EP3463886B1 - Feeding unit for a sheet-fed rotary printing machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an application unit for a sheet-fed printing machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

Feeding units for separating and delivering sheets in a targeted manner to a work process are known in connection with sheet-fed rotary printing machines. The sheet is conveyed via impression cylinders and transfer drums. The printing process works e.g. according to the flexo or offset printing process. Sheet coating machines such as painting machines are also known.

In known sheet-fed printing presses, the printing material is applied and aligned in sheet-fed devices, which are fed from a stack of sheets as a stream of scales via a belt table. The scale flow of the printed sheets can be conveyed by means of suction belts over a suction belt table. A sheet feeder usually has side marks that can work with pneumatic conveying means, and front and cover marks are provided. After all, these alignment devices are usually provided with a format adjustment. The sheet system also contains sensory devices for checking the position of the leading edges, side edges, an inclined position or multiple positions of the printed sheets. System locks interact with sensory devices, which block printed sheets if the sheet is inaccurate in position. Downstream of the sheet feeder are oscillating pre-grippers, which interact with rotating transfer drums. The substrate is subjected to abrupt changes of direction on its conveying path and experiences severe decelerations and accelerations.

Out DE 43 43 616 A1 an application unit in a modular printing press system is known which interacts with the printing cylinder of a printing unit has the first double-sized system drum with two gripper systems on the circumference. This is a second single-sized feed drum upstream in the sheet conveying direction. A third single-sized feed drum is arranged upstream of the second and connected to an inclined feed table in to take over the sheet. The sheet acceleration system on the high pile feeder is used to process cardboard, while the printing machine is suitable for cardboard and paper. A normal feeder is used for paper processing, which must be completely replaced with a high-pile feeder for cardboard processing. The feed unit is very complex due to the large number of drums. The sheet travel is adversely affected by the many sheet transfers and curvature curves of the drums. The exchange of the units when using a high pile feeder is particularly disadvantageous.

Rotating pre-grippers as in DE-AS 2 063 618 known. This sheet feeder shows a rotating pre-gripper drum with an upstream feed table inclined in the conveying direction. The pre-gripper drum has two diametrically arranged gripper systems that can be immersed in the drum body. In one variant, the sheet is fed in with a transfer drum connected between the pre-gripper drum and a pressure cylinder. In a second variant, the pre-gripper drum is directly assigned to a pressure cylinder. Front brands are integrated into the system table and can be swiveled from below.

From the DE 27 18 314 A1 a rotating pre-gripper with two gripper systems is known, which is preceded by a system table in the conveying direction and a system drum of the same diameter is arranged downstream. The pre-gripper rotates at half the speed of the feed drum. The gripper systems oscillate on the pre-gripper around the pre-gripper axis or around a shaft mounted eccentrically to the pre-gripper axis. A partial circumference of the pre-gripper drum protrudes above the level of the feed table, which is unfavorable for the sheet guidance.

From the DE 10 2005 012 527 A1 is a feed unit for a sheet processing machine in a sheet processing machine with a method for Creating sheets known, which is designed for attachment to a sheet processing plant. It shows a feed table and a gripper system arranged at the printing unit end of the feed table. The gripper system feeds each sheet directly to a transfer cylinder of the sheet processing plant.

Out DE 199 33 304 A1 a feed unit for a sheet processing machine is known. A feed drum, a feed table and a feeder are combined in one module. The axis of the double-sized contact drum is arranged on a horizontal plane formed by the axes of all printing cylinders. Gripper systems pivotally arranged on the system drum consist of a gripper shaft, grippers arranged on the gripper shaft and gripper sash bars and front marks arranged thereon.

The respective writings also disclose DE 201 04 483 U1 and DE 103 44 417 A1 a placement unit according to the preamble of claim 1.

Known partial solutions for clocked sheet feed to sheet-fed printing presses are mostly outdated and do not meet increasing demands for quality, performance, costs and availability. It is particularly desirable that printed sheets are not subjected to multiple acceleration and deceleration processes and additionally required changes of direction in the substrate transport. The gripper closure, which is determined for the transport of each printed sheet and adapted to the working cycle of the sheet printing machine, for detecting the leading edge of the sheet should be able to be produced as close as possible to the sheet feeder. The shingled sheet transport, which is often faulty or known to be particularly prone to errors, should be avoided if possible.

The effort to supply air to suction belt tables for fans, a multi-chamber version and an inclined curve correction via suction belts should be eliminated. The alignment of the printed sheets is to take place in the conveying movement during the transport from the suction head serving the sheet separation in the sheet feeder to an impression cylinder in the first printing unit of the sheet printing machine. This would provide considerably more time for aligning the printed sheets in front of the first printing unit of the sheet-fed printing press.

The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a feed unit for a sheet processing machine of the type described at the outset which avoids the disadvantages mentioned, which in particular allows a simple modular structure and permits improved sheet guidance of the printed sheets.

According to the invention the object is achieved with the features of claim 1. Further training results from the subclaims.

A feed unit for feeding individual printed sheets to a sheet-fed rotary printing press is provided with one or more printing units and / or coating modules, which are equipped with a substructure made up of double-sized transfer drums and impression cylinders. The application unit has a sheet feeder, a conveying unit, a feed table and a single or double-sized contact drum which is assigned to a sheet-guiding drum of a first printing unit of the sheet-fed rotary printing press. According to the invention, the conveyor unit is designed as an endless conveyor system connecting a lower contact drum to an upper contact drum. The upper feed drum is assigned to the sheet feeder.

In an advantageous manner, it can be provided that the lower contact drum is double-sized and is formed from the drum body of a cantilever drum. The lower contact drum is also arranged at the bearing point of a transfer drum of the first printing unit of the sheet-fed rotary printing press.

In an advantageous manner, it can be provided that the upper contact drum is designed with a single-large diameter.

According to the invention, it is also provided that the conveyor system is designed as an endless chain conveyor with rows of gripper systems carrying grippers, the gripper systems being moved by a transport drive via conveyor chains and the conveyor chains guiding the gripper systems over the upper contact drum and the lower contact drum.

It can advantageously be provided that the upper contact drum is assigned to a feed table and the feed table is assigned to the sheet feeder.

