EP0908406B1 - Device and method for conveying and switching individually held products - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device and a method for separating of products. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a Process for separating signatures, the absence, the duplication or the jam is minimized or excluded from signatures in the collation process.

Devices for collecting signatures, for example sheets, are known. In these devices, signatures are generally placed in feeders inserted, which are attached to the collating machine. The gathering machine takes signatures individually from each desired feed device and carries them then the sheets taken out into a bundle. The well-known Gatherers can, however, lead to errors in the gathering process, what incorrect, incomplete and unusable bundles. For example Errors occur when the collator fails, doubles, or Jam caused at a particular feeder. An absence occurs when the Gathering machine fails to take a sheet from a particular feeder refer to. Doubling occurs when the gathering machine has more than one Takes sheets from a particular feeder for a particular bundle. On Jam occurs when the sheet removed from a feeder or from a Sheets taken from the feed device jam in the collating machine. In any case, these errors have an adverse impact on the productivity of the Collator.

The absence and duplication result in unusable and faulty bundles that result from the Collating machine are ejected, or require the machine to be stopped, to replace the missing sheet or to remove the double sheet. alternative can the gathering machine feeders that are behind the lack or Duplicate, lock, which results in a partially collated Bundle is ejected and leaves an empty space in the production cycle.

Traffic jams stop the gathering process and require the machine to be stopped as well an intervention to clear the jam and restart the machine so that the Machine can continue to operate. All of these solutions reduce efficiency of the gathering process and can lead to significant material waste. At a the increasing number of feeding devices in a gathering machine increases Risk of errors exponentially which reduces machine productivity.

DE 1 153 383 B discloses a device for depositing arc-shaped Products of a rotary printing press. A rail is provided, which divides into two partial strands following a vertical section. Print products in a scale-like arrangement are first made using belts Grippers fed, which are movably arranged in the rail. The stocked Grippers reach the section of the rail during their transport, which the division into the two strands and alternately become one of the fed to both strands. However, the document does not disclose which Way and by what means the division of the gripper sequence between the two Strands happens, including the graphically represented V-shaped No dividing section of the rail can be found in this regard. It on the other hand, it can be assumed that the grippers hit the V-shaped ones Splitting section of the rail either randomly into a left or right strand be continued, or alternately.

The device described in DE 1 153 383 B has the disadvantage that it It is not possible to remove individual, incorrectly equipped grippers from the gripper stream in the Rail on one of the two strands during the proper ejection equipped gripper transported on the other strand and a downstream Device, for example a collating device, are supplied.

The aim of the present invention is to develop a method and a device to collate, which is immune to singulation errors that the Interrupt the gathering process.

This insensitivity to errors is achieved by dividing each signature into individual grippers Gripper conveyor system is inserted. During the separation process, the Grippers, which experience a lack or a doubling, are guided out of the process stream. Just the grippers, which carry one and only one signature, are allowed to continue in the main signature queue remain. The grippers, which after diverting the grippers with a Missing or doubling in the main signature queue will be in one Reordered order that eliminates gaps in the queue. This new formation a snake is accomplished by freely moving devices of the grippers that can move freely to positions next to the grippers before and after each gripper. The collator takes signatures from the back of the signature queue opposite, while the separation process continues, the front end of the Signature queue to add signatures.

If there is a separation or feed jam, stand with the device and the Methods of the present invention provide two possible reactions. First the device can continue to receive signatures from the queue during the Jam is cleared. As soon as the traffic jam is cleared, the Separation process refilled. In the present invention, this enables Drag-loop gripper conveyor system a queuing of signatures with a Speed that is faster than the speed at which Gathering machine takes signatures from the queue. This characteristic enables a buffer of grippers in the signature queue, which is the snake replenishes while the jams are cleared or after the jams are cleared. This has the consequence that the jam during the process of supplying signatures to one Gathering machine can be eliminated from the queue without the Gathering process to clear the jam must be stopped. A second One method of handling congestion is to provide several Separation stations for loading the same separation queue. This The method enables the activation of a redundant singling station and that Populate the signature queue if the main station is jammed and to remove the traffic jam must be stopped.

The present invention is more preferred in the following description Embodiments in connection with the accompanying, listed below Drawings explained in more detail.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Schleppkreis-Greifermoduls;

Fig. 2

eine dreidimensionale Ansicht des Greifermoduls der Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Schnittansicht des Greifermoduls der Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

eine Schnittansicht einer Spur, in der sich das Greifermodul bewegt;

Fig. 5

eine Schnittansicht eines Greifermoduls, das in die Spur der Fig. 4 eingesetzt ist;

Fig. 6

eine dreidimensionale Ansicht eines sich in einer Spur bewegenden Greifermoduls;

Fig. 7

eine Seitenansicht einer Reihe von Greifermodulen, die eine Reihe von Signaturen erfassen;

Fig. 8

eine dreidimensionale Ansicht einer Reihe von Greifer, die sich in einer Spur an einer Gabelungsstelle vorbei bewegen;

Fig. 9

eine dreidimensionale Ansicht von Transportbändern, die Signaturen zu der Gabelungsstelle transportieren;

Fig. 10

eine Unteransicht von Greifermodulen, die sich auf sich ablösenden Pfaden bewegen;

Fig. 11

eine Unteransicht von Signaturen, die in Greifermodulen getragen werden, die sich auf sich ablösenden Pfaden bewegen;

Fig. 12

eine Detail-Unteransicht einer Umleitung für die Greifermodule;

Fig. 13

eine Detail-Unteransicht von Greifermodulen, die umgeleitet werden;

Fig. 14

eine dreidimensionale Ansicht einer Signaturenschlange.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a side view of a drag loop gripper module according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a three-dimensional view of the gripper module of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

a sectional view of the gripper module of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

a sectional view of a track in which the gripper module moves;

Fig. 5

a sectional view of a gripper module, which is inserted into the track of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6

a three-dimensional view of a gripper module moving in a track;

Fig. 7

a side view of a series of gripper modules that capture a series of signatures;

Fig. 8

a three-dimensional view of a series of grippers moving in a lane past a fork;

Fig. 9

a three dimensional view of conveyor belts carrying signatures to the fork;

Fig. 10

a bottom view of gripper modules that move on paths that separate;

Fig. 11

a bottom view of signatures carried in gripper modules that move on detaching paths;

Fig. 12

a detailed bottom view of a diversion for the gripper modules;

Fig. 13

a detailed bottom view of gripper modules that are redirected;

Fig. 14

a three-dimensional view of a signature snake.

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a drag loop gripper module 54 which acts as a gripper or Retainer acts and is used in the present invention. The Drag circuit gripper module 54 comprises a fixed upper jaw 1 and a movable one lower jaw 2. In FIG. 1, the lower jaw 2 is in an open position shown. The lower jaw 2 is from an open position to a closed one Position movable by rotation about a pivot pin 3. The gripper module 54 also includes Guide rollers 5, which rotate independently of one another. A rotation regulating insert 4 is used used to rotate the gripper module 54 to a desired angular orientation.

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the rear of the gripper module 54. In FIG. 2 the lower jaw 2 is in a closed position. Fig. 2 shows one Gripper opening pin 6 for the gripper module 54, the gripper opening pin 6 with the lower jaw 2 is connected and rotates about the pivot pin 3. Rotation of the gripper opening pin 6 upwards, the lower jaw 2 rotates about the pivot pin 3 below, whereby the lower jaw 2 is moved into the open position. rotation the gripper opening pin 6 down, the lower jaw 2 rotates about the pivot pin 3 upwards, whereby the lower jaw 2 is moved into the closed position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the gripper module 54. A spring 10 presses on the end of the lower jaw 2, which surrounds the opening pin 6, whereby the lower The jaw 2 is preloaded into a closed position, as shown in Fig. 3. A preload force therefore holds a signature in the gripper module 54 between the upper ones Jaw 1 and lower jaw 2. Each of the guide rollers 5 is on a bearing 9, the is shown schematically in Fig. 3 attached, so that each of the guide rollers 5 itself can freely rotate around the central module center line 55. The rotation regulating insert 4 rotates freely around a hub 7 on top of the gripper module 54.

4 is a sectional view of a track 13 in which the gripper modules 54 move. The Track 13 includes raised sections 14 on the inside, which are in the grooves in the Move idlers 5 to thereby clamp the gripper modules 54 in the track 13. A Indentation 15 in track 13 regulates the angular alignment of gripper module 54 Check the position of the rotation regulating insert 4, which is located in the recess 15 emotional. As shown in a preferred embodiment in FIGS. 5 and 6, move the raised upper and lower sections 14 in the right side of the upper and lower Guide rollers 5, while the raised middle section 14 is in the left side of the middle idler 5 moves. The gripper module 54 thus moves freely in the track 13 and can either be driven along the track by gravity or by a any known device for transmitting kinetic energy to a free device moving along a track, e.g. driven sprockets or chains etc. that are placed at spaced locations along the length of the track 13.

7 shows a series of gripper modules 54 which move in the direction 56. In 7, track 13 is omitted for clarity, but it is assumed that the modules 54 in FIG. 7 all move along a track 13. A row of Signatures, e.g. Arches 28 are transported in one direction so that they follow the path of the Cut gripper modules 54 at an intersection 100. Before reaching the intersection 100, the gripper modules 54 have their lower jaws 2 in contact with the upper one Clamping jaw 1, whereby the gripper module is brought into the closed position (see uppermost gripper module 54 in FIG. 7). While the gripper modules Approach intersection 100, the gripper opening pin 6 by a gripper opening cam 300, which is shown in broken lines in FIG. 7, to the left pressed. The lower jaw 2 is therefore kept open until a front edge 101 the signature in the space between the lower jaw 2 and the upper Clamping jaw 1 of a gripper module 54 arrives (see bottom gripper module in FIG. 7). After the leading edge 101 of a signature 28 between the lower jaw 2 and the upper jaw 1 has reached, the gripper opening pin 6 moves on the gripper opening cam 300 over, and the lower jaw 2 closes due to the Biasing force of the spring 10 against the upper jaw 1, whereby the signature 28 is held in the gripper module 54.

8 shows gripper modules 54, which are located along tracks 13 at the intersection 100 move past. For the sake of clarity, the signatures 28 are not shown in FIG. 8. On short section of the chain 31 moves on both sides of the gripper modules 54 Intersection. The chains 31 are engaged around chain sprockets 102 and move in the same direction and at the same speed as the gripper modules 54. Register pins 32 on the chains 31 are aligned with the gripper modules 54. The Register pins 32 hold the leading edges 101 of the signatures 28 until the gripper modules 54 are closed on the signatures 28. The way in which the leading edges 101 of the signatures 28 inserted into the register pins 32 and between the jaws 1, 2 will be described below with reference to FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 shows conveyor belts 34, 103 which show the signatures 28 at the intersection 100 transport. The signatures 28 arrive at the entry point 35 between the bands 34, 103 and are carried between the bands 34, 103 until they reach the register pins 32 touch, and are then pulled into the gripper modules 54 at the intersection 100 and seized by these. Motors 104 can drive the conveyor belts 103 while Motors 105 can drive the conveyor belts 34.

Fig. 10 shows the manner in which the gripper modules 54 are redirected to replacement paths can be. In situations where a gripper module 54 is either missing or an Has experienced doubling (i.e. when it has taken no signature or more than one signature ), the gripper module 54 in question is guided along a branch path 107. The Gripper modules move in a common area 38 along a path 56, until they reach a redirection point 61. The left side 37 and the right side 41 of the Tracks 57, 58 hold the gripper modules 54 on both sides in the common area 38. At the diversion point 61, the right lane 58 deviates from the straight path of the left Lane 57 off. After the right lane 58 is at a sufficient distance from the left lane 57 deviated, new track pages 60, 59 are inserted. Track page 59 becomes the left side of branch path 107, and track side 60 becomes the right side of main path 106. Because of the diversion of the tracks 57, 58 at the diversion point 61, the Gripper modules 54 are not held by the track sides 57, 58 alone. Gripper modules 54, which are to be diverted along the branch path 107 are driven by a drive element 39 held along the track side 58 until it both from the track side 58 and from the Track page 59 are recorded. Likewise, gripper modules 54 are the main path 106 are to be diverted along, along the track side 57 by a drive element 108 held until they are held by both the track side 57 and the track side 60.

The drive elements 39, 108 are preferably in the form of a band or a chain run and are driven around sprockets or pulleys and by carried this. Each segment of the drive elements 39, 108, with one side of a Gripper module 54 is engaged, comprises a releasable gripping element 201, which in FIG. 10 is shown schematically, with a gripping element for each side of the gripper module 54 201 is provided. Detachable gripping elements 201 can be in the form of electromagnets be executed, or any known clinker mechanism for detecting and holding one Be side of a gripper module 54 which is in contact with drive elements 39, 108. On Upstream sensor, not shown, is used to scan each gripper module 54 uses and determines whether the respective gripper module 54 holds a single signature 28 or is missing or duplicated. In the former case, a releasable gripping element 201 actuated on the drive element 108 to grip the gripper module 54, while the corresponding releasable gripping element 201 on the drive element 39 is not actuated. in the the latter case becomes a releasable gripping element 201 on the drive element 39 for gripping of the gripper module 54 is actuated, while the corresponding releasable gripping element 201 on Drive element 109 is not actuated. As a result, the gripper modules 54 are through the releasable gripping elements 201 on one of the drive elements 39, 108 separated, which each gripper module 54 either the main path 106 or the branch path 107 down draw.

11 shows a series of signatures 28 that are generated by a series of gripper modules 54 are transported along the main path 106. 11 also shows individual signatures 28 ', which are transported along the branch path 107 by gripper modules 54'. How 11, the signatures 28 'redirected onto the branch path 107 are Duplications, assuming that an empty one is missing Gripper module 54 'without signature 28 can be deflected along the branch path 107 would. There will initially be gaps in the queue along the main path 106 which correspond to the deflection of gripper modules 54 'down the branch path 107. This Gaps in the queue behind the drive element 39 are eliminated after the Gripper modules 54 are released and can move freely along the track 13. This free movement enables the formation of a queue of gripper modules 54, which move to positions directly next to each other (see Fig. 14), whereby ensures that the collator is a complete queue individual signatures is supplied.

12 shows a detailed view of the diversion point 61 without gripper modules 54, while 13 shows a detailed view of the diversion point with the gripper modules 54, which are transported along the main path 106, and gripper modules 54 'which run along the Branch path 107 are redirected.

FIG. 14 shows a queue of signatures 28 that are passed through the redirection point 61 and were guided along the main path 106 and due to the free movement of the Gripper modules 54 have formed a new queue in track 13. As can be seen in Fig. 14, the signature queue includes a series of signatures 28, all of which none Have signature errors, are all in line with no gaps, and all can be guided one after the other into a collating device to thereby to form a complete bundle. The gripper modules 54, which hold the signatures 28, are guided along a straight section of the track 13, which acts as a snake Track acts.

It can be assumed that a collating device which is the method and of the device of the present invention, a number of the above described track and gripper systems, one for each signature included in a Bundle to be collated. Although as a single track system above described for each signature to be inserted into a bundle are different configurations possible, especially to assist in clearing traffic jams. For example the device of the present invention can be configured to continue Signatures are added to the queue while the feed jam is cleared becomes. In such a configuration, the gripper conveyor system can either Detect a jam or when the operator clears a jam Allow signatures to be queued at a speed that is faster than the speed at which the collator makes signatures from the snake. As soon as the jam is cleared, the separation process fills the Snake up at a speed higher than that at which signatures are extracted The snake can be removed so that the snake stops and breaks in the Snake can "catch up" due to the traffic jam and operator intervention To clear the jam. This feature enables a buffer of Claws in the signature queue, which fills up the queue while clearing jams or after the traffic jams have been cleared. As a result, the traffic jam during the process of delivering signatures from the queue to one Gathering machine can be eliminated without the gathering process for Clearing the jam must be stopped. A second method of handling Traffic jams consist of providing several separation stations, which are the same Feed the singling line, i.e. a plurality of feed tracks 13 the Gripper modules 54, all of which form a single snake-forming track 13 Load the collating machine. A barrier or separator at the point where the plurality of tracks 13 meets the single track 13 affects the device in such a way that the individual track 13 is only fed by one of the many tracks, which open into the single track 13. This procedure enables one to be activated redundant feed track and loading the signature queue when the Main feed track jams and must be stopped to clear the jam.

LIST OF REFERENCES

1

upper jaw

2

lower jaw

3

tommy

4

Regulating rotation

5

sheave

6

Gripper opening pin

7

hub

9

camp

10

feather

13

track

14

raised section

15

deepening

28

signature

31

Chain

32

register pins

34

conveyor belt

35

Einziehpunkt

37

left side

38

common area

39

driving element

41

right side

54

gripper module

55

Routing module centerline

56

Direction / path

57

Left Lane

58

right lane

59

track side

60

track side

61

diversion point

100

intersection

101

leading edge

102

Sprockets

103

conveyor belt

104

Engines

105

Engines

106

main path

107

diversion path

108

driving element

200

Sprockets or pulleys

201

gripping element

300

Gripper opening cam

Claims (26)

1. An apparatus for feeding signatures (28) into a collation with at least one track (13), whereby this at least one track (13) comprises a diverter section (61), which in turn comprises a primary path (106) and a diversion path (107) ;
   and with a plurality of grippers (54), whereby the grippers (54) are mounted in the at least one track (13) for free movement along the track (13) in at least a portion of the at least one track (13),
   characterized in
   a primary path drive element (108) assigned to the primary path and a diversion path drive element (39) assigned to the diversion path which have a common area (38) upstream of the diversion location (61),
   whereby the drive elements (39, 108) comprise operatable gripping elements (201) for gripping and driving each of the grippers (54) along the primary path (106) as well as along the diversion path (107); and a sensor for sensing each gripper (54) which is located upstream of the primary path (106) and the diversion path (107).
2. The apparatus according to claim 1,
   characterized in that each gripper (54) comprises two jaws (1, 2), and wherein at least one of the jaws (1, 2) is movable relative to the other jaw (1, 2).
3. The apparatus according to claim 2,
   characterized in that at least one movable jaw (2) is biased toward the other jaw (1).
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising the following features:

