EP4166489A1 - Cross-fold module for a folding machine and folding machine equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

The cross-fold module (8) for a folding machine (2) comprises a cross-fold folding blade (40) that can be moved back and forth in a folding blade movement direction (F) and a pair of folding rollers (42), which forms a folding roller nip (46) into which a sheet that has previously entered in the infeed direction (E) is folded in for folding by the cross-fold folding blade (40). A folded product delivery conveyor (54) receives the folded product in a receiving section (56) near an exit of the folding nip (46) and transports it to a delivery section (58). At least the cross-fold folding blade (40) and the pair of folding rollers (42) can be adjusted horizontally perpendicularly to the folding blade movement direction (F) and perpendicularly to the infeed direction (E).

Description

The present invention relates to a cross-fold module for a folding machine and a folding machine equipped therewith.

Folding machines for producing folded products generally include a number of different folding units. A distinction is generally made between pocket folding units and knife folding units. In order to obtain a product folded as desired, which has different fold directions, it is usually necessary to combine buckle fold units and knife fold units. For example, a multi-pocket folding machine first produces a number of parallel folds in the folded product. The cross fold is then produced by another pocket folder or a knife fold unit, which in turn can be followed by a knife fold unit.

It is an object of the present invention to create a cross-fold module and a folding machine equipped with it, which allow a high degree of flexibility and variety in the design of folded products.

This object is solved by the features of claims 1 and 12. Preferred embodiments are subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the cross-fold module for a folding machine comprises a support device on which a preferably pre-folded sheet arriving in the infeed direction comes to rest at least partially in a transport plane, and an end stop device against which the leading edge of the incoming sheet comes to rest. It also comprises a cross-fold folding blade, which is arranged above the support device, extends in the infeed direction and can be moved back and forth perpendicularly to the infeed direction in a folding blade movement direction, and a pair of folding rollers arranged below the support device opposite the cross-fold folding blade, which forms a folding roller nip which a sheet is tucked in for folding by the cross-fold folding blade, forming a folded product. Finally, it comprises an output transport device for the folded product, which is set up to receive the folded product in a receiving section near an exit of the folding nip and transporting it to an output section in a direction transverse to the infeed direction and transverse to the folding blade moving direction. The cross-fold folding blade and the pair of folding rollers can be adjusted in a direction that is transverse to the infeed direction and transverse to the direction of movement of the folding blade.

The direction of displacement of the cross-fold fold blade and the pair of fold rollers is generally preferably perpendicular to the direction of entry and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the fold blade.

The cross-fold folding blade and the pair of folding rollers can each be adjusted in two opposite directions. As a rule, the adjustment takes place by linear displacement.

An adjustment range of the cross-fold folding blade and the pair of folding rollers is usually between +20 cm and -20 cm, preferably between +15 cm and -15 cm, from the middle position.

The adjustment can be used, for example, to fold the sheet off-centre, which can be used for a large number of different fold patterns. Overall, the variability in the folded products produced is increased.

In a preferred embodiment, the receiving section of the output transport device can be adjusted together with the cross-fold folding blade and the pair of folding rollers in the same direction, such that the relative position of the receiving section and the folding roller gap remains the same.

Preferably, the output portion of the output transport device remains stationary as the receiving portion is displaced. In this way, subsequent modules of the folding machine can always take over the folded products from the crossfold module at the same point.

The output transport device is preferably formed from at least one pair of endless driven belts which lie directly opposite one another at least in a transport section which runs from the receiving section to the output section and sandwich the folded product in the transport section. Usually there are at least two pairs of belts spaced from each other, each pair of belts clamping a specific portion of the folded product between them in the transport section. During transport, the folded product should preferably not be completely covered by the belts so that it is accessible for processing and/or quality control during transport.

In principle, it is advantageous if the length of the transport section can be changed or is changed when the cross-fold folding blade and the pair of folding rollers are adjusted.

The belts are preferably guided around a plurality of deflection rollers, with at least two of the deflection rollers per belt being adjustable in the same direction together with the cross-fold folding blade and the pair of folding rollers.

Preferably, each belt forms a U-shaped loop around one of the adjustable idler rollers. This creates a belt accumulator that ensures length compensation during adjustment.

The belt store formed by the U-shaped loop is then filled or emptied when the deflection rollers are adjusted.

Preferably, at least the cross-fold folding blade and the pair of folding rollers, more preferably all adjustable components, are attached to a horizontally movable carriage frame.

Preferably, the cross-fold module comprises an infeed transport device, which is particularly preferably likewise adjustable in the same direction together with the cross-fold folding blade and the pair of folding rollers.

