EP1748010B1 - Method and device for sheet collation - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for collating printed sheets, in particular folded sheets and / or single sheets, according to the preamble of claim 1 or 5.

When assembling a single folded sheet is taken from several collections of the same folded sheet, the various individual folded sheets are fed to a collection conveyor for stacking.

Collating machines are known with arranged in a row landing stations, each consisting of a magazine for receiving a folded sheet stack, from a trigger drum with a gripper mechanism for detecting and subtracting a respective bottom folded from the folded sheet pile folding sheet and an intermediate support for temporary storage of the individual folded sheet. The accumulation conveyor has a Falzbogenabzugsrichtung perpendicular oriented collection channel in which move a conveyor chain, which strip the individual folded sheets of the individual intermediate pads and gather together to form a book block on the collection channel. In the DE 14 86 744 B is such a working with direction change collating machine shown. It also has reciprocating intermediate tables, whereby the individual folded sheets are pre-accelerated for the entrainment by the carriers of the collecting conveyor.

From the DE 196 16 047 A1 a gathering machine with landing stations according to the longitudinal withdrawal principle is known, with a Falzbogenstapel in the magazine, leaving a folded edge bearing and the lowest folded sheet timely advancing conveyor belt and with the advanced folded sheet and further transporting deduction conveyor system, formed by acceleration rollers. The deduction conveyor system is still arranged downstream of a trained from a lower and upper conveyor belt clamping conveyor, which is inclined towards the accumulation conveyor and stores the occasional folded sheet in synchronous conveying movement in front of the respective carrier of the accumulation conveyor on the stack formed up to that point. The separated from the landing stations folded sheets are fed without direction change the accumulation conveyor.

A disadvantage of the known separating devices is that the weight of the folded sheet stack rests on the respectively lowermost folding sheet with the consequence of corresponding frictional forces between the lowermost sheet to be drawn off and the following folded sheet of the stack. This can lead to markings on sensitive surfaces. In addition, there is a risk that the following folded sheet is entrained. To minimize the frictional forces stack lifter and Blasluftdüsen are used, with the blowing air an air cushion between the lowermost and the following folded sheet is to be generated. This often succeeds only partially, since the introduced blast air escapes from the stack according to the principle of least resistance.

From the DE 198 23 649 A1 a sheet separating device is known in which a suction element is used to produce a bulge open to the edge in the lowermost arc of the sheet stack carried by a conveyor belt, leaving a marginal area free. Blowing air is blown into the bulge by means of a nozzle pivoted into the bulge, whereby an air cushion emanating from the bulge is to form as a thin air film between the lowermost sheet and the stack to reduce the friction in the sliding plane between the lowermost one subsequently fed by the conveyor belt Bow and the pile. Since the thin air film - as outlined above - only partially formed, the stack is not completely supported by the air cushion, but still relies in certain places on the bottom sheet, resulting in corresponding friction during advancement, which is why trained on the stack lifter Blasluftdüse a stop edge is provided for retaining possibly entrained bow in the remainder of the pile.

In the US 2,806,696 A. a separating device for cardboard blanks is known in which blown over a central portion of the magazine blowing air from behind under the stack resting on a web with its rear edge, while the stack rests in the front area on the magazine table or a suction element, with the lowest Cardboard blank is sucked in and pulled out of the magazine. In this case, the trailing edge of the web drops down, so that the introduced blast air propagates between the bottom auszufördernden blank and the overlying blank stack.

The present invention has for its object to provide a method and apparatus for collating sheet, in particular signatures and / or single sheets, according to the preamble of claim 1 and claim 5, which allow a reliable and gentle product gentle separation of the sheet.

This object is achieved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1 and claim 5. Preferred embodiments are indicated in the dependent claims.

The idea of the invention lies in the fact that the printed sheet stack is carried in the magazine by an air cushion, whereby the air cushion immediately forms between the lowest printed sheet and the remainder stack with the lifting off of the respectively lowest printed sheet without the air cushion collapsing. The stack is also carried by the air cushion at a constant level when the lowermost signature is lifted, while the lifted signature is carried away from the stack within the air cushion and finally completely separated from the stack by the air cushion, thereby allowing a frictionless exit port.

The air cushion is generated by a laterally introduced below the stack blowing air flow. It is expedient if the lowermost sheet in the area of the blast air flow is lifted off the stack. As soon as the blast air flow reaches between the partially lifted printed sheet and the remaining stack, the air cushion forms there, namely, the sheet being instantaneously completely separated from the stack. A preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that the printed sheet completely separated from the stack is pressed by the pressure of the air cushion onto a conveying surface presenting a support surface, whereby a slip-poor acceleration to a high exporting speed is made possible.

The invention provides that by venting the air cushion a certain altitude of the stack bottom side is maintained. In conjunction with the amount of air supplied to the air cushion results from the venting a simple pressure control for the air cushion. The stack is supported at an angle inclined by the air cushion, wherein an outer side of the stack is supported on a wall weight relieving.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the printed sheet is conveyed away parallel to the conveying direction of the collecting conveyor and fed to the collecting conveyor substantially at a synchronous conveying speed. The sheets separated from the magazine are fed to the collecting conveyor without change of direction.

Fig. 1

eine Schnittansicht einer Zusammentragmaschine mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Anlegestation;

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht der Zusammentragmaschine gemäß der Ansichtsdefinition II-II in Fig. 1; und

Fig. 3

eine Schnittansicht der Zusammentragmaschine gemäß Ansichtsdefinition III-III in Fig. 1.

The features of the present invention will be explained in more detail in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings listed below. Show it:

Fig. 1

a sectional view of a gathering machine with a landing station according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a top view of the collator according to the view definition II-II in Fig. 1 ; and

Fig. 3

a sectional view of the collator according to view definition III-III in Fig. 1 ,

The figures show a gathering machine designated as a whole by 1, which is essentially formed by a collecting conveyor 10 and a plurality of laying stations 15 arranged in series above it, wherein only a single landing station is shown in the figures for reasons of illustration. In each of these docking stations 15 a single folded sheet 3 is removed from a stack 4 same folded sheet and fed to the accumulation conveyor 10 for stack formation in each case. The collecting conveyor 10 is formed of a conveying channel 11, with an inclined channel bottom 11 b and a perpendicular channel wall 11 a, and one in (collecting) conveying direction F with a continuous conveying speed v _S driven conveyor chain 12 with arranged in the same mutual distance , the book block 2 formed in the conveyor channel 11 in front of her pushing drivers 13, wherein the back 3 a of the book block or the signatures 3 abuts against the vertical channel wall 11 a.

The inventively designed landing station 15 has a magazine 20 with lateral magazine boundaries 21 a to d and with a pelvis 23 as a lower part in which by feeding a Blasluftstroms V a Falzbogenstapel 4 supporting air cushion LP is formed. The basin 23 is formed by a front and a rear side wall 24 a and b, a left and a right side wall 25 and 26 and a bottom 27th

The magazine 20 with the pelvis 23 is arranged inclined at an angle such that the folded sheets create in the folded sheet stack 4 with her back 3 a to the right side wall 26. The right side wall 26 has up to the upper magazine area extending conveyor belt 22 with profiled wings, which provide for a further weight relief and at the same time serve to Nachfördern the folded sheet stack 4.

The Blasluftstrom V is introduced with a arranged in the right side wall 26, connected to a Blasluftquelle not shown Blasluftdüse 29 into the basin 23 and escapes when resting a folded sheet stack 4 mainly through vents 25 a in the opposite side wall 25. It creates an air cushion LP with a pressure P to the atmosphere, which is able to carry the folding sheet stack 4 according to the hovercraft principle.

The Tragniveau is in the area of the vents 25 a, which allow easy pressure control: with the resting of the folded sheet stack 4 on the air cushion LP, the vents 25 a partially covered, whereby their effective passage cross-section for discharging the air cushion LP vents Teilblasluftströme V _i reduced is. As the stack weight decreases, the air cushion LP raises the folded sheet stack 4, which leads to an increase in the passage cross section with the result of a corresponding pressure drop in the air cushion LP until the pressure P is again in equilibrium with the stack weight of the folded sheet stack 4 to be supported. Conversely, in the case of a stack weight increasing, for example, by adding in partial stacks, the effective passage cross-section is reduced so that an air cushion LP adjusts with a correspondingly higher pressure P.

To minimize Blasluftleckagen the side walls 24 a, b, 25 and 26 are employed closely to the respective folding sheet format. To bridge format size tolerances as well as not exactly superimposed folded sheets in Falzbogenstapel 4 sealing lips 23 a are provided in the region of Tragniveaus.

The separating device for separating the respective lowermost folding sheet 3 from the magazine 20 has at least one nipple 30 which acts clockwise in the rear, near-edge edge region on the signatures 3 and lifts the signatures 3 in the region of the Blasluftdüse 29 from the folded sheet stack 4 down. The Blasluftstrom V passes into the space between the raised and the following folding sheet, whereby the air cushion LP is formed in the space and the bottom most folded sheet 3 is completely separated from the folded sheet stack 4 instantly. Clockwise moving stack lifter 32 in the right side wall 26 thereby support the remaining stack and ensure that the folded sheet stack 4 is still maintained at the constant Tragniveau.

The completely separated from the folded sheet stack 4 signatures 3 is pressed by the pressure P of the air cushion LP lying flat on the bottom 27 of the basin 23 and pressed in particular on a parallel to the collecting conveyor 10 in the bottom, continuously driven conveyor belt 31, whereby a schlupfarme acceleration on a high, approximately at the (collecting) conveying speed v _S lying exporting speed v _{H is} made possible. The signatures 3 is transported absolutely frictionless to the folded sheet stack 4 through an exit gap 28 in the front side wall 24 a, wherein the further transport outside of the magazine 20 is ensured by pressure rollers 34 which act on the out of the magazine 20 reaching out conveyor belt 31.

Finally, the transported out folded sheet 3 is transported from a conveyor belt 10 inclined to the accumulation conveyor 35, formed from a lower and upper conveyor belt 36, 37 and a support plate 38 to the collecting conveyor 10 and transported at the conveying speed v _H before the respective driver 13. The individual folded sheet 3 is thus transported without change of direction from the magazine 20 and supplied with almost synchronous conveying speed v _H the collecting conveyor 10 for stack formation.

For initial filling of the magazine 20 find support rods 33 use, which are inserted at the level of Tragniveaus through the vents 25 a in the magazine 20 and form a rake-shaped wing.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Collator

2

book block

3

signatures

3 a

move

4

Falzbogenstapel

10

collecting conveyor

11

channel

11 a

vertical channel wall

11 b

inclined channel bottom

12

transport chain

13

takeaway

15

landing station

20

magazine

21 a..d

lateral magazine limits

22

conveyor belts

23

pool

23 a

sealing lip

24 a

front side wall

24 b

rear side wall

25

left side wall

25 a

vent

26

right side wall

27

ground

28

exit slit

29

blowing air nozzle

30

sucker

31

conveyor belt

32

pile hoist

33

supporting rod

34

capstan

35

Wedge conveyor

36

Upper conveyor belt

37

lower conveyor belt

38

Support plate

LP

bubble

P

print

V

blast air

V _i

bleeding partial air flow

F

(Collecting) conveying direction

v _p

(Collecting) conveying speed

v _H

conveyor speed

II - II

view definition Fig. 2

III - III

view definition Fig. 3

Claims (11)

1. A method for sheet collation, particularly the collation of signatures (3) and/or individual sheets,

   • wherein one individual sheet (3) is respectively removed from several collections (4) of identical sheets and

   • the separated sheets (3) are fed to a gathering conveyor (10) in order to form stacks,

   characterized in

   • that the sheets (3) of a collection are furnished in the form of a stack (4), wherein the stack (4) is essentially carried in accordance with the hovercraft principle by an air cushion (LP) formed by introducing a blow air current (V) into a bowl-shaped lower part (23),

   • wherein the bowl-shaped lower part (23) features a bottom (27) and front and rear side walls (24 a, b), as well as left and right side walls (25, 26),

   • wherein the bowl-shaped lower part (23) is inclined by a certain angle such that the sheets (3) rest against the right side wall (26) with their spine (3 a) and the right side wall (26) features profiled conveying belts (22) capable of supporting and further conveying the stack (4), and

   • wherein the blow air current (V) is introduced into the bowl-shaped lower part (23) with an air nozzle (29) arranged in the right side wall (26) and the carrying level of the stack (4) is defined by ventilation bores (25 a) provided in the opposite left side wall (25),

   • that the bottom sheet (3) is lifted off the stack (4) at least in certain areas with a separating tool (30),

   • that the air cushion (LP) forms between the bottom sheet (3) and the remaining stack (4), and

   • that the sheet (3) is fed to the gathering conveyor (10).
2. The method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the bottom sheet (3) is lifted off the stack (4) in the region of the blow air current (V) and then completely separated from the stack (4) by the blow air current (V).
3. The method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sheet (3) separated from the stack (4) is pressed against a conveying means (31) that presents a supporting surface by the pressure (P) of the air cushion (LP).
4. The method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sheet (3) is transported away parallel to the conveying direction (F) of the gathering conveyor (10) and essentially fed to the gathering conveyor (10) at a synchronous conveying speed (v_H).
5. A device for sheet collation, particularly the collation of signatures (3) and/or individual sheets,

   • with several separating devices (15) that are arranged in a row and serve for respectively removing one individual sheet (3) from collections (4) of identical sheets, and

   • with a gathering conveyor (10) for the collated stacks (2) that consists of a transport channel (11) and a conveying chain (12) with pushers (13), to which the separated sheets (3) are fed in order to form stacks,

   characterized

   • by a magazine (20) for respectively accommodating one stack (4) of identical sheets,

   • with a bowl-shaped lower part (23) that is connected to a blow air source in order to form an air cushion (LP) that carries the stack (4) in accordance with the hovercraft principle,

   • wherein the bowl-shaped lower part (23) features a bottom (27) and front and rear side walls (24 a, b), as well as left and right side walls (25, 26),

   • wherein the bowl-shaped lower part (23) is inclined by a certain angle such that the sheets (3) rest against the right side wall (26) with their spine (3 a) and the right side wall (26) features profiled conveying belts (22) capable of supporting and further conveying the stack (4), and

   • wherein the blow air current (V) is introduced into the bowl-shaped lower part (23) with an air nozzle (29) arranged in the right side wall (26) and the carrying level of the stack (4) is defined by ventilation bores (25 a) provided in the opposite left side wall (25),

   • by a separating device (30) for lifting at least an area of the bottom sheet (3) off the stack (4), and

   • by a conveying device (31, 35) for transferring the sheet (3) separated from the stack (4) by the air cushion (LP) to the gathering conveyor (10).
6. The device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the separating device comprises at least one suction cup (30) for lifting the bottom sheet (3) off the stack (4).
7. The device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the suction cup (30) is arranged in the region of the air nozzle (29).
8. The device according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized by stack lifters (32) that carry the stack (4) in the edge region and can be moved out of the magazine (20) or the lower part (23), respectively, when a bottom sheet (3) is lifted off.
9. The device according to one of Claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the conveying device comprises a conveying belt (31) that extends above the bottom (27) of the lower part (23), wherein the bottom sheet (3) separated from the stack (4) is pressed against said conveying belt by the air cushion (LP).
10. The device according to one of Claims 5 to 9, characterized by an outlet gap (28) in the lower part (23), through which the separated sheet (3) is transported away.
11. The device according to one of Claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the conveying device (31) is essentially oriented parallel to the conveying direction (F) of the gathering conveyor (10).

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