EP1226083B1 - Method and device for dispatching flat products - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and device for transporting flat, flexible products away from a stack of the products. The leading edge of each individual product is bent away downward from the underside of the stack of products by means of a suction element. The individual product is then transported away by means of a gripper that grips the leading edge region. The direction of movement of the gripper in the region of the underside of the stack of products runs substantially from the leading edge region to the trailing edge region of the products in the stack of products.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a Device for transporting flat, in one Product stack of stored flexible products, in particular printed products, according to the preamble of Claim 1 or claim 16.

From EP-B-0 332 828 a device is known which suitable for this purpose is a stack of paper sheets of his Underside underside. This device has a roller-shaped rotary feeder, which around its Circumference distributed with a number of rotating Satellite rollers is equipped. Every satellite roller has a number of suction elements, by means of which in each case a single sheet of paper can be sucked. Such sucked sheets of paper are caused by the rotation the satellite rollers in a curved state along the Extent circumference, taking between the satellite rollers and a guide tape are held in a conveying nip. After a little over half past the Sucking a sheet of paper taking place a revolution Satellite roller becomes the paper sheet from the suction organs released again, whereupon he through with the Satellite rollers interacting guide tape towards a gripper is transported, which the paper sheet takes and promotes.

This known device suffers from the disadvantage that that they are not for the processing of comparatively thick products, because on the one hand to the Satellite rollers taking place curvature and the other Dimensions of the conveying gap with respect to the thickness of Products constitute restrictions.

In US-A-3,861,667 is an apparatus of generic type disclosed in which the Produce stack with its bottom on a slanted put first pad and with one of his Side surfaces rests on a second surface, the runs at right angles to the first base and thus is also tilted. The stack therefore takes one Tilted position.

Below the stack, a suction roll is provided, the across the bottom of the stack across the entire width of the Stack extends. The suction roll has a to her Axis coaxial channel on which connects to a vacuum source is connectable and of which several, in radial Direction running passages going in the direction of the axis of the suction roll are distributed and in the Open the lateral surface of the suction roller.

The suction roll inevitably rolls on the circumference of a Transport cylinder from whose axis parallel to the axis of the Suction roller runs and which has a plurality of grippers, the arranged on an axis distributed over the width of the transport cylinder extends.

The lowest product in the stack is in his leading edge area over its entire width of the Suction roller detected from the bottom of the stack bent away and into the grippers of the transport roller introduced. The grippers hold the product on his evenly across the entire width.

In US-A-2,853,297 a device is disclosed which two alternately on the lowest product in the Stack acting suction fingers, which together with a suction roll the lowest product in the stack bend away and lead into the grippers of a conveyor roller. The Products in the stack are in the range of their leading Edge supported by fingers.

The present invention is based on the object, a method or a device according to the preamble of Claim 1 or claim 16 to create, the or which makes it possible even with a stack that is not slanted provided, flat products of various kinds with to separate increased power.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a method with the features of claim 1 and a device solved with the features of claim 16.

In that, in, essentially vertical Product stack the leading edge area of each lowest product in its mid-section and is bent away while this product is in the leading edge area in its side areas of is supported next to one as possible large-scale support of the product stack reached, that the suction organ in no way with weight forces of Product pile. This will with regard to the suction organs and their storage to minimized operating costs.

The product to be separated is without any interruption controlled as it is directly from the suction device the gripper is handed over. Because of this controlled Leadership will make it possible with significantly increased performance too work because of the controlled leadership for example, a draft or other Force effect conditional deviation of the products of the predetermined trajectory can be excluded.

It is particularly preferred if a pulling out of the First uses the product from the product stack, after the bent-away product gripped by the gripper has been.

The inventive method can with particularly high Performance, or reduced speed performed when a second product is from a suction device already sucked before a previously weggebogenes first product completely out of the product stack was pulled out. It's even an extra one Increase the performance thereby possible that the second Product is already sucked in by a suction device, before regarding a previously bent away first Product uses the process of extraction. It So it is possible by bending away a Product initiated singling process with respect to two or even three products overlapping in time perform, so with very high performances can be worked.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the product by a Angle between 60 ° and 120 ° via a deflection roller of Produce stack is bent away before it from the gripper is detected, since the guide roller in this case for Ensures that the product throughout Separation process and in particular during the Handover from the suction device to the gripper held tight and is guided exactly on its predetermined trajectory. This exact guidance favors working with high Separation performance. It should be noted that the Direction of movement of the gripper in the area of the underside of the product stack, essentially from the leading one Edge area to the trailing edge area of the Product stack or at an angle runs so that the products after deflection by the Guide roller to a certain extent "backwards" from the Product stacks are deducted.

The product stack is preferably with its bottom partially on at least one rotating, at least a release cut having support disk, the bending away of a product takes place when the leading edge area in the area of the Release cut comes to rest. Such rotating support disc allows one with comparatively low frictional forces taking out a Product from the product stack, since the above the product to be withdrawn already in the process of pulling it back in relatively large areas supported by the support disk so that the weight of the product stack up the product to be removed is reduced.

It is particularly preferred if the product stack with its underside in areas of two, preferably counter-rotating, at least one, in particular two diagonally opposite ones Rests with release cuts having support disks, the bending away of a product takes place when the middle section of the leading edge area in Area of one release slot each Support disc comes to rest. By the providence of two Support discs can be the support of the Produce stack during the extraction of the lowest Optimize product. Because of the providence of two diagonally opposite release cuts in each Support disk is achieved that per revolution of the Supporting discs two products can be separated what a work with very high separation efficiency allows.

Especially when separating thin or very flexible It is advantageous for products to be used in the field of or the release cuts located center section the leading edge region of the lowermost product of a product stack immediately before bending away supported actively or passively movable support fingers becomes. Due to such a support finger is avoided that the lowest product is in its middle section Bends down, causing a proper suction of the product.

Instead of rotating support disks, the Produce stack with its bottom advantageously also in the direction of the leading edge area to the trailing edge area of the product stack moving products and with them Resting release passages provided support means. The Bending of the products takes place when the leading Edge area to lie in the region of the release passage comes.

Preferably, the product stack is with his Base on a number of carrying rollers on which are attached to a conveying member and by means of the same from Leading edge area to the trailing edge area moves the products in the product stack be with the release passages between two formed adjacent support rollers or support roller groups are.

The product associated with a suction device and the Grippers assigned to the same product may become during the transfer of the product from the suction device to the Gripper on a common conveyor line or on Move parallel conveyor lines. This ensures that the suction organ and gripper during the delivery of products uniform along a at least largely common trajectory side by side do not move through different ones Trajectory-related relative movements between the suction organ and grippers occur, which means that are with same speed on each other Trajectories moving suction organs and grippers with their Basic or carrier units largely stationary to each other can be arranged. This results in the Advantage of a simplified control and Synchronization of the movable suction and Gripper parts, which also due to this Simplification with higher outputs.

It is preferable if that is a product associated suction device and the same product associated grippers during the transfer of the product from the suction device to the gripper approximately centrally along the Move the bottom of the product stack. This will achieved that laterally next to the male and female any mechanical products Facilities must be provided.

The transfer of a product from the suction device to the Gripper is easy to navigate through Swiveling the suction device relative to the gripper realize.

It is particularly advantageous if the product stack its underside at least partially with one after directed upward intermittent force becomes. Due to this application of force can be a fast Up and down movement or a vibration of Product stacks are generated, which ultimately a Loosening the product stack causes and a Extracting products from the product stack under reduced friction counter forces.

The inventive device requires in addition to the Support device essentially only one device to promote the suction organs and the gripper. Such Device may, for example, by two transport wheels be realized, one of which the suction organs and the others the grippers along the respective conveyor line transported. However, it is preferred if only one only transport wheel is provided, which both the Suction organs as well as the gripper promotes.

The device according to the invention can preferably with respectively suitable elements for carrying out the described above, preferred process variants be provided. In particular, the provision of two Supporting disks, one actively or passively movable Support finger and / or a guide roller advantageous, such as they are within the description of the preferred Process variants have already been explained.

Support disk and / or support table can finally product stack side with friction reducing agents, be provided in particular with compressed air outlets. there it is particularly preferred if the support disk on their side facing the product stack of porous Metal is made, since in this case a largely full-surface discharge of compressed air and thus one particularly efficient friction reduction is possible.

It is particularly preferred if the particular active driven deflecting roller mounted eccentrically or with Means for generating a periodic, perpendicular to Bottom of the product stack directed movement is coupled. In this way, in turn, the already mentioned loosening of the The product stack and the extraction of products allowed under reduced friction.

The inventive device may preferably also with a support device may be provided which has a number of attached to a self-contained pulling element, a Art roller carpet comprises forming carrier rolls on which the product stack rests with its underside. Between two adjacent support rollers or Cartridge groups of this support device are Release passages for the products to be moved available.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention Method and the inventive device are defined in the remaining dependent claims.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung mit an einem Transportrad umlaufenden, unterhalb eines Erzeugnisstapels angeordneten Greifern und Saugorganen;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäss verwendbaren Greifers;

Fig. 3

eine Frontalansicht eines als Greiferpaar ausgebildeten Greifers mit innenliegendem Saugorgan;

Fig. 4

die Draufsicht auf ein erfindungsgemässes Stützscheiben-Paar;

