EP3599103A1 - Gathering and stitching machine for printed products - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a saddle stitcher for printed products, which has at least the assembly chain, stapling machine, control device, ejector and delivery, the delivery having at least a lower conveyor belt and an upper conveyor belt and at least one deflection roller for the lower conveyor belt and this at least one deflection roller in one Radius is arranged. The lower conveyor belt (7) has a controllable self-drive (10) and the upper conveyor belt (8) has a controllable self-drive (11), the control device (4) separately controlling at least the self-drives (10, 11), and the precise control primarily can be adjusted to the thickness and format of the respective printed product in the product flow.

Description

The invention relates to a saddle stitcher for printed products, which has at least the assembly chain, stapling machine, control device, ejector and delivery, the delivery having at least a lower conveyor belt and an upper conveyor belt and at least one deflection roller for the lower conveyor belt and this at least one deflection roller in one Radius is arranged.

In digital printing, each brochure can have a different number of sheets and therefore each brochure can have a different thickness. A combined system is also possible, i.e. part of the brochure can consist of traditionally printed sheet parts, such as gravure printing, offset printing etc., and another part can come from digital printing.

• dass eine Kommunikation zu übergeordneten Systeme besteht, welche die nötigen Daten zur Verfügung stellen, und
• dass die Maschinen so konstruiert sind, dass die nötigen Einstellungen On-the-Fly und für jeden Produktionstakt gemacht werden können.

The term "Industry 4.0" in the printing industry is associated with the terms such as "Print_4.0" or "Web to Print", which means for the printing presses that run sizes = 1 must also be processed. In order for printing machines to meet these requirements, it is particularly necessary:

• that there is communication with higher-level systems that provide the necessary data, and
• that the machines are designed in such a way that the necessary settings can be made on-the-fly and for every production cycle.

The compiled brochures, consisting of superimposed, folded sheet parts, which are transported with the collecting chain to the stapling station, where they are stapled in the fold.

definitions

Print product:

Finished printed product consisting of at least one or more sheet parts (newspaper, booklet, magazine, catalog).

Stitcher:

Staple a booklet consisting of one or more sheets using a staple.

Arc:

Paper printed on both sides.

Sheetteile:

Several sheets (mostly printed differently).

Gathering chain:

Horizontal continuous conveyor unit for curved parts.

Digital printing:

Sheets are printed directly in the production process and put together to form a brochure, each brochure can contain a different number of sheets and thus influence the thickness of the brochure.

Dick Variable:

The thickness of the printed products that are processed in cycles is variable; d. H. these can have a different thickness.

Cutter:

Cutting system, which has a front knife and two side knives and carries out the cutting process consisting of front cut and head / foot cut as a subsequent cut.

Product feed:

Mechanical device for transporting a printed product, from the delivery of the stapling station to the cutting device.

Saddle stitcher:

In a saddle stitcher, usually several sheets are collected on a transport chain, stapled in the stapling station and cut on three sides in the cutting device.

Cutting machine:

Cutting system, which has a front knife and two side knives and carries out the cutting process consisting of front cut and head-foot cut as a subsequent cut.

Gathering chain:

The collecting chain has a guide device, the upper section of which is designed in the form of a knife and the ridge line of which defines the transport and stitching line, and an essentially roof-shaped support on which the sheet parts are carried astride.

display:

Machine component that transports the printed products after the stapling station with the stapling machine into the feed to the cutting device. In the delivery, there is a change of transport direction by 90 degrees, depending on the location of the cutting device, forwards or backwards.

Ejection phase, ejection:

By means of a device, called an ejector, the printed product is lifted from the collection chain until it is gripped by the conveyor belts in the delivery and transported further in the same.

On-the-fly:

Changes, e.g. of settings, positions of devices etc., possible during operation.

MIS

M angement- I nformation- S ystem, Job Management System.

From the EP1593526 A1 Known is a saddle stitcher for brochures with a stapling machine, a step-by-step delivery station for the brochures, a front cutting knife arrangement defining a cutting plane for trimming the brochures along a respective target cutting line, and with transport components that operatively transport the brochures from the delivery station to the front cutting knife arrangement. The ejector device is actuated regardless of the format, in relation to the means of transport components and the transport device of the brochure in the area of the stapling machine. With this saddle stitcher, it is not possible to use different printed products in digital printing, ie in particular successive printed products with different thicknesses and formats - without retooling - so that precise clocking and on-the-fly processing is not possible.

Typically, transport has so far been ensured by means of conveyor belts (top and bottom) which are driven by the stapling station. Different speeds of the conveyor belts are achieved by means of a variator. This can be adjusted by hand, using a lever, or by motor.

• Nicht exakt zu reproduzierende Einstellungen und funktionsbedingt nötige Eingriffe des Benutzers,
• Die Geschwindigkeit ist während des gesamten Transportwegs konstant, was oft zu Transportspuren auf der Oberfläche des Druckproduktes oder zur Deformierung des Broschüren-Rücken führen kann,
• Durch die mechanische Kopplung der Transportbänder an die Heftstation (dreht die Heftstation drehen auch die Transportbänder) ist eine Korrektur der Position der Druckprodukte (Abstand zum Einlauf des Schneidapparats) nicht möglich, und
• Eine taktgenaue Anpassung ist nicht möglich.

The problems of this technical solution are:

• Settings that are not exactly reproducible and user intervention required due to the function,
• The speed is constant throughout the transport path, which can often lead to transport marks on the surface of the printed product or to the deformation of the brochure spine,
• Due to the mechanical coupling of the conveyor belts to the stitching station (the stitching station also rotates the conveyor belts), it is not possible to correct the position of the printed products (distance from the inlet of the cutting apparatus), and
• A precise adjustment is not possible.

The object of the invention is to provide a saddle stitcher for printed products which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and is able to process product thicknesses which vary from cycle to cycle, this adjustment to the thickness variance during operation and between two stapling processes can be done dynamically. It is also intended to effectively prevent the printed product from being damaged in the delivery caused by a different belt speed. It should be possible to control the respective speed of the lower and / or upper conveyor belt precisely and on-the-fly. Print products with different thicknesses and / or with different formats should be transported safely and gently.

The object of the invention is achieved by a saddle stitcher for printed products with the features according to claim 1.

It is essential to the invention that the lower conveyor belt 7 has a controllable self-drive 10 and the upper conveyor belt 8 has a controllable self-drive 11 and the control device 4 controls at least the self-drives 10, 11 separately, the precise control primarily based on the thickness and format of the respective printed product Product flow is tunable.

The control device 4 is a control device which is customary for this purpose and has at least one conventional microprocessor which, using software which is customary in this regard, makes it possible, in particular, to process different measurement data and thus a control of controllable electrical components, such as a controllable electromotive, which is customary in the manner Drive, how to realize the own drives 10, 11.

By synchronizing and / or accelerating the conveyor belts 7, 8 in this respect in comparison to the stapling station / cut transport, the synchronized transfer is ensured. The control device 4 can access data which contain order data from the MIS or from a company-specific order data system, e.g. the format data of the individual folded sheets, format data of the brochure, such as cut width and length, and many other data that are required to be able to realize an order for a print product. This data can be based on an international standard, for example the CIP 4.

The control device 4 can also, or alternatively, use data which have been generated from measurement data of the current product process with precise timing. The controller can generate data, such as from the data of the individual folded sheets and / or the booklet thickness. The control also recognizes machine data, such as the speed of the machine, production status, etc. Based on these values, the software of the control device 4 calculates in particular the speeds of the conveyor belts 7, 8.

The saddle stitcher according to the invention can process product thicknesses (variable in thickness) from print product to print product (cycle to cycle), a requirement which is made by digital printing (each print product is unique).

The present invention is particularly concerned with controlling the speed of the lower conveyor belt 7 and / or the upper conveyor belt 8, which transport the brochure through the delivery. The brochure is moved from the vertical axis into the horizontal axis with at least one deflection roller 9, which is arranged in a radius. If the brochure is in the area of the radius, the top belt speed can be increased and / or decreased, for example depending on the product thickness.

If the brochure is outside the radius range of the at least one deflection roller 9, which can be calculated on the basis of the format size, there can again be synchronism between the lower conveyor belt 7 and the upper conveyor belt 8. The movement sequence depends on various factors, such as the speed of the collecting chain 2, the thickness of the brochure and the format of the brochure.

The technical solution according to the invention makes it possible for the brochure to be transferred reliably from the ejector 5 to the delivery 6, the belt speed being able to be adapted to the ejector speed. It is also possible that an adjustment is made in connection with leaving the display by the brochure the belt speed can take place in order to optimize the transition into the feed of the cutting device.

• Mit den Eigenantrieben 10, 11 (Servomotoren) ist On-the-fly für jedes Druckprodukt möglich.
• Dynamisch regulierbare Oberband- und Unterband-Geschwindigkeit.
• Technisch einfache Lösung, da keine zusätzlichen Vorrichtungen, wie z.B. Variator, nötig sind.
• Master-Slave Kräfteausgleich ermöglicht, damit beide Motoren der Eigenantriebe 10, 11 gleich optimal belastet werden können.
• Geschwindigkeitsausgleich zwischen dem unteren Transportband 7 und dem oberen Transportband 8 bei variablen Produktdicken (da die Innenseite einen anderen Weg zurücklegen muss wie die Aussenseite (produktdickenabhängig).
• Unabhängig von Sammelkettengeschwindigkeit, resp. von der Einlaufgeschwindigkeit des Schneidapparates 17.
• Über die ganze Transportdistanz sind Geschwindigkeitsänderungen möglich.

Further advantages of the invention:

• With the own drives 10, 11 (servo motors) on-the-fly is possible for every printed product.
• Dynamically adjustable upper and lower belt speeds.
• Technically simple solution, since no additional devices, such as a variator, are necessary.
• Master-slave balancing enables so that both motors of the self-propulsion 10, 11 can be optimally loaded equally.
• Speed compensation between the lower conveyor belt 7 and the upper conveyor belt 8 with variable product thicknesses (since the inside has to cover a different path than the outside (depending on the product thickness).
• Regardless of the chain speed, resp. on the running-in speed of the cutting apparatus 17.
• Speed changes are possible over the entire transport distance.

Process flow

During operation, the lower conveyor belt 7 and / or the upper conveyor belt 8, in particular on the basis of format data, booklet thickness and machine speed, according to the following description:
a), b), c) and d) are operated.

a) Speed factor

1. 1. Product thickness determines the speed factor between the lower conveyor belt 7 and the upper conveyor belt 8.
2. 2. The torque of all drives is recorded during constant production speed.
3. 3. If the torques deviate from the expected value, the speed factor between the lower conveyor belt 7 and the upper conveyor belt 8 is adjusted accordingly.

b) Non-synchronous transfer from the ejector to the conveyor belts

1. 1. When the saddle stitcher 1 stops, it can happen that the ejection movement is started shortly before standstill and thus a printed product is transported into the stationary or almost stationary conveyor belts 7, 8.
2. 2. To ensure that the printed product remains correctly positioned while the saddle stitcher 1 is at a standstill, the conveyor belts 7, 8 rotate a certain distance.
3. 3. This distance is compensated for when restarting.

c) Synchronous transfer # 1 from the ejector to the conveyor belts

1. 1. At normal speeds, the conveyor belts 7, 8 rotate synchronously with the product cycle, since the printed products are conveyed into the delivery 6 synchronously.
2. 2. The position in the delivery is detected by means of the optical control device 13, such as sensors, such as photocells, camera systems or the like.
3. 3. Any deviation from the target position (deviation due to slip, mechanical adjustment, etc.) is compensated for during the run.

d) Synchronous transfer # 2 from ejector to conveyor belts

1. 1. In contrast to normal speeds, there are speed ranges in which the printed products are not fed into the delivery synchronously.
2. 2. The calculated deviation can be compensated for by means of position compensation of the conveyor belts 7, 8. Such as the "limping" function, which is known in mechanical solutions.
3. 3. The position in the delivery is detected by means of the optical control device 13, such as sensors, such as photocells, camera systems or the like.
4. 4. Any deviation from the target position (deviation due to inaccurate calculation, slip, mechanical adjustment, etc.) is compensated for during the run.

The dependent claims 2 to 7 contain advantageous embodiments of the invention without thereby limiting it.

It is preferred that a thickness measuring device 12 is arranged in the product flow in front of the stapling machine 3.

It is preferred that in the horizontal area of the lower conveyor belt 7, preferably directly at the transition from the radius to the horizontal area, there is an optical control device 13 which generates a measurement signal which is transmitted to the control device 4. This optical control device 13 can be a measurement device that is customary in this regard, for example an optical sensor, a photocell or a camera system. Deformations of the brochure can thus be detected and the belt speeds of the lower and / or upper conveyor belt can be adjusted accordingly.

It is preferred that the control device 4 generates or has control data which are determined at least from the data of an MIS 14 and / or the thickness measuring device 12 and / or the control device 13. The product thickness of the print product to be stapled can also be determined with a product thickness measurement during operation in order to determine any deviations from the target data from the MIS 14 (job management system) in order to be able to readjust.

It is preferred that the control device 4, which has at least one microprocessor, torque measurement data of the self-propulsion 10; 11 for control the speed of the conveyor belts 7; 8 considered. The measurement of the torque in the individual self-drives 10; 11 enables correction of the speed of the conveyor belts 7; 8. The difference, in particular combined with the information of the product thickness, is used to influence the speed of the conveyor belts. This ensures that the forces on the top and bottom of the printed product are balanced over the entire transport route.

It is preferred that the self-drives 10, 11 each have at least one servo motor with control or an asynchronous motor with control.

Fig. 1:

eine vereinfachte Darstellung eines Sammelhefters, und

Fig. 2:

eine schematische Seitenansicht der Sammelkette, des Auswerfers und der Auslage.

The features of the invention are set forth below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which do not limit the invention. In the drawings:

Fig. 1:

a simplified representation of a saddle stitcher, and

Fig. 2:

a schematic side view of the collection chain, the ejector and the delivery.

The saddle stitcher 1 according to Fig. 1 in the present exemplary embodiment comprises three feeders 15, each of which transfers a sheet 16 to a collecting chain 2. The sheets 16 laid down and one above the other in this way together form the sheet parts which are transported along in a transport direction according to the arrow P, which extends along the feeder 15 and beyond a stapling machine 3 to a delivery 6.

In the direction of transport after the stapling machine 3 there is a brochure which consists of one or more sheets 16. The brochure is subsequently lifted from the collecting chain 2 in the usual way by an ejector 5 and transferred to the delivery 6. The brochure is transferred from the delivery 6 to a cutting apparatus 17.

The saddle stitcher 1 for printed products has at least the assemblies of saddle chain 2, stapling machine 3, control device 4, ejector 5 and delivery 6.

The delivery 6 has at least one lower conveyor belt 7 and one upper conveyor belt 8 as well as at least one deflection roller 9 for the lower conveyor belt 7, wherein in Fig. 2 three deflection rollers 9 are shown as examples. The lower conveyor belt 7 has a controllable self-drive 10 and the upper conveyor belt 8 has a controllable self-drive 11. The control device 4 can control the self-drives 10, 11 separately. A thickness gauge 12 ( Fig. 1 ) is arranged in the product flow in front of the stapling machine 3, which transmits measurement data to the control device 4 in the usual way.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of the collection chain 2, the ejector 5 and the delivery 6. The delivery 6 has at least a lower conveyor belt 7 and an upper conveyor belt 8 and at least one deflection roller 9 for the lower conveyor belt 7, wherein in Fig. 2 three deflection rollers 9 are shown as examples. The delivery 6 has other assemblies known from the prior art, such as infeed rollers 18 and drive rollers 19. The lower conveyor belt 7 has a controllable self-drive 10 and the upper conveyor belt 8 has a controllable self-drive 11. The gap between the infeed rollers 18 can be dependent, for example, on the product thickness be changeable.

In the horizontal area of the lower conveyor belt 7, directly at the transition from the radius to the horizontal area, there is an optical control device 13 which generates a measurement signal which is transmitted to the control device 4.

The control device 4 controls the self-propulsion 10, 11 separately. The control device 4 is a control device customary for this purpose and has at least one conventional microprocessor, which makes it possible to process, in particular, different measurement data using software that is customary in this regard and thus to implement a control of controllable electrical components, such as a controllable electromotive self-drive 10, 11, which is customary in the manner. The control device 4 uses data which contain order data from the MIS 14 or from a company-specific order data system, for example the format data of the individual folded sheets, format data of the brochure, such as the cut width and length, and many other data which are required in order to obtain one To be able to realize an order for a printed product.

The control device 4 can also, or alternatively, access data which are derived from measurement data of the current product process, such as from the thickness measuring device 12 ( Fig. 1 ) transmitted, generated precisely to the clock. The control device 4 can also or alternatively on torque measurement data of the self-propulsion 10; 11 for controlling the speed of the conveyor belts 7; 8 fall back and take this into account. The controllable self-drives 10, 11 each have at least one servo motor with a conventional control. These own drives 10, 11 drive the drive roller 19 variably in the usual manner.

Claims (8)

Saddle stitcher (1) for printed products, which has at least the assemblies collecting chain (2), stapling machine (3), control device (4), ejector (5) and delivery (6), the delivery (6) having at least one lower conveyor belt (7) and an upper conveyor belt (8) and at least one deflection roller (9) for the lower conveyor belt (7), wherein the at least one deflection roller (9) is arranged in a radius, characterized in that the lower conveyor belt (7) has a controllable self-drive (10) and the upper conveyor belt (8) has a controllable self-drive (11) and the control device (4) controls at least the self-drives (10, 11) separately, the precise control primarily based on the thickness and format of the respective printed product in the product flow is tunable. Saddle stitcher according to claim 1, characterized in that a thickness measuring device (12) is arranged in the product flow in front of the stitching machine (3). Saddle stitcher according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the horizontal area of the lower conveyor belt (7), preferably directly at the transition from the radius to the horizontal area, an optical control device (13) which generates a measurement signal which is transmitted to the control device (4) is arranged. Saddle stitcher according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control device (4) generates or has control data which are determined at least from data of an MIS (14) and / or the thickness measuring device (12) and / or the control device (13) , Saddle stitcher according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control device (4), which has at least one microprocessor, takes into account torque measurement data of the self-propulsion (10; 11) for controlling the speed of the conveyor belts (7; 8). Saddle stitcher according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the self-drives (10, 11) each have at least one servo motor with control or an asynchronous motor with control. Saddle stitcher according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control device (4) takes into account torque measurement data from at least two deflection rollers (9) for controlling the speed of the conveyor belts (7; 8). Use of the saddle stitcher (1) for printed products according to at least one of claims 1 to 7 for digital printing.

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