Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2 ~ 1649/42
Folder Apparatus with Product Seizirg Device
F~eld of the Invention
The present lnvention relates to a folder apparatu8 with
5 a product seizing device and at least two product
collecting cylinders.
Backqround of the Invention
U.S. Patent No. 4,279,410 purports to disclose a folder
for a web-fed rotary printing press. Ill this device, two
10 take- over cylinders are assigned to the circumference of
a pin collecting cylinder. Tape guides are assigned to
the region in the pin collecting cylinder which the ~^~
folded products are being taken from without reaching
into the nip between the pin ~nll~t;ng cylinder arLd the
15 take over cylinder. As a result, a whipping of the
folded products trailing edges may occur. Moreover, such
a configuration often causes "dog ears~ within the edge
regions of the folded products.
U.S. Patent No. 4,490,132 purports to show a paper
20 folding machine for use in rotary presses. In accordance
with this device, a set of product quiding tapes is
assigned to a section of the overlapping drum' s
circumf erence . A gripping drum and a delivery drum are
assigned to the circumference of the overlapping drum
25 without any devices for smoothing the exchange of the
folded products in the nips between the corresponding
product r~n~ t; n~ cylinders .
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U.S. Patent No. 4,381,106 purports to show a collect
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cylinder for a rotary folder. A series of tapes is wound
around appr~ P~y half of the collecting cylinder~ s
circumfererce. The series of tapes does not, however,
reach the exchange region of the folded products, i.e.
5 the nip between j aw cylinder and collect cylinder.
U.S. Patent No. 4,521,007 purports to disclose braking
brushes and folding apparatuses of rotary printing
~--h; n~q . A folding knife cylinder cooperates with a nip
and tuck cylinder. A series of braking brushes is
lO mounted on a pivotable lever. ~3y means of these braking
brushes, sections of folded products are pressed to a
greater or lesser extent onto the circumference of the
folding knife cylinder. However, the braking brushe8 are
fixedly mounted and do not reach into the ~x~ y~ region
15 itself.
DE 35 34 15Z Al discloses a folder apparatus. Folded
products are ~ Iv~ d from a knife cylinder to a jaw
cylinder After the folded products are taken from the
circumference of the jaw cylinder, they are delivered by
20 a plurality of tape asu~ q to fan wheels. A
deceleration unit is assigned to the circumference of the
jaw cylinder to slow down the folded products before they
enter the conveying arrangements to the f an wheels .
Attempts have been made to increase folding accuracy by
25 applying foam pads or rubber pads on the collect
cylinders circumference in order to press the product to
be folded against the jaw cylinder. ~owever, these
conf igurations have the disadvantage these pads must be
fre~uently replaced due to wear and tear. Furt~ ~,
30 this configuration results in the products being marked
when pressed against the jaw cylinder surface.
of the Invention
I~ a~coL~LIl~e with the present invention a ~older
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apparatus is provided which includes a f irst cylinder
having at least a set of first cu-lvey-~- tapeg assigned to
its circumference and a olding cylinder having an
~sori ~t~l product seizing device . The product seizing
S device is cooperatively engaged with a 8urfacê section of
the first cylinder during product transfer. II~ V~:L~
the product seizing device moves at apprnYir~tply thê
same velocity of the product being cu--v~:y~d~
In accordance with the present invention, folded product3
10 which are being ~ y~d on the circumference of the
first cylinder are seized by the product seizing device
at a point prior to a fold-off area (i.e. the area where
the folded products pass from the first cylinder to the
folding cylinder) As a result, the folded product3
lS remain secured during their exchange from the fir3t
cylinder~s CiL~:ull~Lt:Lt:~lce to the folding cylinder~s
circumference For example, the trailing edges of the
products to be tucked into the jaw3 on the folding (or
jaw) cylinder are prevented from whipping
20 In accordance with an c ' 'il t of the present
invention, the product seizing device includes one or
more belts which are wrapped around the circumference of
folding cylinder and which contacts and extends over an
arc-length of the circumference of the first (e.g.
25 transfer or collect) cylinder. In this manner, the
folded product and its trailing edge is kept under
control during the exchange from the first cylinder to
the folding cylinder, not merely for a short instant, but
rather within an arc-length region PY~n~l;n~ over the
30 length of the folded product, thereby preventing dog ear3
or other damage to the folded product.
Moreover, the fact that the product seizing device i8
moved apprnYi r~tf~l y at the product conveying velocity
prevents damage to the product which might otherwi3e
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result from a si~n;fif~nt speed differential betwee~ the
folded product and the product seizing device.
