GB2052451A - Apparatus for controlling the movement of a plurality of sheet loading devices - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for moving individual loaders with respect to a bookbinding or like machine, in particular a collator, allows the loaders to be automatically moved by an equal distance. The arrangement comprises a common forward-reverse selector (5) for the loader-moving motors (3), which is included in a parallel circuit comprising remote control switches (4) for switching such motors on and off. This arrangement is also useful for displacing the supporting and transport devices of loader elevator belts. The circuit may be electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for controlling the movement of a plurality of loading devices This invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the movement of a plurality of loading devices relative to a bookbinding or assembly machine, for example, a collator, or a pamphlet stapier.

Known collating and similar machines include a plurality of stacking stations, or bins, which currently vary in number upwardly from two such stations.

These require a like number of loaders to deiiver signatures, sheets, or the like, to be stacked. It is therefore necessary to position each individual loader relatively to the collating or the like bookbinding machine, in dependence on the size format of the signatures, sheets, or the like to be stacked. This positioning of the loaders was previously carried out manually by rolling each loader around on its casters, that is, each loader was moved manually, like a cart, by pushing it over the floor surface in the desired direction.

Recently, the present Applicants disclosed the provision of the frame of each loader with translation means associated with supporting parts. In one embodiment, such translation means comprised wheels, or ball bearings, supported by a supporting frame or by rails, together with drive means to move the supporting frames.

The present invention is concerned with the provision of an apparatus or circuit arrangement for individually controlling the loaders, which affords the possibility of drastically reducing the time required for adjusting the individual loaders, as when the size format of the signatures, sheets, or the like which they carry, is changed.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for controlling a plurality of loading devices movable relative to a bookbinding or assembling machine to be loaded thereby, the apparatus comprising a drive motor for moving such loading device, a control means for each drive motor, the control means being connected in parallel, and a motor direction selector connected to provide for movement together of the loading devices towards or away from the machine.

Preferably a limit device is associated with each loading device, each limit device being operative to stop the movement of the associated device when the device has reached a predetermined position.

Conveniently, each limit device comprises a first part carried by the loading device and a co-operating fixedly or seiectively adjustably mounted second part. Instead, the limit device associated with a first of the loading devices comprises a first part carried by the device and a co-operating fixedly or selectively adjustable mounted second part, and the limit device associated with the or each other loading device comprises a first part carried by the device and a second part carried by the or the adjacent loading device.

The second part may be constituted by a single element arranged for co-operation with the first parts in common, and the first parts may then be located at different heights on the loading devices and at the same positions thereon along the directions of movement, the common single element extending substantially vertically.

In accordance with the above-mentioned disclosure of the Applicants, the supporting and transport pulley or cord devices, as provided on the oblique portion of the loaders, are also remote controllable.

Advantageously, the present invention also provides control apparatus with like circuit arrangements for controlling such transport devices.

This invention provides not only a drastic reduction of the time required to adjust the loaders but also minimal labour requirements. Moreover, the same positioning is consistently achieved for all the loaders, or translation or signature transport devices, either simultaneously or sequentially.

The invention is further described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure lisa schematic plan view of a plurality of loaders associated with a collator during an adjustmenu step of the loaders for a change of signature size; Figure 2 shows a first circuit arrangementforthe apparatus of this invention; and Figure 3 shows a second circuit arrangement for the apparatus of this invention.

In Figure 1,there is shown a collator 1, and a plurality of loaders 2 associated therewith. Each loader 2 includes a motor 3, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, associated with translation means (not shown), for example a threaded rod, for effecting displacement of the loader as between the positions relative to the collator 1 shown respectively on the left and right hand sides of the Figure. The first three loaders, on the left, are represented as already positioned, whereas the remaining two illustrated are on their way to being positioned. In Figure 1, there are shown certain circuit elements employed with the circuit arrangement shown in Figure 3, but not needed with that shown in Figure 2.

In the circuit arrangement of the invention shown in Figure 2, the motors 3 are connected in parallel to a power supply V, and in series with each motor there is connected a remote control switch 4, or the like. The switches 4 are connected together in parallel in a circuit including a power supply V and a selector 5 which is arranged to determine, by means of the remote control switches 4, the direction of rotation of the motors 3.

For reasons of simplicity, switches and other conventional components have been omitted from the Figures, as being well known to the expert.

With this circuit arrangement, it is possible, by manipulation of the selector 5 to produce simultaneous rotation of all the motors 3, with resulting equal displacement of the loaders 2 in either direction and over the same distance. This embodiment of the invention is particularly simple and reliable.

Preferably, there is provided for each loader 2 a limit or reference device arranged for interrupting, either directly or indirectly, the power supply to the associated motor 3 when the limit device comes into alignment with its related predetermined reference position.

Thus, in the circuit arrangement of the invention shown in Figure 3, the individual circuit of each loader 2 includes the active portion 6 ofa reflective photocell, of which the passive portion 7, which is in the form of a reflective element, is mounted on the adjacent loader 2. The circuit is so arranged that after the first setting of the first of the loaders 2, or of a master cabin or control 8, the supply circuit of the remote control switches 4 is turned on, so that the motor of each loader is energized until the active portion 6 of the associated photocell comes into exact alignment with its respective passive portion 7.

The direction of rotation of the motors 3 will be similarly determined by means of a selector provided on the first loader 2, or at the master cabin 8. Thus, there will occur an automatic and sequential control of the loaders 2, running from the first one to the last.

Advantageously, according to the invention, the circuit arrangements described and exemplified in Figures 2 and 3 for translating loaders are also employed in the same manner to control the pulley or cords, or other transport devices associated with the elevator belts.

It shouid be noted that the detent, or passive portion of the photocells, may be provided on an adjacent machine, or alternatively a single detent or passive portion may be provided on a fixed part, for example, it may be adjustably supported on the master cabin and serve for all the loaders.

As mentioned, the circuit arrangement according to this invention can also be employed for the pulley or cord or other transport devices. Thus, a comprehensive, fast and accurate form of remote control is provided for controlling each individual loader.

Although the description of particular embodiments of the invention has made reference to loaders associated with a collator, it will be appreciated that an apparatus embodying the invention may be applied also to other bookbinding machines having similar requirements.

In carrying the invention into effect, each component illustrated may be replaced by anothertechnically and functionwise equivalent one, and equivalent circuits may be utilized to provide the same operative features as indicated, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the foilowing claims. For example, instead of the electric motors 3, pneumatically or hydraulically operated translation means, such as cylinder-piston units, may be employed, and the remote control switches 4 may be replaced with appropriate actuators. Photocell limit devices may still be employed advantageously.

Claims (12)

1. An apparatus for controlling a plurality of loading devices movable relative to a bookbinding or assembling machine to be loaded thereby, the apparatus comprising a drive motor for moving such loading device, a control means for each drive motor, the control means being connected in parallel, and a motor direction selector connected to provide for movement together of the loading devices towards or away from the machine.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a limit device is associated with each loading device, each limit device being operative to stop the movement of the associated device when the device has reached a predetermined position.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein each limit device comprises a first part carried by the loading device and a co-operating fixedly or selectively adjustably mounted second part.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the limit device associated with a first of the loading devices comprises a first part carried by the device and a co-operating fixedly or selectively adjustably mounted second part, and the limit device associated with the or each other loading device comprises a first part carried by the device and a second part carried by the orthe adjacent loading device.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or4 wherein the second parts are constituted by a single element arranged for co-operation with the first parts in common.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first parts are located at different heights on the loading devices and at the same positions thereon along the directions of movement, the common single element extending substantially vertically.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein each limit device comprises a photocell device having an active and a passive part, the device becoming operative when the active and passive parts come into registration.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the loading devices are arranged to be moved simultaneously over equal distances.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the drive motors comprise reversible electric motors, the motor direction selector being operative to cause rotation of the motors in a selected direction.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the machine to be loaded comprises a collator or a pamphlet stapler.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim having a similar apparatus for controlling the elevator belts supporting and transporting device.

12. An apparatus for controlling a plurality of loading devices substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 3 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing.