EP0010566A1 - Collecting device for flat goods, particularly cards - Google Patents
Collecting device for flat goods, particularly cards Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0010566A1 EP0010566A1 EP79100741A EP79100741A EP0010566A1 EP 0010566 A1 EP0010566 A1 EP 0010566A1 EP 79100741 A EP79100741 A EP 79100741A EP 79100741 A EP79100741 A EP 79100741A EP 0010566 A1 EP0010566 A1 EP 0010566A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- collating device
- collecting
- goods
- collecting member
- conveyor
- 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
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 235000013405 beer Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005057 finger movement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
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
- B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
- B65H29/38—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by movable piling or advancing arms, frames, plates, or like members with which the articles are maintained in face contact
- B65H29/40—Members rotated about an axis perpendicular to direction of article movement, e.g. star-wheels formed by S-shaped members
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H31/00—Pile receivers
- B65H31/30—Arrangements for removing completed piles
- B65H31/3081—Arrangements for removing completed piles by acting on edge of the pile for moving it along a surface, e.g. by pushing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H39/00—Associating, collating, or gathering articles or webs
- B65H39/02—Associating,collating or gathering articles from several sources
- B65H39/06—Associating,collating or gathering articles from several sources from delivery streams
- B65H39/065—Associating,collating or gathering articles from several sources from delivery streams by collecting in rotary carriers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
- B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
- B65H2301/421—Forming a pile
- B65H2301/4217—Forming multiple piles
- B65H2301/42172—Forming multiple piles simultaneously
-
- 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
- B65H2404/60—Other elements in face contact with handled material
- B65H2404/65—Other elements in face contact with handled material rotating around an axis parallel to face of material and perpendicular to transport direction, e.g. star wheel
- B65H2404/653—Other elements in face contact with handled material rotating around an axis parallel to face of material and perpendicular to transport direction, e.g. star wheel having 3 or 4 elements
-
- 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
- B65H2404/732—Means for sliding the handled material on a surface, e.g. pushers in a direction perpendicular to a feeding / delivery 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
- B65H2404/733—Means for sliding the handled material on a surface, e.g. pushers reciprocating
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2405/00—Parts for holding the handled material
- B65H2405/10—Cassettes, holders, bins, decks, trays, supports or magazines for sheets stacked substantially horizontally
- B65H2405/11—Parts and details thereof
- B65H2405/111—Bottom
- B65H2405/1115—Bottom with surface inclined, e.g. in width-wise 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
- B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
- B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
- B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
- B65H2701/1914—Cards, e.g. telephone, credit and identity cards
Definitions
- the invention relates to a collating device for flat goods, particularly cards, which comprises an endless conveyor with at least one conveying strip for the goods.
- Conveying strip should be understood here in the largest meaning in such a way that it might mean hereinafter both a perforated or unperforated belt or band and one or more chains.
- Such devices are notably used for collating playing cards.
- the cut-out playing cards are located in one or more rows on the top portion of an endless conveying band.
- the collating device does not allow obtaining separate packages corresponding to a card set ; there is obtained a continuous row of vertically piled cards which have then to be distributed manually in packages corresponding to a set.
- a second drawback lies in the collating occuring with a limited speed so that the manufacturing speed is not only limited by a linear speed not to be exceeded when cutting, but also due to the collating operation.
- the invention has now for object to obviate these drawbacks and to provide a collating device for flat goods, particularly cards, which can operate very fast and whereby the goods are collected in small groups of a well-determined number and according to a well-determined sequence.
- the collating device comprises at least one collecting member which is mounted facing the one end of the endless conveying strip, to collect the goods to be collated which are fed along the top side of said conveying strip, said collecting member having one portion which forms at least during the collecting of goods, a stop therefor and one portion that stands on the preceding portion and forms relative to the top side of the corresponding conveying strip, an angle to the movement direction of said top side and has a free end which lies at another level than said top side, to cause the goods fed on said top side to tilt around an axis lying cross-wise to the movement direction thereof.
- the collecting member comprises a clamping mechanism to retain the goods collected against the stop-forming portion, at least temporarily against the other portion.
- that collecting member portion which makes an angle at least during the collecting of goods, to the movement direction of the conveying strip top side depends at least during said collecting, slantingly from said top side and said portion lies with a free end thereof above the end of the conveying device.
- the collating device comprises a plurality of endless conveying strips running in parallel relationship, for a plurality of goods rows, and facing the one end of each such strips lies at least during the collecting of goods, a collecting member.
- the collecting member is so arranged as to be swingable facing the one end of the conveying strip and the collating device comprises means to swing said collecting member at intervals and to retain same in position facing the one end of the conveying strip when collecting.
- the collating device comprises a second endless conveying device which is arranged below the collecting member to collect the series of goods collected by said member, and means to drive said second conveying device.
- the collating device as shown in the figures comprises an endless feed conveyor 1 which comprises various perforated suction belts 2 for the playing cards 3 to be collated.
- the suction belts 2 run with the topmost portion thereof horizontal in parallel relationship with one another. The movement direction of said top portion is shown by arrow 8 in figure 1.
- All of the suction belts 2 run at both ends of the conveying device 1, over wheels 4.
- said wheels 4 of the suction belts 2 are each supported separately in an auxiliary frame 5 of their own.
- the wheels 4 are arranged on one and the same shaft which is driven preferably inter reminderly, by a motor not shown in the figures.
- the topmost portion of each one of said suction wheels 2 runs over a tube-like vacuum chamber 6.
- the various vacuum chambers 6 are connected through flexible hoses 7 to a vacuum pump not shown in the figures.
- the vacuum chambers 6 are mounted on the auxiliary frame 5 which belongs to the corresponding suction belt 2.
- the complete vacuum feed conveyor 1 can be so mounted as to be vertically reciprocable on a main frame not shown in the drawings. This is for example the case when said feed conveyor 1 is part of a collecting and collating device which connects to a discharge device which pushes the cards 3 from top to bottom through a frame, said discharge device connecting in turn to a stamping machine which stamps the cards 3in a single operation from a sheet.
- the feed conveyor 1 lies in the topmost position thereof and against the discharge punch in such a way that the discharged cards 3 are directly positively sucked by the suction belts 2 and consequently always take an accurately determined position in which they remain during the movement thereof.
- the feed conveyor 1 comprises twelve suction belts 2. At each discharge, eighteen cards 3 are collected on each suction belt 2, said eighteen cards being first collated in a package and afterwards the twelve package have to be collated again into one or more larger packages.
- the collating device comprises facing the discharge end of each suction belt 2, three collecting members 9 which are rotatable about a horizontal geometric axis which is directed cross-wise to the movement direction of the suction belts 2 as shown by arrow 8.
- Said three collecting members 9 are made fast to a horizontal shaft 10 which thus runs in the direction of the rotation axis.
- Said three collecting members 9 are evenly distributed over the circumference of said shaft 10 and they all lie in a plane which is directed at right angle to the rotation axis.
- the axis is common to all of the series of three collecting members 9 facing the various suction belts 2 in such a way that said shaft 10 thus runs over the whole width below the discharge end of the feed conveyor 1.
- Said shaft 10 is supported with ends of smaller cross-section 11 in the above-mentioned main frame, not shown in the figures.
- Each one of said collecting members 9 comprises two bent fingers 13 of L-shape which lie next to one another along the lengthwise direction of shaft 10, with a spacing which is somewhat larger than the width of the corresponding suction belt 2. Said fingers 13 are however so located that due to the rotation of shaft 10, the revolution direction of which is shown in figure 1 by arrow 12, they move on either side of the corresponding suction belt 2and consequently also of the wheel 4 and the auxiliary frame 5 which supports said belt at the discharge end thereof.
- the portions 15 of both fingers 13 from a collecting member lie in the latter position whereby they thus lie above the one end of the pertaining suction belt 2, at an angle to the topmost portion of said suction belt 2. Said portions 15 run downwards away from said end. In the above-mentioned position, whereby the collecting member 9 stands still for a time to collect cards 3, that end removed from portion 14 of said portion 15 still lies some distance above the top side of suction belt 2.
- the first card 3 which is fed after the collecting member 9 has reached its position, by a suction belt 2 will engage the portions 15 of both fingers 13 from that collecting member 9 pertaining to the suction belt and is forced by said portions 15 to make an angle to the top side of the suction belt 2. Said card is moved up against portions 14 that section of which projecting outside shaft 10 forms a stop.
- both portions 14 from a collecting member 9 on the shaft 10 and the location of said shaft 10 relative to the feed conveyor 1 are such that in the above-mentioned position whereby member 9 collects cards, the stop-forming section of portions 14 lies at a distance from the end of suction belt 2 which is shorter than the size of a card 3 as measured along the direction of arrow 8 in such a way that the card 3 as it engages portions 14, still bears with a portion thereof on the end of suction belt 2 and the end thereof removed from portions 14 slants upwards and is raised from the top side of the topmost portion of suction belt 2.
- a following card 3 which is fed by suction belt 2 will be slipped automatically below said latter-mentioned card 3 whereafter also this card 3 will be forced by portions 15 of member 9 to take a slanting position and to lie against the preceding card 3.
- a series of cards 3 fed by one suction belt 2 is collated in succession into a small package whereby each time a following card is slipped below a preceding card.
