EP1229396A1 - Apparatus for aligning flexible sheet like print carriers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for aligning (AE) flexible sheet-type printing materials (S) carrying a picture and text information of a reproducing system, the alignment of the sheet-type printing materials coming from a reproducing unit (RE) before forwarding them to a finishing unit (BE) of the reproducing system. In order to achieve a device by means of which the performance or versatility of a reproducing system can be increased in a simple manner as required, while at the same time being inexpensive and simple, the alignment device (AE) is designed as a separate, exchangeable unit which is located between the finishing unit ( BE) and the reproducing unit (RE) of the reproducing system can be used in a predetermined manner as required. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a device for aligning flexible, in particular Sheet-like substrates carrying image and text information from a reproducing system, aligning the sheet-shaped coming from a reproducing unit Substrates before being forwarded to a finishing unit of the reproducing system he follows.

They are devices for aligning flexible, image and text-bearing sheet-like substrates of the type mentioned are known.

EP 0 494 108-A2 discloses an alignment unit as a stationary component of a Copier for turning sheet-shaped substrates for the purpose of double-sided (Duplex) copying, single-sided color highlighting (color highlight) copying and Alignment of sheet-shaped substrates according to the requirements of a subordinate separate finishing device (finisher). The alignment unit or Turning unit has a perpendicular to the upper and lower conveyor tracks of the Copier arranged pocket with a first, in the overhead conveyor of the Copier end and a second, in the underlying conveyor of the Copier opening on. In the area of the first end of the bag and the upper conveyor track are several adjacent, driven conveyor rollers and a controllable two-way guide switch arranged by means of which the toner image carrying sheet-shaped printing materials coming from the copier into the pocket and out this either back into the copier or to the external Finishing device are eligible. The bag can be swiveled or laterally slidable, so that the sheet-shaped printing material in the pocket is in the Guide path of the bag arranged continuous conveyor rollers between the respective in Question coming conveyor rollers is guided over the top of the bag. While the upper conveyor rollers have a fixed, constant direction of rotation, are Continuous conveyor rollers of the bag are reversible in their direction of rotation. Using the conveyor conveyor rollers are also sheet-shaped substrates from the conveyor belt below of the copier in the overhead sheet conveyor and vice versa. moreover are the sheet-shaped printing materials by means of the guide switch and the conveyor rollers of the Conveyor overhead can be conveyed directly to the external finishing device.

The disadvantage here is that the alignment unit with its turning unit does not all desired printing material alignments and through their fixed assignment to Copier, this limits its use and complex in its construction and makes it expensive.

The invention is therefore based on the object of a device of the type mentioned To create type that does not have these disadvantages, but by means of The performance and versatility of a reproductive system as required in simple Way can be increased, while at the same time inexpensive and simple construction of the Reproduzieranlage.

The object is achieved with a device according to claim 1 solved that the alignment device is designed as a separate, interchangeable unit and between the finishing unit and the reproducing unit of the reproducing system can be used.

Advantageously, on the one hand, alignment means for rotating and on the other hand, alignment means for turning the sheet-like image / text bearing Printing materials are provided, by means of which the alignment of the sheet-shaped printing materials can be carried out according to predetermined position requirements of the finishing unit; furthermore, means for mechanical adaptation and means for control-related adaptation to the reproductive system, in particular to the Reproduction unit and the finishing unit provided.

Advantageously, the sheet-shaped printing materials are also on the one hand by means of Rotating means around its longitudinal axis, which is aligned parallel to the center axis of the conveyor track Can be rotated +/- 180 degrees. On the other hand, the sheet-shaped substrates are by means of Turning means along their conveying direction around their, perpendicular to the conveyor track aligned transverse axis can be turned by +/- 180 degrees in such a way that all required Media alignments are feasible.

Fig. 1

die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zwischen einer Reproduziereinheit und einer Endbearbeitungseinheit einer Reproduzieranlage angeordnet in einer räumlichen Darstellung,

Fig. 2

die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung nach Fig. 1 in einer vergrößerten Seitenansicht mit ihren schematisch dargestellten Bedruckstoff-Wendemitteln und Bedruckstoff-Drehmitteln,

Fig. 3

die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung nach Fig. 2 in einer Draufsicht entlang einer Schnittlinie III-III,

Fig. 4a-d

die Bedruckstoffausrichtungen, die mittels der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung nach Fig. 1 bis 3 durchführbar sind.

