EP0344102B1 - Device for assembling printed products - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for inserting printed products, in particular newspaper forms or third-party inserts, into a main product and an inserting system according to claims 1, 5 and 10.

If one compares the processing speeds of conventional inserting devices with those of conventional newspaper printing presses, which today have an output of approx. 70,000 and more newspapers per hour, it becomes clear that the latter speeds are far from being achieved. In order to be able to utilize this great performance of the printing presses when inserting the individual printed product units, it is necessary that the inserting system has a correspondingly high processing speed. Achieving such a high speed is made difficult by the fact that the size of the print products required today is very large, for example 200 or more pages, and that a single insertion process requires a minimal processing time.

Conventional inserting devices achieve maximum processing speeds in the order of ten to a maximum of forty thousand printed products per hour. Attempts have been made to increase the operating speed and adaptability of such systems, but these known solutions have other disadvantages which limit their practical use.

From CH-PS 659 642 a device for collating newspapers is known, which is constructed according to the carousel principle. This device has a rotating platform with receiving compartments and a plurality of stationary feed stations arranged in a circle, in each case a number n (n: usually = 2) feed stations are loaded with cover sheets and n feed stations with insert sheets. Each station therefore only has to load every nth, ie every second, receiving compartments, so that the rotating platform can rotate faster than with corresponding carousel principle devices. In principle, however, such devices with a rotating platform or similar circulation systems have the disadvantage that the feed channels to the feeding stations lead radially away from the rotating platform and the entire system takes up a great deal of space. In addition, only a limited number of receiving compartments can be arranged along the circumference of the revolving stage, so that the number of printed product units which can simultaneously be inserted into the cover sheet or newspaper jacket is limited to a few units. As can be seen from the patent mentioned, a cover sheet and 6 insert sheets can be combined at a processing speed of 40,000 pieces per hour and only a cover sheet and 2 insert sheets can be combined at a speed of 80,000 pieces. The processing speed is understood to be related to the end product, ie 40,000 complete end products with inserted inserts are produced at the exit per hour. This shows that with such devices the higher processing speed is actually at a cost the number of pluggable units. Such a device is therefore only suitable for printed products with a limited scope and, especially because of the large space requirement, only for special applications.

Of course, attempts have also been made to arrange several plug-in devices functionally parallel to one another, but in addition to the additional space requirement, this leads to a considerably greater mechanical outlay and thus to high costs.

The processing of printed products by means of a cellular wheel (insertion drum), namely the insertion of inserts into folded printed products, or the merging of partial products into a complete product, is - for example from CH-PS 584 153, CH-PS 649 267 and CH- PS 575 303 - previously known. In addition to the limited output of printed products, these devices can only be used to a limited extent for bringing together extensive end products. In order to increase the processing speed of the device, it is proposed in CH-PS 649 267 that two printed products pass through the processing path together. Obviously, this measure increases the speed of the insertion process, but additional elements and facilities are necessary to ensure a reliable insertion. In addition, there are only limited possibilities for inserting a plurality of inserts or printed product units, in particular if different insert combinations are to be achieved. In this device too, the scope of the end product is limited to a relatively small number of pages.

It is an object of the invention to provide a plug-in system that has a high processing speed with a relatively low Requires space, can accommodate extensive print products, allows great flexibility in plug-in options and combinations and can be integrated into an automatic production process in the sense of a modular subsystem.

This object is achieved by the features mentioned in the characterizing parts of claims 1, 5 and 10.

Fig. 1

zeigt schematisch eine Druckerei-Anlage mit einem erfindungsgemässen Einstecksystem

Fig. 2

zeigt eine vereinfachte perspektivische Darstellung einer Einstecktrommel des erfindungsgemässen Einstecksystems

Fig. 3

zeigt ein Prinzipschema des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens

Fig. 4

zeigt das Ausführungsbeispiel gemäss Figur 1 in einer anderen Betriebsart

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the following figures.

Fig. 1

shows schematically a printing plant with an inventive plug-in system

Fig. 2

shows a simplified perspective view of a insertion drum of the insertion system according to the invention

Fig. 3

shows a schematic diagram of the inventive method

Fig. 4

shows the embodiment of Figure 1 in a different mode

The invention aims to provide a plug-in system that can be integrated into an automatic production process in the sense of a modular subsystem. It should be taken into account that in the manufacture of printed products, in many cases, continuous processes run at very high process speeds, which optimally should at least approach the processing speed of the printing press. In other words, parts of a printed product, for example the cover (front page) of a newspaper, should be possible directly from the rotary press merge with forms, the insertion of the forms should take place at the same processing speed as that of the printing press. Despite the high speed required, the insertion process should be flexible. For example, it should be possible to put together an end product that contains different parts, for example different regional parts.

The insertion system is particularly suitable for inserting at least one, but usually a plurality, of preliminary products into a folded main product. In this context, the term “main product” is to be understood to mean all folded printing products which are intended to form the cover of the end product to a certain extent. For newspapers, for example, this is the current part, printed chronologically immediately before the issue, or for catalogs or brochures, the first and last sheets. On the other hand, the term "preliminary product" should be understood to mean all products which are intended to be inserted into the main product or into preliminary products already introduced into it. Such preliminary products naturally include printed products, but also sheet-like inserts of all kinds. The main product combined with the preliminary product or with several different preliminary products thus forms the end product.

According to the invention, the inserting system is to be designed in such a way that printed product parts can be fed from a plurality of conveyor lines at high speed, which parts can then be combined in a flexible manner by the system, the processing capacity being so small in a small space requirement that even very much extensive end products can be put together. The idea of the invention is based on the core of the Insert system to use an insertion drum with an increased number of feed sections in the axial direction compared to conventional cellular wheels, in particular with at least two feed sections for the main products. In addition, control and conveying means are provided which selectively bring together or insert the printed product parts fed to the individual feed sections and feed them to the outlet of the inserting system via a distribution device.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a possible arrangement of a known buffer arrangement 9 and a plurality of winding stations 8. A rotary press, not shown in this figure, is connected upstream of the buffer arrangement 9. The winding stations 8 and the buffer arrangement 9 each have an output-side conveyor device 7, which can be configured in a known manner, for example as a conveyor belt or conveyor conveyor, and are connected to the plug-in system 10 via this. The essentially three-part plug-in system contains an input-side feed device 17, a plug-in drum 11 and an output-side distribution device 18. The plug-in drum 11 has a motor-operated drive 15 shown schematically here, feed sections 13 and two removal sections 14a, 14b.

In this exemplary embodiment, the feed device is of a very simple design and connects the conveyor devices 7 of the winding stations 8 to the feed sections 13 via conveyor sections 4 (FIG. 3). Only the conveyor device 7 of the buffer arrangement is branched and connected to two different feed sections 13. The feed device 17 thus has eight feeds 31a, 31b, 32-37 to the insertion drum.

The feeds 31-37 to the insertion drum 11 are preferably provided parallel to one another, perpendicular to the axis thereof, so that the conveyor sections 4 (FIG. 3) or conveyor devices 7 can be arranged to save space. The plug-in system 10 can easily be used in existing systems, since the flexible inlet-side feed concept offers a problem-free interface. If, for example, there is a direct feed from the rotary press, this is divided, for example, on the input side into two feed sections 31a, 31b, so that each feed section only has to accommodate half of the supplied product parts.

In the example according to FIG. 1, the outlet-side distribution device also consists of a relatively simple arrangement with eight removal stations 6. The removal sections 14a, 14b of the insertion drum are each connected to these removal stations via two conveyor lines 5. Each of these conveyor lines 5 is connected to the removal stations via a switch 61. The respectively desired positions of the switches 61 can be specified or can also be changed during the process - for example in the event of a failure of one of the removal stations 6.

The feed 17 and distribution device 18 are understood here as a simple arrangement, because in this exemplary embodiment they only have fixed connections or few switching options. As will be shown below, these devices 17 and 18 preferably have additional switches and adjustment options that allow different connection options and thus allow the system to be used in a flexible manner.

The cover part of a newspaper is usually printed in order to keep the front page as up-to-date as possible, shortly before the newspaper is finally collated. In the system according to FIG. 1, for example, the freshly printed envelope parts are fed to the buffer arrangement 9 via the conveyor device 7 at a speed of 80,000 units per hour. Because of the known framework conditions during insertion (limited peripheral speed of the insertion drum, necessary operating time during insertion), the product flow is divided in the feed device and two different input sections 12a, 12b (FIG. 3) are fed to the insertion drum. This means that only 40,000 units per hour are generated per input section. The preliminary products are fed from the winding stations 8 via the feeds 32-37 at a corresponding speed. For better comprehensibility, the term "input sections" is used in connection with the feeds for the cover parts . It is easy to see that there is basically no difference between the input sections for the envelope parts and the feed sections for the preliminary products. Therefore, preliminary products can be fed in as well via the input sections 12a, 12b and inserted in a subsequent feed section into the envelope part supplied there.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the insertion drum 11 with two input sections 12a, 12b, four feed sections 13 and two removal sections 14a, 14b. The rotation of the insertion drum 11 is effected by the drive 15. The feeds 31-35 and the conveyor lines 5 are designed here as conveyor belts. Of course, clamp transporters or other devices can also be used accordingly. Further details on the mode of operation and the structure of a plug-in drum can be found, for example, in CH-PS 649267, to which reference is made in full here. As can be seen from the illustration, main products can be fed simultaneously via the feeders 31a and 31b (same or different). Pre-products can be inserted via feeds 32 and 33 into the main products fed via feed 31a and in a corresponding manner via feeds 34 and 35 pre-products into main products fed via feed 31b. In another operating mode, it is possible to leave the first removal section 5 passive, in other words, no end products are removed there. The main products with two pre-products already inserted from the feed lines 32 and 33 are carried out without any change through this removal section, and further pre-products can subsequently be inserted via the feed lines 31 b, 34 and 35. It is obvious that for this mode of operation the second input section 31b must be configured in the same way as the feed sections 32-35. This makes it possible to insert five preliminary products into one main product with the same device and to discharge the end product via the second, active removal section 11.

FIG. 3 shows a basic diagram of the insertion system, which shows the flexibility of the system in an impressive manner and explains the method according to the invention. It should be noted that this scheme does not reflect a spatial arrangement of the device elements and in turn only covers an exemplary variant. Three areas of the insertion system can be seen, namely the feed device 17, the insertion drum 11 and the distribution device 18. A plurality of conveyors 21-28 for feeding the printed product parts, ie the main products (cover parts) and preliminary products, are connected to the feed device 17. The feed device 17 forms the interface to the insertion drum 11 and enables an optional connection between the conveying devices 21-28 and the feeds 31a, 31b, 32-37 to the insertion drum 11 already explained above.

The feed device can either contain fixed conveyor sections 4 between the conveyor devices 21-28 and the feeders 31-37 or, as shown in FIG. 3, preferably have switchable connections 50 - only three of these connections are designated - in the conveyor sections 4 within the feed device . The main product is fed, for example, via the conveyor device 21, which has a non-switchable branch 40 and is connected to two separate feeders 31a and 31b. It is of course possible to provide further branches within the feed device 17, which make it possible to divide the product flow fed via a conveyor device 21-28 and to feed two or more separate feeds 31-37. A possible branching path 49 between the two conveying devices 24 and 28 is shown for illustration. The product flow of the conveyor device 24 and / or the conveyor device 28 can be divided by means of this branching section.

In the example shown, the feeders 31-37 are connected to the conveying devices 21-28 via the connections denoted by the reference numbers 51-56 and marked with a circle. These switchable connections 50-56 make it possible to selectively establish connections between the conveying devices 21-28 and the feeders 31-37 and thus to influence the arrangement of the inserted printed product parts. For the sake of explanation, it is assumed that a handling part U is fed via the conveyor line 21 and intermediate products AC are fed via the conveyor devices 22-24 and 26-28. For example, the printed product parts fed via the feeders 31-37 in the insertion drum 11 one after the other inserted into the envelope part U, the individual parts are arranged in the sequence ABC in the end product, which is discharged via the first removal section 14a, but in the sequence CBA in the second removal section 14b. In other words, it is possible to obtain any permutations of the supplied printed product parts by switching the connections 50-56, the desired arrangement being achieved by specifically switching the connections 50-56. The feed device according to the invention even enables the connections to be changed during the insertion process, so that different end products can be put together in the same system without changing the windings in the winding stations. The more flexible the possibilities with the conveying devices 21-28, ie if it is possible to feed printed product parts to an optional conveying device in a simple manner, the less flexibility is required with the feeding device 17. If the permutation of the printed product parts is already correct on the input side, for example, instead of switchable connections, fixed conveyor lines could be provided between the conveyor devices 21-28 and the feed sections 31-37.

By appropriately branching a plurality of conveyor sections 4, it is possible to bring together both the handling part and various intermediate products at a high speed. It is possible to design the turnouts 50-56 in such a way that the necessary branches can also be reached with them.

The distribution device contains conveyor lines 5, via which the end products are removed from the removal sections 14a, 14b. These conveyor lines preferably have a plurality of switches 60 (only three of which are numbered in the figure), via which connections to one or more removal stations 6 can optionally be established. The removal stations are preferred formed such that they can be connected to two or more removal sections 14 at the same time, so that the end products from these sections can be discharged via the same removal station 6. Of course, fixed branches can also be provided in these conveyor sections 5.

FIG. 4 shows the plug-in system according to FIG. 1 in a further operating mode. The reference numbers have been adopted, so that reference can be made to the corresponding embodiment in FIG. 1. As can be seen from FIG. 4, here the feed 31b, which is basically intended for the feed of main products, is free or can be connected to winding stations in order to feed preliminary products therefrom. The main products are brought in via the feed 31a and up to seven preliminary products can be plugged in via the feeds 32-37 and possibly 31b in this operating mode. The removal section 14a is passive and the end products are only removed from the second removal section 14b and fed to the removal stations 6 via the conveyor path 5.

There are preferably as many removal sections 14a, 14b for the end products as input sections 12a, 12b. In what is probably the most common use, identical main products are fed in via the input sections and the corresponding end products with inserted preliminary products are removed from the “associated” removal sections. In special applications, however, the respective number of input and removal sections can also differ.

The term "inserting" used in the context of the present patent specification is understood in its broadest sense. In particular, design variants should also be included in which the printed product parts are only brought together, for example one on top of the other, and only then - if necessary in an additional work step - are inserted into an envelope part. For example, in the embodiment variant according to FIG. 1, a plurality of forms, fed via the feeds 31-33, can first be inserted into one another or placed one above the other and introduced into an envelope part conveyed via the feed 34.

For very large systems, there is the option of expanding the insert drum even further, or of feeding printed products to the system from more than one printing press at the same time.

Claims (13)

1. Apparatus for bringing together at least two printing product parts, with a revolving bucket wheel (11) having an infeed portion (12a) for the cover part (U) and supply portions (13) for the printing preproducts (A,B,C), as well as a conveying mechanism for conveying the printing product parts along a processing path and at least one device for opening the printing product parts during their conveying, characterized in that the bucket wheel is constructed as an inserting drum (11) with a plurality of supply portions (13) and at least one second infeed portion (12b) for the cover part (U), which is axially displaced with respect to the first infeed portion (12a).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that there is at least one supply portion (13) for the printing preproducts between each infeed portion (12a,12b) for the cover parts.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the inserting drum (11) has at least two removal portions (14a,14b) for the end product.
4. Apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that per infeed portion (12a,12b) for the cover parts there is an equally large number of supply portions (13).
5. Apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, based on the axial conveying direction of the printing products, a removal portion (14a,14b) is provided upstream of each of the additional infeed portions (12b).
6. Inserting system with an apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the inserting system contains a supply mechanism (17) with branches (40) and/or switchable points or deflectors (50-56) and a distributing mechanism (18) with branched and/or switchable conveying sections (5), as well as removal stations (6).
7. Inserting system according to claim 6, characterized in that the supply means for the main products has at least one branch in the supply mechanism (17) and is connected to at least two infeed portions (12a,12b).
8. Inserting system according to one of the claims 6 or 7, characterized in that at least one conveying portion (4) for the preproducts and/or the main products in each case contains at least one points (50-58) by means of which the supply means (31-37) of the conveying means can be connected, as required, with one of the supply portions of the inserting drum (11).
9. Inserting system according to one of the claims 6 to 8, characterized in that at least one conveying section (5) of the distributing mechanism contains at least one points (60) by means of which the conveying section can be connected, as required, with removal stations (6).
10. Inserting system according to one of the claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the supply means (31-37) and the conveying portions of the supply mechanism (17) are oriented at least approximately parallel to one another.
11. Method for inserting a plurality of printing preproducts in a cover part using an inserting system according to claim 6, characterized by the following method steps:

    a) The conveying mechanisms (21-28) used for the conveying of the cover parts or the preproducts are connectable as required by means of the points (50-56) and/or the branches (40) with in each case at least one supply means (31-37),

    b) By means of the conveying mechanisms (21-28) the supply mechanism (17) is provided with printing product parts and corresponding to the positions of the points passed onto the supply portions (31-37),

    c) The end products formed from the brought together printing product parts are removed from the removal portions (14a, 14b),

    d) As required the points (60) of the distributing mechanism (18) are set and the end products are supplied to the removal stations (6).
12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that during the supply of the printing product parts by means of the conveying mechanisms (7), the points (50-56) of the supply mechanism (17) and/or the distributing mechanism (18) are set and the conveying mechanisms are connected, as required, to the supply means (31-37) or the removal stations (6).
13. Method according to one of the claims 11 or 12, characterized in that printing preproducts are supplied by means of at least the second or one of the further infeed portions (12b) and the preceding removal portions (14a) with respect to the axial conveying direction of the printing products are inactive.

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