Sheet-material associating – Associating or disassociating – Sheet associating
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-17
2001-08-28
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Sheet-material associating
Associating or disassociating
Sheet associating
C270S052140, C270S052160
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279891
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to a processing line for printed products.
A processing line of this type is known, for example, from EP-A-0 346 579 and the corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,033. The processing line, which is suitable for the collection, collation and insertion of printed products, has a plurality of supply locations, which are arranged one behind the other, as seen in the processing direction, and a removal location, which is arranged downstream of said supply locations. Running through the entire processing line, which is designed as a structural unit, is a conveying chain which is driven in circulation in the processing direction and serves for transporting to the removal location the printed products supplied.
Said known apparatus has a certain number of supply locations. If the number of printed products which is to be combined is smaller than the number of supply locations, the supply locations which are not required are not supplied with printed products; the relevant section of the processing line remains inactive and serves solely for transporting the printed products supplied upstream. It is not possible to combine a number of different printed products which is greater than the number of supply locations.
The same applies to the processing line which is known from U.S. Pat. No. 1,441,278. This processing line has a rectilinear processing channel which is open at the top and along which feeders are arranged one behind the other on both sides, a first feeder introducing a folded printed product into the processing channel and said printed product then being opened in the processing channel. The next-following feeders then introduce further printed products into the open printed product. The printed products are transported in the processing channel by means of an uninterrupted chain conveyor which extends over the entire length of the processing channel. The chain conveyor has transporting webs which engage through the processing channel and are fastened at both ends on an endless chain in each case. The active strand of these chains is guided in the appropriate, processing-channel-forming side wall, and the return strand runs beneath the processing channel.
It is thus an object of the present invention to develop the processing line of the generic type such that it provides high flexibility for different possible applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is achieved by a processing line which has the features of claim
1
.
The processing line according to the invention is of modular construction and, consequently, extremely flexible and can be adapted to the respectively desired processing operation for the printed products. The component modules which are not necessary for carrying out a certain operation can be removed from the processing line and are available as a reserve component module or for temporary use in a further processing line. It is also possible, if further processing operations are desired, for corresponding component modules to be installed in the processing line. Adjacent component modules are compatible for connection to one another. It is advantageous for all the component modules to have the same connection configuration on the inlet and outlet sides, although this is not absolutely necessary. Component modules with the same connection configuration on both sides can be exchanged as desired and inserted between component modules of corresponding connection configuration.
At least two of the component modules are assigned a continuous conveyor for transporting the printed products. When these component modules are separated, the conveyor may also be separated, with the result that a section of the conveyor remains in each of the component modules. This conveyor is functional when component modules with appropriate sections are attached to one another. The conveyor is realized in its entirety only when the appropriate component modules are assembled.
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patent: 5904242 (1999-05-01), Swanson
patent: WO 96/04195 (1996-02-01), None
patent: WO 98/35901 (1998-08-01), None
Alston & Bird LLP
Ellis Christopher P.
Ferag AG
Mackey Patrick
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