EP1915306A1

EP1915306A1 - Conveying system

Info

Publication number: EP1915306A1
Application number: EP06752913A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Erwin Müller
Original assignee: Ferag AG
Current assignee: Ferag AG
Priority date: 2005-07-29
Filing date: 2006-07-10
Publication date: 2008-04-30
Also published as: AU2006303798B2; US7784602B2; WO2007045105A1; AU2006303798A1; US20080210521A1; CA2617200A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a conveying system to be used in the printing industry, especially in mailroom technology. Said conveying system comprises a revolvingly driven conveying member (1) that is provided with supporting elements (2) which are fixed to a traction rope (1.1) in a stationary and optionally torsion-proof manner. The conveying member (1) can be provided with another rope (1.2) which has the same length as the traction rope (1.1), revolves substantially parallel thereto, and is used as a guide rope or second traction rope. Grippers that are disposed laterally on the belt-shaped conveying member (1), which is formed by ropes (1.1, 1.2) and supporting elements (2), are arranged on the supporting elements (2) in order to grab and hold individual printed products (11) or groups of printed products (11). The conveying member (1) is deflected onto different deflection planes via guiding means (4), e.g. in the form of deflection wheels (5), while being twisted between such deflections such that the three-dimensional position of the supporting elements (2) and the conveyed printed products (11) is or can be modified. The guiding means (4) are equipped with revolving guiding members (6.1, 6.2) which are positioned so as to be in contact with the supporting elements (2). The inventive conveying system can easily be adjusted to and/or be used for very different conveying tasks because the position of the supporting elements (2) on the ropes (1.1, 1.2) can be selected freely while the other functional elements of the system, particularly the guiding means (4) with the revolving guiding members (6.1, 6.2), are largely independent of the distance between the supporting elements (2).

Description

FUNDING SYSTEM

The invention is in the field of materials handling and relates to a conveyor system according to the preamble of the independent claim. The conveyor system is used to promote printed products, in particular newspapers, magazines, brochures or parts thereof.

Known conveyor systems for use in the printing industry, especially in the mailroom technology, are supported with the help print products are usually chain transporters, so have a circumferentially driven conveyor member in the form of a chain on which at regular intervals gripping elements are arranged with which the Printed products are taken and promoted. A corresponding design of the chain, in particular with rollable chain links, which roll in a corresponding channel, makes it possible to realize with such chain conveyors in three dimensions extending orbits or conveyor lines. With such chain transporters, it is also easily possible to convey the printed products conveyed, or the gripping elements used for them, in a very precise sequence. High demands on this accuracy are made in particular for the seizure and release of the printed products by the gripping elements and for processing the printed products during the promotion. Disadvantages of the chain transporters may be that they are relatively expensive and that the distances between the gripping elements on a given chain can only be changed to a very limited extent. In other technical fields, it is state of the art to use conveyor systems based on ropes not only for the relatively long-range transport of people (cable cars, ski lifts) but also for the small-scale transport of goods. In such a conveyor system supporting elements (chairs, gondolas, etc.) or drivers are attached to a pull rope, which are loaded with the persons or goods to be conveyed or to which the persons or goods are coupled. The rope serves primarily as a traction means, but at the same time also carry the support elements and determine their orbit. If the rope serves only as a traction means, the support elements usually have rollers which roll on corresponding, the orbit of the support elements determining support rails. Usually, the orbit of the rope or the support elements in a plane but there are also known systems with three-dimensional orbits. Thus, when relative to gravity differently oriented areas of the orbit, the support elements always have the same spatial position, the support elements usually between rope and loading area articulated connections, such that the loading area is always free from the rope depends so is aligned relative to gravity equal.

An example of a goods conveying system of the above type is described in the publication GB-873921.

Applications of working with a pull rope and attached support elements conveyor systems in the printing industry and in particular in the mailroom technology are not known. The corresponding tasks are, as briefly described above, usually taken over by chain transporters with grippers. One reason for this is probably the high accuracy mentioned above, which is necessary with respect to the spatial location and position of the grippers or the printed products conveyed by the grippers. The specialist goes away 2006/000363

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that such accuracy is easy to provide with a chain conveyor.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a for the requirements in the printing industry and in particular in the mailroom technology applicable in a very flexible manner conveyor system, this conveyor system can provide not only the required accuracy in the same manner as the known chain transporters but the necessary flexibility better than the chain conveyor can master. The conveyor system according to the invention should therefore not only be suitable for being able to be set up for a wide variety of conveying tasks, but it should also be suitable for being able to perceive such different conveying tasks at different points of a single orbit substantially simultaneously. Nevertheless, the conveyor system according to the invention should be simple in manufacture and in operation.

