Sheet feeding or delivering – Feeding – By means to change direction of sheet travel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-23
2001-04-24
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Feeding
By means to change direction of sheet travel
C271S182000, C271S277000, C271S270000, C271S275000, C198S483100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220591
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing flexible, sheet-like products and which is intended for slowing down the products fed to a receiving region of the apparatus and then conveying the products to a transfer region.
An apparatus of this general type is known from EP-B-0 638 503. The apparatus disclosed therein has a decelerating drum which is driven in rotation about its axis and on which there are arranged, at regular intervals one behind the other in the circumferential direction, conveying elements which are formed in each case by a pair of rollers. A feed conveyor introduces a signature sheet tangentially, in relation to the decelerating drum, into the roller gap of the pair of rollers respectively moving through a receiving region. In this case, the speed of circulation of the pair of rollers about the drum axis and the circumferential speed of the rollers oriented in the direction of circulation in the roller gaps are brought into line with the conveying speed of the feed conveyor. The leading edge of the signature sheet is then driven by a desired distance into the roller gap before the rotation of the pairs of rollers about the axes thereof is stopped. In a transfer region, the rollers are then driven in a direction of rotation counter to the direction of rotation in the receiving region, in order to release the relevant signature sheet from the roller gap. This results in the signature sheets being additionally slowed down and makes it possible for the signature-sheet speed to be adapted to the speed of a removal conveyor which receives the signature sheets. The reversing drive of the pairs of rollers, on the one hand, requires considerably outlay and, on the other hand, results in the products being subjected to considerable stressing, which limits the processing capacity of the apparatus.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the described type wherein, in the case of a high processing speed, careful handling of the products is ensured.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the provision of an apparatus which has a plurality of conveying elements arranged in a circular array one behind the other on a support member. The support member is rotated about a central axis, so that the conveying elements each move along a circulatory path from a receiving region to a transfer region. Each conveying element includes a continuously driven roller segment and a mating element. The periphery of the roller segment includes at least one circumferentially running surface section and at least one recess section. This configuration, in association with the mating element, forms, during movement through the receiving region, an introduction gap which, for the introduction of a product, has a large width which then decreases continuously and thus stabilizes the product. The leading, closed end of the introduction gap moves in the introduction direction as a result of the rotation of the roller segment, and this contributes to the products being carefully decelerated when they reach the end of the introduction gap. The approximately simultaneous formation of a conveying gap prevents the products from springing back, which contributes to reliable functioning of the apparatus along with a high processing capacity. The continuous driving of the roller segments results in the products being conveyed through the conveying elements, which are formed in each case by the roller segment and the mating element, in order to be discharged in the transfer region. There is thus no need for the products to be slowed down to a standstill, and then accelerated again in relation to the conveying elements.
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Alston & Bird LLP
Bower Kenneth W
Ellis Christopher P.
Ferag AG
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