- the suction belt 2 has consequently a width which is substantially smaller than the size of the cards 3as measured at right angle to the direction of arrow 8.
- the cards 3 are mostly laid with the cross-wise direction thereof along the movement direction of suction belt 2.
- each collecting member 9 further comprises a clamping mechanism which is shown generally in 16.
- Said clamping mechanism comprises for each finger 13 of the collecting member 9, a spring wire which is fast to portion 14 and which extends along portion 15 of finger 13.
- Said conveyor 17 comprises for each suction belt 2 of the feed conveyor 1, a pair of endless chains 18 between which are secured small boxes formed by a bottom 20 and two walls 21 standing thereon.
- the walls 21 are directed outwards relative to the conveyor 17 and stand cross-wise to the endless chains 18.
- the boxes 20, 21 are consequently open sideways relative to the lenghtwise direction of the chains 18.
- the boxes 20, 21 are secured with the bottom 20 thereof through hinges 19 to the links of the chains 18.
- Said endless chains 18 from each pair each run at both ends of the conveyor 17 over a chain wheel 22 which is made fast by means of circlips 23 to a shaft 24.
- Said shaft 24 on which all of the chain wheels 22 at the one end of conveyor 17 are mounted, is supported with both ends thereof in a frame 25 which may actually be integral with the above-mentioned main frame (not shown) wherein the shaft 10 is supported.
- the shaft 24 at each end of conveyor 17 runs in parallel relationship with said shaft 10 whereby the one shaft 24 is located below said shaft 10.
- the topmost portion of the chains 18 moves horizontally, away from the latter-mentioned shaft 24 along the same direction as the topmost portion of suction belt 2.
- the movement direction of the chains 18 and thus also of the boxes 20, 21 mounted thereon is shown in figure 2 by arrow 26.
- the topmost portion of the endless conveyor 17 is thus comprised of as many rows of boxes 20, 21 running along the movement direction of the chains 18 as there are suction belts 2, whereby each row is located below a suction belt 2 and runs furhter way along the same direction as the suction belt 2.
- the collating device comprises twelve suction belts 2, it does also comprise twelve rows of small boxes 20, 21. Said boxes 20, 21 from adjacent rows also lie directly next to one another in such a way that columns are thus formed.
- the number of colums, that is thus the number of boxes 20, 21 present in one row completely on the topmost portion of a pair of endless chains 18, is one more than the number of rows.
- a package of cards 3from a collecting member 9 is collected in each box 20, 21 of that box column that lies at the end lying below shaft 10 of the topmost portion of endless conveyor 17.
- the conveyor 17 lies stationary.
- the card package is pushed away from the portion 15 of both fingers 13 from a collecting member 9, through a wall 21 of a box 20, 21 proper during a revolution of the collecting member unit.
- the length of wall 21 is always approximately equal to the width of a suction belt 2 and consequently may fit precisely between both fingers 13 from member 9.
- portion 15 from a collecting member 9 in the lowermost position thereof is located below the lowermost edge of the back wall 21 of that box 20, 21 which lies precisely below said collecting member 9 at the top side of conveyor 17.
- Said bringing together occurs by means of fingers 27 which are secured to a bearing plate 28.
- Said bearing plate 28 runs in parallel relationship above the topmost portion of endless conveyor 17 and is alternately movable at right angle to the movement direction of said topmost portion as shown by arrow 26.
- Said bearing plate 28 lies with both sides thereof which are directed at right angle to the movement direction therereof, slidingly on two shafts 29 which are thus directed along the movement direction of the bearing plate 28 and thus run in parallel relationship to shafts 24.
- Said shafts 29 are fast to the frame 25.
- the alternating sliding of the bearing plate 28 may be obtained in any known suitable way.
- the bearing plate 28 may for instance be secured to a tube which fits on a rotating shaft which is provided with a sinusoidal groove, while a pin goes through the tube to enter with one end thereof said groove to thus follow said groove path during the revolution of said shaft.
- the number of fingers 27 which are fast to the lower side of bearing plate 28 is equal to the number of rows of small boxes 20, 21 but one. All of the fingers 27 lie on one line which lies in diagonal above the topmost portion of the endless conveyor 17. In the rest position a finger lies precisely next to that box 20, 21which lies in the second position as considered along the box movement direction, on the topmost portion of an outermost box row and a following row of boxes 20, 21, directly next to the third box 20, 21 from the latter-mentioned row. The following third finger lies between the latter-mentioned row and the third row of boxes 20, 21, directly next to the fourth box 20, 21 from the latter-mentioned row, etc.
- the alternating movement of the bearing plate 28 with the fingers 27 is precisely equal to the width of a box row.
- a finger 27 can push a card package from a box 20, 21 from the first row towards the adjacent box from the following row. None happens during the return movement.
- the possibility for the fingers 27 to push card packages away from the boxes 20, 21 results from said boxes being open in the movement direction of said fingers 27, that is thus along the width direction of endless conveyor 17, and from said fingers reaching down to the box bottom 20.
- Said box bottom 20 is provided for this purpose with a groove 30 running along the finger movement direction, in such a way that the lowermost end of a finger running therethrough can surely reach down to below the lower side of the card package laying on said bottom 20.
- the top side of bottom 20 in all of the boxes 20, 21 slants along the movement direction of the fingers 27, but for groove 30, upwards along the movement direction of the fingers 27 as they take along a card package.
- the collating device does not have necessarily to collate playing cards, it may also be used to collate beer pads or other flat goods.
- the number of catch members which are mounted on the shaft should not necessarily be three for each suction belt. One member is already sufficient.
- the collecting members should not necessarily either be mounted to swing about a horizontal axis. They could also be swingable about a vertical axis and they might even not be swingable at all. In that case where the collecting members are fixed, other means should of course be provided to push the goods collected by the collecting member away therefrom in place of the described means. Such pushing away may for example be performed with a movable punch.
- That portion of the collecting members which causes the collected members to tilt should not absolutely either run downwards away from the feed conveyor. Said portion might also slant in the other direction.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
- Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)
- Discharge By Other Means (AREA)
- Wrappers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The invention relates to a collating device for flat goods, particularly cards, which comprises an endless conveyor with at least one conveying strip for the goods.
- "Conveying strip" should be understood here in the largest meaning in such a way that it might mean hereinafter both a perforated or unperforated belt or band and one or more chains.
- Such devices are notably used for collating playing cards. The cut-out playing cards are located in one or more rows on the top portion of an endless conveying band.
- First of all the cards from each row should be collected in groups and in the case of playing cards, it is desired that the collected cards lie in the same sequence as the one in which they were fed by the conveying device. In known collating devices of this kind, use is made of slanting chutes with such a construction that the cards which are fed horizontally are tilted to the vertical position, whereby the various chutes open together in such a way that the tilted cards in the various chutes are finally located vertically against one another. The small packages thus formed in sequence are received on a band running cross-wise to the chutes whereby thus the succeeding packages follow one another vertically. Actually those cards which are fed simultaneously in the various rows are first collected and afterwards only the following cards in the rows. While this per se is not a disadvantage, said known devices have however the following drawbacks : the collating device does not allow obtaining separate packages corresponding to a card set ; there is obtained a continuous row of vertically piled cards which have then to be distributed manually in packages corresponding to a set. A second drawback lies in the collating occuring with a limited speed so that the manufacturing speed is not only limited by a linear speed not to be exceeded when cutting, but also due to the collating operation.
- The invention has now for object to obviate these drawbacks and to provide a collating device for flat goods, particularly cards, which can operate very fast and whereby the goods are collected in small groups of a well-determined number and according to a well-determined sequence.
- For this purpose the collating device comprises at least one collecting member which is mounted facing the one end of the endless conveying strip, to collect the goods to be collated which are fed along the top side of said conveying strip, said collecting member having one portion which forms at least during the collecting of goods, a stop therefor and one portion that stands on the preceding portion and forms relative to the top side of the corresponding conveying strip, an angle to the movement direction of said top side and has a free end which lies at another level than said top side, to cause the goods fed on said top side to tilt around an axis lying cross-wise to the movement direction thereof.
- In a particular embodiment of the invention, the collecting member comprises a clamping mechanism to retain the goods collected against the stop-forming portion, at least temporarily against the other portion.
- In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, that collecting member portion which makes an angle at least during the collecting of goods, to the movement direction of the conveying strip top side, depends at least during said collecting, slantingly from said top side and said portion lies with a free end thereof above the end of the conveying device.
- In an useful embodiment, the collating device comprises a plurality of endless conveying strips running in parallel relationship, for a plurality of goods rows, and facing the one end of each such strips lies at least during the collecting of goods, a collecting member.
- In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the collecting member is so arranged as to be swingable facing the one end of the conveying strip and the collating device comprises means to swing said collecting member at intervals and to retain same in position facing the one end of the conveying strip when collecting.
- In another particular embodiment of the invention, the collating device comprises a second endless conveying device which is arranged below the collecting member to collect the series of goods collected by said member, and means to drive said second conveying device.
- Other details and features of the invention will stand out from the following description, given by way of non limitative example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :
- Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a collating device for playing cards according to the invention, whereby playing cards are shown.
- Figure 2 is a side view of another portion of the collating device from figure 1.
- Figure 3 is a cross-section along line III-III in figure 2.
- Figure 4 is a top view of a portion of the device shown in figures 1-3.
- In the various figures, the same reference numerals pertain to similar elements.
- The collating device as shown in the figures comprises an endless feed conveyor 1 which comprises various perforated suction belts 2 for the
playing cards 3 to be collated. The suction belts 2 run with the topmost portion thereof horizontal in parallel relationship with one another. The movement direction of said top portion is shown by arrow 8 in figure 1. All of the suction belts 2run at both ends of the conveying device 1, overwheels 4. At the discharge end of the feed conveyor 1, saidwheels 4 of the suction belts 2 are each supported separately in an auxiliary frame 5 of their own. At the other end thewheels 4 are arranged on one and the same shaft which is driven preferably intermettently, by a motor not shown in the figures. The topmost portion of each one of said suction wheels 2 runs over a tube-like vacuum chamber 6. Thevarious vacuum chambers 6 are connected through flexible hoses 7 to a vacuum pump not shown in the figures. Thevacuum chambers 6 are mounted on the auxiliary frame 5 which belongs to the corresponding suction belt 2. The complete vacuum feed conveyor 1 can be so mounted as to be vertically reciprocable on a main frame not shown in the drawings. This is for example the case when said feed conveyor 1 is part of a collecting and collating device which connects to a discharge device which pushes thecards 3 from top to bottom through a frame, said discharge device connecting in turn to a stamping machine which stamps the cards 3in a single operation from a sheet. For discharging through the discharge device and in the stopping stage of the platten in said device, the feed conveyor 1 lies in the topmost position thereof and against the discharge punch in such a way that the dischargedcards 3 are directly positively sucked by the suction belts 2 and consequently always take an accurately determined position in which they remain during the movement thereof. - When the collating device connects to a stamping machine and a discharge device, and when for example four card sets are printed in twelve rows of eighteen cards on one sheet, the feed conveyor 1 comprises twelve suction belts 2. At each discharge, eighteen
cards 3 are collected on each suction belt 2, said eighteen cards being first collated in a package and afterwards the twelve package have to be collated again into one or more larger packages. - For this purpose the collating device comprises facing the discharge end of each suction belt 2, three collecting
members 9 which are rotatable about a horizontal geometric axis which is directed cross-wise to the movement direction of the suction belts 2 as shown by arrow 8. Said three collectingmembers 9 are made fast to ahorizontal shaft 10 which thus runs in the direction of the rotation axis. Said three collecting members 9are evenly distributed over the circumference of saidshaft 10 and they all lie in a plane which is directed at right angle to the rotation axis. The axis is common to all of the series of three collectingmembers 9 facing the various suction belts 2 in such a way that saidshaft 10 thus runs over the whole width below the discharge end of the feed conveyor 1. Saidshaft 10 is supported with ends ofsmaller cross-section 11 in the above-mentioned main frame, not shown in the figures. - Each one of said collecting
members 9 comprises twobent fingers 13 of L-shape which lie next to one another along the lengthwise direction ofshaft 10, with a spacing which is somewhat larger than the width of the corresponding suction belt 2. Saidfingers 13 are however so located that due to the rotation ofshaft 10, the revolution direction of which is shown in figure 1 byarrow 12, they move on either side of the corresponding suction belt 2and consequently also of thewheel 4 and the auxiliary frame 5 which supports said belt at the discharge end thereof. - It is clear that due to all of the
fingers 13 being fast to thesame shaft 10 and thus moving together, those twofingers 13 which are part of two adjacent collectingmembers 9 and move between two adjacent suction belts 2 may be united into a single finger. With aportion 14 each one of bothfingers 13 of a collecting member is eccentrically made fast to shaft 10. Theother portion 15 at right angle to the above arm of each one of bothfingers 13 connects to the one end ofportion 14. Theportions 15 of all of thefingers 13 of all of the collectingmembers 9 lie with the free end thereof along the same direction, that is in that direction opposite the revolution direction ofshaft 10 as shown byarrow 12. Actually there is obtained some kind of three-armed swastika whereby the cross arms are however not directed radially relative to the center thereof. - Both L-
shaped fingers 13 from each collectingmember 9 thus halved, project over such a distance and at such an angle outsideshaft 10 that they project with theportion 15 thereof on either side.of the discharge end of suction belt 2 exactly above the topmost portion of said suction belt 2, at least in the lowermost position of said belt 2 pertaining tomember 9 when the suction belt is movable vertically. - The rotation of
shaft 10 is obtained inter- mitenttently by means of a motor not shown in the figures, whereby during the collating one collecting member facing each suction belt 2 lies every time in a position whereby theportions 15 of thefingers 13 thereof take the above-described position. - The
