EP2228332B1 - Device and method for taking over flexible flat products - Google Patents

Description

The invention is in the field of conveying and further processing of flexible, flat objects, in particular of printed products. It relates to an apparatus and a method for taking over such articles, in particular printed products, e.g. Newspapers, periodicals, brochures, catalogs, partial products of such printed products, or of supplements, advertising material, cards, samples, CDs.

The further processing of printed products is carried out at ever greater speeds. Furthermore, ever more complex products are assembled and processed from several sub-products. Both, the high speeds and the complexity of the products, requires a very precise control of the product position at each time of processing.

A very common process is the so-called plugging: In a folded or glued outer product (also referred to as the main product) one or more sub-products (also referred to as precursors) are inserted. The partial products to be inserted may be printed products or other items, eg supplements, advertising material, cards, samples, CDs.

The main product is fed, for example, from a gripper conveyor to a plug-in system, e.g. a plug-in drum or a circulation system. The plug-in system has several receiving units in the form of pockets. These are the main products with the back, e.g. the folded edge or the adhesive tape, inserted in advance and braked on acting as a stop bottom of the bag. The main product is then opened, and the other items are inserted into the opened main product.

From the not pre-published CH Application No. 00788/08 is also known to leave the folded main product in the gripper and it during the insertion process, ie as long as the gripper must be open for receiving the other product, supported by a receiving unit, which is formed by several moving together and cooperating support elements and then removed again.

In the known devices, the feed direction usually runs in a different direction than the further promotion by the receiving units. For the transfer, the isolated items must be transferred within a very short time in the moving recording units. Therefore, there is little space and time available for the actual handover. The articles are inserted with an edge in front through an inlet opening of the receiving unit in this. The objects often experience very strong (negative) accelerations and are stopped by a stop of the recording unit and aligned. The sudden deceleration at the stop can cause the newly added item, which has a certain inherent elasticity, is compressed at the stop, deforms and springs back when relaxing against the feed direction. He can move laterally. If it consists of several part-objects, they can move when relaxing against each other and / or twist. This effect occurs especially with thin objects. The Inaccuracies in the position of the item can lead to errors in the further processing chain and should therefore be avoided.

From the US-A-4,124,203 In addition, a device with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known.

The invention is therefore based on the object, an apparatus and a method for taking over flexible, flat objects, in particular of printed products to specify, in which the mentioned disadvantages are avoided and, especially at high processing speeds, a good control of the article position during feeding into the receiving unit is guaranteed.

The object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 11. Advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

The inventive device comprises at least one receiving unit, which is movable past a transfer point. The receiving unit is used to take over flexible, flat objects, in particular of printed products, which are supplied from a feed unit in a feed direction, at the transfer point. The receiving unit has an inlet opening with an inlet opening width measured transversely to the feed direction, at least one support surface for the planar support of the object and at least one stop for the object edge leading in the feed direction. There is at least one controllable constriction element with which, in an active state, the opening width of the receiving unit measured transversely to the feed direction can be reduced in a central region between the inlet opening and the stop in relation to an inactive state. A control device is provided and arranged so that the constriction element in the region of Transfer point is brought into the active state, ie the receiving unit is at least temporarily narrowed when passing the transfer point.

• Bewegen wenigstens einer Aufnahmeeinheit, die eine Eintrittsöffnung mit einer quer zur Zuführrichtung gemessenen Eintrittsöffnungsweite hat, wenigstens eine Stützfläche zum flächigen Abstützen des Gegenstands und wenigstens einen Anschlag für die in Zuführrichtung vorlaufende Gegenstandskante aufweist, entlang einer geschlossenen Bewegungsbahn an einer Übernahmestelle vorbei;
• Mitbewegen eines Verengungselements wenigstens im Bereich der Übernahmestelle mit der Aufnahmeeinheit, wobei das Verengungselement in einem aktiven Zustand die quer zur Zuführrichtung gemessene Öffnungsweite der Aufnahmeeinheit in einem Bereich zwischen der Eintrittsöffnung und dem Anschlag gegenüber einem inaktiven Zustand verkleinern kann;
• Einführen der Gegenstände in Zuführrichtung in die wenigstens eine Aufnahmeeinheit;
• Aktivieren des Verengungselements im Bereich der Übernahmestelle mittels einer Steuereinrichtung.

