EP0631952B1 - Device for feeding products, such as cards and samples, to a processing station - Google Patents

Abstract

The magazine device (10) has at least two magazine shafts (12, 14, 16, 18). A conveyor device (26) having grippers (30) arranged in succession leads over these magazine shafts. During a specific timespan, a transport member (34) in each case extracts products (36) in succession from one of the magazine shafts (12, 14, 16, 18) and leads these to a respective gripper (30) running past. After a specific timespan, the products (36) are extracted from another magazine shaft (12, 14, 16, 18) by means of a transport member (34) assigned to the latter. The products (36) are cards or merchandise samples which are inserted or glued into printed matter at the further-processing station (38). Uninterrupted operation along with a high processing capacity is possible by means of this device. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a device for Delivering items such as cards and samples that are intended to be inserted into printed products or to be glued to a processing station, according to the preamble of claim 1.

A device of this type is in the US patent No. 2,589,428. It has a magazine facility with four magazine shafts arranged in a row across which a conveyor runs. The conveyor has a rotating drive Traction element groups of individually arranged one behind the other controllable grippers. Each magazine slot is one Assigned transport organ, which is intended to the in stack in question stack arranged the top one Take the product and into the mouth of a gripper introduce. For this purpose, the locations of the Stacking chutes selected such that the first stacking shaft removed products seen in the conveying direction rearmost grippers of the groups are fed. The in Direction seen next next stacking shaft removed products are the second rear Grippers fed to the groups. The transfer takes place analogously on the next stacking shafts to the corresponding leading gripper so that downstream to the magazine device each gripper of each group one another Product removed from the magazine shaft. In the this type of product groups then brought together delivered by the grippers at the processing point. To ensure the most uninterrupted operation possible there are two lifting platforms in each stacking shaft for each stack assigned to the Dismantling a stack a new stack in the effective area of the transportation organ.

Another device is in DE-A-2135303 disclosed. There is a stack in a vertical magazine slot products such as paper bags, plastic bags, Arranged tin bags or postcards. The products are removed individually from the magazine shaft. The Device a conveyor with a rotating driven Tension member on which two contact heads, each have a gripper device, arranged one behind the other are. The gripper devices are used to remove the Products from the magazine shaft and their retention until the application heads are placed on a printed product to which the product is to be glued. This well-known device is likely only for low working speeds be suitable. The products are manufactured using the Gripper devices taken from the standing stack below. On the one hand, this leads to correspondingly large accelerations and on the other hand, those that affect the products Forces increased by the fact that the whole Weight of the stack rests on the product to be removed. This leads to extremely high stress on the products, especially when it is filled with liquid Samples.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to create a generic device that at gentle treatment of the products, an uninterrupted Operation at high processing speed guaranteed.

This object is achieved by a device that Features of claim 1. According to the invention There are at least two magazine slots, which alternate products removed during a period of time and hand it over to a conveyor will. This enables the gentle dismantling of stacks from standing magazine shafts from above or from horizontal magazine shafts with uninterrupted operation. If the stack is dismantled in a magazine slot, the Products are taken from the other magazine shaft, with the first mentioned magazine shaft again can be filled with a stack. The products are transported to the respective magazine chute by means of a transport element removed and inserted into the mouth of a gripper. This enables gentle treatment of the Products even at very high processing speeds, because the accelerations on the products and forces can be kept small. Further is that Space requirements are reduced to a minimum and are the magazine slots easily accessible because of the conveyor leads over the magazine shafts.

The device according to the invention is particularly suitable to deliver the products to a processing station, as in the older EP-A-0 606 550 is described. There the products from the grippers of the conveyor through on a wheel-like Carrier organ arranged takeover grippers taken over and by means of these glued to or into printed products inserted, with the printed products in pocket-shaped Receiving parts or on saddle-shaped pads one Processing drum. The products would also be conceivable by means of the conveyor according to the present Invention to insert directly into printed products or bound inserts to be stored open on collection routes.

A particularly space-saving and high processing speed Form of training requiring small accelerations the inventive device is in Claim 2 specified.

