Device for feeding book blocks into the feed channel of a processing unit

Abstract

Device for feeding book blocks (2) into the feed channel (11) of a processing unit, wherein the inlet channel (11) has a channel floor (12), lateral channel guides (13) and at least one driver (14) which pushes the book block (2) standing on its back (2 a) or front edge ahead of it, with an intermittently rotating support star (31) with several block receptacles (34) arranged in a star shape on a roller divided into disks (33), each having first and second support surfaces (34.1, 34.2) at right angles to each other, wherein the book blocks (2) are fed to the feeder star (31) essentially tangentially to the roller and transversely to the axis of rotation (32) in a flat position and, after being set up, are conveyed away parallel to the axis of rotation (32), characterized by that the mounting star (31) has several clamping jaws (36) which are arranged parallel to the second mounting surfaces (34.2) and which are movable relative to these, each of which is assigned to the block receptacles (34).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for feeding book blocks into the feed channel of a processing device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A feeding device of this type is known from DE 71 25 313 ​​U. Flat-lying book blocks are erected by a rotating conveying element so that they stand on their front edge, and are then transported further in the infeed channel of a book production line by conveyors. The intermittently rotating conveying element, also referred to as a feeder star, is a roller divided into discs, which has several star-shaped cutouts, each with first and second contact surfaces at right angles to each other, serving as block holders. The book blocks are fed to the feeder star essentially tangentially to the roller and transversely to the axis of rotation, lying flat, and after being erected, are conveyed away parallel to the axis of rotation.DE 71 25 313 ​​U discloses a feeder star with six-part spacing, in which the book blocks are fed from a 30° inclined belt conveyor into the respective cutout, resting against the first feed surface. As the feeder star rotates, the book blocks are lifted from the belt conveyor by the second feed surface and then erected. For higher throughput, feeder stars with eight-part spacing have been developed, which erect the book blocks from a horizontal position with a 45° inclined intermediate stop. DE 102004019756A1 discloses a device for feeding printed products to such a feeder star with eight-part spacing in a cycle-controlled manner. A stop is arranged at the end of a continuously driven accumulation conveyor for the timed release of individual printed products.A sensor detects the leading edge of the printed products, and a control unit determines the optimal release time, enabling precise timing and control of the feeding process to the feeder. The printed products rest on the feeder with their flat bottom surface on the second feeder, while the leading edge rests against the first feeder, which is oriented perpendicular to the first feeder.

[0003] Particularly when processing book blocks loosely assembled from multiple signatures and / or leaves, there is a risk that the centrifugal and acceleration forces acting during rotary erection will cause the book blocks to slip apart, losing their order and alignment. Furthermore, the cycle rate is limited by the fact that excessive braking acceleration during the 45° inclined intermediate stop can cause the book blocks to lift off the support surfaces and overturn.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to further develop the generic feeding device in such a way that gentle treatment of especially loosely assembled book blocks is ensured at high processing speeds.

[0005] This problem is solved by a device according to claim 1. The dependent claims define preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention.

[0006] According to the invention, the feeder star has several clamping jaws, each assigned to a specific block holder, arranged parallel to the second support surfaces and movable relative to them. The clamping jaws press the book blocks against the second support surface of the block holders, thereby fixing them in the block holders during erection. The feeder star can be operated at significantly higher rotational acceleration and speed without the book blocks losing contact with the first and second support surfaces or even tipping over. In particular, this enables the processing of loosely collated book blocks, which can now be erected even at high processing speeds without the individual signatures and / or leaves shifting relative to one another.

[0007] Book blocks of varying thicknesses can be processed if the spring-loaded clamping jaws press against the secondary contact surfaces. Block thickness adjustment is not required.

[0008] Preferably, the opening and closing of the clamping jaws is achieved via a control cam. The opening and closing movement is simply generated by rollers arranged on the clamping jaws or their guide elements running along the control cam during the rotation of the star wheel. Drive means for each individual clamping jaw are not required. To enable at least the closing of the clamping jaws when the star wheel is stationary, the control cam can be rotated back and forth intermittently around the axis of rotation of the star wheel by a drive means, e.g., a pneumatic cylinder, so that the clamping jaw to be closed in the feed area of ​​the star wheel is activated by the corresponding section of the control cam before the star wheel begins to rotate again.If the clamping jaws are opened during the rotation of the feeder star, immediately before the book blocks reach their final erecting position, the book blocks can be ejected from the feeder star immediately. This ejection movement can be superimposed on the end of the feeder star's rotation, resulting in a further increase in cycle time.

[0009] An integrated block thickness measuring device allows for the simple determination of the thickness of each book block erected by the feeder star. This is achieved by recording the actual position of the clamping jaws, which are controlled in the closed position, at a specific rotational position of the feeder star. This also enables the detection of unoccupied block holders. The measured block thickness can be used for block thickness-dependent settings of the downstream processing equipment and / or for thickness control to verify completeness, with the option of selectively rejecting unused blocks from further processing.