The method according to the invention comprises the following steps:

• Moving at least one receiving unit, which has an inlet opening with an inlet opening width measured transversely to the feed direction, has at least one support surface for supporting the object in a planar manner and at least one stop for the object edge leading in the feed direction, past a transfer location along a closed path of movement;
• Moving a constricting element at least in the region of the transfer point with the receiving unit, wherein the constriction element in an active state can reduce the measured transverse to the feed opening width of the receiving unit in a region between the inlet opening and the stop against an inactive state;
• Inserting the articles in the feed direction into the at least one receiving unit;
• Activation of the constricting element in the region of the transfer point by means of a control device.

By reducing the opening width of the receiving unit in the area between the stop and the inlet opening ensures that the flat objects are not deformed too much when hitting the stop due to their flexibility. The objects can only bulge as far as the reduced opening width permits. The potential energy stored in the elastically deformed article is therefore reduced from that of the non-reduced aperture case. When relaxing the elastically deformed object, therefore, there is less potential energy available, which can be converted into a movement counter to the feed direction. As a result, in particular in the case of thin, elastically deformable objects and high delivery speeds, improved control of their position within the receiving unit is achieved. According to the invention, the largest constriction of the receiving unit is in the active state at a distance from the stop, which amounts to about one quarter to two thirds of the total depth of the receiving unit, wherein the inlet opening width is preferably not or not significantly reduced by the constriction element.

The orientation of the objects during feeding is preferably such that their surface normal is perpendicular to the feed direction. The stop is oriented transversely to the feed direction. For example, it can also be formed by a moving element or a folded product that has already been detected. The feeding direction is therefore usually in the plane of the object; the conveying direction of the receiving units in the region of the takeover point generally perpendicular thereto.

In one example of the invention, the receiving units are pockets which have two side walls arranged at a preferably acute angle relative to one another and a pocket bottom. The side walls act as support surfaces for the introduced objects, the bottom of the bag between the two support surfaces serves as a stop.

The controllable constriction element is an integral part of the receiving unit or is at least moved along with the receiving unit in the region of the transfer point.

The constricting element has an active surface facing, for example, the pocket interior, the shape and / or position of which can be changed relative to the support surfaces for changing the opening width. By the constriction element, the opening width can be reduced at a predetermined location of the support surface, while it remains unchanged in other areas, in particular at the inlet opening. This point is, for example, seen in the feed direction approximately in the range of the front third to the front two-thirds of the abutment against the object. Based on the bag itself, the bottleneck is preferably in the range of one quarter to two thirds of the total depth. The opening width in the active state is preferably two-thirds of the opening width in the inactive state or is even smaller.

In a preferred variant, the opening width of the receiving unit measured transversely to the feed direction is substantially reduced to zero in a region between the inlet opening and the stop when an article is introduced. That is, the constricting member and the controller thereof are designed to be capable of substantially reducing the opening width of the pickup unit to zero.

The constriction element is mounted in an example of the invention on the pocket and elastically deformable by cooperation with a control. It may, for example, comprise an elastically deformable strip of material which, in the inactive state (no constriction), bears against a support surface and in the active state has at least partially pushed away from it, for the purpose of narrowing the pocket, e.g. under bulging and / or pivoting of the material strip.

The constricting element is preferably mounted on one of the support surfaces in such a way that the support surface and the active surface in the region of the inlet opening in the feed direction pass without interchangeable, so that a supplied object can not get stuck. In a middle region of the active surface, this has a variable, controllable distance from the support surface. The bottom of the bag facing end portion of the active surface may be pivoted back in the inactive state behind the support surface or located by suitable storage of the constriction element at the same place.

In a further example of the invention, grippers are used as constricting elements, which are moved synchronously to the receiving units at least in the region of the transfer point. The grippers have a first and a second gripper jaw whose position relative to each other for changing the opening width is variable, for example, in a conventional manner with a slide control. Again, the opening width is preferably controlled so that it is reduced immediately in the acquisition of an item compared to the case before the acquisition. Subsequently, the gripper is preferably opened again so that the products can fall all the way down and / or for lateral straightening.

The grippers can also already contain and promote products when they enter the takeover area. In this case, the receiving units are brought together only in the transfer area with the grippers, in particular only there formed from several cooperating support elements around the gripped product around. They support the products already contained in the grippers preferably in the acquisition of at least one other object to which the gripper must be open. The product together with the supplied object is then conveyed on in the closed gripper. The grippers therefore have a dual function, namely gripping and conveying the objects and narrowing of the receiving unit when feeding the object.

