EP0309736A2 - Process for forming, hinge joint creasing and pressing books, and machine for carrying it out - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for forming, hinge joint creasing and pressing books and a hinge joint creasing and pressing machine which can be used for carrying out this process. For the purpose of increasing the capacity and for gentle treatment of the book blocks freshly cased in covers, the product stream which consists of the books or book blocks and is fed continuously to the machine is divided into a number, n, of parallel partial streams within the loading station and the n partial streams are fed continuously to a corresponding number, n, of forming, hinge joint creasing and pressing stations, arranged in parallel, and, when they have passed through, to the unloading station. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a method for molding, fold-in and complete pressing of books or book blocks freshly hung in the covers, in which the books or book blocks in the form of a chain-like product stream continuously a fold-in and press machine with a loading station, a plurality of form, fold-in - And pressing stations and an unloading station are supplied and the seam baking and pressing machine after passing through the individual stations, in which they each have an adjustable, predetermined time linger, leave again in the form of such a product stream.

The invention further relates to a fold baking and pressing machine with a loading station, a plurality of form, fold baking and pressing stations and an unloading station and with electronically controlled conveying means for feeding and removing and transporting the books from one station to the next.

In the hanging machine of a book production line serving industrial bookbinding, book blocks are hung in book cover blankets tailored to their format, the end sheets of the book blocks and / or the inside of the covers being glued in order to create a firm connection between the cover and the book block. The suspended book blocks can already be preformed, in particular rounded, or they can still be unshaped. The books leaving the hanging machine or freshly hung book blocks then pass through one or more press stations in which the full pressing takes place, in which the book is pressed over the entire surface until the glue connection between the blanket and block has hardened.

If desired, the spine can be molded either in a separate molding station or in a molding and pressing station. When using hard blankets, the back is often rounded.

Before, during or after the whole pressing, the folding pressing and folding baking takes place, in which heatable pressing jaws are pressed against the book cover at the point where the joints between the back and the two covers the ceiling, ie the folds, are to be formed.

Various methods and devices have already been proposed for the mechanical shaping, fold-in and full presses which can be carried out within a book production line.

Such a method is known from DE-OS 15 36 502, in which the stack of books, book blocks or the like fed one after the other in an upright position in an upright position is recorded individually in cycles and passed in a cycle through a plurality of stations one behind the other in the direction of movement and thereby one in with respect to the pressing pressure from station to station reinforcing folding press and then subjected to one or more full presses in the same cycle in one or more further stations.

The device known from DE-OS 15 36 502 has a folding press consisting of two pressing jaws which can be displaced against one another horizontally and at right angles to the direction of movement of the book stack, book blocks or the like, the stations for the increasing intensification of the pressing pressure within the folding press formed by the two pressing jaws are arranged. The two press jaws of the folding press have opposing folding press strips at their lower edge, which are arranged in pairs in a step-like manner in accordance with the number of pressing stations provided in the folding press.

A major disadvantage of this known method and the known device is that the books must be set up with the help of a star feeder and transported upright through the entire system. There the glue between the blanket and block is not yet fully cured, at least while passing through the first stations, there is a risk that the cover and the book block will be displaced relative to each other and that the intent will be wrinkled or otherwise damaged. Another disadvantage of the known method and the known device is that all stations are arranged linearly one behind the other, which complicates the integration of the machine into a book production line due to the overall length and at the same time limits the throughput speed and capacity. Above all, however, each individual book has to go through several successive press stations, so that the press jaws have to be opened and closed again and again, which on the one hand is associated with high dead times and on the other hand again involves the risk of a violent change in the position of the book block relative to the cover.

From DE-PS 12 07 334 a book forming and pressing machine is known, in which the individual stations for forming, folding presses and full presses are arranged on a rotary table which rotates cyclically about a vertical axis. Even with this type of construction, the books are transported upright, but a major disadvantage of the known type described above is avoided by the rotor principle: each individual book remains in a single press provided with fold-in sticks during the passage through all processing stations, so that the press jaws only one must be opened and closed only once. However, the capacity of the machine operating on the rotor principle cannot be increased beyond a limit value which results from the fact that all books are laid out via a single removal station. For the undamaged Removing the finished book from the folding and pressing machine requires a certain minimum time, which cannot be undercut.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a method and a device of the type mentioned at the outset with a higher capacity, but the advantage of the rotor principle, in which the stoving strips and the pressing jaws remain closed during the entire pressing time, should be retained without the pressing times per book must be reduced. In addition, the method and device are to be designed in such a way that the risk of subsequent displacement of the relative position between the book block and the cover is avoided as far as possible.

This object is achieved according to the invention in a method of the type mentioned at the outset in that the product stream consisting of the books or the book blocks suspended in the covers and fed continuously to the machine within the charging station is divided into a number n, where n is an integer, from parallel Sub-streams is divided and that the n sub-streams are continuously fed to a corresponding number n of parallel, form, fold baking and pressing stations and after they have passed through the unloading station.

The method according to the invention is thus characterized in that, instead of the rotor principle and instead of the principle of form, fold baking and pressing stations arranged in series one behind the other, another principle is used, namely a principle which corresponds to the electrical “parallel connection”, ie in which the form, fold baking and pressing stations are arranged in parallel next to each other.

This new principle according to the invention allows the product stream supplied to be divided into a plurality of partial streams which can be processed in parallel, and at the same time eliminates the bottleneck which previously limited capacity in the delivery of the finished books by the removal station.

The advantage known from the rotor principle that each individual book remains in a single form, fold baking and press station for the entire press duration, so that the press jaws only have to open and close once, is also fully retained in the method according to the invention. The capacity of the process can be increased compared to the previously known solutions without any negative effects on the quality of the books treated, without the pressing time per book having to be shortened.

Advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are characterized in that the partial streams supplied to the unloading station are either combined into a single product stream leaving the machine or rearranged into different partial streams within the unloading station, such that the partial streams supplied to the unloading station are in the form of n unchanged, parallel Partial streams are led out of the unloading station and that the books or the book blocks hung in the ceiling are conveyed, transported and processed only lying down.

The last-mentioned embodiment is particularly preferred because, when the books are moved horizontally, no stops, turning and opening devices are required These are what not only simplifies the means of funding and transport to be used, but above all also excludes any adverse influence on the rounding of the books.

The object is achieved according to the invention in a fold baking and pressing machine of the type mentioned at the outset by a number n, where n is an integer, from form, fold baking and pressing stations arranged next to one another in parallel.

In an advantageous embodiment of the machine according to the invention, the form, fold baking and pressing stations are connected to the machine frame in a stationary manner.

A preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention is characterized in that each of the form, fold baking and pressing stations has a horizontally arranged press table and a vertically movable press jaw for full pressing, a pair of vertically movable burn-in strips for fold pressing, a horizontally movable molding die, at least one as Bracket for the spine of the book arranged horizontally formed shaped web and an endless conveyor belt, the strands enclose the press table such that the upper strand rests on the top of the press table and at the same time forms the support for the book.

In this preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention, each book of each partial flow, namely lying flat on a cover of the cover, and not, as usual, standing on its back, is fed to a form, fold baking and pressing station. This enables a particularly simple and inexpensive, but at the same time highly effective configuration tion of the press station. The lower part of the whole press can be designed as a horizontally arranged, stationary press table, so that only a vertically movable press jaw is required. However, the press table can also be designed to be vertically movable, so that, compared to the embodiment with a fixed press table, the press jaws only have to execute half of the stroke in the vertical direction. If the press table and press jaws move towards each other, the pressure distribution during pressing is more favorable, so that folds, curves and spines of the book are shaped and pressed particularly precisely, but at the same time are also optimally protected.

Particularly advantageous is the way and with which means, according to the invention, the individual books are transported from the loading station into the individual form, fold baking and pressing stations: for this purpose, an endless conveyor belt is only guided around the press table in such a way that the strands are closed Enclose the press table so that the upper run rests on the top of the press table and also forms the support for the book in the press.

Preferably, the loading station has conveying means acting in the infeed direction of the books and conveying means acting at right angles to the infeed direction and serving to transport the books into the form, fold baking and pressing stations, while the unloading station in a further advantageous embodiment of the machine according to the invention takes over the books from the form, fold baking and pressing stations serving in the conveying direction of the funds, which serve the transport of the books in the form, fold baking and pressing stations, acting funds and in the outlet direction of the books, acting perpendicular to the conveying direction of said funds.

The drives of all the conveying means are preferably set up so that the conveying direction is reversible in each case.

Conveyor belts or transport rollers are expediently used as funding.

All form, fold baking and pressing stations can be adjusted and controlled either individually and individually or jointly and simultaneously using known mechanical, electrical and electronic means; this applies to the opening and closing, lifting and lowering of the press jaws and the press table, for the movement of the mold webs and mold stamps and for driving the means of transport.

The desired or required capacity of the machine can be achieved by a suitable choice of the number of form, fold baking and pressing stations without shortening the pressing time for the individual book, and the capacity can also be retrofitted at the place of use of the machine by adding further, "connected" form -, Burn-in and press stations are increased.

• Fig. 1 ist eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine Aus­führungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Falzeinbrenn- und Preßmaschine;
• Fig. 2 ist eine Seitenansicht (schematisch) der Längs­seite einer der Form-, Falzeinbrenn- und Preß­stationen von Fig. 1; und
• Fig. 3 ist eine schematische Seitenansicht der Schmal­seite der Form-, Falzeinbrenn- und Preßstation von Fig. 2.

The invention is further explained below with reference to the drawing:

• Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of an embodiment of the fold baking and pressing machine according to the invention;
• Fig. 2 is a side view (schematic) of the long side of one of the form, fold bake and press stations of Fig. 1; and
• FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the narrow side of the form, fold baking and pressing station of FIG. 2.

The seam baking and pressing machine according to the invention (Fig. 1) consists of three main parts, namely the loading station 30 (in the illustrated embodiment, the lower part), a plurality of form, seam baking and pressing stations 13₁ ... 13 _n in the middle and one Unloading station 40 (in the illustrated embodiment, the upper part).

The books 6 or the book blocks 6b freshly suspended in covers 6a are continuously fed to the charging station 30 in the form of a chain-like product stream 20 with the book spine 6c ahead. “Chain-like product stream” is understood to mean a stream of books or book blocks which are arranged in series but at a distance from one another. The individual books of the product stream 20 are moved in the direction of the arrow symbolizing the stream 20 by means of conventional funding, e.g. with the help of conveyor belts.

With the help of a fully automatic electronic control known per se, not shown in detail, the drive means for the conveying means are controlled so that one of the books 6 is stopped in each of the positions shown in FIG. 1 within the charging station 30 and then by transversely operating other funding is detected and fed to the respectively assigned form, fold baking and pressing station 13₁ ... 13 _n . In this way, the product stream 20 is divided into a number n, where n in the illustrated embodiment means the number 5, of parallel partial streams 20 1 ... 20 _n , and the n partial streams are continuously one Adequate number n of molding, folding and pressing stations 13 1 ... 13 _n arranged in parallel. In the stations 13 1 ... 13 _n , the books 6 are stopped in order to linger therein for a predetermined time which can be set individually for each partial flow, during which time the shaping, fold-in and full pressing takes place.

The form, fold baking and pressing stations 13₁ ... 13 _n leaving partial flows 20₁ ... 20 _n are now fed to the unloading station 40, which is equipped with funding that any further promotion of each book 6 to the right, left or straight allow. As a result, the partial streams 20 1 ... 20 _n within the unloading station 40 can either be combined into a single product stream 21 (to the right) or 22 (to the left) leaving the machine, or reorganized into different partial streams 21, 22, 23. But it can also all partial streams 20₁ ... 20 _n in the form of n unchanged, parallel partial streams 23 are led out of the unloading station 40. The drives of the funding are set up so that the direction of conveyance is reversible. Due to the various delivery options, the machine according to the invention can be integrated in book production lines of any origin or can be adjusted to other units.

From the transversely to the main inlet direction of the product stream 20 conveyor belts 8 (Fig. 2), the books of the partial streams 20₁ ... 20 _{n are} cyclically controlled by sensors 10, one of the form, fold baking and pressing stations 13₁ ... 13 _n fed . Each of these stations 13 has a horizontally arranged press table 1 and a vertically movable press jaw 2 for the complete pressing of the books 6, the strands 7a, 7b of an endless conveyor belt 7, which is guided over drive and deflection rollers or rollers 7c, the press table 1 enclose such that the upper run 7a on the Top of the press table 1 rests and at the same time forms the support for the book 6. As soon as the book 6 has reached its predetermined position within the form, fold baking and pressing station 13, the drive for the conveyor belt 7 is stopped fully automatically. The press jaw 2 is lowered and raised again only after a predetermined dwell time. The drive of the conveyor belt 7 is then started again, and the finished pressed book is transferred to the transversely operating conveyor belt 9 of the unloading station 40, from where it is one of the product (partial) streams 21, 22, via further conveying means of the unloading station 40 23 is incorporated.

