EP0970820B1 - Transport device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a transport device, in particular a Transport device, the signatures, which are on a saddle chain of a saddle stitcher move, transported away from the saddle chain.

In the production of bound printed products, such as. B. books, periodicals, Magazines, etc., are known to come with transportation and collating devices for use. After the individual sheets or signatures have been compiled, the collected bundles via a transport device further Processing stations are supplied, for. B. a trimmer or a stapling station.

In a known transport device, the collated signatures from one Saddle chain to a processing station, e.g. B a stapling station, passes the Signatures of the stapling station fed via a pendulum arrangement. The bundle collated signatures is taken up by the pendulum arrangement to which Stapling station moved and released there. The pendulum arrangement then moves back and takes the following bundle of signatures to the stapling station feed, while at the same time the previously handed over to the stapling station and meanwhile stapled bundles are picked up again and fed to the delivery. A Transfer device and a stapling machine of this type are in US 3,317,026 described.

The known transport systems for saddle stitchers include a so-called Pendulum gripper system, which has a number of grippers arranged in a row, the when closed, press against the outside of the book. These grippers work on a counter pressure rod on the inside of the book in a way that a Half of the book is held between the grippers and the platen. The Grippers open, hand the book over to the stapling station and move back again in the closed state. The grippers close around on the Transport device moving books when moving forward again put. In this way, the books are accelerated away from the saddle chain and into stopped at a stapling position. The entire gripper and counter-pressure rod arrangement is arranged on a linear sliding surface and is back and forth by a crank mechanism emotional.

With this arrangement, however, a relatively large mass has to be moved back and forth, which requires strong support frames and a sliding system that is oiled accordingly must become. If the arrangement is driven by a crank mechanism, the Speeds can be adjusted only with difficulty, since a crank only simple harmonic Can perform movements. Since the gripper and back-pressure rod arrangement also only one side of the book can contact is the higher speed at the other side of the book, which creates the risk that the Book spine is moved by the saddle when braking quickly, causing the book to not is stapled exactly in the middle.

Document US-A-4 522 384 further describes a transport device for transporting moving bundles of signatures from a saddle chain to a processing station, the transport device comprising a pair of conveying means comprises a first and a second belt device.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved transport device, in particular is suitable for collecting signatures from a moving chain to one Transport processing station.

The present invention relates in particular to a transport device which is suitable for moving collected signatures or bundles of signatures from a saddle chain to a processing station. A variety collected signatures, which are arranged one above the other on a saddle chain and have reached a position at which they are to be fed to a processing station, are transferred to the transport device, which takes them from the saddle chain to the Processing station moves. The transport device comprises a first pair of Funding means, which has a first and a second conveying element, which are at a distance to each other and to each other. While the signatures on the Saddle chain are arranged, one side of the signatures moves into the space between the first and the second conveying element, and the signature bundle is on captured in this way by the transport device. The signatures are between the gripped the first and the second conveyor element and accelerated away from the saddle chain, by accelerating the first pair of grants. The signatures then become transported to the processing station. The funding elements are from a Drive device driven, which is controlled by a control device, which the drive device is coupled. In response to a corresponding signal from the control device are the opposite conveyor elements from the drive device slowed down and stopped when the signature bundle is in the correct position at the Processing station has reached. The conveyor elements can open at this point and the signatures for further processing, for example to a wire stitching device to hand over. After completion of the machining process, the conveyor elements if necessary, close it again and the bundle of signatures away from the processing station accelerate and to another processing station or in a transfer position convey in which the signatures for final processing to another Conveyor device will be handed over. At the transfer position, the Signatures released and sent to a last processing station, e.g. B. a trimmer, to hand over.

Each conveyor element of the pair of conveyors preferably comprises belt devices for transporting signatures. At the time the signatures are in the Gap between the belt devices, close the Tape devices and grab the signatures. Because the tape device, which preferably consists of a pair of bands that can move faster than the saddle chain, becomes a first Bundle of signatures reaching the conveyor belt device away from the chain accelerated and stopped in a processing position in which the belts open can, while a subsequent second bundle of signatures continues with constant Speed moved slowly on the saddle chain. After finishing the first Processing process at the first processing station closes the pair of belts again and grabs the first bundle of collated signatures on the first Processing station and the subsequent second bundle gathered Signatures, which is now a position in the space between the Has reached belt devices. The first bundle of signatures is placed in a transfer position moves while the second bundle of signatures to the first processing station is transported.

In a first embodiment, signatures are on a moving saddle chain hanging together, with the first page of the signatures on one side the saddle chain and the second side of the signatures is on the other side of the Saddle chain is located. The drive device sets this to a signal from the control device Pair of bands in motion. Once the tapes are moving the speed Have reached the saddle chain, the signatures enter the space between the Bands, at which point there is preferably no difference between the Speed of the saddle chain and the speed of the belts. thereupon close the bands, d. H. they capture the bundle of signatures and accelerate them Signatures away from the saddle chain. Accordingly, the acceleration of the belts and the preceding continuous movement of the signatures in time be coordinated. This means that the control device sends the signal in time Accelerate the belts must be given the right time from the Speed of the moving saddle chain and the acceleration of the belts is dependent. The bundle of signatures is then accelerated away from the saddle chain. Upon a further signal from the control device, the drive slows the belts, thereby the bundle of signatures slowed down accordingly and finally at a predetermined Breakpoint is stopped at which the machining process, for. B. stapling, should be made. After stopping, the tapes preferably open, so the signatures can be positioned exactly on the guide rail before stapling. After the stapling process is complete, the tapes close around the stapled ones Signatures that can now be considered a book and speed up the book by the stapling position away. The moment the tapes grasped the stapled book and have reached the speed of the saddle chain again, they take that too next bundle of signatures on the one moving at constant speed Saddle chain, as described above, and accelerate it away from the saddle chain to make it the Feed stapling station.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments are the subject of the following shown figures and their descriptions.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Transportvorrichtung gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 2

einen Querschnitt entlang der Linie II-II in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine auszugsweise, schematische Darstellung der Position der Transportvorrichtung in Bezug auf die Führungsschiene;

Fig. 4a und 4b

eine auszugsweise, schematische Darstellung verschiedener Bandeinrichtungen;

Fig. 5a und 5b

einen schematischen Querschnitt entlang der Linie III-III in Fig. 4a bzw. 4b;

Fig. 5c und 5d

einen schematischen Querschnitt von zwei weiteren Ausführungsformen;

Fig. 6

eine schematische Darstellung der Antriebs- und Steuervorrichtung der Transportvorrichtung;

Fig. 7a-7c

eine auszugsweise, schematische Darstellung der Öffnungs- und Schließvorrichtung für die Bänder.

Show it:

Fig. 1

is a schematic side view of a transport device according to the present invention;

Fig. 2

a cross section along the line II-II in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

a partial, schematic representation of the position of the transport device with respect to the guide rail;

4a and 4b

an excerpt, schematic representation of various belt devices;

5a and 5b

a schematic cross section along the line III-III in Fig. 4a and 4b;

5c and 5d

a schematic cross section of two further embodiments;

Fig. 6

a schematic representation of the drive and control device of the transport device;

Figures 7a-7c

an excerpt, schematic representation of the opening and closing device for the tapes.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of the transport device according to the present invention. The books A, B, C and D shown in Fig. 1 consist of a Large number of signatures collected on a saddle chain. Books A and B move on the saddle chain 1 in the direction of the arrow and are thereby on the Saddle chain 1 arranged carriers 2, which is a common movement of the books ensure according to the movement of the saddle chain, in a predetermined position held. Books A, B move on the saddle chain preferably with constant Speed. The signatures of each book hang on the saddle chain and comprise two pages. The first page 5 of the book hangs on one side of the chain 1, and the second side 6 hangs on the other side of the chain 1, ie opposite the first side.

