EP0576390A1 - Device for collecting sheets into a batch - Google Patents

Device for collecting sheets into a batch Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0576390A1
EP0576390A1 EP93810321A EP93810321A EP0576390A1 EP 0576390 A1 EP0576390 A1 EP 0576390A1 EP 93810321 A EP93810321 A EP 93810321A EP 93810321 A EP93810321 A EP 93810321A EP 0576390 A1 EP0576390 A1 EP 0576390A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
rollers
sheets
roller
stop
drive
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP93810321A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0576390B1 (en
Inventor
Walter Suter
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
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Publication of EP0576390A1 publication Critical patent/EP0576390A1/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/12—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by means of the nip between two, or between two sets of, moving tapes or bands or rollers
    • B65H29/14—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by means of the nip between two, or between two sets of, moving tapes or bands or rollers and introducing into a pile
    • B65H29/145—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by means of the nip between two, or between two sets of, moving tapes or bands or rollers and introducing into a pile the pile being formed between the two, or between the two sets of, tapes or bands or rollers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H31/00—Pile receivers
    • B65H31/30—Arrangements for removing completed piles
    • B65H31/3027—Arrangements for removing completed piles by the nip between moving belts or rollers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H39/00—Associating, collating, or gathering articles or webs
    • B65H39/10—Associating articles from a single source, to form, e.g. a writing-pad
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
    • B65H2301/421—Forming a pile
    • B65H2301/4213—Forming a pile of a limited number of articles, e.g. buffering, forming bundles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
    • B65H2301/422—Handling piles, sets or stacks of articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2408/00—Specific machines
    • B65H2408/10—Specific machines for handling sheet(s)
    • B65H2408/11—Sorters or machines for sorting articles
    • B65H2408/111—Sorters or machines for sorting articles with stationary location in space of the bins and a diverter per bin

