EP1991484A1

EP1991484A1 - Apparatus for forming stacks of flat products

Info

Publication number: EP1991484A1
Application number: EP07722991A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefano Palamides; Marcus Gasser
Original assignee: Palamides GmbH
Current assignee: Palamides GmbH
Priority date: 2006-03-06
Filing date: 2007-03-02
Publication date: 2008-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-02
Also published as: DE102006011642A1; WO2007101611A1; US7665721B2; US20090057999A1; EP1991484B1

Abstract

An apparatus for forming stacks of flat products (10) has a first transportation section (12) for transporting a stream of individual flat products of a first type (16), a second transportation section (18) for forming an overlapping stream (22) of the flat products of the first type (16) and a stacking unit (42) for forming individual stacks (54) from the overlapping stream (22). The invention proposes providing a supply unit (26) for flat products of a second type (30), wherein the supply unit (26) passes the flat products of the second type (30) into the stream of individual flat products of the first type (16) in an inline manner.

Description

Device for forming stacks of flat products

The invention relates to a device for forming stacks of flat products with a first transport section for transporting a stream of individual flat products of a first type, a second transport section for forming a scale flow of the flat products of the first type and a stacking unit for forming individual stacks of the scale flow.

The invention further relates to a method for forming stacks of flat products with the following steps:

a generating a flow of individual sheet products of a first type; b transporting the flow of individual flat products of the first type; c forming a scale flow from the individual sheet-like products of the first type; d forming individual stacks from the shingled stream In the production of flat products and in particular in the mass production of sheet-like printed products, these sheet products are generally removed individually from a production machine and combined into a scale flow. This shingled stream is then divided into stacks. These stacks are collected and packaged for further shipment, eg, banded, or otherwise packaged.

Devices for carrying out this process are also referred to as automatic displays. Such devices are e.g. manufactured by the applicant and marketed under the type designation delta700.

The stacks formed in this way, in particular, when they are made of flexible flat products, the problem that they are limp and often fold very quickly, making them difficult to handle and also can lead to damage to the sheet products.

It has also been shown that a simple banding of such a stack can lead to the uppermost and the lower lying flat products can be damaged by external influences.

It has therefore been found to be advantageous to provide such stacks on the upper and lower sides with a rigid material such as e.g. To provide a solid cardboard, on the one hand to give the stack a certain stiffness and on the other to protect the top and bottom lying flat products from damage.

It is also often desirable to provide a stack of sheet products either top or bottom with another sheet product, for example, provides more accurate evidence of the contents of the stack. It is known to attach such further sheet products by direct laying on the stack on a stack.

However, this has the disadvantage that this reduces the speed with which a device for forming stacks is operated. In addition, this increases the size of the aforementioned device significantly.

It is therefore an object of the present invention, an apparatus and a method for forming stacks of flat products of the type mentioned in such a way that it can be formed stack of flat products of a first type in the flat products of a second type are introduced and this with a high operating speed and without increasing the size of such a device significantly.

According to the invention the object is achieved in that on the device for forming stacks of flat products, a supply unit for flat products of a second type is present, wherein the feed unit introduces the flat products of the second type inline in the flow of the individual sheet products of the first type ,

In a method according to the invention, in step b of transporting the stream of individual sheet-like products of the first type, at least one sheet of a second type is introduced into the flow of the sheet-like products of the first type.

The term "flat product" as used herein means all products whose thickness is many times lower than their length and width, including in particular flat paper and cardboard products such as printed products, but also sheet-like plastic or metal products. These sheet products can be of any type, wherein the sheet-like products of the first type differ in at least one feature from those of the second type. This feature may be, for example, the form, the material but also the imprint.

By feeding the flat products inline, they can be introduced at the same speed with which the individual flat products of the first type move onto the transport section. Thus, there is no delay in introducing the flat products of the second type, since the distance between the flat products of the first type can be used for introducing the flat products of the second part, without any braking of the first transport section would be necessary.

In addition, since the insertion of the second-type sheet products is in-line, the feeder can be arranged in parallel above the first conveying portion so that no elongation or broadening of the device of the apparatus occurs. This allows a particularly compact design.

The feed unit can have any shape known to those skilled in the art and consists, for example, of a separating device and a conveyor belt.

In one embodiment of the invention, the feed unit introduces the flat products of the second type into the flow of the individual flat products of the first type at an interface between the first transport section and the second transport section.

In particular, flat products with several sides or folded flat products are often transported between two conveyor belts in order to prevent them from being opened or unfolded. In general, there is a gap in the interface between the first and the second transport section Conveyor belts into which the feed unit can easily insert the flat products of the second type without the need for further structural changes to known devices for forming stacks of flat products.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the first transport section has a first conveyor belt at a first speed and the second transport section has a second conveyor belt at a second speed, wherein the second speed is lower than the first speed.