This object is achieved by the conveyor system as defined in the patent claims.

The conveyor system according to the invention, like the conveying systems known from other fields of technology mentioned at the outset, has a circumferentially driven conveying element, which consists essentially of a traction cable and a plurality of supporting elements. The support elements are equipped for a fixed position and optionally secured against rotation attachment to the pull rope and they carry at one end each a gripper. The grippers are suitable for carrying individual printed products or larger or smaller groups of printed products. The ends of the support elements equipped with the grippers are in a same direction away from the cable in the same direction when the cable is undone, that is to say the support elements are aligned with one another and the grippers are in the direction of the pull rope arranged substantially parallel row. The support elements are not only pulled by the pull rope but also worn. The pull rope is slightly stretched to it.

Advantageously, the inventive conveyor system in addition to the pull rope to another rope which is substantially the same length as the pull rope and substantially parallel to this rotates and which can serve as a guide rope or as another pull rope and in each case the support elements in their aligned position leads and holds. If the further cable is designed as a guide cable, the support elements are loosely attached thereto and are held by the guide cable only in the aligned position. If the other rope is to serve as a second pull rope, the support elements are attached thereto as on the first pull rope. In both cases, the two cables together with the support elements form a stable, belt-like, revolving conveyor element, on one narrow side of which the grippers are arranged in a row. Of course, the inventive conveyor system may also have more than two ropes, of which at least one serves as a traction cable, that is, the support elements are fixed in position fixed at least one of the ropes or fastened.

The inventive conveyor system may also have only the pull rope and no other rope. In this case, the support elements are not only fixed in position but also secured against rotation attached to the pull rope or fastened.

The inventive conveyor system further comprises at least one drive on and along the orbit arranged guide means, is determined by the orbit of the conveying member substantially, that is, in particular, the orbit of the gripper and thus the course of the conveyor line, along the held by the grippers Be promoted printed products. The grippers are closed and opened for gripping and releasing printed products. The orbit of the conveyor member in the conveyor system according to the invention is in particular a three-dimensional structure, wherein the guide means deflect the conveyor member in different and in particular not mutually parallel planes. Between such deflections, the conveying member is twisted, such that the elements are aligned relative to the deflection plane always the same, in particular perpendicular to the deflection plane, so that for the deflections regardless of the position of the deflection planes on the same principle working guide means can be used advantageously neither on the pull rope nor on the other cables but on the support elements attack. Further, working on the same principle guide means can be used not to deflect the conveying member but to bring about rectilinear areas of its orbit twisting, or by such twisting the support elements and in particular arranged thereon gripper or held by these printed products in a predetermined position For example, for gripping, firing or processing held by the gripper printed products. If the conveying member has only the pull rope and no further rope and is therefore much less stable than a conveying member with two or more ropes, it may be advantageous to work on the same principle guiding means on rectilinear orbit areas without distortion, so only to stabilize the conveying member use.

Selected guide means may also assume a drive function in addition to their guidance function.

Obviously, the guiding means of the system according to the invention play a central role. They are used not only where a change of direction (deflection) in the orbit is to be realized, but also where the conveying member is wound without direction change or merely stabilized. For the various management functions, as already mentioned, preferably an always same type of guide means used, this type of guide medium should be as independent of the distance of the support elements on the pull rope so that it is applicable in the same way in conveyor systems or areas thereof, which are equipped for a variety of conveying functions. As already mentioned, these guiding means advantageously do not engage the traction cable or other ropes but are displaced on the carrier elements, namely with respect to the traction cable and the further cables and, depending on the guiding function, on one side or on two opposite sides of the carrier elements. The support elements contacting the parts of the guide means are circumferential guide members, in particular rotating guide belts or guide strings. Of course, in addition to the aforementioned preferred type of guide means, the conveyor system according to the invention may also comprise other types of guide means or drives combined with guide means.

The connection between the support element and the traction cable can be rigid, wherein the Tragelemente then advantageously at regular intervals from each other along the traction cable are attached. But the connection between the support element and the traction cable can also be detachable, such that the traction cable continues to act as a guide when the connection is released, or such that the carrier element can be completely decoupled from the traction cable. If the pull rope acts as a guide cable when the connection of the support elements is released, the distances between the support elements during the conveying operation can be varied, for example, in this state, and the support elements can also be stationary relative to the pull cable and, for example, buffered.

The support elements can be equipped with a variety of grippers for gripping, holding and dismissing printed products. Applicable are substantially all types of known such grippers, as well as substantially all control means, which are known for the opening and closing of such grippers. The Grippers capture the printed products in a manner known per se in the region of an edge. This edge can be aligned parallel to the conveying direction, wherein the distances between the grippers is so large that each gripper detects a printed product and these are conveyed overlapping each other or one behind the other. However, it is also possible to grasp a shingled stream with correspondingly closer together grippers or carrying elements, wherein each gripper grips a plurality of overlapping products and each product is held by a plurality of grippers. The product edges gripped or gripped by the grippers may also be oriented transversely to the conveying direction, so that the printed products are conveyed in a compacted stream one behind the other and substantially aligned with one another. Of course, it is also possible to arrange the grippers tilting, pivoting or rotatable on the support elements, control means being provided at predetermined points of the orbit, by means of which certain tilting, pivoting or rotating positions are set at predetermined points of the orbit and / or maintained.

Exemplary, preferred embodiments of the conveyor system according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures. Showing:

Figure 1 is an overview of an exemplary embodiment of the inventive conveyor system, which embodiment has the conveying member in different planes deflecting deflecting wheels;

2 shows a deflection by means of deflection wheel of the conveyor system according to FIG. 1 (section parallel to the axis of the deflection wheel, section line H-II in FIG. 1);

FIG. 3 shows a twisting point of the conveyor system according to FIG. 1 on a larger scale; FIG. 4 shows an exemplary gripping point or discharge point of the conveyor system according to FIG. 1 (section parallel to the axis of the deflecting wheel, section lines IV-IV in FIG. 1);

FIG. 5 shows a further guide means which can be used in a conveyor system according to FIG. 1;

Figure 6 shows a guide means as in Figure 5, applied in a conveyor system with only one pull rope;

7, 3 show a further guide means, applied in a conveyor system with only one pull rope, wherein the conveyor element is twisted and supported but not deflected by the guide means (FIG. 7: three-dimensional view; FIG. 8: cut transversely to the conveying direction, section line VIII-) VIII in Fig. 7);

FIGS. 9-12 show an exemplary embodiment of support elements which can be used in a conveyor system according to the invention with detachable attachment to the traction cable (FIG. 9: a buffer section of the support elements;

Figs. 10 and 11: the support element in section parallel to the pull rope in attached to the rope and released from this state; Fig. 12: the support element in section transverse to the pull rope);

13, 14 a further exemplary embodiment of support elements which can be used in a conveyor system according to the invention, with detachable connection to the traction cable, such that the traction cable can only be a guide cable locally (FIG. 13: a buffer section of the support elements; cut parallel to the pull rope); FIG. 15 shows a further, exemplary embodiment of support elements which can be used in a conveying system according to the invention with detachable connection to the traction cable, such that the support elements can be decoupled from the traction cable and fastened to another traction cable (four successive stages of a transfer from one traction cable to another traction cable );

16, 17 show a further, exemplary embodiment of support elements that can be used in a conveying system according to the invention, which can be decoupled from the traction cable (FIG. 16: the support element in the state coupled to the traction cable; FIG. 17: the support element in decoupled from the traction cable) guided in a guide channel state).

FIG. 1 shows, in a very schematic representation, a first, preferred embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, of which only one conveying-relevant part is shown. The conveyor system has two equally long and ever closed to an endless loop ropes 1.1 and 1.2, which are driven at substantially the same speeds substantially parallel to each other and together with the support elements 2 form an endless circulating belt-like conveying member 1, on which the gripper are arranged laterally in a row; At least one of the ropes, advantageously the rope 1.1 further away from the grippers, serves as a traction cable, that is to say the carrying elements are fastened to it in a fixed position.

