EP1149036B1 - Device for unstacking a pile of flat objects, especially printing products - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for feeding sheet-like articles, such as newspapers, periodicals, and inserts therefor, from a vertical stack of the articles. The stack is supported on a fixed rest 3, and a sucker arrangement 24 and a pushing away unit 38 are mounted on a load bearing structure 44 which is supported so as to float with the height of the stack. The sucker arrangement 24 includes a pair of suction heads 25 which are mounted for movement between a lowered extended position and a raised retracted position, and the suction heads have suction openings 25a which are permanently connected to a source of negative pressure. In operation, the suction heads 25 engage the uppermost one of the articles in the stack, which closes the suction openings 25a and causes the suction heads and uppermost article to be lifted. The pushing away unit 38 then engages and laterally moves the article away from the suction heads. The suction openings 25a are thereby opened and the heads are then biased to their extended positions in engagement with the next article in the stack. The sequence is then repeated.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for Dismantling a stack of flat objects, especially printed products such as newspapers, Magazines, parts thereof and supplements therefor, according to the preamble of claim 1.

In a known device of this type (EP-A-0806 391), the suction arrangement consists of suction heads that a rotatably driven rotor are attached. The on suction heads connected to a vacuum source from the top to the top printed product of the Stack created, which then under the effect of the Suction opening of a suction head acting negative pressure detected and as the suction head moves on Stack being lifted off. The suction arrangement brings that captured printed product in the effective range of a Bump arrangement on one edge of the lifted Printed product for. Attack is coming. In this At this point, the suction heads from the vacuum source detached, thereby capturing the printed matter released and launched by the push arrangement is pushed away.

The suction arrangement thus only serves the purpose Taking printed products off the stack during the Transport of the printed products through the Joint arrangement takes place.

In this known device is a proportionate great mechanical effort to control the movement of the suction heads required. Taxes are also used necessary for the periodic switching on and off of the Suction heads to or from the vacuum source.

There are also devices for lifting and Transporting flat objects away from you Stack known (EP-A-0 585 924 and GB-A-712,337), the Have suction cup arrangements in which the suction head is guided longitudinally in a guide. The Suction head is made by means of an elastically deformable Reset element, e.g. a compression spring in his front takeover position held. Will the suction head with suction port connected to the vacuum source put on top of the stack what closing the suction opening results in movement the suction head against the action of the return element automatically backwards into a rear delivery position. Through this movement of the suction head, the sensed Object lifted off the stack. By moving the Suction device arrangement together with the detected object the latter promoted from the stack. For releasing the so The suction head is removed from the object Vacuum source disconnected.

With these solutions, there is a Disconnect the vacuum source to or from the Suction opening of the suction heads required.

GB-A-2 077 240 describes a generic device to dismantle a standing stack of leaves that are on one of the same height, as a belt conveyor trained edition is described. To take off the top sheet of the stack is three Suction heads available, which can be moved in a fixed position Housing are guided. The suction heads are over a rod mechanically connected to each other at each end one arm is held. The two arms can be swiveled in also stored in a fixed position. The constantly suction heads connected to a vacuum source on the top sheet to the edition and are with the captured sheet raised. The raised sheet turns on two corners of fingers of two conveyors, the side of the stack are arranged, detected and by the Suction heads pushed away. As soon as the suction openings of the Suction cups are released, the suction cups are under the Effect of compression springs that attack the arms, lowered back onto the stack. The top of the stack is controlled by means of a light barrier control on a certain amount held. This light barrier control controls the movement of two conveyors, the side of the Stack are arranged, a substantially vertical Have the conveying direction and the stack gradually upwards move.

The present invention is based on the object to create a device of the type mentioned at the outset, which with simpler construction and less complex control a flawless and product-friendly dismantling of a stack allowed.

This problem is solved with that in claim 1 circumscribed device.

Because the guide element for the sliding suction head and the displacement means on a in the longitudinal direction of the stack to be dismantled movable supporting structure are attached, which are based on a support arrangement the top of the stack is a flawless one The individual objects are then lifted off and carried away ensured when the height at which the Top of the stack is changing. Thus a Control to set the top of the stack to on given level does not apply.

Thanks to the special design of the Suction head and the special training of The movement of the suction head becomes a means of pushing away without starting and closing Disconnection of the suction opening to or from the Vacuum source just by pushing the detected flat objects from the suction opening controlled.

Preferred further developments of the inventive Device form the subject of the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

eine Vorrichtung zum Abbauen eines Stapels von flächigen Gegenständen in Seitenansicht,

Fig. 2

in vergrössertem Masstab und ebenfalls in Seitenansicht die Baueinheit zum Anheben und Wegschieben der Gegenstände vom Stapel,

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht der in Fig. 2 gezeigten Baueinheit in Richtung des Pfeiles A in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

einen Saugkopf im Längsschnitt,

Fig. 5 bis 7

in vereinfachten Darstellungen die Arbeitsweise der Baueinheit zum Anheben und Wegschieben der Gegenstände vom Stapel,

Fig. 8

im Längsschnitt eine andere Ausführungsform eines Saugkopfes,

Fig. 9

einen Schnitt entlang der Linie IX - IX in Fig. 8 und

Fig. 10 und 11

zwei mögliche Lösungen für die Speisung des Stapels.

Exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. It shows purely schematically:

Fig. 1

a device for dismantling a stack of flat objects in side view,

Fig. 2

on an enlarged scale and also in a side view, the structural unit for lifting and pushing the objects off the stack,

Fig. 3

2 shows a view of the structural unit shown in FIG. 2 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2,

Fig. 4

a suction head in longitudinal section,

5 to 7

in simplified representations the mode of operation of the structural unit for lifting and pushing the objects off the stack,

Fig. 8

in longitudinal section another embodiment of a suction head,

Fig. 9

a section along the line IX - IX in Fig. 8 and

10 and 11

two possible solutions for feeding the stack.

In Fig. 1 is a device 1 for dismantling a Stack 2 fully shown. This stack 2 is on an edition 3 on that in a given, fixed remaining height is arranged. In the present The embodiment consists of the stack 2 Printed matter 4, which are folded here. This Printed products 4 can be newspapers or Magazines and parts thereof or supplements therefor his.

For lifting and pushing the top one Printed product 4 from stack 2 is one with 5 designated lifting and pushing unit available, the 3 and 4 shown on an enlarged scale is. This lifting and pushing unit 5 is on one Cross member 6 attached, with two connecting beams 7,8 is connected, each to the side of the stack 2 are arranged.

The two connection carriers 7, 8 are with a slide 9 connected in the direction of arrow B longitudinally displaceable, i.e. adjustable in height, in one only schematically indicated longitudinal guide 10 is guided. At the Carriage 9 guide rollers 11 are present, which are support the longitudinal guide 10. The slide 9 intervenes Balance weight 12 to that by means of a tension element 13 is connected to the carriage 9. The Attachment point of the tension element 13 on the carriage 9 is designated 13a. The tension element 13 is a Fixed, rotatably mounted deflection roller 14 out. Instead of the counterweight 12, one can Cylinder-piston unit or a gas spring used become.

To take away those lifted from stack 2 Printed products 4, a conveyor 15 is provided, which is designed as a seesaw and in the present case is formed by a belt conveyor. The latter points one or more conveyor belts arranged side by side 16 on, which are guided over pulleys 17 and 18. The Deflection roller 18 has its axis of rotation 18a in the slide 9 stored and thus makes the lifting movement of the slide 9th With. The other deflection roller 17 is with its axis of rotation 17a held in two bearing arms 19, of which in Fig. 1st only one bearing arm is visible. The bearing arms 19 sit on a bearing shaft 20 that is rotatable in one only partially shown frame 21 is mounted. To the Driving the belt conveyor 15 in the direction of arrow D serves a drive motor 22, indicated only schematically.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the stack 2 raised printed products 4 in one Shed formation S, in which each Printed product 4 on the following Printed product rests. Thus lie in the Scale formation S the trailing edges for 4a the Printed products 4, which in the present case are the Folded edges are free.

