EP1196345A1

EP1196345A1 - Method and device for the overlapping arrangement of at least two sheets

Info

Publication number: EP1196345A1
Application number: EP00949219A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Helmut Koelle
Original assignee: Boewe Systec AG
Current assignee: Boewe Systec AG
Priority date: 1999-07-27
Filing date: 2000-06-28
Publication date: 2002-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-28
Also published as: WO2001007349A1; US6814351B2; US20020105131A1; DE50001725D1; DE19935186C1; ES2194759T3; EP1196345B1; ATE236846T1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for arranging at least two sheets in a shingled mode of arrangement, wherein a first sheet is moved in a paper travelling direction, and a second sheet is simultaneously moved in a direction at an angle relative to the paper travelling direction in such a way that the at least two sheets are slid one on top of the other. Alternatively, the first and the second sheet are moved in a first and in a second direction at respective different angles relative to a paper travelling direction. Another alternative is to move the two sheets in a first and in a second direction at different speeds but at identical angles relative to the paper travelling direction.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SCORED ARRANGEMENT OF AT LEAST TWO LEAVES

description

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the shingled arrangement of at least two sheets.

Methods and devices are already known in the prior art which are used for superimposing sheets which a cutting machine outputs in two-up mode.

DE 34 33 497 AI describes a device in which paper sheets arranged next to one another are guided into a collating station in which a conveyor belt is provided transversely to a longitudinal axis of the device, by means of which a paper sheet is conveyed transversely to the longitudinal plane of the device, and thus over the other Paper sheet is pushed.

DE 198 19 736 C1 discloses a device for superimposing paper sheets, in which the initially arranged paper sheets are pushed one above the other over two levels by means of vacuum conveyor belts, which is achieved in that the vacuum conveyor belts are arranged obliquely with respect to the paper conveying direction.

US-A-3, 178, 170 discloses an apparatus for collecting single sheets, in which the sheets which are juxtaposed in the apparatus are pushed over one another by means of inclined transport rollers, the transport rollers being driven together. GB 2 083 448 A discloses a cutting and collating device by means of which a stack of sheets lying one above the other is produced from a plurality of individual sheets.

US-A-4,674,375 relates to a collating device in which three single sheets, which have been cut in a previous section and lie parallel at the entrance of the machine, are brought together in a stack such that the individual sheets are arranged one above the other. The sheets are pushed over one another, and only at the exit of the device is a stack arrangement provided, by means of which the individual sheets are brought together to form a corresponding stack. The individual sheets are driven by conveyor rollers that are driven together.

The systems described above, as are already known from the prior art, all have in common that they only create the possibility of arranging at least two sheets which are fed to such a device one above the other, in this connection the alignment of the ones pushed over one another Sheets are always such that they form a stack in which the individual sheets are arranged flush on top of one another.

In applications in which, for example, the individual sheets have been produced by appropriate cutting operations on cutting machines known per se, are pushed together into stacks by the devices described above, and in which further processing of these elements is then required, e.g. B. the grouping of individual documents, the inserting or the like, it is necessary, if only for reasons of space saving, to arrange the sheets in a shingled form during further transport from the individual stacks, ie in such a way that the sheets passed are arranged one above the other with a slight longitudinal offset , Based on the given dimensions, this enables an increased transport capacity compared to the transport capacity for the case that only single sheets would be transported.

However, the procedure described above, namely first pushing and stacking the individual sheets over one another and then flaking them, requires additional processing steps after the individual sheets which emerge from the gathering station (merger) are first collected in stack form and then the sheets must be can be removed individually from the stack formed in order to produce their shingled arrangement, which requires additional work steps and leads to a reduction in the operating speed because, for example, during a cycle which, for example Is 200 ms long, only a single sheet can be removed, so that 400 ms, ie two cycles of the operating cycle, are required for the scaled creation of two sheets.

Based on this prior art, the present invention seeks to provide a method and an apparatus for the shingled arrangement of at least two sheets, which enables rapid processing of sheets in a paper handling system and reduces the number of clock cycles required.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1, claim 2 and claim 3, and by a device according to claim 9, claim 10 and claim 11.

The present invention provides a method for shingling at least two sheets in which a first sheet of the at least two sheets is moved in a paper travel direction and at the same time a second sheet of the at least two sheets is moved in a direction at an angle with respect to the paper travel direction that the at least two sheets are pushed over one another.

The present invention provides a method for arranging at least two sheets, in which a first sheet of the at least two sheets is moved in a first direction at a first angle with respect to a paper travel direction and a second sheet of the at least two sheets in a second direction at a second angle with respect to a paper travel direction is moved that the at least two sheets are pushed one above the other, the first and the second angle being different.

