EP2239220B1 - Installation and method for treating printed products - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to printed process installations and methods.

There are known printing processing facilities that can be implemented in a routing or distribution of printed matter (for example to distribute the press by portage, or other), with the purpose in particular to prepare and group the printed matter. for delivery to their destination.

These facilities are generally not suitable for processing different types of print at a time, for example different magazine titles. These installations are therefore "mono-titles", that is to say producing packets, or bundles, comprising prints of a single type which are individually addressed to the recipient.

The delivery of the printed matter is then made for example by newspaper carriers who receive, from the routing companies, individually addressed printed packets.

Thus, each carrier receives different packets of single-title printed matter corresponding to his distribution area, according to an ordered sequence corresponding to his distribution tour.

However, some recipients may be subscribed to different titles simultaneously (therefore necessarily in different packages), or multiple recipients subscribed to different titles exist at a common address, so press holders must manually sort the titles of different packages before or during their tour, to group together the titles for the same address and nearby addresses.

• des moyens de commande adaptés à accéder à au moins une base de données comprenant des destinataires auxquels doivent être envoyés lesdits imprimés, des adresses de ces destinataires et des types d'imprimés destinés à chaque destinataire,
• au moins deux chaînes primaires adaptées pour traiter des imprimés, et comprenant chacune au moins un dispositif d'alimentation adapté pour alimenter la chaîne primaire en imprimés au moins deux desdites chaînes primaires étant alimentées en un type d'imprimés différent,
• au moins une chaîne de regroupement commandée par les moyens de commande,
• une chaîne de répartition commandée par les moyens de commande,
• un premier dispositif de transfert pour chaque chaîne primaire, ce premier dispositif de transfert étant commandé par les moyens de commande pour transférer des imprimés depuis la chaîne primaire correspondante vers la chaîne de répartition,
• au moins un second dispositif de transfert pour transférer des imprimés depuis la chaîne de répartition vers la chaîne de regroupement,

les moyens de commande étant adaptés pour faire transférer les imprimés vers la chaîne de regroupement par les premier et deuxième dispositifs de transfert et par la chaîne de répartition pour que lesdits imprimés arrivent sur la chaîne de regroupement regroupés selon un ordre permettant un regroupement par adresse et/ou par destinataire.In addition, the document US-A-4,552,349 discloses a print processing facility, comprising:

• control means adapted to access at least one database comprising recipients to which said printed matter is to be sent, addresses of these recipients and types of printed matter intended for each recipient,
• at least two primary chains adapted to process printed matter, and each comprising at least one feed device adapted to feed the printed primary chain, at least two of said primary chains being fed with a different type of printed matter,
• at least one grouping chain controlled by the control means,
• a distribution chain controlled by the control means,
• a first transfer device for each primary chain, this first transfer device being controlled by the control means to transfer printed matter from the corresponding primary chain to the distribution chain,
• at least one second transfer device for transferring prints from the distribution chain to the grouping chain,

the control means being adapted to cause the printed matter to be transferred to the grouping chain by the first and second transfer devices and the distribution chain so that said printed matter arrives on the grouping chain grouped in an order allowing grouping by address and / or by recipient.

The present invention is intended in particular to improve the speed of such an installation.

For this purpose, the invention proposes an installation according to claim 1.

• il est possible de préparer des paquets d'envoi dans lesquels les imprimés sont préalablement groupés de manière optimisée selon les adresses des destinataires, ce qui évite un tri manuel, par exemple par le porteur de presse, préalablement à la livraison,
• le transfert des imprimés entre les chaînes primaires et la ou les chaîne(s) de regroupement est rendu plus rapide, notamment parce que les imprimés peuvent rester non individualisés (non adressés) sur la chaîne de répartition, ce qui permet de transférer au plus tôt sur chaque chaîne de regroupement un imprimé d'un certain type appelé par cette chaîne de regroupement,
• on peut regrouper les imprimés sur la chaîne de regroupement par tournée, dans l'ordre de la tournée, et apposer une indication d'un point de destination sur les imprimés au moyen du dispositif d'identification prévu dans la chaîne de regroupement.

Thanks to these provisions:

• it is possible to prepare sending packets in which the printed matter is pre-grouped optimally according to the addresses of the recipients, this which avoids manual sorting, for example by the press carrier, prior to delivery,
• the transfer of printed matter between the primary channels and the grouping chain (s) is made faster, in particular because the printed matter can remain non-individualized (unaddressed) on the distribution chain, which makes it possible to transfer as soon as possible on each grouping string a print of a certain type called by this grouping chain,
• the prints can be grouped on the tour group in the order of the tour, and an indication of a destination point on the printed matter can be provided by means of the identification device provided in the grouping chain.

