BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be explained with reference to the following drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective view showing a folder according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2-8 show a step-by-step example of a fanfold, folding program in a folder according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an in-line combination of a printing engine and a vertical upright configuration of a folding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a folder 1 according to the present invention. The folder 1 has a feed means 13, 14 to feed a medium 20 that is to be folded towards the folding means. Depending on the chosen folding program the medium 20 is folded in a fanfold, zigzag or c-fold configuration. To apply more folds to the medium 20, the medium can be re-fed into the folder 1 after finishing the folding program for the first time or the medium 20 can go through a plurality of folders 1 that are placed in sequence.
At the entrance 17, upstream of the medium folder 1, a sensor for determining the length of the medium, in the transport direction, is positioned, whereby the folding controller 60 can adapt the folding program to the specific needs corresponding to the dimensions of the inserted medium 20. In another embodiment (not shown) the folder communicates with the printer or printer controller to determine the dimensions of the medium that is to be folded.
Downstream of the feeding means 13, 14 a folding cylinder 10 is positioned. This folding cylinder 10 is driven by a motor (not shown). The motor is controlled by the folding controller 60 which executes a selected folding program for applying the desired folds to the medium 20. The folding cylinder 10 has two press members 11, 12 adjacent to its circumference. These press members 11, 12, for example press cylinders 11, 12, engage with the folding cylinder 10 to form a folding pinch between each of the press cylinders 11, 12 and the folding cylinder 10. The press cylinders 11, 12 are driven by a motor. In another embodiment (not shown) the press cylinders are freely rotatable.
The press cylinders are positioned on pivotable arms (not shown) to be able to vary the distance between the press cylinders 11, 12 and the folding cylinder 10 to cope with thick folded packages. The press cylinders 11, 12 are pressed against the folding cylinder 10 by means of a spring force.
During the folding operation the folding controller 60 takes into account the position of some of the significant parts of the mediums, such as the leading edge, the trailing edge and the location of the legend.
In operation the folder 1 functions as follows; As shown in FIG. 2, the medium 20 is fed towards the feeding pinch 13, 14 via a blouse curvature 15. While feeding the leading edge of the medium 20 the feeding pinch 13, 14 is driven to rotate in the direction, opposite to the feeding direction. The medium 20 is fed through the blouse curvature 15 to the rotating feeding pinch 13, 14. By so doing the leading edge is aligned in a direction parallel to the axis of the feeding pinch rollers 13, 14. The misalignment of the medium 20 is corrected by the feeding of the medium and the rotation of the feeding pinch rollers 13, 14 in the direction opposite to the feeding direction. The necessary degree of freedom of the medium 20 therefore is introduced by the blouse curvature 15.
After the alignment of the medium, the feeding pinch is driven to rotate in the feeding direction as shown in FIG. 3 to thereby feed the medium towards the folding cylinder. The main folding cylinder 10 and the first press cylinder 11 are rotated in a first rotational direction to receive the medium 20 in the first folding pinch between the folding cylinder 10 and the first press cylinder 11. To prevent the medium 20 from being inserted in the wrong pinch, the second press cylinder 12 will rotate in the same rotational direction as the first press cylinder 11.
When the medium 20 enters into the first folding pinch the folding cylinder 10 and the first press cylinder 11 are stopped, while the feeding pinch 13, 14 continues feeding the medium 20 towards the folding cylinder 10 thereby forming a blouse in the medium 20 between the first and the second folding pinch, as shown in FIG. 4.
After forming the blouse in the medium 20, the folding cylinder 10 and the first press cylinder 11 as well as the second press cylinder 12 are driven in a second direction, opposite to the first rotational direction, as shown in FIG. 5. The feeding pinch 13, 14 continues feeding the medium 20 towards the folding cylinder 10. As a consequence of the rotation of the folding cylinder 10 and the press cylinders 11, 12 the blouse in the medium 20 is guided into the second folding pinch 12, thereby forming a first fold.
The folding controller 60 now determines whether to continue the folding program to form additional folds or to transport the folded medium towards the exit of the folder.
If an additional fold is to be made, the folding program continues as depicted in FIG. 6. The folding cylinder 10 and the press cylinders 11, 12 are stopped, while the feeding pinch 13, 14 continues to feed the medium 20 towards the folding cylinder 10, thereby forming a blouse in between the second and the first folding pinches.
After forming this blouse, the folding cylinder 10 and the press cylinders 11, 12 are driven in the first rotational direction again to move the blouse into the first folding pinch to form a second fold while the feeding pinch 13, 14 continues to feed the medium 20 towards the folding cylinder 10.
The folding controller 60 now determines whether to continue the folding program with an additional fold, which will be applied in analogy with the first fold or to eject the folded medium as shown in FIG. 8. The folded medium is ejected by rotating the folding cylinder 10 and, in this case, the first press cylinder 11 such that the folded medium is transported to the exit of the folder. Depending on the desired finishing and/or folding operations and the configuration, the folded package can be transported into a second folding or other finishing apparatus, or alternatively an operator can take the folded package out, or re-feed this package back into the folder for a folding operation in a direction perpendicular to the folds as described above.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an in-line combination of a printing engine 2 and a vertical upright configuration of a folding apparatus 1 according to the present invention. A medium 20 is fed from one of the supply rolls 50 towards a printing engine. The printing engine is schematically depicted by inkjet head 54, jetting drops of ink 55 towards the medium 20 in an image-wise fashion. The in-line combination of the printer 2 and the folding apparatus 1 is configured such that the leading edge of medium 20 is transported from the exit of the printer 2 to the entrance 17 of the folder 1. The leading edge is fed through the blouse means 15 towards the medium feed means 13, 14. The feed means 13, 14 align the medium 20 and feed the medium 20 towards the folding cylinder 10 between press members 11 and 12. The folding program is executed as described above. After finishing the folding program the folded package is ejected into a collection part 30. This collection part transports the package that is folded in a zigzag fashion in one direction towards a second fold unit (not shown) to apply folds that extend in a direction perpendicular to the folds that are applied in folder 1. Alternatively the collection part 30 is formed as a collection tray such that an operator is able to take out the folded packages.
It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim.
Patent Application
20070238596
