EP0863099B1 - Device for separating piled printed products - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for Separately stacked printed products according to the generic term of claim 1.

A device of this type is known from EP-A-0 628 505. It points to a continuously rotating rotor suction heads anchored by means of a swivel arm. The swivel arms are by means of a rotary drive of the Rotary superimposed rotary actuator with regard to their Swivel position driven so that it is in the takeover point retract in overrun mode and this in towing mode leave. At the turning point, the suction heads suck themselves at the edge of the outermost product of a stack. The tilted movement at the reversal point makes the captured Product edge clearly from the neighboring print product and safely separated. In connection with a removal device with successively rotating grippers is the edge of the printed products by the while of the circulation swiveled suction heads placed in the grippers.

It is an object of the present invention that to further develop generic device such that to separate from a bundle, multi-leaf, especially multi-leaf, printed products especially is well suited.

This task is solved with a device that Features of claim 1. According to the invention the printed product to be separated on the federal government captured by means of a hook gripper element and with the the edge opposite the collar at a stop in plant held. The relative movement of the hook gripper element to the stop leads to a bending up of the to be separated Printed product from the federal government towards the Stack away. Controlled grippers of a removal device can separate the printed products from the exposed Grip the bundle easily for transport away. The holding element designed as a hook-gripper element is particularly easy to set up. It can be multi-leaf, folded Printed products are processed, while doing so the fold forms the collar on which the hook gripper element attacks. It can also be along an edge with each other for example by stapling or tacking to one Printed product related sheets are processed, being the edge at which the leaves are joined together are, forms the collar on which the hook gripper element attacks. Because the hook gripper element with its extension arm on the bundle of the outermost printed product to the system comes and then slides on the product is secure grasping of the federal government using the hook jaw guaranteed.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention Device is specified in claim 2. In addition for an extremely simple design of the hook gripper element is easily ensured that the hook-gripper element with force on the printed product is held until the hook's mouth Confederation has captured.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention Device according to claim 3 takes the hook gripper element in the takeover section and this below until the handover of the printed product to be separated an optimal location to ensure safe detection as well ensure subsequent hold of the printed product.

A particularly simple design of the swivel drive The inventive device is defined in claim 4.

Another particularly preferred embodiment of the inventive Device is defined in claim 5. It offers the possibility to interrupt the separation, without stopping the drive arrangement got to. Since the movement of the hook gripper element with the Removal device is synchronized, this offers the Possibility of handing over printed products to the Interrupt removal device, although this continues is driven.

Further, particularly preferred forms of training of the inventive Facility are dependent in the others Defined claims.

Fig. 1

in Ansicht eine erfindungsgemässe Einrichtung mit einer Stapelauflage, einer Abtransportvorrichtung und einem dazwischen angeordneten Separierer;

Fig. 2

in Ansicht den in der Fig. 1 gezeigten Separierer zu unterschiedlichen Zeitpunkten beim Separieren eines Druckereiprodukts vom Stapel;

Fig. 3

ebenfalls in Ansicht den in den Fig. 1 und 2 gezeigten Separerer mit einem Schwenkantrieb für die Haken-Greiferelemente sowie einer Steuereinrichtung zum Verschwenken der Haken-Greiferelemente in eine Ruhelage; und

Fig. 4

in Draufsicht und teilweise geschnitten entlang der in der Fig. 3 mit IV bezeichneten Schnittlinie den Separierer sowie die Abtransportvorrichtung.

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

Fig. 1

in view a device according to the invention with a stack support, a removal device and a separator arranged between them;

Fig. 2

in view of the separator shown in Figure 1 at different times when separating a printed product from the stack.

Fig. 3

likewise in view of the separator shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a swivel drive for the hook gripper elements and a control device for pivoting the hook gripper elements into a rest position; and

Fig. 4

the separator and the removal device in plan view and partly in section along the section line labeled IV in FIG. 3.

In the device shown in FIG. 1 there is a stack support 10 by a circumferential in the conveying direction F. driven belt conveyor 12 is formed, which is adjustable in height is that each one is an extreme print product 14 of a stack resting on the stack support 10 16 is at a predetermined location. In the direction of conveyance Seen F, downstream of the stack 16 is a Fixed stop 18 arranged on which the stack 16 forming, a bundle of 20 printed products 14 'with its open edge opposite the collar 20 22 concerns.

