EP1464602B1 - Device for forming a stream of flat objects in shingled formation - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for the creating of a scale-layered stream of flat objects has a stop (2) which together with a transporting surface (3) forms a gap for the objects (4). A device to control the width of the gap downstream of the stop has a freely rotatable sensing roller (1), whereby the stop and touch roller are intercoupled in such a way that together they are movable towards the transporting surface and away from it. A sensing of a forward edge of an object increases the width of the gap for the passage of another object.

Description

The invention is in the field of general cargo promotion and relates to a device according to the preamble of the independent claim. The device serves to create a shingled stream of flat objects, in particular printed products such as e.g. Newspapers, magazines or brochures.

In the printing industry intermediate and partial products or finished products are subjected to various further processing steps. In certain devices used for such further processing steps, for example in cutting devices, it is advantageous to process such products in groups one above the other. Shingled streams resulting from such further processing steps are then shingled stacking streams, in which each scale is a stacked product group of, for example, two products. If, for example, the products of such a shingled stacking stream are to be counted, addressed or stacked and packaged independently of the group size, the shingled stacking stream must be converted into a simple shingled stream, that is, into a shingled stream in which each shed consists of only one product , For other further processing steps, it may also be necessary to convert a simple scale flow into a shingled stack flow or to equalize the distances in a simple scale flow.

An apparatus for pulling apart in a scale flow resulting printed product pairs (scarfed stacking stream) is from the EP 0 075 121 B1 known. The conveyed at a first speed on a conveyor belt stream of roof tiles arranged with overhead leading edges on a conveyor belt product pairs is converted into a scale flow of individual products, which is promoted for example with a relation to the first speed double, second speed. For conversion, the stacking current is accelerated to the second speed and performed under a retarder which retains one upper product of a pair of products at a first-speed belt while further conveying the lower product of the pair at the second speed. The upper product is released by the delay device as soon as a subsequent pair of products reaches the delay device.

The scale spacing of the generated scale flow is dependent on the ratio of the two speeds and the scale spacing of the supplied product pairs. If the scale spacing in the stream of the supplied product pairs is uneven, then it is also that of the generated shingle stream.

A device for equalization of a scale flow is from the EP 0 254 851 B1 known. Therein, the products are stopped in a conveyor ineffective route by a stop, wherein the conveying path has a kink immediately before the stop. Driving cams arranged on driving wheels steer the leading region of each stopped product out of the effective region of the stop at a predetermined cycle, press it against a belt conveyor aligned in the new conveying direction and guide it into a nip between this belt conveyor and a conveying roller acting on the other product side, whereby the product is further promoted.

The uniform effect of the device according to EP-254851 is limited; no big irregularities can be compensated. If a cycle after the release of a product is still no further product at the stop, created in the scale flow an increased distance between the leading and the late coming scale. If several products accumulate on the stop, they are usually also conveyed together, since they are driven from above through the driving cams and from below through the belt conveyor. Although a narrowing of a gap formed by the stop is intended to prevent the simultaneous passage of two products; however, this only works for mechanically robust products. A separation of products from a pair of products or even from a stack is thus difficult or impossible.

The functional principle requires both actively driven driving cam and conveyor rollers as well as a kink in the conveying direction, so a relatively complicated mechanical structure.

The present invention is based on the object to provide a device of the type mentioned, with which it is possible in a very simple manner to create a scale flow of individual flat objects from a shingled stream of subject pairs or generally from a shingled stream of object stacks (scaly stack flow ) or from a stack of objects. In the same way, the device should be suitable for producing a further, shingled stacking stream from a first shingled stacking stream or from a stack, in which all the stacks have predetermined, equal heights, or comprise the same number of articles. In this case, the device should make very little demands on the regularity of the supplied stream of articles, that is to say it should be able to produce larger gaps occurring in this feed stream, In such gaps individually promoted items and larger piles of items to easily handle.

These objects are achieved by the device having the features of the independent claim.

According to the invention, the flat objects are loosely supported on a conveying surface with overhead leading edges in a preferably rectilinear conveying direction. To create the scale flow a follower roller and a lock are used, both of which act on the upper side of the scale flow. The sensing roller is located downstream of the barrier and scans the created scale flow. The barrier forms together with the conveying surface a passage gap whose width (distance of the barrier from the conveying surface) is controlled by the sensing roller, characterized in that the sensing roller and lock preferably mechanically coupled to each other, for example, are rigidly interconnected. The width of the passage gap thus varies with the thickness profile of the created scale flow and allows an object stopped behind the barrier to pass when the sensing roller is lifted by the leading edge of the leading object.

