EP3115325B1 - Device and method for forming a stack of collections of advertising printed products - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for forming a stack from each an envelope, inserts and a common, leading edge folded advertising compositions, comprising a machine frame, an attached circular circulating transfer conveyor, an upstream of the transfer conveyor arranged feeder and a downstream of the transfer conveyor arranged stacking device.

From the CH 00073/15 For example, a pre-registered method and a corresponding device for merging an envelope with a plurality of supplements to form a set of advertising material are known. In this case, the envelope and the inserts are deposited one after the other in the region of a gathering path on a conveyor element moved in a transport direction. For this purpose, a leading edge of the envelope is placed in the conveying direction offset from leading edges of the inserts forming a supernatant of the envelope relative to the supplements. The inserts are stacked forming a stack on each other so that the leading edges of the inserts at least approximately form a common fold edge, the supernatant of lying flat on the conveyor element envelope around this fold edge and at least partially around the stack of supplements the Werbemittelzusammenstellung is placed. The collection of advertising material is then folded at the folded edge and removed for further processing. Together with the same or other compilations of advertising material, a distribution to wholesale distributors and finally a distribution to end customers is then usually carried out.

In the context of further processing, a mechanical stacking operation of a plurality of advertising material combinations comprising an envelope, inserts and a common, leading edge of the fold is expedient for this purpose. However, such compilations must also be loose or easy Separable advertising material combinations are treated gently during further processing, so that their components are not separated from each other before delivery to the end customer. Easily separable combinations of advertising material are understood here to mean those advertising material compositions whose individual advertising media, such as advertising leaflets, samples, coupons, etc., are to be held together only during transport by means of a preceding glue application, eg one or more glue points, until they reach the end customer Reading be separated from each other.

Known is the further processing of individual or even connected to each other to a book block sheet, which are supplied to a circulating transfer conveyor lying or hanging and discharged from this to a downstream transport or processing equipment.

So concerns the EP2168894 A2 a device and a method for separating printed products suspended in a compact formation by means of a circular circulating transfer conveyor and for subsequent delivery to a conveying device designed as a conveyor belt. In this case, the separation of the printed products takes place in an upstream transfer area and their delivery in a downstream transfer area. The transfer conveyor has for this purpose designed as a central wheel first rotary body having a first axis and eight, each carrying a gripper pivot arms and also designed as a rotary body outer carrier wheel with a second axis and with a guide mechanism for adjusting the pivot position of the pivot arms. The central wheel is connected to a first and the carrier wheel with a second drive. In addition, a third drive for adjusting the two axes is used, so that the transfer conveyor can be switched from an operation with coaxial to an operation with eccentrically arranged rotational bodies. In coaxial operation all pivot arms are equally spaced, while they have smaller eccentric operation in the upper part of the transfer conveyor and larger distances in the lower region from each other.

By corresponding displacement of the guide mechanism, the transfer conveyor can thus be adapted to different formats of the printed products, so that they can be delivered to the removal device with the required speed. Since the guide mechanism is relatively complex, this has an expensive and relatively large construction of the device result. In addition, the use of multiple drives is complex and can result in loss of a single drive train to loss of synchrony and to a greater effort in the repair. Finally, can be achieved with such a device due to the increased in the lower region of the transfer conveyor distances and thus increased speed of the pivot arms no reduction in the speed of the gripper arms attached to the gripper and thus transported by these printed products in the transfer area. Therefore, such a device and the corresponding method are not suitable for forming a stack of an envelope, inserts and a common, leading folded edge having advertising compositions and in particular not to form a stack of loose or easily separable advertising compositions.

In addition, in this solution, the advertising material assemblies are detected by the grippers of the feed conveyor on its open side and by the grippers of the transfer conveyor at the folded edge. Therefore, with such a combination of feed conveyor and transfer conveyor no hanging supply of loose or easily separable advertising compositions, wherein the advertising compositions are only partially enclosed by an envelope and taken over by the gripper of the transfer conveyor at the folded edge, possible. This is because such advertising formats also having different formats of the inserts and the envelope can already fall apart when grasping on their open side by the gripper of the feed conveyor.

From the US7422212 B2 a similar transfer conveyor is known. With this transfer conveyor, the transport of folded envelopes for newspapers takes place from an upstream of the transfer conveyor, these printed products in grippers hanging conveyor transporting conveyor to a downstream of the transfer conveyor arranged further conveyor on which the printed products are stored individually and lying flat on the transfer conveyor in a transfer area. The envelopes form pockets for the inserts contained therein and thus enclose them on three sides, the envelopes are held at its open side by the gripper of the feed conveyor.

