EP1934124A1

EP1934124A1 - Longitudinal folding machine, method for operating said machine and method for synchronising said machine

Info

Publication number: EP1934124A1
Application number: EP06806817A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Holger Ratz
Original assignee: Koenig and Bauer AG
Current assignee: Koenig and Bauer AG
Priority date: 2005-10-13
Filing date: 2006-09-26
Publication date: 2008-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-26
Also published as: EP1934124B1; ATE515471T1; DE102005049401A1; WO2007042391A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a longitudinal folding machine (01), to which a product (02) can be supplied via a delivery route (36, 37) and which is situated downstream of a sensor (18), the latter being configured as a sensor that records the product phase position. The sensor is connected to a drive motor (05) of a folding blade (03) of the folding machine via a control unit (10), said blade being mechanically independent of the drive of the delivery routes (33, 36, 37). The control unit controls the drive motor, taking into consideration the product phase position that has been recorded by the sensor. The drive motion from the drive motor to the folding blade is achieved by means of a cam mechanism (52, 53).

Description

description

Longitudinal folder, method for operating the longitudinal folder and method for synchronizing the Längsfalzapparates

The invention relates to a longitudinal folding apparatus, method for operating the longitudinal folding apparatus and a method for synchronizing the longitudinal folding apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1, 8, 10 and 12 respectively.

In folders, in particular for products of a rotary printing press, product sections in several successive and z.T. further processed in alternatively selectable processing stages. The alternative assignment of product sections to several processing stages is via a product diverter. In conventional folders, both the product diverter and the tools of the subsequent processing stages have mostly been driven by gears from a main drive of the folder or its transport means and synchronized with them. However, if the product sections are not always exactly oriented prior to entering the switch and / or before entering the downstream processing step, it may damage the product both during passage through the switch and during subsequent further processing, to a reduction in quality and / or come to a standstill of the plant.

In DE 198 02 995 C2, a product diverter of a folder with two downstream Längsfalzapparaten is disclosed, wherein the product diverter upstream of a sensor for detecting the product phase position and a sensor for detecting stoppers are arranged downstream on this path on each of the two subsequent product paths. The three sensors, a sensor which detects the rotational speed of the main drive and a switching device which prescribes the type of production are connected to a control device for controlling the product diverter, said device being connected to the axis of the product diverter linked stepper motor acts.

From DE 40 20 937 C2 a Längsfalzapparat is known, wherein a folding blade is movable over a cam on the folding gap and away.

DE 199 43 165 A1 discloses a folding blade of a longitudinal folding apparatus which can be moved into and out of the folding gap by means of electromagnetic force-generating coils.

DE 198 28 625 A1 relates to a transverse folding device for Querfalzung of individual sheets. It has a folded in the transport direction folding blade and an automatic control for the location or the correct separation of the sheet and is designed to be able to fold paper sheet simply or repeatedly across. The moving means of the folding blade is correlated with means of movement for the sheets.

The EP 12 1 1 212 A2 shows a longitudinal folding apparatus, wherein the drive motor for the folding blade is controlled by the fact that a speed of the incoming products is determined on the conveying path before entering the fold region by means of a sensor upstream of the longitudinal apparatus. From this, a suitable movement profile for the drive of the folding blade is calculated or selected in a computer.

DE 694 00 629 T2 discloses a longitudinal folding apparatus, wherein two position sensor means are provided at the upstream end of the folding area. The output signals are used to control the brake pressure of a braking device braking the product sections.

A longitudinal folding apparatus is known from WO 2005/082757 A1, to which a sensor which detects the product phase position is arranged upstream, the sensor being equipped with a sensor which detects the product phase Drive an upstream conveyor line mechanically independent drive motor of a folding blade is connected via a control device. About the control device, the movement of the folding blade is synchronized.

Longitudinal folders are used in the printing industry, especially in the final production of printed products, the printed products are pressed by the folding blade in the folding gap and folded in this longitudinally. Because the direction of entry of the printed products into the longitudinal folder is transverse to their subsequent movement through the nip, they must be decelerated before passing through the nip. For this purpose, in known Längsfalzapparaten brake brushes, which gradually decelerate the incoming printed products by friction, and fixed stops are known, against which the printed products abut and thereby abruptly decelerated. In order to avoid damage to the printed products at the stop, their speed must be reduced by the brushes to a low value, but this value must not be zero, because then the printed products do not reach the stop and it comes to a jam. The extent of slowing down by the brushes is determined by the frictional force exerted on the printed products, and ultimately by their position. If, while maintaining the brush position, printed products of different thickness should be folded, the friction with the thickness of the products increases sharply, so that a thick product may get stuck between the brushes and not reach the stop, while a thin at such a high speed the stop bounces that it is damaged. The position of the brushes must therefore be adapted to the thickness of the printed products.

The friction between printed products and brushes also depends on the surface finish of the printed products. Smooth paper products can hit the fence too quickly, while equally thick and equally heavy products made from a rough paper may not reach the fence. Another problem arises from the fact that the kinetic energy of the printed products dissipated at the brushes is given by the product of the frictional force and the length of the braking distance. It is independent of the input speed of the printed products. Changes in this input speed, whether intentional or unintentional, therefore strongly affect the impact speed of the printed products at the stop.

The position of the brushes must therefore be adapted to virtually every print job to ensure proper functioning of the Längsfalzapparats. Due to the variety of influencing parameters, adaptation can often only be done empirically, which involves a great deal of time and costs.

Another fundamental problem that occurs with high input speeds of the printed products, even if they are braked so far that there is no damage when hitting the stop, results from the fact that the printed products change their position and orientation during the braking process. In many cases, a printed product takes a twisted position in the longitudinal folder after braking, in which the leading edge of the printed product is no longer perpendicular to the folding nip. In the subsequent folding, in which the printed product is pressed by the folding blade in the folding nip, the printed product is therefore not as desired centered transverse, but has an oblique fold.

Also, a premature folding can take place when product sections retarded delayed in the longitudinal folder and the drive of the folding blade (tool of the processing stage) is mechanically coupled from a main drive ago.

The invention is based on the object, a Längsfalzapparat, a method for synchronous operation of the longitudinal folder and a method for synchronizing to create the longitudinal folder.

The object is achieved by the features of claim 1, 8, 10 and 12 respectively.

The achievable with the invention advantages are in particular that the product quality on the one hand and the reliability (availability) of the folder on the other hand is significantly increased. This is advantageously ensured by an optical detection of the product position in front of the two longitudinal folders and a synchronization of the mechanically independent of the conveyor system driven folding blade and / or a movable stop and / or an optical detection of the product position in front of the switch.

Due to the optical detection of the product phase position directly in front of the longitudinal fold, the folding time can be ideally synchronized and corrected if necessary. The quality is further improved if additionally movable stops are also synchronized via the optical detection and reduce the impact and ensure an exact product alignment.

In an advantageous embodiment, the longitudinal folding apparatus by the movable stop a gentle deceleration of the products, eg. B. printed products, because the kinetic energy with which the products encounter the current stop, compared to the kinetic energy that is set free in the impact against a stationary stop, is reduced. If the difference between the input speed of the products and the speed of the current stop is chosen to be sufficiently small, the said unwanted effects due to a released kinetic energy can even be completely avoided. In this case, the movable stop can also absorb very high input speeds of the products and gently slow down the products. With the movable stop is one of mass, thickness and Surface quality of the incoming products independent braking effect achievable, so that different products can be processed without the longitudinal folder would have to be adjusted to this before.

Most preferably, the longitudinal folder comprises a control unit which controls a reduction in the speed of the stop on the braking distance. With the control unit targeted braking of the incoming products is possible so that they come to a predetermined certain position to a standstill and are optimally aligned for the subsequent folding, or that they are on a second, fixed stop, the desired position of the products for determines the subsequent folding operation, impinging at a low speed, at which no damage of the products is to be expected by the impact.

In particular, if the control unit has an input for a signal representative of the input speed of the products, the speed of the stop can be conveniently adjusted via the control unit to changing input speeds of the products.

Advantageously, a sensor for detecting incoming products is upstream of the braking path and coupled to the control unit, so that the control unit can synchronize the movement of the movable stop so that a detected incoming product hits at the beginning of the braking distance to the stop moving at approximately the input speed. The speed of the stop at the beginning of the braking distance may be less than the input speed, as long as the difference between the speeds is not so great that damage to the product seems possible. It can also be slightly larger; in this case, it comes only later on the braking distance when the stop has become slower than the product, the contact between the two. The stop is preferably designed as a circumferential cam whose direction of movement crosses a braking distance of the product at least on a path section. Using a on a rotatable body, z. As a disc, a roller or an eccentric, arranged circumferential cam, the stop in a continuous movement, without reversal of the drive direction, from one end of the braking distance - ie an external contact with the product - back to the beginning - ie contact a - be transported to catch the next product. In this case, the rotatable body can be provided either as a retrofit module of the longitudinal folding apparatus via a folding gap having the folding gap, or else the rotatable body having the cam is arranged as a module permanently integrated in the longitudinal folding apparatus below the folding table. In a preferred embodiment, the body is a plurality of disks arranged axially next to one another and each having at least one cam on its circumference.

In a variant, the cam may be arranged on a revolving endless belt, which has a portion parallel to the braking distance. Advantageously, on both sides of the folding gap at least one cams exhibiting rotatable body or an endless belt is arranged, each carrying synchronously moving attacks. Two rotatable bodies or endless belts per side of the seam gap are preferred. Thus, a proper alignment of the braked product is ensured and unwanted twisting of the product with respect to the folding gap is further complicated.

For driving the rotatable body or the endless belts can be provided on both sides of the seam gap at least one motor. This motor can be a high dynamic servomotor or an electric motor. But it is also an embodiment possible in which a single motor by means of a continuous shaft drives the rotatable body or endless belts on both sides of the folding gap. Preferably, a velocity of the stop at the beginning of the braking distance of at least 90% of the input speed of the products, because then between the speed of the stop and the input speed is a sufficiently small difference, so that when the impact of the products to the stop little kinetic energy is released ,

It may be advantageous to provide in addition to the movable stop and brake brushes in Längsfalzapparat, with which the deceleration of the products can be further mitigated.

An embodiment is shown in the drawings and will be described in more detail below.

Show it:

1 shows a longitudinal folding apparatus in side view;

2 shows the longitudinal folding apparatus in plan view;

Fig. 3 shows the process of braking a printed product a) to d);

4 shows a speed-time diagram for a printed product in a first mode of operation of the longitudinal folding apparatus;

5 shows a speed-time diagram for a printed product in a second mode of operation of the longitudinal folding apparatus;

6 shows a further longitudinal folding apparatus in side view; FIG. 7 shows the longitudinal folding apparatus from FIG. 6 in plan view; FIG.

8 is a perspective view of a braking device with a movable stop;

9 is a perspective view of a braking device with folding table and frame.

10 is a schematic representation of a system with alternative processing lines for further processing of products;

Fig. 1 1 is a schematic sectional view of a longitudinal folding apparatus;

Fig. 12 shows an embodiment for the drive of the folding blade.

1 and 2 show a processing stage 01 designed as a longitudinal folding apparatus 01, once from a lateral view (FIG. 1) and once in plan view (FIG. 2). The longitudinal folding apparatus 01 comprises a folding table 04, in which an elongate folding gap 06 is provided. Below the folding table 04, at the level of the folding gap 06, a pair of folded folding rollers 07, of which only one is visible and the other is concealed in FIG. 1, are arranged such that they have a gap oriented parallel to the folding gap 06 and directly below it form. On the folding table 04 pivotable folding lever 21 are provided which hold a likewise parallel to the folding gap 06 oriented folding blade 03 above the folding gap 06. With pivoting of the folding lever 21, the folding blade 03 can penetrate into the folding gap 06. In an end region of the folding gap 06, an elongate stop 08 is arranged transversely to the folding gap 06 on the folding table 04. At the stop 08 the top of the folding table 04 facing brake brushes 09 are attached. The folding blade 03 is - in contrast to a rotating knife - preferably in the manner of a respect. The folding table 04 pivotally, ie relative to Folding table 04 movable up and down knife 04 executed. The knife 04 is z. B. mounted on levers 43, which in turn with respect to. The folding table 04 are pivotally mounted about an axis 44 (Fig. 9). In another embodiment, however, the knife may also be arranged as eccentrically on a continuously rotating body of revolution. It may also be arranged eccentrically on a revolving planetary gear. In an advantageous embodiment, a mechanically independent drive (see below) is provided.

In a preferred embodiment - only indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 1 and explained in more detail in FIGS. 11 and 12 in an advantageous exemplary embodiment - the folding blade 03 is assigned its own drive 05 which is mechanically independent of transport or production equipment. This drive 05 may for example be designed as a motor 05, which via a transmission, for. B. an eccentric or a crank mechanism, the folding blade 03 clocked to the position of a product 02 on the folding table 04 lowers or raises. In Fig. 1 1 and 12, an advantageous embodiment is explained in detail. The control of the drive 05 is effected for example by a control device 10 shown by dashed lines, which either upstream information on the speed of a product 02 conveying transport system or via a signal of the folding gap 06 upstream, the product 02, in particular its passage time at a folding gap 06 upstream Place, d. H. a relative phase position detecting sensor (eg sensor 18 mentioned below) synchronizes the movement of the folding blade 03 with the product flow (an advantageous embodiment is explained for this purpose with reference to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12).

In an advantageous, but not necessarily required embodiment is on both sides of the folding gap 06 each with its axis of rotation perpendicular to the folding gap 06 extending rotatable body 15, z. As discs 15, arranged. At the periphery of the discs 15 are each two stops 13; 14, z. B. cams 13; 14 arranged, z. B. welded. The two discs 15, which are located on different sides of the folding gap 06, each with a motor 16, z. B. with a angular position-controlled electric motor 16 connected and preferably driven synchronously. In a variant, not shown, the two discs 15 are connected to each other via a continuous shaft 17 and driven by a common motor 16 (see below to Fig. 7). A braking path 24 for printed products 02 is bounded on the one hand by the upper side of the folding table 04, on the other hand by a lateral surface of the two disks 15 facing this surface. The distance between the surface of the folding table 04 and the lateral surfaces of the discs 15 is smaller than the height of the cams 13, 14. The motors 16 are controlled by a control unit 19 or control device 19, which is further connected to a sensor 18. The sensor 18 is for detecting at an input speed v ₀ (Fig. 5 and 6) in the limited by the timing belt 12 and the folding table 04 braking path 24 incoming products 02, z. B. printed products 02 upstream of the braking path 24 on the input side. The control unit 19 further has an input for a signal which specifies the speed v, enter the printed matter 02 in the braking path 24. This signal can z. B. derived from a web speed signal of the printed products 02 delivering web press or be provided by the control center of such a machine. But it is also possible, the speed v of each individual incoming printed product 02, z. B. by means of two successively passed by the printed product sensors 18, and to supply the input of the control unit 19.

In one of the cams 13; 14 carrying disc 15 alternative variant of an advantageous, but not mandatory execution of Längsfalzapparates 01 with movable stop 13; 14 (Fig. 6, 7) runs on both sides of the seam gap 06 each a folding gap 06 parallel toothed belt 12 as an endless belt 12 via two rotatably mounted gears 1 1, z. B. pulleys. On the timing belt 12 are each two stops 13; 14, z. B. cams 13; 14 welded, starting from any of the cams 13; 14 a distance between the cams 13; 14 along the length of the toothed belt 12 is the same size. Two of the gears 1 1, located on different sides of the folding gap 06 are here on the continuous shaft 17 with each other and with the common motor 16, z. B. connected to a angular position controlled electric motor 16 and driven synchronously. The braking path 24 for printed products 02 is bounded on the one hand by the upper side of the folding table 04, on the other hand by a strand of the two toothed belts 12 facing this surface. The distance between the surface of the folding table 04 and the strands of the two toothed belts 12 is slightly smaller than the height of the cams 13, 14. The motor 16 is driven by the control unit 19, which is connected to the sensor 18 as shown in FIG is (see above).

The discs 15 and the endless belts 12 and gears 1 1 can be arranged in a non-illustrated embodiment on the printed product 02 side facing away from the folding table 04, wherein the cams 13; 14 must pass through the folding table 04 in such a way that they protrude from the printed product 02 facing surface at least in a path portion as a movable stop for the printed product.

In the 3 a) to 3 d) is in the case of the use of a movable stop 13;

14 shows the process of braking the incoming printed product 02 using the example of the rotatable body 15, wherein for the sake of clarity a representation of the folding blade 03 and the folding rollers 07 has been dispensed with. The endless belt 12 design has been considered where possible by parentheses.

The printed product 02 entering the longitudinal folding apparatus 01 at an input speed v ₀ is detected by the sensor 18 in FIG. 3 a). Based on the signal applied to the input of the control unit 19 (time of product detection and / or speed signal), the control unit 19 synchronizes the movement of the discs

15 (toothed belt 12) with that of the printed product 02 so that the printed product 02 at the entrance of the braking path 24 on a cam 13 or 14, in Fig. 3 b) the cam 13, meets, which moves at this time slightly slower than the printed matter 02 and this slows down without damaging it. During the passage of the cam 13 through the braking path 24 in Fig. 3 b) slows the control unit 19 in a first mode continuously the rotational movement of the discs 15 (the movement of the timing belt 12) until the printed product 02 z. B. reaches the brake brushes 09 and is further slowed down by these and finally at a speed v abuts against the stop 08, where it is not damaged by the impact. In the event that the brake brushes 09 are arranged only behind the point at which the printed product 02 disengages from the cam 13, however, the printed product 02 initially moves uniformly at a reduced speed until it encounters the brushes. Fig. 3 c) shows the situation shortly before the abutment of the printed product 02 to the stop 08, Fig. 3 d) the situation shortly after the abutment of the printed product 02 to the stop 08. Once cam 13 and printed matter 02 are disengaged , the disc 15 (the toothed belt 12) can be accelerated again, so that the second cam 14 are in time for the arrival of a subsequent printed product 02 at the entrance of the braking path 24 and have a suitable velocity v to decelerate this printed product 02.

In a simplified embodiment of the longitudinal folding apparatus 01 with movable stop 13; 14, the brake brush 09 can be omitted. In this case, however, the cams 13; 14 are slowed down when passing the stop 08 to a lower speed v than when the brake brushes 09 are present to prevent damage to the printed matter 02 at the stop 08 and rebounding. It is therefore a more powerful engine 16 needed.

In the subsequent folding step, the now stationary printed product 02 is pressed by the folding blade 03 through the folding gap 06 in the gap between the two folding rollers 07 and thereby folded longitudinally. In the schematic sectional view of FIG. 1 1, a possible, the folding rollers 07 subsequent product path is recognizable (see below). Fig. 4 shows for the execution of the longitudinal folding apparatus 01 with movable stop 13; 14 is an example of the temporal development (t) of the speed v of a printed product 02 when passing through the braking path 24.

The printed product 02 enters the longitudinal folding apparatus 01 at an input speed v ₀ . The cams 14 and 13 precede the printed product 02 at a speed V ₁ which is 90% of the input speed v ₀ . Upon impact of the printed product 02 on the cams 14 and 13 at the time t ₀ , the relative speed between the printed product 02 and the cams 14 and 13 is therefore one tenth of the input speed v ₀ . Because the relative velocity is quadratic in the kinetic energy, this means that upon impact of the printed product 02 on the cams 14 and 13 at time t ₀ only one hundredth of that kinetic energy is released, which at a collision of the printed product 02 with the unrestrained input speed v ₀ against the stop 08 would be released.

Between the time t ₀ and the time ti at which the printed product 02 enters the effective range of the brake brushes 09, the speed of the cams 14 is continuously reduced by the control unit 19. In the speed-time diagram, a falling straight line results between these times for the speed. The deceleration by the control unit 19 may also follow a different waveform. From the time ti the printed product 02 is additionally braked by the brake brush 09, so that the straight line between the times ti and t _{2 has} a curvature. If the printed product 02 at the time t ₂ finally abuts the stop 08, being completely decelerated, it has the very low speed V ₂ compared to the input speed v ₀ . Thus, the impact of the printed matter 02 against the stopper 08 is very gentle, and little kinetic energy is released. From the time ti, when the contact between the printed product 02 and the cam 14 is lost, the control unit 19, the timing belt 12 accelerate again to synchronize the cams 13 and 14 with the subsequent printed product 02.

Fig. 5 shows the development of the speed v of a printed product 02 when passing through the braking path 24 in a further simplified embodiment of the longitudinal folding apparatus 01 in the embodiment with a movable stop 13; 14, wherein the cams 13; 14 carrying disc 15 (or endless belts 12) are driven at a uniform speed. The printed product 02 runs here also with the input speed v ₀ in the longitudinal folder 01 a. This time, the cams 14 and 13 precede the printed product 02 with a speed v _{3 which is} reduced in comparison to the speed V ₁ . At time t ₀ , the printed product 02 has caught up with the cams 14 and 13, respectively, and abuts them, with its speed v being reduced from V ₀ to V ₃ , the speed of the cams 14 and 13, respectively. Between the time t ₀ and the time ti at which the printed product 02 reaches the effective range of the brake brushes 09, the speed v _{3 of} the cams 14 or 13 and thus the speed v of the printed product 02 remains approximately constant. However, in the case of the disc 15, this only applies to a contact area within a small angle of rotation - z. B. less than 20 ° - approximately. After the vertex of the cam 13, ie at the location of the shortest distance to the folding table 04, which is characterized in that the center of the disc 1 1 with the front edge of the cam

13 connecting line is perpendicular to the plane of the folding table 04, the cam 13 at a constant rotational speed of the decelerated printed product 02 in the plane of the folding table 04 slightly away (is not shown in Fig. 5).

From the brake brush 09, the printed product 02 is further braked, which manifests itself in a curvature of the previously straight graph, while the cams

14 and 13 continue, causing them to separate from the printed matter 02 again. Finally, the printed product 02 comes at the time X ₂ at the speed v ₄ against the stop 08 and is completely decelerated.

Looking for easier estimation once the influence of the brake brush 09 on the speed v of the printed matter 02, assuming that no brake brush 09 would be present, and it is assumed that the speed V _{3 of} the cam 14 is half as large the input speed v _{0 of} the printed product 02, so at the collision of the printed product 02 to the cams 14 and 13 and the collision of the printed product 02 to the stop 08 each have the same kinetic energy, because in both collisions in each case the same relative velocity between the Printed product 02 and the cam 14 and 13, the stop 08 is present. This means that in each case only one quarter of the kinetic energy which would be released when the printed product 02 would hit the fixed stop 08 with the unrestrained input speed v ₀ is released in both impacts. If brake brushes 09 are present, v ₃ > v _o / 2 and V ₄ > v _o / 2 can be selected, and both impacts are mitigated.

In an advantageous embodiment with the disk 15, the impact point is located in front of the vertex of the cam 13, d. H. in front of the location of the shortest distance to the folding table 04, which is characterized in that the line connecting the center of the disc 1 1 with the front edge of the cam 13 is perpendicular to the plane of the folding table 04.

The one movable stop 13; 14 having longitudinal folding apparatus 01 is particularly preferred in an embodiment with arranged below the folding table 04 discs 15 and endless belts 12, if the discs 15 and timing belt 12 together with gears 1 1 and the motor 16 / the motors are provided fixedly installed in this, while the Längsfalzapparat 01 is preferred with above the folding table 04 arranged discs 15 and endless belts 12 in practice, when the timing belt 12 with the gears 1 1 and the motor 16 as a removable Modules should be designed.

Fig. 8 shows an advantageous embodiment of a movable stop 13; It has on both sides of the folding gap 06 a group of several, here four, discs 15, which each carry a cam 13 on the circumference, and each group is driven by a motor 16. In principle, this device could be detachably or permanently connected to a frame 27 or frame 27 or the folding table 04 (FIG. 9). In an advantageous embodiment, however, the braking device 26 is designed as a module 26 which is arranged so movable relative to the frame 27, that the space directly above the folding table 04 is releasable. For this purpose, the braking device is mounted pivotably with respect to the frame 27. The braking device has the groups of discs 15 receiving carrier 29, which are either rotatable about a frame-fixed axis 28 or rotationally fixed about an axis rotatably mounted on the frame 27 28 pivotally. The pivoting can either manually, or as shown with drive means 31, z. B. by one or more acted upon by pressure cylinders, done. For this example, the cylinder is fixed to the frame and the piston end hinged to the carriers 29 or vice versa. Fixed to the frame in this case includes that the bearing of the axis 28 and the cylinder can be connected via other, arranged in fixed orientation to the frame 27 and the folding table 04 components. If now the folding table 04 or the folding blade 03 are made accessible, the brake device is swiveled off via actuation of the drive means 31 (or manually). The module 26 - whether arranged movable or fixed to the frame - is suitable in a particularly simple manner for retrofitting conventional Längsfalzapparate 01.

The principle of the movable stops 13; 14 as well as the special embodiments of the device are considered alone, but in total within a system 32 described below with alternative processing lines and / or with the synchronized via the sensor 18 folding time advantageously used. Likewise, the Execution of a synchronized over the sensor 18 folding time (see below), although advantageous iVm the movable stops 13; Can be used 14, but also considered alone or together with the system 32 with alternative processing lines considered a particularly advantageous embodiment of the longitudinal folder 01.

Fig. 10 shows schematically a system 32 with alternative processing lines for further processing of products 02, z. B. of intermediates 02, in particular for further processing of printed products 02 within a folder. Intermediates 02, z. B. already cross-cut and / or quergefalzte sections of printed products, along a distance 33, z. B. a supply line 33, on a switch 34, z. B. a splitter 34, to be promoted, at which the further transport in several (here two) alternative routes 36; 37, z. B. conveyor lines 36; 37, in particular processing sections 36; 37 for further processing of the intermediates 02, shares. The splitter 34 has, for example, a tongue 38, z. B. Splittzunge 38, which is arranged to be movable in such a way that the incoming product 02 depending on the position of the tongue 38 in one or the other conveyor section 36; 37 is headed. Thus, for example, alternately a product 02 alternately in one and the other conveyor section 36; Guide 37 and two different downstream processing stages 01 feed. The promotion of the products 02 on the routes 33; 36; 37 can in principle in a variety of ways by transport systems, eg. B. by belt or chain conveyor, or by the products 02 on both sides enclosing belt or belt systems done. The transport systems of the routes 33; 36; 37 may be driven by a plurality of independent or a common drive means.

Timing or synchronization of the splitting device 34 or splitting tongue 38 with the product 02 takes place in conventional systems mechanically by coupling with the drive of a processing stage and / or the transport system. Disadvantage here is that compared to the transport system slipped products 02 or products 02, which late or premature to the transport system were supplied, the switch 34 happen at a wrong moment and it can therefore lead to mis-wiring or even to a terminal and standstill of the system.

The system 32 shown in FIG. 10 is designed with an optical detection of the product layer or the product phase layer. For this purpose, the system 32 upstream of the switch 34, advantageously at a short distance to the switch such. B. the highest five product lengths, advantageously less than or equal to two product lengths, in particular less than or equal to a product length, a sensor 39 for detecting a position or phase position of the product, for. B. an optical sensor 39, on. This can detect the entry of the product 02 in the field of view, the exit from the field of view and / or its transport speed and output a corresponding signal. The signal is fed to a control device 41, which in turn controls a drive 42 of the switch 34. The control device 41 is designed to synchronize the phase position of the switch 34, in particular the position or phase of the chipping tongue 38, with the arrival of the product 02 by means of the signal from the sensor 39.

In a first variant of a discontinuously operated drive 42, for example, the switch 34 is brought in each case as a result of a signal by the drive 42 in the required position. Ie. in the sequence of the detected products, a change of direction is made in each case caused by a signal. A number of optionally located on the path between switch 34 and spaced sensor 39 products 02 must be taken into account if the more the distance is more than a product length 02.

In an advantageous variant of the drive 42, for example, designed as a motor 42, operated continuously and drives via a transmission, for. B. a crank mechanism, the splitting tongue 38 at. The speed and / or position of the motor 42 is adjusted by the control device 41 in the manner synchronized with the product flow that the splitting tongue 38 is in the desired position when a product 02 enters the switch 34. This takes place, for example, taking into account the distance between sensor 39 and switch 34 and the product speed. The latter can be determined, for example, either via the sensor 39, or taken over from information about the speed of the transport system on the supply line 33. If the phase position and / or phase velocity between the signal for detecting the product 02 and that of the chipping tongue 38 no longer match, the control device performs a correction of the rotational position and / or rotational speed of the drive 42. This results in an exact synchronization between product infeed Soft 34 and points position producible.

The described optical detection in advance of the switch 34 with appropriate control of the switch 34 is basically advantageous in systems with alternative conveyor lines 36; 37 can be used for products 02. However, this is especially true in the context of a system 32 with alternative processing sections 36; 37 for intermediates 02, in particular for printed products 02, whose product stream is split according to specified specifications or directed into a specific processing path, and the split product streams are to be supplied to various processing stages for further processing. Such processing stages can basically be folding, gluing, labeling, punching, stacking, binding and / or stapling devices.

