EP1155985B1 - Device for transporting envelopes in a machine for making envelopes - Google Patents

Abstract

The envelope blanks are carried on a conveyor belt system having a perforated section (2) and plain sections (5). A suction chamber beneath the perforated section draws in ambient air to hold the blanks in position through the process while folding elements (19) and cutters make the envelopes.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for transporting envelope cutters in an envelope production machine according to the preamble of the claim 1.

Envelope making machines become envelopes or punches for carrying out various production steps by different, one behind the other transported arranged stations. For example, pass through the envelope pieces a printing station, a window insertion station, a side flap folding station, a bottom flap folding station and a drying station

From EP-A-0 502 687 there is provided a device for transporting envelope blanks in the side flap folding station of a letter envelope manufacturing machine. There, the transport of the letter envelope is done with the help of several endless belts or straps, which are arranged side by side with a certain distance are. By the resulting gaps between the endless belt Ambient air is in a suction or vacuum chamber located below the transport plane sucked. On this Wreis the letter envelope on the Endlosriemen the known device held stable position, so that they the forces occurring in the Seitenklappenfaltprozeß not shifted or twisted can be. The disadvantage is that for smaller formats to be produced Envelope the outer areas of the endless belts as well as their interspaces formed Saugzutppichs are not used, so that by the local Interspaces of endless belts unnecessarily sucked in ambient air, which results in unnecessary energy consumption of the suction fan used Has.

From US-A-3,288,037 is another device for transporting Briefhüllenzuschnitten known in a side flap folding station. This will be the letter envelope cuts on a single conveyor belt with several perforation holes conveyed through the side flap folding station. Located below the conveyor belt a suction chamber, by means of which ambient air through the perforation holes is sucked through, so that the envelopes envelope also here with the help of Suction air is kept stable in position on the conveyor belt. As in Fig. 1 of US 3,288,037 can be seen, the envelope to be produced or the letter envelope blank protrudes on the side in the direction of travel edges of the conveyor belt out. The regions of the letter envelope cut above the conveyor belt are therefore not from the conveyor belt itself, but by others Supported below these areas support elements supported. Between these stationary support elements and the letter envelope cuts arise due to the relative movement of the letter envelope to the support elements unwanted friction forces. Particular disadvantage affects These frictional forces in the production of so-called Seitenschlußversandtbeutel which has a relatively large side flap and a relatively small one Have side flap, not folded at the same time, but one after the other become. Due to the unbalanced friction forces between the areas of the letter envelope cutouts which protrude beyond the transport belt and the support elements emerge around the vertical axis of the letter envelope blanks Torques, which the letter envelope in unwanted Canting or twisting manner and in the present patent application be described as yawing moments. Unwanted frictional forces or yawing moments can also be used in other processing stations of the envelope production machine be generated.

From US-A-4,614,512 is a device for transporting cardboard blanks known with two conveyor belts, each having a plurality of perforation holes and on which the Kartonagenzuschnitte in the direction of passage in a transport plane be transported. Below the two conveyor belts is one each Suction chamber arranged, by means of which ambient air through the perforation holes is sucked through. In the direction of flow next to the two transport belts are two suction-free guide straps arranged in twisted form intended. The transport belts and the guide belts are drivable in this way, that they move synchronously in the direction of passage of the cardboard blanks.

The running in twisted form guide straps are substantially above the transport plane arranged to fold the side flaps.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a device for transport of envelope cutters in a mailing making machine or envelope making machine to create the suction power of the suction fan optimally utilizes and at the same time the occurrence of undesirable frictional forces or prevented yaw moments on the letter envelope cuts.

This object is achieved by means of a device having the features of claim 1 or solved by means of a envelope production machine according to claim 11. Further Embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

It is the Suction chamber arranged, designed and dimensioned that exclusively above the at least one conveyor belt holding a Briefhüllenzuschnitte Suction occurs. The space above the at least one guide belt remains erfindugsgemäß suction.

The device according to the invention has the advantage that the width of the perforated conveyor belt to the width of the smallest envelopes format designed which can be used with the relevant envelope production machine to be produced. This ensures that not even by the im outer area of the conveyor belt perforation holes unnecessary ambient air sucked and accordingly suction power of the suction fan not is being used. The inventive device also brings a minimum Formatwechselaufwand with itself. It must be essentially only the respective Tool elements of the affected station moved transversely to the direction of passage become. In the case of the side flap folding station, the folding elements are closer to each other or further apart from each other.

At least one or more guide belts are preferably on both Side of the conveyor belt provided. However, it is also conceivable only on one Side one or more guide straps to arrange. This can be, for example then be the case when in a certain section of the side flap folding station the large side flap of a side-closure sack is folded and in this Section on the side of the small side flap no editing or folding process takes place at the shipping bag blank.

The transport belt and the guide belt (s) are preferably of the same drive device driven. This will best ensure that transport and guide belts synchronously, i. at the same speed, move in the direction of passage. However, it is also conceivable according to the invention for the conveyor belt and the guide belt or a separate drive device provided that they are so coordinated, that transport and guide belts move synchronously.

According to the invention, between the transport belt and the guide belt (s) a stationary separation rail can be provided. This rail separates the transport belt of the or the guide belt and provides beyond ensuring that there is no ambient air over the lateral edges of the conveyor belt is sucked.

Particularly advantageous is the arrangement of an electromagnetic or optical Interrogation sensor in the separator rail. In the latter case, for example, a Photodiode be integrated, which arranged from one above the transport plane Photo emitter constantly or at intervals receives optical signals. In trouble-free Operation of the envelope production machine registers the disturbance request sensor regular signal interruption times caused by the passing envelope cuts in the optical signal transmission, which for a trouble-free Operation are characteristic. Represents the fault inquiry sensor irregularities in the signal interruption times, he can characterized a characterized Report malfunction of the envelope production machine, for example to a central machine control.

Another advantage of the separating rail or separating rails is that they are in Passage direction of Briefhüllenzuschnitte a little about the drive roller or shaft of trained as endless belts transport and guide belt addition can be extended or can. This ensures that the envelope pieces the next section in the same station or the next station of the Envelope making machine is safely handed over. Otherwise, the Letter envelope blanks, for example due to static charge on the conveyor belt or stick the guide belt and in an undesirable manner follow the deflection of these belts. By extending the separator rail or separating rails thus becomes a peeling guide of the letter envelope blanks achieved, which easily prevents this, the deflection movement consequences.

According to the invention, two or more perforated transport belts can also be provided become. To a low efficiency in such an embodiment to prevent the use of suction, are stationary sealing strips arranged in the spaces between the conveyor belt. These Prevent ambient air through the spaces between the conveyor belts can be sucked. If necessary, the sealing strips in Passage direction be formed extended, as well as the separating rails to effect a peeling guide. Furthermore, it is also conceivable, the electromagnetic or optical interference sensor in the or one of the sealing strips integrate.

The device according to the invention can be in all usually in a letter envelope manufacturing machine find existing stations application. Especially It can also act as a pure transport station, above its transport level no processing operations are carried out on the letter envelope. Examples of possible uses of the device according to the invention are the Side flap folding station, window loading station or drying station.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zum Transport von Briefhüllenzuschnitten in einer Seitenklappenfaltstation einer Briefhüllenherstellungsmaschine;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Aufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zum Transport von Briefhüllenzuschnitten in der Seitenklappenfaltstation einer Briefhüllenherstellungsmaschine;

Fig. 3

den Schnitt A-A gemäß Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

den Schnitt B-B gemäß Fig. 2:

Fig. 5

einen Teillängsschnitt durch einen als Zahnriemen ausgebildeten Transportriemen;

Fig. 6

den Schnitt C-C gemäß Fig. 2; und

Fig. 7

den verkleinerten Schnitt C-C gemäß Fig. 6, wobei zusätzlich ein Briefhüllenzuschnitt während des Faltvorgangs sowie ein vergrößerter Briefhüllenzuschnitt in ungefaltetem Zustand gezeigt ist.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a side view of a device according to the invention for the transport of Briefhüllenkuschnitten in a Seitenklappenfaltstation a envelope production machine;

Fig. 2

a schematic plan view of a device according to the invention for the transport of Briefhüllenzuschnitten in the Seitenklappenfaltstation a envelope production machine;

Fig. 3

the section AA of FIG. 2;

Fig. 4

the section BB according to FIG. 2:

Fig. 5

a partial longitudinal section through a conveyor belt designed as a toothed belt;

Fig. 6

the section CC of FIG. 2; and

Fig. 7

the reduced section CC of FIG. 6, wherein in addition a Briefhüllenkuschnitt is shown during the folding process and an enlarged envelope cut in unfolded state.

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a side flap folding station 1 of a envelope production machine. Under envelopes are both envelopes and so-called Shipping bags to understand. The arrow R indicates the direction of passage the letter envelope through the envelope production machine. Of the Side flap folding station 1 is preceded by a window inserting station 11, as on right edge of Fig. 1 can be seen. In the direction of passage R behind the side flap folding station there is a Bodenklappenfaltstation 12, as at the left edge of Fig. 1 can be seen. The detail envelope mailing machine shown is set up for the production of mailing bags, so imminent the side flap folding station 1 a Seitenklappenbeleimeinrichtung 13 and immediately behind the side flap folding station 1 a Bodenklappenbeleimeinrichtung 14 to recognize.

In Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of a side flap folding station with a Inventive device for transporting the letter envelope sections shown. It is the transport belt 2 provided with a multiplicity of perforation holes 3 to recognize, which is designed as an endless belt or belt, as best in Fig. 3rd you can see. The transport belt 2 does not run around the drive roller 15 and the three driven pulleys 16 um, wherein the drive roller 15 in Fig. 3 in the counterclockwise direction rotates, so that the load strand of the conveyor belt 2 in the direction of passage R of Briefhüllenzuschnitte, so in Figs. 2 and 3 to the left, moves.

The perforation holes 3 are circular holes, as in FIG. 2 shown. Alternatively, however, other geometries are conceivable. At the shown Embodiment, five rows of perforation holes 3 are provided, wherein the individual perforation holes 3 of a row evenly spaced from each other are and the rows are adjacent to each other, that the perforation holes 3 in Passage direction R are each at the same height. It is also conceivable, the perforation holes 3 of two adjacent rows each to be arranged on a gap. Furthermore can the geometry of the perforation holes 3 and their arrangement in the Transport belt 2 to the respective application of the device according to the invention be adjusted.

With the thick dashed lines in Fig. 2, a suction chamber 4 is indicated, which is located below the Lasttrums of the conveyor belt 2 as shown in FIG. 3 and via a also visible in Fig. 6 connecting piece 17 with a vacuum source or a suction fan is connectable. With the help of the suction fan can Ambient air can be sucked into the suction chamber 4 through the perforation holes 3. This creates at the top of the load strand of the conveyor belt 2 a Suction, which the of the window insertion station 11 on the conveyor belt 2 supplied letter envelope blanks stable storage.

In Fig. 2 above and below the perforated conveyor belt 2 are each three To recognize guide belt 5, which as shown in FIG. 4 as well as endless belt or Belts are formed and the same drive roller 15 and two of the same pulleys 16 as the transport belt 2 rotate. As can be seen in Fig. 4 is located below the Lasttrume the guide belt 5 no suction box, so that above the guide belt 5 no suction effect for holding the letter envelope arises.

As best seen in Figs. 2 and 6, the transport surface of the shown embodiment of a total of three areas formed with respect to their holding effect on the letter envelope sections differ from each other.

The first or middle region is arranged by that in the middle of the transport surface Transport belt 2 is formed, so that in him a suction and thus holding action is applied to the letter envelope. The second and third area will be formed by the suctionless guide belts 5, which symmetrically in Passage direction R next to the conveyor belt 2 are arranged.

