EP2361865A1 - Device and method for producing stacks from a flow of shingled printed products - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves forming a main stack (9) on a stack support (6) in a stacking shaft (5), where an intermediate element (7) i.e. rake, and an auxiliary rake (8) are in idle positions outside of the shaft. An intermediate element is extended into an intermediate space to an end position in the shaft. Printed products (3) are deposited on the intermediate element or on previously deposited products. The stack is conveyed away from the shaft. The auxiliary rake is retracted to idle position outside of the shaft to transfer the partial stack and formed as a new main stack to the support. An independent claim is also included for a stacking apparatus comprising a stacking shaft and an intermediate stack element.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for forming stacks from a continuous stream of printed products conveyed in the direction of a stacking shaft.

In fast-running devices of the above type, the shingled stream transported on an endless conveyor is usually slowed or even stopped to create a gap between two printed products. In this gap, an intermediate element is introduced in the stacking shaft and formed on this one of the subsequent printed products existing sub-stack. To form such a gap, solutions are also known in which the scale flow is accelerated in its downstream region or in which upstream parts of the scale flow slows down and downstream parts are accelerated.

Due to such changes in speed a disturbance enters the scale flow, which can complicate the stacking or even interrupt. This can lead to a changed scale length up to the negative overlapping and to a lateral offset, to an inclined position and also to damage of individual or several printed products in the partial stack and to get into problems while making the main pile.

In other known devices, the shingled stream is fed continuously to the stacking shaft, the stacks formed in this way being separated later. However, the corresponding method can not be automated at a reasonable cost.

From the DE 19855510 A1 An apparatus for vertically forming sub-stacks of printed products is known. Here, two support fingers of a separating device arranged on both sides of the stacking shaft move into the region of the stacking shaft. The support fingers slide between two successive printed products of the scale flow and thereby prevent the falling of the subsequent printed product. As a result of this delay in the scale flow, the stack support arranged in the form of two rakes arranged on both sides of the stacking shaft can enter into the gap between the printed products which fall down and take up a forming part stack. A disadvantage of such a device is that printed products impaled during insertion of the support fingers or can be separated unclean, which can lead to malfunction and downtime of the entire system.

From the DE 19947329 A1 An apparatus is also known, with which printed products delivered on a conveyor belt in a flaky arrangement are vertically stacked and output in the form of sub-stacks of a desired number. This device has one on the conveyor belt facing away Side of the stacking shaft arranged first support fingers. This is moved from a starting position in which it protrudes above the scale flow in the center of the stacking shaft, vertically in a protruding into the scale flow end position. The conveyed after taking the end position of the first support finger in the stacking tray printed products are thus stored forming a partial stack on this support finger. A second, arranged on the side facing the conveyor belt side of the stacking shaft support finger is also inserted into the stacking shaft and is used together with the first support finger of the support of the sub-stack and its separation from the previous part of the stack or the main stack. After the support fingers have been moved horizontally out of the stacking shaft, the printed products of the sub-stack fall on the arranged in the stacking stack support stack forming a main stack. A disadvantage of such a device is that at high feeding speeds of the imbricated flow thin printed products can be deformed and damaged by the support fingers or protrude during the intermediate storage on both sides of the respective support finger in the stack well below the horizontal and therefore can fall into deformed. This in turn can lead to malfunction and downtime of the entire system.

In separation devices which are arranged on the side facing away from the conveyor belt of the stacking shaft and in particular designed as a rake and operated at a high speed, it may happen, especially when using thin or large-scale printed products, that the first product after the separation point of the rake so taken is that it is partially positioned above and partially below the fingers of the rake and also can be damaged. Since such a jammed print product can not be removed automatically in the normal production process, a shutdown of the entire system is also required here.

The object of the invention is to provide a suitable for high processing speeds and the use of thin printed products simple and reliable method and a corresponding device for forming vertical stacks of a shingled stream of printed products.

• Bilden eines Hauptstapels im Stapelschacht auf einer Stapelablage, wobei sich ein Zwischenelement in einer Ruheposition ausserhalb des Stapelschachts befindet,
• Ausfahren des Zwischenelements in eine Endstellung im Stapelschacht,
• Ablegen der Druckprodukte auf dem Zwischenelement bzw. auf den jeweils auf diesen bereits befindlichen Druckprodukten, wobei sich auf dem Zwischenelement ein Teilstapel bildet
• Abtransport des Hauptstapels aus dem Stapelschacht,
• Einfahren des Zwischenelements in seine Ruheposition ausserhalb des Stapelschachts,
• Übergabe des bisherigen Teilstapels als neuer Hauptstapel an die Stapelablage, wobei
• vor dem Ausfahren des Zwischenelements ein Hilfsrechen aus einer Ruheposition ausserhalb des Stapelschachts in eine Endstellung im Stapelschacht ausgefahren wird,
• Absenken der Stapelablage,
• Ausbilden eines freien Zwischenraums zwischen Hauptstapel und Teilstapel unterhalb des Hilfsrechens,
• Ausfahren des Zwischenelements in den freien Zwischenraum und anschliessend in seine Endstellung im Stapelschacht und
• Einfahren des Hilfsrechens in seine Ruheposition.

The problem is solved according to the features of the characterizing part of claims 1 and 6. In this case, the following steps are carried out to form stacks from a continuous stream of printed products conveyed in the direction of a stacking shaft:

• Forming a main stack in the stacking shaft on a stacking tray, wherein an intermediate element is in a rest position outside the stacking shaft,
• Extending the intermediate element into an end position in the stacking shaft,
• Depositing the printed products on the intermediate element or on the print products already present thereon, with a partial stack forming on the intermediate element
• Removal of the main stack from the stacking shaft,
• Retracting the intermediate element into its rest position outside the stacking shaft,
• Transfer of the previous sub-stack as a new main stack to the stack tray, where
• before extending the intermediate element, an auxiliary rake is extended from a rest position outside the stacking shaft into an end position in the stacking shaft,
• Lowering the stacker tray,
• Forming a free space between the main stack and the sub-stack underneath the auxiliary rake,
• Extending the intermediate element in the free space and then in its end position in the stacking shaft and
• Retracting the auxiliary rake in its rest position.

An advantage with respect to methods known hitherto lies in the fact that the free space formed by the auxiliary rake makes it possible to move the intermediate element out into a "safe gap" without being pierced uncontrollably into the previously formed stack of printed products. This prevents injury or deformation of these printed products, which leads to process reliability even at high feed rates.

Advantageously, the extension of the auxiliary rake from its rest position takes place at approximately the same speed as the scale flow and at least approximately horizontally into the stacking shaft. This synchronized motion provides additional security for clean separation of products at a desired location, as varying speeds between auxiliary rake and scale flow at high processing speeds can result in mechanical deformation forces or electrostatic charges that can damage thin or large area printed products. By controlling the auxiliary rake via a machine control system, a synchronous activation of the auxiliary rake with the shingled stream can advantageously take place in order to ensure the above-described required movement sequences within the stacking device. In addition, in another embodiment, the driving of the auxiliary rake and the intermediate element takes place via a combined machine control. This has the advantage that an even more accurate control of the interacting components of the inventive device can be achieved.

By forming stacks at a constant speed of the imbricated flow, the present apparatus enables a delay-free processing in stacking the printed products, whereby high processing speeds can be achieved.

A stacking device according to the invention comprises an endless conveyor and a stacking shaft arranged downstream of the endless conveyor, with an intermediate element accommodating an intermediate stack and with a stacking tray arranged in the stacking shaft for stacking a continuous flow of printed products conveyed in the direction of the stacking shaft, the stacking device having a in the stacking shaft extendable auxiliary rake, which is arranged above the intermediate element and which is extendable into the stacking shaft with an at least approximately the same speed as the scale flow. In a further embodiment, the auxiliary rake can also be introduced into the stacking shaft at a speed which is lower than the shingled flow, with an additional safeguard against infringement of the printed products due to the gentle advance of the shingled flow.

In a further embodiment, the auxiliary rake is arranged so that it extends across an entire width of the stacking shaft transversely to a conveying direction of the scale flow. As a result, large-format and thin printed products can be better supported during the process according to the invention.

In one embodiment of the stacking device, the endless conveyors have a plurality of parallel and spaced apart circulating conveyor belts. Advantageously proves to be an extendable arrangement of the auxiliary rake in approximately the same height as the conveyor belts of the endless conveyor, because thus an offset-free acquisition of the printed products is ensured by the scale flow when extending the auxiliary rake.

Advantageously, also proves an embodiment of the stacking device, in which spaces are formed between the spaced-apart conveyor belts and the auxiliary rake is arranged in a retracted rest position in the interstices. This can ensure that when the auxiliary rake is extended into its end position, the printed products rest at the same height as on the endless conveyor. This proves especially useful when large processing speeds are to be achieved and also when using thin printed products. The circulating elements, over which the conveyor belts are guided, may be formed as rollers, gears or similar components, depending on the embodiment of the endless conveyor as a belt, belt, toothed belt or chain conveyor. The drive units for the intermediate element and the auxiliary rake can be either pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical or similar drive devices, wherein a corresponding drive control can be provided for the inventive motion sequence.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to an embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and explained.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine Darstellung im Bereich der Stapelvorrichtung von Fig. 1 in einer ersten Betriebsstellung;

Fig. 3

eine der Fig. 2 entsprechende Darstellung in einer zweiten Betriebsstellung;

Fig. 4

eine der Fig. 2 entsprechende Darstellung in einer dritten Betriebsstellung;

Fig. 5

eine der Fig. 2 entsprechende Darstellung in einer vierten Betriebsstellung;

Fig. 6

eine der Fig. 2 entsprechende Darstellung in einer fünften Betriebsstellung;

Fig. 7

eine der Fig. 2 entsprechende Darstellung in einer sechsten Betriebsstellung;

Fig. 8

eine Draufsicht einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung mit dargestelltem Schuppenstrom;

Fig. 9

eine Draufsicht einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 9A

vergrössert dargestellte Details im Bereich des ausgefahrenen Hilfsrechens;

Fig. 9B

vergrössert dargestellte Details im Bereich des eingefahrenen Hilfsrechens;

Fig. 10

eine Draufsicht einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung ohne Druckprodukte.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic side view of an inventive device;

Fig. 2

a representation in the region of the stacking device of Fig. 1 in a first operating position;

Fig. 3

one of the Fig. 2 corresponding representation in a second operating position;

Fig. 4

one of the Fig. 2 corresponding representation in a third operating position;

Fig. 5

one of the Fig. 2 corresponding representation in a fourth operating position;

Fig. 6

one of the Fig. 2 corresponding representation in a fifth operating position;

Fig. 7

one of the Fig. 2 corresponding representation in a sixth operating position;

Fig. 8

a plan view of an inventive device with illustrated scale flow;

Fig. 9

a plan view of an inventive device;

Fig. 9A

enlarged details in the area of the extended auxiliary rake;

Fig. 9B

enlarged details in the area of the retracted auxiliary invoice;

Fig. 10

a plan view of an inventive device without printed products.

In the Fig. 1 An embodiment of the apparatus 1 according to the invention for forming stacks from a shingled stream 2 of printed products 3 can be seen. The apparatus 1 has a horizontal endless conveyor 4 designed as a conveyor belt and a vertical stacking shaft 5 adjoining it in a conveying direction. In the stacking shaft 5, a stack tray 6 is arranged. At the endless conveyor 4 side facing the stacking shaft 5 designed as a rake intermediate element 7 is arranged.

In addition, the device 1 has an auxiliary rake 8, which is arranged at the level of the scale flow 2 on the endless conveyor 4 and substantially horizontally formed in the stacking shaft 5 can be introduced.

In the FIGS. 2 to 8 the method steps according to the invention are illustrated with reference to an embodiment of the device 1.

Fig. 2 shows the formation of a main stack 9 in the stacking shaft 5 on the stack tray 6, wherein both the intermediate element 7 and the auxiliary rake 8 are in a rest position. The stack tray 6 is continuously lowered according to the growing main stack 9. Here, the formed from the printed products 3 Schuppenstrom 2 is shown on the endless conveyor 4.

Fig. 3 shows the extension of the auxiliary rake 8 between the incoming printed products 3 of the scale flow 2 upon reaching the number of printed products 3 provided for the main stack 9. The auxiliary rake 8 is moved into the stacking shaft 5 at approximately the same speed as the scale flow 2 and at least approximately horizontally. The upstream ends of the printed products 3 are now supported on the auxiliary rake 8, while the downstream ends of these printed products 3 are further deposited on the stack tray 6 and on the printed products 3 of the main stack 9 already located thereon.

Fig. 4 shows the auxiliary rake 8 in its extended end position. Simultaneously with the achievement of this end position of the auxiliary rake 8, the stack tray 6 and thus also the main stack 9 are lowered, wherein a free space 10 is formed for the extension of the intermediate element 7. The auxiliary rake 8 itself does not form a partial stack, but prevents the downstream ends of the printed products 3 from falling further into the stacking shaft 5. In the space 10 generated by the auxiliary rake 8, the intermediate element 7 can retract without damaging printed products 3.

Fig. 5 represents the intermediate element 7 in its extended end position, in which the downstream ends of the previously deposited so far on the main stack 9 printed products 3 have been taken over by the intermediate element 7. The following printed products 3 are now deposited in each case with their upstream end on the auxiliary rake 8 and with its downstream end on the intermediate element 7 or on the respective printed products 3 already located thereon.

Fig. 6 shows in its rest position entering auxiliary rake 8, whereby the upstream ends of the previously stored on the auxiliary rake printed products 3 are transferred to the intermediate element 7 to form a partial stack 11. The further formation of the sub-stack 11 then takes place on the self-lowering intermediate element 7, wherein the main stack 9 is further lowered with the stack tray 6.

Fig. 7 indicates after the removal of the main stack 9 not shown taking off the stack tray 6 to below the intermediate element 7, the latter being retracted on reaching the upper position of the stack tray 6 in its rest position and the part stack 11 is transferred to the stack tray 6. The now subsequent training of the main stack 4 takes place on the stack tray 6, analog Fig. 2 ,

In the top view Fig. 8 is a device 1 according to the invention with lying on the endless conveyor 4 and over the stacking shaft 5, in the conveying direction 16 moving shingled stream 2 of printed products 3 shown. Here are in the stacking shaft 5 with the width 15 both on the stack tray 6 resting main stack 9 as well as a resting on the intermediate element 7 part stack 11th

Fig. 9 shows a plan view of the inventive device 1 with an enlarged illustrated auxiliary rake 8, which is arranged in approximately the same height as the endless conveyor 4, on the auxiliary rake 8 in the retracted position ( Fig. 9B ) and in the extended position ( Fig. 9A ), in which the upstream ends of the following, not shown here printed products 3 can be supported on the auxiliary rake 8. The in the Figs. 9A and 9B enlarged details also include a support member 18, on which the auxiliary rake 8 is fixed, and a slide bar 19, on which the support member 18 is slidably disposed. Here, too, the endless conveyor (4) is shown, which has a plurality of parallel and through intermediate spaces (17) spaced from each other circulating conveyor belts (12), wherein the conveyor belts (12) are guided around the circulation elements (13). The in the Figs. 9, 9A and 9B shown recess 20 in the stacking shaft 5 is provided for the up and down movement of the intermediate element 7.

Fig. 10 shows a plan view of the inventive device 1 also without the printed products to be stacked to illustrate the arrangement of the intermediate element 7 in its extended end position in the stacking shaft 5. The intermediate element 7 is shown in its retracted into the stacking shaft 5 end position. In this figure, the drive units 14 for the intermediate element 7 and the auxiliary rake 8 can be seen.

Claims (11)

Method for forming stacks from a continuous flow (2) of printed products (3) conveyed in the direction of a stacking shaft (5), comprising the following steps: - forming a main stack (9) in the stacking shaft (5) on a stacking tray (6), wherein an intermediate element (7) is in a rest position outside the stacking shaft (5), - Extending the intermediate element (7) in an end position in the stacking shaft (5), Depositing the printed products (3) on the intermediate element (7) or on the respective printed products (3) already thereon, wherein a partial stack (11) forms on the intermediate element (7), Removal of the main stack (9) from the stacking shaft (5), - Retraction of the intermediate element (7) in its rest position outside the stacking shaft (5), - Transfer of the previous sub-stack (11) as a new main stack (9) to the stack tray (6),
characterized in that - Before the extension of the intermediate element (7) an auxiliary rake (8) from a rest position outside the stacking shaft (5) is extended to an end position in the stacking shaft (5), Lowering the stacking tray (6), - Forming a free space (10) between the main stack (9) and sub-stack (11) below the Hilfsrechens (8), - Extending the intermediate element (7) in the free space (10) and then in its end position in the stacking shaft (5) and - Retracting the Hilfsrechens (8) in its rest position. Method according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the extension of the auxiliary rake (8) from its rest position into its end position takes place at approximately the same speed as the imbricated stream (2) and at least approximately horizontally into the stacking shaft (5). Method according to one of claims 1 or 2,
characterized in that
the formation of stacks at constant speed of the scale flow (2) takes place. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the driving of the auxiliary rake (8) via a machine control takes place. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the driving of the auxiliary rake (8) and the intermediate element (7) takes place via a combined machine control. Stacking device (1) with an endless conveyor (4) and a stacking shaft (5) arranged downstream of the endless conveyor (4), with an intermediate element (7) which can be extended into the stacking shaft (5), and an intermediate stack (5) arranged in the stacking shaft (5) Stacking tray (6), for stacking a continuous stream (2) of printed products (3) conveyed in the direction of the stacking tray (5),
characterized in that
the stacking device (1) has an auxiliary rake (8) which can be extended into the stacking shaft (5), which is arranged above the intermediate element (7) and which can be extended into the stacking shaft (5) with an at least approximately the same speed as the imbricated stream (2) is. Stacking device (1) according to claim 6,
characterized in that
the auxiliary rake (8) is movable into the stacking shaft (5) at a lower speed than the scale flow (2). Stacking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the auxiliary rake (8) is arranged so that it extends across an entire width (15) of the stacking shaft (5) transversely to a conveying direction (16) of the scale flow. Stacking device (1) according to claim 6 or 7
characterized in that
the endless conveyor (4) has a plurality of parallel and spaced-apart circulating conveyor belts (12). Stacking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the auxiliary rake (8) is arranged at approximately the same height as the conveyor belts (12) of the endless conveyor (4). Stacking device (1) according to claim 9 or 10,
characterized in that
Between the spaced apart conveyor belts (12) intermediate spaces (17) are formed and the auxiliary rake (8) is arranged in a retracted rest position in the intermediate spaces (17).

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