Preferably, the control device is designed so that the maximum constriction is variable. Thus, the constriction can be product-specifically adjusted, e.g. with thin objects bigger than with thicker ones. The control device comprises, for example, an adjustable control link, with which, depending on the position, a larger or smaller maximum constriction is adjustable.

In some cases, in particular if the object is to be inserted between the product parts of a folded or glued product already contained in the receiving compartment, it may be advantageous to wholly or substantially detect the effective opening width "seen" by the article in an area between the inlet opening and the stop to reduce to zero. Preferably, the two inner surfaces of the product already contained in the constricted state at a distance from the stop directly against each other. Their distance in the region of the inlet opening is preferably not changed by the constriction. It is therefore formed an entrance slit, which tapers in a wedge shape and remain stuck in the imported objects and gently braked. Once the object has reached the narrowed area, the constriction element becomes disabled. The object then slips due to the residual impulse or gravity to the stop.

The invention can be realized on the basis of known transfer devices, in particular rotary or drum systems with a plurality of receiving units, which are movable along an arbitrary or circular path. For example, the invention may be implemented on the basis of bag or gripper conveyors, insert drums, cutting drums and the like. As mentioned, the receiving units can also be realized by a plurality of cooperating support elements.

The delivery unit may retrieve items from a storage, e.g. Stacks, wraps, or of a moving formation, e.g. Shed formation, current of individual products, gripper current, relate. The supplied articles may be simple objects, e.g. simple printed products or samples, or more complex collections, e.g. a small stack of different superimposed printed products.

In terms of procedure, the articles can be introduced both into empty receiving units and into receiving units which already contain a product. In the second case, it is preferably a folded printed product (main product) into which the supplied object is inserted. The main product can also contain other products already added (partial products).

The opening width can be increased again after passing through the transfer point, for example, to align the objects in the receiving unit.

This is especially interesting for grippers with a double function as constricting elements as well as for further conveying, since the objects should ideally be at a distance from the bottom of the gripper when gripping. Alternatively, the gripper can pass the takeover point in a semi-closed (narrowed) state and immediately thereafter be completely closed without reopening.

The invention has particular advantages in the transfer of objects from a stationary conveyor belt to receiving compartments, which are conveyed past the transfer point: On the conveyor belt, the objects are usually one behind the other. At a given processing rate, therefore, 3-4 times higher feed rates are required than with a more compact formation in the feed, e.g. in the case of objects conveyed by grippers. In addition, the time window in which the opening of the receiving compartment passes the stationary supply point and in which therefore the transfer can take place, is significantly smaller than in the case of a transfer from grippers, which can be moved with the receiving compartments. The latter also causes large accelerations whose effects are alleviated by the invention in an advantageous manner.

• Fig. 1a-c verschiedene Momentaufnahmen beim Zuführen eines Gegenstands zu einem Aufnahmeeinheit in Form einer Tasche mit einem Verengungselement im inaktiven Zustand;
• Fig. 2a-c verschiedene Momentaufnahmen beim Zuführen eines Gegenstands zu einem Aufnahmeeinheit in Form einer Tasche mit einem Verengungselement im aktiven Zustand;
• Fig. 3a-d verschiedene Momentaufnahmen beim Zuführen eines Gegenstands zu einer Aufnahmeeinheit in Form einer Tasche mit einem steuerbaren Verengungselement, wobei sich bereits ein gefaltetes Produkt in der Tasche befindet;
• Fig. 4a+b verschiedene Momentaufnahmen beim Zuführen eines Gegenstands zu einer Aufnahmeeinheit in Form mehrerer miteinander kooperierender Stützelemente und mit einem Greifer mit steuerbar Öffnungsweite als Verengungselement, wobei sich an der Übernahmestelle bereits ein gefaltetes Produkt im Greifer befindet;
• Fig. 5a-e analog zu Fig. 3a-d verschiedene Momentaufnahmen beim Zuführen eines Gegenstands zu einer Aufnahmeeinheit in Form einer Tasche mit einem steuerbaren Verengungselement, wobei sich bereits ein gefaltetes Produkt in der Tasche befindet und wobei die Öffnungsweite im mittleren Bereich auf Null reduziert wird.
• Fig. 1a-c und 2a-c zeigen eine Aufnahmeeinheit 10 in Form einer Tasche 12 zu verschiedenen Zeitpunkten beim Zuführen eines Gegenstands 100 in einer Zuführrichtung F1 an einer Übernahmestelle S1. Die Tasche 12 passiert die Übernahmestelle S1 in einer Förderrichtung F2, die hier senkrecht zur Zuführrichtung F1 ist. Die Tasche 12 umfasst zwei ebene seitliche Stützflächen 13, 14, einen als Anschlag 15 wirkenden Taschenboden und eine Eintrittsöffnung 16. Die Tasche 12 umfasst ausserdem ein steuerbares Verengungselement 20 mit einer Wirkfläche 21. Das Verengungselement 20 befindet sich bei Fig. 1a-c im inaktiven Zustand, in dem seine Wirkfläche 21 in umittelbarer Nähe parallel zu einer der Stützflächen 14 verläuft. Bei Fig. 2a-c ist das Verengungselement 20 im aktiven Zustand, d.h. bereichsweise von der Stützfläche 14 zum Tascheninneren bzw. zur anderen Stützfläche 13 hin abgehoben.

