U.S. patent application number 11/136018 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-24 for device and method to accelerate and separate as well as spatially align blanks, especially envelope blanks.
This patent application is currently assigned to Winkler + Dunnebier Aktiengesellschaft. Invention is credited to Blumle, Martin.
Application Number | 20050258591 11/136018 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34936009 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050258591 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Blumle, Martin |
November 24, 2005 |
Device and method to accelerate and separate as well as spatially
align blanks, especially envelope blanks
Abstract
A device and method are disclosed to accelerate, separate, and
spatially align blanks such as, for example, envelope blanks. The
device may include at least one stop cylinder body that rotates on
an axis (the cylinder body including at least one stop element),
and may also include at least one entraining transport device that
entrains the blanks relative to at least one stop cylinder body. A
stop cylinder body may include at least one suction air opening in
a lateral surface thereof.
Inventors: |
Blumle, Martin; (Horhausen,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSHA LIANG L.L.P.
1221 MCKINNEY STREET
SUITE 2800
HOUSTON
TX
77010
US
|
Assignee: |
Winkler + Dunnebier
Aktiengesellschaft
Neuwied
DE
|
Family ID: |
34936009 |
Appl. No.: |
11/136018 |
Filed: |
May 24, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/243 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 9/105 20130101;
B65H 3/10 20130101; B65H 2513/11 20130101; B65H 5/226 20130101;
B65H 2301/44336 20130101; B65H 9/14 20130101; B65H 2301/442
20130101; B65H 9/002 20130101; B65H 9/06 20130101; B65H 2513/104
20130101; B65H 2513/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/243 |
International
Class: |
B65H 003/12; B65H
009/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 24, 2004 |
DE |
10 2004 025 427.3 |
Claims
1. A device, comprising: at least one stop cylinder body rotating
on an axis and comprising at least one stop element; and at least
one entraining transport device to entrain the blanks relative to
the at least one stop cylinder body; wherein the at least one stop
cylinder body comprises at least one suction air opening in a
lateral surface thereof.
2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising: two stop
cylinder bodies; and one entraining transport device; wherein the
one entraining transport device is positioned between the two stop
cylinder bodies.
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the two cylinder stop
bodies and the one entraining transport device are joined together
so that the two stop cylinder bodies rotate synchronously at a same
angular velocity, and at a specific angle in relation to each other
on the axis; and wherein the one entraining transport device
comprises a transport surface that moves at a velocity different
from the angular velocity of the two stop cylinder bodies.
4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the one entraining
transport device comprises a suction belt transport device with at
least one suction belt on which the blanks can be entrained by
means of suction air.
5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the one entraining
transport device comprises a conveyor belt device having at least
two essentially stacked conveyor belts between which the blanks can
be entrained.
6. The device according to claim 3, wherein the one entraining
transport device comprises an entraining cylinder body rotating on
the axis with at least one suction air opening in a lateral surface
thereof.
7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the transport surface
is formed by the lateral surface of the entraining cylinder body
such that the velocity of the transport surface equals the angular
velocity of the one entraining cylinder body.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein a stop cylinder body
comprises at least one stop element.
9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the stop cylinder body
comprises a plurality of stop elements distributed at even angular
intervals over a circumference of a lateral surface thereof.
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the stop cylinder body
comprises two diametrically opposing stop elements on the lateral
surface of the stop cylinder body.
11. The device according to claim 8, wherein a stop element
comprises a cam projecting out of the lateral surface of the stop
cylinder body, and further comprises a stop surface with at least
one section lying in a radial plane of the stop cylinder body.
12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one stop
element of the at least one stop cylinder body can shift in an
axial direction relative to the lateral surface of the at least one
stop cylinder body.
13. The device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of suction
air openings of the at least one stop cylinder body extend at least
in sections over an area of the lateral surface of the at least one
stop cylinder body; and wherein the area of the lateral surface
precedes or follows the at least one stop element of the at least
one stop cylinder body by an angle ranging from 0.degree. to
60.degree. in reference to a direction of rotation of the at least
one stop cylinder body.
14. The device according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of suction
air openings of the entraining cylinder body extend over an entire
circumference of the lateral surface of the entraining cylinder
body.
15. The device according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of suction
air openings selected from the group consisting of a plurality of
suction air openings of the two stop cylinder bodies, and a
plurality of suction air openings of the entraining cylinder body,
can be shut off when the two stop cylinder bodies and the
entraining cylinder body are rotating, at least over a specific
section of a circular arc.
16. An envelope manufacturing machine comprising the device
according to claim 1.
17. A method, comprising: accelerating and spatially aligning
blanks using a device comprising at least one stop cylinder body
and an entraining transport device, the at least one stop cylinder
body comprising at least one stop element; placing one blank from a
plurality of shingled or stacked blanks on a lateral surface of the
at least one stop cylinder body using vacuum-fed suction air
openings in the lateral surface of the at least one stop cylinder
body; accelerating the at least one stop cylinder body to a web
speed; using the entraining transport device to alter a velocity of
the blank; and moving the blank into a stop position relative to
the at least one stop cylinder body, the blank contacting the at
least one stop element of the at least one stop cylinder body.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the web speed of the
at least one stop cylinder body corresponds to a speed at which the
blank is to be transferred by the device to at least one downstream
station selected from the group consisting of a downstream
processing station, and a downstream transport station.
19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising placing
the blank on the lateral surface of the at least one stop cylinder
body when suction air openings on a lateral surface of an
entraining cylinder body are inactive, the entraining transport
device comprising the entraining cylinder body.
20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising moving the
blank into the stop position using the entraining transport device
when suction air openings of the at least one stop cylinder body
are inactive.
21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising switching
off a vacuum supplied to the suction air openings of the entraining
cylinder body after the blank has reached the stop position.
22. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one
entraining transport device comprises a suction belt transport
device with at least one suction belt on which the blanks can be
entrained by means of suction air.
23. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one
entraining transport device comprises a conveyor belt device having
at least two essentially stacked conveyor belts between which the
blanks can be entrained.
24. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one
entraining transport device comprises an entraining cylinder body
rotating on the axis with at least one suction air opening in a
lateral surface thereof.
25. The device according to claim 24, wherein a plurality of
suction air openings of the entraining cylinder body extend over an
entire circumference of the lateral surface of the entraining
cylinder body.
26. The device according to claim 24, wherein a plurality of
suction air openings selected from the group consisting of a
plurality of suction air openings of the at least one stop cylinder
body, and a plurality of suction air openings of the entraining
cylinder body, can be shut off when the at least one stop cylinder
body and the entraining cylinder body are rotating, at least over a
specific section of a circular arc.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention concerns a device and a method to
accelerate and separate as well as spatially align (regulate)
blanks, especially envelope blanks in an envelope manufacturing
machine. The term "envelopes" is to be understood as letter
envelopes as well as shipping envelopes of all kinds. Blanks
according to this invention can also be label blanks, e.g. for
bottle labels, or lid labels for food container lids. For the sake
of simplicity, both the state-of-the-art and the invention will be
discussed in the following with reference to the manufacture of
letter envelopes.
[0003] 2. State of the Art
[0004] There are two known types of machines for manufacturing
letters. One kind of machine processes already cut, stacked
envelope blanks into envelopes. Such machines are normally called
"sheet machines," where the term "sheet" indicates that the
individual blank sheets are processed.
[0005] In contrast, machines of the other kind process into
envelopes a material or paper web wound on a supply reel. The
material web is drawn directly from this supply reel into the
machine and cut to size at a suitable site in the processing route
by a trim cut device so that the envelope blanks only arise within
the letter envelope manufacturing machine. Such machines are termed
reel machines.
[0006] In both types of machines, the individual processing
stations work at a common cycle causing the envelope blanks or
material web to be processed to pass through the envelope
manufacturing machine at a corresponding speed, i.e. the cycle
speed, so that they reach the respective station always at the
right time (on cycle.) The envelope blanks run through most
stations separately, i.e. on the corresponding conveyance devices
at a distance corresponding to the cycle.
[0007] However, there are different stations during the envelope
manufacturing process at which the individual envelope blanks are
not processed separately but shingled, i.e. partially lying on each
other. This is particularly the case when adhesive is applied to
the seal flap and subsequently dries.
[0008] During these processes or when passing through the
corresponding stations of the envelope manufacturing machine, the
transport devices normally transport the envelope blanks at a speed
less than the general cycle speed of the envelope manufacturing
machine.
[0009] After they pass through such stations, it is therefore
necessary for the envelope blanks to be separated and accelerated
to the cycle speed, i.e. brought in to time with the cycle of the
envelope manufacturing machine so that they can be fed at the
correct speed and at the correct time to the following stations
such as a folding station to fold the seal flap.
[0010] It is very important that the re-separated envelope blanks
are arranged on the corresponding transport device in a correct
spatial alignment or spatial position (regulated) so that they can
be correctly and precisely processed in the following additional
processing stations.
[0011] In the state-of-the-art, the processes of separating and
accelerating the envelope blanks on the one hand and regulation on
the other hand are carried out by two separate devices: an
acceleration device and a regulating device.
[0012] Segmented cylinders or acceleration cylinders feeding a
vacuum (so-called vacuum acceleration cylinders) are for example
used as the acceleration device. Both types of cylinders are
familiar to experts, and the latter is for example known from DE 26
28 809 A1.
[0013] A vacuum acceleration cylinder rotates at an angular
velocity such that the web speed of the lateral surface corresponds
to the cycle speed of the envelope manufacturing machine and grips
the shingled envelope blanks or stacked blank sheets from above or
below by vacuum-fed suction air holes.
[0014] The envelope blank or blank sheet contacting the cylinder in
this manner is suddenly accelerated to the cycle speed and then
transferred by the vacuum cylinder to the separate, downstream
regulation device.
[0015] Known regulation devices are in particular regulating wheels
as for example described in DE 196 09 991 A1, as well as regulating
chains.
[0016] Since the acceleration and regulation occurs at different
times and locations and at least two components are required, the
method known from the state-of-the-art and corresponding devices
require a great deal of space with associated material and
servicing costs.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0017] a) Technical Problem
[0018] It is therefore the problem of this invention to create a
device as well as a method to accelerate/separate and regulate
blanks, especially envelope blanks, that is distinguished by
requiring less space at lower manufacturing and servicing
costs.
[0019] b) Solution to the Problem
[0020] This problem is solved by the device according to the
invention with the features of claim 1, and by the method according
to the invention with the features of claim 17. Further embodiments
of the invention are found in the corresponding subclaims.
[0021] The device according to the invention to accelerate and
spatially align blanks has at least one stop cylinder body with a
stop element as well as an entraining transport device to entrain
the blanks relative to the stop cylinder body. According to
invention, the lateral surface of the stop cylinder body has at
least one vacuum air hole.
[0022] The entraining transport device must permit slip between its
transport elements and the blanks as soon as the latter are in
their aligned or regulated position. Such an entraining transport
device is in particular an entraining cylinder body that preferably
rotates on the same axis as the stop cylinder body and has at least
one suction air hole in its lateral surface to hold the blanks. It
is alternately conceivable to design the entraining transport
device as a suction belt transport device that can hold the blanks
with suctioned surrounding air just like the vacuum-feedable
entraining cylinder body. Another alternative for the entraining
transport device consists of a conveyor belt device that does not
work with suction air, for example in the form of at least two
essentially stacked conveyor belts that can hold the blanks between
them like a sandwich due to the frictional locking and also permit
slip as soon as the respective blank is in the aligned
position.
[0023] This description will not cover the mode of operation or
control of the individual suction air holes to be supplied with a
vacuum by valve channels and passage channels within the cylinder
body as well as outside devices to generate the vacuum since these
are common in this field and familiar to an expert. It will only be
noted that the suction air openings in the lateral surfaces of the
individual cylinder bodies can be selectively fed a vacuum while
they rotate so that they generate the suction used to place a blank
on the lateral surface and hold it against the lateral surface
while the cylinder rotates against the arising centrifugal and
aerodynamic forces. To be understood as "place" is that the
corresponding blank is positioned and held on the lateral surface
essentially free of slip.
[0024] Before discussing additional advantages of the embodiments
of the device according to the invention, the method according to
the invention will be presented for sake of clarity.
[0025] The basis is that plurality of stacked or shingled blanks
are separated or accelerated and regulated by the method according
to the invention. According to invention, only a single device is
used with at least one stop cylinder body that has at least one
stop element, as well as an entraining transport device.
[0026] As portrayed above, the entraining transport device can for
example be an entraining cylinder body provided with suction air
openings, a suction belt transport device, a conveyor belt device
with at least two interacting conveyor belts between which the
blanks can be entrained, or the like. In the following, this
invention will be explained with reference to an entraining
cylinder body as the entraining transport device. As long as both
the basic function of the entraining cylinder body supplied with
suction air exists in other entraining transport devices, the
following statements also apply to these other entraining transport
devices.
[0027] Vacuum-supplied suction air holes in the lateral surface of
the stop cylinder body first place a blank from a plurality of
shingled or stacked blanks on the lateral surface of the stop
cylinder body and accelerate it to its web speed.
[0028] To be understood as "place" within the framework of the
invention is that the blank to be separated is drawn to the lateral
surface of the stop cylinder body by the suction through the
suction air holes, and it is held on the lateral surface of the
stop cylinder body by this suction. Disregarding a brief slip
phase, the blank to be separated is hence suddenly accelerated to
the web speed of the lateral surface of the stop cylinder body.
[0029] The entire surface of the blank does not lie on the lateral
surface of the stop cylinder body; rather, it covers at least a
significant area of the lateral surface of the neighboring
entraining cylinder body on the same shaft as the stop cylinder
body.
[0030] According to the invention, while the cylinder bodies rotate
in the same direction, the web speed of the lateral surface of the
entraining cylinder body differs from the web speed of the lateral
surface of the stop cylinder body such that after the blank is
placed on the lateral surface of the stop cylinder body, the
lateral surface of the entraining cylinder body first glides below
the area of the blank covering the lateral surface of the
entraining cylinder body.
[0031] In order to spatially align the blank separated and
accelerated in this manner, the blank is then placed on the lateral
surface of the entraining cylinder body by the vacuum-fed suction
air openings in the lateral surface of the entraining cylinder
body, i.e., held by the lateral surface of the entraining cylinder
body by suction. Given the different web speeds of the lateral
surfaces of the entraining cylinder body and stop cylinder body,
the blank is either braked or accelerated when it is placed on the
lateral surface of the entraining cylinder body depending on which
of the two web speeds is greater.
[0032] It is not necessary for the blank to be held free of slip on
the lateral surface of the entraining cylinder body, i.e., it is
not necessary for the blank to be completely accelerated to the web
speed of the lateral surface of the entraining cylinder body.
According to the invention, only the following is important: By
placing the blank on the lateral surface of the entraining cylinder
body, the blank is caused to move relative to the stop cylinder
body as a function of the two web cylinder skates in or against the
direction of travel of the stop cylinder body. According to the
invention, this relative movement moves the blank into a stop
position in which it lies on the stop element of the stop cylinder
body. The blank is spatially aligned as it is placed on the stop
element.
[0033] Once the blank reaches its stop position, the blank cannot
move further relative to the stop cylinder body, and the blank then
moves at the web speed of the stop cylinder body, i.e., at the
cycle speed.
[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the vacuum fed to the suction air
openings of the entraining cylinder body is controlled so that its
suction air openings are inactive when the blank is placed on the
lateral surface of the stop cylinder body, i.e., not supplied with
a vacuum, and without suction. This can ensure that placing the
blank on the lateral surface of the stop cylinder body will not be
impaired by possible suction from the suction air openings of the
entraining cylinder body.
[0035] However, it would also be conceivable in this case for the
suction air openings of the entraining cylinder body to exert
suction when the blank is placed on the lateral surface of the stop
cylinder body. In this case, however, it should be noticeably less
than the suction of the suction air openings of the stop cylinder
body.
[0036] For the blank to be smoothly placed on the lateral surface
of the entraining cylinder body and smoothly moved into stop
position, the suction air openings in the lateral surface of the
stop cylinder body are preferably inactive during these procedures,
i.e., not supplied with a vacuum, and therefore having a
suction.
[0037] The suction air openings of the entraining cylinder body are
preferably inactive, i.e., not supplied with a vacuum so that they
do not provide suction after the blank has reached the stop
position, i.e., lies on the stop element. This ensures that the
blank is not pressed against the stop with a corresponding force by
the continued movement of the entraining cylinder body which could
damage the front contact edge of the blank.
[0038] Of course, it is also possible to merely correspondingly
adjust the different suction levels of the suction air holes in the
lateral surfaces of the stop cylinder body or entraining cylinder
body without completely deactivated suction air openings.
Throughout the entire process of controlling the suction air
openings, it must be ensured that the blank is held to the vacuum
cylinder according to the invention at all times, i.e., that either
the suction air openings in the lateral surface of the stop
cylinder body or the suction air openings in the lateral surface of
the entraining cylinder body must be supplied with a vacuum at all
times.
[0039] After the blank is regulated by being placed on the stop
element of the stop cylinder body, the blank can then be passed on
in a familiar manner to a following processing or transport
station. In this context, the web speed of the stop cylinder body
preferably corresponds to the speed at which the blank is to be
transferred by the vacuum cylinder to this station that normally
corresponds to the cycle speed of the envelope manufacturing
machine.
[0040] According to a preferred embodiment, the vacuum cylinder
according to the invention comprises two stop cylinder bodies and
an entraining cylinder body, whereby the entraining cylinder body
is on a common shaft with all cylinder bodies between the two stop
cylinder bodies, whereby the three lateral surfaces of the cylinder
bodies preferably form an essentially continuous and contiguous
overall lateral surface.
[0041] The cylinder bodies are preferably joined together such that
the two stop cylinder bodies can be rotated synchronously, i.e. at
the same angular velocity and at a specific angle in relation to
each other on a common shaft. The entraining cylinder body can
contrastingly be driven independent of the stop cylinder bodies and
is especially rotated on the shaft at an angular velocity that
differs from the angular velocity of the stop cylinder bodies.
Because the cylinder bodies essentially have the same diameter, the
different angular velocities yield different web speeds of the
lateral surfaces of the different cylinder bodies.
[0042] In this case, the blank is supplied so that its middle area
covers the lateral surface of the entraining cylinder body, and its
two-sided areas cover areas of the corresponding lateral surfaces
of the two entraining cylinder bodies.
[0043] In a preferred embodiment, at least one stop cylinder body
can have a plurality of stop elements. These are distributed over
the circumference of the lateral surface of the stop cylinder body,
preferably at equivalent angular distances.
[0044] It is particularly preferable for the stop cylinder body to
have to diametrically opposing stop elements on its lateral
surface. However, a stop cylinder body is also conceivable with
three, four or more stop elements that are at an angular distance
of 120.degree., 90.degree., or at a correspondingly lesser regular
angular distance from each other on the lateral surface of the stop
cylinder body.
[0045] The stop element is preferably formed by a cam projecting
radially from the lateral surface of the stop cylinder body. This
cam has a stop surface possessing at least one section lying in a
radial plane of the stop cylinder body. Stated otherwise, the stop
surface has at least one section that is perpendicular on the
lateral surface of the stop cylinder body. In this embodiment, the
separated blank lies on this stop surface section after
regulation.
[0046] In reference to the common shaft for the cylinder bodies,
the axial length of the stop element is preferably less than the
axial extension of the lateral surface of the stop roller body and
normally does not project axially beyond this lateral surface. This
is especially true with the above-portrayed embodiment with two
stop cylinder bodies and an intermediate entraining cylinder
body.
[0047] However, particularly when an individual stop cylinder body
is used, it is conceivable that the stop element projects axially
beyond the lateral surface of the stop cylinder body and
accordingly covers a part of the lateral surface of the entraining
cylinder body abutting the stop cylinder body in this case. This
can ensure correct alignment in this case as well, and due to the
different web speed of the lateral surface of the entraining
cylinder body, the blank will not tilt or twist on its vertical
axis on the stop element.
[0048] In this case, it must be ensured that the stop element does
not influence the rotation of the entraining cylinder body. For
example, it would be conceivable in this case for the stop element
to not contact the lateral surface of the entraining cylinder body,
but rather be at a slight radial distance from this lateral surface
so that the entraining cylinder body can pass without contact under
the stop element. The radial distance between the stop element and
the lateral surface of the entraining cylinder body must be set
small enough so that a blank lying on the lateral surface of the
entraining cylinder body can be placed on the area of the stop
element over the lateral surface of the entraining cylinder
body.
[0049] In a preferred embodiment, especially when two stop cylinder
bodies are used with an intermediate entraining cylinder body, the
stop element of the stop cylinder body can be shifted in an actual
direction relative to its lateral surface. This can be advantageous
for changes in format when the device according to the invention is
to be adapted to blanks with different widths.
[0050] The suction air openings of the stop cylinder body
preferably do not extend over its entire lateral surface, but
rather in sections over an area of the lateral surface of the stop
cylinder body neighboring the respective stop element. Depending on
whether the regulation is carried out by a relative motion of the
blank in reference to the stop cylinder body in or against the
direction of rotation, the area of the suction air openings of the
stop cylinder body is before or behind the stop element in
reference to the rotational direction of the stop cylinder body by
a specific angular area that can depend on the size of the
respective blank. Expressed otherwise, the area of the suction air
holes of the stop cylinder body lies within a definite angle before
or after the stop element in reference to the rotational direction
of the stop cylinder body.
[0051] The angle in which the area of the suction air openings in
the lateral surface of the stop cylinder body lies with reference
to the stop element is selected such that the path along which the
separated blank must be moved for regulation (i.e., the
circumferential distance to the stop surface of the stop element)
is very slight. Accordingly, the area of the suction air openings
preferably lies directly adjacent to the respective stop element,
i.e., at an angle of 0.degree. to 60.degree. measured from the stop
surface of the stop element.
[0052] The extension of the area of the suction air holes over the
circumference in the lateral surface of the stop cylinder body is
selected so that the blank is sufficiently drawn to the lateral
surface of the stop cylinder element by the section from the
suction air holes both before and after being regulated to
compensate for the centrifugal and aerodynamic forces acting on the
blank.
[0053] As described above, the entraining cylinder body moves at a
different web speed than the stop cylinder body when the inventive
vacuum cylinder is operating. To ensure that the blank correctly
lies on the lateral surface of the entraining cylinder body to be
regulated, the suction air openings of the entraining cylinder body
preferably extend over the entire circumference of its lateral
surface.
[0054] In order to separate or accelerate and regulate the blanks
as smoothly as possible according to the invention, the suction air
openings of the stop cylinder body and/or the entraining cylinder
body can be shut off when the cylinder bodies rotate at least over
a specific circular arc, i.e., they can be changed to a state in
which they are not fed a vacuum and do not exert suction. This is
done in a familiar manner by controlling the vacuum acting on the
respective suction air holes.
[0055] To prevent the stop elements projecting from the lateral
surfaces of the stop cylinder bodies from damaging the lateral
surfaces of adjacent vacuum cylinders, it is conceivable to design
the stop elements from an elastically deformable material. The stop
elements could also be designed, for example using a corresponding
spring system, so that they can be selectively moved during
rotation into a radially retracted position in which they are flush
with the metal surfaces.
[0056] c) Exemplary Embodiments
[0057] In the following, is an exemplary embodiment of the device
according to the invention as well as the method according to the
invention with reference to the attached figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0058] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a stop cylinder body of an
embodiment of a device according to the invention in an envelope
manufacturing machine;
[0059] FIG. 2 shows a side view of an entraining cylinder body of
an embodiment of a device according to the invention in an envelope
manufacturing machine;
[0060] FIG. 3 shows a schematic front view of an embodiment of a
device according to the invention with the stop cylinder body and
entraining cylinder body shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
[0061] The embodiment of the device according to the invention
portrayed in the following to accelerate and spatially align blanks
can for example be used to manufacture envelopes after an adhesive
drying station.
[0062] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the device designed as a vacuum
cylinder 1 in this embodiment comprises two disc-shaped stop
cylinder bodies 1a and 1b, as well as a disc-shaped entraining
cylinder body 2. The cylinder bodies 1a, 1b 2 are all rotatably
mounted on a common shaft A. The entraining cylinder body 2 is
between the two stop cylinder bodies 1a and 1b. The blanks can be
accelerated and separated as well as spatially aligned according to
the invention with a single vacuum cylinder 1 in this
embodiment.
[0063] The two stop cylinder bodies 1a and 1b rotate synchronized
at the same angular velocity and at a specific position in relation
to each other when the vacuum cylinder I according to the invention
is operating, and the stop elements 12a, 12b are axially colinear.
In contrast, the rotation of the entraining cylinder body 2 is
independent of the rotation of the stop cylinder bodies 1a and
1b.
[0064] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of the stop cylinder body 1a of
the vacuum cylinder 1 installed in an envelope manufacturing
machine. The stop cylinder body 1b is correspondingly constructed.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, the stop cylinder body 1a in this
embodiment has two stop elements 12a that are diametrically opposed
on the lateral surface 10a of the stop cylinder body 1a in the form
of cams projecting out of the lateral surface 10a. The stop
elements 12a all have a stop surface 120a that stands essentially
perpendicular on the lateral surface 10a of the stop cylinder body
1a.
[0065] Furthermore, there are two rows of suction air openings 11a
in the lateral surface 10a of the stop cylinder body 1a neighboring
the stop surface 120a of the stop elements 12a. These suction air
openings 11a are selectively supplied with a vacuum via
corresponding suction air channels 110a by means of device (not
shown) in a familiar manner. In particular, it is possible to
suitably control the vacuum supply so that the suction air channels
110a and hence the suction air openings 11a are supplied with the
vacuum only over a specific angle of the rotation when the stop
cylinder body 1a rotates, and correspondingly only exert suction in
this area.
[0066] FIG. 2 shows the entraining cylinder body 2 of this
embodiment of the vacuum cylinder 1 according to convention. This
has suction air openings 21 over the entire circumference of its
lateral surface 20 that can be selectively fed a vacuum through
corresponding suction air channels 210, and that are in three
neighboring rows running in an axial direction in FIG. 3.
[0067] FIGS. 1 and 2 show the rotational direction R of the
cylinder bodies 1a, 1b, 2 at the respective web speeds v1 and v2 of
the stop cylinder body 1a and the entraining cylinder body 2 of the
respective lateral surfaces 10a and 20 during operation.
[0068] During operation, the vacuum cylinder 1 according to the
intention is fed shingled blanks 30 by a feed device 5.
[0069] When the stop cylinder bodies 1a and 1b rotate, the first
blank 300 is placed on the lateral surfaces 10a, 10b by the suction
through the vacuum-supplied suction air holes 11a, 11b in the
lateral surfaces 10a, 10b of the stop cylinder bodies 1a, 1b in
areas in the lateral surfaces 10a and 10b, and the blank is hence
suddenly accelerated to the web speed v1 of the stop cylinder
bodies 1a, 1b.
[0070] FIG. 3 shows the state directly after the separated blank 3
is placed on the lateral surfaces 10a, 10b. In this state, the
lateral surfaces 20 of the entraining cylinder body 2 moving at a
higher web speed v2 pass under the area of the blank 3 that it
overlaps since the corresponding suction air holes 21 into lateral
surface 20 of the entraining cylinder body 2 are controlled so that
they exert a substantially lower suction than the suction air
openings 11a, 11b of the stop cylinder bodies 1a and 1b, or no
suction at all.
[0071] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the blank 3 is not yet correctly
spatially aligned, i.e., its advanced front edge 31 does not lie on
the contact surfaces 120a and 120b of the stop element 12a and
12b.
[0072] To accomplish this, the blank 3 is transferred by the stop
cylinder bodies 1a, 1b to the entraining cylinder body 2 when the
suction of the suction air holes 11a, 11b in the lateral surfaces
10a, 10b of the stop cylinder bodies 1a, 1b is reduced by
correspondingly controlling the vacuum, or even decreased to zero
while the suction of the suction air openings 21 in the lateral
surface 20 of the entraining cylinder body 2 is retained or even
increased.
[0073] In this manner, the blank 3 sucked onto the lateral surface
20 of the entraining cylinder body 2 executes a relative movement
in relation to the lateral surfaces 10a and 10b of the stop
cylinder bodies 1a and 1b from the web speed v2 of the entraining
cylinder body 2 that is larger than the web speed v1 of the stop
cylinder bodies 1a, 1b and is moved to the stop surfaces 120a, 120b
of the stop elements 12a, 12b.
[0074] As soon as the front edge 31 of the blank 3 contacts the
corresponding stop surfaces 120a and 120b, the blank has reached
its stop position, and is in the desired, correctly aligned
position in which the front edge 31 is exactly parallel to the
common axis A.
[0075] The suction generated by the suction air openings 21 of the
entraining cylinder body 2 is set so that the blank 3 in its stop
position is not pressed too strongly against the stop surfaces
120a, 120b due to the higher web speed v2 of the entraining
cylinder body 2 to prevent the blank 3 from being damaged. The
lateral surface 20 of the entraining cylinder body 2 can glide
under the blank 3 in stop position.
[0076] After the blank 3 reaches its stop position, it can be
transferred in a normal manner by a subsequent transport element,
the vacuum cylinder 4 in this case. Since the blank 3 in stop
position moves synchronous to the stop cylinder bodies 1a and 1b at
the same web speed v1, this web speed v1 corresponds to the cycle
speed of the envelope manufacturing machine in this case, so that
after being transferred to the vacuum transport cylinder 4, the
blank 3 does not need to be accelerated further.
[0077] After the blank 3 is regulated, it can be transferred by the
entraining cylinder body 2 to the stop cylinder bodies 1a and 1b by
turning on or increasing the suction of the corresponding suction
air openings 11a, 11b by correspondingly controlling the vacuum.
This ensures that the regulated blank 3 to be transferred to the
vacuum transport cylinder 4 firmly lies on the lateral surfaces
10a, 10b of the stop cylinder bodies 1a, 1b.
[0078] To keep the stop elements 12a, 12b projecting out of the
lateral surfaces 10a, 10b of the stop cylinder bodies 1a, 1b from
damaging the lateral surface 40 as they rotate past the lateral
surfaces 40 and 10a, 10b of the vacuum transport cylinder 4 and
stop cylinder bodies 1a, 1b, the lateral surface 40 can for example
be made from an elastically yielding material or be coated with
such a material. It is, however, conceivable to design the stop
elements 12a, 12b out of an elastically deformable material. The
stop elements 12a, 12b can also be designed for example by using a
corresponding spring system so that they can be selectively moved
during rotation into a radially retracted position in which they
are flush with the lateral surfaces 10a, 10b.
Reference Number List
[0079] 1 Vacuum cylinder
[0080] 1a Stop cylinder body
[0081] 1b Stop cylinder body
[0082] 10a Lateral surface of 1a
[0083] 10b Lateral surface of 1b
[0084] 11a Suction air openings of 1a
[0085] 11b Suction air openings of 1b
[0086] 110 Suction air channel
[0087] 12a Stop element of 1a
[0088] 12b Stop element of 1a
[0089] 120a Surface of 12a
[0090] 120b Surface of 12b
[0091] 2 Catch cylinder body
[0092] 20 Lateral surface of 2
[0093] 21 Suction air opening of 2
[0094] 210 Suction air channel
[0095] 3 Blank
[0096] 30 Shingled blanks
[0097] 31 Front edge of 30
[0098] 300 First blank
[0099] 4 Vacuum transport cylinder
[0100] 40 Lateral surface of 4
[0101] 5 Feed device
[0102] A Comment shaft
[0103] R Rotational direction
[0104] v1 Web speed of 1a,b
[0105] v2 Web speed of 2
* * * * *