EP1422074B1 - Stapling device, gathering and stapling machine having such a stapling device and method of stapling using such a stapling device or such a gathering and stapling machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a saddle stitcher, a stapling device and a stapling method according to the preambles of claims 1, 23 and 24.

For stapling of sheet material, in particular paper, cardboard or the like machines are used with so-called stapling heads, which are able to separate from a supplied from a supply roll wire a required length to form the separated piece into a staple, this in the zu drive in staple material and produce by bending over the clip ends the final staple shape after driving.

Such stapling heads are used, for example, in so-called saddle stitchers, which have a collecting and transport unit with which the stapled material is assembled and fed to the stapling. A staple carriage having two or more stapling heads is movably mounted in a portion of the collecting and transporting unit and staples the material to be stapled together while the collecting and transporting unit continues to run, that is, the stapling carriage moves during stapling synchronous with the stapled material that is thus not stopped from the transport movement, but is stapled in the movement.

Depending on the type and size of the material to be stapled in this case a different distance between the stitching heads is required. In known saddle stitchers (cf., eg DE 197 50 143 A1 ) So far, the distance of the stitching heads manually set before starting the machine, the holder of the stitching heads is this removed from the stitching carriage.

The conversion of such a saddle stitching machine thus brings with it a corresponding standstill of the machine and possibly a corresponding personnel expenses.

The same problem arises with stapling machines in which the material to be stapled is conveyed into a stationary stapling device, stapled there and subsequently removed.

In the prior art describes the US 5,005,751 a stationary stapling device designed in the form of a standing device with two stapling heads which can be variably positioned at a distance from one another. From the US 2002/0060388 A1 is a copier with a likewise stationary trained stapler with at least one variable to adapt to different blade sizes in position stapling head disclosed. The EP 0 958 942 A1 (respectively. US 6142353 A ) discloses a wire stitching machine for a saddle stitcher in which two stitching heads are slidably mounted on a support plate. The US 5,772,198 also discloses a stationary stapler with stationary stapling heads adapted to accommodate a changed sheet format along a guide can be repositioned.

Starting from this prior art, the invention has the object to provide a stapling device for use in stapling machines, by means of which the conversion required for various products is facilitated.

This object is achieved by a saddle stitcher, a stapling device and a stapling method according to the preambles of claims 1, 23 and 24 by their characterizing features.

The measures mentioned in the dependent claims advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are possible.

Accordingly, the invention is characterized in that a controllable drive unit for a stapling head for automatically adjusting the distance between the stapling heads is provided, wherein furthermore an actuatable by a controllable drive locking device is provided for at least one stapling head.

As a result, the adjustment of the stapling head distance is greatly facilitated, whereby on the one hand significantly reduces the changeover times and a removal of parts is not required.

The drive for the locking device is provided in order to continue to allow the largely automated operation of the device according to the invention.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the setting of the clincher is made according to at least one displaceable clincher by a drive unit. At the clincher, the staple end is bent after piercing the material to be stapled. Therefore, positioning of the clincher along with the positioning of the stapling head is required. This can be accomplished in principle by the assembly of the stapling head and clincher on a common sliding carriage.

In another advantageous embodiment, however, the guide for the displaceable clincher (s) and the displaceable stapling head (s) are formed separately from each other. In this case, advantageously, the drive for the displacement of a clincher with the drive for the associated stapling head, for example, mechanically or possibly also electrically or electronically coupled, so that the clincher position is always adapted to the stapling head position. This last-mentioned embodiment offers the advantage that the space between stapling head and clincher is completely free of mechanical elements and thus better usable for the transport unit for the material to be stapled.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the drive unit for the stitching heads and / or clincher is designed to be controllable. Such a control is preferably carried out electrically or electronically, but it can also in other ways, such as pneumatic or be realized hydraulically. Basically, the result of a controllable drive unit in a device according to the invention is the advantage of automatically making the change in distance of the stitching heads and / or clincher. Such a stapling device can be used in a fully automatic, which controls the stapling automatically, for example, when loading with different material to be stapled as needed.

For the displaceable embodiment of the stitching heads and / or clinchers, a guide is preferably provided on which the stitching heads and / or clinchers are guided in their movement. Such a guide is formed in an advantageous embodiment as a linear guide. On the one hand, a linear guide corresponds to the type of movement required for the change in distance and, on the other hand, for example. To realize in comparison with swivel or lever mechanisms with little effort with high precision and stability.

Such a linear guide can moreover be rigidly connected to the corresponding stapling head unit, so that a reciprocal interaction results for improving the stability. Thus, the stability of the stapling head unit and vice versa improved by the stapling head unit, the stability of the linear guide through the rigid connection by the linear guide.

To increase this effect, the linear guide is advantageously supported substantially over the entire length of the stapling head unit. By this possible increase in stability further results in the ability to make the linear guide and thus the entire stapler easier by appropriate design measures to save material or by an appropriate choice of materials.

A lighter stapling head unit offers great advantages, in particular in connection with the above-mentioned saddle stitchers in which the stapling head unit is designed as a so-called stapling carriage, since it is easier to accelerate and decelerate and accordingly requires less effort in the drive and its control.

As a drive unit for the adjustment of the stapling head distance and / or the clincher distance, a spindle is preferably used. With the help of a spindle, the distance can be accomplished without major additional design effort by means of a motor which causes the spindle in rotation. When selecting a corresponding spindle thread, the adjustment can also accomplish with high precision and, if necessary, correspondingly high restoring forces. A spindle further brings with it the advantage that the drive can be made self-locking, i. the motor only has to be energized for the movement.

If there is a need for this, however, in the case of a spindle, a fixing of the stapling head and / or clincher position by appropriate design of the motor, e.g. be made in the form of a stepping motor with holding torque.

In a particular embodiment of the invention with spindle drive, only one stapling head and / or only one clincher is displaceably driven via a spindle, while another stapling head and / or clincher is arranged statically with respect to the stapling head unit. With two spindle drives and two stapling heads and / or two clincher can be independently positioned almost anywhere. In principle, for example, by a spindle with left and right-hand thread and corresponding spindle nuts, the stitching heads and / or clincher are driven so that two stitching heads or two clincher to drive in the opposite direction to set the desired distance between the stitching heads or between the clinicians.

If more than two stapling heads or clincher are provided, then the desired distance can be adjusted by the use of two or more spindles or else by spindle sections with different pitches.

Preferably, the drive for stapling head adjustment and / or clincher setting is electrically formed, which is possible, for example, in the combination of a spindle drive with electric motor as stated above.

In principle, however, other drive possibilities, e.g. pneumatically or hydraulically possible with corresponding motors or cylinders.

In a refinement of the invention, a position detection sensor is additionally provided for at least one stapling head position and / or at least one clincher position.

This one stapling head position and / or clincher position can represent, for example, a reference position from which the setting of the desired position is made in each case. This can ensure that the approach of the desired position is always carried out under the same conditions, in particular from the same direction, so that a mechanical play in the drive or transmission unit always causes a reproducible and thus to be considered in the position adjustment effect.

Also, the avoidance of undesirable extreme positions, the possibly could be connected to the emergence of a stapling head or clincher on other components, can be realized with the help of such a position detection sensor in the function of a limit switch.

Even greater advantages are provided by continuous position recognition over a certain range of positions to be assumed by the stapling head or the stapling heads and / or the clincher or clinicians. On the one hand, the actually set stapling head and / or clincher position can be checked. On the other hand, the detection of the actual position can also be used for a position control. With a corresponding control loop can thus be reliably set the respective position. The effort for the realization of the drive and the setting can be reduced because with a position control the desired position is also found if the reproducibility of the position by tolerances of the drive and adjustment has certain fluctuations.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the locking device is provided so that it fixes the set position of the stapling head or the stitching heads and / or the clincher or the clincher. Such an additional locking unit is particularly advantageous in the case of moving stitching carriages of the abovementioned type, since high accelerations are to be accommodated which should not be reflected in the stapling head and / or clincher position. When using an additional locking device, these forces need not be included or at least only partially on the drive unit and the adjustment.

The locking device is formed in a particular embodiment as a clamping device. A clamping device can be easily detachable and can also be used over a certain path length in different positions at any time.

The drive for the locking device can be formed electrically, pneumatically and / or hydraulically. Optionally, intermediary transmission elements, e.g. a Bondenzug, a linkage or the like may be provided.

The clamping device is realized, for example, by providing a clamping element which is movable relative to the stapling head unit and a clamping element which is stationary relative to the stapling head unit. By actuating the movable clamping element while the desired locking effect is achieved.

Preferably, a movable clamping element with the stapling head and / or clincher is slidably formed or connected thereto. Such a configuration facilitates the jamming of the stapling head and / or clincher in different positions, wherein in principle also a clamping element extending over the entire adjustment range, for example in the form of a clamping rail or the like, would be conceivable for the stapling head or the stapling heads and / or the clincher or to fix the clinchers in different positions.

The clamping element stationary with respect to the stapling head unit is preferably separate, in particular in the case of a linear guide trained by the leadership. This makes it possible to avoid additional stress on the stapling head or clincher guide.

For actuation of the movable clamping element, a pressure and / or tension element is also advantageously provided, which acts as far as possible perpendicular to the direction of displacement. By this vertical force of the intended pressure and / or tension element prevents an undesirable displacement of the stapling head and / or the clincher is caused in his leadership upon actuation of the clamping device or the pressure and / or tension element.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plunger is provided as a movable clamping element. Such, for example, pneumatic or hydraulic plunger can be easily attached to a movable stapling head and / or a movable clincher and driven in different positions for actuation.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if a clamping drive is provided with power transmission for actuating the movable clamping element. In this way, the drive can be sized small despite the application of high clamping forces and thus the effort can be reduced. As a clamping drive with power transmission knee lever and / or wedge rollers are used, for example.

The clamping can be mechanically locked after actuation, for example by spring force or maintained by the appropriate actuating medium, such as compressed air or hydraulic fluid. It is only essential that the locking device is reliably locked when the desired stapling head and / or Clincher position is set and an operation is recorded, in which the stapling device according to the invention is moved and thereby exposed to corresponding acceleration forces.

Preferably, a stapling device according to the invention for a saddle stitcher according to claim 23 is used. These saddle stitchers are characterized in that a stapling carriage or stapling carriage is moved during stapling with the moving in the collecting and transport unit to stapling stack of sheets, so that the stapling takes place during the transport of the material to be stapled. Accordingly, the material to be stapled does not have to be stopped or braked for stapling and then accelerated again for further transport. However, the stapling carriage or stapling carriage is subjected to corresponding braking and acceleration movements in order to execute the synchronizing movement during the stapling operation on the one hand and, on the other hand, to return to the starting position for the next sheet stack.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung schräg von vorne betrachtet und

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Vorrichtung schräg von hinten betrachtet.

Show in detail

FIG. 1

a perspective view of an inventive device viewed obliquely from the front and

FIG. 2

a perspective view of the device viewed obliquely from behind.

The stapling device 1 according to FIG. 1 comprises a stapling head unit in the form of a movable stapling carriage 2, which is mounted displaceably on a linear guide 3. The stitching carriage is movable in synchronism with a collecting and transport unit for collecting and transporting the material to be stapled and thus used in a so-called saddle stitcher.

In the stitching carriage 2, two stitching heads 4, 5 are slidably mounted in the direction of the double arrow P. The stitching heads 4, 5 are in this case mounted on a stitching head carriage 6, 7. The stitching head carriage 6, 7 engage around two linear guides 8, along which the displacement in the direction of the double arrow P takes place.

For driving the displacement, a spindle 9, 10 is provided in each case. The spindle 9 is in this case in engagement with an unspecified internal thread of the stapling head carriage 6, while the spindle 10 is in engagement with a corresponding, likewise unspecified internal thread of the stapling head carriage 7. Accordingly, the spindle 9 passes through the stapling head carriage 7 without adhesion, while the spindle 10 passes through the stitching head carriage 6 without traction.

The drive of the spindle 9 via a toothed belt pulley 11 on one side of the stitching carriage 2, while on the other end side of the drive of the spindle 10 is accomplished via a further toothed belt pulley 12.

Below the stitching heads 4, 5 are two so-called clincher 13, 14 mounted on associated clincher 15, 16. The clinchers 13, 14 serve to bend the staples after being pushed into the material to be stapled. The clincher cars 15, 16 are guided in linear guides 17, 18 and are connected via two spindles 19, 20 corresponding to the stapling head carriage 6, 7 driven so that the clincher cars 15, 16 with thereon clinchers 13, 14 perform a synchronous movement with the stapling head carriage 6, 7.

