EP0879777A1 - Dispositif automatique d'alimentation pour traiter des produits retournés invendus - Google Patents

Dispositif automatique d'alimentation pour traiter des produits retournés invendus Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0879777A1
EP0879777A1 EP98112638A EP98112638A EP0879777A1 EP 0879777 A1 EP0879777 A1 EP 0879777A1 EP 98112638 A EP98112638 A EP 98112638A EP 98112638 A EP98112638 A EP 98112638A EP 0879777 A1 EP0879777 A1 EP 0879777A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
copies
copy
return
articles
processing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98112638A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Gotzon Azcarraga Rodero
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Siemsa Norte SA
Original Assignee
Siemsa Norte SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from ES9300138A external-priority patent/ES2085202B1/es
Priority claimed from ES9300422A external-priority patent/ES2081244B1/es
Application filed by Siemsa Norte SA filed Critical Siemsa Norte SA
Publication of EP0879777A1 publication Critical patent/EP0879777A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
    • B65H1/02—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated adapted to support articles on edge
    • B65H1/025—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated adapted to support articles on edge with controlled positively-acting mechanical devices for advancing the pile to present the articles to the separating device
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
    • B07C3/02—Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
    • B07C3/08—Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution using arrangements of conveyors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/34—Sorting according to other particular properties
    • B07C5/3412—Sorting according to other particular properties according to a code applied to the object which indicates a property of the object, e.g. quality class, contents or incorrect indication
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/08—Separating articles from piles using pneumatic force
    • B65H3/0808—Suction grippers
    • B65H3/0816—Suction grippers separating from the top of pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H31/00—Pile receivers
    • B65H31/30—Arrangements for removing completed piles
    • B65H31/309—Arrangements for removing completed piles by acting on one of the outermost articles for moving the pile of articles on edge along a surface, e.g. by pushing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/30—Orientation, displacement, position of the handled material
    • B65H2301/32—Orientation of handled material
    • B65H2301/324—Inclined
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
    • B65H2301/422—Handling piles, sets or stacks of articles
    • B65H2301/4226—Delivering, advancing piles
    • B65H2301/42268—Delivering, advancing piles by acting on one of the outermost article for moving pile of articles on edge along a surface, e.g. pushing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2406/00—Means using fluid
    • B65H2406/30—Suction means
    • B65H2406/34—Suction grippers
    • B65H2406/342—Suction grippers being reciprocated in a rectilinear path
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2513/00—Dynamic entities; Timing aspects
    • B65H2513/50—Timing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/17—Nature of material
    • B65H2701/176—Cardboard

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to an automatic feeder for processing the return of unsold articles, which provides a series of relevant and advantageous characteristics in this industrial sector.
  • the automatic feeder as claimed can be used in an area or platform for processing articles of a varied nature and shapes (boxes of stickers, chewing gum, trifles, big promotional cartons with recorded videos and tapes, newspapers, magazines, etc.) which is used peripherally with regard to a machine that identifies and classifies exclusively capable of processing publications such as magazines, newspapers and the like; machine whose classic example of use is by distributors of periodic publications, to control the payment of the unsold copies which are returned to it at regular intervals by the retailers.
  • the object of this device is to facilitate the precise, continuous and synchronized control of all the unsold articles, producing a true automatized industrial management process in which human decisions are minimal, and the manpower is optimized.
  • These machines preferably handle flat objects such as magazines and the like, for classification thereof which may or may not be preceded by identification of their printed covers or associated code.
  • the object of the present invention is particularly destined to improve the effectiveness and functional reliability of a machine that identifies and classifies a huge amount of unsold press that has to be processed to return them to the distributor or publishing firm equipped with such a machine.
  • Machines with the capacity to exclusively identify and classify newspapers, magazines and the like, which have a loading area upon which the copies are classified one by one and are conveyed until they are made to pass through an identification station that explores the covers of the same, comparing them with previously "learned" models, are known in the field of this invention. After the station, the copies have access to a classification area in which there is a plurality of selective ejecting gates of the same.
  • German patent DE-899174 describes a conveyor and classification system of flat objects in which these objects are conveyed on sliding rails by means of the thrust carried out by pulling pins that are connected jointly to a motorized endless belt; it is also explained that the sliding bed is inclined transversely towards a longitudinal side of conveyance in which there is a sliding edge or section for the bottom edge of the conveyed flat object; it also explains that said conveyed flat objects may me removed or ejected through said longitudinal side of a smaller dimension, using for such purpose pushing means that act transversally to the flat object in question and that are established in correspondence with a plurality of ejecting or exit gates to which the corresponding stacking tanks are associated.
  • patent 4.042.113 flat objects or magazines are also conveyed by pulling of an endless belt along a bed inclined towards one of the longitudinal side of conveyance, this side in which there is a sliding edge or section upon which the back of the magazines that are proportioned one by one in an initial receiving or loading area rests.
  • these magazines pass through said optoelectronic station and afterwards have access to the classification section, where means that act transversally upon the magazine, separate it from the inclined conveyance bed and, by gravity, it falls selectively in one or the other of the possible multiple stacking tanks.
  • patent 4.042.113 considers the replacement of the pulling pins by the rubbing effect of direct contact of the magazine against the transversally inclined endless belt, in combination with some magazine proportioning means that establishes the spacing between successive magazines, as well as for the ejection of the magazines auxiliary deviating means have been included to facilitate the direction of discharge towards the corresponding stacking tank.
  • the most common ones proportion the bottom most copy of the stack with an operating principle designed in some cases to take advantage of the characteristics of flexibility of the copy, in others precisely the contrary (cardboard covers), in others the thickness and rigidity of the backs, etc.
  • the automatic feeder as claimed can be used at a processing platform applied as a peripheral of a processing machine of typical periodic publications, is going to allow integral management of unsold ones, including atypical ones, in a precise, continuous, synchronized and automatized manner, with a minimum human participation and taking advantage of the control computer itself of the machine that is connected to the central computer (HOST) of the distributor; in such a way that, the combination of said novel processing station, machine and HOST constitute an integral management system of the return of unsold articles.
  • HOST central computer
  • the processing station device comprises:
  • the new processing device thus constituted operates in the following manner:
  • the operator of the unpacking station receives the package of unsold copies with their return invoice coming from a certain retailer (client); the typical copies to be processed by the machine are separated from the atypical ones; the data of the invoice are introduced into the computer of the station; the typical copies are placed in the first conveyor (transversal to the machine) and the atypical articles (with said return invoice) are placed in the second conveyor (parallel to the machine).
  • the typical copies end up in the proportioning station, being proportioned over the loading area of the machine and after being subjected to identification, they reach the classification area where they are ejected by a predetermined gate of the multiple gates according to the program established in the control computer of the machine; the copies, that due to damage or other causes, are not identified, are ejected through the gate immediately after the identification station.
  • the extemporaneous copies (returned after the established and programmed period of time) will be ejected through the second gate.
  • Said unidentified and extemporaneous copies automatically pass to the respective third and fourth conveyors that take them to an auxiliary identification station attended to by the operator, where they converge with the atypical ones that arrive by said second conveyor.
  • the copies and atypical articles processed in this auxiliary station are deposited in the fifth conveyor, that conveys them to the carrusel where they will be baled by hand, or to the automatic baling and final storage means.
  • the existence of more auxiliary stations along the second conveyor is provided for, as described in more detail hereinafter and as is illustrated in the drawings.
  • Said first and second conveyors are preferably integrated by a plurality of sections provided with independent tractions and, except the first section, the other intermediate sections and the final section have associated presence sensors that detect whether or not the section is occupied by articles being processed and are connected to a unit that controls the independent tractions thereof, ordering the activation of a section when the following one is free and keeping the first section activated except when all the successive sections are occupied.
  • said third conveyor has three differentiated operating areas or positions: an initial or receiving position of the unidentified copies delivered by said first gate of the classification area of the machine, a center position that is occupied by the group of said copies received in the initial area when the package coming from the same has been processed, and whose center area has associated said printer that includes to said group of unidentified copies an invoice designating an identification code and a final or delivery position to said auxiliary station, which is the following feed of the conveyor is occupied by said group of unidentified copies; said conveyor being combined to said button to feed on each time that the latter is pushed; said printer being controlled by said control computer to operate each time that a group of unidentified copies occupies said center position.
