EP0559614B1 - Process for loosening sheets piled in ream and device for carrying out the process - Google Patents

Abstract

The method consists, while the ream is applied against a curved surface, in exerting pressure forces against the outer sheet of said ream, along a line of application parallel to the generatrices of the curved surface, moving this line over the entire length of the ream, and beyond each of the edges of the sheets, thereby releasing the sheets. The intensity of the pressure forces enables the sheets to be kept against the curved surface and the speed of movement of the line of application is adjusted in order for the released sheets successively to move away from the remaining curved sheets, thereby reestablishing a plane ream, this reformed ream being jogged.

Description

The present invention relates to a process for peeling off sheets of paper stacked in reams of sheets, in particular printed sheets, preferably valuable papers, according to the preamble of claim 1, as well as devices for implementing this process.

A device for peeling off sheets of paper, proceeding according to the preamble of claim 1, is described in patent SU-A-927700. This device includes a mechanism for bending the ream of sheets with L-shaped stops carrying clamping rollers, rollers freely mounted on the table which adjust to the size of the ream and which are connected to the clamping rollers by tightening loops, and a central element with a convex surface.

In patent DE-B 26 41 214, another device for removing the reams of sheets is described. This device is mounted in the path of the reams and comprises at least one pair of transport rollers forming between them a slot through which the reams of sheets pass, the width of this slot being less than the thickness of the ream, and the coat of at least one of these rollers being of elastic material.

The handling of paper inside printing houses poses more and more problems linked to the increase in machine productivity. If considerable efforts have been made in improving the different printing phases, among the operations that have remained poor parents of innovation are the operations of taking off the leaves of a train before it is brought to a feeder of a printing machine or other processing device. This means that printers still currently handle by hand quantities of paper which amount daily to tonnes.

Between the various operations, more or less large buffer stocks are built up, generally in the form of oars or stacks, typically comprising 250, 500 or 1000 sheets. The transfer of these reams of sheets from one processing device to the next is generally done on pallets with several reams. Automatic palletizing, carriage guiding and automated storage systems are known in the state of the art. One of the main difficulties in automating the chains of current devices for processing paper sheets therefore results from the handling of paper in the transfer of the reams from the pallet to a feeder while ensuring the take-off of the sheets, especially sheets of paper- value. This operation is currently carried out by workers who peel the leaves of a row from each other, folding their edges, ventilating them and jogging them by hand, before feeding the feeder to the feed unit. printing or other processing device.

The object of the present invention is to allow the automation of the take-off operation.

This object is achieved by a method which is characterized in that said application line is moved perpendicular to the generatrices of the curved surface along a path extending from one to the other of the edges of the sheets parallel to the generatrices of the curved surface and then beyond each of these edges by releasing the sheets, the intensity of said pressure forces remaining sufficient during their movement to keep the sheets against the curved surface, the speed of said movement being adjusted so that the sheets released successively move away from the curved remaining sheets by restoring a flat train, and this formed train is jogged.

• une table de taquage, comprenant au milieu une zone ajourable,
• un cylindre de déformation situé à distance au-dessus de cette table et dont les génératrices sont sensiblement parallèles au plan de cette table,
• des moyens de pression mobiles comprenant au moins deux rouleaux de décollage rotatifs et mobiles dont l'axe de rotation est parallèle aux génératrices dudit cylindre de déformation, ces rouleaux étant installés pour être déplacés par rapport au cylindre de déformation à partir d'une position initiale au-dessous de la rame dans ladite zone ajourable de la table, sur des trajectoires parallèles à la surface du cylindre et pour être déplacés aussi dans le sens radial par rapport audit cylindre;
• des moyens de commande pour commander les mouvements desdits rouleaux de décollage,
• des moyens pour insuffler de l'air dirigé contre les bords des feuilles libérées parallèlement aux génératrices dudit cylindre et
• des moyens de taquage.

A device according to the invention for implementing the above method is characterized by

• a jogging table, comprising in the middle an openwork area,
• a deformation cylinder located at a distance above this table and whose generatrices are substantially parallel to the plane of this table,
• mobile pressure means comprising at least two rotary and mobile take-off rollers whose axis of rotation is parallel to the generatrices of said deformation cylinder, these rollers being installed to be displaced relative to the deformation cylinder from an initial position below the train in said openable area of the table, on paths parallel to the surface of the cylinder and to be moved also in the radial direction relative to said cylinder;
• control means for controlling the movements of said take-off rollers,
• means for blowing air directed against the edges of the leaves released parallel to the generatrices of said cylinder and
• jogging means.