An important feature according to the invention is the fact that the conveyor belt 7 remains in the pressing position within the mold, fold baking and pressing station even when it is at a standstill (FIG. 3).

During the full pressing, the horizontally movable molding die 4 also remains in its working position shown in FIG. 3. Shaped webs 5 are provided as counterholders for the back 6c of the horizontally arranged book 6, which ensure the shaping, in particular the rounding, of the book in the desired manner. The surfaces of the shaped webs 5 resting on the book spine 6c can be flat or curved surfaces, depending on how the book 6 is to be shaped.

Each of the form, fold baking and pressing stations 13₁ ... 13 _n is also equipped with a pair of vertically movable baking strips 3 for the crimping. These burn-in strips can be heated in a manner known per se, so that under the influence of pressure and heat the folds 11 can be formed as joints between the book covers of the cover 6a and the book spine 6c.

As can be seen from the above, each individual book 6 passes through a single form, fold baking and pressing station 13, so that the pressing jaws have to be opened and closed only once until the book is finished. In addition, the books are only transported lying down, so that there is no longer any danger of the book block 6b slipping within the cover 6a due to the transport from one station to the next. This means that no rejects are produced from damaged end sheets, as was the case with the known systems and processes in which the books were generally transported on their back.

Another advantage of the device and method according to the invention results from the fact that the books can leave the machine at several exits. This allows e.g. an emergency delivery, for example in the direction of the product stream 22, in the event of faults in downstream machines. Another possibility of delivery is the parallel export in the direction of the partial streams 23 e.g. on an inclined roller conveyor.

Claims (12)

1. A method for molding, fold-in and complete pressing of books or book blocks freshly hung in the covers, in which the books or book blocks in the form of a chain-like product stream continuously a fold-in and press machine with a loading station, a plurality of form, fold-in and press stations, and are fed to an unloading station and leave the fold baking and pressing machine after passing through the individual stations, in which they each linger an adjustable, predetermined time, in the form of such a product stream, characterized in that the from the books (6) or in Blankets (6a) suspended book blocks (6b), the machine continuously supplied product stream (20) within the charging station (30) is divided into a number n of parallel partial streams (20₁ ... 20 _n ) and that the n partial streams continuously correspond to one the number n of parallel arranged molding, folding and pressing stations (13₁ ... 13 _n ) and after passing through the unloading station (40). 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the unloading station (40) supplied partial streams (20₁ ... 20 _n ) within the unloading station (40) either combined into a single product stream (21; 22) leaving the machine or to of which different sub-streams (21, 22, 23) are rearranged. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the unloading station (40) supplied partial streams (20₁ ... 20 _n ) in the form of n unchanged, parallel partial streams (23) are led out of the unloading station (40). 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the books (6) or the book blocks (6b) suspended in ceilings (6a) are conveyed, transported and processed exclusively lying down. 5. folding baking and pressing machine with a loading station, a plurality of form, folding baking and pressing stations and an unloading station and with electronically controlled conveying means for feeding and removing and transporting the books from one station to the next, characterized by a number n of parallel arranged form, fold baking and pressing stations (13₁ ... 13 _n ). 6. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the form, fold baking and pressing stations (13₁ ... 13 _n ) are fixed to the machine frame. 7. Machine according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that each of the form, fold baking and pressing stations (13₁ ... 13 _n ) a horizontally arranged press table (1) and a vertically movable press jaws (2) for full pressing Has a pair of vertically movable burn-in strips (3) for the fold pressing, a horizontally movable molding die (4), at least one molding web (5) designed as a counter-holder for the spine (6c) of the horizontally arranged book (6), and an endless conveyor belt (7), whose strands enclose the press table (1) in such a way that the upper strand rests on the top of the press table (1) and at the same time forms the support for the book (6). 8. Machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the press table (1) is vertically movable. 9. Machine according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the loading station (30) acting in the feed direction of the books (6) and acting at right angles to the feed direction, the transport of the books (6) in the form, fold burn-in and pressing stations (13₁ ... 13 _n ) serving conveying means (8). 10. Machine according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the unloading station (40) for taking over the books (6) from the form, fold baking and pressing stations (13₁ ... 13 _n ) serving in the conveying direction of the Has conveying means (8) acting conveying means (9) and in the outflow direction of the books (6), perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying means (8, 9) acting conveying means. 11. Machine according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the drives of all conveying means are set up so that the conveying direction is reversible in each case. 12. Machine according to one of claims 5 to 11, characterized in that the conveying means are conveyor belts or transport rollers.

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