EP1524227A2 - Method of using a folder - Google Patents

Abstract

The signature folder for a rotary printer has a cutter for a material web and a folder for the individual signatures. The folder has a feed conveyor (03) for direct feed for the cut signatures to the discharge conveyor (06,07) under and independently of the folder. The feed conveyor has a signature switching feed (27) for selective feed of the signatures to at least two outlets.

Description

The invention relates to a method for using a folding apparatus according to the Preamble of claim 1.

By WO 97/24284 A2 such a folder is known. Such a Folder is z. B. arranged at the output of a rotary printing machine to a printed, optionally longitudinally folded web of material consisting of one or more Layers may consist of cutting into sections called signatures and to fold these signatures one or more times.

In contrast to the printing process requires the folding process, especially in the Transfer of a signature from the folding blade cylinder to the jaw cylinder, Movements of the signature across its surface caused by the flow resistance the air are obstructed. For this reason is in a continuous Production process, where the freshly printed material web directly to a folder supplied, the maximum operating speed of the folder that factor, which limits the processing speed of the entire production process. One Another speed limiting factor stems from the fact that the cylinders of the Folding apparatus with their folding blades and flaps a variety of elements have abruptly accelerated and decelerated during operation and the therefore subject to wear, which increases with increasing Processing speed increases disproportionately.

For the flexibility of being involved in a continuous production process To enlarge folding machine and in particular the manufacture of products with a To enable different number of folds, it is known the cylinders of one Folder to equip with grippers, the implementation of the signatures by the Allow apparatus without folding. But since these grippers also a discontinuous They also limit the processing speed of the movement Printing process even if no fold is produced in the folder. Furthermore these grippers multiply the number of wear-endangered and thus maintenance-requiring elements.

DE 195 25 169 A1, DE 195 09 947 A1 and DE 36 26 287 A1 describe in each case a folding apparatus to which an additional module can be coupled laterally. This Additional module has a conveyor line with a paddle wheel and a tape tray to Transport non-cross folded signatures.

EP 0 451 573 A1 discloses a folding unit with a conveying path, wherein a Signature switch for selectively supplying the signatures to two delivery devices is provided. Between the signature switch and the delivery devices is a Delay device arranged to slow down the signatures.

DE 12 04 689 B shows a folder with a conveyor line for feeding Signatures to a paddle wheel and a belt conveyor for transporting away of signatures, wherein the Abtransportrichtung the belt conveyor parallel to Rotary axis of the blade wheel runs.

By EP 0 005 822 A1 a folder with a conveyor line is known, wherein before two delivery devices a signature gate is arranged. The delivery devices each have a paddle wheel whose axes of rotation transversely to the conveying direction of the Run conveyor line.

DE 196 10 900 A1 discloses a folding apparatus with a cutting device, a Folding device for transverse folding, a conveyor line and at least one Delivery device. This folder is preceded by two Längsfalztrichter, wherein from a longitudinal folding hopper a web path to the folding device and from the other Longitudinal folding funnel a path to the conveyor line leads.

The invention is based on the object, a method for using a To create folding apparatus.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

The achievable with the present invention consist in particular that due the possibility created with the conveyor line, the signatures at the Folding device to pass, the speed limiting influence of Folding device on the entire printing process drops when a fold on the finished Product is not needed.

Another speed limiting influence may be limited Processing speed of a paddle wheel of a connected Display device revealed. If a finished product at too high a speed in the subjects of such a paddle wheel thrown and thereby braked violently damage can be the result. A deceleration of the products before the However, insertion into the paddle wheel is not possible or only to a limited extent, if the products are in a virtually gapless stream or with just the paddle wheel be supplied at a small distance from each other. This problem can be overcome be, by in the conveyor line a signature switch for selectively supplying the Signatures to at least two delivery devices is provided. If each of these Display devices by the signature switch only with every second produced Signature is supplied, each individual delivery device at a speed work that corresponds to half the production rate of the signatures. A division of the Signaturstrom on more than two display devices allows an increase in Processing speed in each case proportional to the number of delivery devices.

An arranged between the signature switch and each display device Delay device can reduce the speed of signatures compared to the Reduce the web speed at the entrance of the folder by up to half.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the display device / are the Delivery facilities of the conveyor line each with parallel to the axis of rotation of the Equipped with paddle wheel conveying belt conveyors. This construction causes a change in the direction of movement of the signatures by 90 ° at the display the belt conveyor, allowing trimming of the signatures on all sides becomes possible without being costly and the processing speed limiting corner stations are required.

An increased flexibility in the processing can be achieved by the Folder two inputs for single or simultaneous feeding of Part material webs and means for merging these partial webs to the having in the folder to be processed web. So can in the folder optionally one via the first input alone supplied material web, one on the second input alone fed material web or one from both inputs fed partial webs composite material web are processed.

