EP1057762B1 - Method and device for transporting objects arriving in overlapping formation - Google Patents

Abstract

The items (10) produced by a rotary printer (26) have a constant length (A1) but can be variable in width (A2,A2). As they fall on to a conveyor belt (16) they overlap with a constant gap (B) between their front edges (12). Transport clamps (18) are located on a separate conveyor (20) at spacings which ensure that each object can only be gripped by one clamp. When a predetermined number of items are positioned between the jaws of a clamp it closes and transports them away from the first conveyor belt.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for Transport of accumulating in a scale formation, at least approximately rectangular flat objects, such as printed products.

A method and a device of this type are, for example, in US Pat earlier international patent application WO 99/55609 (PCT / CH99 / 00072; prior art disclosed under Article 54 (3) EPC Flat objects, such as printed products, are on a belt conveyor transported lying in a shingled stream. The Objects a different extent seen in the conveying direction have or in the scale formation with different scale spacing - i.e. the distance between the leading edges is consecutive Objects - be arranged. The belt conveyor is a Clamp feeder connected downstream, each section - i.e. a certain number of objects - using a single transport clamp recorded for onward transport. So that one tongue of the transport bracket each between the last subject of the preceding Intervene section and the first object of the section to be recorded a possibility of intervention is created in the shingled stream. This limits the processing speed and requires complex devices.

Furthermore, there is a method and a device for conveying away Printed products that are fed in a scale formation from the US-A-4,953,847. A belt conveyor conveys them in a scale formation arranged printed products to an acquisition area. In the Each printed product lies on the next one in a shingled formation. On Conveyor whose direction of conveyance in the area of acceptance at the end of the Belt conveyor runs from bottom to top, points at one all around driven traction element pivotally attached gripper. The Conveyor speeds of the belt conveyor and the conveyor are like this coordinated with each other that two supplied printing products in one open gripper are inserted. The depth of the gripper is greater than that Distance between the leading edges of the printed products in the fed scale formation, so the two by a gripper from the front detected printed products are transported away with an unchanged distance can.

It is therefore an object of the present invention, a method and a device for transporting accumulating in a scale formation, at least approximately rectangular, flat objects, to create that with large processing capacity and with simple Devices allow the transport of objects in one direction a certain first extent and at a right angle to it Direction have a variable second extent.

This task is accomplished with a method that has the features of the claim 1 and a device having the features of claim 3 solved.

The items are conveyed in a shingled stream by means of a conveyor promoted, in which the scale distance regardless of the extent the objects are constant. The objects in the Scale flow with a certain - i.e. always same - arranged first extent. Your second extension at right angles the direction of conveyance can be variable. In other words the objects are in a regular despite different formats Scale flow with constant scale spacing and constant Length of mutual overlap of two neighboring ones Objects promoted. This allows transport clips to be independent the format of the objects at a fixed distance in a row can be arranged to each by means of a single transport bracket a certain number of items - a so-called section - to grasp, each object by a single transport bracket is kept for further transport. The transport clips can be used the objects conveyed in the stream of scale without the formation of gaps for further transport.

Particularly preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention and the device according to the invention are in the dependent Claims specified.

Fig. 1

in Draufsicht einen Schuppenstrom, dessen Gegenstände rechtwinklig zur Förderrichtung F eine unterschiedliche Ausdehnung aufweisen können und mittels Transportklammern für den Weitertransport von einer Seite her erfasst werden;

Fig. 2

eine Vorrichtung für den sektionsweisen Transport von Gegenständen mit Transportklammern, wobei die Gegenstände mit unterschiedlicher Ausdehnung in Förderrichtung Z anfallen können; und

Fig. 3

eine weitere Ausbildungsform einer Vorrichtung nach Fig. 2.