   a spring (10), whereby the spring (10) biases the at least one movable jaw (2).
5. The apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that each gripper (54) comprises at least one bearing (9), whereby the at least one bearing (9) allows free movement of the gripper (54) in the at least one track (13).
6. The apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that each gripper (54) comprises at least one guide roller (5), and wherein the at least one track (13) comprises at least one raised section (14), whereby the at least one guide roller (5) of each gripper engages the at least one raised section (14) of the at least one track (13).
7. The apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that each gripper (54) comprises at least one rotation control element (4), and wherein the at least one track (13) comprises at least one slot (15), whereby the at least one rotation control element (4) of each gripper (54) engages in the at least one slot (15) of the at least one track (13), in order to thereby control a rotational orientation of each gripper (54).
8. The apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   an intersection point (100) on the at least one track (13), whereby the intersection point (100) comprising a plurality of registration pins (32) and the registration pins (32) support an end of a signature while it is fed into one of the grippers (54) .
9. The apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   at least one transport belt (34), wherein the at least one transport belt (34) transports signatures (28) into the grippers (54).
10. The apparatus according to claim 9,
    characterized in that the at least one transport belt (34) comprises two transport belts, whereby a signature (28) is transported between the two transport belts.
11. The apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the primary path drive element (108) and the diversion path drive element (39) comprise belts or chains.
12. The apparatus according to one of the preceding claims
    characterized in that the releasable gripping elements (201) comprise electromagnets.
13. The apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in
    a queuing track (13) located downstream of the primary path (106), whereby the grippers (54) freely move in the queuing track (13).
14. The apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in
    a plurality of tracks (13), whereby the grippers (54) are mounted in one of the plurality of tracks (13) for free movement in at least a portion of the one of the plurality of tracks (13).
15. The apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the grippers (54) feed signatures (28) to the collation device.
16. The apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in
    at least one queuing track (13) and a plurality of feeding tracks, whereby each of the plurality of feeding tracks is joined to the at least one queuing track (13), in order to thereby feed grippers (54) from the feeding tracks to the queuing track (13).
17. The apparatus of one of claims 2 to 16
    characterized in
    a gripper opening cam (6), whereby the at least one movable jaw (2) contacts the gripper opening cam (6), and the gripper opening cam (6) moves the at least one movable jaw (2) relative to the other jaw (1).
18. A method for feeding signatures (28) into a collation device, providing at least one track (13), whereby this at least one track (13) comprises a diverter section (61), which in turn comprises a primary path (106) and a diversion path (107);
    providing a plurality of grippers (54), whereby the gripers (54) are mounted in the at least one track (13) for free movement in at least a portion of the at least one track (13); feeding signatures (27) into the plurality of grippers (54); gripping signatures (28) in at least some of the plurality of grippers (54);
    characterized by the method steps:

    providing a primary path drive element (108) assigned to the primary path and a diversion path drive element (39) assigned to the diversion path which have a common area (38) upstream of the diversion location (61), whereby the drive elements (39, 108) comprise operatable gripping elements (201) for gripping and driving each of the grippers (54) along the primary path (106) as well as along the diversion path (107); and providing a sensor for sensing each gripper (54) which is located upstream of the primary path (106) and the diversion path (107), and

    diverting grippers (54) which hold a single signature (28) along the primary path (106) and diverting grippers (54) which do not hold a single signature (28) along the diversion path (107).
19. The method according to claim 18,
    characterized in that the step of gripping comprises a gripping of signatures (28) between jaws (1, 2) which are movable relative to one another.
20. The method according to one of claims 18 or 19
    characterized in
    controlling the rotational position of each gripper (54).
21. The method according to one of claims 18 to 20
    characterized in
    supporting edges (101) of the signatures (28), as they are fed into the grippers (54).
22. The method according to one of claims 18 to 21,
    characterized in
    transporting signatures (28) to the grippers (54).
23. The method according to one of claims 18 to 22
    characterized in that the step of transporting comprises the transport of the signatures (28) between two transport belts (34, 103).
24. The method according to one of claims 18 to 23,
    characterized in that the step of releasably gripping the grippers (54) comprise releasably gripping the grippers (54) using electromagnets.
25. The method according to one of claims 18 to 24,
    characterized in
    conveying grippers (54) to a queuing track (13) downstream of the primary path (106), wherein the grippers (54) freely move in the queuing track (13).
26. A collation machine
    characterized in
    a device according to one of claims 1 to 17.

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