EP1106551B1 - Apparatus and method for cutting a web - Google Patents

Abstract

The cutter consists of a number of straight cutter elements (3a,b,c,d.13a,b,c,d.) for cutting the web of material (1) into signatures (7). Gripper elements (4a,b,c,d..14a,b,c,d..) cooperate with the cutter elements The cutter elements are moved along a first and second path (105,106) between which is the signature cutting part (1000).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for cutting a web according to the The preamble of claim 1 and a method for cutting a web according to the Preamble of claim 12.

Web-fed rotary printing machines print on a continuous material web, e.g. a Paper web. The continuous web is printed in a cutter in Signatures cut, which are then folded in a folder or on different types are arranged or collected. To signatures in one to arrange the desired type, or to enable desired folding operations, the Signatures e.g. branched into two streams and also braked. To the To reduce signature length often has to be the ratio of angular velocity be enlarged between the folder and the printing units of the printing press. Therefore, the speed of the signature after being cut off the web was increased, which adversely affects downstream transport functions effect. Signatures therefore often have to be braked in a braking device, which but often damage the signatures, e.g. by making donkey ears or that Clog the folder because it cannot be transported from or to the braking device works.

In the U.S. 5.865.082 is a device for cutting signatures from one Material web described. A pair of rotating cylinders cut the web in signatures. As it passes between the two cutting cylinders, the web is held by a large number of conveying elements that move in two circular paths. The conveyor elements hold the signatures while they are being cut. This The disadvantage of the device is that the cutting cylinders only rotate, so that the Angular speed of the folder must be increased to increase the signature length shorten.

The U.S. 5,740,900 describes a device for dividing a product stream into a current A and a current B. The signatures are captured by grippers, where alternate grippers rotate to divide the product flow. A cutter is not explained.

It is the object of the present invention a reliable device for Cutting a web into signatures, the device being the cutting of Allows formats with variable section length.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Further Features of the invention are contained in the dependent subclaims.

The present invention provides an apparatus for cutting a web of material is moved in a web direction at a web speed. The device has a large number of cutting elements which can be moved in a straight line in the web direction Cutting the web into signatures and a variety of gripper elements that match the Interact cutting elements.

Since the cutting elements can be moved in a straight line in the direction of the web, the distance can used between the elements to set the signature length. The The speed of the web in the folder advantageously does not have to be changed to set the signature length.

Each gripper element can comprise a gripper that grips the signature and on Wish slows down. Each cutting element can comprise a knife and each The gripper element can comprise a groove against which the knife can cut the web. Each gripper element can also have a retractable, laterally, i.e. across to Transport direction, include extending pin. The device can also be a Include brake disc that cooperates with the pin so that the gripper elements are supported and braked by the brake disc.

The device may include a drive mechanism that drives the cutting elements in Path direction moved. The drive mechanism can e.g. Linear motors include wherein the guide rails of the cutting elements are used as a stator and the Cutting elements, or also the gripper elements, the moving parts of the linear motor form.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for cutting a Material web that has a large number of linearly movable first cutting elements has, which are movable along a first path, a plurality of rectilinear movable first gripper elements, which are movable along the first path, a A plurality of rectilinear movable second cutting elements which run along a second path are movable and cooperate with the first gripper elements, and a plurality of second gripper elements that are movable along the second path and interact with the first gripper elements. The train moves between the first and the second path through a signature cutting area.

The first cutting elements and the first gripper elements are preferred arranged alternately along the first path. After the Have passed the signature cutting area, the first gripper elements can become one move in the opposite direction to the second gripper elements so that the Signatures can be divided into two streams.

The first path and the second path are preferably two closed circular paths.

The cutting elements preferably comprise a laterally movable knife with two Blade that cuts a strip of material between the individual signatures or separates. This type of knife has an advantageous effect on the production of Printed products, because a knife with only one blade possible defects in the cut or cannot remove when printing, which results in color from a signature in the Border area of the next signature can appear. The strip of material used in the Using a knife with two blades arises, these shortcomings can be more beneficial Eliminate wise. The device can also be an air nozzle and / or Include suction device with which the strip of material from the groove into which the Strips after cutting, can be removed.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method for cutting a web create, which allows the web to be cut reliably and continues to do so allows to create signatures of variable section length.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 12. Further Features of the invention are contained in the dependent subclaims.

