EP0465916B1 - Conveying device for stapled units - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a conveyor device according to the preamble of patent claim 1. It is used to convey, combine, or add further treatments to layer units or flat sheet layers which lie one or more times flush with one another as a layer stack.

In paper processing, a plurality of paper webs lying on top of one another are first of all divided with longitudinal cutters into several useful widths containing a format, then divided into individual sheet layers running side by side with a cross cutter, possibly further processed and finally stacked side by side to form stacks, which usually have a number of about 500 individual layers and are called Ries. This stack of layers lying side by side across the width of the paper webs can then be transported to the transfer station of a cross conveyor and transported to a packaging machine or the like.

For example, the stack of layers can be gripped with a tongs conveyor at the front end in the transport direction the lowerable lifting table is pulled, if necessary stacked up to larger overall stacks and then transported away. This makes it possible to work very quickly. However, it has been shown that the working speed of the paper processing machine to be supplied could be increased further, which is why there is a need for a corresponding increase in the capacity of such conveying devices.

FR-A-2 456 063 shows a conveyor device in which only one stack of layers is fed in each case transversely to the direction of transport, that is to say no longer used, and apart from a lifting and lowering movement, no further conveyance is provided which is transverse to the direction of transport.

DE-A-3 220 095 shows a single-use transport of layer stacks and a transversely directed removal from a single transfer station.

DE-C-2 010 153 shows a device in which film bags are stacked in a single-use feed on two consecutive cross conveyors.

DE-A-2 323 432 shows a device in which single-sheet sheets are stacked on two consecutive cross conveyors to form stacked sheets, but are fed to these cross conveyors single-use and only individually.

In the subject of DE-A-2 708 131, the layer stacks are removed in a staggered manner from a collecting station, and two transverse conveyors connect laterally to the deflection station provided for this purpose, so that two different conveyor systems acting transversely to one another are required in the deflection station.

The invention is furthermore based on the object of creating a conveyor device of the type mentioned, in which disadvantages of known designs are avoided and which, in particular, enables a further increase in the working speed and / or different further treatments of the transferred layer stack in a simple manner.

According to the invention, the training according to claim 1 is proposed. Means are also expediently provided in order to convey at least one layer unit of layer units possibly arriving next to one another past and beyond at least one associated transfer station, regardless of whether this transfer station is already occupied by one or more layer stacks or not. This transfer station, which is to be bypassed, will usually be the one that is reached first by the stack of layers in the direction of transport. This makes it possible to either place the respective stack of layers either in this transfer station using the same means for transport or for further use, for example to convey it to another transfer station and then there to file. It has been shown that the work cycle of a removal, especially if it is a stack of layers, cannot be increased as easily as the work cycle of the processing machine to be supplied and the transport, because if the transport speeds are too high there is a tendency that air flow or Like. Upper individual layers are lifted off or layers of layers become skewed due to accelerations that are too high. This disadvantage also arises when two transverse conveyors lead away from a longitudinal conveyor in such a way that the second transfer station in the direction of the longitudinal conveyor can only turn over with a stack of layers when the first transfer station is free; in this case, in the direction of the longitudinal conveyance, successive layer stacks are brought in pairs into the area of the cross conveyors and then transported away transversely.

In contrast, according to the invention, only the foremost stack or the frontmost individual stacks lying next to one another are always taken over from the transport and conveyed in the direction of the transfer station. In order to be able to dispense with complex constructions of conveyor devices, the transport does not drive the respective layer stack like a belt conveyor or the like by means of a movable track, but rather the drive is formed by means of separate funds from the possibly stationary track which are attached to the layer unit in the attack substantially above their height and preferably lie at least partially above the track.

In order to avoid having to cover the respective transfer station with the layer unit, or to have to cover the greatest bypass routes which are not significantly longer, the stack of layers is expediently moved over or through the respective transfer station. The feed can therefore perform a possibly reversing linear movement, which is preferably is rectilinear in one or both opposite directions, so that very simple training is possible. For this purpose, two or more transfer stations are expediently aligned one behind the other in the direction of delivery, so that the layer unit transported can be deposited in any of these transfer stations. The bypass unit does not need to be guided on a bypass arch neither in the vertical direction nor in the lateral direction.

The bypass is particularly simple if, in the direction of the transport, successive transfer stations are connected to one another via essentially straight, level and / or horizontal tracks for the layer units, or if the support of the respective transfer station is raised and raised by a control device during operation is lowerable, which is at least as large or several times larger than the height of the respective layer unit. As a result, the respective transfer station can form a height-adjustable storage shaft with a fixed top, which is easy to drive over.

