JP2712992B2 - Signature sorting device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a signature sorting apparatus for sorting a predetermined number of signatures from a bundle of signatures when the bookbinding process proceeds from the preparation process to the main process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a device shown in FIG. 6 is known as a device for supplying a predetermined number of signatures to a signature storage section of a bookbinding machine.

FIG. 6 shows a signature feeder 3 disposed in the vicinity of a signature storage unit 2 of a bookbinding machine 1. The signature feeder 3 is a table for conveying a signature 4 in an upright state. 5
And an inclined portion 6 for supplying the signature 4 on the table 5
And a supply unit 7 that mounts the signature 4 on the inclined part 6 so as to supply the signature 4 to the inclined part 6, and a conveyor belt 8 is provided on the inclined part 6 from the supply part 7. . Inclined part 6
A roller 9 for pressing the signature 4 on the belt 8 toward the inclined portion 6 is provided at a position opposite to the roller 9.

The signature 4 on the belt 8 of the supply unit 7 is positioned such that the propeller side is located at the front end side in the traveling direction, the fold side is located at the rear, and the signatures 4 are overlapped with each other being shifted from each other, and are inclined from the supply unit 7. When the belt 8 moves to the section 6, the signatures 4 are erected along the vertical direction by the pressing force of the rollers 9, and are erected and aligned in the table 5 with the signatures 4 partly separated.

However, when the signatures 4 are supplied to the bookbinding machine 1 by the signature feeder 3, there are the following disadvantages. That is, a thin signature 4, a signature 4 with a low stiffness, or a signature 4 with a high surface friction coefficient may be rubbed by the pressing force of the roller 9,
The signature 4 on the table 5 that has been aligned is pushed by the signature 4 supplied as a succeeding one, and the alignment is disturbed. This is a drawback that the phenomenon that the sheet is apt to occur easily occurs, so that the signature feeder 3 cannot be used, which has been a serious problem.

As an example of a solution to the above problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-64938 discloses an invention entitled "Method and Apparatus for Supplying Signatures to a Signature Punching Machine". According to the invention described above, `` Laminate signatures laid on the table lifter, raise the table lifter, detect the upper surface of the signature by the photoelectric tube, and set the table when the upper surface of the signature is located at the predetermined position. Stop the lifter, insert the sorting pin into the signature from the corner of the signature, lower the table lifter slightly to form a sorting gap in the signature stack, and insert the conveyor in the gap I do. "

However, the above-mentioned invention has the following problems. That is, when inserting a sorting pin into a signature bundle, breaking the spine of the signature or pushing out the signature in the pressing direction, and placing the signature on the table lifter horizontally That is, the fold side is high and the pallet side is low, so that a large number of signatures cannot be stacked, and it is difficult to perform a large amount of sorting processing.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has the following objects. (A) A predetermined number of signatures can be sorted from the bundle of signatures regardless of the characteristics of the signatures. However, the various characteristics of the signature include, for example, the magnitude of the thickness, the sinterability, and the coefficient of friction of the surface. (B) The signature is not damaged. (C) A large number of signatures can be processed in the signature sorting operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a signature sorting apparatus capable of all of the above (a) to (c).

[0009]

Means provided by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems include a signature sorting apparatus for sorting a predetermined number of signatures from a bundle of signatures, with the fold side facing down. A table with a bundle of signatures mounted thereon, which can be transported in the thickness direction thereof, and a table having an opening penetrated through the moving area of the bundle of signatures, and an axis rotatably pivotally line-symmetrically on the back side of the table. A plurality of rotating pieces whose tip ends are inserted between the bundle of signatures on the opening when rotated upward, and which are vertically movably disposed below the opening; Is in contact with the lower end surface of a position that is a line of symmetry of the rotating piece, and has a sorting plate inserted through the opening from below the table while dividing the rotating piece into both sides when ascending. A signature sorting apparatus characterized in that

The sorting plate preferably has a flat tip so that the signature is hard to be damaged. The contour is curved or polygonal, the corners are curved or chamfered. It is effective to walk.

[0011]

According to the signature sorting apparatus of the present invention, the bundle of signatures is stacked in a horizontal or diagonal direction with each signature standing on a table. When the signature is moved in the thickness direction of the bundle and the sorting plate is lifted, the two rotating pieces respectively rotate symmetrically, and the The upper part protrudes from the opening, and the upper part of each turning piece forms a gap between the signatures. Furthermore, when the sorting plate is raised, the two rotating pieces are pushed together and the sorting plate is inserted into the sorted bundle of signatures, so that the sorting of the signatures can be performed accurately regardless of the signature characteristics. It does not damage the signature.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A signature sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show schematic diagrams of a signature sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In each of the signatures 11, the fold side (back side) is in contact with the table 10 and is on the propeller side (an end opposite to the fold side).
Is loaded on the table 10 in a state of being upright. The signatures 11 on the table 10 are moved to the left in the drawing along the surface of the table 10 in a state of standing upright as a bundle by the sliding support plate 10a. A penetrating opening 12 is formed in the surface of the table 10 in the area where the support plate 10a slides, and the signature 11 is supported between the opening 12 and the support plate 10a in an upright state. A support position P1 is provided for standby.