In embodiments of the plant according to the invention, it may optionally be resorted further to one and / or the other of the provisions mentioned in claims 2 to 14.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for processing printed matter according to claim 15.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description of several embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• la figure 1 illustre une installation de traitement d'imprimés selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention;
• figure 2 et 2a illustrent de manière plus détaillée deux chaînes primaires conforment à l'installation de la figure 1 selon deux modes de réalisation ;
• les figures 3a et 3b illustrent un premier dispositif de transfert conforme à l'installation de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 illustre une partie de la chaîne de répartition conforme à l'installation de la figure 1 ;
• les figures 5a et 5b illustrent un second dispositif de transfert conforme à l'installation de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 6 illustre de manière plus détaillée une chaîne de regroupement conforme à l'installation de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 7 illustre schématiquement le fonctionnement de l'installation conforme à l'installation de la figure 1 ; et
• la figure 8 illustre deux chaînes primaires selon une variante du premier mode de réalisation de l'invention.

On the drawings:

• the figure 1 illustrates a print processing facility according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• figure 2 and 2a illustrate in more detail two primary channels conform to the installation of the figure 1 according to two embodiments;
• the Figures 3a and 3b illustrate a first transfer device according to the installation of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 4 illustrates a part of the distribution chain according to the installation of the figure 1 ;
• the Figures 5a and 5b illustrate a second transfer device according to the installation of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 6 illustrates in more detail a grouping chain conforming to the installation of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 7 schematically illustrates the operation of the installation according to the installation of the figure 1 ; and
• the figure 8 illustrates two primary chains according to a variant of the first embodiment of the invention.

In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

The figure 1 represents a printing processing installation 1 according to the invention, which can be located in a routing company, which receives prints 11 from an editor, a printing press, or a broaching center. The printed materials 11 may for example be magazines, newspapers, magazines, or other unpackaged publications or equivalents.

• leur nom,
• leur adresse,
• l'identification des imprimés qui leur sont destinés,
• et éventuellement des informations supplémentaires afin de leur fournir des offres personnalisées, notamment par encart.

With these printed matter 11, the routing company receives one or more computer files corresponding to a raw list of recipient details including, among others:

• their name,
• their address,
• the identification of printed matter intended for them,
• and possibly additional information to provide them with personalized offers, including insert.

The installation 1 comprises control means 70 (see figure 7 ) for controlling the correct operation of the installation 1, and which are further adapted to access at least one database 71, for example two databases 71, 72. The control means 70 may comprise for example a computer or similar. The databases 71, 72 can be stored in the computer or be external to it, in which case the computer can access the databases 71, 72 for example via a computer network.

The list of recipients and their coordinates to be sent said printed matter 11, provided by the computer file, is incorporated in a first database 71. The database 71 can, for example, group the recipients by types of common forms and their addresses, in particular for a standard single-title delivery by postage.

The control means 70 are furthermore adapted to determine, as a function of the addresses of the recipients contained in the first database 71, delivery rounds, for example optimized rounds 91 for press carriers 90. More particularly, the means 70 are adapted to determine, according to the recipients and their addresses contained in the first database 71, tours each grouping a series of recipients having consecutive addresses in a certain order, in particular according to an order allowing a grouping by address and / or by recipient. The information corresponding to the following of recipients is stored in the second database 72.

As illustrated by figure 1 , the print processing installation 1 further comprises a plurality of primary strings 10, for example twenty two strings, from which the printed matter 11 is transferred via a distribution line 30 to at least one, for example five strings, These chains 10, 30, 50 are controlled by the control means 70 as a function of at least one of the databases 71, 72.

It may be provided that two of the primary chains 10 and one of the grouping chains 50 normally remain at a standstill and serve only as backup channels in the event of a malfunction of the other chains 10, 50.

The figure 2 illustrates in more detail two of these representative primary chains of the twenty two chains.

• un dispositif d'alimentation 12 ;
• des dispositifs d'encartage 13,
• un dispositif d'emballage 14,
• un premier dispositif de transfert 15,
• un dispositif d'identification 25,
• une empileuse 20,
• un dispositif de liage 21,
• un dispositif de mise en cage 22 manuel ou automatique, et
• des convoyeurs 10a à bande ou à rouleau qui transportent les imprimés 11 entre ces stations de traitement.

