Installation for conveying printed products arriving in an overlapping formation
United States Patent [1 1 Reist Apr. 15, 1975 INSTALLATION FOR CONVEYING PRINTED PRODUCTS ARRIVING IN AN OVERLAPPING FORMATION Inventor: Walter Reist, Hinwil, Switzerland Assignee: Ferag AG, Hinwil, Switzerland Filed: Jan. 2, 1974 Appl. No.: 429,518  
 Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 12, 1973 Switzerland 404/73 US. Cl. 198/103; 198/167; 198/179 Int. Cl. B65g 37/00 Field of Search 198/103, 102, 131, 167, 198/210,160, 35, 179, 180; 271/270, 151, 216, 202; 101/232 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1972 Reist 271/202 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Switzerland Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-James M. Slattery Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Werner W. Kleeman [57] ABSTRACT An installation for conveying printed products arriving in an overlapping or fish-scale formation comprising an endless revolving driven transport mechanism arranged between an infeed device and a withdrawal or outfeed device and equipped with grippers intended to seize the edges of the overlapping formation of printed products. The grippers are pivotably connected in pairs opposite one another at transverse carriers or supports arranged in spaced relationship behind one another. The infeed device and the withdrawal device are each respectively aligned at the underside with a section of the transport mechanism and each incorporates a revolving conveyor element, the active conveying run of which together with the transverse supports which pass through the aforementioned section form a conveying channel.  
 7 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PAIENTEBAPR 1 5197s SHEET 2 BF 5 cm b m kfi @K A L 2 QV ATE T 1 51915 3 ,877. 564  
 sum 3 mf 5 INSTALLATION FOR CONVEYING PRINTED PRODUCTS ARRIVING IN AN OVERLAPPING FORMATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION with controlled grippers which are intended to seize or grasp the edges of the fish-scale product array. and which grippers in turn are hingedly connected in pairs opposite one another at transverse carriers or supports arranged in spaced relationship behind one another.  
  Under the expression fish-scale formation&#34; or over-lapping staggered formation or equivalent terminology, there is to be understood that formation in which, as a general rule, the printed products arrive from a rotary printing machine or the like. Characteris tic of such formation is the fact that viewed in the transport directionthe leading edge of each printed product overlaps the trailing edge of the preceding product. so that there are not present individual, directly successive products or products which in succession have an intermediate space therebetween, rather there is formed to a certain extent a multi-layer band, wherein each layer is constituted by a printed product, and wherein the printed products in turn mutually overlap in the manner of roof shingles or, as stated, in a fish-scale formation.  
  With a state-of-the-art installation of the previously mentioned type, for instance of the type disclosed in Swiss Pat. No. 344,085, the direction of the starting section and the terminal section of the transport mechanism is subject to narrow limits. This direction of the startingan terminal sections is extensively dependent upon the course of the aforementioned infeed device and withdrawal or outfeed device with the view of obtaining and undisturbed transfer of the fish-scale product formation from the infeed device to the transport mechanism equipped with the grippers or clamps and the transfer of the products from the transport mechanism to the withdrawal device respectively. The direction of such infeed device and withdrawal device in turn, as a general rule, is dependent upon the equipment which is connected upstream and downstream of the conveying installation, so that as a practical matter there does not exist any free choice for the course of the startingand terminal sections of the transport mechanism. This in turn requires a considerable minimum amount of space for the conveying installation.  
  Additionally, with the aforementioned prior art installation the printed products bear with their trailing edge upon the transverse supports of the transport mechanism. Consequently, without the provision of a certain amount of specially designed equipment and without interrupting the transport movement, it is not possible, when the need arises, to remove the fish-scale product stream even briefly during the course of movement of the active conveying run of the transport mechanism, even if the grippers thereof were open. Such periodic removal possibility while the products are on the way, however constitutes an important requirement in practise and is therefore an important postulate in the interest of a flexible mode of operation SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Hence, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved construction of installation for conveying printed products arriving in a fish-scale or overlapping staggered formation which is not associated with the aforementioned drawbacks and limitations of the prior art proposals discussed above.  
