Apparatus for the separation of documents

The invention relates to a device for separating printing media, in particular letters, which are applied in a stack. The letters may be of different thickness and permissible Formats have at irregular intervals. Processing such incurred letters is called a mixed mail operation. Usually, mail processing systems from one letter separating device, in which the letters in chronological succession in batches created, are separated and, if necessary, locked out a franking and / or addressing with optional scale and from a storage device, see DE-M 96 09 167.3 in the Designs Gazette the German Patent Office on 24.05.1997, Part la, goods class 18/02. The device is part of a letter separating device.

It is an arrangement for Vorvereinzeln of print carriers known see DE 196 05 017 A1, with the letters on an edge standing behind each other are stored as a stack of letters, and the letters of the letter stack laterally away a separating device are supplied, The letters are between a spring-loaded pressure bar and at least one drive roller and a slightly rear inclined guide plate. The footprint of the Letters and the guide plate are orthogonal to each other. The drive roll has at the outer contour is at least one parallel over the roll length extending projection to the rotation axis on. The envelope of the drive roller projects through a Opening the guide plate so far that at least one projection of the opening protrudes. By the protruding outer contour the stack of letters aroused enough and counteracting the Transport Frictional and adhesive forces overcome. The be introduced Force is set by the stroke of the drive roller. By Inclination of the guide plate is a stable preferred position of the pile of letters reached; the axis of the drive roller is parallel to the Guide plate. The problem of separating hereby remains unsolved.

It is also an input device for a device for processing Sheets, such as paper money, postcards known, see DE 2725947 A1, from at least one conveyor belt and at least one Counter-roller, wherein the counter-roller with respect to the conveyor belt is driven in the opposite direction. By means of the conveyor belt are the sheets of a sheet stack location to a sheet processing site transported. The counter-roller is arranged so that between the outer cylindrical surface of the roller and the outer Surface of the conveyor belt there is a gap, of at least can one of the arches happen. This arrangement requires that the conveyor belt of the area the sheet pile body into the region of the sheet processing site enough, transports the sheets on the conveyor belt horizontally and thus constantly sheets are pushed against the counter-roller. This, however, on the other hand the danger that in this Point to congestion occurs and consequently damaged sheets can be, especially measures to overcome the adhesion missing between the letters.

The situation is similar in a document separating device are according to EP 0598571 B1. In contrast to the previously described Solution can be used here instead of the counter rollers belt.

Finally, a device for separating mailpieces known, see US 4,615,519, standing at the letters on an edge are stored as a stack of letters in a receiving area in succession. The letter stack by spring force of a on a support pushed out pusher against a withdrawal means. The trigger mechanism is made up of a drive roller at a distance superposed on an axis rubber discs. The Rubber washers protrude partially through the receiving area opposite guide plate and are located on the broadside surface the foremost letter to the stack, wherein the guide plate like teeth engages in the gaps between the rubber disks. As a result of the spring force is between the stack of letters and the drive roller an approximately constant force. This is seen to be advantageous. On the other hand, it is problematic, between the drive roller and frontmost letter initiate a force adhesion and the Friction between the latter and the rest of the stack and the guide plate overcomes, especially the adhesiveness due to different Weights, adhesive surface size and paper texture may have very large differences. When the drive roller only even begins to slip, faults in automatic mode are the episode. From the withdrawal means the drawn letters arrive at a Cylinder roller and one of these opposing counter-belt and then again the same combination. The drive roller and the two cylinder rollers together by a motor driven via a toothed belt, the toothed belt via a further even the opposite belt drives. The staggered arrangement two separating couples requires a correspondingly large Space and effort.

Purpose of the invention is to improve the performance characteristics.

The invention is based on the object to provide a device, sure vorvereinzelt and isolated with the printing media from a stack will. Technical and space needed to this be as low as possible.

This object is according to the main claim dissolved. Further advantageous features of the invention are in the dependent claims refer to. Due to the use of drive rolls with Rütteleigenschaften, separate drives in Vorvereinzelungs- and separation area Design of the drive in the pre-singularization with freewheel and the drive rollers with different coefficient of friction and the arrangement a sensor for pressure support in recognition singling area is electrically coupled to the drive in the pre-singularization area, it is achieved that in the pre-singularization area by the drive rollers no traffic jam in front of the separating section generates and only a Drucktäger is transported to the downstream equipment. The subdivision and design of the drive roller combinations in Pre-singularization enables reliable processing both Smallest and largest conventional letter formats. Due to the use of a common drive in separating and the ejection area and the coupling of the two over-function lever for mode setting are an economical solution achieved and good service properties. By Gleithebelkombination is the reliable detection of the last ensures pressure support of a stack. The device is standing on an edge both in succession as suitable for superimposed flat oppositely disposed pressure support.

The invention will be closer to the embodiment explained.

Show it:<dl tsize="6"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>A letter separating device in a perspective view from the left,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a view to Fig.1, partly cut or erupted </dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>a partial plan view of FIG. 2,</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>Details of the drive in bottom view,</dd><dt>Fig. 5</dt><dd>a perspective view of the drive belt combination front right,</dd><dt>Fig. 6</dt><dd>perspective views of Gegenrollen- and Gleithebelkombination,<sl><li>a) from the front right,</li><li>b) from the rear left.</li></sl></dd></dl>

For simplification and ease of understanding, the representation executed schematically. Instead of the term "Drucktäger" is below for brevity "letter" is used because the term.

According to Fig.1 a letter separating device B is functional in a pre-singularization I and in a separation area II divided up. For guiding the letters A is a slightly backward inclined, rear guide plate 1 and to this orthogonal, lower guide plate 2 provided. The letters A is for stacking with the edge of their envelope flap on the lower guide plate 2 standing between a pressing bracket 21 and the rear guide plate 1 positively. The press arm 21 is in an operating position to a rest position and conversely arranged tilted and stopped. In the operating position shown here, the press arm takes 21 to lower guide plate 2 orthogonal position and is under the influence of a spring, not shown on the rear guide plate 1 to and positioned away from displaced. In the rest position, takes the pressure bar 21 is a horizontal position in an adapted recess of the lower guide plate 2 and flush with a latter. In this position the pressure bar 21 locked, see also FIG. 2. By means of two drive roller combinations 3, 4 are the letters A sliding along the rear side guide plate 1 one after another pushed by the pre-singularization I in the separation range II.

The driving roller combinations 3, 4 are mutually parallel contours and at the same height for the lower guide plate 2 and effect due to its special design as described below, a shake-up of the pile of letters. According to FIG. 2, the first drive roll combination 3 from a lower first drive roller 31 with projections 311 and an upper drive roller 32 with protrusions 321, both in Plan view contours identical with each other using a common Axis 33, see also Fig. 3 and 4. The drive roller 31 projects through an opening 11 and the driving roller 32 projects through an opening 12 in the rear guide plate. 1 The second drive roll combination 4 consisting of a first lower Drive roller 41 with projections 411 and an upper second Drive roller 42 without projections designed as smooth roll distance is. Both drive rolls 41, 42 are likewise on a common Axis 43 spaced to each other, in top view the outer contour of the second driving roller 42 with the enveloping circle the first drive roller 41 matches. The drive roller 41 projects through an opening 13 and the driving roller 42 projects through an opening 14 in the rear guide plate. 1 The length of the lower drive rollers 31, 41 is the height of the smallest adapted usual letter formats. The lower drive rollers 31, 41 are longer than the upper drive rolls 32, 42nd The distance between the lower and upper drive rollers 31, 41, 32, 42 is selected so that the largest conventional letter formats still in upper part can be detected. The projections 311, 321, 411 extend parallel to the axis of rotation over the full roll length and consist of replaceable cylindrical moldings of preferably polyurethane. For the projections 311 and 321 of the drive rollers 31, 32 of the first Drive roll combination 3 is material identity, in particular both have the same coefficient of friction on. The material for the protrusions 411 of the lower drive roller 41 of the second drive roll combination 4 is selected such that the coefficient of friction is compared with their predecessors smaller. The designed as smooth roll distance upper drive roller 42 is of a relatively hard technical synthetic material, e.g. Polyoxymethylene, the expedient for the other roller base body is used.