The transfer conveyor has attached to a central eccentrically arranged in a circular frame central wheel pivot arms, the other end each carrying a gripper. The grippers of the transfer conveyor can be pivoted in their orientation relative to the pivot arms around a joint. The pivot arms have a sliding element, which is guided in an outer ring arranged on the circumference of the transfer conveyor. However, such a guide arranged in the outer ring is dimensioned relatively large, expensive to manufacture and thus relatively expensive. In addition, with such a device due to the increased in the lower region distances and thus increased speed of the pivot arms no reduction in the speed of the gripper arms attached to the gripper and thus transported by these advertising compositions in the transfer area can be achieved.

In this solution, the advertising compositions are also detected by the grippers of the feed conveyor on its open side and by the grippers of the transfer conveyor at the folded edge. Therefore, even with such a combination of feed conveyor and transfer conveyor no hanging supply of loose or easily separable from advertising combinations, the advertising compositions are only partially enclosed by an envelope and taken over by the gripper of the transfer conveyor at the folded edge, possible. This is because such advertising formats also having different formats of the inserts and the envelope can already fall apart when grasping on their open side by the gripper of the feed conveyor.

The known devices thus have a large footprint, are relatively complex constructed and do not allow sufficiently gentle stacking of each envelope, supplements and a common, leading edge folded advertising compositions and in particular of loose or easily separable advertising compositions. The supplements can be composed of printed products or other advertising materials. Therefore, such a device and the corresponding method are not suitable for forming a stack of such advertising material combinations. This applies analogously to the methods carried out with these devices.

Other transfer conveyors for individual folded printed products are from the US5452886A , of the US 2002/0153228 A and the US6116593 A known.

The object of the invention was to provide a compact, cost-effective device and a method for forming a stack of a plurality of each one envelope, inserts and a common, leading edge folded promotional compositions, in which a material gentle stacking is guaranteed.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 14. Advantageous embodiments are objects of the respective subclaims.

In this case, the transfer conveyor of the device described above has a fixed to the machine frame, revolving around a first axis of rotation central wheel, also attached to the machine frame, revolving around a second axis of rotation, Carrier as well as a number of pivot arms, which are each rotatably disposed with an inner end on the central wheel and each carry a gripper at an outer end. In addition, a number of guide elements for sliding receiving a respective pivot arm is rotatably mounted on the carrier wheel. Furthermore, the second axis of rotation is arranged below a horizontal plane through the first axis of rotation. In addition, the grippers are each mounted rotatably about an axis on the pivot arm. Finally, the transfer conveyor on a transfer area and a transfer area, wherein the advertising compositions in the transfer area with the grippers of the transfer conveyor taken from the feeder be transferred in the transfer area of the grippers of the transfer conveyor to the stacker. In this case, the stacking device is arranged engaging in the transfer area.
Due to the rotatable mounting of the gripper on its swivel arm, the grippers can be aligned both during the acquisition and during the transfer of the advertising compositions to the feed conveyor or to the stacker. In this way, a gentle transport of the advertising compositions can be ensured. This is supported by the eccentric arrangement of the axes of rotation of the central wheel and carrier wheel and by the arrangement of the second axis of rotation below a horizontal plane through the first axis of rotation, which in the transfer area to a reduction in the distance between adjacent grippers, thus reducing the speed of the gripper and ultimately leads to a reduction in the speed of the advertising compositions on transfer to the stacker. Finally, the arrangement of the stacking device which engages in the transfer region also ensures a relatively gentle storage of the advertising material compositions on the stacking device. Due to the eccentric arrangement of the axes of rotation of the central wheel and the carrier wheel and by the arrangement of the second axis of rotation below a horizontal plane through the first axis of rotation also results in an increase in the distance between adjacent grippers in the transfer area, so that a collision of the admittances to be taken over with the grippers can be avoided , According to one embodiment of the device according to the invention for forming a stack, the axis of rotation of the carrier wheel, ie the second axis of rotation, is aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the central wheel, ie parallel to the first axis of rotation. Thus, a simple, compact and inexpensive construction of the transfer conveyor and thus the apparatus for forming a stack can be realized.