portions 15 of bothfingers 13 from a collecting member lie in the latter position whereby they thus lie above the one end of the pertaining suction belt 2, at an angle to the topmost portion of said suction belt 2. Saidportions 15 run downwards away from said end. In the above-mentioned position, whereby the collectingmember 9 stands still for a time to collectcards 3, that end removed fromportion 14 of saidportion 15 still lies some distance above the top side of suction belt 2. - The
first card 3 which is fed after the collectingmember 9 has reached its position, by a suction belt 2 will engage theportions 15 of bothfingers 13 from that collectingmember 9 pertaining to the suction belt and is forced by saidportions 15 to make an angle to the top side of the suction belt 2. Said card is moved up againstportions 14 that section of which projecting outsideshaft 10 forms a stop. The arrangement of bothportions 14 from a collectingmember 9 on theshaft 10 and the location of saidshaft 10 relative to the feed conveyor 1 are such that in the above-mentioned position wherebymember 9 collects cards, the stop-forming section ofportions 14 lies at a distance from the end of suction belt 2 which is shorter than the size of acard 3 as measured along the direction of arrow 8 in such a way that thecard 3 as it engagesportions 14, still bears with a portion thereof on the end of suction belt 2 and the end thereof removed fromportions 14 slants upwards and is raised from the top side of the topmost portion of suction belt 2. A followingcard 3 which is fed by suction belt 2 will be slipped automatically below said latter-mentionedcard 3 whereafter also thiscard 3 will be forced byportions 15 ofmember 9 to take a slanting position and to lie against the precedingcard 3. In this way a series ofcards 3 fed by one suction belt 2 is collated in succession into a small package whereby each time a following card is slipped below a preceding card. - It is clear that to be able to cooperate with both
fingers 13 from a collectingmember 9, thosecards 3 which are fed by the pertaining suction belt 2, have to project on either side outside said suction belt 2. The suction belt 2 has consequently a width which is substantially smaller than the size of the cards 3as measured at right angle to the direction of arrow 8. Thecards 3 are mostly laid with the cross-wise direction thereof along the movement direction of suction belt 2. - In this way there is thus collated in the corner formed between the guide-forming
portions 15 and the stop-formingportions 14 of bothfingers 13 of the collectingmember 9 opposte each suction belt 2, a small package ofplaying cards 3. - To prevent that due notably to the rotation of
shaft 10 and collectingmember 9, said package should fall down, each collectingmember 9 further comprises a clamping mechanism which is shown generally in 16. Said clamping mechanism comprises for eachfinger 13 of the collectingmember 9, a spring wire which is fast toportion 14 and which extends alongportion 15 offinger 13. - When a large enough number of
cards 3 fed on each one of the suction belts 2 has been collated below that collectingmember 9 pertaining to each suction belt 2, theshaft 10 swings over such an angle that then a following collectingmember 9 takes the position of the preceding member and collates in the way described above a second series ofcards 3. While this occurs, the piles ofcards 3 remain due to theclamping mechanism 16 on the first-mentionedcollecting members 9. When the second series of collectingmembers 9 has also collatedenough cards 3, theshaft 10 swings again whereby now the third series of collectingmembers 9 is located facing the discharge end of the suction belts 2. - Below the complete array of collecting
members 9 is arranged a secondendless conveyor 17. Saidconveyor 17 comprises for each suction belt 2 of the feed conveyor 1, a pair ofendless chains 18 between which are secured small boxes formed by a bottom 20 and twowalls 21 standing thereon. Thewalls 21 are directed outwards relative to theconveyor 17 and stand cross-wise to theendless chains 18. Theboxes chains 18. Theboxes hinges 19 to the links of thechains 18. Saidendless chains 18 from each pair each run at both ends of theconveyor 17 over achain wheel 22 which is made fast by means ofcirclips 23 to ashaft 24. Saidshaft 24 on which all of thechain wheels 22 at the one end ofconveyor 17 are mounted, is supported with both ends thereof in aframe 25 which may actually be integral with the above-mentioned main frame (not shown) wherein theshaft 10 is supported. Theshaft 24 at each end ofconveyor 17 runs in parallel relationship with saidshaft 10 whereby the oneshaft 24 is located below saidshaft 10. The topmost portion of thechains 18 moves horizontally, away from the latter-mentionedshaft 24 along the same direction as the topmost portion of suction belt 2. The movement direction of thechains 18 and thus also of theboxes arrow 26. - The topmost portion of the
endless conveyor 17 is thus comprised of as many rows ofboxes chains 18 as there are suction belts 2, whereby each row is located below a suction belt 2 and runs furhter way along the same direction as the suction belt 2. When the collating device comprises twelve suction belts 2, it does also comprise twelve rows ofsmall boxes boxes boxes endless chains 18, is one more than the number of rows. When the collating device operates, at each swinging of shaft 10 a package of cards 3from a collectingmember 9 is collected in eachbox shaft 10 of the topmost portion ofendless conveyor 17. During such collecting, theconveyor 17 lies stationary. The card package is pushed away from theportion 15 of bothfingers 13 from a collectingmember 9, through awall 21 of abox wall 21 is always approximately equal to the width of a suction belt 2 and consequently may fit precisely between bothfingers 13 frommember 9. There appears clearly from figures 1 and 2 thatportion 15 from a collectingmember 9 in the lowermost position thereof, is located below the lowermost edge of theback wall 21 of thatbox member 9 at the top side ofconveyor 17. In this way when the collating device is completely in operation, at each swinging between two stoppings ofshaft 10 with the collectingmembers 9, the card package already collected on a collectingmember 9 is pushed into abox - As soon as each one of said
