US4498664A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for removing from a product stream conveyed by means of a conveyor device flexible, flat products, especially printed products
Assignee: Ferag AG
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Filing: 1982-03-22
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Granted: 1985-02-12
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Expires: 2002-03-22
Abstract
Abstract For removing printed products out of their composite product formation or arrangement the grippers of a conveyor device which grippingly retain such printed products are opened by means of a release device. Viewed in the product conveying direction, the printed products are bent in a substantially saddle-shaped fashion forwardly of the release device, so that these folded or bent printed products are stiffened and, following the release thereof, they can drop downwardly along a substantially straight fall path into a stacking chute. For appropriately kinking or bending the printed products there is provided a saddle-shaped support member at which come to bear the printed products at the region of their trailing edges, such printed products being grippingly retained at their leading edges by the grippers approximately at the central region thereof. The printed products can be detached or released out of their product formation along an extremely short path even when working with high conveying speeds of the conveyor device.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter Reist
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:18
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H31/00; B65H31/24; B65H29/00; B65H29/003; B65H29/70; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/50; B65H2301/51; B65H2301/512; B65H2301/5121; B65H2301/51214
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
An apparatus for removing flexible, substantially flat products, especially printed products, from a product conveying stream moving in a predetermined product conveying direction and defining a product conveying path comprising: a conveyor device; said conveyor device being provided with gripper elements arranged in spaced relationship from one another at said conveyor device; said gripper elements releasably retaining said flexible products; at least one release device which can be selectively switched-on and switched-off; said release device, when assuming its switched-on condition, opening the individual gripper elements moving therepast for releasing said products; and means for bending said products into a substantially saddle-shaped configuration about a line extending essentially in the product conveying direction and which bending means are arranged, viewed in the product conveying direction, in the region of the product conveying path upstream of said release device, the products being kept in said substantially saddle-shaped configuration until the gripper elements are opened by said release device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
156 words
An apparatus for removing flexible, substantially flat products, especially printed products, from a product conveying stream moving in a predetermined product conveying direction and defining a product conveying path comprising: a conveyor device; said conveyor device being provided with gripper elements arranged in spaced relationship from one another at said conveyor device; said gripper elements releasably retaining said flexible products; at least one release device which can be selectively switched-on and switched-off; said release device, when assuming its switched-on condition, opening the individual gripper elements moving therepast for releasing said products; and means for bending said products into a substantially saddle-shaped configuration about a line extending essentially in the product conveying direction and which bending means are arranged, viewed in the product conveying direction, in the region of the product conveying path upstream of said release device, the products being kept in said substantially saddle-shaped configuration until the gripper elements are opened by said release device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said means for bending said products comprises a support member arranged below said conveyor device; and said products which are retained at their leading product edges by said gripper elements coming to bear at least at the region of their trailing edges upon said support member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein: said support member terminates at a spacing from said release device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein: said support member has a substantially saddle-shaped configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein: said support member possesses a substantially rod-shaped configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein: said support member has a substantially saddle-shaped configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein: said support member possesses a substantially rod-shaped configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein: said support member possesses at an end thereof confronting the release device a sloped portion extending away from the conveyor device in the product conveying direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 4, further including: a substantially rod-shaped support element arranged forwardly of the saddle-shaped support member viewed in the product conveying direction; and said rod-shaped support element being substantially aligned with a ridge line of said support member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein: said support member possesses at an end thereof confronting the release device a sloped portion extending away from the conveyor device in the product conveying direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 6, further including: a substantially rod-shaped support element arranged forwardly of the saddle-shaped support member viewed in the product conveying direction; and said rod-shaped support element being substantially aligned with a ridge line of said support member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including: a guide element for the products arranged forwardly of said release device in the product conveying direction; and said guide element being intended to act upon an upper surface of the products.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein: said means for bending said products comprises a support member arranged below said conveyor device; said products which are retained at their leading product edges by said gripper elements coming to bear at least at the region of their trailing edges upon said support member; and said guide element following the support member viewed in the product conveying direction of the conveyor device and being structured to possess an essentially saddle-shaped configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein: said guide element possesses two members extending in the product conveying direction of the conveyor device and arranged to respective sides of a predetermined path of movement of the gripper elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including: chute means for the reception of the released products arranged below the conveyor device at the region of the release device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein: said means for bending said products comprises a support member arranged below said conveyor device; said products which are retained at their leading product edges by said gripper elements coming to bear at least at the region of their trailing edges upon said support member; and said chute means, viewed with respect to the product conveying direction of the conveyor device, essentially following said support member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 15, further including: a guide element for the products arranged forwardly of said release device in the product conveying direction; said guide element being intended to act upon an upper surface of the products; and said guide element extending over said chute means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein: said chute means is structured as a stacking chute.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein: said stacking chute has a bottom region; and a support table for closing said bottom region of said stacking chute.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein: said support table comprises an elevationally displaceable support table structure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said gripper elements fixedly retain the products essentially at a central region of their leading edges.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein: said means for bending the products at the region of the product conveying path is arranged forwardly of said chute means.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
301 words
An apparatus for stacking flexible, substantially flat products, especially printed products, conveyed in a conveying stream in a predetermined product conveying direction along a predetermined product conveying path, comprising: a conveyor device; said conveyor device being provided with gripper elements arranged in spaced relationship from one another at said conveyor device; said gripper elements releasably retaining said flexible products at a leading edge thereof viewed in said product conveying direction; at least one release device which can be selectively switched-on and switched-off; said release device, when assuming its switched-on condition, opening the individual gripper elements moving therepast for releasing said products; at least one stacking chute means for stacking said products which are released from said individual gripper elements; said at least one stacking chute means defining a forward end and a rearward end in respect of said product conveying direction and said at least one release device being arranged in the region of said forward end of said at least one stacking chute means; bending means comprising rod means substantially extending in said product conveying direction and bending said products into a substantially saddle-shaped configuration about a line substantially extending in said product conveying direction; said bending means being arranged in the region of said product conveying path and preceding said rearward end of said at least one stacking chute means; and said bending means acting at least on a trailing edge of said products in order to form said substantially saddle-shaped, bent configuration thereof while the products are conveyed by the individual gripper elements in said product conveying direction towards said at least one stacking chute means and the products are maintained in such substantially saddle-shaped, bent configuration while said individual gripper elements move across said at least one stacking chute means towards said at least one release device.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
301 words
An apparatus for stacking flexible, substantially flat products, especially printed products, conveyed in a conveying stream in a predetermined product conveying direction along a predetermined product conveying path, comprising: a conveyor device; said conveyor device being provided with gripper elements arranged in spaced relationship from one another at said conveyor device; said gripper elements releasably retaining said flexible products at a leading edge thereof viewed in said product conveying direction; at least one release device which can be selectively switched-on and switched-off; said release device, when assuming its switched-on condition, opening the individual gripper elements moving therepast for releasing said products; at least one stacking chute means for stacking said products which are released from said individual gripper elements; said at least one stacking chute means defining a forward end and a rearward end in respect of said product conveying direction and said at least one release device being arranged in the region of said forward end of said at least one stacking chute means; bending means comprising rod means substantially extending in said product conveying direction and bending said products into a substantially saddle-shaped configuration about a line substantially extending in said product conveying direction; said bending means being arranged in the region of said product conveying path and preceding said rearward end of said at least one stacking chute means; and said bending means acting at least on a trailing edge of said products in order to form said substantially saddle-shaped, bent configuration thereof while the products are conveyed by the individual gripper elements in said product conveying direction towards said at least one stacking chute means and the products are maintained in such substantially saddle-shaped, bent configuration while said individual gripper elements move across said at least one stacking chute means towards said at least one release device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-02-12 | 1988-08-13 | 1989-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-02-12 | 1992-08-13 | 1993-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-02-12 | 1996-08-13 | 1997-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |