EP2527158B1 - Dispositif de fixation combiné avec assemblage automatique de cahiers - Google Patents

Dispositif de fixation combiné avec assemblage automatique de cahiers Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2527158B1
EP2527158B1 EP12169300.6A EP12169300A EP2527158B1 EP 2527158 B1 EP2527158 B1 EP 2527158B1 EP 12169300 A EP12169300 A EP 12169300A EP 2527158 B1 EP2527158 B1 EP 2527158B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
signature
overlapped
basic
signatures
folding
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP12169300.6A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2527158A2 (fr
EP2527158A3 (fr
Inventor
Alfredo Cordella
Silvano Capelli
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Meccanotecnica SpA
Original Assignee
Meccanotecnica SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from IT000935A external-priority patent/ITMI20110935A1/it
Application filed by Meccanotecnica SpA filed Critical Meccanotecnica SpA
Publication of EP2527158A2 publication Critical patent/EP2527158A2/fr
Publication of EP2527158A3 publication Critical patent/EP2527158A3/fr
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Publication of EP2527158B1 publication Critical patent/EP2527158B1/fr
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42C—BOOKBINDING
    • B42C1/00—Collating or gathering sheets combined with processes for permanently attaching together sheets or signatures or for interposing inserts
    • B42C1/12—Machines for both collating or gathering and permanently attaching together the sheets or signatures
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H39/00—Associating, collating, or gathering articles or webs
    • B65H39/02—Associating,collating or gathering articles from several sources
    • B65H39/04—Associating,collating or gathering articles from several sources from piles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42B—PERMANENTLY ATTACHING TOGETHER SHEETS, QUIRES OR SIGNATURES OR PERMANENTLY ATTACHING OBJECTS THERETO
    • B42B2/00—Permanently attaching together sheets, quires or signatures by stitching with filamentary material, e.g. textile threads
    • B42B2/02—Machines for stitching with thread
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42B—PERMANENTLY ATTACHING TOGETHER SHEETS, QUIRES OR SIGNATURES OR PERMANENTLY ATTACHING OBJECTS THERETO
    • B42B9/00—Devices common to machines for carrying out the processes according to more than one of the preceding main groups
    • B42B9/04—Devices common to machines for carrying out the processes according to more than one of the preceding main groups for conveying downwardly-open signatures
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42C—BOOKBINDING
    • B42C19/00—Multi-step processes for making books
    • B42C19/02—Multi-step processes for making books starting with single sheets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42C—BOOKBINDING
    • B42C19/00—Multi-step processes for making books
    • B42C19/04—Multi-step processes for making books starting with signatures
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42P—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO BOOKS, FILING APPLIANCES OR THE LIKE
    • B42P2261/00—Manufacturing; Forming
    • B42P2261/04—Producing books by printing sheets in following order, e.g. for ordering via the Internet
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/43—Gathering; Associating; Assembling
    • B65H2301/435—Gathering; Associating; Assembling on collecting conveyor
    • B65H2301/4351—Gathering; Associating; Assembling on collecting conveyor receiving articles astride thereon
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/20—Location in space
    • B65H2511/25—Sequence
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/40—Identification

Definitions

  • the solution according to one or more embodiments of the present invention relates to the bookbinding field. More specifically, this solution relates to bookbinding binding machines.
  • Bookbinding binding machines are commonly used to make books formed by blocks of signatures bound together (for example, sewn together in sewn books); each signature is formed by a printed sheet, which is folded one or more times to define corresponding pages of the books.
  • the sewn books may be made using either classic sewing machines (which process signatures already prepared) or more recent flat sheet machines (which also form the signatures).
  • a sewing machine comprises a feeding station, which extracts the signatures in succession from a hopper, opens them and deposits them onto a fixed saddle; the fixed saddle transports the signatures to a sewing station, wherein they are sewn to a book block in the making by means of continuous threads.
  • the sewing machines are very fast, and they allow using signatures printed on very large sheets (reduced to the desired size of the signatures by means of multiple folds) that may be obtained with rotary or offset printers at high yield.
  • a flat sheet machine instead comprises a gathering device that extracts flat sheets in succession from a hopper, and stacks them to form groups of sheets corresponding to the signatures; as soon as each group of sheets has been completed, it is transferred to a folding device, which folds it in order to obtain a corresponding signature that is deposited astride the same fixed saddle directly (to be transported to the same sewing station).
  • An example of flat sheet machine is described in EP-A-0846573 , while an example of commercially available flat sheet machine is KRISTEC® by Meccanotecnica S.p.A. (KRISTEC is a registered trademark of Meccanotecnica S.p.A. in some countries).
  • KRISTEC is a registered trademark of Meccanotecnica S.p.A. in some countries).
  • the flat sheet machines are very flexible, and they allow producing books on request quickly and at low cost, even of very limited edition (especially in the case in which the corresponding flat sheets are printed with digital printers).
  • overlapped (or composite) signatures each of which is formed by two or more (basic) signatures superimposed one on another; for example, the overlapped signatures are used to add inserts into the books (such as special paper or custom inserts).
  • WO-A-2012/028725 instead describes a combined machine, which is able to process both the signatures provided already prepared and the signatures formed from the flat sheets. This allows exploiting the advantages of both the traditional sewing machines and the flat sheet sewing machines (limiting the drawbacks thereof); for example, it is possible always to use the signatures provided already prepared (faster), and the signatures formed from the flat sheets only when it is necessary (for example, to add inserts) - in particular for the formation of overlapped signatures.
  • the correct operation of both the sewing machines and the flat sheet machines requires that they should be suitably programmed. Indeed, for each job to be executed (consisting of the production of a batch of books of the same type) it is necessary to specify the number of signatures of each book block (to allow their correct sewing); moreover, in the case of flat sheet machines it is also necessary to specify the number of flat sheets of each signature (to allow their correct gathering). Furthermore, the sewing machines and the flat sheet machines are generally also equipped with control systems, more or less sophisticated, of the processing sequence of the signatures (for detecting corresponding errors automatically).
  • EP-A-2213468 describes a flat sheet machine that exploits configuration information inserted in a bar code printed on each flat sheet; such configuration information comprises a progressive number of the sheet in the corresponding signature, a total number of sheets of such signature, a progressive number of the signature in the corresponding book block, and a total number of signatures of the book block.
  • the configuration information is used to cause the folding of a group of sheets when it has been completed (in response to the reading of the progressive number of sheet equal to the total number of sheets), and to cause the cutting of the threads of a group of signatures sewn together when it has been completed (in response to the reading of the progressive number of signature equal to the total number of signatures).
  • the same configuration information is also used to detect sequence errors of the sheets (when the progressive number of sheet does not match the one of the expected sheet in the signature or the progressive number of signature does not match the one of the expected signature in the book block).
  • the solution according to an embodiment of the present invention is based on the idea of automatically controlling the formation of overlapped signatures comprising signatures of different types.
  • an aspect of the solution according to an embodiment of the invention provides a method as set out in claim 1 for controlling a combined bookbinding machine.
  • Another aspect of the solution according to an embodiment of the invention provides a software program for performing such method as defined in claim 11.
  • a different aspect of the solution according to an embodiment of the invention provides a corresponding bookbinding combined machine as defined in claim 12.
  • the solution according to one or more embodiments of the invention, as well as further features and the advantages thereof, will be best understood with reference to the following detailed description, given purely by way of a non-restrictive indication, to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings (wherein, for the sake of simplicity, corresponding elements are denoted with equal or similar references and their explanation is not repeated, and the name of each entity is generally used to denote both its type and its attributes - such as value, content and representation).
  • the figures are not necessary drawn to scale (with some details that may be exaggerated and/or simplified) and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely used to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein. Particularly:
  • FIG.1 With reference in particular to the FIG.1 , there is shown a pictorial representation of a combined sewing machine 100 in which the solution according to an embodiment of the invention may be applied.
  • the combined sewing machine 100 is used to sew signatures together for the production of corresponding sewn books (not shown in the figure). Each signature is formed by a printed sheet, which is folded one or more times to define different pages of the books.
  • the combined sewing machine 100 is capable of processing both signatures that are provided already prepared to the combined sewing machine 100 and opened therein (hereinafter, referred to as opening signatures Sp) and signatures that are formed in the sewing machine by folding a corresponding flat sheet (hereinafter, referred to as folding signatures Sf); for example, the opening signatures Sp are obtained by printing flat sheets in large quantities with rotary or offset printers and folding them in suitable folding machines, while the flat sheets for the folding signatures Sf are printed in small quantities with digital printers.
  • the combined sewing machine 100 comprises an opening feeding station 110p for providing the opening signatures Sp in succession, and a folding feeding station 110f for providing the folding signatures Sf in succession.
  • a hopper 115p is used to load a stack of opening signatures Sp (grouped in blocks of one or more opening signatures Sp, each one for a corresponding book); each opening signature Sp may comprise any number of pages being multiple of four according to its number of folds.
  • a bar codes reader 117p (for example, based on a camera) is used to read bar codes printed on a front side of each opening signature Sp at the bottom of the hopper 115p.
  • An extraction device 120p (for example, a gripper with suction cups) extracts the opening signatures Sp in succession from the bottom of the hopper 115p, and provides them to an opening device 125p; in turn, the opening device 125p (for example, based on a series of lower and higher suction cups) opens each opening signature Sp in the middle.
  • a hopper 115f is used to load a stack of flat sheets FP (grouped in blocks of one or more flat sheets FP, each one for a corresponding book).
  • a bar code reader 117f (for example, based on a camera) is used to read bar codes printed on a front side of each flat sheet Fp at the top of the hopper 115f.
  • An extraction device 120f (for example, a suction wheel) extracts the flat sheets FP in succession from the top of the hopper 115f, and provides them to a folding device 125f; in turn, the folding device 125f folds each flat sheet FP in half to obtain the corresponding folding signature Sf (with four pages, in jargon a four-page signature); for example, the folding device 125f comprises a pair of belts, which transports the flat sheet FP from a pair of creasing rollers to a battery of one or more pairs of folding rollers.
  • the opening signatures Sp and the folding signatures Sf are provided by the opening feeding station 110p and by the folding feeding station 110f, respectively, to a transport station 130 for forming corresponding overlapped signatures Sa (as described below); each overlapped signature Sa comprises one or more folding signatures Sf and one or more opening signatures Sp being overlapped one to another.
  • the transport station 130 comprises a fixed saddle 140, which is formed by a saddle plate (being wedge-shaped, like an overturned V) for resting the (opened) overlapped signatures Sa; a chain with push pins (not shown in the figure) is housed inside the saddle plate, so that the pegs protrude through a longitudinal slot of the saddle plate (close to a vertex thereof) to push the overlapped signatures Sa along a transport direction thereof (from the right to the left in the figure).
  • the folding feeding station 110f butts against the fixed saddle 140 at an input thereof along the transport direction (on the right in the figure); the opening feeding station 110p is instead at the side of the fixed saddle 140 slightly downstream the folding feeding station 110f along the transport direction (on its left in the figure).
  • the overlapped signatures Sa are transported on the fixed saddle 140 individually towards a sewing station 155 (butting against the fixed saddle 140 at an output thereof).
  • the sewing station 155 comprises a movable saddle 160, which receives each overlapped signature Sa from the fixed saddle 140 (when it is opened so as to be aligned therewith).
  • the movable saddle 160 is then closed to bring the overlapped signature Sa below a sewing head 165; the sewing head 165 sews the overlapped signature Sa loaded on the movable saddle 160 by means of continuous threads to a book block in the making (by binding it to a previous overlapped signature Sa of the book block if different from the first one).
  • the threads are cut to separate it from the next overlapped signatures Sa.
  • the book blocks thus obtained (denoted with the reference 170) are deposited in succession onto an output conveyor 175, from which they are provided to further machines (not shown in the figure) that complete the corresponding books.
  • the combined sewing machine 100 is provided with four separate motors 180p, 180f, 180t, and 180c (with their respective position transducers) for driving the opening feeding station 110p, the folding opening station 110f, the transport station 130 and the sewing station 155, respectively, in an independent way. This allows operating the various stations 110p, 110f, 130 and 155 in a differentiated way (during each operating cycle of the combined sewing machine 100) to obtain the desired overlapped signatures Sa.
  • the folding feeding station 110f deposits one or more folding signatures Sf astride the fixed saddle 140, while the transport station 130 is maintained stationary, for contributing to the formation of a corresponding overlapped signature Sa; in this way, a first folding signature Sf is placed onto the fixed saddle 140, and any possible next folding signature Sf is placed onto a preceding folding signature Sf.
