EP3080022B1 - Device and method for aligning loose items of sheet material - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for aligning loose fabrics according to the preamble of claims 1 and 14.

In various machines that accept cash as a means of payment, these notes are collected unsorted in a container, such as a sack. Such collected bills can for example be sorted by means of special sorting machines, checked and sorted according to certain criteria such as the banknote value. Before the bills can be fed to such a system, they must be bundled into stacks or arranged so that their longitudinal edges are aligned the same. This work is conventionally usually done manually by an operator.
From the WO2009033636A1 is a device for separating loose sheet material known. The sheet material, such as banknotes, coupons, checks, etc. is loosely stacked by an operator in containers with a sliding floor. To insert the individual banknotes into the containers, an operator must align the banknotes in advance and stack them in the container.

From the DE 102005014290 A1 a device for the alignment of disordered sheet material is known. The device comprises an elongate guide element with a funnel-shaped opening for feeding banknotes. In one embodiment, the entire apparatus for transporting the banknotes is moved by at least one vibrator in the direction of gravity and in the transport direction. A section of the wall of the funnel acts as a deflecting element, which tilts upstanding bank notes during transport on a longitudinal edge. This deflecting element in the transport direction downstream rotating rollers whose surface has a high coefficient of friction, can additionally enhance the effect of the deflection. In a further embodiment of the device in which the notes are driven by rollers or rollers, several rotating rollers act as deflection elements.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus and method for facilitating the alignment of disorderly loose bills.

This object is achieved by a device and a method for aligning loose fabrics according to the features of patent claims 1 and 14.

The device is suitable for aligning loose, substantially rectangular sheets such as bills, ballot papers, tickets, deposit slips or vouchers. Length and width of the sheet to be aligned are known. The sheets are usually made of paper and have a sufficiently high rigidity, so that they do not collapse or buckle on one of their long edges or wide edges between two parallel vertical walls whose distance is not more than ¾ of the width of the fabric so far that they even with their limited by the side edges surface on the floor between the walls. This is especially true for walls with smooth surfaces and negligible friction coefficients. The sheets may laterally contact at least one of the walls so that they maintain their upright position (standing on one of their side edges).
In a preferred embodiment of the device, it is also possible to align sheets which have different lengths and / or widths, wherein the number of different length / width combinations is preferably less than 10, in particular less than or equal to 5.

The device comprises a conveyor channel, in the longitudinal direction of which the sheets are conveyed on one of their longitudinal or broad edges lying or standing by means of a conveyor device. During transport in the conveyor channel, those fabrics which are transported standing on their shorter broad edges are rearranged by a primary alignment means, so that all the fabrics are transported lying on their longer longitudinal edge. The alignment means comprises at least one stop element, in particular a profile body, which is arranged transversely to the conveying direction in the conveying channel so that the front longitudinal edges of the upright or upright conveyed fabrics are pending during transport to this profile body and tilted or transferred during further transport, so that they henceforth be further promoted. The height of the profile body relative to the channel bottom is matched to the dimensions of the fabric that lying fabrics can pass unhindered under the profile body. If fabrics having a plurality of different dimensions are to be aligned in the same way, the alignment means may comprise a plurality of stop elements which are arranged with decreasing height relative to the channel bottom in the transport direction spaced from each other, such that the longest fabric by the first stop member and the shortest fabric by the last Stop element are tilted. The distance between the last stop element and the channel bottom is greater than the greatest width of all the sheets to be aligned plus, if appropriate, the vertical stroke of the channel bottom during the oscillating movements for transporting the fabrics. The mutual distances of the stop elements in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor channel or in the transport direction are at least so great that the sheets during tilting can not be hindered by adjacent stop elements. In the conveying direction subsequent to the section with the primary alignment means, the device comprises as a secondary alignment section a removal station with a plurality of juxtaposed, separated by intermediate walls removal chambers.

The conveying channel comprises a loading section, in which the fabrics can be loaded into the conveying channel and an alignment section adjoining the loading section in the conveying direction, in which the fabrics are aligned so that they rest on the channel bottom with one of their longitudinal edges. Preferably, the loading of the conveyor channel is carried out automatically and continuously by means of a loading device. This can be controlled in particular by an electronic control. The controller can, for example, the speed of the Regulate fabric or banknotes feeding conveyor belt as a function of sensory detected load capacity of the conveyor channel.

The fabrics are aligned in a first part of the alignment section relative to each other so that their longitudinal edges are aligned according to the transport direction of the conveyor channel. In a second part of the alignment section, the fabrics are collected in a plurality of extraction chambers. In this case, the front wide edges of the fabrics abut against a stop or on the end wall of the removal chambers and are thus pushed together in the longitudinal direction into stacks or further aligned relative to one another.
The conveying device preferably comprises a vibrating or oscillating drive, which displaces the conveying channel, for example by means of an electromagnet as an actuator, and by means of restoring forces of springs into approximately elliptical oscillations in the conveying direction, which move the sheets forward in the conveying channel. Such Rüttelantriebe are known. The vibrations of the Rüttelantriebs also cause the fabrics can be reliably moved forward and compacted into stacks.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the supply of fabrics takes place in the delivery channel at least partially automatically, wherein the fabrics are transferred from the receiving area of a supply station by a conveyor belt to the loading section of the conveyor channel and introduced via a chute into the conveyor channel.
The receiving area preferably comprises a funnel-like frame over a portion of the conveyor belt, where, for example, a bag with several thousand bills can be emptied onto the conveyor belt. Already here, an operator or a robot with an image processing device can recognize and sort out damaged bills. Within the framework, the bills can be distributed more evenly if necessary. A barrier plate of the frame at the outlet side of the conveyor belt limits the height of an outlet gap above the conveyor belt, so that bills can only get stratified up to this height to the loading section of the conveyor channel. The locking plate may be arranged orthogonal to the conveyor belt, but is preferably inclined at an angle of up to 40 ° relative to this orthogonal plane against the conveying direction of the conveyor belt. This can prevent stacking of the withheld bills. In addition, the conveyor belt in the conveying direction have a slope which favors the stripping of the uppermost banknote layer at high stacks. The pitch angle of the conveyor belt causes the bills in the Be erected area of the upper pulley of the conveyor belt and at least partially unbundled from each other before they reach the chute. The slide plate is arranged and designed in the region of the upper deflection roller so that all the bills detach from the conveyor belt and are loosely, without wedging, safely inserted into the delivery channel. In particular, a cover can be provided in the region of the chute, which ensures that no bills get beyond the walls delimiting the loading section.

Figur 1

einen Arbeitsplatz mit einer Vorrichtung zum Ausrichten von Flächengebilden,

Figur 2

einen vergrössert dargestellten Längsschnitt der Vorrichtung aus Figur 1 im Bereich des Förderkanals beim Ausrichten von Geldscheinen,

Figur 3

eine Aufsicht auf die Vorrichtung aus Figur 1 im Bereich des Förderkanals,

Figur 4

einen Längsschnitt der Vorrichtung aus Figur 1 im Bereich des Förderkanals,

Figur 5

ein Detail der Vorrichtung aus Figur 1 im Übergangsbereich zwischen der Zufuhrstation und dem Ladeabschnitt des Förderkanals,

Figur 6

einen Längsschnitt der Vorrichtung im Bereich der Zufuhrstation,

Figur 7

eine weitere Vorrichtung zum Ausrichten von Flächengebilden in perspektivischer Ansicht,

Figur 8

eine Frontansicht der Zufuhrstation der Anordnung aus Figur 7,

Figur 9

ein Längsschnitt der Zufuhrstation aus Figur 8 entlang der Linie IX-IX.

With reference to some figures, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail. Show

FIG. 1

a workstation with a device for aligning fabrics,

FIG. 2

an enlarged longitudinal section of the device shown FIG. 1 in the area of the conveyor channel when aligning banknotes,

FIG. 3

a view of the device FIG. 1 in the area of the conveyor channel,

FIG. 4

a longitudinal section of the device FIG. 1 in the area of the conveyor channel,

FIG. 5

a detail of the device FIG. 1 in the transition region between the feed station and the loading section of the conveyor channel,

FIG. 6

a longitudinal section of the device in the region of the feed station,

FIG. 7

a further device for aligning fabrics in perspective view,

FIG. 8

a front view of the supply station of the arrangement FIG. 7 .

FIG. 9

a longitudinal section of the feed station FIG. 8 along the line IX-IX.

FIG. 1 shows a workplace with a first embodiment of the inventive device for aligning sheet 2 such as banknotes. The device may for example be attached to a solid table top of a workbench or generally to a stable base plate 1. To reduce the transmission of vibrations, for example rubber plates or other damping means can be used (not shown). Alternatively, the device could also be arranged for example by means of support legs directly on a floor surface. An essential element of the invention is a conveyor channel 3 with two parallel guide walls 7a, 7b fastened on both sides to a carrier profile 5. Their distance B is at most as large as ¾ of the smallest width of the fabric to be transported 2. Zum Aligning bills, the conveyor channel 3, for example, have an inner width B of 4cm. FIG. 2 shows in detail a longitudinal section of the device along the carrier profile 5, FIG. 4 an overview of it. The carrier profile 5 is formed for example as a square tube and so resiliently mounted by means of a plurality of leaf springs 8 on a base plate 9 held on the base plate 1, that it is vertically and in the longitudinal direction of the carrier profile 5 movable. An actuator in the form of a preferably with a mains voltage of 230V / 50Hz controllable electromagnet 11 is attached to the base plate 9 and designed so that it can put the carrier profile 5 and carried by the carrier profile 5 parts in approximately elliptical movements. The oscillating system preferably has a resonance frequency at the exciting mains frequency of the electromagnet 11, wherein the periodically acting force of the electromagnet 11 together with the restoring forces of the leaf springs 8 circular movements with a vertical stroke of about 1mm and a vibration amplitude in the direction of the carrier profile 5 of about 2mm causes up to 3mm. The sense of rotation of the vibrations is such that the carrier profile 5 in the upper half of the vibration in the conveying direction F (at FIG. 2 to the right).

The guide walls 7a, 7b extend over a first part of the carrier profile 5 seen in the conveying direction F, with a loading section A1 for feeding Sheet 2 from above and an adjoining primary alignment section A2.

In the loading section A1, the front guide wall 7a is slightly higher than the rear guide wall 7b. In this way, it is possible to ensure that fabrics 2 supplied by a supply station are safely introduced into the delivery channel 3. In the primary alignment section A2, the height of the guide walls 7a, 7b decreases uniformly, wherein in the region of the upper edges a plurality of alignment elements in the form of preferably cylindrical profile bodies 13 are arranged transversely between the guide walls 7a, 7b and connected thereto. The distance H1 of the first in the conveying direction F profile body 13 to the channel bottom 6 is smaller than the length L1 (minus the vertical stroke of the channel bottom 6) of the longest aligned sheet 2 and possibly greater than the length L2 (plus vertical stroke of the channel bottom 6) of the next shorter one to be aligned 2. When transporting in the conveying direction F, the longest leading edges of standing promoted fabrics 2 are preferably in the uppermost quarter of the first profile body 13 and are tilted so. In an analogous manner, the fabrics 2 are tilted with the respective shortest longitudinal edge L2 on the next profile body 13 in a lying position. The distance H2 of this second profile body 13 to the channel bottom 6 is again smaller than the length L2 (minus the vertical stroke of Channel bottom 6) of the second longest to be aligned fabric 2. In this way, at the four in FIG. 2 shown profile bodies 13 successively sheet 2 with four different long longitudinal edges L1, L2, ... are aligned horizontally. The distance between the profile body 13 last in the conveying direction F (less the vertical stroke of the channel bottom 6) is greater than the greatest width of all the fabrics 2 to be aligned, so that they can pass the primary aligning section A2 unhindered. The horizontal distances between each two adjacent profile bodies 13 are dimensioned large enough, taking into account the widths of the fabric 2, that these fabrics 2 can be tilted freely.