Definitions

  • the sheets are printed by a printer connected to the computer, e.g. a laser printer, labeled. You must then, e.g. In the case of multi-page documents, they are put together in a bundle or stack according to their sequence and finally folded or further processed and / or inserted.
  • the present invention is based on the object of specifying a device with which the individual sheets can be collected efficiently and exactly aligned with one another and then transported away together, e.g. into a folding and inserting machine. This object is achieved by the combination of features of the claims.
  • the device consists of a feed element 1 for feeding single sheets 2 in the transport direction A, two transport roller pairs 3, a drive 4 for the roller pairs 3 and a control device 5 for controlling the drive 4.
  • the components of the device are accommodated in a housing 6, which is only indicated.
  • the feed member 1 comprises a plurality of endless lower and upper rubber cords 10, 11 which are guided over deflection rollers 12.
  • the rollers 12 are laterally displaceable and lockable on shafts 13.
  • the lower run of the upper cords 11 runs parallel to the upper run of the lower cords 10.
  • the upstream shafts 13 run in opposite directions via gear wheels 14 coupled to one another and driven by a constantly rotating motor 17 via a toothed belt 15 and further toothed wheels 16.
  • the cords 10, 11 extend in the transport direction beyond the pairs of rollers 3.
  • the sheets 2 are fed to the feed gap of the cords 10, 11 via a guide plate 18, for example from a cross cutting machine or directly from a printer.
  • rollers 20, 21 of the pairs of transport rollers 3 are rotatably connected to two shafts 22, 23 mounted vertically one above the other in the housing 6.
  • the shafts 22, 23 are coupled to one another in opposite directions via further gear wheels 24.
  • Each roller 20, 21 has on the cylindrical outer circumference 25 a wedge-shaped recess 26, 27 with a stop shoulder 28, 29, which lies in a plane containing the roller axis, and a perpendicular, axially parallel surface 30, 31.
  • the stop shoulders 28, 29 in a common vertical plane.
  • the distance between the bearings 32 of the shafts 22, 23 which are fixed to the housing is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the rollers 20, 21, so that these are slightly pressed against one another by the elastic deflection of the shafts 22, 23.
  • the upper shaft 23 can also be supported in a vertically resilient manner.
  • the drive 4 comprises a further gear wheel 40, which is driven by the toothed belt 15 and is coaxial to the shaft 22.
  • a one-speed clutch 41 connects the pinion 40 to the shaft 22.
  • the single-speed clutch 41 has a cylindrical housing 42 with a notch 43, in which a spring-loaded pawl 44 engages in the basic position and thus locks the housing 42.
  • the housing 42 is rotatably connected to the shaft 22.
  • a spring band coupling is arranged inside the housing 42, which is released when the notch 43 stops against the pawl 44 and, when the pawl 44 is lifted off, connects the housing 42 to the shaft 45 of the gearwheel 40 in a rotationally fixed manner.
  • Such single-speed clutches are commercially available.
  • the pawl 44 can be pressed out of the locking notch 43 by an electromagnet 46, so that the shafts 22, 23 are driven by the constantly rotating gearwheel 40 until the magnet 46 is switched off and the pawl 44 engages again in the locking notch 43 and thus the Rollers 20, 21 are again in the basic position shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a.
  • a sheet 2 conveyed into the draw-in gap of the cords 10, 11 is conveyed through it up to the stop of its front edge on the stop shoulders 28, 29.
  • a plurality of rear stops 51 are fastened laterally displaceably and lockably on a crossbar 50.
  • the rod 50 is clamped adjustable in the feed direction A on two rails 52 fixed to the housing.
  • the stops 51 protrude the lower runs of the upper cords 11 and have a vertical stop surface 53 facing the roller pairs 3 and a wedge-shaped, inclined ramp surface 54 facing away from the roller pairs 3.
  • the sheets 2 are guided between two side guide plates 56.
  • machine-readable characters for example bar codes
  • a reading device 60 which activates the control device 5 via a signal to transport the federal government away.
  • a sensor 61 for example a light barrier, immediately upstream of the stop surfaces 53, the control device 5 reports the passage of the rear edge of this last sheet.
  • the magnet 46 which unlocks the single-speed clutch 41, is switched on with a control pulse.
  • the rollers 20, 21 thus rotate and remove the collar 55.
  • the rollers 20, 21 can diverge elastically from one another by the bundle thickness.
  • a further light barrier 62 which keeps the magnet 4 switched on via the control device 5 until the rear edge of the collar 55 has passed the barrier 62.
  • the magnet 46 is switched off, so that the pawl 44 stops the clutch 41 in its basic position. The number of revolutions made by the clutch is automatically adjusted to the blade length.
  • the device described enables single sheets to be collected efficiently and with little effort to form an exactly aligned bundle and to be transported further as a bundle.
  • the step height of the stop shoulders 28, 29 is slightly larger than half of the maximum intended bundle thickness. If only a few sheets 2 need to be collected at a time, it may be expedient to form the recess 26 with the stop shoulder 28 on only one roller 20 of the pair of rollers 3. In tests, it has proven to be expedient to mount a flywheel 65 on the output side of the single-speed clutch 41. As a result, the angle of rotation at which the shafts 22, 23 are stopped in the basic position could be maintained more precisely.
  • the drive 4 for the roller pairs 3 can also be e.g. a servo motor with angular feedback can be used.
  • a servo motor with angular feedback can be used.
  • these can also have two or three recesses 26, 27 at the same angular spacing, the shafts 22, 23 each rotating by an integral multiple of 180 ° or 120 °.
  • the device is connected directly to a printer that writes single sheets, a signal from the printer or an upstream computer for activating the removal of the federal government 55 can also be used instead of the reader 60.
  • the first sheet delivered can already be removed by means of the roller pairs 3 in response to a corresponding signal.
  • FIG. 5 shows the device with an upstream valve or switch arrangement 70, by means of which single sheets 2 or series of sheets in three different ones Compartments 71, 72, 73 can be removed.
  • the three swiveling switch plates 75, 76, 77 required for this purpose, for example actuated by magnets 74, can also be controlled by the signals of the reading device 60. Sheets 2 or series of sheets that are not to be processed further in a folding or inserting machine downstream of the device can thus be discharged and collected separately.
  • the switch arrangement shown requires extremely little space in the direction of transport A.

