GB2365854A

GB2365854A - Bringing folded products together in printing machines

Info

Publication number: GB2365854A
Application number: GB0117168A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Schmieder
Original assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
Current assignee: Manroland AG
Priority date: 2000-07-13
Filing date: 2001-07-13
Publication date: 2002-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2021-07-13
Also published as: FR2811655A1; DE10034150C1; GB2365854B; GB0117168D0; FR2811655B1; CH695267A5

Abstract

A device for bringing products together for a double quarter fold makes it possible to bring products together in a common spider wheel 10 in a precise manner and with the configuration of a compact structure. The folded products, before being brought together, pass through separate longitudinally matched path sections in order to reach interleaving points X<SB>1</SB>, X<SB>2</SB> at the spider wheel 10 in a precise manner. There is a distance Z between the end of one of the path sections B<SB>B</SB> and the interleaving point X<SB>1</SB> that is variable in a substantially linear manner, and/or the belt speeds V<SB>A</SB>, V<SB>B</SB>, V<SB>C</SB>, V<SB>D</SB> of the path sections B<SB>A</SB>, B<SB>B</SB>, B<SB>C</SB>, B<SB>D</SB> can be varied. The interleaving points X<SB>1</SB>, X<SB>2</SB> are arranged in an upper half of the spider wheel 10. Furthermore, it is possible to arrange the interleaving points X<SB>1</SB>, X<SB>2</SB> at the spider wheel 10 irrespective of an angle a that eliminates interference of the folded products of an upper folding group 2 with those of a lower folding group 3. The device enables there to be different interleaving speeds V<SB>1</SB>, V<SB>2</SB> of the folded products at the interleaving points X<SB>1</SB>, X<SB>2</SB>.

Description

2365854 Device for bringing products together in printing machines The

invention relates to a device for bringing 5 products together, in particular for a double quarter fold, in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 and claim 14.

In folding apparatus which are equipped with two folding groups, each of which effects a quarter fold, 10 it is generally known that the respective folded products can be conveyed into a common spider wheel.

In order to effect the conveyance of these folded products into the common spider wheel in such a way that it is possible to preclude mutual interference, 15 the respective folded products must in the first place reach this common spider wheel at different times and in the second place one of these folded products must have disappeared in the spider wheel pocket before the other. The different times at which the respective 20 folded products are conveyed into the spider wheel are achieved by mutual adjustment of the lengths of the individual path sections which the respective folded product has to pass through in order to reach the spider wheel.

25 In order to preclude the mutual influence of the folded products on insertion into the common spider wheel, it is generally known that the angle between the two path sections can be increased.

Whilst the position at which one folded product is 30 interleaved can be changed at will in relation to the output in the direction of delivery, for the other folded product there is only the possibility of being interleaved substantially horizontally or even from slightly below. However, this possibility hinders the 35 compact construction of a system of bringing products together.

An object of the invention is to provide a compact system for bringing products together for a double quarter fold with which it is possible to bring products together in a common spider wheel in a precise 5 manner.

According to aspects of the invention a device is provided as def ined in claim 1 or claim 14.

Developments are defined in the subclaims and can also be understood from the description in connection with

10 the drawings.

A significant advantage is the fact that it becomes possible to bring the products together in a comparatively small spider wheel, and the angle between the interleaving planes or the interleaving points does 15 not necessarily need to be selected according to the criterion pertaining to the non-mutual influence of the folded products. As a result a freedom in the configuration is obtained throughout the construction, that is, a compact structure is rendered possible.

20 For a better understanding of the invention embodiments of it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a folding apparatus in accordance 25 with the invention, having an upper folding group and a lower folding group; Figure 2 shows a particular embodiment of the folding apparatus according to Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a folding apparatus according to 30 Figure 2 with plane II swung up.

Figure 1 shows a folding apparatus 1 which consists of an upper folding group 2, effecting a quarter fold and called DFO in the following, and of a 35 lower folding group 3, effecting a quarter fold and called DFU in the following.

The upper folding group 2 consists of a folding cylinder 4 and folding rollers 5, 6. The lower folding group 3 consists of a folding cylinder 7 and folding rollers 8, 9. Folded products both of the DFO 2 and of S the DFU 3 are conveyed into a common spider or vane wheel 10 that is associated with the DFU 3. The folded products of the DFO 2 reach the spider wheel 10 at an interleaving point X, by way of a path section that is configured as a series of belt line systems B,,, BBI BC 10 for the upper folder. The folded products of the DFU 3 reach the spider wheel 10 at an interleaving point X2 by way of a belt line system BD for the lower folder. The belt line systems Bc and BD, or rather their interleaving points X, and X2, are arranged at an angle 15 a which need not necessarily be selected according to a criterion of an absence of mutual influence of the folded products.

The latter two belt line systems BB and Bc of the upper belt line assembly are arranged at a distance Z 20 from each other. Alternatively, the end of the belt line system B5 could be arranged at the distance Z from the interleaving point X1, in which case the belt line system Bc is then omitted.

Figure 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the 25 folding apparatus 1 according to Figure 1. The middle belt line system BB of the series is arranged in a spider wheel module 11 that can be swivelled about a point A. The spider wheel module 11 is set up in two parts, with a f irst part 12 denoted as plane I being 30 capable of being swivelled at the point A and a second part 13 that is denoted as plane II being connected to plane I in such a way that it is capable of being swivelled about a point B. The spider wheel module 11 is swivelled about the point A on a swivel radius R1.

35 The plane II, i.e. the second part 13, of the spider wheel module 11 can be brought into an extended position W by swivelling about the point B, in order to carry out maintenance work for example (see Figure 3).

Arranged on the plane II of the spider wheel module 11 there is a second spider wheel 14 and a points element 5 15, which is not shown in detail, and a further belt line system or section BE, leading to the second spider wheel 14. Associated with the first and second spider wheels 10, 14 there are delivery means 16, 17, for example delivery belts. An adjusting means 18, for 10 example an adjusting spindle, is arranged between the plane I and the folding apparatus 1. By means of the adjusting means 18 it is possible to cause the spider wheel module 11 to swivel about the point A, located above the lower folding group 3, with the swivel radius is R1.

The radius R, lies in a range between at least 1000 mm and at most 1600 mm. The optimum radius R, amounts to approximately 1588 mm.

The diameter of the spider wheel 10 lies in a 20 range between at least 400 mm. and at most 500 mm. The optimum diameter of the spider wheel 10 amounts to approximately 430 mm.

The DFO 2 and the DFU 3 can each be driven by means of individual drives which are not shown 25 specifically, with the belt line systems BAI BBI BC, BF associated with the DFO 2 being driven by the individual drive of the DFO 2, and the belt line systems BD associated with the DFU 3 being driven by the individual drive of the DFU 3.

30 Alternatively, all the belt line systems DA, BBI Bc, BDI BE can each be driven by means of individual drives which are not shown specifically.

The belt line systems BA, BBI 3C, BDI BE are moved by means of the drives described above at respective 35 belt speeds VA, VBI VC, VD, VE associated with the belt line systems.

A switch-over between the belt line systems Bc and BE is rendered possible by means of the points element between the first spider wheel 14 and the second spider wheel 10. Thus it is not only possible to bring 5 the folded products of the DFO 2 and DFU 3 together in the first spider wheel 10, but in addition the folded products of the DFO 2 can be conveyed into the second spider wheel 14 and the folded products of the DFU 3 into the first spider wheel 10, that is, production by 10 way of two deliveries (layouts) is possible.

If the folded products both of the DFO 2 and of the DFU 3 are to be brought together in one spider wheel, with each folded product occupying its own spider wheel pocket when brought together in the one 15 spider wheel 10, the folded product of the DFO 2 must then be at the interleaving point X, at a f irst time tj and the f olded product of the DFU 3 must be at the next interleaving point X2 of the common spider wheel 10 at a second time t2 20 The f olded product of the DFO 2 must have completely disappeared in a spider wheel pocket of the spider wheel 10, which pocket is not shown specifically, before the folded product of the DFU 3 starts interleaving so that interference of the folded 25 products upon interleaving by insertion into the spider wheel 10 is precluded.

A significant advantage is that by means of individual drives and/or actuating drives (variable speed or planetary gear units) and/or even with fixed 30 transmission ratios the belt speeds VA, VB1 VC, VD, VE of the belt line systems BA, BBI BC, BDI BE can be matched to each other so that the folded products arrive at the desired location at the desired time at the required interleaving speed.

35 Thus, for example, given long lengths of the second and third belts BB, Bc even small changes in speed are enough to give sufficiently large path changes.

The folded product of the DFO 2 is conveyed into the first spider wheel 10 at an interleaving speed VI; 5 the folded product of the DFU 3 is conveyed into the same spider wheel 10 at an interleaving speed V2- A significant advantage is that by means of the individual drives a change or adjustment of the belt speed VBI Vc of the belt line systems BB and/or Dc, that 10 is, the interleaving speed V, resulting from the belt speed VBI VC, in comparison with the -belt speed VD in the belt line system BD for the lower folder, that is, the interleaving speed V2 resulting from the belt speed VD, is possible so that the interleaving points X1, X, 15 are reached at the correct time tl,t2, It is significant that by slightly increasing the interleaving speed V1, for example by 10-15 01, in relation to the interleaving speed V2 of the folded product of the DFU 3 the folded product of the DFO 2 20 reliably reaches a bucket base of the spider wheel pocket before the folded product of the DFU 3 starts interleaving. This contributes also to the realisation of a compact structure because it is no longer just the length of the section of the belt line systems and/or 25 the increase in the angle a between the interleaving points that contributes to precluding mutual influence of the folded products when interleaving by insertion into the common spider wheel.

Since the conveyance of the folded products is a 30 process that is subject to slippage, the sums of the lengths of the sections of the upper belt line systems B -1 ,, 13B, Bc should be variable in relation to the lower system BD This adjustment of the lengths of the sections is 35 achieved by swivelling the belt line system I3B, which is integrated in the spider wheel module 11, about the point A on the radius R1. As a result of the swivel on this large radius R1, the deviations from a straight line are small and substantially correspond to a shift, that is, the distance Z is adjusted in an almost 5 straight-lined or linear movement.

In order to reduce smudging phenomena in the cold set, large radii of the belt line systems have been striven for and simulated by many small individual shafts 19.

List of reference symbols 1 Folding apparatus 2 Folding group 15 3 Folding group 4 Folding cylinder 5 Folding roller 6 Folding roller 7 Folding cylinder 20 8 Folding roller 9 Folding roller 10 Spider wheel 11 Spider wheel module 12 Plane I 25 13 Plane II 14 Spider wheel 15 Points element 16 Delivery means 17 Delivery means 30 18 Adjusting means 19 Shaft A Swivel point A B Swivel point B BA Belt line system 35 BB Belt line system BC Belt line system BD Belt line system BE Belt line system R, Swivel radius tj Time 5 t2 Time V, Interleaving speed V2 Interleaving speed VA Belt speed VB Belt speed 10 VC Belt speed VD Belt speed VE Belt speed W Maintenance position X, Interleaving point 15 X2 Interleaving point z Distance

Claims

Claims

1. A device for bringing two folded products together in a spider wheel (10), in which the folded products, 5 before being brought together, pass through separate longitudinally matched path sections in order to reach interleaving points (X1, X2) at the spider wheel (10) in a precise manner, characterized in that, in order to set the precise time at which the interleaving point 10 (Xj) is reached, the distance (Z) between the end of one of the path sections (BB) and the interleaving point (Xj) is variable in a substantially linear manner, and/or the conveying speeds (VAI VBI VC, VD) of the path sections (BA, BB, Bc, BD) can be set in a variable 15 manner.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the substantially linear distance (Z) is set by swivelling the said one path section (BB) about a point (A) 3. A device according to claim 2, in which the swivelling about the point (A) is effected on a radius (RI) which lies in a range between 1000 mm and 1600 mm.

25 4. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the variable path section (BB, Bc) conveying the folded product as far as the interleaving point (Xj) is realized so as to be in at least two parts.

30 5. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the spider wheel (10) has a diameter between 400 mm and 500 mm.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, in 35 which the two paths emerge from respective folding groups (2, 3).

7. A device according to claim 6, in which it is possible to arrange the interleaving points (XI, X2) at the spider wheel (10) irrespective of an angle a necessary to eliminate any mutual influence of the 5 folded products of the upper folding group (2) and the lower folding group (3).

8. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the belt speeds (VAI VBI VC, VD, VE) are set by 10 means of drive rollers of variable diameter and/or by means of gear units.

9. A device according to any of claims 1 to 7, in which the belt speeds (VAI VBI VC, VD, VE) are set by 15 means of individual drives.

10. A device according to any preceding claim, in which all the mechanical drives are individual drives.

20 11. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the swivelling is effected by means of an adjusting means (18).

12. A device according to claim 11, in which the 25 adjusting means (18) is an adjusting spindle.

13. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the interleaving points (X1, X2) are arranged in an upper half of the spider wheel (10) 14. A device for bringing two folded products together in a spider wheel (10), with the folded products, before being brought together, passing through separate longitudinally matched path sections in order to reach 35 interleaving points (X1, X2) at the spider wheel (10) in a precise manner, with it being possible to arrange the interleaving points (X1, X2) at the spider wheel (10) irrespective of an angle a otherwise necessary to eliminate any mutual influence of the folded products of an upper folding group (2) and a 5 lower folding group (3), characterized in that the absence of mutual influence of the folded products is brought about by different interleaving speeds (V1, V2) of the folded products at the interleaving points (X1, X2)

15. A device according to claim 14, in which the folded product of the upper folding group (2) can be conveyed at a higher interleaving speed (Vj) than the interleaving speed (V2) of the folded product of a lower 15 folding group (3).

16. A device according to claim 15, in which the interleaving speed (Vj) is increased in relation to the interleaving speed M) by 10-15'-..

17. A device according to any of claims 14 to 16, in which the interleaving speeds (V1, V2) are set by means of drive rollers of variable diameter and/or by means of gear units.

18. A device according to any of claims 14 to 16, in which the interleaving speeds (V1, V2) are set by means of individual drives.

30 19. A device according to one of claims 14 to 18, in which all the mechanical drives are individual drives.

20. A device substantially as described with reference to any of the embodiments shown in the accompanying 35 drawings.