In Fig. 1, the carriage 9 is in the upper end position shown. The lower end position of the carriage 9 is dash-dotted lines and designated 9 '. In this lower end position of the slide 9 take the Guide rollers and the counterweight with 11 'or 12 'indicated position. The possible stroke of the Carriage 9 is indicated by arrow C. In this lower end position of the slide 9 also take the Away conveyor 15 and the carrier 6,7 and 8 a lower Position, which also in Figure 1 is shown in dash-dotted lines.

2, 3 and 4 of the Structure of the lifting and pushing unit 5 closer explained.

This lifting and pushing unit 5 has one Suction arrangement 24 on, to the two at a distance adjacent suction heads 25 belong. Everyone Suction head 25 has a suction opening 25a (FIG. 4). The Suction heads 25 are guided in a longitudinal guide 26 and in Slidable in the direction of its longitudinal axis. With the hollow cylindrical longitudinal guides 26 is ever a likewise hollow cylindrical connecting piece 27 (Fig. 3) connected. At the connecting piece 27 are Connection lines 28 connected to one not lead vacuum source shown in detail. Thus stands each suction opening 25a via the longitudinal guide 26, the Connection piece 27 and the connecting line 28 continuously in connection with the vacuum source.

Between each suction head 25 and the fixed one Connection piece 27, a compression spring 29 is arranged, which strives to put the suction head 25 in its extended takeover position in the Fig. 3 is shown on the left side and in Fig. 4. To eject the suction heads 25 from the Preventing longitudinal guides 26 is on everyone Longitudinal guide 26 is formed an annular shoulder 30 (Fig. 4) which in the extended end position of the Suction head 25 with an annular projection 31 on Suction head 25 interacts.

Each longitudinal guide 26 is on a mounting element 32 attached, which is connected to a connecting part 33 is. The latter is attached to a bearing part 34 which is connected to a side member 35. About one Connecting element 36 is this longitudinal beam 35 with a Support column 37 connected to the cross member 6 is.

The lifting and pushing unit 5 also includes two Push-away units 38, which are also at a distance are arranged side by side. Each push-away unit 38 is located near a suction nozzle 25, like that of FIG. 3 shows. Each push-away unit 38 has a number of Slide cam 39 on at regular intervals are attached to an endless conveyor chain 40. each of these conveyor chains 40 is via deflection wheels 41 and 42 guided. These idler wheels 41, 42 are as shown, however not described in more detail, rotatable in one by the already mentioned components 34-37 and a Fastening linkage 43 (Fig. 2) formed support frame 44 attached. A deflection wheel of each displacement unit 38 e.g. the deflection wheel 42 is not over one illustrated drive driven clockwise what has the consequence that the sliding cam 39 in the direction arrow F are moved.

The lifting and pushing unit 5 also has two Hold-down elements 46 that are side by side in one Distance are arranged. Each hold-down member 46 is attached to a bracket 47 (Fig. 2), which is rotationally fixed sits on a shaft 48. This shaft 48 is rotatable in a storage part 49 stored on a to Fastening linkage 43 belonging carrier 50 attached is. With the shaft 48, a lever 51 is connected to the a bolt 52 into an elongated guide slot 53 in engages a control lever 54. This control lever 54 sits on a shaft 55 which is not in the support frame 44 is rotatably supported manner described. With this A control lever 56 is fixedly connected to shaft 55. This Control lever 56 acts with one on the common shaft 57 of the deflection wheels 41 fastened control member 58 together, which thus rotates with these deflection wheels 41 and has protruding control fingers 59 (FIG. 2). in the in the present case there are three control fingers 59, which act periodically on the control lever 56 and lift it up. A lifting of the control lever 56 has pivoting of the control lever 54 into that in FIG. 2 Position shown by dash-dotted lines and designated 54 'to Episode. The movement of the control lever 54 Lever 51 pivoted into the position designated 51 ', with the result that the hold-down elements 46 after backwards into the position denoted by 46 'in FIG. 2 be pivoted.

