US20140206520A1

US20140206520A1 - Method and apparatus for collecting flat articles

Info

Publication number: US20140206520A1
Application number: US14/238,634
Authority: US
Inventors: Werner Honegger
Original assignee: Ferag AG
Current assignee: Ferag AG
Priority date: 2011-08-15
Filing date: 2012-08-14
Publication date: 2014-07-24
Also published as: EP2744736A1; EP2744736B1; WO2013023314A1; CH705359A1

Abstract

A method for collecting addressed letters in grippers and for conveying the collected letters further in the grippers, wherein the grippers each have a first and second gripper limb, and these limbs form an accommodating space. The method includes supplying a sheet that is partially folded along a folding line to form two sheet portions that are delimited from one another by the folding line, introducing the folded sheet into the accommodating space between the gripper limbs, wherein the folded sheet is subjected to a restraining force in the direction of a planar position of the sheet by the non-folded sections along the folding line, and pushing the portions of the sheet onto the adjacent gripper limbs by the restoring force, with an accommodating pocket being formed in the accommodating space in the process, and retaining the folded sheet in the accommodating space by the contact-pressure force.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is in the area of materials handling technology and relates to an apparatus and a method for collecting and putting together flat articles to form a unit which is to be supplied for further processing.
2. Description of Related Art
Apparatuses for gathering printed products and creating dispatch stacks are known in the prior art. WO 2010/051651 and EP 2 107 023, for example, describe an apparatus and a method for gathering printed products and for forwarding the gathered printed products as a stack. To this end, the apparatus comprises a plurality of receiving units which are movable in a conveying direction along a closed conveying path which is defined by a conveying member. In addition, the apparatus also includes a plurality of supporting elements which, at least in a gathering region of the conveying path, define a contact face which is inclined in the conveying direction and onto which the articles are able to be deposited.
The apparatus is designed for gathering non-individualized printed products, such as advertising material, journals, brochures and newspapers, which are gathered in the receiving units to form collections. The dispatch stacks formed in this manner are then shrink-wrapped into a plastic film and addressed for dispatch. The collections packed into the plastics film form addressed dispatch units which are delivered to a delivery service. The address is applied on the outside of the plastic film for this purpose.
As the gathered printed products are not individualized, it is also not important which specific copy from a particular type of printed products is supplied, for example, from a store to a receiving unit. It is simply important that one copy of a certain type of printed products is supplied to the receiving units.
From the area of the mail, in contrast, the processing of individualized flat articles, such as items of mail, is known. The individualization is distinguished in that each supplied article is provided with a recipient address or an address code from which the recipient address is able to be determined. Sorting the addressed articles according to the recipient address and producing delivery units or dispatch stacks from the addressed articles, such as mail, is known. Articles with the same recipient address, in this case, are assigned in each case to a common delivery unit. The apparatuses and methods for creating such delivery units, however, are frequently complex and awkward to operate.
Within the framework of mail processing, there is increasingly also the requirement to supplement the mail which is directed to a recipient with non-individualized inserts, such as advertising inserts. This means that the dispatch stacks which have been gathered for the recipient are to be supplemented in addition to the mail with non-individualized inserts, in particular advertising inserts. So that advertising inserts are also able to be dispatched to recipients who do not wish for unaddressed advertising by corresponding instructions on letterboxes or in telephone books, it is advantageous that it is also possible to address the dispatch stack as such. To this end, the dispatch stack, however, has to be enclosed by an addressable jacket.
DE 37 31 589 describes a method and an apparatus for sorting mail and for combining the same in sorted form. This occurs by separating the items of mail into singles and then depositing the singled-out mail in an intermediate conveyor. The items of mail sorted in this manner are supplied by means of output units to collecting containers with preset defaults. The apparatus and the associated method are, however, extremely complex.
EP 0 710 930 describes a mail processing system with mail item authorization which allows for the identification of the items of mail. However, the document does not describe any method for creating delivery units from several flat articles.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is consequently the object of the present invention to propose an apparatus and a method for collecting and putting together flat articles which allows several articles to be combined to form units and to be supplied to further processing, it being possible for the articles to include identification data, such as recipient addresses, according to which the units are to be put together.
It is a first part object of the invention to propose an apparatus and a method which allow several flat articles to be combined to form units, wherein the units are to be suppliable to further processing.
The apparatus and the method according to the first part object are also to create the possibility of conveying the units in a shingle stream without the division into units being lifted and the articles merging with one another to form a continuous product flow.
However, the forming of said units is to be managed with the smallest possible expenditure and effort and low costs and with the smallest possible expenditure on retrofitting for existing installations.
A second part object is to propose an apparatus and a method, by means of which individualized articles are able to be grouped to form units with the same types of individualizing features and are able to be further processed. The invention is to make it possible in particular to supply the created units to further processing.
The achievement of the two part objects includes two invention aspects which in each case provide an independent invention. The first invention aspect provides the achievement of the first part object, whilst the second invention aspect relates to the achievement of the second part object. The combination of the two invention aspects, however, leads to a preferred embodiment of the two inventions, which is why both invention aspects are described below in the present description.
The first invention aspect which is claimed in the present application concerns the collecting of flat articles to form units in such a manner that they remain definable or differentiatable from one another even in the following further processing.
The second invention aspect concerns the grouping of individualized articles to form units with the same type of individualization features.
The first part object relating to the first invention aspect is achieved by the features of independent claims 1 and 12. Further preferred embodiments and further developments of the invention proceed from the dependent claims. In this case, features of the method claims are combinable in an analogous manner with the apparatus claims and vice versa. At this point, it is also emphasized that features which are disclosed in conjunction with the first invention aspect are combinable with features of the second invention aspect.
The collecting of flat articles is to be understood as the forming of collections of, in each case, several articles which, put together to form a unit, are to be supplied to further processing. The collections can be formed by gathering articles to form stacks or by nesting articles in one another or by a combination of the two aforementioned operations.
The unit, in a preferred manner, is a delivery unit. Such a delivery unit is distinguished in that the articles contained therein are delivered to a common recipient address. The individualizing features of the flat articles correspond to identification data such as a recipient address or an address code from which a recipient address can be deduced.
The delivery unit includes at least one, preferably a plurality of flat articles as well as a flat, flexible enclosing unit which is weakened along a bending line and includes two enclosing portions which are defined from one another along the bending line and form a receiving pocket. The articles in the receiving pocket of the enclosing unit are combined together to form a collection.
The collection includes, in a preferred manner, at least one article which is provided with identification data.
According to a further development of the invention, the enclosing unit can also include identification data. This can be printed onto the outside of the enclosing unit. With regard to content, said identification data can correspond to the identification data of an article of the collection which is provided with identification data.
The enclosing unit can also include a viewing window, through which it is possible to see the identification data which has been applied on an article of the collection or on a data carrier which is provided separately to this and has been inserted into the receiving pocket. The data carrier can be a printed cover sheet.
The viewing window can be realized by a recess in an enclosing portion of the enclosing unit. Said recess can be covered by a transparent film.
It is additionally also possible for the enclosing unit to be realized as such in a transparent manner or at least transparent over part surfaces for the above-mentioned purposes.
The collecting can, for example, represent placing articles one on top of another or inserting articles into a receiving means. One group of flat articles, in this case, forms in each case a loose stack of articles which stand horizontally one on top of another or vertically one next to another or abut against one another in an inclined arrangement. In this case, the articles abut against one another in each case by way of their flat side. The term “stack” is to be interpreted in a corresponding manner in this aspect. If flat articles are combined to form a loose stack, this is also termed a collection.
An apparatus for collecting flat articles and for further conveying the collected articles as a unit underlies the invention. For this reason, the apparatus includes a plurality of receiving units which are arranged one behind another and are moved in a conveying direction along a closed conveyor path which is defined by a conveyor member. The receiving units are guided, in each case, through a collecting section, along which articles are supplied one after another to receiving units via transfer stations of a transfer apparatus. The receiving units, at least along the collecting section, form a contact face onto which the articles are deposited.
The device can include means for creating delivery units which are designed such that the delivery units are suppliable to the receiving units by means of at least one transfer apparatus with at least one transfer station. The creation of the delivery units can be effected in the at least one transfer apparatus or in an apparatus which is connected upstream of the transfer apparatus.