[0010] In a further embodiment, the feeder star is provided with at least one ejector driven separately by at least one carrier of the feed channel. The feeder star with the at least one separately driven ejector can be decoupled from the feed channel of the downstream processing unit if required, whereby a book block already positioned in the feed channel is not immediately transferred but selectively transferred to a specific carrier of the feed channel. Furthermore, an ejector movement can be defined that allows for a smooth approach of the ejector against the book block to be ejected, on the one hand, and a synchronous transfer to the continuously rotating carrier of the feed channel, on the other. The ejector movement can be adjusted according to the format height of the book block.Preferably, at least one ejector is designed to selectively push the book blocks from the feeder star in opposite conveying directions, so that, for example, book blocks identified as defective can be diverted into a transverse stacking delivery opposite the feed channel.

[0011] The book block feeder with its separately driven ejector can be arranged along the feed channel of the downstream processing unit, provided that at least one ejector is designed to receive and convey book blocks fed into the feed channel in the conveying direction. A partition located in the feed channel near the feed star allows partial book blocks fed in the conveying direction and via the feed star to be combined and fed to the downstream processing unit as a complete book block. In a further embodiment, at least two feed stars are arranged on the feed channel.

[0012] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the device according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows purely schematic representations. Fig. 1 a side view of a book block feeder; Fig. 2 a top view of the mooring star; Fig. 3 a simplified top view of the anchoring star with a cross-stack layout; Fig. 4 A top view of an arrangement with two mooring stars.

[0013] The in the Fig. 1 and Fig. The feeding device 1 shown in Figure 2 serves to feed book blocks 2 to a perfect binder as a finishing unit. The figures only show a section of an infeed channel 11 of the perfect binder. The book blocks 2 are conveyed in the infeed channel 11, formed by a channel base 12 and lateral channel guides 13, by carriers 14 arranged at equal intervals on a continuously circulating conveyor chain 15 to the transport clamps of the perfect binder. The conveyor chain 15 is coupled to the perfect binder via a drive mechanism. The feeding device 1 can also be arranged on a book production line or another finishing unit for book blocks.

[0014] The feeding device 1 has a feeder star 31 serving as a book block feeder 30. Book blocks 2, fed flat from a feed conveyor 21, are picked up by the feeder star 31 and, in a two-stage rotational movement, turned onto their spines 2a and finally pushed into the infeed channel 11. The feed conveyor 21 shown in the exemplary embodiment has intermittently advancing drivers 25, which push the book blocks 2 on a sliding plate 22, bearing against a lateral guide 24, towards the feeder star 31. The book blocks 2 can be placed manually onto the feed conveyor 21 or conveyed to the feed conveyor 21 via a conveyor belt. The feed conveyor 21 can also be designed as a belt conveyor.

[0015] The feeder star 31, driven intermittently by a servomotor 35, is a roller divided into discs 33 with a rotation axis 32 oriented parallel to the channel direction and with several star-shaped cutouts, each perpendicular to the other, having first and second feed surfaces 34.1 and 34.2 as block holders 34. The individual discs 33 engage through openings 23 in the sliding plate 22 and, as the feeder star 31 begins to rotate, lift the book blocks 2 from the feed conveyor 21.

[0016] According to the invention, the support star 31 has several clamping jaws 36, each assigned to the block receptacles 34, arranged parallel to the second support surfaces 34.2 and movable relative to them. The book blocks 2 are pressed against the second support surface 34.2 by the clamping jaws 36 and thereby fixed in the block receptacles 34 in a manner that prevents displacement and tilting during the erection process.

[0017] The clamping jaws 36 are located at the ends of a rod 37, which is guided in linear guides 38 and subjected to clamping force by a tension spring 39. The opening and closing of the clamping jaws 36 is effected by a control cam 41, on which cam rollers 40 located on the rods 37 run during the rotation of the clamping star 31. The control cam 41 pushes the clamping jaws 36 into a fully open position and releases them to clamp the book blocks 2.

[0018] In order to fix the respective book block 2 in the relevant block holder 34 before the start of rotation of the feed star 31, the control cam 41 is moved from the position of the feed star 31 by a pneumatically controlled cylinder 42 while the feed star 31 is stationary. Fig. 1. The position shown in dashed lines is rotated by a certain angular range into the position shown in solid lines to release the cam roller 40 and thus the clamping jaw 36, and is rotated back into the starting position during the rotation of the mounting star 31.

[0019] The control cam 41 is designed such that the clamping jaws 36 open immediately before reaching the erecting position. In the erecting position, the book blocks 2 are placed on a channel base 44, supported laterally by the second support surface 34.2 on one side and by guide plates 43, adjustable to the block thickness, on the other. By means of a separately driven ejector 51, each erected book block 2 is pushed towards the feed channel 11 and transferred to the drivers 14 virtually simultaneously.

