EP0960065B1 - Device for producing printed materials in several parts - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for producing multi-part printed products comprising an upwardly open V-shaped continuous conveying channel (1), and a V-shaped processing channel (2) arranged above the conveying channel (1). A plurality of supply locations (11-17) are arranged serially along the processing route for supplying the printed product parts (A-G). The processing channel (2) has individual successive processing regions (3-10) which receive the product parts supplied at the supply locations and between which through-passages (18, 19, 119, 20, 120) are provided which open toward the bottom and by means of which the product parts (A-G) pass out of the processing region and into the underlying conveying channel (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for Manufacture of multi-part printed products made from a folded outer part and a number from the inside of the outer part arranged inner parts exist, according to Preamble of claim 1.

In known devices of this type for the production of multi-part printed products (EP-A-0 346 579 and corresponding US-A-5, 116, 033) is on a first Feed point a first folded product part, which as External part is used, inserted into the conveyor channel and lengthways this conveyor channel advanced. Along the Feed path from the first feed point to subsequent second feed point becomes the first Product part opened. At the second feed point, a second product part (inner part) in the opened first Product part introduced. On the rest of the following Feed points are successively further product parts (Inner parts) in the opened first product part introduced. These inner parts come next to each other or to lie in one another, in the latter case the respective inner parts before inserting the next one Can be opened inside. This way, a End product obtained in the first, as an outer part serving product part a number of folded or unfolded inner parts are inserted.

The present invention is based on the object to create a device of the type mentioned at the outset, the more freedom in compiling the End product, i.e. more freedom with the mutual arrangement of the inner parts in the outer part, allowed than the previously known devices.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device solved with the features of claim 1.

As long as the product parts are in the processing channel are for manipulations such as opening and Redirect to one side or the other of the processing or Conveyor channel, accessible. This allows it together with the targeted transfer of the product parts from Processing channel in the conveyor channel below, the position of the internal product parts in relation to the External part on the one hand and in relation to the other On the other hand to influence internal parts.

Preferred further developments of the Subject of the invention are in the dependent claims circumscribed.

Fig. 1

perspektivisch eine Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von mehrteiligen Druckereiprodukten,

Fig. 2-18

in perspektivischer Darstellung und im Schnitt jeweils die verschiedenen aufeinanderfolgenden Verarbeitungsbereiche der Vorrichtung gemäss Fig. 1,

Fig. 19

in gegenüber der Fig. 18 vergrössertem Massstab einen Querschnitt durch ein im Förderkanal liegendes, fertiges Druckereiendprodukt,

Fig. 20-23

jeweils in perspektivischer Darstellung verschiedene Uebergänge von einem Verarbeitungsbereich in den anschliessenden Verarbeitungsbereich der Vorrichtung,

Fig. 24

im Längsschnitt einen Abschnitt der Vorrichtung gemäss Fig. 1,

Fig. 25 u. 26

je eine Draufsicht auf den Verarbeitungskanal im Uebergang von einem Verarbeitungsbereich zum folgenden Verarbeitungsbereich während des seitlichen Ablenkens eines Produktteils,

Fig. 27 u. 28

je eine Draufsicht auf den Verarbeitungskanal im Uebergang von einem Verarbeitungsbereich zum nachfolgenden Verarbeitungsbereich während des Oeffnens eines Produktteils, und

Fig. 29-31

in Draufsicht eine andere Ausführungsform einer Oeffnungsanordnung.

An exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. They show purely schematically and in a simplified representation:

Fig. 1

in perspective a device for producing multi-part printed products,

Fig. 2-18

in a perspective representation and in section, the various successive processing areas of the device according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 19

18, on a larger scale than in FIG. 18, a cross section through a finished printed product located in the conveying channel,

Fig. 20-23

in each case in perspective representation different transitions from one processing area to the subsequent processing area of the device,

Fig. 24

in longitudinal section a section of the device according to FIG. 1,

25 u. 26

each a top view of the processing channel in the transition from one processing area to the following processing area during the lateral deflection of a product part,

Fig. 27 u. 28

each a top view of the processing channel in the transition from one processing area to the next processing area during the opening of a product part, and

Fig. 29-31

in plan view another embodiment of an opening arrangement.