The present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

in plan view a stream of shingles, the objects of which may have a different extent at right angles to the direction of conveyance F and are gripped from one side by means of transport clamps for further transport;

Fig. 2

a device for the section-wise transport of objects with transport clamps, the objects having different dimensions in the conveying direction Z being able to be obtained; and

Fig. 3

a further embodiment of a device according to FIG. 2.

1, the rectangular, flat objects 10, in the present case printed products such as newspapers, magazines and the like, are conveyed in a scale flow S in the direction of conveyance F at the conveying speed v ₁ . The objects always have a specific first dimension A, measured in the conveying direction F; this means that they are always of the same length when viewed in the conveying direction F. Their extent at right angles to the conveying direction - ie their width - can be different, as is indicated by means of the second extent A ₂ and A ₂ ' . Furthermore, the scale distance B is always constant. Scale spacing is understood to mean the distance between the front edge 12 of successive objects 10. Since the objects 10, measured in the conveying direction F, always have a certain first dimension A, the distance between the rear edges of the objects also corresponds to the scale distance B.

Furthermore, the objects 10 are arranged in the scale stream S in such a way that that their running in the conveying direction F are on the right in the conveying direction Side edges 14 are aligned. The right side edge the stream of scale is therefore independent of the format of the objects 10 always in a certain lateral position.

The scale flow S is on a belt conveyor indicated by dashed lines 16 transported and stands with one adjoining the side edge 14 Edge area laterally above the belt conveyor 16.

Side of the belt conveyor 16 - to the side of the imbricated stream S, on which the side edges 14 occupy the determined position - runs the movement path 18 'of the transport clamps 18 of a conveyor 20. The transport clamps 18 are driven to a V in the conveying direction F at the conveying speed ₁ conveying member 22 arranged at a constant center distance C one behind the other. The transport clamps 18 are designed to hold a certain number - one section - of the objects 10 of the shingled stream S from the side and to hold them for further transport. The center distance C of the transport brackets 18 is selected such that each of the objects 10 is only gripped by a single transport clamp 18 - that is to say that the transport clamps 18, viewed in the conveying direction F, the object 10 at the front of a section adjacent to its rear edge and the rearmost object 10 of this section capture adjacent to the front edge 12 thereof. In other words, the objects 10 are gripped by means of the transport clamp 18, if this is formed with narrow clamping tongues 24 when viewed in the conveying direction F, in an area in which all objects 10 of a section overlap. The lateral grasping of these objects 10 by means of the transport clamps 18 enables the formation of the transport clamps 18 with short clamping tongues as seen in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction F.

The transport clamps 18 with the clamping tongues in the open position 24 are from the side to the side edge 14 of the objects of Scale stream S brought up and then transferred to the closed position. As soon as the transport clamps 18 are brought into the closed position, the objects 10 are conveyed away from the belt conveyor 16. For further transport can either be carried in a hanging position or in horizontal position outside the movement path 18 'of the transport clamps 18 supported further.

The further transport of the articles 10 in sections can be carried out independently the format of the objects 10 in the same conveyor 20.

Longitudinal rotary printing machines produce printed products with a constant first dimension A in the direction of delivery, and lay them out in a regular scale formation. The second dimension A ₂ , A ₂ 'of the printed products, ie their width, can vary depending on the desired format, for example the newspaper. The present invention permits the disposal of such longitudinally dimensioning rotary printing presses without changing the formation with an extremely simple clamp conveyor in the manner of a section conveyor, without the scale formation having to be disturbed in the process.

In the case of transverse rotary printing presses 26 and delivery from storage units, such as, for example, windings, the flat objects 10, the printed products, can have a different length, ie a different second dimension A ₂ , when viewed in the delivery direction. In contrast, in this case the width of the objects 10, ie the first dimension A _{1, is} always unchanged. From a scale formation of this type, a scale flow is now formed by deflecting or rotating the objects, in which the determined first extent A, the objects 10 runs in the conveying direction F, the scale distance S is constant and the one side edge 14 of the objects 10 is aligned with one another and is in a certain lateral position.

Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment, in which by deflecting the 26 objects from a transverse rotary printing press Such a scale flow from the resulting scale formation S is formed. The outlet 28 'of a feed conveyor designed as a belt conveyor 28 it can be the delivery belt of the rotary printing press act - is arranged on one side of a conveyor 30, the runs at right angles to the feed direction Z of the feed conveyor 28. Above the designed as a belt conveyor and assigned to this, is at a distance from the outlet 28 'a rotating deflection member 32 arranged. Together with the conveyor 30, this forms an in Feed direction Z tapering and in the same direction as the feed direction F of the conveyor 30 effective conveyor gap. The deflector 32 has two conical rollers spaced apart from one another in the conveying direction F. 34, which are driven to rotate about axes 34 ', in the feed direction Z run. A transfer device 36 of this type is in CH-A-617 408 and in the corresponding US-A-4,201,377. In terms of Structure and operation of the transfer device 36 is expressly referred to these publications.

The conveyor 30 corresponds in its structure and mode of operation the belt conveyor 16 according to FIG. 1. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1 and described, a conveyor 20 is provided, which is intended the objects conveyed in the scale stream S by means of the conveyor 30 10 to be gripped in sections.

The conveyor 20 has several downstream of the conveyor 30 Dispensing points 38 - two are shown in FIG. 2 - on. Every delivery point 38 is assigned a further belt conveyor 40, which is a further transfer device 36 ', which are of the same design as the transfer device 36, but depending on the operating case, the deflection members 32 a deflection into a rest position and can be brought back again. In Deflection form the deflection members 32 together with a relevant one Belt conveyor the effective conveyor gap. However, they are off at rest the path of movement of the objects held by the transport clamps 18 10 removed so that this at the relevant delivery point 38th can be funded past to another delivery point.

For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that the position of the deflection members 32 of the transfer device 36 in the feed direction Z can be adjusted in accordance with the second extent A ₂ , A ₂ 'of the objects 10, such that the side edges 14 of the objects facing the conveyor device 20 in the shingled stream S. always in the same place.

The operation of the device shown in a highly simplified manner in FIG. 2 is as follows: The rotary printing machine 26 places the objects 10 in a scale formation in which the first dimension A, measured at right angles to the direction of delivery, of the objects always has the same specific size. The second dimension A ₂ , A ₂ ' measured in the direction of delivery, but can be different. If objects 10 with the second dimension A _{2 are} laid out, they are fed in the regular scale formation by means of the feed conveyor 28 in the feed direction Z to the transfer device 36. Together with the conveyor 30, this deflects the objects 10 by 90 ° so that they are conveyed further in the scale direction S in the conveying direction F. The conveying speed v _{1 of} the removal conveyor 30 is matched to the conveying speed v _z of the feed conveyor 28 _such that the scale distance B in the scale flow S is constant. As described in connection with FIG. 1, a certain number, in the present case six, of the objects 10 in the stream of scales from the side of the aligned side edge 14 are detected and transported by each transport clamp 18. In the situation shown in FIG. 2, the first delivery point 38 is active and deflects the articles 10 released section by section from the open transport clamp 18 in question to form a scale formation on the belt conveyor 40 in question. For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that, to enable a clean deflection and formation of a scale formation with constant scale spacing in the conveying direction F, upstream of the belt conveyor 40, a belt conveyor adjoins the belt conveyor 40, said belt conveyor releasing the objects 10 of the section in question in the conveying direction F to the relevant section Transfer device 36 'further promoted.

Are the desired at the first delivery point 38 seen in the conveying direction F. Number of items fed to the belt conveyor 40 in question the deflection members 36 of the transfer device 36 'in Rested position and the transport brackets 18 when walking past the relevant delivery point 38 no longer opens, causing the objects 10 now fed to a downstream delivery point 38 and there in the same way by deflecting the respective one by 90 °. Belt conveyor 40 are handed over. The one lying on the latter Scale formation is for scale formation on the feed conveyor 28 similar.

As indicated by the arrow indicated in the direction of conveyance F, it is also conceivable to release the objects 10 in the scale stream S and for example by means of a belt conveyor in the direction of conveyance F.

If objects 10 with a second extension A ₂ 'are produced by means of the rotary printing machine 26, the deflection members 32 of the transfer device 36 are displaced by the difference between the second extensions A ₂ and A ₂ ' against the feed direction Z. As a result, after the objects 10 have been deflected by 90 °, the right-hand side edge 14 of all objects 10, as seen in the conveying direction F, is again at the same location. This ensures problem-free section-by-section acceptance of the objects 10 by means of the transport clamps 18. Furthermore, the device works the same as described above.

It is important, however, that all objects, regardless of the format in which they leave the rotary printing machine 26 or the storage unit, are transferred into a shingled stream S in which their specific extension A _{1 runs} in the conveying direction F.

The design shown in FIG. 3 is very similar to that of FIG. 2, but now the transfer device 36 between the feed conveyor 28 and the conveyor 30 running at right angles to this has an intermediate conveyor 44 arranged at an angle to both conveyors - the angle between The conveying direction Z of the feed conveyor 28 and the conveying direction of the intermediate conveyor 44 is 45 °, but it can also be larger or smaller. The intermediate conveyor 44 has a plurality of conveyor belts 46 arranged next to one another, which interact with weight rollers 48. Furthermore, the feed conveyor 28, which is designed as a belt conveyor, is assigned further weight rollers 48 'at its outlet 28'. Furthermore, the transfer device 36 has a stop 50 which is assigned to the travel conveyor 30 and which is designed as a belt conveyor and which can be set as a function of the second dimension A ₂ .

The first extent determined at right angles to the feed direction Z. objects 10 resulting from a scale formation are retained a parallel position at the transfer point from the feeder 28 accordingly deflected onto the intermediate conveyor 44, and into a "Diagonal scale formation" transferred. Another redirection of objects 10 while maintaining its parallel position takes place at the Transfer point from the intermediate conveyor 44 to the one designed as a belt conveyor Conveyor 30. The maintenance of the parallel position becomes by the interaction of the weight rollers 48, 48 'with the relevant one Conveyor tapes or conveyor belts ensured by this also at the downstream end of the conveyor in question are arranged.

3 shows objects 10 arranged on the side of the feed conveyor 28 with solid lines in a shingled formation, folded newspapers which, viewed in the feed direction Z, have a second dimension A ₂ . Objects 10 are shown with dash-dotted lines and have a much shorter second dimension A ₂ '. The scale spacing of the objects 10 and their first dimension A ₁ is always the same. This and the coordinated speeds of all conveyors ensure that the shingle spacing B in shingle stream S has the desired size. Furthermore, all objects 10 are transferred into the scale formation S in such a way that their specific first dimension A _{1 runs} in the conveying direction F. Here, each of the transport clamps 18 detects three objects 10 for further transport and each object 10 is held by a single transport clamp 18.

Possible forms of formation for transfer devices 36 according to FIG. 3 are for example in EP-A-0 310 988, EP-A-0 484 177 and WO 94/13566.

The objects fall with certain perpendicular to their conveying direction first expansion and different in the direction of conveyance. Expansion, they can also extend around a cross-section of the object surface Axis are rotated. Suitable devices are, for example from CH-A-546 197 and the corresponding US-A-3,809,214 and EP-A-0 901 977.

The devices can be designed particularly simply if the Objects in a scale formation with constant scale spacing attack. If this is not the case, it can be done in a known manner, for example by adjusting conveyor speeds, the arrangement of the Objects 10 can be achieved in the desired scale distance.

Claims (7)

1. Method for transporting at least approximately rectangular, flat objects occurring in an imbricated formation, such as printer's products, with a specific first extent (A₁) and a variable second extent (A₂, A₂') running at right angles thereto, wherein the objects (10) are conveyed in an imbricated stream (S) at constant, predetermined overlap spacing (B), with the first extent (A₁) running in the conveying direction (F) and, viewed in the conveying direction (F), with a specific lateral position of the edges (14) of the objects (10) aligned with one another and running in the conveying direction (F) on the one predetermined side of the imbricated stream (S), and wherein a specific number in each case, which is at least two, of consecutive objects (10) of the imbricated stream (S) are then gripped by one transporting clamp (18) exclusively, on the side of the imbricated stream (S) with edges (14) aligned with one another for onward transportation of the overlapping stream (S).
2. Method according to claim 1, for transporting objects (10) which occur with a specific first extent (A₁) running at right angles to their conveying direction (Z), characterised in that the objects (10) are transferred into the imbricated stream (S) before being gripped by the transporting clamp (18).
3. Device for transporting at least approximately rectangular, flat objects occurring in an imbricated formation, such as printer's products which have a specific first extent (A₁) and a variable second extent (A₂, A₂') at a right angular direction thereto, with a conveyor (16, 30), which is intended to convey the objects (10) in an imbricated stream (S) with at least approximately constant overlap spacing (B), with a first extent (A₁) running in the conveying direction (F) and, viewed in the conveying direction (F), with respect to the conveyor (16, 30), with a specific lateral position of the edges (14) of the objects (10) aligned with one another and running in the conveying direction (F) on the one side of the overlapping stream (S), and with a conveying apparatus (20) connected downstream from the conveyor (16, 30) with individually controllable transporting clamps (18) arranged one behind the other with a spacing (C) in the conveying direction (F), wherein the movement path (18') of the transporting clamps (18), viewed in the conveying direction (F), runs past that specific side of the conveyor (16, 30) on which the edges (14) of the objects (10) are aligned with one another, and the conveyor (16, 30) and the conveying apparatus (20) are coordinated with one another such that a single transporting clamp (18) in each case laterally grips a specific number, which is at least two, of objects (10) for outward transportation of the imbricated stream (S).
4. Device according to claim 3, characterised in that the transporting clamps (18) are arranged at a fixed spacing (C) one behind the other on a conveying element (22) driven so as to rotate in the conveying direction (F), the spacing (C) being at least as large as the specific first measurement (A₁) of the objects (10).
5. Device according to claims 3 or 4 for transporting objects (10) which occur with a specific first extent (A₁) running at right angles to their conveying direction (F), characterised by a feed conveyor (28) which is intended to convey the objects (10) in the imbricated formation with a first extent (A₁) running at right angles to the conveying direction (F), and a transfer apparatus (36) arranged between the feed conveyor (28) and the conveyor (16, 30) connected downstream therefrom, the transfer apparatus (36) being intended to transfer the objects (10) fed by means of the feed conveyor (28) into the imbricated stream (S) which can be onwardly transported by means of the conveyor (16, 30).
6. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the feed conveyor (28) has an outlet (28') arranged at one side of the conveyor (30) running at a right angle to the conveying direction (Z) of the feed conveyor (28), and the transfer apparatus (36) has at least one deflection element (32) mounted so as to rotate at a spacing from the outlet (28') of the feed conveyor (28) above the conveyor (30) and associated therewith, the deflection element forming with the conveyor (30) a conveying gap tapering in the conveying direction (Z) of the feed conveyor (28) and acting in the same direction as the conveying direction (F) of the conveyor (30).
7. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the transfer apparatus (36) between the feed conveyor (28) and the conveyor (30) running at right angles to the conveying direction (Z) of the feed conveyor (28), has an intermediate conveyor (44) which runs at an angle to the conveying directions (Z, F) of the feed conveyor (28) and conveyor (30), the objects (10) retaining a parallel position to one another.

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