Puzzle manufacturing method and disassembly device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a puzzle (1), comprising a number of puzzle pieces (3) which in an assembled state form said puzzle (1), in which an image (2) is attached or printed onto a support plate, so that said image (2) defines an image surface on said support plate, and then said puzzle pieces (3) are punched out from said printed or attached support plate, or said support plate is punched out and then an image (2) is printed onto said punched support plate, so that said image defines an image surface on said support plate, and said puzzle pieces (3) are disassembled by a controlled movement of at least one puzzle piece (3) in a direction transverse to said image surface, so that after disassembly said puzzle pieces are usable in a defined manner. Furthermore the invention relates to a corresponding device.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a puzzle comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces which, when assembled, form an image, and to a disassembly device for disassembling the puzzle pieces during the manufacturing process. [Background technology]

[0002] Puzzle games are known as products that incorporate a motif, such as a photograph, painting, or designed graphic, into a puzzle. This motif is often selected by the puzzle game manufacturer, and multiple puzzle games with the same motif are produced. It is also now possible for customers to use personal motifs and upload them as part of the order, for example via an internet site or app.

[0003] Such puzzles are typically manufactured by printing or attaching an image onto a support material or board, such as cardboard, wood, plastic, foam, etc., and then producing the individual puzzle pieces of the puzzle by punching the board. After punching, the puzzle pieces remain connected to one another by form-fit connections, which require a user to later undo these connections to disassemble the puzzle pieces. Furthermore, the puzzle pieces may not be completely disassembled from one another by punching, but may still be materially connected to one another by thin sections.

[0004] In the prior art, the disassembly of puzzle pieces is done manually or mechanically, for example by placing the puzzle to be disassembled on a conveyor belt, at the end of which the individual puzzle pieces are broken off or disassembled by a rotating rod. US Patent No. 1,957,078 describes a corresponding device, in which a punched puzzle is randomly disassembled using a rotating leather strip. In this way, a pile of randomly scattered puzzle pieces is generated, and in this state it is no longer possible to determine whether all the puzzle pieces are in the container in which the puzzle is sold to the user. Therefore, the problem of missing some puzzle pieces, which makes it impossible to assemble the puzzle completely, often occurs.

[0005] Further, known puzzle piece disassembly methods and apparatus have problems in that they generate a lot of dust which is difficult to vacuum and there is a risk that puzzle pieces which are not fully disassembled may be damaged during the messy disassembly, thereby damaging the image on the puzzle and rendering the puzzle piece unusable.

[0006] Furthermore, in the prior art, various methods and devices are known for removing punched or cut products, such as from paper, cardboard, plastic or electronic components, in which the punched products are pushed out by a punch, which methods and devices are described in detail in EP 0 697 940, GDR Ek 132 107, US 2004 / 0050225, DE 690 380, DE 1 044 579, US 2008 / 0044511 and JP 07-241888. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 1,957,078 [Patent Document 2] European Patent Publication No. 0697940 [Patent Document 3] Former East German Economic Patent No. 132107 [Patent Document 4] US Patent Application Publication No. 2004 / 0050225 [Patent Document 5] West German Patent Application Publication No. 690380 [Patent Document 6] West German Patent Application Publication No. 1044579 [Patent Document 7] US Patent Application Publication No. 2008 / 0044511 [Patent Document 8] Japanese Patent Publication No. 07-241888 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus which allows for a better disassembly of puzzles, in particular a targeted and clear disassembly of puzzle pieces, so as to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and in particular to provide a method and an apparatus which allows for a targeted and clear disassembly of puzzle pieces, so that the puzzle pieces can be further processed in a controlled and targeted manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The above problem is solved by a method having the features of claim 1 and by a device having the features of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0010] In order to solve the above problem, a method for manufacturing a puzzle comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces which form a puzzle in an assembled state is proposed. In the method, an image is pasted or printed on a support plate, so that the image defines an image surface on the support plate, and then the puzzle pieces are punched out from the printed or pasted support plate. Alternatively, the sequence can be reversed, and the pasted or suitable support plate is first punched out, and then the image is printed on the punched support plate. An image is understood here to be any representation suitable for a puzzle, and various materials such as cardboard, plastic, wood, etc. are conceivable as the support material of the support plate. The same applies to printing or pasting. Furthermore, punching out is understood to refer to any type of disassembly of the puzzle pieces, and not only to the specific process of punching out. In particular, the disassembly can be performed by sawing, cutting, laser cutting, etc. According to the invention, the puzzle pieces are disassembled by a controlled movement across the image surface of at least one puzzle piece, in a defined direction from the punched support plate, so that the puzzle pieces can be used in a defined manner after disassembly.

