JPH0784271B2 - Conveyor device gripper - Google Patents

Abstract

The two gripper parts (5, 6) of a gripper are pivotably mounted on a shaft (12) which for its part is rotatably mounted in a mounting (13). A closing lever is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to this shaft (12), which closing lever bears at its end a follower roll which interacts with stationary closing links. A support part (16) for a compression spring (18) is further connected to the shaft (12) via an expanding ring (17) so as to be rotationally fixed. Said compression spring (18) is supported at its other end on a bearing part (15) which is in one piece with one gripper part (5). A pivot movement of the closing lever results in a corresponding pivoting of the support part (16) in the counterclockwise direction, effecting, via the compression spring (18), a pivoting of one gripper part (5) into the clamping position. This one gripper part (5) is locked in its clamping position in which the compression spring (18) is compressed and exerts a corresponding clamping force. <IMAGE>

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a conveyor device gripper for carrying one or more printed products, such as newspapers, magazines and parts thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A gripper of a conveyor device for carrying printed products such as newspapers and magazines is disclosed in German Patent Publication No. 3,102,242 (corresponding US Pat. No. 4,381,0).
56) and European Patent Publication No. 0,330,868 (corresponding US Pat. No. 4,953,847).

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a conveyor device of the type described above, which is lighter in weight and has a simpler structure as compared with the above-described known grippers, and has various purposes without modification. It is intended to be used.

[0004]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, a gripper of a conveyor device for carrying one or multiple printed products such as newspapers, magazines and parts thereof. And (a) a first grip portion and a second grip portion that are movable with respect to each other, the first grip portion being mounted to pivot about a pivot axis and in an open position. From the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion, which interact with the second gripping portion to a gripping position for gripping the printed product, and (b) the first gripping portion. A rotatably mounted closing lever interacting with a fixed closing cam arranged along the travel path of the gripper so as to pivot the part into the clamping position; and (c) a first gripping part. Is a locking device that restrains the A locking device releasable by a fixed opening device, (d) a locking part connected to the closing lever for pivoting with the closing lever, and (e) a first gripping part and the closing lever. A spring element arranged between said locking element and the pivoting element, which is pivoted together and is clamped during the closing movement of the gripper, transmitting the pivoting movement of the closing lever to the first gripping portion, A gripper for a conveyor device is provided that comprises a spring element adapted to generate a closing force when the first gripping portion is constrained in the clamping position.

A preferred further development of the gripper according to the invention constitutes the main subject matter of claims 2 et seq.

[0006]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the purely schematic drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a conveyor device 1 having grippers 2 fixed at regular intervals in a continuous link chain (not shown) guided in a chain conduit 3.
Shows the transportation area of. The link chain is guided over the turning wheels 4 in this transport area. The gripper 2 moves in the direction of arrow B along a closed circulation path.

Each gripper 2, the structure and operation of which is described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6, comprises a first grip portion 5
And a second grip portion 6. In the open state of the gripper 2, the two gripper parts 5, 6 define a gripper opening 7 facing rearward with respect to the conveying direction B of the conveyor device of FIG.

Each gripper 2 has a leading edge 8a of the printed product 8.
Hold (folded edge). The printed product 8 is fed in the direction of arrow C by means of a belt conveyor 9 to a structure S, which is known per se and overlaps in a tile shape. As seen in Figure 1,
Each printed product is located in this tile-like overlapping form S on the preceding printed product. A pressure roller 10 is located loosely on the printed product 8 supplied by the belt conveyor 9.

The structure of the gripper 2 is described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

The second grip portion 6 has a longitudinal axis of 1
It is of unitary construction with a bearing portion 11 rotatably mounted on a shaft 12 shown at 2 '. In particular, as can be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6, this shaft 12 is provided with a longitudinal groove. The shaft 12 is rotatably mounted on a retainer 13 which is fixed to a link chain 14 which is guided in the previously described guide conduit with a U-shaped cross section. The link chain 14 is of known construction and is very similar to the link chain as described, for example, in German Patent Publication 2,629,528 or corresponding US Pat. No. 4,294,345. . FIG. 4 shows the case where the link chain 14 has a half structure and the link chain 14 'has a heavy structure.