The further features and advantages can be found in the description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention shown in the drawing and in the further subclaims. The drawing shows in the

Fig. 1

the device according to the invention arranged between a reproducing unit and a finishing unit of a reproducing system in a spatial representation,

Fig. 2

1 in an enlarged side view with its schematically illustrated printing material turning means and printing material rotating means,

Fig. 3

2 in a plan view along a section line III-III,

4a-d

the printing material alignments which can be carried out by means of the device according to the invention according to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The following description according to FIGS. 1 to 4d relates to a preferred one Embodiment of the device according to the invention for aligning flexible, in particular of sheet-shaped printing materials carrying image and text information a reproducing system.

The alignment device AE is designed as a separate, exchangeable unit between a finishing and output unit BE for printing material output known type, such as a stock stapler, and one Reproduction unit RE known type, such as a copier used, and forms a preferred one with these devices according to the desired requirements Reproduction system in which the toner image bearing coming from the copier sheet-shaped printing materials S before being forwarded to the printing material stapler by means of the alignment unit or alignment device according to the invention in the required Substrate layer.

For a specialist working in this field, it goes without saying that the The inventive device can also be used in other reproductive systems Example have a printer and a substrate sorting device, etc. and in which Substrates of different dimensions and types can be processed.

The modular reproducing system shown in FIG. 1 points to the individual Modules such as the reproducing unit RE, the finishing unit BE and the alignment unit AE mechanical and electrical coupling means for connecting the three device units. These are means AB; AC; AF; AN for mechanical adjustment and usual means, not shown, for control adjustment to the Reproduction system, in particular to the RE reproducing unit and the sheet material finishing unit BE. The mechanical means are AB; AC; AF; AN in particular for adjusting the height of the printing material conveyor tracks 2; 7 (see FIG. 2) or the substrate inlet slots AI; BI / substrate outlet slots AO; RO the Alignment unit AE to those of the reproducing unit RE and the finishing unit BE; and the control means for adapting substrate conveying speeds the alignment unit AE to that of the reproducing unit RE and the Finishing unit BE provided. The mechanical means here, in Conveying direction X, Y seen, on the front or rear housing wall AB Device units AE; BE; RE either two centering pins AC or a connecting bracket AF with two adjusting / fastening screws.

The alignment unit AE shown schematically in FIGS. 2 and 3 is on the one hand Alignment means for turning AD and on the other hand alignment means for turning AW Sheet-like printing materials S carrying the toner image or image / text are provided by means of which the alignment of the printing materials according to predetermined, as in Fig. 4a to 4d shown location requirements of the finishing unit BE can be carried out.

The sheet-like printing materials S are, on the one hand, as shown in FIGS. 4a to 4d, by means of the printing material rotating means AD of the alignment unit AE, parallel to it Center axis of the conveyor track 2; 7 of the alignment unit AE aligned longitudinal axis LA Can be rotated +/- 180 degrees; and on the other hand, the sheet-like substrates S by means of Printing material turning means AW of the alignment unit AE along their conveying direction around their perpendicular to the conveyor track 2; 7 oriented transverse axis QA can be turned through 180 degrees, in such a way that all required substrate orientations can be carried out.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the substrate rotation means AD include parts of the Printing material turning means AW and vice versa, which are in an active connection to each other stand.

The printing material turning means AW of the alignment unit AE have a first one pocket-shaped printing material holder 26 with in the conveying direction X; Y perpendicular to Conveyor path 2; 7 of the alignment unit AE, the reproducing unit RE and the Finishing unit BE extending guideway 26, which by means of a first controllable two-way guide switch 3 with the substrate outlet AO or Printing material inlet AI of the conveyor track / s 2; 7 can be connected; and those with several controllable conveying means 1; 4; 5; 6; 8; 9 along their conveying path 2; 7; 26 and with one controllable printing material stop 10 at the end region facing away from the conveyor track (s) 2; 7 the guideway 26 is equipped. The vertical substrate holder or their guideway 26 are the funding 4.5 and 6 as the upper, middle and lower conveyor, and the essentially horizontal conveyor track (s) 2 and 7 assigned funding 1 and 8.9.