[0011] The controlled movement may in particular be performed perpendicular to the puzzle surface or image surface defined by the major surface having the largest dimension of the puzzle or support plate.

[0012] One or more puzzle pieces may be removed simultaneously and / or consecutively from the stamped support plate, which on the one hand ensures an efficient disassembly in the shortest possible time and on the other hand still ensures a clear disassembly. In particular, up to half of the puzzle pieces of a puzzle may be removed simultaneously from the stamped support plate or all puzzle pieces may be removed simultaneously.

[0013] For the puzzle to be disassembled, several partial areas may be defined, each of which contains a specific puzzle piece, and for all partial areas at least one puzzle piece respectively is simultaneously removed from the punched support plate. Alternatively, all puzzle pieces of one or more partial areas may be simultaneously removed from the punched support plate, and in particular in the case of a removed partial area, further disassembly of the puzzle pieces of the partial area is performed according to the method of the invention or another method.

[0014] The puzzle pieces of the sub-area may also be defined by at least one characteristic of the puzzle pieces selected from belonging to one or more rows of the puzzle, belonging to part of one or more rows of the puzzle, belonging to one or more columns of the puzzle, belonging to part of one or more columns of the puzzle, belonging to any local region of the puzzle, one or more base colors or color components of the puzzle pieces, end pieces of the puzzle, the number of concave or convex portions of the puzzle pieces, and combinations thereof.

[0015] In order to prevent one or more adjacent puzzle pieces from moving or tilting during the removal of one or more puzzle pieces, one or more adjacent puzzle pieces, or all puzzle pieces adjacent to the puzzle piece to be removed, or all puzzle pieces adjacent to the puzzle piece to be removed that have a common cutting line, may be fixed during the movement of the puzzle piece to be removed.

[0016] The controlled movement for removing the at least one puzzle piece may be a linear translational movement, in particular a pushing or pulling movement.

[0017] The removal of the puzzle pieces may in particular be performed in such a way that the removed puzzle pieces, after being removed from the stamped support plate, are arranged in a common plane, in particular a plane that is displaced parallel to the image plane of the unmoved puzzle pieces, thus allowing easy and clear access to the disassembled puzzle pieces for convenient further processing after disassembly.

[0018] Following the controlled movement to remove the at least one puzzle piece, the at least one puzzle piece may be placed or stacked in a storage container, particularly if the puzzle pieces are disassembled in sections, the puzzle pieces of the partial sections may be placed in a common storage container.

[0019] According to a further aspect of the invention, which is sought to be protected independently or in combination with the above method, a device for dismantling puzzle pieces of a puzzle comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces is proposed, the device comprising a storage element for a puzzle of puzzle pieces connected to one another and at least one moving element which is movable relative to the storage element such that at least one contact element comes into contact with at least one puzzle piece and the puzzle piece is moved by the contact element in a transverse direction across the storage element, whereby the storage element defines an image surface of the puzzle or a support surface parallel to the puzzle surface, such that the movement for removing the puzzle piece is performed transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the image surface of the puzzle.

[0020] In one embodiment, the moving element may be a plate with a number of projections and recesses on one side or main surface of the plate with the largest dimension. In particular, the number of projections and recesses may be up to half the number of puzzle pieces to be disassembled, respectively. In this embodiment, the projections are contact elements. Also, the storage element is formed as a plate with projections and recesses complementary to the moving element, the projections being the support of the puzzle to be disassembled, so that when the puzzle to be disassembled is placed in the storage element and the moving element is moved towards the storage element, one or more puzzle pieces are pushed into the complementary recesses of the storage element by each projection of the moving element. In this way, in particular all puzzle pieces of the puzzle can be disassembled from each other by one disassembly movement.

[0021] Each recess or each protrusion of the storage element or the transfer element may correspond to at least one puzzle piece of the puzzle to be disassembled and / or to a partial area of ​​multiple puzzle pieces.

[0022] In another embodiment, the moving element may be a movable pushing element and / or pulling element, in particular a die and / or a suction element.