The first grip portion 5 is also integrally formed with a bearing portion 15 which is disposed inside the retainer 13 and is rotatably mounted on the shaft 12. Shaft 12
The longitudinal axis 12 'of the bearing part 11,15
And thus also forms a common pivot axis of the gripping parts 6 and 5. A locking part 16 is connected to the shaft 12 and is secured against rotation, in particular via an expansion ring 17 (FIG. 5) which is integral with the locking part 16 and which engages a projection in the longitudinal groove of the shaft 12. . A compression spring 18 is supported on the locking part 16, the compression spring 18 being supported at its other end on a shaft neck 19 inserted in a bearing part 15 for the first grip part 5. As can be easily seen in FIG. 5, the rotation of the shaft 12 in the counterclockwise direction, ie in the direction of the arrow F, is mediated by the bearing portion 15 via the compression spring 18.
, And thus to the first gripping part 5, which causes the first gripping part 5 to pivot from the open position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 to the clamping position shown in FIG.

The shaft 12 is connected in such a way that the closing lever 20 whose rotation axis 20 'coincides with the longitudinal axis 12' of the shaft 12 does not rotate. At its free end, the closing lever 20 carries a driven roller 21 which is free to rotate around an axis of rotation 21 '. The closing lever 20 is provided with a protruding blocking arm 22. Closing lever 20
Is the rotation axis 20 'and the rotation axis 21' of the driven roller 21.
The connecting line indicated by 23 between and is the movement direction B of the gripper 2.
Or it extends across B '(FIG. 2). Furthermore, with the plane D formed by the flat first gripping part 5, this connecting line 23 forms an angle α of less than 90 ° (FIG. 2). This is important so that the first gripping part 5
Can be moved from its open position to the clamping position during movement in both movement directions B and B '.

The bearing part 1 is pivotable about an axis 24 'to hold the first gripping part 5 in its clamping position.
There is provided a locking device having a locking lever 24 mounted on 1. This lock lever 24 has one end
It interacts with the blocking arm 22 on the closing lever 20 and FIG.
A blocking projection 2 for locking the first gripping part 5 as shown in FIG.
Have five. The lock lever 24 is pivoted to its restrained position by a spring 26 and held there. The lock lever 24 has a driven roller 27 attached to the other end so as to be freely rotatable around a rotation axis 27 '.
In the locked position of the lock lever 24, the rotation axis 27 ′ of the driven roller 27 is the longitudinal axis 1 of the shaft 12.
It is on the same plane as 2 '. With this arrangement structure, the release of the lock lever 24, that is, the rotation to the release position by the lock release force P (FIG. 3) acting on the driven roller 27 is ensured at all the rotation positions of the gripper 2. Is guaranteed.

Positioning driven roller 28 mounted on bearing portion 11 for second gripping portion 6 opposite lock lever 24 so as to be free to rotate about axis 28 '.
Is provided. In this case, the rotation axis 28 'is flush with the rotation axis 24' of the lock lever 24. The positioning driven roller 28 interacts with a positioning link 29, which defines the pivoting position of the second gripping part 6 and thus the pivoting position of the gripper 2 for opening and closing. This second gripping part 6 is pivoted between two end positions with an angle of approximately 90 ° between them. The position of one end of the second gripping part 6 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, which travels approximately in the direction of movement B, B ′ of the gripper 2. In the other end position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the second gripping part 6 has the gripper 2
Extending substantially at right angles to the movement directions B and B '. These end portions of the second grip portion 6 also define the end positions of the open gripper and the closed gripper, the gripper being able to assume any intermediate position due to the design of the positioning link 29. In this respect, the second gripping portion 6 defining the plane E (FIG. 2) should be offset with respect to the common pivot axis 12 'of the two gripping portions 5,6. In other words, the plane E runs at a distance from this common pivot axis 12 ', as can easily be seen in FIG.

To close the gripper 2, a closing cam 30 is provided which acts on the driven roller 21 of the closing lever 20 and rotates the closing lever 20 in the closing direction, ie in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. These closure cams 30 are constructed in a manner known per se and adapted to the specific requirements. These closing cams 30 are shown only schematically in the drawing.

