EP0156326B1 - Folding-machine for folding sheets - Google Patents

Folding-machine for folding sheets Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0156326B1
EP0156326B1 EP85103397A EP85103397A EP0156326B1 EP 0156326 B1 EP0156326 B1 EP 0156326B1 EP 85103397 A EP85103397 A EP 85103397A EP 85103397 A EP85103397 A EP 85103397A EP 0156326 B1 EP0156326 B1 EP 0156326B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
folding
sheet
length
fold
folds
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
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EP85103397A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0156326A2 (en
EP0156326A3 (en
Inventor
Heinz Isermann
Werner Leis
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Meteor Siegen Apparatebau Paul Schmeck GmbH
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Meteor Siegen Apparatebau Paul Schmeck GmbH
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Publication of EP0156326A2 publication Critical patent/EP0156326A2/en
Publication of EP0156326A3 publication Critical patent/EP0156326A3/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H45/00—Folding thin material
    • B65H45/12—Folding articles or webs with application of pressure to define or form crease lines
    • B65H45/20—Zig-zag folders

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a folding machine for folding sheets (drawing pauses or the like) and to a control of such a folding machine.
  • Folding machines for folding drawing pauses are known, in particular according to a standard-compliant folding program with normal folds and possibly compensating folds, which has a folding mechanism, before the inlet of which transport rollers for inserting the sheet and in front of it - in each case in the sheet advance direction - at least one sensor for sensing its trailing edge is arranged, and also one Have pulse generator and counter for sheet length measurement and finally a control circuit linking the folding mechanism, the sensor and the pulse generator / counter for determining and executing the folding program, for example from DE-A-21 20 204 and 23 17 950.
  • the length measurement is carried out in these known Machines with the help of an "external classification", i. H.
  • the pulse generator is connected to a measuring roller which runs slip-free on the sheet during operation, and in the sheet feed direction the trailing edge sensor is arranged in front of the measuring roller at a distance from the inlet which is at least as long as the length of the arc section which is required for the folding sections which, including compensating folds, connect to a full-width folding section on the leading edge side.
  • the measuring roller not only supplies length measurements within a classification level (e.g. within a certain folding scheme) via the pulse generator, but also carries out the classification itself, for example by selecting one of several folding schemes the control circuit enables.
  • the control circuit can then determine the total length of the sheet as the sum of the pulse count and the distance between the front and rear edge sensors. However, it is also possible to have the control circuit determine a remaining length, for example the length of the arc section available for compensating folds, with the aid of the pulse count between the actuation of the trailing edge sensor and the subsequent folding in the folding mechanism.
  • the control according to the invention of a folding machine assumes that a sheet to be folded multiple times is inserted into the folding machine and is placed in successive zigzag folds with the aid of a folding mechanism according to a predetermined folding scheme, the folding scheme being the maximum Length of the sheet sections lying between two folds and the fixed length of a cover sheet section adjoining the last fold, but a length measurement on the sheet determines the length of any necessary compensation folding sections in front of the cover sheet section.
  • Folding schemes of the type mentioned above provide, for example, DIN 824 for drawing breaks. Depending on the length of the sheet, (longitudinal) folds are then attached at equal distances from one another after a slightly wider section of the sheet enclosing the filing margin.
  • the arch section adjoining the last fold should also have the same length (width) and complete the folding package as a cover sheet because it regularly contains the text field of the drawing. This also requires that that last fold lies on the binding margin side of the folding package - that is to say "on the leading edge side"; the above-mentioned cover sheet closes with the trailing edge of the sheet.
  • the invention further provides that, depending on a measurement of the remaining sheet length carried out shortly after formation of the third-last fold, the position of the penultimate fold and thus the length of the last compensation folding section in front of the cover sheet section are determined and the folding mechanism is controlled accordingly.
  • the position of the penultimate fold and thus the length of the last compensation folding section in front of the cover sheet section are determined and the folding mechanism is controlled accordingly.
  • the invention provides that, depending on a measurement of the remaining sheet length at a distance from the sheet end (trailing edge) which is at most equal to the sum of the lengths of two sheet sections of maximum length, the cover sheet section and two equalizing folding sections of the greatest necessary length, the type and number of folds required up to the last fold (cover sheet section) are determined and the folds are then formed up to the third last fold at predetermined length points of the sheet.
  • the first equalizing double fold will be made first formed with arc sections of a predetermined length (width). It is therefore not taken into account how large the two arch sections of the other equalizing double fold must be made; however, it is expedient to "keep ready" several predetermined lengths for the first compensating double fold, which are called up depending on the individual case dimensions.
  • the control of the folding machine is further simplified because the (only) individual folding position determination, which is based on the individual case, only needs to be carried out after the third last fold; all other folding distances are fixed (possibly with the aforementioned alternative) for all sheets to be folded regardless of their actual size.
  • the folding machine shown schematically in FIG. 1 has a folding roller frame 1 (outlined with dashed lines) with reversing folding rollers 2, 3 and a correspondingly reversing group of adjacent belts 4 that work with the folding rollers 2, 3 and are guided over drive and deflection rollers 5.
  • a folding roller frame 1 (outlined with dashed lines) with reversing folding rollers 2, 3 and a correspondingly reversing group of adjacent belts 4 that work with the folding rollers 2, 3 and are guided over drive and deflection rollers 5.
  • the folding rollers 2, 3 form with the belts 4 folding nips 6, 7.
  • the folding roller mill 1 is controlled so that the front edge 8 of a sheet 10 entering through the inlet 9 is always first led into the folding nip 6 (the folding roller 2). in the In the area of this folding gap 6 - slightly behind it in the direction of entry - a sensor 23 is arranged, which detects the leading edge 8 of the sheet 10 entering the folding gap 6; this will still be discussed.
  • the sheet 10 deflecting and interacting transport rollers 11, 12 are arranged. Again in the feed direction of the sheet 10 in front of the transport rollers 11, 12, a measuring device designated as a whole is provided. It has the measuring roller 15 mounted at the free end of a lever 14, which is set against the direction of advance of the sheet 10 (arrow 16) at the angle a. It works together with a counter roller 17 which, in a manner not shown, projects through an opening in the table (also not shown) over which the sheet 10 runs in the area of the measuring device 13.
  • the measuring roller 15 acts on a pulse generator 18; this consists of a disc 19 with edge markings, which receives a scanner 20.
  • the pulses generated in this way are summed in a counter 21, and the sum of the pulse signals represents a measure of the length of the sheet 10 taken up by the measuring roller 15.
  • the above-described design and arrangement of the measuring roller 15 in the context of the measuring device 13 has proven to be expedient in view of the necessity for the measuring rollers to slip without slippage despite constantly changing feed speeds of the sheet 10 (caused by the type of fold formation with the aid of reversing folding rollers) Let the sheet run off.
  • the front edge 8 of the sheet 10 after it has been guided between the transport rollers 11, 12 and the inlet 9, approaches the surface of the belts 4, which - driven synchronously with the folding rollers 2, 3 - in the direction of the arrow 22 move (the arrangement is a mirror image of that in Figure 1).
  • the sheet 10 usually has a swirl in the region of the front edge 8, which is indicated in FIG. 2A by the curvature of an edge section of the sheet under the front edge 8. However, it must be ensured that the sheet is stretched smoothly into the folding gap between the folding roller 3 and the belt 4.
  • FIG. 2B shows the moment at which the sheet 10 has already been advanced so far through the folding nip that the folding roller mill 1 can be stopped, so that the continued advancement of the sheet 1 leads to a bulging of the sheet 10 between the folding rollers 2, 3 .
  • Figure 3 illustrates this course of the speed.
  • the reduction in speed prevents a leading edge which is not exactly perpendicular to the direction of advance of the sheet 10 and which can also be formed by an oblique fold previously made in accordance with DIN 824, from leading to a lateral warping of the sheet in the folding nip, because the higher peripheral speed of the folding roller 2 and Belt 4 first captured the bow on one side only.
  • the peripheral speed of the folding roller mill 1 over the distance L 2 is increased again to the original value, which must be maintained during the entire further folding process in order to do this to ensure proper wrinkles.
  • the sheet 10 is given the above-mentioned changing feed speed (because of the reversing interruptions), which the transport rollers 11, 12 allow with friction slip.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates (with arrows directed vertically against the path of the sheet 10), in addition to the sensor 23, also a sensor 24 which detects the rear edge 26 (FIG. 4) of the sheet 10 and a sensor 25 which detects the front edge 8 of the sheet 10 of the total length of a sheet 10, the sensor 25 starts the pulse generator 18 when it passes the front edge 8 of the sheet. If the trailing edge 26 of the sheet 10 passes over the sensor 24, the pulse count in the counter 21 is stopped, and the total length of the sheet 10 results from the sum of the counted pulses and the distance between the sensors 24, 25.
  • the measurement of the total length can be dispensed with, especially for longer sheets Remaining length measurement can be made. If the folding roller mill already produces folds on a sheet 10 before the rear edge 26 of the sheet 10 has passed the sensor 24, the signaling by the sensor 25 is not required; The reversing of the folding roller mill 1 adjacent to the actuation of the sensor 24 can then serve as the reference signal.
  • the pulse generator 18 is only started with the counter 21 when the rear edge 26 passes the sensor 24, and the counting is stopped when the position of the folding roller mill 1 (more precisely: the folding roller mill is stopped before it is driven again in the opposite direction) of the last fold formed:
  • the remaining length of the sheet is given as the path distance between this fold and the sensor 24, minus the content of the counter 21. From this remaining length, both the required folding scheme and the folding program (which also contains the individual spacing lengths between the folds) can then be determined in the control circuit (not shown) and can then be executed by the latter by appropriate control of the folding roller chair 1.
  • the position of the fold 29 previously determined by the folding program is checked on the basis of the contents of the counter 21 then present, and - if it turns out, that their retention would lead to an incorrect length and / or position of the cover sheet 27 - corrected so that a correct cover sheet position and dimension results.
  • the sensor 24 must be arranged at such a distance from the inlet 9 of the folding roller mill 1 or from the sensor 23 or the position of the folds in the reversal point of the folding roller mill drive that the length measurements carried out with the aid of the measuring device 13 allow the resulting folding programs to be executed.
  • the first double compensation folding section is formed in a fixed predetermined length. As already mentioned at the beginning, several such fixed predetermined lengths can be stored and called up depending on the measurement result. Subsequent to the third, last fold 28 formed on the formation of the first double compensation folding section, the - if necessary corrective - new determination of the remaining length then takes place, as previously described.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Faltmaschine zum Falten von Bogen (Zeichnungspausen o. dgl.) sowie eine Steuerung einer derartigen Faltmaschine.The invention relates to a folding machine for folding sheets (drawing pauses or the like) and to a control of such a folding machine.

