Folding machine for folding sheets with at least one folding fence

Abstract

A folding machine for folding a sheet comprises at least one folding fence, at least two folding rollers, at least one sheet diverter adjustably arranged between a first position and a second position, and a linkage mechanism for adjusting the sheet diverter. The connecting rod mechanism is constructed to be a six-component guide mechanism and comprises the following elements: a multi-component crank rocker which comprises a crank with a crank point, a rocker and a first connecting rod, a first rotating hinge fixed on the rack, a second rotating hinge fixed on the rack, a third rotating hinge with a hinge point and a fourth rotating hinge with a hinge point; the double connecting rods are guided by the crank point and the hinge point and comprise a second connecting rod, a third connecting rod, a fourth rotating hinge serving as a double rotating hinge, and a fifth rotating hinge and a sixth rotating hinge located at the crank point. The page diverter is arranged on the second link at a fixed point. According to the invention, the page steering gear can move between two limited positions and is locked at one of the two limited positions. The invention is preferably used for industrial folding machines.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a folding machine for folding pages, the folding machine having at least one folding gate.

[0002] This invention belongs to the technical field of the graphic industry, specifically relating to the field of folding flexible, sheet-shaped printing materials, or the field of industrial-grade (i.e., high-quality, high-productivity) production of folded products (e.g., booklets), wherein the material is preferably paper, cardboard, paperboard, plastic or composite material, especially printing paper. Background Technology

[0003] Industrial-grade folding of sheet-shaped printed materials is performed using sophisticated folding machines. These machines typically include a paper feeding device for the sheets to be folded, at least one folding unit with multiple folding rollers, and a paper receiving device for the folded product. The folding unit of the machine may include a grid-type folding device and / or a knife-type folding device. A grid-type folding device typically includes a series of folding rollers located in a so-called folding roller holder, and removable folding grids on both sides of the folding roller holder. Folding of the sheets in a grid-type folding device takes place in the folding gap between two opposing, rotating folding rollers in the folding roller holder. At the location of the folding grids on the folding roller holder, a sheet deflector may be provided instead of the folding grids, which guides the sheets directly into the next folding gap. Such sheet deflectors can be designed to be movable, swingable, or switchable.

[0004] US2015 / 0057140A1 discloses a folding machine with a folding gate system, wherein each folding gate can be closed by a separate sheet deflector. For this purpose, the sheet deflector is oscillatingly mounted. DE102012207038A1 and US4850945 also disclose folding gates, each with a closable sheet deflector. For this purpose, the sheet deflector is movable.

[0005] DE3930855 discloses a paper guiding device for a grid-type folding machine, wherein a paper guide plate having concave and convex guiding surfaces is hinged to two swing-mounted steering rods and can swing between a stationary position and a blocking position. The corresponding movement is achieved by guided mechanical switching elements (push rods and pull rods with their respective long slots).

[0006] US2011 / 0212817A1 discloses a folding device with a switchable steering mechanism that can be activated by a linkage mechanism.

[0007] There are also applications where the sheet deflector is fixedly mounted within the folding assembly. In these cases, accessing the folding rollers becomes very difficult. Tools are typically required to remove the sheet deflector from the folding assembly to access the folding rollers. This is often the case when cleaning the folding rollers, troubleshooting downtime, or adjusting the roller system.

[0008] Furthermore, it may be advantageous to eject the pages within the folding mechanism (rather than before or after). Summary of the Invention

[0009] One object of the present invention is to provide an improvement over the prior art, which in particular allows the sheet deflector to be moved precisely between two defined positions and optionally locked in one of the positions by simple means.

[0010] The task solution according to the invention

[0011] According to the present invention, the task is solved by a folding machine having the preferred technical solution of the present invention.

[0012] Advantageous and therefore preferred extensions of the invention can be derived from alternative technical solutions, as well as the specification and drawings.

[0013] The folding machine for folding pages of the present invention comprises: at least one folding gate; at least two folding rollers forming a folding gap; at least one adjustable page deflector, which is adjustablely arranged between a first position, i.e., a turning position, and a second position different from the first position, in which the page is guided by the page deflector into the folding gap; and a linkage mechanism consisting of multiple elements for adjusting the page deflector between the first and second positions, characterized in that the linkage mechanism is constructed as a six-component guiding mechanism, comprising the following elements: a multi-component crank-rocker including a crank having a crank point, a rocker and a first connecting rod, a first rotary hinge fixed to the frame, a second rotary hinge fixed to the frame, a third rotary hinge having a hinge point and a fourth rotary hinge having a hinge point; and a double connecting rod guided by the crank point and the hinge point, comprising a second connecting rod and a third connecting rod, a fourth rotary hinge as a double rotary hinge, and a fifth and a sixth rotary hinge located at the crank point, wherein the page deflector is arranged on the second connecting rod at a fixed point.