boxes endless conveyor 17. - Said bringing together occurs by means of
fingers 27 which are secured to abearing plate 28. Said bearingplate 28 runs in parallel relationship above the topmost portion ofendless conveyor 17 and is alternately movable at right angle to the movement direction of said topmost portion as shown byarrow 26. Said bearingplate 28 lies with both sides thereof which are directed at right angle to the movement direction therereof, slidingly on twoshafts 29 which are thus directed along the movement direction of the bearingplate 28 and thus run in parallel relationship toshafts 24. Saidshafts 29 are fast to theframe 25. The alternating sliding of the bearingplate 28 may be obtained in any known suitable way. The bearingplate 28 may for instance be secured to a tube which fits on a rotating shaft which is provided with a sinusoidal groove, while a pin goes through the tube to enter with one end thereof said groove to thus follow said groove path during the revolution of said shaft. - The number of
fingers 27 which are fast to the lower side of bearingplate 28 is equal to the number of rows ofsmall boxes fingers 27 lie on one line which lies in diagonal above the topmost portion of theendless conveyor 17. In the rest position a finger lies precisely next to thatbox 20, 21which lies in the second position as considered along the box movement direction, on the topmost portion of an outermost box row and a following row ofboxes third box boxes fourth box plate 28 with thefingers 27 is precisely equal to the width of a box row. In other words during the forward movement, afinger 27 can push a card package from abox fingers 27 to push card packages away from theboxes fingers 27, that is thus along the width direction ofendless conveyor 17, and from said fingers reaching down to thebox bottom 20. Said box bottom 20 is provided for this purpose with agroove 30 running along the finger movement direction, in such a way that the lowermost end of a finger running therethrough can surely reach down to below the lower side of the card package laying on saidbottom 20. - As the various cards should be collated by the
fingers 27 with the correct sequence and thus the one package should fall smoothly over the other one, the top side of bottom 20 in all of theboxes fingers 27, but forgroove 30, upwards along the movement direction of thefingers 27 as they take along a card package. - The movement of bearing
plate 28 together with thefingers 27 occurs every time theendless conveyor 17 stands still. At the first stopping of theendless conveyor 17, all of theboxes box finger 27 over one row in such a way that said package falls down on that package which is already present in the box from said column lying in the second row. At the following stopping of theendless conveyor 17 the same operation occurs due to the followingfinger 27. Both latter-mentioned card packages which are already assembled inside abox box endless conveyor 17, all of the card packages which were collected in one column ofsmall boxes - It is also clear that with a suitable selection of the number and position of the
fingers 27, it is also possible to collate all of the packages which have been collected in one column ofboxes finger 27 is dispensed with between the third and fourth box row, only those card packages from thoseboxes box - It is thus possible by the suitable selection of the sequence according to which the cards are fed by the suction belts 2, which is for example dependent on the way the cards have been printed on the stamped-out sheet, to obtain at the collating device outlet small piles comprising each but one play set wherein moreover the cards are distributed in the desired sequence. The operation is always such that all of the cards fed on one suction belt 2 are first collated in a well-determined sequence and thereafter the small packages already collated by all of the suction belts 2 in a determined sequence are assembled by the
endless conveyor 17 and thefingers 27 also according to a well-determined sequence. - It must be understood that the invention is in no way limited to the above embodiments and that many changes can be brought therein without departing from the scope of this patent.
- For instance the collating device does not have necessarily to collate playing cards, it may also be used to collate beer pads or other flat goods.
- The number of catch members which are mounted on the shaft should not necessarily be three for each suction belt. One member is already sufficient.
- The collecting members should not necessarily either be mounted to swing about a horizontal axis. They could also be swingable about a vertical axis and they might even not be swingable at all. In that case where the collecting members are fixed, other means should of course be provided to push the goods collected by the collecting member away therefrom in place of the described means. Such pushing away may for example be performed with a movable punch.
