Apparatus for stacking sheet-like products, in particular printed products

Abstract

A preliminary stacking device ( 22 ) is arranged above the stacking shaft ( 12 ) of the stacking apparatus ( 10 ). This device has a preliminary stacking shaft ( 24 ) to which sheet-like products ( 30 ) are fed by way of the feed means ( 28 ). A number of sheet-like products ( 30 ) is stacked in each case on base elements ( 50 ) to form an intermediate stack ( 20 ), whereupon the intermediate stacks ( 20 ) are transferred to the stacking shaft ( 12 ). A number of base elements ( 50 ) are arranged one behind the other along a circulatory path ( 51 ), a working portion ( 85 ) of the movement path ( 51 ) of the base elements ( 50 ) running vertically through the preliminary stacking shaft ( 24 ). While an intermediate stack ( 20 ) is being formed on one base element ( 50 ), the base element ( 50 ) arranged beneath discharges a previously formed intermediate stack ( 20 ) to the stacking shaft ( 12 ).

1 . An apparatus for producing stacks of sheet-like products, in particular printed products, having a stacking apparatus ( 10 ) with a stacking shaft ( 12 ), and having a preliminary stacking device ( 22 ) which is arranged above the stacking shaft ( 12 ) and has a preliminary stacking shaft ( 24 ) and base elements ( 50 ) which can be moved into and out of the preliminary stacking shaft ( 24 ), it being the case that products ( 30 ) which are to be stacked to form an intermediate stack ( 20 ) are fed to one of the base elements ( 50 ) by way of a feed means ( 28 ) while an intermediate stack ( 20 ) previously formed on a further one of the base elements ( 50 ) located beneath is discharged to the stacking shaft ( 12 ) by this further base element, wherein a number of base elements ( 50 ) are arranged one behind the other along a continuous circulatory path ( 51 ), a working portion ( 85 ) of the circulatory path ( 51 ) runs substantially vertically through the preliminary stacking shaft ( 24 ), and a drive arrangement ( 47 ) drives the base elements ( 50 ) in the working portion ( 85 ) in a movement direction (U) oriented from top to bottom such that in each case one of the base elements ( 50 ) is moved to the feed means ( 28 ) when an intermediate stack ( 20 ) is being formed on an immediately preceding base element ( 50 ), as seen in the movement direction (U). 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base elements ( 50 ) arranged one behind the other alternately form a first base element ( 52 ) and a second base element ( 54 ), the first base elements ( 52 ) are arranged on a first conveying mechanism ( 56 ) and the second base elements ( 54 ) are arranged on a second conveying mechanism ( 60 ), and the first and the second conveying mechanisms ( 52 ,  54 ) are driven independently of one another in each case by a drive mechanism ( 98 ,  98 ′). 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the drive mechanisms ( 98 ,  98 ′) provided are in the form of servomotors, and the drive mechanisms ( 98 ,  98 ′) can be controlled independently of one another in respect of timing in dependence on the following parameters: product-feed capacity, height of the intermediate stack ( 20 ), number of product pages and desired conveying capacity of the sheet-like products. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the conveying mechanisms ( 56 ,  60 ) are formed by toothed belts. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the respectively successive first base elements ( 52 ) on the first conveying mechanism ( 56 ) and the respectively successive second base elements ( 54 ) on the second conveying mechanism ( 60 ) are spaced apart by a distance which is greater than the working portion ( 85 ). 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first and second base elements ( 52 ,  54 ) on the associated first and second conveying mechanisms ( 56 ,  60 ), respectively, are arranged such that they can be pivoted about an axis ( 64 ) running at right angles to the circulatory path ( 51 ), and each base element ( 52 ,  54 ) is connected to a follow-on mechanism ( 72 ), in particular a follow-on roller ( 78 ), which interacts with a pivot guide ( 74 ), in particular a pivot guide track ( 80 ). 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the pivot guide ( 74 ) pivots the first and second base elements ( 52 ,  54 ) at the top end ( 38 ) of the preliminary stacking shaft ( 24 ) into a receiving position, in which they run at least more or less parallel to the feed means (Z), retains them at least more or less in this working position as they move through the preliminary stacking shaft ( 24 ), and pivots them at the bottom end ( 38 ′) of the preliminary stacking shaft ( 24 ) such that the relevant intermediate stack ( 22 ) slides off from the base element ( 50 ) into the stacking shaft ( 12 ). 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the continuous first conveying mechanism ( 56 ) and the continuous second conveying mechanism ( 60 ) are guided around equiaxially mounted deflecting rollers ( 82 ,  84 ) in each case at the top and bottom ends ( 38 ,  38 ′) of the preliminary stacking shaft ( 24 ). 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , which comprises two first and two second base elements ( 52 ,  54 ).