EP3269670B1 - Method and device for forming advertising material compositions - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and a device according to the preamble of claim 11 for forming advertising material combinations from one cover and several inserts.

With the EP 3 045 414 A2 , prior art according to Article 54(3) EPC, such a pre-registered method and a corresponding device for forming advertising compositions is disclosed. The printed products to be brought together to form the advertising material combination, ie both the cover and the inserts, are each formed by an advertising material. To simplify the description, the respective advertising material is referred to here as an envelope or as an insert, depending on its use.

According to this method, the cover and the inserts are pulled off a stack of advertising material in the area of a collation section by means of a separating and feeding element and placed one on top of the other individually and one after the other on a conveying element that is moved in a transport direction. For this purpose, a leading edge of the cover is offset in the conveying direction relative to the leading edges of the inserts, so that the cover overhangs the inserts. The inserts are placed one on top of the other to form a stack of inserts in such a way that the leading edges of the inserts at least approximately form a common folded edge, with the overhang of the cover lying flat on the conveyor element only being wrapped around this folded edge and at least partially around the stack of inserts to form the advertising material combination. The overhang is thus placed neither around the trailing area of the inserts of an advertising material combination to be produced nor around their side edges. The combination of advertising material is then folded at the folded edge and transported away for further processing. Together with the same or other sets of advertising material, they are then usually sold to major distributors and finally distributed to end customers. Of course, direct shipping to end customers is also possible.

Depending on the advertising material composition to be produced, i.e. depending on the envelope required for this, another separating and feeding element arranged in the area of the collating line is used to feed this envelope. In other words, it can happen that the first and also further separating and feeding elements are not operated, so that, for example, the second separating and feeding element in the transport direction or also a separating and feeding element arranged further downstream feeds the advertising material used as an envelope. The envelope is thus fed in each case with the first separating and feeding element that feeds the conveying element.

When changing production from an advertising material combination with a first cover to an advertising material combination with a second cover, which differs from the first cover, any other separating and feeding element can separate an cover from a corresponding stack of advertising material and transport it to the conveyor element, with any other separating and feeding elements feeding inserts from other stacks of advertising material.

However, it has proven to be disadvantageous that with such a change in production, the device is stopped and, for example via an input means, for example via a man-machine interface, a different offset of the leading edge of the new cover to the leading edges of the corresponding enclosures must be entered for the second set of advertising material. This negatively impacts process performance.

Another method for forming advertising compositions is from CH 710 435 B1 famous.

The object of the invention is therefore to create a method and a device for forming advertising material combinations from one cover and several inserts, in which the changeover from an advertising material combination with a first cover to a subsequent advertising material combination with a different from the first cover, further Envelope without stopping the device and without manual input of the offset for the respectively required, further envelope manages and thus a higher process performance is made possible.

This object is achieved by a method having the characterizing features of claim 1 and by a device having the characterizing features of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the respective dependent claims.

In the method according to the invention for forming combinations of advertising media, advertising media used as envelopes and inserts are placed one on top of the other individually and one after the other in the area of a collating path on a conveying element moved in a transport direction. In this case, a leading edge of an envelope is offset in the conveying direction and deposited in relation to the leading edges of the associated enclosures, forming an overhang of the envelope relative to the enclosures. The inserts are placed one on top of the other to form a stack of inserts in such a way that the leading edges of the inserts at least approximately form a common folded edge, with the overhang of the cover lying flat on the conveyor element only being wrapped around this folded edge and at least partially around the stack of inserts to form an advertising material combination. The combination of advertising material is then folded at the folded edge and finally transported away for further processing. A subsequent combination of advertising material is formed from a further cover, which differs from the first cover, and associated enclosures, essentially in the same way as the previous combination of advertising material.

According to the invention, each advertising medium suitable for use as a cover for an advertising medium combination to be formed is registered in a computer-aided machine control and an offset value corresponding to the required overhang relative to the associated inserts is defined for each registered advertising medium. This offset value is used when switching from one set of advertising media on an advertising material combination to be formed subsequently, with an additional cover that differs from the first cover, is used to form the required overhang.

When several advertising media assemblies are formed in succession, the changeover from an advertising media assembly with a first cover to a subsequent advertising media assembly with an additional cover that differs from the first cover can take place without stopping the device and without manually entering the offset for the cover required in each case. According to the combination of advertising media to be formed subsequently, the additional cover can be provided automatically with the required overhang compared to the associated inserts, and a higher processing performance can be achieved as a result.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the envelopes and the supplements are each separated from a stack of advertising material before being deposited on the conveyor element and then transported to the conveyor element. In this way, the formation of the advertising material combinations can be advantageously decoupled from the printing of the envelopes and the inserts. Advertising media produced at different times and on different printing presses and assembled into stacks can thus be used as covers and inserts.

According to a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the overhang of the leading edge of an envelope to the leading edges of the associated enclosures is formed when separating from the stack of the respective envelope or when separating from the stacks of the associated enclosures. Two alternatives are thus specified, which can advantageously be used in accordance with the respective boundary conditions.