The present invention provides a method for shingling at least two sheets in which a first sheet of the at least two sheets is moved in a first direction at a first angle with respect to the paper travel direction at a first speed and a second sheet of the at least two sheets in a second direction at a second angle with respect to the paper travel direction is moved at a second speed such that the at least two sheets are pushed over one another, the first and the second angle being the same, and the first and the second speed being different.

The present invention provides an apparatus for shingling at least two sheets, having a first transport that moves a first sheet of at least two sheets in a paper travel direction and a second transport that moves a second sheet of the at least two sheets in one direction below one Angle with respect to the direction of paper movement so that the at least two sheets are pushed one above the other.

The present invention provides an apparatus for shingling at least two sheets, comprising a first transport that moves a first sheet of the at least two sheets in a first direction at a first angle with respect to a paper travel direction, and a second transport that a second sheet the at least two sheets are moved in a second direction at a second angle with respect to the paper travel direction such that the at least two sheets are pushed over one another, the first and the second angle being different.

The present invention provides a device for shingled arranging at least two sheets, having a first transport device that moves a first sheet of the at least two sheets in a first direction at a first angle with respect to a paper travel direction at a first speed, a second transport device second sheet of the at least two sheets is moved in a second direction and at a second angle with respect to the paper travel direction at a second speed such that the at least two sheets are pushed over one another, the first and the second angle being the same, and wherein the first and the second speed are different.

According to the present invention, the different movements of the individual sheets (different distances and / or different speeds) ensure that a first sheet is faster than a second sheet, so that when the sheets are pushed over one another there is an offset in the direction of the paper travel, which individual leaves are arranged in shingles.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the different speeds of the transport devices cause the individual sheets to move such that a first sheet is faster than a second sheet, so that when the sheets are pushed one over the other, there is an offset in the direction of the paper travel, the individual sheets are scaled. The first speed v ^ of the first sheet is preferably in the range from 2 m / s to 5 m / s, and the second speed V2 of the second sheet is imminent. preferably in the range from 1.05 xv ^ to 1.2 x V _] _, ie 5% to 20% higher than _v ^. The offset of the edges leading in the paper running direction is preferably in the range from 10 mm to 50 mm.

According to a further preferred exemplary embodiment, the method and the device according to the invention are designed in such a way that the sheets are shifted by half their format width in a direction perpendicular to the paper running direction.

According to a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, the transport devices in a transfer station are designed as inclined transport devices, the transport directions of which are inclined at an acute angle to a longitudinal center plane.

According to a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the transport devices are formed by vacuum transport units which are arranged obliquely to a paper running direction and between which a separating plate is arranged, so that the transport belts of the vacuum transport units cross.

Preferred developments of the present invention are defined in the subclaims.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1A - IC basic representations of the method according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section along the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross section along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

5 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section along the line II-II of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a partial longitudinal section at point III of Fig. 6; and

8-11 are schematic representations of different modes of operation of the device according to the second embodiment.

The present invention is based on the finding that a shingled arrangement of at least two sheets in a gathering station (merger) can be achieved in a simple manner, which is described in more detail below with reference to the three exemplary embodiments of the method according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, wherein the devices according to the invention to be described later work according to these methods.

1A shows a first exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention, in which a first sheet 10 and a second sheet 12 are to be arranged in a shingled manner. The two sheets 10 and 12 lie against an initial position 14 and are moved from there in a paper travel direction P, and are arranged in a shingled manner at a final position 16, as shown in the right section of FIG. 1A. As can be seen, the two sheets 10 and 12 are arranged one above the other, an edge 18 of the first sheet 10 leading in the paper running direction P from a leading in the paper running direction P Renden edge 20 of the second sheet 12 is offset by the distance X ^. The same applies to the rear edges of the two sheets 10 and 20 in the paper running direction P. The rear edge 22 of the sheet 10 is offset from the rear edge 24 of the sheet 12 by the distance X2.

In the area between the first position 14 and the second position 16, the first sheet 10 is moved in a direction 26 which corresponds to the paper running direction P. The second sheet 12 is moved in a second direction 28 which is inclined by an angle α with respect to the paper running direction P. In a preferred embodiment of this method, the first sheet 10 and the second sheet 12 are moved at the same speed v, which is preferably in the range from 2 m / s to 5 m / s. The offset of the leading edges in the paper running direction is preferably in the range from 10 mm to 50 mm. According to the invention, this offset is achieved in that, owing to the longer distance that sheet 12 has to travel, sheet 10 is faster than sheet 12.

A next exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention is described with reference to FIG. 1B, the arrangement of the sheets found before section 14 and after section 16 corresponding to that of FIG. 1A, so that this situation is not described again.