Bekannt sind Faltmaschinen zum Falten von Zeichnungspausen, insbesondere nach einem normgerechten Faltprogramm mit Normalfalten und gegebenenfalls Ausgleichsfalten, die einen Faltmechanismus, vor dessen Einlauf Transportrollen zum Einführen des Bogens und davor - jeweils in Bogenvorschubrichtung - mindestens ein Sensor zum Ertasten seiner Hinterkante angeordnet ist, ferner einen Impulsgeber und -zähler zur Bogenlängenmessung und schließlich eine den Faltmechanismus, den Sensor und den Impulsgeber/zähler zur Ermittlung sowie Durchführung des Faltprogramms verknüpfenden Steuerschaltung aufweisen, beispielsweise aus den DE-A-21 20 204 und 23 17 950. Die Längenmessung erfolgt bei diesen bekannten Maschinen mit Hilfe einer «äußeren Klassifikation », d. h. mehrere Sensoren, die entlang einer Einlaufstrecke für das Faltgut in unterschiedlichem Abstand vor dem Faltmechanismus angeordnet sind, liefern in Verbindung mit einem am Einlauf des Faltmechanismus angeordneten Sensor der Steuereinrichtung gewissermaßen ein Grobraster bezüglich der Länge des zu faltenden Bogens. Je nachdem, zwischen welchen Sensoren der Sensorenkette sich die Hinterkante des Bogens befindet, wenn seine Vorderkante den Einlaufsensor erreicht oder wenn der Faltmechanismus gerade eine Falte gebildet hat, erfolgt das weitere Falten nach einem für diesen Längenbereich vorgesehenen Faltschema. Eine nähere Aussage, welche Länge beispielsweise eine nach diesem Faltschema vorgesehene Ausgleichsfalte haben muß, wird von der Restlängenermittlung mit Hilfe des lmpulszählers abgeleitet, welche bis zum « Betätigen » des nächsten Sensors durch die Bogenhinterkante im Laufe seines weiteren Faltvorschubs vorgenommen wird.Folding machines for folding drawing pauses are known, in particular according to a standard-compliant folding program with normal folds and possibly compensating folds, which has a folding mechanism, before the inlet of which transport rollers for inserting the sheet and in front of it - in each case in the sheet advance direction - at least one sensor for sensing its trailing edge is arranged, and also one Have pulse generator and counter for sheet length measurement and finally a control circuit linking the folding mechanism, the sensor and the pulse generator / counter for determining and executing the folding program, for example from DE-A-21 20 204 and 23 17 950. The length measurement is carried out in these known Machines with the help of an "external classification", i. H. several sensors, which are arranged along an inlet path for the folded goods at different distances in front of the folding mechanism, in connection with a sensor arranged at the inlet of the folding mechanism of the control device provide a rough grid with respect to the length of the sheet to be folded. Depending on which sensors of the sensor chain the rear edge of the sheet is between, when its front edge reaches the inlet sensor or when the folding mechanism has just formed a fold, the further folding takes place according to a folding scheme provided for this length range. A more detailed statement as to what length, for example, a compensating fold provided according to this folding scheme must be, is derived from the residual length determination with the aid of the pulse counter, which is carried out until the next sensor is "pressed" by the trailing edge of the sheet in the course of its further folding feed.

Diese « äußere Klassifikation » der Bogenlänge erfordert einen nicht unbeträchtlichen konstruktiven Aufwand und hat auch Nachteile bei der Steuerung der Faltmaschine.This “outer classification” of the sheet length requires a considerable construction effort and also has disadvantages in controlling the folding machine.

