CUTTER AND METHOD OF SEPARATION FOR SHEETS PRINTED FROM A CONTINUOUS WEB SUSCEPTIBLE OF LONGITUDINAL DIVISIONS AND RELATIVE WEB

Separator cutter for printed sheets from a continuous paper web provides multiple longitudinal divisions of different working sections with a series of single or adjacent sheets. The sheets have respective print areas with texts and/or images, while the cutter includes margining knives and longitudinal dividing knives and an electronic control unit. The cutter operates with webs wherein, at the beginning of each working section, a printed image mark (Print mark) is placed at a distance of the print area and automatically sets margins and division cuts based on a corresponding working section. The cutter includes servo mechanisms for displacement of the margining and longitudinal dividing knives and a sensor for the Print mark. In response to a new working section, the servo mechanisms is activated by positioning the knives in transverse positions based on data from the new working section and referencing the transverse position of the Print mark.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Italian Application No. 102022000006800 filed on Apr. 6, 2022, and entitled “CUTTER AND METHOD OF SEPARATION FOR SHEETS PRINTED FROM A CONTINUOUS WEB SUSCEPTIBLE OF SEVERAL LONGITUDINAL DIVISIONS AND RELATIVE WEB”, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cutter and a method for separating sheets printed from a continuous paper web, which can be subjected to several longitudinal divisions and the relative web.

More specifically, the invention relates to a longitudinal and transversal separation cutter for sheets printed from an entering continuous unwinding paper web, wherein said web is susceptible of several longitudinal divisions and defines different working sections with a series of single sheets or side-by-side sheets to be separated, wherein the sheets have a respective print area with texts and/or images and the cutter comprises margining knives and longitudinal dividing knives which can be positioned transversally on the basis of sheet setting data of a respective working section.

The invention also relates to a method for longitudinal and transversal separating printed sheets from a continuous unwinding web, wherein the web is susceptible of longitudinal divisions and defines different working sections comprising a series of single sheets or side-by-side sheets to be separated, wherein the sheets have respective text and/or image print areas and wherein said method is applied to a cutter which comprises margining knives and longitudinal dividing knives which can be positioned transversally on the basis of sheet setting data of a respective working section.

The invention further relates to a continuous printed web, susceptible of several longitudinal divisions and different working sections, each section having a series of single sheets or side by side sheets, which are separable by a cutter and present respective text and/or image areas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A separation cutter of the type defined above, commercially known, comprises margining knives and longitudinal dividing knives, as well as a transversal cutting device. The margining knives and longitudinal dividing knives provide longitudinal cuts for the lateral margins and for the longitudinal divisions and a transversal cutting device provides for the transversal cuts of the paper web. The cutter is very fast and gives the possibility to separate from the web sheets of different sizes and with different overlaps and which can be used for manufacturing book blocks and booklets well-designed and which do not require final trimmings. However, the number and width of the overlaps must be set manually, by selecting the required longitudinal dividing knives and placing them in the desired transversal positions. If necessary, the positions of the margining knives must also be set manually and with accurate tests so that the text and/or image print areas appear, with respect to the margins and edges of the separate sheets, in the setting positions defined by the printing program.

Manual interventions are required due to the fact that the pages of the sheets are printed side-by-side and in close proximity on a full-width web. Current printers print the text and images in print areas which are referenced with respect to the physical margins of the printer itself, rather than the margins of the web. Consequently, the separation cutters cannot guarantee that the edges of the web are at the same positions as margins during the printing step. This creates a possibility of error in the positioning of the knives, which can result in the presence of white bands in pages with images cut in vivo or the image of a page trespassing into the contiguous page.

When a working section with a certain number of divisions for “UP” overlaps is followed by a working section with a different number of overlaps and/or different margins, the cutter must be stopped at the end of the current work and the longitudinal dividing knives and margining knives must be reset by conducting tests to verify the correctness of the settings. This process requires the intervention of an operator for approximately 10-15 minutes. Additionally, stopping and restarting the cutter results in advancement of tens of meters of blank web, which cannot be used for printing and must be discarded, resulting in obvious waste.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a fast and reliable separation cutter, for sheets printed from a unwinding continuous paper web and the relative method ensuring the possibility of rapidly changing the formats of the sheets to be separated and in particular the number and positions of the longitudinal dividing cuts, with an automatic positioning of the margins and edges with respect to the text and/or image print areas, in exact correspondence with what is defined in the print program. This object is achieved by the separation cutter, of the type specified above, which can operate with paper webs wherein, at the beginning of each working section, an image mark (Print Mark) is printed at a predetermined transversal distance from the text and/or image print area of the sheets of the respective working section and wherein the margin and longitudinal dividing knives are arranged in transversal positions corresponding to the sheet setting data of the new working sector and with reference to the transversal position of the Print Mark.

The longitudinal and transversal separation method for sheets printed from a continuous paper web, as set forth above, employs a cutter that can operate with webs wherein, at the beginning of each working section, an image mark (Print Mark) is printed at a predetermined transversal distance from the text and/or image areas of the sheets of the respective working section, the cutter comprises margining knives and longitudinal dividing knives which can be positioned transversally on the basis of sheet setting data of a respective working section; shifting servomechanisms for the margining knives and the longitudinal dividing knives; a transversal-scanning sensor for the Print Mark and wherein, upon detection of new setting data, the above separation method provides a series of steps comprising:a) detecting the transversal position of the print mark by means of the transversal scanning sensor;b) activating the shifting servomechanisms by arranging the margining knives and the longitudinal dividing knives into transversal positions corresponding to the sheet setting data of the new working section and reference to the transversal position of the print mark;c) executing the longitudinal divisions on the single sheets or on the side-by-side sheets of the new working section on the basis of the new sheet setting data; andd) activating the transversal cutting device for the transversal cutting of the sheets.

The previously specified web has at the beginning of each working section an image mark (Print Mark) printed at a predetermined transversal distance from a reference margin of the text and/or image print area and can be used in a cutter in which the margining knives and longitudinal dividing knives are susceptible to transversal movement on the basis of sheet set data and further comprising a sensor with transversal scanning for the Print Mark and in which the positions of the margining knives and longitudinal dividing knives are referred to the transversal position of the Print Mark.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference toFIG.1, a separation equipment or cutter48is shown, according to the invention, for sheets printed49from a continuous paper web50, entering along a direction “F”.

The cutter48is fed by a printer51which uses the web50unwinding from a virgin web roll52. Upstream of the cutter there is a buffer unit53that accumulates and releases the web, compensating for the difference in speed between the web emerging from the printer and the speed of the web entering the cutter.

The paper web50(FIG.1a) is susceptible of trimming cuts541and54rat the edges, transversal cuts55and longitudinal divisions56, specifically56-1,56-2and56-3. It defines, along its extension, different working sections WS with a series of side-by-side sheets57to be separated, both transversally relative to the leading edges of the sheets, and longitudinally and which are overlapped at the output of the cutter48, defining the sheets49.

Based on the longitudinal divisions, the number of overlaps (UP) is indicated by 1UP (no division), 2UP (one division), 3UP (two divisions) and 4UP (three divisions). In the undivided web50, the printer51prints the texts and images of the working sections WS in respective print areas PA (FIG.4a) on the two faces of the sheets57. The print areas PA include text and images, as well as blank edges for sheets with blank edges and the entire area for borderless sheets. The cutter48can also perform bleeds Bl on the sides of the sheets57(FIG.4) in the print areas PA. This allows the overlapped sheets49to be used without further finishing cuts for forming booklets, book blocks and similar products.

In one embodiment of the invention, the set of sheets57of each working section WS is preceded by one or more respective work header sheets (Header page)58of a format similar to that of the other sheets57. In addition, each single sheet (1UP) or each side by side sheet (2 to 4)57,58has a graphic mark (TOF mark)61at its top.

The TOF marks61(FIGS.4and5) are each printed close to the upper margin and a side, for example conventionally a left side, of the web50in the figures, at a distance TfP from the leading edge of the sheet in an area outside the print area, intended to be removed as a result of the trimming cuts.

On each Header page58, also printed are an image mark (Print mark)62, reference for longitudinal divisions, and a 2D code63with sheet setting data regarding the sheets57to be separated.

The Print mark62is printed near the upper edge and an edge, for example conventionally right, of the web50, downstream and at a fixed distance with respect to the TOF mark61.

The Print mark62is of elongated rectangular shape, side by side and at a predetermined transversal distance (for example tangent to an inner side thereof) with respect to a lateral edge of the print areas PA. The mark62defines a precise reference for the trimming and longitudinal cuts, not related to the current transversal position that the entering web can assume on the cutter48. In the Header pages58, the mark62is then outside the print area PA, at a distance MpP from the leading edge of the sheet, and it is also intended to be removed with the trimming cuts.

The 2D code63is printed near an edge, for example right of the web50, outside the print area PA, at a distance MpP from the edge of the Header pages58, downstream of the Print mark62. The 2D code63and, optionally, the Print mark62are also printed on each sheet or side by side sheets57in positions corresponding to those of the Header pages58.

With reference toFIGS.4and5, the sheet setting data relate to information about: paper web width WW, sheet length PgL, width of each overlap UPW, bleed Bl (live space around the page), gap between the pages Gu (Gutter cut) and number of overlaps (UP). The sheets or side by side sheets57are also longitudinally spaced by a separation space Ps.

The 2D code63also comprises other information for optimized operation of the cutter48, for example: condition of presence of the Header page58; identification data of the current working section WS; number of the current page; total number of pages and, optionally, condition of presence of a last page and with possibility of adding other data.

The following description relates to a cutter of the above type which, for the execution of the trimming cuts and longitudinal divisions, uses margining knives and longitudinal dividing knives with rotating discs above and below the web path. The knives are driven by a single drive shaft and a drive train which is arranged between the discs downstream of the splitting area. Therefore the knives can be transversally displaced along free areas of the web only after arresting and transversal sectioning of a new working section.

In summary, the cutter48(FIGS.1,2and3) comprises, arranged one behind the other with respect to an input gate64: a sensor65for the TOF mark61, for example adjacent to a left side, an input feeding mechanism formed by a pair of superimposed input feed rollers66land66hfor the entering web50, an intermediate feeding mechanism formed by a pair of superimposed intermediate feed rollers67land67h, a transversal cutting device68, a pair of lower and upper extraction rollers69land69hfor the separated sheets and a discard container71. An electronic unit72controls the operation of the various components of the cutter48and an interface circuit73is provided for exchanging data with the printer51.

According to the invention, the cutter48further comprises, at the input gate64and upstream of the input feed rollers66land66h, a sensor device74for the 2D codes63, for example adjacent to a right side. Downstream of the feed rolls, the cutter also comprises a sensor76for the Print mark62and a transversal sectioning group77and, upstream of the pair of intermediate feed rollers67land67h, margining knives78land78rand longitudinal dividing knives79-1,79-2and79-3.

The sensor65and the sensor device74operate by longitudinal scanning on the entering web50, respectively, to identify the position of the TOF mark61and to recognize and decode the 2D codes63. In turn, the sensor76operates by transversal scanning on the web53to determine the physical position of the inner edge of the Print mark62, as a reference for the positions of the margining knives78land78rand the longitudinal dividing knives79-1,79-2and79-3.

The sensor65for the TOF mark and the 2D code sensor74are transversally shiftable to take into account the positions assumed by the edges of the web50, depending on the width of the web and the alignment condition with respect to the physical edges of the cutter. The positioning of the sensors65and74can be carried out manually jointly with the introduction of a new web. Alternatively, the sensor65and the sensor device74can be moved automatically by corresponding servomechanisms, not shown, which are servo-controlled with positions detected by the physical edges of the web50and on control of the electronic unit72, in accordance with known techniques.

The input feed rollers66land66hand the intermediate feed rollers67land67h, in a steady state, operate in synchronism to jointly drive the web50to the input gate64and to feed the transversal cutting device68. In particular, the lower rollers66land67lare driven by a motor M1controlled by the electronic unit72by means of motion transmission mechanisms not shown in the drawings, while the upper rollers66hand67hare pressure rollers for engaging the web50with the motorized rollers66land67l.