Abstract

The apparatus has lower and upper endless, circulating rubber bands (10, 11), between which fed sheets (2) are conveyed to a conveying-roller pair (3). The rollers (20, 21) of the pair (3) have wedge-shaped cutouts with stop shoulders, which are in alignment with one another in the basic position of the rollers. The sheets (2) butt against these shoulders and are collected to form a batch (55) which, upon a signal, are conveyed away by synchronous rotation of the rollers (20, 21) through a whole number of revolutions. The apparatus makes it possible to collect the sheets (2) efficiently to form a precise, aligned batch (5), this facilitating further processing. <IMAGE>

Description

Bei der Textverarbeitung und der computergesteuerten Ausgabe von Schriftstücken für den Versand werden die Blätter von einem an den Computer angeschlossenen Drucker, z.B. einem Laser-Drucker, beschriftet. Sie müssen anschliessend, z.B. bei mehrseitigen Dokumenten, entsprechend ihrer Reihenfolge zu einem Bund oder Stapel zusammengestellt und schliesslich gemeinsam gefaltet oder weiterverarbeitet und/oder couvertiert werden.In word processing and computer-controlled output of documents for dispatch, the sheets are printed by a printer connected to the computer, e.g. a laser printer, labeled. You must then, e.g. In the case of multi-page documents, they are put together in a bundle or stack according to their sequence and finally folded or further processed and / or inserted.

Der vorliegenden Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, eine Vorrichtung anzugeben, mit welcher die Einzelblätter effizient und exakt aufeinander ausgerichtet gesammelt und anschliessend gemeinsam abtransportiert werden können, z.B. in eine Falt- und Couvertiermaschine. Diese Aufgabe wird durch die Merkmalskombination der Ansprüche gelöst.The present invention is based on the object of specifying a device with which the individual sheets can be collected efficiently and exactly aligned with one another and then transported away together, e.g. into a folding and inserting machine. This object is achieved by the combination of features of the claims.

Nachfolgend wird ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung anhand der Zeichnungen erläutert. Darin zeigt:

Fig. 1
einen schematischen Längsschnitt durch die Vorrichtung,
Fig. 1a
einen vergrösserten Ausschnitt aus Fig. 1,
Fig. 2
einen Schnitt längs der Linie II-II in Fig. 1,
Fig. 3
eine Ansicht in Richtung des Pfeils III in Fig. 2,
Fig. 4
einen Schnitt längs der Linie IV-IV in Fig. 1, und
Fig. 5
eine der Vorrichtung vorgeschaltete Ventilanordnung
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. It shows:
Fig. 1
a schematic longitudinal section through the device,
Fig. 1a
2 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 1,
Fig. 2
2 shows a section along the line II-II in FIG. 1,
Fig. 3
2 shows a view in the direction of arrow III in FIG. 2,
Fig. 4
a section along the line IV-IV in Fig. 1, and
Fig. 5
a valve arrangement upstream of the device

Die Vorrichtung besteht aus einem Zuführorgan 1 zum Zuführen von Einzelblättern 2 in Transportrichtung A, zwei Transportrollenpaaren 3, einem Antrieb 4 für die Rollenpaare 3 sowie einer Steuereinrichtung 5 zum Steuern des Antriebs 4. Die Komponenten der Vorrichtung sind in einem lediglich angedeuteten Gehäuse 6 untergebracht.The device consists of a feed element 1 for feeding single sheets 2 in the transport direction A, two transport roller pairs 3, a drive 4 for the roller pairs 3 and a control device 5 for controlling the drive 4. The components of the device are accommodated in a housing 6, which is only indicated.

Das Zuführorgan 1 umfasst je mehrere endlose untere und obere Gummischnüre 10, 11, die über Umlenkrollen 12 geführt sind. Die Rollen 12 sind auf Wellen 13 seitlich verschiebbar und arretierbar. Das untere Trum der oberen Schnüre 11 verläuft parallel zum oberen Trum der unteren Schnüre 10.The feed member 1 comprises a plurality of endless lower and upper rubber cords 10, 11 which are guided over deflection rollers 12. The rollers 12 are laterally displaceable and lockable on shafts 13. The lower run of the upper cords 11 runs parallel to the upper run of the lower cords 10.

Die stromaufwärtigen Wellen 13 sind über Zahnräder 14 gegenläufig miteinander gekoppelt und über einen Zahnriemen 15 und weitere Zahnräder 16 von einem konstant drehenden Motor 17 angetrieben. Die Schnüre 10, 11 erstrecken sich in Transportrichtung über die Rollenpaare 3 hinaus. Die Blätter 2 werden dem Einzugsspalt der Schnüre 10, 11 über ein Leitblech 18 z.B. von einer Querschneidmaschine oder direkt von einem Printer zugeführt.The upstream shafts 13 run in opposite directions via gear wheels 14 coupled to one another and driven by a constantly rotating motor 17 via a toothed belt 15 and further toothed wheels 16. The cords 10, 11 extend in the transport direction beyond the pairs of rollers 3. The sheets 2 are fed to the feed gap of the cords 10, 11 via a guide plate 18, for example from a cross cutting machine or directly from a printer.

Die Rollen 20, 21 der Transportrollenpaare 3 sind drehfest mit zwei senkrecht übereinander im Gehäuse 6 gelagerten Wellen 22, 23 verbunden. Die Wellen 22, 23 sind über weitere Zahnräder 24 gegenläufig miteinander gekoppelt. Jede Rolle 20, 21 hat am zylindrischen Aussenumfang 25 eine keilförmige Ausnehmung 26, 27 mit einer Anschlagschulter 28, 29, die in einer die Rollenachse enthaltenden Ebene liegt, sowie einer dazu senkrechten, achsparallelen Fläche 30, 31. In der in Fig. 1 und 1a dargestellten Grundstellung der Rollen 20, 21 liegen die Anschlagschultern 28, 29 in einer gemeinsamen Vertikalebene. Der Abstand der gehäusefesten Lager 32 der Wellen 22, 23 voneinander ist etwas geringer als der Durchmesser der Rollen 20, 21, so dass diese durch die elastische Durchbiegung der Wellen 22, 23 leicht gegeneinander gepresst sind. Alternativ kann die obere Welle 23 auch vertikal federnd gelagert sein. Der Antrieb 4 umfasst ein weiteres Zahnrad 40, das vom Zahnriemen 15 angetrieben wird und koaxial zur Welle 22 ist. Eine Eintourenkupplung 41 verbindet das Zanrad 40 mit der Welle 22.The rollers 20, 21 of the pairs of transport rollers 3 are rotatably connected to two shafts 22, 23 mounted vertically one above the other in the housing 6. The shafts 22, 23 are coupled to one another in opposite directions via further gear wheels 24. Each roller 20, 21 has on the cylindrical outer circumference 25 a wedge-shaped recess 26, 27 with a stop shoulder 28, 29, which lies in a plane containing the roller axis, and a perpendicular, axially parallel surface 30, 31. In the in Fig. 1 and 1a shown basic position of the rollers 20, 21 are the stop shoulders 28, 29 in a common vertical plane. The distance between the bearings 32 of the shafts 22, 23 which are fixed to the housing is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the rollers 20, 21, so that these are slightly pressed against one another by the elastic deflection of the shafts 22, 23. Alternatively, the upper shaft 23 can also be supported in a vertically resilient manner. The drive 4 comprises a further gear wheel 40, which is driven by the toothed belt 15 and is coaxial to the shaft 22. A one-speed clutch 41 connects the pinion 40 to the shaft 22.

Die Eintourenkupplung 41 hat ein zylindrisches Gehäuse 42 mit einer Rastkerbe 43, in welche in der Grundstellung eine federbelastete Klinke 44 eingreift und damit das Gehäuse 42 arretiert. Das Gehäuse 42 ist drehfest mit der Welle 22 verbunden. Innerhalb des Gehäuses 42 ist eine Federbandkupplung angeordnet, welche beim Anschlag der Rastkerbe 43 gegen die Klinke 44 gelöst wird und beim Abheben der Klinke 44 das Gehäuse 42 drehfest mit der Welle 45 des Zahnrades 40 verbindet. Solche Eintourenkupplungen sind kommerziell erhältlich. Durch einen Elektromagneten 46 kann die Klinke 44 aus der Rastkerbe 43 ausgedrückt werden, so dass die Wellen 22, 23 durch das ständig drehende Zahnrad 40 angetrieben werden, bis der Magnet 46 ausgeschaltet wird und die Klinke 44 wieder in der Rastkerbe 43 einrastet und damit die Rollen 20, 21 wieder in der in Fig. 1 und 1a gezeigten Grundstellung sind.The single-speed clutch 41 has a cylindrical housing 42 with a notch 43, in which a spring-loaded pawl 44 engages in the basic position and thus locks the housing 42. The housing 42 is rotatably connected to the shaft 22. A spring band coupling is arranged inside the housing 42, which is released when the notch 43 stops against the pawl 44 and, when the pawl 44 is lifted off, connects the housing 42 to the shaft 45 of the gearwheel 40 in a rotationally fixed manner. Such single-speed clutches are commercially available. The pawl 44 can be pressed out of the locking notch 43 by an electromagnet 46, so that the shafts 22, 23 are driven by the constantly rotating gearwheel 40 until the magnet 46 is switched off and the pawl 44 engages again in the locking notch 43 and thus the Rollers 20, 21 are again in the basic position shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a.

Ein in den Einzugsspalt der Schnüre 10, 11 gefördertes Blatt 2 wird durch diese bis zum Anschlag seiner Vorderkante an den Anschlagschultern 28, 29 befördert. Um zu erreichen, dass das nächste Blatt 2 über dieses erste Blatt 2 geleitet wird, und um gleichzeitig einen Rückprall der Blätter 2 von den Anschlagschultern 28, 29 zu verhindern, sind auf einer Querstange 50 mehrere hintere Anschläge 51 seitlich verschiebbar und arretierbar befestigt. Die Stange 50 ist in Vorschubrichtung A einstellbar an zwei gehäusefesten Schienen 52 festgeklemmt. Die Anschläge 51 überragen die unteren Trums der oberen Schnüre 11 und haben eine senkrechte, den Rollenpaaren 3 zugewandte Anschlagfläche 53 und eine keilförmige, von den Rollenpaaren 3 abgewandte, geneigte Auflauffläche 54. Die Blätter 2 werden zwischen zwei Seitenführungsblechen 56 geführt.A sheet 2 conveyed into the draw-in gap of the cords 10, 11 is conveyed through it up to the stop of its front edge on the stop shoulders 28, 29. In order to ensure that the next sheet 2 is guided over this first sheet 2 and at the same time to prevent the sheets 2 from rebounding from the stop shoulders 28, 29, a plurality of rear stops 51 are fastened laterally displaceably and lockably on a crossbar 50. The rod 50 is clamped adjustable in the feed direction A on two rails 52 fixed to the housing. The stops 51 protrude the lower runs of the upper cords 11 and have a vertical stop surface 53 facing the roller pairs 3 and a wedge-shaped, inclined ramp surface 54 facing away from the roller pairs 3. The sheets 2 are guided between two side guide plates 56.

Wenn ein neues Blatt 2 zugeführt wird, wird es durch die Auflauffläche 54 der hinteren Anschläge 51 über die bereits zwischen den Anschlagschultern 28, 29 und den Anschlagflächen 53 zu einem Bund 55 gesammelten Blätter 2 angehoben, wobei der untere Trum der oberen Schnüre 11 nach oben ausgelenkt wird. Sobald das neue Blatt 2 an den Schultern 28, 29 anschlägt, wird sein hinterer Rand durch die Schnüre 11 hinter den Anschlägen 51 nach unten gedrückt, so dass die Blätter 2 nicht zurückprallen können.When a new sheet 2 is fed, it is raised by the run-on surface 54 of the rear stops 51 over the sheets 2 already collected between the stop shoulders 28, 29 and the stop surfaces 53 to form a collar 55, the lower run of the upper cords 11 being upward is deflected. As soon as the new sheet 2 strikes the shoulders 28, 29, its rear edge is pressed down by the cords 11 behind the stops 51, so that the sheets 2 cannot rebound.

In Betrieb arbeitet die beschriebene Vorrichtung wie folgt:In operation, the device described works as follows:

Werden z.B. Endlosformulare über eine vorgeschaltete Vorrichtung mit zwei Randabschneidern zum Abtrennen der gelochten Randstreifen und einem Querschneider zugeführt, so können auf dem abzutrennenden Randstreifen maschinenlesbare Zeichen, z.B. Strichcods angebracht sein, die das letzte Blatt des zu sammelnden Bundes 55 markieren. Diese Zeichen werden von einem Lesegerät 60 erkannt, das über ein Signal die Steuereinrichtung 5 zum Abtransport des Bundes aktiviert. Ein Fühler 61, z.B. eine Lichtschranke, unmittelbar stromaufwärts der Anschlagflächen 53 meldet der Steuereinrichtung 5 die Passage der Hinterkante dieses letzten Blattes. Auf das Signal dieses Fühlers hin wird mit einem Steuerimpuls der Magnet 46 eingeschaltet, der die Eintourenkupplung 41 entsperrt. Damit drehen die Rollen 20, 21 und transportieren den Bund 55 ab. Durch die Elastizität der Wellen 22, 23 können die Rollen 20, 21 dabei um die Bunddicke elastisch voneinander ausweichen. Unmittelbar stromabwärts der Rollen 20, 21 befindet sich eine weitere Lichtschranke 62, welche über die Steuereinrichtung 5 den Magneten 4 eingeschaltet hält, bis die Hinterkante des Bundes 55 die Schranke 62 passiert hat. Sobald dies geschehen ist, wird der Magnet 46 ausgeschaltet, so dass die Klinke 44 die Kupplung 41 in ihrer Grundstellung stoppt. Die Anzahl der dabei von der Kupplung ausgeführten Umdrehungen wird damit automatisch der Blattlänge angepasst.If, for example, continuous forms are fed in via an upstream device with two edge cutters for separating the perforated edge strips and a cross cutter, machine-readable characters, for example bar codes, can be attached to the edge strip to be separated, which mark the last sheet of the bundle 55 to be collected. These characters are recognized by a reading device 60, which activates the control device 5 via a signal to transport the federal government away. A sensor 61, for example a light barrier, immediately upstream of the stop surfaces 53, the control device 5 reports the passage of the rear edge of this last sheet. In response to the signal from this sensor, the magnet 46, which unlocks the single-speed clutch 41, is switched on with a control pulse. The rollers 20, 21 thus rotate and remove the collar 55. Due to the elasticity of the shafts 22, 23, the rollers 20, 21 can diverge elastically from one another by the bundle thickness. Immediately downstream of the rollers 20, 21 there is a further light barrier 62, which keeps the magnet 4 switched on via the control device 5 until the rear edge of the collar 55 has passed the barrier 62. As soon as this has happened, the magnet 46 is switched off, so that the pawl 44 stops the clutch 41 in its basic position. The number of revolutions made by the clutch is automatically adjusted to the blade length.

Durch die beschriebene Vorrichtung können Einzelblätter effizient und mit wenig Aufwand zu einem exakt ausgerichteten Bund gesammelt und als Bund weitertransportiert werden. Damit wird die Weiterverarbeitung des Bundes, z.B. in einer Falt- und Couvertiermaschine, erheblich erleichtert.The device described enables single sheets to be collected efficiently and with little effort to form an exactly aligned bundle and to be transported further as a bundle. The further processing of the federal government, e.g. in a folding and inserting machine, considerably easier.

Die Stufenhöhe der Anschlagschultern 28, 29 ist etwas grösser als die Hälfte der maximal vorgesehenen Bunddicke. Falls nur jeweils wenige Blätter 2 gesammelt werden müssen, kann es zweckmässig sein, die Ausnehmung 26 mit der Anschlagschulter 28 nur an jeweils einer Rolle 20 des Rollenpaares 3 auszubilden. In Versuchen hat es sich als zweckmässig erwiesen, auf der Abtriebsseite der Eintourenkupplung 41 eine Schwungmasse 65 anzubringen. Dadurch konnte der Drehwinkel, in welchem die Wellen 22, 23 in der Grundstellung gestoppt werden, präziser eingehalten werden.The step height of the stop shoulders 28, 29 is slightly larger than half of the maximum intended bundle thickness. If only a few sheets 2 need to be collected at a time, it may be expedient to form the recess 26 with the stop shoulder 28 on only one roller 20 of the pair of rollers 3. In tests, it has proven to be expedient to mount a flywheel 65 on the output side of the single-speed clutch 41. As a result, the angle of rotation at which the shafts 22, 23 are stopped in the basic position could be maintained more precisely.