Another preferred form of training according to claim 3 allows the complete exposure of the extreme Product of a stack at the delivery point. Thereby only act on this product when it is pulled off the stack minimal forces. Furthermore, it is prevented that when pulling of the outermost product other products of the Stack are pulled along and the stack is destroyed. Moreover, a large area of the product stands for the attack of the transport organ.

A particularly simple and quick refill of the magazine shafts is guaranteed by being in a Filling position can be spent in which they are freely accessible are (claim 5).

Another preferred embodiment of the invention Device is specified in claim 6. This points a large magazine capacity and guarantees at the same time free access to magazine slots to fill them up.

A particularly high processing speed with extremely gentle treatment of the products achieved standing or inclined magazine shafts, whereby the stacks are dismantled from above, as claimed in claim 7 Are defined. The stacks are in inclined magazine shafts kept particularly safe.

A form of training in which the Transport organs each have a suction head, around each to record the outermost product of a stack and a Feed the gripper. The Erzeungis can be gentle be recorded on its flat side.

Particularly easy handling of the product stacks and in particular a simple refill of the magazine shafts is achieved in that the products are in product delivery units be delivered according to claim 11.

Further preferred forms of training of the inventive Device are specified in the further dependent claims.

Figuren 1 und 2

in Ansicht bzw. Draufsicht eine erste Ausbildungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung mit vertikalen Magazinschächten und einer über diese hinweg führenden Fördereinrichtung, deren Greifern die mittels eines Transportorgans den Magazinschächten entnommene Erzeugnisse zugeführt werden;

Figur 3

gegenüber Figur 1 vergrössert einen Teil der in jener Figur gezeigten Vorrichtung, in welchem ein aus einem Magazinschacht entnommenes Erzeugnis in das Maul eines Greifers eingeführt wird;

Figuren 4 bis 9

in ähnlicher Darstellung wie Figur 3 die erfindungsgemässe Einrichtung beim Abziehen eines Erzeugnisses ab einem Stapel und Einführen dieses Erzeugnisses in das Maul eines Greifers zu sechs verschiedenen Zeitpunkten eines Arbeitstaktes;

Figur 10

in Ansicht eine der in Figur 1 gezeigten Ausbildungsform ähnliche weitere Ausbildungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung, wobei die Magazinschächte geneigt angeordnet sind;

Figuren 11 und 12

in Ansicht bzw. Draufsicht eine weitere Ausbildungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung mit zwei Magazineinheiten in welchen je vier Magazinschächte um eine vertikale Drehachse turmartig angeordnet sind;

Figur 13

in perspektivischer Darstellung ein Stapel Erzeugnisse, der in einen schachtelartigen Behälter zu einer Erzeugnisliefereinheit eingesetzt wird;

Figur 14

ebenfalls in perspektivischer Darstellung eine Erzeugnisliefereinheit; und

Figur 15

in perspektivischer Darstellung ein Vorratsstapel von Erzeugnisliefereinheiten.

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

Figures 1 and 2

in a view or plan view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention with vertical magazine shafts and a conveying device leading over them, the grippers of which the products removed from the magazine shafts by means of a transport member are fed;

Figure 3

Compared to FIG. 1, part of the device shown in that figure is enlarged, in which a product removed from a magazine shaft is introduced into the mouth of a gripper;

Figures 4 to 9

in a representation similar to FIG. 3, the device according to the invention when removing a product from a stack and inserting this product into the mouth of a gripper at six different times in a work cycle;

Figure 10

in view a further embodiment of the device according to the invention similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the magazine shafts being arranged at an incline;

Figures 11 and 12

in view or plan view a further embodiment of the device according to the invention with two magazine units in which four magazine shafts are arranged like a tower around a vertical axis of rotation;

Figure 13

a perspective view of a stack of products which is inserted into a box-like container to a product delivery unit;

Figure 14

also in perspective a product delivery unit; and

Figure 15

in perspective a stack of product delivery units.

