EP1219558A2 - Method and device for collating flat obects - Google Patents

Abstract

Flat objects (5) are brought together to form stacks (9) by conveying the resulting stacks one after the other along a gathering path (1) past feed points and by positioning an object (5) on each stack (9) at each feed point. The resulting stacks (9) are conveyed on stack supports (2) with support surfaces (7). D the feed direction has a component parallel to the stack conveying direction and the support surfaces (7) are advantageously not arranged parallel to the collating section (1). The objects (5) are conveyed in the area of an edge (5.1) by a holding element (4) each along a feed path (3) to the feed point. The feed line (3) crosses the collation line (1) in the feed point. The objects (5) are inserted with leading, held edges (5.1), for example from above, between successive stacks (9) or stack supports (2). The held edge is released from the hold by deactivating the holding element (4) when it has reached the lower area of the stacking supports (2). The released object is then finally positioned by gravity and / or by its inertia on the trailing or on the leading stack (9) or stack support (2) and the holding element (4) is further conveyed towards the bottom. Such collating is suitable, for example, for creating delivery units from various printed products. It enables very compact devices that can collate at high speeds at reasonable speeds, and collapse of objects of very different formats is also possible without problems. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention is in the field of conveying and processing flat Articles, in particular of printed products, and relates to a method and a Device according to the preambles of the corresponding independent claims. The method and device are used to collect flat objects, especially of printed products.

In the printing industry, one method of collating is one at a time Put a plurality of printed products together in a stack, the one in each collated stack of printed products usually contained themselves distinguish from each other and usually all the stacks collected essentially the same printed products in essentially the same order contain. In mailroom technology, for example, there are a plurality from finished print products to shipping units and then as Stack, for example, welded into a film. Also in the mailroom technology various inserts are also put together and then as a stack of inserts inserted into a main product, for example a newspaper. Either The finished print products mentioned as well as the supplements can be very different Formats and different thicknesses. To do this, it is becoming more and more common, too other flat objects such as CDs or sample packs of various types To be processed in the same way together with printed products. in the Areas of book printing will have multiple signatures for each book to be bound collected, each signature containing a majority of the book pages and all signatures are usually in the same format. Of course can also "stack" in the same way for any purpose, just a flat Include subject, be created.

According to the prior art, printed products are brought together by emerging stacks in a row along a collation line are conveyed past by feed points and by the resulting stacks a printed product is added at each feed point. The resulting stacks are along the collation line parallel to its areal extent promoted, being on a co-funded or stationary, horizontal or on which the stacking support lies in the conveying direction extends. The printed products to be added become stacks conveyed in this way mostly fed perpendicular to the stack conveying direction and deposited on the stacks. The stacks can also not be parallel to the planar expansion of the printed products are funded, where they usually each on a cross to the direction of funding extending and inclined in the conveying direction stack support and against the bottom are supported and the stacking supports are also conveyed with the resulting stacks become. The print products to be added are usually with the direction of stacking fed in the same direction.

In the case of batch conveyance parallel to the areal expansion of the printed products or parallel to the stack support surfaces (parallel conveying) the stacks are along the collating section arranged essentially one behind the other and the distance from stack to stack along the collation line is substantial determined by the largest product formats to be processed. With funding not parallel or essentially transverse to the areal extension of the The stacks are printed products or to the stack support surfaces (cross conveying) arranged essentially one behind the other along the collation line, so that the distance from stack to stack is essentially the largest expected stack height or thickness is determined. Because the stacks are usually opposite their width and length (areal extension of the stacked products) one have relatively small height or thickness, this means that the parallel funding requires a much higher speed than that for the same conveying capacity Cross-promotion.