The width of the conveyor belt 2 can be designed such that even then, when the smallest envelope size is driven in the envelope making machine is still the two outermost perforation hole rows of the envelope cut be covered and thus contribute to the holding effect on the conveyor belt 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, on both sides of the conveyor belt 2 above the guide belt 5 each have a folding device which a folding plow 10 and a folding blade 19 includes, for folding the side flaps of an envelope intended. As opposed to the side flaps of an envelope those of a mailer do not lie on top of each other, they are the two Folding devices in the direction of flow R at the same height. When folding a Side flap practices the folding plow 10 on the corresponding area of the letter envelope a force acting in the direction of FIG. 2. This force has one equal in magnitude reaction force of the under the outer areas of the Briefhüllenzusschnitts located guide belt 5 on the envelope blank for Episode. Since this reaction force according to the invention no longer spatially stationary, i. moved relative to the envelope cut, moving surface is no unwanted frictional forces, which contrary to the Passing direction R could act on the envelope cut. In particular, arise no yawing moments in asymmetrical side flap folding operations more, which twist the envelope cutting in the plane of transport or could tilt.

In Fig. 7 at the top is a letter blank 21 during the side flap folding operation shown. In Fig. 7 below, the envelope cut 21 is shown in unfolded state. From the letter envelope blank 21 shown here, an envelope is produced, in which the side flaps 22 do not overlap each other.

The envelope cut 21 moves with the bottom flap 23 ahead through the Side flap folding station, as in the indicated in Fig. 7 flow direction R to recognize. The trailing flap R in the direction of passage R 24 of Briefhüllenzuschnitts 21 is much smaller than the bottom flap 23. Before folding the side flaps 22 and the bottom flap 23 and the closure flap 24th is the Briefhüllenzuschnitt 21 with Seitenklappenvorbrüchen 25, a Bodenklappenvorbruch 26 and a flap opening 27 provided. Along the Vorbrüche 25, 26 and 27, the paper of Briefhüllenzuschnitt 21 is diluted, so that the prominences act as Sollfaltlinien which the subsequent folding of the relevant Facilitate flaps.

In Fig. 7 above is during the Seitenklappenfaltvorgangs at the level of the cut C-C in Figure 2 from the envelope cut 21 assumed cross-sectional geometry shown. The two side flaps 22 have already been moved by approx. 135 ° from the transport plane inwards in the direction of the front wall 28 of the Letter envelope cut 21 folded. During the folding process, the side flap breaks move 25 in the direction of passage R along the folding edges of the folding knife 19, so that the latter hold the front wall 28 completely in the transport plane and a proper turning or folding of the side flaps 22 around those of the Seitenklappenvorbrüchen 25 predetermined rotation or folding axes guaranteed is.

As shown in FIG. 6, the upper suction chamber wall 7 forms the suction chamber 4 the tread of the perforated conveyor belt 2. It prevents sagging of the conveyor belt 2 under suction. According to Fig. 2, the passages in the upper Saugkammerwandung 7 formed as a longitudinal slots 8, which in Passage direction R substantially over the entire length of the suction box. 4 extend. The rows of the perforation holes 3 are so in the transport belt arranged that the perforation holes 3 of a row during its movement via the upper Saugkammerwandung 7 preferably completely with the longitudinal slots 8 are aligned, as can be seen in Figs. 2 and 6. When using a Flat belt as a transport belt 2 is ensured by the fact that the ambient air easily through the perforation holes 3 and the longitudinal slots 8 in the Suction chamber 4 can be sucked.

The geometry of the passages in the upper Saugkammerwandung 7, depending on Need to be adapted to the requirements. For example, it is conceivable the passages in the form of in the direction of R consecutively arranged slots or form circular holes.

Instead of in the form of a flat belt as in Figs. 2 and 6, the transport belt 2 are also formed as a toothed belt according to FIG. 5. In this case, you can the perforation holes 3 not only in alignment with the longitudinal slots 8 are provided, but also in a non-aligned arrangement, provided that Perforation holes 3 each open into the interdental spaces 9 of the toothed belt. In such an arrangement, the sucked by the suction chamber 4 ambient air flows first in the perforation holes 3 down, then a short piece horizontally through the interdental spaces 9 and then down again through the passages or longitudinal slots 8 in the suction chamber 4. In other words In this case, the flow path of the ambient air is approximately in this case S-shaped.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 6 are also between the conveyor belt 2 and the guide belt 5 arranged, fixed separating rails 6 shown. They point a relatively flat rectangular cross section and lie substantially flush with the transport belt 2 and the guide belt 5 in the transport plane. If necessary, they can also be arranged lying slightly below the transport plane become. They form in relation to the conveyor belt 2 or the guide belt 5 a relatively small proportion of the entire transport surface.

In Fig. 6, two support plates 20 can be seen along the surface itself the trained in the embodiment shown as a timing belt guide belt 5 move. The support plates 20 prevent sagging of the guide belts 5 under the action of in Fig. 6 downward forces, which during the Seitenklappenfaltvorgangs arise. They thus ensure that the load spaces the guide belt 5 as well as that of the conveyor belt 2 always in the transport level.

As can be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the separating rails 6 in the shown Embodiment in the direction of passage R over the drive roller 15 and its drive shaft extended beyond. They protrude slightly into the area of the pulleys the belt of the subsequent station, which at the left edge of Fig. 2 and 3 can be seen. This extension of the separation rails causes a so-called Peeling off the envelopes to be handed over to the next station, which avoids these to the belt of the previous station stick and in the marked in Fig. 2 with S gap between the stations devices.

Claims (15)

1. Device for conveying envelope blanks in an envelope-making machine with at least one conveyor belt (2) having several perforation holes (3) and on which the envelope blanks are conveyed in a transport plane in feed direction (R), at least one suction chamber (4) being disposed underneath the conveyor belt (2) by means of which ambient air can be sucked through the perforation holes (3), and having at least one suction-free guide belt (5) provided on at least one of the two sides lying adjacent to the conveyor belt (2) in feed direction (R), which conveyor belt (2) and guide belt (5) may be driven so as to move synchronously in feed direction (R),
   characterised in that
   the guide belt (5) lies in the transport plane and a stationary dividing rail (6) is disposed between the conveyor belt (2) and the guide belt or belts (5).
2. Device as claimed in claim 1,
   characterised in that
   three guide belts (5) are provided on at least one of the two sides of the conveyor belt (2).
3. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   a fault-scanning sensor is integrated in the dividing rail (6).
4. Device as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the suction chamber (4) is bounded by a top suction chamber wall (7), along the surface of which the conveyor belt (2) moves, and which has outlets (8) through which the ambient air can be sucked into the suction chamber (4).
5. Device as claimed in claim 4,
   characterised in that
   the perforation holes (3) are disposed so as to be aligned with the outlets (8), at least intermittently, during the movement of the conveyor belt (2) above the top suction chamber wall (7).
6. Device as claimed in claim 4,
   characterised in that
   the conveyor belt is a toothed belt (2), in which case the perforation holes (3) respectively open into an inter-tooth space (9) and are disposed so that at least some of them are not aligned with the outlets (8) during the movement of the conveyor belt (2) above the top suction chamber wall (7).
7. Device as claimed in one of claims 4 to 6,
   characterised in that
   the outlets are provided in the form of longitudinal slots (8) extending essentially across the entire length of the suction chamber (4).
8. Device as claimed in one of claims 4 to 6,
   characterised in that
   the outlets are provided in the form of oblong holes disposed one after the other in feed direction (R) and disposed in several rows adjacent to one another.
9. Device as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   several conveyor belts (2) are provided, in which case a stationary sealing strip is respectively disposed between the conveyor belts (2) so that no ambient air can be sucked through the intermediate spaces between the conveyor belts (2).
10. Device as claimed in claim 9,
    characterised in that
    a fault-scanning sensor is integrated in the sealing strip.
11. Side flap folding station of an envelope-making machine,
    characterised in that
    it has a device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, and at least one folding unit (10, 19) for folding the side flaps of the envelope blanks is disposed above the transport plane.
12. Side flap folding station as claimed in claim 11,
    characterised in that
    the folding unit (10, 19) is disposed above the at least one guide belt (5).
13. Window adhering station of an envelope-making machine in which at least one envelope window is adhered in an envelope blank in the window adhering station,
    characterised in that
    it has a device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10.
14. Drying station of an envelope-making machine in which adhesives and/or gum seals applied to envelope blanks are dried in the drying station,
    characterised in that it has a device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10.
15. Envelope-making machine with a device for conveying envelope blanks as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1 to 10.

Images