Device and method for conveying flat objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016159595-A1
Application number	US-201514956876-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 2, 2015
Priority date	Dec 8, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device for conveying and transferring flexible, flat objects with a gripper conveyor including a plurality of grippers that are movable along a conveying path in a conveying direction, and further with a conveying-way device that forms a conveying rest that, in a transfer region, is arranged below the conveying path such that objects that are released from grippers in the transfer region are deposited onto the conveying rest. The device includes a pressing circulatory device that acts upon the transfer region and has a plurality of outwardly directed pressing arms. The pressing circulatory device is designed, in the transfer region, to press the objects to be transferred with the pressing arms onto the conveying rest such that the objects can be deposited onto the conveying rest in a guided and controlled manner.

First claim

1 . A device for conveying and transferring flexible, flat objects, comprising:
a gripper conveyor with a plurality of grippers that are movable along a conveying path in a conveying direction, a conveying-away device with a conveying rest that, in a transfer region, is arranged below the conveying path of the gripper conveyor such that objects that are released from grippers in the transfer region are deposited onto the conveying rest, a pressing device that is designed, in the transfer region, to press the objects to be transferred, onto the conveying rest such that the objects are deposited on the conveying rest in a guided and controlled manner, wherein the pressing device comprises a pressing circulatory device that acts upon the transfer region and has a plurality of pressing arms that are movable along the pressing circulatory device and are outwardly directed, wherein the pressing circulatory device is arranged and can be driven such that in each case one of the plurality of pressing arms presses the object to be deposited onto the conveying rest onto the conveying rest on opening the gripper clampingly holding the object.

2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing circulatory device is a pressing wheel that is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis.

3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing arm forms a contact section with a contact surface, and the contact section with the contact surface is elastically, in particular viscous-elastically, deflectable counter to the contact pressure, by way of the contact pressure on pressing the object onto the conveying rest.

4 . The device according to claim 2 , wherein the pressing circulatory device comprises a rotatably mounted main body through which a geometric rotation axis leads, wherein pressing arms projecting outwards from the main body are arranged around the main body.

5 . The device according to claim 4 , wherein the pressing arms and the main body are designed in a single-part manner.

6 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein the pressing arm forms an elastically bendable arm section via which the contact section with the contact surface is elastically deflectable.

7 . The device according to claim 4 , wherein the elastically bendable arm section of the pressing arm comprises at least two part-arms that run from the main body in a direction of the contact section and unite towards the contact section, wherein the at least two part-arms, together with the main body, enclose a recess.

8 . The device according to claim 6 , wherein the elastically bendable arm section consists of a plastic with elastic characteristics, or comprises this.

9 . The device according to claim 8 , wherein the elastically bendable arm section consist of foam with elastic characteristics, or comprises this.

10 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein a pressing roller that forms the contact surface is arranged on a contact section of the pressing arm.

11 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing circulatory device via a holding device can be moved out of a passive position, in which, in the transfer region, the pressing circulatory device exerts no influence on the transfer of the objects, into an operational position, in which, in the transfer region, the pressing arms act upon the objects to be transferred, and again out of the operational position into the passive position.

12 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing circulatory device via a drive device can be driven synchronously to the grippers of the gripper conveyor.

13 . A method for conveying and transferring flexible, flat objects, in particular printed products, with a device according to claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
moving a closed gripper with an object that is held by said gripper to the transfer region; moving a pressing arm along the pressing circulatory device into the transfer region, wherein the pressing arm that is moved into the transfer region, in the transfer region, presses the object to be transferred onto the conveying rest; opening the gripper, which holds the object to be transferred, in the transfer region; depositing the region to be transferred onto the conveying rest.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein, during the transfer in the transfer region, the pressing arm with the contact surface of the contact section touchingly accompanies the object and thereby is moved essentially at the same speed as the object to be released.

15 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the object to be transferred, in the transfer region, is pressed by the pressing arm against the conveying rest during the opening of the gripper.

16 . The method according to claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
moving the pressing arm, which in the transfer region presses the object to be transferred onto the conveying rest further along the pressing circulatory device, wherein the pressing arm subsequently to the transfer of the object is again moved away from the transferred object amid the lifting of the pressing contact.

17 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the pressing arms in the transfer region are moved cyclically synchronously and phase-shifted to the grippers.

Assignees

• Ferag Ag

Inventors

• Dax Roman

Classifications

• B65H5/24

  Feeding articles in overlapping streams, i.e. by separation of articles from a pile · CPC title

• B65H5/085 Primary

  by combinations of endless conveyors and grippers (suction belts B65H5/224) · CPC title

• B65H5/16

  by pusher, needles, friction, or like devices adapted to feed single articles along a surface or table · CPC title

• B65H2405/552

  with permanent interconnection and determined spacing between the grippers · CPC title

• B65H2301/44732

  transporting articles in overlapping stream · CPC title