JP6695093B2 - How to bind signatures - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for binding a signature according to claim 1 and a saddle stitching machine for producing a booklet according to claim 6.

  Saddle stitchers are well known in the background art and are described, for example, in DE 102008023865 or US Pat. No. 7,988,138. From a feeder for folded sheets (folded sheets, signatures, etc.), individual folded sheets are individualized from the stack, opened and fed onto a saddle chain. The saddle chain consists of a guide device (the upper part of the guide device is formed into a blade shape, and the ridge line of the guide device defines the conveyance and binding line) and a substantially roof-like mounting part (folding on the mounting part. It is transported in a saddle state). The saddle chain is a transfer element that horizontally conveys the folded sheets that have been fed to the saddle chain, in order to securely grasp the folded sheets that have been fed to the saddle chain even at a higher processing speed, to achieve reliable transport, and to transport the folded sheets evenly. Equipped with. The folded sheets conveyed by the saddle chain and the transfer body are conveyed to the binding station by the saddle chain, and in the binding station, the folded sheets that are vertically stacked are bound by the binding needles (wires) at the folds. For this purpose, a stitcher head arranged above the saddle chain and a clincher box arranged below the saddle chain are used. The clincher box folds the free ends of the staples that are driven through the folding sheet by the stitcher head. Thereafter, the bound folded sheets are subsequently transported from the saddle chain for further processing in the discharge area. For example, edge trimming and unloading are subsequently performed.

  DE 10 2004 0219 1958 A1 discloses a saddle stitching machine with a finger strip system. A reciprocating finger strip system grips the signatures and thus transports the signatures stepwise from the saddle chain to the binding station and in the second step from the binding station to the ejection station. , With controllable fingers. In such a saddle stitching machine, binding of a signature is performed while the signature is stopped. Therefore, high quality binding can be formed. As a problem, a great deal of work is required when changing specifications, that is, when changing signatures of different sizes or between jobs with differently arranged binding staplers. To solve this problem, extensive use of sensors has been proposed, which guarantees automatic adjustability to various sizes. The disadvantage of this solution is the high cost of the sensor in terms of cost and assembly into the machine control.

  Another saddle stitching machine with a finger strip system is described in DE 102008058953. All saddle stitchers equipped with finger strip systems have the common drawback that the signatures remain unpinched during binding at the binding station. This is because the finger strips enclose the signature during the binding process, in order to subsequently grip a new signature. This may result in slight slippage of the signatures and thus binding misalignment. Another drawback arises from the fact that one stitcher head is required for each staple to be set in the signature. This is associated with increased procurement costs, increased adjustment effort, increased space requirements for the binding station, and the need for a particularly sturdy construction of the binding station. Another disadvantage is that the width of the stitcher head sets the minimum binding distance.

  EP 1 629 992 describes a saddle stitcher with a binding station having a single stitcher head. The binding station operates according to the binding motion principle, in which case one stitcher head is moved on the binding carriage together with the signature to be bound. It is proposed to position a single stitcher head on the binding carriage, one stitcher head setting all the staples to be punched in each signature. In order to drive several binding staples into one signature, the course of movement of the binding carriage with acceleration, braking and synchronization steps must be set very precisely, which means that not only the binding carriage, but also the step. It results in extremely troublesome control of the chahead drive.

  In DE 100 39 908 A1 a simpler binding station with a single stitcher head is described. The product to be stapled is passed by the stitcher head, which is positioned in place at the stitching station, so that when the target stitching position of the product is in front of the stitcher head, the staple is driven into the product. In addition, the stitcher head is controlled. A drawback of this binding principle is that the relative movement of the stitcher head during binding and the product to be bound greatly impairs the binding quality.

German Patent Application Publication No. 102008023865 U.S. Pat. No. 7,988,138 German Patent Application Publication No. 102004021958 German Patent Application Publication No. 102008058953 European Patent Publication No. 1629992 German Patent Application Publication No. 10039908

  The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a saddle stitching method for the production of booklets and methods for binding signatures, which reduces the drawbacks of the background art and enables good binding quality despite a simple structure and simple operation. It is to be.

According to the method of the present invention for solving this problem, a method of binding a signature for producing a booklet in a saddle stitching machine comprising a binding station having one stitcher head,
a) transporting each signature to be bound to the delivery station by the saddle chain,
b) handing over each signature to a carrier that holds each signature;
c) conveying each signature to a first binding position towards the binding station, the first target binding position of the signature being located underneath one stitcher head;
d) stopping each signature, and, in the stopped state, driving the first binding needle with one stitcher head,
e) transporting each signature to another binding position by the transport device, wherein another target binding position of the signature is located under one stitcher head;
f) stopping each signature and, in the stopped state, driving another binding needle with one stitcher head,
g) a step of subsequently conveying each bound booklet toward the discharge station by the conveying device and releasing each booklet from the conveying device;
h) ejecting each bound booklet or delivering each bound booklet to a device for three-way cutting;
Equipped with.

  Preferably, steps e) and f) are repeated for each further binding staple to be driven into the signature.

  Preferably, the transport device comprises a carriage that moves horizontally, the carriage returning to the initial position again after step h).

  Preferably, at least the transport device and the stitcher head are controlled by the machine controller.

  Preferably, each signature is held between steps b) and g) by being pinched by the transport device with at least one gripper.

  According to the device of the present invention for solving this problem, a plurality of feeders arranged along a saddle chain that circulates, a binding station having one stitcher head in a fixed position, and a downstream side of the binding station. An ejector station located at, and a saddle stitching machine for manufacturing a booklet from a signature for carrying out the above-described method for binding a signature, the saddle stitching machine comprising a transport device for transporting the signature. The transport area of the transport device extends from the downstream end of the saddle chain beyond the binding station to the ejection station, which transports each signature during the complete transport process by the transport device. The saddle stitcher, which comprises at least one gripper for holding, has at least a machine control device for controlling at least the transport device and the stitcher head in order to carry out at least two binding processes for each signature by one stitcher head. Prepare

  Suitably, the transport device comprises a carriage and a carriage guide for reciprocating a carriage having at least one gripper.

  Preferably, the transport device comprises a controllable motor, in particular a servomotor, as a drive device for the carriage.

  Suitably, the transport device comprises a pneumatic, electrical, piezoelectric or mechanical drive for moving at least one gripper.

  The method according to the invention serves for binding a signature in particular for producing booklets in a saddle stitching machine with a binding station having one stitcher head in position. In the first step, the saddle chain transports the collated signatures to be bound towards the delivery station. At the delivery station, each signature is delivered to the transport device. The transport device holds each signature in a predetermined and reliable manner, in particular by means of mechanical or pneumatic grippers. Subsequently, each signature is transported from the transport device towards the binding station to the first binding position, the first target binding position of the signature being located below the stitcher head. After that, each signature is stopped by the transport device, and in the stopped state, the first binding needle is driven by the stitcher head. During the binding process, each signature remains fixed by the transport device. After the first binding staple has been driven in, the transport device transports each signature to a different binding position, the other target binding position of the signature being the underside of the stitcher head. Located in. After that, each signature is stopped again and, in the stopped state, another stitch is driven by the stitcher head. After another staple is driven in, the transport device continues to transport each of the bound signatures towards the ejection station, where each signature is released from the gripper of the transport device. Each bound signature can be handed over to a device for three-way cutting or an ejector. In this case, the bound signature is also called a booklet.

  If there are not only two binding staples in the signature, each signature can be stopped at a different binding position before being conveyed to the ejection station, so that different bindings can be performed each time.

  The advantage of the method according to the invention is that the binding position of the binding needle can be modified very easily by changing the target position. A further advantage is that a freely selectable stitcher spacing can be implemented regardless of the stitcher head width. Therefore, it is also possible to drive a plurality of staplers having a very small distance from each other into the signature. Since each signature is not released to the discharge station after being transferred from the saddle chain to the transport device and remains permanently fixed, binding position fluctuations and product slippage can be minimized. ..

  In a preferred refinement of the method according to the invention, the carriage of the transport device makes a reciprocating movement and again after receiving each signature to be bound at the ejection station, in order to receive the next signature to be bound. Go over the transfer station and return to the desired position.

  In a particularly preferred and therefore advantageous refinement of the method according to the invention, at least the transport device and the stitcher head are controlled by a mechanical control device, which ensures that the binding needle is set in its target binding position. .. Through the interface, the machine operator can easily modify the target binding position.

  In a preferred refinement of the method according to the invention, the transport of the signatures by the transport device and the holding of each signature during binding is carried out by gripping the signatures with grippers.

