EP0403901B1 - Sorting device for cut flat elements - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a sorting device according to the preamble of claim 1. The flat blanks can e.g. sheets of paper to be checked for certain quality features or errors, in particular high-quality papers, such as art paper, security papers for checks, bank notes or the like.

In the sorting device according to GB-A-2 085 412, conveyor conversions are provided for optionally diverting individual blanks to three target stations from a single strand of blanks. A similar diversion to two target stations is also the subject of PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 12, no. 81 (M-676) March 15, 1988, & JP-A-62 222 950 (NEC CORP.) Provided September 30, 1987. EP-A-247 408 shows an indexing sorting device, in which the conveyor changeover is first stopped and placed on a subsequent transport path.

The invention is also based on the object of avoiding disadvantages of known designs and, in particular, of creating a sorting device of the type mentioned or of a similar type, which makes it possible in a simple manner to separate cuts running in separate paths independently of one another according to predetermined criteria.

To achieve this object, the features of claim 1 are provided. Such sorting devices expediently have at least one movement path for the individual successive blanks, which are distinguished optically or otherwise according to certain criteria during the run and are separated, for example, in such a way that blanks with certain characteristics are separated from at least one group which does not have such characteristics . In order to increase the throughput of the sorting device, the blanks are at least initially moved in at least two adjacent lanes, it being possible for all lanes to be sorted simultaneously alongside one another.

Sorting devices can have the disadvantage that adjacent blanks only move together at the sorting point, e.g. can be sorted out, even if only one blank contains the corresponding characteristic. For this reason, the blanks that have been sorted out in this way must be manually sorted again in order to achieve a clear separation by category. E.g. sorted according to errors, a two-way procedure results in a reject that is increased by twice what is necessary if only one cut has errors per sorting process. The aforementioned sorting is complex, cost-intensive and prone to errors because it requires a high level of concentration.

According to the invention, means are provided in the area of the respective sorting point, which can be reversed in such a way that at least two of these blanks are either moved further in an essentially identical position to one another or are converted into a relative movement relative to one another, which causes a sorting process. If the sorting point is preferably formed by a switch which mechanically guides or deflects the cuts, this sorting switch is divided into separate individual switches for each of the said cuts or multiple groups of such cuts, the individual switches being reversible independently of one another in at least two switch positions. As a result, the blanks mentioned can either be moved on in the same way according to the requirements or moved apart or in groups in accordance with one or more distinguishing features. If the sorting is used, for example, to remove rejects, only the faulty blanks can be sorted out and collected separately from the faultless blanks.

The embodiment described can be advantageous for solving the object on which the invention is based, or in addition, also for another switch, for example for a distribution switch which can divide the cutting stream into two or more further career sections by reversing. By dividing this distribution switch in the described or a similar manner, for example, differences in the number of flows of blanks moved next to one another in the upstream track section can be compensated in such a way that the number of cuts in the juxtaposed tracks is the same regardless of this, at least in a further track section whether the cuts in the tracks arrive in different or the same number before the distribution switch.

Furthermore, in order to achieve the object on which the invention is based, instead of or in addition to the described embodiments, means can be provided by which the blanks in the juxtaposed streams can be moved individually or in groups of juxtaposed blanks at different speeds, for example in such a way that a stream comes to a standstill while the other stream is running. In the case of mechanical transport, this is preferably achieved in that the associated transport path is divided into adjacent individual transport paths of corresponding width, these individual transport paths being driven or stopped more or less quickly independently of one another even though the two streams previously ran side by side.

In order to bring together the blanks associated with one another on the basis of the criteria mentioned, at least one collecting station is expediently provided, in which the blanks are stacked on top of one another, for example in edge-flush stacks. This collecting station or collecting stations are expediently provided in the running direction shortly after the distribution switch, an overlapping station advantageously being arranged immediately adjacent to the respective collecting station, in which the blanks which are initially moved one behind the other in the running direction initially overlap each other with the major part of their associated extent in a scale-like manner be placed. The transfer to the collection station then takes place from this overlap station.

To achieve the object on which the invention is based, instead of or in addition to the described embodiments, means can also be provided for counting the blanks moving in the adjacent streams independently or separately, the relaxing counting result of the counting as a signal for the reversal the individual switches or for driving the individual transport tracks can be used. It is useful to count separately in each stream immediately after the sorting gate in the stream associated with each individual gate as well as immediately before being deposited in the collecting station. This makes it possible to determine whether one or more blanks have been lost or removed between the counting zones lying one behind the other in the running direction, which can be important in particular in the case of the processing of security papers.

After sorting, distributing or collecting, the blanks are moved laterally outwards, preferably in stacks by suitable means, transversely to the previously prevailing running direction, so that they can be transferred in a simple manner to a further transport device, the transport direction of which is preferably approximately parallel to the prevailing running direction . In this transport device, the blanks or sheet stacks of separate collecting stations can be introduced one behind the other in the transport direction, these collecting stations being supplied with blanks by the common distribution switch.

The sorting device according to the invention is particularly suitable for so-called sorting cross cutters, in which a web supplied from a store in the longitudinal direction thereof is first cut longitudinally to divide adjacent useful webs and optionally trimmed at its edges and then divided by cross cutting into the individual blanks lying next to one another. This cross-cutting and, if necessary, the pulling apart of blanks in the running direction can be carried out directly in front of the sorting gate, with the individual diverters of which the blank to be discharged can then be led downwards out of the main track, while the blanks that cannot be discharged continue essentially straight through the sorting gate.

The test according to the criteria mentioned is expediently carried out shortly before the longitudinal cutting, the material web being checked separately on both sides of the respective dividing line defined by the longitudinal cut, so that the features mentioned can be recorded independently of one another on both sides of the dividing line. For this purpose, a web inspection system is advantageously provided, which works according to the requirements in the reflected light or reflection or transmitted light method and whose test cells lying on both sides of the respective dividing line influence a separate control unit. The individual switches or the individual transport tracks can be automatically controlled directly by these control units to achieve the effects described. The individual switches of the distribution switch are expediently controlled via the separate counting devices of the above-mentioned counting zone.

Due to the inventive design, only the sheet detected for errors is discharged into the committee. This ensures that there are actually only defective sheets in the committee, so that no further manual re-sorting is required and the performance of the device can therefore be increased considerably. The design according to the invention is also suitable for materials other than paper webs.

The device according to the invention can work according to a method in which at least two materials running side by side flow at least on at least one section of the respective individual track, the material streams coming from a common inlet can be driven differently, but side by side, with these common sections of the material streams Junction with at least two other similar sections is assigned so that the material flows can be continued independently and reversible at any time on one of the two branches to compensate for differences in quantity that result from the different flow of the adjacent material flows. This allows the end of each branch distance accruing quantities of the material flows running side by side can be influenced independently of one another. The ends of the branch lines are then expediently connected to a common outlet in such a way that the material quantities or stacks which have been collected from the respective material stream in the respective branch line are fed to the outlet in succession. In this respect, in the case of a sorting device, two narrow, for example single-use, separate sorting devices can be placed directly next to one another and their overlapping or collecting stations can be connected to the common outlet via common transverse transport devices and possibly at least one lifting device.

These and further features of preferred developments of the invention are evident from the claims and also from the description and the drawing, the individual features being implemented individually or in groups in the form of subcombinations in one embodiment of the invention and in other fields, and can represent advantageous and protectable versions for which protection is claimed here. An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is explained in more detail below.

The drawing shows a sorting device according to the invention as part of a sorting cutter in a partially simplified perspective view.

At the end of a first conveyor section of a conveyor track 3 of the cutting device of a sorting cutter 2, the subject matter of the invention has a sorting device 1, with which those cuts produced by the cutting device which have been recognized as rejects are discharged from further processing and fed to a reject stack while the remaining blanks are conveyed for further processing and are initially overlapped in different planes and collected in a number of stacks which is an integral multiple of the number of usable widths 4, 5 produced by the cutting device.

In the illustrated embodiment, in which the horizontal conveyor track 3, for example rollers, revolves in the conveying direction arrow 6, a test device 7 is initially provided, which, for example, has a test head located above the conveyor track 3, each with at least one test unit 8 for each useful width 4, 5 has, so that can be checked independently on each panel. The testing device 7 is followed in the conveying direction arrow 6 by a slitter 9, which divides the material or paper web 14 running on the conveying track 3 in the middle with a longitudinal section, so that two single tracks running side by side are formed. Edge trimmers (not shown in more detail) are expediently provided laterally adjacent to the longitudinal cutter 9 and are used to cut the paper web 14 to the desired width dimension on the longitudinal edges. The slitter 9 and the edge trimmers are followed, for example, by a web feed device 10 having two superimposed transport rollers, with which the paper web 14 is pulled off a paper roll and moved by the testing device 7 or the cross cutter 9. In front of the cross cutter, the conveyor track is not through conveyor belts, but through free-running rollers, support plates or the like. educated.

In the conveying direction arrow 6 follows the web feed device 10, a cross cutter 11 which expediently has two cutting tools lying one above the other, one of which is preferably designed, in particular the lower one, for example as a fixed, strip-shaped lower knife 13 and the other as a cutting roller 12. The longitudinally divided paper web 14 passing between the cutting tools is cross-cut by the cross cutter 11 into two aligned, equally sized blanks 15, 16, which are moved ahead by appropriate acceleration after the cross cutting so that successive pairs of blanks separated without contact in a small amount Distance behind each other.

Immediately following the cross cutter 11 or the device for pulling the cut pairs apart, the conveyor track 3, which works in the same way over the full width of the track, connects to a sorting switch 17 which has a separate and separately reversible individual switch for each of the two cutting streams running synchronously next to one another 18, 19. The two essentially identical single switches 18, 19 are designed such that they either deflect any individual cut 15 or 16 of the respective stream transversely to the level of the conveyor track 3 downwards to a reject collector 20 or approximately in the direction of conveyance arrow 6 to one above and approximately in the level of the conveyor track 3 lying conveyor 21 can forward. The conveyor 21 expediently also works synchronously across all widths 4, 5.

In the conveying direction, a distributor switch 22 connects to the conveyor 21, with which the material flows running next to one another are either forwarded approximately in the conveying direction arrow 6 to a subsequent conveying path 23 lying approximately in the plane of the conveying path 3 or of the conveyor 21, or transversely to this plane, for example to can be diverted to a branch transport track 24 below. The distribution switch 22 likewise has a separate individual switch 25 or 26 for each utility width 4 or 5, so that each individual incoming cut can either be forwarded or redirected Trained individual switches 24, 25 can, for example, as movable guide or switch bodies for the blanks, each have an acute-angled wedge profile lying transversely to the conveying direction, the wedge tip of which adjoins the conveyor 21 is directed approximately in the opposite direction to the conveying direction the conveying plane, so that the upper wedge flank forwards the respective blank and in the other switch position the wedge tip is raised above the conveying plane, so that the respective blank runs onto the lower wedge flank and is diverted down onto the transport track 24. The switch body is one common, about axis parallel to the conveying plane and perpendicular to the conveying direction can be pivoted, which lies in the region of the wedge edge facing away from the wedge tip directly adjacent to the transport path 23. Although shown differently in the drawing, the individual switches of the sorting switch 17 and the distribution switch 22 are expediently of the same design. In the drawing, the individual switch 18 of the sorting switch 17 on the right in the conveying direction arrow 6 is shown such that the associated blank 15 is transferred to the conveyor 21 and the left single switch 19 is shown such that an associated blank 16 'is deflected downward. The right single switch 25 of the distribution switch 22 is shown in such a way that the associated blank 15 is deflected downward, while the left single switch 26 forwards the associated blank. The two transport tracks 23, 24 deviate in height up and down by approximately the same amount from the conveying level of the conveyor 21, which is thus approximately in a central plane between the transport journeys 23, 24.

Immediately on the distribution switch 22 is an overlap station 31 approximately in the plane of the conveyor track 3, in which the blanks of each of the two adjacent streams of blanks can be laid on top of one another in a scale-like manner with suitable overlap units by suitable acceleration or deceleration. A corresponding overlap station 32, which is offset or below it transversely to the conveying plane 3, is also assigned to the transport path 24 and is expediently offset from the overlap station 31 in or against the conveying direction by at least one useful length or vertically above it. The overlapping station 32, which also has separate, adjacent overlapping units and is arranged parallel or horizontally to the overlapping station 31, is connected to the distribution switch 22 via an inclined intermediate transport path that overcomes the height difference. The blanks of the two adjacent material flows can be moved independently of one another on this transport route. Most of the intermediate transport section has a driven conveyor, this is expediently formed by individual conveyors which can be driven independently of one another and are located next to one another.

In the conveying direction immediately after each overlap station 31 or 32, a collection station 33 or 34 is provided, to which the overlapped blanks of each stream of blanks are transferred independently of one another and are stacked independently of one another in separate, edge-flush stacks, so that each collection station 33 or 34 has adjacent, separate and independently working collection units for the blanking streams.

Each overlap unit and the associated collection unit form at least one separately drivable and controllable individual transport track 27, 28 or 29, 30 of the associated transport track 23 or 24. Also useful are the transport sections that follow one another in the conveying direction and belong to the respective overlap unit and the subsequent collection unit formed by separately controllable or drivable individual conveyors. The adjacent individual conveyors of the overlap station 31 have separate drives 35, 36, while the adjacent individual conveyors of the collecting station 33 have separate drives 37, 38. Corresponding separate drives, not shown in detail, also have the individual conveyors of the overlap station 32 and the collecting station 34. The juxtaposed overlap units and / or the juxtaposed individual conveyors or their drives are expediently able to be coupled rigidly to one another via a clutch 39, so that they can also be driven exactly synchronously. In certain cases, this results in higher working accuracy. For example, the sorting device 1 or the sorting cutter of FIG. 2 can also be operated with one use, i.e. that there is no longitudinal cut, but the slitter 9 is out of operation, without the risk that the respective, wider cut to be moved by two adjacent individual conveyors will run into the overlap section at an angle due to inaccuracies in the running of these two individual conveyors.

A cross conveyor 40 or 41 connects directly to each collecting station 33 or 34 which the stack of blanks of the adjacent collection units can be transferred independently of one another by their single conveyor and then moved further or perpendicular to the direction of conveyance arrow 6, but parallel to the level of the conveyor track. The two superimposed cross conveyors 40, 41 of the two transport tracks 23, 24 convey in the same transverse direction, but are expediently offset from one another in the conveying direction arrow 6, as described with reference to the overlapping stations 31, 32 or the collecting stations 33, 34, expedient for achieving the Offset between an overlap station and the associated collecting station, a correspondingly lengthened intermediate section is provided. The upper cross conveyor 40 opens laterally adjacent to the transport track 24 or to the overlap station 32 in a lifting device 42, for example a scissor lift table, with which the associated stack of blanks can be lowered from the level of the cross conveyor 40 to the level of the cross conveyor 41. The lowered stacks are transferred via an intermediate conveyor 44 in the transverse conveying direction to a transport device 43, which feeds the stacks or sheet packs approximately further to the direction of conveyance arrow 6 for further processing. The transport device 43 is expediently located at the level of the collecting station 34 or of the cross conveyor 41, which transfers the stacks fed to it directly to the transport device 43 at a point which is offset in the conveying direction with respect to the transfer point by the intermediate conveyor 44.

According to the invention, separate, independently operating counting devices 45, 46 and 47, 48 are also provided for the cutting streams running side by side. A counter 45 or 46 is expediently provided for the cuts of each stream immediately after the sorting switch 17 in the region of the conveyor 21. Corresponding separate counting devices 47, 48 of a further counting system work before the overlapped blanks are deposited in the respective collecting station 33 or 34, so that a separate counting device is assigned to each collecting unit. Corresponding separate counting devices can also be provided in the area between the sorting switch 17 and the reject collector 20.

If, as shown in the drawing, there was an error in the left-hand web strand of the paper web 14, it is electronically processed after it has been recognized by the associated test unit 8 in such a way that the associated individual diverter 19 of the sorting diverter 17 as a function of the cut length Conveying speed and the distance of the test device 7 from the sorting switch 17 reversed so that the individual switch 19 is switched to the discharge position exactly when the blank 16 'having the error arrives and this blank 16' is fed to the reject stack. In this case, the other single switch 18 remains in its normal position, in which the associated blank is fed to the overlap and then to the collecting station.

For this reason, blanks arrive at different overlaps in the overlap units of the overlap station 31, which could impair the overlap process. In the case described, the left overlap section is therefore briefly shut down by means of a corresponding coupling of the drive 36 in order to compensate for the intermediate distance between successive blanks 16 which has been increased by the removal of the blank 16 '. Also, the two individual stacks of the respective collecting station 33 or 34 cannot reach their predetermined number of blanks, for example 500 pieces, at the same time, but only successively, by discharging individual blanks, so that they only reach the associated cross conveyor 40 or 41 in succession can be handed over. This is possible due to the separately driven individual conveyors of the collecting stations 33, 34.

If it is determined via a counting device 45 or 46 of the first counting system that the number of blanks determined for a stack has passed and is therefore fed to the associated collecting unit of the collecting station 33, then after the last blank has been passed through the associated individual switch 25 or 26 the Distribution switch 22 this individual switch changed so that the other blanks are deflected onto the transport path 24 and thus fed to the associated collecting unit of the further collecting station 34. In the meantime, the stack located above can be transferred from the collecting station 33 to the associated cross conveyor 40 and passed on to the transport device 43 via the lifting device 42. Since the blanks can therefore continue to run independently of one another in front of the distribution switch 22 or the overlap and collecting station on both sides of the web, while a stack is completely finished and released by the associated collecting unit, uninterrupted operation is ensured at a very high working speed. The device according to the invention is very safe in operation and can be manufactured in a simple manner and be designed to save space.