Primary chains 10 may comprise a plurality of processing stations, for example:

• a feeding device 12;
• inserting devices 13,
• a packaging device 14,
• a first transfer device 15,
• an identification device 25,
• a stacker 20,
• a binding device 21,
• a manual or automatic caging device 22, and
• web or roller conveyors 10a which carry printed matter 11 between these processing stations.

The primary channels 10 are fed each by printed matter of a single title directly from, for example, an editor. The various primary channels 10 of the installation process prints of several types, that is to say treat several titles and at most twenty titles in the example considered here, ie a title per primary chain 10 in operation. The type of print 11 processed by each of the primary chains 10 is communicated to the control means 70 for the control of the installation 1.

The prints 11 are fed into a feeder 12 by the staff of the routing company from a buffer stock 11a specific to each chain 10. The feed devices 12 feed the primary chains 10 in successive prints which are at their disposal. advanced tower on the conveyor 10a one by one.

The inserting devices 13 may, depending on the control means 70 and the first database 71, where appropriate, associate one or more information or advertising inserts inside the printed matter 11 or on the top (by gluing). The different inserting devices 13 of the same primary chain 10 can be fed in different inserts.

Inserts 13 may be loose sheets, supplements, or other publications.

The packaging device 14 is for example a filming device or an encasement device for putting the received printed matter 11 under a film or an envelope.

• une adresse du destinataire,
• des coordonnées GPS de l'adresse du destinataire,
• une puce RFID identifiant l'adresse du destinataire, ou
• un code barres identifiant l'adresse du destinataire.

The printed papers 11 thus packaged on the primary chain 10 are then fed by the conveyor 10a to an identification device 25, for example a printing device 25 or the like, controlled by the control means 70 to possibly provide the printed material 11. with an identification of the destination point, of certain recipients according to the first database 71. The identification of the point of destination may be, inter alia:

• an address of the recipient,
• GPS coordinates of the recipient's address,
• an RFID chip identifying the recipient's address, or
• a barcode identifying the address of the recipient.

The prints 11 are then grouped together by grouping means comprising in particular a stacker 20 and a binding device 21 to create bundles of single-title printed matter, that is to say groupings of printed matter of a single type. corresponding to the type of prints 11 fed by the supply device 12 of the primary chain 10, for a traditional single-title delivery.

The grouping means may further comprise a caging device 22 adapted to receive the sets of printed matter and caged manually or automatically to prepare them for transport.

The first transfer device 15 of the primary chain 10 is disposed downstream of the packaging device 14 and upstream of the identification device 25. The transfer device 15 is adapted to intercept part of the packaged printed matter and transfer them for example by conveyor belt 16 or roller or the like, up to the distribution chain 30.

• soit l'acheminement normal des imprimés 11 sur la chaîne primaire 10 vers le dispositif d'identification 25 (figure 3a),
• soit le transfert des imprimés 11 vers le convoyeur 16 appartenant au premier dispositif de transfert 15 (figure 3b).

The Figures 3a and 3b illustrate an embodiment of a transfer device 15, wherein a movable portion 15a of the conveyor 10a of the primary chain 10 is rotatably mounted about a pivot axis 15b transverse to the direction of movement of the printed materials 11 on the chain 10. The portion 15a is adapted to tilt about its axis 15b to selectively allow:

• the normal routing of the printed matter 11 on the primary chain 10 to the identification device 25 ( figure 3a )
• the transfer of printed matter 11 to the conveyor 16 belonging to the first transfer device 15 ( figure 3b ).

For example, the movable portion 15a of the conveyor 10a is long enough for a single print 11.

The conveyor 16 of the first transfer device 15 transfers the printed matter 11 from the primary chain 10 to a location directly above or adjacent to the distribution chain 30. The last part 16a of the conveyor 16 is oriented for example according to a acute angle relative to the direction of travel of the distribution chain 30 to facilitate the transfer of printed matter 11 of the conveyor 16 to the distribution chain 30. The conveyor 16 may have a capacity to carry several successive packaged printed matter 11 .

The set of primary chains 10 is preferably arranged so that the supply of packaged printed matter 11 on the distribution chain 30 by the conveyors 16 is distributed substantially uniformly around the distribution chain 30.

The distribution chain 30 is for example a carousel, that is to say an endless chain having a plurality of receiving zones 31 adapted to each receive one or more printed matter 11.

