Device with conveyance system for manufacturing adhesive-bound printed product

Abstract

To allow selectively variable settings of an opening motion of a clamp element, and to improve supporting a printed product having an abnormal format, especially regarding a block thickness, at an outlet zone.SOLUTION: A device 2 includes a selectively operable second adjusting device 18 capable of favorably affecting an opening and / or closing motion in accordance with a printed product 3. The second adjusting device generates a second motion component M2 acting on a turning arm 7 at an operating position. The second motion component is in an opposite direction to a turning motion of a link arm 14 induced by a first motion component M1. The motion components in mutually opposite directions are compensated via a second mechanical spring that supports the turning arm on the link arm.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus for producing perfect bound printed products having a transport system in which a number of transport clamps for transporting printed products clamped in each transport clamp circulate endlessly in a cam track, each transport clamp having a clamping element held on a pivot arm, the clamping element being movable via the pivot arm between an open position and a clamped position, the apparatus having a link arm, which is connected at a first end to the pivot arm via a spring box and at a second end to a first adjusting device, the link arm being connected to a first adjusting device and adapted to receive a second adjusting device generated by the first adjusting device. The present invention relates to a clamping device that transmits one component of motion to the pivot arm via a spring box, the first component of motion being directed in a direction in which the adjustable clamping element is pivoted from a closed position to an open position, a first mechanical spring being arranged in the spring box, the first mechanical spring applying a clamping force to the clamped printed product via a tie rod and the pivot arm arranged in the spring box at the clamping position of the clamping element, and the tie rod compensating for different thickness dimensions of the clamped printed product between the pivot arm and the link arm by compression or extension of the first mechanical spring via a connecting rod connected to the pivot arm at the clamping position of the clamping element. [Background technology]

[0002] A typical device is known from EP 3954542 A1. There, a machine for producing perfect bound printed products, in particular book blocks, is disclosed. The device has a transport system in which a number of transport clamps are fixed to an infinitely circulating clamping chain. Each transport clamp has a clamping jaw constituting a pivotable clamping element. The clamping jaws are closed in the area of ​​an inlet zone, where the printed product is received in the transport clamps, in order to clamp the printed product in a closed position. The transport system then transports the printed product clamped in the transport clamps through the device, where the printed product is processed by a suitable machine on the transport path. Once the printed product has passed through all processing stations present in the device, the printed product can be discharged again from the device in a discharge zone. For this purpose, the clamping jaws are opened so that the printed product in the discharge zone is no longer clamped in the transport clamps.

[0003] The movement of the clamping jaws is controlled via a cam track as an example of a first adjusting device, on which for each transport clamp rolls at least one roller which is connected via a link arm with the clamping jaws belonging to the respective transport clamp. By changing its orientation and / or its spatial position relative to the course of the transport chain or the clamp cam track during its movement along the transport section of the printed product through the device, the cam track generates an adjusting pulse for the roller moving on the cam track and the link arm connected to this roller at the point where its orientation and / or its section position changes relative to the course of the transport chain during the circular movement of the transport chain. By means of the adjusting pulse as a movement component, the pivot position of the clamping jaws changes in the desired direction set by the adjusting device. Through the orientation and spatial position of the cam track along its course, not only can the opening and closing movements of the clamping jaws be precisely controlled, but also the clamping jaws can be held in their open or closed position. Between the inlet and outlet zones, the respective clamping jaws can also be held in their closed position via an additional locking device present in the associated transport clamp, so that the printed product is clamped in the transport clamps along its transport path through the device and in particular during processing in the device. During transport, the printed product is well supported and guided from both sides by the transport clamps.