It does not matter whether the leading object represents a scale in a continuous scale flow or forms together with other objects the beginning of a scale flow (for example, after a gap in the supplied current), and it does not matter if the scanned, leading edge of the Edge of a single object or the edge of a stack of objects (eg a pair of objects) is. It also does not matter how many items are stored behind the barrier within wide limits. The passageway allows an article or article stack to pass if the thickness of the article or stack is not greater than the thickness of the leading edge of the leading article or stack.

The effects according to the invention are achieved by the simplest mechanical means. It is for example only a kinematically simple, mechanical coupling between the sensing roller and lock required. There are no additional active drive means required, no controls, sensors or actuators. The conveying surface needs no change of direction (kink) and no ineffective intermediate route.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the conveying surface has a conveyor belt with openings and cooperates upstream of the barrier with a suction device, such that an object to be conveyed through the passage gap by the conveyor belt is sucked onto the conveyor belt. The suction device is arranged with respect to the conveying direction and / or optionally controlled so that the suction effect on a voltage applied to the barrier object only becomes relevant when the leading edge of the leading object has reached the sensing roller and thereby the lock for the passage of the the lock attached object is raised. By acting in the trailing region of an object to be moved through the passage gap suction this object is easily pushed out under possibly further lying objects on it, thereby further improving the effectiveness and reliability of the inventive method on. In this case, the suction device preferably works without active control means.

As will be shown, the apparatus, the essential parts of which are the follower roller and the lock controlled by the follower roller and which cooperates with a conveyor surface, is very easily adjustable for different shingling distances in the generated shingled stream and for various article formats and article thicknesses.

The scale spacing in the scale flow to be created depends solely on the distance in the conveying direction between the follower roller and the lock. By triggering the release of an object by the foregoing object, this scale spacing is substantially independent of distances, pitch inaccuracies and velocity of the articles in the supplied stream as long as it guides at least one article to the barrier before the preceding article reaches the sensing roller. The scale spacing may need to be adapted to the conveying force (friction between the conveying surface and the objects) and to the friction between the objects.

The invention also enables buffering or stacking of objects at the barrier. This is particularly advantageous if the feeding scale flow has large distances or even gaps. If there is a sufficient number of objects in front of such a gap at the barrier, the gap has no effect on the generated scale flow. If the gap is larger, a gap is also created in the created scale flow, whereby, however, an imbricated flow is produced again without problems and without special measures from objects supplied after the gap.

Further preferred embodiments of the method and the device according to the invention are evident from the dependent claims.

Figur 1

eine erste, beispielhafte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung, die in sehr schematischer Seitenansicht dargestellt ist;

Figur 2

eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform der Sperre der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung in einem grösseren Massstab;

Figuren 3 bis 5

aufeinanderfolgende Stadien des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens bei der Erstellung eines Schuppenstrom-Anfangs;

Figuren 6 und 7

eine weitere bevorzugte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung in detaillierteren Darstellungen von der Seite (Figur 6) und von vorne (Figur 7).

In the following, the subject invention will be explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying figures.
Show it:

FIG. 1

a first exemplary embodiment of the inventive device, which is shown in a very schematic side view;

FIG. 2

a preferred embodiment of the barrier of the inventive device on a larger scale;

FIGS. 3 to 5

successive stages of the inventive method in the creation of a Schuppenstrom start;

FIGS. 6 and 7

a further preferred embodiment of the inventive device in more detailed representations of the side ( FIG. 6 ) and from the front ( FIG. 7 ).

Basically, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a very schematic representation of a first exemplary embodiment of the inventive device. As already mentioned above, the device has as the most important elements on a follower roller 1 and a lock 2, which are arranged on a support frame 11. The holding frame 11 is positioned relative to a conveying surface 3 drivable in the conveying direction F (eg conveyor belt) such that the feeler roller 1 and the barrier 2 are directed against the conveying surface 3 and that the feeler roller 1 is positioned downstream of the barrier 2. Touching roller 1 and lock 2 are rigidly but optionally adjustably connected to each other by the holding frame 11, wherein the feeler roller 1 is freely rotatably mounted.

The holding frame 11 is substantially perpendicular to the conveying surface 3 against and away from this (double arrow W) movably mounted in a device frame 5. For this purpose, the device frame 5, for example, a guide block 51 with, for example, two (a visible) through holes 54 through which the support frame 11 fixed bolts 52 out (parallel guide) and held by nuts 55. Between guide block 51 and support frame 11 slightly biased coil springs 53 are arranged around the bolts 52, which are the holding frame 11 drive away from the device frame 5 against the conveying surface 3, in a predetermined by the nuts bottom position.

While the follower roller 1 rolls on objects 4 which are conveyed past on the conveyor surface 3, it is pressed against the objects 4 by the spiral springs 53 and deflected by the objects perpendicular to the conveyor surface 3, the deflection movement (double arrow W) the follower roller 1 is damped by the coil springs 53. The lock 2 makes the deflection of the follower roller 1, whereby the width of the passage gap between the conveying surface 3 and lock 2 is adjusted to the thickness of the scale flow conveyed under the follower roller 1 and opens by scanning each leading edge stepwise for the release of another object. The created scale flow downstream of sensing roller 1 and lock 2 thereby has a scale distance corresponding to the distance D in the conveying direction F between the touch point T of the follower roller 1 and the locking point S of the lock 2.

The conveyor surface 3 is formed, for example, as a conveyor belt 31, wherein the conveyor belt 31 is preferably equipped with openings 31.3 and thereby permeable to air and the device additionally comprises a suction device 32, with the help of which locally on the lower side of the conveyor belt 31, a negative pressure is generated by the an object 4 resting on the conveyor belt 31 at the relevant point is sucked onto the conveyor belt 31. As a result, the friction between the object and the conveyor belt 31 and thus the conveying force acting on the object is locally increased.

The suction device 32 or an associated vacuum chamber applied to the conveyor belt 31 is positioned in the conveying direction F such that its action begins at a point A.1 which lies upstream of the feeler roller 1 and lock 2 and at least the format length L of the processed objects 4 (extension of the objects in the conveying direction) from the scanning point T and at most by the format length L from the blocking point S (L + D from the scanning point T) is spaced. The suction ends at a point A.2 downstream of A.1, wherein the distance in the conveying direction F between A.1 and A.2 is advantageously at least as large as the distance D. Such a design of the suction causes the conveying force on a lowermost on the lock 2 pending object is only significantly enhanced by the suction effect when the preceding object has reached the sensing roller 1 and has operated. Since a cavity 33 is formed above the conveyor belt 31 between trailing edges of the objects, the suction action on a further object to be conveyed remains correspondingly smaller.

The inventive device advantageously has in the FIG. 1 with the double arrows E.1, E.2, E.3 and E.4 indicated settings, by which they can be set for the processing of various items 4. The optimal settings are to be determined experimentally. Suitable settings are dependent, in particular, on the scale spacing and the number of articles per scale in the scale flow to be created, on the format and thickness of the objects to be processed and on the compressibility of the articles in the direction of their thickness.

The distance of the touch point T of the sensing roller 1 from the conveying surface 3 is relative to the distance of the blocking point S of the barrier 2 of the conveying surface 3 adjustable (double arrow E.1). This difference (height offset H.2, see FIG. 3 ) is adjusted to about the thickness of the flakes (thickness of an object to be processed or optionally a group of objects) of the scale flow to be created. The adjustability E.1 is realized for example in that the follower roller 1 is mounted in a bearing arm 12, wherein the bearing arm 12 is pivotally connected at one end via a parallel to the conveying surface 3 and perpendicular to the conveying direction F aligned axis 13 with the support frame 11 and the pivot position of Lagerarms 12 and thus the position of the follower roller 1 relative to the support frame 11 and the lock 2 by a pivotally connected to the other end of the bearing arm 12 adjusting screw 14 is adjustable.

As already mentioned above, the distance D between the scanning point T and the locking point S corresponds to the scale spacing in the generated scale flow. This scale distance is thus adjustable by adjustment (double arrow E.2) of the distance in the conveying direction F between follower roller 1 and lock 2, which is realized for example in that the shaft of the follower roller 1 in a slot-shaped opening 12.1 of the bearing arm 12 slidably and at a desired Job is fixable.

The length of the bolts 52 between the holding frame 11 and the upper edge of the holes 54 and the position of the nuts 55 on the bolt 52 determines the minimum distance between the touch point T and locking point S and conveying surface, which is adjustable by rotation of the nuts 55 (double arrow E.3). Advantageously, the minimum distance (H.1, see FIG. 3 ) of the follower roller 1 of the conveying surface 3 is set so that it is greater than zero and smaller than the thickness of the voluminous edges of the scales (object or article stack) of a scale flow to be created. This prevents that the follower roller 1 rolls on the conveying surface 3, when no objects are conveyed.

