Method and apparatus for forming advertising media compilations
10940714 ยท 2021-03-09
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B65B57/10
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H2301/4474
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H2220/01
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65B35/50
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H2220/01
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H2220/02
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H2220/02
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H2301/4474
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H45/12
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H39/055
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H39/043
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H43/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H2404/63
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H2404/693
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B65B35/50
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H45/12
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65B57/10
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H43/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H39/043
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H39/055
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for forming advertising media compilations respectively consisting of one envelope and a plurality of inserts. Each advertising medium suitable for use as an envelope for an advertising media compilation to be formed is recorded in a computer-aided machine control. For each recorded advertising medium, an offset value is defined which corresponds to the required projecting length, relative to the associated inserts, wherein this offset value is used for forming the required projecting length in case of a changeover from one advertising media compilation to another advertising media compilation having an envelope that differs from the first envelope. The apparatus is respectively provided for this with a separate drive unit, connected to the computer-aided machine control, for at least one of the separating out and feeding elements and to the conveying element.
Claims
1. A method for forming advertising media compilations with respectively one envelope and a plurality of inserts constituting advertising media, comprising: depositing a first set of selected ones of plurality of inserts individually and successively, one above the other, in a region of a gathering section onto a conveying element moving in a conveying direction, to form a first stack in which leading edges of the inserts are flush aligned to present a joint folding edge; depositing a first envelope onto the conveying element with a leading edge of the first envelope in the conveying direction offset to the joint folding edge of the inserts associated with the first envelope to form a first projecting length of the first envelope relative to the joint folding edge of the inserts, wherein the first projecting length is a function of at least a first thickness of the first stack; folding the projecting length of the first envelope along the joint folding edge of the inserts of the first stack and subsequently folding the projecting length around the joint folding edge and at least partially around the first stack to form a first advertising media compilation; transporting the first media compilation away for further processing; subsequently forming a second advertising media compilation with a second envelope and a second stack of a different set of selected ones of the plurality of inserts associated with the second envelope, wherein the second envelope has a second projecting length that is function of at least a second thickness of the second stack which differs from the first thickness of the first stack thereby producing a second projecting length that is different from the first projecting length and wherein the second advertising media compilation is formed using steps corresponding to the foregoing steps used to form the first advertising media compilation; recording each envelope used for forming an advertising media compilation in a computer-aided machine control, including recording a defined offset value that corresponds to the projecting length relative to the inserts associated with each envelope to form the projecting length for each envelope; and using the recorded offset value associated with the second envelope when changing over from the first advertising media compilation to the subsequent second advertising media compilation to form the second projecting length of the second envelope.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: prior to being deposited on the conveying element, respectively separating out the envelopes and the inserts from respective stacks of advertising media and subsequently transporting the envelopes and the inserts to the conveying element.
3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising forming the projecting length of the leading edge of the second envelope relative to the leading edges of the associated inserts by accelerating the second envelope relative to the first envelope or by earlier moving the second envelope during the separating out of the second envelope from the respective stack of advertising material or during the transport to the conveying element, or during the transport of the second envelope while the second envelope is positioned on the conveying element.
4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising forming the projecting length of the leading edge of the second envelope relative to the leading edges of the inserts associated with the second envelope through a speed delay of the second envelope relative to the first envelope, or through a later movement of the inserts belonging to the second envelope during the separating out from the stack, or during the transport to the conveying element, or during the transport on the conveying element.
5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming the projecting length of the leading edge of each envelope relative to the leading edges of the associated inserts during a separating out from a stack of the respective envelopes or a separating out from stacks of the associated inserts.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming the projecting length of the leading edge of each envelope relative to the leading edges of the associated inserts during the transport of the respective envelope or the associated inserts to the conveying element.
7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming the projecting length of the leading edge of each envelope relative to the leading edges of the associated inserts during the transport of the respective envelope or the associated inserts while positioned on the conveying element.
8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transporting the projecting length of the leading edge of each envelope via the conveying element into a region of a deflection chamber; deflecting the projecting length with a pneumatic or mechanical deflection element in the region of the deflection chamber to deflect the projecting length into the deflection chamber; and during a further transport of each envelope in the conveying direction, folding over the projecting length only along the folding edge of the insert stack counter to the conveying direction such that the projecting length is pressed against the insert stack.
9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising depositing the envelopes on the conveying element before depositing the inserts associated with a respective one of the envelopes on the conveying element.
