Abstract:
A powerful throughput magazine of the ‘first in first out’ type is activated for the handling of diapers ( 10 ) or similar objects during the transport from a converter ( 13 ) to a packer ( 14 ), the diapers being transported as diaper groups ( 19 ) through said magazine. The magazine ( 15 ) comprises of an endless magazine conveyor ( 18 ) having transversely directed bars ( 20 ), wherein one diaper group ( 19 ) each is disposed between adjacent bars on the magazine conveyor ( 18 ) in an upright position. After removing the diapers ( 10 ) from the magazine ( 15 ), the diaper groups ( 19 ) are separated again, and the diapers are individually fed to the packer ( 14 ).

Description:
STATEMENT OF RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is the U.S. National Phase Under Chapter II of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2008/000374 having an International Filing Date of 18 Jan. 2008, which claims priority on German Patent Application No. 10 2007 010 990.5 having a filing date of 5 Mar. 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a device for handling and transporting sheet-like articles, in particular diapers, which, coming from a production machine—converter—, can be supplied to a packaging machine for the packaging of groups of articles, in particular of diaper groups. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    This relates to the handling of sheet-like articles, of which the measurement in the third dimension is small in relation to the measurements of the other two dimensions. It relates, in particular, to the handling of diapers which are to be processed as flat structures with low dimensional stability. Diapers only are referred to below for the sake of simplicity. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The object on which the invention is based is to propose measures for an efficient handling of diapers which are made available in large quantities by high-performance converters and are supplied to likewise high-performance packaging machines, along with optimal utilization with regard to manufacture and with regard to packaging. 
         [0007]    To achieve this object, the device according to the invention is characterized in that, following the converter, the articles or diapers can be conveyed through a continuous-flow store, that is to say what is known as a first-in/first-out store, having a variable storage capacity. 
         [0008]    The store performs the task of providing compensation between the converter and the packaging machine, so that the performance of these machines can be utilized optimally. 
         [0009]    The store is tailored in its set-up and type of operation to the form and material-dependent particularities of the diapers. An (endless) conveyor or belt transports the diapers as diaper groups through the store between upright webs. The diapers are arranged in an upright position, placed close together within the respective diaper group, and are supported with one edge on the belt. 
         [0010]    A further particularity is a back-up store which is arranged in the supply region of the store and which can be operated manually and makes it possible to supply diapers to the (main) store additionally or alternatively to the converter. 
         [0011]    Furthermore, the transfer of the diapers to the store or main store is designed in a special way, to be precise with a collecting wheel for receiving the diapers supplied individually at high speed and at a distance from one another. 
         [0012]    The diapers emerging from the store or main store are individually separated again and supplied to the packer successively at a distance from one another. In the region of the latter, new groups of diapers are produced, to be precise according to the capacity of the packs in each case to be produced. 
         [0013]    Further particularities of the invention relate to the design of the main store and, above all, to the supply of the diapers to this and extraction from the main store. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0014]    The device according to the invention and its type of operation are explained in more detail below by means of the drawings in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  shows the device for handling and transporting diapers in a diagrammatic side view, 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  shows a detail of the device according to  FIG. 1 , to be precise an additional or back-up store, likewise in a side view, on an enlarged scale, 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  shows the back-up store according to  FIG. 2  in cross section in the sectional plane on a further-enlarged scale, 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  shows an extract IV of the detail according to  FIG. 2  on an enlarged scale, 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  shows a detail of the (main) store in a side view in the entry region, 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  shows a cross section of the detail according to  FIG. 5  in the sectional plane VI-VI of  FIG. 5  on an enlarged scale, 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  shows an extract VII of the detail according to  FIG. 6  on a further-enlarged scale, 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  shows the entry region of the (main) store in the horizontal section VIII-VIII of  FIG. 5  and in a top view, 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  shows an exit region of the (main) store in a side view, and 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  shows a cross section in the region of a discharge conveyor in the sectional plane X-X of  FIG. 9  on an enlarged scale. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    The main field of use, to be precise the handling of mechanically manufactured diapers  10 , is explained with reference to the drawings. These diapers are made available in various dimensions and versions, but are of essentially sheet-like design. The diapers are folded and form two legs lying one against the other. This gives rise to a round edge  11  on an, in particular, topside and to two leg margins  12  on the opposite side. 