- When the collecting members stand still, are swingable over but a limited angle about a horizontal axis or are swingable about a vertical axis, they do not have absolutely to be divided in two parts, namely two fingers.
- That portion of the collecting members which causes the collected members to tilt should not absolutely either run downwards away from the feed conveyor. Said portion might also slant in the other direction.
Claims (31)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
BE191511 | 1978-11-03 | ||
BE191511A BE871738A (en) | 1978-11-03 | 1978-11-03 | COLLECTOR FOR FLAT OBJECTS, ESPECIALLY CARDS. |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0010566A1 true EP0010566A1 (en) | 1980-05-14 |
EP0010566B1 EP0010566B1 (en) | 1982-12-29 |
Family
ID=3843160
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP79100741A Expired EP0010566B1 (en) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-03-12 | Collecting device for flat goods, particularly cards |
Country Status (14)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0010566B1 (en) |
AT (1) | AT373845B (en) |
BR (1) | BR7907137A (en) |
CA (1) | CA1137128A (en) |
DD (1) | DD147088A5 (en) |
DE (1) | DE2964398D1 (en) |
DK (1) | DK464979A (en) |
FI (1) | FI66577C (en) |
GR (1) | GR73599B (en) |
HK (1) | HK5285A (en) |
HU (1) | HU182908B (en) |
IE (1) | IE48862B1 (en) |
NO (1) | NO147790C (en) |
PT (1) | PT70403A (en) |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1861406A (en) * | 1929-10-03 | 1932-05-31 | Camco Machinery Ltd | Means for gathering and/or collating sheets of paper, book signatures, or the like |
US2879991A (en) * | 1953-07-13 | 1959-03-31 | John L Pitner | Collocating machines |
US3088604A (en) * | 1959-05-21 | 1963-05-07 | Bonnierfoeretagen Ab | Apparatus for stacking newspapers and the like |
US3278179A (en) * | 1963-08-01 | 1966-10-11 | Bull Nederland Administratie E | Sheet stacking apparatus |
-
1979
- 1979-03-12 EP EP79100741A patent/EP0010566B1/en not_active Expired
- 1979-03-12 DE DE7979100741T patent/DE2964398D1/en not_active Expired
- 1979-10-30 IE IE2079/79A patent/IE48862B1/en unknown
- 1979-10-30 FI FI793391A patent/FI66577C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1979-10-31 AT AT0703279A patent/AT373845B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1979-11-01 BR BR7907137A patent/BR7907137A/en unknown
- 1979-11-01 GR GR60386A patent/GR73599B/el unknown
- 1979-11-01 HU HU79MU623A patent/HU182908B/en unknown
- 1979-11-02 NO NO793533A patent/NO147790C/en unknown
- 1979-11-02 CA CA000340750A patent/CA1137128A/en not_active Expired
- 1979-11-02 DK DK464979A patent/DK464979A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1979-11-02 PT PT70403A patent/PT70403A/en unknown
- 1979-11-05 DD DD79216683A patent/DD147088A5/en unknown
-
1985
- 1985-01-17 HK HK52/85A patent/HK5285A/en unknown
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1861406A (en) * | 1929-10-03 | 1932-05-31 | Camco Machinery Ltd | Means for gathering and/or collating sheets of paper, book signatures, or the like |
US2879991A (en) * | 1953-07-13 | 1959-03-31 | John L Pitner | Collocating machines |
US3088604A (en) * | 1959-05-21 | 1963-05-07 | Bonnierfoeretagen Ab | Apparatus for stacking newspapers and the like |
US3278179A (en) * | 1963-08-01 | 1966-10-11 | Bull Nederland Administratie E | Sheet stacking apparatus |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
HK5285A (en) | 1985-01-25 |
NO147790B (en) | 1983-03-07 |
NO793533L (en) | 1980-05-06 |
DE2964398D1 (en) | 1983-02-03 |
FI66577C (en) | 1984-11-12 |
IE792079L (en) | 1980-05-03 |
NO147790C (en) | 1983-06-15 |
CA1137128A (en) | 1982-12-07 |
EP0010566B1 (en) | 1982-12-29 |
FI66577B (en) | 1984-07-31 |
FI793391A (en) | 1980-05-04 |
IE48862B1 (en) | 1985-05-29 |
DD147088A5 (en) | 1981-03-18 |
HU182908B (en) | 1984-03-28 |
BR7907137A (en) | 1980-07-15 |
AT373845B (en) | 1984-02-27 |
PT70403A (en) | 1979-12-01 |
ATA703279A (en) | 1983-07-15 |
GR73599B (en) | 1984-03-26 |
DK464979A (en) | 1980-05-04 |
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