Device and method for conveying flat objects

Abstract

A device for conveying and transferring flexible, flat objects with a gripper conveyor including a plurality of grippers that are movable along a conveying path in a conveying direction, and further with a conveying-way device that forms a conveying rest that, in a transfer region, is arranged below the conveying path such that objects that are released from grippers in the transfer region are deposited onto the conveying rest. The device includes a pressing circulatory device that acts upon the transfer region and has a plurality of outwardly directed pressing arms. The pressing circulatory device is designed, in the transfer region, to press the objects to be transferred with the pressing arms onto the conveying rest such that the objects can be deposited onto the conveying rest in a guided and controlled manner.

Claims

1. An installation for conveying and transferring flexible, flat objects, comprising: a first circulatory device comprising a gripper conveyor with a plurality of grippers that are fastened on a conveying chain and that are movable along a closed gripper conveying path in a conveying direction, each of the plurality of grippers being adapted to grip an associated object, a conveying-away device with a conveying member that forms a moveable conveying rest which, in a transfer region, is arranged below the gripper conveying path of the gripper conveyor such that objects that are released from grippers in the transfer region are deposited onto the moveable conveying rest, a pressing device that, in the transfer region, presses the objects to be transferred onto the moveable conveying rest such that the objects are deposited on the moveable conveying rest in a guided and controlled manner, wherein the pressing device is a second circulatory device comprising a rotatable pressing wheel that acts upon the objects to be transferred in the transfer region and has a plurality of pressing arms that are movable along a closed movement path and are outwardly directed, wherein the pressing circulatory device is arranged and driven such that, in each case, one of the plurality of pressing arms presses the object to be deposited onto the moveable conveying rest upon opening of the associated one of the plurality of grippers that is holding the object, wherein the pressing arms, in each case, form a contact section with a contact surface that presses against the object with a contact pressure such that the flexible, flat objects are clamped between the contact surface of the pressing arm and the moveable conveying rest.

2. The installation according to claim 1, wherein the pressing wheel is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis.

3. The installation according to claim 1, wherein the contact section with the contact surface is elastically deflectable counter to the contact pressure when the pressing arms press the object onto the conveying rest.

4. The installation according to claim 2, wherein the second circulatory device comprises a rotatably mounted main body through which a geometric rotation axis leads, and wherein the pressing arms project outwards from the main body and are arranged around the main body.

5. The installation according to claim 4, wherein the pressing arms and the main body are formed as a single-part component.

6. The installation according to claim 3, wherein the pressing arms, in each case, form an elastically bendable arm section via which the contact section with the contact surface is elastically deflectable.

7. The installation according to claim 4, wherein the pressing arms, in each case, form an elastically bendable arm section via which the contact section with the contact surface is elastically deflectable, and wherein the elastically bendable arm section of each of the pressing arms comprises at least two part-arms that extend from the main body in a direction of the contact section and unite towards the contact section, and wherein the at least two part-arms, together with the main body, enclose a recess.

8. The installation according to claim 6, wherein the elastically bendable arm section of each of the pressing arms is formed from a plastic having elastic characteristics.

9. The installation according to claim 8, wherein the elastically bendable arm section is formed from foam having elastic characteristics.

10. The installation according to claim 1, wherein a pressing roller that forms a contact surface is arranged on a contact section of each of the pressing arms.

11. The installation according to claim 1, wherein the second circulatory device via a holding device can be moved out of a passive position, in which, in the transfer region, the pressing circulatory device exerts no influence on the transfer of the objects, into an operational position, in which, in the transfer region, the pressing arms act upon the objects to be transferred, and again out of the operational position into the passive position.

12. The installation according to claim 1, wherein the second circulatory device via a drive device can be driven synchronously with the grippers of the gripper conveyor.