  • the overlapped signature Sa in the making is then transported to the side of the opening feeding station 110p.
  • the opening feeding station 110p deposits one or more opening signatures Sp astride the fixed saddle 140, while the transport station 130 is maintained stationary, for contributing as well to the formation of the overlapped signature Sa; in this way, a first opening signature Sp is placed onto a last folding signature Sf, and any possible next opening signature Sp is placed onto a previous opening signature Sp.
  • the transport station 130 transports it to the sewing station 155 for its sewing to the corresponding book block in the making.
  • a programmable logic controller (PLC) 185 The operation of the entire combined sewing machine 100 is managed by a programmable logic controller (PLC) 185.
  • PLC programmable logic controller
  • the PLC 185 is provided with a control unit, a volatile working memory (for example, a RAM), and a non-volatile mass memory (for example, an E 2 PROM); the control unit is connected in a conventional manner to a control panel (for example, of the touch-screen type).
  • a volatile working memory for example, a RAM
  • a non-volatile mass memory for example, an E 2 PROM
  • FIG.2 An exemplary flat sheet FP (for a corresponding folding signature) that may be used to apply the solution according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in the FIG.2 .
  • the flat sheet FP comprises four pages being printed in pairs on each side thereof, of which only a page 205a and a page 205b on the front side of the flat sheet FP (intended to be turned upwards in the hopper of the folding feeding station) are visible in the figure.
  • the front side of the flat sheet FP also comprises a bar code BCf (for example, printed in an external trimming area - intended to be cut after the sewing to allow the opening of the pages of the book - at the beginning of the flat sheet FP along an extraction direction thereof from the hopper of the folding feeding station); the bar code BCf comprises a series of parallel lines having variable thickness and spacing, which represent a corresponding value according to a predefined encoding.
  • the value of the bar code BCf comprises configuration information, which is used to control the processing of the folding signature corresponding to the flat sheet FP (obtained by folding it in the folding feeding station).
  • the value of the bar code BCf comprises a progressive number of folding signature PRGf that indicates a position of the folding signature in the corresponding group of folding signatures of the corresponding overlapped signature, together with a total number of folding signatures TOTf of this overlapped signature;
  • the bar code BCf may also comprise a progressive number of overlapped signature PRGa that indicates a position of the corresponding overlapped signature in the corresponding book block, together with a total number of overlapped signatures TOTa of this book block.
  • an exemplary opening signature Sp that may be used to apply the solution according to an embodiment of the invention is instead shown in the FIG.3 .
  • the opening signature Sp comprises eight pages (in jargon, a eight-page signature), of which only one page 305th on the front side of the opening signature Sp (intended to be turned downwards in the hopper of the opening feeding station) and a portion of a page 305b inside the opening signature Sp are visible in the figure.
  • the front side of the opening signature Sp also comprises a bar code BCp (in this case as well printed in an external trimming area, at the beginning of the opening signature Sp along an extraction direction thereof from the hopper of the opening feeding station).
  • the value of the bar code BCp comprises similar configuration information, which is used to control the processing of the folding signature Sp - i.e ., a progressive number of opening signature PRGp that indicates a position of the opening signature Sp in the corresponding group of opening signatures of the corresponding overlapped signature, together with a total number of opening signatures TOTp of this overlapped signature, and possibly the corresponding progressive number of overlapped signature PRGa together with the corresponding total number of overlapped signatures TOTa as well.
  • the configuration information (of either the folding signatures or the opening signatures) is used to control the formation of the corresponding overlapped signatures automatically. This avoids, or at least substantially reduces, any manual programming operation of the combined sewing machine. In this way, the use of the combined sewing machine is remarkably simplified. Furthermore, the removal of the human intervention (for the programming of the combined sewing machine) substantially reduces the risk of errors.
  • the same information also allows controlling the processing sequence of the basic signatures in an automatic way. This prevents (or at least greatly reduces) the risk of obtaining defective book blocks, with a positive effect on the production quality of the books. This result is obtained without requiring any learning phase, since the basic signatures already comprise the information that defines their processing order.
  • FIG.4A-FIG.4F The various phases of a process of formation of exemplary overlapped signatures in this combined sewing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the invention are shown in the FIG.4A-FIG.4F .
  • the opening feeding station 110p, the folding feeding station 110f and the transport station 130 will be considered all working at the same operating frequency - so that during each operating cycle of the combined sewing machine 100 an operating cycle of the opening feeding station 110p, an operating cycle of the folding feeding station 110f and an operating cycle of the transport station 130 are performed (while the sewing station 155 may operate either at the same operating frequency of the transport station 130 or at a reduced operating frequency). Nevertheless, the opening feeding station 110p, the folding feeding station 110f and the transport station 130 may also operate at operating frequencies being independent one to another (for example, with the feeding stations 110p, 110f faster than the transport station 130, and particularly the folding feeding station 110f faster than the opening feeding station 110p).
  • the basic signatures i.e ., the opening signatures and the folding signatures with the corresponding flat sheets
  • their reference symbol i.e ., Sp, Sf and FP, respectively
  • the overlapped signature comprises two folding signatures (provided by the folding feeding station 110f) and an opening signature (provided by the opening feeding station 110p).
  • the first flat sheet and the corresponding first folding signature of the first overlapped signature are identified by FP(1/2,1/10) and Sf(1/2,1/10), respectively (to indicate the flat sheet and the folding signature 1 of 2 in the overlapped signature 1 of 10), its second flat sheet and the corresponding second folding signature are identified by FP(2/2,1/10) and Sf(2/2,1/10), respectively, and the first opening signature (third basic signature) is identified by Sp(1/1,1/10); the first flat sheet and the corresponding first folding signature of the second overlapped signature are identified by FP(1/2,2/10) and Sf(1/2,2/10), respectively, and so on until the first opening signature (third basic signature) of the last overlapped signature that is identified by Sp(1/1,10/10).
  • the overlapped signatures are identified in the following by their reference symbol (i.e ., Sa) followed by the relevant portion of the configuration information being equal in all the corresponding basic signatures ( i.e ., the progressive number of overlapped signature PRGa and the total number of overlapped signatures TOTa). Therefore, in the example at issue the first overlapped signature - formed by the basic signatures Sf(1/2,1/10), Sf(2/2,1/10) and Sp(1/1,1/10) - is identified by Sa(1/10), and so on until the last overlapped signature that is identified by Sa(10/10).
