US3735977A - Method and apparatus for turning flat structures, especially newspapers - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for turning flat structures, especially newspapers Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3735977A
US3735977A US00161704A US3735977DA US3735977A US 3735977 A US3735977 A US 3735977A US 00161704 A US00161704 A US 00161704A US 3735977D A US3735977D A US 3735977DA US 3735977 A US3735977 A US 3735977A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
conveying
conveyor element
transport band
newspapers
deflecting support
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00161704A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
W Reist
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ferag AG
Original Assignee
Ferag AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ferag AG filed Critical Ferag AG
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3735977A publication Critical patent/US3735977A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/66—Advancing articles in overlapping streams
    • B65H29/6654—Advancing articles in overlapping streams changing the overlapping figure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/30—Orientation, displacement, position of the handled material
    • B65H2301/33—Modifying, selecting, changing orientation
    • B65H2301/333—Inverting
    • B65H2301/3332—Tri-rollers type

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a new and improved method for turning or reversing the position of flat structures, typically printed matter, especially newspapers, which are conveyed by means of a conveyor mechanism, and this invention also pertains to an improved apparatus for the performance of the aforesaid method.
  • the prior art is already acquainted with different techniques for turning flat structures and apparatus for carrying out such techniques. These prior art techniques and apparatuses, for instance, serve to turn newspapers which depart from a processing machine in a so-called fish scale arrangement and are delivered to a different processing machine.
  • the expression fish scale arrangement as used in the context of this application means an arrangement of flat structures which are disposed in an overlying spread stack formation, in other words, in the manner of a fanned deck of cards.
  • the machinery used for producing newspapers, periodicals or the like generally operate in such a manner that they deliver the articles to a transport or conveyor band, and further convey such articles which are arranged in the aforementioned fish scale arrangement as heretofore defined.
  • the folded portion of a double sheet of a newspaperor the folded portion of a periodical, which hereinafter will be referred to as the fold or spine, generallyv is situated such that it at least bears against the conveyor band, and the opposite situated cut edge of the newspaper or periodical, hereinafter referred to as the open edge of the article, protrudes away from the conveyor band and thus is situated in front of the fold of the newspaper or newspapers upon the preceding articles.
  • a known apparatus serving for turning newspapers consists of a number of successively arranged transport bands, the first and third of which are arranged over one another.
  • the second transport band which is disposed inclined and is directed and driven with respect to the conveying direction of the band serves to transport the products from the first transport band to the third transport band.
  • the higher situated end-of the second transport band is arranged at such a spacing from the discharge side of the first transport band that the articles which are lying upon the conveying run are transferred to the second transport band, and the articles are thus downwardly conveyed opposite to the direction of conveying of the first transport band.
  • the open edge of the article which rested at its front at the top of the preceding article at the first transport band, arrives sooner at the second'transport band, and therefore now bears against the second transport band.
  • the fold of the article thus now extends away from the second transport band, and with respect to the entire article now is situated and'its front at the top of the preceding article.
  • the newspapers are conveyed by the second transport band downwardly at an inclination towards the original direction of conveying of the first transport band until they are deposited at the third transport band.
  • the thus achieved arrangement of the articles or products which are in a fish scale overlapping staggered disposition does indeed correspond to the position of the newspapers or periodicals required by the next successively arranged processing machine, but the direction of movement of such fish scale overlapping staggered arrangement is opposite to the original transport or conveying direction of the first transport band.
  • next processing machine must therefore either be also correspondingly laterally offset with respect to the preceding machine or the fish scale arrangement must be aligned at the first transport band, requiring two further directional changes of the articles which are being conveyed in the fish scale formation. During suchdirectional changes disturbances with respect to the regularity of the fish scale stream can again occur.
  • first transport band and the second transport hand there is arranged a stop which impacts against the upper forwardly located open edge of the individual articles which are conveyed in a fish scale arrangement and thus brakes the individual articles.
  • a stop which impacts against the upper forwardly located open edge of the individual articles which are conveyed in a fish scale arrangement and thus brakes the individual articles.
  • After more quickly removing the leading article by means of the second transport band there appears a gap beneath the article which is held by the stop.
  • This article then drops into this gap, and as a result the article comes into operable engagement with the more quickly .running transport band, which now also quickly withdraws this article from the first transport band.
  • This operation causes separation of the fish scale arrangement into individual newspapers which are separated or spaced from one another.
  • the individual articles are then conveyed to the wheel or impeller which is equipped with the pockets and are introduced into these, individual pockets.
  • the newspapers enter the pockets with the open edge leading, and specifically at the point of time when the momentary pocket is located at the top at the end of the more rapidly running transport band. After the pocketed impeller has rotated to such an extent that the pocket containing the newspaper is located downwardly yet above the beginning of the third transport band the fold is now situated in front of the open edge which at this point of time has been inserted into the pocket.