  Still another and more specific object of the present invention aims at the provision of a new and improved construction of transport installation of the previously mentioned type which not only retains the characteristics of the known installations which have proven themselves in practise, but permits the designer greater freedom in the selection of the transport path and therefore considerable saving in space, and additionally permits of an extensive flexibility of its mode of operation through the use of rather uncomplicated or simple means.  
  Now in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will becomes more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the proposed installation for conveying printed products arriving in a fish-scale or overlapping staggered formation is manifested by the features that the infeed device and the withdrawl or outfeed device are aligned at the underside with a respective section of the transport mechanism and possess a revolving conveying element. the active conveying run of which together with the transverse supports or carriers of the transport mechanism and which transverse supports pass through the aforementioned section, form a conveying channel.  
  Furthermore. the infeed device provided for the infeed of the fish-scale product formation is directed towards and at the underside of a deflecting wheel entrained by the corresponding section of the transport mechanism. The starting section of the active conveying run of the transport mechanism in this case is constituted by the run which travels off such deflection wheel.  
  ln corresponding manner it is also possible to lead away the withdrawal device in undershot manner from a deflecting wheel of the transport mechanism which is spanned by the corresponding section of the transport mechanism, wherein such end section then is constituted by the run which travels onto such deflecting wheel. With this constructional manifestation it is possible to construct the installation at its infeed side and outfeed side practically the same, and it is only necessary to select the rotational directions of the deflecting wheels and the infeed and withdrawal conveyor devices so as to be opposite one another.  
  The construction can be additionally still further simplified if the aforementioned deflecting wheels are advantageously each mounted in a respective frame which in turn is rotatable about a pivot axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the deflecting wheels and can be secured in a fixed or determined position at a base or socket. Consequently, with one construction it is possible to overcome practically all arising shapes or configurations of the transport path.  
  Additionally, it is advantageous if the infeed conveyor device and, if desired, also the withdrawal conveyor device for the fish-scale product formation are each respectively subdivided into two sections, of  
 which the one section possesses a fixed reference position with respect to a base or socket and the other is guided in the aforementioned frame along the respective associated startingor terminal section of the transport mechanism.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:  
  FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an exemplary embodiment of conveyor installation designed according to the present invention;  
  FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are respective schematic side views of the starting station of the installation depicted in FIG. 1 portraying respectively different directions of the course of the starting section of the transport mechanism;  
  FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D respectively illustrate schematic side views of the end or terminal station of the installation according to FIG. 1 with the terminal or end section of the transport mechanism extending in respectively different directions;  
  FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view through a starting station from which there extends away in an ascending direction, approximately through an angle of 45, the starting section of the transport mechanism;  
  FIG. 5 illustrates the starting station according to FIGS. 2A-2D, however with the starting section leading away vertically upwards; and  
  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the arrangement of FIG. 4. taken substantially along the line VI-VI thereof.  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings, at the left-hand side of FIG. 1 there will be recognized a rotary printing press 10 which ejects printed products in a fish-scale formation or overlapping staggered formation or stream 12 onto a conveyor band 11. From the conveyor band 11 the fish-scale product stream 12 is transferred to an infeed device here shown as a transport band 13 which is part of a starting station 14 of the transport installation conveniently designated in its entirety by reference character 15. Leading from the starting station 14 is an endless revolving driven transport mechanism 16 which extends over a transport path 18 to an end or terminal station I9 which likewise belongs to the transport installation IS. The outlet or withdrawal end of the end station 19 is constituted by a further transport band 20 defining an outfeed or withdrawal device and which is constructed similar to the transport band 13. Merging with the transport band 20 is a further conventional conveyor band 21 onto which there is transferred the fish-scale product stream 12 conveyed over the transport path 18. The active conveying run of the transport mechanism 16 has been designated by reference numeral 17. Along the course of the path of travel through which this active conveying run has moved, i.e., along the transport path 18 there is provided a removal device 22 compsoed of a number of series connected transport bands. This removal device or mechanism 22 is equipped with a band switch device or band switch 23 at which in turn merge two transport bands 24, 25. The transport band 24 extends back to the active conveying run 17 of the transport mechanism 16, and the transport band 25 leads to a unit or device erected along the course of the transport path 18, and which unit or device for instance is constituted by a stacking device or stacker 26&#39;.  
