EP0043008B1 - Stacking device for fanfolded web - Google Patents
Stacking device for fanfolded web Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0043008B1 EP0043008B1 EP19810104442 EP81104442A EP0043008B1 EP 0043008 B1 EP0043008 B1 EP 0043008B1 EP 19810104442 EP19810104442 EP 19810104442 EP 81104442 A EP81104442 A EP 81104442A EP 0043008 B1 EP0043008 B1 EP 0043008B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- paper
- stack
- tray
- infold
- release
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H45/00—Folding thin material
- B65H45/02—Folding limp material without application of pressure to define or form crease lines
- B65H45/06—Folding webs
- B65H45/10—Folding webs transversely
- B65H45/101—Folding webs transversely in combination with laying, i.e. forming a zig-zag pile
- B65H45/1015—Folding webs provided with predefined fold lines; Refolding prefolded webs, e.g. fanfolded continuous forms
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
- B41J11/58—Supply holders for sheets or fan-folded webs, e.g. shelves, tables, scrolls, pile holders
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
- B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
- B65H2701/11—Dimensional aspect of article or web
- B65H2701/112—Section geometry
- B65H2701/1123—Folded article or web
- B65H2701/11231—Fan-folded material or zig-zag or leporello
Definitions
- the invention relates generally to high speed stacking devices for fanfolded paper and more particularly to such devices that maintain more positive control over the paper and its path from a printing station to the stacker and that urge restoration of previous folds in the web.
- each of the stackers relies on the free-fall of the paper to reform on the stacking tray.
- the flipping devices are quite accurate in stacking but become expensive due to the increased mechanism required and have a limited speed because of their inertia.
- Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for high speed stacking of fanfold paper which hastens restoration of the web "memory" of previous folds by making use of the paper inertia to add impetus to the refolding of both infolds and outfolds at the stacker tray.
- a still further object of this invention is to provide stacking apparatus for continuous fanfold paper webs which maintains transverse bends in the paper to retain its flexibility during folding allowing more reliable formation of infolds and outfolds.
- the main advantage offered by the invention is the provision of an apparatus for properly stacking fanfolded paper webs after leaving a printer in a safe, effective and simple manner.
- infold and "outfold” are used frequently.
- infold is intended to mean the folded edge of a fanfold web adjacent to the stack aligning surface in the stacker and the term “outfold” is intended to mean the folded edge of the web opposite the infold edge at the open side of the stack.
- fanfolded paper 10 in the form of a web is carried from a source, not shown, between a reciprocating print head 11 and platen 12 by a pair of forms tractors 13 and 14, and is discharged at a point of release 15 between a deflector plate 16 and tractor door 17.
- Pins 18 at the periphery of each tractor wheel engage marginal perforations in the web to move the paper.
- Auxiliary stationary arches 19 support the web intermediate the tractor wheels and ramps 20 divert folds from the top edge of deflector 16.
- Tractors 13, 14 are movably secured to square shaft 21 by means of release clamps 22 for adjustment to the width of the web.
- Shaft 21 is driven by a suitable motor or power source, not shown.
- Arched supports 19 can likewise be added or removed necessary for the web support.
- Paper web 10 is discharged into a stacker that comprises generally a stack aligner panel 30 and stacker tray 31.
- the aligner panel is supported on frame 32 and is tilted approximately 15° with respect to the vertical. It extends from the frame to the deflector plate 16 and serves as a support against which the incoming infold edges can rest as they accumulate into a stack.
- Aligner plate 30 has ribs 33 formed thereon which engage the web. The tilt of the aligner may vary from 5° to 25° but has been found preferable at a slope at about 15°.
- the aligner surface is shown as formed with ribs 33, it may be alternately made up of a plurality of rods, strips or slots.
- Aligner panel 30 has mounted therewith a lead screw 34 which is directly coupled to motor 37 and rotatable in guides 35 and 36 at the rear of the aligner plate.
- the lead screw is rotated in either direction by motor 37 mounted on the underside of frame 32 by an adapter bracket 38.
- stacker tray 31 Attached to the lead screw by means of a traveling nut, not shown, is stacker tray 31.
- the tray has a complex surface of first and second tray portions 40, 41 that form surfaces normal to the back plate and a transitional curve portion 42 joining the two flat portions.
- Surface portion 40 is lower than the remaining surface of the tray to accommodate the build-up of infold edges.
- the transverse transitional portion 42 limits the build-up to infold and outfold edges preventing additional build-up at the stack corners. Build-up occurs because the paper creases do not immediately refold to their former thicknesses.
- Tray 31 is guided during changes in levels by rods 43 attached to frame 32.
- motor 37 is controlled through a height control circuit 45 and a stack height sensor to maintain the required distance within an acceptable range of approximately 1 to 3 cm.
- the sensor shown comprises a light source 46 and light detector 47 arranged to sense obliquely across the receiving surface. Other sensing devices and arrangements can also be used.
- Height control circuit 45 employs a delay in the output of detector 47 to prevent the momentary blocking of the light beam by properly stacking incoming paper from actuating the motor to lower the tray. When the delay is exceeded, however, the motor operates to lower the stacking tray. When the printer is stopped, the tray may be lowered by an override switch. When printing resumes or after a stop, motor 37 acts to raise the tray until light is blocked and then again reverses to lower tray 31 a fixed increment. This action allows for recovery due to possible forms removal or stack attention during a stop condition.
- the web When the paper is carried by tractors 13, 14 to the point of discharge 15, the web is then being directed downwardly toward tray 31.
- the tray height is adjusted so that the receiving surface for the paper is less than a form length but greater than half a form length from the point of discharge.
- Sufficient paper is fed through by the tractors to allow the leading form to be manually oriented on the tray so that the paper will fold in its original directions and thus properly orient succeeding infolds and outfolds. Thereafter, the stacker will operate independently.
- Tray height can be adjusted to accommodate forms of different lengths by changing the location of the stack height sensor 47 and light source 46 at the sides of the aligner panel 30. Any adjustment should insure that the distance from the stack surface to the point of release is less than a form length and thereby maintain a more positive drilling force on the form.
- a radius of the tractor doors along the lower edge 44 allows the web to bend outward in a transverse radius and maintain its flexibility without letting longitudinal bends develop.
- Continued push by the tractor on the next form causes the preceding form to roll smoothly onto the already preceding stacked form.
- the following form begins to roll toward the infold edge.
- Deflector plate 16 in con- . junction with maintaining the control of a form by the tractors 13, 14 and tractor doors 17 provide a significant combination of guiding effects to restore the fold memory and initiate a transverse bend in the paper to insure a rolling flexibility as additional paper is pushed toward the stack. If the stacker tray did not have the two levels as shown, fold edges on either side tend to build higher than the center so that the stacked surface becomes dished with both the infold and outfold edges higher than the center.
- the disclosed stacker may be modified in several aspects. Such modifications might include movement of the tray by different means, for example, by pneumatic means or by use of a belt or chain drive. Further, the input drive for the paper could be pressure or friction rolls instead of the tractor wheels. The form aligner plate could be coated with a low friction material in lieu of being ribbed.
Description
- The invention relates generally to high speed stacking devices for fanfolded paper and more particularly to such devices that maintain more positive control over the paper and its path from a printing station to the stacker and that urge restoration of previous folds in the web.
- One of the primary problems with the high speed stacking of fanfolded paper is that of urging the paper to refold along the creases previously formed during manufacture. The movement of paper from a supply stack through the printing station and over the forms tractors tends to straighten the paper at the folds and nullify the "memory" the paper has for its original creases when later left to free-fall from its discharge point toward the stack receiving tray. The problem is aggravated when paper is incrementally fed since it is stopped for printing and then moved for the next new line or block of printing. Friction and static electricity also tend to produce additional detrimental effects on the paper motion causing sporadic delay and consequent paper jams.
- Many efforts have been made in the past to provide stacking mechanisms in which the paper is urged to refold along the already formed creases. Some devices have used extended free-fall paths between the point of discharge to the stack receiving tray. Other devices have used powered flipper devices to alternately direct the paper to either the infolds or outfolds. In addition, various deflector forms have been used to initiate the refolding. Some examples of these attempts are shown in U.S. Patents 4,054,283 and 1,856,972 which show flipping devices; patents 3,460,825 and 2,906,527 which show the use of beaded chains for catching previous creases to encourage refolding; and Patents 3,514,096 and 3,255,662 which show deflectors along the stacking walls. With the exception of the devices using flippers, each of the stackers relies on the free-fall of the paper to reform on the stacking tray. The flipping devices are quite accurate in stacking but become expensive due to the increased mechanism required and have a limited speed because of their inertia.
- It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide apparatus for stacking continuous fanfold paper at high speed which provides more positive control of the paper web by limiting its freedom as it enters the stacking tray.
- Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for high speed stacking of fanfold paper which hastens restoration of the web "memory" of previous folds by making use of the paper inertia to add impetus to the refolding of both infolds and outfolds at the stacker tray.
- A still further object of this invention is to provide stacking apparatus for continuous fanfold paper webs which maintains transverse bends in the paper to retain its flexibility during folding allowing more reliable formation of infolds and outfolds.
- The foregoing objects are attained in accordance with the invention as claimed in claim 1.
- The main advantage offered by the invention is the provision of an apparatus for properly stacking fanfolded paper webs after leaving a printer in a safe, effective and simple manner.
- The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stacking mechanism for fanfolded paper constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention, and
- FIG. 2 is a view partially in section taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.
- In the following description, the terms "infold" and "outfold" are used frequently. The term "infold" is intended to mean the folded edge of a fanfold web adjacent to the stack aligning surface in the stacker and the term "outfold" is intended to mean the folded edge of the web opposite the infold edge at the open side of the stack.
- Referring to the figures, fanfolded
paper 10 in the form of a web is carried from a source, not shown, between a reciprocating print head 11 andplaten 12 by a pair offorms tractors release 15 between adeflector plate 16 and tractor door 17. Pins 18 at the periphery of each tractor wheel engage marginal perforations in the web to move the paper. Auxiliarystationary arches 19 support the web intermediate the tractor wheels and ramps 20 divert folds from the top edge ofdeflector 16.Tractors square shaft 21 by means ofrelease clamps 22 for adjustment to the width of the web.Shaft 21 is driven by a suitable motor or power source, not shown.Arched supports 19 can likewise be added or removed necessary for the web support. -
Paper web 10 is discharged into a stacker that comprises generally astack aligner panel 30 andstacker tray 31. The aligner panel is supported onframe 32 and is tilted approximately 15° with respect to the vertical. It extends from the frame to thedeflector plate 16 and serves as a support against which the incoming infold edges can rest as they accumulate into a stack. Alignerplate 30 hasribs 33 formed thereon which engage the web. The tilt of the aligner may vary from 5° to 25° but has been found preferable at a slope at about 15°. Although the aligner surface is shown as formed withribs 33, it may be alternately made up of a plurality of rods, strips or slots. It is desirable to keep friction to a minimum between the edges and aligning surface during free-fall of the accumulating paper. Alignerpanel 30 has mounted therewith alead screw 34 which is directly coupled tomotor 37 and rotatable inguides motor 37 mounted on the underside offrame 32 by anadapter bracket 38. - Attached to the lead screw by means of a traveling nut, not shown, is
stacker tray 31. The tray has a complex surface of first andsecond tray portions transitional curve portion 42 joining the two flat portions.Surface portion 40 is lower than the remaining surface of the tray to accommodate the build-up of infold edges. The transversetransitional portion 42 limits the build-up to infold and outfold edges preventing additional build-up at the stack corners. Build-up occurs because the paper creases do not immediately refold to their former thicknesses. Tray 31 is guided during changes in levels byrods 43 attached toframe 32. - The distance between the top surface of
tray 31 or of the accumulated stack of paper and the point ofrelease 15 is important in attaining reliable stacking. Therefore,motor 37 is controlled through aheight control circuit 45 and a stack height sensor to maintain the required distance within an acceptable range of approximately 1 to 3 cm. The sensor shown comprises alight source 46 andlight detector 47 arranged to sense obliquely across the receiving surface. Other sensing devices and arrangements can also be used. -
Height control circuit 45 employs a delay in the output ofdetector 47 to prevent the momentary blocking of the light beam by properly stacking incoming paper from actuating the motor to lower the tray. When the delay is exceeded, however, the motor operates to lower the stacking tray. When the printer is stopped, the tray may be lowered by an override switch. When printing resumes or after a stop,motor 37 acts to raise the tray until light is blocked and then again reverses to lower tray 31 a fixed increment. This action allows for recovery due to possible forms removal or stack attention during a stop condition. - When the paper is carried by
tractors discharge 15, the web is then being directed downwardly towardtray 31. The tray height is adjusted so that the receiving surface for the paper is less than a form length but greater than half a form length from the point of discharge. Sufficient paper is fed through by the tractors to allow the leading form to be manually oriented on the tray so that the paper will fold in its original directions and thus properly orient succeeding infolds and outfolds. Thereafter, the stacker will operate independently. - Tray height can be adjusted to accommodate forms of different lengths by changing the location of the
stack height sensor 47 andlight source 46 at the sides of thealigner panel 30. Any adjustment should insure that the distance from the stack surface to the point of release is less than a form length and thereby maintain a more positive drilling force on the form. - As the forms enter the stacker from the point of release, the paper follows from the outfold toward the infold without difficulty, since the outfolds were not contorted by the reverse bending. The infolds, on the other hand, have received reverse bending during their traversal over the tractor wheels. This action has, in effect, removed the "memory" so that the form following an infold tends to not want to deflect toward the outfold. By keeping the receiving surface of the tray or stack top sufficiently close to the
tractor wheels deflector plate 16 which initiates an outbend in the form. As the tractors continue to push the form, the outward bend in the paper is then forced toward the outfold edge. A radius of the tractor doors along thelower edge 44 allows the web to bend outward in a transverse radius and maintain its flexibility without letting longitudinal bends develop. Continued push by the tractor on the next form causes the preceding form to roll smoothly onto the already preceding stacked form. As soon as the outfold has reached its resting place, the following form begins to roll toward the infold edge. The process for the next outfold is then repeated.Deflector plate 16 in con- . junction with maintaining the control of a form by thetractors - The disclosed stacker may be modified in several aspects. Such modifications might include movement of the tray by different means, for example, by pneumatic means or by use of a belt or chain drive. Further, the input drive for the paper could be pressure or friction rolls instead of the tractor wheels. The form aligner plate could be coated with a low friction material in lieu of being ribbed.
Claims (7)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US16442780A | 1980-06-30 | 1980-06-30 | |
US164427 | 1988-03-04 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0043008A1 EP0043008A1 (en) | 1982-01-06 |
EP0043008B1 true EP0043008B1 (en) | 1985-04-24 |
Family
ID=22594430
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19810104442 Expired EP0043008B1 (en) | 1980-06-30 | 1981-06-10 | Stacking device for fanfolded web |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0043008B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPS5727869A (en) |
DE (1) | DE3170104D1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2560862B1 (en) * | 1984-03-07 | 1987-11-06 | Bull Sa | APPARATUS FOR ACCORDION FOLDING OF A FLEXIBLE CONTINUOUS BAND |
US4922267B1 (en) * | 1984-05-19 | 1995-04-11 | Canon Kk | Recorder having a recording device and a relatively movable stacker for stacking recorded paper. |
US4651173A (en) * | 1984-05-19 | 1987-03-17 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Continuous-form recorder having decrumpling means for removing creases in the form |
US4707156A (en) * | 1984-05-24 | 1987-11-17 | Microcomputer Accessories Inc. | Printer stand and paper refolding apparatus |
JPS6255138A (en) * | 1985-09-04 | 1987-03-10 | Toray Ind Inc | Intermittent feeder for continuous paper |
JPH0734058Y2 (en) * | 1986-09-25 | 1995-08-02 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Band folding device |
US5039242A (en) * | 1989-12-22 | 1991-08-13 | Spectra-Physics, Inc. | Z-fold paper retainer |
US6140662A (en) * | 1998-09-11 | 2000-10-31 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Sensing system and method |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2273162A (en) * | 1940-07-19 | 1942-02-17 | Gilman Fanfold Corp | Strip separating mechanism |
US3386729A (en) * | 1965-07-16 | 1968-06-04 | Uarco Inc | Deleaver |
DE2251324A1 (en) * | 1972-10-19 | 1974-05-02 | Rena Bueromaschf Gmbh | DEVICE FOR DEPOSITING A PRE-FOLDED CONTINUOUS WEB, IN PARTICULAR MADE OF PAPER |
US4189133A (en) * | 1978-11-03 | 1980-02-19 | International Business Machines Corporation | Document stacking table lowering method, apparatus and controlling circuitry therefor |
-
1981
- 1981-05-20 JP JP7507181A patent/JPS5727869A/en active Granted
- 1981-06-10 EP EP19810104442 patent/EP0043008B1/en not_active Expired
- 1981-06-10 DE DE8181104442T patent/DE3170104D1/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPS5727869A (en) | 1982-02-15 |
EP0043008A1 (en) | 1982-01-06 |
JPS6251857B2 (en) | 1987-11-02 |
DE3170104D1 (en) | 1985-05-30 |
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