A timing or synchronization of the processing level, z. As the folding blade 03 of a folder, with the product 02 takes place in conventional systems mechanically by coupling with the drive of a pre- or downstream processing stage and / or with the product 02 conveying transport system. Disadvantage here is again that against the transport system slipped products 02 or 02 products that were late or prematurely supplied to the transport system, can block the processing stage or at least to a faulty product processing -. B. faulty lying fold - can lead. Furthermore, can increased wear on the transport system, z. B. on the tape system, or the processing stage itself be the result.

The system 32 shown in FIG. 10 is therefore designed with an optical detection of the product (phase) position before the further processing stage. The system 32 shown here has two processing sections 36; 37, each with a running as a longitudinal folder 01 processing stage with a designed as folding blade 03 tool. However, the principle described below for synchronization and the formation of the drive are also advantageously applicable to a single longitudinal folder 01. The longitudinal folder 01 can in principle in an embodiment as a conventional longitudinal folding without movable stop 13; 14 or in a further development as a longitudinal folder 01 with movable stop 13; 14 (see above) may be formed, which has a designed as a folding blade 03 - in particular mechanically independently driven - tool 03 has.

Preferably, in the case of two longitudinal folders 01, the upper and / or lower Längsfalzapparat 01 (preferably both) a mechanically independent of the transport system drive 05 for the folding blade 03 and the folding gap 06 on the conveyor line 36; 37 upstream sensor 18 for detecting the position or a passage time of a product 02, d. H. the product phasing, on. About the controller 10, the movement of the folding blade 03 is synchronized. The sensor 18 detects the time of passage of a product 02 which is corrected by the control device 10, a synchronization of the movement of the folding blade 03 or in deviation from a target value of the folding time.

In the following is an embodiment of the drive of the folding blade 03 by one of other units, such as an upstream Querfalzapparat and / or printing unit, mechanically independent drive motor 05 and an embodiment of the method for synchronizing the Falzmesserbewegung with the incoming product.

As can be seen in FIG. 11, the longitudinal folder 01 has the folding table 04 interrupted by the folding gap 06. The run on the folding table 04 intermediate product 02 (not shown) is pressed by the folding blade 03 through the folding gap 06 between the folding rollers 06 and promoted by a belt system 46 either to a paddle wheel 47 and from there to a delivery device 48 or otherwise shown as dashed lines discharged.

The folding blade 03 is preferably driven by a cam mechanism. For this purpose, the folding blade 03 is arranged on the lever 43, which at a pivot point, for. B. axis 44, is pivotally mounted. The lever 43 may be either a lever arm 49 of a lever 43 designed as a double lever 43 with a second lever arm 51, or as a one-armed lever 44, in which case with the rotatably mounted shaft 44, a second lever 51 is rotatably connected. At the fulcrum distal end of the second lever 51 (second lever arm 51) is a cooperating with the curved line of a cam 52 stop 53, z. B. as rotatably mounted on the lever 51 roller 52, respectively. The cam plate 52 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 54 which is rotatably driven directly or via a gear 56 (Fig. 12) by the only schematically indicated drive motor 05. The cam plate 52 may have an irregular and asymmetrical with respect to its axis of rotation curved line, which then causes a corresponding movement of the folding blade 03 when rotating through the crank gear (lever 49 and 51). In the illustration of Fig. 1 1, the cam plate 52 is formed as a circular disk with a circular peripheral line, which, however, is arranged eccentrically on the shaft 54.

Whatever the cam plate 52 is formed, its rotation causes a defined up and down movement of the folding blade 03, the motion profile fixed at constant rotation of the shaft or the drive motor 05, the However, speed for the course of this fixed movement profile is variable in dependence on the input speed of the shaft 54 and the drive motor 05.

Fig. 12 shows an embodiment of the rotary drive of the cam mechanism (52, 53) by the drive motor 05, which - for example via a gear 56, z. B. a belt drive 56, preferably designed as a reduction gear transmission 56 - the shaft 54 rotatably drives. The implementation of the rotational movement in an up and down movement of the folding blade 03 is carried out as described above. In an advantageous development, by the drive motor 05 via a mechanical drive connection 57, z. B. via a gear connection of the shaft 54, the folding rollers 06 rotatably driven. In addition, the paddle wheel 47 and possibly even the delivery device 48 could also be driven by the drive motor 05 via corresponding drive connections. However, the paddle wheel 47 advantageously has its own drive motor, not shown. To fix the longitudinal folding apparatus 01 or its drive motor 05, a holding brake 58 may be provided, which cooperates with a rotatably connected to a motor shaft or the folding blade drive (56, 54, 52) brake disk 59 together.

The drive motor 05 is at least. With respect to its speed controllable drive motor 05, z. B. electric motor 05, is formed. In an advantageous development, it is embodied as a stepping motor 05 or even preferably as a drive motor 05 that is controllable with respect to its angular position. The design of the drive motor 05 as at least with respect to its speed or with respect to a relative change in position (defined steps) or preferably with respect to an absolute position controllable drive motor 05 is particularly advantageous in view of the procedure described below for synchronizing Falzmesserbewegung and product position.

As already shown above, on the transport path the folding blade 03 is preceded by a sensor 18, which detects the presence of the intermediate product 02, z. For example, a or exit of the intermediate product 02 in the field of view, detected. Ie. Information about it is generated by it and / or a downstream evaluation device (eg as part of the controller 10) when and / or when an intermediate product 02 arrives at a predefined location at a fixed distance to the longitudinal folder 01 or to the location of the Longitudinal folding is located. With continuous and even product flow, such signals should be timed equidistant. The period length or the frequency correlates with the machine speed of preceding units, eg. B. a folder and is constant at constant machine speed in trouble-free transport. However, if there is a disturbance in the transport of individual intermediates (short-term hanging etc.), the frequency of the above-mentioned signals deviates from this constant frequency.

