EP0999165A2 - Method of folding signatures and folding apparatus with braking grippers - Google Patents

Abstract

A folder comprises a rotatably mounted jaw cylinder (72) with a plurality of jaws (74a-e) and a gripper drum (52) with a plurality of brake grippers (54a-e) arranged thereon. The gripper drum (52) and the jaw cylinder (72) form a cylinder gap (70). Each of the brake grippers (54a-e) is designed in such a way that it grips an incoming signature (58a-e) and brakes it between the takeover point (50) and the cylinder gap (70). At the cylinder gap (70), a folding knife (56a-e) assigned to the respective brake gripper (54a-e) is moved out of the peripheral surface (55) of the gripper drum (52), so that the braked signature (58a-e) into the assigned folding flap (74a-e) is pushed in and folded in this way. After the folded signature (58a-e) has been transferred to the jaw cylinder (74), the now empty gripper (54a-e) is accelerated again until it grips another incoming signature (58a-e) at the takeover point (50). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a method for folding signatures and a Folder of a printing machine with brake grippers according to the preamble of claim 1 and 10.

In prior art folders, signatures are made using needles or Grippers held on a folding knife cylinder until the area to be folded open same height with a jaw of an assigned jaw cylinder. The Signature is then pushed into the flap and folded transversely, so that a cross running fold fold forms. After the needles or grippers of the folding knife cylinder have let go of the leading edge of the signature, the folded signature of the The jaw of the jaw cylinder is transported to another transfer point. In the As a rule, the speed of the signature and the surface speed of the Folding knife cylinder and the folding jaw cylinder essentially the same, so that a smooth transfer of the signature from the folding knife cylinder to the Jaw cylinder can be done.

At a comparatively low speed are on the folding knife cylinder and / or the folding jaw cylinder only requires three folding devices, d. H. a cylinder can do that be designed so that a folding process is carried out in succession at intervals of 120 ° becomes. At higher operating speeds, the diameter of the cylinders must be larger, to minimize the curvature of the faster transported signatures. One for higher Folding speed of suitable cylinders can e.g. B. include five folding devices, so that a folding process takes place at intervals of 72 °. Such a configuration of the Cylinder requires an increase in cylinder diameter by 67% and that additional costs for two additional folding devices.

If the signature speed is increased, the signatures must be before another Editing, e.g. B. a knife folding process, are braked. According to the state of the Technically, this is done using cylinders or belt devices. In addition, increased signature speed often required two folders to which alternately, signatures are transferred, as well as separate braking devices for every folder. An increase in the folding speed therefore means increased Costs, an increased space requirement and a more complex construction.

It is an object of the present invention, a folder and a method for To create folds in which higher operating speeds are possible without doing so the diameter of the cylinders must be increased.

This object is solved by the features of claims 1 and 10.

A folder with decelerated and with respect to the surface of the gripper drum accelerable grippers according to the present invention, also referred to below as Brake grippers are referred to, includes a rotatably mounted jaw cylinder with a variety of jaws and one attached to the jaw cylinder, rotatable mounted gripper drum, which forms a cylinder gap with the jaw cylinder and on which a large number of brake grippers is arranged. Each of the grippers grabs one the incoming signatures and slows them down. The brake grippers is one Folded knife assigned, which the respective signature after braking into a assigned to the jaw of the jaw cylinder.

According to the inventive method for braking and folding a variety of Signatures are the signatures of one of the rotatably mounted on one Gripper drum arranged gripper gripped and braked. After this Braking the signatures are folded by one of the respective grippers assigned folding knife can be pushed into an assigned folding flap.

By braking the signatures according to the invention, they overlap on the Gripper drum. This will increase the number of folded signatures per drum revolution increased and the distance between the signatures can be increased again in the following or the signatures can be sent in groups to two or more subordinate folding stations be handed over.

The present invention eliminates the need for additional folding devices caused increased costs, the increased space requirement and without one more complex design higher operating speeds possible.

Further features of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

Fig. 1

einen schematischen Querschnitt eines Falzapparats nach dem Stand der Technik; und

Fig. 2

einen schematischen Querschnitt eines erfindungsgemäßen Falzapparats mit Bremsgreifern.

Further advantages and advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the following figures and their descriptions. The individual shows:

Fig. 1

a schematic cross section of a folder according to the prior art; and

Fig. 2

a schematic cross section of a folder according to the invention with brake grippers.

For a better understanding of the present invention shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 1 shows a Folder shown according to the prior art.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic cross section of a folder according to the prior art Technique with a folding knife cylinder 12 and a folding jaw cylinder 32, which are rotatably mounted on axes 13 and 33 and form a cylinder gap 30. The Folding knife cylinder 12 rotates at a constant speed in the direction indicated by arrow L. indicated direction about axis 13; the jaw cylinder 32 rotates at a constant Speed in the direction indicated by arrow M about axis 33, the Surface speeds of the cylinders 12 and 32 at the gap 30 are approximately the same.

On the surface 15 of the folding knife cylinder 12 are evenly spaced to each other grippers 14a, 14b, 14c arranged, which when the cylinder 12 rotates move the axis 13 with the cylinder surface 15. The grippers 14a, 14b and 14c take incoming signatures 18a, 18b, 18c and convey them with the Circumferential surface 15 continues. The grippers 14a, 14b, 14c of the folding knife cylinder 12 each assigned a folding knife 16a, 16b, 16c, which turns when the Folding knife cylinder 12 rotates about axis 13 with its peripheral surface 15. On the surface 35 of the jaw cylinder 32 are evenly spaced from each other Folding flaps 34a, 34b and 34c arranged, which when the Turn the jaw cylinder 32 about the axis 33 with its peripheral surface 35. The Folding flaps 34a, 34b, 34c take over the folded signatures and transport them with them the peripheral surface 35 further.

A single incoming signature 18a is gripped by the gripper 14a and by the Rotary movement of the folding knife cylinder 12 about the axis 13 with the peripheral surface 15 moved in the direction of the cylinder gap 30. As shown by way of example using the signature 18b is, the folding knife 16b from the peripheral surface 15 of the Folding knife cylinder 12 out towards the opposite, by rotating the Folding jaw cylinder 32, folding jaw 34b moved about the axis 33 to the cylinder gap 30 of the jaw cylinder 32 moves. In this way, the signature 18b in the Folded flap 34b and folded transversely so that a fold break 19 is formed. By further rotation of the jaw cylinder 32 becomes that held in the jaw 34b Signature 18b transported on the peripheral surface 35. 1 is already one folded signature 38 shown, which is further conveyed by the folding flap 34a. The Folding flaps 34a, 34b and 34c transfer the transported signatures to others Transport devices or processing stations. The folding flap 34c is e.g. B. empty shown; the signature she transported has already been given.

An increase in the working speed of a folder 10 according to the state of the Technology usually requires an increased number of folding blades 16 and folding flaps 34, so that more signatures are folded per cylinder revolution. As a result, the Diameter of the folding knife cylinder 12 and the folding jaw cylinder 32 enlarged be able to accommodate the additional folding devices.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross section of an embodiment of a folder 100 according to the invention with brake grippers 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d, 54e. The Folder 100 includes an axis in the direction indicated by the arrow 53 rotating gripper drum 52 and one in the direction indicated by arrow Q. about an axis 73 rotating jaw cylinder 73, which together form a cylinder gap 70 form.

The gripper cylinder 52 shown in this embodiment comprises five brake-brake grippers 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d, 54e. Each of these brake grippers 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d, A folding knife 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d, 56e is assigned to 54e.

The jaw cylinder 72 shown in this embodiment includes five jaws 74a, 74b, 74c, 74c, 74e, which rotate when the jaw cylinder 72 rotates about the axis 73 move with the peripheral surface 75 thereof.

The brake / brake grippers 54 are designed in such a way that they are an incoming Grab the signature 58, this on the peripheral surface 55 of the gripper drum 52 can be transported and slowed down, so that the signature 58 on the Cylinder gap 70 has a lower speed than before. At the cylinder gap 70 the signature 58 is given and the brake gripper 54 is accelerated again so that it can take another incoming signature 58. The braking and the Acceleration of the brake gripper 54 is the diameter and speed of rotation Gripper drum 52 adapted in such a way that the speed of the Brake-brake grippers 54 essentially transported signature 58 at the cylinder gap 70 corresponds to the speed of a folding flap 74 on the cylinder gap 70, so that a smooth handover is possible. The speed of the incoming signature 58 is preferably at 60% of its initial speed by the brake / brake gripper 54 reduced; in other embodiments of the present invention, one incoming signature depending on the size, the arrangement and the Speed of the gripper drum 52 and the jaw cylinder 72 around another Value will be slowed down.

Each of the brake-brake grippers 54 can be described as one in US 5,794,929 Rotary gripper be formed. As described in this document, a variety of Signatures a variable by means of gripper devices arranged on a drum Speed profile are transmitted. In other embodiments of the present According to the invention, the brake / brake grippers 54 according to the invention can be any other Apparatus designed, which are suitable for gripping and braking signatures is. The only requirement is that the grippers have a variable speed profile can be assigned.

The folding blades 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d, 56e are preferably with the respective brake gripper 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d, 54e connected, so that they are braked at the same time or can be accelerated.

In the folder 100 shown in Fig. 2, one with a relatively high Speed arriving signature 58a at the takeover point 50 from that braked brake gripper 54a gripped. The signatures 58c, 58d, 58e are already before gripped by the grippers 54c, 54d, 54e. Each of the signatures 58 is from the respective brakeable brake grippers 54 from their high initial speed Takeover point 50 to a lower speed at the cylinder gap 70 braked so that their speed of a jaw 74 of the jaw cylinder 72 corresponds. As shown in Fig. 2, decelerating decreases Brake gripper 54 the distance of the brake grippers 54 from each other when they are Approach cylinder gap 70. Accordingly, in Fig. 2 the distance between the brake gripper 54d and the brake gripper 54c less than the distance between the brake gripper 54e and the brake gripper 54d, which in turn is less than the distance between the Brake gripper 54e and brake gripper 54a. As in Fig. 2 based on the Overlap areas 59 and 61 between the signatures 58c and 58d or 58d and 58e is shown, the braking of the signatures 58 leads to an overlap successive signatures.

As soon as a folding blade 56 assigned to a brake gripper 54 is directly opposite one another Folding jaw 74 of the folding jaw cylinder 72 is located, the folding blade 56 from the Circumferential surface 55 of the gripper drum 52 moves out and pushes the signature 58 held by the brake gripper 54 into the jaw 74, so that the signature 58 is folded across. In Fig. 2 there is z. B. assigned to the brake gripper 54c Folding knife 56c directly opposite the folding jaw 74c of the folding jaw cylinder 72 and pushes the signature 58c into the fold flap 74c, so that there is a transverse fold break 60 forms. During the folding process, the signature 58 is transferred from the brake gripper 54 to the assigned assigned folding jaw 74 and by this by rotating the The jaw cylinder 72 moves further about the axis 53. 2 shows an example of how the already folded signature 58b is transported away from the folding flap 74b. The Brake gripper 54b has transferred the signature 58b to the folding flap 74b and is accordingly empty.

The folded signature is in a predetermined rotational position of the jaw cylinder 72 58 from the folding jaw 74 to carry out a further machining operation, for. B. another folding process or to increase the distance between the signatures, released. The folding flap 74a has z. B. the folded signature 58 already submitted and is therefore empty. Due to the relatively small distance between the folded Signatures 58 due to the overlap on the gripper drum 52 can be advantageous be when the folded signatures 58 in groups for subsequent enlargement of the Distance between them or in groups to one or more subordinate Folding stations or similar processing stations are handed over.

As soon as a brake gripper 54 has passed the signature 58 during the folding process, the now empty brake gripper 54 moves with the peripheral surface 55 of the Gripper drum 52 further. At the same time, however, the empty brake gripper 54 is on the way from the cylinder gap 70 to the takeover point 50 with respect to the surface of the gripper drum 52 accelerates. At the takeover point 50, the gripper grips one at high speed incoming signature 58. Fig. 2 shows z. B. the empty brake gripper 54b as he is accelerated to take the incoming signature 58f. Through the Acceleration of the brake grippers 54 from the cylinder gap 70 to the takeover point 50 the distance between the grippers 54 increases, as in FIG Brake gripper 54c, 54b and 54a is shown.

The folder with brake grippers according to the present invention offers several Benefits. The signatures are slowed down e.g. B. before the folding process, d. H. before one subsequent processing, the signature does not have to be slowed down. Because the signatures have been braked before folding, the jaw cylinder 72 can the same folding performance with a lower surface speed than one Folding jaw cylinder according to the state of the art, through the not braked signatures be folded. Accordingly, it is only necessary to reduce the jaw cylinder 72 with smaller ones Form distances between the jaws 74 than is the case in the prior art the case is when the two cylinders rotate at the same speed. By the The diameter - and thus the volume - of the signatures can also slow down The gripper drum 52 and the jaw cylinder 72 be mine than normal for Minimizing signature curvature at high operating speeds is required.

Additional advantages result from the overlap of the signatures on the gripper drum 52. After the transfer to the jaw cylinder 72, the signatures are on the Surface 75 of the jaw cylinder 72 is arranged at a smaller distance than in a jaw cylinder according to the prior art. Because of this reduced distance more signatures can be transported per cylinder revolution. With conventional Folding jaw cylinders corresponds to the distance between the signatures z. B. the length of one Signature, d. H. signatures are only carried on 50% of the surface of the cylinder. In a folder with brake grippers according to the present invention For example, signatures slowed down to 60% of their initial speed, causing the Distance between successive signatures is reduced by 40%. Accordingly 60% more signatures are processed, i. H. on 80% of the surface of the Folder cylinders, signatures are transported. As previously described, can the distance between the signatures will be increased again in the following, or the signatures with a reduced distance can be grouped to two or more subordinate Folding stations are handed over.

Other embodiments of the present invention are also conceivable. For example, can on the gripper drum 52 a different number and type of brake grippers 54 and Folding knives 56 may be arranged. Likewise, a can on the jaw cylinder 72 different number and type of folding jaws 74 may be arranged. In addition, for Achievement of the size and arrangement of the gripper drum 52 and Folding jaw cylinder 72 adapted signature speed on the cylinder gap 70 die Signatures 58 decelerated to different degrees and the speed of Gripper drum 52 and the jaw cylinder 72 can be selected differently.

LIST OF REFERENCES

10th

State-of-the-art folder

12th

Folding knife cylinder

13

Axis of the folding knife cylinder

14a-c

Gripper

15

Peripheral surface

16a-c

Folding knife

18a-c

signature

19th

Fold break

30th

Cylinder gap

32

Jaw cylinder

33

Axis of the jaw cylinder

34a-c

Jaw

35

Peripheral surface

38

folded signature

L

Direction of rotation

M

Direction of rotation

50

Takeover point

52

Gripper drum

53

Gripper drum axis

54a-e

Brake gripper

55

Peripheral surface

56a-e

Folding knife

58a-e

signature

59

Overlap area

60

Fold break

61

Overlap area

70

Cylinder gap

72

Jaw cylinder

73

Axis of the jaw cylinder

74a-e

Folding jaw

75

Peripheral surface

100

Folder

P

Direction of rotation

Q

Direction of rotation

Claims (18)

Folding apparatus with a rotatably mounted folding jaw cylinder (72), with a plurality of folding jaws (74a-e) arranged thereon, with a rotatably mounted gripper drum (52) and with a multiplicity of grippers (54a-e) arranged thereon and associated folding blades ( 56a-e), the gripper drum (52) forming a cylinder gap (70) with the jaw cylinder (72),
characterized by
that the grippers (54a-e) are designed as brake grippers (54a-e) so that they can be braked and accelerated relative to the surface (55) of the gripper drum (52). Device according to claim 1,
characterized by
that the folding devices (56a-e) are connected to the associated brake gripper (54a-e). Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized by
that the jaw cylinder (72) and the gripper drum (52) rotate in such a way that at a transfer point (70) the surface speed of the jaw cylinder (72) corresponds essentially to the speed of a folder (56a-e). Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized by
that each of the plurality of brake grippers (54a-e) can grip and brake a signature (58a-e) so that the signatures (58a-e) on the surface (55) of the gripper drum (52) overlap one another. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized by
that around the surface (55) of the gripper drum (52) five brake grippers (54a-e) are arranged. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized by
that each folding device (56a-e) comprises a folding knife (56a-e) arranged at a predetermined distance from the respective brake gripper (54a-e). Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized by
that the signatures (58a-e) are braked by essentially 40%. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized by
that the plurality of folding jaws (74a-e) are designed in such a way that they transfer the signatures (58a-e) in groups to at least two subsequent folding stations. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7,
characterized by
that the plurality of folding jaws (74a-e) are designed in such a way that they output the signatures (58a-e) in groups for the subsequent increase in the distance between the signatures (58a-e). Process for braking and folding signatures,
marked by
the following process steps: Gripping and braking the signatures (58a-e) by means of brake grippers (54a-e) arranged on a rotatably mounted gripper drum (52), each gripping one of the signatures (58a-e) and with respect to the surface (55) of the gripper drum (52) slow down; Folding the signatures (58a-e) after braking, in that a signature (58a-e) from a folding device (56a-e) assigned to the respective brake gripper (54a-e) into an assigned folding jaw (74a-e) of the folding jaw cylinder ( 72) is pushed, the jaw cylinder (72) having a plurality of jaws (74a-e); and Accelerate the brake grippers (54a-e) relative to the surface (55) of the gripper drum (52). A method according to claim 10,
characterized by
that a folding knife (56a-e) is connected to the respective brake gripper (54a-e) in such a way that it moves with the respective gripper (54a-e). Method according to one of claims 10 or 11,
characterized by
that the jaw cylinder (74) and the gripper drum (52) rotate in such a way that at a transfer point the surface speed of the jaw cylinder (74) essentially corresponds to the speed of a respective folding device (56a-e), so that the folding process takes place smoothly. Method according to one of claims 10-12,
characterized by
that the braking of the signatures (58a-e) takes place in such a way that the signatures (58a-e) overlap before the folding process. Method according to one of claims 10-13,
characterized by
that five brake grippers (54a-e) are arranged along the peripheral surface (55) of the gripper drum (52). Method according to one of claims 10-14,
characterized by
that the folding devices (56a-e) each comprise a folding knife arranged at a predetermined distance from the grippers (54a-e). Method according to one of claims 10-15,
characterized by
that the signatures (58a-e) are braked essentially by 40%. Method according to one of claims 10-16,
characterized by
that the signatures (58a-e) are transferred in groups from the folding flaps (74a-e) to at least two subsequent folding stations. Method according to one of claims 10-16,
characterized by
that the folding flaps (74a-e) output the signatures (58a-e) in groups for the subsequent increase in the distance between the signatures (58a-e).

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