US 6,669,192 B2 · Method and device for transforming a conveying stream of flat articles

Abstract

A conveying-in stream in which flat articles (4) are conveyed held gripped individually is transformed into a conveying-away stream in which the articles (4) are loosely lying overlapping one another in an imbricated manner and in alternating groups oriented rotated relative to each other. The conveying-in track intersects with the conveying away track at two track intersections (A and B) and the articles (4) are transferred from the conveying-in track to the conveying-away track in alternating groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B . . . ) at the first track intersection (A) or at the second track intersection (B). In the conveying-away stream, the articles (4) are arranged in imbricated stream sections (1A/1B) with each section including one or two groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B . . . ) of articles (4) and being separated from neighboring sections by a stream gap (22). The stream transformation is particularly suitable for subsequent stacking of the articles (4) wherein, without any further measures, the articles are stacked in cross stacks and the stream gaps (22) can be used for removing finished stacks.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for transforming a conveying stream of flat articles (4) for at least partly changing an orientation of the articles relative to each other in the conveying stream, the method comprising the steps of:

conveying the flat articles (4) held gripped individually in a conveying-in stream along a conveying-in track to a transformation zone (20),
conveying the flat articles (4) in a loosely lying manner in a conveying-away stream along a conveying-away track away from the transformation zone (20),
wherein in the transformation zone (20) the conveying-in track and the conveying-away track intersect at a first track intersection (A) and at a second track intersection (B) and that the articles (4) are transferred from the conveying-in track to the conveying-away track in groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B . . . ) alternately at the first and at the second track intersection (A and B), and,
wherein the transfer is controlled in such a manner, that in the conveying-away stream the flat articles (4) are arranged in imbricated stream sections (A/B) comprising one or more successive groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B . . . ) and with stream gaps (22) between imbricated stream sections (A/B).

1 more element

A device for transforming a conveying stream of flat articles (4) in order to at least partly change an orientation of the articles relative to each other in the stream, the device comprising:

conveying-in means (1) with grippers (3), said conveying in means being movable in a conveying-in direction along a conveying-in track and being adapted for conveying the articles held gripped individually in a conveying-in stream to a transformation zone (20),
conveying-away means (10) with a conveying substrate (11), said conveying-away means extending along a conveying-away track and being movable in a conveying-away direction and being adapted for conveying the articles in a conveying-away stream away from the transformation zone,
wherein, in the transformation zone, the conveying-in track and the conveying-away track intersect at a first track intersection (A) and at a second track intersection (B), and
wherein, at the two track intersections (A and B), control means (21) are provided for selectively opening the grippers (3) for transferring articles from the conveying-in means (1) to the conveying away-means (10) in alternating groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B . . . ) at the first and at the second track intersection.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and device for transforming a conveying stream of flat articles

Life of this patent

Method and device for transforming a conveying stream of flat articles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18