EP0182086B1 - Procédé et appareil pour la progression des formulaires continus - Google Patents

Procédé et appareil pour la progression des formulaires continus Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0182086B1
EP0182086B1 EP19850113019 EP85113019A EP0182086B1 EP 0182086 B1 EP0182086 B1 EP 0182086B1 EP 19850113019 EP19850113019 EP 19850113019 EP 85113019 A EP85113019 A EP 85113019A EP 0182086 B1 EP0182086 B1 EP 0182086B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
strips
brake
documents
strip
separated
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19850113019
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0182086A1 (fr
Inventor
Callie R. Thompson
Marvin B. Clause, Jr.
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.)
Bell and Howell Co
Original Assignee
Bell and Howell Co
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 US06/671,357 external-priority patent/US4542893A/en
Priority claimed from US06/671,356 external-priority patent/US4570916A/en
Application filed by Bell and Howell Co filed Critical Bell and Howell Co
Publication of EP0182086A1 publication Critical patent/EP0182086A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0182086B1 publication Critical patent/EP0182086B1/fr
Expired 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
    • B65H23/00—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs
    • B65H23/04—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally
    • B65H23/18—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally by controlling or regulating the web-advancing mechanism, e.g. mechanism acting on the running web
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H23/00—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs
    • B65H23/04—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally
    • B65H23/046—Sensing longitudinal register of web
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H23/00—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs
    • B65H23/04—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally
    • B65H23/06—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally by retarding devices, e.g. acting on web-roll spindle
    • B65H23/066—Electrical brake devices therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H23/00—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs
    • B65H23/04—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally
    • B65H23/18—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally by controlling or regulating the web-advancing mechanism, e.g. mechanism acting on the running web
    • B65H23/188—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally by controlling or regulating the web-advancing mechanism, e.g. mechanism acting on the running web in connection with running-web
    • B65H23/1882—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally by controlling or regulating the web-advancing mechanism, e.g. mechanism acting on the running web in connection with running-web and controlling longitudinal register of web
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H35/00—Delivering articles from cutting or line-perforating machines; Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices, e.g. adhesive tape dispensers

Definitions

  • This invention pertains to document conveying methods and apparatus, and particularly to document conveying methods and apparatus wherein a plurality of superposed strips of documents are conveyed in a direction of conveyance toward a e downstream workstation.
  • EP-A-094 647 It is known from European publication print EP-A-094 647 to convey a plurality of layers of superposed strip material divided by perforations in a sequence of form sets in direction to a downstream workstation in shape of a separation station for separating the form sets by bursting the transverse perforations.
  • the two strips are conveyed at essentially the same speed and in a manner whereby the trailing edges of documents in the second strip are essentially centered between the leading and trailing edges of a document in the first strip; i.e. the trailing edges of documents in the second strip occur essentially half way between the leading and trailing edges of a document in the first strip.
  • one strip may have a tendancy to "creep" up on the other.
  • the creep may eventually occur to the extent that the corresponding edges of documents in the two strips are essentially aligned in the direction of superposition.
  • Such alignment of leading edges causes problems when a downstream operation such as bursting, for example, is being performed in alternating strip fashion with respect to the documents in the two superposed strips. Alignment of the leading edges of documents in the two superposed strips can disrupt the bursting process and can confuse downstream document handling machinery (such as folders and collectors) regarding the proper sequence of documents to be handled thereby.
  • an apparatus and method whereby two superposed strips of documents are conveyed in a direction of conveyance toward a downstream workstation.
  • Each of the strips include a plurality of documents which are eventually separated from their strips to have a leading edge and a trailing edge.
  • the strips are conveyed over one another in a direction of superposition whereby the leading edges of documents of one strip alternate in sequence in the direction of conveyance with the leading edges of documents in the other strip.
  • a determination and control circuit is provided to determine whether the leading edges of documents in one strip are tending to creep up on the leading edges of documents in the other strip due to differing speeds of motion of the two superposed strips. If a creeping condition is determined by the circuit, the circuit energizes braking means whereby the motion of at least one of the strips is at least temporarily retarded for rectjfying the creeping condition.
  • the braking means comprises a first brake for retarding the motion of a first of the strips and a second brake for retarding the motion of a second of the strips.
  • the determination and control circuit selectively energizes either the first brake or the second brake to rectify the creeping condition.
  • Each brake comprises a roller which contacts its respective strip and which is rotatable as the contacted strip moves across the roller.
  • the roller is mounted on an intermediate portion of an axle which has a brake disc mounted near an end of the axle.
  • the brake disc has a disc surface which is axially movable when attracted by a brake coil energized by the circuit.
  • the determination .and control circuit periodically permits the deenergization of the braking means, even when a creep condition is determined.
  • the circuit periodically permits the rotational incrementation of the rollers, thereby precluding uneven wear of the rollers which might otherwise result if the brake were continuously applied.
  • the determination and control circuit comprises a detector for determining when leading ones of documents have been separated from their respective strips; timing pulse generation means; counter select means for selectively enabling a first counter and a second counter to count timing pulses (the counters being enabled in alternating fashion after documents are separated in alternating strip fashion from their strips); and, comparison means for comparing the counts in the two counters.
  • the detector detects when leading edges and trailing edges of separated documents are conveyed past the detector.
  • the counters are enabled to count when the trailing edge of a preceding separated document is detected and are disabled when the leading edge of a just-separated document is detected.
  • the control circuit periodically deenergizes the braking means for a time period extending from the time at which the leading edge of a just-separated document is detected until the time at which the trailing edge of the just-separated document is detected, thereby precluding uneven wear of the braking means.
  • the control circuit further comprises brake energization timing means and brake energizing means responsively connected to the brake energization timing means.
  • the brake energization timing means includes a multivibrator connected to the detector and to the comparison means.
  • An advantage of the present invention is the provision of a document conveying method and apparatus which automatically controls the relative speeds of conveyance of superposed strips of documents.
  • Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a document conveying method and apparatus which effectively monitors the relative speeds of conveyance of superposed strips of documents.
  • Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a document conveying method and apparatus wherein conveying speeds of superposed strips of documents are easily established upon apparatus start up.
  • Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a document conveying method and apparatus which combats uneven wear of roller members comprising the apparatus.
  • Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a document conveying method and apparatus which requires little operator supervision and surveillance.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates a document conveying apparatus 20 comprising an entrance port 22 and a horizontal conveyance table 24.
  • the conveying apparatus conveys two superposed webs or strips of documents, particularly an upper strip 26 and a lower strip 28, in a direction of conveyance as indicated by arrow 30.
  • Each strip 26, 28 comprises a plurality of sheets which will be burst at perforated edges thereof.
  • the strips 26 and 28 comprise sheets for a plurality of customers, each customer having a first sheet (on strip 28) and a second sheet (on strip 26). It should be understood that all customers need not have the same number of sheets.
  • a plurality or serially arranged workstations such as a burster 32 and a buckle folder 34.
  • a burster 32 Downstream from the document conveying apparatus and positioned to receive the strips 26, 28 are a plurality or serially arranged workstations, such as a burster 32 and a buckle folder 34.
  • a buckle folder 34 Downstream from the document conveying apparatus and positioned to receive the strips 26, 28 are a plurality or serially arranged workstations, such as a burster 32 and a buckle folder 34.
  • an appropriate collector apparatus can be positioned yet downstream from the buckle folder 34.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates the entrance port 22 in greater detail.
  • the entrance port 22 comprises a frame having two opposing sidewalls 40L and 40R which, as seen in Fig. 3, are essential parallelogram-shaped and incline upwardly to ascend in the direction of strip feed as indicated by arrow 42. Extending between the two sidewalls 40L, 40R are a pair of input ramps, particularly a lower input ramp 50 and an upper input ramp 52.
  • Each of the ramps 50, 52 is inclined upwardly to ascend in the direction of strip feed as indicated by arrow 42.
  • the lower ramp 50 has a ramping surface 54 which rises at an angle 56 relative to the horizontal (see Fig. 3).
  • the upper input ramp comprises a first ramping surface 64 which rises at an angle 66 relative to the horizontal and an integral second ramping surface 68 which rises at an angle 70 relative to the horizontal (the angle 70 being much less than the angle 66).
  • the upper ramp 52 including particularly the second ramping surface 68 thereof
  • the lower ramp 50 extend essentially to the furtherest extremity of the entrance port sidewalls 40.
  • Each ramp 50, 52 has a set of adjustable strip guides positioned thereon.
  • guides 80L, 80R are provided on ramp 50; guides 82L, 82R are provided on the upper ramp 52.
  • each guide has either an essentially L-shaped or backwards L-shaped configuration.
  • Each guide 80, 82 comprises a standing leg 84 and a lying leg 86 as illustrated with reference to the guide 80L.
  • the guides are maintained on their respective ramps by appropriate fastening means 88 whereby the distance between the guides in the direction of arrow 90 can be selectively adjusted.
  • Lower ramp 50 has two parallel slots 100L, 100R formed therein. Slots 100L, 100R are sized to expose the upper circumferential surfaces of corresponding lower drag rollers 102L, 102R.
  • the drag rollers 102L, 102R are mounted on an axle 104 which extends through bushing/bearing structures in sidewalls 40L, 40R and which protrude beyond sidewalls at axle ends 104L, 104R.
  • axle end 104L a manual adjustment handle 106 is formed.
  • Sidewall 40 has a lower brake housing 105 secured thereto which surrounds axle end 104R.
  • Shaft 112 Extending between the sidewalls 40 and at an altitude above the lower ramp 50 but below the upper ramp 52 is a shaft 112.
  • Shaft 112 has idle drag drop rollers 114L, 114R, positioned thereon.
  • the drop rollers 114L, 114 have central bearings therein whereby rollers 114L, 114R rotate about the axis of shaft 112.
  • the lower circumferential surfaces of drag rollers 114L, 114R are in nipping relationship to the upper circumferential surfaces of the corresponding drag rollers 102L, 102R.
  • the left and right ends of shaft 112 are connected to first ends of corresponding brackets 115L and 115R.
  • Second ends of brackets 115L and 115R are connected to pivot points comprising respective pivot shafts 116L and 116R.
  • Pivot shafts 116L and 116R each extend through unillustrated bushing/ bearing arrangements in respective sidewalls 40L, 40R.
  • a helical tension spring 117 having hooked opposing ends serves to bias shaft 112 and rollers 114L, 114R thereon toward rollers 102L and 102R.
  • a first hooked end of spring 117 engages a pin 118 on bracket 115 while a second hooked end of spring 117 engages a pin 119 on the interior of the sidewall 40.
