Claims
- 1. Apparatus for delivering successive flexible sheets of a file of non-overlapping sheets in a predetermined direction along a first path wherein a trailing section of each preceding sheet is located ahead of a leading section of the next-following sheet to a scalloping station where the trailing sections of preceding sheets are caused to overlap with the leading sections of the respective next-following sheets, comprising:means for supplying successive sheets of the file in said direction along said first path to said station at a first speed; means for removing successive sheets of the file from said station along a second path at a different second speed less than said first speed so that the leading sections of sheets arriving at said station overlap with the trailing sections of the respective preceding sheets; means for deflecting at said station, with a variable force, at least one of each pair of sections including the trailing section of a preceding sheet and the leading section of the respective next-following sheet so that the sections of said pairs can overlap with each other as a result of the difference between said first and second speeds; and means for varying said force including means for varying said force as a function of one of said speeds, wherein said variable force varies at least substantially proportionally with variations of said one speed, and wherein said variable force respectively increases and decreases in response to an increase and decrease of said one speed.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheets include paper sheets.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said deflecting means includes means for directing said variable force at an angle to the direction of movement of sheets along at least one of said paths.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said angle at least approximates 90°.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said deflecting means includes means for directing said force against the trailing sections of said pairs of sections so that the thus deflected trailing sections are moved away from the path of the respective leading sections.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for varying said force includes means for further varying said force as a function of at least one of a plurality of variable parameters including the flexibility of sheets, the temperature at least at one of said first path and said station, the moisture content of sheets, specific weight of the sheets, the dimensions of the sections of the sheets and the orientation of said paths relative to each other.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of the sheets comprises a plurality of overlapping leaves and wherein said force is further varied as a function of the number of leaves in a sheet.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said force is further varied as a function of the thickness of the sheets.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means for further varying said force includes at least one memory for storage of information pertaining to at least one of said variable parameters.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said information includes at least one of (a) characteristic curves and (b) functions relating at least one of said variable parameters to said force.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said characteristic curves relating at least one of said variable parameters to said force includes gradually and abruptly changing portions.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said variable force has at least one of an upper and a lower threshold value.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said variable force is zero when said one speed decreases to a predetermined minimum value.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said variable force remains constant at a predetermined maximum value when said one speed is above a preselected speed.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for deflecting comprises at least one suction generating device.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said suction generating device includes at least one of a blower and an ejector.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said at least one suction generating device comprises air stream generating means and means for directing the air stream against one side of the trailing section of each of said pairs of sections to thus establish a low-pressure zone entailing a deflection of the trailing section from the path of the oncoming leading section of the respective pair of sections.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said air stream generating means is a variable-output air stream generating means and said means for varying said force includes means for varying the output of said air stream generating means.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein said means for varying said force includes means for further varying said force as a function of at least one of a plurality of variable parameters including the flexibility of sheets, the temperature at least at one of said first path and said station, the moisture content of sheets, specific weight of the sheets, the dimensions of the sections of the sheets and the orientation of said paths relative to each other; wherein said air stream generating means is spaced apart from said directing means and said suction generating device further comprises a conduit connecting said air stream generating means with said directing means, said means for varying said force including an adjustable valve in said conduit and means for adjusting said valve as a function of said at least one of said plurality of parameters to thus alter the rate of air flow from said suction generating device to said directing means.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said valve adjusting means comprises a prime mover which is adjustable in dependency upon variations of said at least one of said pluraity of variable parameters.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said air stream generating means comprises an air compressor and said at least one suction generating device further comprises means for limiting the pressure of air supplied by said air compressor.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a conveyor cooperating with at least one of said supplying means and said removing means to define the respective path.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for adjusting said conveyor relative to at least one of said supplying means and said removing means.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said adjusting means is located at said station.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said conveyor comprises at least one endless flexible element and said adjusting means comprises a roller engaging said flexible element and being movable relative to at least one of said supplying and said removing means.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said flexible element has a first side confronting said deflecting means, said supplying means and said removing means, and a second side contacted by said adjusting means.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said supplying means comprises a first pulley at said station and said removing means comprises a second pulley at said station, said directing means being disposed between said pulleys and confronting said roller.
- 28. A method of delivering successive flexible sheets of a file of non-overlapping sheets in a predetermined direction along a first path wherein a trailing section of each preceding sheet is located ahead of a leading section of the next-following sheet to a scalloping station where the trailing of preceding sheets are caused to overlap with the leading sections of the respective next-following sheets, comprising the steps of:supplying successive sheets of the file in said direction along a first path to said station at a first speed; removing successive sheets of the file from said station along a second path at a different second speed less than said first speed so that the leading sections of sheets arriving at said station overlap with the trailing sections of the respective preceding sheets; deflecting at said station, with a variable force, at least one of each pair of sections including the trailing section of a preceding sheet and the leading section of the respective next-following sheet so that the sections of said pairs come to overlap with each other as a result of the difference between said first and second speeds; and varying said force as a function of one of said speeds, varying said force at least substantially proportionally with variations of said one speed, and respectively increasing and decreasing said force in response to an increase and decrease of said one speed.
- 29. The method of claim 28, further comprising further varying said force as a function of at least one of a plurality of variable parameters including the flexibility, moisture content and specific weight of sheets, the temperature at least at one of said first path and said station, the dimensions of the sections of the sheets and the orientation of said paths relative to each other.
- 30. Apparatus for delivering successive flexible sheets of a file of non-overlapping sheets in a predetermined direction along a first path, wherein a trailing section of each preceding sheet is located ahead of a leading section of the next-following sheet, to a converting station where the trailing sections of preceding sheets are caused to overlap with the leading sections of the respective next-following sheets, comprising:first conveyor means for supplying successive sheets of the file in said direction along said first path to said station at a first speed; second conveyor means for removing successive sheets of the file from said station along a second path at a different second speed such that the leading sections of sheets arriving at said station overlap with the trailing sections of the respective preceding sheets; means for deflecting at said station at least one of each pair of sections including the trailing section of a preceding sheet and the leading section of the respective next-following sheet so that the sections of said pairs can overlap with each other as a result of the difference between said speeds; third conveyor means including a portion disposed at said station and cooperating with at least one of said first and second conveyor means to guide the sheets relative to said deflecting means; and means for adjusting said portion of said third conveyor means relative to said at least one conveyor means.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said adjusting means comprises at least one rotary member.
- 32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said portion of said third conveyor means comprises at least one endless flexible element overlying said station.
- 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said adjusting means comprises at least one roller engaging said at least one endless flexible element and being movable relative to said station in a plurality of directions.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
198 50 901 |
Nov 1998 |
DE |
|
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES
This application claims the priority of German patent application Serial No. 198 50 901.4 filed Nov. 5, 1998. The disclosure of the German patent application, as well as that of each US and foreign patent and patent application mentioned in the specification of the present application, is incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (12)
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number |
Date |
Country |
26 01 081 |
Jul 1977 |
DE |
34 13 179 |
Oct 1985 |
DE |
42 20 582 |
Feb 1993 |
DE |
43 07 383 |
Sep 1994 |
DE |
196 16 714 |
Nov 1997 |
DE |
0 869 094 |
Oct 1998 |
EP |