EP0553724A1 - Method and device for the production of defined piles of folded or unfolded sheets or sheet-like material - Google Patents

Abstract

A process and a device serves for producing defined piles of folded or unfolded sheets or sheet-like articles. The individually fed sheets (1) are deposited upright on a table (4), the separation of the individual piles taking place by means of a separating support (7) which can be moved at pile-forming speed parallel to the table (4). In order to make possible a separation and subsequent individualisation also of differently sized product piles, without requiring conversion measures, the formation of a first separating plane defining the pile start and of a second separating plane defining the pile end takes place by sequential introduction, transversely to the longitudinal extent of the table (4), of the separating support (7) into the pile cross-section. One further support (22, 23) in each case can be completely introduced into each of the two separating planes formed in this manner. If appropriate, a transfer support (17) is interposed which receives the separating plane from the separating support (7) and transfers it to one of the two further supports (22, 23). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a process for the production of defined stacks of folded or unfolded sheets or sheet-shaped objects, in which the individually fed sheets are placed standing on a horizontal base and the separation into individual stacks is carried out by a separating support which can be moved parallel to the base at the rate of stacking.

A method for producing defined stacks of this type is described in DE 27 32 837 C2. In this process, the sheets are separated into individual stacks by a plurality of separating supports attached to a circumferential chain belt. The separation supports are moved into the stacking level in the area of the deflection of the chain belt. As soon as a sheet stack lying against the previous separation support has reached the required size, the subsequent separation support located immediately behind the deflection point of the chain belt is briefly accelerated by means of a preloaded piston-spring unit until it rests against the back of the stack formed and thereby forms the rear parting plane. A disadvantage of this known method is that the separating supports are each at the same distance from one another and therefore adjustments with regard to the desired length of the product stack are only possible through larger conversion measures. Also size adjustments regarding the height and width of the leaves require modifications to all separating supports. A further disadvantage is that the known method only allows the individual product stacks to be subdivided, but not the product stacks subdivided in this way, for the purpose of further processing.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a method for producing defined stacks of folded or unfolded sheets or sheet-shaped objects which, even without conversion measures, enables separation and subsequent separation of even different sized stacks of products.

To solve this problem, it is proposed that the formation of a first parting plane defining the beginning of the stack and a second parting plane defining the end of the stack is carried out by successively moving the separating support into the cross-section of the stack transversely to the longitudinal extent of the base, and in each of the two formed in this way Separation levels each fully retract another support.

Since the method according to the invention works with only one separating support, no conversion measures are required to change the length of the product stack. The length of the product stack is rather freely variable by choosing the point in time at which the separation support enters the stack cross-section for the second time and forms the second separation plane. It is also advantageous that the already divided product stack can be separated and fed to a subsequent processing by means of the two further supports.

A further development of the method provides that the separating support is inserted into the stack cross-section by means of a device under prestress. This makes it possible to move the separation support into the stack cross-section at high speed to form the separation planes and thus to reliably subdivide two product stacks.

Preferably, the preloaded device is released by actuating a locking member.

In order to obtain the stack density required for further processing and in particular packaging of the product stack, it is proposed with a further development of the method that after the two cheerful supports have been moved into the stack cross-section, the support defining the end of the stack moves parallel to the base at a higher speed as the support defining the beginning of the stack.

In one embodiment of the method, it is provided that the separation planes formed by the separation support are maintained by a transfer support that completely moves into the separation planes before the further supports are retracted. As a result, the method has a greater scope in terms of time in the further processing of the product stack captured and transported by the two further supports.

In order to achieve a continuous and therefore gentle process sequence, the transfer support is retracted while the separating support and transfer support move parallel to the base at a stacking speed. The retraction of each of the two further supports also takes place while the transfer support and the respective further support move parallel to the base at a stacking speed.

In an embodiment of the method it is finally provided that the movement of the separating support, the transfer support and the further supports is carried out with the aid of actuating cylinders.

The invention further relates to a device for producing defined stacks of folded or unfolded sheets or sheet-like objects, with a feeding device which stores the individually fed sheets standing on a horizontal table and a separating support which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the table to form a defined dividing plane between successive stacks.

To solve the further problem of creating a device which is particularly suitable for carrying out the abovementioned method, it is proposed that the separating support and at least two further supports which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the table independently of the movement of the separating support can be moved transversely until the stack cross section has been fully inserted are trained.

This device undergoes its further development in that the further supports can be moved horizontally to one another by means of a relative guide and the further supports and the relative guide are arranged to be movable on a horizontal main guide.

The separation support is preferably connected to the piston of a pressure cylinder, with a locking member taking over the locking of the separation support in its rest position.

The device also proposes that, in addition to the separating support and the two further supports, a transfer support is provided, which is also designed to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the table and to be fully retractable into the stack cross section. This transfer support enables one Greater temporal independence between the movement of the separating support and the movement of the two further supports causing the product stack to be removed.

With regard to a spatial separation of the individual movement sequences, it is advantageous if the transfer support is arranged on the side of the table opposite the separation support and the two further supports.

To implement the individual movements, it is also proposed that the table have a plurality of slots running in the longitudinal direction. The transfer support and the two further supports are preferably constructed in the manner of a rake, the fingers of which are each arranged above or below the slots, while the fingers of the separation support which is likewise constructed in the manner of a rake are each arranged above or below the horizontal surfaces of the table. In order to be able to safely separate the further supports from the transfer support even when they have been completely moved into the stack cross-section, the fingers of the transfer support are designed as U-shaped profiles in cross section, the opening of which is remote from the feed device.

For processing different sheet sizes, it is finally proposed that the height of the table can be changed by means of first adjustment elements, and the width of the table, the separating support, the transfer support and the further supports can be changed by means of second adjustment elements.

Figur 1

Eine schematische Ansicht einer Vorrichtung zur Herstellung definierter Stapel gefalzter oder ungefalzter Blätter oder blattförmiger Gegenstände;

Figur 2

eine Ansicht der Vorrichtung in der Ebene II - II nach Figur 1 ohne Darstellung der einzelnen Blätter und

Figuren 3a bis 3h

in vereinfachter Darstellung verschiedene Stadien bei Durchführung eines Verfahrens zur Herstellung definierter Stapel gefalzter oder ungefalzter Blätter oder blattförmiger Gegenstände und

Figur 4

eine der Figur 2 entsprechende Darstellung bei einer alternativen Ausführungsvariante der Vorrichtung.

Further details and advantages of the subject matter of the invention result from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the method and the device according to the invention is shown. The drawings show:

Figure 1

A schematic view of an apparatus for producing defined stacks of folded or unfolded sheets or sheet-like objects;

Figure 2

a view of the device in the plane II - II of Figure 1 without showing the individual sheets and

Figures 3a to 3h

in a simplified representation different stages in the implementation of a method for producing defined stacks of folded or unfolded sheets or sheet-shaped objects and

Figure 4

a representation corresponding to Figure 2 in an alternative embodiment of the device.

The device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 assembles sheets 1 or sheet-shaped objects, such as napkins, into larger stacks and then transports them to a downstream processing device, for example a packaging machine. The finished cut and folded sheets 1 pass by means of a cylindrical transfer device 2 to a feed device 3 designed as a delivery cylinder, which strips the individual sheets 1 on a base designed as a table 4. The sheets 1 held by the grippers (not shown) on the circumference of the feed device 3 are released immediately before reaching the table 4 and then moved by a swiveling racket 5 against a stack already placed on the table 4. The newly fed sheet is therefore deposited on the back of the stack that has already been formed. In order to give the racket 5 the necessary freedom of movement, it projects like a throat between individual disks of the feed device 3 designed as a delivery cylinder, as can be seen in FIG. After the last sheet has laid down on the stack, the racket 5 swings again back to its dashed starting position and maintains this until the next sheet, held on the circumference of the feed device 3, is almost down to the height of the table 4.

In order to be able to adapt the height of the table 4 to different formats of the sheets 1, suitable adjustment elements 6 are provided.

Above the swivel range of the striker 5 there is a separating support 7 designed in the manner of a rake or a comb, which can be moved by means of a pressure cylinder 8 to just above the top of the table 4 and can be pulled back into its starting position shown in FIG. In this starting position, the separating support 7 is blocked by a locking member 9 operating in the manner of a pawl. The actuation of the locking member and thus the release of the separation support 7 takes place by means of a small pressure cylinder 10. A controlled movement of the separation support 7 parallel to the longitudinal extension of the table 4 is possible via a horizontal guide 11 by means of an actuating cylinder 12. FIG. 2 shows that the individual fingers 13 of the separating support 7 designed in the manner of a rake are located in the same longitudinal plane as the individual disks of the cylindrical feed device 3. In the same longitudinal plane there are also individual narrow tracks 14 which together form the table 4 form and are each divided by slots 15. In the front part of the slots 15 the table 4, the tips of the racket 5 are movable.

Below the slots 15 of the table 4 there are individual fingers 16 of a transfer support 17 which is likewise designed in the manner of a rake or a comb. FIG. 2 shows that the individual fingers 16 of the transfer support 17 are designed as U-shaped profiles, the opening of which Feed device 3 is formed facing away. The transfer support 17 can also be moved in the longitudinal direction by means of a horizontal guide 18. By means of a vertical actuating cylinder 19, the transfer support 17 can be moved from the position shown in FIG. 1 below the table 4 to an upper position shown in dashed lines on the left, in which the transfer support is located within the stack cross-section.

Figure 1 also shows that above the table 4 two further supports 22, 23 are arranged, each movable by means of a vertically acting adjusting cylinder 20, 21. The two further supports 22, 23 can be moved from the upper position shown in FIG. 1 to a lower position just above the table 4. In the left part of Figure 2 it is shown that the two further supports 22, 23 in this lower position, in which they are located within the stack cross-section, with their fingers 24, 25 exactly in the fingers 16 of the transfer support designed as U-shaped profiles 17 fit in. Here, the fingers 16 of the transfer support 17, as it were, enclose the fingers 24, 25 of the two further supports 22, 23.

The two supports 22, 23 can be moved together in the longitudinal direction via a further horizontal guide 26. For this purpose, both supports 22, 23 are arranged on a support 27, which in turn is provided with a smaller longitudinal guide 28. While the actuating cylinder 20 of the front support 22 is firmly connected to the support 27, the actuating cylinder 21 of the rear support 23 can be adjusted relative to the support 27 by means of the longitudinal guide 28. Another small actuating cylinder 29 is used for this purpose. With the aid of this arrangement, the front support 22 and the rear support 23 can be moved independently of one another both in the vertical and in the horizontal direction.

In Figure 2 it is shown that the width of the table 4 and the feed device 3 can be changed by means of suitable adjusting elements 30, 31 in order to adapt to the respective width of the sheets to be processed. Racket 5, separation support 7, transfer support 17 and supports 22, 23 have corresponding adjustment options.

The operation of the device is explained below with reference to Figures 3a to 3h.

In the starting position according to FIG. 3a, the separation support 7 is in the locked position above the already formed stack of sheets 1. In order to give the separation support 7 the highest possible initial speed when released by the locking member 9, the pressure cylinder 8 stands for the vertical movement of the separation support 7 already under working pressure. After the racket 5 has pressed the last sheet against the stack at the desired time, the locking member 9 releases the separating support 7, so that it descends at high speed to just above the table 4, as shown in FIG. 3b. As soon as the separating support 7 has reached its lower position, it moves in the longitudinal direction of the table 4 until the pivoting range of the racket 5 is cleared. The subsequent further movement of the separating support 7 takes place at the speed of stack formation, that is to say the speed at which sheets deposited on the table are transported further in the horizontal direction.

As soon as the separating support 7 has moved a bit away from the feed device 3 at stacking speed, the transfer support 17 moves from below into the separation plane formed, the fingers 16 of the transfer support 17 passing between the fingers 13 of the separating support 7. As soon as the transfer support 17 their has reached the upper position, the separating support 7 is moved upward in the manner shown in FIG. 3c and returned to its starting position according to FIG. 3a. The transfer support 17 is thus introduced in the method step according to FIG. 3c into the parting plane originally formed by the parting support 7 and now takes over the task of separating the preceding stack from the following one. During the transfer, the separating support 7 and the transfer support 17 move at the same speed, namely the stacking speed. Alternatively, separation support 7 and transfer support 17 can also assume a fixed transfer position for a short time.

As soon as the continuously moving transfer support 17 reaches the position below the front support 22, the support 22 moves from above into the parting plane previously created by the transfer support 17, the individual fingers 24 of the support 22 being formed into the U-shaped profiles Completely immerse fingers 16 of transfer support 17. Only then is the transfer support 17 pulled down and returned to its original position. This state is shown in Figure 3d.

Subsequently, the transfer support 17 according to FIG. 3e takes over the next parting plane, which has meanwhile been generated by the parting support 7. This second or rear parting plane defines the end of the stack. Up to this point in time, the rear support 23 has not yet performed any longitudinal movement, which is achieved by a movement of the small actuating cylinder 29 which is opposite to the movement along the horizontal guide 26. However, as soon as the transfer support 17 reaches the position below the support 23 shown in FIG. 3f, the rear support 23 is also lowered and takes over the rear parting plane from the handover support 17. As in the transfer of the front parting plane to the support 22, the Transfer of the rear parting plane to the support 23 the support 23 and the transfer support 17 at the same horizontal speed. Alternatively, both can also take a fixed handover position for a short time.

FIG. 3g shows the state immediately after the rear parting plane has been transferred to the rear support 23. As soon as this transfer is completed, the front support 22 is moved forward at a high speed and the rear support 23 at an even higher speed, while the transfer support 17 continues to move at the normal stacking speed. The movement speeds are indicated in FIGS. 3g and 3h by corresponding arrows. As a result of the relative speed of the two supports 22, 23, the length of the stack is compressed to the desired length or the length required for further processing. As soon as the desired compression has been achieved, the stack thus separated is carried away at high speed. This is shown in Figure 3h. The opening of the rear parting plane shown is possible because the fingers 25 of the rear support 23 can easily move out of the U-shaped fingers 16 of the transfer support 17. During the removal of the stack formed, the transfer support 17 forms the front stop and defines the front parting plane of the next stack. This next front parting plane is then taken over by the returning front support 22, so that the method is repeated starting with the state shown in FIG. 3d.