Also, the drive motor 05 is operated at a constant engine speed with a correlated speed or angular velocity, so that the o. Frequency of the product stream corresponds to that of the up and down movement. Depending on whether the cam contains one or more periods on its curve line. Corresponds to a disk revolution of one or more periods.

If the product flow and the upward and downward movement have the same frequency, the relative phase angle must also be coordinated with each other, ie. H. Product flow and folding blade movement must be synchronized.

The basic setting for synchronous operation is z. B. during setup of the longitudinal folder 01 before recording the production operation - for example, during retraction of the webs or the strand. In this case, for example, a strand passes through a cross-cutting device (eg a folding apparatus), the resulting product sections 02 being taken over by a downstream conveying system and being conveyed to the longitudinal folding apparatus 01. This is done, for example, with a lower production speed Setup speed, such as a retraction speed, z. B. with 5 - 10 m / min, in particular with 7-9 m / min machine speed.

Now, to set up the longitudinal folding apparatus 01, a contact position (or contact time) of the intermediate product 02 with the folding blade 03 is set by bringing one of the products 02 through the upstream conveyor system past the sensor 18 on the folding table 04 into that position (and stopping it there the conveyor system initially remains there), in which then a first contact with the folding blade 03 should take place during production. In one embodiment, this can be the rest position of the product 02 when abutting the stop 08. In an advantageous embodiment, this contact position (contact time) of the product 02, however, before the place of rest, z. B. with a distance of 10 to 100 mm, in particular 20 to 50 mm, between the leading product edge and the stop 08 are. In this case, the premature contact of the product 02 with the folding blade 03 can support a deceleration of the product 02, wherein then possibly a braking with o.g. movable tees 13; 14 and / or braking with brake brushes can be omitted.

If the product 02 is now in the intended contact position when the conveyor system is stopped, the drive of the folding blade 03, in particular the drive motor 05, is rotated until the folding blade 03 just touches the product 02 in the movement phase or just yet touched. This position or angular position of the drive, in particular the drive motor 05, which z. B. can represent any value between 0 ° and 360 °, below represents a defined "zero position" Φ _{o of} the longitudinal folder 01 and its drive is.

In the event that at first contact no distance between the product 02 and the stop 08 should be provided, so the zero position Φ _{o of} the longitudinal folder 01 and the drive motor 05 is exactly with impact of the product at the stop 08 determine.

In the event that for the product prior to contact with the folding blade 03 a residence time greater than 0 sec. Should be provided, the folding blade 03 would be to determine the zero position Φ _o the Längsfalzapparates 01 and the drive motor 05, the folding blade 03 in one position to spend before touching the product 02.

After this rotation of the drive motor 05 is basically a synchronization between the incoming product 02 and the Falzmesserbewegung done as long as in the subsequent operation of the drive of the folding blade 03 is correlated to the machine speed in the correct ratio. However, in order to be able to recognize and / or correct any deviations occurring (fluctuations, hangings, etc.), the procedure is as described below.

In the following, the conveyor system is activated again, wherein the drive motor is operated with a matched to the conveying speed or machine speed speed, ie the folding blade 03 is operated at a speed in which the phase length of the upward and downward movement with the phase length of the following products 02 correlated. Now, with re-activated conveyor system -. B. with retraction speed - that angular position of the drive, in particular the drive motor 05, found in which the presence of a following intermediate product 02 (preferably leading edge), z. B. by means og signal for detection detected. This angular position now serves as a reference position which in relation to the zero position Φ _o certain angular difference, z. B. relative reference phase position, between the position of the product passage on the sensor 18 and the beginning of the fold (point of contact) represents. The thus determined relative phase angle is now stored as a setpoint for further operation and compared in the further course for individual or even all products 02 with their relative phase angles resulting for these products. If this relative reference phase position is maintained during further operation, ie there is no significant difference between the reference phase position and the currently measured relative phase position, the longitudinal folding is always synchronized at the correct time. Preferably, an allowed "window" for a deviation between actual and reference phase position may be provided, which is for example an angle less than or equal to ± 3 °, in particular less than or equal to ± 1 °.

If the measured value for the relative phase angle deviates from the relative reference phase position or lies outside the window, then a correction is made by changing the relative angular position of the drive motor 05 and thus of the folding blade 03 by a brief change in the speed of the drive motor 05. This can be z. B. be done by the predetermined from the machine control and / or a folder machine speed, z. B. engine speed or angular position, an offset is superimposed. Ie. The drive motor 05 rotates faster or slower for a certain finite time, so that after this correction process, the reference phase position is reached again (possibly up to a permitted window). As a machine speed here z. B. a predetermined synchronized speed or speed for upstream aggregates of the printing press, z. As folding and / or printing unit to be understood, which leads in the units concerned for processing or promoting a same number of product sections per unit time. At a speed corresponding to the machine speed of the motor 05 driving the folding blade 03, product sections were then longitudinally folded with this same number of cycles (number / time unit), that is H. the folding blade 03 moves accordingly.

The processing of the phase angles and / or the cause of a corresponding correction are z. B. in the indicated in Fig. 1 1 control device 10 performed. Preferably, this control device (not shown in Fig. 1 1) also receives the Machine speed or folding machine speed representing signal, so that the drive motor 05 may be operated without or with KorrekturaufschlagΛabschlag by the controller 10. In the case of a drive motor 05 which is regulated with respect to its angular position, it is possible to provide an unillustrated control loop for the angular position control, the desired value of which is predetermined by the control 10.

As a result of this procedure, the folding time or folding location is kept constant from the product 02, and each copy receives the longitudinal fold in a same position on the folding table 04.

If the sensor 18 has a distance of several products 02 to the folding gap, then it may be provided that the controller 10 in the o. G. Correction the number of lying between the sensor 18 and folding gap 06 products considered in such a way that the correction of the phase lag with a time delay, z. B. takes place only to the deviation of the attributable product 02.

The translation between a full motor revolution of the drive motor 05 and a full period length of the folding blade movement is preferably integer, z. B. 1: 1 formed.