In the conveying direction F subsequent to the primary alignment section A2 of the conveyor channel 3, a removal station with a plurality of juxtaposed, separated by intermediate walls 17 removal chambers 15 on the support section 5 is attached as a secondary alignment section A3. In this area, the cross section of the conveying channel 3 widens fan-like. This is in the in FIG. 3 shown supervision in the area of the conveyor channel 3 clearly visible.

The rear end of the extraction chambers 15 is closed by a transverse wall 19, which prevents the fabric 2 from being transported further. The intermediate walls 17 are in the rearmost area of Entnahmestation on a length which corresponds at least to the length L1 of the longest sheet 2, aligned in parallel. The width of each of the removal chambers 15 here corresponds preferably to the width B of the conveyor channel 3 between the guide walls 7a, 7b and thus also smaller than 3/4 of the smallest width of all fabrics 2. To introduce the fabric 2 in the removal chambers 15, the intermediate walls 17 in the front Part of the removal station be designed fan-shaped, wherein the distances between adjacent partitions 17 at the entry point is preferably greater than 1/3 of the width B of the conveyor channel 3. In this in the FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrated embodiment of the device, the sampling chambers 15 are filled uncontrolled. As soon as a removal chamber 15 is full, the jam of the fabric 2 causes the subsequent fabrics 2 to be directed into another removal chamber 15. Optionally, a blocking plate or generally a hold-down element can be arranged above the region where the fabrics 2 enter the removal chambers 15, which is arranged at a height above the bottom 6a analogously to the last profile body 13, which permits and prevents the passage of lying fabrics 2 in that these rise up on entry into the removal chambers 15 (not shown).

An operator can if necessary initiate the Manifold 2 in different extraction chambers 15 influence manually. Alternatively, it would also be possible to provide a switch with a control element which can be controlled manually by an operator or automatically as a function of the sensed filling level of the removal chambers 15 for selectively filling the removal chambers 15 (not shown). In particular, such a switch may comprise one or two pivot arms, which are pivotable about a centrally arranged pivot axis in the entry region of the secondary alignment section A3 (not shown). In a preferred embodiment, the removal station is made as a separate unit which is attached to the rear end of the carrier profile 5 so that the bottom 6a is flush with the channel bottom 6 at the end of the primary alignment section A2. The channel bottom 6 and preferably also the bottom 6a of the removal station preferably comprise on their surfaces a slip-resistant layer or coating of rubber, silicone or a similar material. This can be applied directly to the carrier profile 5 between the guide walls 7a, 7b.

The vibration mass or the total weight of the carrier profile 5 and the carrier profile 5 carried by the guide walls 7a, 7b and the removal station are preferably as low as possible and is in a device for aligning bills with a square in cross-section support profile 5 of 4cm Side length, for example, in the range of 1.5kg to 3kg, preferably about 2kg. As a material for the guide plates 7a, 7b are in addition to lightweight aluminum plates in particular lightweight and rigid composite materials such as plates with a core of PUR or other plastic, which are arranged between two thin aluminum plates with a thickness of 0.3mm to 0.5mm. The spring constants of the leaf springs 8 are tuned to the vibration mass that a resonance frequency in the range of the power frequency of 50 Hz. This allows an energetically favorable excitation of the vibration drive with an electromagnet 11 with comparatively low power or power, which can be operated directly with the mains voltage of 230V / 50Hz. In alternative embodiments of the device, two or more actuators, in particular electromagnets 11, can also be arranged distributed along the carrier profile 5. As a result, the carrier profile 5 can be excited over its entire length to uniform vibrations. The actuators or electromagnets 11 are usually controlled synchronously. Alternatively, a control may be provided, the drive means for phase-shifted driving of the individual electromagnets 11 and / or for adjusting or optimizing the vibration amplitudes in one or more of the electromagnets 11 comprises. This allows the excitation of the vibration system with respect to its mechanical Properties are tuned. Optionally, the controller can also be designed to control the electromagnets 11 at a frequency other than the mains frequency. In particular, the controller may also include means for individually setting the drive frequency of one or more actuators, so that they can be operated in the range of one or more resonance frequencies of the mechanical system.