The lifting and pushing unit 5 also has one Support arrangement 60, which is used to support the Support frame 44 and by the carrier 6, 7 and 8th formed support structure on the stack 2 is used. To this support arrangement 60 includes a cross member 61 which via a connecting element 62 on the longitudinal beam 35 of the Support frame 44 is supported. This Connecting element 62 is pivotable on the Side member 35 mounted. So this can Connecting element 62 and the cross member 61 around the Longitudinal axis of the longitudinal beam 35 an oscillating movement To run. This swivel or pendulum movement is in the Fig. 3 indicated by the arrow G.

On the cross member 61 there are connecting elements 63, 64 attached in which support rods 65 and 66 are held, whose longitudinal axes are essentially perpendicular to Longitudinal axis of the cross member 61 extend. At the bottom, free end of each support rod 65, 66 is rotatable Support wheel 67 and 68 mounted. These support wheels 67, 68 lie in the area of the side edges 2a, 2b in the corners of stack 2 on the stack. The support wheels 67, 68 are, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 2 is slanted. That is, the axes of rotation 67a, 68a the support wheels 67, 68 run transversely, ie neither parallel still at right angles to the side surfaces 2a, 2b, 2c of the Stack 2.

From the previous description of the structure of the Device 1 for dismantling the stack 2 can be seen, that the support assembly 60 is on the stack 2 supporting lifting and pushing unit 5 during the disassembly of the stack 2 to be described later follows. The formed by the carrier 6, 7, 8 Support structure thus lowers with that in the guide 10 guided carriage 9, the support frame 44 and the the latter attached components in the course of dismantling the Stack 2. As the figure 1 shows, the conveyor 15 this lowering movement of the assembly 5 and the carriage 9 also with, wherein the bearing arms 19 in the direction swivel the arrow E.

The operation of the lifting and Push-off unit 5 with reference in particular to the 2 to 7 described.

The suction heads 25 are in height with respect to Jockey wheels 67, 68 set so firmly that the suction heads 25 in its extended takeover position with the Suction opening 25a on the top one The printed product 4'd of the stack 2 lie on it, like the one in 3, left side and in Fig. 5 is shown. In this position of the suction heads 25 is constantly on the suction opening 25a connected through the vacuum source the uppermost printed product 4 'is closed. At the inside the suction heads 25 now create a vacuum. That has to Consequence that the suction heads 25 together with the detected Printed product 4 'are raised and against the Effect of compression springs 29 from the extended Move the takeover position to the retracted position. This means that the top printed product 4 'in Area of its rear edge 4a raised from stack 2 and in the path of movement of the sliding cam 39 is spent (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, right side, Fig. 6).

The next sliding cam 39 comes into effect the raised printed product 4 'in the area of it Trailing edge 4a and now pushes with its further movement in the direction of arrow F the top printed product 4 'away from the stack 2, as in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 demonstrate. At the beginning of the shift of the top one Printed product 4 'are the suction openings 25a Suction buttons 25 are still closed (Fig. 6), but are increasingly released. Once that was captured Printed product 4 'completely from the suction opening 25a the suction heads 25 is pushed away, the suction heads sweep 25 under the action of the compression spring 29 in its front Takeover position in which, as mentioned, with their Suction openings 25a on the next printed product 4 come into circulation. This begins the one described Lift process again.

The sliding cams 39 of the sliding units 38 spend the printed products 4 in the effective range of the conveyor 15, which pushed away from the stack 2 Printed products 4 in a scale formation S leads away (Fig 1). At this point it should be noted that it is of course also possible, the distances of the Slide cam 39 to choose so that the pushed off printed products 4 on the conveyor 15 do not overlap and therefore not in one Scale formation S, but conveyed away in succession become. The phase position of the push-off cams 39 with respect the raised printed products 4 are adjustable, whereby the time of pushing away the Printing products 4 can be coordinated.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the Hold-down elements 46 in a rear waiting position, when the suction heads 25 are in their front takeover position take and on the top printed product 4 ' rest. This waiting position is shown in FIG. 2 dash-dotted line and designated 46 'and shown in Fig. 3 on the left. While the Suction cups 25 move in the manner described Make stack 2 away, the hold-down elements 46 - controlled by the control fingers 59, the control lever 54 and the lever 51 - against the top of the stack 2 emotional. They come in an active position in the area of rear edge 4a of the printed matter 4 on top of the Stack 2 to rest as soon as the top one Printed product 4 'through the suction heads 25 from the stack 2 is raised, however, before pushing the top one away Printed product 4 'takes place. This operative position of the Hold-down elements 46 are drawn out in FIG. 2 Lines and shown in Fig. 3 on the right.

The active position of the stack 2 from above pressing hold-down elements 46 are intended to ensure that when pushing away the previously raised Printed product 4 'by the sliding cam 39 the underlying printed product 4 is not is taken away.

As soon as the control lever 56 runs off the control finger 59, the hold-down elements 46 are back in their retracted waiting position swiveled back.

As described, the suction heads 25 are out of their retracted delivery position back into the extended Takeover position moves as soon as their suction openings 25a are released. Thus, the time of one Working cycle of the suction heads 25 with a possible small dimension of the suction openings 25a in Reduce push-off direction F. To be enough nevertheless To obtain a large suction opening 25a is one preferred embodiment, the suction opening 25a 'in the Formed a longitudinal slot, such as that in the Figures 8 and 9 is shown. The as a slot nozzle formed suction opening 25a 'extends in a direction that with the push-off direction F one Forms an angle of approximately 90 °.

Based on Figures 10 and 11, two variants are Feeding of the stack 2 to be dismantled explained.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 10, the Edition 3, on which stack 2 lies, a new stack 2 'spent. If the stack 2 is almost dismantled, it can the underlying stack 2 'on not closer are shown pushed upwards. This Pushing the stack 2 'can be done either during an interruption of the mining process or while stack 2 is being dismantled. The conditions 3.3 ' alternately take on the stack support function.

10 is another stack with 2 " referred to the after the stack 2 'in the dismantling position in place of this stack 2 ' is moved.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the stack 2 are constantly new from below Printed products 4 supplied in a Scale formation S 'by means of a feed conveyor 70 in Direction of arrow H are fed. In the Scale formation S 'lies in each case Printed product 4 on the following Printed product. Loading the stack 2 is thus similar to the device according to the EP-A-0 806 391 mentioned at the beginning with the difference that the feed conveyor 70 is not designed as a seesaw must, but arranged unchangeably in its position can be. This is possible because the lifting and Push-off unit 5 because of its support on the Stack top and its movable storage in the Is able to accommodate the changing level of the top of the Follow stack 2. The feed conveyor 70 takes over Function of the fixed support 3 in height in FIGS. 1 and 10 shown device 1.

From the foregoing, there is also a significant advantage of the device according to the invention. With the latter it is not necessary that the Height of the support 3 and the feed conveyor 70 controlled must be that the top of the stack 2 is always on is at the same level because the lifting and Push-off unit 5 is capable of changing Follow height of top of stack 2.

It goes without saying that different components, in particular the displacement units 38 and the Hold-down elements 46 and their drive, also on others as the described and shown manner can be. So it is e.g. possible by the Suction arrangement 24 raised printed products 4 push away by means of a push arrangement as in the previously mentioned EP-A-0 806 391.

