SORTING MEANS FOR RETURNED PRINTING MATTERS

Abstract: Means for sorting especially returned printing matters, where the printing matters are transported by and on conveyors and the different printing matters are moved from the conveyors at predetermined places for sorting, in which the means comprising a horizontal feeding conveyor on which a stack with printing matters from a retainer is arranged on a coded plate, further transported to an inclined perforated conveyor having underlying vacuum where the plate and the following printing matters are drawn up the inclined conveyor by the suction and the inclination, and that flexible wheels following thereafter force the plate and the printing matters against the inclined conveyor.

Description: Sorting means for returned printing matters The present invention is related to a means for sorting especially returned printing matters, according to the preamble of the claims. Not sold printing matters, such as periodicals, weekly papers etc are returned from the different retailers for accoun¬ ting. They are returned to the distribution link which sort the different printing matters in each single return package and make the accounting in relation to the different retailers. A plant for such a sorting has to registrate from which the retailer the single printing matters comes, and simultaneously also registrate which printing matter and how many printing matters are returned. Furthermore the plant, based on this registration, must distribute the single printing matters on the sorting place in such a way that the same printing matter copies are collected before returning. These operations must be performed at a high speed and large accuracy. It is an aim for the present invention to provide a means which quickly and reliably transforms a stack of printing matters to a row comprising successive printing matters for example on a conveyor, in a position which is suitable for photographing respectively registration followed by sorting. This is achieved with the means according to the present invention as defined with the features stated in the claims. In the drawing figure 1 discloses chematically a side view of a means according to the present invention and figure 2 discloses chematically a ground view of the means in figure 1. Stacks 5 with printing matters are brought to a feeding station 1. Each stack stands on a plate or tray 9 having a built-in code, such as by means of a transponder chip. The chip may be read from all sides such that when the stack 5 with the tray 9 is arranged on the conveyor, the means has registrated which retailer the stack is coming from. The stack is transferred to a horizontal conveyor 2 which displaces the stack against an inclined conveyor 3. The inclination is substantial, more than 45°. The stack is tilted backwards and the tray 9 initially will be picked up by the inclined conveyor as an area 7 having vacuum which through holes in the path on the conveyor 3, suck the first plate 9 in the lower portion of the conveyor 3 and thereafter the single printing matters to the conveyor 3. At the end of the area 7 with vacuum flexible wheels are distributed along the width of the conveyor, forcing the tray 9 respectively the different printing matters against the conveyor 3 in such a way that the printing matters are transported upwardly. The conveyor 3 has a first lower area with a large angle in relation to the horizontal plane, whereafter the path across a rounded portion with large radius, is transformed to a substan¬ tial horizontal direction. When the different printing matters leave the path 3 respectively the wheels 6, they are arranged on a longer conveyor 4 where the registration and later the sorting is performed. In this way is achieved that different printing matters are delivered continuously and having substantially the same distance to the sorting conveyor. The wheels 6 have flexible circumferential, relatively large tracks being pressed against the conveyor 3 and against printing matters which are transported. Preferably the wheels 6 are relatively large and made of a flexible material, such as foam rubber, which are rotated by the conveyor, respectively the printing matters and forcing these against the conveyor 3. On the conveyor 4 the tray 9 first is registrated by its code which thereby connects the following printing matters to a specific retainer. The transition from the horizontal conveyor 2 to the inclined conveyor 3 has a significant importance for the reliabili¬ ty of the means as firstly the tray 9 and thereaf er the following printing matters should be picked up without overlapping of the conveyor 3. When the stack 5 with printing matters is forced against the inclined conveyor 3 by the horizontal conveyor 2 is lifted in such a way that the stack is tipped over resulting in the printing matters being placed after each other with overlap. Thereafter the inclined conveyor 3 is taking one and one printing matter by means of the friction in the conveyor and the vacuum from the area 7, to be transported further by means of the conveyor 3 and the large wheels 6.

Claims: Patent Claims 1. Means for sorting especially returned printing matters, where the printing matters are transported by and on conveyors and the different printing matters are moved from the conveyors at predetermined places for sorting, CHARACTERIZED IN the means comprising a horizontal feeding conveyor on which a stack with printing matters from a retainer is arranged on a coded plate, further transported to an inclined perforated conveyor having underlying vacuum where the plate and the following printing matters are drawn up the inclined conveyor by the suction and the inclination, and that flexible wheels following thereafter force the plate and the printing matters against the inclined conveyor. 2. Means according to previous claim, CHARACTERIZED IN the upper area of the inclined conveyor having a curve form in such a way that the plate and the printing matters are delivered horizontally to a following horizontal sorting conveyor (4). 3. Means according to previous claims, CHARACTERIZED IN the lower area under the inclined conveyor having vacuum. 4. Means according to previous claims, CHARACTERIZED IN the flexible wheels being arranged above the upper portion of the lower area on the inclined conveyor. 5. Means according to claims 3-4, CHARACTERIZED IN the area of the inclined conveyor having vacuum and the area having flexible wheels are overlapping each other. 6. Means according to previous claims, CHARACTERIZED IN the flexible wheels being produced by foam rubber.

Inventors: KROGEN TORGEIR, KROGEN, TORGEIR
Applicants: BUHRS MEDIA CRAFT AS, KROGEN TORGEIR, BUHRS-MEDIA CRAFT AS, KROGEN, TORGEIR
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B65H3
IPC codes: B07C1, B65H1, B65H5