EP2589498B1

EP2589498B1 - Brochure producing machine

Info

Publication number: EP2589498B1
Application number: EP20120191710
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mauro Cerruti
Original assignee: Smyth Srl
Current assignee: Smyth Srl
Priority date: 2011-11-07
Filing date: 2012-11-07
Publication date: 2014-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 2032-11-07
Also published as: EP2589498A1; ITTO20111022A1

Description

The present invention relates to a brochure producing machine, i.e. a machine for receiving a pack of bound or loose signatures, and applying a cover, folded and glued to the pack to form a finished book.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a brochure producing machine of the type comprising a first feed line for feeding a pack of signatures along a first path; the pack having a spine and an edge; the first feed line comprising an input station for receiving the pack with the spine facing down and the edge facing up; a gumming station for gumming the pack along the spine; a cover application station for applying a cover to the spine; a front or "edge" cutting station; an unloading station for unloading the finished book; a gripping device for gripping the pack of signatures; and first actuating means for moving the gripping device in a first direction to and from the input station, and along the first path between the input station and the unloading station; the machine also comprising a second feed line for feeding the cover along a second path to the cover application station; the gripping device comprising a first and second jaw, and second actuating means for moving the jaws, with respect to each other and in a second direction crosswise to the first direction, to and from a grip position gripping the pack with the spine facing down.
In known brochure producing machines of the above type, the gripping device jaws operate jointly, by being connected directly to one another by a connecting structure extending across the first path. For example, the connecting structure may be defined by a slide, which runs along and extends across the first path, supports both the gripping device jaws, and defines, with the jaws, a U-shaped seat, which is adjustable in width, is aligned with the first path, and is closed at the rear across the first path.
In actual use, when the slide is at the input station, the pack of signatures is loaded into the seat between the jaws; the slide is moved forward so that the closed end of the seat contacts the rear end of the pack to align the signatures in the travelling direction; and, once the signatures are aligned, the jaws are clamped and the slide is moved along the first path.
In known brochure producing machines, the connecting structure directly connecting the gripping device jaws poses a serious drawback, by extending across the first path and so preventing the next pack of signatures from being fed to the input station until the jaws and the connecting structure complete the run along the first path to form the preceding book, and move back to the input station.
This delay in feeding the next pack of signatures to the input station creates considerable downtime in the operating cycle, and so seriously affects the efficiency of the machine.
One example of a brochure producing machine is described in US2002/061238 A1 .
It is an object of the present invention to provide a brochure producing machine of the above type, described to eliminate the above drawback.
According to the present invention, there is provided a brochure producing machine as claimed in Claim 1 and preferably in any one of the Claims depending directly or indirectly on Claim 1.
A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings, in which :

Figure 1 shows an operating diagram in perspective of a preferred embodiment of the brochure producing machine according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a view in perspective of the Figure 1 brochure producing machine in a first operating configuration;
Figure 3 shows a view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of the Figure 1 brochure producing machine in a second operating configuration;
Figure 4 shows a larger-scale view in perspective of a first detail in Figures 2 and 3 in two different operating configurations;
Figure 5 shows a larger-scale view in perspective of a second detail in Figures 2 and 3;
Figure 6 shows a larger-scale view in perspective of a further detail in Figure 3.

Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a brochure producing machine comprising a feed line 2 for feeding a pack 3 of signatures along a path 4 - in the example shown, a straight path extending in a direction A.
Feed line 2 (Figures 2 and 3) comprises a gripping device 5 for receiving pack 3 - positioned with its spine 6 facing down and its edge 7 facing up - at an input station 8 of feed line 2, and for feeding pack 3 along path 4 through a trimming station 9 for trimming spine 6, a gumming station 10 for gumming the spine of pack 3, a cover application station 11 for applying a cover 12 to spine 6 to form a finished book 13, an edge cutting station 14 to even off edge 7, and an unloading station 15 located beneath edge cutting station 14 to receive and unload the finished book 13 off feed line 2.
