EP2700599B1 - Device and method for separating individual flat, flexible objects from the underside of a stack - Google Patents

Description

The invention is in the field of promotion of flat, bendable objects, in particular of printed products. The invention relates to a device for separating such articles from the bottom of a stack consisting of these articles and for conveying the separated articles away from the stack. The device comprises a stacking space with a support region and the stack in the support region from below supportive support means, wherein the support means comprise at least one support roller assembly of at least one support roller. Further, the device includes at least one separating member for separating the articles from the bottom of the stack.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method for separating individual, flat, bendable objects from the underside of a stack of such objects and for conveying away the separated objects from the stack by means of an inventive device.

Such devices are known in the art. For example, describes the EP 1 226 083 B1 Various embodiments of devices for the separation of individual printed products from the bottom of a printed product stack.

According to a first embodiment according to Figure 1 to 5 the stack is on the one hand partially supported on a fixed support table and on the other hand on a movably arranged support disk pair. The support table and the support disk pair form a horizontal support surface. The support disks are rotatably mounted about a vertical axis. The support disk pairing forms a release cut, which is arranged in a release position below the stack an opening for the suction organs and for bending away and removing the printed products. The release cut is performed periodically by the rotation of the support discs below the stack.

However, the rotating support discs create surface friction on the bottom of the stack, i. they grind along the pile bottom. This process can lead to damage to the lowermost product and generally to disruptions in the process flow, such. B. an uncontrolled shift of the printed products in the stack.

According to a second embodiment, the device includes a carrier wheel arranged below the stack and rotating about a substantially horizontal axis. At the periphery of the carrier wheel pairs of one sucker and one gripper associated with the sucker are arranged. Furthermore, the device comprises a support means in the form of a roll carpet which on the one hand supports the stack from below and on the other hand has at least one removal opening, through which the lowest printed product detected by a sucker and bent to separate from the stack against the gripper associated with the sucker and this can be handed over. The roller carpet has a plurality of parallel and horizontally oriented freely rotatably mounted rollers, which are moved in a circulation device along an orbit. The rollers are thereby moved substantially rectified with the suckers and grippers under the stack.

The publication EP 1 506 931 A1 describes a device for separation of flat packages, in which the packages are stored in a stack in a magazine and are isolated wegführbar by a trigger drum. For this purpose, a pivotable about a shaft finger is provided, which engages in a wegzuführenden package in the stack and generates an air cushion between two superposed packages.

The publication US 6,332,607 B1 D2 describes a device for separating printed products from a stack. The device comprises a support roller arrangement with two spaced-apart groups of a plurality of support rollers arranged one behind the other along a movement path. The trajectory leads past the pile bottom.

In the WO 2008/000099 A1 a device is described which serves the same purpose. Again, there is a roll carpet, the rollers of the roller carpet are attached to a roller wheel, which rotates, for example, on the same axis as the carrier wheel. The rollers travel along a non-circular orbit along which the distance between the rollers is varied. The rollers are also articulated by means of levers on the roller wheel, such that the levers are pivotable parallel to the plane of rotation of the roller wheel. A clear orbit of the rollers and a clear and consistent movement of the rollers along this orbit are defined by a roller guide which controls the movement of the rollers along the orbit.

The EP 1 254 855 B1 also shows a roller carpet in which the rollers are attached to a roller wheel. In order to open the roll carpet in a certain area, the rollers are tilted away, about a tilt axis, which is substantially radial or secant to the roller wheel. For pivoting the rollers a link control is provided. A rolling on a backdrop wheel moves via a lever mechanism with multiple levers, the rollers.

The EP 2 128 055 A2 also describes apparatus for separating printed products from the underside of a printed product stack and for conveying the separated printed products away. The apparatus includes a stacking space having a support portion in which the stack is supported downwardly. Further, the device also includes a revolving roller carpet with a plurality of freely rotatable about its longitudinal axis rollers which are moved through the support area and thereby support the stack against the bottom. Furthermore, the device includes circumferential suction and gripper pairings for separating the articles from the underside of the stack and for transporting away the same. The rollers are moved in the support area rectified with the suckers and grippers under the stack over. The roles of the roller carpet are coupled to a roller wheel. The coupling is designed in accordance with this embodiment such that the rollers are pivotable with their longitudinal axis relative to the roller wheel.

The CH-637 087 describes a device for separating printed products from the underside of a printed product stack and for conveying away the separated printed products. Below the stack, a support means in the form of a roller grate with a plurality of rollers is arranged. The rollers of the roller grate are also moved in a circulation device along an orbit, wherein the orbit passes through the support region of the stack.

The CH 598 106 also describes apparatus for separating printed products from the underside of a printed product stack and for conveying the separated printed products away. Again, the support means for supporting the stack circumferentially moving rollers, which are guided by the support region of the stack support.

The above-mentioned publications have in common that the rollers of the support means in a circulating device circumferentially guided and moved in this way through the support area of the stack support. According to particular embodiments of the publications cited above, the rollers of the roller carpet are additionally pivotable with their longitudinal axis.

