APPARATUS FOR IMPRINTING AN ELONGATE STRIP OF PAPER AND FORMING TRANSVERSE LINES OF WEAKENING AT SPACED INTERVALS ALONG THE STRIP

Abstract: The apparatus includes a printing roller (ll) and perforating roller (l3). A variator roller (l2) is adjustable to ensure that the perforations are provided at the desired location relative to printed matter on the continuous strip. A folding mechanism (Figure 7) comprises an oscillating feed member (l9) and spaced helical members (42) about which the printed and perforated strip is folded in zig-zag fashion, with the fold lines along the perforations. Creases are enhanced by beaters (4l) co-operating with the helical members. The members rotate to deposit the folded strip on a conveyor (l3). By rotating a handle (40) shafts (23A, 23B, Figure 4) are adjusted to vary the timing of operation of the folding mechanism to ensure synchronism with the perforating roller.

Description: This invention relates to apparatus for imprinting an elongate strip of paper and for forming transverse lines of weakening at spaced intervals along the strip. The strip may, for example, be imprinted with a repeating business format, each transverse line of weakening generally being formed between an adjacent pair of imprinted business formats. Apparatus for repeatedly imprinting a business format on a continuous strip of paper at fixed equal intervals therealong is well known in the art. After a business format is repeatedly imprinted along a strip of paper, transverse lines of weakening are formed at spaced intervals along the strip of paper, each line of weakening being formed intermediate two successive business formats imprinted on the paper strip. The strip of paper is then subsequently folded along the lines of weakening. Various problems are associated with the imprinting of, formation of lines of weakening in, and folding of continuous form stationery. In particular, when a continuous strip of paper travels through a printing press, different portions of the paper stretch at differing rates, causing the position of each imprinted business form to advance or retard, i.e., to "travel", with respect to lines of weakening being formed in the paper. As a result, lines of weakening may be formed in the paper at a position too near or too far from an imprinted business format. Another problem associated with the manufacture of continuious form stationery is that after a strip of paper is imprinted and transverse lines of weakening are formed in the paper, the paper strip must be stored on a take-up roller which is removed from the printing apparatus and transported to auxiliary equipment to crease the paper along its lines of weakening. An object of the invention is to provide apparatus which permits the position of lines of weakening with respect to imprinted business formats on a strip of paper to be synchronized and which permits the simultaneous synchronization of apparatus for imprinting and forming transverse lines of weakening in a strip of paper with auxiliary apparatus for creasing the strip of continuous form stationery along the transverse lines of weakening. Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:- Figure l is a schematic view of printing apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of Figure l illustrating further construction details thereof; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure l illustrating the mode of operation thereof; Figure 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the continuous stationery form creasing apparatus of Figure 3 illustrating details of a paper folding mechanism and associated drive train; Figure 5 is a schematic drawing of the right hand side of the creasing apparatus of Figure 4 illustrating the drive mechanism which activates the paper dispensing roller and further transmits motive power to that portion of the gear train activating the paper folding and distribution mechanisms; Figure 6 is a left side elevation view of the creasing apparatus of Figure 3; and Figure 7 is a schematic view of the creasing apparatus of Figure 6 showing the interrelationship between the paper creasing mechanisms thereof. Referring to Figure l, there are shown a paper supply roll 9, guide rollers l0, imprinting drum ll, variator roller l2, perforator roller l3, guide rollers l4, guide roller l5 and take-up roll l6. Perforator roller l3 includes roller l3A provided with perforating fins l3B. Supply roll 9, guide rollers l0, drum ll, variator roller l2, perforator roller l3A, guide rollers l4, l5 and take-up roll l6 are rotatably carried in a framework ll0 partially illustrated in Figure 2. Guide rollers l0, drum ll, variator roller l2, perforator roller l3A and guide rollers l4, l5 generally define the path of travel of paper strip 8 through the printing apparatus of Figures l-7. As illustrated in Figure 2, paper strip 8 includes elongate parallel peripheral edges 8A and 8B. A pair of opposed parallel imaginary vertical planes pass through edges 8A and 8B of the strip 8 of paper travelling through the printing apparatus of Figures l-7. In Figure l, the imaginary vertical plane passing through edge 8A of strip 8 is parallel to and lies in the plane of the sheet of paper of the drawings. When strip 8 is moving through the apparatus of Figure l, strip 8 lies in an envelope bounded by the pair of imaginary vertical parallel planes passing through edges 8A and 8B of strip 8. The axle of take-up roll l6 is rotatably supported on frame ll0 by a pair of support arms lll, one of which is visible in Figure 2. Hinge members ll2 are fixedly attached to creasing apparatus ll3 and pivot about vertically disposed rod ll4 fixedly secured to frame ll0. When apparatus ll3 is displaced to the operative position of Figure 2, the paper strip 8 passing through the apparatus of Figure l is directed from guide roller l5 to take-up roll l6. When apparatus ll3 is pivoted about rod ll4 to the operative position of Figure 3, paper strip 8 passing through the apparatus is directed from guide roller l5 to the feed roller l7 of apparatus ll3 as indicated by dashed line ll3A in Figure l, and take-up roll l6 is not utilized. Latch mechanism ll5 secures apparatus ll3 in the operative position of Figure 3. The rectangular frame of apparatus ll3 includes panel members 28, 29, 30. When paper strip 8 is directed from guide roller l5 into apparatus ll3, strip 8 passes through rectangular opening 29A and is drawn by dispensing roller l7 beneath roller guides l8 and directed into chute l9. Dispensing roller l7 is carried on axle 7lA (not visible in Figure 3) journalled for rotation in panels 29 and 30. The axle is rotated by the gear train of the apparatus which is illustrated in Figure 5 and discussed below. Roller guides l8 are secured to rod 20 by sleeves 2l provided with axles 22. A pair of drive shafts 23A and 23B are integrated with a differential mechanism which is generally indicated by reference character 24. Shaft 23B rotates gear 25 in the direction of arrow A (Figure 6) causing link 26 to reciprocate arm 27 in the directions of arrows B. Arm 27 is fixedly secured to shaft 28A which is attached to chute l9 and journalled for rotation in panel 29. An identical shaft 28B is affixed to the opposite side of chute l9 and is journalled for rotation in panel 30. Transverse lines of weakening along a continuous strip of paper entering chute l9 are distributed by the chute in substantially opposite directions as chute l9 oscillates and, as later described, the paper is compressed and folded by "beaters" and "spirals" (not visible in Figures 2 and 3). Continuous moving belts 32 carried by roller 33 transport folded paper away from the beaters and spirals in the direction of arrow C. The slope of conveyor table 33A is adjusted by turning handle 34. Threaded shafts 38A and 38B carry sprockets 37A and 37B which engage continuous chain 36. Turning handle 35 rotates shaft 38A causing sprocket 37A to engage and turn continuous chain 36 so that sprocket 37B and shaft 38B simultaneously rotate. Rotation of shafts 38A and 38B horizontally adjusts the position of the beaters, spirals and paper stops. Shaft 38B is identical and parallel to shaft 38A and extends along the inside of panel 30. Differential mechanism 24 includes handle 40 for rotating shaft 4l which is provided with worm gear 4lA engaging ring gear 42 fixedly attached to spider 43. As would be apparent to those skilled in the art, handle 40 may be turned while drive shafts 23A and 23B are rotating or are motionless. Turning handle 40 rotates and advances or retards a particular point on shaft 23B with respect to a point on shaft 23A. When handle 40 is not used to adjust the relative position of shafts 23A and 23B with respect to one another, the differential mechanism 24 functions as an idler, allowing each shaft 23A, 23B to simultaneously rotate at an identical rpm. Figures 4-7 illustrate the interrelation of the beaters 4l, spirals 42, chute l9 and gear train of the apparatus. As shown in Figure 4, drive shaft 23B is provided with pinion gear 45 which drives gear 46 to rotate shaft 47 and bevel gears 48 mounted thereon. Gears 48 drive bevel gears 49 to rotate shafts 50A and 50B and to rotate gears 5l which are fixedly detachably fixedly secured to shafts 50A, 50B by set screws 52. Pinion gears 5l turn bevelled gears 53 to rotate shafts 54 and spirals 42. Shafts 54 are journalled for rotation in sleeves 55 which are provided with set screws 56 for transversely adjusting the position of spirals 42 along slots 57 in support bars 58A, 58B. Paper stops 59 are also fixedly adjustably attached to bars 58A, 58B by set screws 60. When shafts 50A, 50B are rotated, continuous belts 6l mounted on rollers 6lA and 6lB affixed to rods 50A, 50B, 63A, 63B turn and simultaneously rotate shafts 63A, 63B on which beaters 4l are adjustably mounted. Set screws 64 permit beaters 4l to be positioned along shafts 63. When threaded shafts 38A and 38B are rotated by turning handle 35, support bars 58A, 58B slide along horizontal rails 65 attached to the interior of panels 29, 30. In Figure 4, member 66A interconnects the left hand ends of shaft 50A, bar 58A and rod 63A so that when threaded rod 38 is rotated shaft 50A, bar 58A and rod 63A move in unison. Member 66B interconnects the left hand ends of shaft 50B, bar 58B and rod 63B so that when threaded rod 38A is rotated shaft 50B, bar 58B and rod 63B move in unison. A third member 66C (not visible) interconnects the right hand ends of shaft 50B, bar 58B and rod 63B so that when threaded rod 38B is rotated shaft 50B, bar 58B and rod 63B move in unison. A fourth member 66D (not visible) interconnects the right hand ends of shaft 50A, bar 58A and rod 63A so that when threaded rod 38B is rotated shaft 50A, bar 58A and rod 63A move in unison. When the position of bars 58A and 58B are adjusted by turning threaded rods 38A and 38B, gears 48 slide along rod 47. L-shaped brackets 68 function to slide pinion gears 48 along rod 47 and to keep pinion gears 48 meshed with gears 49. Chute l9 and feed roller l7 are omitted from Figure 4 for the sake of clarity. As shown in Figure 5, belt 70 actuates gear 7l and provides the motive power to drive the gear train of the apparatus of Figures 4-7. Belt 70 is driven by power means (not shown). When apparatus ll3 is in the operative position illustrated in Figure 3, belt 70 is preferably connected to and derives motive power from the printing press gear train which drives certain of rollers l0, drum ll, variator roller l2, roller l3A, guide rollers l4, l5, and take-up roll l6. In Figures 2 and 3 the printing press gear train for the guide rollers l0, etc. is carried on the rear surface of frame ll0 and is not visible. The power unit providing motive power for the printing press gear train carried on the rear of frame ll0 is also positioned behind frame ll0 and is not visible. Continuous belts 72, 73 and 74 transmit power to conveyor belts 32 of table 33A via pulley gear 75 and rollers 76, 77. Motive power from gear 7l is transmitted through sector gears 78, 79, and 80 to removable toothed gear 8l. Gear 80 is attached to plate 82 having slot 83 formed therein. Plate 82 is pivotally mounted on pin 85. In order to remove gear 8l from shaft 23A, set screw 84 in slot 83 is loosened and gear 80 is upwardly lifted in the direction of arrow D. The distance between successive lines of weakening in the paper being folded determines the diameter of gear 8l. Gear 8l is detachably fixedly mounted on and rotates shaft 23A. The schematic diagram in Figure 7 illustrates the synchronous relationship of the chute l9, beaters 4l and spirals 42 as they respectively move in the directions indicated by arrows E, F and G. When lines of weakening formed in the strip of paper 8 are