the floor above in the loading the suction side can be moved up and down direction for lifting the topmost object of the Stacking and lying opposite on the plate.

Such a device is known from FR-PS 24 95 121 and is used for separating plate-shaped objects, e.g. Printed circuit boards that stepped on a vertical wise raised floor are arranged. During the club cell process is by means of a suction device each because the top item of a stack of items is raised,  under which a plate is then inserted, on which the upscale object is deposited. Following there the plate free the top of the stack by placing the on top transport the lying object to a removal device animals that removes it from the plate.

The problem area on which the invention is based relates to this Separation of publications such as newspapers, magazines, Notebooks, paperbacks or the like. Unsold from retailers the remaining printed matter becomes the respective wholesaler returned and there individually recorded and registered to determine the number sold by the retailer and use to bill the retailer. To simplify the This activity has already developed reading devices that after appropriate programming and saving the images of the front pages of the eligible print write the individual documents, so to speak recognize, register and further data processing like adding up the print prices and their assignment to the respective retailer. Because the pamphlets arrive in large numbers and practically randomly mixed up the aim is to print the publications in a Vorrich to arrange the stack according to the type mentioned at the beginning, so that an automatic separation takes place.

As a major disadvantage of the device from FR-PS 24 95 121  there is a lack of use for separating printed matter de To mention the speed of the separation process. There only one floor that can be moved vertically is available on which the objects can be placed, arises between the separation of successive sta pel a longer break in which the floor er is reloaded. Loading has great precision to ensure that the individual print flush in the area of the removal side. Because this is the only way to ensure that the near Suction device arranged on the bottom edge each can also reliably capture individual objects. Despite everything must the device is constantly monitored as the items can be easily moved in the event of vibrations. The removal process of the top is also designed lying object is relatively time-consuming because the plate is designed as a transport plate and always so long must lie in the stack until the lifted object is secure is placed on it. In addition, the transport plate Long and time-consuming journeys because they are over has to run very far over the respective stack in order to take it off to be able to pick up the full size of the laying object nen. In addition, the separation speed can not be be increased as much as possible due to high acceleration the transport plate the placed object as a result of it Inertia would slide down. It should also be mentioned  ren that the susceptibility of the separation process at Separation of publications with the known device is relatively large, since the documents on the spine rule are moderately thicker and therefore when stacked apply on both sides. This will keep the stack of items on ner top an oblique or winding course, the one safe detection of the top documents by the suction device and undisturbed underriding of the sliding plate not always guaranteed.

The aim of the invention is therefore a device according to the to create the kind mentioned at the beginning, for the singulation various types of publications is suitable and at both the time required for the separation process each the stack as well as that between the separation of two Stack period is significantly reduced.

This goal is achieved by separating pressure writings such as newspapers, magazines, booklets, paperbacks or the like. Several document containers with one each Liftable floor are available by means of a transport facility between a loading station and the separation Station are movable that at least in each case in the Ver Documentation stacks for the Ent on the receiving side is inclined so that the inclined side Plate is a sliding plate on which the suction device  documents stored with their own weight and that the bottom of the document container in the facing the removal side, the spine of the print th load-bearing area also drops downwards.

Now there are several document containers and additional a loading station is provided for the singling station, so that the speed when changing the stack in the ver single station can be increased significantly. Because be riding during a separation process can in the Bela destation at the same time a loading of the meanwhile empty document container. In this together Menhang is advantageous that the document container or their bottoms in the separating station towards the removal side are inclined so that in this way an edge automatically The publications are aligned in a flush manner Re functionality of the suction device guaranteed. At the Location between different stations Shifts in the publications are made in this way automatically balanced. Every single publication is securely gripped at its edge area and therefore reliable lifted. The suction device should be in the area of the ent on the delivery side, because the publications are Lability would otherwise bend when lifting, which Separation process could interfere. Another advantage be is that the publications after releasing the  Suction device automatically from the document containers fall out down, the slide plate taking the fall path co-determined the publications. The slide plate serves here So not as a dolly but only as a glide help so that in favor of increasing the singulation speed did not increase disadvantageous on the removal of the individual items works. In addition, the slide plate is not completely over have to run the stack so that the one she has to cover Distance can be greatly reduced, which is also a Increasing the separation speed allowed. Between The slide plate and the object to be separated can be used take place from a relative movement.

Advantageously, in the area of the removal egg additional downward sloping floor in the loaded Condition a practically constant stack height over the entire Get stacked surface so that the suction device verver Grasp it casually and drive underneath it undisturbed can. In this way, smooth operation is guaranteed continuous This configuration also simplifies automation ten operation of the device, as existing, the Hubbe Only then will level control switches move speak if the uppermost document actually kor is located in the removal position. Too early or too late Response of the switch is therefore excluded. Further  this configuration serves the operational security, since now it is ensured that the spine of the stacked Publications can be arranged on the removal side. Consequently always grabs the suction device in the area of the respective Spine on so that the entire top is always reliable most printed matter is raised, hence time-consuming sub breaks in the process are practically excluded.

It is already known from DE-OS 32 23 238 to use a variety of item shots and sepa rate loading or separation stations. Here are the object shots arranged on a turntable, and they gradually move from the loading station to the separator station and vice versa. However, here is there is no inclination in the singling station, so that high speeds during transport between the ver different stations are excluded from the outset, because otherwise the correct orientation of the objects lei that would. There is a certain fixation by since Lich arranged bracket, however, would be such an embodiment hardly in the stabilization device according to the invention effective since the individual publications, compared to the in DE-OS 32 23 238 to be separated textile material, völ lig have different dimensions.

The stack to be separated in the separation point  tion to tend, however, is known from DE-OS 15 31 953. However, this is one in terms of its genus more distant device for separating stacked General cargo such as boxes, sacks or the like. It is in the manner of a designed forklift-like lifting device and contains one Lifting device arranged pivotably on the base frame. To the The device takes one load of the height-adjustable floor Vertical position on and then the device is tilted and the lifting device started. Here comes across uppermost general cargo against one articulated on an unloading wagon Bracket, which raises it slightly and the unloading wagon can drive underneath. The individual gets over the car Object then to the outside. For separating printed matter this device is not suitable because printed matter can not just put on a console because it’s in the Would fall down. Also would be the Vereinze interrupted in all the times when again loaded with a new stack of documents becomes. In addition, a club can be arranged with the bracket Do not carry out the counting of printed matter, whereby the Top of the stack due to the flat bottom of the lifting device and the pressure, which is regularly thicker on the page would take an uneven course.

Advantageous developments of the invention are in the sub claims listed.  

With the developments according to claims 2 and 3 one a tilt-free process of the container bottom in Hö direction.

Favor the further developments according to claims 4 and 5 fully automatic operation of the device.

With the training according to claim 6 is un even with something regular stacking top a safe lifting of the top most guaranteed publication.

With the training according to claim 7 you get a verver casual drive for the suction device.

In the development according to claim 8, the sliding plate when reaching under the respective publication on the other Adjust history.

The training according to claim 9 describes a particular simple drive for the slide plate.

The development according to claim 10 is advantageous in the case of very lightweight publications, e.g. thin time in which the gliding process through the take-along roles is supported.  

The development according to claim 11 supports the separation process two superimposed publications in the event that stick them together. The further training according to claim 12 describes a simple drive for the hold-down device.

In the development according to claim 13, it is possible to Variety of document containers on the chain conveyor or the like. To be provided and filled in the loading station th container over this chain conveyor or the like to the club drive to the delivery station, after which they are then empty for loading station are conveyed back. By the interaction of Support rollers and support track can also be easily set the desired inclination of the containers.

An embodiment of the invention is now based on the Drawing described in detail. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a separating device in a highly schematic representation, of clarity, omitted for some parts,

Fig. 2 is a front view of the plant according to the arrow in Fig. 1, lung, likewise in schematic depicting,

Fig. 3 shows the system of FIGS. 1 and 2 in cross section approximately along the line III-III in Fig. 1, wherein the details of the separating device can be seen from Fig. 3, and

Fig. 4 shows a detail from Fig. 3, wherein the suction device has the uppermost publication ben ben and the sliding plate is retracted.

The system shown in the drawing contains an endlessly rotating chain conveyor or the like. With execution, for example, two chains 1 arranged one above the other, which are guided on one system side by a drive wheel 2 and on the other system side by a guide wheel 3 . The two drive wheels 2 are driven by means of a motor 4 , a belt 5 driven by the latter and a pulley 6 seated on the axis of the drive wheels. The axes of the wheels 2 , 3 are vertical, so that the chains 1 revolve in a horizontal plane. Such chain conveyors or the like. Are known per se, so that its further description and the description of the system carrier supporting the chain conveyor are unnecessary.

On the chain conveyor, ie on its chains 1 , a plurality of containers 7 open at the top are fastened, only a few of which are shown in FIG. 2. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the containers 7 follow one another directly. Each container 7 is assigned a support device which is attached to the chain or chains 1 and in the exemplary embodiment from a support plate 8 and from this to the respective chain protruding support bracket 9 contains. With the aid of this support device, the containers 7 are fastened to the outside of the chain conveyor, the containers 7 being arranged on the associated support device so as to be pivotable about an axis 10 parallel to the conveying direction. On its outside facing away from the chain conveyor or the like - hereinafter referred to as the removal side - the containers 7 are supported on a circumferential support track 12 by means of support rollers 11 arranged on them. This support track 12 circles the chain conveyor rail-like and is provided on the system frame.

In Fig. 1 it has not been drawn for clarity. As a result of the pivotable attachment of the container 7 to its supporting devices, the orientation of the container with respect to the vertical is determined by the height of the support track 12 .

At a loading station 13 , the empty containers 7 are filled with newspapers, magazines, booklets, paperbacks or the like. Publications which have been returned to the wholesaler by the retailers and are recorded individually to determine their number and the reimbursement amount to be offset against the retailers have to. The printed matter is stacked on top of each other in the containers, with different printed matter being able to follow one another in any order. For a reason to be described below, it is only necessary to ensure when filling that the spine of the printed matter is on the removal side of the container. To make it easier to fill the container, the walls at right angles to the conveying direction are provided with a recess 14 which runs from top to bottom and through which one can grip with the arms, so that the arms do not have to be immersed in the container from above.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the containers in the loading station are inclined outwards by a corresponding height of the support track 12 with respect to the vertical, which also facilitates filling.

The system also has a separating station 15 , into which the containers are brought by the chain conveyor and in which the printed matter is removed individually from the container currently in it. The containers here are inclined so strongly with respect to the vertical towards the removal side that, as will be described later, the uppermost publication can itself slide outwards due to its own weight. This is in turn achieved by a corresponding altitude of the track 12 in this area. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the containers in the separating station 15 are slanted than in the loading station 13 , ie the track 12 runs in the area of the separating station at a lower height. Between the loading station 13 and the singling station 15 , the containers can keep the inclination that they occupy in the loading station (see FIG. 2), but the arrangement can also be made differently here.

The understanding of Fig. 1 is pointed out that here the container for clarity have been drawn with vertical orientation. In Fig. 2, the upper edges of which are in the singling station union, inclined containers are shown by thicker solid lines.

At the separation station 15 there is at least one separation device. The number depends on the number of containers that are to be emptied at the same time. In the embodiment, three Vereinze processing devices are available, which are of the same design, so that the description of one of them is sufficient. It is understood that the chain conveyor is stationary during the emptying of the container. At the same time, empty containers can be filled at the loading station.

It is essential for the isolated removal of the publications, which takes place at the top of the respective container, that the container 7 has a bottom 16 which can be displaced in the vertical direction of the container. For step by step pushing up the bottom 16 of the container 7 located in the separating station - the stride length corresponds essentially to the thickness of the uppermost lettering of the stack - there is a lifting device sitting on the system frame in the separating station, which when the respective container is retracted into the separation station comes into engagement with it from below. In the exemplary embodiment, the lifting device contains a lifting arm 17 running in the height direction of the container, which is supported via a cross arm 18 on a spindle 21 which can be driven by means of a motor 19 and a belt drive 20 and is guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner on a guide rod 22 running parallel to this. Depending on the direction of rotation of the motor 19 , the lifting arm 17, and with it the container base 16, moves up or down.

The lifting arm 17 does not act directly on the container bottom 16 , but on a guide extension 23 attached to the underside of the container bottom, which is guided on the wall of the container 7 or on a bearing which is firmly connected to it. In the embodiment, a circumferential, inwardly projecting bearing frame 24 is provided as a bearing part at the lower end region of the container wall, which forms a stop for the container bottom 16 at the top, so that it cannot fall down, and on the inner circumference of the guide extension 23 in the form of a box-like hollow body is guided. The container bottom 16 forms, so to speak, a protruding cover on the circumference for the box-like guide extension 23 , on the underside of which the lifting arm 17 engages. This results in a large-area guide ensuring a tilt-free displacement of the container bottom. This guide is particularly good and smooth when you switch between the bearing part (bearing frame 24 ) and guide extension 23 a roller bearing 25 between.