  • said optional fourth conveyor for extemporaneous copies has three differentiated successive operative areas or positions: one initial position receiving the copies delivered by said second gate of the classification area of the machine, a center position that, by means of a feed on a unitary basis, is occupied by the group of copies received in said initial position as coming from a specific processed package of unsold copies, and whose center position has associated said printer that includes to this group of extemporaneous copies an invoice designating an identification code, and a final position for delivery to said auxiliary station that is occupied by said group of extemporaneous copies in the following feed on a unitary basis of the conveyor; the traction of this conveyor being connected to advance one position each time that said button of the end of proportioning is pushed; and said printer being controlled by said control computer to operate each time that a group of extemporaneous copies occupies said center position.
  • said fifth conveyor has a path coinciding with the one of the conveyor of the atypical articles, it is provided for that the first one has a bottom section that extends underneath aid conveyor and an ascending section that feeds said carrusel; with the particularity that said bottom section will extend longitudinally as required to attend to each and every one of the implanted auxiliary stations and through the respective proportioning ramps of the articles already identified in the same.
  • the new created device carries out continuous and through processing of the entire package of unsold articles, one part autonomously by the machine itself, and the rest (atypical, unidentified and extemporaneous articles) in auxiliary identification stations attended to by an operator, but interconnected with the control computer of the machine, obtaining, in short, total management of the unsold articles.
  • the classification area of the machine has, the optional use of simple collecting drawers that store by taking advantage of the gravitational action in combination with the doubly inclined bottom, or else, the use of controlled discharge devices formed by a conveyance element that feeds a first container that, when a predetermined number of copies is reached, it is emptied automatically onto a second container from which they are taken for their baling by manual or automatic means.
  • magazines The elements to be processed, designated generically as magazines, are conveyed in the handling machine, one by one by action of solidary pushing members of an endless belt and resting on a bed that is inclined towards one of the longitudinal edges thereof, in which there is a sliding section for the back of said magazines, in such a way that each magazine is proportioned on a receiving area of said inclined bed and is conveyed through an optoelectronic identification station of its cover, to end us reaching a classification or ejection area in which there is a plurality of selective discharge gates that have associated ejecting means that push the magazine transversally, separating it from the inclined bed.
  • a simple and inexpensive support device of the endless belt or transversally inclined bed that facilitates replacement thereof, can be used.
  • This device can comprise some first means prior to the functional entry into said optoelectronic station and that provide the automatic correction of the transversal position of the magazine, by means of its slipping by gravity over the inclined bed, until its back remains stacked on said slipping section; some second means retaining said correct transversal position of the magazine; some third means, also prior to said entry, facilitating the automatic correction of the longitudinal position of the magazine by means of its regression to the immediately posterior pushing block; some fourth means fixing the flatness of the magazine cover for its processing by said optoelectronic station; some fifth nondescending support means of said inclined endless belt; some sixth means in said ejecting area between said optoelectronic station and the selective ejection, guarantors against the overturning of the cover of the magazine; some seventh means, also in said ejection area between said station and the selective ejection, guarantors against the rolling up of the back of the magazine
  • the automatic feeder as claimed that may be used in the device for processing the return of unsold articles, just like the ones described above and that may also be used in other different processing installations, comply with the following specifications;
  • the automatic feeder built in accordance with the invention in general lines is comprised of a hopper receiving the copies to be proportioned, having an inclined and grooved bottom bed or plate, establishing the support surface of the backs. Sideways the copies are guided in a fixed reference wall and rest on a front wall that is movable and that is related to a pneumatic cylinder as we will see later on.
  • the entire stack of copies remains supported on the rear movable wall and the removal on a unitary basis is done by means of a vacuum suction cup, which is provided with a reciprocating motion that is controlled by an electronic device, through which a synchronism is achieved to make the forward movement coincide with the action of the suction cup, as well as the displacement of the movable wall of the hopper in the suitable distance to guarantee the contact of the suction cup with the stack or package of unsold articles.
  • vacuum suction cup With regard to the vacuum suction cup, we can emphasize the fact that its structure is formed by a frame connected to the depressor, having an outside grating that enters into contact with the copy to start the suction in a homogeneous manner, optimized by the existence of an elastic tongue that surrounds the suction cup.
  • the automatic feeder includes in the movable plate itself a pushing plate that is adapted to the stack of copies with the help of a pneumatic cylinder.
  • a sensor detects it and orders the back motion of the movable plate to its initial position previously programmed in accordance with the size of the stacks that are waiting to be processed.
  • An electronic device based on a PLC or on a microprocessor plate or the like, carries out the control of all the movements required by the automatic feeder.
  • control software By means of control software the state of the different sensors is analyzed so that, from the conditions imposed on the same, the corresponding electric valves that trigger the movements of the pneumatic cylinders responsible for the movements are activated.
  • the automatic feeder that the invention considers is especially applicable in proportioning copies with which the automatic machines are fed for the control of the return of unsold publications. These automatic feeders considerably improve the performance of said automatic machines. Inside the loading process of copies the following aspects will have to be taken into account:
  • the separation between the last copy of a feeder and the first one of the following one can be programmed in terms of the process that the machine controlling the return uses to carry out the code change.
  • the starting order to each feeder is done from the machine controlling the return by means of the same electronic communication.
  • Each feeder has a sensor that is activated with the passing of the pushing blocks of the conveyance system of the machine controlling the return, so that the copy removal mechanism is synchronized with the passing of the cited pushing block.
  • the device for processing the return of unsold articles allows integral management of unsold articles and it is schematically represented in figure 1, applied to a machine for identifying and classifying magazines, newspapers and the like, that is controlled by the computer (5) connected to the central one (HOST) of the user (distributor that must handle the returned unsold articles, in order to pay the retailer); and whose machine (1) also comprises the loading area (2) upon which the copies are to be proportioned by hand or automatically, station (3) for identifying the same and the classification area (4) provided with a first ejecting gate (4.1) for the unidentified copies, a second gate (4.2) for the extemporaneous copies, a plurality of gates (4.3 to 4.n) for the selective ejection of the copies that have been identified by the machine and that are also within the return period (validated copies).
  • HOST central one
  • station (3) for identifying the same and the classification area (4) provided with a first ejecting gate (4.1) for the unidentified copies, a second gate (4.2) for the extempo
  • the proposed device consists of the following:
  • the package of unsold goods of each retailer is taken apart in each unpacking station, separating the publication copies from the atypical articles.
  • the data identifying the return invoice and each package of unsold articles are introduced in the computer (7) (by the keyboard, car code, etc.), which are passed to the computer (5) at the moment in which the effective processing thereof is going to take place.
  • the copies are placed in the initial section (8a) of the conveyor and the atypical articles are placed in the final section (11a) of the conveyor (11).
  • Two successive packages can have the same identification and in the processing a stack of codes is created in this computer (7) so that the higher one is that of the package closest to the machine (1) (or station 12).
  • the discriminator (10) operates the first recording of the stack passes to the computer (5) so that upon starting a new proportioning the data are already in the machine without keying them in.
  • Conveyors (8) and (11) are integrated by several sections (8a, 8b, 8c) and (11a, 11b, 11c) of the continous band type operable independently and provided (except the first one 8a and 11a) of presence sensors (barrier photocell) and an electronic control (PLC), so that each section (8b, 8c) and (11b, 11c) advances as long as the preceding one is not occupied and so that the first section (8a and 11a) is also operating except if the other ones (8b, 8c) and (11b, 11c) are already occupied.
  • sections (8a, 8b, 8c) and (11a, 11b, 11c) are integrated by several sections (8a, 8b, 8c) and (11a, 11b, 11c) of the continous band type operable independently and provided (except the first one 8a and 11a) of presence sensors (barrier photocell) and an electronic control (PLC), so that each section (8b, 8c) and (11b, 11c) advances as long
  • the atypical articles progress along the conveyor (11) until they reach the auxiliary station (12), where they arrive along with the retailer's invoice so that the operator introduces (by keyboard, bar code, etc.) the corresponding code in its computer (13).
  • auxiliary stations (20) and corresponding computers (21) are implanted, preferably at the outside side of the circuit formed, although it is also possible at the inside side, which will operate at their own rate.
  • Unidentified and extemporaneous articles also converge in said auxiliary station (12) for their processing.
  • the conveyance is, respectively, carried out by conveyors (14) and (15), which have the same function consisting in their span being subdivided into three positions, initial (14a, 15a), center (14b, 15b) and final (14c, 15c) which are successively occupied by copies being processed.
