GB1559213A - Conveyance of flat objects - Google Patents

Abstract

Blanks (2) transported on a conveyor belt (1) pass into a lower level, where they form an accumulation (4) in front of an accumulator element (5). In the lower level there runs a conveyor belt (10) which is guided over deflector rolls (8, 9) and over a roll (7) and which, via a drive element (13) and the blanks (2), exerts a force upwards on the accumulator element (5) and on a spring (14). The pretension of the spring (14) is adjustable and the accumulator element (5) can be moved in the vertical direction. An overlapping stream of the blanks (2) with the same adjustable degree of overlapping is thus ensured. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE CONVEYANCE OF FLAT OBJECTS (71) We, JAGENBERG-WERKE A.G., a Joint Stock Company organised under the laws of Germany (Fed. Rep.) of Postfach 1123, D-4000 Düsseldorf 1, Germany (Fed.

Rep.), do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: In the processing of flat objects, especially blanks made of stiff material, there is a need for objects delivered in an irregular sequence onto a belt, for example, to be uniformly overlapped as the belt carries them along.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for overlapping flat objects, for example blanks made of stiff material, comprising a baffle provided above a feed track, to form a passage for the objects, drive elements under the said feed track, a forward drive element arranged behind the baffle, as seen in the direction of feed, and a rear drive element arranged in front of the said baffle and being adjustable to a distance therefrom which is less than the length of one object, the arrangement being such that when pressure is applied to the baffle by an object acted upon by the said rear drive element the baffle yields to enlarge the passage and allow the object to pass.

In the device according to the invention, the baffle is controlled without any special sensor and drive. The thrust applied to the object by the rear drive element is used to actuate the baffle, so that it no longer holds back the object. The object which is acted upon by the said rear drive element, shields the overlying object from the feed action of the drive element until the rear edge of the moving object leaves the rear drive element. By altering the distance between the rear drive element and the baffle, the degree of overlap may be determined. The closer the drive element to the baffle, the greater the amount of overlap.

The baffle preferably has a sloping stop.

A design of this kind produces at the baffle, as a reaction force of the feed force applied to the object, a force component which raises the baffle against the force of gravity and against an adjustable spring force.

Since uniform overlapping requires that the objects be backed up, the speed of the drive elements is preferably controlled by means of a sensor which senses the quantity of the backed-up objects. This speed is increased when there is a large or an increasing back-up; it is reduced when the backup is small or decreasing. ~ According to one configuration of the invention, this same speed of the two drive elements may be obtained, while the degree of overlap still remains the same, by providing the two drive elements with a common conveyor belt which, between the baffle and the rear drive element, runs at a lower level than the feed track.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic side elevation of one embodiment according to the invention.

Blanks 2 of stiff material are carried on a conveyor belt 1, in the direction of arrow 3, in an irregular arrangement (with varying amounts of overlap). It is also conceivable, however, that the said blanks could be conveyed separate from each other. The said blanks pass from conveyor belt 1 to a lower level, where they back up and form an accumulation 4.

This accumulation forms in front of a baffle 5 having a sloping stop 6, as shown in the drawing. Arranged under the track, in the vicinity of back-up 4 is a roller 7 over which a conveyor belt 10, passing over deflecting rollers 8, 9, runs. Between roller 7 and passage 12, formed by baffle 5, conveyor belt 10 is offset in a downward direction in relation to the feed plane. Immediately ahead of passage 12, this feed plane consists of a plate or grid 22 comprising recesses for belt 10 in the vicinity of drive element 7. The design of belt 10 may vary.

It may, for instance, consist of a plurality of separate narrow belts passing upwardly through the grid in the vicinity of roller 7.

Or it may be in the form of a wide belt, with plate 22 running on each side thereof.

In the direction of travel 3, and behind baffle 5, belt 10 runs in the feed plane over guide rollers 13. A belt 18, running over a roller guide 16, 17 hinged to baffle 5, rests upon overlapped blanks 2 and is carried along therewith. The overlap is thus retained as the objects move onwards.

Baffle 5, which is vertically adjustable, is mounted in a holder 20 which is adapted to pivot about an axis 19 and bears against a stop 21. Baffle 5 may be pushed upwards against the force of a spring 14 having an adjustable pre-load.

When a back-up 4 is formed in front of baffle 5, conveyor belt 10 applies a conveying force, in the vicinity of roller 7, to lowermost blank 2. Since this blank is relatively stiff, this conveying force is transferred to sloping stop 6 of baffle 5. The resulting reaction force moves baffle 5 upwardly against the force of spring 14. The blank seized by conveyor belt 10 in the vicinity of roller 7 can then pass through gap 12.

The blanks lying above the aforesaid blank are still held back, assuming, of course, that there is not too much fricton between the blank being conveyed and the blank lying thereabove. This condition is usually fulfilled in the case of lacquered blanks, and no problems therefore arise. As soon as blank 2 seized by roller 7 on belt lG leaves the said belt at the said roller, transportation is effected entirely by front drive elements 10, 13 extending as far as gap 12. At the moment when blank 2 leaves drive roller 7, the next blank is seized by conveyor belt 10 at roller 7. and the cycle repeats itself.

By adjusting roller 7 and guide rollers 8, 9 towards or away from baffle 5, the extent to which blanks 2 overlap may be varied.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A device for overlapping flat objects, for example blanks made of stiff material, comprising a baffle provided above a feed track to form a passage for the objects, drive elements under the said feed track, a forward drive element arranged behind the baffle as seen in the direction of feed, and a rear drive element arranged in front of the said baffle and being adjustable to a distance therefrom which is less than the length of one object, the arrangement being such that when pressure is applied to the baffle by an object acted upon by the said rear drive element, the baffle yields to enlarge the passage and allow the object to pass.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the baffle has a sloping stop.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the speed of the drive elements is controlled by a sensor sensing the quantity of backed-up objects.

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the two drive elements have a common conveyor belt which, between the baffle and the rear drive element runs at a lower level than the feed track.

5. A device for overlapping flat objects, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. through the grid in the vicinity of roller 7. Or it may be in the form of a wide belt, with plate 22 running on each side thereof. In the direction of travel 3, and behind baffle 5, belt 10 runs in the feed plane over guide rollers 13. A belt 18, running over a roller guide 16, 17 hinged to baffle 5, rests upon overlapped blanks 2 and is carried along therewith. The overlap is thus retained as the objects move onwards. Baffle 5, which is vertically adjustable, is mounted in a holder 20 which is adapted to pivot about an axis 19 and bears against a stop 21. Baffle 5 may be pushed upwards against the force of a spring 14 having an adjustable pre-load. When a back-up 4 is formed in front of baffle 5, conveyor belt 10 applies a conveying force, in the vicinity of roller 7, to lowermost blank 2. Since this blank is relatively stiff, this conveying force is transferred to sloping stop 6 of baffle 5. The resulting reaction force moves baffle 5 upwardly against the force of spring 14. The blank seized by conveyor belt 10 in the vicinity of roller 7 can then pass through gap 12. The blanks lying above the aforesaid blank are still held back, assuming, of course, that there is not too much fricton between the blank being conveyed and the blank lying thereabove. This condition is usually fulfilled in the case of lacquered blanks, and no problems therefore arise. As soon as blank 2 seized by roller 7 on belt lG leaves the said belt at the said roller, transportation is effected entirely by front drive elements 10, 13 extending as far as gap 12. At the moment when blank 2 leaves drive roller 7, the next blank is seized by conveyor belt 10 at roller 7. and the cycle repeats itself. By adjusting roller 7 and guide rollers 8, 9 towards or away from baffle 5, the extent to which blanks 2 overlap may be varied. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device for overlapping flat objects, for example blanks made of stiff material, comprising a baffle provided above a feed track to form a passage for the objects, drive elements under the said feed track, a forward drive element arranged behind the baffle as seen in the direction of feed, and a rear drive element arranged in front of the said baffle and being adjustable to a distance therefrom which is less than the length of one object, the arrangement being such that when pressure is applied to the baffle by an object acted upon by the said rear drive element, the baffle yields to enlarge the passage and allow the object to pass.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the baffle has a sloping stop.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the speed of the drive elements is controlled by a sensor sensing the quantity of backed-up objects.

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the two drive elements have a common conveyor belt which, between the baffle and the rear drive element runs at a lower level than the feed track.

5. A device for overlapping flat objects, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.