In the exemplary embodiments shown, each will printed product 4 held by the suction heads 25 by pushing away cams 39 of pushing away units 38 pushed away from the suction heads 25 to the suction opening 25a of the suction heads 25 exposed. Expressed differently, move the sliding cam 39 on the fixed Suction cups 25 over.

To push away the detected printed products 4 from the suction heads 25, it is also possible, otherwise the same Operation of the suction heads 25, this together with the detected printed product 4 against stationary attacks to move. The captured, pending at these attacks Printed product 4 is moving on hindered and the suction heads 25 slide at her Further movement from the printed product 4, resulting in a Release of the suction openings 25a leads. Subsequently the suction heads 25 away from the stops moved back to the starting position to the next To record the print certificate. This requires one appropriate control and extends the duration of a Duty cycle.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for reducing an upright stack of sheet-like articles, in particular printed products such as, for example, newspapers, periodicals, parts thereof and inserts therefor, having a rest (3, 70) for the stack (2) which is to be reduced, having a sucker arrangement (24) which is intended for raising the respectively uppermost article (4') from the stack (2) and has at least one suction head (25) which can be positioned periodically on the top side of the stack (2) and has a suction opening (25a) which can be permanently connected to a negative-pressure source and which is guided longitudinally in a guide element (26) and retained in an extended, receiving position by means of a restoring element (29) and, with the suction opening (25a) covered by an article (4), can be moved back, counter to the force of the restoring element (29), out of said receiving position into a retracted, discharge position, and having pushing-away means (38) for moving away the articles (4) raised from the stack (2) by the sucker arrangement (24), which pushing-away means (38) act on that article (4) in each case which is gripped by the suction head (25) located in its discharge position, wherein the said gripped article (4) is pushed away from the suction head (25), producing a relative movement between the suction head (25) and the article (4) gripped by the suction head (25), and the suction opening (25a) is released, and, with the suction opening (25a) released, the suction head (25) is displaced, under the action of the restoring element (29), into its extended, receiving position, characterized in that the guide element (26) for the suction head (25) and the pushing-away means (38) are fitted on a load-bearing structure (44) which can be displaced in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the stack (2) which is to be reduced, and approximately in a vertical direction, and which is connected to a supporting arrangement (60) which is designed for being supported on the top side of the stack (2) which is to be reduced.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the supporting arrangement (60) has two spaced-apart supporting elements (67, 68) which can be brought to rest on the stack (2) which is to be reduced, preferably in the region of two corners of the stack (2).
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the supporting elements (67, 68) are rotatably mounted supporting wheels, of which the axes of rotation (67a, 68a) form an angle other than 90° with the advancement direction (F) of the pushing-away means (38).
4. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1-3, characterized in that the suction opening (25a') of the suction head (25) is designed in the manner of a slot which runs transversely, preferably approximately at right angles, to the advancement direction (F) of the pushing-away means (38).
5. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1-4, characterized in that the pushing-away means (38) have a number of carrying-along elements (39) which are spaced apart one behind the other, and can be driven in circulation along a closed circulatory path, and which are intended for acting on an edge (4a) of the article (4) raised by the sucker arrangement (24) in each case.
6. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1-5, characterized by at least one holding-down element (46) which can be brought periodically from above to act on the stack (2) which is to be reduced, and can be moved in each case, by means of a drive arrangement (51-56, 58, 59), out of a standby position, in which it does not act on the stack (2), into an active position, in which, as one article (4) is pushed away from the stack (2), it subjects the following uppermost article (4) on the stack (2) to a restraining force.
7. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1-6, characterized in that the rest (3, 70) for the stack (2) which is to be reduced remains at a fixed height as the stack (2) is being reduced.
8. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1-7, characterized in that the load-bearing structure (44) is fastened on a carriage (9) which is guided in a guide (10) which runs in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the stack (2) which is to be reduced, and approximately in the vertical direction.
9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, characterized in that there is provided a removal conveyor (15) which is intended for receiving the articles (4) pushed away from the stack (2) and is mounted, at its receiving end, on the carriage (9).

Images