EP2559549B1 - Device and method for processing sheets made of paper or a different flexible material - Google Patents

Description

The invention is in the field of further processing of printed products and relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method according to the preamble of claim 14.

In the following, a flat, flexible object is referred to as an arc, which expands essentially in two spatial directions, while the expansion in the third spatial direction is relatively small. The bow usually has a rectangular basic shape, other shapes are also conceivable. There may be several flat objects on top of each other. The article may also already be folded once or several times. For simplicity, all objects that are further processed according to the invention, in particular folded, are referred to as a bow.

• Beim Taschenfalz (Stauchfalz) wird ein Bogen durch ein Einzugswalzenpaar eingezogen und in eine Falztasche eingeführt. Er läuft bis zum Anschlag der Tasche und stösst dort an. Da er gleichzeitig weitertransportiert wird, bildet sich im Stauchraum eine Falte, die von zwei rotierenden Falzwalzen erfasst und gebrochen wird. Dadurch wird der gefalzte Bogen aus dem Falzwerk heraustransportiert. Der Falz wird senkrecht zur Bewegungsrichtung des Bogens erstellt. Eine der Falzwalzen kann auch als Einzugswalze dienen.

For folding individual sheets or a continuous sheet material, various types of folding machines are known:

• When Taschenfalz (Stauchfalz) a sheet is fed through a pair of feed rollers and inserted into a folding pocket. He runs to the stop of the bag and pushes there. As it is transported at the same time, a fold forms in the compression space, which is caught and broken by two rotating folding rollers. As a result, the folded sheet is transported out of the folding unit. The fold is created perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sheet. One of the folding rollers can also serve as a feed roller.

When Schwertfalz (knife rebate), the sheet is conveyed by conveyor belts to a stop so that it comes to rest on two folding rollers. With a folding sword he is struck between the two folding rollers, which then produce the fold break and eject the bow down.

When funnel fold sheet or a continuous web are folded over a former, passed between two counter-rotating folding rollers and folded there.

When folding jaw principle, a paper web runs on a collecting cylinder and is cut transversely with a cutting cylinder. In the folding position, the sheets are pushed and folded by the folding blade integrated in the collecting cylinder between the opposite folding jaws of the adjacent jaw cylinder. Subsequently, the folded sheets arrive via a Auslagerad in the shed display.

In Trichterfalzvorrichtungen is known to rip the paper web or the individual sheets before folding at the location of the intended fold. The creasing device comprises a wheel which acts continuously on the web or sheets and produces a groove in the conveying direction of the sheet or the web. This is for example in the WO 2011/014968 described.

From the DE-B 10 2008 002 229 a folding jaw device is known in which an endless paper web is grooved with a groove device transversely to the conveying direction. The creasing device comprises two counter-rotating rollers, one of which carries the creasing blade and the other a counter-element. Creasing knife and counter element are oriented in the direction of the axis of the rolls.

In Taschenfalzvorrichtungen is for example from the US 3,729,186 or the EP-A 2 149 530 known, the bow before or after the transverse folding by attaching a perforation or groove, which runs in the conveying direction and thus perpendicular to the intended fold line, pretreat or post-treat. Grooving therefore does not influence the quality of the fold, but serves for easier further processing, eg for subsequent crossfolding.

The EP-B 1331 105 discloses a method and apparatus for making stitched booklets. Individual sheets or stacks of such sheets are grooved during conveying along the intended folding and stitching line. For grooving a pair of rollers is available. The axes of the rollers are oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction. One of the rollers has a projection along its circumference, the other a recess. The rollers roll off each other and can absorb the bow between them. The groove therefore runs in the conveying direction and perpendicular to the leading edge of the sheet. On a saddle, the grooved and thereby also V-shaped bow passes through the stitching station. Subsequently, the conveying direction is changed by 90 °, so that the original leading edges are now oriented parallel and the grooved line perpendicular to the changed conveying direction. The sheet is then folded along the pre-grooved line. This device is due to the necessary change in direction suitable only for low processing rates. They are particularly unsuitable for the production of newspapers, magazines and other printed matter with processing rates in the tens of thousands of copies per hour.

The US 2010/0304945 discloses a Taschenfalzvorrichtung, in which with a groove means a groove at the intended folding position, ie, transverse to the conveying direction of the sheet, is produced. For this purpose, the sheet is grooved after introduction into the folding device with a creasing wheel, which is moved to across the arc. This is not possible while conveying the bow, but the bow must be stopped so that the creasing wheel is at the location of the intended fold and there can perform the transverse movement. Such devices are therefore suitable only for very small processing rates. They are particularly unsuitable for the production of newspapers, magazines and other printed matter with processing rates in the tens of thousands of copies per hour.

The WO 2006/056580 A1 describes a creasing-folding machine for paper sheets. The machine includes, in series, a feeding unit for feeding the sheets along a feeding path, a groove unit and a folding unit.