  • the transport station 130 there are present (astride the fixed saddle 140, backwards along the transport direction from the sewing station 155 to the folding feeding station 110f) the next overlapped signatures Sa(8/10) (in front of the sewing station 55, ready to be provided thereto), Sa(9/10) and Sa(10/10) (at the side of the opening feeding station 110p), and the folding signature Sf(1/2,1/10) of the first overlapped signature in the making of a next book block (in front of the folding feeding station 110f).
  • the opening feeding station 110p there are present (backwards along a processing direction from the fixed saddle 140 to the hopper 115p) the opening signature Sp(1/1,1/10) (open in front of the fixed saddle 140, ready to be provided thereto), the opening signatures Sp(1/1,2/10), Sp(1/1,3/10) and Sp(1/1,4/10) (in course of opening in the opening device 125p) and the opening signature Sp(1/1,5/10) (at the bottom of the hopper 115p).
  • the folding feeding station 110f there are present (backwards along a processing direction from the fixed saddle 140 to the hopper 115f) the folding signature Sf(2/2,1/10) (open in front of the fixed saddle 140, ready to be provided thereto), the flat sheets FP(1/2,2/10) and FP(2/2,2/10) (in course of folding in the folding device 125F) and the flat sheet FP(1/2,3/10) (at the top of the hopper 115f).
  • FIG.4B together with the FIG.4A , during a next operating cycle (of the combined sewing machine 100) only the folding feeding station 110f is activated, while the opening feeding station 110p, the transport station 130 and the sewing station 155 are maintained stopped.
  • the folding signature Sf(2/2,1/10) is deposited astride the fixed saddle 140 onto the folding signature Sf (1/2,1/10) (stationary in front of the folding feeding station 110f), so as to add to the corresponding overlapped signature in the making; moreover, the flat sheet FP(1/2,2/10) completes its folding (so as to obtain the corresponding folding signature Sf(1/2,2/10) that moves in front of the fixed saddle 140, ready to be supplied thereto), the flat sheet FP(2/2,2/10) advances in the folding device 125f, and the flat sheet FP(1/2,3/10) is extracted from the hopper 115f and provided to the folding device 125f, so that a further flat sheet FP(2/2,3/10) moves to the top of the hopper 115f.
  • the overlapped signature Sa(8/10) (ready on the fixed saddle 140 in front of the movable saddle 160) is conveyed onto the movable saddle 160 (lowered in front of the fixed saddle 140), the overlapped signature Sa(9/10) moves in front of the sewing station 155 (ready to be supplied thereto), the overlapped signature in the making moves in front of the opening feeding station 110p, and the position in front of the folding feeding station 110f is released.
  • the movable saddle 160 is closed to bring the overlapped signature Sa(8/10) under the sewing head 165 so that it is sewn to the book block in the making therein, and it is then opened to slip off the overlapped signature Sa(8/10) so that the movable saddle 160 is free when it returns aligned with the fixed saddle 140.
  • both the opening feeding station 110p and the folding feeding station 110f are activated, while the transport station 130 and the sewing station 155 are maintained stopped. Therefore, in the opening feeding station 110p the opening signature Sp(1/1,1/10) is deposited astride the fixed saddle 140 onto the folding signatures Sf(1/2,1/10) and Sf(2/2,1/10) (stationary in front of the opening feeding station 110p), so as to complete the corresponding overlapped signature Sa(1/10); moreover, the opening signature Sp(1/1,2/10) completes its opening (moving in front of the fixed saddle 140, ready to be supplied thereto), the opening signatures Sp(1/1,3/10) and Sp(1/1,4/10) advance in the opening device 125p, and the opening signature Sp(1/1,5/10) is extracted from the hopper 115p and provided to the opening device 125p, so that a further opening signature Sp(1/1,6/10) moves to the bottom of the hopper 115p.
  • the folding signature Sf(1/2,2/10) is deposited astride the fixed saddle 140, so as to start the formation of the corresponding overlapped signature; moreover, the flat sheet FP(2/2,2/10) completes its folding (so as to obtain the corresponding folding signature Sf(2/2,2/10) that moves in front of the fixed saddle 140, ready to be provided thereto), the flat sheet FP(1/2,3/10) advances in the folding device 125f, and the flat sheet FP(2/2,3/10) is extracted from the hopper 115f and provided to the folding device 125f, so that a further flat sheet FP(1/2,4/10) moves to the top of the hopper 115f.
  • the transport station 130 and the sewing station 155 are activated (while the opening feeding station 110p and the folding feeding station 110f are maintained stopped). Therefore, in the transport station 130 the overlapped signatures Sa(10/10), Sa(1/10), Sa(2/10) and the overlapped signature in the making (comprising the folding signatures Sf (1/2,3/10) and Sf(2/2,3/10)) advance along the fixed saddle 140 by a position, with the overlapped signature Sa(10/10) that is conveyed onto the movable saddle 160 (lowered in front of the fixed saddle 140).
  • the movable saddle 160 is closed to bring the overlapped signature Sa(10/10) under the sewing head 165 so that it is sewn to the book block in the making therein; moreover, in this case the threads are cut so as to complete the corresponding book block 170, which will be deposited onto the output conveyor 175.
  • the transport station 130 and the sewing station 155 are always activated simultaneously, so that the may also be provided with a single motor with a fixed mechanical connection.
  • the maintaining of the sewing station 155 stopped does not involve any significant problems in general, since a stop period of the movable saddle 160 (which is the part thereof with the greater inertia) is provided for in any case for receiving the signature to be sewn from the fixed saddle 140.
  • the combined sewing machine is provided with separate motors for the transport station 130 and the sewing station 155
  • the transport station 130 only is stopped during the formation of each overlapped signature by the feeding stations 110p and 110f. This avoids any problems during the stopping and re-starting phases of the sewing station 155, which might be caused by its high inertia (while in general they do not occur for the transport station 130 due to its negligible inertia).
  • FIG.5A-FIG.5C The various phases of a process of formation of exemplary overlapped signatures in this combined sewing machine 100 according with another embodiment of the invention are shown in FIG.5A-FIG.5C .
  • the sewing station 155 has an operating frequency equal to 1/2 of the operating frequency of the combined sewing machine 100; therefore, during each operating cycle of the combined sewing machine 100 (defined by its phase from 0° to 360°, equal to a complete rotation of a shaft of the motor of each one of the stations 110p, 110f and 130 that are activated), the sewing station 155 performs a fraction - i.e ., 1/2 - of its operating cycle (defined by its phase ⁇ s from 0° to 180° and from 180° to 360°, respectively, of a complete rotation of a shaft of the corresponding motor).
  • the overlapped signatures Sa(8/10), Sa(9/10), Sa(10/10) and the overlapped signature in the making advance along the fixed saddle 140 by a position, with the overlapped signature Sa(8/10) that is conveyed onto the movable saddle 160 (lowered in front of the fixed saddle 140).
  • the movable saddle 160 is closed to bring the overlapped signature Sa(8/10) under the sewing head 165 and to begin sewing the book block in the making therein (while in the opening feeding station 110p the opening signature Sp(1/1,1/10) is deposited astride the fixed saddle 140 onto the folding signatures Sf(1/2,1/10) and Sf(2/2,1/10) so as to complete the corresponding overlapped signature Sa(1/10), and in the folding feeding station 110f the folding signature Sf(1/2,2/10) is deposited astride the fixed saddle 140, so as to start the formation of the corresponding overlapped signature).
  • FIG.6A-FIG.6B A diagram describing the flow of activities relating to an implementation of the solution according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in the FIG.6A-FIG.6B .
  • this solution may be implemented using a software program that is executed under the control of the PLC of the combined sewing machine.
  • the corresponding information (programs and data) is typically stored in the mass memory of the PLC and loaded (at least partially) into its working memory when the programs are running.
  • the programs are initially installed onto the mass memory, for example, from an external computer.
  • each block in the diagram may represent a module, segment or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function (or more).
  • the activity diagram represents an exemplary process that may be implemented in the above-described combined sewing machine (to produce books comprising overlapped signatures, formed in part by folding signatures and in part by opening signatures) with a method 600.
  • the method 600 starts at the black start circle 603, and then passes to block 606 when a new job is launched on the combined sewing machine (after loading the corresponding stack of opening signatures and the corresponding stack of flat sheets into the hopper of the opening feeding station and into the hopper of the folding feeding station, respectively).
  • an opening vector VETp comprises a shift register with a number of cells equal to the positions that may be taken by opening signatures along the processing direction of the opening feeding station, from the bottom of the corresponding hopper up to in front of the fixed saddle (five in the example at issue); each cell stores the configuration information of the opening signature in the corresponding position ( i.e ., progressive number of opening signature PRGp, total number of opening signatures TOTp, progressive number of overlapped signature PRGa and total number of overlapped signatures TOTa).
  • the folding vector VETf comprises a shift register with a number of cells equal to the positions that may be taken by flat sheets or folding signatures along the processing direction of the folding feeding station, from the top of the corresponding hopper up to in front of the fixed saddle (four in the example at issue); each cell stores the configuration information of the folding signature in the corresponding position (i.e ., progressive number of folding signature PRGf, total number of folding signatures TOTf, progressive number of overlapped signature PRGa and total number of overlapped signatures TOTa).
  • the overlapped vector VETa comprises a shift register with a number of cells equal to the positions that may be taken by overlapped signatures (both in the making and completed) along the transport direction of the transport station, from in front of the folding feeding station, passing in front of the opening feeding station up to in the front of the sewing station (four in the example at issue); each cell stores the relevant configuration information of the basic signature at the top of the overlapped signature in the corresponding position ( i.e ., progressive number of overlapped signature PRGa and total number of overlapped signatures TOTa).
  • an opening signature index INDp (indicative of an expected position of the opening signature being ready, in the opening feeding station in front of the fixed saddle, in the corresponding group of opening signatures of the corresponding overlapped signature)
  • an opening overlapped signature index INDap (indicative of an expected position of the corresponding overlapped signature, in the making on the fixed saddle in front of the opening feeding station, in the corresponding book block)
  • a folding signature index INDf (indicative of an expected position of the folding signature being ready, in the folding feeding station in front of the fixed saddle, in the corresponding group of folding signatures of the corresponding overlapped signature)
  • a folding overlapped signature index INDaf (indicative of an expected position of the corresponding overlapped signature, in the making on the fixed saddle in front of the folding feeding station, in the corresponding book block)
  • an overlapped signature index INDa (indicative of an expected position of the overlapped signature being ready, in the transport station in front of the movable saddle, in the corresponding book block); there are
  • the opening feeding station and the folding feeding station are activated (possibly out of phase to each other) for a number of operating cycles (of the combined sewing machine) necessary to load both the opening feeding station and the folding feeding station completely ( i.e ., five operational cycles, with a delay operating cycle for the folding opening station, in the example at issue).
  • the bar code of the opening signature at the bottom of the corresponding hopper and the bar code of the folding signature at the top of the corresponding hopper are read and decoded; the values PRGp, TOTp, PRGa, TOTa and PRGf, TOTf, PRGa, TOTa, respectively, derived from the value of the bar code are stored into the corresponding cell of the opening vector VETp and of the folding vector VETf, respectively.
  • this information is used only when the basic signature becomes ready after passing through the feeding station (for its opening or folding, respectively); therefore, the whole time necessary for the processing of the basic signature may be used to decode the bar code, without any particular constraints to the operating speed of the combined sewing machine (or otherwise without any particular requirements to the processing speed of the PLC).
  • a series of operations are then performed to overlap the folding signatures of the first overlapped signature onto the fixed saddle.
  • the method 600 passes to block 612, wherein the opening feeding station is stopped (so that only the folding feeding station remains activated).
  • the folding signature index INDf and the folding overlapped signature index INDaf are both set to 1, and the folding signature register REGf is set equal to the total number of folding signatures TOTf indicated in the configuration information of the ready folding signature (in the last cell of the folding vector VETf).
  • a test is performed at block 618 to verify whether the ready folding signature belongs to the first overlapped signature; for this purpose, the corresponding progressive number of overlapped signature PRGa (extracted from the configuration information of the ready folding signature in the last cell of the folding vector VETf) is verified.
  • a further test is performed at block 621 to verify whether the ready folding signature is the expected one in the first overlapped signature; for this purpose, the progressive number of folding signature PRGf (extracted from the configuration information of the ready folding signature in the last cell of the folding vector VETf) is compared with the folding signature index INDf.
  • the relevant configuration information i.e ., the values PRGa, TOTa
  • PRGa, TOTa the relevant configuration information
  • the bar code of the flat sheet at the top of the corresponding hopper is read and decoded.
  • the configuration information in the folding vector VETf is shifted forward, so as to move the one of the folding signature that will become ready into the last cell and to release the first cell; the values PRGf, TOTf, PRGa and TOTa derived from the value of the bar code are then stored into the first cell of the folding vector VETf (in this case as well, with the decoding of the bar code that may complete later, as long as in time for when the new folding signature becomes ready at the end of the folding feeding station).
  • the method 600 at the block 630 then enters a waiting condition for the completion of the operating cycle, wherein the ready folding signature is deposited from the folding feeding station onto the fixed saddle to contribute to the formation of the first overlapped signature (and a new folding signature becomes ready).
  • the method then returns to the block 618 to repeat the same operations as above.
  • the method 600 descends into block 633.
  • the combined machine enters an error condition, since the ready folding signature is not correct or it cannot be recognized (for example, because its bar code is corrupted or it has not been found); the combined sewing machine is then stopped, and a corresponding alarm signal is output.
  • the method 600 then ends at the final black and white concentric circles 634.
  • the method 600 passes to block 636, wherein the opening feeding station as well is stopped.
  • the transport station is then activated for an operating cycle, and its completion is waited so that the first overlapped signature in the making advances along the fixed saddle to go in front of the opening feeding station, thereby releasing the position along the fixed saddle in front of the opening feeding station; at the same time, the configuration information in the overlapped vector VETa is shifted forward, so as to bring the configuration information of the first overlapped signature from the first cell (for the position in front of the folding feeding station) to the second cell (for the position in front of the opening feeding station).
  • the opening signature index INDp and the opening overlapped signature index INDap are both set equal to 1, and the opening signature register REGp is set equal to the total number of opening signatures TOTp indicated in the configuration information of the ready folding signature (in the last cell of the opening vector VETp).
  • the combined sewing machine may process both the opening signatures and the folding signatures regularly.
  • the following operations are performed before each operating cycle for each one of the opening and folding feeding stations.
  • a test is performed at block 642 to verify whether the ready opening or folding signature (or ready basic signature) is the expected one - according to its configuration information extracted from the last cell of the opening or folding vector VETp/VETf (or basic vector VETp/VETf); for this purpose, the progressive number of opening or folding signature PRGp/PRGF (or progressive number of basic signature PRGp/PRGF) of the ready basic signature is compared with the opening or folding signature index INDp,INDf (or basic signature index INDp,INDf), and the progressive number of overlapped signature PRGa of the ready basic signature is compared with the opening or folding overlapped signature index INDap,INDaf (or basic overlapped signature index INDap,INDaf), respectively.
  • the relevant configuration information i.e ., the values PRGa,TOTa
  • the relevant configuration information i.e ., the values PRGa,TOTa
  • the relevant configuration information i.e ., the values PRGa,TOTa
  • the relevant configuration information i.e ., the values PRGa,TOTa
  • the configuration information in the basic vector VETp,VETf is shifted forward, so as to bring the one of the basic signature that will become ready into the last cell and to releases the first cell; the values PRGp/PRGf, TOTp/TOTf, PRGa and TOTa derived from the value of the bar code are then stored into the first cell of the basic vector VEPp,VETf (in this case as well, with the decoding of the bar code that may complete later on, as long as in time for when the new basic signature becomes ready at the end of the feeding station).
  • the feeding station is then activated for an operating cycle at block 654.
  • the method 600 at the block 657 then enters a waiting condition for the completion of the operating cycle (wherein the ready basic signature is deposited from the feeding station onto the fixed saddle to contribute to the formation of the corresponding overlapped signature, and a new basic signature becomes ready). The method then returns to the block 642 to repeat the same operations as above.
  • another test is performed at block 660 to verify whether the other ready basic signature as well is the first one of its type in the corresponding overlapped signature. If not, the ready basic signature cannot be extracted from the feeding station (since the overlapped signature of the other feeding station is still in the making); this may happen in the opening feeding station (when the total number of opening signatures TOTp is lower than the total number of folding signatures TOTf) or in the folding feeding station (otherwise), while it never happens when the total number of opening signatures TOTp is equal to the total number of folding signatures TOTf.
  • the feeding station is stopped (if necessary) at block 663.
  • the method 600 at the same block 657 then enters a waiting condition for the completion of the operating cycle (wherein the ready basic signature remains in the feeding station) and later on returns to the block 642 to repeat the same operations as above.
  • the basic signatures register REGp,REGf is set equal to the total number of opening or folding signatures TOTp/TOTf (or total number of basic signatures TOTp/TOTf) - extracted from the configuration information in the last cell of the basic vector VETp/VETf - to indicate the total number of basic signatures of the new overlapped signature.
  • the value of the sewing flag INIc is then verified at block 669. If the sewing flag INIc is deasserted (to indicate that the sewing of the overlapped signatures has not been started yet), another test is performed at block 672 to verify whether an overlapped signature is ready in the transport station in front of the movable saddle, as indicated by the last cell of the overlapped vector VETa. If not ( i.e ., if the last cell of the overlapped vector VETa is empty), the sewing station cannot be activated yet since no overlapped signature has reached its movable saddle.
  • the method 600 at block 673 enters a waiting condition for the completion of the operating cycle (wherein the overlapped signatures on the fixed saddle advance by a position along it, with the completed overlapped signature in front of the opening feeding station that releases this position and the overlapped signature in the making in front of the folding feeding station that takes it thereby releasing the position in front of the opening feeding station); at the same time, the configuration information in the overlapped vector VETa is shifted forward by a position. The method 600 then returns to the block 646, so as to perform the operations described above for extracting the ready basic signature from the feeding station.
  • the sewing flag INIc is asserted (to the logic value true) at the block 675; at the same time, the overlapped signature index INIa is set to 0 and the overlapped signature register REGa is set to 1.
  • the method 600 then continues to block 684; the same point is reached directly from the block 669 if the sewing flag INIc is asserted.
  • the sewing station is activated for a single operating cycle.
  • a test is then performed at block 690 to verify whether the ready overlapped signature is the first one of the corresponding book block, as indicated by its progressive number of overlapped signature PRGa.
  • PRGa the progressive number of overlapped signature PRGa.
  • PRGa the preceding book block is completed. Therefore, at block 693 the continuous threads in the sewing head are cut to separate this book block and deposit it onto the output conveyor; at the same time, the overlapped signature register REGa is set equal to the total number of overlapped signatures TOTa indicated in the configuration information of the ready overlapped signature (in the last cell of the overlapped vector VETa) - to indicate the total number of overlapped signatures of the new book block.
  • the method 600 then passes to the same block 673; the same point is also reached directly from the block 690 if the ready overlapped signature is not the first one of the corresponding book block ( i.e ., PRGa ⁇ >1). In both cases, the method 600 enters the same waiting condition for the completion of the operating cycle (wherein the overlapped signatures on the fixed saddle advance by a position along it as above, but wherein the ready overlapped signature is also sewn to the book block in the making in the sewing station, by starting it if the first one thereof), and then returns to the block 646 (to extract the ready basic signature from the feeding station).
  • the method 600 descends into the same block 633 (wherein the combined machine enters an error condition since the ready overlapped signature is not correct, and is then stopped by outputting a corresponding alarm signal), and the method 600 ends at the final black and white concentric circles 634.
  • the method 600 descends in the same block 633 (wherein the combined machine is brought to an error condition since the basic signature is not correct or it cannot be recognized, and it is then stopped with the output of a corresponding alarm signal), and the method 600 ends at final black and white concentric circles 634.
  • the terms include, comprise, have, contain and involve (and any forms thereof) should be intended with an open, non-exhaustive meaning (i.e ., not limited to the recited items), the terms based on, dependent on, according to, function of (and any forms thereof) should be intended as a non-exclusive relationship ( i.e ., with possible further variable involved), and the term a/an should be intended as one or more items (unless expressly indicated otherwise).
  • the configuration information may be provided in any other way (for example, with three-dimensional bar codes or with optical readable characters); moreover, nothing prevents reporting the configuration information only on part of the basic signatures (at most, with the configuration of each book block that is fully described only on a first basic signature of the whole job).
  • the overlapped signatures may be transported to the sewing station with any other structure comprising a saddle (either a fixed or a movable one) on which its basic signatures are gathered. Equivalent techniques may be used to sew the overlapped signatures together, or more generally to bind them (for example, by means of glue or staples).
  • the folding feeding station may have another structure, for example, the flat sheets may be folded more times, or it is possible to gather groups of flat sheets and then folding them together (to obtain a folding signature of the overlapped type as well).
  • the opening feeding station may have another structure (for example, with a different opening device), and it may be used to provide opening signatures of any other type (for example, with any other number of folds).
  • the configuration information may be read in other positions (for example, directly in the ready basic signature when it is stationary in front of the fixed saddle).
  • the feeding stations may be operated in another way, even using the same motor with mechanical decoupling systems (for example, based on corresponding gear changes).
  • the feeding stations may be in any number and arranged in any way along the fixed saddle (for example, with multiple opening feeding stations and multiple folding feeding stations being alternate one to another). In any case, nothing prevents from gathering the basic signatures of a single overlapped signature at a time (in front of the corresponding feeding station), while all the other feeding stations are maintained stopped - for example, when a common position is provided on the fixed saddle both in front of the folding feeding station and in front of the opening feeding station.
  • the transport of the overlapped signature in the making from a feeding station to the next one along the fixed saddle may be controlled by other information (for example, a simple indicator of end of gathering of the corresponding basic signatures comprised in the configuration information).
  • other information for example, a simple indicator of end of gathering of the corresponding basic signatures comprised in the configuration information.
  • each book block may involve performing different and/or additional operations (for example, a blind stitch); in any case, it may be not managed through the configuration information of the basic signatures in a simplified implementation.
  • the binding of the book blocks may be controlled by other information as well (for example, a simple indicator of end of book block provided on the last basic signature of the overlapped signature of each book block).
  • the proposed solution may be implemented as a stand-alone module, as a plug-in for a control program of the PLC, or even directly in the control program itself. Alternatively, the same solution may be applied in a combined sewing machine comprising a distinct computer (or any equivalent data processing system).
  • the software program (which may be used to implement each embodiment of the invention) may take any form suitable to be used by any data processing system or in connection therewith (for example, within a virtual machine), thereby configuring the system to perform the desired operations; particularly, the program may be in the form of external or resident software, firmware, or micro-code (either in object code or in source code - for example, to be compiled or interpreted).
  • the medium may be any element suitable to contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transfer the program.
  • the medium may be of the electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor type; examples of such medium are fixed disks (where the program may be pre-loaded), removable disks, tapes, cards, wires, fibres, wireless connections, networks, broadcast waves, and the like.
  • the solution according to an embodiment of the present invention lends itself to be implemented even with a hardware structure (for example, integrated in a chip of semiconductor material), or with a combination of software and hardware suitably programmed or otherwise configured.
  • every component of the combined bookbinding machine may be separated into more elements, or two or more components may be combined together into a single element; moreover, each component may be replicated to support the execution of the corresponding operations in parallel.
  • any interaction between different components generally does not need to be continuous, and it may be either direct or indirect through one or more intermediaries.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Folding Of Thin Sheet-Like Materials, Special Discharging Devices, And Others (AREA)
  • Collation Of Sheets And Webs (AREA)

Claims (12)

  1. Procédé (600) pour contrôler une machine de reliure combinée (100), le procédé comprenant les étapes suivantes :
    lire (648) des informations de configuration associées au moins en partie à une signature de base qui est prête dans chacune d'une pluralité de stations d'alimentation (110f, 110p) de la machine de reliure combinée comprenant au moins une station d'alimentation de pliage (110f) et au moins une station d'alimentation d'ouverture (110p), les informations de configuration comprenant un numéro progressif de signature de base indicatif d'une position de la signature de base dans un groupe d'une ou plusieurs signatures de base fourni par la station d'alimentation pour une signature superposée correspondante comprenant les groupes de signatures de base fournis par les stations d'alimentation qui sont superposés,
    sélectionner (642, 645, 660) au moins l'une des stations d'alimentation dont la signature de base a le numéro progressif de signature de base non indicatif d'une première signature de base du groupe correspondant ou dont la signature de base a le numéro progressif de signature de base indicatif de la première signature de base et la signature de base de chacune de la totalité des autres stations d'alimentation a le numéro progressif de signature de base indicatif de la première signature de base du groupe correspondant,
    déposer (654) la signature de base provenant de chaque station d'alimentation sélectionnée à cheval sur une selle de transport (140) de la machine de reliure combinée pour contribuer à la formation de la signature superposée correspondante sur la selle de transport et obtenir une signature de base suivante dans la station d'alimentation sélectionnée,
    transporter (667) chaque signature superposée vers une station de reliure de la machine de reliure combinée pour contribuer à la formation d'un bloc de livre correspondant, comprenant une pluralité de signatures superposées qui sont reliés les unes aux autres, en réponse à la lecture d'un indicateur de fin de signature superposée dans les informations de configuration, et
    compléter (693) la reliure du bloc de livre dans la station de reliure en réponse à la lecture d'un indicateur de fin de bloc dans les informations de configuration d'au moins l'une des signatures de base correspondantes.