The device according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a magazine device 10 with four in magazine shafts 12, 14 extending in the vertical direction 16, 18 on. These are on a cabinet-like frame 20 each over two spaced apart in the vertical direction, shafts 22 extending in the horizontal direction supported. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2 magazine slots 12, 14, 16, 18 are individual from a working position 24, in which the Magazine chutes 14, 16 and 18 are in a refill position 24 'in which the magazine shaft is located 12 is located. The one acting on the shafts 22 Sliding drive is in frame 20 and is not shown.

Across all magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 that are in the working position 24 are retracted, leads a conveyor 26, a variety of on a conveyor chain 28 attached at a distance one behind the other Has gripper 30. The conveyor chain 28 is known Mode in a channel 32 which is C-shaped in cross section led, the above in a horizontal and rectilinear direction the magazine device 10 runs. The conveyor 26 is intended to be made by means of transport members 34 products removed from the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 36 and one, viewed in the direction of conveyance F, the processing device downstream of the magazine device 10, which is indicated in Figure 1 with an arrow 38 is to spend. There are the products 36, it are cards or samples, in printed products such as magazines, prospectuses or the like inserted or glued.

The grippers 30 have two, forming a gripper jaw 40 jaws 42, 42 'pivotable about a common axis on, each connected via a lever to actuating rollers 44, 44 ' are; see in particular also Figure 3. With the Actuating rollers 44 act as a fixed, above the Magazine device 10 extending parallel to the channel 32 Backdrop 46 together showing the location of a jaw 42 certainly; in the present case, in the direction of conveyance F seen, the other jaw trailing upper jaw 42.

Each of the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 is one in itself controllable link arrangement 48 associated with the actuating rollers 44 'cooperate to when activated Setting arrangement 48 the leading lower jaws 42 'to be brought into the closed position and the gripper mouth 40 to close. Each of the link arrangements 48 has a lower articulated link rail 50 and above this a pivotable backdrop wedge 52. Are the Not to close gripper 30 is the link rail 50 in its lower rectilinear end position and the Setting wedge 52 in a pivoting rest position, as in the Figure 1 based on the associated with the magazine shafts 12, 16 and 18 Scenery arrangements 48 is shown. The actuating roles 44 'are not actuated. are on the other hand, closing the gripper 30 becomes the link rail 50 spent in their upper end position and the Guide wedge 52 counterclockwise from the rest position pivoted into a swivel working position, as in 1 in the associated with the magazine shaft 14 Setting arrangement 48 and shown in Figure 3. The The link rail 50 is inclined at both ends in the direction bent downwards in the direction of conveyance F in the initial area a ramp for the actuating rollers 44 'to form and open the gripper 30 completely and in End area together with the in the swivel working position pivoted link wedge 52 the actuating rollers 44 ' to run on both sides. When the actuating rollers run up 44 'on the link wedge 52 which are in the conveying direction F seen leading jaws 42 'pivoted clockwise, to close the gripper jaw 40. The jaws 42, 42 'by means of a latching device held in the closed position, that is at the processing station 38 released so that the grippers 30 the products 36 release. Grippers of this type are, for example in EP-A-0 557 680 and EP-A-0 600 183.

The link rails 50 and link wedges 52 are, for example about cylinder-piston arrangements, not shown actuated by a arranged in the frame 20 with a control device 54 indicated by an arrow will.

The magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 open at the top instruct a delivery point 56 at its end on this side (FIG. 3). The topmost one is located here Product 36 of one in the respective magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 arranged stack 58. The transport member 34 has a suction head 60, which is intended in a receiving position 62 at the delivery point 56 To detect product 36 on its exposed top and insert into the gripper mouth 40 of an open gripper 30. For this purpose, the suction head 60 is with a Drive mechanism connected, such as in the Swiss Patent Nos. 598 106 and 626 589 or the corresponding U.S. Patent Nos. 4,127,262 and 4,279,142 is disclosed. The suction head 60 is driven by the drive mechanism moved along a closed orbit 64, whose shape is similar to a hypocycloid. The drive mechanism this type has a with a drive motor connected planetary gear on, on the planet gear Angle lever is eccentrically applied, one end in a longitudinal guide and on the other the Suction head 60 is attached. To the arrow in Figure 3 To achieve 64 'indicated direction of rotation is only that Drive motor contrary to that in the above documents drive direction shown.

