EP0434987B1 - Folding apparatus with belt speed control - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a new and improved sheet material processing apparatus in which the transport speed of a plurality of tapes is coordinated to prevent the sheet material from being accidentally deformed.

A sheet material folder is disclosed in currently pending EP-A-0415 077, filed under the title "Folder". The subject of this patent application is a folder, which can be operated to form several folds in sheet material at a relatively high speed. The folds are formed in a series of folding devices through which the sheet material moves continuously at a relatively high speed. The folded sheet material is stacked on edge in a stacking device.

One of the folding devices comprises a tapered arrangement of belts, from which the sheet material to be folded is moved into the folder and is thereby gripped by a pair of creased belts. The creasing tapes grip the opposite sides of the sheet material and move it out of the folding device.

DE-A-26 09 952, which corresponds to the preamble of claim 1, shows a folding device with the following features. The folding device has a first endless belt with an exposed side lying against the material, on which a groove or emergency of substantial depth is provided. A narrow second endless band is equipped with an exposed permanent longitudinal rib. Means are provided here with which the tapes share are movably mounted so that parts of the exposed band sides lie against one another in the longitudinal extent to the left of a linerar fold web, the rib of the second band penetrating into the groove or groove of the first band, with the result that the opposite sides of the material on the opposite sides of the narrow second volume can be folded together.

DE-A-23 30 513 shows a device for longitudinally folding sheets of paper, with which an increase in the folding speed is made possible. In addition, the sheets to be folded are held in a non-displaceable manner during the folding process, as a result of which the folding line comes to lie at the desired location. This in turn has the consequence that the parts of the sheets to be folded which are produced by the folding process lie precisely on one another.

During the operation of the folding device disclosed in EP-A-0415 077, the speed of movement of the sheet material must be precisely coordinated by the tapered arrangement of belts and by the creasing belts so that it can be gripped by the creasing belts while it is being tied by the tapered arrangement of belts is moved. If the sheet material has been gripped by the creases, the The running speed of the upper and lower creasing belt must be precisely coordinated to prevent unintentional deformation of the sheet material. If one of the creasing belts moves faster than the other, then one side of the sheet material is pulled forward with respect to the other side.

There are difficulties in coordinating the running speed of the creasing belts. The reason is that the effective pitch circle diameter of the guide rollers that support and drive the creasing tapes varies during the operation of the folder. This variation in the effective pitch circle diameter of the creasing belt guide rollers is based on various factors and includes: (1) the V-shaped structure of the mating surfaces of the caster rollers and the creasing belts and (2) differences in the cross-sectional dimension of the creasing belts along their length.

The creased guide rollers are of the well known V-type. A small change in the distance between the side surfaces of a creasing belt in contact with a guide roller results in a larger change in the rolling circle diameter of the guide roller. So if the distance between the side surfaces of a creasing tape decreases slightly, the creasing tape will move a longer distance inward on the axis of rotation of the guide roller with which it is in contact. Likewise, if the distance between the side surfaces of the creasing belt increases, it will move a longer distance outward away from the axis of rotation of the guide roller. Thus, any interaction in the cross-sectional dimension of the creasing tapes can effectively increase due to the interaction of the creasing tapes with the guide rollers.

The creasing tapes can be manufactured commercially in an extrusion process. When extruding a creasing tape it is very difficult to adhere to the small tolerances for the cross-sectional dimension of the creasing tape. Therefore, the cross-sectional dimension of the creasing tape in its original shape varies along its length. In use, the creasing tape will tend to stretch due to the stresses and centrifugal effects thereon. Of course, stretching will change the cross-sectional dimension of the creasing tape.

These and other factors make it very difficult to keep an effective rolling circle diameter of the guide rollers around which the creasing belts extend during the running of the belts. It is obvious that if the effective rolling circle diameter of the guide rollers in contact with the moving creasing belts varies, the running speed of the creasing belts also varies. If the creasing belt speeds vary, one of the belts will run farther than the other. In a test, one of a pair of creasing belts ran 3.18 cm further than the other at a running distance of 1.22 m. Then, when the creasing tapes, which detect the signatures on the opposite sides, have run through different distances, the signatures will have been deformed by them.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a new and improved sheet material processing apparatus with controls, with which the running speed of the tapes in the apparatus is precisely regulated. If the sheet material processing apparatus is a folder, the sheet material can be moved from a first arrangement of belts along a track between a pair of deflectors. A second arrangement of belts grips the sheet material as it is moved by the first belt arrangement and sets the transport of the sheet material along the deflectors. Signal generators give speed signals corresponding to the running speeds of the first and second arrangement of belts. A controller compares the speed signals and operates a belt drive to change the running speed of at least one belt in one of the belt arrangements in response to a change in the relationship between the speed signals.

In a specific sheet material processing apparatus, the first tape arrangement includes a plurality of tapes which capture sheet material on both sides of a fold line. In this apparatus, the second ribbon assembly includes a pair of creases that are aligned with a fold line and capture the sheet material on both sides of the fold line. The running speed of the belts and creasing belts is compared. The running speed of the creasing belts is varied during the operation of the apparatus in order to keep them level with the belts. If the sheet material has been deformed before entering the folder, e.g. in a previous folding device, the creasing belts can be driven at slightly different speeds in order to correct the deformation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved sheet material processing apparatus having a plurality of belts and a controller which compares belt speed signals and causes belt drive in response to a change in the ratio between the belt speed signals to increase the running speed of at least one of the belts vary.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved sheet material processing apparatus wherein the effective pitch circle diameters of the guide rollers for a pair of belts vary with the movement of the belts, and wherein a controller can be operated to maintain a desired relationship between the belt travel speeds. although the effective pitch circle diameter of the guide rollers varies.