  An important feature apparent from the showing of FIG. I of the depicted transport installation 15 resides in the fact that both for the overlapping staggered product stream 12 which is infed at the transport band 13 as well as also for the overlapping staggered product stream 12 which is outfed or withdrawm at the transport band 20 the leading edges of the printed products do not bear at the corresponding conveying devices, whereas .for the overlapping staggered product stream 12 located along the course of the active conveying run 17 it is just such leading edges which bear against the transport mechanism 16. Consequently, it will be apparent, as has been schematically illustrated for the removal device 22, that the removal as well as also the infeed of the fish-scale product stream along the course of the transport path 18 can be accomplished without difficulties.  
  Now by referring to FIGS. 2A-2D as well as 3A-3D there will be recognized within what limits there can be freely chosen the direction of the starting section and terminal section of the active conveyor or conveying run 17 of the transport mechanism 16 from the starting station 14 and to the terminal station 19 respectively, without having to change anything as concerns the position of the transport band 13 and the transport band 20 respectively. This is possible owing to the particular reference position with respect to the fish-scale product stream to be transported of the transport mechanism 16 with regard to the infeeding transport band 13 and the outfeeding or withdrawal transport band 20. As will be developed more fully hereinafter this renders possible mounting of the deflecting wheel of the conveyor element of transport mechanism 16 in a frame which has not been particularly referenced in FIGS. 2A-2D and 3A3D which, in turn, is arranged to be rotatable and fixable at a socket or base.  
  Now on the basis of the illustration of FIG. 4 there will be described details of the starting station 14, wherein however it is also to be here noted that the terminal station 19, apart from the drive which is not provided at that location, practically corresponds to the mirror-image of the starting station 14. Hence, it is therefore considered to be unnecessary to also describe the end or terminal station 19 in all of its details, since it is assumed that those skilled in the art will have sufficient imagination to comprehend the mode of operation of a device having opposite direction or sense of rotation.  
  In FIG. 4 there is schematically illustrated a longitudinal sectional view through the starting station 14 at which the fish-scale product stream 12 is transferred from the infeeding transport band 13 to the active conveying run 17 of the transport mechanism 16. Upon a base or socket 26 there are secured two essentially circular side plates of a machine frame. which side plates are connected in spaced relationship from one another by non-illustrated transverse webs or straps, wherein in FIG. 4 there is only visible the side plate 27. At a bracket or console 28 depending from the base 26 there is mounted a drive unit or aggregate, for instance a transmission or geared motor 29 which essentially provides all of the driving or motive power for the transport installation 15. A chain 31 extends from a power take-off gear or wheel 30 of the transmission motor 29 to a sprocket wheel or gear 32 which is seated upon a shaft 33, and atwhich shaft there is coaxially seated with regard to the sprocket gear 32 also a deflecting wheel or gear 34 for the transport mechanism 16. The run of the transport mechanism 16 which travels onto the deflecting wheel or gear 34 meshes with a sprocket wheel or gear 35 seated upon a shaft 36. A  
 further sprocket wheel or gear 37 is seated on the shaft 36, this further sprocket wheel or gear 37 transmitting the driving or motive power derived from the sprocket gear 35 to a drive gear 39 of a further transport band 40 through the agency of a chain 38. The transport band 40, as will be described more fully hereinafter, is constructed in the manner of a so-called chain roller band and is trained about a number of rollers 41, 42, 43 and 44. The rollers 42 and 43 are rotatably mounted at shafts 45 and 46 respectively which are fixedly spanned between the side plates 27, and the rollers 41 and 44 are mounted at the free end of a respective tensioning lever 47 and 48 pivotable about the shafts 45 and 46 respectively, wherein the tensioning levers 47, 48 are subjected to the action of not particularly illustrated spring means.  
