Suction head mechanism control of a sheet feeder

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for controlling a suction head mechanism (1) for a feeder (20) of sheets (3), wherein the suction head mechanism (1) comprises a lifting suction device (2) for lifting sheets (3) from a stack (4) and a trailing suction device (5) for sequentially receiving sheets (3) from the lifting suction device (2), characterized in that at least one distance sensor (10) is arranged on the suction head mechanism (1), which points at a respective sheet (3) held by the lifting suction device (2), the at least one distance sensor (10) is connected in a control-technical manner to an adjusting drive (7) arranged on the suction head mechanism (1), and the adjusting drive (7) is connected in a drive manner to at least one of the trailing suction devices (5) in order to set a defined spacing (A) between the trailing suction device (5) and the sheet (3) held by the lifting suction device (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling a suction head mechanism (Saugkopf) for a sheet feeder, wherein the suction head mechanism includes a lifting suction head (Hubsauger) for lifting sheets from a stack and a drag suction head (Schleppsauger) for receiving sheets sequentially from the lifting suction head. Background Technology

[0002] This device is used in the feeders of printing presses, die-cutting machines, and other sheet processing machines.

[0003] A lift-type suction device is synonymous with a detachable suction device (Trennsauger), and a towed suction device is synonymous with a delivery suction device. Synonyms for .

[0004] DE 22 20 535 C2 describes a suction head mechanism comprising a separate suction device and a delivery suction device, wherein a mechanical device for controlling the suction head mechanism is provided. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The objective of this invention is to provide another device for controlling the suction head mechanism.

[0006] This task is solved by a device for controlling the suction head mechanism of a sheet feeder, wherein the suction head mechanism includes a lifting suction device for lifting sheets from a stack and a drag suction device that sequentially receives sheets from the lifting suction device. The device is characterized by having at least one distance sensor arranged on the suction head mechanism, the distance sensor pointing to a corresponding sheet held by the lifting suction device, the at least one distance sensor being controllably connected to an adjustment actuator arranged on the suction head mechanism, and the adjustment actuator being driven by at least one of the drag suction devices. Connect to adjust the specific spacing between the drag-type suction device and the pages held by the lifting suction device.

[0007] The device according to the invention reduces the cost of manual operation and avoids machine downtime caused by operational errors when manually adjusting the height of the towed suction device.

[0008] The following improvements to the device according to the invention are possible:

[0009] The adjustment driver can be driven to connect to another of these drag suction devices to adjust a specific spacing between the other drag suction device and the pages held by the lifting suction device.

[0010] Another distance sensor may be arranged on the suction head mechanism, which points to the corresponding page held by the lifting suction device, and this other distance sensor may be connected in control technology to another adjustment driver arranged on the suction head mechanism.

[0011] The other adjustment driver can be driven to connect to another drag suction device to adjust a specific spacing between the other drag suction device and the pages held by the lifting suction device. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Other improvements will be derived from the following description of embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0013] The attached diagram shows:

[0014] Figure 1 The side view shows the suction head mechanism lifting the sheets from the stack via a lifting suction device.

[0015] Figure 2 Shown in side view Figure 1 The image shows the suction head mechanism in the state when the height of the trailing suction device is automatically adjusted.

[0016] Figure 3 Shown in side view Figure 1 and Figure 2 The suction head mechanism shown is in the state when the sheets are transported by the drag-type suction device.

[0017] Figure 4 A top view illustrating a single distance sensor is shown according to the first variant. Figures 1 to 3 The suction head mechanism shown includes a lifting suction device and a drag suction device.

[0018] Figure 5 According to the second variant, a top view shows a device with multiple distance sensors. Figures 1 to 3 The suction head mechanism shown includes a lifting suction device and a drag suction device, and

[0019] Figure 6 A schematic view shows the method for... Figures 1 to 3 The suction head mechanism shown has an adjustment circuit for height adjustment of the drag-type suction device.

[0020] In all the accompanying drawings, the same elements use the same reference numerals. Detailed Implementation

[0021] A suction head mechanism 1 is arranged in the feeder 20 of the die-cutting machine or printing machine. The suction head mechanism 1 includes a separate or lifting suction device 2 for lifting the sheets 3 from the stack 4, and also includes a conveying or dragging suction device 5. The dragging suction device 5 receives the lifted sheets 3 from the lifting suction device 2 and further conveys the sheets 3 by a horizontal conveying motion 6. Reference numeral "23" indicates a dragging suction device support.

[0022] First variant scheme ( Figures 1 to 4 In this configuration, a common adjustment driver 7 for these drag-type suction devices 5 is fixedly arranged on the suction head mechanism 1 and connected to each drag-type suction device 5 in a driven manner via a pulley 22 and a traction cable 8. Instead of the traction cable 8, other similar transmission components that follow the conveying motion 6 may be provided to connect the adjustment driver 7 to the drag-type suction device 5. The adjustment driver 7 is used to adjust the height of the drag-type suction device 5 in a motor-driven manner, adjusting the height position of the drag-type suction device 5 relative to the lifting suction device 2 and the sheet 3 held by the lifting suction device 2. Here, each of the drag-type suction devices 5 performs a vertical adjustment motion 9. A distance sensor 10 is arranged on the suction head mechanism 1, and this distance sensor 10 points to a measurement point 11 on the sheet 3 held by the lifting suction device 2. The distance sensor 10 is fixed in position and does not follow the conveying motion 6 of the drag-type suction device 5. Measurement point 11 is located immediately adjacent to position 12 occupied by one of these drag-type suction units 5 when receiving the sheet 3 from the lifting suction unit 2. Distance sensor 10 measures (e.g., optically) the vertical distance between itself and the sheet 3 held by the lifting suction unit 2 without contact. The distance A between the drag-type suction unit 5 and the sheet 3 can be calculated by addition or subtraction from this distance and the known vertical distance between the distance sensor 10 and the drag-type suction unit 5. Distance sensor 10 and adjustment driver 7 are components of adjustment circuit 13, which includes the drag-type suction unit 5 and adjuster 15. Additionally, a memory 14 is provided for the measurement values ​​of distance sensor 10.

[0023] Second variant scheme ( Figures 1 to 3 , Figure 5In this system, each towed suction device 5 has a different adjustment driver 7. These adjustment drivers 7 are arranged in a fixed position on the suction head mechanism 1. Each adjustment driver 7 is connected to a different towed suction device 5 via a traction cable 8 to perform height adjustment of that towed suction device 5. Instead of the traction cable 8, other similar transmission components that follow the transport movement 6 may be provided to connect the adjustment drivers 7 to the towed suction devices 5. These adjustment drivers 7 adjust the height position of these towed suction devices 5 relative to the lifting suction device 2 and the sheet 3 held by the lifting suction device 2. Here, these towed suction devices 5 each perform a vertical adjustment movement 9. Distance sensors 10 are arranged on the suction head mechanism 1, and these distance sensors 10 point to the measurement point 11 on the sheet 3 held by the lifting suction device 2. Each distance sensor 10 is fixed in position and does not follow the transport movement 6 of the towed suction device 5. Each measuring point 11 is associated with a different drag-type suction device 5, wherein the corresponding measuring point 11 is located immediately adjacent to the position 12 occupied by the corresponding drag-type suction device 5 when receiving the page 3 from the lifting suction device 2. A corresponding distance sensor 10 non-contactly measures (e.g., optically) the vertical distance between itself and the page 3 held by the lifting suction device 2. From this distance and the known vertical distance between the distance sensor 10 and the drag-type suction device 5, the distance A between the drag-type suction device 5 and the page 3 can be calculated by addition or subtraction. The distance sensor 10 and the adjustment driver 7 are components of structurally identical adjustment loops 13, each including one of these distance sensors 10 and one of these adjustment drivers 7. Each adjustment loop 13 also includes an adjuster 15. Each adjustment loop 13 is associated with a memory 14 for the measurement values ​​of the corresponding distance sensor 10.

[0024] Figure 6 A closed adjustment loop 13 is shown, which can be one of the adjustment loops of a first variant or a second variant. The guiding parameter or command variable 16 of the adjustment loop 13 is the nominal gap between the dragging suction unit 5 and the sheet 3. This nominal gap is in the range of 1 to 3 mm. The control variable or adjustment parameter 17 is the height position of the dragging suction unit 5 relative to the sheet 3 held by the lifting suction unit 2. An interference parameter 18 exists as a median or average value, which is formed by a predetermined number of the most recent measurements from the distance sensor 10, for example, always by the last ten measurements. These measurements are stored in the memory 14. The feedback 19 of the adjustment loop 13 is the actual gap between the dragging suction unit 5 and the lifted sheet 3.

[0025] Therefore, the height adjustment of the drag-type suction device is automated. The height of the page 3 to be grasped is determined within the area of ​​the drag-type suction device 5 using one (first variant) or more (second variant) distance sensors 10. One or more distance sensors 10 measure the height of the page 3 lifted by the lifting suction device 2 within the area of ​​one or more drag-type suction devices 5 during each rotation of the machine. This measured height forms the basis for the electric adjustment of the height of the drag-type suction device 5. The above measurement is performed after the lifting suction device 2 has completely lifted the top page 3 from the stack 4, after the carrying air blower 21 is turned on, and before the drag-type suction device 5 grasps the page 3. Based on the measurement signals from one or more distance sensors 10, the height of the drag-type suction device is electrically adjusted to the ideal value, and supplementary adjustments are made during operation as needed. Through the described automation method, the height of the drag-type suction device is automatically adjusted during commissioning. During continuous machine operation, the height of the drag suction device is continuously adjusted so that the vertical stroke of the drag suction device 5 when gripping the page 3 is always minimized. This stroke can be in the range of 1 to 3 millimeters.

[0026] The following advantages exist here:

[0027] These drag-type suction devices 5 can be adjusted to a very small gap relative to the sheets 3 held by the lifting suction device 2. Because the gap is so small, the stroke performed by the drag-type suction device 5 when gripping the sheets 3 is correspondingly small, and the drag-type suction device 5 only lifts the sheets 3 to a minimal extent. This contributes to a smooth order-separating process, with no sheet movement that could cause order-separating problems. The quality of the sheet flakes formed by the feeder 20 is improved.

[0028] List of reference numerals

[0029] 1. Suction head mechanism

[0030] 2 Lifting Suction Device

[0031] 3 pages

[0032] 4. Stacking

[0033] 5. Trailing suction device

[0034] 6. Conveying motion

[0035] 7 Adjust the driver

[0036] 8. Traction cable (Seilzug)

[0037] 9. Adjustment of sports

[0038] 10 Distance Sensor

[0039] 11 Measurement Points

[0040] 12 positions

[0041] 13. Regulation circuit

[0042] 14. Memory

[0043] 15 Regulator

[0044] 16 instruction variables

[0045] 17 Adjustment parameters

[0046] 18 Interference Parameters

[0047] 19 Feedback

[0048] 20 Feeders

[0049] 21. Carrying air blower

[0050] 22 rope reels

[0051] 23 Trailer-type suction device holder

[0052] A Spacing

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a suction head mechanism (1) of a feeder (20) for sheets (3), wherein, The suction head mechanism (1) includes a lifting suction device (2) for lifting the sheets (3) from the stack (4) and a drag suction device (5) that receives the sheets (3) from the lifting suction device (2) in sequence. Its features are, At least one distance sensor (10) is arranged on the suction head mechanism (1), which is pointed to the corresponding page (3) that has been lifted and held from the stack (4) by the lifting suction device (2) to measure the vertical distance between the distance sensor itself and the page (3). The at least one distance sensor (10) is connected in control technology to the adjustment driver (7) arranged on the suction head mechanism (1), and The adjustment driver (7) is driven to connect at least one of the drag suction devices (5) such that the adjustment driver (7) adjusts the height position of the drag suction device (5) relative to the lifting suction device (2) and the page (3) that has been lifted and held by the lifting suction device (2) from the stack (4) based on the vertical distance measured by the distance sensor, so as to set a certain distance (A) between the drag suction device (5) and the page (3) that has been lifted and held by the lifting suction device (2), so that the drag suction device (5) subsequently performs a vertical stroke equivalent to the distance (A) to grab the page (3).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, Its features are, The adjustment driver (7) is driven to connect to another drag suction device in the drag suction device (5) in order to adjust a certain distance (A) between the drag suction device (5) and the sheet (3) held by the lifting suction device (2).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, Its features are, Another distance sensor (10) is arranged on the suction head mechanism (1), which points to the corresponding page (3) held by the lifting suction device (2), and The other distance sensor (10) is connected in control technology to another adjustment driver (7) arranged on the suction head mechanism (1).

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, Its features are, The other adjustment driver (7) is driven to connect to another drag suction device in the drag suction device (5) in order to adjust a certain distance (A) between the drag suction device (5) and the sheet (3) held by the lifting suction device (2).

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