For example, as shown partially in figure 4 The distribution channel 30 may be a BEUMER ^® carousel having a circumference of about four hundred meters, and having the order of eight hundred individual plates 32 tilt. Each plate 32 has a slight upward concavity, in order to allow a better stability of the printed papers 11 received in its reception zone 31. Each plate 32 is mounted swinging on a drive cable 33 which is motorized by a plurality of linear motors to advance the trays 32.

The distribution chain 30 also comprises a plurality of sensors and encoders communicating with the control means 70 in order to determine the position of at least one receiving zone 31, and consequently to deduce the position of all the receiving zones. 31. Thus, the control means 70 are adapted to pour the contents of a specific plate 32 at a precise position along the circumference of the carousel, so that the printed matter 11 contained on said plate 32 is received by one of the grouping chains 50.

Each plate 32 is for example tilting about a longitudinal axis, parallel to the drive cable 33, extending in the direction of travel of the trays 32, and is thus adapted to dump its contents with the aid of least a second transfer device 35.

The Figures 5a and 5b illustrate a second transfer device 35. Preferably, there is as much second transfer device 35 as grouping chain 50.

The second transfer device 35 comprises a tilting device 35a outside the plate 32 which is adapted to tilt the plate 32. The tilting device 35a may for example comprise a jack 35a disposed opposite a grouping chain 50 and below plateaus 32 ( figure 5a ). When the actuator 35a is activated by the control means 70, the latter comes into abutment under the plate 32 and tilts it so that the plate 32 discharges its content placed in its reception zone 31 laterally relative to to the direction of advancement ( figure 5b ).

The second transfer device 35 further comprises a conveyor 35b which receives the printed matter 11 dumped by the trays 32 and conveys it to the grouping chain 50. The conveyor 35b can be, for example, a chute inclined between the height of the distribution chain 30, more particularly between the plates 32, and the grouping chain 50. The chute 35b may be, for example, a roller chute, a ball chute, a belt chute. aspirant, or the like. The trough 35b is adapted to guide the descent of the printed matter discharged from the trays 32 by the second transfer devices 35. The roller trough may, in addition, be equipped with pneumatic brakes in order to slow down the descent too fast of the printed materials 11 towards the one of the grouping chains 50.

One of the print collection chains 50 is illustrated in more detail in the figure 6 .

The non-address printed forms 11 which are discharged from the distribution chain 30, via the conveyor 35b, are received by a reception zone 51 of the grouping chain 50.

The reception area 51 is adapted to route the received printed matter 11 one by one forwards. Thus, if a plate 32 spilled carries several printed 11 when it spills on the receiving area 51 of a grouping chain 50, these printed 11 are first separated and then forwarded one by one forward.

• des dispositifs d'encartage 52,
• un dispositif d'identification 53,
• une empileuse 54,
• un dispositif de liage 55,
• un dispositif de mise en cage 56 manuel ou automatique, et
• des convoyeurs 50a à bande ou à rouleau qui transportent les imprimés 11 entre ces stations de traitement.

Les dispositifs d'encartage 52 sont commandés par les moyens de commande 70 en fonction de la deuxième base de données 72 pour insérer le cas échéant des encarts génériques, ou des encarts spécifiques à un destinataire final.The grouping chain 50 shown comprises a plurality of processing stations:

• inserting devices 52,
• an identification device 53,
• a stacker 54,
• a binding device 55,
• a manual or automatic caging device 56, and
• belt or roller conveyors 50a which carry printed matter 11 between these processing stations.

The inserting devices 52 are controlled by the control means 70 as a function of the second base of Data 72 to insert generic inserts where appropriate, or inserts specific to a final recipient.

A specific inset may be for example a restart of the subscriber at the end of the subscription period stuck on top of the printed matter previously packaged on one of the primary channels 10. Alternatively, the inset may be inserted into an envelope which is stuck on the packaged print.

• le nom et l'adresse du destinataire,
• des coordonnées GPS de l'adresse du destinataire,
• une puce RFID identifiant l'adresse du destinataire, ou
• un code barres identifiant l'adresse du destinataire.

Then, the printed matter 11 is advanced to an identification device 53, for example an address printing device or the like, controlled by the control means 70 according to the second database 72 in order to provide the printed matter. an identification of the destination point for the shipment to identify the destination. The identification of the point of destination may be affixed to the printed matter, its packaging, or to a space of the insert pasted in the print, and may be, among other things:

• the name and address of the recipient,
• GPS coordinates of the recipient's address,
• an RFID chip identifying the recipient's address, or
• a barcode identifying the address of the recipient.

The grouping chain 50 then comprises, after the identification device 53, grouping means, for example a stacker 54 and a binding device 55 which group, stack, and bind the received printed papers 11 grouped in an order allowing grouping by address and / or by recipient, and for the same shipment as determined by the second database 72, for example to the same press carrier 90 to perform his tour 91 (see figure 7 ).

The grouping means may further comprise a caging device 56 adapted to receive the bundles of printed matter and caged them manually or automatically.

The operation of the installation will now be described with reference to the figure 7 .

The installation 1 receives printed matter 11 of several types, for example in printed pallets, from the publishing houses or others.

Each primary chain 10 is assigned prints 11 of a single determined type and this choice is communicated to the control means 70.

The printed matter 11 are then fed into the respective supply devices 12 of each primary chain 10.

The printed matter 11 is in particular fed to the inserting devices 13, where the printed matter is associated, if necessary, with inserts. Insert insertion or not can be controlled by the control means 70, according to the first database 71 comprising the list of recipients for which the delivery is by grouping of printed matter of a single type on the primary chain 10.

The printed materials 11 are then packaged by the packaging devices 14 and advanced to the transfer device 15 which selectively transfers, according to the control means 70 and the second database 72, some of the printed matter packaged towards the distribution chain. 30 via the conveyor 16.

The printed matter not transferred to the distribution chain 30 by the first transfer device 15 is fed to the identification device 25 to provide them with an identification of the destination point for the purpose of the single-title grouping by the stacker 20, the binding device 21, and the caging device 22 as usual, depending on the control means 70 and the first database 71.

The first transfer device 15 is controlled by the control means 70 to feed the distribution line 30 when a particular print 11 is required to the grouping lines 50 for a grouping of printed documents 11 in order to group together by address and / or by recipient of a tour 91, in the order of the tour. Thus, the control means 70 control the mobile part 15a of a specific transfer device 15, corresponding to a primary chain 10 which is fed with a particular type of printed matter 11, to transfer a print to the conveyor 16.

It should be noted that the packaged prints transferred by the first transfer devices 15 remain generic and not assigned to a particular recipient.

• déterminent la position d'un plateau 32 vide sur la chaîne de répartition 30, préférablement le plateau vide le plus proche de la chaîne primaire 10 traitant le type d'imprimé 11 concerné, et
• commandent le convoyeur 16 de la chaîne primaire 10 concernée au bon moment de manière à ce que l'imprimé nécessaire soit déposé sur la zone de réception 31 du plateau 32.

When, according to the second database 72, a print 11 of a certain type is required on the grouping chain 50, in order to group together for a tour 91, the control means 70:

• determine the position of an empty tray 32 on the distribution chain 30, preferably the empty tray closest to the primary chain 10 processing the type of printed matter 11 concerned, and
• control the conveyor 16 of the primary chain 10 concerned at the right time so that the necessary print is deposited on the receiving area 31 of the plate 32.

The control means 70 record the contents of each reception zone 31 of the trays 32.

In parallel, each grouping chain 50 is assigned to a particular tour 91, in charge of grouping the prints 11 (of several different types) of the tour 91 in the order of the tour as determined by the second database 72.

Then, depending on the content of each tray 32, and the position of each tray 32 relative to the grouping chains 50, the control means 70 control the second transfer device 35 associated with the grouping chain 50 recipient, to make tilting the tray 32 to dump the print or the following prints with respect to the sequence of addresses of the tour 91 in the second database 72. The printed or printed 11 and dumped are guided by the chute 25b to the reception area 51 of the grouping chain 50.

Therefore, the printed matter 11 arrives on the grouping chain 50 grouped according to an order of the printed materials allowing a grouping by address and / or by recipient, in particular grouped by consecutive addresses in the order of the tour 91 of the press carrier 90 for a multi-title delivery.

Indeed, the prints 11 are transferred from the primary chains 10 to the grouping line 50 by the first and second transfer devices 15, 35 via the distribution line 30 so that the printed matter 11 arrives on the grouping line 50 grouped according to an order allowing a grouping by address and / or by recipient as determined by the control means 70 and by the second database 72. Each print 11 received on the grouping chain 50 is then assigned a recipient of the database 72 in the order of the tour 91.