A particularly advantageous development consists in that a walking bridge can be moved on or over the top of the respective transfer station or the layer unit lying in it, on which the layer unit which is to drive over this transfer station can run. This gangway can cover the transfer station completely or only partially or in a rust-like or lattice-like manner in the drive-over position, whereby it expediently connects essentially seamlessly to at least one of those limits of the transfer station which lie transversely to the direction of the transport. The gangway holds the underlying support or the underlying support Layer unit without contact with the layer unit running over it.

For the movement of at least one bridge part of the gangway between its drive-over position and a rest position releasing the transfer station, a direction of movement that is approximately parallel to the direction of the transport is preferable to a direction of movement that is approximately parallel to it. If the bridge part is extended from the side of the transfer station that was first reached by the layer unit in the direction of transport, it can be moved approximately in synchronization with the layer unit lying on it in the direction of the transport, so that the layer unit is treated very gently is. A bridge part can also be extended from the opposite side at the same time or before it is reached by the moving layer unit. As a result, the running bridge or at least one bridge part does not need to be driven over the entire associated extension of the transfer station, but rather only over a section which can be approximately the same size as or smaller than this entire extension.

In particular if successively adjacent transfer stations are at a relatively small distance from each other, e.g. only approximately in the order of magnitude of the associated extension of a transfer station or is smaller in comparison, the gangway or a bridge part can only be moved by moving either of these two transfer stations.

Is or are at least one to all transfer stations of a transport line designed as collecting stations for stacking successively transported layer units, at least one of which has a support, which can be raised and lowered independently of at least one other transfer station, numerous different ways of working are possible. For example, successive transfer stations can be approached alternately with location units.

Furthermore, individual layers can be stacked in higher transfer stacks of, for example, 2500 sheets or more in a transfer station closer to the start of the transport and / or a subsequent transfer station. In a transfer station, only a single layer unit can be deposited and then transported away, while in a further, in particular subsequent transfer station, layer units can be stacked on top of one another and only then removed.

It is also possible to alternately load different consecutive transfer stations. In any case, the time required to load another transfer station with at least one layer unit is available for the removal from a transfer station, despite continuing to work on the transfer. It has been shown that this means that the output of a processing machine, which is approximately every six seconds a row of layer units lying next to one another transversely to the direction of transport, which must be taken over at the beginning of the transport, can be handled without a separate buffer, since the conveyor itself alternates with the resting and transporting transfer stations forms such a memory. If this buffer were only formed by two supports that can be lifted and lowered one above the other in the area of the same transfer station, at least one further layer unit could be deposited above it during the removal of the lower stack, but the upper support would then have to be sealed over substantially the entire length layer unit secured by the gripper can be pulled out again, which can lead to shifts between the individual layers when stacked. Furthermore, such a training would usually be relatively complicated in structure and would cause difficulties in terms of support for large, multi-purpose spans. The changeover operations described would also be very difficult and there would be a greater overall height.

Instead of or in addition to the training described, the object can also be achieved in that means are provided with which the layer unit supplied in each case can be supported on the underside until it is exactly aligned with the transfer station or a layer unit already present in it. These means are expediently designed such that they are withdrawn again immediately after the transport of each individual layer unit and that several layer units are not stacked one on top of the other; In this respect, they are controlled essentially synchronously with the clock of the transport, provided that this transport is stored in the associated transfer station.

Instead of designing these support means in such a way that they support the layer unit to be taken over on the entire underside, an arrangement is preferably provided in which the layer unit is only supported at two opposite edge regions and in between, at least towards the end of the orientation relative to the transfer station. An edge region which is gripped by a conveyor tongs can be narrower than the opposite edge region, which is supported only on the underside, the width of which corresponds to approximately half of the associated layer extent or, on the other hand, can be smaller. The individual layers of the layer unit lying on top of each other are thereby in their flush position held securely, moved without contact over the support of the transfer station, after which by pulling back the support acting only on the underside of the layer unit, this associated edge area is first placed on the support. Only then is the gripping or tongs holder opened and pulled back in the opposite direction, so that this edge area is also deposited.

If the support, which acts only on the underside, is thin, plate-shaped and free of rollers, treadmills or the like in one piece over its thickness, it can have a thickness of only a few millimeters. In addition, it can be freely cantilevered in the supporting position on the top of the support or the uppermost layer unit without having to be supported in the lateral area up to its front end with respect to the furnishing frame. However, it can also be kept essentially contact-free by a gap distance from the support or the top of the layer unit already transferred.

The means for smoothly driving over a transfer station can form the means for slidingly supporting a subsequent transfer station and thus act alternately with one end as a running bridge and with the other end as a supporting bridge or upper shield for the deposited layer units.

