EP1657199B1 - Apparatus for handling of flat products, in particular print products - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for processing flat products, in particular printed products, which are fed in a product stream in a row and separated by separating means for dividing the product stream into at least two partial streams.

Such flat products are produced in particular in the printing industry with a saddle stitcher by assembling printed sheets. The collected printed sheets are then processed, for example, cut in a cutting apparatus and subsequently foiled. Here, the processing speed of the saddle stitcher is usually higher than that of the cutting apparatus and the Foliervorrichtung. From the WO 96/32293 It is known to increase the performance of the Divide product flow into two partial streams. This is intended to enable the time-parallel processing of two spatially separate pressure component streams along two parallel processing sections. To form the partial flows, the printed products are conveyed by a conveyor chain along a conveyor loop section. On this conveyor chain grippers are arranged, with which the printed products are taken individually. After the processing of the partial streams they are brought together again.

By the DE 29 17 250 A a device has become known with which a scale flow of printed products is divided into two partial streams. The edges of the scale flow are assigned here two rows of endless belts circulating grippers. In this device, it is necessary that the printed products of the scale flow to be separated are laterally offset so that they can be grasped by the grippers.

The splitting of a scale flow in two partial streams by means of grippers is also by the EP 1 431 222 A known. In this case, the grippers do not grasp the printed products at the edge but in a central region in which the printed products are not overlapped by adjacent printed products.

In each case, the printed products no longer overlap with each other, but are conveyed in succession. The printed products of the partial streams can be processed in a further device, for example in a cutting device or a filming device. By the division the product flow into two partial streams, the processing time for the printed products in the partial streams can be at least doubled. Since more time is available for processing, high-quality processing is also possible. As an alternative to dividing a product stream into partial streams, it is also known to form intermediate buffers with the printed products. The printed products are arranged here as a shingled stream on rollers. Such intermediate buffers make it possible, for example, to operate printing machines with the maximum possible power. However, the formation of intermediate buffers and thus the printed products from these intermediate buffers is comparatively complicated.

The invention has for its object to provide a method or a device that allows an even safer and easier division of a product stream into partial streams.

The object is achieved in a generic method or device characterized in that the flat products of a plurality of successively arranged, formed as a release agent receptacles and then moved with these for dividing the product flow in partial flows transversely to and in the conveying direction and inclined from one to the horizontal or vertical position can be brought into a substantially horizontal position.

In the method according to the invention, the flat products for forming the partial flows are not gripped by a gripper but placed in containers and these containers are moved transversely to the conveying direction and at the same time in the conveying direction to form the partial streams. On the one hand, this enables a very gentle treatment of the flat products and a safe and precise guidance of these flat products in the separation area. Furthermore, the containers will be brought with the products in the separation region of a horizontal or inclined to the horizontal position in a substantially horizontal position. In the horizontal position, for example, the flat products can be delivered to transfer tapes. A significant advantage is that in the horizontal area the flat products always have the same pitch regardless of the product format. This simplifies the further processing, for example when foiling.

A further advantage is that it is very easy to add further flat products, for example side dishes, to the containers in the separating region.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the flat products are dispensed from the first conveying member down to the inclined or vertical containers. The flat products can thus fall into the containers mentioned by gravity. These containers are after one Development of the invention open, especially open at the top pockets. In such bags, the flat products can be conveyed very safely and precisely aligned.

In order to move the containers transversely to the conveying direction, they are each mounted on a guide element, which allows a shift. These guide elements are in particular guide rods. On top of these, the containers can also be entangled and placed, in particular, from an inclined or vertical position into a substantially horizontal position. The movement takes place, for example, with guide curves. Preferably, the lateral displacement also follows the containers with the help of such guiding curves.

The containers are arranged according to a development of the invention to an endless conveyor member. This conveying member is in particular a link chain. This is preferably placed around a drive wheel and a deflection wheel.

According to a development of the invention, the containers are arranged on the circumference of a wheel on which the containers are mounted movably in the conveying direction and transversely to the conveying direction. The wheel is especially a pocket wheel. The loading of the containers takes place approximately in the 12 o'clock position, while the delivery takes place approximately in the 3 o'clock position. This allows a division in a relatively short conveyor area. With such a wheel, it is also possible to merge two partial streams into a single stream.

According to a development of the invention, a further and in particular third conveying member F3 is provided, which takes over the partial flows, for example, with takeover tapes 8.9. This further conveying member F3 preferably runs at a speed which is equal to or less than the speed in the separating region. This has the advantage that the product distance is variably adjustable. The product distance can thus be optimally adjusted to the requirements for further processing.