The US 2003/092551 describes a sheet processing machine with a scoring tool and a folding device for folding the sheet.

The DE 102 20 550 A1 describes a method and apparatus for further processing of printed sheets for the manufacture of multi-sheet final printed products. The printed sheets are first folded in one operation, then collected and finally stapled or bound.

The invention is therefore based on the object, a sheet processing apparatus with a Taschenfalzvorrichtung further such that even at high processing rates in the range of several ten thousand copies per hour optimal folding quality is achieved.

The object is achieved by an apparatus having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 14. Further advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

The inventive device is used for processing sheets of paper or other flexible material, in particular of individual or stacked sheets. It comprises a feed device for conveying the sheets in a conveying direction at a distance from each other. There is a folding unit, which is arranged downstream of the Zuförderreinrichtung. The folding unit is a Taschenfalzaggregat for producing at least one fold, which is oriented transversely to the promotion. There is also a scoring device capable of scoring the sheet transversely to the conveying direction prior to folding and during conveying at the location of the intended fold. The invention also achieves the production of a transverse fold with a quality which is improved by the previous groove even with pocket folding units. In this case, the grooves during the promotion, ie without stopping the sheet or without interrupting the movement along the conveying path. Thus, the high processing rates can be maintained.

The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: conveying the sheets at a distance from one another or in a scale formation in a conveying direction along a conveying path. Feeding the sheets to a folding unit, which is a Taschenfalzaggregat. Production of at least one fold, which runs transversely to the conveying direction. According to the invention, prior to folding, the sheet is grooved at the location of the intended fold transversely to the conveying direction with a groove device, while the sheet is conveyed along the conveying path.

The method and the device are particularly suitable for folding high-quality printed products, for example printed products on more stable paper and / or those in high-gloss printing. With such products, wrinkles often occur in the area of the fold without prior grooving, or printing ink breaks off during folding. By grooving the paper is mechanically pretreated by the fibers are broken in a bow, so that the subsequent folding without loss of quality can be done on the bow. The creasing is a controlled breaking of fibers in the sheet, so that in the subsequent folding of the printed sheet, the inking is not detached.

The sheets are fed to the folding unit by the feed device. For example, the sheets come directly from a printing press or from a buffer, e.g. a stack or a wrap. The feed device is preferably a belt conveyor on which the sheets are conveyed horizontally. The conveying path usually runs in one plane, e.g. in the plane of the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor, but may also have curved sections, e.g. in the entrance area of the folder.

The orientation of the edges of the sheet relative to the conveying direction remains the same during processing. An arcuate edge, which preceded the beginning of the process, thus always remains perpendicular to the current conveying direction. Likewise, the grooved line is always perpendicular to the current conveying direction. Excluded is any further processing after folding. Other orientations may be chosen, e.g. after transfer of the sheet in grippers or other intermediate conveyor and finishing equipment.

The scoring device is operated clocked and acts intermittently on the bow. Their function is synchronized with the feed (position and conveying speed) of the sheets, so that the groove is produced at the location of the intended fold.

The creasing device is integrated in the folding unit. Preferably, the creasing tool has a component of movement when acting on the sheet Conveying direction, in particular at the same web speed as the sheet, so that the sheet does not have to be stopped or is not damaged when creasing.

The Taschenfalzaggregat comprises at least three rollers and a folding pocket with a preferably adjustable stop. At least two of the rollers cooperate with each other as folding rollers or feed rollers.

The creasing device or its creasing tool is integrated in at least one of the rollers of the pocket folding unit. Preferably, it is integrated in at least one of the rollers, which acts as a feed roller. This has the advantage that any existing components such as the feed roller can be used as a carrier for the creasing tool. The device can therefore be made mechanically relatively simple. Another advantage is that the folding takes place immediately after grooving, without the arch between them has to travel a longer distance. The risk that the sheet shifts within the folder and therefore the position of the groove and the fold does not correspond to the desired position is reduced.

The creasing device comprises an elongated creasing blade, which is arranged substantially parallel to the axis of the associated roller in the region of the lateral surface of the roller. Preferably, a counter tool is also provided, e.g. an elastic region in another roll that cooperates with the creasing roll.

The creasing roller and the roller with the counter tool are preferably mounted in a housing of the folding unit so that their positions are reversed can. In this way, you can set whether the groove is created at the top or bottom of the sheet.

In all variants, the creasing knife is elongated and aligned perpendicular to the current conveying direction of the sheet. For rectangular arcs it is aligned parallel to the leading edge or perpendicular to the side edges. The creasing knife acts on the entire width of the sheet at a time, so that the promotion does not have to be interrupted. On a rotating body mounted creasing knives always have a component of movement parallel to the conveying direction, which may have advantages at high speeds.

The profiles of the scoring knife and the counter tool can be chosen according to the requirements, e.g. V-shaped or W-shaped.