In the input feed rollers, the pressure roller66his rotatably mounted on a frame82with the possibility of approaching/moving away from the roller66iby means of an actuator83. Conveniently, the electronic unit72controls the actuator83for switching the input feed rollers between an activated condition wherein the roller69hpresses the roller69lfor driving the entering paper web50and an deactivated condition wherein the roller69his disengaged from the roller69lwithout dragging the web.

The braking device75is provided for arresting the entering web50at the input gate64of the cutter48in the deactivated condition of the input feed rollers66l,h. In particular, the braking device75comprises a fixed transversal bar86arranged, in tangential condition, under the path of the web50and a transversal braking bar87above the path of the web. The braking bar87is connected to an actuator88controlled by the electronic unit72in order to push the entering web against the bar86with a consequent stopping action on the web.

For the transversal scanning, the sensor76is mounted on a carriage which is shiftable transversally with respect to the web50by a mechanism comprising a servo motor90controlled by the electronic unit72, a toothed drive belt94, a drive pulley96and a drive pulley97. The belt94is elongated and is stretched between the pulleys96and97, above the path of the web50. The servomotor90is designed to rotate the drive pulley96, by moving the sensor carriage76, via the belt94, for a scanning run between a rest position, to the left of the web path50, and an end of run at the right of that path.

The mechanisms for automatically positioning the sensor65and the sensor device74, if present, may be of the same type as the mechanism used for positioning the sensor76.

The transversal sectioning group77has the function of cutting the paper web50between the last sheet of a given working section WS, a possible empty section and the Header page58of a subsequent working section WS. By way of example, the sectioning group77comprises a sectioning knife98, a bar99defining a guide slot100for the knife98, and an actuation mechanism for the knife98including a servomotor101, a toothed drive web102, a drive pulley103and a return pulley104.

The bar99is arranged, in a tangential condition, below the path of the web50while the toothed belt102, of an elongated type, is stretched between the pulleys103and104above the bar94parallel to the slot100and with an extension greater than the width of the web50. The servomotor101drives the drive pulley103, upon control of the electronic unit72, for a transversal cutting run of the sectioning knife98between a rest position outside the path of the web50, for example to the right of the right edge, and an end of run to the left of the left edge.

The margining knives78land78rand the longitudinal dividing knives79-1,79-2and79-3are of a rotary disc type, mounted on respective supports: The margining knives78land78rare rotated by a drive shaft106, with possibility of transversal sliding, while the dividing knives79-1,79-2and79-3are slidably rotated by a drive shaft107mounted downstream of the drive shaft106. The drive shafts106and107are also rotated by the motor M1by means of a kinematic chain not shown in the drawings.

The supports of the margining knives and longitudinal dividing knives can be positioned along the respective drive shafts by servo-mechanisms controlled by the electronic unit72, for example by means of pulleys and toothed belts.

Specifically, the supports of the margining knives78land78rare shifted by servomotors111land111rwhich are operative on a pair of toothed belts112and113, by respective driving pulleys114and115and non-numbered return pulleys. The belts112and113are of the elongated type, stretched between the drive pulleys and the return pulleys above and outside the path of the web50.

The supports of the longitudinal dividing knives79-1,79-2and79-3are shifted by servomotors116,117and118, operating on toothed belts119,121and122by means of respective driving pulleys123,124and126and, not numbered, return pulleys. The belts119,121and122are also of the elongated type, stretched between the driving pulleys and the return pulleys and are mounted above and externally with respect to the path of the web50.

The supports of the margining knives78land78rare displaceable along the drive shaft106from respective rest positions, left and right outside the web path50to the operating positions for the trimming cuts541and54r. In turn, the supports of the longitudinal dividing knives79-1,79-2and79-3are shiftable along the drive shaft107from rest positions outside the path of the web50, respectively to the left, one behind the other for the knives79-1and79-2, and to the right of the path for the knife79-3, to the operating positions for the longitudinal divisions56-1,56-2and56-3.

Conveniently, the longitudinal dividing knives79-1,79-2and79-3can be double so as to separate from the web50corresponding strips astride the divisions56-1,56-2and56-3, including bleed. The distance between the cutting edges of each pair of knives corresponds to the spaces “Gu” between the images of the side-by-side sheets57defined between the sheet setting data.

Flexible suction pipes (not shown) may be associated with the double knives to receive and send in a discard container the strips separate during the cutting phases, in a way known per se.

The intermediate feed rollers67land67hfeed the transversal cutting device68, together with the input feed rollers66land66h, with the web50, in the activated condition of the input feed rollers and, alone, in the deactivated condition of these feed rollers.

The transversal cutting device68is of known type and, in summary, comprises a cutting unit formed by a fixed blade131and a blade-carrying cylinder132with a movable blade133, arranged, respectively, above and below the path of the web50. The blade cylinder132is rotated by a servomotor134, controlled by the electronic unit72, in synchronism with the movement of the web50and with a phase such as to perform the transversal cuts55of the sheets57and58and of the discards, in accordance with the sheet setting data.

The extraction rollers69l,hprovide to extract the separated sheets and send them to other devices for further movement: The upper roller69his a pressure roller for the web50, while the lower roller69lis a driving roller and is rotated, through (not shown) kinematic mechanisms, by the motor M1.

A diverter (not shown), also controlled by the electronic unit72, diverts the discards toward the container71.

The transversal cutting device68may also comprise a second cutting unit (not shown) with another fixed blade and another blade-carrying cylinder for removing a transversal strip of web corresponding to the longitudinal separation space “Ps” between the sheets or between the side-by-side sheets according to a known technique.

In the on-line feeding with the printer51, the cutter48separates the sheets49of the printed working sections WS from the same printer in execution of a respective work order.

In this embodiment of the invention, the cutter48is configured on the basis of the sheet setting data following reading of the 2D code printed by the printer51on the Header page58.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cutter48can be driven directly by the printer51through the interface circuit73: the sheet setting data are then obtained jointly with the receipt of the Header page58or at the beginning of a new working section WS.

Alternatively, the cutter48can be fed off-line from the printer, by means of an unwinding device (not shown) with the paper web50unwinding from a reel of web wherein the previously printed sheets of working sections WS have been wound. The web50will include, for each working section, the corresponding 2D code in each Header page58and the cutter will operate based on the settings obtained from the reading of such code. The buffer53, for compensating for the speed of the web50, necessary in the case of on-line operation with the printer, is optional in off-line operation.

The operation of the cutter48is as follows:

An initialization step provides a rest condition in which: The motor M1is stationary; the braking device75and the input feed rollers66l,hare deactivated; the sectioning knife98, the margining knives78l,78rand the longitudinal dividing knives79-1,3are in their respective rest positions, out of the path for the web50; the transversal cutting device68is deactivated and the discard container71is arranged to receive the web emerging from the extraction rollers69l,h.

The operator now inserts an empty section of the web50upstream of the working section WS between the bars86and87of the braking device75and between the input feed rollers66l,hup to the margining knives78l,78r. The operator also correctly positions the sensor65and the sensor device74for reading the TOF marks61and the codes62and starts the cutter The electronic unit72, on the other hand, positions the sensor65and the device74automatically at, for a cutter48which is provided with servomechanisms for sensor and sensor device.

The electronic unit72now activates the motor M1and controls the actuator83for the activated condition of the input feed rollers66l,hand the rest position of the knives98,78l,rand79-1,2,3.

Due to the action of the input feed rollers66l,hand the intermediate feed rollers67l,h, the paper web50advances through the transversal cutting device68and is collected as a waste by the discard container71. Upon arrival of the working section WS, the sheet setting data is stored on passage of the 2D code63, for the webs50, which are provided with it, in front of the sensor device74with decoding by the electronic unit72. The passage of the TOF mark61by the sensor65for synchronization operations is also detected.

If the presence of the Header page58is identified, the electronic unit72drives the actuator83by moving the roller66haway from the roller66lfor to the deactivated condition of the input feed rollers66l,h. The electronic unit also drives the actuator88of the braking device75with movement of the braking bar87against the bar86, stopping the entering web50. The intermediate feeding roller67l, still active, temporarily slides along the web50, keeping it under tension. The timing from the identification of the Header page is such as to advance the web by a portion carrying the Print mark62under the scanning area of the sensor76.

In the case of direct reception of the sheet setting data from the printer51, the electronic unit72stores the setting data and executes the other steps of the sequence, as for the reading of the 2D code, by advancing and stopping the web50and positioning the Print mark62under the scanning area of the sensor76.

The servomotor90of the sensor76is now activated, with displacement of the relative carriage for the transversal scanning run and return to the rest position. After identification of the Print mark62, the electronic unit72detects and stores the distance of the inner edge of the mark62from a physical margin of the cutter, as a reference for the positions of the margining knives78land78hand the longitudinal dividing knives79-1,2,3.

The electronic unit72also activates the transversal sectioning group77, which drives the servomotor101to move the sectioning knife98along the slot100by means of the toothed belt102. The knife moves from its rest position beyond the right edge of the web toward to the left edge of the web50and beyond, cutting off the empty web portion downstream of the bar99. The sectioned empty portion, no longer retained by the braking device75, is then advanced by the intermediate feed rollers67l,hand diverted into the discard container71, while the sectioning knife98is returned to its rest position. The electronic control unit72then activates the servomotors111land111rand116,117and118to position the margining knives and the longitudinal dividing knives based on the stored sheet setting data of the working section WS.

Upon completion of the positioning, the electronic unit72, by means of the actuators88and83, deactivates the braking device75and reactivates the pair of input feed rollers66l,h, causing the entering web50to advance through the various operating components, with trimming by the margining knives78l,r, longitudinal cuts by the dividing knives79-1,3and transversal cuts by the transversal cutting device68on the single sheets or on the side-by-side sheets57and page58.

The Header page58, the side-by-side sheets, if present, and the discards are hijacked into the container71, while the separated sheets57of the working section WS are sent for stacking and other processes.

The cutting and separation of the sheets57continues until the last sheet of the current working section WS is recognized, or in response to information received from the printer indicating the need to slow down the web feed speed. Upon detection of the 2D code63on the Header page of a new working section WS, with different sheet setting data, or upon direct reception of such data from the printer51, the electronic unit72deactivates the input feed rollers66h,land activates the braking device75and the transversal sectioning group77.

While the intermediate feed rolls67l,hcontinue to feed the transversal cutting device68for separating the last sheets57of the current working section, the electronic unit72activates the servomotors111land111rand116,117and118for positioning the margining knives and the longitudinal dividing knives on the basis of the sheet setting data of the 2D code of the new working section WS or from the printer, subsequently resuming the execution of divisions and cuts as in the initialization phase.

In the case of sheet setting data of the current working section WS equal to those of the previous section, there is no stop of the entering web50and the sheets57are separated as for the previous working section.

The separation method for printed sheets for paper webs with 2D codes according to the invention is shown as141inFIG.6.

In summary, with reference to the previously described structures, the method141involves, as a setup phase, block142, the use of the continuous paper web50susceptible of longitudinal divisions56, working sections WS with sheets57to be separated, TOF mark61, Print mark62and Header page58with the 2D code63for the sheet setting data.

Block143shows the use of the cutter48with the sensors63,74and76for the TOF mark, the 2D codes and the Print mark, the input feed rollers66l,hand intermediate rollers67l,h, margining knives78l,rand dividing knives79-1,3with the possibility of transversal positioning, transversal sectioning group77, the transversal cutting device68and the electronic control unit72. Finally, block144highlights the manual insertion of the paper web50, the transversal positioning of the sensors63,74and the starting of the cutter, and the activation of the input feed rollers66l,htogether with the unwinding of the web.

In a block146the presence of the 2D code and its decoding are checked. In the negative case, block147, the web50is fed forward, with the cutter stopping in the event of prolonged absence beyond a predetermined delay. In the case of code recognition, the search for the TOF mark, block148, is continued.

In absence of recognition of the TOF mark61, block149, the advancement of the web50is continued and a possible stop is made. In the case of recognition, the presence of the Header page58is checked in a block151. In the event of absence, block152, the method proceeds with the advancement of the web and the cuts in the set positions.

The recognition of the Header page, block153, starts the settings for the section WS, with: Arrest of the web50, with the intermediate rollers67l,hactivated; detection of the Print mark62by means of the sensor76; activation of the transversal sectioning group77with cutting of the web and advancement of the sectioned web; positioning of the margining knives78l,rand dividing knives79-1,2,3in the space which has been freed after the sectioning of the web, and reactivation of the input feed rolls66l,h.

Both in the case of presence and absence of the Header page are carried out in block154: the trimming and separation cuts; insertion of the web into the transversal cutting device by means of the intermediate feeding rollers and activation of the transversal cutting device with transversal cutting of the sheets.

In block156, the method checks if the sheet or sheets are Header page. If so, the Header page and the side-by-side sheets are discarded, block157, while, if not, further stacking movements are carried out, block158. After the start-up phase, the cutter48does not require any other intervention of the operator for carrying out the separation of sheets of a new working section WS of the current web.

In summary, with reference to what has been described above and toFIG.7, the sheet separation method171provides, in steady state and in analogy with the separation method141, in a block172the control of presence and decoding of the 2D code. In the negative case, block173, the advancement of the web50and the eventual stop of the cutter is continued. The recognition of the code, gives rise to the search of the TOF mark61, fork block174. In the absence of recognition, block176, the advancement of the web is continued and a possible stop is made. If the TOF mark is recognized, it checks at the block177if the Header page58is present. In case of absence, block178is carried out with the advancement of the web and with the trimming and separation cuts in the already set positions.

If the Header page58is present, the method checks at block179if the sheet setting data of the new code are identical to those of the preceding WS section.

In case of identity, in block181, the trimming and splitting cuts and the transversal cuts of the sheets are started according to the preceding settings. The next steps of block182are then carried out to check the presence of the Header page and to blocks183and184for the discard of the Header page and the stacking of the sheets.

If the sheet setting data of the new 2D code are different from those of the preceding section WS, in a manner similar to the block153ofFIG.6, the steps of stopping the web50are carried out in block186; Print mark reading by means of the sensor76, activation of the transversal sectioning group77with cutting of the web; positioning of the margining knives78r, land dividing knives79-1,3and reactivation of the input feed rolls66l, h.

After the new setting, the method returns to the step of block181and the following steps with the separation of the sheets according to the settings of the new section WS.

From what has been described and illustrated above, it is clear that:the margining knives and longitudinal cutting knives can be displaced transversally along areas free from the web after stopping and transversal sectioning of a new working section;for a new working section, the electronic unit is designed to detect the transversal position of the Print mark; andin response to the detection of new setting data of a new working section, the electronic control unit is designed for:a) deactivating the input feeding mechanism with stop of the entering web;b) activating the transversal sectioning unit, separating the new working section from the current working section,c) activating or maintaining activated the intermediate feeding mechanism for the transversal cuts of the individual sheets or side by side sheet of the current working section;d) activating the knife shift servomechanisms to arrange the margining knives and the longitudinal dividing knives in transversal positions based on the setting data of the new working section, referred to the position of the Print mark; ande) re-activating the input feeding mechanism for the entering web; and executing the longitudinal divisions and transversal cuts on the cut sheets or side-by-side sheets of the new working section based on the new sheet setting data.

The transversal-scanning sensor is displaceable by a mechanism including a servo motor controlled by the electronic unit, a toothed drive web, a drive pulley and a drive pulley and wherein the toothed belt is transversally extended. stretched between the drive pulley and the idler pulley and the servo motor is designed to rotate the drive pulley, moving the sensor, via the drive web. The web has a graphic mark at the top of the sheet (TOF Mark) at each single sheet or at each side by side sheet. The separation method is implemented by a cutter comprising a TOF mark sensor, an input feeding mechanism, an intermediate feeding mechanism and a transversal cutting device for separating the individual sheets or side by side sheets and wherein the electronic unit:e) preliminarily to step a), detects from the entering web the position of the TOF mark;f) preliminarily to step b), deactivates the operation of the input feeding mechanism and stops the entering web, keeping the intermediate feeding mechanism activated;g) jointly with step b), completes the transversal cuts of the single sheets or side by side sheets of the current working section; and,h) preliminarily to step c), it reactivates the feeding of the entering web.

In the printed web, each sheet or side by side sheet has a graphic top of sheet mark (TOF mark) outside the respective print area for text and/or images and the cutter comprises a sensor for the TOF mark, for controlling the transversal cutting device.

The sheet setting data of the 2D code sheets includes: Web Width, Page Length, Number of longitudinal overlap (UPs) of the web, Width of each overlap (WUP), Bleed (Bleed), and wherein the positioning data for the margining knives and longitudinal dividing knives are determined by an algorithm comprising: The web width, the number of longitudinal overlaps (UP), the width of each overlap (WUP) and bleed (Bleed).

Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the embodiments and details of construction may be varied widely with respect to what has been described and illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the input feeding mechanism and the intermediate feeding mechanism may be different from the rollers shown and/or may be fed independently of each other so as to avoid the use of the braking device.

As an alternative to the sensor76with mechanized transversal scanning, the transversal position of the Print mark can be detected by an electronic sensor with CIS or CCD scanning technology, of known type, even without stopping the web.

At the beginning of the working sections WS, the Header pages can be repeated or absent altogether.

Upon command of the printer51, the cutter48may be subjected to deceleration steps at the end of the cuts of the working sections WS and advancement of the web at reduced speed for a reduction of the waste of web in the format change and to acceleration steps during the splits.

Moreover, under operating conditions, the speeds of the printer and of the cutter may be temporarily different to ensure that the buffer53is emptied from the loaded web and returned to optimum working conditions.

With the modifications of the case, the Print mark and the sheet start mark (TOF) can be constituted by a single mark associated both with the definition of the sheet start and with the transversal position of the printing area readable by a suitable cutter sensor.

The Print mark for the reference positioning of the margining knives and longitudinal cutting knives can also be used in cutters (not shown) which do not require the stopping of the web and the sectioning between working sections WS having different characteristics for the movement of the knives.

This may be the case in which the discs and the rotating counter-discs of the margining and separation knives are slidably and synchronously carried by parallel drive shafts having the possibility of approaching/moving away between engagement and disengagement configurations.

In the engagement configurations, the rotating disks are in interference with the counter-disks for the web separations, while the rotating disks are spaced away from the counter-disks, leaving the entering web free, in the disengagement configuration.

For this type of cutter, the web can provide a suitable empty section and/or with the various graphic marks and with the 2D code between one section WS and the next one. The reading of the marks and of the 2D code and the positioning of the knives are carried out “on the fly” with the web moving and the length of the empty section is calculated for a sliding time such as to allow the change of configuration and the transversal movement of the knives between a section WS and the next one.

The foregoing has been a detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention. Various modifications and additions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Features of each of the various embodiments described above may be combined with features of other described embodiments as appropriate in order to provide a multiplicity of feature combinations in associated new embodiments. Furthermore, while the foregoing describes a number of separate embodiments of the apparatus and method of the present invention, what has been described herein is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. For example, as used herein, the terms “process” and/or “processor” should be taken broadly to include a variety of electronic hardware and/or software based functions and components (and can alternatively be termed functional “modules” or “elements”). Moreover, a depicted process or processor can be combined with other processes and/or processors or divided into various sub-processes or processors. Such sub-processes and/or sub-processors can be variously combined according to embodiments herein. Likewise, it is expressly contemplated that any function, process and/or processor herein can be implemented using electronic hardware, software consisting of a non-transitory computer-readable medium of program instructions, or a combination of hardware and software. Additionally, as used herein various directional and dispositional terms such as “vertical”, “horizontal”, “up”, “down”, “bottom”, “top”, “side”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, and the like, are used only as relative conventions and not as absolute directions/dispositions with respect to a fixed coordinate space, such as the acting direction of gravity. Additionally, where the term “substantially” or “approximately” is employed with respect to a given measurement, value or characteristic, it refers to a quantity that is within a normal operating range to achieve desired results, but that includes some variability due to inherent inaccuracy and error within the allowed tolerances of the system (e.g. 1-5 percent). Accordingly, this description is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not to otherwise limit the scope of this invention.