EP2176151B1 - Method and apparatus for the production of a folded sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for producing a folded sheet, the sheet being fed using a feeding mechanism, being aligned using an aligning device, and being folded using a folding device. The aim of the invention is to simplify production, render the production process more flexible, and reduce costs. Furthermore, an alternative apparatus should allow the production costs to be reduced by improving the quality. In the disclosed method, said aim is achieved by positioning the sheet at an angle from the direction of travel during the feeding process, aligning the sheet that has been positioned at an angle, and transferring the aligned sheet into a folding device to produce at least one fold that extends at an angle to the edges of the sheet. In a first embodiment, said aim is also achieved by an apparatus in which the folding device is a buckle folding unit, the shape of the first buckle of which is adapted to the edges of the sheet that are positioned at an angle. In a second embodiment, said aim is further achieved by an apparatus in which the aligning device has at least one stop which can be rotated about an axis of rotation in the direction of travel of the aligned sheet in order to allow the sheet to be conveyed.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for producing a folded sheet, wherein the sheet is fed, aligned and folded, wherein the sheet is brought during the feeding in an inclined position to the running direction, wherein the skewed sheet is aligned and wherein the aligned sheet in a folding device is transferred to produce at least one fold which extends at an angle to the edges of the sheet. In addition, a device for producing a folded sheet, in particular for carrying out the method, with a feed, an aligning device and at least one folding device, wherein the alignment means comprises at least one stop for bringing the sheet in an inclined position, which is about an axis of rotation in the direction of the aligned sheet is rotatable, indicated.

Numerous folding methods and folding devices are known in practice, wherein the folded edges extend parallel to the edges of a sheet of paper or cardboard. However, there is also a need for paper products having a folded edge or a plurality of folded edges, which extends obliquely to the edge of a sheet. Such a need is, for example, given by the advertising industry, which wants to attract attention with unusual paper folds. In addition to the aesthetic goal of a special folding, preferably a multiple over-corner folding, there is also a very practical background to fold the sheet in such a small space that after folding does not occur automatically. There is a great need for low-volume brochures, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, because leaflets in drug packages are difficult to handle, especially if they are to be returned to the packaging.

• Zuführen des Bogens aus einem Anleger in einen Messerfalzautomaten
• Ausrichten des Bogens innerhalb des Messerfalzautomaten mittels Orientierungsmittel schräg zum Messer des Messerfalzautomaten
• Falzen.

An apparatus for producing folded sheets with an edge extending obliquely to the sheet edge is in DE 10 2004 027 199 A1 described. Fundamental process steps can also be deduced from the disclosure there and include the following basic steps:

• Feeding the sheet from a feeder into a knife folding machine
• Aligning the sheet within the Messerfalzautomaten by means of orientation means obliquely to the blade of the Messerfalzautomaten
• Fold.

• Überführen des gefalzten Bogens aus dem Messerfalzautomaten zu einer Wendestation mit dortiger Drehung des Bogens
• Ausrichten des gedrehten und gefalzten Bogens innerhalb der Wendestation parallel zu den Kanten des Bogens
• Überführen des Bogens in einen Taschenfalzautomat
• Erneutes Falzen.

In this method, only a single fold can be performed and the desired originality of a preferably multiple obliquely folded end product is very limited. Therefore, the following additional steps can be performed:

• Transferring the folded sheet from the Messerfalzautomaten to a turning station with there rotation of the sheet
• Aligning the turned and folded sheet within the turning station parallel to the edges of the sheet
• Transferring the sheet into a pocket folder
• Re-folding.

With a pocket folder, several folds can be created thanks to several pockets. Here, however, a rotation and re-alignment must take place because the inner stop edge of a conventional pocket folder is tuned only to the straight edge of a sheet.

The known device basically comprises a feeder, an alignment device and a folding machine and already allows a fold obliquely to an edge of a rectangular arc.

A multiply folded product requires in the known method a plurality of process steps, in particular two alignment steps and at least two different folding devices and is therefore costly. Another disadvantage is that the skew is necessarily tied to the Messerfalzautomaten and thus initially leaves no choice with regard to the folding device. The orientation means contained in the knife folding machine are in the form of pins against which the sheet abuts, thus maintaining alignment.