By this measure, the sheet-like products are braked during the transition from the first transport section in the second transport section and pushed over each other. This results in a simple and gentle way a scale flow, which is then forwarded directly.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the feed unit introduces two directly successive flat products of the second type between the flat products of the first type, wherein preferably with the stacking unit the scale flow between the two successive flat products of the second type is separable, so that a first planar Product of the second type forms the lid of a leading stack and a second sheet of the second type forms the bottom of a trailing stack.

By such a configuration of the device can be ensured in a simple manner that each stack at the top and bottom, so to speak as a bottom and as a lid, a flat product of the second type.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises a synchronization unit, which synchronizes at least one of the transport sections and in particular both transport sections with the feed unit. Synchronization within the meaning of the invention is to be understood here as meaning that the position and / or speed of a flat product is determined at a point of the transport sections or the supply unit, and the feed unit or the transport sections are activated as a function of this determined position and / or speed ,

Although it is possible to operate the delivery unit purely over a time cycle, it has, however, e.g. shown that in the first transport section, due to the presence of defective flat products, there may be interruptions. This can no longer be guaranteed that the flat products of the second type uniformly limit large stacks.

A synchronization in the above manner, however, ensures that always the same size stacks are formed.

Preferably, the introduction of the flat products is synchronized with the transport of the flow of the flat products of the first type so that a flat product of the second type comes to rest approximately on a flat product of the first type.

It has been found that by this measure, e.g. when successively inserting two sheet-like products of the second type, for the second sheet-like product of the second type, the same distance between the sheet-like products of the first type is available as when only a sheet-like product of the second type is introduced, which in turn makes insertion safer. This measure thus in turn leads to a particularly secure insertion of the flat products of the second type.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the transport of the scale flow is synchronized with the feeding of the flat products of the second type. It has been found that when, for example, a flat product of the second type is introduced at the interface between the first and second transport sections, by temporarily increasing the speed of transport to the second transport section, the time window in which a second planar product is introduced can, can be increased, as this is transported faster from the flow of the individual sheet products. Also in this way, such synchronization can increase the security of insertion.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the stacking device has a holding arm.

A holding arm has proven to be a mechanically particularly simple embodiment of the stacking device, which operates safely, in particular even at high production speeds.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the particular combination indicated, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to selected embodiments and explained.

Show it:

1 shows a device for forming stacks of flat products,

2 shows very schematically a first step of a method for forming

Stacking flat products, 3 very schematically shows a second step of a method for forming stacks of flat products,

4 shows very schematically a third step of a method for forming stacks of flat products,

5 very schematically shows a fourth step of a method for forming stacks of flat products,

6 shows very schematically a fifth step of a method for forming stacks of flat products, and

7 shows very schematically a sixth step of a method for forming stacks of flat products.

In Fig. 1, an apparatus for forming stacks of flat products of the entirety is designated by the reference numeral 10.

The device 10 has a first transport section 12 in the form of a first conveyor belt 14. Flat products of a first type 16, in this case printed and folded flyers, are transported on this conveyor belt 14.

At the first transport section 12, a second transport section 18 in the form of a second conveyor belt 20 connects. On this conveyor belt, a scale flow 22 is arranged from the flat products of the first type 16.

At an interface 24, between the first transport section 12 and the second transport section 18, a feed unit 26 is arranged.

This feed unit 26 has a support 28 on which flat products of a second type 30, in this case solid cartons, are arranged. The support 28 is inclined, so that the cartons 30 slide against a stop 32. The stop 32 has on its underside a slot 34, wherein the height of the slot corresponds to the thickness of a carton. The cartons 30 are held in their current position by friction with each other.

The feed unit 26 also has a movable driver 36 which is reciprocable in the direction of a double arrow 38. In operation, an upper edge of the movable follower 36 projects beyond the top of the overlay 28 through a slot in the overlay 28. This slot extends in the drawing planes and allows the movement of the driver 36 in the direction of the double arrow 38. The driver 36 protrudes at a height beyond the support 28, which corresponds to the thickness of a carton.

Now, if the movable carrier 36 is moved in the direction of the double arrow 38 to the right, this pushes a cardboard through the slot 34 and moves it in the direction of a conveyor belt 40 of the feeder 26. When retracted in the direction of the double arrow 38 to the left of the driver dives under the Pad 28 off, so that getting caught on the cartons is avoided.

Both the height in which the driver 36 protrudes beyond the top of the support 28, and the height of the slot 34 are adjustable. As a result, flat products of different thickness can be supplied with the feed unit 26.

The conveyor belt 40 detects the carton and inserts it directly at the interface 24 between the first transport section 12 and the second transport section 18 into the flow of the flat products of the first type 16.

The feed unit is in this case synchronized with the first transport section 12 that after a predetermined number of flat products of the first type 16, in this case after nine such products 16, two flat products of second type 30 are introduced into the flow of the flat products of the first type 16.

At the end of the second transport section 18, a stacking unit 42 is arranged. This stacking unit 42 has a holding arm 44 and a stacking container 46.

In operation, the flat products of the first type 16 are now moved in the direction of an arrow 48 on the first conveyor belt 14 in the direction of the second transport section 18. Since the second conveyor belt 20 is operated at a lower speed than the first conveyor belt 14, there run the flat products of the first type 16 on each other and form the scale flow 22nd

The number of sheet-like products of the first type 16, which are transported on the first transport section 12, is detected. If a predetermined number of sheet-like products of the first type 16 is reached, it is calculated by a synchronization unit when the last desired sheet-like product of the first type 16 reaches the interface 24. The feed unit 26 is then controlled so that at this time automatically two flat products of the second type 30 in the direction of an arrow 50 in the flow of the flat products of the first type 16 are introduced.

Thus, in the second transport section 18, an imbricated stream 22 is formed from a plurality of flat products of the first type 16, which are each interrupted at a predetermined distance from two flat products of the second type 30.

This scale flow 22 is now moved in the direction of an arrow 52 on the second conveyor belt 20 in the direction of the stacking unit 42. If two successive two-dimensional products of the second type 30 reach the stacking unit 42, then the holding arm 44 is introduced into the shingled stream 22 in such a way that it grips and holds back the second flat product of the second type 30. The remainder of the shingled stream 22 is discharged in the direction of the arrow 50 into the stacking container 46, where it forms a stack 54 of flat products of the first type 16, each of which is bounded above and below by a flat product of the second type 30. This stack 54 can then be directly further processed in the stack container, for example, banded or packaged, or can be removed from this container and further processed in a further step.

A more detailed description of the method according to the invention will now be given with reference to the schematic representation of FIGS. 2 to 7.

In Fig. 2, an apparatus for forming stacks of sheet products is designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 60.

The device for forming stacks of flat products 16 has a first transport section 62 for transporting flat products of a first type 66. The first transport section 62 is adjoined by a second transport section 68 for transporting an imbricated stream 72 of flat products. The apparatus 60 further comprises a feed unit 76 for feeding flat products of a second type 80. The second transport section 68 is followed on the right side by a stacking unit 82, which consists of a holding arm 84 and a stacking container 86. This stacking unit 82 serves to form individual stacks from the shingled stream 72.

In operation, flat products of a first type 66 are now transported on the first transport section 62 at a speed Vi from left to right, ie in the direction of the second transport section 68.

The second transport section 68 transports the flat products of the first type 66 at a speed V ₂ which is less than the speed Vi of the first transport section 62. As a result, the flat products of the first type 66 are pushed over one another and form the shingled stream 72. The device 60 further comprises a detection unit for detecting the flat products of the first type 66. When a predetermined number of first-type flat products 66 are detected, this detecting unit determines the position of the first-type sheet 66 'which is to be the last one of the first-type sheet 66 of a stack. From the determined position and speed, the time at which the sheet of the first type 66 arrives at the point where the sheet of the second type 80 is fed is calculated. The feed unit 76 then accelerates two sheets of the second type 80, 80 'to a speed Vi in such a manner that the first of the two sheets of the second type 80 coincides with the sheet of the first type 66' at the feed position arrives. Due to the fact that the two flat products 80 and 66 'arrive at the same position at the same time, they come to rest on each other in an approximately covering manner during feeding. Because they are moved at the same speed, there is no slippage.

The state of the system after feeding the first sheet of the second type 80 is shown in Fig. 3, from which it can be seen that the sheet of the first type 66 ', which is to form the last sheet of the first type 66 of a stack, and the first flat product of the second type 80 have come to lie approximately opaque to each other.

The shingled stream 72 bounded on the right side by a second-type front sheet 80 "and on the left-hand side by the second-type sheet 80 is further moved by the second transporting portion 68 toward the stacking tray 86.

The feed unit 76 introduces another second-type sheet 80 'to be inserted between the second-type sheet 80 and a first-type sheet 60 "in the shingled stream 72. The shingled stream 72 becomes further to the right transported. The resulting state is shown in Fig. 4.

From Fig. 4 it can be seen that the scale flow has been transported far enough to the right, that the front sheet product of the second type 80 "has already dropped into the stacking container 86. The fact that this drops first into the stacking container 86, this forms the bottom of a to be formed pile.