If the creasing blade is integrated in one of the rollers of the pocket folding unit, it is preferably arranged to be movable relative to the lateral surface and, depending on the rotational position of the roller, protrudes from the lateral surface or is lowered into or behind the lateral surface. This ensures that the knife protrudes out of the lateral surface, if possible, only at the point of processing, and the roller otherwise has a surface without projections. In this way it is avoided that the knife in other places than at the place of processing on parts of the deflected around the roller Bow works. In addition, unbalances, shocks and frequency-dependent resonances are reduced, which can occur at high rotational speeds. For sinking the Rillmessers the lateral surface preferably has a recess. The creasing blade is preferably positioned eccentrically in the roller, in particular in the lateral surface. It can be moved by a control link, which preferably has an axis extending eccentrically to the axis of the roller. By adjusting the eccentricity of the axis of the control link, the stroke of the knife can be influenced. Thus, the depth of the groove can be adapted to different requirements, eg different materials. The rolls preferably contain exactly one creasing knife. But you can also include two or more Rillmesser.

In one embodiment, the feed device comprises an alignment device with at least one movable stop on which the sheets are aligned during conveying. The alignment device preferably produces a defined distance of the leading edges of the sheets or a defined cycle in which the sheets are transferred to the folding unit. This is particularly advantageous when a common drive for the alignment device, the creasing device and the folding unit is provided or when these components are driven synchronously by different drives.

As a rule, several stops are present, which have a certain distance in the conveying direction. This distance specifies the distance of the leading edges. Depending on whether the length of the sheet in the conveying direction is greater or smaller than the distance of the stops, the sheets are fed to the folding unit individually or in a scaly formation.

The timing of the alignment device preferably corresponds to the timing of the groove means. Particularly preferably, the circumference of the roller carrying the creasing blade corresponds to the distance between successive stops of the orienting device. In this way it is achieved that the creasing roller and alignment device can be driven with the same drive and that the groove has a predetermined, constant distance from the leading edge.

The alignment device is preferably displaceable relative to the folding unit in the conveying direction. At a constant conveying speed and web speed of the creasing blade on the associated roller so the distance of the groove can be adjusted from the leading edge. This serves, for example, for adaptation to different sheet formats.

The feed device may comprise, in addition to the alignment device, a support surface and a conveyor belt. In this case, the active strand of the conveyor belt is arranged in the support surface. The conveyor belt is moved at a higher speed than the at least one stop of the alignment device, so that resting sheets are conveyed in the conveying direction against the stop and aligned there.

In one embodiment, the alignment device and the groove device are driven synchronously with each other. Preferably, the folding unit is driven synchronously. In one variant, there is a common drive for all components.

The one or more stops of the alignment device preferably define a stop surface which acts on a sheet edge and their orientation relative to Conveying direction is adjustable. In this way, the orientation of the sheet relative to the Rillmesser can be accurately adjusted. Preferably, a stop for this purpose comprises at least two stop elements cooperating with one another, which together define the stop surface and whose position is adjustable relative to one another, in particular also during operation.

According to one embodiment, a phase shift is adjustable between the at least one stop of the alignment device and the groove device for adaptation to different distances of the groove from the leading edge of the sheet.

The alignment device preferably also operates on the conveyor belt principle and comprises, for example, at least two parallel belts, each carrying stop elements at equal intervals, e.g. from the support surface upwardly projecting cams. To adjust the relative position of each cooperating stop elements, the bands are preferably driven by different drive shafts.

In order to adjust the position of each two cooperating stop elements, preferably the rotational position of the drive shafts is adjustable relative to one another. This makes it possible to adjust the orientation of the stop surface.

The rotational position of a drive shaft or phase shift to the other drive shaft can be changed by acting on the associated band, in particular by changing the position of the deflections, even during operation. This has advantages, since not the entire device must be stopped to make the fine adjustment.

For precise transfer of the sheet to the folding unit, a transfer conveyor is preferably provided, which is part of the feed device. With this, the aligned sheets are transported without changing their orientation relative to the conveying direction between the aligning device and the folding unit. The transfer conveyor is in particular a vacuum conveyor, on the conveyor belt, the sheets are fixed by means of negative pressure.

The alignment device described herein and shown in the figures with two straps and aligning elements arranged thereon, the position of which can be adjusted relative to each other by adjusting the rotational positions of the drive shafts, can also be used in other feeders in which an accurate alignment of the conveyed objects is important. It is not limited to the folding devices or creasing devices described here.

• Stromabwärts vom Falzaggregat kann eine Wegfördereinrichtung angeordnet sein. Die Wegfördereinrichtung umfasst insbesondere einen Bandförderer.

The device can be supplemented with other components:

• Downstream of the folding unit, a removal device can be arranged. The removal device comprises in particular a belt conveyor.

The removal device can be arranged in particular at the exit of the folding unit. The folded sheets are transferred to the removal device. The removal device is, for example, a belt conveyor, on the conveyor belt, the sheets are stored individually or in a scale formation. The distance of the sheet can be adjusted by adjusting the conveying speed of the away-conveying belt conveyor.

