EP0094647A2 - Device for separating sets of a continuous stationary web or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

In a device for separating continuous perforated form sets (14) with a tear-off arrangement (22) consisting of two pairs of transport rollers (72 and 74) spaced apart from one another, it is proposed to operate the two pairs of transport rollers (72 and 74) at the same transport speed until the transverse perforation to be torn open has reached between the two pairs of transport rollers (72 and 74). Now the drive speed of the front pair of rollers (74) is doubled, which has the consequence of tearing open the transverse perforation. The individual layers of the separated sentence are separated from one another by separating belts (30) and can be conveyed to the respective assigned shelves. The desired tear-off length can either be entered manually into a control device or, if the continuous form set (14) is marked accordingly, read off with the aid of a detector (202).

Description

The invention relates to a device for separating single-layer or multi-layer continuous form sets or the like provided with transverse perforations, with a tear-off arrangement comprising two transporters which are arranged at a distance from one another in the transport path of the set and which are possibly formed by the set of transport roller pairs between them. wherein the forward conveyor in the transport direction is drivable at a higher speed than the rear conveyor in order to generate a tensile stress which causes the tearing of one of the transverse perforations in the section of the set located between the conveyors.

In a known device of this type, the two transporters each run at a constant speed, the front transporter running faster than the rear one. As soon as the leading end of the set is gripped by the front transporter, this exerts an increasing pull on the section of the set between the two transporters until the set finally tears in this area along a transverse perforation. The front piece of the set is torn off by the front carrier transported at a comparatively higher speed to a storage, whereas the following leading end of the continuous form set is moved to the front carrier at the lower speed. As soon as this new leading end is gripped by the front conveyor, a tension builds up again in the block, which ultimately leads to the next block being torn off. The distance between the two carriers must be matched to the selected length of the sentence to be separated; the distance usually corresponds to this length. This is because at a smaller distance the tensile stress builds up too early and the set breaks off too early, possibly due to an intermediate transverse perforation.

In contrast, it is an object of the invention to provide a device of the type mentioned, which is suitable for separating endless form sets with different lengths of the sentence pieces to be separated without changing the distance between the transporters.

This object is achieved in that, depending on the position of the transverse perforation to be separated next, the transporters can optionally be driven at the same and different speeds. The transporters, which may be arranged at a relatively small distance from one another, are driven at the same speed until the transverse perforation to be separated reaches the transporter area. Now both transporters are driven at different speeds, namely the front transporter at a higher speed than the rear transporter. As a result, tensile stress builds up in the section of the set between the conveyors, which ultimately leads to the tearing of the set along the previously defined transverse perforation. Now both transporters can be driven again at the same speed until the cross perforation to be separated comes into the area of the transporters etc. Accordingly, sentences of very different lengths can be separated with one and the same conveyor arrangement. The small distance between the two transporters results in an advantageously compact design of the device. It is also particularly advantageous that, due to the possible short distance between the transporters, it is ensured that only the transverse perforation to be actually separated is between the transporters during the separation phase, whereas in the known device one or more intermediate transverse perforations are also arranged in this section can, so that it cannot be ruled out in the known device that the wrong transverse perforation tears open. The device according to the invention therefore guarantees a reliable separation function at the predetermined point in the set.

According to the invention, automatic operation of the device is also possible. In this case, a control device is provided for receiving information about the length of the sentences to be separated and for issuing speed command signals to the front and / or rear transporter.

An automatic synchronization of the device with the run of the block is obtained by the device by a first detector for emitting a position signal indicating the exact position of the block to the control device.

In a particularly simple and reliably working embodiment it is provided that the first detector is arranged in the area between the perforation tear point and the front conveyor and is designed to measure the passage of the leading end of the set. The detector can be a microswitch, for example; however, a light barrier is preferably used because it works without wear.

In general, in the case of a continuous form set, the length of the parts to be separated is constant. This length is initially entered into the control device. In many cases, however, it is of great advantage if sentences of different lengths can be separated in a continuous form set. This is easily possible with the device according to the invention. For this purpose, for example, the control device can be connected directly to the data processing system that prints the set of continuous forms. The data processing system then outputs the information mentioned about the length of the sentences to be torn off to the control device from case to case. However, the device according to the invention for separating continuous form sets can also be operated without a direct connection to the data processing device if a second detector is provided for reading a marking on the set indicating the length of the sentence piece to be torn off next and for delivering a corresponding cut length signal to the control device.

Magnetic markings are conceivable or mechanical (e.g. hole patterns) that can be read by appropriate detectors. However, an optical marker reader is preferred, since the corresponding markings can be printed without great effort when producing the continuous form set.

In order to transmit the required information about the current setting or the speed of at least one of the transporters to the control device, a third detector is provided for measuring the current setting and / or speed of the front and / or rear transporter and for issuing a corresponding setting or Speed signal to the control device. For the sake of simplicity, the third detector can be formed by an inductive sensor, which scans a slotted disc or the like running synchronously with the drive shaft of one of the transporters, preferably attached to the drive shaft in a rotationally fixed manner.

The lengths of the pieces to be separated are usually given in inches. A sufficiently precise control is obtained when the pitch of the slotted disc corresponds to a transport length of 1/6 inch ( _'25 .4 / 6 mm).

A particularly simple structure of the control device is ensured if the control device comprises a counter which begins to count the setting signals in response to the position signal and also a comparison circuit which, when a predetermined count of the counter or derived from the cut-off length signal is reached, sends a speed command signal to the cut-off to effect the cut-off delivers front and / or rear carrier.

With mechanically simple means it is achieved that, as desired, the transporters run optionally at the same speed and at different speeds if, as proposed according to the invention, the two transporters are coupled to one another via two mutually connectable gears with different transmission ratios one with a single drive motor.

It is proposed that one of the gears, the first gearing, continuously couples both transporters via a freewheel, and that the second gearing can be selectively switched on, preferably by means of a magnetic coupling. Therefore, the control device only has to switch the magnetic coupling on or off to switch between the two transmissions.

It is further proposed that one of the gears, preferably the first gear, is a 1: 1 gear and the other gear is an approximately 1: 2 gear. Due to the relatively high gear ratio of 1: 2, the predetermined cross perforation is quickly separated. The transport speed can therefore be relatively high. In the preferred case that the 1: 1 transmission is the first transmission, the magnetic coupling only needs to be in operation for a short time, namely during the disconnection process. For the automatic operation of the device according to the invention, the control device is connected to the magnetic coupling for delivering an activation signal forming the speed command signal to the magnetic coupling.

In the known device, the individual layers of the endless form set are first separated from one another in a separating device and then the individual (endless) layers are separated at their transverse perforations. According to the invention, both steps take place simultaneously in a single arrangement! For this purpose, it is provided that elongated, preferably band-shaped, separating members are arranged between successive layers of the set and extend in the transport direction between a rear fastening point behind the rear transporter and a front fastening point in front of the front transporter. The multi-layer set is thus moved between the conveyors and is separated there as such along the overlapping transverse perforations of the individual layers; Even before the multi-layer set is fed to the conveyors, however, the individual layers are separated to a certain extent by the separating elements, which extend up to the front conveyor. The individual layers of the leading sentence piece separated after tearing the transverse perforations can therefore be individually further processed without any problems, for example be filed in assigned subjects.

So that the separators do not interfere with the running of the conveyors, it is proposed that at least one of the two transport rollers of each transporter only extends over a portion of the width of the record perpendicular to the transport direction, preferably by dividing it into at least two sub-rollers arranged at a distance from one another and that the separators in the rest of the block width through the transporters.

The band-shaped dividers reliably guide the layers of form sets through the transporters if they are spring-loaded and therefore always run straight.

The separation of the individual layers and subsequent feeding into the respective assigned trays is ensured if the front fastening points of the separating elements are formed by separating heads. These separating heads can be provided with prestressing springs for the band-shaped separating elements.

The guidance of the layers through the transporters is further improved in that a preferably band-shaped cover member is provided on at least one of the two sides of the set, which extends along the separating members.

In order to facilitate the tearing of the respective transverse perforation, a preferably eccentrically mounted perforation tear aid is provided in the area between the conveyors with pressing elements, preferably in the form of double-cone rollers, which press on the set under local load. The eccentric bearing enables the contact pressure to be adapted to the set of continuous forms to be separated.

In order to be able to constantly compensate for corrugations of the continuous form set between the pairs of transport rollers during operation, it is provided that at least one of the two transport rollers or partial rollers of each transporter is designed with a flattened partial peripheral area.

It is often desirable for the individual, separated pieces of layer to be free of edge perforation strips. In this case it is proposed that an edge strip separating device for transport hole edge strips of the set is provided in front of the two carriers.