The flat product of the second type 80 ', has come to rest on the flat product of the second type 80 and is transported together with this within the scale flow 72 to the right.

FIG. 5 shows the situation after a further transport of the scale flow to the right. The flat product of the second type 80 "and five successive flat products of the first type 66 of the scale flow 72 have fallen into the collecting container 86 and have formed there a stack 88.

As soon as the flat product of the second type 80, which is to form the lid of the stack 88, has reached the end of the second transport section 68, this is detected in a detection unit and the holding arm 84 folds down in the direction of the arrow 90. The holding arm engages the flat product of the second type 80 ', which is to form the bottom of the next stack, and holds this back. As a result, the scale flow 72 is separated into individual stacks which are delimited at the top and bottom, ie in the form of a bottom and a lid, by flat products of the second type 80.

The second transport section 68 now transports the flat product of the second part 80 in the direction of the collecting container 86 in order to complete the stack 88 there. This condition is shown in FIG. It can be seen that the flat product of the second type 80 'and thus the scale flow 72 is retained by the holding arm 84. Now, if the stack 88 completed in the stack container 86, this can either be directly banded or packaged there, or can be removed from it and further processed elsewhere. Once the stack 88 is removed from the sump 86, the support arm 84 is folded up in the direction of the arrow 92 and releases the shingled stream 72.

The situation after a further transport of the scale flow 72, after opening the holding arm 84, is shown in FIG. This situation corresponds to the situation illustrated in Fig. 3, and from here on this process can be repeated cyclically until the desired number of stacks have been produced.

Claims

claims

An apparatus for forming stacks of sheet products (10; 60), comprising a first transport section (12; 22) for transporting a stream of individual sheet products of a first type (16; 66), a second transport section (18; 68) for forming an imbricated stream (22; 72) of the sheet products of the first type (16; 66) and a stacking unit (42; 82) for forming individual stacks (54; 88) of the shingled stream (22; 72), characterized in that a delivery unit (26, 76) for sheet products of a second type (30, 80) is provided, wherein the delivery unit (26, 76) inserts the sheet products of the second type (30, 80) in-line into the flow of the single sheets of the first one Type (16; 66) introduces.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the feed unit (26; 76) the flat products of the second type (30; 80) at an interface (24) between the first transport section (12; 62) and the second transport section (18 68) is introduced into the flow of the individual sheet-like products of the first type (16; 66).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first transport section (12; 62) has a first conveyor belt (14) at a first speed, and that the second transport section (18; 68) has a second conveyor belt (20) a second speed, wherein the second speed is lower than the first speed.

A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the feeding unit (26; 76) inserts two directly successive sheet-like products of the second type (30; 80) between the sheet-like products of the first type (16; 66).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the stacking unit (42; 82) can be used to separate the scale flow (22; 72) between the two successive flat products of the second type (30; 80) so that a first planar product of the second type (30; second type (30; 80) forms the lid of a leading stack (54; 88) and a second sheet of the second type (30; 80) forms the bottom of a trailing stack (54; 88).

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the device further comprises a synchronization unit which synchronizes at least one of the transport sections (12, 18, 62, 68) with the feed unit (26, 76).

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the synchronization unit synchronizes both transport sections (12, 18, 62, 68) with the feed unit (26, 76).

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the stacking unit (42; 82) has a holding arm (44; 84) for holding a part of the scale flow (22; 72).

A method of forming stacks (54; 88) of sheet products, comprising the steps of:

a generating a flow of individual sheet products of a first type (16; 66); b transporting the flow of individual sheet products of the first type (16; 66); c forming a scale flow (22; 72) from the single sheet products of the first type (16; 66); d forming individual stacks from the shingled stream (22, 72) characterized in that in step b at least one sheet product of a second type (30; 80) is introduced inline into the flow of sheet products of the first type (16; 66).

A method according to claim 9, characterized in that in step b two directly successive sheet-like products of the second type (30; 80) are introduced into the flow of sheet-like products of the first type (16; 66).

A method according to claim 10, characterized in that in step d the scale flow is separated into stacks such that a first sheet of the second type (30; 80) covers the lid of a leading stack (54; 88) and a second sheet a second type (30; 80) forms the bottom of a trailing stack (54; 88).

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the insertion of the sheet-like product of the second type (30; 80) synchronized with the transport of the stream of the separated sheet-like products of the first type (16; 66) takes place.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the introduction of the flat products of the second type (30; 80) is synchronized with the transport of the flow of the flat products of the first type (16; 66), that a flat product of the second Type (30; 80) comes to rest approximately on a flat product of the first type (16; 66).

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the transport of the scale flow (22; 72) synchronized with the feeding of the flat products of the second type (30; 80) takes place.