U.S. patent application number 11/452423 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-04 for device and method for processing streams of sheets.
This patent application is currently assigned to Maschinenbau Oppenweiler Binder GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Georg Dannemann, Eberhard Krieger, Klaus Stocklossa.
Application Number | 20070001393 11/452423 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37067479 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070001393 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Krieger; Eberhard ; et
al. |
January 4, 2007 |
Device and method for processing streams of sheets
Abstract
The invention relates to a sheet processing arrangement with a
sheet processing device, at least two parallel running streams of
sheets (D1, D2, E1, E2) being produced. The arrangement also has a
merging device (11) for making the streams of sheets (D1, D2, E1,
E2) merge into a single stream of sheets (F1, F2), the stream of
sheets (F1, F2) being fed by a chain table (13) to a further
processing machine arranged downstream of the merging device
(11).
Inventors: |
Krieger; Eberhard;
(Weinstadt, DE) ; Dannemann; Georg; (Backnang,
DE) ; Stocklossa; Klaus; (Marbach, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROTHWELL, FIGG, ERNST & MANBECK, P.C.
1425 K STREET, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
Maschinenbau Oppenweiler Binder
GmbH & Co. KG
Oppenweiler
DE
|
Family ID: |
37067479 |
Appl. No.: |
11/452423 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/277 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2301/44512
20130101; B65H 39/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/277 |
International
Class: |
B65H 5/02 20060101
B65H005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 14, 2005 |
DE |
10 2005 027 430.7 |
Claims
1. A sheet processing arrangement for processing a number of
parallel running streams of sheets (D1, D2, E1, E2), the
arrangement having a sheet processing device (3), a merging device
(11), arranged downstream of the sheet processing device (3), for
making the streams of sheets (D1, D2, E1, E2) merge together into a
single stream of sheets (F1, F2) and a further processing machine,
arranged downstream of the merging device (11).
2. The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which
the merging device (11) is preceded by a separating device, which
divides a primary stream of sheets (B) into at least two streams of
sheets (D1, D2).
3. The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which
the further processing machine has a chain table (13) for taking
over the single stream of sheets (F1, F2).
4. The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which
the merging device (11) is formed by at least two conveyor lines
(11a, 11b) arranged at least partially one over the other.
5. The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in claim 4, in which
the running speed of the conveyor lines (11a, 11b) of the merging
device (11) can be set with respect to the running speed of the
chain table (13) in such a way that the sheets (F1, F2) in the
single stream of sheets on the chain table (13) are at a
predetermined distance from one another.
6. The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which
the sheet processing device is a sheet-fed printing machine, a
web-fed printing machine with cross-cutter or an unwinding device
with cross-cutter.
7. The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which
the sheet processing device is a folding machine (3).
8. The sheet processing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which
the further processing machine is a thread sealing machine, a
thread stitching machine or an envelope-filling machine.
9. A method for processing a number of parallel running streams of
sheets (D1, D2, E1, E2) in a sheet processing arrangement with a
sheet processing device (3), a merging device (11), arranged
downstream of the sheet processing device (3), and a further
processing machine, arranged downstream of the merging device (11),
in which method all the streams of sheets (D1, D2, E1, E2) are made
to merge together into a single stream of sheets (F1, F2) in the
merging device (11), the single stream of sheets (F1, F2) being fed
to the further processing machine.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9, in which a primary stream of
sheets (B) is divided into at least two streams of sheets (D1, D2)
by means of a separating device arranged upstream of the merging
device (11).
11. The method as claimed in claim 9, in which the single stream of
sheets (F1, F2) is fed to the further processing machine by means
of a chain table (13).
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, in which the number of
streams of sheets (D1, D2, E1, E2) are fed to the chain table (13)
by means of at least two conveyor lines (11a, 11b) arranged at
least partially one over the other and forming the merging device
(11).
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, in which the running speed
of the conveyor lines (11a, 11b) is set with respect to the running
speed of the chain table (13) in such a way that the sheets (F1,
F2) in the single stream of sheets on the chain table (13) are
arranged at a predetermined distance from one another.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a sheet processing arrangement for
processing a number of parallel running streams of sheets.
[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0004] Sheet processing arrangements which respectively process a
stream of sheets comprising individual sheets arranged one behind
the other on a running belt are known To increase the capacity of
such a sheet processing arrangement, the throughput speed of the
sheet processing devices forming the sheet processing arrangement
may be correspondingly increased. This increases the throughput
speed of the individual sheets through the entire arrangement.
Since, however, the sheet-processing industry has concerned itself
with this ever since its inception, further development in the area
of increasing the throughput speed of the sheet processing
arrangements has already been exhausted. Furthermore, with
increased throughput speed, there is a rise in the noise level of
the running mechanisms and mechanical wear. Another possibility for
increasing the capacity of a sheet processing arrangement is to
operate a number of sheet processing devices in parallel. In this
case, however, a number of further processing machines are also
used, which increases the production costs and, among other things,
the production area that is required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention is based on the object of providing a sheet
processing arrangement of the type described at the beginning and a
corresponding method with which an increase in the capacity of a
sheet processing arrangement can be achieved in as simple a way as
possible and with least possible effort.
[0006] This object is achieved in a sheet processing arrangement
for processing a number of parallel running streams of sheets by
said arrangement having a sheet processing device, a merging device
for making the streams of sheets merge together into a single
stream of sheets and a further processing machine, arranged
downstream of the merging device.
