Apparatus for slowing down and guiding a signature and method for doing the same

• US 20020043757A1
• Filed: 12/10/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Man Roland Druckmaschinen AG (Allianz Se)
• Original Assignee: Quad/Tech Incorporated
• Inventors: Kuhne, Eric L., Neary, John M., Schaefer, Karl P., dʼAgrella, Ingermar S., Laatsch, Gary J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,572,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 271/182
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/176 Cardboard
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2801/21 Industrial-size printers, e.g. rotary printing press
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/12 by means of the nip between two, or between two sets of, moving tapes or bands or rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/20 by contact with rotating friction members, e.g. rollers, brushes, or cylinders with suction rollers B65H29/243
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/68 Reducing the speed of articles as they advance

Abstract

An apparatus for decelerating signatures moving in tandem fashion through sheet processing equipment is provided. A pair of counter-rotating cams lying in general face-to-face relation along a travel path of the signatures reach into the travel path of the signatures to effectively grab the trailing end of each signature so as to decrease the speed of each signature as the signature continues or to further processing equipment in the sheet handling system.

Also provided is a guide assembly which increases control over the signatures during the decelerating process and during transport of the signatures to further downstream processing equipment.

Claims

1. A signature slow down mechanism for receiving regularly spaced apart signatures provided along a travel path at a relatively high speed and for reducing the speed of the signatures, comprising:

a main roller assembly including a shaft adapted for rotation and a cam member fixedly attached to said shaft, said cam member including an outwardly protruding cam shaped lobe; and

a snubber cam assembly including a shaft adapted for rotation and a cam member fixedly attached to said shaft, said cam member including an outwardly protruding cam shaped lobe, such that as a signature travels between said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly, said main roller assembly protruding cam lobe lies in general face-to-face relation with said snubber cam assembly protruding cam lobe along the travel path in order to effectively grab a tail end of the signature so as to slow down the speed of the signature.

2. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the speed of the signature is slowed down by about 30 percent.

3. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 1, further including a motor which drives said main roller assembly shaft and said snubber cam assembly shaft.

4. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said shafts are driven at a speed such that said respective cam lobes have a linear speed which is about 30 percent slower than the linear original speed of the signature.

5. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 1, further including a pair of opposed belts circulating in separate endless loops through said slow down mechanism and confining the signature therebetween, wherein said belts diverge from a point upstream of said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly such that said belts effectively release the signature therebetween before the signature reaches said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly whereby said main roller assembly cam lobe and said snubber roller assembly cam lobe extend beyond said respective belts so as to grab the tail end of the signature thereby reducing the speed of the signature.

6. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the signatures travel generally vertically downward along the travel path between said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly.

7. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the signatures move in tandem along the travel path and, wherein said cam members make one revolution for each signature that travels between said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly so that said respective cam lobes slow down the signatures in successive order.

8. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said main roller assembly cam lobe includes an exterior lobe surface made of steel.

9. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said main roller assembly cam lobe incudes an exterior lobe surface having a rubber cover.

10. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said snubber cam assembly cam member comprises two halves clamped together for easy removal and replacement of a worn cam member and for facilitating positions of said cam member along said respective shaft in a desired location.

11. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said snubber cam assembly cam lobe includes an exterior cam lobe surface having a rubber cover.

12. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said snubber cam assembly cam lobe is made of steel and, wherein said steel cam lobe includes an exterior cam lobe surface having a rubber cover molded thereto.

13. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said snubber cam assembly cam member is made of rubber or a plastic type material.

14. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said main roller assembly further includes a belt roller located about said main roller assembly shaft and which is independently rotatable about said main roller assembly shaft irrespective of the rotation of said main roller assembly shaft and, wherein one of said belts is in operative engagement with said belt roller.

15. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 14, wherein said belt roller mounts to a bearing which is secured to said main roller assembly shaft thereby allowing relative rotational motion between said main roller assembly cam member and said belt roller.

16. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 14, wherein said belts circulate in said separate endless loops at a given rotational speed, wherein said belt roller is driven by one of said belts and, wherein said cam members of said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly are driven at a speed such that said respective cam lobes have a linear speed that is slower than the speed of said belts.

17. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said main roller assembly further includes:

a housing which surrounds one end and a portion of said main roller assembly shaft;

at least one bearing supported by said housing and which supports said main roller assembly shaft;

an input drive pulley attached to said one end of said main roller assembly shaft; and

wherein said snubber cam assembly further includes;

a pair of bearings affixed to opposite ends of said snubber cam assembly shaft and which support said snubber cam assembly shaft;

a pulley attached to one end of said snubber cam assembly shaft; and

wherein, said slow down mechanism further includes a pivot shaft assembly comprising;

a shaft adapted for rotation;

a housing which surrounds one end and a portion of said pivot assembly shaft;

at least one bearing supported by said housing and which supports said pivot assembly shaft;

an input drive pulley attached to said one end of said pivot assembly shaft;

a second pulley attached to the other end of said pivot assembly shaft; and

wherein, said slow down mechanism further includes;