[0004] The closing position of the clamping jaws can be adapted individually to the respective dimensions of the printed product. In order to be able to process printed products with different thicknesses in the device without the need to adapt the transport clamp to the appropriate dimensions in any case, EP 3 954 542 A1 discloses arranging a mechanical clamping spring as a variable-length connector between the link arm and the pivot arm to which the clamping jaws are fixed, the clamping force of which is directed in the opposite direction to the closing movement of the clamping jaws and which therefore increases the clamping force after the placement of the clamping jaws on the printed product to be clamped, by which the printed product is held in the transport clamp. The rotatable bearing of the pivot arm on the rotation axis and the pivot joint between the pivot arm and the spring box rigidly connected to the link arm allow the pivot arm to be rotated relative to the link arm, whereas the mechanical clamping spring holds the pivot arm in an initial position via its clamping force, but also allows a compression movement when the clamping element is pressed against the printed product. If the clamping jaws come into premature contact with the product to be clamped during the closing movement due to a particularly thick product, the link arm is nevertheless pivoted further into its maximum closing position, set by the cam track, since then the pivot arm, together with the clamping jaws fixed to it, no longer moves further towards the product, but the pivoting movement of the link arm is introduced into a mechanical clamping spring, the length of which varies in accordance with the transmission ratio of the movement components generated by the link arm with respect to the lever arm of the pivot arm from the clamping element to the axis of rotation of the pivot arm and the lever arm of the pivot arm from the axis of rotation of the pivot arm to the connection with the spring box. In this case, the clamping spring is dimensioned in such a way that the desired clamping force remains approximately the same for block thicknesses between, for example, 1 mm and 30 mm. That is to say, in this way, the clamping spring can compensate for different thicknesses of the printed product via its compression stroke. Other designs of the clamping spring are also possible. In this thickness range, no individual readjustment of the setting is then necessary.The variable length connector applies a clamping force to the printed product in the closed position of the clamping element.

[0005] Depending on the format, thickness and paper type of the printed product, it is not entirely excluded that after the opening of the clamping jaws the printed product may no longer be sufficiently coherent and may escape uncontrolled from the transport clamps before being taken up, supported and transported away by the subsequent transport system. This problem may arise in particular in the case of transport systems in which the clamping jaws are moved over a longer adjustment path so that the printed product can be placed in the transport clamps or the printed product can be delivered again, since the clamping jaws in such transport systems have to travel a relatively large adjustment path which cannot be set arbitrarily with the aid of a cam track control which is forcibly guided at the transport speeds which are normal in such devices. Since the first adjusting device already moves the link arm to the open position, since the opening movement of the link arm relative to the pivot arm is compensated via a mechanical spring, while the clamping jaws still clamp the thick printed product, the same movement of the link arm in the direction of the open position in the case of a thin printed product almost directly causes the clamping element to be lifted off the printed product, so that the printed product is no longer clamped during the further release movement, since the thin thickness of the printed product is not compensated via the mechanical spring. The movement profile which sets up the cam track with the forced control therefore represents a compromise between different possible movement profiles, which are always optimal movements for the respective different formats of the printed product, when making a general compensation for different thicknesses of the printed product via a mechanical spring. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 3954542 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The problem underlying the present invention is therefore to be able to selectively and variably set the opening movement of the clamping elements, thereby improving the support of printed products in the exit zone having unusual formats, in particular with regard to block thickness. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This problem is solved in that the device comprises a selectively actuable second adjusting device which, in an actuated position, generates a second movement component acting on the pivoting arm, the second movement component being directed in the opposite direction to the pivoting movement of the link arm induced by the first movement component, the mutually opposite movement components being compensated via a second mechanical spring supporting the pivoting arm relative to the link arm.

[0009] In the device according to the invention, the control of the opening and closing movement of the link arm and thus of the pivot arm to which the clamping element is fixed, coupled via the rotation axis and the spring box, takes place via the first adjusting element, as already known from the prior art. In this case, the pivot arm can be compressed, as known, against a mechanical spring present in the spring box, thereby compensating for different thicknesses of the printed products held in the transport clamp. However, the second adjusting device offers the possibility of setting the opening movement of the link arm induced by the first adjusting device to be variable in terms of its influence on the actual opening movement of the pivot arm and thus on the movement of the clamping element, even if the primary opening movement is always forcibly controlled by the first adjusting device and is not variable. That is to say, the link arm always moves as set by the first adjusting device, and the movement of the pivot arm coupled with the link arm depends on whether the second adjusting device is activated or not, and thus on whether a second movement component acts on it or not.

