Method and apparatus for collecting flat articles

Abstract

A method for collecting addressed letters in grippers and for conveying the collected letters further in the grippers, wherein the grippers each have a first and second gripper limb, and these limbs form an accommodating space. The method includes supplying a sheet that is partially folded along a folding line to form two sheet portions that are delimited from one another by the folding line, introducing the folded sheet into the accommodating space between the gripper limbs, wherein the folded sheet is subjected to a restraining force in the direction of a planar position of the sheet by the non-folded sections along the folding line, and pushing the portions of the sheet onto the adjacent gripper limbs by the restoring force, with an accommodating pocket being formed in the accommodating space in the process, and retaining the folded sheet in the accommodating space by the contact-pressure force.

1 . A method for collecting flat articles in receiving units that are moved along a circular path, and for further conveying the collected articles in the receiving units, wherein the receiving units comprise in each case two supporting elements that are located opposite one another and form a receiving space,
 said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a flat, flexible enclosing unit that is weakened in part along a bending line, and 
 bending the enclosing unit along the bending line to provide two enclosing portions that are separated from one another by the bending line; 
 inserting the bent enclosing unit into the receiving space between the supporting elements; 
 holding the enclosing portions of the enclosing unit in the receiving space on the adjacent supporting elements thus realizing a receiving pocket; 
 supplying at least one article into the entrained receiving pocket of the bent enclosing unit; 
 guiding the two enclosing portions toward one another. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving units are moved in a conveying directions along a closed conveying path and the articles are supplied along a collecting section one after another to the receiving units and are inserted into the receiving pockets of the enclosing units, thus forming a stack. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving units are grippers and the supporting elements are gripper leg portions, and the gripper leg portions are movable in relation to one another between an open position, in which the enclosing unit held in the receiving space forms a receiving pocket, and a closed position in which the enclosing portions are guided toward one another. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:
 closing the gripper once the collection of articles has been concluded and gripping the bent enclosing unit with the articles collected therein by gripper leg portions, and   further conveying the articles held in the enclosing unit by the gripper.   
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 creating at least one weakening line along a bending line in a folding apparatus, wherein the weakening line is shorter than the bending line and extends only over a part section of the bending line.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising the further step of:
 inserting the articles into the receiving pocket and placing them onto an enclosing portion of the bent enclosing unit.   
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising the further step of:
 transferring the enclosing unit with the articles held therein to a conveying-away device and further folding of the enclosing unit along the bending line.   
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the conveying-away device is a belt conveyor and the at least partially folded enclosing units with the articles held therein are transferred into a shingle stream. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the enclosing unit comprises a bending line that extends between two enclosing edges and the bending line comprises a plurality of part sections, wherein part sections with a weakening line and part sections without a weakening line alternate in each case along the bending line. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, following the enclosing portions being guided toward one another, the enclosing unit is closed via at least one adhesive that connects the enclosing portions over part of their surface. 
     
     
         11 . A device for collecting flat articles and for further conveying the collected articles as a stack, said device including a plurality of receiving which units that are movable in a conveying direction along a closed conveying path that is defined by a conveying member, and which, for holding and supporting the collected articles, comprises in each case two supporting elements that are situated opposite one another and realize a receiving space, wherein an apparatus for supplying an enclosing unit that is weakened in part along a bending line and for pushing the enclosing unit into the receiving space of the receiving unit that is moved along the conveying path, wherein the apparatus is capable of inserting the enclosing unit in the bent state into the receiving space. 
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a folding apparatus for the partial folding of the enclosing units prior to supplying the enclosing units into the receiving units. 
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein, at least along a collecting section of the conveying path, the receiving units define a contact face that is inclined in the conveying direction. 
     
     
         14 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the receiving units are realized as grippers and the supporting elements are realized as gripper leg portions that are movable in relation to one another between an open position, in which the enclosing unit held in the receiving space forms a receiving pocket, and a closed position in which the enclosing portions are guided toward one another and the enclosing unit is held in a clamping manner. 
     
     
         15 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the inclined contact face is realized at least in part by a lengthened gripper leg portion. 
     
     
         16 . A delivery unit, including at least one flat article as well as a flat, flexible enclosing unit that is weakened in part along a bending line and includes two enclosing portions that are defined from one another along the bending line and form a receiving pocket. 
     
     
         17 . The delivery unit as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the enclosing unit is provided with identification data. 
     
     
         18 . The delivery unit as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the enclosing unit includes a viewing window, through which it is possible to see identification data that has been applied on an article of the collection or on a data carrier that is provided separately and has been inserted into the receiving pocket. 
     
     
         19 . The delivery unit as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the enclosing unit is closed in at least one edge region that does not include the bending line.