Method and apparatus for the automatic trimming of printed products

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for automatically trimming a plurality of printed products in a trimming apparatus having at least one trimming station including at least one blade positioned on a moveable yoke. The plurality of printed products are supplied successively through a feeding conveyor to the trimming station. Each of the plurality of printed products is transported within the trimming station via a trimming transport device to a predetermined position for trimming. The phase position of the feeding conveyor is adjusted relative to the moveable yoke for each of the plurality of printed products according to the format width of the printed product extending in a conveying direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be further understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are depicted as follows:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a trimming apparatus according an embodiment to the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the movement graphs for two different formats, wherein the horizontal axis indicates the position of the yoke and the vertical axis indicates the position of the feeding conveyor; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a different movement curve, wherein the horizontal axis again indicates the position of the yoke and the vertical axis indicates the position of the trimming transport device.

Claims

1. A method for automatic trimming a plurality of printed products in a trimming apparatus having at least one trimming station including at least one blade positioned on a moveable yoke, comprising steps of: supplying the plurality of printed products successively through a feeding conveyor to the trimming station;transporting each of the plurality of printed products within the trimming station via a trimming transport device to a predetermined position for trimming; andadjusting the phase position of the feeding conveyor relative to the moveable yoke for each of the plurality of printed products according to the format width of the printed product extending in a conveying direction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting step includes changing the phase position of the feeding conveyor relative to the moveable yoke for at least two successive printed products having different format widths.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the changing step includes controlling the phase position in dependence of the format width of the printed product being fed from the feeding conveyor to the trimming station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplying step includes lining up each of the plurality of printed products in the conveying direction against a divider.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transporting step includes guiding the plurality of printed products within the trimming transport device on at least one circulating belt.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplying step includes feeding the plurality of printed products from the feeding conveyor to the trimming transport device at a constant speed.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: measuring a position of each of the plurality of printed products in the trimming transport device; andadjusting the position of the printed product in the trimmer transport device if the position of the printed product differs from a predetermined position.

8. An apparatus for trimming a plurality of printed products, comprising: at least one trimming station including a yoke, at least one blade positioned on the yoke and a trimming transport device arranged to transport the plurality of printed products inside the at least one trimming station;a feeding conveyor arranged to feed the printed products to the trimming station;at least one driver coupled to and operative to drive the yoke, the feeding conveyor, and the trimming transport device, respectively; anda control unit coupled to the at least driver and operative to control the adjustment of the phase position of the feeding conveyor relative to the yoke.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one blade extends transverse to a conveying direction of the plurality of printed products.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one driver comprises a first driver coupled to the feeding conveyor and a second driver, separate from the first driver, coupled to the yoke.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first driver includes a driver motor with rotational angle control.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the yoke comprises: a first blade arranged to cut a frontal edge of the plurality of printed products;a second blade arranged to cut a top edge of the plurality of printed products; anda third blade arranged to cut a bottom edge of the plurality of printed products;wherein, with a single movement of the yoke, the first blade cuts the frontal edge of one printed product while the second blade and the third blade cut the top and bottom edges, respectively, of a different printed product.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a measuring unit arranged in a region of the trimming transport device to measure a position of a printed product that is to be trimmed.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the measuring unit is arranged to control the trimming transport device to adjust the position of the printed product if the position of the printed product differs from a predetermined position.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one driver includes the first driver coupled to the feeding conveyor and a second driver coupled to the trimming transport device and the first and second driver each include a synchronously operating servomotor.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the feeding conveyor comprises an upper belt and a lower belt between which the printed products are clamped while being transferred to the trimming transport device.