[0010] In particular for thin printed products or printed products with very smooth surfaces, the opening movement can be counterbalanced or at least slowed down by a second movement component opposite to the first movement component generated by the first adjustment device in order to shorten the phase during which the printed product is not immovably clamped and supported by the transport clamp. It is also possible to set the second movement component in such a way that the clamping elements are no longer pressed against the printed product but are held at a small distance from it, so that a good support of the printed product is still obtained before it is handed over to the subsequent discharge mechanism. For this purpose, the movement component generated by the second adjustment device is set to a suitable value, which can be variable over the course of the opening movement of the pivot arm.

[0011] The movement components of both adjusting devices, depending on their configuration, at least partially cancel each other out over a certain time phase, so that if and to the extent that the second adjusting device introduces the second movement component generated by the second adjusting device into the movement process of the pivoting arm to which the clamping element is fixed, the clamping element does not open at all or at least opens slowly, and the point in time at which the transport clamp reduces the clamping force during its cycle and partially opens, so that the printed product is lifted off at least a small amount before it is taken off by the discharge mechanism, or opens completely to the maximum width set by the first adjusting element can be shifted backwards or advantageously influenced in other ways by the movement component of the second adjusting device.

[0012] Due to the selective activation of the second adjusting device, a second movement component can be introduced into the opening movement of the pivoting arm, if desired. For example, if thin printed products are processed in the device, the second movement component is used to hold the respective printed product longer in the transport clamp before transferring it to the subsequent discharge mechanism. This is different from the case of thick printed products, where the transport clamp opens too late for thin printed products anyway, where a further delay in the opening movement would be pointless and would probably be counterproductive to a problem-free transfer of the printed product to the subsequent discharge mechanism. If the second adjusting device is stopped, the control of the opening movement of the pivoting arm by the first adjusting device is entirely sufficient. The activation of the second adjusting device can be performed by inputting an operating command by the operator, or the second adjusting device is activated under software control and automated, for example by a software program which determines whether or not to activate the second adjusting device depending on the block thickness of the printed product to be processed.

[0013] The second adjusting device can optionally be formed, for example, as a link track rigidly connected to the base machine, on which a support roller rolls and which operates a lever arm rigidly connected to the pivot arm, which introduces a movement component into the pivot arm when changing its pivot position. In this case, the second adjusting device is formed to introduce a second movement component into the opening process of the transport clamp, if necessary, in order to achieve an improved delivery of thin printed products and / or printed products comprising smooth paper.

[0014] Since the first and second motion components are directed against each other, with the first component pivoting the link arm up and the second component moving the pivot arm towards the closed position, these opposing movements must be compensated by a movable component to avoid damage to the parts of the conveying clamp. This is possible via a second mechanical spring, which supports the pivot arm against the link arm. The mechanical spring is a length-variable component suitable for compensating the opposing movements by length change. The mechanical spring can be designed to be precisely adapted to the respective application by means of its spring properties. They operate almost maintenance-free and do not require a separate drive. They are compact and can be easily mounted on the respective conveying clamp.

[0015] During the length change, the mechanical spring is configured with a restoring force that can be utilized to automatically return the pivot arm to its initial position again when the second component of motion is removed. Depending on the arrangement, the second spring is compressed or expanded in its mounting position by the second component of motion.

[0016] Basically, it is also possible to use other length-variable elements instead of mechanical springs to realize the invention, for example elements whose length can be adjusted actively, for example by force operated by powerful magnets, electric or hydraulic motors, as connectors, adjusting cylinders connected to hydraulic or pneumatic chambers or electrically driven actuators as hoses or other objects made of elastic material, however, in this case it may be difficult to provide a driving force to the elements used instead of springs.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, a second mechanical spring is arranged in the spring box, and the second adjusting device is connected in its working position to the second mechanical spring via a pivot arm at its first end, and the second mechanical spring is connected to the first mechanical spring via a support plate of a tie rod at its second end. When the second adjusting device is in its non-working position, the second adjusting device does not generate a movement component for the pivot arm and is therefore not connected to the second mechanical spring. When the second adjusting device is in its working position and thereby introduces a movement component into the pivot movement of the pivot arm, both mechanical springs sum up the movement components generated by the first and second adjusting devices in the spring box. The mechanical springs connected to each other are variable in length, so that through the extension and / or contraction of the spring in the spring box, they generate an adjustment movement of the clamping element consisting of the sum of the movement components generated by the first and second adjusting devices. During the closing and opening movements generated by the first adjusting device, the mechanical spring moves in the same direction via the tie rod as long as the pivot arm moves relative to the link arm. If the second adjusting device generates a second movement component within the range of the opening movement, the second mechanical spring moves independently of the first mechanical spring to the extent that it acts on the pivot arm, possibly with compensation by the transmission ratio of the pivot arm.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the tie rod comprises a connecting rod, which at its end opposite the support plate is rigidly connected to the pivot arm via a pivot joint, the pivot joint being held in a joint head, which joint head is rigidly connected to the pivot arm, the spatial position of which changes with respect to the spring box upon relative movement between the link arm and the pivot arm, and a first mechanical spring is held in its mounting position on the side of the joint head by a perforated disk rigidly connected at its outer edge to the wall of the spring box, the connection The rod is guided through a hole present in the perforated disk, and a second mechanical spring is supported on the side of the joint head by a sleeve, which passes through a hole present in the perforated disk and is held movably along the connecting rod, the sleeve being held so as to be supported on the inner edge of the perforated disk by the second mechanical spring in the inoperative position of the second adjusting device, and the sleeve being held so as to be lifted from the inner edge of the perforated disk by the joint head and pushed into the internal space of the spring box against the spring force of the second mechanical spring in the operative position of the second adjusting device. In this form of connection of the pivot arm and the link arm via the spring box, the part of the spring box facing the pivot arm is designed in such a way that when the first adjusting device places the link arm together with the pivot arm and the clamping element fixed to the pivot arm on the printing product, the tie rod transmits the clamping forces of both mechanical springs to the pivot arm, and the joint head presses the sleeve into the inner space of the spring box by an adjustment path depending on the second movement component, so that the spring box shortens the lever that holds the wire arm to the link arm. Through the shortened adjustment path, the first movement component is partially or completely compensated, and this is due to the second movement component transmitted to the sleeve by the joint head. This combined transmission of the first movement component and, if present, the second movement component to the pivot arm via the spring box is possible in a technically simple but inexpensive manner that functions mechanically reliably and is virtually maintenance-free.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the mechanical springs are provided with different force-displacement curves. The different force-displacement curves prevent the mechanical springs from reacting to the motion components of the adjustment device to which they should not react. Thus, it is undesirable if only the first mechanical spring changes its length based on the motion components generated by the first adjustment device, but when actuated, the second mechanical spring also moves along and changes its length. For example, if the second mechanical spring has a spring characteristic with an actuation force significantly smaller than the actuation force of the first mechanical spring, the second mechanical spring will only change its length when actuated by the second adjustment device. In this way, the different force-displacement curves result in a unique motion characteristic in which only the desired spring changes its length depending on the motion components. In particular, in the case of different force-displacement curves, it is also possible for the second mechanical spring to have a smaller spring force, so that the second adjusting device has to generate correspondingly smaller actuation forces in order to introduce the second movement component into the movement process of the pivot arm. Due to the smaller actuation forces, the second adjusting device is subject to less wear, can be constructed lighter and less expensive, and the adjusting movement is more precise, since less masses have to be moved and less forces have to be generated.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second adjusting device is formed as a guide track, which extends only over a subsection of the circular movement of the transport clamp in the circular direction and cooperates with a control roller which is rigidly connected to the pivot arm. The second adjusting device can in particular be arranged only in the area of ​​the outlet zone of the device. In this way, the transport clamp can be controlled only via the first adjusting device in the remaining subsection. The control roller rolls on the guide track only when the second adjusting device is actuated. Via the control roller rolling on the guide track, the second movement component can be generated and transmitted to the pivot arm in a simple, reliable and precise manner. The guide track including the control roller has a low maintenance and a long service life.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the guide track of the second adjusting device is adjustably held in the holding device, so that in at least one of the adjustment positions a control roller coupled with a pivot arm of the transport clamp passes through the guide track without contact. Due to the adjustable holding of the second adjusting device, the second adjusting device can in particular be moved back and forth between different adjustment positions in which the second adjusting device does not generate a movement component in at least one of the adjustment positions and is thus inactive. In the inactive adjustment positions, the second adjusting device does not generate the second movement component. With such a setting, for example, printed products with average or above average block thickness can be produced. If critical printed products, for example printed products with very thin block thicknesses, are processed by the device, the second adjusting device can be moved to an adjustment position in which the movement movement of the first variable-length connector is at least partially compensated. The adjustment of the second adjusting device can be performed in steps or steplessly. Through the movement of the second adjusting device to a predetermined position, the magnitude of the movement component that the second adjusting device introduces into the movement process of the clamping element can be influenced. In addition to the movement component generated by the first adjusting device, upon appropriate positioning of the second adjusting device, a movement profile of the clamping element is obtained which is optimally adapted to the functional requirements of the respective printed product being processed.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the holding device comprises a motorized drive by means of which the second adjustment device is movable. The drive can be an electric spindle mechanism, a hydraulic piston drive, etc. The motorized drive can in particular also be used as a support device for the second adjustment device during use. By means of the motorized drive, the second adjustment device, in particular the guide track, can be brought into a position generating a predetermined movement component that provides a movement profile of the clamping element that is precisely adapted to the functional requirements of the respective printed product to be processed.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the motorized drive is connected to an electronic remote control device, which can, for example, during the processing of the printed product, set predefined target values ​​for the adjustment position of the second adjustment device that is particularly suitable for this printed product. The remote control device can be activated by manually entering values ​​for the target values ​​into the control electronics, but the target values ​​can also be determined automatically, for example by sensor values ​​of a suitable sensor system connected to the remote control device or by format information for the printed product resulting from a previous processing of the printed product or obtained from a scale. When the remote control device is appropriately integrated into the overall control and adjustment of the device or machine chain, in which the device covers a partial function in the production of the printed product, an appropriate adjustment of the motorized drive can be performed without interrupting the operation of the device, even on a running machine, up to batch size 1.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the running surface of the guide track is made of impact-resistant plastic, at least in the starting area. Impact-resistant plastics generate less operating noise than surfaces made of metal materials. However, impact-resistant plastics are also not so elastic that vibrations or movements of the connecting rods occur in the surface material. Impact-resistant plastics can be made fiber-reinforced.

[0025] It goes without saying that each of the above aspects can be combined alone with the subject matter of claim 1 of the present application, as long as it is technically feasible, or in any combination with each other.

[0026] Further variations and configurations of the invention can be seen from the following detailed description, claims and drawings.

[0027] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to examples. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] Top view of the device [Diagram 2]Detail of the transfer clamp in the open zone [Diagram 3] Cross-section of the transfer clamp including cross-section of the spring box [Figure 4] 4A and 4B are enlarged views of the upper and lower ends of the spring box shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] 3 with the adjustment position of the first adjustment device changed [Figure 6] 6A and 6B are enlarged views of the upper and lower ends of the spring box shown in FIG. [Figure 7] 3, where the adjustment position of the first adjustment device has been changed further and a second movement component has been added by the second adjustment device. [Figure 8] 8A and 8B are enlarged views of the upper and lower ends of the spring box shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 2 for producing perfect bound printed products having a transport system in which a number of transport clamps 4 for transporting a printed product 3 clamped in each transport clamp 4 circulate infinitely in a cam track 6, each transport clamp 4 having an adjustable clamping element 8 which is movable back and forth between an open position and a clamped position.

[0030] The pivoting of the clamping element 8 is continuously controlled by a link arm 14, shown in FIG. 2, which is connected at its first end to a spring box 24. On the rotation axis 16, the pivot arm 7 is mounted so that it can rotate independently of the link arm 14. The pivot arm 7 is connected to the spring box 24 via a plate, at whose end there is a joint head 29, and a pivot joint. At the lower end of the pivot arm 7, the clamping element 8 is arranged. At its second end, the link arm 14 is provided with a roller 12, which rotates along the cam track 6 when the transport clamp 4 rotates around it. The cam track 6 and the roller 12 together constitute the first adjustment device 10 in this embodiment. The pivoting mobility of the link arm 14 is indicated by a double arrow. When the roller 12 moves in a direction deviating from the movement path of the associated conveying clamp 4, this generates a first motion component M1, which is transmitted via the link arm 14 and the spring box 24 to the pivot arm 7, which converts the motion component M1 into a pivoting motion.

[0031] The clamping elements 8 are shown in Fig. 2 in a partially open position, in which they are not yet resting on the surface of the printed product 3. From this position they can be pivoted further to the right as the opening movement continues in the direction of the arrow, in order to deliver the printed product 3 transported by the transport clamps 4 to an unloading mechanism, not shown in detail in the drawing.

[0032] The device 2 comprises a second adjusting device 18 for influencing the spatial position of the clamping element 8. The second adjusting device 18 generates a second movement component M2 in a direction opposite to the movement direction of the movement component generated by the first adjusting device 10. To be able to generate this movement component, the second adjusting device 18 has a guide track 20 which is formed in the conveying direction of the conveying clamp 4 only over a subsection of the circular movement of the conveying clamp 4, so that the corresponding second movement component M2 is generated only in this subsection. This is achieved in that the control roller 19 rides up onto this guide track when approaching the guide track 20 and is pressed in a direction lying transverse to the conveying direction of the conveying clamp 4. The control roller 19 is fixedly connected to a lever arm 21 which transmits the second movement component generated by the control roller 19 to the pivot arm 7.

[0033] Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of the transport clamp 4 including a cross-section of the spring box 24, and Figs. 4A and 4B show enlarged partial views of the upper and lower ends of the spring box 24 shown in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, the second adjusting device 18 is in the inoperative position, which can be seen in the space between the guide track 20 and the control roller 19. Therefore, no second movement component M2 is introduced into the control of the pivoting movement of the pivoting arm 7. The pivoting position of the pivoting arm 7 shown in Fig. 3 is determined only by the first movement component M1 by the first adjusting device 10.

[0034] In the pivoted position of the pivot arm 7 shown in Figure 3, the clamping element 8 is held pressed against the surface of the printed product 3. The distance of the clamping element 8 to the opposing abutment surface of the transport clamp 4 corresponds to the thickness dimension 34 of the printed product 3 in position I. The pressing pressure that holds the clamping element 8 on the printed product 3 results from the force of the tie rod 23 compressing the mechanical springs 26, 28. The functionality of the tie rod 23 can be better understood from Figures 4A and 4B. With a first part of the pressing movement of the link arm 14, the clamping element 8 is first simply positioned on the surface of the printed product 3. However, in the second part, when the link arm 14 continues its pressing movement, the pivot arm 7 breaks due to the rotational movement of the transport clamp 4 about the rotation axis 16 relative to the link arm 14, and the support plate 30, which supports the ends of the two mechanical springs 26, 28 on the inside, is retracted by the pivot arm 7 from its seat inwards into the spring box 24 via the joint head 29, the pivot joint 25 and the connecting rod 22. The connecting rod 22 is rotatably movable via the pivot joint 25, but is connected to the pivot arm 7 via the joint head 29. The distance that the support plate 30 has from its seat in its retracted position can be seen in position IV of the enlarged view B of FIG. 4B. If the printing product 3 has a larger thickness dimension 34 than shown in FIG. 3, the tie rod 23 has to accommodate a larger remaining travel section of the link arm 14 after the clamping element 8 has placed on the printing product 3, until the link arm 14 reaches its end position, so that the support plate 30 is retracted deeper into the spring box 24. In the case of thin printed products 3, the support plate 30 penetrates less deeply into the spring box 24 or not at all when the transport clamp 4 is closed.

[0035] In this case, the distance that the support plate 30 has from its seat corresponds to the distance that the joint head 29 has from the sleeve 31 and is seen in position II of FIG. 4A. The sleeve 31 is axially movably attached to the connecting rod 22. In its position shown in FIG. 4A, the sleeve is held by the second mechanical spring 28 against the inside of the perforated disk 32, so that the distance of the outer seat ring of the sleeve 31 to the surface free of the perforated disk 32 is equal to zero, as shown in position III of FIG. 4A. In the case of the pivot position of the pivot arm 7 shown in FIG. 3, the second component of movement is not active, so that it is not necessary to compensate for the shortened adjustment path between the first and second components of movement.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows the cross section according to FIG. 3, in which the adjustment position of the first adjustment device 10 has been changed relative to FIG. 3 by the first component of movement M1 in the direction of opening the transport clamp 4. In this case, the second adjustment device 18 is also inactive, as can be seen from the gap between the control roller 19 and the guide trunk 20. When the link arm 14 is opened again, controlled by the first adjustment device 10 and the first component of movement M1 induced by this first adjustment device, firstly the support plate 30 of the tie rod 23 returns to its seat again, as it left its seat when closing the transport clamp 4 before the pivot arm 7 started its opening movement. The pivot position in which the pivot arm 7 is then located is shown in FIG. 5. The clamping element 8 still rests on the surface of the printed product 3 in position I, and the position of the pivot arm 7 has not yet changed in the position shown in FIG. 5 relative to the position shown in FIG. 3. However, as the enlarged views of Figures 6A and 6B show, the support plate 30 has returned to its seat in the spring box 24 again, as shown in position IV of Figure 6B, and the spacing between the joint head 29 and the end face of the sleeve 31 has also been reduced to zero, as can be seen from position II of Figure 6A. As can be seen from the spacing marked in position III of Figure 6A, the sleeve 31 has not moved and is further held by its seat ring at zero spacing relative to the perforated disk 32.

[0037] 7 shows the cross section according to FIG. 3 with a further change in the adjustment position of the first adjustment device 10 and the addition of a second movement component M2 by the second adjustment device 18. It can be seen in FIG. 7 that the control roller 19 is arranged on a guide track 20, whereby the second adjustment device 18 introduces a second movement component M2 into the movement of the pivot arm 7. The first adjustment device 10 has also moved further in the direction of opening the transport clamp 4 relative to the position of FIG. 5. Since the support plate 30 has already reached its seat in the spring box 24 again in FIG. 5 and maintains it in the pivot position shown in FIG. 7 as can be seen in position IV of FIG. 8B, the pivot arm 7 has at least partially further opened by the further opening movement of the link arm 7, as can be seen from the distance reached between the clamping elements 8 from the surface of the printing product 3, which is marked in FIG. 7 in position Ib. However, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 8B, the joint head 29, during the further pivoting of the pivot arm 7 by the second movement component M2, presses the end face of the sleeve 31 inwardly into the spring box 24, so that the seat ring of the sleeve 31 is lifted from the perforated disk 32 into the spring box 24, as shown by the distance III in FIG. 8A. The opening movement of the pivoting movement 7 is smaller by the extent to which the sleeve 31 is pressed into the spring box 24, which may also differ due to the different lengths of the lever arms of the pivoting arm 7. The second adjusting device 18 thus generates, as long as it is active, a second movement component M2 acting on the pivoting arm 7, which is directed in the opposite direction to the pivoting movement of the link arm 14 induced by the first movement component M1. The opposing movement components M1, M2 are compensated for by the second mechanical spring 28, which supports the pivoting arm 7 relative to the link arm 14.

[0038] FIG. 7 shows that the second adjusting device 18 is adjustably held in a holding device 38. If the second adjusting device 18 is pulled back until the guide track 20 is no longer in contact with the control roller 19, it is in an adjustment position in which the second adjusting device does not generate a movement component due to its position when the transport clamp 4 passes. The device 2 can then be operated only with a movement component due to the first adjusting device 10. The holding device 38 is equipped with a motorized drive 40, by means of which the second adjusting device 18 is movable. The motorized drive 40 is connected to an electronic remote control 42.

[0039] The invention is not limited to the examples described above: those skilled in the art can modify them in any way they deem useful, using their available expertise, to adapt them to specific applications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 2 equipment 3 Printed products 4 Transport clamp 6 Cam Track 7 Swivel Arm 8 Clamping Elements 10 First Adjustment Device 12. Lola 14 Link arm 16 Rotation Axis 18 Second Adjustment Device 19 Control roller 20 Guide Track 21 Lever Arm 22 Connecting rod 23 Tie rod 24 Spring Box 25 Rotational joint 26 First Mechanical Spring 28 Second Mechanical Spring 29 Joint Head 30 Support Plate 31 Sleeve 32 Hole Disc 33 Seat ring 34 Thickness dimension 38 Holding device 40 Motor-driven drive unit 42 Electronic remote control device M1 First motor component M2 Second motor component