According to the method according to the invention, layer units are optionally delivered in succession to separate transfer stations or removed separately from these. As a result, these work processes can be interlinked, for example in such a way that one transfer station is alternately loaded and removed from the other. The transport takes place in a transport level through the underside of the layer unit is defined during the transport. The transfer takes place in a support level which is defined by the underside of the layer unit after the transfer and is formed by the support level of the transfer station or the top side of a layer unit already lying on the support level. If the transfer station is not occupied, its support level can lie approximately in the transport level while being driven over with a layer unit; however, if this support level is formed by the conveyor belt of a cross conveyor, it is expediently slightly recessed so that it is not touched or is touched only insignificantly by the layer unit traveling over it. This also applies in the event that an already transferred layer unit is run over.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Fördereinrichtung an einer Verarbeitungsmaschine,

Fig. 2

die Fördereinrichtung im Längsschnitt,

Fig. 3

einen Teil der Fördereinrichtung im Horizontalschnitt und

Figuren 4 bis 6

weiteren Ausführungsformen der Fördereinrichtung in Draufsicht.

These and other features emerge from the claims and also from the description and the drawings, the individual features being realized individually or in groups in the form of sub-combinations in one embodiment of the invention and in other fields and being advantageous and protectable per se Can represent versions for which protection is claimed here. Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. The drawings show:

Fig. 1

a conveyor device according to the invention on a processing machine,

Fig. 2

the conveyor in longitudinal section,

Fig. 3

part of the conveyor in horizontal section and

Figures 4 to 6

further embodiments of the conveyor in plan view.

The conveyor device 1 is arranged at the end of a paper processing machine 2, which is supplied by paper rolls of a web feed 3 with superimposed paper webs. A slitter 4 of the processing machine 2 cuts the paper webs waste-free into format-containing longitudinal strips, which are then divided into partial stacks running side by side with a cross cutter 5. Further stations 6, e.g. The removal of faulty layers, the overlapping of layers running one behind the other and the stacking of partial layers to form layer units are carried out in the following. At the end of these stations, a number of layer units running side by side reach the output station of the processing machine, at which they are taken over by the conveyor device 1.

The transfer is carried out by an infeed 8, which expediently transfers all the adjacent layer units simultaneously and synchronously in continuation of the direction of movement of the processing machine 2 to transfer stations 9, 10 which are located one behind the other in this direction and each have a number of adjacent transfer points which correspond to the number of adjacent ones Layer units corresponds. The layer units are conveyed from the transfer stations 9, 10 independently of one another via removals 11, 12, for example to separate belt rolling or packaging devices. The layer units lying next to one another in the respective transfer stations 9 and 10 can all be removed together or individually or in groups of several in one or in opposite directions.

To take over the respective frontmost layer unit from the output station 7, a conveyor 13 is provided, which detects all the layer units lying next to one another in a cross-sectioned row at the same time and then conveys them towards the first transfer station 9, and not these layer units individually or in groups of several with independently movable individual conveyors takes over. The conveyor 13 has a guide located above the transfer stations 9, 10 and a drive 15 which e.g. Via a toothed belt drive, adjacent grippers for the layer units are moved back and forth in a straight line along the guide 14. All of the grippers 16, which are expediently pneumatically operated, can be arranged on a common base 17 which is expediently pivoted relative to a carriage mounted on the guide 14 about an axis approximately parallel to the conveying plane and approximately perpendicular to the conveying direction and above the gripper 16 . When moving in the conveying direction and possibly encountering a gripper 16 with too great resistance, the base 17 is released against the force of a latching overload protection and released pivoting about the pivot axis 18 against the conveying direction and upward; a contact actuated thereby stops the conveyor. The drive 15 is provided with a torque-dependent overload safety device which disengages when the grippers 16 encounter too great resistance during the movement against the conveying direction. The base 17, which is suspended in the pivot axis 18, can be supported with an underlying runner 19 formed by a roller or the like on a running rail, from which the base 19 lifts when the base 17 swings out.

At least in the area of each transfer station to which another transfer station is located in the direction of delivery follows, a moving bridge 20 or 21 can be moved, via which the conveyor 13 can convey the layer units taken over in such a way that either the associated transfer station 9 can be passed over or the associated transfer station 10 can be approached congruently.

The conveyor 1 has a frame 22 with two lateral cheeks 23, on the mutually facing inner sides of the carriage of the conveyor 13 and the runners 19 and the running bridges 20, 21 are guided. Each transfer station 9 or 10 is assigned at least one cross conveyor 24 or 25, which passes through one or both cheeks 23 and lies essentially below the common, approximately horizontal running plane of the running bridges 20, 21. The cross conveyors 24, 25 are supported by separate lifting devices 26, 27 which can be raised and lowered independently of one another on lifting guides 28, 29 which are located laterally on mutually opposite sides of the cross conveyors 24, 25. Each lifting device is associated with a separately controllable lifting drive 30 or 31, which can be formed by a mechanical or a pressure medium-operated drive and is likewise expediently not provided between the mutually facing sides of the lifting devices, but below them and / or on their sides facing away from one another .

