EP2301874B1 - Method for collecting printed products and collection device for printed products - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a method for collecting printed products by means of a collecting device according to the preamble of claim 1. It also relates to a collecting device for carrying out said method.

State of the art

Out DE 100 05 052 A1 a collating machine for printed sheets has become known with a series of arranged investors with magazines for receiving stacks of printing, which collating machine is supplemented with at least one magazine for receiving further printed products to be affixed to printed sheets. This gathering machine is further characterized by a first feeder for advertising material and a second feeder for printing sheet and a conveyor on which an isolated from the first feeder advertising material can be deposited and the second feeder fed positionally, and on which a separated from the second feeder sheet positionally appropriate to the advertising material in the sense of sticking under the sheet is deposited. Essential in this document over the earlier The prior art is the proposal to stick advertising on printed sheets from below, ie on the back of the sheet.

In this prior art document it is noticeable that the gathering machine is designed for two feeders which are in a compelling interdependence, i. The transport connection between the two investors is based here on a firmly designed operative connection, so that there is no possibility to provide additional investors with individual functions, Although it would be possible to insert additional investors, but they would have to fit into a division of the collection line, what would be hard to realize. It would also have to be considered that this collection would have to be extended in some form, which in turn would be associated with a great effort. Finally, it is still to be considered that such a rebuilt facility would not allow any possibility to carry out selective product-related processing, nor to provide for intermediary overruns of an investor.

Out US 4,200,275 A a machine has become known, which have at least two rotating sheet delivery drums, the axis of rotation is oriented substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the endless conveyor The endless conveyor belt transports the folded sheets such that the folded spine are positioned transversely to the direction of conveyance. In the conveying direction, the printed sheets are joined together. At least one stitching unit in the return area of the endless conveyor belt staples the individual printed sheets to printed products.

Out DE 27 40 320 A1 a method for the production of a book has become known, which consists of several signatures and at least one loose held between two signatures insert card. In the collating apparatus, the signatures are gathered together, wherein an insert is attached to at least one signature by means of a so-called volatile or crystallizing adhesive. The collator has multiple signature input stations. A collating conveyor moves along the various signature input stations. The signatures are stored at each station in a magazine. The lowest signature is brought by means of a peel or absorbent body in a position in which the edge of the signature is gripped by a gripper on a rotating drum. The drum rotates in time with the movement of the signature conveyor.

Out DE 26 31 058 A1 a saddle stitcher has become known, with an arranged to be collected sheets to a stitching station with at least one stitching unit conveying endless conveyor and with at least two rotating sheet loaders, which are aligned at a distance along the endless conveyor and above it. The axes of rotation of the sheet applicators extend substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the endless conveyor, which promotes the sheets during collecting with transverse to the conveying direction extending back and back in advance and inserted into each other. The stitching unit is arranged in the deflection region of the endless conveyor.

Out EP 1 655 147 A2 is method for inserting and / or inserting printed inserts, such as sheets, (folding) sheet, CDs, samples u. Like. Become known in main printing products, the main printing products are transported substantially flat lying in the direction of their format height in a at least one guide wall having conveyor channel of carriers of a conveyor at intervals. At least one sheet of the main printing products is opened for feeding the printing inlays and then closed again, so that the at least one sheet of the main printing product is at least opened so that more than half of the placement page opened thereby is accessible from the vertical direction, so that the printing inlays are the main printing products can be supplied in the conveying direction of the conveying channel, wherein the feed direction is in a vertical plane defined by the conveying direction.

Presentation of the invention

The invention aims to remedy this situation. The invention, as characterized in the claims, is based on the object, in a method and a collecting device for graphic products of the type mentioned, to provide a number of precautions, which allow different production processes without a conversion of the plant.

In this case, the collecting device according to the invention is designed so that in addition to a first transport device additionally a second transport device is provided, which includes at least two investors. It is essential that the discharge lines of the individual investors can be operated alternatively, so in a normal operation in which the investors feed the collection line, or in a special operation in which the printed products through the second transport device through individual or multiple investors, with any Changeover of the operation over the individual investors can be carried out continuously.

The operational use in special operation is therefore based on special applications in which the printed products withdrawn via a second transport device, bypassing an immediate alimentation of the first transport device, as is the case in normal operation, fed to at least the second feeder and there subjected to further processing before they are supplied to the first transport device, or be supplied to another feeder.

The printed products are glued, for example, and connected to another printed product, for example a card, before they are delivered to the first transport device. The printed products of the second investor can thus, for example, attached to the printed products of the first investor, for example, they can be connected by gluing together.