The support elements 2, which are not all shown in FIG. 1, are fastened to the pull cable 1.1 at regular intervals and are each equipped with a gripper 3 arranged laterally by the belt-like conveyor element. The orbit of the conveyor member 1 is defined by guide means 4, which are formed in the illustrated case as freely rotating de deflection wheels 5, wherein around the circumference of each guide wheel, a plurality of rotating with the rotating guide wheels 5 guide members 6.1 and 6.2 are arranged. The conveying member 1 with the Tragelernenten 2 is deflected by the guide wheels 5 in different levels (in the illustrated case three mutually perpendicular planes) and forcibly wound at torsion points 7 between deflections in different levels.

If the friction between guide members 6.1 and 6.2 and support elements 2 is sufficiently large, one of the deflection wheels 5 can also be configured as a conveyor drive, that is not freely rotatably mounted but driven according to rotating. As a conveyor drive, but for example, a sprocket with teeth (not shown) can be used, the teeth between the ropes 1.1 and 1.2 and between adjacent support elements 2 engage in the belt-like conveyor member 1.

The conveyor system according to FIG. 1 is designed to convey a shingled stream 10 in the conveying direction F, wherein printed products 11 are arranged overlapping one another in the shingled stream. The shingled stream 10 is gripped by the grippers 3 of the support members 2 in a gripping 12 and dismissed in a discharge point 13, wherein the distances of the gripper 3 on the belt-like conveyor member 1 and the length of the products 11 and their overlap in the scale flow 10, for example, each other are matched, that each gripper 3 takes a plurality of overlapping products 11 and each product 11 is held by a plurality of grippers 3. In this way, the scale flow 10 is held and conveyed as a whole. At the gripping point 12 and at the discharge point 13 control means 15 are arranged, with which the grippers 3 are opened and possibly closed for gripping and opened for release and optionally closed again. FIG. 2 shows, on a larger scale, a section (section line II-II in FIG. 1) through one of the deflection wheels 5 shown in FIG. 1 and a support element 2 which is attached to at least one of the cables 1.1. and 1.2 is attached and is conveyed to the guide wheel 5. The support element 2 is equipped with an exemplary gripper 3, wherein the gripper is closed around an edge of a printed product 11. The deflection wheel 5 is freely rotatably mounted about an axis A, or, if it also serves as a conveying drive, is driven to rotate about this axis A.

The support element 2 shown has two clamping parts 2.1 and 2.2, which aligned with each other on their sides facing each other, tuned in their cross section on the ropes 1.1 and 1.2, inner grooves 20.1 and 20.2, which together each have a leading through the support member opening for Ropes 1.1 and 1.2 form. With suitable clamping means, not shown, the clamping parts are clamped against each other such that the support member are fixed in position fixed by the clamping action on at least one of the ropes. Furthermore, the clamping parts 2.1 and 2.2 on outer grooves 21.1 and 21.2, which extend parallel to the inner grooves 20.1 and 20.2 and are adapted to the rotating guide members 6.1 and 6.2 of the guide means. The circulating guide members 6.1 and 6.2 are formed in the present case as strings, which are arranged in corresponding, extending around the circumference of the guide wheel 5 grooves 22.1 and 22.2.

So that the support elements 2 can be deflected in different directions by the same guide means, both clamping parts 2.1 and 2.2 have outer grooves 21.1 and 21.2, as shown in FIG. So that the support elements 2 are as versatile as possible, they advantageously have a third inner groove 20.3, which is arranged centrally between the two outer grooves 21.1 and 21.2 and in embodiments of the inventive conveyor system with only one rope (see Figures 6 to 8) the inclusion of the rope can be used. While in the case illustrated a conveyor system with two ropes obviously possible would be to provide a guide wheel 5 with only one rotating guide member and to arrange this for contact with the support members between the two cables, it is necessary in the case of the conveyor system with only one rope that two rotating guide members are provided. Of course, it is also possible to provide additional ropes and / or other rotating guide members and corresponding grooves in the clamping parts 2.1 and 2.2.