  • a further prior art apparatus for turning newspapers or the like again will be seen to be equipped with a number of transport or conveyor bands.
  • a second transport band is arranged beneath the first transpoi't band and transverse to such first transport band.
  • This second transport band is operatively associated and communicates with the first transport band.
  • the spacing of these two transport bandsfrom one another approximately corresponds to the spacing of the fold from the cut or open edge of the turned article.
  • the space between the transport bands is bridged by a sheet metal member which extends be tween these two bands, this sheet metal member being somewhat extended or elongated in the direction of the second transport band.
  • the newspapers drop from the discharge end of the first transport band onto the starting or beginning region of the second transport band in such a manner that, supported by the aforementioned sheet metal member, they only come to bear with their cut or open edge upon the second transport band.
  • the. newspapers while reposed upon their cut or open edges and supportedupon the somewhat inclined sheet metal member are transferred at the second transport band in a direction transverse to the original conveying direction. Since the length of the sheet metal member is somewhat shorter in the feed or conveying direction of the second transport band than the length of the second transport band itself, and specifically approximately by the width of the newspaper, the articles will drop from the second transport band behind the sheet metal member onto a further third transport band.
  • the inclination of the aforementioned sheet metal member is selected such that the newspapers tend to tilt towards the transport direction of the first transport band.
  • the newspapers are disposed upon the third transport band, and specifically in the desired position, that is, with the fold leading towards the top.
  • the newspapers move once again in a direction which is opposite the desired conveying or transport direction. Therefore, they must again be turned in a horizontal plane through resulting in the already explained drawbacks.
  • this type of hardware can only operate with relatively low conveying speeds because such speed is limited by the speed of tilting of newspapers.
  • Still a further significant object of the present invention relates to an improved method of, and apparatus for, turning flat articles, especially printed matter, such as newspapers, periodicals or the like, in an extremely efficient and reliable manner, affording effective handling of the articles, and proper disposition thereof following turning to facilitate further processing of such articles with a minimum of difficulty.
  • the invention contemplates 8 method of turning such articles in a'manner that each flat article is initially erected in a plane which is disposed transverse to the main direction of feed or I conveying of the articles, and then such article, with the lower portion bearing against the conveying device, is further conveyed so that such lower portion leads.
  • the invention is not only concerned with the novel method aspects but also with a new and improved construction of apparatus for the performance of such method.
  • the inventive apparatus will be seen to embody a flexible conveying element which conveys the articles.
  • the flexible conveying element is guided about a deflecting support which deflects the flexible conveying element in a direction which is transverse to the main conveying or feed direction of the articles.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a preferred form of inventive apparatus for turning newspapers or the like;
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of thezapparatus construction of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 to which there has been operatively connected a turn ing mechanism for the fish scale arrangement of articles i.e. newspapers;
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic fragmentary view showing a detail of the apparatus construction of FIG. 1, wherein the support is constructed as a roller;
  • FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but this time showinga detail of the apparatus wherein the support however here is constructed in the form of a rail member;
  • FIG. 6 illustrates the roller construction of FIG. 4 but provided with grooves or ridges
  • FIG. 7 shows the same details of the apparatus as depicted in FIG. 6, but wherein the transport or conveyor band however is this time provided with grooves or ridges, i.e. serrations.
  • This method can basically be carried out in two ways gal force as well as by virtue of their own stiffness of rigidity, these articlesascend further past and over the apex or crown of the wave, even through the transport band itself again descends behind the crown of such wave.
  • the trailing edge of the article however, always remains in contact with the transport band, and therefore it is transferred over the crown of the wave or undulation.
  • the article slides downwardly along the other side of the wave and finally again assumes the horizontal position which it previously enjoyed.
  • FIG. 1 illustrating an apparatus designed according to the teachings of this invention and serving for reversing or turning flat articles.
  • the articles in question are newspapers.
  • This support 4 which if desired can likewise be constituted by a rotatably mounted roller, is arranged outside of the linear path between the rollers 2 and 3, and specifically support 4 is situated in such a manner that the run of the transport band I which is transporting the flat articles at any instant of time fonns an undulation or wave, generally indicated by reference character 50.
  • the newspapers 32 are delivered from anysuitable and therefore non-illustrated processing machine arranged ahead of the inventive apparatus and transferred to the transport band 1 and the latter brings such transferred newspaper into the so-called turning or reversing station where the newspaper is raised up to the crown of the aforementioned wave or undulation 50 to such an extent that such newspaper only now bears with its edge, which up to this time was the rear edge, upon the transporting surface of the band 1 and remains erected or standing thereat.
  • This edge of the newspaper which is now the lower edge, pressed by the weight of the newspaper itself against the transport band 1, is entrained by such transport band at the reversing station at the turning point of the support 4, so that the newspaper is further conveyed out of this reversing station with this edge now leading.
  • drum members 5 are provided which bear at both sides of the lower portion of the wave or undulation 50 formed by the transport band 1.
  • the newspapers 32 are guided between the band 1 and the drum members 5, and therefore are controllably conveyed upwardly into the reversing station and similarly out of thereversing station back into the original conveying direction.
  • guide rails 6 and 7 are arranged along and to both sides of the curved portions of the conveying path.
  • the guide rails 6 and 7 ensure for the correct guiding of the stream of newspapers at that location where the width of the newspapers exceeds the width of the conveyor band 1 and the drum members 5.
  • the first guide rails 6 are disposed partially somewhat also beneath the horizontally directed portion of the conveying run of the transport band 1, whereas the second guide rails 7 exceed the height of the wave or undulation 50 formed, as previously explained, by the transport band 1, so that these guide rails engage into the region of the reversing or turning station.
  • a set of holding rails 8 are pivotably connected at one end to a common carrier 9 and the other end, in each instance, is flexed or bent away from the transport band 1, as shown, and arranged at a spacing to both sides of the support 4. All of these rails 6 and 7 and 8 should be either fixedly mounted or suspended so as to be movable under the action of spring pressure. Further, above the crown or apex of the wave 50 there are arranged stops 10, the spacing of such stops 10 from the aforementioned crown or apex being adjusted to correspond to the length of a copy of newspaper as measured in the direction of conveying.
  • stops 10 prevent undesirable detachment of the lower edge of the newspaper from the transport band 1. Any detachment of the mentioned end of such newspaper could bring about a delay or retardation of the newspaper at the reversing station which might be damaging for the proper overall operation of the total installation, and such could impair the uniformity of the fish scale staggered overlying relationship of the newspapers. Further, stops 10 are equipped with pins 11 which are attached through the agency of the supports 12 likewise to the carrier 9.
  • each such angle lever 15 is operatively connected through the agency of a first transverse rod 16, a tension spring 17 and via a second rod 18, to the frame unit 19 of the apparatus.
  • the tension spring 17 generates an adjustable counterpressure of the aforementioned rollers 13 against the transport band 1.
  • the pressure rollers 14 bear against the transport band 1 at the outlet or outfeed side of the reversing station and, in turn, are each mounted at a respective lever 20. These levers 20 are likewise articulated withthe carrier or support 9.
  • the transport band rollers 2 and 3 are rotatably mounted at a respective arm 21, 22,
  • rollers 23 and 24 which, as best seen by referring to FIG. 1, are supported at one end against the respective supports 25 and 26 and, at the other end of such springs 23 and 24 these springs bear against the arms 21 and 22 to displace such away from one another in such a manner that the transport band I trained about the rollers 2 and 3 will be maintained in a tensioned condition.
  • One of these rollers, for instance the right-hand situated roller 3 of the arrangement of FIG. 1 can be driven through the agency of a belt 27 from a suitable drive unit.
  • This drive unit can, in the exemplary embodiment under consideration, consist of an electric motor 28 and a transmission 29 of standard design.
  • the frame unit or frame 19 is equipped with wheels 30, so that the entire construction can be assembled together as a building block or module with other transport devices or processing machines to form a processing or production line.
  • FIG. 3 One such production or processing line has been schematically illustrated in FIG. 3, and specifically wherein the just described apparatus has connected following thereto a further apparatus for turning the fish scale article stream about its lengthwise axis.
  • a conveyor band 31 Arranged ahead of or upstream of the above-discussed fish scale stream turning device is a conveyor band 31 which transports the newspapers in this fish scale arrangement, in other words in the staggered overlying stack arrangement from a non-illustrated machine into the operating confines of the turning device.
  • the individual newspapers are reposed upon the conveyor band 31 by means of their spines or rear edge and their so-called open or cut edge is directed forwardly away from the conveyor band 31.
  • each newspaper is engaged by a suitable schematically illustrated gripper means provided at the transport band of the turning mechanism and is turned through along the conveying path of the transport band.
  • a suitable schematically illustrated gripper means provided at the transport band of the turning mechanism and is turned through along the conveying path of the transport band.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a detail of the reversing or turning station. From this Figure it will be seen how the individual newspapers arrive at the reversing or turning station, the manner in which the fold of the newspaper is supported upon the crown or apex of the wave 50 formed by the transport band 1, and how the newspapers leave such reversing station with their fold leading.
  • the second counter-pressure roller 14 is elevationally adjustably mounted at the lever 20, rendering possible an adjustment of the desired discharge conditions.
  • FIG. 5 there is illustrated an embodiment of the turning or reversing device for the fish scale arrangement of the newspapers, wherein here the deflecting support 4 entrained by the transport band 1 is designed as a rail member 33 having a substantially triangular cross-sectional configuration. The transport band is guided about a rounded edge of this rail member 33.
  • An apparatus for turning flat structures, especially newspapers or the like comprising a flexible conveyor element for conveying the flat structures essentially in a main conveying direction, a deflecting support about which is guided said flexible conveying element in such a manner that said flexible conveying element is deflected in a direction transverse to the main conveying direction, and holding rail means arranged adjacent one another above said deflecting support, said holding rail-means having free ends which are disposed at a spacing to both sides of said deflecting support.
  • said deflecting support comprises a rotatably mounted roller.
  • said deflecting support comprises a rail member possessing a substantially triangular cross-sectional configuration, said conveyor element being guided about one edge of said rail member.
  • said deflecting support comprises a roller equipped with ridges.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Feeding Of Articles By Means Other Than Belts Or Rollers (AREA)
US00161704A 1970-07-16 1971-07-12 Method and apparatus for turning flat structures, especially newspapers Expired - Lifetime US3735977A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH1085570A CH530926A (de) 1970-07-16 1970-07-16 Verfahren und Einrichtung zum Umkehren von flächigen Gebilden, insbesondere von Zeitungen

