JPH0859045A - Section feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To supply two groups of sections while keeping a horizontal position to a plurality of hoppers which have been arranged along the conveyance line of a gathering machine. CONSTITUTION: A plurality numbers of two groups of sections which have been elevatedly conveyed by a lift device 11 are carried out in the direction of a hopper 32 by a horizontal plate 31 that is horizontally moved, and directly above the hopper 32, the end parts of the two groups of sections are held from below together with the horizontal plate 31 by means of a retaining device 40. In the state a pressing plate 36 has been stopped, the horizontal plate 31 is reversely moved, and at the same time the horizontal plate 31 comes out from the two groups of the sections, and the retaining device 40 is removed, so that the two groups of folded sheets fall into the hopper 32 while keeping the horizontal position and are housed therein.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for feeding a signature group to each of a plurality of hoppers arranged along a conveying line of a collator in a bookbinding process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a mechanical automatic bookbinding process, the main step is to "fold" printed paper into a predetermined page order according to the printing mode, and then this signature is made into a page order by a collator. Stack them in a book and glue the back.

There are various types of signatures for about 8 to 64 pages, and there are various types depending on the type of book. For example, FIG. 10 shows a printed sheet 1 with an 8-page signature 2
It shows the process of folding.

That is, in FIG. 10 (a), the paper 1 is 8 on both sides.
A page is printed in a predetermined form. First, the folding line a is folded, and then the alternate long and short dash line b is folded and folded to form a signature 2 as shown in FIG. 10B. The end portion b of the main folded portion, which is the spine of the signature 2, is the portion bent along the alternate long and short dash line b, and is the spine of the book when bound. The end face opposite to the end face b of the main folding portion is defined as an open end face c.

As is well known, the collator is a device for stacking the signatures 2 in order of pages into one book.
1 to 9 pages after signature 2 for 8 pages
Stack 6 pages of signatures 2 and then page 17 to 2
The signatures 2 for four pages are piled up as if they were one.

Then, each signature 2 is supplied to the gathering machine through a predetermined hopper. That is, multiple hoppers are arranged along the transport line of the gathering machine,
This hopper is, for example, in order from the transport upstream of the collator,
A hopper for storing the signatures 2 for pages 1 to 8, a hopper for storing the signatures 2 for pages 9 to 16, and then a hopper for storing the signatures 2 for pages 17 to 24.

An opening is formed at the lower end of the hopper, and only the bottommost signatures 2 in the stacked hoppers are taken out through, for example, a suction cup or a gripping mechanism, and the gathering machine is operated at a predetermined timing. It is supplied to the transport line of, and the signatures 2 are piled up in the order of pages to be stacked in one book.

[0008]

However, the work of mechanically and automatically taking out only the lowermost signature 2 here from the hopper via the suction cup or the like is extremely delicate,
Unless the correct horizontal posture of the signature 2 is maintained, the signature 2 cannot be reliably taken out, or the posture of the signature 2 is bent when taken out, which is a major cause of missing pages.

For this reason, the stacking supply of the signatures 2 to the hopper was intended to be accurate by manual work, but it is extremely inefficient, and accidents such as missing pages due to human error still occur. There wasn't.

Further, a means for stacking a large number of signatures 2 on the hopper is also adopted in order to reduce the labor of the feeding work for stacking the signatures 2 on the hopper as much as possible. However, since the weight is heavy and a large load is applied to the lower end, when the signatures 2 are taken out one by one from the lower end, the gripping force of the gripping mechanism with respect to the signature 2 must be increased, and moreover, it will break. The accidents were constant.

Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, inconveniences and problems of the prior art and to meet the demand. For the hopper arranged along the conveying line of the gathering machine, An object of the present invention is to ensure that the stacked signatures can be automatically fed mechanically in a horizontal position.

