JPH08231117A - Signature asssorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a signature assorting device capable of assorting signatures having the various characteristics accurately, such as a signature with high stiffness and capable of being easily self erected and a signature with low stiffness and capable of not being easily self-erected, into the desired numbers. CONSTITUTION: A signature bundle 2A placed on a main table 13 is pinched by a feeding pl.ate 19 and a stop plate 20, erected, and arranged. An assorting table 7 is moved upward (in the direction of the arrow E) and brought in contact with the lower side of a signature bundle 2B, then the table 17 is moved forward (in the direction of the arrow C), the lower side of the signature bundle 2B is made flex, so as to form the assorting space K. The signature bundle 2B is separated, namely, assorted by inserting a separating belt 18 into the space K. Since the assorting space K is formed by continuously and parallely moving the table 17 in two perpendicular directions of the directions of arrows E, C, the accurate assortment can be performed even if the characteristics of the signature bundles are different from each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a signature sorting apparatus for separating a predetermined number of signatures from a signature bundle composed of a plurality of signatures. This signature sorting device is used, for example, when supplying a predetermined number of signatures to a bookbinding machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in many cases, the work of supplying a signature to a collating portion in a bookbinding process has been performed manually by a worker. Further, an automatic signature feeder, a so-called autoloader, is sometimes used only under limited bookbinding specifications. A labor-saving technique using a so-called long feeder as shown in FIG. 13 is known under the idea of saving labor as much as possible even when performing manual processing. According to this technique, the signatures 2 are sequentially stacked one on top of another in the signature storage position P provided in the bookbinding machine 1, and are folded by a hook 5 elastically urged by a rubber 3 extending from a column 4. Press the rear edge of the group.
Under this pressing force, the leading-side signatures 2a are sequentially extracted one by one and fed into the interior of the bookbinding machine 1 for collation.

However, in the above-mentioned signature supply method, when the signature is light and strong like a signature produced by letterpress printing, and therefore it is easy to stand by, the supply operation is continuously performed without any trouble. . However, like a signature made by offset printing or gravure printing,
When the bookbinding machine is heavy and weak, and therefore it is difficult to stand on its own, when a large number of signatures are placed, the weight of the signatures themselves may cause conveyance failure in the binding machine. Further, since the waist is weak and it is difficult to stand on its own, as shown in FIG. 14, there is a strong possibility that the signatures 2 will fall down and the signatures 2 cannot be normally supplied.

In the case of supplying signatures by the above-mentioned autoloader, there is a circumstance that a large number of signatures cannot be stocked in the collating machine, that is, a bookbinding machine. It accounts for the majority. As such an autoloader, for example, one having a structure as shown in FIG. 15 is widely known, but this autoloader includes an upper belt conveyor 6 and a lower belt conveyor 7.
And an inclined belt conveyor 8 and an auxiliary belt conveyor 9 are provided. The lower belt conveyor 7 is located at the height of the working position of the operator, and a large number of signatures 2 are placed on the belt conveyor 7 with the folds facing downward and the spread portions facing up. There is.

The lower conveyor belt 7 conveys the signatures 2 toward the inclined belt conveyor 8. The inclined belt conveyor 8 conveys the signatures 2 conveyed by the lower belt conveyor 7 in the plane direction thereof, that is, diagonally upward. The auxiliary belt conveyor 9 is the inclined belt conveyor 8
In cooperation with, the signatures 2 are clamped one by one and conveyed to the upper belt conveyor 6. The signatures 2 thus transported are further transported by the belt conveyor 6 and sent to the signature storage portion P of the bookbinding machine 1 where they are aligned and arranged in a flat stacking state. The bookbinding machine 1 pulls out the signatures 2 one by one from the signature storage section P to perform bookbinding work. However, in this conventional autoloader, when the signature of the signature is strong, the signature can be conveyed relatively stably. However, when the signature of the signature is weak, the signature 2 is moved by the conveyor 8 and the conveyor 9 to one. There is a problem that it is difficult to carry out stable transportation when transporting the parts one by one. Further, this type of autoloader can be applied only to a flat stacking type bookbinding machine, and cannot be applied to a vertical stacking type binding machine.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional signature conveying system, it is difficult to obtain a proper conveyance state according to the characteristics of the signature, and the signature is strong and hard to bend. It was not possible to stably supply both of the signatures, which are weak and easy to bend, to the bookbinding machine. The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and has signatures having different properties, such as a signature that has a strong waist and is easy to stand, or a section that has a weak waist and is difficult to stand. It is an object of the present invention to provide a signature sorting device capable of accurately sorting various types of signatures such as, etc. into a desired number of sheets, and thus stably supplying the various types of signatures to a bookbinding machine or the like. And

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a signature sorting apparatus according to the present invention comprises a main table on which a bundle of signatures is placed in an upright arrangement and a relative table with respect to the main table. It has a sorting table that forms a sorting space on the side of the signature bundle by moving, and a signature separating means that moves so as to cross the main table and enter the sorting space. Then, the sorting table, after moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the folded bundle and hitting the side of the folded bundle, by moving to the front side in the arrangement direction of the folded bundle, The sorting space is formed.

The sorting table forms a sorting space at the predetermined number of sorted sheets in the folding bundle by shifting the side of the predetermined number of folded sheets on the main table side in the direction parallel to the main table. It is a thing. Therefore, in order to achieve the desired effect, it is necessary to prevent the side edge of the signature from slipping off the sorting table on the sorting table. In order to achieve this object, it is preferable to provide a sorting projection having a sharp tip in a portion of the sorting table that forms the sorting space. This prevents the signature from being caught by the protrusion and coming off the outside.

The sorting table is preferably pushed in the direction of the folded bundle by an elastic member such as a spring or a leaf spring. By doing this, the sorting table can be flexibly moved by following the deformation of the side of the signature regardless of whether the signature of the signature is strong or weak. Sorting work can be performed.

There are various methods for arranging the bundle of signatures upright on the main table, but the simplest and most stable method is to feed the signature bundle toward the signature separating means and the signature plate. A holding mechanism for a signature bundle, which comprises a stop plate which is arranged to face the feed plate with the separating means interposed therebetween and receives a signature bundle pressed by the feed plate. In this case, by collaborating with the feed plate and the stop plate to hold the folded signature bundle, and in the sandwiched state, both plates are moved in parallel with each other in synchronization with the main table. The position of the bundle of signatures with respect to the sorting table and the signature separating means can be adjusted. By this adjustment, it is possible to set the number of sorted sheets related to the folded bundle to a desired number.

The stop plate can be formed by a single single plate. However, in that case, a part of the stop plate on the main table side must be cut out in order to avoid collision with the sorting table and to prevent an excessive load from being applied to the signature bundle. .
However, in such a case, the force of the stop plate pressing the portion of the folded bundle close to the main table becomes weak, so that the desired number of sorted sheets may not be obtained or the number of sorted sheets may vary. Therefore, the stop plate is composed of two parts, a relief part close to the main table and a main body part away from the main table, and the relief part of the stop plate is formed by the sorting table to form a sorting space. When the front side of the bundle of folded sheets is moved in the arrangement direction, it is desirable to move the front side of the folded side of the folded sheets in synchronization with it. In other words, when the sorting work is not performed, the portion near the main table of the signature stack is pressed by the relief portion of the stop plate with sufficient pressure to eliminate the bulge of the signature, while when the sorting work is performed, the sorting table is used. The escape part of the stop plate is moved so as not to interfere with the movement of the stop plate.

In addition to the above construction, it is possible to reciprocate between a projecting position projecting to the signature mounting surface side of the main table in the vicinity of the sorting space and a retracting position retracting to the back side of the main table. It is desirable to provide the first pressing member. The first pressing member moves to the above-mentioned protruding position and faces the sorting space before the sorting table moves to the front side in the arrangement direction of the signature bundle to form the sorting space. Prevents the existing signatures from protruding into the sorting space.

The main table may be installed horizontally or inclined. In the case of inclined installation, the main table is usually inclined so that the front side of the main table is low with respect to the arrangement direction of the folded bundle. In this case, the plurality of signatures placed on the main table tend to slide forward due to their own weight. Therefore, in this case, it is desirable to provide a second pressing member that protrudes from the back side of the main table to the signature mounting surface side in the vicinity of the sorting space and elastically presses the signature. The elastic force used here can be obtained by forming the second pressing portion itself with a leaf spring, or by pressing the second pressing member with a spring or the like provided separately. When the signature is pushed by a feed plate or the like and conveyed, the signature reaches the vicinity of the upper part of the signature separating means while riding over the second pressing member against the elastic force. However, the signature cannot ride over the second pressing member due to its own weight, and therefore,
The slip of the signature on the main table is prevented.

[0014]

According to the signature sorting apparatus of the first aspect, the sorting table is moved relative to the main table to form the sorting space at the side of the bundle of folded sheets. Then, the signature separating means is inserted into the space to separate the signature bundle into two bundles for sorting. At the time of this sorting operation, the sorting table first moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the folded bundles are arranged and abuts the side of the folded bundle, and then the front side in the arranged direction of the folded bundles. Translate to. By a series of parallel movements of the sorting table in the two orthogonal directions, the sorting space is always formed stably at the desired number of sorting sheets in the folded bundle.

As a method of moving the sorting table, a method of moving the sorting table in a direction inclined with respect to the main table may be considered. However, it is conceivable that such an oblique movement method may not provide a satisfactory effect regarding sorting work under appropriate conditions for all signatures of various properties. On the other hand, if the sorting space is formed by continuously moving the sorting table in parallel in two orthogonal directions as in the present invention, it is always desired even when the properties of the signature change. A sorting space can be stably formed at the number of sorting sheets.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 4 shows an entire automatic signature feeder using the signature sorting apparatus according to the present invention. This automatic signature feeder automatically supplies the signature printed by the printing machine to the signature storage position P of the bookbinding machine 1 in a predetermined number of sheets. This signature automatic feeder is
The signature supply unit 10, the signature sorting device 11, and the signature aligning device 12 are provided. A transport hand 23 as a signature transport device is disposed between the signature sorting device 11 and the signature aligning device 12. Further, a transport hand 24 as a signature transport device is disposed between the signature aligning device 12 and the signature storage position P of the bookbinding machine 1.

The signature supply unit 10 includes a main table 13 and
The first plate 14, the second plate 15, and the third
And the plate 16. Main table 13
Are installed so that the front part, that is, the right part of the drawing, faces downward. Inclining the main table 13 in this manner is performed by adjusting the standing state of the signature bundle 2A to the inclination state of the signature accommodating position P of the bookbinding machine 1 so that a predetermined number of signatures sorted from the signature bundle 2A. This is to prevent the signatures 2 in the signature bundle 2B from being displaced and disturbing the alignment state as much as possible when the sorting bundle 2B is carried to the signature storage position P. The first plate 14 is the main table 13
The second plate 15 and the third plate 16 can move in parallel with respect to
You can move in any direction.

The signature sorting apparatus 11 includes a main table 13
A sorting table 17, a signature separating device 18,
It has a feed plate 19 and a stop plate 20. The feed plate 19 can be moved in two directions parallel and at right angles to the main table 13 by the action of the air cylinder 21. As shown in FIG. 2, two main tables 13 are installed corresponding to both ends of the folded bundle 2A.

In FIG. 1, a stop plate 2 is arranged on the main table 13 so as to face the feed table 19.
0 is a relief portion 20a which is a portion close to the main table 13.
And a main body portion 20 which is a portion away from the main table 13.
b. The upper end of the escape portion 20a is rotatably connected to the body portion 20b by a hinge 32. The main body portion 20b is supported by a guide rod 31 so as to be movable in the left-right direction, and the output rod of the air cylinder 30 is fixed to the right side surface thereof. The tip of the output rod of the air cylinder 33 is rotatably connected to the right side surface of the escape portion 20a. Stop plate 20
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, one is provided at a position corresponding to the main table 13 and a total of two are provided.