Each transfer station 9, 10 or its cross conveyor 24 or 25 forms a supporting support 32, 33 for the layer units to be transferred. Each support is formed by the upper run of a separate conveyor belt 34, 35, which runs over a belt guide 36 or 37, which can be raised and lowered with the associated lifting device 26 or 27. Each conveyor belt is assigned a separate belt drive 38 or 39, which expediently drives on the side facing away from the adjacent belt guide 37 and lies on this side. Thereby can the two belt guides 36, 37 project freely from the respective guide and drive side transversely to the associated conveying direction, so that the conveyor belts 34, 35 can be easily pulled off and replaced from the area between the cross conveyors 24, 25.

The infeed 8 determines a conveying direction 40, and the outfeed 11, 12 formed by the transverse conveyors 24, 25 determines an outward conveying direction 41 lying at right angles to it and also approximately horizontally. Both or all transverse conveyors 24, 25 can about parallel to each other, but possibly at different levels. The removal takes place from the transfer stations through window-like passages 42, 43 of the cheeks 23, which can only be provided in one cheek or in both cheeks. Each transfer station can therefore be transported in at least two directions.

The bridge 20 of the transfer station 9 closer to or closest to the delivery station 7 is formed by two opposing bridge parts 44, 45, which can be moved against one another into a crossing position indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 2 such that they either mesh or mesh with one another abut against one another or lie approximately equally freely above at a relatively small distance from one another. Each transfer station 9 or 10 is shaft-like delimited on its sides lying transversely to the direction 40 by approximately vertical boundaries 46, 47 or 48, 49, the clear distance of which corresponds to the format of the layer units. At least one, in particular the second limit 47 or 49 in each case in the direction 40, can be adjusted with an adjusting device 50 or 51, for example in the direction 40, to different formats, the two limits 47, 49 being adjustable synchronously via a common actuator could be. Both or all cross conveyors, boundaries and / or gangways can also be provided on a carrier which can be adjusted approximately in the direction 40 relative to the frame 22 or the passages 42, 43 and the conveyor 13.

Each bridge part 44, 45 is adjustable and fixable with a separate actuating device 52, 53 back and forth, for example in the direction 40, via a control device. The bridge part 44 has a fixed part that extends approximately to the dispensing station 7 and a part that is adjustable with the actuating device 52, which in the starting position is approximately flush with the boundary 46 and lies directly on the top thereof. From this starting position, this part of the bridge part 44 can be slid in the direction 40 without contact over a part of the width of the support 32. For this purpose, the displaceable part is arranged on an underlying carriage 54, which is formed by a crossbeam on the outside of the boundary 46 and which is guided on the inside of the cheeks 23 in guides 55 and with drives 56, e.g. Working cylinders, controlled is slidable. A corresponding carriage 57 or crossbeam lying below the whole of the displaceable bridge part 45 is at approximately the same height guides 58 with drives 59, independently of the bridge part 44, displaceably mounted in and against direction 40 and also firmly connected to the associated bridge part 45. This carriage 57 lies in the gap between the boundaries 47, 48 and on the underside of the bridge part 45. The guide of the actuating device 50 can be located directly below it.

Each bridge part 44 or 45, which at the same time has a track between the dispensing station 7 and the transfer station 9 or between the two consecutive transfer stations 9, 10 aligned in the direction 40, has groove-shaped gaps 43, 44 extending in the direction of the arrow 40 for the lower gripper arms of the grippers 16. The conveyor 13 has at least one number of grippers 16 corresponding to the number of adjacent layer units, which can be controlled simultaneously via a common drive. The gripping surface of each lower gripping arm lies approximately in the transport plane defined by the top of the raceways, so that the gripping arm engages at least partially in the associated running gap 63 or 64. For this purpose, the respective bridge part 44, 45 is formed by plate-shaped guide fingers 60, 61 which are adjacent to one another at a gap distance and which can be transversely adjusted and fixed in relation to the associated carriage 54, 57. In the case of the bridge part 44, a guide finger 60 is each telescopically displaceably mounted in the underside of a cover plate 62 which is fixed to the frame and which in turn is supported transversely adjustable and fixable on a cross strut connecting the cheeks 23 and adjacent to the boundary 46. The guide fingers 60, which are narrower than the cover plates 62, can be widened towards their free ends. A separate bridge part or guide finger and / or a separate cover plate is thus provided for each transfer point of each transfer station.

For each transfer station 9, 10, in particular for the last transfer station in the direction 40, at least one plate-shaped support arm 65 is expediently provided, which can be moved in the direction 40 over the associated support 33 such that it is spaced at least over part of its width spreads. The respective layer unit can be supported on this support arm 65 at its end opposite the gripper 16 until it is opposite by the conveyor 13 the support 33 is aligned, after which the support arm 65 is withdrawn again over the boundary 47 or 48, so that the layer unit can sink onto the support 33 or a layer unit already located thereon. The support arm 65 is formed by the end of the bridge part 45 facing away from the transfer station 9 or rigidly connected to it during operation, so that it is formed by support fingers according to the guide fingers 61, between which the gaps 64 lie. In a displacement position, the bridge part 45 is thus to form the running bridge 20 in the area of the transfer station 9 and in the other position to form the support arm 65 in the area of the transfer station 10. The guide fingers 60 can form a corresponding support arm in the area of the transfer station 9.

The conveyor is advantageously operated according to the following procedure:
The layer units possibly collected from partial layers at the delivery station 7 are simultaneously gripped in a transverse row by the conveyor 13 at their front transverse edges and pulled in a straight line in the direction 40, while the walking bridge 20 is in the closed position indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 2. As a result, the layer units can be moved through the delivery area of the transfer station 9 in one go without delay or stopping. So that the rear edge region of the drawn layer units smoothly overcomes the gap between the bridge parts 44, 45, the top of the bridge part 45 slopes down like a ramp at the associated end.

As soon as the rear transverse edge of the layer units has reached a distance from the free end of the support arm 65, which is approximately whose displacement distance corresponds to the support position, the bridge part 45 is moved in the direction 40 via the actuating device 53. As a result, there is no longer any relative movement between the layer units and the support arm 65 until the layer units are aligned and completely contact-free over the support 33 which has been raised to immediately below the support arm 65. The support arm 65 is then retracted in the opposite direction 40 until it is flush with the boundary 48, so that the associated rear edge region of the layer unit falls onto the support 33, while the front edge region is kept slightly higher by the fixed gripper 16. Immediately afterwards, the gripper 16 opens, travels roughly the length of its tongs arms in the direction 40 and thereby also releases the front edge region of the layer units to sink onto the support 33. The support 33 is lowered to such an extent that the top of the deposited layer unit lies lower than the deepest running level of the conveyor 13, so that it can run back against the direction 40 over the layer unit and can fetch a further transverse row of layer units at the output station 7 in the manner described . Due to the retraction movement of the support arm 65, the bridge part 45 has been moved back into its bridge position.

It is assumed that at each transfer point of the transfer station 10 several, for example five, layer units are stacked on top of one another and are then only to be transported away as a large stack. Four further transport cycles are therefore carried out in the manner described, with the support arm 65 now each passing over the uppermost partial layer already deposited. Due to the retraction movement of the support arm 65, the bridge part 45 is brought back into its drive-over position for the transfer station 9 each time. Now the relatively high large stacks should be stacked Layer stacks of a transverse row are transported away, they are conveyed transversely out of the frame 22 and through the associated passage 43 after or simultaneously with the lowering for the return of the conveyor 13 by starting the belt drive 39 in one of the two directions 41. During the time required for this removal and until the transfer station 10 is emptied, the conveyor 13 can fetch at least one further transverse row of layer units in the manner described and deposit them in the transfer station 9.

Here, the bridge parts 44, 45 are pulled back approximately to the level with the boundaries 46, 47 and the support 32 is moved directly below the running plane or the underside of the bridge part 54 or the guide finger 60. During the transfer, these can work in approximately the same way as support fingers, as described with reference to the support arm 65, and the work of the gripper 16 can also take place accordingly. After lowering the support 32 accordingly, the gripper 16, whose base 17 or carriage does not have to make any vertical movements, returns to the delivery station 7 and fetches the next, foremost transverse row of layer units. The bridge 20 is closed in the meantime, and in the transfer station 10 a large stack can be stacked again in the manner described, while the removal from the transfer station 9 now takes place in one of the directions 41, so that it is free again when a transfer cycle for the Transfer station 10 is finished.

According to FIG. 3, each removal 11 or 12 is guided out of both sides of the frame 22 and can be driven in both opposite directions 41. This means that each removal 11 or 12 can be conveyed to two separate, further processing machines or the like, for example packaging devices, that can stand on both sides of the frame 22 or the T-type conveying device 1. Even with a conveyor with only one transfer station, it may be useful to divide at least one cross conveyor 24 or 25 between two adjacent transfer points, e.g. approximately in the middle of the length of a row of layer units, so that a partial conveyor then in one direction and the other partial conveyor is transported in the opposite direction 41 and, at the same conveying speed, a correspondingly shorter time is required until the transfer station is completely emptied. In the embodiment according to the invention, the layer units of the respective transverse row do not need to be pulled apart from one another until they are transported away, but can remain in direct connection from the delivery station 7 until they are transported away. After or during removal, they can then be spaced apart, for example by appropriate acceleration.

While each cross conveyor 24 or 25 can be transported to both sides in the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the conveying device 1 a according to FIG. 4 has all removals in one direction only, which is why the cross conveyors 24 a, 25 a are only led out on one side . Cross conveyors located in close proximity and one behind the other can be spaced apart outside the conveyor device 1a, for which purpose e.g. a cross conveyor 25a connects to a running track 66 for the layer units.

The conveyor device 1b according to FIG. 5 has a cross conveyor 24b which is led out only in one direction and a cross conveyor 25b which is led out only in the opposite direction. 6, the cross conveyor 24c is only on one side and the cross conveyor 25c led out on both sides. Conversely, the cross conveyor 24c could also be led out on both sides and the cross conveyor 25c only on one side. The exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 3 to 6 can also be combined with one another as desired, if necessary in the case of more than two successive transfer stations.

Claims (15)

1. Conveyor means for layer stacks of paper or the like formed from sheet layers, having at least one support (32, 33) and stations associated with a running path, namely a discharge station (7) for layer stacks and a first transfer station (9) for taking over the layer stacks from the discharge station (7) and in which there is a supply conveyor (8) conveying the layer stacks from the discharge station (7) to a first transfer station (9) in a conveying in direction (40) and a first discharge conveyor (11) conveying away the layer stacks from the first transfer station (9) transversely to the conveying in direction (40)in a first conveying away direction (41) and in addition the discharge station (7) is constructed for receiving several juxtaposed rows of layer stacks positioned transversely to the conveying in direction (40), as well as the supply conveyor (8) being constructed for conveying each of the layer stacks of a stack row and in which in the conveying in direction (40) following the first transfer station (9) there is at least one second transfer station (10) for taking over layer stacks from the discharge station (7) and with the latter is associated a second discharge conveyor (12) conveying on the layer stacks from the second transfer station (10) transversely to the conveying in direction (40) in a second conveying away direction (41), characterized in that the supply conveyor (8) is constructed for the selective transfer of the particular layer stack of one stack row to the second and first transfer station (10, 9) and that the discharge conveyors (11, 12) are provided with drives (38, 39) for the independent conveying on of the layer stacks from the associated transfer station (9, 10) in at least one of the particular associated conveying away directions (41).
2. Conveyor means according to claim 1, characterized in that the supply conveyor (8) has a conveyor (13) movable backwards and forwards between the discharge station (7) and the transfer stations (9, 10), that in particular the supply conveyor (8) has a trolley movable on guides (14) carrying several grippers (16) for gripping and securing the layer stacks in the furthest forward stack row and constructed substantially over the height thereof, that preferably the supply conveyor (8) is constructed for gripping round or lowering the layer stacks on the particular discharge conveyor (11, 12) and/or that the discharge station (7) is formed by a paper processing machine (2) for producing layer stacks, that in particular the discharge station (7) is constructed as a multiple collecting station for collecting successive sheet layers to form layer stacks and that preferably upstream of the discharge station (7) is provided a device for stacking the sheet layers to form layers stacks or the particular transfer station is constructed as a stacking station for the sheet layers.
3. Conveyor means according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that upstream of the discharge station (7) is provided at least one paper roll for the web supply of an at least single-layer paper web, that in particular upstream of the discharge station (7) is connected at least one longitudinal cutter (4) as a device for splitting the paper web into longitudinal strips, that preferably upstream of the discharge station (7) is provided a transverse cutter (5) as a device for splitting the longitudinal strips into juxtaposed partial stacks and/or that upstream of the discharge station (7) is provided an ejector for faulty sheet layers, that in particular upstream of the discharge station (7) is provided a device for the overlapping of succeeding sheet layers and that preferably the discharge station (7) is located at the end of the paper processing machine having the devices to pass through the same.
4. Conveyor means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that without a separate intermediate storage means there is simultaneously a stacking up to form layer stacks and a conveying away of further layer stacks, that in particular the discharge conveyor (11, 12) is constituted by at least one conveyor (24, 25) for conveying juxtaposed layer stacks to at least one device further processing the same, such as a revenue stamp application or packing device, that preferably at least one discharge conveyor (11, 12) has a conveying away direction (41) at right angles to the conveying in direction (40) and/or that a fixed part (44) of the travel path (20, 21) extends approximately up to the discharge station (7), that in particular the travel path (20, 21) constructed for sliding conveying is connected substantially uninterruptedly to the boundary of the particular transfer station (9, 10) positioned tranversely to the conveying away direction (41) and that preferably in each case successive transfer stations (9, 10) are interconnected by means of a substantially planar, horizontal or linear travel path for the layer stacks.
5. Conveyor means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is at least one loading bridge (20, 21) for the layer stacks approximately parallel to the layer plane or the conveying in direction (40), that in particular at least one bridge part (44) of at least one bridge (20, 21) is substantially dimensionally stable, that preferably the supply conveyor (8) for the flush-secured gripping of the layer stacks has a number of grippers (16) at least corresponding to the number thereof and/or that the grippers (60) for gripping the layer stacks are selectively movable in the vicinity of at least two successive transfer stations (8, 9), that in particular means are provided for conveying at least one layer stack past the first transfer station (9) and for the conveying away of said layer stack substantially independently of said transfer station (9) and that preferably simultaneously with the conveying away from and up to the emptying of the associated transfer station (10) with the supply conveyor (8) at least one following layer stack can be transferred from the discharge station (7) into one of the transfer stations (9).
6. Conveyor means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply conveyor (8) conveys the particular layer stack in height or lateral direction free from bypass bends, that in particular the supply conveyor (8) has by means of a reversing conveying movement devices free from height movement (16) for engaging the base (17) carrying the layer stacks, that preferably the base (17) is mounted in suspended manner on a guide (14) positioned above the transfer station (9, 10) and/or that the transfer stations (9, 10) have in each case a number of transfer points corresponding to the number of layer stacks of the particular stack row, that in particular the bearing plane of the transfer station (9,10) is located in slightly countersunk manner in the conveying plane of the supply conveyor (8) or facing the same and that preferably in each case successive transfer stations (9, 10) have a reciprocal spacing which is off the same order of magnitude as the associated extension of a transfer station.
7. Conveyor means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (32, 33) of the particular transfer station (9, 10) provided for the particular layer stack is at least partly formed by a belt conveyor, that in particular the discharge conveyors (11, 12) form conveyors operable independently of one another, that preferably the layer stacks of the particular stack row are held directly connected with one another at least up to the transfer to the discharge conveyor (11, 12) and/or that with the particular discharge conveyor (11, 12) the layer stacks of a stack row can, as desired, be conveyed away individually, in groups or jointly, that in particular the discharge conveyor (11, 12) only passes to one side of the transfer station (9, 10) and that preferably two discharge conveyors (11, 12) only pass to one side from the transfer stations (9, 10).
8. Conveyor means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the layer stacks of the particular stack row can be brought to a reciprocal spacing by acceleration during the conveying away, that in particular in the vicinity of the transfer stations (9, 10) closely juxtaposed discharge conveyors (11, 12) are moved apart to reciprocal spacing with a running arc (66) or the like, that preferably means for adjusting to different sizes are provided and/or that adjusting means are provided in the conveying in direction (40), that in particular for adjusting the conveyor device (1) is provided at least one control device (50, 51) or a synchronous connection for two transfer stations (9, 10) and that preferably at least two discharge conveyors (11, 12) with associated parts of the running path are located on a carrier adjustable relative to a device frame (22).
9. Conveyor means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two discharge conveyors (11, 12) are arranged in succession in the conveying in direction (40), that upstream or downstream of the particular discharge conveyor (11, 12) is provided a substantially dimensionally stable, thin or plate-like part (60, 61, 62, 65) of the running path (20, 21) running approximately parallel to the layer plane, that preferably the particulars discharge conveyor (11, 12), its support (32, 33) for the layer stacks or its conveyor is mounted on one side in cross-section and drive-connected to one of the conveying drives (38, 39) and freely projects to the other side and/or the particular discharge conveyor (11, 12), its support (32, 33) for the layer stacks or its conveyors projects freely against an oppositely freely projecting, adjacent discharge conveyor (12, 11) for forming a replacement area for conveyor belts (34, 35) between the same, that in particular there is from at least one transfer station (9, 10) a conveying away in two opposite directions or the particular discharge conveyor (11, 12) passes away in T-like manner from the supply conveyor (8) in opposite directions and that preferably at least one discharge conveyor (11, 12) is split between two adjacent transfer points for forming separately conveying partial conveyors, that at least one discharge conveyor (11, 12) is split roughly in the centre of a transfer station (9, 10) and/or that the split discharge conveyor (11, 12) has associated with it the direct take over of the particular layer stack from the supply conveyor (8).
10. Conveyor means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply conveyor (8) has at least one conveying device (16) for the drawing engagement in the vicinity of the leading edges of the layer stack, that in particular the supply conveyor (8) as conveying means (16) has conveyor tongs for engagement on the particular layer stack, that preferably the supply conveyor (8) for supporting the particular layer stack has a conveying device (16) supporting at least the underside thereof and/or that the particular conveying device (16) is overload-secured in its movement direction, that in particular means are provided for the passing through or over at least one transfer station (9) with a layer stack substantially independently of the loading state of said station (9) and that preferably the supply conveyor (8) can be returned to the discharge station (7) also with transfer stations (9, 10) occupied by at least one layer stack in the vicinity of its return path.
