EP2199084B1 - Device and method for manufacturing book blocks - Google Patents

Abstract

The book blocks producing device has a sheet web delivery station (2) for delivery of a printable sheet web (16) moving in a longitudinal direction. A printing station (20) is provided with two rollers, which rotate at a peripheral speed corresponding to the movement speed of the sheet web. The rollers are provided with a pre-determined angular area for contact support of the sheet web on the peripheral surface. An independent claim is also included for a book blocks producing method.

Description

• einer Bogenbahnabgabestation zur Abgabe mindestens einer in ihrer Längsrichtung bewegten, bedruckbaren Bogenbahn,
• einer Druckstation mit
  • zwei Walzen, die mit einer Umfangsgeschwindigkeit entsprechend der Bewegungsgeschwindigkeit der Bogenbahn rotieren und zur berührenden Auflage der Bogenbahn auf ihrer Umfangsfläche über einen vorbestimmten Winkelbereich vorgesehen sind, und
  • einer Führungseinrichtung zur Führung der Bogenbahn derart, dass bei Auflage auf der einen Walze die eine Seite der Bogenbahn und bei Auflage auf der anderen Walze die andere Seite der Bogenbahn bedruckbar ist,
• einer der Druckstation nachgeordneten Schneidestation, welche entweder eine Längsschneidestation zum Längsschneiden der bedruckten Bogenbahn in mindestens zwei nebeneinander liegende Teilbahnen und eine der Längsschneidestation nachgeordnete Querschneidestation zum Querschneiden der Teilbahnen in Bögen oder eine Querschneidestation zum Querschneiden der bedruckten Bogenbahn in in Bewegungsrichtung hintereinander liegende Teilabschnitte und eine der Querschneidestation nachgeordnete Längsschneidestation zum Längsschneiden der hintereinander liegenden Teilabschnitte der Bogenbahn in quer zur Bewegungsrichtung hintereinander liegende Bögen, wobei die in Bewegungsrichtung liegenden Bögen jeweils eine Teilbahn bilden, aufweist,
• einer der Querschneidestation nachgeordneten Überlappungsstation zur Erzielung einer Überlappung zwischen den Bögen jeder Teilbahn und
• einer Sammelstation zum Ansammeln der Bögen jeder Teilbahn zu Buchblöcke bildenden Stapeln, wobei die Sammelstation eine der Anzahl der Teilbahnen entsprechende Anzahl von Fächern zum Ansammeln der Bögen jeder Teilbahn zu Buchblöcken aufweist.

The present invention relates in a first aspect to an apparatus for producing book blocks

• a sheet-web delivery station for discharging at least one printable sheet path moving in its longitudinal direction,
• a printing station with
  • two rollers which rotate at a peripheral speed corresponding to the moving speed of the sheet and are provided for contacting the sheet sheet on its peripheral surface over a predetermined angular range, and
  • guide means for guiding the sheet web in such a way that, when resting on one roll, one side of the sheet web and, when placed on the other roll, the other side of the sheet web is printable,
• one of the printing station downstream cutting station, which either a longitudinal cutting station for longitudinal cutting of the printed sheet web in at least two adjacent sub-webs and a longitudinal cutting station downstream cross-cutting station for cross-cutting the sub-webs in sheets or a cross-cutting station for Cross-cutting of the printed sheet web in successive subsections in the direction of movement and a cross cutting station downstream slitting station for longitudinal cutting of the successive sections of the sheet web in transverse to the direction of succession arcs, wherein the lying in the direction of movement sheets each form a sub-web has,
• a cross-cutting station downstream overlapping station to achieve an overlap between the sheets of each sub-web and
• a collection station for accumulating the sheets of each sub-web into book-blocks forming stacks, the collecting station having a number of sub-trays corresponding to the number of sub-webs for accumulating the sheets of each sub-web into book blocks.

• mindestens eine in ihrer Längsrichtung bewegten, bedruckbaren Bogenbahn bereitzustellen,
• die Bogenbahn in einer Druckstation nacheinander über zwei Walzen unter Ausbildung eines Umschlingungswinkels zu ziehen,
• die Bogenbahn durch die Druckstation derart zu führen, dass bei Auflage auf der einen Walze die eine Seite der Bogenbahn und bei Auflage auf der anderen Walze die andere Seite der Bogenbahn bedruckt wird,
• die in der Druckstation bedruckte Bogenbahn entweder in Längsrichtung in mindestens zwei nebeneinander liegende Teilbahnen mit der Breite entsprechend einer vorgegebenen Breite der Seiten des herzu-stellenden Buchblockes und dann diese Teilbahnen quer zur Förderrichtung in Bögen mit einer Länge entsprechend der Höhe der Seiten des herzustellenden Buchblockes zu schneiden oder in Querrichtung in Bewegungsrichtung hintereinander liegende Teilabschnitte mit einer Länge entsprechend der Höhe der Seiten des herzustellenden Buchblockes und dann die hintereinander liegenden Teilabschnitte der Bogenbahn in Längsrichtung in quer zur Bewegungsrichtung nebeneinander liegende Bögen zu schneiden, wobei die in Bewegungsrichtung liegende Bögen jeweils eine Teilbahn mit der Breite entsprechend einer vorgegebenen Breite der Seiten des herzustellenden Buchblockes bilden,
• die Bögen jeder Teilbahn in eine überlappende Anordnung zu bringen und
• in einer Sammelstation die überlappten Bögen jeder Teilbahn zu Buchblöcke bildende Stapel anzusammeln.

Furthermore, the present invention according to a second aspect relates to a method for producing book blocks, comprising the steps

• to provide at least one printable sheet path moving in its longitudinal direction,
• to pull the sheet web successively in a printing station over two rollers to form a wrap angle,
• to guide the sheet path through the printing station in such a way that, when placed on one roller, one side of the sheet path and, when placed on the other roller, the other side of the sheet path,
• the sheet web printed in the printing station either in the longitudinal direction in at least two adjacent sub-webs with the width corresponding to a predetermined width of the pages of the book block to be produced and then these sub-webs transverse to the conveying direction in sheets with a length corresponding to the height of the sides of the book block to be produced cutting or in the transverse direction in the direction of movement successive sections having a length corresponding to the height of the sides of the book block to be produced and then to cut the successive sections of the sheet web in the longitudinal direction in transverse to the direction of movement adjacent sheets, wherein the lying in the direction of movement sheets each having a partial web the width form according to a predetermined width of the sides of the book block to be produced,
• to bring the sheets of each sub-web into an overlapping arrangement and
• accumulate in a collecting station the overlapped sheets of each sub-web to form book blocks stack.

Book blocks and books are traditionally made in several stages. In a device operating according to the cylinder printing method sheets are printed on its front and back in accordance with a certain predetermined scheme in a first step, which allows successive pages in the book block by suitable, sometimes quite complicated folding operations in the desired Ab or To bring order. In such a scheme, the page contents are not printed next to or behind one another according to their arrangement following the page number in the book block, but rather printed on the front and back of a sheet apart from each other only after completion of the mentioned folding operations in the page number appropriate order. The pages are then initially connected to each other via folds and must therefore in a subsequent separate step by trimming, u.a. with the help of a so-called three-knife trimmer in a three-side trim, be separated from each other.