Preferred embodiments of the method and the device are described in the dependent claims.

• décollage des feuilles d'une rame complète (typiquement 500 ou 1000 feuilles) par glissement des feuilles les unes sur les autres, lors de la déformation de la rame appliquée contre le cylindre de déformation,
• aération du papier lorsque les rouleaux de décollage libèrent les feuilles, feuille par feuille, et qu'elles retombent sur le plateau,
• mise en forme d'une rame par taquage contre un rebord du plateau.

The device according to the invention therefore provides the following functions after the installation of a train on the platform:

• take-off of the sheets of a complete ream (typically 500 or 1000 sheets) by sliding the sheets one on the other, during the deformation of the ream applied against the deformation cylinder,
• ventilation of the paper when the take-off rollers release the sheets, sheet by sheet, and they fall back onto the tray,
• shaping of a train by jogging against an edge of the platform.

The stack of fallen leaves is shaped into a ream of irregular contours can be achieved by tilting the plate and jogging by a hydraulic system or by eccentric, or by any jogger known in the prior art.

• la figure 1 montre schématiquement une vue d'un dispositif de décollage des feuilles dans la phase d'arrivée d'une rame sur le plateau de la table de taquage,
• la figure 2 montre le même dispositif pendant l'application de la rame contre le cylindre de déformation et le début du mouvement des rouleaux de décollage,
• la figure 3 montre la poursuite du mouvement des rouleaux de décollage,
• la figure 4 montre les rouleaux de décollage près de leur position finale et la retombée des feuilles sur le plateau,
• la figure 5 montre le dispositif pendant l'opération de taquage avec le mécanisme pour déplacer les rouleaux,
• la figure 6 montre le dispositif en direction de la flèche F1 de la figure 5 pendant le transfert de la rame reformée sur une table de margeur.

The present invention will be better understood from the description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying figures, where

• FIG. 1 schematically shows a view of a device for peeling off the sheets when a train arrives on the platform of the jogging table,
• FIG. 2 shows the same device during the application of the train against the deformation cylinder and the start of the movement of the take-off rollers,
• FIG. 3 shows the continuation of the movement of the take-off rollers,
• FIG. 4 shows the take-off rollers near their final position and the fall of the sheets on the tray,
• FIG. 5 shows the device during the jogging operation with the mechanism for moving the rollers,
• FIG. 6 shows the device in the direction of the arrow F1 in FIG. 5 during the transfer of the reformed train to a feeder table.

The elements described are designated by the same reference numbers in all of the figures.

The jogging table comprises a plate 1, composed of fixed elements 11, 12, and mobile elements 13, 14, 15, 16. In the center of the plate, the mobile elements 13 and 14 can assume a position aligned with the elements 11, 12 and 15 to form a continuous support for a ream of sheets R, as shown in Figure 1, or can be moved below the fixed elements 11, 12 to leave an open area 17 (Figures 2 and 3). Below the center of the plate 1 is a retractable part in the shape of a piston 2 as well as, on either side of it, two rollers 61 and 62. The perforated zone 17 is sufficient to allow passage to these rollers 61, 62 and to this piston 2 which can move in the vertical direction. The movable elements 15, 16 form in their vertical position of the side walls of the tray. The entire plate 1 can be tilted using a hydraulic cylinder 3 (FIG. 5) which lowers the fixed element 12.

To jog the oar, after takeoff, in its position illustrated in FIG. 5, a motor 5 is provided, fixed below the fixed element 11, and causing an unbalance 6 which vibrates the plate 1.

The take-off device 4 comprises a deformation cylinder 41, mounted in a frame 42 (Figure 6) which carries, on one side of the cylinder 41, two jacks 44, 45 with their piston rods 48, 49 (Figures 5 and 6) and, on the other side of the cylinder 41, two jacks 44 ', 45' with their piston rods 48 ', 49' (Figure 6). All these jacks are mounted on the frame 42 so as to rotate about the same axis, coaxial with the axis 43 of the cylinder 41, and are provided, for this purpose, with pins 46, 46 'respectively 47, 47' do not forming a part with the casings of the corresponding cylinders and being perpendicular to the axis of the corresponding rod 48, 48 ', respectively 49, 49'.

