Collection system for and method of collecting objects

Abstract

A collection system for collecting flat objects, including a plurality of collection trays disposed one on top of the other, each of the collection trays having an entrance and an exit; a feeder unit for feeding individual objects or assembled groups of objects to the entrance of the collection trays and for depositing the supplied objects in the respective collection tray, the feeder unit and collection trays being movable or swivelable relative to one another; a conveyor unit for removing the objects deposited in a collection tray through the exit of the respective collection tray; and a movable retaining element, which closes the entrance of one of the collection trays after an individual object or an assembled group of objects has been deposited in the respective collection tray. All of the objects collected in the collection trays are simultaneously removed from the collection trays by a conveyor unit and stacked.

Claims

1. A system for collecting objects and forming the collected objects into at least one stack, the system comprising: a plurality of collection trays arranged one on top of another in a vertical direction, each tray of the plurality of collection trays having an entrance and an exit; a feeder unit configured and arranged for feeding an individual object or an assembled group of objects to the entrance of a tray of the plurality of collection trays and depositing the individual object or assembled group of objects into the tray; a transport element included within the feeder unit having a surface for supporting the individual object or an assembled group of objects, the transport element swivel-mounted with respect to the plurality of collection trays and configured such that the surface can be swiveled into a position in which the individual object or an assembled group of objects supported on the surface of the transport element can be deposited into any tray of the plurality of collection trays; a stop element extendable into and retractable from each tray of the plurality of collection trays, the stop element engaging the tray to form a limit stop for contacting a leading edge of the individual object or of the assembled group of objects during deposition of the individual object or assembled group of objects into each tray; a moveable retaining element at a downstream end of the feeder unit, the moveable retaining element moveable between an open position opening the entrance of each tray of the plurality of collection trays for deposition of the individual object or assembled group of objects into each tray and a closed position closing the entrance of each tray after the individual object or assembled group of objects has been deposited into the tray, the moveable retaining element, in the open position, configured to retain the individual object or assembled group of objects in each tray by preventing rebounding of the individual object or assembled group of objects into the entrance of the tray during depositing of the individual object or assembled group of objects into each tray; and a conveyor unit configured and arranged for removing the individual objects or assembled groups of objects deposited into the plurality of collection trays through the exits of the trays and for forming at least one stack from the individual objects or assembled groups of objects removed from the trays.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a central control unit, the central control unit configured for controlling the feeder unit, the conveyor unit, movement of the stop element, and movement of the retaining element.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor unit is configured and arranged for removing all of the individual objects or assembled groups of objects deposited into the plurality of collection trays at the same time.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor unit comprises at least one conveyor element configured and arranged for engaging each tray of the plurality of collection trays and for pushing all of the individual objects or assembled groups of objects deposited into the plurality of collection trays out of the collection trays at the same time.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one conveyor element is a slide element attached to a moveable belt or band, the slide element configured for engaging each tray of the plurality of collection trays as the belt or band moves in the conveyor unit.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein each tray of the plurality of collection trays has a bottom surface substantially horizontally disposed, the bottom surface defining a plane for receiving the individual object or assembled group of objects.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transport element is configured for swiveling in a vertical direction and for swiveling in a predefined angular range relative to a horizontal plane.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the movable retaining element is integral with the feeder unit or is disposed on the feeder unit.

9. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a sensor device configured for detecting presence of the individual object or assembled group of objects in a tray of the plurality of collection trays.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the sensor device comprises a light source configured for emission of light rays and a photosensitive receiver configured to receive light rays emitted by the light source.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the sensor device is configured for generating a signal and transmitting the signal to the central control unit when the presence of the individual object or assembled group of objects is detected in a tray of the plurality of collection trays.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the moveable retaining element is configured and arranged to move toward the closed position, upon activation by the central control unit, to at least partially close the entrance of the tray in which the presence of the individual object or assembled group of objects has been detected.

13. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a stack-receiving unit downstream of the plurality of collection trays, the stack-receiving unit configured for receiving and transporting stacks of objects formed by the conveyor unit.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the movable retaining element is a plate positioned at a right angle to a transport direction of the individual object or assembled group of objects.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the stop element is configured as a stopper attached to a revolving belt.

