The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing final printed products which include inserts.
In EP-A-O 911 289 and the corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,968, a method of this type and a corresponding apparatus are described. In this known method, first of all a first folded and closed main product is introduced into a pocket-like holding compartment and is subsequently opened during its movement along the processing path. Inserts (partial products and/or enclosures) are inserted into the opened main product. Once this insertion operation has been completed, the main product with the inlays located inside is closed and placed against one wall of the holding compartment. A second folded, closed main product is then guided into the same holding compartment and, in the same way as the first main product, is opened during its movement along the processing path, is provided with inserts and is then closed. At the end of the processing path, the two finished, closed end products, which each consist of the main product and inserts inserted into the latter, are removed from the holding compartment.
In this known method, the two main products are guided into a holding compartment one after another and provided with inserts. The finishing of the two end products in the same holding compartment is thus carried out along two successive sections of the processing path. The processing path is therefore comparatively long. The end product that is finished first remains in the processing path during the production of the second end product and is removed from said processing path after the second end product has been finished.
The present invention is, then, based on the object of providing a method and an apparatus of the type mentioned above in which printed products consisting of a printed product and inserts can be produced with little expenditure on time and apparatus.
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by the provision of a method and apparatus wherein at least two folded and closed printed products are introduced into a pocket-like holding compartment which moves in a conveying direction along a processing section. Also, the conveying direction is transverse to the folded edges of the products. During their movement, each printed product is opened and at least one insert is inserted into each opened product. Before being opened, the introduced products have respective side surfaces which rest against each other and the products are subsequently moved in this position jointly along the processing section.
The fact that the opening of the printed products and the insertion of the inserts are carried out while the two printed products are moved together along the processing section with their side surfaces resting against each other means that the processing section required to finish the two printed products is comparatively short. In addition, the expenditure on apparatus can be kept low.
Preferred further refinements of the method according to the invention and of the apparatus according to the invention are described below.
In the following text, by using the drawings, exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention will be explained in more detail.
In the drawings, purely schematically:
a-1c show, in plan views of a pocket-like holding compartment, successive steps in the implementation of a first exemplary embodiment of the invention,
a-5c shows successive method steps in the implementation of a second exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention, in an illustration corresponding to
a-6c show success method steps in the implementation of a third exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention in an illustration corresponding to
a-7e show method steps during the implementation of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention in end views of a pocket-like holding compartment, and
Pocket-like holding compartments 1 of a conveying device 2, whose conveying direction is designated A, are shown in
Each holding compartment 1 is assigned two opening elements 7 and 8, whose ends are wedge-shaped (
In each holding compartment 1 there are two folded printed products 11, 12, each of which is part of a final printed product. Each printed product 11, 12 has two product halves 11a, 11b and 12a, 12b, which are joined to each other along a folded edge 11c, 12c. One product half 11a and, respectively, 12a of each printed product 11, 12 has a projecting edge section 13 and 14, respectively, which projects beyond the other product half 11b, 12b, respectively (
The progress of an insertion operation will now be explained by using
First of all, by means of a feed device, not specifically illustrated, two printed products 11, 12 are guided into a holding compartment 1 in such a way that, touching a side surface, they rest with their folded edge 11c, 12c on the compartment base. The printed products 11, 12 can be guided into the holding compartment 1 together or one after the other. The slide elements 9, 10 are then displaced toward each other in the direction of the arrows F, G into a clamping position. In this clamping position, the two slide elements 9, 10 hold the two printed products 11, 12 resting against each other between themselves (
Then, the slide elements 9, 10 are displaced in the direction of the association opening elements 7 and 8, in the direction of the arrows H and I. In the process, each slide element 9 and 10 carries the associated printed product 11 and 12 with it. This means that the printed products 11, 12 are displaced in opposite directions in relation to each other and toward the associated opening element 7 and 8, as
As
Once the slide elements 9, 10 have reached their final displaced position, they are moved away from each other into a rest position, in which they are located in an opening 4a, and 5a, respectively, in the compartment wall 4 and 5 (
Once the insertion operation has been completed, that is to say all the inserts have been guided into the printed products 11, 12, the opening elements 7, 8 are moved back again, which permits the printed products 11, 12 provided with inserts 15, 16 to be closed. This closure can be carried out, for example, by tilting the holding compartment 1 about an axis running transversely with respect to the conveying direction A, both printed products 11, 12 then coming into contact with the compartment wall 4 or with the compartment wall 5. However, it is also possible to move the two slide elements 9, 10 toward each other again in the direction of the arrows F, G in order to close the printed products 11, 12. By displacing the slide elements 9, 10 in a direction opposite to the arrows H and G, the printed products 11, 12 together with inserts 15, 16 can be displaced back into their original congruent position. The finished final printed products, comprising the printed products 11, 12 and one or more inserts 15, 16, can then be removed from the holding compartment 1.
By using
The embodiment according to
As
Otherwise, the introduction of the inserts 15 and 16 and the subsequent closure of the printed products 11, 12 proceeds in the same way as described by using
As distinct from the method described by using
In an alternative embodiment, the opening element 7 and the slide element 10 are also moved together with each other, specifically in a direction which is opposite to the arrow E. The corresponding driving connection between the opening element 7 and the slide element 10 is designated 18.
