EP0795503A2 - Method of and device for aligning flat objects - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves conveying the envelopes (6,6a) along an orientation section (50,50a) at a speed which is faster than a number of projections which are moving in the same direction. The envelope is held along and is drawn by its leading edge (6",6"a) until it is touched by the projections. When the envelope has been forced by the projections to adopt the correct orientation, the projections hold the envelope which then advances at the slower speed.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for aligning flat objects, such as, in particular, envelopes, envelope blanks and the like, according to the position and machine cycle, with the features of the preambles of claims 1 and 6.

A method of the type mentioned is known from DE 8 76 527. It is used for aligning sheet metal or cardboard sheets or the like before further processing in painting or printing machines and provides that the object to be aligned is first of all along an alignment path at a speed is moved, which is greater than the speed of two stops arranged transversely to the transport direction at a distance from each other. As soon as the object hits the stop or stops, it is aligned according to its position and braked to its speed. The objects therefore then arrive in a machine part that processes them precisely and in machine cycle fashion and can be finished there, for example. In the known device, the stops, which move precisely in terms of position and machine cycle, are moved with the aid of chains which, with their upper run, are located in the same plane as the transport chains carrying the object to be aligned. These transport chains have engaging drivers at the rear end of the objects to be aligned and run faster than the chains with the stops. Finally, the various components of the device are coordinated with one another in such a way that the objects to be aligned lie against the stops before the objects are released to the machine part which is to be further processed.

DE 17 61 435 A1 discloses a method and a corresponding device which basically work in the same way, the only differences being that the objects to be precisely aligned are conveyed scales overlapped at the entrance to a sheet-processing machine. The distance from the front edge to the front edge of the sheet-like sheets is larger than the distance of the stops moving in the transport direction. The stops also move in time with the machine, so that each sheet is countered by its faster running conveyor pushed one stop at a time, aligning it and braking slightly. Until the objects or sheets reach the stops, they lie on conveyor belts and are held there by their own weight and by the pressure force caused by the scaly overlap. After the sheet alignment has been completed, they are taken over by a machine that processes them further or inserted individually into them.

Another method and a corresponding device for aligning and feeding sheets to sheet-processing machines such as, for example, the printing unit of an offset sheet-fed printing machine are known from DE 41 14 479 C1. This device also works according to the method already described above, according to which objects or sheets to be aligned are pressed against braking stops so that they assume the desired position.

Finally, a method and a device are known from US 31 99 864, but it is not a question of aligning individual objects precisely in terms of position and machine cycle, but rather to ensure a predetermined distance between the objects. This machine has a rotating driver and an arcuate guideway partially encompassing the driver. Several guide rollers with parts of their circumference reach through openings in the guideway. The objects are fed tangentially to the device with the aid of a transport device in such a way that they enter a gap between the rotating driver and the guide track or its guide rollers. The rotating driver is also assigned a stop rotating in the same direction, which rotates somewhat slower than the driver. The driver therefore accelerates the objects up to the stop on the driver, which can either be designed in the manner of a rotating lever or as a rotating roller. It is achieved with this known device that the objects leave it at regular intervals. This known device is not suitable for the exact alignment of an object, since the objects can lie against the driver and two or more guide rollers at the same time, so that in truth they cannot be moved freely. However, free mobility is a prerequisite for the objects being able to be aligned precisely in terms of position and machine.

The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a method and a device for aligning flat objects such as, in particular, envelopes, envelope blanks, flat bags or their blanks and the like, which works safely and reliably, is structurally simple, has little or no wear is subject to and has also grown to the highest numbers.

To achieve this object, the invention provides with the features of the characterizing part of claim 1 that the object to be aligned is detected in the area of its leading edge, that is to say in the direction of movement, and is held and pulled at least in the area of its front edge until it is on or hits the stops.

The object is pulled according to the invention and not pushed or pushed, as is the case in the prior art Case is. This ensures that its rear end can follow freely and can also align itself freely when the object hits the stop (s). Production disruptions, even with large quantities and the highest machine output, can therefore be avoided in the area of an alignment station.

For the device for carrying out the method, it is analogous that at least one traction means is provided, with the aid of which the driver engages the object to be aligned at least in the region of its front edge in the direction of movement. The traction device can work with the aid of suction air. It can be controlled very precisely, so that the holding force in the area of the leading edge of the object to be aligned can also be set exactly according to the respective requirements.

Further features of the invention emerge from subclaims in connection with the description.

