EP0497002B1 - Device for forming a gap in a stream of overlapping articles - Google Patents

Device for forming a gap in a stream of overlapping articles Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0497002B1
EP0497002B1 EP91122241A EP91122241A EP0497002B1 EP 0497002 B1 EP0497002 B1 EP 0497002B1 EP 91122241 A EP91122241 A EP 91122241A EP 91122241 A EP91122241 A EP 91122241A EP 0497002 B1 EP0497002 B1 EP 0497002B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
conveyor
speed
gap
belt
driven
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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EP91122241A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0497002A1 (en
Inventor
Konrad Auf Der Mauer
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Ferag AG
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Ferag AG
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/58—Article switches or diverters
    • B65H29/60—Article switches or diverters diverting the stream into alternative paths
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/66—Advancing articles in overlapping streams
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H33/00—Forming counted batches in delivery pile or stream of articles
    • B65H33/12—Forming counted batches in delivery pile or stream of articles by creating gaps in the stream

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for forming a gap in a shingled stream of flat products, in particular printed products, according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • a generic device for forming a gap in a scale flow of flat products is known from DE-B-28 52 603 and the corresponding GB-A-2 037 714.
  • a gap-forming device is connected between a first and a second conveyor. This has a belt conveyor in order to feed the shingled stream supplied by means of the first conveyor to the second conveyor.
  • a conveyor chain runs around the belt conveyor, one strand length of which is provided with blind-like strips.
  • the belt conveyor is driven at the same speed as the first and second conveyors and the blind-like strips are located outside the conveyor belt's effective conveyor belt.
  • the conveyor chain is driven at the same rotational speed as the first conveyor, so that the products fed by it come to rest on the strips and the belt conveyor is put together accelerated with the second conveyor in order to separate the products lying on them from the products supplied and to form a gap.
  • the belt conveyor and the second conveyor are braked again to the speed of the first conveyor and the conveyor chain.
  • the products lying on the blind-like slats are fed to the second conveyor at unchanged speed and the conveyor chain continues to be driven until the slats are no longer in the area of the conveyor belt.
  • the products following the strips are fed to the second conveyor at unchanged speed by means of the belt conveyor.
  • a device for chopping a stream of shingles into sections of the same length, while avoiding changing the overlap of the products lying one on top of the other, is known from CH-PS 660 353 and the corresponding US Pat. No. 4,585,227.
  • This has a first conveyor, which is driven at a constant speed and is in the form of a belt conveyor, and a second conveyor which is connected immediately downstream and is also in the form of a belt conveyor and whose length corresponds at least to the length of a section.
  • an acceleration conveyor is provided, the endless revolving chain of which is provided with a rubber strip in a section which corresponds approximately to the length of its conveyor-effective strand.
  • the rubber strip protrudes above the first conveyor, whereas the chain runs below this conveyor.
  • the accelerator and the second conveyors are connected to a drive which drives them intermittently at a first speed corresponding to the speed of the first conveyor or at a second speed which is greater than this.
  • the acceleration conveyor and the second conveyor are driven at the first speed until the entire rubber strip is in the area of the conveyor-effective strand.
  • the products fed by the first conveyor are transferred to the second conveyor at an unchanged speed and are conveyed away by the latter.
  • the chain of the acceleration conveyor and the second conveyor are then accelerated to the second speed, as a result of which the products lying on the rubber bar and the products lying on the second conveyor are also accelerated and the products lying on the rubber bar are fed to the second conveyor without changing the overlap.
  • a gap is formed between the last product lying on the rubber strip in the conveying direction and the next product seen in the conveying direction.
  • the speed of the acceleration conveyor and of the second conveyor is then reduced again to the first speed before the now first product transported by means of the first conveyor reaches the end of the first conveyor.
  • This device is intended for chopping a stream of flakes and is not suitable for forming gaps anywhere in a stream of flakes.
  • DE-OS 38 31 742 Another device for forming a gap in a shingled stream is disclosed in DE-OS 38 31 742. This has two driven at the same speed, in belt conveyors offset and overlapping in height. The products fed by the first belt conveyor fall onto the second belt conveyor to form a new scale formation for further transport.
  • the gap-forming device has between the laterally spaced conveyor belts of the second belt conveyor, with perforated belt which can be driven at a lower speed with respect to the belt conveyors and which is guided over a suction trough and has passages in sections.
  • the perforated belt is driven so that the products falling on the section with the passages are held on the perforated belt and transported along with the subsequent products falling at a lower speed, whereas the leading products are formed by the second conveyor to form a gap with unchanged Speed are carried away.
  • the overlap of the products during the formation of the new scale formation is thus increased during the formation of gaps.
  • all products are conveyed again at the same speed.
  • the processing station downstream of the device has to be operated at a higher working speed during the gap formation.
  • the increase in the overlap of the products in an end section of the preceding, separated section of the shingled stream does not usually have to be brought back to the original size, since most downstream processing stations can also process shingled streams with a smaller distance between the leading edges or at least a certain tolerance thereof Allow distance.
  • This property of processing stations is exploited even more by increasing the mutual overlap of the products in the beginning area of the shed section following a gap.
  • the length of the gap formation device can be considerably shortened or the increase in the overlap of successive products can be reduced, and this with the same length of the gap to be formed.
  • the device shown in FIGS. 1-3 has a first conveyor 10 for supplying a shingled stream S, a gap formation device 12 connected downstream thereof for forming a gap in the shingled stream S and for feeding the shingled stream S to a downstream second conveyor 14.
  • first and second conveyors 10, 14 which are configured as belt conveyors in a generally known manner, only the end or beginning area is shown in FIG. 1, viewed in the conveying direction F.
  • the three belts 16 of the first conveyor 10 which run next to one another and parallel to one another are guided at the end which is effective for conveying around rollers 20 which are non-rotatably seated on a shaft 18, and the shaft 18 is freely rotatably mounted on a frame 22 designed in the manner of a bearing plate.
  • the three adjacent belts 16 'of the second conveyor 14, at the beginning of which, on a shaft 18', which is also freely rotatably mounted on the frame 22, are rotatably seated rollers 20 '.
  • the gap-forming device 12 downstream of the first conveyor 10 and upstream of the second conveyor 14 has a belt conveyor 24 with two conveyor belts 26 running parallel to one another and laterally spaced apart.
  • An endless conveyor belt 28 of an acceleration conveyor 30 runs between these conveyor belts 26.
  • the conveyor belts 26 are guided around deflection rollers 32 and 32 'and the conveyor belt 28 is guided around a deflection roller 34 and 34'.
  • the deflecting rollers 32 and 34 or 32 'and 34' each sit on a shaft 36 or 36 '. These shafts 36, 36 'are connected to one another by means of tabs 38 which are designed like end shields and extend laterally outside the conveyor belts 26 connected.
  • the shaft 36 as seen in the conveying direction F, at the entrance of the gap-forming device 12 is freely rotatably mounted on the frame 22, so that the gap-forming device 12 can be pivoted back and forth between an upper and a lower end position.
  • the drive for this pivoting movement takes place via piston-cylinder arrangements 40, which are only indicated schematically in FIG. 1.
  • the gap-forming device 12 In the upper end position, the gap-forming device 12 carries the scale flow S to an upper second conveyor 14 and in its lower end position to one in FIGS. 4-11 14 'designated lower second conveyor.
  • the gap formation device 12 thus also serves as a switch.
  • the conveyor belt 28 of the acceleration conveyor 30 has passages 42 in a section which corresponds approximately to the length of the conveyor-effective strand, ie approximately the length of its effective area, which are only indicated in the figures.
  • the conveyor-effective strand 28 'of the conveyor belt 28 slides over a suction trough 44 which extends essentially between the deflection rollers 34 and 34' and which can be connected via a suction line 46 to a vacuum source, not shown. Seen in a direction parallel to the conveying plane of the belt conveyor 24 and at right angles to the conveying direction F, it is only necessary to provide passages 42 in the area of the suction trough 44. As shown particularly well in FIG.
  • the deflection rollers 34, 34 'around which the conveyor belt 28 is guided are slightly smaller in diameter than the deflection rollers 32, 32' for the conveyor belts 26.
  • the conveyor 28 'of the conveyor belt 28, which is effective for conveying, is located thus slightly below the conveyor level defined by the conveyor belts 26. This has the consequence that if there are no passages 42 in the region of the Suction troughs 44 are located, or there is no negative pressure in the suction trough 44, the flat products 48 of the shingled stream S lying on the conveyor belts 26 with their lateral end regions not touching the conveyor belt 28 due to their inherent rigidity, as indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 3, or only rest on it with a small part of their weight.
  • a speed difference between the conveyor belts 26 and the conveyor belt 28 thus does not influence the products 48 transported by the conveyor belts 26.
  • the latter are indicated schematically in FIG. 1 Profiling 50 provided.
  • the deflection rollers 32 are wedged on the shaft 36 in a rotationally fixed manner, whereas the deflection roller 34 provided between them is freely rotatably mounted on this shaft 36. Conversely, the roller 34 'is keyed non-rotatably on the shaft 36', whereas the lateral deflecting rollers 32 'are freely rotatably mounted on this shaft 36'.
  • the conveyor belts 26 are thus driven by rotating the shaft 36 and the conveyor belt 28 is driven by rotating the shaft 36 '.
  • the first conveyor 10 For the transport of the shingled stream S without the formation of a gap, the first conveyor 10, the conveyor belts 26 of the belt conveyor 24 and the second conveyor 14 are driven v1 at the same speed.
  • the acceleration conveyor 30 is stopped. If, on the other hand, a gap is to be formed in the shingled stream S, the first and second conveyors 10, 14 are driven further at unchanged first speed v 1, whereas the conveyor belt 28 the accelerator 30 is now driven at a second speed v2, which is greater than the first speed v1, and the two conveyor belts 26 are driven at a third speed v3, which is less than the first speed v1. Due to the difference between the second and third speeds v2, v3, a gap is formed in the shingled stream S. As soon as seen in the direction of conveyance F the first product 48 following the gap has reached the end of the gap-forming device 12 and has been transferred to the second conveyor 14, the conveyor belt 28 is shut down again and the conveyor belts 26 are driven again at the first speed v 1.
  • weight rollers 52, 52 ' which cooperate with the conveyor belts 26 of the belt conveyor 24 or with the belts 16' are provided, as is shown schematically in FIGS. 4-11.
  • a drive motor 54 is operatively connected via a schematically indicated first chain drive 56 to a drive shaft 58 rotatably mounted on the frame 22. This is coupled via a second chain drive 60, also only schematically indicated in FIG. 1, to the shaft 18 for driving the belts 16 of the first conveyor 10 and via a two-part third chain drive 62 to an intermediate shaft 64.
  • the intermediate shaft 64 is mounted on the tabs 38 between the shafts 36 and 36 '.
  • the two chains 62 'of the third chain drives 62 are guided around sprockets that are non-rotatably seated on a common sleeve 66, the sleeve 66 being freely rotatable on the shaft 36.
  • This shaft 36 is operatively connected via a fourth chain drive designated 68 to one part of a first clutch 70, the other part of which is seated on the intermediate shaft 64 in a rotationally fixed manner.
  • the first clutch 70 is activated, the shaft 36 is driven by the drive motor 54 via the drive shaft 58, the third chain drive 62, the intermediate shaft 64 and the fourth chain drive 68.
  • the translations are chosen so that the conveyor belts 26 driven by the shaft 36 rotate at the first speed v 1, at which the belts 16 of the first conveyor 10 are also driven.
  • One part of a second clutch 72 sits on the intermediate shaft 64 in a rotationally fixed manner.
  • the shaft 36 ′ is thus not driven, as a result of which the conveyor belt 28 of the acceleration conveyor 30 is stopped.
  • this second clutch 72 is activated, the conveyor belt 28 is driven at the second speed v2.
  • the transmission ratio between the intermediate shaft 64 and the shaft 36 ' is chosen such that the second speed v2 is greater than the first speed v1.
  • the drive shaft 58 is operatively connected via a sixth chain drive 76 to a chain wheel 78 which is seated on the shaft 36 via a schematically indicated freewheel 80.
  • the freewheel 80 is active in the conveying direction F, ie that the shaft 36 can rotate at a higher speed, but not at a lower speed than the chain wheel 78.
  • the translation between the drive shaft 58 and the sprocket 78 is selected such that when the first clutch 70 is switched off, ie when the freewheel 80 is inactive and the shaft 36 is driven by the sprocket 78, the conveyor belts 26 rotate at the third speed v 3, which is smaller is v1 as the first speed.
  • a seventh chain drive 82 for driving the second conveyor 14 is indicated in FIG. 1. This can be driven by means of its own motor, but it is also conceivable that the chain drive 82 couples the second conveyor 14 to the drive motor 54. The second conveyor 14 is driven at the same first speed v 1 as the first conveyor 10.
  • FIGS. 4-11 The mode of operation of the device shown in FIGS. 1-3 will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 4-11.
  • the device is shown in a simplified side view.
  • the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as in FIGS. 1-3, but these are only listed insofar as is necessary for an understanding of the figures.
  • this section has a greater density of the passages 42 than in the remaining region, in order to hold the product 48 to be separated from the subsequent product 48 particularly reliably.
  • weight rollers 52 and 52 ' are arranged to cooperate with the conveyor belts 26 of the belt conveyor 24 (not shown in FIGS. 1-3) and in the initial area of the second conveyor 14 with its belts 16'.
  • the shingled stream S supplied by the first conveyor 10 in the direction of conveyance F at the first speed v 1 is fed from the hatch forming device 12 to the upper second conveyor 14 at an unchanged speed.
  • the conveyor belts 26 of the belt conveyor 24 (Fig. 1-3), and the second conveyor 14 are also driven v1 at the first speed.
  • the passages 42 of the conveyor belt 28 are located in the area of the lower, non-conveying strand and there is pressure compensation in the suction trough 44.
  • the first clutch 70 is switched on and the freewheel 80 is active (see FIG. 1).
  • the second clutch 72 is also switched on, with the result that the conveyor belt 28 is now at the second speed v2 revolves, which is about 20% greater than the first speed v1.
  • the vacuum source which is indicated in FIG. 5 by an arrow in the suction line 46.
  • the vacuum is built up in the suction trough 44, all products 48 of the scale formation S are transported further at the first speed v 1.
  • the products 48 following the end of the section with the passages 42 and seen in the conveying direction and fed by the first conveyor 10 now become in the area of the gap-forming device 12 by the belt conveyor 24 at the third speed v3, which is about 20% lower than the first speed v1, further promoted.
  • the first clutch 70 is switched off, with the result that the freewheel 80 becomes inactive and the conveyor belts 26 are driven via the sixth chain drive 76 (cf. FIG. 1). Due to the difference between the second and third speeds v2, v3, the gap in the scale stream S is now formed in the area of the gap-forming device 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. In this working phase, the weight rollers 52, 52 'develop their full effect.
  • the weight roller 52 ensures the braking of the products 48 supplied by the first conveyor 10 at the first speed v 1 at the transition to the belt conveyor 24 to the third speed v 3 and presses them against the conveyor belts 26.
  • the gap formation is thus the Overlap of the individual products 48 increases according to the speed difference v1, v3 and the mutual distance between the leading and trailing edges is reduced accordingly.
  • the weight roller 52 'acts at the transition from the gap formation device 12 to the second conveyor 14.
  • the products 48 fed from the conveyor belt 28 at the second speed v2 to the second conveyor 14 become in the area of the weight roller 52' to the first speed v1 braked, whereby the overlap of the products 48 transported from the acceleration conveyor 30 at a higher speed to the second conveyor 14 increases or increases corresponding to the speed difference between the second speed v2 and the first speed v1 the distance between the leading and trailing edges is reduced.
  • a detector 84 indicated schematically in FIG. 7, for example a light barrier in the end region of the gap formation device 12, emits a signal to a control unit (not shown) as soon as the last product 48 of the section S 'separated from the supplied scale formation S by the gap has the effective range of Conveyor belt 28 leaves.
  • the gap-forming device 12 is pivoted like a switch into its lower end position, in which the part of the scale stream S which follows the gap is now fed to the lower second conveyor 14 '(FIG. 8).
  • the second clutch 72 is released as soon as the section of the conveyor belt 28 with the passages 42 is in the region of the lower, non-conveying strand and the pressure in the suction trough 44 is compensated for after the rearmost passages 42 seen in the conveying direction the area of the suction trough 44 have left.
  • the first clutch 70 is reactivated, which leads to the fact that the conveyor belts 26 begin to revolve at the first speed v 1.
  • the shingled stream S is now supplied with unchanged first speed v 1 to the second conveyor 14 ', which is also driven at this speed, and is fed from this to a further processing station, as shown in FIG. 9.
  • the conveyor belt 28 is accelerated to the second speed v 2 in exactly the same way by activating the second clutch 72 and the suction trough 44 is reconnected to the vacuum source in order to feed the existing products 48 in the area of the gap formation device 12 to the second conveyor 14 'at the speed v2.
  • the conveyor belts 26 are braked to the third speed v3 in order to further convey the products supplied by the first conveyor 10 at the first speed v1 at the lower third speed v3.
  • the gap-forming device 12 is pivoted back into the upper end position, in which the end again with the upper second conveyor 14 flees.
  • the conveyor belt 28 is shut down again (Fig. 11)
  • the negative pressure in the suction trough 44 is released and by activating the first clutch 70, the conveyor belts 26 now run again at the first speed v 1.
  • the second speed v2 is preferably about 20% greater than the first speed v1 and the third speed v3 is preferably about 20% less than the first speed v1.
  • the gap formation device 12 can be followed by a device in order to compensate for the overlap again.
  • the second conveyors 14, 14 ' are always driven at approximately the same first speed v 1, with the result that the processing speed of the downstream stations does not have to be changed for the gap formation.
  • the differences between the first and second or first and third speeds can also be greater or less than 20%, preferably the speed differences are between 10 and 50%, which should not constitute an absolute limit.
  • the device according to the invention is particularly suitable for forming gaps in scale streams of printed products such as newspapers, magazines and the like.

Description

Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung zum Bilden einer Lücke in einen Schuppenstrom von flächigen Erzeugnissen, insbesondere Druckereiprodukten, gemäss dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1.The present invention relates to a device for forming a gap in a shingled stream of flat products, in particular printed products, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Um einen kontinuierlich anfallenden Schuppenstrom verschiedenen Verarbeitungsstationen zuführen zu können, ist es oft notwendig, diesen durch die Bildung von Lücken in Sektionen zu unterteilen.In order to be able to feed a continuous stream of shingles to different processing stations, it is often necessary to divide them into sections by forming gaps.

Eine gattungsgemässe Vorrichtung zum Bilden einer Lücke in einen Schuppenstrom von flächigen Erzeugnissen ist aus der DE-B-28 52 603 und der entsprechenden GB-A-2 037 714 bekannt. Zwischen einen ersten und einen zweiten Förderer ist eine Lückenbildeeinrichtung geschaltet. Diese weist einen Bandförderer auf, um den mittels des ersten Förderers zugeführten Schuppenstrom dem zweiten Förderer zuzuleiten. Um den Bandförderer herum verläuft eine Förderkette, deren eine Trumlänge mit jalousieartigen Leisten versehen ist. Um den Schuppenstrom ohne Bildung einer Lücke dem zweiten Förderer zuzuleiten, ist der Bandförderer mit gleicher Geschwindigkeit wie der erste und zweite Förderer angetrieben und die jalousieartigen Leisten befinden sich ausserhalb des förderwirksamen Trums des Bandförderers. Zum Bilden einer Lücke wird die Förderkette mit gleicher Umlaufgeschwindigkeit angetrieben wie der erste Förderer, so dass die von diesem zugeführten Erzeugnisse auf die Leisten zu liegen kommen und der Bandförderer wird zusammen mit dem zweiten Förderer beschleunigt, um die auf diesen aufliegenden Erzeugnisse von den zugeführten Erzeugnissen zu trennen und eine Lücke zu bilden. Sobald die auf dem Bandförderer aufliegenden Erzeugnisse dem zweiten Förderer zugeführt sind, wird der Bandförderer und der zweite Förderer wieder auf die Geschwindigkeit des ersten Förderers und der Förderkette abgebremst. Die auf den jalousieartigen Leisten liegenden Erzeugnisse werden mit unveränderter Geschwindigkeit dem zweiten Förderer zugeleitet und die Förderkette wird solange weiter angetrieben, bis die Leisten sich nicht mehr im Bereich des förderwirksamen Trums befinden. Die den Leisten nachfolgenden Erzeugnisse werden mittels des Bandförderers mit unveränderter Geschwindigkeit dem zweiten Förderer zugeführt.A generic device for forming a gap in a scale flow of flat products is known from DE-B-28 52 603 and the corresponding GB-A-2 037 714. A gap-forming device is connected between a first and a second conveyor. This has a belt conveyor in order to feed the shingled stream supplied by means of the first conveyor to the second conveyor. A conveyor chain runs around the belt conveyor, one strand length of which is provided with blind-like strips. In order to feed the shingled stream to the second conveyor without forming a gap, the belt conveyor is driven at the same speed as the first and second conveyors and the blind-like strips are located outside the conveyor belt's effective conveyor belt. To create a gap, the conveyor chain is driven at the same rotational speed as the first conveyor, so that the products fed by it come to rest on the strips and the belt conveyor is put together accelerated with the second conveyor in order to separate the products lying on them from the products supplied and to form a gap. As soon as the products lying on the belt conveyor are fed to the second conveyor, the belt conveyor and the second conveyor are braked again to the speed of the first conveyor and the conveyor chain. The products lying on the blind-like slats are fed to the second conveyor at unchanged speed and the conveyor chain continues to be driven until the slats are no longer in the area of the conveyor belt. The products following the strips are fed to the second conveyor at unchanged speed by means of the belt conveyor.

Eine Vorrichtung zum Zerhacken eines Schuppenstromes in Sektionen gleicher Länge, unter Vermeidung der Anderung der Uberlappung der dachziegelartig aufeinanderliegenden Erzeugnisse, ist aus der CH-PS 660 353 und der entsprechenden US-PS 4,585,227 bekannt. Diese weist einen mit konstanter Geschwindigkeit angetriebenen, als Bandförderer ausgebildeten ersten Förderer und einen diesem unmittelbar nachgeschalteten, ebenfalls als Bandförderer ausgebildeten zweiten Förderer, dessen Länge mindestens gleich der Länge einer Sektion entspricht, auf. Im Endbereich des ersten Förderers ist ein Beschleunigungsförderer vorgesehen, dessen endlose umlaufend angetriebene Kette in einem Abschnitt, der etwa der Länge seines förderwirksamen Trums entspricht, mit einer Gummileiste versehen ist. Im Bereich des förderwirksamen Trums steht die Gummileiste über den ersten Förderer vor, wogegen die Kette unterhalb dieses Förderers verläuft. Der Beschleunigungsförderer und der zweite Förderer sind mit einem Antrieb verbunden, der diese intermittierend mit einer der Geschwindigkeit des ersten Förderers entsprechenden ersten Geschwindigkeit bzw. mit einer gegenüber dieser grösseren zweiten Geschwindigkeit antreibt. Der Beschleunigungsförderer und der zweite Förderer sind mit der ersten Geschwindigkeit angetrieben, bis sich die gesamte Gummileiste im Bereich des förderwirksamen Trums befindet. Während dieser Zeit werden die vom ersten Förderer zugeführten Erzeugnisse mit unveränderter Geschwindigkeit dem zweiten Förderer übergeben und von diesem weggefördert. Anschliessend wird die Kette des Beschleunigungsförderers und der zweite Förderer auf die zweite Geschwindigkeit beschleunigt, wodurch die auf der Gummileiste aufliegenden Erzeugnisse und die auf dem zweiten Förderer aufliegenden Erzeugnisse mitbeschleunigt werden und die auf der Gummileiste aufliegenden Erzeugnisse ohne Änderung der Uberlappung dem zweiten Förderer zugeführt werden. Dabei bildet sich eine Lücke zwischen dem in Förderrichtung gesehen letzten auf der Gummileiste aufliegenden Erzeugnis und dem in Förderrichtung gesehen nachfolgenden Erzeugnis. Die Geschwindigkeit des Beschleunigungsförderers und des zweiten Förderers wird dann wieder auf die erste Geschwindigkeit reduziert, bevor das nun erste mittels des ersten Förderers transportierte Erzeugnis das Ende des ersten Förderers erreicht. Diese Vorrichtung ist zum Zerhacken eines Schuppenstromes bestimmt und eignet sich nicht zum Bilden von Lücken an beliebigen Stellen in einem Schuppenstrom.A device for chopping a stream of shingles into sections of the same length, while avoiding changing the overlap of the products lying one on top of the other, is known from CH-PS 660 353 and the corresponding US Pat. No. 4,585,227. This has a first conveyor, which is driven at a constant speed and is in the form of a belt conveyor, and a second conveyor which is connected immediately downstream and is also in the form of a belt conveyor and whose length corresponds at least to the length of a section. In the end region of the first conveyor, an acceleration conveyor is provided, the endless revolving chain of which is provided with a rubber strip in a section which corresponds approximately to the length of its conveyor-effective strand. In the area of the conveyor-effective run, the rubber strip protrudes above the first conveyor, whereas the chain runs below this conveyor. The accelerator and the second conveyors are connected to a drive which drives them intermittently at a first speed corresponding to the speed of the first conveyor or at a second speed which is greater than this. The acceleration conveyor and the second conveyor are driven at the first speed until the entire rubber strip is in the area of the conveyor-effective strand. During this time, the products fed by the first conveyor are transferred to the second conveyor at an unchanged speed and are conveyed away by the latter. The chain of the acceleration conveyor and the second conveyor are then accelerated to the second speed, as a result of which the products lying on the rubber bar and the products lying on the second conveyor are also accelerated and the products lying on the rubber bar are fed to the second conveyor without changing the overlap. A gap is formed between the last product lying on the rubber strip in the conveying direction and the next product seen in the conveying direction. The speed of the acceleration conveyor and of the second conveyor is then reduced again to the first speed before the now first product transported by means of the first conveyor reaches the end of the first conveyor. This device is intended for chopping a stream of flakes and is not suitable for forming gaps anywhere in a stream of flakes.

Eine weitere Einrichtung zum Bilden einer Lücke in einen Schuppenstrom ist in der DE-OS 38 31 742 offenbart. Diese weist zwei mit gleicher Geschwindigkeit angetriebene, in der Höhe versetzt angeordnete und einander überlappende Bandförderer auf. Die vom ersten Bandförderer zugeführten Erzeugnisse fallen unter Bildung einer neuen Schuppenformation zum Weitertransport auf den zweiten Bandförderer. Die Lückenbildeeinrichtung weist zwischen den voneinander seitlich beabstandeten Förderbändern des zweiten Bandförderers ein, mit bezüglich den Bandförderern mit kleinerer Geschwindigkeit umlaufend antreibbares Lochband auf, das über einen Saugtrog geführt ist und abschnittsweise Durchlässe aufweist. Zum Bilden einer Lücke wird das Lochband angetrieben, so dass die auf den Abschnitt mit den Durchlässen fallenden Erzeugnisse am Lochband gehalten und zusammen mit den nachfolgenden darauffallenden Erzeugnissen mit kleinerer Geschwindigkeit weitertransportiert werden, wogegen die vorlaufenden Erzeugnisse mittels des zweiten Förderers unter Bildung einer Lücke mit unveränderter Geschwindigkeit weggefördert werden. Im Bereich des Lochbandes wird somit während der Lückenbildung die Uberlappung der Erzeugnisse bei der Bildung der neuen Schuppenformation vergrössert. Sobald die Durchlässe den Bereich des Saugtrogs verlassen, werden alle Erzeugnisse wieder mit gleicher Geschwindigkeit gefördert.Another device for forming a gap in a shingled stream is disclosed in DE-OS 38 31 742. This has two driven at the same speed, in belt conveyors offset and overlapping in height. The products fed by the first belt conveyor fall onto the second belt conveyor to form a new scale formation for further transport. The gap-forming device has between the laterally spaced conveyor belts of the second belt conveyor, with perforated belt which can be driven at a lower speed with respect to the belt conveyors and which is guided over a suction trough and has passages in sections. To form a gap, the perforated belt is driven so that the products falling on the section with the passages are held on the perforated belt and transported along with the subsequent products falling at a lower speed, whereas the leading products are formed by the second conveyor to form a gap with unchanged Speed are carried away. In the area of the perforated band, the overlap of the products during the formation of the new scale formation is thus increased during the formation of gaps. As soon as the culverts leave the area of the suction trough, all products are conveyed again at the same speed.

Es ist eine Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung, eine gattungsgemässe Vorrichtung derart weiterzubilden, dass sie zum Bilden einer Lücke bestimmter Grösse mit kleinerer Baulänge auskommt.It is an object of the present invention to develop a generic device in such a way that it manages to form a gap of a certain size with a smaller overall length.

