EP1140630B1 - Method and device for applying a protective coating to stacks of printed products - Google Patents

Abstract

Stacks (1) of printed products which products are characterized in that they each have an edge of increased thickness are wrapped in such a manner that those stack sides in which the above-mentioned edges are arranged are completely covered by the coating (4) and are thus well protected. Since said stacks (1) are less stable in a direction transversal to the mentioned edges, the stacks (1) are discharged from a stacking shaft (20) in which the stacks are produced in a direction parallel to the mentioned edges and directly between the forks (12 and 13) of a pair of forks (12/13). The stack (1) is compressed between the forks (12 and 13) and the pair of forks (12/13) containing the compressed stack (1) is guided through a curtain (14) of a coating material. Said coating material is closed around the pair of forks (12/13) and the stack (1). Once the coating is applied, the coated stack (1/4) is separated from the pair of forks (12/13) by performing a movement of the pair of forks (12/13) relative to the stack (1/4) and is conveyed on.

Description

The invention is in the field of packaging technology and relates to a Method and device according to the generic terms of the corresponding independent claims. The method and device are used for the creation from protective sleeves to stacks of printed matter. They are particularly suitable to be used for stacks of printed products with an edge in which Area the product is thicker than in other areas and the stack stability due to their increased thickness, and of printed products, on which these pass through their increased thickness is particularly to protect excellent edge. such Print products are, for example, double-folded newspapers with one Edge of the waist (edge of the second fold) or magazines with a glued or stapled back edge.

Newspapers are available from a rotary press or from a reel, but also from various Further processing devices (e.g. insert drum) as a shingled stream in which the waist edge is the leading edge of each newspaper. For transportation and Distribution these newspapers are stacked (usually in cross-stacks) and the stacks are optionally provided with cover sheets and then strapped and / or wrapped.

The outside of a double-folded newspaper is also its first content page, such that the information printed on it, so to speak, without interruption around the second Folded edge runs around and is therefore very exposed. The first newspaper page bears as a clearly visible page usually information that is classified as important, and should not be damaged for this reason. But this is how it is is not easy to explain.

The same also applies to magazines or similar, which are velcro-bound or otherwise bound, booklet-like printed products, the back edges of which also have raised edges Thickness and thus reduce stack stabilities, can also be printed and are also very exposed to damage.

Newspaper and magazine stacks, even if they are cross-stacked, are at right angles to the Waistband or back edges (edges with excellent thickness) less stable than in parallel. The reason for this is that even when placed horizontally, one such stacks at least some of the products across the award Edges have a slope and therefore with even small accelerations in this Direction can slip. This is parallel to the direction excellent edges not the case. For this reason there are batch shifts parallel to the excellent edges significantly easier, that means with much simpler means and greater accelerations than displacements across these edges. It is therefore also common to use stacking shafts of this type equip that the finished stacks are ejected across the excellent product edges become.

It is known to stack stacks with a wrapping material (e.g. Plastic film) by an essentially vertical from top to bottom to move the open curtain of the wrapping material Wrapping material around the leading side of the stack and can be on the trailing stack side can be closed to form an annular envelope, wherein the wrapping material is simultaneously cut so that it is for one the following stack again forms a curtain. Shall now encase a stack that especially the excellent edges (e.g. fret or Back edges) of the stacked products are to be protected by the wrapping, so the stack must go across these edges through the curtain of wrapping material be moved, which in turn leads to problems due to the low stack stability.

For example, for wrapping stacks of newspapers or magazines suggested this directly when ejecting from the stack through the curtain of the wrapping material. This is easily done when the stacks ejected parallel to the excellent edges and thus parallel to them Edges are wrapped, but wraps are created that are not on the excellent product edges and therefore do not protect them. It will also proposed to eject the stacks across the marked product edges and move directly through the curtain, creating wrappings that attach to the excellent product edges and effectively protect them. This method leads to a desired product, but is due to the low stack stability there are many problems in the direction of ejection, especially for large ones Ejection speeds and accelerations cannot be solved satisfactorily can.