Referring to the closing cams indicated at 30a and 30b in FIG. 2, the gripper 2 can be closed in both carrying directions B and B'by the arrangement of the closing lever 20 as described above. When the gripper is moved in the direction of arrow B, the closing cam 30a is brought. On the contrary, when the gripper 2 is moved in the opposite direction B ', the closing cam 3
It is configured as indicated by 0b.

The operation of the gripper 2 is explained below with reference to FIGS.

Prior to closing the gripper 2, the gripper, ie the second gripping part 6, is moved by the positioning link 29 into the desired product receiving position and held there.
In order to pivot the first gripping part from its open position to the clamping position, the closing cam 30 (30a or 30b) begins to act on the driven roller 21 on the closing lever 20, which then causes the closing lever 20 to move counterclockwise. Is rotated to. This results in a corresponding rotation of the shaft 12 and thus also of the locking part 16. This rotation of the locking part 16 is transmitted via the compression spring 18 to the bearing part 15 of the first grip part 5.
To the clamping position, so that the first gripping part 5 is pivoted towards the clamping position. The closing lever 20 is shown in FIG.
When the position indicated by a is reached, the first gripping part 5 comes into contact with the second gripping part 6. In this position, the compression spring 18 already exerts a constant clamping force. In this position of the closing lever 20, the blocking arm 22 has already advanced to abut the blocking projection 25 of the locking lever 24.

As the closing lever 20 rotates further, the locking lever 24 is pushed back out of the holding position by the blocking arm 22 and continues to act on the blocking lug 25, counteracting the force of the spring 26, ie counterclockwise. Be moved. When the closing lever 20 reaches its end position indicated by the connecting line 23 in FIG. 3, the locking of the closing lever 20 is brought about by the blocking projection 25 of the locking lever 24 acting on the blocking arm 22. This locks the first gripping part 5 in the clamping position, so that the closing lever 20
Means that it only has to travel a short stroke, which is indicated by the turning angle β in FIG. Obviously, during the pivoting of the closing lever 20 by the angle β, the compression spring 18 is compressed, so that the clamping force generated by the first gripping part 5 is increased. The magnitude of this clamping force is also dependent on the printed product 8 being sandwiched between the gripping parts 5,6.
Depends on the thickness of.

A short turning path (angle β) which must travel until the closing lever 20 is locked, as described above.
Is the compression spring at the moment when the first gripping part 5 comes into contact with the second gripping part 6 or with the printed product 8 to be gripped which has been advanced into the gripping opening 7, as described above. This is possible because 18 has already created the clamping force.

In order to unlock the closing lever 20, and thus the first gripping part 5, ie to open the gripper 2, an unlocking force P is exerted on the locking lever 24 by an opening device not shown in FIG. On the driven roller 27, which causes the lock lever 24 to rotate counterclockwise. After a short rotation (small rotation angle γ in FIG. 3), the blocking projection 25 is released from the blocking arm 22 of the closing lever 20 which is swung clockwise by the action of the compression spring 18 being loosened. As soon as the blocking arm 22 departs from the range of action of the blocking projection 25 and the lock release force no longer acts on the driven roller 27, the lock lever 24 is rotated again by the spring 26 so as to return to its restrained position.

7 and 8 corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 3, the gripping at the other end position in which the second gripping portion 6 runs substantially at right angles to the movement directions B and B ′ of the gripper 2. The container 2 is shown. The gripper 2 is moved to this end position by means of a positioning link 29 which is of different construction and correspondingly to the positioning link 29 of FIGS.
FIG. 7 shows the first gripping part 5 in its open end position held by the holding-opening link 31 which interacts with the driven roller 21 of the closing lever 20.

Closing, locking and opening of the gripper 2 takes place in the same manner as described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 at the end positions shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, but in this case with different links. Must be configured as described above.

By comparing FIGS. 2 and 3 with FIGS. 7 and 8, the gripper 2 can be opened and closed in both end positions and therefore also in any intermediate position, in particular in the direction of arrow B or in the direction of arrow B. It can be seen that it can be opened and closed with or without being moved in the B'direction.

With reference to FIGS. 9 to 12, different possible uses of the gripper 2 are described, as explained in connection with FIGS. 1 to 8.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the printed product 8 is brought to a position in which it is suspended by a supply conveyor 32 and is received and further conveyed by a distribution conveyor 33. The feed conveyor 3 as described with reference to FIGS.
The second gripper 2 has the second gripper 6 and the second gripper 6 has the supply conveyor 32.
It is held by a positioning link 29 at an end position which travels approximately perpendicular to the transport direction G of. The gripper 2 of the distribution conveyor 33, which is moved in the same direction G, is likewise held in this end position, but the gripper opening 7 is directed upwards and the second
Of the gripper 6 forms the trailing part of the gripper 2.

The printed product 8 whose one edge 8a is held by the gripper 2 of the supply conveyor 32 is gripped at the opposite edge 8b by the gripper 2 of the distribution conveyor 33. As soon as the printed product 8 is clamped by the gripper 2 of the distribution conveyor 33, the gripper 2 of the supply conveyor 32 is opened by an opening device 34 with an opening link 35 acting on the driven roller 27 of the lock lever 24.

The embodiment of FIG. 10 is very similar to that of FIG. 9 and differs from that of FIG. 9 by the different positions of the gripper 2 during transport of the printed product 8. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the gripper openings 7 are thus not directed downwards or upwards, but are inclined rearward at the supply conveyor 32 and forward at the distribution conveyor 33.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is somewhat related to the embodiment of FIG. However, in contrast to the modified example of FIG. 1, the printed product 8 supplied in the roof tile-like shape S by the belt conveyor 9 does not grip the leading edge 8a but the trailing edge 8b. This requires that the gripper 2 be in a different position in the transport area than the embodiment shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, 36 indicates a guide for the printed product 8.

In the embodiment of FIG. 12, which is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the belt conveyor 9 is a printed product in a tile-like superposed form S ', on which each printed product 8 is located above the succeeding printed product. Carry eight. This means that the front edge 8a of the printed product 8 is located at the bottom of this roof tile-shaped shape S '.

The front edge 8a of the printed product 8 is held by the conveyor device 1b. This means that the gripper opening 7 must face rearward in the transport area.

2 and 8 in FIGS. 1 and 9-12.
It can be seen that the same gripper construction as described with reference to can be used for conveyor devices 1, 1a, 1b, 32, 33 and does different work. Due to its special structure,
The gripper 2 can be moved to different pivotal positions and can be satisfactorily closed and opened in any pivotal position without the need for the gripper 2 to be adapted for each purpose. It will be appreciated that the positioning link 29, the release link 35 and the optional retention-release link 31 must meet the specific purpose of the conveyor system. The corresponding links are shown diagrammatically in Figures 9-12.

Another advantage of the gripper structure described above is that the gripper 2 can be made and assembled in a single manner. The two gripping parts 5 and 6 have their bearing parts 11 and 1
Along with 5, each can be made of plastic, which results in a lighter structure. The first gripping part 5 need only have a limited flexibility, since the closing force is mainly applied by the compression spring 18. To secure the shaft 12 against movement in the direction of its longitudinal axis 12 ', the shaft 12 is provided with a circumferential groove in the region of the expansion ring 17, in which the ribs inside the expansion ring 17 are assembled. It engages like a plug connection in the state. This easy assembly eliminates the need for a separate retaining ring or the like.

It is also conceivable to connect the first gripping part 5 directly to the shaft 12 via a spring element, one end of which supports the first gripping part 5 and the other end of which is connected to the shaft 12. This spring element thus forms both the bearing part for the first gripping part 5 and the closing spring which is compressed when the gripper is closed.
Such an embodiment is described, for example, in German Patent Publication No. 3,10.
2,242 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,056. Instead of fixing the gripper 2 on the link chain 14 with a fixed spacing as shown with reference to FIG. 4, the gripper is a bearing element which is coupled to each other but whose spacing is variable. Installation is also possible. Such an arrangement with a bearing element whose spacing can be varied is disclosed, for example, in EP-A-0,32.
No. 3,557 and corresponding US Pat. No. 5,007,629.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a conveyor device for transporting printed products away in a transport area.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a grasper of the conveyor device in FIG. 1 is opened.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which a gripper of the conveyor device in FIG. 1 is closed.