The support plate 10a can move further from the support position P1 to the left in the figure, and stops at the sorting amount setting position P2. Sorting amount setting position P where the support plate 10a is at the stop position.
2, the opening 12 and the support plate 10a
And a predetermined number of signatures 11 are arranged between them. At the support position P1 and the sorting amount setting position P2, detection means (for example, a contact switch, a photoelectric conversion means, etc.) for detecting that the support plate 10a has reached each position is provided. In the vicinity of the slide area of the support plate 10a, a signature conveying arm (not shown in the present specification) is on standby. The arm is for gripping a predetermined number of signatures 11 located between the support plate 10a and the opening 12 and transporting the signatures 11 to the signature storage unit of the bookbinding machine.

Below the table 10, a table 10
A separate frame 13 is provided, and the frame 13 is further provided with bearings 14 and 14. A screw rod 15 having a screw is rotatably connected to a portion located between the pair of bearings 14.
The lower end of the screw rod 15 is provided with a coupling 17.
Is connected to the output shaft of the motor 18 via the. A slider 16 that advances and retreats toward the table 10 by rotation of the motor 18 and the screw rod 15 is screwed to a screw portion of the screw rod 15. Slider 1
The lower end of a flat sorting plate 19 extending toward the opening 12 of the table 10 is screwed to 6.

The sorting plate 19 moves up and down toward the opening 12 of the table 10 together with the operation of the slider 16, so that the leading end 19 a of the sorting plate 19 can protrude from the opening 12. The leading end portion 19a of the sorting plate 19 has a flat plate shape, and as shown in FIG. 2, when viewed from a row of signature bundles, has a rounded shape so as not to damage the signature. However, as shown in FIG. 3, when viewed from the side of the row of signature bundles, it is formed to have an acute cross-sectional shape so as to be easily inserted between the signatures. That is, when the leading end portion 19a protrudes from the opening portion 12, it is smoothly inserted between the signatures 11 and 11, and the signature is hardly damaged.

On the back side of the opening 12 of the table 10, a pair of frames 20 project from a center line in the vertical direction of the sorting plate 19 as a symmetric axis. 21 is rotatably supported by a shaft. The tip 21a of the pivot piece 21 has an acute cross section, and is arranged in a line-symmetrical manner.
1 and 21 are installed such that their respective tips 21a and 21a alternately overlap. Further, the tip 19a of the sorting plate 19 is slidably in contact with the pair of rotating pieces 21 and 21.

The lower ends 21b, 2 of the rotating pieces 21, 21
1b is supported so that it can freely rotate about hinge pins 22, 22 fitted in the frames 20, 20, respectively. The turning radius is determined so as to satisfy the following mechanism. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the turning pieces 21, 21 are rotated about the hinge pins 22, 22 while being pushed up by the tip 19 a of the sorting plate 19, and the signature transfer surface on the table 10 is moved. The tips 21a, 21a are aligned with each other at the same height as that of the table 10, and when the rotation operation further proceeds, the tips 21a, 21a protrude from the upper surface of the table 10. The sorting plate 19 penetrates between the rotating pieces 21 and 21 while pushing up the rotating pieces 21 and 21 at the leading end 19 a while rotating the rotating pieces 21 and 21 to a predetermined angle, and is inserted between the bundles of the signatures 11 on the table 10. Project as much as possible. In order to perform the above operation, the sorting plate 19 is supported at a distant position so as not to be in the area of the locus of vertical movement.

The E-shaped retaining ring 23 is fitted on the hinge pin 22, and the rotating piece 21 and the hinge pin 22 are fixed so as not to move in the axial direction. Reference numeral 24 denotes a washer interposed between the E-shaped retaining ring 23 and the frame 20, between the frame 20 and the rotating piece 21, and between the rotating piece 21 and the E-shaped retaining ring 23.

Next, the operation of the signature sorting apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.

First, a large number of signatures 11 are mounted on the signature transfer surface on the table 10 in a state where the fold side is down and the prop side is up. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the slider 16 is located in the vicinity of the bearing 14 below, and the leading end 19 a of the sorting plate 19 is waiting below the opening 12 and the rotating piece 21. , 21 tip 2
It is in a state of being abutted near 1a and 21a. In this state, the rotating pieces 21, 21, and their own weights are supported by the sorting plate 19, and the tip 2 of the rotating pieces 21, 21 are
1 a, 21 a are located at positions far from the frames 20, 20, and the tips 21 a, 21 a of the rotating pieces 21, 21 do not protrude from the opening 12.

The signature 11 moves to the left in the figure while being supported by the support plate 10a. When the left support plate 10a reaches the sorting amount setting position P2 from the support position P1, the interval between the left support plate 10a and the opening 12 becomes a predetermined interval, and a predetermined number of signatures are provided between the left support plate 10a and the opening 12. There are eleven. At this time, the motor 18 rotates to raise the slider 16 and raise the sorting plate 19 in response to an output signal from the detecting means for detecting that the left support plate 10a has reached the sorting amount setting position P2.

As the sorting plate 19 rises, the sorting plate 19
Of the rotating pieces 21, 21.
1a is pushed up, and the rotating pieces 21
It rotates in the direction approaching zero. Tip 21 of rotating piece 21
By this rotation, a and 21a project from the opening 12 to the signature transfer surface on the table 10. Since the tip portions 21a, 21a of the rotating pieces 21, 21 have a sharp cross section, they enter between the folds of the signatures 11, 11 located on the opening 12.

The rotating pieces 21, 21 further rotate in opposite directions to form a sorting gap between the bundle of signatures 11 held at the position of the opening 12. At this time, air enters between the signatures 11 and 11, and the adjacent signatures 11 and 11 are easily sorted. Of course, signature 1
Since the ridge line portion on the fold side of 1 is sharpened by the pressing process, the rotating pieces 21 and 21 rotate,
The turning pieces 21, 21 can enter between the adjacent signatures 11, 11 very reliably and easily.

The turning piece 2 moves with respect to the projecting path of the sorting plate 19.
Since the rotation centers of the rotary members 1 and 21 are shifted, when the slider 16 further moves up to raise the sorting plate 19, the rotating pieces 2
1 and 21 are further rotated, and the tip 19a penetrates between the rotating pieces 21 while sliding on the tip 21a of the rotating pieces 21 and 21.

When the slider 16 is further raised after the sorting plate 19 has penetrated between the rotating pieces 21, 21, the sorting plate 19 enters between the bundles of the signatures 11 located on the opening 12, and The upper signatures 11, 11 are separated. At this time, the sorting plate 19 allows the rotating pieces 21, 21 to allow air to enter between the signatures 11, 11, so that the adjacent signatures 11, 1, 1
As they enter each other after they are easily separated from each other, the signatures are not damaged.

The sorting plate 19 is attached to the signature 11 on the opening 12,
11 and the sorting is completed, the arm grips the bundle of the signatures 11 in the portion sorted between the sorting plate 19 and the left support plate 10a from the thickness direction and binds to the bookbinding machine. Transported to the storage unit.

[0028]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a signature sorting apparatus capable of achieving the above-mentioned object, that is, enabling the following. In other words, a large number of signatures can be loaded and prepared on the table, and a large number of signatures can be sorted. At the time of sorting, the sheets are positioned above the opening by the action of the sorting plate and the rotating piece. A gap is formed by dividing the signature into two, and the rotating plate is used to widen the gap and raise and insert the partition plate, so that the signatures can be sorted reliably and easily regardless of the characteristics of the signature. Thus, a signature sorting apparatus that does not damage the signature can be provided.

[0029]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing an embodiment of a signature sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of the vicinity of the rotating pieces 21 and the sorting plate 19 of FIG. 1 as viewed from the right side in the figure.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of FIG. 1 before the rotary pieces 21 and 21 and the sorting plate 19 are sorted by signature.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory view showing a state where the sorting plate 19 of FIG. 1 is being inserted between signatures.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of a state in which the sorting plate 19 of FIG. 1 is further inserted between the signatures.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an example of a conventional signature supply device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Table 10a ... Support plate 10b ... Support plate 11 ... Signature 12 ... Opening 13 ... Frame 14 ... Bearing 15 ... Screw rod 16 ... Slider 17 Coupling 18 Motor 19 Sorting plate 19a Tip (sorting plate 19) 20 Frame 21 Rotating piece 21a Tip (rotating piece) 21b: Lower end (rotating piece) 22: Hinge pin 23: E-shaped retaining ring P1: Support position P2: Sorting amount setting position

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A signature sorting apparatus for sorting a predetermined number of signatures from a bundle of signatures, wherein the bundle of signatures mounted with the fold side down can be transferred in the thickness direction. A table having an opening penetrated through the movement area of the bundle, and a table supported by a shaft on the back side of the table so as to be rotatable in a line-symmetrical manner. A plurality of turning pieces inserted between the bundles of signatures, and are arranged movably up and down below the opening, and the leading end portion is in contact with the lower end surface at a position that is a symmetrical line of the turning pieces, A sorting plate which is inserted through the opening from below the table while dividing the rotating piece into both sides when ascending.