1 is a perspective, simplified Representation of a device shown with the multi-part Printed products such as Newspapers and magazines, that from an outer part (envelope) and in this inserted inner parts are made can. This device, shown in Fig. 1 for reasons of space is shown divided, has a continuous, closed at the bottom, open at the top conveyor channel 1, of the embodiment shown essentially runs straight and defines a processing route. This conveyor channel 1 is V-shaped in cross section. Above of the feed channel 1 and engaging in it Processing channel 2 arranged, which is open at the top and also towards the processing route extends. Processing channel 2 is in successive processing areas 3 to 10 divided up. Are along the processing route consecutively not shown constructively Feed points 11 to 17 are provided. At the feed point 11 becomes a folded product part A (main product) fed the finished part of the finished Printed product forms. At the feed points 12-17 the internal product parts B to G are fed and in a manner to be described in the outer part A inserted. In the present embodiment, the Inner parts B, D, E folded product parts (preliminary products), while the inner parts C, F, G are one-piece product parts (Side dishes).

By means of a conveyor arrangement T, the Conveyor channel 1 located product parts in the direction of Arrow F advanced. For advancing the Processing channel 2 located product parts is one in 1 feed device, not shown.

Between certain processing areas are in Processing channel 2 passes provided the one Transfer of the product parts from processing channel 2 to allow in the bottom of the feed channel 1. So is in shown embodiment between the Processing areas 3 and 4 a passage 18, between processing areas 5 and 6 a passage 19, one pass between processing areas 6 and 7 119, between processing areas 8 and 9 Passage 20 and between work areas 9 and 10 a passage 120 is provided. In processing area 10 is - although possible in itself - in the still open End product P no further product part introduced. At the The end of this processing area 10 becomes the finished one End product P is closed by means of a deflector 21 and applied to the one wall of the conveyor channel 1. The closed end product P can now in the end region 22 of the Delivery channel 1 can be taken from the latter or along the Conveying channel 1 to a processing station be promoted. The end product P can also after Leaving the processing area 10 open in the Conveying channel 1 are further promoted, for example a processing station.

The following will now refer to FIGS. 2-23 the structure of the device shown in FIG. 1 and the operation of which is explained in more detail, the in Fig. 1 also used reference numerals for Figs. 2-23 be used.

2-4 show the first processing area 3 in perspective view (Fig. 2), in view in Direction of arrow III in Fig. 2 (Fig. 3) and in Section along the line IV-IV in Fig. 2 (Fig. 4). The Delivery channel 1, which, as already mentioned, has a cross section V shape, has two sloping walls 23 and 24. This Walls 23, 24 are divided into a fixed one Wall part 23a, 24a and in a moving wall part 23b, 24b. The wall parts 23b, 24b form part of the rest Not shown conveyor arrangement T. The above of the delivery channel 1 extending and on this aligned processing channel 2 has in the area of Feed points 11-17 also a V-shaped Cross-section. The sloping side walls of the Processing channels 2 are designated 25 and 26.

The conveyor arrangement T also includes the conveyor channel 1 protruding driver 27, 28 (Fig. 3), which are in pairs opposite each other at regular intervals on the moving wall parts 23b, 24b are attached. This Carriers 27, 28 are in favor in the following figures better clarity no longer shown. With the moving wall part 24b or with the drivers 28 fingers 29 protruding into the processing channel 2 connected to the already in connection with Fig. 1st mentioned feed assembly 30 belong. The latter serves in addition, those located in processing channel 2 Feed product parts in the conveying direction F. The finger 29 are the same as the drivers 27, 28 in regular Spaces are arranged and are in the conveying direction F, i.e. in the direction of the processing path.

The processing area 3 has - like the rest Processing areas 4-9 - an input part 31 on seen in the direction of conveyance F a directional part 32nd connects. At the feed points 11-17, the Product parts A to G in the input part 31 of the Processing channel 2 introduced. By means of the straightening parts 32 are entered in the input part 31 Product parts aligned, i.e. in one essentially vertical position, as in Fig. 3 by the Product part A shown in broken lines is. The product part leaving the straightening part 32 takes thus when entering the following ones Processing area a defined location what the further manipulations facilitated.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, in processing area 3, i.e. at the feed point 11 of the folded product part A in introduced the processing channel 2. This product part A forms the outer part of the finished product and consists of two product halves A1 and A2, of which the Product half A2 protrudes over product half A1. The projecting section of product half A2 is 33 referred to and is known in the professional world as a pre-fold designated. As shown in Fig. 2-4, the is still closed product part A on the wall 26 of the Processing channel 2 on.

5-7 are perspective (Fig. 5) and in Section along the lines VI-VI and VII-VII in Fig. 5 the processing areas 4 and 5 shown below. The Processing area 4 has an input part 31 upstream opening part 34, the directional part 32nd of the preceding processing area 3 is turned. This opening part 34 is followed by a guide part 35 which is designed here as an expansion part and two in Direction of conveyance F diverging guide walls 35a and 35b having. As FIG. 20 shows, the straightening part 32 runs of the processing area 3 leaving product part A. the opening portion 34 to the above Section 33 of product half A2 comes into effect and together with the guide part 35 an opening of the product part A, i.e. spreading apart the product halves A1 and A2. Product part A is opened thereby in a manner known per se, as it is e.g. in EP-A-0 080 185 and the corresponding US-A-4,486,011 is described in more detail. The opened product part A passes through the passage 18 between the Processing areas 3 and 4 and gets into the conveyor channel 1 underneath, like that of FIGS. 6 and 7 demonstrate. The product half A1 lies on the wall 23 and the product half A2 on the wall 24 of the conveyor channel 1 on. The one previously by a finger 29 Feed arrangement 30 advanced product part A is now through the drivers 27 and 28 along the conveyor channel 1 advanced.

At the feed point 12 in the processing area 4 the Product part B into the input part 31 of the feed channel 2 introduced. As mentioned, this product part B is also folded and has the same as product part A two Product halves B1 and B2, of which the product part B2 has a protruding portion 33. The closed product part B lying against the wall 26 advanced through the feed assembly 30, passes the subsequent directional part 32 and becomes the same as described with the product part A by means of Opening part 34 and a guide part 35 'opened as which is shown in more detail in Fig. 21. The guide part 35 'is in the feed channel 2 used. The guide walls 35a ', 35b' this guide part 35 'form with the walls 25, 26 of the Feed channel 2 a passage gap. In contrast to However, product part A runs open product part B in Feed channel 2 continues and arrives behind the guide walls 35a ', 35b' of the guide part 35 'to the input part 31 of the next processing area 5. In this Processing area 5 is in the open product part B the product part C inserted, like that from FIG. 5, right part and Fig. 7 emerges. The first Product part A is in conveyor channel 1 and the product parts B and C are in the feed channel 2 above the Product part A (see Fig. 7).

8 and 9 is perspective and in section along the line IX-IX in Fig. 8 the next Processing area 6 shown. This points to his Entrance a deflecting part 36, which is the directional part 32 of the preceding processing area 5 is facing. On this deflecting part 36 is connected to a guide part 35, which in serves as a deflecting part in this case. During their Product parts B and C pass through the feed Straightening part 32 of the processing area 5, which results has that the product part B is closed. The Product parts B and C are by the rejection part 36 of the following processing area 6 in the conveying direction F seen deflected to the left, like that from FIG. 22 can be seen. At the same time, product part B joins the inserted in this product part C by the Passage 19 down and falls into the open Product part A. The guide wall 35b of the guide part ensures this 35 for the product parts B and C to the left be folded over and to lie on product half A2 come, as can be seen from Fig. 9.

At the feed point 14 in the input part 31 of the Processing area 6 of the product part D inserted, the same as the product parts A and B is folded. there the product half D2 also has a protruding one Section 33 on.

The closed in the processing channel 2 introduced product part D (Fig. 9) is during the Further funding through the subsequent policy section 32 (Fig. 8) guided and runs on the opening part 34 of the subsequent processing area 7 to (Fig. 10). there the product part D by means of the opening part 34 and of the guide part 35 as in connection with the product part A already explained. The opened product part D passes through passage 119 down into the Conveying channel 1. Like FIGS. 11 and 12, in which the Processing areas 7 and 8 in section along the Lines XI-XI and XII-XII are shown in Fig. 10, can be seen, the product half D1 of Product part D on product half A1 of product part A to lie while the other half D2 on the closed product part B comes into circulation.

As already mentioned, FIGS. 10-12 show the two Processing areas 7 and 8, which are constructed similarly like processing areas 4 and 5 according to FIGS. 5-7. In the input part 31 of the processing area 7 is on the feed point 15 of the folded product part E introduced. The latter has two product halves E1 and E2 on, with the product half E2 over the product half E1 protrudes. The above section of product half E2 is designated 33. After inserting the product part E lies in the input part 31 of the processing area 7 the closed product part E on the side wall 26 of the Processing channel 2 on (Fig. 11). When moving on passes through a finger 29 of the feed assembly 30 the closed product part E the subsequent one Straightening part 32 and reaches the opening part 34 of the subsequent processing area 8. The product part E is as described with reference to FIGS. 5-7 by the Opening part 34 and the subsequent guide part 35 ' opened and remains in the feed channel 2. In the input part 31 of the processing area 8 is the product half El of the product part E on the wall 25 and the product half E2 on the wall 26 of the processing channel 2 as the Fig. 12 shows. At the feed point 16 is now in the opened product part E the next product part F (Supplement) introduced and on product half E2 hung up, as can also be seen from FIG. 12. Below the two product parts E and L are in Conveyor channel 1 the open product part A, the closed Product part B with itself inside the latter located product part C and the open product part D, the one with the product half D1 on the product half A1 of the Product part A and with the other product half D2 on the Product half B2 of product part B rests like that 11 and 12 emerges.

13 and 14 show the processing area 9 in perspective representation or in section along the Line XIV-XIV of Fig. 13. This input section 9 points one against the directional part 32 of the previous one Processing area 8 upright deflector 36. The straightening part 32 of the processing area 8 leaving, closed product part E with internal Product part F is by the rejection part 36 of the Processing area 9 seen in the direction of conveyance F. deflected to the right, as can be seen from FIG. 23. The product parts E and F are through the guide wall 35a of the guide part 35 out. The two product parts E and F pass through passage 20 between the Processing areas 8 and 9 through and get into the underlying guide channel 1, where they on the Product half D1 of the open product part D for support come (see Fig. 14).

In the input part 31 of the processing area 9 is on the last product part G is introduced into the feed point 17, that in the present embodiment as unfolded Insert is formed. The product part G comes on the Wall 26 of the feed channel 2 to the system, as the Fig. 14 shows. As can be seen from this FIG. 14, the product parts A to F are below the Product part G in conveyor channel 1.

Both product parts A to F and product part G are by the conveyor arrangement T or by the Feed arrangement 30 further in the direction of arrow F advanced. The product part G passes through the Straightening part 32 of the processing area 9 and will then through the deflector 36 of the last Processing area 10 (see FIGS. 15 and 16) in Direction of conveyance F deflected to the left. In addition, the product part G through the passage 120 between the Processing areas 9 and 10 down into the Feed channel 1 out. As shown in Fig. 16, the one 15 shows a section along the line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15, shows, the one distracted to the left comes as mentioned Product part G on product half D2 of product part D to edition.

In this last processing area 10 there are none Product parts fed more. The processing area 10 thus has no input part 31. This has been replaced by a guide part 37 (Fig. 15), the oblique after walls 37a, 37b sloping down the side walls 25, 26 of the feed channel 2 correspond. The processing area 10 can thus be structurally the same as e.g. the processing area 6 (Fig. 8).

That in processing area 10 in conveyor channel 1 the final product P is in the finished state still open and will continue through the conveyor arrangement T is guided past the deflector 21. This deflector 21 causes the closing End product P and applying the latter to the in Conveying direction F seen left side wall 24 of Delivery channel 1. In Fig. 17 and Fig. 18, which a section along the line XVIII-XVIII in Fig. 17th represents the finished, in the end region 22 on the Side wall 24 of the feed channel 1 abutting Printed product P shown.

From Fig. 19, which on an enlarged scale 18 is the structure of the finished end product P can be seen. The outside part (Cover) of the end product P is through the product part A educated. All other product parts (inner parts) B to G lie between the product halves A1 and A2 of the folded outer part A. Bordering the product half A2 the folded product part B, inside of which the Product part C lies. On the product half B1 of the Product part B is the product half D2 of the folded Product part D as the envelope for the product parts E, F and G serves. Inside the folded product part E there is product part F. Product part G is between product half D2 and product half E2 Product parts D and E arranged. The end product P exists So on the one hand from nested product parts and on the other hand, from adjacent product parts, where the location of the individual product parts, i.e. in the 19 shows the order of the product parts from left to right, by training the Processing channel 2 is determined, more precisely by the arrangement of the passages between the Processing areas 3-10 and the arrangement and Formation of the opening parts 34 and the deflection parts 36.

From what has been said above, it can easily be said recognize that with little modification in Processing channel 2 the structure of the final product P, i.e. the arrangement of the inner parts in the outer part, changed can be, namely by a different arrangement of the Passages between processing areas, and / or by replacing an opening part 34 with one Deflector 36 and vice versa and by changing the Rejection direction of the deflection parts 36 (to the left or to the right).

Using the sectional figure 24, the design of the Conveying and processing channels 1, 2 in the area of a Transitions from one designated 38 Processing area to the next, with 39 designated processing area explained in more detail.

The part of the product located in the feed channel 1 is included 40 and is designated by the conveyor arrangement T advanced. The driver 27 engages the trailing edge of the product part 40. in the Processing channel 2 is a designated 41 Product part, which is a two-part, folded product part is shown with a protruding section 33. To the Pushing this product part 41 is a finger 29 of the Feed arrangement 30. This finger 29 also attacks the trailing edge of the product part 41. How from 24 is the finger 29 of the Feed arrangement 30 with respect to the driver 27 of the Conveying arrangement T offset by the distance a, in Direction of conveyance F seen forward. Through this measure it is ensured that the product part 41 after it the passage 42 between the processing areas 38 and 39 has passed and down into the feed channel 1 has not fallen on the driver 27 of the Conveyor arrangement T comes to rest. This is ensures that the product part 41 by the Conveyor arrangement T is taken.

24 shows that the bottom 43 of the Processing channel 2 descending in the conveying direction F. can be inclined to transfer the product part 41 to facilitate in the feed channel 1. Between the age of 44 designated end of the processing area 38 of the Processing channel 2 and the guide part 35 of the next Processing area 39, passage 42 is formed. Seen in the direction of conveyance F, the guide part 35 is Opening part 34 or the rejection part 36 upstream. The Opening part 34 can e.g. as shown in Figs. 5-10 be trained. In Fig. 24 it is indicated that the Opening part 34 also as a so-called vacuum opener 34 ' can be formed in a known manner via a Negative pressure acts on one half of the product.

25-28 is a top view of each Product part 41 of FIG. 24 in the transition from Processing area 38 in the subsequent Processing area 39 shown. 25 and 26 the processing area 39 has a guide part 36, seen the product part 41 in the conveying direction F. either to the left (Fig. 25) or to the right (Fig. 26) redirects. For one time, the product part 41 is along the Baffle 35b and the other time along the other Guide wall 35a of the guide part 35 guided.

27 and 28 is the Processing area 39 on the input side with a Opening part 34 provided on the above Section 33 of the one product half 41b or 41a of the Product part 41 acts. 27 seen in the direction of conveyance F is the left half of the product 41b with the projecting section 33, while in 28 the right product half 41a has the above section 33. Accordingly is the position of the opening portion 34 with respect to the following guide part 35 in FIGS. 27 and 28 differently.

Another embodiment is shown in Figs Opening part 34 in different working phases shown, with corresponding parts the same for themselves Reference numerals are used as in the previous ones Characters.

29, the opening part 34 in the idle state shows, the structure of this opening part 34 is best detect. The opening part 34 has two thin, in Direction of conveyance F extending, opposite Baffles 45 and 46 on a resilient Material, e.g. made of spring steel. These baffles 45, 46 are on the directional part 32 of the previous one Processing area facing end on a bracket 47 attached. At the other, free end 45a, 46a are the Baffles 45, 46 outwards, i.e. from opposite baffle away, bent. The bracket 47 is via a carrier 48 on a stationary component attached to the subsequent processing area. With each baffle 45, 46 is a nozzle head 49 or 50 connected to a not shown Compressed air source is connected. In the illustration 29, the nozzle heads 49 and 50 are not included Compressed air applied. The two baffles 45 and 46 are in their basic position, in which they are about run parallel to each other in the conveying direction F.

Are the nozzle heads 49, 50 to the compressed air source connected, it flows out of the nozzle heads 49, 50 escaping air along the baffles 45, 46, namely on the side facing the other baffle. The now has the consequence that the guide plates 45, 46 move against each other and come into contact with each other, as shown in FIG. 30. This mode of action is known as the "Coanda effect".

Fig. 31 now shows the sequence of the opening process.

The product part 41 to be opened arrives after leaving of the directional part 32 of the preceding processing area between the guide plates 45, 46 and is in the conveying direction F moved past these guide plates 45, 46. Through the air flowing along the guide plates 45, 46 the product halves 41a and 41b to the baffles 45, 46 created. Because the baffles 45, 46 on their free end 45a, 46a are bent outwards and thus The product halves 41a will run away from each other and 41b are lifted from each other as shown in FIG. 31. The in the area of the leading edge in this way opened product part 41 arrives at further transport Guide part 35. The two product halves 41a and 41b led past the guide part 35, which as before previously explained a complete opening of the Product part 41 results.

With an opening part 34 according to FIGS. 29-31, in which the Coanda effect is used, it is not necessary that one of the two product halves with a protruding one Section 33 is provided.

In the following, some variants are pointed out.

Both the outer part A and the inner parts B, D and E can also consist of two or more nested folded sheets exist.

It is also conceivable behind the processing area 10 also in the delivery channel 1 opening devices or Reject devices to open or reject the To provide final product P.

Along the processing route between the Feed points 11-17 or downstream of them Processing stations are provided, e.g. Cutting or Stapling stations for trimming or wire stitching certain product parts or the end product P or Gluing stations on which the supplied product parts connected to other product parts by means of adhesive become.

On the other hand, it is possible to dispense with waste parts 36, if the product parts are not in the vertical position as shown, but already in an inclined position, i.e. left or right inclined to exit a processing area. Also in In this case, the guide parts 35 ensure that the Product part in the processing area its inclined position maintains.

The conveyor channel 1 and thus also the feed channel 2 can instead of the straight line as shown have a completely or sectionally curved course and also define a closed processing path.

The device described can be according to the desired composition of the end product differently build up. By appropriate design of the Processing areas, i.e. mutual arrangement and formation of the opening parts 34, the guide parts 35, 35 'and the reject parts 36 and the input parts 31 can the nature of the end product and the arrangement of the Product parts can be selected within very wide limits. So is in particular it is possible to insert end products only of the product parts each in the open, in advance to produce supplied product part, which is a gathering corresponds from the outside to the inside. In addition, at suitable configuration of the device described end products are also produced in which the Product parts lie next to each other (collation procedure). In such an end product there is no external one Product part (envelope) in which the other product parts are inserted. But it can also be a such end product formed by collation be produced in the case of folded product parts in all or some of these folded product parts additional product part is inserted. Such one Final product would e.g. then arise when in the 11 with missing product part A in Delivery channel 1 lying product parts B, C, D that Would form end product.

Claims (14)

1. Device for producing printed products in several parts, which parts comprise a folded outer part (A) and a number of inner parts (B-G) arranged inside the outer part (A), with a continuous, upwardly open transport channel (1), with several supply stations (11-17) arranged successively along the processing path determined by the transport channel (1) for supplying the outer part (A) and then supplying the inner parts (B-G), and with a transport arrangement (T) for transporting the product parts (A-G) located in the transport channel (1) along the transport channel (1), characterised by an upwardly open processing channel (2) arranged above the transport channel (1), aligned with said transport channel (1) and extending in the direction of the processing path, which processing channel (2) has individual, successive processing zones (3-10), at least some of which are provided with input parts (31) for receiving product parts (A-G) supplied at the supply stations (11-17) and by a feed arrangement (30) for feeding the product parts (A-G) located in the processing channel (2), downwardly open passages (18, 19, 119, 20, 120) being provided in the processing channel (2) between certain successive processing zones (3, 4; 5, 6; 6, 7; 8, 9; 9, 10), which passages (18, 19, 119, 20, 120) serve to transfer the product parts (A; B, C; D; E, F; G) emerging from a processing zone (3; 5; 6; 8; 9) to the underlying transport channel (1).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the transport channel (1) has a V-shaped cross section.
3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the processing channel (2) has a V-shaped cross section at least in the area of the input parts (31).
4. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that at least some of the processing zones (3-10) are provided with opening parts (34) for opening multi-leaf product parts (A, B, D, E).
5. Device according to Claim 4, characterised in that the opening parts (34), seen in the transport direction (F) of the product parts (A-G), are arranged in the initial section of each processing zone (3-10) and act on the product parts (A, B, D, E) introduced in the preceding processing zone as they move past an opening part (34).
6. Device according to Claim 4 or 5, characterised in that, seen in the transport direction (F) of the product parts (A-G), a guide part (35) for keeping open or fully opening the product parts (A, B, D, E) is arranged after the opening part (34).
7. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that at least some of the processing zones (3-10) are provided with deflector parts (36) for laterally diverting the product parts (B-G).
8. Device according to Claim 7, characterised in that the deflector parts (36) seen in the transport direction (F) of the product parts (A-G), are arranged in the initial section of each processing zone (3-10) and act on the product parts (B-G) introduced in the preceding processing zone as they move past the deflector part (36).
9. Device according to Claim 7 or 8, characterised in that, seen in the transport direction (F) of the product parts (A-G), a guide part (35) is arranged after the deflector part (36) at substantially the centre of the processing channel (2), beside which guide part (35) the product parts (A-G) move past.
10. Device according to one of Claims 4 to 9, characterised in that the processing zones (3-10) have an aligning part (32) which, seen in the transport direction (F) of the product parts (A-G), is arranged after the input part (31), and through which the product parts (A-G) pass and are moved into a preset position, preferably a substantially vertical position, the aligning part (32) of one processing zone and the opening part (34) or the deflector part (36) of the next succeeding processing zone being aligned to each other.
11. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the transport arrangement (T) and the feed arrangement (30) have feed elements (27, 28; 29) which act on the product parts (A-G) located in the transport channel (1) or in the feed channel (2), the feed elements (27, 28) of the transport arrangement (T) and the feed elements (29) of the feed arrangement (30) being driven synchronously.
12. Device according to Claim 4, characterised in that the opening part (34) has two guide elements (45, 46) extending in the transport direction (F) of the product parts (A-G) and defining between them a path for the product parts to be opened (A, B, D, E), which guide elements (45, 46) are elastically deflectable in a [direction] transverse, preferably perpendicular, to their longitudinal extension, each guide element (45, 46) being so chargeable with compressed air on the side facing the other guide element (46, 45) that an air current is generated along the guide elements (45, 46).
13. Device according to Claim 12, characterised in that the longitudinally extended guide elements (45, 46) are fixed by their front end, seen in the transport direction (F) of the product parts (A-G), to a carrier (47, 48) and are bent at their other, rearward end (45a, 46a) in a direction leading away from the other guide element (46, 45).
14. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterised in that processing stations, e.g. cutting, stitching and/or gluing stations, where processing steps are carried out on the product parts (A-G) are arranged along the processing path.

Images