In the exemplary embodiment described in FIG. 1B, in the region between the section 14 and the section 16 there is a movement of the first sheet 10 in a direction 30 which is inclined by the angle α1 with respect to the paper running direction P. The sheet 12 is moved in a second direction 32, which is inclined by a second angle α2 with respect to the paper running direction P. As can be seen, the angles .alpha.1 and .alpha.2 are different, so that when the blades 10 and 12 move at the same speed, the scaled arrangement of the first and second blades according to the invention is achieved. A third preferred exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention is described in more detail in the appendix of FIG. IC, only the movement of the individual sheets 10 and 12 between the sections 14 and 16 being discussed in more detail. As can be seen, the first sheet 10 is moved in a first direction 34 which is inclined by an angle α1 with respect to the paper running direction P. Likewise, the second sheet 12 is moved in a direction 36 which is inclined at an angle α2 with respect to the paper running direction. In the embodiment shown in FIG. IC, the angles α1 and α2 are the same, and the individual blades 10 and 12 are moved along the directions 34 and 36 at different speeds v ^ and V2, respectively, so that the flaky arrangement of the two blades results as shown in Fig. IC.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. IC, the arrangement is preferably selected such that each of the sheets is shifted by half its format width in the direction perpendicular to the paper running direction P.

The first speed v ^ at which the first sheet 10 is moved is preferably in the range from 2 m / s to 5 m / s. The second speed V2 at which the second sheet is moved is in the range from 1.05 x V _] _ to 1.2 x V] _, ie the second speed V2 is 5% to 20% higher than vl *

The offset of the leading edges in the paper running direction is preferably in the range from 10 mm to 50 mm.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as can also be seen in FIG. 1, the sheets 10 and 12 to be shed are arranged next to one another in the paper running direction P, and the shed sheets are removed from the position 16. Preferred exemplary embodiments of the device according to the invention are described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 11, the same or similar elements being provided with the same reference symbols in the individual figures.

2 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention. A paper web, not shown, is printed with form texts or the like and, in a cutting machine, also not shown, first divided lengthways and then transversely into individual forms or paper sheets. 2 shows the paper sheets 10 and 12 which are arranged next to one another in a horizontal paper running plane on both sides of a longitudinal center plane MM running perpendicularly thereto. The paper sheets 10, 12 are moved side by side in the paper running direction P into a gathering station ("MERGER") 100, in which the paper sheets 10, 12 initially assume the fully extended position. From this position, each of the two paper sheets 10, 12 is moved simultaneously with the other paper sheet obliquely to the longitudinal center plane M in the direction C1, C2. During this oblique movement in the direction of C1 or C2, the paper sheets 10, 12 are pushed over one another. Each of the two paper sheets 10, 12 is shifted by half of its format width B beyond the longitudinal median plane MM to the other side thereof. The oblique movement of the paper sheets 10, 12 preferably takes place at opposite acute angles μl or μ2 of approximately 45 ° obliquely to the longitudinal center plane MM. The mode of operation of the illustrated exemplary embodiment is that which has been described with reference to FIG. IC. The first paper sheet 10 and the second paper sheet 12 are moved at different speeds, so that the two paper sheets 10, 12 are arranged in a shingled manner one above the other. Subsequently, the paper sheets 10, 12 are moved further in pairs (scaled) in the direction of the longitudinal center plane M in the direction of the arrow P. The device according to the first exemplary embodiment consists of a left and a right unit, which are arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal center plane M and, depending on the format, can be set transversely to this longitudinal center plane M. Each of these units comprises a longitudinal transport device L1, L2 (FIG. 2) with which the paper sheets 10, 12 lying next to one another can be moved into the collating station 100 in the direction of the longitudinal median plane M. A separate inclined transport device S1 or S2 is provided in the collating station 100 for each of the two paper sheets 10, 12. The transport directions Cl, C2 of these inclined transport devices S1, S2 run at opposite acute angles μl, μ2 obliquely to the longitudinal center plane MM. The acute angles μl or μ2 are preferably 45 °.

A guide plate 102, 104 is provided in the transfer station in the area of the inclined transport devices S1 and S2 for the respective paper sheet 10, 12. Each of the two guide plates 102, 104 extends from one side of the longitudinal median plane M-M to the other side thereof. The two guide plates 102, 104 are adjustable transversely to the longitudinal center plane M-M and can therefore be adjusted to the respective format width. Furthermore, in the area of the longitudinal center plane, a delivery transport device 106 is provided for each paper sheet, only the lower delivery transport device being shown in FIG. 2. Each of these delivery conveyors 106 comprises an endless conveyor belt 108 which runs over a drive shaft 110 and a tensioning roller, not shown. Furthermore, three pressure rollers 112 are assigned to the conveyor belt 108.

3, the inclined transport device S1 and the longitudinal transport device L1 are shown in more detail. The inclined transport device S1 comprises several pairs of rollers 114, 116, the upper roller 114 being made of rubber and the lower roller 116 being made of steel. The axes of rotation of these rollers 114, 116 are at an acute angle of 45 ° arranged inclined to the longitudinal center plane MM. The upper rollers 114 are each mounted in angle levers 118, which in turn are connected to an actuating rod 120. By moving the actuating rod 120 back and forth, the upper roller 114 can be pressed against or lifted from the lower roller 116 and the inclined transport device S1 can thus be engaged or disengaged.

The longitudinal transport device L1 comprises a first roller 122, which can be driven by a motor, not shown, and a second roller 124, which is biased against the first roller 122. A stop unit 126 is arranged in front of the longitudinal transport device L1 and comprises a rubber buffer 130 which can be moved upwards by means of an electromagnet 128. If, when changing groups, a paper sheet has to be stopped until the adjacent paper sheet belonging to the lead group has been dispensed, the associated rubber buffers 130 are pressed upwards by switching on the relevant electromagnet 128 and the paper sheet above is held. The inclined transport device S2 and the longitudinal transport device L2 have the same structure as the above-described inclined transport device S1 and the longitudinal transport device L2.

4 shows the two inclined transport devices S1 and S2, the inclined transport device S2 comprising a plurality of pairs of rollers 132, 134. Furthermore, the guide plates 102, 104 are shown, each of which has a section 102a or 104a bent over 180 ° on one longitudinal side, so that a guide shaft is located between the respective guide plate 102 and the bent section 102a or the guide plate 104 and its bent section 104a 136, 138 is formed. The inside 102b or 104b of the bending area forms a stop running parallel to the longitudinal center plane MM. The three pressure rollers 112 of the conveyor belt 106 of the delivery transport device 106 are in by means of a common push rod 140 Movable towards the associated guide plate 102, 104, so that the respective conveyor belt 106 is pressed onto the associated guide plate. An intermediate sheet of paper is then transported on.

The mode of operation of the device is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

The longitudinal transport devices L1, L2 are driven at a conveying speed which is somewhat greater than the maximum output speed of the cutting machine. The longitudinal transport devices L1, L2 pull the two sheets of paper 10, 12 into the collating station 100, the upper rollers 114, 132 of the inclined transport devices S1, S2 initially being lifted off the lower rollers 116, 134. As soon as each paper sheet 10, 12 is almost completely drawn into the collating station 100, the upper rollers 114, 132 are pressed onto the lower rollers 116, 134 of the inclined transport devices S1, S2 and thereby the paper sheet 10 is moved obliquely in the direction C1 towards the longitudinal center plane M. while the paper sheet 12 is shifted obliquely in the direction C2 towards the longitudinal center plane MM. The conveyor belts 108 of the delivery device 106 are lifted off the associated guide plates 102, 104. 2 and 4, the paper sheet 10 is shifted obliquely to the right and thereby enters the guide shaft 138 until it comes to rest against the stop 104b. The paper sheet 12 is pushed obliquely to the left into the shaft 136 and finally comes to rest against the stop 102b. The inclined conveyors S1, S2 are set to the respective format width so that the rollers 114, 116 and 132, 134 disengage from the respective paper sheet 10, 12 when the longitudinal edges of the paper sheets 10, 12 reach the stops 102b and 104b , If this is the case, the conveyor belts 108 are pressed onto the respective paper sheets and the associated guide plates 102, 104 by means of the pressure rollers 112 and, as a result, the two paper sheets 10, 12 pushed one over the other in the direction F moved on and handed over. The inclined transport devices

51 and S2 cause the blades 10 and 12 to move at a first speed and a speed different from the first speed, as described above.

The transport of the paper sheets 10, 12 is monitored by light barriers (not shown), the light barriers controlling electromagnets (not shown) which act on the actuating rod 120 of the inclined transport devices S1,

52 or act on the pressure rollers 112 of the delivery transport device 106.

FIGS. 5 to 11 now show a second exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention. A printed paper web, not shown, is first divided lengthwise in a cutting machine, not shown, and then also transversely to individual paper sheets 10, 12. The paper sheets 10, 12 lie side by side in two parallel rows R1 and R2 in a horizontal paper running plane E-E and are moved further in the paper running direction by a transport device, not shown, to the collating station 200 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The paper running direction P runs in the direction of the rows Rl and R2.

At the entrance to this collation station 200 there are feed transport rollers 202 which are driven continuously by a motor M1 (FIG. 6). The feed transport rollers 202 are rollers with a smooth surface on which the paper sheets 10, 12 are pressed in a known manner by means of pressure rollers 204. At the exit of the collating station 200, two output transport rollers 206 of the same type are provided, which can be driven continuously by a motor M2. The feed transport rollers 202 and the output transport rollers 206 can also be driven by a common motor with the interposition of toothed belts. The device according to the invention has at least one lower vacuum transport unit 208. However, it is expedient to provide two lower vacuum transport units 208 arranged parallel to one another, since this can further improve the operational accuracy and operational safety of the device. The two lower vacuum transport units 208 are arranged below the paper running plane EE (FIG. 6) and are each assigned to one of the two rows of paper sheets R1 or R2. Each of these vacuum transport units 208 has an endless conveyor belt 210 which is provided with perforations 212. The conveyor belt 210 is guided over two deflecting rollers 214, 216, of which the deflecting roller 214 can be driven via the schematically indicated motor M3. The motor M3 can also serve to drive the deflection roller 214 of the second lower vacuum transport unit 208 at the same time. The deflection rollers 214, 216 are arranged at opposite ends of a carrier 218. A vacuum chamber 220 is also provided between the two deflection rollers 214, 216, which is integrated in the carrier 218 in the exemplary embodiment shown. This vacuum chamber 220 is open to the upper working section 210a of the conveyor belt 210. The upper working strand 210a adjoins the paper run plane EE and is arranged only a short distance below this paper run plane.

In order to adapt the device to different format heights, the vacuum chamber 220 is expediently divided into individual chambers 220a, 220b, 220c, which can optionally be connected to a vacuum source 222. Only the middle single chamber 220d can be continuously connected to the vacuum source 222. Each of the individual chambers 220a-220d has a longitudinal section 224a-224d which is open towards the working strand 210a.

Instead of dividing the vacuum chamber 220 into individual chambers, it would also be possible to provide a single continuous vacuum chamber which opens one towards the working section 210a Has longitudinal section. The end regions of the slot could then be closable by a slide, not shown, to a predetermined length depending on the format height of the paper sheets to be placed one above the other.

As is further shown in FIG. 5, the two ends 218a and 218b of the carrier 218 are arranged offset to one another in the paper running direction P. The ends 218a, 218b can be adjusted independently of one another by means of an adjusting device 226 and 228, which is expediently designed as a screw spindle extending perpendicular to the paper running direction P and parallel to the paper running plane E-E. The adjustment devices 226, 228 can be driven by hand or by means of a stepping motor.

For the second row of paper sheets R2, at least one upper vacuum transport unit 208 'arranged above the paper running plane E-E is provided. Here, too, it is expedient to assign the paper sheet row R2 to two vacuum transport units 208 ′ arranged parallel to one another. The upper vacuum transport units 208 'are designed in the same way as the lower vacuum transport units 208, which is why the upper vacuum transport units 208', their components and the components interacting with them are designated by the same reference numerals as the vacuum transport units 208 and their parts, only with the addition of an index line. The previous description of the lower vacuum transport units 208 therefore also applies analogously to the upper vacuum transport units 208 '. The upper vacuum transport units 208 'differ from the lower ones only in that in the upper vacuum transport units 208' the lower run 210'a of the conveyor belt 210 'forms the working run and accordingly the vacuum chambers 220' are open at the bottom. The lower working strand 210 'a is arranged adjacent to the paper running plane E-E at a short distance from it.

So that the working strands 210a and 210'a are as close together as possible can be arranged half or above the paper running plane and the paper sheets 10, 12 must be deflected as little as possible from this paper running plane, it is expedient to provide a thin separating plate 230 extending in the paper running plane between the lower vacuum transport units 208 and the upper vacuum transport units 208 '. By means of this separating plate 230, the two paper sheets 10, 12 to be stacked are guided separately from one another during the stacking and, moreover, it is prevented, above all, that the upper paper sheet is sucked in by the lower vacuum transport units 208 and the lower paper sheet by the upper vacuum transport units 208 '. The partition plate 230 can also be made of transparent material, such as acrylic plastic or glass, which is why the vacuum transport units 208 underneath the transparent partition plate 230 and the components interacting with them can be seen in FIG. 5.

In order to ensure that the respective paper sheet is fed to the associated vacuum transport units, a guide device 232, 232 'is provided in front of the separating plate 230 for each row of paper sheets R1, R2. In order to be able to adapt the device to different operating modes, the inlet end 232a or 232'a of each guide device 232 is adjustable in height. The two guiding devices 232, 232 'are expediently designed in the manner of a switch tongue and can be folded independently of one another about a pivot axis A running in the paper path EE and perpendicular to the paper running direction. In this way, the paper sheets originating from one of the rows of paper R1 or R2 can be routed either to the upper or lower side of the separating plate and the sheets of other paper sheet row to the opposite lower or upper side of the separating plate 230. If, for example, the paper sheets 10 originating from the row of paper sheets R1 are to be moved further by the lower vacuum transport units 208, then the guide device 232, as shown in FIG. 7, is folded upwards. As a result, the paper sheets 10 of the paper sheet row R1 become the working trums of the lower vacuum transport units 208 passed. For the paper sheet row R2, the guiding device 232 'is then folded down with its inlet end 232' a and the paper sheets 12 are thus guided to the working runs 212'a of the upper vacuum transport units 208 '.

In order to ensure precise operation of the device, it is also advantageous if the driven deflecting rollers 214, 214 'are provided with projections 234, 234' which engage in corresponding recesses in the associated conveyor belt 210, 210 '. As in the exemplary embodiment shown, the recesses can be formed by the perforations 212, 212 'of the conveyor belt 210, 210'. However, the conveyor belts can also be designed in the manner of a toothed belt and the driven deflection rollers then have a corresponding toothing on their circumferences.

The mode of operation of the device according to the invention will first be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. In this mode of operation, the paper sheets 10, 12 originating from the two rows of paper sheets R1, R2 are alternately superimposed on one another. Here, the paper sheet 12 on the right in the direction of paper travel will be placed over the paper sheet 10 on the left. Furthermore, the paper sheets will be superimposed symmetrically to the longitudinal center plane of the device, which is referred to as "center symmetrical processing". For this purpose, the lower vacuum transport units 208 are used to transport the paper sheets 10 originating from the left row of paper sheets R1 and the upper vacuum transport units 208 'are used to transport the paper sheets 12 originating from the right row of paper sheets R2. The guiding devices 232, 232 'are set as shown in FIG. 7. The lower vacuum transport units 208 are set with their outlet-side ends inclined to the longitudinal central plane, just like the upper vacuum transport units 208 'in the opposite direction, likewise with their outlet-side ends to the longitudinal central plane. plane are set obliquely inclined, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8.

The paper sheets 10, 12 are conveyed in the paper running direction P by the transport shafts 202 of the feed transport. Here, the paper sheet is guided through the guide device 232 to the work strand 210a of the lower vacuum transport units 208 and the paper sheet 12 through the guide device 232 'to the work strand 210' a of the upper vacuum transport units 208 '. The paper sheet 10 is sucked into the working strand 210a by the vacuum prevailing in the vacuum chamber 220, which is initially effective through the slot 224a and later also through the slots 224b, 224c and 224d and the perforations 212, and from the continuously running conveyor belt 210 accepted. Due to the inclination of the conveyor belt with respect to the longitudinal center plane, the paper sheet 10 is simultaneously moved further in the paper running direction P and also towards the longitudinal center plane. Similarly, the paper sheet 12 is taken from the work strand 210'a of the conveyor belt 210 'of the upper vacuum transport units 208' and laterally offset in the opposite direction to the longitudinal median plane at a speed which is different from the speed at which the first sheet is moving is differentiated. Each paper sheet is only offset by half the paper sheet width. The two sheets of paper are shingled on the output side of the device.

The superimposed sheets of paper 10, 12 are then gripped by the transport shafts 206 of the discharge transport and transported further.

If, in a similar mode of operation, the left paper sheet 10 is to be placed over the right paper sheet, the vacuum transport units are adjusted via adjusting devices 236, 238 according to FIG. 9. The control devices 232, 232 'are also changed accordingly. In this case, the upper vacuum transport devices lines 208 'the transport of the left paper sheet 10 and the lower vacuum transport devices 208 the transport of the right paper sheet 12.

The mode of operation of the device according to the invention will now be described further with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. From Fig. 10 it can be seen how by setting the lower vacuum transport units 208 parallel to the paper travel direction P and the upper vacuum transport units 208 'obliquely to the paper travel direction P, the paper sheets 12 coming from the right row of paper sheets R2 can be shifted to the left, while those from the right row of paper sheets Rl coming paper sheets 10 can only be moved straight ahead. In this way, paper processing with "fixed edge links" can take place.

If the upper vacuum transport units 208 'are in the opposite oblique position (FIG. 11), paper processing can be carried out with "fixed edge on the right". In the examples shown in Figures 10 and 11, the blades are moved at the same speed.

The device can be operated either by hand or by means of a preprogrammed control which acts on motors which are connected to the screw spindles 236, 236 'or 238, 238'.

The subdivision of the vacuum chambers 220 or 220 'into a plurality of individual chambers or the covering of the end regions of the slot of a continuous vacuum chamber is required in order to adapt the device to different format heights. With the smallest format height of 75 mm (3 inches), for example, all individual chambers 220a-220d or 220'a-220'd are connected to the vacuum source 222. In this case, when using slides, the longitudinal section of the continuous vacuum chamber must be opened to its full length. However, if paper sheets with a larger format height are to be processed, then care must be taken that these paper sheets are only sucked onto the conveyor belts 210, 210 'of the vacuum transport units 208, 208' when the rear edge of the respective paper sheet is just leaving the last transport roller of the infeed transport. At the exit side of the device, the respective paper sheets may only remain sucked onto the conveyor belts 210, 210 'until the front edge of the respective paper sheet is gripped by the first transport roller of the output transport. To ensure this, depending on the format height of the paper sheets, a more or less large number of draw-in chambers 220a, 220b, 220c and 220'a, 220'b, 220'c are formed on the inlet side and on the outlet side of the vacuum transport units 208, 208 ' the vacuum source 222 is switched off or the end regions of the slot of a continuous vacuum chamber are closed to a greater or lesser length by slides.

Although only the scaled arrangement of two sheets has been described in the preceding description, it is clear that more than two sheets can also be collected, which leads to a corresponding increase in the number of components described above.

In the arrangements described above, the speed difference between the two sheets is achieved by the different speeds of the inclined transport devices (FIGS. 2 to 4) or the vacuum transport units (FIGS. 5 to 7). Instead of this solution, the required difference in running of the sheets can be achieved in that the individual sheets are delayed differently at the inlet of the collating station. For this purpose, for example, the stop points described in FIGS. 2 to 4 can be used, which are then also provided in the arrangement according to FIGS. 5 to 7. For example, the first sheet is not delayed during the feeding and the second sheet is briefly stopped by the stop, that is to say delayed. In this case, the transport units can run at the same speed because the required offset by the inlet delay of at least one sheet is reached. The one by stopping at least one

Blade performance losses are small and do not have a lasting impact on the overall behavior of the machine.

Claims

claims

Method for the scaled arrangement of at least two sheets (10, 12), with the following steps:

Moving a first sheet (10) of the at least two sheets (10, 12) in a paper travel direction (P); and

simultaneous movement of a second sheet (12) of the at least two sheets (10, 12) in a direction (28) at an angle (α) with respect to the paper travel direction (P) such that the at least two sheets (10, 12) are pushed one above the other ,

Moving a first sheet (10) of the at least two sheets (10, 12) in a first direction (30) at a first angle (αl) with respect to a paper running direction (P); and

Moving a second sheet (12) of the at least two sheets (10, 12) in a second direction (32) at a second angle (α2) with respect to a paper running direction (P), such that the at least two sheets (10, 12) one above the other be pushed

the first and second angles (αl, α2) being different.

Moving a first sheet (10) of the at least two sheets (10, 12) in a first direction (34) below a first angle (αl) with respect to the paper running direction (P) at a first speed; and

Moving a second sheet (12) of the at least two sheets (10, 12) in a second direction (36) at a second angle (α2) with respect to the paper travel direction (P) at a second speed such that the at least two sheets (10 , 12) are pushed over one another,

wherein the first and second angles (αl, α2) are the same, and

the first and second speeds being different.

4. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first sheet (10) is moved at a first speed and the second sheet (12) is moved at a second speed, the first and second speeds being different.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein each of the sheets (10, 12) is shifted by half its format width in a direction perpendicular to the paper running direction (P).

6. The method according to claim 3 or 5, wherein the first speed (V _] _) is in the range from 2 m / s to 5 m / s, and the second speed (V2) in the range from 1.05 x vι to 1 , 2 xv ^ is.

7. The method according to claim 3, 5 or 6, wherein the offset (XI) of the leading edges in the paper running direction (18, 20) is in the range of 10 mm to 50 mm.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 with the following steps: Providing the sheets (10, 12) to be scaly arranged side by side in the paper running direction (P); and

Remove the scaly leaves.

9. Device for scaled arrangement of at least two sheets (10, 12) with

a first transport device which moves a first sheet (10) of at least two sheets (10, 12) in a paper running direction (P); and

a transport device which moves a second sheet (12) of the at least two sheets (10, 12) in one direction (28) at an angle (α) with respect to the paper running direction (P) such that the at least two sheets (10, 12) are pushed over each other.

10. Device for the scaled arrangement of at least two sheets (10, 12), with

a first transport device which moves a first sheet (10) of the at least two sheets (10, 12) in a first direction (30) at a first angle (α1) with respect to a paper running direction (P); and

a second transport device which moves a second sheet (12) of the at least two sheets (10, 12) in a second direction (32) at a second angle (α2) with respect to the paper travel direction (P) such that the at least two sheets (10 , 12) are pushed over one another;

the first and second angles (αl, α2) being different.

11. Device for scaled arrangement of at least two sheets (10, 12) with

a first transport device which moves a first sheet (10) of the at least two sheets (10, 12) in a first direction (34) at a first angle (α1) with respect to a paper running direction (P) at a first speed; and

a second transport device which moves a second sheet (12) of the at least two sheets (10, 12) in a second direction (36) at a second angle (α2) with respect to the paper travel direction (P) at a second speed such that the at least two sheets (10, 12) are pushed over one another;

wherein the first and second angles (αl, α2) are the same, and

the first and second speeds being different.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 or 10, wherein the first sheet (10) is moved at a first speed and the second sheet (12) is moved at a second speed, the first and second speeds being different.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first and the second transport means, the first and the second sheet (10, 12) each shift by half its format width in a direction perpendicular to the paper running direction (P).

14. The apparatus of claim 11 or 13, wherein the first speed (v ^) in the range of 2 m / s to 5 m / s, and the second speed (V2) in the range of 1.05 x V] _ to 1.2 xv ^ is.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, 13 or 14, wherein the offset (XI) of the leading edges in the paper running direction (18, 20) is in the range of 10 mm to 50 mm.

16. The device according to one of claims 9 to 15, with

a receiving device which receives the sheets (10, 12) to be shed, which are arranged side by side in the paper running direction (P), and passes them on to the transport devices; and

a removal device that transports the flaky leaves.

17. Device according to one of claims 9 to 16, in which the transport devices are designed as inclined transport devices (Sl, S2), the transport directions (Cl, C2) of which run at an acute angle (μl, μ2) obliquely to a longitudinal center plane (MM) and in which a separate inclined transport device (S1, S2) is provided for each of the two sheets (10, 12), the transport directions (Cl, C2) of the same running at opposite acute angles (μl, μ2) obliquely to the longitudinal center plane (MM) to push the two sheets of paper (10, 12) over one another at an angle to the longitudinal median plane.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the inclined transport devices (Sl, S2) each consist of several pairs of rollers (114, 116; 132, 134), of which the upper rollers (114, 132) from the lower rollers (116, 134) can be withdrawn.

19. Apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, in which two stops (102b, 104b) running parallel to the longitudinal center plane (MM) are provided in a transfer station, the respective distance of which from the longitudinal center tel plane (MM) corresponds approximately to half the format width of the paper sheets (10, 12).

20. Device according to one of claims 17 to 19, in which in the area between the inclined transport devices (Sl, S2) for the respective sheet (10, 12) a respective guide plate (102, 104) is provided, which extends parallel to the plane of the paper one side of the longitudinal median plane (MM) extends up to the stop (102b, 104b) arranged on the other side thereof.

21. Device according to one of claims 9 to 16, wherein the first transport device is a lower vacuum transport unit (208) arranged below the paper running plane, which has an endless conveyor belt (210) provided with perforations (212), which has two in a carrier (218) mounted deflection rollers and a vacuum chamber (220) arranged between them, which is open to the upper working strand of the conveyor belt adjacent to the paper running plane,

the second transport device is an upper vacuum transport unit (208 ') which is arranged above the paper running plane and which has an endless transport belt (210') provided with perforations (212 ') which has two deflection rollers mounted in a carrier (218') and one arranged in between Vacuum chamber (212 ') is guided, which is open to the lower working strand of the conveyor belt adjoining the paper running plane,

wherein the two ends (218a, 218b; 218'a, 218'b) of each carrier (218, 218 '), each carrying one of the deflection rollers of the associated conveyor belt (210, 210'), are arranged offset to one another in the paper running direction (P) and can be adjusted independently of each other by means of an adjusting device transverse to the paper running direction, a separating plate (230) extending in the paper running plane (EE) is provided between the lower and the upper vacuum transport unit (208, 208 '),

A guide device (232, 232 ') is provided in front of the separating plate (230) in the paper running direction (P) for each paper sheet row (Rl, R2), by means of which the paper sheets (10, 12) originating from a row each correspond to the working strand (8a, 8'a) of the conveyor belt (8, 81) are fed to the vacuum transport unit (208, 208 ') assigned to this row,

whereby for superimposing the paper sheets (10, 12) at least the carrier (218, 218 ') of a vacuum transport unit (208, 208') can be adjusted by means of the adjusting device for the paper running direction (P) in such a way that its transport belt (210, 210 ') is on the outlet side In the area of the collating station, the conveyor belt of the vacuum transport unit arranged on the opposite side of the separating plate (230) crosses.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the inlet end (232a, 232 'a) of each guide device (232, 232') is adjustable in height, so that the paper sheets (10) originating from a row of paper sheets (R1) optionally to the upper or to the lower side the partition plate (230) and the paper sheets (12) of the other row of paper sheets (R2) can be conducted to the opposite lower or upper side of the partition plate.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 or 22, wherein each vacuum chamber (220, 220 ') is divided in its longitudinal direction into individual chambers (220a to 220d; 220'a to 220' d), which are selectively connectable to a vacuum source (222) and each of which has a lengthwise direction of the associated conveyor belt (210, 210 ') and is open towards the work strand (210a, 210' a) Longitudinal section (224a to 224d; 224'a to 224'd).

24. The apparatus of claim 21 or 22, wherein each vacuum chamber (220, 220 ') has a longitudinal section of the associated conveyor belt (210, 210'), the same to the working strand (210a, 210 'a) open to the longitudinal section, wherein slide are provided, by means of which the end regions of the slot can be closed to a predetermined length depending on the format height of the paper sheets (10, 12) to be placed one above the other.

25. Device according to one of claims 21 to 24, in which the ends of the carriers are adjustable by means of screw spindles arranged transversely to the paper running direction (P) and parallel to the paper running plane (E-E).