Paper guide device

Abstract: An improved paper guide device (6, 7) is disposed close to folding rollers (4a, 4b) in a folding machine of a rotary press as spaced from an outer circumference of a folding drum (2). Owing to a novel construction, during a normal operation the paper guide device is preset and fixed at a gap distance for allowing minute movement of the folding rollers upon folding, but upon clogging of paper when the folding rollers move beyond the preset gap distance, the paper guide device can move as interlocked with the movement of the folding rollers, and therefore, paper guides in the paper guide device never come into contact with the folding rollers. Preferably, the paper guides are adjustable in position with respect to the folding rollers so as to adjust the gap distance preset between them and the folding rollers.

Description: The present invention relates to a paper guide device disposed in a folding drum and folding roller section in a folding machine of a rotary press. Description of the Prior Art: Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a paper guide device in the prior art. A multiple web W twice-folded by means of a triangular plate is led via nipping rollers to between a cutting drum 1 and a folding drum 2 to be cut, then the cut web is folded by projection of a folding blade 3 from the folding drum 2 and by means of folding rollers 4a and 4b and formed into a pull-out binder, which is ejected to the below. Paper guides 6 and 7 hold the cut web on the outer circumference of the folding drum 2 to eliminate fluttering of the paper web when it is folded, and also to prevent production of an unacceptable pull-out binder such as edge-folded one. While the paper guides 6 and 7 are formed in such manner that normally a gap distance b , between them and the folding drum 2 can be adjusted to an optimum value depending upon a number of completed pages, during a normal operation they are used under a fixed condition. On the other hand, the folding rollers 4a and 4b have their gap distance preset at a dimension corresponding to a number of ccmpleted pages of a pull-out binder, and they are operated while being accompanied by periodical minute movement, but provision is made such that they can move to the positions where a gap distance f can be insured for protection of the machine upon abnormal condition such as clogging of paper. Accordingly, between the folding roller 4a and the paper guide 6 and between the folding roller 4b and the guide 7 are respectively reserved such gap distances c that even if the folding rollers 4a and 4b should move by the gap distance f they would not come into contact with the paper guides 6 and 7, respectively. Therefore, the gap distances c between the folding roller 4a and the paper guide 6 and between the folding roller 4b and the paper guide 7 during normal operation are chosen considerably broad. It is to be noted that reference numeral 5 designates a support shaft for the paper guide 6, numeral 12 designates a lever which is rotatable about a shaft 13, numeral 15 designates a paper guide gap distance adjusting device, and numeral 8a designates an arm which is rotatable about a shaft 10 and supports the folding roller 4a. In the case where the cut web is continuously folded by means of the folding blade and the folding rollers, variation of an air flow around the outer circumference of the folding drum upon folding serves as one factor which decides whether or not a regular pull-out binder can be produced. The paper guides have the purpose of preventing an abnormal behavior of the web upon folding which is caused by this air flow variation. However, in the heretofore known paper guide device as described above, since the guides are not present in the proximity of the folding rollers upon operation and the gap distances between the guides and the folding rollers are broad, upon folding, an abnormal behavior at a rear end portion of the web is brought about, and so, there exist problems that defects in quality such as edge folding of a pull-out binder and the like may arise. A folding mechanism including a combination of a folding cylinder, a pair of folding rollers, means carried by said cylinder for folding a group of sheets between said rollers and an eccentric mounting for one of said folding rollers for variably positioning one of the rollers is known from GB-A-351 767. This preknown folding mechanism has rollers, which are supported by a pivot arm to make escape and return of the folding rollers easy at clogging of paper. Furthermore this folding mechanism has a sheer pin by which the rollers can return to the original point. To promote the positioning of the folding rollers one roller is supported by means of an eccentric mounting. This preknown folding mechanism has a not independently movable guide since the guide is supported by an axis of each roller. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved paper guide device in a folding machine of a rotary press, in which an abnormal behavior of a paper web upon folding is eliminated and defects in product quality such as edge folding of a pull-out binder can be prevented. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved paper guide device in a folding machine of a rotary press, in which upon clogging of paper, contact between folding rollers and paper guides can be surely prevented, and so, generation of overheat spark caused by contact never arises. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved paper guide device in a folding machine of a rotary press, in which upon clogging of paper, damage of mechanical parts such-as a folding drum, a folding blade and folding rollers can be prevented. According to the present invention, there is provided a paper guide device disposed close to folding rollers in a folding machine of a rotary press and spaced from an outer circumference of a folding-drum, in which during normal operation, a preset gap distance is maintained between the paper guide device the folding rollers for allowing minute movement of the folding rollers upon folding, but upon clogging of paper when the folding rollers move beyond the preset gap distance, the paper guide device can move as interlocked with the movement of the folding rollers so that paper guides do not come into contact with the folding rollers. In more particular, the improved paper guide device according to the present invention is characterized by the following structural conditions: (1) The gap distances c between the folding rollers and the paper guides during normal operation are chosen at minumum of such value that the folding rollers may not come into contact with the paper guides. (2) In order to fulfil the condition-(1) above, in the case where the folding rollers have moved beyond the gap distances during normal operation due to occurrence of anomaly such as clogging of paper, the paper guides would move jointly with the folding rollers so that the minimum gap distance between the folding rollers and the paper guide for not coming into contact with each other can be held. (3) In order to fulfil the condition-(2) above, the paper guides are supported in a slidable or rotatable manner, and by means of an actuator such as a spring or an air-cylinder the paper guide is fixedly held in the state of the condition-(1) above. (4) In order to make the slidable or rotatable paper guide fulfilling the condition-(3) above move jointly with abnormal movement of the folding roller, an actuating plate or a roller is provided in the arm for rotatably supporting the folding roller and in the paper guide section. The paper guide device according to the present invention operates in the following manner: (1) Owing to the fact that the gap distances c between the folding rollers and the tip ends of the paper guides during normal operation are preset narrow at the minimum value for allowing minute movement of the folding rollers, interception of the web or variation of an air flow upon folding of a web can be suppressed to minimum. (2) Since the paper guides surely move while maintaining the minimum gap distance from the folding rollers as interlocked with the abnormal movement of the folding rollers, the folding rollers and the paper guides would never come into contact with each other. (3) As a result of the above-mentioned operations (1) and (2) above, an amount of escape f of the folding rollers upon clogging of paper can be chosen large. The above-mentioned and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1(a) is a side view of a paper guide device according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 1(b) is an inclined plan view of the same as viewed in the direction of an arrow T in Fig. 1(a); Fig. 2(a) is a side view of a paper guide device according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2(b) is a cross-section view of the same taken along line Y-Y in Fig. 2(a) as viewed in the direction of arrows; Fig. 3 is a side view of a paper guide and a gap distance adjusting device on the side of a cutting drum in the prior art; and Fig. 4 shows an arrangement of a cutting drum, a folding drum, folding rollers and paper guides in a folding machine. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT: Now the present invention will be described in greater detail with respect to a first preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and a second preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 2. In the first preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a shaft 33 integrally mounted to a support shaft 5 of a paper guide 6, which shaft is held within a groove 31a of a lever 31 that is rotated about a shaft 13 by a paper guide gap distance adjusting device 15, is rotatably fitted to one end of a link 32 that is swingably mounted to a fulcrum point 10a of an arm 8a supporting a folding roller 4a. In addition, on the shaft 33 is fixedly provided a lever 46. Next, a shaft 42 penetrating through an elongated groove 46a of the lever 46 and an elongated groove 38a of a bracket 38 intersecting with the elongated groove 46a, is press-fitted in a shaft 40 which can move in a bore 38b of the bracket 38 against a resilient force of a spring 41, and at one end of the shaft 40 is mounted a roller 47. On the other hand, on the arm 8a is mounted an actuating plate 35 by means of brackets 34 and 43, and a gap distance d is preset between the actuating plate 35 and the roller 47. To the bracket 34 is mounted one end of the actuating plate 35 via a pin 45. The setting of the gap distance d of the roller 47 is carried out by rotating the actuating plate 35 about the pin 45 by means of a screw 36 disposed between the bracket 43 and the other end of the actuating plate 35 and, after adjustment, fixing the same. In setting of the tip end gap distance of the paper guide 6, the support shaft 5 of the paper guide 6 is rotated by loosening a bolt 11 and then it is fixed again by fastening the bolt 11. The above-mentioned setting of the gap distances d and c is carried out under the condition of the gap distance a of the folding roller 4a upon maximum completed pages. The values of the gap distances d and c are chosen at such values that minute movement of the folding roller 4a and the arm 8a during normal operation may be allowed and even under the condition of d = 0, normally a gap distance c of about 1 mm can be maintained. If the folding roller 4a should move to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 due to clogging of paper, then the arm 8a would swing in the clockwise direction jointly with the brackets 34 and 43 and the actuating plate 35. Accordingly, the gap distance d between the actuating plate 35 and the roller 47 would decrease gradually. If the folding roller 4a has moved up to the position where its gap distance becomes f , then the above-mentioned gap distance d between the actuating plate 35 and the roller 47 would become d = 0, and thereafter the shaft 40 is moved in the direction of arrow A against a resilient force of the spring 41 by the actuating plate 35 via the roller 47. Accordingly, the lever 46 also rotates about the shaft 33, the paper guide 6 integrally fixed to the shaft 33 rotates in the direction of arrow D while maintaining the tip end gap distance c nearly at 1 mm, and so, contact between the folding roller 4a and the paper guide 6 would not occur. Adjustment of the gap distance b ₁ , between the paper guide 6 and the folding drum 2 is carried out by rotating the lever 31 with the aid of the paper guide gap distance adjusting device 15. If the lever 31 rotates, the center axis of the shaft 33 rotates about the fulcrum point 10a jointly with the link 32. On the other hand, a tilt angle of the lever 46 changes by the amount corresponding to the movement of the position of the shaft 33 with respect to the position of the shaft 42. As a result of this variation of the center position of the shaft 33 and the tilt angle of the lever 46, the position and inclination of the paper guide 6 would change. The tip end position p of the paper guide would be changed to the position p ₁ or p ₂ by the multi-contact linkage of the lever 46 so that the gap distance c between the folding roller and the paper guide may not change largely. Fig. 2 shows a second preferred embodiment for use with the paper guide 7, in which a similar mechanism is utilized. In Fig. 2, a lever 51 can be rotated about a shaft 67 supported from a bracket 66 by means of a paper guide gap distance adjusting device, which is composed of a trunnion 64 supporting a screw shaft 62 of a handle 61, a trunnion 65 threadedly engaged with the screw shaft 62 and a spring 63 disposed between the both trunnions 64 and 65. The paper guide 7 and its support shaft 9 are integrally fixed to a shaft 53 which penetrates through an elongated groove 51a at the other end of the lever 51 and an elongated groove 54a of a lever 54 which is rotatable about a fulcrum point 10b, and also they are rotatably mounted to a shaft 58 which is movable within a bore 51b of the lever 51 against a resilient force of a spring 59. In addition, a roller 52 mounted to a bracket 55 on the seat 7a of the paper guide 7 is fitted in another elongated groove 54b of the lever 54 and thereby the paper guide 7 is held so as to be rotatable about the shaft 53. On the other hand, an arm 8b supporting a folding roller 4b is provided with an actuating plate 57, and a gap distance d between the actuating plate 57 and another roller 56 on the bracket 55 is adjustably preset by moving the mount position of the actuating plate 57 up and down. A tip end gap distance c of the paper guide 7 can be adjusted by moving the shaft 58 pushed by the spring 59, that is, by moving the shaft 53 and the paper guide 7 by turning an adjusting screw 69. The above-described setting of the gap distances d and c is carried out under the condition of the gap distance a of the folding roller 4b at the time of maximum completed pages. The values of the gap distances d and c are determined by a similar relation to that of the first preferred embodiment. Upon clogging of paper, if the folding roller 4b moves, then the gap distance d becomes d = 0, hence the actuating plate 57 and the roller 56 would come into contact with each other, thus the roller 56 is pushed and the shaft 53 is moved via the paper guide 7 in the direction of arrow F against a resilient force of the spring 59, so that the folding roller 4b and the paper guide 7 would not come into contact with each other, and the tip end gap distance c is held nearly at 1 mm. Adjustment of the gap distance b ₂ between the paper guide 7 and the folding drum 2 is carried out by rotating the lever 51 by turning the handle 61 of the paper guide gap distance adjusting device 60. As a result of rotation of the lever 51, the center position of the shaft 53 would rotationally change about the shaft 67, at the same time the lever 54 also rotates about the fulcrum point 10b, and inclination of the paper guide 7 also would change. By this multi-contact linkage, provision is made such that the gap distance c at the tip end of the paper guide may not change largely. As will be apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments above, according to the present invention, owing to the fact that in a paper guide device disposed close to folding rollers in a folding machine of a rotary press as spaced from an outer circumference of a folding drum, provision is made such that during normal operation the paper guide device is preset and fixed at a gap distance for allowing minute movement of the folding rollers upon folding, but upon clogging of paper when the folding rollers move beyond the preset gap distance, the paper guide device can move as interlocked with the movement of the folding rollers so that paper guides may not come into contact with the folding rollers; the following advantages are obtained: (1) Since the gap distances between the folding rollers and the paper guides during normal operation are narrow and interception of a web or variation of an air flow is little, abnormal behavior of a web upon folding is eliminated, and troubles in product quality such as edge folding of a pull-out binder can be prevented. (2) As the contact between the folding rollers and the paper guides upon clogging of paper can be surely prevented, occurrence of overheat sparks caused by contact is not present, and so the operation is safe. (3) Since an amount of escape of the folding rollers upon clogging of paper is chosen large, damages of mechanical parts such as a folding drum, a folding blade or folding rollers can be prevented.

Claims: A paper guide device disposed close to folding rollers (4a,4b) in a folding machine of a rotary press and spaced from an outer circumference of a folding drum (2) characterized by such construction that during normal operation, a preset gap distance ( c ) is maintained between said paper guide device (6,7) and said folding rollers (4a,4b) for allowing minute movement of the folding rollers (4a,4b) upon folding, but upon clogging of paper when the folding rollers (4a,4b) move beyond the preset gap distance ( c ), said paper guide device (6,7) can move as interlocked with the movement of said folding rollers (4a,4b) so that paper guides (6,7) do not come into contact with said folding rollers (4a,4b). A paper guide device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said paper guides (6,7) are adjustable in position with respect to said folding rollers (4a,4b) so as to adjust the gap distance ( c ) preset between them and said folding rollers (4a,4b).

Inventors: HIRAHARA HIDEFUMI C O MIHARA M, HIRAHARA, HIDEFUMI, C/O MIHARA MACHINERY WORKS
Applicants: MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD, MITSUBISHI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B65H45
IPC codes: B65H45