EP1025029B1 - Sorting means for returned printing matters - Google Patents

Sorting means for returned printing matters Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1025029B1
EP1025029B1 EP97926288A EP97926288A EP1025029B1 EP 1025029 B1 EP1025029 B1 EP 1025029B1 EP 97926288 A EP97926288 A EP 97926288A EP 97926288 A EP97926288 A EP 97926288A EP 1025029 B1 EP1025029 B1 EP 1025029B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
conveyor
printing matters
printing
matters
plate
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP97926288A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1025029A1 (en
Inventor
Torgeir Krogen
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.)
Buhrs-Media Craft AS
Original Assignee
Buhrs-Media Craft AS
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
Application filed by Buhrs-Media Craft AS filed Critical Buhrs-Media Craft AS
Publication of EP1025029A1 publication Critical patent/EP1025029A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1025029B1 publication Critical patent/EP1025029B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • B07C1/00—Measures preceding sorting according to destination
    • B07C1/02—Forming articles into a stream; Arranging articles in a stream, e.g. spacing, orientating
    • B07C1/04—Forming a stream from a bulk; Controlling the stream, e.g. spacing the articles
    • 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
    • B65H1/08—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated with means for advancing the articles to present the articles to the separating device
    • B65H1/22—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated with means for advancing the articles to present the articles to the separating device moving in direction of plane of articles, e.g. for bodily advancement of fanned-out piles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
    • B65H5/22—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by air-blast or suction device
    • B65H5/222—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by air-blast or suction device by suction devices
    • B65H5/224—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by air-blast or suction device by suction devices by suction belts

Definitions

  • the present invention is related to a means for sorting especially returned printing matters, according to the preamble of the claims.
  • Not sold printing matters such as periodicals, weekly papers etc are returned from the different retailers for accounting. They are returned to the distribution link which sort the different printing matters in each single return package and make the accounting in relation to the different retailers.
  • a plant for such a sorting has to registrate from which the retailer the single printing matters comes, and simultaneously also registrate which printing matter and how many printing matters are returned. Furthermore the plant, based on this registration, must distribute the single printing matters on the sorting place in such a way that the same printing matter copies are collected before returning. These operations must be performed at a high speed and large accuracy.
  • figure 1 discloses chematically a side view of a means according to the present invention and figure 2 discloses chematically a ground view of the means in figure 1.
  • Stacks 5 with printing matters are brought to a feeding station 1.
  • Each stack stands on a plate or tray 9 having a built-in code, such as by means of a transponder chip.
  • the chip may be read from all sides such that when the stack 5 with the tray 9 is arranged on the conveyor, the means has registrated which retailer the stack is coming from.
  • the stack is transferred to a horizontal conveyor 2 which displaces the stack against an inclined conveyor 3.
  • the inclination is substantial, more than 45°.
  • the stack is tilted backwards and the tray 9 initially will be picked up by the inclined conveyor as an area 7 having vacuum which through holes in the path on the conveyor 3, suck the first plate 9 in the lower portion of the conveyor 3 and thereafter the single printing matters to the conveyor 3.
  • At the end of the area 7 with vacuum flexible wheels are distributed along the width of the conveyor, forcing the tray 9 respectively the different printing matters against the conveyor 3 in such a way that the printing matters are transported upwardly.
  • the conveyor 3 has a first lower area with a large angle in relation to the horizontal plane, whereafter the path across a rounded portion with large radius, is transformed to a substantial horizontal direction.
  • the different printing matters leave the path 3 respectively the wheels 6, they are arranged on a longer conveyor 4 where the registration and later the sorting is performed. In this way is achieved that different printing matters are delivered continuously and having substantially the same distance to the sorting conveyor.
  • the wheels 6 have flexible circumferential, relatively large tracks being pressed against the conveyor 3 and against printing matters which are transported.
  • the wheels 6 are relatively large and made of a flexible material, such as foam rubber, which are rotated by the conveyor, respectively the printing matters and forcing these against the conveyor 3.
  • the tray 9 On the conveyor 4 the tray 9 first is registrated by its code which thereby connects the following printing matters to a specific retainer.
  • the transition from the horizontal conveyor 2 to the inclined conveyor 3 has a significant importance for the reliability of the means as firstly the tray 9 and thereafter the following printing matters should be picked up without overlapping of the conveyor 3.
  • the stack 5 with printing matters is forced against the inclined conveyor 3 by the horizontal conveyor 2 is lifted in such a way that the stack is tipped over resulting in the printing matters being placed after each other with overlap.
  • the inclined conveyor 3 is taking one and one printing matter by means of the friction in the conveyor and the vacuum from the area 7, to be transported further by means of the conveyor 3 and the large wheels 6.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

Means for sorting especially returned printing matters, where the printing matters are transported by and on conveyors and the different printing matters are moved from the conveyors at predetermined places for sorting, in which the means comprising a horizontal feeding conveyor on which a stack with printing matters from a retainer is arranged on a coded plate, further transported to an inclined perforated conveyor having underlying vacuum where the plate and the following printing matters are drawn up the inclined conveyor by the suction and the inclination, and that flexible wheels following thereafter force the plate and the printing matters against the inclined conveyor.

Description

The present invention is related to a means for sorting especially returned printing matters, according to the preamble of the claims.
Not sold printing matters, such as periodicals, weekly papers etc are returned from the different retailers for accounting. They are returned to the distribution link which sort the different printing matters in each single return package and make the accounting in relation to the different retailers.
A plant for such a sorting has to registrate from which the retailer the single printing matters comes, and simultaneously also registrate which printing matter and how many printing matters are returned. Furthermore the plant, based on this registration, must distribute the single printing matters on the sorting place in such a way that the same printing matter copies are collected before returning. These operations must be performed at a high speed and large accuracy.
Such an apparatus has been described in EP 478 981, which in an inclined part has a series of rollers for separation of the transported products. This apparatus is solely dependent on the friction between the rollers and the transported, often light weight, products in which the friction capacity may be damaged by grease or dirt, which ultimately decreases the reliability and the efficiency of the apparatus.
It is an aim for the present invention to provide a means which quickly and reliably transforms a stack of printing matters to a row comprising successive printing matters for example on a conveyor, in a position which is suitable for photographing respectively registration followed by sorting. This is achieved with the means according to the present invention as defined with the features stated in the claims.
In the drawing figure 1 discloses chematically a side view of a means according to the present invention and figure 2 discloses chematically a ground view of the means in figure 1.
Stacks 5 with printing matters are brought to a feeding station 1. Each stack stands on a plate or tray 9 having a built-in code, such as by means of a transponder chip. The chip may be read from all sides such that when the stack 5 with the tray 9 is arranged on the conveyor, the means has registrated which retailer the stack is coming from.
The stack is transferred to a horizontal conveyor 2 which displaces the stack against an inclined conveyor 3. The inclination is substantial, more than 45°. The stack is tilted backwards and the tray 9 initially will be picked up by the inclined conveyor as an area 7 having vacuum which through holes in the path on the conveyor 3, suck the first plate 9 in the lower portion of the conveyor 3 and thereafter the single printing matters to the conveyor 3. At the end of the area 7 with vacuum flexible wheels are distributed along the width of the conveyor, forcing the tray 9 respectively the different printing matters against the conveyor 3 in such a way that the printing matters are transported upwardly.
The conveyor 3 has a first lower area with a large angle in relation to the horizontal plane, whereafter the path across a rounded portion with large radius, is transformed to a substantial horizontal direction. When the different printing matters leave the path 3 respectively the wheels 6, they are arranged on a longer conveyor 4 where the registration and later the sorting is performed. In this way is achieved that different printing matters are delivered continuously and having substantially the same distance to the sorting conveyor.
The wheels 6 have flexible circumferential, relatively large tracks being pressed against the conveyor 3 and against printing matters which are transported. Preferably the wheels 6 are relatively large and made of a flexible material, such as foam rubber, which are rotated by the conveyor, respectively the printing matters and forcing these against the conveyor 3. On the conveyor 4 the tray 9 first is registrated by its code which thereby connects the following printing matters to a specific retainer.
The transition from the horizontal conveyor 2 to the inclined conveyor 3 has a significant importance for the reliability of the means as firstly the tray 9 and thereafter the following printing matters should be picked up without overlapping of the conveyor 3. When the stack 5 with printing matters is forced against the inclined conveyor 3 by the horizontal conveyor 2 is lifted in such a way that the stack is tipped over resulting in the printing matters being placed after each other with overlap. Thereafter the inclined conveyor 3 is taking one and one printing matter by means of the friction in the conveyor and the vacuum from the area 7, to be transported further by means of the conveyor 3 and the large wheels 6.

Claims (6)

  1. Means for sorting especially returned printing matters, where the printing matters are transported by and on conveyors (1-4) and the different printing matters are moved from the conveyors (1-4) at predetermined places for sorting, characterized in the means comprising a horizontal feeding conveyor (2) on which a stack (5) with printing matters from a retainer is arranged on a coded plate (9), the stack (5) with the coded plate (1) being further transported to an inclined perforated conveyor (3) having underlying vacuum where the stack (5) with printing matter is forced against the inclined perforated conveyor (3) and consequently lifted in such a way that the stack (5) is tipped over resulting in printing matters being placed one after each other with overlap and the plate (9) and thereafter each printing matter individually is drawn up the inclined conveyor (3) by the suction and the inclination, the inclined conveyer (3) thereby having an angle to the horizontal plane of 45° or more, and that flexible wheels (6) following thereafter force the plate (9) and the printing matters against the inclined conveyor (3).
  2. Means according to previous claim, characterized in the upper area of the inclined conveyor (3) having a curve form in such a way that the plate (9) and the printing matters are delivered horizontally to a following horizontal sorting conveyor (4).
  3. Means according to previous claims, characterized in the lower area under the inclined conveyor (3) having vacuum.
  4. Means according to previous claims, characterized in the flexible wheels (6) being arranged above the upper portion of the lower area on the inclined conveyor (3).
  5. Means according to claims 3-4, characterized in the area of the inclined convenyor (3) having vacuum and the area having flexible wheels (6) are overlapping each other.
  6. Means according to previous claims, characterized in the flexible wheels (6) being produced by foam rubber.
EP97926288A 1996-06-03 1997-06-02 Sorting means for returned printing matters Expired - Lifetime EP1025029B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO962278 1996-06-03
NO962278A NO962278L (en) 1996-06-03 1996-06-03 Device for sorting especially returned printed matter
PCT/NO1997/000138 WO1997046474A1 (en) 1996-06-03 1997-06-02 Sorting means for returned printing matters

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1025029A1 EP1025029A1 (en) 2000-08-09
EP1025029B1 true EP1025029B1 (en) 2003-08-27

Family

ID=19899460

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97926288A Expired - Lifetime EP1025029B1 (en) 1996-06-03 1997-06-02 Sorting means for returned printing matters

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1025029B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE248114T1 (en)
AU (1) AU3109197A (en)
DE (1) DE69724473T2 (en)
NO (1) NO962278L (en)
WO (1) WO1997046474A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19835023A1 (en) * 1998-08-03 2000-02-10 Siemens Ag Device for pressing flat items onto a conveyor

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU469501B2 (en) * 1972-06-15 1976-02-12 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co. Suz Apparatus for selectively taking out sheetlike articles
CH565697A5 (en) * 1973-02-28 1975-08-29 Bobst Fils Sa J
CH639623A5 (en) * 1979-06-23 1983-11-30 Winkler Duennebier Kg Masch DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING AREA PARTS, ESPECIALLY PAPER SHEETS, CARDS, MAIL OR SHIPPING PAPERS.
US4638986A (en) * 1984-11-02 1987-01-27 Xerox Corporation Feedability sensor for a vacuum corrugated feeder
US5201397A (en) * 1990-10-05 1993-04-13 Electrocom Automation L.P. Method and apparatus for separating a stack of products into a stream of single products for sorting

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1025029A1 (en) 2000-08-09
ATE248114T1 (en) 2003-09-15
NO962278D0 (en) 1996-06-03
WO1997046474A1 (en) 1997-12-11
AU3109197A (en) 1998-01-05
DE69724473D1 (en) 2003-10-02
DE69724473T2 (en) 2004-07-08
NO962278L (en) 1997-12-04

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