EP2219981B1 - Conveyor system and method for conveying planar products - Google Patents

Abstract

The conveyor system for planar products (60), in particular print shop products, features a feeder device (50) as well as a gripper conveyor (10) with a plurality of grippers (12) that move along an orbital track (U), wherein the grippers (12) each include two gripper parts (14, 16) that can be pivoted relative to one another between an open position and a closed position. The relative position of the gripper parts (14, 16) to one another and/or the orientation of the whole gripper (12) in space is a function of its position along the orbital track and is set by at least one control guide (28, 30, 40, 80, 80') that interacts with the grippers such that the gripper parts (14, 16) can be moved from an open position to a closed position while moving through a transfer area (A) of the orbital track (U) for the transfer of products (60) from the feeder device (50).

Description

The invention is in the field of conveyor technology, in particular the conveying of sheet products such. Printed products. It relates to a conveyor system and a method for conveying flat products with such a conveyor system according to claims 1 and 12, respectively.

In the processing of flat products, in particular printed products, it is regularly necessary to transfer the products from one conveyor to another. To overcome large conveyor lines or for separation for the purpose of processing, the further conveyor is often a gripper conveyor in which a plurality of grippers are moved along a closed orbit. Such a device, in which delivered by a feed device in the form of a belt conveyor products are transferred to a gripper conveyor, for example, from EP-A 0557 680 or CH 655 488 known. The arriving in dandruff formation products are taken in a takeover area of a curved or straight gripper orbit individually from each one gripper. Its gripper parts are to be moved from an open position to a closed position and vice versa. For controlling a stationary Steuerkulisse (Öfinungs- / Schliesskulisse), which cooperates with a control on the gripper, such as a control roller or a slider. Depending on the design of the gripper may also be with his orientation With respect to the orbit can be adjusted by means of a control link. The position along the orbit in which the grippers are closed or opened, and optionally the orientation change made by the gripper, is determined by the shape and position of the corresponding control link. In known conveyor systems, the control link is stationary, so that all grippers perform the same movement and thus opened or closed at the same opening or closing position and / or pivoted in the same way.

The US 4,552,349 shows a conveyor system for conveying printed products with a gripper conveyor, containing a concentricity with rotating grippers. The conveyor system further includes a feed device with a conveyor belt and a subsequent to the conveyor belt transfer table. The printed products are conveyed in imbricated formation on the conveyor belt, fed to the transfer table and then pushed synchronously to the cycle of the gripper conveyor on the transfer table to the gripper conveyor. In the transfer area, at the head of the stack of printed products on the transfer table, a single printed product is inserted into a pocket of a gripper and transferred to the gripper conveyor. A discharge device is not provided.

When processing flat products, in particular printed products, it may happen that defective products are in the flow. These should be removed from the delivery stream at the earliest opportunity so as not to disturb further processing and production. This problem occurs, for example, when wrapping printed products with a common packaging film: If the wrapping or number of products is defective, the package of individual products may fall apart on subsequent transport by means of a gripper conveyor. Such a package should therefore, if possible following the faulty previous step and before the transfer the products are discharged into the gripper conveyor from the flow. This is only possible with the conveying systems known hitherto by the delivery device as a whole being moved into a position in which the grippers can not take over the product, for example by being swung out of the transfer region in the manner of a rocker. This is mechanically complicated.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved conveyor system for sheet products, in which products can not be selectively adopted in the transition between a feed device and a gripper conveyor.

The object is achieved by a conveyor system with the features of claim 1 and by a method for conveying flat products with such a conveyor system according to claim 12. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

The conveyor system according to the invention for flat products, in particular printed products, comprises a feed device and a gripper conveyor. The feed device can be, for example, a belt conveyor, on whose conveyor belt the products rest individually or in a scale formation. This can, for example, be located at the exit of a filming line, the products being conveyed then being, for example, printed products wrapped in film. The gripper conveyor has in a conventional manner a plurality of grippers which are moved along a closed orbit. The grippers each have two gripper parts which can be pivoted relative to one another and which can assume an open position and a closed position as well as possibly intermediate positions. The position of the gripper parts and / or their orientation with respect to the Orbit is adjusted depending on the position of the gripper along the orbit by means of at least one control device. This comprises at least one control link, which interacts with the grippers over at least a portion of the orbit. This control link is, for example, a stationary closing link or a triggering or opening element or a link, with which a pivoting of one or both gripper parts relative to the orbit is realized. To take over a product from the feed device, the grippers are controlled by the control device in a transfer region of the orbit so that the gripper parts can be transferred from the open position into the closed position. In this way, a product can be picked up, held on and kept on while it is being held. According to the invention, the grippers can be controlled by the control device in such a way that optionally individual grippers can be moved through the transfer region without receiving a product from the delivery device for further transport. This can be realized in various ways, for example by individual or combination of the following measures: non-opening individual grippers before or in the transfer area or moving the closing position, so that products from the closed gripper can not be included; Pivoting individual grippers relative to the orbit before / in the transfer area, so that products are not introduced into the gripper; Keeping individual grippers in the transfer area open, so that the product is introduced but not grasped and falls out again. The control device comprises at least one controllable control link with at least one movable element, such as a movable guide surface or a switchable switch; Preferably, it includes movable opening and / or Schliesskulissen and / or moving scenes for the position / orientation change of the gripper. These can be used alone or in combination with stationary scenes. The guide surfaces of the movable scenes, for example, occupy different positions in space and, depending on the situation, act as an active guide surface cooperating with the gripper or have no influence on the gripper. As a result, a change in the movement sequence of individual grippers can be realized. To control the movable scenes is preferably a control unit.

Takeover area is understood to mean that part of the orbit of the grippers in which the grippers can basically interact with the products conveyed by the feed device in order to grasp them. The term "product" is to be understood as a unit to be conveyed in each case; A product can consist of several sub-products. The products may also be partial products, inserted or collected products; they may be present individually or as (partial) stacks; they can be foliated or unfoliated. For example, it is printed products wrapped in foil. We have to discard in this example Products where the wrapping is faulty or missing, or where partial or sub-products are missing.

The inventive method comprises the following steps: conveying the products with the feed device; Grasping and conveying the products through the grippers of the gripper conveyor by bringing the gripper parts in the transfer area from the open position to the closed position; and controlling the open or closed position and / or orientation of the grippers such that, optionally, individual grippers are moved through the transfer area without receiving a product from the feeder device.

The conveyor system according to the invention and the corresponding conveying method have the advantage that individual products are not deliberately picked up during the takeover of the products from the delivery flow by the gripper conveyor and thus are not further conveyed. They are therefore discarded in the transition region between feed and gripper conveyor by non-gripping. They fall down, for example, due to gravity and can be disposed of. Preferably, they are additionally additionally actively deflected downwards by the grippers. This minimizes the risk of uncontrolled product parts entering the further conveying path and leading to malfunctions there.

For adjusting the position of the gripper parts relative to one another and / or its orientation, the grippers preferably have control elements which cooperate with at least one guide surface of the control link of the control device. In itself, each gripper type for use according to the invention can be used, provided that the control link is adjusted accordingly.

Preferably, the grippers are pivotable as a whole relative to the orbit. Preferably, the pivot position (orientation of the gripper jaw in relation to the orbit) and the position of the two gripper parts relative to each other (opening state of the gripper jaw) are independently adjustable. Thus, for example, the non-recording or rejection of a product can be realized by pivoting away the gripper. Changing the orientation can be realized largely force-free and thus has the advantage that the corresponding backdrop can be easily and structurally simple and subject to low wear. This also allows fast switching operations.

The grippers can, for example, as in the EP-A 0 600 183 . EP-A 0557 680 or WO 2007/115421 be described described, to which reference is made here. These grippers have two controls in the form of control rollers. A control link (opening and / or Schliesskulisse) cooperates with one of the control rollers and controls in this way the movement of the gripper parts, so that thereby the open or closed position or generally the opening state of the gripper jaw is determined. Another control linkage (positioning gate) cooperates with a second control roller, and thereby determines the orientation of the second gripper part and thus the entire gripper regardless of its open state in space. Pivoting position and the opening state of the gripper jaw are independently adjustable.

The gripper parts according to EP-A 0 600 183 . EP-A 0557 680 or WO 2007/115421 are biased in the open position and locked in the closed state by a locking mechanism. The gripper can be opened by releasing the lock by means of a release element (opening element) acting on the locking mechanism.

The opening and / or closing position of the grippers along the orbit and their orientation or orientation change is determined by the shape of the control link (s) or by the shape of their guide surface (s), which cooperates with the control / the control elements, specified. In the present case, the above-mentioned triggering element is also assumed under control cam.

