EP0189090B1 - Folding device of webs - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for folding material webs, in particular paper webs, and for storing them in a stack of folded layers with a folder and one. Stacking device with a stacking area in which the stack is formed in a stacking direction, with at least one separating device for severing the stack, which is arranged next to the folder and is designed for at least temporarily carrying a partial stack, with a separating device drive which transversely separates the at least one separating device into the stack in the direction of the stack and pulls it back out again and, when they are inserted, cut the stack and two adjacent layers by separating along a fold edge, with a removal device for the separated stack and a stacking table with a lifting and lowering device (see DE-C- 3013865).

From DE-B-1 267 958 a device has become known in which horizontal separating elements are inserted into the stack beginning after the folder, which are used to carry a partial stack and to cut through the folded paper web on a fold by means of a cutting edge on one of the horizontally in the stack inserted separating and carrying device are formed. The removal device for the separated stack has a conveyor track on which the plates, which work like a stacking table, place the separated stack. US-A-2 761 677 also describes such a device.

DE-C-30 13 865 describes a device which solves the stack separation and the removal in the same way. There, however, the partial stacks above and below the separating device are also held on their first or last sheets by special holding devices during the entire separating process, in order to avoid displacement of the stack during the separating. this requires the use of complex machine parts such as suction devices etc.

The object of the invention is to improve the device according to DE-C-3 013 865 so that it enables an exact formation of individual stacks and their removal without the need for holding devices for the stack parts lying above and below the separating device, even at high running speeds

This object is achieved in that the stacking table is provided with a displacement device and can be inserted from this in an upper position essentially horizontally, in the same direction and synchronously with the separating device into the stacking area, connecting it to the separating device and the latter during insertion in the insertion direction and follows in their plane essentially without distance.

No holding devices are required in the invention. When the separator is withdrawn, the stacking table follows it and takes over the partial stack without fear of tipping or shifting the stack. However, two separating devices could also be provided which, in addition to their transverse movement, can also be lowered and alternately take over the separation and carrying of successive stacks in the manner of a paternoster.

In a preferred embodiment, a gap at the front edge of the stack is formed by a dividing element which can be swiveled into the stack from its upper edge, so that the separating element can easily enter the stack. It only opens the front edge of the stack and does not carry the stack over its remaining surface. However, it would also be possible to let the separating device, which advantageously consists of a rake-shaped element with separating edges, which cooperate with a correspondingly recessed guide element, run into the stack from above, in particular if the separating device is designed to be able to be lowered and raised anyway. In this respect, the separating device does not have to be inserted into the stack exactly perpendicular to the stacking direction or in the direction of the layer plane, especially not during its entire operation.

A version of the separating device is particularly preferred, in which it consists of rods with separating heads which are parallel in the direction of entry and which are designed in the manner of locking tips and ensure that the perforation on the fold is broken open and not cut open, which increases the risk of stack displacement and cutting into the web prevented.

Features of preferred developments of the invention emerge from the subclaims and the description and the drawings, the individual features being able to be implemented individually or in groups in the form of subcombinations in one embodiment of the invention. An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is explained in more detail below.

• Fig. 1-5 schematische Ansichten der Vorrichtung in fünf verschiedenen Arbeitsstellungen, wobei in einigen der Figuren der Übersichtlichkeit wegen nur die Elemente dargestellt sind, die für die Erläuterung des jeweiligen Arbeitsschrittes notwendig sind,
• Fig. 6 eine Draufsicht und
• Fig. 7 eine Seitenansicht eines Trennkopfes, sowie
• Fig. 8 eine Frontansicht zweier Trennköpfe.

Show it :

• 1-5 are schematic views of the device in five different working positions, only some of the elements being shown in some of the figures for the sake of clarity, which are necessary for the explanation of the respective working step,
• Fig. 6 is a plan view and
• Fig. 7 is a side view of a separating head, and
• Fig. 8 is a front view of two separating heads.

The device shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is normally the end section of a device for producing folded layers from a material web 13, in particular a paper web. In the machine part, which is not shown, upstream of a folder 10, it is normally simple, but more useful, ie in several Format widths of adjacent material webs 13 are printed, provided with perforations and cutouts etc.

The material web entering the folder 10 vertically from above is provided with folds there by two folding rollers 11, 12 at a predetermined distance and then deposited in the form of zigzag-shaped layers 40 in the form of a stack 31. The stack forms in a stack area 41, which can also be referred to as a stacking shaft, and is guided in the stacking direction 42, here vertically downward.