[0007] Preferred embodiments of the sheet processing arrangement
are disclosed herein.
[0008] The object defined above is also achieved according to the
invention in a method disclosed herein, in which all the streams of
sheets are made to merge together into a single stream of sheets by
the merging device, the single stream of sheets being fed to the
further processing machine.
[0009] Particularly preferred embodiments of the method according
to the invention are disclosed herein.
[0010] The arrangement according to the invention with the features
disclosed herein has the advantage over the known approaches to a
solution that the actual capacity of a sheet processing arrangement
can be multiplied in a low-cost and simple manner. The same applies
to the method according to the invention of an embodiment as
disclosed herein, which, by comparison with customary methods for
processing a number of parallel running streams of sheets in a
sheet processing arrangement, likewise allows a multiple increase
in capacity with a reduced number of downstream further processing
machines.
[0011] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more
detail on the basis of drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a schematic partial side view of a sheet
processing arrangement according to the invention, and
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the production stages of a
stream of sheets proceeding in a sheet processing arrangement,
shown in a schematic representation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 1 of an
arrangement according to the invention comprises a transporting
device 1, which is configured as an angled belt table, the charging
side of which, with a charging device 7, and the unloading side of
which are arranged in front of an inlet into a pocket folding
machine 3. A sheet 5 is transported by the charging device 7 over
the transporting device 1 to the pocket folding machine 3 and is
folded into a desired form in the pocket folding machine 3.
Provided directly at the outlet of the pocket folding machine 3 is
a separating device in the form of a cutting device (not shown),
arranged along the stream of sheets, i.e. in the sheet transporting
direction. However, it is possible for the separating device both
to be arranged upstream of the pocket folding machine and to be
integrated in the pocket folding machine. After its separation in
the longitudinal direction, the sheet 5 running out of the pocket
folding machine 3 passes in the form of two sheets arranged next to
each other onto a transfer table 9, which comprises appropriate
sheet deflectors (not shown) to limit the sideward movement of the
sheets.
[0015] The output side of the transfer table 9 is functionally
connected to an inlet of a merging device 11 for uniting the
streams of sheets. The merging device 11 has, seen from above, a
V-like arrangement, which is formed by two conveyor lines 11a and
11b. The longitudinally arranged fork-shaped inlet of the merging
device 11 is arranged in such a way that the two parts of the
separated sheets arranged next to each other pass onto the
respective conveyor lines 11a and 11b. The outlets, arranged on the
right in FIG. 1, of the conveyor lines 11a and 11b are arranged one
above the other and displaced with respect to each other in the
direction of the stream of sheets, so that the individual sheets
pass one after the other onto a chain table 13, similar to a
conveyor line, arranged under the outlets of the conveyor lines 11a
and 11b. The stream of sheets taken over by the chain table 13
subsequently passes to a further processing machine (not shown). A
thread sealing machine, a thread stitching machine or an
envelope-filling machine may be used as the further processing
machine. The running speed of the conveyor lines of the merging
device 11 is set with respect to the running speed of the chain
table 13 in such a way that the sheets leaving the merging device
11 in the single stream of sheets on the chain table 13 are at a
predetermined distance from one another.
[0016] It goes without saying that any desired sheet processing
device may be used instead of the pocket folding machine 3, such as
for example a sheet-fed printing machine, a web-fed printing
machine with cross-cutter, an unwinding device with cross-cutter or
the like.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of the stages in the
sequence which a stream of sheets undergoes in a sheet processing
arrangement according to the invention. The sheet material, denoted
by A, is fed to the sheet processing arrangement in the form of a
continuous band and subsequently divided into individual sheets B,
the individual sheets B being arranged one behind the other in
their running direction and forming a primary stream of sheets. The
separation of the band material A into individual sheets B takes
place upstream of the pocket folding unit 3, so that, after they
have run through, the sheets have a correspondingly folded form C.
Directly downstream, the folded sheets C are divided in the middle
in their running direction into two sheets D1 and D2, arranged next
to each other. The sheets D1 and D2 arranged next to each other are
then transferred in the course of their continuing movement in two
streams of sheets to the merging device 11. The sequence of
movements of the sheets D1 and D2 originally arranged next to each
other is denoted in FIG. 2 by E. A V -or Y-shaped arrangement of
the conveyor lines 11a and 11b and the fact that the outlets of the
conveyor lines 11a and 11b are arranged at different heights allow
the sheets E transported on them to be displaced with respect to
one another into a linear arrangement. Different running speeds of
the conveyor lines 11a and 11b contribute to making the individual
sheets E1 and E2 become arranged one behind the other in the
running direction in the course of the movement on the merging
device 11. In this way, two parallel running streams of sheets can
be made to merge together into a single stream of sheets by the
merging device 11. The sheets E1 and E2 leaving the merging device
11 pass onto the chain table 13, the receiving surface of which
moves at an increased speed, for example about twice the speed, in
comparison with the primary stream B. The running speed of the
conveyor lines 11a and 11b can be set with respect to the running
speed of the chain table 13 in such a way that the sheets F1 and F2
in the single stream of sheets on the chain table 13 are arranged
at a predetermined distance from one another.
[0018] It is also possible to arrange a number of sheet processing
devices next to one another, so that the overall capacity is once
again multiplied. Such an arrangement allows a multiple stream of
sheets that has been converted into a single stream of sheets to be
made to merge together in such a way that they can be further
processed by a single downstream further processing machine.
* * * * *