GB2139990A

GB2139990A - Apparatus for turning partial streams of printed sheets

Info

Publication number: GB2139990A
Application number: GB08412328A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans Muller
Original assignee: Grapha Holding AG
Current assignee: Grapha Holding AG
Priority date: 1983-05-17
Filing date: 1984-05-15
Publication date: 1984-11-21
Also published as: GB8412328D0; JPH0124700B2; DE3415600A1; CH659452A5; JPS59212352A; DE3415600C2; GB2139990B

Abstract

Apparatus for turning partial streams of printed sheets (TS) about their vertical central axis comprises a first conveyor (4) and two intermittently drivable reversal conveyors (7, 8) each of length at least equal to that of a partial stream and which can be alternately interconnected with the first conveyor (4) by means of a diverter arrangement (5). Two second conveyors (12, 13) (not shown) are associated one with each of the reversal conveyors (7, 8) for receiving the partial streams from the reversal conveyors (7, 8). The second conveyors (12, 13) each have a portion extending parallel with the associated reversal conveyor (7, 8), the second conveyors (12, 13) being drivable intermittently with, but in the opposite direction to, the associated reversal conveyors (7, 8), while means (14, 15, 20 to 39) are provided which, with a second conveyor (12, 13) and the associated reversal conveyor (7, 8) stopped, transfer a partial stream on the reversal conveyor (7, 8) onto the parallel portion of the second conveyor (12, 13) whereby it is conveyed by said second conveyor (12, 13) in a direction opposite to that of the first conveyor (4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for turning partial streams of printed sheets The present invention relates to apparatus for turning partial streams of printed sheets about a vertical axis.

It is known to provide such apparatus which includes a first conveyor and two intermittently driven reversal conveyors each of a length equal to at least the length of a partial stream. The reversal conveyors can be connected with the first conveyor alternately and by means of a diverter arrangement, the apparatus further including second conveyors, one associated with each reversal conveyor, for receiving the partial streams and conveying them away in the opposite direction.

The turning of partial streams is particularly important when printed sheets arriving from a folding apparatus are kept in interim storage on a cul-de-sac type of stacking section before they are further processed, for example in an insetting machine. Such sections can be straight or may extend spirally in the form of a coil.

In order to turn the partial streams round after interim storage such that they can be conveyed to the feeder or other user machines with the originally leading end leading again, it has been proposed to conduct the partial streams alternately onto two reversal conveyors and then to pass them in the opposite direction of movement onto the second conveyor. However, this reliable proposal has the disadvantage that the reversal conveyor cannot receive the following part-stream either during the running-on of the current partial stream orwhilst said partial stream is being run off, thus reducing the capacity of such a turning station.

It would be desirable to be able to provide apparatus of the kind mentioned above but with a substantially increased output or capacity.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for turning partial streams of printed sheets about a vertical axis comprising a first conveyor, a pair of intermittently drivable reversal conveyors each of a length at least equal to the length of a partial stream, a diverter arrangement operable to interconnect the reversal conveyors alternately with said first conveyor, and a pair of second conveyors, one associated with each reversal conveyor, for transporting the partial streams from the reversal conveyors, each second conveyor including a portion extending parallel with the associated reversal conveyor, said second conveyors being drivable intermittently with the associated reversal conveyors in a direction opposite to that of the first conveyor, the apparatus further comprising means which, with a reversal conveyor and the associated second conveyor both stationary, are operable to transfer a partial stream from the reversal conveyor onto the parallel portion of the associated second conveyor whereby said partial stream can thereafter be transported by said second conveyoe in a direction to that of the first conveyor.

In one embodiment of the invention, the portion of each second conveyor extending parallel with its associated reversal conveyor is located laterally adjacent said reversal conveyor, the reversal conveyor being movable transversely to a displaced position immediately adjacent said portion of the second conveyor, and the second conveyor includ ing means for gripping the side edge of a partial stream of printed sheets on the reversal conveyor in its displaced position.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the portion of each second conveyor extending parallel with its associated reversal conveyor is located laterally adjacent said reversal conveyor, the means for transferring a partial stream from the reversal conveyor onto the associated second conveyor including a carriage movable transversely of the conveyors from a position above the reversal conveyor to a position above the associated second conveyor, the carriage carrying a pair of opposed, depending support elements operable, with the carriage above the reversal conveyor, to co-operate with the side edges of a partial stream on the reversal conveyor and raise said partial stream from the reversal conveyor, whereby the carriage, support elements and partial stream can be moved transversely to a position over the second conveyor and the partial stream can be lowered onto said second conveyor.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, the portion of each second conveyor extending parallel with its associated reversal conveyor is located directly above the reversal conveyor, the reversal conveyor and said portion of the second conveyor each comprising a pair of spaced, parallel conveyor belts for supporting the side edges of a partial stream of sheets thereon, the belts of said portion of the second conveyor being movable laterally outwardly away from one another to displaced positions, the apparatus including means located below the reversal conveyor and between the belts thereof and operable to raise a partial stream of sheets from the reversal conveyor to a position between and above the belts of the second conveyor when in their displaced positions, the arrangement being such that, on return of said belts of the second conveyor to their normal positions, the partial stream can be lowered onto, to be supported by, said second conveyor.

