EP0531648B1 - Device for folding and cutting a printed web - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a machine for cutting and folding a printed paper web, i.e. a universal folder of the type normally used in the printing sector and in particular in the field of the offset process.

With this type of machine, a continuous paper web can be processed into a series of booklets, which can be folded in different ways.

Most often, these machines enable the following folds: a first fold or cylinder or panel fold and a second fold with internal punctures, where the second fold can be a second parallel fold or a delta fold. The different folds mentioned are generally carried out on paper webs which have already been doubled in the longitudinal direction by a part previously mentioned by a funnel by a fold parallel to the edges of the standard width, the funnel being arranged at the entrance of the folder so that the paper web is continuous is folded, as is well known to the printing experts.

With this type of universal folder, the user must be able to choose between the options of being able to carry out a second parallel fold or a delta fold, which means two different configurations of the apparatus and therefore a different arrangement of the cylinder elements which occur during the passage of the paper web must work together between two cylinders lying next to each other.

For a better understanding of the limits and disadvantages of the conventional folding apparatus when changing the configuration for folding a second parallel fold or a delta fold, the manner of folding these second folds with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and then the structure of a classic one should be briefly described first Universal folder, with which both one and the other second fold can be folded and which in succession comprises a cutting cylinder, a transport cylinder, a folding cylinder and a cylinder for the second fold, with reference to FIG. 3 for a first configuration with which one second parallel fold can be carried out and explained with reference to FIG. 4 for a second configuration with which a delta fold can be realized.

Figure 1 shows the successive stages of folding on a copy that receives a first cylinder fold and a second parallel fold. In a) one can see a copy E as obtained after cutting the paper web during the passage between the cutting cylinder and the transport cylinder of the folder, this copy having a section length C. The copy E bears the traces p shown in dashed lines, which correspond to the punctures of the punctures on the transport cylinder of the folder. This copy E can consist of a simple web or a double web already folded by a funnel, in the latter case one of the longitudinal edges corresponding to the fold realized by the funnel. In b) the copy E is folded longitudinally in the middle at C / 2 in the passage between the transport cylinder and the folding cylinder of the folder.

In c) the copy E has been folded once more on half the length in the passage between the folding cylinder and the cylinder for the second folding of the folding apparatus, whereby the length has been shortened to C / 4. This second fold is called the "second parallel fold". It can be seen that the punctures p are now inside the finished folded copy.

Figure 2 explains in the same way, starting from a copy E identical to the previous copy with a section length C, the formation of a delta fold after the passage of the paper web between the cutting cylinder and the transport cylinder as shown in a). In b) the copy E was folded in an analogous manner as before, but this first fold was carried out in the first third of the length of the copy at C / 3 after the passage between the transport cylinder and the folding cylinder. The length of the copy is now 2C / 3. It can already be seen here that a change in the configuration of the transport cylinder compared to the first fold according to FIG. 1 was necessary to form this fold. The configuration of the folding cylinder must therefore also be adapted - as described further below. In c) the copy was folded a second time, also at C / 3, but from the other side of the cut web: This gives a second fold, called the delta fold, with a length of the copy of C / 3 . Since this delta fold is generated during the passage of the cut web between the folding cylinder and the cylinder for the second fold of the folding apparatus, it can be seen that the configuration of these cylinders is changed compared to that which was used for the folding of a second parallel fold according to FIG. 1 got to.

The following is a description of a conventional universal folder with reference to FIG. 3.

The folder shown here comprises a former 1, on which a longitudinal fold is carried out in the continuously fed paper web 4. It should be noted that such a funnel is in no way required in the present invention. Two pairs of stop rollers 2.2 'and 3.3' coated with an elastomer, which are pressed against one another, are provided in order to introduce the paper web 4 into the folder.

The paper web 4 then runs between a first pair of cylinders consisting of a cutting cylinder 5 and a transport cylinder 6. The cutting cylinder 5 is provided with a knife 7 which is arranged along one of its surface lines and cooperates with the knife counterparts made of rubber (like the counterpart 8) which are attached to the circumference of the transport cylinder. The cutting cylinder 5 advantageously has a development equal to the cut of the specimen, so that a complete revolution of this cylinder corresponds to the aforementioned length C.

The transport cylinder 6 preferably has a development equal to two or three times the section of the specimen (three times in FIG. 3). The transport cylinder 6 comprises rows of punctures, the pins of which, in the form of small needles which protrude beyond the cylinder, reach into the paper web immediately after the associated cutting counterpart. In the present case with a processing equal to three times the section of the specimen, the transport cylinder 6 is provided with three rows of punctures 9, 9 ', 9''and three corresponding cutting rubber strips 8, 8', 8 ''. In this way the Cut the paper web 4 as it passes between the cutting cylinder 5 and the transport cylinder 6 through the knife 7, which engages in the corresponding cutting counterpart 8 or 8 'or 8''and in this way produces the separate copies which are marked by the corresponding punctures 9,9' , 9 '' are held on the transport cylinder.

The transport cylinder 6 also has folding knives (such as knives 10) which are arranged on the periphery of the cylinder in a position which corresponds to half the length of each copy, so that the copies into the associated folding flaps (such as flap 11) on the folding cylinder 12 will be introduced. In the sequence shown here, the transport cylinder 6 comprises three folding blades 10, 10 'and 10' 'which, like the rows of punctures 9, 9' and 9 '', are also distributed on the periphery of the transport cylinder 6. The transport cylinder 6 is thus equipped with pairs of parts consisting of rows of punctures and folding knives, each pair of parts being offset from the previous one by an angle of rotation, which here is 120 °. In the position of Figure 3, the angular distance between the pairs of parts of the transport cylinder is C / 2, i.e. in the present case 60 °.

A folding cylinder 12 is then provided which, on the one hand, includes the flaps for the first fold, which interact with the folding knives of the transport cylinder 6 when the paper web runs between these two cylinders, and the flaps for the second fold, which with the folding knives on the next one Cylinder, which is the cylinder for the second fold 16, cooperate. The sequence used here for the transport cylinder 6 naturally implies three flaps for the first fold with the numbers 11, 11 'and 11''on the folding cylinder 12 to be provided. As can be seen on the cutout, each of these flaps consists of an immovable part 13 which is fixedly connected to the folding cylinder and against which a movable flap part 14 with the designation "receiving flap" presses. In the same way, there are three flaps for the second fold with the numbers 15, 15 'and 15'', the structure of which is preferably identical to that of the previously mentioned flaps for the first fold. The folding cylinder 12 is thus equipped with flap pairs for the first fold and flaps for the second fold. For each pair of parts, the angular distance here corresponds to C / 4, which in this case is 30 °.

The cylinder for the second fold 16, which is arranged in the vicinity of and parallel to the fold cylinder 12 so that it cooperates with this cylinder, comprises two grippers (like the grippers 17) which are connected to the flaps for the first fold of the fold cylinder 12 interact: When a flap passes in the center line between the folding cylinder 12 and the cylinder for the second fold, this flap opens, while the corresponding gripper of the cylinder for the second fold 16 closes and the previously folded copy grips. In order to produce the second fold, the cylinder for the second fold 16 also has folding knives (such as the folding knife 18) which cooperate with the flaps for the second fold of the folding cylinder 12 when these two parts run through the middle of the cylinders mentioned, during the associated gripper opens and releases the first fold of the copy. In the present case, the cylinder for the second fold 16 comprises two gripper games 17, 17 ', which interact with the flaps 11, 11' and 11 '' of the folding cylinder 12. This cylinder also has two folding knives 18 and 18 ', which are located behind the grippers 17 and 17' and opposite them in the present case Fall at an angle by a quarter of the development, so C / 4 are offset, which corresponds to an angle of 45 ° here.

In this way, the cylinder pair of cutting cylinder 5 / transport cylinder 6 enables the specimens to be cut and picked up on the transport cylinder 6, where they are held on the head sides with the aid of the rows of punctures 9, 9 'and 9' '. The pair of cylinders transport cylinder 6 / folding cylinder 12 then enables the formation of the first fold of the copy and the holding of this folded copy in the flaps for the first fold 11, 11 'and 11' 'of said folding cylinder. The process of producing the second fold then takes place: at the beginning of the cycle, the head of the copy (first fold) is held in the flap for the first fold, which is assigned to the folding cylinder 12, and the relevant gripper of the cylinder for the second fold 16 grabs the head as it passes through the center line. The cylinder continues to rotate and the folding knife corresponding to the cylinder for the second fold 16 then grips the specimen in a flap for the second fold of the folding cylinder 12, the flap closing during the passage of these two parts through the center line, while the aforementioned gripper opens and releases the first fold of the copy. At the end of the cycle, one has a copy with two folds, which are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the direction of travel of the paper web, and which is held with its second fold in the corresponding flap for the second fold of the folding cylinder 12.

A set of scrapers 19 engages in the grooves in the folding cylinder 12 and allows the double-folded copies to be removed and passed on to a slowly rotating paddle wheel 20 which they deposits on a roll or tape 21 on which the specimens come to rest in a shingled arrangement.

So if you want to produce a second parallel fold, the apparatus just described is configured such that the part pairs of the transport cylinder, the folding cylinder and the cylinder for the second fold are at an angular distance from one another which is C / 2, C / 4 or C / 4, i.e. 60 °, 30 ° or 45 °.

If a delta fold is to be realized, the configuration of this apparatus, i.e. the angular distances between the pairs of parts of the three cylinders mentioned above must be changed. FIG. 4 shows the new configuration of this machine with regard to the realization of a delta fold. The angular distances between the aforementioned pairs of parts of the transport cylinder 6, the folding cylinder 12 and the cylinder for the second fold 16 are now C / 3, C / 3 and C / 3, which in the present case are the angles 40 °, 40 ° and 60 ° corresponds.

The angular distances between the pairs of parts of the three cylinders mentioned above are therefore important for the transition from one configuration of the machine to another in order to be able to form either a second parallel fold or a delta fold. In fact, with the transport cylinder 6 the angular distance between each pair of parts consisting of a row of punctures and a folding knife must be changed from C / 2 to C / 3, ie in the present case from 60 ° to 40 °, which corresponds to a difference of 20 °. In the folding cylinder 12, the angular distance between each pair of parts consisting of a flap for the first fold and a flap behind it for the second fold must be C / 4 C / 3 can be changed, which in the present case corresponds to a change from 30 ° to 40 °, ie a shift of 10 °. Finally, in the case of the cylinder for the second fold 16, the angular distance between each pair of parts consisting of the grippers and a folding knife has to be changed from C / 4 to C / 3, in this case from 45 ° to 60 °, which corresponds to a difference of 15 ° .

The above-mentioned differences are therefore very large (from 10 ° to 20 °) and in any case far greater than the angular degree of rotation that is generally available with cylinders if each of these cylinders consists of two independent, nested, mutually movable ones Share is carried out with a respective drive gear. Such an implementation in two independent parts is actually often used in order to enable an adjustment of the “protrusion” by slightly displacing the respective drive gearwheels at an angle (only by a few degrees), these gearwheels being coupled to one another in pairs are in order to keep the elements that have to interact when the paper web passes through two cylinders lying next to each other in synchronism. To adjust the overhang, a single comb roller is usually used, which is driven by a pair of gearwheels of the respective cylinder during normal operation of the machine, a section of this roller engaging one of the gearwheels, while the other section engaging the other gearwheel: the operator causes a slight axial displacement of this comb roller, the axis of which remains parallel to that of the cylinder in question, as a result of which a slight angular displacement can be achieved in the desired direction between the pair of gearwheels belonging together. But you have to consider that such a relative angular displacement is used only for differences of a few degrees.

It is therefore easy to understand that this technique for adjusting the protrusion is almost useless for realizing angular differences up to the aforementioned values of 10 ° to 20 °, which correspond to the changes required when configuring the machine with a view to achieving it a second parallel or delta fold is to be changed. In order to achieve these angular displacements, the prerequisite must be that a longitudinal displacement be carried out which is ten to twenty times greater than that of the comb roller, which is used to adjust the overhang. Although this is theoretically possible, this solution has always been ruled out because it would mean a considerable increase in the positioning width of the universal folder.

This explains why, in the known folders, various groups of parts on the relevant cylinders are manually removed in order to reset them and change the configuration of the machine. Of course, these operations are tedious, require the use of different tools and mean that the machine has to be idle for a relatively long time. The operator must remove all folding knives of the first fold of the transport cylinder in order to wedge them in relation to the rows of punctures of this cylinder, remove all flaps for the second fold in order to re-fit them in relation to the flaps for the first fold of said cylinder, and remove all folding knives for the second fold of the cylinder for the second fold to re-install them in relation to the grippers of said cylinder. This manual intervention directly on the cylinders to remove the mentioned parts and their installation in a different position is of course a major disadvantage. Of course, the flaps for the first fold of the folding cylinder must remain perfectly in relation to the folding blades of the transport cylinder and the setting must be made so that the release by the punctures of the transport cylinder A third cut after the corresponding folding knife has passed through the center line of these two cylinders instead of a half cut in the case of a second parallel fold.

Other solutions have also been proposed to change the configuration of a universal folder with a view to implementing a second parallel fold or a delta fold. One or more special cylinders can be provided for the delta fold and other special cylinders for the second parallel fold: this avoids disassembling and assembling the cylinder parts, but this solution again requires a direct operation regarding the replacement of the special cylinders, which is carried out manually and brings a relatively long downtime without taking into account the additional costs that these special cylinders would cause.

Another solution is to operate various parts of the cylinders in question with the aid of complex drives, such as the drives called "harmonic drive" in the Anglo-Saxon language area.

All of these solutions are either difficult to use because they require manual intervention inside the machine, or expensive and complex.

The object of the invention is to realize a machine for cutting and folding a printed paper web, the construction of which makes it possible to carry out all of the operations required for changing the fold completely automatically and without further human intervention than the rotation of a selector switch.

Another object of the invention is to realize a machine, the construction of which makes it possible to carry out the successive folding operations, namely by largely changing the position at which the various folds are formed.

Finally, it is an object of the invention to maintain the closely connected unit of the gear wheels, which represent the drive chain of the machine, and to prevent the backlash from having to be adjusted again when the machine is accelerated or throttled.

In particular, it is a machine for cutting and folding a printed paper web, which successively comprises a cutting cylinder, a transport cylinder with pairs of puncture rows and folding knives, a folding cylinder with pairs of flaps for the first fold and flaps for the second fold and a cylinder for the second fold with pairs of grippers and folding knives, each of the aforementioned transport, folding and cylinder for the second fold is made of two independent, nested, mutually movable parts, each with a drive gear and these different gears are each coupled in pairs to the parts that lie between two next to each other during the passage of the paper web Cylinders must cooperate to keep in line, characterized in that the drive gears of the two independent parts of the transport cylinder, on the one hand, and the drive gears of the two independent parts of the folding cylinder, on the other hand, are connected to one another via a gear pair which is coaxial to them and to one another via a separable coupling is connected, the separation of the coupling of the gears of each pair makes it possible to change the angular distance between the pairs of parts of the respective cylinder via associated actuating parts in order to change the configuration of the machine with a view to realizing a second parallel fold or a delta fold.

The separable coupling between each pair of gearwheels is preferably designed by an associated claw with two fixed positions limited by stops, each of which corresponds to one or the other configuration of the machine mentioned.

Each claw is advantageously actuated by a compressed air or hydraulic cylinder and a linkage connected to it. As a variant, each claw is actuated manually using a handwheel attached to it or automatically using a part attached to it, such as an electromagnet.

As a variant of the separable coupling realized via a claw, it can be provided that the separable coupling between the respective gear pairs is realized by a magnetic coupling with associated toothings, this coupling being indexed.

According to another advantageous feature of the invention, the drive gearwheels mounted on the two independent parts of the transport and folding cylinder and the gearwheels of each corresponding gearwheel pair are spiral-toothed, with two gearwheels mounted on the same axis, one gearwheel one helical line to the left and the other a helical line to the left has on the right and each of these corresponding gear pairs can be displaced a total of a small distance along the axis of rotation in order to be able to change the “protrusion” of the corresponding fold by acting on an adjusting part connected to it.

It is also advantageous that the actuating parts with which the angular distance between the pairs of parts of the transport cylinder, the folding cylinder or the cylinder for the second fold can be adjusted, a reversible screw-nut system in which the screw carries a gear and the Nut also has a gear, and comprise an associated cylinder with which these two concentric gears can be approximated or separated from one another to form a pair of gears in one direction or the other depending on the desired configuration, one of which is mentioned Gears are connected to the gear connected to the central part of the transport cylinder, while the other is connected to the gear connected to the outer part of the cylinder for the second fold, so that a closed ring is formed. In particular, the connection of the concentric gear wheels of the reversible screw-nut system to the gear wheels of the respective cylinders is realized by intermediate gear wheels which are mounted on the machine frame.

The screw of the reversible screw-nut system can preferably be placed under tension so that it additionally fulfills the task of adjusting the play in the continuous operation of the machine. In particular, the train is realized by the cylinder connected to the reversible screw-nut system or, as a variant, by a compression spring that is supported on the machine frame.

According to a further variant, the actuating parts, with which the angular distance between the pairs of parts of the transport cylinder, the folding cylinder or the cylinder for the second fold can be set, consist of the drive parts of the folder, which slow down in one or the other direction depending on the desired configuration can be actuated, the cylinder being locked for the second fold.

Further features and the advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following description and FIGS. 5 to 10 of the accompanying drawing of a particular embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures mentioned.

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische Ansicht im Axialschnitt der Realisierung des Transportzylinders aus zwei unabhängigen, ineinander verschachtelten, untereinander beweglichen Teilen mit einem entsprechenden Antriebszahnrad, wobei eine derartige Beschaffenheit im übrigen in gleicher Weise für den Falzzylinder und den Zylinder für den zweiten Falz verwendet wird, sodaß der Aufbau dieser drei Zylinder kompatibel mit der erfindungsgemäßen Maschine ist;

Fig. 6

einen schematischen Aufriß eines Teils der Zahnräder des zuvor beschriebenen Falzapparats mit Bezug auf die Figuren 3 und 4;

Fig. 7

eine Ansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Maschine, deren Ablauf in der oben genannten Figur 6 in der Reihenfolge der Buchstaben A, B, C, D, M, L, K erfolgt;

Fig. 8

eine Teilansicht einer speziellen Ausführungsform der trennbaren Kupplung der erfindungsgemäßen Maschine, die hier durch eine Klaue realisiert ist;

Fig. 8a und 8b

zwei Ansichten im Schnitt der oben genannten Klaue in der eingekuppelten Position für eine der beiden Maschinenkonfigurationen bzw. in der ausgekuppelten Zwischenstellung bei einer Änderung der Konfiguration;

Fig. 9

eine Ansicht im Schnitt eines speziellen Aufbaus der Betätigungsteile, mit denen der Winkelabstand zwischen den betreffenden Teilepaaren über ein reversibles Schrauben-Mutter-System verstellt werden kann, und

Fig. 10

eine perspektivische Ansicht mit teilweisem Aufriß des geschlossenen Rings aus den verschiedenen Zahnrädern gemäß der in Fig. 7 dargestellten Ausführungsweise.

Show it:

Fig. 5

a perspective view in axial section of the realization of the transport cylinder from two independent, nested, mutually movable parts with a corresponding drive gear, such a nature is used in the same way for the folding cylinder and the cylinder for the second fold, so that the structure of this three cylinders is compatible with the machine according to the invention;

Fig. 6

a schematic elevation of a portion of the gears of the folder described above with reference to Figures 3 and 4;

Fig. 7

a view of the machine according to the invention, the course of which in the above Figure 6 takes place in the order of the letters A, B, C, D, M, L, K;

Fig. 8

a partial view of a special embodiment of the separable coupling of the machine according to the invention, which is realized here by a claw;

8a and 8b

two views in section of the above claw in the engaged position for one of the two machine configurations or in the disengaged intermediate position when the configuration is changed;

Fig. 9

a view in section of a special structure of the actuating parts with which the angular distance between the respective pairs of parts can be adjusted via a reversible screw-nut system, and

Fig. 10

a perspective view with partial elevation of the closed ring from the various gears according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 7.

Figure 5 shows the structure of the transport cylinder 6, the pairs consisting of rows of punctures and folding knives Is provided. In this figure only one row of punctures 9 and one folding knife 10 can be seen. In order to be able to move three elements of the same type (row of punctures or folding knife), a structure consisting of two independent, nested and mutually movable parts with a corresponding drive gear is used according to the technique that has been used previously in the conventional machines for adjusting the "overhang". This construction enables the three folding blades 10, 10 'and 10''to be moved relative to the three rows of punctures 9, 9' and 9 '' in the transport cylinder 6.

An inner cylinder consists of the end faces 50 and 50 'which are welded onto the shaft 51 of the transport cylinder 6, these end faces also being connected to one another by three longitudinal plates (only one of which is shown here as 53) which are spaced apart of 120 ° are welded to represent a part of the jacket of the transport cylinder 6. The rows of punctures such as the row 9 of punctures visible here are mounted in the end faces 50 and 50 'mentioned. The other part of the cylinder consists of two end faces 54 and 54 'which are rotatably mounted on the shaft 51 of the aforementioned cylinder part, these end faces being connected by three longitudinal plates, of which only the plate marked 55 is visible here. The folding knives, of which the knife 10 is visible, are then mounted on this last cylinder part. The end face 54 extends outside and axially in a tubular extension 56, which is also rotatably mounted on the shaft 51. At the end of the transport cylinder 6 a distinction is made between a gear 52, which is wedged on the end of the shaft 51, and a gear 57, which is on the said tubular extension 56 is wedged. The gear 52 thus directly drives the cylinder part which carries the rows of punctures, while the gear 57 drives directly the cylinder part which carries the folding blades. The drive gears 52 and 57, which are mounted on the two mutually independent parts of the transport cylinder 6, are preferably spiral-toothed, the one gear being a screw turn to the right and the other a screw turn for reasons which will be explained below with reference to FIG. 7 to the left.

The folding cylinder 12 is realized in the same way with two mutually independent, interleaved and mutually movable parts, each with a drive gear, and in accordance with a construction that is completely analogous to the construction shown in FIG. 5. In this case, the jaws for the first fold 11, 11 'and 11 "sit on the inner cylinder and the jaws for the second fold 15, 15' and 15" sit on the outer cylinder. The cylinder for the second fold 16 also consists of two mutually independent, nested and mutually movable parts. However, as can be seen further above, the cylinder for the second fold 16 only allows a two-part symmetry, which is why only two gripper bridges 17 and 17 'sit on the inner cylinder and two fold knives 18 and 18' on the outer cylinder.

Thus, FIG. 5, which shows the special structure of the transport cylinder 6, also serves to describe the folding cylinder 12 and the cylinder for the second fold 16. The respective drive gear wheels, which are visible in FIG. 7, are the gear wheels 65 and 66 for the folding cylinder 12 and the gears 74 and 75 for the cylinder for the second fold 16.

The structure of the parts which allow a change in the configuration of the machine with a view to achieving a second parallel fold or a delta fold is described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10.

FIG. 7, which is a sequence drawing of the machine in question, the sequence of which in FIG. 6 takes place in the order A, B, C, D, M, L, K, shows on average the different cylinders of the machine, theirs Link gears and alternatively the drive cams of the various shafts concerned.

One recognizes the cutting cylinder 5 with its knife 7, the transport cylinder 6, the inner part of which carries the rows of punctures (shaft 9) and the outer part of which carries the folding knife (knife 10), the folding cylinder 12, the inner part of which is the folding flaps for the first fold (flap 11) and the outer part of the folding flaps for the second fold (flap 15), and finally the cylinder for the second fold 16, the inner part of the gripper (gripper 17) and the outer part of the folding knife (knife 18). 7 also shows a complex of different gear wheels which are connected to the cylinders mentioned, these gear wheels, depending on the case, having a screw turn to the left (letter G) or a screw turn to the right (letter D). The gear wheel 76 caulked on the shaft of the cutting cylinder 5, the coaxial gear wheels 52 and 57, which are connected to the two parts of the transport cylinder 6, the coaxial gear wheels 66 and 65, which are connected to the two parts of the folding cylinder 12, can thus be seen. and finally the gears 74 and 75 which are connected to the two parts of the cylinder for the second fold 16.

According to an essential aspect of the invention, the drive gears 52, 57 of the two mutually independent parts of the transport cylinder 6, on the one hand, and the drive gears 66, 65 of the two mutually independent parts of the folding cylinder 12, on the other hand, are connected to one another via respective coaxial gear pairs 59, 58 and 68, 67, which a separable coupling are coupled together.

In normal operation, each pair of gears 59, 58 and 68, 67 forms a non-rotatably connected unit, since the corresponding clutch is then in the engaged position. In this case, the entire folder is driven by a pinion 77, which is driven by a cardan shaft 78, which connects the entire folder to the printing press and to the electric drive motor. The pinion 77 engages in the gear wheel 52, which is connected to the inner part of the transport cylinder 6. The gear 52 drives the gear 76 on the one hand and thus the cutting cylinder 5 and on the other hand the gear pair 59, 58 (which forms a unitary block), which in turn drives the gear 57 of the transport cylinder 6. The sequence of movements is then subsequently achieved by the gear 66, the (coupled) gear pair 68, 67, the gear 65 which ensures the drive of the folding cylinder 12, and finally the gear wheels 74 and 75 of the cylinder for the second fold 16.

The release of the coupling of the gears of each gear pair 59, 58 or 68, 67 allows, via the corresponding actuating parts, the change in the angular distance between the pairs of parts of the relevant cylinder (transport cylinder 6 or folding cylinder 12) in order to configure the machine with a view to achieving a second one To change parallel fold or a delta fold.

As can be easily understood, the separation of the coupling of the gears of the gear pairs 59, 58 and 68, 67 actually enables a provisional separation of the connections between the gear pairs 52, 57 and 66, 65 of the transport cylinder 6 and of the folding cylinder 12, which enables a perfect angular adjustment of the relevant pairs of parts of all three relevant cylinders with regard to changing the machine configuration.

There are of course several possible means of realizing the separable clutch between the respective gear pairs 59, 58 and 68, 67. Such a separable clutch could be implemented, for example, by a magnetic clutch with associated toothings, this clutch being indexed. Here, a separable coupling is shown, which is realized via a claw 60 for the gear pair 59, 58 and a claw 69 for the gear pair 68, 67, each claw having two fixed positions limited by stops, which one or the other configuration corresponds to the machine mentioned with regard to the achievement of a second parallel fold or a delta fold. In this way, each pair of gears 59, 58 and 68, 67 represents an actual device for adjusting the fold. The claws 60 and 69 can be operated manually by means of a hand wheel or by means of a compressed air or hydraulic cylinder or by means of an electromagnet or any other actuating part be operated. In the present case, the actuating parts can be seen in FIG. 7 as a cylinder with a double-acting actuating cylinder 61 and a linkage 62 connected thereto for the claw 60 and a double-acting actuating cylinder 70 and a linkage 72 connected therewith for the claw 69.

The structure of these separable dog clutches can be better understood with reference to FIG. 8, which shows the parts connected to the gear pair 59, 58, which is connected to the transport cylinder 6, and of course identical parts for the other gear pair 68, 67, which with the Folding cylinder is connected, are used. 8 shows the associated shaft 163, which is fastened to the frame of the folding apparatus and on which a sleeve 102 is rotatably mounted via a roller bearing 103 and on which the gear wheel 58 is in turn mounted in a lockable manner. The gearwheel 59, on the other hand, is rotatably mounted on the sleeve 102, a bronze ring 104 and a locking ring 105 each ensure the rotation and the locking of the gearwheel 59 on this sleeve. A collar 101, which is wedged by an associated wedge 114 freely on the sleeve 102, is the movable element of the claw 60 and this collar 101 comprises a plurality of pistons 107, which are subjected to the action of springs 115 attached thereto, whereby supports the free end of these pistons against a disc 106 which is attached to the upper part of the sleeve 102. The collar 101 can thus assume two axial positions, ie a lower position (in the figure), which corresponds to an engaged position of the claw, and an upper position (in the figure) at the stop on the support plate 106, which is an uncoupled position corresponds to the claw. The compressed air cylinder 61 and the associated linkage lever 62 ensure the displacement of the collar 101 between the two axial positions. The locked position shown in FIG. 8 is shown again in the associated view of FIG. 8a, in which one can see a pin 108 protruding under the collar 101, which either sits in a notch 109 or in a notch 110 of the gearwheel 59 (the pin 108) can engage here in the notch 109), each notch corresponding to a corresponding one Corresponds to the angular position between the collar 101 and gear 59, that is, between the gears 58 and 59 for a configuration of the machine with a view to achieving a second parallel fold or a delta fold. When the actuating cylinder 61 is actuated to separate the coupling produced via the claw 60, the collar ring 101 is at the stop on the associated disk 106 and the pin 108 is outside the notch 109, so that this pin has a surface 111 between the Notches 109 and 110 can run and still remain under the circumferential surface 112 of the gear 59, as shown in FIG. 8b: For this reason, the pin 108 of the collar 101 has an adjustment path which is due to its two stop positions to the right of the two notches 109 and 110 is limited. The transition from one notch to the other occurs when the claw is disengaged due to the associated actuating parts, which are described below.

FIG. 8 also shows an additional adjusting device which corresponds to a fine adjustment of the "protrusion" of the specimen. The shaft 163 ends in a threaded part 63 onto which an adjusting wheel 64 is screwed, the axial position of which is secured by a locking nut 113. An angular contact ball bearing 100 is provided between the adjusting wheel 64 and the sleeve 102, the outer ring of this bearing being clamped between the disk 106 and the aforementioned sleeve 102, while the inner ring is firmly connected to the above-mentioned adjusting wheel 64.

This fine adjustment device of the overhang works as follows: If the lock nut 113 is loosened so that the adjusting wheel 64 can be adjusted in one direction or the other, the sleeve 102 can be axially displaced by the rotation of this adjusting wheel and thus also the gears 58 and 59 which are connected to it; since the gears 58 and 59 are spiral-toothed in the opposite direction (screw turn to the left for gear 58 and to the right for gear 59), this axial displacement of the sleeve relative to the cylinder shaft causes a corresponding rotary movement between the gears 52 and 57 and consequently a corresponding movement between the folding blades and the rows of punctures of the transport cylinder 6. The setting wheel 64 can be rotated either by hand or via an associated motor which enables remote control. The device for adjusting the protrusion of the first fold, which has been described for the transport cylinder 6 with reference to FIG. 8, is preferably found with the same structure and the same mode of operation for regulating the protrusion for the second fold in the folding cylinder 12. In FIG. 7 only the setting wheel 73 is shown which corresponds to the setting wheel 64 mentioned. In this case, by turning the setting wheel 73, the two helical gears 68, 67 can be axially displaced and a corresponding rotary movement can be carried out between the gears 66 and 65, ie actually between the flaps for the first fold and the flaps for the second fold sit on the folding cylinder 12.

It should be noted that the shifting of one or the other gear pair 59, 58 or 68, 67 with regard to the adjustment of the overhang is only possible over very short distances, ie by a few millimeters, by an angular change by a few degrees of the concerned one To reach gears with the sole aim of changing the excess of the corresponding fold by turning the associated setting wheel. So this is not related to the larger angular displacements on the drive gears the transport, folding or the cylinder for the second folding when the machine configuration is changed.

The structure of the actuating parts with which the angular distance between the pairs of parts of the transport cylinder 6, the folding cylinder 12 or the cylinder for the second fold 16 can be changed is described below.

According to a special embodiment shown in FIG. 7, these actuating parts comprise a reversible screw-nut system 80, the screw of which carries a gear 87 and the nut of which also carries a gear 86, and an associated cylinder 90 with which the two concentric gear wheels 87, 86 can be brought together or removed from one another to form a pair of gears in one direction or the other depending on the desired configuration, one of said gears (86) being connected to the gear 52 which is connected to the central part of the transport cylinder 6, while the other (87) is connected to the gear 75, which is connected to the outer part of the cylinder for the second fold 16 to form a closed ring. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the reversible screw-nut system 80 is connected to the gear wheels 52 and 75 here by means of intermediate wheels 81 and 79, which are mounted on the machine frame: The gear wheel 79 meshes with the gear wheel 75 of the cylinder for the second fold 16 and the gear 81 engages in the gear 52 of the transport cylinder 6, this last-mentioned tooth connection being indicated schematically in FIG. 7 by a dash-dot line 200. The exact structure of the screw-nut system 80 can be seen better in FIG. 9, which is described below.

The reversible screw and nut system 80, which is primarily a device for creating a moment to change the machine configuration with a view to achieving a second desired fold, comprises a hollow shaft 95 which is rotatably mounted on the machine frame via two bearings 82 and 83 is. This shaft 95, which represents the screw of the reversible screw-nut system 80, has over a certain length a screw pitch with a large pitch 84, on which a bronze nut 85 is screwed, which represents the nut of the reversible screw-nut system mentioned. The gear 87 is caulked on the other end of the shaft 95, while the gear 86 coaxial therewith is firmly connected to the nut 85. Of course, the approaching or moving away of the nut 85 by screwing on the shaft 95 causes the gears 86 and 87 to rotate accordingly, whereby a moment can be applied in one direction or the other to move part of the gear ring towards the other part of the ring opening this ring on one or the other of the two claws.

This moving away or approaching can, for example, as can be seen in FIG. 9, be realized by providing a central shaft 88 which runs concentrically through the shaft 95, this shaft having a ball bearing 89 on one end Connection to the complex of nut 85 and gear 86 and at the other end has a connection to the shaft of an actuating cylinder 90, which cylinder is connected to the machine frame of the folder.

Thus, when the cylinder 90 exerts a tensile force on the shaft 88, the latter acts on the gear 86 via the bearing 89, which moves on the shaft 86. If the gear 86 has a screw turn to the left and the screw section 84 has a screw turn to the right, as shown in FIG. 9, these effects add up and the sliding movement in the longitudinal direction of the gear 86 corresponds to the application of a moment between the gear wheels 86 and 87, the strength and direction of each depend on the force exerted by the cylinder 90 and its direction of action (in the direction of arrow 91 or in the opposite direction).

It should be noted that when the cylinder 90 pushes the system in the direction of arrow 91, the moment acting on the ring gears is added to the resistance of the machine. Thus, by supplying the cylinder 90 while the machine is operating, this makes it possible to apply a force whose effect is to eliminate the play in the drive direction of the row of gearwheels. In this way, the screw 95 of the reversible screw-nut system 80 can be subjected to a permanent tension, so that an additional function of the play adjustment is carried out during continuous operation of the machine. This pull can be realized by the cylinder 90 of the reversible screw-nut system 80 as just described, but it can also be exerted by other means such as a compression spring (not shown) which is supported on the machine frame. In the latter case, the cylinder 90 only has a function when the modification of the machine is changed with a view to achieving a second parallel fold or a delta fold.

As a variant to the screw-nut system 80 mentioned above, other actuating parts can be used with which the angular distance between the part pairs of the transport cylinder 6 or the folding cylinder 12 can be changed: These parts can, for example, consist of drive parts of the folding apparatus 77, 78 which are operated in a slower manner in one direction or the other depending on the desired configuration, the cylinder for the second fold 16 is then determined by a corresponding brake (not shown here). It can be seen that when the cylinder for the second fold 16 is locked and one or the other claw 60 or 69 is disengaged, the rotation of the machine in one direction or the other leads to the execution of the desired corresponding rotary movements of the claw which is disengaged Cylinder enables. However, this last-mentioned solution is less efficient than the previous one, because one loses the advantage of the additional function of the game adjustment when the machine is in continuous operation.

The aforementioned term of the closed ring, which brings with it the possibility of adjusting the play, can be easily understood if one looks at the schematic illustration in FIG. 6, in which one differentiates the various gear wheels and a pinion row which are used to drive the stop rollers 2, 2 'and 3.3' of the folder, and refers to the perspective section of Figure 10.

The following describes the various successive stages of a configuration change of the folder, which are carried out in order to change from the operating mode with a second parallel fold to the operating mode with a delta fold.

• Entlüftung des Zylinders 90 des Schrauben-Mutter-Systems 80, sodaß der Auflagedruck der Klaue auf den entsprechenden Anschlag (in der Kerbe) aufgehoben wird;
• Lösen der Klaue 60 zur Einstellung des ersten Falzes durch Betätigung des zweiseitig wirkenden Stellzylinders 61;
• Betätigung des Stellzylinders 90 des Schrauben-Mutter-Systems 80 in entgegengesetzter Richtung des Pfeils 91: Die beiden Teile des Transportzylinders 6 drehen sich also in der richtigen Richtung und ermöglichen es, daß jedes Falzmesser aufgrund der Drehung des Bundrings der Klaue 60 an die entsprechenden Punkturen eines Teilepaars herangeführt wird;
• nochmalige Entlüftung des Stellzylinders 90, damit die Klaue 60 ohne parasitäres Moment wieder richtig (in die neue Kerbe) einkuppeln kann;
• Einkupplung der Klaue 60 mit Hilfe des Stellzylinders 61;
• Auskupplung der Klaue 69 mit Hilfe des zugehörigen Stellzylinders 70;
• Betätigung des Stellzylinders 90 des Schrauben-Mutter-Systems 80 in Richtung des Pfeils 91, wodurch der Bundring der Klaue 69 in seine neue Stellung gedreht wird und also eine Drehung der beiden Teile des Falzzylinders 12 in der richtigen Richtung erfolgt;
• erneute Entlüftung des Stellzylinders 90 zur richtigen Einkupplung der Klaue 69 ohne parasitäres Moment;
• Einkupplung der Klaue 69 mit Hilfe des zugehörigen Stellzylinders 70;
• erneute Versorgung des Zylinders 90 des Schrauben-Mutter-Systems 80 in Richtung des Pfeils 91 zur Nachstellung des Spiels.

The individual processes take place as follows, the reversible screw-nut system 80 described above being used here:

• Venting the cylinder 90 of the screw-nut system 80 so that the contact pressure of the claw on the corresponding stop (in the notch) is released;
• Release the claw 60 to adjust the first fold by actuating the double-acting actuating cylinder 61;
• Actuation of the actuating cylinder 90 of the screw-nut system 80 in the opposite direction of the arrow 91: The two parts of the transport cylinder 6 thus rotate in the correct direction and make it possible for each folding knife to reach the corresponding punctures due to the rotation of the collar ring of the claw 60 a pair of parts is introduced;
• venting the actuating cylinder 90 again so that the claw 60 can engage properly (into the new notch) without parasitic moment;
• Coupling the claw 60 with the aid of the actuating cylinder 61;
• Disengaging the claw 69 with the aid of the associated actuating cylinder 70;
• Actuation of the actuating cylinder 90 of the screw-nut system 80 in the direction of the arrow 91, whereby the collar of the claw 69 is rotated into its new position and thus the two parts of the folding cylinder 12 are rotated in the correct direction;
• renewed ventilation of the actuating cylinder 90 for the correct engagement of the claw 69 without parasitic moment;
• Coupling the claw 69 with the aid of the associated actuating cylinder 70;
• renewed supply of the cylinder 90 of the screw-nut system 80 in the direction of arrow 91 to readjust the game.

It should be noted that after completion of these operations, the two parts of the cylinder for the second fold 16 are automatically in the desired configuration, since the associated gears 74 and 75 mesh with the gears 66 and 65 of the folding cylinder 12.

The transport cylinder 6, the folding cylinder 12 and the cylinder for the second fold 16 are then in a configuration for realizing a delta fold. However, one should complete this process by changing the cam position by adjusting the rows of punctures of the transport cylinder 6 and the grippers of the cylinder for the second fold 16. Namely, when the first fold is formed, the position of the release of the punctures should be changed, which is done by rotating the associated cam 91 with the aid of a cylinder 92, as shown in FIG. In the same way, the position of the release of the grippers can be changed by displacing a part of a double cam 93 with the aid of a corresponding cylinder 94 (in this case it is a double cam with which the gripping position is fixed, but the release at variable positions can take place, which corresponds to a cam with an aperture). The opening and closing of the various rows of punches, jaws and grippers is controlled by cams which are firmly connected to the frame and are concentric with the corresponding cylinder which they act on, and which, in a completely conventional manner, control rollers connected to the various shafts by means of levers, as is the case with other folders . Such an adjustment of the positions at which the rows of punctures and the grippers are released is known to all experts and does not need to be described in detail here.