In the separating station, a hold-down 26 is also arranged above the respective container, which, for example, sits on the piston rod of a pneumatic piston-cylinder unit 27 . The hold-down device 26 can be moved in the height direction of the container, wherein in its lower position it presses on the uppermost document of the stack and holds it down, while in its raised position it releases this document. The compressed air supply to the piston-cylinder unit 27 is not shown for clarity.

Furthermore, is located in the separating station above half of the respective container between the holding-down device 26 and the outside, ie the removal side of the container, a suction device which can also be moved in the height direction of the container with a suction head 28 . If this suction head 28 is placed on the uppermost publication and at the same time connected to a vacuum source, it takes the facing binding edge area of the publication upwards when driving upward, as shown in FIG. 4. The document is released again by venting the suction device or the suction head 28 . The suction head 28 is articulated and in this case is suitably spring-loaded (spring 29 ), so that its suction underside can adapt to the surface profile of the document. The back and forth movement of the suction head 28 in the container height direction takes place by means of a motor 30 , which drives an eccentric disc 31 , to which a drive rod 32 is articulated, which is articulated at the other end with a connecting rod 33 which connects to the suction head 28 . This is slidably mounted on a longitudinal guide 34 which, like the piston-cylinder unit 27 of the hold-down device, sits on the system frame.

In the separating station, an inclined sliding plate 35 is also provided on the removal side of the container in the region of the upper side thereof, which extends essentially par allel to the upper side of the container above its peripheral edge. This slide plate 35 is in the direction according to double arrow 36 transversely to the height direction of the container between a part of the container top overlapping a bit before pushed position ( Fig. 4) and a position releasing the container top ( Fig. 3) back and forth movable.

Finally, it is also indicated in Fig. 3 that a level switch 37 and a limit switch 38 are arranged at the single station in the region of the container top. The level switch 37 senses the arrival of the uppermost publication in the removal position and then switches off the drive 19 of the lifting device. The limit switch 38 is actuated after the container has been completely emptied from the container base 16 and then switches the motor 19 of the lifting device so that the container base 16 is completely lowered.

With the arrangement and further tax described so far tion elements as well as an associated control, which for a person skilled in the art is readily executable and not in more detail The following procedure is described achieved:

At the beginning of each removal cycle ', the container bottom 16 is raised until the uppermost publication 40 occupies a position adjacent to the container top. The lifting device is then switched off by means of the level switch 37 . Then the hold-down device 26 and the suction head 28 move downward, the hold-down device 26 pushing the document 40 down and the suction head 28 sucks the document 40 . The suction head 28 then moves up with the adhering area of the printed matter until it protrudes over the sliding plate 35 . In this case, the hold-down device 26 still holds the area of the document 40 facing away from the binding edge downward, so that the document remains fixed in position. Then the slide plate 35 is moved into its advanced position ( FIG. 4), in which it engages under the edge of the document. Subsequently ßend to the illustrated in Fig. 4 time also drives the hold-down 26 high, so that it outputs the document freely. After venting the suction head 28 , the print is free and slides due to gravity on the slide plate 35 and on this in the removal direction downwards. Simultaneously or subsequently, the sliding plate 35 is moved into its position in which the container is released ( FIG. 3). A new cycle then begins, ie the container bottom 16 moves upwards by the thickness of the next print, etc.

It is understood that the movements described merge very quickly. Furthermore, the arrangement so that the top printed publication in the removal position when the lifting device stops, just hits the container wall and therefore not can slip out of control.

Since the binding edge of the publications faces the removal side of the container, the suction head 28 lifts the entire publication and not only the top sheet thereof.

Printed matter is regularly thicker on the edge of the booklet than on the opposite side. Without additional measures, this would result in a greater stack height on the removal side of the container and an upward protrusion of the handle edge area, which is undesirable. In order to avoid this, the container bottom 16 is inclined downward in the region of the removal side of the container. The wedge-shaped sloping bottom area is characterized in Fig. 3 by the reference numeral 41 net.

