Equipment for storing sheet stacks in a converter

Abstract

An apparatus (20) for storing a stack of sheets in a converter (10) is provided, wherein the apparatus includes: a conveying mechanism (28) for conveying sheets (22) into a stacking area (26) of the apparatus (20); a sampling plate (44) adjustable between a sampling position and an entry position; and at least one lateral impactor (52) disposed at a side boundary (53) of the stacking area (26) and adjustable for different sheet sizes, wherein at least a partially flexible plate (54) is attached at one end to the lateral impactor (52), and wherein the flexible plate (54) is pulled out or retracted depending on the lateral position of the lateral impactor (52).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus for storing a stack of sheets in a converter. Background Technology

[0002] Converters are used in the packaging industry to process raw materials (such as cardboard, paper, or foil) into intermediate or finished products, typically in sheet form. Converter operations can include printing, cutting, creasing, stamping, and / or folding and bonding. Accordingly, the term converter here often also refers to a sheet processing machine. After conversion in the designated stacking area of ​​the converter, the sheets can be collected in a vertical stack.

[0003] To control the quality of the produced sheets, it is necessary to collect sample sheets periodically during converter operation. For this purpose, the converter can be equipped with a mechanism to temporarily create a passageway to the stacking area, allowing the operator to manually select sample sheets from the production sheet stack. However, measures must be taken to ensure controlled and safe access for the operator. Furthermore, damage to the machine by the operator during sample collection should be prevented.

[0004] It is known that additional protective panels are installed in the machine during sample collection. However, these protective panels also significantly restrict the operator's working space. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that allows for the safe collection of sample sheets in a converter while providing an improved operating space for the operator.

[0006] The object of the present invention is achieved by an apparatus for storing a stack of sheets in a converter, wherein the apparatus includes a conveying mechanism for conveying the sheets into a stacking area of ​​the apparatus, a sampling plate adjustable between a sampling position and an entry position, at least one lateral jogger arranged at the lateral boundary of the stacking area and adjustable to accommodate different sheet sizes, wherein at least one end of a partially flexible plate is attached to the lateral jogger, and wherein the flexible plate is drawn out or retracted according to the lateral movement of the lateral jogger.

[0007] At least partial flexibility means that the board can have flexible and non-flexible areas or the board can be completely flexible.

[0008] The flexible panel acts as a barrier in the area between the lateral paper impactor and the side boundary of the stacking area. Specifically, the flexible panel prevents operators from reaching too far into the equipment or transfer machine. Therefore, the flexible panel ensures operator safety while preventing damage to the equipment. In particular, the panel prohibits operators from touching certain machine parts.

[0009] Meanwhile, in areas without flexible plates, i.e. on the side of the lateral paper impactor opposite to the flexible plate, there is sufficient space to handle sampling plates and sample sheets.

[0010] By attaching to the lateral impactor, the flexible sheet is pulled by the lateral impactor as it moves away from the side boundary to which it is attached. At this point, the lateral impactor adjusts to a sheet size that is smaller than the sheet size it had previously adjusted to.

[0011] The side impactor is used to align sheets in a sheet stack while the sheets are being conveyed by the conveyor and / or after the sheets have been conveyed. To adjust the side impactor to different sheet sizes, it can move back and forth toward and away from the side boundary of the stacking area.

[0012] The device may include multiple lateral paper impactors at the two side boundaries of the stacking area, particularly at least one lateral paper impactor.

[0013] The sheet undergoes one or more conversion operations by a conversion machine, such as printing, cutting, creasing, stamping and / or folding and bonding, and is then conveyed by the conversion machine to the stacking area via a conveyor mechanism.

[0014] Sheets can be made from cardboard, paper, foil, or composite materials.

[0015] The transport mechanism can be the same transport mechanism used throughout the converter or connected to an additional converter transport mechanism.

[0016] When the sampling plate is in the sampling position, the top of the stacking area is covered by the sampling plate; when the sampling plate is in the entry position, the top of the stacking area is empty.

[0017] For example, the flexible sheet is fixed to a roller at its other end, particularly utilizing the end not fixed to the lateral impactor, so that the sheet unfolds or winds onto the roller depending on the lateral position of the lateral impactor. This allows for the compact storage of the flexible sheet.

[0018] In particular, the rollers are mounted in a rotatable manner so that they rotate when the plate is unfolded or rolled up.

[0019] According to one aspect, the roller is connected to an elastic element that pre-tensions the roller to a first position where the flexible sheet is maximally wound onto the roller. Therefore, as the sheet unfolds, the roller rotates, further tensioning the flexible element. Thus, sufficient energy is stored in the flexible element to wind up the flexible sheet as the lateral impactor moves toward its attached side boundary. At this point, the lateral impactor adjusts to a sheet size larger than previously adjusted.

[0020] In an alternative implementation, the flexible sheet is not rolled up, but can be folded and unfolded as the lateral paper impactor moves laterally.

[0021] The conveying mechanism includes, for example, a gripper bar attached to a gripper chain, and a flexible plate arranged between the gripper bar and the sampling plate when the sampling plate is in the sampling position. Therefore, the flexible plate prevents the operator from contacting the gripper bar while handling the sampling plate. In particular, it prevents the operator from contacting the moving parts of the conveying mechanism.

[0022] The device includes an additional paper impactor, which is positioned between the sampling plate and the front boundary of the stacking area when the sampling plate is in the entry position. This paper impactor is commonly referred to as the front paper impactor.

[0023] A sheet collider is used to align sheets in a sheet stack while the sheets are being conveyed by a conveyor and / or after the sheets have been conveyed. For this purpose, the sheet collider can move back and forth toward and away from the front boundary of the stacking area, aligning the sheets in the stacking area with each other.

[0024] Specifically, the paper impactor is pivotally mounted and can move between the sampling position and the entry position. At the sampling position, the paper impactor provides a free path for the sampling plate, in particular allowing the sampling plate to be easily removed from the sampling position along with the sample sheet located on the sampling plate.

[0025] The paper impactor extends beyond the entire length of the front boundary of the stacking area.

[0026] The front boundary of the stacking area is specifically perpendicular to the side boundary of the stacking area.

[0027] According to one aspect, the sampling plate includes a plurality of longitudinal slots extending along the insertion direction of the sampling plate insertion device, and the paper impactor includes a corresponding protrusion that engages in the slot when the sampling plate moves from the entry position to the sampling position. Thus, guidance of the sampling plate is provided. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Further advantages and features will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings of the invention, which illustrate non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the invention, and in which:

[0029] - Figure 1 A schematic converter including the device according to the invention is shown.

[0030] - Figure 2 A detailed view of the stacking area is shown.

[0031] - Figure 3 An apparatus is shown in which a sampling plate is depicted at the sampling position and the entry position.

[0032] - Figure 4 A portion of the device of the present invention is shown in the areas of the lateral and front paper impactors.

[0033] - Figure 5 The device shows a flexible plate in an unwound state on a roller.

[0034] - Figure 6 It shows the state of being wound on the roller. Figure 5 Flexible boards,

[0035] - Figure 7 A side view shows the roller Figure 5 and Figure 6 Flexible boards,

[0036] - Figure 8 A flexible plate in a withdrawn state according to a further embodiment is shown, and

[0037] - Figure 9 It shows the retracted state. Figure 8 The board. Detailed Implementation

[0038] Figure 1 A converter 10 according to the present invention is shown. The converter 10 consists of a plurality of modules arranged in sequence. In the illustrated embodiment, the converter 10 includes a loading station 12, a feeder 14, a conversion station 16, an unloading station 18, and a device 20 according to the present invention.