[0020] In the exemplary embodiment, two pushers 51 are arranged on a circulating conveyor chain 52, which alternately push off the book blocks 2. The pushers 51 are each guided by an additional coupling 54 articulated to the conveyor chain 52 such that, after the transfer of the book blocks 2 to the driver 14 of the feed channel 11, they are always retracted from the feed channel 11 in a direction transverse to the conveying direction.

[0021] The conveyor chain 52 is driven by a separate servo motor 53, enabling the pushers 51 to move smoothly against the book block 2 to be pushed off, and simultaneously transferring the book blocks 2 to the continuously rotating carriers 14 of the infeed channel 11. The pusher movement can be varied according to the infeed position and / or the format height of the book blocks 2. The separate drive of the pushers 51 can also be used to suspend the transfer to the infeed channel 11 or to direct the book blocks 2 to specific carriers 14 and thus to specific transport clamps of the perfect binder.

[0022] In the top view of Fig. 2 The feed star 31 is integrated into the feed channel 11. Book blocks 2 fed at a further rearward point of the feed channel 11 can be guided past the feed star 31 by the pushers 51 taking the book blocks 2 from the feed channel section and transferring them into the outgoing channel section.

[0023] Fig. Figure 3 shows a transverse stacking delivery 71 opposite the infeed channel 11 to the processing unit. The book blocks 2, erected by the feeder star 31 and placed in the infeed channel 11, are optionally pushed off in the opposite direction to the infeed channel 11 and fed to the transverse stacking delivery 71 for staggered stack formation. This is done, for example, to exclude incorrectly identified book blocks 2 from further processing and to feed them back to the processing unit via the feeder star 31 at a later time. The pushers 51 are designed for conveying in both directions. Instead of the transverse stacking delivery 71, a second, alternative processing direction can be connected to the book block feeder 30.

[0024] Fig. Figure 4 shows the arrangement of a second book block feeder 72. Second partial blocks 3.2 fed via this feeder are combined with first partial blocks 3.1 fed via the first book block feeder 30 to form complete book blocks 2 and are transferred to the feed channel 11. A partition 73 is provided in the area of ​​the first book block feeder 30 to allow the second partial block 3.2 to be pushed next to the first partial block 3.1. The two book block feeders 30, 72 can also be used for the selective feeding of book blocks 2.

[0025] Out of Fig.Figure 1 shows a block thickness measuring device 45 integrated into the feed star 31. Using a stationary magnetic tape reader 46 and magnets 47 mounted on the rods 37, the respective clamping position of the clamping jaws 36, which are controlled in the closed position, is detected during the rotation of the feed star 31 and sent for evaluation. The measured block thickness can be used for block thickness-dependent settings of the downstream processing equipment and / or a thickness check is performed for completeness verification with the possibility of targeted rejection from further processing.

Claims

[1] Device for feeding book blocks (2) into the feed channel (11) of a further processing device, wherein the feed channel (11) has a channel base (12), lateral channel guides (13) and at least one driver (14) pushing the book blocks (2) standing on their spine (2a) or front edge in front of it, with an intermittently rotating feed star (31) with a plurality of block receptacles (34) arranged in a star shape on a roller divided into discs (33), each having first and second feed surfaces (34.1, 34.2) at right angles to one another, wherein the book blocks (2) are fed to the feed star (31) lying flat essentially tangentially to the roller and transversely to the rotation axis (32) and are conveyed away parallel to the rotation axis (32) after being set up, characterized by , that the application star (31) has a plurality of clamping jaws (36), each assigned to the block receptacles (34), arranged parallel to the second application surfaces (34.2) and movable relative to these. [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that the clamping jaws (36) press against the second contact surfaces (34.2) under spring load. [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the closing and opening movement of the clamping jaws (36) is controlled by a control cam (41). [4] Device according to claim 3, characterized by that the control cam (41) is rotated back and forth in cycles about the rotational axis (32) of the positioning star (31) by a drive means, e.g. a pneumatic cylinder (42), so that at least the closing movement of the clamping jaws (36) takes place when the positioning star (31) is at a standstill. [5] Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized bythat the clamping jaws (36) are opened during the rotational movement of the feed star (31), immediately before the book blocks (2) reach their erecting position. [6] Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that a block thickness measuring device (45) is assigned to the clamping jaws (36). [7] Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the application star (31) is assigned at least one pusher (51) driven separately by the at least one driver (14) of the feed channel (11). [8] Device according to claim 7, characterized by that the at least one pusher (51) is designed to selectively push the book blocks (2) away from the feed star (31) in opposite conveying directions. [9] Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized bythat the at least one pusher (51) is designed to receive and forward into the feed channel (11) book blocks (2) fed in the conveying direction of the feed channel (11) by the feed star (31). [10] Device according to claim 9, characterized by a partition wall (73) arranged in the area of ​​the feed star (31) in the feed channel for bringing together book blocks (3.1, 3.2) fed in the conveying direction of the feed channel (11) and via the feed star (31). [11] Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that at least two positioning stars (31, 72) are arranged on the inlet channel (11).

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