It can advantageously be provided that the feed table is assigned to the sheet feeder at the level of the upper edge of a sheet stack received in the sheet feeder. A suction head arranged in the sheet feeder above the sheet stack for sheet separation is designed to convey the printed sheets separated from the sheet stack directly onto the feed table.

An advantageous further development provides that the suction head, the feed table, the contact drum and the conveyor system are designed such that each individual printed sheet is introduced directly from the sheet stack into grippers which are carried in the open state by gripper systems which are moved on the conveyor system.

An advantageous development provides that the upper contact drum is assigned to the feed table near the edge of the sheet stack and the region of the conveyor system adjoining the upper contact drum extends essentially parallel to the extension of the feed table in the conveying direction.

In an advantageous manner, it can be provided that a sheet guiding device arranged on the underside of the conveyor system, essentially parallel to its conveyor plane, is assigned to the conveyor system following the feed table.

An advantageous further development provides that mechanical and / or pneumatic guiding devices are assigned to the conveying system in the area of the sheet conveyance from the feed table to the sheet guiding device and / or in the area of the sheet discharge from the sheet guiding device for transferring the printed sheets to a sheet guiding cylinder of the first printing unit to avoid Movements of the printed sheets are provided which point away from the sheet guiding device.

An advantageous development provides that the upper contact drum, the lower contact drum, the feed table and the sheet feeder with the suction head as a module is formed and that a process interface to a downstream printing unit or coating module designed as a module is defined between the lower contact drum and the downstream impression cylinder of the printing unit or coating module.

In an advantageous manner, it can be provided that one or more measuring systems with sheet position sensors, which are coupled to an evaluation unit and a controller, are associated with one another for measuring the position of the printed sheets to be fed to the sheet-fed rotary printing press and / or the upper feed drum and / or the conveyor system Control with an operating device acting on the conveyor system for correcting the position of gripper systems is functionally connected.

An advantageous further development provides that the conveyor system and / or the suction head of the sheet feeder are each provided with an independent motor drive, and that the motor drives are coupled by means of the control to the machine control of the sheet-fed rotary printing press in such a way that the printed sheets transported by the conveyor system in their position in the conveying direction with respect to the machine cycle of the sheet-fed rotary printing press can be aligned precisely with the rotary movement of the sheet-fed rotary printing press.

An advantageous development provides that the upper and / or the lower contact drum are provided with one or two independent motor drives, and that the motor drive (s) are coupled to the machine control of the sheet-fed rotary printing press by means of the control.

An advantageous development provides that one or both conveyor chains of the conveyor system are each provided with an independent motor drive, and that the motor drives are coupled to the machine control of the sheet-fed rotary printing press by means of the control.

It is also advantageous that in the case of a horizontally arranged feed table, the sheet separated by the sheet feeder directly in a horizontal conveying plane of the upper feed drum and can be placed in their gripper systems on front marks integrated there. This prevents possible damage to the printed sheet, which can occur, for example, at the transition from the sheet feeder to the feed table.

The feed table is preferably formed with a flat guide surface, in which longitudinal openings are provided, into which the gripper fingers of the gripper systems of the conveyor system, which are open at the inlet on the upper contact drum, can be immersed. If the conveying table is arranged horizontally or only slightly inclined in the conveying direction, it is advantageous that the isolated printed sheets conveyed by the sheet stack reach their alignment marks on a greatly shortened conveying path and can be accelerated to full speed immediately. The length of the feed table carrying the printed sheets to be fed can thus be greatly shortened and less waste is incurred in the event of faults such as a stop on the part of the sheet-fed printing machine. In the best case, this can only be a single sheet.

In the solution according to the invention, a parallel guide between the gripper systems and the printing sheet pushed by the suction head is provided on the contact plate. A contact area corresponding to a conventional contact sheet is thus already formed in the sheet feeder known per se.

The printed sheets can be retained in the sheet feeder by means of a system lock. As a result, there is less or no waste due to printed sheets which, in a known manner, remain on the belt table with stoppers and therefore have to be removed from the contact area of the sheet feeder, as a result of which they become unusable.

The printing sheets can be aligned during transport between the stack of feeders and the first printing unit. The so-called page register is adjusted axially, ie transversely to the paper running direction, by page alignment. The alignment with respect to the inclined sheet and the position of the leading edge is controlled by the forward movement of the gripper systems.

A system with sheet position sensors in the course of the conveyor system connected with a closed control loop ensures that early, late, double and inclined sheets are already recognized on the system sheet and the transfer into sheet transport by means of the conveyor system can be excluded. An individual drive of such a sheet feed device designed as a conveyor unit is also possible in connection with the sheet feeder. In such an embodiment, an inline alignment of the early / late sheets via the separately considered movement of the individual gripper systems of the conveying unit can be omitted, since the forward movement of the individual printed sheets can be influenced by means of the individual drive.

Due to the inventive concept of sheet feeding by means of a conveyor unit consisting of several gripper systems on a chain conveyor within a rail transport system in the sheet system between the sheet feeder and the first printing unit of a sheet-fed rotary printing machine, the base of the printing units can be omitted in so-called high-stack machines.

In this way, sheet-fed rotary printing machines are improved in terms of their throughput. In this context, in particular, there is no longer any need to provide a different configuration between a first printing unit (often referred to as a system printing unit) and the standardized subsequent printing units in a sheet-fed printing press. A sheet transport drum known per se as a delivery drum in the area of the sheet feeder can be used as the feed drum or as the lower contact drum. The sheet guide for cardboard can be significantly improved and simplified, whereby scratches and other damage due to the flat sheet guide and the safe sheet transport in the constant gripper closure are avoided. Furthermore, various wearing parts are advantageously dispensed with, since neither a belt table nor the belt rollers and conveyor belts connected to it, nor complex air ducts are provided on a suction belt table. The sheet system with the conveyor system according to the invention itself is so considerable cause fewer stoppers in operation and thus bring economic advantages, since less waste is produced and much easier operation is required due to minimal operator intervention.