  A chain roller band is composed of a multiplicity of axially parallel freely rotatable rollers 49 which are arranged transversely with respect to the revolving direction, and the ends of such rollers are secured at both sides to pivot .pins of the links or elements of a roller chain, these clains traveling about the rollers 39 and 41 to 44 and being guided by such rollers.  
  Now as best seen by referring to FIG. 4 the transport mechanism 16 is equipped with a multiplicity of controlled grippers or clamps 50 arranged in pairs behind one another in the revolving direction. These grippers 50 serve the purpose of seizing at their edges the incoming fish-scale product stream formation 12. For this purpose the grippers 50 at the region of the deflect ing wheel 34 are essentially in their open position, i.e., the free end of a gripper describes a revolving path of travel which extends externally of the path described by the transport mechanism 16. At the region where the transport mechanism 16 departs from the deflecting wheel 34, that is to say, at the beginning of its active conveying run, the grippers 50 are closed by means of a rocker arm control or equivalent control which has been more fully shown in FIG. 6, and thereby seize or grasp from below the edges of the overlapping staggered product formation 12, which edges protrude at both sides past the transport band 40, whereby the leading edges (folds) of the printed products are uniformly pressed against the transverse supports or carriers 61, 62 of the transport mechanism 16. The construction of the transport mechanism 16 as well as the grippers 50 has been disclosed in greater detail, for instance, in the already previously mentioned Swiss Pat. No. 344,085, to which reference may be readily had and incorporated herein by reference, so that a more detailed description of these components of the transport installation is not believed to be necessary.  
  However, it is to be mentioned that a decisive difference between the present and the previously known comparable conveyor installations resides in the fact that the active conveyor portions or runs of the transminal station 19) can be changed in most simple manner, without the need to resort to great constructional measures. For this purpose there are provided a series of receiving bores 52, 52&#39;, 52&#34; and 52&#34; at both side plates 27, of which bores in each case one is intended to receive the shaft 51 carrying the drive wheel 39, depending upon the desired departure angle. It should be understood that in this case the transport band 40 which, as mentioned, is constituted by a chain roller band, is to be elongated or shortened respectively as the case may be, by a number of elements or links. However, these are measures which can be undertaken at the site without any great expenditure during assembly of the starting station 14 and the terminal station 19 respectively, whereas during the fabrication of the remaining components of the starting station and the end station respectively, there is no need to pay any great attention to the inclination which the starting section and end section of the active conveying run 17 should have at the final place of erection with respect to the ground or floor.  
  In FIG. 5 there is illustrated the starting station 14 of FIG. 4, however differently erected. There will be recognized the transport mechanism 16, the active conveying run 17 of which, for the mode of erection shown in FIG. 5, extends perpendicularly upwards away from the starting station 14. On the other hand, at the reference location of the infeeding transport band 13 nothing has changed with regard to the base or socket 26. The only change in relation to the erection of the system of FIG. 4 resides in the fact that the shaft 51 for the drive wheel or gear 39 in FIG. 5 extends through the receiving 52&#34;, and that the length of the transport band 40 is increased from 52 elements.(rollers) to 72 elements. Of course, with the erection or mounting arrangement of FIG. 5 it is also necessary to accommodate the length of the chain 38 by a small amount. Furthermore, at the starting station there are not provided any changes in the construction and there are also no changes in the mode of operation. In particular, also with this erection or mounting arrangement there is present between the start of the active conveying run 17 of the transport mechanism 16 and the transport band 40 a receiving gap into which travels the overlapping staggered or fish-scale product formation 12 and changes over from an essentially freely supported arrangement into one which is fixedly clamped owing to the action of the closed gripper 50.  
  It should be readily appreciated from what has been discussed above that the construction of the end or terminal station 19 in all of its components or parts can be the same as that of the starting station 14, wherein however the rotational directions are contra one another. In particular, the end section of the active conveying run 17 of the transport mechanism 16 of the conveyor run which runs onto the deflecting wheel or gear which is rotatably mounted at the end station and the active conveying run of the transport band corresponding to the transport bands 40 and 13 respectively, travel in the I same direction with the incoming end section of the active conveying run 17. Of course, at the end station 19, depending upon the length of the transport path 18, there can be omitted any special drive.  
  In FIG. 6 there is illustrated a sectional view taken substantially along the line Vl-Vl of FIG. 4. There will be recognized the deflecting wheel or gear 34 which is keyed to the driven shaft 33, about which travels the endless transport mechanism 16 which in this case is shown in cross-section. Further, there will be recognized the grippers or clamps 50 with which the transport mechanism 16 is equipped as well as the fish-scale product stream 12 and one of the rollers 49 of the transport band 40. The transport mechanism 16 is composed of a roller chain 53, between the elements or links of which there engages the toothed periphery of an external rim 54 of the deflecting wheel or gear 34. Guide wagons or carriages 56 are attached at regular intervals to the element bolts 55 of the chain 53, and which possess three freely rotatably mounted rollers 57, 58 and 59 intended to guide the chain 53 during its linear course of travel in a not particularly illustrated hollow rail. At the region of the deflecting wheel or gear 34 the carriages 56 are supported via the rollers 57, 58 at a traveling rim or tread 60 of the deflecting wheel 34, so that the chain 53 is unloaded or relieved. At both ends of the element or link bolts 55 there is mounted a respective endless rubber profile member 61 62&#39;, which interconnect successive element or link bolts with one another and collectively form a support surface for the incoming fish-scale product stream 12. From each of the guide carriages 56 there extend to both sides a respective sleeve-shaped transverse support or carrier 61, 62, wherein at their free flexed ends there are articulated the movable jaws 63, 64 of the grippers or clamps 50, as shown. At the body proper of each of the transverse carriers or supports 61, 62 there is mounted a lengthwise displaceable actuation rod 65 and 66 which carries at its non-visible inner end a follower roller 67 and 68 respectively, which extends through a non-illustrated longitudinal slot or lengthwise extending slot which is formed at the relevant transverse carrier or support. The outer end of each of the actuation rods 65, 66 is equipped with an angle or angled member 69, 70 which, in turn, is hingedly connected through the agency of an associated elongate hole 63&#39;, 64&#39; with the associated movable jaws 63, 64. Additionally, internally of the transverse carriers or supports 61, 62 there is arranged a non-illustrated spring which strives to displace the actuation rods 65, 66 towards the chain 53 and thus to maintain the grippers or clamps 50 in their closed condition. At the region of the deflecting wheel or gear 34 each of the follower rollers or rolls 67, 68 however travels upon a cam or rocker arm rims 71, 72 arranged coaxially with respect to the shaft 33, and which cams or rocker arm rims 71, 72 are anchored by means of a number of transverse webs or straps, of which only the transverse webs 73 and 74 are illustrated, at the corresponding side plates 27. Upon running-on the ascending ramp 71&#39; or 72&#39; of the cams or rocker arm rims 71 and 72 respectively, the follower rolls 67 and 68 respectively, are displaced towards the outside, so that the associated gripper jaws 64 and 63 open. in this condition of the grippers or clamps 50 and by means of the transport band 40 the fish-scale product stream 12 is delivered in a practically freely supported arrangement to the rubber profile members 61, 62, whereafter the gripper jaws 63, 64 are closed, resulting in that the fish-scale product stream 12 is domed approximately at its lengthwise central region, and thus raised from the transport band 40. If the movable jaws 63, 64 are closed by the cams 71 or 72 respectively, in the direction of the arrows 75, 76then the fish-scale product stream 12 will deform in the manner shown in phantom lines in FIG. 6. During these operations each individual one of the printed products in the fish-scale product stream 12 is additionally subjected to compression or pressure which presses flat each individual printed productwithout damaging the same and thus prepares such quite suitably for further processing, for instance for stacking or packaging.  