13. A method for conveying and transferring flexible, flat objects, in particular printed products, with an installation according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: moving a closed gripper of the plurality of grippers of the gripper conveyor together with an object that is held by said closed gripper to the transfer region; moving a pressing arm of the plurality of pressing arms along the second circulatory device into the transfer region, wherein the pressing arm that is moved into the transfer region, in the transfer region, presses the object to be transferred onto the conveying rest; opening the closed gripper, which holds the object to be transferred, in the transfer region; depositing the object to be transferred onto the conveying rest.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, during the transfer in the transfer region, said pressing arm of the plurality of pressing arms with a contact surface of a contact section touchingly accompanies the object and thereby is moved at a same speed as the object to be released.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the object to be transferred, in the transfer region, is pressed by said pressing arm of the plurality of pressing arms against the conveying rest during the opening of the closed gripper.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of: moving said pressing arm of the plurality of pressing arms, which in the transfer region presses the object to be transferred onto the conveying rest, further along the second circulatory device, wherein said pressing arm of the plurality of pressing arms subsequently to the transfer of the object is again moved away from the transferred object amid lifting of said pressing arm of the plurality of pressing arms.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein said pressing arm of the plurality of pressing arms in the transfer region is moved cyclically synchronously and phase-shifted to the plurality of grippers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiment examples of the invention are represented in the drawings and are described hereinafter. There are shown schematically in:

(2) FIG. 1 a perspective view of a device according to the invention and according to a first embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2a-2d lateral views of the device according to FIG. 1 at different points in time in a chronological sequence during operation of the device;

(4) FIG. 3 a lateral view of the device according to FIG. 1 with other objects;

(5) FIG. 4 a perspective view of a device according to the invention, according to a second embodiment;

(6) FIG. 5a-5b lateral views of a pressing wheel according to FIG. 6, with a pivot device in different pivot positions;

(7) FIG. 6 a first embodiment of a pressing wheel;

(8) FIG. 7 a second embodiment of a pressing wheel;

(9) FIG. 8 a third embodiment of a pressing wheel;

(10) FIG. 9 a fourth embodiment of a pressing wheel;

(11) FIG. 10 a perspective view of a device according to the invention, according to a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(12) FIGS. 1, 2a-2d and 3 show a device 1 according to the invention and according to a first embodiment.

(13) The device 1 includes a gripper conveyor 10 with a plurality of grippers 11, which are moved along a gripper conveying path U and which are distanced to one another.

(14) The device 1 further includes an onward conveying device 20 with a conveying rest 28. The gripper conveyor 10 and the onward conveying device 20 form a transfer region T, in which objects 2, 2 are released from the grippers 11 of the gripper conveyor 10 and are deposited onto the conveying rest 28 of the onward conveying device 20.

(15) The conveying rest 28 of the onward conveying device 20, in the transfer region T, is arranged below the grippers 11 of the gripper conveyor 10. The conveying path U of the gripper conveyor runs arcuately towards the transfer region T from the top to the bottom towards the conveying rest and subsequently to the transfer region T runs arcuately from the bottom to the top away from the conveying rest 28. The grippers 11 reach their lowermost position in the transfer region T. The course of the gripper conveying path U considered from the conveying rest 28 is concave in the transfer region T.

(16) The grippers 11 are fastened on a driven conveying chain. The grippers 11 can be opened in the transfer region T via mechanical or electric control elements. The methods for opening the grippers are of a minor significance with regard to the present invention, and thus not dealt with in more detail at this location.

(17) The conveying-away device 20 includes a vacuum belt conveyor 21 and a takeover conveyor 24, which connects to this in the conveying direction F2.

(18) The vacuum belt conveyor 21 includes a plurality of circulatorily guided vacuum belts 21 with suction openings 23, which together form a conveying rest 28. The conveying rest 28 of the vacuum belt conveyor 21 runs arcuately, i.e. convexly, from the top to the bottom in the conveying direction F2 towards the transfer region T.

(19) The gripper conveying path U likewise runs arcuately convexly from the top to the bottom towards the transfer region T in the conveying direction F2. Accordingly, the gripper conveying path U and the conveying rest 28 form an arched conveying gap. This conveying gap is dimensioned such that the grippers 11 are led through the conveying gap at such a distance to the conveying rest 28 that the objects 2, 2 with their trailing free end sections 5 lie on the conveying rest 28 on running into the transfer region T.

(20) A takeover belt conveyor 24 with a takeover conveying belt 25 receiving the deposited objects 2, 2 from the vacuum belt conveyor 21 connects to the vacuum belt conveyor 21 in the conveying direction F2.

(21) The objects 2, 2 on deposition onto the vacuum conveying belt 22 are fixedly sucked on the conveying rest 28 by way of the suction pull, which is applied at the suction openings 23. A slipping of the objects 2, 2 on the conveying rest 28 of the vacuum conveyor 21 is prevented by way of this suction pull. This is particularly important in the arcuate run-in towards the transfer region T, where the objects 2, 2 can slip downwards in particular on account of gravitational force.

(22) A pressing wheel 30 is rotatably arranged in the transfer region T. The pressing wheel 30, as is represented in the FIGS. 1, 2a-2d, 3, 4 as well as 5a-5d in the context of the device according to the invention, is represented in FIG. 6 in an enlarged representation. FIG. 6 is referred to concerning the details of the pressing wheel 30.

(23) The pressing wheel 30 includes a main body 36 and pressing arms 31, which are directed radially outwardly from the main body. The main body 36 and the pressing arms 31 are formed from a single-part shape body. This body consists of a foam material (plastic) and has elastic characteristics.

(24) The pressing arms 31 in each case include two part-arms 32a, 32b, which depart from the main body 36 and which unite towards a contact section 33. The part-arms 32a, 32b with the main body 36 enclose a recess 37. The part-arms 32a, 32b form an elastic arm section 38, via which the contact section 33 can be elastically deflected out of its defined movement path B.

(25) The pressing arm 31 towards its free end forms a contact section 33. The contact section includes a pressing roller 34, which is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis. The pressing roller 32 forms a contact surface 35, via which the pressing arm 32 presses the object 2, 2 to be transferred, towards the conveying rest 28.

(26) The device 1 moreover includes a drive wheel 40, which is coupled to the gripper conveying chain 15 and is driven via this. The drive wheel 40 in turn transmits a drive torque onto the pressing wheel via a gear.

(27) The gear includes at least one gear wheel 42, which is coupled to the drive wheel 40 and with this forms the common rotation axis D2, as well as a second gear wheel 43, which is coupled to the pressing wheel 30 and with this forms the common rotation axis D1. The two gear wheels 42, 43 are wrapped by a drive toothed belt 41, which transmits torque from the first gear wheel 42 onto the second gear wheel 43 and via this onto the pressing wheel 30.

(28) The rotation movement of the pressing wheel 30 is thus coupled to the movement of the conveying chain 15, so that the rotation speed of the pressing wheel 30 is synchronous to the conveying speed of the grippers. This permits a movement of the pressing arms 31 in the transfer region T, which is cyclically synchronous to the grippers 11.

(29) FIGS. 2a to 2d now show the course of the transfer of an object 2 from the gripper conveyor 10 onto the conveying rest 28 of the conveying-away device 20.

(30) The object 2, held by a gripper 11, is fed in the conveying direction F1 to the transfer region T. The free end section 5 of the object 2, which is held by the gripper 11, is deposited onto the conveying rest 28 towards the transfer region T. The free end section 5 is conveyed into the transfer region T in a manner trailing the gripper 11.

(31) A pressing arm 31 of the rotating pressing wheel 30 is moved downward towards the trailing end section 5, in the transfer region T. The pressing arm 31 via the pressing roller 34 exerts a pressing force onto the end section 5 lying on the conveying rest 28 and this pressing force prevents a slipping of the object 2 or individual products of the object 2. The object is thereby still held by the gripper 11.

(32) The contact section 33 with the pressing roller 34 is elastically deflected in dependence on the thickness of the object 2, by way of the pressing force, which is applied onto the object 2. The elastic part-arms 32a, 32b in the elastic arm section hereby deform (FIG. 2a, 2b).

(33) The pressing arm 31 now, whilst exerting a pressing force onto the end section 5, moves further in a manner cyclically synchronised with the gripper 11 and accordingly with the associated object 2.

(34) The gripper 11 is subsequently opened, wherein the leading, first edge 3 is lowered to the conveying rest 28, and the object 2, which is secured against slippage by the pressing arm 31, is completely deposited onto the conveying rest 28.

(35) The pressing arm 31, after the object 2 has been completely deposited on the conveying rest 28, is moved upwards away from the transferred object 2 amid the lifting of the pressing force, by way of the continued rotation of the pressing wheel 30. The object 2 is transported further, in a manner lying on the conveying-away device 20. The consecutively transferred objects 2 thereby form an imbricate stream (FIG. 2c, 2d).

(36) FIG. 3 shows the same device as in FIGS. 1 and 2a to 2d, with the difference that significantly thicker objects 2 are processed in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the deflection of the pressing arms 31, which exert a pressing force onto the objects 2, turns out to be larger.

(37) The device according to the second embodiment according to FIG. 4 differs from the device according to the first embodiment according to FIGS. 1, 2a-2d and 3 by way of the conveying-away device 20. The conveying-way device 20 here is formed by an individual belt conveyor 36 with a conveying belt 27, which is led horizontally in the transfer region T. Accordingly, the conveying rest 28 is likewise horizontal.

(38) The transfer of the objects (not shown) in the device according to FIG. 4, with the exception of the suction adhesion on a vacuum belt, is however basically analogous to the method according to FIG. 2a-2d. The object is fed to the transfer region T in the conveying direction F1 in a manner held by a gripper 11, also according to the device according to FIG. 4.

(39) The free end section of the object held by the gripper 11 is likewise deposited onto the conveying rest 28, towards the transfer region T. The free end section is conveyed into the transfer region T in a manner trailing the gripper 11.

(40) The type of fastening of the pressing wheel 30 on the device 1, as for example is also the case with the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 5a, 5b, can be deduced particularly well from FIG. 4.

(41) The main body 36 of the pressing wheel 30 is screwed to a connection disc 44 in a rotationally fixed manner, so that the torque, which is introduced via the drive wheel 40, can be transmitted via the connection disk 44 onto the main body 36 and thus onto the pressing arms 31. For this, the connection disk 44 includes arch slot openings 45, through which fastening screws 46 are led.

(42) The arch slot openings 45 permit the alignment and thus adjustment of the pressing arms 31 in or counter to the rotation direction of the pressing wheel 30 before creating the rotationally fixed connection between the main body 36 and the connection disc 44. In this manner, the pressing arms 31 can be precisely aligned relative to the grippers 11 before starting operation of the device, and a phase shift to the gripper can therefore be set.

(43) The connection disc 44 can be of metal or plastic.

(44) FIGS. 5a and 5b shows the pressing wheel 31 according to FIGS. 1, 2a-2d, 3 and 4 with a pivot device, as could be applied in the devices according to FIGS. 1, 2a-2d, 3 and 4.

(45) The pivot device includes an actuation device with a hydraulic cylinder 6, which can be extended and retracted and is connected with a first end section on the stationary support structure of the device and with a second end section to the pressing wheel 30.

(46) The pressing wheel 30 is pivotably mounted about the rotation axis D2 of the drive wheel 40 via a pivot arm 7. The pivoting mounting about the drive wheel 40 serves for keeping the distance between the rotation axes D1 and D2 in the different pivot positions, so that the gear arrangement with toothed belts 41 does not have to be adapted to the different pivot positions.