Given the above problems, it is also proposed to run in parallel with the excellent edges immediately from the stack strapping across the direction of ejection and thus for further steps, especially to stabilize for a protective covering. With such a method envelopes can be created without any problems, which are based on the excellent Product edges fit and protect them, but that of the wrapper Upstream strapping poses a very high risk of damage to these edges represents.

So there does not seem to be a satisfactory method with the increased thickness excellent edges of printed products, for example the bundle or Back edges of newspapers or magazines in a stack through a protective wrapper can be protected easily and sustainably, like this in rolled Packages of newspapers and magazines, the manufacture of which is also of the state of the art Technology belongs, is possible

Publication US-4341056 describes a device for wrapping stacks described which stacks should be pressed as strongly as possible in the wrapped state. In order to the pressure does not have to be generated directly with the wrapping, there is a stack between Press jaws pressed, the stack is wrapped with the press jaws and then become the Stack and the wrapping separated from the press jaws.

It is the object of the invention to demonstrate a method and an apparatus to create with it with simple means and high speeds Stack of printed products, each one by increased thickness, is easily possible have an excellent edge, parallel to these edges from a stacking shaft to eject and immediately afterwards to cover it with a protective covering, that the wrapper fits tightly on those sides of the stack on which the excellent edges are arranged. The inventive method and the Apparatus for performing the method should also be applicable to the serial wrapping of stacks with individually different heights.

This object is achieved by the method and the device as described in the Claims are defined.

The method according to the invention is based on the idea of stacking from the stacking shaft eject parallel to the excellent product edges and thereby between the Position the forks of a pair of forks, press the stack between the forks, the pair of forks with the pressed stack through the curtain of the wrapping material to move the wrapping material on the trailing side of the fork pair and To close the stack and then by a relative movement between the stack and Fork pair to separate the wrapped stack from the fork pair. In this procedure the stacking movement necessary for the wrapping transverse to the excellent ones Edges run when the stack is jammed between the forks and thereby is stable and without further stabilizing agents quickly and easily against the Resistance of the wrapping agent can be moved.

Because the wrapping is not just about the stack, but about the one with the forks pressed stack, that is placed around the stack and fork pair and closed and there the pair of forks when separating the stack and the pair of forks by pulling out the forks from the casing, the method according to the invention only leads to a tightening Wrapping when the printed products are sufficiently elastic in the direction of their thickness are compressible and / or if the wrapping material has sufficient elasticity has, such that the wrapping material after pulling out the forks tight enough to the stack.

It turns out that stacks of newspapers or magazines with usual heights after the procedure outlined above with protective coverings made of polyethylene film can be provided with a thickness of 15 to 50µm, whereby covered stacks arise that are stable enough to be strapped and easily afterwards, for example to be processed further.

Figur 1

ein mit einer Schutzumhüllung versehener Stapel von Zeitungen oder anderen Druckprodukten, die eine durch erhöhte Dicke ausgezeichnete Kanteaufweisen;

Figur 2

ein Schema der aufeinanderfolgenden Schritte des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens;

Figuren 3 und 4

zwei schematisch dargestellte, beispielhafte Ausführungsformen der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung;

Figur 5

eine beispielhafte Ausführungsform einer Pressgabel, die zusätzlich zum Aufbringen eines Deckblattes auf einen Stapel ausgerüstet ist.

The method according to the invention and the device according to the invention are described in more detail with reference to the following figures. Show:

Figure 1

a stack of newspapers or other printed products that have a protective cover and have an edge that is characterized by increased thickness;

Figure 2

a diagram of the successive steps of the inventive method;

Figures 3 and 4

two schematically illustrated exemplary embodiments of the device according to the invention;

Figure 5

an exemplary embodiment of a press fork, which is additionally equipped for applying a cover sheet to a stack.