Statt der Eintourenkupplung 41 kann als Antrieb 4 für die Rollenpaare 3 auch z.B. ein Servomotor mit Winkelrückführung eingesetzt werden. Bei grossem Umfang der Rollen 20, 21 können diese in gleilchmässigem Winkelabstand auch zwei oder drei Ausnehmungen 26, 27 aufweisen, wobei die Wellen 22, 23 jeweils um ein ganzzahliges Vielfaches von 180° bzw. 120° drehen.Instead of the single-speed clutch 41, the drive 4 for the roller pairs 3 can also be e.g. a servo motor with angular feedback can be used. In the case of a large circumference of the rollers 20, 21, these can also have two or three recesses 26, 27 at the same angular spacing, the shafts 22, 23 each rotating by an integral multiple of 180 ° or 120 °.

Wenn die Vorrichtung direkt an einen Drucker angeschlossen ist, der Einzelblätter beschreibt, kann an Stelle des Lesegerätes 60 auch ein Signal des Druckers oder eines vorgeschalteten Computers zum Aktivieren des Abtransportes des Bundes 55 verendet werden. Selbstverständlich kann auf ein entsprechendes Signal hin bereits das erste angelieferte Blatt mittels der Rollenpaare 3 abtransportiert werden.If the device is connected directly to a printer that writes single sheets, a signal from the printer or an upstream computer for activating the removal of the federal government 55 can also be used instead of the reader 60. Of course, the first sheet delivered can already be removed by means of the roller pairs 3 in response to a corresponding signal.

In Fig. 5 ist die Vorrichtung mit einer vorgeschalteten Ventil- oder Weichenanordnung 70 gezeigt, mittels welcher Einzelblätter 2 oder Serien von Blättern in drei verschiedene Fächer 71, 72, 73 ausgeschleust werden können. Die dazu erforderlichen, z.B. durch Magnete 74 betätigten drei schwenkbaren Weichen-Bleche 75, 76, 77 können ebenfalls durch die Signale des Lesegerätes 60 gesteuert sein. Damit können Blätter 2 oder Serien von Blättern, die nicht in einer der Vorrichtung nachgeschalteten Falt- oder Couvertiermaschine weiter verarbeitet werden sollen, ausgeschleust und separat gesammelt werden. Die dargestelle Weichenanordnung benötigt in Transportrichtung A ausserordentlich wenig Raum.5 shows the device with an upstream valve or switch arrangement 70, by means of which single sheets 2 or series of sheets in three different ones Compartments 71, 72, 73 can be removed. The three swiveling switch plates 75, 76, 77 required for this purpose, for example actuated by magnets 74, can also be controlled by the signals of the reading device 60. Sheets 2 or series of sheets that are not to be processed further in a folding or inserting machine downstream of the device can thus be discharged and collected separately. The switch arrangement shown requires extremely little space in the direction of transport A.

Claims (10)

