Signature control in a high speed printing press

• US 5,749,823 A
• Filed: 03/28/1995
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag, Heidelberg Harris Incorporated (Heidelberg Harris SA)
• Original Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag, Heidelberg Harris Incorporated (Heidelberg Harris SA)
• Inventors: Richards, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, III, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAY, CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/412,038
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 493/8, 493/9, 493/10, 493/13, 493/14, 493/15, 493/17, 493/18, 493/19, 493/20, 493/23, 493/25, 493/34, 493/405, 493/417, 493/254, 493/437
• US Class Current: 493/417
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2555/13 magnetic, e.g. induction motors
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 9/10 Pusher and like movable registers; Pusher or gripper devices which move articles into registered position

Abstract

A controllable actuator for stopping and positioning a signature in a high speed printing press including a electric magnet or a solenoid and a break or a roller or both. Various arrangements of a plurality of such actuators can be used to orient, center, and steer signatures in a high speed printing press.

Claims

1. An apparatus for positioning a signature on a table surface, the apparatus comprising:

a first actuator including

a first magnetic core arranged adjacent to the table surface;

a first coil arranged radially outside the first magnetic core;

a first pivoting arm arranged adjacent to the table surface and opposite of the first magnetic core; and

a first positioner, at least a portion of which is formed of ferromagnetic material, coupled with the first pivoting arm;

a second actuator including

a second magnetic core arranged adjacent to the table surface;

a second coil arranged radially outside the second magnetic core;

a second pivoting arm arranged adjacent to the table surface and opposite of the second magnetic core; and

a second positioner, at least a portion of which is formed of ferromagnetic material, coupled with the second pivoting arm;

a sensor for sensing the position of a signature moving on the table;

a controller coupled to the sensor and to the first and second coils for providing a current to the first and second coils,

wherein, when a current is provided through the first coil, the first magnetic core attracts the first positioner toward the table surface so that the first positioner contacts a first portion of the signature to retard motion of the first portion of the signature across the table surface and wherein when a current is provided through the second coil, the second magnetic core attracts the second positioner toward the table surface so that the second positioner contacts a second portion of the signature to retard motion of the second portion of the signature across the table surface to control the signature'"'"'s path of movement on the table.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first positioner is a rider plate.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first magnetic core has an end surface substantially coplanar with the table surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first pivoting arm is biased away from the table surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first positioner is a roller.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first magnetic core has an end surface substantially coplanar with the table surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the roller has a defined first axis of rotation and wherein the first magnetic core is a second roller having a second axis of rotation parallel to the first axis of rotation.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said pivoting arm is biased away from the table surface.

9. An arrangement for squaring a signature moving toward a desired position on a table relative to a folding slot, the signature including a leading edge, a trailing edge and a centerline centered between the left edge and the right edge, the arrangement comprising:

a) a first actuator including

i) a first magnetic core arranged adjacent to the table surface;

ii) a first coil arranged radially outside said first magnetic core;

iii) a first pivoting arm arranged adjacent to the table surface and opposite of the first magnetic core; and

iv) a first positioner, at least a portion of which is formed of ferromagnetic material, coupled with said first pivoting arm, wherein, when a current is provided through said first coil, the first magnetic core attracts said first positioner; and

b) a second actuator including

i) a second magnetic core arranged adjacent to the table surface;

ii) a second coil arranged radially outside said second magnetic core;

iii) a second pivoting arm arranged adjacent to the table surface and opposite of the second magnetic core; and

iv) a second positioner, at least a portion of which is formed of ferromagnetic material, coupled with said second pivoting arm, wherein, when a current is provided through said second coil, the second magnetic core attracts said second positioner,

wherein said first and second actuators are arranged in a line perpendicular to the slot in the table,

wherein said first actuator is arranged between a left edge and a centerline of the desired position of the signature and said second actuator is arranged between a right edge and a centerline of the desired position of the signature, and

wherein when a leading left edge of the signature precedes a leading right edge of the signature, the first actuator is actuated before the second actuator to retard movement of the left leading edge of the signature toward the desired position and when a leading right edge of the signature precedes a leading left edge of the signature, the second actuator is actuated before the first actuator to retard movement of the right leading edge of the signature toward the desired position.

10. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the first and second positioners are rider plates.

11. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the first and second positioners are rollers.

12. An arrangement for centering a signature on a table relative to a folding slot, the signature including a left edge, a right edge, and a centerline centered between the left edge and the right edge, the arrangement comprising:

a) a first actuator including

i) a first magnetic core arranged adjacent to the table surface;

ii) a first coil arranged radially outside said first magnetic core;

iii) a first pivoting arm arranged adjacent to the table surface and opposite of the first magnetic core; and

iv) a first positioner, at least a portion of which is formed of ferromagnetic material, coupled with said first pivoting arm, wherein, when a current is provided through said first coil, the first magnetic core attracts said first positioner; and

b) a second actuator including

i) a second magnetic core arranged adjacent to the table surface;

ii) a second coil arranged radially outside said second magnetic core;

iii) a second pivoting arm arranged adjacent to the table surface and opposite of the second magnetic core; and

iv) a second positioner, at least a portion of which is formed of ferromagnetic material, coupled with said second pivoting arm, wherein, when a current is provided through said second coil, the second magnetic core attracts said second positioner; and

a folding device for moving the signature into the folding slot,

wherein said first actuator is arranged on a left edge side of the slot and said second actuator is arranged on a right edge side of the slot,

wherein when said first and second actuators are actuated and said centerline of said signature is located between the slot and the left edge as the folding device moves the signature into the folding slot, the first actuator is released before the second actuator so that said left edge is drawn toward the slot, and

wherein when said first and second actuators are actuated and said centerline of said signature is located between the slot and the right edge as the folding device moves the signature into the folding slot, the second actuator is released before the first actuator so that said right edge is drawn toward the slot.

13. The arrangement of claim 12 wherein the first and second positioners are rider plates.

14. The arrangement of claim 13 wherein the first and second positioners are rollers.

15. An actuator for positioning a signature on a table surface, the actuator comprising:

a) a housing having a top end and a bottom end, and being pivotable about a pivot point;

b) a signature contact being held by said housing and projecting out from said bottom end of said housing;

c) a solenoid being mechanically coupled to said housing and having a first state and a second state,

wherein, when said solenoid is in said first state, the signature contact does not contact the signature and when said solenoid is in said second state, the signature contact is put into contact with the signature.

16. The actuator of claim 15 wherein said signature contact is a rider plate.

17. The actuator of claim 16 wherein said signature contact is a roller.

18. The actuator of claim 17 wherein said roller is an idle roller.