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

• Fig. 1a-c various snapshots when feeding an object to a receiving unit in the form of a bag with a constriction element in the inactive state;
• Fig. 2a-c various snapshots when feeding an object to a receiving unit in the form of a bag with a constriction element in the active state;
• Fig. 3a-d various snapshots when feeding an object to a receiving unit in the form of a bag with a controllable constriction element, wherein there is already a folded product in the bag;
• Fig. 4a + b different snapshots when feeding an object to a receiving unit in the form of several mutually cooperating support elements and with a gripper with controllable opening width as a constriction element, which is already a folded product in the gripper at the transfer point;
• Fig. 5a-e analogous to Fig. 3a-d various snapshots when feeding an object to a receiving unit in the form of a bag with a controllable constriction element, which is already a folded product in the bag and wherein the opening width is reduced to zero in the central region.
• Fig. 1a-c and 2a-c show a receiving unit 10 in the form of a bag 12 at different times when feeding an article 100 in a feed direction F1 at a takeover point S1. The pocket 12 passes through the transfer point S1 in a conveying direction F2, which is here perpendicular to the feed direction F1. The pocket 12 comprises two flat lateral support surfaces 13, 14, a pocket bottom acting as a stop 15 and an entry opening 16. The pocket 12 also comprises a controllable constriction element 20 with a Active surface 21. The constriction element 20 is located at Fig. 1a-c in the inactive state, in which its active surface 21 extends in the immediate vicinity parallel to one of the support surfaces 14. at Fig. 2a-c is the constriction element 20 in the active state, ie partially lifted from the support surface 14 to the pocket interior or the other support surface 13 out.

The pocket 12 has in the region of the inlet opening 16 from the pocket bottom 15, an opening width W1. The total depth of the pocket 12 is designated d1. The opening width W2 in the ground-near area is reduced in contrast. In the inactive state of the constriction element 20 (FIG. Fig. 1a-c ), the opening widths W1, W2 are determined by the distance, measured transversely to the feed direction F1, of the two lateral support surfaces 13, 14. In the active state of the constriction element 20 (FIG. Fig. 2a-c ), the opening width W2 in the area near the bottom is influenced by the constriction element 20, while the opening width W 1 remains constant in the region of the inlet opening 16. In the present case, d2 denotes the distance from the bottom of the pocket 15, in which case the greatest constriction (smallest opening width W2) occurs in the active state. This distance d2 is about one quarter to two thirds of a typical article length d measured in the feeding direction F1. Based on the pocket 12, d2 is about 0.25-0.67d1. The opening width is thus manipulated in the lower, stop-near area.

The constricting element 20 is constructed as follows: It comprises an elastically deformable planar element 22, which is mounted in the vicinity of the pocket bottom 15 so as to be rotatable about an axis 34 extending parallel to the pocket bottom 15 on the support surface 14 which is here right. The planar element 22 comprises two partial elements 22a, 22b, which are connected to one another in a U-shaped manner. One of the sub-elements 22a is in the inactive state directly on the support surface 14. The other sub-elements 22b is located from the viewpoint of the other support surface 13 beyond its associated support surface 14. Due to the U-shape, the constriction element 20 in the region of Inlet opening 16 slidably mounted in the direction of the support surface 14. The side of the sheet-like element 22 facing the pocket interior serves as an effective surface 21 for narrowing the pocket 12. The flat element 22 consists, for example, of spring steel.