In FIG. 1, the right side portion of the sorting table 17 is fixed to the upper lifting table 25, and a sorting projection 17a having a sharp tip is formed at the left end portion thereof. The upper lift table 25 is elastically pushed upward by a lower lift table 27 via a compression spring 26 as an elastic member. The lower lifting table 27
It is fixed to the tip of the output rod of the air cylinder 22 and is driven by the air cylinder 22 to move up and down. When the lower elevating table 27 moves up and down, the movement is transmitted to the upper elevating table 25 through the spring 26, and the upper elevating table 25 and the sorting table 17 fixed thereto are moved up and down.

The air cylinder 22 is held by a moving block 28, and the moving block 28 is fixed to an output rod of an air cylinder 29 supported by a machine frame F whose position is immovable. When the air cylinder 29 operates, the moving block 28 reciprocates in parallel with a predetermined stroke in the left-right direction in the drawing, that is, the front-back direction of the arrangement direction N of the signatures 2. At this time, the sorting table 17 supported by the moving block 28 also moves in the same direction, that is, in the front-back direction of the arranging direction N of the signatures 2. It should be noted that, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, two sorting tables 17 are provided, one at each position near the main table 13 and a total of two.

As shown in FIG. 2, the signature separating device 18 is arranged at a substantially central position between the two main tables 13. This signature separating device 18 is, as shown in FIG.
A side plate 34 that is long in the vertical direction, three rotatable rollers 35, 36, 37 provided on the upper end of the side plate 34, and the side plate 3
The belt 4 stretched between two rollers 38 and 39 provided at the lower part of the No. 4 and two upper and lower rollers 35 and 38 on the left side.
0, and a belt 41 that is stretched between the upper and lower two rollers 37 and 39 on the right side and the uppermost roller 36. The side plate 34 is driven by the air cylinder 42 (FIG. 1) and reciprocates in the vertical direction of FIG. 3, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the main table 13. The left and right belts 40 and 41 are fixed to the stationary machine frame frames 44a and 44b by bolts 43, respectively. Also,
The belts 40 and 41 are in surface contact with each other under pressure between the upper left roller 35 and the uppermost roller 36. With the above structure, when the side plate 34 moves up and down, the belts 40 and 41 move around the relative position with respect to the side plate 34, but do not move relative to the signature 2 on the main table 13. ing.

In FIG. 1, a first pressing member 45 is arranged near the tip of the sorting table 17.
Further, the second pressing member 46 is provided on the left side of the first pressing member 45.
Is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, two first pressing members 45 are provided, one corresponding to each of the two sorting tables 17, one in total. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, these first pressing members 45 are rotatably supported about a fulcrum Q, and are rotationally moved by being driven by a drive source (not shown) such as an air cylinder. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the first pressing member 45 has a retracted position where it is retracted to the back side of the main table 13, and
As shown in FIG. 7, the main table 13 is reciprocally rotationally moved between the main table 13 and a projecting position projecting toward the signature placement surface.

The second pressing member 46 is formed of a spring material such as a leaf spring, and is arranged so as to surround the signature separating device 18, as shown in FIG. Further, in FIG. 5, the second pressing member 46 is supported by the machine frame frame 48, which is stationary on the back side of the main table 13, that is, at the lower position, and further extends obliquely upward. The tip of the second pressing member 46 is slightly
Overhangs.

In FIG. 4, the signature aligning device 12 arranged on the right side of the signature sorting device 11 is a contact member for the left and right sides and the upper side of the predetermined number of signature bundles 2B placed on the table 49. The table bundle 49 is vibrated in a state where the table bundle (not shown) is brought into contact with or brought close to the folded sheet bundle 2B.
Vibration is applied to the left and right sides and the upper side of the folded bundle 2B at the same time. By these processes, air is introduced between the signatures that have been attracted to each other by static electricity or the like, and the signatures are aligned and the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the bundle are aligned.

The operation of the automatic signature feeder of the above construction will be described below.

In FIG. 4, the main table 13 between the first plate 14 and the second plate 15 of the signature supply unit 10 is shown.
A plurality of signatures 2 are placed on the above by an operator's manual work or an automatic machine such as a robot hand. Signature 2
As shown in FIG. 12, it is formed by folding a single printed sheet a plurality of times, and has a fold portion D and a spread portion H. When the signature 2 is placed on the main table 13, it is placed so that the fold portion D contacts the main table 13.

Then, in FIG. 4, the first plate 1
4, the second plate 15, the third plate 16, and the feed plate 19 of the signature sorting apparatus 11 independently and independently move in parallel and parallel to the main table 13 in a predetermined order, and By the movement, the signature bundle 2A in the signature supply unit 10 is conveyed onto the main table 13 between the feed plate 19 and the stop plate 20 in the signature sorting apparatus 11. As shown in FIG. 5, the feed plate 19 presses the signature bundle 2A on the main table 13 against the stop plate 20. At this time, the signature separating device 18 is positioned below the main table 13, the sorting table 17 is retracted to the retracted position below the main table 13, and the first pressing member 45 is also retracted below the main table 13. Retracted to the position.

Thereafter, referring to FIG. 6, the feed plate 19
While the folded plate bundle 2A is held between the stop plate 20 and the stop plate 20, both plates 19 and 20 move in parallel in the forward direction, that is, the right direction in the drawing by a predetermined stroke in synchronization with each other as indicated by an arrow B. . As a result, the folded bundle 2
The predetermined number M on the front side of A is set as the sorting number.
When the bundle of signatures 2A is conveyed forward by the feed plate 19 and the stop plate 20, each signature 2 presses the second retainer member 46 downward against the spring force. It goes over the member 46 and moves forward. As described in FIG. 4, the main table 13 is inclined so that its front portion is lowered,
Each signature 2 tends to slide forward due to its own weight. Therefore, if the second pressing member 46 does not exist, the signature 2
May slip forward and the number of sorted sheets M may become unstable. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment in which the second pressing member 46 is provided, the second pressing member 46 prevents the signatures 2 from slipping in the forward direction, so that such a variation in the number of sorted sheets M is generated. Disappears.

When the number of sorting sheets M is set as described above, the sorting table 17 moves in parallel upward as shown by arrow E in FIG.
Protruding toward the upper side of the sheet and provided at its tip
a enters between the signatures 2 at the number M of sorted sheets, and further lifts the bundle of folded sheets 2B for the number M of sorted sheets slightly upward. Simultaneously with the upward movement of the sorting table 17, or after the upward movement of the sorting table 17, the first pressing member 45 is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing to move upwards of the main table 13. Then, the lower part of the signature on the rear side of the number of sorted sheets M is pushed rearward, that is, leftward in the drawing. Further, the escape portion 20a of the stop plate 20
Are pulled by the air cylinder 33 (FIG. 1) and are rotated counterclockwise. This prevents an excessive load from being applied to the lower side of the signature sorting bundle 2B.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8, the sorting table 17 is moved in parallel with the main table 13 to the front side (the right side in the drawing) of the folding bundle 2A in the arrangement direction N as shown by an arrow C. To do. As a result, the lower side of the signature sorting bundle 2B is shifted forward (to the right in the figure) to form the sorting space K. When the sorting table 17 is moved in parallel with the main table 13 and the lower side of the signature sorting bundle 2B is bent to the right, the escape portion 20a of the stop plate 20 is rotationally moved upward to escape. Therefore, the movements of the sorting table 17 and the signature sorting bundle 2B are not hindered, so that the sorting space K is always stably formed at a desired position. The signature on the remaining bundle side facing the sorting space K is urged rearward by both the first pressing member 45 and the second pressing member 46, so that the signature is erroneously placed. It can be surely prevented from projecting inward.

Further, when the sorting table 17 moves as shown by arrows E and C to form the sorting space K, the sorting table 17 is appropriately pressed by the spring force of the spring 26 (FIG. 1). Push up the folded bundle 2B from below. Bundle of signatures 2B with sorting table 17
Since the push-up force and push-up amount of the sheet change depending on the weight of the signature 2 and the strength of the waist, the sorting projection 17a is surely folded by the relatively strong push-up force when the signature of the waist is strong. Enter the chome. On the other hand, when the target is a signature that is weak and easily bends, the sorting table 17 pushes up the signature bundle 2B in accordance with the bending amount of the signature, so that the sorting projection 17a surely becomes a signature. Therefore, even if the signature is weak, it can be stably and reliably sorted at the desired number of sorting sheets. In other words, the effect of being able to always perform stable sorting work even when the properties of the signatures are variously changed is further improved.

After that, the side plate 34 of the signature separating device 18 starts to move upward, and the side plate 34 enters the sorting space K from the upper end as shown in FIG.
As shown in 0, the side plate 34 cuts through the folded bundle 2A and moves upward to completely separate the folded bundle 2B. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the transport hand 23 is inserted into the front and rear side surfaces of the signature sorting bundle 2B, and the transport sorting hand 23 grips and transports the signature sorting bundle 2B, as shown in FIG. Then, it is taken out from the main table 13.

The extracted signature sorting bundle 2B is shown in FIG.
In the signature aligning device 12 by the transport hand 23
The table 49 is transported to and placed on the table 49. Then, by applying vibration and blowing air, the sorting process and the side edge alignment process are performed on the folded bundle 2B. Then, the signature bundle 2B that has been neatly aligned by receiving these processes is gripped and conveyed by the conveyance hand 24 at an appropriate timing, and is supplied to the signature accommodation position P of the bookbinding machine 1.

In the signature sorting apparatus 11 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the sorting table 17 first has a direction substantially perpendicular to the arrangement direction N of the folded bundle 2A as indicated by an arrow E. Parallel to the folded bundle 2A, especially the lower side of the sorting bundle 2B, and then the direction of movement is changed to the front side of the arrangement direction N indicated by arrow C.
And by such a series of continuous movements in two directions,
A sorting space K is formed on the lower side of the folded bundle 2A. As described above, the sorting space K is formed by the continuous movement in the upward and horizontal directions of the sorting table 17, so that even if the property of the signature 2 changes in various ways, it is always desired. The sorting space K can be stably formed at the number of sorted sheets.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims. it can. For example, the automatic signature feeder shown in FIG. 4 is a usage example of the signature sorting apparatus according to the present invention, and the signature sorting apparatus of the present invention has a signature of any other structure. Applicable to automatic feeder.

[0037]

According to the signature sorting apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the sorting space is formed at the side of the signature bundle by continuously moving the sorting table in parallel in two orthogonal directions. Therefore, various types of signatures such as signatures with different characteristics, such as a signature that is strong and easy to stand, and a signature that is weak and difficult to stand, are always stable and secure at the desired number of sheets. Can be sorted into

According to the signature sorting apparatus of the second aspect, since the bundle of signatures on the sorted side is caught by the sorting projection, the signature does not come off from the sorting table, so that stable sorting work is performed. Is obtained.

According to the signature sorting apparatus of the third aspect, the pressing force and the pressing amount of the bundle of signatures by the sorting table change according to the weight of the signature and the strength of the waist due to the action of the elastic member. To do. As a result, even when the signatures have various properties, the sorting space can always be accurately formed at the desired number of sorting sheets.

According to the signature sorting apparatus of the fourth aspect, the bundle of signatures can be held by a simple and reliable method, and the number of sorted sheets can be easily and accurately adjusted.

According to the signature sorting device of the fifth aspect, when the signature bundle is sandwiched by the feed plate and the stop plate, the entire side surface of the signature bundle can be pressed in a wide range by the stop plate. Also, when the sorting space is formed, the folded bundle of sheets to be sorted is flexibly deformed, but at that time, the escape portion of the stop plate is moved away to prevent an excessive load from being applied to the flexibly folded signature bundle. it can.

According to the signature sorting apparatus of the sixth aspect, since the signature on the side of the remaining bundle facing the sorting space is pressed by the first pressing member, the signature is projected into the sorting space. Can be reliably prevented. As a result, the movement of the signature separating means is not obstructed.

According to the signature sorting apparatus of the seventh aspect, particularly with respect to the signature sorting apparatus of the type in which the main table is inclined, the signature can be prevented from sliding on the main table. It is possible to prevent the number of sheets from becoming unstable.

[0044]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing an embodiment of a signature sorting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the signature sorting device.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing a main part of the signature sorting apparatus of FIG. 1, particularly a signature separating apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating an entire example of an automatic signature feeder that uses the signature sorting device according to the present invention.

5 is a diagram showing an operating state of the signature sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 1, in particular, an initial conveyance state of a signature bundle.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operating state of the signature sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 1, particularly a state when a desired sorting number is set.

7 is a diagram showing an operating state of the signature sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 1, in particular, a state in which the sorting table is in contact with the lower side of the signature bundle.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operating state of the signature sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 1, particularly a state in which a sorting space is formed at a lower side portion of the signature bundle.

9 is a view showing an operating state of the signature sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 1, particularly a state in which the signature separating apparatus is inserted in a sorting space.

10 is a diagram showing an operating state of the signature sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 1, in particular, a state in which the signature separating apparatus sorts a predetermined number of signature bundles.

11 is a diagram showing an operating state of the signature sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 1, particularly a state when a sorted bundle of signatures is extracted.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an example of a signature.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing an example of a conventional signature supply method.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a state in which signatures are arranged when the same conventional method is used.

FIG. 15 is a front view showing another example of a conventional signature supply method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 bookbinding machine 2 signatures 2A signature bundle 2B sorted signature bundle 10 signature supply unit 11 signature sorting device 12 signature aligning device 13 main table 14 first plate 15 second plate 16 third plate 17 for sorting Table 17a Sorting protrusion 18 Signature separating device 19 Feed plate 20 Stop plate 20a Stop plate escape portion 20b Stop plate body portion 23, 24 Transport hand 25 Upper lifting table 26 Spring (elastic member) 27 Lower lifting table P Signature Storage position N Folding direction M Predetermined number of sheets K Space for sorting

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. In a signature sorting apparatus for separating a predetermined number of signatures from a signature bundle composed of a plurality of signatures, a main table on which the signature bundles are placed in an upright arrangement and a main table. It has a sorting table that forms a sorting space on the side of the signature bundle by moving relatively, and a signature separating means that moves so as to enter the sorting space across the main table. The sorting table is moved almost at right angles to the arrangement direction of the folded bundle and hits the side of the folded bundle,
A signature sorting device, characterized in that the sorting space is formed by moving the signature bundle forward in the arrangement direction. 2. The signature sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a sorting projection having a sharp tip protruding in the direction of the folded bundle is provided on the sorting table. . 3. The signature sorting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an elastic member that elastically presses the sorting table in the direction of the signature bundle. . 4. The signature sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the signature separating means is provided between the feed plate for pressing the signature bundle toward the signature separating means. And a stop plate which is arranged to face the feed plate by being sandwiched between and which receives the signature bundle pressed by the feed plate, and the feed plate and the stop plate cooperate to hold the signature bundle. In this state, the signature sorting device is characterized in that the signature sorting devices are moved in parallel with each other in synchronization with each other in the main table. 5. The signature sorting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the stop plate has an escape portion near the main table and a main body portion away from the main table, and the escape portion of the stop plate is for sorting. A signature sorting device, characterized in that, when the table moves forward in the stacking direction of the signature bundle to form a sorting space, it moves forward in the stacking direction of the signature bundle in synchronization therewith. 6. The signature sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the signature sorting device has a projecting position projecting to a signature mounting surface side of the main table at a position near the sorting space. Before the moving of the sorting table to the front side in the stacking direction of the signature bundle to form the sorting space, the first pressing member capable of reciprocating between the retracting position retracting to the back side of the main table is provided. In addition, the signature sorting device, wherein the first pressing member moves to the protruding position. 7. The signature sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the main table is arranged so as to be slanted so that a front side in the arrangement direction of the signature bundle is lowered. A signature sorting device comprising a second pressing member that projects from the back side of the main table to the signature mounting surface side at a position near the sorting space and elastically presses the signature.