[0023] In this embodiment, the contact element may be formed by a pushing surface of a pushing element, in particular a die surface of a die, and may be formed by a connecting surface of a pulling element, in particular a suction nozzle of a suction element.

[0024] The device may comprise a number of moving elements and contact elements movable simultaneously such that a number of puzzle pieces are removed simultaneously from the puzzle to be disassembled. In particular, the one or more moving elements and contact elements movable simultaneously may be arranged in the moving element holder such that each of the moving elements and contact elements is arranged within a portion of the moving element holder, each portion corresponding to a partial area of ​​the puzzle to be disassembled such that the puzzle pieces can be removed individually and successively within the partial area of ​​the puzzle.

[0025] However, the device may also include one moving element and one contact element for each puzzle piece or sub-area of ​​the puzzle to be disassembled.

[0026] The contact elements may be shaped and / or arranged in such a way that they substantially completely cover the surface of the puzzle to be disassembled by being placed in the moving element holder, the contact elements may be at least partially in lateral contact with each other, and the contact elements may be elastically deformable at their periphery to avoid jamming and wear.

[0027] Since the puzzle to be disassembled may contain puzzle pieces of various designs and the arrangement of the puzzle pieces on the stamped support plate may change due to wear, the moving elements and / or contact elements may be arranged in the moving element holder such that while the puzzle pieces are being removed from the puzzle to be disassembled in at least one, and preferably two, directions extending transverse to each other, the moving elements and / or contact elements are slidable in a direction transverse to the moving direction, thereby allowing adjustment.

[0028] The contact elements may have different contact surfaces adapted to the size of the assigned puzzle piece or pieces or sub-areas of the puzzle to be disassembled.

[0029] The device may further comprise fastening means for fastening a puzzle piece that is not to be removed and that is arranged adjacent to the puzzle piece to be removed. The fastening means may in particular comprise a clamping ring or a frame to which the puzzle piece or pieces to be fixed relative to the storage element are clamped.

[0030] At least one moving and / or contacting element may be configured in the device to have a fixing position that fixes one or more puzzle pieces in the lateral and / or moving direction during removal.

[0031] The storage element may comprise a support plate for supporting the puzzle to be disassembled, which may be provided with a support surface, and furthermore, the support plate may have at least one, preferably a plurality of holes, through which at least one moving element and / or contact element or a detached puzzle piece is movable, in particular each hole may be assigned one moving element and / or contact element.

[0032] In particular, at least one moving element and / or contact element together with a moving element holder in which it is stored may be movable in a direction transverse to the moving direction during removal of puzzle pieces from the puzzle to be disassembled in at least one, preferably two directions extending transverse to each other relative to the puzzle to be disassembled, thereby moving various puzzle pieces to the respective moving element and / or contact element. Similarly, the storage element may also be movable relative to the puzzle.

[0033] Conversely, the device may also comprise a puzzle moving means by which the puzzle to be disassembled or parts of the remaining puzzle are movable relative to the moving element holder and / or the storage element, in particular slidable on the storage element.

[0034] The device may further comprise a puzzle piece storage means for storing the removed puzzle piece or pieces. The puzzle piece storage means may comprise a gripping or suction device for at least one puzzle piece or preferably for all puzzle pieces. Furthermore, a storage container may be provided, in particular a cylindrical storage container with a diameter adapted to the puzzle pieces or a storage container with a grid-like or perforated wall. The size or diameter of the storage container may be adapted to the puzzle pieces such that the puzzle pieces cannot be twisted or tilted in the storage container and thus remain stacked in the storage container. The size of the storage space in the storage container may be adjustable, preferably by a movable piston. The grid-like or perforated wall of the storage container allows for the suction of dust generated during the disassembly of the puzzle pieces.