Preferably, each of the inputs is equipped with a folding hopper to the supplied over this input part-web to produce a longitudinal fold to can.

A further increase in flexibility is achieved by means of Redirecting the two partial webs, which allow one each first part-material web of the conveyor line and the second part-material web of Supply folding device. Thus, both processing units of the folder, the conveyor line and the folding device, are fully utilized at the same time.

Remarkably, conveyor line and folding device of the above defined Folding apparatus are used in each case for the production of the same products, d. H. Conveyor line and folding device can be operated simultaneously and so in turn increase the processing speed. This is the folder expediently a longitudinal cutting device for cutting a material web upstream in the first and the second partial material web, wherein the first partial material web twice the width of the second and has folded along the folder is supplied. By this first part-material web guided over the conveyor line and there is cut in signatures of a given length, while the second part web in the folding device in signatures with twice the length cut and then folded transversely, can on the conveyor line and the folding device respectively identical products are produced at great speed.

A particularly compact, low design can be realized by the fact that the two Delivery devices have opposing rotating paddle wheels on lay out opposing belt conveyors. These belt conveyors can on different sides of the apparatus, but at the same height, are led out. Furthermore, it is advantageous for a compact design, if the assembly, the Conveyor line and its associated delivery devices comprises, in a first End region an input and a first output for the first delivery device and in an opposite second end region an output for the second Delivery device, wherein the impeller of the first delivery device in is arranged substantially centrally in the assembly. Such an arrangement allows the assembly substantially congruent over or under a folding device so that the need for footprint over a conventional Folder is not enlarged.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is in described in more detail below.

Fig. 1

einen schematischen Querschnitt durch einen Falzapparat;

Fig. 2

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt aus Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

einen schematischen Querschnitt durch einen Falzapparat gemäß einer zweiten Ausgestaltung.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic cross section through a folder;

Fig. 2

an enlarged detail of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

a schematic cross section through a folding apparatus according to a second embodiment.

The folding apparatus shown in Fig. 1 comprises substantially three functional groups, one Cutting device 01 for cutting an inserted into the apparatus, possibly longitudinally folded web of material 04 into individual signatures, a folding device 02 for Folding the cut signatures and a conveyor line 03, on the signatures bypassing the folding device 02 directly delivery devices 06; 07 supplied become.

The cutting device 01 comprises a rotating knife 08 for the longitudinal edge of the Material web 04, a tension roller 09 for maintaining a predetermined voltage the web 04 and then knife and cylinder 11 and 12, which with each turn a signature of the incoming web 04 cut off. Of the Diameter of the knife cylinder 11 and cylinder 12 is adjustable to the Cutting device 01 to the processing of signatures of different lengths adapt.

The truncated signatures are from a first belt conveyor 13 at a folding blade cylinder 14 introduced, wherein the speed of the Belt conveyor 13 so to the relative phase of blade cylinder 11 and Cylinder 12 and folding blade 14 is adapted to a leading end of each Signature hits a gripper 16 of the folding blade 14 and from this is trapped. With the help of the gripper 16, the signature becomes a gap between the Folding blade cylinder 14 and a jaw cylinder 18 transported. In this gap folding blade 17 of the folding blade 14 are unfolded to the signature in a Falzklappe 19 of the jaw cylinder 18 to press. By pinching in the Falzklappe 19 is the signature passed to the jaw cylinder 18. Of this It is passed on to a second belt conveyor 21, the current from Signatures distributed over a signature switch 22 on two delivery devices 23.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, the cutting device 01 z. B. by moving the knife cylinder 11 or Nutzzylinder 12 of the web 04 inactivated. In the transport direction behind knife cylinder 11 and cylinder 12 is located a branch 24, on which the material web 04 to the first belt conveyor 13th around a second cutter 26 can be fed. The construction of this Cutting device 26 is analogous to that of Schneideinnchtung 01 and therefore will not described again.

At the cutting device 26, the conveyor line 03 connects. This takes from the Cutting device 26 cut signatures and leads them first one Signature gate 27 too. The signature switch 27 comprises two opposing rollers 28, which are respectively looped by bands 29 of the belt conveyor 03, and the each on up to half of its circumference projecting cam 31 wear in the enlarged view of Fig. 2 can be seen in more detail.

The conveying speed of the conveyor line 03 in the region of the rollers 28 and the Web speed of the belts 29 is chosen so that the distance between the leading edges 32 of the cams 31 respectively the distance between the leading Edges 32 of conveyed on the conveyor line 03 in the region of the bands 29 signatures equivalent. The cams 31 control a reciprocation of one in the output gusset the gap between the two rollers 28 arranged wedge 33 between two Positions in which he passes the gap passing signatures in each one of two Conveying channels 34, 36 steers.

The delivery channels 34; 36 are defined in a first section by bands 29 around the rollers 28 are wound, and their web speed consequently the Circumferential speed of the rollers 28 corresponds. A delay device 35 is each formed in a second portion of the conveyor channels 34 and 36 by bands 37, moving at a slower speed and the signatures decelerate. The delay means 35 may also include a plurality of bands 37 successively decreasing speed formed portions for stepwise Slow down the signatures.

The delivery channels 34; 36 each lead to a paddle wheel 38 and 39, in whose Shovels fall into the promoted signatures. The associated with the delivery channel 34, left paddle wheel 38 rotates clockwise and lays on a left running Conveyor belt 41 off; the right paddle wheel 39 rotates counterclockwise and hangs up a moving to the right conveyor belt 42. The speeds of paddle wheel 38 or 39 and conveyor belt 41 and 42 are each coordinated so that the Peripheral speed of the paddle wheel 38; 39 in the area where the thrown Signatures the conveyor belt 41 or 42 touch, essentially the Transport speed of the conveyor belt corresponds. The display of the signatures the conveyor belt 41; 42 is therefore not due to a pulling action of the conveyor belt 41; 42 on the signatures but only by the thrust of a boom condition, each fixed to the paddle wheels 38; 39 is arranged and in one Slit of the blades engages, so that when Vorbeirotieren the blades on the Arm that pushes out the signatures from the blades. In this way is also at a high operating speed of the paddle wheels 38; 39 an absolutely reliable and even scaly display of signatures achieved.

The conveyor line 03 and its associated cutter 26 form a modular Assembly under a conventional folder with minor adjustments the latter such as the subsequent attachment of the branch 24, built under can be used without the need for additional parking space. this will in particular possible due to the asymmetrical structure of the module: A conventional Folder is from the signatures in one direction, based on Fig. 1 from the left to right, go through. The modular assembly adapts to this by the input 43 for the material to be processed, here the input of the second cutter 26, in a first end region of the assembly (the left end region in Fig. 1) is arranged, and that both paddle wheels 38; 39 with respect to this input 43 in the direction of other end region (in Fig. 1 to the right) are offset. Just like when Folder is thus required left of the entrance 43 no footprint. Furthermore allows the counter-rotating arrangement of the two paddle wheels 38; 39 that Leading the products in two directions via outlets 44; 46 on one level, like that that only a small height is needed.

Basically, a space-saving arrangement would be conceivable in which the assembly the conveyor line 03 is mounted above the folding device 02. The one described above and in Fig. 1 arrangement is preferred, however, because the folding device 02, the requires more maintenance and adjustment effort than the conveyor line 02, lighter is accessible.

In the embodiment described here, the conveyor line 03 is a separate Cutting device 26 upstream to a simple retrofitting existing Folders through the conveyor line 03 and the two delivery devices 06; 07 too to reach.

Of course it is also possible, the two functions of cutting and Folding the folder to integrate more strongly with each other by only one Cutting device is provided and at the output of this cutter a Signature switch is provided, which allows the cut signatures optional to supply the folding device or the conveyor line.

Whenever the conveyor line 03 is in operation, the folding device 02 be completely switched off. This leads to a reduced Power consumption of the folder, on the other hand by the wear on the sensitive parts of the folder reduced, and in addition, the Folder be driven at a higher speed than this during operation the folding device 02 would be possible.

Fig. 3 shows in a cross section analogous to Fig. 1 a folding apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention. Elements that are already in construction and function with Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 described elements carry the same Reference numerals.

This folder has two inputs in the form of two formers 51; 52. The too processing material web 04 is optionally via one of these two formers 51; 52 can be fed, but it can also arise only within the folder by that over the two formers 51; 52 simultaneously supplied partial material webs with the help of Rollers 53 deflected and placed on the web 04 on top of each other.

The web 04 then passes a draw roller 09 and a knife 08 for Längsbesäumung. Transverse and longitudinal perforation units 54; 56 for the cross and Longitudinal perforation of the web 04 are following the knife 08, in front of a second draw roller 09 is arranged.

Following the second draw roller 09, there are two ways in which the material web 04 can be further promoted to the folding device 02 or the conveyor line 03. If the web 04 of two in each case via the two formers 51; 52 supplied Partial orbits is composed of both sub-trains each of either the Folding device 02 or the conveyor line 03 are supplied, or it can Material web 04 are again decomposed into the partial webs, and over the former 51st supplied partial web is further conveyed to the conveyor line 03, which via the former 52 fed, however, the folding device 02.

The entrance of the folding device 02 forms here a gap between a knife cylinder 57 and the folding blade 14. The conveyor line 03 has at its entrance 43, as already described with reference to FIG. 1, a second cutting device 26 for Disassembling the supplied material web in signatures on. The length of these signatures is not necessarily the same as that cut by the knife cylinder 57, in particular, they can be half as long or smaller than the latter. Who is at the Cutting device 26 subsequent construction of the conveyor line corresponds largely with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 described. A first difference, however, is that in the embodiment of Figure 3, the paddle wheels 38; 39 rotate in the same direction. One second, important difference is that the conveyor belts 41; 42, to which the paddle wheels 38; 39 interpret, in a to the axis of rotation of the paddle wheels 38; 39 parallel direction are oriented, d. H. they promote in a plane perpendicular to the drawing in Fig. 3 Direction. The conveying direction is for both conveyor belts 41; 42 the same, and she is like that chosen that the generated signatures, if they have one in the folding cylinder 51 or 52 have produced longitudinal fold, be discharged with the longitudinal fold ahead.

By changing the transport direction of the signatures from the plane of FIG. 3 in a to this plane vertical direction, it is possible with the help of in Fig. Not illustrated knives on the conveyor belts 41; 42 promoted signatures head and to trim on the foot without the need for corner stations in which the signatures are each decelerated and turned 90 ° to their align cropping edges in the direction of transport.

As you can see, also allows the folder of FIG. 3, the processing of a fed material web to a variety of different product formats. A Special feature of this folder, however, is the possibility of simultaneous operation of folding device 02 and conveyor line 03 via each different Intermediate to produce identical products and so for these products a very to achieve high processing speed. To use this feature, will a web such as a printed paper web in a folder upstream, known per se and therefore not shown here longitudinal cutting apparatus cut into three partial webs whose widths are equal to each other behavior. Two partial webs are stacked on the folder over the former 51 supplied to form a Längsfalzes; the other subway will be over the Forming hopper 52 fed without longitudinal fold. At the level of the second draw roller 09 are the two partial webs separated again, the wider without longitudinal fold partial web becomes the Fed folding device 02, there cut into signatures of a given length, and the signatures are folded longitudinally and longitudinally in the third fracture to produce a product to get half the length of the signatures. The two superimposed partial webs In contrast, the conveyor line 03 are fed, at the input they directly in Signatures are cut with said half length. The thus obtained Signatures are with the signature switch 27 on the two conveyor belts 41; 42 distributed. The folder thus generates three times in each working cycle of the folding device 02 Signatures.

The folder are at least two Längsfalztrichter 51; 52 upstream. Of the a longitudinal seaming funnel 52, a first web path to the folding device 02 is provided and from the other longitudinal folding funnel 51, a second web path to the conveyor line. Of the second railway runs independently of the first railway.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

01

Cutting device, first

02

folding device

03

conveyor line

04

web

05

-

06

delivery device

07

delivery device

08

knife

09

pulling roller

10

-

11

diameter cylinder

12

groove cylinders

13

Belt conveyor, first

14

folding blade

15

-

16

grab

17

folding blade

18

jaw cylinder

19

jaw

20

-

21

Belt conveyor, second

22

signature switch

23

delivery device

24

junction

25

-

26

Cutting device, second

27

signature switch

28

roller

29

tape

30

-

31

cam

32

Edge, leading

33

wedge

34

delivery channel

35

delay means

36

delivery channel

37

tape

38

paddle wheel

39

paddle wheel

40

-

41

conveyor belt

42

conveyor belt

43

entrance

44

output

45

-

46

output

47

-

48

-

49

-

50

-

51

formers

52

formers

53

roller

54

Querperforationseinheit

55

Längsperforationseinheit

56

Messerzylinde

Claims (1)

Method for using a folding apparatus with a cutting device (01; 26), a folding device (02) for transverse folding, a conveying path (03) and at least one delivery device (06; 07; 23), wherein the folding device has at least two longitudinal folding hoppers (51; 52) a first web path to the folding device (02) is provided from the one longitudinal folding hopper (52), wherein from the other longitudinal folding hopper (51) a second web path, which runs independently of the first web path, to the conveying path (03) is provided, characterized in that a material web is cut into three partial webs, that two partial webs are fed to one another the folder via a former (51) forming a Längsfalzes that the other part of the web via the other former (52) is fed without longitudinal fold that none Longitudinal fold having partial web of the folding device (02) supplied, is cut into signatures and this signature are longitudinally folded and longitudinally folded in the third fraction that the two superimposed partial webs of the conveyor line (03) are supplied and cut into half length signatures.

Images