According to an alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention, the overhang of the leading edge of an envelope to leading edges of the associated enclosures is formed during the transport of the respective envelope or the associated enclosures to the conveying element. This specifies further advantageous options, which can also be used depending on the specified boundary conditions.

According to a further alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention, the overhang of the leading edge of an envelope to leading edges of the associated enclosures is formed during the transport of the respective envelope or the associated enclosures on the conveying element. These alternative solutions create further advantageous possibilities for forming the overhang, which can also be used depending on the conditions of use prevailing on site.

According to a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the overhang of the leading edge of a further cover to the leading edges of the associated enclosures is caused by an acceleration compared to the first cover or an earlier movement of the further cover when separating it from the respective stack or when transporting it to the conveyor element or formed during transport on the conveying element. Alternatively, this overhang is formed by a delay compared to the first cover or a later movement of the inserts belonging to the further cover when separating them from the respective stack or during transport to the conveyor element or during transport on the conveyor element. These alternative solutions create further advantageous possibilities for forming the overhang, which can also be used depending on the conditions of use prevailing on site.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the overhang of the leading edge of an envelope is advantageously transported by means of the conveying element into the area of a deflection space, there with a pneumatic deflection element or acted upon by a mechanical deflection element and deflected into the deflection space. During further transport of the envelope in the transport direction, the overhang of the envelope is only folded over at the folded edge of the stack of inserts against the transport direction in such a way that the overhang is applied to the stack of inserts. While the solution with the pneumatic deflection element advantageously has no mechanical jamming source and is therefore more fault-tolerant, the mechanical deflection element proves to be advantageous in the case of multi-sided, stiff envelopes.

According to a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the cover is deposited on the conveying element before the inserts belonging to the combination of advertising material are deposited. In this method, the cover advantageously forms a base for depositing the supplements.

As an alternative to this, the cover can also be deposited on the conveying element after the inserts belonging to the combination of advertising material have been deposited. Such a method is relatively independent of the manner in which the supplements are collated. These can, for example, have already been collated beforehand in a separate process before they are placed together on the conveying element and provided with the envelope.

The device according to the invention for forming combinations of advertising material has a collation section with a conveying element that can be moved in a transport direction. A plurality of separating and feeding elements for advertising material that can be used as envelopes or as respectively associated inserts are arranged one after the other along the collation path. The separating and feeding elements are designed in such a way that the inserts can be placed on top of one another to form a stack of inserts in such a way that leading edges of the inserts at least approximately form a common folded edge and that a leading edge of an envelope is offset in the conveying direction from the leading edges of the respective inserts Supernatant of the envelope relative to the inserts can be stored forming. Downstream of the gathering path are a deflection space and a den Supernatant of the envelope arranged in the deflection introducing deflection means. At least in the area of the deflection space, the conveying element is designed in such a way that both the cover and the supplements lie flat on the conveying element. The deflection means is designed in such a way that the overhang of the cover can only be laid around the folded edge and at least partially around the stack of inserts, forming an advertising material combination. A folding device is arranged downstream of the deflection space and a removal device for the advertising material assembly is arranged downstream of the folding device. The device has a computer-assisted machine control and at least one individual drive unit connected to it for the separating and feeding elements and/or for the conveying element.

Analogously to the corresponding method, this device can be used to switch from an advertising media composition with a first cover to a subsequent advertising media composition with a second cover that differs from the first cover without stopping the device and without manually entering the offset for the cover required in each case. The arrangement of the individual drive units allows the projection of the leading edge of a further cover to the leading edges of the associated enclosures when separating from the stack of the respective envelope or when separating from the stacks of the associated enclosures or alternatively also on the conveyor element to be formed automatically. As a result, higher performance can be achieved with this device.

According to one embodiment of the device according to the invention, the separating and feeding elements each have a device for receiving a stack of advertising material that can be used as an envelope or as an insert. As an alternative to this, such a device is arranged upstream of the separating and feeding elements. By using a corresponding device, the formation of the advertising material combinations can advantageously be decoupled from the printing of the envelopes and the inserts. It can therefore lead to different According to the invention, each advertising material suitable for use as a cover for an advertising material combination to be formed can be registered in a computer-aided machine control system, an offset value corresponding to the required overhang compared to the associated inserts can be defined for each registered advertising material and this offset value can be used when switching from one advertising material combination to a subsequent one forming advertising material combination, with a further cover that differs from the first cover, can be used to form the required overhang in such a way that the at least one individual drive unit can be controlled with the respective offset value registered in the computer-assisted machine control.

times as well as covers and supplements produced on different printing presses and assembled into stacks.

According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, a guide element is arranged between the separating and feeding elements and the conveying element. Each guide element is drive-connected to the individual drive unit of the respective separating and feeding element or has a separate individual drive unit connected to the machine control. In this embodiment, the overhang can advantageously be formed by means of the guide elements, so that there is no need to form the overhang during separation.

According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the conveying element has a plurality of conveying sections arranged one after the other and each conveying section has an individual drive unit connected to the machine control. In this embodiment, the overhang can advantageously be formed on the conveying sections of the conveying element, so that there is no need to form the overhang when separating or when conveying by means of the guide elements.

According to one embodiment of the device according to the invention, the deflection means has a pneumatic or a mechanical deflection element. While a pneumatic deflection element advantageously does not form a mechanical jam source and is therefore more fault-tolerant, a mechanical deflection element proves to be advantageous in the case of multi-page, stiff envelopes.

According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, a separating and feeding element for an envelope is arranged first along the collation path and separating and feeding elements for supplements are arranged thereafter in the transport direction. If, due to this configuration of the collation section, the cover is fed in first and then the supplements, the latter can advantageously be placed on the cover.

According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, separating and feeding elements for advertising material that can be used as inserts are arranged first along the collating path, and then a separating and feeding element for advertising material that can be used as a cover is arranged. An alternative technical solution is thus offered which, depending on the specific requirements of the respective manufacturer of the combination of advertising material, can be technically and/or economically advantageous.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES:

1

shows a schematic side view of a device according to the invention according to a first embodiment.

2

shows an enlarged representation of an area downstream of the collection section, with a pneumatic deflection element.

3

shows an analog representation 2 , but with a mechanical deflection element.

4

shows a representation accordingly 1 , but an advertising material used as a further envelope is isolated from another stack.

figure 5

shows a representation accordingly 1 , but in a variant with a segmented first conveying element.

6

shows a side view of a device according to the invention according to a second embodiment.

7

shows a schematic representation of the envelope placed on a conveyor element and conveyed in the direction of transport according to the first exemplary embodiment.

8

shows a representation according to 7 , but additionally with three loose inserts offset against the transport direction and placed on the cover.

9

shows a representation according to 8 , with an upward deflection of the overhang of the cover relative to the inserts.

10

shows a representation according to 9 , in which the deflected overhang of the cover is additionally folded further by folding rollers.

11

shows a representation according to 10 , in which the folding rollers have folded the overhanging area of the cover around the inserts and thus formed an advertising material compilation.

12

shows analogous to the 10 the step of redirecting the offset of the cover relative to the inserts to produce an advertising material combination, but with redirection taking place downwards in accordance with in 6 illustrated second embodiment.

13

shows a corresponding to the in 6 and 12 illustrated second embodiment produced advertising composition.

According to 1 a device 40 for merging an envelope 1 with several advertising media designed as inserts 2, 3, 4 to form an advertising media compilation 5 has a collating section 6 along which a number of separating and feeding elements A, B, C, D designed as feeders above an in a transport direction 7 around deflection rollers 8 guided first conveying element 9 designed as a conveyor belt is arranged. A folding device 10 for the cover 1 of the advertising material assembly 5 and further downstream a removal device 11 for the advertising material assembly 5 are arranged downstream of the collation path 6 .

The separating and feeding elements A, B, C, D are each equipped with a device A', B', C', D', designed for example as a stack magazine, for receiving a stack a, b, c, d of envelope 1 or as Enclosure 2, 3, 4 usable advertising material. As an alternative to this, such a device A′, B′, C′, D′ can also be arranged upstream of the separating and feeding elements A, B, C, D (not shown).

The device 40 also has a computer-assisted machine control 29 and an individual drive unit 30 connected to it for the separating and feeding elements A, B, C, D. In addition or as an alternative to this, a further individual drive unit 31 is arranged for the conveying element 9 .

Between the separating and feeding elements A, B, C, D and the conveying element 9 there is in each case a guide element A", B", C", D" for feeding the advertising material to the conveying element 9 . Each guide element A", B", C", D" is either drive-connected to the individual drive unit 30 of the respective separating and feeding element A, B, C, D or has a separate individual drive unit 30" (shown in dashed lines) connected to the machine controller 29 Of course, a device 40 designed without guide elements A", B", C", D" can also be used, in which the advertising material is forwarded directly from the separating and feeding elements A, B, C, D to the conveying element 9.

As in the enlarged representation of the 2 shown, downstream of the gathering section 6 is a second conveyor element 13, which is arranged above the first conveyor element 9 and is spaced from it and runs around deflection rollers 12 and is designed as a conveyor belt, as well as a second conveyor element 13, which is also arranged above the first conveyor element 9 and is spaced from it and runs around deflection rollers 14 and in the direction of transport 7 to the second conveyor element 13 adjoining third conveyor element 15, also designed as a conveyor belt. The conveyor elements 9, 13, 15 can each have a single conveyor belt or a plurality of conveyor belts formed with intermediate spaces. Chains, toothed belts or similar conveying means can of course also be designed as conveying elements 9, 13, 15.

Between the second conveying element 13 and the first conveying element 9 or between the third conveying element 15 and the first conveying element 9, there is a substantially identical vertical spacing 16, which corresponds to the thickness of the advertising media assembly 5 and by a corresponding lowering or raising of the first conveying element 9 can be automatically adapted to a different thickness of the advertising material composition 5 of a subsequent production order.

The folding device 10 arranged downstream of the collating path 6 includes the one that circulates around the deflection rollers 14 and, in the transport direction 7, to the second Conveying element 13 adjoining the third conveying element 15 and the part of the first conveying element 9 arranged below the third conveying element 15.

A deflection space 20 is arranged between the gathering section 6 and the folding device 10, more precisely between the downstream deflection roller 12 of the second conveying element 13 and the upstream deflection roller 14 of the third conveying element 15 and thus above the first conveying element 9. In the area of the first conveying element 9 there is a deflection means 17 which has a pneumatic deflection element 19 designed as a compressed air nozzle and connected to a compressed air source (not shown) and having at least one outlet opening 18 . To control a compressed air jet 18' emerging from the at least one outlet opening 18, a solenoid valve, for example, can be arranged in a compressed air line (not shown) connected to the compressed air source and the compressed air nozzle and connected to the machine controller 29, also not shown here. The at least one outlet opening 18 and thus also the compressed air jet 18 ′ is aligned with the deflection space 20 arranged above the deflection means 17 . Below the upstream deflection roller 14 of the third conveying element 15, a pressure roller 21 that interacts with the deflection roller 14 for pressing the advertising material composition 5 can also be arranged.

The removal device 11 for the advertising material composition 5 is formed by the first conveying element 9 and the third conveying element 15 or their downstream deflection rollers 8 , 14 . Downstream of the removal device 11, a switch (not shown) for ejecting incomplete or faulty advertising media combinations 5 can be arranged.

During operation of the device 40, the first separating and feeding element A first separates an envelope 1 from a stack a of advertising material used as envelopes and along a single in 1 only indicated guide organ A "or between two guide organs not shown to transported first conveyor element 9 and placed on this in a defined position. The deposit takes place at at least approximately the same speed as the advance speed of the first conveying element 9.

In a next step, the second separating and feeding element B is used to separate a first supplement 2 from a stack b of advertising media used as first supplements 2 and along a single in 1 only indicated guide element B" or between two guide elements, not shown, to the first conveying element 9 and deposited on the envelope 1, which is already on the first conveying element 9 and is being conveyed in the transport direction 7, offset against the transport direction 7 in such a way that a leading edge 22 of the envelope 1 has a projection 24 in relation to a leading edge 23 of the first supplement 2 in the conveying direction 7. This offset of the cover 1 or of the first supplement 2 is realized by appropriate control of the respective individual drive 30.

In a further step, the third separating and feeding element C is used to separate a second supplement 3 from a stack c of advertising media used as second supplements 3 and along a single in 1 conveyed to the first conveying element 9 with a guide element C" that is only indicated or between two guide elements (not shown) and on the envelope 1 already located on the first conveying element 9 and conveyed in the transport direction 7 and the first enclosure 2 offset thereon, forming an enclosure stack 39 ( 2 ) deposited in such a way that the leading edge 23 of the first supplement 2 and a leading edge 25 of the second supplement 3 are aligned essentially flush with one another in the conveying direction 7 .

In a next step, by means of the fourth separating and feeding element D, a third supplement 4 is separated from a stack d of advertising media used as third supplements 4 and along a single in 1 only indicated guide organ D "or transported between two guide organs, not shown, to the first conveying element 9 and on which is already on the first conveying element 9 and conveyed in transport direction 7 and the offset first and second enclosures 2, 3 lying thereon are placed on the enclosure stack 39 in such a way that the leading edge 23 of the first enclosure 2, the leading edge 25 of the second enclosure 3 and a leading edge 26 of the third supplement 4 are aligned essentially flush with one another in the conveying direction 7 .

The leading edges 23, 25, 26 of the first, second and third supplements 2, 3, 4, which are offset from the leading edge of the cover 1 and aligned essentially flush with one another, form at least approximately a common folded edge 27 around which the overhang 24 of the cover 1 is folded in a next step taking place in the folding device 10 . In this case, the leading overhang 24 of the cover 1 downstream of the gathering section 6 is first subjected to the compressed air jet 18′ and deflected upwards into the region of the deflection space 20 between the downstream deflection roller 12 of the second conveyor element 13 and the upstream deflection roller 14 of the third conveyor element 15 ( 2 ). As the cover 1 and the offset supplements 2, 3, 4 lying on it continue to be transported in the transport direction 7, the folded edge 27 of the supplements 2, 3, 4 formed by the leading edges 23, 25, 26 is pressed against the lower area of the excess length that is deflected upwards 24 of the cover 1 is pressed, so that the projection 24 is ultimately only laid around this common folded edge 27 and at least partially around the stack of inserts 39, also due to the action of the deflection roller 14 of the third conveying element 15. The advertising material assembly 5 formed in this way from the cover 1 and the enclosed inserts 2, 3, 4 is conveyed further between the first conveying element 9 and the third conveying element 15 in the transport direction 7, folded at the folded edge 27 and finally in the area of the removal device 11 discharged for further processing.

Further processing can involve, for example, the foiling of individual advertising media combinations 5 or a common stack formation of several advertising media combinations 5 with or without subsequent foiling, but also simple transport to an intermediate store. To the advertising material composition 5 can first be provided with machine-readable and/or human-readable information, for example with information for further processing, for delivery or for the recipient, and also personalized or regionalized using an inkjet printer (not shown). In addition, the advertising material assembly 5 can also be blocked electrostatically in order to prevent the inserts 2, 3, 4 from shifting in a subsequent further processing process.

3 shows an alternative variant for deflecting the excess length 24 of the envelope 1 into the deflection space 20. Instead of the solution according to FIG 2 In the pneumatic deflection element 19 used, which releases a jet of compressed air 18', the deflection means 17 here has a mechanical deflection element 19', embodied, for example, as a bent sheet metal, which, if necessary, is pivoted or retracted into the conveying path of the envelope 1 on the first conveying element 9.

Of course, the gathering line 6 is not restricted to the in 1 illustrated and previously described number of a separating and feeding element A for advertising material used as cover 1 and three separating and feeding elements B, C, D for advertising material used as supplements 2, 3, 4, but can vary depending on the order spectrum of the manufacturer of advertising compositions 5 have any number of separating and feeding elements A, B, C, D for advertising media used as envelopes or inserts. Depending on the advertising material composition to be produced, the same advertising material can also be used either as a cover 1 or as inserts 2, 3, 4.

In connection with 1 displays 4 how different advertising material combinations 5, 5' can be produced one after the other with the device 40. In this case, an advertising media combination 5' to be subsequently formed is produced from a further cover 1', which differs from a first cover 1, and associated inserts 2', 3', essentially analogously to the previous advertising media combination 5. Since a stack a, b, c, d each contains the same advertising material, but stacks a, b, c, d each contain different ones Have advertising materials, which are also used either as a cover 1, 1' or as an insert 2, 3, 4, 2', 3', depending on the combination of advertising materials 5, 5' to be formed, the respective sequence differs in detail.

For example, according to 1 initially formed a first composition of advertising media 5, a subsequent composition of advertising media 5 'accordingly 4 be produced in that, for example, the first separating and feeding element A is not operated and instead, with the second separating and feeding element B in the transport direction 7, another advertising medium that differs from the envelope 1 and is used as an envelope 1' and with the separating and feeding elements C , D in each case an advertising material used as a supplement 2', 3' is supplied. Since only two inserts 2', 3' are combined to form an insert stack 39' and the advertising material combination 5' to be formed with a fold edge 27' having only leading edges 23', 25' of the inserts 2', 3' is therefore thinner than the previous one formed advertising material combination 5, a smaller overhang 24' proves to be sufficient. In addition to the thickness of the advertising material combination 5, 5' to be formed, the required overhang 24, 24' also depends on the format and the material of the advertising material used as a cover or as inserts.

In order to produce different combinations of advertising material 5, 5' with the device 40 described above, each advertising material suitable for use as a cover 1, 1' is first registered in the computer-aided machine control 29. For example, an advertising material that is made of a thick material or material that is otherwise difficult to fold or that is in the last stack d of the device 40 in the transport direction 7 is not suitable as an envelope. An offset value corresponding to the required overhang 24, 24' in relation to the associated inserts 2, 3, 4, 2', 3' is then defined for each registered advertising medium. This offset value is used when switching from an advertising material combination 5 to an advertising material combination 5' to be formed subsequently, with an additional cover 1' that differs from the first cover 1, to form the required overhang 24, 24'.

The individual drive units 30 of the separating and feeding elements A, B, C, D and/or the individual drive unit 31 of the first conveying element 9 are controlled with the respective offset value registered in the computer-aided machine control 29 . Accordingly, the overhang 24 'a leading edge 22' of another cover 1 'to leading edges 23', 25 'of the associated inserts 2', 3 'when separating from the stack b of the advertising material used as cover 1' or when separating from the Stacks c, d of the associated inserts 2', 3' are formed. Alternatively or in connection with this, the overhang 24' can also be removed by means of the guide elements B", C", D", ie when transporting the further envelope 1' or the associated enclosures 2', 3' to the conveying element 9, or also during transport are formed on the conveying element 9.

The overhang 24' of the further envelope 1' can thus, for example, be caused by acceleration compared to the first envelope 1 or earlier movement of the further envelope 1' when it is separated from the respective stack b or when it is transported to the conveyor element 9 or during its transport the conveying element 9 are formed. Alternatively, the overhang 24 'of the other cover 1' can also be caused by a delay compared to the enclosures 3, 4 of the first advertising medium 5 or by later moving the enclosures 2', 3' belonging to the other cover 1' when separating them from the respective stacks c, d or during transport to the conveying element 9 or during transport on the conveying element 9 are formed.

Although in 4 it is shown that, for example, the first separating and feeding element A is not operated and the second separating and feeding element B in the transport direction 7 feeds an advertising material used as an envelope 1 ′, with one of more than the four separating and feeding elements A, B, C, D existing device 40 can also be used any further downstream arranged separating and feeding element for feeding an envelope. In general, the first separating and feeding element that feeds the conveying element 9 feeds in an advertising material that is used as an envelope 1,1' separating and feeding elements arranged further downstream feed the conveying element 9 with advertising material used as supplements.

Since both the deflection means 17 and the folding device 10 are connected to the machine control 29, a selective decision can be made depending on the production order as to whether the previously described merging of an envelope 1, 1' with several enclosures 2, 2', 3, 3', 4 to form an advertising material compilation 5, 5' or the folding device 10 is to be run through without a folding process. For example, an insert 2, 2', 3, 3', 4 not combined with an envelope 1, 1' to form an advertising material combination 5, 5' can be positioned below or above an advertising material combination 5, 5' during further processing and together with this be delivered to a customer. Of course, in this way, the most varied of combinations of advertising material combinations 5, 5' and additional inserts 2, 3, 4 can be generated.

figure 5 shows a variant of the device 40 in which the conveying element 9 has a plurality of conveying sections 9 ′ arranged one after the other and each conveying section 9 ′ has an individual drive unit 32 connected to the machine control 29 . In this variant, the overhang 24 can advantageously be formed on the conveying sections 9' of the conveying element 9, so that a formation of the overhang 24 occurs when separating with the separating and feeding elements A, B, C, D or when conveying by means of the guide element A". , B", C", D" unnecessary.

As an alternative to a separating and feeding element A, B used for an envelope 1, 1' and/or to one or more separating and feeding elements B, C, D used for enclosures 2, 3, 4, 2, 3', the collecting line 6 Of course, it can also be directly connected to one or more printing presses, in particular digital printing presses, and fed by this/these with the envelope 1, 1' or with inserts 2, 3, 4, 2', 3'.

Although the respective cover 1, 1' and the associated inserts 2, 3, 4, 2', 3' have been shown spaced apart from one another in the figures for drawing reasons, these are actually on top of one another. Likewise, the distance between the respective cover 1,1' and the associated inserts 2, 3, 4, 2', 3' and the respective funding is only shown in the drawing, i.e. the sub-products/products are actually loaded by the respective funding in an effective manner.

In the Figures 7 to 11 are schematic of the work steps for the production of an advertising material assembly 5 with a device 40 according to the in 1 illustrated embodiment shown.

According to 7 the advertising material removed from the separating and feeding element A (not shown here) and deposited on the first conveying element 9 as an envelope 1 of the advertising material composition 5 to be formed is conveyed in the transport direction 7 . Optionally, a further conveying element 28 is also arranged above the envelope 1, with which the slipping of the envelope 1 on the first conveying element 9 can be effectively prevented. The further conveying element 28 and the second conveying element 13 can be combined to form a single conveying element.

8 shows the advertising materials used as supplements 2, 3, 4, applied offset to the cover 1 conveyed on the first conveying element 9 in the transport direction 7 by means of the separating and feeding elements B, C, D (not shown here). In addition, the overhang 24 of the leading edge 22 of the cover 1 compared to the leading edges 23, 25, 26 of the enclosures 2, 3, 4 becomes clear.

9 shows the upward deflection of the excess length 24 of the envelope 1 into the deflection space 20 between the downstream deflection roller 12 of the second conveyor element 13 and the upstream deflection roller 14 of the third conveyor element 15 by means of the compressed air jet 18' emerging from the outlet opening 18 of the pneumatic deflection element 19.

10 shows how the excess length 24 of the envelope 1 transported further in the transport direction 7 is folded over by means of the upstream deflection roller 14 of the third conveyor element 15 only around the folded edge 27 of the offset inserts 2, 3, 4 lying on the envelope 1 and at least partially around the stack of inserts 39.

According to 11 the cover 1 and the supplements 2, 3, 4 lying on it are conveyed further in the transport direction 7, so that the former overhang 24 of the cover 1 is folded between the first conveying element 9 and the third conveying element 15, i.e. in the folding device 10 and thus the from the envelope 1 and the supplements 2, 3, 4 existing advertising composition 5 is formed. Optionally, a folding roller 33 cooperating with the latter can be arranged below the upstream deflection roller 14 of the third conveying element 15, which is additionally designed as a folding roller, for folding the advertising material composition 5 over the entire surface. As an alternative to this, two folding rollers arranged downstream of the folding device 10 are also conceivable.

the 6 shows a device 40′ in a second exemplary embodiment, in which an advertising material used as an envelope 1″, in contrast to that in FIGS Figures 1 to 5 and 7 to 11 The first exemplary embodiment shown is only withdrawn from the stack d with the last separating and feeding element D of the collating section 6 and deposited on a stack of inserts 39 that has already been formed from advertising media used as inserts 2, 3, 4 and is transported on the first conveyor element 9 in such a way that the leading edge 22 of the cover 1" is offset in the transport direction 7 in relation to the leading edges 23, 25, 26 of the supplements 2, 3, 4, which are arranged one above the other and form the folded edge 27, are arranged to form a projection 24. The first conveying element, which is also guided around deflection rollers 8 9 ends downstream of the gathering section 6. Downstream of the first conveyor element 9 and at a distance from it, there is a fourth conveyor element 35, which also runs around deflection rollers 34 and is also designed as a conveyor belt. Between a downstream deflection roller 8 of the first conveyor element 9 and an upstream deflection roller 34 of the fourth conveying element 35, a deflection space 20' is formed. Above the two conveyor elements 9, 35 and at a distance from them is a fifth conveyor element 37, which overlaps these two conveyor elements 9, 35 and runs around deflection rollers 36 and is also designed as a conveyor belt. The fourth conveying element 35 and the fifth conveying element 37 together form a folding device 10'.

Analogous 9 for the first embodiment shows 12 for the second exemplary embodiment, by means of the compressed air jet 18' emerging from the outlet opening 18 of the pneumatic deflection element 19, but in this case downwards deflection of the excess length 24 of the envelope 1" into the deflection space 20' between the downstream deflection roller 8 of the first conveyor element 9 and the upstream one Deflection roller 34 of the fourth conveyor element 35.

As in 6 shown, the cover 1" and the loose inserts 2, 3, 4 lying on it are then conveyed further in the transport direction 7, so that the overhang 24 of the cover 1" folded around the folded edge 27 and thus that from the cover 1" and the loose inserts 2 , 3, 4 existing advertising material combination 5" in the folding device 10', ie is folded between the fourth conveying element 35 and the fifth conveying element 37. Optionally, above the upstream deflection roller 34, which is additionally designed as a folding roller, of the fourth conveying element 35, a folding roller 38 that interacts with it can be arranged for folding the advertising material combination 5" ( 12 ). As an alternative to this, two folding rollers arranged downstream of the folding device 10' are also conceivable.

13 shows an advertising material assembly 5" made with the device 40' according to the second exemplary embodiment, which differs optically from the advertising material assemblies 5 produced with a device 40 according to the first exemplary embodiment only with regard to the positioning of the cover 1" folded around the inserts 2, 3, 4 . The advertising media combinations 5, 5" can essentially be further processed in the same way.

Claims (17)

1. Method for forming advertising material compositions (5, 5', 5") each comprising an envelope (1, 1', 1") and a plurality of inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3'), wherein advertising materials used as envelopes (1, 1', 1") and as inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3') are deposited on one another individually and one after another in the region of a collating section (6) onto a conveying element (9) moved in a transport direction (7), wherein a leading edge (22, 22') of an envelope (1, 1', 1") is deposited in the conveying direction (7) with an offset from leading edges (23, 25, 26, 23', 25') of the associated inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3'), forming a projecting length (24, 24') of the envelope (1, 1', 1") relative to the inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3'), wherein the inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3'), forming an insert stack (39, 39'), are deposited on one another in such a way that the leading edges (23, 25, 26, 23', 25') of the inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3') at least approximately form a common folding edge (27, 27'), wherein the projecting length (24, 24') of the envelope (1, 1', 1") lying flat on the conveying element (9) is folded over only around this folding edge (27, 27') and at least partly around the insert stack (39, 39'), forming an advertising material composition (5, 5', 5"), wherein the advertising material composition (5, 5', 5") is then folded at the folding edge (27, 27') and is finally transported away for further processing, and wherein an advertising material composition (5') that is subsequently to be formed from a further envelope (1') differing from the first envelope (1, 1") and associated inserts (2', 3') is formed in substantially the same way as the previous advertising material composition (5, 5"), characterized in that each of the advertising materials that is suitable to be used as an envelope (1, 1', 1") for an advertising material composition (5, 5', 5") to be formed is registered in a computer-aided machine control unit (29), an offset value corresponding to the required projecting length (24, 24') relative to the associated inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3') is defined for each registered advertising material, and in that when changing from an advertising material composition (5, 5') to an advertising material composition (5') to be formed subsequently with a further envelope (1') differing from the first envelope (1, 1"), this offset value is used to form the necessary projecting length (24').
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that prior to being deposited on the conveying element (9), the envelopes (1, 1', 1") and the inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3'), are each separated from a stack (a, b, c, d) of advertising materials and then transported to the conveying element (9).
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the projecting length (24, 24') of the leading edge (22, 22') of an envelope (1, 1', 1") relative to the leading edges (23, 25, 26, 23', 25') of the associated inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3') is formed during the separation of the respective envelope (1, 1', 1") from the stack (a, b, c, d) or the separation of the associated inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3') from the stacks (a, b, c, d).
4. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the projecting length (24, 24') of the leading edge (22, 22') of an envelope (1, 1', 1") relative to the leading edges (23, 25, 26, 23', 25') of the associated inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3) is formed during the transport of the respective envelope (1, 1', 1") or the associated inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3') to the conveying element (9).
5. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the projecting length (24, 24') of the leading edge (22, 22') of an envelope (1, 1', 1") relative to the leading edges (23, 25, 26, 23', 25') of the associated inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3') is formed during the transport of the respective envelope (1, 1', 1") or the associated inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3') on the conveying element (9).
6. Method according to one of Claims 2 to 5 characterized in that the projecting length (24') of the leading edge (22') of a further envelope (1') relative to the leading edges (23', 25') of the associated inserts (2', 3') is formed by means of an acceleration or an earlier movement of the further envelope (1') as compared with the first envelope (1, 1"), carried out during the separation from the respective stack (a, b, c, d) or during the transport to the conveying element (9) or during the transport on the conveying element (9).
7. Method according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the projecting length (24') of the leading edge (22') of a further envelope (1') relative to the leading edges (23, 25,) of the associated inserts (2', 3') is formed by means of a retardation or a later movement of the inserts (2', 3') each belonging to the further envelope (1') as compared with the first envelope (1, 1"), carried out during the separation from the respective stack (a, b, c, d) or during the transport to the conveying element (9) or during the transport on the conveying element (9).
8. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the projecting length (24, 24') of the leading edge (22, 22') of an envelope (1, 1', 1") is transported by means of the conveying element (9) into the region of a deflection chamber (20, 20'), is acted on there by a pneumatic or by a mechanical deflection element (19, 19') and deflected into the deflection chamber (20, 20'), in that during the further transport of the envelope (1, 1', 1") in the transport direction (7), the projecting length (24, 24') is folded over counter to the transport direction (7) only at the folding edge (27, 27') of the insert stack (39, 39') in such a way that the projecting length (24, 24') is placed on the insert stack (39, 39').
9. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the envelope (1, 1') is deposited on the conveying element (9) before the inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3') belonging to the advertising material composition (5, 5') are deposited on the conveying element (9).
10. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the envelope (1") is deposited on the conveying element (9) after the inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3') belonging to the advertising material composition (5'') have been deposited on the conveying element (9).
11. Device for forming advertising material compositions (5, 5', 5") each comprising an envelope (1, 1', 1") and a plurality of inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3'),

    • having a collating section (6) and a conveying element (9) that is movable in a transport direction (7) ,

    • having separating and feeding elements (A, B, C, D) arranged one after another along the collating section (6) for advertising materials that can be used as envelopes (1, 1', 1") or as respectively associated inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3'), wherein the separating and feeding elements (A, B, C, D) are formed in such a way that the inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3') are depositable on one another, forming an insert stack (39, 39'), in such a way that leading edges (23, 25, 26, 23', 25') of the inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3') at least approximately form a common folding edge (27, 27'), and that a leading edge (22, 22') of an envelope (1, 1', 1") is depositable with an offset in the conveying direction (7) relative to the leading edges (23, 25, 26, 23', 25') of the respective inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3'), forming a projecting length (24, 24') of the envelope (1, 1', 1") relative to the inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3'),

    • having a deflection chamber (20, 20') arranged downstream of the collating section (6), and having a deflection means (17) introducing the projecting length (24, 24') of the envelope (1, 1', 1") into the deflection chamber (20, 20'), wherein, at least in the region of the deflection chamber (20, 20'), the conveying element (9) is formed in such a way that both the envelope (1, 1', 1") and also the inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3') rest flat on the conveying element (9), and wherein the deflection means (17) is formed in such a way that the projecting length (24, 24') of the envelope (1, 1', 1") is foldable over only around the folding edge (27, 27') and at least partly around the insert stack (39, 39'), forming an advertising material composition (5, 5', 5") ,

    • having a folding device (10) arranged downstream of the deflection chamber (20) for the advertising material compositions (5, 5', 5"),

    • having a removal device (11) arranged downstream of the folding device (10) for the advertising material compositions (5, 5', 5"), and

    • having a computer-aided machine control unit (29) and at least one individual drive unit (30, 31, 32) for the separating and feeding elements (A, B, C, D) and/or for the conveying element (9), each individual drive unit (30, 31, 32) being connected to the computer-aided machine control (29),

    characterized in that each advertising material that is suitable for use as an envelope (1, 1', 1") for an advertising material composition (5, 5', 5") to be formed is registerable in a computer-aided machine control unit (29), an offset value corresponding to the required projecting length (24, 24') relative to the associated inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3') is definable for each registered advertising material, and in that when changing from one advertising material composition (5, 5'') to an advertising material composition (5') to be formed subsequently with a further envelope (1') that differs from the first envelope (1, 1"), this offset value is usable to form the necessary projecting length (24') in such a way that the at least one individual drive unit is controllable with the respective offset value registered in the computer-aided machine control unit (29) .
12. Device according to Claim 11, characterized in that the separating and feeding elements (A, B, C, D) each have a device (A', B', C', D') for accommodating a stack (a, b, c, d) of the advertising materials that is usable as an envelope (1, 1', 1") or as inserts (2, 3, 4, 2', 3'), or alternatively in each case such a repository (A', B', C', D') is arranged upstream of the separating and feeding elements (A, B, C, D).
13. Device according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that a guide element (A", B", C", D") is arranged in each case between the separating and feeding elements (A, B, C, D) and the conveying element (9), and each guide element (A", B", C", D") has a drive connection to the individual drive unit (30) of the respective separating and feeding element (A, B, C, D) or has a separate individual drive unit (30") connected to the machine control unit (29).
14. Device according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the conveying element (9) has a plurality of conveying sections (9') arranged one after another, and each conveying section (9') has an individual drive unit (32) connected to the machine control unit (29).
15. Device according to one of Claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the deflection means (17) has a pneumatic deflection element (19) or a mechanical deflection element (19').
16. Device according to one of Claims 11 to 15, characterized in that first of all a separating and feeding element (A) for an envelope (1, 1') and then separating and feeding elements (B, C, D) for inserts (2, 3, 4) are arranged along the collating section (6) .
17. Device according to one of Claims 11 to 16, characterized in that first of all separating and feeding elements (A, B, C) for advertising materials that are usable as inserts (2, 3, 4) and then a separating and feeding element (D) for advertising materials that are usable as an envelope (1) are arranged along the collating section (6).

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