EP0606549B1 - Device for transporting flat products - Google Patents

Abstract

In the reception region (18), the band conveyor (14) has an elastic conveyor band (106) which is driven in the conveying direction (F) at a conveying speed (v1). The receiver conveyor (22) has individually controllable clamps (20) which are arranged in succession on a supporting member (30) driven in the direction of rotation (U) and the clamp jaw of which is directed forwards in the direction of rotation (U) in the reception region (18). The products (10) fed to the reception region (18) are each pressed against the conveyor band (106) by the pressure roller (62) at the free end of the first clamping fence (54). Since the clamp speed (v2) is higher than the conveying speed (V1), the trailing clamp (20) draws level with the held product (10) and grasps it at the trailing edge (10'). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a device for transporting flat products, in particular printed products, with a belt conveyor for conveying the products to a take-over area and a take-over conveyor with individually controllable clamps arranged one behind the other on a rotating support member for individual take-over in the take-over area and subsequent conveying of the products.

A device in which printed products are fed in a shingled formation lying on a belt conveyor and taken over by a gripper conveyor in the take-over area and transported further is disclosed in CH-A-592 562 and the corresponding US Pat. No. 3,955,667. The speed of rotation of the brackets corresponds to the conveying speed of the belt conveyor and the distance of the brackets corresponds to the distance of the leading edges of the printed products. Each clamp has a fixed jaw facing towards the rear in the circumferential direction and a movable jaw arranged on a shaft. In the open position, the shaft is extended in the direction toward the belt conveyor and pivoted about its longitudinal axis, so that the movable clamping tongue is directed at right angles to the direction of rotation and the fixed clamping jaw. The belt conveyor is rocker-like and is biased towards the top by a spring. The free end of the shaft of each gripper comes on top of a printed product and before the leading one Edge of the subsequent print product to the system. To grasp the printed product, the shaft is then pivoted, as a result of which the movable clamping tongue engages under the printed product to be detected at the leading edge and by moving the shaft upward, the clamp is closed and the printed product is clamped between the fixed clamping jaw and the movable clamping tongue at the leading edge.

CH-A-468 923 and the corresponding US-A-3,671,035 disclose a device with a belt conveyor, on which the printed products are transported in a shingled formation. At the end of the belt conveyor, a conveyor with grippers arranged on a conveyor chain runs diagonally upwards from below. The grippers have a fixed clamping jaw and a clamping tongue arranged on a rotatable shaft which is displaceable in its longitudinal direction. At the transition from the belt conveyor to the take-over conveyor, the trailing edge below is exposed due to the bending of the printed products, as a result of which it comes to rest on the fixed clamping jaw. Then the shaft is pivoted and at the same time moved in the axial direction against the fixed clamping jaw in order to clamp the printed product at the trailing edge between the latter and the movable clamping tongue.

In a device as is known from EP-A-0 300 171 and the corresponding US-A-4,905,986, printed products are transported in a scale formation lying on a belt conveyor, in which each product rests on the one that follows it. To capture the printed products at their covered leading edge To be able to, the take-over conveyor has individually controllable grippers arranged one behind the other at a distance from the leading edges, with a fixed clamping jaw, which comes into contact with the printed product to be detected from below at the leading edge. A movable clamping tongue is arranged at the end of the coupling of a crank drive, so that when the gripper closes, it lifts the print product in front in order to act on the print product to be detected from above and clamp it at the leading edge between itself and the fixed clamping jaw. The conveying speed of the belt conveyor corresponds to the rotational speed of the take-over conveyor.

A further device, in which printed products are transported in a scale formation lying on a belt conveyor and taken over by a take-over conveyor with individually controllable clamps, is disclosed in CH-A-618 398 and the corresponding US-A-4,201,286. Above the end of the belt conveyor which transports obliquely upwards, the take-over conveyor runs in the horizontal direction. This has a lock wheel in the take-over area, which releases a clip each time when a printed product has been inserted with its leading edge by the belt conveyor into the open clip.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for transporting flat products which allows the products to be gripped by a take-over conveyor at the trailing edge at high processing speed and regardless of the position of the belt conveyor supplying the printed products.