Each print 11 thus received on one of the grouping lines 50 is then conveyed to the insertion devices 52 which, according to the needs of the recipient in question determined by the second database 72 and controlled by the control means 70. , combine an appropriate insert, for example by gluing, on the printed 11 printed. This insert could for example be a personalized subscription restart to the recipient subscriber.

Then, the print 11 is provided with a destination identification, for example an address, by the identification device 53, as a function of the control means 70 and the second database 72, and then advanced by the conveyor 50a to the stacker 54 which receives and stacks the printed 11 consecutive for the same tour 91.

Once the capacity of the stacker is reached, or at the end of the list for the tour 91, the stacker 54 sends the stack of printed matter to the binding device 55 to bind the prints 11 together to prepare them for printing. sending, and then the caging device 22 for caging the bundles waiting for their transport.

Related printed packets are transported, for example by truck 80 (see figure 7 Each of the press carriers 90 can alternatively be delivered to a limited number of distribution centers in which the press carriers 90 can collect their package (s) for their tour. 91.

Of course, the embodiment described above is non-limiting.

In particular, as an alternative as illustrated in figure 2a , the transfer device 15 can be positioned downstream of the identification device 25.

In this case, in order to transfer only generic prints 11 of a necessary type to the grouping chain 50, the control means 70 inhibit the appending of the identification of the destination point on a printout 11 to be transferred by controlling the identification device 25 not to affix a destination point identification on a certain print. Then, the control means 70 controls the first transfer device 15 to selectively transfer the print, or printed matter, not provided with a destination point identification to the distribution chain 30.

The printed matter 11 personalized by the inserting devices 12, or provided with an identification of the destination point by the identification device 25, are fed to the stacker 20, the binding device 21, and the setting device. cage 22 to prepare the sending of the usual mono-titles packets.

• commandent les dispositifs d'encartage 12 et/ou le dispositif d'identification 25 sur la chaîne primaire 10, en fonction de la deuxième base de données 72, d'associer un encart personnalisé et/ou munir d'une identification d'un point de destination certains imprimés,
• commandent le premier dispositif de transfert 15 de transférer sélectivement vers la chaîne de regroupement 50 les certains imprimés 11 ayant une identification de point de destination, et
• commandent l'inhibition des dispositifs d'encartage 52 et/ou du dispositif d'identification 53 sur la chaîne de regroupement 50, en fonction des imprimés reçus sur la chaîne de regroupement 50 déjà personnalisés par encart et/ou munis d'une identification d'un point de destination par la chaîne primaire 10.

However, according to yet another variant of this embodiment, it could be envisaged to customize certain printed forms 11 on the primary chain 10, as described above, and to transfer them to the grouping chain 50. In this case the means of command 70:

• control the inserting devices 12 and / or the identification device 25 on the primary chain 10, as a function of the second database 72, to associate a personalized inset and / or to provide a point identification of destination some printed matter,
• directing the first transfer device 15 to selectively transfer to the grouping chain 50 the certain printed matter 11 having a destination point identification, and
• control the inhibition of the inserting devices 52 and / or the identification device 53 on the grouping chain 50, as a function of the prints received on the grouping line 50 already inset-personalized and / or provided with an identification number. a destination point by the primary chain 10.

According to yet another embodiment, it is envisaged that some or all of the primary strings 10 do not process printed matter 11 intended to be grouped together in the single-title bundles with a view, for example, of newsstand delivery.

For this purpose, as illustrated in figure 8 , the printing device 25, the stacker 20, the binding device 21, and the caging device 22 are then no longer necessary on these primary chains 10. In this case the first transfer devices 15 transfer all the printed matter 11 of the primary chains 10 in question towards the conveyor 16 in order to be grouped together on the grouping lines 50 and the distribution chain 30. In this case, the part 15a of the first transfer device 15 could remain permanently in the tilted position as shown in figure 3b .

In addition, as an alternative to this embodiment, it could be envisaged that all or part of the primary chains 10 consist solely of a print feeder 12 on the conveyor 10a, without further processing. In this case, the fed prints 11 are all transferred to the conveyor 16 for grouping on the grouping lines 50 via the distribution chain 30, and the grouping lines 50 receive unpackaged printed matter 11. It would then be conceivable to be able to associate inserts by the inserting devices 12 not only on the prints by gluing, but also inside the inserts.

