EP1207043B1 - Folding apparatus with a former and a cross-cutting device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a folding apparatus with a former and a cross-cutting device according to the preamble of claim 1 ( DE-A-197 25 609 ).

Web presses, e.g. Web offset printing machines print on an endless material web, for example made of paper. In a folder of the printing press, the web is folded longitudinally from a hopper and then cut into signatures. The signatures can then be collected in a collator.

One way to open folded signatures for collation or transport is to use an overfold, i. an overlapping area of the folded signature. A device opens the signature with the help of the overfold and then removes the overfold by a trimming operation. Pruning the overfold creates a significant amount of waste and requires an additional step in the printing process, making the process inefficient and slower.

Another way to open folded signatures is to use a gripper. To open the signature, this is gripped by a gripper device and then opened. However, the gripper device can damage the signature, however.

Thus, the need to open the signature, for example to deposit the signature on a saddle, is a major cause of binding errors. The occurrence of serious errors requires the additional use of multiple diagnostic equipment in conventional gathering machines, resulting in higher costs and reduced reliability and productivity.

The US 3,762,697 discloses a display apparatus for use with a folder of a web-fed rotary press. The paper webs are cut by cutting knife cylinders to sheet length, transported to the folding blade cylinders and by means of Folded folding rollers. Thereafter, the folded sheets are passed by means of Auslegetrommeln or paddle wheels on conveyor belts.

In the device according to the above-mentioned patent, the opening of the signatures does not seem to be taken into account and the apparatus employs a complicated folder for folding the signatures. The paddle wheel and folder cause time-consuming and difficult repairs in the device and do not provide opportunities for gathering.

The EP 0 479 067 B 1 discloses a gathering device for collecting and depositing signatures, which is provided with a revolving first receiving element, which is designed as a rectangular conveyor with a plurality of receiving portions, which are open to the outside. The individual signatures are stored on the recording sections and collected in book blocks. The book blocks are transported to a first receiving element, which then transports the signatures to a second receiving element, where the book blocks are removed by means of height-adjustable backgauge. The second receiving element then brings the book blocks to the transport device.

According to the EP 0 479 067 B 1 it is envisaged that the signatures would have to go into the book block in the order in which they are assembled, since there is no device for opening the signatures and inserting other signatures. In addition, the device has a complicated arrangement of moving parts, whereby repair and maintenance can be time consuming and costly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a folding apparatus and a method for collecting signatures, wherein a simplified opening of signatures is enabled in a folding process downstream process.

An inventive folding apparatus with a former for longitudinal folding of a web and downstream of the former in the web running direction Cross-cutting device is characterized by a first cross-cutting device, which cross-sections the material web sections, a signature opening device between the two sides of the longitudinally folded and partially cross-cut material web, and the former in the web direction downstream second cross-cutting device, which cross-sections the material web sections and in signatures (22) divides , out.

With the folding apparatus according to the invention, eliminates the need to open a signature with a separate device in a folding process downstream process. The signature opening device can provide for opening the signature. Thus, the present invention eliminates the need to open a folded signature by means of a signature overlap, thereby making the printing process more economical and efficient. Furthermore, in the present invention eliminates the use of grippers, whereby damage to the signatures is avoided. In addition, the speed of the entire gathering process can be accelerated.

The transverse cutting devices are preferably paired cutting cylinders.

Preferably, the hopper of the device according to the invention aligns the plurality of partial cuts in the web laterally. The lateral alignment allows the second pair of cutting cylinders to separate a signature from the web by cutting the web at precisely those locations where no cut has been made from the first pair of cutting cylinders. The material web is thus each cross-sectionally cross-sectioned or perforated by the individual cross-cutting devices.

Further, the second pair of cutting cylinders of the device according to the invention provide a recess to allow a stationary sword a Hindragragen. Through the recess, it is possible to let pass the stationary sword the second pair of cutting cylinders, which allows the second pair of cutting cylinders to cut through the signature, without touching or damaging the stationary sword.

The thickness of the stationary sword preferably increases after the second pair of cutting cylinders and thereby spreads apart the edges of a signature so as to open the signature. Conveniently, the increasing thickness allows positioning of the signature on moving swords without requiring a gripper or other opening device to open the signature.