If the configuration of the machine is to be changed in such a way that a configuration with a delta fold is to be changed to a configuration with a second parallel fold, one only needs to reverse the sequence of the above-mentioned operations.

All operations can be carried out one after the other with the help of an electromechanical sequence or with a microprocessor which actuates the various solenoid valves and parts of the automatism concerned.

It should be noted that changing the machine configuration as described above, with the installation of a game re-adjustment, can ipso facto solve all synchronization problems that can occur when these operations are performed manually: in fact, the manually performed operations include the Disassembling and assembling in conventional folders due to the numerous play between the different gears there is a risk of angular deviations from the correct positions of the interacting parts of the different cylinders, which can damage the folding blades or the folding jaws. This disadvantage is now completely eliminated, because a perfect synchronization is obtained without additional adjustment or control operations having to be carried out.

Claims (12)

1. Machine for cutting and folding a printed web of paper, which machine comprises one after the other a cutting cylinder (5), a transporting cylinder (6) having pairs of parts comprising needle rows and folding blades, a folding cylinder (12) having pairs of parts comprising folding jaws for the first fold and folding jaws for the second fold, and a cylinder for the second fold (16) having pairs of parts comprising grippers and folding blades, the abovementioned cylinders such as the transporting cylinder, folding cylinder and cylinder for the second fold comprising two independent parts nested one in the other and movable towards each other, having corresponding driving gear wheels, and these various gearwheels in each case being coupled to one another in pairs in order to ensure the synchronism of the parts which have to interact when the web of paper runs through between two adjacently lying cylinders, characterized in that the driving gear wheels (52, 57) of the two independent parts of the transporting cylinder (6) on the one hand and the driving gear wheels (66, 65) of the two independent parts of the folding cylinder (12) on the other hand are in each case coupled to one another via a coaxial pair of gear wheels (59, 58; 68, 67) connected to one another via a separable coupling, the separation of the coupling of the gear wheels of each pair of gear wheels permitting a changing of the angular distance between the pairs of parts of the relevant cylinder (6; 12), to be precise via corresponding actuating parts (79, 80, 81, 86, 87 or 78, 77), in order to change the configuration of the machine with regard to achieving a second parallel fold or a delta fold.
2. Machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the separable coupling between each pair of gear wheels (59, 58; 68, 67) is realized via a corresponding claw (60; 69) having two fixed positions, limited by stops, these two positions respectively representing the one and the other configuration of the machine.
3. Machine according to Claim 3, characterized in that each claw (60; 69) is controlled by a compressed-air or hydraulic cylinder (61; 70) and a linkage (62; 72).
4. Machine according to Claim 2, characterized in that each claw (60; 69) is actuated manually with the aid of a corresponding adjusting wheel or automatically with the aid of a corresponding unit, such as for example, an electromagnet.
5. Machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the separable coupling between the respective pairs of gear wheels (59, 58; 68, 67) is realized by means of a magnetic clutch with toothing, that is to say a so-called indexed clutch.
6. Machine according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the driving gear wheels (52, 57; 66, 65) fitted on the two independent parts of the transporting cylinder (6) and of the folding cylinder (12) and the gear wheels of the respective pairs of gear wheels (59, 58; 68, 67) are spiral-toothed, two gear wheels fitted on the same axis each having a spiral turn to the left and a spiral turn to the right and each of these pairs of gear wheels (59, 58; 68, 67) being able to be displaced along the axis of rotation by a small distance in order to be able to change the "overhang" of the corresponding fold by means of a corresponding adjusting part (64; 73).
7. Machine according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the actuating parts for changing the angular distance between the pairs of parts of the transporting cylinder (6), of the folding cylinder (12) or of the cylinder for the second fold (16) comprise a reversible screw-nut system (80), on the screw (95) of which one gear wheel (87) is seated and on the nut (85) of which another gear wheel (86) is seated, and a corresponding adjusting cylinder (90), by which the two concentric gear wheels (87, 86) can be brought up to each other or away from each other in order to form in one direction or the other, depending on the desired configuration, a pair of gear wheels, one of the gear wheels (86) being coupled to the gear wheel (52) which is connected to the central part of the transporting cylinder (6) and the other gear wheel (87) being coupled to the gear wheel (75) which is connected to the outer part of the cylinder for the second fold (16), in order to form a closed ring.
8. Machine according to Claim 7, characterized in that the connection of the concentric gear wheels (86; 87) of the reversible screw-nut system (80) is realized by the gear wheels (52; 75) of the respective cylinders (6; 12) via intermediate wheels (81; 79), which are mounted on the machine frame.
9. Machine according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the screw (95) of the reversible screw-nut system (80) can be subjected to a tension in order to perform an additional function with regard to the correction of play in continuous operation of the machine.
10. Machine according to Claim 9, characterized in that the tensile force is effected by the corresponding adjusting cylinder (90) of the reversible screw-nut system (80).
11. Machine according to Claim 9, characterized in that the tensile force is effected by a compression spring which is supported on the machine frame.
12. Machine according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the actuating parts for changing the angular distance between the pairs of parts of the transporting cylinder (6), of the folding cylinder (12) or of the cylinder for the second fold (16) comprise the driving parts of the folding apparatus (77, 78), which in slowed operation are set in motion in one direction or the other, depending on the desired configuration, while the cylinder for the second fold (16) is prevented from rotational movement.

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