Abstract:
An apparatus for forming bundles of printed products includes a lift element that moves vertically inside a holding area. The printed products are deposited on the lift element when the lift element is in an upper position. The lift moves the deposited printed products downward into the holding area so that the printed products are in position to subsequently be compressed into a bundle by pressing the printed products with an upward movement against a pressing element. The lift transports the compressed bundle to a lower position in the holding area where the lift element moves out of the holding area to a position in which the bundle is released to drop onto a support element. The lift element thereafter is moveable from the lower position to the upper position for the depositing of additional printed products. An ejection element conveys the compressed bundle out of the holding area.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of the Swiss Patent Application No. 02015/10, filed on Nov. 30, 2010, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for forming bundles composed of printed products. Such an apparatus includes a holding area for successively supplied printed products, a lift provided with at least one lift element which can essentially move vertically up and down inside the holding area, as well as at least one ejection element for conveying the bundles out of the holding area. The printed products can be deposited onto the at least one lift element when it is located in an upper position. The printed products can initially be moved with the at least one lift element downward and into the holding area and can subsequently be compressed into a bundle with the aid of an upward movement that is directed against at least one pressing element of the apparatus. The bundle can be transported inside the holding area with the at least one lift element to a lower position for this lift element. For the depositing of additional printed products, the at least one lift element can then be moved once more from its lower position to its upper position. 
         [0003]    An apparatus of this type, which is also called a bundle or layer press, as well as a corresponding method are known from European patent document EP 1593633A1 and are used to form bundles composed of printed products, such as newspapers, magazines or the like. The printed products are supplied, for example, in the form of an overlapping flow and are then stacked inside a stacking device. The stacks are compressed in the aforementioned apparatus and the resulting bundle is ejected so that it can be conveyed to further processing locations. During the compressing, the thickness of the stack is reduced by evacuating the air from the printed products. This is designed to form bundles having the highest possible stability with the stacked printed products, which are then suitable for shipping. The apparatus has a holding area that is open on the top and a therein positioned lift which can essentially move vertically up and down and comprises two so-called lift plates which are used for accommodating and compressing the printed products. The successively supplied printed products are deposited onto the lift plates, located in an upper position, and are initially moved downward with the aid of these plates into the holding area. For the compressing operation, the printed products are then moved upward again with the lift and pressed against two opposite-arranged pressing elements. Following the compressing of the printed products into a bundle, the latter is moved downward with the lift and is finally ejected with an ejection element from the holding area of the apparatus. The lift plates are then once more moved upward so that additional printed products can be deposited thereon. The lift in this case represents a limiting element for the successive forming of bundles because the lift can be moved back up into the starting position only after a bundle is ejected, so as to make it available once more for accommodating additional printed products. 
         [0004]    European patent document EP 1826164A1 discloses an apparatus for forming bundles which also lifts up the printed products with the aid of a lift and which compresses the products by moving a pressing element across the products. With this apparatus, the lift is also moved downward for ejecting the finished bundles. However, only after the ejection of the bundle can the lift be moved back up for depositing additional printed products. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method of the aforementioned type which make it possible to form bundles composed of printed products within a shorter time period while still continuing to ensure the quality and in particular the stability of the formed bundles. 
         [0006]    The above and other objects are achieved according to the invention by the provision of an apparatus for forming bundles composed of printed products, which in one embodiment, comprises: a table presenting a support element defining a lower limit of a holding area that accommodates successively supplied printed products; at least one pressing element; a lift including at least one lift element to move essentially vertically up and down inside the holding area between a lower position and an upper position, the printed products being deposited on the at least one lift element when the at least one lift element is in the upper position, the lift operating to initially move the deposited printed products downward into the holding area so that the printed products are in a position to subsequently be compressed into a bundle by pressing the printed products with an upward movement against the at least one pressing element, the lift further operating to transport the compressed bundle in the holding area to the lower position where the at least one lift element is moveable at the lower position out of the holding area to a position in which the bundle is released to drop onto the support element, wherein the at least one lift element thereafter is moveable from the lower position to the upper position for the depositing of additional printed products; and at least one ejection element to convey the compressed bundle out of the holding area. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, by providing a support element for the bundle which delimits the holding area in a downward direction and embodying the support element as a rotary table, it is possible to move the at least one lift element from its lower position to a position where the bundle may be released to the support element. 
         [0008]    According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for forming bundles composed of printed products using an apparatus having a lift comprising at least one lift element that is moveable essentially vertically in a holding area between upper and lower positions, the method comprising in one embodiment: (a) depositing the printed products onto the at least one lift element when the at least one lift element is in the upper position in the holding area; (b) moving the at least one lift element with thereon deposited printed products downward and into the holding area; (c) moving the at least one lift element with thereon deposited printed products in upward direction and against a pressing element for compressing the printed products into a bundle; (d) moving the at least one lift element with thereon deposited bundle to the lower position in the holding area; (e) moving the at least one lift element in its lower position out of the holding area and into a position where the bundle is released to a support element; conveying the bundle out of the holding area with the aid of at least one ejection element; and (f) moving the at least one lift element from the lower position to the upper position for depositing additional printed products thereon. 