  • the copies coming from a package of unsold articles are accumulated until, with the operation of the discriminator (10), it is first produced that the conveyors (14, 15) advance one position making the copies (unidentified and extemporaneous) occupy the center position (14b, 15b); secondly, the computer of the machine (1) reports the package code to the printer (18, 19) and thirdly, the printer (18, 19) issues a ticket with said code and includes it in the group of copies. In the following feedthe copies will reach the final position (14c, 15c) in which they are in a position to be processed in said auxiliary station (12).
  • the identified copies they are selectively ejected through the gates (4.3 to 4.n) of said classification area (4).
  • the collection may take place in simple drawers (23) with a doubly inclined bottom that favors automatic arranging of the copies; or else, in controlled unloading devices (24) formed by a conveyor element (24a) (of a preferably inclined bed to favor said arrangement) that places the copies in the first container (24b) until a predetermined amount is accumulated, when they are automatically passed to the second container (24c), where they will be collected for baling and storage thereof.
  • auxiliary computers (13) and (21) pass on their processed data to the computer in the execution of a single global document of the total return of a client.
  • the performance of the device is capable of partial execution and for example, if the user does not need to differentiate atypical articles, this part of the device may be eliminated.
  • the magazines (55) are fed one by one on the withdrawal area (25a) of the endless belt (26) inclined transversally, striving to have them fall between two successive transyersal blocks (32), but without taking too much care, hence, it must be provided for that the backs (55a) do not remain from the beginning supported on the slinding section (28) and that the magazines (55) remain turned and separated from said section (28), even astride the transversal position of one of said blocks (32).
  • said first means which correct the transversal position of the magazine (55) on the inclined bed of the endless belt (26), consist of: this endless belt (26) having its surface slippery; the pushing members (32) solid with said enless belt (26) being transversal blocks (32) that have the particularity that they only extend on a narrow bottom strip whose width is aproximately one part of the width of the endless belt (26), as well as these blocks (32) having on their top surface a beveled edge (32a) which in the top end thereof originates at the level of the surface of the endless belt (26) and extends to approximately the center of said top surface of the block (32). And there are devices that eliminate the static electricity from the surface of the endless belt (26), distributed along the length thereof.
  • said second retaining means of the correct transversal position of the magazine (55) consist of a strip (37) located between the slipping section (28) and the bottom edge of the endless belt (26), in order to prevent the transversal sliding of the magazines due to downward slipping of the back (55a).
  • said third means correcting the longitudinal position of the magazine (55) on the inclined bed (26) they are overlapped longitudinally over said strip (37) and they are operatively located between the sliding section (28) and the beginning of the belt (26) and they are the following: a concealable lift device (34) of the back (55a) of the magazines (55) that is normally sticking out due to the resisting action of a spring (34a) that elastically gives in due to the weight of the magazine (55), facilitating a combined action of the effects of friction and gravity that causes the automatic regression of the magazine copy (55); a vacuum suction cup (34) of Venturi effect that brakes the feed of the magazine (55) until it is reached by the bevel-edged block (32) that follows it; and a retaining strip (36) that has an intensity adjustment device (36a) and that acts upon the back (55a) of the magazine (55) in a previous and overlapped manner under the start of said strip (37) braking the feed of the magazine (55) due to the increase of the friction, until the pusher or bevel-edge
  • said fourth means consist of: a fin (38) overturning said cover; a blower (39) with adjustable intensity that is located after said fin against overturning (38), directed obliquely over the cover and activated by a sensor that detects the beginning of a new copy; an air curtain (40) that extends transversally along the entire width of the endless belt (26) has an adjustable intensity and is located after said oblique blower (39) producing a continous air flow inclined in the feed direction of the copy; and some pressing strips (41) that are located after said air curtain (40) and are applied on the cover in its feed through said electronic station (25b).
  • the overturning fin (38) is abutted to the sliding section (28) of the back (55a) and is long and high enough to return to its natural position, covers shich circulated completely open, even flying over said sliding section (28).
  • the oblique blower (39) acts on the convers that try to rise the overturning fin (38) being already overcome, and it is activated by an electric signal that comes from said sensor.
  • said fifth means which consist of, all along the top edge of said endless belt (26), a longitudinal block (27) being fastened, whose bottom surface remains applied by both the visible and the hidden surfaces of the endless belt (26) upon a plurality of bearings (43) supported in respective supports (42) anchored upon the fixed frame of the machine itself (25), are provided for.
  • This support device is to be hidden by a covering section (44) which will be discussed later on, upon dealing with the grate against overturning (46) of the cover,
  • the optoelectronic station (25b) At the exit of the optoelectronic station (25b) one enters into the classification area (25c), where the magazines (55) are to be kept circulating in the correct position and without interference of stops.
  • said sixth means consist of a grating (46) workable by tilting that is formed by crossbars (46b) that longitudinally extend over the endless belt (26) not very high up, adjustable with regard to said cover, and by projecting crosspieces (46a) whose feet are jointed to the static frame of the machine (25) by means of the corresponding tilting shafts (47). It is provided for that said tilting shafts (47) of the grating (46) are located on a section (44) covering said support means (27, 42, 43) against the drop of the endless belt (26) that correspond to the visible surface of the belt, whose covering section (44) is provided with corresponding supports (45) with regard to said supports (42).
  • said seventh means against the rolling up of the back (55a) of the magazine (55) consist of: all along the sliding section (28) in said ejection area (25c), there are withdrawable holding flanges (50), placed one after the other and each one linked to an exit gate (52) whose holding flanges (50) are operatively projected towards the center of the inclined bed (26), remaining overturned over the path of the back (55a), alding over said sliding section (28).
  • this eighth means of ejection of the magazine 55 consists of: an ejector shovel 48 in the active part of which there are longitudinal beveled edges 48a, and at the posterior end or upstream, and transversal 48b, on the side turned towards the center of the endless belt 26, a first actuator 49 of that ejector shovel 48 between a non-active concealable position and an active protruding position which notably reaches the limit level of that slipping section 28; a second actuator 51, of combined action with that first actuator 49 and that is associated with this withdrawable holding flange 50 operating between that active protruding position and a withdrawn ejection position of the magazine 55.
  • these withdrawable holding flanges 50 have a triangular expansion complement 50a of their turned end and the protruding crown of this complement 50a is left keeping the continuity according to the retaining projection of the next flange 50 downstream.
  • the action of these actuators (49, 51) is combined (figures 13 and 14) so that the flange 46 is withdrawn when checking the emergence of the ejector shovel 48.
  • the outlet tray 52 corresponding to the next outlet tray or door 28 downstream is extended at the rear in a deflector plate 54 in a downward ramp.
  • these trays 52 have ball bearings 53 locked in their bed.
  • This ninth means is accordingly provided for which consists of the legs 29 which hold up the machine, 29, whose height can be adjusted and have at the uppermost side a colllapsible section 30 which surrounds that access.
  • identification readings of the copy or object that have been described contain opto-electronic means associated with the identification of the printed image, they can be complemented and/or replaced by code reader means associated with each copy or object (bar codes, magnetic signals, photosensitive impressions, electromagnetic signals, etc.).
  • the automatic feeder has the general reference number 56.
  • This automatic feeder 56 has a hopper 57 defined by a grooved bed 58, a fixed wall 59 and a movable wall 60.
  • the copies will be deposited with their backs supported on the grooved bed 58 and referenced against the fixed wall 59. Because the groove bed has a gradient of 35o, the entire stack of copies will lean against the posterior movable wall 60.
  • the copies will be removed from the front of the hopper 57 by a vacuum suction cap 61.
  • This cap will be located opposite the angle formed by the grooved bed 58 and the fixed wall 57.
  • the ejector suction pad has a reciprocating movement so that when it stands in a feed position, it sucks the copy, during the backward motion it ejects it and when it reaches its most backward position, the suction ends and it drops by gravity.
  • This suction cap 61 contains a device which detects whether the copy has or has not been grasped, and the re-try will then begin before it reaches the end of its backward run.
  • the entire reciprocating motion is controlled by an electronic synchronism device which causes the moment when the copy is dropped on the conveyor belt 62 to coincide in the suitable place and time.
  • the movable wall 60 Whilst the ejection device is working, the movable wall 60 reaches the appropriate distance to guarantee that the copy that is to be ejected is in an optimum position to be removed by the suction cap 61. When the last copy has been proportioned, this wall automatically returns to the initial position, to allow the hopper 57 to be loaded anew.
  • the back separator device which has the general reference number 63 and which is can be clearly observed in figure 17, is made up of the fluted section 64, a lateral air flow device 65, and spacer strips 66.
  • the fluted section 64 is fitted right at the edge of the grooved bed. Its special section with two curvature radii retain the backs of the copies (especially those which are bent forwards), until the suction cap overcomes this resistance to remove them.
  • the air ejector device 65 sends air at pressure from the bottom of the fixed wall 59 and near the fluted section 64, preventing any possible approximation of the back of the next copy that is to be ejected.
  • the posterior end of the spacer strips 66 is secured by a fastening to the grooved bed 58 and the other end is raised to form an angle of 90o with the rest of the strip. They allow a copy to pass when the whole stack is pushed by the movable wall 60 and prevent the first two copies from coming together, when the suction cap pushes the first of them to grasp it.
  • the automatic feeder 56 includes a device for removing the copy, which has the general reference number 67, made up of the following elements:
  • the particular concave shape of the grate 70 produces a homogeneous and very ample depression area around the center of the grate (that enters into contact with the copy) and to the tongue 71 that surrounds the suction cap. Thanks to this particular shape of the grate 70 an optimum suction is obtained for articles of these characteristics (copies with or without gadget).
  • claws 72 which are secured jointly to the bottom of the suction cap 61 (see figure 15) and which are fed in respect of the plane of grate 70, which have the effect of pushing the back of the copy that is to be removed against the strips 66; this effect is particularly important in those cases where the backs are bent forward.
  • This sliding tube 74 works as switch of the vacuum of conduit 69, thanks to a mechanism 77 which has a pressure compensation chamber to prevent the sliding tube 74 from suffering dominant forces which increase its friction on the slip guides. This can be schematically be seen in figure 16.
  • the device to shift the complete stack of copies consists of different elements which are described below:
  • nozzle 85 projects air at pressure so that the backs that are bent upwards adjust to the conveyor cover 86 of the return control machine and contact with the displacement section 84 when slips down.
  • FIG 20 we can see a perspective view of the embodiment of the two feeders for the proportioner application of copies to the control machine of return of unsold publications.
  • One of these automatic feeders will be the specular image of the other and which will allow the operator who loads, to locate himself between them in order to have access to the loading hoppers on the right and on the left.
  • the operation is as follows: the operator loads a package on each of the automatic feeders 56 and presses the button "ready” 90 (also see figure 15).
  • the control system receives the package code.
  • the feeder starts proportioning.
  • the operator loads the other automatic feeder 56 with the next package and presses the button "ready” 90.
  • the control system receives this package code.
  • the last copy is proportioned from the first feeder, the second one starts automatically.
  • the operator loads the first feeder 56, and the cycle is again repeated.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)
  • Feeding Of Articles To Conveyors (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Branching, Merging, And Special Transfer Between Conveyors (AREA)
EP98112638A 1993-01-27 1994-01-26 Dispositif automatique d'alimentation pour traiter des produits retournés invendus Withdrawn EP0879777A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES9300138 1993-01-27
ES9300138A ES2085202B1 (es) 1993-01-27 1993-01-27 Dispositivo para el procesamiento de la devolucion de articulos invendidos.
ES9300422A ES2081244B1 (es) 1993-03-03 1993-03-03 Perfeccionamientos para maquinas manipuladoras y clasificadoras de objetos planos.
ES9300422 1993-03-03
EP94905110A EP0649685B1 (fr) 1993-01-27 1994-01-26 Dispositif pour le traitement du renvoi d'articles invendus

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94905110A Division EP0649685B1 (fr) 1993-01-27 1994-01-26 Dispositif pour le traitement du renvoi d'articles invendus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0879777A1 true EP0879777A1 (fr) 1998-11-25

Family

ID=26154693

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98112639A Expired - Lifetime EP0887121B1 (fr) 1993-01-27 1994-01-26 Dispositif pour le traitement du renvoi d'articles invendus
EP94905110A Expired - Lifetime EP0649685B1 (fr) 1993-01-27 1994-01-26 Dispositif pour le traitement du renvoi d'articles invendus
EP98112638A Withdrawn EP0879777A1 (fr) 1993-01-27 1994-01-26 Dispositif automatique d'alimentation pour traiter des produits retournés invendus

Family Applications Before (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98112639A Expired - Lifetime EP0887121B1 (fr) 1993-01-27 1994-01-26 Dispositif pour le traitement du renvoi d'articles invendus
EP94905110A Expired - Lifetime EP0649685B1 (fr) 1993-01-27 1994-01-26 Dispositif pour le traitement du renvoi d'articles invendus

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (3) EP0887121B1 (fr)
DE (2) DE69417144T2 (fr)
WO (1) WO1994016830A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE59811924D1 (de) * 1998-02-05 2004-10-14 Pierau Unternehmensberatung Gm Anlage zum Erfassen von Retouren
DE10356820A1 (de) 2003-12-05 2005-07-07 Bayer Cropscience Ag Synergistische insektizide Mischungen
RU2705283C2 (ru) 2015-04-29 2019-11-06 Штефан КЛОЦНЕР Система для автоматической упаковки журналов и газет для каждого отдельного газетного киоска
CN105129410A (zh) * 2015-08-28 2015-12-09 天津玛塔德科技有限公司 防止重复扫码的传送系统

Citations (3)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3718217A (en) * 1969-08-22 1973-02-27 A Stobb Apparatus for feeding signatures
DE3515068A1 (de) * 1985-04-26 1986-10-30 Helmut 7300 Esslingen Staufner Anlage zum vereinzeln von gestapelten druckschriften wie zeitungen, zeitschriften, hefte od.dgl.
DE3605037A1 (de) * 1986-02-18 1987-08-20 Helmut Staufner Anlage zum vereinzeln von in stapelform vorliegenden gegenstaenden wie druckschriften od.dgl. flachgut

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US3181685A (en) * 1962-04-26 1965-05-04 Fmc Corp Article sorting system
IT967529B (it) * 1971-10-13 1974-03-11 Bowe Bohler U Weber Kg Dispositivo per arrestare oggetti in movimento rapido
US3915284A (en) * 1973-11-23 1975-10-28 Bendix Corp Automatic object routing system
US4042113A (en) * 1976-06-18 1977-08-16 Standard Alliance Industries, Inc. Sorting device for magazine or the like
DD222187A3 (de) * 1982-03-22 1985-05-08 Textima Veb K Verfahren und vorrichtung zum positionieren textiler flaechengebilde
DE3306175A1 (de) * 1983-02-23 1984-08-23 Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-Gmbh, 6000 Frankfurt Verfahren zur erkennung und indentifikation von gegenstaenden
JPS60137475A (ja) * 1983-12-26 1985-07-22 株式会社東芝 郵便物区分装置
FR2560794B1 (fr) * 1984-03-09 1986-09-12 Hotchkiss Brandt Sogeme Dispositif de capotage escamotable d'une machine
FR2616556B1 (fr) * 1987-06-11 1989-10-06 Inter Color Installation de traitement de pochettes d'epreuves photographiques
DE3903751A1 (de) * 1989-02-06 1990-09-13 Vohr Horst Vorrichtung zur erfassung und sortierung von remittenten ii
IT1239522B (it) * 1990-04-03 1993-11-05 Sitma Spa Impianto per la selezione di prodotti grafici e/o editoriali
JPH04333416A (ja) * 1991-05-07 1992-11-20 Tsubakimoto Chain Co 仕分けシステム

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3718217A (en) * 1969-08-22 1973-02-27 A Stobb Apparatus for feeding signatures
DE3515068A1 (de) * 1985-04-26 1986-10-30 Helmut 7300 Esslingen Staufner Anlage zum vereinzeln von gestapelten druckschriften wie zeitungen, zeitschriften, hefte od.dgl.
DE3605037A1 (de) * 1986-02-18 1987-08-20 Helmut Staufner Anlage zum vereinzeln von in stapelform vorliegenden gegenstaenden wie druckschriften od.dgl. flachgut

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1994016830A3 (fr) 1995-03-16
EP0649685A1 (fr) 1995-04-26
DE69417144D1 (de) 1999-04-22
EP0649685B1 (fr) 1999-03-17
EP0887121B1 (fr) 2000-09-20
DE69425988D1 (de) 2000-10-26
EP0887121A1 (fr) 1998-12-30
DE69417144T2 (de) 1999-09-23
WO1994016830A2 (fr) 1994-08-04

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