WO2017064019A1

WO2017064019A1 - Apparatus and method for removing a stack of passports from a tray

Info

Publication number: WO2017064019A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/074263
Authority: WO
Inventors: Björn WEHNER; Karsten Edling
Original assignee: Bundesdruckerei Gmbh
Priority date: 2015-10-15
Filing date: 2016-10-11
Publication date: 2017-04-20
Also published as: EP3362386B1; DE102015220027A1; EP3362386A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus (1) for removing at least one stack of documents (10) from a tray (4), said apparatus (1) comprising at least one receiving device (5) for accommodating the tray (4), at least one stack conveying device (11), and at least one device for detecting a stack of documents (10) in the tray (4); the stack conveying device (11) allows a stack of documents (10) to be removed from a tray (4) in the receiving device (5).

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR REMOVING A PASS BUNDLE FROM A BUNDLE MAGAZINE

The invention relates to a device and a method for removing a

Passport bundles from a bundle magazine.

In the production of security documents, in particular in the form of passbooks, several documents can be combined to form a bundle of documents. This can be done for example by one or more bands.

Further it is necessary to send the documents after the production. For this purpose, the documents produced or the document bundles by a

Transport device from the manufacturing facility to a packaging and / or shipping device to be transported.

Documents can be produced in so-called batches. A batch can also be called a processing unit. For example, a batch can contain over 500 documents. Accordingly, a data set, e.g. used to control the production, data on all documents of this batch.

After production, the documents grouped in bundles of documents can be arranged in bundle magazines, wherein a bundle magazine can contain more than 50 documents. The bundle magazines can be transported by the

Serving device to a transfer device, said by the

Transfer device document bundle removed from the bundle magazines and a transport device for transport to the shipping and / or packaging device can be supplied. The removal of bundles of documents from these

Bundle magazines to supply the document bundles to a shipping device are usually done manually.

Thus, there is the technical problem of providing a device and a method for removing at least one document bundle from a bundle magazine, which allow a reliable, temporally fast and damage-free removal of a document bundle. The solution of the technical problem results from the objects with the features of claims 1 and 1 1st Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

Proposed is a device for taking at least one

Bundle of documents from a bundle magazine. In particular, the document may be a book-shaped document, for example a passport book.

The bundle magazine can be box-shaped. In particular, that can

Bundle magazine a to one side, in particular to the top, open box to be. In the bundle magazine several document bundles can be arranged. Depending on the size or thickness of the document bundle, for example, more than 50

Document bundle be arranged in the bundle magazine or be arranged.

A bundle of documents may comprise several documents. For example, a bundle of documents may contain up to 6 documents. However, the term document bundle does not exclude that a bundle of documents comprises only one document.

On the one hand, the device can serve for removing at least one document bundle from the bundle magazine. Furthermore, the device can be used for positioning the extracted document bundle on a transport device, in particular a conveyor belt, wherein the transport device can transport the document bundle to a further device, for example a packaging and / or shipping device. The further device can be in the manufacturing and

Dispatch process existing device that follows the manufacturing facility in the process.

The device comprises at least one receiving device for receiving the bundle magazine. By means of the receiving device, the bundle magazine can be arranged stationary or substantially stationary. The receiving device prevents unwanted movement of the bundle magazine during removal. Further, the receiving device may be formed such that an unwanted falling out of a document bundle is prevented from the bundle magazine. For example, the receiving device may comprise or comprise at least one cover element, wherein the cover element is arranged and / or formed such that the open side of the In the receiving device arranged bundle magazine is at least partially covered by the cover. As a result, falling out of

Document bundles from the bundle magazine prevented.

Furthermore, the device comprises at least one bundle transport device. The bundle transport device is used to remove a document bundle from a

Bundle magazine. Furthermore, the bundle transport device can serve for transporting the removed document bundle. The bundle transport device can, as explained in more detail below, be designed in particular as a gripper device or comprise a gripper device.

Furthermore, the device comprises at least one device for detecting a

Document bundle in the bundle magazine. By means of the device for detection can be determined in particular whether document bundles are arranged in a bundle magazine. Furthermore, a position of a topmost document bundle in the bundle magazine can be determined.

It can e.g. hereinafter referred to a reference coordinate system. The reference coordinate system can be three perpendicular to each other

Spatial directions include. A vertical direction can be parallel and

be oriented opposite to a direction of gravitational force.

Directional statements such as "top" and "bottom" may refer to these

Refer to vertical direction. Furthermore, the reference coordinate system can have a

longitudinal spatial direction and a lateral spatial direction.