[0012]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a signature supply device for supplying a signature group to each of a plurality of hoppers arranged along a conveying line of a collator. And a lift device provided with a stage plate for loading and lifting a large number of stacked signature groups and a part of the lifted and transported signature groups, and carrying out a predetermined number of copies from the lift apparatus. In addition, a horizontal transfer device provided with a horizontal plate that moves horizontally in the hopper direction and the end face in the transfer direction of the signature group, which is located at the end of the transfer of the horizontal transfer device and has been transferred directly above the hopper by the horizontal plate. A holding device that is provided on a part of the stopper that can contact and that holds the end of the signature group from the bottom at the same height level as the horizontal plate and the signature group that is placed on the horizontal plate that is located directly above the hopper. Vertically facing the end face And a pressing device having a pressing plate that presses the signature group in the carry-out direction and contacts the end surface of the signature group in the carrying-out direction with the stopper. In the stopped state, only the horizontal plate of the horizontal transport device moves backward in the direction of the lifting device, so that the holding of the signature group from below by the horizontal plate is released at the same time as the horizontal plate from the bottom of the signature group by the holding device. The configuration is characterized in that the holding is released.

Whether the holding device is composed of a piece of material which moves forward and backward with respect to the horizontal plate direction or a piece of material which vertically moves downward from the horizontal plate direction, the holding device is laterally arranged from the horizontal plate direction. It may be composed of a piece of material that can be horizontally reciprocally rotated, or any of them may be used.

The signature group to be placed on the stage plate of the lift device has a posture in which the end surface of the main folding part, which is the back portion of the signature group, is directed toward the hopper.

At a position facing the hopper side of the signature group that is lifted and conveyed by the lift device, a predetermined gap is formed in the signature group so that the horizontal plate of the horizontal conveying device can be inserted horizontally. At least a pair of pin members that enter between the upper and lower signatures and move relative to each other in the vertical direction, and an abutting plate that abuts and presses the open end surface of the signature group, which is opposite to the end surface of the main folding portion, are provided.

At the lower end of the lift device, at a position that is substantially horizontally opposed to the stage plate at the descending limit, a preliminary stage for mounting a large number of stacked signatures is fixed, and a folding stage on the preliminary stage is fixed. A pushing device for moving the group of tabs to the stage plate of the lift device is provided.

[0017]

With the above-mentioned structure, according to the signature feeder of the present invention, a predetermined amount of signatures are arranged along the transport line of the collator by the horizontal transport device while maintaining its horizontal posture. It can be conveyed to just above the hopper, and the signature group is held from below by the horizontal plate of the horizontal conveying device and the holding device just above the hopper, and the pressing plate of the pressing device moves the signature group on the horizontal plate. When only the horizontal plate moves backward in the direction of the lifting device with the pressing plate stopped pressing in the transport direction, the signature group mounted on the horizontal plate is disengaged from the horizontal plate and can be held from below. Although it will be released, at the same time, the holding device also releases the holding from below the signature group, so the signature group,
While maintaining a horizontal posture, it falls and is accurately stored in the hopper.

More specifically, when the signature group is conveyed by the horizontal plate to just above the hopper, the signature group on the horizontal plate is further pressed and slid in the conveying direction by the pressing plate of the pressing device, so that the signatures are folded. The end face in the carrying-out direction of the group contacts the stopper.

At this stage, the holding device provided at a part of the stopper holds the signature group together with the horizontal plate from below, but the signature group mounted on the horizontal plate is pressed. Since the plate is still pressed in the stopper direction, even if only the horizontal plate moves backward in the direction of the lifting device, the horizontal plate remains in the position immediately above the hopper.

With this signature group remaining at a position directly above the hopper, it is disengaged from the horizontal plate due to the reverse movement of the horizontal plate and is no longer held from below.
The holding is released from below the signature group.

Therefore, the holding device may have any structure as long as this operation is ensured, and even when the piece material is moved forward and backward in the horizontal plate direction at a predetermined timing, the holding device is vertically rotated downward from the horizontal plate direction. In either case, it can be achieved either by moving it or by horizontally reciprocating it horizontally from the horizontal plate direction.

The horizontal plate of the horizontal transport device is such that the signature group lifted and transported by the lift device is horizontally inserted from the hopper direction between predetermined upper and lower signatures of the signature group, and is moved backward in the hopper direction. Carry out. Therefore, when the signature group to be placed on the stage plate of the lift device is placed in a posture in which the end surface of the main folding section, which is the back of the signature group, is directed toward the hopper, a predetermined upper and lower signature section of the signature group is formed by the horizontal plate. Horizontal insertion in between is easily achieved.

