DE10220550A1 - Method of folding printed brochure sheets involves initially folding printed sheets and then compiling them in brochure for stitching - Google Patents

Abstract

The method of treating partially complete printed products, such as printed sheets which have not been folded, involves initially folding the printed sheets in a working stage, then if necessary, complied into a brochure, if at least two printed sheets are to be assembled. The sheets are then stitched or bonded together. The sheets can be successively longitudinal or transversely folded. Claims include a machine for carrying out the method

Description

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for Further processing of intermediate printing products according to the respective generic terms of independent claims.

Print finishing is an essential part of printing technology, in the intermediate product produced, for example, by means of offset printing, d. H. a number already printed, but still unfolded sheet, the final required shape and Preserves utility property. The end products come here Connection mainly from folded sheets, the so-called "signatures", manufactured high-quality printed products such as magazines or multi-sheet Glossy brochures into consideration.

The sub-area of printing technology mentioned is detailed in "Handbook of print media", Editor Helmut Kipphan, published by Springer-Verlag, April 2000, chapter 7.1, described in particular on pages 811-817.

A special process step is the so-called folding and Gathering of already printed sheets of paper or the like for the production of folded signatures. Folding is the sharp-edged bending of paper webs at a prepared bending point along a straight line specified dimensions and a predetermined scheme under pressure. This process step is described in the aforementioned manual, in particular in Chap. 7.2.2 ff. In detail described.

As is known, the folding takes place by means of a folding mechanism which works according to a pocket folding principle and / or according to a sword folding principle. These two methods will be briefly explained with reference to FIGS . 3a and 3b.

In the pocket folding method shown in FIG. 3a, a book binder sheet is conveyed through an upper and a front lower folding roller into a folding pocket. The sheet abuts the pocket stop, so that an arc loop is created in the compression space of the folding pocket due to the opposite movement of the folding rollers mentioned. This loop is subsequently gripped by a further lower folding roller and the above-mentioned lower folding roller, which likewise rotate in opposite directions. A fold break then forms between the lower folding rollers.

In the sword folding method ( FIG. 3b), the bookbinder sheet is conveyed between a folding sword or folding knife and two folding rollers arranged underneath. The folding blade pushes the sheet at a predetermined folding line between the folding rollers, as a result of which the fold break is formed between the folding rollers.

In the aforementioned manual, a combined folding machine (type "Proline Kl 55" of the present applicant), which consists of a combination of Pocket fold and sword fold units exist. There are a number of in this folding machine Pocket fold units and a series of sword fold units coupled together. The Pocket fold units are in front of the sword fold units in the processing direction arranged, the first sword folding unit at an angle of 90 degrees to Pocket fold is oriented to at the same time a longitudinal fold in addition to the transverse fold to enable the creation of multi-dimensional signatures. In front of the folder in addition, an investor and behind it a display.

A generic device for the production of multi-leaf brochures is in the DE 43 14 511 A1 discloses. In a collator, there are initially individual sheets of paper are brought together to form a stream of scales. This stream of shingles enters a collection station where a set is collected. After completion collecting is the sentence, i.e. H. an entire stack of sheets each, the Further processing for folding and / or stapling fed. By interposing the Collection station, the processing speed should be increased significantly.  

EP 0 924 091 A1 also describes a combination with a post-processing unit Sheet printing machine. This has the following stations arranged in series. A high pile feeder, for example a pallet, for providing paper sheets for Inside of the book and a carton feeder to provide thicker paper for z. B. Book cover. This is followed by a digital printing unit, which in turn is followed by a folding unit for folding the printed sheets transversely to the direction of movement of the sheets. The Folding unit now forms an arch switch at the same time, so that straight lines are let through Sheets are conveyed to a high pile delivery to be stacked there to be piled up. Furthermore, is parallel to the stations mentioned arranged, a post-processing unit provided for the printing press, the also has several post-processing stations arranged in a row. At the Bow switch, the bows are optionally a collection container for holding a Packet fed from sheets. A displacement device is used to Collection container collected sheet package, transversely to the aforementioned transport direction, in to push an entry station of the post-processing unit.

Furthermore, it is known in particular in the field of offset printing, individual to print unfolded sheets in a separate printing machine and then, each if necessary, trim them in a face cutter. Following this, the Sheets are manually placed on a pallet and one after the other, again manually Hand folding machine over to folding. If all to produce a brochure necessary sheets are printed and folded, these are gathered and in a saddle stitcher. To do this, the sheets are manually removed from the pallet again taken and also manually from the investors described above Collator fed.

A disadvantage of the solutions described above is that the individual sheets are one Brochure are not processed successively, which leads to considerable retrofitting times. In addition, the sheets that have already been separated must be returned after the folding process be brought together.  

In addition, a disadvantage of the procedure described last is that the folded sheets are manually placed on the pallet and then manually again must be removed, which requires considerable personnel and in addition the processing times increased significantly. This intermediate storage on the pallet increases For example, by dusting or overturning stacks the share of production scrap.

Another disadvantage of the known methods and devices is that the Storage of folded sheets requires a larger storage area than the only printed sheets.

The present invention is therefore based on the object, an initially mentioned To provide a method and an apparatus which the aforementioned disadvantages of Avoid the state of the art and in particular the required personnel and the production times, the resulting production scrap, and the product costs decrease while increasing production throughput.

This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. advantageous Further training is the subject of the subclaims.

According to the invention for the production of printed end products from printed sheets the work steps of folding, possibly collecting or gathering, if at least two printed sheets are combined to form a final print product and stitching or binding in one step. It is under understood the uninterrupted processing of the printed sheets in one operation, especially without the interposition of manual activities by a person.

The folded sheets are preferably collected immediately after folding or collected and fed to the binding or binding device.

The device according to the invention accordingly, in combination, has a Folding device and a stapling or  Binding device through which an uninterrupted processing of the printed sheets is made possible.

In a very advantageous embodiment, one is in the area of the last one Folding device arranged feed drum or the like for immediate Transfer of at least one folded sheet from the last folding device to Further transport of the at least one folded sheet to the stapling or binding device intended. This enables the necessary for post-processing Processing steps are carried out automatically and without interruption.

By means of a feed device provided in a further embodiment successive feeding of individual sheets becomes an even higher degree of automation reached.

In the case of further processing of differently printed sheets, the feed device preferably has means for alternate removal of the differently printed sheets of the multi-leaf End product in the order required for the end product from different magazines. In addition, one is coupled to the folding device Collection and transport device for collecting the folded sheets in the required sequence and for further transport of the collected folded sheets the stitching or binding device provided.

In a further special embodiment, stacks of printed sheets are loaded Magazines or pallets already corresponding to those in the respective print end product required order provided.

In contrast to the known solutions, the proposed device has preferably over several corresponding magazines. The sheets are made using the Feed device one after the other and in the order mentioned the individual stacks removed and automatically fed to the folding and stitching or binding device.  

In a preferred embodiment, a folding sword initially only presses in parallel folded sheet between assigned folding rollers, the folding sword being a fold generated, which runs across the previously created parallel fold of the sheet. On the the side of the folding rollers opposite the folding blade takes a catch or Gripping device counter the bow. The finished folded sheet (signature) is then how as is known for a signature feeder for standing (vertical) sheets, opened and placed on a transport device, for example a transport chain, of a saddle stitcher. Only when all sheets of the final print product have been compiled will they become transported further by means of the transport device.

A separate envelope can then be added to the signatures. Also attaching cards or information to the final print product using For example, digital printing processes such as inkjet printing technology are conceivable.

Through the combination of different modules proposed according to the invention a known folding or combination folding machine with different modules Known saddle stitcher is particularly the personnel, time and cost intensive Production step of the intermediate storage of the folded sheets in the production of a Brochure or the like avoided.

The invention is illustrated below with the aid of one in the drawing Embodiment from which further advantages and features of the invention result, explained in more detail. Show it:

Figure 1 is a schematically shown combined folding machine according to the prior art.

Figure 2 shows a schematic structure of a collector unit (collator) for collecting folded sheets according to the prior art (from the initially described handbook by Helmut Kipphan).

Fig. 3a, b in the sheet running direction cut outs a. a pocket folder and b. a sword folding unit according to the prior art to illustrate the two folding principles (source cited above);

Fig. 4a, b sectional views of two variants of feeders frequently used in collating machines, with gripper tongs a. and with gripper drum b. (loc. cit.);

FIG. 5a, b Figures 4a, b similar sectional views for illustration of operating according to the known Abziehtechnik investors for use in collector units (cited above).

Fig. 6a-c cut in the sheet running direction a. an inventive device for further processing of printed sheets in an overview, b. an enlarged detail of the sword folding device contained in Fig. 6a along the section line VIa-VIa, and c. a corresponding enlargement of the detail of the feed device contained in FIG. 6a (section line VIb-VIb); and

Fig. 7 shows schematically the arrangement of the adhesive binder to be supplied to a signature on a transport chain.

The combined folding machine shown in FIG. 1 and described in the "Manual of the Print Media", published by Helmut Kipphan, has a pocket folding unit 10 and a sword folding unit 14 arranged behind it in the direction of sheet travel 12 . Unfolded sheets 16 of the printing type "A" are fed to the combined folding device 10 , 14 by means of a feeder 18 . The feeder 18 has the task of removing sheets from an investment stack, separating the sheets away from the stack and using a feed device to bring them to an investment table and to feed investment marks 20 there . The alignment of each individual sheet on these investment marks ensures that the subsequent folding steps are precisely oriented according to the printed image. The feed 20 takes place by means of feed devices described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b. The pocket fold unit 10 produces a fold with a fold line transverse to the sheet running direction 12 , whereas the sword fold unit 14 produces a fold with a fold line longitudinal to the sheet running direction. As a result of the successive folding of the sheets longitudinally and transversely or vice versa, so-called "signatures" are created, ie sheets that may be folded in several directions.

The combined folding device 10 , 14 thus generates signatures 22 of the "A" print type only. These are then first fed 26 to a so-called “display” 24 and placed there, for example stacked 28 .

That for producing a brochure or the like consisting of at least one signature now requires that the respective signatures be collected and then stapled together, which is done, for example, by means of the saddle stitcher unit 30 shown in FIG. 1. For this purpose, however, the individual signatures have to be conveyed manually 32 from the delivery 24 into the saddle stitcher unit 30 , which means a considerable expenditure of personnel and time.

It should be noted that the invention is particularly advantageous in the case of at least two Folded sheets or signatures of different printing types, existing brochures or The same can be used, as will be clarified in the following description.

The process of collecting folded sheets into so-called insert blocks is to be illustrated with the aid of FIG. 2. This shows schematically the construction of a collecting machine or unit, which is formed according to collating machines from a folded sheet feeder, a block collector and a delivery.

The various folding sheet printing types are first fed from an intermediate folding sheet storage 100 to a preliminary storage 102 assigned to the respective printing type. In order to be able to insert the sheets into one another in accordance with the later stitching, they are opened in the middle by means of a respective feeder 104 .

After opening 104 , the sheets are placed one after the other on a saddle or a busbar 106 . The busbar 106 has a busbar with drivers, which conveys sheets 108 already deposited in the sheet travel direction 110 from feeder to feeder 104 , so that an inserted block 112 is finally created. The inserted blocks 112 are finally transferred to an optional envelope feeder and a wire stitching machine.

It should be noted that the sheet separation and the sheet opening, in the present example, take place according to the principle of the pull-off technique 114 , which is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS . 5a and 5b, but certainly also according to the one in the above-mentioned manual with the aid of FIG -57 described rolling technology or the like can be performed.

The following are the folding units commonly used in folding and their How it works explained in more detail.

In the pocket folding unit shown in FIG. 3a, three folding rollers 200-204 and one folding pocket 206 delimit a folding space in which a compression fold 208 oriented in this illustration perpendicular to the paper plane is formed on a sheet 210 fed to the folding unit. The sheet 210 first runs through the upper folding roller 200 and the lower folding roller 202, which rotates in opposite directions with respect to the upper folding roller 200 . The sheet 210 'is then inserted into the folding pocket 206 until it comes to rest against a pocket stop 212 . By briefly further transporting the sheet 210 'into the folding pocket 206 , the compression fold 208 then forms between the lower right folding roller 202 and the left lower folding roller 204 . The sheet 210 , 210 'is then moved through the two lower folding rollers 202 , 204 , as a result of which a fold is formed along the line of the compression fold 208 . The rotating folding rollers enable the folding unit to work without a cycle.

In the sword or knife folding unit shown in FIG. 3b, a sheet 300 conveyed perpendicular to the paper plane in the illustration is first aligned with the front edge and a side edge 302 and transported into the intermediate space formed between a folding blade 304 and two counter-rotating folding rollers 306 , 308 , Triggered by the position of the sheet 300 in the folding unit, which is detected by means of, for example, an opto-electronic sensor (not shown), the folding sword 304 pushes the sheet 300 against a predetermined folding line oriented perpendicular to the paper plane between the pair of folding rollers 306 , 308 . With an oscillating clock movement, the folding blade 304 dips so far between the rollers 306 , 308 that the sheet 300 experiences a compression fold 310 . The sheet 300 thus compressed is finally transported downwards between the two folding rollers, which also results in a corresponding folding here.

FIGS. 4a and 4b show two in collating machines investors principles used. Both variants together have the following functional units referenced by identical reference numbers:

• A folding sheet stacking magazine 400 for the continuous insertion of sheets 410 or signatures by an operator or a loading device with a front lower edge separation of the sheets 410 to be separated;
• a tilting suction device 420 which can be swiveled about a swivel axis 415 for separating separating edges 430 of the respective sheets 410 by means of suction air;
• a stack support 440 for sheets 410 remaining in the stack magazine 400 , which can be pivoted about a pivot axis 450 when the tilting suction device 420 pulls off the separating edge or the collar web 430 of a lower sheet from the sheet stack 410 ; and
• a collecting channel 460 with a number of collecting chains 470 having a number of drivers 465 running perpendicular to the plane of the paper, in which a continuous driving movement is at an angle of 90 degrees to the separating movement.

In the feeder shown in FIG. 4 a, the individual sheets 430 are pulled out of the stacking magazine 400 by means of a gripper 480 and conveyed into the collecting channel 460 . In contrast to this, the feeder shown in FIG. 4b uses a gripper drum 490 to pull out the sheets 430 .

Two working phases of a working according to the Abziehtechnik investor in FIGS. 5a and 5b are shown. Already folded sheets 500 are first stacked here by an operator in a standing sheet feeder 510 , so that the respective sheet opening 505 comes to lie on top. A respective lower sheet 520 is separated by pulling the collar web off the sheet stack 500 by means of a tilting suction device 530 , so that a gripper 540 of a take-off drum 550 separates the sheet 520 and, through the rotation, held by sheet holders 555 , leads to a back stop 560 , At the back stop 560 , the gripper 540 of the draw-off drum 550 opens and the sheet 520 'is taken over by the gripper 570 of a counter-rotating transfer drum 580 on the front web. For this purpose, the sheet has a gripping fold (not shown). Alternatively, the bow can be opened using a suction cup. The gripper 570 of the transfer drum 580 grips the gripping fold, so that only the half of the sheet lying against the transfer drum 580 is held by the latter. In a counter-rotating conveying movement, a gripper 590 of an opening drum 600 takes over the free front web edge, whereby the arch 520 "is opened and can thus be placed on a saddle 610 .

A device according to the invention for the further processing of printed sheets will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6a-6c.

FIG. 6a shows schematically a cut in the sheet running direction overall view of the device. In the exemplary embodiment, the device comprises three magazines 730 , 740 , 750 equipped with printed, unfolded sheet stacks, each having a feeder 700 , 710 , 720 . The magazines 730-750 are arranged in a row, aligned in the sheet running direction 760 , and are coupled to a folding device 780 by means of an automatic sheet feeder 770 which overlaps the three magazines 730-750 . The printed sheets 790 are already stored in the magazines 730-750 in the order A, B, C or a certain permutation of this order required for the production of the final brochure, so that a subsequent gathering of the folded sheets for stapling the brochure can be omitted here.

The folding device 780 includes a detail already described in Fig. 3a buckle 800 to the parallel fold, and a buckle 800 to the downstream, Fig. 3b already described knife folder 810 based on the cross fold the sheet 790th It goes without saying that, if necessary, a plurality of pocket fold and / or sword fold mechanisms can also be provided.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that, instead of the three magazines 730-750 shown , either a single or a larger number of magazines can also be provided, ie the invention can advantageously be used even with a device having only one magazine. In addition, the magazines 730-750 can be arranged vertically or also at an angle of, for example, 90 degrees to the other structural units of the device, the feed device 770 in the latter case providing a transverse feed of the sheets.

The sheets 790 , which were initially only folded in parallel by means of the pocket folding unit 800, are, as usual, transferred to the sword folding unit 810 . As described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 6b, the sword folding unit 810 is directly combined or coupled with a collecting device 820 , which opens the finished folded sheets (signatures) by means of a feeder (see FIG. 6b) and on a collecting or . Transport rail 830 (e.g. transport chain) deposits.

It should be emphasized that the sheets are already stored here in the correct order due to the orderly feeding by means of the magazines 730-750 . As soon as all the signatures A ', B', C 'of a brochure are one above the other, they are transported further by means of the transport rail 830 and fed to a stapler 840 which is immediately adjacent in a preferred embodiment. However, the sheets can optionally be provided with an envelope by means of an optional envelope feeder 850 before the stapling, or additional signatures can be added if necessary. The timed continued running of the transport rail 830 can be clocked by means of a counter or the like, which counts up to the previously recorded number of feeders.

The sword folding unit 810 shown in FIG. 6b in an enlarged detail along the section line VIa-VIa and shown only schematically has a folding sword 920 that can be inserted between two counter-rotating folding rollers 900 , 910 . Arranged below the folding rollers 900 , 910 is a feed drum 930 , which picks up an already cross-folded sheet by means of a gripper 940 . Arranged below the feed drum 930 is a sheet opener formed from two transport rollers 950 , 960 which rotate in opposite directions and which has already been described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5a and 5b. A respectively opened sheet 970 is then fed to the previously described transport rail 830 in the manner already mentioned.

It should be noted that the sheet opener 950 , 960 and the transport chain can be dispensed with in the event of the subsequent binding of the sheets by means of an adhesive binder, since in this case the signatures A, B and C are known to be bound next to one another, and not like one above the other, as is the case here it is shown schematically in Fig. 7. In this case, the signatures A, B, C are fed to an adhesive binder, not shown in FIG. 7, which can preferably be arranged either in the direction of the signatures lying next to one another or perpendicular to this direction (shown in FIG. 7 as an alternative solution).

Finally, FIG. 6c shows an enlarged detail of the feed device 770 also contained in FIG. 6a, namely a section along the section line VIb-VIb. In the example, the feed device 770 has an already described feeder 720 which is movable in the directions indicated by the two arrows and arranged on the magazine 750 shown. In addition, a switch device 1000 is provided for receiving a sheet 1010 and for further transporting the sheet 1010 by means of two treadmills 1020 , 1030 . In operation, feeder 720 successively pushes an upper sheet 1010 of the stack in the direction of the switch device.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Taschenfalzeinheit