10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising depositing the envelopes on the conveying element after depositing the inserts associated with a respective one of the envelopes on the conveying element.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein each projecting length is additionally a function of a format and a material of the advertising media used for the envelope or inserts.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(14) Referring to
(15) The separating out and feeding elements A, B, C, D include respectively one device A, B, C, and D, for example embodied as a stacking magazine, for respectively accommodating a stack a, b, c, d of advertising media that can be used as the envelope 1 or as the inserts 2, 3, 4. Alternatively, a device A, B, C and D (not shown herein) can be arranged upstream of the separating out and feeding elements A, B, C, D.
(16) The apparatus 40 also comprises a computer-aided machine control 29 and, connected thereto, an individual drive unit 30 for each of the separating out and feeding elements A, B, C, D. A separate drive unit 31 for the conveying element 9 is also provided alternatively or additionally.
(17) Respectively one guide member A, B, C, D for supplying the advertising media to the conveying element 9 is arranged between the separating out and feeding elements A, B, C, D and the conveying element 9. Each guide member A, B, C, D is drive-connected either to the individual drive unit 30 of the respective separating out and feeding element A, B, C, D or comprises a separate individual drive 30 (shown with dashed lines) that is connected to the machine control 29. Of course, an apparatus embodied without a guide member A, B, C D can also be used, for which the advertising media are moved by the separating out and feeding elements A, B, C, D directly to the conveying element 9.
(18) As shown in the enlarged representation in
(19) An essentially identical vertical distance 16 exists between the second conveying element 13 and the first conveying element 9 and/or between the third conveying element 15 and the first conveying element 9, wherein this distance corresponds to the thickness of the advertising media compilation 5 and can be adapted automatically to the thickness of an advertising media compilation 5 that differs from a following production order by correspondingly lowering or raising the first conveying element 9.
(20) The folding device 10, arranged downstream of the gathering section 6, comprises the third conveying element 15, which circulates around the deflection rolls 14 and adjoins the second conveying element 13 in the transporting direction 7, as well as the portion of the first conveying element 9 which is arranged below the third conveying element 15.
(21) A deflection chamber 20 is positioned between the gathering section 6 and the folding device 10, more precisely between the downstream deflection roll 12 of the second conveying element 13 and the upstream-arranged deflection roll 14 of the third conveying element 15, and is therefore arranged above the conveying element 9. A deflection device 17 is arranged in the region of the first conveying element 9 which comprises a pneumatic deflection element in the form of a compressed-air nozzle that is connected to a non-depicted compressed-air source and has at least one discharge opening 18. For triggering the compressed-air jet 18 coming from the at least one discharge opening 18, a magnetic valve can be positioned inside a compressed-air line, not show herein, which is connected to the compressed-air source and the compressed-air nozzle and can be connected to the machine control 29 (see
(22) The device 11 for transporting away the advertising media compilation 5 is formed by the first conveying element 9 and the third conveying element 15 and/or their downstream arranged deflection rolls 8, 14, respectively. A diverter, not shown herein, for removing incomplete or defective advertising media compilations 5 can be arranged downstream of the transporting away device 11.
(23) During the operation of the apparatus 40, an envelope 1 is first separated out with the aid of a separating out and feeding element A from a stack a of advertising media used as envelopes and is transported along a single guide member A indicted in
(24) In a following step, the second separating out and feeding element B is used to separate out a first insert 2 from a stack b of advertising media used as first inserts 2 and is transported along a single guide element indicated in
(25) In a further step, the third separating out and feeding element C separates out a second insert 3 from a stack c of advertising media used as second inserts 3 and transports it along a single guide member C indicated in
(26) In a following step, a third insert 4 is separated out via the fourth separating out and feeding element D from a stack d of advertising media used as third inserts 4 and transported along a single guide member D indicated in
(27) The essentially flush aligned, leading edges 23, 25, 26 of the first, the second and third inserts 2, 3, 4, which are offset relative to the leading edge of the envelope 1, form at least approximately a folding edge 27 around which the projecting length 24 of the envelope 1 is folded in a following operational step in the folding device 10. In the process, the leading projecting length 24 of the envelope 1 is first admitted downstream of the gathering section 6 and is deflected upward with the compressed air jet 18 into the region of the deflection chamber 20 between the downstream deflection roll 12 of the second conveying element 13 and the upstream deflection roll 14 of the third conveying element 15 (
(28) The further processing can involve, for example, covering the individual advertising media compilations 5 with foil, or forming a joint stack of several advertising media compilations 5 with or without subsequent foil covering, but can also involve simply the transport to an intermediate storage area. For this, the advertising media compilation 5 can initially be provided, via an inkjet printer, with machine-readable and/or person readable information, for example information relating to the further processing, the delivery, or the recipient and can furthermore be personalized or regionalized. In addition, the advertising media compilation 5 can also be electrostatically blocked to prevent a displacement of the inserts 2, 3, 4 during a subsequent processing step.
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(30) Of course, the gathering section 6 is not restricted to the previously described number of advertising media separated out by a separating out and feeding element A for use as an envelope 1 and three separating out and feeding elements B, C, D for the inserts 2, 3, 4, but can have an optional number of separating out and feeding elements A, B, C, D for the advertising media used as envelope and inserts, depending on the order spectrum of the producer of advertising media compilations 5. The same advertising media can additionally be used either for the envelope 1 or for the inserts 2, 3, 4, depending on the advertising media compilation to be produced.
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(32) For example, if a first advertising media compilation 5 was initially formed according to
(33) To produce different advertising media compilations 5, 5 with the above-described apparatus 40, each advertising medium suitable for use as envelope 1, 1 is first recorded in the computer-aided machine control 29. Not suitable for use as an envelope, for example, is an advertising medium composed of a thick or otherwise hard to fold material or which is located in the transporting direction 7 in the last stack d of the apparatus 40. For each recorded advertising medium, an offset value is then defined that corresponds to the required projecting length 24, 24, relative to the associated inserts 2, 3, 4, 2, 3. This offset value is used to compute the required projecting length 24, 24 for the changeover from one advertising media compilation 5 to a following advertising media compilation 5 to be produced, which uses an envelope 1 that differs from the envelope 1.
(34) The individual drive units 30 of the separating out and feeding elements A, B, C, D and/or the individual drive unit 31 of the first conveying element 9 are actuated with the respective offset value recorded in the computer-aided machine control 29. The projecting length 24 of a leading edge 22 of a different envelope 1, relative to the leading edges 23, 25 of the associated inserts 2, 3, can thus be formed during the separating out from the stack b of the advertising medium used as envelope 1, or during the separating out of the associated inserts 2, 3 from the stacks c, d. Alternatively, or also in connection therewith, the projecting length 24 can also be formed via the guide members B, C, D, meaning during the transport of the additional envelope 1 or the associated inserts 2, 3 to the conveying element 9 or also during the transport on the conveying element 9.
(35) The projecting length 24 of the additional envelope 1 can thus be formed through acceleration, as compared to the first envelope 1, or an earlier movement of the additional envelope 1 during the separating out from the stack b, or its transport to the conveying element 9, or during the transport on the conveying element 9. As an alternative, the projecting length 24 of the additional envelope 1 can also be formed with a delay as compared to the inserts 3, 4 of the first advertising medium 5, or a later movement of the additional inserts 2, 3 of the envelope 1 during the separating out from the respective stack c, d, or the transport to the conveying element 9, or during the transport on the conveying element 9.
(36) Even though
(37) Since the deflection means 17 and the folding device 10 are connected to the machine control 29, a decision can be made selectively and based on the production order whether to use the previously described joining of an envelope 1, 1 with several inserts 2, 2, 3, 3, 4 to form an advertising media compilation 5, 5, or whether to pass through the folding device 10 without a folding operation. In the process, an insert 2, 2, 3, 3 4 that is not combined with an envelope 1, 1 to form an advertising media compilation 5, 5 can be positioned during the further processing below or above an advertising media compilation 5, 5 and can be delivered jointly therewith to the client. Of course, very different combinations of advertising media compilations 5, 5 and additional inserts 2, 3, 4 can be generated in this way.
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(39) Alternative to using a separating out and feeding element A, B for an envelope 1, 1, and/or to using one or several separating out and feeding elements B, C, D for supplying inserts 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, the gathering section 6 can also be connected directly with one or a plurality printing presses, in particular digital printing presses, and can be supplied by the one or plurality of digital printing presses with the envelope 1, 1 and/or with inserts 2, 3, 4, 2, 3.
(40) Even though the respective envelope 1, 1 and the associated inserts 2, 3, 4, 2, 3 are shown for drawing reasons spaced apart in the figures, they are actually positioned in contact with and one above the other. In the same way, the spacing between the respective envelope 1, 1 and the associated inserts 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, relative to the respective conveying means, is only for drawing reasons, meaning the partial products/products are actually in contact with the conveying means for the conveying.
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(42) According to
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(46) According to
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(48) Analogous to
(49) As shown in
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(51) It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and that the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.