In accordance with a further ~ i of the present
ir,vention, the surface section of the first cylinder
5 which is r~nt~ctefi by the product seizing device i8
located in front of the fold-off area (i.e. the ~ Jc
area). The fold-off area extends from the nip between
the first (co~ t;n~) and folding cylinders up to an end
of a guiding device of the first cylinder. Moreover, the
10 surface section extends from a turning element to the nip
between the two cooperating cylinders. The belt resides
in grooves within the surface of the folding cylinder and
is further wrapped around the turning element (e.g. a
tape roller) such that the belt ~nt~ctC the surface
lS section of the f irst cylinder .
Brief Description of the Drawinc~s
- Fig. 1 shows a side view of a folder apparatus according
to the present invention having a product seizing device ~`~
located in front of the fold-off area;
20 Fig. 2 shows a prior art folder including a stationary
mounted braking brush;
Fig. 3a shows the arc shaped entering section of Fig. 1
in greater detail;
Fig. 3b shows the a cross-section of the folding cylinder
2S of Figs. 1 and 3a;
Fig. 3c shows a portion of Fig. 3a in mor- detail; and
Fig 4 shows a pin-type folder in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Descri~tion of the Invention
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Fig 1 shows a side view of a folder apparatus 1 in
accul dd~lC-: with the present invention which i9 mounted
with delivery module 27. After printed products have
been cut from a web of material by a pair of cutting
5 cylinders 2 they enter between a set of first oUUV~y~:L
tapes 4 and a set of second ~ullV~y-JL tapes 5. The
products are transported to a product seizing area 11 via
the conveyor tapes 4, 5. At the product seizing area 11,
the folded productg are _~7.,uLuLCd by ~rjr~;n~ ~1 q
lO (not shown) on the circumference of a collect cylinder 8.
It should be understood that while figure 1 illustrates a
collect cylinder, the present invention i8 not limited to
use with collect cylinders. For example, the cylinder 8
could also be a transfer cylinder.
15 The set of first conveyor tapes 4 extends downwardly past
the product seizing area 11 and partially around the
circumference of the collect cylinder 8. Referring to
the bottom of Fig. 1, the first set of ~UllV~yuL tapes 4 -
are further klound around tape turn rollers 18 and guided
20 via a nur.ber of rollers 10. To r-int~;n a pret~nqir~nPd
state within the first and second conveyor tapes 4, 5,
each set of tapes includes a tensioning means 6. As ~oon
as the ~olded products emerge from the nip between the
cutting cylinders 2, they pass S-wrap rollers 7, being
25 located in the path of the ~:~llV~::yUL tapes 4, 5 between
the cutting cylinders 2 and a second pair of accelerator
cylinders 3
Assigned to the circumference of the collect cylinder 8
is a guiding device 9, comprising a first guiding section
30 9.1 and a second guiding section 9.2. The second guiding
section 9.2 establishes an upper end of a fold-off area
12 in which folded products are exchanged between the
circumference of the collect cylinder 8 and a jaw (or
folding) cylinder 14.
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After the product-exchange in the fold-off region 12 is
accomplished, the products tucked into folding jaws 20 on
the circumference of the jaw cylinder 14, now being
folded products are conveyed by third conveying tapes 16
5 which are wound partially around the ~aw cylinder 14.
By means of the set of third conveying tape9 16 and a set
of fourth conveying tapes 17 the folded products enter
the delivery module 27 and are tL~ UL Led to a product
delivery 28.
0 Referring to Fig 2, on convl~ntinn~l folders, a
stationary braking brush 13 i9 mounted beneath the fold-
of f area 12 to keep the f olded products on the
circumference of the collect cylinder 8 during l~ J~.
Since this braking brush 13 does not reach into the fold-
15 off area 12, its perfnrr~n~~e in providing control of thefolded products, particularly the trailing edges, i8
rather limited.
Referring again to Fig. 1, an improved folder design in
accordance with the present invention includes a product
20 seizing device 15 in place of the brush assembly 18. The
product seizing device 15 contacts the circumference of
the collect cylinder 8 over the length of an entering
section 25 Thus, the products on the circumference of
the collect cylinder 8 which are supported by the first
25 conveyor tapes 4 are seized by the product seizing device
lS and thereby held against the circumference of the
collect cylinder 8 until they are transferred to the jaw
cylinder 14 in the fold-off area 12.