Fig. 1

ein Bogenanleger mit einer Bogenzufuhreinheit mit mehrere Bogentransporteinheiten im seitlichen Aufriss,

Fig. 2

eine Bogenzuführeinrichtung für eine Bogendruckmaschine dargestellt in der Draufsicht,

Fig. 3

eine Bogentransporteinheit in Funktionsverbindung mit einem Führungselement zur seitlichen Ausrichtung,

Fig. 4

eine Bogentransporteinheit in Funktionsverbindung mit zwei Führungselementen zur umfangs- bzw. längenbezogenen Ausrichtung und

Fig. 5/6

Bogentransporteinheiten mit Einrichtungen zur Bogenlageregelung.

The invention is explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment. Show:

Fig. 1

a sheet feeder with a sheet feed unit with several sheet transport units in the side elevation,

Fig. 2

a sheet feeder for a sheet printing machine shown in plan view,

Fig. 3

a sheet transport unit in functional connection with a guide element for lateral alignment,

Fig. 4

a sheet transport unit in functional connection with two guide elements for circumferential or length-related alignment and

Fig. 5/6

Sheet transport units with devices for sheet position control.

A sheet-fed rotary printing press according to Fig. 1 is preferably a sheet-fed offset printing press and has one or more printing units D1, D2 and / or coating modules. Lacquer modules are designed in the sheet-guiding area, the so-called substructure, in accordance with the printing units D1, D2 and can therefore be arranged upstream, intermediate or downstream of the printing units D1, D2. The lacquer modules can also be provided several times in association with one another.

To Fig. 1 is arranged upstream of the first printing unit D1 in the conveying direction R, an application unit 19 which is provided with an endlessly rotating conveyor system 11. In the conveyor system 11, an upper contact drum 3.1 and a lower contact drum 3.2 are provided, each of which has sprockets, via which conveyor chains 23 rotate with gripper systems 8 attached to them. The conveyor system has guide rails 12 on both sides between the upper and lower contact drum 3.1, 3.2 for guiding the conveyor chains 23.

Printing unit D2 represents a standard version of a printing machine printing unit. Printing unit D2 has a transfer drum 4 in the lower region and, in the conveying direction R of the transfer drum 4, an impression cylinder 5 arranged downstream of it Sheet transport on. This configuration is also intended for paint modules or comparable finishing units.

A printing blanket cylinder 7 and a forme cylinder 6 are assigned to the impression cylinder 5. Each forme cylinder 6 is assigned one inking and one dampening unit in sheetfed offset presses (not shown here).

In coating modules, a printing cylinder with a coating supply device is directly assigned to the printing cylinder instead of a printing blanket cylinder.

Lacquer modules can also be designed as multi-function modules for executing special processing methods (punching, perforating, numbering, embossing, film transfer, laminating, digital printing).

In each printing unit D2 following the first printing unit D1, starting from the single-size printing blanket 7 and forme cylinder 6, the respective impression cylinder 5 and the transfer drum 4 preceding it are designed twice as large and each have two rows of grippers 22 for sheet transport.

In the first printing unit D1, the place of a transfer drum 4 (printing unit D2) is taken up by a sheet conveying device of an application unit 19, in which the first printing unit D1 is connected to the sheet feeder 1. In Fig. 1 Two options for integrating a lower system drum 3.2 in the printing unit D1 are indicated. It can be used in the form of a single-sized sheet guide drum instead of and in the storage of a plant drum which interacts in a known manner with a pre-gripper.

A lower contact drum 3.2 can be used in the form of a double-size sheet guide drum instead of a delivery drum interacting in a known manner with a delivery chain conveyor in the storage of a transfer drum 4 according to printing unit D2.

The feed unit 19 consists of a sheet feeder 1, a feed table 2 and two single or double-size feed drums 3.1 and 3.2, each based on the single-size forme cylinder 6. The upper contact drum 3.1 and the lower contact drum 3.2 are by a conveyor system 11, the endless conveyor chains 23rd exhibits (see FIGS. 3 and 4 ), connected with each other. The system drums 3.1 and 3.2 are basically formed by an axis of rotation with two sprockets, over which the conveyor chains 23 are guided. In the exemplary embodiment, the conveyor system 11 has five gripper systems 8 which run on the conveyor chains 23 in guide rails 12 and run over the bearing drums 3.1 and 3.2. The gripper systems 8 are designed as bar-shaped sheet transport elements that extend across the width of the conveyor system 11 between the conveyor chains 23 and each have controllable grippers 9 for gripping, holding, transporting and releasing the front edge of printed sheets B.

The feed table 2 is arranged directly after an upper edge of a sheet stack 14 held in the sheet feeder 1 in the conveying direction R and is oriented essentially horizontally or to a slight extent in a sloping manner in the conveying direction R. Upstream of the feed table 2 in the conveying direction R, a suction head 13 is assigned to the top of the sheet stack 14. The suction head 13 has suction devices 13.1 and further aids, not shown here, for safely separating the printed sheets B from the sheet stack 14 and for guiding the individual printed sheets B to the feed table 2 without interference. By means of the suction head 13, the top sheet in each case is separated from the sheet stack 14 and by means of the suction devices 13.1 in the direction of the feed table 2 and with its front edge into the area, a proposed takeover by the gripper systems 8.

The upper contact drum 3.1 is arranged above the feed table 2. The gripper systems 8, which are guided on endless chains, are guided by the conveyor system 11 on guide rails 12 into the area of the sheet transfer parallel to the feed table 2 via a transfer line U via the upper contact drum 3.1. Each individual printed sheet B is thus gripped by the gripper systems 8 with the grippers 9 open at the bottom on the feed table 2 at its front edge when the printed sheet B has been inserted into the grippers 9 by the suction head 13 and then transported away in the direction of the printing unit D1.

A monitoring device with one or more sheet position sensors 20 is arranged below the feed table 2. By means of the sheet position sensor (s) 20, the position of the edges relevant to the determination of a conveying position of a printed sheet B just separated from the sheet stack 14 and taken over by the gripper system 8 with the grippers 9 is detected and its position in relation to the machine cycle and its determination Position evaluated with regard to the orientation during transport in the conveying direction R and in the plane of the printed sheet B transverse to the conveying direction R.

A sheet guiding device 21 is arranged below the conveyor system 11 approximately parallel to the sheet transport path. By means of the sheet guiding device 21, each individual printed sheet B is guided by a gripper system 8 from the upper contact drum 3.1 to the lower contact drum 3.2, where it is transferred to the impression cylinder 5 of the first printing unit D1. It is necessary here that the printed sheets B, which are only held at their front edge, do not slide together due to their own weight during transport via the sheet guide device 21 leading downward, so that faults occur. The sheet guiding device 21 can therefore be provided with devices for tightening the printed sheets B, it being important to protect the surface of the printed sheets B which are generally still unprinted. Pneumatic guide means can enable contact-free sheet guidance.

In the area of the sheet guiding device 21, further sheet position sensors 20 can be arranged in order to monitor the position of the sheet edges in the gripper system 8 and, relative thereto, also during sheet transport.

The data resulting from the measurement of the sheet position are used to adapt the sheet position in relation to the processing cycle and the page orientation of each individual printed sheet B.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, a measuring system with sheet position sensors 20 is arranged on or under the feed table 2, which determines the actual position of a front and / or side edge of the printed sheet B on the feed table 2. In a control, a target-actual comparison of the sheet position is carried out in real time with an expected sheet position calculated from the specifications of the sheet-fed offset printing machine at the time of transfer.

By means of a side pulling and leading edge alignment device optionally provided on the feed table 2, the printed sheet B could then be controlled in a desired position for takeover by the grippers 9 on the gripper systems 8. However, there is only a small time window available for this. Therefore, this option can be assessed as less economical from a technical and economic perspective.

According to a preferred embodiment Fig. 1 the feed table 2 is arranged horizontally, so that the printed sheet B separated from the suction head 13 on the top of the sheet stack 14 in the sheet feeder 1 can be gripped by a gripper system 8 in the area of the feed table 2 in the transfer path U. This takes place in a consistently horizontal conveying plane to the gripper systems 8, which are fed in from the upper bearing drum 3.1 and come in with the grippers 9 open at the bottom. The grippers 9, which are opened at an early point in the area of the feed table 2, are pre-positioned via the gripper system 8 and Assignment of the printed sheets B to the gripper systems 8 takes place via front mark stops, not shown here, which are also attached to the gripper systems 8 and against which the printed sheets B are applied for alignment of their front edge before the grippers 9 are closed on the gripper system 8 for securely grasping the front edge of the sheet become.

The upper system drum 3.1 is as in Fig. 1 shown in the feed unit 19 so arranged above the feed table 2 that its conveying plane extends tangentially to the upper contact drum 3.1 and parallel to the movement path of the gripper system 8 which correspondingly runs in from the upper contact drum 3.1.

The concept of the application unit 19 permits variable configurations for the formation of the conveying paths or for the use of existing assemblies.

The system drums 3.1 and 3.2 can accordingly, based on the single-sized forme cylinder 6, be either single or double-sized. This can be selected depending on the space requirements and the requirements for the materials to be processed.

The lower contact drum 3.2 can be arranged with its axis of rotation (aligned) in or offset in height (offset in parallel) above an extension plane which is formed by the axes of all impression cylinders 5 of the printing units D1, D2 which are aligned with one another.

At least the lower contact drum 3.2 can be designed as a double-sized sheet guide drum for simultaneously guiding two gripper systems 8. It then has a larger diameter, which is favorable for the guidance of stiffer printing material, so that the material of the printing sheet B to be transported is not bent so strongly and which can thus be transferred more easily to the impression cylinder 5 of the first printing unit D1.

In the area of the upper contact drum 3.1, the problem of the curvature of the printing material does not exist, since the recording of the printed sheets B in the grippers 9 of the gripper systems 8 always only after the gripper systems 8 have run off the curved guideway of the upper contact drum 3.1 and in the area of the plane Feed table 2 is done. The printed sheets B are therefore only transported after the first contact drum 3.1 by the gripper systems 8 and thus on a relatively flat path.

The transition 2.1 from the flat feed table 2 to the sheet guide device 21 leading downward is curved toward the inside of the conveyor system 11. There, therefore, a movement of the printed sheets B guided by the gripper systems 8 in the opposite direction to the transport plane is provoked.

On the one hand, the transition 2.1 can be designed continuously, so that the printed sheets B running off the feed table 2 at machine speed are not suddenly deflected into the downward movement on the sheet guiding device 21, with the result that a whip effect on the sheet end that is no longer guided can be avoided. Furthermore, a blowing device can be effective from the inside of the conveyor system 11 in the area of the transition 2.1 or a suction device in the area of the transition 2.1 onto the sheet guiding device 21 be provided on the outgoing sheet B and for generating a flat guidance of the sheet B.

In connection with the system drums 3.1, 3.2, further sheet guiding means, which are arranged where the printed sheets B are subjected to a change in direction, are preferably useful in addition to the sheet guiding device 21 for trouble-free sheet transport.

Thus, in the area of the upper contact drum 3.1 on the way to the arc path leading downwards, a device for transferring the transition from the horizontal to the downward movement can be arranged. Pneumatic suction or blowing air devices or mechanical guide elements which protect the printing sheet B are suitable for this purpose.

Furthermore, in the area of the lower contact drum 3.2 on the way to the sheet transfer to the impression cylinder 5, a device for securing the sheet movement at the transition from the circulating movement in the lower contact drum 3.2 to the circulating movement with the impression cylinder 5 can be arranged. Pneumatic suction or blowing air devices or mechanical guide elements which protect the printing sheet B are also suitable for this purpose.

In a further development, the feed drums 3.1 and 3.2 and the sheet guiding device 21 are measuring systems with at least one sheet position sensor 20 each, for detecting the position (actual value) of the sheet-like printed sheets guided on gripper systems 8 in the upper feed drum 3.1, above the sheet guiding device 21 and on the lower feed drum 3.2 B assigned adjacent. The position detection can relate, for example, to at least one side edge and / or the front edge of the arcuate printing sheet B. The sheet position sensors 20 are coupled in terms of circuitry to an evaluation unit for a target / actual comparison and to a control system, such that the gripper systems 8 can be moved laterally in a configuration transverse to the conveying direction R.

In a further embodiment, the functional connection of sheet position sensors 20, evaluation unit and control is such that a lateral movement of the gripper system 8 can be realized and / or when the printing sheet B is inclined its positional offset to the conveying direction R can be seen and the printed sheet B can be aligned in the desired position by the gripper system 8 which can be adjusted obliquely in or against the conveying direction R.

