EP0062308B1 - Folding machine for drawings or large-size documents - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine for folding drawings or documents, comprising hinged blade-holder arms with opposed blades which can be moved back and forth to alternately form the folds of a drawing inserted between them against folding and stop surfaces which work with fold-forming and fold-holding presser components. The improvement comprises the folding and stop surfaces are formed by two half-platens (17, 20) mounted to pivot about pins (18, 19) parallel to the hinge pins (2, 36) of the blade-holder arms (11, 27) and fixed to levers (5, 34). The levers are acted on by cams (3, 37) fixed to the arms (11, 27) hinge pins (2, 36) and designed so that one half-platen presses the drawing or any fold formed at its position against the corresponding presser components (14 or 23) while the other remains free to swing on insertion of the blade (12 or 25) and the corresponding drawing fold to be formed between it and the corresponding presser components. Preferably, the presser components (14, 23) are mounted floating and pulled by springs (10, 28) towards the folding and stop surfaces of each half-platen.

Description

The invention relates to manual folding machines for large plans and documents. We know that the plans are folded according to a standard which means that, after folding, the document notably has a format of 210 mm x 297 mm. In machines of this kind, pressers whose role is to tighten the paper and compress the folds made, are recalled by pressure by an exhaust device and springs, when a folding blade finishes engaging the paper under the presser concerned.

At this time, the presser comes into abrupt contact with the blade, from which it is only separated by the thickness of the paper. The sudden pressing of the presser on the blade therefore produces a dry, high-level noise. These machines being used in premises for office use these dry and repeated clicks prove to be troublesome. Such a machine is described in particular in FR-A-1 098624.

The primary object of the present invention is to suppress the noise in question. Furthermore, in the system mentioned in connection with current machines, the need to make the abrupt closure of the presser coincide exactly with the arrival at the end of the blade stroke means that, in addition to the large number of parts of the mechanism, this- luici obliges adjustment operations whose time spent on them increases the cost price and involves the risk of subsequent adjustment requiring maintenance operations during use.

A second object of the present invention is a simplification of manufacture thanks to the reduced number of parts of the proposed mechanism as well as the elimination of adjustments in manufacture and as maintenance operations.

Essentially, for this purpose, the machine for bending planes according to the invention, comprising swivel arms of blade carriers with opposite blades which can be moved back and forth to alternately form the folds of a plane engaged between them against surfaces of folding and abutment with which the pressing members for forming and maintaining the folds cooperate, is characterized in that the folding and abutment surfaces are constituted by two half-tables mounted to oscillate around axes parallel to the pivot axes of the support arms blades and integral with levers subjected to the action of cams integral with said pivot axes of the arms and arranged so that a half-table presses the plane or any fold formed in its place against the corresponding pressing members, while the other remains free to oscillate upon introduction between it and the corresponding pressing members of the blade and of the corresponding plane fold to be formed.

Preferably also the machine according to the invention is characterized in that the pressing members are mounted floating and biased by springs towards the folding and abutment surfaces of each half-table, and further also that the pressing members are provided with normal support crutches on spacing chairs with respect to the corresponding half-table, said crutches being actuable upon erasure by said blades when each fold is formed.

• la fig. 1 est une vue extérieure et en perspective de l'ensemble de la machine;
• la fig. 2 est une autre vue en perspective avec représentation en position d'un document en cours de pliage;
• la fig. 3 est une vue en élévation de côté de la machine dont un flasque est supposé enlevé pour en laisser apparaître les organes internes;
• les figures 4 à 7 sont des vues en élévation de côté analogues à la figure 3 mais représentant d'autres phases de fonctionnement de la machine;
• la fig. 8 est une vue en élévation de face du mécanisme interne de la machine et du montage d'extrémité de certains de ses organes, la paroi correspondante du carter étant supposée être enlevée;
• la fig. 9 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'une demi-table;
• la fig. 10 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'un sous-ensemble de bras porte-lame et came de commande;
• la fig. 11 est une vue en perspective des sous- ensembles objets des figures 9 et 10;
• la fig. 12 est une vue éclatée dudit mécanisme interne;
• la fig. 13 est une vue en perspective du mécanisme interne en position d'assemblage;
• la fig. 14 est une vue analogue aux figures 3 à 7 illustrative d'une autre variante et autre phase de fonctionnement.

Other aspects of the invention will also appear in the following description of an embodiment of such a machine shown in the accompanying drawing, by way of non-limiting example. In the drawing:

• fig. 1 is an external perspective view of the whole machine;
• fig. 2 is another perspective view with representation in position of a document being folded;
• fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the machine, a flange of which is assumed to be removed to reveal the internal organs;
• Figures 4 to 7 are side elevational views similar to Figure 3 but showing other operating phases of the machine;
• fig. 8 is a front elevation view of the internal mechanism of the machine and of the end fitting of some of its members, the corresponding wall of the casing being assumed to be removed;
• fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a half table;
• fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a sub-assembly of blade holder arm and control cam;
• fig. 11 is a perspective view of the object sub-assemblies of FIGS. 9 and 10;
• fig. 12 is an exploded view of said internal mechanism;
• fig. 13 is a perspective view of the internal mechanism in the assembly position;
• fig. 14 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 to 7 illustrating another variant and another operating phase.