To reject a product, the guide surface and the associated closing position, for example, changed so that the closing position is in the direction of movement before the transfer area or before the normal closing position used for product intake; It may also be sufficient that only one gripper part is pivoted away without completely closing the gripper. Alternatively, the gripper is not closed in and before the transfer area and / or moved in the closed state by the transfer area and / or pivoted as a whole in the open or closed state so that no product pickup is possible. Another alternative is the pivoting away of the gripper or a gripper part without moving the closing position, so that the gripper can no longer receive a product due to the changed orientation.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the position of the guide surface (s) of the control link (s) with respect to the orbit can be controlled controlled by a control unit. As a result, the course of the opening or closing operation and / or the orientation can be adjusted so; that a particular product is not included. At least one control link is, for example with respect to the orbit at least in a portion of the orbit displaced or pivoted. The control link can also act on the gripper only in a very small portion of the orbit in order to achieve a very short opening or closing operation. This can be supported by the gripper as in EP 0 600 183 . EP-A 0557 680 or WO 2007/115421 is biased in the open or closed position.

In another embodiment of the invention, two or more alternative guide surfaces of the control link (s) are present. If these are stationary, then it can be switched between them, for example by means of a switch. Depending on the switch position, the control elements of the grippers run either along one or the other guide surface. Alternatively, there may be a stationary and a movable control link whose guide surfaces, depending on the position of the movable control link, alternatively act as an active guide surface and determine the course of motion. The gripper parts therefore in both cases undergo the movement pattern which is predetermined by the shape of the active guide surface, e.g. Product picking or swinging away before picking up, normal or early closing. In both variants, very short reaction times can be achieved, which enable in particular an action on only individual grippers. An individual switching and thus controlling individual gripper is possible even at high conveying speeds. Both variants also allow no heavy parts to be moved, e.g. only the switch or only the orientation of one of the gripper parts or the whole gripper (largely power-free) changing scenery.

A switch that can be used here is, for example, in the non-prepublished Swiss patent application no. 1888/06 described. Other switches are also usable.

For detecting a product to be discarded, preferably a control signal from an upstream conveyor or machine component is used, which signals a malfunction. Alternatively or additionally, a detection device may be present, in particular an optical sensor which is located in the conveying direction of the feed device in front of the gripper conveyor. In both cases, a control signal is transmitted to the control unit, which indicates the presence of a product not to be included in the flow.

Preferably, the gripper conveyor is arranged so that its transfer area is at least partially the feed device. The grippers approach during movement along the orbit from above to the feed device. Unabsorbed products can easily be moved downwards with gravity support, without disturbing the movement of the grippers. The feed device ends, for example, next to or below the gripper conveyor.

In an advantageous development of the gripper can fulfill a dual function: it serves on the one hand for receiving products to be further promoted and on the other hand - by appropriate movement of the gripper parts - for active distraction of not be absorbed products. The product intake and the active rejection will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

• Fig. 1 und 2 die Produktübernahme sowie das Ausschleusen einzelner Produkte gemäss dem Stand der Technik;
• Fig. 3 eine Detailansicht eines Greifers zur Darstellung des Öffnungsmechanismus;
• Fig. 4 eine erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung mit einer stationären und einer verschwenkbaren Steuerkulisse zur Realisierung zweier unterschiedlicher Schliesspositionen;
• Fig. 5 eine Detailansicht der Steuerkulissen aus Fig. 4 und des dazugehörigen Steuerelements am Greifer;
• Fig. 6 eine erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung mit einem vor einer stationären Steuerkulisse angeordneten steuerbaren Auslöseelement;
• Fig. 7 eine erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung mit einer auf einen der Greiferteile wirkenden verschwenkbaren Steuerkulisse;
• Fig. 8 eine Detailansicht der Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1 oder 6 bei der Aufnahme von Produkten aus einem Schuppenstrom.
• Fig. 1a+b zeigen ein Fördersystem mit einem Greiferförderer 10 und einer Zufördereinrichtung 50 gemäss dem Stand der Technik in zwei verschiedenen Momentaufnahmen bei der Übernahme von Produkten 60. Die vorliegende Erfindung baut auf einem solchen Fördersystem auf, weshalb dieses nachfolgend beschrieben wird.

Examples of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and described below. It shows purely schematically:

• Fig. 1 and 2 the acceptance of the product as well as the discharge of individual products according to the state of the art;
• Fig. 3 a detail view of a gripper for illustrating the opening mechanism;
• Fig. 4 an inventive device with a stationary and a pivotable control link for the realization of two different closing positions;
• Fig. 5 a detailed view of the tax rates Fig. 4 and the associated control on the gripper;
• Fig. 6 an inventive device with a arranged in front of a stationary control link controllable triggering element;
• Fig. 7 an inventive device with a force acting on one of the gripper parts pivotable control link;
• Fig. 8 a detailed view of the device Fig. 1 or 6 when picking up products from a shingled stream.
• Fig. 1a FIG. 1 b shows a conveyor system with a gripper conveyor 10 and a conveyor device 50 according to the prior art in two different snapshots when taking over products 60. The present invention is based on such a conveyor system, which is why it will be described below.

A plurality of grippers 12 are moved along a closed orbit U which here comprises two substantially vertically extending straight sections and arcuate connecting links therebetween. The orbit is predetermined for example by the path of the drive member not shown here for the gripper 12. The grippers 12 are present in the counterclockwise direction from top to bottom - to the feeder 50 back - and then moved back up.

The feed device 50 is located on the left below the gripper conveyor 10. It is a belt conveyor with a conveyor belt 52, which is oriented so that the products 60 supplied thereon are brought into the sphere of influence of the grippers 12. In the present case, the conveyor belt 52 is slightly inclined to this end and ends in front of the spatial area which the grippers 12 sweep over in their movement along the orbit U.

The grippers 12 are pivotally connected by means of a support member 18 with the drive member as a whole. In addition, the grippers 12 comprise two gripper parts 14, 16 which can be pivoted relative to one another and which can assume an open position and a closed position and, if necessary, also intermediate positions. To adjust the pivot position of the entire gripper 12 relative to the orbit U and to adjust the position of the gripper parts 14, 16 relative to each other controls 20, 22 - here tax rolls - on the gripper 12, which cooperate with stationary control scenes 30, 40.

The control link 40 extends in the left part of the orbit U substantially parallel to this. It interacts with one of the controls, namely with the trailing control roller 20 which is assigned to the rear gripper part 14 in the conveying direction. Through the control link 40 together with the control element 20, the orientation of the entire gripper or the trailing gripper part 16 is adjusted relative to the orbit U. In the present case, the orientation is selected so that the trailing gripper part 16 runs approximately perpendicular to the circulation path and thus the gripper jaw is oriented in the open state substantially perpendicular to the orbit. Since the control link 40 is missing in the right part of the orbit U, hang the gripper 12 due to gravity or its opening spring from the support element 18 downward.

The additional control link 30 serves to close the open gripper. It cooperates in the lower part of the orbit U with the second control element, namely the leading control roller 22, which is assigned to the front gripper part 14 in the conveying direction. The guide ring surface 32 is curved outward with respect to the orbit. Thus, it presses the control roller 22 in the gripper movement along the orbit U with respect to the orbit to the outside. As a result, the front gripper part 14 is moved to the rear gripper part 16 and the gripper 12 is closed. The front gripper part 14 can be pivoted largely without force until shortly before reaching the actual closing state; until the final closure and locking a force is necessary, which is exerted by the Schliesskulisse 30.

As in Fig. 3 is shown in more detail, the gripper 12 includes a locking mechanism in the form of Verrriegelungsbügels 24 and a latch 26, which are each connected to one of the gripper parts 14, 16 and enter into a closed state with each other a snap connection. By the locking mechanism of the once closed gripper 12 is closed, without the need for a continuously externally acting force or control link. This snap connection can be solved by a control link in the form of a trigger element 28, the example in Fig. 2a + b or 3 is outlined. The guide surface 29 of the trigger element 28 presses on the Verrriegelungsbügel 24 so that it is pivoted and releases from the locking lug 26. Due to the bias, the gripper parts 14, 16 then assume the open position.