The removal of the bundled fabrics at the removal station can be done either by an operator or by a robot. In particular, the device may be formed as part of a system which performs further processing steps such as the sorting of bills. The height of the extraction chambers 15 limiting walls 17 is preferably smaller than the smallest width of the fabric 2, so that they can be easily grasped. Alternatively or additionally, the walls 17 may comprise recessed gripping openings 18 in the region of their upper edges ( FIG. 7 ), in which accumulated bundles of notes can be taken easier. Preferably, such gripping openings 18 are excluded near the transverse wall 19 in the rear region of the removal chambers 15. For example, they may be semicircular in shape and preferably free between a quarter and a half of the height of the walls 17.

FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section of the device in the region of the feeding station for feeding sheets 2 in the delivery channel 3, FIG. 5 a perspective shown detail thereof in the transition region to the loading section A1 of the conveyor channel 3. The feed station comprises an endless conveyor belt 21 which is guided around two pulleys 23a, 23b and driven by a motor. The running speed of the drive motor 25 and thus of the conveyor belt 21 can be adjusted manually, for example by means of an adjustment or alternatively by a controller (not shown), for example, depending on the sensory detected filling level of the conveyor channel 3. The conveyor belt 21 is in the transport direction E relative to the base plate 1 by a pitch angle α, which is preferably in the range of 10 ° to 40 °, inclined. Preferably, the supply station comprises adjusting means for setting different pitch angles α of the conveyor belt 21, for example in the form of supports 22, the height of which can be changed. In the upper guide roller 23 b, a chute 27 is arranged at an angle β in the range of 20 ° to 45 ° relative to the horizontal so that their upper leading edge 29 at a small distance of preferably 0.5mm to 2.5mm parallel to the axis of rotation of the Connecting pulley 23 b guided conveyor belt 21 connects. This leading edge 29 of the chute 27 is slightly lower than the peak height of the conveyor belt 21, which in FIG. 6 by the level difference N against the Horizontal is given, which is preferably more than 1mm.

The lower exit edge 31 of the chute 27 is above the inlet opening of the loading section A1 between the guide walls 7a, 7b at a small distance of preferably less than 3mm to the rear guide wall 7b. The sliding surface 27 is trapezoidal and bounded on both sides by towering baffles 33, which guide the fabrics 2 like a funnel from the wider conveyor belt 21 in the conveyor channel 3.

In the rear part of the conveyor belt 21, a funnel-like frame 35 defines a receiving area for adding sheet 2. A blocking plate 37 of the frame 35 is disposed over the exit side of the conveyor belt 21, that between this locking plate 37 and the conveyor belt 21, an exit gap remains free, the limits the height of layered fabrics 2. The blocking plate 37 is preferably adjustable in height and / or angular position relative to the conveyor belt 21. In the illustrated embodiment, the blocking plate 37 is arranged orthogonal to the conveyor belt 21. Preferably, the locking plate 37 is inclined by an angle of up to 40 ° relative to this orthogonal plane against the transport direction E of the conveyor belt 21 ( FIG. 9 ). As a result, tarnishing or stacking of the retained fabric 2 can be prevented.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a preferred further embodiment of the inventive device, FIG. 8 a front view of the feed station seen from the supply side and FIG. 9 a longitudinal section of the supply device along the line IX-IX in FIG. 8 , Instead of a frame 35, the feed station comprises a funnel-like feed chute 39, which opens above the conveyor belt 21 in the region of the front guide pulley 23a seen in the feed direction. The feed chute 39 comprises a trapezoidal feed floor 39a, the narrow side of which lies close to the front guide roller 23a directly above the conveyor belt 21. Adjacent to the converging legs of the loading floor 39a, the loading chute 39 comprises two lateral wall sections 39b, 39c and a front wall section 39d at the wider base side of the loading floor 39a. The rear wall portion 39c seen from an operating side is higher than the front wall portion 39b. This facilitates the filling of the feed chute 39 with bills or sheets 2, which are poured from sacks. Along the conveyor belt 21, the feed station comprises two side walls 41b, 41c, which together with the conveyor belt 21 define a transport channel. At the rear side wall 41c seen from the operating side, a manhole cover 41a is pivoted. This Manhole cover 41a can be opened so that the transport channel is more accessible when needed.