[0039] The converter 10 has an operating direction R, which is defined by the direction in which the sheet is being processed.

[0040] Loading station 12 is used to supply raw sheets to be processed to converter 10. The raw sheets may be made of cardboard, paper or plastic.

[0041] Individual raw sheets are taken from loading station 12 by feeder 14 and sent to transfer station 16.

[0042] The conversion station 16 can be a cutting station, an embossing station, or a stamping station. In the illustrated embodiment, the conversion machine includes a flatbed printing press 24. In the conversion station 16, the raw sheet is converted into sheet 22.

[0043] The unloading station 18 is used to transfer the sheet 22 from the transfer station 16 to the stacking area 26 of the equipment 20. The unloading station 18 can also be used to ensure the proper alignment of the sheet 22.

[0044] The sheet 22 moves along the running direction R via the conveying mechanism 28. The conveying mechanism 28 is adapted to individually convey each individual sheet 22 from the feeder 14 to the device 20.

[0045] The conveying mechanism 28 includes a plurality of gripper bars 30, which take turns gripping the sheet 22 at its front edge and pulling the sheet 22 across the station of the converter 10.

[0046] The gripper rod 30 is connected to a chain 32 that moves in a closed loop. The chain 32 moves in a stepping manner, so that with each step, the sheet 22 is moved to the next station of the converter 10.

[0047] In device 20, sheet 22 is released from conveying mechanism 28 to form a stack of sheet in stacking area 26, for example, on pallet 34.

[0048] Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, only a single transfer mechanism 28 is used for all modules of the converter 10, including device 20. Typically, device 20 may include its own transfer mechanism 28 connected to another converter transfer mechanism.

[0049] At the front boundary 36 of the stacking area 26, a sheet collider 38 is arranged. The sheet collider 38 is used to align the processed sheet 22 in the stacking area 26 along the running direction R. This is accomplished by the sheet collider 38 providing a flat surface, which the sheet 22 can be pushed against when it is conveyed to the stacking area 26 by the conveyor mechanism 28.

[0050] Furthermore, the device 20 includes a rear paper impactor 39, which is disposed on the rear side of the stacking area 26, opposite to the front side of the stacking area 26. Therefore, the rear paper impactor 39 is arranged opposite to the paper impactor 38.

[0051] In addition, the paper impactor 38 can move back and forth to align the sheet 22 in the stacking area 26.

[0052] Specifically, the paper impactor 38 is pivotally mounted and can move between the sampling position and the entry position. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The paper impactor 38 is shown in the entry position.

[0053] The paper impactor 38 and the rear paper impactor 39 extend substantially along the entire length of the front and rear surfaces of the stacking area 26, respectively.

[0054] Device 20 includes housing 40, which in the illustrated embodiment is also part of the housing of converter 10.

[0055] The housing 40 includes a window 42, which allows the operator of the converter 10 to observe the converter 10, especially the sheet 22 in the stacking area 26.

[0056] The housing 40 also has an opening 43 through which the sampling plate 44 extends outward from the housing 40 in part.

[0057] exist Figure 1 In the image, sampling plate 44 is depicted in the entry position. In the entry position, the top of stacking area 26 is empty, allowing sheet 22 to be conveyed by conveying mechanism 28 to stacking area 26 to form a sheet stack.

[0058] To better understand, Figure 3 The sampling plate 44 is shown in the entry and sampling positions.

[0059] Additionally, device 20 has a display unit 46 with a display 48 and a control element 50. The display 48 may also be a touch-sensitive display. In this case, the control element 50 may be integrated into the display 48. The display unit 46 can be used by an operator to control device 20, preferably all modules of converter 10.

[0060] from Figure 2 and Figure 4 As can be seen, in addition to the paper impactor 38 and the rear paper impactor 39, the device 20 also includes two lateral paper impactors 52. The lateral paper impactors 52 are disposed at the side boundary 53 of the stacking area 26, wherein the two lateral paper impactors 52 are arranged opposite each other on opposite side surfaces of the stacking area 26.

[0061] The position of the lateral paper impactor 52, in particular, relative to the side boundary 53 of the stacking area, is adjustable to accommodate different sheet sizes.

[0062] exist Figure 2 The image depicts a lateral paper impactor 52 in two different positions.

[0063] The lateral paper impactor 52 can be moved between different positions, for example, by an automatic or manual drive mechanism.

[0064] One end of the flexible plate 54 is attached to the lateral paper impactor 52.

[0065] according to Figure 2 and Figure 4 In one embodiment, the flexible plate 54 is fixed to the roller 56 at the other end, such that the plate 54 unfolds or winds onto the roller 56 according to the lateral movement of the lateral paper impactor 52.

[0066] exist Figures 5 to 7 In the diagram, roller 56, together with flexible plate 54, is depicted in the unfolded state, the rolled-up state, and the side view.

[0067] Roller 56 is connected to an elastic element that preloads roller 56 to a first position in which flexible plate 54 is wound around roller 56 to the maximum extent. For simplicity, the elastic element is not shown in the figure.

[0068] Specifically, when the lateral paper impactor 52 is at its outermost position at the side boundary 53 of the stacking area 26, the flexible sheet 54 is wound to its maximum extent on the roller 56, such as... Figure 2 As shown.

[0069] Figure 2 The sampling plate 44 is also shown to include a plurality of longitudinal slots 58 extending in the insertion direction of the sampling plate 44 into the device 20.

[0070] The paper impactor 38 includes a corresponding protrusion 60 that engages in the slot 58 when the sampling plate 44 moves from the entry position to the sampling position. The slot 58 and the corresponding protrusion 60 provide guidance for the sampling plate 44.

[0071] Figure 8 and Figure 9 An alternative embodiment of the flexible plate 54 that can be used in the above-described device 20 is shown.

[0072] Instead of being rolled up, according to Figure 8 and Figure 9 The flexible plate 54 can be folded or unfolded to enter the withdrawable or retracted state.

[0073] It is possible that, according to Figure 8 and Figure 9 The plate is not completely flexible, but only partially flexible. In particular, the plate 54 may have a rigid region 62 and a flexible region 64.

[0074] Alternatively, the flexible region 64 can also be elastic.

[0075] The flexible regions 64 do not need to extend across the entire width of the rigid region. They only need to be connected to the rigid region in such a way that they can be pulled out during the lateral movement of the lateral paper impactor 52.

[0076] The operating modes of device 20 will now be described.

[0077] During the default operation of the converter 10, the sheet 22 will be processed and conveyed by the conveyor 28 to the stacking area 26.

[0078] The paper impactor 38, the rear paper impactor 39, and the side paper impactor 52 are used to align the sheet 22 being conveyed to the stacking area 26.

[0079] The sampling plate 44 is in the access position, in which it extends at least partially outward from the housing 40. Therefore, the sampling plate 44 is outside the path of the sheet 22 toward the stacking area 26.

[0080] The operator of the converter 10 can observe the sheet 22 in the stacking area 26 through the window 42. If the operator decides to take out a sample sheet, for example to check the quality of the processed sheet 22, he / she can start the sampling procedure by pressing the sampling button, which is one of the control elements 50 of the display unit 46.

[0081] This causes the conveyor 28 to stop conveying new sheets 22 to the stacking area 26 for a pre-selected time period t1 (e.g., 1 to 3 seconds).

[0082] Then, the display unit 46 provides the operator with a signal that the sampling plate 44 can be moved to the sampling position. This signal can be given visually on the display 48 or audibly through a speaker (not shown).

[0083] The sampling plate 44 can then be pushed by the operator through the opening 43 until the sampling plate 44 covers the stacking area 26 (e.g., Figure 2 and Figure 3 (As shown). The sampling plate 44 can also be moved by a driver (not shown).

[0084] When the sampling plate 44 is in its sampling position, the flexible plate 54 is arranged between the gripper rod 30 and the sampling plate 44. The flexible plate 54 thus forms a barrier between the gripper rod 30 and the sampling plate 44, which increases the safety of the operator during the collection of the sample sheet.

[0085] like Figure 4 As shown, there is no flexible plate 54 between the lateral paper impactors 52, thus providing free space for the operator to manually handle the sample sheet when necessary.

[0086] After time period t1, the conveyor 28 delivers a predetermined number of sheets 22 into the device 20. Since the stacking area 26 is now covered by the sampling plate 44, these sheets 22 are collected on the sampling plate 44.

[0087] The quantity of sheet 22 can be a set quantity based on the desired quantity of sample sheets and / or the total height of the sample sheets collected on the sampling plate. The predetermined quantity of sheet 22 can also be manually entered or adjusted by the operator using the display unit 46.

[0088] The number of sheets 22 must be small enough to allow the sampling plate 44 and the collected sample sheets to move through the opening 43. When the sampling plate 44 and the collected sample sheets are moved out of the sampling position, the paper impactor 38 must be in its sampling position.

[0089] After a predetermined number of sample sheets have been collected, the conveying mechanism 28 stops conveying the sheet 22 again for a predetermined time period t2.

[0090] Time periods t1 and t2 can have the same length or different lengths, and can be adjusted and / or selected independently by the operator.

[0091] During time period t2, the operator can move the sampling plate 44 back to the entry position, thereby removing the collected sample sheet from the housing 40.

[0092] After time period t2, the paper impactor 38 returns to its entry position, and the conveyor mechanism 28 resumes conveying the processed sheet 22 to the stacking area 26.

[0093] When the converter starts running again, the operator can easily pick up the sample sheet from the sampling plate 44 outside the housing 40.

[0094] Therefore, device 20 allows for reduced downtime of converter 10 and provides an easier way to collect sample sheets.

Claims

1. An apparatus (20) for storing a stack of sheets in a converter (10), said apparatus comprising: Conveying mechanism (28) for conveying sheet (22) to stacking area (26) of equipment (20), and Sampling plate (44), which can be adjusted between the sampling position and the entry position, At least one lateral paper impactor (52) is arranged at the side boundary (53) of the stacking area (26) and is adjustable to accommodate different sheet sizes. At least a portion of the flexible plate (54) is attached at one end to the lateral paper impactor (52). Furthermore, the flexible plate (54) is pulled out or retracted according to the lateral movement of the lateral paper impactor (52).

2. The device (20) according to claim 1, wherein the flexible plate (54) is fixed to the roller (56) at the other end, such that the flexible plate (54) unfolds or winds onto the roller (56) according to the lateral position of the lateral paper impactor (52).

3. The device (20) according to claim 2, wherein, The roller (56) is connected to an elastic element that preloads the roller (56) to a first position where a flexible plate (54) is wound around the roller (56) to the maximum extent.

4. The device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveying mechanism (28) includes a gripper rod (30) attached to the gripper chain (32), and the flexible plate (54) is arranged between the gripper rod (30) and the sampling plate (44) when the sampling plate (44) is in the sampling position.

5. The device (20) according to claim 1, wherein the device (20) includes an additional paper impactor (38) arranged between the sampling plate (44) and the front boundary (36) of the stacking area (26) when the sampling plate (44) is in the entry position.

6. The device (20) according to claim 5, wherein the additional paper impactor (38) is pivotally mounted and movable between the sampling position and the entry position.

7. The device (20) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the sampling plate (44) includes a plurality of longitudinal slots (58) extending in the insertion direction of the sampling plate (44) into the device, and the additional paper impactor (38) includes a corresponding protrusion (60) engaging in the slot (58) when the sampling plate (44) moves from the entry position to the sampling position.

Images