The funds 4,5,6 of the AW printing medium are also in the direction of rotation can be operated forwards and backwards, so that one from above, from the conveyor track 2 by means of the Funding means 1 fed sheet-shaped printing material S either down in Direction to the substrate stop 10 or up to the conveyor track 7 and Funding 8 and 9 is transportable.

The controllable printing material stop 10 of the printing material turning means AW is as also explained in more detail below as part of the printing material rotating means AD.

The printing material rotating means AD of the alignment unit AE also have second and third pocket-shaped printing material holders 14; 20, each with one for the first 26 middle, plane-parallel guideway 14; 20 with several Funding 11.11 '; 15.16.17; 18; 19.19'; 22.22 '; 23.24.25 on the one hand with one of their narrow lateral vertical long sides by means of first and second U-shaped Guide channels 13; 21 and by means of a second two-way guide switch 12 interact with each other, and on the other hand the three vertical ones Guideways 14; 20; 26 of the pocket-shaped printing material holders 14; 20; 26 with their of the conveyor track (s) 2; 7 facing away from it by means of third and fourth U-shaped Guide channels 27, 28 are operatively connected to one another, the second 14, in Conveying direction X; Y downstream to the first, middle 26 arranged guideway with its second end in the conveyor track 7, to the printing material outlet AO Alignment unit AE and the finishing unit BE opens.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the conveying means 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 are the printing material turning means AW perpendicular to the funding 11.11 '; 19.19'; 22.22 'of Printing material rotating means AD and parallel to the output side of the Reproducing unit RE and the finishing unit BE aligned. Furthermore, the funding 1, 4,5,6, 8, 9 of the printing material turning means AW and Funding means 11,11 '; 15,16,17; 18; 19,19'; 22,22 '; 23,24,25 of the substrate rotating means AD alternately one after the other and depending on the operation of the reproducing RE and Finishing unit BE operable.

All funding of the alignment unit is a pair of transport rollers with one each Drive roller and a pressure roller, the drive rollers of the Printing material turning means AW and the printing material turning means AD each by means of a usual, not shown microprocessor-controlled drive unit and the Pressure rollers of the AW printing medium and the AD rotating medium in each case by means of a conventional microprocessor-controlled lifting unit C1; C2 from the Drive rollers can be lifted off radially.

The device works as follows:

Starting from FIGS. 1, 2 and a printing material layer shown in FIG. 4d or Substrate alignment with the (belly) toner image underneath and in Conveying direction X, Y facing the lower edge of the toner image (toner image upside down), which is from the Copier RE is specified, the sheet-shaped bearing the toner image Substrate S in the same orientation via the alignment device unit AE to the Finishing device to be forwarded. For this, the supporting leaf-shaped Printing material S coming from an outlet slot RO of the copier RE in direction X to the inlet slot AI of the alignment unit AE and on its conveyor track 2 to the Transport roller pair 1 transported. Then the sheet-shaped printing material is removed using of the forward rotating pairs of rollers 1,4,5 and 6 into the first, middle one Printing material holder 26 of the printing material turning means AW transported, the first Two-way guide switch 3 and the substrate stop 10 are switched so that they Release guideway 26. Then the load-bearing sheet-shaped printing material S by means of of the transport roller pairs 4, 5 & 6 through the U-shaped one below Guide channel 27 and thus to the pair of transport rollers 18 for the purpose of promoting the sheet-shaped printing material transported into the second printing material holder 14. Here take over the transport roller pairs 15, 16 & 17 of the substrate holder 14 and that Transport roller pair 9 of the conveyor track 7 the transport in the Y direction Outlet slot AO of the alignment unit AE and to the inlet slot BI of the Finishing device BE.