The feed chute 39 is pivotably supported on the side walls 41b, 41c, so that the inclination angle γ between the load floor 39a and the conveyor 21 can be changed. Preferably, the adjustable range of the inclination angle γ is between 45 ° and 60 °. The inclination angle γ can be adjusted depending on the surface condition, in particular the sliding properties of the fabric 2 to be transported, so that they can reach the conveyor belt 21 in a suitable manner and be conveyed upwardly from the latter to the conveyor channel 3.

Between the side walls 41b, 41c of the transport channel one or more mutually spaced in the direction of transport E locking plates 37 are arranged. Preferably, the angle of inclination of these blocking plates 37, as viewed in relation to an orthogonal plane to the transport direction in the direction of transport E, increases from one blocking plate 37 to the next blocking plate 37.

In addition or as an alternative to blocking plates 37, hold-downs 43 can be arranged in the transport channel, which facilitate the separation of the fabrics 2 during transport in the transport channel or at least prevent stacks with many superimposed fabrics 2 from reaching the delivery channel 3. When in FIG. 9 shown Longitudinal section of the transport device protrude three hold-down 43 in the form of long metal bands down on the front in the conveying direction E foremost locking plate 37 out. They each have a width of about two to three centimeters and then extend to a curved and / or inclined relative to the conveyor belt at an acute angle starting region, preferably resting on the conveyor belt 21 almost to the upper guide roller 23b. In the initial area, the hold-downs 43, when the fabrics 2 are transported in a layered manner, retain the upper layers. This is favored by the slope α of the conveyor belt 21 in the transport direction E. In the subsequent area, the fabrics 2 are transported on the conveyor belt 21 only a single layer or partially overlapping in a few layers.

Subsequent to the upper deflection roller 23, the chute 27 preferably comprises a convexly curved bottom, the inclination of which increases towards a filling device 45 opening into the delivery channel 3. The chute 27 is arranged in a housing 47 with a hinged lid 49. The lid 49 and / or the hinged lid 41a are preferably made of a transparent plastic, so that the underlying areas can be easily monitored by an operator. The covers 49 and 41a are additional security elements that prevent fabric 2, for example by drafts or other effects may leave the transport path in an undesirable manner. In the transition region from the conveyor belt 21 to the slide 27, one or more guide fingers 51 are arranged with two an obtuse angle enclosing legs so that the one leg above the guide roller 23b aligned approximately parallel to the conveyor belt 21 and the other leg to the chute 27 analogous to the hold 43 are inclined towards. As a result, sheet 2 are deflected when leaving the conveyor belt 21 to the slide 27 out. The filling device 45, which is subsequently arranged on the chute 27, preferably comprises a channel which is rectangular in cross section. In the exit region, at least the two main sides of the channel have fl exible guide tabs 53, which may be made of plastic and / or a textile material, for example. These guide tabs 53 may be inserted into the conveyor channel 3 slightly overlapping the upper edges of the guide walls 7a, 7b to guide the sheets 2 without transmitting vibrations from the conveyor channel 3 to the feed station during operation. The guide walls 7a, 7b are in contrast to the embodiment of the device according to FIG. 1 the same or even identical. This also simplifies the manufacture of the device.

Claims (15)