FIG. 1 shows a stack 1 of printed products 2, each with an edge 3 characterized by increased thickness, for example of newspapers or magazines with collar or back edges. In the stack shown, all marked edges are arranged one above the other on the same side of the stack, so that the stack on this side is higher than on the opposite side. However, it could also be a cross stack in which groups of printed products (partial stacks) are stacked on one another in such a way that the groups of excellent edges are arranged alternately on two mutually opposite stack sides. In a cross stack, the instability caused by the increased thickness of the marked edges is not as great as in a stack as shown in FIG. 1. Nevertheless, this instability is present and is not negligible for the handling of cross stacks.

The stack 1 in FIG. 1 has a protective covering 4 which extends the stack transversely to the excellent edges 3 and which is at least as wide as that excellent edges long. The wrapping lies on the side stacking surfaces, in which the excellent edges 3 are arranged, as well as on the underside of the stack and on the top of the stack and provides good protection for the excellent edges The wrapping material can protrude on both sides of the stack and the protruding ones Wrapping parts can be further processed in the stack For example, be connected via the uncovered stack side surfaces, so that the The stack is then protected on all sides by the protective covering.

In addition to the protective function, there is a stack wrapping 4, as shown in FIG. 1 is also an at least limited stabilization function, such that the covered stack with significantly fewer problems also across the board excellent edges can be accelerated than the not yet wrapped stack.

a Ein Stapel 1 wird parallel zu den ausgezeichneten Kanten 3 aus einem Stapelschacht in eine Ausstossposition ausgestossen, wobei der Stapel seitlich und stirnseitig durch Ausstossführungen (10/10', 11/11') geführt ist und auf eine Traggabel 12 geschoben wird (Ausstossrichtung gegen die Papierfläche der Figur gerichtet).

b In der Ausstossposition wird eine Pressgabel 13 auf den Stapel 1 abgesenkt, der Stapel 1 wird zwischen Traggabel 12 und Pressgabel 13 gepresst und die Ansstossführungen (10/10', 11/11') werden mindestens teilweise aus ihrer Führungsposition entfernt.

c Der zwischen Traggabel 12 und Pressgabel 13 gepresste Stapel 1 wird quer zu den ausgezeichneten Kanten durch einen Vorhang 14 eines Umhüllungsmaterials in eine Umhüllungsposition bewegt.

d Das Umhüllungsmaterial wird auf der nachlaufenden Seite von Gabelpaar 12/13 und Stapel 1 zu einer Schutzumhüllung 4 geschlossen, wobei beispielsweise an der Umhüllung 4 und am Vorhang 14 Verbindungsstellen 15 erstellt werden.

e Stapel 1 und Gabelpaar 12/13 werden voneinander getrennt durch eine Relativbewegung zwischen Stapel 1 und Gabelpaar 12/13 parallel m den ausgezeichneten Kanten, wobei die Trennung in der Umhüllungsposition oder vorteilhafterweise in einer Trennposition durchgeführt wird, in die Gabelpaar 12/13 und Stapel 1 vor der Trennung bewegt werden.

FIG. 2 shows the successive steps a to e of the method according to the invention for creating a protective covering 4 around a stack 1, for example around a cross stack, which has three groups of printed products stacked crosswise. The line of sight is parallel to the excellent edges. The steps are as follows:

a A stack 1 is ejected parallel to the excellent edges 3 from a stacking shaft into an ejection position, the stack being guided laterally and on the front side by ejection guides (10/10 ', 11/11') and being pushed onto a carrying fork 12 (ejection direction the paper surface of the figure).

b In the ejection position, a pressing fork 13 is lowered onto the stack 1, the stack 1 is pressed between the carrying fork 12 and the pressing fork 13, and the pushing guides (10/10 ', 11/11') are at least partially removed from their guiding position.

c The stack 1 pressed between the carrying fork 12 and the pressing fork 13 is moved transversely to the marked edges through a curtain 14 of a wrapping material into a wrapping position.

d The wrapping material is closed on the trailing side of fork pair 12/13 and stack 1 to form a protective wrapping 4, 14 joints 15 being created, for example, on the wrapping 4 and the curtain.

e Stack 1 and fork pair 12/13 are separated from one another by a relative movement between stack 1 and fork pair 12/13 parallel to the marked edges, the separation being carried out in the wrapping position or advantageously in a separation position, into the fork pair 12/13 and stack 1 be moved before separation.