[0035] The device may further comprise operating means for operating one or more moving elements, which preferably comprise one or more operating elements assigned to the moving elements, which operating elements are arranged in fixed, predetermined positions, in particular in a direction transverse to the movement direction during removal of the puzzle pieces. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0036] In the accompanying drawings, the following is illustrated in purely schematic form: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of a storage element of a device for disassembling puzzle pieces according to the invention, which is in the form of a plate having protrusions and recesses. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a device according to the present invention, which includes a moving element and a storage element in the form of a plate having protrusions and recesses. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 2 after a disassembly process. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but with the protrusions and recesses sized to separate sub-areas containing multiple puzzle pieces of a puzzle. [Diagram 5]FIG. 5 is a plan view of the storage element of the device according to FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the moving elements of the device according to FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a device for disassembling puzzle pieces of a puzzle according to the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows the arrangement of a perforated plate of a device similar to that of FIG. 7 relative to the puzzle to be disassembled. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of another embodiment of an apparatus for disassembling puzzle pieces in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of yet another embodiment of an apparatus for disassembling puzzle pieces in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments, to which, however, the present invention is not limited.

[0038] Fig. 1 shows a part of a plan view of a storage element of a device for disassembling puzzle pieces according to the invention, which is in the form of a plate with protrusions and recesses, while in Fig. 2 a side cross-sectional view of the corresponding device is seen. In Fig. 2 a puzzle 1 to be disassembled is seen, which comprises a number of puzzle pieces 3. The puzzle 1 consists of a support plate, on which an image 2 is pasted or printed. The puzzle 1 in Fig. 2 has already been divided into a number of puzzle pieces 3 by a cutting or punching process, but there is still a connection of the puzzle pieces in the direction of the image plane due to the mutual form-fitting of the puzzle pieces 3. It may also happen that in the cutting or punching process a complete disassembly is not achieved and a thin material connection still remains due to the support material.

[0039] Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention for dismantling a puzzle piece 3 of a puzzle 1. The device shown in Fig. 2 comprises a plate-shaped storage element 4 with a protrusion 6 and a recess 7, and a moving element 5 which also has a protrusion 6 and a recess 7 complementary to the protrusion 6 and the recess 7 of the storage element 4. The protrusion of the storage element 4 comprises a support surface 9 for supporting the puzzle 1 to be dismantled. The protrusion 6 of the moving element 5 is a contact element with a contact surface 8 which contacts the puzzle piece 3 to be removed from the puzzle 1 when the moving element 5 is moved towards the storage element 4 to carry out the dismantling process. By moving the moving element 5 towards the storage element 4, the contact surface 8 of the protrusion 6 of the moving element 5 pushes a part of the puzzle piece 3 from the puzzle 1 into the recess 7 of the storage element 4, whereby the puzzle piece 3 is dismantled.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 1, the convex portions 6 and concave portions 7 corresponding to the puzzle pieces 3 of the puzzle 1 to be disassembled are arranged alternately, so that all the puzzle pieces 3 of the puzzle 1 to be disassembled are disassembled from each other in one movement of the moving element 5 toward the storage element 4 and placed in a specified position.

[0041] In Fig. 1, for a puzzle 1, the puzzle pieces 3 are arranged in a number of rows A, B, C, D... and columns A, B, C, D..., which can be seen in the plan view of the corresponding storage element 4. For example, the puzzle element in row B column B is formed as a convex 6, while the puzzle element in the adjacent row B column C is formed as a concave. Similarly, the puzzle elements in rows A column B, B column A and C column B are also formed as concaves, and for example the puzzle element in row C column C is again formed as a convex. However, so-called random cut puzzles, which do not have a row and column structure, can of course also be disassembled in a similar manner.

[0042] Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view after the disassembly process performed by the device shown in Figure 2. As can be seen in Figure 3, some of the puzzle pieces 3 are located in the recesses 7 of the storage element 4, while the remaining puzzle pieces 3 are located on the protrusions 6 or on the top of the support surface 9, so that after a single movement process for disassembling the puzzle pieces 3, all the puzzle pieces 3 are disassembled from each other so that they can be further processed in a defined manner.

[0043] 3, the puzzle piece storage means is shown diagrammatically to include, for example, a number of suction nozzles 10, the number of which is preferably equal to the number of disassembled puzzle pieces 3, such that a number of puzzle pieces 3, or preferably all puzzle pieces 3, can be stored simultaneously by the puzzle piece storage means or suction nozzles 10 for further processing. For example, by appropriately switching the suction nozzles 10, the puzzle pieces 3 held in the puzzle piece storage means may be individually and successively placed at desired positions, and depending on how the suction nozzles 10 are switched, a number of puzzle pieces 3 may be placed simultaneously.

[0044] Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of the device according to the invention for disassembling puzzle pieces 3, which is substantially identical to the device of Fig. 2. However, the transverse extension dimensions of the projections 6 and recesses 7, i.e. the dimensions parallel to the image plane of the puzzle 1, are different, so that the recesses 7 of the storage element 4 can accommodate several puzzle pieces 3 or partial areas of the puzzle 1 to be disassembled, for example partial areas comprising several puzzle pieces 3 adjacent to each other along the rows and columns of the puzzle 1, so that the puzzle 1 to be disassembled is disassembled area by area. The partial areas of the disassembled puzzle 1 have to be further disassembled if desired, for which the device according to the invention or the devices or methods according to the prior art can be applied.

[0045] 5 and 6 show top views of the storage element 4 (FIG. 5) and the moving element 5 (FIG. 6) of the device according to FIG. 4. As can be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6, the corresponding protrusions 6 are designed in a simple basic shape, for example a rectangle or a square as shown, and do not have to be imitated on the individual puzzle pieces 3, as in the storage element 4 or the moving element 5 of the device according to FIG. 2. However, this design is also conceivable for the device for dismantling the individual puzzle pieces 3, respectively, according to the embodiment of FIG. 2. Similar to the device for dismantling the puzzle pieces 3 in sections, shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the protrusions 6 of the storage element 4 and the moving element 5 only need to have smaller dimensions than the complementary recesses. This is in order to protect the edge of the puzzle piece 3 to be removed, so that it is not sheared by the protrusions 6 and the recesses 7, as shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 5.

[0046] Figure 7 shows a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a device for dismantling puzzle pieces 3 according to the invention. In the device according to figure 7, a puzzle 1 to be dismantled, comprising a number of puzzle pieces 3, is supported on a perforated plate 11, which has at least one, and preferably a number of holes 17.

[0047] Furthermore, the device according to Fig. 7 is provided with an operating element holder 12, on which at least one, preferably several, moving elements in the form of dies 13 are arranged. The dies 13 comprise a shaft 14 and a die foot 15 and can be moved in a direction transverse to the puzzle surface or image surface of the puzzle 1, in particular perpendicular to the puzzle surface or image surface of the puzzle 1, as indicated by the double arrow. For example, the operating element holder 12 can be provided with a linear guide for the shaft 14 of the dies 13. The operating element holder 12 further comprises a fixed ring 16, which can also be moved in a direction transverse to the puzzle surface or image surface of the puzzle 1, in particular perpendicular to the puzzle surface or image surface of the puzzle 1, as indicated by the double arrow.

[0048] When the puzzle 1 to be disassembled is placed on the perforated plate 11, the die 13 can be moved towards the perforated plate 11, thereby pushing the puzzle piece 3 out of the puzzle 1 by means of the die feet 15, so that the puzzle piece 3 falls downwards through the holes 17. Of course, a reversed positioning and movement direction is also conceivable, whereby the die pushes the puzzle piece 3 upwards.

[0049] Below the hole 17 are located a hopper 20 and a storage container 18 into which the removed puzzle pieces 3 fall. If the hopper 20 and the storage container 18 are dimensioned to have a diameter or maximum dimension, in a direction parallel to the puzzle face, that is slightly larger than the puzzle piece 3 to be removed, the puzzle pieces 3 will not tilt or twist as they fall and can accumulate in a stack in the storage container 18. This is further supported by the fact that the storage space in the storage container 18 or the height from which the puzzle pieces 3 fall is adjustable by a piston 19 movable within the storage container 18, so that the height of the fall is as small as possible without the puzzle pieces 3 being able to tilt or twist.

[0050] To prevent adjacent puzzle pieces 3 from tilting or shifting when the puzzle pieces 3 are pressed in by the die feet 15 of the die 13, the operating element holder 12 includes a locking ring 16 which holds the adjacent puzzle pieces 3 in place while the puzzle pieces 3 are being removed.

[0051] The disassembly of the puzzle pieces 3 of the puzzle 1 to be disassembled can be performed in the device according to Fig. 7 by shifting the puzzle 1 to be disassembled relative to one or more dies 13 by the puzzle moving means, so that the various puzzle pieces 3 can be successively removed from the puzzle 1. The puzzle moving means in the illustrated embodiment comprises a suction device 21 with one or more suction nozzles for fixing and / or lifting the puzzle 1 to be disassembled and a clamping slide 28 for clamping and / or pressing the puzzle 1 laterally, the suction device 21 and the clamping slide 28 being slidable in a direction parallel to the puzzle surface or image surface of the puzzle 1, so that all puzzle pieces 3 of the puzzle 1 to be disassembled can be moved under the die 13.