FIG. 3 again shows, on a larger scale, a twisting point 7 of the conveyor system according to FIG. 1, which occurs, for example, between a deflection wheel 5 with a vertical axis (deflection plane horizontal) and a following deflection wheel 5 with a horizontal axis (deflection plane vertical). The same elements are designated by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1. The support elements 2 are the same as in FIG. 2. The clamping means with which the two clamping parts 2.1 and 2.2 of the support elements 2 are clamped around the ropes 1.1 and 1.2 are screws 25 which engage in the other clamping part by a clamping part and which are arranged in the region of the cable 1.1. This results (with the same inner grooves formed) a larger clamping force to the rope 1.1 as to the rope 1.2, such that the holding elements 2 are fixed in position fixed to the rope 1.1 and make this to the traction rope while they also include the rope 1.2, relatively But they are a bit agile and thus this rope becomes a leader rope.

From Figure 3 it can be seen that in the twisting 7 not only the relative spatial position of the two cables 1.1 and 1.2 is changed but also the spatial position of the support elements 2 and thus the spatial position of the held by the grippers 3 printed products 11th FIG. 4 shows a section (section line IV-IV in FIG. 1) through the deflecting wheel 5 of the gripping point 12 (FIG. 1) of the conveyor system, as shown in FIG. Like elements are again denoted by the same reference numerals. The gripping point 12 is located in the region of the lower vertex of the guide wheel 5. The gripper 3 (designed differently than the gripper shown in Figure 2) run in the open state (3.1, dash-dotted lines) in the gripping point 12, and are at the catch place closed to a lateral edge of the scale flow 10, the job on a conveyor belt 30 in the gripping 12 is encouraged to take. The gripper 3 is designated 3.2 in the closed state and shown in detail. An unillustrated control means (eg stationary control link) attacks for opening the gripper 3, for example, connected to the gripper jaws 31 control wings 32 and drives the gripper jaws 31 against the biasing force of a spring 33 in a spaced-apart position (gripper open). When the action of the control means ceases, the spring 33 shears the gripper 3, thus grasping the edge area of the scale flow 10.

FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary guiding means 4, or deflecting means, which can be used in a conveying system according to FIG. In contrast to the pulleys 5 of Figure 1, the two rotating guide members 6.1 and 6.2 of the guide means 4 are not arranged according to Figure 5 around the circumference of a wheel but they run over a plurality of freely rotating rollers 40, wherein the rollers 40 in a curve are arranged and have on their circumference to the rotating guide members 6.1, 6.2 adapted chutes 41. Advantageously, the guide means 4 also has a spring-mounted and serving as a tension roller roller 40.1. If the guide means 4 according to FIG. 5 should also function as a conveyor drive, it additionally has a roller 40.2 designed as a drive roller, which is driven in rotation by a suitable drive 42. So that slip between the drive roller 40.2 and the guide members 6.1 and 6.2 can be kept as small as possible, it is advantageous, the rollers 40 and 40.1 to be arranged such that the looping of the drive roller 40.2 by the management bodies 6.1 and 6.2 is as large as possible.

Figure 6 shows an identical guide means 4 as Figure 5, but which is used in a conveyor system with only one pull rope 1.3. The support elements 2 are the same as described in connection with FIG. 2, the single cable 1.3 extending through the middle inner grooves 20.3 of the clamping parts 2.1 and 2.2 of the support elements 2.

Figures 7 and 8 show another, exemplary guide means 4, which causes no deflection of the conveying member 1 but only a twisting of the conveying member 1. This guide means 4 consists of two acting on opposite sides of the support members 2 guide means 4.1 and 4.2, which are configured in substantially the same manner as the guide means described in connection with Figures 5 and 6. FIG. 7 shows the guide means in a three-dimensional representation, FIG. 8 shows a section perpendicular to the conveying direction (section line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7).

The two guide means parts 4.1 and 4.2 in turn each have the two rotating guide members 6.1 and 6.2, which run in the present case via two rollers 40. The axes of the rollers 40 are all arranged at the same distance from the support elements 2, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the conveying direction, so that the conveying member 1, which is guided between the guide members extending over the rollers 40, not deflected but only twisted. The support elements 2 are the same as the support elements described in connection with FIG. In particular, from Figure 8 shows that it makes no significant difference, whether the conveying member has a rope or two ropes. The conveying member 1 runs, for example, with vertically oriented support elements 2 against the guide means 4 (for example, from a deflection in a horizontal plane) and is wound by the guide means 4 such that the support elements 2 are rotated in a horizontal position. Obviously, it is also possible to arrange the guide means parts 4.1 and 4.2 in such a way that the conveying member is not twisted but held and stabilized in a position which it already has before entering the guide means 4. In this way, this situation is kept accurate, which may be important in particular for conveying members with only one rope, since these can be wound by small lateral forces and therefore at locations where an accurate positioning of the gripper 3 is necessary, advantageously be performed.

It can be seen from all FIGS. 1 to 8 that when using one of the guiding means 4 shown as a conveying drive, the conveying system can be operated in two opposite directions and the operation is essentially independent of the spacing of the supporting elements 2 in the conveying member 1 the particular application and to the characteristics of the printed products to be promoted, without thereby other system parts would have to be used. Should be necessary for a specific application such a large distance between the support elements 2, that the rope or ropes are bent too much at deflections before and after a support member or that the rope or ropes between support elements in deflections with parts of guide means 4 in come an undesirable contact, so-called blind support elements without gripper can be integrated in the conveying member between promotional, that is equipped with grippers supporting elements.

As ropes 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 are in particular wire ropes with a diameter of about 5 mm or less used. It turns out that on such ropes support elements for the usual in the aforementioned field of technology loads without can be fixed by clamping not only fixed in position but also torsion resistant. The advantage of the embodiments with more than one cable is that the band-like conveying member has a greater torsional stiffness. The advantage of the embodiments with only one rope is that in addition to the above-described guide means 4 for deflecting the conveying member, other, for example, gear-like deflection means are applicable, are possible by the deflections with aligned parallel to the deflection plane support members and thus spread apart grippers what a means even higher flexibility.

Figures 9 to 14 show further embodiments of support elements 2, which are applicable in the inventive conveyor system. These support elements 2 are detachably attached to a pull rope 1.3, such that the pull rope 1.3 with dissolved attachment the support elements 2 no longer pull but can still lead, so that the support elements 2 along the rope 1.3 are slid or supporting elements 2 can stand, while the rope 1.3 rotates. By temporary solution of the attachment, the distances of the support elements 2 can be adjusted from each other during the conveying operation. Figures 9 and 13 show an exemplary application of such releasably attached to the pull cable 1.3 support elements 2, namely a buffer line 50 stowed on the support members 2 and in a controlled manner, for example, regularly clocked released again.

The support elements 2 of Figures 9 to 12 have for the rope 1.3. a through opening 51 which, for example, similar to the support elements discussed in connection with Figure 2 is formed by aligned inner grooves in two clamping parts. However, the grooves are dimensioned such that the opening 51 has an inner cross section which is greater than the cable cross section, so that the rope can run loose through the opening. In the opening 51, a clamping device, such as a clamping spring 52 is additionally arranged, which is sufficiently biased against the cable 1.3 in order to hold the rope in the opening 51 fixed in position and possibly secured against rotation can. Of the opening 51 protrudes in a suitable manner operatively connected to the Klemmeinriches control 53 from the support member 2, via which control the Klernm- action of the clamping spring 52 controlled repealed or re-activated. The control is, for example, as shown in Figures 9 to 12, a control lever 54 with a control slide 55 or a control roller, which slide or roll on a corresponding gate 56, such that the clamping spring 52 by the control lever 54 against the own spring force from the rope 1.3 is lifted when the connection between the cable 1.3 and support element to be solved. At the same time, the control 53 and the link 56 can be used to maintain or rotationally change the rotational position of the support members 2 on the cable 1.3 while the clamping spring 52 is held in its inactive position.

The buffer line 50 shown in FIG. 9 has a stop 57 which projects, for example, in a regularly cycled manner into the conveying path of the support elements 2 or is removed therefrom (double arrow S). In the conveying direction F behind the stop 57, the control link 56 is arranged, through which the connection between support elements 2, which are conveyed against the stop 57, and the rope 1.3 holds dissolved. The support elements 2 are then conveyed by a suitable drive, which can be gravity when the conveyor line is falling, against the stop 57 and the support elements accumulated therefrom. When the stop 57 releases a support member 2, this leaves the region of the link 56 and is thereby again attached to the rope 1.3 and further promoted while the loose support members 2 move up against the stop 57.

To illustrate the above-described clamping device by means of clamping spring 52, FIGS. 10 and 11 show a supporting element 2 according to FIG. 9 parallel to the cable 1.3 cut attached to the rope and dissolved in the state of the rope and Figure 12 shows the same support member 2 cut across the rope 1.3.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show another support element 2 detachable from the pull cable 1.3 and guided in a released state by the pull cable. The connection between the rail element 2 and the cable 1.3 can in turn be controlled via a control element in a manner not shown leading support element 2, which is already solved by the rope and therefore slower moves or stops, is activated. Buffer sections 50 of any desired length can be realized with support elements 2 equipped in this way, while the buffer section according to FIG. 9 can not be longer than the length over which the connections between support elements 2 and cable 1.3 can be kept released by the link 56.

It is readily possible for the skilled person, the support elements 2 and their releasable attachment to the rope 1.3, as shown in Figures 9 to 14, for applications with more than one rope and for other applications, which are not buffer sections, by analogy adapt.

Figures 15 to 17 show support elements 2, the attachment to the pull rope is not only solvable but can be completely decoupled from the rope. The same figures also show exemplary applications for such support elements.

The supporting elements 2 according to FIG. 15 can be transferred from a first rope 1.4 to a second rope 1.5, being conveyed on the first rope 1.4 to a transfer point (state a) and in the transfer point in which the two cables 1.4 and 1.5 are guided parallel to each other be attached to the second rope 1.5 (state b) and then decoupled from the first rope 1.4 (state c) are. After the transfer office the support element 2 is fastened away on the second cable 1.5 (state d). In order to enable said transfer, the support element function is distributed, for example, on three separate and mutually substantially independent elements, namely on two fasteners 60.1 and 60.2 each associated with one of the ropes 1.4 and 1.5 and are attached to this rigid or detachable, and a support member 61 which carries the gripper 3 and which is selectively coupled to one or the other attachment member 60.1 or 60.2, for example, as shown in Figure 15, by corresponding, via a control means (eg control link 56) deactivatable and accordingly again activatable clamping means 62 (62.1 clamping means in deactivated condition, 62.2 clamping means in activated condition).

Of course, it is also possible to equip the clamping means 62 for direct attachment to the first and second cables 1.4 and 1.5, instead of providing separate fasteners for attachment to the ropes 1.4 and 1.5, as is the case according to FIG.

Figures 16 and 17 show a further embodiment of the pull rope 1.3 decoupled support members 2, which are equipped for guiding in a guide channel 70 at its opposite side of the gripper 3 with rollers 71. For attachment to the pull cable 1.3, a pivotable clamping lever 2.3 is provided, which is laid with a running on a backdrop not shown control roller 72 through which the pivotable clamping lever to the rope (support member attached to rope, Figure 16) or from this (support member of Rope solved and decoupled or uncoupled, Figure 17).

FIG. 16 shows the feed of the support element 2 against a deflection in which the cable 1.3 is deflected towards the left. Before the cable deflection, the guide channel 70 runs parallel to the cable 1.3 and the rollers 71 run in the channel 70. This Condition is shown in FIG. Between the inlet of the rollers 71 in the channel and the cable guide, so with even parallel guide of cable 1.3 and guide channel 70, the attachment of the support member 2 on the rope 1.3 is released (2.3 clamping lever swung open, left in Figure 17) and the support element. 2 is, as soon as it comes into an area in which the rope 1.3 and the guide channel 70 is no longer parallel (right in Figure 17) decoupled from the rope 1.3.

A coupling to the cable runs substantially inversely to the above-described decoupling.