4 is a portion of the gripper of FIGS. 2 and 3 taken along line IV-IV of FIG.
It is the top view cut | disconnected along the line.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG.

6 is a side view of the gripper in the direction of arrow A in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an open pivoted position of the gripper in the diagram corresponding to FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a closed rotating position of the gripper in the drawing corresponding to FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a conveyor device having different structures of grippers.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a conveyor device having another structure of a gripper.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a conveyor device having still another structure of a gripper.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a conveyor device having still another structure of a gripper.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Conveyor device 2 ... Gripping device 5 ... 1st gripping part 6 ... 2nd gripping part 7 ... Gripping device opening 8 ... Printed product 12 ... Shaft 12 '... Shaft axis line 13 ... Retainer 14 ... Link chain 16 ... Locking part 18 ... Compression spring 20 ... Closing lever 21 ... Followed roller 22 ... Blocking arm 24 ... Locking lever 25 ... Blocking protrusion 26 ... Spring 28 ... Positioning driven roller 29 ... Positioning link 30 ... Closing cam 34 ... Opening device

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A gripper of a conveyor device for carrying one or multiple printed products, such as newspapers, magazines and parts thereof, comprising: (a) a first moveable member relative to the other. A gripping portion and a second gripping portion, wherein the first gripping portion is mounted to rotate about a rotation axis and clamps the printed product by interacting with the second gripping portion from the open position. A first grip portion and a second grip portion, which are adapted to be pivoted to (b) along a travel path of the gripper so as to pivot the first grip portion to a clamping position. A rotatably mounted closing lever which interacts with a fixed closing cam arranged, and (c) a locking device for restraining the first gripping part in a clamping position, in a travel path of the gripper. A locking device that can be released by a fixed release device along And (d) a locking portion connected to the closing lever so as to rotate together with the closing lever, and (e) a first gripping portion and the locking portion connected to the closing lever and rotating together. A spring element disposed, which is tightened during the closing movement of the gripper, transmits the pivoting movement of the closing lever to the first gripping part, and when the first gripping part is constrained in the clamping position. A gripper of a conveyor device, comprising a spring element adapted to generate a closing force. 2. A shaft which is rotatably mounted, to which a closing lever and a locking portion are connected and fixed so as not to rotate, and a first gripping portion is rotatably mounted to the shaft. The gripper according to claim 1. 3. The locking part has a locking part for one end of the spring element, the spring element being a compression spring adapted to act with the other end of the spring element on the first gripping part. The gripper according to claim 2. 4. The gripper according to claim 3, further comprising a bearing portion connected to the first grip portion, and the other end of the compression spring abutting the bearing portion. 5. A second locating link that interacts with a fixed locating link to hold the second gripping portion in a particular pivoted position.
The grasper according to claim 4, further comprising a positioning driven member connected to the grasping portion of the. 6. The gripper according to claim 5, wherein the positioning driven member has a roller rotatably attached thereto. 7. The second grip portion is rotatably mounted and pivotably mounted on a shaft whose longitudinal axis forms a common pivot axis for the two grip portions. The gripper according to. 8. A locking device having a rotatably mounted lock lever, the lock lever acting on a rotatably mounted shaft to constrain the first gripping portion in a clamped position, and The gripper according to claim 2, wherein the lock lever can be pivoted to a release position by an opening device. 9. A locking device having a rotatably mounted lock lever, wherein the lock lever does not rotate on a rotatably mounted shaft so as to constrain the first gripping portion to a clamping position. Acting on a fixed blocking part,
The gripper according to claim 2, wherein the lock lever can be pivoted to a release position by an opening device. 10. The gripper according to claim 9, wherein the blocking portion is configured as an arm integral with the lock lever. 11. A lock lever having a rotatable roller, the opening device being movable for acting on the roller, the axis of rotation of the roller being two gripping portions in the locked position of the lock lever. 10. The gripper according to claim 9, which extends substantially coaxially with the rotation axis of the. 12. The gripper according to claim 9, wherein the rotation axis of the positioning driven roller extends substantially coaxially with the rotation axis of the lock lever. 13. The gripper of claim 1, wherein the closure lever has a follower member that interacts with a fixed closure cam. 14. The gripper according to claim 13, wherein the driven member includes a roller rotatably attached to the closing lever.