In the following text, some of the many possible variants of the exemplary embodiments described above will be explained in more detail.
In the embodiment described in
The opening elements 7, 8 can be arranged on the associated holding compartment 1 and moved together with the latter. However, it is also conceivable to arrange the opening elements 7, 8 on transport devices which are arranged beside the holding compartments 1 and move synchronously together with the holding compartments 1.
By using the exemplary embodiments shown, the processing of printed products 11, 12 having a prefold (projecting edge section 13, 14) has been explained, the printed products 11, 12 being opened in the middle in each case. However, it is also possible to open printed products 11, 12 without such a prefold 13, 14 in a corresponding manner. The opening of the printed products 11, 12 can in this case be carried out as shown by means of opening elements 7, 8 or else in another way, for example by means of an air jet.
The conveying device 2 having the holding compartments 1 can be constructed in the form of a carousel, as described in WO-A-98/33656 (
In
Each holding compartment 1 is assigned a first clamping finger 107, which is fitted to a lever 108 such that it can rotate about an axis of rotation 107a (
On the side of the holding compartment 101 opposite the first clamping finger 107, a second clamping finger 111 is provided, which can be rotated about an axis of rotation 111a between an open position and a clamping position. The rotation of the second clamping finger 111 is likewise carried out by means of a closing mechanism 112, which has a follow-up roller interacting with slotted control guides, not specifically illustrated. The second clamping finger 111 is fitted to a separating element 113, which is arranged at the side of the holding compartments 101. For improved clarity, the separating element 113 has been left out in
Arranged in the holding compartments 101 are two folded printed products 118 and 119, which rest against each other with one of the outside surfaces. Each printed product 118, 119 consists of two product halves 118a, 118b and 119a, 119b. The two product halves 118a, 118b and 119a, 119b are connected to each other via a folded edge 118c, 119c, respectively. The product half 118a and 119a has a projecting edge section 120, 121, which is also designated a prefold. This projecting edge section 120, 121 projects beyond the other product half 118b, 119b. As
In the following text, by using
First of all, by means of a feed device, not specifically illustrated, two printed products 118, 119 are guided into a holding compartment 101 such that they rest with their folded edge 118c, 119c on the compartment base 106. One printed product 118 rests with the product half 118a against the compartment wall 104, while the other printed product 119 rests with the product half 119a against the product half 118b of the other printed product 118. The two printed products 118, 119 can be guided into the holding compartment 101 together or one after the other. As one of the printed products 118, 119 is guided into a holding compartment 101, the two clamping fingers 107, 111 are opened, as emerges from
The clamping finger 107 is then closed, gripping the projecting edge section 120 of the printed product 118. The two suction elements 115, 116, as shown in
The separating element 113 and the lever 108 having the first clamping finger 107 are then pivoted about the axes 113a and 108a in the direction of the other compartment wall 105. During this pivoting movement, the product halves 118a and 119a are held firmly by the clamping fingers 107 and 111. The first printed product 118 is then opened by pivoting the lever 108 back. Then, as shown in
In the next step, the separating element 113 is pivoted back about the pivot axis 113b against the rear compartment wall 104. In the process, the first printed product 118 is closed and the product half 119a of the other printed product 119, held firmly by the second clamping finger 111, is lifted off its other product half 119b, as
The inserts 123, 124, which are parts of the finished final printed product, can be preproducts and/or enclosures.
The second clamping finger 111 is then pivoted into its open position and releases the product half 119a of the second printed product 119. The separating element 113 is pivoted out of the holding compartment 101 into the withdrawn position illustrated dash-dotted in
The two final printed products 125, 126, which each comprise a printed product 118, 119 and one or more inserts 123, 124, rest against each other in the holding compartment 101 (
The printed products 11, 12 and 118, 119 are printed and can consist of a folded sheet or a plurality of folded sheets. If the printed products 11, 12; 118, 119 consist of a plurality of folded sheets, then these can be joined to one another, for example by means of staples, along the folded edge 11c, 12c; 118c, 119c.
The inserts 15, 16 and 123, 124 are preferably printed preproducts or enclosures of any type. The preproducts have one or more sheets and can likewise be folded. In the case of multi-sheet preproducts, the individual sheets can be joined to one another. Suitable enclosures are, for example, printed products but also goods samples.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1516/04 | Sep 2004 | CH | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3722877 | Wetter | Mar 1973 | A |
4416448 | Meier | Nov 1983 | A |
4709910 | Honegger | Dec 1987 | A |
4723770 | Seidel et al. | Feb 1988 | A |
4729554 | Honegger | Mar 1988 | A |
4743005 | Reist | May 1988 | A |
4867429 | Infanger | Sep 1989 | A |
5388816 | Petersen | Feb 1995 | A |
5443250 | Gosslinghoff | Aug 1995 | A |
6234466 | Infanger | May 2001 | B1 |
6311968 | Linder et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
20020166307 | Hansen | Nov 2002 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
649 267 | May 1985 | CH |
0 237 701 | Sep 1987 | EP |
0 301 244 | Feb 1989 | EP |
0 911 289 | Apr 1999 | EP |
1 243 538 | Sep 2002 | EP |
WO 9833656 | Aug 1998 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20060055101 A1 | Mar 2006 | US |