The devices described have the disadvantage that they have relatively large dimensions due to the circumferentially guided roller carpets or roller grates and occupy a corresponding amount of space. The devices also contain pivotally guided support rollers, so they have even larger dimensions.

For certain applications, however, it may be advantageous or even mandatory that the device has a compact and thus space-saving design having. However, this task is hardly solvable with a circumferentially guided support roller assembly.

The object of the present invention is, therefore, to propose a device for separating printed products from the underside of a printed products product stack and for conveying away the separated printed products, which contains support means for supporting the article stack, which allow a compact and space-saving design of the device. However, the support means should ensure trouble-free operation of the device even at high processing speeds.

The object is achieved by the features of the device claim 1 and the method claim 11. Advantageous developments and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. In this case, features of the method claims can be mutatis mutandis combined with the features of the device claims and vice versa.

• einen Stapelraum mit einem Stützbereich;
• den Stapel im Stützbereich von unten stützende Stützmittel, wobei die Stützmittel mindestens eine Stützrollenanordnung mit mindestens einer Stützrolle enthalten; sowie
• mindestens ein Abtrennorgan zum Abtrennen der Gegenstände von der Unterseite des Stapels im Stützbereich.

The apparatus for separating individual, flat, bendable objects from the bottom of a stack of such articles and for conveying the separated articles away from the stack, as stated above, comprises:

• a stacking room with a support area;
• the stack in the support region from below supporting support means, wherein the support means comprise at least one support roller assembly having at least one support roller; such as
• at least one separating member for separating the objects from the bottom of the stack in the support area.

The invention is characterized by the features of claim 1. The support roller assembly is in particular movable back and forth between the support position and the release position.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the support roller assembly is periodically movable, in particular reciprocally movable. The support roller assembly may also periodically and exclusively translationally movable, in particular reciprocally, be.

Translational stands for a linear or linear movement of the support rollers of the roller assembly.

However, it is also possible for the support roller arrangement or its support rollers to be movable periodically and at least in sections along a curved movement path, in particular back and forth. The support roller arrangement or its support rollers can also be movable periodically and exclusively along a curved path of movement, in particular reciprocally. In the release position, the device forms a maximum release gap in the support area below the stack, through which the objects can be bent away downwards. The release gap preferably extends transversely to the direction of movement of the support roller assembly. The term "down" refers to the direction of gravity.

In the support position, however, the support roller assembly is arranged in the region of the release gap below the stack. In the support position, the support roller assembly supports the stack at least part of the area down.

The device preferably also has a release gap in the support position, which z. B. is so wide that this allows the Wegtransportieren a bent-away object below the stack space. This release gap is however, much narrower than the maximum release gap in the release position. If a fixed support arrangement or a subsequent guide roller of the type described below is provided, then the release gap is formed in the support position between the fixed support assembly and the guide roller.

The reciprocating motion circumscribes a movement of the support rollers or the support roller assembly in a release direction into which the release gap opens and / or enlarged, and in a support direction opposite to the release direction into which the release gap decreases again due to the retracted support roller assembly.

The flat, bendable articles are preferred printed products such as newspapers, magazines, magazines, brochures, advertising supplements, individual sheets, sheets, flyers, etc.

The support means may comprise one, two or more than two support roller assemblies. Contain the support means two support roller assemblies, they may be arranged side by side in the direction of movement of the support roller assembly considered. Furthermore, the two support roller assemblies may be formed mirror-symmetrically to each other.

The support rollers are preferably moved only translationally back and forth. In particular, the support roller assembly can be moved as a unit at least in sections, preferably only translationally back and forth.

The support roller assembly may, viewed in the direction of movement of the support roller assembly, have only one support roller. However, the support roller assembly preferably contains two, three, four or more than four in the direction of movement of the support roller assembly successively arranged support rollers. The axes or the axes of rotation of the support rollers preferably extend transversely to the direction of movement of Supporting roller assembly. The support rollers are preferably rotatably mounted in lateral brackets. The side brackets can be receiving profiles.

The support roller assembly may further include one or more support rollers on a common axis of rotation.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the roller guide device comprises two support roller assemblies of the type described above, which are arranged side by side viewed in the direction of movement. Between the support roller assemblies, a central gap is formed, by means of which the at least one separating member can be moved towards the support region for the purpose of detecting the lowermost object of the stack. The central gap preferably extends along the direction of movement of the support roller assembly.

The support roller assemblies and their lateral brackets are preferably linearly guided in a guide device operatively connected to the lateral supports. The brackets preferably have the function of a slide and form a slide guide with the guide device. The guide device can, for. B. guide profiles, which receive the brackets slidably record.

The support roller assembly is preferably connected via a hinge mechanism with the device. The hinge mechanism is designed so that this is a non-linear, z. B. rotary control movement translated into a translational movement of the support roller assembly.