The control device 30 here comprises by way of example a stationary or movable control link 32, which cooperates with a control element 31, here in the form of a control roller. The control element 31 is connected to the constriction element 20, here with the subelement 22a, via a coupling element 33, e.g. a pole, coupled. The coupling element 33 protrudes through an opening 17 in the support surface 14. By the coupling element 33, a constant distance between the control link 32 and the active surface 21 is set in the region in which the coupling element 33 is connected to the planar element 22. The active surface 21 is thus deformed depending on the shape or position of the control link 32. By the partial element 22a is rotatably mounted on the axis 34 and slidably mounted in the opposite region along the support surface 14, an arcuate shape of the active surface 21 is realized in the active state. This extends in the region of the inlet opening 16 substantially parallel to the support surface 14, bulges seen in the feed direction F1 and meets at ground level at an angle back to the support surface 14. As a result, the opening width W2 is reduced, while the opening width W 1 remains approximately the same ,

In the following, the operation of the constriction element 20 is added Fig. 2a-c compared to the inactive state ( Fig. 1a-c ). at Fig. 1a-c According to the state of the art, an object 100 with an edge 101, for example the back, is inserted into the pocket 12 in the feed direction F1 ( Fig. 1a ). The feed plane here corresponds approximately to the plane of symmetry between the two lateral support walls 13, 14. The object 100 impinges unrestrained on the bottom of the bag 15 and thereby deforms ( Fig. 1b ), which makes part of his kinetic energy is stored as potential energy. It bulges or bends as far as it allows the opening width W2 of the pocket 12 near the ground. Due to the elasticity of the article 100, at least part of the energy contained in the deformation is converted back into kinetic energy by the article 100 relaxing again, stretching at least approximately and springing back from the pocket bottom 15. This is in Fig. 1a-c exaggerated.

at Fig. 2a-c For example, the constricting member 20 is placed in the active state immediately before or during the delivery of the article 100. As a result, the opening width W2 of the pocket 12 is significantly reduced in the area near the floor, in particular approximately to a quarter to two thirds of the opening width W2 in the inactive state. The article 100 thus passes through an unchanged large inlet opening 16 with width W1 and then slides along the active surface 21 to the bottom of the pocket 15. The narrowing of the article 100 prevents a strong bulging of the article, reduces the potential energy and thus reduces the jump back. The article 100 is securely positioned in the pocket 12. This effect occurs regardless of any surface condition of the active surface 21; a high coefficient of friction is not necessary, but effective surface 21 may also be smooth.

The constricting element 20 can then be returned to the inactive state, so that further processing steps can be carried out in the usual way, eg opening of the article, introduction of further objects, cutting, alignment and / or further conveying. The constriction element 20 can also be activated only when the edge 101 is already in the pocket 12.

Fig. 3a-d show a further example of a receiving unit 10 in the form of a bag 12 with two support surfaces 13, 14, a bottom of the bag 15 and a controllable constriction element 20. This is assigned to the left in the drawing support surface 13. It comprises a planar element 22, which is connected in the region of the inlet opening 16 via a fastening element 23 fixedly connected to the support surface 13, so that the active surface 21 and the support surface 13 pass into each other without any offset. The planar element 22 is arcuate. Its active surface 21 runs in the inactive state ( Fig. 3a ) the bag bottom 15 facing the end protrudes in the inactive state through an opening 17, which in comparison to the opening in Fig. 1a-c, 2a-c is bigger, to the outside. It is not necessary, but possible, for the planar element 22 to be elastically deformable over its entire extent.

To control the position of the active surface 21, the planar element 22 is as in Fig. 1a-c, 2a-c with a control mechanism 30, comprising control roller 31, coupling 33, control link 32, connected.

The bag 12 points in Fig. 3a-d controllable holding elements 50, which are located in the region of the inlet opening 16. They serve to fix a folded product 200, which is already in the bag 12, by clamping its edges facing away from the bottom of the bag 15 in the pocket 12 and keep it open during the insertion of an object. These holding elements 50 can also be dispensed with, if it is not intended to be plugged into a folded product 200.

As in Fig. 2a-c is at Fig. 3a-d the opening width W2 in the area near the floor is reduced compared to the actual distance of the two support surfaces 13, 14, shortly before or as soon as the transfer point S1 is reached. In this case, the already recorded product 200 is at any time on the support wall 14 and the Effective area 21 on. After passing through the transfer point S1, the constriction element 20 is deactivated again and the original (inactive) opening width W2 is restored. It may be followed by other processing steps in the usual way, such as opening the object, introducing other items, cutting, aligning and / or further conveying.

Fig. 4a + b show a further example of a device according to the invention with grippers 81 as constriction elements 20. The device substantially corresponds to the insertion device, as in the non-prepublished CH-Application No. 00788/08 or 00358/09 has been described. The purpose of the insertion device is the insertion of objects 100, which may individually but also be a compilation of several products, into a folded main product 200. In this case, the main products 200 are brought by a gripper conveyor 80. During the insertion process, the gripper 81 is opened, but the product 200 is not removed therefrom, but only additionally supported by a receiving unit 10. After insertion, the combined product 200, into which the article 100 has been inserted, is conveyed on by the same gripper 81, which is then closed again.

In the present case, the device is described only to the extent necessary to understand the invention underlying this application.

The device comprises a plurality of receiving units 10, which are formed by the interaction of a plurality of mutually movable first and second support members 91, 92. The support elements 91, 92 are each moved along a closed circulation path U1, U2 and are movable relative to each other, so that they can be pivoted away in particular so that the Gripper 81 can move freely after insertion of the articles 100 in the products 200.

The first support elements 91 each comprise a planar support wall 93, which merges into a U-shaped element 94. The U-shaped element 94 is located at the transfer point S1 approximately at the same location as the folding edges of the picked up by the grippers 81 products 200 and at a small distance thereof. A product 200 is thus supported by the bottom 95 of the U-shaped member 94 and by the support wall 93, even when the gripper 91 is opened. An additional support and hold-open function is achieved by the second support members 92.

The first support elements 91 also optionally have a holding and / or braking element 45 in the form of a loop made of an elastic material. The holding and / or braking elements 45 lie opposite the support wall 93 and are fixedly connected to the U-shaped element 94.

The path U of the grippers 81 is at least partially concentric with the path of the receiving units 10 or track U1, U2 of the first and second support elements 91, 92, for example in the in Fig. 4 shown area. The orbits U, U1, U2 can then separate.

The following explains the function:

Products 200, here folded main products, are conveyed by the gripper conveyor 80. While a product 200 is held by a gripper 81, drive in the lower part of the movement path U, not shown here, the second Support elements 92 between the product parts. They therefore keep the product 200 open. At about the same time, the first support members 91 are pivoted. The first support members 91 occupy a position in which their bottoms 95 have a predetermined distance from the gripped product edge 201. In this position, the product 200 is opened and the upper product part rests on the outer support elements 92. The holding and / or braking elements 45 press the upper product part against the outer support elements 92. Gripper 81, receiving units 10 and product 200 are moved synchronously in this relative position to the transfer point S1. An article 100 is inserted by a feed unit 40 in a feed direction F1 which is perpendicular to the bottom 95 and to the direction of movement of the receiving units 10. It pulls the product 200 already arranged in the receiving unit 10 and in the open gripper 81 inwards.

The grippers 81 act here as constriction elements 20 according to the invention. Shortly before the transfer point S1, the gripper 81 is completely opened. The opening width W2 of the receiving units 10 in the region near the ground is therefore determined essentially by the spacing of the elements 91, 94 and 45. The opening width W1 in the region of the inlet opening 16 is determined by the spacing of the elements 91 and 92. When reaching the transfer point S1, the grippers 81 are temporarily partially closed (active state). In this example, the position in which the control link 32 partially closes the gripper has a small hump, in gripper movement direction behind the transfer point S1, so that the gripper 81 is partially closed only shortly after the transfer point S1. This is due to the duration of the object from the station 40 to the stop of the receiving unit (the receiving unit is basically narrowed at the latest when the object reaches the constriction).

By partially closing the opening width W2 is reduced. The same effect as above with respect to Fig. 2a-c . 3a-d described occurs: A strong Buckling and jumping back of the objects 100 is avoided. After insertion, the grippers 81 are opened again in order to laterally align the objects 100, 200 and / or to be able to position them perpendicular to the floor 95.

The gripper 81 is then closed. If no straightening or positioning function is required, the grippers 91 can also be closed immediately after the insertion of the objects 100. The supporting elements 91, 92, which are no longer necessary for supporting, are pivoted upwards or downwards, so that the gripper conveyor 80 can be guided out of the region of the supporting elements 91, 92 and its holder.

Fig. 5a-e show analogously to Fig. 3a-d - Various snapshots when feeding an object 100 to a receiving unit 10 in the form of a bag 12, in which there is already a folded product 200. The pocket 12 and the controllable constriction element 20 are as in FIG Fig. 3a-d built up. However, in the present case, the constricting element 20 is controlled such that the effective opening width "seen" by the articles to be introduced 100 is reduced to zero in the central region. The distance W2 between the active surface 21 and the opposite support wall 14 therefore corresponds, in the active state, to the thickness of the already introduced product 200 (FIG. Fig. 5b-d ).

Therefore, the newly-received object 100 is decelerated in the zero-tapered wedge-shaped entrance nip formed by the already received object 200 ( Fig. 5d ). The wedge shape of the entrance slit is particularly advantageous for thinner articles 100 to be inserted, since the article 100 is gently braked and finally gets stuck in the slit. Subsequently, the opening width W2 is increased again, namely to the original opening width (as in Fig. 5a ) in the inactive state of the constriction element 20 or a reduced opening width ( Fig. 5e ). Due to its residual momentum and / or due to gravity, the object 100 slips to the bottom of the pocket 12. Thus, as in the case of the only partially (ie not quite zero) reduced effective opening width, a reliable braking of the object 100 succeeds.

As in Fig. 3a-d Here, too, the outer edges of the already introduced product 200 are clamped by the holding elements 50. The distance of the product parts in the region of the inlet opening is therefore not changed by the constriction in the middle region.

The bag can also, as in Fig. 5a-e shown completely narrowed when the article 100 is inserted into an empty bag in which no major product 200 is included. The wedge-shaped tapering entrance slit is in this case formed by the pocket walls 13, 14 or the active surface 21 of the constriction element 20 which preferably merges into one of the pocket walls 13 without any offset.

It should be noted that in embodiments in which a first product is already guided to the transfer point and supplemented with a further product from the supply unit, such. B. in the embodiments according to Fig. 3a-d . 4a-b and 5a-e described and shown, the first product is preferably performed by means of gripper of a gripper conveyor in a conveying direction to the transfer point and is led out together with the other product with the same gripper after the transfer again from the transfer point. In this case, the receiving units are brought together at the takeover point with the grippers and moved coordinated. The grippers need not necessarily serve as a constriction as z. In Fig. 4b is shown.

Are it to embodiments in which of the feed unit, a first product of the transfer point is supplied, as z. B. in the embodiments according to Fig. 1a-c and 2a-c is shown, the transferred first product is preferably detected by a supplied in a conveying direction empty gripper of a gripper conveyor and conveyed away from the transfer point. Also in this case, the receiving units are stirred together at the transfer point with the (empty) grippers and moved coordinated. The grippers need not serve as a constriction element here.

Such a gripper guide, regardless of the function of the gripper considered as a constriction element, is associated with Fig. 4a-b described and shown and should also apply to the above.

Claims (17)

1. A device for taking over flexible, flat objects (100), in particular printed products, at a take-over location (S1), from a feed unit (40), with at least one receiver unit (10, 12) which may be moved past the take-over location (S1), and is capable of receiving an object (100) which is fed in a feed direction (F1), wherein the receiver unit (10, 12) comprises an entry opening (16) with an entry opening width (W1) measured transversely to the feed direction (F1), and at least one abutment (15, 95) for an object edge (101) leading in the feed direction (F1), and comprising the following features:

   - at least one controllable narrowing element (20, 81), with which, in an active condition, the opening width (W2) of the receiver unit (10, 12) measured transversely to the feed direction (F1), in a region between the entry opening (16) and the abutment (15, 95), may be reduced compared to an inactive condition, and

   - a control device (30), in order to bring the narrowing element (20) in the region of the take-over location (S1) into the active condition

   characterised in that, in active condition, the greatest narrowing of the receiver unit (10, 12) lies at a distance (d2) to the abutment (15), which is about one quarter to two thirds of the distance (d1) from the entry opening (16) to the abutment (15).
2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the entry opening width (W1) is not influenced by the narrowing element (20, 81).
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the narrowing element (20, 81) is movable along with the receiver unit (10, 12), at least in the region of the take-over location (S1).
4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the narrowing element (20, 81) is an integral component of the receiver unit (10, 12)
5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the narrowing element (20, 81) comprises an active surface (21), whose shape and/or position is adjustable in a controlled manner in order to change the opening width (W2), in particular by way of it comprising an elastically deformable, extensive element (22).
6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the receiver unit (12) is a pocket comprising two support surfaces (13, 14) which are arranged preferably at an acute angle relative to one another.
7. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that the narrowing element (20, 81) comprises an elastically deformable, extensive element (22), which forms an active surface (21) with a changeable shape and is mounted on one of the support surfaces (13, 14).
8. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that the support surface (13, 14) and the active surface (21), seen in the feed direction (F1), merge into one another in a smooth manner in the region of the entry opening (16), and wherein the active surface (21), in the middle region between the entry opening (16) and the abutment (15), comprises a variable distance (W2) to the support surface (13, 14) lying opposite.
9. A device according to one of the claims 1-5, characterised in that the receiver unit (10, 12) comprises several separate support elements (91, 92), which are movable in synchronization, and which cooperate with one another at least in the region of the take-over location (S1) in such a manner that at least one lateral support surface as well as an abutment (95) are formed for receiving an object.
10. A device according to one of the claims 1-5 or 9, characterised in that the narrowing element is realised by a gripper (81), which, in the region of the take-over location (S1), is movable in synchronization to the receiver units (10, 12), and comprises a first and a second gripper jaw, whose position relative to one another may be changed in order to change the opening width (W2) of the receiver unit (10).
11. A method for taking over flexible, flat objects (100), in particular printed products, with the following features:

    - moving at least one receiver unit (10, 12) which comprises an entry opening (16) with an entry opening width (W1) measured transversely to the feed direction (F1), at least one support surface (13, 14) for the extensive support of the object (100), and at least one abutment (15) for an object edge (101) leading in the feed direction (F1), past a take-over location (S1);

    - moving a narrowing element (20, 81) along with the receiver unit (10, 12), at least in the region of the take-over location (S1), wherein the narrowing element (20, 81), in an active condition, may reduce the opening width (W2) of the receiver unit (10, 12), measured transversely to the feed direction (F1), in a region between the entry opening (16) and the abutment (15), with respect to an inactive condition, wherein the greatest narrowing of the receiver unit (10, 12) in the active condition lies at a distance (d2) to the abutment (15), which is about one quarter to two thirds of the distance (d1) from the entry opening (16) to the abutment (15);

    - introducing the objects (100) in the feed direction into the at least one receiver unit (10, 12);

    - activating the narrowing element (20, 81) in the region of the take-over location (S1) by way of a control device (30).
12. A method according to claim 11, characterised in that the narrowing element (20, 81) is deactivated again as soon as the object (100) has been received in the receiver unit (10, 12).
13. A method according to claim 11 or 12, characterised by way of displacing, rotating pivoting and/or elastic deformation of an active surface (21) of the narrowing element (20, 81) in the region of the take-over location (S1), in order to change the opening width (W2).
14. A method according to one of the claims 11-13, characterised in that the receiver unit (10, 12) is formed by way of several separate support elements (91, 92), which are moveable in synchronization, and which cooperate with one another at least in the region of the take-over location (S1), in such a manner that at least one lateral support surface as well as an abutment (95) are formed for receiving the object (100).
15. A method according to one of the claims 11-14, characterised in that a gripper (81) with a first and with a second gripper jaw is moved along with the receiver unit (10, 12), at least in the region of the take-over location (S1), and that the opening width (W2) of the receiver unit (10, 12) is changed by way of changing the position of at least one gripper jaw.
16. A method according to claim 15, characterised in that, after passing the take-over location (S1), the collected object (100) is conveyed further by the gripper (81), and the receiver unit (10, 12) is removed.
17. A method according to any one of the claims 11-16, characterised in that, at the take-over location (S1), the objects (100) are introduced into folded or glued products (200) already present in the receiver units (10, 12).

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