A large number of cutting elements are moved in a straight line in the signature cutting area, wherein the cutting elements move in the web direction. "Movable in a straight line" means here that the elements at least in sections on a substantially straight extending path are movable, in contrast to circularly movable elements, such as it is the case with conventional cutting cylinders. The web comes with the multitude of Cutting elements cut into a stream of signatures, extending the signature length changed, depending on the controllable distance between the cutting elements in the Signature cutting area. The signatures are made from a variety of gripper elements gripped, the gripper elements interacting with the cutting elements.

The method can also include alternately branching the signatures, to get a first and a second stream of signatures.

The cutting elements can be moved at web speed in the signature cutting area.

The method further sees a braking of the signatures after leaving the Signature cutting area and an acceleration of the cutting elements before they enter the Signature cutting area before, provided that this is advantageous for cross cutting the web contributes.

The method preferably sees the cutting of a strip of material between each individual signature. This cutting step can e.g. from a laterally rotatable Knives are executed, which can have two blades. The strip can then e.g. be removed by means of a blower or suction device. By a streak between the signatures, the quality in the marginal areas of the Signatures are improved.

The invention is more preferred below with reference to the drawings Embodiments described.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Falzapparats;

Fig. 2

zeigt eine genauere Darstellung der Schneid- und Greiferelemente des Falzapparats nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

zeigt eine perspektivische schematische Seitenansicht des Falzapparats nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

zeigt eine genaue Ansicht der in Fig. 3 dargestellten Bremsscheibe;

Fig. 5

zeigt ein seitlich drehbares Messer nach einer weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform.

The drawings show:

Fig. 1

shows a schematic side view of a folder according to the invention;

Fig. 2

shows a more detailed representation of the cutting and gripper elements of the folder according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

shows a perspective schematic side view of the folder according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

shows a detailed view of the brake disc shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

shows a laterally rotatable knife according to another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a folder 100 with a first circular path 101 and a second Circular path 102. A first circular path 101 comprises a first path 105 along which a variety of cutting elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d etc. and a variety of Gripper elements 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d etc are moved. The cutting elements and Gripper elements are arranged alternately along the path 105. The second circular path 102 also includes a plurality of cutting elements 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d etc. and one Plurality of gripper elements 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d etc. that run along a second path 106 be moved.

A web of material, e.g. made of paper enters a gap between circular path 101 and Circular path 102 is formed. A "path" as defined here can be one or comprise several material web strands, which can already be folded lengthways. Each cutting element can comprise a strut and a knife. Every gripper element can include a gripper and a groove. The web 1 is between the strut of the Cutting elements 3b and the anvil of the gripper element 14b gripped if that Cutting element 3b on first path 105 and gripper element 14b on second path 106 getting together. The cutting elements and the gripper elements can be on this section of circular paths 101 and 102, which in FIG. 1 is the signature cutting area 1000 is shown, moving at the path speed.

As the web passes the signature cutting area 1000, it becomes between the strut and the anvil and the knife of the cutting element cuts the web 1, to create a variety of signatures. A knife in cutting element 13b cuts e.g. a web 1 against the anvil of the gripper element 4b. So a signature 7 created. A leading edge of the signature cut by cutting element 3c is gripped by the gripper of the gripper element 14c.

Since the gripper elements and the cutting elements of the circular paths 101 and 102 alternate, the signatures are divided into two streams when the gripper elements Leave cutting area, leaving a first stream 11a of signatures and a second Stream 10a are formed by signatures. These signatures can then be obtained from the Gripper elements are conveyed to the conveyor elements 10 and 11. The streams 11a and 10a can then leave the signature cutting area by the Gripper elements are braked so that the speed of the currents is approximately 20 percent the web speed is.

Because the cutting elements and the gripper elements are controlled in the Signature cutting area can occur, the signature length can be changed be that the distance between successive pairs of cutting and Gripper elements in the signature cutting area is controlled. So the present creates Invention a variable signature length (cut-to-cut distance), which in Fig. 1 as variable length L is shown.

2 shows a more detailed view of the signature cutting area 1000. The gripper element 14b comprises an anvil 20 and a rotatable gripper 21. The cutting element 3b comprises a knife 22 which e.g. is held by the support 23. The knife 22 can Cut web 1 while knife 22 and anvil 20 meet. Alternatively, web 1 can first be between the anvil 20 and the strut 24 of the Cutting elements 3b are held and then knife 22 is moved around the web 1 to cut. The leading edge of the web can then be removed from the rotating gripper are gripped, as shown on the further gripper element 4b, the one gripper 21 includes. The knife of cutting element 13b is not shown to figure to make it clearer, but it corresponds to the knife of cutting element 3b.

The gripper 21b presses the entire length of the front edge against the anvil 20b, damage to the leading edge, e.g. "Donkey ears" can be avoided. The The trailing edge 28 of the preceding signature is additionally removed from the gripper 21b Cut line pushed away. In contrast to most other folders without Needles, the cut signatures must be accelerated with this procedure to create a space between the trailing edge of the preceding and the To create the leading edge of the subsequent signature.

The knife can be a laterally movable rotating knife or a scissor-like one Be a knife.

5 shows a cutting element 113 for use with the device of FIGS. 1 and 2. The cutting element 113 comprises a frame 114 which e.g. by an engine or a Gear in the web direction and against the web direction can be moved like that Arrows 115 and 116 show. The frame 114 supports the rotatable knife axis 112 on which a knife 111 is arranged. Knife 111 comprises two blades that are slightly offset, e.g. with a gap of 2 mm or less.

The cutting process with this knife proceeds as follows: The web is first between an anvil 110 and a support (not shown) that is defined by frames 114 extends above and / or below the knife 111, clamped. While the train passes the signature cutting area, the frame and the knife move with the two blades 111 toward 115 or 116 to make a pair of parallel cuts through the web produce. A very thin strip of cutting residue lies in groove 109 of the anvil 110.

This small strip of cutting residue can be through an air nozzle 108 or a suction system 107 be removed, as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows how the cutting element / gripper element pairs are controlled so that they are accelerated when they enter the signature cutting area and are braked when they leave the signature cutting area. Every cutting element and every Gripper element includes a retractable pin 15. When a series of cutting and Gripper elements passes a ramp 17, the pins 15 are in the elements pushed back. A spring in the elements pushes the pin out again as soon as that Element leaves the ramp so that it is guided into a groove in a disc 16. The Movement of the elements is then from the disc 16 and a guide rail 18th controlled. While the disc 16 rotates counterclockwise, the Restriction of movement that emanates from rail 18, pin 15 to the outer edge of the Disc 16. As the effective radius increases, the elements are accelerated. If the pins leave the grooves of the disc 16, the movement of the elements by a drive mechanism 120, e.g. a belt drive, controlled. For the second Similar disks are provided in path 106, as is a drive mechanism Drive mechanism 120 can be provided.

The drive mechanism 120 stops the speed of the clamp strut Web speed. The speed of rotation of the disc 16 in relation to that Path speed sets the distance between the successive pairs of Gripper and cutting elements fixed, which determines the section length of the signatures. By comparing the relative speed of the disc with that Web speed (print speed) changes, the printer can change the cut-to-cut length of signatures change.

The drive mechanism 120 transfers control of the clamp strut to one Brake disc 19. The brake disc 19 corresponds to the disc 16, except that the disc 19 is modified so that it releases the pins 15 when the pins the minimum Approach the radius of the groove in disc 19. The gripper elements are on the desired one Signature delivery speed slowed down because of its movement from the guide rail 18 is controlled, which guides the gripper elements so that your pins are constantly on the center of the Brake disc 19 close.

FIG. 4 shows a more detailed view of the brake disc 19, which is shown in FIG. 3. Fig. 4 shows how the grooves 119 are chamfered towards the center of the brake disc 19, so that the Pin while being controlled from the guide rail 18 to the center of the brake disc 19 too moved, is pressed into a gripper or cutting element. If the pin 15 from the Brake disc 19 is removed, the control of the clamping strut to another Hand drive mechanism 121, which has the same speed as that ready gripper or cutting elements.

As an alternative to the mechanical drive shown in FIG. 3, the Linear motor technology can be used. In this case, guide rails that can form paths 105 and 106 to the stator of the linear motor. This Guide rails have magnetic coils. The size of the coils can vary or that Current in the coils can be changed to accelerate or brake the To effect cutting and gripper elements. Therefore determine and control the structure of the Coils in the stator and the control of the current frequency in the coils the movement and the distance between the gripper and cutting elements, which the moving parts of the Form linear motor. The gripper and cutting elements have magnets that pass through powered the current in the electrical coils, i.e. towards the guide rail be moved.

Print speed signals and printer inputs that indicate the desired cut-to-cut length relate to the control of the linear motor, e.g. by a PLC (programmable logic controller), i.e. a programmable Control device. Depending on the type of linear motor, precise position control can be used the clamping struts require the use of position sensors that indicate the current position of the Report moving gripper or cutting elements to the position control.

The term "gripper element" as used in the description does not have to be Grippers include, but can only be used as an anvil for each Cutting element act.