Dieses Ziel wird mit einer gattungsgemässen Vorrichtung erreicht, die die Merkmale des kennzeichnenden Teiles des Anspruchs 1 aufweist.This goal is achieved with a generic device having the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

Es wird vermieden, dass die der Vorrichtung nachgeschaltete Verarbeitungsstation während der Lückenbildung mit höherer Arbeitsgeschwindigkeit betrieben werden muss. Die Vergrösserung der Uberlappung der Erzeugnisse in einem Endabschnitt der vorauslaufenden, abgetrennten Sektion des Schuppenstromes, braucht üblicherweise nicht auf das ursprüngliche Mass zurückgebracht zu werden, da die meisten nachgeschalteten Verarbeitungsstationen auch Schuppenströme mit geringerem Abstand zwischen den vorauslaufenden Kanten verarbeiten können oder mindestens eine gewisse Toleranz dieses Abstandes zulassen. Diese Eigenschaft von Verarbeitungsstationen wird noch stärker ausgenutzt, indem auch im Anfangsbereich des einer Lücke folgenden Schuppenabschnitts die gegenseitige Uberlappung der Erzeugnisse vergrössert wird. Dabei kann die Länge der Lückenbildeeinrichtung erheblich verkürzt oder die Vergrösserung der Uberlappung aufeinanderfolgender Erzeugnisse verringert werden und dies bei gleichbleibender Länge der zu bildenden Lücke.It is avoided that the processing station downstream of the device has to be operated at a higher working speed during the gap formation. The increase in the overlap of the products in an end section of the preceding, separated section of the shingled stream does not usually have to be brought back to the original size, since most downstream processing stations can also process shingled streams with a smaller distance between the leading edges or at least a certain tolerance thereof Allow distance. This property of processing stations is exploited even more by increasing the mutual overlap of the products in the beginning area of the shed section following a gap. The length of the gap formation device can be considerably shortened or the increase in the overlap of successive products can be reduced, and this with the same length of the gap to be formed.

Ein Anheben von Erzeugnissen und ein Ablegen von Erzeugnissen auf einen Förderer mit tiefer gelegener Förderebene, wird bei der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung vermieden. Es können sich somit im Bereich von solchen Förderübergängen mögliche Luftkissen nicht aufbauen, was ein gegenseitiges unkontrollierbares Verschieben der Erzeugnisse verhindert. Weist das mit der grösseren zweiten Geschwindigkeit antreibbare Fördermittel ein mit einer Unterdruckquelle verbindbares gelochtes Förderband auf, werden die zu beschleunigenden Erzeugnisse an diesem festgesaugt, so dass sich diese Erzeugnisse in der Beschleunigungsphase nicht verschieben können, was eine genaue Lückenbildung selbst bei äusserst grossen Verarbeitungsgeschwindigkeiten und damit verbundenen Beschleunigungen gewährleistet. Der nicht mit Durchlässen versehene Abschnitt des Lochbandes verhindert dabei eine Mitnahme der während der Lückenbildung vom ersten Förderer zugeführten Erzeugnisse.Lifting products and placing products on a conveyor with a lower conveyor level is avoided in the device according to the invention. It is therefore not possible for air cushions to build up in the area of such conveying transitions, which prevents mutual, uncontrollable movement of the products. If the conveyable means which can be driven at the higher second speed has a perforated conveyor belt which can be connected to a vacuum source, the products to be accelerated are sucked onto this, so that these products cannot shift during the acceleration phase, which results in an exact gap formation guaranteed even at extremely high processing speeds and the associated accelerations. The section of the perforated belt which is not provided with passages prevents entrainment of the products supplied by the first conveyor during the formation of gaps.

Weitere bevorzugte Ausbildungsformen der vorliegenden Erfindung sind in den weiteren abhängigen Ansprüchen angegeben.Further preferred embodiments of the present invention are specified in the further dependent claims.

Die vorliegende Erfindung wird nun anhand eines in der Zeichnung dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiels näher beschrieben. Es zeigen rein schematisch:

Fig. 1
in Draufsicht eine erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung;
Fig. 2
ebenfalls in Draufsicht einen Teil dieser Vorrichtung bei der Bildung einer Lücke in einen Schuppenstrom;
Fig. 3
einen Schnitt entlang der Linie III-III in Fig. 2; und
Fig. 4-11
vereinfacht die in den Fig. 1-3 gezeigte Vorrichtung bei verschiedenen Arbeitsphasen.
The present invention will now be described with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. It shows purely schematically:
Fig. 1
in plan view a device according to the invention;
Fig. 2
also in plan view part of this device in the formation of a gap in a shingled stream;
Fig. 3
a section along the line III-III in Fig. 2; and
Fig. 4-11
simplifies the device shown in FIGS. 1-3 in different working phases.

Die in den Fig. 1-3 gezeigte Vorrichtung weist einen ersten Förderer 10 zum Zuführen eines Schuppenstromes S, eine diesem nachgeschaltete Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 zum Bilden einer Lücke in den Schuppenstrom S und zum Zubringen des Schuppenstromes S zu einem nachgeschalteten zweiten Förderer 14 auf. Von den in allgemein bekannter Art und Weise als Bandförderer ausgebildeten ersten und zweiten Förderern 10,14 ist in Fig. 1, in Förderrichtung F gesehen, nur der End- bzw. Anfangsbereich dargestellt. Die drei nebeneinander und parallel zueinander verlaufenden Bänder 16 des ersten Förderers 10 sind am förderwirksamen Ende um auf einer Welle 18 drehfest sitzende Walzen 20 geführt und die Welle 18 ist an einem lagerschildartig ausgebildeten Gestell 22 frei drehbar gelagert. In gleicher Art und Weise umgreifen die drei nebeneinander verlaufenden Bänder 16' des zweiten Förderers 14, an dessen Anfang, auf einer Welle 18', die ebenfalls am Gestell 22 frei drehbar gelagert ist, drehfest sitzende Walzen 20'.The device shown in FIGS. 1-3 has a first conveyor 10 for supplying a shingled stream S, a gap formation device 12 connected downstream thereof for forming a gap in the shingled stream S and for feeding the shingled stream S to a downstream second conveyor 14. Of the first and second conveyors 10, 14, which are configured as belt conveyors in a generally known manner, only the end or beginning area is shown in FIG. 1, viewed in the conveying direction F. The three belts 16 of the first conveyor 10 which run next to one another and parallel to one another are guided at the end which is effective for conveying around rollers 20 which are non-rotatably seated on a shaft 18, and the shaft 18 is freely rotatably mounted on a frame 22 designed in the manner of a bearing plate. In the same way, the three adjacent belts 16 'of the second conveyor 14, at the beginning of which, on a shaft 18', which is also freely rotatably mounted on the frame 22, are rotatably seated rollers 20 '.

Die dem ersten Förderer 10 nach- und dem zweiten Förderer 14 vorgeschaltete Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 weist einen Bandförderer 24 mit zwei parallel zueinander verlaufenden und seitlich voneinander beabstandeten Transportbändern 26 auf. Zwischen diesen Transportbändern 26 verläuft ein endloses Förderband 28 eines Beschleunigungsförderers 30. Am Anfang und am Ende der Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 sind die Transportbänder 26 um Umlenkwalzen 32 bzw. 32' und ist das Förderband 28 um eine Umlenkwalze 34 bzw. 34' geführt. Die Umlenkwalzen 32 und 34 bzw. 32' und 34' sitzen je auf einer Welle 36 bzw. 36'. Diese Wellen 36,36' sind über lagerschildartig ausgebildete Laschen 38, die seitlich ausserhalb der Transportbänder 26 verlaufen, miteinander verbunden. Die in Förderrichtung F gesehen am Eingang der Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 vorgesehene Welle 36 ist am Gestell 22 frei drehbar gelagert, so dass die Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 wippenartig zwischen einer oberen und einer unteren Endlage hin und her schwenkbar ist. Der Antrieb für diese Schwenkbewegung erfolgt über in der Fig. 1 nur schematisch angedeutete Kolben-Zylinderanordnungen 40. In der oberen Endlage führt die Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 den Schuppenstrom S einem oberen zweiten Förderer 14 und in seiner unteren Endlage einem in den Fig. 4-11 mit 14' bezeichneten unteren zweiten Förderer zu. Die Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 dient somit zugleich als Weiche.The gap-forming device 12 downstream of the first conveyor 10 and upstream of the second conveyor 14 has a belt conveyor 24 with two conveyor belts 26 running parallel to one another and laterally spaced apart. An endless conveyor belt 28 of an acceleration conveyor 30 runs between these conveyor belts 26. At the beginning and at the end of the gap-forming device 12, the conveyor belts 26 are guided around deflection rollers 32 and 32 'and the conveyor belt 28 is guided around a deflection roller 34 and 34'. The deflecting rollers 32 and 34 or 32 'and 34' each sit on a shaft 36 or 36 '. These shafts 36, 36 'are connected to one another by means of tabs 38 which are designed like end shields and extend laterally outside the conveyor belts 26 connected. The shaft 36, as seen in the conveying direction F, at the entrance of the gap-forming device 12 is freely rotatably mounted on the frame 22, so that the gap-forming device 12 can be pivoted back and forth between an upper and a lower end position. The drive for this pivoting movement takes place via piston-cylinder arrangements 40, which are only indicated schematically in FIG. 1. In the upper end position, the gap-forming device 12 carries the scale flow S to an upper second conveyor 14 and in its lower end position to one in FIGS. 4-11 14 'designated lower second conveyor. The gap formation device 12 thus also serves as a switch.

Das Förderband 28 des Beschleunigungsförderers 30 weist in einem Abschnitt, der etwa der Länge des förderwirksamen Trums entspricht, d.h. etwa der Länge seines Wirkbereichs, Durchlässe 42 auf, die in den Figuren nur andeutungsweise gezeigt sind. Der förderwirksame Trum 28' des Förderbandes 28 gleitet über einen sich im wesentlichen zwischen den Umlenkwalzen 34 und 34' erstreckenden Saugtrog 44, der über eine Saugleitung 46 mit einer nicht gezeigten Unterdruckquelle verbindbar ist. In einer Richtung parallel zur Förderebene des Bandförderers 24 und rechtwinklig zur Förderrichtung F gesehen ist es nur notwendig im Bereich des Saugtroges 44 Durchlässe 42 vorzusehen. Wie dies Fig. 3 besonders gut zeigt, sind die Umlenkwalzen 34,34', um welche das Förderband 28 geführt ist, im Durchmesser geringfügig kleiner als die Umlenkwalzen 32,32' für die Transportbänder 26. Der förderwirksame Trum 28' des Förderbandes 28 liegt somit geringfügig unterhalb der durch die Transportbänder 26 definierten Förderebene. Dies hat zur Folge, dass, wenn sich keine Durchlässe 42 im Bereich des Saugtroges 44 befinden, oder im Saugtrog 44 kein Unterdruck herrscht, die mit ihren seitlichen Endbereichen auf den Transportbändern 26 aufliegenden flächigen Erzeugnisse 48 des Schuppenstromes S infolge ihrer Eigensteifigkeit das Förderband 28 nicht berühren, wie dies strichpunktiert in der Fig. 3 angegeben ist, oder nur mit einem kleinen Teil ihres Gewichtes auf diesem aufliegen. Eine Geschwindigkeitsdifferenz zwischen den Transportbändern 26 und dem Förderband 28 führt dadurch zu keiner Beeinflussung der von den Transportbändern 26 transportierten Erzeugnisse 48. Um die Haftung zwischen den Erzeugnissen 48 und den Transportbändern 26 noch zu verbessern, sind letztere mit einer in der Fig. 1 schematisch angedeuteten Profilierung 50 versehen.The conveyor belt 28 of the acceleration conveyor 30 has passages 42 in a section which corresponds approximately to the length of the conveyor-effective strand, ie approximately the length of its effective area, which are only indicated in the figures. The conveyor-effective strand 28 'of the conveyor belt 28 slides over a suction trough 44 which extends essentially between the deflection rollers 34 and 34' and which can be connected via a suction line 46 to a vacuum source, not shown. Seen in a direction parallel to the conveying plane of the belt conveyor 24 and at right angles to the conveying direction F, it is only necessary to provide passages 42 in the area of the suction trough 44. As shown particularly well in FIG. 3, the deflection rollers 34, 34 'around which the conveyor belt 28 is guided are slightly smaller in diameter than the deflection rollers 32, 32' for the conveyor belts 26. The conveyor 28 'of the conveyor belt 28, which is effective for conveying, is located thus slightly below the conveyor level defined by the conveyor belts 26. This has the consequence that if there are no passages 42 in the region of the Suction troughs 44 are located, or there is no negative pressure in the suction trough 44, the flat products 48 of the shingled stream S lying on the conveyor belts 26 with their lateral end regions not touching the conveyor belt 28 due to their inherent rigidity, as indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 3, or only rest on it with a small part of their weight. A speed difference between the conveyor belts 26 and the conveyor belt 28 thus does not influence the products 48 transported by the conveyor belts 26. In order to improve the adhesion between the products 48 and the conveyor belts 26 even more, the latter are indicated schematically in FIG. 1 Profiling 50 provided.

Die Umlenkwalzen 32 sind auf der Welle 36 drehfest aufgekeilt, wogegen die dazwischen vorgesehene Umlenkwalze 34 auf dieser Welle 36 frei drehbar gelagert ist. Umgekehrt ist die Walze 34' drehfest auf der Welle 36' aufgekeilt, wogegen die seitlichen Umlenkwalzen 32' auf dieser Welle 36' frei drehbar gelagert sind. Durch Drehen der Welle 36 werden somit die Transportbänder 26 und durch Drehen der Welle 36' wird das Förderband 28 angetrieben.The deflection rollers 32 are wedged on the shaft 36 in a rotationally fixed manner, whereas the deflection roller 34 provided between them is freely rotatably mounted on this shaft 36. Conversely, the roller 34 'is keyed non-rotatably on the shaft 36', whereas the lateral deflecting rollers 32 'are freely rotatably mounted on this shaft 36'. The conveyor belts 26 are thus driven by rotating the shaft 36 and the conveyor belt 28 is driven by rotating the shaft 36 '.

Für den Transport des Schuppenstromes S ohne die Bildung einer Lücke werden der erste Förderer 10, die Transportbänder 26 des Bandförderers 24 und der zweite Förderer 14 mit gleicher Geschwindigkeit v₁ angetrieben. Der Beschleunigungsförderer 30 ist stillgesetzt. Ist hingegen in den Schuppenstrom S eine Lücke zu bilden, wird der erste und der zweite Förderer 10,14 weiter mit unveränderter erster Geschwindigkeit v₁ angetrieben, wogegen das Förderband 28 des Beschleunigungsförderers 30 nun mit einer zweiten Geschwindigkeit v₂ angetrieben wird, die grösser ist als die erste Geschwindigkeit v₁, und die beiden Transportbänder 26 mit einer dritten Geschwindigkeit v₃ angetrieben werden, die kleiner ist als die erste Geschwindigkeit v₁. Infolge des Unterschiedes zwischen der zweiten und dritten Geschwindigkeit v₂,v₃ wird im Schuppenstrom S eine Lücke gebildet. Sobald in Förderrichtung F gesehen das erste der Lücke nachfolgende Erzeugnis 48 am Ende der Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 angelangt ist und an den zweiten Förderer 14 übergeben worden ist, wird das Förderband 28 wieder stillgelegt und werden die Transportbänder 26 wieder mit der ersten Geschwindigkeit v₁ angetrieben.For the transport of the shingled stream S without the formation of a gap, the first conveyor 10, the conveyor belts 26 of the belt conveyor 24 and the second conveyor 14 are driven v₁ at the same speed. The acceleration conveyor 30 is stopped. If, on the other hand, a gap is to be formed in the shingled stream S, the first and second conveyors 10, 14 are driven further at unchanged first speed v 1, whereas the conveyor belt 28 the accelerator 30 is now driven at a second speed v₂, which is greater than the first speed v₁, and the two conveyor belts 26 are driven at a third speed v₃, which is less than the first speed v₁. Due to the difference between the second and third speeds v₂, v₃, a gap is formed in the shingled stream S. As soon as seen in the direction of conveyance F the first product 48 following the gap has reached the end of the gap-forming device 12 and has been transferred to the second conveyor 14, the conveyor belt 28 is shut down again and the conveyor belts 26 are driven again at the first speed v 1.

In den Anfangsbereichen der Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 und des zweiten Förderers 14 sind mit den Transportbändern 26 des Bandförderers 24 bzw. mit den Bändern 16' zusammenwirkende Gewichtsrollen 52,52' vorgesehen, wie dies in den Fig. 4-11 schematisch dargestellt ist.In the initial areas of the gap-forming device 12 and of the second conveyor 14, weight rollers 52, 52 'which cooperate with the conveyor belts 26 of the belt conveyor 24 or with the belts 16' are provided, as is shown schematically in FIGS. 4-11.

Im folgenden wird nun die Antriebsanordnung für den ersten und zweiten Förderer 10,14 und die Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 näher beschrieben (siehe Fig. 1). Ein Antriebsmotor 54 ist über einen schematisch angedeuteten ersten Kettentrieb 56 mit einer am Gestell 22 drehbar gelagerten Antriebswelle 58 wirkverbunden. Diese ist über einen ebenfalls in der Fig. 1 nur schematisch angedeuteten zweiten Kettentrieb 60 mit der Welle 18 zum Antrieb der Bänder 16 des ersten Förderers 10 und über einen zweiteiligen dritten Kettentrieb 62 mit einer Zwischenwelle 64 drehfest gekuppelt. Die Zwischenwelle 64 ist zwischen den Wellen 36 und 36' an den Laschen 38 gelagert. Die beiden Ketten 62' des dritten Kettentriebs 62 sind um auf einer gemeinsamen Hülse 66 drehfest sitzende Kettenräder geführt, wobei die Hülse 66 auf der Welle 36 frei drehbar lagert. Diese Welle 36 ist über einen mit 68 bezeichneten vierten Kettentrieb mit dem einen Teil einer ersten Kupplung 70 wirkverbunden, deren anderer Teil drehfest auf der Zwischenwelle 64 sitzt. Bei aktivierter erster Kupplung 70 wird die Welle 36 mittels des Antriebsmotors 54 über die Antriebswelle 58, den dritten Kettentrieb 62, die Zwischenwelle 64 und den vierten Kettentrieb 68 angetrieben. Die Übersetzungen sind dabei so gewählt, dass die von der Welle 36 her angetriebenen Transportbänder 26 mit der ersten Geschwindigkeit v₁ umlaufen, mit welcher auch die Bänder 16 des ersten Förderers 10 angetrieben sind.The drive arrangement for the first and second conveyors 10, 14 and the gap-forming device 12 will now be described in more detail below (see FIG. 1). A drive motor 54 is operatively connected via a schematically indicated first chain drive 56 to a drive shaft 58 rotatably mounted on the frame 22. This is coupled via a second chain drive 60, also only schematically indicated in FIG. 1, to the shaft 18 for driving the belts 16 of the first conveyor 10 and via a two-part third chain drive 62 to an intermediate shaft 64. The intermediate shaft 64 is mounted on the tabs 38 between the shafts 36 and 36 '. The two chains 62 'of the third chain drives 62 are guided around sprockets that are non-rotatably seated on a common sleeve 66, the sleeve 66 being freely rotatable on the shaft 36. This shaft 36 is operatively connected via a fourth chain drive designated 68 to one part of a first clutch 70, the other part of which is seated on the intermediate shaft 64 in a rotationally fixed manner. When the first clutch 70 is activated, the shaft 36 is driven by the drive motor 54 via the drive shaft 58, the third chain drive 62, the intermediate shaft 64 and the fourth chain drive 68. The translations are chosen so that the conveyor belts 26 driven by the shaft 36 rotate at the first speed v 1, at which the belts 16 of the first conveyor 10 are also driven.