The sheet position sensors 20 assigned to the feed table 2 and / or the sheet guiding device 21 and / or the feed drum 3.1 and 3.2 can be used together or individually.

The operation of the application unit 19 is as follows:
In the sheet feeder 1, each printed sheet B to be processed is separated using means known per se with a suction head 13 from the top of the sheet stack 14 in the machine cycle of the sheet-fed offset printing press and is continuously accelerated in the conveying direction R up to the machine speed. In the resultant forward movement, the printed sheet B is pushed onto the feed table 2 and can already be examined at this point in time, preferably with the aid of corresponding sensors, with regard to the sheet position, the presence of multiple sheets or with regard to sheet damage. For this purpose, corresponding sensors such as the sheet position sensors 20 are arranged in corresponding areas on or below the feed table 2.

When the printed sheet B arrives on the feed table 2, after an actual position value has been measured and a target / actual comparison has been carried out, the printed sheet B can preferably be aligned here according to one side edge.

Immediately afterwards or in motion overlay, the transport takes place in the conveying direction R against front marks, not shown here, which are arranged on the gripper system 8. The gripper system 8 runs with the downward towards the feed table 2 and in the process extends through the feed table 2 in openly arranged grippers 9 which extend in front of the front edge of the printing sheet B. Thus, from the suction head 13 to the front marks arranged by means of the running gripper system 8 when the grippers 9 are open, the leading edge of the sheet can fly. The grippers 9 then grip the printed sheet B when the front marks lie against the leading edge of the sheet, and the grippers 9 or their Gripper fingers simultaneously act as so-called cover marks while the sheet edge lies against the front marks until the printed sheet B is fixed to the gripper system 8 in the gripper closure of the grippers 9. This process, with the detection of the position of the leading edge of the printed sheet B, takes place in a synchronous movement between the printed sheet B and the gripper system 8, essentially in parallel movement to one another on the feed table 2 in the area of the transfer line U. To simplify adaptation to substrates of different thicknesses, the feed table 2 can be slightly inclined to the conveyor system 11, so that the distance from the surface of the feed table 2 to opposing gripper supports of the grippers 9 to the feed table 2 can be adjusted automatically.

The gripper system 8, which has run off the rotating system drum 3.1, is moved further by conveyor chains 23 on the conveyor system 11 in guide rails 12 and pulls the printed sheet B fixed in the gripper closure from the feed table 2. The printed sheet B is then transported in the conveying direction R via the sheet guiding device 21 while the feed drum 3.1 is constantly being moved at machine speed. The sheet guiding device 21 can be designed as a simple, smooth or contoured guide surface, over which the printed sheet B is dragged without its surface being damaged in the process. The sheet guiding device 21 can be designed as a pneumatically actuated guide surface, via which the printed sheet B is levitated under the influence of compressed air or dragged and tightened under the influence of suction air.

In the area of the sheet guiding device 21, a further or a first-time measurement of the printed sheets B with evaluation of the sheet position in the conveying plane and a corresponding correction on the lower contact drum 3.2 can take place. Subsequently, the printing sheet B is transferred from the system drum 3.2 in the transfer area to the impression cylinder 5, which is part of the first printing unit D1. After the first printing, the printing sheet B is then transferred from the impression cylinder 5 of the first printing unit D1 to the transfer drum 4 of the second printing unit D2 and then in a known manner to the subsequent impression cylinder 5.

If the system drum 3.2 is designed as a double-sized drum, its drum body can be taken over by a delivery drum, as is present at the transport-side end of the sheet-fed offset printing machine in front of the delivery arm. A corresponding storage position for the standard attachment of a transfer drum 4 is already provided on the printing unit D1, into which the delivery drum can then be used as the lower contact drum 3.2, the delivery drum also being provided for interaction with endless chain conveyor systems.

In the Fig. 1 The main variant of the lower feed drum 3.2 shown is intended for use with a printing unit D1, which can be used with a standard feed drum in conjunction with a pre-gripper. While the pre-gripper is then omitted, the lower feed drum 3.2 can be accommodated in the storage of the standard feed drum.

In Fig. 2 the application unit 19 is shown in a plan view. The upper feed drum 3.1 connects to the sheet feeder 1 with sheet stack 14 and suction head 13. An arrow is shown on the suction head 13 (see also Fig. 1 ) to indicate its transport movements when separating the sheets. The upper contact drum 3.1 largely covers the feed table 2 in plan view. The outline of the feed table 2 is different from Fig. 1 and highlighted in dashed lines for better visibility.

The gripper systems 8 are according to the arrangement in the illustration Fig. 1 shown. Above the upper contact drum 3.1, a gripper system 8.1 is shown, which is idling against the conveying direction R on the way back from the printing unit D1 to the sheet feeder 1. Another gripper system 8.2 is shown on its way above the sheet guiding device 21 to the lower contact drum 3.2 in the conveying direction R. A third gripper system 8.3 is located above the lower feed drum 3.2, likewise empty, on the way back to the sheet feeder 1. The grippers 9 are also symbolized here.

The gripper systems 8, the guide rails 12 and conveyor chains 23 are components of the conveyor system 11 and are used to convey individual printed sheets B from the feeder stack 14 to the printing cylinder 5 of the first printing unit D1.

Independently controllable drive motors 25 can be provided on each side of the axis of the lower contact drum 3.2 to drive the conveyor system 11.

Starting from the feed drum 3.1, a further gripper system 8 is shown in the conveying direction R, which now holds a printed sheet B and transports it in the conveying direction R to the feed drum 3.2.

In this context, two curved arrows are shown transversely to the gripper system 8 and an elongated arrow is shown parallel to its extension. These arrows indicate that the printed sheet B can be aligned by means of the gripper system 8 both transversely to the conveying direction R, that is to say in relation to its side edges, and in relation to a pivoting of its front edge to the conveying direction. The sheet alignment can take place during sheet transport between the feed drum 3.1 to the feed drum 3.2, in the course of the sheet transfer to the feed drum 3.1 or in the course of the sheet transfer from the feed drum 3.2 to the impression cylinder 5.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 Possibilities for aligning the bow are shown in connection with the gripper systems 8. The gripper systems 8 are connected to guide rails 12 (see Fig. 2 ), where they are moved on schematically shown conveyor chains 22 by means of guide rollers 10 in the guide rails 12.

In Fig. 3 An alignment element 15 is shown which engages from a drum-fixed and axially to a base body (axis) of a lower or upper contact drum 3.1, 3.2 articulation point when the gripper system 8 runs into an alignment opening 16 provided there. The gripper system 8 is supported by the guide rollers 10 and guided in a preselected side position on the guide surfaces in the guide opening 16. This pre-positioning takes place before and during a printing sheet B from the grippers 9 is picked up on the gripper system 8 and transferred in a fixed position to another sheet transport system such as the impression cylinder 5.

In addition to the axial alignment, the Fig. 4 By means of two catch forks 17, which cooperate with alignment bolts 18 attached in the gripper system 8, the printed sheet B is aligned in relation to the circumference or inclined position. Here, the catch forks 17 of drum-fixed and circumferentially adjustable to a system drum 3.1, 3.2 adjustable pivot points engage in the guide bolts 18 on the gripper systems 8.

Depending on the measurements of the sheet position via the sheet position sensors 20, the alignment element 15 and the catch forks 17 can be positioned during the sheet travel in order to ensure an exact sheet transfer for the best possible production accuracy.

In Fig. 5 and 6 an arrangement of the application unit 19 is shown in elevation and in plan view, different control options for drive and sheet alignment being shown here.

In principle, the application unit 19 with the elements to be driven in the conveyor system 11 and in the suction head 13 can be driven in synchronization with the machine movement from a main drive, the main drive being assigned to the sheet-fed offset printing machine.

In Fig. 5 is corresponding to a description of a first independently operable drive configuration Fig. 1 selected.

To Fig. 5 The conveyor system 11 in the feed unit 19 is driven by at least one independently operated first drive motor 25 on the axis of the lower contact drum 3.2 in synchronization of the movement of the printed sheets B with the movement of the sheet-fed offset printing machine.

The sheet is separated by an independently operated second drive motor 26 in connection with the suction head 13 in the sheet feeder 1.

The conveyor chains 23 and the chain wheels of the upper contact drum 3.1 are thus set in transport motion by the first drive motor 25 via the chain wheels of the lower contact drum 3.2. If both sprockets of the lower contact drum 3.2 are coupled to a rigid axle, the position of the front edge of the printed sheets B can be adjusted by the drive movement of the first drive motor 25 via the driven gripper systems 8 relative to the movement of the sheet-fed offset printing machine. In this way, a precisely fitting sheet transfer can take place from the gripper systems 8 on the system drum 3.2 to the impression cylinder 5 in relation to the machine cycle of the sheet-fed offset printing machine.

If each of the chain wheels of the lower contact drum 3.2 is provided with its own first drive motor 25, the printing sheet B can be aligned via the gripper systems 8 by means of an independently controlled drive movement both with regard to the position of the sheet leading edge in the transport direction and also with regard to a possible oblique position of the sheet leading edge.

The signals for controlling the first and second drive motors 25, 26 with respect to the sheet position are obtained by sheet position sensors 20 in the area of the feed table 2 and the sheet guiding device 21 in the sheet movement at the gripper systems 8 and fed to a controller 24 via data lines 27. The position data of the printed sheets B are then processed in the controller 24 together with signals relating to the machine cycle, which are fed to the controller 24 via a machine data line 29 from a machine controller of the sheet-fed offset printing press. A target-actual comparison is carried out, which compares the measured values with position data of an expected sheet position, which are predefined by the machine control. Deviations obtained therefrom are processed into control signals which are passed via control lines 28 to the first and second drive motors 25, 26 in order to control the sheet conveyance for correcting incorrect positions of the printed sheets B via their drive movement.

In Fig. 6 is a representation accordingly for an alternative drive configuration Fig. 2 shown with a plan view of the application unit 19. In contrast to Fig. 2 are in Fig. 6 Drive motors provided elsewhere.

To Fig. 6 the conveyor system 11 is driven in the feed unit 19 via two drive motors 30, 31, which act on the conveyor chains 23 with their own drive elements (chain wheels) in synchronization of the movement of the printed sheets B for the movement of the sheet-fed offset printing machine. Thus, the gripper systems 8 and the conveyor chains 23 together with the sprockets of the lower and the upper contact drum 3.2 and 3.1 are set in transport motion.

The sheet is separated by an independent drive motor 26 in connection with the suction head 13 in the sheet feeder 1.

The sprockets of the lower contact drum 3.2 are each provided with their own drive via the conveyor chains 23 and the drive motors 30, 31, so that an independently controlled drive movement of the printed sheets B via the gripper systems 8 both with regard to the position of the sheet leading edge in the transport direction and also with regard to one The leading edge of the sheet is inclined.

The signals for controlling the drive motors 26, 30, 31 with respect to the sheet position are obtained by sheet position sensors 20.1, 20.2 in the area of the feed table 2 and the sheet guiding device 21 during sheet movement on the gripper systems 8 and fed to a controller 24 via data lines 27. The sheet position sensors 20.1 record the position of the sheet leading edge and the sheet position sensors 20.2 record the position of the sheet side edge.

The position data of the printed sheets B are then processed in the controller 24 together with signals relating to the machine cycle, which are fed to the controller 24 via a machine data line 29 from a machine controller of the sheet-fed offset printing press. A target-actual comparison is carried out, which compares the measured values with position data of an expected sheet position, which are predefined by the machine control. Position deviations obtained from the signals of the sheet position sensors 20.1 are processed into control signals which are sent to the drive motors 26, 30, 31 via control lines 28 are directed to control the sheet conveyance for correcting incorrect positions of the printed sheets B with respect to their sheet leading edge via their drive movement.

Furthermore, in the sheet movement, alignment movements are carried out from the signals of the sheet position sensors 20.2 to adjust the sheet side edge to an optimal position for processing the printed sheets B in the sheet-fed offset printing machine.

If the sheet position sensors 20, 20.1, 20.2 are arranged and configured appropriately for detecting larger edge areas or if separate devices for edge monitoring are arranged, damage to the sheet edges can also be detected, so that such printed sheets B are not fed to the sheetfed offset printing machine.

Likewise, printed sheets B that were not properly separated are identified as so-called double or multiple sheets in the area of the feed table 2 by a sensor device, not shown here. Since these, too, must not be fed to the sheetfed offset printing press, they are not transported on or excluded from the sheet stream.

1. 1. Die Parallelführung der Greifersysteme 8 mit dem Zuführtisch 2 führt vom Saugkopf 13 angeschobenen Druckbogen B wie bekannt auf das Anlageblech.
2. 2. Bei Sperrung der Bogenanlage verbleiben Druckbogen B im Bogenanleger 1. Das vermeidet Makulatur an Druckbogen B, die von einem Bändertisch vor einem Neustart entnommen werden müssten.
3. 3. Die Ausrichtung des Druckbogens B kann während des Transportes des Druckbogens B vom Bogenanleger 1 zum ersten Druckwerk D1 erfolgen.
4. 4. Axial und damit quer zur Papierlaufrichtung kann der Seitenpasser auf einfache und vorteilhafte Weise durch Verschieben eines Greifersystems 8 während des Transports eingestellt werden, wobei der Druckbogen B während der Verschiebung über die gesamte Länge gehalten wird.
5. 5. Die Ausrichtung hinsichtlich Schrägbogen und der Lage der Bogenvorderkante in Bogenförderrichtung R wird auf einfache Weise inline über die Vorwärtsbewegung der Greifersysteme 8 gesteuert.
6. 6. Eine Sensorik (Bogenlagesensoren 20) mit einem oder mehreren Regelkreisen ermöglicht Früh-, Spät-, Doppel- und Schrägbogen ggf. schon auf dem Zuführtisch 2 (Anlageblech) zu erkennen und festzuhalten, wenn eine Fehllage nicht ausregelbar sein sollte. So gelangen Druckbogen B mit Fehllagen nicht als Fehlerquelle in den Transport zur Druckmaschine.
7. 7. Bei Verwendung eines oder mehrere Einzelantriebe am Bogenanleger 1 und/oder am Saugkopf 13 und/oder am Fördersystem 11 und/oder an der Anlegereinheit 19 wird eine Inline-Ausrichtung der Früh-/Spätbogen ermöglicht und eine spezielle Ausrichteinrichtung für die Greifersysteme 8 in Bogenförderrichtung R kann demgemäß entfallen.
8. 8. Durch das Konzept der Bogenzuführung mittels Greifersystemen 8 und einem Fördersystem 11 mit Förderketten 23 auf Führungsschienen 12 in der Bogenanlage kann durch Gestaltung der Förderwege eine Sockelkonfiguration zur Höhenanpassung der Druckwerke D1, D2 bei Hochstapelmaschinen entfallen.
9. 9. In der Konfiguration können ein erstes Druckwerk D1 und ein Folgedruckwerk D2 gleich aufgebaut sein, wenn als untere Anlagetrommel 3.2 (Zuführtrommel) eine Bogentransporttrommel in Form einer Auslegertrommel verwendet wird.
10. 10. Die Bogenführung wird speziell bei Kartonmaterial deutlich verbessert, da Beschädigungen wie Kratzer o. ä. durch die einfache Bogenführung entfallen.
11. 11. Ein Bändertisch, auch als Saugbändertisch, mit Saugluftversorgung Saugbändern und Bänderwalzen entfällt.
12. 12. Eine derartig Bogenanlage ist weniger anfällig gegen Stopper und erlaubt eine einfachere Bedienung. Sie verspricht daher minimale Bedienereingriffe, woraus wiederum die Entstehung von weniger Makulatur folgt.

In summary, the following facts are to be named as advantageous in connection with the previously described invention:

1. 1. The parallel guidance of the gripper systems 8 with the feed table 2 leads from the suction head 13 pushed sheet B as known on the contact plate.
2. 2. When the sheet feeder is blocked, printed sheets B remain in sheet feeder 1. This avoids waste on printed sheets B that would have to be removed from a belt table before a restart.
3. 3. The alignment of the printing sheet B can take place during the transport of the printing sheet B from the sheet feeder 1 to the first printing unit D1.
4. 4. Axially and thus transversely to the paper running direction, the page register can be moved in a simple and advantageous manner by moving a gripper system 8 during of the transport can be set, the printed sheet B is held over the entire length during the displacement.
5. 5. The alignment with respect to the inclined sheet and the position of the leading edge of the sheet in the sheet conveying direction R is controlled inline in a simple manner via the forward movement of the gripper systems 8.
6. 6. A sensor system (sheet position sensors 20) with one or more control loops enables early, late, double and inclined sheets to be identified and recorded on the feed table 2 (contact sheet) if necessary, if an incorrect position cannot be corrected. In this way, printed sheets B with incorrect layers do not reach the printing press as a source of errors.
7. 7. When using one or more individual drives on the sheet feeder 1 and / or on the suction head 13 and / or on the conveyor system 11 and / or on the feeder unit 19, an inline alignment of the early / late sheets is made possible and a special alignment device for the gripper systems 8 in Accordingly, sheet conveying direction R can be omitted.
8. 8. Due to the concept of sheet feeding by means of gripper systems 8 and a conveyor system 11 with conveyor chains 23 on guide rails 12 in the sheet-fed system, a base configuration for height adjustment of the printing units D1, D2 in high-stack machines can be omitted by designing the conveyor paths.
9. 9. In the configuration, a first printing unit D1 and a subsequent printing unit D2 can have the same structure if a sheet transport drum in the form of a delivery drum is used as the lower contact drum 3.2 (feed drum).
10. 10. The sheet guidance is significantly improved, especially with cardboard material, since damage such as scratches or the like is eliminated by the simple sheet guidance.
11. 11. A belt table, also as a suction belt table, with suction air supply, suction belts and belt rollers are not required.
12. 12. Such a bow system is less susceptible to stoppers and allows easier operation. It therefore promises minimal operator intervention, which in turn means less waste.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

sheet feeder

2

feed

3.1

upper drum

3.2

lower drum

4

transfer drum

5

Impression cylinder

6

form cylinder

7

Blanket cylinder

8th

gripper system

8.1

gripper system

8.2

gripper system

8.3

gripper system

9

grab

10

guide rollers

11

conveyor system

12

guide rails

13

suction head

13.1

Sucker / suction device

14

feeder pile

15

aligning

16

alignment hole

17

catch fork

18

aligning bolts

19

applying unit

20

Sheet position sensor

20.1

Sheet position sensor

20.2

Sheet position sensor

21

Sheet guiding device

22

gripper row

23

conveyor chain

24

control

25

drive motor

26

drive motor

27

Data line (measurement signal)

28

Control line (engine control)

29

Machine data line (machine control, machine cycle)

30

drive motor

31

drive motor

D1

printing unit

D2

printing unit

R

conveying direction

A

aligning

Ü

takeover route

B

sheet

Claims (14)

1. A feeding unit (19) for feeding separated printed sheets (B) to a sheet-fed rotary printing press comprising one or a plurality of printing units (D1, D2) and/or inking modules, wherein the printing units (D1, D2) or inking modules are provided with a substructure of respective double-size transfer drums (4) and impression cylinders (5), wherein the feeding unit (19) is provided with a sheet feeder (1), a conveying unit, and a feed table (2), wherein, based on a single-size plate cylinder (6) of one of the printing units (D1, D2), the feeding unit (19) has a single-size or double-size feed drum (3.2), which is associated with a sheet-guiding cylinder of a first printing unit (D1) of the sheet-fed rotary printing press,
   characterized in
   that the conveying unit is embodied as an endless conveying system (11), which connects a lower feed drum (3.2) to an upper feed drum (3.1), and that the upper feed drum (3.1) is assigned to the sheet feeder (1), and
   that the conveying system (11) is embodied as endless chain conveyor comprising rows of gripper systems (8) supporting grippers (9), wherein the gripper systems (8) are moved by a transport drive via conveyor chains (23), and wherein the conveyor chains (23) guide the griper systems (8) over the upper feed drum (3.1) and the lower feed drum (3.2) .
2. The feeding unit according to claim 1, characterized in
   that the lower feed drum (3.2) is embodied to be double-size and is used in place of a delivery drum, which interacts with a delivery chain conveyor in a known manner, and that the lower feed drum (3.2) is arranged in a bearing position of a transfer drum (4) of the first printing unit (D1) of the sheet-fed rotary printing press (D1).
3. The feeding unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in
   that the upper feed drum (3.1) is embodied with a single-size diameter.
4. The feeding unit according to one or a plurality of claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that the upper feed drum (3.1) is assigned to a feed table (2) and that the feed table (2) is assigned to the sheet feeder (1).
5. The feeding unit according to one or a plurality of claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in
   that the feed table (2) is assigned to the sheet feeder (1) at the height of the upper edge of a sheet stack (14) accommodated in the sheet feeder (1), and that a suction head (13) arranged in the sheet feeder (1) above the sheet stack (14) for sheet separation is embodied for conveying away the printed sheets (B) separated from the sheet stack (14) directly to the feed table (2).
6. The feeding unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the suction head (13), the feed table (2), the feed drum (3.1), and the conveying system (11) are embodied in such a way that each separated printed sheet (B) can be inserted directly from the sheet stack (14) into the grippers (9), while the latter are supported in the open state by gripper systems (8) moved at the conveying system (11).
7. The feeding unit according to one or a plurality of claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in that the upper feed drum (3.1) is assigned to the feed table (2) close to the edge of the sheet stack (14), and that the area of the conveying system (11) following the upper feed drum (3.1) is embodied so as to run essentially parallel to the expansion of the feed table (2) in the conveying direction (R).
8. The feeding unit according to one or a plurality of claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in that a sheet guiding device (21), which is arranged on the underside of the conveying system (11) essentially parallel to the conveying plane thereof, is assigned to the conveying system (11), following the feed table (2).
9. The feeding unit according to claim 8,
   characterized in that guide devices of a mechanical and/or pneumatic type, which face away from the sheet guiding device (21), are provided to avoid movements of the printed sheets (B), assigned to the conveying system (11) in the area of the sheet conveyance from the feed table (2) to the sheet guiding device (21) and/or in the area of the sheet discharge from the sheet guiding device (21) for transferring the printed sheets (B) to a sheet-guiding cylinder of the first printing unit (D1).
10. The feeding unit according to claim 5,
    characterized in that the upper feed drum (3.1), the lower feed drum (3.2), the feed table (2), and the sheet feeder (1) comprising the suction head (13) are embodied as a module, and that a process interface to a downstream printing unit (D1), which is embodied as module or inking module, is defined between the lower feed drum (3.2) and the downstream impression cylinder (5) of the printing unit (D1) or inking module.
11. The feeding unit according to one or a plurality of claims 1 to 10,
    characterized in that, to detect the position of the printed sheets (B), which are to be fed to the sheet-fed rotary printing press, one or a plurality of measuring systems which comprise sheet position sensors (20) and which are coupled to an evaluation unit and to a controller (24), is assigned adjacent to the upper feed drum (3.1) and/or the lower feed drum (3.2) and/or the conveying system (11), wherein the controller (24) is functionally connected to an actuating device acting on the conveying system (11) for correcting the position of gripper systems (8).
12. The feeding unit according to one or a plurality of claims 5 to 11,
    characterized in that the conveying system (11) and/or the suction head (13) of the sheet feeder (1) are provided with a respective independent motor drive (25; 26; 30, 31), and that the motor drives (25; 26; 30, 31) are coupled to the machine controller of the sheet-fed rotary printing press by means of the controller (24) in such a way that the position of the printed sheets (B) transported by the conveying system (11) can be aligned in the conveying direction (R) with respect to the machine cycle of the sheet-fed rotary printing press in an accurately fitting manner with the rotational movement of the sheet-fed rotary printing press.
13. The feeding unit according to claim 11,
    characterized in that the upper feed drum (3.1) and/or the lower feed drum (3.2) are provided with one or two independent motor drives (25), and that the motor drive/drives (25) are coupled to the machine controller of the sheet-fed rotary printing press by means of the controller (24).
14. The feeding unit according to one or a plurality of claims 1 to 12,
    characterized in that one or both conveyor chains (23) of the conveying system (11) are provided with a respective independent motor drive (30, 31), and that the motor drives (30, 31) are coupled to the machine controller of the sheet-fed rotary printing press by means of the controller (24).

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