From the GB 204 547 A For example, an envelope folding machine is known wherein the sheet is skewed during feeding. The feed takes place via a board. How the sheet has reached the desired position is not described. It can be assumed that a stack was previously formed in the appropriate arrangement and shape, or that the desired arrangement was brought about manually. Both would be high Time and labor costs go along and make production more difficult. The envelope folding machine in question has stops in the form of wire fingers. These are connected via a block and a screw fixed to a lever arm and adjusted to the shape of the incoming sheet. The lever arm is rotatably mounted in a fork joint. The axis of rotation for the wire fingers is located outside and requires an increased design effort. This way of realizing the rotation - namely via an external axis of rotation - is associated with high production costs.

The GB 224 500 A shows another Umschlagfaltmaschine with two folding plates that fold the bow. The feeder does not matter. The folding plates are subordinate translationally displaceable stop elements. The local stop elements are aligned on the one hand to the folding plates, on the other hand, they have projecting ends in the sense of attacks against which the edges of the cover paper are supported.

The invention has for its object to provide a method and apparatus of the type in question, which simplifies the production, made more flexible and reduces costs. According to an alternative device, a reduction of manufacturing costs by quality improvement should be achieved.

The above object is achieved with respect to the method by the features of claim 1. Thereafter, a method of the type in question is designed such that the sheet is fed to two conveyor belts of different speeds of an aligning device.

The above object is achieved with respect to the device by the features of the two alternative claims 9 and 14.

According to claim 9, a device of the type in question according to the first alternative is configured such that the folding device is a Taschenfalzwerk, whose first pocket is tuned in shaping on skewed edges of the sheet.

According to claim 14, a device of the type in question according to the second alternative is configured such that the axis of rotation extends through the stop. Starting from the from the GB 204 547 A known prior art, wherein the supply of a sheet is realized in an inclined position and alignment and wherein a device already has rotatable stops, has been recognized according to the invention that the known method can be improved by the supply and the inclined position is done by machine and Concrete on conveyors at different speeds is brought about. On the other hand, the known device in two directions concerning the formation of the pocket folder on the one hand and the formation of the attacks on the other hand can be improved.

With regard to the device according to the first alternative, it has been recognized according to the invention that, in particular for carrying out the method according to the invention as a folding device, a pocket folder is provided whose first pocket is matched to the inclined edges of the sheet. Conventional Taschenfalzwerke have only one edge-parallel internal shape. With the device according to the first alternative according to the invention, a first pocket is provided which can receive the oblique edges of the aligned sheet.

With regard to the device according to the second alternative, it has first been recognized that the known way of realizing the rotation - namely via an external axis of rotation - is associated with high production costs. According to the invention it has been recognized to improve the known device with respect to the striking technique in that the rotation of the stop takes place about an axis of rotation which passes through the stop itself, rather than about an external axis of rotation of another component.

To generate the skew of the sheet this is fed to two conveyor belts of different speeds to an alignment. The alignment device could advantageously be present as a separate structural unit, which can be combined with different feeders and / or folding devices.

The movement of the conveyor belts could be exploited to continue to drive the sheet when entering the alignment. After an embodiment According to the method of the invention, the sheet could partially remain on the conveyor belts when entering the alignment device and be acted upon by these with feed force. Alternatively or additionally, it is, of course, possible to provide separate driven belts or rollers within the alignment device in order to move the sheet within the alignment device. In any case, ensure that the sheet reaches the stops of the alignment device, where the edges of the sheet are aligned.

After the sheet has reached the stops and the alignment process is complete, a vacuum could be applied to the sheet to maintain the desired position so that it is fixed in the alignment created by the stops. To create the vacuum, an intake belt or a suction roll could be provided. To move the sheet to the folding device, the stops are to be removed from the transport path, so that in this way the way to release to the folding device will release.

The transport to the folding device could take place via the suction belt or the suction roller. To avoid the application of an incoming belt after alignment and suction, the suction belt could already be in motion when the sheet comes from the feeder. Here, however, only very low speeds of at most 1 m / min come into consideration so as not to obstruct the intake process. In the folding device, the sheet could be folded at least once, angled to the edges.

If a plow folder is selected according to a variant of the method, then either a pre-grooved sheet is to be used or the sheet must pass through a groove work before entering the plow folder. In any case, the plow folder can be equipped with two parallel shaped sheets and form two folds with one pass and fold the sheet accordingly.

If, according to another variant of the method, a pocket folder is selected as a folding device, it is possible to carry out a plurality of folding operations in different pockets of the pocket folder. However, since the bow is skewed to create a fold that is not parallel to one of the sheet edges is, the first pocket of the pocket folder in shape must be adapted to the skewed edges of the bow. Quasi an "over-corner" recording must be provided within the bag.

As already mentioned, further folding operations could follow in other pockets of the same pocket folder. The bags following the first pocket of the same pocket folder need no special training. By the first fold is then again a straight edge available.

In the case of a quadrangular starting arc, the corner opposite the first fold can also be folded without special internal shaping of the second pocket by driving over the first fold into the second pocket without further ado, but increasing the run-in length to form the second fold parallel to the first fold. If it is then desired to fold or fold the two remaining 90 ° corners in this quadrangular arc, then the double folded sheet in this example can leave the pocket folder and be transferred to a second pocket folder whose first pocket is a "Über -Eck "recording has. The second pocket folder could be arranged offset by 90 ° to the first pocket folder, so that the sheet no longer has to be rotated. It is understood that a discharge of the folded sheets is followed by the folding.

The aligning device downstream Taschenfalzwerk and / or another Taschenfalzwerk could have up to twelve pockets. As a result, a plurality of folds can be formed directly within a folding device and complicated shapes can arise which may be of particular interest for commercials.

In connection with the description of the method are already embodiments of the device with regard to the connection of a transport path or transfer from the first to a second pocket folder with modified first pocket, explained with regard to the positioning of the second opposite the first pocket folder.

A particularly high flexibility of the device according to the invention could be achieved if the alignment device is a separate structural unit. As a result, an aggregate is available, which - depending on requirements - with different feeders and / or folding devices can be combined.

Advantageously, the alignment device could have stops that are tuned to the skewed edges of the sheet. According to a preferred embodiment, which is particularly beneficial to the quality of the sheet edges, the stops could be rotatable about axes of rotation in the direction of the aligned sheet. The stops are unceremoniously swung away without being in contact with the sheet edges. As a result, damage is advantageously excluded and costs reduced by avoiding waste products. In this case, the axis of rotation of the stops extends transversely to the direction of the aligned sheet. If the stop is fixed below the support plane of the sheet, it is pivoted downwards. If the stop is fixed above the support plane of the sheet, it is rotated to release the path to the folding device upwards. Advantageously, a control could be provided which coordinates the movement of the stops at the right time.

All components of the device - except the separate alignment device - are based on standard working units. Even the first inventively modified pocket of a pocket folder can be assembled easily.

Fig. 1

in rein schematischer, skizzenhafter Darstellung die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung und das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren,

Fig. 2

in schematischer Darstellung, vergrößert, genauer, ein Detail aus Fig. 1, nämlich eine Aufsicht auf einen Bogen, der sich teils auf den Transportbändern, teils in der Ausrichteinrichtung befindet und

Fig. 3

in schematischer Darstellung, eine Seitenansicht eines Details aus Fig. 2, betreffend einen ausgewählten Anschlag.

There are now various possibilities for designing and developing the teaching of the present invention in an advantageous manner. For this purpose, on the one hand to the claims subordinate to claims 1, 9 and 14, on the other hand, to refer to the following explanation of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings. In connection with the explanation of the cited embodiment of the invention, generally preferred embodiments and developments of the teaching are explained. In the drawing shows

Fig. 1

in a purely schematic, sketch-like representation of the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention,

Fig. 2

in a schematic representation, enlarged, more precisely, a detail from Fig. 1 , namely a view of a bow, which is partly on the conveyor belts, partly in the alignment and

Fig. 3

in a schematic representation, a side view of a detail Fig. 2 , concerning a selected stroke.

In Fig. 1 schematically the steps of the method and the device are sketched according to the invention. It is about the production of a four-fold folded sheet 1 in this embodiment, which is first fed, aligned and finally folded.

According to the invention, the sheet 1 is brought during feeding by means of conveyor belts 7, 8 in an inclined position to the running direction A, wherein the sheet is rotated in the direction of rotation B here exactly 45 °, so that a corner of the quadrangular sheet 1 in the direction of the alignment. 2 has. In the Fig. 2 shown conveyor belts 7, 8 have different speeds in order to realize the rotation in the direction of rotation B. Specifically, the conveyor belt 7 runs faster than the conveyor belt 8. The slanted sheet 1 is now aligned in the aligning device 2 and then transferred to a folding device 3, to produce a fold 4 always shown in phantom or a fold along this fold 4, which extends at an angle to the edges 5, 6 of the sheet 1.

The alignment device 2 is a separate structural unit that can be combined with different feeders and / or folding devices 3. In Fig. 2 is shown that the sheet 1 when entering the alignment device 2 partially remains on the conveyor belts 7, 8 and is acted upon by these with feed force. The sheet 1 reaches up to the three stops 9 of the alignment device 2, at which the edges 5, 6 of the sheet 1 are aligned. After alignment, a vacuum is applied to the sheet 1, so that this in the 9 through the attacks generated alignment is fixed. The vacuum is applied via four suction belts 10 which transfer the sheet 1 to the folding device 3 after the path has been cleared by the temporarily removable stops 9.

In the folding device 3, the sheet 1 is first folded once according to fold 4 angled to the edges 5, 6 folded. In the present embodiment, the folding device 3 is a pocket folder whose in Fig. 1 shown first pocket 11 is tuned in the direction indicated by the dotted line shape 11A on the skewed edges 5, 6 of the sheet 1. The first pocket 11 contains a quasi "over-corner" recording. After the first fold 4 or folding the sheet 1 passes into a second pocket 12 of the folding device 3. The local inner shape 12A is conventionally straight and this may be because here formed by the first fold 4 new edge 19 of the sheet forms the contact. The now twice folded and folded sheet 1 has meanwhile a hexagonal shape and enters an exit region 13 of the folding device. 3

From the exit region 13 of the sheet 1 is transferred to a transport path 14 to another pocket folder 15. In the first pocket 16 of the further Taschenfalzwerks 15 dotted 16A design, quasi an "over-corner" recording, provided on the tilted edges 5, 6 of the sheet 1 is tuned.

After formation of the third fold 4 or folding, the sheet 1 passes into a second pocket 17 of the folding device 15. The local inner shaping 17A is conventionally rectilinear. There formed by the third fold 4 new edge 20 of the sheet 1 forms the contact. The now fourfold folded and folded sheet 1 has an octagonal shape and enters an exit area 18. The width of the Taschenfalzwerkes 15 is due to the double folding already reduced width of the sheet 1 is less than that of the folding device. 3

The further Taschenfalzwerk 15 is offset by 90 ° to the folding device 3 and the direction is designated there F. By this arrangement, a re-rotation of the sheet 1 is unnecessary.

From the FIGS. 2 and 3 it can be seen how the stops 9 of the alignment device 2 enable the path to the folding device 3. The rotation takes place in the direction of rotation G and in the direction A about the axes of rotation C, D, E, which extend transversely to the direction A of the aligned sheet 1.

The stops 9 are above the suction belts 10, fixed within their distances and are upwards, in the direction of rotation G, rotatable. Here is a controlled 90 ° rotation.

With regard to further features, not shown in the figures, reference is made to the general part of the description.

Finally, it should be noted that the teaching of the invention is not limited to the embodiment discussed above. In particular, different folding devices can be combined in different arrangements, the constructive implementation of the pivotable stops can be very different and the final shape of the folded or folded sheet 1 can be infinitely diverse, for example. Star-shaped

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

bow

2

aligning

3

folding device

4

fold

5

edge

6

edge

7

conveyor belt

8th

conveyor belt

9

attack

10

suction belt

11

first bag of 3

11A

shape

12

second bag of 3

12A

shape

13

exit area

14

transport distance

15

Bucklefolder

16

first bag of 15

16A

shape

17

second bag of 15

17A

shape

18

exit area

19

edge

20

edge

• A direction
• B direction of rotation
• C axis of rotation
• D rotation axis
• E rotation axis
• F direction
• G direction of rotation

Claims (17)

1. A method for producing a folded sheet, in which the sheet (1) is supplied, aligned and folded,
   wherein the sheet (1) is brought into an oblique position referred to the moving direction (A) during the supply,
   wherein the sheet (1) is aligned after it is brought into the oblique position, and wherein the aligned sheet (1) is transferred into a folding device (3) in order to produce at least one fold (4) that extends angularly referred to the edges (5, 6) of the sheet (1),
   characterized in
   that the sheet (1) is supplied on two conveyor belts (7, 8) of an aligning device (2) that are operated with different speeds.
2. The method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the aligning device (2) is a separate unit that can be combined with different supply systems and/or folding devices (3).
3. The method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sheet (1) partially remains on the conveyor belts (7, 8) when it enters the aligning device (2) and is subjected to a feeding force by these conveyor belts.
4. The method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sheet (1) extends up to limit stops (9) of the aligning device (2), on which the edges (5, 6) of the sheet (1) are aligned.
5. The method according to Claim 4, characterized in that a vacuum is applied to the sheet (1) after the aligning process such that the sheet is fixed in the alignment produced by means of the limit stops (9).
6. The method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the sheet (1) is folded at least once angularly referred to its edges (5, 6) in the folding device (3).
7. The method according to Claim 6, characterized in that the folding device consists of a plough folding unit with two parallel profiled metal sheets, and in that either a scored sheet is used or a scoring/folding process is carried out prior to folding by means of the plough folding unit.
8. The method according to Claim 6, characterized in that the folding device (3) consists of a buckle plate folding unit, the first buckle plate (11) of which has a shape (11A) that is adapted to the obliquely positioned edges (5, 6) of the sheet (1).
9. A device for producing a folded sheet, particularly for carrying out the method according to one of Claims 1 to 8, with a supply system (7, 8), an aligning device (2) and a folding device (3), wherein the aligning device (3) features at least one limit stop (9) that serves for bringing the sheet into an oblique position and is rotatable about a rotational axis (C, D, E) extending in the moving direction (A) of the aligned sheet (1),
   characterized in
   that the folding device (3) consists of a buckle plate folding unit, the first buckle plate (11) of which has a shape (11A) that is adapted to the obliquely positioned edges (5, 6) of the sheet (1).
10. The device according to Claim 9, characterized in that a transport section (14) and an additional buckle plate folding unit (15) are arranged downstream of the buckle plate folding unit, wherein the first buckle plate (16) of the downstream buckle plate folding unit (15) has a shape (16A) that is adapted to the obliquely positioned edges (5, 6) of the sheet (1).
11. The device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the additional buckle plate folding unit (15) is arranged such that it is offset relative to the folding device (3) by 90°.
12. The device according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the aligning device (2) is a separate unit.
13. The device according to one of Claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the aligning device (2) features limit stops (9) that are adapted to the obliquely positioned edges (5, 6) of the sheet (1) and rotatable about rotational axes (C, D, E) extending in the moving direction (A) of the aligned sheet (1).
14. A device for producing a folded sheet, particularly for carrying out the method according to one of Claims 1 to 11, with a supply system (7, 8), an aligning device (2) and a folding device (3), wherein the aligning device (3) features at least one limit stop (9) that serves for bringing the sheet into an oblique position and is rotatable about a rotational axis (C, D, E) extending in the moving direction (A) of the aligned sheet (1),
    characterized in
    that the rotational axis (C, D, E) extends through the limit stop (9).
15. The device according to Claim 14, characterized in that the rotational axis (C, D, E) extends transverse to the moving direction (A) of the aligned sheet (1).
16. The device according to Claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the limit stop is fixed underneath the supporting plane of the sheet and downwardly rotatable or that the limit stop (9) is fixed above the supporting plane of the sheet (1) and upwardly rotatable in the rotating direction (G).
17. The device according to one of Claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the aligning device (2) is a separate unit that can be combined with different supply systems and/or folding devices.

Images