1. A device for aligning loose items of sheet metal (2) which are essentially rectangular, comprising a conveyor facility with a conveyor channel (3), which comprises a channel floor (6) and two side guide walls (7a, 7b), wherein each of the items of sheet metal (2) is transportable lying on one of its longitudinal edges or standing on one of its broad edges in said conveyor channel (3) in a conveyance direction (F), and wherein the conveyor channel (3) comprises a loading section (A1) with an entry opening for feeding in the item of sheet metal (2) and a primary alignment section (A2) with at least one stop element, against which the front longitudinal edge of an item of sheet metal (2) standing on the broad edge abuts during transportation, in such a manner that said item of sheet metal (2) tips over during ongoing transportation and is transported further on its other longitudinal edge, characterized in that the conveyor channel (3) in the conveyance direction (F) adjacent to the primary alignment section (A2) comprises a removal station with several removal chambers (15) which are arranged alongside each other, separated by intermediate walls (17).
2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the profile of the conveyor channel (3) expands in a fan-like manner in the area of the removal station.
3. The device according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a driveable conveyor belt (21) of a feed station is arranged in such a manner that the items of sheet metal (2) can automatically be introduced through the entry opening into the conveyor channel (3).
4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the feed station along the conveyor belt (21) comprises two side walls (41b, 41c), which together with the conveyor belt (21) limit a conveyor channel for transporting the item of sheet metal (2) in a transport direction (E), and that in order to limit the height of stacked items of sheet metal (21), one or more stop plates (37) and/or hold-down clamps (43) are arranged at a distance from each other in the transport direction (E) between said side walls (41b, 41c).
5. The device according to either of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the feed station for introducing items of sheet metal (2) comprises a loading chute (39) or a receiving area with a funnel-type frame (35) above a section of the conveyor belt (21), wherein said frame (35) comprises a stop plate (37) for limiting the height of an exit gap above the conveyor belt (21).
6. The device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that in order to guide the item of sheet metal (2) between the conveyor belt (21) and the loading section (A1) of the conveyor channel (3), an insertion means in the form of a chute (27) and/or a channel-like filling device (45) with non-rigid guide flaps (53) is provided, wherein said guide flaps (53) are inserted into the conveyor channel (3) overlapping with the upper edges of the guide walls (7a, 7b).
7. The device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the conveyor belt (21) features an angle of inclination α of between 10° and 40° in relation to a horizontal plane in the transport direction (E).
8. The device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the conveyor channel and/or a housing (47) of the insertion means on the end of the conveyor channel are covered by a lid (41a, 49) that can be folded open.
9. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the stop element in the primary alignment section (A2) of the conveyor channel (3) is a profile body (13), which extends at a distance (H1) above the channel floor (6) between the guide walls (7a, 7b), wherein the distance (H1) is less than the longest longitudinal edge length (L1) of the item of sheet metal (2) to be aligned.
10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one further stop element is arranged in the form of a further profile body (13) in the conveyance direction (F) at a distance from the adjacent profile body (13), wherein said further profile body (13) extends at a distance (H2) above the channel floor (6) between the guide walls (7a, 7b), and wherein the distance (H2) is less than the distance (H1) of the adjacent profile body (13) and less than the next smallest longitudinal edge length (L2) of the item of sheet metal (2) to be aligned.
11. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the conveyor channel (3) comprises a support profile (5), that the guide walls (7a, 7b) are affixed on both sides on said support profile (5), and that the channel floor (6) comprises the upper side of the support profile (5).
12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the support profile (5) is supported on springs on a base plate (1) and can be stimulated by means of an electric magnet (11) or by means of another actor, to conduct circular movements with a vertical hub and a vibration amplitude in the direction of the support profile (5), the direction of rotation of which is such that the support profile (5) in the upper half of the vibration moves in the conveyance direction (F) so that the items of sheet metal (2) also move in the conveyor channel (3) in said conveyance direction (F).
13. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by a control device which comprises means for setting or controlling the speed of the conveyor belt (21) and/or the vibration amplitudes and/or the trigger frequencies of one or more actors of the device.
14. A method for aligning loose items of sheet metal (2) with a device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the items of sheet metal (2) are introduced into the conveyor channel (3) in such a manner that they lie on their longitudinal edge or on one of their broad edges, that the conveyor device transports the items of sheet metal (2) in the conveyor channel (3) in the conveyance direction (F), and that those items of sheet metal (2) which are transported standing on one of their broad edges are tipped over by abutting a stop element in the primary alignment section (A2), so that they are further transported lying on one of their longitudinal edges, and that the items of sheet metal (2) are then collected in the removal chambers (15).
15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the items of sheet metal (2) are automatically transferred by the conveyor belt (21) of the feed station to the loading section (A1) of the conveyor channel (3), and are there introduced into the conveyor channel (3) through the entry opening.

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