[0014] Advantages and effects of the present invention

[0015] This invention advantageously enables the precise movement of the sheet deflector between two defined positions, and optionally locking it in one of the positions, by a simple means. This invention is preferably applied to industrial folding machines.

[0016] The folding machine according to the invention, having at least one movable sheet deflector and its six-component guiding mechanism, is highly flexible. It requires only slightly more installation space than a fixed sheet deflector and provides comparable ease of folding roller contact to sheet deflectors with folding rail assemblies or those guided in a frame or guide rail. The deflection gap (the gap between the sheet deflector and the opposing folding roller) can be adjusted manually or using a drive. Furthermore, the six-component guiding mechanism allows the sheet deflector to move sufficiently away from the folding roller, thereby creating an exit path within the folding device.

[0017] This multi-component crank rocker is specifically constructed as a four-component crank rocker (if the frame is also considered a component).

[0018] Extension of the present invention

[0019] The following describes preferred extensions of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "extensions"). These extensions—provided they are not technically mutually exclusive—can also be combined with each other.

[0020] One feature of the extended scheme may be that the second position is a discharge position, in which the pages are discharged next to, through or past the page deflector.

[0021] One extended solution is characterized in that the linkage mechanism, as a first linkage mechanism, together with a second linkage mechanism of the same or mirror-shaped structure, forms a linkage mechanism pair. This linkage mechanism pair has a first six-component guide mechanism and a second six-component guide mechanism for adjusting the movement of the sheet deflector. Another extended solution is characterized in that the first linkage mechanism and its first six-component guide mechanism are disposed on a first side of the sheet deflector. Yet another extended solution is characterized in that the first side corresponds to the drive side of the folding machine, and the first linkage mechanism is disposed on the first sidewall of that drive side.

[0022] One feature of the extended solution is that the second linkage mechanism and its second sixth component guiding mechanism are disposed on the opposite second side of the page deflector. Another feature of the extended solution is that the second side corresponds to the operating side of the folding machine, and the second linkage mechanism is disposed on the second sidewall of that operating side. Yet another feature of the extended solution is that the first linkage mechanism and the second linkage mechanism are respectively arranged at two locations on corresponding sidewalls.

[0023] One extension may be characterized in that the two six-component guide mechanisms of the linkage pair are constructed and operable such that the adjusting movement of the leaf steering gear between the steering position and the second position can be performed manually or by means of at least one actuator using only the elements of each of the two six-component guide mechanisms. Another extension may be characterized in that the two six-component guide mechanisms of the linkage pair are constructed and operable such that the adjusting movement of the leaf steering gear between the steering position and the second position can be performed without the use of additional guiding devices (abbreviated as: guideless; i.e., without lateral guide rails or grooves). Another extension may be characterized in that the actuator is an electric actuator or a pneumatic actuator. Another extension may be characterized in that the actuator is a linear actuator.

[0024] The features and combinations of features disclosed in the above-described technical field, invention content and extensions section and the following embodiments section—in any combination thereof—constitute further advantageous extensions of the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figures 1 to 5 Preferred embodiments of the present invention and its extensions are shown. In each figure, corresponding features are given the same reference numerals. For clarity, repeated reference numerals in the figures have been omitted.

[0026] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a folding machine according to the present invention is shown, with its guide mechanism in a first position.

[0027] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 In a preferred embodiment, the guide mechanism is in the second position.

[0028] Figure 3 A perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a guiding mechanism is provided.

[0029] Figure 4 and Figure 5 Show Figure 3 Two different side views of the preferred embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Figure 1 A folding machine 1 is shown, which has a folding device 1a configured as a grid-type (or pocket-type) folding device and provides at least one crease for the supplied sheet 2. For this purpose, the folding device 1a includes at least one folding grid (or folding pocket) 3 and at least two folding rollers 4 that together form a folding gap 5. The folding machine 1 also includes a first sidewall 6 on the drive side 7 (AS) and a second sidewall 8 on the operating side 9 (BS), which can also be seen in [reference needed]. Figure 3 .

[0031] The folding machine 1 includes a sheet deflector (or sheet turner) 10, which has a first side 11 (on the AS) and a second side 12 (on the BS), as can be seen again. Figure 3 The page deflector 10 is movable or adjustable, which is in Figure 1 This can be seen through the adjustment movement 13, indicated by double arrows. The adjustment movement 13 can be linear, but it can also proceed along a curve. The adjustment movement 13 is in a first position 14 (referred to as the steering position, in which the page steering mechanism 10 is active and thus acts as a steering mechanism for page 2) and a second position 15 (see [reference]). Figure 2 The process takes place between these two positions, with the second position being particularly referred to as the discharge position (in which the page deflector 10 is inactive or parked and therefore not used as a deflector for page 2, but rather preferably releases the discharge path). At least one discharge element 16, such as a guide surface, may also be provided for discharging page 2.

[0032] In order to enable the adjustment movement 13 of the page steering gear 10, a first linkage mechanism 20 (on AS) and a second linkage mechanism 23 (on BS) are provided. The two linkage mechanisms 20 and 23 are preferably identical in structure, but since they are arranged opposite to each other on AS and BS, their construction is mirrored or assembled from mirrored components.

[0033] The first linkage 20 includes a first six-component guide mechanism 21 composed of elements 22; the second linkage 23 includes a second six-component guide mechanism 24 composed of elements 25. These two linkages 20 and 23 together constitute linkage pair 26. The adjustment movement 13 can be manually performed by an operator; however, preferably, the movement is performed by at least one actuator 27 in conjunction with a controller 28.

[0034] The composition of each linkage mechanism will be referenced below. Figure 3 , 4 Let's take linkage mechanism 20 as an example for explanation.

[0035] Linkage mechanism 20 includes a first rotary hinge A0 fixed to the frame and a second rotary hinge B0 fixed to the frame (here, "fixed to the frame" means fixed to the side wall 6). Furthermore, linkage mechanism 20 includes a third rotary hinge A, a fourth rotary hinge B (as a double rotary hinge), a fifth rotary hinge C, and a sixth rotary hinge D. The page steering mechanism 10 can be understood as element E on linkage mechanism 20. Depending on the existing rotary hinges, linkage mechanism 20 has the following hinge points: first hinge point a0, second hinge point b0, third hinge point a, fourth hinge point b, fifth hinge point or crank point c, and sixth hinge point d. The fixing point of page steering mechanism 10 or element E is marked as e.

[0036] In addition, the linkage 20 includes the following links: a first link AB (located between two rotary hinges A and B), a second link CDE (located between two rotary hinges C and D and extending to E), and a third link BD (located between two rotary hinges B and D).

[0037] The frame or sidewall 6 can be understood as a component or mechanism link A0B0 (located between hinges A0 and B0).

[0038] In addition, the linkage 20 includes the following other elements: rocker BB0 (located between rotary hinges B and B0), crank A0AC (located between rotary hinges A0 and A and extending to rotary hinge C), double linkage BCD (located between rotary hinges B, C and D and extending to E), and multi-component (especially four-component) crank-rocker A0ABB0 (located between rotary hinges A0, A, B and B0; and between the frame or sidewall 6).

[0039] Therefore, we can conclude that:

[0040] There is one drive component, one of which is on the frame.

[0041] The number of driven components is 1, of which 0 are on the frame.

[0042] There are a total of 6 components, of which 4 are secondary components and 2 are tertiary components.

[0043] There are 7 hinges, including 5 swivel hinges and 1 double swivel hinge.

[0044] The six-component guiding mechanism 21 or 24 consists of a four-component crank-rocker A0ABB0 and a double-link BCD guided by crank point c and hinge point b, respectively. The driven component being guided is the link CDE, i.e., the sheet deflector 10. In manual operation, the sheet deflector 10 is also the driving component relative to the frame. However, the crank A0AC can also be driven relative to the frame by an electric or pneumatic actuator at hinge A0. The basic guiding task is to position and orient the sheet deflector 10 or E in a preset position. Here, the selection of the two positions 14 and 15 satisfies: i) in the turning position 14 (i.e., as the deflector function of sheet 2), the sheet deflector 10 is arranged as close as possible to the folding roller 4; ii) in the second position (especially the discharge position 15), the sheet deflector 10 is moved away from the folding roller 4 (especially swing away) and correspondingly arranged as far away from the folding roller 4 as possible. This dual arrangement on AS and BS is used to guide the sheet deflector 10 from the deflection position to the second position, specifically the discharge position. Due to this respective composition, the two linkage mechanisms 20 and 23 functionally require no additional guiding devices, such as guide rails. Two rotary hinges A0 and B0, fixed to the frame, are directly mounted on the side wall 6 or 7 of the folding device 1a.

[0045] List of reference numerals

[0046] 1-fold machine

[0047] 1a Folding device

[0048] 2 pages

[0049] 3-fold brochure fence

[0050] 4-fold roller

[0051] 5-fold gap

[0052] 6. First sidewall (frame)

[0053] 7 drive side

[0054] 8. Second side wall (frame)

[0055] 9. Operating side

[0056] 10-page steering gear

[0057] Page 11, first side of the steering gear

[0058] Page 12, second side of the steering gear

[0059] 13 One or more adjustment movements

[0060] 14 First position / steering position

[0061] 15. Second position, especially the discharge position.