In the discharge path after the respective individual diverter 18 or 19 of the sorting diverter 17, a cut shredder can be provided for the discharged blanks, for example these Cuts are cut into strips as they pass through the associated individual switch or immediately after they leave, for example, so that misuse of discharged cuts is advantageously prevented. The component denoted by 20 can be a device for further comminution or destruction of these strips.

Claims (11)

1. Sorting apparatus (1) for flat blanks (15, 16, 16'), particularly paper sheets, with at least one conveyor for moving the blanks (15, 16, 16') in at least one conveying direction (6) and with at least one conveying diverter (17) for guiding the blanks (15, 16, 16') on continuous conveying paths in a continuous manner, characterized in that at least one conveyor (3) is provided for at least two blanks (15, 16, 16') in useful widths (4, 5) juxtaposed transversely to the conveying direction and that at least one conveying diverter (17) is constructed as a sorting gate through which the blanks (15, 16, 16') of at least two useful widths can be continuously transferred to different conveying paths with a reciprocal relative movement.

2. Sorting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one sorting gate (17) has at least two separate individual gates (18, 19) for in each case at least one useful width (4 or 5) and the individual gates (18, 19) are reversible independently of one another and that preferably blanks (16') can be discharged out of the conveyor (3) in a conveying direction (arrow 6) in the vicinity of one sorting gate (17).

3. Sorting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conveying diverter (17) is followed by a distributing gate (22) subdivided into independently reversible individual gates (25, 26) in essentially the same widths as the conveying diverter (17) and reversible on at least two separate, following conveying paths (23, 24) and that preferably the conveying paths (23, 24) are superimposed and have essentially the same conveying direction as the conveyor (3).

4. Sorting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying diverter (17), particularly the distributing gate (22) is followed by at least one blank collecting station (33 or 34), that preferably upstream of each collecting station (33 or 34), following the distributing gate (22) is provided a blank overlapping station (31 or 32) and that in particular the collecting station (33 or 34) is formed by the associated conveying path (23 or 24).

5. Sorting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one conveying path (23 or 24) following at least one split gate, particularly the distributing gate (22) is split corresponding to the division of this gate into separate individual conveying paths (27, 28 or 29, 30) forming extensions of the individual gates (18, 19 or 25, 26) and which can be operated independently of one another, preferably the blank overlapping station (31) and the associated blank collecting station (33 or 34) having in the conveying direction connected, separately operable individual conveying paths (27, 28 or 29, 30).

6. Sorting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that with at least one gate are associated separate blank counting devices (45, 46 or 47, 48) for at least two juxtaposed useful widths (4, 5), that in particular counting devices (45, 46 or 47, 48) are in each case associated with the sorting gate (17) and the distributing gate (22), that preferably the particular counting device (45, 46 or 47, 48) follows the associated gate (17, 22) and that in particular counting devices (47, 48) following the distributing gate (22) are provided directly upstream of the particular blank collecting station (33 or 34).

7. Sorting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there are at least two separate stack conveying paths (23, 24) connected to the conveyor (3) for the alternating removal of the stacks from associated collecting stations (33, 34), that in particular the stack conveying paths (23, 24) are recombined following the separate collecting stations (33, 34) and that preferably the stack conveying paths (23, 24) are connected to a common blank conveying means (43).

8. Sorting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one conveying path (23 or 24) connected to the conveyor (3) is connected to a blank transverse conveying means (40 or 41), that the conveying path (23 or 24) is connected in particular directly following an associated blank collecting station (33 or 34) and that preferably the transverse conveying means of the conveying paths (23, 24) separately connected to the conveyor (3) issue in reciprocally displaced manner into the blank conveying means (43) in the conveying direction thereof.

9. Sorting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two separate conveying paths (23, 24) connected to the conveyor (3) issue at roughly the same height into a common blank conveying means (43) and that preferably between the transverse conveying means (40) of a conveying path (23) and the conveying means (43) is provided a blank lifting device (42).

10. Sorting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two juxtaposed individual conveying paths (27, 28 or 29, 30) for the blanks can be coupled together in drive-fixed manner and/or that upstream of the conveying diverter (17) is provided a path transverse cutter (11) and upstream of the latter is preferably at least one path longitudinal cutter (9).

11. Sorting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is a testing device (7) with separate testing units (8) for at least two useful widths (4, 5), that the testing device (7) is in particular located upstream of a longitudinal cutter (9) and that preferably the individual gates (18, 19) of the sorting gate (17) are controlled by the testing units (8) and/or the individual gates (25, 26) of the distributing gate (22) by separate blank counting devices (45, 46) connected upstream of the distributing gate.

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