Steps c, d and e are shown in FIG. 2 in an upper and a lower variant shown. According to the above variant, the pressed stack 1 becomes without changing its position moved through the curtain 14 of the strapping material such that the strapping material joined on a stack side containing excellent edges must be (junction 15). For even more complete protection of the excellent edges, this is avoided according to the lower variant, thereby that the stack 1 pressed between the forks 12 and 13 between the Ejection position (b) and the wrapping position (c) by 90 ° around its own axis is rotated so that the trailing side is formed by one of the forks 12 or 13 becomes. The connection point 15 is now at one of the printed products spaced apart created, whereby any risk to the products is avoided.

• die in der Ausstossposition angeordneten seitlichen und stirnseitigen Ausstossführungen 10/10' und 11/11', die mindestens teilweise von einer Führungsposition (a) in eine Ruheposition (b) verschiebbar sind, beispielsweise durch vertikale Verschiebung von oberen (10, 11) und unteren (10', 11') Führungsteilen;
• das von der Ausstossposition in die Umreifungspositionundgegebenenfalls von der Umreifungsposition in die Trennposition verschiebbare Gabelpaar 12/13 bestehend aus der Traggabel 12 und der Pressgabel 13, die in der Ausstossposition einen Abstand voneinander haben, der mindestens der Stapelhöhe entspricht und die gegeneinander pressbar sind (gegebenenfalls ist das Gabelpaar zusätzlich für die Trennung verschiebbar und/oder zwischen Ausstossposition und Umhüllungsposition um 90° um seine eigene Achsedrehbar).
• die an sich bekannten Mittel zum Aufspannen des Umreifungsmaterials als im wesentlichen senkrechter Vorhang 14 am Eingang zur Umhüllungsposition (c, d) und zum Verbinden und Abtrennen auf der nachlaufenden Stapelseite derart, dass beispielsweise an der geschlossenen Umhüllung 4 und am wieder aufgespannten Vorhang 14 je eine Verbindungsstelle 15 entsteht.

Figure 2 shows schematically the most important parts of the device according to the invention. These are the following:

• the ejection guides 10/10 'and 11/11' arranged in the ejection position, which are at least partially displaceable from a guide position (a) into a rest position (b), for example by vertical displacement of the upper (10, 11) and lower ones (10 ', 11') guide parts;
• the pair of forks 12/13 which can be moved from the ejection position to the strapping position and, if appropriate, from the strapping position to the separating position, consisting of the carrying fork 12 and the pressing fork 13, which in the ejecting position are at a distance from one another which corresponds at least to the stack height and which can be pressed against one another (if appropriate the pair of forks can also be moved for the separation and / or rotated by 90 ° about its own axis between the ejection position and the wrapping position).
• the means known per se for tensioning the strapping material as a substantially vertical curtain 14 at the entrance to the wrapping position (c, d) and for connecting and disconnecting on the trailing stack side in such a way that, for example, one each on the closed wrapping 4 and on the reclamped curtain 14 Junction 15 is formed.

Furthermore, the device for carrying out the method according to the invention in the separating means, not shown in FIG. 2, with the aid of which stack 1 and fork pair 12/13 be separated from each other. These are, for example, in slots the forks 12 and / or 13 retractable and relative to the fork pair 12/13 in the direction of the excellent edges movable bolt, as shown in Figure 3 are.