Due to the capacity of different page contents, which is limited to the circumferential dimension and the width of a printing cylinder, a printing cylinder usually has to be set up several times in a book block with a higher number of mutually different pages, each time being provided with a printed image for a group of missing page contents and then the sheets are again printed accordingly and folded again in a subsequent folding process. Alternatively, several pressure cylinders matched to the respective group can also be used. The groups thus produced are initially stored, which requires a corresponding storage space. After all groups printed are folded, the pages of each group are folded in accordance with the aforementioned scheme in mostly several folding operations and the individual groups are then collected in folded form to book blocks, which are then cut and bound. Although cylinder printing processes allow high-quality printing; but they are relatively expensive and require a complex warehouse logistics with appropriate storage capacity. The cylinder printing method devices are also limited to a few printing cylinder geometry dependent formats, and often a format change also requires a change in impression cylinder geometry. Finally, depending on the selected page number, blank pages are sometimes required as well, which accordingly require empty surface sections on the printing cylinder, whereby the effectiveness of the printing cylinder is reduced.

From the DE 26 32 712 A1 is a method and apparatus of the type mentioned for the manufacture of paper containers known, wherein an endless paper web printed in multiple bundle width by means of printing cylinders on both sides with repetitive rows of different printed images, separated by cutting in the longitudinal direction into several sub-webs and divided by cross-cutting the sub-webs in sheets is and the sheets of two adjacent partial webs are superimposed in a transfer device for collating. In this known device is again worked with the rather inflexible use of printing cylinders and with the rather time-consuming process of gathering.

A similar web press is in the US Pat. No. 6,155,169 A disclosed.

In contrast, the concern EP 1 882 593 A2 , the US 2008/150986 A1 and the US 2005/083389 A1 each with details of ink sheet printers with single sheet feeder.

Object of the present invention is therefore to propose a device which allows the production of book blocks in a simple manner.

This object is achieved according to a first aspect of the invention by a

• einer Bogenbahnabgabestation zur Abgabe mindestens einer in ihrer Längsrichtung bewegten, bedruckbaren Bogenbahn,
• einer Druckstation mit
  • zwei Walzen, die mit einer Umfangsgeschwindigkeit entsprechend der Bewegungsgeschwindigkeit der Bogenbahn rotieren und zur berührenden Auflage der Bogenbahn auf ihrer Umfangsfläche über einen vorbestimmten Winkelbereich vorgesehen sind, und
  • einer Führungseinrichtung zur Führung der Bogenbahn derart, dass bei Auflage auf der einen Walze die eine Seite der Bogenbahn und bei Auflage auf der anderen Walze die andere Seite der Bogenbahn bedruckbar ist,
• einer der Druckstation nachgeordneten Schneidestation, welche entweder eine Längsschneidestation zum Längsschneiden der bedruckten Bogenbahn in mindestens zwei nebeneinander liegende Teilbahnen und eine der Längsschneidestation nachgeordnete Querschneidestation zum Querschneiden der Teilbahnen in Bögen oder eine Querschneidestation zum Querschneiden der bedruckten Bogenbahn in in Bewegungsrichtung hintereinander liegende Teilabschnitte und eine der Querschneidestation nachgeordnete Längsschneidestation zum Längsschneiden der hintereinander liegenden Teilabschnitte der Bogenbahn in quer zur Bewegungsrichtung hintereinander liegende Bögen, wobei die in Bewegungsrichtung liegenden Bögen jeweils eine Teilbahn bilden, aufweist,
• einer der Querschneidestation nachgeordneten Überlappungsstation zur Erzielung einer Überlappung zwischen den Bögen jeder Teilbahn und
• einer Sammelstation zum Ansammeln der Bögen jeder Teilbahn zu Buchblöcke bildenden Stapeln, wobei die Sammelstation eine der Anzahl der Teilbahnen entsprechende Anzahl von Fächern zum Ansammeln der Bögen jeder Teilbahn zu Buchblöcken aufweist,
  dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
  die Druckstation
• jeder Walze zugeordnete, berührungslos arbeitende Druckköpfe, die beab standet von der Umfangsfläche der zugehörigen Walze angeordnet sind und zumindest im wesentlichen quer zur Umfangs- und Drehrichtung der zugehörigen Walze nebeneinander liegen, wobei die Druckkopfstimseiten im wesentlichen tangential zur zugehörigen Walze und die Druckkopfmittelachsen im wesentlichen radial zur Umfangsfläche der zugehörigen Walze ausgerichtet sind, und
• Mittel zur Erzeugung einer gewünschten Bahnspannung in der Bogenbahn aufweist.

Device for producing book blocks with

• a sheet-web delivery station for discharging at least one printable sheet path moving in its longitudinal direction,
• a printing station with
  • two rollers which rotate at a peripheral speed corresponding to the moving speed of the sheet and are provided for contacting the sheet sheet on its peripheral surface over a predetermined angular range, and
  • guide means for guiding the sheet web in such a way that, when resting on one roll, one side of the sheet web and, when placed on the other roll, the other side of the sheet web is printable,
• one of the printing station downstream cutting station, which is either a longitudinal cutting station for longitudinal cutting of the printed sheet web in at least two adjacent sub-webs and a longitudinal cutting station downstream cross-cutting station for cross-cutting the sub-webs in sheets or a cross-cutting station for cross-cutting the printed sheet web in the direction of movement successive subsections and one of Cross-cutting station downstream longitudinal cutting station for longitudinal cutting of the successive sections of the sheet path in transverse to the direction of succession arcs, wherein the lying in the direction of movement sheets each form a sub-web comprises,
• a cross-cutting station downstream overlapping station to achieve an overlap between the sheets of each sub-web and
• a collecting station for accumulating the sheets of each sub-web into book-blocks forming stacks, the collecting station having a number of trays corresponding to the number of partial webs for accumulating the sheets of each sub-web into book blocks,
  characterized in that
  the printing station
• each roller associated, non-contact printheads, the beab stand of the peripheral surface of the associated roller are arranged and adjacent to each other at least substantially transverse to the circumferential and rotational direction of the associated roller, wherein the Druckkopfstimseiten substantially tangential to the associated roller and the print head center axes are aligned substantially radially to the peripheral surface of the associated roller, and
• Having means for generating a desired web tension in the sheet web.

With the aid of the invention, it is now possible - in contrast to traditional printing methods - to produce book blocks in a continuous and virtually uninterrupted process in a simple manner more flexible in terms of format. The combination of non-contact printing with the use of longitudinal and transverse cutting to produce in the direction of movement consecutive sheets in side webs formed side by side, these sheets are then partially collected in the collecting station to book blocks, allows a high format flexibility with high production speed. The formation of several juxtaposed partial webs leads to a multi-track arrangement, whereby several book blocks can be produced simultaneously and thus the output and the performance of the device can be multiplied accordingly. In this case, the multi-track arrangement has the further advantage that can be produced at the same time not only book blocks with identical printed sheets or pages, but also book blocks with differently printed sheets or pages. In this context, the use of non-contact printheads, which are usually controlled by a printed image processing system, allows a completely free and arbitrary design of the printed images, which may even, if mentioned, from sub-web to sub-web differ.

By using rollers as an abutment for the sheet web during printing by the non-contact printheads and by Generating a web tension in the sheet web also avoids fluttering or floating of the sheet web during printing, whereby a very good print quality can be achieved and blurred and bad print images are avoided.

With the help of the invention, a variety of different book block formats can be made with different dimensions of the book block pages. At best, this requires little set-up time. Otherwise, stations used in traditional book block making for folding or collating printed sheets are superfluous, thereby simplifying the apparatus design and operation thereof. In particular, when the sheets of the partial webs are collected in the collecting station until the predetermined total number of pages of the respective book block has been reached, a complete book block can be produced solely with sheets from a single partial web.

Accordingly, between the arrangement of longitudinal cutting station and cross-cutting station on the one hand and the collecting station on the other hand, the transport path for folding-free and collation-free transport of the sheets may be formed in the collecting area, which can be produced complete blocks of books with a single sub-web alone. All that is needed is an overlapping station in order to initially achieve an overlap between the sheets of each partial web as a prerequisite for superimposing.

The order between the longitudinal cutting station and the cross cutting station is basically irrelevant. According to a first variant, the cross-cutting station is arranged downstream of the longitudinal cutting station and is thus, viewed in the direction of movement of the sheet, behind the longitudinal cutting station, while according to an alternative second variant of the invention, the order of cross-cutting station and longitudinal cutting station is reversed.

The above object is further achieved according to a second aspect of the invention by a

• mindestens eine in ihrer Längsrichtung bewegten, bedruckbaren Bogenbahn bereitzustellen,
• die Bogenbahn in einer Druckstation nacheinander über zwei Walzen unter Ausbildung eines Umschlingungswinkels zu ziehen;
• die Bogenbahn durch die Druckstation derart zu führen, dass bei Auflage auf der einen Walze die eine Seite der Bogenbahn und bei Auflage auf der anderen Walze die andere Seite der Bogenbahn bedruckt wird,
• die in der Druckstation bedruckte Bogenbahn entweder in Längsrichtung in mindestens zwei nebeneinander liegende Teilbahnen mit der Breite entsprechend einer vorgegebenen Breite der Seiten des herzu-stellenden Buchblockes und dann diese Teilbahnen quer zur Förderrichtung in Bögen mit einer Länge entsprechend der Höhe der Seiten des herzustellenden Buchblockes zu schneiden oder in Querrichtung in Bewegungsrichtung hintereinander liegende Teilabschnitte mit einer Länge entsprechend der Höhe der Seiten des herzustellenden Buchblockes und dann die hintereinander liegenden Teilabschnitte der Bogenbahn in Längsrichtung in quer zur Bewegungsrichtung nebeneinander liegende Bögen zu schneiden, wobei die in Bewegungsrichtung liegende Bögen jeweils eine Teilbahn mit der Breite entsprechend einer vorgegebenen Breite der Seiten des herzustellenden Buchblockes bilden,
• die Bögen jeder Teilbahn in eine überlappende Anordnung zu bringen und
• in einer Sammelstation die überlappten Bögen jeder Teilbahn zu Buchblöcke bildende Stapel anzusammeln,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass

• die Bogenbahn in der Druckstation mittels jeder Walze zugeordneter, berührungslos arbeitender Druckköpfe bedruckt wird, welche beabstandet von der Umfangsfläche der zugehörigen Walze angeordnet sind und zumindest im wesentlichen quer zur Umfangs- und Drehrichtung der zugehörigen Walze nebeneinander liegen und deren Druckkopfstirnseiten im wesentlichen tangential zur zugehörigen Walze und deren Druckkopfmittelachsen im wesentlichen radial zur Umfangsfläche der zugehörigen Walze ausge richtet sind, und
• die Bogenbahn durch die Druckstation unter einer bestimmten Bahnspannung geführt wird.

Method of making book blocks, with the steps

• to provide at least one printable sheet path moving in its longitudinal direction,
• to pull the sheet web successively in a printing station over two rollers to form a wrap angle;
• to guide the sheet path through the printing station in such a way that, when placed on one roller, one side of the sheet path and, when placed on the other roller, the other side of the sheet path,
• the sheet web printed in the printing station either in the longitudinal direction in at least two adjacent sub-webs with the width corresponding to a predetermined width of the pages of the book block to be produced and then these sub-webs transverse to the conveying direction in sheets with a length corresponding to the height of the sides of the book block to be produced cutting or in the transverse direction in the direction of movement successive sections having a length corresponding to the height of the sides of the book block to be produced and then to cut the successive sections of the sheet web in the longitudinal direction in transverse to the direction of movement adjacent sheets, wherein the lying in the direction of movement sheets each having a partial web the width corresponding to a predetermined width of the sides of the book block to be produced,
• to bring the sheets of each sub-web into an overlapping arrangement and
• accumulate in a collecting station the overlapped sheets of each partial web to form book blocks,

characterized in that

• the sheet web is printed in the printing station by means of each roller associated, non-contact printheads, which are spaced from the peripheral surface of the associated roller and at least substantially transverse to the circumferential and rotational direction of the associated roller next to each other and their printhead end faces substantially tangential to the associated roller and the printhead center axes thereof are substantially radial to the peripheral surface of the associated roller are directed, and
• the sheet path is guided by the printing station under a certain web tension.

At this point it should be noted that "arcuate web" is understood to mean a quasi-endless web of flat material, which is preferably delivered wound up on a roll and withdrawn from the roll for processing in the device in question here. Preferably, the sheet web is made of paper. However, it is also conceivable to use the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention for printing, for example, a film web or a textile web.

Preferred embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

Thus, the Bogenbahnabgabestation, which is also referred to as unwinding, preferably a receiving device for receiving at least two rollers, each of which a sheet web is peelable, as well as a connecting device on which the end of a fully withdrawn from a roll arc path with the beginning of a still completely on another role arc track connects. In this way, a quick change between the roles can be realized.

To assist the conveyance of the sheet web, the printing station can be arranged downstream of an advancing device.

In order to eliminate any waviness, a possible curvature and / or a possible twist in the sheet web, usually caused by unrolling and / or printing, preferably a downstream of the printing station means for preferably two-sided, refraction of the sheet web can be provided. In a further development of this embodiment, this device may be connected downstream of the previously mentioned preferential device, in order to be able to advantageously also eliminate undulations possibly caused by mechanical tensile influences by the biasing device.

For applying liquid to the sheet web, a moistening device may preferably be provided, wherein the liquid to be applied may be provided in particular for dissipating any existing electrostatic charge against earth or earth and / or for surface finishing of the sheet web. In a further development, the moistening device may have an antistatic device. In addition, the moistening device may be arranged downstream of the device for, preferably two-sided, refraction.

For flexible adaptation of the format, the longitudinal cutting station should have a plurality of longitudinal knives which can be changed in their transverse spacing, the transverse spacing between two adjacent longitudinal knives determining the width of the partial web to be cut and thus of the sheets of this partial web. Instead of the mentioned longitudinal blades and laser beam cutting devices may be provided, preferably in the same number.

Preferably, the slitting station has means for edge trim extraction.

The arrangement of longitudinal cutting station and cross-cutting station may preferably be arranged downstream of a bad curve turnout in order to be able to separate out bad prints. For this purpose, it is advantageous to connect to the Schlechtbogenweiche an angle, preferably approximately at right angles, led out to the direction of movement of the sheet web conveyor belt, preferably weft tape. For optimum operation, it is advantageous if the Schlechtbogenweiche upstream of the overlapping station.

Preferably, the collecting station has a number of partial webs corresponding number of compartments for accumulating the sheets of each Teitbahn to book blocks, whereby the production of a complete book block alone with sheets of a Partial track is optimally supported. For removal of the accumulated book block there may be assigned to each tray preferably a forceps conveyor.

An intermediate buffer for buffering book blocks can be connected to the collection station.

From the collecting station can lead out an angle, preferably approximately at right angles, to the direction of movement of the sheet web conveying a conveyor for transporting the book blocks to a binding station. This conveyor may optionally extend into the aforementioned buffer and thus be used at the same time for the operation of the intermediate buffer. Appropriately, the conveyor has at least one conveyor belt.

Preferably, a feed device can also be provided which extends both to the conveyor and to the intermediate buffer.

For drying the printed portions of the sheet web may preferably be provided a drying device.

To achieve a high-precision web run, at least one web edge control device should be used. The web edge control device may be included in the printing station. Preferably, the web edge control device is located upstream of at least one of the two rollers.

Expediently, at least one quality measuring device should also be provided. When using such a quality measuring device can advantageously be formed the Schlechtbogenweiche so that it can be activated for the separation of those sheets, which have been determined by the quality measuring device as inferior. At least one such quality measuring device should be provided in the printing station, wherein a quality measuring device is associated with a roller and determines the quality of the sheet web after leaving the roller.

Figur 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Maschine zur Buchblockherstellung gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführung der Erfindung;

Figur 2

eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Maschine von Figur 1;

Figur 3

eine vergrößerte schematische Seitenansicht auf einen Abschnitt der Ma- schine von Figur 1 von einer Bogenbahnabrollstation bis zu einer Bahnbe- feuchtungsstation;

Figur 4

eine nochmals vergrößerte Seitenansicht einer Druckstation der Maschine von Figur 1;

Figur 5

eine gegenüber Figur 4 um 90° gedrehte Draufsicht auf die Druckstation;

Figur 6

eine ausschnittsweise perspektivische Darstellung einer Anordnung mit einer Andruckrolle, einer Walze und einer zwei hintereinanderliegende Reihen von Druckköpfen aufweisenden Gruppe von Druckköpfen;

Figur 7

eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung einer Anordnung mit einer Andruckrolle, einer Walze und zwei jeweils zwei Reihen aufweisenden Gruppen von Druckköpfen;

Figur 8

eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung einer Anordnung mit einer Andruckrolle, einer Walze und zehn jeweils zwei Reihen aufweisenden Gruppen von Druckköpfen; und

Figur 9:

eine ausschnittsweise Draufsicht auf eine bedruckte Bogenbahn.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic side view of a book block making machine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2

a schematic plan view of the machine of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3

an enlarged schematic side view of a portion of the machine of FIG. 1 from a Bogenbahnabrollstation to a Bahnbe- humidification station;

FIG. 4

a further enlarged side view of a printing station of the machine of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5

one opposite FIG. 4 90 ° rotated top view of the printing station;

FIG. 6

a fragmentary perspective view of an arrangement with a pinch roller, a roller and a two successive rows of printheads having group of printheads;

FIG. 7

a schematic perspective view of an arrangement with a pinch roller, a roller and two groups each having two rows of printheads;

FIG. 8

a schematic perspective view of an arrangement with a pinch roller, a roller and ten each having two rows of groups of print heads; and

FIG. 9:

a fragmentary plan view of a printed sheet.

The in the FIGS. 1 and 2 essentially complete and in FIG. 3 In detail, the machine shown at the beginning contains a sheet-web delivery station 2, from the in FIG. 3 a frame 4 is shown, on which in the illustrated embodiment, a first support arm 6 for receiving a first roller 8 and a second support arm 10 for receiving a second roller 12 are arranged. The rollers 8, 12 are rotatably mounted on non-illustrated pivot, so-called. Mandrels, mounted on the support arms 6, 10 and thereby removably disposed thereon. The support arms 6, 10 are movably mounted on the frame 4 in the vertical direction and between an upper working position and a lower rest position movable so that they can be replaced in the lower rest position.

Each roll 8, 12 consists of a wound continuous sheet web, preferably of paper, which is unwound from the corresponding roll for the processing described in detail below. In this case, in the illustrated embodiment, only one role during operation is used, while the other role can be interchanged. So if the sheet has been completely deducted from a role is changed to the other role and then deducted from this arc the web, while the empty one role is replaced by a new full role. In order to avoid interruption of the current operation of the machine, the end of the sheet path of the one roller is connected to the beginning of the sheet path of the other role. For this purpose, the Bogenbahnabgabestation 2 a splicer 14, which is arranged in the illustrated embodiment on the frame 4 above the support arms 6, 10 and thus above the rollers 8, 12. The splicing process usually takes place at standstill, but can also be performed on the fly.

To bridge a possible need for Bogenbahnmaterial, for example, during the aforementioned splicing operation at a standstill, a Bogenbahnspeicher, not shown, is provided in the Bogenbahnabgabestation 2.

After leaving the Bogenbahnabgabestation 2 passes the sheet web, which is shown in the figures with the reference numeral "16", in a printing station 20, in which the sheet web 16 is printed with the desired printed images. At this point, it should be noted in addition that in the figures, the web running direction takes place from left to right.

The printing station 20 is in detail in the FIGS. 4 and 5 shown. As FIG. 5 can recognize, the printing station 20, a frame 22, on which the various, hereinafter described in detail units are arranged. To better represent these aggregates is in FIG. 4 the observer facing side of the frame 22 omitted for the sake of clarity.

Before entering the printing station 20 in the direction indicated by arrow A, the sheet web 16 passes through a first draw roller arrangement, which thus extends in the inlet area to the printing station 20 located. This draw roller assembly 24 is driven by a not-shown drive and acts upon the sheet web 16 with a first feed speed _V1. After entering the printing station 20, the sheet web 16 is guided over a plurality of guide rollers 26 to a web edge control device 28. Along this path section may be provided upstream of the web edge control device 28 optionally still a moistening device, which, however, is not shown in the figures. The web edge control device 28 has the task of aligning the sheet web 16 relative to the below-described printing devices transverse to the web direction so that, viewed in the transverse direction of the web running direction, the printed images are accurately positioned in the desired location.

After leaving the web edge control device 28, the sheet web 16 is guided via a guide roller 30 to a first guide roller 31 which rests on the circumference of a first roller 34 and is provided with a rotary encoder 33. The rotary encoder can preferably have a high-resolution angle measuring system (> 3600 l / rev, preferably 9000 l / rev). The first roller 34 is rotatably mounted on a bearing 35, which is supported on the frame 22 of the printing station 20 and has a rotary encoder 36 for determining the instantaneous rotational position of the first roller 34 and its rotational speed. The rotary encoder 36 preferably has a high-resolution angle measuring system (> 3600 I / U, preferably 36000 I / U). The first roller 34 is driven in the direction of the arrow B at a peripheral speed v ₂ by a direct drive 37, which has a servomotor (not shown) and is also seated on the frame 22. As FIG. 4 can be seen, the sheet web 16 runs in the illustrated embodiment with respect to the first roller 34 approximately radially to the first guide roller 31 and is deflected by this in the direction of the peripheral surface of the first roller 34.

Downstream of the first deflection roller 31 and thus at a certain angular distance from this, a first pressure roller 32 is provided, which also bears against the circumference of the first roller 34. From this first pressure roller 32, the sheet web 16 is pressed against the peripheral surface of the first roller 34 and thereby comes into abutment against the peripheral surface of the first roller 34. The first pressure roller 32 is pressed by an unspecified loader against the peripheral surface of the first roller 34. The application device can have, for example, an energy store such as a spring and / or an active drive. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the sheet web 16 is not approximately radially and thus approximately at right angles to Peripheral surface at the location of the first pinch roller 32, but at a different angle of inclination introduce.

The first pressure roller 32 forms, together with the first roller 34, a kind of second tension roller arrangement which drives the arc web 16 resting on the circumference of the first roller 34 at the conveying speed v ₂ , which is slightly higher than the conveying speed v ₁ . Thus, while the first pinch roller 32 generates the sheet web 16 with a pressing force against the first roller 34 and thereby prevents slippage between the sheet web 16 and the circumference of the first roller 34, the first guide roller 31 ensures the desired wrap angle.

Namely, the sheet web 16 is pulled over about half of the circumference of the first roller 34 of the first guide roller 31 before it leaves the first roller 34 in the tangential direction again, so that in the illustrated embodiment, the wrap angle of the sheet 16 about the first roller 34 about 180 °. In principle, however, it is also conceivable to choose another wrap angle which is at least slightly smaller or slightly greater than 180 °. The rotational speed of the first roller 34 is chosen so that its peripheral speed is equal to the path speed of the arcuate path 16.

In particular FIG. 4 can be seen, in the illustrated embodiment, approximately halfway along its path over the circumference of the first roller 34, the sheet path 16 led to a printing unit 38 where the printing process takes place while the outwardly facing side of the sheet 16 is printed with the desired printed images , The first pressure roller 32 is disposed adjacent to the printing unit 38, so that in the illustrated embodiment, the first pressure roller 32 between the guide roller 31 and the printing unit 38 is located; Alternatively, it is also conceivable to store the first pressure roller 32 directly on the printing unit 38. To carry out the printing operation, the printing unit 38 has a plurality of non-contact printing heads 40, which are arranged at a distance from the peripheral surface of the first roller 34 and thus to the sheet web 16. Moreover, in the printheads 40, their printhead faces are substantially tangential to the peripheral surface of the first roller 34 and their printhead center axes are substantially radially aligned with the first roller 34. As FIG. 4 Furthermore, a plurality of print heads 40 are arranged one behind the other in the direction of rotation of the first roller 34 in accordance with arrow B and thus in its circumferential direction and in the web running direction of the sheet web 16.

As FIG. 6 can recognize which an arrangement of the first guide roller 31, the first roller 34 and the printheads 40, omitting the first pinch roller 32 by way of example from one opposite FIG. 4 In other perspectives, each print head 40 extends across the web travel direction only a fraction of the width of the sheet web 16, and the print heads 40 are combined into two web running successive rows 40R, which together form a group 40G. In this case, each row consists of a certain number of printing heads 40 located next to one another transversely to the web running direction and extends over the entire width of the sheet web 16. In addition, the print heads 40 of the two adjacent rows 40R of group 40G are offset relative to one another. This staggered arrangement of the print heads 40 is made in the illustrated embodiment so that each one print head 40 of a row 40R overlaps with its lateral ends, the ends of the print heads 40 of the other row 40R. As FIG. 6 Further, the printheads 40 of each row 40R are arranged at the same pitch, so each row 40R of printheads 40 has the same pitch. The staggered arrangement of the printheads 40 to each other takes into account the fact that each housing printhead 40 whose housing is wider than the effective pressure range transverse to the direction of web travel. Thus, on the one hand, if required, one can print over the entire width of the sheet web 16 continuous line and can be on the other hand more difficult to realize reaching into the edge regions of the sheet web 16 print images.

However, since each print head 40 can only operate up to a maximum frequency, the web running speed, which corresponds to the peripheral speed in the direction of the arrow B, would be limited to a maximum value. In order to be able to print even at a higher web speed, a plurality of groups 40G of printheads 40 are according to FIG FIG. 6 arranged in the web running direction one behind the other. In the example of FIG. 7 which also has an arrangement of the first guide roller 31, the first roller 34 and the printheads 40 omitting the first pinch roller 32 in the same perspective as FIG. 6 3, three consecutive groups 40G are provided with a total of six rows of printheads 40 at a speed three times that of using a single group 40G in accordance with FIG FIG. 6 to realize with only two consecutive rows, each print head 40 needs to print for a continuous line in the web running direction only every third point.

For full-color printing, one color is printed per group (comprising two consecutive rows 40R of printheads 40). Multiplied by the number of groups for the corresponding required speed, this then results in a corresponding number of required groups. FIG. 8 in which, in a different perspective to the FIGS. 6 and 7 an arrangement of the first pulley 31, the first roller 34 and the printheads 40 is shown omitting the first pinch roller 32 shows an example of a design for a full-color printing with ten groups.

In addition, the example of FIG. 8 It can also be seen that the printing unit 38 (FIG. FIG. 4 ) with their printheads 40 is not necessarily about in the middle between the first guide roller 31 and the point at which the sheet web 16 leaves the first roller 34 again, but that this also at another point along the path of the arc 16 over the circumference of the first roller 34 may be the case. In this connection, it should be noted that in order to achieve a high print quality, an arrangement which is substantially adjacent to the printing unit 38 directly in FIG FIG. 4 shown first pinch roller 32 is advantageous.

In the described embodiment, the printheads 40 used are jet printheads and preferably ink jet printheads.

The printing unit 38 is mounted so as to be movable radially relative to the first roller 34 on a holder 42 which is fastened to the frame 22. In this way, the printing unit 38 can be moved from a working position in which the print heads 40 occupy a relatively small distance from the peripheral surface of the first roller 34 and thus arc sheet 16 in a rest position in which the printing unit 38 and thus the print heads 40th have a significantly greater distance from the first roller 34 and release enough space for repair, maintenance and / or adjustments. Therefore, the printing unit 38 is mainly spent in the rest position when appropriate cleaning, repair, maintenance and / or adjustments must be made. In FIG. 4 the printing unit 38 is shown in its raised rest position.

As previously mentioned, the arcuate web 16 is drawn tangentially from the peripheral surface of the first roll 34. Responsible for this is a guide roller 44, which is arranged with respect to the first roller 34 so that the path leading from the first roller 34 for the sheet path 16 with respect to the peripheral surface of the first Roller 34 runs in the tangential direction, as FIG. 4 lets recognize. An arrangement of a first quality measuring device 46, which may have, for example, a high-speed stroboscope camera, not shown, and a so-called first table plate 47 is provided at this tangential path section at a position adjacent to the first roller 34. As FIG. 4 can recognize the arc path 16 between a front side of the first quality measuring device 46 and the first table plate 47, which extends approximately in the plane of the arcuate track 16, wherein the arcuate path 16 is at a minimum distance from the first table plate 47. As a result, a thin air cushion is formed between the first table plate 47 and the arc track 16, on which the arc track 16 slides over the first table plate 47. The first quality measuring device 46 serves to check the quality of the freshly applied print image on one side of the sheet web 16. For this purpose, in a very special way, the tangential path section after leaving the first roller 34, since there after removal from the first roller 34, the arcuate path 16 has a particularly straight course.

While in the illustrated embodiment, the tangential path portion of the first roller 34 to the guide roller 44 extends approximately vertically down, the sheet web 16 experiences a deflection in an approximately horizontal direction on this guide roller 44 and is guided by a drying device 50, in which the arc path 16 and thus prevents blurring of the previously applied printed images is prevented. Via further guide rollers 48, the sheet web 16 passes to a second deflection roller 51 and a second pressure roller 52, which both bear against a second roller 54. The second guide roller 51 is also provided with a rotary encoder 53. Upstream of the second deflection roller 51 may be provided another web edge control device similar to the web edge control device 28 in order to ensure highly accurate web travel with respect to the print heads 62 of the second printing unit.

The second roller 54 is also rotatably mounted on the frame 22 via a bearing 56, which has a rotary encoder 57 for determining the rotational position and the rotational speed of the second roller 54 and is also driven by a direct drive 58, which is arranged on the frame 22. In this case, the second roller 54 rotates in the direction of arrow C at a peripheral speed v ₃ . Associated with this second roller 54 is also a second printing unit 60, which has printing heads 62 and a holder 64, which is fastened to the frame 22, between a working position and a rest position is slidably mounted. In FIG. 4 is also the second printing unit 60 shown in its raised rest position. With regard to construction and function of the second guide roller 51 and the rotary encoder 53, the second pinch roller 52, the second roller 54, the bearing 56, the encoder 57, the direct drive 58, the printheads 62 and the holder 64 is based on the previously given detailed description of first guide roller 31 and its rotary encoder 33, the first pinch roller 32, the first roller 34, the bearing 35, the encoder 36, the direct drive 37, the print heads 40 and the holder 42 referenced. At this point it should be noted that measuring means for measuring the pressing force of the first and second pressure rollers 32, 52 may be provided.

Thus, with the aid of the print heads 62 on the second roller 54, a further printing operation takes place on the sheet web 16. Unlike on the first roller 34 but now the previously unprinted other side of the sheet web 16 is printed on the second roller 54. That the sheet web 16 now comes with its already printed one side into contact with the second roller 54, so that the previously unprinted other side is exposed for the printing process is achieved in the illustrated embodiment, that both rollers 34, 54 in the web running direction spatially one behind the other the second roller 54 is rotated in the direction of arrow C opposite to the direction of rotation of the first roller 34 and the sheet web 16 after leaving the first roller 34 via the guide rollers 44 and 48 along a curved path to the second roller 54 and there at the first Roller 34 facing side of the second roller 54 is brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the second roller 54. Thus, the second pressure roller 52 together with the second roller 54 forms a kind of third tension roller arrangement, which drives the sheet web 16 at the speed v ₃ in the web running direction. To achieve a defined tensile stress and thus elongation in the arcuate web 16, the speed v _{3 is} slightly higher than the speed v ₂ . Alternatively, it is also conceivable that both rollers 34, 54 rotate at exactly the same peripheral speed.

Similar to the guide roller 44, the guide roller 66 also serves to subtract the sheet path 16 tangentially from the second roller 54. Shortly after leaving the second roller 54, the sheet web 16 passes between a second quality measuring device 68 and an opposite second table plate 69 therethrough. Like the first quality measuring device 46, the second quality measuring device 68 also serves to check the quality of the print. Unlike the first quality measuring device 46, however, the second quality measuring device 68 has the task of improving the quality of the now to check on the second side of the sheet web 16 applied by the printheads 62 printed image.

After deflection on the guide roller 66, the sheet web 16 is returned by an additional drying device 50 via further guide rollers 70 back to the aforementioned drying device 50 to now perform a drying of the second roller 54 printed on the second side of the sheet 16 and a blur the previously on the second side of the print heads 62 applied print images to avoid. Incidentally, in this connection, it should be noted that the necessity of the drying devices 50 and their operation depends largely on the pressure medium discharged from the print heads 40, 62 and on the web speed of the sheet web 16.

After the sheet web 16 has passed through the drying device 50 again, it is deflected by guide rollers 72 and led to further guide rollers 74 to a second double roller assembly 76, which sits in the outlet of the printing station and through the rollers, the movement path 16 is passed before the sheet web 16th the printing station 20 leaves in the direction of arrow D. The two rollers of this double roller assembly 76 are driven by a drive, not shown. In this case, the tensile stress or feed force applied by the second draw roller arrangement 76 to the sheet web 16 is slightly greater than the tensile stress or feed force which is generated by the first draw roller arrangement 24 in the inlet region of the printing station 20. Due to this difference, a tensile stress or web tension arises in the sheet web 16 when it passes through the printing station 20. The first pull roller assembly 24 acts as a type of brake drive relative to the downstream driven pull roll assemblies formed by the first roller 34 / first pinch roller 32, the second roller 54 / second pinch roller 52 and the second pull roller assembly 76. The ratio of the speeds to each other according to the following inequality: $${\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="1"\; label="v"\; filenames="imgf0001.png,imgf0002.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">v</figure-callout>}}_{\mathrm{1}}\mathrm{<}{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="v"\; filenames="imgf0001.png,imgf0002.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">v</figure-callout>}}_{\mathrm{2}}\mathrm{<}{\mathrm{v}}_{\mathrm{3}}\mathrm{<}{\mathrm{v}}_{\mathrm{4}}\mathrm{,}$$

In this way, in the sheet web 16, a defined tensile stress and thus a defined elongation or sheet elongation and also a slip freedom between the sheet web 16 and the rollers 34, 54 achieve, the differences between the individual speeds are at most in the per thousand range and in particular the increase in speed should each be about one per thousand.

By guiding the sheet web 16 over the rollers 34 and 54 and thus over a part arcuate curved path at a predetermined web tension on the printheads 40 and 62 over a particularly accurate positioning of the sheet web 16 relative to the printheads 40 and 62 can be realized and will flutter or swimming the sheet web 16 avoided, whereby printed images of particularly good quality can be produced at high production speed. For compliance with the web tension in the sheet web 16 along the embossed curvature forming circumference of the rollers 34 and 54 provide primarily the pinch rollers 32 and 52, via which the sheet web 16 are respectively introduced on the input side to the peripheral surface of the rollers 34, 54, while yes on the output side tangentially from the circumference of the rollers 34, 54 is subtracted. To assist in the generation of the web tension in the sheet web 16, the first and second twin roll assemblies 24 and 76 provide support to ensure that the sheet web 16 is under a predetermined tension substantially throughout its path through the printing station 20.

The evaluation of the measurement signals delivered by the measuring systems with respect to a web slip of the sheet web 16 relative to the rollers 34 and 54 takes place in a higher-level control device, which is not shown in the figures. If a web slip is detected, there is in particular the possibility to reduce the slip by changing the pressing force of the pinch rollers 32 and 52, to compensate for the slip by signals to a print head control, also not shown, for example, in the operating frequency of the print heads 40, 62 corresponding dead times be controlled to reduce the web speed of the arc path 16 or simply leave a corresponding warning message.

After leaving the printing station 20, the now printed sheet web 16 in the illustrated embodiment passes through a feed station 80, which supports the transport of the sheet web 16 in the web running direction.

Downstream of the feed station 80 in the illustrated embodiment is a refractive station 90, in which the sheet web 16 is broken on both sides and thus in both directions in order to eliminate any waviness caused by the printing process.

The arcuate web 16 then passes through a moistening station 100 which is designed to spray the arcuate web 16 with steam or a liquid mist in order to discharge an electrostatic charge which may be present in the arcuate path 16 to ground or ground. Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable to provide the moistening station 100, for example, for dispensing a fixing agent or dyes for the purpose of surface refinement.

The machine further has a longitudinal cutting station 110, which is arranged downstream of the discharge station 100. As FIG. 2 can be seen schematically, the longitudinal cutting station 110 includes a plurality of knives 112 which are arranged side by side transversely to the web running direction and thereby spaced from each other. The knives 12 are preferably designed as rotary drivable circular knives whose respective axis of rotation is oriented transversely to the direction of web travel. Further, the blades 12 are each positioned transversely positionable relative to the web running direction of the sheet web 16, whereby the distance between two adjacent blades 112 is adjustable from each other. Incidentally, the knives 12 can also be moved transversely in such a way that, if necessary, they can be moved out of engagement laterally from the curved path 16 into a rest position.

In the longitudinal cutting station 110, the sheet web 16 is cut by the knives 112 in the web running direction by a number of longitudinal cuts into a plurality of partial webs each corresponding to a desired width of a book block side. Due to the variable positionability of the individual blades 112 transversely to the web running direction of the sheet web 16, the distance between two adjacent blades 112 can be adjusted to the desired width of a book block page, resulting in a high format flexibility. Accordingly, if the width of the sheet web 16 is a multiple of the width of one side of the book block to be produced with the machine, a corresponding plurality of book blocks can be produced simultaneously in parallel.

As in FIG. 2 is further shown, the longitudinal cutting station 110 also includes a Randstreifenabsaugeinrichtung 114, with which the elimination of cut and not usable edge strip sections is possible.

Downstream of the longitudinal cutting station 110 is a glaze cutting station 120, in which the partial webs cut longitudinally by the preceding slitting station 110 are each cut transversely to the conveying direction into sheets having a length corresponding to the height of a book block side become. The cross cutting station 120 may have a cylindrical knife drum extending over the entire width of the sheet web 16 with a helical knife arranged inclined therewith relative to the axis of rotation of the knife drum; Alternatively, it is also conceivable to provide on the circumference of such a knife drum a plurality of opposite the axis of rotation of the cutterhead inclined blade extending, for example, according to the number of cut in the longitudinal cutting station 110 partial webs.

Subordinate to the cross cutting station 120 in the web running direction is a Schlechtbogenweiche 130, to which shoots a firing belt 132, which is led out transversely to the web running direction of the machine, such as FIG. 2 lets recognize. With the help of the Schlechtbogenweiche 130, which is not shown in detail in the figures, but only very schematically, are inferior sheets, which in particular have faulty printed images or splices or splices, or blank sheets discarded and provided on the weft tape 132 from the machine.

For this purpose, upstream of the Schlechtbogenweiche 130 an optical sensor, not shown in the figures is provided, which determines the number of passing sheets and determines whether the determined number of sheets corresponds to the number of pages formed by the sheets for the production of the book block, and auszusondernde Identified sheets and controls the bad arc switch 130 via a control device, not shown.

Downstream of the bad curve switch 130 is an overlapping station 140, in which the sheets delivered by the cross cutting station 120 are brought into an overlapping and thus shingled arrangement. For this purpose, the overlapping station 140 is provided with suitable delay means (not shown in the figures) for braking and overlapping the sheets.

The overlap station 140 is followed downstream by a collection station 150, which contains a plurality of adjacent compartments 152, which are located in FIG. 2 are shown schematically. These compartments 152 are each bounded laterally by side walls which are unspecified in the figures, which are adjustable transversely to the web running direction, so that the width of the individual compartments 152 can be adapted to the width of the sheets cut from the part webs. Thus, the side walls of the compartments 152 should be transversely conforming to the knives 112 of the slitting station 110, respectively be adjusted to the web running direction, so as to ensure that the side walls of the compartments 152 in the collection station 150 occupy the same transverse position as the corresponding blades 112 of the slitting station 110. In each of the bins 152, a stack of superimposed bows is set up in the collection station 150 which upon completion forms the desired book block, the bins 152 being arranged in a number corresponding to the number of sub-webs, thereby forming a corresponding plurality of parallel and book blocks Bogenstapein be accumulated. At this point, for the sake of completeness, it should be noted that each sheet in the stack represents a book block page of the resulting book block, whereby page "1" of a book block is always deposited either to the top or to the bottom.

In addition, it should be noted at this point that the collecting station 150 may include pliers conveyors, not shown in the figures, wherein preferably each of the compartments 152 is associated with a pliers conveyor. The forceps conveyors serve to remove a stack accumulated in a finished book block from the respective compartment 152 by pinching a stack embodying a finished book block between the forceps heads of the forceps conveyor.

Adjacent to the collection station 150 is an intermediate buffer 160 for temporary storage of good and / or bad book blocks from the collection station 150.

As FIG. 2 Further, the collection station 150 is followed by a conveyor belt 170, which transports the book blocks accumulated in the individual compartments 152 of the collection station 150 to a binding station not shown in the drawings.

Besides, lets FIG. 2 still schematically recognize a cross conveyor 180, which is provided for a transfer of the book blocks by a gripper conveyor from the collection station 150 on the conveyor belt 170. The cross conveyor 180 may also comprise a circulating conveyor belt. In addition, the cross conveyor 180 acts not only toward the conveyor 170, but also toward the intermediate buffer 160 to temporarily interpose the book blocks from the collection station 150 in the intermediate buffer 160 as needed.

At this point, it should be noted in addition that for the consideration of different material qualities of the sheet web 16 used, the tensile forces of at least some used drive units should be monitored accordingly. In particular, a torque measurement is suitable for this purpose. The monitoring device, which is not shown in the figures, can preferably be designed for adaptive control of the drive units.

In FIG. 9 For example, a section of the sheet web 16 is shown, which is printed in the machine described above and further processed. The arc path 16 has an in FIG. 9 visible first surface or side 16a and one of these opposite surface or side, which in FIG. 9 directed away from the viewer and thus is not visible. Further, the arcuate track 16 has a length L (this dimension is, of course, many times longer than that in FIG FIG. 9 portion shown) and a width B, wherein the width B is a multiple (according to the example of FIG. 9 a triple) of a width FB of the page of a book block plus a double measure of the width EB of the edge portions and the length L is a multiple of a height FH of the page of a book block. In this connection, it should be pointed out again that an arc produced from the sheet 16 forms one side of a book block.

In the printed sheet 16 according to FIG. 9 is the one facing the viewer and thus in FIG. 9 visible first surface 16a were printed with the page contents of the odd-numbered pages "51", "53", "55", "57". On the viewer of FIG. 9 turned away and thus in FIG. 9 The contents of the even-numbered pages "52", "54", "56", 58 "have been printed corresponding to the non-visible second surface, in which example the printed image for the page" 52 "on the second surface of the sheet web 16 is the same Place the print image for the page "51" placed on the first surface 16a of the sheet 16, corresponding to the remaining pages "53" / "54", "55" / "56", "57" / "58 "etc. applies FIG. 9 recognize on the curved path 16 interrupted longitudinal lines X, which symbolize the section through the respective knife 112 of the longitudinal cutting station 110 in partial webs with the width FB. Also, in FIG. 9 shown broken cross lines Y, which indicate the section through the cross cutting station 120, whereby the partial webs are cut into finished sheets with the width FB and the length or height FH, from which then the respective book block with the width FB and the height FH is composed ,

Claims (17)

1. Device for producing book blocks, comprising

   - a sheet web dispensing station (2) for dispensing at least one printable sheet web (16) moved in its longitudinal direction,

   - a printing station (20) comprising

   - two rollers (34, 54) rotating at a circumferential speed corresponding to the speed at which the sheet web (16) is moved and provided as a means of affording a contacting support for the sheet web (16) on their circumferential surfaces across a predefined angular range, and

   - a guide mechanism for guiding the sheet web (16) so that, when supported on one roller (34), one side (16a) of the sheet web (16), and when supported on the other roller (54) the other side of the sheet web (16) can be imprinted,

   - a cutting station (110) disposed downstream of the printing station (20) comprising either a longitudinal cutting station (110) for longitudinally cutting the imprinted sheet web (16) into at least two adjacently lying partial webs and a cross-cutting station (120) disposed downstream of the longitudinal cutting station (110) for cross-cutting the partial webs into sheets, or a cross-cutting station for cross-cutting the imprinted sheet web into partial portions lying one after the other in the direction of movement and a longitudinal cutting station disposed downstream of the cross-cutting station for longitudinally cutting the partial portions of the sheet web lying one after the other into sheets lying one after the other transversely to the direction of movement, and the sheets lying in the direction of movement respectively form a partial web,

   - an overlapping station (140) disposed downstream of the cross-cutting station (120) for producing an overlap between the sheets of each partial web and

   - a collecting station (150) for collecting the sheets of each partial web into stacks forming book blocks, and the collecting station (150) has a number of compartments (152) corresponding to the number of partial webs for collecting the sheets of each partial web into book blocks,
   characterised in that

   the printing station (20) comprises

   - contactlessly operating print heads (40, 62) co-operating with each roller (34 ; 54) which are disposed at a distance apart from the circumferential surface of the co-operating roller (34, 54) and lie adjacent to one another at least essentially transversely to the circumferential and rotating direction of the co-operating roller (34; 54), and the print head front faces are oriented essentially at a tangent to the co-operating roller (34; 54) and the print head mid-axes are oriented essentially radially with respect to the circumferential surface of the co-operating roller (34; 54), and

   - means (24, 76) for generating a desired web tension in the sheet web (16).
2. Device as claimed in claim 1, in which the sheet web dispensing station (2) has a holder mechanism (6, 10) for holding at least two rolls (8, 12) from each of which a sheet web (16) can be drawn, and a joining mechanism (14) which joins the end of a sheet web completely drawn off one roll (8) to the start of a sheet web still disposed completely on another roll (12).
3. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, with a unit (90) disposed downstream of the printing station (20) for adjusting preferably both sides of the sheet web (16).
4. Device as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, with a moistening unit (100) for applying liquid to the sheet web (16), in particular for discharging any existing electrostatic charge to ground or earth and/or for refining the surface of the sheet web (16).
5. Device as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, in which the longitudinal cutting station (110) has several longitudinal blades (112), the transverse spacing of which can be varied.
6. Device as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, in which the longitudinal cutting station (110) co-operates with means (114) for sucking up the edge strips.
7. Device as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, in which a device (130) for separating out poor quality sheets is disposed downstream of the arrangement comprising the longitudinal cutting station (110) and cross-cutting station (120).
8. Device as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, in which a gripper conveyor co-operates with each compartment (152) for transporting away the book block collected there.
9. Device as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, with a temporary buffer (160) connected to the collection station (150) for temporarily storing book blocks.
10. Device as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, with a conveyor unit (170) leading out of the collecting station (150) at an angle, preferably approximately a right angle, with respect to the direction in which the sheet web (16) is moved for transporting the book blocks to a binding station.
11. Device as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, with at least one drying unit (50) for drying the imprinted portions of the sheet web (16), which is contained in particular in the printing station (2).
12. Device as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, with at least one web edge controlling unit (28) which is contained in particular in the printing station (20) and disposed upstream of at least one of the two rollers (34, 54).
13. Device as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, with at least one quality measuring unit (46, 68) which is preferably disposed in the printing station (20), and a quality measuring unit (46, 68) co-operates with a roller (34; 54) and the quality of the sheet web (16) is determined after it has left the roller.
14. Device as claimed in claims 7 and 13, in which the separator device (130) for poor quality sheets is designed so that it can be activated in order to single out those sheets which have been determined as being of poor quality by the quality measuring unit (46, 68).
15. Method of producing book blocks, comprising the steps of

    - feeding at least one printable sheet web (16) moved in its longitudinal direction,

    - pulling the sheet web (16) through a printing station (20) across two rollers (34, 54) one after the other forming a loop angle,

    - guiding the sheet web (16) through the printing station (20) so that when supported on one roller (34), one side (16a) of the sheet web (16), and when supported on the other roller (54) the other side of the sheet web (16) is imprinted,

    - cutting the imprinted sheet web (16) in the printing station (20) either in the longitudinal direction into at least two partial webs lying adjacent to one another with a width corresponding to a predefined width (FB) of the pages of the book block to be produced and then cutting these partial webs into sheets transversely to the conveying direction with a length corresponding to the height (FH) of the pages of the book block to be produced, or cutting in the transverse direction partial portions lying one after the other in the direction of movement to a length corresponding to the height (FH) of the pages of the book block to be produced and then cutting the partial portions of the sheet web (16) lying one after the other in the longitudinal direction into sheets lying adjacent to one another transversely to the direction of movement, and the sheets lying in the direction of movement each form a partial web with a width corresponding to a predefined width (FB) of the pages of the book block to be produced,

    - moving the sheets of each partial web into an overlapping arrangement and

    - collecting the overlapped sheets of each partial web into stacks forming book blocks in a collecting station (150),
    characterised in that

    - the sheet web (16) is imprinted in the printing station (20) by means of print heads (40, 62) operating contactlessly in co-operation with each roller (34; 54) which are spaced at a distance apart from the circumferential surface of the co-operating roller and lie adjacent to one another at least essentially transversely to the circumferential and rotating direction of the co-operating roller (34; 54), and their print head front faces are oriented essentially at a tangent to the co-operating roller (34; 54) and their print head mid-axes are oriented essentially radially with respect to the circumferential surface of the co-operating roller (34; 54), and

    - the sheet web (16) is fed through the printing station (20) with a specific web tension.
16. Method as claimed in claim 29 or 30, comprising the steps of imprinting, in the direction of movement, a first surface (16a) of the sheet web (16) along partial webs lying adjacent to one another transversely to the direction of movement with the content of the sequence of m odd pages and the second surface of the sheet web (16), in the direction of movement, along partial webs lying adjacent to one another transversely to the conveying direction with the content of the sequence of n even pages, during which the content of an odd page is preferably disposed on the first surface (16a) of the sheet web (16) essentially in the same position as the content of its following even page in its page number sequence on the second surface of the sheet web (16).
17. Method as claimed in claim 16, whereby the length (L) of the sheet web (16) is at least a multiple of the height (FB) multiplied by the maximum of m and n.

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