         [0026]    The device, illustrated in simplified form, consists of a production machine for the diapers  10 , that is to say a converter  13 , of at least one packaging machine, that is to say a packer  14 , and of at least one store arranged in terms of conveyance between the converter  13  and packer  14 : the main store  15  in the following text. This is designed in a special way, to be precise as a continuous-flow store or first-in/first-out store of variable capacity. The diapers  10  pass in the region of an introduction station  16  into the main store  15  and leave the latter via a discharge conveyor station  17 . The main store  15  can receive a relatively large number of diapers  10 , specifically in the case of a variable capacity adaptable to the performances of the converter, on the one hand, and of the packer  14 , on the other hand. 
         [0027]    The store  15  consists essentially of an endless conveyor, to be precise a special storage band  18 . This is designed such that a deflection in the plane of the band and transversely thereto is possible. In particular, the storage band  18  is designed as a Flex-Link chain conveyor system, for example in the SKF version. 
         [0028]    The diapers  10  are conveyed in groups by the storage band  18 , that is to say with diaper groups  19  being formed from a plurality of diapers  10  arranged closely next to one another. In each case a diaper group  19  is located between supporting members of the storage band  18  which are arranged at a distance from one another, to be precise between webs  20  which are upright or arranged transversely to the storage band  18 . These have here a somewhat lower height than the corresponding dimension of the diapers  10 . The distances between the webs  20  are tailored to an optimum capacity for diapers  10 . Depending on the size of the diapers, the diaper group  19  may consist of different numbers of diapers  10 . 
         [0029]    The multiply deflected storage band  18  forms two portions, to be precise a conveying portion  21 , which receives the diapers or diaper groups  19 , and a return portion  22 , which carries no diapers  10 , that is to say runs empty. Both portions  21 ,  22  run via a number of deflection members in such a way that the portions  21 ,  22  have in each case a screw-like run in elongate turns. Each portion  21 ,  22  is assigned two deflection units  23 ,  24  and  25 ,  26  arranged at a distance from one another. The deflection units  23 ,  24 , on the one hand, and  25 ,  26 , on the other hand, which are assigned to one another in pairs can be moved correspondingly in relation to one another in order to vary the storage capacity. In the case of an increase in the distance between the deflection units  23 ,  24  assigned to the conveying portion  21 , the storage capacity is increased, since the conveying portion  21  is lengthened and the return portion  22  is correspondingly shortened, to be precise by means of a reduction in the distance between the deflection units  25 ,  26 . 
         [0030]    In the present exemplary embodiment, the deflection unit  23 , remote from the introduction station  16 , of the conveying portion  21  is mounted stationarily, but rotatably. By contrast, the other deflection unit  24  is displaceable according to the double arrow in order to vary the distance from the deflection unit  23 . Accordingly, the deflection unit  25  of the return portion  22  is fixed, while the deflection unit  26  is movable to and fro, correspondingly to the deflection unit  24 . The movable deflection units  24  and  26  are connected to one another, specifically by means of a (rigid) arm  27 . This adjoins the deflection units  24 ,  26  in each case in the region of upper and lower ends of shafts of the latter. 
         [0031]    Storage units  32 ,  33  designed in this way, consisting of a conveying portion  21  and of a return portion  22 , are arranged one above the other, the conveying portion  21  below the return portion  22 . The fixed deflection units  23 ,  25  are mounted by means of a vertical rotary shaft on a carrying framework of the store, to be precise on a lower longitudinal bearer  28 , on the one hand, and on an upper longitudinal bearer  29 , on the other hand. The movable deflection units and  26  are movable on a rail, here on the longitudinal bearers  28 ,  29 , by means of a guide, to be precise, in each case, a slide  30 ,  31 . 