This object is achieved by a device for transporting flat products, which has the features in claim 1.

According to the invention, the products are pressed against a conveyor belt by a first clamping jaw of a clamp. As a result, the products are conveyed at the conveying speed of the conveyor belt, whereas the clamp, which is driven at a higher speed, moves past the product. The following bracket catches up the product and grips it at the trailing edge. The products are thus kept in the transfer area until they are gripped by the relevant clamp, by the respective preceding clamp and the conveyor belt. The products are therefore not free and their position is always given exactly, which allows a high conveying speed and thus guarantees a large processing capacity. In addition, the products are bent by being pressed by the first clamping jaw against an elastic conveyor belt, so that the following clamp can easily grasp the product at the trailing edge.

A preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention ensures that even thin products with weak inherent stability are pressed onto the elastic conveyor belt without damage and an extremely low-friction relative movement between the first clamping jaw and the product.

The preferred form of training according to claim 3 ensures even with strong bending of the products by Press on the conveyor belt for a secure grasp at the trailing edge.

A further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention allows the conveyor belt to be optimally adapted to the orbit of the clamps.

Claim 5 defines a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, with which the products can be transported in a simple manner in any direction and taken over by the belt conveyor by means of the take-over conveyor.

The formations of the products in which they can be processed particularly easily with the device according to the invention are specified in claim 6.

Claim 7 defines a particularly space-saving and simple form of training of the takeover conveyor.

Fig. 1

in Ansicht eine Ausbildungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung zum Zuführen von flächigen Erzeugnissen zu einer trommelartigen Verarbeitungseinrichtung für Druckereiprodukte;

Fig. 2

vergrössert einen Schnitt entlang der Linie II-II der Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

in Ansicht und gegenüber den Fig. 1 und 2 vergrössert eine in Uebernahmestellung verschwenkte Klammer mit geschlossenem Klammermaul;

Fig. 4

die Klammer gemäss Fig. 3 in Uebergabestellung verbracht;

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht der Klammer in Pfeilrichtung V der Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 und 7

gegenüber Fig. 1 vergrössert den Uebernahmebereich, in welchem die mittels des Bandförderers zugeführten Erzeugnisse vom Uebernahmeförderer übernommen werden, zu zwei um einen halben Arbeitstakt verschiedenen Zeitpunkten; und

Fig. 8 und 9

in gleicher Darstellung wie Fig. 6 und 7, eine weitere Ausbildungsform des Bandförderers im Uebernahmebereich, ebenfalls zu zwei verschiedenen Zeitpunkten in einem Arbeitstakt.

The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawing. It shows purely schematically:

Fig. 1

in view a form of embodiment of the inventive device for feeding flat products to a drum-like processing device for printed products;

Fig. 2

enlarges a section along the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

in view and in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2, a clamp pivoted in the take-over position with the clamp jaw closed;

Fig. 4

the clip according to FIG. 3 is brought into the transfer position;

Fig. 5

a side view of the bracket in the direction of arrow V of Fig. 4;

6 and 7

Compared to FIG. 1, the take-over area in which the products fed by means of the belt conveyor are taken over by the take-over conveyor is enlarged at two different times by half a working cycle; and

8 and 9

in the same representation as FIGS. 6 and 7, a further form of training of the belt conveyor in the takeover area, likewise at two different times in one work cycle.

