A device for folding and collecting sheets of different formats

Abstract: A folding and depositing device for drawings provided with legends, comprising two folding stations (1, 2) for folding drawings in two directions at right angles to one another and a collecting station (22) for depositing the folded drawings with their legends on the same side. The folding stations (1, 2) fold drawings of a first group of formats (A1 and A2) first in the longitudinal direction and then in the transverse direction and fold drawings of a second group of formats (A0 and A3) first in the transverse direction and then in the longitudinal direction. Depending on the group to which they belong, folded drawings are fed via different discharge paths (20, 21 and 23, 24, 25) from the second folding station (2) to the collecting station (22), in which discharge paths (20, 21 and 23, 24, 25) folded drawings undergo a different number of turns. An intermediate transport path (17) between the folding stations (1, 2) is accessible via a routing switch (30) to enable a subsequent drawing to be folded in the first folding station (1) while a previous drawing is being transversely transported to the second folding station (2).

Description: This invention relates to a device for folding sheets of different formats and depositing the sheets in folded form, comprising: a first folding station for folding a sheet in a first direction an even number of times, a second folding station for folding the sheet in a second direction at right angles to the first direction, a collecting station for collecting sheets folded by the device, a feed path for feeding a sheet to the first folding station, an intermediate transport path for conveying a sheet from the first folding station to the second folding station and a discharge path for discharging a sheet from the second folding station to the collecting station. A device of this kind is known from US patent 4 701 155, which describes a device for folding sheets of drawings in the formats A1, A2 or A3, which drawings are conventionally provided with a legend in the bottom right-hand corner. Sheets of drawings are fed in the feed path of this known device with an orientation such that the drawing, and hence also the legend, is legible when looking from a specific side of the feed path. Looking in the direction of the feed, the legend is then situated at the left-hand side of the trailing part of a sheet fed in the longitudinal direction. In the first folding station an A1 sheet is folded four times in the transverse direction, and an A2 and an A3 sheet are folded twice. A packet thus folded zig-zag fashion is then fed to the second folding station with the legend situated at the top. In the second folding station the zig-zag folded A1 and A2 sheet is double-folded and the zig-zag folded A3 sheet is passed on without any further folding. The sheets folded in this way are then deposited in the collecting station in a uniform way, i.e. with the legends at the top. One of the properties of this known device is that in order to ensure that folded sheets of drawings are deposited with their legends on the same side, the sheets must always be fed with their longest side parallel to the feed direction, and this is hereinafter referred to as longitudinal transit. Since, in the case of longitudinal transit, the processing capacity of the device is inversely proportional to the length of the longest side of a sheet of drawings, the known device has the disadvantage that the processing capacity is adversely affected in order to achieve the above uniform deposition. The object of this invention is to provide a device in accordance with the preamble which has optimal processing capacity but also guarantees a uniform deposition. According to a first aspect of the invention, this object is achieved in that in a device according to the preamble, the discharge path has a first portion for depositing in a first orientation a folded sheet belonging to a first group, and a second portion for depositing in a second orientation a folded sheet belonging to a second group, in which orientations the folded sheets are deposited in turned-over form with respect to one another. As a result, it is possible on the one hand to fold and uniformly deposit sheets whose longest side is of a dimension larger than the working width of the device (i.e. the width of the feed path), these sheets belonging to the first group, while on the other hand optimal processing capacity is obtained for folding in two directions and uniformly depositing sheets whose longest side is of a dimension equal to or smaller than the working width of the device, these sheets belonging to the second group. In one embodiment of a device according to the invention, detection means are provided which detect the format and orientation of a sheet fed in the feed path and, on the basis thereof, detect whether said sheet belongs to the first group or the second group and control means are provided which in response to the detection of the detection means activate first transport means for feeding into the first portion of the discharge path a sheet belonging to the first group or activate second transport means for feeding into the second portion of the discharge