12

Sheet running direction

14

Schwertfalzeinheit

16

unfolded sheet

18

investor

20

feed

22

signatures

24

display

26

feed

28

stack

30

Saddle stitcher unit

32

manual transportation

100

Falzbogenzwischenlager

102

Vorlager

104

investor

106

bus

108

filed bow

110

direction

112

inserted block

114

Abziehtechnik

200

folding roller

202

lower right folding roller

204

lower left folding roller

206

folding pocket

208

edging fold

210

fed sheet

210

' Arc

212

pocket stop

300

funded bow

302

side edge

304

folding knife

306

folding roller

308

folding roller

310

edging fold

400

Folded sheet stack magazine

410

arc

415

swivel axis

420

Kippsauger

430

separation edges

440

stack support

450

swivel axis

460

collecting duct

465

takeaway

470

collecting chain

480

gripper

490

gripper drum

500

folded sheet

510

Standing sheet feeder

520

lower arch

520

' Arc

520

" Arc

530

Kippsauger

540

grab

550

drawing drum

555

bow holder

560

back stop

570

grab

580

Transfer drum

590

grab

600

opening drum

610

saddle

700

investor

710

investor

720

investor

730

magazine

740

magazine

750

magazine

760

Sheet running direction

770

sheet feeder

780

folding device

790

folded sheet

800

Bucklefolder

810

A knife

820

collecting device

830

transport rail

840

stapler

850

cover folder

900

folding roller

910

folding roller

920

folding knife

930

investors drum

940

grab

950

Transport roller of the sheet opener

960

Transport roller of the sheet opener

970

open bow

1000

soft furnishings

1010

arc

1020

treadmill

1030

treadmill
A ', B', C 'signature

Claims (19)

1. A process for the further processing of printed sheets for the production of multi-sheet printed end products such as brochures or the like, characterized in that the printed sheets are first folded in one operation, then optionally collated if at least two printed sheets are combined to form a finished print product, and then stapled or be bound. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized, that the sheets are folded lengthways and crossways, or vice versa. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized, that the sheets are collected in one step after folding or are gathered before they are stapled. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized, that at least one folded sheet is taken over immediately after folding and the stapling or binding device is fed. 5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized, that at least a single sheet is the process of folding and stapling or binding is successively supplied.   6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two stacks differently printed sheets of the respective print end product provided become, characterized, that the differently printed sheets in the the sequence required for the final print product is folded in sequence, collected and stapled. 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized, that the at least two already folded sheets are opened and onto one Transport device are stored, the at least two stored folded sheets only for the purpose of stapling or binding is transported further when all folded sheets of the respective End product are collected. 8. Device for further processing of printed sheets for the production of multi-sheet printed end products such as brochures or the like, marked by a folding device, a collating device and one with the Gathering device coupled stapling or binding device. 9. The device according to claim 8, marked by at least one longitudinal folding device and at least one to the Longitudinal folding device, subsequent transverse folding device, or vice versa.   10. The device according to claim 9, marked by a feed drum arranged in the area of the last folding device or the like for the immediate takeover of at least one folded sheet from the last folding device for further transport of the at least one folded sheet to the binding or binding device. 11. The device according to one of claims 8 to 10, marked by a feed device for the successive feeding of individual sheets. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, for further processing in different Differently printed sheets provided to magazines, characterized, that the feeder means for alternately removing the different printed sheet of the multi-page printed end product in the for that Final print order required from the various magazines has, and that a coupled to the folding device and Transport device for collecting the folded sheets in the required Sequence and for further transport of the collected folded sheets to the booklet or binding device are provided. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized, that the feed device is formed by at least one switchable switch.   14. The apparatus of claim 12 or 13, marked by at least two magazines, each with an investor, for provision of differently printed sheet stacks that are in front of the folding and stapling or Binding device in the required for the respective print end product Order are arranged. 15. The device according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized, that the feeder control means for automatically removing the sheets in the order required for each print end product or one certain permutation of this order. 16. The device according to one of claims 8 to 15, marked by a collection and transport device coupled to the folding device for Collection of folded sheets in the for the respective print end product required order and for further transport of the collected sheets in this order to the binding or binding device. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, marked by a numerical counter or the like for detection when all folded Sheets of a brochure are placed one on top of the other. 18. Device according to one of claims 8 to 17, marked by at least one pocket folding unit and one coupled to the pocket folding unit Schwertfalzeinheit.   19. The apparatus of claim 18, characterized, that a last folding unit arranged in front of the transport device is one on the opposite side arranged by folding rollers to collect Storage of the folded sheets.