Line 2 extends along a top horizontal deck 16 of a bed 17, and covers 12 are fed successively to cover application station 11 along a further feed line 18, which, as shown in Figure 1, runs in the same direction as feed line 2, and extends through bed 17, beneath deck 16, from a bin 19 located beneath input station 8 and storing a stack of covers 12. Feed line 18 extends along a path 20 sloping upwards towards cover application station 11, and is connected to feed line 2 by a movable end portion defined by a platform 21 movable substantially vertically between feed lines 2 and 18.
As shown more clearly in Figure 5, input station 8 comprises a fixed pocket 22, which has a bottom portion defined by two parallel ribs 23 located on deck 16 and defining, between them and deck 16, a channel for loosely receiving spine 6 of pack 3. Pocket 22 also has a top portion located a given distance above ribs 23 and defined by two plates 24 parallel to each other and to ribs 23 and perpendicular to deck 16.
Ribs 23 and plates 24 are fitted to bed 17, are fixed in use, and are only movable to set the initial width of pocket 22; and the distance between ribs 23 and the bottom edges of plates 24 is such as to define a channel for the passage of gripping device 5.
Though limited to input station 8 in the drawings, plates 24 may be extended along path 4 to also involve trimming, gumming, and cover application stations 9, 10 and 11.
As shown in Figure 5, gripping device 5 comprises two jaws 25 and 26; jaw 25, on the right in Figure 5, is fixed in a direction 27 crosswise to direction A and parallel to deck 16; and jaw 26 is movable in direction 27 to and from jaw 25.
Jaw 25 comprises a rectangular plate 28, the longitudinal edge of which, parallel to direction A and facing jaw 26, has a rib 30, which projects downwards from plate 28 and has a right-triangle-shaped cross section with a first face coplanar with said longitudinal edge of plate 28, a second face contacting the bottom surface of plate 28, and a third face 32 sloping downwards towards jaw 26. Plate 28 and rib 30 are located in the gap between respective rib 23 and respective plate 24, and together define a grip surface 33 of jaw 25.
Close to the longitudinal edge opposite grip surface 33, two brackets extend upwards from plate 28, and each support a respective slide or skid 34 mounted to slide along a guide 35 extending parallel to deck 16 and to direction A and formed on a longitudinal shoulder 36, which extends in direction A along bed 17 and above deck 16, and is connected integrally to bed 17.
Skids 34 are connected to guide 35 positively in direction 27, i.e. jaw 25 is fixed to longitudinal shoulder 36 in direction 27.
A bracket 37 projects upwards from the rear edge of plate 28, and is fitted through with a nut screw 38 parallel to direction A and located below longitudinal shoulder 36.
Jaw 26 comprises a rectangular plate 39 coplanar with and substantially identical to plate 28, and the longitudinal edge of which, parallel to direction A and facing jaw 25, has a rib 41, which projects downwards and has a right-triangle-shaped cross section with a first face coplanar with said longitudinal edge of plate 39 and perpendicular to deck 16, a second face contacting the bottom surface of plate 39, and a third face 43 sloping downwards towards jaw 25. Plate 39 and rib 41 are located in the gap between respective rib 23 and respective plate 24, and together define a grip surface 44 facing and parallel to grip surface 33.
Close to the longitudinal edge opposite grip surface 44, two brackets extend upwards from plate 39, and each support a respective slide or skid 45 mounted to slide along a guide 46 extending parallel to deck 16 and to direction A and formed on a longitudinal shoulder 47, which extends in direction A along bed 17 and above deck 16. Longitudinal shoulder 47 is movable, and is fitted underneath with three skids 48, each mounted to slide on a respective guide 49 fitted to deck 16 and parallel to direction 27.
Skids 45 are connected positively to guide 46 in direction 27, i.e. so that jaw 26 is movable with longitudinal shoulder 47 both ways in direction 27.
A bracket, perpendicular to deck 16, projects upwards from the rear edge of plate 39, and supports two superimposed skids 50, each of which is connected positively and in sliding manner to a respective guide 51 parallel to direction 27 and fitted to a plate 52, which has an end portion extending over longitudinal shoulder 47 and fitted through with a nut screw 53 parallel to direction A.
As shown in Figure 4, gripping device 5 is connected to an actuating device 55 for moving gripping device 5 in direction A, and to an actuating device 56 for opening and closing gripping device 5 in direction 27.
Actuating device 55 comprises two screws 57, 58 parallel to direction A and fitted in rotary and axially-fixed manner to bed 17 by brackets 59. Screw 57 extends along the underside of longitudinal shoulder 36, and engages nut screw 38; and screw 58 extends along the underside of longitudinal shoulder 47, and engages nut screw 53.
Actuating device 55 also comprises a belt drive 60 connecting screws 57 and 58 to rotate them in the same direction and at the same angular speed; a reversible motor 61 with its axis parallel to direction A; and a further belt drive 62 angularly connecting the output of motor 61 to screw 58.
In actuating device 55, plate 52, which is supported at one end by skids 50 and at the other end by screw 58 fitted through nut screw 53, acts both as a pusher to push jaw 26 in direction A, and as an antirotation device to prevent nut screw 53 from rotating about the axis of screw 58.
Actuating device 56 comprises two studs 63 parallel to direction 27 and projecting outwards and parallel to deck 16 from longitudinal shoulder 47; two nut screws 64, each of which is engaged by a respective stud 63, is fitted to bed 17 by a respective support 65, and is fitted with a respective pulley 66; a reversible motor 67 with an output pulley 68 with its axis parallel to direction 27; and a belt 69 looped about pulleys 66 and 68, so that rotation of pulley 68 corresponds to the same rotation of pulleys 66 in the same direction.
When actuating device 55, i.e. motor 61, is activated, screws 57 and 58 rotate in the same direction, depending on the operating direction of motor 61, so that nut screws 38 and 53 move axially in the same direction A. The axial movement of nut screw 38 produces a similar movement of jaw 25 in direction A along longitudinal shoulder 36; and the axial movement of nut screw 53 produces a similar movement in direction A of plate 52, which acts as a pusher to push jaw 26 in direction A along guide 46 of longitudinal shoulder 47, in unison with jaw 25.
When actuating device 56, i.e. motor 67, is activated, nut screws 64 rotate in the same direction, depending on the operating direction of motor 67, so that studs 63 move axially in the same direction 27, thus producing corresponding transverse movements of longitudinal shoulder 47 and jaw 26 in direction 27. As jaw 26 moves in direction 27, skids 50 of jaw 26 slide along guides 51 of plate 52 to allow jaw 26 to move simultaneously in direction A and direction 27.
Gripping device 5 also comprises an aligning device 70 fitted to the rear edge of plate 28, and which comprises an actuator 71 with an output member 72 movable in direction 27 between a withdrawn rest position (Figure 5), in which output member 72 clears the gap between grip surfaces 33 and 44 and does not interfere with path 4, and a forward work position, in which output member 72 closes the rear of the gap between grip surfaces 33 and 44, thus interfering with path 4.
As shown particularly in Figure 2, trimming station 9 comprises a circular seat or passage 73 formed through deck 16 along path 4 and between input station 8 and gumming station 10; and a powered face cutter 74 housed coaxially inside seat 73 and adjustable between a lowered position, in which cutter 74 is housed entirely inside seat 73, and a raised position, in which cutter 74 projects a given adjustable distance above the top surface of deck 16.
As shown clearly in Figure 2, gumming station 10 comprises a rectangular window 75 formed through deck 16 along path 4; a known roller gumming device 76 located beneath deck 16 and comprising a powered gumming roller 77 positioned with its axis crosswise to path 4, and with its periphery projecting an adjustable distance above the top surface of deck 16 to gum spine 6 of a pack 3 travelling along path 4 through gumming station 10; and a further roller gumming device 78, which comprises two vertical gumming rollers 79 located on opposite sides of path 4, above the top surface of deck 16 and directly downstream from gumming roller 77. Each gumming roller 79 is mounted to contact a respective lateral surface of a pack 3 travelling along path 4 through gumming station 10, to gum a respective lateral surface strip 80 (Figure 1), adjacent to spine 6, of pack 3.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, cover application station 11 comprises a rectangular window 81 formed through deck 16 along path 4, between gumming station 10 and edge cutting station 14. Window 81 is engaged by platform 21, which is connected to an actuating device for moving platform 21 between a lowered position, in which platform 21 forms an output end portion of feed line 18, and a raised position, in which platform 21 is substantially coplanar with the top surface of deck 16. As explained clearly below, in the raised position, platform 21 projects above the top surface of deck 16 by a distance at least equal to the height of strips 80.
As shown schematically in Figure 1, platform 21 comprises a base plate 82; and a flat gripper 83 fitted to plate 82 and of a thickness substantially equal to the height of strips 80 and always less than the height of ribs 23. Gripper 83 comprises two jaws 84, which are located on opposite sides of path 4 when platform 21 is in the raised position, and each of which is defined by a plate movable in direction 27 along the top surface of plate 82, and having a grip edge 85 parallel to direction A and facing the grip edge 85 of the other jaw 84. Jaws 84 are movable, in opposite ways in direction 27 and by respective actuating and guide members 86, between an open position, in which grip edges 85 define a passage located along path 4 and wider than the thickness of pack 3, and a closed position, in which grip edges 85 grip pack 3 at strips 80.
As shown particularly in Figure 6, edge cutting station 14 comprises a cutting device 87 and a buffer wall 88, which are located along and on opposite sides of path 4, and fitted to deck 16 and longitudinal shoulder 36 respectively.
Cutting device 87 comprises two vertical guides 89 fitted in fixed positions to deck 16 and located successively in direction A and alongside path 4; and a bridge 90 interposed between guides 89 and comprising a horizontal, substantially rectangular plate 91 fitted at each end with a slide 92 fitted to a respective guide 89, and which can be locked along it in an adjustable selected position.
Plate 91 has a lateral appendix 93 on the opposite side to that facing path 4, and supports two parallel, horizontal skids 94, which are connected integrally to the bottom surface of plate 91, are located on opposite sides of lateral appendix 93, and have axes 95 sloping forwards with respect to path 4. Each skid 94 is fitted positively with a respective guide 96, which is connected integrally to the top surface of a blade plate 97 of the same shape as plate 91, located beneath plate 91, and also having a lateral appendix 98 beneath lateral appendix 93.
A blade 100 is connected by a removable mount 99 to the bottom surface of blade plate 97, and has a cutting edge 101 facing buffer wall 88 and parallel to direction A.
Two supports 102 project downwards from plate 91 and relative lateral appendix 93, are aligned along an axis 103 parallel to axes 95, and support in rotary and axially-fixed manner a screw 104 powered in known manner not shown, fitted through a nut screw 105, and fitted to and axially integral with lateral appendix 98.
Reciprocating operation of screw 104 therefore corresponds to a reciprocating movement of guides 96 and blade plate 97 in the direction of axis 103, and therefore to a reciprocating movement of blade 100, across path 4, between a withdrawn rest position, in which cutting edge 101 is detached from buffer wall 88 by a distance greater than the thickness of pack 3, and a forward work position, in which cutting edge 101 contacts buffer wall 88.
Beneath path 4, deck 16 has an opening 106, which is located at edge cutting station 14, defines unloading station 15, and receives the finished book 13 after gripping deice 5 is released by actuating device 56.
Operation of brochure producing machine 1 will now be described as of a start configuration, in which feed line 2 is empty; bin 19 of feed line 18 contains a stack of covers 12; the width of pocket 22 has already been set to the thickness of packs 3 being processed; and gripping device 5 is located at input station 8, with aligning device 70 in the rest position, and with jaws 25 and 26 in the open position corresponding to a gap between grip surfaces 33 and 34 greater than the width of pocket 22.
All the movements involved in the operating stages described below are coordinated and controlled by a central control unit not shown.
As of the above start configuration, a first pack 3 is fed into pocket 22. This may be done automatically or by hand, and, since aligning device 70 is in the rest position and pocket 22 is open on three (front, top and rear) sides, may be done from the top or rear, i.e. in direction A.
Aligning device 70 is then activated to move the output member of actuator 71 into the work position closing the rear end of gripping device 5, and actuating device 56 is activated to move jaw 26 towards jaw 25 into a pre-clamp position, i.e. a position in which gripping device 5 retains pack 3 laterally, but, if moved in direction A, does not move pack 3 forward.
