Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02659652 2009-03-20
Apparatus for stacking sheet-like products, in
particular printed products
The present invention relates to an apparatus for
producing stacks of sheet-like products, in particular
printed products, according to the preamble of patent
claim 1.
An apparatus of this type is known, for example, from
EP 1 439 143 Al. It has a stacking apparatus with a
stacking shaft, above which a preliminary stacking
device is arranged. The preliminary stacking shaft of
the preliminary stacking device is bounded on all four
sides by means of guide profiles and at the bottom by
two slide plates which can be moved in and out of the
preliminary stacking shaft from the side. Intermediate-
base elements designed for example in a fork-like
manner can be moved in and out of the preliminary
stacking shaft from the side at a distance above the
slide plates.
An apparatus of the same construction is also disclosed
in EP 0 586 802 A and US 5,370,382. The functioning of
all these known apparatuses is described in detail in
the two last-mentioned documents.
It is an object of the present invention to develop the
known apparatus such that, while operating smoothly, a
high processing capacity is ensured.
This object is achieved by an apparatus which has the
features of patent claim 1.
whereas, in the case of the apparatuses which are known
from the abovementioned documents, the intermediate-
base elements and slide plates, which correspond to the
base elements of the present invention, are moved
horizontally into the preliminary stacking shaft from
the side, and moved out of the same in the opposite
CA 02659652 2009-03-20
- 2 -
direction, according to the invention the base elements
are moved along a continuous circulatory path and are
moved through the preliminary stacking shaft at least
more or less vertically. This ensures smoother
operation of the apparatus and allows problem-free
separation of the sheet-like products, in particular if
they are fed in an imbricated formation. Of course, it
is also possible for the sheet-like products to be fed
to the preliminary stacking shaft in sections, or at a
distance one behind the other, by way of feed means.
A preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to
the invention as described in claim 2 makes it possible
for one base element to be brought into a standby
position in the vicinity above the feed means while an
intermediate stack is being formed on the immediately
preceding base element, dropping of the fed products
being avoided in the process, by virtue of this base
element being lowered continuously, and for the first-
mentioned base element then to be brought very quickly
out of the standby position into a receiving position
at the feed means.
A further preferred embodiment of the apparatus
according to the invention as described in claim 3
makes it possible to achieve a high processing capacity
using only two first and two second base elements.
A particularly preferred embodiment of the apparatus
according to the invention as described in claim 4
allows optimum control of the pivoting position of the
base elements.
Further particularly preferred iambodiments of the
apparatus according to the invention are specified in
the rest of the dependent patent claims.
CA 02659652 2009-03-20
- 3 -
The invention will be explained in more detail with
reference to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the
drawing, in which, purely schematically:
figure 1 shows a side view of an apparatus according
to the invention having a stacking apparatus
with a stacking shaft, and having a
preliminary stacking device which is arranged
above the stacking apparatus and has a feed
means for feeding the sheet-like products
which are to be stacked;
figure 2 shows, likewise in side view and on an
enlarged scale in relation to figure 1, part
of the apparatus according to the invention
from figure 1 with a circulatory arrangement
for base elements of the preliminary stacking
device; and
figure 3 shows the circulatory arrangement as seen in
the direction of the arrow III from figure 2
and partly in section.
As can be seen from figure 1, the apparatus according
to the invention has a stacking apparatus 10 with a
stacking shaft 12 which is bounded on all four sides by
profiles 14 and at the bottom by a raisable and
lowerable stacking table 16. The stacking shaft 12 can
be rotated through 180 in each case about a vertical
axis 18 in order for it to be possible for intermediate
stacks 20 to be received in a state in which they are
offset through 180 in each case in relation to one
another. If a completed stack comprising at least one
intermediate stack 20, but preferably a plurality of
intermediate stacks 20, has been formed in the stacking
shaft 12, the stacking table 16 is lowered to the full
extent and the completed stack is pushed out of the
stacking shaft 12 in a generally known manner. It
should be expressly mentioned in this context that the
CA 02659652 2009-03-20
- 4
stacking apparatus may also be designed in the manner
disclosed in EP 1 445 224 A.
The stacking apparatus 10 has arranged above it a
preliminary stacking device 22, of which the
preliminary stacking shaft 24 is located above the
stacking shaft 12 and is aligned therewith. The
preliminary stacking device 22 has a feed means 28
which is designed as a belt conveyor 26 and is intended
for feeding sheet-like products, in the present case
folded printed products 30 such as newspapers or
periodicals, to the preliminary stacking shaft 24. The
belt conveyor 26 has a conveying belt 32, which is
driven in circulation in the feed direction Z, and a
pressure-exerting belt 34, which is arranged above the
conveying belt, the two belts together forming a
conveying gap 36 for the printed products 30. The
printed products 30 rest in an imbricated formation S
on the conveying belt 32, each printed product 30
resting partially on the preceding printed products 30,
as seen in the feed direction Z. The conveying gap 36
terminates at the top end 38 of the preliminary
stacking shaft 24, as seen in the feed direction Z, and
the printed products 30 are therefore fed laterally and
from above the preliminary stacking shaft 24.
On the side which is located opposite the feed means
28, as seen in the feed direction Z, the preliminary
stacking shaft 24 is bounded by a vertically running
stop strip 40, against which the printed products 30
freed from the conveying gap 36 come into abutment by
way of their leading edge 42. On the side which is
directed toward the feed means 28, the preliminary
stacking shaft 24 is bounded by a planar wall element
44, which can be adjusted by means of an adjusting
element 46, for example a cylinder/piston subassembly,
in accordance with the format of the printed products
30 which are to be processed. On the remaining two
sides, which in figure 1 run parallel to the drawing
CA 02659652 2009-03-20
- 5 -
surface, the preliminary stacking shaft 24 is bounded
by further wall elements (not shown).
A circulatory arrangement 48 for base elements 50,
which has a drive arrangement 47 and will be described
with reference to figures 2 and 3, is located on that
side of the preliminary stacking shaft 24 which is
situated opposite the feed means 28.
The circulatory arrangement 48 has four base elements
50 arranged one behind the other along a circulatory
path 51, a first base element 52 and a second base
element 54 following alternately one after the other in
each case. The two first base elements 52 are arranged
on a first conveying mechanism 56, in the present case
comprising two toothed belts 58, while the two second
base elements 54 are arranged on a second conveying
mechanism 60, comprising two further toothed belts 62.
In a preferred manner, and as illustrated in the
drawing, the base elements 50, 52, 54 are mounted on
their conveying mechanisms 56, 60 such that they can be
pivoted about an axis 64 which runs at right angles to
the circulatory path 51, and thus to the direction of
circulation U of the base elements 50, 52, 54. Each of
the base elements 50 has two planar base parts 66 which
are spaced apart from one another in the direction of
the axis 64 and are fastened on a shaft 68, which is
concentric to the axis 64. The relevant shaft 68 is
mounted in a freely rotatable manner on bearing
elements 70 which are fastened on the associated
conveying mechanism 56, 60, or the corresponding
toothed belts 58 and further toothed belts 62. In order
to define the pivoting position of the base elements
50, a follow-on mechanism 72 is connected to each base
element 50, 52, 54 and interacts with a pivot guide 74.
In the present embodiment, a control lever 76 is seated
in a rotationally fixed manner at both ends of each
shaft 68 and has a follow-on roller 78, as follow-on
CA 02659652 2009-03-20
- 6 -
mechanism 72, mounted in a freely rotatable manner at
its end. The follow-on rollers 78 arranged on the same
sides of all the base elements 50 are guided in a
common, continuous, groove-like guide track 80; the two
guide tracks 80, which are formed and arranged in a
mirror-inverted manner, form the pivot guide 74. The
pivoting position of the base elements 50 is controlled
such that the base elements 50 are inclined rearwardly
to a slight extent as seen in the direction of
circulation U; in other words, on the rear side of the
base elements 50, 52, 54, as seen in the direction of
circulation, the base elements 50 and the conveying
mechanisms 56, 60 enclose an angle which is smaller
than 90 , and is preferably approximately 800.
For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned
that the base elements 50 comprise two spaced-apart
base parts 66, in order to make it possible for the
stop strip 40 to be arranged in the center.
The toothed belts 58 and further toothed belts 62 are
guided, at the top end 38 of the preliminary stacking
shaft 24, around equiaxially arranged top deflecting
rollers 82, and, at the bottom end 38' of the
preliminary stacking shaft 24, around likewise
equiaxially arranged bottom deflecting rollers 84. The
working strand 86, which defines a working portion 85
of the circulatory path 51 running vertically through
the preliminary stacking shaft 24, runs in a vertical
direction, i.e. parallel to the longitudinal direction
of the preliminary stacking shaft 24, between the top
and bottom deflecting rollers 82, 84. For the sake of
completeness, it should be mentioned that the working
strand 86 runs outside the preliminary stacking shaft
24, on that side of the stop strip 40 which is directed
away from the feed means 28. From the bottom deflecting
roller 84, as seen in the direction of circulation U,
the return strand 88 runs obliquely upward to
equiaxially mounted first return-strand rollers 90 and,
CA 02659652 2009-03-20
- 7 -
from these, runs vertically upward to likewise
equiaxially arranged second return-strand rollers 92
and, from these, runs horizontally back to the top
deflecting rollers 82. The two first base elements 52
are arranged equidistantly, as measured in the
longitudinal direction of the first conveying mechanism
56. The same applies to the second base elements 54.
The four bottom deflecting rollers 84 are arranged on a
common bottom shaft 94, which is connected via a
toothed-belt drive 96 to a first drive mechanism 98, in
particular, as in the present case, an electric
servomotor. Correspondingly, the four top deflecting
rollers 82 are arranged on a top shaft 100 which, for
its part, is connected via a toothed-belt drive 96' to
a second drive mechanism 98', in the present case in
the form of a further servo motor.
As can be seen in figure 3 by way of the keys 102, the
bottom deflecting rollers 84 around which the toothed
belt 58 is guided are connected in a rotationally fixed
manner to the bottom shaft 94, while the two other
bottom deflecting rollers 84, around which the further
toothed belts 62 are guided, are mounted in a freely
rotatable manner on the bottom shaft 94. The bottom
shaft 94 is thus a drive shaft for the toothed belts 58
and thus for the first conveying mechanism 56 and the
first base elements 52. Correspondingly, the top
deflecting rollers 82 assigned to the further toothed
belts 62 are seated in a rotationally fixed manner on
the top shaft 100, while the top deflecting rollers 82
assigned to the toothed belts 58 are mounted in a
freely rotatable manner on the top shaft 100. The
second base elements 54 and the corresponding second
conveying mechanism 60 are thus driven by the first
drive mechanism 98.
The bearings for the shafts, the drive mechanisms 98,
98' and the guide tracks 80 are fastened on two panels
CA 02659652 2009-03-20
- 8 -
104, which form the machine framework for the
circulatory arrangement 48.
The functioning of the apparatus according to the
invention will be described taking the situation
illustrated in figure 1 as the departure point. A first
base element 52 has its free end directed toward the
feed means 28 at the top end 38 of the stacking shaft.
The foremost printed product 30, as seen in the feed
direction Z, which has already been freed from the
conveying gap 36, slides on the obliquely downwardly
sloping first base element 52, as seen in the feed
direction Z, in the direction of the stop strip 40, by
which it is then stopped and against which it comes
into abutment. The following printed products 30, which
are fed in imbricated formation S, slide
correspondingly on the respectively preceding printed
product 30, forming an intermediate stack 20 in the
process, and into the preliminary stacking shaft 24.
