EP1972587A1 - Device for collecting printed products on a collecting drum - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a concentrically rotating control element to which the collecting cylinder (2) has a drive connection that has at least one control cam associated with an out of operation position and an operating position of a switch (7), whereby the cam acts upon a supporting roller fixed on the switch.

Description

The invention relates to a device for collecting digitally, preferably sequentially printed, printed products fed to a collecting cylinder rotatable about an axis, comprising a drive device, holding means for holding and releasing the printed products collected at the periphery of the collecting cylinder, and an actuating device for controlling the holding means, as well a switch which has a pivot axis extending parallel to the axis of the collecting cylinder and with which the collected printed products can be lifted off the collecting cylinder and transported away with a conveying device, wherein the switch by means of control to the beat of the supplied printed products when collecting on the collecting cylinder between two following printed products an Ausserbetriebslage and the Wegtransportieren the collected printed products from the collecting cylinder is adjustable to an operating position in which the free end of the switch is located within the surface of the collecting cylinder.

In the prior art is from the DE 103 15 443 A a device has become known, can be collected with the printed products, such as printed sheets, for producing, for example, a newspaper on the circumference of the collecting cylinder. The collected products can be dispensed together and fed to a folder, for example. The collecting cylinder can also be formed simultaneously as a folding cylinder and have folding blades on its periphery.

In order to collect the printed products on the circumference of the collecting cylinder, this holding means, which are operable with respect to the circumference of the collecting cylinder.

The EP 1 471 022 A1 discloses a device in which the printed matter to be collected on a collecting cylinder is held by a retaining mechanism and has retaining members for the printed matter arriving at a fence. For carrying away the printed matter collected on the collecting cylinder, a conveyor belt is provided which adjoins the collecting cylinder. In order to deliver the collected printed matter to the conveyor belt, a plurality of discharge elements are provided which form a switch and which are pivotable about a pivot axis extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the collecting cylinder. For discharging the collected printed products, the discharge elements dip into the collecting cylinder. When collecting the Ausschleuselemente are pivoted so that they do not dip into the collecting cylinder and thus are not effective. The device is intended for the production of printed products which are printed sequentially in a digital printing press.

The invention has for its object to provide a device of the type mentioned, which is also suitable for a digital printing press, but which allows a higher performance.

The object is achieved in a generic device according to claim 1.

In the device according to the invention, the switch can be locked with a locking device controlled by a control for collecting the printed products in an inoperative position. The controller with which the locking device of the switch is connected, in addition to the inventive device also controls the printing cylinder upstream of the collecting cylinder and other devices involved in the production process of the printed products. The information required for the production of the printed products are present in the controller and can be used in the inventive device for controlling the switch.

The inventive device makes it possible to produce printed products with comparable performance for digital printing machines.

A further advantage of the device according to the invention is that, especially in connection with a digital printing press, it is possible to assemble a variable number of sheet sections into partial products with variable page numbers. For this purpose, the necessary information in the controller already exist and can the printing press and in particular a digital printing press and the Control of the switch can be used. The inventive device is thus particularly suitable for collecting sequentially, ie consecutively following, supplied, digitally printed sheet. For example, two products A and B may be collected on a collecting drum with, for example, two uses, which are different and, for example, have different formats.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that the switch is pivotable with a co-rotating with the axis of the collecting cylinder control member in an out of service position. The pivoting into the non-operating position takes place in each case in a gap between two following printed products, which are supplied to the collecting cylinder or collected thereon. To collect the switch is latched in this position in Ausser in a locking device. If the lock is released, the switch pivots in an operating position and the collected printed products are lifted from the collecting cylinder and transported away by a conveyor. The release as well as the engagement of the switch in the locking device is controlled by the controller. As a result, as mentioned, the high performance and flexibility as well as a comparatively simple and safe control possible.

The control is particularly simple and safe, if according to a development of the invention, the co-rotating with the collecting cylinder control member is formed by a circular disc and the circular disc has a radially projecting control cam, which the switch each in a gap between the printed products in the Ausserbetriebslage pivoted.

A particularly simple locking of the switch is ensured if, according to a development of the invention, the switch is releasably latched in the non-operating position in the locking device. The latching takes place according to an embodiment of the invention with a displaceable pawl of the locking device, which is vorschaltbar the clock of the supplied printed products. At this latch, the switch is releasably latched.

The release of the lock is particularly simple and safe when, according to a development of the invention acts on the pawl a restoring force which pivots the pawl in a rest position when the pawl is relieved of the switch. The release of the latching is possible in a simple manner by the switch with the said control member is pivoted so that the pawl is relieved. The restoring force thereby pivots the pawl immediately into a rest position and thereby the switch is free.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that the locking device has an actuator with which the pawl can be fixed in a position in which the switch is not releasably latched to this. This makes it possible in a particularly simple manner to lock the latch and thus set the collection position. The actuator is connected to the controller. The actuator is preferably designed as a control cylinder and in particular as a pneumatic cylinder. With the piston rod of the preferably double-acting actuating cylinder of said locking lever can be held or released in the locking position.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that the switch has a control lever. Such a control lever allows a particularly simple and safe and fast control of the switch. This control lever cooperates with the locking device.

The control is then particularly simple and safe, if according to a development of the invention, the control lever is pivotally mounted and at a free end for controlling the switch has a support roller which runs on said actuators.

The control lever has a locking means, for example a detent plate, which engages in a pivotal position in which the switch is in the inoperative position, in a latch nose of the pawl.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that the control lever against the restoring force, for example a spring element, is pivotable. If the locking of the control lever is released, the control lever automatically pivots immediately into the operating position in which the printed products are transported away from the collecting cylinder.

The device comprises according to a development of the invention, a controller. This controls the said locking device. The controller also controls a printing machine, which is preferably a digital printing machine. This device is particularly suitable for the sequential printing of printed products from sequentially supplied digitally printed Sheet at high printing speed. The printed products can also be composed of partial products with variable page numbers. It can thus successively different printed products, such as different newspapers, so-called "broadsheets" but also tabloids are produced.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the device has an actuating element for controlling the holding means used for holding and releasing the printed products. This makes it possible to also control the holding and releasing of the printed products based on information from the controller. This allows even higher performance. Said actuating element preferably cooperates with a stationary first curve, this first curve for releasing the holding means having a deviatingly extending curve section which is at least approximately cancelable from a second curve section of a second curve. The control of said means is particularly simple and safe, if according to an embodiment of the invention, the second curve between an ineffective, the holding means releasing, and the deviating extending curve portion at least approximately canceling, the holding means in effect holding position can be delivered. The delivery of the second curve can be parallel or approximately radially to the axis of rotation of the collecting cylinder. With a comparatively small stroke so that the funds can be controlled. The stroke can be done very easily and quickly, for example, with a control cylinder.

This actuating cylinder is preferably a pneumatic actuating cylinder. In principle, however, is another adjusting cylinder or another drive for moving the curve conceivable.

Further advantageous features will become apparent from the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings.

Fig. 1

schematisch eine Seitenansicht der erfindungsgemässen Einrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine Teilansicht der Einrichtung gemäss Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht eines teilweise geschnittenen Teils der Einrichtung gemäss Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

eine Teilansicht der Einrichtung gemäss Fig. 1;

Fig. 5-7

Teilansichten der Einrichtung gemäss Fig. 1, in unterschiedlichen Betriebslagen, und

Fig. 8

eine weitere Teilansicht der Einrichtung gemäss Fig. 1.

An embodiment of the inventive device for collecting printed products will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

schematically a side view of the inventive device;

Fig. 2

a partial view of the device according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a view of a partially cut part of the device according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4

a partial view of the device according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5-7

Partial views of the device according to Fig. 1 , in different operating situations, and

Fig. 8

a further partial view of the device according to Fig. 1 ,

The inventive device 1 has according to Fig. 1 a collection cylinder 2, which clockwise about an axis 22nd is rotatable. This axis 22 is according to Fig. 8 rotatably mounted on a machine frame 30 at the two ends. The collecting cylinder 2 is driven by a drive motor 13, in particular a servo motor, via a double-toothed toothed belt 14. The toothed belt 14 is according to Fig. 1 placed around a wheel 58, according to Fig. 8 is arranged laterally outside of the machine frame 30 and fixedly connected to the axis 22 of the collecting cylinder 2. The drive motor 13 also drives via the toothed belt 14 and a toothed belt 15 to a lower conveyor belt 44, which is placed over rollers 45 and 46. A counter-pressure roller 12 is engaged with both the timing belt 14 and the timing belt 15. Next drives the drive motor 13 via the timing belt 14 to an accelerating member 11, which cooperates to accelerate a to be collected print product 17 with the counter-pressure roller 12. For this purpose, the acceleration member 11 has at its periphery a surface 49 which rotates in the direction of the arrow 48 about an axis 47. Further, the drive motor 13 via the toothed belt 14 and a toothed belt 59 drives an upper wheel 51, which is a spur gear, which engages in a lower wheel 52 of a conveying device 6, which is also a spur gear. The upper wheel 51 drives an upper conveyor belt 10 and the lower wheel drives a belt 53.

The collecting cylinder 2, the accelerating member 11 and provided for transport belts 10, 44 and 53 are thus clocked and driven at the same speed via the drive motor 13. The required information receives the drive motor 13 from the controller 16, which in Fig. 1 is indicated and which is also a printing press 56, which is preferably a digital printing machine, and a cross cutter 57 controls. The in Fig. 1 also merely indicated and known cross cutter 57 cuts the printed by the printing machine 56 paper web 67 transversely to the transport direction into individual printed products 17. The transport of the printed products 17 takes place in Fig. 1 according to arrow 50 from left to right. The speed of the cross cutter 57, which has at its periphery a blade merely indicated here, corresponds exactly to the rotational speed of the accelerating member 11, or half the rotational speed of the collecting cylinder 2, which can form two sheet stacks 18 and 18 'on its cylinder circumference. The collecting cylinder 2 thus has two so-called benefits. It is also conceivable, however, an embodiment in which the collecting cylinder 2 is formed only for one or more than two benefits.

For holding the printed products 17 on the collecting cylinder 2 a plurality of holding means 5 are provided. The holding means (5) may be formed, for example, as a puncturing needles, each according to Fig. 3 are attached to the end of a lever 4. In terms of timing, the acceleration element 11 and the puncturing needles on the collecting cylinder 2 are adjusted to one another such that the printed products 17 are impaled by the extended puncturing needles about 1 cm behind a leading edge. Is the collection process completed, the lever 4 dive with the holding means 5 and collected to a sheet stack 18 printed products 17 are released on the collecting cylinder 2. A last printed product 17 is placed directly on the collected on the collecting cylinder 2 sheet stack 18 without this is held by the holding means 5 and guided around the collecting cylinder 2. The collection of the printed products 17 with the holding means 5 will be explained in more detail below.

In Fig. 1 the position of the holding means 5 and the lever 4 is shown in solid lines, in which the holding means 5 for collecting printed products 17 in effect. The retracted position in which these collected print products 17 are free on the collecting drum 2 is in FIG Fig. 1 shown with dashed lines. The levers 4 are at a distance from the holding means 5 fixed to the in Fig. 3 shown shaft 28 connected. This shaft 28 is rotatably mounted in the collecting cylinder 2. At one end of this shaft 28, an actuating element 19 is attached, which according to the Figures 2 and 3 has two cam rollers 20 at a distance from the shaft 28. In the Fig. 3 The cam follower 20a shown on the right runs at least partially on a path 21a of a curve 23 and the cam roller 20b on a path 21b of a curve 24. The curves 23 and the curve 24 are stationary, ie they do not rotate with the collecting cylinder 2. However, the curve 24 is For example, axially displaceable, with the in Fig. 3 shown stroke. In Fig. 3 For example, one position of the curve 24 is shown in solid lines and the other position is shown in dashed lines. The intended stroke is indicated by the double arrows 29. The delivery of the second curve 24 may, for example, also be parallel or radial to the axis of rotation of the collecting cylinder 2. Further, it is also conceivable that the second curve 24 is pivotally mounted about the axis of rotation 22 or about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation 22. The curve 23 is not displaceable, it is fastened with a plurality of bolts 27 on the machine frame 30. The curve 24 is guided linearly by a guide element 25. The drive for the axial movement takes place with a pneumatic cylinder 26 which is fixed to the machine frame 30. The curve 24 is directly with a piston rod 60 of the pneumatic cylinder 26 connected. Instead of a pneumatic cylinder, another suitable drive member may be provided. The timely correct operation of the pneumatic cylinder 26 is carried out by a controller 16, which also controls the device 1 upstream, digital printing machine 56 and the cross cutter 57. The controller 16 has the necessary information, for example how many pages each partial product of a newspaper must have, ie how many printed products 17 are collected with the inventive device to a sheet stack 18.

The curve 23 has according to Fig. 2 a different curve section 23a. The web 21 is thus not completely circular. The curve 24 is according to Fig. 2 in front of this deviating curve portion 23a and has a curved portion 24a, which at least approximately overrides the deviating curve portion 23a of the curve 23, as the Fig. 2 shows. If the curve 23 in the in Fig. 3 shown with solid lines, extended position, so the different curve portion 23a is not effective because the actuator 19 is raised in the region of this deviating curve section 23a with the cam roller 20b on the curved portion 24a of the curve 24. The deviant curve section 23a is thus at least approximately canceled by the curve 24. In the Fig. 2 the corresponding position of the lever 19 is shown in solid lines. However, if the curve 24 is in the in Fig. 3 shown with dashed lines position, so this is not effective and accordingly, the cam roller 20b is not active. The actuating element 19 is now controlled solely by the cam roller 20a, which now enters the deviating curve portion 23a. During this retraction of the cam roller 20a, the actuating element 19 according to Fig. 2 moved radially downwards and accordingly the lever 4 are also moved radially inwardly with the holding means 5. The holding means 5 thus release the collected printed products 17 on the collecting cylinder 2.

