Abstract:
A delivery for a printing machine that processes sheets passing through the latter in a processing direction, includes sheet brakes adjustable transversely to the processing direction and a respective braking element having a vacuum passing therethrough, the braking element being cooperatable with the sheet and revolving during the operation thereof, and a supporting element through which vacuum does not pass, the respective braking element being replaceable by the supporting element for converting one of the sheet brakes to a respective sheet support adjustable transversely to the processing direction; and a printing machine having such a delivery.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a delivery for a printing machine that processes sheets passing through the latter in a processing direction, including sheet brakes which are adjustable transversely to the processing direction, and which, respectively, are made up of a braking element having a vacuum passing therethrough, the braking element being cooperatable with the sheet and revolving during the operation thereof, and sheet supports adjustable transversely to the processing direction. The invention also relates to a sheet-processing printing machine equipped with a delivery of the foregoing type. 
     A delivery of the type referred to in the introduction hereto is disclosed by the German Published Non-prosecuted Patent Application (DE-OS) 26 27 812. The braking elements disclosed therein, which revolve when operating, are made up of suction wheels which are constructed in the form of hollow wheels. A respective hollow wheel is mounted on a journal of a suction-wheel holder. As the hollow wheel revolves during operation, a cylindrical inner surface of the hollow wheel slides over a contact surface of the suction-wheel holder. A borehole formed in the contact surface is connected to a suction pipe and communicates with radial boreholes formed in the hollow wheel, the radial boreholes succeeding one another in the peripheral direction of the hollow wheel, so that the braking element, constructed in the form of the hollow wheel, is traversed by a vacuum that prevails in the suction pipe. In order to adjust the sheet brakes formed by the suction wheels transversely to the processing direction, the suction-wheel holders are pushed onto a cross member arranged transversely to the processing direction, and can be fixed by setscrews in a respectively required position with regard to the cross member. In order to drive the suction wheels, a shaft with a square cross section which passes through the suction-wheel holders is provided, and engages in a form-locking manner in the hub region of a respective suction wheel. In this regard, it is noted that a form-locking connection is one which connects two elements together due to the shape of the elements themselves, as opposed to a force-locking connection, which locks the elements together by force external to the elements. 
     The sheet supports provided in the heretofore known delivery are connected in a form-locking manner to the aforementioned so-called square shaft and are displaceable along the square shaft by applying an adjusting force that overcomes a frictional connection between the shaft and the sheet supports, so that the sheet supports are likewise adjustable transversely to the processing direction. A respective sheet support is formed by a pair of carrying disks which are spaced apart from one another and provide a rotational mounting for satellite spur wheels distributed over the periphery thereof and projecting beyond the carrying disks. 
     In particular, when a printing machine is operating in a recto/verso or first-form and perfecter printing process mode, the sheet brakes can be placed so that the braking elements act only upon print-free corridors of the sheets to be braked. For the case wherein, during a printing job, the sheets have fewer print-free corridors, which are of adequate width for a braking element to act, than sheet brakes, it is not possible to use all of the latter. It is apparent for such a case that, with the aforementioned heretofore known delivery, provision is made to connect the suction wheels selectively to a suction pipe and to a compressed-air pipe, respectively, so that apparently through the intermediary of blown air flowing out of a suction wheel, contact between the suction wheel and the sheet is avoided when there is no print-free corridor of the sheets opposite the suction wheel. This appears to be problematic, however, particularly in the case of rapidly succeeding sheets, inasmuch as those sheets normally have powerful blown-air flows applied thereto on the side thereof facing away from the sheet brakes, specifically in order to achieve a rapid lowering of the sheets released from the sheet brakes and, thus, to avoid collisions between the successive sheets. It is therefore suggested rather to remove the superfluous sheet brakes from the area over which the sheets sweep. 
     For the case wherein the sheets have a format that is smaller than the maximum format printable by the printing machine, if necessary or desirable, the superfluous sheet brakes outside the format can be moved into a parking position, if disassembly is not an acceptable alternative. A given outlay for disassembly and assembly has already been incurred for this purpose, inasmuch as the sheet supports which are in the way of any displacement of sheet brakes from the area over which the sheets sweep into a position outside the area, initially have to be disassembled and reassembled after the displacement of the sheet brakes has occurred. 
     In the case of printing sheets with the maximum possible format for the printing machine, however, if a given number of sheet brakes prove to be superfluous, generally these cannot be displaced into a position outside the format, so that they either have to be disassembled or brought reliably out of contact with the sheets in another way. A measure that is suitable therefor and is an alternative to disassembly, and to which recourse is certainly had in practice, includes, for example, the provision of additional sheet supports, specifically in the form of conventional spur-wheel arrangements, on either side of a superfluous sheet brake and closely adjacent to the latter. However, in this type of application thereof, these sheet supports must project beyond the sheet brake in the direction of the sheets. In this regard, however, a given marking of the printed image by the spur-wheel arrangements generally has to be taken into account. 
     In any case, however, a relatively high outlay is needed to implement the arrangement of the sheet brakes and of the sheet supports required for a respective printing job. 
     Furthermore, it is apparent from the arrangement of the sheet brakes and the sheet supports provided in the aforementioned delivery, that these can impede one another during the adjustment thereof transversely to the processing direction. Although this could be countered by providing only a very small number of sheet supports, the consequence thereof would be that it would not be possible to print at the high processing speed that is common in modern printing machines. This is because, in this case, due to the powerful blown-air flows, which are required in this case and have already been mentioned, on that side of the respective sheets which faces away from the sheet brakes, there would result a relatively large amount of sagging of the sheets between the sheet brakes, with the risk of smearing the printed image on that side of the respective sheets which faces the sheet brakes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a printing-machine delivery of the general type mentioned in the introduction hereto that is configured in such a manner that the sheet brakes and sheet supports thereof are adaptable to different printing jobs with a relatively low outlay or expense for conversion. 
     With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, a delivery for a printing machine that processes sheets passing through the latter in a processing direction, comprising sheet brakes adjustable transversely to the processing direction and, respectively, including a braking element having a vacuum passing therethrough, the braking element being cooperatable with the sheet and revolving during the operation thereof, and a supporting element through which vacuum does not pass, the respective braking element being replaceable by the supporting element for converting one of the sheet brakes to a respective sheet support adjustable transversely to the processing direction. 
     In accordance with another feature of the invention, the delivery includes a plurality of the sheet brakes and the sheet supports, the sheet brakes and the sheet supports being servomotively adjustable. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the invention, a respective braking element is formed as an endless suction belt, and a respective supporting element is formed as an endless supporting belt, the supporting belt having a cross section forming an elevation or rise on the outside of the supporting belt. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a sheet-processing printing machine, comprising a delivery having at least one of the foregoing features. 
     A configuration of the foregoing type according to the invention shortens from many points of view the fitting time for adapting the sheet brakes and the sheet supports to the respective printing job; specifically, in order to implement the functions of braking the sheets, on the one hand, and the support of the sheets, on the other hand, it is only necessary to replace a functional part on one of otherwise identical basic functional units, and superfluous sheet brakes, if appropriate, do not need to be disassembled, because sheet brakes and sheet supports can be formed in any desired sequence transversely to the processing direction. For example, a basic functional unit constructed as a sheet brake, in a preceding print job can be converted, if required, into a sheet support or, while maintaining the function thereof, can be displaced from a previously assumed position thereof into a different position, while a sheet brake previously positioned at a different location, can assume a position which has become free, and thereat, after the braking element thereof has been replaced by a supporting element, can act as a sheet support. 
     One development provides for the sheet brakes and the sheet supports to be servomotively adjustable. This is possible as a result of the configuration according to the invention, without risk of mutual collision, because the succession of sheet brakes and sheet supports transversely to the processing direction can be selected as desired, due to the ability of the basic functional units to be converted. 
     In a preferred refinement, a respective braking element is formed as an endless suction belt, and a respective supporting element is formed as an endless supporting belt, and the supporting belt has a cross section which forms an elevation or rise on the outside of the supporting belt. In this case, it is further preferred for both the suction belt and the supporting belt to be elastic in the peripheral direction thereof and dimensioned so that when these belts are mounted or assembled, without using a tensioning device, they are set under a tension in the peripheral direction that is adequate for the intended use of the suction or supporting belt. 