Book B has reached a position 20 on the transport device in which it is from chain 1 to be transported away to a processing station 30. The transport device 7, which is arranged on the first page 5 of the book, comprises an outer conveyor belt 7 and an inner conveyor belt 8 (Fig. 2). The outer and inner conveyor belt are arranged opposite each other and can leave a space between each other form, whose width is smaller than the thickness of one side 5 of the to be transported Signature bundle, preferably smaller than the thickness of a signature of the Signature bundle. If the saddle chain 1 moves further, the book B is in the Gap between the outer and inner conveyor belts 7, 8 on the first Page 5 out. By the time Book B enters the gap, those are Ribbons have already been accelerated to book speed, so that between the moving book B and tapes 7, 8 essentially none There is a difference in speed. The bands 7, 8 now close around the first Page 5 of Book B, are accelerated and in this way accelerate Book B away from the chain 1. Book A continues to move with constant, lower Speed on the saddle chain, so that the distance between book A and book B increased. Immediately before the book B the processing station 30 - in this case one Stapling station - Book B is reached by volumes 7, 8, which continue to be page 5 of the Hold book B, slow down again and finally at processing station 30 entirely stopped. So that the book B exactly before on the guide rail 9 of the Stapling station 30 (Fig. 2) can be placed, the tapes 7, 8 can now open. The book B is then stapled in the wire stapler 30. After completing the Stitching process, the inner and outer conveyor belt 7, 8 close again to the Page 5 of Book B, grab the Book B and accelerate it away from the Processing station 30. At the time when the pair of belts again the When the speed of the saddle chain has reached, Book A enters the gap between the belts and is transported away from the saddle chain 1 in the same way, as described above in relation to Book B. After stapling, the books are in the Usually transported to a further processing station or preferably in a Transfer position 40 brought, in which the book B is stopped again and to the A trimmer feeder is handed over.

The cross section in FIG. 2 shows an inner conveyor belt 8, an outer conveyor belt 7 and a wire stapler 9. The inner band 8 and the outer band 7 are related to the normal direction 10 of the wire stitching device 9, which is generally parallel to the Saddle chain 1 is arranged at an angle α, where α between 90 ° and 180 °, but preferably between 140 ° and 170 °. The inner band 8 and that outer band 7 are arranged parallel to one another, the inner sides of the band one on top of the other are directed to. An arrangement of the straps on one side of the chain, preferably on the left side 5 with respect to the direction of movement of the transport device the book transport from the saddle chain to a processing station at rather low Speeds, preferably less than 12,000 pieces per hour. At higher Speeds is preferably on the other, in terms of the direction of movement Transport device right side 6 of the book a second pair of conveyor belts 11, 12th arranged. The use of two pairs of conveyor belts, i. H. a pair of bands 7, 8 on the a page 5 and a pair of bands 11, 12 on the other side 6 of the book, wherein preferably both pairs of bands are coupled to the same drive device prevented a swinging of the book while accelerating and decelerating. this makes possible book transport at speeds much higher than 12,000 copies per hour.

3 shows a partial, schematic representation of the transport device according to FIG of the present invention. The first page 5 one of a variety of signatures existing book A hangs on the guide rail 9, the book A a first (left) side 5 and a second (right) side 6, each on different sides the guide rail 9 are arranged. According to the present invention, the first Page 5 of Book A of a pair of belts from a first conveyor belt 7 and one second conveyor belt 8 held. As shown in Fig. 3, the first band 7 is opposite the second band 8 arranged, the surfaces of the bands 7, 8 towards each other are directed and the bands are arranged at a distance from each other that is small enough is to keep the book A in the space. The bands 7, 8 are parallel to the direction of movement and with respect to the normal direction 10 of the guide rail 9 (Fig. 2) arranged at an angle α, the normal direction 10 parallel to the The normal direction of the saddle chain runs. The bands 7, 8 preferably have the same Width, but can also be of different widths, as shown in Fig. 3.

4a and 4b show the two different arrangements described above in detail. In Fig. 4a, the first page 5 of the book A is held between an outer band 7 and an inner band 8. The width of the bands is essentially the same. However, as shown in FIG. 4b, the tapes can also have different dimensions, particularly with regard to their width. In Fig. 4b z. B. the width W _{1 of} the belt 7 is smaller than the width W _{2 of} the belt 8. These different belt arrangements allow the transport device to be adapted to the materials to be transported or to the desired speed at which the signature bundles are to be fed to the processing station.

5a to 5d show a schematic cross section along the line III-III in FIG. 4b for different band arrangements. 5a, the inner band 8 and the outer band 7 essentially the same size and are opposite to each other and not offset arranged to each other while holding a book A. 5b is the width of the Band 7 smaller than the width of the band 8, as already shown in Fig. 4b. 5c is a further band arrangement is shown, in which the outer band device two bands 7, 7 ' comprises and the inner band arrangement comprises two bands 8, 8 ', the Belt devices that grip a page 5 of a book between them face to face and are staggered. 5d shows a further band arrangement in which the outer band device on one side 5 comprises three bands 7, 7 ', 7' ', the are arranged opposite two bands 8, 8 ', which are wider than the bands 7, 7', 7 " Page 5 is between the first group of belt devices 7, 7 ', 7 "and the second Group of belt devices 8, 8 'gripped.

