EP2319788B1 - Folding machine with a pressing device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a folding machine for folding sheet-like elements, in particular sheets of paper, with the preamble features of claim 1.

State of the art

Pocket folding machines and Schwertfalzmaschinen are known from the prior art. The combination of pocket folding machines with Schwertfalzmaschinen is common as Kombifalzmaschine. In this process, parallel folds are folded in pocket folders and cross breaks in the subsequent knife folders. The sheet passes through at least the following stations in the feed-through direction of the combination folding machine: feeder, transfer table, pocket folder, knife folder, delivery arm.

The construction of a Taschenfalzmaschine with a variety of Taschenfalzwerken goes out of the DE 10 2004 041 471 A1 out. A respective pocket folder consists of a folding pocket and three folding rollers, which are arranged in two pairs of folding rollers. From the DE 29 40 360 A1 is a single sword folding machine for folding of printed and pre-folded sheet known. Combination folding machines combine pocket folders and knife folders. Here are folded in a first folding station in Taschenfalzwerken parallel breaks and in a subsequent folder in Schwertfalzwerken cross breaks. The DE 10 2006 055 301 A1 as well as the DE-OS 1436 595 demonstrate

Combined folding machines with a plurality of pocket folders and nachranging arranged Schwertfalzwerken.

In folding machines, it is well known to use display devices with press rollers. The signatures folded at different folding stations are transported between two press rollers mounted in parallel in the delivery station. The axes of the press rolls are arranged parallel to the last fold break and extend over the entire width of the delivery station. By pressing the signatures the folds are to be pressed in order to avoid building up the signatures in the region of the folds during subsequent stacking of the signatures.

The DE 35 17 775 A1 shows such a device for pressing folded sheets. The device is connected after the last pair of folding rollers of a folding machine, so that the signatures can be pressed before stacking. By the device is to be prevented that trapped in the signatures residual air must be displaced by the press rolls abruptly. This is achieved in that the signatures to be pressed with their gutters are led forward obliquely through the press rollers. This is for the squeezing and displacement of the residual air a longer period of time available. In order to guide the signatures safely and defined during the oblique transport, upper bands are used in addition to the known bands of the transport table and the signatures are thus guided between upper bands and lower bands.

The EP 1 460 014 A1 shows a folding machine with a small press, which presses an intermediate product from the last fold.

A disadvantage of these known from the prior art pressing devices is that trapped air can escape insufficiently from the signatures. Another disadvantage is that due to the rotary pressing by means of the press rolls parallel to the last fold, the pressing force of the press rolls acts only briefly on this last fold because of the lines of press rolls and fold. Building the signatures can thus be limited but not prevented. It is also disadvantageous that the pressing devices only on the finished folded products, i. after the last folding, use.

Other press equipment, for example, in the EP 0 654 434 A1 , of the EP 1475339 A1 , of the JP 620 16987 , of the DE 196 10 814 C1 , of the EP 1 213 245 A1 , of the DE 196 06 821 A1 and the DE 40 39 998 C2 described.

Object of the present invention is to provide a folding machine, which allows the production of high-quality signatures and wherein resulting in folding air cushion between the sheets of a respective signature are largely avoided. Another object of the invention is the folding machine so make sure that this does not require much space. To achieve high processing speeds of the folding machine, the straight running of the arcuate elements should not be affected by Abpresseinrichtungen.

This object is achieved by a folding machine with the characterizing features of claim 1.

A folding machine according to the invention, which serves for the folding of sheet-shaped elements, in particular sheets of paper, has a first and a second pocket folding station. Between the first and second Taschenfalzstation a transport table is arranged, in such a way that the transport direction of the arcuate elements on the transport table is perpendicular to the transport direction in the first Taschenfalzstation. In the first pocket folding station, a fold sequence with a fold break or a plurality of fold breaks is formed in the arcuate element. The transport table advantageously has a device for pressing off at least one fold break or a plurality of stacking fold breaks of the last formed fold sequence of a respective arcuate element. The device for pressing off has at least one press roller pair, which is transversely displaceable to the transport direction of the transport table. The axis of a respective press roll is oriented transversely to the transport direction and thus transversely to the last fold break. By means of the folding machine according to the invention, it is advantageously achieved that a folding sequence with a fold break or a plurality of fold breaks is pressed off directly after the folding. The folded, arcuate elements are thus already fed to the second pocket folding station in the pressed-out state, folding breaks in the second pocket folding station can be carried out with higher accuracy and quality reductions due to pinching can be avoided. Due to the rectangular arrangement of the transport table relative to the first Taschenfalzstation and the arrangement of the device for pressing in the transport table - in other words: by the axes of the press rollers are aligned transversely to the last fold break - ensures that the press rollers as long as possible on a folding sequence of can act arcuate element. By using press rolls instead of press rolls extending across the width of the machine, it is achieved that the press force does not affect the whole arcuate element acts, but rather acts directly on the region of the fold breakage. This is ensured by the fact that the at least one press roller pair is transversely displaceable relative to the transport direction of the transport table and the at least one press roller pair can thus be displaced so that a respective effective range is in the region of a folding sequence. Overall, the uniformity and accuracy of the folding breaks and thus the quality of the folded products is significantly increased by the advantageous use of the adjustable press roller pair.

In an advantageous development of the folding machine according to the invention, a folding sequence with a fold break or a plurality of fold breaks is formed in the second pocket folding station. The folding machine further has a third Taschenfalzstation. Between the second and the third Taschenfalzstation a second transport table is arranged. The transport direction of the arcuate elements on the second transport table is perpendicular to the transport direction in the second Taschenfalzstation. The second transport table also has a device for pressing off at least one fold break or a plurality of fold seams lying one above the other of the fold sequence of an arcuate element last formed in the second pocket folding station. The device for pressing comprises at least one press roller pair, which is transversely displaceable to the transport direction of the second transport table. The folded products produced in the second pocket folding station are thus fed to the third pocket folding station in the pressed-out state, and a higher folding accuracy can be achieved in the third pocket folding station.

In an advantageous embodiment of the folding machine according to the invention, it is now a folding machine with two or three Taschenfalzstationen, wherein in a last Taschenfalzstation a folding sequence is formed with a fold break or a plurality of fold breaks, the last folding station is arranged downstream of a last transport table. The transport direction of the arcuate elements on the last transport table is perpendicular to the transport direction in the last Taschenfalzstation. The last transport table also has a device for pressing off at least one fold fracture or a plurality of stacked fold breaks of the last formed fold sequence of an arcuate element. The device for pressing has at least one pair of press rollers, which is transversely displaceable to the transport direction of the last transport table. In this advantageous embodiment, it is ensured that the last folding sequence is pressed off and the curved elements can subsequently be stacked without problems, since building up of the curved elements in the region of the last folding sequence is avoided by the pressing off.

In a particularly advantageous and therefore preferred embodiment, a respective transport table has an alignment ruler for aligning the arcuate elements, and the at least one press roller pair of the squeeze-out device is connected to the alignment ruler. As a result, the alignment ruler and the at least one pair of press rollers together are transversely displaceable relative to the transport direction of the transport table. With an adjustment of the alignment ruler of the transport table to the format of the arcuate elements, the position of the at least one pair of press rollers is set equal to.

In an advantageous development of the folding machine according to the invention, the distance between the press rollers of a respective pair of press rollers is adjustable. This adjustment can in particular also be automatic, for example by the use of electric motors or other actuators, which are directly controlled by the machine control of the folding machine. The distance of the press rollers is adjusted depending on how many layers has an arcuate element to be pressed, as well as depending on the grammage of the arcuate member and the desired pressing force. To set the effective pressing force an additional device is provided in an advantageous manner, wherein the setting can also be done automatically in particular.

In an advantageous development of the folding machine according to the invention, the press rollers of a respective pair of press rollers are driven in opposite directions, in particular by a controllable electric motor. By the rotational speed of the press rollers to the transport speed of the arcuate elements in the region of a respective Transport table can be adjusted, it is ensured that the press rollers produce no marks on the arcuate elements.

In an advantageous embodiment of the folding machine according to the invention, a respective press roller is mounted so that it is easily replaceable. This makes it possible to select a press roller which is optimal for the respective situation from a set of different press rolls with different widths and different surface properties of the lateral surface. In other words, the material properties of the arcuate element as well as the folding sequence with few or many fold breaks can be taken into account in the selection of a respective press roll.

In an advantageous development of the folding machine according to the invention, at least one of the transport tables has hold-down elements for holding down the transported curved elements. The hold-down elements may be, for example, hold-down balls or hold-down straps. The hold-down elements are - seen in the transport direction of the transport table - upstream and / or downstream of the at least one device for pressing attached. This ensures that the abzupressenden arcuate elements are passed safely between the press rollers of each press roller pair. A jam in the area of the device for pressing can thus prevented and the arcuate elements can be transported at high speed through the device for pressing through.

In an alternative embodiment, the at least one device for pressing has two pairs of press rollers. The second press roller pair is arranged at a distance parallel to the first press roller pair and is independent of the first press roller pair transversely displaceable to the transport direction of the transport table. This makes it possible that the first press roller pair can be set to a first folding sequence and the second press roller pair to a second folding sequence of an arcuate element. As an application example winding folds as well as zigzag folds are mentioned here.

The described invention and the described advantageous developments of the invention are also in any combination with each other advantageous developments of the invention.

With regard to further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the dependent claims and the description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment:

Fig. 1a:

eine Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Falzmaschine mit Ausrichtlineal und Einrichtung zum Abpressen in einer ersten Position

Fig. 1b

eine Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Falzmaschine mit einem Ausrichtlineal und einer Einrichtung zum Abpressen in einer zweiten Position

Fig.1c

eine Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Falzmaschine mit einer Einrichtung zum Abpressen, welche zwei Pressrollenpaare aufweist

Fig. 2

eine Detailansicht der Einrichtung zum Abpressen

Fig. 3a

einen Falzbogen

Fig. 3b

eine Darstellung des Abpressvorgangs des Falzbogens aus Fig. 3a

Fig. 4a

einen zickzackgefalzten Falzbogen

Fig. 4b

eine Darstellung des Abpressvorgangs des Falzbogens aus Fig. 4a

Fig. 5

eine schematische Darstellung einer Falzmaschine mit drei Taschenfalzwerken und einem nachgeordneten letzten Transporttisch

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment. In a schematic representation:

Fig. 1a:

a plan view of a folding machine according to the invention with alignment ruler and means for pressing in a first position

Fig. 1b

a plan view of a folding machine according to the invention with an alignment ruler and a device for pressing in a second position

Figure 1C

a plan view of a folding machine according to the invention with a means for pressing, which has two pairs of press rollers

Fig. 2

a detailed view of the device for pressing

Fig. 3a

a folded sheet

Fig. 3b

an illustration of the Abpressvorgangs the signature Fig. 3a

Fig. 4a

a zigzag folded signature

Fig. 4b

an illustration of the Abpressvorgangs the signature Fig. 4a

Fig. 5

a schematic representation of a folding machine with three Taschenfalzwerken and a downstream last transport table

Fig. 1a shows a plan view of a schematic representation of a folding machine 100. This has a sheet feeder 1, by means of which sheet 201 are fed in a transport direction T1 of a first Taschenfalzstation 2. In the first pocket folding station 2, the sheet 201 is folded once in the middle, so that a signature 202 is produced as a folded product. This signature 202 is fed via a transport table 3 in a second transport direction T2 (which is perpendicular to the first transport direction T1), a second Taschenfalzstation 4, in which the signature 202 can be folded even further. The transport table 3 has an alignment ruler 11, and a device for pressing 30 as well as hold-down elements 12, which are designed as hold-down balls. In the picture of Fig. 1a are the hold-down elements 12 seen in the transport direction T2 downstream of the device for pressing 30. It is particularly advantageous to arrange such hold-down elements 12 also upstream of the device for pressing 30. For clarity, their representation in the FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c waived. A signature 202 is transported from the first Taschenfalzstation coming against the alignment ruler 11. In the area of the transport table 3, the signature 202 is transported further along the alignment ruler. By the device for pressing 30, which in Fig. 2 is shown in more detail, the signature 202 undergoes a squeezing in the region of their folding in the first Taschenfalzstation 2 generated. To adapt to the format of the folded product 202, the alignment ruler 11 is displaceable transversely to the transport direction T2, as indicated by the double arrow a. The means for pressing 30 and the hold-down elements 12 are coupled to the alignment ruler 11, so that they can be moved together with the ruler 11 in the direction of a.

In Fig. 1b is the same folding machine 100 with the same components as in Fig. 1a shown. However, the sheet 201 was folded three times in the first pocket folder 2, resulting in a signature of smaller size. In order to be able to supply the signature 202 of the second Taschenfalzstation 4 centered, the unit was Alignment ruler 11, hold-down elements 12 and means for pressing 30 in the direction a (seen in the transport direction T2 to the left) shifted.

Fig. 1c shows the folding machine 100, as already in Fig. 1b has been described. The device for pressing 30 is in Fig. 1c realized in another embodiment: the means for pressing 30 has two pairs of press rollers 31 arranged parallel to each other, each of which serves to press off a different folding sequence of the folded product 202. The right pressing roller pair 31 seen in the transporting direction T2 is displaced together with the aligning ruler 11 as described above. The left pair of press rollers 31 seen in the transport direction T2 can additionally be moved transversely to the transport direction T2 independently of the displacement movement a of the alignment ruler 11. As in Fig. 1c 1, the left pair of press rollers 31 has been adjusted to the left edge of the folded product 202 as viewed in the direction of transport T2.

In Fig. 2 a device for pressing 30 is shown in more detail. The pressing-out device 30 has a press roller pair 31 with an upper press roller 31.1 and a lower press roller 31.2. The press rollers 31.1 and 31.2 can be either rotatably mounted or, for example, motor, driven in opposite directions. A respective folded product 202 is moved in the transport plane E of the transport table 3 in the second transport direction T2 between the press rollers 31.1 and 31.2. In this case, the folded product 202 undergoes a squeeze. In order to adjust the effective pressing force, the means for pressing 30 has a device for adjusting the pressing force 32. Further, the means for pressing 30 has a device for adjusting the distance of the upper press roller 31.1 of the lower press roller 31.2, which, however Fig. 2 not shown.

By the FIGS. 3a and 3b and the FIGS. 4a and 4b the operation of the means for pressing 30 is illustrated. In Fig. 3a an arc 201 is shown, which is folded once centrally along a fold line 203. This results in a folded product 202, as in Fig. 3b is shown. The folding edge 204 produced during folding lies on the alignment ruler 11 of the transport table 3 during further transport in the direction T2 of the folded product 202. The press roller pair 31 of the device for pressing is included arranged so that the press rollers 31.1 and 31.2 act on the folded edge 204 and cause a pressing of this folded edge 204. As indicated by the hatching 205, the region of the folded product 202, which experiences a pressing, is limited to the folded edge 204 and the immediately adjacent region of the folded product 202. By this targeted pressing, a particularly accurate fold break can be achieved.

Fig. 4a shows a folded product 202 with a plurality of fold breaks. The fold breaks or folding edges 204 lie one above the other. Such folds are commonly referred to as Zickzackfalz or accordion fold. In order to press such a folded product 202 in the region of the folding edges 204, a folding machine configuration is used, as in Fig. 1c is shown. As can be seen from the detailed sketch of Fig. 4b results, a means for pressing 30 is used, which has two pairs of press rollers 31 arranged parallel to each other. The right press roller pair 31 seen in the transport direction T2 acts on the right folded edge 204, as already described above. In order to be able to press off the left folded edge 204 as seen in the direction of transport T2, the left press roller pair 31 has been adjusted to the left outer edge of the folded product 202. The folded product 202 thus has two pressing experienced areas 205, which each include the folding edges 204 and the immediately adjacent thereto area.

In Fig. 5 a folding machine configuration of a folding machine 100 is outlined, which has three Taschenfalzstationen 2, 4, 5. Between the first Taschenfalzstation 2 and the second Taschenfalzstation 4, a first transport table 3 is arranged. Between the second Taschenfalzstation and the third Taschenfalzstation 5, a second transport table 3.1 is arranged. Subsequent to the third Taschenfalzstation 5 and thus last Taschenfalzstation a last transport table 3.2 is arranged. The transport direction in the region of a respective transport table 3, 3.1, 3.2 is in each case perpendicular to the transport direction in the preceding Taschenfalzstation 2, 4, 5. The transport tables 3, 3.1 and 3.2 each have means for pressing 30, as described above.

By using the means for pressing 30 each in the transport tables 3 and 3.1 is no additional space for pressing or a Pressing device required. The existing space is thus used better. At the same time there is a better Abpressung by squeezing after each folding station.

Alternative to in Fig. 5 illustrated last transport table 3.2 with means for pressing 30 can also be an initially mentioned conventional pressing device with over the width of the preceding folding station 5 extending press rollers are used. This pressing device is then traversed by the signatures without changing direction with the last fold break parallel to the press rollers.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

investor

2

First pocket folder

3

transport table

3.1

Second transport table

3.2

Last transport table

4

Second pocket folder

5

Third pocket folder

11

aligning gauge

12

Retaining elements

30

Device for pressing

31

Press roller pair

31.1

upper press roll

31.2

bottom press roll

32

Device for adjusting the pressing force

100

folding machine

201

Bow / bow-shaped element

202

Folded product / signature / curved element

203

fold line

204

folding edge

205

Pressing experienced area of the folded product

a

Veschiebebewegung

T1

First transport direction

T2

Second transport direction

e

Transport level in the transport table

Claims (12)

1. Folding machine (100) for folding sheet-shaped elements (201, 202) with a first buckle folding unit (2) and a second buckle folding unit (4) and a transport table (3) disposed between the two buckle folding units (2, 4),
   wherein the transporting direction (T2) of the sheet-shaped elements (202) on the transport table (3) is at a right angle to the transporting direction (T1) in the first buckle folding unit (2),
   wherein in the first buckle folding unit (2), a succession of folds having one fold (204) or a plurality of folds (204) can be created, and
   wherein the transport table (3) includes a device for pressing (30) at least one fold (204) or a plurality of folds (204) lying on top of each other of the last succession of folds that has been formed in a sheet-shaped element (202), and
   wherein the device for pressing (30) includes at least one pair of pressing rollers (31), characterized in
   that the pair of pressing rollers (31) is displaceable (a) in a direction transverse to the transporting direction (T2) of the transport table (3).
2. Folding machine according to claim 1,
   characterized in
   that in the second buckle folding unit (4), a succession of folds including one fold (204) or a plurality of folds (204) is created,
   that the folding machine (100) includes a third buckle folding unit (5) and a second transport table (3.1) disposed between the second buckle folding unit and the third buckle folding unit,
   wherein the transporting direction of the sheet-shaped elements on the second transport table (3.1) is at a right angle to the transporting direction in the second buckle folding unit (4),
   wherein the second transport table (3.1) includes a device for pressing (30) at least one fold (204) or a plurality of folds (204) lying on top of each other of the last succession of folds that has been formed in a sheet-shaped element,
   and wherein the device for pressing (30) includes at least one pair of pressing rollers (31) that is displaceable (a) in a direction transverse to the transporting direction of the second transport table.
3. Folding machine according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in
   that in a last buckle folding unit (5) a succession of folds including one fold or a plurality of folds (204) is created,
   that a last transport table (3.2) is disposed downstream of the last folding unit (5), wherein the transporting direction of the sheet-shaped elements on the last transport table (3.2) is at a right angle to the transporting direction in the last buckle folding unit (5), wherein the last transport table (3.2) includes a device for pressing (30) at least one fold (204) or a plurality of folds (204) lying on top of each other of the lust succession of folds that has been formed in a sheet-shaped element,
   and wherein the device for pressing (30) includes at least one pair of pressing rollers (31) that is displaceable (a) in a direction transverse to the transporting direction of the last transport table (3.2).
4. Folding machine according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   that a respective transport table (3, 3.1, 3.2) includes an alignment ruler (11) for aligning the sheet-shaped elements (201, 202), and that the at least one pair of pressing rollers (31) of the device for pressing (30) and the alignment ruler (11) are connected to one another and are jointly displaceable (a) in a direction transverse to the transporting direction of the transport table (3, 3.1, 3.2).
5. Folding machine according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   that the distance between the pressing rollers (31.1, 31.2) of a respective pair of pressing rollers (31) is adjustable.
6. Folding machine according to claim 5,
   characterized in
   that the adjustment may be done automatically.
7. Folding machine according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   that each device for pressing (30) includes a respective device for adjusting the effective pressing force.
8. Folding machine according to claim 7,
   characterized in
   that the adjustment may be done automatically.
9. Folding machine according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   that the pressing rollers (31.1, 31.2) of a respective pair of pressing rollers (31) are driven in opposite directions, in particular by a controllable electric motor.
10. Folding machine according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in
    that a respective pressing roller (31.1, 31.2) is disposed on a respective shaft and is easily replaceable.
11. Folding machine according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in
    that at least one transport table (3, 3.1, 3.2) includes hold-down elements (12) for holding down the transported sheet-shaped elements (201, 202) and that the hold-down elements (12) are disposed upstream and/or downstream of the at least one device for pressing (30) as viewed in the transporting direction of the transport table (3, 3.1, 3.2).
12. Folding machine according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in
    that at least one device for pressing (30) includes two pairs of pressing rollers (31), wherein the second pair of pressing rollers is disposed to be parallel to the first pair of pressing rollers and is displaceable (a) independently of the first pair of pressing rollers in a direction transverse to the transporting direction of the transport table (3, 3.1, 3.2).

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