  2. Procédé (600) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel pour chaque station d'alimentation sélectionnée appartenant auxdites au moins une station d'alimentation de pliage, l'étape d'obtention de la signature de base suivante comprend :
    obtenir (654) la signature de base suivante en extrayant une feuille imprimée d'une trémie de feuilles imprimées (115f) et en pliant la feuille imprimée pour obtenir la signature de base qui est ouverte.
  3. Procédé (600) selon la revendication 2, dans lequel l'étape de lecture (648) des informations de configuration associées au moins en partie à une signature de base qui est prête dans chacune d'une pluralité de stations d'alimentation (110f, 110p) comprend, dans chacune desdites au moins une station d'alimentation de pliage (110f, 110p) :
    lire (648) les informations de configuration à partir de la feuille imprimée correspondante dans la trémie de feuilles imprimées (115f).
  4. Procédé (600) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel pour chaque station d'alimentation sélectionnée appartenant auxdites au moins une station d'alimentation d'ouverture l'étape d'obtention d'une signature de base suivante comprend :
    obtenir (654) la signature de base suivante en extrayant la signature de base d'une trémie de signatures de base (115p) et en ouvrant la signature de base.
  5. Procédé (600) selon la revendications 4, dans lequel l'étape de lecture (648) d'informations de configuration associées au moins en partie à une signature de base qui est prête dans chacune d'une pluralité de stations d'alimentation (110f, 110p) comprend, dans chacune desdites au moins une station d'alimentation d'ouverture (110p) :
    lire (648) des informations de configuration à partir de la signature de base dans la trémie de signatures de base (115p).
  6. Procédé (600) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel l'étape consistant à déposer (654) la signature de base provenant de chaque station d'alimentation sélectionnée à cheval sur une selle de transport (140) comprend :
    activer (654) chaque station d'alimentation sélectionnée et maintenir à l'arrêt chaque autre station d'alimentation qui n'est pas sélectionnée.
  7. Procédé (600) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel les stations d'alimentation (110f, 110p) sont agencées selon une séquence ordonnée suivant une direction de transport de la selle de transport (140), l'étape de transport (667) de chaque signature superposée vers une station de reliure comprenant :
    avancer (667) la signature superposée au-delà d'une position en correspondance avec une dernière station d'alimentation (110p) dans la séquence, et avancer chaque signature superposée suivante sur la selle de transport à partir d'une position en correspondance avec chaque station d'alimentation (110f) différente de la dernière station d'alimentation (110p) dans la séquence jusqu'à une position en correspondance avec une station d'alimentation suivante (110p) dans la séquence.
  8. Procédé (600) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel les informations de configuration de chaque signature de base comprennent en outre un nombre total de signatures de base du groupe correspondant de signatures de base, l'indicateur de fin de signature superposée étant constitué du numéro progressif de signature de base égal au nombre total de signatures de base.
  9. Procédé (600) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel les informations de configuration de chaque signature de base comprennent un numéro progressif de signature superposée indicatif d'une position de la signature superposée correspondante dans le bloc de livre correspondant et un nombre total de signatures superposées du bloc de livre correspondant, l'indicateur de fin de bloc étant constitué du numéro progressif de signature superposée égal au nombre total de signatures superposées.
  10. Procédé (600) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, comprenant en outre l'étape suivante :
    vérifier (621, 642, 684) que la signature superposée et/ou le bloc de livre sont corrects conformément à des informations de configuration des signatures de base correspondantes.
  11. Programme de logiciel (600) comprenant des moyens de code pour amener un système de commande (185) d'une machine de reliure combinée (100) à réaliser les étapes de procédé (600) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10 lorsque le programme de logiciel est exécuté sur le système de commande.
  12. Machine de reliure combinée (100) munie d'une pluralité de stations d'alimentation (110f, 110p) comprenant au moins une station d'alimentation de pliage (110f) et au moins une station d'alimentation d'ouverture (110p), une selle de transport (140) et une station de reliure, la machine de reliure combinée comprenant en outre des moyens (185) agencés pour réaliser les étapes de procédé (600) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10.
EP12169300.6A 2011-05-24 2012-05-24 Dispositif de fixation combiné avec assemblage automatique de cahiers Active EP2527158B1 (fr)

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CH504976A (de) * 1970-03-16 1971-03-31 Martini Buchbindermaschf Vorrichtung zum Heften von Heftbogen
IT1286382B1 (it) 1996-11-19 1998-07-08 Gianattilio Meratti Metodo per la formazione di segnature e macchina piegatrice per l'attuazione del metodo particolarmente ma non esclusivamente in una
DE10050438C1 (de) * 2000-10-12 2002-01-17 Boewe Systec Ag Verfahren zur Synchronisation mehrerer papierzuführender Kanäle einer papierverarbeitenden Anlage
DE50204463D1 (de) * 2002-02-07 2005-11-10 Grapha Holding Ag Einrichtung zur Herstellung gebundener Druckprodukte
US20040173958A1 (en) * 2003-03-04 2004-09-09 Quad/Graphics, Inc. Method of delivering a printed product to a binding or mailing line
ITMI20090114A1 (it) * 2009-01-30 2010-07-31 Meccanotecnica Spa Macchina cucitrice a fogli piani con separazione automatica fogli
ITMI20110935A1 (it) 2010-09-03 2012-03-04 Meccanotecnica Spa Macchina da legatoria combinata con composizione automatica delle segnature

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