EP1808306B1 - Method and device for treating printing products during its conveyance - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves resting internal fold lines of a printing product on saddle lines (1.1) during the conveyance of the printing product into a treating region and from the treating region. The treating of the printing product is implemented between a tool (3) and a counter tool (2), where the tool works from outside on the region of the fold line, and the counter tool works from inside on the region of the fold line. The printing product is withdrawn from the saddle line during the conveyance of the printing product through the treating region of the counter tool. An independent claim is also included for a device for treating a folded printing product.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device according to the preambles of the corresponding independent claims. Method and device are used for processing of printed products, while these are supported on substantially aligned transversely to the conveying direction saddle-shaped pads lying substantially continuously.

It is known to produce printed products by collecting folded sheets or folded partial products, which are placed at successive feed points on substantially continuously conveyed, usually transversely oriented to the conveying direction, saddle-shaped pads, such that the inner fold line of the first folded sheet or partial product on the saddle line of the support rests and the two folding parts are also supported by the support or hang down substantially free and that the then further supplied sheets or partial products in the same manner on the first sheet and then placed on each other. For the aforesaid collection of folded sheets or partial products, for example, rotary collecting drums are used in which a plurality of saddle-shaped supports are arranged in a star-like manner, the saddle lines extending in the axial direction on the circumference of the drum. Usually, the axial length of the saddle-shaped pads and the saddle lines is several times longer than the length of the fold lines of the printed products to be created and these are displaced on the supports, such that each resulting printed product is moved in a spiral path several times around the drum axis and at each of these revolutions usually passes in the region of the upper zenith of the drum at a feed location where another sheet or another Sub-product is placed on the already resting on the saddle-shaped overlay sheets or partial products.

Linear collecting devices are also known in which the saddle-shaped supports, which in turn are arranged essentially transversely to the conveying direction, are conveyed more or less straightly past successively arranged feed points such that the resulting products do not have to be displaced along the saddle lines.

It is also known to process printed products produced by collecting on the saddle-shaped supports (in the collection drum or in a linear system) in the area of their folding line resting on the saddle line between a tool and a counter tool, the tool for the processing from the outside and the counter tool from the inside, so act from the side of the saddle-shaped support forth on the folding area of the printed product. In particular, said printed products are stapled during their further promotion in the manner mentioned between a stapling head (tool) and a Umbieger (counter tool) or they are clamped for a thickness measurement between an outer button (tool) and an inner button (counter tool).

If, for the said type of processing, the conveying speed of the saddle-shaped supports is relatively high and the processing is to be carried out reliably and without impairment of the printed products, it is more common Opinion necessary that the distal ends of the tool and counter-tool, between which the machining is performed, are arranged at the height of the saddle line and that tool, counter tool and saddle-shaped support for a short but even processing time are promoted in a relatively unchanged position. Only so remain during machining relative movements between the tool and counter tool and between tools and saddle-shaped pad and unwanted deformations or even damage to resting on the saddle-shaped pads printed products are prevented. According to the state of the art, this is achieved by various measures.

For example, each saddle-shaped support is equipped with a tool and a counter tool and promoted together with them, wherein tool and / or counter tool during this promotion by appropriate control means for processing at a designated location of the conveyor track in a relatively predetermined machining position (distal tool ends in Saddle-line portion of saddle-shaped pads), activated for machining, and held in the machining position during conveyance through a machining area. With such equipment saddle-shaped pads, it is readily possible to hold tool, counter tool and saddle-shaped support stationary during a longer processing time (in machining position) relative to each other. On the other hand, it is very complex to equip all requirements accordingly, especially for systems in which the printed products are promoted on closely behind one another arranged saddle-shaped pads over relatively long distances and to be processed in succession in various ways. If the tools or equipped with the tools saddle-shaped pads for the processing of various printed products are still set accordingly, production changes are associated with a lot of work and thus long production losses, which may be a further disadvantage.

It is also known to arrange the tools in smaller numbers on the orbit of the saddle-shaped pads limited independent, shorter orbits circumferentially and the counter tools with either the saddle-shaped pads (eg described in EP-0546326 , F319, or EP-0606555 , F350) or with the tools (eg described in EP-1245406 , Grapha) to connect. In this case, the path of the tools and the path of the saddle-shaped supports in the processing area are adapted to one another in such a way that undesirable relative movements do not arise between the tool and the counter-tool or between the tools and the saddle-shaped support. The orbits of the tools, the counter tools and the saddle-shaped pads thus extend at least through the processing area with constant distance from each other and with the same directions, with tools, counter tools and saddle-shaped pads are aligned during the promotion by the processing area, ie synchronized promoted. Particularly advantageous, since it is easy to implement in terms of apparatus, is a circular orbit for the tools with as few tools as possible (possibly with counter tools), ie the smallest possible radius. The orbit of the saddle-shaped pads (possibly with counter tools) is then at least in the processing area as a circular arc with the same center and also relatively small radius to order. However, this leads to spatial constraints that are particularly serious and undesirable for cases where different operations are to be performed in successive processing areas. document EP-A-1588971 discloses a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 8.

It is now the object of the invention to provide a method and a device for processing printed products between tool and counter tool during their promotion saddle-shaped pads, with the inventive device, the above-mentioned disadvantages of known such methods and devices, the same purpose serve, should be avoided. The device according to the invention should therefore in particular make it possible for the path of the saddle-shaped supports also to be freely selectable in machining areas and remains largely independent of the processing that nevertheless the saddle-shaped pads need not be equipped with tools or with counter tools and that nevertheless can be ensured in a simple manner that the printed products to be processed are not deformed or damaged by unwanted relative movements.

This object is achieved by the method and the device as defined in the patent claims.

Method and device according to the invention are based on the idea to contrast the printed products for processing with the help of the counter tools from the saddle line of the saddle-shaped pads. That is, according to the invention, the task of carrying and guiding the printed products, which task is performed during processing without processing (and also during processing by known methods) only by the saddle-shaped pads, at least partially taken over by the counter tools in the processing area. Thus, in the device according to the invention, the printed products, as in known devices which serve the same purpose, are conveyed on the saddle-shaped supports in the processing region and also conveyed away from the processing region in the same manner. In the processing area itself, however, they are raised by the counter tools whose distal ends are moved from below through corresponding openings or recesses of the saddle-shaped supports and thereby lifted off the saddle line, so that their inner fold lines no longer rest on the saddle lines of the pads while the product parts on both sides of the fold line but still advantageously crash on the sides of the saddle-shaped pads.

The distal ends of the counter tools moving in the processing area through the saddle-shaped supports take over the carrying and guiding of the printed products to be processed so far that a relative movement between the saddle-shaped support and the associated counter tool can neither deform nor damage the printed product. Thus, that relative movements between the counter tool and saddle-shaped support for the printed products to be harmless and can be tolerated, according to the invention, the orbit of the saddle-shaped pads and the orbit of the counter tools in the processing area no longer have the same directions and a constant distance from each other and become significantly more independent of each other.

The orbit of the counter tools is advantageously a circular path whose center lies below the orbit of the saddle-shaped pads and which may have a relatively small radius. In this case, the primary circular movement of the counter tools may be superimposed by a secondary movement, by means of which the counter tools for processing are brought into a machining position. The orbit of the saddle-shaped pads runs, for example, straight or curved around the processing area by a large radius of curvature, with the path of the saddle lines and the path of the distal ends of the counter tools intersecting so that the latter runs above the former in the machining area, before and after the machining area but underneath. Apart from this self-cruising, the trajectories of counter tools and saddle-shaped pads are independent. The saddle-shaped pads are, as already mentioned above, to be provided with openings or recesses in the saddle line, said openings or recesses must be large enough not only to the passage of the distal ends of the counter tools (relative movement between the counter tool and support transversely to Conveying direction) but optionally also to allow a relative movement between counter tool and support parallel to the conveying direction.

The cooperation of tool and counter tool runs in process and device according to the invention advantageously in a conventional manner from. Thus, for example, the tools also run on a circular path, wherein the center of this circular path runs over the path of the saddle-shaped supports and wherein the number of rotating tools can be the same size as the number of rotating counter-tools or different. Here, the primary circular movement of the tools to superimpose a secondary movement such that they remain aligned during their promotion by the processing area in a predetermined manner to the counter-tools. Such tools are described for example in the publication EP-0606555 (F350).

The method and the device according to the invention are particularly suitable for stapling printed products produced by collecting folded printed sheets or for measuring the thickness of such printed products. It is also conceivable to press and apply ultrasound or heat to activate an adhesive applied in the fold lines of the overlapping sheets.

Figuren 1 und 2

das Prinzip einer ersten, bevorzugten Ausführungsform von Verfahren und Einrichtung gemäss Erfindung, wobei nur ein zentraler Teil der Einrichtung als Seitenansicht (Fig. 1) und als Draufsicht (Fig. 2) dargestellt ist;

Figuren 3 und 4

das Prinzip einer zweiten, bevorzugten Ausführungsform von Verfahren und Einrichtung gemäss Erfindung, wobei nur ein zentraler Teil der Einrichtung als Seitenansicht (Fig. 3) und als Draufsicht (Fig. 4) dargestellt ist;

Figur 5

eine beispielhafte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Einrichtung nach dem Prinzip gemäss Figuren 1 und 2;

Figur 6

eine Anordnung mit einer Sammelstrecke, der zwei erfindungsgemässe Einrichtungen nachgeschaltet sind.

The principle of the method and the device according to the invention and exemplary embodiments of the device will be described in more detail in connection with the following figures. Showing:

Figures 1 and 2

the principle of a first, preferred embodiment of method and device according to the invention, wherein only a central part of the device as a side view ( Fig. 1 ) and as a plan view ( Fig. 2 ) is shown;

FIGS. 3 and 4

the principle of a second preferred embodiment of the method and device according to the invention, wherein only one central part of the device as a side view ( Fig. 3 ) and as a plan view ( Fig. 4 ) is shown;

FIG. 5

an exemplary embodiment of the inventive device according to the principle Figures 1 and 2 ;

FIG. 6

an arrangement with a collection line, the two devices according to the invention are connected downstream.

Figures 1 and 2 show the principle of a first, preferred embodiment of the method and device according to the invention, wherein only a part of the saddle-shaped pads 1 and the counter tools 2 and portions of the orbit U.1 of the saddle lines 1.1 of the pads 1 and the orbit U.2 of the distal ends 2.1 the counter tools are shown. FIG. 1 shows the device from the side, so with a line of sight substantially parallel to the saddle lines 1.1 of the saddle-shaped pads 1, FIG. 2 as a top view, ie with a line of sight from above on the saddle lines 1.1 of the saddle-shaped pads. 1

The orbits U.1 and U.2 intersect at the entrance of the processing area B and at the exit of the processing area B, the orbit U.2 running in the processing area B over the orbit U.1. In other words, that means that the distal ends 2.1 of the counter tools 2 are positioned over the saddle lines 1.1 of the saddle-shaped supports 1 during conveyance through the processing region B and conveyed printed products (not shown) with their inner fold lines on the distal ends 2.1 of the counter tools 2 and not on the saddle line 1.1 saddle-shaped pads 1 rest. For this purpose, the distal ends of the counter tools move through openings 4 of the supports, which are arranged in the region of the saddle line.

The saddle-shaped pads 1 are arranged, for example, at regular intervals on a conveyor chain (not shown) and have on both sides of the saddle line 1.1 sloping leg. In the in the Figures 1 and 2 In the illustrated embodiment, they are freely pivotable relative to the conveyor chain about a pivot axis extending in the region of the saddle line 1.1 and parallel thereto or coinciding therewith, and are pivoted by the counter tools 2. In this way it is possible to introduce the counter tools 2 essentially from below into the supports without the distal ends 2.1 of the counter tools 2 having to deviate from their circular orbit (no secondary movement superimposed on the primary circular movement).

From the FIG. 1 the relative movement between counter tools 2 and supports 1 is visible perpendicular to the conveying direction F, from the FIG. 2 the relative movement parallel to the conveying direction F.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second, preferred embodiment of the method and the device according to the invention. The representation is the same as in the Figures 1 and 2 and like elements are designated by like reference numerals. The pads 1 of the present embodiment have a relative to the orbit U.1 constant orientation, so are not pivotable. For this reason, the distal ends 2.1 of the counter tools 2, whose orbit is again circular, can only be inserted from below into the supports 1, when the circular movement is superimposed by a secondary movement. In the present case, this secondary movement is directed parallel to the circular axis K, wherein the distal ends 2.1 of the counter tools 2 are moved at the entrance to the processing area B in the area of the pads 1 and at the output of the processing area B again away from the pads, as shown in FIG. 4 is clearly apparent. Obviously, it is advantageous in this case, the distal ends 2.1 of the counter tools 2 by lateral recesses 5 on the saddle lines 1.1 of the pads 1 lift. However, it is also possible to design the saddle-shaped supports 1 correspondingly narrower than the printed products to be processed and to raise the distal ends of the counter-tools laterally from the supports, in which case the secondary movement is unnecessary.

In further embodiments of the method and the device according to the invention, the distal ends of the counter tools are introduced by other movements in the pads 2, for example by a radial movement or a radial extension of the counter tools and / or by a controlled change in the position of the counter tools or the distal End portions of the counter tools against their orbit. Also mixed forms between such methods and facilities and in the FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrated methods and facilities are conceivable.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of the inventive device, which after the in the Figures 1 and 2 illustrated principle works (with swivel pads 1, which are pivoted by the counter tools 2). The tools 3 also shown in this figure also run on a circular orbit, wherein the trajectory of the distal tool ends 3.1 in the machining area by changing the tool position relative to the orbit (in particular visible on 3 'tool in an intermediate position) and by a radial tool movement is adjusted against the interior of the orbit to the movement of the counter-tools 2. The resulting orbit U.3 of the distal tool ends 3.1 is such that there is no relative movement between the distal ends of the two tools during machining. The change in the tool position, for example, controlled by means of scenes and the radial movement of the counter-tools 2, the tools 3 against the force of a return spring against the interior of the orbit U.3 press, whereby also a necessary for the processing optionally pressing force between the distal tool ends can be generated.

FIG. 6 shows very schematically a linear collecting device 10, in which folded sheets or partial products are placed at successive feed points 11 and 11 on saddle-shaped supports 1, whereby printed products are formed, which consist for example of a plurality of interfolded sheets. The pads 1 are attached, for example, at regular intervals on a conveyor chain. The collected products are conveyed by the same supports 1 further through two successive processing areas B and B ', which are equipped according to the invention. The first processing (processing area B) is for example a thickness measurement, the second processing (processing area B ') a stapling. Between the two processes, for example, a discharge point is arranged at which printed products which do not have the predetermined thickness, ie which comprise too few or too many sheets, are discharged (arrows A and A ').

According to the above description and the present figures, the saddle-shaped pads are conveyed at regular intervals, that is, they are arranged for example at regular intervals on a conveyor chain. However, this is not a condition of the method and the device according to the invention. The pads can also be flexibly connected to a chain and thereby have different distances from each other or they can be promoted from each other completely independent, for example, guided in a rail. Of course, however, independent requirements for synchronization with counter rotating tools and tools circulating at regular intervals are to be entered in front of the processing area, but may be buffered before and / or after, for example.

Claims (15)

1. A method for the processing of folded printed products during their conveyance on saddle-shaped supports (1) comprising saddle lines (1.1) aligned essentially transverse to the direction of conveyance, wherein during the conveyance into a processing zone (B) and away from a processing zone (B) internal fold lines of the printed products are lying on the saddle lines (1.1) and wherein the processing is carried out between a tool (3) acting on the area of the fold line from outside and a counter-tool (2) acting on the area of the fold line from inside, characterized in that, during the conveyance through the processing zone (B), the printed products are lifted off the saddle line (1.1) by the counter-tools (2).
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the counter tools (2) and the saddle-shaped supports (1) are conveyed along a circuit, wherein the circuit (U.1) of the saddle lines (1.1) of the supports (1) intersects with the circuit (U.2) of the distal ends (2.1) of the counter tools (2) at the entrance and at the exit of the processing zone (B) in such a manner, that in the processing zone (B) the circuit (U.1) of the distal ends (2.1) extends above the circuit (U.1) of the saddle lines (1.1).
3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the distal ends (2.1) of the counter-tools are moved through openings (4) or recesses (5), which are arranged in the saddle-shaped supports (1) in the area of the saddle lines (1.1).
4. The method according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that, at least in the processing zone (B), the circuit (U.2) of the distal ends (2.1) of the counter-tools (2) is arc-shaped and the circuit (U.1) of the saddle lines (1.1) runs in a straight line.
5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the saddle-shaped supports (1) are conveyed through the processing zone (B) in an unchanged position relative to the circuit of the saddle lines (1.1).
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the saddle-shaped supports (1) are swivelled by the counter-tools (2).
7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the printed products comprise a plurality of folded sheets or partial products folded into one another and prior to the processing are produced by assembling on the saddle-shaped supports (1).
8. A device for the processing of folded printed products, which device comprises a plurality of saddle-shaped supports (1), a plurality of tools (3) and a plurality of counter-tools (2), wherein the saddle-shaped supports (1) comprise saddle lines (1.1) essentially aligned transverse to the direction of conveyance, wherein the tools (3) and the counter-tools (2) are equipped for processing the fold line area of the printed products between the tool (3) acting on the fold line area from outside and the counter-tool (2) acting on the fold line area from inside and wherein the saddle-shaped supports (1), the tools (3) and the counter-tools (2) are arranged to circulate on circuits, characterized in that the saddle-shaped supports (1) and the counter-tools (2) are arranged circulating in such a manner, that the circuit (U.2) of the distal ends (2.1) of the counter tools (2) intersects with the circuit (U-1) of the saddle lines (1.1) of the saddle-shaped supports (1) at an entrance and at an exit of a processing zone (B) and that, in the processing zone (B), the circuit of the distal ends (2.1) is located above the circuit (U,1) of the saddle lines (1.1) and upstream and downstream of the processing zone (B) below it.
9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that, in the area of the saddle line (1.1), the saddle-shaped supports (1) comprise recesses (5) or openings (4).
10. The device according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the saddle-shaped supports (1) are conveyable through the processing zone (B) in an unchangeable position relative to the circuit (U.1) of the saddle lines (1.1).
11. The device according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the saddle-shaped supports (1) are swivellable around a swivelling axis, wherein the swivelling axis extends in the area of the saddle line (1.1) and parallel to it or coincides with it.
12. The device according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the circuit (U.2) of the distal ends (2.1) of the counter-tools (2) is arc-shaped in the processing zone.
13. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that a secondary movement transverse to the circuit (U.2) is superimposed on the circuit (U.2) of the distal ends (2.1) which is round, by means of which secondary movement the distal ends (2.1) are movable towards the saddle-shaped supports (1) at the entrance to the processing zone (B) and are movable away from the saddle-shaped supports at the exit from the processing zone (B).
14. The device according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the circuit (U.1) of the saddle lines (1.1) runs in a straight line at least within the processing zone.
15. The device according to any one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that the tools (3) are arranged as circulating on a round circuit (U.3), wherein their position relative to the circuit (U.3) is changeable and wherein they are arranged as radially movable.

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