Between the receiving position 62 and transfer position 62 ' in the path of movement of the gripper 30, in which the product 36 introduced into the gripper jaw 40 is the suction head 60 with a vacuum source, not shown connected. A suitable valve arrangement is, for example, in CH Patent No. 626 589 and corresponding U.S. Patent No. 4,279,412. The direction of movement of the suction head 60 from the receiving position 62 in the transfer position 62 'has an in Component pointing direction F and one from the delivery point 56 in the vertical direction against the component pointing upwards on. This will make the products 36 with your in Direction of conveyance F seen leading edge 66 ahead in the opposite to the direction of conveyance F and against obliquely below directed gripper mouth 40 introduced.

The withdrawal of a product 36 from the stack in question 58 and insertion into the corresponding gripper 30 now explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4-9. The one in these Reference numerals used correspond to those above used. The suction head 60 is located in FIG in recording position 62 and with the vacuum source connected. It lies on the exposed flat side of the outermost product 36 of the stack 58 and sucks this on. It should be noted that between the leading edge 66 and the suction head 60 a distance A is present which is at least as large as the depth of penetration with which then engages the product 36 in the gripper jaw 40 (see Figure 6). As shown in Figure 5, the suction head lifts 60 the top product 36 from the stack 58 and it accelerates at the same time in the direction of conveyance F. Since the Suction head 60 driven synchronously with the conveyor 26 is now the product 36 with the leading edge 66 introduced into the open gripper mouth 40 in question, which then by means of the backdrop 46 and the Setting arrangement 48 is closed (Figure 6). This happens when the suction head 60 the transfer position 62 ' has reached. At the same time, this is from the vacuum source separated so that he releases the product 36 (Figure 7). The product 36 is now by means of Gripper 30 transported away, and the suction head 60 moves down along the orbit 64 toward the recording position 62 back to receive the next product 36 (Figure 8). After the gripper 30 is closed, it becomes pivoted counterclockwise through the backdrop 46, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 9 is. This helps the product 36 with respect to the rotational speed of the conveyor 26 is accelerated and so the next product 36 for the Suction head 60 exposed early (Figure 4).

The length of the products 36 in the conveying direction F or in Direction of movement of the suction head 60 corresponds to measured about the center distance between two successive grippers 30. Are larger products seen in the direction of conveyance F. 36 to process, additional funds must be provided to the product 36 gripped by a gripper 30 remove the area of the stack 58.

Each magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 has sliding means 68 assigned, which are designed to the respective stack 58 to support and when dismantling the stack 58 in the longitudinal direction of the magazine shaft to push upwards so that at the delivery point 56 is the top of the stack located. On brackets 70 attached to frame 20 one pair of spindles each extending in the vertical direction 72 rotatably mounted with a drive motor 74 connected is. The two spindles of a pair of spindles 72 interact with a running nut 76 on which a tongue-like sliding element 78 is attached. Located this in the lowest end position (see Figure 1, the the sliding element 78) assigned to the magazine shaft 12 it below the relevant magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 arranged so that this from the working position 24 in the filling position 24 'and brought back again can. The sliding element 78 becomes by driving the pair of spindles 72 raised from this position, it runs into the Magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 one, comes to the bottom product 36 of the stack 58 to the plant and lifts the entire Stack 58 at. At the top of each magazine slot 12, 14, 16, 18 a light barrier 80 is arranged (FIG. 3) is connected to the control device 54. The control device 54 puts the drive motor 74 into operation, until the light barrier 80 from the top product 36 of the Stack 58 is interrupted. Then the drive motor 74 shut down until the light barrier 80 is released again when the product in question 36 by means of the transport member 34 is withdrawn from the stack 58. The location of the Stack 58 is thus automatically leveled in such a way that the top product 36 is at the delivery point 56 located. If the stack 58 of a magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 dismantled, the sliding element 78 is in its lower End position and the relevant magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 extended to the filling position 24 ', where it is freely accessible around again with a new stack 58 to be populated.