FIG. 3 shows schematically and from a bird's eye view a possible spatial arrangement of the necessary parts of the device according to the invention. An arrow S indicates a supply of printed products 2 with leading, excellent edges 3 (represented by a bold line) which products 2 are supplied, for example, as a shingled stream. The feed ends in a stacking shaft 20 in which a stack 1 is formed. The stacking shaft 20 is arranged in such a way that the stack 1 is ejected essentially perpendicular to the feed direction (arrow S). On the ejection side of the stacking shaft 20, the side and front ejection guides 10 and 11 of the ejection position and the fork pair 12/13, of which only the pressing fork 13 is visible, are arranged. The pair of forks 12/13 can be moved perpendicular to the ejection direction (parallel to the feed direction) through the curtain 14 into the wrapping position. To separate the wrapped stack from the fork pair, bolts 21 are inserted into slots 22 of the forks in the wrapping position, for example, and moved against the fork end (arrows B), while the fork pair 12/13 remains stationary. Due to the movement of the bolts 21, the wrapped stack 1/4 is separated from the fork pair 12/13 and, for example, is conveyed away on a conveyor belt (not shown) perpendicular to the feed direction (arrow S) (arrow W).

A device, as shown in Figure 3, can with a single Fork pair 12/13 operated if means are provided with which the Fork pair between the ejection position and the wrapping position back and forth is moved. To increase the capacity of the device, however, are advantageous several fork pairs 12/13 are provided, for example on an endless Chain are attached equidistantly and from this chain intermittently on one in itself closed path. In FIG. 3 there are two pairs of forks 12/13 shown and part of a drive chain 23 is indicated.

It can easily be seen from FIG. 3 that the path of the fork pairs 12/13 is additional Further processing positions for the ejection position and the wrapping position for example arranged in a row, can include: for example one on the wrapping position following processing position, in which the wrapped stack 1 is printed, for example, in the wrapping parts protruding around the stack Stacks are closed etc on one or a plurality of such positions then a separation position is to be provided at which the wrapped stack 1 from Fork pair 12/13 is separated, as shown in Figure 3 for the wrapping position is to provide. Of course, additional processing positions are also conceivable to be provided between the ejection position and the wrapping position, in which the batch that has not yet been wrapped is processed.

The individual parts of the device shown in Figure 3 and for their Movements and drives necessary for movement are from a specialist easy to implement and therefore do not need more at this point To be shown or described in detail

FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the device for carrying out the method according to the invention. The function of the device parts are the same as for the device shown in FIG. 3. The device parts are designated by the same reference numerals. The device has four fork pairs 12/13, which are arranged at a 90 ° distance from each other about an essentially vertical axis 30 which can be driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise). The ejection position (9 o'clock position), the wrapping position (6 o'clock position) and the separation position (3 o'clock position) are also circular and arranged at 90 ° intervals. Obviously, it is also possible to provide a machining position in the 3 o'clock position and the separation position in the 12 o'clock position.

In a device as shown in FIG. 4, less or more than four fork pairs 12/13 are provided, which are then replaced by appropriate are equally spaced from each other.

FIG. 5 shows a press fork 13 with an additional function, which is equipped with a movable compartment for a cover sheet 31 to be applied to a stack in the ejection position or for the application of another flat product. The pressing fork 13 is shown in two positions, at the top in a position spaced apart from an ejected stack 1 and at the bottom in a position lowered onto the stack 1.

The press fork 13 has a compartment 32 that is on the underside of the press fork limited pivotally attached that it is in a force-free state on the free End of the fork is spaced from it such that, for example, one of one Printer 33 ejected cover sheet 31 directly between fork 13 and tray 32 can be pushed. When lowering the fork 13 on a stack 1, the tray 32 pressed against the bottom of the fork and thereby essentially closed. at the separation of the wrapped stack and the pair of forks becomes the compartment 32 with the pair of forks pulled from the wrapper and the cover sheet 31 remains on the stack 1.

Although the inventive method and the inventive device for Stack of products designed with an edge characterized by increased thickness they can of course also be used for products without such an edge be applied.