In the area of the second transport device, for example, a printed product can be glued or also be inscribed by means of an object. For example, can be subtracted from the first feeder printed sheets, these glued on the second transport device and then each glued to a printed product of the second investor. The aforementioned cards as a printed product can be attached to the front of the printed products of the first investor. Alternatively, however, for example, cards can be deducted from the first feeder, so that they then come to stand on the back of the printed products of the second investor, this can be accomplished for example by gluing or gluing. Deducted sheets then do not arrive at the first feeder, but after a subsequent feeder on the first transport device.

Instead of using a glue, a card can also be electrostatically fixed on the appropriate sheet.

It is also possible to selectively withdraw different printed products, for example sheets from a compartment of a number of interconnected first investor and to personalize them, for example, with an inkjet printer at the end of the interconnected second transport device. This results in an even greater flexibility of the inventive system.

If a printed product is deducted from the first feeder, in which no special application is provided, then this is delivered directly to the first transport device. However, a subsequent printed product can then be fed back to the second feeder via the second transport device. Of course, according to the inventive method can be collected with more than two investors. Accordingly, more than a second transport device can be provided. The method according to the invention and the collecting device proposed for carrying out the method thus enable greater flexibility and simple production, since special units do not have to be needed and replaced.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the clock of the first investor can be synchronized to the clock of the first transport device or to the clock of the one or more investors.

The invention also relates, as stated above, also a collecting device for printed products, with at least a first and a second feeder, which are arranged along a first transport device and with which each printed products, for example, withdrawn from a stack and can be stored on the transport device, which according to the invention by a second transport device, which connects the first with the second feeder, so that a withdrawn from the first feeder print product is fed to the second feeder. Such a collecting device solves the above object and thus has the considerable advantage of greater flexibility with less effort in a change in production, or simultaneous or temporary injections of various types of printed products, as for the special applications, for example, only a comparatively compact glue application head or inkjet pushbutton must be placed in the appropriate place. The printed products can thus be fed to the first or the second transport device without complicated conversion work. The second transport device can in this case be fixed or wegstellbar. Of course The collecting device according to the invention can also have more than two feeders. Accordingly, it may also have more than two second transport devices.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the first and the second feeder are each individually controllable with a control device. This results in even greater flexibility.

Further advantageous features resp. Variants result from the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. All elements not essential to the instant understanding of the invention have been omitted. The same elements are provided in the various figures with the same reference numerals. Show it:

Brief description of the figures

FIG. 1

1 is a schematic view of a collecting device according to the invention;

FIG. 2

1 is a schematic view of an investor with which printed products can be fed to the second transport device;

FIG. 3

a schematic view of an investor, with the printed products of the first transport device can be fed and

FIG. 4

a spatial view of a collection container.

Ways to carry out the invention, industrial usability The collecting device shown in Figure 1 has a first transport device 2, for example, has an endless circulating chain 18, at the same distances a plurality of collecting containers 17 are attached. These transport containers 17 are used to collect printed products 16 which are deducted by investors A, B and C respectively from a stack 15. The transport containers 17, in which the printed products 16 are collected, can be provided with two side plates 19 and one stop plate 20, for example, according to FIG. To remove the collected printed products, the transport containers 17 are each provided with a recess 25. The collected printed products 16 are removed, for example, with a gripper, not shown here, the transport container 17 and fed to a further processing. The transport direction of the first transport device 2 is indicated in Figure 1 by the arrow 24. The printed products 16 are each dropped from above into a collecting container 17, wherein the fold can extend in folded printed products 16 as a variant transverse to the transport direction of the first transport device 2. The transport device 2 shown with a number of transport containers 17 can be replaced for example by a transport route, not shown in detail, in which the collected printed products can be forwarded by ejection elements.

The printed products 16 are provided, for example, for collating book blocks, newspapers, magazines and the like. But they can also be side dishes, such as cards, promotional mailings, newspaper inserts or the like.

The stacks 15 are each located in a stacking container 14 above one of the feeders AC. The removal of the printed products 16 is carried out in a conventional manner, each with a take-off drum 4. This has, for example, suckers and grippers, not shown here, with which the printed products 16 are each withdrawn individually at the bottom of a stack 15. The withdrawn printed products 16 are between a conveyor belt 5 and the outside of the take-off drum 4 in FIG. 1 transported in a clockwise direction and transported approximately in the six o'clock position between a conveyor belt 23 and another conveyor belt 6 approximately horizontally or obliquely downwards. At the front end of the conveyor belt 6, a pivotable tongue 8 is mounted, the a deflection roller 7 can be applied, on which the conveyor belt 23 is deflected. The pivotable tongue 8 can be equipped, for example, via spring elements not shown in detail in the figure. With the tongue 8, the printed products 16 according to FIG. 2 to a second transport device 3 or as in the investor C according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 delivered to a collecting container 17 of the first transport device 2. Each of the investors AC can thus optionally pass a withdrawn printed product 16 of the second transport device 3 or the first transport device 2 in the further transport. For this purpose, the deflection roller 7 and the tongue 8 are pivoted about the axis 26 of the corresponding withdrawal drum 4.

The second transport device 3 has a lower conveyor belt 9 and an upper conveyor belt 10, between which the detected printed products 16 are each transported substantially horizontally and in the direction of the arrow 24. The lower conveyor belt 9 has at a front end a guide part 11 which has a guide opening 13 with a arranged at the front end of the upper conveyor belt 10 further guide member 12. This guide opening 13 leads the printed products 16 substantially tangentially to the feeder B, which is downstream of the feeder A in the transport direction. Have the printed products 16 leave the guide opening 13, they are detected by the two conveyor belts 6 and 23 of the investor B and either another second transport device 3 'supplied, which may be the same as the former transport device 3, or optionally to the first transport device 2 handed over.

The feeder C is preferably of the same design as the feeder A and B. In FIG. 1 the feeder C is shown in the position in which a printed product 16 captured by the feeder C is transferred to the first transport device 2. Alternatively, it is also possible here, a transfer of the printed product to a further second transport device 3 ", which in the FIG. 1 only hinted at.

Above the further second transport device 3 'or above the withdrawal drum 4, a glue nozzle 21 is arranged, with which a printed product 16 transported with the second transport device 3 or a printed product 16' stacked there is glued.

Such glue nozzles 21 are known per se to those skilled in the art, which makes a detailed illustration unnecessary here. Such a glue nozzle can be arranged fixedly or else movably, so that it can also be arranged, for example, over one of the second transport devices 3, 3 ', 3. "Alternatively or cumulatively to such a glue nozzle, an inkjet printer suitable for personalizing the print sheets can also be used 22, which is directed against the withdrawal drum 4 or the second transport device 3. With this inkjet printer 22, a printing product 16, 16 ', 16 "located on the withdrawal drum 4 can be arranged. etc., as already mentioned above, printed, for example, be labeled. The inkjet printer 22 may also be fixed or movable. Also possible is a combination of multiple glue nozzles 21 and inkjet printers 22. In place of the glue nozzle 21 and the inkjet printer 22, other devices and components are also conceivable with which the printed products 16 can also be processed otherwise. Here, in particular, components should be mentioned, which make holes or punched, or can attach labels or glue.

For the collecting device 1 according to the invention, it is therefore essential that the printed products 16 can be transferred to each or a particular feeder A, B and C in each case selectively or to the first transport device 2. In the FIG. 1 an arrangement is shown in which the three investors A, B, C can cooperate operatively. The printed products 16 withdrawn by the feeder A are first transferred to the feeder B. In the feeder B, the printed products 16 supplied by the feeder A are combined with the printed products 16 'and these two printed products 16' and 16 are then transferred to the further second feeder 3 'and finally to the feeder C. A further printed product 16 "is then added in feeder C. The printed products 16, 16 'and 16" are then transferred from feeder C to first transport device 2. The printed products 16 'are, for example, cards which are glued to the second transport device 3 during transport and are each adhesively bonded to a printed product 16 "The printed products 16" can also be printed with the inkjet printer 22, for example addressed.

The end FIG. 1 The resulting method or the arrangement of the collecting device 1 shown here represents only one embodiment variant. In particular, the following methods or arrangements are also possible:

The printed products 16 may be cards that are withdrawn individually by the feeder A. Before these printed products 16 reach the feeder B, they are glued with a glue nozzle 21. This glue nozzle 21 is arranged in this case over the second transport device 3. The printed products 16 'in this case are, for example, folded printed sheets. These are withdrawn with the withdrawal drum 4, that in each case a printed product 16 is glued in the region of the withdrawal drum 4 to a printed product 16 '. The sticking takes place here in each case on an underside of a printed product 16 '. Each provided with a printed product 16 printed products 16 'can then be transferred to the feeder B to the first transport device 2. Alternatively, a method is possible in which the printed products 16 are, for example, folded sheets and the printed products 16 'cards. In this case, the printed products 16 are glued and each glued to a card 16. The printed products 16 'are then each on the top of a printed product 16. The gluing can then be done either on the sheet or on the card.

Instead of just two or as in Fig. 1 three investors A, B and C can also be provided more than three investors. It would be possible, for example, to collect a block which has a plurality of different printed products 16, 16 'and 16 ", each of which is provided with a card, whereby these cards may be different, whereby it is possible, for example, for only the uppermost printed product 16, 16 The addressing takes place, for example, at the end of the second transport devices or at the feeder C, at which the printed products 16, 16 'or 16 "are transferred to the first transport device 2.

