Abstract:
A printed, endless web is transversely cut by the cooperation of a cutting blade cylinder and a sheet gripping cylinder that also carries cutting blocks. If the web that is to be cut, is noted as having a defect, for example in the printing applied to it, the cutting blades can be withdrawn into the cutting blade cylinder and the deflective web can be diverted away from the folding apparatus.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a device for the transverse cutting of at least one web in a folding apparatus by use of a cutting blade cylinder. The cutting blade cylinder has at least one cutting blade and this at least one cutting blade can be retracted inside the circumference of the cutting blade cylinder. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   EP 0 559 077 A1 and DE 42 11 187 A1 describe cutting cylinders whose cutting blades can be retracted. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the present invention is to provide a device for the transverse cutting of at least one web in a folding apparatus by use of a cutting blade cylinder. 
   This object is attained according to the present invention by providing the cutting blade cylinder with at least one cutting blade that can be retracted inside the circumference of the cutting blade cylinder. The cutting blade cylinder is disposed opposite to a cylinder with point needles. Both the cutting blade or blades and the point needles can be retracted in the vicinity of a nip between the two cylinders. The retractable cutting blade or blades are coupled to rollers that roll on a cam. The cam can be moved to deploy and to retract the cutting blade in the circumferential direction of the cutting blade cylinder. 
   The advantages that can be achieved with the present invention are comprised particularly in that the removal of uncut webs or of webs in the form of cut ribbon sections or signatures is facilitated, which removals are easier to handle than the removal of wound webs. In addition, the signatures are supplied to an extraction system for disposal, and can be sorted according to whether they are printed or unprinted. It is also possible to supply an uncut paper web ribbon to the extraction system. Consequently, for example, a web infeed all the way into the folding apparatus can be carried out automatically without the paper web speed having to be reduced. A manual winding-on of a paper web before the folding apparatus entry can be eliminated. 
   Other advantages which can be achieved by the present invention are that when feeding paper webs into a folding apparatus, individual paper webs, before their entry into a folding cylinder group, no longer have to be manually disposed of, but instead, the paper webs are conveyed away cut into signatures. This occurs until all the paper webs of the paper web ribbon are together at the entry to the folding apparatus and can subsequently be transversely folded all at once. 
   Together with a paper diversion apparatus, the device for the extraction of signatures of the present invention can also be used in the event of malfunctions of the folding system in the cylinder folding group or of the delivery belt. The placement of a known paper ribbon rejection system, before, in the direction of web travel, the entry of the web or signatures into the cylinder folding group can be eliminated. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Several preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and will be explained in detail below. 
       FIG. 1  schematically depicts a cross section through a cylinder group of a folding apparatus provided with a device for the extraction of signatures from the folding apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged depiction of the delivery device, guide, and entry into the grasping and transporting apparatus in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a detailed depiction of a drive mechanism of the delivery device; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV—IV of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  shows a partial cutaway detail of the drive mechanism and of the control unit of a stripping device according to  FIG. 2  or  3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged depiction of a cutting cylinder and of a point and counter-cutting strip cylinder in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of a delivery device for the extraction of a signature in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-section taken along the line VII—VII in  FIG. 6 ; and 
       FIG. 8  shows an enlarged depiction of a cutting cylinder and a point- and counter cutting strip cylinder in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of a device for the extraction of a paper web in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a cylinder folding group of a folding apparatus  1  of a web-fed rotary printing press is comprised, for example, of a two-field cutting blade cylinder  2 , which has cutting blades  3  and which cooperates with a three-field transport cylinder or a countercutting strip- and collecting cylinder  4 . The collecting cylinder  4  has counter cutting strips  6  that cooperate with the blades  3 , sheet gripping mechanisms or holding elements, such as, for example, controlled point systems  7  with point needles  10 , and folding blades  8 . 
   The collecting cylinder  4  cooperates with a three-field folding jaw cylinder  11  that has controlled folding jaw systems  9 . 
   The folding jaw cylinder  11  is followed, in the direction of product travel, by a delivery fan  12  and by a delivery belt  13 . The folding apparatus  1  can also be configured differently. For example, the counter cutting strip- and collecting cylinder  4  can also be embodied as a five-field or seven-field cylinder with a corresponding folding jaw cylinder  11  associated with it. 
   The transverse cutting device, which is comprised of the cutting blade cylinder  2  and of the transport cylinder  4 , such as the collecting cylinder  4 , is preceded by two generally conventional draw roller pairs  14 ;  16 . In the vicinity of their circumferences, the collecting cylinder  4  and the folding jaw cylinder  11  each have paper guide devices, which are not specifically shown, and which are comprised, for example, of guide rails that are spaced apart from each other in the production direction. 
   The cylinder folding group  2 ;  4 ;  11  of the folding apparatus  1 , and the delivery fan  12  are supported in side frames  21 ,  22 . The side frames  21 ;  22  can be placed on machine frames  23 ;  24  that are disposed underneath them, all as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
   A first preferred embodiment of a device for handling and, in particular, for diverting a web or a material web, for example a paper web or a paper web ribbon  26  which is comprised of several paper webs  26 , is positioned before or after a transfer point  17 ,  18  for signatures  19 , and has a switchable delivery device  27  or  25  that is useable to direct the web or signatures to a disposal apparatus  28 , all as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The transfer point  17  for signatures  19  is disposed in a nip between cylinder  4  and cylinder  11  and the transfer point  18  is disposed between the cylinder  11  and the delivery fan  12 . 
   The switchable delivery device  27  is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and can be disposed on the circumference of the cylinder  2  or of the cylinder  4  and the delivery device  25  can be disposed on the cylinder  11 . Both of the delivery devices  27  and  25  can be actuated by suitable control devices. 
   The delivery device  27  cannot function in the cutting region of the cylinder pair  2 ;  4  or in the vicinity of the transfer points  17 ;  18 . The delivery device  27  is preferably actuated in the vicinity of the exit nip  29  of the cylinder pair  2 ;  4 ; i.e. before the transfer point  17  at a release point  31  or after the transfer point  18  in a region “e” at a release point  32 . The delivery device  25  in this case is comprised of a folding jaw system  9  controlled in this region “e”. At the release point  31  of the cylinder  4 , as seen in  FIG. 3  or  32  of cylinder  11 , as seen in  FIG. 1 , the respective holding devices  7  and  9  are inoperative so that the beginning  33  of the paper web ribbon  26  or the beginning  34  of the signatures  19  is conveyed to a switchable ribbon- or signature-grasping- and transporting apparatus  36 , which is shown more clearly in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
   In the case of the cylinder  4 , as seen most clearly in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the holding devices are comprised of point needle systems  7 . The delivery device  27  of the cylinder  4  is embodied as a stripping device  37  for the needles of the point needle systems  7 . In terms of the production rotation direction of the cylinder  4 , the stripping devices  37  are respectively disposed after the point needle systems  7  and are comprised of retracting devices  40 , which encompass the point needles  10  in a fork-shaped, or partial, fashion. The retracting devices  40  can also completely encompass the point needles  10 , such as, for example, if the retracting devices  40  have bores through which the point needles  10  protrude. 
   These stripping devices  37  are connected to a pivotable cam segment  38 , which is affixed to the side frames  21 ,  22  and which can be pivoted into and out of position. In the event of an extraction, the signatures  19  shown in  FIG. 3 , i.e. the paper web  26  transversely cut into pieces, are shunted downward from the point needles  10  of the point systems  7  by operation of the retracting devices  40  of the stripping device  37  and are conveyed to the disposal apparatus  28 , as shown in Fig. 
   Between the stripping device  27  and the ribbon, or signature-grasping, and transporting apparatus  36 , a guide  39  or a switchable shunt is advantageously disposed, spaced apart, at the circumference of the collecting cylinder  4  and can be pivoted into a rest position A, depicted with dashed lines, or into a working position B, as seen most clearly in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
   The guide  39  is comprised, for example, of a part of the paper guide device and is disposed close to the exit nip  29  of the transverse cutting cylinder group  2 ;  4 . The guide  39  is actuated, for example, by the operation of pneumatic working cylinders  41 , which are shown in  FIG. 2  and can be pivoted around a pivot axis  42  between the two above-mentioned positions A; B. 
   In the working position B of the guide or switchable shunt, the ends  43  of the guide  39  which are remote from the pivot axis, cooperate with a wedge-shaped, tapering entry nip  44  defined between two concurrently operating endless belt systems  46 ;  47  of the ribbon or signature-grasping and transporting apparatus  36  again as seen most clearly in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The belt systems  46 ;  47  are respectively each guided over deflecting rollers  48 ;  49 ; or  51 ;  52  and over guide rollers  53 ;  54 . The deflecting rollers  49 ;  52  are driven, for example, by drive motors. The two belt systems  46 ;  47  are disposed, for example, in a frame that is not shown. This frame can be pivoted by a drive mechanism, that is not shown, such as pneumatic working cylinders, from a horizontal rest position C, depicted with dashed lines, into a vertical working position D around a pivot axle  42  that is affixed to the side frames, as seen most clearly in  FIG. 1 . 
   As will be discussed below, the point needle systems  7  passing through the exit nip  29  of the transverse cutting cylinder group  2 ;  4  can also be temporarily retracted as needed. 
   It is also possible to use other grasping systems, e.g. gripper systems, in lieu of the point needle systems  7 . 
   It is also possible to dispose the above-mentioned grasping systems  7  on the circumference of the cutting blade cylinder  2  and to suspend their operation in the event of an extraction in the vicinity of a release point  30 . 
   Signatures  19  are provided as transversely cut and possibly previously longitudinally folded sections of a paper web ribbon  26  or a paper web. 
   The disposal apparatus  28  is depicted in  FIG. 1  and is comprised of a generally known chopping mechanism  56 . The signatures  19 , which are chopped or shredded in the disposal apparatus are supplied by an air suction-carrying conduit  57 , and possibly by a conduit shunt  58 , to another conduit  59  or  61 , either to a delivery point  62  for white or unprinted paper remnants or to a delivery point  63  for printed paper remnants. 
   The machine control station can act on the conduit shunt  58  by the use of a signal to select its position, e.g. for “pressure off” or “pressure on”, 
   Instead of situating a chopping mechanism  56  after it, the output of the ribbon, or signature-grasping and transporting apparatus  36  can also be associated with vertically situated conduits and subsequent conveyor belts for transporting the signatures  19  to one or alternatively to several collecting receptacles. This can take place for both unprinted and printed signatures. 
   A method for handling a paper web beginning or a signature  19 , using the device in accordance with the present invention takes place as follows: If, for example, new paper webs  26  are being fed into a web-fed rotary printing press, then the paper webs  26  arrive one after the other and possibly individually before the entry to the transverse cutting cylinder group  2 ;  4  of the folding apparatus  1 . The beginnings or leading ends  33  of the paper webs  26  are continuously supplied to the transverse cutting cylinder group  2 ;  4  that is provided with grasping mechanisms  7 . By operation of the guide  39  or shunt, which is disposed in the working position B, and with the aid of the retraction device  40  of the stripping device  37 , the leading ends  33  of the paper web  26 , are supplied to the belt systems  46 ;  47 , which are disposed in the working position D. In other words, the paper web leading ends  33  are diverted from the otherwise usual production process. Generally speaking, first the beginning  33  of the paper web ribbon  26  is gripped or pinned by the grasping means, e.g. by the point needle systems  7 , of the cylinder  4  and is transported. For example, before the transfer point  17  of the signatures  19  to the folding jaw cylinder  11  and in the exit nip  29  of the transverse cutting cylinder group  2 ;  4 , the beginning  33  of the paper web or of the paper web ribbon  26  is released by the point needle systems  7 , e.g. by use of the delivery device  27 , and is then supplied to the belt systems  46 ;  47  of the disposal apparatus  28 . 
   If the release point  31  lies outside the exit nip  29  of the transverse cutting cylinder group  2 ;  4 , and at least in the vicinity of the transfer point  17 , then the signatures  19  are diverted at that point. 
   If the machine control station sends a signal which instructs the system to discontinue web or signature extraction, then the delivery device  27  executes its function by changing the position of the cam segment  38  and the shunt or guide  39 . The ribbon or signature-grasping- and transporting apparatus  36  then assumes its rest position C, as depicted in dashed lines in  FIG. 1  and the belt systems  46 ;  47  are pivoted into their rest position C. The signatures  19  then travel in the usual manner through the folding apparatus  1 . 
   If malfunctions occur during the course of production, then the devices  27 ;  36  can be made operational again. The same is true when new paper webs are fed in. 
   The collecting cylinder  4 , as seen in  FIG. 4 , has end plates  71 ;  72  at its ends, which end plates  71 ;  72  are affixed to a shaft  73 . The shaft  73  is supported in a freely rotating fashion at both ends by bearings  74 ;  76  and by bearing bushings  77 ;  78  affixed to the side frames. Shaft  73  can be driven by a gear  79 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . The end plates  71 ;  72  support three circumferentially spaced point shafts  81 , which shafts  81  support the respective point needle systems  7  with the point needles  10 . Alternatively, five or seven point shafts  81  can also be provided. Each point shaft  81  is connected by a lever arm, which is not specifically shown, and by cam rollers  82 ;  83  to a known cam  84  for the point needle systems  7  affixed to the side frames, and to a cam  86 , a so-called covering disk, which is rotatably supported on the bearing bushing  77  and which can be driven by a transmission. 
   Preceding the point needle systems  7 , in the direction of the rotation of the cylinder  4 , stripping devices  37  that encompass the point needles  10  in a fork-shaped fashion, in accordance with the present invention, are disposed on a hollow shaft  87 , which is affixed to the end plates  71 ;  72  and which contains a torsion spring. The segment-shaped cam segment  38 , as seen in  FIG. 3 , which is affixed to the side frames and which can be pivoted by an angular amount a from a rest position G to a working position F, is disposed at the release point  31  provided for the retraction, e.g. in the exit nip  29  of the transverse cutting cylinder group  2 ;  4 . By use of a shaft  88 , which is guided by the bearing bushing  78 , and extending in a direction axially parallel to the shaft  73 , and by use of a lever arm  89 , the cam segment  38  is connected to a hydraulically operated working cylinder  91  that is affixed to the side frames, all as seen in  FIG. 4 . 
   At its end adjacent the end plate  72 , the bearing bushing  78  has a cylindrical cam  92  disposed coaxial to the shaft  73 , with a circular control surface  93  on its circumference. A cam roller  94 , with a double-width running surface  96 , revolves against this control surface  93 . The term “double-width” means that the running surface  96  of the cam roller  94  is connected both to the control surface  93  of the cam  92  and to the control surface  35  of the cam segment  38 . The cam roller  94  is connected to the hollow shaft  87  of a lever arm  95 . 
   The working cylinder  91  is embodied to be double-acting and is connected of a control valve  97  to a pressure supply station  98 , as depicted schematically in  FIG. 5 . The pressure supply station  98  includes, for example, a hydraulic pump, a pressure regulator, a check valve, a hydraulic reservoir, and a measuring device. The control valve  97  is, in turn, connected by control lines  99 ;  101  to a control unit  102 , which is, in turn, connected by lines  103 ;  104  to a computer or control station and is also connected by of a line  106  to a sensor  107  that is affixed to the side frame. The sensor  107  detects the respective position of the cutting blade  3  by operation of a cam  109  resting against the shaft  108  of the cylinder  2 . 
   The computer or control station sends signals to the control unit  102  by the lines  103 ;  104 . Consequently, the working cylinder  91  is supplied with hydraulic fluid by the control valve  97  and a line  111  so that the cam segment  38  is moved from the rest position G to the working position F, as seen in  FIG. 5 . The deflection of the lever arm  89  and consequently of the cam segment  38  is limited by stops  112 : 113  affixed to the side frames, also as depicted schematically in  FIG. 5 . 
   Through a rotation of the cam segment  38  by an angular amount α, of, for example, 5°, the control surface  35  of the cam segment  38  slides against the control surface  93  of the cam  92 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . By use of the double-width cam roller  94 , the lever arm  95  is then lifted as it rolls over the control surface  35  and in so doing, the retracting device  40  of the stripping device  37  is also lifted up. As a result, the beginning  33  of the paper web ribbon  26  is lifted up by the point needles  10  of the point needle systems  7 , is diverted from the cylinder  4 , and is supplied to the disposal apparatus  28 . 
   In the process of rolling against the control surface  93 , the double-width cam roller  94  already has a particular speed, which is only increased by a negligible amount as roller  94  travels over the control surface  35  of the cam segment  38 . 
   If a signal for good signatures  19  is sent from the computer or from the control station via the line  103 ;  104  to the control unit  102  and a signal of the sensor  107  conforms with this signal, then the working cylinder  91  is supplied with hydraulic fluid via the control valve  97  and a line  114 , as a result of which the cam segment  38  is moved into the rest position G. 
   This assures that only complete products, i.e. signatures  19 , are transferred to the cylinders of the folding apparatus  1  and the additional processing apparatuses. 
   In accordance with a second preferred embodiment, a device for handling, extracting, or redirecting of signatures  19  or a beginning  33  of a paper web  26  or a paper web ribbon is comprised, for example, of releasable grasping mechanisms, e.g. of retractable point needle systems  7 . The point needle systems  7  are disposed on the collecting cylinder  117  of the first cylinder pair  2 ;  117 , as seen in  FIG. 6 , and are disposed so that they can be retracted inside the circumference  137  of the collecting cylinder  117 , at least in the vicinity of an exit nip  118 , by operation of a point needle system control mechanism  81 ,  119 ,  121 ,  122 ,  134 ,  140 . 
   As a result, the signatures  19  can be extracted from the usual production process after they pass through the exit nip  118  that is disposed between the cutting blades cylinder  2  and the collecting cylinder  117  shown in  FIG. 6 . To that end, the cutting blade cylinder  2  has, for example, two cutting blades  3  on its circumference, as described above. 
   The point needles  10  are held in point needles holders  119  which are disposed on a point shaft  81 . A roller lever  121  is affixed to each point shaft  81  and supports a double-width cam roller  122  at its end, again as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   Two end plates  123 ;  124  support the collecting cylinder  117  on a shaft  126 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The shaft  126  is supported in a freely rotating fashion at both ends by bearings  127 ;  128  and by bearing bushings  129 ;  131  which are affixed to the side frames. Shaft  126  can be driven by a gear  132 , as may also be seen in  FIG. 7 . 
   On one side of collecting cylinder  117 , a portion of the double wide cam roller  122  travels on a control surface  133  of the cam  134  affixed to the side frame. The control surface  133  is embodied, i.e. is flattened, so that, in the vicinity of a nip  136  between the cutting blade cylinder  2  and the collecting cylinder  117 , the tips of the point needles  10  can be retracted inside the circumference  137  of the collecting cylinder  117 , as is depicted in  FIG. 6 . 
   In the vicinity of the nip  136  is understood to mean in the vicinity of an entry nip  138  and of an exit nip  118  of the cutting blade cylinder  2  and the collecting cylinder  117 . 
   Consequently, the signatures  19  cut by operation of the cutting blade  3  and the counter cutting strip  6  can be supplied in the event of defective signatures to a ribbon or signature-grasping and transporting apparatus  36  and a disposal apparatus  28 . In other words, these signatures can be separated out. 
   If the point needles  10  need to again protrude out from the circumference  137  of the collecting cylinder  117  in the vicinity of the nip  136  in order to be able to transport the signatures  19  further, then the drivable covering disk  140  shown in  FIG. 6  is rotated approximately 90° counterclockwise, so that cover disk  140  then covers a flattened region  142  of the control surface  133  with a raised area  139  in its control surface  141 . The covering disk  140  is affixed to the rotatable bearing bushing  129 , which bushing  129  also supports a toothed ring  143 , as seen in  FIG. 7 . A rotation of the covering disk  140  is produced by use of a gear segment  144 , which is pivotable affixed to the side frame and which can be selectively moved into one of two positions by utilization of a working cylinder  146 . 
   In lieu of the point needle systems  7 , it is also possible to use other grasping systems, for example other gripper systems. 
   In order to support the extraction effect of a beginning  33  of a web  26 , the cutting blades  3  on the cutting blade cylinder  2  or the cutting blade cylinder  116 , shown in  FIG. 8 , can be retracted inside the circumference  148  of the cutting blade cylinder  116 , at least in the vicinity of the nip  136 . In the depiction of  FIG. 8 , both the point needles  10  of the cylinder  117  and the cutting blades  3  of the cutting blade cylinder  116  are retracted in the vicinity of the nip  136 . 
   The beginning  33  of the web  26  and thereafter, consequently, the entire web  26  can be supplied to the ribbon or signature-grasping and transporting apparatus  36  and to the disposal apparatus  28 . 
   A control body  147 , which is connected to the side frame  21  or  22 , which is, for example, oval in cross section, and which can rotate on the shaft of the cutting blade cylinder  116 , is provided in order to retract the cutting blades  3  in the vicinity of the nip  136 . This control body  147  is seen in  FIG. 8  and can be rotated by mechanisms that are not shown, for example by working cylinders, through an angle β of 90°, in relation to the outer cutting blade cylinder  116  so that the vertical axis  150  of the cross-sectionally oval control body  147  no longer points in the direction of the cam rollers  152  as shown in  FIG. 8 , but points in the direction of the cutting blades  3 . Depending on the position of the control body  147 , the cutting blades  3  are either inside the circumference  148  of the cutting blade cylinder  116 , as shown in  FIG. 8  or are positioned in the normal, operational position that is not shown, i.e. outside the circumference  148 , when they are in the vicinity of the nip  136 . 
   The cutting blades  3  of cutting blade cylinder are each supported at both ends by two-armed elbow levers  149  that are supported in the end plates  151 . There can be several elbow levers  149  for each cutting blade  3 . 
   A first end of the elbow lever  149  supports a cam roller  152  and a second end of the elbow lever  149  supports the cutting blade  3  in a cutting blade holder  153 . The side of the cutting blade holder  153 , that is oriented away from the cutting edge of the cutting blade  3 , has a friction reducing antifriction layer  154 , with which the cutting blade  153  is supported on the surface of the control body  137 . 
   In a suitable manner, the cutting blade cylinder  116  has brushes  156  on its casing surface or circumference  148 , which are used to press the paper web ribbon  26  against the counter cutter strip and collecting cylinder  117 . 
   While preferred embodiments of a device for the transverse cutting of at least one web in a folding apparatus, in accordance with the present invention, have been set forth fully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that various changes in, for example, the type of printing press used to print the web, the overall size of the press, and the like could be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention which is accordingly to be limited only by the appended claims.