• Zusammentragen
• Einstecken
• Sammeln

mit weiteren flächigen Gegenständen, insbesondere Druckereiprodukten, zusammengeführt werden.According to the process of the invention, a final or intermediate product can be prepared by subjecting the folded sheets to at least one of the following processes:

• collation
• Plug in
• Collect

be merged with other flat objects, in particular printed products.

To the removal device or directly to the output of the folder additional processing facilities can connect to this. These can be used to produce a final or intermediate product from the folded sheet and other flat objects, in particular printed products. The folded sheet and the other objects can be placed on each other (gathering), in the open state astride one another (collecting) and / or inserted into each other (plugging).

Subsequently, further processing steps may follow, e.g. Gluing, stapling, plugging in a common cover, trimming, inserting inserts such as samples or separately created printed products, wrapping.

The processing device with its base components feed device and folding unit can thus serve as a feed conveyor for known collating devices, collecting devices and insertion devices for printed products. In this case, processing is carried out in the flow and with the high processing rates of the following devices. This is from the press to the End product in principle no intermediate storage of the items necessary. The sheets can also be processed from the stack or wrap.

Even without a scoring device or with the scoring device switched off, the device described in this application can be used as a feed conveyor for a further processing device, in particular for a collating device, a plug-in device or a collecting device. For example, can be dispensed with the grooving, if the nature of the sheet allows sufficient folding quality without scoring.

Fig. 1

Eine dreidimensionale Ansicht einer erfindungsgemässen Bearbeitungsvorrichtung mit einer Zufördereinrichtung und einem Falzaggregat beim Bearbeiten einzelner Bogen;

Fig. 2

eine dreidimensionale Ansicht einer Bearbeitungsvorrichtung gemäss Fig. 1 beim Bearbeiten von Bogen in einer Schuppenformation;

Fig. 3

eine Bearbeitungsvorrichtung gemäss Fig. 1 oder 2 in einer Ansicht senkrecht zur Förderrichtung (Seitenansicht);

Fig. 4

die Zufördereinrichtung der Bearbeitungsvorrichtung gemäss Fig. 1 oder 2 in Ansicht schräg von oben;

Fig. 5

die Zufördereinrichtung der Bearbeitungsvorrichtung gemäss Fig. 4 in Ansicht schräg von unten;

Fig. 6

das Falzaggregat der Bearbeitungsvorrichtung gemäss Fig. 1 oder 2 in Ansicht schräg von oben;

Fig. 7a-d

das Falzaggregat gemäss Fig. 6 und Teile der Zufördereinrichtung und Wegfördereinrichtung in Seitenansicht zu verschiedenen Zeitpunkten beim Bearbeiten von Bogen;

Fig. 8a+b

Schnitte durch die Rilleinrichtung zu zwei verschiedenen Zeitpunkten;

Fig. 9a+b

Schnitte durch eine Walze der Rilleinrichtung im Bereich des Rillmessers;

Fig. 10a+b

den Verstellmechanismus zur Anpassung des Hubs in verschiedenen Ansichten;

Fig. 11-13

eine erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung mit verschiedenen Varianten der Weiterbearbeitung der gefalzten Bogen.

Examples of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and described below. It shows purely schematically:

Fig. 1

A three-dimensional view of a processing device according to the invention with a feed device and a folding unit when processing individual sheets;

Fig. 2

a three-dimensional view of a processing device according to Fig. 1 when editing arcs in a scale formation;

Fig. 3

a processing device according to Fig. 1 or 2 in a view perpendicular to the conveying direction (side view);

Fig. 4

the feed device of the processing device according to Fig. 1 or 2 in view obliquely from above;

Fig. 5

the feed device of the processing device according to Fig. 4 in view obliquely from below;

Fig. 6

the folding unit of the processing device according to Fig. 1 or 2 in view obliquely from above;

Fig. 7a-d

according to the folding unit Fig. 6 and parts of the feeder device and the removal device in side view at different times when processing sheets;

Fig. 8a + b

Cuts through the groove means at two different times;

Fig. 9a + b

Cuts through a roller of the creasing device in the region of the creasing knife;

Fig. 10a + b

the adjustment mechanism for adjusting the stroke in different views;

Fig. 11-13

an inventive device with different variants of the further processing of the folded sheet.

Fig. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a processing device 1 according to the invention with a feed device 100 and a folding unit 200 when editing sheet 2, which are individually conveyed with a distance between them. As mentioned above, the sheets 2 can also be stacks of flat objects and / or already folded objects.

Fig. 2 shows the same device 1 when conveying sheet 2 in a scale formation with partial overlap. The trailing edges 6 of a sheet 2 are located on the leading edges 3 of each trailing arc.

Fig. 3 shows the same device in sectional view from the side. Fig. 4 and 5 show details of the feeder 100, Fig. 6 shows the folding unit 200.

Fig. 1-6 will be described together below.

The feed device 100 comprises a frame 101, in which the components are mounted and which forms a flat bearing surface 104 for the sheet. In the support surface 104 are the active strands of a belt conveyor, which here comprises two parallel, oriented in the conveying direction F conveyor belts 102. The conveyor belts 102 are guided around two deflection rollers 103 and driven by a drive, not shown here. In the conveying direction F seen at one end of the support surface 104 is the folding unit 200. At the other end, the sheets 2 are supplied so that they come to rest on the active run of the conveyor belts 102. The intended or actual folding and creasing position is designated by the reference numeral 4.

The feed device 100 also includes an alignment device 110, which serves for aligning the sheets 2 transversely to the conveying direction F and for producing a defined spacing of the leading edges 3. The alignment device 110 has two toothed belts 111, 112, which can act on the sheets 2 through recesses in the support surface 104 and are guided around two deflections 113, 114 so that they run parallel to the conveyor belts 102 in the conveying surface. To the toothed belt 111, 112 are projecting stop elements 116, 117, eg cams, appropriate. In each case a pair of adjacent abutment elements 116, 117 serves to align the leading edges 3 of the sheets at a distance d for successive sheets.

The conveyor belts 102 terminate in front of the exit-side area of the feed device 100. To advance the sheets in this area, a vacuum conveyor 130 is present, which transfers the sheets to the folding unit 200. The vacuum conveyor 130 fixes the sheets 2 in the position in which they were aligned by the alignment device 110. It thus ensures a very accurate transfer to the folding unit 200, without the bow 2 can move during the transfer. The vacuum conveyor may consist of a vacuum belt or more, juxtaposed vacuum bands.

By a common drive device 120, the alignment device 110, the vacuum conveyor 130 and the folding unit 200 are operated synchronously, so that the sheets 2 pass through the system at a substantially constant speed. The input-side belt conveyor conveys the sheet 2 with the other hand, slightly (by about 20%) increased speed, so that the sheet 2 against the stop members 116, 117 run and can be aligned.

In the following, the drive device 120 is described in more detail: A motor 127 sets by means of suitable coupling via drive toothed belt 128, on the one hand, the rollers 201-205 of the folding unit 200 in motion. On the other hand, the shaft 131 is driven, over which the conveyor belt of the vacuum conveyor 130 runs. This shaft 131 is coupled via a further drive toothed belt 122 with a gear 129 a, which in turn lies on a shaft 132. On the opposite end of this axis 132 of the gear 132 is a handwheel 133. Another drive-toothed belt 121 passes through a gear 129 b, which is coaxial with Gear 129a is arranged, as well as two further pulleys, which are coupled coaxially with the shafts 113 and 114. He is stretched with a belt tensioner 123. The toothed belts 111, 112 of the alignment device 110 run around deflection rollers, which are arranged on the shafts 113 and 114. The folding unit 200 facing away from the shaft 113 serves as a drive shaft for the rear toothed belt 111, while it is coupled to the front toothed belt 112 via a freewheel. The folding unit 200 facing shaft 114 serves as a drive shaft for the front toothed belt 112, while it is coupled to the rear toothed belt 111 via a freewheel.

Both toothed belts 111, 112 are therefore driven by different drive shafts 113, 114. This has the purpose of being able to adjust the relative position of the adjacent stop elements 116, 117 in a small range by introducing a small phase shift between the timing belt 111, 112. As a result, the position of the stop surface P, which is determined by the two stop elements 116, 117, can be varied. Thus, the leading edges 3 can be aligned very accurately transversely to the conveying direction F even during operation. It is not necessary to stop the system, whereby the effort for adjustment compared to conventional systems is significantly reduced.

This fine adjustment is achieved by the path of the drive belt 121 is changed by adjustable pulleys 124 in the vicinity of one of the drive shafts 113 and the associated deflection. The deflection rollers 124 are mounted in a carrier 125, which can be pivoted relative to the frame 101 about an axis 126. To set the pivot position is a locking element 150 (slot with fixing screw). Depending on the position of the carrier 125, the length of the upper run of the drive belt 121 is shortened or extended by a few millimeters. Accordingly, the length of the lower run is lengthened or shortened. Therefore, the relative rotational position of the drive shafts 113, 114 and thus changes Phase shift between the timing belt 111, 112 and the associated stop elements 116, 117th

By the hand wheel 133, which is coupled via a load torque lock 161 with the shaft 132, and a differential 160, a phase shift between the gears 129a, 129b can be adjusted. In order for a phase shift between the drive components of the alignment device 110 and those of the folding unit 200 is set, thereby changing a phase shift between the stop members 116, 117 and the creasing blade 211. In other words, the time that elapses between the release of the leading edges at the exit of the feed device and the action of the crease blade 211 is set. This adjustment is used to adapt the device to different sheet formats or to different distances of the groove to the leading edge.

The folding unit 200 is in Fig. 6 shown. The Fig. 7a-d show the process when folding. In Fig. 7a-d the folding unit 200 is shown in a section parallel to the conveying direction and perpendicular to the folding line.

The folding unit 200 here comprises five rollers 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, whose longitudinal axes are respectively arranged in parallel and perpendicular to the conveying direction F. The rollers 201, 202, 203, 204, 205 are driven by the same drive device 120 as the feed device 100 or the alignment device 110 there. The belt 128 is coupled both to the rollers 201, 202, 203, 204, 205 and to the drive shaft 131 of the alignment device 110. The drive shaft 131, which is only indicated by dash-dotted lines, is provided in recesses in FIG arranged the side regions of the housing of the folding unit 200.

On the input side, a sheet of two feed rollers 201, 202 fed and introduced via further guide rollers 203, 204 with the leading edge 3 ahead in the folding pocket 206 ( Fig. 7a + B). The folding pocket 206 has an adjustable stop 207, which determines its depth and thus the distance of the fold line to the leading edge. If the front edge abuts against the stop 207, the sheet 2 bulges in the compression space 208 between the rollers (FIG. Fig. 7c ). The bulge at a defined location is supported by the previous grooving. Upon further conveying the trailing portion of the sheet, the bulged, grooved area is detected by the two folding rollers 204, 205 arranged on the output side, and the fold is broken. By folded rollers 204, 205 of the folded sheet 2 is conveyed out of the folding unit 200 and comes to rest on a conveyor belt of a removal device 300.

In the embodiment of the invention shown here, the creasing device 210 is integrated in the folding unit 200. At least one of the rollers of the Taschenfalzaggregats 200 has a dual function, namely for folding and / or conveying within the Taschenfalzaggregats and for the grooves of the continuous sheet. In the specific example, the feed roller 201, which is located below the conveying plane, also serves as a carrier of the scoring blade 211. The scoring knife 211 is parallel to the axis of the roller 201 and perpendicular to the conveying direction. It creaks therefore the continuous sheet 2 transversely to the conveying direction or parallel to its leading edge 3 at the position 4. The creasing roller 201 cooperates with the provided for deflecting another roller 203. This carries a counter tool 212 for the creasing blade 211, eg an elastic Area which is also parallel to the axis of the roller 203 in the lateral surface of the roller. The rollers 201 and 203 are moved in opposite directions and touch each other along a line. Their positions can be reversed if the position of the groove (top or bottom of the arc) to be changed.

The circumference U of the creasing roller 201 and the counter roller 203 is selected to correspond to the distance d of the leading edges 3 of the sheets 2 to be corrugated. He thus corresponds to the distance of the stop members 116, 117 seen in the conveying direction F. It is therefore d = U = πD, where D is the diameter of the roll. In a common drive therefore always there is a constant phase shift between the stop elements and the creasing blade, so that the groove is always generated at a constant distance from the leading edge 3.

Since the creasing roller 201 also touches the other feed roller 202 as well as one of the folding rollers 204 along a line, the creaser 211 shown above may cause restless running and undesired further creasing. Therefore, it is advantageous if the creasing blade 211 can be lowered into or behind the lateral surface of the roller 201.

In the illustrated case, the stroke of the scoring knife 211 depends on the rotational position of the roller 201 and is preferably maximal in the scoring position, ie where the scoring blade is located at the contact line between the scoring roller 201 and the counter-tool roller 203 ( Fig. 7b ). Preferably, the lifting mechanism is adjusted so that the creasing blade 211 is already fully retracted into or behind the lateral surface 216 approximately 45 ° before and after the creasing position ( Fig. 7a, c, d ). Thus, along the contact lines to the rollers 202, 204, no undesired creasing in the sheet can occur.

The lifting mechanism for the creaser 211 is shown in FIG Fig. 8a + b and 9a + b shown in more detail. Fig. 8a + b shows the rollers 201, 203 co-operating with each other in the scoring position (FIG. Fig. 8b ) and in a 180 ° rotated position ( Fig. 8a ). Fig. 9a + b shows sections through the creasing roller 201 showing the lifting mechanism. It shows Fig. 9b a section along the line AA in Fig. 9a ,

The roller 201 is formed as a hollow cylinder. The crease blade 211 is connected to pins 218 which are arranged in sleeves 219 in the wall of the hollow cylinder ( Fig. 10b ). Through a recess in the wall, the creasing knife 211 is accessible from the outside. A spring 217 biases the pin 218 toward the axis 213 of the roller 201. If no force is exerted on the pin 218, the creasing knife 211 is in a position in which its outwardly facing creasing edge is retracted behind the lateral surface 216. By pressure on the pin 218, the knife 211 can be lifted against the spring pressure on the lateral surface 216. For this purpose, a control link 214 in the form of a cylindrical rod or tube is present. The control cam 214 is disposed within the hollow portion of the roller 201 such that its axis 215 is parallel but at a distance e from the axis 213 of the roller 201. The free end of the pin 218 slides during the rotation of the roller at least partially on the control link 214 and is thereby raised or lowered. By adjusting the eccentricity e between the roller 201 and the control link 214, the stroke of the scoring blade 211 can be adjusted.

Fig. 10a + b show the adjusting mechanism 220 for adjusting the eccentricity e between the roller 201 and the control link 214, wherein Fig. 10b a section along the line BB in Fig. 10a shows. The two rollers 201, 203 with creasing blade 211 and counter-tool 212 are rotatably mounted in a housing of the folding unit 200 about their axes 213 and 203 '. The position of the axles 213, 203 'is stationary. The control link 214 is mounted on a bearing journal 223, by which the axis 215 of the control link 214 is fixed. The bearing pin 223 is in the direction of the line BB in Fig. 10a displaceable. For this purpose, the bearing pin 223 is pressed by a spring 221 in the direction of the connecting plane between the axes 215, 203 '(line BB) and exerted a back pressure by an adjusting screw 222. With the adjustment screw 222, the position of the journal 223 can be adjusted and fixed.

Fig. 10b also shows that the creasing knife 211 is mounted in the wall of the roller 210 via a plurality of pins 218 and sleeves 219. In this way it is prevented that the creasing blade 211 deforms unevenly during operation.

In the Fig. 11-13 the inventive device 1 is shown in the context of a processing plant. Different variants of the further processing of the folded sheets are represented, eg by collecting, collating and inserting. The processing of the sheets from unfolded condition to further processing takes place in the river. The inventive device 1 is used as a feed conveyor for known devices for further processing.

In Fig. 11 folded sheets 2, which come from the processing device 1, stored in imbricated formation on the conveyor belt of the Wegfördereinrichtung 300. Downstream of the removal conveyor 300 is an intermediate conveyor 400, through which the sheets are transferred to a collecting drum 500. The intermediate conveyor 400 comprises a separating device 410, in which the sheets 2 are separated. The sheets 2 are passed to the gripper 421 of a gripper conveyor 420 at the output of the separating device 410 with the folded edge first. The gripper conveyor 420 conveys the sheets to the collecting drum 500. Before the transfer to the collecting drum 500, the folded sheets 2 are opened by an opening device 430, eg by using an opening screw. The sheets 2 are then placed on saddle 501 of the collecting drum 500 and transferred by opening the gripper 421 to the collecting drum 500. Before and / or later, further products can be transferred to the collecting drum 500. The collected products can then be stapled and cut.

In Fig. 12 the inventive device 1 is used as a feed conveyor for a collator 600. The collating device is designed, for example, as in the WO-A 2010/051651 described. It has a plurality of compartments 620, which are formed for example by grippers and which are moved along a closed orbit. Along a gathering distance Z, a plurality of feed conveyors 610 are arranged side by side or one below the other in such a way, their outputs lying next to one another. The feed conveyors 610 serve, for example, to pull flat objects, for example printed products, from a stack 611 and place them on support surfaces 620 of the gathering device 600 via support means 612 designed in the manner of a loop. The feeders 610 are, for example, according to WO-A 2008/000099 educated.

The device 1 according to the invention serves here as a further feed conveyor in that its removal device 300 is likewise designed as a loop, the output of which is arranged along the collection path Z. With the looping, the folded objects can be further transported in dandruff formation or individually and delivered individually to the compartments 620. The feed device 100 is preceded by a feed module 640 for the sheets to be folded, which are introduced here for example as a stack 611, cached and then separated.

The collated objects pass through the collation path in the direction of the arrow (to the left) and are moved on the underside of the collating device 600 (not visible here) counter to the direction of the arrow to the transfer region 630. They are kept in the compartments 620. In the transfer area 630, the stacks are released from the compartments and placed on a conveyor belt. From there they are introduced into compartments of a 700 insert drum. This is for example as in the WO-A 2009/143645 described trained.

Fig. 13 shows a further example in which the inventive device is used as a feed conveyor for a plug-in drum 900. The folded sheets are transported in a scaly formation through the removal device 300. At the exit of the removal device 300, they are separated and introduced through an intermediate conveyor 400, here a belt conveyor, into compartments 910 of the insertion drum 900. There they can be opened, and other products can be plugged into the open bows.

Claims (20)

1. A device (1) for processing sheets (2) of paper or of another flat, flexible material, in particular printed products, with the following features:

   - a feed device (100) for conveying the sheets (2) in a conveying direction (F) at a distance (d) of their leading edges (3) to one another;

   - a buckle folding assembly (200) which is arranged downstream of the feed device (100) for creating at least one fold (4) on the sheet (2), wherein the fold (4) being orientated transversely to the conveying direction (F);