Fig. 5 a-c

jeweils einander zugeordnete Seiten- und Draufsichten auf denjenigen Bereich der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung nach Fig.1, in dem der Erzeugnisstapel durch die Stützscheiben abgestützt und in dem das Wegbiegen des jeweils untersten Erzeugnisses vom Erzeugnisstapel erfolgt, wobei insgesamt drei aufeinanderfolgende Verfahrensschritte veranschaulicht sind;

Fig. 6 a

eine senkrecht zur Drehachse einer angetriebenen Umlenkwalze gerichtete Ansicht eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 6 b

eine Seitenansicht des Ausführungsbeispiels gemäss Fig. 6a;

Fig. 6 c

einen Schnitt durch eine Umlenkwalze gemäss den Fig. 6a und 6b;

Fig. 7

eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende Darstellung eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung;

Fig.8

die Vorrichtung nach Fig. 7 in Pfeitrichtung S gesehen; und

Fig. 9

eine der Fig. 8 entsprechende Darstellung eines vierten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung.

The invention will be explained below with reference to an embodiment with reference to the drawings. In these show:

Fig. 1

a side view of a first embodiment of an inventive device with rotating on a transport wheel, arranged below a product stack grippers and suction organs;

Fig. 2

a side view of a gripper according to the invention can be used;

Fig. 3

a front view of a designed as a pair of grippers gripper with internal suction device;

Fig. 4

the top view of an inventive support disk pair;

Fig. 5 ac

each side and top views associated with each other on that portion of the inventive device according to Figure 1, in which the product stack supported by the support discs and in which the bending away of the respective lowest product from the product stack takes place, wherein a total of three successive steps are illustrated;

Fig. 6 a

a view directed perpendicular to the axis of rotation of a driven guide roller view of a second embodiment of an inventive device;

Fig. 6 b

a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 6a;

Fig. 6 c

a section through a guide roller according to Figures 6a and 6b.

Fig. 7

a representation corresponding to Figure 1 of a third embodiment of an inventive device.

Figure 8

the device of Figure 7 seen in Pfeitrichtung S. and

Fig. 9

an illustration corresponding to FIG. 8 of a fourth embodiment of an inventive device.

Fig. 1 shows a side view of an inventive device with a circulating in the arrow direction of the transport wheel 1, along its circumference coupled at equidistant intervals with suction organs 2 and grippers 3 is. The number of coupled to the transport wheel 1 suction organs 2 is equal to the number of coupled to the transport wheel 1 gripper 3. suction organs 2 and grippers 3 are along the circumference of the transport wheel 1 arranged offset from one another such that in each case a suction member. 2 between two grippers 3 and a gripper 3 between two suction organs. 2 to come to rest.

The suction organs 2 each have a base or support unit 4, which firmly and rigidly coupled to the transport wheel 1. Likewise everyone owns Gripper 3, a base or support unit 5, which also firmly and rigidly with is coupled to the transport wheel 1.

Base or support units 4 and 5 of the suction organs 2 and the gripper. 3 are thus arranged stationary with respect to the transport wheel 1 and lead even with rotation of the transport wheel 1 no relative movements to each other out.

The suction organs 2 each have a suction head 6, which is around a Axis 7 pivotally connected to the base or support unit 4 of the respective Suction organ 2 is stored. The axis 7 extends perpendicular to Circulation direction of the transport wheel. 1

Above the transport wheel 1 is a product stack 8, in particular a Stack of printed products 9 arranged by means of the in Fig. 1 illustrated device products 9 individually from the suction organs 2 sucked and transferred to each one gripper 3.

The printed products 9 are arranged in the product stack 8 such that their respective collar 10 the transport wheel 1 faces and her flower 11 facing away from the transport wheel 1. The product stack 8 is in one Vertical guide 12 out and on its underside by a support table 13 and two perpendicular to the plane arranged one behind the other Support discs 14 supported, with both the support table 13th as well as the support plates 14 extend at least substantially horizontally. The support levels of support table 13 and support plates 14th are arranged parallel to each other, wherein the support plane of the support table 13 is slightly below the support level of the support plates 14. The distance between the two levels depends on the thickness of the printed products 9. Preferably, this distance is adjustable.

The support table 13 supports the region facing away from the transport wheel 1 the printed products 9, while the two support plates 14 the front, the transport wheel 1 facing stack area of the printed products Support 9.

The rotating about a vertical axis 15 support plates 14 are on a Gear 16 coupled with respect to its drive with the transport wheel 1, so that the angular velocities of support discs 14 and transport wheel 1 are in a fixed relationship to each other.

