PROCESSING AND CONVEYING METHODS FOR PRINTED SHEETS AND / OR SINGLE SHEETS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a processing and conveying method for printed sheets and / or single sheets and to a processing device for processing printed sheets and / or single sheets before they are fed to a collecting section according to the preambles of claims 1 and 8. State of the art:

[0002] For processing printed sheets and / or single sheets, their transport using a gathering chain is known. Using such a gathering chain, the individual printed sheets and / or single sheets, after they have been folded, for example, can be collected and fed to a downstream stapling device, for example.

[0003] In the prior art, EP 2 460 749 A1 discloses a method for operating a transport system for producing printed products consisting of printed sheets. The printed sheets must be processed as individual printed sheets for product-specific separation.

[0004] The transport system features at least one branching point downstream of a conventionally or digitally operated printing press. This allows high production from the printing press to be accommodated without the need for an intermittent collection device. If necessary, the individual printed sheets can be guided along the individual conveyor streams in the shingled stream, significantly increasing the transport volume per unit of time compared to the equally possible transport of single sheets or individual sheets.

[0005] By dividing the conveyor system into at least two paths, these can be designed differently and their conveyor speeds can be individually adjusted. This contributes to maximum flexibility in the conveyor system's operation, allowing for the further processing of printed sheets into partial book blocks or into finished book blocks in the sequence of the individual printed sheets or individual sheets.

[0006] After each branching point at the end of the respective conveyor path, the printed sheets transported there are transferred - individually - via a continuous folding device astride an intermediate collecting device.

[0007] The aim is to reduce damage-based quality problems while maintaining a very high cycle rate and high product-related flexibility.

[0008] WO 01 / 14234 A1 discloses a method and device for transferring at least two sheets arranged in a shingled manner into a sheet handling machine. By reducing the speed of the second sheet relative to the speed of the first sheet, the distance between the two sheets arranged in a shingled manner is increased, allowing them to be subsequently inserted into envelopes. Folding sheets or sheets is not addressed in D2.

[0009] US 2004 / 214707 A1 discloses the folding of individual sheets. This document does not address a scale flow or an arrangement of scaled sheets. Object and advantages of the invention:

[0010] The invention is based on the object of improving the sheet transport and processing efficiency of printed sheets and / or single sheets.

[0011] The problem is solved based on the preambles of claims 1 and 8 by their characterizing features. Advantageous and expedient developments are provided in the dependent claims.

[0012] Accordingly, the invention relates to a processing and conveying method for printed sheets and / or single sheets. This method is characterized in that the printed sheets and / or single sheets are transferred to a feed point of a conveyor line and subsequently stacked in a staggered manner to form a shingled stream.

[0013] As a result, there is a larger number of printed sheets and / or single sheets on the conveyor line than with conventional printed sheets and / or single sheets transport, meaning that even at a comparatively lower web speed, more printed sheets and / or single sheets can still be transported.

[0014] The printed sheets and / or single sheets can be fed from an upstream printing roller, e.g. with the aid of a dispenser and a cutting unit or optionally also from a stacking device.

[0015] A certain number of printed sheets and / or single sheets fed into the feed point are combined into individual shingle sequences or stacks and placed on top of each other to form the shingle stream.

[0016] The shingled stream is then fed to a folding unit and folded, for example with a plow folding unit and / or a creasing unit.

[0017] The folded printed sheets and / or single sheets of the shingled stream can also be merged with additional shingled streams or shingled sequences. These additional shingled streams or sequences can be fed from another folding device, for example, one located upstream.

[0018] The printed sheets and / or single sheets can then be transferred to the shingle stream or shingle sequences with any further shingle streams or shingle sequences of a collecting line, in particular a collecting chain.

[0019] It can also be provided that the printed sheets and / or single sheets are fed from a folding unit as (pre-)folded printed sheets and / or single sheets to the feed point of the conveyor line.

[0020] For feeding, the printed sheets and / or single sheets can be fed from a printing roller or a cutting device downstream of this to the feed point of the conveyor line.

[0021] Alternatively or additionally, the printed sheets and / or single sheets can be fed from a stacking device to the feed point of the conveyor line.

[0022] The method is carried out using a processing device for processing printed sheets and / or single sheets before they are fed to a collection line. This processing device is characterized by a unit for stacking the printed sheets and / or single sheets, which subsequently stacks the printed sheets and / or single sheets transferred at a feed point of a conveyor line in a staggered manner to form an imbricated stream.

[0023] The unit is designed to combine a specific number of printed sheets and / or single sheets fed into the feed point into individual shingle sequences and place them on top of one another to form the shingle stream.

[0024] The unit feeds the shingle sequences to a folding unit, which folds the shingle sequences.

[0025] The folding unit can be designed as a plow folding unit and / or a groove folding unit for folding the scale sequences.

[0026] Furthermore, a merging unit can be provided which merges the folded scale sequences with further scale sequences.

[0027] The unit can then transfer the folded shingle sequences with any additional shingle sequences to a collecting line, in particular a collecting chain.

[0028] Furthermore, a further folding unit can be provided, from which the printed sheets and / or single sheets are fed as folded printed sheets and / or single sheets to the feed point of the conveyor line.

[0029] A pressure roller can be provided for feeding the printed sheets and / or single sheets into the processing device for processing printed sheets and / or single sheets, from which the printed sheets and / or single sheets are fed to the feed point of the conveyor line.

[0030] Alternatively or additionally, a stacking device can be provided from which the printed sheets and / or single sheets can be fed to the feed point of the conveyor line. Description of an example:

[0031] The invention is described in more detail below by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0032] They show examples and diagrams: Figure 1: A perspective view of a device for processing and transporting printed sheets and / or single sheets. Figure 2: The visualization of a first conveying and processing sequence for single sheets. Figure 3: The visualization of a Fig. 2 alternative conveying and processing process for single sheets. Figure 4: The visualization of a second conveying and processing process for printed sheets. Figure 5: The visualization of a Fig. 4 alternative conveying and processing process for printed sheets.

[0033] Accordingly, the Figure 1 a perspective view of a processing device for processing printed sheets and / or single sheets before they are fed to a collecting line.

[0034] The printed sheets and / or single sheets 11 to be transported and processed, in particular to be folded (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) are unrolled by an unrolling device 1 shown here as an example and cut by a cutting device 2, which can be designed in particular as a cross-cutting device, and transferred to a feed point 4 of a conveyor line 5.

[0035] A shingling device 3 is arranged in the inlet area of ​​the conveyor line 5. This shingling device 3 forms stacks 12 or 12.5 (or shingled sequences) from the successively fed printed sheets and / or single sheets 11, which are then deposited downstream onto the conveyor line.

[0036] If such a stack 12 or 12.5 has already been placed on the conveyor line, the subsequent stack 12 or 12.5 is placed on top of the stack 12 or 12.5 in the conveying direction 7, offset according to the time offset and the conveying speed of the conveyor line 5 between the formation of the two stacks 12 or 12.5. Several such stacks 12 or 12.5 placed one after the other and on top of the other then form an imbricated flow.

[0037] Instead of the unwinding device 1 and the cutting device 2, the printed sheets and / or single sheets can also be fed by a stacking device 10 (cf. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 ) to the supply point 4.

[0038] The printed sheets and / or single sheets 11 to be transported and processed are transported further as an shingled stream, folded downstream in a folding device 6, moved in the conveying and processing direction 7 and then transferred as an shingled stream to a collecting device 8.

[0039] The collecting device 8 can preferably be designed as a collecting chain, which finally transfers the stacked and folded printed sheets and / or single sheets placed on top of one another to form a shingled stream to a gathering stitcher 20.

[0040] In the Figure 2 For a better overview, these are used instead of the Figure 1 The individual sheets 11 are shown in a schematic sequence of the process by way of example using the devices shown.