  While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.  
 What is claimed is:  
  1. An installation for conveying printed products arriving in an overlapping staggered formation, comprising an endless revolving driven transport mechanism, an infeed conveyor device and a withdrawal conveyor device, said transport mechanism being arranged between said infeed conveyor device and said withdrawal conveyor device, said transport mechanism being provided with controlled grippers serving to grasp the lateral edges of the products which are present in said overlapping staggered formation, transverse supports arranged in spaced relationship behind one another provided for said transport mechanism, said grippers being hingedly arranged in pairs opposite one another at said transverse supports, and wherein the infeed conveyor device and the withdrawal conveyor device are aligned at the underside with a respective section of the transport mechanism, said infeed conveyor device and said withdrawal conveyor device each possessing a respective revolving conveyor element having an active conveying run, said active conveying run together with the transverse supports which travel through the associated section of the transport mechanism forming a conveying channel.  
  2. The installation as defined in claim 1, further in cluding a series of conveyor bands which can be selectively activated and inactivated provided for said withdrawal conveyor device, said series of conveyor bands extending away from an active conveying run of the transport mechanism.  
  3. An installation for conveying printed products arriving in an overlapping staggered formation, comprising an endless revolving driven transport mechanism, an infeed conveyor device and a withdrawal conveyor device, said transport mechanism being arranged between said infeed conveyor device and said withdrawal conveyor device, said transport mechanism being provided with controlled grippers serving to grasp the edges of the products which are present in said overlapping staggered formation, transverse supports arranged in spaced relationship behind one another provided for said transport mechanism, said grippers being hingedly arranged in pairs opposite one another at said transverse supports, and wherein the infeed conveyor device and the withdrawal conveyor device are aligned at the underside with a respective section of the transport mechanism, said infeed conveyor device and said withdrawal conveyor device each possessing a respective revolving conveyor element having an active conveying run, said active conveying run together with the transverse supports which travel through the associated section of the transport mechanism forming a conveyingchannel, a deflecting wheel about which is trained the associated section of the transport mechanism. and wherein said infeed conveyor device is positioned underneath and at the region of the deflecting wheel.  
  4. The installation as defined in claim 3, further including a frame at which there is mounted said deflecting wheel, said deflecting wheel having an axis of rotation, a base, said frame being rotatably supported at the base about a pivot axis which extends essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of the deflecting wheel and being fixable at said base.  
  5. The installation as defined in claim 4, wherein said infeed conveyor device is subdivided into two sections, one of said sections possessing a fixed reference position with respect to the base and the other of said sections being guided along said associated section of the transport mechanism.  
  6. The installation as defined in claim 5, wherein said other section of the infeed conveyor device comprises a chain roller band. rollers mounted at said frame, said chain roller band being guided over said rollers mounted at the frame, said chain roller band extending between a gripping zone of the grippers and being prespanned towards the transverse supports.  
  7. An installation for conveying printed products arriving in an overlapping staggered formation, comprising an endless revolving driven transport mechanism, an infeed conveyor device and a withdrawal conveyor device, said transport mechanism being arranged between said infeed conveyor device and said withdrawal conveyor device, said transport mechanism being provided with controlled grippers serving to grasp the edges of the products which are present in said overlapping staggered formation, transverse supports arranged in spaced relationship behind one another provided for said transport mechanism, said grippers being hingedly arranged in pairs opposite one another at said transverse supports, and wherein the infeed conveyor device and the withdrawal conveyor device are aligned at the underside with a respective section of the transport mechanism, said infeed conveyor device and said withdrawal conveyor device each possessing a respective revolving conveyor element having an active conveying run, said active conveying run together with the transverse supports which travel through the associated section of the transport mechanism formaing a conveying channel, a deflecting wheel spanned by an associated section of the transport mechanism. the withdrawal conveyor device leading away from below from said de-