EP1524226B1 - Folder with blade wheels and belt conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

The signature folder for a rotary printer has a cutter for a material web and a folder for the individual signatures. The folder has a feed conveyor (03) for direct feed for the cut signatures to the discharge conveyor (06,07) under and independently of the folder. The feed conveyor has a signature switching feed (27) for selective feed of the signatures to at least two outlets.

Description

The invention relates to a folding apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1.

By the WO 97/24284 A2 is such a folder known. Such a folder is z. B. arranged at the output of a rotary printing press to cut a printed, optionally longitudinally folded web of material, which may consist of one or more layers, in sections designated as signatures and to fold these signatures one or more times.

In contrast to the printing process, the folding process, especially when transferring a signature from the folding blade cylinder to the jaw cylinder, requires movements of the signature transversely to its surface, which are hindered by the flow resistance of the air. For this reason, in a continuous production process where the freshly printed web is fed directly to a folder, the maximum working speed of the folder is the factor limiting the processing speed of the entire production process. Another speed-limiting factor stems from the fact that the cylinders of the folder with their folding blades and flaps have a variety of elements that must be abruptly accelerated and decelerated during operation and therefore subject to wear that increases disproportionately with increasing processing speed.

In order to increase the flexibility of a folding machine incorporated in a continuous production process, and in particular to enable the production of products with a different number of folds, it is known to provide the cylinders of a folder with grippers which allow the signatures to be passed through the apparatus without folding , But since these grippers also a discontinuous They also limit the processing speed of the printing process, even if no fold is produced in the folder. In addition, these grippers increase the number of wear-prone and thus maintenance-requiring elements.

The DE 195 25 169 A1 , the DE 195 09 947 A1 and the DE 36 26 287 A1 each describe a folder to which an additional module can be coupled laterally. This additional module has a conveyor line with a paddle wheel and a belt tray for transporting non-transversely folded signatures.

The EP 0 451 573 A1 discloses a folding unit with a conveyor line, wherein a signature switch is provided for selectively supplying the signatures to two display devices. Between the signature switch and the delivery devices, a delay device for slowing down the signatures is arranged.

The DE 12 04 689 B shows a folder with a conveyor line for supplying signatures to a paddle wheel and a belt conveyor for transporting signatures, wherein the Abtransportrichtung the belt conveyor parallel to the axis of rotation of the paddle wheel.

By the EP 0 005 822 A1 a folding apparatus with a conveyor line is known, wherein a signature switch is arranged in front of two display devices. The delivery devices each have a paddle wheel whose axes of rotation extend transversely to the conveying direction of the conveying path.

The DE 196 10 900 A1 discloses a folding apparatus with a cutting device, a folding device for transverse folding, a conveying path and at least one delivery device. This folder is preceded by two Längsfalztrichter, wherein from one Längsfalztrichter a web path to the folding device and from the other Längsfalztrichter a web path leads to the conveyor line.

The invention has for its object to provide a folder.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

The advantages that can be achieved with the invention are, in particular, that due to the possibility created by the conveying path to pass the signatures on the folding device, the speed-limiting influence of the folding device on the entire printing process is eliminated if a fold on the finished product is not required

Another speed limiting influence can result from a limited processing speed of a paddle wheel of a connected delivery device. If a finished product with too high speed thrown into the compartments of such a paddle wheel and thereby braked violently, damage may result. However, a deceleration of the products prior to insertion into the paddle wheel is not or only to a limited extent possible if the products are supplied to the paddle wheel in a virtually seamless stream or with only a small distance from each other. This problem can be overcome by providing a signature switch for selective delivery of the signatures to at least two display devices in the conveyor line. If each of these delivery devices is supplied by the signature switch only with every second signature produced, each individual delivery device can operate at a speed which corresponds to half the production rate of the signatures. A division of the signature stream to more than two delivery devices allows an increase in the processing speed in each case in proportion to the number of delivery devices.

A delay device arranged between the signature switch and each delivery device can reduce the speed of the signatures by up to half compared to the web speed at the entrance of the folder.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the delivery device / the delivery devices of the conveying path are each equipped with belt conveyors conveying parallel to the axis of rotation of the impeller. This construction causes a change in the direction of movement of the signatures by 90 ° in the delivery on the belt conveyor, so that a trimming of the signatures on all sides is possible without the need for costly and the processing speed limiting corner stations are required.

Increased processing flexibility can be achieved by providing the folder with two entrances for feeding single or simultaneous partial webs of material and means for joining these partial webs to the web to be processed in the folder. Thus, in the folding apparatus optionally a material web fed in via the first input alone, a material web supplied alone via the second input, or a material web composed of partial webs fed in via both inputs can be processed.

Preferably, each of the entrances is equipped with a folding hopper in order to be able to produce a longitudinal fold at the part material web fed in via this entrance.

A further increase in flexibility is achieved by means for redirecting the two partial material webs, which make it possible to feed in each case a first partial material web to the conveying path and the second partial material web to the folding device. Thus, both processing units of the folder, the conveyor line and the folding device, can be fully utilized simultaneously.

Notably, the conveyor line and folding device of the above-defined folder can each be used to produce the same products, ie conveyor line and folding device can be operated simultaneously and thus in turn increase the processing speed. This is the folder expediently preceded by a longitudinal cutting device for cutting a material web into the first and the second partial material web, wherein the first partial material web has twice the width of the second and is fed to the folding apparatus along folded. By this first part-material web is guided over the conveyor line and there cut into signatures of a given length, while the second part-material web is cut in the folding device in signatures with twice the length and then folded transversely, can on the conveyor line and the folding device respectively identical products are produced at great speed.

A particularly compact, low design can be realized in that the two delivery devices have oppositely rotating paddle wheels, which interpret on opposite belt conveyors. These belt conveyors can be brought out on different sides of the apparatus but at the same height. Furthermore, it is advantageous for a compact design, if the assembly comprising the conveyor line and its associated delivery devices, in a first end region has an input and a first output for the first delivery device and in an opposite second end region an output for the second delivery device wherein the paddle wheel of the first delivery device is arranged substantially centrally in the assembly. Such an arrangement allows the assembly to be arranged substantially congruently above or below a folding device, so that the need for a footprint relative to a conventional folding apparatus is not increased.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be described in more detail below.

Fig. 1

einen schematischen Querschnitt durch einen Falzapparat;

Fig. 2

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt aus Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

einen schematischen Querschnitt durch einen Falzapparat gemäß einer zweiten Ausgestaltung.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic cross section through a folder;

Fig. 2

an enlarged section Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a schematic cross section through a folding apparatus according to a second embodiment.

The in Fig. 1 shown folding apparatus essentially comprises three functional groups, a cutting device 01 for cutting an inserted into the apparatus, possibly longitudinally folded web 04 into individual signatures, a folding device 02 for folding the cut signatures and a conveyor line 03, on the signatures bypassing the folding device 02 directly display devices 06; 07 are supplied.

The cutting device 01 comprises a rotating knife 08 for longitudinal stocking of the material web 04, a draw roller 09 for maintaining a predetermined tension of the material web 04 and subsequently knife and utility cylinders 11 and 12, which cut off a signature from the incoming material web 04 with each revolution , The diameter of the knife cylinder 11 and cylinder 12 is adjustable to adapt the cutter 01 to the processing of signatures of different lengths.

The cut-off signatures are brought from a first belt conveyor 13 to a folding blade 14, wherein the speed of the belt conveyor 13 is adapted to the relative phase of blade cylinder 11 and cylinder 12 or folding blade 14 that a leading end of each signature on a gripper 16 of Folding blade 14 hits and is trapped by this. With the help of the gripper 16, the signature is conveyed to a gap between the folding blade 14 and a jaw cylinder 18. In this gap folding blades 17 of the folding blade 14 are unfolded to press the signature in a jaw 19 of the jaw cylinder 18. By clamping in the jaw 19, the signature is transferred to the jaw cylinder 18. Of this It is forwarded to a second belt conveyor 21, which distributes the stream of signatures via a signature switch 22 on two delivery devices 23.

At the in Fig. 1 shown embodiment, the cutting device 01 z. B. by moving the knife cylinder 11 or cylinder 12 inactive from the web 04. In the transport direction behind the knife cylinder 11 and the cylinder 12, there is a branch 24, on which the material web 04 can be fed around the first belt conveyor 13 around a second cutting device 26. The structure of this cutter 26 is analogous to that of the cutter 01 and will therefore not be described again.

At the cutting device 26, the conveyor line 03 connects. The latter receives signatures cut by the cutting device 26 and initially feeds them to a signature switch 27. The signature switch 27 comprises two opposing rollers 28, which are respectively looped by bands 29 of the belt conveyor 03, and each carry up to half of its circumference projecting cam 31, which in the enlarged view of Fig. 2 can be seen more accurately.

The conveying speed of the conveyor line 03 in the area of the rollers 28 or the web speed of the belts 29 is selected such that the distance between the leading edges 32 of the cams 31 is in each case the distance between the leading edges 32 on the conveyor line 03 in the region of the belts 29 subsidized signatures corresponds. The cams 31 control a reciprocating motion of a wedge 33 disposed in the output nip of the nip between the two rollers 28 between two positions in which it directs the signatures passing the nip into one of two conveying channels 34, 36, respectively.

The delivery channels 34; 36 are defined in a first section by bands 29 wound around the rollers 28 and whose web speed thus corresponds to the peripheral speed of the rollers 28. A delay device 35 is each formed in a second portion of the conveyor channels 34 and 36 by bands 37 which move at a lower speed and slow down the signatures. The delay means 35 may also comprise a plurality of successively decreasing speed bands 37 for gradually slowing down the signatures.

The delivery channels 34; 36 each lead to a paddle wheel 38 and 39, fall into the blades of the promoted signatures. The left paddle wheel 38 associated with the conveyor channel 34 rotates clockwise and lays down on a conveyor belt 41 running to the left; the right paddle wheel 39 rotates counterclockwise and lays down on a conveyor belt 42 running to the right. The speeds of paddle wheel 38 or 39 and conveyor belt 41 and 42 are each coordinated so that the peripheral speed of the paddle wheel 38; 39 in the area where the inserted signatures touch the conveyor belt 41 or 42 substantially corresponds to the transport speed of the conveyor belt. The display of the signatures on the conveyor belt 41; 42 is therefore not due to a pulling action of the conveyor belt 41; 42 on the signatures but solely by the thrust of a boom arm, each fixed to the paddle wheels 38; 39 is arranged and engages in a gap of the blades, so that when Vorbeirotieren the blades on the boom this pushes the signatures from the blades. In this way, even at a high operating speed of the paddle wheels 38; 39 achieved an absolutely reliable and even shingled delivery of the signatures.

The conveyor line 03 and its associated cutter 26 form a modular assembly that can be built under a conventional folder with minor adjustments of the latter such as the subsequent attachment of the branch 24, without the need for additional parking space is required. This is particularly possible due to the asymmetrical design of the module: A conventional folder is characterized by the signatures in one direction with respect to Fig. 1 from left to right, go through. The modular assembly adapts to this by the input 43 for the material to be processed, here the input of the second cutting device 26, in a first end region of the assembly (the left end region in FIG Fig. 1 ), and that both paddle wheels 38; 39 with respect to this input 43 in the direction of the other end region (in Fig. 1 to the right) are offset. Just as with the folder so no footprint is required left of the entrance 43. In addition, the oppositely rotating arrangement allows the two paddle wheels 38; 39, feeding the products in two directions via exits 44; 46 on one level, so that only a small height is needed.

Basically, a space-saving arrangement would be conceivable in which the assembly of the conveyor line 03 is mounted above the folding device 02. The above described and in Fig. 1 However, arrangement shown is preferred because the folding device 02, which requires more maintenance and adjustment effort than the conveyor section 02, is more easily accessible.

In the embodiment described here, the conveyor line 03 is preceded by its own cutting device 26 to a simple retrofitting existing folders through the conveyor line 03 and the two delivery devices 06; 07 to reach.

Of course, it is also possible to integrate the two functions of cutting and folding the folder more together by only one cutter is provided and at the output of this cutter a signature switch is provided, which allows the cut signatures either the folding device or the conveyor line supply.

Whenever the conveyor line 03 is in operation, the folding device 02 can be completely switched off. This leads to a reduced power consumption of the folder, on the other hand, thereby reducing the wear on the sensitive parts of the folder, and moreover, the Folder be driven at a higher speed than would be possible during operation of the folding device 02.

Fig. 3 shows in one too Fig. 1 analog cross-section of a folding apparatus according to the invention. Elements that are already in construction and function with respect to the Fig. 1 and 2 correspond to described elements carry the same reference numerals.

This folder has two inputs in the form of two formers 51, 52. The material web 04 to be processed is optionally via one of these two formers 51; 52 fed, but it can also be created only within the folder that about the two formers 51; 52 simultaneously supplied partial material webs are deflected by means of rollers 53 and laid over the web 04 on top of each other.

The web 04 then passes a draw roller 09 and a knife 08 for Längsbesäumung. Transverse and longitudinal perforation units 54; 55 for the transverse and longitudinal perforation of the material web 04 are arranged following the knife 08, in front of a second draw roller 09.

Following the second draw roller 09, there are two ways in which the material web 04 can be further conveyed to the folding device 02 or to the conveying path 03. If the material web 04 consists of two in each case via the two formers 51; 52 fed partial webs is composed, both partial webs can be fed either the folding device 02 or the conveyor line 03, or it can be the web 04 again broken down into the partial webs, and fed via the former 51 partial web is conveyed to the conveyor line 03, the over the former 52, however, fed to the folding device 02nd

The entrance of the folding device 02 forms here a gap between a knife cylinder 57 and the folding blade cylinder 14. The conveyor line 03 has at its entrance 43, as already with reference to Fig. 1 described, a second cutter 26 for disassembling the supplied material web in signatures. The length of these signatures is not necessarily the same as that of the knife cylinder 57 cut, in particular, they may be half as long or smaller than the latter. The construction of the conveying path adjoining the cutting device 26 largely corresponds to that with reference to FIG Fig. 1 and 2 described. A first difference, however, is that in the embodiment of Fig. 3 the paddle wheels 38; 39 rotate in the same direction. A second, important difference is that the conveyor belts 41; 42, to which the paddle wheels 38; 39 interpret, in a to the axis of rotation of the paddle wheels 38; 39 parallel direction, ie they promote in one to the plane of the drawing in Fig. 3 vertical direction. The conveying direction is for both conveyor belts 41; 42 the same, and it is chosen so that the generated signatures, if they have a longitudinal fold produced in the folding cylinder 51 or 52, are conveyed out with the longitudinal fold ahead.

By changing the transport direction of the signatures from the plane of the Fig. 3 in a direction perpendicular to this plane, it is possible with the help of in the Fig. 3 not shown knives on the conveyor belts 41; Cut 42 promoted signatures head and foot side, without the need for corner stations are required in which the signatures are each braked and rotated by 90 ° to align their edges to be trimmed in the transport direction.

As you can see, the folder also allows Fig. 3 the processing of a supplied web to a variety of different product formats. However, a special feature of this folder is the ability to produce identical products through simultaneous operation of folding device 02 and conveyor section 03 via different intermediate stages and thus to achieve a very high processing speed for these products. To take advantage of this feature, a web of material, such as a printed paper web in a folding apparatus upstream, known per se and therefore not shown here longitudinal cutting apparatus cut into three sub-webs whose widths are equal to each other behavior. Two partial webs are fed one above the other to the folder via the former 51 to form a longitudinal fold; the other part web is fed via the former 52 without longitudinal fold. At the level of the second draw roller 09, the two partial webs are separated again, the wider without longitudinal fold part web is fed to the folding device 02, there cut into signatures of a given length, and the signatures are folded longitudinally and longitudinally in the third break to a product with the half length of the signatures to get. The two superimposed partial webs, however, are fed to the conveyor line 03, at the entrance they are cut directly into signatures with said half length. The signatures thus obtained are with the signature switch 27 on the two conveyor belts 41; 42 distributed. The folder thus generates three signatures in each working cycle of the folding device 02.

The folder are at least two Längsfalztrichter 51; 52 upstream. Of the one longitudinal folding funnel 52, a first web path to the folding device 02 is provided and from the other Längsfalztrichter 51, a second path to the conveying path. The second railway runs independently of the first railway.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

01

Cutting device, first

02

folding device

03

conveyor line

04

web

05

-

06

delivery device

07

delivery device

08

knife

09

pulling roller

10

-

11

diameter cylinder

12

groove cylinders

13

Belt conveyor, first

14

folding blade

15

-

16

grab

17

folding blade

18

jaw cylinder

19

jaw

20

-

21

Belt conveyor, second

22

signature switch

23

delivery device

24

junction

25

-

26

Cutting device, second

27

signature switch

28

roller

29

tape

30

-

31

cam

32

Edge, leading

33

wedge

34

delivery channel

35

delay means

36

delivery channel

37

tape

38

paddle wheel

39

paddle wheel

40

-

41

conveyor belt

42

conveyor belt

43

entrance

44

output

45

-

46

output

47

-

48

-

49

-

50

-

51

formers

52

formers

53

roller

54

Querperforationseinheit

55

Längsperforationseinheit

57

diameter cylinder

Claims (10)

1. A folder with at least one delivery fan (38; 39), with at least one conveying path (03) for supplying signatures to the delivery fan (38; 39) and at least one belt-conveyor device (41; 42) for removing signatures, wherein the removal direction of the belt-conveyor device (41; 42) is arranged extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the delivery fan (38; 39), characterized in that the supply direction of the conveying path (03) is arranged transversely to the axis of rotation of the delivery fan (38; 39), and the edges - arranged in the conveying direction - of the blades cutting the signatures are associated with the belt-conveyor device (41; 42).
2. A folder according to Claim 1, characterized in that each delivery device (06; 07; 27) of the conveying path (03) has in each case a delivery fan (38; 39) and a belt-conveyor device (41; 42) conveying parallel to the axis of rotation of the delivery fan (38; 39).
3. A folder according to Claim 1, characterized in that the conveying path (03) and the delivery device or devices (06; 07) associated with it form a modular sub-assembly.
4. A folder according to Claim 3, characterized in that the sub-assembly is situated below the folder device (02).
5. A folder according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the folder has two inlets for the individual or simultaneous introduction of web portions of material into the folder and means for bringing together the web portions of material to form the web of material (04).
6. A folder according to Claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the inlets is provided with a former (51; 52).
7. A folder according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the folder has means for separating the two web portions of material again and for supplying a first web portion of material to the conveying path (03) and the second web portion of material to the folder device (02).
8. A folder according to Claim 7, characterized in that a longitudinal slitter for cutting a web of material (04) into the first and the second web portion of material is arranged upstream of the folder.
9. A folder according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that one cutting device (01; 26) is associated in each case with the folder device (02) and the conveying path (03).
10. A folder according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the folder device (02) is capable of being switched off when the signatures are conveyed over the conveying path (03), or the conveying path (03) is capable of being switched off when the signatures are conveyed to the folder device (02).

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