GB2055767A

GB2055767A - Apparatus for changing attitudes of block-shaped articles

Info

Publication number: GB2055767A
Application number: GB8024189A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Polygraph Leipzig Kombinat Veb
Current assignee: Polygraph Leipzig Kombinat Veb
Priority date: 1979-07-25
Filing date: 1980-07-24
Publication date: 1981-03-11
Also published as: JPS5623163A; GB2055767B; CH649503A5; DD144384A1

Abstract

Apparatus for changing attitudes of block-shaped articles, for example book blocks, and the like in book- binding machines, serves to provide echelon formation of such articles to promote drying of adhesive used in the articles and comprises a pusher element (9) which is engageable with book blocks (2) and is associated with a linkage (6,7,8). The linkage is drivable by a non-uniform gear transmission to move the pusher element (9) along a section of a path in which the positional change of each book block is effected. The apparatus is capable of stepless adjustment to adapt to different book block thicknesses, formats and attitude angles, while accommodating high cyclic operating rates and providing overload protection. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for changing attitudes of bloel-shaped articles i The present invention relates to apparatus for changing attitudes of block-shaped articles, and has particular reference to discharge apparatus in a book-binding machine for the production of an echelon of book blocks, books, brochures and the like.

The production of, for example, brochures and books includes the operating step of drying adhesive during binding and folding. The time necessary for this requires an increase in stack density, whereby the book blocks can run at reduced speed during the drying stage. The stack density is increased by bringing the book blocks into a setting commonly known as "echelon". The mechanism for forming the echelon should be steplessly adjustable to different book block thicknesses, formats and atti tudes.

A known apparatus comprises a rocker driven by a cam gear, although in this apparatus an unfavour able ratio of operating phase to dwell phase has a disadvantageous effect. In particular, as a consequ ence of high acceleration forces, a roller of the cam gear lifts off the cam profile. Excessive wear, impre cise camming and noise arise at high rotational speeds.

There is accordingly a need for apparatus which is capable of providing echelon formation of book blocks, books and brochures, is steplessly adjustable to different book block thicknesses, formats and attitudes, and enables high operating speeds while maintaining the positive coupling with the book blocks that is required for reasons of safety.

According to the present invention there is pro vided apparatus for changing attitudes of block shaped articles in a feed thereof, the apparatus comprising a pusher element engageable with suc cessive ones of such articles and linkage means connected art a coupling point thereof to the pusher element and operable to move the pusher element on a path which is so defined that, in use, the pusher element engages each article and moves it into an inclined attitude relative to its original attitude during traversal by the pusher element of only a portion of the path.

By adjustment of one or more mounting points andlorthe kinematic dimensions of the linkage means, the path can be adapted steplessly in shape -and position to different requirements of the articles, for example, to allow variation in the inclined attitude and to adapt to different article thicknesses and formats. To reduce the speed of the pusher element at the instant of engagement with an article, a non-uniform drive transmission gear means can be connected to transmit drive to the linkage means at a variable ratio, whereby the risk of damage to the articles is reduced. In order to provide an overload protection in the event of overload in consequence of misprinting, the linkage means is constructed to be resiliently yielding.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a schematic plan view of a book-binding machine discharge mechanism.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a discharge mechanism operable to change the attitudes of book blocks 2 which are fed to the mechanism by a pair of parallel feed belts 1 and conveyed on by a conveyor belt 3. The mechanism comprises a crank drive composed of a link 6 rotatable about an axle and a link7 which is pivotably connected to the link 6 and slidably engaged in a slide block 8. A pusher element 9, for engaging and pushing successive book blocks 2, is connected to the link 7 and is movable by the linkage along a generally elliptical path K.

The slide block 8 is pivotably mounted on a member 15 rigidly fastened to a slide block 10, the slide block 10 being located on a guide rod 12 buy a clamping screw 11. A spring 13 urges the guide rod 12 against the abutment 14. If the clamping screw 11 is loosened and the slide block 10 is located in another position on the rod 12, the kinematic relationships of the components of the crank drive and thereby the shape of the path K are changed, whereby the end position of a book block pushed by the pusher element 9 can be varied.

In operation, the standing book blocks 2 are fed to the conveyor belt 3 by the feed belts 1. When a book block 2 is positioned ready for rotation, the pusher element 9, moving on the path K, impinges against the book cover 4 and pushes the book block 2 into the desired oblique attitude during movement of the pusher element along the portion A-E of the path, whereby the space for the succeeding book block 2 becomes free at the same time. If movement along the path is obstructed by an obstacle, then the member 12 yields against the force of the spring 13.

