WO1994021101A2

WO1994021101A2 - Automatic sheet dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO1994021101A2
Application number: PCT/EP1994/000737
Authority: WO
Inventors: Friedrich LÜLLAU; Rolf LÜLLAU
Original assignee: Basys Gmbh
Priority date: 1993-03-18
Filing date: 1994-03-10
Publication date: 1994-09-29
Also published as: WO1994021101A3; DE4308620C2; DE4308620A1

Abstract

A device for cutting paper from rolls of paper or the like into individual sheets has a paper supply drive and a cutting unit (33) for cutting the supplied paper. A guiding system controls the drives (15, 16, 17) depending on the drawn paper. In a process for synchronously feeding paper from rolls of paper or the like from a sheet dispenser to the feeding chute of a copying machine (2), the sheet dispenser (4) and the copying machine (2) are coupled to each other by the paper itself, since the paper is fed depending on the traction exercised on the paper.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Automatic sheet dispenser

The invention relates to a device for separating individual sheets of paper or the like wound up into rolls with a drive for paper feed and a separating unit for cutting supplied paper, and a method for simultaneously conveying paper or the like wound up into rolls from a sheet dispenser into the feed shaft of a copying machine .

Such a device is known for example from German utility model 90 03 333. Such sheet dispensers are used in reprographic companies to supplement large format copiers and have the purpose of providing copy material in a size that corresponds to the format required in each case. The sheet dispenser automates the pulling and measuring of the required paper length from the roll and separates the paper. In the known device, several rolls are combined to form a common roll magazine, so that different material qualities and widths are also available. The sheets removed from the sheet dispenser are manually fed to the large format copier or a contact copier.

In addition, large format copiers of the lower and middle performance class are known, in which the paper required for the copy is automatically drawn off from just one roll and cut off in the same cycle during the copying process. These copiers thus avoid the manual transfer of the Copy material from the sheet dispenser into the large format copier. Some large format copiers of this type, however, have to do without the convenience of an automatic copy paper feed, since there is no electronic interface for synchronization. In addition, it is perceived as a disadvantage that only one type of copy material can be used in the existing automatic sheet dispensers of the known type and that different copy material widths or qualities are therefore not freely selectable.

The object of the invention is to provide an automatic sheet dispenser and a method for coupling between the automatic sheet dispenser and large format copiers, which makes it possible to easily equip large format copiers of different types with an automatic copy material feed. In addition, the selection of different types of copy material should be possible.

In a device of the generic type, this object is achieved in that it has a tracking control which is designed to act on the drives as a function of the paper being removed. Since this results in a mechanical coupling between the copying machine and the sheet dispenser via the paper, copiers can be easily retrofitted with the sheet dispenser. An electrical coupling between the two devices is not necessary. The paper that the copier removes is automatically fed by the sheet dispenser. A complex adaptation of electronic interfaces can be avoided. To generate a signal for tracking the drawn-off paper, it has proven particularly useful if the device has a paper guide which is formed in a region forming the paper to form a loop, and at least one sensor which detects the loop is provided and is designed to act on the drive . Due to the formation of loops, a buffering between the withdrawn material and the tracking material is possible, which compensates for inertia-related differences between the withdrawal speed and the tracking speed. At the same time, the length of the paper loop can be used as a measurement variable to control the drives as a return.

A structurally advantageous arrangement of the loop in the device results from the fact that the loop is arranged in front of the separation unit in the paper feed direction.

It is sufficient if the drive has at least two different paper feed speeds. The higher speed must exceed the take-off speed of the copier, while the lower feed speed must be below the take-off speed of the copier. Depending on the shape of the loop or its tendency to enlarge or reduce, it is sufficient if the drive is operated at one of the two speeds.

A paper guide can advantageously be used to monitor the loop, in which the paper guide is leading on both sides with a fixed and a variable guide is trained. The portable guide signals the condition of the paper loop, while the fixed one determines the initial length of the loop. It is provided that the sensor is designed as a movable guide on which light barriers, in particular two light barriers, are preferably provided for monitoring the length of the loop.

The leading edge of the paper passes through the guide without interference if the portable guide is designed as a sheet with a preferably serrated transition to a fixed guide.

It is provided that the paper has a drive which is designed as a pair of drive rollers.