As can be seen in particular from FIG the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 arranged in a U-shape Shaft walls 82 open and are on the respective pair of spindles 72 facing side open. The spindle pair is 72 each in the conveying direction F of the magazine shaft in question 12, 14, 16, 18 downstream. The products 36 are in Working position 24 of the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 am Falling out prevented by support rails 84, the between the pair of spindles 72 and the magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 are fixedly arranged and which of the sliding element 78 are reached.

In order to fill the 24 'in a magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 to support inserted stack 58 have the opposite shaft walls 82 at their lower End protruding towards the inside of the shaft, spaced-apart base plates 86. Of course are so far apart that in working position 24, the sliding element 78 between them can drive through.

Figure 10 shows one of the forms of training described above Similar further form of training the inventive Contraption. The main difference is that the magazine slots 12, 14, 16, 18 and these assigned spindle pairs 72 inclined backwards on the frame 20 are arranged so that the delivery point 56 with respect to a vertical through the lower end of the magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 against the conveying direction F is offset. The flat side of the products 36 runs thereby approximately in the direction of movement of the suction head 60 the receiving position 62 in the transfer position 62 '.

Another embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown in Figures 11 and 12. The Magazine device 10 has two along the conveyor 26 successive magazine units 88, each with a transport member 34 and a pushing device 68 are assigned. These are the same as in the forms of training described above. Four magazine shafts 90 are each star-like on one its longitudinal axis 92 running in the vertical direction rotatable bogie 94 attached. This is in one Base 96 stored and with one from the control device 54 forth controllable rotary drive of the arrows 98th is symbolized, connected. At base 96 there are also Retaining rails 84 and the drive motor 74 attached. The Spindle pair 72 is on the top of one on the holding rails 84 attached boom 70 and at the bottom on a Base 96 supported boom 70 stored.

The magazine shaft facing the sliding means 68 90 is in working position 24 and is to be dismantled of the stack 58 in question. The dismantling takes place in exactly the same way as described above. Is a Stack 58 dismantled, the sliding element 78 in the spent in the lower end position and the magazine shafts 90 of the magazine unit 88 in question in a clockwise direction of the rotary drive 98 rotated about the axis of rotation 92 by 90 °, such as this using the magazine unit shown on the left in FIG 88 is shown. The empty magazine slot shown there 90 is in the freely accessible filling position 24 '. During the time in which the working position 24 located magazine shaft 90 is emptied the magazine shaft 90 located in the filling position 24 ' equipped with a new stack 58, as shown in the in 12 of the magazine unit 88 shown on the right has been.

A stack 58 of products 36 is placed in a box-like one Container 100 placed, as shown in Figure 13. Of the Container 100 is designed as a lidless cardboard box 102. It has a bottom 104 and two in the longitudinal direction of the stack 58 extending side walls 106. The across end walls 108 extending in the longitudinal direction of the box formed as webs which are spaced from the floor 104 and connect the two side walls 106 together. On the junctions between the side walls 106 and perforations 110 are attached to end walls 108 in order to the end walls 108 from the remaining part of the cardboard box 102 to be able to separate.

FIG. 14 shows a product delivery unit 112 which consists of a cardboard box 102 and the one received therein Stack 58 consists. The magazine slots 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 are preferably designed to each such To be able to accommodate product unit 112. As soon as the Product unit 112 in the filling position 24 ' Magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 located is, the end walls 108 are eliminated, so that on the one hand the top product 36 of the stack 58 is freely accessible and on the other hand the sliding element 78 is the lowest Product 36 can reach under. By means of such Product delivery units 112 is a hassle-free and extremely quick filling of the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 guaranteed. In addition, the product delivery units 112 both for delivery and storage stable stacks can be stacked, Figure 15.

In the product delivery units shown in Figures 13-15 112 tower over the products 36 the side and End walls 106, 108. It would of course also be conceivable these walls to the top of the lying stack 58 pull up. Furthermore, the containers 100 could, for example be made of plastic or sheet metal, the End walls can then be removed, swiveled away or pushed away are arranged.

The operation of the devices described above is as follows:

For now, be in the lower end position Sliding elements 78, the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 filled with a stack 58 of products 36. This happens in the embodiments according to FIGS to 10 in that the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 are successively extended to the filling position 24 ' and after filling up again into working position 24 be withdrawn. In the case of FIGS. 11 and 12 the magazine shafts 90 shown one after the other by turning around the axis of rotation 92 into the filling position 24 'spent and after filling by 90 ° continued to rotate until all magazine chutes 90 were filled are. In the after filling up in working position 24 located magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 is by Driving the spindle pairs 72 from below with the slide element 78 retracted and the stack 58 raised until the top product 36 at the delivery point 56 is located. The magazine device 10 is now ready to be dispensed of ores 36 ready.

After commissioning of the conveyor 26 begins now the removal of products 36 from one of the in Working position 24 magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18, 90. The one assigned to the magazine slot in question Set 48 is activated and the corresponding Transport organ 34 started; compare Figure 1: Magazine shaft 14, figure 10: magazine shaft 12, figure 11: the magazine shaft 90 in the working position, of the magazine unit 88 shown on the left. During a specific Time periods are now the magazine slot in question 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 by means of the transport member 34 products 36 taken one after the other and into the successive ones Gripper 30 of the conveyor 26 introduced. After this period, for example, it may continue until the relevant magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 is empty, the control device 54 controls the previous activated setting arrangement 48 in the rest position and stops the relevant transport member 34. About interruptions to avoid becoming a turn now Period of time the products 36 another in working position 24 located magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18, Taken 90. The activation of the relevant backdrop arrangement 48 and the transport member 34 is carried out by the Control device 54 in phase, so that the first Gripper 30, which follows a gripper 30, previously a product 36 has been fed, now a product 36 is fed. Is the magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 90 upstream with respect to the conveying direction F that magazine shaft 14, 16, 18, 90, the previous one Products 36 were removed, so activated Control device 54 the relevant link arrangement 48 and the relevant transport member 34 before the downstream assigned magazine shaft 14, 16, 18, 90 assigned Setting arrangement 48 and the relevant transport member 34 can be switched to the rest position. This is for the Control device 54 is quite possible, it knows the Number of each in the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 products 36 and the number of grippers 30 between the transfer points 62 'of the various Magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 associated transport organs 34. In this way, take turns the stack 58 dismantled.

If a magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 is emptied this is transferred to the filling position 24 'for filling.

In order to be able to work without interruption, at least two magazine shafts, each with a transport member 34 necessary. Has the device as in Figures 1, 2 and 10, four magazine slots 12, 14, 16, 18 on, can, for example, two magazine slots with a stack 58 of a first type of products 36 and the other two magazine shafts, each with a stack of 58 of a second type 36. Even then there is an uninterrupted one Operation guaranteed, even if at the processing center 38 same for a longer processing phase Type products 36 or each after a certain number one type of products 36 the other type to be processed. However, are all four stacking trays 14, 16, 18, 20 equipped with the same products, the supply is increased, so that two or three of the magazine shafts filled up in quick succession can be available and then available for a longer period of time is empty until two or three magazine shafts are. The form of training has the same advantages according to FIGS. 11 and 12 with itself. It is quite so possible that all magazine shafts 90 of the one magazine unit 88 are emptied before they are refilled Need to become.

For the sake of completeness it should be mentioned that the suction heads 60 seen in the conveying direction F to the side of the movement path the gripper 30 can be arranged. The suction heads can in this case, the products 36 also at their leading edge 66 hold. It is also conceivable to have this on both sides Movement path to provide a suction head 60 to each To detect products 36 with two suction heads 60. Moreover it is possible for each transport member 34 to have several suction heads 60 to assign, alternately one after the other grab a product 36 and feed it to a gripper 30. Finally, it should be mentioned that the transport members 34 or suction heads 60 in a different manner than described can be driven.

It is also conceivable to use only one instead of the spindle pair 72 Spindle and a guide to prevent rotation of the To provide a running nut. The light barrier 80 can of course be replaced by other types of switching means.

It should be noted that multiple magazine slots on an endless Tension member, for example a chain, may be arranged can, and this is driven by one Spend magazine slot in the working position.