By way of examples only, embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure lisa side view of apparatus according to the invention, Figure 2 is a section on line ll-ll of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 of further apparatus according to the invention, and Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 of a still further apparatus according to the invention.

In Figure 1 reference numeral 1 designates a side wall of a machine frame in which a driven shaft 2 is rotatably mounted. A plurality of guide rollers 3 are arranged side by side on the shaft 2 to be rotatable with said shaft, some of these rollers 3 forming the end of a first conveyor 4 and the others forming the beginning of a diverter 5. Both the first conveyor 4 and the diverter 5 comprise a plurality of parallel, endless belts.

The diverter 5 is pivotable, by means of pneumatic cylinder 6, between upper and lower end positions which are represented by full and dot-dash lines in Figure 1 respectively. In these upper and lower end positions, the diverter 5 adjoins reversal conveyors 7 and 8 respectively, the length of each conveyor 7,8 being at least equal to the length of a partial stream of printed sheets TS. The reversal conveyors 7 and 8 can be coupled by means of couplings 9 and 10 to a central drive 11 which drives the belts of the conveyor 4 as well as those of the diverter 5.

Second conveyors 12 and 13 are associated respectively with the reversal conveyors 7 and 8 and each includes a portion extending parallel to the associated reversal conveyor 7 or 8. The second conveyors 12,13 are drivable in the direction opposite to the direction of conveyance of the reversal conveyors 7 and 8.

The reversal conveyor 7 will be described hereinafter with reference to Figure 2. The reversal conveyor 8 is of similar construction, and is not specifically represented. The guide rollers of the reversal conveyor 7 are arranged on a carriage 14 movable along guide rods 15 transversely to the direction of conveyance of the reversal conveyor 7.

The guide rods 15 are secured on a stand 16 which has two side walls 17 and 18 connected to one another by cross-members 19. A piston and cylinder unit 20 whose piston rod is attached to the carriage 14 is articulated to the wall 17 and shifts the carriage 14 together with the reversal conveyor 7 between the position shown in full lines (in which the reversal conveyor 7 is alignment with the diverter 5 with the latter in its upper end position) and the position shown in dot-dash lines.

The second conveyor 12 (and likewise the second conveyor 13) comprises a transporting apparatus which takes hold of the side of the partial stream TS as is described in Swiss Patent no. 322 276.

The described apparatus operates as follows. Of the partial streams TS arriving successively on the conveyor belt 4 and spaced apart by a gap L, the leading partial stream TS is conducted upwards onto the reversal conveyor 7 when the diverter 5 has been swung upwards (Figure 1). The conveyor belt 4 along with the belts of the diverter 5 and the belts of the reversal conveyor 7 are all driven atthe same speed.

As soon as the end of the partial stream TS runs over the end of the diverter 5, the cylinder 6 is actuated and the diverter 5 is swung downards into the dot-dash line position. At the same time, the coupling 9 is uncoupled and the reversal conveyor 7 is stopped. The next partial stream TS is then conducted onto the reversal conveyor 8, and the cylinder 20 is actuated to shift the conveyor belt 7 towards the transporting apparatus 12 (towards the right in Figure 2).

At this instant, the transporting apparatus 12 and the reversal conveyor 7 are both stopped. As soon as the transporting apparatus 12 has gripped the side of the partial stream TS laterally, the reversal conveyor 7 is shifted back (towards the left in Figure 2) to a position ready to receive the next partial stream TS.

During this time, the transporting apparatus 12 is started up and transports the partial stream TS which it has taken up to the user apparatus in a direction opposite to the direction of conveyance of the reversal conveyor 7. Thus the partial streams TS are fed on the transporting apparatus 12 to the user apparatus with the originally leading printed sheet foremost.

Whilst the reversal conveyor 7 again receives a partial stream TS, the reversal conveyor 8 is, in the same way, shifted towards the transporting apparatus 13 associated with it, and the partial stream TS lying on the conveyor 7 is transferred to said transporting apparatus 13.

In the example of Figure 3, the second conveyor 12 is a conveyor belt which extends parallel with the reversal conveyor 7 but is adapted to be driven in the opposite direction of conveyance. A rail 21 extends transversely overthetwo conveyors 7 and 12, a carriage 22 on said rail being movable on wheels 23 between two end positions. In one end position, the carriage is situated above the reversal conveyor 7 and, in the other end position, the carriage is situated above the second conveyor 12. The movement ofthe carriage is achieved by a piston and cylinder unit 24.

The carriage 22 has two downwardly directed, fork-like guides 25 in which is mounted a beam 26 to be movable upwards and downwards. The beam 26 is attached to the piston rod 27 of a piston and cylinder unit 28 secured to the carriage 22, which moves said beam upwards and downwards in the direction of the double arrow in the illustration. The ends of the beam 26 have two screwthreaded spindles 29 projecting axially beyond them, a pivotable joint 30 being mounted on each spindle 29. The spacing of the two pivotable joints 30 from one another can be adjusted by nuts 29', which nuts also define the outer pivoted position of the associated frames 31 which are pivotably attached to the pivotable joints 30.

The lower ends of the frames 31 comprise inwardly bent-over support elements 32 which extend the length of the reversal conveyor 7. A pneumatic piston and cylinder unit 31' pivots the frames 31 between an outer end position (dot-dash-lines) and an inner end position (full lines).

In order to remove a partial stream TS situated on the reversal conveyor 7, the beam 26 is moved downwards by means of the piston and cylinder unit 28, and the piston and cylinder unit 31' is operated to swing the frames 31 inwards until the support elements 32 are situated below the side edges of the partial stream TS. The piston and cylinder unit 28 is then operated, and the partial stream TS is lifted off the reversal conveyor 7, whereupon the carriage 22 is moved to a position over the second conveyor belt 12. The beam 26 is lowered until the partial stream TS lies on the second conveyor 12. The frames 31 are then swung outwards, raised and moved back to a position over the reversal conveyor 7.During this time, the second conveyor 12 is driven again, and the partial stream TS lying thereon is fed to the user apparatus in a direction opposite to the direction of conveyance of the conveyors 4 and 7.

In the example shown in Figure 4, the reversal conveyor 7 comprises two parallel conveyor belts 33 on which are supported the side edges of partial streams TS arriving by way of the diverter 5. In this example, the second conveyor is not positioned beside the reversal conveyor but is located above it, and comprises two parallel belts 34 which are drivable by means of the coupling 9 and which are mounted on pivotably suspended frames 35. A pneumatic piston and cylinder unit 36 can pivot the frames 35, which are pivotably mounted at 37, from the position shown in full lines in Figure 4 to the position shown in dot-dash lines in that Figure. A plate 38 extends between the belts 33 and this plate 38 can be raised and lowered by a piston and cylinder unit 39. As soon as a partial stream TS is lying on the belts 7, the frames 35 together with the belts 34 are pivoted outwardly by the piston and cylinder unit 36. The piston and cylinder unit 39 is then actuated and the plate 38 with the partial stream TS supported thereon is lifted up and off the belts 33.

As soon as the plate 38 has reached its upper end position, the frames 35 are swung inwardly. The belts 34 are then situated below the partial stream TS, whereupon the plate 38 is lowered. The longitudinal side edges of the partial stream TS are thus laid on the belts 34 and the stream is transported by these belts to the user apparatus in a direction opposite to the direction of comveyance of the belts 33.

Claims

1. Apparatusforturning partial streams of printed sheets about a vertical axis comprising a first conveyor, a pair of intermittently drivable reversable conveyors each of a length at least equal to the length of a partial stream, a diverter arrangement operable to interconnect the reversal conveyors alternately with said first conveyor, and a pair of second conveyors, one associated with each reversal conveyor, for transporting the partial streams from the reversal conveyors, each second conveyor including a portion extending parallel with the associated reversal conveyor, said second conveyors being drivable intermittently with the associated reversal conveyors in a direction opposite to that of the first conveyor, the apparatus further comprising means which, with a reversal conveyor and the associated second conveyor both stationary, are operable to transfer a partial stream from the reversal conveyor onto the parallel portion of the associated second conveyor whereby said partial stream can thereafter be transported by said second conveyor in a direction opposite to that of the first conveyor.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the portion of each second conveyor extending parallel with its associated reversal conveyor is located laterally adjacent said reversal conveyor, the reversal conveyor being movable transversely to a displaced position immediately adjacent said portion of the second conveyor, and the second conveyor including means for gripping the side edge of a partial stream of printed sheets on the reversal conyeyor in its displaced position.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the portion of each second conveyor extending parallel with its associated reversal conveyor is located laterally adjacent said reversal conveyor, the means for transferring a partial stream from the reversal conveyor onto the associated second conveyor including a carriage movable transversely of the conveyors from a position above the reversal conveyor to a position above the associated second conveyor, the carriage carrying a pair of opposed, depending support elements operable, with the carriage above the reversal conveyor, to co-operate with the side edges of a partial stream on the reversal conveyor and raise said partial stream from the reversal conveyor, whereby the carriage, support elements and partial stream can be moved transversely to a position over the second conveyor and the partial stream can be lowered onto said second conveyor.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the portion of each second conveyor extending parallel with its associated reversal conveyor is located directly above the reversal conveyor, the reversal conveyor and said portion of the second conveyor each comprising a pair of spaced, parallel conveyor belts for supporting the side edges of a partial stream of sheets thereon, the belts of said portion of the second conveyor being movable laterally outwardly away from one another to displaced positions, the apparatus including means located below the reversal conveyor and between the belts thereof and operable to raise a partial stream of sheets from the reversal conveyor to a position between and above the belts of the second conveyor when in their displaced positions, the arrangement being such that, on return of said belts of the second conveyor to their normal positions, the partial stream can be lowered onto, to be supported by, said second conveyor.

5. Apparatus for turning partial streams of printed sheets about a vertical axis substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.