Fig. 1

ist ein schematisierter Seitenaufriß eines entsprechend der vorliegenden Erfindung gebauten Bogenmaterialbearbeitungsapparats;

Fig. 2

ist eine vergrößerte schematische Darstellung einer Falzeinrichtung als ein Teil des Apparats in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

ist eine Draufsicht, generell entlang der Linie 3-3 der Fig. 2, welche das Verhältnis zwischen einem Paar von in der Länge sich erstreckenden Auslenkern darstellt, welche die gegenüberliegenden Seiten von Bogenmaterial erfassen, das von einer verjüngten Anordnung von Bändern und/oder einem Paar Rillbänder bewegt wird;

Fig. 4

ist eine Teilansicht, generell entlang der Linie 4-4 in Fig. 3, welche das Verhältnis zwischen den in der Länge sich erstreckenden Auslenkern, die Bänder der verjüngten Anordnung von Bändern und das Paar Rillbänder weiter darstellt.

Fig. 5

ist eine vergrößerte Querschnittsansicht eines Rillbandes;

Fig. 6

ist eine vergrößerte Darstellung der Art und Weise des Zusammenwirkens eines Paares Geschwindigkeits-Signalgeber mit den Rillbändern, um Outputsignale zu erzeugen, welche die Geschwindigkeit der Rillbänder darstellen;

Fig. 7

ist eine schematische Darstellung des Verhältnisses zwischen den Geschwindigkeitssignalgebern in Fig. 6, einem Signalgeber zum Erzeugen eines Signals in Entsprechung der Laufgeschwindigkeit der verjüngten Anordnung von Bändern und Steuerungen zum Variieren der Laufgeschwindigkeit der Rillbänder

Fig. 8

ist eine vergrößerte schematische Darstellung von der Art und Weise, wie ein Paar Rillbänder, welche sich mit gleicher Geschwindigkeit bewegen, gefalztes Bogenmaterial erfassen und transportieren, ohne es zu verformen;

Fig. 9

ist eine schematische Darstellung, ähnlich der in Fig. 8, welche aufzeigt, in welcher Art und Weise Bogenmaterial vor dessen Kontakt mit den Rillbändern verformt worden sein könnte;

Fig. 10

ist eine schematische Darstellung, ähnlich der in Fig. 9, welche aufzeigt, wie in anderer Weise Bogenmaterial vor dem Kontakt mit den Rillbändern verformt worden sein könnte;

Fig. 11

ist eine schematische Darstellung, ähnlich der in Fig. 7, welche eine zweite Ausführung des Bandgeschwindigkeitssteuergerätes darstellt.

The foregoing and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a schematic side elevation of a sheet material processing apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2

Fig. 3 is an enlarged schematic illustration of a folder as part of the apparatus in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

FIG. 2 is a top view, generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, illustrating the relationship between a pair of longitudinally extending deflectors that engage the opposite sides of sheet material from a tapered array of ribbons and / or one Pair of creases is moved;

Fig. 4

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, generally along line 4-4 in Fig. 3, further illustrating the relationship between the lengthwise deflectors, the tapes of the tapered array of tapes, and the pair of creasing tapes.

Fig. 5

is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a creasing tape;

Fig. 6

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the manner in which a pair of speed transducers interact with the creasing belts to produce output signals representative of the speed of the creasing belts;

Fig. 7

Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of the relationship between the speed signal generators in Fig. 6, a signal generator for generating a signal corresponding to the running speed of the tapered array of belts, and controls for varying the running speed of the creasing belts

Fig. 8

Fig. 3 is an enlarged schematic illustration of the manner in which a pair of creasing belts moving at the same speed grasp and transport folded sheet material without deforming it;

Fig. 9

Figure 8 is a schematic illustration, similar to that of Figure 8, showing the manner in which sheet material could have been deformed prior to its contact with the creasing belts;

Fig. 10

Figure 9 is a schematic illustration, similar to that of Figure 9, showing how sheet material could have been otherwise deformed prior to contact with the creasing tapes;

Fig. 11

Fig. 7 is a schematic illustration, similar to that of Fig. 7, showing a second embodiment of the tape speed controller.

Description of the preferred embodiment of the invention folder

Although the present invention can be used in many different types of apparatus in which sheet material is processed, it is described herein in connection with a folder 20. The folder 20 (FIG. 1) comprises a first folder 22 in which a longitudinal fold is formed in a web 24. A cutting cylinder 26 cooperates with a folding knife cylinder 28 to cut the folded web into a plurality of sheet material segments or signatures 30 (Fig. 8). A folding device 32 comprises, in addition to the folding knife cylinder 28, a gripper flap or second folding jaw cylinder 34 (FIG. 1). The second jaw cylinder 34 cooperates with the folder knife cylinder 28 to form a seam 36 (FIG. 8).

Depending on the position of a deflecting switch 46, the signatures 30 can be conveyed from the folding device 32 either into a shingle stream delivery transport 40 or into a third folding device 44. In the one position which the deflection switch 46 occupies, the signatures 30 are guided into a paddle wheel delivery 48. The paddle wheel 48 lays out the double-folded signatures 30 in a stream of shingles on a conveyor belt 54.

For the renewed folding of the signature 30, the deflection 46 is set so that the signature 30 is passed into the third folding device 44. In the third folding device 44, the signature 30 is deflected upward from a horizontal plane and folded along the line running perpendicular to the fold 36. The signature 30 is then conveyed from the third folding device 44 to a delivery or creasing roller device 58, in which it is pressed in order to finally set the folds in the signature. The folded signatures are from the Creasing roller device 58 is conveyed into a stacking device 60, in which they are stacked in an up-to-edge orientation.

First and second folding devices

The first folding device 22 folds the web 24. Thus, while the web 24 moves over a former 62 of a known construction, a fold is formed in this in a known manner. The folded web 24 runs into the nip between a pair of pinch rollers or gripper rollers 68 and 70 which set the fold. The folded web 24 then runs into the nip between a pair of transverse perforating rollers 72 and 74, through which perforations are formed at intervals of time across the web and perpendicular to the fold. Through these perforations, air escapes from the web and makes it more flexible for the subsequent formation of a fold 36 on the perforations.

After the web 24 has left the gap between the perforating rollers 72 and 74, it runs into the gap between a pair of creasing rollers 76 and 78. Then the web runs into the gap between the cutting cylinder 26 and the folding knife cylinder 28. The cutting cylinder 26 has a pair Cutting elements that cut the web 24 twice with each revolution of the cutting cylinder 26. The cutting cylinder 26 cooperates with the folding knife cylinder 28 in order to cut the web in length centrally between the transverse perforations formed by the perforating rollers 72 and 74 for the formation of the signatures 30. At this point in time, the signature formed by the interaction of the cutting cylinder 26 with the folding knife cylinder 28 has only one fold, namely the fold formed in the first folding device 22.

The folding knife cylinder 28 has puncturing ends which grasp the front end part of the web 24 before this of the Cutting cylinder 26 is cut. Cutting bars are mounted on the folding knife cylinder 28, which cooperate with the knives on the cutting cylinder 26 to cut the web after the tip end portion thereof has been gripped by the pin needles on the folding knife cylinder.

The folding knife cylinder 28 interacts with a folding jaw cylinder 34 to form the second fold 36. There is a fold across the signature 30, i.e. formed at right angles to the transport direction of the signature around the folding knife cylinder 28. The second fold 36 is formed when a fold knife on the cylinder 28 presses the sheet material into an open flap on the fold cylinder 34. Although, in a specific case, any number of sets of puncture needles, cutting bars and folding knives can be provided on the folding knife cylinder 28, the cylinder 28 is provided with five sets of puncturing needles, five cutting beams and five sets of folding knives. The jaw cylinder 34 is smaller than the jaw cylinder 28 and has only four sets of jaws. Of course, the jaw cylinder 34 could be provided with any number of keys.

The folding knife cylinder 28 and the jaw cylinder 34 cooperate to continuously form the folds 36 where the web has been perforated by the transverse perforating cylinders 72 and 74. The manner in which the folds 36 are formed by the interaction of the folding knife cylinder 28 with the folding jaw cylinder 34 transversely to the signature 30 is well known and will not be described further here in order to avoid lengthiness.

The signatures 30 are continuously recorded between the jaw cylinder 34 and a first belt arrangement 84, these being still controlled by the jaw cylinder 34. The first band assembly 84 includes a number upper bands 86 and a number of lower bands 88. The front end part of a signature 30 is then detected between the upper and lower bands of the first band arrangement 84, while the rear part thereof is still between the upper bands 86 and the jaw cylinder 34.

When the deflector 46 is raised, the signatures 30 are conveyed from bands 92 to the paddle wheel 48. The delivery paddle wheel 48 rotates in a counterclockwise direction (as shown in FIG. 1) and deposits the signatures in a shingled stream on the conveyor belt 54.

Third folding device

In the third folding device 44 (FIGS. 2 and 3), the folds are formed in the signatures 30 as they are moved therein from a wide inlet part 96 to a narrow outlet or delivery part 98. To assist the folding device 44 in forming accurate folds in the signatures in the direction of their path through the folding device and at right angles to the folds 36, a creasing roller 102 (FIG. 1) interacts with the folding jaw cylinder 34 to form grooves in the signatures 30 there where the folds should arise.

The third folder 44 (FIG. 2) includes the upper and lower belts 86 and 88 which form the first belt assembly 84. The upper bands 86, extend from the jaw cylinder 34 (Fig. 1) through the relatively wide inlet part 96 to the relatively narrow outlet part 98 (Fig. 3) of the folder 44. The band assembly 84 tapers from the relatively wide inlet part 96 to the relatively narrow outlet portion 98 of folder 44. It should be noted that some ribbons in the upper and lower portions of ribbon assembly 84 (as shown in FIG. 2) have been omitted in FIG. 3 to better highlight the components of folder 44. However, they are Ribbons in the upper portion of the ribbon assembly 84 (as shown in FIG. 2) generally mirror the ribbons 88 in the lower portion of the array-84.

The band assembly 84 includes a number of upper bands 86 and a number of lower bands 88 (FIG. 2). The upper bands 86 cooperate with the jaw cylinder 34 in order to reliably detect the signatures 30 before they leave the jaw cylinder 34 (FIG. 1). The tapes 86 and 88 have the signatures 30 firmly under control during their movement to the inlet part 96 of the folding device 44. The tapes 86 and 88 also grip the signatures as they move toward the outlet portion 98 of the folder 44.

In the folding device 44, the upper bands 86 (FIG. 2) cooperate with the lower bands 88 to form a base area (FIG. 3). Bands 86 and 88 keep the portion of signatures 30 between them flat on a horizontal plane. As the array 84 of upper and lower bands 86 and 88 taper along the folder 44 (FIG. 3), the extent to which the flat, horizontal portions of the signatures deviate from the center axis 110 (FIG. 3) of the folder decreases 44 extend outward as the signatures move along the ribbon assembly. Although the area of contact of the tapered array of upper and lower ribbons 86 and 88 with the majority of the opposing side surfaces of the signatures 30 along the signature pathway through the folder 44 becomes smaller, the portion of the signatures is in contact with the tapered ribbon assembly 84 by the interaction between the upper and lower bands 86 and 88 firmly gripped and held flat on a horizontal plane.

There are a pair of converging formers 106 and 108 (Fig. 4) on either side of the longitudinal axis of the Folding device 44 attached. The folding former 106 and 108 bend parts of the signatures 30 upward on both sides of the longitudinal axis 110 of the folding device 44 (FIG. 3). The folding former 106 and 108 extend from the relatively wide inlet part 96 to the narrow outlet part 98 of the folding device 44 (FIG. 3).

As the signature 30 moves from left to right through the folding device 44 (as shown in FIG. 3) and the base area formed by the belt arrangement 84 becomes smaller, the folding formers 106 and 108 contact an increasingly larger area of the signature and bend it to the opposite sides of a fold line corresponding to the longitudinal axis 110 of the folding device 44 smoothly upwards.

