GB2072630A

GB2072630A - Replenishing feeder for folding machine

Info

Publication number: GB2072630A
Application number: GB8104367A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Bauerle Mathias GmbH
Current assignee: Bauerle Mathias GmbH
Priority date: 1980-03-19
Filing date: 1981-02-12
Publication date: 1981-10-07
Also published as: JPS56141264A; DE3010517A1; DE3010517C2; NL8100646A

Abstract

Automatic replenishment of a paper feeder (6) for a folding machine (7) is effected by a transfer unit (3) which removes part of the supply pile (2) and deposits it in the top in a guide (4, 5) of the paper feeder (6). The supply pile (2) is supported on a rising pallet (10) which forms part of a movable attachment to the feeding and folding machine (6, 7). The transfer unit (3) comprises grippers and pile separator which reciprocates between the supply pile (2) and the feeder (6) in response to a low level of paper in the feeder (6). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Folding machine The invention relates to a folding machine comprising a paper feeder which is arranged upstream thereof and receives a pile of sheets.

Since the working speed of modern folding machines is relatively high, on the one hand, and the reception capacity of the paper feeders is only limited, on the other hand, the pile of paper in the sheet feeder is quickly used up so that it has to be frequently refilled if a relatively large number of copies is involved. This work is carried out manually by the operator, which is time-consuming and furthermore leads to a work delay.

The task underlying the invention is to rationalise the mode of operation of a folding machine comprising a paper feeder. This problem is solved in that there is provided a device for the automatic refilling of the paper feeder which comprises a loading station for the neat loading thereof with a supply pile of paper sheets, with which station there is associated a transfer unit which operates in timed sequence and which serves for taking over a part of the supply pile and for depositing this part from the top in a guide of the paper feeder.

The invention starts out from the realisation that it is not expedient to increase the reception capacity of the paper feeder to a considerable extent since this could impair its function. In order nevertheless to relieve the operator to a large extent of the paper refilling job, there is provided a device which carries out this task automatically.

In a further development of the invention, provision is made for the loading station and the transfer unit to be designed as a constructional unit that can be attached to the folding machine. By this means, the advantage that there is no need to interfere with the entire construction of the folding machine is obtained, on the one hand, while, on the other hand, there is achieved the essential advantage that existing folding machines can be equipped by way of addition with the automatic device for refilling the paper feeder.

In an advantageous constructional form of the invention, the loading station is provided with a pallet-like support for the supply pile, which support can be moved by means of a lift drive to the transfer unit', which comprises a horizontally movable gripper carriage which removes the uppermost part of the supply pile and feeds it to the paper feeder from the top. This constructional form is particularly suitable for folding machines having paper feeders on which the paper withdrawal is effected from the underside of the pile of sheets since there is then no need to interrupt the continuous mode of operation of the folding machine during the refilling process.

In a further development of the invention, there is arranged on the paper feeder a signal generator which detects the quantity of paper contained in the feeder and which starts the transfer unit if there is a paper shortage. Due to this development, the refilling process is triggered automatically without any interruption of the operation. In this connection, it is particularly advantageous if the signal generator is a switch which is accommodated in a housing that can be attached to the paper feeder with the aid of holding magnets. By this means, it is rendered possible to fit the signal generator without interfering with the folding machine or the paper feeder, namely in such a way that it can be adapted in a simple manner to the respective size to be processed.

In a further development of the invention, provision is made for the gripper of the gripper carriage to be provided with a knife-like part which is introduceable into the supply pile and with a clamping part which can be pressed againstthefirst-mentioned part from the top and which is driven by a spring motor which is tensionable by means of a tensioning lever which runs against a stop during the movement of the gripper carriage and for there to be provided a closing lever and an opening lever, which levers are operable by running against stops. Due to this development, there is provided a gripper and a gripper carriage of simple construction, for which a movement drive for the gripper carriage is sufficient, no provision having to be made for additional motor drive facilities and corresponding control units for the gripper.In this connection, it is expedient if the stop associated with the opening lever of the gripper is fitted to a lateral adjustable guide of the paper feeder. This lateral adjustable guide serves for adapting the paper feeder to the size to be processed. With this adaptation, there is then simultaneously adapted the transfer unit to the paper size to be processed without the need of any special operations having to be performed for this purpose by the operator.

In a further development of the invention, provision is made for a unit for opening the supply pile at the point destined for the introduction of the knifelike part of the gripper. By this means, the gripper is reliably prevented from impinging on the edge of an individual sheet of paper and from damaging this sheet.

Further features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of the exemplified embodiment shown in the drawings and from the Sub-Claims. In the drawings Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a folding machine which is equipped according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a diagrammatical cross section through the folding machine of Figure 1 in the zone of the paper feeder and the automatic refilling device, Figure 3 shows a cross section through a constructional form of a gripper on an enlarged scale, Figure 4 shows a top view of a detail of the automatic device, Figure 5 shows a side view of a portion of Figure 4, Figure 6shows a side view of another portion of Figure 4, and Figure 7shows a section through a switch which is associated with the paper feeder and detects the amount of paper that is present.

In the exemplified embodiment shown in Figure 1, there is erected on a machine table 41 a folding machine 7, upstream of which there is arranged a paper feeder 6. The paper feeder 6, which is designed as a pneumatic paper feeder, has two lateral adjustable guides 4 and 5, so-called blow angles, which serve for aligning the inserted pile of sheets and which simultaneously blow air into the pile of sheets so as to loosen it. The paper sheets are fed to the paper feeder by an automatically working refilling device in the form of small piles which are taken from a larger supply pile of sheets 2.

The automatic device comprises a loading station which has a pallet-like support 10, on which a relatively large supply pile 2 is deposited. Provision is made for the pallet-like support 10 to be fed to the device through a carriage 39 which is provided with bearing surfaces 40 for the pallet-like support 10.

With the aid of this carriage 39, it is possible, for example, to bridge the distance between a preceding machine, which cuts and/or prints on the sheets of paper, and the folding machine. The supply pile 2 is deposited in an aligned and neat state on the support 10 which is then introduced into the device by the carriage 39. During this process, the carriage is aligned with the device with the aid of guiding elements (not shown) so that the supply pile is deposited on the pallet-like support 10 in such a way that, in the zone of a corner that is directed towards the device, it is flush with both a side edge and a front ede of the support 10. When the carriage 39 has entered the device, the pallet-like support 10 is taken over by a lifting unit of the device.This lifting unit consists of two arms 42 which, between the bearing surfaces 40 of the carriage 39, take hold of the support 10 from the bottom. The device surface that is directed towards the supply pile 2 is covered by a smooth casing 43, in which there are provided only two slots 44 for the two arms 42 and a central slot for a spindle 11. The casing panel serves as a stop for a side edge of the supply pile 2. The lifting unit drives the arms 42 through the spindle 11 in a manner that is not shown in detail. The associated drive motor is accommodated, together with the associated gearing, in a housing 45 located at the bottom. The gearing of the lifting device is so designed that there comes about a relatively slow rising movement but a fast downward movement for the support 10.

Associated with the loading station 1 is a transfer unit 3 which is arranged above the paper feeder 6 and which removes the respective top part from the supply pile 2, transports it in the horizontal direction over the paper feeder 6 and transfers it tothe latter.

This transfer unit 3 works in timed sequence and is started when a shortage of paper is detected in the paper feeder. The paper feeder 6 is expediently so designed that the sheet of paper located right at the bottom is withdrawn, so that a continuous mode of operation can be maintained while refilling takes place.

The refilling device, which substantially consists of the loading station 1 and the transfer unit 3, is designed as an independent constructional unit which can be fitted to a folding machine by way of addition, the more so since it does not interfere with the control of the folding machine andlor the paper feeder. It comprises a table-like frame 8 which rests on the floor and can be moved with the aid of castors 9. The castors 9 are attached to the frame 8 so as to be adjustable in height in a manner that is not shown in detail, so that the entire device can be exactly aligned with respect to the paper feeder. In this connection there is provided between the machine table 41 and the frame 8, in a manner not shown in detail, a coupling which ensures the exact operational position of the device.The vertical part of the frame 8 receives the guides and the driving elements of the lifting unitforthe loading station 1. The horizontally orientated part adjacent thereto at the top projects from the paper feeder and receives the transfer unit. The entire device is moved against the folding machine 7 and the paper feeder with that side at which it is usually manipulated otherwise.

This ensures that the necessary constructional space is provided in any event. The horizontal part of the frame 8 has two guide rails 46 and 47 which are preferably U-sections and in which runners of the gripper carriage 12 are guided. The gripper carriage 12 consists of two rods 48 and 49, which are guided with the aid of the guide rollers, and the actual gripper 18 secured thereto. The gripper 18 is arranged so as to be displaceable on the rods so that it can be adapted to the respective paper size that is being processed. As the drive for the gripper carriage, there is expediently provided a chain drive which has a sliding block guide for the gripper carriage so that the reciprocating movement of the gripper carriage can be obtained while the revolving direction of the chain is the same.

The automatic refilling device is provided with its own drives and controls so that there is no need for any interference with the drives and controls of the folding machine 7. The device comprises a control console 50, through which the sequences of operation, which will be explained hereinafter and which are normally automatically effected, can also be manually controlled.

The function of the device will be explained with reference to Figure 2. The supply pile 2 received by the loading station 1 is moved upwards by means of the lifting unit. The end position thereof is determined buy a limit switch 17 which limits the upward lifting movement. In the starting position, the gripper carriage 12 is in the position shown in Figure 2, that is to say in the position that is remote from the supply pile 2. If a shortage of paper is detected on the paper feeder 6, then the gripper carriage 2 is started. This happens through a switch 13 which is fitted to the bottom of the paper feeder. This switch 13 forms part of the electrical control of the additional device and is attached to the paper feeder 6 in a very simple manner in such a way that it can be adapted to the size to be processed. The switch 13 has a housing 16 which is made of a bent plate and in which a limit switch 15 is accommodated. Associated with the limit switch 15 is a feeler lever 51 which projects through a slot in the housing 16 and which is placed on the pile of sheets which is present in the paper feeder 6. During the insertion operaticn, the feeler lever 51 is pivoted into the housing through a lifting magnet 52 hinged thereto so that the insertion process is not hindered. Inside the housing 16, there are fitted holding magnets 14, with the aid of which the housing 16, and consequently the entire switch 13, is held on the metal bottom of the paper feeder 6.

By this means, it is possible in a very simple manner to adapt the switch 13 to the respective size of the sheets of paper. When the limit switch 15 is actuated by the feeler lever 51, the lifting magnet 52 is energised and furthermore the gripper carriage 12 is started. The gripper carriage 12 then travels to the supply pile 2 and takes hold of a top part of the supply pile 2, which is then withdrawn by the gripper and is inserted into the paper feeder. The gripper 18 comprises a spring motor which is tensioned during its movement. Furthermore, the gripper is opened and closed during its movement by running against stops, so that no additional drive for the gripper 18 is necessary.

The gripper 18, which is shown on an enlarged scale in Figure 3, has a fixedly arranged knife-like part 19 which is intended for being introduced into the supply pile 2. Associated with this knife-like part 19 is a clamping part 20 which is pivotable about an axis 53 and can be swivelled towards the knife-like part 19. The clamping part 20, which is designed as a double-arm lever, is loaded by a spring 54 which seeks to press it into the shown position, in which the gripper 18 is opened. This position is secured by a closing lever 24, which is pivotable about an axis 55 and which engages, with a nose 56, behind a corresponding projection of the clamping part 20 when the latter is in the opened position. The closing lever 24 is loaded by a spring 57 which seeks to press it into the locking position.To one end of the clamping part 20 there is attached a spring 21, whose other end is attached to a tensioning lever 23 which is pivotable about an axis 58. When the tensioning lever 23 is in the position shown in solid lines, the spring 21 is tensioned so that a tensioned spring motor is provided for the gripper 18. This tensioned position of the tensioning lever 23 is secured by an opening lever 25 which, with a nose 59, engages behind a corresponding lug of the tensioning lever 23. The opening lever is pivotable about an axis 60 and is loaded in the direction of locking by a spring 61. The tensioning, closing and re-opening of the gripper occurs during the travel movement of the gripper carriage, as can be seen in Figures 2 and 3.In the starting position, the tension ing lever 23 is in the position shown in broken lines in Figure 3 so that the spring 21 is untensioned. The spring 54 pivots the clamping part into the position shown in solid lines, in which the clamping part is locked by the closing lever 24. During the movement in the direction of the supply pile 2, the tensioning lever 23 runs against a stationary rod-shaped stop 22, which causes it to be pivoted into the position shown in solid lines, which position is then secured by the nose 59 of the opening lever 25. The gripper then has reached the state shown in solid lines in Figure 3. As the movement towards the supply pile 2 is continued, the closing lever 24 runs against a stop 26 so that the locking of the clamping part 20 is cancelled and, due to the action of the spring 21, this part is pressed against the knife-like part 19.The stop 26 is so arranged that the knife-like part 19 has penetrated into the supply pile sufficiently deeply when the clamping part is released. The clamping part 20 then has the position shown in Figure 3 in broken lines.

During the return movement of the gripper 18, the opening lever 25 runs against a stop 27, which is also designed as a rod, causing the locking of the tensioning lever 23 to be released. The spring 21 then pulls the tensioning lever into the position shown in broken lines. The springs 21 and 54 are co-ordinated with each other in such a way that in this untensioned position of the spring 21 the spring 54 can move the clamping part into the opening position. The rod-shaped stop 27 is secured to the lateral guide 4, the so-called blow angle, of the paper feeder 6, which is arranged so as to be adjustable transversely to the direction of movement of the gripper carriage. With the adjustment of the guide 4, the stop 27 is thus also automatically adjusted in a corresponding manner so that no additional adjustment and alignment is necessary.Furthermore arranged on the guide 4 is a guide plate 28 which is recessed in th zone of the gripper carriage, that is to say in the adjustment zone thereof and which serves as a stripping unit and ensures that the portion of the supply pile that has been taken along will leave the gripper 18. In practice, it is expedient if the opening lever 25 is provided somewhat differently from the constructional form shown, for example in the form of a cam, so that its rotational movement is independent of the running direction against the stop 27.

The guide 5 of the paper feeder 6, that is to say another blow angle, which is opposite to the guide 4 carrying the stop 27, is also adjustable in the travel direction of the gripper carriage 12so as to render posssible an adaptation to different paper sizes. This guide is at its top provided with one or several guide plates 62. Furthermore, guiding elements 29, preferably bars which can be pulled out in a telescope-like manner, are provided between the frame 8 and this guide. These guiding elements are expedient, particularly if relatively large paper sizes are handled, since the part removed from the supply pile is only held between the knife-like part 19 and the clamping part 20 ofthe gripper 18 and would otherwise hang down laterally.

In order to ensure that no sheet of paper is damaged when the knife-like part 19 of the gripper 18 is introduced into the supply pile, there is provided a unit 30 which, prior to the introduction of the knife-like part 19, opens the supply pile 2 in such a way that there if formed between the sheets a gap, into which the knife-like part 19 penetrates. This unit 30 consists substantially of a pin 31 which is moved obliquely to the top towards the supply pile side that is directed towards the gripper (Figures 4 and 5).

During this process, the pin 31, which has a cuttingedge-like end 64, grasps the edge of one of the sheets of paper located beneath the movement path of the knife-like part 19 and slightly raises it, together with the sheets located thereabove, over the plane of the movement path of the knife-like part 19 so that there is formed a gap into which the knife-like part 19, which has a sharpened tip, can penetrate without damaging a sheet of paper. The pin 31 is hinged to an operating lever 32 which is pivotable on a holding part about an axis 65 which is located transversely to the direction of movement of the gripper. The pin 31 rests on a guide 66 which ensures that the circular movement of the operating lever 32 is transmitted to the pin 31 as a movement which is directed obliquely to the supply pile 2 and towards the top.The operating lever 32 is taken along by a driving bolt 33 of the knife-like part 19 of the gripper 18, so that no additional driving element is necessary for this unit for opening the supply pile either.

In order to ensure that only the sheets received between the knife-like part 19 and the clamping part 20 are taken along during the return movement of the gripper 18, there is provided a hold-back unit which substantially consists of a hold-back stop 35 which bears against the side of the paper pile 2 that is directed towards the gripper 18. The hold-back stop 35 is resiliently held in the vertical direction by means of a leaf spring 36. It has a central recess for the reception of the tip 67 of the knife-like part 19 and two contract beveis 37 which are located laterally thereof and with which corresponding contact bevels, which are set back to some extent, are associated beside the tip 67 of the knife-like part 19. When the surfaces 38 abut the contact bevels 37, the hold-back stop 35 is moved downwards.By contrast, when the gripper is retracted from the supply pile 2, the hold-back stop 35 is raised again so that the sheets of paper which have not been seized are reliably held back.

If a shortage of paper is detected by the switch 13, then the transfer unit is started and a portion is taken from the supply pile and is deposited in the paper feeder. When the gripper carriage has again reached its position of rest, which is detected by a limit switch, the lifting unit of the loading station 1 is actuated until the limit switch 17 responds. Thereafter, the next work cycle can start. When the lifting unit has reached its highest position, that is to say when the supply pile has been used up, this is also detected through a limit switch which ensures an automatic lowering of the pallet-like support 10.

Following the renewed loading of the loading station 1,the pallet-like support 10 is raised until the limit switch 17 responds and the device is again ready for work. These operations can be effected fully automatically or else can be manually controlled at will by the operator on the control console 50.

Claims

1. Afoiding machine comprising a paperfeeder which is arranged upstream thereof and receives a pile of sheets, characterised in that there is provided a device for the automatic refilling of the paper feeder (6), which device comprises a loading station (1) for being loaded with a supply pile (2) of sheets of paper, with which station there is associated a transfer unit (3) which works in timed sequence and serves for taking over a part of the supply pile (2) and for depositing this part from the top in a guide (4, 5) of the paper feeder (6).

2. Afolding machine as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the loading station (1) and the transfer unit (3) are designed as a constructional unit which can be attached to the folding machine (7).

3. A folding machine as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that the constructional unit comprises a table-like frame (8) which is movable on castors (9) which are preferably adjustable in height.

4. A folding machine as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that between the frame (8) and the folding machine (7) there is provided a coupling which secures the operational position of the device and one coupling part of which is stationarilyfitted to the folding machine (7) or a table (41).

5. Afolding machine as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the loading station (1) is provided with a pallet-like support (10) for the supply pile (2), which support can be fed, with the aid of a lifting drive (11), to the transfer unit (3) which contains a horizontally movable gripper carriage (12) which removes the uppermost part of the supply pile (2) and feeds it from the top to the paper feeder (6).

6. A folding machine as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that on the paper feeder (6) there is arranged a signal generator (13) which detects the amount of paper located therein and if there is a shortage of paper, starts the transfer unit (3).

7. A folding machine as claimed in Claim 6, characterised in that the signal generator is a switch (15) which is accommodated in a housing (16) which is attachable to the paper feeder (6) with the aid of holding magnets (14).

8. A folding machine as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a limit switch (17), which determines the height of lift, is associated with the lift drive of the loading station (1).

9. Afolding machine as claimed in Claim 8, characterised in that the lift drive has a slow lifting speed and a fast lowering speed.

10. A folding machine as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the gripper carriage (12) can be moved over the paper feeder (6) and transversely to the direction of withdrawal thereof.

11. Afolding machine as claimed in Claim 10, characterised in that the gripper carriage (12) is provided with a gripper (18) which is adjustable in the direction of withdrawal of the paper feeder (6) and laterally grasps the part of the supply pile (2) to be transferred and inserts it from the top into the paper feeder (6).

12. Afolding machine as claimed in Claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the gripper (18) is provided with a knife-like part (19) which is introduceable into the supply pile (2) and with a clamping part (20) which can be pressed against the first-mentioned part from the top and which is driven by a spring motor (21), which is tensionable by means of a tensioning lever (23) which runs against a stop (22) during the movement of the gripper carriage (12), and in that there are provided a closing lever (24) and an opening lever (25), which are operable by running against stops (26, 27).

13. Afolding machine as claimed in Claim 12, characterised in that the stop (27), which is associated with the opening lever (25) of the gripper (18), is attached to a lateral adjustable guide (4) of the paper feeder (6).

14. Afolding machine as claimed in one of Claims 10 to 13, characterised in that a stripping unit (28), which is associated with the gripper (18), is fitted to the lateral guide (4) of the paper feeder (6).

15. A folding machine as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 14, characterised in tha between the loading station (1) and the paper feeder (6) there are arranged guiding elements (29) which are adjustable in length.

16. Afolding machine as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 15, characterised in that a unit (30) for opening the supply pile is provided at the point destined for the introduction of the knife-like part (19) of the gripper (18).

17. Afolding machine as claimed in Claim 16, characterised in that there is provided a pin (31) which can be moved obliquely upwards towards the side of the supply pile (2) that is directed towards the gripper (18).

18. Afolding machine as claimed in Claim 17, characterised in that the pin (31) is drivable by the gripper (18).

19. Afolding machine as claimed in Claim 18, characterised in that the pin (31) is connected to an operating lever (32), against which a driver of the gripper (18) runs.

20. Afolding machine as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 19, characterised in that there is provided a hold-back unit (34) which is associated with the supply pile (2) and co-operates with the gripper (18).

21. Afolding machine as claimed in Claim 20, characterised in that on the side of the supply pile (2) that is directed towards the gripper (18) there is fitted, so as to yield resiliently in the vertical direction, a hold-back stop (35) which is provided with at least one contact bevel (37), against which a guiding surface (38) of the knife-like part (19) of the gripper (18) butts.

22. Afolding machine as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 21, characterised in that there is provided a carriage (39) which is movable in th frame (8) and which is provided with bearing surfaces (40) for the pallet-like support (10) of the loading station (1).

23. A folding machine substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.