Conveyors: power-driven – Conveying system having plural power-driven conveying sections – Forming a single conveying path
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-21
2001-11-13
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveying system having plural power-driven conveying sections
Forming a single conveying path
C198S644000, C271S198000, C414S790300, C270S052290
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315107
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a conveyor plant for gathering and processing printed sheets. The plant includes a saddle-shaped collecting chain and a double chain, a transfer area in which the collecting chain travels into the double chain, and carrier members for the printed sheets arranged successively on the collecting chain. The present invention also relates to collecting chain, particularly for a conveyor plant of the above-described type.
2. Description of the Related Art
CH-A-667 253 of the same applicant discloses a conveyor plant for printed sheets which includes an auxiliary chain for bridging a gap between the end of a first conveyor chain portion and the beginning of a second conveyor chain portion. In this conveyor plant, the printed sheets can be processed laterally of the auxiliary chain from the inside as well as from the outside almost up to the fold. In particular, this conveyor plant makes it possible without significant problems to print with an ink-jet device up to the areas adjacent the fold.
Also known in the art is a conveyor plant with a collecting chain which has carrier members in the form of laterally projecting horns. The collecting chain is a single chain and, thus, has the advantage as compared to a double chain that no division or spacing differences can occur even over greater collecting distances. The collecting chain is inserted into a double chain in the transfer area. The printed products can be stitched on this double chain because the double chain has an intermediate space for the bending mechanism of the stitching device. This conveyor plant has the disadvantage that the double chain does not have an optimum structural configuration, particularly for smaller sizes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a conveyor plant of the above-described type which avoids the disadvantage described above and, while providing the same or a greater output, still is operationally safe and is suited for all sizes.
In accordance with the present invention, the carrier members are mounted on the collecting chain in an upright position.
The narrow structural configuration of the collecting chain which is now possible and the arrangement of the carrier members on the ridge of the collecting chain make it also possible to use a correspondingly narrow double chain which substantially facilitates grasping and processing of small printed sheets. In addition, a narrow collecting chain facilitates grasping of the printed sheets during gathering more closely near the fold.
The fact that the carrier members of the collecting chain are inserted between the double chain in the transfer area makes possible an optimum utilization of the spacing of the carrier members on the collecting chain; consequently, the spacing is not shortened by the fact that the carrier members pivot away when they are inserted or travel between the double chain.
Another advantage of the conveyor plant according to the present invention is seen in the fact that the printed sheets have to be opened to a lesser extent when being placed on the collecting chain, which is an advantage particularly in the case of high travel speeds.
It is also advantageous that the basic construction of the double chain does not have to be changed.
In accordance with a further development of the invention, the carrier members of the collecting chain are inclined forwardly at least in the travel direction. This particular configuration of the carrier members of the collecting chain has the advantage that the impact behavior and the acceleration of a printed sheet when being placed on the collecting chain is favorably influenced. While in the case of a conventional vertically extending carrier member a printed product to be placed on the chain may bounce upwardly and may jump away, the carrier member extending at an angle pushes the product back onto the collecting chain. Consequently, the printed product cannot jump over the carrier member, so that the carrier member can be constructed with a shorter length than is the case in a straight configuration of the carrier member.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.
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Merkli Peter
Muller Hans
Ellis Christopher P.
Grapha-Holding AG
Kueffner Friedrich
Mackey Patrick
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