The first base element 52 is lowered slowly in
accordance with the height of the printed products 30
which have already been stacked. Since this ensures
identical conditions for all the printed products 30
fed, the intermediate stack 20 is formed in a neat and
defined manner.
According to figure 1, the first base element 52 has
located beneath it a second base element 54, on which a
previously formed intermediate stack 20 is arranged.
Starting from this position, the second base elements
54 are accelerated and moved along the circulatory path
51 in the direction of circulation U until the other
second base element 54 is located in the standby
position 106, which is indicated by chain-dotted lines.
By virtue of the second conveying mechanism 60 being
deflected around the bottom deflecting rollers 84, with
control provided by the pivot guide 74, the second base
element 54 loaded with the intermediate stack 20 is
quickly pivoted downward and laterally out of the
CA 02659652 2009-03-20
- 9 -
preliminary stacking shaft 24, as a result of which the
relevant intermediate stack 20 is freed from the second
base element and discharged onto the stacking table 16,
or an intermediate stack 20 which has already been
arranged thereon.
Once an intermediate stack 20 has been transferred to
the stacking shaft 12, it can be rotated through 1800
about the vertical axis 18, and this makes it possible
to form a rectilinear completed stack in which the
successive sub-stacks are arranged in a state in which
they have been rotated through 180 in each case. For
the purpose of receiving a first intermediate stack 20
in each case, the stacking table 16 is raised into a
top end position, and is then lowered in each case in
dependence on the height of the intermediate stacks 20.
If a completed stack has been formed, the stacking
table 16 is lowered to the full extent and the
completed stack is pushed out of the stacking shaft in
the generally known manner.
The standby position 106 is located at the top
deflecting rollers 82, and thus at the top end 38 of
the preliminary stacking shaft 24, as closely as
possible to the feed means 28, but at a sufficient
distance from the latter as to prevent any conflict
during formation of the intermediate stack 20.
If an intermediate stack 20 has been completed on the
first base element 52, according to figure 1, the
second base element 54 which immediately follows this
first base element 52, as seen in the direction of
circulation U, and is located in the standby position
106 is moved in the direction of circulation U into the
receiving position - in which the first base element 52
is shown by solid lines - in order for a further
intermediate stack 20 to be formed thereon from further
fed printed products 30. As the respective base element
50, 52, 54 moves from the standby position 106 into the
CA 02659652 2009-03-20
- 10 -
receiving position, the base element 50, 52, 54 inserts
its free end, which is directed toward the feed means
28, between two successive printed products 30, as a
result of which, even in the case of a very high
processing capacity, problem-free separation of these
printed products 30 is ensured. The working cycle
described is thus repeated as often as necessary, with
first and second base elements 52, 54 alternating.
It is conceivable for more than two first base elements
52 to be arranged equidistantly on the first conveying
mechanism 56 and for more than two second base elements
54 to be arranged equidistantly on the second conveying
mechanism 60. Furthermore, it is also conceivable for
the base elements 50 to be fixed on the relevant
conveying mechanisms 56, 60. In addition, it is
possible, instead of toothed belts 58, to use rail-
guided carriages, with a respective base element 50
arranged thereon, and to move these carriages in the
direction of circulation U by means of known drive
mechanisms.
The drive mechanisms 98, 98' can be controlled
independently of one another in respect of timing in
dependence on product-feed capacity, the height of the
intermediate stacks 20, the number of product pages,
the desired conveying capacity of products, etc. Of
course, it is also possible for the drive mechanisms
98, 98' to be operated in a manner in which they are
coordinated with one another in respect of timing. The
drive mechanisms 98, 98', for example in the form of
servomotors, then execute corresponding control
commands in dependence on the parameters mentioned
above.