In addition, according to another variant of this embodiment, it is conceivable to feed the primary chains 10 in packaged printed matter, that is to say in printed form having already been packaged prior to their feeding of each of the primary chains 10 In this case, it would be possible either to inhibit the operation of the packaging device 14 or to eliminate the packaging device 14.

According to another embodiment, the distribution chain 30 could for example be a carousel provided with an endless conveyor belt. In this case, the conveyor belt defines a plurality of predetermined delimited surfaces along the conveyor belt, corresponding to the reception zones 31 adapted to receive the printed materials before their groupings by the grouping chains 50.

In addition, the second transfer device 35 is not limited to a jack 35a tending to tilt the trays 32 passing above him. The second transfer device could be for example a pusher adapted to push horizontally the contents of the receiving zone 31 out of the plate 32 in order to pour its contents to a grouping chain 50, without tilting the plate 32.

Alternatively, the second transfer device 35 could comprise handling means, for example tongs or the like, adapted to transfer the contents of the reception zones 31 of the distribution chain 30 to at least one grouping chain 50.

• une première base de données 71 consultée par les moyens de commande 70 pour le fonctionnement des chaînes primaires 10 selon une pratique habituelle ;
• une deuxième base de données 72 consultée par les moyens de commande 70 pour le fonctionnement des chaînes de regroupement 50.

Finally, the embodiments presented above comprise two separate databases:

• a first database 71 consulted by the control means 70 for the operation of the primary chains 10 according to a usual practice;
• a second database 72 consulted by the control means 70 for the operation of the grouping chains 50.

However, it could be envisaged to use a single database divided into two parts, or in which the data necessary for the control of both the primary strings 10 and the grouping strings 50 are obtained dynamically.

Claims (15)

1. Facility (1) for processing printed materials, comprising:

   - a control means (70) adapted to access at least one database (71, 72) comprising recipients to whom said printed materials (11) are to be sent, addresses of these recipients, and types of printed materials to be sent to each recipient,

   - at least two primary conveyor lines (10) adapted to process printed materials (11), in particular printed materials in a non-individualized state, and each comprising at least one feeder means (12) adapted to supply printed materials (11) to the primary conveyor line (10), at least two of said primary conveyor lines being supplied a different type of printed material,

   - at least one grouping conveyor line (50) controlled by the control means (70) and assigned to one route (91),

   - a distribution conveyor line (30) controlled by the control means (70),

   - a first transfer device (15) for each primary conveyor line (10), said first transfer device (15) being commanded by the control means (70) to transfer printed materials (11) from the corresponding primary conveyor line (10) to the distribution conveyor line (30),

   - at least one second transfer means (35) for transferring printed materials (11) from the distribution conveyor line (30) to the grouping conveyor line (50),
   the control means (70) being adapted to cause the transfer of the printed materials to the grouping conveyor line (50) by the first and second transfer means and by the distribution conveyor line (30) such that said printed materials arrive on the grouping conveyor line grouped in an order that enables grouping by address and/or by recipient,
   at least one of said primary conveyor lines further comprising grouping means (20, 21, 22) adapted for grouping printed materials (11) that are not transferred toward the distribution conveyor line (30) by the first transfer device (15),
   characterized in that the first transfer device (15) is adapted for intercepting printed materials which correspond to printed materials in a non-individualized state, and is controlled by the control means for selectively transferring the intercepted printed materials, depending on the control means (70) and on the database (72), whereby the distribution conveyor line (30) may receive printed materials in a non-individualized state, the first and second transfer devices (15, 35) being controlled by the control means (70) so as to group the printed materials on the grouping conveyor line (50) by route, using data from the database (72) which are representative of routes (91), each including a series of addressees having consecutive addresses in a certain order,
   and in that the grouping conveyor line (50) comprises :

   - an identification device (53) controlled by the control means (70) to affix an indication of a point of destination on the printed materials as a function of the database (72) in order to individualize the printed materials,

