Device for covering a machine in a production line comprising a plurality of machines

An arrangement for covering a machine having a machine frame, includes a covering device adapted to be attached to the machine frame above the machine. The covering device has opposite sides corresponding to opposite sides of the machine frame. Hinges are respectively connected at the opposite sides of the covering device about which the covering device can be selectively swiveled to an open or a closed position relative to the machine. Each one of the respectively arranged hinges at opposite sides of the covering device is selectively coupled to the machine frame and has a parallel-extending swiveling axis. Respectively the non-selected hinge that does not form the swiveling axis for opening the covering device is arranged to be detachable from the machine frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of European Patent Application No. 08156009.6, filed on May 9, 2008, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a device for covering an apparatus or a machine, preferably disposed in a processing line comprising several machines for producing printed products, wherein the covering device is arranged above the machine and is attached with the aid of hinges to the machine frame, such that it can be swiveled to an open or a closed position.

Semi-finished products such as printed sheets, casings and covers, cards or inserts are processed further in systems designed for further print processing to obtain finished products. A plurality of processing steps must normally be realized on a plurality of different machines for turning the semi-finished products into finished products. Once the semi-finished printed products have been supplied to the machines, it is advantageous if all operating steps for obtaining the finished printed products can be carried out automatically and successively. Several machines are therefore connected to form a system or production line to which the semi-finished products are supplied. The products are then conveyed through the system in a serial flow from machine to machine and are processed in such machines. The line-type configuration of such a system permits access to the machines from two sides only, generally from the two opposite-arranged sides, because one side is intended for feeding in the semi-finished products and the other side for removing the products. The conveying of the semi-finished printed products and the processing of these products in the machines results in danger zones along the production line, which must be covered during the operation for safety reasons by using covering devices. However, the operators should also have as much access as possible to the processing devices on the machines for adjustment and maintenance operations.

Covering devices that are embodied as sliding doors are known in the art, wherein these sliding doors can be displaced in a longitudinal and/or conveying direction of the semi-finished printed products by moving them along rails connected to the machine frame. This type of covering device has the advantage of providing access simultaneously from two opposite-arranged sides. The disadvantage is that only a limited section of the machine can be accessed freely at the same time because the remaining section is covered by the displaced sliding doors.

Covering devices are also know which are embodied as one-piece, swiveling hoods that are positioned on the machine frame and can be swiveled around an axis extending parallel to the conveying direction for the semi-finished products. These covering devices are designed such that when the covering device is open, a very large area along the total length of the machine is accessible. The disadvantage, however, is that the opposite side is not accessible at all.

Covering devices in the form of two-part swiveling hoods are also known, wherein these two-part hoods are positioned on the machine frame, such that they can swivel around at least one axis extending parallel to the conveying direction for the printed products. The swiveling axis can be arranged in a central location above the machine, thereby allowing the two parts of the hood to be swiveled toward each other for the opening, or the axis can be arranged on the sides of the machine frame, meaning on the operating sides, which allows the hood parts to be swiveled away from each other for the opening. Swiveling hoods of this type have the disadvantage that operations are not possible from one side, meaning that free access to the inside components of the machines from two opposite-arranged sides is not possible or only with limitations.

European patent document EP 1 291 140 B1 furthermore discloses a covering hood which is mounted swiveling on the machine housing. Inside a first covering hood, a second covering hood is attached swiveling to the first covering hood. Devices of this type permit optional access from two sides, to be sure, but the access from one side is only possible with limitations.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for covering an apparatus or a machine, preferably disposed in a processing line consisting of several machines, which covering device optionally allows free access to the machines from one operating side or the opposite-arranged side.

The above and other objects are achieved according to the invention wherein there is provided, according to one embodiment, an arrangement for covering a machine having a machine frame, comprising: a covering device adapted to be attached to the machine frame above the machine, the covering device having opposite sides corresponding to opposite sides of the machine frame; and hinges respectively connected at the opposite sides of the covering device about which the covering device can be selectively swiveled to an open or a closed position relative to the machine, wherein each one of the respectively arranged hinges at opposite sides of the covering device is selectively coupled to the machine frame and has a parallel-extending swiveling axis, and wherein respectively the non-selected hinge that does not form the swiveling axis for opening the covering device is arranged to be detachable from the machine frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown a section of a processing line1, which includes a plurality of machines2for producing printed products. The printed products are conveyed in a conveying direction F through the processing line1and are processed during a conveying operation inside the machines2. Each machine2comprises a machine frame3with thereon arranged processing devices, as well as covers15for the device that includes covering parts16, attached directly to the machine frame3, and covering devices5that are attached swiveling on hinges4. The covering device5is arranged above the machine2and, with the aid of hinges4that are connected to the machine frame3on the front operating side6and the opposite-arranged rear operating side7, can be swiveled around a parallel extending front swiveling axis8or a rear swiveling axis9to an open or a closed position. The oppositely arranged hinges that form the swiveling axis8,9for opening the covering device5in this case function as detachable hinges.