At this point, actuating device 55 is activated to move gripping device 5 in direction A. This causes the output member 72 of aligning device 70 to first contact the rear edge of pack 3, and then to move pack 3 in direction A together with gripping device 5. Output member 72 contacting the rear edge of pack 3 automatically aligns the signatures in pack 3 longitudinally. Once the signatures are aligned, and with pack 3 still housed inside pocket 22, device 56 is activated again to move jaw 26 towards jaw 25 into a clamp position, i.e. a position in which gripping device 5, if moved in direction A, also moves pack 3 forward. As such, aligning device 70 may now be deactivated, and its output member 72 returned to the rest position.
The movement of gripping device 5, which may be continuous up to cover application station 11, extracts pack 3 from pocket 22 and input station 8, and feeds it first through trimming station 9, where the spine 6 of pack 3 is trimmed by cutter 74 to a flat surface parallel to the top surface of deck 16, and then through gumming station 10, where spine 6 and lateral strips 80 of pack 3 are gummed.
Obviously, the above operation of trimming station 9 only applies to packs 3 of loose or unbound signatures. When working with packs 3 of bound signatures, cutter 74 is kept in the lowered or rest position, or trimming station 9 is eliminated.
Gripping device 5 reaches cover application station 11 at the same time feed line 18 feeds a cover 12 onto platform 21, which is set to the lowered position with gripper 83 open, and with jaws 84 positioned so that respective grip edges 85 define a passage wider than the thickness of pack 3.
At this point, actuating device 55 is stopped, and platform 21 is moved up through window 81 to bring base plate 82 into contact with the gummed spine 6 of pack 3 at cover application station 11. Next, actuating and guide members 86 are activated to move jaws 84 towards each other and stick cover 12 to strips 80 of pack 3.
As shown clearly in Figure 1, closure of jaws 84 does not fold cover 12 into a U to complete book 13, but simply folds each lateral portion of cover 12 into a 'gull-wing' contacting the sloping face 32, 43 of respective rib 30, 41 and the bottom surface of respective plate 28, 39; and, when actuating device 55 is reactivated, gripping device 5 feeds pack 3 and cover 12 one step forward to edge cutting station 14, with cover 12 still in the 'gull-wing' configuration, in which edge 7 of pack 3 is freely accessible from the outer side.
At edge cutting station 14, pack 3 is stopped between buffer wall 88 and cutting edge 101 of blade 100 set beforehand to the required height by moving and locking bridge 90 along guides 89. Next, screw 104 is operated to cut the edge of pack 3, and jaw 26 is parted from 25 by activating actuating device 56.
Pack 3, released by gripping device 5, drops through opening 106, and, as it does so, the two lateral portions of cover 12, folded into 'gull-wings' beneath plates 28 and 39, are folded onto the lateral surfaces of pack 3 to complete book 13.
In connection with the above, it should be pointed out that :

Jaws 25, 26 and respective longitudinal shoulders 36, 47 form respective assemblies 25-36, 26-47 structurally independent of each other, by virtue of jaws 25 and 26 not being connected directly, e.g. by a common support across path 4, but being fitted to respective longitudinal shoulders 36 and 37, which do not interfere with path 4. As gripping device 5 moves towards edge cutting station 14, the next pack 3 can therefore be fed at any time into pocket 22, by not interfering with gripping device 5 as it moves back to input station 8 with jaws 25 and 26 open.
Because feed lines 2 and 18 are superimposed and travel in the same direction, and feed line 18 stops at cover application station 11, finished books 13 can be unloaded freely off feed line 2, without interfering with covers 12 fed along feed line 18.

Claims

A brochure producing machine comprising a first feed line (2) for feeding a pack (3) of signatures along a straight first path (4); the pack (3) having a spine (6) and an edge (7); and the first feed line (2) comprising an input station (8) for receiving the pack (3) with the spine (6) facing down and the edge (7) facing up; a gumming station (10) for gumming the pack (3) along the spine (6); a cover application station (11) for applying a cover (12) to the spine (6); an edge cutting station (14) for trimming the edge (7) of the pack (3); an unloading station (15) for unloading a finished book (13) off the first feed line (2); a gripping device (5) for releasably gripping the pack (3); and first actuating means (55) for moving the gripping device (5) in a first direction (A) to and from the input station (8) and along the first path (4) between the input station (8) and the unloading station (15); the brochure producing machine (1) comprising a second feed line (18) for feeding the cover (12) to the cover application station (11) along a second path (20); the gripping device (5) comprising a first and second jaw (25, 26), and second actuating means (56) for moving the jaws (25, 26), with respect to each other and in a second direction (27) crosswise to the first direction (A), to and from a grip position gripping the pack (3) with the spine (6) facing down; and the brochure producing machine (1) being characterized by comprising first and second supporting means (36, 47) for supporting the first and second jaw (25, 26) respectively; the first and second supporting means (36, 47) defining, with the first and second jaw (25, 26) respectively, two structurally independent assemblies (25, 36; 26, 47).
A brochure producing machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first and second supporting means (36, 47) are located on opposite sides of the first path (4).
A brochure producing machine as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second supporting means (36, 47) extend along the whole of the first path (4), and are fixed in the first direction (A); each jaw (25; 26) being fitted to the respective supporting means (36; 47) to slide with respect to the respective supporting means (36; 47) and in the first direction (A) under the control of the first actuating means (55).
A brochure producing machine as claimed in Claim 3, wherein each jaw (25; 26) is fixed, with respect to the respective supporting means (36; 47), in the second direction (27); the first and second supporting means (36, 47) being mounted to move with respect to one another in the second direction (27) under the control of the second actuating means (56).
A brochure producing machine as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the first and second feed line (2, 18) are arranged with respect to each other so that travel of the gripping device (5) from the input station (8) to the cover application station (11) and travel of the cover (12) to the cover application station (11) are concordant.
A brochure producing machine as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the second feed line (18) comprises an output portion, in turn comprising a platform (21), which is movable, in a third direction crosswise to the first and second direction (A, 27), to and from a raised work position, in which the platform (21) is located along the first path (4) and engages the cover application station (11).
A brochure producing machine as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the platform (21) comprises a central portion, which, in use and when the platform (21) is in the raised work position, is positioned, with the interposition of a cover (12), contacting the spine (6) of a said pack (3) at the cover application station (11); the platform (21) also comprising gripping means (84) located on opposite sides of the central portion to grip portions of the cover (12) against respective gummed lateral portions (80) of said pack (3), and to fold the cover (12) beneath and onto the jaws (25, 26) of the gripping device (5).
A brochure producing machine as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, and comprising a deck (16); the input station (8) comprising a fixed pocket (22) for a said pack (3); the pocket (22) comprising a bottom portion defined by two ribs (23) fitted to the deck (16), extending in the first direction (A), and located on opposite sides of the first path (4), and a top portion defined by two fixed, substantially vertical plates (24), each located above and at a given distance from a respective said rib (23); and the jaws (25, 26) of the gripping device (5) being movable inside a gap between the fixed plates (24) and the ribs (23).
A brochure producing machine as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, wherein aligning means (70) are associated with the gripping device (5) to align the signatures in the pack (3) in the first direction (A), when the pack (3) is located at the input station (8); the aligning means (70) comprising a powered member (72), which is fitted to one of the jaws (25, 26), is located at a first end of the gripping device (5) opposite a second end of the gripping device (5) facing towards the unloading station (15), and is movable, in the second direction (27), between a position of non-interference and a position of interference with the first path (4).
A brochure producing machine as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the first jaw (25) is fixed, and the second jaw (26) movable, in the second direction (27); the second actuating means (56) being connected to the second jaw (26).
A brochure producing machine as claimed in Claims 4 and 10, wherein the first supporting means (36) are fixed, and the second supporting means (47) movable, in the second direction (27); the second actuating means (56) being connected to the second jaw (26) with the interposition of the second supporting means (47).
A brochure producing machine as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the first actuating means (55) comprise two screws (57, 58) mounted on opposite sides of the first path (4) to rotate synchronously about respective axes parallel to the first direction (A); each screw (57; 58) being axially and transversely fixed, and being connected to a respective said jaw (25; 26) by a screw-nut screw coupling.
A brochure producing machine as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the unloading station (15) is located beneath and at the edge cutting station (14).