         [0032]    The conveying portion  21 , on the one hand, and the return portion  22 , on the other hand, form with the assigned deflection units  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26  the two storage units  32 ,  33 . Each storage unit  32 ,  33 , variable in terms of the length of the storage band  18 , consists of a plurality of turns, to be precise storage turns  34  and empty turns  35 , which are arranged one above the other. These arise due to the deflection of the storage band  18  in the region of the deflection units  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26 . Each of these deflection units  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26  consists of an upright, preferably cylindrical bearer  36  and of a plurality of deflection wheels  37 , arranged one above the other, on each bearer  36 . The deflection wheels  37  are directed transversely axially with respect to the bearer  36  or horizontally, so that the storage band  18  is guided horizontally in the region of the deflection units  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26 . Furthermore, a band portion  38  is guided horizontally from one deflection unit  23 ,  25  to the other deflection unit  24 ,  26 . On the opposite side of the storage unit  32 ,  33 , an obliquely directed band portion  39  is formed, which causes the transition from one deflection wheel  37  to a next higher or lower deflection wheel  37  of the other storage unit in each case. 
         [0033]    Outside the region of the storage units  32 ,  33 , an empty portion of the storage band  18  is guided via deflection wheels  40 ,  41  in the region of the introduction station  16 . These deflecting wheels  40 ,  41  are arranged one above the other with horizontal axes of rotation. The return portion  24  is steered, after leaving the upper storage unit  33 , via the upper deflection wheel  40  to the lower deflection wheel  41  and from this back into a horizontal lower loading plane. The deflecting wheel  41  is provided with a drive, here with a servomotor  42 . 
         [0034]    On the opposite side, to be precise in the region of the discharge conveyor station  17 , deflecting wheels  43 ,  44  are likewise arranged one above the other. By means of these, the emptied storage band  18  emerging from the storage unit  32  is deflected upward onto the plane of the upper empty turn  35  of the storage unit  33 . The deflecting wheel  44  can likewise be driven by means of a servomotor  45 . 
         [0035]    The transfer of the diapers  10  to the store  15  is solved in a special way. The diapers  10 , supplied individually, at a distance from one another and at relatively high speed, are received by a collecting member and are transferred in close formation, so as to form the diaper groups  19 , onto the storage band  18 . The collecting member is a collecting wheel  46  which rotates in a vertical plane and which is provided with a multiplicity of receptacles, each for a diaper  10 , along the circumference. The receptacles are formed by web-like partitions  47  which are arranged on the circumference of the collecting wheel  46 , to be precise on the circumference of a wheel disk  48 , at distances from one another which correspond approximately to the dimensions (thickness) of a diaper  10 . The slightly curved partitions  47  are directed obliquely, that is to say at an acute angle, to the circumference of the wheel disk  48 , so as to point rearwardly in the direction of rotation of the collecting wheel  46 . 
         [0036]    The diapers  10  are supplied to the collecting wheel  46  from below, that is to say by means of an upwardly directed movement. A transfer conveyor  49  is directed approximately tangentially to the collecting wheel  46 . The transfer conveyor  49 , consisting of two parallel belts, terminates directly in the region of the collecting wheel  46 , in such a way that the diapers  10  are introduced in each case into a downwardly directed pocket  50  formed between the partitions  47 . On account of the direction of rotation of the collecting wheel  46 , the diapers  10  are first moved upward and, during the subsequent downward movement, are transferred to an intermediate conveyor  51 . This takes over the diapers  10  from the collecting wheel  46 , in that the diapers  10  run in succession onto a supporting belt  52  which lifts the diapers out of the pockets  50  on account of the rotational movement of the collecting wheel  46 . 
         [0037]    The diapers  10  are transported in the region of the intermediate conveyor  51  as a diaper group  19  in an inclined downward direction and are transferred to the storage band  18 . The imbricated relative position predetermined by the collecting wheel  46  is maintained in the region of the intermediate conveyor  51 , in such a way that the diapers  10  of a diaper group  19  impinge one after the other on the storage band  18  between successive webs  20 , specifically with the round edge  11  pointing downward. On account of the coordinated relative movement, to be precise due to the conveying movement of the storage band  18 , the diapers  10  are deposited one after the other on the storage band  18 . 
         [0038]    The diaper groups  19  are predetermined even when the diapers run into the collecting wheel  46 , specifically in each case by means of an empty unfilled pocket  50  of the collecting wheel, after the reception of a number of diapers  10  corresponding to the diaper group  19 . The empty pocket  50  gives rise to a corresponding distance between successive diaper groups  19  even in the collecting wheel  46  and in the region of the intermediate conveyor  51 , in such a way that the gaps are assigned to the webs  20  of the storage band  18 . 
         [0039]    To stabilize the diapers during transport through the collecting wheel  46 , an outer guide is attached to the collecting wheel  46 , to be precise a guide band  53  which bears with a guide run arcuately or circularly on the diapers  10  in the region of the collecting wheel  43 . 
         [0040]    The intermediate conveyor  51  consists of the supporting belt  52  which extends from an upper region of the collecting wheel  46  to the storage band  18 . Opposite to the supporting belt  52 , two counterbelts are provided as part of the transfer conveyor  49 . An upper counterbelt  54  stabilizes the imbricated oblique position of the diapers  10 . This is followed by a lower band, to be precise a pivoting belt  55 , assigned to the storage band  18 . Said pivoting belt is pivotable about a bearing  56  according to the double arrow. The supporting belt  52  or a lower belt leg  57  is pivotable together with the pivoting belt  56  about a pivot bearing in the region of a deflecting wheel  58 . The joint pivoting movements of a lower region of the intermediate conveyor  51  are controlled such that, after the transfer of a diaper group  19  to the storage band  18 , the first diaper  10  of the following diaper group  19  does not collide with the web  20 . 
         [0041]    The designs of the cooperating members in the region of the introduction station  16  are coordinated with one another so that the relative movements described can be carried out. As is clear particularly from  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the webs  20  of the storage band  18  are narrow in relation to the width of the storage band  18  or a diaper  10 . The webs  20  are arranged centrally with respect to the storage band  18 , so that the diaper group  19  is supported centrally. Members for handling the diapers  10  take effect in the region of lateral projections, that is to say next to webs  20 . The guide band or deflecting rollers of the latter are mounted on carrying struts  59  on both sides of the collecting wheel  46 . Deflecting rollers  58  and further deflecting and driving rollers for belts of the intermediate conveyor  51  are likewise mounted on carrying struts  60  on both sides of the collecting wheel  46 . The belts  52 ,  54 ,  55  of the intermediate conveyor  51  are arranged in pairs on both sides of the collecting wheel  46  and, in the lower region, on both sides of the webs  20 , but in the range of movement of the diapers  10 , so that these are picked up laterally by the pairs of belts. 
         [0042]    The supply of the diapers  10  to the collecting wheel  46  and from this to the storage band  18  is checked by sensors, for example by light barriers or other contactless sensing members. In the transport path of the individual diapers  10  to the collecting wheel  46 , the transfer conveyor  49  is preceded by an intermediate conveyor  61 . This comprises two parallel belts, between which the diapers  10  are transported in a vertical plane. The intermediate conveyor  61  transfers the diapers  10  to the transfer conveyor  49  during an upwardly directed transport movement. In the region of the intermediate conveyor  61 , a sensor  62  is arranged which triggers control or fault signals in the event of incorrect positions or a deficient supply of diapers  10 . A further sensor  63  is arranged in the region of the transfer of the diapers  10  from the transfer conveyor  49  to the collecting wheel  46 , in order to monitor the fault-free introduction of the diapers  10  to the pockets  50 . The same purpose is served by a sensor  64  in the lower region of the intermediate conveyor  51 , to be precise during the transfer of the diapers  10  to the storage band  18 . The functioning of the sensors  62 ,  63 ,  64  and of further sensors is tailored, on the one hand, to detecting the passage of diapers  10 , but, on the other hand, also to detecting the time intervals and controlling drives accordingly to the effect of acceleration or deceleration. 