distributed in opposite directions by chute l9, the distributed paper is compressed by beaters 4l and spirals 42 to form folds 88. Beaters 4l ideally strike the upper surface of material paper 8 one-half to two inches (l.25 to 5.0 cm) behind the lines of weakening along which the paper is folded. The chute and beaters are synchronized such that when the chute is at the midpoint of its oscillation arc, surfaces 89 and 90 of beaters 4l are in the positions depicted in Figure 5. Similarly, when chute l9 and beaters 4l are in the positions illustrated in Figure 5, a given point on the periphery of each spiral 42 is in a particular positon with respect to chute l9 and beaters 4l. In operation, when apparatus ll3 is in the operative position illustrated in Figure 3, paper strip 8 travels through the apparatus of Figure l in the direction of travel indicated by arrows T to guide roller l5, and from guide roller l5 through opening 29A into apparatus ll3 as indicated by dashed line ll3A in Figure l. Paper strip 8 entering apparatus ll3 is creased along transverse lines of weakening formed in strip 8 by perforating means l3. Variator roller l2 is displaced upwardly or downwardly as indicated by arrow V to retard or advance paper strip 8 entering perforating means l3. Printing drum ll repeatedly imprints business formats l20 at generally equal intervals along paper strip 8. As shown in Figure 2, the lines of weakening l2l formed in strip 8 by perforator means l3 are intermediate each successive pair of business formats l20 imprinted on strip 8. If a line of weakening l2l is too near or too far from a business format l20, then variator roller l2 can be lowered to advance the position of the lines of weakening on paper strip 8 in the direction of arrow W in Figure 2. Raising roller l2 retards the position of lines of weakening on strip 8 in a direction opposite that of arrow W. Raising and lowering variator roller l2 also advances and retards the position of lines of weakening l2l passing through chute l9 in creasing apparatus ll3. Consequently, in the system of the invention it is necessary to have means on apparatus ll3 for advancing or retarding the time at which lines of weakening pass through the mouth of chute l9. As earlier noted, when chute l9 distributes successive transverse lines of weakening in opposite directions, beaters 4l and spirals 42 function to compress and crease the distributed paper along the lines of weakening. Ideally, the beaters strike the upper surface of distributed paper strip 8 one-half to two inches (l.25 to 5.0 cm) behind the lines of weakening or folded edge of the paper or other material. At various operational speeds the operational characteristics of the paper folding mechanisms may vary and the points at which the beaters strike the upper surface of paper strip 8 tends to travel to a position outside the preferred one-half to two inch (l.25 to 5.0 cm) range. In particular, at high operational speeds the chute is elastically deformed during its oscillation. This tends to retard travel of paper through the chute and cause lines of weakening to pass through the mouth of the chute at the improper time. Adjustment of variator roller l2 can also cause lines of weakening in paper 8 to pass through the mouth of chute l9 at improper times. When handle 40 is turned, shaft 23B is rotated and retarded or advanced with respect to shaft 23A so that the timing of the chute, beaters, and spirals is simultaneously retarded or advanced with respect to the feed roller l7 such that the lines of weakening are again distributed equidistant from the centre of the arc of oscillation followed by the mouth of chute l9. Differential timing mechanism 24 permits this retarding or advancing of lines of weakening to be accomplished while maintaining the synchronous relationship of the chute, beaters and spirals. If it is not desired to utilize the creasing apparatus ll3, then mechanism ll5 is disengaged and apparatus ll3 pivoted about rod ll4 to the position of Figure 2 and paper strip 8 travelling through the apparatus of Figure l is directed from guide roller l5 to take-up roll l6 as shown in Figure 2. Variator roller l2 can again be adjusted to retard or advance paper strip 8 passing into perforating means l3.

Claims: 1. Apparatus for imprinting an elongate strip of paper moving along a path of travel through the apparatus and comprising imprinting means (ll), means (l3) for forming lines of weakening at spaced intervals along the strip, take-up means (l6) for receiving the strip after it has passed the imprinting means and means for forming lines of weakness, characterised by folding means for folding the strip along the lines of weakness, the folding means comprising an oscillating device (l9) for feeding the strip between spaced support members (42) to fold the strip in zig-zag form about the members, means (4l) forming crease lines along the lines of weakening, and means (54) for stripping the folded strip from the support members and further characterised by synchronising means comprising first adjusting means (l2) for advancing or retarding the strip as it passes between the imprinting means and the means for forming lines of weakening, and second adjusting means (40, 23A, 23B) for advancing and retarding the timing of the folding means. 2. Apparatus for imprinting an elongate strip of paper moving along a path of travel through the apparatus, said paper strip having a pair of parallel elongate peripheral edges, said apparatus including (a) primary frame means; (b) a roller of paper rotatably mounted on said frame means to supply said strip of paper moving through said apparatus; (c) at least one drum rotatably mounted on said frame means for contacting and imprinting said strip of paper moving through said apparatus; (d) roller means rotatably mounted on said frame means and adapted to contact and form transverse, parallel lines of weakening at spaced intervals along said paper strip moving through said apparatus; (e) a take-up roller for receiving said paper strip after said strip has contacted and moved past said imprinting drum and said roller means; (f) a plurality of guide rollers rotatably mounted on said frame means and contacted by said strip of paper moving through said apparatus; said guide rollers, imprinting drum and roller means generally defining said path of travel of said strip of paper from said supply roll through said apparatus, one of said guide rollers being positioned along said path of travel intermediate said roller means and take-up roller, said paper strip moving through said apparatus along said path of travel within an envelope generally bounded by a pair of imaginary vertical parallel planes each intersecting one of said elongate peripheral edges of said paper strip; (g) secondary frame means operatively associated with said primary frame means; (h) an oscillating chute mounted on said secondary frame means for alternately distributing at least some of said lines of weakening in said paper strip in substantialy opposite directions; (i) a feed roller carried on said secondary frame means for dispensing said continuous strip of paper into said oscillating chute; (j) folding means carried on said secondary frame means and operatively associated with said oscillating chute for urging said paper distributed by said chute into a folded condition, said folding means including (i) spirals shaped and dimensioned to receive and carry away from said oscillating chute creased edges of paper distributed by said chute, said spirals being independently adjustable prior to the operation of said apparatus, and (ii) beaters for periodically tamping said paper distributed by said chute, said beaters assisting in the folding and positioning of said paper and being independently adjustable prior to the operation of said apparatus, said spirals and beaters moving in synchronous relationship with said chute during the operation thereof, (k) a support surface mounted on said apparatus for receiving paper dispensed by said spirals and beaters; (l) paper stops mounted on said secondary frame means and positioned above said support surface, each of said paper stops having at least one upstanding face for contacting and preventing the lateral travel of creased edges of paper distributed by said chute; (m) first gear train means carried on said primary frame means for transmitting motive power to at least one of the group consisting of said guide rollers, said take-­ up roller, said imprinting drum, and said roller means mounted on said primary frame means to draw said paper strip from said supply roller through said apparatus and along said path of travel; (n) power means to drive said first gear train means; (o) second gear train means carried on said secondary frame means for driving and transmitting motive power to said feed roller, oscillating chute and folding means such that generally synchronized movement thereinbetween is maintained, a portion of said gear train means actuating said chute and folding means without actuating said feed roller; (p) means for driving said second gear train means; said secondary frame means being connected to said primary frame means for movement between at least two operative positions, (q) a first operative position with said feed roller generally parallel to said guide rollers, supply roll and take-up roller, and positioned to receive said paper strip from said guide roller positioned intermediate said roller means and said take-up roller such that said paper strip received by said feed roller generally lies within said envelope bounded by said first and second parallel imaginary planes; and, (r) a second operative position with said feed roller and secondary frame means generally displaced to a position outside of said envelope bounded by said first and second parallel imaginary planes; said paper strip moving through said apparatus being directed from said guide roller positioned intermediate said roller means and said take-up roller to said feed roller and through said chute and folding means when said secondary frame means is in said first operative position; and, said take-up roller when said secondary frame means is in said second operative position, (s) means carried on said primary frame means for, when said secondary frame means is in said first operative position, simultaneously advancing or retarding the movement of said strip of paper through said chute and folding means.

Inventors: BUNCH, ERNEST BENJAMIN, JR.
Applicants: BUNCH, ERNEST BENJAMIN, JR.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B41F17
IPC codes: B65H45, B41F13, B65H20, B41F19