Preferably, the stationary sword has an opening that allows a plurality of moving wedge blades to pass through the stationary sword. The opening allows the moving wedge swords to pass through the stationary sword, removing the signatures from the stationary sword.

The present invention may further include a sword conveyer for transporting a plurality of moving swords or wedge swords. The sword-feeding device offers the possibility of transporting the signatures on the swords to other devices according to the invention, where the swords receive further signatures, or to convey them to other processing steps in the collating process. Several signatures can be superimposed or collected on a transport sword.

Preferably, the sword conveyor moves perpendicular to the direction of the signature stream.

The sword conveying device according to the invention can also move at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the conveying direction of the signature stream. The movement of the sword conveyor reduces the relative speed between the signature and the sword conveyor. Thus, the present invention can be used at higher speeds without causing damage to the signature.

A collating apparatus according to the invention with a plurality of folders is also provided.

The gathering device according to the invention with several as described above Folders are characterized by a conveyor for conveying a first cross-cut signature of a first folder and for conveying at least a second cross-cut signature of a second folder, the first and second signatures opened by a respective signature opening device of the first and second folders and on the conveyor be collected.

Furthermore, a method according to the invention is also provided.

In a method according to the invention for collecting signatures, wherein a plurality of folders as described above generate cross-cut signatures, it is provided that the cross-cut signatures are opened by the respective signature opening device of one of the plurality of folders and collected on a conveyor.

The cutting devices are preferably cutting cylinders.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is explained in conjunction with the following drawings.

Fig. 1

eine Vorderansicht des Falzapparats;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht des Falzapparats;

Fig. 3

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, das einen ersten und einen zweiten Falzapparat umfasst;

Fig. 4

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, das ein offenes ortsfestes Schwert beinhaltet;

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht auf drei offene ortsfeste Schwerter und Signaturen; und

Fig. 6

ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, das die Schwertfördervorrichtung umfasst.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a front view of the folder;

Fig. 2

a side view of the folder;

Fig. 3

a first embodiment of the device according to the invention comprising a first and a second folding apparatus;

Fig. 4

A second embodiment of the device according to the invention, which includes an open stationary sword;

Fig. 5

a top view of three open stationary swords and signatures; and

Fig. 6

A third embodiment of the device according to the invention, which comprises the sword-feeding device.

1 shows a front view of a folder 1. A first pair of cutting cylinders 20 intersect a web 6 moving in the direction of travel 2 with a plurality of blades 30 distributed along the outer surface of at least one of the two cylinders of the pair of cutting cylinders 20. Each knife 30 takes one of a plurality of sub-cuts 32 in the web 6. The web 6, which has a side region A and a side region B, then passes through a former 8, which folds the web 6 so that the side regions A and B meet and the cuts 32 are laterally aligned. In the "shadow" of the former 8, i. in the area where the former 8 folds the web 6 and the side areas A and B meet, there is a fixed blade 12 which extends as indicated by the dashed lines in Fig. 1 to the hopper. The web 6 leaves the hopper 8, wherein the stationary sword 12 is located in the web 6 between the side regions A and B and the partial cuts 32 are aligned. The web 6 passes through a second cutting cylinder pair 10, which cuts the web 6 into a sequence of signatures 22.