In the area of the transport wheel 1 facing the end of the support table 13 a preferably freely rotatable deflection roller 17 is provided, whose Axle parallel to the axis of rotation 18 of the transport wheel 1 runs. The extension the guide roller 17 perpendicular to the plane is at least as as large as the corresponding extension of the printed products 9. Preferably the deflection roller 17 is provided below the support disks 14, so that it is relieved by the support disks 14.

The suction of the printed products 9 by means of the suction organs 2 and the transfer of the printed products 9 of the suction organs 2 to the Gripper 3 takes place in the upper region of the transport wheel 1. The grippers. 3 handed over printed products 9 are by the rotation of the transport wheel 1 clockwise on a circular orbit in the bottom Promoted area of the transport wheel 1.

In this lower region of the transport wheel 1 is a guide band 19th provided, which ensures that held by the grippers 3 Printed products 9 supported downwards and thus guided defined are. In located below the transport wheel 1 area of the guide belt 19, the guide belt 19 assumes the function of a conveyor belt, which the printed products 9 after the bottom of the Transport wheel 1 successful opening the gripper 3 in the arrow direction from Transport wheel 1 transported away.

Due to the equidistant arranged over the circumference of the transport wheel 1 Gripper 3 takes place the Wegtransportieren the isolated printed products 9 in the form of an exactly clocked scale flow.

With regard to the orientation of the transported away printed products. 9 It should also be noted that the printed matter 9 with its covenant 10 withdrawn from the product stack 8 and ultimately also from the transport wheel 1, so that the movement of printed matter 9 constantly with leading collar 10, which is advantageous Due to the fact that by the inventive separation device no reversal of the orientation of the printed products 9 takes place.

The functional sequence of taking place in the upper region of the transport wheel 1 Separation process will be explained below with reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a gripper which can be used according to the invention 3. This gripper 3 has a base or carrier unit 5, which is firmly coupled to the transport wheel 1 shown only partially. At the radially outer end of the base and support unit 5 is a perpendicular provided for the direction of rotation of the transport wheel 1 extending axis 20, about the two legs 21, 22 of the gripper 3 pivotally mounted are. The trailing in the direction of the transport wheel 1 leg 21st is made of rigid material, while the corresponding leading Leg 22 is resilient, so the recording different thick printed matter 9 without significant changes in the To enable control of the gripper 3.

Both legs 21, 22 have at their radially inner end in each case one Guide roller 23, 24, at least in the receiving and transfer area of the transport wheel 1 run along guide slots, not shown and thus the respectively desired opening or closing movements of the gripper 3 effect.

Left and right of the gripper 3 is in Fig. 2 each have a base or carrier unit 4 indicated for a respective suction member 2.

Fig. 3 shows a frontal view of a gripper pair designed gripper 3. The gripper 3 accordingly consists of two juxtaposed Gripper elements 25, each gripper element 25 each two Leg 21, 22 for gripping a printed product 9 has. In the Circumferential direction of FIG. 3 double-walled transport wheel 1 trailing leg of the two gripper elements 25 are fixed coupled with each other, their movement from the common leadership role 24 is triggered in the receiving and transfer area of Transport wheel 1 runs along a guide slot, not shown. The same applies to the two in the direction of rotation of the transport wheel. 1 leading leg of the gripper elements 25, which also rigidly coupled are and are acted upon by the guide roller 23.

In Fig. 3 is easy to see that the suction head 6 of a suction device 2 in the middle is arranged between the gripper elements 25, so that the suction head 6 a printed product 9 easily defined and controlled in the Area of open gripper legs can move without suction head 6 and gripper elements 25 collide with each other. Alternatively, too a single gripper element between two suction organs are arranged.

Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the product stack 8 with the two there down arranged support disks 14.

The two axes of rotation 15 of the support disks 14 are parallel to each other, wherein the mutual distance of the two axes of rotation 15 is slight larger than the diameter of the two support disks 14. This distance conditionally that the two support discs 14, each same Diameter and same shape, tangential almost tangential.

Each of the two support disks 14 has two diametrically opposite each Release cuts 26, extending from the circumference of each support disk 14 extend into the region of the center of the support disks 14, this extension is slightly larger than the radius a support disk 14. The shape of the release cuts 26 is substantially oval with a radially inner bulge 27, which next to the axis of rotation 15 is arranged. The two release cuts 26 a Support disk 14 are offset from each other such that the connecting line 28 of the two bulges 27 through the axis of rotation 1 5 and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 29 of the release cuts 26 runs.

The support disks 14 have on their product stack 8 facing Top compressed air outlets 30, over the air towards the bottom the product stack 8 is blown, causing the friction between the support disks 14 rotating in the direction of the arrow and the underside of the product stack 8 is reduced.

Below the run in the vertical guides 12 product stack 8 is dashed the position of the guide roller 17 shown, which is perpendicular to the direction of movement 1 'of the suction organs 2 and the gripper 3 and parallel extends to the plane of the drawing, being approximately midway below the product stack 8 is arranged.