The length of a collation line is determined in each case by how many feed points are to be provided and how much space along the collation line every feed point is needed. With relatively simple arrangements it is possible when collating with parallel funding, the feed points in this way to arrange that the stacks are not between successive feed points much more than needs to be promoted in order to expand it in the direction of funding means that an emerging stack, for example, a product in each conveying cycle can be added. If this were also possible with cross-conveying, collation routes with cross-conveyance could be significantly shorter than collation routes with parallel funding. This is according to the state of the art but not possible. Very compact collation arrangements exist therefore from combinations of parallel and cross conveyor systems. Such combinations are, for example, drum-shaped arrangements in which the resulting Stacks are conveyed transversely around the circumference of the drum and at the same time in axial direction parallel, which leads to a spiral-shaped collating section leads. The same is achieved in linear arrangements in which the resulting ones Pile conveyed transversely together with V-shaped compartments and at the same time in the compartments are moved in parallel, resulting in a diagonally running gathering route leads.

One of the reasons why feed points to collation lines with cross conveying take up a relatively large amount of space, is that each printed product to be fed first placed between two successive stacks or stacking supports before it can be placed on one of the stacks. ever the smaller the distances between the stacking pads, the higher the accuracy required by this introductory step. The products of fed up and hanging, inserted hanging between the stacking pads and then released when the held upper edges are still above the stacking support is positioned. In other words, this means that the one that precedes the insertion Edge is essentially unguided and that for a product whose expansion between leading and trailing edge compared to the height of the stacking pads is small, the free fall is relatively long. This means that the introduction has to go relatively slowly and therefore requires several funding cycles, so that the feed points along the collation line have a corresponding one Must have length. But it also means that such a system of diversity of the print products to be fed sets narrow limits and that also the absolute conveyor speeds are limited towards the top, especially if when the products to be fed are not very stable and already have little wind noticeably deformed.

A collation system with a large number of V-shaped compartments, in which each Feed point introduced a hanging printed product and at the trailing wall of the compartment is created, for example, is described in the Publication CH-668245 (F192). In this system, the feed points are one behind the other arranged and spaced from each other by almost twenty times is greater than the expansion of the compartments in the conveying direction (approx. twenty conveying cycles between two successive feed points). In the publication EP-0857681 (F442) proposes hanging the products and from the side above insert between L-shaped stacking pads and let go when their top Edge is aligned laterally with the stacking support and is still positioned above it.

In this way, it becomes possible for the feed points to meet each other along the collating path arrange overlapping and thus the distance between feed points depending on the arrangement to reduce to a size that only a few corresponds to a few funding cycles. Also in this arrangement are the ones at the introduction in the compartments leading edges unguided, so the restrictions with regard to insertion speed and absolute conveying speed in exist in the same way as for the insertion from above without a lateral component.

The object of the invention is now a method and a device for To create collation of flat objects, it with the inventive The method and the device according to the invention are not only possible cross-funding along the collation line with in funding cycles to combine small distances between feed points but with those it should also be possible to meet the previously applicable limits regarding processing of different-sized objects and regarding conveyor speeds significant expansion even when processing less stable objects. In other words, the invention is intended to collect in make more compact arrangements with higher unit outputs possible than this when collecting according to the prior art is possible.

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

The method according to the invention and the device according to the invention are based on the idea of feeding the flat objects to the leading edges kept inserted between the stacking pads and only let go when the imported item is substantially aligned with the stacking position and it only needs a very small, unguided movement to move the object finally on the stack. or to position against the stacking support. there the items are immediately before and during the launch moves in a direction that a component is parallel to the stacking direction having. For example, objects become V-shaped from above Compartments inserted, the lower edge of each item to be inserted from a holding element is held and the holding element is deactivated first when the held edge has substantially reached the bottom of the compartment, from which ground the released object is supported for further conveyance becomes. As will be shown later, feeds of are also in the same way possible from the side or from below.

The kept guiding the leading edges when inserting between successive Stacking or stacking supports allows a significantly higher insertion accuracy as a held guide of the trailing edges and power the introduction thereby is much less dependent on the stability of the objects and therefore the speed of insertion. The high insertion accuracy also allows the stacking pads to follow each other more closely, which in turn reduce the batch conveyor speed or the unit output same stack conveyor speed can increase. Another advantage that stands out from the held guide when inserted between the stacking pads leading edges and the resulting insertion accuracy, is the ability to stack items with very different formats and Feed thicknesses without them during insertion or positioning can conflict with each other on the stacks.

In terms of device, the inventive idea mentioned requires the introduction between the stacking supports with held, leading edges a stacking conveyor with stackable stackable supports and a feed conveyor with holding elements which can be conveyed one behind the other and are arranged in such a way that the conveying path of the holding elements crosses the conveying path of the stacking supports. The two grants are to be coordinated in such a way that one each Holding element at this intersection between two successive stack supports is moved through. Means are also to be provided with which the holding elements during this conveyance, advantageously at the very end of this Promotion will be deactivated.

The conveying systems with intersecting conveying paths become more well known Realized by stacking supports and holding elements on independent Conveyor elements (e.g. pull chains) are arranged and the conveyor elements in parallel planes are arranged. Stacking pads and Holding elements each one-sided and facing each other on the corresponding conveying elements be arranged such that they are in operation at the intersection comb through. However, more than two funding bodies can also be provided, such that the holding elements between two parts of Stacking supports are promoted or two holding element parts on both sides of stacking supports.

Figuren 1 und 2

das Prinzip des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens, dargestellt anhand einer Einführung zwischen L-förmige Stapelauflagen und einer Positionierung an der nachlaufenden Stapelauflage (Figur 1) oder an der vorlaufenden Stapelauflage (Blickrichtung quer zu Zusammentrag- und Zuführungsstrecke);

Figur 3

ein Ausschnitt aus einer beispielhaften Zusammentragstrecke mit zwei unmittelbar aufeinanderfolgenden Zuführungsstellen;

Figuren 4 bis 6

die Einführung zwischen die Stapelauflagen und die Positionierung auf den Stapeln im Detail für beispielhafte Zuführungen in V-förmige Abteile (Figuren 4 und 5) und auf L-förmige Stapelauflagen (Figur 6);

Figuren 7 bis 9

drei verschiedene, beispielhafte Ausführungsformen der sich kreuzenden Fördermittel mit Stapelauflagen und Halteelementen (Blickrichtung parallel zu den Förderebenen).

The method according to the invention and exemplary embodiments of the device according to the invention are described in detail in connection with the following figures. Show:

Figures 1 and 2

the principle of the method according to the invention, illustrated by means of an introduction between L-shaped stacking supports and a positioning on the trailing stacking support (FIG. 1) or on the leading stacking support (viewing direction transversely to the gathering and feeding path);

Figure 3

a section of an exemplary collation line with two immediately successive feed points;

Figures 4 to 6

the introduction between the stack supports and the positioning on the stacks in detail for exemplary feeds in V-shaped compartments (FIGS. 4 and 5) and on L-shaped stack supports (FIG. 6);

Figures 7 to 9

three different, exemplary embodiments of the intersecting conveying means with stacking supports and holding elements (viewing direction parallel to the conveying planes).

FIGS. 1 and 2 show two excerpts from exemplary embodiments of the arrangement according to the invention for the purpose of illustration of the method according to the invention. Shown very schematically are a collating section 1 with L-shaped stacking supports 2, which are conveyed one behind the other in the stack conveying direction, extending transversely to the collating section 1 and arranged obliquely in the stacking conveying direction, and a feed section 3 with holding elements 4 conveyed in the feeding direction in the form of grippers, which are operated with appropriate control means ( For example, scenes (not shown) can be closed to grip an object 5 to be fed and can be opened again to release the gripped object 5. In both cases, the viewing direction is directed transversely to the conveying directions and parallel to the stacking supports 2, so that only the edges or narrow sides of the latter and the objects 5 fed in are visible.

The collation line 1 and the feed line 3 intersect in the areas the feed point at an angle α that is less than 90 °, that is, the feed direction has a component that is aligned with the direction of stacking is.

The L-shaped stack supports 2 essentially consist of a support surface 7 and a stop bar 8, the stop bars 8 in both cases shown are arranged at the bottom on the contact surfaces 7 and thereby on the contact surfaces 7 Support adjacent objects or piles 9 from below. The support surfaces 7 extend transversely to the conveying direction and advantageously form a vertical acute angle. The contact surfaces 7 can also be aligned flat be, or as an extreme case also horizontal, that is aligned parallel to the direction of stack conveyance his.

The supplied items 5 are shown as relatively flexible printed products, which are held on a folded edge (held edge 5.1). But this is for the invention no condition, the objects 5 can also be stiff and / or on one any edge.

According to FIG. 1 , the stacking supports 2 are arranged in such a way that their upper edges follow the lower edges. The supplied objects 5 are held by the holding elements 4 in such a way that the folded edges 5.1 are directed towards the front. The objects 5 are thereby drawn between the stack supports 2 over the upper edge of each support surface 7, which edges are bent slightly to the rear, for example, to smoothly slide off or are appropriately rounded. To release the objects 5, the holding elements 4 are only opened immediately before the height of the stop bar 8. An object released in this way, which is no longer driven after the discharge, is brought in thanks to its inertia from the trailing support surface 7 and any objects already stacked thereon (stack 9) and thereby placed against it and is driven against the stop bar 8 by gravity.

In the case shown, the position of the holding element 4 is during, for example four conveyor cycles, in which it moves between two stacking pads 2, always positioned approximately midway between these stacking pads. An existing one Stack 9 must never be thicker than half the distance between the Stacking supports 2. In no case can the leading, guided edge 5.1 on the Introducing come into conflict with other objects already stacked, even if this is only a very small one compared to the height of the stacking supports 2 To have expansion.

If the stack supports 2 have a speed v.1, the holding elements 4 have a speed v.2 for the case shown in FIG. 1, whose component in the direction of the collating section 1 by a relative speed v = is greater than v.1 and its component v⊥ perpendicular to the collation line 1 corresponds to the desired insertion speed. The angle α and the distances L.2 (or their projection L'.2 onto the collation line 1) between the holding elements 4 result from the ratio of v.1 + v = and v⊥ and from the distances L.1 between the stack supports, where v = in the illustrated Case is determined by the skewness of the bearing surfaces 7. The higher the insertion speed v⊥ should be and the steeper the stacking pads 2, the more α becomes larger. In the present case, L'.2 and thus L.2 is larger than L.1.

FIG. 2 shows an insertion of objects 5 between successive stack supports 2 and their positioning on the support surface 7 of the leading stack support 2. The support surfaces 7 have leading upper edges. The objects 5 are aligned during the feeding in such a way that the leading edges held are directed towards the rear. In this case, the leading, unguided parts of the objects to be fed with the unguided edges 5.2 first meet the upper edges of leading stack supports 2 and are pulled over them during the introduction. These stack support edges are equipped, for example, with corresponding, freely rotating rollers 10 for easy pulling over. Again, the objects to be fed 5 are pulled down over the support surfaces 7 or over objects already stacked on them (stack 9), the holding elements 4 being closer to the leading support surface 2 at the beginning of the introduction and closer to the trailing one at the end of the introduction Contact surface are positioned. The inserted object 5 is thereby positioned and conveyed on the support surface 7 or on objects stacked thereon (stack 9) even before it is released from the holding element 4. After releasing, it slides against the stop bar 8 by gravity. In this case, the contact surfaces 7 are advantageously arranged less steeply than in the case as shown in FIG. 1, so that the effect achieved in that case by the inertia of the released objects can be at least partially taken over by gravity.

The speed v.2 of the holding element 4 in the case as shown in FIG. 2 has a component parallel to the collation section 1, which is at a relative speed v = is less than v.1. L'.2 is therefore smaller than L.1.

As already mentioned above, the stop strips 8 are on the in Figures 1 and 2 stacking pads 2 shown below and the objects 5th inserted from above between the stack supports 2, being for the final positioning of the objects 5 on the support surfaces 7 or already stacked thereon Objects that can be exploited by gravity. But this is not Condition for method and device according to the invention. Figures 1 and 2 can easily be understood as top views instead of side views become, in the sense of a lateral feed to a collation section 1. Here The stop bar 8 shown only serves to release the released objects 5 stop and be gravity against an unillustrated, along the edge of the support surface 7 which is oblique to the stack conveying direction. A Arrangement according to Figure 1, in which the inertia of the released objects is used for their positioning, is more advantageous in such a case be as an embodiment according to Figure 2, in which this inertia is not exploited becomes.

FIG. 3 shows, in the same manner of illustration as FIGS. 1 and 2, a further variant of the method according to the invention, in which objects 5 with the held edges are directed forward (as in FIG. 1) and are then placed against the leading support surface 7. For this purpose, it may be advantageous to use holding elements 4 (or 4 ') which can be pivoted relative to the feed path 3 or 3', so that the objects can be pivoted against the leading support surface 7 before they are released. This applies in particular to rigid objects 5 'which are fed in at the first feed point (feed path 3', holding element 4 ') shown in FIG. 3.

Figure 3 also shows how close the feed points are in succession can be arranged along a collation line 1 according to the invention. in the case illustrated corresponds to the distance between the two feed points only three funding cycles.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show articles 5 to be fed in successive phases of the introduction between stacking supports 2, the functions of the supporting surface 7, the stop bar 8 and an adjacent stacking support being formed by the corresponding parts of a V-shaped compartment 20 in FIGS. 4 and 5, into which compartment 20 a flat object 5 is inserted from above, and wherein the stacking support 2 shown in FIG. 6 is L-shaped and the object 5 is inserted from below. The introductions shown are seen from a point conveyed along with the stacking support 2 (viewing direction transverse to the gathering distance). The stacked conveyance (in the figures with a horizontal direction) must therefore still be superimposed on the movements shown. The illustrated movement of each holding element with the held edge 5.1 along the feed section 3 thus has the relative speed v.2 - v.1 (vector difference) with the components v = (relative speed) and v⊥ (insertion speed).

The object 5 to be introduced is shown stiff in FIGS. 4 to 6, which is a corresponding, advantageously passive at least during the introduction Swiveling of the holding elements, not shown, relative to the feed path 3 makes necessary. Bendable objects may need this pivotability Not. The introduction is analogous to the bending of the objects.

Figure 4 shows an introduction from above into a V-shaped compartment 20, one of which Sidewall the function of the support surface 7 and the bottom of the function of Stop bar 8 takes over. The second side wall 21 has in this embodiment no function. The held edge 5.1, when feeding from the support surface 7 is directed away, is essentially parallel to the bearing surface 7 against the Stop bar 8 out and released shortly before this. While the introduction becomes the object 5 or the edge 5.1 held opposite Edge 5.2 pulled over the upper edge of the stack support surface 7 and then slides along the stack support surface 7 or along one lying thereon Stack 9 down, as is already shown in Figures 1 and 2. If the held edge 5.1 is released, it is countered by gravity the stop bar 8 driven. When the batch feed directed from left to right (positioning on the trailing stack support) becomes the object 5 then by gravity and its inertia against the bearing surface 7 driven. If the stack feed is directed from right to left, it works Inertia of the object 5 away from the support surface 7 and may have to in addition to gravity for the final positioning of the object 5 on the stack 9 further means (e.g. slide acting from the counter wall 21) be provided. The direction of batching along the collation line 1 obviously does not play an essential role for the introduction.

Figure 5 shows in the same way as Figure 4 an introduction to a V-shaped Compartment 20, the object 5 being introduced over the counter wall 21 of the compartment 20 is pulled. The movement of the held edge 5.1 runs in in this case, perpendicular to the collating section 1, the relative speed v = the holding element relative to the stack support is therefore zero (L'.2 = L.1). It is 5 clearly shows that for the final positioning of the introduced Item 5 at least the inertia (stacking from left to right) or that for this positioning preferably the one already further funds mentioned above are to be used.

FIG. 6 shows in the same representation as FIGS. 4 and 5 a further insertion variant, according to which objects 5 can be inserted between successive stacking supports 2. The objects 5 are fed from the bottom in a substantially hanging manner and are guided over the outer edge of the stop bar 8 and they are finally raised by the force of gravity on the stop bar 8 and positioned leaning against the support surface 7. In this embodiment, the stop bar 8 therefore does not have an actual stop function but a stack-carrying function. For the stop function, a second stop bar 8 'can be provided in the upper area of the stack support 2, which takes over the stop function.

In this case, too, the direction of stack conveyance obviously plays along the collation line 1 a very subordinate role.

A disadvantage of the introduction shown in Figure 6 is that the held Edge 5.1 the upper edge, that is to be positioned opposite the stop bar 8 Edge and that is thereby for the final positioning of the object 5 necessary unguided movement (free fall) with an unchanged Release position of the held edge 5.1 for objects with a small Expansion between edges 5.1 and 5.2 becomes longer than for objects with a correspondingly larger extension. This disadvantage can be easily remedied by the position of the holding element in which it is deactivated and the position of the second stop bar 8 '(dot-dash position of 8') to the said Expansion can be adjusted.

Figures 1 to 6 show exemplary variants of introducing objects between stacked supports conveyed along a collation line, whereby easily derive further variants from the variants shown. The beneficial Application of one or the other variant depends on the way how the products to be supplied are advantageously taken over for the supply and with what orientation they are advantageously stacked should.

In all Figures 1 to 6 are both the gathering section 1 and the feed section 3 shown in a straight line, what at constant conveyor speeds v.1 and v.2 result in a straight-line introduction at constant speed. This in no way represents a condition for the method according to the invention. In particular the feed path 3 can be used to generate a towards the end of the Introduction decreasing insertion speed v⊥ accordingly be curved against the direction of the collating section 1.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show three exemplary embodiments of the arrangement according to the invention for collating, the viewing direction being generally perpendicular to the viewing direction of FIGS. 1 to 3, which is equivalent to a bird's eye view when feeding from below or from above. A plurality of stacking supports 2 or (2.1 and 2.2) that can be conveyed along a gathering path 1 (or 1.1 and 1.2) and a plurality of holding elements 4 (or 4.1 and 4.2) that can be conveyed along a feed path 3 (or 3.1 and 3.2) are very schematic shown. The stack supports 2 and the holding element 4 are each arranged on at least one separate conveying member 30 (or 30.1 and 30.2) and 31 (or 31.1 or 31.2). The funding bodies are, for example, pull chains.

FIG. 7 shows stacking supports 2 arranged on a first lateral conveyor element 30 each with a support surface 7 and a stop bar 8 and 32 arranged on rods Pairs of holding elements 4, the rods 32 on a second conveyor 31 are arranged. The second conveyor 31 is also on the side, the first Conveyor 30 arranged opposite. The stop bars 8 are with passages 33 provided for the holding element 4. The conveying bodies 30 and 31 become such synchronized driven that the holding elements 4 at the intersection of the collation 1 and the feed section 3 with the stacking supports 2 Comb and then move through the passages 33, and thus the intersection area leave. Immediately before passing through the passageways 33 the holding elements 4 deactivated and an object 5 held at its edge 5.1 is leaned against the bearing surface 7 and is conveyed upwards on the stop bar 8.

