EP0765288B1 - Process and device for conveying a stream of print shop products - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a process and a device for conveying a stream of print shop products in which the products are initially conveyed along a first conveyor loop in a position substantially tangential to the conveying direction and transferred to a second conveyor loop. To facilitate the transfer the print shop products are taken to a transfer point at which at least a part of each product is at an angle to the tangential position.

Description

The invention relates to a method for conveying a current of printed matter in which the printed matter in a first section of an endlessly rotating first conveyor loop individually one after the other and essentially tangential are aligned to the conveying direction and endless to a second circulating conveyor loop are handed over, like one to Execution of such a usable device.

Such a device and a corresponding method are known from EP-A-0 300 170.

Methods of the type described above, for example Conveying printed products processed with a cutting device used. With the cutting device are excess side edges stapled, bound or without binding or Stapling pinned or merged printed matter away. For this purpose, the printed products are usually in a tangent to their conveying direction Position, i.e. in a position in which the individual Sheets of the layers containing printed matter run parallel to the conveying direction, along a defined one Movement path fed to the cutting apparatus, thereby promoted and discharged from the cutter. Subsequently the printed products are usually kept their alignment from a along a first conveyor loop surrounding first conveyor and to convey to a facility for formation ready for dispatch Print product packages, a so-called stacker, to a second one Conveying device rotating along a second conveyor loop to hand over.

The second conveyor usually has a number for conveying one of the processed printed products serving, a deflection point along the second conveyor loop gripper passing the first conveyor loop. To the Take over of the conveyed along the first conveyor loop Printed products become the grippers in the area of the deflection point opened and after taking over one of the printed products at a transfer point in the area of the redirection point for further transport of the printed products along the second conveyor loop closed. The transfer takes place by inserting the processed printed products into the open gripper at the transfer point.

To ensure reliable operation of one for execution Such a device operable device the grippers along the second conveyor loop the deflection point the first conveyor loop at a precisely defined distance happen. It is also necessary that the orbital speed the gripper and the conveying speed of the printed products conveyed along the first conveyor loop are precisely coordinated. Furthermore, the operating speed such devices by the for Insert the individual printed products at the transfer point limited time to be made available.

In view of the problems described above, there is Object of this invention in the provision of a method of the type described at the beginning, with the simultaneous Ensuring high operational reliability high working speed is achievable, as well as one for Execution of such a device operable device.

In procedural terms, this task is solved by that at least a portion of each printed product in a second section adjoining the first section the first conveyor loop at an angle to the tangential Alignment is aligned and the handover of the Printed products to the second conveyor loop in this Handover takes place.

By aligning the individual printed products in the transfer is achieved that the transfer to the second conveyor loop not only at a single transfer point, but all along the second section of the first conveyor loop from the at an angle to the tangential Directional areas of printed matter continuous transfer area is possible. This can on the one hand the working speed can be increased because without Reduction of the conveying speed of the printed matter along the first conveyor loop an increase in the transfer rate available time is possible if the Conveying the individual printed products along the second Second conveyor device serving for conveying loop parallel to at least part of the transfer area runs. On the other hand can even if the Conveying speed along the second conveyor loop on the Conveying speed along the first conveyor loop is a reliable one Operation can be ensured because of the funding of the printed products along the second conveyor loop serving second conveyor and in the transfer position aligned printed products in the course of Transfer area for transfer at different speeds can walk past each other. This can at the same time the distance between the individual along the first Conveyed loop funded printed products for the further funding along the second funding loop changed become.

It expediently points to the execution of the inventive Process used second conveyor a number arranged one behind the other between an open position and a closed position of an adjustable gripper having a second conveyor, the grippers to hand over the printed matter to one in the course of the second section of the first conveyor loop from the below areas aligned at an angle to the tangential orientation the transfer area passed through the printed matter pass and at least some of the grippers pass the transfer area to take over the printed matter in the Reach opening position and to promote the adopted Printed products along the second conveyor loop at Passing the transfer area adjusted to the closed position become.

It is also possible for some of the grippers to pass the transfer area reach in the closed position, for example if you have already taken over a printed product.

To optimize the operational performance when executing the The method according to the invention becomes the second conveyor expediently depending on the conveying speed of printed matter and the distance between the one oriented at an angle to the tangential orientation Areas of the individual printed products in the Transfer area controlled such that each of the along the first Conveying loop conveyed printed products from one the gripper is taken over and along the second conveyor loop is promoted.

The printed products can in the course of the first conveyor loop from two to opposite, during the promotion of the printed products in the tangential to the conveying direction aligned position parallel to the conveying direction Edges of the printed matter are held against the brackets and be promoted. Transfer of printed matter in the transfer position can then be particularly simple done by placing the brackets around a perpendicular to the conveying direction along the first conveyor loop and parallel to it held axis of the printed product.

The for conveying and transferring the printed matter in the parentheses serving the transfer are expedient in one by the dimensions of the printed matter given distance parallel to each other, at least partially rotating traction means along the first conveyor loop fixed.

As the above description of the inventive method can be seen is one for executing such Device operable essentially characterized in that that the printer records to hand over to the second conveyor in one on the first section subsequent second section of the first conveyor loop by means of one that can be applied to the individual printed products Alignment device can be converted into a transfer position in which at least a portion of each printed product aligned at an angle to the tangential orientation is.

The alignment device expediently comprises movable along the first conveyor loop, each to the side Edges, particularly preferably on opposite side Edges of the printed products to be transferred can be created Clamping arrangements in the form of brackets or the like.

The brackets are advantageously on in the tangential to Direction of conveyance aligned position of the printed products Lateral edges running parallel to the conveying direction of the printed products can be created in the course of the first section the first conveyor loop for holding and conveying the Printed products in the direction tangential to the conveying direction Position movable in a first rotational position and for transferring the printed products into the delivery position around a perpendicular to the conveying direction and parallel to the axis of the printed products held by it rotatable into a second rotational position.

Fig. 1a

eine Seitenansicht eines mit einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung versehenen Schneidapparates,

Fig. 1b

eine Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung nach Fig. la und

Fig. 2

vergrösserte Seitenansicht der Uebergabebereiche der Vorrichtung nach Fig. 1.

The invention is explained below with reference to the drawing, to which reference is expressly made with regard to all the features of the invention that are not explained in detail in the description. The drawing shows:

Fig. 1a

2 shows a side view of a cutting apparatus provided with a device according to the invention,

Fig. 1b

a plan view of the device of Fig. La and

Fig. 2

enlarged side view of the transfer areas of the device according to FIG. 1.

The device shown in Fig. 1 is used for processing individual printed matter along two parallel to each other running processing lines 10 and 20 and Transfer the with at the end of the processing lines 10 and 20 arranged conveyor devices 16 and 26 first in a position aligned tangentially to their conveying direction funded printed products 5 to one along a second Conveyor loop 30 endless rotating second conveyor.

To edit the individual printed products 5 is longitudinal each of the processing lines 10 and 20 has a cutting apparatus 14 or 24 to remove excess side edges of the Printed matter arranged. For feeding the printed matter 5 to the cutting apparatuses 14 and 24 becomes a chain conveyor 1 with for feeding one printed product at a time 5 serving one of the processing lines 10 or 20, orbiting along a defined trajectory Grippers 2 used. As can be seen from Fig. La, the the gripper 2 promoting the printed products 5 in the course their path of movement for storing the printed products 5 a conveyor belt arranged at the beginning of the processing path 10 11 lowered along a path section 3. In the course of the lowering of the individual grippers 2 on their Folded printed products 5 by means of a guide 4 guided so that their pre-fold runs after the associated gripper 2. In this way, the training of a regular Printed product stream ensured on the conveyor belt 11 become.

As can further be seen from FIG. La, only each second of the printed products held by the grippers 2 placed on the conveyor belt 11 of the first processing section 10. The remaining printed products 5 are along the path of movement 1 with the grippers 2 raised again and put down on a arranged at the beginning of the processing line 20 Conveyor belt 21 promoted. Placing on the conveyor belt 21 is carried out similarly to the placement described above on the conveyor belt 11. The first on the conveyor belt 11 or 21 stored printed products are in the course of Processing lines 10 and 20 from a belt press 12 and 22, respectively taken over and handed over to a belt conveyor 13 or 23. The belt presses 12 and 22 ensure reliability processing with the cutting devices 14 or 24 ensuring positioning of the printed products lengthways the processing line 10 and 20.

As can be seen from Fig. 1b, the belt conveyors 13 and 23 in the form of two endlessly parallel to each other revolving conveyor belts formed. Therefore, the individual Printed products between these conveyor belts with one endlessly circulating conveyor chain 15 fixed grippers 15a or 25a captured on their fold and by the cutting apparatus 14 or 24 are performed. To simplify the presentation is only the conveyor chain belonging to the conveyor section 10 in FIG 15 shown.

After processing with the cutting devices 14 or 24 become the printed products that were held on their folds until then handed over to the conveyors 16 and 26, respectively. These are arranged at the end of the processing lines 10 and 20 Conveyors 16 and 26 face each other with space opposite, endless encircling brackets 17 and 27 on. The individual mutually opposite brackets 17th and 27 are arranged so that the individual with the Cutters 14 and 24 processed printed products thus on their opposite, perpendicular to the fold running lateral edges are detected and promoted can.

As can be seen particularly clearly from FIG. 2, the individual brackets 17 and 27 with the conveyed in between Printed matter in a second section 19 or 29 the conveyor loops passed through by the conveyor devices 16 and 26 around a perpendicular to their conveying direction and axis parallel to the printed products rotatable. As a result, those supported by the clamps 17 and 27, respectively Printed products individually at an angle to the conveying direction be aligned.

The transfer of the printed products takes place in this transfer position to conveyed along a second conveyor loop 30 Gripper 32. For the transfer of the printed matter the grippers 32 in the course of the second conveyor loop in lowered a position in which it with the brackets 17th or 27 held printed products. How 2a can be seen, all reach along the conveyor loop 30 conveyed gripper 32 through the second section the conveyor loop passed through by the conveyor 26 formed transfer area 29 in the open position and a printed product is attached to every second of the open grippers passed, after which the grippers concerned to Conveying the transferred printed products along the second Conveyor loop 30 can be adjusted to the closed position.

Then all the grippers in the further course of the conveyor loop 30 raised again and only to take over the with the conveyor 16 conveyed printed products lowered again in the transfer area 19 (cf. FIG. 1b). While the grippers to which are already in the transfer area 29 Print product was handed over, the transfer area 19 in reach the closed position, reach the one in between Gripper 32 this transfer area to take over the along the processing line 10 processed printed products in the open position. In the course of the transfer area 19 these grippers 32 are also in the closed position adjusted to the printed products passed there along to promote the second conveyor loop (30).

As a result, the transfer area 19 is followed by a Preserved printed products stream in which the individual printed products have a distance from each other, which half the distance along the processing lines 10 and 20 funded printed products.

As can be seen from the above description, includes the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 two along endless conveyor loops revolving conveyor systems 16 and 26, which a common along a second Conveyor loop 30 is assigned to the circulating conveyor. Each of the conveyors 16 and 26 forms a first one Conveying device, from which the printed products conveyed with it to the second conveyor in the form of the longitudinal the second endlessly circulating conveyor loop 30 Grippers 32 are passed. This will take advantage of of the method according to the invention two partial flows of printed products merged into a single stream. On similar manner is taking advantage of the inventive Procedure also the merging of several partial streams of Printed products possible in a single stream.

The invention is not based on the embodiment described above limited. Rather, it is also thought the printed matter only in sections by means of the brackets at an angle to the tangential orientation align. It also thinks of alignment of the printed matter in the course of the second section of the to effect the first conveyor loop with just one clamp.

Claims (12)

1. Method of conveying a stream of printed products in which the printed products are oriented in a first section of a continuously circulating first conveyor loop substantially tangentially with respect to the conveying direction and are transferred to a second continuously circulating conveyor loop, characterised in that at least one region of the printed products fed in individually after each other is raised at an angle with respect to the tangential orientation, namely raised in a second section of the first conveyor loop that adjoins its first section, and the transfer of the printed products to the second conveyor loop takes place in this transfer position.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the printed products are conveyed along the second conveyor loop by a conveyor device that has a number of grabs arranged after each other and adjustable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the grabs, for the purpose of transfer of printed products thereto, pass a transfer region which the printed products traverse during their run along the second section of the first conveyor loop with the regions of the printed products oriented at an angle to the tangential orientation, and at least some of the grabs reach the transfer region in their open position to receive the printed products and are adjusted to their closed position while passing the transfer region to convey the received printed products along the second conveyor loop.
3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that some of the grabs reach the transfer region in the closed position.
4. Method according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the second conveyor device, depending upon the conveying speed of the printed products and the distance in the transfer region between the regions of the individual printed products that are oriented at an angle to the tangential orientation, is controlled such that each of the printed products conveyed along the first conveyor loop is received by one of the grabs and conveyed along the second conveyor loop.
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the printed products, during their run along the first conveyor loop are held and conveyed during the conveying of the printed products in the position oriented tangentially with respect to the conveying direction, by two clamps applied to opposite edges of the printed products extending parallel to the conveying direction.
6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that the clamps, for orienting the printed products to the transfer position, are rotated, along the second section of the first conveyor loop, about an axis which is perpendicular to the conveying direction and parallel to the printed products held thereby.
7. Apparatus for conveying a stream of printed products (5), having a first conveyor device (16, 26) operable to convey the printed products (5) in a position oriented substantially tangentially with respect to the conveying direction, along a first section (18, 28) of a continuously circulating first conveyor loop of the first conveyor device (16, 26), and having a second conveyor device (30, 32) operable to convey the printed products (5) along a continuously circulating second conveyor loop (30) to which the printed products (5) conveyed along the first conveyor loop can be transferred, characterised in that the printed products (5), for the purpose of transfer to the second conveyor device (30, 32), can be transposed into a transfer position in a second section (19, 29) of the first conveyor loop adjoining the first section (18, 28), by means of an orientating device (17, 27) which can be applied to the printed products individually fed in after each other, at least one region of the printed products (5) being raised at an angle with respect to the tangential orientation.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that the orientation device which can be applied to the individual printed products (5) has a clamping arrangement (17, 27) which can travel along the first conveyor loop and can be applied to the respective lateral edges of the printed products (5) that are to be transferred.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that each of the clamping arrangements has two clamps (17, 27) which can be applied to opposite lateral edges of the printed products (5) that are to be transferred.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that the clamps (17, 27) can be applied to the lateral edges of the printed products (5) that extend parallel to the conveying direction with the printed products (5) positioned tangentially oriented with respect to the conveying direction, and can travel in a first rotational position during its traversal of the first section (18, 28) of the first conveyor loop to hold and convey the printed products in the position oriented tangentially to the conveying direction, and can be rotated into a second rotational position, to transpose the printed products into the transfer position in the second section (19, 29) of the first conveyor loop, about an axis which is perpendicular to the conveying direction and parallel to the printed products (5) held thereby.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterised in that the clamps (17, 27) travel with and are fixed in parallel relationship to entrainment means at a distance apart determined by the dimensions of the printed products (5), the entrainment means circulating in part along the first conveyor loop.
12. Apparatus according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterised in that the second conveyor device has a number of grabs (32) arranged after each other and which can travel along the second conveyor loop (30) and are adjustable between an open position and a closed position, the grabs, during their traversal of the second conveyor loop (30), passing the transfer region which is traversed by the regions of the printed products (5) that are oriented at an angle to the conveying direction in their traversal of the second section (19, 29) of the first conveyor loop, the second conveyor device being controllable in dependence upon the conveying speed and the distance between the individual regions of the printed products (5) that are oriented at an angle to the conveying direction, such that at least some of the grabs (32) reach the receiving region (19, 29) in their open position in order to receive all the printed products (5) conveyed along the first conveyor loop, and are adjusted to their closed position while passing the transfer region (19, 20) to convey the received printed products (5) along the second conveyor loop (30).

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