Fig. 5a to c illustrates three different process steps of the inventive Method, each with a detail side view according to 1 and a detailed plan view according to FIG. 4 are shown.

According to Fig. 5a, the counter-rotating support discs 14 are in one such position, in which there is a maximum support of the product stack 8 from below results. The entire hatched in Fig. 5a drawn area the support disks 14 forms a support surface for the product stack 8, so that together with the - not shown in Fig. 5 - support table 13 (FIG. 1) an almost full surface support of the product stack 8 results.

However, it is in the position of the support disks shown in Fig. 5a 14 between these support plates 14 sufficient space for a suction head 6 'of a suction member 2 present, which from below to the leading Edge region 31 of the lowest printed product 9 'in the stack 8 can be moved up. Due to the position of the support disks 14 However, in this position still no bending away of the printed product Insert 9 'down.

Pass through a further rotation of the support discs 14 in the arrow direction these in their position according to FIG. 5b, in which the leading edge region 31 of the printed product 9 'through the release cuts 26 of Support discs 14 is released. In this position, the support discs 14th Only a smaller, but still sufficient support of the product stack 8, which is shown by the hatched in Fig. 5b Area of the support plates 14 is illustrated, which a smaller area covered than the hatched area according to FIG. 5a.

Due to the release of the leading edge region 31 can conditionally by the rotation of the transport wheel 1 and a pivoting of the suction head 6 'insert a bending away of the printed product 9', wherein this bending over the boundary lines of the release cuts 26th he follows.

By a further rotation of the support plates 14 as shown in FIG. 5c reach their hatched drawn areas 32 under that in the product stack. 8 printed product above the bent-away printed product 9 ', whereby the product stack 8 in its leading edge region immediately supported on the bottom again, but with the weggebogene printed product 9 'already below the support disks fourteenth so that further bending away and then pulling out of the printed product 9 'from the product stack 8 becomes possible.

By the illustrated in Fig. 5b initial bending away of the printed product 9 'it is ensured that the areas 32 of the support disks 14 (Fig. 5c) between the already partly bent away printed product 9 'and the overlying printed product arrive.

In the position of the support disks 14 shown in Fig. 5c support these in a small area with their sections 33 also the printed matter 9 'from below, through a further rotation of the support discs 14, this support is, however, repealed, creating a complete Bending away and then pulling out the printed matter 9 'is enabled.

The position shown in Fig. 5c illustrates that the printed product 9 'is already bent away from the product stack 8 so far that its leading edge region 31 in the receiving region of the suction head 6 ' associated gripper 3 'comes to rest, so in a next step the gripper 3 'can take the printed product 9'. First after the gripper 3 'has grabbed the printed product 9', the Suction of the suction head 6 'lifted and the withdrawal of the Printed product 9 'started from the product stack 8.

When pulling out the printed product 9 'this is on the guide roller 17 deflected and tightly guided, as shown for example in FIG. 5a with respect to the printed product 9 '' 'can be seen. On the Printed matter 9 '' 'follow opposite to the direction of rotation of the Transport wheel 1 the printed products 9 "and 9 ' 9 '' '(Figure 5a) is already in the process of pulling out, As for the printed matter 9 ", this process is just starting because the gripper 3 "has just been closed.

Figs. 5a and 5b illustrate that the bending away and pulling out successive printed products 9 '", 9" and 9' in time overlapping, since at the beginning of bending away of the printed product 9 'just starting to pull out the printed matter 9 ", wherein the extraction of the printed product 9 '' 'not yet is completed. By this temporal overlap, the inventive Singling process with very high performance perform.

Fig. 5b and 5c show that for the purpose of transfer to the gripper. 3 Successful pivoting of the suction organs 2 is directed such that a Transfer each to a trailing in the direction of transport gripper. 3 he follows.

It is possible to make the suction organs so pivotable that they can also be pivoted in the opposite direction, which allows that the suction organs 2 and 9 products in the transport direction leading, opening grippers 3 can take over them then, for example, to deliver to a gripper of another conveyor system.

Fig. 6a shows a directed perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the guide roller 17 View of a further, preferred embodiment of an inventive Device with partially cut further deflection roller 36. FIG. 6b shows a side view of the device according to FIG. 6a, FIG. and FIG. 6c shows a section through the further deflection roller 36 according to FIG Figs. 6a and 6b.

The freely rotatably mounted on a shaft 37 at its two end faces further deflection roller 36 is - as well as the guide roller 17 at Embodiment according to FIG. 1 - arranged below the product stack 8, wherein the positioning of the further guide roller 36 according to Fig. 6a and 6b is selected such that the product stack 8 with its underside partially supported on the further guide roller 36.

The stationarily mounted shaft 37 is connected via a drive belt 35 with a Motor 34 coupled, which actively sets the shaft 37 in rotation. Diagonally below the further deflection roller 36, the deflection roller 17th arranged, which together with the further guide roller 36, the guideway of products withdrawn from the product stack 8 9 defined.

The further guide roller 36 is mounted eccentrically on the shaft 37, so that the further guide roller 38 upon application of the shaft 37 via Motor 34 and drive belt 35 performs a periodic movement, the a directed perpendicular to the bottom of the product stack 8 component has. By this movement, the product stack 8 in faster Sequence moved up and down or vibrated, so that a loosening the product stack 8 takes place; the further guide roller 36 can therefore also called vibratory roller. This loosening causes in turn, a reduction of frictional forces between each other adjacent products 9 of the product stack 8, so that the Products 9 with less effort from the product stack. 8 can be pulled out.

In the further variant of a erfindungsge shown in Fig. 7 and 8 Means device is to support the product stack 8 at his Bottom instead of the rotating support discs 14 and the support table 13 is a support device 50 designed in the manner of a roller feeder intended. This support device 50 comprises two on both sides of the Produce stack 8 arranged and parallel to the transport wheel 1 in two Planes running conveyor organs, for example, self-contained tension members 51, at which a number of spaced support rollers 53 is arranged in a manner described below. The orbit the tension members 51 runs parallel in the region of the product stack 8 to the bottom of the product stack 8 (i.e., substantially horizontal), and the bottom of the product stack 8 is replaced by those in this area at right angles to the orbital planes of the tension members 51 (i.e., at right angles to the plane of Fig. 7) arranged and a kind of roller carpet forming support rollers 53 under attack. The direction of movement of the bottom the product stack 8 supporting support rollers 53 extends in the direction from the leading edge area to the trailing edge area the products (9) in the product stack (8).

The tension members 51 are optionally formed in each case as a double chain and one each with the transport wheel 1 coaxial double sprocket 55th on the one hand and each associated with a further Doppelkettenrad 56 on the other hand. The rotational speed of the tension members 51 and the speed of movement the support rollers 53 is in a fixed ratio to the angular velocity of the transport wheel. 1

Seen in the direction of rotation of the traction members 51 forms a number of support rollers 53 a group (optionally a group of three, cf. Fig. 7), wherein between two support roller groups a greater distance is provided as between the group forming carrier rollers 53. Thus, the function of the release cuts between the support roller groups 26 of the support plates 14 of FIG. 4 accepting release passages 54 formed by which the leading portion of the Printed matter 9 is released. As can be seen from FIG. 7 by the release of the leading edge region of the printed product 9 'due to the rotation of the transport wheel 1 and a pivoting the suction head 6 'a bending away of the printed product 9 '. The following triad of support rollers 53 'gets under in the product stack 8 above the weggebogenen printed product 9 'located printed product, whereby the product stack 8 in his leading area is immediately supported on the underside again. The now below the following triad of support rollers 53 ' located printed product 9 'is by this in their locomotion further down into the receiving area of the suction head 6 'associated Gripper 3 'bent and then taken by this, after which the peeling off of the printed product 9 'from the product stack 8 begins.

Each support roller 53 is free-rotating on a lever arm 57 of a Axis 58 pivotable angle lever 60 mounted (Fig. 8), the other Lever arm 59 is provided with a guide roller 61 and on this at a stationary backdrop 62 is supported. The gate 62 is shaped such that leaving the sprocket 56 and towards the lower area the sprocket 55 and the transport wheel 1 advancing Support rollers 53 through the backdrop-related pivoting of the angle lever 60 from its perpendicular to the orbital plane position continuously be pivoted into a position lying in the orbit plane, so that the transfer of the printed products 9 from the grippers 3 the guide band 19 and the transport away the same unhindered can be done.

Due to concerns in the area of the product stack 8, at right angles to the orbital plane directed support rollers 53 at a stationary rail 65 (FIG. 8) are the freely rotating support rollers 53 in their caused by the traction elements 51 locomotion into a Rotary motion offset in the contact area with the bottom of the stack the locomotion is opposite. It is particularly advantageous instead the fixed rail 65, for example, to use a movable belt 65 ', with the support rollers 53 so contrary to the direction of travel rotatably driven, that the peripheral speed the support rollers 53 is greater than their travel speed. As a result, a possibly occurring before the respective support roller 53, Smoothed by the stack weight bead and a possible Damage to the printed products 9 avoided.