List of reference numbers

1

train

3a, 3b, 3c, 3d etc.

cutting elements

4a, 4b, 4c, 4d etc.

gripper elements

7

signature

10

conveying elements

10a

second stream

11

conveying elements

11a

first stream

13 a, 13b, 13c, 13d etc.

cutting elements

14a, 14b, 14c, 14d etc.

gripper elements

15

pen

16

disc

17

ramp

18

guide rail

19

brake disc

20

anvil

20b

anvil

21

rotating gripper

21b

rotating gripper

22

knife

23

support

24

strut

28

trailing edge

100

folding

101

orbit

102

orbit

105

first path

106

second path

107

suction system

108

Air nozzle / jet air

109

groove

110

anvil

111

knife

112

blade axis

113

cutting element

114

frame

115

arrow

116

arrow

119

groove

120

drive mechanism

121

drive mechanism

1000

Signature cutting area

L

variable length

Claims (19)

1. Device for cutting a web (1) that is moved at a web velocity into a web direction,
   characterized by
   a plurality of cutting elements (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, etc., 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, etc.) movable linearly in the web direction for cutting the web (1) into signatures (7), and a plurality of gripper elements (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, etc., 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, etc.) interacting with the cutting elements (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, etc., 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, etc.).
2. Device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that each gripper element (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, etc., 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, etc.) comprises a gripper (21, 21b).
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that each cutting element (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, etc., 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, etc.) comprises a knife (22).
4. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that each gripper element (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, etc. 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, etc.) comprises an anvil (110).
5. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that each cutting element (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, etc., 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, etc.) comprises a double-bladed knife (22) that is movable laterally.
6. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that each gripper element (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, etc., 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, etc.) comprises a pin (15) and a deceleration disk (19) interacting with the pin (15).
7. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized by
   a drive mechanism (120), which moves the cutting elements (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, etc., 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, etc.) in the web direction.
8. Device for cutting a web (1) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized by
   a plurality of first cutting elements (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, etc.) movable linearly along a first path (105),
   a plurality of first gripper elements (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, etc.) movable linearly along the first path (105),
   a plurality of second cutting elements (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, etc.) movable linearly along a second path (106) and interacting with the first gripper elements (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, etc.),
   a plurality of second gripper elements (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, etc.) that move along the second path (106) and interact with the first cutting elements (3a,3 b, 3c, 3d, etc.),
   wherein the web (1) passes between the first path (105) and the second path (106) through a signature cutting region (1000).
9. Device according to claim 8,
   characterized in that the first cutting elements (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, etc.) and the first gripper elements (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, etc.) are arranged along the first path (105) in an alternating fashion.
10. Device according to claim 8 or 9,
    characterized in that the first gripper elements (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, etc.) move in a direction opposite to the direction of the second gripper elements (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, etc.) after they have passed the signature cutting region (1000).
11. Device according to one of claims 8 to 10,
    characterized in that the first path (105) is a loop (101) and/or that the second path (106) is a loop (102).
12. Method of cutting a web (1) moving into a web direction in a signature cutting region (1000),
    characterized by
    the following method steps:

    linearly moving a plurality of cutting elements (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, etc., 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, etc.) into the web direction in the signature cutting region (1000); cutting the web (1) by means of the plurality of cutting elements (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, etc., 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, etc.) to form signatures (7);

    gripping the signatures (7) by a plurality of gripper elements (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, etc., 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, etc.) interacting with the cutting elements; and

    changing the length of the signatures (7) by controlling the spacings between the cutting elements (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, etc., 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, etc.) in the signature cutting region (1000).
13. Method according to claim 12,
    characterized by
    diverting the signatures (7) in an alternating way to create a first stream (11a) and a second stream (10a) of signatures.
14. Method according to claim 12 or 13,
    characterized by
    moving the web (1) at a web speed and moving the cutting elements (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, etc., 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, etc.) at the web speed in the signature cutting region (1000).
15. Method according to one of the preceding claims 12 to 14,
    characterized by
    decelerating the signatures (7) after they leave the signature cutting region (1000).
16. Method according to one of claims 12 to 15,
    characterized by
    accelerating the cutting elements (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, etc., 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, etc.) before they enter the signature cutting region (1000).
17. Method according to one of claims 12 to 16,
    characterized by
    cutting a thin strip of material from the web (1) as the web (1) is cut by a double-bladed knife (22).
18. Method according to one of claims 12-17,
    characterized in that the linear moving is performed with the aid of a linear motor.
19. Web-fed rotary printing press,
    characterized by
    a device according to one of claims 1 to 11.

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