After the second cutting cylinder pair 10, the thickness of the stationary sword 12 increases, which thus spreads the opposite sides of the signature 22 to the fold. Due to its increasing thickness, the fixed blade 12 opens the signature 22, so that the signature 22 fits on one of the many moving swords 14. The moving swords 14 are timed so that the leading edge 36 of the signature 22 does not come into contact with the tip of a first moving sword 34. While the signature 22 is running downwards, a second signature 40 is deposited on a second moving sword 38 and a third signature 44 comes to rest on a third moving sword 46. A sword conveyor 16 transports the moving swords 14, 34, 38, 46 in a second direction 18 which is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the signature 22.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the folding apparatus 1 and also forms the partial cuts 32 in the web 6 from. The side view shows the first cutting cylinder pair 20 in relation to the web 6, the former 8 and the fixed blade 12. After the web 6 has been folded so that a folded edge 21 is formed, the funnel 8 directs the partial cuts 32 of the web 6 on the stationary sword 12 and thus laterally. The lateral alignment allows the second cutting cylinder pair 10 to separate the signature 22 from the web 6 by cutting the web 6 at substantially the locations where no cut has been made by the first cutting cylinder pair 20. To perform the cut, the second pair of cutting cylinders 10 employs a plurality of second blades 50 distributed along the outer surface of at least one cylinder of the second pair of cutting cylinders 10. Since the former 8 aligns the stationary blade 12 with the part cuts 32, the stationary blade 12 does not hinder the second cutting cylinder pair 10. A recess 24 allows the stationary blade 12 to pass through the second pair of cutting cylinders 10 and provides clearance for the stationary blade 12. The recess 24 also allows the fixed blade 12 to project from the underside of the funnel 8 through the second pair of cutting cylinders 10.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention for gathering comprising a first folder 60 and a second folder 62 similar to those in Figs. The first folder 60 deposits the signature 22 on a first header 114, while the second folder 62 deposits another folded signature 64 on a second header 66. This further signature 64 thus lies above a second folded signature 68, which the first folding apparatus 60 has deposited at an earlier time in the collation process. The sword conveyor 16 then transports the collecting blades in the direction 113 so that the first header 114 passes to the second folder 62 and the second header 66 is transported to another folder or to another destination.

4 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, which comprises a fork-shaped stationary blade 120. The forked stationary sword 120 has an opening between two bifurcated portions in the lower portion that allows a plurality of wedge blades 100 to pass in the direction 111. The movement of the signatures is effected by the wedge blades 100 in cooperation with the folded edge 21 of the signature 22. The shape of the forked stationary sword 120, the sides of the signature 22 are transported to the outside of the open stationary sword 120. The wedge blades 100 driven by the sword conveyor 16 pass through the opening between the forks of the stationary sword 120 and thereby come into contact with the inside of the signature 22 and pull the signature 22 off the stationary sword 120. Subsequently, the wedge swords 100 further transport the signature 22 to a downstream stationary sword or other downstream destination.

5 shows a plan view of a gathering apparatus with three forked fixed blades 702, 704, 706 similar to the swords depicted in FIG. 4, and six signatures 710, 712, 714, 716, 718, 720. A first key blade 750, similar to FIG the sword 100 in FIG. 4 passes through the opening of the first bifurcated stationary sword 702 and thus comes into contact with the inside of the first partially assembled signature 710 and withdraws the first partially assembled signature 710 from the first bifurcated stationary sword 702. As the first wedge blade 750 passes through the opening, a second wedge blade 752 passes through the opening of the second forked stationary sword 704 and pulls off the second partially assembled signature 712 from the second forked stationary sword 704. At the same time, a third wedge blade 754 passes through the third forked stationary blade 706 to receive the third partially collated signature 714. The steps listed here may or may not be the same at the same time.

Furthermore, a fourth wedge sword 756, a fifth wedge sword 758, and a sixth wedge sword 760 are depicted, all moving in the direction 730 according to the gathering process. The fifth wedge sword 758 carries the fourth signature 716, while the sixth wedge sword 760 carries the sixth partially merged signature 718 and the seventh partially merged signature 720. The fourth and sixth signatures 716, 718 are subtracted from the first forked fixed blade 702 and the seventh partially collated signature 720 has been subtracted from the second forked stationary sword 704.

Fig. 6 shows a third embodiment of the device according to the invention, which contains the sword conveyor 16. The folder 1, similar to the folder shown in Fig. 4, deposits the signature 22 on one of the moving swords 14 of the sword conveyor 16 passing through a forked stationary blade. The sword conveyor 16 moves in a non-perpendicular direction 56 at an angle of about 45 degrees to the direction of downward movement 58 of the signature 22. An angle 54 defines the deviation of the non-perpendicular direction 56 from the direction of the downward movement 58 of the signature 22. The angle 54 defines a velocity component 55 of the signature 22 which facilitates the transfer of the signature 22 to the sword conveyor 16.

"Sword" is defined here as a three-dimensional, possibly flat object on which one side may be thinner than the other two and which may be of any shape or size or any material.