Die sich hieraus ergebende Aufgabe, die erforderliche Ermittlung der oder einer Länge des zu faltenden Bogens zu vereinfachen und zu erleichtern, löst die Erfindung dadurch, daß der Impulsgeber mit einer Meßrolle verbunden ist, die im Betrieb schlupffrei auf dem Bogen abläuft, und daß in Bogenvorschubrichtung der Hinterkantensensor vor der Meßrolle in einem Abstand vom Einlauf angeordnet ist, der mindestens so groß wie die Länge des Bogenabschnitts ist, welcher für die Faltabschnitte benötigt wird, die einschließlich Ausgleichsfalten an einen Faltab- schnitt voller Breite vorderkantenseitig anschließen. Auf diese Weise wird gewissermaßen eine « innere Klassifikation » vorgenommen, weil die Meßrolle über den Impulsgeber nicht nur Längenmeßwerte innerhalb einer Klassifikationsstufe (also beispielsweise innerhalb eines bestimmten Faltschemas) liefert, sondern auch die Klassifikation selbst vornimmt, also beispielsweise die Auswahl eines von mehreren Faltschemata durch die Steuerschaltung ermöglicht.The resultant task of simplifying and facilitating the required determination of the or a length of the sheet to be folded is solved by the invention in that the pulse generator is connected to a measuring roller which runs slip-free on the sheet during operation, and in the sheet feed direction the trailing edge sensor is arranged in front of the measuring roller at a distance from the inlet which is at least as long as the length of the arc section which is required for the folding sections which, including compensating folds, connect to a full-width folding section on the leading edge side. In this way, an "inner classification" is carried out, so to speak, because the measuring roller not only supplies length measurements within a classification level (e.g. within a certain folding scheme) via the pulse generator, but also carries out the classification itself, for example by selecting one of several folding schemes the control circuit enables.

Bei längeren zu faltenden Bögen bedarf es keines (weiteren) Sensors zum Ertasten der Bogenvorderkante, weil die anläßlich der Bildung von Falten erfolgende Umsteuerung des Faltmechanismus ein entsprechendes Bezugssignal liefern kann. In Weiterbildung der Erfindung - insbesondere für den Fall, daß auch kürzere Bogen verarbeitet werden sollen - ist jedoch vorgesehen, daß ein Vorderkanten-Sensor in Bogenvorschubrichtung hinter der Meßrolle angeordnet ist.In the case of longer sheets to be folded, no (additional) sensor is required to feel the leading edge of the sheet, because the reversal of the folding mechanism which occurs when folds are formed can provide a corresponding reference signal. In a further development of the invention - in particular in the case that shorter sheets are also to be processed - it is provided that a leading edge sensor is arranged behind the measuring roller in the sheet feed direction.

Die Steuerschaltung kann dann die Gesamtlänge des Bogens als Summe des Impulszählwerts und des Abstands zwischen den Vorder- und Hinterkanten-Sensoren feststellen. Es ist jedoch auch möglich, die Steuerschaltung eine Restlänge feststellen zu lassen, und zwar beispielsweise die Länge des für Ausgleichsfalten zur Verfügung stehenden Bogenabschnitts, mit Hilfe des Impulszählwerts zwischen der Betätigung des Hinterkanten-Sensors und der darauffolgenden Faltung im Faltmechanismus.The control circuit can then determine the total length of the sheet as the sum of the pulse count and the distance between the front and rear edge sensors. However, it is also possible to have the control circuit determine a remaining length, for example the length of the arc section available for compensating folds, with the aid of the pulse count between the actuation of the trailing edge sensor and the subsequent folding in the folding mechanism.

Die erfindungsgemäße Steuerung einer Faltmaschine, insbesondere einer der vorstehend erörterten Art, geht davon aus, daß in die Faltmaschine ein mehrfach zu faltender Bogen eingeführt und mit Hilfe eines Faltmechanismus nach einem vorgegebenen Faltschema in aufeinanderfolgende Zick Zack-Falten gelegt wird, wobei das Faltschema die maximale Länge der zwischen zwei Falten liegenden Bogenabschnitte sowie die feste Länge eines an die letzte Falte anschließenden Deckblattabschnittes, aber eine Längenmessung am Bogen die Länge gegebenenfalls erforderliche Ausgleichsfaltabschnitte vor dem Deckblattabschnitt bestimmt.The control according to the invention of a folding machine, in particular of the type discussed above, assumes that a sheet to be folded multiple times is inserted into the folding machine and is placed in successive zigzag folds with the aid of a folding mechanism according to a predetermined folding scheme, the folding scheme being the maximum Length of the sheet sections lying between two folds and the fixed length of a cover sheet section adjoining the last fold, but a length measurement on the sheet determines the length of any necessary compensation folding sections in front of the cover sheet section.

Faltschemata der vorstehend angesprochenen Art sieht für Zeichnungspausen beispielsweise die DIN 824 vor. Je nach Bogenlänge werden danach im Anschluß an einen etwas breiteren, den Abheftrand einschließenden Bogenabschnitt zunächst (Längs-) Falten in gleich großen Abständen voneinander angebracht. Dieselbe Länge (Breite) soll auch der an die letzte Falte anschlie- βende Bogenabschnitt haben und als Deckblatt das Faltpaket abschließen, weil er regelmäßig das Schriftfeld der Zeichnung enthält. Dafür ist auch erforderlich, daß jene letzte Falte auf der Heftrandseite des Faltpakets liegt - also « vorderkantenseitig » ; das vorerwähnte Deckblatt schließt mit der Hinterkante des Bogens ab. Um diese Bedingungen zu erfüllen, ist es regelmäßig notwendig, zwischen einem oder mehreren Bogenabschnitten von voller Faltlänge (Breite) und dem Deckblatt eine Ausgleichsfalte kürzerer Länge vorzusehen. In den Fällen, in denen wegen der Maßverhältnisse diese Ausgleichsfalte so kurze Bogenabschnitte erhalten würde, daß sie nicht mehr herstellbar ist, nimmt man die beiden voraufgehenden Faltabschnitte voller («maximaler ») Länge zu der Ausgleichslänge hinzu und erhält auf diese Weise zwei Ausgleichs-Doppelfaltabschnitte (gegenüber der einfachen Ausgleichsfalte mit zwei Bogenabschnitten also insgesamt vier Bogenabschnitte) von herstellbarer Länge (Breite).Folding schemes of the type mentioned above provide, for example, DIN 824 for drawing breaks. Depending on the length of the sheet, (longitudinal) folds are then attached at equal distances from one another after a slightly wider section of the sheet enclosing the filing margin. The arch section adjoining the last fold should also have the same length (width) and complete the folding package as a cover sheet because it regularly contains the text field of the drawing. This also requires that that last fold lies on the binding margin side of the folding package - that is to say "on the leading edge side"; the above-mentioned cover sheet closes with the trailing edge of the sheet. In order to meet these conditions, it is regularly necessary to provide a compensating fold of shorter length between one or more full-length (width) sheet sections and the cover sheet. In cases where because of Dimensional relationships, this equalizing fold would receive such short arch sections that it can no longer be produced, if you add the two preceding full («maximum») folding sections to the compensating length and thus obtain two equalizing double folding sections (compared to the simple equalizing fold with two arch sections) thus a total of four arch sections) of producible length (width).

Für ein ansprechendes äußeres Erscheinungsbild des Faltpakets und natürlich auch dessen ordnungsgemäße Unterbringbarkeit in Ordnem, Versandtaschen etc. genormter Größe ist es nicht nur wichtig, daß die gefalteten Bogenabschnitte voller Länge gleich groß sind und mit ihren vorderkantenseitigen Falten übereinanderliegen, sondern auch, daß letzteres bei den übrigen Bogenabschnitten der Fall ist, und daß schließlich der letzte Bogenabschnitt, also das Deckblatt, die richtige Breite (= Bogenabschnittslänge) hat; wobei diese gleich dem maximalen Faltenabstand voller Bogenabschnitte oder auch größer sein kann (im letzten Fall ragt die Hinterkante des Bogens etwas über die hinterkantenseitigen Falten hinaus). Es hat sich gezeigt, daß mit allen oben erörterten Messungen von Bogenlängen (Gesamtlängen oder Restlängen) es schwierig ist, die Faltmaschine so zu steuern, daß (auch) diese Bedingungen erfüllt werden.For an appealing external appearance of the folding package and, of course, its proper placement in files, mailing bags etc. of standardized size, it is not only important that the full length of the folded sheet sections are of equal size and lie on top of one another with their leading edge folds, but also that the latter is in the case of the the remaining sections of the sheet is the case, and that finally the last section of the sheet, ie the cover sheet, has the correct width ( = length of the sheet section); whereby this can be equal to or larger than the maximum fold distance of full sheet sections (in the latter case the rear edge of the sheet protrudes somewhat beyond the folds on the rear edge). It has been shown that with all measurements of sheet lengths (total lengths or remaining lengths) discussed above, it is difficult to control the folding machine in such a way that (also) these conditions are met.

Deshalb sieht die Erfindung ferner vor, daß in Abhängigkeit von einer kurz nach Bildung der drittletzten Falte durchgeführten Messung der restlichen Bogenlänge die Lage der vorletzten Falte und damit die Länge des letzten Ausgleichsfaltabschnitts vor dem Deckblattabschnitt bestimmt und der Faltmechanismus entsprechend angesteuert wird. Nach Bildung der drittletzten Falte liegen mit Ausnahme der letzten, das Deckblatt « anbindenden » Falte alle Falten fest, die regelmäßig sichtbar sind ; letzteres gilt für die unter dem Deckblatt liegenden (hinterkantenseitigen) Rückfalten der Ausgleichsfaltabschnitte nicht. Durch die vom vorstehend beschriebenen Steuerungsverfahren ermöglichte Veränderung der vorletzten Falte, bei der es sich um die oder eine der vorerwähnten Rückfaltungen handelt, läßt sich die Lage und Länge (Breite) des Deckblatts sehr exakt bestimmen. Man kann mit anderen Worten die Lage der das Deckblatt betreffenden beiden Falten (der vorletzten und letzten) gegenüber dem aufgrund einer voraufgegangenen Messung festgelegten Faltprogramm korrigieren und dadurch Abweichungen ausschalten, die sich beispielsweise durch Aufsummieren kleiner Maßabweichungen bei allen voraufgegangenen Falten sehr störend bemerkbar machen können.Therefore, the invention further provides that, depending on a measurement of the remaining sheet length carried out shortly after formation of the third-last fold, the position of the penultimate fold and thus the length of the last compensation folding section in front of the cover sheet section are determined and the folding mechanism is controlled accordingly. After the third last fold has been formed, with the exception of the last fold "connecting" the cover sheet, all folds that are regularly visible are fixed; the latter does not apply to the folding-back of the compensating folding sections lying under the cover sheet. The position and length (width) of the cover sheet can be determined very precisely by the change in the penultimate fold, which is the one or one of the aforementioned folds, made possible by the control method described above. In other words, one can correct the position of the two folds (the penultimate and last one) of the cover sheet compared to the folding program determined on the basis of a previous measurement and thereby eliminate deviations which, for example, by adding up small deviations in the dimensions of all previous folds, can be very disruptive.

Herkömmliche Faltsteuerungen legen in Abhängigkeit von den oben erörterten Längenmessungen zugleich mit dem Faltschema auch das Faltprogramm im einzelnen fest, also nicht nur die Art und Anzahl der noch auszuführenden Faltungen, sondern auch deren Abstände (= Länge der dazwischenliegenden Bogenabschnitte). Die Erfindung sieht in Weiterbildung der vorstehend angegebenen Steuerung vor, daß in Abhängigkeit von einer Messung der restlichen Bogenlänge in einem Abstand vom Bogenende (Hinterkante), der höchstens gleich der Längensumme zweier Bogenabschnitte maximaler Länge, des Deckblattabschnitts und zweier Ausgleichsfaltabschnitte der größten notwendigen Länge ist, die Art und Anzahl der bis zur letzten Faltung (Deckblattabschnitt) erforderlichen Falten festgelegt und darauf die Falten bis zur drittletzten Falte an vorbestimmten Längepunkten des Bogens gebildet werden.Depending on the length measurements discussed above, conventional folding controls also determine the folding program in detail along with the folding scheme, i.e. not only the type and number of folds still to be carried out, but also their spacing (= length of the intervening arch sections). In a further development of the control specified above, the invention provides that, depending on a measurement of the remaining sheet length at a distance from the sheet end (trailing edge) which is at most equal to the sum of the lengths of two sheet sections of maximum length, the cover sheet section and two equalizing folding sections of the greatest necessary length, the type and number of folds required up to the last fold (cover sheet section) are determined and the folds are then formed up to the third last fold at predetermined length points of the sheet.

Stellt sich also bei der Längenermittlung an dem zu faltenden Bogen heraus, daß aus den oben erläuterten Gründen nicht eine Ausgleichsdoppelfalte (aus zwei Bogenabschnitten) hergestellt werden kann, sondern deren zwei (aus vier Bogenabschnitten) vorgesehen werden müssen, dann wird hiernach zunächst die erste Ausgleichsdoppelfalte mit Bogenabschnitten von vorbestimmter Länge (Breite) gebildet. Es wird also keine Rücksicht darauf genommen, wie groß die beiden Bogenabschnitte der anderen Ausgleichsdoppelfalte gemacht werden müssen ; es ist allerdings zweckmäßig, mehrere vorbestimmte Längen für die erste Ausgleichsdoppelfalte « bereitzuhalten », die je nach Einzelfallabmessung abgerufen werden. Die Steuerung der Faltmaschine wird dadurch weiter vereinfacht, weil erst nach der drittletzten Falte die (einzige) auf den Einzelfall abgestellte individuelle Faltlagenbestimmung zu erfolgen braucht ; alle übrigen Faltabstände sind (gegebenenfalls mit der vorerwähnten Alternativmöglichkeit) für alle zu faltenden Bogen ungeachtet ihrer tatsächlichen Größe fest vorgegeben.If it turns out when determining the length of the sheet to be folded that, for the reasons explained above, it is not possible to produce a compensating double fold (from two sheet sections), but rather two (from four sheet sections) must be provided, then the first equalizing double fold will be made first formed with arc sections of a predetermined length (width). It is therefore not taken into account how large the two arch sections of the other equalizing double fold must be made; however, it is expedient to "keep ready" several predetermined lengths for the first compensating double fold, which are called up depending on the individual case dimensions. The control of the folding machine is further simplified because the (only) individual folding position determination, which is based on the individual case, only needs to be carried out after the third last fold; all other folding distances are fixed (possibly with the aforementioned alternative) for all sheets to be folded regardless of their actual size.

Weiterbildungen der Erfindung sind Gegenstand der Unteransprüche.Developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

Die Zeichnung veranschaulicht die Erfindung an Ausführungsbeispielen. Darin zeigt :

  • Fig. 1 den schematischen Aufbau einer Faltmaschine mit Faltmechanismus und Längenmeßeinrichtung ;
  • Fig. 2 in verschiedenen Stadien (A-C) den Einlauf eines zu faltenden Bogens in den Faltmechanismus ;
  • Fig. 3 ein Geschwindigkeitsdiagramm des Faltmechanismus-Antriebs; und
  • Fig. 4 eine Zusammenstellung verschiedener Faltschemata in Form von Querschnittsdarstellungen längsgefalteter Pakete von Bögen unterschiedlicher Größe.
The drawing illustrates the invention using exemplary embodiments. It shows:
  • Figure 1 shows the schematic structure of a folding machine with folding mechanism and length measuring device.
  • 2 shows the entry of a sheet to be folded into the folding mechanism in different stages (AC);
  • 3 is a speed diagram of the folding mechanism drive; and
  • Fig. 4 is a compilation of different folding schemes in the form of cross-sectional representations of longitudinally folded packages of sheets of different sizes.

Die in Figur 1 schematisch dargestellte Faltmaschine weist einen (gestrichelt umrandeten) Faltwalzenstuhl 1 mit reversierenden Faltwalzen 2, 3 und einer entsprechend reversierenden Schar von nebeneinanderliegenden, mit den Faltwalzen 2, 3 zusammenarbeitenden Riemen 4 auf, welche über Antriebs- und Umlenkrollen 5 geführt sind.The folding machine shown schematically in FIG. 1 has a folding roller frame 1 (outlined with dashed lines) with reversing folding rollers 2, 3 and a correspondingly reversing group of adjacent belts 4 that work with the folding rollers 2, 3 and are guided over drive and deflection rollers 5.

Die Faltwalzen 2, 3 bilden mit den Riemen 4 Faltspalte 6, 7. Der Faltwalzenstuhl 1 ist so gesteuert, daß die Vorderkante 8 eines durch den Einlauf 9 eintretenden Bogens 10 stets zuerst in den Faltspalt 6 (der Faltwalze 2) geführt wird. Im Bereich dieses Faltspalts 6 - in Einlaufrichtung geringfügig dahinter - ist ein Sensor 23 angeordnet, der die in den Faltspalt 6 eintretende Vorderkante 8 des Bogens 10 ertastet ; hierauf wird noch einzugehen sein.The folding rollers 2, 3 form with the belts 4 folding nips 6, 7. The folding roller mill 1 is controlled so that the front edge 8 of a sheet 10 entering through the inlet 9 is always first led into the folding nip 6 (the folding roller 2). in the In the area of this folding gap 6 - slightly behind it in the direction of entry - a sensor 23 is arranged, which detects the leading edge 8 of the sheet 10 entering the folding gap 6; this will still be discussed.

Vor dem Einlauf 9 sind den Bogen 10 umlenkende und zusammenwirkende Transportrollen 11, 12 angeordnet. Wiederum in Vorschubrichtung des Bogens 10 vor den Transportrollen 11, 12 ist eine im ganzen mit 13 bezeichnete Meßeinrichtung vorgesehen. Sie weist die am freien Ende eines Hebels 14 gelagerte Meßrolle 15 auf, welche entgegen der Vorschubrichtung des Bogens 10 (Pfeil 16) unter dem Winkel a angestellt ist. Sie arbeitet mit einer Gegenrolle 17 zusammen, welche in nicht dargestellter Weise durch eine Öffnung in dem (ebenfalls nicht dargestellten) Tisch ragt, über den der Bogen 10 im Bereich der Meßeinrichtung 13 läuft. Die Meßrolle 15 wirkt auf einen Impulsgeber 18; dieser besteht aus einer Scheibe 19 mit Randmarkierungen, welche ein Abtaster 20 aufnimmt. Die so erzeugten Impulse werden in einem Zähler 21 summiert, und die Summe der Impulssignale stellt ein Maß für die von der Meßrolle 15 aufgenommene Länge des Bogens 10 dar.Before the inlet 9, the sheet 10 deflecting and interacting transport rollers 11, 12 are arranged. Again in the feed direction of the sheet 10 in front of the transport rollers 11, 12, a measuring device designated as a whole is provided. It has the measuring roller 15 mounted at the free end of a lever 14, which is set against the direction of advance of the sheet 10 (arrow 16) at the angle a. It works together with a counter roller 17 which, in a manner not shown, projects through an opening in the table (also not shown) over which the sheet 10 runs in the area of the measuring device 13. The measuring roller 15 acts on a pulse generator 18; this consists of a disc 19 with edge markings, which receives a scanner 20. The pulses generated in this way are summed in a counter 21, and the sum of the pulse signals represents a measure of the length of the sheet 10 taken up by the measuring roller 15.

Die vorstehend beschriebene Ausbildung und Anordnung der Meßrolle 15 im Rahmen der Meßeinrichtung 13 hat sich im Hinblick auf die Notwendigkeit als zweckmäßig erwiesen, die Meßroile trotz ständig wechselnder Vorschubgeschwindigkeiten des Bogens 10 (hervorgerufen durch die Art der Faltenbildung mit Hilfe reversierender Faltwalzen) ohne Schlupf auf dem Bogen ablaufen zu lassen.The above-described design and arrangement of the measuring roller 15 in the context of the measuring device 13 has proven to be expedient in view of the necessity for the measuring rollers to slip without slippage despite constantly changing feed speeds of the sheet 10 (caused by the type of fold formation with the aid of reversing folding rollers) Let the sheet run off.

In Figur 1 hat der Bogen 10 mit seiner Vorderkante 8 den Faltspalt 6 bereits durchlaufen. Die verschiedenen Darstellungen der Figur 2 veranschaulichen, wie bis zu diesem Zeitpunkt die Geschwindigkeit des Faltmechanismus-Antriebs gesteuert bzw. geregelt wird.In Figure 1, the sheet 10 has already passed through the folding gap 6 with its front edge 8. The various representations in FIG. 2 illustrate how the speed of the folding mechanism drive is controlled or regulated up to this point in time.

In Figur 2A nähert sich die Vorderkante 8 des Bogens 10, nachdem sie zwischen den Transportrollen 11, 12 und den Einlauf 9 geführt worden ist, der Oberfläche der Riemen 4, die sich - mit den Faltwalzen 2, 3 synchron angetrieben - in Richtung des Pfeiles 22 bewegen (die Anordnung ist zu der in Figur 1 spiegelbildlich). Üblicherweise hat der Bogen 10 im Bereich der Vorderkante 8 einen Drall, der in Figur 2A durch die Krümmung eines Randabschnitts des Bogens unter der Vorderkante 8 angedeutet ist. Es muß jedoch sichergestellt werden, daß der Bogen glatt gespannt in den Faltspalt zwischen der Faltwalze 3 und den Riemen 4 gelangt.In FIG. 2A, the front edge 8 of the sheet 10, after it has been guided between the transport rollers 11, 12 and the inlet 9, approaches the surface of the belts 4, which - driven synchronously with the folding rollers 2, 3 - in the direction of the arrow 22 move (the arrangement is a mirror image of that in Figure 1). The sheet 10 usually has a swirl in the region of the front edge 8, which is indicated in FIG. 2A by the curvature of an edge section of the sheet under the front edge 8. However, it must be ensured that the sheet is stretched smoothly into the folding gap between the folding roller 3 and the belt 4.

Aus diesem Grunde wird den Riemen 4 ebenso wie den Faltwalzen 2, 3 eine Umfangsgeschwindigkeit erteilt, die höher ist als die Vorschubgeschwindigkeit des Bogens 10 (Umfangsgeschwindigkeit der Transportrollen 11, 12). Sobald die Vorderkante 8 die Riemen 4 erreicht, nehmen diese den Bogenanfang mit jener höheren Umfangsgeschwindigkeit mit und fädeln die Vorderkante 8 des Bogens 10 in den Faltspalt zwischen den Riemen 4 und der Faltwalze 2 ein. Figur 2B zeigt den Augenblick, in dem der Bogen 10 bereits so weit durch den Faltspalt hindurch vorgeschoben wurde, daß der Faltwalzenstuhl 1 gestoppt werden kann, so daß der fortgesetzte Vorschub des Bogens 1 zu einer Ausbeulung des Bogens 10 zwischen den Faltwalzen 2, 3 führt. Wird jetzt die Antriebsrichtung (Pfeil 22) umgekehrt, gelangt die Ausbeulung (in üblicher Weise) in den Faltspalt zwischen der Faltwalze 3 und den Riemen 4, es bildet sich eine Falte, und mit dem nachgeschobenen Bogen 10 wird zugleich der von jener Falte begrenzte Bogenabschnitt mit der Vorderkante 8 aus seiner in Figur 2B dargestellten Lage nach links durch den Faltspalt zwischen der Walze 3 und den Riemen 4 transportiert.For this reason, the belts 4 as well as the folding rollers 2, 3 are given a peripheral speed which is higher than the feed speed of the sheet 10 (peripheral speed of the transport rollers 11, 12). As soon as the front edge 8 reaches the straps 4, they take the beginning of the sheet with that higher peripheral speed and thread the front edge 8 of the sheet 10 into the folding gap between the straps 4 and the folding roller 2. FIG. 2B shows the moment at which the sheet 10 has already been advanced so far through the folding nip that the folding roller mill 1 can be stopped, so that the continued advancement of the sheet 1 leads to a bulging of the sheet 10 between the folding rollers 2, 3 . If the drive direction (arrow 22) is now reversed, the bulge (in the usual way) enters the folding gap between the folding roller 3 and the belt 4, a fold is formed, and with the sheet 10 pushed in, the arc section delimited by that fold becomes at the same time with the front edge 8 transported from its position shown in FIG. 2B to the left through the folding gap between the roller 3 and the belt 4.

Zurück zur Einlaufsituation der Figur 2A. Sobald die Vorderkante 8 die Tangentiallinie LS zwischen der Faltwalze 2 und den Riemen 4 (Fig. 2C) bzw. den kurz dahinter liegenden Sensor 23 erreicht hat, ist der Bogen 10 - wegen der vorerwähnten Geschwindigkeitsdifferenz - straff um den angrenzenden Bereich der Faltwalze 2 gespannt. In diesem Augenblick wird die Umfangsgeschwindigkeit der Faltwalzen 2, 3 und der Riemen 4 auf die Vorschubgeschwindigkeit des Bogens 10 reduziert.Back to the running-in situation in FIG. 2A. As soon as the front edge 8 has reached the tangential line LS between the folding roller 2 and the belt 4 (FIG. 2C) or the sensor 23 located shortly behind, the sheet 10 is stretched tautly around the adjacent area of the folding roller 2 because of the aforementioned speed difference . At this moment, the peripheral speed of the folding rollers 2, 3 and the belt 4 is reduced to the feed speed of the sheet 10.

Figur 3 veranschaulicht diesen Verlauf der Geschwindigkeit. Die Geschwindigkeitsverringerung verhindert, daß eine nicht genau senkrecht zur Vorschubrichtung des Bogens 10 verlaufende Vorderkante, die auch von einer zuvor gemäß DIN 824 angebrachten Schrägfalte gebildet sein kann, zu einem seitlichen Verziehen des Bogens im Faltspalt führt, weil die höhere Umfangsgeschwindigkeit der Faltwalze 2 und der Riemen 4 den Bogen zunächst nur an einer Seite erfasst. Sobald der Bogen 10 aber über die Strecke L1 (Fig. 2C, 3) weitertransportiert wurde, wird die Umfangsgeschwindigkeit des Faltwalzenstuhles 1 über die Strecke L2 wieder auf den ursprünglichen Wert erhöht, der während des gesamten weiteren Faltvorganges beibehalten werden muß, um das richtige Falten zu gewährleisten. Dabei wird (wegen der Reversierunterbrechungen) dem Bogen 10 die oben erwähnte wechselnde Vorschubgeschwindigkeit erteilt, welche die Transportrollen 11, 12 mit Friktionsschlupf zulassen.Figure 3 illustrates this course of the speed. The reduction in speed prevents a leading edge which is not exactly perpendicular to the direction of advance of the sheet 10 and which can also be formed by an oblique fold previously made in accordance with DIN 824, from leading to a lateral warping of the sheet in the folding nip, because the higher peripheral speed of the folding roller 2 and Belt 4 first captured the bow on one side only. As soon as the sheet 10 was transported further over the distance L 1 (FIG. 2C, 3), the peripheral speed of the folding roller mill 1 over the distance L 2 is increased again to the original value, which must be maintained during the entire further folding process in order to do this to ensure proper wrinkles. The sheet 10 is given the above-mentioned changing feed speed (because of the reversing interruptions), which the transport rollers 11, 12 allow with friction slip.

Figur 1 veranschaulicht (mit senkrecht gegen den Lauf des Bogens 10 gerichteten Pfeilen) schematisch neben dem Sensor 23 ferner einen die Hinterkante 26 (Fig. 4) des Bogens 10 ertastenden Sensor 24 sowie einen die Vorderkante 8 des Bogens 10 ertastenden Sensor 25. Zur Feststellung der Gesamtlänge eines Bogens 10 startet der Sensor 25 den Impulsgeber 18, wenn ihn die Vorderkante 8 des Bogens passiert. Gelangt die Hinterkante 26 des Bogens 10 über den Sensor 24, so wird die Impulszählung im Zähler 21 gestoppt, und die Gesamtlänge des Bogens 10 ergibt sich aus der Summe der gezählten Impulse und dem Abstand der Sensoren 24, 25.FIG. 1 schematically illustrates (with arrows directed vertically against the path of the sheet 10), in addition to the sensor 23, also a sensor 24 which detects the rear edge 26 (FIG. 4) of the sheet 10 and a sensor 25 which detects the front edge 8 of the sheet 10 of the total length of a sheet 10, the sensor 25 starts the pulse generator 18 when it passes the front edge 8 of the sheet. If the trailing edge 26 of the sheet 10 passes over the sensor 24, the pulse count in the counter 21 is stopped, and the total length of the sheet 10 results from the sum of the counted pulses and the distance between the sensors 24, 25.

