Abstract:
A device for perforating material webs by perforating tools accommodated on perforating cylinders and capable of producing perforations on copies in an exactly correct position with respect to cross-folds formed in the copies, the perforation position being adjustable during machine operation, the perforating tools being cooperatively related with associated perforating strips for producing transverse or cross-perforations, includes at least one perforating bar disposed coaxially with at least one of the perforating cylinders, the perforating tools and the perforating strips being accommodated on at least one of the perforating bars, the at least one of the perforating cylinders being adjustable relative to at least another of the perforating cylinders; a folder including the perforating device; and a pin-less folder including the perforating device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a device for adjusting the phase of perforating devices as a function of the folding mode, the device being accommodated, for example, in a folder disposed downline from a rotary printing machine. 
     In the prior art exemplified by the published Japanese Patent Document JP-Hei-6-211424, there is disclosed a perforating device for perforating tools in the folder of a rotary or web press. With the aid of the advancement in the art proposed therein, a correction may be made of the deviation of the position of cross-perforations on the inner and outer side of folded copies, by the displacement relative to a perforation formed on the inside of the folded copy, of the position of a cross-perforation formed on the outside of the copy. For this purpose, a folding cylinder having a diameter threefold that of a standard printing-unit cylinder, i.e, a plate, blanket or impression cylinder, is provided in a folder, and the rotation thereof is transmitted to a cylinder having the standard or single diameter, a unit for changing the rotational angle being provided between the aforementioned cylinders. This unit comprises a first draw or pull-roller pair, a pick-up cylinder of single diameter, a further draw or pull-roller pair and, in addition, a double gear wheel constructed with a double diameter. By the use of a sprocket gear mechanism assigned to the perforating cylinder of single diameter, following the perforation of one side of the folded copy, the other side of the folded copy is provided with an offset relative to the cross-perforation first applied. In this configuration, no provision is made for adjusting the depth of perforation transversely with respect to the web travel direction, of the cylinders that accommodate the perforating tools. 
     The German Patent Document DE 43 27 446 A 1 discloses a device for cross-perforating. This is proposed for a folder which is equipped with two cross-folding devices. Provision is made for pairwise mutually cooperating perforating knives and perforating strips, respectively, on perforating cylinders. An adjustment of the device during the operation of the machine is effected via a perforating cylinder of bipartite construction and via a perforating cylinder of unipartite construction. Adjustment of all the perforating knives, respectively, in the correct position relative to the cross-folds, or of all the perforating knives and the perforating strips associated with the first cross-fold, and finally adjustment of all the perforating knives and all the perforating strips, is possible. 
     In order to adjust the cross-perforations, spur-toothed and helically-toothed gear wheels, respectively, which are displaceable relative to one another are accommodated in up to four gear-train planes on the side walls of the folder that accommodates the perforating device. This construction, on the one hand, takes up a great deal of installation space and, on the other hand, requires a great number of mechanical parts, not just gear wheels but also shafts, shaft bearings and keyed connections and clutches, having to be provided, which cause the outlay for the device to appear to be very high. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the aforecited prior state of the art, it is an object of the invention to provide a device for adjusting the phase of perforating devices as a function of the folding mode having a construction that is kept significantly simpler than heretofore for adapting the position of the cross-perforation to the position of the cross-fold, while the machine is running, in a folder which is operatable in different folding modes. 
     With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, a device for perforating material webs by perforating tools accommodated on perforating cylinders and capable of producing perforations on copies in an exactly correct position with respect to cross-folds formed in the copies, the perforation position being adjustable during machine operation, the perforating tools being cooperatively related with associated perforating strips for producing transverse or cross-perforations, comprising at least one perforating bar disposed coaxially with at least one of the perforating cylinders, the perforating tools and the perforating strips being accommodated on at least one of the perforating bars, the at least one of the perforating cylinders being adjustable relative to at least another of the perforating cylinders. 
     In accordance with another feature of the invention, the perforating bar is mounted on a cylinder shaft extending through the one perforating cylinder. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the one perforating bar is adjustable in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the one perforating cylinder. 
     In accordance with an added feature of the invention, a perforating tool and a perforating strip are accommodated stationarily on the periphery of the one perforating cylinder. 
     In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, a perforating tool is accommodated on the one perforating bar on the one perforating cylinder, and is cooperatively related with a perforating strip accommodated on the other cylinder which is located opposite the one cylinder. 
     In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, a perforating tool for a delta-folding mode is accommodated on the one perforating bar on the one perforating cylinder, and is cooperatively related with a perforating strip accommodated on the other cylinder which is located opposite the one cylinder. 
     In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, a perforating tool is accommodated on another perforating bar on one of the perforating cylinders, and is cooperatively related with a perforating strip accommodated stationarily on the periphery on another of the perforating cylinders located opposite the one perforating cylinder. 
     In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, the perforating strips are mounted on further perforating bars extending coaxially with respect to the perforating cylinders and adjustable relative thereto. 
     In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, the perforating device includes at least another perforating bar, the perforating bars being accommodated in mounting supports on cylinder shafts of the perforating cylinders. 
     In accordance with still another feature of the invention, the perforating cylinders have respective cylinder shafts, and transmission elements are included on the cylinder shafts, the transmission elements being actable upon by a common adjusting unit. 
     In accordance with still a further feature of the invention, the transmission elements are constructed as a coulisse or slotted guide. 
     In accordance with still an added feature of the invention, the transmission elements have at least one force transmission point. 
     In accordance with still an additional feature of the invention, the transmission elements have at least another force transmission point, the force transmission points being constructed as toothings. 
     In accordance with another feature of the invention, the perforating device includes, between the transmission elements of the perforating cylinders, a compensating device for permitting eccentric adjustment of one of a pair of the perforating cylinders relative to a perforating nip located therebetween. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the perforating device includes a stationary perforating cylinder and an adjustable perforating cylinder, a drive and a transmission element for the adjustable perforating cylinder, and an articulated connection between the drive for the adjustable perforating cylinder and the transmission element therefor. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a folder having a device for perforating material webs by perforating tools accommodated on perforating cylinders and capable of producing perforations on copies in an exactly correct position with respect to cross-folds formed in the copies, the perforation position being adjustable during machine operation, the perforating tools being cooperatively related with associated perforating strips for producing transverse or cross-perforations, comprising at least one perforating bar disposed coaxially with at least one of the perforating cylinders, the perforating tools and the perforating strips being accommodated on at least one of the perforating bars, the at least one of the perforating cylinders being adjustable relative to at least another of the perforating cylinders. 
     In accordance with a concomitant aspect of the invention, there is provided a pin-less folder having a device for perforating material webs by perforating tools accommodated on perforating cylinders and capable of producing perforations on copies in an exactly correct position with respect to cross-folds formed in the copies, the perforation position being adjustable during machine operation, the perforating tools being cooperatively related with associated perforating strips for producing transverse or cross-perforations, comprising at least one perforating bar disposed coaxially with at least one of the perforating cylinders, the perforating tools and the perforating strips being accommodated on at least one of the perforating bars, the at least one of the perforating cylinders being adjustable relative to at least another of the perforating cylinders. 
     Advantages which can be achieved by the features according to the invention are many and varied. On the one hand, mounting the perforating bars on the perforating cylinders permits considerable simplification of the adjusting device for changing the phase angle of the perforating bars during machine operation, relative to the perforating cylinder, and on the other hand, the drive of the perforating bars is considerably simplified. In addition, by the features proposed in accordance with the invention, the setting or adjustment of the perforating depth, i.e., the extent of penetration of the perforations, in particular for multi-layer material webs, can be simplified. 
     In an advantageous development of the idea upon which the invention is based, the perforating bars are accommodated on the cylinder shafts, respectively, extending through the perforating cylinders. One of the perforating bars can be adjusted in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the perforating cylinder, in order to take into account the different cross-fold positions on the copy which are set when the cross-fold mode is changed. 
     One perforating tool can be accommodated in a stationary manner or stationarily on the periphery of a perforating cylinder and can cooperate with a perforating strip that is likewise mounted in a stationary manner on the opposite cylinder. A perforating tool that can be rotated in the peripheral direction relative to the perforating cylinder can be accommodated on a first perforating bar also provided on the perforating cylinder. The aforementioned perforating tool cooperates with a perforating strip mounted in a stationary manner on the opposite cylinder, for example in order to produce a cross-perforation in the second cross-fold folding mode. The perforating bar can additionally accommodate a further perforating tool, which is intended to make the perforation in the delta fold folding mode, and makes perforations on folded spines of the delta fold formed in the copy. 
     In the perforating cylinder that is mounted so as to be adjustable relative to the perforating nip or gap, by contrast with a perforating cylinder mounted in a stationary manner, a further perforating bar can be accommodated, and cooperates with a perforating strip which is provided on the first-mentioned stationarily mounted perforating cylinder. 
     The perforating strips for delta fold and second cross-fold (double parallel fold), which are accommodated as standard stationarily on the perforating cylinders, can equally well also be accommodated on further perforating bars which are mounted coaxially with respect to the shafts of the perforating cylinders. In order to reduce the drive power of the setting or adjusting drive required for the relative adjustment of the perforating bars, the latter, which surround the perforating cylinder in a shell-like manner, can be accommodated in mounting supports on the cylinder shafts. 
     In a construction which advantageously avoids complete spur gear trains, the perforating bars can be adjusted via transmission elements which, as coulisses or slotted guides, are accommodated on the cylinder-shaft journals provided on the drive side of the perforating cylinders. The elements that transmit the adjustment travel may be provided very advantageously and in a manner which is convenient for production on the outer sides of the coulisses or slotted guides as an external toothing or toothing system which cooperates with corresponding toothings or toothing systems on the perforating bars, in order to achieve the relative positioning of the perforating bars that accommodate the perforating tools relative to the periphery of the perforating cylinders. 
     Because one of the perforating cylinders is adjustable in relation to the perforating nip or gap, in order to vary the perforation depth in the material webs between the perforating bridges which are operatable via a common adjusting unit, there is accommodated a compensating mechanism, which permits joint or in-common changing of the peripheral positions of the perforating bars on the cylinders without the geometry of the perforating nip or gap being adversely affected by the position of the adjustable perforating cylinder. 
     The perforating device according to the invention is suitable for use both in folders with sets of pins and in those without pins, both for job printing and also for newspaper printing. 
     Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a device for adjusting the phase of perforating devices as a function of the folding mode, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
     The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic and schematic front elevational view of a folder disposed downline from a rotary or web press and incorporating the phase adjusting device according to the invention, and showing the construction thereof and the sequence of cross-folding operations therein; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged fragmentary view of  FIG. 1  showing a perforating-cylinder pair mutually cooperating in a perforating gap and having perforating bars accommodated coaxially with the respective cylinders; 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary side elevational view of  FIG. 1  showing the kinematics of a drive for perforating bars relative to the perforating-cylinder pair, the respective cylinders of the pair thereof having only one perforating bar at the periphery thereof; and 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 3  of another embodiment of the invention wherein there is shown the kinematics of the drive for two perforating bars which are respectively accommodated on the periphery of each of the cylinders of the perforating-cylinder pair. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings and, first, particularly to  FIG. 1  thereof, there is reproduced therein diagrammatically the construction of, and schematically the sequence of cross-folding operations in a folder. A printed material web  1  formed of a number of web layers runs vertically oriented into the folder in a web travel direction  2 , the web  1  being perforated between mutually cooperating perforating cylinders  3  and  4  so that the perforations extending in a transverse direction of the material web  1  coincide with the positions of the cross-fold. A perforating tool  5  on the perforating cylinder  3 , which is mounted stationarily, and a perforating tool  6  on the perforating cylinder  4 , which is movable, serve for perforating the folded spines at the second cross-fold (double parallel fold), whereas the perforating tool  7  provided on the perforating cylinder  3 , which is mounted stationarily, is provided for the first cross-fold. In the case of previous cross-perforating devices, resetting the perforating tools was possible only after the rotary or web press had been stopped and the adjustment had been performed. 
     After the perforation has been performed, copies  12  are cut from the end of the material web  1  leading in the web travel direction  2 , the copies  12  being possibly formed of a number of individual layers lying above one another, depending upon the number of web strands accommodated in the material web  1 . The copies  12  are accepted by the folding cylinder  9 , transported on the peripheral surface  11  thereof and, due to activation of a folding blade  10 , which moves out of the periphery  11  of the folding cylinder  9 , are thrust into the folding jaws of a folding-jaw cylinder which is not otherwise specifically illustrated but cooperates with the folding cylinder  9 . Accordingly, the folded spine  15  is produced between the ends  13  and  14  of the copy  12 , which produces the first cross-fold or first parallel fold. By an otherwise not specifically illustrated transfer of the folded copies  12  to a further folding cylinder  16 , that transfer of copies forming no part of the invention of the instant application, the respective copes  12  are accepted on the peripheral surface  18  of the further folding cylinder  16 , and the second cross-fold is then formed by moving the folding blade  17  out and folding the copy  12  which has already been cross-folded once. This produces a double cross-folded copy  22  having ends  24  and  25 , the folded spine  23  being formed at the second cross-fold (double parallel fold). 
     In the delta-folding mode, the copy is folded twice, as compared with the double parallel folding mode, but at different points, while in the case of the double parallel fold, depending upon the set overfold, a half-fold made at the first and second cross-fold is carried out on the copy  12 , which produces a copy  22 . 
     After cross-folding has been performed, be it in delta-folding mode or in double parallel folding mode, the copies  12 ,  22  folded in such a manner are transported by a transport cylinder  20  to a second longitudinal folding device, which may be provided if required, or directly brought to the delivery. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of a perforating-cylinder pair  3 ,  4 , a perforating nip or gap  26  for the material web  1  that passes between the cylinders  3  and  4  of the perforating-cylinder pair  3 ,  4  being predefined between the peripheral surfaces  33  and  34  of the respective perforating cylinders  3  and  4 . Depending upon the thickness of the material web  1  to be processed, the perforating cylinder  4  can be set closer to the periphery of the fixedly mounted perforating cylinder  3  or set farther away from the latter. Thereby, the penetration depth of the perforations to be produced in the web layers forming the material web  1  can be set and, if necessary or desirable, changed. 
     In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a respective perforating bar  27 ,  28  is provided for each perforating cylinder  3 ,  4 , and extends coaxially with the respective cylinder shafts  31  and  32  of the perforating cylinders  3  and  4 , variably positionable perforating tools being accommodated on the bars  27  and  28 . For each perforating cylinder  3 ,  4 , two perforating bars can also be provided, for which note the bars  27 . 1  and  28 . 1  in  FIG. 4 . Located on the perforating bars  27  and  28  illustrated in  FIG. 2  are the perforating tools  38 . 1  for the delta fold and/or the perforating tool  36 . 1  for the second cross-fold. They cooperate with the perforating strips  36 . 2  for the second cross-fold and/or  38 . 2  for the delta fold, the strips being disposed in a stationary manner on the periphery  34  of the adjustably mounted perforating cylinder  4 . 
     Stationarily accommodated on the respective periphery  33 ,  34  of the two perforating cylinders  3  and  4  are the perforating tools  35 . 1  and the perforating strip  35 . 2  cooperating therewith in order to form a perforation in the region of a first cross-fold on the copy. The perforating strip  37 . 2  cooperating in turn with the perforating tool  37 . 1  for the second cross-fold, which is accommodated on the further perforating bar  28 , is stationary on the fixedly mounted perforating cylinder  3 . 
     The perforating cylinder  3  rotates in the rotary direction represented by the arrow  29  in relation to the perforating nip or gap  26 , while the adjustably mounted perforating cylinder  4  rotates in the same direction as the latter relative to the perforating nip or gap  26 , so that a continuous web advance through the perforating nip or gap  26  is established. As referred to the peripheral surface  34  of the perforating cylinder  4 , the perforating bar  28  is adjustable in the direction of rotation represented by the arrow  30  opposite to the direction of rotation of the perforating cylinder  4  represented by the associated unidentified curved arrow. 
     The perforating strips  36 . 2 ,  37 . 2  and  38 . 2 , which are reproduced in  FIG. 2  and arranged in a stationary manner, could also be accommodated on further perforating bars  27 . 1  and  28 . 1  ( FIG. 4 ) which surround the respective peripheral surfaces  33  and  34  of the perforating cylinders  3  and  4  like shells, and could therefore likewise be relatively adjustable or alternatively adjustable, simultaneously with the perforating tools  36 . 1 ,  37 . 1  and  38 . 1  which are accommodated on the respective perforating bars  27  and  28 . 
       FIG. 3  shows, in highly diagrammatic and schematic form, a drive configuration for the perforating bars  27  and  28  shell-like surrounding the respective perforating cylinders  3  and  4 . 
     In the modified embodiment according to  FIG. 3 , a respective perforating cylinder  3 ,  4  is provided with one perforating bar  27 ,  28 . The perforating bars  27  and  28  are accommodated in respective mounting supports  43  and  44  on cylinder journals of the respective cylinder shafts  31  and  32 , and provided with toothing  47  which permits adjustment in the peripheral direction of the perforating cylinders  3  and  4 . The toothing  47  meshes with external toothing  46  on a transmission element  45 , which can be constructed as a coulisse or slotted guide that is displaceable or rotatable on the cylinder shaft  31  and  32 , respectively. 
     Both coulisses or slot guides  45  on the cylinder shafts  31  and  32  are connected to an adjusting unit  48 , with which the perforating bars  27  and  28  are adjustable relative to the peripheral surfaces  33  and  34  of the perforating cylinders  3  and  4 , respectively. Due to the integration of a compensating unit  49  into the sliding guide  50  between the transmission elements  45  on the cylinder shafts  31  and  32 , a change in the perforating nip or gap  26  can be achieved irrespective of the adjustment of the phase angles of the perforating bars  27  and  28  on the perforating cylinders  3  and  4  relative to one another. This is augmented by having the adjustable perforating cylinder  4  connected via a hinged shaft  42  to the drive gear  41  thereof, which in turn is driven by the drive gear  40  of the perforating cylinder  3 . In view of the hinged shaft  42 , the adjustable cylinder  4  can be adjusted relative to the perforating nip or gap  26  without any problem. The coulisses or slotted guides  45 , which are connected to one another via the sliding guide  50  and the compensating unit  49 , can be positioned jointly relative to one another, because the correct setting of the perforating tools  36 . 1  and  38 . 1  relative to the perforating strips  36 . 2  and  38 . 2 , respectively, depending upon the folding mode must be assured. If the adjustment of the rotational position of one perforating bar is performed, the perforating bar accommodating perforating strips corresponding thereto is automatically adjusted as well, depending upon the folding mode. 
       FIG. 4  shows the kinematics of a perforating-cylinder pair, two perforating bars  27 ,  27 . 1  and  28 ,  28 . 1  being constructed on each of the cylinders  3  and  4 . The perforating bars  27 ,  27 . 1 ,  28  and  28 . 1  are all accommodated in mounting supports  43 ,  44  and  54 ,  55  on the respective cylinder shafts  31  and  32 . Differentiating from the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 3 , on the transmission elements  51  illustrated in  FIG. 4 , there are two external toothing systems  46  and  52 , which cooperate with respectively corresponding toothing systems  47  and  53  on the perforating bars  27 ,  27 . 1 , as well as  28  and  28 . 1 . 
     Provision is made for an adjusting unit  48  which is assigned to both coulisses or slotted guides, analogous to the embodiment according to  FIG. 3 , the adjusting unit acting upon the transmission elements  51 , which it jointly adjusts, a compensating unit  49  already described above in connection with  FIG. 3  being integrated into the sliding guide  50 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 4 , the perforating strips  36 . 2 ,  37 . 2  and  38 . 2  stationarily accommodated in  FIG. 2  on the periphery  33 ,  34  of the respective perforating cylinders  3  and  4  are likewise mounted on perforating bars  27 . 1  and  28 . 1 , so that the latter are likewise adjustable in the peripheral direction relative to the peripheral surfaces of the perforating cylinders  3  and  4 , so that simultaneous movement of the perforating strips  36 . 2 ,  37 . 2  and  38 . 2  and the perforating tools  36 . 1 ,  37 . 1  and  38 . 1  is possible.