a pair of swing arms which support said bearings of said snubber cam assembly and which house a second pair of bearings which support said shaft of said pivot shaft assembly;

a timing belt engaging said snubber cam assembly pulley and said pivot shaft assembly second pulley;

a second timing belt engaging said main roller assembly input drive pulley and said pivot shaft assembly input drive pulley; and

a motor having an output pulley mounted to an output shaft of said motor such that said second timing belt engages said motor output pulley, said motor causing said second timing belt to drive said pivot shaft assembly shaft and said main roller assembly shaft, said pivot shaft assembly shaft causing said snubber cam assembly shaft to rotate by virtue of said timing belt integrally connected to both, said second timing belt being arranged to rotate said pivot shaft assembly shaft and said main roller assembly shaft in opposite directions so that said respective cam lobes of said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly turn in the direction the signatures travel therethrough.

18. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 17, further including:

an external first take up roller positioned adjacent said timing belt which is adjustable to take up any slack in said timing belt; and

an internal second take up roller positioned adjacent said second timing belt which is also adjustable in order to take up any slack in said second timing belt.

19. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising:

a swing arm connected to one end of said snubber cam assembly shaft; and

an air cylinder connected to said swing arm, said air cylinder attached to a machine frame which surrounds said slow down mechanism, said air cylinder operable to rotate said swing arm such that said snubber cam assembly is movable with respect to said main roller assembly so as to enable possible jams to be cleared.

20. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 19, wherein said air cylinder further includes an adjustment mechanism to adjust a gap between said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly so as to increase or reduce the gripping force of said respective cam lobes against a signature.

21. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 17, further comprising:

a pair of air cylinders, one air cylinder connected to one swing arm and said other air cylinder connected to said other swing arm, said air cylinders supported by a machine frame which surrounds said slow down mechanism, said air cylinders operable to move said swing arm in order to open or close a space between said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly allowing possible jams to be cleared.

22. A signature slow down mechanism according to claim 21, wherein said air cylinders include respective threaded knobs mounted on respective rear rod ends of a double rod end in each air cylinder, said knobs capable of adjusting a gap between said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly so as to increase or decrease the gripping force of said respective cam lobes against the signature traveling therethrough.

24. A folder apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising a second signature eject roller positioned downstream of said slow down mechanism, said second eject roller having a plurality of spaced apart grooves with raised surfaces located respectively therebetween, wherein said second group of said belts engages said second eject roller such that each belt in said second group of belts travels in respective grooves of said plurality of grooves in said second eject roller wherein, as the signatures travel down the path, said raised surfaces in said second eject roller are capable of contacting the signatures so as to send the signatures on to the next processing step in order to prevent the signatures from following said second group of belts in said endless loop to prevent jams in said delivery system.

26. A signature delivery system according to claim 25, wherein said air blowing system expels air parallel with the travel path of the signatures.

27. A signature delivery system according to claim 25, wherein said air blowing system expels air at an angle into the travel path of the signatures.

28. A signature delivery system according to claim 25, wherein said air blowing system includes an air bar having spaced apart holes, said air bar positioned adjacent the signature travel path to expel air through said holes parallel with the travel path at an angle to the travel path.

29. A signature delivery system according to claim 25, wherein said air blowing system includes a pair of air tubes having spaced apart holes, said air tubes positioned adjacent the signature travel path such that air expelled through one of said tubes is parallel with the travel path of the signatures and air expelled through said other tube is at an angle to the travel path of the signatures.

23. A signature delivery system comprising:

a signature slow down mechanism for decelerating signatures delivered thereto in tandem at an original speed along a travel path;

a first group and a second group of belts circulating in separate endless loops through said signature slow down mechanism, said groups of belts lying in general face-to-face relation along a travel path of the signatures and confining the signatures therebetween;

a signature eject roller positioned downstream of said slow down mechanism, said eject roller having a plurality of spaced apart grooves with raised surfaces located respectively therebetween, wherein said first group of said belts engages said eject roller such that each belt in said first group of belts travels in respective grooves of said plurality of grooves in said eject roller, wherein as the signatures travel down the path, said raised surfaces in said eject roller are capable of contacting the signatures so as to send the signatures on to a next processing step in order to prevent the signatures from following said first group of belts in said endless loop to prevent jams in said delivery system.

25. A signature delivery system comprising:

a signature slow down mechanism for decelerating signatures delivered at an original speed along a travel path; and

an air blowing system positioned downstream of said signature slow down mechanism, said air blowing system expelling air so as to assist in guiding the signatures into further downstream equipment and so as to prevent the signatures from opening if the signatures are folded signatures so as to reduce the likelihood of damage occurring to the signatures.

30. A signature delivery system for transporting regularly spaced apart signatures delivered along a travel path at an original speed which comprises:

a diverter mechanism for alternately diverting successive signatures to one of two collation paths;

a main roller assembly including a shaft adapted for rotation and a cam member fixedly attached to said shaft, said cam member including an outwardly protruding cam shaped lobe;

a snubber cam assembly including a shaft adapted for rotation and a cam member fixedly attached to said shaft, said cam member including an outwardly protruding cam shaped lobe;

a first group and a second group of opposed belts circulating in separate endless loops at a given rotational speed through said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly and confining the signatures therebetween, wherein said groups of belts diverge from a point upstream of said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly such that said groups of belts effectively release the signature therebetween before the signature reaches said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly whereby said main roller assembly protruding cam lobe lies in general face-to-face relation with said snubber roller assembly protruding cam lobe along the travel path in order to effectively grab a tail end of the signatures traveling therethrough so as to slow down the speed of the signature;

a belt roller mounted about said main roller assembly shaft and which is independently rotatable about said shaft irrespective of the rotation of said shaft, wherein one of said group of opposed belts is in operative engagement with said belt roller, said belt roller driven by said one of said group of opposed belts, said cam members of said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly driven at a speed such that said respective cam lobes have a linear speed that is slower than the speed of said groups of belts;

a first signature eject roller positioned downstream of said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly, said first eject roller having a plurality of spaced apart grooves with raised surfaces located respectively therebetween, wherein said first group of said belts engages said first eject roller such that each belt in said first group of belts travels in respective grooves of said plurality of grooves in said first eject roller, wherein, as the signatures travel down the path, said raised surfaces in said eject roller are capable of contacting the signatures so as to send the signatures on to a next processing step in order to prevent the signatures from following said first group of belts in said endless loop to prevent jams;

a second signature eject roller positioned downstream of said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly, said second eject roller having a plurality of spaced apart grooves with raised surfaces located respectively therebetween, wherein said second group of said belts engages said second eject roller such that each belt in said second group of belts travels in respective grooves of said plurality of grooves in said second eject roller wherein, as the signatures travel down the path, said raised surfaces in said second eject roller are capable of contacting the signatures so as to send the signatures on to the next processing step in order to prevent the signatures from following said second group of belts in said endless loop to prevent jams; and

an air blowing system positioned downstream of said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly, said air blowing system expelling air so as to assist in guiding the signatures into further processing equipment and so as to prevent the signatures from opening if the signatures are folded signatures so as to reduce the likelihood of damage occurring to the signatures.

31. A signature delivery system according to claim 30, further including:

a belt diverging roll positioned upstream of said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly and adjacent one of said groups of belts, such that said belt diverging roll is capable of adjusting the diverging point of said groups of belts.

32. A signature delivery system according to claim 30, wherein said main roller assembly and said snubber cam assembly are of a cantilever design and attached to a machine wall which surrounds said delivery system.

33. A method for transporting regularly spaced apart signatures traveling at an original speed along a travel path through a sheet processing system, which comprises:

delivering the signatures to a diverter mechanism;

diverting the signatures to one of a plurality of collation paths;

guiding the signatures in tandem to a slow down mechanism;

advancing the signatures one by one along the slow down mechanism;

decelerating the speed of the signatures as each signature travels along the slow down mechanism by grabbing a tail end of each signature with said slow down mechanism; and

feeding the signatures in tandem to further processing equipment.

34. A method for transporting signatures according to claim 33, wherein said diverting step includes diverting a first signature to a first collation path, diverting a second signature to another collation path and so on, until another signature is diverted to said first collation path whereby said diverting step repeats itself.

35. A method for transporting signatures according to claim 34, wherein for each collation path, a separate slow down mechanism is provided.

36. A method for transporting signatures according to claim 34, wherein the slow down mechanism includes at least a pair of rotating cams lying in general face-to-face relation.

37. A method for transporting signatures according to claim 35, wherein each of the slow down mechanisms includes at least a pair of rotating cams lying in general face-to-face relation.

38. A method for transporting signatures according to claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

circulating a first group and a second group of diverter belts in separate endless loops through the sheet processing system, said first group of diverter belts and said second group of diverter belts lying in general face-to-face relation along the travel path confining signatures therebetween for transport to said diverter mechanism, said groups of diverter belts diverging from a point upstream of said diverter mechanism along distinct collation paths;

circulating a first group of collator belts in separate endless loops lying in general face-to-face relation with said first group of diverter belts along one of said collation paths, said first group of belts diverging from a point upstream of said slow down mechanism, the signatures being confined by said first group of belts as the signatures travel past said slow down mechanism.

39. A method for transporting signatures through a folder according to claim 38, wherein said slow down mechanism includes at least a pair of rotating cams having respective outwardly protruding cam lobes lying in general face-to-face relation such that said cam lobes extend between said respective first groups of belts in order to grab the tail end of each signature as the signatures move toward said processing equipment.

40. A method for transporting sheets delivered from a high speed printing press at an original speed to a folder wherein the sheets are transformed into a plurality of individual signatures which travel down a path through the folder, which comprises:

delivering the signatures in tandem order to a slow down mechanism;

sensing location of a leading edge of each signature prior to the leading edge reaching said slow down mechanism;

phasing said slow down mechanism with respect to each signature based on said sensed location of the leading edge of each signature such that said slow down mechanism grabs a trailing end of each signature in order to decrease the speed of each signature; and

feeding the signatures in tandem into a fan delivery device which is phased to be in proper position based on said sensed location of the leading edge of each signature.