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a support device 67 Supporting the product stack 8 on its underside, in its operation the support device 50 of FIG. 7 and 8 corresponds and also is designed as a roll feeder. Also with this support device 67 are on both sides of the product stack 8 self-contained tension members 68, optionally double chains, present, with a kind Rolling carpet forming carrier rollers 69 are provided. In this embodiment are the lateral traction members 68 and the corresponding Double sprockets or Doppelkettenräderpaare, of which in Fig. 9 only the driving wheels connected to the transport wheel 1 double sprockets 70th are visible, in each case inclined in a transport wheel plane, preferably arranged at an angle of 45 ° including plane. The Carrier rollers 69 are free-rotating on with the tension members 68 firmly connected Support arms 71 arranged. The support arms 71 also close one Angle of 45 ° with the sprocket plane, such that the support rollers 69 in the upper part of the Zugorgan orbit parallel to the underside of Produce stack 8 are directed and form the support surface, in the bottom Area, however, assume a parallel to the transport wheel 1 position, whereby in turn, the space for unhindered transportation of the printed products 9 is created. Also in this embodiment become the carrier rolls located in the region of the product stack 8 69 by a rail 65 or a driven belt 65 'in one of Locomotion of the traction elements 68 offset opposite rotational movement, in particular when using the moving belt 65 'an advantageous smoothing of the printed products 9 during the Bending takes place.

Claims (29)