Vorrichtung zum Sammeln von Einzelblättern (2) zu einem Bund (55) bzw. Stapel von mehreren Blättern (2) und zum gemeinsamen Abtransport des Bundes (55), umfassend: ein Zuführorgan (1) zum Zuführen der Blätter (2) in einer Transportrichtung (A);
ein Transportrollenpaar (3) mit einer ersten Rolle (20) und einer gegen diese anliegenden zweiten Rolle (21), wobei mindestens die erste Rolle (20) am kreiszylindrischen Aussenumfang (25) mindestens eine erste keilförmige Ausnehmung (26) mit einer ersten Anschlagschulter (28) für die Vorderkante der vom Zuführorgan (1) zugeführten Blätter (2) aufweist, die in einer die Achse der ersten Rolle (20) enthaltenden Ebene liegt, wobei diese Ebene bzw. eine dieser Ebenen in der Grundstellung der ersten Rolle (20) annähernd senkrecht zur Transportrichtung (A) ist;
einen Antrieb (4), dessen Abtriebswelle (22) drehfest mit mindestens der ersten Rolle (20) verbunden ist; und eine Steuereinrichtung (5), die auf ein Signal hin den Antrieb (4) derart aktiviert, dass die erste Rolle (20) aus ihrer Grundstellung dreht und anschliessend wieder in der Grundstellung still steht.Apparatus for collecting single sheets (2) into a bundle (55) or stack of several sheets (2) and for transporting the bundle (55) together, comprising: a feed element (1) for feeding the sheets (2) in a transport direction (A);
a pair of transport rollers (3) with a first roller (20) and a second roller (21) resting against them, at least the first roller (20) on the circular cylindrical outer circumference (25) having at least one first wedge-shaped recess (26) with a first stop shoulder ( 28) for the front edge of the sheets (2) fed by the feed element (1), which lies in a plane containing the axis of the first roller (20), this plane or one of these planes in the basic position of the first roller (20) is approximately perpendicular to the transport direction (A);
a drive (4), the output shaft (22) of which is non-rotatably connected to at least the first roller (20); and a control device (5) which, upon a signal, activates the drive (4) in such a way that the first roller (20) rotates from its basic position and then stops again in the basic position. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zweite Rolle (21) eine zur ersten Ausnehmung (26) spiegelsymmetrische zweite Ausnehmung (27) mit einer zweiten Anschlagschulter (29) aufweist, die in der Grundstellung der Rollen (20,21) mit der ersten Anschlagschulter (28) fluchtet, wobei die Rollen (20,21) gegenläufig drehfest miteinander verbunden sind.Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the second roller (21) has a second recess (27) mirror-symmetrical to the first recess (26) with a second stop shoulder (29) which, in the basic position of the rollers (20, 21), with the the first stop shoulder (28) is aligned, the rollers (20, 21) being connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei das Zuführorgan (1) aus je mehreren endlosen, umlaufend angetriebenen unteren und oberen Schnüren (10,11) gebildet ist.Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the feed member (1) is formed from a plurality of endless, rotating driven lower and upper cords (10,11). Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, wobei die Rollen (20,21) zwischen den Schnüren (10,11) angeordnet sind.Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the rollers (20,21) are arranged between the cords (10,11). Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3 oder 4, wobei zwischen den Schnüren (10,11) mindestens ein die oberen Schnüre (11) überrangender hinterer Anschlag (51) angeordnet ist mit einer zur Transportrichtung (A) senkrechten, dem Transportrollenpaar (3) zugewandten Anschlagfläche (53) und einer vom Transportrollenpaar (3) abgewandten, zur Transportrichtung (A) geneigten Auflauffläche (54), die ein neu zugeführtes Blatt (2) über bereits an den Anschlagschultern (28,29) anliegende Blätter (2) anhebt.Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein between the cords (10, 11) at least one rear stop (51) overriding the upper cords (11) is arranged with a stop surface (53) perpendicular to the transport direction (A) and facing the pair of transport rollers (3) ) and a run-up surface (54) which faces away from the pair of transport rollers (3) and is inclined to the transport direction (A) and which lifts a newly fed sheet (2) over sheets (2) already resting against the stop shoulders (28, 29). Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 5, wobei stromaufwärts des hinteren Anschlags (51) ein Fühler (61) zum Abtasten der Hinterkante des letzten Blattes (2) des Bundes (55) und zum Auslösen des Antriebs (4) vorhanden ist.Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein upstream of the rear stop (51) a sensor (61) for scanning the rear edge of the last sheet (2) of the collar (55) and for triggering the drive (4) is present. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, wobei der Antrieb (4) eine Eintourenkupplung (41) und die Steuereinrichtung (5) ein Auslöseorgan (46) zum Auslösen der Eintourenkupplung (41) umfasst.Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the drive (4) comprises a single-speed clutch (41) and the control device (5) comprises a trigger element (46) for triggering the single-speed clutch (41). Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Steuereinrichtung (5) einen Fühler (62) unmittelbar stromabwärts der Rollen (20,21) umfasst, der das Auslöseorgan (46) betätigt hält, bis die Hinterkante des abtransportierten Bundes (55) den Fühler (62) passiert hat.Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control device (5) comprises a sensor (62) immediately downstream of the rollers (20, 21), which holds the release member (46) actuated, until the rear edge of the removed bundle (55) the sensor (62) happened. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, wobei die Steuereinrichtung (5) ein Lesegerät (60) zum Aktivieren des Antriebs (4) enthält.Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the control device (5) contains a reader (60) for activating the drive (4). Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, wobei dem Zuführorgan (1) eine Ventil- oder Weichenanordnung (70) vorgeschaltet ist zum Ausschleusen von Blättern (2).Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the feed member (1) is preceded by a valve or switch arrangement (70) for discharging sheets (2).
EP93810321A 1992-05-15 1993-05-04 Device for collecting sheets into a batch Expired - Lifetime EP0576390B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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CH1566/92 1992-05-15
CH156692 1992-05-15

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US5342038A (en) 1994-08-30

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