• Fig. 1a+b zeigt das Schliessen aller offen ankommenden Greifer im Übernahmebereich A mittels der stationären Schliesskulisse 30. In Fig. 1a wurde das auf dem Förderband 52 zuvorderst liegende Produkt 60 bereits von einem Greifer 12 ergriffen; ein weiterer offener Greifer 12 nähert sich dem Übernahmebereich A. In Fig. 1b wurde das vorderste Produkt 60 bereits durch den Greifer vom Förderband 52 übernommen und weitergefördert. Das nachfolgende, nun auf dem Förderband zuvorderst angeordnete Produkt 60 wird so bewegt, dass es in das offene Greifermaul des nächsten Greifers 12 eingeführt wird. Alle Produkte 60, die vom Zufördereinrichtung 50 herbeigefördert werden, werden somit in die offenen Greifer 12 eingeführt und durch den Übergang in die Schliessstellung von diesen ergriffen. Das Schliessen der Greifer 12 erfolgt an einer ersten Schliessposition 34. Die Lage der ersten Schliessposition 34 mit Bezug auf die Umlaufbahn ist durch die Form der Schliesskulisse 30 bzw. ihrer Führungsfläche 32 vorgegeben. Zum Aussondern fehlerhafter Produkte 60 könnte die Zufördereinrichtung 50 als Ganzes nach Art einer Wippe verschwenkt werden.
• Fig. 2a+b zeigt eine - ebenfalls bekannte - Variante der Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1a+b, bei der fehlerhafte Produkte nach der Aufnahme durch die Greifer wieder abgegeben werden. Hierzu ist in Bewegungsrichtung der Greifer 12 hinter der ersten Schliessposition 34 eine steuerbare Öffnungskulisse in Form eines Auslöseelements 28 vorhanden, dessen Führungsfläche 29 mit Bezug auf die Umlaufbahn U verschiebbar ist. Je nach Stellung der Führungsfläche 29 werden die Greifer 12 durch das Auslöseelement 28 entweder geöffnet oder nicht. Auf diese Weise können gezielt einzelne Greifer 12 nach der Aufnahme eines Produkts 60 wieder geöffnet werden, so dass die ergriffenen fehlerhaften Produkte 60 herausfallen. Diese werden dann mittels eines weiteren Förderers 70 abtransportiert. Dieses Verfahren ist bekannt, hat aber den Nachteil, dass zunächst alle Produkte 60 von Greifern 12 aufgenommen werden müssen. Bei fehlerhaften Produkten, insbesondere solchen aus mehreren Unterprodukten, kann es somit zu Störungen des Übernahme- und Transportvorgangs kommen, z.B. auch zu einem Stau aufgrund einer mechanischen Blockade des Förderwegs durch einzelne Produkte oder Unterprodukte.

The triggering element 28 and its guide surface 29 are arranged stationary, so that each passing gripper 12 is opened. In order to selectively open individual grippers 12, the triggering element 28 can also be controlled relative (eg perpendicular) to the orbit U to be displaced, as in Fig. 2a + b and in the right part of the Fig. 3 is shown, for example by means of a suitable drive (hydraulic / pneumatic cylinder, engine).

• Fig. 1a + b shows the closing of all open-coming gripper in the transfer area A by means of the stationary Schliesskulisse 30. In Fig. 1a the product 60 on the conveyor belt 52 was already gripped by a gripper 12; another open gripper 12 approaches the transfer area A. In Fig. 1b the foremost product 60 was already taken over by the gripper from the conveyor belt 52 and further promoted. The subsequent product 60, which is now arranged on the conveyor belt first, is moved so that it is introduced into the open gripper mouth of the next gripper 12. All products 60, which are conveyed by the feed device 50 are thus introduced into the open gripper 12 and taken by the transition to the closed position of these. The closing of the gripper 12 takes place at a first closing position 34. The position of the first closing position 34 with respect to the orbit is predetermined by the shape of the closing link 30 or its guide surface 32. For sorting out defective products 60, the feed device 50 could be pivoted as a whole in the manner of a rocker.
• Fig. 2a + b shows a - also known - variant of the device Fig. 1a + b, where defective products are released after being picked up by the grippers. For this purpose, in the direction of movement of the gripper 12 behind the first closing position 34, a controllable opening slot in the form of a trigger element 28 is provided, the guide surface 29 is displaceable with respect to the orbit U. Depending on the position of the guide surface 29, the grippers 12 are either opened by the trigger element 28 or not. In this way, individual grippers 12 can be selectively opened again after receiving a product 60, so that the defective products 60 that have been picked fall out. These are then removed by means of a further conveyor 70. This method is known but the disadvantage that initially all products must be taken 60 of grippers 12. In the case of faulty products, in particular those of a plurality of sub-products, it may thus interfere with the takeover and transport process, for example, also to a jam due to a mechanical blockage of the conveying path through individual products or sub-products.

