Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for producing collections ( 15 ) from a plurality of N (N=2, 3, 4, . . . ) different printed products ( 11   a - d ), which collections ( 15 ) each comprise a stack ( 13 ) of printed products ( 11   a - c ), which stack is packed in a packaging element ( 11   d ) wrapped around the stack ( 13 ). A solution that does not require additional material use includes the following steps: providing the N printed products ( 11   a - d ); forming an intermediate stack ( 13 ) from N-x (x=1, 2, 3, . . . ) of the N printed products ( 10   a - d ); providing the x remaining printed products as a packaging element ( 11   d ); and wrapping the intermediate stack ( 13 ) in the packaging element ( 11   d ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention concerns the field of the further processing of printed products. The present invention relates to a method for producing collections from a plurality of N (N=2, 3, 4, . . . ) different printed products according to the preamble of claim  1 . It also relates to a device for performing the method. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of Related Art 
         [0004]    Activities in which advertising pamphlets, brochures, flyers, printed sheets, and the like, which otherwise were often enclosed (inserted) in a newspaper as enclosures for advertising purposes, are collected from several advertisers in order to make a plurality of collections therefrom, which contain a printed product from a plurality of advertisers and are delivered and distributed to the recipients, e.g., households, in the form of a small stack, have long been known under the keyword “direct mailing.” 
         [0005]    In order to be able to better handle the individual stack-like collections of printed products during the transport and distribution, it is advantageous to take measures to hold together the individual stacks. 
         [0006]    From the prior art, it is known that, if one of the printed products is folded, this printed product can be opened and the remaining printed products can be inserted into the opened printed product. However, the insertion of the printed products requires a considerable amount of equipment, which results in corresponding costs. 
         [0007]    But holding the collection of printed products together by placing an adhesive or non-adhesive strip laterally around an edge of the collection is also conceivable. Such a technology is known, for example, from WO 2012/084464 A2 or WO 2012/084494 A2 of the applicant. It requires additional expense because of the provision of the strips. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, it has already been suggested to connect the printed products of such a collection to each other by applying adhesive points. An example of this is described in the publication EP 2 465 699 A2 of the applicant. In this case also, the application of the adhesive points means an additional use of material, which leads to additional costs in the case of large quantities. 
         [0009]    The same also applies to suggestions according to the publication EP 2 121 451 B1 to wrap the stack of the printed products in a special packaging sheet. 
         [0010]    The publication EP 0 671 326 A1, which describes a general method for wrapping covering elements around groups of printed products, states in regard to the type of the covering elements only that a wide variety of covering materials is possible. 
         [0011]    A disadvantage of all known methods and devices is that they require specific additional materials, which must be stocked and provided in order to be applied to the collections. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Therefore, a problem addressed by the invention is that of creating a method that does not require additional materials and can be easily performed with limited equipment. 
         [0013]    A further problem addressed by the invention is that of specifying a device by means of which such a method can be performed. 
         [0014]    These and other problems are solved by the features of claims  1  and  12 . The invention proceeds from a method for producing collections from a plurality of N (N=2, 3, 4, . . . ) different printed products, which collections each comprise a stack of printed products, which stack is packed in a packaging element wrapped around the stack. The invention includes the following steps:
       Providing the N printed products;   Forming an intermediate stack from N-x (x=1, 2, 3, . . . ) of the N printed products;   Providing the x remaining printed products as a packaging element;   Wrapping the intermediate stack in the packaging element.       
 
         [0019]    According to one embodiment of the method according to the invention, x=1. 
         [0020]    Another embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the packaging element is laid onto a substratum, that the intermediate stack is laid onto the packaging element in such a way that only a partial area of the packaging element is covered by the intermediate stack, and that the packaging element is wrapped around the intermediate stack by means of the remaining area. 
         [0021]    In particular, in order to wrap the packaging element around the intermediate stack, the remaining area of the packaging element is bent upward approximately at a right angle in a first step and the part of the packaging element bent upward is bent back over the intermediate stack in a second step. 
         [0022]    Another embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the intermediate stack is laid onto a substratum, the packaging element is laid onto the intermediate stack in such a way that the packaging element covers the intermediate stack only by means of a partial area, and that the packaging element is wrapped around the intermediate stack by means of the remaining area. 
         [0023]    In particular, in order to wrap the packaging element around the intermediate stack, the remaining area of the packaging element is bent downward approximately at a right angle in a first step and the part of the packaging element bent downward is bent back under the intermediate stack in a second step. 
         [0024]    According to another embodiment, the unit including the intermediate stack and the packaging element is moved through a wrapping device in order to bend the packaging element. 
         [0025]    A further embodiment is characterized in that movable elements, which are rotated about an axis of rotation oriented transversely to the movement direction of the unit including the intermediate stack and the packaging element, are used to bend the packaging element in the wrapping device. 
         [0026]    Another embodiment is characterized in that, after the packaging element has been bent, the bent part of the packaging element is bent back and laid against the intermediate stack by laying the unit including the intermediate stack and the packaging element onto a conveyor belt. 
         [0027]    A further embodiment is characterized in that some of the printed products have a fold or a bond, that the printed products having a fold or bond are laid one on top of the other during the formation of the intermediate stack in such a way that the folds or bonds form a common edge of the intermediate stack, and that the intermediate stack is wrapped in the packaging element by means of the common edge. 
         [0028]    Finally, it is advantageous if the packaging elements are grooved before the intermediate stack is wrapped. 
         [0029]    The device according to the invention for performing the method according to the invention is characterized in that the device comprises a packing device, in which the packaging element lying partially on or below the intermediate stack is wrapped around the intermediate stack. 
         [0030]    One embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the packing device comprises a wrapping device and means for moving the unit including the intermediate stack and the packaging element through the wrapping device. 
         [0031]    A further embodiment is characterized in that the means for moving the unit including the intermediate stack and the packaging element through are designed as conveyor segments or conveyor belts lying in a plane, between which a conveying gap is left clear. 
         [0032]    Another embodiment is characterized in that the wrapping device comprises movable elements, which reach into the conveying path of the unit including the intermediate stack and the packaging element in the conveying gap. The packaging element can be an individual sheet, a folded product, a four-page document, an eight-page document, stapled, adhesively bonded, or formed in a similar way. 
         [0033]    In particular, the movable elements comprise a brush roller bearing bristles, which brush roller is arranged in the conveying gap and can be rotated about an axis of rotation oriented transversely to the conveying direction. 
         [0034]    In particular, the movable elements can also comprise rod-shaped entraining elements, which can be moved through the conveying gap while rotating about a specified axis of rotation. 
         [0035]    In particular, the axis of rotation can be oriented transversely to the conveying direction and the entraining elements can perform an oscillatory motion parallel to this axis of rotation at the same time as the rotational motion about this axis of rotation, which oscillatory motion occurs between a first extreme position, in which the entraining elements protrude into the conveying path of the unit including the intermediate stack and the packaging element, and a second extreme position, in which the entraining elements are outside of the conveying path of the unit including the intermediate stack and the packaging element. 
         [0036]    Another embodiment is characterized in that the rod-shaped entraining elements are arranged on opposite sides of the conveying path of the unit including the intermediate stack and the packaging element in a mirror-symmetric arrangement. 
         [0037]    A further embodiment is characterized in that, in order to produce the superposed rotational motion and oscillatory motion, the rod-shaped entraining elements are fastened in a concentric circle to rotary disks arranged at an angle. 
         [0038]    Alternatively thereto, the superposed rotational motion and oscillatory motion of the entraining elements can be produced by separate mechanical means. 
         [0039]    According to another embodiment, means for feeding the packaging elements to the wrapping device are provided. 
         [0040]    In particular, the feeding means comprise a grooving device for grooving the fed packaging elements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0041]    The invention should be explained in more detail on the basis of embodiment examples in connection with the drawing. 
           [0042]      FIG. 1   a  shows an embodiment example of the method according to the invention in a schematic representation. 
           [0043]      FIG. 1   b  shows an example of a collection of folded printed products in a side view. 
           [0044]      FIG. 2  shows a first embodiment example of the device according to the invention in a perspective view. 
           [0045]      FIG. 3  shows a second embodiment example of the device according to the invention in a perspective view. 
           [0046]      FIG. 4  shows an embodiment example of a wrapping device within the device according to the invention in a schematic side view. 
           [0047]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment example of a wrapping device within the device according to the invention in a schematic side view. 
           [0048]      FIG. 6  shows a further embodiment example of a wrapping device within the device according to the invention in a schematic side view. 
           [0049]      FIG. 7  shows another embodiment example of a wrapping device within the device according to the invention in a schematic view against the conveying direction. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0050]      FIG. 1  shows a method according to an embodiment example of the invention in a schematic representation. The example shown proceeds from four individual printed products  11   a  to  11   d,  which are, for example, pamphlets, advertising brochures, or the like having a fold or a bond. A corresponding supply stack (a pallet or the like)  10   a  to  10   d  of each printed product having a plurality of individual copies is present and provided. 
         [0051]    A printed product, in this case the printed product  11   d  and the associated supply stack  10   d,  is then selected from the various printed products  11   a  to  11   d  or supply stacks  10   a  to  10   d  and kept ready for packing. In the general case, of the N (N=2, 3, 4, . . . ) different printed products, one is kept ready and the remaining N-1 printed products are packed by means of this one selected printed product. However, it is also conceivable that more than one printed product, in general x (x&gt;1) printed products, are selected and that the remaining N-x printed products are packed by means of the x selected printed products. 
         [0052]    The N-1 or N-x remaining printed products, in the present example of  FIG. 1  the three printed products  11   a,    11   b,  and  11   c,  are fed to a collecting device  12 , which merges three different printed products from the three different supply stacks into an intermediate stack  13  by means of feeding devices and transfers the three different printed products to a following packing device  14 . Printed products  11   d  are fed from the supply stack  10   d  of the selected printed product  11   d  to the packing device  14  in a different way and are used individually to pack or wrap the intermediate stack  13 , so that collections  15  in which the intermediate stack  13  is wrapped in a printed product  11   d  wrapped around the edge are output at the outlet of the packing device  14 . In this way, all printed products are present and wrapped in the collection  15  once without additional material being required for the packing and having to be provided. 
         [0053]    If one of the provided printed products  11   a  to  11   d  is especially suitable as a packing material because of its qualities (format, material, strength, flexibility, etc.), it is advantageous to select this printed product for packing or wrapping the intermediate stack  13  therein. In particular, the optical design of the selected printed product can be adapted to its specific use in advance, so that information (text, images, etc.) on the printed product can be easily recognized even if the printed product is used as a wrapping material. It is also advantageous if the printed product used for wrapping is placed in a prominent location and protrudes outward from all other printed products within the collection  15  especially clearly. 
         [0054]    An embodiment example of a packing device  14  is shown in perspective view in  FIG. 2 . The packing device is arranged between the end of a collecting device  12  (left edge of  FIG. 2 ) and the inlet region of a conveying device  29  (right edge of  FIG. 2 ) and comprises a plurality of conveyor segments  24 ,  27 , and  28  in a conveying plane, which conveyor segments are arranged one after the other and are equipped with belts. A wide conveying gap  26  is left clear between the conveyor segments  24  and  27 , which conveying gap will be revisited further below. 
         [0055]    The collecting device  12  outputs the intermediate stacks  13  compiled from the individual printed products by means of a transferring device  22 , which intermediate stacks reach the first conveyor segment  24  via the upper section of a conveying segment  21  coming from below. Synchronously with each output intermediate stack  13 , a printed product  11   d  serving as a packaging element is conveyed upward by means of the conveying segment  21  from below in such a way that the printed product comes to lie under the associated intermediate stack  13  coming from the collecting device  12  partially, i.e., by means of a section that is at the rear in the conveying direction, while a front section of the printed product  11   d  remains uncovered. 
         [0056]    When the unit including the printed product lid lying partially under the intermediate stack  13  and the intermediate stack  13  lying on the printed product  11   d  reaches the conveying gap  26 , the uncovered part of the printed product or packaging element  11   d  is caught from both sides by rod-shaped entraining elements  25  of a wrapping device  18   a  or  18   b  that protrude into the conveying gap  26  and move upward in the conveying gap  26  from below, is lifted upward, and is wrapped around the intermediate stack  13  rearward against the conveying direction. After the end of the wrapping process, the collections  15  are conveyed via the conveyor segment  28  to the conveying device  29  and are transferred there. 
         [0057]    After the rod-shaped entraining elements  25  of the wrapping devices  18   a,b  have left the region of the conveying gap  26  upward, the rod-shaped entraining elements  25  are led laterally out of the region of the conveyor segments and back down in a closed circuit in order to move back into the region of the conveyor segments there and to be ready for the next lifting of a packaging element  11   d  in the conveying gap  26 . For this purpose, a plurality of entraining elements  25  is arranged on each side on a rotary disk  23  arranged at angle to the conveying direction, in such a way that the individual entraining elements  25  are oriented transversely to the conveying direction and maintain this orientation in space without change during the rotation of the rotary disk  23 . The rod-shaped entraining elements  25  thus perform a motion that is composed of a rotational motion about an axis of rotation oriented transversely to the conveying direction and an oscillatory linear motion in the direction of the axis of rotation. However, it is also conceivable that the entraining elements are arranged on the rotary disk in such a way that they lie on the lateral surface of a frustum of a cone. 
         [0058]    The printed products  11   d  used as a packaging element are individually drawn from the supply stack  10   d  in a laterally transversely arranged feeding apparatus (feeder)  16  and transferred as a shingled stream to a deflecting device  17 , which transports the packaging elements or printed products  11   d  individually at a distance via two conveyor segments  19  and  20  to the conveying segment  21 , where they are then conveyed upward and are merged (“meshed”) in the described manner with the intermediate stacks  13  coming from the collecting device  12 . The printed products  11   d  can advantageously be grooved, i.e., provided with a groove in the center, in the shingled stream by a grooving device  50  arranged there, which groove makes the later wrapping in the wrapping device  18   a,b  easier. 
         [0059]    While the packaging elements or printed products  11   d  are fed from below and the intermediate stacks  13  come to lie on the printed products accordingly for the system and wrapping device  14   a  shown in  FIG. 2 , the situation is exactly opposite for the system and wrapping device  14   b  shown in  FIG. 3 , i.e., the packaging elements or printed products  11   d  are fed from above, laid onto the intermediate stacks  13  from above, and wrapped downward in the conveying gap  26  by means of wrapping devices  18   a,b  that are of the same type but rotate differently. Here also, the intermediate stacks  13  are conveyed from the collecting device  12  to an outlet-side conveying device  29  by means of conveyor segments  30  and  31 . The packaging elements or printed products  11   d  in turn come in a shingled stream from a laterally arranged feeding apparatus  16  and are then moved individually and at a distance toward the intermediate stacks downward and at an angle in a deflecting device  17  in parallel with the conveyor segments  30  and  31  and laid onto the intermediate stacks. Here also, a grooving device  50  can advantageously be used. 
         [0060]    In the embodiment examples of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , circulating rod-shaped entraining elements  25  are used to wrap the packaging elements or printed products  11   d  around an edge of the intermediate stack  13 . According to  FIG. 1   b,  if some or all printed products  11   a - d  have a fold F or a bond, the printed products having a fold or a bond are laid one on top of the other during the formation of the intermediate stack  13  in such a way that the folds F and the bonds form a common edge K of the intermediate stack  13 , and that the intermediate stack  13  is wrapped in the packaging element  11   d  by means of the common edge K. Here, the term “printed products with bonds” refers particularly to printed products that have a connection on a certain side that is effected by adhesive bonding. 
         [0061]    There are also other possibilities for wrapping the packaging elements or printed products  11   d  around an edge of the intermediate stack  13 . In the embodiment example of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , brush rollers  34  or  39  arranged in the conveying gap  26  and having corresponding bristles  35  or  40  are used for this purpose. Here, in both cases, the intermediate stack  13  is set onto the packaging elements or printed products  11   d  from above and the packaging elements or printed products  11   d  are wrapped upward around the intermediate stack  13 , analogously to  FIG. 2 . The conveying gap  26  is formed between two conveying apparatuses, which consist of conveyor belts  32 ,  33  or  36 ,  37  running parallel and convey the units including the intermediate stack  13  and the packaging element or printed product  11   d  between these belts. 
         [0062]    In the example of  FIG. 4 , in the wrapping device  14   c  there, the bristles  35  of the brush roller  34 , which bristles are bent in the direction of rotation, reach under the freely protruding section of the packaging element or printed product  11   d  and bend the freely protruding section upward approximately at a right angle in a first step. In a second step, the part of the packaging element or printed product  11   d  bent upward is then bent back over the intermediate stack  13  when the unit including the intermediate stack  13  and the packaging element or printed product  11   d  bent upward enters the intermediate space between the conveyor belts  36  and  37 . In order to avoid a dropping of the free section of the packaging element or printed product  11   d  during the entry into the conveying gap  26 , additional conveyor belts  38  can be provided laterally with respect to the brush roller  34 . These additional conveyor belts  38  are not necessary if, in the wrapping device  14   d  according to  FIG. 5 , the free section of the packaging element or printed product  11   d  is wrapped upward by a lower lying brush roller  39  having soft bristles  40  that stand up because of the rotation. 
         [0063]    In the embodiment example of  FIG. 6 , a rotating double arm  41  having two opposite arms  42   a  and  42   b  is used instead of brush rollers in the wrapping device  14   e  there, which arms always exchange their position when one of the intermediate stacks has passed through the conveying gap  26 . In the position of the double arm  41  shown in  FIG. 6 , the double arm  41  is presently holding the printed product  11   d  provided for packing by means of its upper arm  42   a  at such a height that the intermediate stack  13  conveyed to the right can be moved under the upper arm  42   a  (which is standing still or moving only slowly). The printed product  11   d  wraps around the intermediate stack at the top and the intermediate stack enters between the conveyor belts  36  and  37  together with the wrapped printed product  11   d.  After the stack has moved through, the double arm rotates in the clockwise direction to such an extent and so quickly that the other arm  42   b  henceforth assumes the position of the arm  42   a  shown in  FIG. 6  and supports the lower printed product of the next intermediate stack. This process is continually repeated. 
         [0064]    The mechanism shown in  FIG. 7  acts similarly to the action in  FIGS. 2 and 3  by means of its rod-shaped entraining elements  48   a,b  and  49   a,b.  The entraining elements  48   a,b  and  49   a,b  are connected to each other in pairs by means of flexible but fixed-length connecting elements  46   a,b  over deflecting wheels  45   a,b  that can be moved back and forth, wherein the entire assembly including the deflecting wheel  45   a,b  and the entraining element pair on both sides of the conveyor belt  43  can be rotated about an axis of rotation  47 . 
         [0065]    The entraining elements  48   a,b,    49   a,b  thus can be moved through the conveying gap  26  about the axis of rotation  47  oriented transversely to the conveying direction and perform an oscillatory motion parallel to this axis of rotation at the same time as the rotational motion about this axis of rotation  47 , which oscillatory motion occurs between a first extreme position, in which the entraining elements  48   a,b,    49   a,b  protrude into the conveying path of the unit including the intermediate stack  13  and the packaging element  11   d,  and a second extreme position, in which the entraining elements  48   a,b,    49   a,b  are outside of the conveying path of the unit including the intermediate stack  13  and the packaging element  11   d.  The motion of the entraining elements  48   a,b,    49   a,b  therefore is analogous to the motion of the entraining elements  25  on the rotary disks  23  in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Also, the arrangement of the mechanism on both sides of the conveying path is mirror symmetric in the same way as in the wrapping devices  18   a,b  from  FIGS. 2 and 3 .