EP0587531B1 - Method and device for feeding correctly orientated sheets to a folding machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for feeding sheet sheets of different rectangular formats, which are output by a printer or copier at a first speed onto a feed table and then fed to a folding machine, sensor means for determining the sheet format being present and selectively at least one predetermined one Sheet format is rotated by 90 ° relative to the table level.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a device, in particular for performing the method.

Electrostatic printers are known for producing large-format drawings. Printing takes place from paper rolls, whereby two or more paper rolls of different widths can be present. The drawings are printed either lengthways or transversely to the longitudinal direction of the web. Such large-format drawings can be folded immediately after printing by folding machines known per se. The folding process must take place in such a way that after folding the head or the parts list always lies on the top sheet, i.e. the cover sheet. The folding machine can be programmed so that a different number of folds can be carried out depending on the sheet length. However, in order to meet the requirement that the header or the parts list is always on the cover sheet after the folding process, it is necessary to ensure that the drawings that leave the printer - for a given paper roll width - regardless of whether they are longitudinal - Or transverse position are printed on the paper tape, the folding machine are always fed so that the head or the parts list in the flat state has a matching predetermined position. This means that, for example, drawings that are printed in longitudinal format from a first, wide roll can be entered directly into the subsequent folding machine. In the case of drawings of the same width in landscape format - that is, half the size - it is necessary, however, to turn these drawing sheets on a feed and turning table by 90 ° in the sheet plane so that the folding process can be carried out correctly in the sense mentioned. The same applies to one or more additional paper rolls of smaller width.

From CH-PS 650 221 a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and a device according to the preamble of claim 3 for the transport of rectangular sheets is known, which or the like from a copier. are output and turned through 90 ° so that they can be fed to a downstream processing device in the correct position. The turning process takes place in such a way that a stationary needle-like holding member is eccentrically inserted into the sheet arch along the transport path and the linear moving transport members located to the side of this holding member cause a pivoting movement of the sheet arch by 90 °. Disadvantages are the slow transport and the large space requirement of the feed table in the longitudinal and transverse directions, including transverse transport elements for the sheet sheets.

With the invention, the object is to be achieved by a printer or the like. Continuously output large-format sheets, which are incurred indiscriminately in the longitudinal and landscape format, with the avoidance of manual work, depending on the format, to feed a folding machine in the correct position with a small footprint of the feed table between the printer and the folding machine.

This object is achieved by the features mentioned in the characterizing part of claims 1 and 3.

This makes it possible to automatically fold the drawing sheets issued by a printer or the like, which are incurred indiscriminately in longitudinal or landscape format, by means of a subordinate folding machine, avoiding manual labor, with the cover sheet on top. The rotary movement with predetermined sheet sizes enables a very compact design, the feed and turning table between printer and folding machine taking up only a small amount of space.

Since the sheet sheet that has been turned is transported away at an increased speed, sheet sheets can be fed continuously to the feed table without the turning process being disrupted in the case of predetermined sheet sheet formats. The different sheet formats fed in random order are recognized on the feed table and only those are selected which require a 90 ° rotation in order to be fed to the folding machine in the correct position. Under fit is understood that after the folding process the head or the parts list always lies on the cover sheet, preferably at the foot, in a readable position.

Fig. 1

die Lage unterschiedlicher Papierformate auf einem Zufuhrtisch

Fig. 2

eine schematische Gesamtansicht von Drucker, Zufuhrtisch und Faltmaschine

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf den Zufuhrtisch in Richtung des Pfeiles III in Fig. 1, bei entfernten länglichen Halteschienen

Fig. 4

einen Vertikalschnitt durch das Hub-Drehorgan

Fig. 5

ein elektrisches Schaltschema

Es sind Drucker und Kopierer auf dem Markt zur Herstellung grossflächiger Zeichnungen ab Rolle. Unter "Drucker" sollen insbesondere elektrostatische Printer und andere auch fotografische Herstellungsverfahren verstanden werden. Dabei kann der Drucker od. dgl. ab zwei oder mehreren Papier-Vorratsrollen unterschiedlicher Breite arbeiten. Die ausgedruckten Zeichnungen normierter rechteckiger Grösse gelangen fortlaufend auf einen Zufuhrtisch 2, an den sich eine Faltmaschine 9 anschliesst. Diese Blattbogen 3, beispielsweise in Form grossflächiger Maschinen- oder Bauzeichnungen, sind je mit einem Beschriftungskopf 11, 12 oder einer Stückliste versehen, welche sich nach dem Falten oben auf dem Deckblatt befinden sollen. Da das Faltprogramm der Faltmaschine gegeben ist, setzt dies voraus, dass die Zeichnungen mit ihrem Beschriftungskopf 11, 12 oder Stückliste in einer vorbestimmten Lage in die Faltmaschine einzuführen sind. Da die ausgedruckten Zeichnungen wahlweise Längs- oder Querformat haben können, ist beim einen Format eine Verdrehung von 90° auf dem Zufuhrtisch durchzuführen.In the drawing, an embodiment of the invention is shown and will be described in more detail below. Show it:

Fig. 1

the location of different paper sizes on a feed table

Fig. 2

a schematic overall view of the printer, feed table and folding machine

Fig. 3

a plan view of the feed table in the direction of arrow III in Fig. 1, with elongated support rails removed

Fig. 4

a vertical section through the lifting rotary member

Fig. 5

an electrical circuit diagram

There are printers and copiers on the market for the production of large-scale drawings from a roll. “Printers” are to be understood in particular to mean electrostatic printers and other photographic production processes. The printer or the like can work from two or more paper supply rolls of different widths. The printed drawings of standardized rectangular size continuously arrive on a feed table 2, to which a folding machine 9 is connected. These sheets 3, for example in the form of large-area machine or construction drawings, are each provided with an inscription head 11, 12 or a parts list, which should be on the top of the cover sheet after folding. Since the folding program of the folding machine is given, this presupposes that the drawings with their labeling head 11, 12 or parts list are to be inserted into the folding machine in a predetermined position. Since the printed drawings can be in either longitudinal or landscape format, one format must be rotated by 90 ° on the feed table.

In Fig. 1, the output of a drawing in standard format A1 (592 x 841 mm) corresponding to the paper roll width is shown as an example, in which the longitudinally extending parts list 11 is located on the upper left edge. With the same sheet width, the printer can also output a drawing in standard format A2 (420 x 594 mm), in which the parts list 12 comes to lie transversely to the lower edge of the sheet. The A2 format corresponds to half of the A1 format. The position of the parts list 12 differs from the position of the parts list 11 of the format A1, as is shown in full lines in FIG. 1. In addition to these two sheet sizes, the printer or the like can output sheets from a second, narrower supply roll, for example A3 (297 x 420 mm), the A4 format also having to be turned over. For reasons of a better overview, these sheet standard sizes A3 and A4 were not shown in FIG. 1; however, the turning principle is the same.

The sheet sheets 3 output by the printer 1 or the like and reaching the feed table 2 are scanned by sensors 5-8 to determine their format. In the example described here, only the A2 sheet format, but not the A1 sheet format, must be rotated by 90 ° in the table plane. The scanning is carried out by three sensors 5, 6, 7, which are arranged one behind the other in the sheet feed direction Z in the table center area and to which a fourth sensor 8 is laterally assigned. There is also a start sensor 4 assigned to the sheet inlet for the sheet drive elements. When a sheet size A1 is transported in the direction of arrow Z1 on the feed table 2; all five sensors 4-8 are activated in succession and an electrical format selection circuit 15 assigned to the sensors recognizes this sheet size A1. This in printer 1 from the paper supply roll Separated sheet format A1 passes from the feed table 2 - without being turned - directly into the folding machine 9 with the same transport direction, ie the sheet entry direction Z1 and the sheet exit direction Z2 match.

In contrast, when a sheet size A2 with transverse lettering is fed, the selection circuit recognizes this sheet size A2. As soon as the sensor 7 covers the sheet sheet A2 and at the same time releases the sensor 5, a rotary movement of this sheet sheet 3 is initiated. The rotary movement is clockwise according to arrow U through an angle of 90 ° around the center of the blade P. The sensors 4-8 are preferably light barriers; however, microswitches or the like could also be used. The sensors are preferably reflection light sensors which are embedded in the feed table flush with the table surface. It is also possible to temporarily stop the transport members 10 during the rotary movement.

3 shows the design of the feed table 2. The table surface is penetrated from below by a plurality of transport rollers 10, 17, which are driven by two drive motors 13, 19 via toothed belts 14 and are controlled by the electrical control 33. Above these transport rollers 10 there are metal balls 16 in loose support in four holding rails attached to the cross member 24, which by their own weight press an intermediate sheet against the transport rollers 10 and thereby cause the sheet to be fed. The transport rollers 17 located on the right in FIG. 3 are driven at a higher speed than the inlet-side transport rollers 10, so that the sheet sheets 3 are transported towards the folding machine 9 at a higher speed. The folding machine 9 operates at a higher speed than the output speed of the printer 1 corresponds. The transport rollers 10 are each provided with a conventional overrunning freewheel, which has the effect that a sheet caught by the faster-running transport rollers 17 is not inhibited by the slower-driven transport rollers 10. The different speeds of the transport rollers 10 and 17 could also be achieved by a single motor 13 by means of different transmission ratios instead of by two different drive motors 13, 19, this being done by a transmission gear 27 with clutch. Furthermore, instead of the motor 19, the drive movement can be taken directly from drive elements 37 (FIG. 2) of the printer 1.

4 is designed to carry out a rotary movement of the sheet sheet 3 in the A2 format by 90 °. It contains a turntable 20 arranged flush with the table surface, above which there is a rotatably mounted counter pressure plate 22 at a distance. The counter-pressure plate 22 is fastened to a yoke 24 which extends across the feed table 2 and on which four holders 21 also hang. The lifting movement of the turntable 20 is carried out by a solenoid-type electromagnet 26, the central, vertical plunger 28 of which is connected to a rotatable shaft 30 via a roller bearing housing 32. The electromagnet 26 is rigidly connected to the feed table 2 via a U-shaped holding plate 34 and a bearing body 36. The shaft 30 is rotatably supported in a ball bearing 38 at the bottom and in a slide bearing 40 at the top and is axially movable. A cross bolt 42, which is non-rotatably connected to the turntable 20, penetrates a longitudinal slot 44 of the shaft 30. This hub 46 is rigidly connected to a drive wheel 48. A toothed belt 50 is around this drive wheel 48 and wrapped around a pinion 49 of a stepper motor 54. The stepper motor 54 is rigidly connected to the bearing body 36. The electrical control of this stepper motor 54 takes place via a control circuit 25. Thus, the axis 30 and the turntable 20 rigidly connected to it can execute both an axial movement and a rotary movement. A spring 23 causes the shaft 30 to retract into the rest position.

The feed table 2 presses against a stop 57 and can be pivoted up about a horizontal pivot axis 56. As a result, the entire feed table 2 can be pivoted upwards in accordance with arrow 55 in order to provide good accessibility between the printer 1 and the folding machine 9.

The mode of action is as follows:
If a sheet of sheet 3 is fed to the feed table 2 from a printer 1 or the like at a first speed, namely the printer output speed, its format can be determined by the sensors 5-8 by evaluating the covered and free sensors. It is assumed that a sheet of sheet 3 with the format A2 is to be turned through 90 ° in order to be inserted in the correct position into the folding machine 9 which directly adjoins the feed table 2. An embodiment of a suitable folding machine is disclosed in USA-A-5 045 039. As soon as the light barrier 7 is covered by the sheet sheet A2 supplied and at the same time the light barrier 5 is released, the format selection circuit 15 has the effect that the electrical control member 29 of the lifting and rotating assembly 18 is activated, so that the sheet sheet is raised in its middle section and between the turntable 20 and the counter-pressure plate 22 is clamped. After a short delay - effected by the timer 31 - the cutting motor 54 starts and causes a rotation of 90 ° in a plane parallel to the table level.