As a result, the products to be tucked into the folding
30 jaws 20 of the jaw cylinder 14 are guided and controlled
throughout the fold-off area 12. IIOL~:~1V~L~ even the
products critical tr~; 1 ;ns edge is firmly held against
the circumf erence of the collect cylinder 8 by the
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product seizing device. Since the products trailing edge
is now being seized during fold-off, a whipping n-~v~
of the trailing edge i5 Pl ;minAt~d and dog-ears no longer
are likely to occur. Since the product seizing device
15, which is wound around the circumference of the jaw
cylinder 14, is moved with approximately the same speed
as the folded product; no significant speed differentia
exists between products to be conveyed and the product
seizing device 15.
As a result, a smooth product transfer is provided with
reduced mechanical stress exerted on the folded products.
This facilitates hAn~l i ng of products being very thin,
cut from a web of light-weight material for example.
Fig. 3a shows the entering 8ection 25 of Fig. l in
greater detail. The product seizing device 15 emerge8
from grooves l9 on the circumference of the jaw cylinder
14. The grooves l9 extend over the surface of ~aw
cylinder 14, the grooves 19 being axially spaced from one
another Referring to Fig. 3b, in accordance with this
embodiment of the present invention, the product seizing
device 15 includes a plurality of belts 15.1, each belt
residing in a corresponding groove l9.1 on the surface 20
of the jaw cylinder 14. The shape of the belts 15.1
could, for example, be cylindrical or rectangular.
2S Referring again to Fig. 3a, the product seizing device 15
is guided, via a tape roller 24, to contact the
circumference of the collect cylinder 8. As a re8ult,
the product seizing device lS is partly stripped away
from the surface 26 of the ~aw cylinder 14. As shown in
Fig. 3a, the tape roller 24 is positioned such that the
product seizing device contacts the surface of the
collect cylinder 8 over the entire circumference of the
arc-shaped entering section 25. As a result, the folded
products to be conveyed on the collect cylinder are
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substantially controlled tl~Ju~l~JuL the transfer proces~
to the jaw cylinder 14. In addition, instead of using a
single tape roller 24, single tape rolls ~R~;r"P~ to each
of the belts 15.1 may also be used.
5 By means of tucking Pl ~ (not shown) the products
being held on the circumference of the collect cylinder
8, are tucked into folding jaws 20. The jaws 20 include
a f ixedly and a movably mounted j aw segment 4 0 . The
moveable j aw segment is actuated by a lever 21 having a
10 roller 22 driven by the outer contour of an Rrtl~t1nq cam
23 . The actuating cam 23 is schematically; n~l; r~ted by
dashed lines in Fig. 3a. As st~ti~n~ry braking brushes,
do not reach into the fold-off area 12, an P~r~ Pnt
control of the products during cylinder exchange can be
15 accomplished.
The transfer of folded products to the jaw cylinder 14 is
shown in greater detail in Fig. 3c. As P~;nP~
above,the belts 15.1 reside in grooves 19.1 which are
submerged below the surface 26 of the jaw cylinder 14.
20 The jaw segment 40 includes a jaw blade holder 50 having
jaw blades 55 attached thereto. The jaw blade holder 50
and jaw blades 55 are segmented so as to allow the belts
15.1 to drop below the product gripping area 91. In this
manner, the belts 15.1 do not interfere with the jaw
25 blades 55 as they capture the folded product 90.
Fig. 4 shows the an embodiment of the present invention
applied to a pin type folder apparatus. A draw-in roller
pair 29 forwards a web 30 between a cutting cylinder 31
and a folding pin/tuck cylinder 33. The web 30 is cut by
30 knives 32 fixed on the circumference of the cutting
cylinder 31. The knives 32 cooperate with groove bars on
the circumference of the folding pin/tuck cylinder 33.
The signatures are being fixed onto the circumference
with the cutting cylinder 31 by mean3 of pins 34. Before
9 2~391D
they reach the fold-off area 12, they are being seized by
the product seizing device 15 on the circumference of the
folding knife cylinder 33. The pins 33 are retracted
before the signatures are tucked into folding jaws 38.
5 The Eign~tl~res are tucked into folding jaws 38 by tucker
blades 35. Aa can be seen in Fig. 4 the cylinders 33, 37
are partly coYered by guiding device 36, which extends
toward the nip between folding knife cylinder 33 and ~aw
cylinder 37. On the circumference of the jaw cylinder
10 37, tangentially P~rtPn~iin~ grooves 19 are located for
receiving the product seizing device 15. The product
seizing device 15, which is wrapped around the
circumference of the jaw cylinder 37 and the tape roller
24, contacts the circumference of the folding knife
15 cylinder 33 along an arc-shaped region 25. As with the
jaw segment 40 of Figure 3c, the tucking blades 35 may be
segmented or notched so that the product seizing device
15 does not interfere with the capture of the signatures
by the tucking blade 3 5 .
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