16. A system for collecting objects and forming the collected objects into at least one stack, the system comprising: a plurality of collection trays arranged one on top of another in a vertical direction, each tray of the plurality of collection trays having an entrance and an exit; a feeder unit configured and arranged for feeding an individual object or an assembled group of objects to the entrance of a tray of the plurality of collection trays and depositing the individual object or assembled group of objects into the tray; a plurality of stop elements engageable with the plurality of collection trays, each stop element of the plurality of stop elements extendable into and retractable from each tray of the plurality of collection trays to form a limit stop in each tray for contacting a leading edge of the individual object or of the assembled group of objects during deposition of the individual object or assembled group of objects into each tray; a transport element included within the feeder unit having a surface for supporting the individual object or an assembled group of objects, the transport element swivel-mounted with respect to the plurality of collection trays and configured such that the surface can be swiveled into a position in which the individual object or assembled group of objects supported on the surface of the transport element can be deposited into any tray of the plurality of collection trays; and a conveyor unit configured and arranged for removing all of the individual objects or assembled groups of objects deposited into the plurality of collection trays at the same time and for forming at least one stack from the individual objects or assembled groups of objects removed from the trays.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features and advantages of the collection system according to the present invention follow from the practical example which is described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the figures show:

(2) FIG. 1: A lateral view of a diagrammatically represented embodiment of a collection system according to the present invention, comprising a feeder unit and a plurality of collection trays;

(3) FIG. 2: A detail view of the feeder unit of the collection system of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3a: A detail view of the collection trays of the collection system of FIG. 1, with the associated feeder unit in a first position;

(5) FIG. 3b: A detail view of the collection trays of the collection system of FIG. 1, with the associated feeder unit in a second position;

(6) FIG. 4: A detail view of the collection trays of the system of FIG. 1 in the loaded state;

(7) FIG. 5a: A detail view of the collection trays of the system of FIG. 1 during the removal of the objects or groups of objects deposited therein in a first stage

(8) FIG. 5b: A detail view of the collection trays of the system of FIG. 1 during the removal of the objects or groups of objects deposited therein in a second stage;

(9) FIG. 6: A perspective top view of a preferred embodiment of a collection system according to the present invention;

(10) FIG. 7: A view of the collection trays of the collection system of FIG. 6 in the conveying direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a collection system according to the present invention for collecting flat, in particular sheet-shaped, objects in the form of a stack. The collection system 1 comprises a feeder unit 5 for supplying individual objects G or groups of objects G assembled from a plurality of such objects. A group of objects G (subgroup of objects) can comprise, for example, 1 to 20 individual objects and is supplied by the feeder unit 5 as an already assembled subgroup in the form of a stack of objects. The individual objects G or groups of objects G, which can also include folded sheets or a folded subgroup, are serially transported in the feeder unit 5 along a transport direction. The feeder unit 5 preferably comprises a first transport path (not shown in the drawing) which is at least predominantly located in a horizontal plane, along which the objects G or the groups of objects G are transported by means of a transport device, e.g., a conveyor belt or transport rollers. The feeder unit 5 further comprises a transport element 6 adjoining the first transport path downstream thereof, which transport element in the practical example shown in the drawing comprises two conveyor belts 6a, 6b, each revolving around rollers 6c, which conveyor belts are set in motion by the driven rollers 6c. The upper strand of the lower belt 6a and the lower strand of the upper belt 6b are disposed at a distance from and running parallel to each other, thereby creating a transport gap, through which the objects G or the groups of objects G can be transported along a transport direction T.

(12) On the downstream end of the feeder unit 5, retaining elements 12 are disposed. These retaining elements 12 can, for example, be plates which run at right angles to the transport direction and which preferably project slightly beyond the front rollers 6c of the transport element 6. The retaining elements 12 are preferably an integral part of a housing (not shown) in which the transport element 6 is disposed. FIGS. 1 to 4 show two retaining elements 12 which are disposed on the lower belt 6a and on the upper belt 6b of the transport element 6 and which, in the transport direction, project beyond the front rollers 6c of the conveyor belts 6a, 6b.

(13) In the practical example shown in the drawing, the transport element 6 is configured so as to be swivelable and to this end comprises a frame section 6d which swivels about a swiveling axis A and which can be seen in FIG. 2. For the sake of clarity, the swivelable frame section 6d is not shown in FIG. 1, and in FIG. 2 hides the conveyor belts 6a, 6b disposed behind said section. The rollers 6c of the revolving conveyor belts 6a, 6b are rotatably disposed on the swivelable frame section 6d. The frame section 6d is swivelably hinged to a stationary frame section 6e. The swiveling axis A is disposed on the upstream end of the transport element 6. Disposed on the downstream end of the transport element 6 is a swivel mechanism which in the practical example shown is formed by an eccentric with an eccentric wheel 6f and an eccentric rod 6g hinged thereto. The eccentric wheel 6f which is driven by an eccentric drive (not shown) is rotatably mounted on the stationary frame section 6e. The lower end of the eccentric rod 6g is rotatably hinged to the eccentric wheel 6f in the area of its outside diameter, and the upper end of the eccentric rod 6g is rotatably mounted on the swivelable frame section 6d. By rotating the eccentric wheel 6f, the swivelable frame section 6d can be swiveled relative to the stationary frame section 6e within a predefined angular range (relative to the horizontal plane). By swiveling the swivelable frame section 6d, it is possible to adjust the position and especially the angle of tilt of the conveyor belts 6a, 6b relative to the horizontal plane and thereby the transport direction T of the transport element 6.

(14) As FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate, a configuration with a plurality of collection trays a, b, c, d, e adjoins the region downstream of the transport element 6. In the vertical direction, the collection trays a, b, c, d, e are disposed one on top of the other, each comprising an entrance 10, an exit 11 and a plane tray bottom 9, the surface of which forms a collection plane. Thus, in the vertical direction, the collection planes of the collection trays a, b, c, d, e are disposed at a distance from and running parallel to each other, with the collection planes preferably being located at least predominantly in the horizontal plane. The collection planes of the individual collection trays a, b, c, d, e serve to support the objects G or the groups of objects G that are supplied by the feeder unit 5 and especially by the transport element 6. The swivelability of the transport element 6 (especially of the swivelable frame section 6d) makes it possible to load the objects G or the groups of objects G supplied by the transport element 6 into any collection tray a, b, c, d, e desired.

(15) For the sake of clarity, FIG. 3a shows the swivelable transport element 6 in a first position in which an object G transported by the transport element 6 in the transport direction T is loaded into the lowermost collection tray a. To this end, the swivelable frame section 6d (FIG. 2) has been swiveled into its lowermost position in which the downstream end of the transport gap created between the belts 6a and 6b is approximately at the same level (relative to the vertical direction) as the collection plane of the lowermost collection tray a. Thus, in this position of the transport element 6, an object G routed by the transport element 6 in the transport direction T is loaded into the lowermost collection tray a and deposited therein.

(16) In order to be able to detect the loading of an object into one of the collection trays, a sensor device 13 is provided, which detects the loading of an object or a group of objects into a collection tray. In the practical example shown, the sensor device 13 is formed by a light barrier with a light source 13a which emits a ray of light 13c and a photosensitive receiver 13b which detects the ray of light 13c. As soon as an object or a of group of objects in its full length has passed through the entrance 10 of a collection tray, the sensor device 13 generates a signal which is forwarded to the central control unit 20. The central control unit 20 subsequently triggers a movement of the moveable retaining elements 12, which movement causes the entrance 10 of the respective collection tray to be closed in that the feeder unit 5 with the retaining elements 12 disposed thereon is moved away from the collection tray into which an object has just been loaded and at the time causes a retaining element 12 to be positioned in front of the entrance 10 of the collection tray. At the same time, the feeder unit 5, and especially the transport element 6, is preferably moved into a position in which subsequently supplied objects or groups of objects can be routed into a different collection tray.

(17) To ensure that when objects G or groups of objects G are being deposited in a collection tray a, b, c, d, e, the objects or groups of objects deposited therein one on top of the other are uniformly oriented, each collection tray a, b, c, d, e comprises a stop element 2 which engages in the respective collection tray and forms a limit stop 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e with which the leading edge V of the objects G or the groups of objects G comes into contact during deposition of said objects. FIG. 3b shows a stage at which the collection trays are being loaded, with the lowermost collection trays a, b, c and d already being loaded with objects G, the leading edge V of which rests against the respective limit stop 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d of the associated collection tray a, b, c, d. As the objects G or groups of objects G are loaded into one of the collection trays a, b, c, d, e, the leading edge V of the object G or the subgroup of objects G first comes into contact with the limit stop 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, from which it subsequently bounces off. At the same time, the retaining element 12 which has been positioned in front of the entrance 10 of the collection tray prevents the object bouncing off the limit stop 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e from rebounding from the collection tray as a result of the back jolt.

(18) The object G loaded into a collection tray a, b, c, d, e or the subgroup of objects G loaded therein subsequently drops to the tray bottom 9 of the respective collection tray a, b, c, d, e or to a sub-stack of objects G already deposited thereon.

(19) The stop element 2 in question can be, for example, a stopper 2 which is attached to a revolving stopper band 2. As the figures indicate, the revolving stopper band 2 is guided around rollers 2 which are driven by a stopper drive. This allows the stop element 2 to extend into the collection trays a, b, c, d, e and to be subsequently retracted from the collection trays a, b, c, d, e. It is possible to provide for a single stop element 2 (in particular a single stopper 2) which is able to simultaneously engage in all or at least in a plurality of adjoining collection trays. However, it is also possible to assign a separate stop element, for example, a stopper 2, to each collection tray, which stop element engages only in the respectively assigned collection tray where it forms a limit stop 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e. In the practical example shown in the drawing, provision is made for a lower stop element 2a and an upper stop element 2b, with the lower stop element 2a being able to engage in the lower collection trays a, b and c and with the upper stop element 2b being able to engage in the upper collection trays c, d and e. However, it is also possible for each stopper band 2 to have a plurality of stoppers 2 attached to it, said stoppers being arranged in the longitudinal direction of the stopper band at a distance from one another. In the practical example shown in the drawing, two stoppers 2 each are disposed on each stopper band 2. This allows the stopper band 2 to be moved only in one direction, without having to change directions, in order to engage a stopper 2 in, or disengage it from, an assigned collection tray. The stopper or the stoppers 2 can conveniently be placed in any positions desired in the longitudinal direction (conveying direction) of the collection trays. This allows the position of the stop elements 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e in the collection trays to be adapted to the format of the objects, in particular, the dimensions of the objects in the conveying direction.

(20) To be able to deposit individual objects G or groups of objects G into collection trays b to e which are disposed above the lowermost collection tray a, the swivelable transport element 6 is swiveled in such a manner that its downstream end in the vertical direction comes to be positioned at the level of the collection tray into which the objects G or the groups of objects G are to be loaded. FIG. 3b, for example, shows a position of the swivelable transport element 6, in which the objects G can be loaded into the uppermost collection tray e. The collection trays a, b, c, d disposed below are already loaded with objects G or groups of objects G, and their leading edge V rests against the limit stop 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d of the respective collection tray a, b, c, d.

(21) After all of the objects G which are part of a group of objects have been loaded in a predefined order into the collection trays a, b, c, d, e, all of the collection trays a, b, c, d, e are emptied at the same time by simultaneously pushing all of the objects G or groups of objects G deposited present in the loaded collection trays a, b, c, d, e through the exit 11 out of the collection trays by means of a conveyor unit. To remove the objects from the collection trays a, b, c, d, e, the conveyor unit preferably comprises a movable conveyor element 3 which engages in the collection trays so as to push all of the objects deposited therein (simultaneously) through the exit 11. To this end, a single movable conveyor element 3 can be used, which simultaneously engages in all of the collection trays and, by moving along a downstream conveying direction, simultaneously pushes all of the objects deposited in the collection trays out of the collection trays. It is, however, also possible to use two or more conveyor elements 3a, 3b, the movements of which are coupled and synchronized with one another so that all of the conveyor elements 3a, 3b simultaneously engage in the collection trays a, b, c, d, e and are moved through the collection tray in the conveying direction so as to ensure that all of the objects present in the collection trays are simultaneously pushed out of the collection trays. In the practical example shown in the drawing, a lower conveyor element 3a and an upper conveyor element 3b are provided, with the lower conveyor element 3a engaging in the lower collection trays (a, b, c) and with the upper conveyor element 3b engaging in the upper collection trays (c, d, e). Both the lower conveyor element 3a and the upper conveyor element 3b comprise a slide element 3 which is attached to a revolving slide band 3. The revolving slide band 3 is guided around drivable rollers 3 and is set in motion by the drive of the rollers 3.

(22) To remove the collected objects G or groups of objects G from the loaded collection trays, the movable conveyor elements 3 and 3a, 3b are set and actuated at predefined times so that they simultaneously engage in the collection trays and are moved through the collection trays in order to simultaneously push all of the objects or groups of objects deposited present out of the loaded collection trays. If a plurality of movable conveyor elements 3a, 3b are used, the movements of these elements are synchronized in such a way that all of the conveyor elements 3a, 3b simultaneously engage in the respectively assigned collection trays. In the practical example mentioned above, in which a single movable conveyor element 3 is used, this conveyor element 3 automatically engages in all of the collection trays a, b, c, d, e at the same time.

(23) Each slide element 3 can have a plurality of slides 3 attached to it, said slides being disposed at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of band. In the practical example shown in the drawing, two slides 3 each are disposed on each slide band 3. This allows the slide band 3 to be moved only in one direction, without having to change directions, in order to engage a slide 3 in, or disengage it from, a respectively assigned collection tray. This contributes to an increase in the throughput since the second slide 3 can be used immediately to remove the next stack from the collection trays as soon as the first slide 3 has been disengaged from the collection trays.

(24) To ensure that the stop elements 2 and 2a, 2b do not obstruct the removal of the objects from the collection trays, these stop elements are retracted before the objects are removed from the collection trays. In FIG. 4, the collection system 1 is shown in a position in which the collection trays a, b, c, d, e are loaded with objects G and the objects are ready to be removed. In the position shown in FIG. 4, the stop elements 2, and especially the stoppers 2, are still engaged in the collection trays a, b, c, d, e. To remove the objects G from the collection trays a, b, c, d, e, first the stop elements 2, especially the stoppers 2, are retracted from the collection trays. Subsequently or at the same time, the conveyor elements 3, in particular the slides 3, move into the upstream end of the collection trays a, b, c, d, e and through the collection trays in the downstream direction. In the course of this, all of the objects deposited in the collection trays a, b, c, d, e are simultaneously pushed in the conveying direction to the downstream end of the collection trays.

(25) Disposed on the downstream end of the collection trays a, b, c, d, e is a stack receiving unit 4. In the practical example shown in the drawing, this unit comprises a lower conveyor unit 4a and an upper conveyor unit 4b, each of which comprises a conveyor belt 4 which revolves around driven rollers 4, with the lower conveyor belt 4 slanting upwardly and with the upper conveyor belt 4 slanting downwardly when viewed in the downstream direction and relative to the horizontal plane. The upper conveyor unit 4b comprises a resilient element 7a which is formed by the downstream roller 4. This resilient element 7b is biased relative to a stationary element 7a by a spring element 8. The stationary element 7a is formed by the downstream roller 4 of the lower transport unit 4a. In a baseline position, the stationary element 7a and the resilient element 7b are disposed at a distance from each other in such a way that a gap between the stationary element 7a and the resilient element 7b is created. This gap forms a feed-through 7, through which the stack formed by the collection system 1 and forming a finished group of objects can be routed so as to remove the stack.

(26) In FIG. 5, two consecutive stages of the removal of the objects from the collection tray a, b, c, d, e and the simultaneously occurring formation of stack S and the removal of the formed stack S are shown. The representation in FIG. 5a shows how the conveyor element 3 and the two conveyor elements 3a, 3b simultaneously push all of the objects G contained in the collection trays a, b, c, d, e in the downstream direction out of the collection trays. By slanting the conveyor belts 4a, 4b, respectively, upwardly and downwardly as shown in the drawings of FIG. 5, the objects G removed from the collection trays are made to converge in the vertical direction so as to form a stack S and are routed by the conveyor belts 4 which are moving in the transport direction T through the feed-through 7 which is formed by the gap between the stationary element 7a and the resilient element 7b. This causes the resilient element 7b to be pushed upwardly against the elastic recovery force of the spring element 8. The elastic recovery force of the spring element 8 and the elastic property of the resilient element 7b ensure that the objects G forming stack S are subjected to high pressure and thus are compacted to form stack S. The feed-through 7 is adjoined downstream by a removal unit 19 for the removal of the formed stack S (FIG. 1).

(27) FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a modified embodiment of a collection system. In this system, each collection tray a, b, c, d, e comprises two tray bottoms 9, 9 that are separated from each other.

