EP0768262B1 - Device for finishing signatures - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine has a single module containing a station (18) for stacking and aligning the sheets as they are received from an intake station (14). A second station (20) is used for stapling the stacked sheets. A folding station (30) and at least one output station (26,36) create the finished booklets. The machine also incorporates a guillotine station (32) to trim the folded sheets. The folding station has at least one pair of rollers (30a) interacting with a pusher (30b) to fold the sheets. A point switching system (24) enables the stacked and stapled sheets to be sent to a stacking chamber (26) or a receiving table (36).

Description

The present invention relates to a finishing machine for booklets formed from stacked individual sheets and stapled, comprising, integrated in a single module, a stacking and alignment station for sheets received at from an entry station, a stapling station bundles of stacked and aligned sheets, a station folding staples of stapled sheets and at least one station output of finished booklets. A machine like this is known from document WO 92/12087.

Among the many operations that can enter the finishing booklets that are formed from sheets stacked and stapled, we find aligning sheets received from a station input, stapling of bundles of stacked sheets, folding of the bundles and, optionally, the cutting of the bundles folded to give them a precise dimension. All these finishing operations are normally accomplished by individual units arranged at the outlet a reproduction machine such as a printer, copious, etc. For their correct functioning, the different finishing units require adjustment and alignment specific to each other and to the source of the leaves. The necessary adjustments are made by qualified personnel and are therefore expensive.

The present invention provides a finishing machine which does not requires no adjustment for correct operation of all finishing units and that allows for common alignment of all the stations of the machine according to the center of the sheets which cross. More specifically, the present invention provides a machine for finishing booklets formed from individual sheets stacked and stapled, which is remarkable in that it has an axis of symmetry longitudinal common to all stations and adjustable, allowing a common alignment of all stations according to the center of the leaves.

If necessary, the machine also includes, also integrated in this module, a bundle cutter station folded, therefore arranged between the folding station and the exit station.

To increase the flexibility of use of the machine, it preferably includes, on the route between the station stapling and folding station, a switch allowing to selectively divert bundles of stapled sheets to an additional exit station for booklets without folding. So, by the simple choice of the position of the referral, you get either leaf booklets folded at the main output station of the machine, i.e. booklets made of unfolded sheets at the exit additional.

la Fig. 1 représente, très schématiquement, la disposition des différentes unités à l'intérieur de la machine ;

les Fig. 2 et 3 représentent, très schématiquement, deux vues de dessus de la machine pour des formats différents de papier ; et

la Fig. 4 représente une variante de réalisation de la machine.

Other details and particularities of the invention will emerge from the following description with reference to the appended drawing, of which

Fig. 1 shows, very schematically, the arrangement of the different units inside the machine;

Figs. 2 and 3 show, very schematically, two top views of the machine for different sizes of paper; and

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the machine.

The finishing machine, as shown in FIG. 1, is in the form of a monoblock, with a bodywork 10 resting on a chassis 12. An inlet 14 for sheets of paper coming out of a reproduction, is arranged on the upstream side of the body 10. The sheets of paper can be received in 14 or in block, either in tablecloth or successively, sheet by sheet. A conveyor 16 brings them to a stacking station 18 and alignment in front of an adjustable stop 18a. A station 20 stapling is associated with the stacking station 18 and alignment. In a manner known per se, the station 20 of stapling comprises a movable stapling head 20a and a coil 20b from which the metal wire including the staples are incorporated, is withdrawn. According to the position of the stop 18a, the staples are placed either near an edge of the leaves, either along a center line of the pile in view production of folded booklets.

After stapling, the bundles are supported by a another conveyor to bring them to a switch 24 to two positions. In its first position, intended for booklets stapled "overhead", that is to say having the staples placed near the edge of the sheets, the switch 24 passes the booklets to a stacking table 26 where the booklets are stacked. In its second position, the switch 24 directs staples stapled along a center line, toward a third conveyor 28 which is curved at 180 ° for return the bundles. The bundles thus returned are brought by the conveyor 28 into a folding station 30. This folding station 30 comprises a pair of rollers 30a and a folding knife 30b associated with these rollers 30a.

By an adjustable stop 30c, the bundles are aligned by compared to folding knife 30b, resting on the rollers 30a. Thanks to the inversion of the bundles, curved ends of the staples are arranged on the side of the folding knife 30b, so that after folding towards the bottom by the knife 30b in cooperation with the rollers 30a, they are inside the folded booklet. This folded booklet comes out straight from folding station 30 towards a cutter station 32 and against a stop adjustable and retractable 32a thereof. This station 32 trimming is optional. It includes, so usual, a blade / counter blade assembly. By transferring booklets folded in a straight line from the folding station 30 towards the paper cutter station 32 and without allowing booklets to open, we get a good accuracy of cutting, avoiding in particular that the upper half or the outer sheet is offset from the rest of the booklet.

Finally, by a fourth conveyor 34, the finished booklets are evacuated to another reception table 36.

All of these stations can be driven by one engine block 38, shown diagrammatically with a flywheel 40. For some machine aggregates, it will be better to have a separate training group, such as a motor 42 associated with the folding knife 30b in order to back and forth.

As can be seen from the attached drawing, the trajectory of the sheets through the machine is first ascending then straight from entrance 14 to switch 24, then bent downwards along the conveyor 28 and then straight to the folding station 30. Then the trajectory is first straight from station 30 of folding up to the stop 32a, which is retracted after the cutter operation to allow finished booklets to pass to the reception table 36 according to a curved trajectory first upwards and then, after a inflection point, towards the horizontal plane of the table reception 36. This complex trajectory of the leaves to through the machine allows an advantageous arrangement of all stations and all aggregates inside body 10, making maximum use of available space inside of it. So we get a set compact which requires only little surface on the ground, especially in comparison with conventional solutions where several independent units are arranged in succession.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the machine, illustrated in fig. 2 and 3, all of its stations are secured to allow lateral movement simultaneous inside the body 10 for a lateral alignment of the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the machine relative to the center of the sheets received by entry 14. Lateral displacement of the order of 100 mm will generally be sufficient. This displacement could be automatically controlled by the setting of paper sizes.

As seen in Fig. 2, the leaves F emerging from a printer 40 are aligned with respect to a side stopper of this printer. The movable mechanism inside the body 10 is centered on the middle of sheet F. In the case of FIG. 3, sheet f, of a larger format small, is also aligned with the same stopper the printer but the moving mechanism inside the body remains centered relative to the middle of the sheet f, thanks to a lateral displacement in the bodywork 10.

The monobloc construction of the machine offers many benefits. First, only one height adjustment will be sufficient to align inlet 14 with the outlet of a reproduction machine or other. The footprint is significantly lower than that of several units independent arranged in succession. Lateral alignment simultaneous of all stations inside the body 10 is a simple operation that can be automated. Indeed, in many machines conventional sheets are aligned with the edge right or left of the sheet, so that the center of the sheet varies depending on the format. This variation from the center of the sheet therefore causes a lateral adjustment to each change in paper size. These operations adjustment are avoided by alignment along the center of the sheet, as provided in this machine. In in addition, the stapling, folding and transport processes leaves work best when the leaf is centered on the axis of symmetry of the machine.

Finally, compared to a conventional solution with several independent units, the one-piece machine according to the invention requires fewer access doors, bodywork, electrical or mechanical components, allowing motorization or centralized adjustments, thus leading to a reduction in costs.

In the variant embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the machine has a total of four outputs: table 36 of reception, stacking table 26 and two outlets additional. The first additional output is a inspection box 42, the second a reception table 44. Switch 24 therefore directs the booklets either to the station 30 of folding, either towards one of the three outlets 26, 42, 44, two other switches 25 and 27 being further provided for dispense from switch 24. appreciate the great flexibility of use of this embodiment of the machine.

Claims (7)

1. Machine for the finishing of booklets, formed of individual, piled and stapled sheets, that is integrated in a single module, comprising:

   a piling- and alignment station (18) for sheets from an infeed station (14);

   a stapling station (20) for stacks of piled and aligned sheets;

   a folding station (30) for stapled sheets; and

   at least one delivery station (26, 36) for finished booklets,

   characterized in that:
   it has an adjustable longitudinal axis of symmetry common to all of its stations, allowing a common alignment of all stations with respect to the middle of the sheets.
2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a trimming station (32) for folded stacks, that is likewise integrated into the module.
3. Machine according to one of the claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the folding station (30) comprises at least one pair of rollers (30a) that cooperate with a folding knife (30b), each stack resting on them before getting between the rollers by means of the folding knife (30b).
4. Machine according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each folded stack coming from the folding station (30) is taken over, without sheet reversal, by the trimming station (32) that comprises a guidance for the stack, with a rotatable stop (32a) for the folded spine of the stack, the trimming station (32) comprising folding knives provided near the pair of rollers (30a), and the stop (32a) being provided in the direction of conveyance behind the folding knives.
5. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a deflector (24) provided between the staple station (20) and the folding station (30), allowing to selectively deviate the stacks of stapled sheets to at least one additional delivery (26) for not-folded booklets.
6. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that a first additional delivery is formed by a control stacker-plate (42), a second one by a stacking table (28) and a third one by a reception table (44), additional deflectors (25, 27) being provided, to switch the conveyance path between the additional deliveries.
7. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises, provided on the path between the deflector (24) and the folding station (30), a deviation from an essentially linear and ascending course to an essentially linear and descending course, causing a reversal of the stacks of sheets.

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