The invention lies in the printing technology field. More specifically, the invention relates to a device for transporting sheets by way of tongs grippers that can be changed from straight printing (recto printing) to perfecting (recto/verso printing).
A device of that type is known, for example from German patent DE 24 14 998 and its counterpart U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,122. There, a generic device for transporting sheets wherein an upper and lower gripper of a tongs gripper system is in each case controlled by a control cam. The tongs gripper can carry out both a pivoting movement and an opening movement in turning operation. In recto printing operation, the tongs gripper system is controlled by recto printing control cams which are arranged parallel to the turner control cams and which ensure that the upper gripper forms the gripper pad as what is known as a rigid gripper. This measure has the advantage that an adjustment of the gripper pad to different sheet thicknesses can be dispensed with. However, a series of forces distributed over the axial length of the gripper system act on the individual gripper pads arranged beside one another. In particular, mention should also be made here of the torsional forces which, overall, can lead to faulty tolerances with respect to the gripper pad height.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device for transporting sheets in recto or recto/verso printing by way of grippers which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which allows minimizing the gripper pad height tolerance, in particular in recto printing operation.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a device for transporting sheets, comprising:
a tongs gripper system configured to selectively transport sheets in recto printing operation or in turning operation, the gripper system having a plurality of grippers each with an upper gripper and a lower gripper;
wherein the upper gripper is configured to form a gripper pad in recto printing operation, and the rigid upper gripper is disposed to be locked, directly or indirectly, in recto printing operation.
It is a particular advantage of the invention that the upper grippers functioning as a gripper pad in recto printing operation can be locked and supported, which results in an exactly defined gripper pad height. This permits satisfactory gripping and holding of the sheets and thus ensures fault-free sheet transport.
A preferred embodiment of the locking, which can be implemented very simply, is a supporting bearing arranged between the grippers and having a latching mechanism formed in such a way that it can be brought into operative contact with the gripper shaft. By means of this measure, indirect locking of the gripper system is made possible.
In a second advantageous embodiment, a holding clamp is provided which permits the simultaneous holding of the lower and upper gripper during sheet transport. This measure permits direct locking of the gripper system.
In a third device, a rack system is provided for the indirect locking of the upper gripper and/or of the gripper pad.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a device for transporting sheets in recto or verso printing operation by means of tongs grippers provided, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of three specific exemplary embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to
The sheet stack 8 lies on a stack board 10 that can be raised under control. The sheets 7 are removed from the top side of the sheet stack 8 by way of a suction head 18, as it is known, which inter alia has a number of lifting and dragging suckers 19, 21 for the separation of the sheets 7. Furthermore, the blowing devices 22 for loosening the upper sheet layers and sensing elements 21 for tracking the stack are provided. In order to align the sheet stack 8, in particular the upper sheets 7 of the sheet stack 8, a number of side and rear stops 24 are provided.
A number of sheet-carrying cylinders 27 to 33 ensure the sheet transport from the feed table 9 through the printing units 3, 4 to the chain delivery system 34. The sheet-transporting cylinder 32 is constructed as a turner drum having at least one tongs gripper system 36. The gripper system 36 is distinguished by the fact that it is able to carry out both an opening and closing movement and also a pivoting movement under cam control in order to turn the sheets. The tongs gripper system 36 comprises a number of upper and lower grippers 38, 37 arranged beside one another and distributed over the axial length of the turner drum 32.
The grippers are carried by a gripper shaft 39, which is arranged in a gripper tube 41 enclosing the gripper shaft 39 coaxially, the upper grippers 38, also designated rigid grippers, being fixed to the gripper shaft 39 and the lower grippers 37 being fixed to the gripper tube 41.
In order that the upper grippers 38 are supported sufficiently well during the sheet transport in recto printing operation and, at the same time, are secured against torsional fluctuations, provision is made, according to
In a second exemplary embodiment according to
In a third exemplary embodiment according to
During pivoting movement of the rigid gripper 38, the toothed segment 56 moves into the rack 57 and, as a result of the incline of a wedge-shaped part 62, moves it against the spring 58. At the closing point of the rigid gripper 38, the wedge bar 59 is moved against a spring 61 by an axial cam 64. In the process, the wedge-shaped part 62 of the wedge bar 59 moves against the stop 63, likewise formed in a wedge shape at this point, of the rack 57. The rack 57 and thus also the gripper shaft 39 connected to it via the toothing are locked. Shortly before the opening of the tongs grippers 39, the blocking of the rack 57 is canceled again by the wedge-shaped part 62 of the wedge bar 59 being forced out of the range of the rack 57 under the control of an axial cam 64. The gripper shaft 39 is then able to execute rotational movements again.
This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German patent application No. 10 2005 010 426.6, filed Mar. 8, 2005; the disclosure of the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2005 010 426 | Mar 2005 | DE | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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4101122 | Jeschke et al. | Jul 1978 | A |
6263794 | Haupenthal | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6705227 | Becker | Mar 2004 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country |
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24 14 998 | Oct 1975 | DE |
25 28 535 | Jan 1977 | DE |
38 23 545 | Feb 1989 | DE |
100 52 145 | May 2001 | DE |
102 25 503 | Jan 2004 | DE |
21 22 175 | Jan 1984 | GB |
59-85759 | May 1984 | JP |
2-30533 | Jan 1990 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20060201353 A1 | Sep 2006 | US |