For the arrangement according to FIG. 7, the distances L.1 and L'.2 are between stack supports 2 and holding elements 4 in the direction of the collating section 1 the same large. This means that the position of the holding elements 4 relative to the stack supports 2 in the direction of the collation line 1 unchanged during the introduction remains, as has already been described in connection with FIG. 5. The Arrangement can also be made with different distances L.1 and Execute L'.2.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show two further embodiments of the arrangement according to the invention in the same representation as FIG. 7. In these cases, the stack supports and holding elements are not designed to mesh with one another for the crossing of the two conveying paths, but move separately from one another in parallel conveying planes that are perpendicular to the paper plane stand.

FIG. 8 shows an arrangement in which the stacking supports each consist of two stacking support parts 2.1 and 2.2, which are spaced apart from one another by a first conveying element 30.1 and 30.2 and are conveyed synchronously with one another along the collating section. The holding element 4, which are arranged on a second conveyor element 31, move between the stack support parts 2.1 and 2.2. The distances L.1 are greater than the distances L'.2, that is to say the holding elements 4 move between the stacking supports against the trailing stacking support, as was also described in connection with FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 shows an arrangement in which the holding elements 4 each consist of two holding element parts 4.1 and 4.2, which are spaced apart from one another by a second conveying element 31.1 and 31.2 and conveyed synchronously with one another along the feed path. The stack supports 2, which are arranged on a first conveyor element 30, move between the holding element parts 4.1 and 4.2. The stop strips 8 of each stack support 2 engage under the support surfaces 7 of the stack supports leading each time, as is also shown in FIG. 1. The distances L.1 are smaller than the distances L'.2, that is to say the holding element parts 4.1 and 4.2 move between the stack supports 2 against the leading stack support, as was also described in connection with FIG. 4.

In all of the figures, only parts of the conveyor systems for the conveyance of stacked runs are shown 2 and holding elements 4 shown. The whole systems are advantageous to be designed as concentric systems. The stacking pads 2 are according to the Feed points for the delivery of the stack 9 to a delivery point and from there again promoted to the beginning of collation line 1. The holding elements 4 are after the feed point for receiving further objects to be fed 5 promoted to a reception center and activated there. Then they will go back to Funding point funded. The runout of the concentric systems is largely free selectable and can be sent to the most diverse, not directly with the collation related conditions are adjusted.

Claims (22)

Method for collating flat objects (5), in which method stacks (9) with one or more objects (5) each are formed by the resulting stacks (9) lying on a support surface (7) of a stack support (2) of a collating section (1) in a stack conveying direction are conveyed past one another at least one feed point and by conveying objects (5) along a feed section (3) in a feed direction at the feed point and one of the flat objects (5) between two successive stacks (9 ) or between two successive stack supports (2) and is positioned on one of the two stacks (9) or support surfaces (7), the feed direction having a component parallel to the stack conveying direction, characterized in that the objects (5) held at their leading edges (5.1) between the two in succession en stack (9) or stack supports (2) are introduced. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the stack supports are not aligned parallel to the stack conveying direction. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stacking supports (2) each have a stop bar (8) on the lower edges of the supporting surfaces (7), that the objects (5) are held from above with the edges (5.1 ) are inserted between the stacks (9) or stack supports (2) and that the objects (5) are released from their retention when the edge (5.1) held is positioned directly above the stop bar (8). A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the objects (5) with the held edges (5.1) are directed towards the front against the feed point and are positioned on the trailing stack (9) or on the trailing support surface (7). A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the objects (5) with the held edge (5.1) are directed towards the rear against the feed point and are positioned on the leading stack (9) or on the leading bearing surface (7). Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the held edges (5.1) during the insertion between the stacks (9) or stack supports (2) are conveyed faster or slower in the stack conveying direction than the contact surfaces (7). A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the support surfaces (7) are arranged obliquely with respect to the collating section (1) and that the conveying of the held edges (5.1) during the insertion of the objects (5) between the stacks (9) or stack supports (2 ) runs parallel to this skew. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the objects (5) are suspended from the feed point and inserted with the edges (5.1) held upwards from below between the stacks (9) or stack supports (2). Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the objects (5) with the held edge (5.1) are directed towards one side against the feed point and are inserted laterally between the stacks (9) or stack supports (2). Arrangement for collating flat objects (5), which arrangement has a plurality of stacking supports (2) and a plurality of holding elements (4), the stacking supports (2) each having a support surface (7) and one behind the other in a stack conveying direction along a collation line (1) can be conveyed past at least one feed point, the holding elements (4) for feeding the flat objects (5) to the feed point in a feed direction along a feed path (3) in succession against the collating path (1) and in the feed point to Discharge of the objects (5) can be deactivated and the feed direction has a component aligned parallel to the stack conveying direction, characterized in that the feed path (3) crosses the gathering path (1) in the feed point, that the conveyance of the stacking supports (2) and the conveyance of the holding elements (4) are matched to one another in such a way that a holding element (4) can be conveyed at the feed point between each pair of successive stacking supports (2) and that the device furthermore has means for deactivating the holding elements (4) during this conveying. Arrangement according to claim 10, characterized in that the bearing surfaces are not aligned parallel to the collating section (1). Arrangement according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the stack supports (2) are arranged on at least one first conveying member (30) and the holding elements (4) on at least one second conveying member (31), the conveying members (30, 31) at least are arranged in the areas of the feed point in mutually parallel planes. Arrangement according to claim 10 to 12, characterized in that the bearing surfaces (7) have substantially horizontal lower and upper edges which are aligned transversely to the collating section (1) and lateral edges which are aligned obliquely to the collating section (1), as well as stop strips (8) arranged at the lower edges. Arrangement according to claim 13, characterized in that the feed path (3) crosses the gathering path (1) from top to bottom and that the means for deactivating the holding elements (4) are arranged such that the holding elements (4) are deactivated when they are positioned in a lower area of the stack supports (2). Arrangement according to claim 13, characterized in that the feed path (3) crosses the gathering path (1) from the bottom up and that the means for deactivating the holding elements (4) are arranged such that the holding elements (4) are deactivated when they are positioned in an upper area of the stack supports (2). Arrangement according to claim 15, characterized in that a second stop bar (8 ') is provided in an upper region of the support surfaces. Arrangement according to claim 13, characterized in that the feed path (3) crosses the gathering path (1) from a first side of the stacking supports (2) to a second opposite side and that the means for deactivating the holding elements (4) are arranged in such a way that the holding elements (4) are deactivated when they are positioned in the region of the second opposite side of the stacking supports (2). Arrangement according to one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the stacking supports (2) are arranged laterally on the first conveyor element (30), that the holding elements (4) are arranged laterally on the second conveyor element (31) and that the first and the second The conveying member (30 and 31) are arranged in such a way that the holding elements (4) and the stacking supports (2) mesh in the intersection area. Arrangement according to claim 18, characterized in that the stop strips (8) of the stack supports (2) have passages (33) for the holding elements (4). Arrangement according to one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the stacking supports (2) each have two stacking support parts (2.1, 2.2) spaced apart from one another transversely to the collating section (1), each of which are arranged on a first conveyor element (30.1 and 30.2) and that the holding elements (4) and the second conveying member (31) are arranged in the intersection area at a distance between the stack support parts (2.1, 2.2). Arrangement according to one of Claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the holding elements (4) each have two holding element parts (4.1 and 4.2) which are spaced apart from one another transversely to the collating section (1) and are each arranged on a second conveying member (31.1 and 31.2) and that the stack supports (2) and the first conveying member (30) are arranged at a distance between the holding element parts (4.1 and 4.2). Arrangement according to one of claims 10 to 21, characterized in that V-shaped compartments (20) arranged transversely to the collating section (1) are provided as stacking supports (2) with side walls arranged one behind the other in the stack conveying direction and a bottom connecting the side walls, the one the side walls serve as a support surface (7) and the bottom serves as a stop bar (8) and the other side wall (21) can take over the function of the leading or trailing stack support (2).

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