1. Apparatus for changing attitudes of blockshaped articles in a feed thereof, the apparatus comprising a pusher element engageable with successive ones of such articles and linkage means connected at a coupling point thereof to the pusher element and operable to move the pusher element on a path which is so defined that, in use, the pusher element engages each article and moves it into an inclined attitude relative to its original attitude during traversal by the pusher element of only a portion of the path.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the path circumscribes an area.

3. Apparatus as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, the linkage means comprising a crank drive which is so adjustable as to vary the path of the pusher element.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the crank drive is constructed to be resiliently yielding in a direction generally away from the direction of any overload force resisting movement of the pusher element along said portion of the path.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising control means for so

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Apparatus for changing attitudes of bloel-shaped articles i The present invention relates to apparatus for changing attitudes of block-shaped articles, and has particular reference to discharge apparatus in a book-binding machine for the production of an echelon of book blocks, books, brochures and the like. The production of, for example, brochures and books includes the operating step of drying adhesive during binding and folding. The time necessary for this requires an increase in stack density, whereby the book blocks can run at reduced speed during the drying stage. The stack density is increased by bringing the book blocks into a setting commonly known as "echelon". The mechanism for forming the echelon should be steplessly adjustable to different book block thicknesses, formats and atti tudes. A known apparatus comprises a rocker driven by a cam gear, although in this apparatus an unfavour able ratio of operating phase to dwell phase has a disadvantageous effect. In particular, as a consequ ence of high acceleration forces, a roller of the cam gear lifts off the cam profile. Excessive wear, impre cise camming and noise arise at high rotational speeds. There is accordingly a need for apparatus which is capable of providing echelon formation of book blocks, books and brochures, is steplessly adjustable to different book block thicknesses, formats and attitudes, and enables high operating speeds while maintaining the positive coupling with the book blocks that is required for reasons of safety. According to the present invention there is pro vided apparatus for changing attitudes of block shaped articles in a feed thereof, the apparatus comprising a pusher element engageable with suc cessive ones of such articles and linkage means connected art a coupling point thereof to the pusher element and operable to move the pusher element on a path which is so defined that, in use, the pusher element engages each article and moves it into an inclined attitude relative to its original attitude during traversal by the pusher element of only a portion of the path. By adjustment of one or more mounting points andlorthe kinematic dimensions of the linkage means, the path can be adapted steplessly in shape -and position to different requirements of the articles, for example, to allow variation in the inclined attitude and to adapt to different article thicknesses and formats. To reduce the speed of the pusher element at the instant of engagement with an article, a non-uniform drive transmission gear means can be connected to transmit drive to the linkage means at a variable ratio, whereby the risk of damage to the articles is reduced. In order to provide an overload protection in the event of overload in consequence of misprinting, the linkage means is constructed to be resiliently yielding. An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a schematic plan view of a book-binding machine discharge mechanism. Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a discharge mechanism operable to change the attitudes of book blocks 2 which are fed to the mechanism by a pair of parallel feed belts 1 and conveyed on by a conveyor belt 3. The mechanism comprises a crank drive composed of a link 6 rotatable about an axle and a link7 which is pivotably connected to the link 6 and slidably engaged in a slide block 8. A pusher element 9, for engaging and pushing successive book blocks 2, is connected to the link 7 and is movable by the linkage along a generally elliptical path K. The slide block 8 is pivotably mounted on a member 15 rigidly fastened to a slide block 10, the slide block 10 being located on a guide rod 12 buy a clamping screw 11. A spring 13 urges the guide rod 12 against the abutment 14. If the clamping screw 11 is loosened and the slide block 10 is located in another position on the rod 12, the kinematic relationships of the components of the crank drive and thereby the shape of the path K are changed, whereby the end position of a book block pushed by the pusher element 9 can be varied. In operation, the standing book blocks 2 are fed to the conveyor belt 3 by the feed belts 1. When a book block 2 is positioned ready for rotation, the pusher element 9, moving on the path K, impinges against the book cover 4 and pushes the book block 2 into the desired oblique attitude during movement of the pusher element along the portion A-E of the path, whereby the space for the succeeding book block 2 becomes free at the same time. If movement along the path is obstructed by an obstacle, then the member 12 yields against the force of the spring 13. CLAIMS

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the path circumscribes an area.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising control means for so controliing the linkage means as to reduce the speed of movement of the pusher element before entry into said portion of the path.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control means comprises gear transmission means for transmitting non-linear drive to the linkage means art a cyclically varying ratio.

7. Apparatus for changing attitudes of blockshaped articles, the apparatus being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.