         [0009]    As a result, the at least one lift element can be moved upward either during or even before the ejection of the formed bundle and into a position where additional printed products can be deposited thereon. Printed products can thus be deposited on the at least one lift element even if the formed bundle has not been ejected completely. In this way, the cycle time for forming bundles can be shortened considerably. In addition, it can be avoided that the printed products must travel unguided over a comparably long distance during the depositing process. With the apparatus and the method according to the invention, the distance traveled can be kept to a minimum which is good for the quality and especially for the stability of the formed bundles. Finally, this solution is space-saving and easy to configure and is therefore also suitable for a rotary table, which is used to deposit on the lift elements several stacks of printed products and/or bundles that are rotated by 180°, relative to each other. 
         [0010]    According to one modification of the invention, the at least one lift element can essentially be moved horizontally into the position where the bundle can be released, wherein a horizontal movement of this type can be realized quickly and securely. In the process, the at least one lift element is pulled horizontally away from the printed products, so that these products drop down onto the support element. The lift element which is thus once more unoccupied can be moved upward and, preferably also with a horizontal movement, into its upper position. The horizontal movements are advantageously realized controlled and synchronized with the other sequences. These movements can be realized with pneumatic or hydraulic drive means or with the aid of a motor. The printed products can be compressed by raising the lift. During the depositing of several stacks, the lift is thus moved gradually downward, which makes it possible to form bundles composed of several stacks, even crosswise arranged stacks. 
         [0011]    According to a different modification of the invention, at least one lift element is fork-shaped. As a result, side walls provided with openings can be used to delimit the holding area, wherein these side walls can be embodied, in particular, with vertical slots, inside of which the at least one lift element can move vertically up and down. In particular, the at least one lift element can be provided with rods projecting into the holding area, which are arranged similar to the tines of a fork and which can essentially be moved horizontally out of the holding area to release the formed bundle. These rods form an especially suitable support for the printed products to be compressed and furthermore permit an easy and careful dropping of the printed products. 
         [0012]    According to yet another modification of the invention, the at least one lift element is arranged so as to be vertically displaceable with a guide element or along a guide element, wherein this guide element is advantageously arranged outside of the holding area. Adapting the format is made especially easy if the guide element is horizontally adjustable. The at least one lift element is preferably attached to a holder on the guide element. 
         [0013]    A suitable drive mechanism for the vertical movement is, for example, a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder or also a motor, wherein the horizontal movement can also be realized with the aid of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or a motor. 
         [0014]    The at least one lift element according to another modification of the invention is provided with an endless drive element for its vertical movement. This drive element can be a toothed belt such as a motor-driven belt. An endless drive element of this type can furthermore also be used for an apparatus with two lift elements. The endless drive element is guided in such a way that it comprises an inner and an outer belt section. One lift element is attached in that case to the outer belt section and the other lift element is attached to the inner belt section. The two lift elements can thus be moved simultaneously and synchronized up and down, wherein the two lift elements can respectively be guided along a vertical rail. 
         [0015]    According to one modification of the invention, two separate pressing members are arranged on the support element, such that they can be pivoted around joints between an inactive and an active position. These pressing members consequently can be pivoted easily from an opened position for feeding printed products into the holding area to a closed position in which the printed products are compressed. 
         [0016]    According to another modification of the invention, a stacking device is provided above the holding area for forming the stacks composed of the printed products and for releasing these stacks to the holding area. In particular, stacks composed of printed products which are supplied in an overlapping flow can be formed with this stacking device. In principle, however, printed products can also be processed which are not conveyed in an overlapping flow but are transported with the aid of clamps. The apparatus according to the invention furthermore makes it possible to form bundles consisting of a single layer or of several layers and, in particular, cross-stacked layers, wherein the bundles can be composed of identical printed products or different types of printed products. 
         [0017]    Additional and advantageous features are derived from the following description, as well as the drawing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    These and other features and advantages of the invention will be further understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, showing in: 
           [0019]      FIGS. 1 to 12  show schematic three-dimensional views of an apparatus according to the invention, depicting the individual stages during the forming of a bundle; 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  shows a schematic view from the side of an apparatus according to one modification of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  shows the apparatus according to  FIG. 13  as seen from above. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    According to  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  1  is provided with a stacking device  2  which comprises two pre-stacking forks  7  and two positioning forks  8 , arranged below. The forks  7  and  8  are guided horizontally displaceable on a frame that is not shown herein. With the aid of a motor, also not shown herein, the pre-stacking forks  7  and the positioning forks  8  can be moved horizontally toward each other or away from each other. Printed products  5  can be supplied in an overlapping flow  4  on a conveying belt to the pre-stacking forks  7 , so that a stack  6  can be formed thereon, wherein these printed products  5  can be newspapers, magazines, booklets and the like. However, the flow  4  can also consist of individual signatures or sheets. 
         [0023]    Once a complete stack  6  is formed, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the two pre-stacking forks  7  are moved apart to allow the stack  6  to drop down onto the positioning forks  8 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The pre-stacking forks  7  are then moved once more back to the closed position so that a new stack  6  can be formed thereon. The positioning forks  8  are moved apart to allow the stack  6  to drop onto a lift  14  that is arranged below the positioning forks  8  and is provided with two lift elements  18 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  FIG. 6  shows the stack  6  which is deposited on the lift elements  18 . Of course, the apparatus  1  can also be embodied without the pre-stacking forks  7  and the positioning forks  8 . In that case, a stack  6  is formed directly on the lift elements  18 . 
         [0024]    The lift  14  is arranged on a rotating support element  9  which is embodied in particular as a table. According to  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the two lift elements  18  are in an upper position  48  inside a holding area  19  of the apparatus  1 , which is delimited on the side by two side walls  10  and on the bottom by the support element  9 , wherein the lift elements can move essentially vertically up and down inside the holding area  19  with the aid of the lift  14 . 
         [0025]    The two lift elements  18  are each attached to a vertical guide element  17 , embodied as a support beam, of the lift  14  so that they can be displaced vertically up and down with these guide elements. The two guide elements  17  are located outside of the holding area  19 , as can be seen, and also outside of the two side walls  10 . For accommodating the stacks  6  in the holding area  19 , the two lift elements  18  are embodied fork-shaped, meaning they are respectively provided with several horizontally extending rods  46  ( FIG. 2 ), wherein each rod extends through a vertical, slot-shaped opening  11  in the respective side wall  10 . The rods  46  extend parallel to each other and are respectively attached to a support element  21  of the corresponding lift element  18 , such that they can move vertically up and down in the openings  11 . 
         [0026]    The spacing between the two vertical guide elements  17  and thus the spacing between the two lift elements  18  relative to each other can be adjusted. The vertical guide elements  17  are respectively positioned in sliding blocks  16  ( FIG. 9 ), such that they can be displaced along rod-shaped horizontal guide elements  15 . The vertical guide elements  17  can be displaced and the spacing between the lift elements  18  adjusted either manually or with a suitable drive means, in particular a motor. The support element  9  is provided with corresponding slots  24  ( FIG. 11 ), so that the vertical guide elements  17  can also move in the support element. The spacing between the lift elements  18  must be changed if the format of the printed products  5  changes noticeably, wherein the spacing between the side walls  10  can be changed along with the format change. 
         [0027]    Two pressing members  12  are respectively positioned on the support element  9  in such way that they can pivot around joints  22  ( FIG. 2 ) between an active and an inactive position.  FIGS. 1 to 7  as well as  FIGS. 9  to  12  show the two pressing elements  12  in the inactive, meaning the opened position. In  FIG. 8 , the two pressing members  12  are pivoted to the active, meaning the closed position. The pressing members are pivoted with the aid of a drive that is not shown herein, for example a drive operating with a pneumatic or a hydraulic cylinder, wherein a different drive can also be used, for example a motor. 
         [0028]    For the further processing, the stack  6  is initially moved with the lift  14  downward and into the holding area  19 , to the position shown in  FIG. 7 . The stack  6  is then moved from this position upward and pressed against the shoulders  13 , embodied as end stops, of the pressing elements  12  which are pivoted to the active position. While the stack  6  is pressed against these shoulders, the air contained therein is mostly expelled. The thickness of the stack  6  is reduced in this way, so that the stack subsequently forms a relatively stable bundle  6 ′. Figure shows such a bundle  6 ′ in the compressed state. In general, the bundle  6 ′ formed with the stack  6  can also consist of several layers, wherein the method steps according to  FIGS. 4 to 8  must be repeated several times for each layer during the compressing operation. 
         [0029]    By further lowering the lift  14  and thus also the two lift elements  18 , the bundle  6 ′ can continue to be moved downward, so that it finally is located directly above the support element  9  in a lower position  49  of the lift elements  18 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . With the drive (see  FIGS. 1 ,  9 ), for example provided with a pneumatic or a hydraulic cylinder or a motor, the two lift elements  18  are then moved from their lower position respectively in the horizontal direction far enough toward the outside to reach a position  50  where the bundle  6 ′ is released, so that the lift elements are no longer engaged in the holding area  19 . In the position  50 , the lift elements  18  no longer support the bundle  6 ′ which then drops down onto the support element  9  ( FIG. 10 ). For this, the drives  20  are respectively arranged between the outer end of the lift element  18  and the vertical guide element  17 , as can be seen in  FIGS. 1 to 12 . With the aid of an ejection element  23 , which moves horizontally through the holding area  19 , the bundle  6 ′ is then ejected and can be taken over by a transport and/or processing device that is not shown herein. The bundle  6 ′, for example composed of magazines, is subsequently made available for the shipping. 
