Pin conveyor for printed sheet material and transfer unit
A pin conveyor for printed sheet material has a chain, a plurality of pins extending from the chain to push printed sheet material, and a receipt area for the printed sheet material, the chain and pins passing through the receipt area. The receipt area has at least one of the following a non-linear cross-section with the chain and pins passing through the receipt area, an inclined transport section of the chain, or a belt contacting the printed sheet material and running at or slower than a speed of the chain. A transfer unit with an overhead conveying unit and a method for delivering printed sheet material is also provided.
1 . A pin conveyor for printed sheet material comprising:
a chain;
a plurality of pins extending from the chain to push printed sheet material; and
a receipt area for the printed sheet material, the receipt area having at least one of the following:
a non-linear cross-section with the chain and pins passing through the receipt area;
an inclined transport section of the chain; or
a belt contacting the printed sheet material and running at or slower than a speed of the chain.
2 . The pin conveyor as recited in claim 1 further comprising an additional pin chain running parallel with the chain.
3 . The pin conveyor as recited in claim 1 wherein the receipt area has two side walls angled toward the chain to define the cross-section.
4 . The pin conveyor as recited in claim 1 wherein the side walls are angled at less than 90 degrees with respect to the chain.
5 . The pin conveyor as recited in claim 1 wherein the receipt area has tapes or rollers angled toward the chain.
6 . The pin conveyor as recited in claim 1 wherein the receipt area is non-linear and the chain runs in a flat bottom of the cross-section of the receipt area.
7 . The pin conveyor as recited in claim 1 wherein the receipt area has the non-linear cross-section.
8 . The pin conveyor as recited in claim 7 wherein the cross-section is concave.
9 . The pin conveyor as recited in claim 1 wherein the receipt area has the inclined transport section.
10 . The pin conveyor as recited in claim 9 wherein the inclined transport section has an angle of 45 degrees or less.
11 . The pin conveyor as recited in claim 1 wherein the receipt area has the belt.
12 . The pin conveyor as recited in claim 11 wherein the belt runs at a speed equal to or greater than half the speed of the pin.
13 . The pin conveyor as recited in claim 1 wherein the receipt area has the non-linear cross-section, the inclined transport section and the belt.
14 . The pin conveyor as recited in claim 1 wherein the chain and pins pass through the receipt area.
15 . A printed sheet material transfer unit comprising:
a pin conveyor having a chain, a plurality of pins extending from the chain to push printed sheet material; and a receipt area for the printed sheet material, the receipt area having at least one of the following: a non-linear cross-section with the chain and pins passing through the receipt area; an inclined transport section of the chain; or a belt contacting the printed sheet material and running at or slower than a speed of the chain; and
an overhead conveying unit releasing the printed sheet material into the receipt area of the pin conveyor.
16 . The printed material transfer unit as recited in claim 15 wherein the overhead conveying unit is a gripper conveyor.
17 . The printed material transfer unit as recited in claim 15 wherein the chain and pins pass through the receipt area.
18 . A method for delivering printed sheet material from a gripper to a pin conveyor comprising the steps of:
gripping the printed sheet material with a gripper;
delivering the printed sheet material in front of a pin of a pin conveyor at a receipt area; and
registering the printed sheet material against the pin with the aid of at least one of the following: a non-linear cross-section in the receipt area, an inclined product path in the receipt area; or a belt in the receipt area running at or slower than a speed of the pin.