[0062] 16 One or more discharge elements

[0063] 20 First Linkage Mechanism

[0064] 21. The first and sixth component guiding mechanism

[0065] 22 Components of the first linkage mechanism

[0066] 23 Second Linkage Mechanism

[0067] 24. The second and sixth component guiding mechanism

[0068] 25. Components of the second linkage mechanism

[0069] 26-bar linkage

[0070] 27 One / Multiple Drives

[0071] 28 controllers

[0072] A0 is fixed to the first rotary hinge of the frame.

[0073] B0 is fixed to the second rotary hinge of the frame.

[0074] A Third Rotational Hinge

[0075] B. Fourth Rotary Hinge (Double Rotary Hinge)

[0076] C Fifth Rotary Hinge

[0077] D Sixth Rotary Hinge

[0078] E-page steering gear

[0079] a0 First hinge point

[0080] b0 Second hinge point

[0081] a Third hinge point

[0082] b Fourth hinge point

[0083] c. Fifth hinge point and crank point

[0084] d Sixth hinge point

[0085] e Fixed point

[0086] AB first link

[0087] CDE Second Link

[0088] BD third link

[0089] A0B0 frame (side wall of the folding machine)

[0090] BB0 Joystick

[0091] A0AC crank

[0092] BCD double linkage

[0093] A0ABB0 Multi-component crank rocker arm.

Claims

1. A folding machine for folding pages, comprising: At least one folding fence; At least two folding rollers (4) forming a folding gap (5); at least one adjustable sheet deflector (10, E) adjustablely arranged between a first position (14), i.e., a turning position (14), and a second position (15) different from the first position, in which the sheet (2) is guided into the folding gap (5) by the sheet deflector (10, E); and a linkage mechanism (20) consisting of a plurality of elements (22) for adjusting the sheet deflector (10, E) between the first position (14) and the second position (15), characterized in that, The linkage mechanism (20) is constructed as a six-component guide mechanism (21), which includes the following elements (22): A multi-component crank-rocker arm (A0ABB0) includes a crank (A0AC) with a crank point (c), a rocker arm (B0B), and a first connecting rod (AB), a first rotary hinge (A0) fixed to a frame, a second rotary hinge (B0) fixed to a frame, a third rotary hinge (A) with a hinge point (a), and a fourth rotary hinge (B) with a hinge point (b); and The double linkage (BCD) is guided by the crank point (c) and hinge point (b), and includes the second link (CDE) and the third link (BD), the fourth rotary hinge (B) as a double rotary hinge (B), and the fifth rotary hinge (C) and the sixth rotary hinge (D) located at the crank point (c). The page deflector (E) is located on the second link (CDE) at the fixed point (e).

2. The folding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second position (15) is the discharge position (15), in which the sheet (2) is discharged next to the sheet deflector (10).

3. The folding machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The linkage mechanism (20) forms a linkage pair (26) together with a second linkage mechanism (23) that has the same structure or a mirror image structure as the first linkage mechanism (20). The linkage pair includes a first six-component guide mechanism (21) and a second six-component guide mechanism (24) for adjusting the movement (13) of the page deflector (10).

4. The folding machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first linkage mechanism (20), including the first six-component guide mechanism (21), is arranged on the first side (11) of the page deflector (10).

5. The folding machine according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that, The second linkage mechanism (23), including the second sixth component guide mechanism (24), is arranged on the second side (12) opposite to the page deflector (10).

6. The folding machine according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, The first linkage (20) and the second linkage (23) are respectively arranged on the corresponding sidewalls (6,8) at two positions (A0, B0).

7. The folding machine according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that, The two six-component guide mechanisms (21, 24) of the linkage pair (26) are constructed and operable such that the adjustment movement (13) of the page steering mechanism (10) between the steering position (14) and the second position (15) can be performed manually or by means of at least one actuator (27) solely by means of the respective elements (22, 25) of the two six-component guide mechanisms (21, 24).

8. The folding machine according to claim 7, characterized in that, The two six-component guide mechanisms (21, 24) of the linkage pair (26) are constructed and manipulated such that the adjustment movement (13) of the page steering device (10) between the steering position (14) and the second position (15) can be performed without the use of additional guiding devices.

9. The folding machine according to any one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that, The actuator (27) is an electric actuator (27) or a pneumatic actuator (27).

10. The folding machine according to claim 9, characterized in that, The driver (27) is a linear actuator (27).

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