         [0043]    The introduction of the diapers  10  or diaper groups  19  into the store, that is to say the transfer to the storage band  18  in the region of the introduction station  16 , is solved in a special way. The collecting wheel  46  and the following conveying members, that is to say the intermediate conveyor  51 , are located in the plane (above) a rectilinear initial portion  65  of the storage band  18 , to be precise of the conveying portion  21 . The empty portion of the storage band is led out of a laterally offset movement plane in the region of the deflecting wheel  41  along an approximately S-shaped guide in a horizontal plane into the initial portion  65  ( FIG. 8 ). This special run of the storage band  18  is brought about by deflecting pulleys  66 ,  67  rotatable about vertical axes, that is to say oriented in a horizontal plane. The (empty) storage band  18  is led successively and contradirectionally around the deflecting pulleys  66 ,  67  by means of upright webs  20 , that is to say by means of deflection forming in a horizontal plane. The second deflecting pulley  67  in the direction of movement guides the storage band into the initial portion  65 . The transfer of the diapers  10  or diaper groups  19  to the storage band  18  takes place at this location. The deflecting pulleys  66 ,  67 , while having the same size, are arranged with offset vertical axes of rotation and are connected to the common carrying framework via holding members. 
         [0044]    In plan view, therefore, the storage band  18  forms in the region of the introduction station  16  an offset in the horizontal direction, in that the storage band  18  is guided into the loading plane by the offset deflecting rollers  40 ,  41 . On the one hand, this gives rise to the space required for attaching the members for supplying the diapers  10  to the storage band  18 , that is to say, in particular, for the collecting wheel  46  and the intermediate conveyor  51 . The lower discharge end of this conveyor for transferring the diapers  10  directly to the storage band is positioned such that a reception end of the initial portion  65  is exposed in the region of transfer of the diapers, since, here, the storage band  18  is supplied and introduced laterally into the plane or direction of the initial portion  65 . 
         [0045]    A further particularity is the configuration in the region of the discharge conveyor station  17 . The diapers  10  or diaper groups  19  are extracted from the main store  15  in the rectilinear continuation of an upper storage turn  34 . For this purpose, the storage band is led with a rectilinear end portion  68  out of the storage unit  32  and is subsequently guided via a deflection device, according to  FIG. 8 , with deflecting pulleys  66 ,  67  in an S-shaped manner in a horizontal plane and is then transferred to the deflecting wheel  44 , in a corresponding carry-over of the solution according to  FIG. 8 . On the one hand, the transfer of the diapers to the discharge conveyor  69  in a rectilinear continuation of the conveying direction of the storage band  18  is thereby facilitated. On the other hand, however, space is likewise provided for the discharge conveyor means  69 ,  74  by the S-shaped deflection of the storage band. 
         [0046]    The in this lower lower guidance, assigned to the storage unit  32 , of the storage band  18  with a laterally directed offset corresponds to matching deflections in the region of the entry side of the storage unit  33 , on the one hand, and of the exit side, on the other hand. There, too, in each case S-shaped guides of the storage band  18  are provided by means of deflecting members or deflecting pulleys  66 ,  67  in the arrangement similar to  FIG. 8 . 
         [0047]    The rectilinear end portion  68  is followed by a special discharge conveyor  69 . This transports the diapers  10  out of the region of the storage unit  32 , with the group structure being maintained. In the present exemplary embodiment, the discharge conveyor  69  is directed obliquely upward. The diapers  10  are directed obliquely with respect to the plane of the discharge conveyor  69 , with the upright position being maintained. 
         [0048]    The discharge conveyor  69  is designed in a special way. Two belts  70  arranged at a distance from one another are provided as a lower conveyor and support the diapers laterally in the region of the downwardly directed edges. On account of the distance between the belts  70 , the webs  20  can be moved between the belts  70 , so that a flowing transfer of the diapers takes place. The diapers are in this case lifted off by the discharge conveyor  69  or by the belts  70  from the storage band  18  which runs further on in a horizontal plane. A guide wedge  78  is provided as an additional lead-over member and supplies the diapers to the discharge conveyor  69  by means of the transport movement of the storage band  18 . In addition, the diapers  10  are laterally guided and supported in the region of the discharge conveyor  69 . For this purpose, the discharge conveyor  69  has driven supporting belts  71 ,  72  running on both sides of the path of movement of the diapers  10 . In the present case, in each case two supporting belts  71 ,  72  are arranged at a distance from one another on both sides of the stream of successive diapers, specifically in the version as round cords. Conveying runs facing one another bear on the laterally directed edges of the diapers  10 . The supporting belts  71 ,  72  run via correspondingly positioned double rollers  73 . 
         [0049]    The diaper groups  19 , after emerging from the main store  15 , are opened up. Individual diapers  10  are supplied at a distance from one another to the packer  14  or to an assembly for composing packing groups of diapers  10 . 
         [0050]    For this purpose, the diapers  10  are transferred individually at the end of the discharge conveyor  69  to a connecting conveyor  74 . This consists of two parallel belts, between the conveying runs of which the diapers are held. The connecting conveyor  74  is arranged vertically. The diapers  10 , therefore, after the discharge conveyor  69 , are conveyed downward. A particularity is the transfer of the individual diapers  10  from the discharge conveyor  69  to the connecting conveyor  74 . A transfer assembly  75  consists of a bearing member, lying opposite the end of the discharge conveyor  69 , for the front diaper  10  in each case. This member is arranged above the belts of the connecting conveyor  74  such that the diapers  10  are introduced into the region between the belts. For this purpose, the transfer assembly  75  consists of a suction belt  76 , of which the vertical run facing the diapers  10  bears against a suction box  77  loaded with a vacuum. The in each case free front diaper  10  is therefore picked up by the loaded suction belt  76  and transported downward into the initial region of the belts of the connecting conveyor  74 . By the suction belt  76  being vented, the diaper  10  is freed and is taken over by the connecting conveyor  74 . The transfer assembly  75  or a unit with the suction belt  76  is movable transversely by means of a crank mechanism. The in each case free diaper  10  is picked up by the suction belt  76  in the region of the discharge conveyor  69 . As a result of the transverse movement, the diaper  10  bearing on the suction belt  76  passes into the discharge conveying plane defined by the connecting conveyor  74 . 
         [0051]    The diapers  10  transported downward by the connecting conveyor  74  to a lower plane are deflected into a horizontal conveying plane in the direction of the packer  14 . For this purpose, the connecting conveyor  74  is followed at the bottom by a deflecting conveyor  79 . This consists of two endless belts which are guided by deflecting rollers in such a way that the path of conveyance for the diapers  10  is deflected through 90°. 
         [0052]    The deflecting conveyor  79  is followed by a horizontal conveyor  80 . This consists of a plurality of successive pairs of belts  81 ,  82 ,  83  with horizontal conveying runs above and below the path of movement of the diapers  10 . These pairs of belts  81 ,  82 ,  83  form a continuous conveyor which, however, because of separate drives of the pairs of belts  81 ,  82 ,  83 , allows actions upon the transport of the diapers. Each of the pairs of belts is assigned a sensor  84 . It is thereby possible to detect any variation in the supply of the diapers, in particular the distances and conveying speeds, and to influence these. Further sensors  85  are located in the entry region of the connecting conveyor  74 , on the one hand, and of the deflecting conveyor  79 , on the other hand. 
         [0053]    After the horizontal conveyor  80 , the diapers  10  are supplied to a collecting conveyor  86 . A lower collecting belt  87  receives the diapers  10  on a curved upper run  88 . The relative movement of the collecting conveyor  86  with respect to the arriving diapers is such that these are deposited on the upper run  88  with a reciprocal overlap, that is to say in an imbricated manner. The diapers  10  are supplied to the packer  14  in this formation, to be precise as a group of diapers  10  arranged in an imbricated manner, in order to form a group corresponding to the contents of a package. 
         [0054]    As a particularity, the store or main store  15  is assigned a further store, to be precise an additional store  89 . This may also be used independently of or alternatively to the main store  15 . 
         [0055]    The additional store  89  is positioned in the region of the supply of the diapers  10  coming from the converter  13 . The arrangement is such that, alternatively or additionally to the converter  13 , diapers can be introduced from the additional store  89  into the conveying flow. The additional store  89  serves for the possibly necessary supplementary introduction of diapers  10  in addition to the converter  13 . With the aid of the additional store  89 , however, diapers  10  can even be introduced into the main store  15  without a converter  13 , in particular for running in the main store  15 . 
         [0056]    The additional store consists of an (endless) storage conveyor or storage belt  90 . This forms an upper conveying portion  91  and a lower conveying portion  92 . The endless conveyor or endless conveyors of the additional store  89  runs or run via deflecting rollers  93 ,  94 . These are mounted on a carrying framework with two parallel bearers  95  arranged at a distance from one another. 
         [0057]    In this exemplary embodiment, the storage belt  90  consists of two parallel individual belts  96 ,  97  which are guided in parallel at a distance from one another and which run via correspondingly designed deflecting rollers  93 ,  94 . Each individual belt  96 ,  97  has holding webs  98 ,  99  which, analogously to the webs  20 , are arranged at a distance from one another in the conveying direction and form receptacles in each case for a diaper group  19 . The latter may correspond to or, alternatively, differ from the diaper groups  19  of the main store  15  in terms of the number of diapers  10 . The holding webs  98 ,  99  pick up the diapers  10  in each case in a marginal region. 
         [0058]    The additional store  89  may be loaded with diapers in various ways. In the present exemplary embodiment, manual loading is carried out. Two loading stations are set up, in which in each case a complete diaper group  19 , while being pressed together laterally, is introduced into a receptacle between adjacent pairs of holding webs  98 ,  99 , specifically in the region of the upper conveying portion  91 . In this region, the diapers are held by lateral guides, specifically by guide walls  100 ,  101 . These terminate in the region of the deflection of the storage belt  90 . In this region, the diapers are held at their upper boundaries, in this case at the upwardly directed round edges  11 , on the storage belt  90  by means of a deflecting guide  102 . The deflecting guide  102  merges into an underguide  103  in the region of the lower conveying portion  92 . The diapers rest with a downwardly directed diaper edge, that is to say with the round edge  11 , on the underguide  103  designed as a thin wall. In addition, a lateral guide  104  is mounted on both sides of the diapers in the region of deflection and of the lower conveying portion  92 , approximately at diaper mid-height. This is a guiderail. 
         [0059]    The diapers  10  of the additional store  89  are introduced, additionally to the output of the converter  13  or alternatively to this, into the conveying stream of diapers to the main store  15  and/or to the packer  14 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the converter  13 , on the one hand, and the additional store  89 , on the other hand, are assigned two transport tracks for the diapers  10 , which transport tracks are directed upward by deflection out of an essentially horizontal initial position. Conveying units  105  from the converter  13  and  106  from the additional store  89  converge in a common transport track, specifically in the upwardly directed transfer conveyor  49  or into the preceding intermediate conveyor  61 . Each conveying unit  105 ,  106  consists of a plurality of pairs of belts  107 ,  108  and  109 ,  110  arranged in each case at an angle to one another in the transport direction. The diapers  10  are transported in each case under tension between mutually facing conveying runs of the pairs of belts  107 ,  108 ,  109 ,  110  and are finally transferred to the intermediate conveyor  61  or to a preceding vertical pair of belts, to be precise to a preconveyor  111 . This is likewise arranged in a vertical position. The pairs of belts  108 ,  110  converge in the region of the preconveyor  111 . A wedge-shaped guide piece  112  ensures the transfer of the diapers  10  coming from two conveying directions onto the preconveyor  111 . The diapers  10 , here, are conveyed with the round edge  11  lying in front in the transport direction. The above-described conveyors of the conveying units  105 ,  106  are equipped with sensors  113  for the reasons described. 
         [0060]    A further particularity is the transfer of diapers  10  out of the additional store  89  to a discharge conveyor. At an exit end of the additional store  89 , an extraction station is formed, here in the region of the lower conveying portion  92  at the deflecting roller  94 . The diaper  10  which is in each case at the front is discharged downward and, being deflected, is deposited on a reception belt  114 . This is arranged in an oblique position here, with an upwardly directed transport plane to the conveying unit  106  and is preferably designed as a suction conveyor. The diapers  10  are transported away downward out of the additional store  89  individually, that is to say with the diaper group  19  being opened up, and pass via a guide duct  115  onto the reception belt  114 . The guide duct  115  is deflected arcuately in a part region. The extraction of the diapers from the additional store  89  is assisted by a conveying member, specifically by a suction conveyor  116 . A belt of the suction conveyor  116  is guided triangularly via deflecting rollers. A lower, driven deflecting roller  117  of larger diameter steers an upright conveying run  118  into the region of the reception belt  114 . The conveying run  118  bears on a suction box  119  which follows the arcuate run of the guide duct  115  as far as the reception belt  114 . The diaper  10  picked up by the suction conveyor  116  is therefore transported in the downward direction and deposited on the reception belt  114 . In the region of the latter, a transfer member is mounted for transferring the diaper  10  onto the reception belt  114 , specifically a blow nozzle  120  directed onto the topside of the diaper  10 . The suction air of the conveying run  118  is ineffective here. 