   - a scoring device (210) which is capable of scoring the sheets (2) before the folding and during the conveying, at the location of the envisaged fold (4) transversely to the conveying direction (F),
   characterised in that
   the buckle folding assembly (200) comprises at least three rollers (201, 202, 203, 204, 205) as well as a folding plate (206) with an abutment (207), wherein at least in each case two of the rollers (201, 202, 203, 204, 205) cooperate with one another as folding rollers or feed rollers, wherein the scoring device (210) is integrated into at least one of the rollers (201, 202, 203, 204, 205) of the buckle folding assembly (200).
2. A processing device according to claim 1, characterised in that the scoring device (210) is integrated into at least one of the rollers (201, 202, 203, 204, 205) of the buckle folding assembly (200) which acts as a feed roller.
3. A processing device according to claim 2, characterised in that the scoring device (210) comprises an elongate scoring knife (211) which is arranged essentially parallel to the axis (213) of the assigned roller (201) in the region of the lateral surface (216) of the roller (201).
4. A processing device according to claim 3, characterised in that the scoring knife (211) is movably arranged relative to the lateral surface (216), wherein it projects out of the lateral surface (216) or is lowered into or behind the lateral surface (216), depending on the rotation position of the roller (201).
5. A processing device according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the scoring device (210) comprises an elongate counter-element (212), in particular counter-tool to the scoring knife (211), which is arranged on a roller (203) cooperating with that roller (201) which carries the scoring knife (211).
6. A processing device according to claim 4, characterised in that the travel of the scoring knife (211) is settable by way of an adjustable control cam (214).
7. A processing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the feed device (100) comprises an aligning device (110) with at least one movable abutment (116, 117), on which the sheets (2) are aligned at a distance (d) of their leading edges (3).
8. A processing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the following features:

   - a feed device (100) with an aligning device (110) with at least one movable abutment (116, 117), on which the sheets (2) are aligned at a distance (d) of their leading edges (3);

   - the scoring device (210) comprises at least two rollers (201, 203) which are driven in opposite directions and whose axes (213, 203') are orientated perpendicular to the conveying direction (F) and of which one carries an elongate scoring knife (211) orientated parallel to the axes (213, 203');

   - the circumference of the rollers (201, 203) corresponds to the distance (d), in which the sheets (2) are aligned.
9. A processing device according to one of the claims 7 to 8, characterised in that the aligning device (110) is capable of creating a defined distance of the leading edges (3) of the sheets (2) or a defined pace, in which the sheets (2) are transferred to the folding assembly (200).
10. A processing device according to one of the claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the aligning device (110) contains at least one abutment (116, 117) which defines an abutment surface (P) which acts on a sheet edge and whose orientation relative to the conveying direction can be set.
11. A processing device according to claim 10, characterised in that the abutment comprises at least two abutment elements (116, 117) which cooperate with one another and which together define the abutment surface (P) and whose position relative to one another is settable.
12. A processing device according to claim 11, characterised in that the aligning device (110) comprises two parallel strips (111, 112) which in each case carry abutment elements (116, 117) at equal distances (d) and which are driven via different drive shafts (113, 114).
13. A processing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by a transfer conveyor (130), with which the aligned sheets (2) can be transferred from the aligning device (110) to the folding assembly (200) without a change of their orientation relative to the conveying direction (F), wherein the transfer conveyor (130) in particular is a vacuum conveyor, on whose conveyor belt the sheets are fixed by way of a vacuum.
14. A method for processing sheets (2) of paper or another flat, flexible material, in particular printed products, with the following steps:

    - conveying the sheets (2) in a conveying direction (F) at a distance to one another or in an imbricate formation;

    - feeding the sheets (2) to a bucking folding assembly (200);

    - scoring the sheet (2) at the location of the envisaged fold transversely to the conveying direction (F) with a scoring knife (211) of a scoring device (210);

    - creating at least one fold which runs transversely to the conveying direction (F);

    characterised in that
    during its conveying the sheet (2) is scored in the entry region of the folding assembly (200), by way of a scoring knife (211) being integrated into one of the rollers (201) of the folding assembly (200).
15. A method according to claim 14, characterised in that the scoring knife (211) periodically revolves about an axis (213) of the roller.
16. A method according to claim 14, characterised in that the sheets (2) are fed in a paced manner, wherein the distances (d) of the leading edges (3) of the sheets (2) are constant and preferably correspond to the diameter of the roller (201, 231), into which the scoring knife (211) is integrated.
17. A method according to claim 15, characterised in that the scoring knife (211) is moved such that it projects out of the lateral surface (216) of the roller (2101) or is sunk into or behind the lateral surface (216), at the pace of the feeding of the sheets (2).
18. A method according to one of the claims 14 to 16, characterised in that the sheets (2) before entry into the scoring device (210) are aligned by way of an aligning device (110), in particular in a manner such that their leading edges (3) are orientated perpendicularly to the conveying direction (F).
19. A method according to claim 17, characterised in that the orientation of an abutment surface (P) of the aligning device (110), on which the leading edges (3) are aligned, is set during operation.
20. The use of a device according to one of the claims 1 to 13, as a feeder for a further processing device, in particular for a collation device (600), an insertion device (900) or a collection device (700).

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