However, in order to allow the horizontal plates to be inserted horizontally between the predetermined upper and lower signatures of the signature group, a gap in which the horizontal plates can be horizontally inserted is formed in advance in the signature group. Is desirable. Therefore, at the position facing the hopper side surface of the signature group that has been lifted and conveyed by the lift device, at least a pair of pin members that move between the upper and lower predetermined signatures and move vertically relative to each other, An abutting plate for abutting and pressing the open end face opposite to the end face of the main folding portion is provided.

That is, when the contact plate is in contact with the open end surface of the signature group to press the signature group and the pair of pin members is advanced from the end surface direction of the main folding part of the signature group, Since the contact plate presses the open end surface, the signature group will not be displaced due to this advance, and the pin material will smoothly enter between the signatures. Then, when at least one of the pair of pin members maintains the same position and the other rises, the other pin member that rises lifts the signature group above it, and one pin member lowers the signatures below it. Since the group is pressed down, a gap is formed in the signature group in which a horizontal plate can be inserted horizontally.

A preliminary stage for mounting a large number of stacked signatures is fixedly installed at the lower end of the lift device, and the signature group on the preliminary stage is pushed into the stage plate at the lower limit of the lift device. Move through the device to achieve smooth replenishment.

[0026]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. First, in FIG. 1, the lift device 11 moves the stage plate 14 up and down by a chain belt 13 or the like that travels via a predetermined power source 12 under computer control. A large number of signatures 2 stacked on top of each other are mounted with the back portion, which is the end face b of the main folding portion, facing the hopper 32, and rise in that state.

It should be noted that the signature group 2 has a bulky end surface b of the main folding portion.
Since the back part is mounted in a posture in which the back is directed toward the hopper 32, the bulkiness near the hopper 32 becomes high. In order to eliminate this imbalance, it is preferable that the upper surface of the stage plate 14 is inclined downward in the direction of the hopper 32 so that a substantially horizontal state can be maintained at least at the upper end of the signature group 2 mounted on the stage plate 14. (Eg FIG. 3). Also, FIG.
As is clear from the above, the stage plate 14 is composed of two plate members on the left and right, and a gap having a predetermined width is formed in the center.

At the lower end of the lift device 11 at a position facing the lower limit stage plate 14 substantially horizontally,
A preliminary stage 15 for mounting a large number of stacked signatures 2 is fixedly installed, and a pushing device 16 is provided from the stage plate 14 to the preliminary stage 15.

The pushing device 16 is for horizontally sliding a large number of signatures 2 stacked on the standby stage 15 to the stage plate 14 at the lower limit, as is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2. In addition, it is composed of a pair of side plates 17, a swing crank 18, a swing cylinder 19 operated by air, and the like.

Guide rails 17a are installed on both sides from the stage plate 14 to the preliminary stage 15,
Vertical side plates 17 are attached to the guide rails 17a via rollers 17b so that they can travel straight. That is, as is apparent from FIG. 1, the roller 17b axially protrudingly provided on the outer surface of the side plate 17 is provided with the guide rail 17 from above and below.
Attach to a. Therefore, the pair of side plates 17 are arranged in such a manner that the rear end in the direction of the stage plate 14 and the front end in the direction in which a large number of signatures 2 are replenished are opened. The holding plates 20 are hinged so as to project inward.

The holding plate 20 is pivoted by a hinge from a state in which it is in contact with the inner surface of the side plate 17 to a state in which it projects inward at a right angle to the side plate 17, and it is elastically bent in a direction projecting inward at a right angle. It is urged by a material (not shown) and normally maintains a state of projecting inward at a right angle as shown in the figure.

Therefore, when the group of waiting signatures 2 is pushed from the front ends of the side plates 17 into the space above the preliminary stage 15 between the side plates 17 with the end face b of the main folding part facing the stage plate 14 side. The holding plate 20 is pushed by the end face b of the main folding portion of the signature 2 group to be inserted, and rotates until it comes into contact with the inner surface of the side plate 17 against the biasing force of the ammunition material. After the pushing operation is completed, the signature group 2 has the spare stage 1
When it is pushed firmly into the upper part of the plate 5 and moved forward, it is projected and returned inward at a right angle due to the restoring force of the elastic material.

Further, between the lower limit stage plate 14 and the preliminary stage 15, a regulating rod 21 is arranged so as to be vertically movable via an elevating cylinder 22 operated by air. The regulation rod 21 is for raising the above-mentioned signatures 2 group before pushing it into the space of the upper surface of the preliminary stage 15 between the side plates 17, and on the preliminary stage 15, the main of each signature 2 of the signatures 2 group. The back part, which is the end face b of the folding part, comes into contact with the folding part 2
The pushing limit when pushing the group into the space is regulated.

Next, the oscillating crank 18 is pivotally supported below the middle stage between the stage plate 14 at the lower limit and the preliminary stage 15, and the upper end is provided between the stage plate 14 at the lower limit and the preliminary stage 15. It is configured to reciprocally swing by a swing cylinder 19 that moves forward and backward, and the upper end of the swing crank 18 is axially supported on the outer surface of the side plate 17 via a long hole 18a opened along the axial direction ( (Fig. 2).

Therefore, as described above, the group of waiting signatures 2 is pushed into the space of the upper surface of the preliminary stage 15 between the side plates 17, and the back portion which is the end surface b of the main folding portion of each signature 2 is raised. With the holding plate 20 in contact with the regulation rod 21 and the holding plate 20 protruding and returning inward at a right angle due to the restoring force of the elastic material, the stage plate 14 that has finished feeding the signature group 2 reaches the lower limit. If it descends, lift the control rod 21 up and down the cylinder 22
The swinging crank 18 is lowered by the swinging cylinder 19 from the preliminary stage 15 to the lower limit of the stage plate 1.
Swing in four directions (Fig. 2).

Along with the swing of the swing crank 18, both side plates 17 also move from the preliminary stage 15 toward the stage plate 14 at the descending limit in a form of linearly traveling on the guide rail 17a via the rollers 17b. Since the holding plate 20 projects inwardly at a right angle to the front end of the both side plates 17,
In the group of standby signatures 2 pushed into the inside, the open end surface c thereof is pushed by the holding plate 20 and the preliminary stage 1
5 is moved from the upper surface to the upper surface of the stage plate 14 at the lower limit.

As described above, since the preliminary stage 15 and the pushing device 16 are provided close to the lift device 11, the standby plate 2 can be quickly replenished to the stage plate 14 at the lower limit. , Work can be facilitated.

Of course, when the group of signatures 2 for standby is transferred to the stage plate 14 at the lower limit, the swinging crank 18 is swung back from the stage plate 14 at the lower limit in the direction of the preliminary stage 15, and the regulating rod is moved. 21 is moved up and returned, and the work of pushing in the next group of signatures 2 for standby is started.

Now, when the group of signatures 2 is placed on the stage plate 14, as shown in FIG. 3, the folded signatures 2 are stacked via the optical sensor 23 arranged above the lift device 11. The height of the entire group is measured, and the stage plate 14 is moved by computer control to about 1/3 of the height.
To rise. However, this 1/3 is the target signature 2
It is appropriately set according to the bulk and weight of the group, and is 1/4, 1
It may be / 5 or the like.

If approximately 1/3 of the signature group 2 is carried out by the horizontal plate 31 of the horizontal transfer device 30 described later,
The stage plate 14 is further raised by about 1/3 of this time, and this operation is repeated. However, when raising the last one-third of a minute, the stage plate 14 is moved to the horizontal plate 31 so that the horizontal transport device 30 can reliably carry it out to the lowest signature 2.
If the horizontal plate 31 rises to a higher position and enters the space below the center of the stage plate 14 composed of two plates, the stage plate 14 descends and the last signature group 2 is moved to the horizontal plate 31. When the last about 1/3 of this amount is carried out, the stage plate 14 is lowered and is controlled so as to be positioned at the lowest position at the beginning.

As described above, when the group of two signatures of the stage plate 14 is moved up by about 1/3 of the height width and the movement is stopped, the gap formed in the upper portion of the lift device 11 is formed. The device 24 forms a gap in the upper part of about 1/3 of the signature group 2. This gap is provided by the horizontal transport device
This is for enabling the horizontal plate 31 to be smoothly inserted when the folded two groups are carried out by the horizontal plate 31 of 0.

As shown in FIG. 4, the gap forming device 24 is formed horizontally above the lift device 11 and in a portion where about 1/3 of the signature group 2 on the stage plate 14 is elevated. At least a pair of pin members 26 provided near the hopper 32 at the upper end of the lifting device 11 provided near the movement standby space 25, and the anti-hopper 32 of the horizontal movement standby space 25.
The contact plate 27 can be closed at its side, and the auxiliary pin member 28 is attached to the lower end of the contact plate 27.

The contact plate 27 is axially supported at the upper end of the horizontal movement standby space 25 on the side opposite to the hopper 32, and
While it is moving upward, it is rotated upward as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 1, for example, and about 1/3 of the signature group 2 on the stage plate 14 is placed in the horizontal movement standby space 25. This allows for a smooth ascended position without collision.

At the lower end of the outer surface of the contact plate 27, the auxiliary pin member 2 vertically moved by the cylinder 29 operated by air is used.
8 is mounted so as to project downward, and the tip of this auxiliary pin member 28 is bent at a right angle to the horizontal movement standby space 25 direction.

At the upper end of the lift device 11, a hopper 32 is provided.
As shown in the plan view of FIG. 4 (a), the pair of pin members 26 located on the side is the upper end about 1/3 of the folded signature group 2 and the end face b of the main folding part of each signature signature 2. And are located horizontally with respect to the back portion, and in the illustrated embodiment, they have a round needle shape with a sharpened tip. However, this shape should be changed depending on the quality of the signature 2, and may be a flat plate shape with a sharpened tip.

The operation of the pair of pin members 26 is performed by a cylinder (not shown) operated by air, which is approximately 1 / th of the upper part of the signature group 2.
Go to about 3 parts (side view of Fig. 4 (b)), and sign 2
Of the main folding portion, which is the end face b of the main folding portion, simultaneously penetrates into the spaces between the signatures 2, and the one pin member 26a maintains the same position, while the other pin member 26b is similarly moved by a cylinder (not shown). , Is slightly elevated while being stuck in the signature 2 (side view of FIG. 4 (c)).

With the above-described structure, the stage plate 14 is raised.
Is stopped at a predetermined position in the horizontal movement standby space 25, the contact plate 27 moves the auxiliary pin member 28 as shown by the solid line in FIG.
Is rotated to the lower limit, so that the auxiliary pin member 28 includes the pair of pin members 26 described above.
Almost at the same time as it advances in the group direction and pierces the back of the signature 2, it pierces the opening end face c of the signature 2, and the contact plate 27 hits the entire height range of the opening end face c of the signature 2 group. Touch and hold (Fig. 4 (b)).

On the other hand, the pair of pin members 26 advances in the direction of the group of signatures 2 and pierces the end face b of the main folding portion of the signature 2 to enter between the signatures 2. At the time of this entry, the group of signatures 2 The contact plate 27 prevents the contact end plate 27 from being displaced by being pushed by the pair of pin members 26.
The entire height range of is abutted and pressed. Then, at the same time that the other pin material 26b mentioned above is slightly raised while piercing the signature 2, the auxiliary pin material 28 is also slightly elevated by the cylinder 29 while piercing the opening end face c of the signature 2 (FIG. 4 (c)). ).

That is, the pin material 26b and the auxiliary pin material 28 simultaneously rise to lift the signature group 2 above it, and the one pin material 26a presses the signature groups 2 below it. In addition, a gap at a predetermined portion is formed in the signature group 2. It should be noted that the timings of the descending rotation operation of the contact plate 27, the advancing operation of the pair of pin members 26, and the simultaneous ascending operation of the pin member 26b and the auxiliary pin member 28 are all controlled by the computer.

The gap between the signature groups 2 is mainly formed by pressing the pair of pin members 26 and the contact plate 27, and the auxiliary pin member 28 prevents the lower portion of the lifted signature groups 2 from hanging downward. There is a strong connotation for doing.

Further, the pin members 26 are not limited to a pair, and one pin member 26a having a downward pressing function and the other pin member 2 having an ascending function.
A plurality of 6b may be provided for each.

Next, the horizontal transfer device 30 has its horizontal plate 3
1 from the lift device 11 to just above the hopper 32,
The machine is reciprocally moved horizontally by a chain belt or the like that runs through a predetermined power source (not shown) under computer control. The horizontal plate 31 has a certain width, and the tip facing the lift device 11 is It has a narrow spatula shape and can carry a large number of stacked signature groups 2.