The orientation of the former may differ from that in the embodiments described above. For example, the folded web could run in a horizontal rather than a vertical direction. Thus, for example, the device in FIG. 6 could be rotated 90 degrees clockwise so that the sword conveyor would move toward the top left corner of the page (rather than towards the bottom left corner, as shown). Thus, gravity could do well to hold the signatures on the moving swords.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1

folding

2

direction

6

train

8th

formers

10

second cutting cylinder pair

12

stationary sword / fixed signature opening device

14

moving swords

16

Sword conveyor

18

second direction

20

first cutting cylinder pair

21

folding edge

22

signature

24

recess

30

knife

32

partial cuts

34

first moving sword

36

leading edge

38

second moving sword

40

second signature

44

third signature

46

third moving sword

50

second knife

54

angle

55

velocity component

56

not vertical direction

58

Direction of the downward movement

60

first folder

62

second folder

64

signature

66

second sword

68

second folded signature

100

wedge swords

111

direction

113

direction

114

first collectible sword

120

stationary sword

702, 704, 706

forked stationary swords

710, 712, 714, 716, 718, 720

signatures

730

direction

750

first wedge sword

752

second wedge sword

754

third wedge sword

756

fourth wedge sword

758

fifth wedge sword

760

sixth wedge sword

A

Side area of the railway

B

Side area of the railway

Claims (17)

1. Folding device with a former (8) for longitudinally folding a material web (6) and with a cross-cutter (10), downstream of the former (8) in the direction of travel, characterized by

   - a first cross-cutter (20), which, section-wise, cross-cuts the material web (6);

   - a signature-opening device (12) between the two sides of the lengthwise-folded and section-wise cross-cut material web (6); and

   - the second cross-cutter (10), downstream of the former (8) in the direction of travel, which, section-wise, cross-cuts the material web (6) and divides into signatures (22).
2. Folding device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first cross-cutter (20) comprises a pair of cutting cylinders (20) and the second cross-cutter (10) a pair of cutting cylinders (10).
3. Folding device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second cross-cutter (10) comprises a recess (24), which traverses the signature-opening device.
4. Folding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signature-opening device (12) is a stationary knife (12).
5. Folding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thickness of the signature-opening device (12) increases after the second cutter (10).
6. Folding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signature-opening device (12) spreads the sides of at least one signature (22) so as to open the at least one signature (22).
7. Folding device according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the stationary knife (120) is forked.
8. Folding device according to Claim 7, characterized by a plurality of wedge knives (100), which traverse an opening of the forked knife (120), in order to pick up the at least one signature (22).
9. Folding device according to Claim 8, characterized by a knife conveyer (16) for transporting the wedge knives (100).
10. Folding device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the direction (18) of travel of the knife conveyer (16) is substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of at least one signature (22) leaving the former (8).
11. Folding device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the knife conveyer (16) moves at an angle of between 30 and 60° to the direction of travel (2) of at least one signature (22) leaving the former (8).
12. Folding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a plurality of moving knives (14) to pick up at least one signature (22) in each case.
13. Folding device according to Claim 12, characterized in that a knife conveyer (16) is also provided for transporting the moving knives (14).
14. Folding device according to Claim 13, characterized in that the direction (18) of travel of the knife conveyer (16) runs perpendicularly to the direction of travel (2) of the at least one signature (22) leaving the former (8).
15. Folding device according to Claim 13, characterized in that the knife conveyer (16) moves at an angle of approximately 45° to the direction of travel (2) of the at least one signature (22) leaving the former (8).
16. Collator with a plurality of folding devices (60, 62) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a conveyer (16) for transporting a first cross-cut signature (22) of a first folding device (60) as well as for transporting at least a second cross-cut signature (64) of a second folding device (62), wherein the first and the second signatures (22, 64) are opened by the respective signature-opening device (12) of the first and the second folding devices (60, 62) and collated on the conveyer (16).
17. Method for collating signatures, wherein a plurality of folding devices (60, 62) according to any one of Claims 1 to 15 produces cross-cut signatures (22, 64), characterized in that the cross-cut signatures (22, 64) are opened by the respective signature-opening device (12) of one of the plurality of folding devices (60, 62) and collated on a conveyer (16).

Images