Claims (12)

1. A device for the feeding of products, such as cards and goods samples, which are intended to be inserted or glued into printed products, to a further processing site, with a magazine device (10) which has at least two magazine shafts (12, 14, 16, 18, 90) intended to receive a stack (58) of products (36), a conveying device (26) which leads over the magazine shafts (12, 14, 16, 18, 90) arranged one behind the other, viewed in conveying direction (F) of the conveying device (26), and to the further processing site (38) and has a plurality of individually controllable grippers (30) arranged one behind the other on a traction member (28) driven in a circulating manner, which grippers (30) are intended, with the magazine device (10), to take over a product (36) and transport it to the further processing site (38), for each magazine shaft (12, 14, 16, 18, 90) with a transport member (34) connected with a drive, which transport member (34) is movable from a reception position (62) with a delivery site (56) of the respective magazine shaft (12, 14, 16, 18, 90) into a transfer position (62') with the path of motion of the grippers (30) and then back again, in order to pick up in the reception position (62) the respectively outermost product (36) of the stack (58), remove this from the stack (58) and introduce it into the jaw (40) of a gripper (30), pushing means (68) associated with the magazine shafts (12, 14, 16, 18, 90), in order to push the stack (58) in the direction of the delivery site (56), so that the outermost product (36) is situated in each case at the delivery site (56), and with a control device (54) controlling the grippers (30) and the transport members (34), characterised in that the control device (54) controls the receiving of the products (36) alternately during a time span respectively from one of the stack shafts (12, 14, 16, 18, 90).
2. The device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the jaws (40) of the grippers (30) on moving past the magazine device (10) are aligned with respect to the conveying direction F toward the rear and preferably pointed obliquely downward, and the transport members (34) are moved from the reception position (62) into the transfer position (62') in a direction which has one component in conveying direction F and one component from the magazine device (10) towards the conveying device (26).
3. The device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the pushing means (68) each have a pushing element (78) intended for engagement into the magazine shafts (12, 14, 16, 18, 90) and movable along it, which pushing element (78) is intended to engage behind the product (36) of the stack (58) furthest away from the delivery position (56) and to align to the delivery position (56) the stack (58) with the stack end facing the delivery position (56).
4. The device according to Claim 3, characterised in that the pushing element (78) is connected with a running nut (76) which sits on a spindle (72) running approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the magazine shaft (12, 14, 16, 18, 90) and connected with a drive motor (74).
5. The device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the magazine shafts (12, 14, 16, 18, 90), for filling with a new stack (58), are able to be brought from an operating position (24), in which their delivery site (56) is in the receiving position (62), into a filling position (24') in which the magazine shalt (12, 14, 16, 18, 90) is freely accessible.
6. The device according to Claim 5, characterised in that the magazine device (10) has at least two magazine units (88) with several magazine shafts (90) rotatable about rotation axes (92), in which the magazine shafts (90) of each magazine unit (88) are able to be brought in succession into the operating position (24).
7. The device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the longitudinal direction of the magazine shafts (12, 14, 16, 18) runs transversely to a horizontal plane, preferably in vertical direction or in a direction inclined toward the rear, in which the delivery site (56) of the magazine shaft (12, 14, 16, 18) is staggered with respect to a vertical through the end of the magazine shaft (12, 14, 16, 18) away from the delivery site (56) contrary to the conveying direction F.
8. The device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the conveying device (26) runs in a straight line and substantially in horizontal direction over the magazine device (10).
9. The device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the transport members (34) each have a suction head (60) temporarily connected with a vacuum source, which suction head (60) is intended, in the receiving position (62), to pick up the respective product (36) on the flat face facing away from the stack (58) and securing the product (36) until in the transfer position (62') the corresponding gripper (30) is transferred into its closed position.
10. The device according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the dimension of the products (36), measured in the direction of movement of the transport member (34), is smaller than or equal to the centre-to-centre distance of two successive grippers (30).
11. The device according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterised by a product delivery unit (112) which has a box-like container (100) and a stack (58) of products (36) arranged therein and is intended to be inserted into a magazine shaft (12, 14, 16, 18, 90).
12. The device according to Claim 11, characterised in that the end walls (108) of the container (100) cooperating with the stack ends are removable.

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