The device preferably includes control means by means of which the movement of the support rollers or the support roller assembly can be controlled isochronous to the separation process. Isochronous to the separation process in particular means a clock-synchronous movement of the support roller assembly for moving the Abtrennorgane. The isochronous movement will be explained in more detail below in connection with the description of the method.

The control means preferably include a control link which is traversed, for example, by a control roller. The control roller can be operatively connected to the roller guide device via a control arm. The guidance of the control roller along the control link causes a deflection of the control arm, wherein via a hinge mechanism, the deflection of the control arm takes place in a translational movement of the support rollers or the support roller assembly.

The Steuerkulisse can z. B. with the transfer device described in more detail below, in which the separation and possibly also transport organs are moved circumferentially, be coupled.

However, the movement of the support roller assembly can also be done via an independent drive. However, this drive is preferably controlled via the central machine control, so that an isochronous movement of the support roller assembly with the movement of the separating elements or the transport elements is possible.

The roller guide means may include biasing means which are capable of exerting a restoring force in the direction of support position or release position of the support roller assembly. That is, the support roller assembly is held in the absence of an active control movement by the restoring force of the biasing means in a reset position, which corresponds in particular to the support position or the release position. In principle, a reset position between the support and release position is possible. The biasing means may, for example, comprise a torsion spring arranged on an axis of rotation of the hinge connection.

To exercise the movement in the direction of support or in the release direction, the support roller assembly is moved against the restoring force from the return position via the pivoting movement of the control arm.

According to a further development of the invention, the device contains a blown air supply device, by means of which blowing air can be blown in between a bottom object of a stack, which is at least partially bent away by the separating element. The blown air is preferably applied in the form of a compressed-air impact. This is preferably done simultaneously or in a timely manner with the bending or pulling away of the object from the bottom of the stack. Timely means, temporally something before moving away, or temporally something before or after bending the object related to the duration of a work cycle.

Thus, control means may be provided, by means of which the blowing air is blown controlled. In particular, the control means are able to inject the blown air in isochronous fashion for bending away or pulling away the object from the stack.

Furthermore, the control means are also able to generate a pulse-like compressed air surge.

By blowing in blowing air, an air cushion is formed between the lowermost article and the stack, which facilitates the detachment of the lowermost article from the underside of the stack. The aforementioned air cushion causes namely a reduction of the static friction, so that the lowest object can easily be separated from the stack. By this measure, it is particularly prevented that due to the prevailing between the objects of the stack static friction several objects are simultaneously detached from the stack.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the Blasluftzufuhreinrichtung includes a blast air duct. This runs in particular transversely to the direction of movement the support roller assembly. The blast air duct may be formed as a tube, which contains in its lateral surface outlet openings for blowing air. The outlet openings are directed according to the lowest object of the stack out.

The blast air duct is preferably part of the support roller assembly. It is preferably arranged in the direction of support in front of the foremost support roller of the support roller arrangement or even forms the foremost support roller. The blast air duct preferably runs parallel to the axes of rotation of the support rollers.

On the blown air channel itself support rollers can be rotatably mounted. The blast air duct is formed according to this example as a hollow shaft.

The term "blown air" is intended to be representative of any gas or gas mixture which is suitable for reducing the static friction in the manner described. The support means further includes a fixed support assembly which, together with the support roller assembly located in the support position, forms a common support surface. The support surface of the fixed support assembly and / or the support roller assembly is preferably oriented horizontally or substantially horizontally. Aligned substantially horizontally means that the support surface relative to the horizontal has an angle of inclination of a maximum of 10 ° (degrees). The support surface is preferably present as a support plane.

The fixed support assembly preferably forms a stationary support surface. The support assembly may be a closed support surface, for. B. be in the form of a support plate or a support plate. The support surface can also be broken.

The support arrangement or the stationary support surface may be arranged at the end facing the support roller assembly end edge a stationary guide roller. The guide roller is rotatably mounted. The guide roller serves as a guide for the bottom object of the stack to be separated. The guide roller guides the object being transported away from the stack on its way down. This is done by the object is guided over the guide roller and deflected downwards. The guide roller is thereby rotated by the object moved past in a rotation.

According to this development of the device, the release gap is now arranged between the support arrangement or the guide roller and the support roller arrangement located in the release position.

The device preferably contains a plurality of separation members. The separating members are preferably arranged on a transfer device arranged below the support area. The separation members are preferably arranged circumferentially on the transfer device. The transfer device can be, for example, a circulating carrier wheel, on the radial peripheral region of which the separating elements are arranged.

According to a development of the invention, the device comprises a plurality of transport members for transporting away the separated objects from the stack. The transport members are preferably arranged on a transfer device arranged below the support area. The transport organs are preferably arranged circumferentially on the transfer device. The transfer device may be, for example, a circulating carrier wheel, on the radial peripheral region of the transport organs are arranged.

The Abtrennorgane and transport organs can be arranged on the same transfer device or on the same carrier wheel. The Abtrennorgane and transport organs form in a functional respect preferably each pairings.

The functional interaction of separation member and transport member will be described in more detail below in connection with the method.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the device contains deactivating means, by means of which the movement of the support roller assembly can be prevented with continuous circulation movement of the at least one separating member. The deactivating means are preferably designed so that the pivoting movement of the control arm does not act on the hinge mechanism of the roller guide device when the movement of the support roller arrangement is deactivated. The deactivating agents may, for. B. locking agent or coupling agent.

According to a development of the invention, the device contains rear stack space limiting means. The rear stack space limiting means are disposed at that end of the stack space facing away from the support roller assembly. The rear stack space limiting means are preferably in the form of a stacking space bounding wall. The stacking space boundary wall can form a continuous or perforated boundary surface or a boundary surface formed from partial surfaces.

The stacking space limiting wall may in particular comprise a vertical or substantially vertically aligned boundary surface. Aligned substantially vertically means that the boundary surface with respect to the vertical has an angle of inclination of a maximum of 10 ° (degrees). The vertical or substantially vertical boundary surface is preferably flat.

Towards the support area, a closing boundary surface which is angled or curved towards the support roller arrangement can be attached to the vertical or substantially vertical boundary surface. This is preferably also as a wall section. The end-limiting surface of the aforementioned embodiment causes the lowermost article with its end portion facing the rear stacking space delimiting means of the support surface, in particular of the fixed Support arrangement is lifted or at least relieved. As a result, the static friction between the lowest object and the support surface can be reduced. The invention further relates to a method for separating individual, flat, bendable objects from the underside of a stack of such articles and for removing the separated articles from the stack by means of an aforementioned device.

The description of the method is based on a support roller assembly, which is located to support the stack in a support position. The support means comprise a fixed support means arrangement, optionally with guide roller, therefore, the support roller assembly is preferably arranged in the support position immediately adjacent to the support means assembly and the guide roller and forms with them a continuous support surface.

Starting from the abovementioned support position, the method according to the invention is characterized by the following steps:

- At least partially translational movement of the support roller assembly along a release direction from the support position under enlargement of a release gap

The support roller assembly is moved in this process in a release position. The support roller assembly is moved away from the fixed support assembly or from the guide roller. The release gap opens or expands between the fixed support assembly and the guide roller and the support roller assembly. The movement of the support roller assembly is at least partially translational and extends in particular parallel to the support surface.

- Grasping the bottom object of the stack by the separating member

If the separating element is designed as a suction member, the suction member moved from below into the supporting area sucks against the underside of the lowermost article. This particular in a supported by the support roller assembly end portion of the article. The separating member preferably grips the article while the moving support roller assembly increases the release gap.

- Disconnecting the bottom article from the stack by bending away the article from the bottom of the stack in the release gap

The separating element, which holds the lowermost article, preferably bends it away from the stack by a pivoting movement downwards. The separating member is formed pivotably via corresponding pivot means. The article is preferably bent away from the bottom of the stack while the support roller assembly moves in the direction of support.

The bending away is comparable to a peeling process. In this way, at least when initiating the Abtrennvorganges the area between the bottom object and the stack acting stiction is bypassed. The article may be at least partially bent away from the stack across the width of the release nip.

- At least partially translational movement of the support roller assembly in a direction opposite to the release direction supporting direction while reducing the release gap

The support roller assembly is moved in this process, in particular in the support position. The support roller assembly is moved back into its support position after or during the bending away of the article from the stack in the direction of support. The movement of the support roller assembly is effected via appropriate control means isotactically isochronous to the movement of the separating members and possibly the transport organs. According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the support roller arrangement is already removed during the bending away of the lowest object from the Stack bottom moves back from the release position towards the support position. The support roller assembly is moved in this process into the gap between the lowermost article and the stack towards the support position.

In the presence of a fixed support assembly, the lowermost article at that time is still positioned between the support assembly and the stack with an article portion. The said article section forms an article sub-surface, with which the object of the fixed support assembly rests.

- Carrying away the article through the release gap

In a further step, the complete removal of the lowest object from the stack takes place. The way transport through the release gap is particularly down. Before, during or after reaching the supporting position of the support roller assembly, for this purpose, the lowest object is completely removed from the stack and transported away below the stack.

If this process does not take place until after the supporting position of the support roller arrangement has been reached, a release gap is formed between the support roller arrangement and the fixed support arrangement or the guide roller. However, this is much narrower than the maximum release gap in the release position, since the latter must provide space for bending away the bottom object from the stack space down.

It can also be provided that in the support position, a clamping release gap is formed, which is formed so large that the guide roller and the guide roller arranged towards the foremost role of the support roller assembly lead the object on both sides by clamping the release gap.

In this process, the severing member now moves the lowermost article further away from the stack as a result of its continued movement along its orbit. The article is then transported away by the said release gap down.

If the device also contains moving transport members along an orbit also running beneath the support region, the separating member transfers the object during or following the bending away to a transport member cooperating with the separating member.

If the support means form a fixed support means arrangement of the type described above, the partly bent object with its remaining object portion still has to be pulled out between the stack and the fixed support means arrangement.

The transport member completely pulls the lowermost article from the stack as a result of its continued movement along its orbit and transports it downwardly. To support the transport away and to protect the object, the transport member can additionally perform a pivoting movement via corresponding pivot means.

The device may include a removal device, such. B. a belt conveyor, to which the isolated from the stack items are transferred by the transport member. The isolated and transported from the stack items can, for. B. be handed over individually or as shingled a belt conveyor. However, the removal device may also include a gripper conveyor.

When removing the remaining between the stack and the fixed support means arrangement object section from the stack, the problem of stiction is taken into account.

For this purpose, the device according to a development of the invention preferably contains a Blasluftzufuhreinrichtung. With this blown air is blown between the at least partially bent away bottom object and the stack during the bending away of the lowermost article from the stack. By the Blasluftzufuhr an air cushion is formed between the lowest object and the stack, which reduces the static friction. This allows a trouble-free removal of the article from the stack. The blast air is preferably blown over at least part of the total width of the article transversely to the direction of movement of the support roller assembly.

The present device is simple in construction and operation as compared to the prior art devices mentioned at the beginning. The device can also be made very compact and correspondingly space-saving due to their special mechanical operation. Therefore, the inventive device is particularly suitable for processing plants with limited space. Furthermore, the present device is inexpensive and easy to manufacture compared to prior art complex roller recirculating guide devices.

Figur 1:

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung;

Figur 2:

eine Seitenansicht der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung nach Figur 1;

Figur 3a-3d:

Ablauf des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens anhand von Seitenansichten der Vorrichtung nach Figur 2;

Figur 4:

eine Teilansicht der Vorrichtung gemäss den Figuren 1 bis 3 aus dem Bereich der Stützrollenanordnung;

Figur 5:

eine Teilansicht der Vorrichtung nach Figur 1 bis 3 aus dem Bereich der Stützrollenanordnung mit einer alternativen Ausführungsform der Stützrollenanordnung.

The subject matter of the invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1:

a perspective view of an inventive device;

FIG. 2:

a side view of the inventive device according to FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3a-3d:

Sequence of the inventive method based on side views of the device according to FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4:

a partial view of the device according to the FIGS. 1 to 3 from the area of the support roller assembly;

FIG. 5:

a partial view of the device according to Figure 1 to 3 from the area of the support roller assembly with an alternative embodiment of the support roller assembly.

Basically, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

The FIGS. 1 to 4 show a concrete embodiment of the present invention. The FIGS. 3a to 3d In particular, they show the process sequence with respect to the separation and removal of objects from a stack.

The FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a support roller assembly and a blast air device, which, however, in a device according to the FIGS. 1 to 4 may be used as an alternative embodiment to the support roller assembly and blast air device shown there.

The device 1 forms a stacking space 4, which receives a stack 3 of flat, flexible objects 2. The surface sides of the objects 2 are oriented perpendicular to the direction of gravity G. The lowest in the direction of gravity G object 2a of the stack 3 is located on a surface side support means which support the stack 3 from below. The support means form for this purpose a flat support means surface,

The support means include a fixed support assembly 22, which forms a kind of support table for partial support of the stack 3. Partial area means that the fixed support assembly 22 supports the stack only over a first part of the surface side of the lowermost article 2a. The support table forms a support surface 27.

To the fixed support assembly 22 includes in a release direction FR, which will be described in more detail below, a stationary, rotatably mounted guide roller 23 at. This is part of the fixed support assembly 22. Next close to the stationary guide roller 23 in the release direction FR considered two juxtaposed and spaced from each other, mirror-symmetrically shaped support roller assemblies 7a, 7b of a roller guide device 6 at. The support roller assemblies 7a, 7b also each form part of the support surface 27 for the stack 3. The support surface 27 of the support roller assemblies 7 a, 7 b lies in the same plane as the support surface 27 of the fixed support assembly 22.

Between the two support roller assemblies 7a, 7b, a central gap 32 is formed, through which arranged on a carrier wheel 21 Abtrennungorgane 19 can be moved into the support area. The carrier wheel 21 is arranged below the support area 5.

The separation organs are present as suction organs 19. These are, as described in more detail below, for the purpose of gripping objects 2a from the stack 3 by the rotating carrier wheel 21 along their orbit in a clock-controlled manner into the support region 5 and out of it. The suction organs 19 have according to FIG. 1 two suction cups on. However, the suction organs may also contain only one or more than two suction cups.

Also attached to the carrier wheel 21 are transport members in the form of grippers 20, which are also moved by the rotating carrier wheel 21 along an orbit. A suction member 19 and a gripper 20 each form a pairing. In the present embodiment, a total of four pairs with suction member and gripper along the periphery of the carrier wheel are arranged spaced from each other.

The mating is of a functional nature and is characterized in that the suction member 19 transfers an object 2a which has been bent away from the stack 3 for transport away from the gripper 20 of the mating associated therewith.

The two support roller assemblies 7a, 7b are now guided between a support position SP and a release position FP periodically and translationally movable. In the support position SP, the support roller assembly 7a, 7b adjoins the fixed support assembly 22 and its guide roller 23, respectively. The support assembly 22 and the support roller assembly 7a, 7b form a common support surface. This support surface is continuous in the broadest sense.

In the release position FP, the support roller assembly 22 is maximally spaced from the fixed support assembly 22. Between the support assembly and the guide roller 23 and the support roller assembly 7a, 7b, a release gap 33 is formed.

In the FIG. 1 For example, one support roller assembly 7a, 7b of the roller guide device 6 is shown in the support position SP and the support roller assembly 7a, 7b disposed on the other side of the central gap 32 is in the release position FP. In normal operation of the device, of course, both support roller assemblies 7a, 7b are synchronously guided.

The support roller assembly includes three along the release direction FR arranged one behind the other support rollers 8. The exact number of support rollers is not essential to the invention. The support rollers 8 are rotatably mounted on laterally arranged roller carriers 9. The roller carriers 9 are formed as longitudinal profiles which extend along the release direction FR.

The roller guide device 6 further includes lateral guide profiles 37, which are part of a carriage guide. Trained as a carriage roller carrier 9 are guided in the guide profiles 37.

The periodic and translational movement of the support roller assembly 7a, 7b is controlled by a mechanical link guide. For this purpose, the support roller assembly 7a, 7b is coupled via a first and second articulated arm 10, 11 and via a propeller shaft 36 with a control arm 12. At the distal end of the control arm 12, a rotatably mounted control roller 13 is mounted. The control roller 13 is connected to a control link 14 in operative connection. The control link 14 is rotatably connected to the carrier wheel 21 and rotates correspondingly with the carrier wheel 21. The control roller 13 rolls accordingly to the moving past slide track of the control link 14 from.

To execute the translational movement, the control link 14 triggers a pivoting movement of the control arm 12 via the rolling control roller 13. The rotary pivotal movement of the control arm 12 is translated via the articulation of the first and second articulated arm 11, 12 in a periodic and translational movement of the support roller assembly 7a, 7b.

The control arm 12 is rotatably connected thereto with a propeller shaft 36. By contrast, the second articulated arm 11 of the articulated connection is rotatably mounted on the articulated shaft 36. The propeller shaft 36 is guided by a biasing means in the form of a torsion spring 15. The torsion spring 15 bears with a first leg on a first pin 28 of a co-rotating with the propeller shaft 36 component. Further, the torsion spring 15 bears with a second leg on a second pin 28 connected to the second articulated arm 11.

The pivotal movement of the control arm 12 triggers a rotation of the shaft 36, which exerts a torsional moment on the torsion spring 15 via the first bolt and the first leg. The torsional moment is transmitted from the torsion spring 15 via the second leg and the second pin 28 to the second articulated arm 11. As a result, the second articulated arm 11 is set in a rotational movement.

The rotational movement of the second articulated arm 11 now moves the articulated arm 10, which is articulated at the distal end of the second articulated arm 11, along an arcuate path of movement. The first articulated arm 10 is connected at its other end to the support roller assembly 7a, 7b, i. with the roller carrier 9, articulated and transmits the movement in a translational movement of the support roller assembly 7a, 7b along the carriage guide.

The torsion spring 15 may also exert by their bias a restoring force in the form of a torque on the second articulated arm 11. This restoring force causes the support roller assembly 7a, 7b is guided over the hinge assembly 10, 11 in the release position SP.

The device further comprises deactivating means in the form of blocking means intended to prevent the movement of the articulated arms 10, 11 and thus the movement of the support roller assemblies 7a, 7b from the support position SP. The blocking or locking means are necessary if, despite further circulating separating elements 19, no objects 2a are to be removed from the stack 3.

Although with the carrier wheel 21 further rotating control link 14 continues to cause a control movement of the control arm 12. The force exerted by the pivotal movement of the control arm 12 on the torsion spring 15 torsional moment is taken up and compensated by the torsion spring 15. In this process, the torsion spring 15 is additionally tensioned.

The stacking space 4 is limited in its rear, the release direction FR opposite end by rear stack space limiting means 24. The stacking space limiting means are in the form of a stacking space limiting wall 24. The stack space boundary wall 24 forms a vertically aligned boundary surface 25. Toward the support region 5, a closure boundary surface 26 bent toward the support roller arrangement 7a, 7b adjoins the vertical boundary surface 25.

The stacking space 4 is further limited in its front, in the release direction FR end by front stack space limiting means 29. The front stacking space limiting means 29 comprise vertically arranged angle elements 30 which define a stacking space boundary in the corner regions of the rectangular objects 2 of the stack 3. At their lower end, the angle elements 30 each have a corner support element 31. These form a contact surface for the corner regions of the lowermost article 2a. The size of the Eckstützelemente 31 and, accordingly, the size of the support surface are dimensioned or limited so that the objects 2a can be easily withdrawn via the Eckstützelemente 31 down.

In addition, adjusting means are provided which allow an adjustment of the front and rear stacking space limiting means 24, 29. In this way, the stacking space 4 can be adapted to the different article formats by adjusting the stacking space limiting means 24, 29. On the adjustment mechanism will not be discussed at this point, since this is not essential to the invention.

That in the FIGS. 3a to 3d The method shown for separating articles from a stack and transporting them away from the stack is as described below.

In a starting position, the support roller assembly 7a, 7b is arranged in its support position SP, in which it immediately adjoins the fixed support assembly 22 and the guide roller 23 thereof. That is, between the support assembly 22 and the guide roller 23 and the support roller assembly 7a, 7b, in the support position SP, no or a narrow gap is formed.

To remove the lowermost article 2a from the stack 3, a suction member 19 moved along an orbit on the carrier wheel 21 will now be attached to the underside of the container bottom article 2a in its guided by the support roller assembly 7a, 7b end section zoom out. For this purpose, the suction member 19 is moved through the central gap 32 between the two support roller assemblies 7a, 7b.

At the same time or previously, the support roller assembly 7a, 7b is moved away in the release direction FR of the fixed support assembly 22. It opens a release gap 33 (see FIG. 3a ).

The suction member 19 detects the lowermost article 2a at its front end portion and bends it downward from the stack bottom. The bending downwards via a superimposed movement, consisting of a pivoting movement of the suction member 19 about a pivot axis and a rotational movement of the suction member 19 with the carrier wheel 21. The front end portion of the article 2a is guided accordingly through the release gap 33 down (see FIG. 3b ).

The items 2 removed from the stack 3 are multi-sheet printed products, which each form a waistband and a flower. The objects 2a are now each bent away with the federal government down and transported away.

During the bending away of the lowermost article 2a by the suction member 19, the support roller assembly 7a, 7b is moved back in the direction opposite to the release direction FR support direction SR back towards support position SP. The support roller assembly 7a, 7b travels between the bent-away object 2a and the stack 3. In this way, the earliest possible support of the stack 3 in the region of the release gap 33 is ensured, namely even before the lowest object 2a has been completely removed (see FIG. 3b ).

Further, during the bending away of the lowermost article 2a via a Blasluftzuführeinrichtung 16 blowing air between the at least partially bent away blown bottom object 2a and the bottom of the stack. As a result, an air cushion is formed during the bending away of the lowermost article 2a between the lowermost article 2a and the bottom of the stack, which reduces the static friction. The reduction of the static friction allows a trouble-free removal of the lowermost article 2a from the bottom of the stack.

In FIG. 4 , which shows an enlarged partial section of the region of the support roller assembly 7a, a first embodiment of a blower 16 is shown. This has a transversely to the direction of movement of the support roller assembly 7a arranged Blasluftrohr 17 with air outlet openings 38, which are directed towards the bottom stack (not shown). The blast air pipe 17 is formed as part of the support roller assembly 7a and arranged in front of the foremost support roller 8 viewed in the support direction SR and parallel to the axes of rotation of the support rollers 8 extending. The blown air 18 is now blown when retracting the support roller assembly 7a in the direction of support SR through the air outlet openings 38 to between the wegbiegenden lowest object 2a and the stack bottom gap opening out.

In FIG. 5 an alternative embodiment of a blast air supply 46 is shown. The blown air supply 46 includes analogous to the embodiment according to FIG. 4 a transverse to the direction of movement of the support roller assembly 57a arranged Blasluftrohr 47 with air outlet openings 38, which are directed to the stack bottom side (not shown) out. The blown air is fed to the blower tube via a blower hose.

The blower tube 47 is also formed as part of the support roller assembly 57a and viewed in the direction of support SR arranged in front of the support rollers 8 and parallel to the axis of rotation of the support rollers 8 extending. On the blower tube 47 a plurality of spaced apart support rollers 48 are now arranged according to this embodiment along the longitudinal axis of the blast air tube 47, which are rotatably mounted. The blower tube 47 forms for the additional support rollers 48 as a Hollow axle trained roller axle. The storage of additional support rollers 48 on the roller axis can be done via appropriate ball bearings. The individual, adjacent to the direction of movement of the support roller assembly 57a juxtaposed auxiliary support rollers 48 also serve to support the stack 3 in the support position SP.

The blowing air 18 is now also blown in this embodiment during retraction of the support roller assembly 57a in the direction of support SR through air outlet openings 38 for between the wegbiegenden lowest object 2a and the bottom stack opening gap. The air outlet openings 38 are arranged between the additional support rollers 48.

In continuation of the process, the suction member 19 now transfers the object 2a to a gripper 20, which is also moving along with the carrier wheel 21. The gripper 20 now pulls the picked object 2a completely away from the stack 3. In this process, the object 2a is pulled down around the guide roller 23 (see FIG Figure 3c and 3d ).

With the removal of the article 2a from the stack 3 by the gripper 20 and the support roller assembly 7a, 7b again reaches its support position SP. A new work cycle can begin.

The transferring suction member 19 and the receiving gripper 20 form a pairing. The mode of operation of the suction members 19 and grippers 20, which are guided circumferentially on a common carrier wheel 21, is already known from the prior art mentioned in the introduction to the description and will therefore not be described in detail here.

The translational movement of the support roller assembly 7a, 7b is of course controlled isochronous with the movement of the suction members 19 and gripper 20. The movement of the suction organs 19 and the gripper 20 along its orbit, the where appropriate, the pivoting movement of the suction organs and grippers about a pivot axis and the closing and opening movement of the gripper can also be done via Steuerkulissen.

The device 1 further includes a damping element 34 in the form of an elastic loop which dampens the radial deflection of the trailing end portion of the article 2a produced by the pulling down of the article 2a.

Claims (16)

1. A device (1) for separating individual, two-dimensional, flexible objects (2a, 2a) from the lower side of a stack (3) of such objects (2, 2a) and for conveying the separated objects (2, 2a) away from the stack (3), comprising:

   - a stack space (4) with a support region (5);

   - support means (7a, 7b, 57a, 22, 23) which support the stack (3) from below in the support region (5), wherein the support means comprise at least one support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a) with at least one support roller (8); and

   - at least one separating member (19) for separating the objects (2a) from the lower side of the stack (3),

   wherein
   the at least one support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a) is part of a roller guidance device (6), and the support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a) is at least in sections translatorily and periodically movable between a support position (SP) and a release position (FP), and the support means comprise a stationary support arrangement (22) which together with the at least one support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a) located in the support position (SP) forms a common support surface (27) for the stack (3), wherein the support means in the release position (FP) of the at least one support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a) form a release gap (33) between the stationary support arrangement (22) and at least one the support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a).
2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a) at least in sections is movable along an arcuate movement path.
3. A device according to one of the claims 1 to 2, characterised by control means (12, 13, 14), by way of which the movement of the support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a) can be controlled in a cyclically synchronous manner to the separating procedure.
4. A device according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised by biasing means (15) which are capable of exerting a restoring force in the direction of the support position (SP) or release position (FP) of the support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a).
5. A device according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised by a blowing air feed device (16), by way of which blowing air (18) can be blown in between a lowermost object (2a) of a stack (3) which is at least partly bent away by the separating member (19), and the stack (3).
6. A device according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a stationary guide roller (23) which is arranged in the support region (5) connects to the stationary support arrangement (22) towards the support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a).
7. A device according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the at least one separating member (19) is arranged on a take-over device (21) arranged below the support region (5).
8. A device according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the device (1) comprises at least one transport member (36) for transporting the separated objects (2a) away from the stack (3), and the at least one transport member (36) is arranged on a take-over device (21) arranged below the support region (5).
9. A device according to claim 7, characterised by deactivation means, by way of which the movement of the support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a) can be stopped given a continued revolving movement of the at least one separating member (19).
10. A device according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterised by rear stack space limitation means (24), wherein the stack space limitation means (24) forms an essentially vertical limitation surface (25), and towards the support region (5) comprises a wall section (26) which is angled or bent in the direction of the support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a).
11. A method for separating individual, two-dimensional, flexible objects (2a) from the lower side of a stack (3) of such objects (2, 2a) and for conveying the separated objects (2a) away from the stack (3) by way of a device (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 10, wherein the support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a) is located in a support position (SP) for supporting the stack (3),
    characterised by the following steps:

    - at least in sections translatorily moving the support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a) along a release direction (FR) out of the support position (SP) amid the enlargement of a release gap (33);

    - gripping the lowermost object (2a) of the stack (3) by way of the separating member (19);

    - separating the lowermost object (2a) from the stack (3) by way of bending the object (2a) away from the stack lower side into the release gap (33);

    - at least in sections translatorily moving the support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a) in a support direction (SR) opposite to the release direction (FR) amid the reduction of the release gap (33);

    - transporting away the object (2a) through the release gap (33).
12. A method according to claim 11, characterised in that the support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a) is moved in the support direction (SR) already during the bending of the object (2a) away from the stack lower side.
13. A method according to one of the claims 11 to 12, characterised in that the separating member (19) grips the object (2a) whilst the moving support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57) enlarges the release gap (33).
14. A method according to one of the claims 11 to 13, characterised in that the object (2a) is bent away from the stack lower side whilst the support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a) moves in the support direction (SR).
15. A method according to one of the claims 11 to 14, characterised in that the device (1) comprises control means (12, 13, 14), and the movement of the support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a), via the control means (12, 13, 14), is effected in a cyclically synchronous manner with the separating procedure.
16. A method according to one of the claims 11 to 15, characterised in that the device (1) comprises a blowing air feed device (16), and blowing air (18) is blown in between the at least partly bent-away, lowermost object (2a) and the stack (3), during the bending of the lowermost object (2a) away from the stack (3), by way of the blowing air feed device (16).

Images