  Further, the present invention provides a plurality of feeders arranged along a circulating saddle chain and a single fixed-position stitcher head, that is, a stitcher that is not slidable in the transport direction and in the opposite direction to the transport direction. The present invention relates to a saddle stitching machine for producing a booklet from a signature, for carrying out the method for binding a signature as described above, which comprises a binding station having a head and an ejection station located downstream of the binding station. In the binding station, a clincher box in a fixed position is arranged corresponding to a general stitcher head, which includes a clincher for folding the ends of the binding needles. According to the invention, the saddle stitcher comprises a transport device for transporting signatures, the transport region of the transport device extending from the downstream end of the saddle chain beyond the binding station to the discharge station. .. The downstream end of the saddle chain is located in the area of the transfer station, where the signatures are transferred from the saddle chain to the transport device. The transport device comprises a holding element configured as a gripper, which holds, holds or grips each signature during the complete transport process by the transport device. The saddle stitcher further comprises a machine controller for controlling at least the transport device and the stitcher head in order to carry out at least two binding processes of each signature by one stitcher head. Such saddle stitching machines are preferably simple and thus inexpensive to construct and their binding stations have a small space requirement. The use of a single stitcher head also requires only one wire transport and wire payout, which further reduces the complexity and cost of the stitching station. The adjustment time of the binding station for new products, i.e. different sizes, different numbers of bindings or different binding positions, can also be significantly reduced. The adjustment of the binding station may be limited to the adjustment via the interface of the machine controller, but in some cases of the stitcher head or components of the stitcher head for the production of special binding needles, for example rings (eyelets). It will also need to be replaced. Since the stitcher head is in place, the stitcher head can be replaced very easily.

  In a preferred refinement of the saddle stitcher according to the invention, the transport device comprises a carriage and a carriage guide for reciprocating the holding element in the transport direction and in a direction opposite to the transport direction. The holding element may in particular be configured as a mechanical or pneumatic gripper. More preferably, the transport device comprises a controllable motor, in particular a servomotor, for driving the carriage with the gripper along the carriage guide.

  The described invention and the preferred refinements of the described invention, even when combined with one another, form the preferred refinements of the invention.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a saddle stitching machine for booklets, comprising a feeder, a binding station and a subsequent ejection station. It is a figure which shows the progress which binds a signature. It is a detailed view of the binding station provided with the conveying device. It is a figure which shows the movement progress of the carriage of a conveyance apparatus. It is a figure which shows the movement progress of the carriage of a conveyance apparatus. It is a figure which shows the movement progress of the carriage of a conveyance apparatus.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the illustrated mode. Corresponding components and parts are designated by the same reference numerals in a plurality of drawings. The scale is not drawn to scale for clarity.

  The machine element of the saddle stitcher 1 according to FIG. 1a comprises three feeders 10, 12, 14 in the embodiment shown. Each of the feeders 10, 12, and 14 is attached to a saddle chain 34, which is driven by a drive unit 40 (see FIG. 2) and has one signature 16, 18, and 20 respectively, which is endlessly circulated and is not shown in detail here. hand over. The transfer body 35 is arranged in the saddle chain 34. The transfer body 35 is here folded in a saddle state and is folded over to the saddle chain 34, and the folded sheets to be bound finally. Push Ding 17 and forward.

  In this way, the signatures 16, 18, 20 placed one above the other in sequence form a collated signature 17 together. The signature 17 is conveyed along the conveying and binding line 22 in the conveying direction indicated by the arrow P. The transport and binding line 22 extends along the feeders 10, 12, 14 beyond the binding station 24 to the discharge station 29. The signatures 16, 17, 18, 20 are conveyed to the delivery station 36 by the saddle chain 34, and subsequently moved by the conveying device 50.

  The binding station 24, according to the invention, comprises a stitcher head 26 and a folding device, a so-called clincher, which is arranged corresponding to the stitcher head and which is not visible from FIG. 1a, the folding device comprising: The leg portion of the binding needle (wire) 27 that has been driven into the booklet 17 to be bound by the stitcher head 26 is bent.

  The transport device 50 including the gripper 51 and the drive motor 55 and the stitcher head 26 are connected to the machine controller 23 and controlled by the machine controller 23.

  The ejection station 29 comprises in this embodiment mechanical elements in the form of ejectors 29.1 not shown in detail. The ejector 29.1 engages with each fold of the bound booklet 32 and lifts the booklet 32 outward from the transport and binding line 22. As a result, the booklet 32 can be continuously conveyed in the direction of the arrow T. Subsequently, in the direction T, a cutting device for three-way cutting, such as a three-way cutting machine or a trimmer, may be provided.

  A measuring station 33 is provided on the upstream side of the binding station 24 in the transport direction indicated by the arrow P. The measuring station 33 detects the thickness of the folded signatures 17 to be bound. Alternatively, another device such as a sticking device (labeling device) or an inkjet head may be arranged at this position.

  In FIG. 1b, the course of the binding process is shown with the signature 17 as an example. The signature 17 is held in the area of the transport device 50 by the gripper 51 of the transport device 50 and is transported to the lower side of the stitcher head 26 (not shown). The signature 17 has two target binding positions 28, at which one binding needle 27 should be driven in. As can be seen in FIG. 1b, first the first binding needle 27 is driven in at the first target binding position 28, and then the signature 17 ′ is arranged so that the second binding needle 27 is folded at the second target binding position 28. Before being driven into the Ding 17 ″, it is continuously conveyed. The same applies to the other possible binding positions 28 and staples 27.

  The delivery station 36, the binding station 24 and the ejection station 29 are shown in detail in FIG. The signature 17 is conveyed from the saddle chain 34 to the delivery station 36 by the transfer body 35 thereof until it is located at the delivery position P0. At this position P0, the signature 17 is gripped by the gripper 51 of the transport device 50. The gripper 51 of the transport device is supported by a carriage 56, and the carriage 56 can reciprocate along the linear guide 52 in the transport direction P of the signature or in the direction opposite to the transport direction P. The signature 17 held by the gripper 51 continues in the transport direction P by the transport device until the first target binding position 28 of the signature 17 ′ is located just below one stitcher head 26 at the binding station 24. Can be moved. At this first binding position, the first binding needle 27 is driven into the signature 17 '. The signature 17 'at the position P1 is indicated by a broken line. In this case, binding is performed in a stopped state, that is, the carriage 56 and the gripper 51 are not moved during the binding process. After the first binding has been performed, the signature 17 'is continued to be moved until the second target binding position 28 is located just below the stitcher head 26. The second binding position P2 is indicated by a solid line signature 17 ''.

  In the second binding position P2, the second binding needle 27 is driven in at the second target binding position 28, in which case the carriage 56 and the gripper 51 and thus also the signature 17 ″ are in a stopped state. After the second binding has been performed, the signature 17 ″ is conveyed to the position PA, where it is ejected by the ejector 29.1.

  The carrier device 50 includes a drive device. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the drive device includes a drive motor 55, and the drive motor 55 is connected to the toothed conveyor belt 53 via the toothed drive belt 54. The toothed conveyor belt 53 is also coupled to the carriage 56 via, for example, a rod, and causes the carriage 56 to reciprocate when the toothed conveyor belt 53 moves, so that the carriage 56 reciprocates together with the gripper 51. ..

  Instead of the toothed belt drive 53, 54, a drive with a rack and pinion or a transport thread (ball screw spindle) may be used.

  FIG. 3a shows the movement of the binding carriage 56 in the movement direction a of the gripper 51. In this case, the distance traveled is expressed in terms of time and the various positions P0, P1, P2, PA are marked on the curve. From position P0 to position PA, the gripper 51 remains activated and thus holds each signature 17 to be bound.

  FIG. 3b shows the first derivative of FIG. 3a, ie the velocity profile of the carriage 56. As can be seen from FIG. 3b, the delivery of the signatures 17 at the delivery station 36 takes place at position P0 while the gripper 51 and the carriage 56 are moving in the transport direction P at a speed corresponding to the speed of the saddle chain 34. .. During the both binding processes at the binding positions P1 and P2, the carriage 56, and hence the signatures 17 'and 17' 'are also stationary, so that the binding is performed in a stopped state.

  FIG. 3c shows the second derivative of FIG. 3a, ie the acceleration of the carriage 56 with the gripper 51. Exercise according to the size of the signatures 16, 17, 18, 20 to be bound, each binding position 28, the number of folded signatures 16, 18, 20, the material of the signatures 16, 17, 18, 20 The course can be easily adapted by the machine controller 23, which ensures a reliable transport and a high-quality binding.

1 Saddle stitcher 10 Feeder 12 Feeder 14 Feeder 16 Folding signatures 17, 17 ', 17'',17''' Collated signatures at various positions 18 Folding signatures 20 Folding signatures 22 Conveying and binding lines 23 Machine control Device 24 Binding station 25 Bending device (clincher)
26 stitcher head 27 binding needle 28 target binding position 29 discharge station 29.1 ejector 32 bound booklet 33 measuring station 34 saddle chain 35 transfer body 36 delivery station 40 saddle chain drive device 50 transport device 51 gripper 52 linear guide 53 Toothed conveyor belt 54 Toothed drive belt 55 Drive motor 56 Carriage a Carriage reciprocating movement P Carriage conveying direction T Booklet subsequent conveying direction P0 Delivery position P1 First binding position P2 Second binding position PA Ejection position

Claims (5)

A saddle chain (34), a transport device (50), a delivery station (36), a binding station (24) with one fixed stitcher head (26), an ejection station (29), Method for binding signatures (17) for producing booklets in a saddle stitching machine (1) comprising a transport device (50) and a mechanical control device (23) for at least controlling said one stitcher head (26). And
a) transporting each signature (17) to be bound toward the transfer station (36) by the saddle chain (34),
b) delivering each signature (17) to the transport device (50) holding each signature (17);
c) The step of transporting each signature (17) to the first binding position (P1) toward the binding station (24), wherein the first target binding position (28) of the signature (17) is Located below the one stitcher head (26) and adjusting the first target binding position (28) via an interface of the machine controller (23);
d) stopping each signature (17) and, in the stopped state, driving the first binding needle (27) by the one stitcher head (26),
e) A step of transporting each signature (17) to another binding position (P2) by the transport device (50), wherein another target binding position (28) of the signature (17) is the above-mentioned 1 Located under one stitcher head (26) and adjusting the other target binding position (28) via an interface of the machine controller (23);
f) stopping each signature (17) and, in the stopped state, driving another binding needle (27) by the one stitcher head (26),
g) The transport device (50) subsequently transports the bound booklets (32) toward the discharge station (29) to release the booklets (32) from the transport device (50). Steps,
h) discharging each bound booklet (32) or delivering each bound booklet (32) to a device for three-way cutting;
Equipped with
Each signature (17) is not released to the discharge station (29) after being delivered from the saddle chain (34) to the transport device (50) and remains permanently fixed ,
The transfer device (50) includes a carriage (56) that horizontally reciprocates, and the carriage (56) returns to the initial position again after step h).
Holding of each signature (17) between the steps b) to g) by the transfer device (50) is carried out by sandwiching it by at least one gripper (51),
A method for binding signatures, characterized in that the number of bindings is adjusted via the interface of the machine control device (23) .   Method according to claim 1, characterized in that steps e) and f) are repeated for each further binding needle (27) to be driven into the signature (17). A plurality of feeders (10, 12, 14) arranged along a saddle chain (34) that circulates,
A binding station (24) having one stitcher head (26) in place;
A discharge station (29) located downstream of the binding station (24),
A transport device (50) for transporting a signature (17), wherein a transport region of the transport device (50) extends from the downstream end of the saddle chain (34) over the binding station (24). Extending to the ejection station (29), the transport device (50) holds at least one signature (17) during the complete transport process (a) by the transport device (50). A transport device (50) comprising a gripper (51),
Machine for controlling at least the transport device (50) and the one stitcher head (26) in order to carry out at least two binding processes on each signature (17) by the one stitcher head (26). A control device (23),
Equipped with
The transport device (50) transports and stops the signatures (17) to the first binding position (P1) and another binding position (P2) toward the binding station (24),
The binding station (24) uses the one stitcher head (26) to move the first part of the signature (17) to the first position of the signature (17) while the signature (17) is stopped at the first binding position (P1). The first stitching needle (27) is driven into the target binding position (28), and when the signature (17) is stopped at another binding position (P2), the stitching is performed by the one stitcher head (26). Drive another binding needle (27) into another target binding position (28) of the signature (17),
The machine controller (23) adjusts the first target binding position (28) and / or the other target binding position (28),
Each signature (17), the saddle chain (34) the transport device is not released until the discharge station after being handed over to (50) (29) from, Ri Mamadea which is permanently fixed,
The transfer device (50) includes at least one gripper (51), and is capable of moving in a horizontal direction, and a carriage guide (52) for reciprocating (a) the carriage (56). A saddle stitching machine (1) for manufacturing booklets from signatures (16, 17, 18), characterized by comprising: The saddle stitcher (1) according to claim 3 , wherein the transport device (50) comprises a controllable motor (55) as a drive device for the carriage (56). Saddle stitcher (1) according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein the transport device (50) comprises a pneumatic, electric, piezoelectric or mechanical drive for moving at least one of the grippers (51). .

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