Fig. 1 shows schematically a device for feeding flat products 10, in the present case of cards, to a drum-like processing device 12. A conveyor 16 designed as a belt conveyor 14 transports the products 10 in the conveying direction F and at conveying speed v 1 to a takeover area 18. A transfer conveyor 22 equipped with individually controllable clamps 20 is arranged below the slightly rising conveyor device 16 and is driven to rotate in the direction of rotation U about the axis of rotation 24. In the takeover area 18, the clamps 20 move in the same direction as the conveying direction F, the clamp jaw 26 of the clamps 20, viewed in the circumferential direction U, being directed towards the front and the clamp speed v₂ being greater than the conveying speed v₁. As is to be described in detail below, each clamp 20 in the takeover area 18 detects a product 10 at its trailing edge 10 'and transports the product 10 to a transfer area 28 which is approximately diametrically opposite to the takeover area 18. In the course of the movement of the clips 20 from the take-over area 18 to the transfer area 28, the clips 20, which are articulated on a wheel-like support member 30, are pivoted against the direction of rotation U about a pivot axis 32 running parallel to the axis of rotation 24 about the products 10 with their opposite, the trailing edge 10 ' Leading edge 10 '' ahead, to insert into pocket-shaped receiving parts 34 of the processing device 12. The receiving parts 34 of the drum-like processing device 12 are delimited by walls 36 which run in the radial direction and which have saddle-like supports at their radially outer free ends which run parallel to the, not shown, horizontal axis of rotation of the processing device 12. Printed products 40 are laid out astride the supports 38, onto each of which a product 10 is glued in the transfer area 28 by means of the transfer conveyor 22. A drum-like processing device 12 of this type is described in CH patent application No. 00 060 / 92-6 and the corresponding EP patent application, publication no. 0 550 828. With regard to the structure and mode of operation of the processing device 12, reference is expressly made to these documents. Further drum-like processing devices are known from EP-A-0 341 425, EP-A-0 341 424 and EP-A-0 346 578, as well as the corresponding US-A-5,052,667, US-A-5,052,666 and US-A-5,104,108 known.

The structure of the transfer conveyor 22 will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. A bearing element 44 is wedged on the rotary shaft 24 ′ coaxial with the axis of rotation 24, which is driven continuously in the direction of rotation U via a chain drive 42, on which the wheel-like support member 30 is seated in a rotationally fixed manner. The latter has two parallel, round support disks 46 running at right angles to the axis of rotation 24, which are penetrated by bearing shafts 48, in the present case twelve, on a partial circle coaxial to the axis of rotation 24. The distance between the support disks 46 is given by the bearing element 44 and spacers 50 which are penetrated by the bearing shafts 48. A swivel lever 52 is attached to each of the two ends of the bearing shafts 48, which are freely rotatably mounted on the support disks 46 via the spacers 50. The respective parallel pivot levers 52 are at their free ends via the pivot axis 32 connected with each other.

A plate-like first clamping jaw 54 and a second clamping jaw 56, which consists of two clamping fingers 56 ', are freely rotatably mounted on the pivot axis 32. For this purpose, the first clamping jaw 54 has plates 58 which are penetrated by the pivot axis 32, are formed on the flat clamping jaw part 54 'and protrude at right angles therefrom. The clamping fingers 56 'penetrated by the pivot axis 32 are designed in the manner of double levers, the first clamping jaw 54 projecting above the clamping arm 56 of the clamping fingers 56'. Between the first clamping jaw 54 and the clamping fingers 56 ', a helical spring 60 engages around the pivot axis 32 in order to prestress the two clamping jaws 54, 56 against one another in the closing direction.

1 and 3, the clamp jaw 26 formed by the clamping jaws 54, 56 is directed towards the front in the takeover area 18 in the direction of rotation U. At the end projecting beyond the clamping fingers 56 ', the first clamping jaw 54 has a freely rotatable pressure roller 62, the longitudinal axis of which runs parallel to the axis of rotation 24 and pivot axis 32.