Da im Zentrum des Interesses stets die Länge der Ausgleichsfalten-Bogenabschnitte steht, kann namentlich bei längeren Bogen auf die Messung der Gesamtlänge verzichtet und eine Restlängenmessung vorgenommen werden. Es bedarf dann, wenn der Faltwalzenstuhl an einem Bogen 10 bereits Falten herstellt, ehe die Hinterkante 26 des Bogens 10 den Sensor 24 passiert hat, der Signalgabe durch den Sensor 25 nicht; als Bezugssignal kann dann die der Betätigung des Sensors 24 « benachbarte Reversierung des Faltwalzenstuhls 1 dienen. Beispielsweise wird der Impulsgeber 18 mit dem Zähler 21 erst gestartet, wenn die Hinterkante 26 den Sensor 24 passiert, und die Zählung wird gestoppt, wenn die Reversierung des Faltwalzenstuhls 1 (genauer: das Stillsetzen des Faltwalzenstuhls vor seinem erneuten Antrieb in entgegengesetzter Richtung) die Lage der zuletzt gebildeten Falte definiert: Bei (noch) gespanntem Bogen 10 ist die restliche Länge des Bogens als Wegabstand zwischen dieser Falte und dem Sensor 24, vermindert um den Inhalt des Zählers 21 gegeben. Aus dieser Restlänge kann dann sowohl das erforderliche Faltschema als auch das (darüber hinaus die einzelnen Abstandslängen zwischen den Falten enthaltende) Faltprogramm in der - nicht dargestellten - Steuerschaltung festgelegt und von dieser durch entsprechende Steuerung des Faltwalzenstuhles 1 anschließend ausgeführt werden. Figur 4 zeigt an verschiedenen Beispielen, nämlich Bogen von unterschiedlicher Länge, wie unterschiedlich derartige Faltschemata und Faltprogramme sein können; tatsächlich ergeben sich weitere Variationen dadurch, daß im Falle zweier Ausgleichsdoppelfalten diese nicht gleich, sondern - aus den oben schon erläuterten Gründen - unterschiedlich lang (breit) ausgeführt werden.Since the focus of interest is always the length of the compensating fold arc sections, the measurement of the total length can be dispensed with, especially for longer sheets Remaining length measurement can be made. If the folding roller mill already produces folds on a sheet 10 before the rear edge 26 of the sheet 10 has passed the sensor 24, the signaling by the sensor 25 is not required; The reversing of the folding roller mill 1 adjacent to the actuation of the sensor 24 can then serve as the reference signal. For example, the pulse generator 18 is only started with the counter 21 when the rear edge 26 passes the sensor 24, and the counting is stopped when the position of the folding roller mill 1 (more precisely: the folding roller mill is stopped before it is driven again in the opposite direction) of the last fold formed: In the case of (still) tensioned sheet 10, the remaining length of the sheet is given as the path distance between this fold and the sensor 24, minus the content of the counter 21. From this remaining length, both the required folding scheme and the folding program (which also contains the individual spacing lengths between the folds) can then be determined in the control circuit (not shown) and can then be executed by the latter by appropriate control of the folding roller chair 1. FIG. 4 shows, using various examples, namely sheets of different lengths, how different such folding schemes and folding programs can be; in fact, further variations result from the fact that, in the case of two equalizing double folds, these are not made the same, but - for the reasons already explained above - are of different lengths (wide).

Um gemäß der oben ebenfalls schon erläuterten Steuerung die Lage und Abmessung des Deckblatts 27 (Fig. 4) besonders genau bestimmen zu können, kann eine weitere Restlängenbestimmung mit Hilfe der Meßeinrichtung 13 erst kurz nach Bildung der drittletzten Falte 28 (Figur 4), also vor Bildung der für die Lage und Abmessung des Deckblatts 27 entscheidenden Falte 29 (Figur 4) erfolgen. Hierzu wird, sobald nach Reversierung des Faltwalzenstuhls das darin befindliche, bereits aus dem Bogen 10 gebildete Faltpaket eine bestimmte Strecke zurückgelegt hat, anhand des dann vorliegenden Inhalts des Zählers 21 die zuvor vom Faltprogramm bestimmte Lage der Falte 29 überprüft und - wenn sich herausstellen sollte, daß deren Beibehaltung zu einer unrichtigen Länge und/oder Lage des Deckblattes 27 führen würde - so korrigiert, daß sich eine richtige Deckblattlage und -abmessung ergibt. Es ist ohne weiteres einsehbar, dass der Sensor 24 in einem solchen Abstand vom Einlauf 9 des Faltwalzenstuhls 1 bzw. vom Sensor 23 oder der Lage der Falten im Umkehrpunkt des Faltwalzenstuhl-Antriebs angeordnet sein muss, dass die jeweils mit Hilfe der Messeinrichtung 13 durchgeführten Längenmessungen die Ausführung der sich hieraus ergebenden Faltprogramme erlauben. Im Zusammenhang mit der vorstehend beschriebenen Steuerung wird für den Fall, dass die erste Restlängenermittlung zu einem Faltschema mit zwei (doppelten) Ausgleichsfaltabschnitten führt, der erste doppelte Ausgleichsfaltabschnitt in einer festen vorherbestimmten Länge gebildet. Wie eingangs schon erwähnt, können mehrere solcher fester vorbestimmter Längen gespeichert sein und je nach Messergebnis abgerufen werden. Im Anschluss an die auf die Bildung des ersten doppelten Ausgleichsfaltabschnittes gebildete drittletzte Falte 28 erfolgt dann die - gegebenenfalls korrigierende - neue Restlängenermittlung, wie sie zuvor beschrieben worden war.In order to be able to determine the position and dimension of the cover sheet 27 (FIG. 4) in a particularly precise manner according to the control system also explained above, a further determination of the remaining length with the aid of the measuring device 13 can only be carried out shortly after the third last fold 28 (FIG. 4) has been formed, that is to say before The fold 29 (FIG. 4) that is decisive for the position and dimension of the cover sheet 27 is formed. For this purpose, as soon as, after reversing the folding roller mill, the folding package already formed therein from the sheet 10 has traveled a certain distance, the position of the fold 29 previously determined by the folding program is checked on the basis of the contents of the counter 21 then present, and - if it turns out, that their retention would lead to an incorrect length and / or position of the cover sheet 27 - corrected so that a correct cover sheet position and dimension results. It can be readily seen that the sensor 24 must be arranged at such a distance from the inlet 9 of the folding roller mill 1 or from the sensor 23 or the position of the folds in the reversal point of the folding roller mill drive that the length measurements carried out with the aid of the measuring device 13 allow the resulting folding programs to be executed. In connection with the control described above, in the event that the first remaining length determination leads to a folding scheme with two (double) compensation folding sections, the first double compensation folding section is formed in a fixed predetermined length. As already mentioned at the beginning, several such fixed predetermined lengths can be stored and called up depending on the measurement result. Subsequent to the third, last fold 28 formed on the formation of the first double compensation folding section, the - if necessary corrective - new determination of the remaining length then takes place, as previously described.

Claims (8)

1. A folding machine for the zigzag folding of sheets (10) (prints of drawings or the like), in particular according to a folding programme conforming to standards, with standard folds and if necessary equalizing folds, having a folding mechanism (1) in front of the entry to which conveyor rollers (11, 12) are arranged for guiding in the sheet (10) and in front of them - in the direction of feed of the sheet respectively - at least one sensor (24) for detecting its rear edge (26) by touch, having a pulse generator and counter (18, 21) for measuring the length of the sheet, and having a control circuit linking the folding mechanism (1), the sensor (24) and the pulse generator/counter (18, 21), which in dependence upon the sheet length measurement determines the positions of the folds in the sheet and causes the folding programme so determined to be executed by the folding mechanism (1), where a predetermined foldings scheme decides the maximum length of the portions of sheet lying between two folds as well as the fixed length of a portion (27) of coversheet adjoining the last fold but a measurement of the length of the sheet (10) decides the length of possibly necessary portions of equalizing fold in front of the portion of coversheet, characterized in that the pulse generator (18) is connected to a measuring roller (15) which in service runs along the sheet (10) without slip, and that in the direction of feed of the sheet the rear edge sensor (24) is arranged
a) in front of the measuring roller (15) and
b) at a distance from the entry (9) to the folding mechanism (1), which is at least equal to the length of that portion of sheet needed for the portions of fold which inclusive of equalizing folds adjoin a fullwidth portion of fold next the front edge.
2. A folding machine as in Claim 1, having a sensor (25) for detecting the front edge (8) of the sheet (10) by touch, characterized in that the front edge sensor (25) is arranged behind the measuring roller (15) in the direction of feed of the sheet.
3. A folding machine as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the measuring roller (15) cooperating with a counter-roller (17) is set at an angle (a) to the direction of feed (arrow 16) of the sheet (10).
4. A folding machine as in Claim 2, characterized in that the control circuit establishes the total length of the sheet (10) as the sum of the value of the pulse count and the distance between the front and rear edge sensors (24, 25).
5. A folding machine as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control circuit establishes the residual length of the portion of sheet available for equalizing folds by means of the value of the pulse count between the actuation of the rear edge sensor (24) and the ensuing folding in the folding mechanism (1).
6. A folding machine as in Claim 5, characterized in that the control circuit establishes in dependence upon the residual length the kind and number of folds necessary up to the last fold (front edge of the coversheet portion 27) and thereupon causes the folding mechanism to form the folds up to the third-from-last fold (28) as well as the last fold at predetermined points in the length, but the penultimate fold (29) to correspond - taking into consideration the coversheet portion 27 - with the residual length of the sheet (10) still available.
7. A folding machine as in Claim 6, characterized in that the control circuit in dependence upon a measurement of the residual length of sheet performed shortly after formation of the third-from-last fold (28), decides the position of the penultimate fold (29) and thereby the length of the last portion of equalizing fold before the coversheet portion (27) and energizes the folding mechanism (1) accordingly.
8. A folding machine as in at least one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that folding rolls (2, 3) or belts (4) driven with a reversing motion are provided, into the folding gaps (6, 7) between which the sheet (10) is guided by the motion of the folding rolls or belts, the circumferential speed of the folding rolls or belts being greater than the speed of conveyance of the entering sheet imparted by the conveyor rollers (11, 12), and that the control circuit reduces the circumferential speed of the folding rolls (2, 3) or belts (4) as soon as a sensor (23) in the region of the first folding gap identifies the front edge (8) of the sheet (10) or the front edge sensor (25) in combination with the measuring roller (15) establishes the passing through of a length of sheet corresponding with the distance of the latter sensor from the first folding gap (6).
EP85103397A 1984-03-30 1985-03-22 Folding-machine for folding sheets Expired EP0156326B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3411742 1984-03-30
DE3411742A DE3411742A1 (en) 1984-03-30 1984-03-30 FOLDING MACHINE FOR FOLDING BOWS

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0156326A2 EP0156326A2 (en) 1985-10-02
EP0156326A3 EP0156326A3 (en) 1987-05-20
EP0156326B1 true EP0156326B1 (en) 1989-06-28

Family

ID=6232053

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP85103397A Expired EP0156326B1 (en) 1984-03-30 1985-03-22 Folding-machine for folding sheets

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0156326B1 (en)
DE (2) DE3411742A1 (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0354176A1 (en) * 1988-07-28 1990-02-07 Otto Dipl.-Ing. Bay Machine for folding sheets of paper
US5045039A (en) * 1989-06-16 1991-09-03 Otto Bay Program controlled sheet folding apparatus for folding large sheets into predetermined formats
EP0590359A1 (en) * 1992-09-30 1994-04-06 Vittorio Garrone Machine for folding sheets of paper
US5346202A (en) * 1992-04-02 1994-09-13 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag Method of monitoring the transport of print products in a printing-field machine
EP0640549A1 (en) * 1993-08-27 1995-03-01 Océ-Nederland B.V. A folding device for the zigzag folding of a sheet
US5683338A (en) * 1995-01-31 1997-11-04 Neopost Industrie Device for assisting in the adjustment of fold dimensions in a folding and inserting machine

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4210958A1 (en) * 1992-04-02 1993-10-07 Heidelberger Druckmasch Ag Sheet length measuring device for printing machine transport mechanism - has leading and trailing edge sensors, and counts rotation transducer pulses between edge signals
JP5194245B2 (en) * 2007-06-15 2013-05-08 オセ−テクノロジーズ・ベー・ヴエー Folding device

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2016581A (en) * 1933-02-21 1935-10-08 Samuel M Langston Co Measuring device
DE1436588A1 (en) * 1964-05-23 1969-03-20 Jordis W F Drawing or sheet folding device
NL147704B (en) * 1970-04-24 1975-11-17 Oce Van Der Grinten Nv DEVICE FOR FOLDING SHEETS, SUCH AS DRAWINGS.
DD157320A1 (en) * 1981-01-19 1982-11-03 Tassilo Niesgoda LENGTH MEASURING DEVICE FOR ARC AND / OR SUBSTRATE PRESERVED

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0354176A1 (en) * 1988-07-28 1990-02-07 Otto Dipl.-Ing. Bay Machine for folding sheets of paper
US5045039A (en) * 1989-06-16 1991-09-03 Otto Bay Program controlled sheet folding apparatus for folding large sheets into predetermined formats
US5346202A (en) * 1992-04-02 1994-09-13 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag Method of monitoring the transport of print products in a printing-field machine
EP0590359A1 (en) * 1992-09-30 1994-04-06 Vittorio Garrone Machine for folding sheets of paper
EP0640549A1 (en) * 1993-08-27 1995-03-01 Océ-Nederland B.V. A folding device for the zigzag folding of a sheet
NL9301483A (en) * 1993-08-27 1995-03-16 Oce Nederland Bv Folding device for zigzag folding a sheet.
AU671025B2 (en) * 1993-08-27 1996-08-08 Oce-Nederland B.V. A folding device for the zigzag folding of a sheet
US5551939A (en) * 1993-08-27 1996-09-03 Oce-Nederland, B.V. Zigzag folding device
US5683338A (en) * 1995-01-31 1997-11-04 Neopost Industrie Device for assisting in the adjustment of fold dimensions in a folding and inserting machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3571237D1 (en) 1989-08-03
EP0156326A2 (en) 1985-10-02
EP0156326A3 (en) 1987-05-20
DE3411742A1 (en) 1985-10-03

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