All of the belt arrangements described here can be combined with one another as desired to optimize the reliability of the transport device. As before described, it is in book transport at high speeds, such as Speeds of more than 12,000 pieces per hour, a great advantage, two pairs To use belt devices. As shown in Fig. 5d, on one side 5 and on the other side 6 of the signature bundle different band devices be used. An outer band 11 on side 6 is opposite two inner ones Bands 12, 12 'arranged, the outer band 11 is wider than the inner Bands 12, 12 ', e.g. B. three times as wide as the inner bands 12, 12 '. On the other Page 5, the bundle of signatures is gripped by three outer bands 7, 7 ', 7 " are arranged opposite two inner bands 8, 8 ', the inner bands 8, 8' are twice as wide as the outer bands 7, 7 ', 7 "and have a smaller distance.

The transport device according to the present invention is made by a Drive device driven, which is controlled by a control device. The Drive device 24 is coupled to the transport device 23, which, for. B. the Belts 7, 8, 11 or 12 may include, and the control device 25 is connected to the Drive device 24 coupled, as shown in Fig. 6. On a signal from Controller 25, which may include a microcomputer, will Drive device 24, the z. B. from a via an axis to the transport device 23rd coupled motor exists, activates and sets the belts of the transport device 23 in Move. As soon as the tapes have reached the book speed, this includes Pair of bands around a book and move the book away from the saddle chain. On a signal from Control device 25 out the drive device 24 is accelerated further, so that Book is fed to the stapling station. Another signal from the control device 25 conducts the braking process of the drive device 24 and thus the conveyor belts, and in time before the collected signatures reach the processing station achieved. Then the book is in the correct position for the stapling process stopped. At this time, the opening and closing device of the Open the belt device so that the book is exactly on the vertex of the booklet before it is stitched Stapler can be positioned. The opening and closing takes place on others Signals out that the drive device 24 receives from the control device 25. To At the end of the stitching process, the tapes close around the book again and become accelerated by the drive device 24 together with the book to the book of the Transfer station 40 feed. The control device 25 can additionally on (not Shown) sensors coupled to the position of the book on both the constant speed moving saddle chain as well as on the transport device can capture. These sensors are usually along the transport path of the books arranged. In addition, devices can also be provided that match the current Determine the status of the processing station and report it to the control device 25. In particular, a corresponding signal can be sent to the after the stapling process Control device 25 are transmitted. Based on these signals, the Control device 25 a signal to the drive device 24, the Drive device 24 for slowing down or accelerating and optionally for Causes opening or closing of the conveyor belts.

7a-7c show some possible opening and closing devices. Fig. 7a shows a schematic representation of a passive opening device in which a side 5 a book in a fixed space between an outer volume 7 and an inner band 8 moves. The path of the outer band 7 is from the cooperating, fixed rollers 16, 14 and 16a, 14a determined, and the Gap between band 7 and band 8 is determined by the vertical distance between the Rollers 16a and 18a and 16 and 18 determined. This gap becomes narrow enough held so that one side of the signatures can be gripped between the bands. In In this case, there is no active physical opening and closing of the tapes when the page 5 of the book in the predetermined space between the tapes 7, 8 emotional. The page 5 of the bundle of signatures accordingly narrows Gap between bands 7, 8, and the book is then removed from the saddle chain moves when its front edge is gripped by the bands 7, 8. The Rollers 14, 16, 14a, 16a, 18 and 18a are rigidly arranged and determine the path of the Bands 7 and 8.