Fig. 4a + b shows an example of the invention in which such problems are avoided. The device is basically as in Fig. 1a + b built up. Instead of picking up all the products 60 and then picking them out again, according to the invention, the picking up of products 60 by the gripper conveyor 10 can already be specifically controlled. As a result, individual products 60 are optionally not picked up by grippers 12 and conveyed further by them. The following will only apply to the differences Fig. 1a + b received.

In the area of the stationary control link 30, which serves to control the closing process, there is a further control link 80 in the present case. This has a guide surface 82 which is movable relative to the revolving path U. In the present case, the guide surface 82 is pivotable about an axis 86 extending perpendicular to the orbit U, but it could also be displaceable in the plane of the drawing. The two end positions of the guide surface 82 are in Fig. 4a respectively. Fig. 4b shown.

The movement of the link 80 takes place for example by means of a drive element 88, for example a hydraulic / pneumatic cylinder or a motor, which is controlled by a control unit 100. The control unit 100 receives a signal for rejecting a product 60 from the upstream process or from a detection device 110, which is arranged in the conveying direction of the feed device 50 in front of the gripper conveyor 10.

In Fig. 4b the guide surface 82 is completely behind the guide surface 32 of the stationary control link 30 with respect to the control element 22. Thus, only the stationary guide surface 32 is active; the controls 22 of the gripper 12 "feel" nothing of the other control link 80. The gripper 12 are therefore as in Fig. 1a closed at the above-mentioned closing position 34 and thus receive products 60 on.

In Fig. 4a the control surface 22 is therefore no longer rolling on the guide surface 32 of the stationary control link 30, but at least partially on the guide surface 82 of the movable control link 80th The shape of the resulting "effective" guide surface is different than in the case of Fig. 4a , whereby a different movement can be achieved. In the present case, the leading gripper part 14 is pivoted away at a further position 84 without the gripper 12 being completely closed. This further position 84 is predetermined by the shape of the movable guide surface 82. This position 84 is in the direction of movement of the gripper 12 in front of the above-mentioned normal closing position 34. In this case, the gripper part 14 is therefore oriented so that the area swept by it or the whole gripper 12 does not overlap with the movement path of the products 60. In the position in which he would usually pick up a product 60, the gripper jaw has the "wrong" orientation, and thus there is no product intake. The gripper 12 is then closed at the normal closing position 34 (here is the movable gate 80 behind the stationary gate 40), but without taking a product 60.

Before the normal receiving and closing position, the movable link 80 must only provide for a brief change in the orientation of the leading gripper part 14, so that the product on the largely closed gripper jaw is conveyed past. This effect can be achieved largely force-free, also because the grippers have not picked up any load here and no complete closure and locking must be achieved. The movable gate 80 can therefore be simple and easy to design. It only has to protrude beyond the stationary link 30 over a very small part of the movement path U and act on the grippers 12. As a result, a quick switching is possible. Overall, it can be switched with minimal effort between product intake and product rejections.

The gripper 12 is preferably moved so that its leading gripper part 14, as it moves through the transfer area A, deflects down the unacceptable product 60, which has already arrived at and protrudes beyond the end of the conveyor belt 52 of the shuttle 50. This product 60 is thus safely directed to the further conveyor 70 and can not reach the area between two grippers 12. The deflection can be achieved, for example, in that the gripper 12 or the gripper part 14, after leaving the area of influence of the movable link 80, returns to its normal position, which is determined by the stationary links 30, and gives the product an impulse downwards.

The movable control cam 80 or its guide surface 82 (protruding beyond the guide surface 32) extends in the direction of rotation over a length which may be shorter than the distance between two grippers 12. This makes it possible to influence individual grippers 12.

If the rejection of individual products 60 is to be carried out by changing the closing position 34 of the grippers 12, the control link 30 described above, which serves to adapt the closing position, can also be used. be switched (even mobile) or interact in the manner described with a movable control link.