         [0030]    If the two lift elements  18  are moved apart into the position  50  and if the bundle  6 ′ is thus deposited onto the support element  9 , the two lift elements  18  can be moved back up immediately with the aid of the lift  14 , to a position shown in  FIG. 11 . During this operation, the deposited bundle  6 ′ is ejected with the aid of an ejection element  23 , as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . As indicated with arrows in  FIG. 12 , the two lift elements are then moved toward each other once more and into the position shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein this is also realized with the drives  20 . These drives are controlled in the same way as the other drives by a control unit that is not shown herein. The two lift elements  18  are thus ready for the deposit of another stack  6 . Depending on the concrete embodiment of the apparatus  1  and the application situation, the two lift elements  18  can again move up and into the upper position  48 , in which additional printed products  5  can be deposited, either before or during the ejection of the bundle  6 ′. 
         [0031]    The apparatus  25 , shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , differs from the above-described apparatus  1  in particular by the design of a lift  30  which comprises two lift elements  37  that can be moved vertically and horizontally. The lift  30  is arranged on a support element  31 , embodied rotating, which can essentially be embodied in the same way as the above-mentioned support element  9 . Two upward projecting, rod-shaped or similarly shaped, suitable guide elements  34  are attached to the support element  31 . Respectively each guide part is displaceable up or down along the vertical guide elements  34 , wherein the guide elements  34  are also arranged outside of the side walls  35 . The guide parts  43  are respectively attached with a holding part  38  to an endless drive element  33 , guided over deflection rollers  26  and  36 . The deflection rollers  26  are respectively arranged on an upper end of a guide element  34 . The endless drive element  33  shown in  FIG. 13 , which can be embodied belt-shaped for example, essentially has a U-shaped form and thus comprises an outer belt section  27  and an inner belt section  28 . The holding part  38 , shown on the right in  FIG. 13 , is connected to the inner belt section  28  and the holding part  38  shown on the left is connected to the outer belt section  27 . A motor  32 , for example a servomotor, is provided for driving the drive element  33  and is connected to the outer belt section  27 . If the drive element  33  is moved in one of the two directions of the double arrow  29 , then the two lift elements  37  in the holding area  19  move jointly either up or down. A stack  6  or a bundle  6 ′, deposited on the lift elements  37 , can thus be moved up or down according to  FIG. 13 . The bundle  6 ′ is guided on the side by the two side walls  35 . If the outer belt section  27  of the drive element  33  moves in counter-clockwise direction, meaning to the right in the region of the motor  32  in  FIG. 13 , the two lift elements  37  move down as shown with the arrows  41 . Of course, the drive element  33  can also be embodied as a link chain. 
         [0032]    For the horizontal movement, the lift elements  37  are respectively positioned with the aid of a bearing part  45 , wherein each bearing part  45  is connected to the respective guide part  43 . With the aid of a motor  39 , for example embodied as a servo motor, the two lift elements  37  can respectively be moved horizontally in the direction of the double arrow  40 . Different drive elements can conceivably be used in place of the motors  39 , for example pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders. The lift elements  37  can be embodied similar to the lift elements  18  and can be provided with parallel-extending vertically movable rods  46 . In the same way, the side walls  35  can be embodied corresponding to the side walls  10  and can contain openings  11 , not shown herein, for the rods  46 . The function of the lift elements  37  thus corresponds to the function of the lift elements  18 . In the position shown in  FIG. 13 , the two lift elements  37  can be moved horizontally toward the outside and into the position, not shown herein, outside of the holding area (corresponding to position  50  in  FIG. 10 ), so that the compressed stack  6  in the form of the bundle  6 ′ drops onto the support element  31 . From this support element, the bundle  6 ′ can then be ejected with the ejection element  42  in one of the directions shown with the double arrow  44 . The ejection element  42  can be moved to the other side of the support element  31  along a curve  47  that is shown with a dashed line. The ejection element can be embodied as a rod which projects upward from the support element  31  and is correspondingly guided and driven. The lift elements  37  for this embodiment can also be moved to an upper position, either before or during the ejection of the bundle  6 ′ and can thus be made available for receiving another stack  6 . As a result, the cycle time for forming an additional bundle  6 ′ can be reduced considerably. 
         [0033]    It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.