[0052] For example, for a puzzle containing 1000 puzzle pieces 3, a perforated plate 11 with 40 holes 17 and an operating element holder 12 with 40 dies 13 may be provided, so that in one moving process for removing the puzzle pieces 3 from the puzzle 1 to be disassembled, 40 puzzle pieces 3 can be simultaneously removed and transferred into corresponding storage containers 18. After removing the first 40 puzzle pieces 3, each adjacent puzzle piece 3 can be removed by shifting the puzzle 1 relative to the 40 dies 13 and the 40 holes 17, for example along a row or column of the puzzle 1. All puzzle pieces 3 of the puzzle 1 can be disassembled by performing 25 successive disassembly moves of the dies 13 and shifting the puzzle 1 in a grid pattern relative to the dies 13 and holes 17. Of course, the description of 40 dies and 40 holes in the perforated plate 11 is merely exemplary, and it is clear to one skilled in the art that various numbers of dies 13, holes 17 and puzzle pieces 3 of the puzzle 1 can be adapted. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the puzzle 1 with holes 17 in the perforated plate 11 positioned below to clarify the principle, and the double-headed arrows shown indicate the movement of the puzzle 1 relative to the holes 17.

[0053] 9 shows part of another embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which the die feet 15 including the contact surfaces 8 are adapted to cover substantially the entire surface of the puzzle 1 to be disassembled, so that the die feet 15 are arranged closely adjacent to each other and may even be in contact with each other. Thus, for each puzzle piece 3 to be disassembled an individually operable die 13 is provided, so that each individual puzzle piece can be removed from the puzzle 1 in the desired manner, without shifting the puzzle 1 relative to the die 13.

[0054] In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the movable die 13 is biased in a position in which the puzzle piece 3 in the operating element holder 12 is not removed from the puzzle 1 by a spring element 23 as shown, for example, on the die 13.

[0055] Each of the dies 13 also includes a pressure plate 22 at the end of the shaft 14 opposite the die foot 15, via which the die 13 may be manipulated.

[0056] In order to adapt the die to the displacement of the puzzle 1 being disassembled, the die 13 may be adjustable in a direction parallel to the puzzle surface or image surface of the puzzle 1, as shown by the double arrow in FIG.

[0057] In order to minimize wear and prevent clogging of the die 13 when the contact surface 8 of the die foot 15 is provided over the entire surface, according to the embodiment of FIG. 9, the die foot 15 may include an elastic material on the lateral periphery of the die foot 15.

[0058] As can be further understood from FIG. 9 , the operating element holder 12 and the die 13 movably arranged within the operating element holder 12 may be configured such that the die 13, having been manipulated to remove the corresponding puzzle piece 3, does not initially return to its original position, but remains in an at least partially extended position for removing the puzzle piece 3, thereby remaining in the gap 25 of the puzzle 1, thereby ensuring lateral fixation of the puzzle 1.

[0059] Fig. 10 shows yet another embodiment of an apparatus for disassembling a puzzle 1. The apparatus shown in Fig. 10 is similar to the apparatus in Fig. 9, but in addition, an operating means 26 for operating the dies 13 is provided. The operating means 26 includes a number of operating elements 27 corresponding to the number of the dies 13, but it is also possible to provide a smaller number of operating elements 27 if a number of the dies 13 can be moved simultaneously. For example, when a perforated plate with 40 holes is used, one operating element 27 may be provided for the 40 dies 13, whereby the puzzle pieces are removed by simultaneously moving the dies 13 arranged under the respective holes.

[0060] The operating element 27, like the die 13, is movable in a direction transverse to the puzzle surface or image surface of the puzzle 1, so that the operating element 27 can be pressed against the pressure plate 22 of the die 13 and moved accordingly. The operating element 27 is arranged in a fixed and predetermined position in the operating means 26 according to a fixed grid structure. In contrast, the die 13 of the operating element holder 12, which includes the die foot 15, and the position of the shaft 14 in the operating element holder 12 are adapted to the design of the puzzle piece 3 of the puzzle 1 to be disassembled. The device according to FIG. 10 is therefore designed in such a way that different operating element holders 12 adapted to various puzzles 1 to be disassembled can be used, while the operating means 26 can be universally adopted for all different operating element holders 12. In FIG. 10, it is illustrated by dashed lines how the shaft 14 of the die 13 can be arranged offset from the longitudinal axis of the operating element 27 in order to obtain an optimal position of the die foot 15 for pushing out the puzzle piece 3 from the puzzle 1.

[0061] Although the present invention has been described in detail based on the embodiments, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but rather can be modified, such as omitting individual features or implementing different combinations of features, without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In particular, the present disclosure includes all combinations of individual features shown in the various embodiments, and individual features described only in the context of one embodiment may also be applied to other embodiments or combinations of individual features not expressly shown. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1 Puzzle 2 Images 3 Puzzle Pieces 4 Storage elements 5. Movement elements 6 Convex 7 Recess 8 Contact surface 9 Support surface 10 Suction nozzle 11 Perforated board 12 Operating element holder 13 Die 14 Shaft 15 Die Foot 16 Fixed ring 17 holes 18 Storage Containers 19 Piston 20 Hopper 21 Suction device 22 Pressure Plate 23 Spring 24 Elastic Edge 25 Gap 26 Operating means 27 Operational Elements 28 Slides A,B,C... rows and columns

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a puzzle (1), wherein the puzzle (1) comprises a plurality of puzzle pieces (3) that form the puzzle in an assembled state, and in this method, after an image (2) is pasted or printed on a support plate so that the image defines an image plane on the support plate, the puzzle pieces (3) are punched out from the support plate on which the puzzle pieces have been printed or pasted, or after the support plate is punched out, an image (2) is printed on the punched-out support plate so that an image defines an image plane on the support plate, The puzzle pieces (3) are removed from the punched-out support plate and disassembled by a controlled movement in a direction transverse to the image plane of at least one of the puzzle pieces (3), whereby the puzzle pieces become available for use in a manner defined after disassembly. A method characterized by this.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the controlled movement is performed perpendicular to the image plane.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more puzzle pieces (3) are removed from the punched-out support plate simultaneously and / or continuously.

4. A plurality of sub-regions are defined for the puzzle, each sub-region includes a specific puzzle piece (3), and for all sub-regions, at least one puzzle piece (3) is removed from the punched-out support plate simultaneously, or all the puzzle pieces (3) of one or more sub-regions are removed from the punched-out support plate simultaneously. In the case of the removed sub-region, further disassembly of the puzzle pieces of the sub-region is performed according to the method of the present invention or another method. The method according to claim 1, characterized by this.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the puzzle pieces (3) in the partial area are defined by at least one characteristic of the puzzle pieces (3), and the characteristic is belonging to one or more rows of the puzzle, belonging to a part of one or more rows of the puzzle, belonging to one or more columns of the puzzle, belonging to a part of one or more columns of the puzzle, belonging to any local area of the puzzle, one or more basic colors or color components of the puzzle piece, the end piece of the puzzle, the number of concave or convex parts of the puzzle piece, and combinations thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one puzzle piece adjacent to the puzzle piece (3) to be removed, or all puzzle pieces adjacent to the puzzle piece to be removed, or all puzzle pieces adjacent to the puzzle piece to be removed and having a common cutting line are fixed during the movement of the puzzle piece to be removed.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the controlled movement for removing at least one of the puzzle pieces (3) is a linear translational movement, a pushing or pulling movement.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that after the removed puzzle piece (3) is removed from the punched support plate, it is arranged on a common surface, and the common surface is a surface shifted parallel to the image surface of the puzzle pieces that have not been moved.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that following the controlled movement for removing at least one of the puzzle pieces (3), at least one of the puzzle pieces (3) is arranged in a storage container (18).

10. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the puzzle pieces (3) in the partial area are arranged or stacked in a common storage container (18).

11. An apparatus for implementing the method according to claim 1 for disassembling puzzle pieces of a puzzle (1) comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces (3), the apparatus comprising a storage element (4) for the puzzle of puzzle pieces (3) connected to each other, and at least one moving element (5), wherein at least one of the moving elements (5, 13) is movable relative to the storage element (4, 11), so that at least one contact element (6, 15) contacts at least one of the puzzle pieces (3), and the puzzle piece is moved by the contact element (6, 15) in a direction transverse to the storage element (4, 11), whereby at least one of the puzzle pieces (3) is removed from the puzzle (1).

12. The moving element (5) is a plate having a plurality of convex portions (6) and concave portions (7) on one side, the convex portions (6) being contact elements, and the storage element (4) being a plate having convex portions (6) and concave portions (7) complementary to the moving element (5), the convex portions (6) being supports of the puzzle to be disassembled, so that when the puzzle to be disassembled is arranged in the storage element (4) and the moving element (5) is moved towards the storage element (4), one or more of the puzzle pieces (3) are pushed into the complementary concave portions (7) of the storage element (4) by each convex portion (6) of the moving element. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that each concave portion (7) or each convex portion (6) corresponds to at least one puzzle piece (3) of the puzzle (1) to be disassembled and / or to a partial area of a plurality of puzzle pieces (3).

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the moving element (13) is a movable pushing element and / or pulling element and is a die and / or a suction element.

15. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the contact element (15) is the pressing surface of the pressing element, the die surface of the die (13), the connecting surface of the pulling element, or the suction nozzle of the suction element.

16. The device comprises a plurality of moving elements and contact elements (13, 15), and the moving elements and the contact elements (13, 15) can move simultaneously, so that a plurality of puzzle pieces (3) can be simultaneously removed from a puzzle being disassembled. The moving elements and the contact elements (13, 15) are arranged in a moving element holder (12), so that one or more of the moving elements and the contact elements (13, 15) that can move simultaneously are respectively arranged within a part of the moving element holder, and each part of the moving element holder corresponds to a partial area of the puzzle (1) being disassembled. The device according to claim 11.

17. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that for each puzzle piece (3) or each partial area of the puzzle (1) being disassembled, the device includes one moving element and one contact element (13, 15) respectively.

18. The contact element (15) is arranged within the moving element holder to substantially completely cover the surface of the puzzle (1) being disassembled. The contact elements (15) are at least partially in lateral contact with each other and / or are elastically deformable at the peripheral edges of the contact elements (15). The device according to claim 11.

19. The moving element and / or the contact element (13, 15) are arranged within the moving element holder (12), so that within the moving element holder (12), while removing the puzzle piece (3) from the puzzle (1) being disassembled, the moving element and / or the contact element (13, 15) are slidable in a direction transverse to the moving direction. The device according to claim 11.

20. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the contact elements (6, 15) have a contact surface (8) that adapts to the size of one or more of the assigned puzzle pieces (3) or the partial areas of the puzzle to be disassembled.

21. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the device comprises fixing means for fixing a puzzle piece (3) that is arranged adjacent to the puzzle piece (3) to be removed and that is not removed, the fixing means comprising a clamping ring or frame (16) in which one or more of the puzzle pieces (3) fixed to the storage element (11) are clamped.

22. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one moving element and / or contact element (13, 15) is formed to have a fixed position for fixing one or more puzzle pieces (3) in the lateral and / or the moving direction during removal.

23. The storage element includes a support plate (11) for supporting the puzzle to be disassembled, the support plate having at least one or a plurality of holes (17), through which at least one of the moving elements and / or the contact elements (13, 15) or the removed puzzle piece (3) is movable, and one moving element and / or contact element (13, 15) is assigned to each hole (17). The device according to claim 11, characterized in that.

24. During removal of a puzzle piece from the puzzle (1) to be disassembled, at least one of the moving elements and / or the contact elements (13, 15) is movable in a direction transverse to the moving direction, without or together with the moving element holder (12) in which the moving element and / or the contact element (13, 15) is stored, and / or together with the storage element (11). The device according to claim 11, characterized in that.

25. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the device comprises puzzle moving means by which the puzzle to be disassembled or a part of the remaining puzzle is movable relative to the moving element holder (12) and / or the storage element (11).

26. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the device comprises puzzle piece storage means for storing one or more removed puzzle pieces, the puzzle piece storage means comprising a grip or suction device (21) and / or a storage container (18) for at least one puzzle piece (3), or a storage container having a grid-like or perforated wall, and the storage space in the storage container being adjustable by a movable piston (19).

27. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the device comprises operating means (26) for operating one or more of the moving elements (13), the operating means comprising one or more operating elements (27) assigned to the moving elements (13), and the operating elements being arranged at a predetermined position fixed in a direction transverse to the moving direction during removal of the puzzle piece (3).

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