When rotation of the driving roller combinations 3, 4 are represented by the Projections 311, 321, 411 of the drive rollers 31, 32, 41 once the jolted stack of letters and, second, the letters A corresponding the friction coefficient individually laterally pushed away. Since the projections 311, 321 against the following a larger have friction, is the former and the initial tempo of the lateral Movement determined. The projections 411 of the lower drive roll 41 act on the motion only supportive and the upper Drive roller 42 is used primarily to reduce friction and alienation. In singling region II, the single letter A is by means of a drive belt combination 6 and one of these matched driven Counter roller combination 7 and a counter to the letter transport direction upstream Gleithebelkombination 77 to a sensor 10 for Letter recognition bypassed to an ejection roller pair 9, see also FIG. 3, 5 and 6. The sensor 10 is in pressure support transport direction immediately after the Counter roller combination 7 arranged. In letter early detection by the sensor 10 is a through this Signal which for switching the driving roller combinations 3, 4 serves of driving to idling. At end of the letter, a signal is instructed by the sensor 10 for generates switching from neutral to drive. In this way it is achieved that the next letter A from the Investment or pre-singularization I only in the is separating region II pushed if the current letter A the same has left. Thus, a congestion is excluded. The drive belt combination 6 has three identical drive belt 61, 62, 63, which are arranged above one another and equidistant by associated openings 15 extend into the rear guide plate 1, cf. also FIG. 5 shows. The counter roller combination 7 has as a counterpart to drive belt combination 6, three counter-rollers 71, 72, 73, on a shaft 75 are arranged equidistantly analogous that the top counter-roller 71 level moderately above the top drive belt 61 and the other two counter-rollers 72, 73 the associated gaps between the drive belt 61, 62, 63 are opposite. The shaft 75 with the stuck on their counter-rollers 71, 72, 73 rotatably on the free ends 762 of a correspondingly shaped mounted double support lever 76, in turn, with its other ends 763 is resiliently mounted rotatably on a driven axis 761, see also Fig. 6. In this way, the double supporting lever 76 may at its free ends 762 to the drive belt combination 6 and away again are pivoted. The double support lever 76 is also connected to the mounted on the axle 761 Ends 763 provided with a nose 7631, which in the swivel range a cam 781 is located. The cam 781 is part of a locking device 78, identified by Hand means of a lever 782 is actuated. The cam 781 is together with the lever 782 on a rotatable shaft 783 is attached. The locking device 78 serves for pivoting and Double locking the support lever 76 in away state. The ejection roller pair 9 consists of a driven ejection roller 91 and a discharge roller aborted 92nd The driven discharge roller 91 is mounted on a rotatable shaft 911 mounted behind the rear guide plate 1 and extends at its periphery through an associated opening 16 in the guide plate 1, see also Fig. 3 and 4. The aborted ejection roller 92 is also mounted on a rotatable Axis 921 attached, in turn, on a rotatable spring-loaded Supporting lever is mounted 93rd The support lever 93 is on an axis supported and articulated via a coupling rod 784 with the axis 931 783 of the locking device 78 is connected. This is a simultaneous Except function setting and locking together with the counter-rollers 71, 72, 73 with a corresponding actuation of the lever 782 reaches, see also Fig. 3 and 4. The aborted ejection roller 92 is more than the maximum height Flaps of the letters A shorter than the driven ejection roller 91 and positioned above flush with the latter. Thereby, a premature closing of letters by the ejection roller pair 9 with avoiding the risk of the bag forming the flaps.

In the plan view of FIG. 3, a first motor 54 for the drive are the driving roller combinations 3, 4, a second motor 84 for the Drive the drive belt combination 6, the counter roller combination 7 and the ejection roller pair 9 and 77 Gleithebelkombination recognizable.

In FIG. 4, the connections between the motors 54, 84 and the Drive means for the letters A shown. To this end A bottom perspective view of selected 8 and to 90 ° rotated backwards. When common drive 5 for the drive roller combinations 3, 4 is a pinion 541 on the motor shaft of the first motor 54 via a Timing belt 57 coupled with an intermediate 56 which rotatably is arranged on a rigid axle 561st The intermediate gear 56 is further connected via a toothed belt 55 with a pinion 52, the fixed to the common rotary axis 43 of the second drive roll combination 4 is arranged. The pinion 52 is a Timing belt 53 connected to a pinion 51, which also laid on the common rotary axis 33 of the first drive roll combination 3 is arranged. The pinion 51 and the pinion 52 are equipped with a freewheel, so that rotation of the driving roller combinations 3, 4 when switched off Motor 54 is possible even when the friction between A letter and drive rollers 31, 32, 41, 42 is sufficient. This case could occur when a letter of the drive belt combination 6 and Counter roller combination 7 has just recorded and still at least a roll combination 3, 4 rests. The next strongest letter A can are only moved again when the motor 54th For the common drive 8 for the drive belt combination 6, the counter roller combination 7 which Gleithebelkombination 77 and the driven discharge roller 91 is a second motor 84 is provided, on its motor axis a pinion 841 is located, the timing belt via a 871 is coupled to an intermediate wheel 87, which together with a Drive wheels combined 64 fixed on a rotary shaft 644 is arranged, see also FIG. 5 shows. The intermediate wheel 87 continues via a toothed belt 831 with a driving pinion 83, rotatably mounted on a fixed axis disposed 832nd The drive pinion 83 on the other hand again via a toothed belt 86 with a drive pinion 82 and on the other hand via a toothed belt 89 coupled to a pinion 88th The drive pinion 82 is fixed on a rotary shaft 761 arranged together with the counter-roller combination 7, see also Fig. 6.