   - an insertion device (52) controlled by the control means (70) to associate at least one supplement with said printed materials as a function of the database (72).
2. Facility according to claim 1, comprising several grouping conveyor lines (50) and as many second transfer devices (35) as there are grouping conveyor lines (50), each second transfer device (35) being controlled by the control means (70) to transfer printed materials (11) from the distribution conveyor line (30) to the corresponding grouping conveyor line (50), the control means (70) being adapted to cause the transfer of the printed materials to each grouping conveyor line (50) by the first and second transfer devices and by the distribution conveyor line (70) such that said printed materials arrive on each grouping conveyor line (50) grouped in an order which allows grouping by address and/or by recipient, and each grouping conveyor line (50) comprising an identification means (53) controlled by the control means (70) to affix an indication of a point of destination on the printed materials as a function of the database (72).
3. Facility according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first transfer device (15) comprises a belt or roller conveyer (16) or similar and is adapted for intercepting part of the printed materials (11) and transfer them through said conveyer (16) to the distribution conveyor line (30).
4. Facility according to any one of the above claims, wherein at least one of the primary conveyor lines (10) additionally comprises an insertion device (13) for associating at least one supplement with said printed materials processed by said primary conveyor line (10).
5. Facility according to any one of the above claims, wherein said primary conveyor lines (10) additionally comprise a wrapping device (14) adapted to wrap printed materials.
6. Facility according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said primary conveyor lines additionally comprises a first identification device (25) controlled by the control means (70) to affix an identification of a point of destination on the printed materials as a function of said database (71).
7. Facility according to claim 6, wherein said at least one primary conveyor line (10) equipped with the first identification device (25), additionally comprises grouping means (20, 21, 22) adapted to group printed materials (11) downstream from the first identification device, with the control means (70) controlling the grouping means (20, 21) such that the printed materials are grouped as a function of their points of destination.
8. Facility according to claim 7, wherein the grouping means (20, 21, 22) are adapted to stack and bundle together the printed materials (11) intended for a same shipment.
9. Facility according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the first transfer means (15) is arranged upstream from the first identification means (25) and is adapted to selectively transfer certain printed materials to the distribution conveyor line (30).
10. Facility according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the first transfer device (15) is arranged downstream from the first identification device (25) and the control means (70) is adapted to:

    - control the first identification means not to affix indications of a point of destination on certain printed materials,

    - control the first transfer device to selectively transfer to the distribution conveyor line (30) the printed materials that do not have indications of a point of destination.
11. Facility according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the first transfer device (15) is arranged downstream from the first identification device (25) and the control means (70) is adapted to:

    - control the first identification device to affix identifications of a point of destination on certain printed materials as a function of the database (72),

    - controlthe first transfer device to selectively transfer to the distribution conveyor line (30) certain printed materials that have indications of a point of destination.
12. Facility for processing according to claim 11, wherein the control means (70) is adapted to command the second identification device (53) not to affix indications of a point of destination on each of the printed materials (11) transferred by the first transfer device (15) and having indications of a point of destination.
13. Facility for processing according to any one of the above claims, wherein the distribution conveyor line (30) comprises a plurality of trays (32), each adapted to receive at least one printed material (11).
14. Processing facility according to claim 13, wherein each tray (32) is adapted to tilt at the command of the control means (70) as a function of the database (72), so as to discharge a printed material carried by said tray towards the grouping conveyor line (50).
15. Method for processing printed materials for the purpose of routing said printed materials (11) to recipients, comprising the steps in which:

    - printed materials (11) of multiple different types are received, as well as a computer file comprising a list of said recipients to whom said printed materials (11) are to be sent, addresses of these recipients, and types of printed materials intended for each recipient;

    - said printed materials (11) are supplied in a non-individualized state to at least two primary conveyor lines (10) adapted for respectively processing said printed materials of different types;

    - the transfer of said printed materials (11) by first transfer devices (15) from at least one primary conveyor line (10) to a distribution conveyor line (30) is commanded, the transfer comprising intercepting of printed materials (11) which correspond to printed materials in a non-individualized state, whereby the distribution conveyor line (30) may receive printed materials which are in a non-individualized state;

    - the selective transfer of said printed materials (11) by second transfer devices (35) from the distribution conveyor line (30) to a grouping conveyor line (50) is commanded, such that said printed materials arrive on the grouping conveyor line grouped in an order which allows grouping by address and/or by recipient, the grouping conveyor line (50) being assigned to a route (91);

    - and on the grouping conveyor line (50), an insertion device (52) associates an appropriate supplement and an identification device (53) affixes an identification of a point of destination on the printed materials as a function of a database (72) comprising recipients to whom said printed materials are to be sent (11);

    - and the non-transferred printed materials are processed by grouping means (20, 21, 22) of the primary conveyor line (10) so as to group the non-transferred printed materials according to their addresses;

    - and said database is used to control the first and second transfer devices (15, 35) so as to group the printed materials on the grouping conveyor line (50) by route, in the order of the route, the database (72) including routes (91), each including a series of addressees having consecutive addresses in a certain order.

Images