The infeed transport is preferably formed of at least one pair of opposing, endless belts which sandwich the sheet.

The adjustment can be done manually. The manual actuating element can, for example, be a hand wheel for adjusting the cross-fold folding blade and the pair of folding rollers or also all other adjustable components. A motor drive can also be provided for this purpose, which is preferably controlled automatically.

A folding machine according to the invention comprises a cross-fold module as described above.

The folding machine preferably also has a pocket folding unit which is arranged in front of the cross-fold module and is set up to fold the sheet multiple times in parallel in a first direction. The cross-fold fold blade is then adapted to fold the prefolded sheet in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

The folding machine preferably comprises, downstream of the cross-fold module, at least one further, preferably several, folding units, which perform at least one further, preferably several, folds of the folded product in the second direction. These additional folding units can be, for example, knife folding units.

The cross-fold module according to the invention or the folding machine according to the invention can be used to fold any printed sheet. Among other things, package inserts can be folded using the cross-fold module according to the invention, also in the form of outserts.

In the context of the invention, "sheet" refers to the product entering the cross-fold module. This can be an unfolded or pre-folded sheet. "Folded product", on the other hand, refers to the product after cross-folding in the cross-fold module. The folded product can be further folded in subsequent stations.

The sheet is typically a sheet of paper, cardboard, or a similar material. As mentioned, the sheet can be a flat medium that has not yet been folded, but is preferably a sheet that has already been folded once or several times. In the latter case, the cross-fold module creates a further fold to one or more existing folds in a direction perpendicular to the first fold or folds.

The cross-fold module according to the invention preferably processes consecutive individual sheets.

In general, the folding machine according to the invention is preferably used as a paper folding machine, in particular when processing thin printing paper.

Fig. 1

ist eine Draufsicht auf eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Falzma-schine mit dem erfindungsgemäßen Kreuzbruchmodul;

Fig. 2

ist eine Frontansicht einer Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Kreuz-bruchmoduls, bei dem das Kreuzbruch-Falzschwert in einer Mittelstellung ange-ordnet ist;

Fig. 3

ist eine Querschnittsansicht von relevanten Komponenten des Kreuzbruchmoduls aus Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

ist eine Frontansicht der Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Kreuzbruch-moduls aus Fig. 2, wobei das Kreuzbruch-Falzschwert in einer nach links verschobenen Stellung angeordnet ist;

Fig. 5

ist eine Querschnittsansicht von relevanten Komponenten des Kreuzbruchmoduls aus Fig. 4;

Fig. 6

ist eine Frontansicht der Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Kreuzbruch-moduls aus Fig. 2, wobei das Kreuzbruch-Falzschwert in einer nach rechts verschobenen Stellung angeordnet ist;

Fig. 7

ist eine Querschnittsansicht von relevanten Komponenten des Kreuzbruchmoduls aus Fig. 6.

Further features and advantages of the present invention result from the following description of the attached figures.

1

is a plan view of an embodiment of a folding machine according to the invention with the cross-fold module according to the invention;

2

13 is a front view of an embodiment of a cross-fold module according to the invention, in which the cross-fold folding blade is arranged in a middle position;

3

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of relevant components of the cross-fracture module 2 ;

4

12 is a front view of the embodiment of the cross-rupture module of the present invention 2 wherein the cross-break folding blade is arranged in a left-shifted position;

figure 5

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of relevant components of the cross-fracture module 4 ;

6

12 is a front view of the embodiment of the cross-rupture module of the present invention 2 wherein the cross-break folding blade is arranged in a right-shifted position;

7

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of relevant components of the cross-fracture module 6 .

1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a folding machine 2 according to the invention in a plan view.

The folding machine 2 initially includes a feeder 4, preferably for applying and separating sheets that can be provided in the feeder 4 as a stack.

Furthermore, the folding machine 2 includes a buckle folding unit 6 which is arranged downstream of the feeder 4 . The feeder 4 draws one sheet from the stack and feeds it to the buckle folding unit 6. The buckle folding unit 6 is preferably set up to fold the sheet several times in such a way that the folds run parallel to a first direction (and perpendicular to the arrow E), ie a plurality of parallel folds is produced in the sheet.

A cross fold is then introduced into the sheet in the cross fold module 8 according to the invention. This fold occurs parallel to the entry direction E of the sheet. The cross-fold module 8 delivers the folded products to the other stations in a changed transport direction T, which is generally offset by 90° to the infeed direction E.

The cross-fold module 8 thus creates a fold that runs in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Further folding units 10 can then follow, which in the exemplary embodiment shown are designed as knife folding units. After each folding unit 10, a press 12 can optionally be provided for compressing the folded product after the respective folding.

The type, number and sequence of the folding units 10 can be adapted as desired to the given requirements and the desired design of the folded product to be produced. It is thus possible for a person skilled in the art to adapt the folding machine 2 in order to produce a large number of different folded products.

It is also possible to provide a pocket folding unit in the cross-fold area, which makes one or more parallel folds in the second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction in which the folds formed in the pocket folding unit 6 run.

Finally, in addition to the buckle folding unit 6, at least one knife folding unit can also be used in order to produce at least one further fold in the first direction, parallel to the folds of the buckle folding unit 6 in front of the cross-fold module 8 1 , to perform.

A preferred embodiment in 1 is shown shows three further folding units 10 after the cross-fold module 8. One or two folding units 10 can also be omitted if only two or three folds are to be performed in the second direction. It is also possible to add another folding unit 10 in the cross-fold area.

A device 14 for quality control, for example with one or two digital cameras, can optionally be provided downstream of the last folding unit 10, which device checks the alignment of the folded product and the last folded edge and/or the thickness of the folded products. If all of the above criteria are to be checked, two cameras with inspection fields that are perpendicular to one another are required. Following the device 14, a device 16 for ejecting faulty folded products can be provided, which can be controlled on the basis of the evaluation results of the device 14.

A stack-forming unit 18 for forming stacks of folded products can likewise optionally be provided.

When producing folded products, one of the described layouts of the folding machine can be used with particular advantage in order to produce folded products, in particular outserts, with at least 54, preferably at least 72, more preferably at least 90, more preferably at least 108 panels, more preferably at least 120 panels up to to produce 300 panels or even more. At least eight, preferably at least ten, more preferably at least twelve folds are performed in the first direction, and at least three folds, preferably at least four folds, are performed in the second direction.

Before the last fold, at least one adhesive dot is applied to the folded product in the production of outserts by means of a device 20 in order to seal the folded product after the to hold the last fold closed. Alternatively, an adhesive label can also be applied by the device 20, which after the last fold is folded over an edge of the folded product and is attached to two opposite sides of the folded product in the final state in order to keep the folded product in the closed state. The device 20 can then also be arranged after the last folding unit 10 .

In all embodiments, the folded products are transferred between the folding units 8, 10 at least in sections using conveying means which are preferably formed by pairs of belts, with a section of the folded product being held between the belts of a pair of belts. The pairs of belts are spaced transversely parallel to each other.

In 2 and 3 an exemplary embodiment of a cross-fracture module 8 according to the invention is shown. According to 2 the cross-fold module 8 includes a machine frame 22 which is movably mounted on rollers 24 . Lifting columns 26 are used for height adjustment. Horizontal rails 28 are provided inside the machine frame 22 above the lifting columns 26 . in the in 2 Only two rails 28 can be seen in the view shown, but there are preferably four rails 28 in total, two upper rails and two lower rails, of which an upper and a lower rail are arranged closer to the entrance area of the cross-fold module 8 and the other pair of Rails are arranged further back in comparison to the first pair, in the plane of the drawing. Overall, there is preferably a symmetrical arrangement of the rails 28 which, together with the side walls 30 of the machine frame 22, to which they are rigidly connected, define a cuboid space between them.

On the rails 28 a carriage frame 32 is slidably mounted. The carriage frame 32 is arranged in the cuboid space. Eight bearing elements 34 which engage with the rails 28 are preferably provided on the carriage frame 32 for the connections to the rails 28 . The bearing elements 34 preferably include rollers that roll on the rails. The carriage frame 32 also includes two lateral side walls 36 as the left and right delimitation of the carriage frame 32 and a front and rear side wall 38, which is shown in FIG 2 only the front side wall 38 can be seen. The carriage frame 32 is thus along the rails 28 between the lateral side walls 36 of the machine frame 22 can be moved back and forth horizontally, as indicated by the double arrow in 3 is indicated.

Referring to 3 a cross-fold folding knife 40 and a pair of folding rollers 42 are mounted on the carriage frame 32 . As usual, the cross-fold module 8 also includes a support device 44, on which a preferably pre-folded sheet arriving in the infeed direction E comes to rest at least partially, as well as an end stop device 45, against which the leading edge of the incoming sheet comes to rest. In its retracted position, the cross-fold folding blade 40 is arranged above the support device 44 and extends with its main extension direction (longitudinal direction) in the entry direction E, in 3 i.e. into the drawing plane. During operation, the cross-fold folding blade 40 can be moved back and forth perpendicularly to the entry direction E in a folding blade movement direction F in order to carry out the folds. The pair of fold rollers 42 are positioned below the platen 44 opposite the cross-fold fold blade 40 and define a fold nip 46 into which a sheet is tucked for folding by the cross-fold fold blade 40, thereby forming a folded product. To generate the folding movement, the cross-fold folding knife 40 is preferably connected via a pneumatic drive 48 ( 2 ) driven. During the folding movement, the cross-fold folding blade 40 passes through a slot or some other opening in the support device 44 in order to get close to the folding nip 46 .

An infeed transport device 50, which is preferably also attached to the carriage frame 32, guides each sheet in the infeed direction E to the cross-fold position. The infeed transport device 50 is formed from at least one, preferably a plurality of pairs of mutually opposite, endless driven belts 52 which each receive sections of the sheet between them. However, the infeed transport device 50 can also comprise a different conveying mechanism.

An output transport device 54 is used to take over the folded product after the cross fold and to forward it to a subsequent unit of the folding machine. The output transport device 54 picks up the folded product near an exit of the folding nip 46 in a pick-up section 56 and conveys it in a direction that is transverse, preferably perpendicular, to the infeed direction E and transverse, preferably perpendicular, to the folding blade movement direction F, to an output section 58. While the receiving section 56 is reciprocally movable together with the carriage frame 32, the output section 58 is fixed to an output frame 60 in a stationary manner. The output frame 60 is in turn mounted on one of the side walls 30 of the machine frame 22 . The output portion 58 may be fixed in other ways as long as it remains stationary.

In the illustrated embodiment, the output transport device 54 is directed to the left side of the cross-fold module 8 . However, it is also possible to align the delivery transport device 54 in a mirror-inverted manner to the right-hand side of the cross-fold module 8 .

How out 3 shows, the output transport direction 54 in the illustrated embodiment includes at least one pair of belts 62, each of which is guided over a plurality of deflection rollers 64, 65. In the representation of 3 only two straps 62 are visible. As a rule, however, a plurality of belts 62 are arranged next to one another at a distance from one another in the plane of the drawing and run parallel to one another in each section. In each case, an upper belt 62 and a lower belt 62 form a mating pair which cooperate in order to transport a folded product from the receiving section 56 to the output section 58 . In this transport section 66, the two belts 62 of each pair of belts run in close proximity to one another, so that a section of the folded product is received between the two belts 62, preferably clamped. All upper belts preferably run over the same deflection rollers and all lower belts preferably run over the same deflection rollers.

Outside the transport section 66, the two belts 62 of each pair of belts are guided separately from one another, preferably mirror-symmetrically to the transport section 66. In the illustrated embodiment, each belt 62 runs around four deflection rollers 64, 65, of which the two deflection rollers 64 are each arranged stationary and the two deflection rollers 65 can be moved together with the carriage frame 32. The two deflection rollers 65, like the folding rollers 42, are preferably rotatably mounted on the front and rear side walls 38 of the carriage frame 32.

Through the interaction of the three deflection rollers 64, 65 arranged more toward the center of the cross-fold module 8, each belt 62 runs in a U-shaped loop, with the curved portion of the U-shape running around one of the adjustable deflection rollers 65.

Thus, a belt store formed by the U-shaped loop is filled or emptied when the deflection rollers 65 are adjusted, as in figure 5 and 7 can be seen. In 4 and 5 carriage frame 32 is shown shifted from the center position to an extreme left position. Due to the simultaneous displacement of the deflection rollers 65, the U-shaped loop is deformed in such a way that both legs of the U-shape are approximately the same length, while they still had a different length when the carriage frame 32 was in the middle position. The transport section 66 is in the in 4 and 5 shown position compared to the middle position of the carriage frame 32 2 and 3 shortened by the amount of displacement of the carriage frame 32.

The distance between the two adjustable deflection rollers 65 always remains the same in every state and thus the length of the leg of the U-shape defined by the two deflection rollers 65 always remains the same. Only the length of the other leg of the U-shape changes when the carriage frame 32 is displaced.

In 6 and 7 carriage frame 32 is shown in an extreme right position. Here the U-shape has changed significantly because the first leg of the U-shape has become very short due to the displacement of the deflection rollers 65 and the U-shape has received a larger opening angle. The transport section 66 is off compared to the middle position of the carriage frame 32 2 and 3 extended by the amount of displacement of the carriage frame 32 relative to the center position.

With regard to the precise structural design of the output transport device 54, there are many other possibilities in addition to the embodiment described. In any case, it is important that the receiving section 56 is moved together with the cross-fold folding blade 40 and the folding rollers 42 during a lateral adjustment. The output section 58, on the other hand, remains in place in order to be able to transfer the folded products to subsequent units at a predefined position.

The path of travel of the straps 62 may also vary from the path of travel shown. In particular, other forms of belt storage can be formed which lead to an extension of the transport section 66 when the receiving section 56 is displaced away from the output section 58 or to a shortening of the transport section 66 when the receiving section 56 is displaced towards the output section 58.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures, the folded products are transferred from the folding rollers 42 to the receiving section 56 by means of a few additional transfer elements, in particular two additional guide rollers 68 and one or more curved guide tongues 70, which are also moved with the carriage frame 32. However, there are also many other possibilities for transferring the folded products to the receiving section 56 of the output transport device 54 .

It is preferred if all of the laterally adjustable components of the cross-fold module 8 are fastened to the carriage frame 32 and can thus be moved and clamped simultaneously with just one action. However, it is also conceivable to adjust the individual components individually or in groups without deviating from the idea of the invention.

In addition to the preferred variant shown, it is also conceivable to only adjust the cross-fold folding blade 40 and the folding rollers 42, while a transfer mechanism that can be lengthened or shortened transfers the folded products from the folding rollers 42 to a stationary output transport device 54.

Claims (14)

Cross-fold module (8) for a folding machine (2), which has: a support device (44) on which a preferably pre-folded sheet arriving in the infeed direction (E) rests at least partially, an end stop device (45) against which the leading edge of the incoming sheet comes to rest, a cross-fold folding blade (40) which is arranged above the support device (44), extends in the infeed direction (E) and can be moved back and forth perpendicularly to the infeed direction (E) in a folding blade movement direction (F), a pair of folding rollers (42) arranged below the support device (44) opposite the cross-fold folding blade (40) and forming a folding roller nip (46) into which a sheet is wrapped for folding by the cross-fold folding blade (40), wherein a folded product is formed, and an output transport device (54) for the folded product, which is adapted to receive the folded product in a receiving section (56) near an exit of the folding nip (46) and in a direction transverse to the infeed direction (E) and transverse to the folding knife direction of movement (F) is to be transported to an output section (58), wherein the cross-fold fold blade (40) and the pair of fold rollers (42) are adjustable in a direction transverse to the infeed direction (E) and transverse to the fold blade travel direction (F). Cross-fold module (8) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the receiving section (56) of the output transport device (54) can be adjusted in the same direction together with the cross-fold folding blade (40) and the pair of folding rollers (42) such that a relative position of the receiving section (56) and the folding nip (46) remains the same. Cross-fold module (8) according to claim 2, characterized in that the output section (58) of the output transport device (54) remains stationary during the displacement of the receiving section (56). Cross-fold module (8) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the output transport device (54) is formed from at least one pair of endless driven belts (62) which are located at least in a transport section (66) separated from the receiving section (56 ) extending to the output section (58), are directly opposed and sandwich a portion of the folded product in the transport section (66). Cross-fold module (8) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the length of the transport section (66) can be changed when the cross-fold folding blade (40) and the pair of folding rollers (42) are adjusted. Cross-fold module (8) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the belts (62) are guided over a plurality of deflection rollers (64, 65), with at least two of the deflection rollers (65) per belt (62) together with the cross-fold Folding blade (40) and the pair of folding rollers (42) are adjustable in the same direction. A cross-fold module (8) according to claim 6, characterized in that each strap (62) runs in a U-shaped loop, the curved portion of the U-shape running around one of the adjustable guide rollers (65). Cross-fold module (8) according to Claim 7, characterized in that a store formed by the U-shaped loop is filled or emptied when the deflection rollers (65) are adjusted. Cross-fold module (8) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the cross-fold folding knife (40) and the pair of folding rollers (42) are attached to a horizontally movable carriage frame (32). Cross-fold module (8) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an infeed transport device (50) which is preferably likewise adjustable in the same direction together with the cross-fold folding knife (40) and the pair of folding rollers (42). A cross-fold module (8) according to claim 10, characterized in that the infeed transport device (50) is formed from at least one pair of opposed, endless belts (52) which sandwich portions of the sheet. Folding machine (2) with a cross-fold module (8) according to one of Claims 1 to 11. Folding machine (2) according to Claim 12, characterized in that it has a pocket folding unit (6) which is arranged in front of the cross-fold module (8) and is set up to fold the sheet several times in parallel in a first direction, and the cross-fold folding blade (40) arranged to fold the prefolded sheet in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. Folding machine (2) according to Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that it has at least one further, preferably several folding units (10) downstream of the cross-fold module (8), which make at least one further, preferably several folds of the folded product in the second direction.

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