Claims

1. Apparatus (2) for manufacturing perfect-bound printed products (3) having a transport system, wherein a plurality of transport clamps (4) for transporting printed products (3) each held in a transport clamp (4) circulate infinitely within a cam track (6), each transport clamp (4) comprises a clamp element (8) held on a swivel arm (7), the clamp element being movable to reciprocate between an open position and a clamped position via the swivel arm (7), the apparatus having a link arm (14), the link arm being coupled to the swivel arm (7) at a first end via a spring box (24) and to a first adjustment device (10) at a second end, the link arm (14) receiving a first motion component (M1) generated by the first adjustment device (10) The first motion component (M1) is transmitted to the swivel arm (7) via a spring box (24), and is oriented in the direction that the adjustable clamp element (8) is swiveled from a closed position to an open position, and a first mechanical spring (26) is located in the spring box (24), and this first mechanical spring, in addition to the clamping force on the printed product (3) held by the clamping force at the clamping position of the clamping element (8) via a tie rod (23) located in the spring box (24) and the swivel arm (7), compensates for different thickness dimensions of the clamped printed product (3) between the swivel arm (7) and the link arm (14) by the compression or extension of the first mechanical spring (26) via a connecting rod (22) connected to the swivel arm (7) at the clamping position of the clamping element (8), The device (2) is characterized in that it comprises a second adjustment device (18) that can be selectively operated, the second adjustment device generates a second motion component (M2) acting on the pivot arm (7) in the operating position, the second motion component (M2) is oriented in the opposite direction to the pivot motion of the link arm (14) induced by the first motion component (M1), and the motion components (M1, M2) oriented in opposite directions are compensated for by a second mechanical spring (28) that supports the pivot arm (7) relative to the link arm (14).

2. The apparatus (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that a second mechanical spring (28) is disposed within a spring box (24), a second adjustment device (18) is coupled to the second mechanical spring (28) at its first end via a pivot arm (7) in the operating position, and the second mechanical spring (28) is coupled to the first mechanical spring (26) at its second end via a support plate (30) of a tie rod (23).

3. The tie rod (23) is equipped with a connecting rod (22), which is immovably connected to the slewing arm (7) via a pivot joint (25) at its end opposite to the support plate (30), the pivot joint (25) is held in a joint head (29), which is immovably connected to the slewing arm (7), the spatial position of which the joint head changes with respect to the spring box (24) during the relative movement between the link arm (14) and the slewing arm (7), the first mechanical spring (26) is held in its mounting position by a perforated disc (32) whose outer edge is immovably connected to the wall of the spring box (24) on the side of the joint head (29), and the connecting rod (22) is located within the perforated disc (32) The apparatus (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that a second mechanical spring (28) is guided through a hole present, and the side of the joint head (29) is supported by a sleeve (31), the sleeve passing through a hole present in the perforated disc (32) and held movably along a connecting rod (22), the sleeve (31) being held so as to be supported by the second mechanical spring (28) against the inner edge of the perforated disc (32) in the non-operating position of the second adjustment device (18), and the sleeve (31) being held so as to be lifted from the inner edge of the perforated disc (32) by the joint head (29) and pushed into the internal space of the spring box (24) against the spring force of the second mechanical spring (28) in the operating position of the second adjustment device (18).

4. The apparatus (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the mechanical springs (26, 28) have different force-displacement curves.

5. The apparatus (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that a second adjustment device (18) is formed as a guide track (20), the guide track extends only over a portion of the circulating motion of the conveying clamp (4) in the circulating direction, and cooperates with a control roller (19) that is fixedly coupled to a swivel arm (7).

6. The apparatus (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the guide track (20) of the second adjustment device (18) is adjustablely held within the holding device, and in at least one of the adjustment positions, a control roller (19) coupled with the swivel arm (7) of the transport clamp (4) passes over the guide track (20) without contact.

7. The apparatus (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the holding device (38) is equipped with a motor-driven drive device (40), and the second adjustment device (18) is movable by this motor-driven drive device.

8. The apparatus (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that a motor-driven drive unit (40) is connected to an electronic remote control unit (42).

9. The apparatus (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that the running surface of the guide track (20) is made of impact-resistant plastic at least within the starting region.

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