In the end area facing away from the pressure roller 62, a link 64 is articulated on the first clamping jaw 54. This is shaft-shaped and extends through a bearing body 66 which is arranged between the support disks 46 and is freely rotatably supported on the latter. The link 64 is encompassed by a spring element 68 which is designed as a compression spring and which is located on one side on the bearing body 66 and on the other side on the link 64 in the vicinity coupling it to the first Clamping jaw 54 is supported. The link 64 extends through the bearing body 66 in a freely displaceable manner and has a stop disk 70 at its end on this side which cooperates with the bearing body 66 in order to fix the clamp steering position of the link 64. The bearing body 66 is pivotally mounted on the support member 30, offset with respect to the bearing shaft 48 in the radial direction inwards and counter to the circumferential direction U, by means of pins 71, so that the first clamping jaw 54 is articulated on the support member 30 in the manner of a crank gear, the pivoting levers 52 being the crank, the link 64 the rocker and the first jaw 54 form the coupling.

A control arm 72 is formed on the pivot levers 52 in the manner of an angle lever and carries a freely rotatable control roller 74 at its free end and on the outer side facing away from the clamping jaws 54, 56. These control rollers 74 run in self-contained, groove-like control links 76, which run around the rotary shaft 24 'and are formed on link plates 78 parallel to the support disks 46. The link plates 78 are supported on a frame 79 and the rotary shaft 24 'is freely rotatably supported on them.

The control links 76 are shaped in such a way that in the take-over area 18, the swivel levers 52 are pivoted backwards into the take-over position counter to the direction of rotation U, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Controlled by the link 64, the clamps 20 are pivoted such that the clamp jaw 26 is directed towards the front in the direction of rotation U; this position of the brackets 20 can also be referred to as the takeover position. The Flat first clamping jaw 54 encloses an acute open angle with a tangent to the orbit, which angle is only a few degrees (preferably approximately 10 °).

Seen in the direction of rotation U, between the takeover area 18 and the transfer area 28, the control links 76 are shaped such that the links 64 are pivoted in the same direction as the direction of rotation U toward the front, into a transfer position in which their longitudinal direction runs approximately radially to the axis of rotation 24. Under the action of the link 64, the first clamping jaw 54 and thus the clamp 20 are pivoted in the opposite direction to a direction of rotation S, so that the angle enclosed by the first clamping jaw 54 and a tangent to the orbit increases (in the transfer position this is Angle preferably about 60-70 °), as shown in particular in FIG. 4.

A crank 80 is also rotatably mounted on the bearing shaft 48, in each case between the relevant support disk 46 and the pivoting lever 52, which carries a freely rotatable follower roller 82 at its end and is connected via a coupling 84 to the relevant clamping finger 56 'of the second clamping jaw 56 is. The couplers 84 are articulated on the clamping fingers 56 'on the side facing away from the clamping arm. In the takeover area 18, opening scenes 86 interact with the follow rollers 82 and are fastened to the scenery signs 78. In the same way, follow-up links 88 are provided in the transfer area 28, which interact with the follow-up rollers 82 to prevent the second clamping jaw 56 from also pivoting when the first clamping jaw 54 is opened to open the clamp 20 is opened by the action of counter bearings 90. These counter bearings 90 are formed in the processing device 12 according to FIG. 1 by the walls 36 or supports 38.

The wheel-like support disks 46 have recesses 92 on their circumference, into which the clamps 20 engage in the take-over position. The sawtooth-like projections between the clamps 20 form with their outer surface 94 a guide element for the trailing edge 10 'of the products 10, the outer surface 94 being flush with the free end of the second clamping jaw 56 or being further away from the axis of rotation 24 with respect to this, when the clamping fingers 56 'are pivoted into their open position, as can be seen from FIG. 1.

The inner end of the clamp jaw 26 is formed by the plates 58, the leading edge 58 'of which, viewed in the direction of rotation U, forms a stop for the trailing edge 10' of the products 10. A guide plate 96 is provided between the transfer area 18 and the transfer area 28 in order to guide the leading edge 10 ″ of the products 10 during transport by means of the transfer conveyor 22 and to prevent the products 10 from bending backwards. Furthermore, in the takeover area 18, seen in the axial direction, on both sides of the orbit of the brackets 20, lateral guide plates 98 are fastened to the frame 79 in order to take over a side straightening function for the products 10 and a lateral displacement of the products 10 during the takeover by the transfer conveyor 22 prevent. Next are between these side guide plates 98 and the orbit of the brackets 20, in the take-over area 18, guide profiles 100 arranged coaxially to the axis of rotation 24 are fastened to the frame in order to support the products 10 on the inner side, seen in the radial direction.

Seen in the direction of conveyance F, the transfer conveyor 22 is preceded by an adhesive application device 102 indicated by an arrow (see FIG. 1) in order to apply an adhesive application 104 to the products 10, which is only indicated in FIG. 6 for the sake of clarity. The adhesive application device 102 is controlled in a known manner in such a way that it applies the adhesive application 104 to a point on the product 10, which, viewed in the direction of the axis of rotation 24, between the clamping fingers 56 ′ of the second clamping jaw in the product 10 gripped by a clamp 20 56 and, seen in the direction of rotation U, lies between the trailing edge 10 'and the pressure roller 62. Furthermore, the adhesive application 104 is located on the side of the products 10 facing the axis of rotation 24. In principle, however, it is also possible for the adhesive application device 102 to apply the adhesive application 104 at another location. If the products 10 are not to be glued to the printed products, the adhesive application device 102 is switched off, or none is provided at all.

The conveyor device 16 has a ribbon conveyor 106, the endless conveyor ribbon 108, which is round in cross section and made of elastic material, is guided around deflection rollers 110, 110 'at the beginning and at the end of the takeover area 18. The conveyor belt 108 together with the pressure roller 62 of the clamps 20 forms a nip for the products 10. The belt conveyor 106 is preceded by the belt conveyor 14, which has a pair of conveyor belts 112, which forms a conveyor gap 112 'between them, in order to feed the products 10 in the conveying direction F to the takeover area 18. The ribbon conveyor 106 and the pair of conveyor belts 112 are driven at the conveying speed v 1 in the conveying direction F; this is less than the speed v₂ of the brackets 20 in the takeover area 18th

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the products 10 are conveyed by means of the conveying device 16 in a scale formation 114 to the takeover area 18, in which each product 10 rests on the leading end. The trailing edge 10 ′ of each product 10 thus lies on the trailing product 10 on the side facing away from the ribbon conveyor 106.

The takeover of the products 10 by the transfer conveyor 22 from the conveying device 16 will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, which show the takeover area 18 enlarged by two times which are different from each other by half a working cycle. The reference numerals correspond to those in FIGS. 1 to 5. If a product 10 leaves the conveying gap 112 ′ with its leading edge 10 ″, it arrives directly in the takeover area 18, where it is only on the leading area with its area adjoining the leading edge 10 ″ Product 10 rests. However, it is still held in the conveying gap 112 'and is transported further at the conveying speed v 1 (see FIG. 7). As a result of the higher clamp speed v₂, a clamp 20 now catches up with the product 10 and presses it with its pressure roller 62 against the conveyor belt 108, see the clip 20 on the left in FIG. 6. In the course of the further rotation, the clamp 20 now presses the product 10 onto the conveyor belt 108 with the pressure roller 62, as a result of which the product 10 is also held when its trailing edge 10 'has left the conveyor gap 112', see the second clamp in FIG. 7 20 from the left. As a result of the elasticity of the conveyor belt 108 and the fact that the web of the pressure roller 62 cuts the conveyor belt 108, which is intended to be straight between the deflection rollers 110 and 110 ', this is deflected upward, as a result of which the product 10 is bent and with its trailing edge 10' the guide profiles 100 and then comes to rest on the outer surface 94 of the support disks 46, cf. 6, the middle bracket 20. The products 10 are still transported at the conveying speed v 1 of the conveyor belt 108, as a result of which the pressure roller 62 rolls on the latter and, viewed in the direction of rotation U, the following bracket 20 with the bracket mouth 26 open, the product 10 catches up and includes 10 'at its trailing edge. At the end of the take-over area 18, the pressure roller 62 pressing the product 10 against the conveyor belt 108 runs off the conveyor belt 108 and the trailing clamp 20 is closed in order to grasp and hold this product 10 at the trailing edge 10 ', see FIG. 6 clamp 20 on the far right and in FIG. 7 the two brackets 20 on the right.

The products 10 are thus always held and guided until they are gripped by a clamp 20. Your position is always precisely determined. This leaves a large processing capacity and in particular any position of the Conveyor 16 and the transfer conveyor 22 to. The clamps 20 hold the products 10 securely, since the bending of the products 10 and the lifting of the conveyor belt 108 by the clamp 20 to be grasped the product 10 ensure that the product 10 with the trailing edge 10 ′ of the conveyor belt 108 or the trailing one Product 10 lifts off and is overlapped by the first jaw 54. Furthermore, the guide profiles 100 and the outer surface 94 ensure that the second clamping jaw 56 engages under the product 10. Furthermore, an exact alignment of the products 10 is ensured by the fact that the edges 58 'of the plates 58 run onto the trailing edge 10' of the products 10. The guide surface 98 prevents the products 10 from being twisted or laterally sheared out.

Another embodiment of the conveyor 16 in the takeover area 18 is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The conveyor belt 108 of the ribbon conveyor 106 is guided around the stationary deflection roller 110 at the end of the conveying gap 112 'and the stationary deflection roller 110' at the end of the takeover area 18 and is also driven in the conveying direction F at the conveying speed v 1. Approximately in the middle between the deflection rollers 110 and 110 ', a first pressure wheel 118 is provided, which is arranged between the two runs of the conveyor belt 108 and is freely rotatably mounted on the free end of a lever 120 which is pivotally articulated on the other end on a bearing plate 122 of the conveyor device 16. A tensioning wheel 124 is freely rotatably mounted about the pivot axis 120 'of this lever 120 and between the deflection roller 110 and the first pressure wheel 118 the upper non-active run of the conveyor belt 108 in the direction presses against the lower active strand. Furthermore, between these two strands and, seen in the conveying direction F, between the tensioning wheel 124 and the deflection roller 110, a second pressure wheel 126 is provided, which is freely rotatably mounted at the free end of a further lever 128, which in turn is pivotably mounted about the axis of the deflection roller 110 is. Between the deflecting rollers 110 and 110 'there are thus two elastically yieldable supports which press the conveyor belt 108 in the downward direction against the transfer conveyor 22. The downward force is generated in each case by the upper non-active run of the conveyor belt 108, which elastically prestresses the pressure wheels 118, 126 against the bottom due to the stationary tensioning wheel 124.

With the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the products 10 supplied with the conveyor 16 are taken over by the clamps 20 of the transfer conveyor 22 in basically the same way as in the embodiment according to FIGS. 6 and 7 It has been shown that as a result of the multiple, elastic support of the conveyor belt 108 in the takeover area 18, between the deflection rollers 110, 110 ', the processing capacity can be increased further by a greater conveying speed v 1 with the same reliable and safe transfer of the products 10 and higher clamp speed v₂ are permissible. Furthermore, the products are kept on a longer path.

A product 10 (FIG. 9) leaving the conveyor gap 112 'of the conveyor belt pair 112 is caught up by a clamp 20 and with its pressure roller 62 against the conveyor belt 108 pressed before the trailing edge 10 'leaves the conveyor gap 112' (FIG. 8). The product 10 is now transported further at the conveying speed v 1, whereas, due to the higher clamp speed v 2, the subsequent opened clamp 20 catches up with the product 10 and comprises it in the area of the trailing edge 10 '. By deflecting the conveyor belt 108 in the upward direction, by the pressure roller 62, the product 10 is again bent and by the pressure wheel 126 in the downward direction, against the upper side of the jaw part 54 '(FIG. 9) and then against the outer surface 94 the support disks 46 pressed. The S-shaped guidance of the conveyor belt 108, in particular between the deflection roller 110 and the first pressure wheel 118, increases the detachment effect of the trailing region of the product 10 from the subsequent product 10. As soon as the clip 20 has caught up with the product 10 in question, it is closed in order to grasp it at the trailing edge 10 'and to hold it in place during further transport. This is the case in the area between the pressure wheels 118 and 126, as shown in FIG. 9.

Since the products 10 in the takeover area 18 do not shift relative to one another, larger products 10 can also be processed in the conveying direction F. These are then pressed against the ribbon conveyor 106 at times by two clamps 20. It is also conceivable to process products 10 which are fed to the takeover area 18 at a distance from one another. It is advantageous, however, to use the form of training according to FIGS. 8 and 9, since the products 10 are not only from the pressure rollers 62, but also from the Clamping jaw part 54 'and the support disks 46 are held together with the conveyor belts 108. The material is selected so that the friction between the products 10 and the belt conveyor 106 is significantly greater than between the products 10 and the corresponding parts of the transfer conveyor 22.

Claims (7)

1. A device for conveying flat products, in particular printed products, with a belt conveyor (14) for feeding the products (10) to a take-up zone (18) and a take-up conveyor (22) with individually controllable clips (20) arranged one after the other on a rotating carrier element (30) for the individual take-up in the take-up zone (18) and subsequent onward carriage of the products (10), in which arrangement the belt conveyor (14) has in the take-up zone (18) a small elastic conveyor band, also termed a conveyor belt (108) below, which is driven in circulation at a conveyance speed (v₁), characterized in that the clips (20) are driven in the take-up zone (18) in the same direction as the conveyor belt (108) and at a clip speed (v₂) that is higher relative to the conveyance speed (v₁), that the clip mouth (26) formed by a first and a second clamping jaw (54, 56) is in the take-up zone (18) forwardly directed in the direction of rotation (U) so as to grip the products (10) at their trailing edge (10'), and that the first clamping jaw (54) facing the conveyor belt (108) is intended to press the product (10) to be gripped by the following clip (20) firmly for conveyance against the conveyor belt (108) so as to convey it onward at the conveyance speed (v₁), and that the first clamping jaw (54) has means to render possible a relative movement between itself and the product (10).
2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first clamping jaw (54) has at its free end a pressing-on roller (62) mounted for free rotation, whereby it presses the products (10) against the conveyor belt (108).
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by guide means (94, 100) to support the trailing edge (10') of the products (10), which are bent because of being pressed onto the conveyor belt (108), on the side remote from the conveyor belt (108), and to guide the trailing edge (10') into the clip mouth (26).
4. A device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by flexibly suspended pressing-on rollers (118, 126) for supporting the conveyor belt (108) in the take-up zone (18) on the side remote from the take-up conveyor (22).
5. A device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the conveyor belt (108) of the belt conveyor (14) is preceded by a pair (112) of conveyor bands which form a conveyor gap 112' so as to feed the products (10) to the conveyor belt (108), in which arrangement the first clamping jaw (54) of a clip (20) presses on each occasion one product (10) onto the conveyor belt (108) before the trailing edge (10') of the product (10) leaves the conveyance gap (112').
6. A device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the belt conveyor (14) is intended to convey the products (10) with a mutual interspacing or in a lapped formation (114), wherein the trailing edge (10') of the products (10) bears on each occasion on the side of the following product (10) remote from the conveyor belt (108) on the said following product.
7. A device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the carrier element (30) is designed in the manner of a wheel and is driven in rotation round its axis (24), and that the clips (20) are articulated on the carrier element (30) for pivoting.

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