The above description and the figures clearly show that very many different conveying tasks can be achieved with the conveyor system according to the invention. In this case, the cables, the support elements and the guide means can be modularly combined to form a variety of conveyor systems and / or it can be realized in particular with the releasable from the pull rope or even decoupled support elements conveyor lines on which successively different conveying tasks are solved.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

A conveyor system for conveying printed products (11), in particular newspapers, magazines, brochures or parts thereof, which conveyor system comprises a revolving conveyor (1) and grippers (3) arranged thereon, the grippers for gripping, holding and discharging of individual printed products (11) or of groups of printed products (11) are equipped, and which conveyor system further comprises the conveying member (1) leading and / or deflecting guide means (4), characterized in that the conveying member (1) is a circulating traction cable ( 1.1, 1.3) and a plurality of support elements (2) which are secured to the pull cable (1.1, 1.3) positionally and optionally secured against rotation or fastened, such that the support elements (2) aligned with each other protrude from the pull rope and the gripper (3) , which are arranged on the support elements (2), a train to the (1.1, 1.3) form substantially parallel row.

2. A conveyor system according to claim 1, characterized in that in addition to the pull cable (1.1) at least one further cable (1.2) is provided, which is the same length as the pull rope (1.1) and is arranged substantially parallel to it circumferentially, wherein the support elements ( 2) are fastened or guided on the further cable (1.2), such that the at least two cables (1.1, 1.2) together with the support elements (2) form a belt-like conveying member (1) with grippers (3) arranged laterally thereon.

3. Conveying system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide means (4) encircling guide members (6.1, 6.2) which are arranged for contact with the support elements (2).

4. conveying system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the conveying member (1) by means of guide means (4) which deflect the conveying member (1) in different planes, and / or by means of guide means (4) in the rectilinear areas the orbit on the conveying member (1) act, is wound.

5. Conveying system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each support element (2) for attachment to the traction cable (1.1, 1.3) has two clamping parts (2.1, 2.2) and clamping means.

6. conveying system according to claim 5, characterized in that the clamping parts ^; (2.1, 2.2) to the pull rope (1.1, 1.3) and optionally to the at least one further cable (1.2) adapted inner grooves (20.1, 20.2, 20.3) have.

7. conveying system according to claim 6, characterized in that each clamping part (2.1, 2.2) has three inner grooves (20.1, 20.2, 20.3).

8. conveying system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the support elements (2) on the rotating guide members (6.1, 6.2) adapted outer grooves (21.1, 21.2) which relative to the inner grooves (20.1, 20.2, 20.3) have staggered positions.

9. A conveyor system according to claim 8, characterized in that the support elements (2) on both sides each have two outer grooves (21.1, 21.2).

10. A conveyor system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the support elements (2) are detachably attached to the pull cable (1.1, 1.3) and that the system control means zυr solution and re-attachment of the support elements (2) on the traction cable (1.1, 1.3 ) having.

11. A conveyor system according to claim 10, characterized in that the control means comprise a clamping spring (52) with which the pull cable (1.1, 1.3) against the support element (Z) can be pressed, as well as on the clamping spring (52) attached and from the Support element (2) projecting control element (53), by the actuation of the clamping spring (52) against its spring force movable and thus the fastening between the support element (2) and pull rope (1.1, 1.3) is releasable.

12. A conveyor system according to claim 11, characterized in that the control element (53) is arranged for actuation by means of a stationary link (56).

13. Conveyor element according to claim 11, characterized in that the control element (53) is arranged for actuation by a leading-end, dammed-up support element (2).

14 conveying system according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that a region of the orbit of the conveying member (1) as a buffer path (50) is formed, wherein at a front in the conveying direction (F) end of the Puf- ferstrecke (50) Stop (57) is arranged.

15. Conveying system according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the support elements (2) from the traction cable (1.1, 1.3) and optionally from the at least one further cable (1.2) can be decoupled.

16. A conveyor system according to claim 15, characterized in that the support elements (2) are equipped with means for coupling to two parallel juxtaposed ropes (1.4, 1.5) and that the orbit has an area in which it is connected to another orbit another Conveyor is arranged parallel and side by side.

17. A conveyor system according to claim 15, characterized in that the Tragele- elements (2) with rollers (71) for a guide in a guide channel (70) are equipped and that a portion of the orbit with the guide channel (70) arranged parallel and side by side is.

18. Conveying system according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the circulating guide members (6.1, 6.2) of at least one guide means (4) for driving the conveying member (1) are circumferentially drivable.

19. Conveying system according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the circulating guide members (6.1, 6.2) are clamped on the circumference of guide wheels (5) or run over rollers (40).

20. Conveying system according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the guide means (4) each have at least two mutually parallel guide members (6.1, 6.2).