The front side can be seen that the drive of the spindles 19, 20 via two other pulleys 21, 22 takes place, wherein the drive via a gear transmission 23, 24 (see. FIG. 2 ) is positively coupled with the belt drive of the stapling head carriage 6, 7.

The clinchers 13, 14 are just like the intermediate pieces 25, 26, with which the clinchers 13, 14 are attached to the respective clincher cars 15, 16, bolted and thus interchangeable. This is when converting to other clip sizes and in maintenance or repair case of advantage.

In FIG. 2 two longitudinal slots 27, 28 in a kind of intermediate wall 29 can be seen, which are penetrated by two bolt holders 30, 31, 32, 33. The bolt holders 30, 31, 32, 33 are fixedly connected on the opposite side of the intermediate wall 29 with the stitching head carriage 6, 7.

Each two plunger 34, 35, 36, 37 are based in the side region of the slots 27, 28 on the intermediate wall 29 and thus jam the respective stitching head carriage 6, 7 on the intermediate wall 29. To tension the plunger 34, 35, 36, 37 is in each case a toggle mechanism 38, 39 is provided. The toggle mechanism 38, 39 may for example be spring-loaded or pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically braced and releasable. In the present embodiment, two pneumatic cylinders 40, 41 for releasing spring-loaded toggle mechanisms 38, 39 are provided. As a result, a pneumatic control is required only during the adjustment process.

The toggle mechanisms 38, 39 with the plungers 34, 35, 36, 37 fix the stitching head carriage 6, 7 in the desired position by a jamming on the intermediate wall 29. This is particularly advantageous if the entire device 1 is used as a stitching carriage 2 which is synchronously moved along the linear guide 3 with the material to be stapled. For each stitch, the stapling device 1 in this case must be accelerated, stopped, retracted, stopped again and accelerated again. The acceleration forces occurring in this case need only be partially absorbed by the spindle drives 9, 10 in the present embodiment. The majority of the acceleration forces is absorbed by the clamping device by means of the plunger 34, 35, 36, 37 and the intermediate wall 29.

Furthermore, in FIG. 2 on the back recognizable that the linear guide 8 is screwed with equidistant mounting screws 42 substantially over its entire length with the stapling carriage 2. As a result, the stability of the linear guide and the housing of the stitching carriage 2 is improved, whereby weight can be saved by appropriate material savings or choice of material on the part of the linear guide or the housing.

In FIG. 2 is also through the recesses 43 and 44, the arrangement of the two drive motors 45, 46 for the drive of the stapling cars 6, 7 and the clincher 15, 16 recognizable. The drive motors 45, 46 are housed inside the housing of the stitching carriage 2 so that they do not form an outside overhang.

In the illustrated embodiment, a locking or clamping device is provided only for the fixation of the stitching heads, but not for the clincher. Depending on the embodiment, however, can also for the clinchers appropriate locking be provided.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

stapler

2

stitching carriage

3

linear guide

4

stapling head

5

stapling head

6

Stapling head wagon

7

Stapling head wagon

8th

linear guide

9

spindle

10

spindle

11

Timing pulley

12

Timing pulley

13

clinchers

14

clinchers

15

clincher wagons

16

clincher wagons

17

linear guide

18

linear guide

19

spindle

20

spindle

21

Timing pulley

22

Timing pulley

23

gear transmission

24

gear transmission

25

connecting piece

26

connecting piece

27

slot

28

slot

29

partition

30

bolt bracket

31

bolt bracket

32

bolt bracket

33

bolt bracket

34

plunger

35

plunger

36

plunger

37

plunger

38

Toggle mechanism

39

Toggle mechanism

40

pneumatic cylinder

41

pneumatic cylinder

42

fixing screw

43

recess

44

recess

45

drive motor

46

drive motor

Claims (24)

1. A gather stitcher having at least two stitching heads fastened to a stitching head unit in the form of a stitcher carriage (2) for stitching leaf-shaped material, particularly paper, paperboard or the like, wherein the stitcher carriage is movable with the material to be stitched which is moved in a gathering- or transport unit such that the stitching takes place during the transport of the material to be stitched, wherein the distance of the at least two stitching heads is mutually adjustable, wherein at least one stitching head (4, 5) is movable, characterized in that a selectable drive unit (9-12, 15, 46) for a stitching head is provided for the automatic adjustment of the distance between the stitching heads (4, 5), wherein in addition a locking device (27-41) operable by a selectable drive (40, 41) is provided for at least one stitching head (4, 5).
2. A gather stitcher according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two clinchers (13, 14) are available, wherein at least one clincher (13, 14) is movable, and a drive unit (19-22, 45, 46) is provided for the adjustment of the distance between the clinchers (13, 14).
3. A gather stitcher according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stitching heads (4, 5) and/or clinchers (13, 14) are mounted in a movable manner in a guidance (8, 17, 18).
4. A gather stitcher according to claims 2-3, characterized in that the drive unit (9-12, 19-22, 45, 46) is selectable for the adjustment of the distance between the clinchers (13, 14) or between the stitching heads (4, 5) or between the stitching heads and between the clinchers (13, 14) electrically, electronically, pneumatically and/or hydraulically.
5. A gather stitcher according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the drive unit (9-12, 45, 46) for the adjustment of the distance of the stitching heads (4, 5) is coupled with the drive unit (19-22, 45, 46) for the adjustment of the distance of the clinchers (13, 14).
6. A gather stitcher according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the guidance (8, 17, 18) for the stitching heads and/or clinchers is designed as a linear guidance.
7. A gather stitcher according to claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the guidance (8, 17, 18) is rigidly connected with the stitching head unit (2).
8. A gather stitcher according to one of claims 6, 7, characterized in that the linear guidance (8, 17, 18) is substantially supported over its entire length on the stitching head unit (2).
9. A gather stitcher according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the drive unit (9-12, 45, 46) for the adjustment of the distance of the stitching heads (4, 5) and the drive unit (19-22, 45, 46) for the adjustment of the distance of the clinchers (13, 14) contains a spindle drive (9, 10, 19, 20).
10. A gather stitcher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a position sensor is provided for at least one stitching head position and/or at least one clincher position.
11. A gather stitcher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a reference position is provided for at least one stitching head or clincher, from which the adjustment of the desired position must be made.
12. A gather stitcher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a position control is provided.
13. A gather stitcher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized In that a collision sensor is provided for the prevention of collisions during the adjustment of the stitching head position and/or the clincher position.
14. A gather stitcher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device (27-41) is provided for at least one stitching head (4, 5) and/or at least one clincher.
15. A gather stitcher according to claim 14, characterized in that the drive (40, 41) for the locking device (27-41) is selectable electrically, pneumatically and/or hydraulically.
16. A gather stitcher according to one of claims 14 to 15, characterized In that the locking device (27-41) is designed as a clamping device.
17. A gather stitcher according to claim 16, characterized in that the clamping device comprises a clamping element (29) which is stationary with respect to the stitcher carriage (2).
18. A gather stitcher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized In that a movable clamping element (34, 35, 36, 37) is connected with the stitching head (4, 5) and/or the clincher (13, 14).
19. A gather stitcher according to one of the claims (16, 17), characterized in that the clamping device is designed separately from the guidance (8) for moving the stitching head.
20. A gather stitcher according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the clamping device comprises a pressure- and/or tractive element (34, 35, 36, 37), which exerts its force perpendicular to the moving direction of the relevant stitching head and/or clincher.
21. A gather stitcher according to claim 17, characterized In that a ram (34, 35, 36, 37) is provided as a clamping element.
22. A gather stitcher according to one of claims 18 to 21, characterized in that a power transformation (38, 39) is provided for the clamping drive of the movable clamping element.
23. A stitching device for a gather stitcher according to one of claims 1 to 22, having at least two stitching heads fastened to a stitching head unit in the form of stitcher carriage (2) for stitching leaf-shaped material, particularly paper, paperboard or the like, wherein the stitcher carriage is movable with the material to be stitched which is moved in a gathering- or transport unit such that the stitching takes place during the transport of the material to be stitched, wherein the distance of the at least two stitching heads is mutually adjustable, wherein at least one stitching head (4, 5) is movable, characterized in that a selectable drive unit (9-12, 45, 46) for a stitching head is provided for the automatic adjustment of the distance between the stitching heads (4, 5), wherein In addition a locking device (27-41) operable by a selectable drive (40, 41) is provided for at least one stitching head (4, 5).
24. A method for stitching leaf-shaped material, particularly paper, paperboard and the like, characterized in that a gather stitcher is used according to one of claims 1-22.

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