For an adaptation of the device to different formats of objects to be processed touch roller 1 and lock 2 are displaced in the conveying direction (double arrow E.4), such that the distance between the follower roller 1 and the effective range of the suction device 32 can be adapted to the format length L. , For this purpose, the device frame 5, for example, along slidably parallel to the conveying direction F rails 56 and arranged lockable in a desired position.

FIG. 2 shows on a larger scale than FIG. 1 the barrier 2, which preferably has on its upstream side two substantially planar and transverse to the conveying direction F aligned surface portions 21 and 22. The first, facing away from the conveying surface 3 section 21 forms with the conveying surface 3 an upstream open angle of about 75 to 80 degrees, the second, closer to the conveying surface portion 22 an angle of about 45 to 60 degrees. The barrier 2 is, for example, a simple or reinforced sheet, but may also be a block bounded by said surfaces. The lock 2 can, as in the FIG. 2 also shown have a flexible brake tab 23 which extends from the blocking point S against the conveying surface 3 and acts braking on the objects 4 to be processed. The brake tab 23 is made of plastic, for example. The brake tab 23 proves to be particularly advantageous for the processing of thin objects.

FIGS. 3 to 5 show successive phases in the creation of a Schuppenstromanfangs using the inventive device (after a Zuführungslücke or when starting). In this case, only the rigidly connected feeler roller 1 and lock 2 are represented by the device in a very simplified manner, as well as the conveying surface 3 cooperating with the device.

FIG. 3 shows the resting state of the device in which the distance between the touch point T and conveying surface corresponds to the minimum distance H.1 and the distance of the blocking point S from the conveying surface to the minimum distance H.1 plus height offset H.2, such that a first object through the passage gap can be promoted.

FIG. 4 shows the device immediately after the follower roller 1 has felt the leading edge of another object. As a result, the sensing roller 1 and thus the barrier 2 is raised by the thickness of the leading edge of this article and a further article 4 can be conveyed through the passage gap. FIG. 5 shows analogously the release of a third object 4 by the scanning of the leading edge of the second object.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show in a more detailed way than FIG. 1 a further exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, viewed in a direction transverse to the conveying direction (FIG. FIG. 6 ) and facing parallel to the conveying direction and directed against them ( FIG. 7 ). This device has partly the same elements as the device according to FIG. 1 that are not described here anymore.

In addition, the device according to FIGS. 6 and 7 a pair of bending rollers 7, which are arranged on both sides of the holding frame 11, the follower roller 1 and the lock 2 and which serve to bend the articles 4 about a substantially parallel to the conveying direction F bending axis, whereby the articles 4 in the conveying direction F stiffened and thereby kinking, damming or crumpling is prevented in the conveying direction, so that the objects can be easily dammed at the lock 2 and pushed through the passage gap. If necessary, lateral parts of a conveying surface which is likewise curved about a bending axis oriented parallel to the conveying direction F or which has a correspondingly stepped conveying surface cooperate with the bending rollers 7. This is realized for example by two lateral conveyor belts 31.1 and a central conveyor belt 31.2, wherein the three conveyor belts run parallel and the lateral conveyor belts are arranged slightly lower than the central conveyor belt and wherein the central conveyor belt 31.2 has the openings 31.3.

The bending rollers 7 are arranged at a distance from the lateral parts of the conveying surface. They determine the minimum bending of the objects, the lateral parts The conveying surface determines the maximum bending. The point of action of the bending rollers 7 is in the conveying direction in the areas of the barrier. 2

The bending rollers 7 are freely rotatably mounted in pivot levers 71, which in turn are pivotally mounted on the device frame 5. A lowermost pivot position of the pivot lever 71 is adjustable by the adjusting screws 72 (double arrow E.5) and the pivot levers are freely pivotable from this lowermost position at least limited against above. For the processing of products of different widths, it may be advantageous to displaceably arrange the bending rollers 7 transversely to the conveying direction F.

Unlike in the device according to FIG. 1 is the adjustability (E.3) of the minimum height in the device according to FIGS. 6 and 7 realized with a crossbar 60 which connects the upper ends of the two bolts 52 and whose distance from the device frame 5 is adjusted with the adjusting screw 61.

The supplied objects 4 can, as already mentioned above, form a stack behind the barrier 2, which can compensate for any gaps in the supply which may occur as a buffer. So that objects following such gaps can easily be placed on objects still present behind the barrier 2, it is advantageous to arrange the beginning of the conveying surface 3 as close as possible behind the barrier 2 and to provide a supply belt 8 for the supply of the objects, the level of which above Conveying surface 3 is located.

In principle, it is also possible with the device to manually place a relatively high stack in the device without a mechanical feed and to create a scale flow from the stacked objects with the aid of the device according to the invention.

With the device according to the invention, a scale flow, a broken scale flow, a shingled stack flow and individual articles or stacks can be processed into a more or less regular scale flow or shingled stack flow.

In the above-described and described embodiments of the device according to the invention, the conveying surface 3 is substantially horizontal and the objects lie substantially loosely on the conveying surface. However, the device according to the invention can also be operated in an arbitrarily inclined manner without significant restrictions, in particular also with a conveying surface 3, which is essentially vertical transversely to the conveying direction, to which the objects are pressed by suitable means. The conveying direction is preferably substantially horizontal, but may also be inclined. For the mentioned embodiments, which differ from the illustrated embodiments by the spatial arrangement, the terms used in the text, such as "horizontal", "vertical", "top", "bottom", etc., must be adapted accordingly.

Claims (15)

1. Device for establishing an imbricated stream of flat articles (4), in particular of printed products such as newspapers, magazines or brochures, from a supplied imbricated stream, from a stream of imbricated stacks or from a stack of the articles (4), the device comprising a conveying surface (3) suitable for driving the articles (4) in a conveying direction (F) and an stopping means (2) facing towards the conveying surface (3) and defining together with the conveying surface (3) a passage gap for the articles (4), characterized in that, for controlling the width of the passage gap, the device further comprises a freely rotating dancing roller (1), being arranged downstream of the stopping means (2) and being forced towards the conveying surface (3), and that the dancing roller (1) and the stopping means (2) are coupled together such that they are movable together towards and away from the conveying surface (3) and such that sensing of a leading article edge by the dancing roller enlarges the width of the passage gap to enable passage of a succeeding article (4).
2. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the dancing roller (1) and the stopping means (2) are spring mounted on a support (5) in a manner to be movable in a limited manner.
3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the dancing roller (1) and the stopping means (2) are arranged on a frame (11), the frame being movable relative to the support (5), wherein the dancing roller and the stopping means are rigidly coupled by the frame (11) at least during operation of the device.
4. Device in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that a height offset (H.2) between the dancing roller (1) and the stopping means (2) is adjustable.
5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that, for the adjustment of the height offset (H.2), the dancing roller (1) is supported in a supporting arm (12), wherein the supporting arm is arranged on the frame (11) in a pivoting manner and wherein the pivoting position of the supporting arm (12) relative to the frame (11) is adjustable.
6. Device in accordance with one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that a distance (D) in the conveying direction (F) between the dancing roller (1) and the stopping means (2) is adjustable.
7. Device according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the dancing roller (1) is displaceable along the supporting arm (12).
8. Device in accordance with one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that a minimum distance (H.1) between the dancing roller (1) and the conveying surface (3) is adjustable.
9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that, for adjusting the minimum distance (H.1), a connection between the frame (11) and the support (5) is adjustable.
10. Device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the conveying surface (3) comprises openings (31.1) and that the device further comprises a suction device (32), which is connected with the openings (31.1) upstream of the stopping means (2).
11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the distance (D) in the conveying direction (F) between the dancing roller (1) and the suction device (32) is adjustable.
12. Device in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that, for adjusting the distance (D) between the dancing roller (1) and the suction device (32), the support (5) is displaceable parallel to the conveying direction (F).
13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that, at least in the region of the stopping means (2), the conveying surface (3) is bent around a bending axis oriented essentially parallel to the conveying direction (F) or is correspondingly stepped, and, that in the region of the stopping means (2), the device further comprises bending rollers (7) being aligned with lateral areas of the articles (4).
14. Device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the stopping means (2) comprises first and second surface sections (21, 22) facing upstream, wherein the first and second surface sections (21, 22) are essentially plane and extend transverse to the conveying direction (F) and wherein the first surface section (21) is situated further from the conveying surface (3) than the second surface section and forms an angle of 75 to 80 degrees with the conveying surface (3) and the second surface section (22) is situated closer to the conveying surface (3) and forms an angle of 45 to 60 degrees with the conveying surface (3).
15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that, on its end directed towards the conveying surface (3), the stopping means (2) comprises a braking tongue (23) made out of a flexible material.

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