The flat products are in particular printed products, for example brochures, magazines, newspapers and the like. These printed products become particular after the separation area foils, but there are also other processing or further processing possible. The printed products are produced, for example, in a saddle stitcher, but other methods for producing such printed products are also conceivable.

It has been found that the device according to the invention can also be used to combine two partial streams into a single product stream. The invention thus also relates to a device for merging two partial streams.

Fig. 1

schematisch eine räumliche Ansicht einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung,

Fig. 2

schematisch eine Teilansicht der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung,

Fig. 3

schematisch eine weitere Teilansicht der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung,

Fig. 4

schematisch eine Draufsicht auf einen Teilabschnitt der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung,

Fig. 5

schematisch eine Ansicht einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung gemäss einer Variante,

Fig. 6

schematisch eine Teilansicht der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung gemäss Fig. 5 und

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht auf einen Teilabschnitt der Vorrichtung gemäss Fig. 5.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

3 is a schematic view of a device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

schematically a partial view of the inventive device,

Fig. 3

1 is a schematic view of a further partial view of the device according to the invention;

Fig. 4

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a partial section of the device according to the invention, FIG.

Fig. 5

1 is a schematic view of a device according to the invention according to a variant,

Fig. 6

schematically a partial view of the inventive Device according to Fig. 5 and

Fig. 7

a plan view of a portion of the device according to Fig. 5 ,

In the Fig. 1 shown apparatus according to the invention has a first conveying member F1, which has a conveyor chain 1, in particular an endless link chain on which gripping means 2 are arranged at equal intervals, which are for example clamping elements, clamps or the like. The gripping means 2 each take on a border a printed product 3. In the Fig. 1 these printed products 3 form a stream S, which is conveyed from right to left in this figure. The products 3 are supported as shown hanging. In principle, however, another promotion, for example on a conveyor belt or the like is conceivable. The products 3 are taken from the first conveyor F1, for example, a saddle stitcher not shown here.

The products of the first conveying member F1 are delivered to a release agent T. In the region of this separating agent T, the product stream S is divided into two sub-streams S1 and S2. The release agent T has a plurality of containers 4, which are arranged on a second conveying member F2. These containers 4 are formed as open-topped pockets. They are dimensioned so that they can each receive a printed product 3.

The containers 4 are each mounted on a guide element 6, which are attached to an endless conveyor element, in particular a conveyor chain 5. The guide elements 6 are designed in particular as guide rods. On the guide elements 6, the containers 4 are each displaceable transversely to the conveying direction. In addition, the containers 4 are pivotally mounted on these guide elements 6 by means of a respective joint 13 at a lower edge. This pivoting of the containers is in Fig. 3 shown. In an upper run of the conveyor chain 5, these containers 4 are pivoted by means of a curve not shown here in a clockwise direction. The initially substantially vertically oriented containers 4 are pivoted in a region A from this inclined or substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position. Simultaneously with this pivotal movement about the axes 13, the containers 4 are moved in the conveying direction. Both movements occur simultaneously. The Fig. 4 shows these lateral movements of the containers 4. The containers 4 are alternately moved transversely to the conveying direction to the left or to the right. Here, the containers 4 are divided into the two sub-streams S1 and S2 mentioned.

Before the containers 4 are divided into the substreams S1 and S2 as mentioned above, a printed product 3 is deposited in each case. This storage of printed products 3 in the containers 4 is particularly in Fig. 2 illustrated. The hanging products 3 are connected to the first conveyor F1 as in Fig. 2 shown by a movement from top to bottom of the containers 4 approximated. The printed products 3 are arranged hanging and in each case held at the top of a gripping means 2. If a product 3 is located above a container 4, then the gripping means 2 is opened and the corresponding product 3 falls under the force of gravity from above below in a container 4. The containers 4 each have a bottom 4a, two side walls 4b and a rear wall 4c. The bottom 4a, the side walls 4b and the rear wall 4c hold the corresponding product 3 in the container 4. As already mentioned, this is pocket-shaped or pocket-like. When taking the products 3, the pockets are 4 as in Fig. 2 shown slightly tilted backwards. In general, a container 4 is provided for each product 3. In principle, however, several such products can be stored in a single container. It is also possible to insert additional inserts 7 in these containers 4, which are deducted from an insert magazine 12, as shown in Fig. 2 is shown schematically. The opened gripping means 2 are according to Fig. 2 moved up and away from the separating means 2.

The loaded containers 4 are according Fig. 3 pivoted clockwise in a substantially horizontal position. This pivoting movement takes place in a clockwise direction. The swivel angle is preferably less than 90 °. In principle, however, a 90 ° tilt is also conceivable. The products 3 are brought to the containers 4 in the horizontal position.

If the containers 4 are in the substantially horizontal position, a transfer area D is formed. In this product 3 are taken over by a third conveyor F3. This conveying element F3 consists in particular of two parallel upper transfer belts 8 and two likewise lower lower transfer belts 9. In this transfer region D, the products 3 are arranged separately one behind the other. The conveying speed of the third conveying member F3 is equal to or less than the conveying speed of the second conveying member F2. The product spacing in the region of the third conveying member F3 can be varied by adjusting the conveying speed of the third conveying member F3. The product distance in the region of the third conveyor element F3 is always the same regardless of the format of the products 3 within the partial flows. This is advantageous for further processing, for example for a foliation.

If the second conveying member F2 has delivered the products 3 to the third conveying member F3, then the empty containers 4 are moved downwards in the region of the drive wheel 15 and reach the deflecting wheel 14 at the lower run, where they are returned to the area of the upper run , The printed products 3 are in this case conveyed on the third conveyor F3, for example, on conveyor baths 10 and supplied to a processing device, not shown here, for example, a filming or cutting machine. In the region of the lower run of the conveyor chain 5, the containers 4 are laterally displaced so that they again form a single row and thus be conveyed one behind the other at the same distance. Are the containers 4 again at the beginning of the upper run, they are loaded again as mentioned above. The merging of the containers 4 in the region of the lower run of the conveyor chain 5 also takes place with control cams, not shown here.

The Fig. 5 to 7 show a variant of the inventive device. In this case, the first conveying member F1 may be the same as mentioned above. The products 3 are also delivered to containers 22 as mentioned above. These containers 22 may be formed substantially the same such as the containers 4 mentioned above, can thus be in particular pockets with a bottom, side walls and a rear wall. The containers 22 are mounted on a drum 16 which is mounted about an axis 17 and with not shown drive means in Fig. 5 is driven according to arrow 19. The drum 16 has a plurality of guide elements 21, which are also preferably formed as rods which are arranged parallel and at equal distances from each other. The drum 16 forms with the containers 22 a pocket wheel, in which the containers 22 are arranged on the circumference and aligned radially outwards, as in particular Fig. 6 is shown. The orientation of the containers 22 may be rigid in contrast to the containers 4. The orientation is therefore preferably always the same and radial. In principle, however, a certain pivotability is also possible here.

The containers 22 are loaded as soon as they are each aligned vertically upwards or substantially at 12 o'clock position. When loading the containers 22 are moved continuously in a clockwise direction. If the printed products 3 are in each case in the area of such a container 22, these products 3 are released by opening the corresponding gripping means 2, so that they fall from top to bottom into a container 22 under gravitational force. After delivery of the products 3, the gripping means 2 become as in Fig. 5 again shown moved away from the pocket 20 away. The loaded containers 22 are moved on without interruption and finally reach a horizontal or substantially 3 o'clock position.

During the movement of the containers 22 from the 12 o'clock position in the 3 o'clock position, the containers are each moved on the guide elements 6 transversely to the conveying direction, so that form two partial streams. Here, too, it is preferably provided to move the containers 22 alternatively to the left and to the right, so that they are finally completely separated from one another. But here are also other alternative divisions conceivable, thus, for example, two containers can be moved simultaneously to the left or to the right. The division of the containers 22 into partial streams thus takes place in an angular range of about 90 °. Of course, the products 3 are also divided into sub-streams. If the products 3 are in the horizontal position, they are each detected by an upper transfer belt 23 and a lower transfer belt 24 and conveyed horizontally. For each partial flow is according to Fig. 7 in each case such an upper transfer belt 23 and a lower transfer belt 24 are provided. The conveying speed of these belts 23 and 24 is adjusted so that the products 3 can each be withdrawn from the corresponding container 22. In the Fig. 6 is a product 3 'shown, which is already detected at a front edge of the transfer tapes 23 and 24 and which is still in the region of a container 22 with the rear edge. The product 3 'is according to the arrow 26 in Fig. 6 moved to the right. As soon as the following container 22 is in the horizontal region, the product 3 'is completely removed from the pocket wheel 20 and is fed to a conveyor belt 25. According to the two partial flows are according to Fig. 7 two such conveyor belts 25 are provided, on each of which a partial flow S1 or S2 is conveyed. About the conveyor belts 25, a sensor 27 is arranged in each case in the transfer area, with which the positions and in particular the distances of the products 3 can be determined in the corresponding sub-streams S1 and S2. The corresponding data can be used for tax purposes. In particular, it is thus possible to set the distances of the products 3 in the partial streams S1 and S2 exactly.