Claims (17)

1. Method for sequentially wrapping stacks (1) produced in a stacking shaft (20) and comprising printed products (2) having an edge (3) distinguished by increased thickness, wherein in an ejection position, each stack (1) is positioned in a pair of forks (12/13) consisting of a carrier fork (12) and a pressing fork (13) and is pressed by the forks, wherein the pair of forks (12/13) together with the pressed stack (1) is moved through a curtain (14) of wrapping material into a wrapping position and in the wrapping position, the wrapping material is closed around the stack (1) and the pair of forks (12/13) to form a wrapper (4), wherein the stack (1) together with the wrapper (4) is separated from the pair of forks (12/13) by a relative movement between the stack (1) and the pair of forks (12/13) and wherein the produced wrapper (4) fully covers the bottom and top sides of the stack as well as the lateral stack surfaces in which the distinguished edges (3) are positioned, characterized in that each stack (1) is ejected from the stacking shaft (20) in a direction parallel to the distinguished edges (3) and directly onto the carrier fork (12) being positioned in the ejection position, the stack being guided solely by lateral and face-side ejection guides (10/10'/11/11'), that for pressing the stack, the pressing fork (13) is then lowered onto the stack (1) being positioned on the carrier fork (12), that for moving the pair of forks (12/13) together with the stack (1) into the wrapping position, the ejection guides (10/10'/11/11') are at least partly removed, the stack being, at least in a first phase, moved in a direction perpendicular to the distinguished edges such that the wrapper (4) covers the lateral stack surfaces in which the distinguished edges (3) are positioned.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the pair of forks (12/13) together with the pressed stack is moved through the curtain (14) of the wrapping material in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ejection direction.
3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the pair of forks (12/13) together with the pressed stack (1) is rotated by 90° before being moved through the curtain (14) of the wrapping material.
4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pair of forks (12/13) together with the pressed stack (1) is rotated around its own axis before being moved through the curtain of the wrapping material (14).
5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a stack cover sheet (31) is applied to the pressing fork (13) before the pressing fork (13) is lowered onto the stack (1) and that the stack cover sheet (31) is separated from the pair of forks (12/13) together with the stack (1).
6. Method according to one of claims I to 5, characterized in that the pair of forks (12/13) together with the pressed stack (1) is submitted to further processing steps before or after wrapping.
7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that in the further processing steps, the stack (1) and/or the wrapper (4) is printed on or parts of the wrapper protruding from the stack (1) are closed around the stack.
8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the wrapping material has a width which is at least as large as the length of the distinguished edges (3) of the printed products (2).
9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the wrapping material is a polyethylene sheeting of a thickness in the range of 15 to 50µm.
10. Device for sequentially wrapping stacks produced in a stacking shaft (20) and comprising printed products (2) having each an edge (3) distinguished by an increased thickness, which device for pressing one stack (1) and for moving the stack from an ejection position into a wrapping position, comprises at least one pair of forks (12/13) with a carrier fork (12) and a pressing fork (13) pressable against the carrier fork (12), which device further comprises means for positioning a curtain (14) of a wrapping material between the ejection position and the wrapping position, means for closing and severing the wrapping material on an upstream side of the stack (1), and means arranged in the wrapping position or in a separation position and cooperating with the pair of forks (12/13) for separating the wrapped stack (1/4) from the pair of forks (12/13) characterized in that the carrier fork (12) is positionable in the ejection position for direct ejection of the stack from the stacking shaft (20) onto the carrier fork (12) and that the device for stabilizing the stack on ejection comprises only lateral and face-side ejecting guides (10/10'/11/11') being at least partly movable into a guiding position and into a rest position.
11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of pairs of forks (12/13) being movable on at least one cyclic path such that one pair of forks (12/13) after another is movable through the ejection position, the wrapping position and back to the ejection position.
12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the plurality of pairs of forks (12/13) is designed and driven for passing at least one further processing position between ejection position and wrapping position and/or for passing a separation position or at least one processing position and a separation position after the wrapping position.
13. Device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the pairs of forks (12/13) are arranged around a substantially vertical axis.
14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the ejection position, the wrapping position and the separation position are distanced from each other or from a processing position by an angle of 90° each.
15. Device according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the pairs of forks (12/13) are rotateable around their own axis.
16. Device according to one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the separating means are pins (22) meshing with longitudinal slots (22) of the carrier fork (12) and/or of the pressing fork (13).
17. Device according to one of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that the pressing fork (13) is equipped for reception of additional products (31) to be added to the stacks.

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