The flat articles can be printed products, such as newspapers, journals, brochures, advertising inserts, leaflets or flyers, or additional articles, also called add-ons. Additional articles are, in particular, sample goods, such as CDs, DVDs, tea bags, flags, T-shirts or foil-coated products or gimmicks. The additional articles can be fastened on printed products. The flat articles can be provided in an individualized manner and with identification data, such as an address or address code. The flat articles can also not be individualized. The flat articles can be flexible or deflection resistant. The flat articles can also include mail items which are provided with identification data, such as an address or address code. The combining of addressed items of mail to form delivery units plays a central role in particular in conjunction with the second invention object. A mixed collecting of individualized and non-individualized flat articles to form units is also possible.
To hold and support the collected articles, the receiving units form in each case, in a preferred manner, two supporting elements which are located opposite one another and form a receiving space for receiving the flat articles. The supporting elements can be connected together or not connected together.
In a preferred manner, the receiving unit forms a contact face (supporting surface) for the flat articles along the collecting section. In a preferred manner, the contact face is realized inclined in the conveying direction along the collecting section. In a preferred manner, the inclination of the contact face is in such a manner that, because of the force of gravity, the articles are aligned at a stop which is described below. The contact face, in a preferred manner, is realized by a supporting element, in particular by a bottom supporting element. The inclination is, for example, at least 10° (angular degree) and a maximum of 60°. The inclination is in particular between 20 and 30°.
The receiving units can be realized as receiving pockets, receiving cells, grippers or carriages.
The receiving units can be, for example, part of a cell wheel or an insert drum which is rotatingly drivable about its rotational axis. The cell wheel or the insert drum comprises receiving cells, which are arranged radially around its rotational axis and extend in the axial direction, with in each case a radially outwardly arranged receiving opening. The receiving cells correspond to the receiving units. The supporting elements of the receiving cells can, for example, be realized by two cell walls which are movable in relation to one another.
The cell wheel or the insert drum includes conveying means, by means of which the contents of the receiving cells are displaceable in the axial direction.
The enclosing units, which are arranged in the receiving cells, are moved in the axial direction, on the one hand, by the rotation of the cell wheel or the insert drum and, on the other hand, by the conveying means, as a result of which a spiral movement path is generated.
Transfer stations, by means of which articles are supplied to the enclosing units and are inserted into said units, are arranged in the axial direction along the cell wheel or the insert drum in the region of the outer circumference of the cell wheel or of the insert drum.
The enclosing units are guided past the transfer stations by them running through the above-described spiral path and at the same time being displaced in the axial direction of the cell wheel or of the insert drum.
Devices with cell wheels of the aforementioned type are shown and described, for example, in WO 2009/043358, in particular in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6, as well as in EP-B-1 090 867, in particular in FIGS. 1 and 2.
According to a preferred further development of the apparatus, the receiving units include grippers with, in each case, a first and a second gripper leg portion for holding the units in a clamping manner once the collecting operation has been concluded. The gripper leg portions are movable for this purpose in relation to one another between an open position, in which a receiving space is realized, and a closed position in which the unit is held in a clamping manner. The gripper leg portions can then be realized themselves as supporting elements. To this end, the grippers, in a preferred manner, comprise a lengthened bottom gripper portion which forms the (inclined) contact face for the articles. The grippers, in a preferred manner, are pivotable in relation to the conveying path and have a pivot axis which is transverse with respect to the conveying direction.
It is also possible for the supporting elements to be elements that are independent from the grippers of the receiving units and to be guided, for example, by means of an independent supporting element conveying device along its own conveying path and to be conveyed along the collecting section parallel to the grippers. Such a solution is disclosed, for example, in WO 2010/051651.
The receiving units and in particular the associated grippers form, at least along the collecting section, a stop for the articles which are arranged in the receiving space and, in particular, rest on the contact face. If grippers are provided, the stop is formed in a preferred manner by the connecting region between the two gripper leg portions.
The conveyor path, along which the receiving units, and in particular the grippers, are guided, includes in a preferred manner two path portions which are arranged one above the other and are connected together by means of arcuate, in particular circular transition portions. The collecting section, in this connection, is realized in the top path portion. The collecting section and, in a preferred manner, the top path portion extend in a preferred manner linearly. In a particularly preferred manner, they are horizontal. The top and bottom path portions extend in an additionally preferred manner parallel to one another. The receiving units, in particular the grippers thereof, extend in the bottom path portion in an expedient manner rotated by 180° (angular degrees) with respect to the top path portion which extends in the opposite direction.
At least one, in a preferred manner several transfer stations of a transfer apparatus, which are arranged in a preferred manner one behind another, connect along the collecting section, by means of which transfer stations individual articles or a group of articles are transferred to the receiving units which are conveyed past them. The transfer of the articles is affected in a preferred manner whilst the receiving units are moving. The movement is effected in a preferred manner at a continuous speed. The transfer apparatus with the at least one transfer station is, in each case, part of a feeding device, by means of which articles are supplied from a store or a conveying device to the receiving units.
The transfer stations can be realized as feeder units, by means of which the articles are supplied to the receiving units or the gripper mouth of the grippers, for example in a curved path. The articles can be supplied to the receiving units, for example by means of a transfer conveyor belt as part of the transfer station. The articles or the group of articles which is intended for a certain receiving unit are supplied to the receiving units in a pulsed manner, the pulse of the transfer stations being synchronized with the pulse of the receiving units which are guided past them. The articles or groups of articles are supplied to the receiving units one behind another, but spaced apart from one another, for example by means of the transfer conveyor belt. If, for example, there are no articles provided for transfer to one receiving unit, a gap between the articles is introduced on the transfer conveyor belt.
The apparatus also includes, in a preferred manner, a transfer device, on which the units from the receiving units are transferred to a conveying-away device. In a preferred manner, the conveying-away device is a belt conveyor. The units are deposited and further conveyed on the belt conveyor, in a preferred manner individually and spaced apart from one another or as a shingle stream. In a preferred manner, the units are deposited on the belt conveyor by way of the leading shoulder. If the receiving units contain grippers, the units are supplied to the transfer device held by the grippers and are transferred to the belt conveyor or deposited on said belt conveyor when the grippers are opened. The transfer device, in a preferred manner, is arranged in the region of a curved transition portion and/or in the bottom path portion.
The device for collecting articles or the conveying-away device also includes in a preferred manner a printing apparatus, on which units of flat articles, in particular delivery units, are able to be printed with identification data, such as address, address code and/or delivery area.
The printing apparatus includes in a preferred manner an addressing station or consists of such a one. The printing apparatus can also include a printing station for printing the units with advertising messages or a logo. The advertising messages can include multi-colored and/or three-dimensional representations. The printing apparatus can include one or several print stations which are arranged one behind another, one of the stations being an addressing station. The printing is affected in a preferred manner on the enclosing unit, and in particular on one of the enclosing portions. An ink jet method can be used, for example, for this purpose.
The printing apparatus, in a preferred manner, is arranged at the end of the collecting section. In principle, the printing apparatus can also be placed at another point in the device. The paper sheets can also already be printed or addressed prior to the collecting section or not until the units have been transferred to a conveying-away device. In a corresponding manner, the printing apparatus is arranged upstream of the collecting section or in a conveying-away device which is connected thereto.
The apparatus according to the invention also includes a control apparatus which controls the supplying and removal of the flat articles to the receiving units, the movement of the receiving units along their circular path as well as the removal of the units to a conveying-away device. The control apparatus is connected to the corresponding apparatuses of the device by means of bidirectional data lines.
The first object of the invention relates then to a method for collecting flat articles and for further conveying the collected articles by means of receiving units, the receiving units comprising in each case two oppositely situated supporting elements for holding and supporting the collected articles, said supporting elements realizing a receiving space.
The method according to the invention is characterized by the following method steps:

- provide a flat, flexible enclosing unit which is weakened in part along a bending line, and
- bend the flat enclosing unit along the bending line thus realizing two enclosing portions which are defined from one another by the bending line;
- insert the bent enclosing unit into the receiving space, wherein, in a preferred manner, in a non-weakened region along the bending line a restoring force acts on the bent enclosing unit in the direction of a planar position of the enclosing unit;
- hold the enclosing portions of the enclosing unit in the receiving space on the adjacent supporting elements thus realizing a receiving pocket;
- supply at least one article into the entrained receiving pocket of the bent enclosing unit; and
- guide the two enclosing portions toward one another.

The holding of the enclosing portions in the receiving space on the adjacent supporting elements occurs in a preferred manner because of the restoring force which acts on the enclosing portions. The enclosing portions, in this case, are pressed onto the adjacent supporting elements. I.e. the bent enclosing unit is held in the receiving space because of the pressing force.
The enclosing unit is closed in a preferred manner following the enclosing portions being guided toward one another. The enclosing portions are connected together for this purpose, in particular in at least one edge region. The connection can be effected by means of an adhesive agent which connects the enclosing portions together. The connection can be detachable or non-detachable. The adhesive agent can connect the enclosing portions together in an edge region at least over part of their surface.
The enclosing portions can also be connected together by means of the adhesive agent in several edge regions at least over part of their surface. Thus, the enclosing portions can be connected together by means of an adhesive agent at least over part of their surface in the edge regions of three product edges which do not correspond to the fold.
The enclosing unit can be closed, for example by means of a flat adhesive element, such as adhesive strip, which connects the two enclosing portions together. In addition, an adhesive agent or adhesive, which connects the two enclosing portions together in a face region when the same are guided together, can also be applied onto the said face region of an enclosing portion.
The enclosing unit is flexible and pliable. In a preferred manner, it contains pulp fibers, such as cellulose fibers, which are oriented anisotropically in a particularly preferred manner. The enclosing unit can be a sheet of paper with a single-layer or multi-layer or single-ply or multi-ply design. In a preferred manner, at least one layer or ply consists of paper, cardboard or paperboard. Several layers can be bonded together for example. Further layers can consist of metal or plastics material. The plastics material layer can be added to the laminar structure by means of extrusion, lamination or varnishing. The flat, flexible enclosing unit can also consist of a plastics material, in particular a plastics film. The enclosing unit can be a single-leaf or multiple-leaf product. Said multiple-leafed product can be bonded, stitched or glued. The enclosing unit can comprise different surface dimensions and geometries and, for example, can comprise polygonal, round or combined forms. The enclosing unit, in a preferred manner, is realized in a rectangular shape. The enclosing unit can also be in the form of a strip. The enclosing portions can have a smaller surface area than the articles collected therein. The enclosing unit can also include reinforcing structures, such as wall thickenings, which, for example, increase the restoring force in the direction of a planar position of the enclosing unit.
The enclosing unit, which is weakened in part along the bending line, realizes an open envelope or a jacket for receiving the flat articles. The enclosing unit, in a preferred manner, is open toward three sides. A rectangular enclosing unit, for example, comprises a bending line as well as three edges, along which the enclosing unit is open. In the region of and along the bending line, the enclosing unit forms a stop for the articles which have been pushed into the receiving pocket of the enclosing unit.
The enclosing unit, in a preferred manner, comprises purely one bending line or purely one or a plurality of fold lines which are arranged along one single bending line.
The enclosing unit, in a preferred manner, is a sheet of paper, the enclosing portions corresponding to the sheet portions and the enclosing edges corresponding to the sheet edges. The sheets are of paper with a weight per unit area of, for example, between 20 g/m²and 200 g/m², in particular of, for example, between 40 g/m²and 120 g/m². The grammage, however, can be ever greater. The sheets can also be of cardboard, for example. The sheets usually comprise, as in the case of paper, a fiber distribution with an anisotropic fiber alignment. The enclosing unit consists in a preferred manner of one single sheet.
The weakening along the bending line can be in the form of a groove, a fold, a cut or a perforation. The weakening can also be realized as a result of wetting along the bending line, for example as a result of a bar-shaped wetting. The weakening, in a preferred manner, is realized as a weakening line. In the region of the weakening line, the restoring force of the sheet is eliminated or at least reduced. The weakening line, in a preferred manner, is a fold line. A cut or a perforation can be undertaken by means of a cutting or stamping tool. In order to ensure the enclosing portions have a sufficient resetting force, in a preferred manner at least 10% of the bending line remains non-weakened. In addition, a maximum of 70% of the bending line preferably remains non-weakened. However, said value also depends on the material characteristics, such as fiber proportion, fiber orientation, weight per unit area or thickness of the sheet or possible coatings. Consequently, the resetting force can be adjusted by means of the amount of the ratio between the overall length B of the one or of all the weakening lines along the bending line and the overall length A of the bending line. The ratio B:A, for example, can be 0.1:0.7 and is always less than 1. The smaller the ratio, the greater the resetting force of the enclosing portions.
In a preferred manner, the apparatus includes for this purpose an enclosing unit feed apparatus for supplying an enclosing unit which is weakened in part along the bending line and for transferring the enclosing unit into the receiving space of the receiving unit. The enclosing unit feed apparatus, in a preferred manner, is designed such that it is capable of inserting the enclosing unit, which is weakened in part along the bending line, in the bent state into the receiving space. The enclosing unit, which presses against the supporting elements by way of its enclosing portions which represent bending portions, is held, in a preferred manner, by the supporting elements as a result of the resetting force acting on the enclosing portions.
The enclosing unit feed apparatus can be realized as a feeder unit, by means of which the enclosing units are supplied to the receiving units or to the gripper mouth of the grippers for example in an arched path.
The resetting force of the enclosing unit causes the enclosing portions of the enclosing unit to spread out, the enclosing portions bearing against the supporting elements. The spreading-out operation is therefore limited by the supporting elements. The contact pressure of the enclosing portions against the supporting elements causes a relatively high level of static friction such that the enclosing unit cannot be displaced in the receiving space without a minimum of force being expended.
In a preferred design of the invention, a plurality of articles is deposited into the receiving space by means of one or several transfer stations thereby forming a (small) stack. The receiving units are moved for this purpose in the conveying direction along the closed conveying path. The articles are inserted into the receiving pockets which are realized in the receiving units along the collecting section in a preferred manner transversely with respect to or in opposition to the direction of movement of the receiving units. The articles are deposited in the receiving pocket for this purpose in a preferred manner onto an enclosing portion of the bent enclosing unit.
If the receiving units include grippers, in a preferred manner the gripper leg portions form the supporting elements. According to said design, in the open position the gripper leg portions form the receiving space in which the enclosing unit is held, thereby forming the receiving pocket. In the closed position of the gripper leg portions, the enclosing portions are guided towards one another, the gripper leg portions together with the enclosing unit holding the collected articles in a clamping manner.
In a further development of the invention, the method also includes the generating of at least one weakening line along a bending line on the enclosing unit. According to the invention, the at least one weakening line is shorter than the bending line and extends purely over a part section of the bending line. If the weakening line is a fold line, the folding operation is carried out by means of a folding apparatus. The folding apparatus can be part of the device for collecting flat articles. The folding apparatus is coupled, for example, with the enclosing unit feed apparatus. In this way, for example, enclosing units can be supplied to the folding apparatus, folded in part in the folding apparatus and, by means of the enclosing unit feed apparatus, supplied to the receiving units at the start of the collecting section. The processing of the enclosing units in the folding apparatus occurs, in this case, in a preferred manner in-line and with reference to the pulse of the movement of the receiving units.
The folding apparatus for generating the part fold can operate, for example, according to the buckle fold principle which is known from the prior art. For this purpose the folding apparatus includes a side pocket stop for the enclosing unit as well as two rotating fold rollers, a buckle space being formed between the fold rollers, in which buckle space the enclosing unit, which bears against the stop, is buckled and is pulled through between the fold rollers thereby realizing a fold break. To realize a partial fold along the bending line, the fold rollers do not then extend in the direction of their rotational axes over the entire length of the bending line but simply over that part section of the bending line in which a fold break is to be generated.
The folding apparatus can also operate additionally according to the knife fold principle which is also known from the prior art. In this case, along with the two rotating fold rollers, the folding apparatus also contains a knife which pushes the enclosing unit along a bending line between the fold rollers. The knife quasi replaces the pocket stop which causes the enclosing unit to buckle. To realize a part fold along the bending line, the fold rollers do not then extend in the direction of their rotational axis over the entire length of the bending line but simply over that part section of the bending line in which a fold break is to be generated. In addition, the knife can also extend simply over that part section along the bending line in which a fold break is to be generated. The fold is affected, in principle, in a preferred manner transversely with respect to the conveying direction.
Furthermore, the folding apparatus can include a crease unit in which the enclosing units are creased prior to folding along the fold line to be produced. The creasing is effected in a preferred manner transversely with respect to the conveying direction. The crease unit is designed correspondingly for this purpose. The individual enclosing unit is consequently only creased along the bending line over that part section in which a fold line is also subsequently generated. The crease tool, such as a crease knife, also extends in a corresponding manner simply over that part section along the bending line in which a fold line is subsequently generated.
Folding in paper processing means the producing of a sharp crease edge, also called a fold line or fold break, by means of a tool or a machine. The folding causes fibers crossing the fold line to break such that layers or plies, e.g. of paper, containing pulp fibers lose their internal tension, which brings about a resetting force during bending, completely or at least in part along the fold line.
The creasing, in turn, in paper processing means the imprinting of a break line in order to simplify the folding of a layer or ply containing pulp fibers, e.g. of paper. The creasing brings about a linear material displacement or a rough-crushing of the fibers. This occurs, for example, by means of pressing tools in order to create flexibility for the material.
As already mentioned, the individual enclosing unit comprises a bending line which extends between two enclosing edges. A bending line means that the enclosing unit is bent along said line thereby forming two enclosing portions without however a weakening line being forcibly generated. In an expedient manner then, the bending line includes a plurality of part sections, at least one part section forming a weakening line and at least one part section not forming a weakening line. In a preferred manner, part sections with a weakening line and part sections without a weakening line alternate in each case along the bending line.
According to a first embodiment of an enclosing unit, a center part section of the bending line comprises a weakening line, whilst the two side part sections which extend toward the enclosing edges do not comprise a weakening line.
According to a second embodiment of a sheet, the two side part sections which extend toward the enclosing edges comprise a weakening line, whilst a center part section of the bending line which is located between the side part sections does not comprise a weakening line.
In a further development of the invention, the method also includes the closing of the grippers once the operation for collecting the articles has been concluded as well as the gripping of the bent enclosing unit with the articles collected therein by means of the gripper leg portions in the above-described manner. The units held by the grippers are further conveyed in this way in a preferred manner along the conveying path before they are transferred for example on a transfer device to a conveying-away device.
The opening and closing of the grippers along the circular path is effected in the known manner, for example by means of a connecting link guide which interacts by way of actuating means, such as control rollers, with the grippers.
In a further development of the method according to the invention, the enclosing unit together with the articles held in said enclosing unit is transferred to a conveying-away device as one unit by means of a transfer device.
According to a possible embodiment of the method according to the invention, once the unit has been completed, in a direct manner, e.g. at the end of the collecting section, or in an indirect manner following the collecting operation, e.g. in a conveying-away device, the enclosing unit is folded completely thereby forming a continuous fold line along the bending line. A corresponding folding apparatus can be provided for this purpose. In principle, the gripper can also be developed in such a manner that at the same time as the gripper is closed, the continuous fold line and consequently the complete folding is executed.
Furthermore, a double belt conveyor can also be provided. The completed unit can be moved through between the two conveyor belts of the double belt conveyor, the enclosing unit being folded completely by the pressing force of the belt conveyors. The double belt conveyor can be, for example, a conveying-away device following the collecting section.
The second aspect of the invention relates then to a device as well as to a method for combining pre-sorted mail, thus realizing so-called delivery units, the above-described device for collecting articles being used for this purpose. In this case, the abovementioned units correspond to the named delivery units.
The second invention is characterized in that the device for collecting articles includes a supplying apparatus/device for charging or supplying individualized articles which are provided with identification data to the receiving units.
In addition, the supplying apparatus includes at least one storage unit for providing the individualized articles in stack formation, in particular as bars, as well as a separating-into-singles unit for separating the individualized articles into singles.
Furthermore, the supplying apparatus includes a checking unit for checking the identification data on the articles as well as at least one transfer apparatus with at least one transfer station, by means of which the individualized articles are transferred to the receiving units.
The checking unit can also be designed for the purpose of checking that the articles have been separated into singles. Error functions, such as the simultaneous removal of several articles from the at least one storage unit, are detected in this way. The detected data is processed in a corresponding manner in a control apparatus.
The checking unit can be arranged with the separating-into-singles unit. The checking unit, however, can also be arranged in the supplying apparatus at a position arranged downstream in the processing direction.
The term “individualized”, in this case, is not to be confused with the term “separated into singles”. Individualized articles contain identification data, by means of which they differ from other, similar type articles and, for example, can be assigned to a recipient address. The recipient address can relate to a household, a person, a company or a building. Articles separated into singles, in contrast, are articles which are present as individual items.
The associated method is characterized by the following steps:

- move the receiving units in the conveying direction along the collecting section of the closed conveying path;
- prepare grouped, pre-sorted, individualized articles, i.e. provided with identification data,
- separate individualized articles of the group into singles,
- check the identification data, such as the address, of the articles separated out into singles,
- supply the articles to a transfer station of a transfer apparatus and
- transfer the articles to the receiving units along the collecting section of the conveying path.

The grouped articles can be present, for example, in bar or stack formation. The checking unit checks the identification data detected on the article. The checking unit is connected for this purpose to a control apparatus which, based on the checking results, assigns the articles correctly to the following further processing units by means of a distributing apparatus with at least one distributing unit. The checking is to ensure that articles with matching identification data are transferred to a common receiving unit and articles with different identification data are transferred to different receiving units.
According to a preferred embodiment, the individualized articles in stack formation are already pre-sorted according to their identification data, articles with matching identification data being arranged following directly one after another. The checking unit then compares the detected identification data with identification data filed in a data storage unit which corresponds to the pre-sorting of the articles. I.e. the sequence of the pre-sorted articles is also stored in the data memory. Whether the articles are actually present in the pre-sorted sequence or whether they deviate from the said sequence is to be tested in this manner.
The individualized articles are then allocated by means of a distributing apparatus with at least one distributing unit either in an indirect manner, in particular by means of an intermediate storage system, or in a direct manner to a transfer station, articles with matching identification data, such as address or address codes, being deposited in a common receiving unit.
According to a first embodiment of the second invention, for supplying individualized articles the supplying apparatus includes a storage unit, a transfer apparatus with a plurality of transfer stations as well as a distributing apparatus with a distributing unit. The articles are distributed to the individual transfer stations by means of the distributing unit and are transferred from these to the receiving units. In this respect, the distributing unit supplies articles with the same address in each case to consecutive transfer stations, by means of which the articles are supplied to the receiving unit passing the transfer stations. Articles with the same address, in this case, are transferred to a common receiving unit by means of several transfer stations which are arranged along the collecting section.
According to a second embodiment of the second invention, for supplying individualized articles the supplying apparatus includes a storage unit, an intermediate storage system with several intermediate stores in each case for one group of articles. In addition, the supplying apparatus also includes a distributing apparatus with a distributing unit as well as a transfer apparatus with at least one, preferably precisely one transfer station. The articles are distributed by means of the distributing unit to the intermediate stores of the intermediate storage system and there, where applicable, are grouped to form groups of several articles. A group formed in an intermediate store includes in each case articles with the same identification data.
The individual groups are then transferred from the intermediate stores to the receiving units by means of the transfer station, one group of articles being transferred to a common receiving unit. If there is only one article with the identification data, said article is deposited individually in an intermediate store. This means that a group can include one single or several articles. The intermediate storage system provides a type of sorting store in which groups of individualized articles are formed and stored intermediately and in a following step they are output to receiving units. Consequently, it is basically sufficient when the said supplying apparatus includes simply one single transfer station which is charged with groups of articles from the intermediate stores in a sequential manner.
According to a third embodiment of the second invention, for supplying individualized articles the supplying apparatus includes several storage units, e.g. two storage units, as well as analogously to the second embodiment an intermediate storage system with several intermediate stores for in each case one group of articles.
In addition, the supplying apparatus includes a distributing apparatus with a plurality of distributing units which are movable one behind another by means of a conveying member along a movement direction around a circular path. The distributing units are conveyed along their conveying path past the storage units. The items of mail, which have been separated out into singles beforehand, are transferred from the storage units to the distributing units which are conveyed past.
Furthermore, analogously to the second embodiment, the supplying apparatus also includes a transfer apparatus with at least one, preferably precisely one transfer station.
The articles in the distributing units are distributed by the distributing units to the intermediate stores of the intermediate storage system and are transferred to them. Where applicable, groups of several articles are created in the intermediate stores. A group formed in an intermediate store includes in each case articles with the same identification data.
The individual groups of articles are then transferred out of the intermediate stores by means of the transfer station and from said transfer station to the receiving units, one group of articles being transferred to a common receiving unit.
If there is only one article associated with the identification data, said article is deposited individually in an intermediate store. This means that a group can include one single article or several articles.
The intermediate storage system provides a type of sorting store in which groups of individualized articles are formed and stored intermediately, which in a following step are output to receiving units. Consequently, it is basically sufficient when the said supplying apparatus includes simply one single transfer station which is charged with groups of articles from the intermediate stores in a sequential manner.
The distributing units according to the three embodiments cooperate in a preferred manner with a points system or include such a points system. By means of the points system, the articles can be assigned to the corresponding intermediate stores of the intermediate storage system or to the corresponding transfer stations of the transfer apparatus.
According to the third embodiment, for the purposes of transferring the articles to an intermediate store or to a transfer station, the distributing units, however, can also be conveyed along their circular path past the intermediate stores or the transfer stations. Means are provided for transferring the articles from the distributing units to the intermediate stores or to the transfer stations. A points system according to said variant is not necessary.
Obviously, advertising inserts can also be individualized, e.g. addressed, by means of a corresponding printing apparatus prior to the collecting section, and supplied to the receiving units as individualized articles. Here too, the control apparatus is responsible, by means of pulse-related, in particular pulse-synchronous processing of the articles, for ensuring that the individualized advertising inserts are assigned to the correct receiving units.
Using the apparatus according to the invention and the associated method, individualized articles, such as addressed items of mail, can be processed and can be combined with non-individualized articles, such as advertising inserts, to form individualized delivery units. This differentiates the present device and the present method from known devices and methods where non-individualized articles, such as newspapers, journals or advertising inserts, are gathered to form collections, packaged and are only individualized at the end by printing an address on the packaging sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail below by way of preferred exemplary embodiments which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which, in each case:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view that shows a schematic representation of an unfolded sheet;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view that shows a schematic representation of a partially folded sheet according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view that shows a schematic representation of a partially folded sheet according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view that shows a schematic representation of a side view along the collecting section of the conveying device;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view that shows a schematic representation of a perspective view of a sheet supplying device;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view that shows a schematic representation of a perspective view of a crease-fold apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a simplified top view of the device for collecting articles in the region of the collecting section according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a simplified top view of the device for collecting articles in the region of the collecting section according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 9 a is a perspective view that shows a schematic representation of a perspective view of a delivery unit;

FIG. 9 b is a perspective view that shows a schematic representation of a perspective view of a further delivery unit; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of a simplified top view of the device for collecting articles in the region of the collecting section according to a third embodiment.

In principle, the same parts are provided with the same references in the figures. In the following figures, the enclosing unit is shown and described as a sheet of paper. However, this is not to be viewed as restricting the exemplary embodiments to enclosing units produced from sheets of paper. In addition, sheets with folding lines are described in the following exemplary embodiments. Obviously, as described above, weakening lines can be provided quite generally instead of fold lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an unfolded, planar sheet 1.1 which realizes the initial material for forming a partially folded envelope which is open on three sides for receiving flat articles. The sheet 1.1 comprises a bending line 2 which extends from a first sheet edge to a second sheet edge which is located opposite and along which the sheet 1.1 is bent and partially folded in a subsequent method step.
FIGS. 2 and 3 each show a sheet 1.2 and 1.3 which is partially folded along the bending line 2. The bending line 2 divides the sheet 1.2 into two sheet portions 8 a, 8 b.
In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, a fold line 5 which is shorter than the bending line 2 is arranged along a central part section of the bending line 2. It is flanked by two unfolded part sections 4 a, 4 b which are arranged at the sides along the bending line 2 and lead toward the sheet edges.
In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the bending line 2 has two fold lines 6 a, 6 b which are arranged at the sides and lead toward the sheet edges. The fold lines 6 a, 6 b enclose an unfolded, central part section 7 along the bending line 2. The sheet according to FIGS. 2 and 3 then comprises along its bending line 2, at least in the region of the unfolded, central part section 7, an internal tension which exerts a resetting force from a bent into a planar position onto the sheet portions 8 a, 8 b at the sides of the bending line 2.
FIG. 4 shows a limited detail of a device 10 for collecting articles from the region along the collecting section S. The device 10 comprises receiving units 11 in the form of grippers. The grippers 11 are mounted on a conveyor chain 13 spaced apart from one another in the conveying direction F. The conveyor chain 13 is guided with the grippers 11 along a guide device 14. Along the collecting section S, the grippers 11 comprise a top, first gripper leg portion 12 a and a bottom, second gripper leg portion 12 b which is arranged so as to be movable in relation to the first gripper leg portion 12 a. The second gripper leg portion 12 a is lengthened compared to the first gripper leg portion 12 a and forms a contact face for the articles 9 a, 9 b which are to be collected.
The gripper leg portions 12 a, 12 b form a gripper mouth which corresponds to the receiving space for a sheet 1.2, 1.3 which is bent along the bending line 2 and is partially folded. In each case, a stop 15 is realized on that side of the gripper 11 which is located opposite the gripper mouth opening.
A sheet feed apparatus 20 is provided for the purposes of supplying bent, partially folded sheets 1.2 into the gripper mouth of the grippers 11. The sheet feed apparatus 20 is designed for feeding sheets 1.2 where the fold line 5 is arranged along a central part section 7 of the bending line 2. Sheets 1.2 which are already part-folded are supplied then to the grippers 11 by means of the sheet feed apparatus 20. The sheet feed apparatus 20 comprises a flexible draw-in roller 16, which interacts with a take-over conveyor belt 23 and takes over the partly folded sheets from the folding apparatus and forwards them to a conveyor unit of the sheet feed apparatus 20. The draw-in roller 16 can be of foam material or can include foam material in order to ensure soft contact on the sheets in the region of the central portion in which the fold line lies. The conveying unit includes a double belt conveyor 21, by means of which the sheets are conveyed to a removal point. The double belt conveyor 21 is designed such that the bent sheets 1.2 at both sheet portions 8 a, 8 b are guided by a conveyor belt and secured in a clamping manner. The individually conveyed sheets 1.2, however, are only in conveying-engagement with the two conveyor belts of the belt conveyor 21 in the center portion of the bending line 2, in which the fold line is also arranged. In the region of the side portions, in which lie the unfolded part sections 4 a, 4 b of the bending line 2, the sheet 1.2 is certainly guided, but is not gripped by the conveyor belts such that in said region no fold line is realized as a result of the contact force of the belt conveyor 21.
In principle, it is true to say that in the entire sheet feed apparatus 20 the sheets 1.2 only pass into conveying-engagement with the corresponding conveying members, such as belt conveyors, by way of those portions in which the part sections of the bending line 2 are with a fold line. Conveying-engagement, in this context in particular, means contact pressure exerted onto the sheet to produce frictionally engaged contact with the sheet for the purposes of transferring a movement torque, e.g. from a belt conveyor or from conveyor rollers to the sheets.
In the present sheet feed apparatus, the side portions of the bent sheet 1.2, which are not in conveying-engagement, with the unfolded part sections are supported and guided along the conveying direction Fb by means of a surface guide element 22 in the form of a baffle. The sheets 1.2 are output at a transfer point of the sheet feed apparatus 20 (not shown).
When being transferred in the bent state, the individual sheet 1.2 is pushed into the gripper mouth of the grippers 11 with the bending line 2 in the front. The bending line 2, in this connection, is pushed into the gripper mouth as far as up to the stop 15. As a result of the resetting force which is exerted by the unfolded part sections of the bending line 2 onto the sheet portions 8 a, 8 b, the sheet portions 8 a, 8 b are spread apart from one another. The sheet portions 8 a, 8 b abut against the gripper leg portions 12 a, 12 b due to a contact force exerted in the gripper mouth. The contact force generates friction such that the sheet 1.2 is held in the gripper mouth and is secured against displacement to the side. The sheet 1.2 is at least partially opened corresponding to the opening width of the gripper mouth and forms a receiving pocket for the subsequently collected flat articles 9 a, 9 b.
Following the collecting of the flat articles 9 a, 9 b, the grippers are closed to further conveying them. During said operation, the two sheet portions 8 a, 8 b are guided toward one another. The gripper leg portions 12 a, 12 b, in this case, secure the collected articles 9 a, 9 b between the sheet portions 8 a, 8 b in a clamping manner. The closed sheets 1.2 with the flat articles 9 a, 9 b collected therein are transferred by the grippers 11 to a conveying-away device for further processing (not shown).
FIG. 6 shows a possible embodiment of a folding apparatus for producing partially folded sheets 1.2. The folding apparatus is realized as a crease-fold apparatus 30. The crease-fold apparatus 30 includes a feed section by means of which individual planar sheets 1.1 are supplied in a feed direction Fa by means of a conveyor belt 31. The sheets are aligned on the feed section along an alignment cam belt by leading alignment cams 34 of the slower running alignment cam belt abutting against the leading edges of the sheets 1.1 and thereby spacing and aligning the sheets 1.1 uniformly with respect to one another.
The crease-fold apparatus 30 includes a crease-fold unit 32 in which the individual sheet 1.1 is initially creased along a bending line 2 along that part section or those part sections in which a fold line 5 is then placed. The crease unit is designed such that it only acts on the part section or part sections of the bending line 2 in which a fold line 5 is to be created. Following the creasing, the sheet 1.2 is folded in part in a buckle fold unit, the buckle fold unit being designed such that the associated fold rollers only act on the creased part sections of the bending line and not on the entire bending line 2 of the sheet 1.2. This means in particular that the fold rollers do not extend over the entire extension of the bending line 2 but simply over one or several part sections thereof.
Once the fold line 5 has been applied, the sheet 1.2 is removed from the crease-fold apparatus 30 and is, for example, transferred to the receiving units 12 by means of an above-described sheet feed apparatus 20.
The described crease-fold apparatus 30 as well as the sheet feed apparatus 20 are not compulsory features of the device 10 for collecting articles but purely preferred embodiments of such apparatuses with which the device 10 according to the invention can be supplemented in a particularly advantageous manner. The sheets can namely also be folded in another manner and can be supplied to the device 10 in another manner. The sheets do not need to be folded in particular in-line, i.e. in the production line, but can definitely also be called up from an intermediate store already provided with the part fold.
FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 then show three particular embodiments of a device 40.1, 40.2, 40.3 for collecting articles according to the second aspect of the invention. The partly folded sheets 1.2, 1.3 are particularly suited for use in the three devices 40.1, 40.2 and 40.3 described below as an envelope for collecting flat articles as has been described in conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 5. In addition, the crease-fold apparatus 30 according to FIG. 6, the sheet feed apparatus 20 according to FIG. 5 as well as the conveying device with grippers 11 according to FIG. 4 are also particularly well suited for use in the three devices 40.1, 40.2 and 40.3.
The devices according to FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 are concerned with generating dispatch-ready delivery units. In this connection, this is first and foremost the processing of items of mail. Two part objects underlie the present invention. On the one hand, items of mail with the same address are to be combined to form one delivery unit such that the deliverer can deliver the mail to the recipient combined as one unit and not individually. The delivery unit, in this case, is also to be addressed as a whole. A second part object is to insert non-individualized, e.g. non-addressed inserts, such as advertising inserts or additional articles, in the delivery units. As the delivery unit, which also receives advertising inserts along with addressed items of mail, is addressed as a whole, advertising can also be delivered to those recipients who do not desire any non-individualized advertising.
The objects are achieved then as a result of items of mail and non-individualized inserts which are directed to a recipient being collected loosely in a partially folded sheet. The sheet forms a type of envelope which serves, in particular, for holding collections together and for transporting them separately from other collections.
The devices 40.1, 40.2 and 40.3 according to FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 comprise then a plurality of receiving units 41 which are movable in a conveying direction Fc along a closed conveying path which is defined by a conveying member. The receiving units 41 and the conveying member are realized in a preferred manner according to the embodiments shown in FIG. 4. The device 40.1, 40.2 and 40.3 forms a collecting section S, along which the flat articles 50 are collected.
At the start of or prior to the collecting section S, sheets are folded in part according to the invention by means of a crease-fold apparatus 30 according to FIG. 6 and are supplied to the receiving units 41 by means of a sheet feed apparatus 20 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. The crease-fold apparatus 30 obtains the sheets 1.1, in turn, from an intermediate sheet store 57 which stores the sheets 1.1 in stack form and outputs them to the feed section of the crease-fold apparatus 30 by means of a separating-into-singles unit. The feeding of sheets 1.1 as well as the folding of the same and the transfer to the receiving units 41 as well as the relevant apparatuses, however, can also be developed in another manner. In particular, the intermediate store 57, the crease-fold apparatus 30, the sheet feed device 20 and the receiving units 41 with the associated conveying member 13, as already mentioned above, can be realized in another manner.
Furthermore, the devices 40.1, 40.2 and 40.3 according to FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 include a supplying apparatus 80 for supplying flat, addressed articles 50 into the receiving pockets of the partially folded sheets 1.2 which are arranged in the receiving units 41. The term “addressed” means in the widest sense that the articles are provided with identification data which allows the article to be allocated manually or by means of a data processing device to a certain recipient address. This can be, for example, the address itself or a machine-readable address code. The articles are first and foremost items of mail. The term “mail” is to be understood in the widest sense as a data carrier, such as for example data written on paper, which is packaged in an addressed cover.
The supplying apparatus 80 according to the two embodiments according to FIGS. 7 and 8 includes a storage unit 48 which provides the items of mail 50 in stack or bar formation.
In contrast, the supplying apparatus 80 according to the embodiment according to FIG. 10 includes two storage units 48.1, 48.2 which provide the items of mail 50 a, 50 b in each case in stack or bar formation. The two storage units 48.1, 48.2 receive, for example, items of mail 50 a, 50 b in different formats. Thus, for example, a first storage unit 48.1 can receive small-format mail 50 a whilst the second storage unit 48.2 receives large-format mail 50 b.
The items of mail in the storage units 48, 48.1, 48.2 are in each case already pre-sorted. In particular items of mail with the same recipient address are arranged, in a preferred manner, directly one behind another. In addition, the items of mail are also already organized in a preferred manner according to a delivery area or even to a delivery route of a delivery area. Thus, the items of mail of one delivery area can be arranged one behind another such that following the collecting operation they can be supplied without further sorting directly into a conveying device which, for example, is allocated to the deliverer responsible for a delivery area. In a preferred manner, the items of mail are sorted as mentioned not only according to a delivery area but also already according to a delivery route, along which the deliverer delivers the mail to the recipients.
The device 40.1, 40.2 and 40.3 according to the invention includes in this context an electronic data memory 47 in which the address data of items of mail already recorded previously electronically are stored. In addition, the sorting sequence of the items of mail stacked in the storage unit 48 is also stored in the electronic data memory 47. The electronic data memory 47 with the address and sorting data is connected to a control apparatus 45. The control apparatus is connected by means of bidirectional data lines or control lines 46 to, among other things, the separating-into-singles unit 49, the transfer stations 55, 55 a . . . 55 d, the crease-fold apparatus 30 of the sheet feed apparatus 20 as well as the drive 44 of the receiving units 41.
The data memory 47 can contain even more data, thus the individual, stored address data can have associated therewith individual data or recipient profiles. Such recipient profiles can include, for example, interests, profession, hobbies, sex, age or origin of the recipient behind the address data. Recipient-specific delivery units can then be created by means of the control apparatus. Thus, recipient-specific articles, such as advertising inserts, can be added in a targeted manner to the individual delivery units. In addition, the sheet can also be printed in a targeted manner with advertising offers in addition to the address. Thus, for example, advertising for motorcycles or for motorcycling events can be inserted in a targeted manner into the delivery unit of a motorcycle enthusiast.
The device is set up in a control engineering manner such that the delivery units in the device according to the invention are identifiable by the control apparatus. The creating and conveying of the delivery units in the device according to the invention is consequently affected in a pulse-controlled manner. The delivery units are associated with individual pulses, the control apparatus knowing at any time in which pulse a certain delivery unit is precisely to be found. To this end, the control apparatus creates, for example, a virtual pulse pattern of the device. This also allows for the correct addressing of the sheet such that the address on the sheet matches the address of the items of mail held in the sheet.
The separating-into-singles unit is controlled or regulated in a preferred manner independently of the movement of the receiving units along the collecting section and comprises, for example, a different pulse to the receiving units. As in each case groups of mail are transferred to the receiving units, the separating-into-singles device, as a rule, comprises a faster operating pulse than the receiving units along the collecting section. The above-mentioned designs for the pulse-controlled or pulse-regulated operation of the device are applicable in general to devices and methods which fall under the present claims, and are not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown.
The storage unit 48, 48.1, 48.2 has associated therewith in each case a separating-into-singles apparatus 49 as well as a checking or control unit 51. The items of mail 50 are removed individually from the stack formation at the separating-into-singles apparatus 49 and supplied to the control unit 51. The address on the items of mail is checked at the control unit 51 and compared to the data stored in the data memory 47. Whether the removed item of mail 50 has actually been separated into a single and is located in the correct position in the sorting sequence, as filed in the data memory 47, is checked in particular. In addition, whether the recorded address matches the stored address data is also checked. The control unit 51 can include a camera system which records the address data of the items of mail by means of an image-generating method and converts it into digital address data by means of corresponding data processing software.
The control unit 51 does not forcibly need to be arranged in the region of the separating-into-singles apparatus 49. It can also be arranged at a position arranged downstream in the processing direction, e.g. in the region of the distributing unit 52.
In the embodiment according to FIG. 7, the separated-into-singles items of mail 50 are further conveyed to a distributing unit 52 after passing the control unit 51. The distributing unit 52, which, for example, can be a points system or can cooperate with such a points system, forwards the items of mail 50 to individual mail transfer stations 55 a . . . 55 d which are arranged one behind another along the collecting section S. At the mail transfer stations 55 a . . . 55 d, the items of mail 50 are transferred to the receiving units 41 by being deposited or inserted into the receiving pockets of the sheets 1.2 which are situated in the receiving units 41. To this end, the receiving units 41 are guided past the mail transfer stations 55 a . . . 55 d along the collecting section S. The conveying member which interacts with the receiving units 41 is driven by means of the drive 44 which, in turn, is controlled by means of the control apparatus 45.
The device is controlled then by means of the control apparatus 45 such that items of mail with the same recipient address are placed in a common receiving unit 41 and items of mail with different addresses are placed in different receiving units 41. This occurs, for example, as a result of items of mail 50 with the same recipient address, which according to pre-sorting pass the distributing unit 52 directly one behind another, being allocated to adjacent mail transfer stations 55 a . . . 55 d. A receiving unit which is guided past the mail transfer stations 55 a . . . 55 d, in a sequential sequence, then takes over all the items of mail 50 with the same recipient address from the mail transfer stations 55 a . . . 55 d which are arranged one behind another and collects them in the receiving pocket of the sheet 1.2. A distributing unit with all the items of mail with the same recipient address is created in this way for a certain recipient address.
In the slightly modified embodiment according to FIG. 8, the items of mail 50 are supplied by means of a distributing unit 52 to a storage system 53 with a plurality of individual intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d. The device 40.2 is controlled by means of the control apparatus 45 such that items of mail 50 with the same recipient address are allocated to a common intermediate store 53 a . . . 53 d and items of mail 50 with different addresses are allocated to different intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d.
In addition, the supplying apparatus 80 also includes a mail transfer station 55. The units of mail with the same recipient address which are formed in the intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d are conveyed further to the mail transfer station 55 in each case as a group by means of a point 54 and from said mail transfer station are transferred to the receiving units 41.
In a further embodiment according to FIG. 10, the items of mail 50 a, 50 b are supplied via distributing units 52 to a storage system 53 with a plurality of individual intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d, similar to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 8. The device 40.3 is controlled by means of the control apparatus 45 such that items of mail 50 a, 50 b with the same recipient address are allocated to a common intermediate store 53 a . . . 53 d and items of mail 50 a, 50 b with different addresses are allocated to different intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d.
The present device 40.3 or the supplying apparatus 80 includes then a distributing apparatus 59 with a plurality of distributing units 52 which are movable one behind another by means of a conveying member 61 along a movement direction Fz around a circular path. The conveying member 61 can be, for example, a conveyor chain, to which the distributing units 52 are connected.
During their movement along their circular path, the distributing units 52 are guided past the two storage units 48.1, 48.2 and take the previously separated-into-singles items of mail 50 a, 50 b from the storage units 48.1, 48.2. Each of the distributing units 52 takes in each case an item of mail or, where applicable, several items of mail with the same recipient address from the storage units 48.1, 48.2. The distributing units 52 convey the items of mail 50 a, 50 b to an output position. At the output position the items of mail 50 a, 50 b are transferred from the distributing units 52 to the intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d. Units of mail with the same recipient address are combined in the intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d. The transfer of the items of mail 50 a, 50 b from the distributing units 52 to the intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d can be affected in a different manner.
Thus, means can be provided which allow the items of mail 50 a, 50 b to be supplied from the corresponding intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d to the distributing units 52 from a defined position along the circular path. This type of transfer corresponds to a star-shaped distribution of the items of mail 50 a, 50 b from the distributing unit 52 to the intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d from a defined position. The means can include, for example, an intermediate conveyor with a points system.
It is also possible for the distributing units 52 to be guided past the intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d and for the items of mail 50 a, 50 b to be transferred to the corresponding intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d as they move past.
The distributing apparatus 59 can also carry out a buffer function by the distributing units 52 buffering the items of mail 50 a, 50 b until they are output to the intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d. The more distributing units 52 the distributing apparatus 59 includes, the greater the buffering effect.
The distributing units 52 of the distributing apparatus 59 are operated at a higher processing speed than the receiving units 41 of the collecting device. I.e. more product units per unit time are processed with the distributing units 52 than with the receiving units 41.
In principle, the device 40.3 can also include more than two storage units 48.1, 48.2. The distributing apparatus 59 or the number of distributing units 52 included in said distributing apparatus has to be adapted in a corresponding manner to the number of storage units 48.1, 48.2.
In addition, the supplying apparatus 80 also includes a mail transfer station 55. The units of mail with the same recipient address which are formed in the intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d are in each case conveyed further to the mail transfer station 55 as a group by means of a point 54 and from said mail transfer station are transferred to the receiving units 41.
As the units of mail 50, 50 a, 50 b with the same recipient addresses, according to the two embodiments according to FIGS. 8 and 10 in contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 7, are already formed in the intermediate storage system 53 and not firstly in the receiving units, one single transfer station according to the present embodiment is sufficient. The intermediate storage system 53, in this case, acts as a sorting store in which the units of mail are held back until it is their turn to be forwarded to the mail transfer station 55. The control apparatus 45 is responsible for ensuring that merely fully created delivery units of mail are forwarded to the mail transfer station 55.
As already mentioned, the advantage of the embodiments according to FIGS. 8 and 10 is that the supplying apparatus 80 manages, in principle, with one single mail transfer station 55 or at least with considerably fewer mail transfer stations 55, e.g. with two of them, than is used in the embodiment according to FIG. 7. As a result, for example, there is more space available for further transfer stations, e.g. for supplying non-individualized advertising inserts. Otherwise, the collecting section can also be shorter and the installation more compact.
Further transfer stations 42 a . . . 42 c, by means of which further individualized or non-individualized, i.e. addressed or non-addressed, flat articles, such as advertising inserts, can be output, can be arranged, as already mentioned, prior to and/or following the mail transfer stations 55, 55 a . . . 55 d for the mail.
In the three embodiments according to FIGS. 7, 8 and 10, transfer stations 42 a . . . 42 c for advertising inserts are arranged along the collecting section S following the mail transfer stations 55, 55 a . . . 55 d for addressed items of mail. Once the items of mail 50, 50 a, 50 b have been transferred into the receiving units 41, non-individualized advertising inserts are then inserted into the receiving pockets of the sheets 1.2 by means of the further transfer stations 42 a . . . 42 c, delivery units being realized with a partially folded sheet as well as items of mail with the same recipient address and non-addressed advertising inserts arranged in the receiving pocket thereof.
A printing apparatus 43, e.g. an ink jet printer, is arranged following the collecting section S or at the end of the collecting section S or in the conveying-away apparatus 58 (both alternatives shown). The printing apparatus 43 includes an addressing station. The sheets 1.2, which, where applicable, are still guided in the receiving unit 41, are addressed in the printing apparatus 43 or in the associated addressing station. The address, in this case, corresponds with the address on the items of mail lying in the receiving pocket of the sheets. In addition, advertising messages as well as further data such as, for example, the delivery area or the delivery route, the name of the deliverer, etc. can also be printed on the sheets. The printing apparatus can include further print stations for this purpose. In principle, the addressing unit can also be placed at another point in the device. The sheets 1.2 can in particular also already be addressed prior to the collecting section S or not until the delivery units are transferred to a conveying-away device. Thus, for example, a print unit 60 can be provided in the region of the sheet feed to the crease-fold apparatus 30. The distributing and transferring of the addressed items of mail to the receiving units has to be coordinated in all cases by the control apparatus with the addressing and transferring of the sheets to the receiving units.
A delivery unit can therefore include one or several items of mail with the same recipient address. It can also be provided that a delivery unit does not include any mail but purely advertising inserts. As the sheet is addressed in any case, a delivery unit does not forcibly have to include addressed items of mail. Thus, for example, it can be provided that a delivery unit with at least advertising inserts is created in principle for each registered recipient in a delivery region or along a delivery route and this is irrespective of whether there is any addressed mail present for the individual recipient or not.
The supplying of the sheets 1.2 to the receiving units 41, the transferring of the items of mail from the mail transfer station to the receiving units 41 as well as the transferring of the advertising inserts to the receiving units 41 runs, in a preferred manner, in-line and in a pulse-synchronous manner with the movement of the receiving units 41 through the collecting section. In a preferred manner, the processing of the sheets in the folding apparatus 30 as well as, where applicable, the separating-into-singles of the unfolded sheets from the stack out of the sheet intermediate store is in-line and pulse-related, in particular is synchronous with the pulse of the movement of the receiving units 41.
FIGS. 9 a and 9 b show two embodiments of delivery units 70.1, 70.2. The delivery units 70.1, 70.2 include in each case a collection 71 of several flat articles of the abovementioned type. The articles are present as a stack and are held by an enclosing unit 72.1, 72.2 in the form of a partially folded sheet. The partially folded sheet 72.1, 72.2 comprises a bending line 74 which comprises a center part section 76, along which a fold line is arranged. The center part section 76 of the bending line is flanked on both sides in each case by a side part section 75 a, 75 b, both of which extend as far as up to the side sheet edges. The side part sections 75 a, 75 b of the bending line 74 are not folded. The sheet 72.1, 72.2 is divided into two sheet portions along the bending line 74. A recipient address 73 is printed on the outer surface of a sheet portion 78.1, 78.2. In addition, the sheet 72.1, 72.2 is also utilized for the purpose of attaching advertising messages. Advertising messages 77.1 in the form of three-dimensional representations are printed on the sheet 72.1 or on an associated sheet portion 78.1 of a first delivery unit 70.1 according to FIG. 9 a. Advertising messages 77.2 in the form of multi-colored representations are printed on the sheet 72.2 or on an associated sheet portion 78.2 of a second delivery unit 70.2 according to FIG. 9 b.

Claims

1. A method for collecting flat articles in receiving units that are moved along a circular path, and for further conveying the collected articles in the receiving units, wherein the receiving units comprise in each case two supporting elements that are located opposite one another and form a receiving space,

said method comprising the steps of:

providing a flat, flexible enclosing unit that is weakened in part along a bending line, and

bending the enclosing unit along the bending line to provide two enclosing portions that are separated from one another by the bending line;

inserting the bent enclosing unit into the receiving space between the supporting elements;

holding the enclosing portions of the enclosing unit in the receiving space on the adjacent supporting elements thus realizing a receiving pocket;

supplying at least one article into the entrained receiving pocket of the bent enclosing unit;

guiding the two enclosing portions toward one another.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving units are moved in a conveying directions along a closed conveying path and the articles are supplied along a collecting section one after another to the receiving units and are inserted into the receiving pockets of the enclosing units, thus forming a stack.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving units are grippers and the supporting elements are gripper leg portions, and the gripper leg portions are movable in relation to one another between an open position, in which the enclosing unit held in the receiving space forms a receiving pocket, and a closed position in which the enclosing portions are guided toward one another.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

closing the gripper once the collection of articles has been concluded and gripping the bent enclosing unit with the articles collected therein by gripper leg portions, and

further conveying the articles held in the enclosing unit by the gripper.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

creating at least one weakening line along a bending line in a folding apparatus, wherein the weakening line is shorter than the bending line and extends only over a part section of the bending line.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising the further step of:

inserting the articles into the receiving pocket and placing them onto an enclosing portion of the bent enclosing unit.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising the further step of:

transferring the enclosing unit with the articles held therein to a conveying-away device and further folding of the enclosing unit along the bending line.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveying-away device is a belt conveyor and the at least partially folded enclosing units with the articles held therein are transferred into a shingle stream.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enclosing unit comprises a bending line that extends between two enclosing edges and the bending line comprises a plurality of part sections, wherein part sections with a weakening line and part sections without a weakening line alternate in each case along the bending line.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, following the enclosing portions being guided toward one another, the enclosing unit is closed via at least one adhesive that connects the enclosing portions over part of their surface.

11. A device for collecting flat articles and for further conveying the collected articles as a stack, said device including a plurality of receiving which units that are movable in a conveying direction along a closed conveying path that is defined by a conveying member, and which, for holding and supporting the collected articles, comprises in each case two supporting elements that are situated opposite one another and realize a receiving space, wherein an apparatus for supplying an enclosing unit that is weakened in part along a bending line and for pushing the enclosing unit into the receiving space of the receiving unit that is moved along the conveying path, wherein the apparatus is capable of inserting the enclosing unit in the bent state into the receiving space.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a folding apparatus for the partial folding of the enclosing units prior to supplying the enclosing units into the receiving units.

13. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein, at least along a collecting section of the conveying path, the receiving units define a contact face that is inclined in the conveying direction.

14. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the receiving units are realized as grippers and the supporting elements are realized as gripper leg portions that are movable in relation to one another between an open position, in which the enclosing unit held in the receiving space forms a receiving pocket, and a closed position in which the enclosing portions are guided toward one another and the enclosing unit is held in a clamping manner.

15. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the inclined contact face is realized at least in part by a lengthened gripper leg portion.

16. A delivery unit, including at least one flat article as well as a flat, flexible enclosing unit that is weakened in part along a bending line and includes two enclosing portions that are defined from one another along the bending line and form a receiving pocket.

17. The delivery unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the enclosing unit is provided with identification data.

18. The delivery unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the enclosing unit includes a viewing window, through which it is possible to see identification data that has been applied on an article of the collection or on a data carrier that is provided separately and has been inserted into the receiving pocket.

19. The delivery unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the enclosing unit is closed in at least one edge region that does not include the bending line.