[0041] The individual sheets 11 are used instead of the Figure 1The sheets are transferred from the unwinding device 1 and the cutting device 2 shown by a stacking device 10 to the feed point 4. They are then placed on top of one another in a predetermined number to form a stack 12 (shingle sequence) of single sheets 11. The shingle-flow-like arrangement of the stacks 12 or the shingle sequences 12 is shown in the conveying direction 7 after the single sheet 11.

[0042] Instead of the Figure 2 The imbricated flow-like arrangement of the stacks 12 or the imbricated sequences 12 shown in the Figure 3 As an alternative conveying option, three stacks 12 or the scale sequences 12 are shown placed one after the other in the conveying direction 7. The individual position symbols refer to the same features throughout each figure.

[0043] This stack 12 (the shingle sequence) formed from superimposed individual sheets 11 is then formed into an shingle stream with further such stacks 12 (shingle sequences). The shingle stream is in turn formed from stacks 12 (shingle sequences) arranged one behind the other, offset in the transport direction 7, and is fed to a folding device 6.

[0044] In the folding device 6, which is preferably designed as a plow folding device, the stacks or shingle sequences 12 are folded and transferred as folded stacks 12.1 or shingle sequences 12.1 to the downstream collecting device 8, which is preferably designed as a collecting chain.

[0045] The collecting device 8 then transfers the folded scale sequences 12.1, for example, to a gathering stitcher 20. This stitches the folded scale sequences 12.1 to stapled scale sequences 12.2, which are then transported further.

[0046] In the Figure 4 is a Figure 2 alternative procedure shown as an example and symbolically.

[0047] In this device, the printed sheets 11 are first folded into folded printed sheets and / or single sheets 11.1 by means of a folding device 9, which can preferably be designed as a groove folding device, before they are transferred to the shingling device 5.

[0048] These folded printed sheets and / or single sheets 11.1 are then bundled by the shingling device 5 into stacks 12.5 or shingle sequences 12.5 and combined to form a shingle stream, shown here in the conveying direction 7 after the single sheet 11.1 as three bundles or packages offset one above the other.

[0049] In the Figure 5 However, these are shown as three stacks 12.5 or scale sequences 12.5 arranged next to each other, as described above. Figure 3As already explained, the individual position symbols refer to the same features throughout each figure.

[0050] This means that both are possible. The individual scale sequences can be located one above the other in the scale flow and separated only by a slightly larger offset, as in the Figure 2 and 4 However, their conveyance can also be realized in such a way that they are conveyed one behind the other in this transport section, as shown in the Figure 3 and 5 shown.

[0051] These stacks 12.5 or shingle sequences 12.5 are then fed to the downstream folding device 6 and folded by it into folded stacks 12.6 or shingle sequences 12.6.

[0052] These folded stacks 12.6 or shingle sequences 12.6 are then, according to the Figure 2disclosed method, transported further by means of a collecting section 8 and stapled, for example, by means of a gathering stitcher to form stapled folded stacks 12.7 or shingle sequences 12.7. List of reference symbols:

[0053] 1 Unwinding device 2 Cutting device 3 Shearing device 4 Feeding point 5 Conveying line 6 Folding device 7 Conveying and processing device 8 Collecting device 9 Folding device 10 Stacking device 11 Printed sheets and / or single sheets 11.1 Folded printed sheets and / or folded single sheets 12 Stacks / Shearing sequence 12.1 Folded stacks / folded shearing sequence 12.2 Stapled stacks / stapled shearing sequence 12.5 Stacks / Shearing sequence 12.6 Folded stacks / folded shearing sequence 12.7 Stapled stacks / stapled shearing sequence 20 Saddle stitcher

Claims

1. Processing and conveying method for printed sheets and / or single sheets, wherein the printed sheets and / or single sheets (11) are transferred to a feed point (4) of a conveying section (5) and are subsequently superimposed in an imbricated flow, characterized in that a specific number of printed sheets and / or single sheets (11) supplied at the point of supply are combined and stacked on top of one another in individual imbricated sequences (12; 12.5) to form the imbricated flow, wherein the imbricated flow or the imbricated sequences (12; 12.5) is / are fed to a folding device (6) and folded.