In Fig. 7b, the belt 8 moves around two locally fixed rollers 18, 18a, the web of the Belt 8 is determined by the position of these immovable rollers. The rollers 14, 14a are fixed in position, while the rollers 15a-15c are movable in the direction of the arrow. All Movable rollers 15a-15c can e.g. B. each around an associated axis 13a-13c be pivotally arranged. The hinges are opened and closed by a Rotational movement of the movable rollers 15a-15c about their respective axes 13a to 13c the space between the bands 8 and 7 is increased or decreased. According to this arrangement, it is based on a signal of a control device for controlling the Opening and closing process possible, the outer band 7 along its entire length Open length. The movable rollers 15a-15c are simultaneously removed from the belt 8 moved away, the space between the bands 7, 8 increases along the entire length of band 7. However, it is also possible to use only one band Open end or both ends as shown in detail in Fig. 7c. Here too is the Path of the inner belt 8 from the position of the two fixed rollers 18, 18a determined while the path of the outer band 7 of the two fixed Rollers 14, 14a and a plurality of movably arranged rollers 15a-15d determined which in this case can be moved in the vertical direction by means of controllable springs 21 are. Each of the movable rollers 15a-15d can be controlled independently of the others are so that the movable rollers 15a-15d adjusted by a different amount can be. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7c, the are movable Rollers 15a and 15d are adjusted with respect to rolls 15c and 15b so that at the beginning and A space is created at the end of the tapes. Accordingly, page 5 of a book, that moves into the space between the bands 7, 8, easily between the Bands are gripped by the adjustable roller 15a in the direction of the inner one Band 8 is moved and so closes the gap when both bands open Signature speed have been brought.

Although the rollers 14, 14a and 18, 18a are described in FIG. 7 as being fixed in place, these rollers can also be spatially variable, i.e. H. be designed to be movable. In addition, the Number of movable rollers 15 include any number, which means that the Number of movable rollers 15 is not limited to three or four, as shown in is exemplarily described in FIGS. 7b and 7c.

LIST OF REFERENCES

α

arrangement angle

A

book

B

book

C

book

D

book

W ₁

bandwidth

W ₂

bandwidth

1

saddle chain

2

takeaway

5

first page

6

second page

7

outer conveyor belt

7 '

outer conveyor belt

7 "

outer conveyor belt

8th

inner conveyor belt

8th'

inner conveyor belt

9

guide rail

10

normal direction

11

conveyor belt

12

conveyor belt

12 '

conveyor belt

13a

axis

13b

axis

13c

axis

14

roller

14a

roller

15a

roller

15b

roller

15c

roller

15d

roller

16

roller

16a

roller

18

roller

18a

roller

20

Transfer position

23

transport device

24

driving device

25

control device

30

processing station

40

Transfer position

Claims (13)

1. A transport device for transporting a bundle of moving signatures from a saddle chain to a working station, the signature bundles (A, B) hanging on the saddle chain (1) and having a first side (5) hanging on one side of the saddle chain (1) and a second side (6) hanging on the opposite side of the saddle chain (1), the transport device comprising a first pair of transport belts, having a first and second belt (7, 8) arranged opposite to each other for gripping and transporting only the first side (5) of the bundle of signatures (B) between them.
2. The transport device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that the first and the second belts (7, 8) are arranged at an angle of more than 90° and less than 180° with respect to the normal direction (10) of a wire clincher (9).
3. The transport device according to claims 1 or 2,
   characterized in that the first belt (8) of the first pair of transport belts is substantially of the same size and shape as the second belt (7).
4. The transport device according to claims 1 or 2,
   characterized in that the first belt (8) of the first pair of transport belts is substantially of different size and shape from the second belt (7) of the first pair of transport belts.
5. The transport device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the first and/or the second belt (7, 8) of the first pair of transport belts comprises two or more belts.
6. The transport device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that it further comprises a device for changing the distance between the first (8) and the second (7) belt of the first pair of transport belts.
7. The transport device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the transport device further comprises a second pair of transport belts having a first and a second belt being arranged opposite each other for only gripping and transporting the second side (6) of the bundle of signatures (B) between them.
8. The transport device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   a driving mechanism (24) for driving each of the pairs of transport belts, and a control mechanism (25) being coupled to the driving mechanism (24) for controlling the same.
9. The transport device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   an opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing of at least one of said first and second pair of driving belts.
10. The transport device according to claim 9,
    characterized in that the opening and closing mechanism comprises movable rollers (15a-15d).
11. The transport device according to claim 10,
    characterized in that the movable rollers (15a-15d) are movable about a corresponding axle (13a-13c).
12. The transport device according to claim 10,
    characterized in that the movable rollers (15a-15d) are spring-loaded.
13. A saddle binding machine,
    characterized in
    a signature conveyor;
    a plurality of hoppers disposed at spaced apart locations along the signature conveyor; and
    a transport device according to one of claims 1-12.

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