Sheet feeding or delivering – Delivering – Multiple discharge
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-13
2001-08-07
Bollinger, David H. (Department: 3653)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Delivering
Multiple discharge
C271S204000, C271S084000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270076
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a conveying system for conveying articles comprising at least one conveying path.
A conveying system of this type is known from CH-A-382 768 (and the corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 3,032,341), in the case of which the transporting elements are forced along a closed conveying path by conveying means and are moved along downwardly sloping sections by gravitational force. Arranged along this closed conveying path is a charging station, for charging the transporting elements with printed products, and a discharge location, at which the transporting elements discharge the printed products again. The transporting elements which have been relieved of load are sent back to the charging location again. The document mentioned also describes an embodiment in which, after the charging station, the conveying path is divided up into two lines, of which each leads to a discharge location. The transporting elements are directed alternately to one of the two lines. As a result, the discharge locations are each fed half of the printed products received by the transporting elements at the charging location. Each discharge location and the processing station assigned thereto can thus be operated at a correspondingly lower speed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention, then, is to provide a conveying system of the type mentioned in the introduction which can be used more diversely than the abovementioned conveying system of the prior art.
This object is achieved according to the invention by a conveying system having the features of a conveying system for conveying articles, comprising: at least one conveying path; a number of individual transporting elements for transporting articles, said transporting elements being independent from one another and movable along said conveying path; at least one controllable branching location or at least one controllable introduction location arranged on the conveying path; diverting means at said branching location for diverting out of the conveying path individual transporting elements which are empty or are transporting articles; and introducing means at said introduction location for introducing into the conveying path individual transporting elements which are empty or are transporting articles.
At the branching location and the introduction location, it is possible for both empty transporting elements and transporting elements which are transporting articles to be ejected out of the conveying path, or introduced into the same, individually or in groups. This makes it possible for the number and sequence of the transporting elements moved along the conveying path to be influenced, by straightforward means, in accordance with requirements. This is important, in particular, when transporting elements which are transporting articles have undesired empty transporting elements between them or when the transporting elements are transporting the same kind of articles, or different kinds of articles, which are not all intended for the same destination.
Preferred developments of the conveying system according to the invention form the subject matter of the dependent claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3032341 (1962-05-01), Reist
patent: 3123888 (1964-03-01), Meyers
patent: 4039182 (1977-08-01), Reist et al.
patent: 4438618 (1984-03-01), Honegger
patent: 4866910 (1989-09-01), Reist
patent: 4887809 (1989-12-01), Eberle
patent: 4917369 (1990-04-01), Moll et al.
patent: 5007624 (1991-04-01), Chandhoke
patent: 5503264 (1996-04-01), Eberle
patent: 5755436 (1998-05-01), Reist
patent: 6003859 (1999-12-01), Reist
patent: 3801056 (1989-07-01), None
AuBuchon F. David
Bollinger David H.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Ferag AG
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