Belts 9 run over rollers 61 and are driven by the collecting cylinder 2. Between each two axially offset to the axis 22 of the collecting cylinder belts 9 and pulleys 61, 62 and 63 each have a gap in which the holding means 5 are located. By axial displacement of the curve 24 with the pneumatic cylinder 26, the position of the holding means 5 can thus be controlled in a simple manner. For collecting the printed products 17 thus the curve 24 in the in Fig. 3 shifted position shown with solid lines. If the collection process is completed, the curve 24 is offset axially and linearly outwards with the pneumatic cylinder 26, so that the cam roller 20a can dive into the deviating curve section 23a and the collected printed products 17 are released by the holding means 5. As already mentioned, the control of the pneumatic cylinder 26 is carried out by the controller 16.

As the Fig. 1 shows, 4 more levers 4 'are arranged on the collecting cylinder 2 diagonally opposite the levers, which also have holding means 5 and which are also controlled by the curve 23 and the curve 24 as explained above. With these levers 4 ', the printed products 17 of the sheet pile 18' are held and with the levers 4, the printed products 17 of the sheet stack 18th

If the sheet stacks 18 and 18 'released from the holding means 5, they are lifted from the switch 7 from the collecting cylinder and transported away by a conveyor 6. When collecting the switch 7 is according to Fig. 1 in the operating position shown by solid lines. To divert the switch 7 in the in Fig. 1 pivoted outlined position shown with dashed lines. The control of the switch 7 is done with a in the FIGS. 4 to 8 shown, rotating control member 35, and a lever 31 which runs on the control member 35. The lever 31 is fixedly connected via a switch rail 34 with a pivot axis 8 with the switch 7. At a distance to the Weichenholm 34, the lever 31 has at a free end a support roller 32 which runs on the circumference of the rotary control member 35. Between the switch rail 34 and the support roller 32, a spring element 33 is loaded on the lever 31. With this spring element 33, for example a compression spring, the support roller 32 is pressed against the control element 35. The control member 35 has according to the FIGS. 4 and 5 a radially projecting control cam 36, with which the support roller 32 is each slightly raised radially. Accordingly, the switch 7 is pivoted radially outwards. The control cam 36 is arranged so that this pivoting takes place in each case in a gap between the two sheet stacks 18 and 18 '. The switch 7 thus does not touch the collected on the collecting cylinder printed products during this pivoting.

When collecting printed products 17 to sheet stacks 18, the switch 7 with a pawl 37 of a locking device 65 according to the Fig. 6 held in a raised position. In this position, the switch 7 thus does not dip into the collecting cylinder 2. The pawl 37 is according to Fig. 4 around an axis 64 pivotable from a position shown in solid lines to a position shown in dashed lines. However, this pivoting movement is not possible if a piston rod 41 of a pneumatic cylinder 40 according to the Fig. 5 and 6 is extended. A restoring force 38, for example a tension spring, which acts on the pawl 37, causes a torque in a clockwise direction. A stop 39 limits the movement counterclockwise. Is the piston rod 41 according to the Fig. 7 retracted, so is the pawl 37 in the in Fig. 7 shown position. When extended piston rod 41, the pawl 37 is in the in Fig. 5 shown position.

On the lever 31, a latching device 43 is arranged, which cooperates with the pawl 37. Is the pawl 37 in the in Fig. 5 shown position, the latching device 43 engages in a pawl nose 66 of the pawl 37 as soon as the support roller 32 rides on the control cam 36. When snapping the piston rod 41 gives way only slightly. If the piston rod 41 remains extended, the switch 7 is in the in Fig. 6 fixed position shown. The printed products 17 can thus be collected on the collecting cylinder 2. The switch 7 is here in the non-operating position.

For discharging a collected sheet pile 18 or 18 ', the piston rod 41 in the in Fig. 4 shown withdrawn as soon as the leading sheet pile 18 or 18 'associated control cam 36 leaves the region of the locking device or the support roller 32. The switch 7 remains here but provisionally in the raised position, since the comparatively strong pressure element 33 presses the locking device 43 against the latch nose 66. The comparatively weak Restoring force 38 is not able to pull the pawl 37 away from the latching device 43. If now comes to the auszufördernden sheet stack 18 and 18 'associated control cam 36 in the region of the support roller 32, then this and, accordingly, the latching device 43 is slightly raised radially. As a result, the pressure of the latching device 43 is reduced to the pawl 37 and the restoring force 38 is able to the pawl 37 in the in Fig. 4 to pivot position shown with dashed lines. The latching device 43 is thus free and the switch 7 is due to the pressure of the spring element 33, which presses the support roller 32 against the control member 35 in the in Fig. 7 shown pivoted position. In this position, the free end of the switch 7 is located within the surface of the collecting cylinder 2 and accordingly, the sheet stack 18 and 18 'lifted off the collecting cylinder 2 and discharged from the belts 10 and 53 of the conveyor 6. The timely correct actuation of the actuator 40 by a solenoid valve, not shown here is also carried out by the controller 16th

If the conveying out is complete and if a printed product 17 is to be collected again into a sheet stack 18, 18 ', then the piston rod 41 of the actuator 40 is extended as soon as the control cam 36 assigned to the leading benefit leaves the region of the locking device or the supporting roller. If the support roller 32 is lifted radially from the next control cam 36, then the locking device 43 is also raised and locked in the locking device 65 as explained above.

With the inventive device is for the actuation of the actuator 40 of the locking device 65 relatively a lot of time available. The piston rod 41 can be brought into the position necessary for the next use as soon as the control cam 36 of the control member 35 assigned to the preceding benefit leaves the region of the locking device or the support roller 32. The time between two consecutive control cam 36 of the rotating control member 35 is thus the pilot control of the actuator 40 is available. The operation of the holding means 5 for holding and releasing the collected on the periphery B of the collecting cylinder 2 printed products can also be pre-controlled as described above. Immediately after the associated with the collecting cylinder 2, rotating cam rollers 20 leave the area of the deviant curve portion 23 a, the curve 24 can be put up or put away. The adjustment process must then be completed when the rotating cam rollers of the next benefit pass through the region of the deviating cam portion 23a of the curve 23. As a result, the device according to the invention is particularly suitable for high printing speeds of digital printing machines, for example of more than 2 m / sec. The collecting of the printed products 17 on the collecting cylinder 2 is separate from the transverse cutting and folding. The inventive device is therefore particularly suitable in connection with a digital printing machine for the sequential production of partial products with a different number of printed sheets, for example for the production of newspapers. Thus, a variable number of printed products can be assembled into partial products with variable page numbers. Different formats do not require manual intervention. Thus, the device according to the invention enables a high performance for digital printing and at the same time a high flexibility in the construction of the printed products.

Claims (9)

Device for collecting digitally, preferably sequentially printed, printed products (17) fed around an axis (22) by a drive device (13), retaining means (5) for holding and releasing the circumference (3) of the device Collecting cylinder (2) collected printed products (17), and with an actuating device (19) for controlling the holding means (5), and a switch (7) having a parallel to the axis (22) of the collecting cylinder (2) extending pivot axis (8) and with which the collected printed products (17) from the collecting cylinder (2) can be lifted and wegtransportierbar with a conveyor (6), wherein the switch (7) by means of control (16) in time with the supplied printed products (17) when collecting on the collecting cylinder (2) between two consecutive printed products (17) in an inoperative position and when transporting the collected printed products (17) of the collecting cylinder (2) is adjustable to an operating position in which the free end of the switch (7) within the surface of the collecting cylinder (2), characterized in that the collecting cylinder (2 ) is drivingly connected to a concentrically rotating control member (35) having at least one of the non-operating position and the operating position of the switch (7) associated control cam (36) which acts on a on the switch (7) fixed support roller (32). Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the support roller (32) is mounted on the free end of a one-armed lever (31) fixedly connected to the switch (7). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the lever (31) by a spring element (33) is pressed against the control member (35). Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control member (35) has a plurality of, in each case a printed product (17) associated with control cam (36). Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control member (35) is designed as an approximately circular disc, on whose circumference at least one radially projecting control cam (36) is arranged. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the switch (7) is locked in the non-operating position in a locking device (65). Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the locking device (65) in a clock of the supplied printed products (17) controllable, lockable against a restoring force pawl (37). Device according to one of claim 7, characterized in that the pawl (37) can be acted upon by an actuator (40) connected to the controller (16). Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the pawl (37) has a latching nose (66) engaging in a latching device (43) arranged on the switch (7).

Images