The horizontal plate 31 of the horizontal conveying device 30 is arranged such that the signatures 2 group on the stage plate 14 are conveyed upward by the lift device 11 so as to face each other, and the gap forming device 24 mainly uses the pair of pin members 26 to form the signatures 2 group. If a gap is formed in the predetermined part of, move horizontally to the horizontal movement standby space 25,
It is horizontally inserted between the signatures 2 above and below the gap formed in the group of signatures 2.

The horizontal plate 31 is provided with the signature 2 of the formed gap.
When a little enters, the pair of pin members 26 that have finished the role of forming the gap descends and retreats to return to the original position, and when the horizontal plate 31 further enters a predetermined amount, the horizontal plate 31 is temporarily stopped and the remaining signatures 2 The stage plate 14 on which the group has been mounted is slightly lowered, and the horizontal plate 31 again enters a predetermined amount.

In order to make the entry of the horizontal plate 31 smoother, the horizontal plate 31 is formed into a spatula shape with a narrow tip, and the entire surface is treated with Teflon to make it slippery. The remaining signatures 2 due to a slight drop in the
Avoid frictional resistance with the upper surface of the group.

In the horizontal movement standby space 25, the contact plate 27 is closed until the horizontal plate 31 enters and the group of signatures 2 is surely placed on the horizontal plate 31. , The folding plate 2 is brought into contact with the opening end surface c of the folding plate 2 to form the horizontal plate 31.
The two groups of signatures are held so that they will not be displaced due to the entry of.

When the group of signatures 2 is surely placed on the horizontal plate 31, the contact plate 27 is opened and pivotally returned to the original direction, and the auxiliary pin material 28 is also lowered to the original position, so that the horizontal transfer device is provided. The horizontal plate 31 of 30 carries out the signature group 2 from the horizontal movement standby space 25 and conveys it while maintaining the horizontal posture in the direction of the hopper 32. Incidentally, when the last group of signatures 2 on the stage plate 14 is carried out by the horizontal plate 31, it is needless to form a gap by the gap forming device 24, and it is constituted by two sheets as described above. The value between the two stage plates 14 is set so that the horizontal plate 31 can enter from below the gap formed in the center of the stage plate 14.

Now, the hopper 32 is the horizontal transfer device 30.
Located just below the end of the conveyor, the conveyor line 33 of the gathering machine
It is arranged along with, but at the upper end of the hopper 32,
A photoelectric tube sensor 34 for detecting whether or not the signatures 2 group conveyed in the hopper 32 remain is mounted.

That is, when the group of signatures 2 conveyed in the hopper 32 in the previous operation remains, and the upper end thereof is positioned higher than the lower end of the horizontal plate 31, the horizontal plate 31 is folded.
If the signature group 2 remains in the hopper 32 and is higher than the height level of the horizontal plate 31, this is detected and the horizontal plate 31 is collided.
Computer is controlled so that the movement of the paper is stopped immediately before reaching the hopper 32, and the signatures 2 are sequentially transferred to the transfer line 3
When the group of signatures 2 is taken out and the group of signatures 2 descends and the upper end of the group of signatures 2 reaches a height level lower than the lower end of the horizontal plate 31, the movement of the horizontal plate 31 is restarted.

Next, the pressing device 35 is the horizontal transfer device 30.
Of the pressing plate 36, which is disposed above the substantially middle portion of the
Is lowered by the upper and lower cylinders 37 from above the horizontal transport device 30 into the horizontal transport device 30, or vice versa.
Further, the control belt 38 reciprocates in the horizontal transport device 30, and the pressing plate 36 moves while maintaining a vertical posture orthogonal to the horizontal plate 31.

As described above, when the horizontal plate 31 of the horizontal transfer device 30 transfers and stops the group of signatures 2 just above the hopper 32, the pressing plate 36 of the pressing device 35 moves the horizontal transfer device 30 by the vertical cylinder 37. From above the horizontal transport device 30 and moves in the direction of the stopped horizontal plate 31 while maintaining a vertical posture, and the signatures 2 placed on the horizontal plate 31
Abutting on the end face of the group in the non-delivery direction, the group of signatures 2 is placed on the horizontal plate 31.
Press further on.

A pair of plate-shaped stoppers 39 are arranged at the end of the horizontal transfer device 30. The pair of signatures 2 transferred directly above the hopper 32 by the horizontal plate 31 are the pressing plates described above. When it is further pressed by the action of 36, both sides of the end face b in the carrying-out direction which is the end face b of the main folding part of the group of signatures 2 come into contact with this stopper 39, and the pressing action of the pressing plate 36 is stopped (FIG. 6).

Stopper 3 vertically facing the horizontal plate 31
A holding device 40 is provided in a part of 9 and this holding device 40 has a piece material 41 composed of a pin, a plate, a claw, a rod, and the like. 5) as shown in the side view of FIG. 5B, the structure may be moved forward and backward with respect to the horizontal plate 31 direction, or as shown in the side view of FIG. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 5 (c), it may be configured to horizontally reciprocate from the horizontal plate direction to the horizontal direction, for example, a predetermined drive is achieved via an air cylinder or the like.

As can be seen from the plan view shown in FIG. 6, the piece 41 of the holding device 40 facing the horizontal plate 31 is pushed by the pressing plate 36 in the embodiment shown in FIG.
1. A pair of signatures is provided so as to face the lower surface of both sides of the end face in the carrying-out direction which is the end face b of the main folding part of the group of signatures 2 slightly protruding from the top, and when the group of signatures 2 contacts the stopper 39, the horizontal plate The two sides of the main folding part end face b of the folded signature group 2 that moves forward in the direction of 31 are held from below at a level substantially the same as the horizontal plate 31 (side view shown in FIG. 7). .

Next, when only the horizontal plate 31 moves backward in the direction of the lifting device 11 with the pressing plate 36 pressing and stopping the group of signatures 2, the pressing plate 36 remains in contact with the group of signatures 2. Therefore, the horizontal plate 31 is relatively displaced with respect to the signature group 2, and the signature group 2 is left directly above the hopper 32, and is further removed from the signature group 2 by the movement of the horizontal plate 31. The holding of the signatures 2 from the lower side by the plate 31 is released.

The piece 41 of the holding device 40 is the horizontal plate 3
1 is computer-controlled so as to retreat at the same time as releasing the holding of the signature group 2 from below, so that the signature group 2 is, as can be seen from the plane shown in FIG. 8 and the side surface shown in FIG. Since neither the horizontal plate 31 nor the piece 41 is held, it is dropped and stored in the hopper 32 while maintaining the horizontal posture as a whole.

In the backward control of the piece 41, for example, the sensor detects a state in which the horizontal plate 31 is moved backward by a certain amount by which the group of signatures 2 comes off, and the holding is released by sending the detection signal to the computer.

When the group of signatures 2 is stored in the hopper 32, the falling width thereof is preferably as small as possible from the viewpoint of maintaining the horizontal posture of the group of signatures 2.
Therefore, at the lower end of the hopper 32, the signatures 2 are taken out one by one to the conveying line 33 of the collator through the suction cup 42 and the gripping mechanism 43, and the group of signatures 2 in the hopper 32 is gradually lowered. , The height level of the upper end is the horizontal plate 31
From the viewpoint that the horizontal plate 31 on which the signature group 2 is mounted is located just above the hopper 32 when it becomes lower than the lower end of the hopper 32, it is mounted on the upper end of the hopper 32 as described above. The photoelectric cell sensor 34 will function.

When the operation of storing the group of signatures 2 in the hopper 32 is completed, the pressing plate 36 of the pressing device 35 moves and returns to almost the central portion in the horizontal conveying device 30, and is further moved upward by the vertical cylinder 37. This prevents the horizontal plate 31 on which the signature group 2 is mounted from being raised in the next operation, from obstructing the transport operation.

[0070]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION Since the present invention is constructed as described above, a predetermined amount of signatures can be placed right above the hopper arranged along the conveying line of the gathering machine while maintaining its horizontal posture. Just above the hopper, it can be transported, and is held from below by the horizontal plate and the holding device of the horizontal transport device, and by the backward movement of only the horizontal plate in the direction of the lifting device, the horizontal plate and the holding device hold the signature group. Since they are released at the same time, the signature group can be accurately stored in the hopper while maintaining the horizontal posture.

The piece of material of the holding device is moved forward and backward in the horizontal plate direction at predetermined timing, or vertically rotated downward from the horizontal plate direction, or horizontally reciprocally rotated horizontally from the horizontal plate direction. This makes it possible to securely hold the signature group from below and drop it in the hopper.

In the signature group of the lift device, a gap is surely formed at a predetermined position by the gap forming device, so that the horizontal plate of the horizontal transport device can easily and reliably make a predetermined gap between the upper and lower signatures from this gap. Therefore, the signature group of the lift device can be reliably carried out.

Since a preliminary stage for replenishing the signature group and a pushing device are arranged near the lift device, continuous work is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a signature supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a lift device portion.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a lift device portion.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a gap forming device, (a) is a plan view immediately before operation, (b) is a side view immediately after a pin material enters,
(C) is a side view of a state in which the pin material has entered and moved upward to form a gap.

FIG. 5 shows each embodiment of the holding device, (a),
(B) is a side view and (c) is a plan view.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which a group of signatures has been conveyed right above a hopper.

FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a group of signatures immediately before they are stored in a hopper.

9 is a side view of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which printed sheets are folded.

[Explanation of symbols]

2; signature, 11; lift device, 14; stage plate, 1
5; preliminary stage, 16; pushing device, 17; side plate,
20; holding plate, 24; gap forming device, 25; horizontal movement standby space, 26; pin material, 27; contact plate, 30; horizontal transfer device, 31; horizontal plate, 32; hopper, 33; collator Conveying line, 35; Pressing device, 36; Pressing plate, 39;
Stopper, 40; holding device, 41; piece material.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A signature supply device for supplying a signature group to each of a plurality of hoppers (32) arranged along a conveying line (33) of a collator, and comprising a large number of stacked signatures. A stage plate (1) for mounting and raising a group of signatures (2)
4) provided with the lift device (11) and a part of the folded and conveyed signatures (2) group, a predetermined number of copies are carried out from the lift device (11), and the hopper (3)
A horizontal transfer device (30) provided with a horizontal plate (31) that moves horizontally in the direction (2), and a transfer end of the horizontal transfer device (30), and the hopper (32) is positioned by the horizontal plate (31). The signature (2) is provided at a part of the stopper (39) which can be brought into contact with the end face of the signature (2) group conveyed just above the discharge direction in the discharge direction, and is at the same height level as the horizontal plate (31).
A holding device (40) for holding the end of the group from below, and the horizontal plate (31) positioned directly above the hopper (32).
The end faces of the signatures (2) group placed on the counter are brought into vertical contact with the end faces of the signatures (2) to push the signatures (2) group in the discharge direction, and the end faces of the signatures (2) group in the discharge direction are described above. Stopper (3
9) A pressing device (3) having a pressing plate (36) to be brought into contact with
5), and with the pressing plate (36) stopped pressing, only the horizontal plate (31) moves backward in the direction of the lift device (11), so that folding by the horizontal plate (31) A signature supply device, characterized in that, simultaneously with releasing the holding of the signature group (2) from below, the retention of the signature group (2) from below by the retaining device (40) is released. 2. The signature feeder according to claim 1, wherein the holding device (40) is composed of a piece material (41) that moves forward and backward with respect to the horizontal plate (31) direction. 3. The signature feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the holding device (40) is composed of a piece member (41) which is vertically rotated downward from the horizontal plate (31) direction. 4. The signature feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the holding device (40) is constituted by a piece member (41) that horizontally reciprocates horizontally from the horizontal plate (31) direction. 5. A group of signatures (2) to be mounted on a stage plate of a lift device (11), and a main folding end surface (b) which is a back portion of the signatures (2) group is directed toward a hopper (32). The signature supply device according to claim 1, 2 or 3 or 4, which is in an oriented posture. 6. A position facing a hopper (32) side of a group of signatures (2) that has been lifted and conveyed by a lift device (11),
At least a pair of pin members (26) that enter between predetermined upper and lower signatures (2) and relatively move up and down, and the signature (2)
And a contact plate (27) for contacting and pressing the open end surface (c) opposite to the end surface (b) of the main folding portion of the group, and with the vertical relative movement of the pin member (26), The signature feeder according to claim 1, 2 or 3 or 4 or 5, wherein a horizontal plate (31) is formed in the signature group so that a horizontal plate (31) can be inserted horizontally. 7. At the lower end of the lift device (11),
A preliminary stage (15) on which a large number of stacked signatures (2) are mounted is fixedly installed at a position substantially horizontally facing the stage plate (14) at the lower limit, and the signatures on the preliminary stage (15) are fixed. 7. The signature feeding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pushing device (16) for moving a group to the stage plate (14).