Fig. 1:

eine Prinzipskizze von wesentlichen Teilen einer Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Briefumschlägen;

Fig. 2:

im Schnitt sowie im größeren Maßstab eine Ansicht der Vorrichtung zum Ausrichten von flachen Gegenständen wie zum Beispiel teilweise fertiggestellten Briefumschlägen;

Fig. 3:

eine Ansicht in Richtung des Pfeiles A in Fig. 2, wobei der Saugkopf in einer um 90° verschwenkten Lage wiedergegeben ist;

Fig. 4:

einen Schnitt längs der Linie IV-IV in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5:

eine Seitenansicht eines abgewandelten Ausführungsbeispieles in schematischer Darstellung;

Fig. 6:

eine Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 5;

Fig. 7:

im Schnitt sowie im größeren Maßstab Einzelheiten längs der Linie VII-VII in Fig. 5 und

Fig. 8:

eine Einzelheit aus Fig. 5 in größerem Maßstab.

The invention is described below with reference to two exemplary embodiments, which are shown in the drawing. Show:

Fig. 1:

a schematic diagram of essential parts of an apparatus for manufacturing envelopes;

Fig. 2:

in section and on a larger scale a view of the device for aligning flat objects such as partially completed envelopes;

Fig. 3:

a view in the direction of arrow A in Figure 2, wherein the suction head is shown in a position pivoted by 90 °;

Fig. 4:

a section along the line IV-IV in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5:

a side view of a modified embodiment in a schematic representation;

Fig. 6:

a plan view of the device of FIG. 5;

Fig. 7:

in section and on a larger scale details along the line VII-VII in Fig. 5 and

Fig. 8:

a detail of Fig. 5 on a larger scale.

A device 1 for producing flat and relatively slightly flexible objects 6 'and specifically envelopes 2 according to the exemplary embodiment comprises a plurality of stations, of which in FIG. 1 a deposit table 3 for an envelope stack 4 above part of a device 5 for drying rubberized, almost finished envelopes and in this respect of envelope blanks 6 and to the right of them a station 7 are shown, in which the envelope blanks 6 are finished and finally placed in a stack of envelopes 4. A stacking device 8 in the form of a flap disk 9 is used, for example, to stack the finished envelopes 2.

With the aid of a suitable, basically known transport device, the almost finished envelope blanks 6 are transported, for example in a staggered arrangement, through the device 5 serving for drying and then fed between belts 10 and 11 to a pull-out roller 12, which is also known in principle, and with the help of which either singly or in it Position changed to each other. There is preferably a switch 13 in the running direction behind the pull-out roller, in order, for example, to be able to discharge envelope blanks 6 which possibly lead to malfunctions when the device 1 starts up. The envelope blanks 6 are always guided with the bottom fold first through the device 5 for drying and in this position also to the pull-out roller 12.

In the transport direction behind the pull-out roller 12 there is a device 14 for aligning the envelope blanks 6, so that they can be provided with the closing flap fold in a device 15 performing the last processing. The envelopes 2 then completed are taken over by the serrated washer 8 and placed on the storage table 3.

The device 14 used for alignment comprises a driver 16 for the envelope blank 6 and carrier 17, 18 for stops 19. The driver 16 is a transport disc 16 'and the carriers 17, 18 are support discs 17 'or 18', between which the transport disk 16 'is arranged according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

In order to ensure proper functioning of the device 14 used to align the envelope blanks 6, are assigned to their delivery rollers 14 'according to FIG. These delivery rollers 14 'press on the supporting disks 17' or 18 'in a spring-loaded manner and take over the aligned envelope blank 6 in order to then convey it further at the cycle speed. If the delivery rollers 14 'were not present, the envelope blanks 6 would be conveyed in an impermissible manner after the stops 19 had been immersed at the peripheral speed of the transport disk 16', which is higher than the peripheral speed of the support disks 17 'and 18'.

The two support disks 17 'and 18' are driven by a common shaft 20. The transport disc 16 'is also rotatably mounted on this shaft 20, but with the help of bearings 21, so that it can be driven by its own drive 22 at a higher speed than the support discs 17' and 18 '.

According to the schematic illustration in FIG. 1, the drive 22 is a friction wheel drive 22 'with its own motor 23. It is therefore possible for the shaft 20 with the support disks 17' and 18 'to run at the machine speed while the transport disc 16 'rotates faster. In order to ensure a perfect friction wheel drive 22 ', a sprung friction wheel 22' 'is provided which presses into the gap between the friction wheel drive 22' and the transport disk 16 '.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, there are three stops on each of the two support disks 17 'and 18', evenly distributed over the circumference 24 19. These stops 19 are adjustable parallel to the shaft 20. A device 25 shown in FIG. 2 serves this purpose.

As can also be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 4, the transport disk 16 'has radially directed suction openings 27 which end at its circumference 26.

The suction openings 27 serve together with suction air, i.e. together with a pressure relative to the atmospheric pressure generate such a traction means that the transport disk 16 'acting as a driver 16' detects the object to be aligned 6 'or envelope blank 6 in the region of its front edge 6' 'and takes it along according to its own peripheral speed. The suction openings 27 hold and pull the object 6 'until its front edge 6' 'strikes one or both stops 19 and is thereby aligned and braked at their speed.

The diameter of the transport disk 16 'can be dimensioned such that it is suitable for aligning one or more objects 6'. For this purpose, the suction openings 27 are combined to form axially parallel rows and connected to likewise axially parallel suction channels 28, which are open towards one end 29 of the transport disk 16 '. Finally, an annular disk 30 with bores 31 is also attached to the transport disk 16 ′, each of which is aligned with the suction channels 28.

The suction openings 27 and suction channels 28 in the transport disk 16 'have to use a vacuum generator at times because of the negative pressure / because of the suction air during operation get connected. A suction head 32 which is stationary during operation and has a suction connection pipe 33 and a control valve body 34 and the design of the support disk 17 ', which is arranged on the end face 29 of the transport disk 16', serve this purpose. The support disk 17 'is arranged with its hub 34a on the shaft 20 and rotates with it during operation. The hub 34a carries, for example with the aid of ball bearings 35, the suction head 32 which does not rotate during operation and which has an axis-parallel bore 36 which is connected to the suction connection pipe 33. The suction head 32 includes the control valve body 34 which also does not rotate during operation and which has a control channel 37 which is connected to the bore 36 and extends in the form of a segment in the direction of rotation over a little more than 90 °. This control channel 37 is also open to the support disk 17 '. The support disk 17' has a control window 38 open to the control channel 37, which is connected via a radially directed bore 39 and a short, axially parallel bore 40 to a suction segment 41, which in turn interacts with the suction channel (s) 28 in the transport disk 16 '.

Whenever the control window 38 moves along a rotation of the hub 34a along the control channel 37 open to it, there is a negative pressure in the radially directed suction openings 27 on the circumference 26 of the transport disk 16 ', which in turn is released when the control window 38 faces a ventilated one Window 42 in the control valve body 34 arrives. According to the illustration in FIG. 3, this occurs as soon as the support disk 17 ′ has moved from a position in front of the control channel 37 into a position in front of the ventilated window 42 of the control valve body 34 when rotating in the direction of arrow a. A negative pressure in the suction openings 27 is therefore only generated periodically during operation.

As can also be seen from FIG. 3, the support disk 17 'not only has three stops 19 like the other support disk 18', but it is also provided with three control windows 38, 38 'and 38' 'and respectively associated, radially directed bores 39 , 39 'and 39' 'and associated suction segments 41, 41' and 41 ''.

Each suction segment 41 has a suction window 43 which is dimensioned such that it completely covers at least one suction channel 28 in the transport disk 16 'or two adjacent suction channels 28, 28' partially.

The transport disk 16 ′ can have suction openings 27 along a single row for grasping an object 6 ′ to be aligned, or else several suction openings 27 arranged in parallel rows for pulling the object 6 ′. The cross section of the suction openings 27 can also be circular like bores or slit-shaped. The suction openings 27 in the transport disk 16 'are preferably bores.

In order to ensure that the suction head 32 with the connected suction connection pipe 33 leading to a vacuum generator stops during operation, it has at least one holding element 44 (FIG. 3), to which a holding arm 46 (FIG. 2) attached to the machine frame 45 is assigned is.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the envelope blanks 6 are regulated or aligned along an alignment section 50 (FIG. 1) which is curved. Specifically, this is a circular segment-shaped path piece, since the alignment on the cylindrical circumference of a rotating transport disk 16 'and with the aid of two support disks 17' and 18 '. However, the invention is not limited to such an embodiment, since it can also be implemented along another type - such as along a path or alignment section 50a extending in one plane. 5-8 relate to a device 1a of this type with a flat alignment section 50a, features of the same type having the same reference numbers as the device 1 and additionally the letter index a.

The objects 6'a to be aligned with the aid of the device 14a are in turn envelope blanks 6a which come, for example, from a drying device with closing flaps directed towards the rear and in a staggered state. They are therefore first of all separated and accelerated with the aid of a short and disc-shaped segment roller 62a arranged below a working level 61a and a preferably pivotally mounted suction roller 63a arranged above the working level 61a and transferred to a carrier 16a which individually transports the envelope blanks 6a. According to the exemplary embodiment, the driver 16a is a toothed belt 64a and moves in the working plane 61a of a flat alignment section 50a at a defined speed.

The driver 16a or toothed belt 64a lies with its upper run 65a in the working plane 61a and has suction openings 27a which serve as traction means and which are subjected to negative pressure or suction air. The negative pressure is at the suction openings 27a along the entire alignment section 50a to which a suction box 66a is arranged on the underside of the toothed belt 64a. Openings 68a associated with the suction openings 27a are located in a top wall 67a carrying the upper run 65a. As shown in FIG. 8, these openings 68a are relatively large in the transport direction and are only separated by webs 69a. From the interior 70a of the suction box 66a, the negative pressure prevailing there propagates through the openings 68a into the suction openings 27a in the suction or toothed belt 64a. A vacuum is therefore present on the suction or toothed belt 64a in the area of its suction openings 27a along the entire alignment path 50a.

Sealing elements 71a (FIG. 7) are also arranged laterally on the suction box 66a for sealing and guiding the suction or toothed belt 64a. Connections 72a finally lead from the suction box 66a to a vacuum generator, not shown in the figures.

A further toothed belt 73a is arranged on each side of the toothed belt 64 serving as driver 16a. These toothed and regulating belts 73a each serve as supports 17a, 18a for stops 19a. Depending on the format of the envelope blanks 6a, the stops 19a can be set at a distance from one another (transversely to the transport direction, FIG. 7). The stops 19a serving as regulating cams are arranged on the toothed and regulating belts 73a in the direction of the alignment section 50a at equal distances from one another. You can expediently also be molded directly onto the respective toothed belt 73. The two toothed and regulating belts 73a run with their upper runs 74a in the same direction and likewise in the working plane 61a Suction or toothed belt 64a. However, the timing and regulating belts 73a move at a lower speed than the suction and timing belts 64a.

The position and arrangement of the suction openings 27a serving as traction means in the suction and toothed belt 64a is selected such that the objects 6 'or envelope blanks 6a to be aligned are gripped by the suction and toothed belt 64a in the area of their leading edge 6''a get picked up. The envelope blanks 6a are pulled along the alignment path 50a at the higher speed of the suction and toothed belt 64a until they come to rest with their edges 6'a at the stops 19a and align themselves with them. The suction and toothed belt 64a then slips easily with a small amount of slip on the envelope blank 6a until the suction and toothed belt 64a delivers the envelope blank 6a to rollers 75a and 76a which are transported further.

At the rear end 77a in the transport direction of the device 14a used for alignment, in the area between the deflection rollers 78a and 79a for the toothed belt 64a and for the two toothed and regulating belts 73a carrying the stops 19a, respectively driven, further transporting rollers 76a are arranged work against spring loaded counter rollers 75a. These and also downstream rollers 75a 'and 76a' convey the articles 6'a or envelope blanks 6a further at a speed which is slightly less than the speed of the toothed and regulating belts 73. This ensures that the stops 19a can immerse undisturbed around their deflection rollers 79a below the working plane 61a.

Furthermore, various drive rollers 80a and 81a as well as further deflection or tensioning rollers 82a and 83a and bearing and guide elements (not shown) are present, which are not important here.

The segment roller 62a shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and used to pull out the staggered envelope blanks 6a consists specifically of two disks 84a arranged on a shaft 83'a and driven by this, each with segment elements 85a arranged on their circumference. The suction roller 63a assigned to the segment roller 62a comprises a roller body 86a which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a driven shaft 87a and is mounted in laterally arranged swivel arms 88a. FIG. 6 shows the suction roller 63a in a position pivoted away from the illustration in FIG. 5.

Control valves 89a are provided on each end of the roller body 86a. They do not rotate with the shaft 87a nor with the roller body 86a.

In the roller body 86a, continuous suction channels 90a are provided close to the circumference axially from the end face to the end face and are connected to the cylinder jacket 92a via radially directed bores 91a.

During the rotation of the roller body 86a, the suction channels 90a are acted upon one after the other on the short side in each case by negative pressure or suction air and atmospheric pressure. The control valves 89a are used for this purpose, in each of which there is a short suction channel 93a, which is in air-conducting connection with a suction connection piece 94a. Further is A channel 95a is provided in the control valves 89a, via which the suction channels 90a in the roller body 86a are supplied with atmospheric pressure.

If there is negative pressure in the suction channels 90a, the objects 6'a or the envelope blanks 6a are sucked in by the suction roller 63a, slightly raised in an arc from their staggered state - which prevents snagging, particularly in the case of window envelopes - and furthermore they become with the segment roller 62a isolated. As soon as atmospheric pressure acts on the suction channels 90a, the envelope blanks 6a are delivered to the toothed belt 64a serving as the driver 16a, whereupon the alignment takes place with the aid of the toothed belts 64a and 73a.

Other parts, such as guide plates 96a, load-bearing machine parts 97a, drives, etc., correspond to generally known, corresponding parts and are therefore neither shown nor described.

Claims (14)

Method for aligning flat objects (6 ', 6'a), in particular of envelopes (2), envelope blanks (6, 6a) and the like, with precise location and machine cycle, the object (6', 6'a) to be aligned along an alignment path (50, 50a) is moved at a speed which is greater than the speed of at least one stop (19, 19a) moving in the same direction and the object (6 ', 6'a) is moved at the higher speed, until it is aligned by the stop (19, 19a) and braked by it at its speed, characterized in that that the object (6 ', 6'a) to be aligned is grasped in the area of its leading edge (6'',6''a) and held and pulled at least in the area of its leading edge (6'',6''a), until it hits the stop (19, 19a). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the object (6 ', 6'a) to be aligned is moved at least up to the abutment on the stop (19, 19a) along a curved alignment path (50) and / or a flat alignment path (50a) . Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the object (6 ', 6'a) is held during its movement along the alignment section (50, 50a) with the aid of vacuum / suction air. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the object (6 ', 6'a) is held electrically with the aid of electrostatic charging during its movement along the alignment path (50, 50a). Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for releasing the object (6 ', 6'a) and the stop (19, 19a) again a relative movement / relative speed between the object (6', 6'a) and the stop (19 , 19a) and preferably the speed of the object (6 ', 6'a) is reduced again. Device for carrying out the method according to at least one of the preceding method claims, wherein for aligning flat objects (6 ', 6'a) and in particular envelope blanks (6, 6a) and the like, at least one movable driver (16, 16a) for the object to be aligned (6 ', 6'a) and at least one parallel and slower movable support (17, 17a or 18, 18a) are provided for at least one stop (19, 19a), characterized in that that at least one traction means is provided, with the aid of which the driver (16, 16a) acts on the object (6 ', 6'a) to be aligned, at least in the region of its leading edge (6'',6''a). Device according to claim 6, characterized in that suction openings (27, 27a) and negative pressure are provided as traction means. Device according to at least one of the preceding device claims, characterized in that a transport disk (16 ') is provided as the driver (16) and at least one support disk (17', 18 ') carrying the stop (19) is provided as the carrier (17, 18). Device according to at least one of the preceding device claims, characterized in that the transport disc (16 ') is arranged between two support discs (17', 18 '). Device according to at least one of the preceding device claims, characterized in that the transport disc (16 ') is mounted on the same shaft (20) as the support discs (17' and 18 ') and has its own drive (22). Device according to at least one of the preceding device claims, characterized in that the transport disc (16 ') on the circumference (26) has at least one row of radially directed suction openings (27) and in each case one suction channel connecting them, arranged axially parallel and open on one end face (29) (28), and that at least one support disk (17 ') has at least one suction segment (41) facing the suction duct (28) / the suction ducts (28), which has a radially and at least one axially parallel bore (39, 40) is connected to a stationary suction head (32). Device according to at least one of the preceding device claims, characterized in that the suction segment (41) has a suction window (43) in such a way that it completely or at least one of the suction channels (28) oriented axially parallel in the transport disc (16) or two adjacent suction channels (28, 28 ') partially detected and that the support disk (17') preferably has bores (39 ', 40) for three suction segments (41, 41' and 41 ''). Device according to at least one of the preceding device claims, characterized in that at least one toothed belt (64a) is provided as the driver (16a), which has at least one suction opening (27a) acted on as a traction means. Device according to at least one of the preceding device claims, characterized in that toothed belts (73, 73a) are provided as carriers (17a, 18a), each carrying at least one stop (19a).

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