According to one embodiment, the envelope and the inserts of the advertising composition are loose or light put together separable. Due to the gentle and collision-free transport, this device is also suitable for stacking such relatively easily falling out of the advertising composition advertising.
According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention are connected to the machine frame of the device or with this and / or on a non-co-rotating with the transfer conveyor component of the device an upper opening and closing cam to open the gripper before reaching the transfer area and closing the gripper in the transfer area and a lower opening and closing curve for opening the gripper in the transfer area and arranged for reclosing. In this way, the opening or closing of the gripper can be realized by means of simple controls.
According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, both the upper and the lower opening and closing cam are adjustable and / or interchangeable, so that they are advantageously adapted to different advertising material combinations to be processed, ie for example to different thicknesses, different paper and different formats can be.
According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the central wheel and the carrier wheel are drivable via a single drive and a common force transmission element, in particular a gear transmission. This can be a simply cost-effective and space-saving solution can be realized.
According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the central wheel has an external toothing and the carrier wheel has an internal toothing and the force transmission element designed as a gear transmission is formed engaging in the external toothing and the internal toothing. Moreover, that is designed as a gear transmission force transmission element between the central wheel and the carrier wheel. With this training, the compact design is supported.

According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the feed conveyor has at least one conveying element with a feed plane for the advertising composition, wherein the feed plane is aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the central wheel and tangential to a trajectory of the gripper and the stacking device is arranged on the circumference of the transfer conveyor and a storage plane which is aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the central wheel and horizontally or at an acute angle to the horizontal. This can be a safe, gentle and trouble-free acquisition and transfer of the advertising compilations.

According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the second axis of rotation is arranged laterally offset transversely to the first axis of rotation. In this way, the transfer area and the transfer area can be flexibly positioned on the circumference of the transfer conveyor.

According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the carrier wheel has two spaced, interconnected rings. In addition, recesses for receiving the guide elements are arranged on the circumference of the rings. Due to the associated relatively stiff construction of the carrier wheel, a long life of this assembly and a play-free movement of the pivot arms can be ensured.

According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, an actuating element is mounted on each pivoting arm. In this way, a control cam for changing the gripper position can be arranged in the region of the central wheel on the machine frame, which supports the compact design.

According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the carrier wheel is designed to completely surround the central wheel in the radial direction. This training also supports the compact design of the inventive device.

In the method according to the invention, the grippers of the transfer conveyor take the advertising material compilations into a transfer area from the feed conveyor, then transport the advertising material compilations to a transfer area to the stacking device, whereby a distance between adjacent grippers is reduced and the admittance compositions are transferred to the stacking device at reduced speed and deposited thereon , Subsequently, and until their re-entry into the transfer area, the distance between adjacent grippers is increased. The grippers are pivoted both in the transfer area and in the transfer area for alignment with the feed conveyor or to the stacking device in each case with respect to its pivoting arm. This ensures a material-friendly stacking of the advertising material compilations.

According to a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is advantageous to use advertising compositions in which the envelope and the inserts are joined together loosely or slightly separable from one another.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES:

Fig. 1

shows a schematic representation of the device according to the invention in a side view,

Fig. 1a

shows an enlarged view of the supplied advertising compilation,

Fig. 1b

shows a schematic representation of the machine frame and the arrangement of the axes of rotation of central and carrier wheel on the machine frame,

Fig. 2

shows a representation analogous to Fig. 1 , but in addition with the product flow,

Fig. 3

shows an enlarged, perspective view of a swivel arm Fig. 1 , viewed from behind,

Fig. 4

shows an enlarged, perspective view of a swivel arm Fig. 1 , viewed from the front,

Fig. 5

shows an enlarged perspective view of a pivot arm in the region of the carrier wheel and the guide element,

Fig. 6

shows an enlarged view of the drive of the inventive device.

Fig. 1 1 shows a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for forming a stack 43 (FIG. Fig. 2 The device has a circulating transfer conveyor 20, a feed conveyor 21 arranged upstream of the transfer conveyor 20 and a stacking device arranged downstream of the transfer conveyor 20 44 ( Fig. 2 ), which on a machine frame 100 (FIG. Fig. 1b ) and with a controller 80 ( Fig. 2 ) are connected.

The transfer conveyor 20 is circular, formed. At the periphery of the transfer conveyor 20 ten pivot arms 10 (individually designated 10.1 to 10.10) are arranged. The in the FIGS. 1 and 2 shown pivot arms 10 have an elongated extent and each comprise a holding element 5, which at an inner end 13 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) of the pivoting arm 10 is rotatably mounted about an axis 12 on the circumference of a central wheel 3. There are also transfer conveyor 20 with more or less than ten pivoting arms 10 conceivable.

The central wheel 3 is formed as a disc with a first, central axis of rotation 17, which simultaneously represents the axis of rotation of the transfer conveyor. The central wheel 3 has a number of uniformly distributed on the circumference recesses 9 ( Fig. 6 ), which corresponds to the number of pivot arms 10 of the transfer conveyor 20. In the recesses 9, the above-mentioned axis 12 forming bearing elements 23, for example, roller bearings or bearings, arranged on which the pivot arms 10 are attached and about which they are pivoted. The central wheel 3 is mounted, for example, on a shaft 47 connected to a machine frame 100, a shaft journal or an axle.

At a radially outer end 14 of the pivot arm 10, a respective pivotable about a further axis 50 of the support member 5 gripper 1 is fixed, with which the advertising compositions 2 can be clamped and transported.

The grippers 1 each have a clamping body 49 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) with a first jaw 18 a, which can be pivoted relative to the holding element 5 at a certain angle about the axis 50. Next, the grippers 1 each have a second jaw 18b, which by means of a prestressed, elastic element 19 (FIG. Fig. 3 ), for example, a torsion spring, is pressed against the first jaw 18a. Via a cam roller 53 connected to the second clamping jaw 18b, which cooperates with an upper stationary opening and closing cam 41 and a lower stationary opening and closing cam 42, the closing force of the elastic element 19 can be overcome and the gripper 1 can be opened. The opening and closing curves 41, 42 are arranged on or connected to the machine frame 100 of the apparatus and / or fastened to a component of the apparatus not rotating with the transfer conveyor 20. In order to respectively adapt the timing and / or the closing and opening operation of a gripper 1 to the properties of the advertising composition 2 to be processed, it is advantageous if the upper opening and closing cam 41 and the lower opening and closing cam 42 about the axis 17 in FIG or can be adjusted against the direction of rotation of the transfer conveyor 20. The adjustment of the opening and closing curves 41, 42 may each be carried out separately or jointly by hand or via an actuator, not shown, for example, a servomotor or a fluid cylinder. It is also conceivable that the opening and closing curves 41, 42 for adjusting the time and / or the closing and opening operation can be easily and quickly replaced to the properties of the advertising compositions to be processed 2. Further, the two opening and closing curves 41 and 42 may be formed as a common curve.

The pivoting of the gripper 1 about the axis 50 of the clamping body 49 via an example designed as a push rod actuator 6, which extends from the inner end 13 to the outer end 14 of the pivot arm 10, that extends to the clamping body 49. The cylindrically executed actuator 6 is at the outer end 14 of the pivot arm 10 in a designed as a ball bush bearing 56 in an operating direction 55 (FIG. Fig. 4 ) slidably mounted. Alternatively, the bearing can also be designed as a plain bearing. The actuating direction 55 is parallel to a central axis 64 of the actuating element 6. In the region of the gripper 1, the actuating element 6 has a transmission element 52 with a recess 54. On the clamping body 49 is offset from the axis 50 a trained as a sliding block cam 51 is fixed, which engages in the recess 54 of the transmission element 52 and in this practically free of play is displaced. It is also conceivable that instead of the cam 51, a pin is fastened to the clamping body 49 or that this is formed on the clamping body 49.

At the inner end, ie at the end 13 of the swivel arm 10 opposite the transmission element 52, the control element 6 has one or more cam rollers 57, with which the gripper 1 can be swiveled in a targeted manner about the axis 50 via a movement of the control element 6 in the actuating direction 55. In the area of the central wheel 3, a stationary cam 7 connected to the machine frame 100 is fastened. In the cam 7 is as in Fig. 1 represented a closed curved path 70 with varying distance to the first axis of rotation 17 inserted. The cam rollers 57 of the adjusting element 6 engage in the cam 7 and drive the cam 70 completely off when the transfer conveyor 20 once rotates through 360 °.

The actuator 6 has an anti-rotation 65 ( Figure 4 ), which prevents the actuator 6 can rotate about its central axis 64 and the cam 51 slides laterally out of the recess 54 of the transmission element 52. For this purpose, the pivot arm 10 in the present embodiment at its inner end 13 has a recess 59 in which a connected to the actuator 6 roller 58 in the direction of actuation 55 of the actuator 6 can move without a rotation of the actuator 6 about its central axis 64 is possible , An anti-rotation 65 is unnecessary if the actuator 6 is not cylindrical but, for example, designed as a square rod. The expert is of course also known other embodiments, such as a rotation 65 of the actuating element 6 can be performed.

The transfer conveyor 20 further comprises a carrier wheel 4, which consists of two spaced-apart in the axial direction, fixedly connected rings 60 ( Fig. 5 ) and which completely surrounds the central wheel in the radial direction. The rings 60 have the same number of recesses 63 as the central wheel 3, and the recesses 63 are also distributed uniformly on the rings 60. The carrier wheel 4 is mounted on the machine frame 100 and rotates about a second axis of rotation 16, which is aligned parallel to the first axis of rotation 17 of the central wheel 3. The inner diameter of the rings 60 is about 1.5 to 3 times the outer diameter of the central wheel 3. As in the side views Fig. 1 and 2 can be seen, the second axis of rotation 16 of the carrier wheel 4 is below a plane passing through the rotation axis 17 horizontal plane 22. In addition to the offset down the second axis of rotation 16 relative to the first axis of rotation 17 may be laterally offset transversely to the axis of rotation 17. The central wheel 3 is completely within the carrier wheel 4 and the two wheels 3, 4 overlap and do not touch.

The carrier wheel 4 further comprises a number of guide elements 8, which are arranged between the rings 60 and rotatably mounted in the recesses 63 of the two rings 60 about an axis 11. The guide elements 8 have two parallel, designed as a ball bushing bearings 62, through which the holding element. 5 and the actuator 6 of the swing arm 10 are passed. Alternatively, the bearing 62 may be formed as a sliding bearing. Due to the rotatable mounting of the pivot arms 10 on the circumference of the central wheel 3 and the bearing of the pivot arms 10 in eccentric to the central 3 arranged carrier wheel 4, a distance 78 between two adjacent pairs of grippers 1 on the circumference of the transfer conveyor 20 is different.

It is advantageous if the axis of rotation 16 of the carrier wheel 4 is arranged below the axis of rotation 17 of the central wheel 4 and offset from the axis of rotation 17 such that an imaginary plane 66 running through the two axes of rotation 16, 17 passes through a transfer area 27 in which the loose advertising compositions 2 on the feed conveyor 21 from the respective gripper 1 of the transfer conveyor 20 are taken over ( Fig. 2 ). A collision of an acquired from a gripper 1 loose ad composition 2 with the following gripper 1 can be avoided. Next, the delivery of the loose advertising compositions 2 to the stacking device 44 in a transfer area 28, in which the distance 78 between two adjacent grippers 1 on the circumference of the transfer conveyor 20 low and thus the peripheral speed of the gripper 1 is small. The relatively small peripheral speed allows a gentle transfer of the loose ad composition 2 to the stacking device 44th

Generally, the grippers 1 in the region in which the pivot arms 10 above the horizontal plane 22, the plane 66 pierced by the greatest distance 78 to each other. Accordingly, the distance 78 is smallest in the region in which the pivot arms 10 below the horizontal plane 22, the plane 66 pierced. In the present invention, the rotation axis 16 with respect to the rotation axis 17 in addition to a vertical offset on a lateral offset to the right. The plane 66 is thus slightly inclined against the direction of rotation of the transfer conveyor 20.

The stacking device 44 is arranged on the circumference of the transfer conveyor 20 below the horizontal plane 22 and formed for receiving a stack 43 of advertising compositions 2. The stacking device 44 has a fictitious storage level 45 on which the advertising compositions 2 are stored. The storage level 45 is aligned parallel to the axis of rotation 17 of the central wheel and horizontally or at an acute angle to the horizontal. Furthermore, the stacking device 44 has a stop 46 on the side of the stack 44 facing the transfer conveyor 20, on which the advertising compositions 2 released by the gripper 1 in the transfer region 28 align with their folded edges 2c. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the storage level is inclined in the direction of the stop 46 at an acute angle to the horizontal. The upper flat side of the top advertising composition 2 of the stack 43 thus abuts the storage level 45 from below. So that the upper end of the stack 43 does not pierce the depositing plane 45, the stack 43 is lowered in the stacking device 44 after each advertising material combination 2 which is added to the stack 43. It is also conceivable that instead of a vertical stack 43 a scale flow moving away from the transfer region 28 is formed on a conveying element, not shown, of the stacking device 44 in which the advertising material assemblies 2 do not completely overlap.

The central wheel 3 and the carrier wheel 4 are connected to a common drive 67, for example a servo motor, and are driven by this ( Fig. 6 ). For this purpose, the drive 67 is coupled directly or via a further drive element, for example a toothed belt or a drive chain, to a first gear 75 of a gear transmission designed as a force transmission element 71. The gear 75 is engaged with an outer toothing 73 of the central wheel 3 and drives the central wheel 3 at. About two rigidly interconnected further gears 76, 79 drives the first gear 75 and the carrier wheel 4 with the same direction of rotation as the central wheel 3 at. For this purpose, the inner diameter of the carrier wheel 4 is provided with an internal toothing 74. In order to adjust the angular position between the central wheel 3 and the carrier wheel 4 during assembly and / or when making factory settings and / or during commissioning of the transfer conveyor 20, it may be necessary, the rigidly interconnected in operation, further gears 76, 79 against each other about their common axis of rotation 81 too adjust. The gears 75, 76, 79 of the power transmission element 71 are connected to the machine frame 100 and as in Fig. 6 shown disposed within the carrier wheel 4 in a free space 77 between the central wheel 3 and the carrier wheel 4, whereby a compact and space-saving design is achieved. The number of teeth of the gears 75, 76, 79 of the power transmission element 71 is selected so that the carrier wheel 4 has the same speed and the same sense of rotation as the central wheel 3, ie they rotate synchronously with each other and with the same direction of rotation at all times.

It is also conceivable that the drive 67 is not coupled directly to the first gear 75, but with the central gear 3, with one of the other gears 76, 79 or with the carrier wheel 4. With the in Fig. 6 shown arrangement of the toothed wheels 3, 4, 75, 76 and 79, the respective wheels not coupled directly to the drive 67 would nevertheless be driven in the same manner as described above. In a further, not shown embodiment, the central gear 3 and the carrier wheel 4 instead of the transmission gear formed as a transmission element 71 also with a toothed belt, which is connected to the drive axle of the drive 67, are driven.

During operation of the device described above, the advertising material assemblies 2 are transferred with the feed conveyor 21 to the transfer conveyor 20, transported by this to a stacking device 44, stored on this and stacked.

In a first step, the advertising composition 2 from the feed conveyor 21 at a first speed in a in Fig. 2 shown feed level 24 transported by resting on the feed conveyor 21 or clamped between an upper and a lower band of the feed conveyor 21. Transport between two belts is particularly advantageous if the advertising material assemblies 2 are loose supplements 2b which are merely superimposed on one another or easily separable from each other. It is also conceivable that an unillustrated, known in the prior art driver the compilation of advertising 2 pushes at its trailing edge or that the advertising composition held by a gripper of the feed conveyor on the leading or trailing edge or on one of the side edges and the transfer conveyor 20 are supplied. The advertising material assemblies 2 are each transported by the feed conveyor 21 at a distance, so that between two successive advertising compositions 2 each have a gap, in which the respective gripper 1 of the transfer conveyor 20 is pivoted in the transfer area 27. In the Fig. 1 and 2 the feed level 24 is shown horizontally. Arrangements of the feed conveyor 21 are also conceivable in which the feed plane is arranged inclined or vertical in the transport direction of the advertising composition 2.

In the next step, the advertising material compilations 2 in the transfer area 27 are taken over by the grippers 1 attached to the swivel arms 10. As in Fig. 2 it can be seen, the gripper 10.1 pierces the feed plane 24 in front of the transfer area 27, in which it is introduced into the gap between two advertising material compilations 2. By means of the upper opening and closing cam 41, the gripper 1 is opened in front of the transfer area 27 and pivoted about the axis 50 of the holding element 5 by means of the cam-controlled adjusting element 6 so that the advertising material combination 2 passes from the feed conveyor 21 between the two clamping jaws 18a, 18b of the gripper 1 , The peripheral speed of the gripper 1 is smaller than the speed of the feed conveyor 21 in the transfer area 27. The regulation of the speed of the feed conveyor 21, the control of the speed of the transfer conveyor 20 and the clocking of the two conveyors to each other in a known manner by the higher-level control 80th Für a safe and gentle transfer of the advertising compositions 2 to the transfer conveyor 20, it is advantageous if at least in the transfer area 27, the feed plane 24 is parallel to the axis of rotation 17 of the transfer conveyor 20 and when the feed plane 24 is arranged approximately tangentially to a trajectory 25 of the gripper 1. The grippers 1 are aligned in the transfer area 27 by the cam track 70 and the adjusting element 6 so that the advertising compositions 2 in the open gripper 1, ie in the opening between the jaws 18a, 18b can be introduced without colliding with them. The gripper 1 is closed at the end of the transfer area 27 as soon as the advertising material combination 2 can be gripped securely by the clamping jaws 18a, 18b. The length of the section of the advertising material combination 2 located inside the gripper 1 depends, for example, on its properties (format, thickness, weight, roughness of the surface) or on the processing speed. The beginning and the course of the closing of the gripper 1 is determined by the upper opening and closing cam 41 and the rolling thereon, connected to the gripper 1 cam roller 53. The gripper 1 is closed by the bias of the elastic member 19, which also determines the force with which the advertising compositions 2 are held between the jaws 18a, 18b. At the end of the transfer area 27, when the gripper 1 is closed and the advertising composition 2 is held securely in it, the gripper 1 is in an end position with maximum pivoting relative to the pivot arm 10 about the axis 50 against the direction of rotation of the transfer conveyor 20. This is also from the course of the curved path 70 in the Fig. 1 and 2 can be seen in which the cam roller 57 of the pivot arm 10.2 is guided in a portion of the cam track 70 which is relatively close to the axis of rotation 17. After the transfer region 27, the gripper 1 pivots in the direction of rotation of the transfer conveyor 20 about the axis 50.

Promotional compositions 2 of great thickness are touched earlier in the acquisition by the gripper 1 of the jaws 18 a, 18 b and clamped as a thin advertising compositions 2. So that located within the gripper 1 section of the advertising composition 2 both thin and thick advertising compositions 2 a for safe transport and storage on the stacking device 44 has required length, the upper opening and closing cam 41 is formed around the axis of rotation 17 in or against the direction of rotation of the transfer conveyor 20 adjustable or replaceable.

In a further step, the grippers 1 transport the advertising material assemblies 2 on the circumference of the transfer conveyor 20 to the transfer area 28, in which the advertising compositions 2 are stored on a stacker 44. Due to the eccentric arrangement of the first axis of rotation 17 of the central wheel 3, on which the inner end 13 of the pivot arm 10 is rotatably mounted, and the second axis of rotation 16 of the carrier wheel 4, in which the pivot arms 10 between the inner end 13 and the outer end 14 stored are the distance 78 between two adjacent grippers 1 in operation changes constantly. Due to the changing distance 78, the peripheral speed of the grippers 1 is not constant, even if the central wheel 3 and the carrier wheel 4 are driven synchronously and at constant speed. If the distance 78 between two adjacent grippers 1 is large, the circumferential speed of the grippers 1 is also large, and if this distance 78 is small, the circumferential speed of the grippers 1 is also small. As in Fig. 2 shown, in the transfer area 27 relatively large distance 78 between two adjacent grippers, on the way further this gripper 1 to the transfer area 28 is reduced. Accordingly, the peripheral speed of the gripper 1 and the advertising compositions 2 transported therein are also reduced. Controlled by the cam track 70 of the gripper 1 pivots during the rotation of the pivot arm 10 relative to this about the axis 50. The cam roller 57 of the actuating element 6 is now in a portion of the cam track 70 which is relatively far away from the axis of rotation 17. The trailing end of the advertising material combination 2, which is not held in the gripper 1, away from the folded edge 2c, moves radially outward by pivoting the gripper 1 about the axis 50. As a result, the alignment of the already delayed but still held in the gripper 1 advertising compositions 2 to the storage level 45, to which the advertising compositions 2 are placed approximated (see advertising material combination 2 in the gripper 10.5 in Fig. 2 ).

In a further step, the grippers 1 in the transfer region 28 are opened by the lower opening and closing cam 42 and the advertising material assemblies 2 are transferred to the stacking device 44 by being deposited on the uppermost advertising composition 2 of the stack 43. It is advantageous if the stacked advertising compositions 2 on a stop 46 of Align stacking device 44. The stop 46 engages viewed from the side and as in Fig. 2 shown in the movement path 25 of the gripper 1, and has for this purpose a recess, not shown, for the gripper 1. The advertising compositions 2 are so controlled and gently stripped on the stop 46. The stacking device 44 is connected to the controller 80, which lowers the stack 43 according to the thickness of an advertising material combination 2 after transferring a further advertising composition 2. The position of the storage level 45 thus remains almost constant, a collision of the gripper 1 with the downwardly building stack 43 is avoided. Likewise, a free, uncontrolled case of advertising compositions 2 can be prevented by a storage level 45 moving too fast downwards. The necessary for controlling the lowering of the stack 43 thickness of the advertising compositions 2 is stored in the controller 80, calculated by this or transmitted from a measuring point in the flow of the advertising compositions 2 to the controller 80. Even with a arranged at the upper end of the stack 43 level monitoring, such as a photocell, the lowering of the stack can be controlled by an unillustrated actuator.

In a further step, after the transfer of the advertising composition 2 to the stacking device 44, the distance 78 between two adjacent grippers 1 is increased until their renewed entry into the transfer region 27 and the grippers 1 are closed by means of the lower opening and closing cam 42. It is advantageous if, after the transfer of the advertising compositions, the grippers 1 are pivoted with respect to their pivot arm 10 about the axis 50 against the direction of rotation of the transfer conveyor 20, since in this way the outer diameter of the transfer conveyor 20 between the transfer area 28 and the transfer area 27 are minimized can. It is also conceivable that the grippers 1 rotate after the transfer area 28 in the open state until the renewed acquisition of a set of advertising material 2 around the axis of rotation 17. For this purpose, the upper and lower opening and closing cam 41, 42 between the transfer area 28 and the transfer area 27 could be connected to one another.

Claims (15)

1. Device for making a stack from a cover (2a), inserts (2b) and compilations of advertising material (2) that have a common leading fold edge (2c), with a machine frame (100), a circular, rotating transfer conveyor (20) that is fastened to it, a feeder (21) arranged upstream of the transfer conveyor (20) and a stacking device (44) arranged downstream of the transfer conveyor (20), in which

   • the transfer conveyor (20) has a central wheel (3) rotating around a first axis of rotation (17) that is fastened to the machine frame (100) and a number of swivel arms (10), which are turnable arranged respectively with an inner end (13) on the central wheel (3) and have a gripper (1) on an outer end (14) each,

   • the grippers (1) are mounted on the swivel arm (10) so that they may turn around an axis (50) each,

   • the transfer conveyor (20) has a receiving area (27), in which the compilations of advertising material (2) are transferred from the feeder (21) with the grippers (1) of the transfer conveyor (20)
   and

   • the transfer conveyor (20) has a transfer area (28), in which the compilations of advertising material (2) are transferred to the stacking device (44) by the grippers (1) of the transfer conveyor (20), in which the stacking device (44) is arranged encroaching into the transfer area (28),
   characterised in that

   • the transfer conveyor (20) has a carrier wheel (4) rotating around a second axis of rotation (16) that is also fastened to the machine frame (100),

   • a number of guide elements (8) are mounted on the carrier wheel (4) so that they may turn to accommodate a swivel arm (1) in a sliding manner, and

   • the second axis of rotation (16) is arranged below a horizontal plane (22) through the first axis of rotation (17).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the second axis of rotation (16) is aligned parallel to the first axis of rotation (17).
3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that a top opening and closing curve (41) and a bottom opening and closing curve (42) for the grippers (1) are arranged on the machine frame (100) or connected to it and/or to a component of the device not turning with the transfer conveyor (20).
4. Device according to claim 3, characterised in that the top and bottom opening and closing curve (41, 42) are made adjustable and/or exchangeable to adapt to different compilations of adverting material (2).
5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the central wheel (3) and the carrier wheel (4) are made so that they are drivable through a single drive (67) and a common power transmission element (71), particularly a gear transmission.
6. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the central wheel (3) has external teeth (73) and the carrier wheel (4) has internal teeth (74) and the power transmission element (71), which is made as a gear transmission, is made engaging in the external teeth (73) and the internal teeth (74).
7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the power transmission element (71), which is made as a gear transmission, is arranged between the central wheel (3) and the carrier wheel (4).
8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the feeder (21) has at least a conveyor element (21a) with a feed plane (24) for the compilations of advertising material (2), in which the feed plane (24) is aligned parallel to the axis of rotation (17) of the central wheel (3) and tangential to a movement path (25) of the gripper (1) and the stacking device (44) is arranged on the circumference of the transfer conveyor (20) and has a depositing plane (45), which is aligned parallel to the axis of rotation (17) of the central wheel (3) and horizontal or at an acute angle to the horizontal.
9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the second axis of rotation (16) is arranged crosswise to the first axis of rotation (17) offset sideways.
10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the carrier wheel (4) has two spaced-apart rings (60) that are connected to each other.
11. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that recesses (63) are arranged on the circumference of the rings (60) to accommodate the guide elements (8).
12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that an adjustment element (6) is mounted on each swivel arm (10).
13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the carrier wheel (4) is made completely enclosing the central wheel (3) in the radial direction.
14. Method for forming a stack respectively made from a cover (2a), inserts (2b) and compilations of advertising material (2) that have a common leading fold edge (2c), with a machine frame (100), a circular, rotating transfer conveyor (20) that is fastened to it, a feeder (21) arranged upstream of the transfer conveyor (20) and a stacking device (44) arranged downstream of the transfer conveyor (20), in which the transfer conveyor (20) has a central wheel (3) rotating around a first axis of rotation (17) that is fastened to the machine frame (100), a carrier wheel (4) rotating around a second axis of rotation (16) that is also fastened to the machine frame (100) and a number of swivel arms (10), which are turnable arranged respectively with an inner end (13) on the central wheel (3) and have a gripper (1) on an outer end (14) each, in which

    • the grippers (1) of the transfer conveyor (20) take the compilations of advertising material (2) from the feeder (21) into a receiving area (27),

    • then the grippers (1) transport the compilations of advertising material (2) to a transfer area (28) to the stacking device (44), in which a distance (78) between adjacent grippers (1) is reduced and the compilations of advertising material (2) are transferred to the stacking device (44) at reduced speed and deposited on it,

    • then the distance (78) between adjacent grippers (1) is increased until they arrive in the receiving area again and

    • the grippers in both the receiving area (27) and the transfer area (28) are swivelled in respect of their swivel arm (10) to align with the feeder (21) or the stacking device (44).
15. Method according to claim 14, characterised in that compilations of advertising material (2) are used, in which the cover (2a) and the inserts (2b) are put together loosely or so that they may be easily separated from each other.

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