EP0244003B1 - Device for deposting zig-zag-folded web-like products - Google Patents

Description

The proposed device relates to the stacking in zigzag stacks of zigzag folded, sheet-like products leaving a zigzag folder with at least one stripline group leading in the direction of the stacking point, which supports the products to be deposited, and a first table supporting both this stripline group and the products to be deposited and a horizontally arranged, lifting and lowering second table supporting the products to be put down and devices guiding the products to be put down above the second table. Such devices are known.

In devices for zigzag folding of webs, for example endless form webs for business forms, etc., break lines running transverse to the running direction of the web are usually incorporated into the webs. These break lines are mostly pre-formed by a perforation, so that the webs bend after passing through a so-called zigzag folder due to the reciprocating pivoting device of such a folder along these break lines. In this way, individual parts of the endless webs are folded relative to the subsequent parts in such a way that the respective parts or sections of the web come to lie on one another in a zigzag fashion. In this way, the originally endless web can be deposited in a zigzag-shaped stack or in such a stack. The web can consist of one or more layers lying one on top of the other, so that several layers lying on top of one another can be folded and deposited at the same time. For the sake of simplicity, we will only speak of one web below, although this term can also be understood to mean a web consisting of several layers.

The web or webs can also be made of different materials, such as. B. there are thicker or thinner papers or films. Each printed or non-printed or folded web represents a product in the later course of the processing process, which can be fed to a different kind of processing. For example, webs held ready in zigzag stacks can run into so-called rapid printing devices. Since zigzag folders very often contain a reciprocating swivel device, the web to be deposited is alternately fed with the help of this swivel device to the kinking point located on one side of the stack being formed or the other kinking point located on another edge of the stack being formed. The web to be deposited thus changes its position constantly, at least when it hits the stack which is being formed, and for this purpose it has to be moved against the air in its vicinity. This often leads to undesirable flows of air, which often has the consequence that the air necessarily present in its surroundings prevents the web from being deposited properly. Thin and light webs in particular can be blown up by the air, especially when the speed of the web is quite high.

In addition, it is often not possible to fold the parts of the web to be deposited so sharply against one another in the zigzag folder that the individual parts of the web, the later products, come to lie completely on top of one another. This means that the bending angle is not 180 degrees as in the ideal case, but perhaps 160 degrees, for example. This in turn means that the parts of the web inserted in the forming stack can also tend to bulge for this reason.

From US Pat. No. 3,717,335, for example, a device has become known in which the web to be deposited in a zigzag-shaped stack is pressed behind pawls by rotating cams. However, this has the disadvantage that the revolving cams touch the web to be deposited on relatively large areas of its surface, it having to be added that this surface is usually already printed before the stacking or folding process and that the webs are processed in a subsequent process can be provided with another print. The quality of these prints can, however, be influenced subsequently due to the rotating cams. For example, the prints can be smeared.

From DE-GM 7 803 900 a further device is known, which contains circumferential ribbon lines, which are bent at the zigzag-shaped edges of the web parts, d. H. Swipe along the side parts of the stack being formed. However, this device is intended for materials that are difficult to kink, but not for materials that, such as. B. thin and light webs can be exaggerated by aerodynamic forces.

From DE-PS 611 694 a device is known in which the zigzag-like web is pressed by movable rackets onto a base. These rackets also touch the web at those points which have already been printed or which are to be printed in a subsequent processing process. In addition, these rackets would have to be operated at the usual running speeds of the zigzag-shaped web with a frequency of approximately 20 Hz, which is not possible due to their inertia.

The device according to DE-GM 8 509 218 avoids the problem of bulging and building up the web to be laid down from the outset, although at first glance it seems suitable to offer a solution. The back-and-forth plate of this device does not generate any force which would be suitable to bend or finish the folds of the zigzag-shaped web.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device of the type mentioned in the preamble of the main claim, in which sheet-like materials of any kind can be buckled at the current running speeds of the processing machine upstream of the depositing device in such a way that even thin sheets do not tend to bulge and the individual, the parts of the web which later formed the products for the formation of a zigzag stack lie perfectly on top of one another.

This object is achieved in that above the rear surface of the stack to be deposited in the direction of the products to be deposited, a second endless one, which runs obliquely from top to bottom essentially in the direction of the products to be deposited, the kinking points of the finished stack at the first table opposite side of the coming edge of the product-touching strand-containing circumferential web line group is arranged, which contains at least two deflecting rollers, one of which is rotatably mounted above the second table and a perpendicular tangent to another deflecting roller lies approximately in the same plane as that the first table facing surface of the stack that can be raised and lowered and the horizontal plane extending through the axis of this further deflecting roller lies approximately in the upper plane of the stack being formed, the plane extending vertically through the geometric axis of this deflecting roller is the space of the stack being formed Stack does not intersect, the circumferential axis of this further deflecting roller is both the center for the deflecting device of the second band line group and the center of concentric brushes revolving in the same sense as the second band line group, the brushes are bristled only in some sectors of their circular cross section, and that forming Stack facing vertical, tangential plane placed on the brushes lies in the space of the stack being formed.

In a further embodiment it is provided that on the side facing the first band line group and the upper level of the stack forming a second circumferential, sector-shaped bristle brush is arranged, the central axis of which is rotatably mounted outside the stack forming and the bristles in the over protrude into the space being formed.

In addition, it is advantageous that a separating device which can be inserted into the stack if necessary is arranged under the first table. In addition, the second tape line group can have an elastic surface, for example made of foam, whereas the first tape line group can have a non-slip, for example slightly adhesive surface.

Due to the proposed solution, there are no undesirable air movements, but forces that press the edge of the stack being formed and thus the stack itself onto its base and thus subject the kinks to additional pressure. In addition, the manufactured products are not touched on a large part of their surface, but only on a small part, which in most cases is also not printed. Therefore, the imprints on the products cannot smear. Both thick and heavy as well as thin and light web materials can be processed.

The proposed device is explained in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment schematically depicted in the attached figure, which does not limit the inventive concept. In the present context, non-essential parts of the figure are not drawn because of a clearer representation. The parts not shown are sufficiently known to the person skilled in the art; so that the non-representation of these parts seems justified.

A zigzag folding device, not shown in the figure, for example that according to DE-PS 2 233 879, which is located on the right outside the figure, is assigned a first storage table 1 and a second storage table 2. The first storage table contains guide rollers 3, 4, 5, 6, around which at least one endless belt 7 is wound. A plurality of such endless tapes 7 are preferably arranged one behind the other in the direction of view of the figure, so that these tapes together form a first tape line group. The tapes of the first tape line group 7 have a rough or slightly adhesive outer surface and run very close to the first tray table 1. Preferably, the inner surfaces of the tapes of the first tape line group rub on the upper surface of the first tray table 1, so that this tray table both Bands as well as the scale 8 of the zigzag folded web formed by a zigzag folder are supported.

The first storage table 1 is preferably arranged obliquely and preferably so obliquely that it rises from right to left in the figure. This climbs due to the inclination of the first storage table 1 and the tape line group consisting of the tapes 7, supported by the slight stickiness of the outer surface of the tapes, the scale 8 coming from a zigzag folder and moving in the direction of the arrow 9.

Since the guide roller 5 is rotatably mounted vertically below the guide roller 4, a vertical part of the path of the endlessly rotating first belt group 7 is formed between the guide rollers 4 and 5.

metry tilts the climbing scale 8 around the center of the guide roller 4 during its movement and then falls essentially vertically downwards.

The downward falling parts or products of the zigzag folded web 10, which can consist of several layers, fall on the second storage table 2. The second storage table 2 is guided vertically displaceably by at least one vertically arranged guide 11. With the aid of, for example, a likewise vertically mounted spindle, which in turn can be rotatably driven at least temporarily by a motor, the second storage table 2 can be moved up or down in the figure. When the parts of the web 10, e.g. H. in other words, the scale 8 or parts of the scale 8 fall onto the second storage table, a zigzag-shaped stack 12 is formed. The higher this stack is to be, the more the second storage table is lowered by the spindle or a similar device. The second storage table 2 preferably consists of a plurality of forks interconnected in the manner of a rake, which can be lowered to such an extent that they can pass between the strips 13 of a third strip line group. In this way, the lowermost surface of the stack 12 which is already formed or of the stack 12 which has already been formed can be placed on the upper strands of the third belts 13 and can be conveyed out of the device in question in the direction of arrow 14 by circulation of these belts. This is particularly necessary if a lower part of the stack that has been formed has been separated with the aid of a separating device. In this way, one batch at a time of the desired size can be conveyed out of the device in question.

For reasons of clarity of illustration, the uppermost layers of the stack 12, which have arisen from the zigzag-folded web, are drawn with a relatively large mutual distance. In reality, however, the upper level of the stack 12 is to be thought of in the level indicated by the straight line 15. In addition, the stack 12 has a in the direction of the products - d. H. the scale 10 - rear surface 16, which is visible in the figure as an edge and which faces away from the first storage table 1 in the figure, and a front edge 17 which faces the first storage table 1 in the figure.

A deflection roller 18 is rotatably mounted above the stack 12. The deflecting roller 18 is preferably rotatably mounted in sliding blocks 19 which can be displaced vertically with the aid of a guide 20 fixed to the frame and thus adjusted.

In the figure at the top left next to the stack 12, a further deflection roller 21 is rotatably mounted. A third deflecting roller 22 supplements the above-mentioned deflecting rollers to form a triangle such that a plurality of strip lines lying one behind the other in the direction of view of the figure and representing a total of a second strip line group 23 can be wrapped around the rolls 18, 21 and 22. At least one of these guide rollers is driven in such a way that the second band line group can rotate in the direction of arrow 24 at a speed which is essentially the same as that of the movement of the kink points 25 of the scale 8. The drive of this second band line group can preferably be provided with a differential or a similar gear so that the rotational speed of the second band line group can be changed or adjusted during operation. Due to the selected geometry of the guide rollers 18, 21 and 22, the second ribbon line group 23 contains a strand 26 which runs obliquely from top right to bottom left in the figure. This oblique strand lies tangentially to the scale 8 to be laid down, which is due to the elastic, for example Foam surface of these tapes is supported. The kinks 25 and thus the scales 8, d. H. the products to be deposited, as can be seen in the figure, are gripped by the second strip line group on their side opposite the first table 1.

One of the two tangents that can be placed in the vertical direction on the circumference of the further deflecting roller 21 lies essentially in the same plane as the surface (edge 16) of the stack 12 that can be raised and lowered that faces away from the first depositing table 1. The horizontally extending stack , through the geometrical axis of the further deflecting roller 21, the plane indicated by the straight line 15 is essentially the same plane as the upper plane of the stack 12 being formed. The vertically through the geometrical axis of the further deflecting roller 21, on the other hand, intersects the plane through the not taking up space 12. This means that the second deflecting roller is located approximately in the upper left corner of the stack 12 being formed in the figure, but outside the stack 12.

Since the second tape line group 23 consists of several tapes arranged one behind the other and these tapes maintain a mutual distance from one another in the direction of view, brushes 27 rotating between two tapes can be used in such a way that the geometric centers of the brushes are arranged concentrically with the center of the further deflecting roller 21. This can be done, for example, in that the further deflecting roller 21 is not designed to be continuous over the entire working width of the device, but is, for example, dissolved into rolls which are each as wide as the respective belt and which are supported on a common axis of rotation. The rotating brushes 27 located between the individual belts can then also be supported on this common axis of rotation.

The circumferential brushes 27 have a substantially circular cross section, but it is advantageous if this circle shaped cross section, individual sectors have been removed so that the bristles of the brushes are arranged within the remaining sectors.

The brushes run together with the tapes of the second tape line group 23 f.Lm. The dimensions of the brushes are chosen such that the bristles of the brushes can protrude into the space located above the stack 12 during their circulation, but the cores of the brushes remain outside of this space. This means that a vertical tangential plane placed on the brushes lies within the space of the stack being formed.

In the figure, approximately at the top right of the stack 12 being formed, outside of this stack on the side facing the first strip line group 1 (edge 17) and essentially in the plane indicated by the straight line 15, there is a second, also preferably driven with a differential, arranged in a sector shape with bristles brush 32. Both the axis of rotation (central axis) and the core of this rotating brush or brushes are located outside the space occupied by the stack being formed, whereas the bristles protrude into the space above the stack 12 being formed.

Because the bristles of the brushes are cut out into sectors, they can intervene temporarily between the individual layers of the stack which are caused by air turbulence and press them down. In this way, excessive bulging is avoided.

In the figure, next to the stack being formed and under the first storage table 1, preferably within the niche indicated by the angular position of these two niches, there is a separating device 28. This separating device contains a knife 29 which can be moved in the direction of the arrow 30. This displacement can go so far that the knife 29 penetrates to the left into the stack 12 or even penetrates it. In this way, selected kinks of the scales 8 can be pierced by the knife 29, which leads to a lower part of the stack being formed being separated and forming a separate stack of its own. This separated stack can be placed on the belts 13 in the manner already indicated and can be conveyed out of the machine.

The separating device 28 can be moved along a vertical guide 31 as desired, so that finished stacks of different heights can be produced with the separating device. The cutting device 28 can also be controlled, for example, with the aid of a spindle which can be rotated by a motor, for example with the aid of a digitally controllable motor.

Claims (5)

1. A device whereby zigzag-folded web-like products (8, 10) leaving a zigzag folding apparatus are deposited in zigzag stacks (12), comprising at least one first belt guide group (7) bearing the products (8, 10) for depositing and leading in the direction towards the stack, and a first table (1) bearing both the belt guide group (7) and the products (8, 10) for stacking, and a horizontally disposed vertically movable second table (2) bearing the products (8, 10) for stacking and the means conveying the products (8, 10) for stacking above the second table (2), characterised in that a second endless belt guide group (23) is disposed above the rear edge (16), in the direction of motion of the deposited products (8, 10), of the stack (12) in process of formation and comprises a strand extending obliquely downwards substantially in the direction of motion of the deposited products (8, 10) and touching the bending places (25) of the edge of the product which in the finished stack comes to lie on the side remote from the first table (1), the second belt guide group (23) contains at least two guide rollers (18, 21, 22), one (18) of which is- rotatably mounted over the second table (2), and a vertical tangent to another guide roller (21) lies approximately in the same plane as the side (16) remote from the first table (1) of the stack (12) in process of formation, and the horizontal plane (15) extending through the geometrical axis of the second guide roller (21) lies approximately in the upper plane of the stack (12) in process of formation, the plane extending vertically through the geometrical axis of the guide roller (21) does not intersect the space occupied by the stack (12) in process of formation, the axis of rotation of the second guide roller (21) is the centre of rotation for the guide device of the second belt guide group (23) and also the centre of the concentric brushes (27) rotating in the same direction as the second belt guide group (23), the brushes (27) are provided with bristles in only some sectors of their circular cross-section, and the vertically extending vertical tangential plane adjacent the brushes (27) and facing the stack (12) in process of formation intersects the volume occupied by the stack (12).

2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that a second rotating brush (23) provided with bristles on some sectors is disposed on the side (17) facing the first belt guide group (7) and the upper plane (15) of the stack (12) in process of formation, and the central shaft of the brush is rotably mounted outside the stack (12) in process of formation and its brushes project into the space above the stack (12).

3. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that a cutting device (28) which can be inserted into the stack (12) when required is disposed under the first table (1).

4. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the second belt guide group (23) has a resilient surface made e. g. of cellular material.

5. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the first belt guide group (7) has a non-slip, e. g. slightly adhesive surface.

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