GB2336837A

GB2336837A - Sheet removal module for a rotary press comprising rotating drum feeding selected sheets to a pile below the drum

Info

Publication number: GB2336837A
Application number: GB9910150A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dietrich Dettinger; Jens Gebel; Michael Reising
Original assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
Current assignee: Manroland AG
Priority date: 1998-04-30
Filing date: 1999-04-30
Publication date: 1999-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-30
Also published as: GB2336837B; FR2778138A1; JPH11320832A; FR2778138B1; DE19819491C1; JP4130513B2; GB9910150D0

Abstract

The removal module 7 comprises a rotating drum 11 below the feed path of an endlessly circulating sheet conveyor system 5 wherein a control unit 24, immediately above the feed path, is used to remove selected sheets. A first sheet guide unit (28, Fig 4) comprises two interconnecting comb shaped elements which meet to form a recess (30, Fig 4). The downstream element 28 further comprises a guide element (29, Fig 4), swivellably mounted on a rotary pivot (27, Fig 4). The control unit moves the guide element 29 to a position where the paper is directed away from the main flow through the recess 30, by gripper bridge(s) 26, mounted on the drum, which coordinate with circulating gripper systems 25 on the sheet conveyor. Second 20 and third 23 guide elements direct the paper flow to a pile 10 sited below the drum 11.

Description

2336837 DELIVERY APPARATUS IN A ROTARY SHEET PRINTING PRESS r, 2 The

invention relates to a delivery apparatus in a rotary sheet printing press with an endlessly circulating sheet conveyor system feeding the printed sheets to a first delivery pile and with a drum having a gripper bridge acting as diverter in the feed direction prior to this delivery pile for sheet removal according to choice A delivery apparatus of this type is known from DE 24 30 212 Al. The delivery apparatus has a sorting device which deposits the printed materials according to choice on to two delivery piles. The printed materials are for this subjected to a quality control within the press by appropriate measurement technology. A first circulating chain conveyor leads the printed materials to a first delivery pile. Fitted to the first chain conveyor is a removal drum with gripper systems subsequent to which is 0 arranged a second chain conveyor. Dependent upon the quality detected, the printed materials can be deposited on the first or second delivery pile.

From DE-OS 22 01 217, a sheet delivery of modular 2 - construction for a printing press is known wherein the printed material is fed according to choice to a normal delivery or a special delivery. The delivery consists, in this connection, of a lower module, an upper module which can be set upon this andlor a special delivery module. The special delivery module has a separate chain circuit and a delivery table preferably arranged above the pile region of the upper module. In a further construction, the delivery pile is arranged within the circulating chain system. For reasons of safety, the sheets can only be removed, in this connection, when the press is stationary. In order to be able to observe the upper pile in the special delivery module, this module has a transparent cover. Disadvantageous, in this connection, is that for sheet removal from the special delivery module, the press has to be rendered stationary.

A further delivery for a rotary sheet printing press i known from DE 43 22 324 A 1 which, among other things, has a modular construction. In this connection, for example, a drying passage is arranged within the delivery as a module. Furthermore, fitted to the delivery is a printed material diverter which, in modular fashion, is arranged downstream relative to the feed direction of the last sprocket of the sheet feeding system. Waste or test sheets are separately depositable away from the main pile by actuating the printed material diverter.

S Disadvantageous, in this connection, is that because of the printed material diverter arranged downstream of the sheet conveyor system and the pile, the length of the printing press automatically increases.

The present invention seeks to create a delivery - 3 apparatus on a rotary sheet printing press which avoids the noted disadvantages, which especially permits improved sheet removal in the region of circulating sheet conveyor systems and allows an increase in the 5 process stability during deposition.

According to the present invention there is provided a delivery apparatus in a rotary sheet printing press with an endlessly circulating sheet conveyor system feeding the printed sheets to a first delivery pile and with a drum having a gripper bridge acting as diverter in the feed direction prior to this delivery pile for sheet removal according to choice, wherein the drum is directly arranged relative to the lower run of the sheet conveyor system, wherein outside the lower drum at a small distance relative to the sheet conveyor system is arranged a first sheet guide unit with a recess running across the format width, the drum has at least one gripper bridge with a 'Circular path intersecting the recess and wherein the sheets can be deposited on to a pile system arranged subsequently below this drum.

Advantageous in the system according to the invention is that waste sheets or test sheets are deposited on a separate pile (pile system) without interrupting the printing process. Thereby the process stability in deposition is increased. In addition to this, the separate pile can be used as an auxiliary pile device. A further advantage is based on the fact that e.g. in the case of a new print order in the running up phase, waste sheets arising can be deposited immediately on to a separate pile. Intervention of the operator in the continuous deposition process of the sheets on to the main pile (first or second delivery pile) is unnecessary, since the test sheets (or waste sheets) can be deposited at any point in time on to the separate - 4 pile of the pile system. It is likewise an advantage that for the operator, the danger of injury because of a circulating sheet feeding system is noticeably reduced. Finally, it is advantageous to construct the delivery apparatus in modular construction fashion. This constitutes a cost-favourable arrangement which can be retrofitted and permits the universal use of the delivery apparatus on rotary sheet printing presses.

The invention will be explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a delivery apparatus with a first delivery pile and a removal module according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows an alternative form of delivery apparatus according to the invention with a first and a second delivery pile and a removal module Figure 3 shows an illustration of the removal module in detail, and Figure 4 shows part of the removal module in even greater detail, showing the sheet guiding at the removal module.

Referring to Figure 1, in a rotary sheet printing press, a delivery device is arranged downstream seen in the feed direction of a printing unit 1 which can also be formed as a treatment unit, e.g. a varnishing unit or some other sort of further treatment station. The printing unit 1 consists, in this connection, of a blanket cylinder 2 (in a varnishing unit, this corresponds to the forme cylinder) as well as an impression cylinder 4. One does not need to go into any further detail here with respect to the inking unit and, if appropriate, the damping unit. The blanket cylinder 2 is in functional connection with an impression cylinder 4, wherein arranged upstream of the impression cylinder 4 in the feed direction is a transfer cylinder 3 for sheet guidance. Taken with respect to the blanket cylinder 2 with a single size diameter, the impression cylinder 4 and the transfer cylinder 3 are constructed in each case with double-size diameter and in each case two gripper bridges.

The delivery apparatus includes an endless circulating chain conveyor system 5 with several gripper systems 25, wherein the sheet conveyor system 5 is constructed preferably as a chain conveyor with a first sheet guide unit 28 (see detail in Figure 4) preferably pneumatically operated. Outside the lower run of the sheet conveyor system 5 is, at a short distance from the sheet conveyor system 5, a recess 30 running across the format width arranged within the first sheet guiding unit 28. Arranged to the lower run of the sheet conveyor system 5 in the region of the recess 30 underneath it is a sheet guiding drum 11. The drum 11 has at least one gripper bridge 26 which with its path of movement 31 intersects the recess 30. For sheet deposition below the drum 11, a pile system 10 is arranged downstream of this.

The sheet conveyor system 5 extends as far as over a first delivery pile 9 functioning as the main pile. In front as seen in the feed direction of this first delivery pile 9 is arranged the sheet guiding drum 11 relative to the sheet conveyor system 5. The drum 11 is, taken with respect to a single size blanket cylinder 2, constructed as a double-size drum 11 with two gripper bridges 26 arranged symmetrically divided about the periphery. Likewise the drum 11 can be constructed with a single size diameter and one gripper bridge 26, and also with triple or multiple size diameters with corresponding numbers of gripper bridges 26 arranged distributed symmetrically about the periphery.

The drum 11 acts as dix,erter for removal according to choice of sheets from the circulating conveyor system 5.

For this, the drum 11 is preferably arranged relative to this at a horizontally arranged part of the sheet conveyor system 5 and the sheet guided on to the drum 11 is thereby depositable on to the pile system 10. The pile system 10 is, in the simplest construction, a pallet or a mesh box for removal of waste sheets. In a more sophisticated construction, at least stop means and straight pushers can be arranged for exact edge formation.

Referring now specifically to Figure 4, the first sheet guiding unit 28 is constructed in two parts in the region of the recess 30, the edges and width thereof being referenced in Figure 4. The sheet guide device arranged upstream in the sheet running direction (first part) has comb-like arranged tines 33 with free spaces lying between them. The downstream arranged sheet guiding unit 28 (second part) likewise has comb-shaped arranged tines 33 with free spaces lying between them. The tines 33 of both parts of the sheet guiding unit 28 lie opposite one another so that the free spaces (between the tines 33) are integrated into the recess 30.

In this construction, the gripper fingers of the gripper bridges 26 in the circular path 31 intersect the free spaces of the two- part sheet guiding device 28, particularly in the case of a sheet transfer, in that the grippers penetrate the sheet guiding device 28 at the drum 11 rotating in the feed direction 32.

In a preferred development, the part arranged downstream of the drum 11 (second part) of the sheet guiding unit 28 has a previously arranged sheet guide element 29 which extends across the format width. In this construction, the sheet guide element 29 has the tines 33 with free spaces (integrated into the recess 30). The sheet guiding element 29 is swivellably mounted on both sides in a rotary pivot 27 arranged fast with respect to the frame. In continuous printing operation, the sheet guiding element 29 is horizontally integrated into the two-part first sheet guiding unit 28. If the sheet is to be fed to the pile system 10, the sheet guiding element 29 is swivelled out of the horizontal into the position 291 (Figure 4) to lie adjacent the end of a curved portion of a sheet guide 20, which runs down one side of drum 11 (see Figure 3).

In a preferred further construction in continuous printing operation, the first sheet guiding unit 28 is constructed in the horizontal as an essentially closed sheet guide e.g. in modular construction fashion. In the region of the recess 20, the drum 11 is integrated with the cover surface in such a fashion and at least the tines 33 of the first part of the first sheet guiding unit 23 extend into a plurality of peripheral grooves of the outer surface of the drum 11 and the regions of the gripper bridges 26 which lie free between the grippers. In a simple construction, the depressions are constructed as peripheral grooves arranged at distances extending across the format width, wherein the distances essentially follow the arrangement of the free spaces of the sheet guiding unit 28.

In a further embodiment for the continuous printing operation, the tines 33 of the sheet guiding element 29 also project into the depressions of the surface cover of the drum 11.

The drum 11 is not restricted in its construction to a cylindrical cover surface. Alternatively, the drum 11 may be fabricated, even with gripper bridges arranged symmetrically about the periphery which are supported on the drum axis. Preferably the supports run essentially shaped as secants to the drum periphery. In this construction, the depressions correspond to the free spaces present between the grippers of the gripper bridges 26 arranged thereon. The tines 33 extend into these freely accessible regions.

Above the drum 1 in the region of the sheet conveyor system 5 is arranged a control unit 24, e.g. a swivellable control cam. By means of this control device 24, the circulating gripper systems 25 of the sheet conveyor system 5 can be actuated as required, wherein always a gripper system 25 correlates with a gripper bridge 26 of the drum 11. The gripper bridges 26 correlating with the gripper system 25 are preferably likewise actuated by a swivellable control cam. For this, an actuation device, e.g. a pneumatically actuatable working cylinder, is arranged which, via a clutch drive, actuates the control cams of gripper system 25 and gripper bridge 26 and simultaneously the sheet guide element 29.

Arranged relative to the drum 11 in the sheet downwards path is the second sheet guiding unit 20 adjacent at a distance, which extends down to the pile system 10.

Preferably a blown air unit 21 is arranged between the drum 11 and the pile system 10. The second sheet guiding unit 20 is preferably pneumatically subjectable, e.g. to blown air.

As evident from Figure 3, arranged lying opposite the second sheet guiding unit 20 is a third sheet guide unit 22 which extends between the drum 1 and the pile system 10. Preferably the third sheet guide unit 22 can be pneumatically driven by means of a blown air/suction system 23. At least the drum 1 as well as the pile system 10 form a removal module 7. The delivery apparatus is constituted at least of a first delivery module 6 arranged prior in the feed direction to the removal module 7, as well as a downstream arranged second delivery module 8 relative to the removal module 15 7.

In a preferred further development, the removal module 7 has a portion of the sheet conveyor system 5 with chain guideway as well as the control device 24.

The removal module 7 has, preferably in the region of the side frames, a support surface 15 relative to the previously arranged first delivery module 6 as well as a support surface 16 relative to the downstream second 25 delivery module 8.

In a preferred further development, the second delivery module 6 can be supported by an A-column 12 and a Bcolumn 13 relative to the floor and the removal module 7 can be supported at least on the B-column 10, wherein preferably the first delivery module 5 can be supported on the support surface 15 of the removal module 7.

In the construction of the delivery apparatus with a first delivery pile 9 and a second delivery pile 17 arranged between the first delivery module 6 and the - removal module 7 is an intermediate module 18 with a portion of the sheet conveyor system 5. Because of the modular construction of the delivery apparatus, the intermediate module 18 can be effected as the drying stretch. The example is not restricted to the construction in accordance with Figure 2. Alternatively, the removal module 7 can be arranged prior in the feed direction to the intermediate module 18 (with drying path and/or second delivery pile 17).

The intermediate module 18 is capable of support with a support surface 19 by means of a C-column 14 arranged upstream in the feed direction relative to the floor and the first delivery module 5 is additionally supportable on the C-column 14. In a preferred further development, the intermediate module 18 can be supported on the support surface 15 of the removal module 7.

The mode of operation is as follows:

The sheet coming from the upstream arranged printing unit 1 is taken over by a gripper system 25 of the sheet conveyor system 5 and guided in the feed direction into the first delivery module 6 by means of the first sheet guiding unit 28. Within the first delivery module 6 can be arranged a drying path and/or a powdering unit.

In a delivery apparatus with a main pile in accordance with Figure 1 in continuous printing operation, the sheet guided by the gripper system 25 passes the removal module 7 as well as the second delivery module 8, is decelerated at a sheet braking unit and fed to the first delivery pile 9 and deposited there.

If waste sheets arise, or should test sheets be removed or should a nonstop pile change result, the control 1 11 - unit 24 is actuated in such a fashion that the sheet is transferred from the gripper system 25 to a cam controlled gripper bridge 26 correlated on the drum 11. For this, simultaneously the sheet guide element 29 is swivelled out of the horizontal around the axis of the rotary pivot 27 in order on the one hand to form a sheet guide with the second sheet guiding unit 20 against the drum 11 and on the other hand the free space for slipping out the sheet in the region of the recess 30 is increased.

The drivable drum 11 guides the sheet past the second sheet guiding unit 20, whereafter the gripper bridge 26 releases the sheet which is deposited in the pile system 10. The deposition is promoted by the preferably pneumatically driven third sheet guiding unit 22.

In a delivery device with two main piles in accordance with Figure 2, the sheets guided by means of gripper system 25 in continuous print operation pass the first delivery module 6 and are, according to choice, fed past the intermediate module 18 to the first delivery pile 9, or to the second delivery pile 17, decelerated at a sheet brake device relative to the corresponding delivery pile 9 or 17 and deposited there.

In the case of non-stop pile change in a construction in accordance with Figure 1 in continuous print operation, the sheets are fed to the pile system 10 for so long until the full delivery pile 9 has been moved away and replaced by a new one.

In a construction in accordance with Figure 2, the sheet deposition is switched only between the first and the second delivery pile 9,17 so that always a pile 9 or 17 can be changed.

Claims

1. Delivery apparatus in a rotary sheet printing press with an endlessly circulating sheet conveyor system feeding the printed sheets to a first delivery pile and with a drum having a gripper bridge acting as diverter in the feed direction prior to this delivery pile for sheet removal according to choice, wherein the drum is directly arranged relative to the lower run of the sheet conveyor system, wherein outside the lower drum at a small distance relative to the sheet conveyor system is arranged a first sheet guide unit with a recess running across the format width, that the drum has at least one gripper bridge with a circular path intersecting the recess and that the sheets can be deposited on to a pile system arranged subsequently below this drum.

2. A delivery apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein above the drum a control unit is arranged, the control unit being arranged to actuate the circulating gripper systems of the sheet conveyor, and wherein the arrangement is such that the gripper system correlates with a gripper bridge of the drum.

3. A delivery apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein fitted to the drum in the sheet downward path and located at a distance is a second sheet guiding unit which extends to the pile system.

4. A delivery apparatus according to Claim 1 or 3 and including, arranged between the drum and the pile system, a blown air unit.

5. A delivery apparatus according to Claim 1 or 3 wherein the second sheet guide unit is pneumatically drivable.

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6. A delivery apparatus according to Claim 1 or 3 wherein arranged relative tolthe second sheet guide unit is a third sheet guide unit lying opposite which extends between the drum and the pile system.

7. A delivery apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein the third sheet guide unit is pneumatically subjectable.

8. A delivery apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein at least the drum as well as the pile system are arranged in a removal module and that the delivery apparatus is formed at least from a first delivery module arranged upstream in the feed direction of the removal module and a second delivery module arranged downstream.

9. A delivery apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the removal module has a portion of the sheet conveyor system as well as the control unit.

10. A delivery apparatus according to claim 8 or 9 wherein the removal module has a support surface relative to the previously arranged first delivery module as well as a support surface relative to the subsequently arranged second delivery module.

11. A delivery apparatus according to Claim 10 wherein the second delivery module can be supported by means of an A-column and a B-column and wherein the removal module can be supported at least on the B-column, with the first delivery module supported on the support surface of the removal module.

12. A delivery apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the delivery apparatus is formed from an intermediate module arranged between the first delivery module and - 1A - the removal module and having a portion of the sheet conveyor system with a second delivery pile coordinated thereto.

13. A delivery apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the intermediate module can be supported with a support surface by means of a C-column arranged upstream in the feed direction and the first delivery module can additionally be supported on the C-column.

14. A delivery apparatus according to Claim 12 or 13 wherein the intermediate module can be supported on the support surface of the removal module.

15. A delivery apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the first sheet guide unit is formed of a first part arranged upstream in the feed direction and a subsequently arranged second part with a recess lying therebetween.

16. A delivery apparatus according to Claim 15 wherein each part of the first sheet guide unit has comb-shaped arranged tines with free spaces lying between them integrated into the recess, wherein the tines lie opposite one another.

17. A delivery apparatus according to Claim 15 or 16 wherein the second part of the first sheet guide unit has a sheet guide element arranged upstream in the feed direction extending across the format width and which is mounted swivellably in a rotary pivot.

18. A delivery apparatus according to Claim 17 wherein the sheet guide element has a plurality of comb-shaped arranged tines.

19. A delivery apparatus according to any one of Claims 15 to 18 wherein the drum has on its periphery circulating depressions and wherein at least the tines of the first part of the first sheet guide unit project 5 into these depressions.

20. A delivery apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A delivery apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A rotary sheet printing press including a delivery apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims.