Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6358192
-
Patent Number
6,358,192
-
Date Filed
Thursday, October 21, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 19, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Jones, Tullar & Cooper, PC
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 493 424
- 493 442
- 493 434
- 493 444
- 493 425
- 493 426
- 493 437
- 493 475
- 493 476
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
The clearance or gap between cooperating pairs of folding jaws in a folding jaw system is adjustable by using a roller and a control cam. The control cam has an axial width that is several times greater than the roller track. The control cam is inclined across its axial width and the control cam and roller are shiftable axially with respect to each other.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the clamping gap between folding jaws. A roller is used to open and close the folding jaws. This roller rides on a control cam track of an axially movable control cam. Movement of the cam changes the clamping gap.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
A folding jaw cylinder of a folding apparatus of rotary printing presses which uses cam-controlled folding jaw shafts and resilient counter-jaws, is known from DE-GM 19 38 644. In this device, the controlled folding jaw spindles and the resilient counter-jaws are arranged on two separate cylinder body elements, which are rotatable in relation to each other. For setting the product thickness, both cylinder body elements are adjusted in respect to each other against the force of a spring by means of a wedge element.
In connection with this prior art folding jaw cylinder it is disadvantageous that it is necessary to adjust two cylinder body elements, which are expensive to produce, with respect to each other.
DE-OS 2755 361, describes a folding jaw cylinder of a rotary printing press. Control cams of the folding jaw can be adjusted in the circumferential direction of the folding jaw cylinder for setting an opening time of the folding jaws, and in the axial direction for changing the mode of operation.
DE-OS 21 03 946, discloses a folding jaw cylinder, wherein the folding jaw shafts are synchronized by means of gear wheels.
EP 0 095 605 A2, shows a control for a folding jaw of a jaw cylinder in the folding apparatus of rotary printing presses. Here, the angular position between the folding jaw and the associated roller lever can be changed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
DE-OS 27 55 361 describes a folding jaw cylinder of a rotary printing press. Control cams of the folding jaws can be adjusted in the circumferential direction of the folding jaw cylinder for setting an opening time of the folding jaws, and in the axial direction for changing the mode of operation.
DE-OS 21 03 946 discloses a folding jaw cylinder, wherein the folding jaw shafts are synchronized by means of gear wheels.
EP 0 095 605 A2 shows a control for a folding jaw of a jaw cylinder in the folding apparatus of rotary printing presses. Here, the angular position between the folding jaw and the associated roller lever can be changed.
The object of the invention is based on providing a device for setting the clamping gaps between pairs of folding jaws of a folding jaw cylinder.
In accordance with the invention, this object is attained clamping gap by the same amount of the insertion of the folding blade. Since transverse folding takes place in two stages, pre-folding and finished folding, the forces respectively required for one folding step are reduced. The lateral faces of the pre-fold product, which are in contact with the pre-fold clamping gap are handled free of damage because of the employment of cylindrical pre-fold clamping elements of the pre-fold clamping system which are operating in a pincer-like manner. In the same way the finished folding of the pre-folded product of up to 192 pages takes place free of damage because of the employment of folding rollers.
By producing a device for adjusting the clamping gap between folding jaws in accordance with the present invention, the prior art arrangement of expensive cylinder body elements, which can be rotated in respect to each other, is avoided. The distance between folding jaws can be preset by means of a simple gear.
Moreover, the device of the present invention is also suitable for pre-setting pairs of pre-fold clamping elements located on a pre-fold cylinder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is represented in the drawings and will be described in greater detail in what follows.
Shown are in:
FIG. 1
, a cross section through a schematic representation of a folding apparatus in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2
, a cross section through an enlarged schematic representation of a pre-fold clamping element which has just picked up a transversely-folded product; and in
FIG. 3
, a longitudinal section taken along line III—III in
FIG. 1
, wherein only one end of a pre-fold cylinder with a central control of the pre-fold clamping element system is represented.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Two longitudinal folding funnels hoppers
3
,
4
are arranged between two lateral frames
1
,
2
, which have a funnel or hopper inlet roller
7
, driven by a motor
6
, on their paper inlet side, all as seen in FIG.
1
. On their hopper outlet side respectively one pair of funnel or hopper folding rollers
11
, located between lateral frames
8
,
9
, respectively one drawing roller group
12
, as well as transfer rollers
13
, are arranged. These conduct one or several paper ribbons
14
,
16
via a main drawing roller group
17
to a transverse cutting and transverse folding device
18
, also seated between the lateral frames
8
,
9
. The transverse cutting and transverse folding device
18
has a known, two-piece, i.e. provided with two cutters
19
, cutting cylinder
21
, which in turn, operates against a grooved strip and point spur cylinder
22
, which is also called a five piece or field transport and folding blade cylinder. This cylinder
22
has, respectively arranged on its circumference, five folding blades and folding blade fixtures
23
, grooved strips
24
and point spur systems
26
.
The transverse cutting and transverse folding device
18
furthermore has a rotating body, for example a pre-fold cylinder
27
, with a number n, for example three, five or seven, but preferably five, pre-fold clamping element systems
28
, distributed at even distances over its circumference, which respectively work together with the folding blade fixtures
23
of the cylinder
22
, all as may be seen in
FIGS. 1 and 2
.
Each one of the pre-fold clamping element systems
28
consists of from a number m of two to ten pairs of folding-jaw-like pre-fold clamping elements
31
,
32
, which pairs of clamping elements
31
,
32
are arranged in the axis-parallel direction of the pre-fold cylinder
27
next to each other and spaced apart from each other at a clear spacing distance “a”, as shown in FIG.
3
and which operate in a jaw-like manner.
Between lateral or end walls
33
of the pre-fold cylinder
27
—only one lateral wall
33
of pre-folded cylinder
27
being represented in FIG.
3
—two shafts
34
,
36
, for example hollow shafts, are equipped with the pre-fold clamping elements
31
,
32
. The ends of the shafts
34
,
36
are seated in the lateral walls
33
of the pre-fold cylinder
27
and are synchronized with each other by means of tooth segments
37
,
38
fixed on the shaft, or by gear wheels. A torsion bar
39
,
41
has been inserted into the center of the shaft
34
,
36
. Respectively, one end of the torsion bar
39
,
41
is connected with the shaft
34
,
36
; the other end of the torsion bar
39
,
41
is fixed in place in a clamping device, not specifically represented.
This clamping device for each torsion bar
39
,
41
is located on the outside of the lateral wall, not represented, which lies opposite the lateral wall
33
.
Each pre-fold clamping element
31
,
32
is embodied with an enlargement at is end near the periphery, as well as on the side which enlargement or lobe is in contact with the pre-fold product as depicted in FIG.
2
. For this purpose, the shaft
34
has finger-like, spring-elastic or resilient supports
43
, oriented radially in the direction toward the periphery
42
of the pre-fold cylinder
27
and spaced apart from each other at a distance “a”, as shown in FIG.
3
. On its outer end, near the periphery
42
of the pre-fold cylinder, each support
43
has an enlargement or lobe
46
, extending in the axis-parallel direction with respect to the axis of rotation of the pre-fold cylinder
27
. This means that the end of the pre-fold clamping elements
31
,
32
, acting on the folded product projects radically outwardly in respect to the support
43
.
In the same way, the respective second shaft
36
has spring elastic supports
44
, each with a cylindrical enlargement or lobe
47
. The supports
43
,
44
with the enlargements or lobes
46
,
47
respectively operate together as pairs
29
of pre-fold clamping elements.
It is also possible to design the supports
43
,
44
and the associated enlargement
46
,
47
in one piece.
These ends, provided with enlargements, can be used not only with pre-fold clamping elements
31
,
32
, but also generally in connection with folding jaws.
A control arm
49
is located on one of the shafts, for example the shaft
34
, and is fixed against relative rotation on the shaft end which has the clamping point of the torsion bar
39
or
41
. On its end remote from the torsion bar, the control arm
49
has a roller
51
, which runs off on a known control cam track
52
of a control cam
84
, which is fixed in place on the lateral frame
8
, all as shown in FIG.
3
.
This control cam track
52
has rises and depressions for generating a stroke for opening and closing the pre-fold clamping elements
31
,
32
.
Axes of rotation
53
,
54
of the pre-fold cylinder
27
, as well as of the folding blade, grooved strip and point spur cylinder
22
are spaced apart by means of an imagined center line
56
, and the axis of rotation
54
is distanced by means of an imagined central line
57
from an axis of rotation
58
of the cutting cylinder
21
. The folding blade cylinder
22
is surrounded below these central lines
56
,
57
by paper guide rods
59
, fixed in place on the lateral frame, as may be seen in FIG.
2
.
Two folding rollers
61
,
62
for finish-folding the printed products, which folding rollers
61
,
62
are resiliently seated in respect to each other between the lateral frames
8
,
9
and are also a part of the transverse cutting and transverse folding device
18
, are arranged downstream of the pre-folding cylinder
27
. The transport of pre-folded printed products between the pre-fold cylinder
27
and the folding rollers
61
,
62
takes place by means of two cooperating belt systems
63
,
64
.
The belts of the first belt system
63
are guided on the circumference
42
of the pre-fold cylinder
27
in grooves
66
located between the pairs
29
of pre-fold clamping elements
31
,
32
, as well as on a portion of the circumference of the first folding roller
61
. The pre-fold cylinder
27
has a secant-like surface portion
67
as seen in
FIG. 2
compared to the periphery
42
of the remainder of cylinder
27
, with this secant-like surface portion
67
extending in an axis-parallel direction, respectively a hose locations of the grooves
66
of the pre-fold cylinder
27
at which a pre-fold clamping element system
28
is located. Between the closed pairs
29
of the pre-fold clamping elements
31
,
32
this secant-like surface
67
has a depth “t”, which is greater than twice the radius r of the enlargements or lobes
46
,
47
formed on the outer ends of the finger-like spring elastic supports
43
,
44
.
Also, respectively one secant-shaped surface
77
, extending in an axis-parallel direction to the transport and folding blade cylinder
22
, is provided on the axis of rotation of the circumference
76
of the transport and folding blade cylinder
22
at the place where folding blades
23
are arranged.
By means of belt guide rollers
68
, the second belt system
64
is conducted above, and at the side of, the pre-fold cylinder
27
, partially around the pre-fold cylinder
27
, as well as around the second folding roller
62
. Both belt systems
63
,
64
act together.
The clear distance between the two folding rollers
61
,
62
can be set in accordance with the thickness of the transversely folded product by means of a known folding roller gap adjustment device
74
. Therefore, both folding rollers
61
,
62
are resiliently seated against each other in a known way in order to temporarily compensate, without damage, a thickening of folding products, for example after the change and the connection of paper webs.
Paper guide rods
70
, fixed in place in the lateral frames, are arranged above the cylinders
22
,
27
between the entry of the paper ribbons
14
,
16
and the second belt system
64
.
A known paddle wheel
69
with a known ejection system
71
for printed products for depositing the transversely folded products on a delivery belt
72
, is arranged below the folding rollers
61
,
62
in the lateral frames
8
,
9
. A guide belt
73
, located at the side of the paddle wheel
69
in the vertical direction, is arranged upstream of the delivery belt
72
.
The opening width of the pairs
29
of pre-fold clamping elements
31
,
32
can be adjusted by means of the shape of the control cam track
52
.
For the purpose of setting the product thickness of the signatures
78
which are to be pre-folded, the control cam track
52
has a width “f”, viewed in cross section in the axial direction, which corresponds to several times the width “g” of the roller track. In cross section, i.e. across a width of the control cam
84
, the control cam track
52
has a rise, which increases in the direction toward the lateral frame
8
. Accordingly, the control cam
84
is embodied in the shape of a truncated cone and is arranged to be displaceable in the axial direction E of the pre-fold cylinder
27
. The control cam
84
has a centered bore and is laterally fastened on a sleeve-shaped control cam support
86
, wherein an interior diameter of the centered bore and an interior diameter of the control cam support
86
are equal, and both elements
84
,
86
are preferably made as one piece, as may be seen in FIG.
3
.
The control cam support
86
is arranged coaxially with the control cam
84
on a bearing brushing
87
, which is fixed in place on the lateral frame, and which, in turn, receives in its interior a shaft journal
88
of the pre-fold cylinder
27
, seated in a roller bearing
89
. On its surface
91
, the sleeve-shaped portion of the control cam support
86
has an exterior thread
92
and is seated, fixed against relative rotation, axially displaceably on the control cam support
86
by means of a feather key
93
, for example.
A sleeve
94
with an interior thread, which and is connected as one piece with a guide ring
96
on the side close to the lateral frame, is in engagement with the exterior thread
92
of the control cam support
86
. The guide ring
96
is rotatably supported with its inner running surface on the surface
91
of the control cam support
86
, and is secured against axial displacement, for example by means of a two-piece holding ring
97
, which is fixed in place on the lateral frame and engages an annular groove
99
circumscribed in an outer surface
98
.
On its outer surface
98
, the sleeve
94
with the interior thread has teeth
101
which are connected, for example by means of a toothed belt
102
, with a toothed disk
103
of a motor
104
, fixed in place on the lateral frame, all as may be seen in FIG.
3
. An angle encoder
106
is connected, fixed against relative rotation, with the motor
104
.
If it is now intended to change the pre-fold clamping gap
81
because of the different thickness of another folded product, the sleeve
94
with the interior thread is rotated by means of the drive
104
to
101
, so that, by means of this rotation of sleeve
94
the control cam support
86
is moved in the axial direction E. If the roller
51
now rides on the control cam track
52
in another, for example a higher, position than represented in
FIG. 3
, the width of the pre-fold clamping gap
81
is reduced.
Instead of the running surface of the control roller
51
being crowned, when viewed in cross section, it can also be designed in the form of a truncated cone and thus can adapt itself to the rise in the control cam track
52
. In this case, the rise of the control cam track
52
corresponds to the amount of the stroke of the control roller
51
.
With this it is also possible to adjust the width of folding jaws in folding jaw cylinders.
In accordance with a second preferred embodiment, the control cam track
52
can also be arranged fixed in place on the lateral frame, and the control arm
49
supporting the roller
51
can be adjustable in the axial direction on the spindle, or respectively the torsion bar
41
. However, it is essential that the control cam track
52
, which is inclined in respect to the axis of rotation
53
of the pre-fold cylinder
27
, is arranged dispaceably in relation to the cam roller
51
.
The cylinderical support roller is used as force support of the axial forces generated by the control cam.
A method for transversely folding signatures in accordance with the present invention progresses as follows:
Signatures
78
are cut from the paper ribbons
14
,
16
, which paper ribbons
14
,
16
are conducted above each other, on the folding blade, grooved strip and point spur cylinder
22
with the cooperation of the cutting cylinder
21
, and are respectively grasped at their front edge of a leading element
79
of the signature
78
, pointing in the running direction B of the cylinder
22
, by means of the point spur or other gripper system
26
, and are conducted to a pre-fold clamping system
28
of the pre-fold cylinder
27
. In the process, each signature
78
, collected or uncollected, is pushed into a pre-fold clamping gap
81
of the pre-fold clamping element system
28
by means of a folding blade
23
located on the cylinder
22
as seen in FIG.
2
. The leading element
79
, as well as a trailing element
82
of the signature
78
is pushed into the pre-fold clamping gap
81
by the amount of the penetration depth of the folding blade
23
.
FIG. 2
shows a position D of the cylinders
22
,
27
, in which the pre-fold clamping elements
31
,
32
, as well as the folding blade
23
have already passed through the central line
56
by an angle of rotations α. Following the retraction of the folding blade
23
, as depicted in
FIG. 2
, the pre-fold clamping elements
31
,
32
close pincer-like, or respectively jaw-like, and form a pre-fold
83
on the signature
78
.
In the process, while the signature
78
is inserted into the pre-fold clamping gap
81
, the point spurs of the point spur system
26
are pulled out of the leading element
79
of the signature
78
against the clockwise turning direction B of the transport and folding jaw cylinder
22
in a manner disclosed in DE 195 33 064 A1 which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,342
Because the enlargements or lobes
46
,
47
of the supports
43
,
44
are formed in a cylinder shape, the pre-fold
83
is formed as a bead or bulge on the other side of an imagined contact line of the two enlargements or lobes
46
,
47
and radially inside the two pre-fold clamping elements
31
,
32
. For this reason, the pre-folded product
83
,
79
,
82
shaped in this way cannot slip out of the closed pre-fold clamping elements
31
,
32
during the further transport on the pre-fold cylinder
27
. Thus, With this it is also possible to adjust the width of folding jaws in folding jaw cylinders.
In accordance with a further embodiment variation, the control cam track
52
can also be arranged fixed in place on the lateral frame, and the control arm
49
supporting the roller
51
can be adjustable in the axial direction on the spindle, or respectively the torsion bar
41
. However, it is essential that the control cam track
52
, which is inclined in respect to the axis of rotation
53
of the pre-fold cylinder
27
, is arranged displaceably in relation to the cam roller
51
.
The cylindrical support roller is used as force support of the axial forces generated by the control cam. roll off over the rounded pre-fold clamping elements without jamming the pre-folded product in the process.
In order to prevent the point spurs from tearing during the folding process, during their return, the, point spurs are additionally moved back in respect to the front edge of the leading element of the signature by approximately the amount of the penetration depth of the folding blade into the pre-fold clamping gap.
While preferred embodiments of a device for adjusting folding blades in accordance with the present invention have been set forth fully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that a number of changes in, for example, the type of rotary printing press used, the drive assembly for the cylinders and the like could be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention which is accordingly to be limited only by the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A device for adjusting a clamping gap in a folding jaw system of a printing press, said device comprising:a folding jaw cylinder, said folding jaw cylinder being rotatable about an axis of rotation; at least one pair of folding jaws carried on said folding jaw cylinder; a roller carried by said at least one pair of folding jaws, said roller opening and closing its associated pair of folding jaws on said folding jaw cylinder during rotation of said folding jaw cylinder about its axis of rotation; a control cam having a cone shape defining a control cam track with a continuous surface, said control cam track surface having an axial width with said control cam track surface being inclined over said axial width in a direction of said axis of rotation of said folding jaw cylinder, said control cam track surface further having rises and depressions, said roller riding on said control cam track surface to generate movement of said roller for opening and closing its associated pair of said folding jaws on said folding jaw cylinder; and means for axially displacing said control cam and said roller with respect to each other in said direction of said axis of rotation of said folding jaw cylinder during operation of the printing press, said axial displacement of said control cam and said roller with respect to each other in said direction of said axis of rotation of said folding jaw cylinder changing an amount of said movement of said roller to adjust the clamping gap between said at least one pair of folding jaws whereby the clamping gap can be infinitely adjusted due to said cone shaped control cam track surface.
- 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said control cam is displaceable in said axial direction toward said folding jaw cylinder.
- 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said roller has a roller track width and further wherein said control cam track width is several times said roller track width.
- 4. The device of claim 1 further including a finish folder having finish folding jaws, said finish folder being located downstream, in a direction of web travel in the printing press from said folding jaw cylinder, said folding jaw cylinder operating as a pre-folding cylinder.
- 5. The device of claim 1 further including an axially displaceable, sleeve-shaped control cam support having an exterior threaded surface and being fixed against rotation, and an interiorly threaded rotatable sleeve, said sleeve being axially fixed and being rotatably supported on said control cam support, and further including means for rotating said interiorly threaded rotatable sleeve.
- 6. The device of claim 1 wherein said roller is displaceable in said axial direction.
- 7. The device of claim 1 wherein each said pair of folding jaws includes first and second folding jaws, said first and second folding jaws in each said pair of folding jaws being synchronized for opening and closing.
- 8. The device of claim 1 wherein said folding jaw cylinder is a one piece cylinder.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
197 16 626 |
Apr 1997 |
DE |
|
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/DE98/01100 |
|
WO |
00 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO98/47709 |
10/29/1998 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (9)
Foreign Referenced Citations (12)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1057141 |
May 1959 |
DE |
1938644 |
May 1968 |
DE |
2103946 |
Aug 1972 |
DE |
2537919 |
Mar 1977 |
DE |
2755361 |
Jun 1978 |
DE |
2537920 |
Nov 1978 |
DE |
3838314 |
May 1990 |
DE |
4143003 |
Jul 1993 |
DE |
19533064 |
Sep 1996 |
DE |
0095605 |
May 1983 |
EP |
361416 |
Mar 1930 |
GB |
2081685 |
Feb 1982 |
GB |