EP1226083A1

EP1226083A1 - Method and device for dispatching flat products

Info

Publication number: EP1226083A1
Application number: EP00962144A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alex Keller
Original assignee: Ferag AG
Current assignee: Ferag AG
Priority date: 1999-11-02
Filing date: 2000-09-29
Publication date: 2002-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-29
Also published as: ES2245317T3; AU7400100A; RU2264970C2; US6666447B2; DK1226083T3; US20020125629A1; WO2001032539A1; ATE302152T1; PL355496A1; CA2385050A1; AU775234B2; PL198213B1; CA2385050C; DE50010993D1; EP1226083B1

Abstract

A method and device for transporting flat, flexible products away from a stack of the products. The leading edge of each individual product is bent away downward from the underside of the stack of products by means of a suction element. The individual product is then transported away by means of a gripper that grips the leading edge region. The direction of movement of the gripper in the region of the underside of the stack of products runs substantially from the leading edge region to the trailing edge region of the products in the stack of products.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REMOVING LARGE PRODUCTS

The invention relates to a method for removing flat, stacked, flexible products, in particular printed products, in which each individual product in its leading edge area is bent downwards by means of a suction element from the underside of the product stack and then removed by means of a gripper that detects the leading edge area , wherein the direction of movement of the gripper in the region of the underside of the product stack extends essentially from the leading edge region to the trailing edge region of the products located in the product stack. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for performing such a method.

A device is known from European patent EP 0 332 828 B1 which is suitable for separating a stack of sheets of paper from its underside. This device has a roller-shaped rotary feeder, which is equipped with a number of rotating satellite rollers distributed around its circumference. Each satellite roller has a series of suction elements, by means of which a single sheet of paper can be sucked in. Sheets of paper sucked in this way are conveyed by the rotation of the satellite rollers in a curved state along their circumference, being held in a conveying gap between the satellite rollers and a guide belt. After a little more than half a revolution of a satellite roller following the suction of a paper sheet, the paper sheet is removed from the Suction organs released again, whereupon it is transported by the guide belt interacting with the satellite rollers in the direction of a gripper, which grips the paper sheet and conveys it further.

This device known from the prior art suffers from the disadvantage that it is not suitable for processing comparatively thick products, since on the one hand the curvature around the satellite rollers and on the other hand the dimensions of the conveying gap impose restrictions on the thickness of the products ,

An object of the present invention is to develop a method of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that flat products of the most varied types can be separated with increased output. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for performing such a method.

The object mentioned with regard to the method is achieved according to the invention in that each individual product is transferred directly from the suction element to a gripper after bending away by means of the suction element, so that each product is constantly removed from the suction element or from the suction element during the bending away and during the immediately subsequent removal Gripper is held.

In contrast to the prior art, the product to be separated is guided in a controlled manner without any interruption, since it is transferred directly from the suction element to the gripper. Because of this controlled guidance, it becomes possible to work with significantly increased performance, because due to the controlled guidance, for example, by air or other force-induced deviations of the products from the specified trajectory can be excluded.

It is particularly preferred if the product is only pulled out of the product stack after the bent product has been gripped by the gripper.

The method according to the invention can be carried out at a particularly high output or at a reduced speed if a second product is already sucked in by a suction element before a first product which has previously been bent away has been completely pulled out of the product stack. It is even possible to increase the output even more by the fact that the second product is sucked in by a suction element before the pulling-out process commences with respect to a previously bent first product. It is therefore possible to carry out the separating process initiated by the bending away of a product with respect to two or even three products overlapping in time, so that very high outputs can be used.

It is advantageous if the leading edge region of the product is grasped and bent away by the suction element in its central section, while the product is supported in its side regions from below. Thus, in addition to supporting the product stack as large as possible, it is achieved that the suction member does not have to be subjected to any weight forces of the product stack, which minimizes the economic effort to be carried out with regard to the suction members and the storage of the suction members. It is also advantageous if the product is bent away from the product stack by an angle roller between 60 ° and 120 ° via a deflection roller before it is gripped by the gripper, since the deflection roller in this case ensures that the product remains in place during the entire separation process and, in particular, is kept taut during the transfer from the suction member to the gripper and is guided exactly on its predetermined movement path. This exact guidance favors working with high separation performance. In this regard, it should be noted that the direction of movement of the gripper in the area of the underside of the product stack essentially runs from the leading edge region to the trailing edge region of the products located in the product stack or at an angle to it, so that the products after deflection by the deflection roller to a certain extent "backwards" out of the Product stacks are deducted.

The bottom of the product stack preferably lies in regions on at least one rotating support disk having at least one release cut, the product being bent away when the leading edge area comes to rest in the area of the release cut. Such a rotating support disc enables a product to be pulled out of the product stack with comparatively low frictional forces, since the product stack located above the product to be extracted is already supported in relatively large areas by the support disc during the pull-out process, so that the weight of the product stack is increased the product to be extracted is reduced. It is particularly preferred if the bottom of the product stack rests in regions on two, preferably counter-rotating support disks, each having at least one, in particular two, diagonally opposite release cuts, the product being bent away when the center section of the leading edge area in the area has one each Release incision of each support disc comes to rest. The provision of two support disks allows the support of the product stack to be optimized while the bottom product is being pulled out. Due to the provision of two diagonally opposite release cuts in each support disc, it is achieved that two products can be separated per revolution of the support discs, which allows working with very high separation capacities.

Especially when separating thin or very flexible products, it is advantageous if the middle section of the leading edge area of the leading edge area of the bottom product of a stack of products in the area of the release cut or cuts is supported by an actively or passively movable support finger immediately before bending away. Such a support finger prevents the bottom product from bending downward in its central section, which would make it difficult to properly suck the product.

Instead of on rotating support disks, the bottom of the product stack can advantageously also rest on support means moving in the direction from the leading edge region to the trailing edge region of the products located in the product stack and provided with release passages. The products are bent away when the leading edge area comes to rest in the area of the release passage.

The bottom of the product stack preferably lies on a number of support rollers which are attached to a self-contained traction element and are moved by means of the same from the leading edge region to the trailing edge region of the products in the product stack, the release passages between two adjacent support rollers or Carrier roller groups are formed.

The suction element assigned to a product and the gripper assigned to the same product can move during the transfer of the product from the suction element to the gripper on a common conveyor line or on conveyor lines running parallel to one another. The result is that the suction element and gripper move uniformly alongside one another along an at least largely common trajectory during the transfer of products, so that there are no relative movements between the suction element and gripper caused by different trajectory curves, which means that they correspond to one another at the same speed Suction elements and grippers that move trajectory curves can be arranged with their base or support units largely stationary relative to one another. This has the advantage of a simplified control and synchronization of the movable suction member and gripper parts, which can also work with higher performance due to this simplification.

It is preferred if the suction member assigned to a product and the gripper assigned to the same product move during the transfer move the product from the suction element to the gripper approximately centrally along the underside of the product stack. This ensures that no mechanical devices have to be provided on the side next to the products to be picked up and picked up.

The transfer of a product from the suction member to the gripper can be realized in a particularly simple manner by pivoting the suction member relative to the gripper.

It is particularly advantageous if the product stack is subjected to an upward, intermittent force at least in some areas on its underside. By applying this force, a rapid up and down movement or a vibration of the product stack can be generated, which ultimately loosens the product stack and enables products to be pulled out of the product stack under reduced frictional counterforces.

The object on which the invention is based and which relates to the device is achieved by the provision of a plurality of grippers which can be moved along a gripper conveyor line running beneath a product stack, a plurality of suction members which can be moved along at least one suction member conveyor line running below a product stack, the suction member Conveyor section runs at least in regions along or parallel to the gripper conveyor section, and a support device (14, 1 3; 50; 67), which supports the product stack (8) on its underside in some areas and has at least one release cut or release passage (26; 54).

In addition to the support device, this device essentially only requires a device for conveying the suction elements and the grippers. Such a device can be implemented, for example, by two transport wheels, one of which transports the suction elements and the other the grippers along the respective conveyor line. However, it is preferred if only a single transport wheel is provided which conveys both the suction elements and the grippers.

The device according to the invention can preferably be provided with suitable elements for carrying out the preferred method variants described above. In particular, the provision of two support disks, an actively or passively movable support finger and / or a deflecting roller is advantageous, as has already been explained in the context of the description of the preferred method variants.

The support disk and / or support table can finally be provided on the product stack side with friction-reducing means, in particular with compressed air outlets. It is particularly preferred if the support disk is made of porous metal on its side facing the product stack, since in this case a largely full-area escape of compressed air and thus a particularly efficient reduction in friction is possible. It is particularly preferred if the deflection roller, which is in particular actively driven, is mounted eccentrically or is coupled to means for generating a periodic movement directed perpendicularly to the underside of the product stack. In this way, the above-mentioned loosening of the product stack and the extraction of products with reduced friction is again made possible.

The device according to the invention can preferably also be provided with a support device which comprises a number of support rollers which are fastened to a self-contained traction element and form a kind of roller carpet, on which the bottom of the product stack rests. Release passages for the products to be bent away are present between two adjacent support rollers or support roller groups of this support device.

Further preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention and of the device according to the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The invention is explained below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings; in these show:

1 shows a side view of a first exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention with grippers and suction elements rotating on a transport wheel and arranged below a product stack;

2 shows a side view of a gripper which can be used according to the invention; 3 shows a front view of a gripper designed as a pair of grippers with an internal suction member;

4 shows the top view of a pair of support disks according to the invention;

5 ac, respectively associated side and top views of that area of the device according to the invention according to FIG. 1, in which the product stack is supported by the supporting disk and in which the bottom product in each case is bent away from the product stack, a total of three successive method steps being illustrated ;

6 a shows a view of a second exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention directed perpendicular to the axis of rotation of a driven deflection roller;

6 b shows a side view of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6 a;

6 c shows a section through a deflecting roller according to FIGS. 6a and 6b;

7 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 1 of a third exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention;

8 seen the device of Figure 7 in the direction of arrow S; and FIG. 9 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 8 of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention.

1 shows a side view of a device according to the invention with a transport wheel 1 rotating in the direction of the arrow, which is coupled along its circumference at equidistant intervals to suction elements 2 and grippers 3. The number of suction elements 2 coupled to the transport wheel 1 is equal to the number of grippers 3 coupled to the transport wheel 1. Suction elements 2 and grippers 3 are arranged offset with respect to one another along the circumference of the transport wheel 1 such that one suction element 2 is located between two grippers 3 and 2 respectively a gripper 3 comes to rest between two suction elements 2.

The suction members 2 each have a base or carrier unit 4, which is firmly and rigidly coupled to the transport wheel 1. Likewise, each gripper 3 has a base or carrier unit 5, which is also firmly and rigidly coupled to the transport wheel 1.

Base or carrier units 4 and 5 of the suction elements 2 and the grippers 3 are thus arranged in a fixed manner with respect to the transport wheel 1 and do not make any relative movements to one another even when the transport wheel 1 is rotating.

The suction members 2 each have a suction head 6, which is pivotally mounted about an axis 7 on the base or carrier unit 4 of the respective suction member 2. The axis 7 extends perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the transport wheel 1. Arranged above the transport wheel 1 is a stack of products 8, in particular a stack of printed products 9, from which products 9 are individually sucked in by the suction elements 2 by means of the device shown in FIG. 1 and transferred to a gripper 3 in each case.

The printed products 9 are arranged in the product stack 8 such that their respective bundle 10 faces the transport wheel 1 and their flower 11 faces away from the transport wheel 1. The product stack 8 is guided in a vertical guide 1 2 and supported on its underside by a support table 1 3 and two support disks 1 4 arranged one behind the other perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, both the support table 1 3 and the support disks 14 extending at least substantially horizontally. The support planes of the support table 1 3 and support disks 1 4 are arranged parallel to one another, the support level of the support table 1 3 being somewhat below the support level of the support disks 1 4. The distance between the two levels depends on the thickness of the printed products 9. This distance is preferably adjustable.

The support table 13 supports the area of the printed products 9 facing away from the transport wheel 1, while the two support disks 14 support the front stack area of the printed products 9 facing the transport wheel 1.

The support disks 1 4 rotating about a vertical axis 1 5 are coupled via a gear 1 6 with respect to their drive to the transport wheel 1, so that the angular speeds of the support disks 1 4 and transport wheel 1 are in a fixed relationship to one another. In the region of the end of the support table 1 3 facing the transport wheel 1, a preferably freely rotatable deflection roller 1 7 is provided, the axis of which runs parallel to the axis of rotation 1 8 of the transport wheel 1. The extent of the deflecting roller 17 perpendicular to the plane of the drawing is at least as large as the corresponding extent of the printed products 9. The deflecting roller 17 is preferably provided below the support disks 14 so that it is relieved by the support disks 14.

The suction of the printed products 9 by means of the suction elements 2 and the transfer of the printed products 9 from the suction elements 2 to the grippers 3 takes place in the upper region of the transport wheel 1. The printed products 9 transferred to the grippers 3 are conveyed by the rotation of the transport wheel 1 clockwise in a circular orbit in the lower region of the transport wheel 1.

In this lower area of the transport wheel 1, a guide belt 19 is provided, which ensures that the printed products 9 held by the grippers 3 are supported downward and thus guided in a defined manner. In the area of the guide belt 1 9 located below the transport wheel 1, the guide belt 19 takes over the function of a conveyor belt which transports the printed products 9 away from the transport wheel 1 in the direction of the arrow after the grippers 3 have been opened in the lower area of the transport wheel 1.

As a result of the grippers 3 arranged equidistantly over the circumference of the transport wheel 1, the isolated printed products 9 are transported away in the form of an exactly clocked shingled stream. With regard to the orientation of the printed products 9 transported away, it should also be noted that the printed products 9 with their bundle 1 0 are removed from the product stack 8 and ultimately also transported away from the transport wheel 1, so that the movement of the printed products 9 takes place continuously with the leading bundle 10. This advantageously means that the separation device according to the invention does not reverse the orientation of the printed products 9.

The functional sequence of the separating process taking place in the upper area of the transport wheel 1 is explained below with reference to FIG. 5.

2 shows a side view of a gripper 3 that can be used according to the invention. This gripper 3 has a base or carrier unit 5, which is firmly coupled to the transport wheel 1, which is only shown in sections. At the radially outer end of the base and carrier unit 5 there is an axis 20 extending perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the transport wheel 1, about which two legs 21, 22 of the gripper 3 are pivotally mounted. The leg 21 trailing in the direction of rotation of the transport wheel 1 is made of rigid material, while the leg 22 correspondingly leading is designed to be resilient, so as to enable the acceptance of differently thick printed products 9 without significant changes in the control of the grippers 3.

Both legs 21, 22 each have a guide roller 23, 24 at their radially inner end, which runs at least in the receiving and transfer area of the transport wheel 1 along guide tracks (not shown). fen and thus cause the desired opening or closing movements of the gripper 3.

To the left and right of the gripper 3, a base or carrier unit 4 for each suction element 2 is indicated in FIG. 2.

3 shows a frontal view of a gripper 3 designed as a pair of grippers. The gripper 3 accordingly consists of two gripper elements 25 arranged next to one another, each gripper element 25 each having two legs 21, 22 for gripping a printed product 9. The legs of the two gripper elements 25 trailing in the direction of rotation of the double-walled transport wheel 1 according to FIG. 3 are firmly coupled to one another, their movement being triggered by the common guide roller 24, which runs in the receiving and transfer area of the transport wheel 1 along a guide link, not shown. The same applies to the two legs of the gripper elements 25 which advance in the direction of rotation of the transport wheel 1 and which are likewise rigidly coupled and acted upon by the guide roller 23.

In Fig. 3 it can be clearly seen that the suction head 6 of a suction element 2 is arranged centrally between the gripper elements 25, so that the suction head 6 can easily define and control a printed product 9 in the region of the opened gripper legs without the suction head 6 and The gripper elements 25 collide with one another. Alternatively, a single gripper element could also be arranged between two suction elements.

Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the product stack 8 with the two there support disks 14 arranged below.

The two axes of rotation 15 of the support disc 14 run parallel to one another, the mutual distance between the two axes of rotation 15 being slightly larger than the diameter of the two support discs 14. This distance means that the two support discs 14, each with the same diameter and the same Show shape, almost touch tangentially.

Each of the two support disks 1 4 each has two diametrically opposite release cuts 26, which extend from the circumference of each support disk 1 4 to the region of the center of the support disks 14, this extension being slightly larger than the radius of a support disk 1 4 The shape of the release cuts 26 is essentially oval with a radially inner bulge 27, which is arranged next to the axis of rotation 15. The two release cuts 26 of a support disk 1 4 are offset from one another in such a way that the connecting line 28 of the two bulges 27 runs through the axis of rotation 15 and essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 29 of the release cuts 26.

The support disks 1 4 have compressed air outlets 30 on their top side facing the product stack 8, via which air is blown in the direction of the underside of the product stack 8, thereby reducing the friction between the support disks 14 rotating in the direction of the arrow and the underside of the product stack 8.

Below the product stack 8 guided in the vertical guides 1 2, the position of the deflecting roller 1 7 is shown in broken lines, which is perpendicular extends to the direction of movement 1 'of the suction elements 2 or the grippers 3 and parallel to the plane of the drawing, it being arranged approximately centrally below the stack of products 8.

5 a to c illustrate three different method steps of the method according to the invention, each showing a detailed side view according to FIG. 1 and a detailed top view according to FIG. 4.

5a, the counter-rotating support disks 14 are in a position in which there is maximum support of the product stack 8 from below. The entire area of the support disks 14 hatched in FIG. 5a forms a support surface for the product stack 8, so that together with the support table 13 (FIG. 1) (not shown in FIG. 5) there is an almost full-surface support of the product stack 8 ,

However, in the position of the support disks 1 4 shown in FIG. 5 a, there is sufficient space between these support disks 14 for a suction head 6 'of a suction element 2, which can be moved from below to the leading edge region 31 of the lowermost printed product 9' in the stack 8 , However, due to the position of the support disks 14, bending of the printed product 9 'downwards cannot begin in this position.

A further rotation of the support disks 14 in the direction of the arrow brings them into their position according to FIG. 5b, in which the leading edge region 31 of the printed product 9 'is released by the release incisions 26 of the support disks 14. In this position of the support disks 14 there is only a lesser but still sufficient support of the product stack 8, which is illustrated by the area of the support disks 14 shown hatched in FIG. 5b, which covers a smaller area than the hatched area according to FIG. 5a.

As a result of the release of the leading edge region 31, the printed product 9 'can be bent away due to the rotation of the transport wheel 1 and pivoting of the suction head 6', this bending away taking place over the boundary lines of the release cuts 26.

Through a further rotation of the support disks 1 4 according to FIG. 5c, their hatched areas 32 reach below the printed product located in the product stack 8 above the bent-away printed product 9 ', whereby the product stack 8 is immediately supported on the underside in its leading edge region, but this is supported bent-away printed product 9 'is already located below the support disks 14, so that a further bending away and subsequent pulling out of the printed product 9' from the product stack 8 is possible.

The initial bending away of the printed product 9 'illustrated in FIG. 5b ensures that the regions 32 of the support disks 14 (FIG. 5c) get between the already partially bent-away printed product 9' and the printed product lying above it.

In the in Fig. 5c illustrated position of the support disks 4, this support 1 in a small area with their portions 33 also prints the certificate ^¬ Reier 9 'from below off by a further rotation of the Stützschei- ben 14, however, this support is removed, which enables a complete bending and subsequent pulling out of the printed product 9 '.

The position shown in FIG. 5c illustrates that the printed product 9 'has already been bent so far away from the product stack 8 that its leading edge region 31 comes to lie in the receiving region of the gripper 3' assigned to the suction head 6 ', so that in a next method step Gripper 3 'can take the printed product 9'. Only after the gripper 3 'has gripped the printed product 9' is the suction effect of the suction head 6 'canceled and the extraction of the printed product 9' from the product stack 8 begins.

When the printed product 9 'is pulled out, it is deflected over the deflecting roller 17 and guided tightly, as can be seen, for example, in FIG. 5a with regard to the printed product 9 "'. The printed product 9 '" is followed by the printed products opposite to the direction of rotation of the transport wheel 1 9 "and 9 '. The printed product 9'" (FIG. 5a) is already in the process of being pulled out; with regard to the printed product 9 ", this process is just beginning because the gripper 3" has just been closed.

5a and 5b illustrate that the bending and pulling out of successive printed products 9 '", 9" and 9' takes place overlapping in time, since when the bending away of the printed product 9 'begins, the pulling out of the printed product 9 "begins, the pulling out of the Printed product 9 '"is not yet complete. This temporal overlap allows the invented Carry out the separation process according to the invention with particularly high performance.

5b and 5c show that the swiveling of the suction elements 2 for the purpose of transfer to the grippers 3 is directed in such a way that each transfer takes place to a gripper 3 trailing in the transport direction.

It is possible to design the suction members to be pivotable in such a way that they can also be pivoted in the opposite direction, which makes it possible for the suction members 2 to also take over products 9 from opening grippers 3 that advance in the transport direction, in order to then attach them to a gripper, for example to deliver further conveyor systems.

6a shows a view of a further, preferred exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention with a partially cut further deflecting roller 36 directed perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the deflecting roller 17. FIG. 6b shows a side view of the device according to FIG. 6a, and FIG. 6c shows a section through the further deflection roller 36 according to FIGS. 6a and 6b.

The further deflection roller 36, which is freely rotatably mounted on its two front ends on a shaft 37, is - like the deflection roller 17 in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 - arranged below the product stack 8, the positioning of the further deflection roller 36 according to FIGS. 6a and 6a 6b is selected such that the bottom of the product stack 8 is supported in regions on the further deflection roller 36. The stationary shaft 37 is coupled via a drive belt 35 to a motor 34 which actively rotates the shaft 37. The deflection roller 17 is arranged obliquely below the further deflection roller 36 and, together with the further deflection roller 36, defines the guideway of products 9 pulled out of the product stack 8.