     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 delivery for a printing machine, and a printing machine equipped with such a delivery, 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 fragmentary diagrammatic side elevational view of a sheet-processing printing machine, showing an end section thereof wherein a delivery is disposed downline from a last processing station of the printing machine; and 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a basic functional unit according to the invention, that is illustrated both in changeover conditions forming a sheet brake and a sheet support, respectively; and 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a plurality of the basic functional unit of FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings and, first, particularly to the diagrammatic view of FIG. 1, there is shown therein a delivery  1  adjoining a last processing station of a printing machine, as viewed in the processing direction. Such a processing station may be a printing unit or a post-treatment unit, such as a varnishing unit, for example. In the embodiment at hand, the last processing station is a printing unit  2  operating in an offset process and having an impression cylinder  2 . 1 . The latter guides a respective sheet  3 , in a processing direction represented by a direction-of-rotation arrow  5 , through a printing nip between the impression cylinder  2 . 1  and a blanket cylinder  2 . 2  cooperating with the latter and, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, then transferring the sheet  3  to a row of grippers of a single-revolution transfer drum  2 . 3 , while opening a row of grippers arranged on the impression cylinder  2 . 1  and provided for gripping the sheet  3  at a gripper margin located at a leading end of the sheet  3 . An appropriate transfer of the sheet  3  then takes place from the single-revolution transfer drum  2 . 3  to a further transfer drum  2 . 4  that is a half-revolution transfer drum in this embodiment, that finally transfers the sheet  3  to a chain conveyor  4  of the delivery  1 . The chain conveyor  4  includes two endless conveyor chains  6 , each of which, when operating, revolving along a closed chain path in the vicinity of a respective side wall of the chain delivery  1 . A respective conveyor chain  6  wraps around a respective one of two synchronously driven drive sprockets  7  having axes aligned with one another and, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, is led over a respective deflection sprocket  8  that is located downline from the drive sprockets  7 , as viewed in the processing direction, so that each of the conveyor chains  6  runs through a closed chain path. Between the two conveyor chains  6 , there extend gripper systems  9 , which are carried by the conveyor chains  6  and have grippers which pass through gaps between grippers arranged on the transfer drum  2 . 4  and, in the process, accept a respective sheet  3  by gripping the aforementioned gripper margin at the leading end of the sheet  3  directly before the grippers arranged on the transfer drum  2 . 4  are opened, transport the sheet over a sheet guiding device  10  to a braking station  11  and open after the sheet  3  has been transferred to the braking station  11 . In the braking station  11 , the sheets are braked to a depositing speed that is reduced with respect to the processing speed and, after reaching the depositing speed, are finally released, so that a respective sheet  3 , that has then been slowed down, finally encounters leading-edge stops  12  and, while being aligned with the latter and with trailing-edge stops  13  opposite them, forms a sheet pile  14  with preceding and/or following sheets  3 , it being possible for the sheet pile  14  to be lowered by a lifting unit to an extent corresponding to the growth of the sheet pile  14 . In the interest of clarity, the lifting unit is represented in FIG. 1 only by a platform  15  thereof carrying the sheet pile  14 , and by lifting chains  16  carrying the platform  15  and shown in phantom, i.e., by dot-dash lines. 
     The conveyor chains  6  are guided along the path thereof between the drive sprockets  7 , on the one hand, and the deflection sprockets  8 , on the other hand, by chain guide rails, which determine the chain paths of the chain strands or runs. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the sheets  3  are transported by the lower chain strand or run. The section of the chain path through which the chain strand or run passes is followed by a sheet guiding surface  17  facing towards the section, the sheet guiding surface being formed on the sheet guiding device  10 . During operation, a supporting air cushion is preferably formed between the sheet guiding surface  17  and the respective sheet  3  led over it. For this purpose, the sheet guiding device  10  is equipped with symbolically illustrated blown-air nozzles  18  (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1) which open into the sheet guiding surface  17 . 
     In order to prevent the printed sheets in the pile  14  from sticking or adhering to one another, a dryer  19  and a powdering or powder spraying device  20  are provided on the path of the sheets  3  from the drive sprockets  7  to the braking station  11 . 
     In order to avoid excessive heating of the sheet guiding surface  17  by the dryer  19 , a coolant circuit is integrated in the sheet guiding device  10 , the coolant circuit being represented symbolically in FIG. 1 by an inlet nozzle  21  and an outlet nozzle  22  on a coolant trough  23  associated with the sheet guiding surface  17 . 
     No illustration of the aforementioned chain guide rails has been provided in FIG.  1 . However, the course of the latter in the embodiment at hand is believed to be apparent from the illustrated course of the chain strands or runs  6 . 
     FIG. 2, which illustrates a detail of the braking station  11  in a top plan view, constitutes an embodiment of a basic functional unit  26  which can selectively be equipped with a braking element  24  or a supporting element  25 . By an appropriately broken-away mode of illustration of the braking element  24  and of the supporting element  25 , the two changeover or converted conditions corresponding to a sheet brake  27 , on the one hand, and to a sheet support  28 , on the other hand, are illustrated on one and the same basic functional unit  26 . 
     The braking element  24  is preferably formed as an endless suction belt, and the supporting element  25  as an endless supporting belt having a cross section that forms an elevation  25 . 1  on the outside of the supporting belt. An appropriate. cross section may have, for example, a triangular shape. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, the cross section forms an elevation or rise  25 . 1 , for supporting the sheets  3 , in the form of a web that extends along the supporting belt. 
     The basic functional unit  26  is formed by a base  29  which, depending upon the changeover condition, provides a mounting for a roller  30  about which the suction belt and the supporting belt, respectively, wrap, and at least one further roller having an axis parallel to the roller  30  and about which the suction belt and the supporting belt, respectively, wrap, at least one of the respective rollers being connected to a drive. 