2. Processing and conveying method for printed sheets and / or single sheets according to Claim 1, characterized in that the imbricated flow or the imbricated sequences (12; 12.5) is / are folded by a plough folding unit and / or a scoring-folding unit.

3. Processing and conveying method for printed sheets and / or single sheets according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the folded printed sheets and / or single sheets in the imbricated flow or in the imbricated sequences (12; 12.5) are merged with additional printed sheets and / or single sheets of additional imbricated flows and / or imbricated sequences.

4. Processing and conveying method for printed sheets and / or single sheets according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the folded printed sheets and / or single sheets in the imbricated flow or in the imbricated sequences (12; 12.5) are transferred conjointly with the printed sheets and / or single sheets in the potential additional imbricated flow or imbricated sequences to a collating section (8), in particular a collating chain.

5. Processing and conveying method for printed sheets and / or single sheets according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printed sheets and / or single sheets (11) are fed as folded printed sheets and / or single sheets (11.1) from a folding unit (9) to the feed point (4) of the conveying section (5).

6. Processing and conveying method for printed sheets and / or single sheets according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printed sheets and / or single sheets (11) are fed from a pressure roller (1), or a cutting device (2) downstream of the latter, to the feed point (5) of the conveying section.

7. Processing and conveying method for printed sheets and / or single sheets according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printed sheets and / or single sheets (11) are fed from a stacking device (10) to the feed point (4) of the conveying section (5).

8. Processing device for the processing of printed sheets and / or single sheets before they are fed to a collating line, wherein provided is a unit (3) for stacking the printed sheets and / or single sheets (11), which - after the printed sheets and / or single sheets (11) have been transferred at a feed point (4) of a conveying section (5) - subsequently places them on top of one another in an offset manner so as to form an imbricated flow, characterized in that the unit (3) for forming the imbricate flow combines and superimposes a specific number of printed sheets and / or single sheets (11) fed at the feed point (4) in individual imbricated sequences (12; 12.5), wherein the unit (3) feeds the imbricated flow or the imbricated sequences (12; 12.5) to a folding unit (6) which folds the imbricated sequences (12; 12.5).

9. Processing device for the processing of printed sheets and / or single sheets before they are fed to a collating line, according to claim 8, characterized in that a plough folding unit and / or a scoring-folding unit for folding the imbricated flow or the imbricated sequences (12; 12.5) are / is provided.

10. Processing device for the processing of printed sheets and / or single sheets before they are fed to a collating line, according to one of Claims 8 or 9, characterized in that provided is a merging line which merges the folded printed sheets and / or single sheets in the imbricated flow or in the imbricated sequences (12; 12.5) with additional folded printed sheets and / or single sheets of additional imbricated flows and / or imbricated sequences.

11. Processing device for processing printed sheets and / or single sheets before they are fed to a collating line, according to one of Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the unit (3) transfers the folded printed sheets and / or single sheets in the imbricated flow or in the imbricated sequences (12; 12.5) conjointly with the potential additional printed sheets and / or single sheets of additional imbricated flows or imbricated sequences to a collating line (8), in particular a collating chain.

12. Processing device for processing printed sheets and / or single sheets before they are fed to a collating line, according to one of Claims 8 to 11, characterized in that provided is an additional folding unit (9) from which the printed sheets and / or single sheets (11) are fed as folded printed sheets and / or single sheets (11.1) to the feed point (4) of the conveying section (5).

13. Processing device for the processing of printed sheets and / or single sheets before they are fed to a collating line, according to one of Claims 8 to 12, characterized in that provided is a pressure roller (1) from which the printed sheets and / or single sheets (11) are fed to the feed point (4) of the conveying section (5).

14. Processing device for the processing of printed sheets and / or single sheets before they are fed to a collating line, according to one of Claims 8 to 13, characterized in that provided is a stacking device (10) from which the printed sheets and / or single sheets (11) are fed to the feed point (4) of the conveying section (5).