A separator 24 is arranged above the stack support 10. As can also be seen from FIG. 2, three holding elements designed as hook-gripper elements 26 28 on that along a circular orbit 30 are driven circumferentially in the direction of rotation U. The Orbit 30 runs in an orbital plane that is rectangular to the stack 16 and thus at right angles to the stack support 10 and runs parallel to the conveying direction F. The Hook gripper elements 26 are made from a section of a Spring steel band formed on one of its ends is bent like a hook. With the one removed from this bend End region, is the section in a shaft 34 attached such that it has a self-sprung cantilever arm 36 forms, at its free end on the stack support 10 facing side that generated by the bend Hook jaw 38 is arranged. The three hook gripper elements 26 associated shafts 34 are on an in Direction of rotation U, for example via a with a Motor connected toothed belt 39 continuously driven Rotor 40 is freely rotatable and by means of a Orbital drive superimposed rotary actuator 42, which continues will be described below in a parallel manner Location held. The rotor 40 and the swivel drive 42 form a drive arrangement 44 for the hook gripper elements 26.

In one located below the axis 40 'of the rotor 40 The area of its orbit 30 passes through the hook gripper elements 26 a takeover section 46. In this Seen takeover portion 46, the shaft 34 is relative of the hook jaw 38 leading and is the extension arm 36 with respect to the shaft 34 in a rearward and oblique direction downward working position 48 arranged. The Cantilever arm 36 closes an angle with a horizontal α a, which is preferably between 10 and 70 °, in particular between 25 and 60 °, in a particularly preferred manner is about 40 °.

The outermost printed product is in relation to the orbit 30 14 of the stack 16 each arranged such that each a hook gripper element 26 with its extension arm 36 on the collar 20 of this printed product 14 as it passes through of the takeover section 46 comes to rest. Is located the shaft 34 in question is approximately vertical below the axis 40 'of the rotor 40, so that the relevant one Hook gripper element 26 with a main component is moved in the direction of the stop 18 (Fig. 1). in the As the movement continues, the cantilever arm 36 is on the collar 20 of the outermost printed product 14 slidably guided and becomes leaf spring-like by the counterforce of the stack 16 bent so that he countered with a certain force the printed product 14 presses; see in Fig. 2 the Position indicated by dash-dotted lines and designated by 26 ' of the hook gripper element. This ensures safe grasping of the outermost printed product 14 on the collar 20 by means of Hook jaw 38 sure, like this with the one pulled out Lines shown hook gripper element 26 at the end of Takeover section 46 is indicated. From the takeover section 46 up to a transfer section 50 for the separated Printed products 14 become the hook gripper elements 26 along the orbit 30 in a direction R moves the one horizontal component pointing towards the stop 18 H and one in a vertical direction up from Stack 16 has component V pointing away. This movement of the shaft 34 in question means that the outermost printed product held by the hook jaw 38 14 with the collar 20 separated from the stack 16 is by the border area adjacent to the collar 20 20 'is bent towards the top, a switch in the direction H but prevented by the stop 18 becomes.

As can also be seen from FIG. 1, is above a stacking device 10 arranged a removal device 52. It has one in a known manner in one Guide channel 54 guided and deflected around a deflection wheel 56 endless traction element 58 on which with constant Distance controlled grippers 60 arranged are. The grippers 60 move along a movement path 61 in a plane parallel to the orbit 30 runs. The one in the closing direction by means of a not shown Spring-biased gripper jaws 62, 62 'are around a gripper axis 60 'pivotable at right angles to this Level runs. On each of the gripper jaws 62, 62 ' a lever 64, 64 'attached to its free end carries a roller 66. Laterally next to the deflection wheel 56 two scenes 68, 68 'arranged in a fixed manner, which is intended for this purpose are associated with the levers 64 and 64 ' Rollers 66 cooperate to the gripper jaws 62, 62 ' in the deflection around the deflection wheel 56 and in the following Section of the guide channel 54 into a desired one Pivot position or in the relevant pivot position to keep. Before the grippers 60 each the transfer section 50, they will be achieved by moving in opposite directions the gripper jaws 62, 62 'are brought into the open position and pivoted such that the gripper jaw 69 essentially pointing towards the bottom, so that each separated from the stack 16 by means of the separator 24 Extreme printed product 14 with its collar 20 ahead between the gripper jaws 62, 62 'into the open gripper mouth 69 can be introduced. At the downstream The grippers 60 become the end of the takeover section 46 by pivoting the gripper jaws 62, 62 'onto one another closed to the print product in question 14 from Gripper 60 kept transporting away.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, the Swivel drive 42 on a fixed sun gear 70, the is arranged coaxially to the rotor axis 40 '. On the on evenly distributed in a circle around the rotor axis 40 ' arranged shafts 34, one drive wheel 72 is free rotatably mounted. There is one for each drive wheel 72 on the rotor 40 Planet gear 74 mounted on the one hand with the relevant Drive wheel 72 and on the other hand with the sun gear 70 combs. Since the diameter of the drive wheels 72 is equal to that Diameter of the sun gear 70, the drive wheels rotate 72 when rotating the rotor 40 in the direction of rotation U opposite to this direction, such that its pivoting position kept unchanged.

A two-armed seat sits on each of the shafts 34 in a rotationally fixed manner Stop lever 76 which by means of a tension spring 78 with a Arm is held in contact with a counter stop 80. This Counter stop 80 is on the relevant drive wheel 72 firmly arranged. At the counter stop 80 opposite End of the stop lever 76 is a control roller on this 82 freely rotatable. On a machine frame 84, at which the rotor 40 is rotatably supported, is also a double-armed control lever 86 of a control device 88 pivotally arranged. This is also by means of a fast-switching supported on the machine frame 84 Cylinder-piston unit 90 from a dash-dotted line Passive position 90 'in an extended position Lines indicated active position 90 "pivotable. The lever arm 86 'of the cylinder-piston unit 90 removed double-armed control lever 86 is on his upper, facing the rotor axis 40 ', like a backdrop educated. In passive position 90 'is the Control lever 86 outside the movement path of the control rollers 82. However, the control lever 86 is in the active position 90 "pivoted, the control rollers 82 run from on the lever arm 86 ', causing the stop lever 76 and together with this the hook gripper elements 26 counterclockwise against the force of the tension spring 78 be pivoted. This happens before the hook gripper elements 26 run into the takeover section 46 and is maintained when passing through the takeover section 46. In the active position 90 "of the control lever 86 this takes the hook gripper element passing through the take-over section 46 26 an approximately horizontal rest position 48 ', thereby ensuring that the hook jaw 38 is above the federal government 20 of the outermost printed product 14 moved past by far. This will be the ultimate Printed product 14 from this hook gripper element 26 not separated from stack 16. About when you reach the Transfer section 50 runs the relevant hook gripper element 26 assigned control roller 82 from the lever arm 86 ', whereby the hook gripper element 26 under the Force of the tension spring 78 back into the working position 48 is pivoted.

The distance between successive stems 34 and the Control levers 86 are designed to match one another, that there is only ever one control role 82 in the area of the lever arm 86 'and thus the control lever 86 can be switched from one position to another, while none of the control rollers 82 are in its area located.

The movement path 61 of the grippers 60 runs in the direction seen perpendicular to the conveying direction F in the middle between the side edges 92 of the stack 16, as shown in FIG. 4 is indicated. The orbit 30 of the hook gripper elements 26 extends with respect to that in the direction of the drive arrangement 44 laterally offset, but with the distance between the hook gripper elements 26 and grippers 60 with Advantage should be kept as low as possible. To do this To enable the guide channel 54 for the traction element 58 on the with respect to the path of movement of the gripper 60 of the Orbit 30 arranged opposite side.

1 shows the belt conveyor 12 in the conveying direction F is a feed conveyor which is also designed as a belt conveyor 94 upstream, this and the belt conveyor 12 are connected to each other like a knee joint. Above the A rotating pressure belt 96 is arranged in the feed conveyor 94, this together with this in the area of the articulation with the belt conveyor 12 a conveyor gap for the fed Printed products 14 'forms. These will be on the feed conveyor 94 lying in a scale formation S in Transport direction F transported, in the scale formation S each printed product 14 'on the trailing one rests and the collar 20 with respect to the opposite Edge 22 is trailing. The printed products 14 'are thus with the open edge 22 ahead, the stack 16 feeding from below, transported in conveying direction F, to they are queued at stop 18. The interaction of the pressure belt 96 with the feed conveyor 94 and belt conveyor 12 ensures that the printed products 14 'to be promoted to attack 18.

The belt conveyor 12 is facing away from the feed conveyor 94 End pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis. In a known manner, the pivot position of the Belt conveyor 12 adjustable so that the extreme Printed product 14 of the stack 16 each on one predetermined height with the collar 20 at the takeover section 46 is located. If folded printed products 14 'are to be processed, has the height adjustment by swiveling the Stacking support 10 has the advantage that the greater thickness of the Printed products at the federal government 22 versus the thickness at Edge 22 is automatically compensated so that each the ultimate printed product regardless of the stack height 14 occupies approximately a horizontal position.

On average, the stacking support 10 has the same number of printed products 14 'fed, as from the stack 16 printed products 14 can be separated. But the stack does one Buffer function, so that short-term differences in the feed and can be included in the separation.

Is basically every time a hook gripper element is run through 26 through the takeover section 46 a printed product 14 can be separated on the control device 88 can be dispensed with. In this case, the drive wheels 72 rotatably with the relevant shaft 34 connected. The stop lever 76, the tension spring 78 and the Counter stop 80 are not necessary in this case either.

It is also conceivable to include the hook gripper elements 26 to form rigid boom arms. In this case the tension spring 78 can take over the function, the hook gripper elements 26 against the extreme to be separated To push printed products 14. But this can be unsuitable damping measures taken to a cause the facility to run more roughly. In this context for the sake of completeness it should be mentioned that in the form of training shown in the figures that of the tension spring 78 applied torque is greater than that of the hook gripper element 26. This leaves in Passive position 90 'pivoted control lever 86 the stop lever 76 always at the counterstop 78, what contributes to the smooth running of the facility.

It is conceivable to use a hook gripper element 26 appropriately trained swivel drive in a suitable Way to pan.

The hook gripper element 26 can on its hook mouth side End with, for example, needle-like tips be intended to be in the bundle 20 of each to pierce to be separated printed product 14. Further can the hook jaw 38 according to the shape of the federal government 20th of the printed products to be processed 14 differently be trained.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for individually separating stacked printed products, having a holding element (28) which is driven in a circulating manner by means of a drive arrangement (44) along a closed path of movement (30) in a plane at right angles to the stack (16) and acts in a takeover section (46) of the path of movement (30) on the outermost printed product (14) in order to separate the latter from the stack (16) for the purpose of transfer to a transporting-away device (52), characterized in that the apparatus is intended for separating multi-sheet printed products (14, 14') having a back margin (20) and has a stop (18) for supporting the outermost printed product (14) on an edge (22) opposite the back margin (20), in that the holding element (28) is designed as a hook-gripper element (26) with a cantilever arm (36) and a hook mouth (38) arranged at its free end, and the drive arrangement (44) moves the hook-gripper element (26) in such a way that, in the takeover section (46), it comes to bear with the cantilever arm (36) against the back margin (20) of the outermost printed product (14) and is then guided in a sliding manner on the outermost printed product (14) in the direction of the stop (18) until the hook mouth (38) has seized the back margin (20), and in that it has from the takeover section (46) to the transfer (50) a direction of movement (R) with a component (H) towards the stop (18) and a component (V) away from the stack (16).
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the hook-gripper element (26) is of a self-springing design.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drive arrangement (44) has a rotor (40), on which the hook-gripper element (26) is mounted, and a swivel drive (42) which is superposed on the rotary drive and keeps the hook-gripper element (26) in a rearwardly and obliquely downwardly directed position (48) with respect to the circulating direction (U) in the takeover section (46) and from the latter up to the transfer (50).
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that the swivel drive (42) has a fixed sun wheel (70), which is coaxial with respect to the rotor axis (40'), a drive wheel (72), which is connected to the hook-gripper element (26), and a planet wheel (74), which is mounted freely rotatably on the rotor (40) and meshes with the sun wheel (70) and the drive wheel (72), and the sun wheel (70) and the drive wheel (72) preferably have the same diameter.
5. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized by a control device (88), which in the activated state is intended for the purpose of bringing the hook-gripper element (24) from a working position (48) into a position of rest (48'), in which, when it runs through the takeover section (46), it is moved past the outermost printed product (14) without seizing it.
6. Apparatus according to Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the hook-gripper element (26) is fastened. on a shank (34) which is mounted freely rotatably in the rotor (40) and has a stop lever (76), the stop lever (76) is held by means of a spring (78) up against a counter-stop (80) of the swivel drive (42) which determines the working position (48) of the hook-gripper element (26) and may be arranged on the drive wheel (72), and the control device (88) has a control element (86), preferably of a lever-like design, which in the activated state (90") acts in the takeover section (50) on the shank (34), preferably via the stop lever (76), in order to swivel the stop lever (76) away from the counter-stop (80), counter to the spring action (78), and thereby swivel the hook-gripper element (26) into the position of rest (48').
7. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized by a number of hook-gripper elements (26) arranged one behind the other in the circulating direction (U).
8. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the transporting-away device (52) has a multiplicity of controlled grippers (60) arranged at intervals one behind the other on a closed drawing member (58), the path of movement (61) of the grippers (60), directed with the gripper mouth (69) substantially downward in the transfer section (50), runs above a stack rest (10) and is laterally offset with respect to the path of circulation (30) of the hook-gripper element (26), and in that the grippers (60) are arranged on the side of the drawing member (58) facing the path of circulation (30).
9. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a stack rest (10) is formed by a conveyor (12) feeding the stack (16) from below, and the conveyor (10) is vertically adjustable in dependence on the feeding in of printed products (14') to the stack (16) and the progressing individual separation, with the result that the respectively outermost printed product (14) is at the takeover region (46).

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