The device according to the invention is suitable for all types of continuous form sets. Continuous form sets made from carbonless paper can be fed directly to the device according to the invention. In the case of continuous form sets with carbonless intermediate layers, in particular carbon paper intermediate layers, it is advisable not to pass these intermediate layers through the separating device, but to remove them beforehand. For this purpose, it is proposed that a device for removing intermediate layers arranged between successive layers of the set, in particular carbon paper intermediate layers, is provided in front of the two transporters, possibly in front of the edge strip separating device.

• Fig. 1 eine schematische Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zum Auftrennen von Endlosformularsätzen;
• Fig. 2 eine technische Detailszeigende Draufsicht auf eine Vorrichtung entsprechend Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 eine Vorderansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 2 in Richtung des Pfeils III;
• Fig. 4 eine Rückansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 2 und 3 in Richtung des Pfeils IV in Fig. 2;
• Fig. 5 einen Detailschnitt der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 2 bis 4 entlang der Linie V-V in Fig. 2 in vergrößertem Maßstab; und
• Fig. 6 eine isometrische Prinzipdarstellung einer der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 2 bis 5 vorschaltbaren Ableitvorrichtung für Kohlepapier-Zwischenlagen.

The invention is explained below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. It shows:

• 1 shows a schematic side view of a device according to the invention for separating continuous form sets;
• FIG. 2 shows a top view of a device corresponding to FIG. 1 showing technical details;
• 3 shows a front view of the device according to FIG. 2 in the direction of arrow III;
• 4 shows a rear view of the device according to FIGS. 2 and 3 in the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 2;
• 5 shows a detailed section of the device according to FIGS. 2 to 4 along the line VV in FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale; and
• 6 is an isometric basic illustration of a discharge device for carbon paper intermediate layers which can be connected upstream of the device according to FIGS. 2 to 5.

The device 10 shown schematically in FIG. 1 for separating continuous form sets provided with transverse perforations serves to separate the continuous form sets supplied by a continuous printer, possibly connected to a data processing system, into individual forms referred to as sets. The device is suitable for single or multi-layer continuous form sets. In the case of multilayer continuous form sets, the individual layers of a sentence are divided.

1, a zigzag stack or leporello stack 12 of an endless form set 14 within a stacking container 16 is indicated. This continuous form set 14 is first passed through an edge strip separating device 18, which removes transport hole edge strips 20 running on the side edges of the set 14. The edge strip separating device 18 will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The edge strip separating device 18 is followed by a tear-off arrangement 22 which ensures that endless form sets 24 are torn off along the transverse perforations 26 from the leading end of the set 14. These transverse perforations 26 are already present in the set 14 from the outset. In 2, two such transverse perforations 26 in the form of slots 28 are indicated. However, there are also other usual types of perforations, such as perforations.

The tear-off arrangement 22 also ensures that the individual layers are separated, specifically in that separating tapes 30 are inserted between the individual layers. In Fig. 1, two such separating tapes 30 are indicated by dash-dotted lines. The front ends of the separating belts 30 in the transport direction A of the set are attached to separating heads 32, which deflect the individual layers 34 of the set pieces into respectively assigned trays 36, 38 and 40. In FIG. 1, four sets of set pieces 34a to 34d that have already been deposited can be seen in each tray 36 to 40. As can be seen, sentence device layers of different lengths a can be separated from the sentence 14 with the aid of the device according to FIG. 1. The first separated layer 34a has the greatest length; layer 34b is half the length of layer 34a; the length of the layers 34c and 34d is 3/4 of the length of the layer 34a. As will be described in more detail below, the device according to the invention can be used, for example, to separate continuation calculations of different lengths or to make so-called group separations from computer printouts, that is to say a separation in the individual customers of sentences associated with a data processing system (for example, for DATEV users under The term "continuous form set" is understood here in general to mean a possibly printed, elongated, single or multi-layer arrangement of paper or film strips which are to be separated along prefabricated, transverse material weakenings. These can be carbonless paper sets which are based on all layers are copied through, for example due to appropriate coatings on the front and back of each inner layer. However, carbonless paper sets can also be made with the device according to the invention are processed in which carbonless intermediate layers, for example carbon paper intermediate layers, are required for the printing process, but which must then be removed again later. The removal of such carbon paper intermediate layers 42 from the set 14 is carried out in a diverting device 44 which can be connected upstream of the edge strip separating device 18 and which is indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 1. The discharge device 44 is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 6.

2 to 4, the device 10 shown schematically in FIG. 1 is shown in detail. The individual components of the device 10 are arranged on a row of horizontally running, parallel cross bars, which are supported at both ends in two vertical side walls 46. The continuous form set 14, which comes from the left in FIGS. 2 and 3, is first seized by two tractors 48 which engage in corresponding transport holes 54 on both longitudinal edges of the set 14 via caterpillars 50 provided with knobs 50. 2 shows a cross bar 56 connecting the walls 46, on which the tractors 48 are mounted; A likewise square shaft 58, which is rotated by a drive motor, not shown, drives the two tractors 48.

Before the set 14 reaches the tractors 48, it still runs between a lower and an upper guide rod 60 and 62, which also run transversely between the walls 46.

In the transport direction A of the set 14, the edge strip separating device 18 adjoins the tractors 48, which is shown in simplified form in FIGS. 2 and 3. On two superimposed shafts 64 and 66 driven by drive means, not shown, two are exactly one above the other in the area of each longitudinal edge of the set 14 horizontal cutting wheels 68 and 70 attached, which roll with their outer circumference to each other and in this way cut through the possibly multi-layer copy paper set. In this way, the edge strip 20 containing the transport holes 54 is cut off on both long sides of the set 14, drained downwards and deposited in a manner not shown, for example rolled up. The shafts 64 and 66 can be mounted in a manner not shown in the side walls 46 so that they can be displaced in the vertical direction to enable readjustment. Furthermore, the shafts 64 and 66 can also be biased towards one another by means of biasing springs.

The edge strip separating device 18 is followed by the tear-off arrangement 22. This consists of two transport roller pairs 72 and 74 arranged at a distance b (see FIG. 1) from one another, which have a front conveyor (pair of transport rollers 74) in the direction of transport and a rear conveyor (pair of transport rollers 72). form. Each pair of transport rollers 72 and 74 consists of two roller shafts arranged vertically one above the other. The lower roller shaft of the pair of transport rollers 72 is designated 76 and the upper shaft 78; the lower shaft of the pair of transport rollers 74 is designated by 80 and the upper one by 82. The shafts 76 to 82 each carry two sub-rollers which are spaced apart. The front partial rollers of the upper shafts 78 and 82 in FIG. 2 are designated 84 and 86, the rear partial rollers 88 and 90 in FIG. 2. The rollers located below the rollers 84 and 86 in FIG Designated 92 and 94. It can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 5 that the rollers lie one above the other in pairs and that the rollers of the rear pair of transport rollers 72 are aligned in transport direction A with those of the front pair of transport rollers 74. As shown in FIG. 5 in particular, the upper partial rollers are 84 and 86 (as well as 88 and 90) are formed with a flattened partial circumferential area 96, which serves to compensate for warpage of the multi-layer set 14 occurring during operation. As soon as the equally oriented partial circumferential areas 96, for example of the rollers 84 and 88, are in their lowest position, the set 14 is no longer clamped between the partial rollers of the pair of transport rollers 72, so that the warping can compensate for itself.

The superimposed partial rollers of the front pair of transport rollers 72 are driven in opposite directions and synchronously. The synchronization is achieved in that the shafts 76 and 78 are rotatably connected at their ends projecting from the upper wall 46 in FIG. 2 to a gear 98 or 100 of a meshing pair of gears (see FIG. 4). In the same way, the shafts 80 and 82 of the front pair of transport rollers 74 are synchronized with one another (meshing gears 102 and 104 at the end of the shafts 80 and 82, respectively).

The two pairs of transport rollers 72 and 74 are driven by a single electric motor 106, which can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. The power transmission takes place via a belt drive 107. A belt 108, possibly a toothed belt, runs over two equally large pulleys 110 and 112, which are attached to the ends of the shafts 80 and 76, which protrude beyond the side wall 46. The belt 108 in the form of a closed loop runs from the pulley 112 to a reversing pulley 114 and from there to the motor shaft 116 of the electric motor 106. The path then leads via a tensioning pulley 118 to the pulley 110 and back to the pulley 112. The transport direction of the belt 108 is indicated by the arrow B in Fig. 4. The pulley 112 is rigidly connected to the shaft 76. The pulley 110, however, is coupled to the shaft 80 via a freewheel 120.

The freewheel 120 can, for example, be inserted as a freewheel ring in a correspondingly large central bore in the pulley 110 and pushed over the shaft 80. The freewheel 120 is set up in such a way that it locks when the pulley 110 rotates at a higher speed in the direction of rotation C (counterclockwise in FIG. 4) than the shaft 80. In this case, the shaft 80 is carried along by the pulley 110. On the other hand, if the shaft 80 wants to rotate in the direction C at a higher speed than the pulley 110, the freewheel 120 allows this.

Consequently, if both shafts 80 and 98 are driven exclusively by pulleys 110 and 112, the two pairs of transport rollers 72 and 74 run at the same speed (and direction of rotation). The belt drive 107 shown in FIG. 4 therefore represents a 1: 1 transmission.

On the other side of the device 10 shown in FIG. 3, a further belt drive 121 is attached, which represents an optionally switchable 1: 2 transmission. A large pulley 122 is rotatably attached to the end of the shaft 76 which projects below the side wall 46 in FIG. 2. A small pulley 124 is supported on the corresponding end of the shaft 80. A belt 126 runs over both pulleys 122 and 124 and additionally over an eccentrically mounted tensioning roller 128. Between the shaft 80 and the pulley 124, an annular magnetic coupling 130 is interposed in this area, which is provided with an extension 131 projecting downwards. The extension 131 is fastened to the outside of the wall 46 by means of a bracket 133 by means of two screws 135. As long as the magnetic coupling 130 is not under tension, the pulley 124 and shaft 80 can run completely independently of one another. On the other hand, if the magnetic coupling 130 is placed under a cut-in voltage, the magnetic coupling 130 connects the shaft 80 to the belt pulley 124 in a rotationally fixed manner.

The belt drive 121 therefore represents a switchable transmission, the transmission ratio of which is 1: 2 in accordance with the radius ratio of the two pulleys 122 and 124.

Between the wall 46 and the pulley 122, a slotted disk 132 made of metal is attached to the shaft 76 in a rotationally fixed manner, the slits 134 of which are scanned by an inductive pick-up 136 which engages around the disk 132 in a fork-like manner. The angular spacing of successive slots 134 is determined such that a transport path of the set 14 through the transport roller pair 72 corresponds to 1/6 inch (25.4 / 6 mm).

The separating tapes 30 already mentioned in the explanation of FIG. 1 for separating the individual layers of the set 14 or the separated set piece 24 are each attached to their horizontal rear ends with respect to the transport direction A, which in turn fit between the two side walls 46 are. The endless form set 14 used in the device 10 shown in the figures is 3-ply. Two separating plates 138 are therefore provided between two successive layers of the set 14 (see FIG. 5). In order to reliably guide the set 14 or the set 24 separated at the front through the tear-off arrangement 22, in addition to the separating tapes 30, cover tapes 140 are provided on the upper and lower sides of the set 14, which in turn at the rear end on the walls 46 connecting plates are attached. The lower cover strips 140 are fastened to a lower plate 142, the upper cover strips 140 to an upper plate 144. The lower plate 142 is designed as a relatively large support plate, which protrudes relatively far against the transport direction A. Both transverse edges of the lower one Plate 142 are angled slightly downwards. The rear ends of the cover tapes 140 are fastened approximately in the middle of the width (measured in direction A) of the lower plate 142. As can be seen in FIG. 2, four cover strips 140 run from the lower plate 142 in the transport direction A. In each case two of these cover tapes 140 run past the two end faces of the two pairs of partial rollers 92, 84 and 94, 86 at the front in FIG. 2 (see also FIG. 5); The same applies to the upper pairs of partial rollers in FIG. 2, of which the partial rollers 88 and 90 can be seen. In the transport direction, following the pairs of transport rollers 72 and 74, a cross bar 146 is provided, which deflects the four lower cover strips 140 downward to a second cross beam 148. The ends of the four lower cover strips 140 are fastened to a further cross beam 150 with the interposition of helical tension springs 152.

In turn, four separating tapes 30 are each attached to the separating plates 138 mentioned by their rear end. These four belts 30 each run exactly above the lower four cover belts 140, that is also parallel to direction A and laterally past the partial rollers. The front ends of a total of eight separating tapes 30 are attached to the already mentioned (also eight) separating heads 32. These separating heads 32 each consist of an elongated curved bracket element tapered in a wedge shape at its rear end facing the pairs of transport rollers 72, 74 in the side view of FIG. 5. The four separating heads 32 each associated with the four separating tapes 30 starting from a separating plate 138 are held together on two transverse rods 154. Each separating head 32 is provided with a lateral recess 156 (see FIG. 5) for receiving a helical tension spring 158, one end of which is connected to the front end of the associated separating tape 30 and the other end of which is connected to a retaining web 160 of the separating head 32. The foremost cross bar 154 'is connected to the side walls 46 via connecting straps 155. !

In order to facilitate threading the leading end of a new set 14, the separating plates 138 are staggered upwards in the direction of transport A. The plate 144, from which the four upper cover bands 140 extend, is inclined to form an insertion bevel. The four cover tapes 140 extending from the plate 144 run exactly above the separating tapes 30 and the lower cover tapes 140. The front ends of the upper cover tapes 140 are in turn guided over two cross bars 162 and 164 and finally fastened to a further cross bar 168 under tension by means of tension springs 166 . 1 and 5 in this context it should be noted that the distance between the individual layers of the set 14 or the separated set piece 24 and, accordingly, the distance between the bands 30 and 140 is drawn greatly enlarged to the structure and operation of the invention Clarify device. The invention is also not limited to 3-layer sets 14; there may be fewer or more layers.

Between the pairs of transport rollers 72 and 74 there is a double-cone roller shaft 170, which in turn extends transversely to the direction of transport A and horizontally and is mounted on the side walls 46 with an eccentric pivot point. The double cone shaft 170 serves as a perforation tear aid. For this purpose, it is provided with a total of five double-cone rollers 172, which are attached to the double-cone shaft 70 so as to be rotatable or also non-rotatably distributed at the same distance from one another over the width of the set 14 to be separated. The double-cone roller shaft 70 is pivoted with its rollers 172 as far from below into the transport path of the set 14 between the pairs of transport rollers 72 and 74 that, when the set 14 is tensioned between the roller pairs 72 and 74, the double-cone rollers 172 produce a local bulge of the set 14 upwards. If at the same time one of the transverse perforations 26 is in this bulge area, this leads immediately to the lo kale tearing of the perforation and subsequently to a complete separation of the transverse perforation.

The principle of operation of the device 10 according to the invention now consists in having the set 14 transported by both pairs of transport rollers 72 and 74 at the same transport speed until the transverse perforation to be separated next reaches the area between the two pairs of transport rollers 72 and 74. The front pair of transport rollers 74 is now driven at a higher speed than the pair of transport rollers 72, which leads to a correspondingly increasing tensile stress in the section of the set 14 between the pair of transport rollers 72 and 74, until finally, supported by the double-cone roller shaft 170, the corresponding transverse perforation 26 tears open and then the individual layers of the torn-off set piece 24 are fed to the respectively assigned trays 36 to 40 (see also FIG. 1). After switching to the same transport speed of the transport roller pairs 72 and 74, this process can be repeated as often as desired. ,

From the above it can be seen that it is sufficient for the operating phase with the same transport speed of the transport roller pairs 72 and 74 if the electric motor 106 acting directly on the belt drive 107 is switched on with the magnetic coupling 130 switched off. For the subsequent operating phase with a higher transport speed of the front transport roller pair 74 only, with the electric motor 106 still running, the magnetic clutch 130 be switched on. The shaft 80 subsequently rotates at twice the speed of the shaft 76; The freewheel 120 is overhauled.

The control of the electric motor 106 and the magnetic coupling 130 can take place via a control device 174 shown as a box in FIG. 2. This is also shown with dash-dotted electrical lines the corresponding electrical components of the device 10 connected. A line 176 thus connects the control device 174 to the electric motor 106; a line 178 forms the connection of the magnetic coupling 130 to the control device 174.

The control device 174 can be connected directly to a data processing system printing the set 14, which is symbolized in FIG. 2 by an electrical line 180. The control device 174 is informed via this line 180 when it has to carry out the speed changeover in order to separate the next transverse perforation 28.

However, the device 10 can also be designed for independent operation using simple means, which makes the device 10 particularly suitable for use in what is known as medium data technology.

For the automatic automatic operation, it is essential that the control device 174 works exactly in synchronization with the course of the set 14. To achieve this, a first detector 182 is provided which detects the position of the leading end of the set 14. The detector 182 consists, for example, of a light barrier arrangement which is arranged between the double-cone roller shaft 170 and the front pair of transport rollers 74 and which measures the passage of the leading end of the set 14, which has now been torn after the corresponding transverse perforation has been torn, when this leading end approaches the front pair of transport rollers 74. The detector 182 consists of a light barrier transmitter 184 located, for example, above the transport path of the set 14 and a light barrier receiver 186 located below the transport path. Transmitter 184 and receiver 186 are each attached to a crossbar 188. The position signal emitted by the receiver 186 is sent to the control via an electrical line 190 fed direction 180.

In order to couple the control sequence with the transport process or the movement of the transport roller pairs 72 and 74 in a simple manner, the already mentioned inductive pickup 136 is provided, which scans the slotted disc 132 rotating with the shaft 78 and sends a corresponding signal via a line 192 to the Control device 174 outputs.

In the case of an independent operation of the device 10, the control device 174 must be supplied with information about the length of the sentence piece to be torn off. For this purpose, for example, an input device 194 indicated in FIG. 2 can be connected to the control device 174 via a line 196. The input device 194 is provided, for example, with six input keys 197, which correspond to six different tear-off lengths. Furthermore, a start and stop! button 198 provided.

After pressing one of the input buttons 196 and the start / stop button 198, the control device 174 starts the electric motor 106. Thereupon, the leading end of the set 14, which was previously threaded in layers between the plates 138, 142 and 144, is transported by the tractors 48, which are not shown, to the rear pair of transport rollers 72 and is finally carried along by them. As soon as the leading end of the set 14 passes through the light barrier of the detector 182, a counter 200 of the control device 174 is activated via the corresponding signal supplied via the line 190 to the control device 174, which then counts the pulses emitted by the inductive pickup 136 corresponding to the slot division of the disk . A comparison circuit, not shown, compares the respective count with a target value that is smaller than the product of the entered Ab by a predetermined small value tear length in inches and the number 6. When the counter 200 has reached the desired value, the transverse perforation 28 to be torn off next is in the area between the rear pair of transport rollers and the double-cone roller shaft 170. The control device 174 now switches on the magnetic coupling 130, whereupon the transport speed changes of the front pair of rollers 74 doubled. Since the transport speed of the rear pair of rollers 72 is unchanged, a rapidly increasing tensile stress builds up during the further transport, which ultimately leads to the transverse perforation 28 which has now reached the double-cone rollers 172 tearing open. The torn-off set piece 24 is then conveyed on by the transport rollers 74 either at double or at a single transport speed and stored in layers 36 to 40 divided into layers. The counter 200 is reset so that the device 10 is ready to cut off the next sentence.

It can be seen that to change the tear-off length, simply press another enter key 197; the mechanical configuration, in particular the distance b between the pairs of transport rollers 72 and 74, remains unchanged.

In some applications, such as continuation calculations or when distributing a computer printout to different customers (group separation), the printout length (or form length) changes from record to record. In order to enable a corresponding automatic separation of the sentence pieces with different tear-off lengths, the device 10 is provided with a further detector 202 which reads a marking 204 in the region of the leading end of each sentence piece, which indicates the tear-off length of this sentence piece. The marking 204 can be, for example, an optical marking (possibly a bar code). However, there are other markings as may netische in question. The detector 202 is attached to a crossbar 205 above the transport path of the set 14 between the rear pair of transport rollers 72 and the double-cone roller shaft. The detector 202 outputs its signals indicating the tear-off length to be considered next to the control device 174 via a line 206, which in turn converts these signals into a setpoint value that is comparable to the count of the counter 200. The further operational sequence of the device 10 is the same as that when the tear-off length is entered externally via the input device 194. In FIG. 1, four sets 34a to 34d with different tear-off lengths a have already been cut off and placed in the trays 36, 38 and 40.

In the event that continuous form sets 14 'with intermediate layers which can no longer be used later, for example carbon paper intermediate layers 42, are used, the arrangement 44 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 is preceded by the discharge device 44 already mentioned in connection with FIG. This is explained in more detail in FIG. 6. It consists of two pairs of tractors 208 and 210, spaced apart from one another in the direction of transport A, and strip-shaped baffle plates 212 arranged between the pairs of tractors. Each baffle plate 212 lies between the underside of a printed layer 13 and the top side - a carbon paper intermediate layer 42, forming a 45 ° angle with the transport direction A. Each carbon paper intermediate layer 42 is now wrapped around the front edge 214 of the overlying baffle plate 212 in the transport direction A and is led laterally outwards in the plane of the incoming set 14 'from the set 14'. Subsequently, the intermediate layers 42 are deflected, for example downwards, via deflecting rollers 216 and fed to an auxiliary roller device (not shown). In this way, the carbon paper intermediate layers 42 can be transported continuously of the set 14 'are led out laterally in direction A. The set 14 'is suspended in the tractors 208 and 210 in such a way that the section located between the two pairs of tractors can be expanded sufficiently by the baffle plates 212.

Claims (26)

1. Device (10) for separating single or multi-layer continuous form sets (14; 14 ') or the like provided with transverse perforations (28), with a tear-off arrangement (22) consisting of two in the transport path of the set (14; 14') at a distance (b) from each other, which may be formed by the sets (14, 14 ') between the pairs of transport rollers (72, 74) holding, the front conveyor in the transport direction (A) at a higher speed than that rear conveyor can be driven in order to generate a tensile stress which causes the tearing of one of the transverse perforations (28) in the section of the set (14, 14 ') located between the transporters, characterized in that the transporters from the position of the transverse perforation to be separated next ( 28) can be driven optionally with the same and different speeds. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized by a control device (174) for receiving information over the length of the pieces (24) to be torn off and for issuing speed command signals to the front and / or rear transporter. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by a first detector for emitting a position signal indicating the exact position of the set (14; 14 ') to the control device (174). 4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the first detector is arranged in the region between the perforation tear point and the front conveyor and is designed to measure the passage of the leading end of the set (14; 14 '). 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the first detector is formed by a light barrier (184, 186). 6. Device according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by a second detector (202) for reading a length (of the next piece to be torn off) indicating marking (204) on the set (14) and for emitting a corresponding cut-off length signal the control device (174). 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the second detector (202) is an optical marker reader. 8. Device according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized by a third detector for measuring the current setting and / or speed of the front and / or rear transporter and for delivering a corresponding setting or speed signal to the control device (174). 9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the third detector is formed by an inductive pickup (136), which with the drive shaft (76) one of the transporters running synchronously, preferably on the drive shaft (76) rotatably mounted slotted disc (132nd ) or the like. 0. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the division of the slotted disc corresponds to a transport length of 1/6 inch (25.4 / 6 mm). 11. The device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the control device (174) comprises a counter (200) which begins to count the setting signals on the position signal and further a comparison circuit which when reaching a predetermined or from Cut-off length signal derived from the counter (200) outputs a separation command speed command signal to the front and / or rear transporter. 12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that the two transporters are coupled to one another via two mutually connectable gears (107, 121) with different transmission ratios. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that one of the gears, the first gear (107), via a freewheel (120) constantly couples both transporters, and that the second gear (121) can be optionally switched on, preferably by means of a magnetic coupling ( 130). 14. The apparatus of claim 12 or 13, characterized in that one of the gears, preferably the first gear (107), a 1: 1 gear and the other gear is an approx. 1: 2 gear. 15. The apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the control device (174) is connected to the magnetic coupling (130) for delivering an activation signal forming the speed command signal to the magnetic coupling (130). 16. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that elongated, preferably band-shaped separating members (30) arranged between successive layers (13) of the set (14) are provided, which are located in the transport direction (A) between a rear fastening point ( 138) behind the rear carrier and a front attachment point in front of the front carrier. 17. The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that at least one of the two transport rollers of each conveyor extends only over a portion of the width of the record perpendicular to the transport direction (A), preferably by subdivision into at least two sub-rollers (84, 86) spaced apart from one another , 88, 90, 92, 94), and that the separating members (30) extend through the transporters in the remaining area of the set width. 18. The apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the band-shaped separating members (30) are under spring tension. 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the front fastening points of the separating members are formed by separating heads (32) which feed the individual layers (34a to 34d) of the separated set piece (24) to the respective associated shelves (36, 38, 40) . 20. The apparatus according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that on the separating heads (32) bias springs for the band-shaped separating members (30) are provided. 21. Device according to one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that a preferably band-shaped cover member (140) is provided on at least one of the two sides of the set (14), which extends along the separating members (30). 22. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a preferably eccentrically mounted perforation tear aid (170) is provided in the area between the transporters with pressing elements, preferably in the form of double-cone rollers (172), which are attached to the set (14) under local loads press on. 23. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in each case at least one of the _i two transport rollers or partial rollers (84, 86, 88, 90); each transporter is designed with a flattened partial circumference area (96). 24. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that before the two Transportierern ^- a edge strip separating means (18) for transporting hole-edge strip (20) is provided of the set (1.4). 25. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a device (44) for deriving between successive layers (13) of the set (14 ') arranged in front of the two transporters, optionally before the edge strip separating device (18) Intermediate layers, in particular carbon paper intermediate layers (42), is provided. 26. The apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that the deflection device (44) between two further transporters, preferably between tractors (208, 210), arranged obliquely to the transport direction (A), between the layers (13, 42) arranged baffle plates ( 212), the intermediate layers being placed around the baffle plates (212) and then being guided laterally out of the set (14 ').

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