When a signature 30 is moved from the upper and lower belts 86 and 88 (FIG. 4) into the relatively wide inlet part 96 (FIG. 3) of the folder 44, it lies flat on the horizontal plane. The fold 36 (FIG. 8) forms the front end part of the signature and extends through it at right angles to the longitudinal axis 110 of the folding device 44 and to the direction of movement of the signature 30.

As the upper and lower belts 86 and 88 move a signature to the right of the inlet portion 96 (as shown in Fig. 3) into the folder 44, the opposite outer edges of the signature are contacted by the formers 106 and 108 which bend them upward, without permanently deforming the signature. As the signature 30 continues through the folder 44, the cross-travel of the first ribbon series 84 decreases and the degree of contact of the signature with the formers 106 and 108 increases as the opposite sides of the signature move toward one another along the central fold line . When the signature 30 has left the outlet part 98 of the folding device 44, the folds are completed.

At or just behind the inlet portion 96 of the third folder 44, upper and lower creases 114 and 116 (FIG. 2) of a second belt assembly 118 contact the opposite sides of the signature 30 where the folds are to be formed, ie, along the central axis 110 of the Fold 44. The creases 114 and 116 extend from the inlet portion 96 to the outlet 98 of the fold 44. The upper and lower creases 114 and 116 hold the opposite sides of each signature 30 firmly before and after the signature ends has passed through the tapered array 84 of upper and lower bands 86 and 88. Thus, the signatures move in a controlled manner through the folding device 44, first under the influence of the ribbons 86 and 88 of the first ribbon arrangement 84 and then under the influence of the creased ribbons 114 and 116 of the second ribbon arrangement 118.

In addition to promoting the movement of the signatures 30 by the folder in a controlled manner, the upper and lower creases 114 and 116 crease the signatures to ensure that the folds in the signature are formed at the desired locations. Thus, the upper creasing tape 114 has a lengthwise, tapered nose 122 (FIG. 5) which cooperates with a lengthwise keyway 124 in the lower creasing tape 116 to provide a groove in the signature 30 at the location, where a fold is to be formed and to keep the signature from moving sideways with respect to the longitudinal axis 110 of the folder.

The upper belts 86 have lower runners with flat, horizontal side surfaces which correspond to the majority of the upper side surface of a signature in the third folding device 44 come into contact. Likewise, the lower bands 88 have upper runs with flat, horizontal side surfaces which come into contact with the lower side surface of a signature in the third folder 44 at a location opposite an upper band (Fig. 4). The signature 30 is held firmly between the horizontal lower runs of the upper bands 86 and the horizontal upper runs of the lower bands 88.

The upper belts 86 include a pair of belts 130 and 132 which extend around an upper roller 134 (Fig. 3). Likewise, a pair of lower belts (as shown at 138 in Figure 2) extend around a lower roller 140; they are opposite and aligned with the upper bands 130 and 132.

A second pair of upper belts 144 and 146 (FIGS. 3 and 4) extend around an upper roller 148 (FIG. 3). Although belts 144 and 146 extend past roller 134 to roller 148 (Fig. 3), the surfaces of the top of the lower runs of belts 144, 146 come into contact with and are positioned by the cylindrical outer surface of roller 134. A pair of lower belts 150 (FIGS. 2 and 4) cooperate with upper belts 144 and 146 and extend around a lower roller 152.

A third pair of upper belts 156 and 158 extend around a roller 160 and have a horizontal lower barrel; it cooperates with a pair of lower belts 162 which extend around a lower roller 166 (Fig. 2). Finally, a middle pair 170 and 172 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of upper belts extends around a roller 174 and cooperates with a pair of lower belts 176 (FIG. 2) which extends about a lower roller 178. The horizontal lower runs of bands 170 and 172 are defined by the cylindrical ones Side surfaces of each of the rollers 160, 148 and 134 are positioned relative to the horizontal top runs of the bottom belts 176. Likewise, the horizontal top runs of the bottom pair of belts 176 are positioned by rollers 166, 152 and 140 relative to the top belts 170 and 172.

The upper creasing belt 114 (FIG. 2) extends past the upper rollers 148, 160 and 174. Therefore, these rollers are provided with central ring grooves 184 to receive the upper creasing belt 114 in the manner shown for roller 148 in FIG. 3. Likewise, the lower creasing belt 116 extends past the rollers 152, 166 and 178 (Fig. 2). Therefore, each of these rollers is also provided with a central annular groove 186 to receive the lower creasing belt 116 in the manner shown in FIG. 3.

The two formers 106 and 108 (Fig. 3) contact areas of the signature on both sides of the longitudinal axis 110 of the folder 44. The extent of contact of the formers 106 and 108 with the sheet material increases as the degree of contact of the tapered Ribbon assembly 84 decreases with the sheet material. The folding former 106 has an inner wall 190 and an outer wall 192 (FIG. 4). There is a lengthwise space 194 between the former and inner walls 190, 192, whereby part of a signature 30 moves during the operation of the folding device 44.

The former inner wall 190 has an upright or vertical side part 196 (FIG. 4) and an arcuate lower part 198. Likewise, the former outer wall 192 has an upright or vertical side part 202 and an arcuate lower part 204. The upright side part 202 of the outer wall 192 extends parallel to the side part 196 of the inner wall 190. However, the arcuate lower parts 198 and 204 of the former walls 190 and 192 have different radii of curvature. Thus, the signature pass-through space 194 tapers from a relatively wide entrance between the lower side parts 198 and 204 to a relatively narrow space between the upright side parts 196 and 202.

The former 108 (FIG. 4) is a mirror image of the former 106 in shape. Thus, the former 108 has an inner wall 208 and an outer wall 210, and a space 212 is provided therebetween, whereby part of a signature 30 moves.

Since the two formers 106 and 108 are aligned towards one another along the longitudinal axis 110 of the fold device 44 (FIG. 3), the area of a signature that extends through the spaces 194 and 212 between the formers walls increases. With the convergence of the former walls, their arcuate lower parts meet and connect or merge with the upright wall parts.

The upper creasing belt 114 extends from a rear guide roller 218 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) forward to a lower, front guide roller 220 (FIG. 2), then around an upper guide roller 222 back to the rear guide roller 218. It is Note that guide rollers 218 and 222 are shown in FIG. 3, but upper creasing belt 114 has been omitted in favor of a more complete representation of other components of folder 44.

The former inner walls 190 and 208 (FIG. 4) are located next to or adjoin supports 230 for the lower, front creasing belt guide roller 220. This has the consequence that the Signature parts on both sides of the fold move together as close as possible to the parts of the former 106 and 108, which are located next to the forward-facing creasing guide roller 220.

The lower creaser 116 (FIG. 2 extends forward from a rear guide roller 234 (FIG. 2) to an upper, front guide roller 236, then down around a lower guide roller 238 and back to the rear guide roller 234.

The upper and lower creasing belts 116 and 118 have horizontally extending runs which contact opposite sides of the sheet material carried by the creasing belts. Thus, a horizontal run of the lower creased belt 116 extends between the guide rollers 234 and 236. This horizontal run of the lower creased belt 116 interacts with the horizontal run of the upper creased belt 118, which extends between the guide rollers 218 and 220. These horizontal runs of the upper and lower creases 114 and 116 engage the sheet material along the fold line so that the longitudinally extending tab 122 on the upper creased band 114 can cooperate with the lengthwise keyway 124 in the lower creased band 116 maintain a groove in the sheet material along the longitudinal axis 110 of the folder 44. The sheet material is also held so that it cannot slide laterally away from the creased belts as it is moved away from the tapered belt assembly 84 to the outlet 98.

The folder 44 has the same construction as disclosed in EP-A-0415 077 entitled "Folder".

Belt speed control

During operation of the folder 44, the effective pitch circle diameter of the top creasing drive roller 222 and the effective pitch circle diameter of the bottom creasing drive roller 238 (FIG. 2) vary based on various factors. The main cause of varying the effective pitch circle diameter of the creasing belt drive rollers is varying the cross-sectional area of the upper and lower creasing belts 114 and 116.

The creasing tapes 114 and 116 are of the known V-type. The upper creasing belt 114 has two inwardly tapered side surfaces 242 and 244 (FIG. 5) which come into contact with equally tapered side surfaces of the upper creasing belt guide rollers 218, 220 and 222 (FIG. 2). Likewise, the bottom creaser 116 has two inwardly tapered side surfaces 246 and 248 (FIG. 5) which come into contact with the same tapered side surfaces of the guide rollers 234, 236 and 238 of the bottom creaser. (Fig. 2). Due to the manufacturing tolerances, the cross-sectional area of the upper and lower creasing tapes 114 and 116 will vary somewhat along the lengths of the tapes. In addition, the ligaments will tend to stretch and be subjected to centrifugal forces.

Due to the interaction between the side surfaces 242, 244, 246 and 248 (Fig. 5) of the upper and lower creases 114 and 116 with the similar tapered surfaces of the V-notches in the creasing guide rollers 222 and 238, there is also a small variation the distance between the side surfaces and one of the creasing belts to a relatively large displacement in the center line of the belt with respect to a guide roller. This has a change in the effective pitch circle diameter of the creasing tape guide roller result. If this is not compensated, changes in the effective rolling circle diameter of the creasing belt guide rollers 222 and 238 result in corresponding changes in the running speed of the creasing belts 114 and 116. In an experiment it was found that the variation in cross-sectional size in the case of commercially available creasing belts 114 and 116 resulted in The consequence is that with a running distance of approximately 1.22 m, one of the creasing belts moves more than 2.5 cm further than the other.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention, the running speed of the creasing belts 114 and 116 in the second belt arrangement 118 is coordinated with respect to one another and with the running speed of the upper and lower belts 86 and 88 in the first belt arrangement 84. The first belt assembly 84 is driven by the main drive for the sheet material processing apparatus 20. Thus, the speed of travel of the first belt assembly 84 will vary as the speeds of rotation of the folder cylinder 28 and folder cylinder 34 (FIG. 1) vary.

A belt speed signal transmitter 252 is connected to the axis of rotation of the jaw cylinder 34 and gives a signal corresponding to the running speed of the upper and lower belts 86 and 88. A creased belt speed signal generator 254 (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) gives a signal corresponding to the running speed of the upper creasing belt 114. A creasing belt speed signaling device 256 gives a signal corresponding to the running speed of the lower creasing belt 116. The signaling devices 252, 254 and 256 are speed sensors which give outputs of electrical voltage as an indication of the running speeds of the belts 84, 114 and 116.

The creasing belt speed signal transmitters 254 and 256 contact straight runs of the upper and lower creasing belts 114 and 116 (FIG. 2), thereby minimizing the winding of the creasing belts around their guide rollers 260 and 262. In this way, the influences resulting from the variations in the cross-sectional area of the creasing bands 114 and 116 on the output of the speed signal transmitters 254 and 256 are reduced. Furthermore, if the creasing tapes were wrapped around the guide rollers to any greater extent, the difference in running speed of the inner side surfaces of the creasing tapes with respect to their outer side surfaces would affect the output of the speed signal transmitters.

A controller 266 (FIGS. 2 and 7) compares the speed signals from signal generators 252, 254 and 256 (FIGS. 1 and 7). Controller 266 operates return motors 270 and 272 for the upper and lower creasing belts (FIGS. 2 and 7) to vary the running speed of the upper and lower creasing belts 114 and 116. Controller 266 activates motors 270 and 272 in response to one value change received by signal generators 252, 254 and 256 in the ratio between the speed signals.

Controller 266 receives a speed signal from tachometer or signal generator 252 via line 276 (FIG. 7). This signal corresponds to the running speed of the first belt arrangement 84. The controller 266 also receives a speed signal from the tachometer or signal generator 254 via a line 278. This signal corresponds to the speed of the upper creasing belt 114.