The pocket wheel 20 can also be used to assemble two sub-streams S1 and S2 into a single sub-stream. In this case, essentially only the direction of movement must be reversed. The partial streams S1 and S2 are thus in the 6 and 7 moved from right to left and thus in the reverse direction according to arrow 26. The pocket wheel 20 is moved counter to the direction of the arrow 19 in the counterclockwise direction. The products 3 are thus placed horizontally in the containers 22 and lifted out of the containers 22 with the gripping means 2 in a vertical orientation upwards. The containers 22 are moved from the outside to a middle position at the transition from the horizontal orientation to the vertical orientation. The containers 22 are thus not separated here, but joined together into a single stream. Accordingly, the products 3 are assembled into a stream and can be conveyed by the conveyor chain 1 in a single stream accordingly. Such a joining of partial streams S1 and S2 is basically also with the device according to the Fig. 1 to 4 conceivable.

In the case of the abovementioned devices, in each case one current is divided into two partial flows. In principle, embodiments are conceivable in which a stream is divided into more than two partial streams. For example, three partial streams can be formed are shifted by a first container transversely to the conveying direction, a subsequent second container to the left and another subsequent container is moved to the right. Also conceivable is an embodiment in which a partial flow is divided into two further partial flows. Accordingly, a device according to the invention is also conceivable, with which more than two partial flows are combined to form a single partial flow.

Claims (17)

1. Method for handling flat products (3), in particular print products, which are fed in a product stream (S) one after the other and are separated by separating means (T) for dividing the product stream (S) into at least two partial streams (S1, S2), characterised in that the flat products (3) are received by a plurality of receptacles configured as separating means (T) arranged behind one another and then moved thereby, for dividing the product stream (S) into partial streams (S1, S2), transversely to, and in, the conveying direction (11, 19) and are brought from a position, inclined to the horizontal or upright, into a substantially horizontal position.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the flat products (3) are fed in hanging manner by a first conveying apparatus (F1) and are passed from above downwardly into the receptacles (4, 22).
3. Method according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the first conveying apparatus (F1) comprises a plurality of gripping means (2), in particular clamps, with which the flat products (3) are each fed in hanging manner.
4. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the flat products (3) are each passed by means of gravitational force to the receptacles (4, 22).
5. Device for handling flat products (3), in particular print products, comprising a first conveying apparatus (F1) for feeding the products (3) into a product stream (S), and separating means (T) for dividing the product stream (S) into at least two partial streams (S1, S2), characterised in that the separating means (T) for receiving the products (3) are configured as pocket-shaped receptacles (4, 22) oriented inclined to the horizontal or vertically, and in order to form the partial streams (S1, S2), are adjustable into a substantially horizontal position and drivable transversely to, as well as in, the conveying direction (11, 19).
6. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that, in order to form the partial streams (S1, S2), the loaded receptacles (4, 22) are each displaceable on a guide element (6, 21) transversely to the conveying direction (11, 19).
7. Device according to claim 6, characterised in that, in order to form the partial streams (S1, S2), the receptacles (4) are displaceable in the conveying direction (11, 19) to the right and the left in alternating manner.
8. Device according to one of the claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the receptacles (4, 22) are each pivotable at a lower edge about an axis running transversely to the conveying direction.
9. Device according to one of the claims 5 to 8, characterised in that, arranged following said separating means (T) is a third conveying apparatus (F3) which accepts the flat products (3) as partial streams (S1, S2) and continues to convey them.
10. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the accepting of the flat products (3) from the separating means (T) takes place at a conveying speed which is equal to or less than the conveying speed in the region of the separating means (T).
11. Device according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the third conveying apparatus (F3) is configured as a conveyor belt.
12. Device according to one of the claims 5 to 11, characterised in that a second conveying apparatus (F2) is configured as an endless conveying apparatus, wherein the receptacles (4) are movable in the region of an upper strand, which runs substantially horizontally, from an inclined or vertical position to a substantially horizontal position.
13. Device according to claim 12, characterised in that the second conveying apparatus (F2) comprises a link chain.
14. Device according to one of the claims 5 to 13, characterised in that the separating means (T) are configured wheel-shaped and the receptacles (22) are movable in radial orientation about a horizontal axis (17).
15. Device according to claim 14, characterised in that the separating means (T) are configured as a pocket wheel.
16. Device according to claim 15, characterised in that the separating means (T) have a drum (16) which has at its periphery a plurality of guide elements (21) on which the receptacles (22) can be axially displaced.
17. Device according to claim 16, characterised in that the flat products (3) are brought together in a pocket wheel (20).

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