Is a substrate orientation in normal position (toner image on top and 4b from the finishing device BE and thus a turning of the sheet-like printing material S shown in FIG. 4d is required, first, the sheet-shaped printing material S, as described above, in the middle Substrate holder 26 is transported, but this time against the one in the guideway 26 swiveled substrate stop 10. Then the first two-way guide switch 3 switched so that the guideway 26 of the substrate holder 26 with the Conveyor track 7 is connected and then the direction of rotation Transport roller pairs 4,5 & 6 switched in the reverse direction to the sheet-like printing material S with the involvement of the transport rollers 8 & 9 in to convey the reversed state to the outlet slot AI of the alignment unit.

If the sheet-shaped printing material S from FIG. 4d is rotated according to FIG. 4a (toner image overhead and toner image lower edge in the conveying direction) to the finishing unit BE are delivered, the sheet-shaped printing material S, as before, will be first described in the middle substrate holder 26 and against the in Guideway 26 transported pivoted printing material stop 10. Then be the pairs of transport rollers 4, 5 & 6 of the first substrate holder 26 and the Transport roller pairs 23, 24 & 25 of the third substrate holder 20 are switched off or uncoupled from the drive unit and opened by means of the first lifting unit C1. thereupon the pairs of transport rollers 11, 11 '& 22, 22' of the substrate rotating means AD (see 2 & 3) closed by means of the second lifting unit C2 and by means of their Drive unit driven, so that the sheet S when the second is switched accordingly Two-way guide switch 12 laterally via the second U-shaped guide channel 21 in the third substrate holder 20 is transported. After the substrate has been transported or the substrate rotation has ended, the Transport roller pairs 11, 11 '& 22, 22' switched off and opened, and then the Transport roller pairs 4,5,6 & 23,24,25 closed again and together with the Transport roller pairs 9 & 18 driven, so that sheet-shaped printing material S over the fourth and third underlying guide channels 28 & 27 and over the second Substrate holder 14 to the conveyor track 7 and to the outlet slot AO Alignment unit AE reaches in the rotated state according to FIG. 4a.

4c (toner image underneath and toner image upper edge in Conveying direction), the sheet-shaped printing material S, as above, is first required described in the middle substrate holder 26 and against the in Guideway 26 transported pivoted printing material stop 10. Then be the pairs of transport rollers 4, 5 & 6 of the first substrate holder 26 and the Transport roller pairs 15, 16 & 17 of the second substrate holder 14 from the Drive unit uncoupled and opened by means of the first lifting unit C1. Then be the pairs of transport rollers 11, 11 '& 19, 19' of the printing material rotating means AD (see FIG. 2 and 3) closed by means of the second lifting unit C2 and by means of the drive unit driven, so that the sheet-like printing material S when switched accordingly second two-way guide switch 12 laterally over the first U-shaped Guide channel 13 is transported into the second substrate holder 14. After the Substrate transport or the substrate rotation is finished, the Transport roller pairs 11, 11 '& 19, 19' switched off and opened, and then the Transport roller pairs 4,5,6 & 15,16,17 closed again and together with the Transport roller pair 9 driven, so that the sheet-shaped printing material S on the second substrate holder 14 to the conveyor track 7 and to the outlet slot AO Alignment unit AE and thus to the finishing unit BE in the rotated state according to Fig. 4c arrives.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

FROM

Housing wall of the alignment unit / device

AC

Centering / retaining bolts on the housing wall to the connection bracket

AD

Printing material rotating means of the alignment unit / device

AE

Alignment / device / IPMENT

AF

Connection angle between the alignment unit and the finishing unit / device or reproducing unit / device

AI

Substrate inlet slot on the housing wall of the alignment unit / device

AO

Media outlet slot on the housing wall of the alignment unit / device

ON

Adjustment / fastening screw on connection bracket

AW

Substrate turning device of the alignment unit / device

BE

Finishing unit / device

BI

Substrate inlet slot on the housing wall of the finishing unit / device

C1

Lifting unit for the pressure roller of the conveying means (printing material turning means)

C2

Lifting unit for the pressure roller of the conveying means (printing material rotating means)

LA

Longitudinal axis of the sheet-like printing material carrying the image / text

QA

Transverse axis of the sheet-like printing material carrying the image / text

RE

Reproducing unit / device (copying machine)

RO

Substrate outlet slot on the housing wall of the reproducing unit / device

S

sheet-like printing material (paper, foil sheet, etc.)

X

Direction of conveyance from the reproducing device to the alignment device

Y

Direction of conveyance from the alignment device to the finishing device

1

Transport roller pair (drive and pressure roller) of the funding Conveyor path / substrate inlet slot of the alignment unit / device

2

Conveyor path from substrate inlet slot to the first pocket-shaped Substrate holder for the substrate reversing agent

3

first two-way guide switch for the substrate reversing agent

4

upper pair of transport rollers / conveyor at the first pocket-shaped Bedruckstoffhalterung

5

middle pair of transport rollers / conveyor at first pocket-shaped Bedruckstoffhalterung

6

lower pair of transport rollers / conveyor at the first pocket-shaped Bedruckstoffhalterung

7

Conveyor path of the first and second pocket-shaped substrate holder of the Printing material turning means and printing material turning means for Substrate outlet slot of substrate alignment unit

8th

Transport roller pair (drive and pressure roller) of the funding Conveyor path between the first and second substrate holder from aligner

9

Transport roller pair (drive and pressure roller) of the funding Conveyor path at the substrate outlet slot of the alignment device

10

Media stop at the lower end of the first, middle Substrate holder for substrates and turning media

11

upper pair of transport rollers / conveying means of the printing material rotating means first pocket-shaped substrate holder

11 '

lower pair of transport rollers / conveying means of the printing material rotating means first pocket-shaped substrate holder

12

second two-way guide switch of the substrate rotating means

13

first, side U-shaped guide channel of the substrate rotating means between first, middle and second, downstream Bedruckstoffhalterung

14

second substrate holder / guideway (substrate rotating means)

15

lower pair of transport rollers / conveyor on second pocket-shaped Bedruckstoffhalterung

16

middle pair of transport rollers / conveyor on second pocket-shaped Substrate holder for the substrate rotating means

17

upper pair of transport rollers / conveyor on second pocket-shaped Substrate holder for the substrate rotating means

18

Transport roller pair / conveyor on the third, lower U-shaped Guide channel between the first and second substrate holder

19

Upper pair of transport rollers on the first, lateral U-shaped guide channel the substrate rotary means between the first and second Bedruckstoffhalterung

19 '

lower pair of transport rollers on the first, lateral U-shaped guide channel the substrate rotary means between the first and second Bedruckstoffhalterung

20

third substrate holder / guideway (substrate rotating means)

21

second, side U-shaped guide channel of the substrate rotating means between first, middle and third, upstream Bedruckstoffhalterung

22

Upper pair of transport rollers on the second, lateral U-shaped guide channel the substrate rotating means between the first and third substrate holder

22 '

lower pair of transport rollers on the second, lateral U-shaped guide channel the substrate rotating means between the first and third substrate holder

23

middle pair of transport rollers / conveyors on third pocket-shaped Substrate holder for the substrate rotating means

24

lower pair of transport rollers / conveyors on a third pocket Substrate holder for the substrate rotating means

25

upper pair of transport rollers / conveyors on a third pocket-shaped one Substrate holder for the substrate rotating means

26

first, medium substrate holder / guideway (substrate turning medium / Printing material rotating means)

27

third, lower U-shaped guide channel of the substrate rotating means / Substrate reversing agent between first, middle and second, downstream substrate holder

28

fourth, lower U-shaped guide channel of the substrate rotating means / between first, middle and third, upstream Bedruckstoffhalterung

Claims (12)

Device for the alignment (AE) of flexible sheet-shaped printing materials (S) carrying in particular image and text information of a reproducing system, the alignment of the sheet-shaped printing materials coming from a reproducing unit (RE) before being forwarded to a finishing unit (BE) the reproducing system takes place;
characterized in that the alignment device (AE) is designed as a separate, interchangeable unit and can be used between the finishing unit (BE) and the reproducing unit (RE) of the reproducing system. Device according to claim 1,
characterized in that on the one hand alignment means for rotating (AD) and on the other hand alignment means for turning (AW) the image / text-carrying sheet-shaped printing materials (S) are provided, by means of which the alignment of the sheet-like printing materials can be carried out according to predetermined position requirements of the finishing unit (BE) is. Device according to claim 2,
characterized in that the sheet-shaped printing materials (S) can be rotated by +/- 180 degrees on the one hand by means of the printing material rotating means (AD) about their longitudinal axis (LA) aligned parallel to the center axis of a conveyor track (2; 7); and on the other hand the sheet-shaped printing materials can be turned by 180 degrees by means of the printing material turning means (AW) along their conveying direction about their transverse axis (QA) oriented at right angles to the conveying path (2; 7) in such a way that all required printing material orientations can be carried out. Device according to claim 2 or 3,
characterized in that the printing material rotating means (AD) contain parts of the printing material turning means (AW) and vice versa, which are in operative connection with each other. Device according to claim 2 or 4,
characterized in that the printing material turning means (AW) has a first pocket-shaped printing material holder (26) with the alignment unit (AE), the reproducing unit (RE) and the finishing unit (BE) at right angles to the conveying path (2; 7) in the conveying direction (X; Y) ) have a running guideway (26), which can be connected to a printing material outlet (AO) or inlet (AI) of the conveyor track (2; 7) by means of a first controllable two-way guiding switch (3); and those with several controllable conveying means (1; 4; 5; 6; 8; 9) along their conveying path (2; 7; 26) and with a controllable printing material stop (10) on the end region of the guideway facing away from the conveying path (2; 7) (26) is equipped. Device according to claim 5,
characterized in that the printing material rotating means (AD) second and third pocket-shaped printing material holders (14; 20) each having a guide path (14; 20) running plane-parallel to the first (26) with a plurality of conveying means (11, 11 '; 15, 16 , 17; 18; 19, 19 '; 22, 22'; 23, 24, 25), which on the one hand have one of their narrow lateral long sides by means of first and second U-shaped guide channels (13; 21) and by means of a second two-way Guide switch (12) are operatively connected to one another, and on the other hand the three guide tracks (14; 20; 26) of the pocket-shaped printing material holders (14; 20; 26) with their end faces facing away from the conveyor track (2; 7) by means of third and fourth U-shaped guide channels (27; 28) are in operative connection with one another, the second (14), downstream of the first (26), centrally arranged guide track with its second end in the conveyor track (7), to the printing material outlet (AO) and to the finishing unit eit (BE) opens. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6,
characterized in that the controllable printing material stop (10) of the printing material turning means (AW) is also part of the printing material turning means (AD). Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6,
characterized in that the conveying means (1; 4,5,6; 8; 9) of the printing material turning means (AW) are at right angles to the conveying means (11,11 ';19,19'; 22,22 ') of the printing material rotating means (AD) and aligned parallel to those of the reproducing unit (RE) and the finishing unit (BE); and that the conveying means (1; 4,5,6; 8; 9) of the printing material turning means (AW) and the conveying means (11, 11 '; 15, 16, 17; 18; 19, 19'; 22, 22 '; 23, 24, 25) of the printing material rotating means (AD) can be operated alternately one after the other and depending on the operation of the reproducing (RE) and finishing unit (BE). Device according to claim 5 or 8,
characterized in that the conveying means (4, 5, 6) of the printing material turning means (AW) can be operated in the direction of rotation forwards and backwards. Device according to claim 8 or 9,
characterized in that all conveying means are designed as pairs of transport rollers with drive roller and pressure roller, the drive roller being drivable by means of a microprocessor-controlled drive unit and the pressure roller being liftable from the drive roller by means of a microprocessor-controlled lifting unit (C1; C2). Device according to claim 1,
characterized in that means (AB; AC; AF; AN) for mechanical adaptation and means for control-related adaptation to the reproducing system, in particular to the reproducing unit (RE) and the finishing unit (BE) are provided. Device according to claim 11,
characterized in that the mechanical means (AB; AC; AF; AN) for height adjustment of the conveyor tracks (2; 7) of the alignment unit (AE) to those of the reproducing unit (RE) and the finishing unit (BE); and the control means for adapting conveying speeds of the alignment unit (AE) to those of the reproducing unit (RE) and the finishing unit (BE) are provided.

Images