Abstract:
A sheet combining device includes at least one former, at least one longitudinal cutter, and at least two partial web guide routes. A respective partial sheet of partial cut webs can be conveyed on each of the at least two partial web guide routes. These sheets can be combined to form a principal sheet at an exit of the sheet combining device. A stapler is provided on one of the at least two partial web guide routes and is used to staple the partial sheet which is conveyed on that guide route.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This patent application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/539,810 filed Jun. 20, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,364,148. That application is the U.S. national phase, under 35 USC 371 of PCT/DE2003/003993, filed Dec. 5, 2003; published as WO 2004/054914 A1 on Jul. 1, 2004; and claiming priority to DE 102 59 655.7, filed Dec. 18, 2002, to DE 103 21 021.0 filed May 10, 2003 and to DE 103 25 226.6, filed Jun. 4, 2003, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to devices for mixing continuous webs, and to a method for mixing continuous webs. The devices include at least one former, at least one longitudinal cutter and at least two guide paths. Each guide path receives a partial continuous web. 
   The present invention is more particularly directed to a mixing device for use with continuous webs which can be used in the printing of newspapers. The mixing device is situated between a printing press and a transverse folding device in order to bring a plurality of imprinted paper webs into an arrangement which is desired for the finished printed product. The present invention, in particular, relates to a mixing device for continuous webs which are suitable for printed products in tabloid format. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   DE 43 26 855 A1 discloses a mixing device for continuous webs, having a former and two guide paths, on each of which a cut partial web is conducted. One of the partial webs is provided with glue along its path and is subsequently glued together with the second partial web. In another embodiment, two continuous webs run over two formers. One of the continuous webs is stapled by a stapler and the other continuous web is glued in its path before they are both combined in a main continuous web. 
   A mixing device for continuous webs with at least one former is known from DE 43 44 362 A1. The continuous web leaving the former can be selectively conducted around one or the other side of a further former located underneath. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the present invention is directed to providing mixing devices for continuous webs, and to a method for mixing continuous webs. 
   In accordance with the present invention, this object is attained by the provision of a continuous web mixing device with at least one former, at least one longitudinal cutter that is useable to cut a longitudinal web delivered to the former, either before or after the former, and at least two guide paths. Each of these guide paths can receive a partial web coming from the former. These partial webs can be treated separately along each one&#39;s guide path. The treated partial webs can be united in a continuous web mixing device. They can also be united with another web coming from a second former. 
   The advantages to be obtained by the present invention lie, in particular, in that the mixing device for continuous webs permits the production of multi-layered products, and in particular permits the production of tabloid products, in which at least one layer of the product is stapled. 
   A further advantage of the present invention is that the continuous web mixing device makes do without turning bars. 
   The costs of the device are reduced because of this elimination of turning bars. Furthermore, drawing webs of material to be processed into the device, prior to its being put into operation, can be accomplished simply and rapidly. Moreover, the elimination of the need to turn the webs reduces the susceptibility of the continuous web mixing device to operational malfunctions. 
   In this case, the continuous web mixing device can have at least one second former and can also have a guide path for guiding a second partial continuous web from the second former to the outlet. By the use of such a device, a partial continuous web, from the continuous web that was cut apart by the longitudinal cutter, can be mixed with the second partial continuous web from the second former to constitute a first book. The other partial continuous web from the continuous web cut apart by the longitudinal cutter is stapled and can become a second book. 
   A folding apparatus is preferably connected to the outlet of the continuous web mixing device. Tabloid products can be finished by the use of the folding apparatus from the continuous web exiting the continuous web mixing device. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention are represented in the drawings and will be described in greater detail in what follows. 
     Shown are in: 
       FIG. 1 , a side elevation view of a first preferred embodiment of a continuous web mixing device in accordance with the present invention, in 
       FIG. 2 , a side elevation view of a second preferred embodiment of a continuous web mixing device, in 
       FIG. 3 , a side elevation view of a third preferred embodiment of a continuous web mixing device, in 
       FIG. 4 , side elevation view of a fourth preferred embodiment of a continuous web mixing device, and in 
       FIGS. 5A to 5M , product examples of folded products provided using the above-described preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A first preferred embodiment of a continuous web mixing device  01  in accordance with the present invention is represented in  FIG. 1  and comprises two formers  02 ,  03 , guide roller pairs  04 ,  06 ,  18 , two longitudinal cutters  07 ,  08 , deflection rollers  09 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  16 , two traction rollers  05 ,  10 , as well as a stapler  17 . A folding apparatus  19  is connected to the continuous web mixing device  01 , which folding apparatus  19  comprises a cylinder  21 , such as, for example, a cutting cylinder  21 , a cylinder  22 , such as, for example, a cutting groove, point and folding blade cylinder  22 , as well as a cylinder  23 , such as, for example, a folding jaw cylinder  23 . 
   A first continuous web  24  is pulled through the former  03  in the direction of the draw-in arrow. The first continuous web  24  is constituted of a plurality of parallel running paper webs  24 , which together are processed into tabloid products. In the course of their passage through the former  03 , the longitudinally-cut, parallel running partial webs, running side-by-side over the former  03 , are brought together. Following their passage over the former  03 , the folded continuous web  24 , which here is comprised of a plurality of partial webs placed on top of each other, runs over guide rollers  06  and terminates in one or both of the traction rollers  05 ,  10 , or in one of the traction roller groups  05 ,  10 . After passing through the former  03 , the continuous web  24  therefore consists of twice the number of parallel extending paper webs  24  which paper webs  24 , however, are of a lesser width than was the paper web  24  prior to its entry in the former  03 . The continuous web  24  is conducted over the deflection rollers  14 ,  16  to the guide rollers  18  and leaves the continuous web mixing machine  01  via these guide rollers  18 . 
   A different, second continuous web  26  is correspondingly conducted into the other former  02 . This continuous web  26  also consists of a plurality of parallel extending individual paper webs which are assembled after having been longitudinally cut and moved apart. This continuous web  26  can be obtained, for example, together with the continuous web  24 , by longitudinally cutting a double-width web which was previously imprinted in a printing press prior to its entry into the continuous web mixing device  01 . 
   The partial webs of the second continuous web  26  are brought together in the associated former  02  and, after leaving the former  02 , are fed via the guide rollers  04  to one or both of the traction rollers  10 ,  05 . Leaving the traction roller or rollers  10 ,  05 , the second continuous web  26  is conducted to the deflection roller  09  where, in contrast to the first continuous web  24 , it is divided into two partial continuous webs  27 ,  28 , such as, for example, partial paper webs  27 ,  28 . 
   From the deflection roller  09 , a first partial continuous web  28  is conducted, via the deflection roller  11 , to the guide roller  18 , i.e. to the outlet of the continuous web mixing device  01 . It is combined there with the first continuous web  24 . Since the continuous webs  24  and  26 , or the continuous web  24  and the partial continuous webs  27 ,  28  are brought together in the area of the guide rollers  18 , the place or location where they are brought together, in the area of the guide rollers  18 , is called an outlet although, strictly structurally considered, this outlet or place of web combination can also be located further downstream with respect to the continuous web. 
   The second partial continuous web  27  runs from the deflection roller  09  to the stapler  17 . The stapler  17  staples each of the paper webs  27 , constituting the partial continuous web  27 , before the second partial continuous web  27  enters the folding device  19 , together along a line between two sides of the printed image generated on them, along which line a transverse fold will later be generated, in the course of the passage of the second partial continuous web  27  through the folding apparatus  19 . After leaving the stapler  17 , the second partial continuous web  27 , now consisting of paper webs  27  stapled together in some places, is also conducted over the deflection rollers  12 ,  13  to the guide roller  18  and is united there with the first partial continuous web  28 , as well as with the first continuous web  24 . In this way, a main continuous web  29 , which is composed of the yet not stapled paper webs of the first continuous web  24 , of the yet not stapled paper webs  28  of the first partial continuous web  28 , and of the stapled paper webs  27  of the second partial continuous web  27 , leaves the guide rollers  18  which, as discussed above, constitute the outlet from the continuous web mixing device  01 . 
   This resultant main continuous web  29  now enters between the cutting cylinder  21  and the cutting groove, point and folding blade cylinder  22  of the folding apparatus  19 . A folding jaw cylinder  23  follows the cutting groove, point and folding blade cylinder  22 . The main continuous web  29  is cut, in a generally known manner, into individual products between the cylinders  21 ,  22  of the folding apparatus, which cut, individual products are subsequently transversely folded between the cylinders  22 ,  23 . The tabloid products produced by the continuous web mixing device  01  depicted in  FIG. 1  have an outer, not stapled layer and an inner, stapled layer. 