(47) The pressing wheel 30 is pivoted about the rotation axis D2 to the transfer region T into the operational position (FIG. 5a), by way of extending the hydraulic cylinder 6. The pressing wheel 30 is pivoted out of the transfer region T into the passive position (FIG. 5b) by way of retracting the hydraulic cylinder 6.

(48) FIGS. 6 to 9 show different embodiments of pressing wheels 30, 50, 60, 70 with single-part shape bodies, which include the main body 36, 56, 66, 76 as well as the pressing arms 31, 51, 61, 71.

(49) The pressing wheel 30 according to FIG. 6 with its radially outwardly directed pressing arms 31 has already been described further above.

(50) The pressing wheel 50 according to FIG. 7 likewise includes a main body 56 and pressing rams 51, which are directed radially outwards, departing from the main body 56. The pressing arms 51 in the transfer region are bent slightly outwards counter to the rotation direction and accordingly counter to the conveying direction F1 into the envisaged deflection direction of the contact section 53, by which means the deflection of the contact section 53 is simplified. The pressing arm 51 include an elastic arm section 58, via which the contact section 53 can be elastically deflected out of its defined movement path B.

(51) A pressing roller 54, which forms a contact surface 55, is arranged on the contact section 53. The pressing roller 54 is merely represented schematically.

(52) The pressing wheel 60 according to FIG. 8 likewise includes a main body 66 and pressing arms 61, which are directed radially outwards departing from the main body 66. The pressing arms 61 in the transfer region T run inclined obliquely outwards counter to the rotation direction and accordingly counter to the conveying direction F1. The pressing arms 61 are accordingly obliquely inclined into the envisaged deflection direction of the contact sections 63, by which means the deflection of the contact section 63 is simplified. The pressing arm 61 includes an elastic arm section 68 with a recess 67, via which the contact section 63 can be elastically deflected out of its defined movement path B. The contact surface 65 of the contact section 63 is designed as a sliding surface.

(53) The pressing wheel 70 according to FIG. 9 likewise includes a main body 76 and pressing arms 71, which are directed radially outwards departing from the main body 76. The pressing arms 71 in the transfer region T run inclined obliquely outwards counter to the rotation direction and accordingly counter to the conveying direction F1. The pressing arms 71 are accordingly obliquely inclined into the envisaged deflection direction of the contact section 73, by which means the deflection of the contact section 73 is simplified.

(54) The pressing arm 71 includes two part-arms 72a, 72b, which depart from the main body 76 and which unite towards the contact section 73. The part-arms 72a, 72b together with the main body 76 enclose a recess 77. The part-arms 72a, 72b form the elastic arm section 78, via which the contact section 73 can be elastically deflected out of its defined conveying path B.

(55) A pressing roller 74, which forms a contact surface 75, is arranged on the contact section 73, analogously to the embodiment variant according to FIG. 6.

(56) The device according to FIG. 10 is constructed analogously to the device according to FIG. 4, with the exception of the pressing circulatory device 80. The pressing circulatory device 80 includes two base bodies 86 that are spaced from one another and are each rotatably mounted about a rotation axis D1, DP.

(57) The one main body 86 is driven via a gear 42, 43 with a toothed belt 41, analogously to the pressing wheel according to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The corresponding description further above is therefore referred to with respect to the drive of the main body 86.

(58) The pressing circulatory device 80 moreover includes a toothed belt 83, which is circulatorily led around the two base bodies 86 and on which outwardly pointing pressing arms 81 that are spaced from one another are arranged.

(59) The pressing arms 81 correspond to the pressing arms, which are described in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, but with the difference that the pressing arms are not an integral part of the main body, but rather are attached on the toothed belt 83.

(60) Accordingly, the pressing arms 81 likewise each include a first and second part-arm 82a, 82b, which enclose a recess 87. Moreover, a pressing roller 84 is likewise arranged in a rotatably mounted manner on the outer end of the contact section.40