1. Method of transporting away flat flexible products stored in a stack (8) of products, especially printed products (9), in which the stack (8) of products is supported from below and, in its leading edge region (31), each individual product (9) is gripped and bent away downwards from the underside of the stack (8) of products by means of a suction element (2), which is arranged beneath the stack (8) of products, and in which the gripped and bent-away product (9) is then transported away by means of a gripper (3) that grips its leading edge region (31), the direction of movement of the gripper (3) in the region of the underside of the stack (8) of products running substantially from the leading edge region to the trailing edge region of the products (9) in the stack (8) of products, and each individual product (9), after being bent away by means of the suction element (2), being transferred directly from the suction element (2) to a gripper (3), so that each product (9) is continually held either by the suction element (2) or by the gripper (3) while it is being bent away and while it is being transported away immediately thereafter, characterized in that, in the case of an essentially vertical stack (8) of products, the leading edge region (31) of the respectively lowest product (9) is gripped and bent away in its central section by the suction element (2) while this product (9) is supported from below in the leading edge region (31) in its lateral regions.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the action of drawing the product (9) out of the stack (8) of products begins only after the bent-away product (9) has been gripped by the gripper (3).
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a second product (9) is attracted by a suction element (2) before a first product (9), previously bent away, has been drawn completely out of the stack (8) of products or before the procedure of drawing out a first product (9) previously bent away begins.
4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the product (9) is bent away through an angle of between 60° and 120°, before it is gripped by the gripper (3), the product (9) being bent away in particular over a deflection roll (17).
5. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stack (8) of products rests with some portions of its underside on at least one rotating supporting disc (14) which has at least one release cutout (26), a product (9) being bent away when the leading edge region (10, 31) comes to lie in the region of the release cutout (26).
6. Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that the stack (8) of products rests with some portions of its underside on two supporting discs (14), which preferably rotate in opposite directions and each have at least one, especially two, diagonally opposite release cutouts (26), a product (9) being bent away when the central section of the leading edge region (10, 31) comes to lie in the region of a release cutout (26) in each supporting disc (14) in each case.
7. Method according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that a product (9) is bent away over the boundary line of the release cutout (26).
8. Method according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the central section, located in the region of at least one release cutout (26), of the leading edge region (31) is supported by an actively or passively moved supporting finger immediately before being bent away.
9. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stack (8) of products rests with its underside on supporting means which move in the direction from the leading edge region to the trailing edge region of the products (9) in the stack (8) of products and are provided with release apertures (54), a product (9) being bent away when the leading edge region (10, 31) comes to lie in the region of the release aperture (54).
10. Method according to Claim 9, characterized in that the stack (8) of products rests with its underside on a number of carrier rolls (53; 69), which are fixed to a conveying element (51; 68) and, by means of the latter, in the region of the stack (8) of products are moved from the leading edge region to the trailing edge region of the products (9) in the stack (8) of products, the release apertures (54) being formed between two adjacent carrier rolls (53; 69) or carrier-roll groups.
11. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the suction element (2) assigned to a product (9) and the gripper (3) assigned to the same product (9) move on a common conveying path or on conveying paths that run parallel to each other during the transfer of the product (9) from the suction element (2) to the gripper (3).
12. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the suction element (2) assigned to a product (9) and the gripper (3) assigned to the same product (9) move approximately centrally along the underside of the stack (8) of products during the transfer of the product (9) from the suction element (2) to the gripper (3).
13. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the suction element (2) is pivoted between picking up the product (9) from the stack (8) of products and transferring the product (9) to the gripper (3).
14. Method according to Claim 13, characterized in that the pivoting of the suction element (2) carried out for the purpose of transferring to the gripper (3) is oriented in such a way that a transfer is made to a gripper (3) that follows in the transport direction, it being possible for a product (9) to be picked up by an opening gripper (3) that leads in the transport direction, especially following further pivoting of the suction element in the opposite direction.
15. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the stack (8) of products is acted on, at least in some portions of its underside, by an upwardly directed intermittent force, in order in this way to achieve loosening of the stack (8) of products.
16. Device for transporting away flat flexible products stored in a stack (8) of products, especially printed products (9), especially for implementing the method according to one of Claims 1 to 15 having a plurality of grippers (3) that can be moved along a gripper conveying path running underneath a stack (8) of products, a suction element (2) that can be moved along a suction element conveying path running underneath the stack (8) of products, at least some portions of the suction element conveying path running along or parallel to the gripper conveying path, and a supporting device (14, 13; 50; 67), which supports the stack (8) of products on its underside, characterized in that the supporting device (14, 13; 50; 67) extends in the substantially horizontal direction and has at least one release cutout or release passage (26; 54), which periodically releases the leading edge region (31) of the products (9) in the stack (8) of products, in that a plurality of suction elements (2) is provided, which are arranged one after another along the suction element conveying path running in the central section of the stack (8) of products, and in that the grippers (3) are likewise arranged one after another along the gripper conveying path.
17. Device according to Claim 16, characterized in that a suction element transport wheel and a gripper transport wheel are provided, which convey suction elements (2) and grippers (3) along the respective conveying paths.
18. Device according to Claim 17, characterized in that the suction element transport wheel and the gripper transport wheel are designed as a single transport wheel (1) for conveying both the suction elements (2) and the grippers (3).
19. Device according to one of Claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the supporting device (14, 13; 50; 67) comprises at least one rotating supporting disc (14) which has at least one release cutout (26) and which supports some portions of the underside of the stack (8) of products, and also has a support table (13), which is provided to support the stack (8) of products at its underside in a region not supported by the supporting disc (14).
20. Device according to Claim 19, characterized in that two supporting discs (14) each having at least one, especially two diagonally opposite, release cutouts (26) are provided, and rotate in opposite directions in such a way that in each case a release cutout (26) in each supporting disc (14) comes to lie simultaneously in the central section of the leading edge region (10, 31) of a product (9).
21. Device according to Claim 19 or 20, characterized in that, in the region of the central section of the leading edge region (10, 31), an actively or passively moved supporting finger is provided to support the stack (8) of products.
22. Device according to one of Claims 19 to 21, characterized in that, in the transport direction of the suction elements (2) and of the grippers (3), a deflection roll (17) is provided with an offset with respect to the leading edge of the stack (8) of products, its axis extending at right angles to the transport direction of the suction elements (2) and of the grippers (3).
23. Device according to one of Claims 19 to 22, characterized by means (34, 35, 36, 37) for producing a periodic movement oriented at right angles to the underside of the stack (8) of products.
24. Device according to one of Claims 19 to 23, characterized in that supporting disc (14) and/or support table (13) are provided on the side of the stack of products with friction-reducing means, especially with compressed-air outlets (30).
25. Device according to one of Claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the supporting device (14, 13; 50; 67) comprises a number of carrier rolls (53; 69) which are fixed to a conveying element and form a type of roller carpet, on which the stack (8) of products rests with its underside, release apertures (54) being present between two adjacent carrier rolls (53; 69) or carrier-roll groups.
26. Device according to Claim 25, characterized in that in each case a conveying element (51, 68) provided with the carrier rolls (53; 69) is arranged on both sides of the stack (8) of products, the carrier rolls (53; 69) of the two conveying elements (51, 68) being oriented towards each other in the region of the stack (8) of products.
27. Device according to Claim 26, characterized in that the conveying elements (51) run in a plane parallel to the suction element conveying path, the carrier rolls (53) in each case being freely rotatably mounted on a carrier arm (57) of an angled lever (60) that is fixed pivotably to the conveying element (51), and in that there are guide elements (61, 62) for pivoting the angled lever (60) and the carrier rolls (53) into a position that releases the transport away of the products (9).
28. Device according to Claim 26, characterized in that the conveying elements (68) run in a plane that forms an angle with the suction element conveying path, the carrier rolls (69) being freely rotatably mounted on carrier arms (71) that are firmly connected to the respective conveying element (68) and form an angle with the conveying element plane.
29. Device according to one of Claims 25 to 28, characterized in that means (65; 65') are provided by means of which the freely rotatably mounted carrier rolls (53; 69) are set rotating in a direction opposite to the onward movement of the flexible drive elements (51; 68) in the area of contact with the underside of the stack (8) of products.

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