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3735977A true US3735977A (en) 1973-05-29

Family

ID=4367533

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00161704A Expired - Lifetime US3735977A (en) 1970-07-16 1971-07-12 Method and apparatus for turning flat structures, especially newspapers

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US3735977A (de)
CH (1) CH530926A (de)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3319964A1 (de) * 1982-06-02 1983-12-08 Ferag AG, 8340 Hinwil, Zürich Verfahren und vorrichtung zum verarbeiten von in einer schuppenformation anfallenden flaechigen erzeugnissen, insbesondere druckprodukten
JPS61142751U (de) * 1985-02-22 1986-09-03
AT387005B (de) * 1982-06-03 1988-11-25 Ferag Ag Verfahren und vorrichtung zum verarbeiten von in einer schuppenformation anfallenden flaechigen erzeugnissen insbesondere druckprodukten
US5048814A (en) * 1990-03-16 1991-09-17 Bell & Howell Company Document orientation mechanism
US5497985A (en) * 1991-03-26 1996-03-12 Gaspar A. H. Byttebier Method and apparatus for temporarily storing and transporting successive textile sheets
US5664770A (en) * 1995-07-25 1997-09-09 Ferag Ag Apparatus for delivering printed products to a further-processing location
US5711521A (en) * 1995-07-27 1998-01-27 Ferag Ag Conveying apparatus for printed products
US5803445A (en) * 1995-07-31 1998-09-08 Ferag Ag Arrangement for delivering printed products to a removal conveyor

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH630583A5 (de) * 1978-06-30 1982-06-30 Ferag Ag Vorrichtung zum wegfoerdern von in einem schuppenstrom anfallenden flaechigen erzeugnissen, insbesondere druckprodukten.

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1337031A (en) * 1919-03-29 1920-04-13 Int Cork Co Disk-sorting machine
US1541651A (en) * 1923-08-09 1925-06-09 Robert K Matlack Apparatus for turning paper
US3280995A (en) * 1964-10-30 1966-10-25 William C Barkley Apparatus for inverting articles
US3360103A (en) * 1966-07-07 1967-12-26 Joa Curt G Inc Turn-over apparatus

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1337031A (en) * 1919-03-29 1920-04-13 Int Cork Co Disk-sorting machine
US1541651A (en) * 1923-08-09 1925-06-09 Robert K Matlack Apparatus for turning paper
US3280995A (en) * 1964-10-30 1966-10-25 William C Barkley Apparatus for inverting articles
US3360103A (en) * 1966-07-07 1967-12-26 Joa Curt G Inc Turn-over apparatus

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3319964A1 (de) * 1982-06-02 1983-12-08 Ferag AG, 8340 Hinwil, Zürich Verfahren und vorrichtung zum verarbeiten von in einer schuppenformation anfallenden flaechigen erzeugnissen, insbesondere druckprodukten
AT387006B (de) * 1982-06-02 1988-11-25 Ferag Ag Verfahren und vorrichtung zum verarbeiten von in einer schuppenformation anfallenden flaechigen erzeugnissen, insbesondere druckprodukten
DE3319964C2 (de) * 1982-06-02 1992-05-07 Ferag Ag, Hinwil, Zuerich, Ch
AT387005B (de) * 1982-06-03 1988-11-25 Ferag Ag Verfahren und vorrichtung zum verarbeiten von in einer schuppenformation anfallenden flaechigen erzeugnissen insbesondere druckprodukten
US4903908A (en) * 1982-06-03 1990-02-27 Ferag Ag Method of, and apparatus for, processing flat products, especially folded printed products, arriving in an imbricated formation
JPS61142751U (de) * 1985-02-22 1986-09-03
US5048814A (en) * 1990-03-16 1991-09-17 Bell & Howell Company Document orientation mechanism
US5497985A (en) * 1991-03-26 1996-03-12 Gaspar A. H. Byttebier Method and apparatus for temporarily storing and transporting successive textile sheets
US5664770A (en) * 1995-07-25 1997-09-09 Ferag Ag Apparatus for delivering printed products to a further-processing location
US5711521A (en) * 1995-07-27 1998-01-27 Ferag Ag Conveying apparatus for printed products
US5803445A (en) * 1995-07-31 1998-09-08 Ferag Ag Arrangement for delivering printed products to a removal conveyor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH530926A (de) 1972-11-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4007824A (en) Device for equalizing the spacing of successive stream-fed printed products
US4569620A (en) Book turn-around and stack accumulator apparatus
US5722655A (en) Apparatus for evenly spacing successive printed products
US3700232A (en) Sheet stacking apparatus
US3692304A (en) Apparatus for feeding and stacking loose paper sheets
US4085930A (en) Sheet delivery mechanism for sheet fed printing machines
US2753185A (en) Statistical machines
JP4871439B2 (ja) 個別に運ばれる平坦な物体を重なった形態で前進コンベア上に堆積させる装置
US4428574A (en) Paper delivery apparatus for use in rotary printing presses
US4372201A (en) Device for producing a bundle of paper sheets
US4657237A (en) Method of, and apparatus for, producing stacks of flexible flat products, especially printed products
GB2027678A (en) Backup station for a carton filling machine
US5195741A (en) Apparatus for selectively transferring products from an imbricated formation conveyed along a first conveying path onto a second conveying path
US3998449A (en) Method and apparatus for feeding items from a stack
JPS61127532A (ja) 可撓性の扁平な製品、特に印刷物をその処理装置に装入する装置
US3026107A (en) Collating apparatus for printing machines
US2072790A (en) Paper folding machine
US4429795A (en) Book reject mechanism
US4549729A (en) Overlap conveyor apparatus
US2969981A (en) Signature handling apparatus
US3807547A (en) Conveying arrangement for paper sheets and similar objects
US3975013A (en) Sheet feeding device
US4943369A (en) Method and apparatus for combining a plurality of serially supplied sheets
JPS60236963A (ja) 新聞紙流れコンベヤ
JP2558453B2 (ja) 製造物の相対的な位置を調整するための装置とその装置の動作を制御する方法