         [0061]    The suction conveyor  116  or its conveying run  118  is movable transversely, specifically by means of a crank mechanism  121 . This moves the suction conveyor  116  in the direction of the arriving diapers  10  until the suction conveyor  116  or the conveying run  118  comes to bear on the diaper  10  which in each case lies in front. The contradirectional movement brings the picked-up diaper  10  into the discharge position, that is to say above the guide duct  115 . The suction conveyor  116  is driven intermittently, that is to say is moved in the discharge direction of the diaper  10  when this position is reached. 
         [0062]    The functioning of this discharge conveying unit is checked by means of a sensor  122  in the region of the reception belt  114 . The device may be employed for the handling of flat articles, in particular diapers  10 , and also for other fields of use. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS  
       [0000]    
       
           10  Diaper 
           11  Round edge 
           12  Leg margin 
           13  Converter 
           14  Packer 
           15  Main store 
           16  Introduction station 
           17   17  Discharge conveyor station 
           18  Storage band 
           19  Diaper group 
           20  Web 
           21  Conveying portion 
           22  Return portion 
           23  Deflection unit 
           24  Deflection unit 
           25  Deflection unit 
           26  Deflection unit 
           27  Arm 
           28  Longitudinal bearer 
           29  Longitudinal bearer 
           30  Slide 
           31  Slide 
           32  Storage unit 
           33  Storage unit 
           34  Storage turn 
           35  Empty turn 
           36  Bearer 
           37  Deflecting wheel 
           38  Band portion 
           39  Band portion 
           40  Deflecting wheel 
           41  Deflecting wheel 
           42  Servomotor 
           43  Deflecting wheel 
           44  Deflecting wheel 
           45  Servomotor 
           46  Collecting wheel 
           47  Partition 
           48  Wheel disk 
           49  Transfer conveyor 
           50  Pocket 
           51  Intermediate conveyor 
           52  Supporting belt 
           53  Guide band 
           54  Counter band 
           55  Pivoting belt 
           56  Bearing 
           57  Belt leg 
           58  Pivot bearing 
           59  Carrying strut 
           60  Carrying strut 
           61  Intermediate conveyor 
           62  Sensor 
           63  Sensor 
           64  Sensor 
           65  Initial portion 
           66  Deflecting pulley 
           67  Deflecting pulley 
           68  End portion 
           69  Discharge conveyor 
           70  Belt 
           71  Supporting belt 
           72  Supporting belt 
           73  Double roller 
           74  Connecting conveyor 
           75  Transfer assembly 
           76  Suction belt 
           77  Suction box 
           78  Guide wedge 
           79  Deflecting conveyor 
           80  Horizontal conveyor 
           81  Pair of belts 
           82  Pair of belts 
           83  Pair of belts 
           84  Sensor 
           85  Sensor 
           86  Collecting conveyor 
           87  Collecting belt 
           88  Upper run 
           89  Additional store 
           90  Storage belt 
           91  Conveying portion 
           92  Conveying portion 
           93  Deflecting roller 
           94  Deflecting roller 
           95  Bearer 
           96  Individual belt 
           97  Individual belt 
           98  Holding web 
           99  Holding web 
           100  Guide wall 
           101  Guide wall 
           102  Deflecting guide 
           103  Underguide 
           104  Lateral guide 
           105  Conveying unit 
           106  Conveying unit 
           107  Pair of belts 
           108  Pair of belts 
           109  Pair of belts 
           110  Pair of belts 
           111  Preconveyor 
           112  Guide piece 
           113  Sensor 
           114  Reception belt 
           115  Guide duct 
           116  Suction conveyor 
           117  Deflecting roller 
           118  Conveying run 
           119  Suction box 
           120  Blow nozzle 
           121  Crank mechanism 
           122  Sensor