The parting planes are thus each formed by the separating support 7 moving down at high speed, then taken over by the transfer support 17 and finally transferred to one of the further supports 22, 23.

In the variant of the device shown in FIG. 4, components having the same effect compared to the first-mentioned variant are provided with the same reference numerals. In a departure from the first variant, not only the fingers 16 of the transfer support 17, but also the fingers 13 of the separation support 7 are U-shaped in cross section. This way move the fingers 16 of the transfer support 17 into the fingers 13 of the separation support 7. In this embodiment, all the supports 7, 17, 22, 23 are located above or below the slots 15 of the table 4. In the area of the horizontal travel of the separating support 7, the table 4 is formed by additional narrow tracks 14 a, which in this area between the Lanes 14 are inserted.

Reference symbol list

1

leaves

2nd

Transfer device

3rd

Feeding device

4th

table

5

bat

6

Adjustment element

7

Separation support

8th

Pressure cylinder

9

Locking member

10th

Pressure cylinder

11

Horizontal guidance

12

Actuator cylinder

13

finger

14

train

14a

train

15

slot

16

finger

17th

Transfer support

18th

Horizontal guidance

19th

Actuator cylinder

20th

Actuator cylinder

21

Actuator cylinder

22

support

23

support

24th

finger

25th

finger

26

Horizontal guidance

27

Support

28

Longitudinal guidance

29

Actuator cylinder

30th

Adjustment element

31

Adjustment element

Claims (22)

Process for the production of defined stacks of folded or unfolded sheets or sheet-shaped gage stands, in which the individually fed sheets are placed standing on a horizontal base and the separation into individual stacks is carried out by means of a separating support which can be moved parallel to the base at stacking speed,
characterized,
that the formation of a first parting plane defining the beginning of the stack and a second parting plane defining the end of the stack takes place by successively moving the separating support into the cross-section of the stack transversely to the longitudinal extent of the stack and completely inserting another support into each of the two separating planes formed in this way. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating support is inserted into the cross-section of the stack by means of a pretensioned device. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the release of the pretensioned device takes place by actuating a locking member. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that, after the two further supports have been moved into the stack cross section, the support defining the end of the stack moves parallel to the base at a higher speed than the support defining the start of the stack. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the separation planes formed by the separation support before the further supports are moved in from one completely into the separation planes retracting transfer support are maintained. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the transfer support is retracted while the separating support and the transfer support move parallel to the base at the rate of stacking. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the retraction of each of the two further supports takes place while the transfer support and the respective support move parallel to the base at the speed of stacking. Method according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the movement of the separating support, the transfer support and the two further supports takes place with the aid of actuating cylinders. Device for producing defined stacks of folded or unfolded sheets or sheet-shaped objects, with a feed device (3) which places the individual supplied sheets (1) on a horizontal table (4) and a separating support (7) which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the table (4) Formation of a defined dividing plane between successive stacks,
characterized,
that the separating support (7) and at least two further supports (22, 23) which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the table (4) independently of the movement of the separating support (7) are designed to be transversely movable until they are fully inserted into the stack cross section. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the further supports (22, 23) can be moved horizontally to one another by means of a relative guide (28, 29). Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the further supports (22, 23) and the relative guide (28, 29) are arranged to be movable on a horizontal main guide (26). Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the separating support (7) is connected to the piston of a pressure cylinder (8). Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized by a locking member (9) for locking the separating support (7) in its rest position. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that in addition to the separating support (7) and the two further supports (22, 23) there is a transfer support (17) which can also be moved in the longitudinal direction of the table (4) and can be fully moved into the stack cross-section is trained. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the transfer support (17) is arranged on the side of the table (4) opposite the separating support (7) and the two further supports (22, 23). Apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, characterized by actuating cylinders for moving the separating support (7) and / or the transfer support (17) in the longitudinal direction of the table (4). Device according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the separating support (7), the transfer support (17) and the two further supports (22, 23) in the manner of a rake with a plurality of fingers (13, 16, 24) which are parallel to one another , 25) are constructed. Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the table (4) has a plurality of slots (15) running in the longitudinal direction. Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the fingers (16, 24, 25) of the transfer support (17) and the two further supports (22, 23) are each arranged above or below the slots (15), while the fingers (13 ) the separating support (7) are arranged above or below the horizontal surfaces of the table (4). Device according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the fingers (16) of the transfer support (17) are designed as cross-sectionally U-shaped profiles, the opening of which is remote from the feeding device (3). Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the height of the table (4) can be changed by means of first adjusting elements (6). Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the width of the table (4), the separating support (7), the transfer support (17) and the further supports (22, 23) can be changed by means of second adjusting elements (30, 31).

Images