path a sheet belonging to the second group. As a result, the device can be automatically adjusted to an optimal method of folding and discharging a sheet, resulting in rapid processing and uniform deposition of the sheets. Preferably, the detection means classify a sheet whose shortest side is equal to or shorter than the maximum distance between two folds that the second folding station can apply, in the same group as a sheet whose longest side is longer than the length of the first folding station in the second direction. As a result, a sheet in the A3 format provided with a legend is folded only in the first folding station so that the folded sheet has a free edge extending on a side of the folded packet situated opposite the corner of the sheet where the legend is situated, this sheet edge being usable as a binding edge so that the folded sheet can be unfolded in the bound condition. According to another aspect of the invention, the above object is achieved in a device according to the preamble in which the first folding station is of the type in which a sheet is folded by two pairs of folding rollers with nips provided in one folding plane, in that the intermediate transport path comprises a first path portion and a second path portion both adjoining the folding plane on the same side of the first folding station, the said second path portion being provided with transport means for conveying a sheet to the second folding station, in that the intermediate transport path is provided with a guide element which can occupy two positions, a first position in which it leads a sheet from the first folding station into the first path portion and a second position in which it leads a sheet from the first folding station into the second path portion, and in that control means are provided which can set the guide element only into the second position during the application of the last fold in the first folding station and set the guide element in the first position during the application of the other folds in the first folding station. Consequently, the first folding station can start folding a subsequent sheet while the preceding sheet is still situated in the intermediate transport path. Characteristics and advantages of the invention are explained by reference to the following description of an embodiment of a device according to the invention with reference to the drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention. Fig. 1a is a diagram of a variant of a part of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a third embodiment of a device according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows the folding pattern applied by a device according to Figs. 1 to 3 to a sheet of drawings of the format A0 and A3, and Fig. 5 shows the folding pattern applied by a device according to one of Figs. 1 to 3 to a sheet of drawings of the format A1 and A2. The devices shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3 each comprise a folding station 1 for the zig-zag folding of a still unfolded sheet and a folding station 2 for the zig-zag folding of the sheet folded in folding station 1, the zig-zag folding in station 2 being in a direction extending transversely of the direction in which the sheet was folded in folding station 1. The folding stations 1 and 2 are both of the type shown in UK patent 1 394 480. Folding station 1 comprises pairs of folding rollers 3 and 4 which form transport and folding nips situated at some distance from one another in a common folding plane 5, the directions of rotation of the folding rollers 3 and 4 being reversible. A pair of input rollers 6 forms a transport nip in a plane at right angles to the folding plane 5 and intersecting the folding plane 5 between the folding nips of the folding rollers 3 and 4. A funnel-shaped guide member 7 is disposed in a zone between the input rollers 6 and the folding rollers 3 and 4 and is displaceable between a position in which a sheet conveyed by input rollers 6 is guided in the direction of folding rollers 3 and a position in which a sheet conveyed by input rollers 6 is guided in the direction of folding rollers 4. To form a fold in a sheet fed between the pair of input rollers 6 and one of the pairs of folding rollers (3 or 4), the direction of rotation of the folding rollers is reversed and the guide member 7 is moved to the position in which the sheet is guided to the other pair of folding rollers (4 or 3). As a result, a blouse is formed in the sheet beneath the guide member 7. When this blouse is engaged by the other pair of folding rollers (4 or 3), a fold forms in the sheet at that place. By moving the guide member 7 back again and reversing the direction of rotation of the folding rollers 3 and 4, given continuous sheet feed, a second fold is formed in the sheet in opposition to the first fold. In this way the sheet can be folded zig-zag. The reciprocating movement of the guide member 7 and the direction of rotation of the folding rollers 3 and 4 can be controlled in the way explained in the above-mentioned UK patent 1 394 480. Folding station 2 is of the same type as folding station 1 and comprises input rollers 8 for inputting a sheet fed through folding station 1, and pairs of folding rollers 9 and 10 