EP1769937B1 - Stapling device with a vertically adjustable stapling head - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a stapling device for producing printed products, in particular in a saddle stitcher, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Devices for stapling folded signatures or printed products are typically provided in so-called saddle stitchers or saddle stitching machines. Such saddle stitchers, which singulate folded printed products on a transport device, such as a transport chain or the like, store, collect and gather and then a stapling station and then optionally a further processing unit, such as a marginal cutter, a display or the like, perform, are known.

For example, the document discloses EP 0 916 514 A1 a typical saddle stitcher with a front and a rear collecting chain as a transport device. From folded sheet investors individual folded sheets or folded signatures are separated from stacks, opened and stored on the gathering chains. Between the collecting chains a guide rail is arranged, whose upper portion is formed like a blade and whose ridge line defines the transport and stitching line. Together with the guide strip, the collecting chains form a substantially roof-shaped support on which the folded sheets or folded signatures are transported astride. In order to securely capture and evenly load the folded sheets deposited on the gathering chains even at high transport speeds, the gathering chains or their carriers run in front of and behind the guide bar, so that a stored folding sheet is simultaneously grasped on both legs. The folded sheets caught by the carriers are transported through the front and rear gathering chains to a stitching station in which stacked signatures or a number of folded signatures are stapled in the fold by means of a clamp, in particular a wire clamp. For this purpose, stapling heads arranged above the gathering chain and clincher boxes arranged between the collecting chains instead of the guide strip, which bend the free ends of the staples pierced by the stapling heads through the folded sheets. After that, the stapled folded sheet or folded signatures of at least one of the gathering chains for further processing, for example, for a trim edge, or for display on.

Due to the increasing degree of individualization of printed products, the so-called "selective binding", which accumulates differently extensive and different numbers of signatures depending on the recipient, the fastest possible adaptability of the saddle stitcher and thus of the stapling device to frequently changing product thickness becomes more and more important ,

So far, adjustable saddle stitching machines have been used to guide collected printed products. In machines with continuous collection chains, such as various common saddle stitchers known manufacturers, both the front chain and the back chain in each case in height, in particular depending on the product thickness, adjustable. Typical guide elements used can, for example, support the printed products from above against the sheet metal web, but only to a limited extent prevent tilting or abutment of the leading printed product edges or smaller internal edges, for example of inserted cards. In the case of various printed products, disturbances in the infeed and outfeed of the stapling area may occur as a result of stoppers, missing sheets or the like, so that frequently downtimes of the saddle stitching machine result. In continuous transport devices, especially collecting chains, it is also necessary to provide a height-adjustable chain guide. However, a deflection of the gathering chain often leads to increased wear or drive problems. In general, moreover, the front chain of the conveyor should be easily removable or removable from the rest of the machine so that the stapling area is conveniently accessible to the operator when needed, which is made more difficult by a height-adjustable chain guide. Such a device is for example from the European patent application EP 1 419 898 A1 known.

Another generic device is from the European Patent Application EP 1 273 460 A2 known. Again, the problem of keeping the signatures arises the transport path of a saddle stitcher in the stitching station. Here, the problem is posed by a guide member for supporting the number of folded signatures on transport through the lead-in area and / or through the lead-out area.

The document US Pat. No. 3,899,165 discloses a stapling device with a stapling head and a rocker for height adjustment of the stapling head.

But in several of the aforementioned devices of the prior art, the adjustment of the stapling device on the product thickness is complicated and prone to failure. It would therefore be desirable to have a stapling device in a saddle stitcher with which a simple and advantageously automatic adjustment to the product thickness is possible, which is less prone to failure.

This object is achieved with a stapling device having the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. Further features emerge from the subclaims.

Accordingly, the invention is a stapling device for producing printed products, in particular in a saddle stitcher, wherein the stapling device comprises a stapling carriage, and at least one stapling head for forming and driving a staple into a stack of signatures, and a clincher box for closing the through the Signatures driven staple, wherein the stapling device comprises adjusting means for vertical displacement of the stapling head, for adapting the stapling device to the thickness of the stack of signatures. The signatures are not moved vertically on the transport level for height adjustment, but the horizontal position of the signatures is always maintained. Instead, depending on the product thickness, the level of stapling heads is shifted. In this way, the transport of the signatures remains comparatively quiet even in the area of the stitching heads, as a result of which the susceptibility to failure is reduced due to the high, typical operating speeds of such generic saddle stitchers. Advantageously, the stapling device comprises two or more stapling heads.

According to the invention, the adjusting means comprise a first rocker for height adjustment of the stapling head and a second Rocker for controlling the movements of the stapling head, in particular the shaping and driving of the staple in the stack of signatures, wherein the first rocker and second rocker are coupled together. In order to make a height adjustment possible on the one hand, the height of the underside of the stapling head must be adapted to the product thickness, so that the driving actually starts in the correct position or the staple also reaches the Umbieger in the clincher box properly. On the other hand, the control means, from which the movements within the stapling head derive to be adjusted to the changed altitude of the stapling head. According to the invention, this is done particularly easily by the coupling between the two wings, so that all the necessary height adjustments can be performed simultaneously by a single adjustment mechanism, such as a set screw or a servomotor.

In an advantageous embodiment of the stapling device according to the invention, the first rocker is mounted at the other end in the common pivot point and the second rocker has at least one cam on which is guided in a curved path about a pivot rotatably mounted cam, whereby the movement sequences of the stapling head can be generated the pivot point is within the pivoting range of the at least one cam roller generated by the curved path. Particularly advantageously, the pivot point of the cam and the pivot point are on the same axis.

Fig. 1

eine erste Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine zweite Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung.

Preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. The figures show in a schematic representation:

Fig. 1

a first embodiment of the device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.

The in the Fig. 1 and 2 illustrated embodiments of the stapling device 100 according to the invention are limited to the representation and description of essential to the invention details. Other required for the operation of the stapler elements, such as guide, control, drives, fasteners, etc., which in particular also do not differ from the prior art or are borrowed, are not further described and / or omitted for clarity. In particular, only one slider 33 is shown for controlling the movements in the stapling head, although typically a driver slider and a clincher slider are used.

In a known chain, not known to those skilled in the art but also from the above-mentioned prior art individual signatures 1 are stacked in a known manner to saddle-shaped stacks 2 and transferred to a stapler 100, stapled there and then trimmed at the three open sides. By the stapling device 100, the signature stack 2 is conveyed on a stapling carriage 10. Laterally, the signature stack 2 are supported by baffles 5. Below the signature stack 2 at least one clincher box 15 is arranged, which is fixedly connected to the stapling carriage 10 and the bender includes, which bends the driven by the at least one stapling head 30 through the signature stack 2 staple together and thus produces an almost finished printed product. The number of stapling heads 30 and thus also the number of clincher boxes 15 typically depend on the power range of the saddle stitcher and so two or more stapling heads 30 are common.

The stapling carriage 10 is movably mounted on the one hand in a stapling carriage guide 13 for the movement in the transport direction of the signatures 1 and is driven by a single drive or a common drive, such as a vertical shaft. On the other hand, the stapling carriage 10 is connected via a stapling carriage coupling 25 with the stapling head receiving strip 35, such that the movement of the stapling carriage in the transport direction of the signatures 1 is transmitted to the stapling head receiving strip 35. At the stapling head receiving strip 35 of at least one stapling head 30 are arranged. In this way, the at least one stapling head 30 in the transport direction of the signature stack 2 moves, such that there is no relative speed in the transport direction between stapling head 30 and the signature stack 2 when driving the staple into the signature stack 2.

For this purpose, the stapling head receiving ledge 35 is guided in a stapling head receiving ledge horizontal guide 40, wherein the stapling head receiving ledge horizontal guide 40 is guided in a stapling head receiving ledge vertical guide 42, so that the stapling head receiving ledge horizontal guide 40 together with the at least one stapling head 30 in the vertical relative to the at least one clincher box 15 and thus also the underside of the Signatures stack 2 can be moved to make an adjustment to different product thicknesses of the signature stack 2 can. The clincher box 15, however, remains on the same level during the entire movement sequence.

The movements within the stapling head 30, in particular the shaping and driving of the staple, but also the wire feed, etc. are derived at least from a slider 33 which is part of the stapling head 30 and which in turn is driven and controlled by a guide on a stapling head drive bar 60 , The stitching head drive bar 60 is in turn guided in a Heftkopfantriebsleisten vertical guide 62, so that the Heftkopfantriebsleiste 60 can be moved together with the slider 33 in the vertical relative to the at least one clincher box 15 and thus also the underside of the signature stack 2. However, the stapling head drive bar 60 is also moved in normal operation up and down to move the at least one slide 33 in the stapling head up and down. The vertical displacement of the Heftkopfantriebsleiste 60 via a second coupling 56 which is hinged on one side of the Heftkopfantriebsleiste 60 on the other hand connected to the second rocker 55 is hinged. The second rocker 55 is pivoted about a fulcrum 68 and has at the other end a cam roller 80, which rolls on a curved path 75 of a cam 76. The cam 76 rotates about a pivot point 78 and is otherwise fixed to the device. From this movement of the stitching head drive bar 60 are derived in turn via the slide movement of the slider 33, the other movements in the stapling head 30 from.

The height adjustment due to the change in product thickness is now as follows. The stapling head receiving strip vertical guide 42 is pivotally connected to a first coupling 45, which in turn is connected to a first rocker 50 which is pivotally mounted at the other end to a fixed device pivot point 85. In this case, the pivot point 85 is in the pivoting range of the cam roller 80 of the second rocker 55. Particularly advantageous are the pivot point 85 of the first rocker 50 and the pivot point 78 of the cam 76 on the same axis.

The first rocker 50 has a rocker coupling 66, e.g. rigid on one side with the first rocker, e.g. connected at right angles and on the other hand articulated to the second rocker 55 in the fulcrum 68. This fulcrum can be displaced vertically by a spindle 65, such as a spindle drive, e.g. a handwheel. In a preferred embodiment, the swing coupling 66 has the length zero, so that therefore the rocker 50 is coupled to the rocker 55 together in the fulcrum 68 with each other.

Alternatively, it is conceivable that the vertical displacement of the fulcrum 68 is effected by a drive 70, such as a linear motor, or that this drive is also connected at another point with the two coupled rockers 50, 55. Obviously, the spindle 65 may be arranged in a deviating from vertical mounting position, if the corresponding adjusting the other adjusting means. Advantageously, a controller 90 may also be provided which automatically drives the drive 70 in order to perform the desired height adjustment of the stapling head 30 and the stapling head drive bar 60.

If, for example, the spindle 65 is actuated such that the fulcrum 68 is raised, the first rocker 50 and, through the coupling 66 between the first rocker 50 and the second rocker 55, also pivot the second rocker 55 about the common rocker Pivot 85. This allows the desired height adjustment quickly and easily done without further adjustments must be made.

In Fig. 2 a further embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown, which is a special case of the first embodiment of Fig. 1 represents. Here, the rocker 50 and the first coupling 45 are made in one piece and guided in a vertical guide 79. Now, the vertical movement of the slider 77 by the thumbscrew 70 at the same time Heftkopfaufnahmesteisten horizontal guide 40 and the pivot point 78 of the cam 76 is moved with, as well as in the first embodiment, of course, the second rocker 55 with the associated parts. However, the shift no longer takes place on a circular path with an infinitely large radius, ie a straight path. As a result, the influence on the cam track displacement in the thickness adjustment is even lower.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

signature

2

Stack of signatures

5

baffle

10

stitching carriage

13

Stitching carriage guide

15

clincher box

25

Stitching carriage coupling

30

stapling head

33

pusher

35

Stapling head Recording Toolbar

40

Stapling head female strips horizontal guide

42

Stapling head female strips vertical guide

45

first paddock

50

first swingarm

55

second swingarm

56

second paddock

60

Stitching head drive bar

62

Stitching head drive bar vertical guide

65

spindle

66

swing coupling

68

fulcrum

70

spindle drive

75

cam track

76

cam

77

pusher

78

pivot point

79

vertical guide

80

follower

85

pivot point

90

control

100

stapler

Claims (7)

1. Stitching Device (100) for producing printed products, in particular in a saddle stitcher, the stitching device (100) comprising a stitching slide (10), at least one stitching head (30) for forming the stitching wire and driving it into a stack (2) of signatures (1), and a clincher box (15) for closing the stitching wire driven through the signatures (1), the stitching device (100) comprising actuating means (45, 50, 55, 56, 65, 66, 70, 77) for vertically displacing the stitching head (30) to adapt the stitching device (100) to the thickness of the stack (2) of signatures (1),
   wherein the actuating means (45, 50, 55, 56, 65, 66, 70, 77) comprise a first rocker (50, 77) for adjusting the height of the stitching head (30) and a second rocker (55) for controlling the sequence of movements of the stitching head (30), in particular the forming and driving in of the stitching wire into the stack (2) of signatures (1), the first rocker (50, 77) and the second rocker (55) being coupled to each other and the second rocker (55), which swivels about a fulcrum (68), being supported on one end on a stitching head driving bar (60) to control the sequence of movements of the stitching head (30), in particular the forming and driving in of the stitching wire into the stack (2) of signatures (1),
   characterized in
   that for the adjustment of the height of the stitching head (30), one end of the first rocker (50, 77) is supported on a stitching head receiving bar (40) connected to the stitching slide (10) and guided in a horizontal stitching head receiving bar guide, which is guided in a vertical stitching head receiving bar guide.
2. Stitching head (100) according to Claim 1,
   characterized in
   that the clincher box (15) and the stitching slide (10) are firmly connected to each other.
3. Stitching device (100) according to Claim 1,
   characterized in
   that the first rocker (50, 77) and the second rocker (55) are arranged to swivel about a common swivel point (85) or to be vertically displaceable.
4. Stitching device (100) according to Claim 3,
   characterized in
   that the other end of the first rocker (50) is supported in the common swivel point (85) and the second rocker (55) includes at least one cam roller (80) guided in a cam track (75) of a cam disc (76) generating the sequences of movements of the stitching head (30) and being rotatably supported about a centre (78) of rotation, wherein the swivel point (85) is located within the swivelling region of the at least one cam disc (80) as created by the cam track (75).
5. Stitching device (100) according to Claim 4,
   characterized in
   that the centre (78) of rotation of the cam disc (76) and the swivel point (85) are located on the same axis.
6. Stitching device (100) according to Claim 1,
   characterized in
   that the position of the first rocker (50) and a fulcrum (68) of the second rocker (55) are simultaneously adjustable by means of an actuating means (65, 70).
7. Stitching device (100) according to Claim 6,
   characterized in
   that the stitching device (100) comprises a control (90) for automatically generating the adjustment of the first rocker (50, 77) and consequently also the adjustment of the second rocker (55) by means of the actuating means (65, 70) as a function of the product thickness of the stack (2) of signatures (1).

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