A flap folder known per se can be used as the folder. They are driven synchronously with a shaft 19, which controls a large part of the functions of the entire stacking device 43, via an adjustment or change-over gear.

On the upper part of the stack area 41 adjoining the folder 10, guide elements 44 are arranged on the front and rear edges, which guide the stack 31 between them in this upper area and are designed in the manner of combs or rakes. In the working position according to FIG. 1, the stack 31 rests on a lowerable stacking table 14 which is supported by columns 45, which are guided vertically displaceably in guides 46 and, for example via racks on the columns, by a motor 16 via a toothed wheel and chain transmission 47 can be raised and lowered, namely from the lower position 15 to the upper position 48 shown in broken lines.

The motor 16, the gear 47 and the guides 46, and thus the entire stacking table 14, are attached to a horizontally displaceable carriage 49, which is indicated by dashed lines. It can be displaced horizontally between the right position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 and the left position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, namely in that it is coupled to a toothed belt 21 which belongs to a displacement device 50. The toothed belt 21 is guided endlessly around numerous deflection rollers, for example 36, 37, 38, a drive wheel 51 and a driving wheel 28. In addition to the horizontal run 52 which drives the carriage 49, a likewise horizontal run 53 is formed, which can move a separating device 24 running in a horizontal guide 54 horizontally back and forth.

The separating device 24 consists of a plurality of bars lying horizontally next to one another in the manner of a rake or comb, eg. B. round rods, which are provided on the front with a tip or cutting edge 55 and can pass through the adapted comb-shaped guide elements 44. The separating device 24 can be moved back and forth between the position shown in FIG. 1, in which it lies outside the stacking area 41, and the position according to FIG. 3, in which the tips 55 protrude through the left guide element 44.

The displacement device 50 is driven via a gear 56 connected to the drive wheel 51 in a rotationally fixed manner, a toothed segment 27 which is in engagement therewith, a crank 57 attached thereto, a connecting rod 58 and a one-armed lever 59 which is articulated on a pivot bearing 61 and a driving roller 60 carries, which follows a curve 20 on the shaft 19. The segment 27 is moved back and forth on the linkage 57 to 61 from the curve 20 and thereby also rotates the drive wheel 51 back and forth so that the carriage 49 coupled to it and the separating device 24 each horizontally in the same direction and by the same amount - and be moved around. Instead of the toothed belt drive, another displacement device, for example with levers directly from a curve, or a pneumatic drive could also be provided. However, by means of the two toothed belts running in front of and behind the stacking areas in the drawing, a relatively adaptable displacement device has been created, which at the same time also drives a belt conveyor 18 forming a removal device 62 for the stacks 31.

For this purpose, the toothed belt runs around the driving wheel 28, which it oscillates back and forth. The driving wheel 28 is connected via a freewheel 29 to a drive wheel 30 for the belt conveyor 18, whereby the drive wheel is always only taken clockwise and thus the belt 18 is only gradually transported in the direction of the arrows, namely by the amount 64, i.e. . H. the division between two stacks on the removal line.

The belt conveyor 18 is guided around numerous deflection rollers in such a way that it forms two horizontal belt sections 65, 66, of which the one which runs in the region of the stacking table can be raised independently of the belt section 66. The belt is guided at the beginning and end of the belt section 65 in a Z-shape over a pair of deflection pulleys attached to a lifting element 68 and then provided with compensating sections which are held under tension by spring-loaded deflection pulleys 67. The lifting elements 68 can be of pneumatic cylinders. 17 are raised at the same time and thus raise the belt section 65 above the level of the lower position 15 of the stacking table 14 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). In the lowered position shown in FIG. 1, the belt sections 65, 66 are at the same level. The belt conveyor 18 consists of belts arranged at a distance from one another, through whose plane the stacking table, which likewise consists of individual bars arranged at a distance from one another, can pass. At the bottom of the stacking table 14 there is at least one strip-shaped support 34, on which the stack edge of a stack that has been removed on the left in the drawing can be supported when it is transported away from the stacking area and at the transition between the belt sections 65, 66. The support is connected to the columns 45 at the lower end via a yoke.

In Fig. 1 is indicated with a dashed line Tet that for manual adjustment, the entire belt section 18 with its pulleys, the lifting mechanism 17, 68, and the drive wheel 30 and the stacking table together with the carriage 49 can be raised to an upper position 35 if stacks with a lower height are to be produced. The displacement device 50 also lifts with its deflection rollers 36, 37, 38, the toothed belt 21 and the driving wheel 28; however, the drive wheel 51 remains stationary. The drive of the displacement device 50 and of the removal device 62 driven indirectly by this is therefore not impaired by the height adjustment.

At the upper edge of the stack 31 and above the separating device 24, a dividing element 22 is arranged, which consists of a pawl-like lever with a tip or cutting edge 72. It is attached in an articulated manner to one end of a rod 73, which is guided in sliding guides 74 above the separating element 24 at an angle between approximately 10 and 30 ° with respect to the horizontal. In parallel, a further rod 75 is guided, which acts with a roller 76 at its end on the dividing element 22 and thus between an obliquely upward position (FIG. 1) and an obliquely downward position on the stack (approximately in the extension of the rods 73, 75 as in Fig. 2 and 3) can pivot. The rod 73 is connected to the piston of a pneumatic cylinder 23 via an angle lever 77, while the rod 75 is connected via a double lever 78 and a connecting rod 79 to a double lever 80 which can be pivoted about the pivot bearing 61 and which moves from one to the other via a driving roller 81 the shaft 19 attached curve 32 is pivotable.

The dividing element 22 is arranged such that it normally stands in the area of the stacking edge 69 on the right in the drawing above the stack, that is to say in the area of the folding roller 11, so that it can engage in the stack from above before it forms. In its downwardly pivoted position, the dividing element 22 is in a gap in the separator, but with its tip just in front of the retracted tip of the separator 24, so that it pulls a gap for the separator in the stack, in which the separator is free of damage of the stack can penetrate.

The device described works according to the following method: FIG. 1 shows a working step in which the formation of a high stack 31 on the stacking table 14 is almost complete. The stacking table 14 has reached its lower position 15, but the separating device 24 and the dividing element 22 are still outside the stacking area 41.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rod 73 is now pushed towards the stack by actuating the pneumatic cylinder 23 via the lever 77, so that the dividing element pivots into the stacking area 41, specifically via the top layer which is being formed on the folder. It pivots into the position described, at which its tip 72 is in front of the tip 55 of the separating device. At the same time, the belt section 65 of the belt conveyor 18 of the removal device 62 is raised through the plane of the stacking table 14, so that it takes over the stack 31. This is done by actuating the pneumatic cylinder 17 using the compensating path formed by the spring-loaded deflection rollers 67.

Immediately afterwards, the curve 20 actuates the toothed segment 57 and thus the drive wheel 51 of the toothed belt 21 via the lever mechanism 57 to 61 in such a way that the displacement device 50 thereby formed simultaneously the slide 49 and thus the stacking table 14 with its lifting mechanism and the separating device 24 in the guide 54 moves horizontally to the left, so that the stacking table is now to the left of the stacking area 41 and the separating device 24 moves into the gap formed by the dividing element 22 in the area of the stacking edge 69, runs between two layers 40 and these layers in the area of a rear fold 82, where the layers are usually only connected to one another by a perforated line anyway (Fig. 3). The tips or cutting edges 55 of the bars forming the separating device cooperate with the guide element, which forms a type of counter bearing or shear bar. Depending on the type of guide elements or separating device, different types of severing can be used here, which depend essentially on the desired separation quality and the type of fold (degree of perforation). In any case, it has been shown that the separation by means of the individual tips or cutting edges enables a sufficiently safe and clean separation for the practical applications that occur.

When the toothed belt 21 was moved between the position of FIGS. 2 and 3, the freewheel had become active so that the belt conveyor 18 was not moved.

Fig. 4 shows that the lifting elements 68 are now lowered again by retracting the pistons in the pneumatic cylinders 17, so that the belt section 65 comes back to the level of the belt section 76 and the stack 31 is lowered accordingly. At the same time, by actuating the motor 16 via the gear 47, the stacking table 14 is raised through the belt plane to the position 48, in which its stacking surface 83 is approximately aligned with the upper edge of the separating devices 24. The stacking table 14 moves upward next to the stacking area 41.

4, the dividing element 22 is withdrawn from the stacking area by simultaneously withdrawing both rods 73, 75. This is done via the two angle levers 77, 78 and the actuation of the pneumatic cylinder 23 and through the curve 32. Furthermore, under the action of the pneumatic cylinder 23 and the curve 32, the pivoting and advancing movement indicated in FIG. 4 by the bent arrow 84 is carried out, where the dividing element first 22 in the retracted position of the rod 73 pivoted up by advancing the rod 75 and then by simultaneous movement of the rods 73, 75 on the stack to the dividing element 22 in its upward position in the waiting position shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, so that it is pushed is ready for use again. Since the separating device 24 has been moved in (FIGS. 3 and 4), a new partial stack 85 has formed on the separating device, which thus carries the partial stack 85 during this period. For this reason, the separating device is located relatively close to the folder, but at such a distance that a certain partial stack, which is formed until the end of the stack changing process, can be formed and accommodated between separating device 24 and folder 10.

