EP2107020B1 - Transport device in a collection line for further print processing - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a set of saddle-shaped segments (10') forming a saddle-shaped roof for supporting printed products i.e. printed sheets, during conveying operation along a conveying path. A set of pusher segments (11) is arranged with the saddle-shaped segments to provide rear end stop for conveying the printed products. A set of alignment segments (12) is arranged with the saddle segments to provide front end stop for front edge of the printed products. A set of conveying elements (35-37) is coupled to the pusher segments and the alignment segments.

Description

The invention relates to a transport device according to the preamble of claim 1. Such transport devices are used for collating and processing of printed products and in particular of printed sheets and have long been known. The sheets are placed on the transport device, for example, with investors in the open state and transported with a respective driver segment pushing. If there are several feeders along the collection line, the printed sheets, for example, can be collected into a booklet. For example, in a processing station, these collected sheets can be stapled.

In such transport devices has long been the difficulty that at high transport speeds of transportation of the sheet can be affected by a rebound on the driver or by fluttering. In particular, this is the transport speed and thus the performance of such a transport device or collection line limited. This is especially true if the printed sheets are made of comparatively thin paper.

When in the EP-A-0 881 180 disclosed transport device are provided drivers, which are inclined in the direction of forward. The drivers are finger-shaped and directed upward. This is intended to produce a favorable influence on the impact behavior of the printed sheet when it is deposited on the transport device or the gathering chain. In particular, it is provided here that an upwardly deflecting and deflecting printed product is thrown back onto the transport device by angled and upwardly projecting drivers.

The invention is based on the object to provide a transport device of the type mentioned, which avoids the difficulties more reliably and allows higher transport speed.

The object is achieved according to claim 1, characterized in that Aufstosssegmente are provided which each form a front stop for a front edge of a printed product to be transported. The aforementioned front stop prevents rebounding of a sheet dropped on the transport device as well as a precise buckling of the sheet on the corresponding driver. The printed sheets are thus guided on the transport device both at the rear edge and at the front edge. This allows a safe transport even at high speeds and a more accurate alignment of the collected sheets to each other and to the corresponding driver.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the transport device has at least one transport member with the driver segments and another transport member with the impact segments. According to this development, the transport device according to the invention thus has at least two transport elements, the one transport element having on the trailing edge of the sheet referenced driver and the other transport member referenced on the leading edge of the same signature Aufstosssegmente. By appropriate adjustment of the two transport organs to each other, the distances between each one driver and an associated Aufstosssegment be adapted to the format of the sheet to be transported. Also in terms of design and in terms of manufacturing costs, this development is advantageous.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that the Aufstosssegmente each have at least one movable Aufstossteil. This has the significant advantage that the Aufstossteile are pivotable between at least two positions. As a result, in particular a position is possible in which the Aufstossteile are each pivoted away at a predetermined location of the collection line in a retracted position so that they do not hinder the deposition of the corresponding printed product on the transport member. If the printed product is deposited on the transport device, then the corresponding push-on part can be moved into the position in which this part forms a referenced stop on the front edge of the printed product.

The movement of the Aufstossteile is preferably controlled by a stationary control, for example by a cam or a control cam. The at least one control element is preferably adjustable in the longitudinal directions of the collection line, so that an adaptation to different formats is possible. The Aufstossteile are each driven preferably at a lower end. The said at least one control element is in this case preferably arranged so that it is arranged below the transport member, which has the Aufstosssegmente. If an impact segment or an abutment part is located at the level of said control element, then the abutment part is controlled accordingly. The Aufstossteile are preferably formed as two-armed lever. In particular, the Aufstossteile be pivoted upon engagement with said stationary control. The said at least one control element is sprung, for example, so that the impact parts can be moved both forward and backward. For example, the control is stored or sprung so that it can move downwards in a reverse gear.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the impact segments each have means for holding down the printed products deposited on the transport device. With such means can be particularly effectively prevented that the sheets flutter as a result of the wind. These means are designed according to an embodiment of the invention so that they extend against the transport direction. In the active position, these agents are then above the printed product to be transported and in particular directly above a fold of the printed product. The Printed products here are preferably folded printed sheets. The means may be shaped like an ear. The means are in particular and preferably roof-shaped or designed so that they are arranged with respect to a vertical plane of symmetry left and right. However, an asymmetric arrangement is also conceivable.

The transport device is designed in particular as a gathering chain. The chain is in particular a link chain. However, this is not mandatory. The transport device can also be designed as a toothed belt or as a band or as a rope. The transport device is but in particular endless and preferably placed around a drive wheel and a deflection wheel. The drive can be designed as usual.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that it has a stationary or revolving ridge on which the printed products are transported astride lying. Such a ridge, in combination with the aforementioned impact segments, enables particularly secure guidance of the printed products. This allows a particularly high performance can be achieved.

If the transport device has two or more transport members, these are preferably guided parallel to one another and synchronously with one another or run parallel and synchronously with one another. These transport members are preferably guided in the front and / or rear via concentric deflection wheels. These wheels are corresponding sprockets, timing pulleys or the like.

Further advantageous features emerge from the dependent claims, the following description and the Drawing. Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing:

Fig. 1

eine räumliche Teilansicht eines Teils der erfindungsgemässen Transportvorrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht des Teils gemäss Figur 1, wobei das vordere Transportorgan nicht dargestellt ist,

Fig. 3

eine weitere Ansicht eines Teils der erfin- dungsgemässen Transportvorrichtung,

Fig. 4

eine Teilansicht der erfindungsgemässen Transportvorrichtung gemäss dem Ausschnitt A der Figur 3,

Fig. 5a - 5c

Schnitte entlang der Linie B-B, C-C bzw. D-D der Figur 3, wobei jeweils lediglich der First und der linke Teil der Transportvor- richtung gezeigt sind,

Fig. 6a + 6b

räumliche Ansichten eines Teils des Aufstoss- segmentes und

Fig. 7

ein Schnitt durch die erfindungsgemässe Transportvorrichtung entlang der Linie B-B der Figur 3,

Fig. 8

eine räumliche Teilansicht einer Variante der erfindungsgemässen Transportvorrichtung und

Fig. 9

ein Schnitt durch die erfindungsgemässe Transportvorrichtung gemäss Fig. 8.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a partial view of a part of the inventive transport device,

Fig. 2

a view of the part according to FIG. 1 , wherein the front transport member is not shown,

Fig. 3

a further view of a part of the inventive transport device,

Fig. 4

a partial view of the inventive transport device according to the section A of FIG. 3 .

Fig. 5a - 5c

Sections along the line BB, CC and DD of FIG. 3 , wherein in each case only the ridge and the left part of the transport device are shown,

Fig. 6a + 6b

spatial views of part of the impact segment and

Fig. 7

a section through the inventive transport device along the line BB of FIG. 3 .

Fig. 8

a partial spatial view of a variant of the inventive transport device and

Fig. 9

a section through the inventive transport device according to Fig. 8 ,

The FIG. 1 shows a portion of the upper run of a transport device 1, on which according to the FIG. 7 Printed products 2 are transported in the direction of arrow 26. These printed products 2 are in particular folded sheets with a fold 3 which extends in the longitudinal direction of a ridge 13 during transport. The printed products 2 can be stored in a manner known per se, for example with a feeder, not shown here, from above onto the transport device 1. The transport device 1 is in this case driven synchronously to the investor. The drive is effected for example by sprockets, not shown here, around which the transport device 1 is placed. In general, several investors are provided so that the printed products 2 or sheet can be collected along the upper run of the transport device 1 in a conventional manner.

The printed products 2 are each pushed by two drivers 18, according to FIG. 7 are arranged on the left and right of the ridge 13 and protrude laterally wing-like. The drivers 18 are each attached to a holder 30, according to FIG. 7 sits on a pull chain 6, which is guided on a guide rail 4. The two drivers 18 and the two holders 30 form a driver segment 11. The transport apparatus 1 has a plurality of such driver segments 11, these are each arranged at equal distances from each other.

Between each two driver segments 11 are saddle segments 10. These each have two holders 31 and two holders 32, of which in the FIG. 5a only one is shown. These holders 31 and 32 each have a roof-shaped surface 14 and 33, respectively, against which the printed products 2 to be transported each lie. The surface 33 is slightly offset from the surface 14 towards the center of the transport device 1. This prevents the open, the transport device 1 fed from above printed products 2 caught in a gap formed by the two holders 31 and 32 gap 40. The holders 31 are each placed on the pull chain 5 and the holder 32 on the pull chain 6, for example releasably latched.

The transport device 1 also has at equal intervals Aufstosssegmente 12, which are each arranged a certain distance to a driver segment 11. These Aufstosssegmente 12 each have a holder 34 and an impact member 15. These parts are symmetrical with respect to the ridge 13 and thus also according to FIG. 7 arranged. The Aufstossteile 15 are each movable or pivotally attached to a holder 27, as shown in FIG. 5b is shown. On average, these holders 27 are approximately chair-shaped and placed in each case on the pull chain 5. The Aufstossteile 15 are each connected via a pivot axis 16 with one of the holder 27. The intended pivoting movement is limited and in the Figures 6a and 6b shown. The FIG. 6a shows the one position of the pivoting movement. This is the active position. In the in FIG. 6b shown second position is the impact segment 12 is not effective. This position is in the FIGS. 1 to 4 each shown with dash-dotted lines.

The Aufstossteile 15 are according to the Figures 6a and 6b each with a spring element 17 in the in FIG. 6a shown position held. The spring elements 17 are for example coil springs made of a spring steel wire and each mounted on the holder 27. Against the force of the spring element 17, the corresponding Aufstossteil 15 of the in FIG. 6a shown location in the FIG. 6b shown pivot position to be moved. These two layers are defined, for example, by stops, not shown here.

The Aufstossteile 15 each have a hold-down 21, according to the FIG. 5a approximately parallel and at a distance above the surface 14 roof-shaped. The hold-down 21 extends according to the FIG. 5a up to about the ridge 13. Between this ridge 13 and the hold-21 there is a gap or gap. Each two hold-down 21 of a Aufstosssegmentes 12 are according to the FIG. 7 arranged symmetrically to a ridge 13. It is also conceivable, however, with respect to the ridge 13 asymmetrical design of the hold-down 21st

As the Figures 6a and 6b show, the hold-down 21 each extend at right angles beyond a stop surface 28. These two abutment surfaces 28 are provided as stops or impact surfaces for the front edge of a respective printed product 2. But this only if sting the two corresponding Aufstossteile 15 in the effective Position according to FIG. 6a located. In a printing product 2 located on the transport device 26, a driver segment 11 forms a stop for the trailing edge and an opposite impingement segment 12 forms a stop for the leading edge. The corresponding printed product 2 is thus referenced at the trailing edge by a driver segment 11 and at the front edge by an impingement segment 12. The printed product 2 can thus not or only very limitedly move in the longitudinal directions of the transport device 26. The hold-down 15 of the corresponding Aufstosssegmentes 12 also prevent that the leading edge of the printed product 2 can lift up from the transport device 26, for example, due to the wind. The hold-down 21 thus form a stop for a movement to be prevented upwards.

Before a printed product 2 is placed on the transport device 1, the impingement member 15, which is arranged in the transport direction in front of the provided driver segment 11, pivoted to a position in which you can not hinder the storage of the printed product 2. The pivoting of the Aufstossteils 15 in this position is for example in the FIG. 4 shown. The position in which the hold-down 21 are arranged in a deeper and thus inoperative position is in the FIG. 4 shown with dash-dotted lines. The pivoting in this position is controlled at a predetermined location. The control means are for example according to FIG. 4 a control member 24 having a control surface 25 and control cam. The control member 24 is arranged so that it cooperates with a cam 23 and a lower end of the Aufstossteils 15 when this Aufstossteil 15 the Control surface 25 is reached. If the abutment member 15 moves with the cam 23 onto the control member 24, the abutment member 15 is pivoted counterclockwise about the pivot axis 16. Here, the spring element 17 is tensioned. This spring element 17 brings the Aufstossteil 15 immediately back into the operative position as soon as the engagement of the cam 23 is canceled with the control member 24.

The control member 24 is fixed to the frame, but can be adjusted for adaptation to different formats. Preferably, the control member 24 is formed so that it can yield resiliently at a reverse gear of the transport device down. In reverse, therefore, the cam 23, the control member 24 deflect downwards. Along the collection route several such control members 24 may be arranged. The positions are determined so that the Aufstossteile 15 each at the right moment in the inoperative position and as soon as the corresponding printed product 2 is placed, are pivoted back into the operative position.

So that the impact part 15 in the in FIG. 1 shown with dotted lines position are seen in the transport direction after the impact member 15, two special saddle segments 10 'instead of saddle segments 10 are arranged, which have a recess 22, and thereby form a gap, in which the hold-21 can dip.

From the above statements it is apparent that the transport device 1 has several transport organs. In the FIG. 7 These are the two inner transport members 35 and 36 and the two outer transport members 37 and 38. The inner transport organs 35 and 36 are driven by the two pull chains 5, while the pulling members 37 and 38 are moved with the two pull chains 6. The drivers 18 are parts of the outer transport members 37 and 38 and the Aufstossteile 15 are parts of the two inner transport members 35 and 36. Since the transport members 37 and 38 and the transport members 35 and 36 are independently adjustable, the distances between the Mitnehmersegmenten 11th and the impact segments 12 are adjusted to adapt to different formats of the printed products 2. The transport members 35 to 38 respectively synchronously and parallel to each other. Preferably, the transport members 35 to 38 and the tension chains 5 and 6 are deflected on not shown concentric, equal sprockets. For the arrangement of the transport members 35 to 38 shown, for example, the following variants are possible. The transport members 35 and 36 could also outside and the transport members 37 and 38 are arranged inside. The driver 18 would thus be inside and the Aufstossteile 15 outside. Also possible would be an asymmetric arrangement in which left of the ridge 13, a transport member with the drivers 18 and on the other side a transport member with the Aufstossteilen 15 is arranged. Also conceivable would be an embodiment with three transport organs. As in FIG. 8 and 9 shown, two saddle segments 10 are each connected to a transport member 35, 36. Between the saddle segments 10 ridge elements 39 are arranged, which are parts of the transport member 37. At regular intervals, a driver segment 11 is inserted instead of a ridge element 39. The printed products are thus pushed by only one driver 18 in this embodiment. The in the FIGS. 1 to 5 and 7 shown stationary First 13, which the printed products 2 during transport centered in the fold 3, in the embodiment with 3 transport organs according to the FIGS. 8 and 9 formed by the follower ridge elements 39. In principle, even a design would be conceivable in which only one or two transport member is provided. An adaptation to different formats could be done here by corresponding displacement of the driver 18 and the Aufstossteile 15.

The ridge 13 may be configured fixed to the frame or revolving. In principle, however, a design without a First 13 is conceivable. The pull chains 5 and 6 are preferably link chains. In principle, however, the tension chains 5 and 6 could also be replaced by other endless tension members. For example, timing belts, belts or ropes could be used as traction members. The drivers 18 are shown in the figures as laterally projecting wings. In principle, however, these can also be designed differently. It would be conceivable embodiment in which these drivers are designed as upwardly projecting fingers, as for example in the EP 0 881 180A is shown. The Aufstossteile 15 may also be designed differently. The hold-down 21 are practical, but not mandatory. The Aufstossteile 15 are pivotable in the above-mentioned example. In principle, these Aufstossteile 15 but also be moved differently, for example, they could be moved vertically. Basically, however, a design is conceivable in which the Aufstossteile 15 and the Aufstosssegmente 12 are not movable.

Claims (15)

1. Conveying device in a gathering section for the further processing of printed products, having a plurality of saddle segments (10) which respectively form a saddle shaped roof serving as a support for conveying printed products (2), and having pusher segments (11) which respectively form a rear abutment for conveying the printed products (2), characterised in that alignment segments (12) are provided which respectively form a front abutment for a front edge of a printed product (2) that is to be conveyed.
2. Conveying device according to claim 1, characterised in that it has at least one conveying element (37, 38) with the pusher segments (11) and at least one conveying element (35, 36) with the alignment segments (12).
3. Conveying device according to claim 2, characterised in that it has two outer conveying elements (37, 38) and two inner conveying elements (35, 36).
4. Conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the pusher segments (11) and the alignment segments (12) can be adjusted with respect to each other to adapt to different formats of printed products (2).
5. Conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the respective alignment segments (12) have at least one alignment component (15).
6. Conveying device according to claim 5, characterised in that the alignment components (15) are movable between two positions.
7. Conveying device according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the respective alignment components (15) are controlled so that in one predetermined location of the conveying track they are moved into an active position, and in another predetermined location they are moved into an inactive position.
8. Conveying device according to claim 7, characterised in that the alignment components (15) are controlled by at least one control element (24).
9. Conveying device according to claim 8, characterised in that the respective alignment components (15) are controlled at a lower end (23).
10. Conveying device according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the said control element (24) is realised so that the alignment components (15) can be moved forwards as well as rearwards.
11. Conveying device according to one of claims 5 to 10, characterised in that the alignment components (15) are realised as two armed levers.
12. Conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the respective alignment segments (12) have means (21) for holding down the printed products (2) placed on the conveying device.
13. Conveying device according to claim 12, characterised in that the said means extend so that in an active position they are arranged above the printed product (2) that is to be conveyed.
14. Conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that it has at least one pull element (5, 6) which is realised especially as a chain or as a toothed belt or as a belt or as a cable.
15. Conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that it has a ridge (13) which is fixed in position or travels along, and on which the printed products (2) that are to be conveyed, can be conveyed disposed astride.

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