After the rotary movement of the sheet 2 has been completed, the control member 29 causes the turntable 20 to be lowered again, whereupon the sheet 2 is gripped by the conveyor rollers 17. These are driven by the motor 13 at a second speed which is about three times higher than the running-in speed and which preferably corresponds to the working speed of the folding machine 9. The drive rollers 17 could be driven by drive members of the folding machine instead of a motor 13. The motor 13 is controlled by a control member 33. This increased take-off speed prevents faults with continuously new sheet sheets 3. The turntable 20 does not need to be turned back, since the stepper motor 54 again executes a predetermined rotary movement by the stepper motor controller 25 during the next stroke movement.

One embodiment variant is that even abnormally long formats can be fed directly to the folding machine 9, e.g. long electrical schematics. The control device is modified in such a way that when all sensors 4-7 are covered, the electric motor 13 and the folding machine 9 are lowered in the sheet transport speed and switched to the transport speed of the printer 1. This prevents the sheet that has not yet left the printer from being drawn into the folding machine which operates at a higher folding speed. As soon as the rear sheet edge has released the sensor 4 or, if need be, an even further sensor on the printer side, the sheet transport and folding machine speed can be increased again.

Claims (10)

1. Method for feeding sheets of different rectangular formats, which are delivered by a printer (1) or copier at a first speed to a feed table (2) and then are supplied to a further processing machine (9), sensor means (5, 8) for ascertaining the sheet format being provided and selectively at least one predetermined sheet format is rotated through 90 relative to the plane of the table, characterised in that the respectively selected sheet (3) to be turned is raised in its central region above the plane of the feed table (2) and in this state is rotated through 90 and after lowering the sheet (3) is discharged at a higher speed in comparison with the first speed.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterised in that on ascertaining a sheet format to be turned, a lifting/rotating unit for swivelling the sheet is activated and after lowering of the sheet the latter is discharged in the withdrawal direction (Z2) aligned with the intake direction (Z1) of the sheet.
3. Apparatus, in particular for carrying out the method according to Claims 1 or 2, with a feed table, which is located between a printer (1) or copier and a folding machine (9), characterised in that cooperating with the feed table (2) is a lifting/rotating member (18) for engaging the sheet (3) and the feed table (2) comprises conveying members (17), by which the turned sheet (3) can be discharged at a higher sheet outlet speed (Z2) in comparison with the sheet intake speed (Z1).
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterised in that the lifting/rotating member (18) together with a solenoid (26) and a stepping motor (54) forms one component.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4, characterised in that above the lifting/rotating member (18), a rotary counter-pressure plate (22) is provided on a transverse support (24).
6. Apparatus according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterised in that located between a turntable (20) and a stationary solenoid (26) is a rotary bearing (32), in a shaft (30) connected to the turntable (20) a longitudinal groove (44) is provided, which is penetrated by a transverse pin (42), which is seated in a drive wheel hub (46, 48), which is in driving connection with a stepping motor (54).
7. Apparatus according to one of Claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the feed table (2) is constructed to tilt about a horizontal shaft (56).
8. Apparatus according to one of Claims 3 to 7, characterised in that provided in the feed table (2) are several sensors (4-8) cooperating with an electric evaluation circuit (15), for the selection of the sheet formats to be rotated.
9. Apparatus according to one of Claims 3 to 8, characterised in that first sheet drive rollers (10) at the input side of the feed table (2) can be driven by a first motor (19) or by the printer (1) at a first speed and second sheet drive rollers, which form the conveyor rollers (17), can be driven by another motor (13) or by the folding machine (9).
10. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterised in that sensor-controlled switching means are provided, by which the sheet withdrawal speed can be adapted to the sheet intake speed.

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