The controller 266 continuously compares the speed of the upper creasing belt 114 with the speed of the first belt arrangement 84. When the speed signal of the upper creasing belt from the signal generator 254 at a predetermined speed in accordance with the first belt speed signal from the signal generator 252, then the controller 266 generates an output via a line 280 to activate the drive motor 270 (FIG. 7) for the upper creasing belt. A feedback signal is then sent from the drive motor 270 to the controller 266 via a line 282 to indicate that the drive motor 270 has responded to the command from the controller 266. During the operation of the folding device 44, the controller 266 continuously compares the running speed of the upper creasing belt 114 with the running speed of the first belt arrangement 84 in order to maintain a predetermined ratio of the running speed between them, even if the cross-sectional area of the creasing belt 114 and the effective rolling circle diameter of the creasing belt guide rollers 218, 220 and 222 (Fig. 2) vary.

The controller 266 (FIG. 7) also continuously compares the running speed of the lower creasing belt 116 with the running speed of the first belt arrangement 84 in order to maintain a predetermined ratio of the running speed between them. Thus, controller 266 receives a line creasing speed signal from signal generator 256 via line 286. This line creasing speed signal is continuously compared to the first band speed signal from signal generator 252. If the line creasing speed 116 runs from a predetermined operating speed deviates from the first belt arrangement 84, then the controller 266 sends an output via a line 288 to activate the variable drive motor 272 for the lower creasing belt 116 in order to vary its running speed. A feedback signal is sent from variable drive motor 272 to controller 266 via line 290.

Since the controller 266 continuously compares the speeds of the upper and lower creasing belts 114 and 116 with the speed of the first belt arrangement 84, the speeds of the upper and lower creasing belts are also compared with one another in an effective manner. However, the controller 266 could be constructed so that the top and bottom creasing belt speeds can be compared directly to one another and also to the speed of the first belt assembly 84 if desired. Controller 266 is commercially available from "CSR Division, Cleveland Machine Controls, Inc.® ''. Generally, the controller consists of two motion control loops, one for each creasing belt 114, 116. Each loop output controls an individual servo drive module and a motor For reasons of security and system lock, discrete inputs and outputs are used for general control functions of the folder, but other controllers can be used if desired.

The upper and lower creasing belts 114 and 116 are normally driven by the drive rollers 222 and 238 at the same speed. As a result, the creasing tapes 114 and 116 move the opposite sides of the signature 30 at the same speed (FIG. 8), and in the meantime the fold edge 36 of the signature is leading and the majority of the signature sides are straight, as shown along the longitudinal axis 110 of the folding device 44. Of course, the signature 30 is bent by the formers 106 and 108 as they are moved by the upper and lower creases 114 and 116.

The upper and lower creasing tapes 114 and 116 can be intentionally driven at slightly different speeds to bend the signature 30 so that undesirable deformation of the sheet material is excluded. Thus, by actuating the jaw cylinder 34 on the fold 36, the signature 30 can be deformed downward, as shown in FIG. 9. However, since the lower creasing belt 116 is driven at a slightly higher speed than the upper creasing belt 114, the lower side of the signature is moved somewhat more with respect to the upper side, and the undesired deformation from the signature 30 is thus eliminated.

Conversely, if upward deformation of the signature on the fold occurs as a result of the actuation of the jaw cylinder, as shown in FIG. 10, the upper creasing belt 114 would be driven at a slightly higher speed than the lower creasing belt 116. This would move the upper side of the signature 30 a little more with respect to the lower side thereof, thus eliminating the undesired upward deformation from the signature. The aim is that the deliberate mismatch of the upper and lower creasing belt speeds remains relatively minimal. For example, the extent of the mismatching of the running speeds of the creasing belts 114 and 116 can result in one side of the Signature 30 being moved about 0.63 cm further with respect to the other side with a running distance of approximately 1.22 m.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7, the upper and lower creasing belts 114 and 116 are driven by the main drive for the folder 20. This main drive is indicated schematically by the gears 296 and 298 in FIG. 7. The gears 296 and 298 drive the creasing rollers 222 and 238 through harmonic excitation units 302 and 304.

If the variable drive motors 270 and 272 are held in a deactivated state by the controller 266, then the energy of the main drive is reduced by the Transfer harmonic excitation units 302 and 304 directly to the drive rollers 222 and 238. However, when the variable drive motor 270 is activated, energy is transferred from the motor to the harmonic excitation unit 302 through belt drive 306. The drive energy transmitted from the motor 270 to the harmonic excitation unit 302 converts the main drive energy input from the transmission 296 into an increase or decrease in the rotational speed of the upper creasing belt drive roller 222, depending on the direction of actuation of the variable drive motor 270.

The general design and operation of harmonic excitation unit 302 is the same as disclosed in U.S. -A- 3,724,368, issued April 3, 1973 under the title "Register setting device by harmonic excitation for a printing press". It should be noted that harmonic excitation unit 302 generally functions in a similar manner to a differential mechanism. Other known types of drive mechanisms could also be used to vary the rotational speed of the top creasing belt drive roller 220 by actuating the motor 270. Although other types of feedback devices can also be used, in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7, a tachometer 310 was selected for generating a feedback signal to the controller 266.

The drive energy for the lower creasing belt drive roller 238 is converted by the harmonic excitation unit 304 in the same manner as described above in connection with the harmonic excitation unit 302. The tachometer 312 is connected to the motor 272 to generate a feedback signal to the controller 266.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 11, separate motors are used and the upper and lower creasing belts are driven independently of the main drive for the folder 20. Encoders or pulse generator type feedback devices are also used instead of tachometers. Since the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 11 is essentially the same as that in FIGS. 1 to 10, the same reference numbers are used for the designation of the components and only the letter "a" is added to the numbers in FIG. 11 in order to avoid confusion .

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 11, a pair of motors 320 and 322 are directly connected to the upper and lower creasing belt drive rollers 222a and 238a. The controller 266a varies the speed output of the motors 320 and 322 so as to directly vary the running speed of the upper and lower creasing belts 114a and 116a. Encoders or pulse generator type feedback devices 324 and 326 are connected to controller 266a to generate a feedback signal indicative of the speed output of motors 320 and 322. If desired, signalers 254a and 256a could send a feedback signal directly to motors 320 and 322.

An information converter 328 is connected to the controller 266a and indicates how the speeds of the upper and lower creasing bands 114a and 116a vary. The information converter 328 also enables the speed ratio between the upper and lower creasing bands 114a and 116a to be matched to one another. For this purpose, motors 320 and 322 can be actuated so that creasing belts 114a and 116a are driven at the same or slightly different speeds.

Conclusion

In view of the above description, it is apparent that the present invention relates to a new and improved sheet material processing apparatus 20 with controls (Figs. 7 and 11) for accurately regulating the speed of travel of belts 84, 114 and 116 in the apparatus. When the sheet material processing apparatus 20 is a folding device 44, the sheet material 30 can be moved by a first belt arrangement 84 along a run between a pair of deflectors 106 and 108. A second belt assembly 114 and 116 detects the sheet material 30 as it is moved by the first belt assembly 84 and continues to transport the sheet material along the deflectors 106 and 108. Signalers 252, 254 and 256 give speed signals corresponding to the running speeds of the first and second Belt assemblies 84, 114 and 116. A controller 266 compares the speed signals and actuates a belt drive 302 or 304 to vary the running speed of at least one belt 114 or 116 in one of the belt assemblies in response to a change in the ratio of the speed signals.

In a particular embodiment of the sheet material processing apparatus, the first belt assembly 84 includes a plurality of belts 130, 132, 138, 144, 146, 150, 156, 158, 162, 170, 172 and 176 which grip sheet material 30 on the opposite sides of a fold line. In this apparatus, the second belt assembly includes a pair of creases 114 and 116 which is aligned with a fold line and which grips sheet material 30 along the sides opposite the fold line. The running speeds of the belts of assembly 84 and creased belts 114 and 116 are compared. The running speeds of the creasing belts 114 and 116 are varied during the operation of the apparatus in order to keep them on to maintain the same height at the speeds of the belts of assembly 84. If the sheet material has been deformed (Figs. 9 and 10) before it enters the apparatus 20, for example by an upstream folder 32, then the creasing belts 114 and 116 can be driven at slightly different speeds to remove the deformation.

Parts list

20th

Folder

22

first folding device

24th

train

26

Cutting cylinder

28

Folding knife cylinder

30th

signature

32

Folding device

34

Jaw cylinder

36

Fold

40

Scale flow delivery transport

44

third folding device

46

Deflection switch

48

Paddle wheel delivery

54

Conveyor belt

58

Creasing roller device

60

Stacking device

62

Former

68

Pinch roller / gripper roller

70

Pinch roller / gripper roller

72

Cross perforating roller

74

Cross perforating roller

76

Creasing roller

78

Creasing roller

84

first band arrangement

86

upper bands

88

lower bands

92

Tapes

96

Inlet part

98

Outlet part

102

Creasing roller

106

Former

108

Former

110

Center axis / longitudinal axis

114

upper creases

116

lower creases

118

second band arrangement

122

nose

124

Keyway

130

upper band (the upper bands 86)

132

upper band (the upper bands 86)

134

top roller

138

tape

140

lower roller

144

upper band

146

upper band

148

top roller

150

lower bands

152

lower roller

156

upper band

158

upper band

160

top roller

162

lower bands

166

lower roller

170

middle upper band

172

middle upper band

174

top roller

176

lower bands

178

lower roller

184

Ring groove

186

Ring groove

190

Inner wall of former 103

192

Outer wall of former 106

194

Space

196

Side panel

198

arched lower part

202

vertical side part

204

arched lower part

208

Inner wall of former 103

210

Outer wall of former 103

212

Space

218

rear leader

220

front leader

222

upper guide roller

230

Support

234

rear leader

236

front leader

238

lower guide roller

242

tapered side surface of the upper creasing tape

244

tapered side surface of the upper creasing tape

246

tapered side surface of the lower creasing band

248

tapered side surface of the lower creasing band

252

Speed signal generator

254

Speed signal generator

256

Speed signal generator

260

Leadership role

262

Leadership role

266

Regulator

270

Return motor / drive motor

272

Return motor / drive motor

276

management

278

management

280

management

282

management

286

management

290

management

296

transmission

298

transmission

302

Harmonic excitation unit / belt drive

304

Harmonic excitation unit / belt drive

306

Belt drive

310

Speedometer

312

Speedometer

320

engine

322

engine

324

Return devices

326

Return devices

328

Information converter

Claims (11)

1. Folder (44) for forming a fold along a predetermined fold line in sheet material (30), which has the following features:

   - a first longitudinally extending diverter means (106) disposed on a first side of the fold line and extending from the inlet section (96) to the outlet section (98) of said folder (44), for deflecting sheet material (30) projecting beyond an area on the first side of the fold line in a first direction as it moves from the inlet section (96) to the outlet section (98) of said folder,

   - a second longitudinally extending diverter means (108) disposed on a second side of the fold line and extending from the inlet section (96) to the outlet section (98) of said folder (44), for deflecting sheet material (30) projecting beyond an area on the second side of the fold line in the first direction as it moves from the inlet section (96) to the outlet section (98) of said folder (44), the first and second diverter means (106, 108) having diverter surfaces for gripping areas of the sheet material (30) which increase as the sheet material moves away from the inlet section (96) towards the outlet section (98) of said folder (44),

   - a first arrangement of belts (84) at least partially disposed between said first and second diverter means (106, 108), for gripping and moving sheet material (30) along said first and second diverter means (106, 108) in a direction away from the inlet section (96) towards the outlet section (98) of said folder (44),

   - a second arrangement of belts (118) at least partially disposed between said first and second diverter means (106, 108), for gripping sheet material (30) while it is being held and moved by the first arrangement of belts (84), said second arrangement of belts (118) extending beyond said first arrangement of belts (84) towards the outlet section (98) of said folder (44), so that said second arrangement of belts (118) can grip and move the sheet material (30) along the first and second diverter means (106, 108) away from the first arrangement of belts (84) and towards the outlet section (98) of said folder (44) after said sheet material has become separated from the first arrangement of belts (84), characterised in that

   - drive means (34, 270, 272) for varying the running speed of at least one belt in one of said first and second arrangements of belts (84, 118),

   - a first signal generator means (252) for providing a first speed signal which is a function of the running speed of said first arrangement of belts (84), second signal generator means (254, 256) for providing a second speed signal which is a function of the running speed of at least one belt (114 or 116) in the said second arrangement of belts (118),

   - and a control means (266) for comparing the first and second speed signals and for effecting operation of said drive means (39, 270, 272) in order to vary the running speed of at least one said belt in said one arrangement of belts (84, 118) in response to a change in the relationship between said first and second speed signal are provided.
2. Folder according to Claim 1, characterised in that said first arrangement of belts (84) comprises a first plurality of belts (144, 156, 170, 150, 162, 176) disposed on the first side of the fold line and a second plurality of belts (158, 172, 162, 176) disposed on the second side of the fold line, said second arrangement of belts (118) including a pair of creaser belts (114, 116) which extend through between the first and second plurality of belts to the outlet section (98) of said folder (44) and are aligned with the fold line, in order to engage the sheet material (30) on the sides opposite the fold line.
3. Folder according to Claim 2, characterised in that the distance between said first longitudinally extending diverter means (106) and said second longitudinally extending diverter means (108) is greater at the inlet section (96) of said folder (44) than at its outlet section (98), in that said first plurality of belts (156, 170, 162, 176) includes first upper and lower belts (144, 150) which contact a flat area of the sheet material (30) on the first side of the fold line, and second upper and lower belts (156, 162) which contact a flat area of the sheet material (30) on the first side of the fold line at a location between the fold line and the first upper and lower belts, said second plurality of belts (158, 172, 162, 176) including third upper and lower belts (146, 150) which contact a flat area of the sheet material (30), disposed on the second side of the fold line, and fourth upper and lower belts (158, 162) which contact the flat area of the sheet material (30) on the second side of the fold line at a location between the fold line and the third upper and lower belts.
4. Folder according to Claim 2, characterised in that a first belt (116) of said pair of creaser belts has a surface means which is defined by a part having a longitudinally extending key groove (124) disposed at a first side of the sheet material (30), in that a second creaser belt (114) has a surface means which is defined by a part having a longitudinally extending nose (122) and disposed at a second side of the sheet material (30), and in that the longitudinally extending key groove and nose portions in each case of the first and second creaser belts (114, 116) interact to maintain a crease in the sheet material (30) and to prevent the sheet material the sheet material (30) and to prevent the sheet material (30) from making a lateral movement relative to the longitudinal axis of said folder (44) as the sheet material moves into the outlet section.
5. Folder according to Claim 2, characterised in that at least some of the first plurality of belts (144, 156, 170, 150, 162, 176) remain in contact with the sheet material (30) from the inlet section to the point at a first distance from the outlet section (98) of said folder (44), said pair of creaser belts (114, 116) contacts the sheet material (30) at a point at a second distance from said outlet section of said folder (44) and remains in contact therewith up to the outlet section of said folder (44), and said second distance is greater than said first distance.
6. Folder according to Claim 1, characterised in that said first arrangement of belts (84) comprises an array of upper and lower belts (86, 88), tapering from a first width at the inlet section (96) of said folder (44) to a second width which is narrower than the first width and which is disposed at a narrow end section of the arrangement between the inlet section and outlet section (96 and 98) of said folder (44), in that said array of upper and lower belts (86, 88) has surface means for engaging opposite sides of the sheet material (30) and holding it flat in the areas decreasing towards the outside in the transverse direction on both sides of the fold line, as the sheet material (30) moves through said folder (44), and in that said diverter surfaces of said first and second diverter means (106, 108) in contact with parts of the sheet material (30) increase, while the flat part of the sheet material (30) in contact with said array of upper and lower belts decreases.
7. Folder according to Claim 6, characterised in that said second arrangement of belts (118) extends from the narrow end section of said array of upper and lower belts to the outlet section of said folder (44), and in that said second arrangement of belts includes surface means (122, 124) for pressing against the opposite sides of the sheet material (30) along the fold line after it has moved out of contact with said array of upper and lower belts, and while it is deflected by said first and second diverter means.
8. Folder according to Claim 1, characterised in that said second arrangement of belts (118) comprises first and second belts (114 and 116) which contact opposite sides of the sheet material (30), in that said drive means comprise a first belt drive means (270) for varying the running speed of said first belt (114) and a second belt drive means (272) for varying the running speed of said second belt (116), in that said second signal generator means (254) is connected to said first belt (114), in order to provide a second speed signal which is a function of the running speed of said first belt, in that said folder (44) further comprises a third signal generator means (256) which is connected to said second belt (116), in order to provide a third speed signal which is a function of the running speed of said second belt (116), in that said control means (266) further comprise means for comparing said third speed signal with at least one of said first and second speed signals and for effecting operation of said second belt drive means (272), in order to vary the running speed of said second belt (116) in response to a change in the relationship between said third and said first and second speed signal.
9. Folder according to Claim 8, characterised in that said control means (266) comprise means for effecting operation of one of said first and second belt drive means (270 or 272), in order to keep one of said first and second belts at a higher running speed than that of the other.
10. Folder according to Claim 9, characterised in that said control means (266) comprise means for effecting operation of one of said first and second belt drive means (270 or 272), in order to keep one of said first and second belts at the same running speed as that of said first arrangement of belts (84).
11. Folder according to Claim 1, characterised in that said control means (266) comprise means for effecting operation of said drive means (34, 270 or 272), in order to keep said first arrangement of belts (84) at the same running speed as that of said second arrangement of belts (118).

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