If the longitudinal folder 01 additionally has a movable stop 13; 14 from the o.g. On versions, so this is synonymous via the associated control unit 19 (see Fig. 1 to 3) synchronized. The control units 10 and 19 can in this case be structurally combined, and possibly be part of a higher-level control.

A particularly advantageous system 32, in which a product stream is split according to specified specifications, and the split product streams different processing stages for further processing, in particular longitudinal folding apparatus 01 to be supplied, are performed both before the switch 34 and before or in the entrance area of the processing stages with an above-mentioned optical detection of the product layer.

The described longitudinal folding apparatus 01 are preferably designed as so-called. Third fold, on the product path a first Längsfalzeinheit, such as a former, and a Querfalzapparat, for example, with a folding blade cylinder acting jaw cylinder, are arranged upstream.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

01 longitudinal folder, processing stage

02 Product, printed matter, intermediate

03 folding blade

04 folding table

05 drive, engine

06 folding gap

07 folding roller

08 stop

09 brake brush

10 control device

1 1 gear

12 timing belts, endless belt

13 stop, cam

14 stop, cam

15 bodies, rotatable, disc

16 engine, electric motor

17 wave

18 sensor

19 control unit, control device

20 -

21 folding lever

22 -

23 -

24 braking distance

25 -

26 Brake device, module

27 frame, frame axis

carrier

-

drive means

system

Range, feed range

Soft, splitting device

-

Route, conveyor line

Tongue, chipped tongue

sensor

-

control device

Drive, engine

lever

axis

-

belt system

paddle wheel

delivery device

-

lever arm

Lever arm, lever

cam

attack

wave

-

Transmission, belt drive 57 drive connection

58 holding brake

59 brake disc

t development, time ti time t ₂ time

V speed

V ₀ input speed (02)

Vi speed (14; 13)

V ₂ speed (02)

V ₃ speed (02)

V ₄ speed (02)

Claims

claims

1. A longitudinal folding apparatus (01) to which a product (02) can be supplied via a conveying path (36; 37), wherein a sensor (18) is arranged upstream of the longitudinal folding apparatus (01) on the conveying path (36; 37), characterized in that the sensor (18) is embodied as a sensor (18) detecting the product phase position, that the sensor (18) is provided with a drive motor (05) of a folding blade (03) of the longitudinal folding apparatus (03) of the longitudinal folding apparatus (03) which is mechanically independent of the drive of the conveyor lines (33; 01) is connected via a control device (10) which controls the drive motor (05) taking into account the product phase position detected by the sensor (18), and in that the drive from the drive motor (05) to the folding blade (03) via a cam mechanism (52 , 53) is formed.

2. longitudinal folding apparatus (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device (10) is part of a control loop with sensor (18), control device (10) and drive motor (05), which depends on the by the sensor (18) determined arrival time the product (02) controls the phase position of the folding blade (03), in particular of the drive motor (05).

3. longitudinal folding apparatus (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive motor (05) is designed as respect. Its angular position controllable drive motor (05).

4. longitudinal folding apparatus (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that the folding blade (03) as a relative to the folding table 04 up and down movable knife (04) is executed.

5. longitudinal folding apparatus (01) according to claim 4, characterized in that the knife (04) is mounted on at least one with respect. A folding table (04) pivotable lever.

6. longitudinal folding apparatus (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that for defining a possible end position of a in the longitudinal folder (01) incoming product (02) a stop (08) is provided.

7. longitudinal folding apparatus (01) according to claim 5, characterized in that a relative phase between the position of the product (02) and the time of a first touch by the folding blade (03) is set so that a distance between the leading end of the product (02 ) and the stop (08).

8. A longitudinal folding apparatus (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal folding apparatus (01) has a movable stop (13; 14) which slows down a product (02) entering the longitudinal folding apparatus.

9. A method for operating a Längsfalzapparates (01) with a mechanically independent of an upstream, products (02) conveying conveyor track by a drive motor (05) driven folding blade (03), characterized in that when a relative phase difference between a product layer on the Conveyor and an angular position of the drive motor of a previously defined reference phase position correction is carried out in such a way that the folding blade (03) driving drive motor (05) depending on the deviation is operated for a limited time faster or slower than the engine speed corresponding speed.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that a control loop depending on the time of arrival of the product (02) controls the phase angle of the folding blade (03), in particular its drive motor (05).

1 1. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that by means of a folding blade (03) upstream sensor (18), the presence of a product (02) are detected, an assumed at the time of the signal angular position of the

Drive motor (05) is detected, from this angular position and a zero angle position of the drive motor (05) a relative phase position is determined, and this relative phase position is compared with a reference phase position.

12. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the folding blade (03) via a cam mechanism (52, 53) is driven.

13. A method for operating a Längsfalzapparates (01) with a folding blade (03), wherein via a the Längsfalzapparat (01) upstream conveyor line a folding table (04) of the Längsfalzapparates (01) längszufalzende products (02) are fed, characterized in that the Folding operation is performed such that a first contact of the product (02) by the folding blade (02) takes place while the product on the folding table (04) is still in motion.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the initial contact is still without Berührkontakt the product (02) to a transport path limiting stop (08).

15. A method for synchronizing a Längsfalzapparates (01) with a mechanically independent of an upstream conveyor section driven folding blade (03) and a folding table (04), wherein initially at a lower production speed compared to a product (02) in an intended contact position on the folding table (04) is conveyed, and after reaching this intended contact position at stationary conveyor line, a drive or drive motor (05) of the folding blade (03) is rotated until the folding blade (03) in the movement phase on the Product (02) just touched on this or just barely touched.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, for the contact position occupied angular position of the drive or

Drive motor (05) is held as a zero position (Φ _o ), then with active conveyor line a passage signal of a product in front of the folding table (04) is detected, the assumed angular position of the drive or transit time

Drive motor (05) fixed provided as reference position (Φ _R) and out of the zero position (Φ _o) and the reference position (Φ _N) a for the further

Operation to be observed relative reference phase position is formed.