Pin conveyor for printed sheet material and transfer unit

Abstract

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.