The pinion 88 is fixed together on the rotary shaft 911 arranged with the driven ejection roller 91st

Referring to FIG. 5, the drive belt combination 6 except the three Drive belts 61, 62, 63 a U-shaped support frame 67, in the rotate the shaft 644 and a shaft 654 and an axis 68 are supported. On the axis 644 are the drive belts 61, 62, 63 associated with the drive wheels 641, 642, 643 secured. On the axis 654 the corresponding guide wheels 651, 652, 653 are attached. On the axle 68 are fixed according to three support wheels 66 that a uniform system of drive belts 61, 62, 63 to the letter A intended to secure. All of the aforementioned wheels are as a counterpart to the drive belt 61, 62, 63 serrated.

According to FIG. 6, the double support lever 76 for the counter-rollers 71, 72, 73 rotatable against a spring 79 stretched on the axis 761 stored. In addition, the Gleithebelkombination 77 is in the form of a armed lever against a spring 771 stretched over a Gleitreibungskupplung supported on the axle 761st Finally, it a transmission pinion 821 mounted on the shaft 761, which of the will drive pinion 82 driven by the axis 761st The rotary motion the transfer pinion 821 is on a timing belt 85 a pinion 81 transfer, the on the rotary shaft 75 is secured together with the counter-rollers 71, 72, 73rd The axis 75 is rotatably mounted on the free ends 762 of the double supporting lever 76 stored.

As can readily be seen, would be for the flattened-pressure carrier transport described only a corresponding rotation of the above- Device required.

Numeral used

<dl tsize="1" compact="compact"><dt>A</dt><dd>Print carrier, letter</dd></dl><dl tsize="1" compact="compact"><dt>B</dt><dd>Letter separating device</dd></dl><dl tsize="2" compact="compact"><dt>1</dt><dd>rear guide plate in the letter separating device B</dd><dt>11</dt><dd>Opening in the guide plate 1 for drive roller 31</dd><dt>12</dt><dd>Opening in the guide plate 1 for drive roller 32</dd><dt>13</dt><dd>Opening in the guide plate 1 for drive roller 41</dd><dt>14</dt><dd>Opening in the guide plate 1 for drive roller 42</dd><dt>15</dt><dd>Holes in the guide plate 1 for drive belts 61, 62, 63 of the drive belt combination 6</dd><dt>16</dt><dd>Opening in the guide plate 1 for driven ejection roller 91 of the ejection roller pair 9</dd></dl><dl tsize="2" compact="compact"><dt>2</dt><dd>lower guide plate in the letter separating device B</dd><dt>21</dt><dd>Press Arm</dd></dl><dl tsize="3" compact="compact"><dt>3</dt><dd>first drive roll combination</dd><dt>31</dt><dd>first drive roller</dd><dt>311</dt><dd>Projection / projections on the Antrie bswalze 31</dd><dt>32</dt><dd>second drive roller</dd><dt>321</dt><dd>Projection / projections on the driving roller 32</dd><dt>33</dt><dd>common axis of the drive roller 31 and 32</dd></dl><dl tsize="3" compact="compact"><dt>4</dt><dd>second drive roll combination</dd><dt>41</dt><dd>first drive roller</dd><dt>411</dt><dd>Projection / projections on the driving roller 41</dd><dt>42</dt><dd>second drive roller, roller distance</dd><dt>43</dt><dd>common axis of the drive roller 41 and 42</dd></dl><dl tsize="3" compact="compact"><dt>5</dt><dd>separate common drive for the drive roller combinations 3 and 4</dd><dt>51</dt><dd>Pinion on the axis 33</dd><dt>52</dt><dd>Pinion on the axis 43</dd><dt>53</dt><dd>Timing between the pinion 51 and 52 </dd><dt>54</dt><dd>first motor</dd><dt>541</dt><dd>Pinion on the shaft of the motor 54</dd><dt>55</dt><dd>Timing between the pinion 52 and idler 56</dd><dt>56</dt><dd>Intermediate for driving 5</dd><dt>561</dt><dd>Axis for intermediate 56</dd><dt>57</dt><dd>Timing between the pinion 541 and intermediate 56</dd></dl><dl tsize="3" compact="compact"><dt>6</dt><dd>Drive belt combination</dd><dt>61</dt><dd>first drive belt</dd><dt>62</dt><dd>second drive belt</dd><dt>63</dt><dd>third drive belt</dd><dt>64</dt><dd>Drive wheels Combined Naton for drive belt combination 6</dd><dt>641</dt><dd>first drive</dd><dt>642</dt><dd>second drive wheel</dd><dt>643</dt><dd>third drive</dd><dt>644</dt><dd>Axis of the drive wheels 641, 642, 643</dd><dt>65</dt><dd>Umlenkräderkombination for drive belt combination 6</dd><dt>651</dt><dd>first deflecting wheel</dd><dt>652</dt><dd>second deflection wheel</dd><dt>653</dt><dd>third deflecting wheel</dd><dt>654</dt><dd>Axis of guide wheels 651, 652, 653</dd><dt>66</dt><dd>training wheels</dd><dt>67</dt><dd>Supporting frame for drive belt combination 6</dd><dt>68</dt><dd>Axis for supporting wheels</dd></dl><dl tsize="4" compact="compact"><dt>7</dt><dd>Counter roller combination</dd><dt>71</dt><dd>first counter-roller</dd><dt>72</dt><dd>second counter-roller</dd><dt>73</dt><dd>third counter roller</dd><dt>75</dt><dd>Axis for counter-rollers 71, 72, 73</dd><dt>76</dt><dd>Double supporting lever for counter-rollers 71, 72, 73</dd><dt>761</dt><dd>Axis for double support lever 76</dd><dt>762</dt><dd>free end of the double support lever 76</dd><dt>763</dt><dd>fixed end of the double support lever 76</dd><dt>7631</dt><dd>Nose at the fixed end 763</dd><dt>77</dt><dd>Gleithebelkombination</dd><dt>771</dt><dd>feather</dd><dt>78</dt><dd>locking </dd><dt>781</dt><dd>Cam on the locking device 78</dd><dt>782</dt><dd>Lever for operating the locking device 78</dd><dt>783</dt><dd>Axis of the locking device 78</dd><dt>784</dt><dd>Coupling rod between locking lever 78 and support 93 for discharge roller 92</dd><dt>79</dt><dd>Spring for double support lever 76</dd></dl><dl tsize="3" compact="compact"><dt>8th</dt><dd>separate common drive for the drive belt combination 6, the counter roller combination 7 which Gleithebelkombination 77 and the ejection roller 91</dd><dt>81</dt><dd>Pinion on the axis 75</dd><dt>82</dt><dd>Drive pinion on the axis 761</dd><dt>821</dt><dd>Transmission pinion on the axis 761</dd><dt>83</dt><dd>Drive pinion on the axis 832</dd><dt>831</dt><dd>Timing between the drive pinion 83 and idler 87</dd><dt>832</dt><dd>Axis for drive pinion 83</dd><dt>84</dt><dd>second motor</dd><dt>841</dt><dd>Pinion on the axis of the motor 84</dd><dt>85</dt><dd>Timing between the pinion 81 and 82</dd><dt>86</dt><dd>Timing between the pinion 82 and 83</dd><dt>87</dt><dd>Intermediate for driving 8</dd><dt>871</dt><dd>Timing between the pinion 841 and intermediate 87</dd><dt>88</dt><dd>Pinion on the axis 911</dd><dt>89</dt><dd>Timing between the pinion 83 and 88</dd></dl><dl tsize="3" compact="compact"><dt>9</dt><dd>Ejection roller pair</dd><dt>91</dt><dd>driven ejection roller</dd><dt>911</dt><dd>Axis of the discharge roller 91</dd><dt>92</dt><dd>Aborted ejection roller</dd><dt>921</dt><dd>Axis of the discharge roller 92</dd><dt>93</dt><dd>Supporting lever for discharge roller 92</dd><dt>931</dt><dd>Axis for supporting lever 93</dd></dl><dl tsize="2" compact="compact"><dt>10</dt><dd>sensor</dd></dl><dl tsize="2" compact="compact"><dt>I</dt><dd>pre-singularization</dd><dt>II</dt><dd>separation area</dd></dl>