DE102007052319A1 - Stacking device for use in sheet material processing apparatus i.e. printing machine, has supporting element arranged in corner area of stacking surface at distance to another stacking surface opposite to stacks - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a stacking surface (3) with stoppers (4) arranged transversely at two abutting sides (5) of the stacking surface for positioning of sheet materials (2) that is conveyed to the stacking surface. A supporting element (6) is arranged in a corner area (7) of the stacking surface at a distance to another stacking surface opposite to stacks. The supporting element is changed in a position in relation to the stacking surface automatically. A corner impact element (8) partially extends over a height of the stack. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) an apparatus for processing sheet material (2) a method for stacking sheet material in a stacking device.

Description

The The present invention relates to a sheet material stacking apparatus, an apparatus with a stacking device and a method for Stacking sheet material.

Out In the field of digital printing machines are stacking modules for sheet material known to be a complicated and mechanically complex device for aligning, stored on a stack in moderate quality, printed sheets exhibit.

task It is therefore the object of the invention with reference to the prior art at least partially solved problems and in particular a stacking device to provide the less complicated and in particular less expensive manufacture and operate is.

These Tasks are solved with a device according to the features of claim 1 and by an apparatus according to the features of claim 4 and by a method according to the patent claim 5. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are in the dependent formulated claims specified. It should be noted that in the dependent formulated dependent claims individually listed Features in any, technologically meaningful way with each other can be combined and define further embodiments of the invention. Furthermore are the in the claims specified features in the description specified and explained, wherein further preferred embodiments of the invention are shown.

present the object is achieved by a sheet material stacking device, the a shelf with transversely arranged stops on at least two adjacent Sides of the shelf for positioning the sheet material supplied from above to a depositing surface, wherein in a corner region of the shelf opposite to the attacks at least a support element spaced from the shelf is arranged.

at the stacking device is in particular one, too separately to be attached to a printing system, storage device for edited Sheet material. In this case, the stacking device as a separate module or be executed as an integral part of a printing system. The stacking device is suitable for all types of printing, copying, coating and cutting machines and other equipment for processing of sheet material.

Under Sheet material is preferably understood paper, in the filing in the stacking device is present in individual sheets, so not in particular as endless material. In addition to paper, the sheet material can also be foil-coated Paper, plastics and other materials that already exist in the cited Printing, copying, coating and cutting machines and other reproduction or processing apparatus can be used.

The shelf is a substantially flat, possibly also curved, surface on which the sheet material comes to rest in the stacking device. there becomes the shelf space of attacks limited to at least two adjacent sides of the shelf are arranged. These attacks extend both along the sides of the counter area as well in the direction perpendicular to the shelf. The attacks include in particular subregions of the sides of the shelf or extend over the entire side surface. If necessary, they can also arranged on three or on all four sides of the shelf be. In a polygonal design the shelf can both all and individual sides of the shelf have stops.

Farther are the stops in particular at least partially carried out such that they transversely, ie in particular aslant or even perpendicular, arranged to the shelf or at least partially bent executed are, so that the sheet material during the lowering movement the shelf or on the stack arranged there by a funnel-like guide the attacks is precisely positioned.

The stacking device further comprises a support member which extends over the storage surface spaced therefrom. The support member serves to support the sheet material at least during a portion of Absinkbewegung the sheet material in the stacking device, so that at least a portion of the sheet material is disposed by resting on the support member such that the escaping during the sinking of the sheet material on the stacking device air between sheet material and Depositing surface is displaced in a preferred direction, namely in the, in which the sheet material is supported by the support member. As a result of the directed air displacement creates a force opposing the displaced air on the sheet material, which moves the sheet material in particular against the stops provided and thus alignment of the sheet material during the sinking on the shelf or on the already formed on the shelf stack of sheet material causes. Especially in the event that the support element has an additional guide function for the sheet material, this can also be designed as a guide bar.

The support element is such a storage area or to the stack of sheet material on the shelf spaced that the sheet material after storage on the shelf or no longer rests on the support on the stack.

Prefers is the support element executed as a curved arm, which is about the shelf from one side of the counter extends toward an adjacent side, and accordingly at least one corner of the sheet material containing the at least two attacks opposite is arranged, support can. The support element but is also as, above the shelf surface arranged laterally in the room over the shelf protruding hanger executable. The support element extends parallel to the shelf or is at an angle and, if appropriate, can be arranged almost perpendicular to the support surface. Furthermore, the support element also run with a thread be. It then extends between two, in particular to each other adjacent, side surfaces of Storage space, so that the sheet material in at least one corner or section the sheet material at least during a part of the Absinkbewegung is supported on the stack or on the shelf surface.

According to one further expedient embodiment the stacking device is the at least one support element in its position opposite the shelf variable, especially automatically. In this case, the support element fits if necessary, on the one hand to the stack height of the on the shelf for Lie down come sheet material, so continue from the top of the stack to be spaced. The support element but also in dependence at least one material property of the sheet material, such as z. B. the thickness, the side length, the Grammtur (density), the inherent stiffness or the surface coating, be adjusted in his position. In this case, the support element with a positioning device and optionally with sensors be coupled, wherein the sensors for measuring a height of a Stack of sheet material on the shelf are suitable and / or can recognize certain material properties of the sheet material. The Position of the support element can in a direction perpendicular to the shelf and / or in a plane changeable parallel to the shelf be. The support element can continue to be changeable in its orientation to the shelf. It is thus particularly freely positionable in the room above shelf arranged. In addition, also the section of the sheet material, by the support element supported is, and in particular the bearing surface of the sheet material on the support element changed (ie reduced or enlarged).

According to one another preferred embodiment the stacking device has these on at least one side at least an edge impact element on, at least partially over a height of a formable on the shelf Stack of sheet material extends and an intermittent movement performs against edges of the sheet material. The edge impact element serves to align the stack or the individual sheets the stack or the individual sheets in the feed motion to the stack, to a very accurate layering of the sheet material to reach. In this case, the edge impact element is so in its movement tuned that on the one hand positioning the individual sheets or the stack is reached, on the other hand, but damage the Edges of the sheet material is avoided. The at least one edge impact element extends over at least a portion of the side surface of a stack, optionally But it also takes the entire side surface of a stack. Further the edge bumper extends over one total stack height, of storage space until the end of the stack, or above out to the individual bows while the feeding movement to position the stack. Optionally, the edge impact element so executed, that it covers only a portion of the stack or it is in the Area above the imageable stack arranged to the feed movement of the sheet until it is deposited on the stack.

Farther is the at least one edge impact element in particular at least partially bent, so that the sheet material during the Lowering movement on the shelf or on the stack arranged there by a funnel-like guide the at least one edge impact element is precisely positioned.

The Edge joint element can be moved intermittently, so z. Swinging, vibrating, move back and forth, alternating movements with / without pause, Etc.

If necessary, the edge impact element can also be subdivided into a plurality of subregions which are separated from one another or else oscillating together. These subregions extend both in the direction of the stack height and in the direction of the side surfaces of the stack. The edge impact element is, in particular, a spring-mass oscillator which has a vibration path of 0.5 to 3 mm relative to the edges of the sheet material, in particular of 1 mm to 2 mm. For multiple edge impact In particular, these elements are individually excited, wherein the edge impact elements with a frequency or with different frequencies and thereby rectified, offset from each other or oscillate in opposite directions. The edge impact element is also advantageous to use as a stop for the sheet material, in particular, at least one stop of the stacking device is designed as an edge impact element.

Of the inventive apparatus for processing sheet material, to which the invention further is in particular a printing machine and has a stacking device according to the invention, the shelf surface aslant is arranged to the horizontal. The apparatus can thus be around a printing press or even a copying, cutting or coating device or any other machine suitable for processing sheet material act, which is a stacking device according to the invention has or suitable for receiving a stacking device according to the invention is. The shelf the stacking device can be arranged obliquely to the horizontal be such that z. B. either two corners of the shelf a height are arranged or provided a corner as the lowest point of the shelf is.

In addition, will also proposed a method for stacking sheet material. The method for stacking sheet material in a stacking device according to the invention includes that the sheet material is fed into the stacking device, doing against the attacks meets and at least partially during descent towards the shelf from the support element supported becomes. In this case, the sheet material in particular laterally in the Stacking device introduced, so it may be during the introduction supported in the stacking device by the support member and through the attacks is inhibited in the lateral movement. Consequently, the trajectory becomes purposefully influenced.

Prefers the sheet material is introduced from above into the stacking device, so that it is at least partially through to storage on the shelf the support element supported becomes. The support element In particular, therefore, not only during the sinking of the sheet material in the direction of the shelf already in contact with the sheet material, but leads during the Transport movement of the sheet material in the stacking device already the sheet material.

According to one particularly preferred embodiment of the method, the support element in dependence at least one material property of the sheet material over the shelf positioned, in particular at least before or during the feeding of the Sheet material. Possibly. can the operation of the support element also adapted to several material properties at the same time. As a material property of the sheet material come z. B. thickness, side length, Grammtur (Density) as well as the bending stiffness in question or also optionally Surface coatings. The support element becomes dependent of at least one of these material properties, manually and in particular automatically by menu preselection or by detecting a material property by sensors, allowing a safe and controlled filing of the sheet material too an ordered stack.

According to one further advantageous embodiment of the method becomes the support element dependent on at least one material property of the sheet material in its Shape changed. In this case, the support element z. B. be designed as a movable link chain, in particular automatically, depending of at least one material property of the sheet material. The support element is in particular designed as a thread-like element, which itself from a side surface extends to an optionally adjacent side surface and in particular is changeable in its position and / or in its length.

According to one further advantageous embodiment of the procedure becomes the storage area dependent from the height lowered of the stack formed and the support member and / or the edge impact element independently from the position of the shelf in terms of aligned the sheet material. This means in particular that the storage surface movable is and dependent the height the stack formed by an ejector of the upstream Moved away printing device, so that a supply of additional sheet material is possible.

Especially is the support element and / or also the edge impact element also independent aligned by this lowering movement of the shelf, so that a Adjustment of the position of the support element on material properties of the sheet material and positioning of the sheet material by the edge impact element during the feeding or while storage on the stack possible is.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the edge impact element performs an intermittent movement with a frequency of at least 50 Hz, preferably of at least 250 Hz and more preferably of at least 500 Hz. The individual edge impact elements are similar and in particular offset from one another excitable and the vibration amplitude in particular individually and / or independently controllable. Furthermore, the oscillation frequency of the at least one edge impact element can be selected variable depending on the position of the edge impact element or is dependent on the material properties of the sheet material.

According to one further expedient embodiment of the procedure leads the at least one edge impact element an intermittent movement with a frequency, the Frequency dependent is from the feed rate on sheet material in the stacking device. This is in particular meant that at a feed rate from X bows every second a frequency of N · X is present, for example, 2 movements per sheet, 4 movements or even 8 movements per bow. This will ensure that every sheet material during the lowering movement on the discard pile or during the feed movement in the stacking device undergoes a predetermined minimum amount of attacks, the each sheet material is positioned on the stacker.

Also it is advantageous for the method when the at least one edge impact element depends on the height a stack formed with the sheet material and / or at least a material property of the sheet material, the frequency and / or varies in a moving mass, in particular automatically. In order to ensures that on the one hand very heavy sheet material is sufficiently stimulated to be accurately positioned, and also For example, very light sheet material at its edges not damaged becomes.

The Invention and the technical environment are described below closer to the figures explained. It should be noted that the figures were particularly preferred variants of the invention to which, however, it is not limited. They show schematically:

1 : an apparatus with a stacking device and

2 : another stacking device.

In 1 is an apparatus 12 represented, for example, a printing press 13 that have a spit 15 for a sheet material 2 has, from which the sheet material 2 to a stacking device 1 is fed in the arrow direction. The sheet material 2 comes in a corner area 7 on a support element 6 at least partially resting so that it is due to the directional escape of air between a stack 10 and the sheet material 2 against the opposite of the support element 6 arranged attacks 4 is positioned. This takes the sheet material 2 during the sinking already an exact position above the shelf 3 and make a precise stack 10 of sheet material 2 , The attacks 4 are at least one, the support element 6 opposite, corner of the shelf 3 arranged. This cover the attacks 4 at least parts of the pages 5 the shelf 3 from.

At least during the lowering movement of the sheet material 2 leads an edge impact element 8th an intermittent movement (indicated by the arrow), so that an accurate positioning of the sheet material 2 against the attacks 4 is possible. The edge impact element 8th doing a movement against the edges 11 of the bow material 2 through, leaving a stack 10 over a height 9 is exactly positioned.

The support element 6 is here at a positioning device 16 Tethered, a positioning of the support element 6 depending on material properties of the sheet material 2 allows.

In 2 is another stacking device 1 cited, with the shelf space 3 opposite to a horizontal 14 inclined, so that already due to gravity, the sheet material 2 at the attacks 4 positioned.

The The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments limited. Rather, numerous variations of the invention are within the scope of the claims possible.

1

stacker

2

sheet material

3

shelf

4

attack

5

page

6

support element

7

corner

8th

Edge joint element

9

height

10

stack

11

edge

12

apparatus

13

press

14

horizontal

15

ejection

16

positioning

Claims (13)

Stacking device ( 1 ) for sheet material ( 2 ), comprising a storage surface ( 3 ) with transversely arranged stops ( 4 ) on at least two contiguous pages ( 5 ) of the storage area ( 3 ) for positioning the top of the shelf ( 3 ) supplied sheet material ( 2 ), whereby in a corner area ( 7 ) of the storage area ( 3 ) opposite the attacks ( 4 ) at least one support element ( 6 ) spaced from the shelf ( 3 ) is arranged. Stacking device ( 1 ) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one support element ( 6 ) in its position opposite the storage surface ( 3 ) is variable, in particular automatically. Stacking device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stacking device ( 1 ) on at least one side ( 5 ) at least one edge impact element ( 8th ) at least partially over a height ( 9 ) one on the shelf ( 3 ) imageable stack ( 10 ) of sheet material ( 2 ) and an intermittent movement against edges ( 11 ) of the sheet material ( 2 ). Apparatus ( 12 ) for processing sheet material ( 2 ), in particular a printing press ( 13 ), comprising a stacking device ( 1 ) according to one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the storage surface ( 3 ) obliquely to the horizontal ( 14 ) is arranged. Method for stacking sheet material ( 2 ) in a stacking device ( 1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sheet material ( 2 ) in the stacking device ( 1 ), while against the attacks ( 4 ) and at least partially during the lowering in the direction of the shelf ( 3 ) of the support element ( 6 ) is supported. Method according to claim 5, wherein the support element ( 6 ) as a function of at least one material property of the sheet material ( 2 ) above the shelf ( 3 ), in particular at least before or during the feeding of the sheet material. Method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the support element ( 6 ) as a function of at least one material property of the sheet material ( 2 ) is changed in its shape. Method according to one of the claims 5 to 7, wherein the storage surface ( 3 ) depending on the height ( 9 ) of the stack formed ( 10 ) lowered and the support element ( 6 ) and / or the edge impact element ( 8th ) regardless of the storage area ( 3 ) with respect to the sheet material ( 2 ) is aligned. Method according to one of the claims 5 to 8, wherein the at least one edge impact element ( 8th ) performs an intermittent movement at a frequency of at least 50 hertz, preferably of at least 250 hertz, and more preferably of at least 500 hertz. Method according to one of the claims 5 to 9, wherein the at least one edge impact element ( 8th ) performs an intermittent movement with a travel of 0.5 to 3 mm, in particular from 1 mm to 2 mm. Method according to one of the claims 5 to 10, wherein the at least one edge impact element ( 8th ) performs an intermittent movement at a frequency, the frequency being dependent on the feed rate of sheet material ( 2 ) in the stacking device ( 1 ). Method according to claim 11, wherein the frequency is selected such that two movements per sheet material ( 2 ). Method according to one of the claims 5 to 12, wherein the at least one edge impact element ( 8th ) depending on the height ( 9 ) one with the sheet material ( 2 ) stack ( 10 ) and / or at least one material property of the sheet material ( 2 ) varies the frequency and / or in a moving mass, in particular automatically.