According to one embodiment, shown inFIGS. 4 to 7, the hinge4comprises a circular-segment shaped bearing shaft11that includes two detachment surfaces13and a bearing10that extends parallel to the swiveling axis8,9. The hinge is embodied to be detachable in a radial direction. The bearing10is provided with a narrowed-down insertion opening14, formed by opposing flat surfaces17, which end in the bearing bore12. The width of insertion opening has a width that at least equals the width of the bearing shaft11in the region of the detachment surfaces13, wherein the bearing shaft11and the bearing10can be displaced relative to each other.

FIGS. 8 and 9show a variation of the hinge inFIGS. 4 to 7, wherein the hinge4′ comprises a circular segment having a single detachment surface13and a bearing10′ having a narrowed down insertion opening14′ that is configured to have one flat surface17as inFIGS. 4 to 7, and an opposing flat surface17′ that forms a tangent with the bearing bore12′.

Whenever the covering device5is closed, the axes for the bearing shafts11,11′ coincide with the swiveling axes8,9. According toFIGS. 4 to 7, the bearing shaft11is positioned in the bearing10so that it can be turned in the direction of the arrow of rotation D or can be displaced in the direction of arrow V wherein the bearing shaft11can be detached as shown inFIG. 5. Following a small rotation of the bearing shaft11in the bearing10, as shown inFIG. 7, the bearing shaft11is locked in place in the bearing10and can only execute rotational movements in the direction of arrow D. During the swiveling of the covering device5around a swiveling axis8,9, the bearing shaft11moves along a circular path on the opposite side. The insertion opening14, formed by flat surfaces17, is embodied such that during the swiveling around the front swiveling axis8or the rear swiveling axis9, the respectively opposite arranged bearing shaft11, which moves along a circular path, does not collide with the bearing10. The surfaces17of one advantageous design variant are arranged vertically or at such an angle that the width of the insertion opening14increases toward the top, thereby making it possible to lift the covering device5upward and off the machine frame3when the hinge4is detached.

The hinge4′ illustrated inFIGS. 8 to 9operates in a similar manner as the hinge4depicted inFIGS. 4 to 7.

According to a further embodiment, shown inFIG. 10, the covering device5is embodied such that it can not be lifted off the machine frame3when the hinges4″ are detached, wherein at least the bearing shafts11″ have curved detachment surfaces13″ and the insertion opening of the bearing is correspondingly configured.

The bearing shafts11,11′,11″ shown inFIGS. 1 to 10are connected to the covering device5and the bearing10is connected to the machine frame3. However, this type of arrangement is not critical to the operation of the device according to the invention. Alternatively, the bearing shaft in each case could also be connected to the machine frame3and the associated bearing to the covering device5. It is furthermore not critical whether a hinge4,4′,4″ has a long bearing shaft11,11′,11″ with a correspondingly long bearing10,10′,10″ or whether the hinge has several short bearing shafts and bearings. It is even conceivable to combine a long bearing shaft with a plurality of short bearings. The aforementioned design features result in additional functions, for example making it possible to distinguish between the covering devices5of a plurality of machines2along a processing line1, or using only one fastening option for the covering device5on the machine2, for which the device is intended.

It is furthermore not important to the invention whether the basic shape of the bearing shaft and the corresponding bearing bore is cylindrical. It is also conceivable to have bearing shafts with detachment surfaces formed by several coaxial cylinders with different diameters, or which have surfaces that are conical or spherical in shape. According to one simplified design, the bearing shaft can have a circular cross section without detachment surfaces, wherein the width of the insertion opening must correspond at least to the diameter of the bearing shaft, thus eliminating the locking function.

A hinge4′″ according to a further embodiment, shown inFIG. 11, is designed such that it can be detached in an axial direction. The bearing10′″ is provided with cylindrical bearing bores12′″ into which the bearing shafts11′″ can be inserted or from which they can be removed by moving them in the axial direction. Alternatively, the bearing10′″ and the bearing shaft11′″ can also have a conical shape. A separate insertion opening for radial displacement of the bearing shaft11′″ and bearing10′″ is not required because the bearing bore12′″ itself forms an opening for axial displacement of the bearing shaft11′″ and bearing10′″. The bearing shafts11′″, which are connected for this example by a handle18, are positioned axially displaceable inside holders20that move along guides19on the covering device5.

If the covering device5is closed, the bearing shafts11′″ are inserted into the bearing bores12′″ and the covering device5is secured form-locking inside the bearing bores12′″. To open the covering device5on the front operating side6, the form-locking connection can be released by displacing the bearing shafts11′″ in the direction E for unlocking it, and the covering device5can subsequently be swiveled around the rear swiveling axis9. The bearing shafts11′″ can be pre-stressed counter to the unlocking direction E with the aid of springs that are not shown herein. The covering device5can be opened in the same way on the rear operating side7by swiveling it around the front swiveling axis8. If the hinges are detached simultaneously on the front operating side6and the rear operating side7, the covering device5can be removed completely from the machine frame3. Referring toFIGS. 4-9, it is also conceivable to position the bearing shafts so as to be displaceable on the machine frame3and to arrange the bearings on the covering device5as graphically depicted in these figures.