whose nips are situated in a folding plane 11, and a funnel-shaped guide member 12. In the devices shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3, folding plane 5 extends horizontally and folding plane 11 vertically. It is of course possible for these folding planes to extend in other directions. It is also possible to use a different type of folding device in the folding stations 1 and 2 from that described above. Sheets are fed to folding station 1 via a feed path 14 leading into the nip between the input rollers 6. Feed path 14 can be connected to the output 15 of a sheet printing device 16, e.g. a copying machine, only the contours of which are shown. Sheets fed through folding station 1 are fed to folding station 2 via an intermediate transport path 17 which extends in the folding plane 5 and which is provided with transport means (not shown) which feed a sheet from folding station 1 first in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the folding rollers 3 and 4 of folding station 1, and then feed the sheet on in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the folding rollers of folding station 1, for feeding said sheet into folding station 2. Sheets fed through folding station 2 can be fed out of folding station 2 by conveyor means (not shown) in the vertical folding plane 11, via a top outlet 18 or via a bottom outlet 19. That part 20 of the discharge path which extends from the top outlet 18 of folding station 2 is provided with a bend 21 which extends over 90° and leads into a collecting station 22 in which the sheets fed through folding stations 1 and 2 are deposited on one another. That part 23 of the discharge path which extends from the bottom outlet 19 of folding station 2 is provided with a bend 24 which extends over 180° and a bend 25 which extends over 90° and leads out in the same way into the collecting station 22 as the part 20 of the discharge path. A sheet detection device 26 is disposed in feed path 14 and consists of an array of sheet detectors covering the entire width of feed path 14. The number of detectors that a supplied sheet sees is a measurement of the width of a supplied sheet and the interval of time that the said number of detectors sees the sheet is a measurement of the length of said sheet. Signals generated by the detection device 26 enable the control device 27 to determine the format and orientation of the supplied sheet. On the basis of the measured length the control device 27 establishes a folding program to be performed by folding station 1, e.g. zig-zag folding of a sheet in accordance with a folding pattern shown in UK patent 1 394 480. Detection device 26 is disposed at a distance upstream of folding station 1 such that the folding program to be performed by folding station 1 can be performed in good time. For the performance of the folding program of folding station 1, the leading edge of the supplied sheet is first fed by the member 7 between the folding rollers 3. The folding rollers 3 also apply the last fold. On the basis of the measured sheet width the control device 27 determines the folding program for folding station 2. In the performance of the latter folding program, a sheet which is not to be folded or which is to be folded twice in the folding station 2, is first fed by guide member 12 between folding rollers 10 and a sheet which is to be folded once in folding station 2 is first fed between the folding rollers 9 by the guide member 12 set to the other position. For sheet formats A0 to A4 inclusive, the folding program to be executed by folding station 2 consists of transverse folding twice of an A0 sheet already folded zig-zag in the longitudinal direction by folding station 1, transverse folding twice of an A1 sheet already folded zig-zag in the longitudinal direction by folding station 1, transverse folding once of an A2 sheet already folded zig-zag in the longitudinal direction by folding station 1, non-folding of an A3 sheet already transversely folded zig-zag by folding station 1, and non-folding of an A4 sheet again not folded by folding station 1. On the basis of the orientation in which a sheet of a specific format to be folded is fed, either longitudinally or transversely, the control device 27 determines the folding program applicable to that sheet. A sheet of a width corresponding to the working width of folding station 1 and longer than said width, e.g. an A0 sheet fed in the longitudinal direction, is classified in a first group by the control device 27. A sheet narrower than the distance between two folds which folding station 2 can apply, e.g. a longitudinally supplied A3 sheet, is also classified in the first group by control device 27. A sheet whose dimensions correspond to a format having the same dimensions as or smaller than the dimensions of a sheet folded in the device, e.g. an A4 sheet supplied in the transverse direction, is also classified in the first group. Sheets having dimensions between the above maximum format (A0) and the above smallest formats (A3, A4) are supplied transversely according to the invention, something which can be checked by the detection device 26. This latter group of sheets is classified in a second group by the control device 27. When a sheet supplied is classified in the first group, the control device 27 generates a control signal 28 which, after completion of the folding program to be performed by folding station 2, activates folding rollers 9 in order to deposit the sheet in the collecting station 22 via part 20 of the discharge path. If a sheet supplied is classified in the second group, control device 27 generates a control signal 29 which, after completion of the folding program to be performed by folding station 2, activates folding rollers 10 in order to deposit said sheet in collecting station 22 via part 23 of the discharge path. The operation of the device shown in Fig. 1 for sheets of drawings in the formats A0 to A4 inclusive provided with a legend in the bottom right-hand corner will be explained below. This explanation is based on the supply of a drawing 31 with the drawing side facing down and with the legend at the leading edge of the drawing. In the case of an A0 sheet, this legend is situated at the location denoted by 32 while in the case of an A1 sheet it is situated at the location denoted by 33. An A0 sheet fed in the longitudinal direction is folded six times in folding station 1 then fed out of folding station 1 by folding rollers 3 and brought into the position indicated by reference 31', from which position the zig-zag folded sheet is fed between input rollers 8 of folding station 2 by means of intermediate conveying means (not shown). In the folding station 2 the sheet is fed by a guide member 12 with its leading edge between the folding rollers 10. After two transverse folds have been made by successive pairs of folding rollers 9 and 10, the folded sheet is fed by folding rollers 9 into part 20 of the discharge path, where it reaches position 31'' and from there to collecting station 22. An A1 sheet fed in the transverse direction is folded twice in the folding station 1 and the package folded in this way is first fed by guide member 12 of folding station 2 between folding rollers 9 and, after transverse folds have been applied by successive pairs of folding rollers 10 and 9, is fed by folding rollers 10 into part 23 of the discharge path and from there to the collecting station 22 where the folded A1 sheet comes to lie with its legend also facing up. An A2 sheet fed in the transverse direction is folded twice in the folding station 1 and is first fed between folding rollers 9 in folding station 2 and then double-folded between folding rollers 10 and also fed by folding roller pair 10 into part 23 of the discharge path and from there to the collecting station 22 where the folded A2 sheet again lands with its legend facing upwards. An A3 sheet fed in the longitudinal direction is only folded (twice) in folding station 1 and is then fed via the intermediate transport path 17 by input rollers 8 and guide member 12 between folding rollers 10 and then, by reversal of the direction of rotation of the pairs of rollers 9 and 10, to part 20 of the discharge path and from there to the collecting station 22 where the folded A3 sheet comes with its legend face up. An A4 sheet fed in the transverse direction is fed without being folded directly by guide member 7 and folding roller pair 3 through folding station 1 and, in the same way as an A3 sheet, through folding station 2, so that the A4 sheet like the other drawing formats comes to lie with its legend face up in the collecting station 22. Fig. 1a which illustrates the folding station 1 and intermediate transport 17 is an attractive embodiment of the intermediate transport 17 shown in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, the intermediate transport 17 comprises a path portion 17a in the same plane as the folding plane 5 and a path portion 17b beneath path portion 17a. A guide element 30 is disposed between folding station 1 and intermediate transport 17. Guide element 30 can be set by control device 27 to a solid-line position in order to lead a sheet out of folding station 1 via path portion 17a, and to a broken-line position to lead a sheet out of folding station 1 via path portion 17b. The operation of the intermediate transport shown in Fig. 1a is as follows: Upon feeding a sheet to be folded in folding station 1, the guide element 30 is in the solid-line position. The leading edge of the sheet is fed into path portion 17a by folding rollers 3. The sheet is then fed back and forth in folding plane 5, folds being applied by folding rollers 3 and 4. Just before the last fold is to be applied, the part of the sheet which has already been folded is largely on the side of folding station 1 remote from path portion 17a. At that moment control device 27 delivers a signal in response to which the guide element 30 is moved into the broken-line position. After the last fold 17b has been applied, folding rollers 3 then feed the zig-zag folded sheet into path portions of the intermediate transport 17. Directly after the trailing edge of the zig-zag folded sheet passes the guide element 30, the control device 27 resets the guide element 30 to the solid-line position. Path portion 17b is provided with transport means (not shown) which feed the zig-zag folded sheet fed from folding station 1 transversely to the folding station 2. While the sheet is being moved out of the intermediate transport 17 in the transverse direction, a subsequent sheet can already be fed by its leading edge into the intermediate transport 17, and specifically into portion 17a thereof. Thus sheets can be folded in a rapid sequence. Path portion 17a can also act as a discharge path for a sheet not requiring to be folded in folding station 2. The device shown in Fig. 2 differs from the device shown in Fig. 1 in that the bends 21 and 25 in the portions 20 and 23 of the discharge path are bent the other way so that folded sheets, unlike the above-described operation of the device according to Fig. 1, come to lie in the collecting tray with their legends face down. The advantage of this is that folded drawings fed to the folding device in a specific sequence with the drawing side face down can be deposited in the same sequence in the collecting station with their legends face up. The device shown in Fig. 2 also differs from the device shown in Fig. 1 in that the intermediate transport 17 between the folding stations 1 and 2 is on the other side of folding station 1, with the result that collecting station 22 is closer to the start of the feed path 14 and hence closer to the connected sheet-processing machine 16. The variant shown in Fig. 3 differs from the device shown in Fig. 1 in that in the intermediate transport 17 of sheets between folding stations 1 and 2 the sheet folded in one direction is first conveyed in the direction indicated by arrows 35 being at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the folding rollers 4 and 3, over a distance past the folding roller 3 greater than the maximum width of the package comprising the zig-zag folded sheet and only then is fed to folding station 2 in the direction indicated by arrows 36 being at right angles to the direction indicated by arrows 35. As a result folding station 1 can start folding of a subsequent sheet during the intermediate transport of a sheet unlike the variant described with reference to Fig. 1a, so that sheets to be folded can be fed into the folding device at very rapid intervals. For the sake of completeness, Fig. 4 shows the folding patterns of drawings to be fed longitudinally in formats A0 and A3 respectively, while Fig. 5 shows the folding patterns of drawings to be fed transversely in the formats A1 and A2 respectively. Of course numerous variations are possible within the scope of the invention in respect of the devices shown in Figs. 1 to 3. For example, the control of each of the devices described can be adapted to a turned-over orientation of the sheets to be supplied. Adapting the control to the supply of drawings fed with their image sides face up means that if the legends are situated at the leading edge of a supplied sheet, the leading part of the sheet is first fed between folding rollers 3 in folding station 1 and only thereafter is fed between folding rollers 4 to form the first fold, and so on. In folding station 2 the sequence of folds by folding rollers 9 and 10 is the opposite only in the case of sheets which have to be folded twice, while sheets in the formats A0 to A4 inclusive are always deposited via the different portion (20 or 23) from that for depositing a sheet of a corresponding format in accordance with the operation described hereinbefore with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. Each of the devices described in connction with Figs. 1 to 3 can also be adapted to the supply of drawings to be folded, with their legends at the face-down side of the trailing edge. Irrespective of the format this adaptation requires reversing the sequence of operation of the pairs of folding rollers 3 and 4 in folding station 1, and in the case of sheets having to be folded once in folding station 2 it requires a reversal of the sequence of operation of the pairs of folding rollers 9 and 10 and a changeover in the use of portions 20 and 23 of the discharge path and in the case of sheets which do not have to be folded or which have to be folded twice in folding station 2 it requires only a changeover in the use of portions 20 and 23 of the discharge path. If one of the above-described folding and depositing devices is integrated with a sheet printing device such as a copying machine, detection device 26 can be omitted and instead the format and orientation in the printing device can be established by reference to measurement of sheets fed therein. When the printing device is a copying machine, the format and the orientation can also be derived from the format and orientation of the originals to be copied. If one of the above-described folding and depositing devices is integrated with a copying machine in which the orientation of the image on transfer from an original to a receiving sheet can readily be turned through 90°, as in the case of an electronic copying machine in which the image is stored in an electronic memory during image transfer, it is possible for originals always to be fed uniformly in the same orientation, e.g. longitudinally, when they are scanned. In order to maintain a short processing time during printing and folding, a feature which requires transverse feed for certain formats as explained hereinbefore, the copying machine is provided with means known per se to turn the image through 90°.

Claims: A device for folding sheets of different formats and depositing the sheets in folded form, comprising: a first folding station (1) for folding a sheet in a first direction an even number of times, a second folding station (2) for folding the sheet in a second direction at right angles to the first direction, a collecting station (22) for collecting sheets folded by the device, a feed path (14) for feeding a sheet to the first folding station (1), an intermediate transport path (17) for conveying a sheet from the first folding station (1) to the second folding station (2) and a discharge path (20, 21, 23, 24, 25) for discharging a sheet from the second folding station (2) to the collecting station (22), characterised in that the discharge path has a first portion (20, 21) for depositing in a first orientation a folded sheet belonging to a first group, and a second portion (23, 24, 25) for depositing in a second orientation a folded sheet belonging to a second group, in which orientations the folded sheets are deposited in turned-over form with respect to one another. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that detection means (26, 27) are provided which detect the format and orientation of a sheet fed in the feed path (14) and, on the basis thereof, detect whether said sheet belongs to the first group or the second group and in that control means (27, 28, 29) are provided which in response to the detection of the detection means (26) activate first transport means (9) for feeding into the first portion (20, 21) of the discharge path a sheet belonging to the first group and activate second transport means (10) for feeding into the second portion (23, 24, 25) of the discharge path a sheet belonging to the second group. A device according to claim 2, characterised in that the detection means (26, 27) classify a sheet whose shortest side is equal to or shorter than the maximum distance between two folds that the second folding station (2) can apply in the same group as a sheet whose longest side is longer than the length of the first folding station (1) in the second direction. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first portion (20) of the discharge path adjoins a first outlet (18) of the second folding station (2) and in that the second portion (23) of the discharge path adjoins a second outlet (19) of the second folding station (2), which outlets (18, 19) are situated at the ends of a transport path (11) for conveying the folded sheet in the second folding station, said transport path (11) being provided with the first (9) and second transport means (10), the direction of conveyance of said transport means (9, 10) being reversible for selective conveyance of the folded sheet to the first outlet (18) or the second outlet (19). A device according to claim 1, in which the first folding station (1) is of the type in which a sheet is folded by two pairs of folding rollers (3, 4) with nips situated in one folding plane (5), characterised in that the intermediate transport path (17) comprises a first path portion (17a) and a second path portion (17b) both adjoining the folding plane (5) on the same side of the first folding station (1), the said second path portion (17b) being provided with transport means for feeding a sheet to the second folding station (2), in that the intermediate transport path (17) is provided with a guide element (30) which can occupy two positions, a first position in which it leads a sheet from the first folding station (1) into the first path portion (17a) and a second position in which it leads a sheet from the first folding station (1) into the second path portion (17b), and in that control means (27) are provided which can set the guide element (30) only into the second position during the application of the last fold in the first folding station (1) and set the guide element (30) into the first position during the application of the other folds in the first folding station (1).

Inventors: JANSSEN WILLEM PETER HENRI ANT, MARCELIS FLORIS JOHAN, JANSSEN, WILLEM PETER HENRI ANTOON, MARCELIS, FLORIS JOHAN
Applicants: OCE NEDERLAND BV, OCE-NEDERLAND B.V.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B65H45
IPC codes: B65H45