  • the upper ramp 52 has associated therewith analogous structure including parallel slots 120L, 120R; drag rollers 122L, 122R; axle 124 (provided with manual adjustment handle 126 at axle end 124L and axle end 124R being surrounded by an upper brake housing 125 secured to sidewall 40R); a shaft 132; drop rollers, 134L, 134R; brackets 135L, 135R; pivot shafts 134L, 136R; and, tension springs 137L, 137R engaging pairs of pins 138L, 139L.
  • the horizontal conveyance table 24 comprises parallel sidewalls 150L, 150R and an essentially horizontal conveying surface 152.
  • the horizontal conveying surface 152 is recessed away from the input end of the conveyance table 24 so that a gap 153 exists between the entrance port 22 and the leading edge of the horizontal conveying surface 152.
  • the leading edge 154 of surface 152 is positioned whereby the lower strip 28 documents bridge the gap 153 from lower input ramp 50 to the conveying surface 152.
  • the lower strip 28 of documents is conveyed along conveying surface 152 in the direction of arrow 30.
  • the upper strip 26 of documents bridges the gap from the upper input ramp 52, and particularly the upper second ramping surface 68 thereof, to the conveying surface 152 whereby the upper strip 26 is positioned in superimposed relationship above the lower strip 28.
  • the upper strip 26 of documents is likewise conveyed along conveying surface 152 in the direction of arrow 30.
  • the horizontal conveyance table 24 also has a pair of driven rollers 164, 165 which cooperate to inpart motion to the superimposed strips 26 and 28 which are engaged between the rollers 164, 165.
  • Rollers 164, 165 are driven by the driving means including. a driving belt 170 which cooperates with driving shaft 172 to rotate the rollers 164, 165 so that the strips 26, 28 are conveyed in the direction of arrow 30.
  • the horizontal conveyance table 24 is provided with upper and lower rotatable cutter shafts 174 and 175, respectively.
  • the cutter shafts 174, 175 have circular cutter blades 176, 177 respectively mounted thereon for trimming perforated margins from document strips.
  • the cutter blades 176,177 may be at least partially enclosed in appropriate housings.
  • the horizontal conveying surface 152 has left and right guides 178L, 178R thereon.
  • Guides 178L, 178R are adjustably positionable and basically resemble the guides provided on the entrance port 22.
  • the burner 32 is of a conventional type well known in the prior art.
  • the burster comprises two essentially cylindrical rollers such as upper roller 184 and lower roller 186.
  • the roller 184 is driven (by means not shown) in the counter-clockwise direction while the roller 186 is driven (by means not shown) in the clockwise direction, both rollers 184 and 186 being driven to have a greater angular velocity than the rollers 164,165.
  • Leading edges of documents are engaged between the burster rollers 184, 186 and separated or "burst" from their strip at their trailing edge perforations.
  • detection means Positioned in the plane of the horizontal conveying table 152 (and looking upwardly essentially immediately after the burster 32) is detection means, particularly burster photocell 188, which is included in a determination and control circuit 190 shown in more detail in Fig. 4.
  • the determination and control circuit 190 comprises timing pulse generation means (framed by the broken line 200); first counter means 202, also known as counter A; second counter means 204, also known as counter B; counter select means (framed by the broken line 206); comparison means (framed by the broken line 207); brake energization timing means (framed by the broken line 208); and, brake energizing means (framed by broken line 210).
  • the timing pulse generation means 200 includes a photo-interrupter comprising a photocell 216; an interrupter disc 218; and, a phototransistor 220.
  • the interrupter disc is mounted on a rotating shaft such as driving shaft 172 in a manner whereby light from photocell 216 shining on phototransistor 220 is periodically interrupted by teeth 222 on the interrupter disc 218. In the disclosed embodiment, 36 such teeth are provided on the interrupter disc 218.
  • Phototransistor 220 is connected to the input terminal of an inverting driver 224. The leading edge of a timing pulse occurs at the output terminal of inverting driver 224 whenever light from photocell 216 is interrupted by a tooth 222 on the interrupter disc 218.
  • the output terminal of the inverting driver 224 is connected to the anode of diode 230; to a positive voltage potential through a 10K resistor; to a first input terminal of a NAND gate 232; and, to a first input terminal of a NAND gate 234.
  • the cathode of diode 230 is connected to a single page switch (SPS) positioned on an unillustrated operator's console.
  • SPS single page switch
  • the counter select means 206 comprises a plurality of multi-vibrator means, such as one- shots 240, 242, and 244; a dual "D" flip-flop 246; and, NAND gate 248.
  • Input terminal A of one-shot 240 is connected by line 250 to an unillustrated phototransistor associated with the photocell 188.
  • the clock input pin of flip-flop 246 is connected to the Q output terminal of the one-shot 240.
  • the Q output terminal of flip-flop 246 is connected to input terminal A of one-shot 242; to the second input terminal of NAND 232; and, to the count enable pin (pin 2) of first counter 202.
  • output terminal Q of flip-flop 246 is connected to output terminal A of one-shot 244; the second input terminal of NAND 234; and, the count enable pin (pin 2) of the second counter 204.
  • the "D" data input pin of flip-flop 246 is tied to its Q output terminal.
  • the reset terminal of flip-flop 246 is connected to the output terminal of NAND 248.
  • the input terminals of NAND 248 are tied together and connected by a line 252 to the unillustrated "single page” switch (SPS) on the previously- referenced operator's console.
  • the first counter 202 has its clock input pin connected to the inverting output terminal of NAND 232; its count enable terminal (pin 2) connected to the Q output terminal of flip-flop 246; and, its reset terminals (pins 7 and 15) tied together and connected to the Q output terminal of one-shot 242.
  • the second counter 204 has its clock input terminal (pin 1) connected to the inverting output terminal of the NAND 234; its count enable input terminal (pin 2) connected to the Q output terminal of flip-flop 246; and, its reset terminals (pins 7 and 15) tied together and connected to the Q output terminal of one-shot 244.
  • the data output terminals of the counters 202 and 204 are connected to the comparison means 207 in the manner described hereinafter.
  • the comparison means 207 comprises a dual synchronous decade counter comprising two counter chips 260 and 262.
  • the data output terminals of the first counter 202 are connected to a first bank of input terminals comprising pins 14, 12, and 3 on chip 262 and pins 1, 3, 12, and 14 on chip 260.
  • the data output terminals of the second counter 204 are connected to a second bank of input pins comprising pins 2, 4,13 and 15 on chip 260 and pins 15, 13, and 4 on chip 262.
  • the "A less than B" output terminal of chip 262 and the “A equal to B" output terminal of chip 262 are connected by respective lines 264 and 266 to the brake energization timing means 208 in the manner hereinafter described.
  • the brake energization timing means 208 comprises "D"-type flip-flop 280; NAND gate 282; diodes 284, 286, and 288; and, inverting drivers 290, 292, 294, 296, and 298.
  • An unillustrated phototransistor associated with the photocell 188 is connected by line 300 to the cathode of diode 284.
  • the anode of diode 284 is connected to a positive potential through a 1.5K resistor; to the cathodes of diodes 301A and 301B; and, to the input terminal of the inverting driver 290.
  • the output terminal of the inverting driver 290 is connected through a 10K resistor to a positive potential; to the clock input terminal of the flip-flop 280; and, to the cathode of diode 286.
  • the anode of diode 286 is connected to the set and reset terminals of the flip-flop 280 and to the anode of the diode 288.
  • the anode of diode 288 is likewise connected to both the set and reset terminals of flip-flop 280 and through a 10K resistor to a positive voltage.
  • the cathode of diode 288 is connected to the line 266 which, as described before, connects to the "A equal to B" output terminal of the chip 262 included in the comparison means 207.
  • the "D" input terminal of flip-flop 280 is connected by line 264 which, as described before, is connected to the "A less than B" output terminal' of chip 262 included in the comparison means 207.
  • the Q output terminal of flip-flop 280 is connected to the input terminal of the inverting driver 292, while the Q output terminal of the flip-flop 280 is connected to the input terminal of the inverting driver 294.
  • the output terminal of inverting driver 290 is connected to a point 302 on a first voltage division network in the brake energizing means 210, while the output terminal of the inverting driver 294 is connected to a point 304 in a second voltage division network in the brake energizing means 210.
  • the NAND gate 282 included in the brake energization timing means 208 has its two input terminals tied together and connected by a line 306 to the unillustrated phototransistor associated with the photocell 188.
  • the output terminal of NAND 282 is connected to input terminals of the inverting drivers 296 and 298.
  • the output terminal of the inverting driver 296 is connected to point 302, while the output terminal of the inverting driver 298 is connected to the point 304.
  • the brake energizing means includes a lower brake energizing circuit 308 and an upper brake energizing circuit 310, each brake energizing circuit having its own voltage division network.
  • the first voltage division network comprises a resistor 312 connected between point 314 (ground) and point 316; a resistor 318 connected between points 316 and point 302; and, a resistor 320 connected between point 302 and point 322 (+30 volts DC).
  • An NPN transistor 324 has its emitter connected to point 314; its base connected to point 316, and its collector connected to point 326. Points 322 and 326 are connected by series combination of a resistor 328 and a diode 330.
  • a lower brake coil 331 is connected between points 322 and 326.
  • the second voltage division network of brake energizing means 210 comprises a point 332 (ground); a resistor 334 connected between point 332 and a point 336; a resistor 338 connected between points 336 and 304; and, a resistor 340 connected between points 304 and 342 (+30 volts DC).
  • An NPN transistor 344 has its emitter connected to point 332; its base connected to point 336; and, its collector connected to point 346. Points 342 and 346 are connected by the series combination of a resistor 348 and a diode 350.
  • an upper brake coil 351 is connected between points 342 and 346.
  • the lower brake coil 331 comprises a lower brake unit 400 as seen in Fig. 5.
  • the lower brake unit 400 further comprises a hub 402 securely mounted on shaft end 104R by fasteners 404.
  • An axially displaceable disc 406 has a brake surface 408 which is magnetically attractable whereby disc 406 moves in the direction of arrow 407 and contacts coil 331 when coil 331 is energized.
  • disc surface 408 is attracted to contact coil 331.
  • the coil 331 creates a drag on disc 408, and hence slows the speed of shaft 104 and rollers 102 mounted thereon.
  • Disc 406 rotates with hub 402 since it is in toothed engagment with the hub 402.
  • Coil 331 is connected by wires 408 and 409 to points 322 and 326 in the circuit of Fig. 4.
  • the upper brake coil 351 likewise comprises an upper brake unit which resembles the lower brake unit 400. It should be understood that the upper brake unit includes a comparable hub and disc arrangement as that described above including a disc which is magnetically attractable axially along shaft 124 toward contacting relationship with coil 351.
  • strip 28 is first manually pulled over lower ramp 50 between guides 80L, 80R; pulled between drop rollers 114 and idle rollers 102; pulled across gap 153; pulled onto conveying surface 152; and, engaged between rollers 164 and 165.
  • SPS single page switch
  • pressing the SPS causes drive shaft 172 to briefly rotate, as well as rollers 164 and 165 coupled to drive shaft 172 by transmission belt 170.
  • drop rollers 114 and idle rollers 102, having strip 28 engaged therebetween, are caused to rotate.
  • strip 26 is manually pulled over upper ramp 52 between guides 82, 82R; pulled between drop rollers 134 and idle rollers 122; pulled across gap 153; pulled onto conveying surface 152 (travelling over strip 28); and, engaged between rollers 164 and 165.
  • the SPS is pressed for a second time to again cause rollers 164 and 165 to briefly rotate, thereby pulling strip 26 further in the direction of arrow 30 and advancing strip 28 even further in the same direction.
  • drop rollers 134 and idle rollers 122, having strip 26 engaged therebetween are caused to rotate.
  • the lead edge of the first sheet of lower strip 28 precedes in the direction of the arrow 30 the lead edge of strip 26 by a predetermined distance which is about one-half the length of a sheet on strip 26.
  • the length of a sheet or document as referred to herein is the dimension of a sheet from its eventual leading edge to its eventually trailing edge (i.e. the dimension parallel to the direction of arrow 30).
  • the leading edge of the first sheet on strip 28 preceeds the leading edge of the first document on strip 26 (hereinafter referred to as the first customer's second sheet) by four inches.
  • the current count in now-counting counter 204 is available at its data output pins and is applied to comparator 207. It will be appreciated that upon start-up the count for the first customer's first sheet in counter A will always exceed the count in counter B, so that the "A less than B" output terminal of chip 262 and the signal on line 264 to flip-flop 288 remains false.
  • the first customer's first sheet As the first customer's first sheet is engaged between the faster rotating burster rollers 184 and 186, the first customer's first sheet is separated or "burst" from the strip 28. Upon bursting, the leading edge of the first customer's first sheet interrupts the photocell 188.
  • False signals at points 302 and 304 turn off the respective transistors 324 and 344, and thus deenergize respective coils 331 and 351.
  • the braking discs in the respective braking units are not magnetically attracted to their respective coils, thereby permitting shafts 104 and 114, and hence rollers 102 and 122, to be rotationally incremented by the drag created by strips 26 and 28.
  • the signals at the output pins of flip-flop 280 have no effect upon the transistors 324 and 344 and the respective brake coils 331,351 until the burst photocell 188 is uncovered.
  • the signal on line 306 goes true to ultimately cause drivers 296 and 298 to output true signals.
  • the output signals at pins Q and Q of flip-flop 280 become effective to energize or deenergize the brake coils 331 and 351.
  • the false signal at the Q output terminal of flip-flop 280 is inverted (by driver 292) to turn on NPN transistor 324 and thereby energize the lower brake coil 331.
  • the true signal at the Q output terminal of flip-flop 280 is inverted (by driver 294) to turn off the NPN transistor 344 and thus deenergize the upper brake coil 351.
  • this "start" switch is usually not closed until after the first customer's first sheet has been burst. Once the "start” switch is closed, the rollers 164, 165 are caused to rotate on a substantially continuous basis until a given job is completed.
  • rollers 164 and 165 are caused to rotate substantially continuously, pulling strips 26 and 28 further in the direction of arrow 30.
  • the leading edge of strip 26 is now preceeding the leading edge of strip 28, since the first customer's first sheet (which was on strip 28) has just been burst.
  • a true signal on line 250 caused one-shot 240 to trigger flip-flop 246 so that the true output of flip-flop 246 switched to the Q output terminal.
  • a true signal at the Q output terminal of flip-flop 246 serves to (1) trigger one-shot 242 to reset counter 202; (2) enable counter 202 to count; and, (3) enable NAND 232 to gate timing pulses to the clock input terminal (pin 1) of counter 202.
  • Counter 202 counts the timing pulses that it receives from the pulse generation means 200.
  • the count in counter 202 for the first customer's second sheet is compared by the comparison means 207 to the count stored in counter 204 for the first customer's first sheet.
  • the first customer's second sheet is burst, its leading edge covers the photocell 188.
  • the signal on line 300 goes false and is inverted to apply a true signal at the clock input pin of flip-flop 280.
  • Flip-flop 280 then clocks in whatever signal is on line 264. Because the lower brake coil 331 was energized after bursting of the first customer's first sheet, it is generally expected that upon bursting of the first customer's second sheet that the count in counter A will be less than the count in counter B.
  • a true signal on line 264 is clocked through flip-flop 280.
  • a true signal being clocked to flip-flop 280 causes output pin Q to go true, and output Q to go false.
  • both transistor 324 and 344 are deenergized, and the respective brake coils 331 and 351 are turned off.
  • the true signal at output pin Q is inverted (by driver 292) to turn off the PNP transistor 324 and thus the lower brake coil 331.
  • the false signal at output terminal Q of flip-flop 280 is inverted (by driver 294) to turn on the NPN transistor 344 and thereby energize the upper brake coil 351.
  • the upper brake coil 351 When energized the upper brake coil 351 attracts and is contacted by the braking surface of the brake disc housing 125. In the same manner as described before with respect to the operation of the lower brake unit 400, the increased drag occasioned by the friction between coil 351 and the brake disc is transmitted through shaft 124 and rollers 122 thereon, resulting in a greater drag on the strip 26 being pulled by rollers 164,165. The increased drag on strip 26 continues until the next sheet is burst.
  • the signals at the output pins of flip-flop 280 become effective to either energize or deenergize the brake coils 331, 335.
  • the upper brake coil 351 is energized and the lower brake coil 331 is deenergized.
  • the lower brake coil 331 is energized and the upper brake coil 351 is deenergized.
  • true signals are applied to both the set and reset terminals of flip-flop 280.
  • flip-flop 280 is both set and reset, true signals appear at both the Q and Q output pins to effectively turn off both brake coils 331, 351 since neither is needed in view of the equal speeds of travel of the strips 26 and 28.

Landscapes

  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)

Claims (28)

1. Appareil à transporter au moins deux bandes en matériau du type feuille, en sens de transport parallèle vers un poste de travail en aval, comprenant:
des moyens transporteurs pour provoquer un mouvement desdites bandes en sens de transport;
des moyens détecteurs qui établissent la présence ou non-présence d'un rapport positionnel convenable ou d'une vitesse de mouvement convenable du mouvement relatif desdites bandes en sens de transport;
des moyens de freinage capable de retarder, au moins temporairement, d'au moins une desdites bandes, ainsi que
des moyens de commande qui réagissent auxdits moyens détecteurs afin de régler lesdits moyens de freinage, en retardant le mouvement d'au moins une desdites bandes pour le rétablissement d'un rapport positionnel convenable défini ou d'un rapport de vitesse convenable défini du mouvement relatif desdites bandes, caractérisé en ce que chacune desdites bandes comprend une pluralité des documents, et en ce que chaque document présente une partie qui fait fonction d'un bord un tête après la séparation finale dudit document de la bande associée, lesdites bandes étant transportées en position superposée en sens de superposition pendant que les bords en tête des documents d'une bande alternent séquentiellement en sens de transport avec le bord en tête des documents d'une autre bande, et pendant que lesdits moyens détecteurs établissent si les bords en tête des documents dans l'une desdites bandes se trouvent en rapport positionnel convenable en sens de transport relatif auxdits bords en tête des documents dans l'autre desdites bandes, et pendant selon plus lesdits moyens de freinage retardants le mouvement d'au moins une desdites bandes pressent lesdits bords en tête des documents dans une desdites bandes dans ledit rapport positionnel convenable relatif aux bords en tête des documents dans l'autre desdites bandes.
2. Appareil selon la Revendication 1, dans lequel lesdits moyens de commande périodiquement mettent au repos lesdits moyens de freinage, en empêchant l'usure inégale desdits moyens de freinage.
3. Appareil selon la Revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel desdits moyens de freinage comprennent des moyens à établir le contact avec l'une desdites bandes en établissant la possibilité d'augmenter la friction entre lesdits moyens de contact avec le bande, d'une part, et la bande elle-même, d'autre part, afin de retarder le mouvement de la bande contactée.
4. Appareil selon la Revendication 3, dans lequel lesdits moyens de contact avec la bande comprenant:
des premiers moyens à rouleaux pour établir le contact avec une desdites bandes, lesquels moyens à rouleaux sont disposés à rouler quand la bande contactée se déplace à travers ces premiers moyens.
5. Appareil selon la Revendication 4, dans lequel lesdits moyens de freinage comprennent en plus:
des moyens d'essieu sur lesquels sont disposés lesdits premiers moyens à rouleaux;
une poulie-frein disposée sur lesdits moyens d'essieu et rotative avec les derniers, dont une face de poulie est déplaçable en sens axial, ainsi que
des moyens à bobine de freinage alimentée en courant en réponse auxdits moyens de commande afin d'attirer magnétiquement ladite face de poulie, une friction étant créée entre lesdits moyens à bobine de freinage et ladite face de poulie pour retarder le rotation desdits premiers moyens à rouleaux disposés sur lesdits moyens d'essieu, en augmentant la friction entre lesdits premiers moyens à rouleaux et la bande contactée.
6. Appareil selon quelconque des Revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel lesdits moyens de freinage comprennent des premiers moyens de freinage à retarder le mouvement de la première desdites bandes, ainsi que des deuxièmes moyens de freinage à retarder le mouvement de la deuxième desdites bandes.
7. Appareil selon la Revendication 6, dans lequel lesdits moyens de commande sélectivement alimentent en courant lesdits premiers ou deuxièmes moyens de freinage quand lesdits moyens détecteurs établissent une variation dudit rapport positionnel défini desdites bandes ou du rapport défini de la vitesse de mouvement desdites bandes.
8. Appareil selon la Revendication 7, dans lequel lesdits premiers moyens de freinage comprennent des premiers moyens à rouleaux pour établir le contact avec la première desdites bandes, et dans lequel lesdits deuxièmes moyens de freinage comprennent des deuxièmes moyens à rouleaux pour établir le contact avec une deuxième desdites bandes, les premiers et deuxièmes moyens à rouleaux étant rotatifs quand les bandes respectivement contactées s'y déplacent à travers.
9. Appareil selon quelconque des Revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel lesdits moyens transporteurs comprennent une paire des éléments transporteurs qui engagent lesdites premières et deuxièmes bandes entre eux.
10. Appareil selon quelconque des Revendications 1 à 9, qui comprend en plus des moyens à séparer lesdits documents de leurs bandes respectives, et à provoquer le mouvement desdits documents séparés.
11. Appareil selon quelconque des Revendications 1 à 10, comprenant en plus des moyens de séparation à séparer d'une façon alternate les bords en tête desdits documents de leurs bandes respectives, pendant que lesdits moyens détecteurs comprennent en plus:
des moyens détecteurs à établir l'état de séparation des bords en tête desdits documents des bandes respectives, et à générer un signal de séparation représentatif de cet état;
des premiers moyens compteurs;
des deuxièmes moyens compteurs;
des moyens compteurs sélectifs à déclencher sélectivement le comptage des impulsions minuteuses par lesdits premiers et deuxièmes moyens compteurs qui sont déclenchés en alternance après la séparation alternée desdits documents de leurs tendes respectives, et qui sont déclenchés à compter le nombre des impulsions générées à départ d'un point de temps après la séparation d'un document précédent de la première desdites bandes, jusqu'au moment auquel un document a été séparé de la deuxième desdites bandes, ainsi que
des moyens de comparaison entre la position du compteur dans un desdits moyens de comptage (représentative du nombre des impulsions minuteuses générées relativement au transport d'un document juste séparé de la deuxième bande) avec la position du compteur dans l'autre desdits moyens de comptage (représentative du nombre des impulsions minuteuses générées relativement au transport du document ci-avant séparé de la première bande), et à générer un signal de comparaison, représentatif de résultat de ce comparaison.
12. Appareil selon la Revendication 11, dans lequel lesdits moyens de commande comprennent:
des moyens de réglage d'alimentation des freins en réponse audit signal de séparation et audit signal de comparaison, ainsi que
des moyens d'alimentation des freins reliés pour réaction auxdits moyens de réglage d'alimentation des freins.
13. Appareil selon la Revendication 12, dans lequel lesdits moyens de réglage de l'alimentation des freins comprennent des moyens multivi- brateurs reliés auxdits moyens détecteurs et auxdits moyens de comparaison, un utilisant ledit signal de séparation pour la synchronisation dudit signal de comparaison avec lesdits moyens d'alimentation des freins.
14. Appareil selon la Revendication 12 ou 13, dans lequel lesdits moyens d'alimentation des freins comprennent une bobine électrique de freinage qui on peut alimenter en courant en réponse auxdits moyens de réglage de l'alimentation des freins.
15. Appareil selon quelconque des Revendications 12 à 14, dans lequel lesdits moyens de freinage comprennent un premier frein à retarder le mouvement de la première desdites bandes, et un deuxième frein à retarder le mouvement d'une deuxième desdites bandes, et dans lequel lesdits moyens d'alimentation des freins comprennent une première bobine électrique de freinage associée audit premier frein, et une deuxième bobine électrique de freinage associée audit deuxième frein, et dans lequel un signal de sortie desdits moyens de réglage de l'alimentation des freins définit la bobine de freinage à alimenter respectivement.
16. Appareil selon la Revendication 15, dans lequel lesdits moyens de commande périodiquement mettent au repos tous lesdits premiers et deuxièmes freins.
17. Appareil selon quelconque des Revendications 11 à 16, dans lequel lesdits moyens à établir quand des bords en tête des documents soit séparés de leurs bands respectives, comprennent des moyens détecteurs à établir quand des bords en tête et de sortie des documents séparés sont déplacés devant lesdits moyens détecteurs.
18. Appareil selon la Revendication 17, dans lequel ledit point de temps auquel les compteurs sont déclenchés à compter correspond au temps auquel lesdits moyens détecteurs établissent le passage du bord en t'ete du document précédent séparé pendant que le temps auquel lesdits compteurs sont arrêtés correspond au temps auquel le passage d'un bord en tête d'un document juste séparé est établi par lesdits moyens détecteurs.
19. Appareil selon la Revendication 17 ou 18, dans lequel lesdits moyens de commande mettent lesdits moyens de freinage hors circuit pour un intervalle de temps qui s'étend du temps auquel lesdits moyens détecteurs établissent le passage du board en tête d'un document juste séparé, au temps auquel lesdits moyens détecteurs établissent le passage du bord de sortie du document juste séparé, en empêchant l'usure inégale des moyens de freinage.
20. Procédé de transporter au moins deux bandes en matériau du type feuille, en sens de transport parallèle vers un poste de travail de avail, comprenant les mesures suivantes: provoquer un mouvement desdites bandes en sens de transport;
établir la présence ou non-présence d'un rapport positionnel convenable ou d'un rapport de vitesse convenable du mouvement en sens de transport entre lesdites bandes;
utiliser des moyens de freinage capables de retarder, au moins temporairement, le mouvement d'au moins une desdites bandes; et
régler lesdits moyens de freinage afin de retarder le mouvement d'au moins une desdites bandes, pour le rétablissement d'un rapport positionnel convenable défini ou d'un rapport de vitesse convenable défini du mouvement relatif desdites bandes, caractérisé en ce que chacune desdites bandes comprend une pluralité des documents, et en ce que chaque document présente une partie qui fait fonction d'un bord en tête après la séparation finale dudit document de la bande associée, lesdites bandes étant transportées en position superposée en sens de superposition pendant que les bords en tête des documents d'une bande alternent séquentiellement en sens de transport avec le bord en tête des documents d'une autre bande, et en ce qu'il y est établi si les bords en tête des documents dans l'une desdites bandes se trouvant en rapport positionnel convenable en sens de transport relatif auxdits bords en tête des documents dans l'autre desdites bandes, et en plus en ce que lesdits moyens de freinage retardants le mouvement d'au moins une desdites bandes pressent les bords en tête des documents dans une desdites bandes dans ledit rapport positionnel convenable relatif aux bords en tête des documents dans l'autre desdites bandes.
21. Procédé selon la Revendication 20, dans lequel la mesure de régler lesdits moyens de freinage comprend la mise au repos périodique desdits moyens de freinage, en empêchant l'usure inégale desdits moyens de freinage.
22. Procédé selon la Revendication 20 ou 21, dans lequel la mesure d'utiliser lesdits moyens de freinage comprend l'utilisation d'un premier frein à retarder le mouvement d'une première desdites bandes, ainsi que l'utilisation d'un deuxième frein à retarder le mouvement d'une deuxième desdites bandes.
23. Procédé selon la Revendication 22, dans lequel la mesure de régler lesdits moyens de freinage comprend l'alimentation sélective dudit premier frein ou dudit deuxième frein quand les moyens détecteurs établissent une variation de rapport positionnel défini ou du rapport de vitesse défini du mouvement desdites bandes.
24. Procédé selon quelconque des Revendications 20 à 23, en plus comprenant la mesure de séparer lesdits documents de leurs bandes respectives, et à provoquer le mouvement desdits documents séparés.
25. Procédé selon quelconque des Revendications 20 à 24, comprenant les masures suivantes: séparer d'une façon alternante les bords en tête desdits documents de leurs bandes respectives;
établir l'état de séparation des bords en tête desdits documents de leurs bandes respectives, et générer un signal de séparation représentatif de cet état;
utiliser des moyens générateurs des impulsions afin de générer des impulsions minuteuses;
déclencher sélectivement le comptage desdits impulsions minuteuses par un premier compteur et un deuxième compteur, lesquels compteurs sont déclenchés en alternance après le séparation alternée desdits documents de leurs bandes respectives et qui sont déclenchés à compter le nombre des impulsions générées à départ d'un point de temps après la séparation d'un document précédent de la premiere desdits bandes, jusqu'au moment auquel un document a été séparé de la deuxième desdites bandes, ainsi que
comparer la position du compteur dans un desdits compteurs (représentative du nombre des impulsions minuteuses générées relativement au transport d'un document juste séparé de la deuxième bande) avec la position de l'autre desdits compteurs (représentative du nombre des impulsions minuteuses générées relativement au transport du document ci-avant séparé de la première bande), et générer un signal de comparaison représentatif du résultat de ce comparaison.
26. Procédé selon la Revendication 25, dans lequel ladite mesure d'établir quand des bords en tête desdits documents ont été séparés de leurs bandes respectives comprend l'opération d'établir quand des bords en tête et de sortie des documents séparés passent devant des moyens détecteurs.
27. Procédé selon la Revendication 26, dans lequel ledit point de temps auquel lesdits compteurs sont déclenchés afin de compter correspond au temps auquel lesdits moyens détecteurs établissent le bord en tête du document précédent séparé, pendant que le temps auquel lesdits compteurs sont mis au repos correspond au temps auquel le passage du bord en tête d'un document juste séparé est établi par lesdits moyens détecteurs.
28. Procédé selon la Revendication 26 ou 27, dans lequel lesdits moyens de commande mettent lesdits moyens de freinage hors circuit pour un intervalle de temps qui s'étend de temps auquel lesdits moyens détecteurs établissent le passage du bord en tête d'un document juste séparé, se temps auquel lesdits moyens détecteurs établissent le passage de bord de sortie du document juste séparé, en empêchant l'usure inégale des moyens de freinage.
EP19850113019 1984-11-14 1985-10-14 Procédé et appareil pour la progression des formulaires continus Expired EP0182086B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/671,357 US4542893A (en) 1984-11-14 1984-11-14 Overlapping document strip conveying method and apparatus
US671357 1984-11-14
US671356 1984-11-14
US06/671,356 US4570916A (en) 1984-11-14 1984-11-14 Document conveying method and apparatus

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0182086A1 EP0182086A1 (fr) 1986-05-28
EP0182086B1 true EP0182086B1 (fr) 1989-08-30

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19850113019 Expired EP0182086B1 (fr) 1984-11-14 1985-10-14 Procédé et appareil pour la progression des formulaires continus

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EP (1) EP0182086B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE3572643D1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS57121548A (en) * 1980-10-17 1982-07-29 Taiyo Shokai:Kk Method and device to convey double belt of wrapping material
DE3218304A1 (de) * 1982-05-14 1983-11-17 Systemform Datenbelege GmbH, 8210 Prien Vorrichtung zum abtrennen von endlosformularsaetzen o.dgl.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3572643D1 (en) 1989-10-05
EP0182086A1 (fr) 1986-05-28

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