The pins 46 and 47 are housed in the frame 42, free to rotate, by rolling bearings 50, 51 and 52, the bearing 51 in the middle being common to the two jacks 44, 45. On the other side of the cylinder 41, the pins 46 'and 47' are housed in the bearing bearings 50 ', 51' and 52 ', the bearing 51' in the middle being common to the two jacks 44 'and 45'.

The cylinder rods 48, 48 ′ and 49, 49 ′ carry, according to FIGS. 5 and 6, take-off rollers 61 and 62 respectively which are free to rotate around their axes 63 and 64 and extend parallel to the axis 43 of the cylinder 41.

To this end, the take-off roller 61 is provided, on either side, with pins 65, 65 'housed so as to rotate in bearings provided in said rods 48 and 48'. Similarly, the take-off roller 62 is provided with pins, invisible in FIG. 6 (hidden by the pins 65, 65 '), these pins are housed in bearings of the rods 49, 49' of the jacks 45, 45 '.

To drive the cylinders 44, 44 'and 45, 45' in rotation, two motors 55 and 56 respectively are provided, fixed on the upper part of the frame 42. The pins 46, 46 'of the cylinders 44, 44' are extended by two pulleys 53, 53 'driven by the belts 54, 54' of the first motor 55. In this way, the motor 55 can drive the jacks 44, 44 'around the axis 43 of the cylinder 41, driving the take-off roller 61 around of the cylinder 41 on which it rolls. In the example considered, the movement of the motor 55 is transmitted to the belts 54, 54 'by means of two bevel gears 68 and a transmission shaft 67 at the ends of which pulleys 59, 59' receiving said belts are fixed. 54, 54 '. The same drive system is provided for turning the jacks 45, 45 'around the axis 43 driving the take-off roller 62; this system comprises the motor 56, two belts 58, 58 'and two pulleys 57, 57' fixed on the pins 47, 47 '. In the same way, the movement of the motor 56 is transmitted to the belts 58, 58 'by two bevel gearboxes 70 and a transmission shaft 69 carrying the pulleys 60, 60' at its ends.

Thanks to this configuration, the rollers 61, 62 can be moved, on the one hand, in the radial direction relative to the cylinder 41 under the effect of the jacks 44, 44 ', respectively 45, 45' and, on the other hand , around the cylinder 41 in the angular direction on paths coaxial with the cylinder 41 and parallel to its surface. These movements of the rollers around the cylinder 41 can be simultaneous, preferably symmetrical in the opposite direction, or independent of one another, the movements being carried out successively.

The essential phases of take-off, aeration and jogging operations are shown successively in Figures 1 to 6:

In Figure 1 the elements 13, 14 and 15 of the plate 1 are aligned with the fixed elements 11 and 12; the piston 2 and the rollers 61 and 62 are in their low position. The ream R of the sheets is pushed in the direction of arrow F against the raised element 16 using the pusher P, centering it approximately below the axis 43 of the cylinder 41.

As shown in FIG. 2, after the pusher P has been removed and the element 15 raised, the elements 13 and 14 are lowered and separated from one another below the plate 1. Simultaneously, the piston 2, acting as a support, presses the oar R against the cylinder 41 serving as a guide for the mounting of the two rollers 61 and 62 (Figure 2). The rollers 61 and 62 then raise the train R, under the action of the jacks 44, 44 ', 45, 45' and press it against the cylinder 41 with a constant force. When the two rollers 61 and 62 press the paper, the piston 2 is lowered (Figure 3). Under the action of the motors 55, 56 the roller 61 moves away from the roller 62 in the direction of arrow F1 while roller 62 moves symmetrically in the direction of arrow F2 (FIG. 4). Under the effect of the deformation, the sheets of the oar slide one on the other, plane on plane, due to the difference of the radii of curvature, which vary from the first to the last leaf; their edges are offset therefrom, this offset being parallel to the generatrices of the cylinder 41 and to the generatrices of the rollers 61, 62.

When a roller 61, 62 exceeds the edge of the last sheet, the latter detaches from the ream and falls back towards the platform, as shown in FIG. 4. As the movement of the roller continues, the leaves peel off one after the other from the following. Simultaneously, or with a time difference, the same phenomenon occurs on the other side, under the effect of the displacement of the second roller. The height of fall in the middle part of the sheets being small compared to their dimension, as shown in FIG. 4, the sheets fall back onto the tray 1 by reforming a pile, generally rectangular, although irregular. The process can be accelerated, and the aeration of the sheets improved, by blowing air through nozzles 7 and 8 in the direction of the arrows F3, F4 of FIG. 4 between the sheets after they are detached from the rest oar pressed against cylinder 41.