In Fig. 5 is shown in more detail how the change of the active guide surface described above can be realized mechanically. The control gates 30, 80 are located in two different planes, which run in or parallel to the plane of the orbit U. The control roller 22 connected to a gripper part 14 has a width b that is greater than twice the width b 'of the guide surfaces 32, 82, measured in a direction perpendicular to the mentioned planes. In the present case, the control roller 22 consists of two rigidly interconnected partial rollers 22a, 22b, which are movable about a common axis; but it can also be chosen a different form. The partial roller 22a cooperates with the stationary guide surface 32, the partial roller 22b with the movable guide surface 82. Depending on the position of the movable control link 80 is one of these guide surfaces 32, 82 in the immediate vicinity of the control roller 22 and thus acts as an active guide surface. Their shape thus determines the time course of the orientation during the gripper movement along the orbit and according to whether the grippers 12 are present in front of the closed position 34 in the normal orientation or pivoted at the position 84 for the purpose of rejecting a product 60.

Fig. 6a-c show a further example of a device with a controllable backdrop, here a controllable opening link (trigger element 28), for targeted rejection of individual products 12 in three snapshots. The basic structure is also as in Fig. 1a + B. Deviating from this, all grippers 12 are closed above the receiving area A at a closing position, not shown here. Immediately before the Schliesskulisse 30 described above is the controllable opening gate in the form of a trigger element 28, for example, as already with reference to Fig. 3 is formed described. By this triggering element 28, the closed incoming gripper 12 at a first Opening position 90 for product intake optionally unlocked again and thus opened. They are therefore ready to receive a product 60 in the transfer area A and, as already described, are closed by the stationary closing slot 30 while gripping a product 12 ( Fig. 6a + b ). If a product 60 is to be deliberately rejected, the trigger element 28 is not actuated. The corresponding gripper 12 therefore remains closed ( Fig. 6b ). Due to the locking, the Schliesskulisse 30 in this case has no influence on the position of the two gripper parts 14, 16 relative to each other, but at most affects the position of the gripper 12 in space. The gripper 12 is therefore moved closed by the transfer area A and can not receive a product 60 ( Fig. 6c ). Preferably, the gripper 12, as already with reference to Fig. 4 described oriented so that deflecting products 60 are deflected downward.

This variant has the advantage that only one opening element 28 and an additional stationary Schliesskulisse must be used, which is the stationary Schliesskulisse 30 upstream in the transfer area A.

Fig. 7a + b shows another one Fig. 1a + b based variant with an outside of the actual gripper conveyor 10 arranged movable control link 80 'in two different snapshots. The control link 80 'comprises a guide surface 82', which is about an axis extending perpendicular to the plane of the drawing between two end positions (in Fig. 6a shown with solid or dotted lines) is pivotable. It could also be displaceable instead of swiveling. In their inactive position in Fig. 6b the movable control link 80 'does not touch the grippers 12. These are therefore, as above with respect to Fig. 1a + b, closed by the stationary control link 30.

In the active position in Fig. 6a slides the leading gripper part 14 along the guide surface 82 'and touches them. Since the guide surface 82 'does not yield, the gripper part 14 is pivoted relative to the rest of the gripper 12 by the counterpressure of the guide surface 82', so that the control roller 22 assigned to it stands out from the stationary control slide 30 or the guide surface 32. The gripper part 14 is thus pivoted. This ensures that the web of the hook tip does not intersect with that of a product and no takeover takes place. The pivoting is again largely force-free, since the gripper 12 is not locked. This movement is independent of the stationary control link 30 and takes place in the direction of rotation in front of the normal closing position 34 at a further position 84. Upon further movement of the gripper 12, the influence of the movable guide surface 82 'ends, and the gripper returns to its normal position, which is predetermined by the stationary link 30. He is thus closed at the normal closing position 34. Depending on the shape of the additional link 80 ', it can be achieved that the gripper 12 recovers into its normal position and advantageously deflects the product to be deflected downwards.

The movable control link 80 'is designed, in particular its guide surface 82' or that part thereof which can cooperate with the gripper part 14, so short that a switch between two grippers 12 and thus a targeted driving individual gripper 12 is possible. The movable control link 80 'in turn can be made relatively easy, since the short-term pivoting away of the gripper part 14 can be largely free of force.

Fig. 8 shows the inclusion of products 60 from a scale flow. Since the leading edge of the products 60 is always grasped or not grasped, scale flows can be processed in all of the devices shown above.

