Abstract:
An arrangement for an optional forming of stacks of multiple products conveyed successively along a conveying path, and/or for changing the sequence of products conveyed successively along the conveying path. The arrangement includes a conveying device having conveying sections for transporting the products in a conveying direction. At least one up and down movable lifting element is disposed on at least one side of the conveying device and picks up the products from an underside of the products along the conveying path from the conveying device and subsequently deposits them again. The lifting element is disposed at a right angle to the conveying direction and is displaceable below a support surface of the conveying device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
         [0001]    This application claims the priority of European Patent Application No. 03405454.4, filed on Jun. 23, 2003, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates to an arrangement for the optional forming of stacks from several products, conveyed successively along a conveying path, and/or for changing the sequence of products, conveyed successively along a conveying path, the arrangement comprising a conveying device for conveying the products and at least one lifting apparatus for picking up the products along the conveying path from the conveying device and subsequently depositing them, wherein the lifting apparatus is designed as an up and down moving lifting element which picks up the products from the underside.  
           [0003]    An arrangement of the aforementioned type has been in use at the Axel Springer Publishing House in Darmstadt, Germany, for processing stacked printed products.  
           [0004]    The aforementioned arrangement consists of a narrow conveying belt, extending across a table, on which stacks are formed from bundled magazines. For this, a separate, height-adjustable fork is provided on both sides of the conveying belt and this fork is inserted underneath the magazine bundles, which project on both sides over the conveying belt that is stopped during the stacking operation, and lifts up these bundles. Thus, the lifted-up magazine bundle can then be lowered onto the subsequently arriving bundle during the following conveying step. The forks, which are arranged opposite each other on both sides of the conveying belt, are lifted up jointly by means of a synchronously driven toothed belt.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to create a simple arrangement that allows the forming of a stack consisting of several products during a shorter cycle time.  
           [0006]    The above and other objects are achieved according to the invention by the provision of an arrangement for an optional forming of stacks of multiple products conveyed successively along a conveying path, and/or for changing the sequence of products conveyed successively along the conveying path, the arrangement comprising: a conveying device having conveying sections for transporting the products in a conveying direction; and at least one up and down movable lifting element disposed on at least one side of the conveying device and which picks up the products from an underside of the products along the conveying path from the conveying device and subsequently deposits them again, the lifting element being disposed at a right angle to the conveying direction and being displaceable below a support surface of the conveying device.  
           [0007]    To be able to grip products with differently large deposit surfaces from the underside, the lifting element is provided with several support rods that project evenly spaced and at right angles to the conveying direction from a support.  
           [0008]    It is advantageous if two separately controlled and/or driven lifting elements are arranged on opposite sides of the conveying device, which make it possible to achieve a higher output.  
           [0009]    The conveying device preferably is a working section of a circulating conveying belt, the support surface of which is interrupted several times in the operative range of the lifting element, so that the support rods can be inserted.  
           [0010]    A simple measure for creating interruptions in the support surface is to have conveying belt sections that are deflected below the support surface and back.  
           [0011]    The deflected sections of the conveying belt are advantageously formed by rolls that can be jointly lowered, thus creating a downward extending loop into which the support rods of the lifting element are inserted, such that they are positioned below the level of the support surface of the conveying section.  
           [0012]    If the arrangement is not in use, the rolls that form the interruptions in the support surface can be lifted out jointly, thus resulting in a continuous conveying section of the conveying device.  
           [0013]    A tensioning device, connected to the conveying belt, can function as simple means for removing the interruptions in the support surface through re-tensioning of the conveying belt once the rolls are lifted out.  
           [0014]    Alternatively, the support surface of the conveying device can be formed by driven conveying rolls, arranged transverse to the conveying direction, wherein individual conveying rolls can be lowered to form interruptions in the support surface.  
           [0015]    To secure the products during the stacking, a format-adjustable vertical guide is provided above and/or at the upper end of the lifting element, into which the products, lifted up from below for the stacking operation, are inserted.  
           [0016]    It is advantageous if one position for gripping the products is arranged below the vertical guide on the support surface, such that the products can be lifted up perpendicular. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    The invention is explained with the aid of an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawing, to which reference is made for all details not further mentioned in the description.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a schematic view from the side of the device according to the invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a schematic view from the side of the device according to FIG. 1, with raised mechanisms and raised intake rolls.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a view of the arrangement in transporting direction F in FIG. 1, with the lifting elements inserted into the conveying path;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a view of the arrangement according to FIG. 3, with extended lifting elements;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 5A-5F show a stacking operation of the arrangement, in a step-by-step representation. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 shows an arrangement  1  for forming predetermined stacks from several products  2 , which can be stacked one above the other and are conveyed successively in the direction or arrow F. This arrangement can also be used for changing the sequence in which the products  2  are conveyed successively along a conveying path. The products can be stackable goods, such as bundles, individual magazines, brochures, books, work pieces or the like. The products  2  are conveyed with the aid of a conveying device  3 , and are lifted up at a location along the conveying path where a stacking device  4  is positioned. Several arrangements  1  can also be arranged along the conveying path, wherein products  2  can be transported and lifted up either continuously or discontinuously.  
         [0024]    For the purpose of lifting products  2  off conveying device  3 , the latter is provided with a conveying element  5  which forms a conveying section of the conveying path. This conveying element  5  is at least as long as the longest products to be stacked. At least one conveying section  6  for feeding products  2  is installed upstream of conveying element  5  while a conveying section  7  or a different processing station can be installed downstream of this element.  
         [0025]    Conveying element  5  is an endless conveying belt  10  that circulates around two spaced-apart deflection rolls  8 ,  9  and forms a support surface  11  by means of a conveying belt section for products  2  to be transported. Support surface  11  is interrupted by respective roll pairs  12 , around which conveying belt  10  is deflected so as to form a downward loop  13 . Of these roll pairs  12 , at least two pairs are arranged (evenly) distributed over the length of the effective product pickup area, wherein FIG. 1 shows four roll pairs  12  of this type. Each belt loop  13  is respectively created through one intake roll  14  which pulls conveying belt  10  via a roll pair  12  from a stretched position (see FIG. 2) downward. The four intake rolls  14 , used for the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, are respectively positioned with each end in a respective joint roll support  15 ,  16  that is arranged to the side of the conveying element  5  (see also FIGS. 3 and 4).  
         [0026]    Conveying belt  10  is tensioned with a tensioning device  18  which acts upon an empty belt section  17 . For this, the conveying belt  10  moves around two tensioning rolls  19 ,  20 , arranged in the manner of pulleys, and a deflection roll  21  after and/or before conveying belt  10  has been deflected around deflection rolls  22 ,  23  in a vertical direction. Conveying belt  10  is respectively pre-tensioned with a tensioning force Z at rolls  19 ,  20 .  
         [0027]    Roll supports  15 ,  16  are held by a holding device, not shown herein, below the level of supporting surface  11 , so that a lifting element  24  of a lifting apparatus  25  can be inserted below the support surface  11  into belt loops  13 .  
         [0028]    The lifting apparatus  25  furthermore comprises a support  26 , guided on a frame  27 , such that it can be adjusted in a perpendicular direction and can be secured. Support rods  28  are attached on one end to support  26  such that they project in the manner of an extension arm from a side into an area of operation of lifting apparatus  25 . FIG. 1 shows a lifting element  24 , consisting of four support rods  28 , which make it possible to pick up products  2  or packages even considerably shorter than the fork-type lifting element.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 shows arrangement  1  in the form of a simple conveying device  3 , with a continuous support surface  11 , wherein lifting apparatus  25 , and lifted-out intake rolls  14  are in a non-operational position above conveying surface  11 . To achieve the non-operational position, lifting apparatus  25  including support  26  and lifting element  24 , and roll supports  15 ,  16  are connected to a motor-driven (not visible herein) lifting mechanism that places lifting apparatus  25  and roll supports  15 ,  16  into the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Once intake rolls  14  are moved out of belt loops  13 , conveying belt  10  is re-tensioned with tensioning device  18  to form a continuous, level support surface  11  above the roll pairs  12 .  
         [0030]    As a result, the arrangement  1  is partially turned off and can be operated simply as a conveying element for conveying device  3 .  
         [0031]    Of course, it is also possible to install several arrangements  1  along a conveying device  3 .  
