EP1445224A1 - Device for forming stacks of flat articles - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus includes a drive motor (48) for ejecting a stack of printed products (12) from the upwardly open space of a compartment (10) in an ejection direction. The drive motor has a first drive for moving upstream guide elements (60) through the compartment space in the ejection direction, and a second drive for moving downstream guide elements (70) out of the compartment space. The compartment space is bounded by a compartment base (28). The upstream guide element is provided on the upstream side of the compartment space when viewed in the ejection direction. The downstream guide element is provided on the downstream side of the compartment space. The first and second drives are independently operable.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for Forming stacks from flat objects, such as Printed products, with the features of the generic term of Claim 1.

A device of this kind is in CH-A-567 996 and CH-A-609 306. A stacking shaft that can be loaded at the top is completed at the bottom with a stacking support. After each bundle is fed in, the stacking shaft is opened rotated 180 ° together with the stacking support. the Stacking chutes are driver arrangements driven by strokes assigned to a finished batch of the Push the stacking pad away.

Another device for forming stacks is out EP-A-0 586 802 and the corresponding US-A-5,370,382 known. Two stacking devices arranged side by side are alternately by means of a gripper conveyor supplied with stacked printed products. Each stacking device points below a pre-stacking space a shaft, its shaft room open two opposite sides by guide rails one thing is limited: a liftable and lowerable shaft floor is raised by one in the pre-stacking room to pick up the formed partial stack and then lower it again, until the objects placed on it below from the pre-stacking slider plates are arranged. The shaft floor is together with the Guide rails can be rotated by 180 ° by one To form a finished stack, in which the partial stack in each case 180 ° offset from one another. This allows items such as folded printed products, stack into stable stacks, which in one Edge area have a greater thickness than on the opposite Border area. For ejecting a finished stack the shaft floor becomes complete lowered and an ejector in the ejection direction in the Shaft retracted.

It is an object of the present invention Generic device to create, which under under all circumstances the formation of stable stacks with short Cycle times guaranteed.

This task is accomplished with a generic device achieved which the features in the characterizing part of the claim 1 has.

The shaft space is limited on all four sides. The Objects fed into the shaft from above can be used for their vertical movement in the shaft space with play on all sides can be guided and still the stacked Objects when turning the shaft in Chess room captured and so moving sideways and twisting are prevented. They will continue Shaft limiting upstream when viewed in the direction of discharge Guide elements for ejecting the finished stack used from the shaft. The means to expel the each stack formed is thus assigned to the shaft. This offers the possibility of ejecting one Stack already during the lowering of the shaft floor kick off.

Particularly preferred forms of training of the inventive Device are in the dependent claims Are defined.

Fig. 1

in Draufsicht einen Schacht einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 2

ebenfalls in Draufsicht den in Fig. 1 gezeigten Schacht mit darin auf dem Schachtboden angeordneten Gegenständen, bereit zum Drehen des Schachtes um 180°;

Fig. 3

in gleicher Darstellung wie Fig. 1 und 2 den Schacht während des Ausstossens eines darin gebildeten Stapels;

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht in Richtung des Pfeiles IV der Fig. 1 des in den Fig. 1 bis 3 gezeigten Schachtes;

Fig. 5

eine Ansicht in Richtung des Pfeiles V der Fig. 1 des in den Fig. 1 bis 3 gezeigten Schachtes;

Fig. 6

stark vereinfacht eine erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung in Ansicht mit einem Schacht gemäss den Fig. 1 bis 5, kurz nach der Bildung eines fertigen Stapels zu Beginn des Absenkens des Schachtbodens;

Fig. 7

in gleicher Darstellung wie Fig. 6 die dort gezeigte Vorrichtung, wobei während des weiteren Absenkens des Schachtbodens das Ausstossen des Stapels und in einem Vorstapelraum die Bildung eines Vorstapels bereits begonnen hat;

Fig. 8

in gleicher Darstellung wie Fig. 6 und 7 die Vorrichtung zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt, zu welchem der Schachtboden weiter abgesenkt und das Ausstossen des Stapels weiter fortgeschritten ist; und

Fig. 9

in gleicher Darstellung wie Fig. 6 bis 8 die Vorrichtung mit vollständig abgesenktem Schachtboden kurz vor Beendigung des Ausstossvorgangs.

The present invention is described in more detail using an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing. It shows purely schematically:

Fig. 1

in plan view a shaft of an inventive device;

Fig. 2

likewise in plan view the shaft shown in FIG. 1 with objects arranged therein on the shaft floor, ready for the shaft to be rotated through 180 °;

Fig. 3

in the same representation as Figures 1 and 2 the shaft during the ejection of a stack formed therein.

Fig. 4

a side view in the direction of arrow IV of Figure 1 of the shaft shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Fig. 5

a view in the direction of arrow V of Figure 1 of the shaft shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Fig. 6

greatly simplified a device according to the invention in view with a shaft according to FIGS. 1 to 5, shortly after the formation of a finished stack at the beginning of the lowering of the shaft bottom;

Fig. 7

in the same representation as FIG. 6, the device shown there, wherein during the further lowering of the shaft floor the ejection of the stack and in a pre-stacking space the formation of a pre-stack has already started;

Fig. 8

in the same representation as FIGS. 6 and 7, the device at a later point in time, at which the shaft bottom is lowered further and the ejection of the stack has progressed further; and

Fig. 9

in the same representation as FIGS. 6 to 8, the device with the shaft bottom completely lowered shortly before the ejection process is completed.

For now, reference is made to FIGS. 1 to 5 of Structure and mode of operation of a shaft 10 of an inventive Device for forming stacks folded printed products 12 described. It was on it noted that the device goes without saying also for stacking non-folded printed products and other flat objects.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the substructure of the Shaft 10 a base 14 on a fixed Table 16 or floor is attached. At the base 14 is a vertical-axis hollow shaft 18 is mounted on the bottom End sprocket 20 is seated, which by means of a Drive chain 22 with a motor, not shown, for rotating the hollow shaft 18 is connected. On the top end the hollow shaft 18 has a turntable 24 in a rotationally fixed manner.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 1 to 3 one arranged above the turntable 24 and with it non-rotatable shaft floor 28, seen in plan view, cruciform and on two, with respect to the axis of rotation 18 'of the hollow shaft diametrically opposite one another Positions on the turntable 24 freely accessible Piston rods 30 articulated by two cylinder-piston units 32. The cylinders arranged below the turntable 24 34 of the cylinder-piston units 32 are in turn articulated to support arms 36 projecting from the rotary table 24. The shaft floor can be made by means of the cylinder-piston units 32 28 from the lower one shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 End position 38 raised and lowered back into this. In FIG. 4 this is for the sake of clarity a cylinder-piston unit 32 not shown and by others only the coupling to the shaft floor 38 is visible.

On two opposite sides outside the Shaft space 10 ', the shaft 10 each has a vertical one Directional, cross-sectionally U-shaped support 40 on. In the free end areas of both Supports 40 attached horizontally and parallel to each other trending upper and lower signs 42 are vertical Bearing shafts 44 freely rotatable, each one Reach through hollow bearing shaft 46. The two in the direction of ejection A seen on one side arranged bearing shafts 44 are each connected to a drive motor 48. The opposite one corresponding to these bearing shafts 44 Bearing shafts 44 are each via a reversing gear 50 also connected to the associated drive motor 48. The two arranged upstream as seen in the direction of ejection A. Bearing shafts 44 are thus synchronous and in opposite directions Direction of rotation by means of a drive motor 48 drivable and the same by means of the other Drive motor the two downstream bearing shafts 44th

In the upper and lower end area of the upstream Bearing shafts 44 are rotationally fixed for each first sprocket 52, around which an endless first chain 54 is guided. These four first chains 54 are further around second sprockets 56 performed on the downstream bearing shafts 44 are freely rotatable. The between the second sprockets 56 arranged hollow bearing shafts 46 are rotationally fixed with the downstream bearing shafts 44 connected and sit on them rotatably upper and lower third sprockets 58. These are each from a second Chain 60 encircled, which further by fourth sprockets 62 are guided, which upstream on the relevant Hollow bearing shafts 46 are freely rotatable.

Arranged on both sides as seen in the direction of ejection A. first chains 54 are each over a vertical angle profile 64 connected. The right angle from the first chains 54 protruding legs of these two Angle profiles 64 form guide elements 66 and are in their positions shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 in the direction against the chess room 10 '. The parallel to the first Chains 54 extending legs of the angle profiles 64 are used than moved together with the guide members 66 lateral boundary elements 68 of the shaft space 10 '.

In the same way, there are 60 on the second chains two further angle profiles 64 'attached, which further Form guide elements 70 and in their in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 positions shown towards the inside protrude from the shaft space 10 'and this in the direction of ejection seen downstream limit. Correspondingly, the angle profiles 64 'form further ones lateral limiting elements 72.

In Fig. 1 is the format of the printed products to be stacked 12 indicated by dash-dotted lines. This figure is can also be seen that to form a stack the Angle profiles 64 and 64 'by means of the motors 48 in one Position in which the from above the chimney 10 'supplied printed products 12 themselves with play in the vertical direction between the guide elements 66 and other guide elements 70 and the delimiting elements 68 and further limiting elements 72 can move. In this context it should be mentioned that the boundary profiles 40 or just one of them on Turntable 24 can be releasably attached to in the direction an adjustment of the Schachtraumes 10 'to the format of the printed products to be processed 12 can make. Of course is the dimension of the shaft bottom 28, perpendicular to Ejection direction measured, selected such that the Manhole bottom 28 moves freely in the vertical direction can be.

2 shows a situation in which a partial stack 74 rests on the shaft floor 28. By means of the drive motors 48 are the guide elements 66 and further guide elements 70 in or against each other in the direction of ejection has been moved so that they abut the stack 74. This makes the partial stack 74 when the Shaft 10 about the axis of rotation 18 '- as this with the double arrow is indicated - kept stable.

If after a rotation further objects 12 in the Shaft space 10 'are added, the guide elements 66 and other guide elements 70 back in Direction away from each other in the position shown in Fig. 1 spent. On the other hand, after a rotation, the formed Finished stack 76 are ejected, the boundary elements 68 and further limiting elements 72 directly moved in the ejection direction A, as follows is set out.

Fig. 3 shows the shaft 10 during the ejection of one Finished stack 76 in the ejection direction A from the shaft 10. Based on the situation as shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 shows the first chains 54 and second chains 60 driven in the ejection direction A, which on the one hand those lying downstream in the discharge direction A. further guide elements 70 together with the finished stack 76 and then around the third sprockets 58, move out of the conveying area of the finished stack 76; at the time shown in Fig. 3 the other angle profiles 64 'already on the outside Back of the second chains 60. On the other hand, the upstream guide members 60 the finished stack 76 from the shaft floor 28, for example to one Delivery table or a conveyor. After ejection of a finished stack 76 by means of the two drive motors 48 the angle profiles 64, 64 'again in the in Fig. 1 position shown for the formation of a next Stacks spent.

Since the angle profiles 64 and 64 'and thus through them formed guide elements 66 and other guide elements 70 individually driven by own drive motors 48 are in a very simple way by controlling these drive motors 48 adjustments the format of the printed products to be stacked 12 - in the direction of ejection A -.

It is possible to print products 12 to be stacked, for example by means of a clamp conveyor or Belt conveyor, feed directly to the shaft 10 for stacking. In a preferred manner, however, is that in the 1 to 5 shown, shaft 10 described above Part of a device such as that described in EP-A-0 586 802 and the corresponding US-A-5,370,382 is in which arranged in a above the shaft 10 Pre-stacking space sub-stack 74 are formed, which each offset by 180 ° in the shaft space 10 ' are stackable. Regarding structure and functionality such a device is expressly based on the two publications mentioned.

6 to 9, a device of this is simplified Type, equipped with a shaft 10 according to the invention, at five different times in a work cycle shown. From the shaft 10 are the better clarity for the sake only the shaft floor 28 with the articulated Piston rods 30, the guide member 66 and in 6 also shows the further guide element 70. In Ejection direction A includes shaft 10, for example Conveyor 78 designed as a belt conveyor on. This is intended to be used in the direction of ejection A to convey the ejected finished stack 76 away in the direction of removal W. A pre-stacking device is located above the shaft 10 80 arranged with a pre-stacking shaft, not shown, which below by means of towards and from each other movable slide plates 82 closable is. Above the slide plates 82 are fork-like intermediate floor elements 84 can be inserted into the pre-stacking shaft and pull it out again.

At the time of a processing cycle shown in FIG. 6 is a finished stack by means of the conveyor 78 76 transported away in the conveying direction W. Another Finished stack 76 lies on the raised shaft floor 28 on. This was done in a known manner through each other Laying down two partial stacks 74, with in between performed rotation of the shaft 10 together with the first partial stack already located in the shaft space 10 ' 74 formed by 180 °. The slide plates 82 are extended out of the pre-stacking space while on the retracted one Intermediate floor elements 84 fed in the meantime Printed products 12 are stacked. The Manhole 10 is upstream of guide elements 66 and delimited downstream from the further guide elements 70.

Already while lowering the manhole testicle 28 - as soon as the entire finished stack 76 below the slide plates 82 - as shown in FIG. 7, the guide elements 66 and further guide elements 70 moves in the direction of ejection A, whereby the further guide elements 70 around the third sprockets 58 (see Fig. 3) from the path of movement of the finished stack to be ejected 76 moved out in the area of the back run become. The current position of the guide member 66 is shown with solid lines, with dash-dotted lines The position is indicated by lines, which is shown in FIG. 6 has taken. The slide plates 82 were in the pre-stacking room retracted after the top print product 12 of the finished stack 76 below the slide plates 82 was lowered. Is on the slide plates 82 the first partial stack 74 of a next stack to be formed, which partial stack 74 by moving the Intermediate floor elements 84 reaches the slide plates 82 is.

At the point in time shown in FIG. 8, the shaft floor is 28 almost completely lowered and the finished stack 76 already about a third ejected from the shaft 10. As soon as the shaft floor 28 reaches its lower end position 38 has reached - which is shown in Fig. 9 - takes place the complete ejection of the finished stack 76 from the Shaft 10. In the meantime is on the slide plates 82 another partial stack 74 almost finished which, after the subsequent lifting of the Manhole bottom 28 by moving the slide plates apart 82 is handed over to this. Are partial stacks by 180 ° staggered to store, is in a known manner and Way before placing a further partial stack the shaft 10 with the partial stack located therein or the partial stacks in it are rotated by 180 °.

The cruciform design of the shaft floor 28 ensures on the one hand a stable support of the stack and on the other hand - with the shaft floor 28 raised - moving past of the guide elements 66 and, if necessary, others Guide elements 70 on the in and against the Arms of the shaft bottom 28 extending in the direction of ejection.

A control device, not shown, controls all of them Drives and functions so that each finished stack 76 the predetermined partial stack with the specific number of printed products having.

The fact that the guide elements serving as ejection elements 66 are assigned to the shaft 10 and thus the Ejection process already while lowering the shaft floor 28 can be done with careful treatment Printer products 12 compared to a reduction in cycle times the known prior art possible.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 the shaft according to the invention are the drive elements 86 for the guide elements 66 by around first and second sprockets 52, 56 guided first chains 54 and the others Drive elements 88 for the further guide elements 70 by guided by third and fourth sprockets 58, 62 second chains 60 formed. These drive elements 86, 88 can be designed in other ways, for example through cylinder-piston arrangements, belt drives etc.

The shaft according to the invention is different Devices for forming stacks of flat objects used. So also in such devices, in which formed the stacks or partial stacks themselves in the shaft become.

As can be seen from Fig. 4, the shaft bottom 28 in the middle, an elevation running in the direction of ejection A, for example formed from one behind the other freely rotatable rollers that have the stack further stabilizes and prevents ejection the lowest, protruding above the shaft floor Printed products 12 can bend down.

The ejection of finished stacks 76 is also contrary to that Ejection direction A shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 possible. For this purpose, the guide elements 66 and further guide elements 70 driven in the opposite direction.

It is also possible to dispense with the hollow bearing shafts 46 and the third sprockets 58 rotatably on the To arrange bearing shafts 44 and the fourth sprockets 62nd to be freely rotatable on the bearing shafts 44.

Claims (10)

Device for forming stacks from flat objects, such as printed products, with a shaft (10), the shaft space (10 ') of which is from the bottom of a shaft floor (28), on two opposite sides of boundary elements (68, 72) and on one in an ejection direction (A) upstream of guide elements (66) and on a downstream side from further guide elements (70) for the objects (12) that can be inserted into the shaft space (10 ') from above, which are on the shaft floor (28 ) come to lie in a stack, the guide elements (66) for ejecting a stack (76) from the shaft space (10 ') in the direction of ejection (A) through the shaft space (10') and the further guide elements (70) from the shaft space ( 10 ') can be moved out by means of a drive (48), characterized in that the guide elements (66) with one drive (48) and the further guide elements (70) with a white iteren drive (48) are connected and by means of these drives (48) the guide elements (66) can be moved independently of the other guide elements (70). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shaft (10) can be rotated about a central vertical axis (18 '), the guide elements (66) and the further guide elements (70) being moved towards one another at the start of a turning process in order to allow the stack ( 74, 76) at least approximately to stabilize it. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that when a turning process has ended - if further objects (12) are to be fed into the shaft space (10 ') and placed on the objects (12) already present therein - the guide elements (66) and the further guide elements ( 70) can be moved away from each other. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that after completion of a turning operation - if a stack (76) is to be ejected from the shaft space (10 ') - the guide elements (66) and the further guide elements (70) are moved together in the ejection direction (A) Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the shaft floor (28) can be raised and lowered by means of a lifting drive, and for ejecting a stack (76) the guide elements (66) during the lowering of the shaft floor (28) in the ejection direction ( A) are moved. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that there is a drive element (84) for the guide elements (66) on each side of the shaft and a further drive element (88) for the further guide elements (70). Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the drive elements (86) are connected to a drive motor (48) and the further drive elements (88) are connected to a further drive motor (48), the two drive motors (48) being controlled independently of one another. Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the drive elements (86) and the further drive elements (88) each have an endless traction element (54, 60) on each side of the shaft (10), on which the corresponding guide elements (66) or other guide elements (70) are attached and which is guided at the upstream end and at the downstream end of the shaft (10) around deflection wheels (52, 56, 58, 62). Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the guide elements (66) and the further guide elements (70) are each associated with movable limiting elements (68, 72). Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the delimiting elements (68, 72) and the associated guide elements (66) or further guide elements (70) are formed by angle profiles (64, 64 ') running in the vertical direction.

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