Claims (16)

1. A conveyor system for flat products (60), in particular print shop products, containing a feeder device (50), as well as a gripper conveyor (10) with a plurality of grippers (12) moved along an orbital track (U), wherein each gripper (12) comprises two gripper parts (14, 16) which can be pivoted relative to one another between an open position and a closed position, whose orientation relative to one another and/or relative to the orbital track is dependent upon their position along the orbital track and is set by means of at least one control device, which features at least one control guide (28, 30, 40, 80, 80') that interacts with the grippers, such that gripper parts (14, 16) in a transfer area (A) of the orbital track (U) can be transferred from the open position to the closed position for the transfer of the products (60) from the feeder device (50), characterized in that grippers (12) can be controlled by the control device in such a way that selectively individual grippers (12) can be moved through the transfer area (A) without taking up a product (60) from the feeder device (50).
2. The conveyor system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device features at least one controllable control guide (28, 30, 40, 80, 80') with at least one movable element.
3. The conveyor system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one control guide (30, 80, 80') comprises at least one guiding face (32, 82, 82'), which is capable of interacting with the gripper (12), in particular with a control element (20, 22) thereupon or with a gripper part (14, 16) in order to effect the adjustment of the position of the gripper parts (14, 16) relative to one another and/or the adjustment of the orientation of the gripper relative to the orbital track (U).
4. The conveyor system according to claim 3, characterized in that the position of the guiding face (32, 82, 82') with respect to the orbital track (U) can be altered in a controlled manner.
5. The conveyor system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that a stationary control guide (30, 40) with a first guiding face (32) is present, as well as a movable control guide (80, 80') with a further guiding face (82, 82'), wherein depending upon the position of the movable control guide (80, 80'), the first guiding face (32, 42) or the further guiding face (82, 82') interacts with the gripper (12).
6. The conveyor system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the at least one control guide (30, 40, 80, 80') features at least in parts two alternative stationary guiding faces as well as at least one controllable deflector, wherein by means of the deflector the guiding face that interacts with the gripper (12) can be selected in a controlled manner.
7. The conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripper conveyor (10) is arranged relative to the feeder device (50) such that as the grippers (12) move along the orbital track (U) in the transfer area (A), they approach the feeder device (50) from above.
8. The conveyor system according to claim 7, characterized in that the orientation of the gripper parts (14, 16) in the transfer area (A) as well as the position of the feeder device (50) are selected such that the products (60) are
   moved by the feeder device (50) between its gripper parts (14, 16) in the case of open grippers (12), or in the case of closed grippers (12), beneath the gripper part (14, 16) that is facing the feeder device.
9. The conveyor system according to claim 8, characterized in that in the gripper's (12) closed position, the gripper part (14, 16) facing the feeder device (50) is capable of deflecting a product (60) downwards.
10. The conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a control unit (100) that is capable of affecting the opening and closing device.
11. The conveyor system according to claim 10, characterized by a detection device (110), in particular an optical sensor, which is capable of detecting the presence of a product (60) that is not to be transferred and transmitting a corresponding signal to the control unit (100).
12. A method for conveying flat products (60), in particular print shop products, with a conveyor system according to one of the claims 1-11, with the following steps:

    - conveyance of the products (60) with the feeder device (50);

    - gripping and further conveyance of the products (60) by the grippers (12) of the gripper conveyor (10), by means of the gripper parts (14, 16) being brought from the open position to the closed position in the transfer area (A);
    characterized by the following steps:

    - control of the open and/or closed position of the grippers (12) in such a way that selectively individual grippers (12) can be moved through the transfer area (A) without taking up a product from the feeder device (50).
13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the grippers (12) are moved to the transfer area (A) in the open position and selectively closed at a first closing location (34) for the taking-up of a product, or pivoted before reaching the first closed position (34) in conveying direction for the rejection of a product (60).
14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the grippers (12) are moved to the transfer area (A) in the closed position, selectively opened at a first opening location (90) for the taking-up of a product (60) and subsequently closed at a first closing location (34), or are moved through the transfer area (A) in the closed position for the rejection of a product (60).
15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the gripper part (14, 16) lacing the feeder device (50) when the gripper (12) is in its closed position, deflects a product (60) downward as the gripper (12) moves through the transfer area (A).
16. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the grippers (12) are moved in the open position to the transfer area (A), are selectively closed at a first closing location (34) for the taking-up of a product (60), or are moved through the transfer area (A) in the open position for the rejection of a product (60).

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