(28) The tray bottoms 9, 9 of a collection tray a, b, c, d, e are disposed at a distance from each other at right angles relative to the transport direction, thereby creating a gap between the tray bottoms 9, 9 of a collection tray. Disposed in this gap is the conveyor unit with the conveyor elements 3 and 3a, 3b, for removing the objects from the collection trays. More specifically, disposed in this gap are the lower conveyor element 3a and the upper conveyor element 3b with the respectively associated slides 3 which pass across the collection planes of the collection trays a, b, c, d, e. Disposed in each of the tray bottoms 9, 9 of a collection tray a, b, c, d, e is a slot 9a, 9a, through which the movable stop elements 2, in particular the stoppers 2, pass and thereby are able to engage in the respective collection tray a, b, c, d, e. The two tray bottoms 9, 9 of a collection tray a, b, c, d, e can preferably be moved relative to each other at right angles to the transport direction. This, for example, allows the stop elements 2 and/or the conveyor elements 3; 3a, 3b to be replaced in case they are damaged by wear. In addition, the movable configuration of the tray bottoms 9, 9 at right angles to the transport direction allows the width of the collection trays a, b, c, d, e to be adjusted to the format of the objects G to be collected. As shown in FIG. 5, in this practical example of the collection system, preferably two separate transport elements 6, 6 are provided upstream of the divided collection trays, which transport elements are disposed at a distance from each other at right angles to the conveying direction. In correspondence thereto, downstream of the divided collection trays, two separate stack receiving units 4, 4 are provided, which are disposed at a distance from each other at right angles to the conveying direction.

(29) The invention is not limited to the embodiments represented in the drawings. Instead of the configuration of the retaining elements 12 on the feeder unit 5 described above and represented in FIGS. 1 to 4, different configurations of the retaining elements 12 can be used. The retaining elements 12 can also take the form of movable flaps or baffles which are moved in front of the entrance 10 of a collection tray a to d after an object has been inserted. The flaps or baffles can, for example, be moved vertically from the top to the bottom or laterally in front of the entrance 10 of a collection tray a to d. To prevent the back jolt from causing the just loaded object to rebound from the collection tray, it suffices if at least part of the entrance 10 of the collection tray is closed by a retaining element 12.

(30) Instead of configuring the feeder unit 5 and, in particular, the transport element 6 so as to be swivelable relative to the stationary collection trays a, b, c, d, e as shown in the figure, it is also possible to configure the feeder unit 5 and, in particular, the transport element 6 thereof so as to be movable in the vertical direction relative to the collection trays a, b, c, d, e. In this embodiment of the system according to the present invention, the feeder unit 5 and, in particular, the transport element 6 thereof can be moved in the manner of a lift in the vertical direction between the lowermost collection tray a and the uppermost collection tray e, in order to allow objects to be deposited into any of the collection trays and in any sequence desired. As an alternative, it is also possible to configure the feeder unit 5 and, in particular, the transport element 6 thereof so as to be stationary and to configure the collection trays so as to again be movable in the manner of a lift in the vertical direction.

(31) Instead of the conveyor unit 3 with the synchronously movable conveyor elements 3a, 3b which has been described in detail above, it is also possible to use different conveyor units for the removal of the objects from the collection trays, for example, driven rollers or belts. These are synchronously driven for the simultaneous removal of all of the objects from the loaded collection trays so that all of the objects can be simultaneously removed from the collection trays.

(32) In contrast to the configuration shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the collection trays can also have full-length tray bottoms 9. To enable the conveyor elements 3a, 3b (in particular their slides 3) and the stop elements 2 (in particular their stoppers 2) to engage [in the collection trays], slots extending in the longitudinal direction (conveying direction) of the tray bottoms 9 can be provided.

(33) In addition, it is possible to arrange a plurality of collection systems of the type described above one behind the other in the conveying direction. On the one hand, this makes it possible to collect large stacks with a high number of objects since it allows sub-stacks to be formed already in a first collection system, which sub-stacks can subsequently be deposited into a collection tray of the second collection system downstream and be combined with additional objects or sub-stacks of objects to form a larger stack. On the other hand, it allows the total number of collection trays to be increased without excessively increasing the dimensions of the system. Preferably, the stack receiving unit of the first collection system is immediately adjoined downstream by the feeder unit of the second collection system, etc. It is, however, also possible to dispose additional processing stations between consecutively disposed collection systems.