         [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 3 and 4 show arrangement  1  as seen in transporting direction F wherein intake rolls  14  that form belt loops  13  are located below support surface  11  of conveying belt  10 , meaning the support surface  11  has gaps into which support rods  28  of lifting element  24  of lifting apparatus  25  can be inserted.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an arrangement  1  with two driven lifting elements  24 ,  29  of respective lifting apparatus  25 ,  30 , wherein these lifting elements are positioned opposite each other on both sides of conveying device  3  and/or conveying element  5  and can be driven to move up and down on frame  27 . Each lifting apparatus  25 ,  30  can thus be driven along frame  27  independent of the other one. Support rods  28  of lifting elements  24 ,  29  respectively can be displaced jointly in the manner of a telescope from an operating position, where they are located above conveying element  5 , to a non-operating position on the side of the conveying element. Respectively one pneumatic cylinder  31  associated with each lifting apparatus  25 ,  29  is provided for this, as indicated. Naturally, a mechanical device could be provided for the same purpose. As for the height adjustment of a lifting apparatus  25 ,  30 , there may be provided a lifting mechanism, in the form of a toothed belt (not shown) that runs around a lower or an upper roll (not shown) and which is attached at both ends to support  26  of lifting elements  24 ,  29 . The height-adjustable lifting element  24 ,  29  is respectively guided along two vertical posts  27  that project through support  26 .  
         [0034]    A vertical guide  32  is arranged above the support surface  11 , at the maximum height for the up and down moving lifting elements  24 ,  29 , on which one or several products  2  can be positioned one above the other for maintaining their position during the stack forming. The vertical guide  32  is designed such that it can adjust to the corresponding products  2  to be stacked.  
         [0035]    The mode of operation for arrangement  1  for stacking products is explained in the following with the aid of FIGS. 5A to  5 F. In FIG. 5A, a stack of products  2  has been lifted off support surface  11  with the aid of lifting element  29  of lifting apparatus  30  and has been positioned in vertical guide  32 . In the meantime, a following product  2 ′ on conveying element  5  is available for pickup by lifting element  24  of lifting apparatus  25  that is inserted into the gaps formed by belt loops  13  in support surface  11  or is in the process of passing by stacking device  4 .  
         [0036]    According to FIG. 5B, product  2 ′ is lifted up with lifting apparatus  25  from the conveying element  5  and is raised to below the lifting element  29  and/or its support rods  28 . Product  2 ′ preferably does not make contact with the underside of support rods  28 , so that it will not be displaced in the compound stack on support rods  28  of lifting element  25  when support rods  28  of lifting element  29  are pulled out.  
         [0037]    In the following step (FIG. 5C), lifting element  29  underneath product  2  is pulled out to the side, so that the latter, which is secured on the side of vertical guide  32 , comes to rest on top of the product  2 ′ underneath. Immediately following this, both products  2  and  2 ′ are lifted up further, until lower product  2 ′ has reached the vertical guide  32 .  
         [0038]    According to FIG. 5D, a product  2 ″ subsequently reaches the position where it is picked up by the stack-forming device  4 , below vertical guide  32  on conveying element  5 , where it is awaited by lifting element  29  of lifting apparatus  30  that has meanwhile been lowered below the support surface  11 . This third product  2 ″ is then lifted up to below the packet consisting of the upper product  2  and lower product  2 ′, in the same way as the product  2 ′ (see FIG. 5E).  
         [0039]    Following this, lifting element  24  is again removed again from the stack, so that three stacked products  2 ,  2 ′ and  2 ″ rest on the support rods  28  of lifting element  29 .  
         [0040]    The finished packet and/or the stack consisting of three products  2 ,  2 ′ and  2 ″ is then lowered with lifting apparatus  30  onto support surface  11  of conveying element  5  and is thus transported further along conveying device  3  (FIG. 5F).  
         [0041]    The forming into stacks is carried out with a control (not shown herein), which is connected to a programmable computer. With the aid of a processing program in the computer, the device  1  can automatically form product stacks from the supplied products  2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″. The arrival of the supplied products  2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″ is determined, for example, with sensors installed in front of device  1 , so that a fully automatic stack-forming operation is created. Products  2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″ to be stacked are determined with the aid of the computer program, meaning individual products  2  can also pass through the device  1  without being stacked.  
         [0042]    The product stacks or individual products can then be packaged or hoop-encased downstream of device  1  and can subsequently be addressed and/or delivered to a palletizer for shipping.  
         [0043]    For a precise positioning of the products in the device  1 , an end stop (not shown herein) which can be raised to above the support surface  11 , can also be used on the transport path upstream of the device  1 .  
         [0044]    The invention has been described in detail with respect to exemplary embodiments, and it will now be apparent from the foregoing to those skilled in the art, that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and the invention, therefore, as defined in the appended claims, is intended to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit of the invention.