If the drive is assigned an end edge paper sensor, the drive can be stopped by pulling back the paper when it reaches a certain position. In this way, the same starting point is always created for a new funding process.

The design that the drive is assigned a paper conveyor length measuring device with an operative connection to the control, the controller having a storage device for a paper length value and a comparison device for comparing a conveyed paper length with the stored value, is used to create fixed paper formats. Certain dimensions can be entered into the storage device. After the storage value has been reached, a signal for cutting the paper is generated in the control system. Different paper qualities can be provided in one device if a plurality of drives which convey onto a common paper guide, preferably one above the other, are arranged. By arranging the rollers one above the other, the sheet dispenser can be built in a particularly space-saving manner. It takes up little floor space.

The start signal for the sheet dispenser can be generated automatically in that a template sensor for signaling a template and preferably its end edge is provided, which has an operative connection to the drive. When the end edge of the document is signaled, cutting of the donated paper can also be initiated. The control can be given a value that indicates the relative position of the cut edge in relation to the signaled end edge of the original. The cut can then be carried out at a later time or after conversion, taking the conveying speed into account.

The fact that a control is provided which feeds paper at a first speed and is designed to convey paper on signals from the loop sensor at a higher or lower speed enables both manual and automatic operation to be implemented. At a manual signal, the paper can be fed and cut by a preset length. With automatic removal, either on a manual signal or on a signal from the original sensor, the paper is first fed until it is removed by the copier at a higher speed. The controller then guides the paper at a higher speed, which makes the loop longer. If a certain preset length is reached, the drive switches back to a lower speed, so that the loop is shortened. This can also happen several times during a donation process. If the withdrawal of the paper is interrupted, the drives switch off when the initial loop length is reached. If the preset paper length is reached, the paper is cut automatically. However, the cut command can also be given manually or automatically as soon as the output loop length is reached.

The precision of the cut paper formats is increased if the drive is designed to be braked, preferably by means of counter-current braking.

So that the cutting edge can be pulled back into its starting position, it is provided that the drive is designed to be reversible. In certain cases it can be advantageous if the drive is designed to be controlled, preferably with PID behavior.

To avoid oblique cut edges, it is provided that the drive is designed to remain stationary while the separation unit is actuated.

So that the control is automatically reset to the ready state after a cut, it is provided that a paper end edge sensor is arranged behind the separating unit. The sheet dispenser can be easily adapted to existing copiers without any special structural effort if a housing with a paper outlet is provided, the height of which is at the level of a

Copy paper feed tray is adjustable, the paper outlet is preferably formed obliquely upward, in particular the housing is designed to be rollable. The diagonally upward paper outlet enables additional looping of the supplied paper. When a preset value is reached, the paper is fed at a higher speed by a certain length. The funding for the cutting process is then canceled. The paper length stored in the loop is then pulled through the copier during the cutting process.

The process object is achieved by a method for simultaneously conveying paper or the like wound into rolls from a sheet dispenser into the feed shaft of a copying machine, in which a coupling between the sheet dispenser and the copying machine takes place through the paper itself, in that the conveyance depends on what is exerted on the paper Turn.

This procedure makes interventions in the electronics of existing copying machines superfluous and enables simple retrofitting of existing copying machines with automatic sheet dispensers.

In an embodiment of the method it is provided that a start signal paper with a

Conveyed speed and b) the paper is led to a loop, c) the length of which is monitored, d) and the paper is conveyed at a higher speed if the length of the loop decreases, preferably e) the conveyed paper length is measured and on a signal, preferably when a specified value is reached or in the event of an event how to pass through an end edge of an original, the paper is cut.

Advantageous refinements of the method are described in subclaims 22 to 28.

Further advantages, details and features essential to the invention result from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which functionally identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals. The drawings show in detail:

Fig. 1 shows the schematic structure of a

Three-roll sheet dispenser with a large format copier as a side view,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the

3-roll sheet copier according to FIG. 1,

3 is a schematic side view of the paper guide with cutter, Fig. 4 shows a detail of the paper guide between the stationary and portable paper guide and

Fig. 5 shows an example of a control keyboard.

In FIG. 1, 1 denotes a three-roll sheet dispenser according to the invention for a large-format copier 2, the table of which is identified by 3 for the supply of the original and by 4 for the supply of copy material. The sheet dispenser 1 has at its upper right edge a copy material discharge slot 5, the height of which is adapted to the level of the table 4 for the copy material supply. As a result, the paper output from the three-roll sheet dispenser 1 can easily be fed into the feed mechanism of the large format copier 2. In the area of tables 3 and 4, sensors 47 for the original input and sensors 34 for sheet detection are arranged.

The level can be fine-tuned using the base frame 6, which can be adapted to the respective special large format copier. The sheet dispenser is on rolls 7 so that the copier is always accessible in the front area when the three-roll sheet dispenser is pushed aside.

Figure 2 shows the three-roll sheet dispenser in an enlarged view. Three rolls 8, 9 and 10 with different paper qualities are arranged vertically one above the other in a common housing 11. Each of the rollers 8, 9 and 10 is assigned a pair of friction rollers 12, 13 and 14, the lower of which is shown in more detail. The other two pairs of friction rollers 12 or 13 are the For clarity only indicated schematically. The friction roller pairs are driven by associated low-voltage geared motors 15, 16 and 17 via toothed belts 18, only the lower one being indicated by dash-dotted lines. The paper rolls are suitably rotatably supported laterally within the housing 11 in bearing elements, of which a bearing element 19 for the lower roll is indicated.

A paper web 20, the course of which is shown in broken lines with the smallest and largest roll diameter for the lower rolls, is passed from roll 10 between pair of distribution rollers 14 and enters guide channel 21 for the lower roll. A paper end edge sensor 22 is assigned to the paper guide channel 21. The paper guide channel 21 is anchored in the housing 11 by means of a fastening profile 23.

For the paper web of the middle roll 9, a paper guide channel 24 is provided in an analogous manner with an assigned end edge sensor 25. The paper guide channel 24 opens into a vertically running common guide channel into which a guide channel 27 with end edge sensor 28 assigned to the top paper roll opens.

To measure the conveyed paper length, a pulse generator 29, 30, 31 is assigned to each of the geared motors, the signal of which is fed into the control (not shown). At the upper end of the common vertical paper guide channel 26, the paper is deflected to form a loop into a horizontal guide channel 32 and past a cutting unit 33 obliquely upwards Copy material discharge slot 5 supplied. A further paper end edge sensor 34 is arranged between the cutting unit 33 and the paper exit point 5.

The upper area, in which the paper web is first guided vertically, then deflected horizontally to form a loop, is shown enlarged in FIG. 3, the same parts being provided with the same reference numbers. The deflection of the paper web emerging from the vertical guide channel 26 or emerging from the paper guide channel 27 into the horizontal guide channel 32 takes place by means of a stationary guide plate 35 and a movable guide plate 36, which together form a guide channel 37 and form the paper loop.

The movable guide plate 36 is drawn in its rest position, while its widest deflection is shown in broken lines. When it is deflected, it pivots about an axis 38 shown as a circle, which is mounted in a suitable manner. A free leg 39, on which a return spring 40 engages, is fixedly connected to the guide plate 36. To adjust the most favorable paper tensile force, the base point of the spring 40 can be changed by means of the adjusting screw 41. The position of the free leg 39 is monitored by means of loop sensors 42 and 43, which can be designed, for example, as fork light barriers. The edge 44 of the pivotable guide plate 36 pivots past the front edge 45 of the horizontal guide channel 32. Ϊ2 In Figure 4, the edges 44 of part 36 and 44 of part 32 are shown schematically. The edges are serrated parallel to each other so that they can swing past each other and still provide an overlapping guide for the continuous paper leading edge in the idle state.

FIG. 5 schematically shows an example of the control keyboard identified by reference number 46 in FIG. 2, the mode of operation also being apparent from the description.

The control keyboard has two LED displays with the following functions:

In automatic mode (length measurement of the original), the first digit of the four-digit upper display shows an "A" and the other 3 digits show the length of the lower margin, provided a value has been entered for this. In manual mode, the sheet length is displayed here, which the operator has entered using the AO to A3 keys or the 10-digit field. The values are given in mm or inches, depending on the service programming.

The lower 2-digit LED display shows the operator the number of sheets that are to be fed into the copier one after the other (multi-sheet function). A 1 is entered here by default. Range of values 1 to 99.

The on / off button in the upper right corner switches the automatic 3-roll sheet dispenser on or off. When switched off, only the first digit in the upper 4-digit number shows Display a crossbar. If the device is switched on, all displays are active (ie they show the last entered values and the roll width) and the LED in the roll selection button that was last selected lights up.

The Clear key C has different functions depending on the operating status of the sheet dispenser:

In the input state, the Clear key is used to correct incorrectly entered values using the number keys or to acknowledge an error message. It also leads from the "input status" after pressing the "Edge back" or "M" key.

In the feed state, pressing the Clear key causes the paper to be withdrawn from the input slot of the copier.

Pressing the Clear key in the feed mode causes the paper to be cut immediately (of course after the "rapid feed") and the sheet dispenser goes into the input state.

Use the "Rl", "R2" and "R3" buttons to select the desired copy material roll. The selected role is indicated by a green indicator lamp in the respective button.

The "Auto" button switches to the automatic mode. In automatic mode, the sheet length is fed according to the

Original length measurement minus or plus the edge length. In manual mode, the sheet length must be changed using the "AO" to "A3" buttons (plus the edge length entered) or via the 10-key keyboard.

The transition to manual mode takes place automatically by pressing the "0" to "9" or "AO" to "A3" buttons.

With the keys "AO" to "A3" the cutting lengths of the longer side of the DIN formats AO to A3 can be entered. If the inch display is selected in the service program, the appropriate English or American format lengths are selected using these buttons. The respective length value appears in mm or inches on the display.

The "M" key (multi-sheet function) causes paper to be fed one after the other regardless of the status signal of the original input sensor 47. The range of values that can be entered is 1 to 99, which can be entered using the numeric keypad. After pressing the "M" key, "00" appears on the display. The desired number can then be entered. If you do not want to enter a value, you can exit the input mode by pressing the "C" key. In this case, the number of multi-sheets is reset to 1.

With the "Edge back" key you can correct the length measured by the original. This correction can be negative or positive. After pressing the "Edge back" key, "000" appears in the last three digits of the display. Use the number keys to enter a value for the edge length. If the value is negative (the sheet is cut shorter than the original), first press the "0" key, which is then pressed Put the minus sign in the second position of the four-digit LED display. Values between 0 and 99 mm can be entered for a negative margin.

A value range from 0 to 999 is provided for positive edge lengths.

A margin length can also be entered if a fixed format (A3 to AO) has been selected in manual mode. In this case "-000" appears on the display after pressing the "Edge back" key. Then an input via the numeric keypad is expected (you can leave the mode again with the C key). After entering the last key in the tens field, the value of the margin length is added to the selected DIN format length after 2 seconds and the total is shown in the display.

The numerical entries of the sheet length and the edge length are made with the keys "0" to "9" (10-field). The "0" key has a double function when entering the edge length. If the 0 key is pressed as the first digit when entering the edge length, this is interpreted as a minus sign.

With the "Start" key, the paper is fed into the input slot of the copier independently of the original input sensor 47 (the "input state" of the sheet dispenser is converted into the "feed state").

Two correction values are permanently stored in the control, the length, which results from the distance between the cutting system and the insertion stop for the copy paper in the copier, and the length, the results from the position of the original end edge sensor and the sheet length still to be fed. These must be entered once when setting up.

The original input sensor 47 has the task of detecting the rear edge of the original and then cutting the copy material after a certain length.

B E Z U G S Z E I C H E N L I S T E

1 sheet dispenser

2 large format copiers

3 table

4 table copy material

5 Copy material discharge slot

6 base

7 rolls

8 rolls

9 rolls

10 rolls

11 housing

12 pair of friction rollers

13 pair of friction rollers

14 pair of friction rollers

15 low-voltage geared motor

16 low-voltage geared motor

17 low-voltage geared motor

18 timing belts

19 bearing element

20 paper tape

21 paper guide channel

22 Paper end edge sensor

23 fastening profile

24 paper guide channel

25 end edge sensor

26 joint leadership

27 paper guide channel

28 paper edge sensor

29 pulse generator

30 pulse generator

31 pulse generator

32 horizontal guide channel

33 cutting unit 34 paper edge sensor

35 guide plate firmly

36 Guide plate changeable

37 guide channel

38 axis

39 legs

40 return spring

41 adjusting screw

42 loop sensor

43 loop sensor

44 edge

45 edge

46 Keypad

47 Original input sensor

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Device for separating individual sheets of paper or the like wound up into rolls with a drive for paper feed and a separating unit for cutting fed paper, characterized in that it has a tracking control that acts on the drives (15, 16, 17) Dependency on peeled paper is formed.

2. Device according to claim 1, dadurchge ¬ indicates that it has a paper guide (35,36) which is formed in a region of the paper forming a loop, and at least one sensor detecting the loop (42,43) is provided, the is designed to act on the drive (15, 16, 17).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, that the loop is arranged in front of the separating unit (33) in the paper conveying direction.

, Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the drive (15, 16, 17) has at least two different paper feed speeds.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, d a ¬ d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the paper guide is mutually leading with a fixed (35) and a portable guide (36).

6. The device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the sensor is designed as a portable guide (36), on which preferably light barriers (42,43), in particular two light barriers, are provided for monitoring the current location .

7. The device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, d a d u r c h g e k e n z e i c h n e t that the portable guide is designed as a plate (36) with a preferably serrated transition (44) to a fixed guide (32).

8. The device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the drive is designed as a drive roller pair (12,13,14).

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h ¬ n e t that the drive (12,13,14) is assigned a paper end edge sensor (22,25,28).

10. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, dadurchge ¬ indicates that the drive is assigned a paper length measuring device (29,30,31) with an operative connection to ι

'Control, where control is a

Storage device for a paper length value and a comparison device for comparing a conveyed paper length with the stored value.

11. The device as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, that a plurality of drives (12, 13, 14) conveying onto a common paper guide (26), preferably one above the other, are arranged.

12. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, that a template sensor (47) for signaling a template and preferably its end edge is provided, which has an operative connection to the drive.

13. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e ¬ k e n n z e i c h n e t that a controller is provided which is designed to feed the paper at a first speed and to support signals from the loop sensor at a higher or lower speed.

14. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, dadurchge ¬ indicates that the drive is designed braked, preferably by means of countercurrent braking.

15. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e ¬ k e n n z e i c h n e t that the drive is designed to be reversible.

16. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e ¬ k e n n z e i c h n e t that the drive is controlled, preferably designed with PID behavior.

17. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e ¬ k e n n z e i c h n e t that the drive is designed to persist during operation of the separation unit.

18. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, that a paper end edge sensor (28) is arranged behind the separation unit.

19. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, dadurchge ¬ indicates that a housing (11) with a paper outlet (5) is provided, the height of which is adjustable to the level of a copy paper feed shaft, the paper outlet being preferably shaped obliquely upwards, in particular the housing is designed to be rollable.

20. A method for simultaneously conveying paper or the like wound up into rolls from a sheet dispenser into the feed shaft of a copying machine, characterized in that a coupling between the sheet dispenser and the copying machine takes place through the paper itself by the conveyance depending on the tension exerted on the paper he follows.

21. The method according to claim 20, dadurchge ¬ indicates that a) conveyed to a start signal paper at a speed and b) the paper is guided to a loop, c) the length of which is monitored, d) and the paper is conveyed at a higher speed if the length of the loop decreases, preferably e) the conveyed paper length is measured and the paper is cut on a signal which is preferably generated when a specified value is reached or in the event of an event such as passing an end edge of an original.

22. The method according to claim 20, dadurchge ¬ indicates that the start signal is generated manually or by a template sensor.

23. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e ¬ k e n n z e i c h n e t that the conveyance is interrupted, preferably braked after reaching an intended conveyed paper length.

24. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e ¬ k e n n z e i c h n e t that the promotion is interrupted as soon as the loop reaches its original length.

25. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e ¬ k e n n z e i c h n e t that the paper is cut at a standstill.

26. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, that the conveyance is interrupted as soon as the loop reaches the original length.

27. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, dadurchge ¬ indicates that the paper is conveyed in the opposite direction after cutting or passing an end edge, preferably for a certain length.

28. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, that the conveying is terminated in the opposite direction when a paper edge sensor is reached.