The present invention relates generally to feeder devices and more particular to feeder devices used in finishing equipment in the graphics industry to feed printed products to a moving conveyor.
In finishing equipment in the graphics industry, sheet feeder devices may drop signatures perpendicularly to a conveying apparatus, such as a chain conveyor, moving below the feeder device. Signatures leaving the feeder grippers may only be moving downwards and are not translated tangentially with respect to the conveying apparatus (i.e., in the horizontal direction). So, just before the signatures contact the conveying apparatus the signatures may have a tangentially velocity of zero. When each signature contacts the conveying apparatus, due to the velocity difference the signature may slide a very small distance, then begin traveling at the same tangential velocity as the surface of the conveying apparatus. Conveying apparatuses may have lugs to positively register and align the signatures. The immediate tangential acceleration of the signatures by the conveying apparatus may cause the lugs or the surface of the conveying apparatus to mark or damage the signatures. As a result, the velocity of the conveying apparatuses may sometimes be limited to minimize the tangential velocity difference between the signatures and the conveying apparatus.
Axes 120, 130 are aligned horizontally with respect to a direction Y and drums 116, 118, 126, 128 transport signatures vertically downward in a direction Z. Collecting apparatus 114 receives signatures traveling vertically downward in direction Z and transports the signatures horizontally in direction Y. Axes 120, 130 are rotatably fixed in position, such that drums 116, 118, 126, 128 are not translatable in a direction X, direction Y or direction Z. Therefore, drums 116, 118, 126, 128 only convey signatures in direction Z and just before signatures contact collecting apparatus 114, signatures have no velocity in direction Y.
A feeder device for printed products is provided including at least one first drum rotatable about a first axis; at least one second drum rotatable about a second axis; and an actuator coupled to the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum for reciprocating the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum axially.
A printed product conveying device is also provided including a device for transporting printed products in a first direction; a conveyor downstream from the device traveling in a direction perpendicular to the first direction for receiving the printed products from the device; and an actuator coupled to the device for translating the device in the second direction.
A method of transporting printed products including the steps of receiving a printed product and transporting the printed product in a first direction with at least one first drum rotating about a first axis and at least one second drum rotating about a second axis; translating the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum in a second direction that corresponds to a direction of the first axis and a direction of the second axis to accelerate the printed product in the second direction; and releasing the printed product from the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum to a conveyor traveling in the second direction.
The present invention is described below by reference to the following drawings, in which:
After pick-up drum 13 releases each signature 15 to first transfer drums 16, 18, actuator 100, which is coupled to shafts 21, 31, may translate transfer drums 16, 18, 26, 28 in the direction of travel of saddle conveyor 14 (e.g., out of the page). In a preferred embodiment, after signature 15 is released to first transfer drums 16, 18 by pick-up drum 13, actuator 100 may accelerate drums 16, 18, 26, 28 from a zero velocity in direction Y (
Axes 20, 30 are aligned horizontally with respect to direction Y and drums 16, 18, 26, 28 transport successive signatures 15 (
Shafts 21, 31 are translatable in direction Y by actuator 100, which may include two cylindrical cams 32, 34 having respective grooves 36, 38 for cam followers 40, 42. Grooves 26, 28 may extend between the ends of the respective cams 32, 34 so that cams 32, 34 may be axially displaced during rotation. Cam followers 40, 42, which may be coupled together via a connector 41, are fixed in position, for example via a connection to a side support frame. As cams 32, 34 rotate about respective axes 20, 30 cam followers 40, 42, via interaction with grooves 36, 38 cause cams 32, 34, shafts 21, 31, and drums 16, 18, 26, 28 to reciprocate in direction Y. Ends of shafts 21, 31 may rotate in bearings that are configured to allow shafts 21, 31 to be axially reciprocated by the interactions between cam followers 40, 42 and cams 32, 34. In order to accelerate signatures 15 (
In an alternative embodiment, a single cam follower may be positioned between cams 32, 34 for interacting with both grooves 36, 38 to reciprocate shafts 21, 31 as cams 32, 34, shafts 21, 31, and drums 16, 18, 26, 28 are rotated.
In order to convert dual direction conveying apparatus 50 into conventional form, such that drums 16, 18, 26, 28 are not reciprocated in direction Y during rotation, cam followers 40, 42 may simply be disengaged from cams 32, 34.
In other embodiments, different cams with different profiles may be used. For example, cams may be provided that only accelerate drums to a percentage of the velocity of saddle conveyor 14, to minimize, but not completely eliminate the tangential velocity difference between saddle conveyor 14 and signatures.
The following equations may be used to match 100% of the tangential velocity of saddle conveyor 14 using a cycloidal cam profile.
y=L/π[θ−½sin(2θ)] (equation 1);
y′=L/π[θ−cos(2θ)] (equation 2);
y″=2L/π[sin(2θ)] (equation 3);
y′″=4L/π[cos(2θ)] (equation 4);
y′=dy/dθ (equation 5);
y*=dy/dt=dy/dθ*dθ/dt=y′ω (equation 6);
where:
L=cam rise;
θ=cam angle;
ω=cam angular velocity;
y=cam displacement;
y*=cam velocity (tangential velocity);
y′=rate of change of y with respect to θ;
y″=rate of change of y′ with respect to θ; and
y′″=rate of change of y″ with respect to θ.
In the preceding specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments and examples thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative manner rather than a restrictive sense.
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20110187048 A1 | Aug 2011 | US |