EP0755356A1

EP0755356A1 - Device and process for combining and processing several paper webs

Info

Publication number: EP0755356A1
Application number: EP95917320A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joseph Schweiger
Original assignee: Branstal Printing Participation Establishmant
Current assignee: Branstal Printing Participation Establishmant
Priority date: 1994-04-13
Filing date: 1995-04-13
Publication date: 1997-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-13
Also published as: NO964263D0; BR9507368A; EP0755356B1; ES2122592T3; ATE168967T1; US5779233A; CA2187743A1; HUT76111A; JP3765580B2; KR970702208A; AU2344695A; HU9602667D0; DK0755356T3; NO964263L; PL179486B1; CN1149862A; DE59502996D1; RU2141924C1; CA2187743C; WO1995028345A1

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/EP95/01402 Sec. 371 Date Oct. 15, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Oct. 15, 1996 PCT Filed Apr. 13, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO95/28345 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 26, 1995A device for combining and processing at least two paper or foil webs includes at least two pay-out units (1a, 1b, 1c), in each of which a paper web (3a, 3b, 3c) provided with markings applied at regular intervals is pulled off by withdrawal rolls (7a, 8a, 7b, 8b, 7c, 8c) from a roll (2a, 2b, 2c) and, possibly guided over deflection rollers (13a, 13b, 13c), is combined with the at least second paper web (3a, 3b, 3c) and fed to a processing line (11). In processing line (11) preferably the at least two paper webs (3a, 3b, 3c), possibly independent of one another, pass through processing units and are supplied to a unit (15) for further processing. Means are provided for congruent longitudinal register control of the at least two paper webs (3a, 3b, 3c), said means comprising means for producing a paper tension that is essentially the same for each of the at least two paper webs (3a, 3b, 3c), over the width of the respective paper web, web feelers (18, 17a, 17b, 17c) for registering the time sequence of the markings on each paper web (3a, 3b, 3c), and a control unit (19) for controlling a drive or brake device. Withdrawal rolls, especially in the form of rubber rolls (14a, 14b), are provided as means for developing paper tension, said rolls being located downstream of processing line (11) and preferably directly upstream of unit (15) for further processing.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MERGING AND REFINING SEVERAL PAPER FILMS

The invention relates to a device for merging and refining a plurality of paper webs according to the preamble of claim 1, and a method for merging and refining a plurality of paper webs.

Refining a paper web is understood in the broadest sense to mean any form of processing, be it printing, coating, numbering, punching, punching, or also applying or covering (sticking) with plastic cards, such as credit cards, with sample packages, with labels , or creating address windows and covering them with transparent foils.

If a single, endless paper web is finished, then due to a synchronization of the processes, the error-free further processing of the same, such as folding or cross cutting, depends only on the correct observance of the web speed. This is done, for example, by providing register perforations on the paper webs, in which barbed strips which are arranged along the processing or finishing line engage, and thus ensure synchronous feed of the paper web. However, this type of longitudinal registration has the disadvantage that, on the one hand, this perforation edge generally has to be removed in the further processing unit, and on the other hand, this double-sided perforation edge means loss of material which is of high quality per se.

In a known device, this disadvantage is overcome by providing the paper web with markings, which are registered via a web button. This day

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS ster is arranged in front of the processing unit. This enables a further processing, such as printing, embossing, punching or cutting of previously processed, for example pre-printed, webs, via a corresponding control. The drive of the unwinding rollers on the unwinding unit is regulated by the control, whereby the format length can be influenced. As an alternative to this, the register can optionally also be corrected via a synchronous motor influencing the drive of the feed rollers arranged upstream of the further processing unit.

A completely different situation arises, however, if not only one web is to be refined and further processed - a requirement that arises, for example, in newspaper printing, but several webs are to be processed, possibly in different ways - think, for example, of glued-in sample packages or to removable reply cards. So far there have been no satisfactory solutions. It is certainly possible to run all paper webs over barbed tapes, but this would not allow independent processing of individual webs. The other device shown above can be used for one paper web, but not for several webs that are together, i.e. one above the other, are guided and, if necessary, are processed independently and, if appropriate, are webs of different quality or with different finishing (for example occupancy).

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing an apparatus and a method with which

Several paper webs are brought together and - if necessary independently of one another - refined, and which can be fed to a further processing unit together exactly along the longitudinal register. One way of solving this problem is given by realizing the combination of the features of claim 1 and claim 7. Advantageous designs are described in the dependent claims.

“Paper webs” in the sense of the invention are to be understood as all those materials which are in web form, which may be subjected to a finishing process, which in any case are brought together with other webs, and which are subsequently subjected to further processing together with these other webs. Thus, for example, film webs, rather thin cardboard webs and paper webs of different thickness and quality are included.

By "merging" the individual paper webs is to be understood the arrangement of the already unrolled paper webs - possibly at a distance from one another - before they pass through the processing section, where they may be processed independently of one another or not at all, i.e. also cover other routes if necessary. It is thus possible according to the invention that one of the webs runs through the processing line without processing, while another web is guided over deflection rollers and is subjected to finishing processes. In the same way, however, all webs can be processed simultaneously in one processing unit, for example crimped or numbered.

The means for congruent longitudinal register control of the at least two paper webs comprise means for building up a paper tension which is essentially the same for the at least two paper webs across the width of the respective web, as a result of which only the chronological registration of the markings applied to the paper webs via the web buttons Sequence becomes relevant and this registration can be used to regulate the longitudinal registration of the at least two paper webs. It is only because the merged paper webs are under a certain paper tension that differences in the longitudinal register, which, for example, may occur in the processing line due to the refinement, and which are determined by the registration of the markings by the path sensors, are compensated for again. For this purpose, a drive or braking device is controlled via a control unit, which is assigned in particular to the respective take-off rolls, since these determine the web speed as driven rolls.

In order to ensure that the individual webs are processed in a register-accurate manner and that they are processed correctly in the further processing unit across the processing line even when passing through the individual processing units, the means for building up the paper tension are to be arranged at least between the processing line and the further processing unit be, and since the webs in the further processing unit are generally no longer in tension, if possible immediately before the further processing unit.

If the means for building up the paper tension are provided as a pair of tension rollers in the form of rubber rollers, then due to the relatively compliant surface thereof, the pressure acting on the merged paper webs can be distributed more uniformly over the width of the paper web than would be the case, for example, with known tension rollers. an essential requirement especially for refined railways. If such rubber rollers are provided with a certain profile on their circumference, finishing products applied to the paper web (s) will be received in the matching recesses of the profile when the paper webs pass through the rubber rollers, the pressure on the merged paper webs thus remains the same . Depending on the paper quality used, the number of paper webs and, if applicable, the type of processing of the individual paper webs carried out in the processing section, several can be provided instead of a single pair of draw rollers in order to To ensure sufficient frictional connection between the individual paper webs and / or to squeeze out any air bubbles that may exist between the paper webs.

If a web button that registers the markings of the top web is provided in the area of the drawing rollers, in the case of several pairs of drawing rollers, in particular in the area of the last pair of drawing rollers in the paper transport direction, this guarantees that the subsequent processing will continue with exact longitudinal registration, especially when the further processing unit connects as directly as possible to the pull rollers. The registration of the markings on the paper webs guided under the uppermost web takes place via web buttons which are provided in front of the processing section - this also simultaneously makes the longitudinal registration necessary for individual processing correct - in particular immediately before the combination with the respective one upper paper web. A web button arranged in front of the processing line can also be provided for the uppermost web, which, in particular in the case of different processing units in the processing line, provides information on the correct longitudinal registration of the top web alone, in addition to the web buttons arranged in the area of the pull rollers available register information values which are then used in particular only for the correct registration of the aggregates of the processing unit and the aggregates of the processing unit.

The invention is described below by way of example with reference to drawings. Show it:

1 shows a roll-off unit;

2 shows a side view of the device according to the invention for merging and refining three paper webs with three unwinding units and 3 shows a view of the device from above corresponding to FIG.

1 shows a roll-off unit 1, in which a paper web 3 is rolled off a roll 2. For this purpose, the axis 4 of the roller 2 is mounted on an inclined roller guide 5, the paper web 3 is unwound via a roller 6, generally driven and acting as a brake, on the circumference of the roller 2, two take-off rollers 7 and 8 With a differential gear, the paper web 3 is drawn off at a specific speed which can be selected or regulated. The paper web speed is thus determined. The register of the web is determined via a read head 26 and fed to a control unit 19 as a reference value. Then the paper web 3 passes through a web edge control 9, which permits the further processing of the paper web 3 with exact lateral registration.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, paper or film webs 3a, 3b and 3c are unwound over a plurality of such unwinding units 1a, 1b and 1c which are arranged next to one another. The individual webs pass through turning crosses 10a, 10b and 10c, where they are guided over deflection rollers 13a, 13b and 13c and each subsequent web comes to lie under the previous web (s). Then they are fed to a processing line 11.

In the processing section 11, the three rolled webs 3a, 3b and 3c are then processed either together or independently of one another, depending on the desired processing steps. For example, numbering units, print media (such as inkjet or laser printers), multiflex units, staple hole stations or rotary feeders can be provided for the application of packages. Gear boxes 12 are provided for each of these freely positionable intermediate modules, each of which is provided with a 360 ° register. The paper webs do not need to be guided over spiked belts in the processing section 11, as is known from the prior art, but are freely tensioned here and, if necessary, are guided over deflection rollers, depending on the intermediate module to be provided. Nevertheless, especially since the individual paper webs can be processed independently in the processing unit, a barbed tape guide can be provided for at least one of the paper webs.

A web, for example, which is moistened in the processing section, will thereby be stretched. In order to compensate for this effect, the web is guided over intermediate rollers or around additional cylinders in order to maintain the necessary tension.

After passing through the processing section 11, the webs 3a, 3b and 3c are guided between two driven rubber cylinders 14a and 14b and fed to a further processing unit 15. In the known processing and further processing units, tensile groups, which are generally designed as mechanical press rollers, are provided next to the unwinding unit. No further train groups are provided after the processing line and before the processing unit. Guide rollers arranged and optionally controllable in front of the further processing unit serve - as described in the introduction - in the known arrangements for correcting the web register, but not for building up a specific web tension.

By means of the rubber cylinders 14a and 14b, however, it is possible to build up and check the same paper tension in front of the further processing unit 15 over the width of the paper web. Rubber casings of different profiles can be pulled over rollers and can thus be adapted to different processing operations. For example, recesses on these rubber cylinders are provided, into which plastic cards glued onto one of the webs by means of a card dispenser provided in the processing section or sample packages applied by means of a rotary feeder fit. The pressure on all merged webs will thus remain uniform over the web width at this point. These rubber cylinders 14a and 14b are driven, essentially in synchronism with the processing of the printed image. The paper webs are thus drawn and kept stretched over the processing section 11. The basic setting will have to be carried out by the operating personnel on the basis of the control of the paper webs lying on top of one another, the ongoing post-corrections during the processing operation then take place via the control devices described below.

Further pairs of pull rollers can also be provided, which are also preferably designed as rubber cylinders. Such an arrangement is advantageous when it comes to multi-layer products, since when several paper webs are merged, air cushions tend to remain between the individual — in particular the innermost — webs, which could result in undesired modulations in the individual registers. For this purpose, at least two pairs of pull rollers should be arranged one behind the other; variations due to air cushions can thus be compensated for. However, pairs of drawing rollers could also be provided between certain processing units or units in the processing line, which may prove to be advantageous, in particular in the case of long processing lines, in order to keep the tension over the processing line secure.

In general, rollers with a standard circumference of 24 "(60.96 cm) are used as the pulling rollers. Both cylinder rollers 14a, 14b of the pair of pulling rollers are driven, synchronously, so that the same peripheral speed is given. The axes of the two cylinders 14a, 14b are exactly aligned with one another and are perpendicular to the paper transport tung. The contact pressure exerted by the pair of pulling rollers on the intermediate paper webs thus becomes the same, and the paper webs are transported in a straight line without the slightest wrap angle.

It is obvious that - for example depending on the material or the flexibility of the covering of the drawing rollers - the peripheral speed of these drawing rollers has to be adapted to the respective thickness of the paper web (s) guided between them.

On the basis of the information available about the registration of the markings, the rotational speed of the draw roller (s) can also be modified. For this purpose, a servo controller 22d for operating a servo motor 20d on the gear 21d of the traction rollers, which are preferably in the form of rubber cylinders 14a and 14b, is controlled via the control unit 19. This ensures that the paper webs can be processed in register in the subsequent further processing unit 15. However, the correct positioning of the units of the processing unit 11 can also be set in this way. In a corresponding manner (not shown), the gears of the intermediate modules 12 can be controlled via the control unit 19.

A main drive 23 is provided for driving the take-off rollers 7 and 8, the drive for the intermediate modules 12, the rubber cylinders 14a and 1b and the individual stations of the further processing unit 15.

The further processing unit 15 can be, for example, a cutting, perforation or stitching unit. The distance between the rubber cylinders 14a and 14b and the further processing unit 15 should generally be as small as possible, since - seen in the direction of web travel - no more paper tension is maintained behind the rubber cylinders 14a and 14b. The finished processed products are then applied to the table 16 or possibly to additional processing, such as a bookbinding machine or a folder.

Behind the turning crosses 10b and 10c - seen in the direction of web travel - a web button 17b and 17c is provided for the second and third paper web, a further web button 18 is arranged directly in front of the rubber cylinders 14a and 14b. This arrangement of the web sensor 18 directly in front of the cylinders 14a, 14b - or in front of the last of the pairs of draw rollers - will generally be advantageous, since the paper webs in the subsequent further processing unit may no longer be under tension, possibly due to the processing carried out therein have a tendency to flutter and the reading of the registration marks becomes uncertain. The paper webs 3a, 3b and 3c have markings which are applied at specific and equal intervals. Depending on the type of path sensor, the type of marking will have to be selected, for example line markings which can be detected by photo sensors.

If the first marking on the first and uppermost paper web 3a is now registered by the web button 18, a signal is available via this web button 18, which is fed to a control unit 19.

If the operating personnel determines that the longitudinal registration is correct, then a reference value is available which reflects the desired web speed and which regulates the longitudinal register of the top web in relation to the further processing unit 15 - or in relation to the individual modules the processing unit 11 - permitted (the chronological sequence of the signals available via the path sensor 18 is thus decisive).

Since the tension of the paper web 3a is generated via the two rubber cylinders 14a and 14b, these must always be run at a somewhat greater peripheral speed than the actually desired path speed would require. In order to ensure the required longitudinal registration, the signals available via the path sensor 18 are continuously compared in the control unit 19 with the reference value.

If the actual value differs, the control unit 19 controls - if necessary without contact - a servo controller 22a for operating a servo motor 20a on the differential gear 21a of the take-off rollers 7a and 8a on the unwinding unit 1a. This makes it possible to hold back the paper web 3a somewhat, to brake it, so to speak.

The paper tension is thus alternately built up and also controlled via the two rubber cylinders 14a and 14b.

The other paper webs 3b and 3c must also be registered exactly lengthways, namely together with the first web 3a, since these three webs are processed together in the further processing unit 15, regardless of their possibly different processing.

If the second paper web 3b now passes the web switch 17b after passing through the turning cross 10b, the latter will register the markings and in each case send signals to the control unit 19. An exact longitudinal registration of the paper web 3b, specifically on the upper paper web 3a, is given when the markings of the two paper webs are congruent at the location of the web scanner 18. Now, on the one hand, the distance covered by the second paper web 3b between the web button 17b and the web button 18 is known, and on the other hand, due to the pressure exerted by the two rubber cylinders 14a and 1b on the two paper webs 3a and 3b, a certain tensile force is exerted on both webs. Thus, from the chronological held signals are determined whether the paper web 3b is correctly registered.

According to the regulation described for the paper web 3a, that for the paper web 3b is also carried out. A servo controller 22b for operating a servo motor 20b on the differential gear 21b of the take-off rollers 7b and 8b on the unwinding unit 1b is controlled via the control unit 19.

The exact longitudinal registration is also regulated in the same way for the third paper web 3c. To this end, the path sensor 17c is provided, via the signal of which a servo controller 22c is indirectly controlled to operate a servo motor 20c on the differential gear 21c of the take-off rollers 7c and 8c on the unwinding unit 1c.

After passing through the rubber cylinders 14a and 14b, the merged paper webs 3a, 3b and 3c are further processed; the paper webs are generally no longer kept taut here. Therefore, in order to maintain the congruency of the webs, the further processing unit should connect as directly as possible to the rubber cylinders 14a and 14b.

A web button 17a, which is assigned to the uppermost paper web, can optionally be provided, via which an additional or alternative register control or control for the uppermost paper web 3a is possible, as already described above

In a known manner, additional means for monitoring the individual registers could be provided within the processing line 11.

Following the turning crosses 10a, 10b and 10c, guide rollers 27 (indicated by dashed lines in FIGS. 2 and 3) can be provided, which are possibly also driven and essentially the paper guide but not the paper clamp. serve. In the latter case, a train group, possibly in traditional training, should then be provided for correct registration for each of the trains.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Device for merging and finishing at least two paper or film webs, with at least two unwinding units (1a, 1b, 1c), in each of which a paper web (3a, 3b, 3c) provided with periodic markings drawn off from a roll (2a, 2b, 2c) by means of take-off rollers (7a, 8a, 7b, 8b, 7c, 8c) and, if appropriate, guided over deflection rollers (13a, 13b, 13c) with the at least second paper web (3a, 3b, 3c) are brought together and fed to a processing section (11), in which the at least two paper webs (3a, 3b, 3c) - possibly independent of one another - pass through processing units and are fed to a further processing unit (15), characterized in that means for congruent longitudinal register control of the at least two paper webs (3a, 3b, 3c) are provided, which comprise the following parts:

- Means for building up a paper tension which is substantially the same for each of the at least two paper webs (3a, 3b, 3c) over the width of the paper web;

- Path buttons (18, 17a, 17b, 17c) for registering the chronological sequence of the markings of each paper web

(3a, 3b, 3c) and - a control unit (19) for actuating a respective drive or a braking device - in particular associated with the respective take-off rollers (7a, 8a, 7b, 8b, 7c, 8c).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one pair of tension rollers - in particular in the form of rubber rollers (14a, 14b) - are provided as means for building up the paper tension, which after the processing section (11) and - preferably immediately - before the further processing unit (15) are arranged.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the rubber rollers (14a, 14b) are provided on their circumference with a profile, for receiving corresponding finishing products.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the axes of the rubber rollers (14a, 14b) are aligned with each other and are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the direction of web travel of the paper webs (3a, 3b, 3c).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a web button (18) is provided in the region of the drawing rollers, in particular - viewed in the web running direction - arranged directly in front of these, while a second web button (17b, 17c) for each non-uppermost paper web (3b, 3c) is provided in front of the processing section (11) and in particular is arranged immediately before being brought together with the at least second paper web.

6. Device according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the peripheral speed of the drawing rollers can be regulated via the control unit (19).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the further processing unit (15) connects directly to the drawing rollers.

8. Method for merging and finishing at least two paper webs, each of the paper webs (3a, 3b, 3c), which is provided with markings applied at periodic intervals, in a respective unwinding unit (1, 1b, 1c) by means of take-off rollers (7a, 8a, 7b, 8b, 7c, 8c) drawn off from a respective roll (2a, 2b, 2c) and optionally guided over deflection rollers (13a, 13b, 13c), after which the at least two paper webs (3a, 3b, 3c) merged and a processing line (11), in which they pass through processing units, which may be independent of one another, and are fed to a further processing unit (15), characterized in that each of the at least two webs (3a, 3b, 3c) has essentially one width across the web the same paper tension is built up and that the chronological sequence of the markings of each paper web (3a, 3b, 3c) is registered, which registration in the form of signals is sent to a control unit (19), is compared with a predetermined reference value and the control of a drive or a braking device, which is assigned in particular to the respective take-off rollers (7a, 8a, 7b, 8b, 7c, 8c).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the paper webs (3a, 3b, 3c) each at least up to

End of the processing line (11) are kept under tension.