Fig. 5 shows that now under the action of the turning curve 20 via the connecting mechanism, the segment 27 is pivoted to the other side, so that the drive wheel 51 moves the toothed belt 21 of the displacement device 50 so that the separating device 24 and stacking table 14 horizontally in the same direction and are moved synchronously to the right in the drawing, so that the separating device 24 moves out of the stacking area 41 and the stacking table 14 moves into the stacking area. The stacking table 14 and separating device 24 move without a gap adjoining one another and even overlapping somewhat in that the tips 55 of the separating device lie on a lateral bevel of the stacking table. This mutual position had already been assumed in FIG. 4 and is maintained during the transfer to the right. The partial stack 85 formed on the separating device 24 is pushed through the right-hand guide elements 44 onto the stacking table 14, which now takes on its role as the lowerable carrier of the stack. For this purpose, the stack table 14 is now lowered in the stack direction 42 by the motor 16 in accordance with the formation of the stack (FIG. 1).

Fig. 5 also shows that simultaneously with the movement of the toothed belt 21, the drive wheel 28 was rotated, which took the drive wheel 30 for the belt conveyor 18 in this direction via the freewheel 29 and thereby moved the belt 18 by the amount 64, namely in Area of the belt sections 65, 66, which are located here at the same level, to the right, that is to say under the separating device 24 and between the gear wheels 21. The stack is supported by the support strips 34 as it runs over the gap between the two belt sections 65, 66. There is thus a gradual removal of the stacks 31 formed on the belt section 66, from where they can be transported or removed.

Instead of the belt conveyor 18, another removal device can also be used, for example a device that works with slides or gripper fingers that move the stacks on a table or roller tracks. Although the lifting of the belt section 65 is advantageous and after the subsequent lowering of this section there is sufficient space above the stack to be able to be transported under the separating device, it would also be possible to carry out the transfer by correspondingly lowering the stacking table with a constant belt section height .

The indirect drive of the belt conveyor 18 via the toothed belt by means of a freewheel ensures reliable synchronization of the movements. However, a drive for the belt conveyor derived directly from the synchronous shaft 19 could also be provided. The clock shaft 19 is connected to the drive of the folding rollers 11, 12 in such a way that it makes one revolution at a certain minimum number of layers 40, for example for 100 or 200 sheets. If stacks with a larger or smaller number of layers divisible by this minimum number are required, the synchronous shaft 19 is decoupled for a few revolutions. During this time, the stack is then formed (in the position between FIG. 5 and FIG. 1 following in the cycle).

However, it is also possible to form a different number of layers by engaging at another point, which are not divisible by the minimum number mentioned or to have the layer count counted by other means instead of the folder. The motor 16 and the pneumatic cylinders 17, 23 are controlled in the work sequence described by a control device which can also be actuated, for example, via curves or cams on the synchronous shaft 29. In particular, the speed of the motor 16 should be adjustable according to the “growth speed” of the stack.

The separating head 100 shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 forms the front end of each rod 101 of the separating device 24. The rods 101 run horizontally and parallel to one another in the insertion direction of the separating device 24. The separating head 100 has the shape of a spearhead with a rhombic cross section, the edges 102 of which , 103 converge in the front tip 55. The separating head is wider and thicker than the associated rod 101, so that there is a very small distance a between two separating heads 100 in the horizontal direction, which is only a fraction of the total width of the separating head or the division t between the rods (preferably 5-10 %). The separating head 100 has the greater width of its rhombic cross section in the horizontal direction and the edges 102 pointing in this direction form an angle between them of between 45 ° and 90 °, preferably approximately 60 °. In contrast, the angle enclosed by the upward and downward-pointing edges 103 is only half as large and is between 25 ° and 40 °, preferably at just under 30 °. The rhombic tip merges in the area of the edges 102 into a cylindrical and then into a conical cross section 107, which covers the total width of the Cutting head reduced to the dimensions of the rod 101. The edges 102, 103 are not sharpened, but deburred.

This creates a flat, wedge-shaped blade that should not cut the web at the perforated folded edges, but should only break it open. The web is arched up and down along the fold and the webs holding the web parts together are deliberately broken open. What is important here are the force components generated by the cutting head in the horizontal and vertical directions and not a cutting ability of the edges. Therefore, these need not be as pronounced as in the example shown. In particular, the edge 103 could be dispensed with, so that the tip could have a lenticular cross section. The separating head described thus tears open the perforation webs one after the other without tearing the web, specifically without exerting large transverse forces on the stack. The separating heads 100 lying next to one another engage at the end of their path in the recesses in the strip 44. The wavy surfaces on the top and bottom of the separating device 24 formed by the adjoining separating surfaces 105, which can be seen in FIG. 8, extend so far apart from one another in the end position of the separating stroke that, with the small distance a, there is certainly also a gap Would be ripped open.

Claims (11)

1. Apparatus for folding material webs, particularly paper webs, and for the placing thereof in a stack (31) of folded layers (40), with a folder (10) and a stacking means (43) with a stacking zone (41) in which the stack is formed in one stacking direction (42), with at least one separating means (24) for severing the stack (31), which is subsequently arranged at the folder (10) and constructed for the at least temporary carrying of a partial stack (85), with a separating means drive (50) introducing the at least one separating means (24) into the stack (31) transversely to the stacking direction (42) and then retracting the same therefrom and during the introduction thereof severing the stack (31) and two adjacent layers (40) by separation along a folding edge (82), with a removal means (62) for the separated stack (31) and a stacking table (14) with a raising and lowering means (16, 45, 47), characterized in that the stacking table (14) is provided with a displacement means (50) and can be introduced into the stacking zone (41) by it in an upper position (48) in a substantially horizontal manner and synchronously and in the same direction as the separating means (24), whilst following onto the latter (24) and following the latter substantially without any spacing during introduction in the introduction direction and in the plane thereof.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating means (24) comprises a plurality of movable, rake-like separating bars with front separating edges (102, 103) arranged in a separating plane and which preferably cooperate with a guide member (44) having recesses along a stacking edge, the separating means (24) engaging in the recesses of the guide member (44).

3. Apparatus according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the removal means (62) is formed by a preferably stepwise drivable belt conveyor (18) and that for taking over the stack (31) a partial belt section (65) of belt conveyor (18) can be raised above the plane of the stacking table (14) and advantageously a driving wheel (30) of belt conveyor (18) is coupled by means of a freewheel acting in only one driving direction with the displacement means (50) and is driven stepwise by the latter.

4. Apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stacking table (14) can be moved by the displacement means (50) between a raised position located alongside the stacking area (41) and a lowered position located in the stacking area (41), the displacement means (50) preferably containing a slide on which is also arranged the raising and lowering means (16, 45, 47) and the displacement means (50) contains at least one toothed belt (21) drivable in oscillating manner.

5. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that to the stacking table (14) are connected supports (34) extending downwards for defining a stacking edge.

6. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a dividing member (22), which is constructed for engaging in a stacking edge (69) facing the separating means (24) and briefly forming a gap in said stacking edge (69), into which can be introduced the separating means (24), the remaining stack (31) being divided by the separating means (24), preferably the dividing member (22) is movable in the stacking direction (42) with stack (31), optionally being insertable from the top of the forming stack (31) into the latter and/or pivotably and displaceably arranged, for which purpose it is preferably articulated to two driving rods (73, 75) inclined to the movement direction of the separating means (24), but guided parallel to one another and longitudinally displaceable independently of one another. 7. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a pre-adjustable height adjustment device for the removal means (62). 8. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive of the separating means (24) and the removal means (62) is operable by means of a preferably adjustable gear synchronously driven with the folder (10).

9. Apparatus according to one of the claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the separating edges (102, 103) of each separating rod (101) are provided on a separating head (100), which has a spear tip shape.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the separating head (100) tapering at the front to a tip (55) has a rhombic cross- section with four separating edges (102, 103), which is preferably roughly half as thick as wide and whose longer diagonal is located in the separating plane of separating means (24) and in particular the angle enclosed between the separating edges (102) located in the separating plane is between 45 and 90°, particularly approximately 60° and the angle enclosed between the separating edges (103) directed at right angles to the separating plane is between 25 and 40°.

11. Apparatus according to claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the separating heads (100) project over the circumference of the separating rods (101) and only have small spacings (a) between them, which are preferably approximately 5 to 10 % of the spacing (t) between the separating rods (101).

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