In the bundle magazine, e.g. several document bundles are stacked. In other words, these bundles of documents form one

Documents bundle stack. A first or in relation to the vertical direction of the lowest document bundle of the stack can in this case on or on a support surface of the

Bundle magazine lie or rest. The bearing surface can be provided from an inner side, in particular at an end face, of a housing of the bundle magazine. The uppermost or last bundle of documents in the vertical direction

The document bundle stack can thus designate the document bundle which is in contact with an end of the document opposite to this first document bundle Document bundle stack is arranged. The means for detection advantageously allows a level detection in the bundle magazine.

The means for detecting a document bundle may be e.g. an optical

Enable detection of the document bundle (s) in the bundle magazine.

In particular, the device for detecting a document bundle may comprise a distance sensor. This distance sensor can be moved along the open side of the bundle magazine and detect a distance in a direction oriented from the distance sensor toward the bundle magazine, in particular toward a bottom side of the bundle magazine. The distance detected by means of this distance sensor is in this case for a section of the bundle magazine in which document bundles are arranged smaller than a distance in a section of the bundle magazine in which no document bundle is arranged. If the distance sensor is moved along the open side of the bundle magazine, the distance will be in the area of the uppermost one

Document bundle depending on the direction of movement increase or decrease, especially jump. Depending on this change in distance, the detection, in particular the position detection, of the uppermost document bundle is possible.

Further, by means of the bundle transport device, a document bundle can be removed from a bundle magazine arranged in the receiving device. In particular, the uppermost document bundle can be removed from the bundle magazine. For this purpose, the bundle transport device can be moved over the uppermost document bundle. Furthermore, the uppermost document bundle can be attached to the bundle transport device, for example gripped by the bundle transport device. Furthermore, the bundle of documents fastened to the bundle transport device can be moved out of the bundle magazine.

The bundle transport device can in this case perform a movement along at least one, preferably along at least three mutually different, spatial direction / s. Further, the attached to the bundle transport device

Document bundles are stored after removal from the bundle magazine, in particular on an intermediate transport belt explained in more detail below or on a further transport device. A removal position of the bundle transport device can in this case be determined as a function of the position of the uppermost document bundle in the bundle magazine. In particular, the removal position may designate the position of the bundle transport device in which the respective uppermost document bundle can be fastened to the bundle transport device. For example, the removal position can be determined such that the bundle transport device can be positioned above the uppermost document bundle. The position of the uppermost document bundle can be determined by means of the detection device.

According to the invention, the bundle magazine can be received edgewise in the receiving device. In this case, one end of the bundle magazine on a

Rest support surface of the device. The support surface may be oriented orthogonal to the vertical direction. In this state, a document bundle stack arranged in the bundle magazine may be stacked along the vertical direction.

In this case, by means of the bundle transport device each in

Vertical direction top bundles of documents are removed from the bundle magazine. If the bundle magazine is arranged edgewise in the receiving device, then the bundle magazine is open to one side and not upwards. Falling out of bundles of documents, as previously explained, by at least one

Covering be prevented. Here, the cover can be arranged and / or formed such that the open side of the arranged in the receiving device bundle magazine is partially covered.

If the bundle magazine is arranged edgewise in the receiving device, then it results in an advantageous manner that the uppermost document bundle can be gripped in a simple manner in the region of the front or rear side of the document bundle by the bundle transport device. This means a big one

Contact surface for establishing a mechanical contact between the bundle transport device and the document bundle is present. As a result, the reliability of the removal is increased in an advantageous manner.

This results in an advantageous manner a reliable and fast in time

Removal of bundles of documents from the bundle magazine. In a further embodiment, the device has at least one device for detecting an empty state of the bundle magazine.

This device for detecting the empty state can be used by the device for

Detection of a document bundle be different. However, the document bundle detection device may also include the means for detecting the document bundle

Form empty status. For example, an empty state can be detected if the means for detecting a document bundle does not detect a document bundle in the bundle magazine.

Preferably, however, the means for detecting an empty state of

Bundle magazine different from the device for detection of a document bundle. In this case, the means for detecting an empty state may be an apparatus for optically detecting the empty state. For example, the means for detecting the empty state may be formed as a light barrier or comprise elements of a light barrier. This can be arranged such that a light beam of the light barrier is interrupted when at least one document bundle is located in a bundle magazine, which is arranged in a receiving device of the device. The light barrier is thus not interrupted when in the bundle magazine no document bundle is arranged.

It is conceivable that a bundle magazine, in particular on end faces, has recesses or openings for the light beam of the light barrier.

If an empty state of the bundle magazine detected, so an empty state signal can be generated. Depending on the empty state signal, for example, an operator of the device can be informed that the corresponding bundle magazine is empty. This information can be generated, for example, optically or acoustically.

This results in an advantageous manner, an improved operation of the device, since an operator an empty state can be notified promptly.

In a further embodiment, the bundle transport device comprises at least one gripper device. The gripper device may in particular be a vacuum gripper device. This allows a document bundle by generating a appropriate vacuum are attached to the bundle transport device. The gripper device may comprise, for example, at least one, preferably several, in particular up to four, Venturi nozzles.

Furthermore, the bundle transport device can comprise at least one adjusting device, wherein the at least one gripper device can be moved along the at least one, preferably along the previously explained three, spatial direction (s) by means of the adjusting device. The adjusting device can be designed in particular as an x / y / z adjusting device.

For example, the adjusting device may comprise guide elements for linear guidance of movable parts of the bundle transport device. In this case, the bundle transport device may comprise at least one guide element for guiding and moving the gripper device along a vertical direction. This can also be referred to as a vertical guide element. Furthermore, the bundle transport device may comprise at least one guide element for guiding the movement of the vertical guide element. This guide element can, for example, a

Guide element for guiding the movement along a longitudinal direction, so a longitudinal guide element, and / or a guide element for guiding the movement along a lateral direction, so be a lateral guide element.

For example, the movement of the vertical guide element can be guided by a lateral guide element, wherein the movement of the lateral guide element is guided by a longitudinal guide element.

The longitudinal guide element and the lateral guide element can in this case be arranged in the vertical direction over the vertical guide element. This results in an advantageous manner, a space-saving design of the bundle transport device.

In a further embodiment, at least one element of the device for

Detection of a document bundle on a movable part of the bundle transport device, in particular arranged on the gripper device. In particular, the previously explained distance sensor can be arranged on the movable part. Thus, the distance sensor can be moved along the open side of the bundle magazine by means of the bundle transport means. In particular, the

Distance sensor to be moved along the vertical direction.

This results in an advantageous manner that a space for the proposed device is reduced.

In a further embodiment, the device comprises at least one device for orientation determination of a device removed from the bundle magazine

Documents bundle. The removed document bundle can in particular be a document bundle fastened to the transport device or a bundle of documents gripped by the bundle transport device. As explained in more detail below, the removed document bundle can also be a document bundle arranged on an intermediate conveyor belt. In this case, the orientation determination device can also determine the orientation of a document bundle arranged on the intermediate conveyor belt. The orientation can be determined here in a reference coordinate system.

It may be necessary or desired to feed a bundle of documents in a desired orientation to another device, in particular the packaging and / or shipping device explained above. For example, it may be desired that a spine of a lowermost document of a

Document bundle is oriented in a desired direction. Thus, it may be desirable to move a document bundle removed from the bundle magazine into a desired orientation.

By means of the device for orientation determination can in particular a

Orientation of a lowermost document in the extracted document bundle are determined.

For example, the removed document bundle can be rotated to the desired position if the detected orientation deviates from the desired orientation. The device for orientation determination can in particular a

Include image capture device. Next, the facility for

Orientation determination include an evaluation. By means of

Image capture device, the removed document bundle can be imaged. Furthermore, an orientation of the document bundle, in particular the lowest document in the document bundle, can be determined image-based.

For example, the image capture device may be arranged and / or formed such that it either a spine side or one of

On the back of the book opposite book front of a arranged in the detection range of the image capture device document bundle or a lowermost document of the document bundle maps.

This results in an advantageous manner a reliable and fast in time

Determination of orientation.

In a further embodiment, the device comprises a device for

Change in orientation of a taken from the bundle magazine

Documents bundle. The device for changing the orientation can hereby set an orientation of the document bundle. For example, the device can rotate the extracted document bundle, in particular about an axis of rotation which is oriented perpendicular to an upper or lower side of the withdrawn document bundle.

It is possible that the bundle transport means forms the means for changing the orientation. In this case, for example, the previously described gripper device can be rotated. For example, the gripper device can be arranged around at least one axis of rotation parallel to one of those previously explained

Spaced spatial directions, be rotatable.

Preferably, however, the means for varying the orientation is formed as a device different from the bundle transport means. By means of the device for changing the orientation, the orientation of the

Document bundles are set so that this a desired Orientation corresponds. In particular, a bottom document in the

Document bundles are rotated in a desired orientation.

This results in an advantageous manner an improved supply of the removed document bundle to following in the process chain facilities, in particular the previously explained packaging and / or shipping device.

In a further embodiment, the device comprises a conversion device. The transfer device may in this case comprise a further gripper device. Furthermore, the conversion device may comprise a further adjusting device. A movable part of the transfer device can, for example, be movable along at least one, preferably along two, spatial direction (s). Next, a movable part of the

Implementing device be rotatable, in particular about an axis of rotation, which is oriented parallel to the vertical direction.

Preferably, a movable part of the converting device is movable along the previously explained vertical spatial direction and along the previously described lateral spatial direction.

The conversion device can in this case form the device for changing the orientation.

The further gripper device can likewise be a vacuum gripper device. This may, according to the preceding explanations, also comprise at least one, preferably up to four Venturi nozzles. Next is by means of the other

Gripper device a removed document bundle attached to the transfer device.

In this case, the conversion device can be designed as a device that is different from the bundle transport device. In particular, a document bundle removed from the bundle transport device and then deposited again can be confirmed or gripped by means of the transfer device, wherein the document bundle then attached to the transfer device can be further transported by means of the transfer device and possibly rotated. In particular, the serves

Transfer device for the transport of a stored on an intermediate conveyor belt Document bundle to another conveyor belt, which supplies the document bundle to a following in the process chain device, such as the packaging and / or shipping device. Before, during or after the transport from the intermediate conveyor belt to the further conveyor belt, that of the

Conversion device gripped document bundles are rotated. This advantageously makes it possible for the document bundle to be deposited with a desired orientation on the further conveyor belt. The further conveyor belt can also be referred to as a final conveyor belt.

For example, the conversion device can be controlled as a function of the orientation of the document bundle determined by the orientation determination device.

The conversion device advantageously allows a supply to in the

Process chain subsequent facilities with a desired clock rate.

In a further embodiment, the device comprises an intermediate conveyor belt. In this case, the document bundle removed from the bundle magazine by the bundle transporting device can be deposited on the intermediate conveyor belt. Furthermore, the filed document bundle can be transported by the intermediate conveyor belt into a transfer position. In the transfer position can through the

Device for orientation determination an orientation of the removed

Be determined document bundle. Then the document bundle from the transfer device from the transfer position towards the other conveyor belt

transported and stored on this further conveyor belt. During transport to the further conveyor belt, an orientation of the document bundle can be changed such that the document bundle has a desired orientation when it is deposited on the further conveyor belt.

In a further embodiment, the device comprises a device for detecting an occupancy state of a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt may in particular be the intermediate conveyor belt or the final conveyor belt explained above. In this case, a document bundle removed from the bundle magazine can only be arranged on the conveyor belt if it is not occupied. Accordingly, a bundle of documents removed from the bundle magazine is not on the conveyor belt arranged, if this is occupied. By means of the device for detecting a

Occupancy state can be detected, whether a predetermined storage section is occupied in the region of the conveyor belt, in particular by another

Documents bundle.

This results in an advantageous manner that document bundles can be reliably fed to a subsequent device in the process chain.

In a further embodiment, the device comprises at least one

Lighting device, wherein by means of the lighting device light in

different spectral ranges can be generated. The light generated by the illumination device can be generated state-dependent.

In this case, different states, in particular operating states, of the device can be assigned to different spectral ranges. For example, a normal operating state may be assigned a first spectral range. a

Homing operating state can be assigned to another spectral range. An opened state of the device can be assigned to a further spectral range. An error state of the device can be assigned to a further spectral range.

The device may in this case comprise a housing, wherein at least the bundle transport device, the receiving device and the device for detecting a document bundle are arranged in an inner volume of the housing. For the arrangement of a bundle magazine in a receiving device, it may be necessary to open the housing. For this purpose, the housing may have doors. The housing may be at least partially formed by transparent elements, in particular slices.

A spectral range which is associated with the normal operation can be selected in particular in such a way that an image evaluation for the device for determining an orientation of a document bundle is simplified. For example, the spectral range can be selected in such a way that a picture with high contrasts takes place. The illumination device can be designed in particular as a so-called RGB bar.

This results in an advantageous manner that an operator different states of the device can be visually displayed. The illumination device can in particular provide a backlight in the housing. In this case, a detection range of the image capture device can also be illuminated. It also results in an advantageous manner that in a normal operation, a particular image-based determination of the orientation of the document bundle is simplified.

The device may comprise at least one control and evaluation device. This may in particular comprise at least one microcontroller. By means of the control and evaluation device, in particular the bundle transport device, the device for changing the orientation and the intermediate and final conveyor belt can be controlled. Further, by means of the at least one control and evaluation device output signals of the device for detecting a document bundle, the

Device for detecting an empty state, the device for

Orientation determination and the means for detecting an occupancy state be evaluated. Also, the control and evaluation can form part of these facilities.

Further proposed is a method for removing at least one

Bundle of documents from a bundle magazine. In this case, the method can be carried out by means of a device according to an embodiment described in this disclosure. Thus, the device is configured such that a method according to one of the embodiments described in this disclosure by means of

Device is feasible.

In the method, a document bundle is detected in a bundle magazine, wherein the bundle magazine is arranged in a receiving device for receiving the bundle magazine. In particular, a, as previously explained, supreme

Document bundles are detected in a document bundle stack. Furthermore, a position of the uppermost document bundle can be determined. Furthermore, the detected document bundle is removed from the bundle magazine by means of a bundle transport device. The bundle magazine can be arranged edgewise in the receiving device or recorded. Further, an arranged in the bundle magazine

Stack of documents stacked along the vertical direction.

For example, the uppermost document bundle may be detected by moving a distance sensor along an open side of the bundle magazine, the distance sensor sensing a distance in a direction oriented from the open side toward a bottom surface of the bundle magazine. This has been explained previously. Furthermore, the bundle transport device can be arranged above the uppermost document bundle. Furthermore, the uppermost document bundle can be fastened to the bundle transport device. For example, for this purpose a gripper device of the bundle transport device can grip the uppermost document bundle. Is the

Gripper means a vacuum gripper device, it can be generated to grip the uppermost document bundle, a vacuum, by which the document bundle is attached to the bundle transport device. After that, the bundle transport device can remove the document bundle gripped in this way from the bundle magazine. For this purpose, the bundle transport device, in particular a movable part, perform a corresponding movement. This results in an advantageous manner a reliable removal of a document bundle from the bundle magazine.

In a further embodiment, the removed document bundle is deposited on an intermediate conveyor belt. Furthermore, the stored document bundle can be moved by the intermediate conveyor belt into a transfer position. In the

Transfer position, the document bundle can be arranged in a transfer section of the intermediate conveyor belt. This advantageously results in that the extracted document bundle can be moved quickly out of a region of the bundle magazine in a timely manner, in order, for example, to reach the bundle magazine. an orientation of the

Document bundle before being fed to in the process chain

Facilities still to change.

In another embodiment, the document bundle of a

Transfer device from the intermediate conveyor belt on a final conveyor belt

transported. The transport from the intermediate conveyor belt to the final conveyor belt can only take place here if a storage section of the final conveyor belt is not occupied is. Before, during or after transport to the final conveyor belt,

For example, by means of the conversion device, an orientation of the document bundle are changed. The resulting benefits have been explained above.

In a further embodiment, a current orientation of a withdrawn document bundle is determined. Next, a desired orientation of

Set document bundle, if the current orientation of the document bundle deviates from the desired orientation. This has been explained previously. In particular, the orientation can be determined when the document bundle is in the transfer section of the intermediate conveyor belt. The resulting benefits have been explained above.

In a further embodiment, a spectral range of an illumination of the device, in particular a backlight, is changed. The spectral range can be changed depending on the state. The spectral range here denotes a spectral range of light which can be generated by means of a lighting device of the device. In this case, light can be generated from a blue spectral range in a normal operating state of the device.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment. The figures show:

1 is a schematic plan view of a device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a bundle magazine and

Fig. 3 is a schematic longitudinal section through an inventive

Contraption.

Hereinafter, like reference numerals designate elements having the same or similar technical features.

In Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of an inventive device 1 is shown. This comprises a housing 2. At least a part of a housing wall can be made of transparent, ie translucent, material. The housing 2 has doors 3. In an open state of the doors 3 bundle magazines 4 can be introduced into receiving devices 5 for this bundle magazines 4 or arranged therein. Here, the bundle magazines 4 are arranged edgewise in the receiving devices 5. This means that an outer end face 6 (see Fig. 2) on a

Base plate 7 of the receiving devices 4 is arranged. Thus, an open side 9 of the bundle magazine 4 (see Fig. 2) is oriented to the side and the upright

arranged bundle magazine 4 open to the side.

It is further shown that the receiving devices 5 include aperture elements 8. These include a bundle magazine 4 in the upright arranged state such that an open side 9 (see FIG. 2) of the bundle magazine 4 partially from the

Aperture elements 8 is covered. This advantageously prevents that

Document bundle 10 (see Fig. 2) in the edgewise state from the bundle magazine 4 can fall out.

The device 1 further comprises a bundle transport device 1 1. The bundle transport device 1 1 here comprises adjustment devices, not shown, with which a gripper device 12 along a longitudinal spatial direction x, a lateral spatial direction y and a vertical spatial direction z (see FIG. 3) can be moved. The spatial directions x, y, z are each oriented orthogonal to one another and form a Cartesian coordinate system. This coordinate system can form a reference coordinate system. The gripper device 12 is designed as a vacuum gripper device and has e.g. four venturi nozzles on. On or at the gripper device 12, a distance sensor 13 is arranged. The distance sensor 13 in this case forms a device for detecting a document bundle 10 in the

Bundle magazine 4 or part of such a device. By means of

Transport device 1 1, the distance sensor 13 can be moved in a detection step along the vertical spatial direction z on the open side 9 of a bundle magazine 4 along. In this case, the distance sensor 13 detects a distance along the lateral spatial direction y to an object which is closest in this lateral spatial direction y.

The aperture elements 8 are in this case arranged such that between two

Aperture elements 8 a receiving device 4, a slot 14 is formed. The distance sensor 13 is in this case in front of the slot 14 along or along the slot 14th emotional. Through the slots 14 is an optical distance detection by the

Aperture 8 allows through.

If the distance sensor 13 is moved along a region of the bundle magazine 4 in which document bundle 10 is arranged, the distance detected by the distance sensor 13 is smaller than in a region of the bundle magazine 4 in which no document bundles 10 are arranged. In the region of the bundle magazine 4, in which no document bundles 10 are arranged, the distance sensor 13 detects a distance of a base side 15 of the bundle magazine 4 from the distance sensor 13.

Thus, if the distance sensor 13 is moved along the vertical spatial direction z to a position which is higher than the top of the uppermost document bundle 10, which is arranged in the corresponding bundle magazine 4, the detected distance, in particular jump, will increase. If this increase in distance is detected, a position of the uppermost document bundle 10 in the bundle magazine 4 can be determined, in particular as a function of the spatial position of the gripper device 12. This can also be referred to as a detection step. Depending on this position of the uppermost document bundle 10, the bundle transport device 1 1 can then be controlled in such a way that the gripper device 12 is positioned above the upper side of the uppermost document bundle 10 and can suck in the uppermost document bundle 10.

By sucking the uppermost document bundle 10 is attached to the gripper device 12. Thereafter, the bundle transport device 1 1 can be controlled such that the document bundle 10 is removed from the bundle magazine 4 and arranged on an intermediate conveyor belt 16. This can also be referred to as a removal section. The intermediate conveyor belt 16 is movable along the longitudinal spatial direction x. The removed and stored on the intermediate conveyor belt 16 document bundle 10 can be transported by the intermediate conveyor belt 16 in a transfer area or transfer section 17. After the document bundle 10 has been deposited on the intermediate conveyor belt 16, a next detection step and a next removal step can be carried out.

The device 1 further comprises an image capture device 18. By means of

Image capturing device 18 is an image of one arranged in the transfer region 17 Document bundle 10 can be generated. This image can then be evaluated by an evaluation device, for example a control and evaluation device 19. A document bundle 10 may in this case comprise a plurality of individual documents 20 (see FIG. 2). If such an individual document 20 is designed as a passport book, then such a passport book has a spine page. The removed

Document bundle 10 is in this case arranged on the intermediate conveyor belt 16 such that either a spine side of a lowermost individual document 20 of the

Document bundle 10 or the book spine side of the single document 20 opposite the book front side of the image capture device 18 is facing.

By means of corresponding image evaluation methods, for example contrast-based, it can be determined whether the image capture device 18 is the spine side or the book front side of a selected one opposite the spine side

Individual document 20 of a document bundle 10, in particular the lowest one

Individual document 20, is facing. This allows an orientation of the

Document bundle 10 are determined, in particular in which by the

Spaces x, y, z formed reference coordinate system.

It may, for example, be desired to arrange a taken-out document bundle 10 on a final conveyor belt 21 such that a spine side of the lowermost individual document 20 forms on the end conveyor belt 21 on a front side of the document bundle 10 along the lateral spatial direction y.

If e.g. detects that the spine side of the bottom single document 20 faces in the transfer area 17 of the image capture device 18, so is a

Rotation of the document bundle 10 by 180 ° about an axis of rotation which is parallel to the vertical spatial direction z, necessary to deposit the document bundle 10 with the desired orientation on the end conveyor belt 21.

The device 1 further comprises a transfer device 22. This transfer device 22 comprises a further gripper device 23, which may also be designed as a vacuum gripper device. Furthermore, the conversion device 22 comprises not shown

Adjusting means by means of which the further gripper device 23 along the lateral spatial direction y and along the vertical spatial direction z, but not along the longitudinal spatial direction x, can be moved. Next can by means of Versteileinrichtungen the gripper means 23 are rotated about an axis of rotation, which is oriented parallel to the vertical spatial direction z.

By means of the further gripper device 23, a document bundle 10 arranged in the transfer region 17 of the intermediate conveyor belt 16 can be sucked. Then, the document bundle 10 of the converting device 22 in a

Storage area 24 of the Endtransportbandes 21 are stored. In this case, the sucked-in document bundle 10 can be rotated during transport from the transfer area 17 into the storage area 24, in particular by 180 °. The rotation can, as previously explained, take place when the document bundle 10 in

Transfer area 17 does not have the desired orientation.

Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a device 25 for detecting a

Occupancy state of the storage area 24 of the Endtransportbandes 21st If a document bundle 10 is already arranged in this storage area 24, then no further bundle of documents 10 by means of the transfer device 22 into the storage area

transported. The device 25 for detecting an occupancy state can be designed, for example, as a distance sensor or comprise a distance sensor. This can detect a distance between the distance sensor in a direction toward a surface of the Endtransportbandes 21. If this distance is less than a predetermined threshold, it can be detected that the storage section is occupied.

In this case, the end conveyor belt 21 can transport a document bundle 10 arranged thereon along the longitudinal spatial direction x. The end conveyor belt 21 serves, in particular, for feeding the document bundle 10 to further devices following in the process chain, for example a packaging and / or packaging device

Mailer.

Furthermore, the device comprises a display device 30. By means of

Display device can be displayed to an operator desired information. For example, the number of document bundles 10 already removed can be displayed. Further, as explained in more detail below, an empty state can be displayed. In Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a bundle magazine 4 is shown. In the document bundle 4 in this case three bundles of documents 10 are arranged, each comprising a plurality of individual documents 20. The sake of clarity is only one

Single document 20 provided with a reference numeral. The bundle magazine 4 is box-shaped and has an open side 9. Also shown are an end face 6 and a bottom side 15 of the bundle magazine 4. At upper edges of the end faces, the bundle magazine has recesses 26. These serve, as explained in more detail below, a detection of an empty state of a

Bundle magazine 4.

The document bundles 10 can in this case be formed by up to six individual documents 20, which are combined, for example, by one or more banderoles, in particular a cross banderole.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a device 1 according to the invention. Schematically represented are the receiving devices 5 for

Bundle magazines 4. In Fig. 3 it is shown that only in three of the receiving devices 5 bundle magazines 4 are arranged. Next is shown that only in two of

Bundle magazines 4 document bundles 10 are arranged.

It is further shown that the diaphragm elements 8 are arranged and formed such that they form a slot 14, by which a distance from the

Distance sensor 13 toward the bottom side 15 of the edgewise arranged bundle magazines 4 (see Fig. 1) can be detected. It is further shown that the aperture elements 8 not along the entire height and the entire width of a edgewise

arranged bundle magazine 4 extend. Thus, the open side 9 of a

Bundle magazine not covered along the entire height and the entire width of the aperture elements 8.

Also shown is the intermediate conveyor belt 16 (see also Fig. 1).

Further illustrated are light emitter / receiver 27 and reflectors 28, which is a

Train photocell. Along a vertical spatial direction z, the light transmitters / receivers 27 are arranged above the receiving devices 5. The reflectors 28 are arranged along the vertical spatial direction z below the receiving devices 5. A light beam emitted by a light transmitter Y receivers 27 is only reflected by the reflector 28 assigned to this light transmitter / receiver 27 if no or an empty bundle magazine 4 is arranged in the receiving device 5. If an empty bundle magazine 4 is arranged in the receiving device 5, then the light beam emitted by the light transmitter / receiver 27 radiates through the recesses 26 at upper edges of the front side 6 of the bundle magazine (see FIG. 2). If a bundle magazine 4 filled with at least one document bundle 10 is arranged in the receiving device 5, the light beam emitted by the light transmitter / receiver 27 will not be reflected by the reflector 28.

If a reflected light beam is detected by the light transmitter / receiver 27, an empty state signal can be generated, which encodes that in the

Receiving device 5 no or an empty bundle magazine is arranged. In

Depending on this empty state signal, for example, an operator of the

Device 1 are informed, for example, acoustically or optically. The information can be made, for example, via the display device 30.

Also shown is a lighting device 29, which enables a backlighting of an internal volume of the housing 2 (see FIG. 1). A spectral range of the light emitted by the illumination device 29 can be changed here. In particular, the spectral range can be changed state-dependent.

For example, in a normal operation blue light from the

Lighting device 29 are generated. In particular, this blue light can enable a high-contrast imaging of a document bundle 10 arranged in the transfer region 17 (see FIG. 1) by the image capture device 18.

Further, for example, white light can be generated by the lighting device 29 when a door 3 of the housing 2 is opened. Furthermore, yellow light can be generated if a reference run of the bundle transport device 1 1 and / or the conversion device 22 is performed. For example, red light can be generated in the event of an error.

The proposed device 1 can be placed on the end conveyor belt 21 in an advantageous manner. This means that existing plants can be retrofitted with the proposed device 1 for removal. It is not necessary to modify an existing conveyor belt 21 for feeding document bundles to other facilities.

Further elements of the device 1, for example electronic, pneumatic and other elements, can hereby be arranged on or on an upper side of the housing 2.

This advantageously results in a simple retrofitting of existing systems.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 device

2 housings

3 door

4 bundle magazine

5 recording device

6 front side

7 floor area

8 aperture element

9 open side

10 bundles of documents

1 1 bundle transport device

12 gripper device

13 distance sensor

14 slot

15 bottom side

16 intermediate conveyor belt

17 transfer area

18 Image capture device

19 control and evaluation device

20 individual document

21 final conveyor belt

22 conversion device

23 more gripper device

24 storage area

25 device for detecting an occupancy state

26 recess

27 photocell

28 reflector

29 Lighting device

30 display device

x longitudinal spatial direction

y lateral spatial direction

z vertical spatial direction

Claims

claims

1 . Device for removing at least one document bundle (10) from a bundle magazine (4), wherein the device (1) at least one receiving device (5) for receiving the bundle magazine, at least one bundle transport device (1 1) and at least one device for detecting a document bundle (10) in the bundle magazine (4), wherein by means of the bundle transport means a document bundle (10) of a in the

Receiving device (5) arranged bundle magazine (4) can be removed, characterized in that

a bundle magazine (4) edgewise in the receiving device (5) is receivable.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (1) has at least one device for detecting an empty state of the bundle magazine (4).

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the bundle transport device (1 1) comprises at least one gripper device (12).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that at least one element of the device for detecting a document bundle (10) is arranged on a movable part of the bundle transport device (11).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the device (1) has at least one device for

Orientation determination of a bundle of documents (4) removed document bundle (10).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the device (1) has a device for changing an orientation of a document bundle removed from the bundle magazine (4) (10).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the device (1) comprises a conversion device (22).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the device comprises an intermediate conveyor belt (16).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the device (1) comprises a device for detecting an occupancy state of a conveyor belt (16, 21).

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the device (1) comprises at least one illumination device (29), wherein by means of the illumination device (29) light in different spectral ranges can be generated.

1 1. Method for removing at least one document bundle (10) from a bundle magazine (4), wherein a document bundle (10) is detected in a bundle magazine (4), wherein the bundle magazine (4) is accommodated in a receiving device (5) for receiving the bundle magazine (4) is arranged, wherein the bundle magazine (4) is taken upright in the receiving device (5), wherein a detected document bundle (10) by means of a bundle transport device (1 1) from the bundle magazine (4) is removed.

12. The method according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the removed document bundle (10) is deposited on an intermediate conveyor belt (16).

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the

Document bundle (10) of a conversion device (22) of the

Intermediate conveyor belt (16) is transported on a final conveyor belt (21).

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 1 to 13, characterized in that a current orientation of a removed document bundle (10) is determined, wherein a desired orientation of the document bundle (10) is set, if the current orientation of the document bundle (10) deviates from the desired orientation.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 1 to 14, characterized in that a spectral range of illumination of the device (1) is changed.