The machine shown comprises a casing in the lateral flanges 1 of which are rotatably mounted, parallel to one another, two axes 2, 36 whose ends carry, integral with them, two pairs of pivoting arms 11, 27. L one of the pairs 27 longer than the other is connected by an operating handle tube 26. Each of the pairs of arms 11, 27 is also respectively braced above the casing by a tube carrying a folding blade, 12 for the arms 11 and 25 for the arms 27. In a central upper opening of the casing are arranged two half-tables 17, 20 forming folding surfaces and stop for the planes to be folded as will be seen below. These half-tables 17, 20 are respectively mounted oscillating at the ends of angles 17a, 20a which support them, by means of corner pieces 18a, 19a and axes 18, 19 supported by the flanges 1 and which are parallel to the pivot axes 2, 36 of the blade-holder arms 11.27. Under the angles 17a and 20a are respectively fixed levers pen dants 5, 34 provided with rollers 4, 35 with which cooperate respectively two cams 3 and 37 wedged on the pivot axes 2,36 of the blade-holder arms 11, 27. These cams are also integral with respective levers 3a, 37a, the lever 3a carrying a hinge pin 6 of a latch 39 which has a coupling notch with a connecting finger 32 carried by the lever 37a, so that in the state of coupling of these levers, the two arms blade holders can be operated together using the operating handle 26. An unlocking lever 33 is articulated in the housing around an axis 33a, the individual support of which is not shown here, and it is provided with a central axis 38 of articulation of two levers 8, 30, the free ends of which are in the form of a fork and cooperate with fingers 7, 31 secured to the levers 5, 34 for controlling the half-tables. The lever 33 extends projecting from the casing to be maneuverable at will by the user. With the half-tables 17, 20 which form the folding and abutment surfaces, the pressure members 14, 23 extending above them cooperate and which are shaped as curved blades facing the half-tables and their vertical abutment rim and inserted floating between supports 13, 13a and 24, 24a formed along the upper opening of the casing. These pressing members 14, 23 are respectively provided at their ends, around axes 14a, 23a which they carry, of articulated crutches 15, 22 of support cooperating with chairs 16,21 attached to the internal wall of the flanges 1 of the casing. To these axes 14a, 23a are attached tension springs 10, 28 furthermore fixed on axes 9, 29 supported by the flanges 1 and also forming operating stops for the corresponding blade-holder arms 11, 27.

The springs 10 and 28 are intended to keep the pressers 14 and 23 in constant abutment with the vertical edge of the half-tables 17 and 20, which guarantees their correct positioning. These springs also serve to bring the pressers down to ensure the initial formation of the fold and after that prevent the paper from escaping during the reverse movement of the blade.

The implementation and operation of such a machine are described below with reference to the various illustrative figures of various phases, in which however the plane to be folded has not been shown for the sake of clarity of the drawing, except in Figure 2 which illustrates the case of a document being folded. The machine being to be seen as designed for an operator placing himself on the side of the blade-carrying arm 27 with an operating handle 26 to serve it, it is to be seen that initially at the start of the operation, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the front 27 and rear 11 blade-holder arms are uncoupled from each other, and that the pressers 14 and 23 are held in the high position by their respective crutches 15 and 22 which rest on the chairs 16 and 21, while the half tables 17 and 20 are in the lower position shown. The end of the document to be folded can then be introduced between the front presser 23 and the corresponding half-table 20. The lever 33 is then raised manually by the operator so that, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the axis central 38 raises the levers 8 and 30 which, pushing the fingers 7 and 31, separate the levers 5, 34 for controlling the half-tables, which has the effect of raising them around their axis of oscillation. In particular, the half-table 20 therefore coincides with the end of the document which has been engaged between it and the presser 23. This same movement guarantees the establishment of the abovementioned initial position of the pressers 14 and 23, in that 'it brings, by pressing the half-tables against the pressers, the crutches 15 and 22 to be effectively wedged on the chairs 16 and 21 as shown. With the document extending between the two blades, the blade-carrying arm 27 with an operating handle 26 is then pushed backwards. The cam 37 which is integral therewith then comes to bear on the roller 35 and the lever 34, which has the effect of keeping the half-table 20 well pressed against the corresponding presser 23, thus preventing the corresponding end of the plane of slide. At the same time, the lever 33 is released by the user, which allows the rear half-table 17 to lower, and thus save the space necessary for the introduction of the blade 25 when it comes push the document between the presser 14 and this rear half-table 17, at the end of the movement of the blade-holder arm 27 towards the rear. As illustrated in FIG. 5, arriving at the end of the stroke, the blade 25 has pushed the stand 15 of the presser 14 and this stand 15, escaping from its chair 16, allows the presser 14 to apply on the document and the blade 25, which will prevent the paper from following blade 25 during its subsequent return movement. But the presser stroke is very short, this clamping action causes practically no noise. In the same movement, the finger 32 of the lever 37a raised the latch 39 and engaged in the notch thereof, thereby securing the front blade holder arms 27 and rear 11 as shown in Figure 5, which thus corresponds to the position of establishment of the first fold made of the document.

For the execution of the second fold, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the front blade-holder arm 27 is brought back by the user towards it, and it drives in its return movement with it the rear blade-holder arm 11. During this joint return movement of the blade-holder arms 27 and 11, the half-table 17 is in turn raised by the cam 3 which pushes the lever 5-for controlling the half-table 17 via the roller 4 , so that the half-table 17 is in its turn strongly applied against the presser 14 against which it thus maintains and tightens the fold which has just been established. It will be noted in this regard that the accumulation of thickness of the successive folds of the document called to be formed is absorbed by the inherent elasticity of the half-tables. In this state of FIG. 6 at the end of the race, it can also be seen that it is then the half-table 20 which is left free to oscillate in order to release the penetration between it and the presser of the fold formed using the blade 12 of the blade-holder arm 11, which in turn engages between the presser 23 and the half-table by driving the stand 22 from its support on the chair 21. At the end of folding, from a position shown as than that of FIG. 7, the lever 33 is raised manually. By its central axis 38, it raises the latch 39, which separates the rear blade holder arms 11 and front 27, the latter then being brought forward (lever side 33). The lifting of the lever 33 caused at the same time from the central axis 38 and by the levers 8, 30 the lifting of the half-tables 17 and 20 against the pressers 14 and 23, which enabled the crutches 15 and 22 to return to rest on the chairs 16 and 21 as shown in FIG. 7. The folded document can then be removed easily, its folds no longer being compressed, and its gripping being facilitated by the possibility of passing the fingers laterally from below, thanks to the space remaining between the half-tables 17 and 20. At this stage, the blade-holder arms 27 having been brought back towards the user, the machine returns to the initial position represented in FIG. 1 , that is to say ready for a new folding. There are shown in FIGS. 5 and 14, in variants and as an additional arrangement, auxiliary means intended in part to allow control or command at the foot of the machine further facilitating its control with both hands by the user. This additional system is constituted by means of a cam 40 mounted to rotate freely around the pivot axis 36 and provided with a return spring 42, interposed between it and the axis 36, while a cable 41 connects this cam 40 to a foot control pedal not shown. With this arrangement, at the start of operation, the machine being assumed in the position represented in FIG. 3, with the cam 40 in its position represented in FIG. 5, the plane can be engaged under the presser 23 as has been said . It is then that the user can actuate the foot control which by means of the cable 41 brings the cam 40 to the position shown in FIG. 14, where it has thus lifted the control lever 34 of the half-table 20 and the latter at the same time, so that this half-table 20 presses the end of the plane initially engaged under the presser 23 against the latter. The user having just engaged this plane by hand can then let go of it and operate with his two hands the arm 27 with an operating handle 26 as described above. When the cam 37 (whose diameter is slightly greater than that of the cam 40) comes into contact with the roller 35 of the lever 34, the cam 40 which is in fact held in position by the pressure on it of the roller 35 , even if the pressure on the roller 35 is no longer pressed, even if the pedal is no longer pressed, is released and returned to its initial position by the return spring 42 (position shown at Figure 5). This pedal control is, like the actuation of the lever 33 exposed previously, used only at the start of the folding operation in order to maintain the plane in position for the formation of the first fold. Of course, other variants can also be imagined while remaining in the field of the invention.

Claims (6)

1. Machine for folding plans or documents, comprising pivoting blade holder arms (11, 27) having opposed blades (12, 25) reciprocatingly operable to form the folds of a plan engaged between them against folding and stop surfaces with which cooperate pressing means (14, 23) forming and maintaining the folds, characterized by the fact that the folding and stop surfaces are constituted by two half-tables (17, 20) mounted for oscillation about axes (18, 19) parallel to the pivot axes (2, 36) of the blade holder arms (11, 27) and fastened to levers (5, 34) acted on by cams (3, 37) fastened to said pivot axes (2, 36) of the arms (11, 27) and so arranged that one half-table supports the plan or any fold formed at its location against the corresponding pressing means (14 or 23), while the other remains free to oscillate on the introduction, between it and the corresponding pressing means, of the blade (12 or 25) and of the corresponding plan fold which is to be formed.

2. Machine according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the pressing means (14, 23) are mounted floating and are urged by springs (10, 28) towards the folding and stop surfaces of each half-table (17,20).

3. Machine according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that the pressing means (14, 23) are provided with props (15, 22) for normal support on chairs (16, 21) for spacing relative to the corresponding half-table (17, 20), said props being operable for retraction by said blades (12, 25) on the formation of each fold.

4. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that a free space is provided between the half-tables (17, 20) to facilitate the gripping of the folded plan.

5. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with coupling means (39, 32), disconnectable at will, between the blade holder arms (11, 27).

6. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that one of the aforesaid control cams (37) has associated with it a cam (40) mounted free on the same pivot axis (36) and operable with the aid of a foot control (41) for initially bringing the edge of the plan which is to be folded into a gripped state along the folding surfaces of the corresponding oscillating half-table (20) before the subsequent action of the corresponding cam (37) operable with the corresponding blade holder arm (27).

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