     The drive is made up of a drive shaft  31  that passes through the base  29 , transversely to the processing direction and, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, drives the roller  30 , during operation, via a non-illustrated gear transmission. The cross section of the drive shaft  31  has a shape which differs from that of a circle and, when operating, rotates a drive wheel of the aforementioned gear transmission via a form-locking connection. The form-locking connection is configured so that the base  29  is displaceable relative to the drive shaft  31 , in the longitudinal direction of the latter, transversely to the processing direction, in order to adjust the base. 
     The basic functional unit  26  further includes a suction chamber  32  having a suction opening  32 . 1  which faces the respective sheet  3  and, in the changeover condition forming the sheet brake  27 , is covered by the suction belt constituting the braking element  24  and, when operating, sweeping over the suction chamber  32 , up to the suction openings  24 . 1  provided in the suction belt. The suction chamber  32  is connected via a flexible line  33  to a manifold  34  that, in turn, is connected to a non-illustrated vacuum generator. A vacuum prevailing in the suction chamber  32  during operation passes through the braking element  24 , formed as a suction belt, through the suction openings  24 . 1  provided in the suction belt and thus effects a contact force between the braking element  24  and a respective sheet  3  brought into contact therewith; by this contact force, assuming a peripheral speed of the braking element  24  that is less than the peripheral speed of the gripper systems  9 , braking of the respective sheet  3  transferred from one of the gripper systems  9  to the sheet brake  27  can be achieved. It is usual for the peripheral speed of that strand or run of the suction belt constituting the braking element  24 , which sweeps over the suction opening  32 . 1  of the suction chamber  32 , to have the same main direction as that of the speed with which a respective sheet  3  is brought up to the braking station  11  by a respective one of the gripper systems  9 . The aforementioned main direction is indicated in FIG. 2 by the directional arrow  35 . 
     Because contact between the sheet and the sheet brake  27 , in order to brake a sheet  3  printed in the recto/verso or first-form and perfecter printing process, is permissible only within print-free corridors of the sheet  3 , in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, the suction openings  24 . 1  in the suction belt which communicate with the suction chamber  32  are provided within the width of a rib  24 . 2  that is provided on the outside of the suction belt and extends over the length thereof, and the width of the rib  24 . 2  is matched to the width of the print-free corridors which are usually present, and determines the width of a contact surface between the respective sheet  3  and the braking element  24 . 
     The supporting element  25  which, in a changeover condition constituting the sheet support  28 , replaces the braking element  24  and is formed as an endless supporting belt, during operation, sweeps over the suction chamber  32  in the same manner as for the braking element  24  formed as an endless suction belt. However, by contrast with the suction belt, the supporting belt has a full cross section that is unbroken over the entire length thereof and is dimensioned, just like the suction belt, so that when it is assembled, it covers the suction opening  32 . 1  of the suction chamber  32 . The supporting belt constituting the supporting element, therefore, is not traversed by a vacuum which prevails in the suction chamber  32  during operation, but rather, is used only to support the respective sheets  3 . To this end, due to the elevation or rise, a sheet supporting surface is formed on the sheet support  28 , which has a width that is many times smaller than that of the supporting belt. In particular, the width of the sheet supporting surface is smaller than the width, provided in the configuration according to FIG. 2, of the rib  24 . 2  of the suction belt that is adapted to the width of print-free corridors which are usually present. In print-free corridors having a width smaller than the width of the contact surface determined by the braking element  24 , a respective sheet  3  can thus advantageously be supported by the sheet support  28 . A further possible use for the sheet support  28  is to place it, while it is being adjusted transversely to the processing direction, so that the sheet supporting surface makes contact with a respective sheet  3  along a line provided for a fold. 
     In the configuration presented in FIG. 2, the basic functional unit  26  forming the sheet brake  27  and the sheet support  28 , respectively, depending upon the changeover condition, is assigned to a toothed rack  36  extended transversely to the processing direction. In addition, the basic functional unit includes a servo-drive  37 , by which a gearwheel  38  cooperating with the rack  36  can be driven, so that the basic functional unit  26  can be adjusted servomotively transversely to the processing direction. The base  29  of the basic functional unit  26  is formed so that the latter is carried by the rack  36  and guided along the latter. A plurality of basic functional units  26  of such a construction, which are connected to the drive shaft  31  and the rack  36  in the manner presented, thus form sheet brakes  27  and sheet supports  28 , respectively, depending upon the respective basic functional unit being equipped with the braking element  24  or the supporting element  25 , which can be adjusted servomotively transversely to the processing direction. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a plurality of the basic functional unit  26  shown in FIG.  2  and described in the preceding text.