GB2044229A

GB2044229A - Apparatus for folding and trimming signatures

Info

Publication number: GB2044229A
Application number: GB8006014A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
Current assignee: Manroland AG
Priority date: 1979-02-27
Filing date: 1980-02-22
Publication date: 1980-10-15
Also published as: JPS55156154A; IT1126961B; DE2907652C2; SE8001494L; CH644817A5; FR2450224B1; GB2044229B; JPS6359942B2; FR2450224A1; SE443130B; IT8047996A0; DE2907652A1

Abstract

A signature or set of signatures X is folded while being passed through the nip between two folding rollers (2,3) and is simultaneously trimmed. Thus, in addition to a folder blade (1) necessary for the execution of the folding process, a cutting disc (5) is provided on one folding roller (2), which disc protrudes above the surface of the roller. The other folding roller (3) is preferably equipped with an opposing element in the form of a ring made of resilient material, or a shearing ring made of rigid material and having an opposite cutting edge. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for folding signatures This inventions relates to apparatus for folding signatures (book sections), or sets of signatures, 5 including two folding rollers.

Folding mechanisms for folding signatures or sets of signatures, with a folder blade which can operate by rotating or can be in the form of a cutting blade, and with two folding rollers, are provided particularly in book and job presses, but also in newspaper presses, and are usually arranged upstream of a sheet delivery system. Known mechanisms are employed exclusively for folding, mostly for the placing of former folds. The signatures thus obtained, which are usually sets of signatures are gathered together and cut laterally on a separate guillotine, for trimming.

The present invention aims to simplify such a procedure.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for folding signatures, including two folding rollers, one of which is provided with a cutting disc which is arranged to cut signatures as they travel between the rollers.

Thus an individual guilloting need not be provided for trimming, thereby saving time and money in transport and actual cutting, as compared with the use of a separate guillotine. Thus, the invention may provide great savings.

In one development of the invention, the other folding roller is provided with a shearing ring, which is made of a rigid material such as steel and has an annular groove, the top edge of which affords an opposite cutting edge to the cutting disc.

An advantageous development of the invention is as follows. The cutting disc and an opposing element or shearing ring are each clamped between two respective clamping rings. Drawing ringsforthe folding rollers are divided radially. The clamping rings each have an aperture at a point of radial division for a folding bar ofthe respective folding roller. An annular groove is provided in the body of each folding roller as a seat for the unit consisting of cutting discs, or opposing element or shearing ring, and clamping rings. The cutting disc and the opposing element or shearing ring are each preferably formed in one piece, and a notch is arranged in a respective folding barto accommodate them.Such a design may be not only simple and safe in operation, but may also permit the annular groove seats to be placed anywhere on the body of the folding rollers, so that signatures and sets of signatures can be cut or trimmed not only at the edges, but in the middle if necessary, or both. In this way, the signatures or sets of signatures may reach the delivery system already trimmed and/or cut.

For a better understanding of the invention and to shown how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: Figure lisa side-view of folding apparatus; Figure 2 shows folding rollers of the apparatus, in a partially broken plan view; and Figure 3 shows a section of a variant of part of Figure 2.

The illustrated folding apparatus essentially comprises a rotating folder blade 1 and two folding rollers 2 and 3. Signatures or sets of signatures X to be folded are passed via guide plates 40 under the folder blade 1 which, as part of its function, performs a vertical movement, and as a fold is formed, the signatures are passed between the driven folding rollers 2 and 3. The signatures or sets of signatures X are then passed between sheet-metal guides 41, 42 onto a delivery van wheel 43, and thence onto a delivery conveyor belt 55. The folding rollers 2 and 3 are, as indicated by arrows A, hinged relative to each other by means of lever arms 45, and are spring loaded.

The folding rollers 2 and 3 consist respectively of a body 20,30 having a groove 21,31 for a folding bar 22,32 running parallel to the axis, and cylindrical abutments 23, 33 at axial ends for receiving split folding roller drawing rings 24, 34, which abutments have a notch or opening for the folding bar 22,32. As a rule, the folding bars 22,32 and the folding roller drawing rings 24, 34 consist of hardened steel, and their outward surfaces are grooved, in order to be able to securely grip and draw in the signatures or sets of signatures. Here the gripping surfaces of the folding bars 22,32 and the folding roller drawing rings 24, 34 protrude from the body 20, 30.

As shown particularly in Figure 2 (and in a variant in Figure 3), a cutting disc 5 and an opposing resilient element 6 (or a shearing ring 7) are each clamped between two clamping rings 51,52 and 61, 62 (or 71,72). The clamping rings 51 to 72 are divided radially, in orderto be able to mount them, and have an opening 53,63 at one of their points of division for the folding bar 22,32. An annular groove 25,35 is provided in the body 20,30 as a seat for the unit consisting respectively of the cutting disc 5 and the opposing element 6 (or the shearing ring 7) and the clamping rings 51,52 or 61,62 (or 71,72), and screw connections 54, 64(74). The cutting disc 5 and the opposing element 6 (or shearing ring 7) are continuous around their peripheries at least in their mounted condition.A notch 220, 320 is provided in the respective folding bar 22, 32 for their accomodation.

According to Figure 3, the shearing ring 7 has an annular groove 75, one top edge of which affords an opposite cutting edge to the cutting disc 5.

The illustrated apparatus operates such that, while a signature or set of signatures is being folded and passed through the nip between the folding rollers 2, 3, the sides of the signature or set of signatures are simultaneously cut or trimmed, so that no extra time is required for this procedure.

Obviously cuts can be made at any point and for various purposes, depending upon the arrangement and number of cutting discs and opposing elements or shearing rings. A use can be found here for a folding roller design which is in itself known, where the folding roller drawing rings can be adjusted axially, according to the width or length of the signature or set of signatures, by means of spacer rings which can be attached to the body, the latter being suitably designed. The units containing the cutting disc, the opposing element or the shearing ring, like the spacer rings or the folding roller drawing rings, can then be placed in any position without an individual annular seat groove being required. Such a groove is formed here between two spacer rings or between a spacer ring and folding roller drawing ring on the folding roller body.

As an alternative to the resilient ring 6 or shearing ring 7, the folding roller 3 may be provided with another cutting disc which co-operates with the cutting disc5 on the folding roller 2.

Claims

1. Apparatusforfolding signatures, comprising two folding rollers one of which is provided with a cutting disc which is arranged to cut signatures as they travel between the rollers.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the other roller is provided with means which cooperates with said disc.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means comprises a ring of resilient material.

4. Apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said means comprises a shearing ring of rigid material, affording an opposing cutting edge to said disc.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said shearing ring is formed with an annular groove, an outer edge of which affords said opposing cutting edge.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said shearing ring is of steel.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claims, wherein said cutting disc is seated in an annular groove formed in said one folding roller and is secured in position between two clamping rings, each of which is divided radially and is formed with an aperture for the passage of a folding bar of the respective folding roller.

8. Apparatus according to at least claim 2, wherein said means is seated in an annular groove formed in said other folding roller and is secured in position between two clamping rings, each of which is divided radially and is formed with an aperture for the passage of a folding bar of the respective folding roller.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said cutting disc in continuous and a folding bar of the respective folding roller is formed with a notch to accomodate the disc.

10. Apparatus according to at least claim 2, wherein said means is in the form of a continuous ring and a folding bar of the respective folding roller is formed with a notch to accomodate that ring.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including a folder blade arranged to feed signatures between the rollers.

12. Folding apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, optionally as modified by Figure 3, of the accompanying drawings.

13. Printing machinery incorporating folding apparatus according to any preceding claim.