Process and device for the correctly positioned tansfer of folded signatures in folders

• US 5,732,944 A
• Filed: 03/25/1997
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koenig & Bauer AG
• Original Assignee: Koenig & Bauer AG
• Inventors: Mayer, Hans Gunther
• Primary Examiner(s): Milef, Boris
• Application Number:
  US08/824,181
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 271/176, 271/265.01, 271/265.02, 271/270, 271/276, 271/277, 271/275, 198/459.8, 198/571, 198/575.577
• US Class Current: 271/265.01
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/261 Arrangement of belts, or belt(s) / roller(s) facing each other for forming a transport nip
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2553/41 Photoelectric detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/06 the grippers being carried by rotating members

Abstract

The actual position of a leading edge of a transversely folded signature is detected. This actual position detection event is used to trigger an instantaneous measurement of the actual angular position of the gripper system used for receiving the signature. If the leading edge of the signature is predicted to arrive at the gripper system of the receiving cylinder at other than the appropriate time, the speed of the receiving cylinder is corrected.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the correctly positioned transfer of transversely folded signatures from a belt guidance system to a gripper system on a following cylinder, said transfer apparatus comprising:

a first position detector located along the belt guidance system, said first position detector being usable to detect a time of arrival of a leading fold edge of a preselected one of the signatures at a gripper system on the following cylinder;

a second position detector located adjacent the following cylinder and being usable to determine an actual angular position of a gripper system on the following cylinder intended to receive the signature whose position is being detected by said first position detector;

evaluation means for comparing said actual angular position of the gripper system with a set angular position and for generating an electrical difference value signal, said evaluation means including a difference former;

drive means for rotating the following cylinder, said drive means including a main drive motor and an auxiliary drive motor; and

a differential gear mounted on a shaft journal of the following cylinder, said differential gear being connected with said main drive motor and said auxiliary drive motor, said auxiliary drive motor being connected with said difference former and being operated in response to a signal from said difference former to bring the gripper system to said set angular position.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said auxiliary drive motor is a three-phase a.c. motor which is rpm-controlled by a frequency converter.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said main drive motor is a remotely controllable d.c. motor.