Auf der Zwischenwelle 64 sitzt drehfest der eine Teil einer zweiten Kupplung 72, deren anderer Teil über einen fünften Kettentrieb 74 mit der Welle 36' gekuppelt ist. Bei ausgeschalteter zweiter Kupplung 72 ist somit die Welle 36' nicht angetrieben, wodurch das Förderband 28 des Beschleunigungsförderers 30 stillgesetzt ist. Ist hingegen diese zweite Kupplung 72 aktiviert, wird das Förderband 28 mit der zweiten Geschwindigkeit v₂ angetrieben. Das Übersetzungsverhältnis zwischen der Zwischenwelle 64 und der Welle 36' ist dabei derart gewählt, dass die zweite Geschwindigkeit v₂ grösser ist als die erste Geschwindigkeit v₁.One part of a second clutch 72, the other part of which is coupled to the shaft 36 'via a fifth chain drive 74, sits on the intermediate shaft 64 in a rotationally fixed manner. When the second clutch 72 is switched off, the shaft 36 ′ is thus not driven, as a result of which the conveyor belt 28 of the acceleration conveyor 30 is stopped. However, if this second clutch 72 is activated, the conveyor belt 28 is driven at the second speed v₂. The transmission ratio between the intermediate shaft 64 and the shaft 36 'is chosen such that the second speed v₂ is greater than the first speed v₁.

Die Antriebswelle 58 ist über einen sechsten Kettentrieb 76 mit einem Kettenrad 78 wirkverbunden, welches über einen schematisch angedeuteten Freilauf 80 auf der Welle 36 sitzt. Der Freilauf 80 ist in Förderrichtung F aktiv, d.h. dass die Welle 36 mit grösserer Drehzahl, nicht aber mit kleinerer als das Kettenrad 78, drehen kann. Die Übersetzung zwischen der Antriebswelle 58 und dem Kettenrad 78 ist derart gewählt, dass bei ausgeschalteter erster Kupplung 70, d.h. wenn der Freilauf 80 inaktiv ist und die Welle 36 vom Kettenrad 78 angetrieben ist, die Transportbänder 26 mit der dritten Geschwindigkeit v₃ umlaufen, die kleiner ist als die erste Geschwindigkeit v₁.The drive shaft 58 is operatively connected via a sixth chain drive 76 to a chain wheel 78 which is seated on the shaft 36 via a schematically indicated freewheel 80. The freewheel 80 is active in the conveying direction F, ie that the shaft 36 can rotate at a higher speed, but not at a lower speed than the chain wheel 78. The translation between the drive shaft 58 and the sprocket 78 is selected such that when the first clutch 70 is switched off, ie when the freewheel 80 is inactive and the shaft 36 is driven by the sprocket 78, the conveyor belts 26 rotate at the third speed v 3, which is smaller is v₁ as the first speed.

Schlussendlich ist in der Fig. 1 noch ein siebter Kettentrieb 82 für den Antrieb des zweiten Förderers 14 angedeutet. Dieser kann mittels eines eigenen Motors angetrieben sein, es ist aber auch denkbar, dass der Kettentrieb 82 den zweiten Förderer 14 mit dem Antriebsmotor 54 koppelt. Der zweite Förderer 14 ist mit der gleichen ersten Geschwindigkeit v₁ wie der erste Förderer 10 angetrieben.Finally, a seventh chain drive 82 for driving the second conveyor 14 is indicated in FIG. 1. This can be driven by means of its own motor, but it is also conceivable that the chain drive 82 couples the second conveyor 14 to the drive motor 54. The second conveyor 14 is driven at the same first speed v 1 as the first conveyor 10.

Die Funktionsweise der in den Fig. 1-3 dargestellten Vorrichtung wird nun anhand der Fig. 4-11 dargelegt. In diesen Figuren ist die Vorrichtung in Seitenansicht vereinfacht dargestellt. Für gleiche Teile sind die gleichen Bezugszeichen wie in den Fig. 1-3 verwendet, wobei aber diese nur insoweit aufgeführt sind, als es für das Verständnis der Figuren notwendig ist.The mode of operation of the device shown in FIGS. 1-3 will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 4-11. In these figures, the device is shown in a simplified side view. The same reference numerals are used for the same parts as in FIGS. 1-3, but these are only listed insofar as is necessary for an understanding of the figures.

Die Fig. 4-11 zeigen den ersten Förderer 10 zum Zuführen des Schuppenstromes S, vereinfacht die diesem unmittelbar nachgeschaltete Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 und die letzterer ebenfalls nachgeschalteten übereinander angeordneten zweiten Förderer 14,14', zwischen welchen als Weiche dienend die Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 hin und her schwenkbar ist. Von der Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 ist jeweils nur der Beschleunigungsförderer 30 mit dem Saugtrog 44 gezeigt. Das Förderband 28 ist am Anfang und am Ende der Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 um die Umlenkwalzen 34 bzw. 34' geführt und ist in einem Abschnitt, der ungefähr der Länge des förderwirksamen Trums 28' entspricht, mit Durchlässen 42 versehen. Im Endbereich, in Umlaufrichtung gesehen, dieses Abschnittes ist die Dichte der Durchlässe 42 grösser als im verbleibenden Bereich, um jeweils das vom nachfolgenden Erzeugnis 48 zu trennende Erzeugnis 48 besonders sicher zu halten. Im Anfangsbereich der Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 sind mit den in diesen Figuren nicht gezeigten Transportbändern 26 des Bandförderers 24 (vergleiche Fig. 1-3) und im Anfangsbereich des zweiten Förderers 14 mit dessen Bändern 16' zusammenwirkende Gewichtsrollen 52 bzw. 52' angeordnet.4-11 show the first conveyor 10 for supplying the shingled stream S, simplifies the gap formation device 12 immediately downstream of this and the second conveyor 14, 14 ', which is also arranged downstream of the latter, and between which the gap formation device 12 can be pivoted back and forth, serving as a switch is. Of the gap formation device 12 is only that Acceleration conveyor 30 shown with the suction trough 44. The conveyor belt 28 is guided at the beginning and at the end of the gap-forming device 12 around the deflecting rollers 34 and 34 'and is provided with passages 42 in a section which corresponds approximately to the length of the conveyor 28' which is effective for conveying. In the end region, as seen in the direction of circulation, this section has a greater density of the passages 42 than in the remaining region, in order to hold the product 48 to be separated from the subsequent product 48 particularly reliably. In the initial area of the gap-forming device 12, weight rollers 52 and 52 'are arranged to cooperate with the conveyor belts 26 of the belt conveyor 24 (not shown in FIGS. 1-3) and in the initial area of the second conveyor 14 with its belts 16'.

In der in der Fig. 4 gezeigten Arbeitsphase wird der vom ersten Förderer 10 in Förderrichtung F mit der ersten Geschwindigkeit v₁ zugeführte Schuppenstrom S mit unveränderter Geschwindigkeit von der Lükenbildeeinrichtung 12 dem oberen zweiten Förderer 14 zugeleitet. Dazu sind die Transportbänder 26 des Bandförderers 24 (Fig. 1-3), sowie der zweite Förderer 14 ebenfalls mit der ersten Geschwindigkeit v₁ angetrieben. Die Durchlässe 42 des Förderbandes 28 befinden sich dabei im Bereich des unteren, nicht förderwirksamen Trums und im Saugtrog 44 herrscht Druckausgleich. Dabei ist die erste Kupplung 70 eingeschaltet und der Freilauf 80 aktiv (vergleiche Fig. 1).In the working phase shown in FIG. 4, the shingled stream S supplied by the first conveyor 10 in the direction of conveyance F at the first speed v 1 is fed from the hatch forming device 12 to the upper second conveyor 14 at an unchanged speed. For this purpose, the conveyor belts 26 of the belt conveyor 24 (Fig. 1-3), and the second conveyor 14 are also driven v₁ at the first speed. The passages 42 of the conveyor belt 28 are located in the area of the lower, non-conveying strand and there is pressure compensation in the suction trough 44. The first clutch 70 is switched on and the freewheel 80 is active (see FIG. 1).

Ist nun eine Lücke im Schuppenstrom S zu bilden, wird auch die zweite Kupplung 72 eingeschaltet, was zur Folge hat, dass das Förderband 28 nun mit der zweiten Geschwindigkeit v₂ umläuft, die etwa 20 % grösser ist als die erste Geschwindigkeit v₁. Sobald nun in Förderrichtung F gesehen die ersten vorauslaufenden Durchlässe 42 im Förderband 28 dem Endbereich des Saugtroges 44 zulaufen, wird dieser mit der Unterdruckquelle verbunden, was in der Fig. 5 mit einem Pfeil bei der Saugleitung 46 angedeutet ist. Es ist aber zu beachten, dass in dieser Arbeitsphase, bis das Vakuum im Saugtrog 44 aufgebaut ist, sämtliche Erzeugnisse 48 der Schuppenformation S weiter mit der ersten Geschwindigkeit v₁ transportiert werden.If a gap is to be formed in the shingled stream S, the second clutch 72 is also switched on, with the result that the conveyor belt 28 is now at the second speed v₂ revolves, which is about 20% greater than the first speed v₁. As soon as the first leading passages 42 in the conveyor belt 28 run towards the end region of the suction trough 44, as seen in the conveying direction F, the latter is connected to the vacuum source, which is indicated in FIG. 5 by an arrow in the suction line 46. However, it should be noted that in this working phase, until the vacuum is built up in the suction trough 44, all products 48 of the scale formation S are transported further at the first speed v 1.

Die nun zu Beginn der Lückenbildung im Wirkbereich des Beschleunigungsförderers 30, d.h. im Bereich des Saugtroges 44 und der Durchlässe 42 liegenden Erzeugnisse 48 werden durch die durch den Unterdruck im Saugtrog 44 hervorgerufene Saugwirkung durch die Durchlässe 42 mit ihrem nachlaufenden Endbereich an das Förderband 28 herangezogen und mit diesem förderwirksam verbunden (vergleiche Fig. 3). Bei einem Schuppenstrom, bei welchem nicht wie in den Figuren gezeigt, jedes Erzeugnis 48 auf dem vorauslaufenden aufliegt, sondern jedes Erzeugnis 48 vom jeweils vorauslaufenden überdeckt ist, wird selbstverständlich der Bereich der vorlaufenden Kante angesogen und mit dem Förderband 28 wirkverbunden. Durch diese Wirkverbindung werden nun die betreffenden Erzeugnisse 48 beschleunigt und mit der zweiten Geschwindigkeit v₂ dem zweiten Förderer 14 zugeführt, welcher aber weiterhin mit der ersten Geschwindigkeit v₁ umläuft (siehe Fig. 6).The now at the beginning of the gap formation in the effective area of the acceleration conveyor 30, i.e. Products 48 lying in the area of the suction trough 44 and the passages 42 are drawn to the conveyor belt 28 with their trailing end region by the suction effect caused by the negative pressure in the suction trough 44 and connected to the conveyor belt 28 in a manner that promotes conveyance (cf. FIG. 3). In the case of a shingled stream in which, as shown in the figures, each product 48 does not lie on the leading one, but each product 48 is covered by the leading one, the area of the leading edge is naturally sucked in and operatively connected to the conveyor belt 28. Through this operative connection, the products 48 in question are now accelerated and fed at the second speed v₂ to the second conveyor 14, which, however, continues to rotate at the first speed v₁ (see FIG. 6).

Die in Förderrichtung gesehen dem Ende des Abschnittes mit den Durchlässen 42 folgenden, vom ersten Förderer 10 zugeführten Erzeugnisse 48, werden nun im Bereich der Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 durch den Bandförderer 24 mit der dritten Geschwindigkeit v₃, die etwa 20 % kleiner ist als die erste Geschwindigkeit v₁, weitergefördert. Zu diesem Zweck wird die erste Kupplung 70 ausgeschaltet, was zur Folge hat, dass der Freilauf 80 inaktiv wird und die Transportbänder 26 über dem sechsten Kettentrieb 76 angetrieben sind (vergleiche Fig. 1). Durch den Unterschied zwischen der zweiten und dritten Geschwindigkeit v₂,v₃ wird nun im Bereich der Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 die Lücke im Schuppenstrom S gebildet, wie dies die Fig. 2 und 6 zeigen. In dieser Arbeitsphase entfalten die Gewichtsrollen 52,52' ihre volle Wirkung. Die Gewichtsrolle 52 stellt die Abbremsung der vom ersten Förderer 10 mit der ersten Geschwindigkeit v₁ zugeführten Erzeugnisse 48 beim Übergang auf den Bandförderer 24 auf die dritte Geschwindigkeit v₃ sicher und drückt diese gegen die Transportbänder 26. Im Anfangsbereich der Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 wird während der Lückenbildung somit die Uberlappung der einzelnen Erzeugnisse 48 entsprechend der Geschwindigkeitsdifferenz v₁,v₃ vergrössert und der gegenseitige Abstand der vor- bzw. nachlaufenden Kanten dementsprechend verringert. In genau gleicher Art und Weise wirkt die Gewichtsrolle 52' beim Übergang von der Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 auf den zweiten Förderer 14. Die vom Förderband 28 mit der zweiten Geschwindigkeit v₂ dem zweiten Förderer 14 zugeführten Erzeugnisse 48 werden im Bereich der Gewichtsrolle 52' auf die erste Geschwindigkeit v₁ abgebremst, wodurch sich die Uberlappung der vom Beschleunigungsförderer 30 mit grösserer Geschwindigkeit dem zweiten Förderer 14 zutransportierten Erzeugnisse 48 entsprechend der Geschwindigkeitsdifferenz zwischen der zweiten Geschwindigkeit v₂ und der ersten Geschwindigkeit v₁ vergrössert bzw. der Abstand zwischen den je vorlaufenden und nachlaufenden Kanten verkleinert.The products 48 following the end of the section with the passages 42 and seen in the conveying direction and fed by the first conveyor 10 now become in the area of the gap-forming device 12 by the belt conveyor 24 at the third speed v₃, which is about 20% lower than the first speed v₁, further promoted. For this purpose, the first clutch 70 is switched off, with the result that the freewheel 80 becomes inactive and the conveyor belts 26 are driven via the sixth chain drive 76 (cf. FIG. 1). Due to the difference between the second and third speeds v₂, v₃, the gap in the scale stream S is now formed in the area of the gap-forming device 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. In this working phase, the weight rollers 52, 52 'develop their full effect. The weight roller 52 ensures the braking of the products 48 supplied by the first conveyor 10 at the first speed v 1 at the transition to the belt conveyor 24 to the third speed v 3 and presses them against the conveyor belts 26. In the initial area of the gap forming device 12, the gap formation is thus the Overlap of the individual products 48 increases according to the speed difference v₁, v₃ and the mutual distance between the leading and trailing edges is reduced accordingly. In exactly the same way, the weight roller 52 'acts at the transition from the gap formation device 12 to the second conveyor 14. The products 48 fed from the conveyor belt 28 at the second speed v₂ to the second conveyor 14 become in the area of the weight roller 52' to the first speed v₁ braked, whereby the overlap of the products 48 transported from the acceleration conveyor 30 at a higher speed to the second conveyor 14 increases or increases corresponding to the speed difference between the second speed v₂ and the first speed v₁ the distance between the leading and trailing edges is reduced.

Ein in der Fig. 7 schematisch angedeuteter Detektor 84, beispielsweise eine Lichtschranke im Endbereich der Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 gibt ein Signal an eine nicht dargestellte Steuerung ab, sobald das letzte Erzeugnis 48 der durch die Lücke von der zugeführten Schuppenformation S abgetrennten Sektion S' den Wirkbereich des Förderbandes 28 verlässt. Aufgrund dieses Signals wird die Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 weichenartig in ihre untere Endlage verschwenkt, in welcher der der Lücke nachlaufende Teil des Schuppenstroms S nun dem unteren zweiten Förderer 14' zugeführt wird (Fig. 8). Die zweite Kupplung 72 wird dabei gelöst, sobald sich der Abschnitt des Förderbandes 28 mit den Durchlässen 42 im Bereich des unteren, nicht förderwirksamen Trums befindet und der Druck im Saugtrog 44 wird ausgeglichen, nachdem die in Förderrichtung gesehen hintersten Durchlässe 42 den Bereich des Saugtrogs 44 verlassen haben.A detector 84, indicated schematically in FIG. 7, for example a light barrier in the end region of the gap formation device 12, emits a signal to a control unit (not shown) as soon as the last product 48 of the section S 'separated from the supplied scale formation S by the gap has the effective range of Conveyor belt 28 leaves. On the basis of this signal, the gap-forming device 12 is pivoted like a switch into its lower end position, in which the part of the scale stream S which follows the gap is now fed to the lower second conveyor 14 '(FIG. 8). The second clutch 72 is released as soon as the section of the conveyor belt 28 with the passages 42 is in the region of the lower, non-conveying strand and the pressure in the suction trough 44 is compensated for after the rearmost passages 42 seen in the conveying direction the area of the suction trough 44 have left.

Nach dem Verschwenken der Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 zum unteren zweiten Förderer 14' wird die erste Kupplung 70 wieder aktiviert, was dazu führt, dass die Transportbänder 26 wieder beginnen, mit der ersten Geschwindigkeit v₁ umzulaufen. Der Schuppenstrom S wird nun mit unveränderter erster Geschwindigkeit v₁ dem ebenfalls mit dieser Geschwindigkeit angetriebenen zweiten Förderer 14' zugeführt und von diesem einer weiteren Verarbeitungsstation zugeleitet, wie dies Fig. 9 zeigt.After pivoting the gap-forming device 12 to the lower second conveyor 14 ', the first clutch 70 is reactivated, which leads to the fact that the conveyor belts 26 begin to revolve at the first speed v 1. The shingled stream S is now supplied with unchanged first speed v 1 to the second conveyor 14 ', which is also driven at this speed, and is fed from this to a further processing station, as shown in FIG. 9.

Ist nun im Schuppenstrom S an beliebiger Stelle wieder eine Lücke zu bilden, um die nachfolgenden Erzeugnisse 48 dem oberen zweiten Förderer 14 zuleiten zu können, wird in genau gleicher Art und Weise durch Aktivieren der zweiten Kupplung 72 das Förderband 28 auf die zweite Geschwindigkeit v₂ beschleunigt und der Saugtrog 44 wieder mit der Unterdruckquelle verbunden, um die im Bereich der Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 vorhandenen Erzeugnisse 48 mit der Geschwindigkeit v₂ dem zweiten Förderer 14' zuzuführen. Etwa gleichzeitig werden durch Öffnen der ersten Kupplung 70 die Transportbänder 26 auf die dritte Geschwindigkeit v₃ abgebremst, um die vom ersten Förderer 10 mit der ersten Geschwindigkeit v₁ zugeführten Erzeugnisse mit der kleineren dritten Geschwindigkeit v₃ weiter zu fördern.Is now in the scale stream S again at any point to form a gap in order to be able to feed the subsequent products 48 to the upper second conveyor 14, the conveyor belt 28 is accelerated to the second speed v 2 in exactly the same way by activating the second clutch 72 and the suction trough 44 is reconnected to the vacuum source in order to feed the existing products 48 in the area of the gap formation device 12 to the second conveyor 14 'at the speed v₂. Approximately at the same time, by opening the first clutch 70, the conveyor belts 26 are braked to the third speed v₃ in order to further convey the products supplied by the first conveyor 10 at the first speed v₁ at the lower third speed v₃.

