EP2275370A1 - Method and device for opening printing products - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves transporting printed products with a conveyor device with transport clips that are driven in a conveying direction (F). The printed products are supported at an edge region of the printed products. An opening element (72) revolving along a closed movement path is moved in between consecutive printed products, where the opening element engaged on the printed products in a holding region lies behind the edge region in the conveying direction, and firmly holds and pulls out a product part of a holding element. An independent claim is also included for a device for opening and further-transport of printed products.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for opening printed products according to the preamble of the corresponding independent claims.

STATE OF THE ART

A generic device is for example off EP 0 647 582 A1 known. Opened printed products are held by means of transport clamps at their back, transported substantially in a vertical hanging position and supported with their forwardly curved in the conveying direction, the back opposite end portion, pushed in the conveying direction. This gives the back of the open edge of the printed products a defined position, stabilized by bending the printed products and keeps them at a safe distance from each other, so that a suction head can be moved as an opening element from above the printing products supporting support element between printed products. The opening element engages from above the support element between the printed products and attaches to these, while another suction head applies from below to the printed product. This results in a two-sided holding the product parts during the entire opening process. The device is designed to be folded To open single sheets, or to open 2-folded products that are folded a first time and folded a second time at right angles to it. The 2-folded product must not be cut in order to be able to be opened reliably.

EP 1 808 390 shows an apparatus for storing individually successively supplied printed products in a scale flow. The printed products are gripped by a Schuppagregates with rotating, openable and closable grippers. The grippers are arranged in a rotating drum and actuated by a stationary control cam. The grippers hold the printed products firmly in order to pull them on a scale flow and lay down. Thus, no opening of the products is possible, as long as they are held in the gripper.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for opening printed products of the type mentioned, which are applicable to a wider variety of printed products, especially on multi-sided cut products.

This object is achieved by a method and a device for opening printed products with the features of the corresponding independent patent claims. The printed products to be opened are multi-sided, and formed for example by folding, binding, gluing, stitching, etc., and usually also cut, so cut at three edges of the printed product.

In the method and the device for opening printed products so printed products are held on a back and transported. In this case, they are preferably aligned at an edge region opposite the back by means of revolving cams. Subsequently, the border area of a Holding member includes and held loose. With a peripheral opening element which engages behind the edge region on the printed product, preferably the uppermost sheet of the printed product is detected and pulled out of the holding element, while the remaining sheet or the remaining leaves of the printed product remain in the holding element. After retracting an open-holding element into the printed product thus opened, the holding element moves downwards and thus the edge region of the printed product slips out of the holding element.

• ■ Transportieren von Druckereiprodukten mit einer Fördereinrichtung mit in Förderrichtung angetriebenen, im Abstand hintereinander angeordneten Transportklammern, wobei die Transportklammern die Druckereiprodukte an ihrem quer zur Förderrichtung verlaufenden, zwei Produkteteile miteinander verbindenden Rücken halten, vorzugsweise hängend;
• ■ Stützen der Druckereiprodukte an ihrem dem Rücken gegenüberliegenden, in Förderrichtung gegen vorne gebogenen Randbereich mit einem unterhalb der Fördereinrichtung angeordneten, eine im wesentlichen in Förderrichtung wirkende Förderebene bildenden Stützelement;
• ■ Einfahren zwischen aufeinanderfolgenden Druckereiprodukten oberhalb des Stützelements mit einem entlang einer geschlossenen Bewegungsbahn umlaufenden Öffnungselement,
• ■ Anlegen des Öffnungselementes, mit dem hinteren dieser aufeinanderfolgenden Druckereiprodukte mitlaufend, von oben an dessen obenliegenden Produkteteil, und Festhalten desselben;

wobei die weiteren Schritte ausgeführt werden:

• ■ Umfassen des Randbereichs des Druckereiproduktes und Stützen des Druckereiproduktes mittels eines entlang einer geschlossenen Umlaufbahn bewegten und mit dem jeweiligen Druckereiprodukt mitlaufenden Halteelementes;
• ■ wobei das Öffnungselement in einem in Förderrichtung gesehen hinter dem Randbereich liegenden Haltebereich am Druckereiprodukt angreift, den zweiten Produkteteil festhält und aus dem Halteelement herauszieht.

In particular, the method thus has the following steps:

• ■ Transporting printed products with a conveyor with driven in the conveying direction, spaced successively arranged transport clamps, the transport clamps hold the printed products at their transverse to the conveying direction, connecting two product parts together back, preferably hanging;
• ■ support the printed products on their opposite the back, in the conveying direction against the front edge region bent with a arranged below the conveyor, a substantially acting in the conveying direction conveying element forming support member;
• ■ retraction between successive printed products above the support element with an opening element running along a closed path of movement,
• ■ applying the opening element, with the rear of these successive printed products running, from the top to the overhead product part, and holding the same;

the further steps are carried out:

• ■ encompassing the edge region of the printed product and supporting the printed product by means of a holding element moved along a closed circulation path and running with the respective printed product;
• ■ wherein the opening element acts on the printed product in a holding region located behind the edge region in the conveying direction, holds the second product part and pulls it out of the holding element.

Thus, it is preferred that only the first sheet is pulled out of the printed product, or a larger number of sheets, as the second product portion. The number of sheets withdrawn, when the orifice member is a suction head, is a function of the negative pressure with which the suction head is operated and the thickness of the sheets and the porosity or permeability of the paper of the printed product for air: the stronger the negative pressure is the more more leaves are sucked and held in an air-permeable product through the first sheet. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, therefore, the negative pressure with which the opening element is fed in each case when opening, adjustable. This can - with a limited accuracy - the number of extracted pages and thus the location of the opening to be controlled.

The invention is thus particularly suitable for opening once folded single sheet ("foursider"), but also of multi-sided products, which have no further fold. Another fold would be substantially perpendicular to the first fold and it would be lifted when opening, when the other fold faces the opening unit, a whole product half. A multipage product may be, for example, a multiply folded and then cut product.

It is not necessary for the printed product to have a prefold to be opened. This means that the first part of the product and the second part of the product, viewed from the back, can be the same length.

When pulling out the second product part of the holding element of the second product part is preferably loose in the holding element, so without being trapped.

As a result, a simple construction of the holding elements without further actuating elements for controlling the holding elements, for example for synchronized clamping and releasing the printed products is possible. In another embodiment of the invention, the holding elements can be actuated, so that the printed products are held with a low clamping force, that is to say in a form-locking and slightly non-positive manner. The operation can be done electrically, pneumatically, mechanically, etc.

• ■ vor dem Umfassen des Randbereichs mit dem Halteelement, Zurückhalten und Ausrichten der Druckereiprodukte an ihrer dem Rücken gegenüberliegenden Kante des Randbereichs mittels Richtnocken, welche von einem umlaufend angetriebenen Nockenband abstehen und sich im Bereich des oberen Trums des Nockenbandes mit einer Geschwindigkeit bewegen, die kleiner oder gleich einer Fördergeschwindigkeit der Fördereinrichtung ist.

In a preferred variant of the invention, the following further step takes place:

• ■ Prior to embracing the edge region with the retaining element, retaining and aligning the printed products on their opposite edge of the edge region by means of directional cams, which project from a revolving driven cam belt and move in the region of the upper run of the cam belt at a speed, the smaller or is equal to a conveying speed of the conveyor.

This makes it possible to first bring and align the leading edge of the edge region along a longer distance in a controlled position before the transfer to the holding elements takes place. The cams do not form pockets, but are each approximately perpendicular to the edge region (preferably a little inclined to the edge region), whereas the holding elements each extend with their end regions approximately parallel to the edge region.

• ■ Einfahren des Halteelementes jeweils zwischen zwei der Druckereiprodukte in eine Bahn, weiche der Umlaufbahn des Nockenbandes folgt, aber seitlich versetzt neben dieser liegt. Diese Bahn entspricht einem Bahnabschnitt des Nockenbandes und einem Bahnabschnitt der Umlaufbahn des Halteelementes, in welchem diese sich in "parallelen" Bahnen bewegen.
• ■ Bewegen des Halteelementes, dieser Bahn folgend und mit einer Geschwindigkeit, die kleiner als die Geschwindigkeit der Richtnocken ist; und dadurch
• ■ Einfahren des Randbereiches in das Halteelement.

In a preferred variant of the invention the following further steps take place:

• ■ retraction of the holding element in each case between two of the printed products in a path, which follows the orbit of the cam belt, but laterally offset next to this lies. This path corresponds to a path portion of the cam band and a path portion of the orbit of the holding member in which they move in "parallel" paths.
• ■ moving the holding element following this path and at a speed which is less than the speed of the directional cams; and by that
• ■ Retraction of the edge area in the holding element.

As a result, a transfer of the printed products is realized with their edge regions of the cams on the holding elements.

Further preferred embodiments emerge from the dependent claims. Characteristics of the method claims are analogously combined with the device claims and vice versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figur 1

perspektivisch eine Vorrichtung zum Öffnen von Druckereiprodukten;

Figur 2

vergrössert einen Ausschnitt der Figur 1; und

Figur 3 - 7

einen Ablauf beim Öffnen eines Druckereiproduktes mittels der Vorrichtung der Figur 1.

In the following, the subject invention will be explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each show schematically:

FIG. 1

in perspective, a device for opening printed products;

FIG. 2

enlarges a section of the FIG. 1 ; and

Figure 3-7

a sequence when opening a printed product by means of the device of FIG. 1 ,

The reference numerals used in the drawings and their meaning are listed in the list of reference numerals. Basically, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

WAYS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows in perspective a device for opening printed products, with an opening unit 36, which according to the schematic side view of FIG. 3 is to be arranged under a conveyor 10. FIG. 2 shows enlarged a section of the opening unit 36 in the area in which the opening of the printed products takes place.

The opening unit 36 is also arranged directly below the conveyor 10 support member 38 is connected upstream. A detailed description of an opening assembly 36 with opening elements 72 designed as a suction head and a support element 38 can be found in the already mentioned EP 0 647 582 A1 , which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Instead of the suction heads described therein in the guide roller 46 but here are holding elements 50 before.

The support element 38 has endless guided around deflection rollers 40 support belts 42 which are driven in the direction of rotation S at a speed vs, which is greater, preferably twice as large as a conveying speed vf the conveyor 10. Between (and possibly next to) the support bands 42 endless cam belts 98 are arranged, which are guided around guide wheels 100. The cams 98 'of the cam belts 98 pierce from below the conveying plane 38' and project with their free end over this. The cams 98 'are inclined backwards (with respect to the conveying direction), ie form an angle of less than 90 ° with the cam belt 98. The cam belts 98 are driven at a speed vn which is, for example, about 80% of the speed vf of the transporting clamps 16. Accordingly, the distance between the cams 98 'in about 80% as large as the distance of the transport clamps 16. The deflection wheels 100 preferably rotate about the same axis as the deflection rollers 40 of the support belts 42nd

The opening assembly 36 has on one side of the conveyor track respectively the pulleys 40 and pulleys 100 for deflecting the support belts 42 and the cam belts 98 on a disk-like support member 62 which is rotatable about a perpendicular to the conveying direction F and extending in the horizontal direction axis. Radially outward support arms 70 are pivotally mounted on the support member 62 distributed in the circumferential direction. These bear at one end an opening element designed as a suction head 72 and at the other end a control cam 74 cooperating with control cam 76. About the common axis of the pulleys 40 and pulleys 100 is also a rotating support body arranged which the printed products 26 when pressing the opening element 72nd supports.

At the end of the support member 38 26 holding elements 50 are provided for opening the printed products. A holding element 50 is, viewed in the direction of movement, open towards the rear and can thus receive the edge region 44 of a printed product 26. The function of a holding element 50 is to receive and retain the edge region 44, during which a product part is pulled out of the holding element 50 and the remainder of the printed product 26 remains with its edge region 44 in the holding element 50.

The holding elements 50 are preferably arranged circumferentially in a circular path, that is on deflection rollers 46, which are mounted on a horizontally and at right angles to the conveying direction F axis or shaft as the guide rollers 40 for the support bands 42 at the end of the support member 38. A deflecting roller 46 has in the circumferential direction uniformly distributed, for example, four holding elements 50, the orbit of which substantially affects the conveying plane 38 defined by the upper run of the support belts 42. The direction of rotation D of the deflecting rollers 46, deflection rollers 40 and deflecting wheels 100 revolving at different speeds is indicated in the figures by an arrow.

A holding element 50 is made for example of bent spring steel, preferably in one piece. The bending of the holding element 50 is preferably approximately concentric with the axis of rotation of the deflecting roller 46. The holding element is preferably elastic in itself, but firmly fixed to the deflecting roller 46. The holding elements 50 thus form a rearwardly open, pocket-like holder for the printed products 26.

The guide rollers 46 are driven independently of the cam belts 98 and support belts 42. Its speed is mechanically and / or electronically controlled so that the speed of the holding elements 50 is lower than that of the cams 98 '. During the movement about the axis of the deflecting roller, therefore, the holding elements 50 are overtaken by the cams 98 '.

Next, the opening assembly 36 has a spirally shaped hold-open element 102 which is driven to rotate about its approximately parallel to the conveying direction F axis 104 of the hold-open element 102 such that each overhead section 102 'moves with the transport brackets 16 in the conveying direction F. These sections 102 'in each case engage between the product parts 30, 32 which are lifted apart when opening, in order to keep them open during further transport.

The operation of the devices described will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7 described in more detail. In these figures, the Klammermäuler 22 are indicated by a plurality of transport brackets 16 corresponding to a predetermined pitch. The following statements relate to the processes on one side of the web of the printed product 26, wherein mirror-symmetrical components and processes are present on the opposite side.

The printed products 26 rest on the support bands 42 with their edge region 44 bent to the front. As a result of frictional engagement between the support belts 42 and the printed products 26, therefore, the printed products 26 are urged forward in the conveying direction F and come with their open edge or leading edge 34, too Flower called, to align with cam 98 'to the plant. Since these rotate at a lower speed vn than the transport clamps 16, the printed products 26 are bent in a U-shape or S-shape, giving them stability. It is then pivoted from the side of a support arm 70 between each two printed products 26, whereby the respective opening element 72 with a helical movement on the overhead second product part 32 in front of the edge region 44 of, seen in the conveying direction F, the support arm 70 trailing printer product 26th lowers ( FIG. 5 ).

At the same time moves, in the same direction as the cam belt moves, a hook-like holding member 50 in the movement path of the edge portion 44. Since the holding member 50 is open towards the rear, it can absorb the edge portion 44 ( FIGS. 3 to 5 ). The cams 98 'to run at a somewhat greater speed (vn) than the holding elements 50 (vu), whereby the cams 98' from the front edge 34 of the printed products 26 remove as soon as they are held in a holding element 50. As a result, the edge region 44 is transferred from the cams 98 'to the holding elements 50 and ensures that the subsequent opening of the printed products 26 is not hindered by the cams 98'.

The holding elements 50 receive the orientation of the printed products 26 produced by the cams 98 'in the conveying direction and hold, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the holding elements 50, the individual sides in the edge region 44 of the printed products 26 preferably loosely together, ie without the sides pinch. There are preferably no actuating or control means for moving the holding elements 50 required: they simply turn with the guide roller 46 with. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding elements 50 for clocked easy clamping and subsequent release of the printed products 26 can be actuated.

The transfer from the cams 98 'to the support members 50 takes place during movement of the leading edge 34 along a track portion of the cam belt 98 and a track portion of the orbit of the support member 50 in which they move in "parallel" paths. These track sections correspond, for example, one tenth to one eighth or one quarter of the circumference of the guide roller. At the beginning of these sections ( FIG. 3 ) is the leading edge 34 in abutment with the cam 98 ', at its end ( FIG. 5 ) is the edge region 44 with the front edge 34 in the stop 52 on the support members 50th

The synchronization between the support element 62 and the deflection roller 46 is selected such that in the region of the deflection roller 46 in each case a holding element 50 which includes the edge region 44 and an opening element 72 engages the printed product 26. The opening element 72 comes to lie in the conveying direction, in each case behind the holding element 50 and preferably in the axial direction of the Umklenkwalze 46 offset in a holding portion 45 of the second product part 32 ( Figures 2 and 5 ), and thus can pull out the overhead second product part 32 from the holding element 50 ( FIG. 6 ). When pulling out the second product part 32 bends in the edge region 44, which is not a problem, since the second product part 32 is usually only a single page. All remaining sides form the first product part 30 and remain with its edge region 44 in the holding element 50.

The opening member 72 is connected to a vacuum source to hold the (overhead) second product part 32. By turning the guide roller 46 is now the edge portion 44 with the leading edge of the first Product parts 30, lying in the holding element 50, led to the deflection roller 46 down and also, as seen in the conveying direction, delayed with respect to the back 28 ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ). The overhead second product part 32 is, held by the opening member 72, substantially in the conveying direction F along the movement path of the opening member 72 further moved, wherein the second product part 32 is pulled out of the holding member 50. As a result, the printed product 26 is opened. As a result of the guide of the first product part 30 about the guide roller 46 down and due to the movement of the respective opening member 72, the S-shaped bend in the printed product 26 is substantially canceled ( FIG. 7 ) .

Between the separated product parts 30, 32 pierces the hold-open element 102 from below ( FIG. 7 ) , after which the opening element 72 is vented and the second product part 32 is released. At the same time, the holding element 50 continues to rotate downwards and releases the first product part 30, in that the depending edge region 44 slips out of the holding element 50. During further transport, the printed products 26 are kept open by a section 102 'of the hold-open element 102 which engages in each case between the product parts 30, 32. After venting the opening element 72, the relevant support arm 70 is swiveled back with the opening element 72.

It should be noted that of course always between two successive printed products 26, a support arm 70 is pivoted, in the FIGS. 3 to 7 but for the sake of clarity, only one opening element 72 is drawn.

Of course, the movement of support belts 42 cam belts 98, opening elements 72, guide rollers 46 and hold-open element 102 synchronized to the conveyor 10, and their mutual phase position is adjustable. Further, the support member 38 and the opening unit 36 in the vertical direction adjustable in height to ensure adaptation to differently sized printed products 26.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Conveyor

16

transport clamp

22

clamp mouth

26

printing product

28

move

30

first product part

32

second product part

34

leading edge

36

opening assembly

38

support element

38 '

conveying plane

40

idler pulley

42

supporting bandages

44

border area

45

holding area

46

deflecting

50

retaining element

52

Stop on the holding element

62

supporting member

70

Beam

72

opening element

74

scenery

76

control roller

98

cam belt

98 '

Cam, straightening cam

100

guide wheels

102

Holding-open element

102 '

Section of the hold-open element

104

Axle of the hold-open element

F

conveying direction

S

Circulation direction of the support element

D

direction of rotation

Claims (15)

Process for opening printed products (26), comprising the steps of: ■ transporting printed products with a conveyor (10) in the conveying direction (F) driven, spaced successively arranged transport clamps (16), wherein the transport clamps (16) the printed products (26) at its transversely to the conveying direction (F) extending, two product parts (30, 32) holding together connecting backs (28); Supporting the printed products (26) on their edge region (44), which projects in the conveying direction (F), opposite the spine (28), with a conveying plane (38) acting essentially in the conveying direction (F), arranged below the conveying device (10) forming support element (38); Retraction between successive printed products (26) above the support element (38) with an opening element (72) revolving along a closed path of movement, ■ applying the opening element (72), with the rear of these successive Druckereiprodukte (26) running, from the top of its overhead product part (32), and holding the same; characterized in that the method comprises the further steps of: ■ encompassing the edge region (44) of the printed product (26) and supporting the printed product (26) by means of a holding element (50) moving along a closed circulation path and running with the respective printed product (26); ■ wherein the opening element (72) in a conveying direction behind the edge region (44) lying holding portion (45) on Druckereiprodukt (26) engages, the second product part (32) holds and pulls out of the holding element (50). Method according to claim 1, with the further step: ■ Removing the product parts (30, 32) in the edge region (44) from each other, in opening portions of the movement path of the opening element and the orbit of the holding element, by moving the second product part (32) by means of the opening element (72) in the conveying direction (F) and retaining the first product parts (30) by means of the holding element (50) against the conveying direction (F). The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second product part (32) has exactly one leaf. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second product part (32) comprises two or more sheets. The method of claim 4, wherein the number of sheets of the second product part (32) is at least approximately controllable by specifying an adjustable negative pressure acting as an opening element (72) suction head. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the back (28) is formed by a fold, and the printed product (26) in addition to this fold has no further fold. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the printed product (26) has no prefold. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein when pulling out the second product part (32) from the holding element (50) of the second product part (32) loosely in the holding element (50). Method according to one of the preceding claims, with the further step: ■ before embracing the edge region (44) with the retaining element (50), retaining and aligning the printed products (26) on their edge (34) of the edge region (44) opposite the back (28) by means of straightening cams (98 ') a circumferentially driven cam belt (98) protrude and move in the region of an upper run of the cam belt (98) at a speed (vn), which is less than or equal to a conveying speed (vf) of the conveyor (10). Method according to claim 9, with the further steps: ■ Retraction of the holding element (50) between each two of the printed products (26) in a path which follows the orbit of the cam belt (98), but laterally offset next to this lies; Moving the holding element (50) following this path and at a speed (vu) which is less than the speed (vn) of the directing cams (98 '); and by that ■ Retraction of the edge region (44) in the holding element (50). Apparatus for opening and further transporting printed products, comprising a conveying device (10) with conveying clamps (16) arranged at a distance one behind the other and arranged to convey the printed products (26) at their direction transverse to the conveying direction (F) to hold two product parts (30, 32) connecting backs (28),
a below the conveyor (10) arranged, a substantially in the conveying direction (F) acting conveying plane (38 ') forming support member (38) for supporting the printed products (26) at its the back (28) opposite, in the conveying direction (F) against front curved edge area (44), and
an opening element (72) which revolves along a closed path of movement and is intended to move in above the support element (38) between successive printed products (26) and, with the rear of these printed products (26) running, from above on its upper product part (32 ) create and hold this,
characterized in that the device comprises a holding element (50) moved along a closed circulation path and intended to follow the edge region (44) of the printed product (26) in line with the respective printed product (26) and to support it in the direction of movement, wherein the opening element (72) is provided to engage the printed product (26) in a holding region (45), viewed in the conveying direction behind the edge region (44), to hold the second product part (32) and to pull it out of the holding element (50). Apparatus according to claim 11, comprising a circumferentially driven cam belt (98), from which directional cams (98 ') protrude, which move in the region of the upper run of the cam belt (98) at a speed (vn) which is less than or equal to a conveying speed ( vf) of the conveyor (10), and against which the printed products (26) with their back (28) opposite edge (34) of the edge region (44) are urged to align. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the support member (50) is arranged to retract each between two of the printed products (26) into a path following the orbit of the cam belt (98) but laterally offset therefrom and then that web to move at a speed (vu) that is less than the speed (Vn) of the directing cams (98 '). Device according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the opening element (72) is a suction head, and preferably a negative pressure with which the suction head is operable when opening the Druckereiproduktes (26) is adjustable in its thickness. Device according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the holding element (50) is formed from bent spring steel, for loose or positive and slightly frictional holding printed products (26).

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