EP0133945A1 - Dispositif de manutention de feuilles pliées - Google Patents

Dispositif de manutention de feuilles pliées Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0133945A1
EP0133945A1 EP19840108541 EP84108541A EP0133945A1 EP 0133945 A1 EP0133945 A1 EP 0133945A1 EP 19840108541 EP19840108541 EP 19840108541 EP 84108541 A EP84108541 A EP 84108541A EP 0133945 A1 EP0133945 A1 EP 0133945A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
stack
signatures
clamping mechanism
clamping
transfer vehicle
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.)
Ceased
Application number
EP19840108541
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
James C. 118 North Shamrock Drive Wise
Frank H. Convey, Jr.
Mohanjit Singh Chandhoke
Michael Duke
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Harris Graphics Corp
Original Assignee
Harris Graphics Corp
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US06/518,015 external-priority patent/US4541763A/en
Priority claimed from US06/518,014 external-priority patent/US4498381A/en
Priority claimed from US06/525,840 external-priority patent/US4538511A/en
Application filed by Harris Graphics Corp filed Critical Harris Graphics Corp
Publication of EP0133945A1 publication Critical patent/EP0133945A1/fr
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/66—Advancing articles in overlapping streams
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B27/00—Bundling particular articles presenting special problems using string, wire, or narrow tape or band; Baling fibrous material, e.g. peat, not otherwise provided for
    • B65B27/08—Bundling paper sheets, envelopes, bags, newspapers, or other thin flat articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/12—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by means of the nip between two, or between two sets of, moving tapes or bands or rollers
    • B65H29/14—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by means of the nip between two, or between two sets of, moving tapes or bands or rollers and introducing into a pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H31/00—Pile receivers
    • B65H31/26—Auxiliary devices for retaining articles in the pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H31/00—Pile receivers
    • B65H31/30—Arrangements for removing completed piles
    • B65H31/3036—Arrangements for removing completed piles by gripping the pile
    • B65H31/3045—Arrangements for removing completed piles by gripping the pile on the outermost articles of the pile for clamping the pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H31/00—Pile receivers
    • B65H31/32—Auxiliary devices for receiving articles during removal of a completed pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H33/00—Forming counted batches in delivery pile or stream of articles
    • B65H33/12—Forming counted batches in delivery pile or stream of articles by creating gaps in the stream
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
    • B65H2301/422—Handling piles, sets or stacks of articles
    • B65H2301/4224—Gripping piles, sets or stacks of articles
    • B65H2301/42242—Gripping piles, sets or stacks of articles by acting on the outermost articles of the pile for clamping the pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
    • B65H2301/426—Forming batches
    • B65H2301/4263—Feeding end plate or end sheet before formation or after completion of a pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2801/00—Application field
    • B65H2801/03—Image reproduction devices
    • B65H2801/21—Industrial-size printers, e.g. rotary printing press

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the handling of signatures that are delivered from a printing press. It relates particularly to a system in which signatures delivered from the press are formed into stacks, and the stacks are then clamped by a transfer vehicle and transported by the transfer vehicle to a delivery station.
  • Signatures that are delivered from a printing press are typically formed into stacks, and the stacks are then transported to a tying station where they are tied into logs. If it is desired, end boards may be associated with the stack before it is tied. After the stacks of signatures are tied, they can be loaded onto pallets, taken to a storage location, and later removed from the storage location and delivered to an assembling station where they are collated into magazines and other publications.
  • An alternative to conveying stacks of signatures from a stacking station to a tying station is to provide a separate tying station for each stacking station.
  • that alternative is expensive.
  • each stacking station be designed to handle the situation where the tying station associated with that stacking station fails. Otherwise, failure of one tying station could necessitate shutdown of the entire printing press.
  • the present invention handles signatures in a way that avoids the foregoing problems. It provides a transfer vehicle with a stack clamping mechanism which can (i) move along a guide track to a stack pickup position (e.g., a . stacker), (ii) positively clamp a stack of signatures at the stack pickup position, and (iii) transport the stack along the guide track to a delivery position (e.g., a tying station) while maintaining positive clamping of the stack.
  • a stack pickup position e.g., a . stacker
  • a delivery position e.g., a tying station
  • the transfer vehicle includes part of a strap guide
  • the tying station includes a cooperating part of a strap guide.
  • its strap guide part cooperates with the strap guide part on the tying station to define a guide strap which guides a strap around a stack of signatures.
  • signatures from plural press deliveries can be tied at a common, remote location with plural tyers.
  • each stacking station does not have to be adapted to handle a situation where a tyer fails.
  • an end board is associated with end of the stack.
  • a stack When a stack is completed, it is deposited onto an intermediate member in position to be picked up by the transfer vehicle.
  • the clamping mechanism moves over to a stacker to pick up a stack, it carries with it an end board for use with a succeeding stack.
  • the end board When the clamping mechanism is at the stacker, the end board is deposited with the stacker, and the stacker associates that end board with a succeeding stack.
  • the clamping mechanism not only brings an end board over to the stacker, but also contains a means which strips the end board therefrom and deposits the end board on the stacker as the clamping mechanism engages a stack.
  • the clamping mechanism is designed to hold an end board as the clamping mechanism is moving to the stacker, and the clamping mechanism further includes a stripping means which strips the end board therefrom as the clamping mechanism clamps a stack of signatures.
  • the clamping mechanism has a pair of clamping assemblies that move toward each other to clamp a stack of signatures, and at least one of the clamping assemblies comprises a pair of clamp members which are actuated simultaneously, but can move independently of one another. Since the clamp members can move independently, they can move to the extent necessary to apply clamping pressure to different portions of a stack, even if those different portions of the stack are initially at different heights. This feature is important in clamping a stack of folded signatures, because the folded edges of the signatures do tend to be at a different height than the unfolded edges.
  • the clamping mechanism is also designed to positively contain a stack of signatures when the stack is removed from the stacker and is being transported to a delivery position.
  • a stack of signatures normally has a generally rectangular solid geometry, with four sides and two end surfaces.
  • the top and bottom clamping assemblies engage the two end surfaces, and one of the clamping assemblies also includes side retainer members for containing two opposite sides of a stack of signatures.
  • the clamping mechanism includes a back retainer member which contains one of the remaining sides of a signature stack, and a pair of movable front retainer members which move into alignment with the final side of a signature stack after the stack has been withdrawn from a stacker, to complete the containment of the stack.
  • the clamping mechanism contains all of the sides and the ends of the stack of signatures after the stack is withdrawn from the stacker.
  • the stacker has a main member which moves along a path between a stack receiving position and an end board receiving position. As it moves from the stack receiving position toward the end board receiving position, the main member deposits a stack of signatures on an intermediate member which holds the stack in position to be engaged by a clamp on the transfer vehicle. As the main member moves from the end board receiving position, the intermediate member moves out of its way, so that the main member, with an end board thereon, can move back along the path to receive a new stack without being impeded by the intermediate member.
  • Yet still another aspect of the present invention relates to the manner in which the main member receives a stack at the stack receiving position.
  • an interceptor with a partial stack thereon, moves toward the main member as the main member moves toward the stack receiving position.
  • the main member stops, and the interceptor continues to move toward the main member.
  • means carried by the main member engages the stack and strips the stack from the interceptor. Ths stripping means holds the stack above the main member, and the interceptor is then withdrawn from the stack with minimal frictional engagement. Then, the stripping means is disengaged from the stack, and the stack directly engages the main member to complete the transfer of the stack from the interceptor to the main member.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates a system with a printing press 10, a plurality of delivery conveyors 12, each of which delivers signatures in overlapped, shingled fashion from the press 10, and a plurality of adjacent stackers 14, each disposed to receive signatures from a respective one of the delivery conveyors 12.
  • a tying station 16 comprising a pair of tyer mechanisms 18, is disposed adjacent the stackers 14. At the tying station 16, stacks of signatures can be tied into logs or bundles.
  • An end board feeding station 20, comprising a pair of end board feeding mechanisms 22, is disposed adjacent the tying station 16.
  • the end board feeding station 20 contains a supply of end boards that can be picked up by a transfer . vehicle 28.
  • a guide track 24, defined by a pair of spaced, parallel rails 26, runs past the foregoing stations, and the transfer vehicle 28 is movable along the guide track 24 between the various stations.
  • the transfer vehicle 28 can (i) pick up pairs of end boards at the end board feeding station 20, (ii) move over to a stack pickup position disposed adjacent a pair of stackers 14, (iii) clamp and remove stacks of signatures from two of the stackers 14 while associating end boards with the stacks, and (iv) transfer the stacks of signatures to the tying station 16 where the stacks of signatures are tied into logs.
  • the transfer vehicle 28 has a pair of clamping mechanisms 30, each of which can clamp a stack of signatures that are on a stacker 14 and remove the stack of signatures from the stacker.
  • Each clamping mechanism 30 maintains clamping engagement with a stack of signatures as the transfer vehicle 28 moves to the tying station 16.
  • a clamping mechanism 30 can be released from the stack of signatures to allow a tied stack of signatures to be removed from the tying station 16 and deposited onto a further transporting conveyor system (shown generally at 29 in Fig. 1).
  • Each clamping mechanism 30 can also pick up end boards at the end board feeding station 20 and bring those end boards over to the stackers 14, where the end boards can be associated with a stacks of signatures.
  • the transfer vehicle 28 is guided between the stackers 14, the tying station 16, and the end board feeding station 20, by means of the rails 26 that define the guide track 24.
  • the transfer vehicle 28 is suspended from the rails 26 of the guide track 24, and can be moved along the guide path defined by those rails at a varying speed, as set forth in more detail hereinafter.
  • Each clamping mechanism 30 on the transfer vehicle 28 is disposed in a retracted position when the transfer vehicle 28 is moving between the various stations, and can be moved to an extended position when the transfer vehicle 28 is at an operating station.
  • Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the transfer vehicle 28 moving along the guide track 24 with both of its clamping mechanisms 30 clampingly engaged with stacks of signatures and disposed in their retracted positions as the transfer vehicle 28 moves the stacks of signatures between a pair of operating stations.
  • Fig. 3 schematically illustrates the transfer vehicle with one of its clamping mechanisms 30 in an extended position at an operating station 31 which is shown schematically in phantom.
  • a clamping mechanism 30 When the transfer vehicle 28 has moved to a stack pickup position adjacent a stacker 14, a clamping mechanism 30 is moved to its extended position in order to clamp a stack of signatures on the stacker.
  • the clamping mechanism 30 is moved to its retracted position to remove the stack of signatures from the stacker 14.
  • the clamping mechanism 30 remains in its retracted position and maintains clamping engagement with a stack of signatures as the transfer vehicle 28 moves the stack of signatures to the tying station 16.
  • the clamping mechanism 30 At the tying station 16, the clamping mechanism 30 is moved to its extended position, to place the stack in position to be tied. After the stack of signatures is tied, the clamping mechanism is released from the stack, and is moved to its retracted position, thereby leaving the tied stack at the tying station.
  • the transfer vehicle 28 actually carries a pair of clamping mechanisms 30, and the tying station 16 includes a pair of tyer mechanisms 18.
  • the transfer vehicle 28 can receive two sets of end boards at the end board feeding station 20 carry the end boards over to the stackers 14, remove stacks of signatures from two of the stackers 14, and deliver the two stacks of signatures to respective tyer mechanisms 18 at the tying station 16.
  • both stacks of signatures can be tied into logs, and can then be released for subsequent handling.
  • the transfer vehicle 28 can move back and forth between the two tyer mechanisms 18.
  • the one operating tyer mechanism can be used with both stacks carried by the transfer vehicle.
  • the transfer vehicle 28 comprises a carriage 32 that is suspended from the rails 26 by a suspension system which includes rollers 34 that roll along the rails 26 to move the carriage 32 along the rails 26 (see Fig. 16).
  • Each clamping mechanisms 30 is secured to the carriage 32 by longitudinally extending support rods 33 which can reciprocate laterally relative to the path of movement of the carriage 32 to move the clamping mechanism 30 between its extended and retracted positions.
  • An air actuated cylinder 44 can drive the support rods 33 in either lateral direction for moving the clamping mechanism 30 between its extended and retracted positions.
  • Each clamping mechanism 30 includes a C-shaped frame 36 which is fixed to the support rods 33 and forms an outwardly facing front side 38 through which end boards and/or stacks of signatures can pass.
  • the C-shaped frame 36 includes a back member 37 which is fixed to the movable support rods 33, and top and bottom blocks 39, 41, respectively, which are fixed to the back member 37.
  • a movable top clamp assembly 46 and a movable bottom clamp assembly 48 are connected to the C-shaped frame 36. Both clamp assemblies 46, 48 are supported, and guided for linear movement relative to the frame 36, by shafts 49 which extend between the top and bottom blocks 39, 41 (see Figs. 11, 12).
  • the top clamp assembly 46 preferably comprises a pair of clamp members 46a, 46b, each of which can be moved linearly along a respective one of the shafts 49 by operation of a respective air cylinder 53 secured to that clamp member.
  • the bottom clamp assembly 48 preferably comprises a pair of clamp members 48a, 48b, each of which can be moved linearly along a respective one of the shafts 49 by operation of a respective air cylinder 55 secured to that clamp member.
  • the air cylinder 44 which shifts the clamping mechanism 30 between its extended and retracted positions, and the air cylinders 53 which move the top clamping members up and down, are preferably double acting rodless cylinders of a type manufactured by ORIGA Corporation, Elmhurst, Illinois. They are shown in U.S. Patent 3,820,446.
  • the air cylinders 53 associated with the top clamping members 46a, 46b are simultaneously actuated, but the top can move their respective clamp members 46a, 46b can move independently of each other.
  • the clamp members 46a, 46b can move independently to apply clamping pressures to different portions of a stack. This feature is important when handling folded signatures, because the folded edges tend to be at a greater height than the edges due to (i) the folds themselves, and (ii) the trapping of air around the folded edges.
  • the clamp members 46a, 46b being independently movable, as with the invention, the clamp members apply the needed clamping pressures to both the folded edges and the free edges of the signatures, so that both the folded and free edges of the signatures are adequately compressed during clamping (as shown schematically in Fig. 24).
  • the clamping mechanism 30 is also designed to completely contain a signature stack after the signature stack has been removed from a stacker 14.
  • a back retainer member 37a is fixed to the back wall 37 of the frame 36, and contains the back side of a signature stack.
  • the clamp assemblies 46, 48 contain the top and bottom ends of a signature stack.
  • the movable top clamp members 46a, 46b include integral downwardly depending side retainer members 46c, 46d, respectively, which contain two opposite sides of a stack of signatures when the stack is clamped between the top and bottom clamp assemblies 46, 48.
  • a pair of front gates 54 can be pivoted into positions where they contain the front side of the signature stack.
  • Fig. 15 schematically illustrates a signature stack which is contained on both of its ends and all of its sides by the clamping mechanism 30.
  • Each of the reciprocable top and bottom clamp assemblies 46, 48 carries a pair of spring fingers 81, each of which can connect an end board with the clamp assembly 46, 48 to allow the the clamping mechanism 30 to carry the end board(s) over to a stack of signatures.
  • One set of the spring fingers 81 extends downwardly from the movable top clamp assembly 46.
  • Another set of the spring fingers 81 extends downwardly from the movable bottom clamp assembly 48 (Fig. 25).
  • Each pair of spring fingers 81 is biased toward a condition in which it will engage and apply a light gripping force to an end board (e.g., a top end board 79 and a bottom end board 78 as shown in phantom in Fig.
  • a lower end board 78 is stripped from the lower clamp assembly 48 and deposited onto the stacker 14 during the clamping of a stack of signatures on the stacker 14, as set forth hereinafter.
  • Signatures are delivered by each delivery conveyor 12 to a respective stacker 14 in a shingled, overlapped fashion.
  • signatures move along a main conveyor portion 58 of a delivery conveyor 12, they pass a gapper 59, a mechanism for creating a gap in the stream of signatures.
  • the gapper 59 is shown in Fig. 4. It is constructed in accordance with application Serial No. 419,775 filed September 20, 1982, entitled “Stream Gapper Mechanism", which is assigned to the assignee of this application, and whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. It includes a retarding roller assembly 60 disposed above the main conveyor 58, and a separator conveyor 62 associated with the main conveyor 58.
  • the separator converyor 62 includes a series of slats 64 which, when the separator conveyor 62 is energized, travel along a path which brings them above the conveying surface 66 of the main convevor 58.
  • the slats 64 raise up the signatures being conveyed along the main conveyor 58.
  • the signatures that are raised up then engage the retarding roller assembly 60 which retards the movement of signatures in the stream, while the main conveyor 58 continues to convey the remaining signatures downstream from the retarding roller assembly 60.
  • the slats 64 on the separator conveyor 62 move out of contact with the signatures, thereby allowing them to drop back onto the conveying surface of the main conveyor 58, and resume their movement in a shingled, overlapped stream.
  • a gap is now created in the stream of moving signatures.
  • One of the stackers 14 is shown in Fig. 5. It includes an interceptor 70, a main fork 72, and an intermediate support member 76, all of which are shown in Fig. 5 at various locations along a slightly inclined, generally upright frame surface 77.
  • the interceptor 70 can move along the frame surface 77, as shown by arrows 83. It can also move transverse to the frame surface 77, as shown by the arrows 85.
  • the signatures arrive from the main conveyor 58, they begin to form a stack on the interceptor 70.
  • the interceptor 70 can move downward along the frame surface 77 at a rate synchronized with the arrival of signatures so that the top of the stack always remains at about the same level.
  • the main fork 72 is mounted for reciprocating movement along the inclined frame surface 77, and forms a continuation of the path of the interceptor 70.
  • the main fork 72 is connected with an endless chain 74 which is driven by one of a pair of reversible motors (71, 71a) that are coupled to the chain 74 through a clutch and brake assembly 71b, and can drive the chain 74 at different speeds.
  • a partial stack of signatures is formed on the interceptor 70, it is transferred from the interceptor 70 to the main fork 72.
  • the interceptor 70 is withdrawn from the path of the signatures during the transfer and the stack can continue to grow by moving the main fork 72 gradually downward along the inclined frame surface 77.
  • the interceptor 70 is then returned to a position where it can, when directed, move back to its intercept position to intercept signatures from the main conveyor 58, to begin building another stack.
  • the main fork 72 moves downwardly with the stack, it transfers the stack of signatures to the intermediate support member 76, which is disposed at a predetermined location along the frame surface 77.
  • the intermediate support member 76 supports the stack of signatures in a position to be engaged by a clamping mechanism 30.
  • the main fork 72 continues to move downwardly along the inclined frame surface 77 to a position in which it can receive a lower end board for the next stack of signatures.
  • the operation of the interceptor 70 is in part controlled by the detection of gaps in the stream of signatures on the main conveyor 58.
  • a sensor e.g., a photocell
  • the sensor controls the movement of the interceptor 70 so that when a gap is sensed, the interceptor 70 is moved into position to intercept the signatures that are intended to form a successive stack.
  • the mechanism that initiates creation of a gap in the signature stream is controlled by the sensing of a dimensional characteristic of the stack on the main fork 72. More specifically, a sensor such as a limit switch, photocell, etc., can sense when a stack of a predetermined dimension has been created on the main fork 72. Alternatively, the sensor can be a counter which determines when a predetermined number of signatures have been delivered to the stacker. The sensor energizes the separator conveyor 62 for a predetermined period of time to create a gap in the stream of overlapped signatures.
  • the intermediate support 76 is pivotally supported on the frame, and is biased by spring 99 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 10.
  • the intermediate support 76 is pivoted (cammed) out of the way of the main fork 72 (Fig. 10), to allow the main fork, with a lower end board 78 thereon, to move toward the interceptor 70.
  • the main fork 72 carries a pair of support arms 80 with rollers 87 at their ends.
  • a linkage shown schematically in Fig. 6, supports the arms 80 for movement between a first position (shown in Fig. 6) where the rolls 87 are disposed above the upper surface 73 of the fork 72 and a second position (shown in Fig. 9) where the rolls 87 are clear of the upper surface of the fork.
  • the linkage includes an axially movable actuating rod 92 which is controlled by an air cylinder 94.
  • a lower end board 78 rests on the main fork 72, below the level of the rollers 87.
  • the bottom end of a stack of signatures on the interceptor 70 is engaged by the rollers 87 and removed from the interceptor 70.
  • the rollers 87 hold the stack slightly above the lower end board 78 as the interceptor 70 continues to move downwardly (Fig. 7).
  • the interceptor 70 is withdrawn in a direction transverse to the inclined frame surface 77 (Fig. 9).
  • the arms 80 are then pivoted out of engagement with the stack, to allow the bottom end board 78 to directly engage the stack of signatures.
  • the transfer vehicle 28 In handling a stack of signatures, the transfer vehicle 28 first moves to the end board pick-up station 20 where it receives pairs of top and bottom end boards 79, 78. The end boards are engaged by the spring finger clamps 81 on the top and bottom clamp assemblies 46, 48. Thus, a top end board 79 and a bottom end board 78 are both connected with the clamping mechanism 30.
  • the transfer vehicle 28 then moves along the guide track 24 to a stack pickup position in which the clamping mechanism 30 is aligned with a respective stacker 14 (Fig. 5).
  • a stack of signatures and a bottom end board 78 is resting on the intermediate member 76.
  • the clamping mechanism 30 is moved to an extended position, and as that happens, a stack of signatures on the intermediate member 76 of the stacker 14 passes through the front side 38 of the clamping mechanism, and is disposed between the upper and lower clamp assemblies 46, 48 (Fig. 14).
  • the top and bottom clamp assemblies 46, 48 are then moved toward each other in order to clamp a stack of signatures in the stacker 14.
  • the air cylinders 55 are initially actuated, and the lower clamp members 48a, 48b are moved upward to lift the stack off the intermediate member 76.
  • the lower clamp members 48a, 48b have upwardly extending fingers 48c, 48d that interdigitate with the intermediate support 76 when the lower clamp portions 48a, 48b are moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 14.
  • the lower clamp member 48a, 48b are moved upward through the intermediate support member 76, a stack and its associated lower end board are lifted off the intermediate member 76.
  • a limit switch is engaged by the lower clamp members to stop their movement.
  • the upper clamp members 46a, 46b are moved downward to press on the stack, thus pressing a top end board 79 against the top of the stack and clamping the stack between the clamp assemblies 46, 48.
  • Air from a common supply is simultaneously directed to both cylinders 53 to move both clamp members 46a, 46b downward.
  • the air pressure in the common air supply to the cylinders 53 can increase until a pressure switch senses that a predetermined pressure has been reached in the common air supply to the cylinders 53. At that point, the predetermined pressure is maintained, in order to maintain the clamp members 46a, 46b in clamping engagement with the stack.
  • the lower end board 78 which is carried by the spring fingers 81 on the lower clamping members 48a, 48b, is stripped from the lower clamping members 48a, 48b and is dropped onto the main fork 72, which is disposed in a stack receiving position (Fig. 5) below the intermediate support 76.
  • the frame 36 of the clamping mechanism 30 has a stripper 91 fixed thereto.
  • the stripper 91 is disposed above the lower clamp assembly 48 when the clamping mechanism is in the position of Figs. 13, 14.
  • the bottom end board 78 engages the stripper 91 and is stripped from the spring fingers 81.
  • the bottom end board 78 can then fall onto the main fork 72 at the end board receiving station.
  • the stack With a pair of end boards disposed adjacent its ends, is clamped by the clamping mechanism 30.
  • the clamping mechanism is now retracted to remove the stack from the stacker 14 while maintaining clamping engagement with the stack.
  • the front retainers 54 are pivoted into the position shown in Fig. 15, to complete the containment of the stack.
  • the transfer vehicle 28 moves the stack to the tying station 16. While the transfer vehicle is moving the stack, the air pressure which operates the clamping assemblies 46, 48 is maintained, and the clamping mechanism 30 maintains clamping engagement with the stack. Thus, there is little, if any, chance for the stack to become disarrayed.
  • a strap guide is formed around the stack, and a strap or band is guided through the strap guide and around the stack and drawn into tight engagement with the stack to tie the stack.
  • a half portion of the strap guide is carried on the transfer vehicle 28, and the other half portion is associated with each tyer mechanism. More specifically, referring to Fig. 19, a C-shaped strap guide part 96 is connected with the transfer vehicle 28. A C-shaped strap guide part 98 is also connected with each tyer mechanism 18.
  • the strap guide part 96 on the transfer vehicle is aligned with, and cooperates with the strap guide portion 98 of the tyer mechanism to define a strap guide extending substantially around a stack of signatures.
  • the respective ends of the C-shaped strap guide portions 96, 98 are funnel-shaped, to help guide a strap between the parts.
  • strap guide portions 96, 98 comprise fixed guide parts 96a, 98a, and yieldable parts 96b, 98b (Fig. 20) that, during tightening, allow a strap 99 to be forced therethrough.
  • the stripper finger shown schematically at 91 in Figs. 13, 14, in fact comprises the horizontally extending portion of the fixed strap guide part 96a.
  • the strap tightening apparatus is preferably of a type manufactured by Signode Corporation. It includes drive means that draw the strap from a reel, and force it through the strap guide and around the stack. When the strap completely encircles the stack and then overlaps itself, the overlapping portion is gripped and held, while the drive means is reversed. Thus, the strap is tightened.
  • the gripping mechanism is further designed to fuse the overlapped ends, and to cut the tightened strap.
  • the clamping mechanism 30 releases the tied stack, and the clamping mechanism 30 is retracted from the tied stack.
  • the tied stack is left on the tyer mechanism 18. It can then be removed from the tyer mechanism 18, and delivered to the further handling system 29.
  • the trasfer vehicle 28 can be moved along the track in various ways.
  • a preferred mechanism for moving the transfer vehicle 28 along the guide track 15 is shown in Fig. 17.
  • An air motor 100 can drive a linear actuator 101 in either of two directions.
  • the actuator 101 through a gear box 102, turns a shaft disposed within a drum 103 in one direction.
  • a pair of bands 104 are wound in one direction and payed out in the other direction, so that the transfer vehicle is effectively pulled in either direction.
  • the transfer vehicle 28 can also be propelled along its guide path by means of the drive principles shown in Fig. 18.
  • a tube 110 parallels the path of the guide track 24, and that tube 110 rotates about a central axis 111.
  • a motor driven drive wheel 112 is secured to the transfer vehicle and is engageable with the rotating tube 110.
  • the drive wheel 112 is mounted so that its axis 113 can be angularly changed relative to the central axis 111 of the tube 110.
  • the drive wheel 112 will spin, but the transfer vehicle 28 will not move along the guide track 24.
  • the transfer vehicle 28 moves past the tying station 16 and brings the clamped stack of signatures directly to the pallet or container, which is also located along the guide track 24. The transfer vehicle then delivers the signatures directly to the pallet or container 120 (Fig. 1).
  • the carriage 32 can be formed by two members 32a, 32b that are pivotally connected to each other by a joint 124.
  • the member 32b is secured to the rails 26, and the member 32a is secured to the clamping mechanism 30.
  • a linkage 126 extends between the members 32a and 32b and includes an air cylinder 128 which can be operated to tilt the carriage member 32a, from an inclined orientation (shown in full lines in Fig. 22) to a horizontal orientation (shown in phantom in Fig. 22).
  • the clamping mechanism 30 is also tilted to a horizontal orientation for delivering the stack directly to a pallet or container.
  • the air cylinder 128 is operated to tilt the carriage member 32a and the clamping mechanism 30 back to an inclined orientation.
  • the movement of the transfer vehicle 28, and the operation of its clamping mechanisms 30 can be controlled from a remote location by an operator. Specifically, an operator can signal the transfer vehicle when it is desired to remove a stack of signatures from a stacker. The transfer vehicle can then proceed to the stacker, stopping first at the end board feeding station if necessary. At the stacker, the transfer vehicle clamps the stack, removes it from the stacker, and transports it to the tying station or to a container location as directed by the operator.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Pile Receivers (AREA)
EP19840108541 1983-07-28 1984-07-19 Dispositif de manutention de feuilles pliées Ceased EP0133945A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/518,015 US4541763A (en) 1983-07-28 1983-07-28 Apparatus for forming a stack of signatures
US518015 1983-07-28
US06/518,014 US4498381A (en) 1983-07-28 1983-07-28 Signature transfer vehicle with stack clamping mechanism
US518014 1983-07-28
US525840 1983-08-24
US06/525,840 US4538511A (en) 1983-08-24 1983-08-24 Signature handling apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0133945A1 true EP0133945A1 (fr) 1985-03-13

Family

ID=27414683

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19840108541 Ceased EP0133945A1 (fr) 1983-07-28 1984-07-19 Dispositif de manutention de feuilles pliées

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0133945A1 (fr)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0316646A2 (fr) * 1987-11-20 1989-05-24 CIVIEMME S.r.l. Dispositif de manipulation et de guidage de paquets dans une empileuse verticale de feuilles
EP0433755A1 (fr) * 1989-12-22 1991-06-26 CIVIEMME S.r.l. Dispositif pour l'empilement vertical automatique de feuilles
WO1991010592A1 (fr) * 1990-01-17 1991-07-25 Mirror Group Newspapers Plc Dispositif de transport
EP0591099A1 (fr) * 1992-09-30 1994-04-06 B.V. Metaverpa Procédé et dispositif pour fabriquer des piles de produits en papier liées
DE9400777U1 (de) * 1994-01-18 1994-09-29 Protech Automation GmbH, 51147 Köln Umsetzvorrichtung für Stapel aus parallelen Gegenständen
EP0767127A2 (fr) * 1995-10-05 1997-04-09 Baldwin Technology Corporation Appareil de regroupage, transport, et alimentation en feuilles
DE19720675A1 (de) * 1997-05-16 1998-11-19 Faller Kg August Fördervorrichtung zum Zuführen von flachen Gütern zu einer Transportverpackung und Betriebsverfahren
EP1314665A1 (fr) * 2001-11-14 2003-05-28 Gämmerler AG Appareil et procédé de transport de paquets de feuilles à imprimer
WO2004018339A1 (fr) * 2002-08-20 2004-03-04 Tecnologia Del Carton, S.A. Machine servant a empiler des plaques ou des boites en carton pliees

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1099556B (de) * 1958-04-25 1961-02-16 Mabeg Maschb G M B H Nachf Hen Stapelwechselvorrichtung an Bogenanleger
DE2231743B2 (de) * 1971-07-02 1976-12-16 Stobb, Inc., Clinton, N.J. (V.St.A.) Einrichtung zum transportieren von gestapelten bogen
CH593194A5 (fr) * 1973-10-25 1977-11-30 Stobb Inc

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1099556B (de) * 1958-04-25 1961-02-16 Mabeg Maschb G M B H Nachf Hen Stapelwechselvorrichtung an Bogenanleger
DE2231743B2 (de) * 1971-07-02 1976-12-16 Stobb, Inc., Clinton, N.J. (V.St.A.) Einrichtung zum transportieren von gestapelten bogen
CH593194A5 (fr) * 1973-10-25 1977-11-30 Stobb Inc

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0316646A2 (fr) * 1987-11-20 1989-05-24 CIVIEMME S.r.l. Dispositif de manipulation et de guidage de paquets dans une empileuse verticale de feuilles
EP0316646A3 (en) * 1987-11-20 1990-05-30 Civiemme S.R.L. Device for handling and guiding bundles with vertical sheet stackers
EP0433755A1 (fr) * 1989-12-22 1991-06-26 CIVIEMME S.r.l. Dispositif pour l'empilement vertical automatique de feuilles
WO1991010592A1 (fr) * 1990-01-17 1991-07-25 Mirror Group Newspapers Plc Dispositif de transport
EP0591099A1 (fr) * 1992-09-30 1994-04-06 B.V. Metaverpa Procédé et dispositif pour fabriquer des piles de produits en papier liées
DE9400777U1 (de) * 1994-01-18 1994-09-29 Protech Automation GmbH, 51147 Köln Umsetzvorrichtung für Stapel aus parallelen Gegenständen
EP0767127A2 (fr) * 1995-10-05 1997-04-09 Baldwin Technology Corporation Appareil de regroupage, transport, et alimentation en feuilles
EP0767127A3 (fr) * 1995-10-05 1998-08-26 Baldwin Technology Corporation Appareil de regroupage, transport, et alimentation en feuilles
DE19720675A1 (de) * 1997-05-16 1998-11-19 Faller Kg August Fördervorrichtung zum Zuführen von flachen Gütern zu einer Transportverpackung und Betriebsverfahren
DE19720675C2 (de) * 1997-05-16 1999-05-20 Faller Kg August Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Zuführen von flachen Gütern zu einer Transportverpackung
EP1314665A1 (fr) * 2001-11-14 2003-05-28 Gämmerler AG Appareil et procédé de transport de paquets de feuilles à imprimer
US6871893B2 (en) 2001-11-14 2005-03-29 Gammerler Corporation Apparatus and method for carrying signature bundles
WO2004018339A1 (fr) * 2002-08-20 2004-03-04 Tecnologia Del Carton, S.A. Machine servant a empiler des plaques ou des boites en carton pliees

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Inventor name: WISE, JAMES C.118 NORTH SHAMROCK DRIVE