US5007629A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for conveying substantially flat products, especially printed products
Assignee: Ferag AG
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Filing: 1989-01-03
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Granted: 1991-04-16
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Expires: 2009-01-03
Abstract
Abstract In an imbricated formation delivered by an infeed device in each case two printed products lie in pairs upon one another and, viewed in a predetermined product conveying direction, bear upon the upstream or trailing printed product pair. A suction roll is arranged downstream of the infeed device which causes the current lower printed product to be downwardly bent in a direction transverse to a product conveying plane. The leading edges of the printed products are introduced in such separated or fanned apart condition into a respective gripper, engaged by such respective gripper and outfed in a further predetermined conveying direction. The spacing between neighboring grippers is minimal at a product take-over region, so that when the grippers are open in each instance a leading gripper finger of a trailing gripper bears against a trailing gripper finger of the neighboring leading gripper.
Inventors
- 👤 Jurg Eberle
- 👤 Hans-Ulrich Stauber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:27
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/66; B65H29/669; B65H29/003; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/40; B65H2301/44; B65H2301/444; B65H2301/4447; B65H2301/44472; B65H2301/447; B65H2301/4471; B65H2301/44712; B65H2301/4473; B65H2301/44732; B65H2405/00; B65H2405/50; B65H2405/55
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
An apparatus for conveying substantially flat printed products, comprising: an infeed device for the infeed of products in the imbricated formation in which a pair of two superposed products are laid one on top of the other such that all like parts coincide, and in which said pair of two superposed products bear in imbricated formation upon a pair of upstream products with respect to a predetermined direction of travel of the imbricated formation; said infeed device defining a conveying plane for the products and delivering the products to a take-over region; a conveying device having a predetermined direction of travel; said conveying device being provided with individually controllable grippers arranged in succession in said predetermined direction of travel of said conveying device; said individually controllable grippers serving for engaging the infed products at leading product edges at the take-over region; said predetermined direction of travel of the conveying device extending from an underside of the products upwardly and transversely with respect to the conveying plane of the infeed device; and a separation device for spacing from one another at the take-over region the leading edges of the pairs of superposed products in order to introduce into each gripper a single product.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
202 words
An apparatus for conveying substantially flat printed products, comprising: an infeed device for the infeed of products in the imbricated formation in which a pair of two superposed products are laid one on top of the other such that all like parts coincide, and in which said pair of two superposed products bear in imbricated formation upon a pair of upstream products with respect to a predetermined direction of travel of the imbricated formation; said infeed device defining a conveying plane for the products and delivering the products to a take-over region; a conveying device having a predetermined direction of travel; said conveying device being provided with individually controllable grippers arranged in succession in said predetermined direction of travel of said conveying device; said individually controllable grippers serving for engaging the infed products at leading product edges at the take-over region; said predetermined direction of travel of the conveying device extending from an underside of the products upwardly and transversely with respect to the conveying plane of the infeed device; and a separation device for spacing from one another at the take-over region the leading edges of the pairs of superposed products in order to introduce into each gripper a single product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said infeed device comprises band conveyor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein: said separation device comprises a separation element; and said separation element downwardly bending a region of the leading edge of each lower product of the pair of superimposed products about an axis extending substantially parallel to the conveying plane and transversely to a predetermined conveying direction of the infeed device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said separation device comprises a separation element; and said separation element downwardly bending a region of the leading edge of each lower product of the pair of superimposed products about an axis extending substantially parallel to the conveying plane and transversely to a predetermined conveying direction of the infeed device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 4, further including: a negative pressure source; said separation element comprising a rotatably driveable suction roll capable of being operatively connected with said negative pressure source; said suction roll having an outer surface; and said outer surface of said suction roll being provided with circumferentially distributed openings against which come to bear an underside of the lower situated product of each pair of superimposed products.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein: said suction roll has an axial direction; and said openings of said suction roll being arranged within at least one substantially strip-shaped region of the suction roll and which extends essentially in axial direction of the suction roll.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said separation device comprises means defining a bending element for downwardly bending in substantially wave-shaped configuration the lower product of each pair of superimposed products.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein: said separation device comprises means defining a bending element for downwardly bending in substantially wave-shaped configuration the lower product of each pair of superimposed products.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein: said band conveyor means comprises at least two substantially mutually parallel laterally spaced revolvingly driveable endless bands between which there is arranged said bending element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein: said endless bands have conveying-active runs defining the conveying plane; said bending element comprising at least one further band conveyor which is oriented downwardly, as viewed in the conveying direction of the infeed device, out of the conveying plane defined by the conveying-active runs of the endless bands; said further band conveyor comprising an endless perforated band provided and movable along a conveying-active path; and a negative pressure source with which there is connected the perforated endless band.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said conveying device comprises endless guide means; drag connection means for intercoupling said grippers with one another; said grippers being revolvingly guided in said endless guide means; an outfeed device for the outfeed of the printed products and defining a conveying direction; said outfeed device having a conveying-active path including a starting region; drive means acting upon said grippers at least at the start of the conveying-active path of the outfeed device; and said drive means being synchronized with said infeed device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein: said drag connection means between individual grippers is constituted by an elastic resilient element whose length can be increased and shortened; and a retarding element for adjusting at the take-over region the spacing between neighboring grippers to a predetermined value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein: said predetermined value constitutes a fixed minimum value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
93 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein: each gripper comprises gripper jaw means between which there is taken-up a related printed product; each of the said grippers being capable of selectively assuming an open gripper position and a closed gripper position; and with a gripper open at the take-over region at least one gripper jaw means of one gripper bearing against a gripper jaw means of a neighboring gripper in order to close or cover a possible gap between said gripper jaws at the region of free ends of the gripper jaws.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein: each gripper comprises a guide body at which there is fixedly arranged an associated one gripper jaw means; the other gripper jaw means of each gripper comprising finger means having free ends; means for pivotably mounting said finger means about an axis extending essentially transversely to the conveying direction of the outfeed device; and said finger means in the closed position of the gripper engaging at the associated gripper jaw means or at a seized product.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein: the one gripper jaw means of each gripper which is fixedly arranged at the guide body comprises a trailing gripper jaw means; said finger means comprising two fingers; and said fingers in the closed position of the associated gripper only bearing at their free ends at the associated gripper jaw means or at the seized product.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 15, further including: closing spring means for retaining the pivotably mounted fingers of each gripper in a closed position; actuation means provided for said fingers of each gripper; and opening cam means engageable with said actuation means of said fingers of each gripper for placing each gripper in an open position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein: said open cam means comprise retarding means.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
288 words
An apparatus for conveying substantially flat printed products, comprising: an infeed device for the infeed of products in an imbricated formation wherein each product bears upon a trailing product with respect to a predetermined direction of movement of said products; said infeed device defining a conveying plane and a conveying direction for said products; said infeed device delivering said products to a take-over region; a conveyor device having a predetermined product conveying direction; said conveyor device being provided with a plurality of individually controllable grippers arranged in succession in said predetermined conveying direction said individually controllable grippers comprising gripper jaws for seizing an infed product at the take-over region at a leading edge of said infed product; said predetermined conveying direction of said conveyor device extending upwardly from an underside of each product transversely with respect to the conveying plane of the infeed device; said conveyor device comprising drag connection means for intercoupling said grippers with one another; said conveyor device having a conveying-active path including a starting region; drive means acting on said grippers at least at the starting region of the conveying-active path of the conveyor device; said drive means being synchronized with said infeed device; retarding means for adjusting at the take-over region the spacing between neighbouring grippers to a predetermined value; each of said grippers being capable of selectively assuming an open position and a closed position; at least one gripper jaw of one gripper bearing against a gripper jaw of a neighbouring gripper at the take-over region in order to close or cover any existing gap prevailing between the gripper jaw of the one gripper and the gripper jaw of the neighbouring gripper at the region of free ends of such grippers jaws.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
288 words
An apparatus for conveying substantially flat printed products, comprising: an infeed device for the infeed of products in an imbricated formation wherein each product bears upon a trailing product with respect to a predetermined direction of movement of said products; said infeed device defining a conveying plane and a conveying direction for said products; said infeed device delivering said products to a take-over region; a conveyor device having a predetermined product conveying direction; said conveyor device being provided with a plurality of individually controllable grippers arranged in succession in said predetermined conveying direction said individually controllable grippers comprising gripper jaws for seizing an infed product at the take-over region at a leading edge of said infed product; said predetermined conveying direction of said conveyor device extending upwardly from an underside of each product transversely with respect to the conveying plane of the infeed device; said conveyor device comprising drag connection means for intercoupling said grippers with one another; said conveyor device having a conveying-active path including a starting region; drive means acting on said grippers at least at the starting region of the conveying-active path of the conveyor device; said drive means being synchronized with said infeed device; retarding means for adjusting at the take-over region the spacing between neighbouring grippers to a predetermined value; each of said grippers being capable of selectively assuming an open position and a closed position; at least one gripper jaw of one gripper bearing against a gripper jaw of a neighbouring gripper at the take-over region in order to close or cover any existing gap prevailing between the gripper jaw of the one gripper and the gripper jaw of the neighbouring gripper at the region of free ends of such grippers jaws.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said predetermined value comprises a fixed minimum value.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus defined in claim 19, wherein: said drag connection means between individual grippers comprises an elastic resilient element whose length can be increased and shortened.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
261 words
An apparatus for conveying substantially flat printed products, comprising: an infeed device for the infeed of products in the imbricated formation in which a pair of two superposed products are laid one on top of the other such that all like parts coincide and in which said pair of two superposed products bear in imbricated formation upon a pair of upstream products with respect to a predetermined direction of travel of the imbricated formation; said infeed device defining a conveying plane for the products and delivering the products to a take-over region; a conveying device having a predetermined direction of travel; said conveying device being provided with individually controllable grippers arranged in succession in said predetermined direction of travel of said conveying device; said individually controllable grippers serving for engaging the infed products at leading product edges at the take-over region; said predetermined direction of travel of the conveying device extending from an underside of the products upwardly and transversely with respect to the conveying plane of the infeed device; drag connection means for intercoupling said grippers with one another; said drag connection means permitting an alteration of the spacing between neighboring grippers; drive means acting on said grippers before the takeover region; said drive means being synchronized with said infeed device; adjusting means for adjusting at the take-over region the spacing between neighboring grippers to a predetermined value; and a separation device for spacing from one another at the take-over region the leading edges of the pairs of superposed products in order to introduce into each gripper a single product.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
261 words
An apparatus for conveying substantially flat printed products, comprising: an infeed device for the infeed of products in the imbricated formation in which a pair of two superposed products are laid one on top of the other such that all like parts coincide and in which said pair of two superposed products bear in imbricated formation upon a pair of upstream products with respect to a predetermined direction of travel of the imbricated formation; said infeed device defining a conveying plane for the products and delivering the products to a take-over region; a conveying device having a predetermined direction of travel; said conveying device being provided with individually controllable grippers arranged in succession in said predetermined direction of travel of said conveying device; said individually controllable grippers serving for engaging the infed products at leading product edges at the take-over region; said predetermined direction of travel of the conveying device extending from an underside of the products upwardly and transversely with respect to the conveying plane of the infeed device; drag connection means for intercoupling said grippers with one another; said drag connection means permitting an alteration of the spacing between neighboring grippers; drive means acting on said grippers before the takeover region; said drive means being synchronized with said infeed device; adjusting means for adjusting at the take-over region the spacing between neighboring grippers to a predetermined value; and a separation device for spacing from one another at the take-over region the leading edges of the pairs of superposed products in order to introduce into each gripper a single product.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-04-15 | 1994-10-15 | 1995-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-15 | 1998-10-15 | 1999-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-15 | 2002-10-15 | 2003-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |