EP0346579B1 - Device for assembling, collating and inserting printing products - Google Patents

Abstract

Racks (18) are provided on the conveying chain (16) which can be driven in rotation in the direction (F) of the arrow. Arranged on the left and on the right of the conveying chain (16) are guide plates (24, 24') attached to a frame (22). One of these guide plates (24) also forms a part of the one side flank of the V-shaped receiving part (12). Provided in the gap between the bottom end of this guide plate (24) and the short flank (32) of the bent guide plate (34) is the conveying chain (28), which can be driven in rotation in the conveying direction (F), the carrier parts (30), attached to it, projecting into the receiving part (12). At the feed points, printing products (10, 10') for assembly can be placed astride the racks (18) or introduced into the receiving part (12) for insertion or collating. These printing products (10, 10') are then guided either from the racks (14, 20) or the carrier parts (30) to the next feed point in each case or to the downstream removal point. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a device for forming multi-leaf printed product according to the preamble of claim 1.

A device of this type for collecting and gathering printed sheets is known from US Pat. No. 4,118,023. To collect the printed sheets, this has a straight, saddle-shaped support which extends along a processing path and a fixed receptacle connected to it, which also extends over the entire length of the processing path, for collating the printed sheets. The wall of the receptacle adjacent to the support forms a support surface for the printed sheets located in the receptacle. The individual printed sheets are either opened by means of feeders arranged one behind the other along the processing path and placed astride the support or printed products already deposited thereon, or inserted unopened into the receptacle. For the transport of the printed products from one feeder to the next and to a removal point, the saddle-shaped support is slidably mounted and driven to and fro. Carriers acting in the area of the end face are detachably fastened in order to take the printed sheets laid astride the supports when the support moves forward to the next feeder or to a first removal point at the end of the processing path. The triangular carriers are used to transport the printed sheets introduced into the receptacle for collation attached to the support so that their direction of action is reversed. When collating, the drivers push the relevant printing sheets from one feeder to the next or to a second removal point at the other end of the processing path with each backward movement of the support. In order to be able to process printed sheets of different formats, the height of the base of the receptacle can be adjusted to ensure that the catches can each grasp the corresponding printed sheets in their upper end area.

This known device requires considerable retrofitting, adjustment and adjustment work when switching from collecting to collating and vice versa or when changing the format of the printed products to be processed. Furthermore, it is intended and suitable exclusively for collection and collation and requires a separate removal point and different processing directions for each of these processing types.

A device for collecting printed products is known, for example, from US Pat. No. 3,481,594. This has a saddle-shaped support arranged along a processing path, which is formed by two parallel, spaced-apart rails. A rotating driven conveyor chain is guided between the rails, on which protruding drivers are arranged above the rails. A folded printed sheet laid astride the rails at a first feed point is picked up by a driver and conveyed to the next feed point, where a further folded printed sheet is placed on this first printed sheet. These will conveyed together by the carrier either to a next supply point or to a removal point. In print shops or processing companies, such as bookbinders, it is also often the case that printed products have to be collected or inserted into one another. In such companies, both actual collection facilities and actual insertion and collation facilities are required. Often these facilities can only be used temporarily.

Starting from this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to further develop the generic device in such a way that it has an extremely simple structure which requires little or no change-over and adjustment work.

This object is achieved with a device which has the features of claim 1.

With a single device according to the invention, printed products can thus be collected as well as inserted and collected. The receiving parts and pads can be fixed to the device. However, it is also conceivable that the receiving parts and / or the supports can be removed, so that after a short changeover time, printed products can be collected, inserted or brought together with the device.

Further preferred forms of training are specified in the further dependent claims.

• Fig. 1 in perspektivischer Darstellung eine erste Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Einrichtung mit bewegten Auflagen und einem ortsfesten Aufnahmeteil,
• Fig. 2 einen Vertikalschnitt entlang der Linie II-II der Fig. 1,
• Fig. 3 in perspektivischer Darstellung eine zweite Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemässen Einrichtung mit bewegten Auflagen und mit von diesen wegnehmbaren Aufnahmeteilen, und
• Fig. 4 einen Vertikalschnitt entlang der Linie IV-IV der Fig. 3.

The invention will now be described with reference to two examples shown in the drawing. It shows purely schematically:

• 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention with moving supports and a stationary receiving part,
• 2 shows a vertical section along the line II-II of FIG. 1,
• 3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention with moving supports and with receiving parts which can be removed from them, and
• 4 shows a vertical section along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

The embodiment of a device for collecting, collating and inserting printed products 10 partially shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a rectilinear processing path along which a substantially V-shaped receiving part 12 and a plurality of saddle-shaped supports 14 arranged one behind the other and drivable in the conveying direction F are provided are. Each saddle-shaped support 14 consists of a number of identical segments 18 fastened one behind the other to a conveyor chain 16 which can be driven in the direction of conveyance F on the rearmost segment 18 of each support 14. At the beginning and at the end of the processing path, the endless conveyor chain 16 is shown in a not shown, however known manner led around drive and idler sprockets. The segmentation of the supports 14 enables this deflection of the conveyor chain 16. Both sides of the conveyor chain 16 are provided on a frame 22 stationary guide plates 24, 24 ', which are aligned with the obliquely downward, lateral flanks 26 of the segments 18 or covered by them will.

Along the lower end of the guide plate 24 on the left in the direction of conveyance F, a further conveyor chain 28 is provided with driver parts 30 projecting laterally towards the outside. This endless conveyor chain 28 can also be driven circumferentially in the direction of arrow F, and is deflected and driven at the beginning and end of the processing path in the same manner as the conveyor chain 16. The guide plate 24 forms an upper part of the side wall of the receiving part 12 adjacent to the supports 14, the lower part of which is formed by a shorter side flank 32 of a further guide plate 34 which is bent in a V-shape outside the center. The conveyor chain 28 is thus covered by the guide plate 24, and the entraining parts 30 arranged on it protrude through the gap formed by the guide plate 24 and the side flank 32 into the V-shaped receiving part 12. The baffles 24 ', 24 and 34 have in cross-section together with the segments 18 essentially the shape of a lying Z.

The printed products 10, 10 'shown in dash-dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2' are folded printed sheets which are either straddled onto the supports 18 or with their fold 36 towards the bottom in the Receiving part 12 are introduced. Viewed in the direction of arrow F, there is a single printed product 10 on the first edition 18 shown, two on the second edition 18 and three on the third and fourth edition 18. In the left end region of FIG. 1, a printed product 10 'is indicated by dash-dotted lines, which is introduced into the receiving part 12.

The device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 functions as follows: To collect printed products 10, only the conveyor chain 16 with the supports 14 is driven in a rotating manner in the conveying direction F. At a first feed point, which is located at the location of the first support 14 seen in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 1, a first printed product 10 is placed astride this support 18. The trailing edge of this printed product 10 comes into contact with the corresponding driver 20 and is taken in the direction of arrow F to the next feed point, where another printed product 10 is placed astride the first printed product 10 already deposited on the supports 18. The location of this second feed point corresponds to the second support 18 seen in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 1. These two printed products 10, which are now superimposed, are transported to the next feed point, where another printed product 10 is placed. The printed products 10 lying one above the other are conveyed in the direction of the arrow F to a removal point (not shown), where they are removed from the supports 18 together and fed to further processing.

To insert printed products 10, the conveyor chain 16 can be shut down, while the conveyor chain 28 is driven in the direction of arrow F with the entraining parts 30 protruding into the receiving part 12. Now at the first feed point a folded printed product 10 'is inserted with its fold 36 down into the receiving part 12. On the trailing edge of this printed product 10 'now acts in the direction of arrow F driven driving part 30 and conveys it past a well-known opening device, not shown, to the second feed point, where in a known but not shown manner another printed product 10' in the public printed product 10 'is introduced. These are then guided together to the next feed point or to the removal point connected downstream in the direction of arrow F, at which the nested printed products 10 'are removed from the receiving part 12 and fed to further processing. It should be noted that only the first printed product 10 'has to be folded, the further printed products 10' inserted into this can be non-folded.

When collating printed products 10 ', these folded printed products are inserted in the closed state, at the feed points in the receiving part 12 and optionally next to those already in this existing printed products 10 '. In an analogous manner, as described further above, the printing products 10 'lying next to one another in this way are conveyed by the entrainment parts 30 along the processing path to the removal point.

The embodiment of the device for collecting, collating and inserting printed products 10, 10 'shown in FIGS. 3 and 4' has an endless conveyor chain 40 which is guided along the processing path and can be driven circumferentially in the direction of arrow F, on which one behind the other, with its longitudinal extension in the direction the conveyor chain 40 aligned, saddle-shaped supports 42 are attached. A stationary guide plate 44 is provided on the right-hand side of the conveyor chain 40 in the direction of the arrow F, the upper edge of which is covered by the supports 42 (see in particular FIG. 4). On each support 42, a substantially V-shaped receiving part 46 is arranged on the left side hanging. These receiving parts 46 consist of rectangular sheets bent outside the center in a V-shape, the longer side flank 48 in each case having an oppositely curved, hook-shaped shape in its end region remote from the bend, by means of which the receiving parts 46 are hung on the respective supports 42 . Between the two side flanks 48, 48 'is seen at the trailing end in the direction of arrow F, a driving part 50 for the introduced into the receiving parts 46 printed products 10'. The hanging receiving parts 46 are supported in the lower end region by a guide rail 54 which is arranged in a fixed manner on a frame 52 and acts on the longer side flank 48. The longer side flank 48 also has, at the upper, trailing end region, a further driver 56, which protrudes from the supports 42, for the printed sheets 10 deposited astride.

The guide plate 44 thus has, together with the receiving parts 46, a cross section similar to a lying Z, in which case the printed products 10 are deposited on the side flanks 48 bent in the upper end region when collecting. These thus form the saddle-shaped supports for the printed products 10. The first two receiving parts 46 in FIG. 3, seen in the conveying direction F, correspond to the locations of two feed points, at each of which, when collecting printed products 10, they are placed astride the supports or when inserting or collecting printed products 10 ', these are inserted into the receiving parts 46.

The device shown in Figures 3 and 4 for collecting, collating and inserting printed products 10, 10 'works as follows. When collecting printed products 10, a printed product 10 is straddled at the first feed point on the support formed by the side flank 48, the trailing edge of this printed product 10 coming into contact with the driver 56. This printed product 10 is taken in the direction of arrow F to the next feed point, where another printed product 10 is placed thereon in the same manner. The two printed products 10 lying one above the other in this way are fed in the direction of arrow F to a further feed point or to the removal point connected downstream thereof. When inserting Printed products 10 'a first, folded printed product 10' is inserted at the first feed point with its fold 36 in front into a receiving part 46. This printed product 10 'is taken along in the direction of arrow F, the driving part 50 ensuring that it cannot slide out of the receiving part 46. At the next feed point, another printed product 10 'is now introduced into this first, by means of a generally known, but not shown, opening device opened print product 10', which are then conveyed together in the direction of arrow F to the next feed point or to the removal point connected downstream. When collating printed products 10 ', they are deposited at the feed points in the receiving parts 46 next to the already introduced printed products 10'.

If printed products 10 are only to be collected with the device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, this can be done as described above. However, it is also possible for the receiving parts 46 to be removed from the supports 42, so that the printed products 10 now to be collected are placed astride the supports 42 fastened to the conveyor chain 40. If printed products 10 are then to be collected or inserted later, the receiving parts 46 can be attached to the supports 42 again.

It is also conceivable that a single support and a single receiving part are arranged in a stationary manner and preferably a single conveyor chain is provided with drivers which act on the printed products placed on the support or introduced into the receiving part and these on the support or in the receiving part take it with you.

It is also conceivable that the receiving part form a self-contained channel or the support form a self-contained saddle-shaped guide and that the endless conveyor chains with the drivers or driving parts are driven in rotation along this channel or the guide. Such training has the advantage that the same printed products 10, 10 'can go through the same processing path several times, for example to collect, collect or insert several identical printed products 10, 10'. Of course, only a single conveyor chain with carriers can also be provided, the carriers acting on all printed products 10, 10 '.

However, it is also possible for a single receiving part and a single support to be provided, which can be transported along the processing path by means of a drive arrangement. If the receiving part and the support extend along a horizontal, circular path, they are driven around a central, vertical axis and the printed products 10, 10 'are placed on the support provided on the periphery of this circular arrangement on the support or introduced into the recording part and taken from them to the next feed point or to the removal point.

It is also conceivable that, for example, the supports arranged on a conveyor chain can be removed and receiving parts can be attached to the conveyor chain in their place. In any case, it is possible with all of the embodiments shown, if necessary after retrofitting the facility, to collect, insert or collect printed products 10, 10 '.

For the sake of completeness, it should also be mentioned that known feeders for feeding the printed products 10, 10 'can be provided at the feed points. However, it is also conceivable that the printed products 10, 10 'are transported to the feed points by means of conveyors.

Furthermore, a single stationary support can be provided, which runs along the preferably straight processing path. A pulling element acts on supports that can be moved along the processing path or on the printed products placed on the supports. The tension member and the receiving parts are preferably returned on a return path, separate from the processing path, from the end of the processing path to the beginning thereof.

Claims (11)

1. Apparatus for forming multisheet printed products by placing folded printed sheets into each other or next to each other, with a ridge-shaped support (14) astride which printed sheets (10) can be deposited at, at least, two interspaced feeding stations, and with a pocket-shaped receptacle (12, 46) following the support, into which receptacle the printed sheets (10′) can be inserted at the feeding stations, and whose side (24, 48) adjoining the support forms a supporting surface for the printed sheets (10′) situated in the receptacle (12, 46), as well as with dogs (30, 50) operating in the zone of the supporting surface for displacing the printed sheets (10′) to a removal station, characterized in that the dogs (30, 50) are driven in circulation, a section of their circulation path extending in the zone of the pocket bottom, and that provision is made for a further circulation path for dogs (20, 56), a section of which extends in the zone of the support (14).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that provision is made for holding arrangements (22, 42) from which the support and/or the receptacle (12, 46) can be removed.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that provision is made for a single support and a single receptacle (12) which are fixed in position and extend over the whole processing path and that the dogs are arranged on at least one pull member.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a pull member (16, 40) carried along the processing path and driven in circulation, whereon there are arranged successively several supports (18, 42) with the respective dogs (20).
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that provision is made for a single receptacle (12) extending along the processing path, and that the dogs (30) assigned thereto are arranged on a further pull member (28).
6. Apparatus according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the single receptacle or the single support determines a processing path that is closed in itself.
7. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized by several receptacles (46) provided with dogs (50) in the zone of the pocket bottom, which receptacles are detachably arranged on the supports (42) for the assembly and insertion of printed products (10′).
8. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that provision is made for a single receptacle and a single support with dogs arranged thereon and that a drive arrangement drives the receptacle and the support in circulation.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the support and the receptacle extend along a substantially horizontal, closed and circular path, that dogs are rigidly arranged on the support and in the zone of the pocket bottom on the receptacle, that the support and the receptacle can be driven in rotation round a central, at least virtually vertical axis, and that the feeding stations and removal station that are fixed in position are provided in the zone of the circumference of the circular path.
10. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that provision is made for a single support fixed in position and extending over a preferably substantially straight processing path, and that the dogs arranged on a pull member can be brought to act on the printed products (10) deposited on the support and on the receptacles with dogs provided in the zone of their pocket bottom, which receptacles are displaceable along the processing path.
11. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, 7 or 10, characterized in that provision is made for a straight processing path and that the dogs and, if applicable, the support and/or the receptacle are carried along a return path from the end of the processing path to its start.

Images