Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for closing a flat product ( 14 ) which comprises a cover sheet which is open on at least one side and at least one printed product which is inserted loosely into the cover sheet, wherein the product ( 14 ) is fed to a closing apparatus ( 15, 15 ′) in a freely suspended manner or in an overlapping stream, and wherein the at least one open side of the cover sheet is closed in the closing apparatus ( 15, 15 ′) exclusively by mechanical action on the cover sheet by means of a closing tool ( 19, 19 ′).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    It has been customary for a relatively long time to add printed products in a loosely inserted manner to newspapers and magazines, which printed products differ from the newspaper in terms of their type and design in that firstly they have a smaller format and secondly they are printed, for example, as visually attractive brochures on heavy, smooth high gloss paper or contain postcards or coupons printed on cardboard. Newspapers and magazines are also known, in which heavy enclosures are inserted into a relatively thin main product having few pages. When handling said products during transport to or directly at the final consumer, there is the risk that the enclosures are displaced or even fall completely out of the newspaper. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion Of Related Art 
         [0004]    It has therefore already been proposed in EP-B1-0 666 186 to secure product units which comprise a folded outer part and printed products which are arranged between the limbs of the outer part against unintentionally falling out of the inserted printed products by the outer part being closed on one or more open sides by the attachment of an adhesive strip. Here, the closing operation is either carried out in a drum-like processing apparatus, in which the product units are held in pocket-like receiving parts, or on a conveying path, on which the product units are transported by means of a clamp conveyor such that they hang freely. It is a disadvantage of this solution that additional aids are required for the closing operation in the form of adhesive means or adhesive tapes which have to be provided, fed in and applied. If the closing operation is carried out in the drum-like processing apparatus, a comparatively complicated and complex mechanism which interacts with the drum is necessary. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, it has been proposed in EP-B1-0 676 354 to insert printed products of this type in the V-shaped insertion compartments of a packaging drum or of a circulating packaging system into a folded packaging element and to close the packaging element in the insertion parts to form an envelope by the printed products being pressed together for closure by protruding parts of the packaging element. Here, the actual closure can take place by the use of adhesive means or by a combination of pressing together of the edge regions of the packaging element by means of pressing rollers, toothed rolls or clamping jaws. The integration of the closing process into the insertion process ensures that the product units comprising printed units and packaging element are accessible individually from all sides. However, it is also disadvantageous here that the closing apparatus has to be adapted to the complex operations and movements during the insertion process and is of correspondingly complicated design. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method and an apparatus for securing loosely inserted printed products which are distinguished by reduced expenditure and can be used more flexibly. 
         [0007]    The object is achieved by a method as claimed in claim  1  and an apparatus as claimed in claim  12 . It is essential for the method according to the invention that the product which comprises a cover sheet (also called cover or protective sheet) and printed products which are inserted loosely in the cover sheet and is open at least on one side (and usually on three sides) is fed to a closing apparatus in a freely hanging manner or in an overlapping flow, and that at least one open side of the cover sheet is closed in the closing apparatus exclusively by mechanical action on the cover sheet by means of a closing tool. The feeding of aids such as adhesive means or staples is omitted as a result of the use of a closing technique which works purely mechanically. This simplifies the closing process considerably and makes it possible to carry out this process outside a packaging drum or the like directly on the products which are transported in an overlapping stream or in a freely hanging manner in a clamp conveyor. 
         [0008]    One refinement of the method according to the invention is distinguished by the fact that at least one open side of the cover sheet is closed by caulking of two edges which lie on one another. Here, caulking is understood to be a common deformation of the edges, which deformation manages without perforation. 
         [0009]    As an alternative to this, however, it is also possible that at least one open side of the cover sheet is closed by interlocking of two edges which lie on one another. Here, small sections of one edge are pressed through openings in the other edge and are folded over in a hook-shaped manner. 
         [0010]    Another refinement is distinguished by the fact that the product is conveyed in a conveying apparatus with other products of the same type in a continuous stream along a conveying path, and by the fact that the product is fed by means of the conveying apparatus to the closing apparatus for closing, and is led away after being closed. In this way, the closing process can be integrated in a simple way into an existing conveying process, without the conveying operation being changed or disrupted. In particular, the product can be guided through the closing apparatus by means of the conveying apparatus for closing. 
         [0011]    It is particularly advantageous if the product is moved continuously through the closing apparatus, and the closing tool is moved during the closing operation synchronously with the product to be closed. The closing operation can thus be adapted seamlessly to the conveying operation. 
         [0012]    The method is particularly simple if, according to another refinement of the invention, the product is moved through the closing apparatus on a straight conveying path, and the closing tool is moved during the closing operation parallel to the product to be closed. 
         [0013]    However, it is also conceivable that the product is moved through the closing apparatus on a straight conveying path, and the closing tool is moved during the closing operation on a circular path, along which the product is transported substantially tangentially. 
         [0014]    In many cases, however, it can also be advantageous if the closing apparatus is moved during the closing operation synchronously with the product to be closed. This is the case when the products are conveyed in the conveying apparatus in the form of an overlapping stream, when, in order to fan out the products, the conveying path extends in a circular arc about a pivot axis, and when, during the closing operation, the closing apparatus is driven synchronously with the product to be closed, such that said closing apparatus pivots about the pivot axis. 
         [0015]    The product preferably comprises a rectangular cover sheet which is folded once along a center line and forms a pocket which is open on three sides, the cover sheet being closed on at least one of the two transverse sides. 
         [0016]    One refinement of the apparatus according to the invention is distinguished by the fact that the conveying apparatus is configured for conveying the products in a hanging manner, the products being held in each case centrally by a gripper, and by the fact that a closing apparatus is arranged on at least one side of the conveying apparatus, which closing apparatus has tongs-shaped closing tools for laterally closing the product or cover sheet, it being possible for the closing tools to be moved parallel to the conveying path and synchronously with the products. 
         [0017]    In particular, the closing tools are fastened to a carrying element which is guided around two deflecting wheels in the manner of an endless belt, for example a belt, a toothed belt or a chain. 
         [0018]    The closing tools preferably have in each case two clamping jaws which can be pivoted with respect to one another about a common pivot axis and on which elements for mechanically closing the cover sheet are arranged, the elements for mechanically closing the cover sheet comprising, in particular, perforation elements on one clamping jaw and associated openings on the other clamping jaw. 
         [0019]    Another refinement of the apparatus is distinguished by the fact that the conveying apparatus is configured for conveying the products in an overlapping stream, and by the fact that a closing apparatus is arranged at least on one side of the conveying apparatus, which closing apparatus has an upper part and a lower part, between which the product is guided through in the conveying apparatus. 
         [0020]    The upper and lower parts are preferably configured as closing tools and rolls which rotate in opposite directions and synchronously with the products. Here, in particular, the closing tool and the roll can be displaced with respect to one another in order to exert pressure on the cover sheet. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    In the following text, the invention is to be explained in greater detail using exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawing, in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a detail of a conveying apparatus, in which the products are conveyed such that they hang freely on grippers, having a laterally arranged closing apparatus according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  shows the conveying apparatus from  FIG. 1  in a view from above; a second closing apparatus which is arranged on the opposite side of the conveying stream can be seen, 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective illustration of the conveyed product from  FIGS. 1 and 2  which is closed on one side, 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective illustration of the tongs-shaped closing tool used in the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of a detail of a conveying apparatus, in which the products are conveyed in the overlapping stream on an arcuate path such that they hang on grippers, 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  shows the conveying apparatus from  FIG. 5  in a view from above, having a closing apparatus which is pivoted synchronously about the center of the circular arc according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of a detail of a conveying apparatus, in which the products are conveyed in the overlapping stream such that they hang on grippers, having a stationary closing apparatus which is equipped with rolls which run in opposite directions, according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, and 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  shows a side view of a detail of a conveying apparatus, in which the products are conveyed in the overlapping stream such that they lie on a transport belt, having a stationary closing apparatus which is equipped with rolls which run in opposite directions, according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a side view and a view from above of a first exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention. The apparatus comprises a conveying apparatus  10  for products  14  which, according to  FIG. 3 , comprise a cover sheet  21  which is folded once and printed products  22 ,  23  which are inserted loosely in it. In this form, the products  14  can be prepared in a drum-like insertion or packaging machine, as is described in the documents which are cited in the introduction. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the products  14  are transported individually along a conveying path  11  such that they hang freely on the grippers  13  of the conveying apparatus  10 , of which conveying path  11  only a short section is shown. The grippers  13  can either run on running carriages  12  in a rail (not shown), or can be fastened to a chain which is moved along the conveying path  11 . Conveying apparatuses of this type are known, for example, from EP-A1-1683612, EP-A1-1042203 or EP-A1-557680. 
         [0031]    The products  14  are held by the grippers  13  in such a way that the open longitudinal side of the cover sheet  21  which is folded once lies at the top and is held in each case in the closed state by the gripper  13 . The fold  24  of the cover sheet  21  which preferably extends along a center line of the usually rectangular cover sheet  21  is situated at the bottom. The size of the cover sheet  21  is selected in such a way that it protrudes beyond the inserted printed products  22 ,  23  on the three open sides and can be closed by the projecting edges being pressed onto one another ( FIG. 3 ). Since the products  14  are held in the center by the grippers  13  ( FIG. 2 ), the side regions of the products are freely accessible from the side. 
         [0032]    Correspondingly, closing apparatuses  15  and  15 ′ which are of mirror symmetrical configuration with respect to one another are arranged on both sides of the conveying path  11 . The closing apparatuses  15 ,  15 ′ comprise in each case a multiplicity of clamp-like, purely mechanically acting closing tools  19 ,  19 ′, the design of which is shown in detail in  FIG. 4 . The closing tools  19 ,  19 ′ are fastened to a belt-shaped or chain-shaped carrying element  16  or  16 ′ at predefined spacings which correspond to the spacings of the products  14  in the transport apparatus  10 , which carrying element  16  or  16 ′ is guided in each case over two deflecting wheels or rollers  17 ,  18  or  17 ′,  18 ′ which are spaced apart from one another and extends parallel to the conveying path  11  between the deflecting wheels  17 ,  18  or  17 ′,  18 ′. In each case one of the deflecting wheels  17 ,  18  or  17 ′,  18 ′ is driven. The speed of the circulating carrying element  16  or  16 ′ is synchronized with the transport speed of the conveying apparatus  10  in such a way that; during their circulation, the closing tools  19 ,  19 ′ (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) come into engagement with the sides of the products  14  and close them by way of a tongs movement. Here, the opened closing tool  19 ,  19 ′ first of all encloses the edge  21   a ,  21   b  of the product  14  at the start of the path of the common movement, then performs a tongs movement (in the center of the path) and opens again at the end of the path, in order to release the product  14  which is closed by the closure  20 . 
         [0033]    The closing tool  19 ,  19 ′ preferably has the design which is shown in  FIG. 4 : two clamping jaws  25 ,  26  can be pivoted with respect to one another about a common pivot axis  29  in the manner of a hinge. An actuating arm  27 ,  28  which protrudes perpendicularly with respect to the pivot axis  29  is attached to each of the clamping jaws  25 ,  26 , which actuating arm  27 ,  28  can be equipped at the free end with a roller, by way of which it senses a corresponding slotted guide in the closing apparatus  15 ,  15 ′, which slotted guide controls the tongs movement. Elevated perforation elements  30 , for example in the form of tongues which are bent out of the jaw plane, and corresponding openings  31  are arranged lying opposite one another on the clamping jaws  25 ,  26 . If the clamping jaws  25 ,  26  are pivoted counter to one another in the tongs movement, the perforation elements  30  press from one side into those edges  21   a ,  21   b  of the product  14  which lie above one another and press a corresponding region through the associated opening  31 . Depending on the design of the perforation elements  30  and the openings  31 , caulking of the two edges (without penetration) can occur here, or penetration with subsequent interlocking. 
         [0034]    In the embodiment which is shown, the closure  20  is attached only locally, that is to say is restricted to a short section of the edge, because it is to prevent merely the printed products  22 ,  23  sliding or falling out of the folded cover sheet  21 . As a result, the clamp force which is required in the closing tool  19 ,  19 ′ is reduced. In addition to the two transverse sides of the product  14 , a closure  20  can also be attached to the longitudinal side which lies at the top, with the result that the cover sheet  21  is then closed on all sides. To this end, additional closing apparatuses can be arranged above the conveying apparatus  10 , which additional closing apparatuses correspond to the closing apparatuses  15 ,  15 ′. However, it can also be sufficient, according to  FIG. 3 , to attach a closure  20  only on one transverse side of the product  14 . In further preferred embodiments, the closure is attached multiple times, that is to say a plurality of closures are attached to a plurality of short sections of the edge. As a result, for example, the size and, in particular in the case of perforation elements, the force which is required for closing can be reduced. 
         [0035]    Another exemplary embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 : a conveying apparatus  32  is also provided here, which grips and holds the products  14  by means of grippers  13  and transports them along a conveying path  11 . In this case, however, the products  14  lie on a supporting face and form an overlapping stream from partially overlapping products  14 . As a result of the partial overlapping in the overlapping stream, the freely accessible side regions of the products  14  are shortened considerably, as a result of which the use of corresponding closing tools is made more difficult. In order, in an overlapping stream of this type, to obtain more space for the use of closing tools, the conveying path  11  according to  FIG. 6  is curved arcuately at one location. As a result, the overlapping stream of the products  14  is fanned open on the outer side which faces away from the curvature center, as a result of which sufficient space is provided for the use of a closing apparatus  33  or a corresponding closing tool. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the closing apparatus  33  is pivoted to and fro by a defined angle, for example, on a pivoting arm  35  about a pivot axis  34  which stands in the center of the circular arc. The pivoting in the clockwise direction takes place synchronously with respect to the movement of the products  14  on the conveying path  11 . During this synchronous movement, the desired closure  20  is produced in a purely mechanical way (caulking, interlocking). Rapid pivoting back counter to the clockwise direction then takes place, in order then to follow the synchronous pivoting movement again in the case of following products. 
         [0036]    If the products  14  do not overlap too much in the overlapping stream, as is the case in the conveying apparatus  36  of  FIG. 7 , a (stationary) closing apparatus  37  which comprises two elements which can rotate in opposite directions, namely a (lower) roll  38  and an (upper) closing tool  39 , can be used without additional fanning open. The roll  38  which serves as a support has a stationary rotational axis, whereas the closing tool  39  can be displaced in the vertical direction relative to the lower roll  38  (double arrow in  FIG. 7 ). In order to close the product  14 , the closing tool  39  is lowered briefly onto the lower roll  38  and thus produces a pressing pressure which, in a similar way to the closing tool  19  of  FIG. 4 , can be used to form a purely mechanical closure  20 . The type of closure (caulked or interlocked) can be selected freely here. The rotation of the roll  38  takes place synchronously with the linear movement of the conveying apparatus  36 . 
         [0037]    A further exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 8 . Here, the products  14  are transported in the conveying apparatus  40  in an overlapping stream on a circulating transport belt  41  which is guided as an endless belt around the deflecting rollers  42  and  43  and is driven there. The products  14  protrude laterally with their edge beyond the transport belt  41 . In this region, a closing apparatus  44  is arranged which has a lower roll  45  as corresponding part to an upper, rotating closing tool  46 . A vertical movement of the closing tool  46  is not necessary. Rather, the tool rolls with its head on the roll  45 . Here too, the rotational movement is synchronous with the linear movement of the overlapping stream of the products  14 . The tool head alone or else the corresponding part can have their speed and position controlled. According to further embodiments, a plurality of tool heads can also be used.