US20010054788A1 - Apparatus for feeding sheet-like articles from a stack - Google Patents
Apparatus for feeding sheet-like articles from a stack Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20010054788A1 US20010054788A1 US09/921,744 US92174401A US2001054788A1 US 20010054788 A1 US20010054788 A1 US 20010054788A1 US 92174401 A US92174401 A US 92174401A US 2001054788 A1 US2001054788 A1 US 2001054788A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- stack
- article
- suction
- articles
- suction head
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H83/00—Combinations of piling and depiling operations, e.g. performed simultaneously, of interest apart from the single operation of piling or depiling as such
- B65H83/02—Combinations of piling and depiling operations, e.g. performed simultaneously, of interest apart from the single operation of piling or depiling as such performed on the same pile or stack
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/08—Separating articles from piles using pneumatic force
- B65H3/0808—Suction grippers
- B65H3/0816—Suction grippers separating from the top of pile
- B65H3/0825—Suction grippers separating from the top of pile and acting on the rear part of the articles relatively to the final separating direction
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
- B65H2404/70—Other elements in edge contact with handled material, e.g. registering, orientating, guiding devices
- B65H2404/73—Means for sliding the handled material on a surface, e.g. pushers
- B65H2404/731—Means for sliding the handled material on a surface, e.g. pushers moved in a path enclosing an area
- B65H2404/7312—Means for sliding the handled material on a surface, e.g. pushers moved in a path enclosing an area by means of chains
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an apparatus for feeding sheet-like articles, in particular printed products such as, for example, newspapers, periodicals, parts thereof and inserts therefor, from a vertical stack thereof.
- a sucker arrangement which comprises suction heads which are fitted on a rotor which is driven in rotation.
- the suction heads which are connected to a negative-pressure source, are positioned from above on the respectively uppermost printed product of the stack.
- the printed product are then gripped under the action of the negative pressure acting on the suction opening of a suction head, and are raised off from the stack as the suction head moves further.
- the sucker arrangement brings the gripped printed product into the active region of a pushing arrangement, which comes to act on an edge of the raised-off printed product.
- the suction heads are disconnected from the negative-pressure source, as a result of which the gripped printed product is released and pushed away from the stack by the pushing arrangement.
- the sucker arrangement thus serves only for raising the printed products off from the stack, while the pushing arrangement performs the task of transporting the printed products away.
- This known apparatus requires a comparatively high level of mechanical outlay in order to control the movement of the suction heads.
- control means are necessary for periodically connecting the suction heads to the negative-pressure source and disconnecting them therefrom.
- the suction head By virtue of this movement of the suction head, the gripped article is raised off from the stack. By virtue of the movement of the sucker arrangement together with the gripped article, the latter is conveyed away from the stack. For the release of the article conveyed away in this manner, the suction head is disconnected from the negative-pressure source.
- an apparatus which comprises a rest for supporting a vertical stack of the articles, a sucker arrangement for lifting the uppermost one of the articles from the stack, and a pushing away mechanism for laterally moving the article which has been lifted from the stack by the sucker arrangement.
- the sucker arrangement includes at least one suction head which is mounted for movement in a guide element between a lowered extended position where it engages the uppermost one of the articles in the stack, and a raised retracted position.
- the suction head has a lower suction opening which is permanently connected to a negative pressure source, and a restoring element is provided for biasing the suction head toward its lowered position.
- suction head The specific design of the suction head and the particular design of the pushing away mechanism make it possible for the movement of the suction head to be controlled, without the suction opening being connected to the negative pressure source and disconnected therefrom, solely by the gripped sheet-like articles being pushed away from the suction opening.
- FIG. 1 is a side view of an apparatus for reducing a stack of sheet-like articles which embodies the present invention.
- FIG. 2 shows, on an enlarged scale and likewise in side view, the structural unit for raising, and pushing the articles away from the stack,
- FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 2, of the structural unit shown in FIG. 2,
- FIG. 4 shows the suction head in longitudinal section
- FIGS. 5 to 7 are simplified illustrations of the functioning of the structural unit for raising, and pushing away, the articles from the stack
- FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section of another embodiment of the suction head
- FIG. 9 is a section along line IX-IX in FIG. 8, and
- FIGS. 10 and 11 show two possible solutions for charging the stack.
- FIG. 1 An apparatus 1 for reducing a stack 2 is shown in its entirety in FIG. 1.
- the stack 2 is supported on a rest 3 which is arranged at a given, fixed height.
- the stack 2 comprises printed products 4 , which in this case are folded. These printed products 4 may be newspapers or periodicals and parts thereof or inserts therefor.
- a raising and pushing off unit is provided, the unit being designated 5 and being shown on an enlarged scale in FIGS. 2 and 3.
- This raising and pushing-off unit 5 is fastened on a transverse carrier 6 which is connected to two connecting carriers 7 , 8 , which are each arranged adjacent the sides of the stack 2 .
- the two connecting carriers 7 , 8 are connected to a carriage 9 which is guided in a schematically indicated longitudinal guide 10 such that it can be displaced longitudinally in the direction of the arrow B, i.e. such that it can be ajusted in height.
- Guide rollers 11 are provided on the carriage 9 and are supported on the longitudinal guide 10 .
- Acting on the carriage 9 is a balance weight 12 which is connected to the carriage 9 by means of a drawing element 13 .
- the location at which the drawing element 13 is fastened on the carriage 9 is designated 13 a .
- the drawing element 13 is guided over a stationary, rotatably mounted deflecting roller 14 .
- the balance weight 12 it is also possible to use a cylinder/piston unit or a pneumatic spring.
- a removal conveyor 15 is provided in order to remove the printed products 4 raised from the stack 2 .
- the conveyor is designed as a rocker and, in the present case, is formed by a belt conveyor.
- the latter has one or more conveying belts 16 which are arranged one beside the other and guided over deflecting rollers 17 and 18 .
- the deflecting roller 18 is mounted in the carriage 9 by way of its rotary spindle 18 a and thus moves along with the lifting movement of the carriage 9 .
- the other deflecting roller 17 is mounted in two bearing arms 19 by way of its rotary spindle 17 a , only one bearing arm being visible in FIG. 1.
- the bearing arms 19 are seated on a bearing spindle 20 , which is mounted rotatably in a framework 21 (only illustrated in part).
- a schematically indicated drive motor 22 serves for driving the belt conveyor 15 in the direction of the arrow D.
- the printed products 4 raised from the stack 2 are conveyed away in an imbricated formation S in which each printed product 4 rests on the following printed product.
- the trailing edges 4 a of the printed products 4 which in the present case are the folded edges, are thus exposed in the imbricated formation S.
- the carriage 9 is shown in the top end position.
- the bottom end position of the carriage 9 is indicated by chain-dotted lines and designated 9 ′.
- the guide rollers and the balance weight assume the position indicated at 11 ′ and 12 ′, respectively.
- the possible displacement travel of the carriage 9 is specified by the arrow C.
- the removal conveyor 15 and the carriers 6 , 7 and 8 also assume a bottom position, which is likewise depicted by chain-dotted lines in FIG. 1.
- This raising and pushing off unit 5 has a sucker arrangement 24 containing two suction heads 25 spaced apart one beside the other.
- Each suction head 25 has a suction opening 25 a (FIG. 4).
- the suction heads 25 are guided in a longitudinal guide 26 and can be displaced in the direction of their longitudinal axis.
- the hollow cylindrical longitudinal guides 26 each have likewise hollow cylindrical connection stubs 27 (FIG. 3) connected to them.
- Connected to the connection stubs 27 are connecting lines 28 , which lead to a negative pressure source (not illustrated specifically).
- Each suction opening 25 a is thus in permanent connection with the negative pressure source via the longitudinal guide 26 , the connection stub 27 and the connecting line 28 .
- each suction head 25 and the fixed connection stub 27 Arranged between each suction head 25 and the fixed connection stub 27 is a compression spring 29 , which biases the suction head 25 toward its extended, receiving position, which is shown on the left-hand side in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 4.
- a compression spring 29 Arranged between each suction head 25 and the fixed connection stub 27 is a compression spring 29 , which biases the suction head 25 toward its extended, receiving position, which is shown on the left-hand side in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 4.
- an annular shoulder 30 is formed (FIG. 4) on each longitudinal guide 26 .
- the annular shoulder interacts with an annular protrusion 31 on the suction head 25 in the extended end position of the suction head 25 .
- Each longitudinal guide 26 is fastened on a securing element 32 , which is connected to a connecting part 33 .
- the latter is fastened on a bearing part 34 , which is connected to a longitudinal carrier 35 .
- the raising and pushing off unit 5 also contains two pushing away units 38 , which are likewise spaced apart one beside the other.
- Each pushing away unit 38 is located in the vicinity of a suction nozzle 25 , as FIG. 3 shows.
- Each pushing away unit 38 has a number of pushing away protrusions 39 , which are fastened at regular intervals on an endless conveying chain 40 .
- Each of these conveying chains 40 is guided over deflecting wheels 41 and 42 .
- the deflecting wheels 41 , 42 are fastened rotatably in a load bearing framework 44 formed by the already mentioned structural elements 34 - 37 and a fastening linkage 43 (FIG. 2).
- a deflecting wheel of each pushing away unit 38 e.g. the deflecting wheel 42 , is driven in the clockwise direction via a drive (not illustrated), which results in the pushing away protrusions 39 being moved in the direction of the arrow F.
- the raising and pushing off unit 5 also has two holding down elements 46 spaced apart one beside the other.
- Each holding down element 46 is fastened on a securing means 47 (FIG. 2), which is seated in a rotationally fixed manner on a shaft 48 .
- This shaft 48 is mounted rotatably in a mounting part 49 , which is fastened on a carrier 50 belonging to the fastening linkage 43 .
- Connected to the shaft 48 is a lever 51 which engages in an elongate guide slot 53 in a control lever 54 by way of a bolt 52 .
- the control lever 54 is seated on a shaft 55 , which is mounted rotatably in a load bearing framework 44 in a manner which will not be described in any more detail.
- a control lever 56 is fixed to the shaft 55 .
- the control lever 56 interacts with a control element 58 which is fastened on the common shaft 57 of the deflecting wheels 41 , and thus rotates along with the deflecting wheels 41 , and has projecting control fingers 59 (FIG. 2).
- three control fingers 59 are provided, these acting on the control lever 56 , and raising the same, periodically in each case.
- the action of raising the control lever 56 results in the control lever 54 being pivoted into the position which is shown by chain-dotted lines in FIG. 2 and is designated 54 ′.
- the lever 51 is pivoted into the position designated 51 ′, which results in the holding-down elements 46 being pivoted rearward into the position designated 46 ′ in FIG. 2.
- the raising and pushing-off unit 5 also has a supporting arrangement 60 , which serves for supporting the load-bearing framework 44 and the load-bearing structure, formed by the carriers 6 , 7 and 8 , on the stack 2 .
- This supporting arrangement 60 contains a transverse carrier 61 , which is supported on the longitudinal carrier 35 of the load-bearing framework 44 via a connecting element 62 .
- the connecting element 62 is mounted pivotably on the longitudinal carrier 35 . It is thus possible for the connecting element 62 and the transverse carrier 61 to execute an oscillating movement about the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal carrier 35 . This pivoting or oscillating movement is indicated by the arrow G in FIG. 3.
- connection elements 63 , 64 Fastened on the transverse carrier 61 are connecting elements 63 , 64 in which load-bearing bars 65 and 66 are respectively retained, the longitudinal axes of the bars running essentially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the transverse carrier 61 .
- a supporting wheel 67 , 68 is mounted rotatably at the bottom, free end of each load-bearing bar 65 , 66 , respectively.
- These supporting wheels 67 , 68 rest on the stack in the region of the side edges 2 a , 2 b , in the corners of the stack 2 . As can be seen from FIG. 2 in particular, the supporting wheels 67 , 68 are positioned obliquely.
- the suction heads 25 are fixed in height in relation to the supporting wheels 67 , 68 such that, in their extended, receiving position, the suction heads 25 rest on the respectively uppermost printed product 4 ′ of the stack 2 by way of the suction opening 25 a , as is shown on the left-hand side in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 5.
- the suction opening 25 a thereof which is connected permanently to the negative pressure source, is closed by the uppermost printed product 4 ′.
- a negative pressure is then produced in the interior of the suction heads 25 .
- This means that the uppermost printed product 4 ′ is lifted from the stack 2 in the region of its trailing edge 4 a and moved into the movement path of the pushing away protrusions 39 (FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, right-hand side, FIG. 6).
- next pushing away protrusion 39 comes to act on the raised printed product 4 ′ in the region of its trailing edge 4 a and, as it moves further in the direction of the arrow F, pushes the uppermost printed product 4 ′ away from the stack 2 , as FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 show.
- the suction openings 25 a of the suction heads 25 are still closed (FIG. 6), but are released to an increasing extent.
- the pushing-away protrusions 39 of the pushing away units 38 move the printed products 4 into the active region of the removal conveyor 15 , by means of which the printed products 4 pushed away from the stack 2 are removed in an imbricated formation S (FIG. 1). It should be pointed out here that it is, of course, also possible for the spacings between the pushing away protrusions 39 to be selected such that the pushed off printed products 4 , rather than overlapping on the removal conveyor 15 and thus being conveyed away in an imbricated formation S, are conveyed away one behind the other. It is possible to adjust the phase position of the pushing away protrusions 39 in relation to the lifted printed products 4 , as a result of which it is possible to coordinate the point in time at which the printed products 4 are pushed away.
- the holding down elements 46 are located in a rear, standby position when the suction heads 25 assume their front, receiving position and rest on the uppermost printed product 4 ′.
- This standby position is depicted by chain-dotted lines, and designated 46 ′ in FIG. 2 and is illustrated on the left-hand side in FIG. 3.
- the holding down elements 46 controlled by the control fingers 59 , the control lever 54 and the lever 51 , are moved against the top side of the stack 2 .
- the holding down elements 46 which press on the stack 2 from above in their active position, are intended to ensure that, as the previously raised printed product 4 ′ is being pushed away by the pushing away protrusions 39 , the printed product 4 located therebeneath is not carried along with it.
- the suction heads 25 are moved out of their retracted, discharge position into the extended, receiving position again as soon as their suction openings 25 a have been released.
- This makes it possible to reduce the period of time taken by an operating cycle of the suction heads 25 with the suction openings 25 a being of the smallest possible dimension in the pushing-off direction F.
- the suction opening 25 a′ is designed in the manner of a longitudinal slot, as is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.
- the suction opening 25 a′ designed as a slot-type nozzle, extends here in a direction which forms an angle of approximately 90° with the pushing-off direction F.
- a new stack 2 ′ is moved in beneath the rest 3 , on which the stack 2 is located. Once the stack 2 has been reduced almost completely, then the stack 2 ′ located therebeneath can be pushed upward in a manner which is not illustrated specifically. The stack 2 ′ can be pushed up in this way either during a break in the stack-reducing operation or as the stack 2 is being reduced.
- the rests 3 , 3 ′ alternately perform the stack supporting function.
- 2 ′′ designates a further stack which, once the stack 2 ′ has been pushed up into the stack reducing position, is displaced to the location of said stack 2 ′.
- new printed products 4 are constantly fed to the stack 2 from beneath, the printed products being fed in an imbricated formation S′, in the direction of the arrow H, by means of a feed conveyor 70 .
- imbricated formation S′ each printed product 4 rests on the following printed product in each case.
- the charging of the stack 2 thus takes place in a manner similar to that for the apparatus according to EP-A-0 806 391, mentioned in the introduction, the difference being that the feed conveyor 70 , rather than having to be designed as a rocker, may be arranged such that its position cannot be changed.
- the feed conveyor 70 performs the function of the fixed height rest 3 of the apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 10.
- the printed product 4 secured by the suction heads 25 in each case is pushed away from the suction heads 25 by the pushing away protrusions 39 of the pushing away units 38 in order to release the suction opening 25 a of the suction heads 25 .
- the pushing away protrusions 39 move past the fixed suction heads 25 .
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
- Pile Receivers (AREA)
- Feeding Of Articles By Means Other Than Belts Or Rollers (AREA)
- Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present application is a continuation of PCT/CH99/00529, filed Nov. 10, 1999, and designating the United States.
- The present invention relates to an apparatus for feeding sheet-like articles, in particular printed products such as, for example, newspapers, periodicals, parts thereof and inserts therefor, from a vertical stack thereof.
- In a known apparatus of this type (EP-A-0806 391), a sucker arrangement is provided which comprises suction heads which are fitted on a rotor which is driven in rotation. The suction heads, which are connected to a negative-pressure source, are positioned from above on the respectively uppermost printed product of the stack. The printed product are then gripped under the action of the negative pressure acting on the suction opening of a suction head, and are raised off from the stack as the suction head moves further. The sucker arrangement brings the gripped printed product into the active region of a pushing arrangement, which comes to act on an edge of the raised-off printed product. At this point in time, the suction heads are disconnected from the negative-pressure source, as a result of which the gripped printed product is released and pushed away from the stack by the pushing arrangement.
- The sucker arrangement thus serves only for raising the printed products off from the stack, while the pushing arrangement performs the task of transporting the printed products away.
- This known apparatus requires a comparatively high level of mechanical outlay in order to control the movement of the suction heads. In addition, control means are necessary for periodically connecting the suction heads to the negative-pressure source and disconnecting them therefrom.
- Also known are apparatuses which are intended for raising sheet-like articles off from a stack and transporting them away (EP-A-0 585 924 and GB-A-712,337) and have sucker arrangements in which the suction head is guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner in a guide. The suction head is retained in its front, receiving position by means of an elastically deformable restoring element, e.g. a compression spring. If the suction head, with the suction opening connected to the negative-pressure source, is positioned on the uppermost article of the stack, which results in the suction opening being closed, then the suction head automatically moves rearward, counter to the action of the restoring element, into a rear, discharge position. By virtue of this movement of the suction head, the gripped article is raised off from the stack. By virtue of the movement of the sucker arrangement together with the gripped article, the latter is conveyed away from the stack. For the release of the article conveyed away in this manner, the suction head is disconnected from the negative-pressure source.
- These solutions thus require a control means for connecting the negative-pressure source to the suction opening of the suction heads and disconnecting it therefrom.
- It is an object of the present invention described above, to provide an apparatus of the type with a relatively straightforward design and control which requires less outlay, and allows a stack to be reduced satisfactorily without the products being adversely affected.
- The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the provision of an apparatus which comprises a rest for supporting a vertical stack of the articles, a sucker arrangement for lifting the uppermost one of the articles from the stack, and a pushing away mechanism for laterally moving the article which has been lifted from the stack by the sucker arrangement. The sucker arrangement includes at least one suction head which is mounted for movement in a guide element between a lowered extended position where it engages the uppermost one of the articles in the stack, and a raised retracted position. Also, the suction head has a lower suction opening which is permanently connected to a negative pressure source, and a restoring element is provided for biasing the suction head toward its lowered position.
- The specific design of the suction head and the particular design of the pushing away mechanism make it possible for the movement of the suction head to be controlled, without the suction opening being connected to the negative pressure source and disconnected therefrom, solely by the gripped sheet-like articles being pushed away from the suction opening.
- Exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, purely schematically:
- FIG. 1 is a side view of an apparatus for reducing a stack of sheet-like articles which embodies the present invention.
- FIG. 2 shows, on an enlarged scale and likewise in side view, the structural unit for raising, and pushing the articles away from the stack,
- FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 2, of the structural unit shown in FIG. 2,
- FIG. 4 shows the suction head in longitudinal section,
- FIGS.5 to 7 are simplified illustrations of the functioning of the structural unit for raising, and pushing away, the articles from the stack,
- FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section of another embodiment of the suction head,
- FIG. 9 is a section along line IX-IX in FIG. 8, and
- FIGS. 10 and 11 show two possible solutions for charging the stack.
- An
apparatus 1 for reducing astack 2 is shown in its entirety in FIG. 1. Thestack 2 is supported on arest 3 which is arranged at a given, fixed height. In the present exemplary embodiment, thestack 2 comprises printedproducts 4, which in this case are folded. These printedproducts 4 may be newspapers or periodicals and parts thereof or inserts therefor. - In order to raise, and to push away, the respectively uppermost printed
product 4 from thestack 2, a raising and pushing off unit is provided, the unit being designated 5 and being shown on an enlarged scale in FIGS. 2 and 3. This raising and pushing-offunit 5 is fastened on atransverse carrier 6 which is connected to two connectingcarriers stack 2. - The two connecting
carriers carriage 9 which is guided in a schematically indicatedlongitudinal guide 10 such that it can be displaced longitudinally in the direction of the arrow B, i.e. such that it can be ajusted in height.Guide rollers 11 are provided on thecarriage 9 and are supported on thelongitudinal guide 10. Acting on thecarriage 9 is abalance weight 12 which is connected to thecarriage 9 by means of adrawing element 13. The location at which thedrawing element 13 is fastened on thecarriage 9 is designated 13 a. Thedrawing element 13 is guided over a stationary, rotatably mounteddeflecting roller 14. Instead of thebalance weight 12, it is also possible to use a cylinder/piston unit or a pneumatic spring. - A
removal conveyor 15 is provided in order to remove the printedproducts 4 raised from thestack 2. The conveyor is designed as a rocker and, in the present case, is formed by a belt conveyor. The latter has one or more conveyingbelts 16 which are arranged one beside the other and guided over deflectingrollers roller 18 is mounted in thecarriage 9 by way of itsrotary spindle 18 a and thus moves along with the lifting movement of thecarriage 9. The other deflectingroller 17 is mounted in two bearingarms 19 by way of itsrotary spindle 17 a, only one bearing arm being visible in FIG. 1. The bearingarms 19 are seated on abearing spindle 20, which is mounted rotatably in a framework 21 (only illustrated in part). A schematically indicateddrive motor 22 serves for driving thebelt conveyor 15 in the direction of the arrow D. - As can be seen from FIG. 1, the printed
products 4 raised from thestack 2 are conveyed away in an imbricated formation S in which each printedproduct 4 rests on the following printed product. Thetrailing edges 4 a of the printedproducts 4, which in the present case are the folded edges, are thus exposed in the imbricated formation S. - In FIG. 1, the
carriage 9 is shown in the top end position. The bottom end position of thecarriage 9 is indicated by chain-dotted lines and designated 9′. In this bottom end position of thecarriage 9, the guide rollers and the balance weight assume the position indicated at 11′ and 12′, respectively. The possible displacement travel of thecarriage 9 is specified by the arrow C. In this bottom end position of thecarriage 9, theremoval conveyor 15 and thecarriers - The construction of the raising and pushing off
unit 5 will now be explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. - This raising and pushing off
unit 5 has asucker arrangement 24 containing twosuction heads 25 spaced apart one beside the other. Eachsuction head 25 has a suction opening 25 a (FIG. 4). Thesuction heads 25 are guided in alongitudinal guide 26 and can be displaced in the direction of their longitudinal axis. The hollow cylindricallongitudinal guides 26 each have likewise hollow cylindrical connection stubs 27 (FIG. 3) connected to them. Connected to the connection stubs 27 are connectinglines 28, which lead to a negative pressure source (not illustrated specifically). Each suction opening 25 a is thus in permanent connection with the negative pressure source via thelongitudinal guide 26, theconnection stub 27 and the connectingline 28. - Arranged between each
suction head 25 and the fixedconnection stub 27 is acompression spring 29, which biases thesuction head 25 toward its extended, receiving position, which is shown on the left-hand side in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 4. In order to prevent the suction heads 25 from being forced out of thelongitudinal guides 26, anannular shoulder 30 is formed (FIG. 4) on eachlongitudinal guide 26. The annular shoulder interacts with anannular protrusion 31 on thesuction head 25 in the extended end position of thesuction head 25. - Each
longitudinal guide 26 is fastened on a securingelement 32, which is connected to a connectingpart 33. The latter is fastened on a bearingpart 34, which is connected to alongitudinal carrier 35. A connectingelement 36 connects thelongitudinal carrier 35 to a load =bearingcolumn 37, which is fastened on thetransverse carrier 6. - The raising and pushing off
unit 5 also contains two pushing awayunits 38, which are likewise spaced apart one beside the other. Each pushing awayunit 38 is located in the vicinity of asuction nozzle 25, as FIG. 3 shows. Each pushing awayunit 38 has a number of pushing awayprotrusions 39, which are fastened at regular intervals on an endless conveyingchain 40. Each of these conveyingchains 40 is guided over deflectingwheels wheels load bearing framework 44 formed by the already mentioned structural elements 34-37 and a fastening linkage 43 (FIG. 2). A deflecting wheel of each pushing awayunit 38, e.g. the deflectingwheel 42, is driven in the clockwise direction via a drive (not illustrated), which results in the pushing awayprotrusions 39 being moved in the direction of the arrow F. - The raising and pushing off
unit 5 also has two holding downelements 46 spaced apart one beside the other. Each holding downelement 46 is fastened on a securing means 47 (FIG. 2), which is seated in a rotationally fixed manner on ashaft 48. Thisshaft 48 is mounted rotatably in a mountingpart 49, which is fastened on acarrier 50 belonging to thefastening linkage 43. Connected to theshaft 48 is alever 51 which engages in anelongate guide slot 53 in acontrol lever 54 by way of abolt 52. Thecontrol lever 54 is seated on ashaft 55, which is mounted rotatably in aload bearing framework 44 in a manner which will not be described in any more detail. Acontrol lever 56 is fixed to theshaft 55. Thecontrol lever 56 interacts with acontrol element 58 which is fastened on thecommon shaft 57 of the deflectingwheels 41, and thus rotates along with the deflectingwheels 41, and has projecting control fingers 59 (FIG. 2). In the present case, threecontrol fingers 59 are provided, these acting on thecontrol lever 56, and raising the same, periodically in each case. The action of raising thecontrol lever 56 results in thecontrol lever 54 being pivoted into the position which is shown by chain-dotted lines in FIG. 2 and is designated 54′. By virtue of the movement of thecontrol lever 54, thelever 51 is pivoted into the position designated 51′, which results in the holding-downelements 46 being pivoted rearward into the position designated 46′ in FIG. 2. - The raising and pushing-off
unit 5 also has a supportingarrangement 60, which serves for supporting the load-bearingframework 44 and the load-bearing structure, formed by thecarriers stack 2. This supportingarrangement 60 contains atransverse carrier 61, which is supported on thelongitudinal carrier 35 of the load-bearingframework 44 via a connectingelement 62. The connectingelement 62 is mounted pivotably on thelongitudinal carrier 35. It is thus possible for the connectingelement 62 and thetransverse carrier 61 to execute an oscillating movement about the longitudinal axis of thelongitudinal carrier 35. This pivoting or oscillating movement is indicated by the arrow G in FIG. 3. - Fastened on the
transverse carrier 61 are connectingelements bars transverse carrier 61. A supportingwheel bearing bar wheels stack 2. As can be seen from FIG. 2 in particular, the supportingwheels rotation wheels stack 2. - It can be gathered from the description of the construction of the
apparatus 1 for reducing thestack 2 which has been provided to this point that the raising and pushing-offunit 5, which is supported on thestack 2 via the supportingarrangement 60, follows thestack 2 as the latter is being reduced, which has yet to be described. The load bearing structure, which is formed by thecarriers carriage 9, guided in theguide 10, theload bearing framework 44 and the components fastened on the latter, as thestack 2 is being reduced. As FIG. 1 shows, theremoval conveyor 15 also moves along with this lowering movement of thestructural unit 5 and of thecarriage 9, the bearingarms 19 thus pivoting in the direction of the arrow E. - The functioning of the raising and pushing off
unit 5 will now be described hereinbelow with reference, in particular, to FIGS. 2 to 7. - The suction heads25 are fixed in height in relation to the supporting
wheels product 4′ of thestack 2 by way of the suction opening 25 a, as is shown on the left-hand side in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 5. In this position of the suction heads 25, the suction opening 25 a thereof, which is connected permanently to the negative pressure source, is closed by the uppermost printedproduct 4′. A negative pressure is then produced in the interior of the suction heads 25. This results in the suction heads 25 being raised together with the gripped printedproduct 4′ and moving, counter to the action of the compression springs 29, from the extended, receiving position into the retracted position. This means that the uppermost printedproduct 4′ is lifted from thestack 2 in the region of itstrailing edge 4 a and moved into the movement path of the pushing away protrusions 39 (FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, right-hand side, FIG. 6). - The next pushing away
protrusion 39 comes to act on the raised printedproduct 4′ in the region of itstrailing edge 4 a and, as it moves further in the direction of the arrow F, pushes the uppermost printedproduct 4′ away from thestack 2, as FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 show. At the beginning of the displacement path of the uppermost printedproduct 41, thesuction openings 25 a of the suction heads 25 are still closed (FIG. 6), but are released to an increasing extent. As soon as the gripped printedproduct 4′ has been pushed away in its entirety from the suction opening 25 a of the suction heads 25, the suction heads 25 return, under the action of thecompression spring 29, into their front, receiving position, in which, as has been mentioned, they come to rest on the next printedproduct 4 by way of theirsuction openings 25 a. As a result, the above described lifting operation begins anew. - The pushing-away
protrusions 39 of the pushing awayunits 38 move the printedproducts 4 into the active region of theremoval conveyor 15, by means of which the printedproducts 4 pushed away from thestack 2 are removed in an imbricated formation S (FIG. 1). It should be pointed out here that it is, of course, also possible for the spacings between the pushing awayprotrusions 39 to be selected such that the pushed off printedproducts 4, rather than overlapping on theremoval conveyor 15 and thus being conveyed away in an imbricated formation S, are conveyed away one behind the other. It is possible to adjust the phase position of the pushing awayprotrusions 39 in relation to the lifted printedproducts 4, as a result of which it is possible to coordinate the point in time at which the printedproducts 4 are pushed away. - As FIGS. 2 and 3 show, the holding down
elements 46 are located in a rear, standby position when the suction heads 25 assume their front, receiving position and rest on the uppermost printedproduct 4′. This standby position is depicted by chain-dotted lines, and designated 46′ in FIG. 2 and is illustrated on the left-hand side in FIG. 3. As the suction heads 25 move away from thestack 2 in the manner described, the holding downelements 46, controlled by thecontrol fingers 59, thecontrol lever 54 and thelever 51, are moved against the top side of thestack 2. They come to rest on top of thestack 2 in an active position in the region of the trailingedge 4 a of the printedproducts 4 as soon as the uppermost printedproduct 4′ has been raised from thestack 2 by the suction heads 25, but before the uppermost printedproduct 4′ has been pushed away. This active position of the holding downelements 46 is illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 2 and on the right-hand side in FIG. 3. - The holding down
elements 46, which press on thestack 2 from above in their active position, are intended to ensure that, as the previously raised printedproduct 4′ is being pushed away by the pushing awayprotrusions 39, the printedproduct 4 located therebeneath is not carried along with it. - As soon as the
control lever 56 runs off thecontrol finger 59, the holding downelements 46 are pivoted back into their retracted, standby position. - As has been described, the suction heads25 are moved out of their retracted, discharge position into the extended, receiving position again as soon as their
suction openings 25 a have been released. This makes it possible to reduce the period of time taken by an operating cycle of the suction heads 25 with thesuction openings 25 a being of the smallest possible dimension in the pushing-off direction F. In order nevertheless to achieve a sufficientlylarge suction opening 25 a, it is the case in a preferred embodiment that the suction opening 25 a′ is designed in the manner of a longitudinal slot, as is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. Thesuction opening 25 a′, designed as a slot-type nozzle, extends here in a direction which forms an angle of approximately 90° with the pushing-off direction F. - Two variants for charging the
stack 2 which is to be reduced will be explained with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. - In the embodiment according to FIG. 10, a
new stack 2′ is moved in beneath therest 3, on which thestack 2 is located. Once thestack 2 has been reduced almost completely, then thestack 2′ located therebeneath can be pushed upward in a manner which is not illustrated specifically. Thestack 2′ can be pushed up in this way either during a break in the stack-reducing operation or as thestack 2 is being reduced. The rests 3, 3′ alternately perform the stack supporting function. - In FIG. 10,2″ designates a further stack which, once the
stack 2′ has been pushed up into the stack reducing position, is displaced to the location of saidstack 2′. - In the embodiment which is shown in FIG. 11, new printed
products 4 are constantly fed to thestack 2 from beneath, the printed products being fed in an imbricated formation S′, in the direction of the arrow H, by means of afeed conveyor 70. In the imbricated formation S′, each printedproduct 4 rests on the following printed product in each case. The charging of thestack 2 thus takes place in a manner similar to that for the apparatus according to EP-A-0 806 391, mentioned in the introduction, the difference being that thefeed conveyor 70, rather than having to be designed as a rocker, may be arranged such that its position cannot be changed. This is possible because, on account of being supported on the top side of the stack and being mounted in a moveable manner, the raising and pushing offunit 5 is capable of following the changing level of the top side of thestack 2. Thefeed conveyor 70 performs the function of the fixedheight rest 3 of theapparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 10. - A considerable advantage of the apparatus according to the invention can also be gathered from what has been said above. This is because the apparatus according to the invention does not require the height of the
rest 3 or of thefeed conveyor 70 to be controlled such that the top side of thestack 2 is always at the same level, because the raising and pushing offunit 5 is capable of following the changing height of the top side of thestack 2. - It goes without saying that various components, in particular the pushing away
units 38 and the holding downelements 46 and the drive thereof, may also be designed in a manner other than that which has been described and shown. It is possible, for example, for the printedproducts 4 lifted by thesuction arrangement 24 to be pushed away by means of a pushing arrangement as has been described in the previously mentioned EP-A-0 806 391. - In the exemplary embodiments shown, the printed
product 4 secured by the suction heads 25 in each case is pushed away from the suction heads 25 by the pushing awayprotrusions 39 of the pushing awayunits 38 in order to release the suction opening 25 a of the suction heads 25. In other words, the pushing awayprotrusions 39 move past the fixed suction heads 25. - In order for the gripped printed
products 4 to be pushed away from the suction heads 25, it is also possible, with otherwise the same functioning of the suction heads 25, for the latter to be moved, together with the gripped printedproduct 4, against stationary stops. The gripped printedproduct 4 positioned against these stops is prevented from moving further and the suction heads 25 slide off the printedproduct 4 as they move further, which results in thesuction openings 25 a being released. The suction heads 25 are then moved away from the stops again back into the starting position, in order to grip the next printed product. This requires a corresponding control means and extends the duration of an operating cycle.
Claims (12)
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CH227/99 | 1999-02-05 | ||
CH22799 | 1999-02-05 | ||
CH0227/99 | 1999-02-05 | ||
PCT/CH1999/000529 WO2000046135A1 (en) | 1999-02-05 | 1999-11-10 | Device for unstacking a pile of flat objects, especially printing products |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/CH1999/000529 Continuation WO2000046135A1 (en) | 1999-02-05 | 1999-11-10 | Device for unstacking a pile of flat objects, especially printing products |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20010054788A1 true US20010054788A1 (en) | 2001-12-27 |
US6364307B2 US6364307B2 (en) | 2002-04-02 |
Family
ID=4182188
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/921,744 Expired - Fee Related US6364307B2 (en) | 1999-02-05 | 2001-08-03 | Apparatus for feeding sheet-like articles from a stack |
Country Status (10)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6364307B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1149036B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4251258B2 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE259329T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU768106B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2361603C (en) |
DE (1) | DE59908540D1 (en) |
DK (1) | DK1149036T3 (en) |
RU (1) | RU2237003C2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000046135A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20040032075A1 (en) * | 2001-02-15 | 2004-02-19 | Ferag Ag | Apparatus and method for destacking a stack of flat articles |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6755412B1 (en) * | 2002-07-23 | 2004-06-29 | Charles Dwayne Glowner | High speed overlapping insert feeding assembly |
ATE469084T1 (en) | 2002-09-12 | 2010-06-15 | Ferag Ag | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROCESSING AND SEPARATING A SCALE-LIKE FORMATION OF FLEXIBLE, FLAT OBJECTS |
DE502004006833D1 (en) * | 2003-12-12 | 2008-05-29 | Ferag Ag | Device for dismantling a stack of flat objects |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5037080A (en) * | 1989-03-04 | 1991-08-06 | Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag | Device for scanning the length of a sheet in a sheet processing machine, especially a sheet-fed rotary printing press |
US5094439A (en) * | 1990-04-21 | 1992-03-10 | Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag | Device for locking a suction nozzle of a separating sucker on a suction head of a sheet feeder |
US5863037A (en) * | 1995-10-06 | 1999-01-26 | Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag | Sheet guide device for sheet feeders |
US6155555A (en) * | 1997-12-20 | 2000-12-05 | Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft | Device for supplying air to electromagnetic linearly driven lifters air consumers of a sheet-processing machine |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB712337A (en) | 1950-12-21 | 1954-07-21 | Dux Ab | Improvements in pneumatic sheet-separating apparatus |
GB2077240B (en) * | 1980-06-11 | 1984-10-31 | Molins Ltd | Sheet separating and feeding apparatus |
US4397457A (en) | 1980-06-11 | 1983-08-09 | Molins Limited | Sheet feeding apparatus |
JP2568437Y2 (en) | 1992-09-03 | 1998-04-15 | 株式会社小森コーポレーション | Paper suction device |
DE4423972C2 (en) * | 1994-07-07 | 1997-03-27 | Holzma Maschinenbau Gmbh | Loading device for panel saws |
DE19528420A1 (en) | 1995-08-02 | 1997-02-06 | Franz Schweiberer | Machine for single withdrawal of sheet=form press product, especially newspapers - has additional advancing mechanism downstream of advancing unit formed from equally acting carrier wheels located one behind other and provided with dogs located around periphery |
AU711307B2 (en) | 1996-05-06 | 1999-10-07 | Ferag Ag | Device for feeding printed products to a further processing point |
-
1999
- 1999-11-10 AT AT99952213T patent/ATE259329T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1999-11-10 JP JP2000597215A patent/JP4251258B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1999-11-10 DE DE59908540T patent/DE59908540D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1999-11-10 AU AU64579/99A patent/AU768106B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1999-11-10 EP EP99952213A patent/EP1149036B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1999-11-10 WO PCT/CH1999/000529 patent/WO2000046135A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1999-11-10 DK DK99952213T patent/DK1149036T3/en active
- 1999-11-10 CA CA002361603A patent/CA2361603C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1999-11-10 RU RU2001124560/12A patent/RU2237003C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2001
- 2001-08-03 US US09/921,744 patent/US6364307B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5037080A (en) * | 1989-03-04 | 1991-08-06 | Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag | Device for scanning the length of a sheet in a sheet processing machine, especially a sheet-fed rotary printing press |
US5094439A (en) * | 1990-04-21 | 1992-03-10 | Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag | Device for locking a suction nozzle of a separating sucker on a suction head of a sheet feeder |
US5863037A (en) * | 1995-10-06 | 1999-01-26 | Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag | Sheet guide device for sheet feeders |
US6155555A (en) * | 1997-12-20 | 2000-12-05 | Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft | Device for supplying air to electromagnetic linearly driven lifters air consumers of a sheet-processing machine |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20040032075A1 (en) * | 2001-02-15 | 2004-02-19 | Ferag Ag | Apparatus and method for destacking a stack of flat articles |
US6886826B2 (en) | 2001-02-15 | 2005-05-03 | Ferag Ag | Apparatus and method for destacking a stack of flat articles |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US6364307B2 (en) | 2002-04-02 |
RU2237003C2 (en) | 2004-09-27 |
ATE259329T1 (en) | 2004-02-15 |
AU768106B2 (en) | 2003-12-04 |
CA2361603C (en) | 2008-05-27 |
EP1149036A1 (en) | 2001-10-31 |
JP4251258B2 (en) | 2009-04-08 |
JP2002536269A (en) | 2002-10-29 |
CA2361603A1 (en) | 2000-08-10 |
DK1149036T3 (en) | 2004-04-13 |
EP1149036B1 (en) | 2004-02-11 |
WO2000046135A1 (en) | 2000-08-10 |
DE59908540D1 (en) | 2004-03-18 |
AU6457999A (en) | 2000-08-25 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
CA2054514C (en) | Envelope stuffing apparatus | |
EP0539231B1 (en) | Envelope stuffing apparatus with adjustable deck for handling different styled envelopes | |
CA1264167A (en) | Method and apparatus for opening printed products which have been folded off-center | |
US5060929A (en) | Sheet delivery device with auxiliary deposit table | |
US5398920A (en) | Process and apparatus for delivering preferably folded printing products to a further processing point | |
US5433429A (en) | Method and apparatus for the exact separation of main and auxiliary stacks in non-stop deliveries of sheet-processing printing machines | |
US5474286A (en) | Process and device for opening folded printed products | |
CA1287843C (en) | Method and apparatus for receiving folded printed products from printing machines or the like | |
US6206361B1 (en) | Device for separating blanks | |
US6364307B2 (en) | Apparatus for feeding sheet-like articles from a stack | |
JPS63503137A (en) | A method of accumulating documents and an accumulating machine for carrying out the method | |
US4911421A (en) | Newspaper handling and collating method and apparatus | |
US3608891A (en) | Mechanism for successively delivering sheet articles from a stack thereof to a folding machine | |
EP1748013B1 (en) | Apparatus for collating printed sheets | |
US5199699A (en) | Base having anti-vibration means | |
CA1265488A (en) | Apparatus for folding front and rear flaps in a wraparound caser | |
CA2181966A1 (en) | Apparatus for delivering printed products to a further-processing location | |
JPH04226333A (en) | Feed table for feed station of machine to cut and print sheet-like processed product for manufacture into package | |
US4919413A (en) | Newspaper handling and collating method and apparatus | |
JPH07277582A (en) | Method and device to accurately separate rear edge of leaf paper of major pile and subsidiary pile of leaf papers | |
US5996987A (en) | Device for feeding printed product to a further processing point | |
US4397456A (en) | Apparatus for separation of a stack of folded or bound, multi-sheet printed products | |
US20010022426A1 (en) | Device for braking sample and defective sheets of a sheet-processing machine | |
US5979888A (en) | Lapped stream feeding adaption for sheet material articles | |
US4616816A (en) | Apparatus for superposing flexible flat structures, especially sheets and signatures, and method of using such apparatus |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FERAG AG, SWEDEN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:LEU, WILLY;REEL/FRAME:012056/0680 Effective date: 20010727 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20140402 |