EP2119569B1 - Gathering wire stitcher with variable chain distribution - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a saddle stitcher according to the preamble of claim 1.

Generic saddle stitchers are known. From folded sheet investors individual folded sheets are separated from a stack, opened and placed on the gathering chain. The gathering chain has a guide device whose upper portion is formed like a blade and whose ridge line defines the transport and stitching line, and a substantially roof-shaped support on which the signatures are transported astride. In order to securely capture the folded sheets deposited on the gathering chains, even at high processing speeds, and to achieve safe entrainment and to transport them uniformly, the collecting chain has entrainment elements which convey the deposited folding sheets in the horizontal direction. The folded sheets conveyed by the gathering chain and the carriers are transported through the gathering chain up to a stitching station, in which successive folded sheets are stapled in the fold with the aid of wire staples. For this purpose, stapling heads arranged above the gathering chain and clincher boxes arranged below the gathering chain which bend the free ends of the wire staples pierced by the stapling heads through the folding sheets. Thereafter, the stapled folded sheets are transported in the boom area of the gathering chain for further processing. For example, edge trim and display follow.

The productivity of a saddle stitcher depends not only on the operating speed, but also on how many products can be processed with the machine in a given time. In order to increase the number of products per unit of time and thus the productivity of the saddle stitcher without increasing the speed of the gathering chain, the chain pitch is adapted to the product format, ie the distance between the pins on the gathering chain is changed. Since with smaller products a smaller distance between the drivers on the gathering chain is sufficient, by a corresponding reduction of this distance more products can be stored on the gathering chain per unit of time, whereby the productivity increases.

Various approaches to changing the chain pitch are known in the art. Thus, driver elements can be used e.g. attached by screwing to outer plates of roller chains and easily removed again. Or entrainment elements can be attached without tools to the external straps of the roller chain by means of clamping connections.

In a further variant, the driver elements may be designed as plastic pins which are inserted into saddle segments of the collector chain provided with receiver holes.

The problem with these approaches is that the manual change of the chain pitch is complex and time-consuming. The necessary downtime for adapting the machine to the product format, in turn, requires less productivity.

The DE 10 2006 057 681 , under DE 10 2007 053 490 A1 published after the filing date, shows a saddle stitcher with an endless gathering chain for astride collecting and transporting folded sheets, the collecting chain has Kettendachsegmente and driver elements and the driver element is adjustable in position. The folding driver element forms in an inactive position part of the roof of the gathering chain and protrudes in a different, active position transversely to the conveying direction from the roof of the gathering chain. By means of a control device, the driver element can be controlled. By folding out or folding in the driver elements, the chain pitch of the collector chain can be quickly and easily adapted to different product formats to be processed.

In such a saddle stitcher, the speed profile of the stapler must be adapted to the saddle stitching. The associated conversion effort is time-consuming and therefore disadvantageous.

EP 917965 A1 discloses a saddle stitcher according to the preamble of claim 1.

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a saddle stitcher, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and in which the adaptation of the speed profile of the stapler to the collecting chain pitch is easy to carry out.

This object is achieved by a saddle stitcher with the characterizing features of claim 1. In the saddle stitcher according to the invention is advantageously ensured that the collected signatures are stapled without adjustment of at least one stapling head center and the stapled brochures are designed centrally in the boom station.

The saddle stitcher according to the invention for collating signatures of paper, cardboard and the like, for stapling the collected signatures and for laying out the stitched signatures comprises a collecting section, a stitching station and a delivery station. The stapling station has a stapling carriage with at least one stapling head, and the stapling carriage is moved by a stapling carriage drive at approximately the speed of the collected signatures during the stapling operation. The collection line comprises a transport unit moved by a drive, such as a gathering chain, for transporting the signatures. Between the stitching carriage drive and the stitching carriage, a circuit unit is advantageously arranged for adapting the stitching carriage movement to the distance of accumulated signatures entering the stitching station to subsequently arriving collated signatures, d. H. to adapt to the gathering chain pitch, and to adjust the position of the stitching carriage relative to the delivery station, i. for adjusting the horizontal distance of the center of the stitching carriage to the center of the delivery station. By such a saddle stitcher is ensured in an advantageous manner that the saddle stitcher and its stitching station can be easily and without additional Umrichtvorgänge adapted to different collection chain pitches. This allows a large format spectrum to be processed at ideally high cycle rates.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the circuit unit is formed by a coupling mechanism with displaceable crosspoint. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the circuit unit comprises a rocker, which is connected via a drive coupling with the stitching carriage drive and an output coupling with the stitching carriage. Drive coupling and rocker are connected together in a first crosspoint. Output coupling and rocker turn are connected together in a second crosspoint. One of the two crosspoints is in its position on the rocker variable, in particular displaceable, and serves to adapt the circuit unit to the product format.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the change in the position of the at least one coupling point is effected by an actuator. The actuator may advantageously be a pneumatic cylinder; Alternatively, the adjustment can also be carried out by electric motor, for example via a motor and spindle, or hydraulically. It is particularly advantageous if the actuator is connected to the control of the saddle stitcher and is controlled by it. The setting of the circuit unit and the adjustment of the saddle stitcher to the collecting chain pitch can thus be done automatically in a simple manner.

In a first advantageous development of the saddle stitcher according to the invention, the delivery station has an ejector carriage with ejector for laying out the stitched signatures, the ejector carriage being moved during the laying process at approximately the speed of the stitched signatures by an ejector carriage drive and the ejector carriage drive and the stitching carriage drive mechanically coupled to each other are. In a second advantageous development of the invention, the ejector carriage drive and the stitching carriage drive are not mechanically coupled with each other but via a virtual shaft. Stitch carriage drive and / or Auswerferschlittenantrieb can advantageously comprise a controllable electric motor.

With regard to further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the dependent claims and the description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

embodiment

Fig. 1

einen Sammelhefter für Broschuren in vereinfachter Darstellung mit Anlegern, einer Heftstation und einer darauf folgenden Auslegestation sowie mit hier nicht im Detail dargestellten Transportmitteln, welche von den Anlegern abgegebene Signaturen zur Heftstation und anschließend zur Auslegestation befördern,

Fig. 2a

eine Prinzipdarstellung der Schaltungseinheit in einer ersten Position beim Übernehmen bzw. Heften

Fig. 2b

eine Prinzipdarstellung der Schaltungseinheit in einer zweiten Position beim Auslegen

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment. It show in a schematic representation

Fig. 1

a saddle stitcher for brochures in a simplified representation with investors, a stitching station and a subsequent delivery station, as well as means of transport not shown here in detail, which convey signatures issued by the investors to the stitching station and subsequently to the delivery station,

Fig. 2a

a schematic diagram of the circuit unit in a first position when Apply or stapling

Fig. 2b

a schematic diagram of the circuit unit in a second position when laying out

The machine components of the saddle stitcher according to Fig. 1 In the present exemplary embodiment, these comprise three feeders 10, 12, 14, each of which transmits a signature 16, 18, 20 to a continuous conveyor 34 (not shown in detail here). The thus ab- and superimposed signatures 16, 18, 20 form together collected signatures 30, which as before the forming paperback, in a transport direction according to the arrow P along a transport and stitching line 22 is transported, along the Investors 10, 12, 14 and a stitching station 24 also extends to a delivery station 29. The stitching station 24 in the present exemplary embodiment comprises two stitching heads 26 and a respective one assigned to them, in FIG Fig. 1 unrecognizable bender, which bend by means of the stitching heads 26 in the stapled brochures 30 stapled wire clips 27 and that the legs of the wire staples 27, which have penetrated the collected signatures 30.

The Umbieger form together with the stitching heads 26 and not shown devices for producing the wire staples 27, a machine component in the form of a stapler.

The delivery station 29 comprises in the present embodiment, a machine component in the form of an ejector, not shown. The ejector engages in the respective fold breakage of the stapled brochure 32 and lifts it out of the transport and stapling line 22 so that it can be transported further in the direction of the arrow T, preferably in the direction of a trimming device.

From the stitching station 24 upstream with respect to the transport direction according to arrow P, a measuring station 33 is provided, in which the thickness of the stitched together to be stapled signatures 30 is determined.

The continuous conveyor 34 is formed in the present embodiment as an endless operationally circulating collecting chain, are arranged on which driver 35, which in this case astride the saddle transferred signatures 16, 18, 20 and finally pushed to stapled compiled signatures 30 in front of him.

The FIGS. 2a and 2 B show the drive of the ejector carriage 108 and the stitching carriage 107 for large or alternatively for small product format. Shown is the drive for each aggregated signatures of large product format 30G, which are shown in phantom, and small product format 30K, which are shown by a solid line. The signatures 30 are from a continuous conveyor 34, z. B. a gathering chain, transported in the transport direction P by the stitching station 24 to the delivery station 29.

For example, the large-format products may be products in the A3 format, while the small-format products may be products in the A4 format.

In Fig. 2a is the situation in the acquisition of stapled signatures 30 and the subsequent stapling in the stitching station 24 shown. There is shown a collated large product format signature 30G which is passed through the cam 35G and processed by the stapling head (not shown) of the stapling carriage 107G. Also shown is a small product format 30K compiled signature carried by a driver 35K and processed by the stapling head (not shown) of the stapling carriage 107K. The stapling carriage 107 is moved vertically during the stapling operation at approximately the speed of the signatures 30 to be stapled.

In Fig. 2b the situation when laying out the stitched brochure in the delivery station 29 is shown. Fig. 2b shows a stapled paperback of large product format 32G which abuts a driver 35G as well as a stapled paperback of small product format 32K which abuts a cam 35K. Stapled brochures 32G and 32K, respectively, are laid out by an ejector (not shown) mounted on the ejector carriage 108. The center of the ejector carriage thereby assumes the position of the center of the delivery station 170, which coincides with the center of the stapled brochures 32, regardless of whether it is a large product format 32G or a small product format 32K.

As in the Fig. 2a and 2 B between the stitching carriage drive 140 and stitching carriage 107, a circuit unit 160 is arranged for adapting and optimizing the stitching carriage movement to the collecting chain pitch G, K, ie for adapting the horizontal lifting movement of the stitching carriage 107 and for adapting the horizontal spacing of the stitching carriage 107 and the deploying station 29.

The stapling carriage 107 is guided by a linear guide 109 and is moved during the stapling operation in a horizontal plane at about the speed of the signature 30. The stapling carriage 107 is driven by a stapling carriage drive 140. The ejector carriage 108 is also guided by a linear guide 109 and moved approximately at the speed of the stapled brochures 32 during the ejecting operation. The ejector carriage 108 is driven by an ejector carriage drive 150.

The stitching carriage drive 140 and the ejector carriage drive 150 are mechanically coupled together. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the two drives 150, 140 could also be coupled together by an electronic shaft.

The gathering chain 34 has drivers 35, which serve to transport the collected signatures 30. To adapt to the product format of the signatures 30 to be processed, the position of the drivers 35 on the gathering chain 34 be adjusted. For large product format 30G compiled signatures, the drivers 35G are at a different position than the 35K small product format carriers 35K. In this way, the gathering chain 34 can be set to a large chain pitch G for a large product format and a small chain pitch K for a small product format.

• Der Heftschlittenantrieb 140 umfasst eine Kurbel 101, an welcher drehbeweglich eine Antriebskoppel 102 befestigt ist. An ihrem zweiten Ende ist die Antriebskoppel 102 mit einer Schwinge 104 verbunden. Die Schwinge 104 umfasst eine Führung 106, in welcher ein Koppelelement zum Ankoppeln der Antriebskoppel 103 verschiebbar ist. Die Antriebskoppel 103 ist an ihrem zweiten Ende mit dem Heftschlitten 107 verbunden und bewirkt dessen horizontale Hubbewegung. Zur Anpassung der Schaltungseinheit 160 für große Produktformate wird der Koppelpunkt 135G durch den Aktuator 105 ans obere Ende der Führung 106 bewegt. Zur Anpassung der Schaltungseinheit 160 an ein kleines Produktformat wird der Koppelpunkt 135K durch den Aktuator 105 bis ans untere Ende der Führung 106 bewegt. Durch diese Anpassung wird zum einen die Größe der vertikalen Hubbewegung des Heftschlittens 107 als auch die Position der Heftschlittenmitte 180 an die Kettenteilung angepasst. Für die große Kettenteilung G für großes Produktformat befindet sich die Heftschlittenmitte an der Position 180G, für die Kettenteilung für kleines Produktformat befindet sich die Heftschlittenmitte an der Position 180K. Durch diese Einstellung wird der horizontale Abstand zwischen Heftschlittenmitte 180 und Mitte der Auslegestation 29 angepasst, dargestellt durch die Linie 170. Zusätzliche mechanische Einrichtvorgänge, wie z. B. ein Umstellen des Kurbelradius, ein Positionieren der Heftköpfe etc. entfallen damit.

In order to guarantee a central stapling in the stitching station 24 and a central laying in the delivery station 29, on the one hand the length of the horizontal lifting movement of the stitching carriage 107 and the horizontal distance of stapling carriage 107 to the center of the delivery station 29 must be adjusted. This is done by the circuit unit 160:

• The stitching carriage drive 140 comprises a crank 101, on which a drive coupling 102 is rotatably mounted. At its second end, the drive coupling 102 is connected to a rocker 104. The rocker 104 includes a guide 106, in which a coupling element for coupling the drive coupling 103 is displaceable. The drive coupling 103 is connected at its second end to the stapling carriage 107 and causes its horizontal lifting movement. To adapt the large product format circuit unit 160, the coupling point 135G is moved by the actuator 105 to the upper end of the guide 106. In order to adapt the circuit unit 160 to a small product format, the coupling point 135K is moved by the actuator 105 to the lower end of the guide 106. By this adjustment, on the one hand, the size of the vertical lifting movement of the stitching carriage 107 and the position of the stitching carriage center 180 are adapted to the chain pitch. For the large chain pitch G for large product format, the stitching carriage center is at the position 180G, for the chain pitch for small product format the stitching carriage center is at the position 180K. By this setting, the horizontal distance between the stitching carriage center 180 and the center of the delivery station 29 is adjusted, represented by the line 170. Additional mechanical setup operations such. As a change of the crank radius, positioning the stitching heads, etc. account for it.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

saddle stitcher

10

investor

12

investor

14

investor

16

signature

18

signature

20

signature

22

Transport and stapling line

24

finisher

26

stapling head

27

wire clamp

29

delivery station

29.1

ejector

30

Compiled signatures

30G

compiled signatures large product format

30K

compiled signatures small product format

32

stapled paperback

32G

stapled paperback big product format

32K

stapled paperback small product format

33

Observed

34

Continuous conveyor / collector chain

35

takeaway

35G

Position driver for large product format

35K

Position driver for small product format

101

crank

102

drive coupling

103

drive coupling

103G

Position drive coupling for large product format

103K

Position drive coupling for small product format

104

wing

105

actuator

106

guide

107

stitching carriage

107G

Position stapler for large product format

107K

Position stapling carriage for small product format

108

Auswerferschlitten

109

linear guide

110

transmission

111

crank

112

paddock

124

Coupling point drive coupling - rocker

135

Coupling point output coupling - rocker

135G

Position Crosspoint Output coupling - Swingarm for large product format

135K

Position Crosspoint Output coupling - Swingarm for small product format

140

Stitching carriage drive

150

Auswerferschlittenantrieb

160

circuit unit

170

Position center boom station

180

Position middle stitching carriage

180G

Position stitching carriage center for large product format

180K

Position stitching carriage means for small product format

G

large chain pitch for large product format

K

small chain pitch for small product format

P

Transport direction of the signatures

T

Outward direction of the signatures

Claims (9)

1. Saddle stitcher (1) for collating signatures (16, 18, 20) consisting of paper, cardboard and the like, stitching the collated signatures (30), and delivering the stitched signatures (32), comprising a collating line (34), a stitching station (24), and a delivery station (29), wherein the stitching station (24) has a stitching carriage (107) with at least one stitching head (26) and during the stitching operation the stitching carriage (107) [sic] is moved at the same speed as the collated signatures (30) by a stitching carriage drive (140),
   characterized in that
   a switch unit (160) is arranged between stitching carriage drive (140) and stitching carriage (107) to adapt the motion of the stitching carriage to the distance (G, K) between collated signatures (30) entering the stitching station (24) and ensuing collated signatures (30), and to adapt the position of the stitching carriage (107) relative to the delivery station (29).
2. Saddle stitcher according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the switch unit (160) is formed by a crank mechanism (102, 104, 103) with a displaceable coupling point (135).
3. Saddle stitcher according to Claim 1 or Claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the switch unit (160) comprises a rocker (104) connected to the stitching carriage drive (140, 101) by a driving link (102) and to the stitching carriage (107) by a driven link (103), the driving link (102) and rocker (104) being coupled to each other at a first coupling point (124) and the driven link (103) and rocker (104) being coupled to each other at a second coupling point (135) and at least one of the coupling points (124, 135) being adjustable in its position on the rocker (104).
4. Saddle stitcher according to Claim 2 or Claim 3,
   characterized in that
   the adjustment of the position of the at least one coupling point (124, 135) is made by an actuator (105).
5. Saddle stitcher according to Claim 4,
   characterized in that
   the actuator (105) is in the form of a pneumatic cylinder.
6. Saddle stitcher according to either of Claims 4 and 5,
   characterized in that
   the actuator (105) is connected to the control unit of the saddle stitcher (1) and is operated thereby.
7. Saddle stitcher according to any one of Claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in that
   the delivery station (29) has an ejector carriage (108) with an ejector for delivering the stitched signatures (32) and during the delivery operation the ejector carriage (108) is moved at the same speed as the stitched signatures (32) by an ejector carriage drive (150), and in that the ejector carriage drive (150) and stitching carriage drive (140) are mechanically coupled to each other.
8. Saddle stitcher according to any one of Claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in that
   the delivery station (29) has an ejector carriage (108) with an ejector for delivering the stitched signatures (32) and during the delivery operation the ejector carriage (108) is moved at the same speed as the stitched signatures (32) by an ejector carriage drive (150), and in that the ejector carriage drive (150) and stitching carriage drive (140) are coupled to each other by an electronic shaft.
9. Saddle stitcher according to any one of Claims 1 to 8,
   characterized in that
   the stitching carriage drive (140) comprises a controllable electric motor.

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