Also conceivable is a method in which the printed products 16, 16 'or 16 "are double or multiple-use. Accordingly, a plurality of printed products 16 formed as cards, for example, can be side by side, for example, from the feeder A be charged. On a double benefit then, for example, two cards can be glued simultaneously.

The investors A, B and C and the first transport device 2 are clocked by drives not shown here and a control device driven and controlled. Here, the investors A, B and C on the first transport device 2 or for positioning, for example, a card on the appropriate sheet to the clock of the subsequent investor A, B or C be synchronized. Switching investors A, B and C between the in Figures 2 and 3 positions shown preferably takes place dynamically during production. Alternatively, however, it is also possible to retrofit when the collecting device 1 is stationary.

The conveyor belts 9, 10 of the second conveyor 3, 3 ', 3 "may be permanently installed, or they may be retrofitted to different locations as needed, due to the inherent flexibility of the system.

The collecting device and the method for operating such are also suitable for collecting loose products, for example cards, for example in a book block. In order to prevent uncontrolled slipping of the loose card, a sheet of paper can be withdrawn from feeder A, the card can be placed in feeder B at the desired location, and in feeder C the next spread sheet can be placed over it. When placing this package in the collection so that the loose card is held between two sheets.

Claims (12)

1. Method of collecting and processing printed products by means of a collecting device, wherein the collecting device consists of at least one feeder and at least one transport device and wherein the printed products taken up by a feeder are deposited on the transport device, characterised in that the collecting device comprises a first transport device (2) and at least a second transport device (3, 3', 3 "), that the second transport device connects at least a first feeder (A) to at least a second feeder (B), that the printed product or products (16) taken up by the first feeder (A) are either deposited on the first transport device (2) or transferred directly to the second transport device (3, 3', 3"), the printed products (16) being subjected to at least one processing operation at any point within the second transport device (3, 3', 3") and/or being fed for processing to at least one other feeder (B, C) stacked with printed products (16', 16") by means of the second transport device (3, 3', 3"), and that the printed products (16, 16', 16") are transferred to the first transport device (2) after the processing operation.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that at least a first printed sheet (16) is transferred by the first feeder (A) to a first section (3) of the second transport device, that this printed sheet (16) is joined to a printed product (16') of the second feeder (B) and that the processed printed product (16, 16') is transferred to the first transport device (2) or is advanced for further processing to at least one further feeder (C) by means of at least one further section (3') of the second transport device.
3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the printed sheets (16, 16', 16") are treated in any combination by further processing means (21, 22) and/or supplementary products at any point within the second transport device (3, 3', 3").
4. Method according to one or more of claims 1-3, characterised in that the printed products (16, 16', 16") taken up are processed individually or in combination by way of a loose and/or adhesive and/or permanent and/or frictionally releasable connection and/or the printed products are processed by the use of personalisation means at any point within the individual transport devices or on the surfaces of these printed products.
5. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the cycle rate of the printed products taken up by the feeders (A, B, C) and the rate of travel of the transport devices (2, 3, 3', 3 ") are controlled individually, interdependently or adaptively.
6. Collecting device for carrying out the method according to claim 1, wherein the collecting device consists of at least one feeder and at least one transport device and wherein the printed sheets taken up by a feeder are deposited on the transport device, characterised in that the collecting device comprises a first transport device (2) and at least a second transport device (3, 3', 3") and that the second transport device connects at least a first feeder (A) to at least a second feeder (B) in such a manner that a printed product (16) taken up by the first feeder (A) can either be fed to the first transport device (2) or can be advanced to at least one further downstream feeder (B) by means of the second transport device (3, 3', 3 ").
7. Collecting device according to claim 6, characterised in that processing means (21, 22) for the printed sheets (16, 16', 16") are provided at any point within the second transport device (3, 3', 3 ") and can be used individually or in combination.
8. Collecting device according to claim 7, characterised by processing means (21) for a loose and/or adhesive and/or temporary and/or frictionally releasable and/or permanent connection between the printed products (16, 16', 16").
9. Collecting device according to claim 7, characterised in that the processing means (22) personalise the printed products (16, 16', 16").
10. Collecting device according to claim 6, characterised in that the second transport device consists of a plurality of sections (3, 3', 3") operatively connected to one another or a section can be added at any point within the existing second transport device.
11. Collecting device according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterised in that at least one feeder (A, B, C) is provided at a front end of a transport means (6, 23) with a guide opening (13) via which the printed products (16, 16', 16") can be fed to the second feeder (B) or the transport device (2) thereof.
12. Collecting device according to claim 11, characterised in that the guide opening (13) is directed essentially tangentially relative to a circumferential surface of a take-up drum (4).

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