Sobald nun der Detektor 84 das Ende der vom Schuppenstrom S abgetrennten, in Förderrichtung F gesehen vorauslaufenden Sektion S' erkannt hat (Fig. 10), wird die Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 in die obere Endlage zurückverschwenkt, in welcher das Ende wieder mit dem oberen zweiten Förderer 14 fluchtet. Durch Lösen der zweiten Kupplung 72 wird das Förderband 28 wieder stillgelegt (Fig. 11), der Unterdruck im Saugtrog 44 wird aufgehoben und durch Aktivieren der ersten Kupplung 70 laufen nun die Transportbänder 26 wieder mit der ersten Geschwindigkeit v₁ um.As soon as the detector 84 has recognized the end of the section S 'separated from the shingled stream S and seen in the conveying direction F (FIG. 10), the gap-forming device 12 is pivoted back into the upper end position, in which the end again with the upper second conveyor 14 flees. By releasing the second clutch 72, the conveyor belt 28 is shut down again (Fig. 11), the negative pressure in the suction trough 44 is released and by activating the first clutch 70, the conveyor belts 26 now run again at the first speed v 1.

Wie oben angegeben, ist die zweite Geschwindigkeit v₂ vorzugsweise um etwa 20 % grösser als die erste Geschwindigkeit v₁ und die dritte Geschwindigkeit v₃ vorzugsweise etwa 20 % kleiner als die erste Geschwindigkeit v₁. Dadurch wird die Uberlappung der Erzeugnisse in den an die Lücke anschliessenden Endbereichen des Schuppenstromes S und der Sektion S' um ein so geringes Mass vergrössert, dass der Schuppenstrom von der nachgeschalteten Verarbeitungsstation problemlos verarbeitet werden kann. Selbstverständlich, falls notwendig, kann der Lückenbildeeinrichtung 12 eine Einrichtung nachgeschaltet sein, um die Uberlappung wieder auszugleichen. Es ist aber zu bemerken, dass die zweiten Förderer 14,14' immer etwa mit der gleichen ersten Geschwindigkeit v₁ angetrieben sind, was zur Folge hat, dass die Verarbeitungsgeschwindigkeit der nachgeschalteten Stationen für die Lückenbildung nicht verändert werden muss.As indicated above, the second speed v₂ is preferably about 20% greater than the first speed v₁ and the third speed v₃ is preferably about 20% less than the first speed v₁. As a result, the overlap of the products in the end regions of the scale stream S and the section S 'adjoining the gap is increased by such a small amount, that the shingled stream can be easily processed by the downstream processing station. Of course, if necessary, the gap formation device 12 can be followed by a device in order to compensate for the overlap again. However, it should be noted that the second conveyors 14, 14 'are always driven at approximately the same first speed v 1, with the result that the processing speed of the downstream stations does not have to be changed for the gap formation.

Die Unterschiede zwischen der ersten und zweiten bzw. ersten und dritten Geschwindigkeit können auch grösser oder kleiner als 20 % sein, vorzugsweise liegen die Geschwindigkeitsunterschiede zwischen 10 und 50 %, was aber keine absolute Grenze darstellen soll.The differences between the first and second or first and third speeds can also be greater or less than 20%, preferably the speed differences are between 10 and 50%, which should not constitute an absolute limit.

Die erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung eignet sich insbesondere zum Bilden von Lücken in Schuppenströme von Druckereiprodukten, wie Zeitungen, Zeitschriften und dergleichen.The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for forming gaps in scale streams of printed products such as newspapers, magazines and the like.

Claims (11)

  1. A device for forming a gap in an imbricated flow of flat products, in particular printed products, with a first conveyor (10) driven at a first speed (v1), at least a second conveyor (14,14') arranged thereafter, and a gap-forming arrangement (12)arranged between the first and second conveyor (10; 14,14'), with a first conveying means (26) and a second conveying means (30) parallel thereto, in which the first conveying means (26) to transport the imbricated flow (S) supplied from the first conveyor (10) to the second conveyor (14,14') is able to be driven substantially at the first speed (v1), and in which to form a gap, the one of the first and second conveying means (30;26) is able to be driven at a greater second speed (v2) with respect to the first speed (v1), in order to supply to the second conveyor (14,14') the products (48) situated at the beginning of the gap formation in the region of the gap-forming arrangement (12), and the other of the first and second conveying means (26;30) is able to be driven at the most at the first speed (v1), in order to take over and convey further the products (48) supplied from the first conveyor (10), characterised in that the second conveyor (14,14')is driven at approximately the first speed (v1), in order to take over and convey further the products (48) supplied by the conveying means (30;26) driven at the second speed (v2), with an increase of the reciprocal overlapping, and that the other conveying means (26;30) during the gap formation is able to be driven at a smaller third speed (v3) with respect to the first speed (v1), in order to take over and convey further the products (48) supplied by the first conveyor (10), likewise with an increase of the reciprocal overlapping.
  2. A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that two second conveyors (14,14') are provided and the gap-forming arrangement (12) is constructed as a deflector which is able to be swivelled to and fro between these second conveyors (14, 14').
  3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the conveying means are constructed as belt conveyors (24,30) and one belt conveyor (30) has a conveyor belt (28) which is provided in a section corresponding approximately to the length of its effective range (28') with openings (42), which are able to be connected with an underpressure source in the effective range (28'), in order to bring and keep the corresponding products (48) in conveying connection with the conveyor belt (28).
  4. A device according to Claim 3, characterised in that the side (28') of the conveyor belt (28) which is effective with regard to conveying is situated underneath the conveying plane of the other belt conveyor, and preferably the latter in each case has a transport belt (26) on both sides of the conveyor belt (28).
  5. A device according to Claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the conveyor belt (28) is able to be driven, in the case of gap formation, at the second speed (v2) and the other belt conveyor to transport the imbricated flow is able to be driven at approximately the first speed (v1) and, to form a gap, is able to be driven at the third speed (v3).
  6. A device according to Claim 5, characterised in that the side (28') of the perforated belt (28) which is effective with respect to conveying is guided over a suction trough (44) which is able to be acted upon by underpressure at the beginning of a gap formation, and the section of the perforated belt (28) with the openings (42) is situated at the beginning of a gap formation in the region of the suction trough (44).
  7. A device according to one of Claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the section with openings (42) covers approximately half the length of the conveyor belt (28), which is constructed so as to be endless.
  8. A device according to one of Claims 3 to 7, characterised in that the conveyor belt (28) and if necessary the transport belts (26) at the beginning and at the end of the gap-forming arrangement (12) are guided around rollers (34,32;34',32') sitting on a first and a second common shaft (36, 36'), the first shaft (36) with the corresponding rollers (32) associated with the transport belts (26) and the second shaft (36') with the corresponding roller (34') associated with the conveyor belt (28) are connected so as to be secure with respect to rotation, and the shafts (36, 36') are able to be driven by means of a drive arrangement at the respective speeds (v1, v2, v3).
  9. A device according to Claim 8, characterised in that the first shaft (36) is connected with a drive motor (54) both via a first coupling (70) and also via a free-running arrangement (80) effective in conveying direction (F), in which the gearings between the drive motor (54) and the first shaft (36) are constructed such that the transport belts (26) with the first coupling (70) connected in and with an active free-running arrangement (80) revolve approximately at a speed corresponding to the first speed (v1) and with the first coupling (70) disconnected and with an inactive free-running arrangement (80) revolve at the lower third speed (v3), and the second shaft (36') is connected via a second coupling (72) with the same drive motor (54), in order to drive the conveyor belt (28) at the second speed (v2) when the second coupling (72) is connected in.
  10. A device according to Claim 9, characterised in that the first conveyor (10) and preferably the second conveyor (14,14') are able to be driven by means of the drive motor (54).
  11. A device according to Claim 1 or 3, characterised in that the second speed (v2) is between 10 and 50 %, preferably approximately 20 % greater than the first speed (v1) and the third speed (v3) is between 10 and 50 %, preferably approximately 20 % lower than the first speed (v1).
EP91122241A 1991-01-25 1991-12-27 Device for forming a gap in a stream of overlapping articles Expired - Lifetime EP0497002B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH236/91 1991-01-25
CH23691 1991-01-25

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0497002A1 EP0497002A1 (en) 1992-08-05
EP0497002B1 true EP0497002B1 (en) 1995-05-24

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EP91122241A Expired - Lifetime EP0497002B1 (en) 1991-01-25 1991-12-27 Device for forming a gap in a stream of overlapping articles

Country Status (7)

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US (1) US5158278A (en)
EP (1) EP0497002B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3082008B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2059247A1 (en)
DE (1) DE59105589D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2071903T3 (en)
FI (1) FI920336A (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2059247A1 (en) 1992-07-26
DE59105589D1 (en) 1995-06-29
ES2071903T3 (en) 1995-07-01
FI920336A0 (en) 1992-01-24
JPH0577963A (en) 1993-03-30
FI920336A (en) 1992-07-26
JP3082008B2 (en) 2000-08-28
US5158278A (en) 1992-10-27
EP0497002A1 (en) 1992-08-05

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