11. Conveyor means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that adjacent transfer stations (9, 10) are located at a smaller spacing from one another compared with the associated layer stack extension, that in particular a frame is provided with successive passages (42, 43) for separate discharge conveyors (11, 12) in the conveying in direction (40), that preferably on at least one frame side in the vicinity of a frame plate (23) there are two successive passages (42, 43) for the discharge conveyors (11, 12) and/or that the particular discharge conveyor (11, 12) is provided as a stacking point for layer stacks to be successively stacked, that in particular the support (32, 33) of the particular transfer station (9, 10) provided for the layer stacks in cross-section is only raisably and lowerably mounted on one side and that preferably the support (32, 33) of the particular transfer station (9, 10) provided for the layer stacks is raisable and lowerable independently of at least one further support (33, 32).
12. Conveyor means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two facing parts (44, 45) of the running path (20, 21) project freely in opposition and mesh in one another or abut against one another, that in particular in transfer operation two oppositely projecting running path parts are rigidly interconnected and/or that at least one part (44, 45) of the running path (20, 21) is adjustable and fixable with a separate control device, that in particular at least one bridge part (44) of at least one running bridge (20, 21) associated with the running path and for the layer stacks forms in at least one position part of the running path (20, 21) for the layer stacks upstream of the associated transfer station (9) and that preferably at least one bridge part (45) of at least one running bridge (20) for the layer stacks in at least one position follows an associated transfer station (9) or forms part of the running path for the layer stacks upstream of the following transfer station (10).
13. Conveyor means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one part (44, 45) of the running path forming the running path between the discharge station (7) and an adjacent discharge conveyor (11) is mounted displaceably in opposite directions independently of at least one further running path part (45, 44), that in particular at least one running path part (44, 45) forming the running path between adjacent discharge conveyors (11, 12) is displaceably mounted on guides in opposite directions independently of at least one further running path part (45, 44), that preferably from part of the running path (20, 21) upstream of a transfer station (9) can be telescopically extended a bridge part (44) and/or that for at least one transfer station (9, 10) means are provided for supporting a further layer stack in substantially contact-free supporting manner with respect to the layer stack deposited therein during the conveying in and up to the substantially congruent orientation with the deposited layer stack and for the superimposing of the layer stacks by drawing out the support, that in particular means are provided for the substantially contact-free support with respect to a further layer stack for at least one transfer station (10) by means for conveying the layer stack over and beyond a transfer station (9) upstream in the conveying in direction (40) and that preferably at least one bridge part (45) of at least one running bridge (20) for the layer stacks can be moved over the supports (32, 33) of two adjacent transfer stations (9, 10).
14. Conveyor means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is at least one running bridge (20, 21) movable at least partly over the support (32, 33) of at least one transfer station (9, 10) into an overtravel position for layer stacks, that in particular at least one bridge part (44) of at least one running bridge (20) for the layer stacks can be moved roughly in the conveying in direction (40) for passing into an overtravel position, that preferably at least one running bridge (20, 21) for the layer stacks movable backwards and forwards approximately parallel to the layer plane or the conveying in direction (40) is provided and/or that at least one bridge part (45) of at least one running bridge (20) for the layer stacks is movable approximately in opposition to the conveying in direction (40) for transfer into an overtravel position, that in particular at least one bridge part (45) of at least one running bridge (20) for the layer stacks is movable with two bridge ends selectively over the supports (32, 33) of two adjacent transfer stations (9, 10) and that preferably a movable bridge part (45) of the running path located between two adjacent transfer stations (9, 10) in each end position projects over a transfer station (9 or 10) and frees the other.
15. Conveyor means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two facing bridge parts (44, 45) of at least one running bridge (20) for the layer stacks are movable in opposition to project freely over the support (32) of an overtravellable transfer station (9), that in particular for at least one transfer station (9, 10) the means for supporting a layer stack have a support arm (65) movable in substantially freely projecting manner over the support (32, 33) of the particular transfer station (9, 10) in the conveying in direction (40), that preferably a support arm (65) for supporting the layer stack in the vicinity of the transfer station (9,10) is movable substantially synchronously with the supply conveyor (8) over the support (33) and/or that a support arm (65) for supporting the layer stack in the vicinity of the transfer station (9, 10) prior to the release of the layer stack by the supply conveyor (8) can be retracted substantially out of an area over a support (33) for the layer stack, that in particular the running surface of at least one running bridge (20, 21) for the layer stacks has at least one running gap (63, 64) for the engagement of a conveying device (16) of the supply conveyor (8) and that preferably the running surface of at least one running bridge (20, 21) for the layer stacks has at least one running gap (63, 64) for the engagement of a lower tong jaw of a conveying device (16), which is constructed as a gripper engaging in drawing manner on the leading edges of the layer stack.

Images