So that the slide plate 35 can adapt to the underside shape when reaching under the respective publication ( FIG. 4), the embodiment provides that the slide plate is held freely pivotable at right angles to the removal direction. For this purpose, the slide plate 35 is articulated at 42 on its holder. The mounting of the sliding plate 35 is formed by a swivel arm 43 which is articulated at 44 on the system frame and to which a swivel drive 45 is assigned.

The slide plate 35 contains recesses 46 through which drive rollers 47 , which are driven from below to convey the documents, engage up to the surface of the plate. The driving rollers 47 can be mounted on the sliding plate 35 and thus participate in their back and forth movement. However, they can also be stationary if the recesses 46 are long enough so that the reciprocating movement of the sliding plate is not disturbed by the driving rollers.

The entrainment rollers can roll against the slide plate 35 or oppose a spring device, so that the slipping document is also guided above.

From the slide plate 35, the publications slide one after the other onto a reader 48 , which recognizes the publications as it were and detects them in a pre-programmed manner. A downstream printer then prints out the amounts to be reimbursed to retailers.

From the reader device 48 , the publications reach a conveyor belt 49 .

Since the documents stacked in the containers can have different sizes, it is advisable to move the level switch 37 close to the removal side. In Fig. 3 it has been drawn only for clarity at a relatively far away from the removal side point. Furthermore, in order to reliably separate documents of different sizes, several suction devices 28 distributed over the top of the container and optionally several hold-down devices 26 and / or level switches 37 can be provided.

Finally, it is pointed out that in Fig. 1 the separating devices and in Fig. 2 the reading devices have been omitted. In FIG. 2, only the lifting arms 17 and the sliding plates 35 are indicated by the separating devices.

Claims (13)

1. Device for separating the uppermost object of an arranged in a separation station Ge object stack, which rests on a step by a lifting device floor, which is adjacent to a plate on the removal side, the pel top side releasing position and a under the raised, uppermost object retracted position can be moved back and forth, with the floor at the top in the area of the removal side opposite an up and down suction device for lifting ben the top object of the stack and for placing on the plate, characterized by net, that for separating publications such as newspapers, magazines, notebooks, paperbacks or the like. Several print container ( 7 ), each with a liftable bottom ( 16 ) are available, which means by means of a transport device between a loading station ( 13 ) and the Vereinzelungssta tion ( 15 ) are movable that at least the each in the separating station ( 15 ) located stack of documents is inclined towards the removal side, that the also inclined te plate is a sliding plate ( 35 ) on which the documents stored by the suction device ( 28 ) slide under their own weight, and that the bottom ( 16 ) the printing receptacle ( 7 ) in the area facing the removal side, the spine of the printed matter bearing area also drops downwards. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a guide extension ( 23 ) is attached to the underside of the container bottom ( 16 ), which is advantageously on the container wall or on a bearing part ( 24 ) fixedly connected thereto by means of a roller bearing ( 25 ) is performed. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that a circumferential, inwardly projecting bearing frame ( 24 ) is provided as a bearing part at the lower end region of the container wall, which forms a stop for the container bottom ( 16 ) and on the inner circumference of the guide extension ( 23rd ) is guided in the form of a box-like hollow body. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that there is a level switch ( 37 ) sensing the arrival of the uppermost publication in the removal position and controlling the drive of the lifting device. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a the lifting device ( 17-22 ) at ge empty container ( 7 ) on lowering the container bottom ( 16 ) switching limit switch ( 38 ) is available. 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the suction device has an articulated and expediently resiliently attached suction head ( 28 ). 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized characterized in that the up and down movement of the Saugeinrich tion is driven by an eccentric drive. 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sliding plate ( 35 ) is held freely pivotable at right angles to the removal direction. 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sliding plate ( 35 ) on a swivel arm ( 43 ) with a swivel drive ( 45 ) is seated. 10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the sliding plate ( 35 ) has recesses ( 46 ) through which drive from below for conveying the pressure driven driving rollers ( 47 ) to the plates surface. 11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the suction device is a holding-down device ( 26 ) for holding down the area facing away from the spine of the uppermost publication when sucking it in. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the holding-down device ( 26 ) is arranged on the piston rod of a pneumatic table-cylinder unit ( 27 ). 13. The device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the container ( 7 ) with its side of the Entnah opposite side on a chain conveyor around a parallel to the conveying direction axis ( 10 ) are pivotally attached bar and that the container ( 7 ) supported on them on support rollers on a circumferential support track ( 12 ), the course of which determines the inclination of the container be.