At the same time, or after the leaves have fallen, the plate 1 is lowered on one side using the jack 3 and the elements 13, 14 are closed; under the effect of the inclination and of a vibrating movement created by the unbalance 6 driven in rotation by the motor 5, the train R is jogged against the raised edge 15, that is to say made regular, as shown figure 5.

The train is then pushed using a pusher P '(Figure 6) in a direction F', perpendicular to the input direction F (Figure 1), on a margin table to feed, for example, a printing machine.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and illustrated in the accompanying figures. Its scope extends to variants of execution ensuring the same functions. By way of nonlimiting examples:

The cylinder 41 shown in the figures is a cylinder of revolution, with a circumference slightly greater than the size of the sheets of paper. Any other shape of the directing curve (fraction of a circle, ellipse, parabola, etc.) of the cylindrical surface ensuring a difference in radii of curvature between the first and the last sheet of the ream can be used.

The rollers 61 and 62 have been shown as solid rollers whose diameter is less than the thickness of the train; they can take other forms, for example, be provided with transverse grooves making it possible to breathe air tangentially to the sheets beginning to detach.

The rollers 61 and 62 can be actuated by screw jacks, etc .; their angular displacement can be effected by a multiple transmission motor or several independent motors around coaxial axes; they can be replaced by any mechanical device allowing a bar to roll or slide in a continuous movement on the edge of the curved train.

The pushers P, P 'can be replaced by any suitable manipulator arm or conveyor system.

A person skilled in the art is capable of developing other variants of the device without leaving the subject of the claims.

Claims (9)

1. A method for separating the sheets of paper stacked in reams (R) of sheets, by applying the ream against a curved surface (41) in order to separate the sheets of this ream, in which method, while the ream (R) is being applied against the said curved surface (41), pressure forces are exerted against the outer sheet of the ream situated on the side opposite to the side which is in touch with the curved surface (41), along at least one line of application extending over the entire length of the ream (R) and being parallel to the generatrices of the curved surface, characterized in that said line of application is moved perpendicularly to the generatrices of the curved surface (41) along a distance extending from one edge to the other edge of sheets parallel to the generatrices of the curved surface and then beyond each of these edges, thereby releasing the sheets, the intensity of said pressure forces remaining sufficient, during their movement, to keep the sheets against the curved surface (41), the speed of said movement being adjusted so that the released sheets successively move away from the remaining curved sheets, thereby reestablishing a plane ream, and that this formed ream is jogged.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a convex, preferably cylindrical, surface (41) is used as curved surface.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that there are two lines of application of the pressure forces, which are moved beyond the portion of the curved surface covered by the ream (R).
4. The method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that these two lines of application are moved from the central zone of the outer sheet of the ream in the opposite direction.
5. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said pressure forces apply said ream (R) from a board (1) against a curved surface (41) placed above the ream (R) and arranged in such a way that the movement of said pressure means beyond the edges of the sheets of the ream causes these sheets to land on top of each other on said board (1) in a stack, and that said stack forming the ream is jogged with the aid of mechanical jogging means (15, 16, 5, 6).
6. Method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that air is insufflated between the edges of the sheets when they are released from the pressure forces.
7. A device for implementing the method as claimed in claim 1, characterized by

   - a jogging table (1) comprising, in the middle, on openable zone (17),

   - a deforming cylinder (41) located at some distance above this table and the generatrices of which are substantially parallel to the plane of this table,

   - movable pressure means comprising at least two rotary and movable separating rollers (61, 62), the axis of rotation (63, 64) of which is parallel to the generatrices of said deforming cylinder (41), these rollers being installed in order to be moved with respect to the deforming cylinder from an initial position below the ream (R) into said openable zone (17) of the table (1), over trajectories parallel to the surface of the cylinder and also in order to be moved in the radial direction with respect to said cylinder,

   - control means (44, 44'; 45, 45'; 56, 56') for controlling the movements of said separating rollers (61, 62),

   - means for insufflating air directed against the edges of the released sheets parallel to the generatrices of said cylinder and

   - jogging means (3).
8. The device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said separating rollers (61, 62) are each connected to two jacks (44, 44'; 45, 45') installed so as to rotate about the axis (43) of said deforming cylinder (41).
9. The device as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that in said openable zone (17) of the jogging table (1) is installed a retractable part in the form of a piston (2), this part being able to move between a low position, releasing said zone, and a high position in which it is pressed against the lower surface of said ream.

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