Roll-up device

Abstract: A device for rolling up a paper web (P) in a roll forming space (30) and ejecting the formed roll. During the rolling up process, the roll forming space (30) is bounded at three contact points which are spaced apart in the peripheral direction of the roll, the roll forming space (30) having a centre (M1) and the connecting lines between the said contact points forming a triangle inside which the centre (M1) of the roll forming space (30) is situated. Two of the contact points, which are formed by driven rollers (4, 5), are disposed at fixed points in the frame and a third contact point is disposed to be displaceable in order to follow the increase in the diameter of the roll during its formation. The roll forming space (30) is provided with guide means (13) which guide the paper web (P) along a curved roll-up path during a first revolution. The guide means (13) and the third contact point are displaceable between a position in which they define the roll forming space (30) and a position in which they leave an ejection opening free for a roll formed in the roll forming space (30).

Description: The invention relates to a device for rolling up a sheet of paper and ejecting the formed roll. The invention relates particularly to a device of this kind intended for rolling up image-bearing sheets which have just been produced by copying or printing, e.g. constructional or building drawings, which are of relatively considerable length, of more than about 0.5 metre. A device of this kind is disposed on the outlet side of a suitable (re)production machine in order to receive the sheet in web form, roll it up, frequently without a core, and possibly provide it with an anti-unroll means, and eject it into a receiving tray. A roll-up device known from US patent 5 466 328 comprises a sheet feed with a top guide and a bottom guide and two drive rollers which form a nip, the sheet feed emerging into a roll forming space defined by three arcuate guides, one of which forms the continuation of the top guide. Three roller assemblies are also provided at the periphery of the roll forming space, two at the bottom and one at the top, and they extend inwardly between the arcuate guides and are driven in order in turn to move a fed sheet around in the roll forming space. When the sheet has been completely rolled up, the bottom two drive roller assemblies with the guide extending between them are swung away so that the roll forming space forms an ejection opening at the bottom, from which the roll can drop down into a receiving tray. For the pivoting of the bottom drive roller assemblies, and hence also at least a part of the drive mechanism for these rollers, a relatively complex and space-occupying construction is required, which can result in malfunctioning of the roll-up device. During the forming of the roll, the diameter of the roll forming space in the known roll-up device is determined by the gripper surfaces of the drive roller assemblies, which are disposed at fixed points during the roll-up process. This results in constraints on the dimensions of the sheet rolls which can be made with this device. A simpler roll-up device is known from German Patent Application 43 38 146. This roll-up device comprises a roll forming space defined by two drive roller assemblies situated diametrically above and opposite one another and two arcuate guides which are also disposed diametrically opposite one another and which extend substantially along the periphery between the drive rollers. One arcuate guide and the bottom drive roller assembly are disposed at fixed points. The other, top drive roller assembly is so mounted in the frame that it can move in a radially outward and upward direction. The other, pivotable guide can also be pivoted away for this purpose after the first coil of the roll has been completed. As a result, during formation the roll has the opportunity of increasing in size while the sheet drive and guidance continue. After the roll is complete, an adhesive strip is fed over the fixed roller assembly in order to close the formed roll and with the guide completely swung away an ejection opening is freed for the roll. By only driving the bottom roller assembly at the fixed point, the roll is forced out of the roll forming space and can drop into a receiving tray. With this roll-up device as well, additional steps are required to make a drive roller assembly movable. US Patent 5 011 093 discloses a roll-up device in which the roll forming space is bounded at the top by a fixed arcuate guide provided with a number of freely rotating rollers for reducing the friction. At the bottom the roll forming space is defined by a comparable arcuate guide which, however, is pivotable so that it can be swung away after the rolling process in order thus to free an ejection opening for the roll. Also, this bottom guide is so suspended from the top guide that it can yield to a limited degree against spring force to follow an increase in the size of the roll during formation. At one end the bottom guide is also provided with a drive roller driven by a freely rotating roller disposed in the sheet feed path and itself driven by a driven roller with which this roller forms a nip. One disadvantage of this roll-up device is that when the bottom guide yields during the formation of the roll, the degree of engagement between the drive roller and the freely rotating roll is changed. Steps must also be taken to enable the drive roller to be moved away from the freely rotating roll during the pivoting away of the bottom guide. As a result of the reduced degree to which the bottom guide can yield, the lengths of sheets for rolling are also limited; lengths of 1.5 to 3 metres are referred to. There is a need for a simple roll-up device capable of reliably rolling up a wide variety of relatively considerable lengths (e.g. from 0.5 to 10 metres) of image-bearing sheets, such as copy sheets and drawings. The sheet should be permanently driven at the roll periphery during the rolling-up process and the roll should have space to increase in size. The object of the invention is to provide a device of the kind described in US patent 5344091 and in the preamble of claim 1 of the accompanying claims for rolling up a sheet of paper and ejecting the formed roll, comprising a frame, a roll forming space and feed means for transporting the sheet of paper to the roll forming space, wherein the roll forming space is bounded, during the rolling up process, on at least three contact points situated spaced apart in the peripheral direction of the roll, wherein the roll forming space has a centre and the connecting lines between the said contact points form a triangle in which the centre of the roll forming space is situated, wherein two of the said contact points are disposed at a fixed point in the frame and are each formed by driven sheet drive means, wherein the third said contact points is disposed to be displaceable in the frame in order to follow the increase in the diameter of the roll during its formation, wherein the roll forming space is also provided with first and second guide means which guide the sheet of paper , at least during a first revolution, along a curved roll-up path, wherein said second guide means is positioned along the curved roll-up path in between the first guide means and one of the said sheet drive means, and wherein the first and second guide means and the said third contact point are displaceable between a position in which they define the roll forming space and a position in which they leave an ejection opening free for a roll formed in the roll forming space, wherein the two sheet drive means are disposed one above the other. According to the device described in US patent 5344091, ejection of a formed roll takes place by engaging a take away rail to the top of a formed roll and driving the bottom sheet drive means formed by a horizontally extending belt, so restricting the device to the forming of a roll of a predetermined diameter. In the device according to the invention, bottom sheet drive means forms a contact point which is situated in the horizontal direction between the contact point of the top sheet drive means and the centre of the roll forming space. As a result, the roll will not lie in a stable position if it is supported solely by the sheet drive means. When the third contact point is removed, therefore, the roll will drop from the roll forming space of itself, irrespective of its diameter. Preferably, the third contact point adjoins the first guide means, it being advantageous if they form a unit with one another. The first guide means, which can be formed as curved fingers, will then form the third contact point with part of said fingers, so that the arrangement is kept extremely simple. Further simplification is obtained if the first guide means and the third contact point are pivotable about the same axis. In an alternative embodiment, in which the first guide means are pivotable about a first axis, said axis is formed by a bar which forms the third contact point and is itself mounted to be pivotable about an axis spaced from the first axis. In a further development of the device according to the invention, the first guide means and the second guide means respectively can be mounted to pivot about a first axis and a second axis in the frame, the first and second axes being spaced apart. Alternatively, the first guide means and the second guide means are pivotable about a common axis in the frame and are pivotable in opposite directions. It is noted that US Patent 5 016 833 discloses a roll-up device having a roll forming space defined by two fixed drive roller assemblies situated diametrically opposite one another in a substantially horizontal direction, and two sets of arcuate guide fingers which are pivotable away about different axes situated diametrically opposite one another. In the roll forming space there is provided a C-shaped ring which is pressed in to some extent and in which the sheet is rolled up. After rolling up, the C-shaped ring is released so that it can expand again to some extent. According to this specification, therefore, the rolled-up sheet can expand. The two guides are then pivoted away so that the rolled-up sheet with the C-shaped ring can drop by gravity from the roll forming space. The expanded rolled-up sheet which before it drops is in contact with the drive roller assemblies, however, can obstruct the falling movement. The invention will be explained with reference to a number of exemplified embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, during the entry of a sheet into the roll forming space. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation to Fig. 1 at the end phase of the rolling operation. Fig. 3 is a similar elevation to Fig. 1 at the start of the removal of the formed roll. Fig. 4 is a similar elevation to Fig. 1 on removal of the formed roll. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic front elevation of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, and Fig. 6 is a detail of a third embodiment of the device according to the invention. The roll-up device 1 according to the invention as shown in Fig. 1 is so disposed by means of its frame (not shown in detail) that its right-hand side, looking at the drawing, follows the outlet of a copying machine, plotter or the like. The sheet P which is to be rolled up enters the roll-up device 1 from the direction A. The sheet P, which may have a length in the range from 0.5 to 10 metres, is driven on by the driven entry roller 2 and the pressure roller 3 thereabove, the rollers 2 and 3 forming a nip. The top entry plate 20 and the bottom entry plate 21 form a guide between which the leading edge of the sheet P enters the roll forming space 30. The roll forming space 30 is bounded successively by surface 8 of the stationary roller assembly 4 driven about shaft 6, and the guide surface 13 of fingers 10, which are fixed on a support block 11 pivotable about pivot 12 by means not shown in detail. The roll forming space 30 is then bounded by guide surface 16, which forms the hollow end edge of the left-hand limb of U-shaped plates 14 pivotable around pivot 15 by means not shown in detail, and surface 9 of the stationary roller assembly 5 driven about shaft 7 by means not shown in detail. Finally, the space 30 is bounded by a bent upright left-hand end part 20' of the top guide 20. The surfaces 8, 9, 13 and 16 need not be in one vertical plane with one another. In this case a plurality of rollers 4 and a plurality of rollers 5 are involved, which are disposed next to one another on their respective shafts 6 and 7, while the fingers 10 can extend by surfaces 13 and the U-shaped plates can extend by surfaces 16 into the spaces between the adjacent rollers 4 and 5. The surfaces 16 and 13 can also be situated next to one another in a transverse direction to the drawing plane. Thus Fig. 1 clearly shows that the bottom left-hand end 17 of the hollow surface 16 is situated in a direction perpendicular to the drawing plane next to the fingers 10. The important feature here is that at least during the first circuit of the leading edge of the sheet P a continuous peripheral guide is created in the roll forming space 30. During the further advance of the sheet P in the direction A and on continued rotation of the rollers 4 and 5 respectively in the directions E and F, the roll part V1 present in the roll forming space 30 will be compelled to turn round in the direction G, this taking place at a speed adapted to the effective speed of transport of the entry roller 2. After at least one revolution has been formed for the roll V1, the further roll-up process in principle only requires three contact points so positioned that they retain in position the roll V1 placed between them. The guide surfaces 13 and 16 are then no longer absolutely essential. Thus as seen in Fig. 2, in order to reduce the friction on the roll during the forming process, the U-shaped plates 14 are swung up about the pivot 15 in the direction C. The rollers 4 and 5 have remained in position during this. However, the fingers 10 are pivoted to some extent about the axis 12 in the direction B, in the clockwise direction looking at the drawing, but a spring means (not shown) forces the fingers 10 back somewhat in the opposite direction. This force is such that the roll (V2: see Fig. 2) can press the fingers 10 away during the forming process as a result of the increase in the periphery of the roll, but the force is also such that the fingers 10, and particularly their contact surface 18 with the periphery of the roll V2, prevent the latter from dropping down to the bottom left looking at the drawing. It will be apparent that the contact surface 18 of the roll V2 moves upwards with the fingers 10 on the progress of the roll-up process. In order to reduce friction between the contact surface 18 and the roll during rolling up, freely rotatable rollers can be mounted between the fingers 10 at the location of the contact surface 18. Finally, the entire sheet P is rolled up, without a core, to form the roll V3. This roll has a centre point M3 which, looking at the drawing, is somewhat to the left of the centre point M2 of the roll V2, which centre point also is already on the left with respect to the centre point M1 of the initial roll forming space 30. The arrangement selected for the rollers 4 and 5 and the distance between them has the effect that the centre point M1 - M3, as considered in the drawing, lies to the left of the centre point of the shaft 6. By eliminating the contact surface 18 with the roll V3, which in this case is effected by pivoting the fingers 10 away further in the direction D, the roll V3 will of itself drop down to the left, as considered in the drawing, over the surface of the rollers 4 down in the direction H (see Fig. 4) on its way to a receiving tray. This process can be assisted by continuing to drive the rollers 4 and/or the rollers 5. Thus a simple mechanism enables the sheet P, which can, for example, be 8 metres long, to be rolled up. Fig. 5 shows one embodiment of a roll-up device which rolls a sheet up in a downward direction; this is in contrast to the roll-up device shown in Figs. 1 to 4, which rolls a sheet up in an upward direction. A sheet printed on one side can thus be rolled up either with the image side facing outwards, for example so that the indicia on a rolled-up drawing can be kept directly visible, or with the image side facing inwards, for example to protect the image of a rolled-up poster. As will be apparent from Fig. 5, the roll-up device shown there comprises the same components as the roll-up device shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The same reference numbers are therefore used in Figs. 1 to 5. Since the entry path in the case of a downwardly extending roll-up process must follow the top of the roll-up space 30, roller 5 is disposed at said top side and the bottom guide 21 is extended downwardly by the end part 21' (instead of an extension of the top guide 20 by end part 20' in the case of upward roll-up). The position of the movable guides 13 and 16 is adapted to the changed position of roller 5, the action otherwise being unchanged. Fig. 6 shows only part of the roll-up device in an alternative embodiment. Here the sheet P again enters between the entry plates 120 and 121, in the direction A, and is pushed towards the roll forming space 130 by means of entry roller 103 which cooperates with a roller 104. This entry position does away with the roller 2 shown in Fig. 1, because roller 104 also performs the function of roller 2. This double function can also be performed by roller 4 in the roll-up device shown in Figs. 1 to 4, by placing roller 3 at roller 4, the same as in Fig. 5. Like the roll forming space 30 of Figs. 1 to 4, the roll forming space 130 is also defined by surfaces 108 and 109 of respective rollers 104 and 105 driven in the directions E and F. However, the roll forming space 130 is further defined by guide fingers 113a and 113b, which both have a hollow configuration and are pivotally secured at 114 on a bar 131 extending perpendicularly to the drawing plane. Bar 131 is suspended from rods 110, which are pivotable about an axis 112 of the frame extending perpendicularly to the drawing frame. Drive means (not shown) can pivot the rods 110 in the directions K when necessary. Guide fingers 113a and 113b can be swung away by means not shown in the directions I and J respectively about the pivot 114, after at least the first revolution of the roll. The bar 131 suspended from the pivot 112 will then press lightly against the roll surface under the influence of gravity, and possibly also spring force, in order thus to form a third contact point. As the periphery of the formed roll increases in the roll forming space 130, the roll can push the bar 131 away to the left in the drawing, but the weight of the bar ensures that the third contact point is retained. Once the roll is completed, the above-mentioned means not shown can actively pivot the bar 131 away to the left in the drawing in order that the roll can drop from the roll forming space 130 into the receiving tray.

Claims: A device for rolling up a sheet of paper (P) and ejecting the formed roll, comprising a frame, a roll forming space (30; 130) and feed means (2, 3; 103, 104) for transporting the sheet of paper (P) to the roll forming space (30; 130), wherein the roll forming space (30; 130) is bounded, during the rolling up process, on at least three contact points situated spaced apart in the peripheral direction of the roll, wherein the roll forming space (30; 130) has a centre (M) and the connecting lines between the said contact points form a triangle in which the centre (M) of the roll forming space (30; 130) is situated, wherein two of the said contact points are disposed at a fixed point in the frame and are each formed by driven sheet drive means (4, 5; 104, 105), wherein the third said contact points (18; 131) is disposed to be displaceable in the frame in order to follow the increase in the diameter of the roll during its formation, wherein the roll forming space (30; 130) is also provided with first and second guide means (13; 16; 113a, 113b) which guide the sheet of paper (P), at least during a first revolution, along a curved roll-up path, wherein said second guide means (16; 113b) is positioned along the curved roll-up path in between the first guide means (13; 113a) and one of the said sheet drive means (5; 105), and wherein the first and second guide means (13, 16; 113a, 113b) and the said third contact point (18; 131) are displaceable between a position in which they define the roll forming space (30; 130) and a position in which they leave an ejection opening free for a roll formed in the roll forming space (30; 130), wherein the two sheet drive means (4, 5; 104, 105) are disposed one above the other, characterized in that the bottom sheet drive means (4; 104) forms a contact point which is situated in the horizontal direction between the contact point of the top sheet drive means (5; 105) and the centre (M) of the roll forming space (30; 130). A device according to claim 1, wherein the third contact point (18; 131) adjoins the first guide means (13; 113a). A device according to claim 2, wherein the third contact point (18) and the first guide means (13) are formed integrally with one another. A device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first guide means (13; 113a) and the third contact point (18; 131) are pivotable about the same axis (12; 112). A device according to claim 3, wherein the first guide means (113a) and the third contact point (131) are pivotable about a same first axis (114), which axis is formed by a bar (131) which forms the third contact point and is itself pivotable about an axis (112) situated at a distance from the first axis (114). A device according to claim 4 wherein the first guide means (13) and the second guide means (16) are respectively pivotable about a first axis (12) and a second axis (15) in the frame, the first axis (12) and the second axis (15) being spaced apart. A device according to claim 5, wherein the first guide means (113a) and the second guide means (113b) are pivotable about said first axis (114) and are pivotable in opposite directions (I, J). A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feed means for transporting the sheet of paper (P) to the roll forming space (30; 130) are formed by one of the driven sheet drive means (4, 5; 104, 105) and a pressure roller (103) which forms a feed nip therewith.

Inventors: SANDERS ROBBIE MATHIEU LUDOVIC, SANDERS, ROBBIE MATHIEU LUDOVICUS
Applicants: OCE TECH BV, OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B65H29
IPC codes: B65H18, B65H29