The further deflection roller 36 is mounted eccentrically on the shaft 37, so that the further deflection roller 38 executes a periodic movement when the shaft 37 is acted upon by the motor 34 and drive belt 35, which component has a component directed perpendicular to the underside of the product stack 8. As a result of this movement, the product stack 8 is moved up and down or set in vibration in rapid succession, so that the product stack 8 is loosened; the further deflection roller 36 can therefore also be called a vibration roller. This loosening in turn brings about a reduction in the frictional forces which prevail between products 9 of the product stack 8 which are in contact with one another, so that the products 9 can be pulled out of the product stack 8 with less effort.

In the further variant of a device according to the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a support device 50 designed in the manner of a roller feeder is provided on its underside instead of the rotating support disks 1 4 and the support table 1 3 to support the product stack 8. This support device 50 comprises two conveyor elements arranged on both sides of the product stack 8 and running in two planes parallel to the transport wheel 1, for example self-contained pulling elements. organs 51, on which a number of spaced apart support rollers 53 is arranged in the manner described below. The orbit of the traction elements 51 runs in the area of the product stack 8 parallel to the underside of the product stack 8 (i.e. essentially horizontally), and the underside of the product stack 8 is defined by the areas in this area perpendicular to the orbital planes of the traction elements 51 (i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIG 7) arranged and forming a kind of roller carpet support rollers 53 under grips. The direction of movement of the support rollers 53 supporting the underside of the product stack 8 runs in the direction from the leading edge region to the trailing edge region of the products (9) located in the product stack (8).

The traction elements 51 are each designed as a double chain and each assigned to a double sprocket 55 coaxial with the transport wheel 1 on the one hand and to a further double sprocket 56 on the other hand. The rotational speed of the traction elements 51 and the Fortbewe ^¬ transmission speed of the support rollers 53 is in a fixed ratio to the angular velocity of the transport wheel. 1

Viewed in the direction of rotation of the traction elements 51 in each case forms a plurality of support rollers 53 a group (optionally a triplet, see FIG. 7), wherein between two supporting roller groups a greater From ^¬ stand is provided as between the group-forming support rollers 53. Thus, between the Carrier roller groups formed the function of the release cuts 26 of the support disks 1 4 according to FIG. 4 take-over passages 54 through which the leading area of the printed products 9 is released. As can be seen from FIG. 7, by releasing the leading edge area of the printing nisses 9 'caused by the rotation of the transport wheel 1 and a pivoting of the suction head 6' a bending of the printed product 9 '. The subsequent group of three of support rollers 53 'passes under the printed product located in the product stack 8 above the bent-away printed product 9', whereby the product stack 8 is immediately supported on the underside in its leading region. The printed product 9 'now located below the subsequent group of three of support rollers 53' is further bent downwards into the receiving area of the gripper 3 'assigned to the suction head 6' and then gripped by the latter, after which the peeling of the printed product 9 ' from the product stack 8 begins.

Each support roller 53 is mounted in a freely rotating manner on a lever arm 57 of an angle lever 60 which can be pivoted about an axis 58 (FIG. 8), the other lever arm 59 of which is provided with a guide roller 61 and is supported by this on a stationary link 62. The backdrop 62 is shaped in such a way that the support rollers 53 leaving the sprocket 56 and moving towards the lower region of the sprocket 55 or the transport wheel 1 continuously through the backdrop-related pivoting of the angle lever 60 from its position perpendicular to the orbit plane into one in the orbit plane lying position can be pivoted so that the transfer of the printed products 9 from the grippers 3 to the guide belt 1 9 and the removal thereof can take place without hindrance.

By the support rollers 53 located in the area of the product stack 8 and oriented at right angles to the plane of the orbit against one stationary rail 65 (FIG. 8), the freely rotating support rollers 53 are set into a rotational movement during their movement caused by the pulling members 51, which is opposite to the movement in the area of contact with the underside of the stack. It is particularly advantageous to use, for example, a movable belt 65 'instead of the fixed rail 65, with which the support rollers 53 are rotatably driven counter to the direction of travel in such a way that the peripheral speed of the support rollers 53 is greater than their speed of travel. As a result, a bulge possibly occurring in front of the respective support roller 53 and caused by the stack weight is smoothed out and susceptible damage to the printed products 9 is avoided.

FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment of a support device 67 for supporting the product stack 8 on its underside, which corresponds in its mode of operation to the support device 50 according to FIGS. 7 and 8 and is also designed as a roll feeder. In this support device 67 there are self-contained traction members 68, possibly double chains, on both sides of the product stack 8, which are provided with support rollers 69 which form a kind of roller carpet. In this exemplary embodiment, the lateral traction members 68 and the corresponding double chain wheels or pairs of double chain wheels, of which only the double chain wheels 70 connected to the drive wheel 1 can be seen in FIG. 9, are each arranged in a plane inclined to the transport wheel plane, preferably including an angle of 45 ° , The support rollers 69 are freely rotating on support arms 71 which are fixedly connected to the pulling members 68. The support arms 71 also form an angle of 45 ° with the sprocket plane, such that the carrier rollers 69 in the upper region of the traction element orbit parallel to the underside of the Product stack 8 are directed and form the support surface, but assume a position parallel to the transport wheel 1 in the lower region, which in turn creates the space for unhindered transport of the printed products 9. In this exemplary embodiment, too, the support rollers 69 located in the region of the product stack 8 are set by a rail 65 or a driven belt 65 'into a rotational movement opposite to the movement of the traction members 68, with an advantageous smoothing of the moving belt 65' in particular Printed products 9 takes place during bending.

Claims

Patent claims

1 . Method for transporting away flat, stacked, flexible products, in particular printed products (9), in which each individual product (9) is bent downwards in its leading edge region (31) from the underside of the product stack (8) by means of a suction element (2). and is then transported away by means of a gripper (3) which grips the leading edge region (31), the direction of movement of the gripper (3) in the area of the underside of the product stack (8) essentially being from the leading edge region to the trailing edge region of the products (9 ) runs, characterized in that each individual product (9) is transferred directly from the suction element (2) to a gripper (3) after it has been bent away by means of the suction element (2), so that each product (9) during the bending away and during the immediately following removal is constantly held either by the suction element (2) or by the gripper (3).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the product (9) is only pulled out of the product stack (8) after the bent away product (9) has been grasped by the ^gripper (3).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a second product (9) is sucked in by a suction element (2) before a previously bent away first product (9) is completely removed was pulled out of the stack of products (8) or before the process of pulling out begins with regard to a first product (9) that was previously bent away.

4. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the leading edge region (31) of the product (9) is gripped by the suction element (2) in its central section and bent away, while the product (9) is in its side regions is supported below.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the product (9) is bent away by an angle between 60 ° and 1 20 °, in particular via a deflection roller (1 7), before it is removed from the gripper (3). is recorded.

6. The method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the product stack (8) rests with its underside in some areas on at least one rotating support disk (14) which has at least one release incision (26), the bending away of a product (9) then takes place when the leading edge area (10, 31) comes to rest in the area of the release incision (26).

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the underside of the ^product stack (8) rests in some areas on two, preferably counter-rotating, support disks (1 4), each of which has at least one, in ^particular two diagonally opposite release incisions (26). , whereby the path Gen of a product (9) takes place when the middle section of the leading edge region (10, 31) comes to rest in the area of a release incision (26) of each support disk (14).

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a product (9) is bent away via the boundary line of the release incision (26).

9. The method according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the central section of the leading edge region (10, 31) located in the area of at least one release incision (26) is supported by an actively or passively movable support finger immediately before the bending away.

1 0. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the product stack (8) moves with its underside towards itself in the direction from the leading edge region to the trailing edge region of the products (9) located in the product stack (8) and has release passages ( 54) provided support means rests, with the bending away of a product (9) taking place when the leading edge region (10, 31) comes to rest in the area of the release passage (54).

1 1 . Method according to claim 1 0, characterized in that the product stack (8) rests with its underside on a number of support rollers (53; 69) which are attached to a conveyor element and by means of the same in the area of the product stack (8) from the leading edge area to the trailing edge area of the Products (9) located in the product stack (8) are moved, the release passages (54) being formed between two adjacent support rollers or groups of support rollers.

2. The method according to one of claims 1 to 1 1, characterized in that the suction element (2) assigned to a product (9) and the gripper (3) assigned to the same product (9) are removed from the suction element during the transfer of the product (9). (2) to the gripper (3) on a common conveyor line or on conveyor lines that run parallel to one another.

1 3. The method according to one of claims 1 to 1 2, characterized in that the suction element (2) assigned to a product (9) and the gripper (3) assigned to the same product (9) move away from the product (9) during the transfer Move the suction element (2) to the gripper (3) approximately centrally along the underside of the product stack (8).

14. The method according to one of claims 1 to 1 3, characterized in that the suction element (2) is pivoted between the reception of the product (9) from the product stack (8) and the transfer of the product (9) to the gripper (3). .

1 5. The method according to claim 1 4, characterized in that the pivoting of the suction element (2) for the purpose of transfer to the gripper (3) is directed in such a way that a transfer to a gripper (3) trailing in the transport direction takes place, whereby especially after another, opposite Directional pivoting of the suction element, a product (9) can be picked up by an opening gripper (3) which advances in the transport direction.

6. The method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the product stack (8) is subjected to an upward, intermittent force on its underside at least in some areas in order to achieve a loosening of the product stack (8).

7. Device for transporting away flat, stacked flexible products, in particular printed products (9), in particular for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a plurality of grippers movable along a gripper conveyor path running below a product stack (8) ( 3), a plurality of suction elements (2) movable along at least one suction element conveyor section running below a product stack (8), the suction element conveyor section running at least partially along or parallel to the gripper conveyor section, and a support device (1 4, 1 3; 50; 67), which supports the product stack (8) in areas on its underside and has at least one release incision or release passage (26; 54).

1 8. Device according to claim 1 7, characterized in that a suction element transport wheel and a gripper transport wheel are provided, which convey suction elements (2) and grippers (3) along the respective conveying routes.

1 9. The device according to claim 1 8, characterized in that the suction element transport wheel and the gripper transport wheel are designed as a single transport wheel (1) for conveying both the suction elements (2) and the gripper (3).

20. Device according to one of claims 1 7 to 1 9, characterized in that the support device (1 4, 1 3; 50; 67) comprises at least one rotating support disk (1 4) having at least one release incision (26), which Product stack (8) is supported in areas on its underside, as well as a support table

(1 3), which is provided to support the product stack (8) on its underside in an area not supported by the support disk (1 4).

21. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that two, each at least one, in particular two diagonally ^opposite release incisions (26) having support disks

(14) are provided, which rotate in opposite directions in such a way that a release incision (26) of each support disk (1 4) simultaneously comes to rest in the middle section of the leading edge region (1 0, 31) of a ^product (9).

22. The device according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that in the region of the middle section of the leading edge region (10, 31) an actively or passively movable support finger is provided to support the product stack (8).

23. Device according to one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that in the transport direction of the suction elements (2) and the grippers (3) a deflection roller (1 7) is provided, offset relative to the front edge of the product stack (8), the axis of which is vertical extends to the transport direction of the suction elements (2) and the gripper (3).

24. Device according to one of claims 20 to 23, characterized by means (34, 35, 36, 37) for generating a periodic movement directed perpendicular to the underside of the product stack (8).

25. Device according to one of claims 20 to 24, ^{characterized} in that the support disk (1 4) and / or support table (1 3) are provided on the product stack side with friction-reducing means, in particular with compressed air outlets (30).

26. Device according to one of claims 1 7 to 1 9, characterized in that the support device (1 4, 1 3; 50; 67) comprises a number of support rollers (53; 69) attached to a conveyor element and forming a type of roller carpet, on which the product stack (8) rests with its underside, with between two adjacent hard support rollers (53; 69) or support roller groups release passages (54) are present.

27. The device according to claim 26, characterized in that a traction element (51, 68) provided with the support rollers (53; 69) is arranged on both sides of the product stack (8), the support rollers (53; 69) of the two traction elements (51, 68) are directed towards each other in the area of the product stack (8).

28. The device according to claim 27, characterized in that the traction elements (51) run in a plane parallel to the suction element conveyor section, the support rollers (53) each being on a support arm (57) of an angle lever (60) which is pivotally attached to the traction element (51). ) are mounted in a freely rotating manner, and that guide elements (61, 62) are present for pivoting the angle lever (60) and the support rollers (53) into a position that enables the products (9) to be transported away.

29. The device according to claim 27, characterized in that the traction elements (68) run in a plane that forms an angle with the suction element conveyor section, the support rollers (69) being firmly connected to the respective traction element (68) and forming an angle with the Support arms (71) enclosing the tension element level are mounted in a freely rotating manner.

30. Device according to one of claims 26 to 29, characterized in that means (65; 65 ') are provided through which the freely rotating support rollers (53; 69) are in the contact area with the underside of the product stack (8) in a rotational movement opposite to the direction of movement of the pulling elements (51; 68).