   It is possible, at the deflection roller  09 , to distribute the individual paper webs consisting of the second continuous web  26  as desired, to form the two partial continuous webs  27 ,  28 , and to provide the one paper web  26  corresponding respectively to four pages of the finished printed product, so that the change of the stapled layer into cuts of respectively four pages can be selected as desired. 
   The continuous web mixing device  01  is not limited to the specific embodiment represented in  FIG. 1 . For example, it is possible to modify the continuous web mixing device  01  in such a way that the stapler  17  is arranged in the guide path for the first partial continuous web  28 , instead of being arranged in the guide path for the second partial continuous web  27 . In that configuration, the paper webs constituting the first partial continuous web  28  are stapled together at predetermined locations by the stapler  17 , while the paper webs  27  constituting the second partial continuous web  27  remain not stapled. After uniting the first and second partial continuous webs  27 ,  28  with the first continuous web  24 , for formation into the main continuous web  29  at the outlet of the continuous web mixing device  01  at the guide rollers  18 , and after passing the formed main continuous web  29  through the folding apparatus  19 , tabloid products are produced by the alternative embodiment of the continuous web mixing device  01 , which tabloid products have three layers, in which tabloid product an outer layer and an inner layer are not stapled, while a layer between these two layers is stapled. 
   The second continuous web  26  could, of course, also be conducted in one piece, possibly together with paper webs branched off from the first continuous web  24 , through the stapler  17  if a larger size is desired for the stapled layer than for the one not stapled. 
   Depending on the width of the printing press which is arranged upstream of the continuous web mixing device  01 , the continuous web mixing device  01  can also have more than two formers. The partial continuous web conducted through the stapler  17  can then be a part of a longitudinally cut continuous web coming from one of the formers, or can also constitute this continuous web in its entirety and can additionally contain paper webs from a continuous web coming from an adjoining former. 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, the longitudinal cutter or cutters  07 ,  08  is or are not arranged upstream of the respective former or formers  02 ,  03 , but is or are located downstream of the respective former or formers  02 ,  03 . In this case, the folded continuous web  29  is cut open at the folded spine downstream of the former  02 ,  03 . 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, which is represented in  FIG. 2 , at least two continuous web guides of the first and second partial continuous webs  28  and  27  are assigned to a former  02  and to the continuous web  26  formed by this embodiment. For this purpose, the continuous web  26  is longitudinally cut, either upstream or downstream of the former  02 , as mentioned above, and is then divided onto the continuous web guides of the first and second partial continuous webs  28  and  27 . At least one of the continuous web guides, however, and in an advantageous manner both of the continuous web guides, here have a stapler  17  along their path. One or both of the partial continuous paper webs  27 ,  28  can be stapled before the partial paper webs  27 ,  28  are again combined into a product and are further processed in the folding apparatus  19 . 
   As indicated in dashed lines in  FIG. 2 , a third partial continuous paper web  31  can also be conducted out of the continuous web  26  and can be stapled by the use of a possibly provided stapler  17 , before it, too, is again combined to form the product  29 . A continuous web guide is also shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 2 , wherein a fourth different partial continuous paper web  32  is conducted, for example without being rerouted and/or without being stapled, straight downward to the entry into the folding apparatus  19 . 
   A particular advantage of the embodiment of the present invention, in accordance with  FIG. 2 , lies in that it is possible to considerably reduce the number of formers  02 ,  03  required in connection with the formation of several “books” of a product, which several books have been stapled separately of each other, or, in part, have not been stapled. For example, in connection with a similar variability of the product it is possible to save an additional former, such as a balloon former which would otherwise be arranged upstream of the former  02 . Considerable construction costs and structural size can be saved by this elimination of one or more formers. 
   In a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, as seen in  FIG. 3 , the two partial continuous paper webs  27 ,  28  are conducted from the former  02  around both sides of a former  03  which former  03  is, for example, located underneath the former  02 , via deflection rollers  09 ,  09 ′. As was discussed in connection with the first described embodiments, a stapler  17 , which is represented by dashed lines, can be arranged on one of the two, or on both of the continuous web guides of the partial continuous paper webs  27 ,  28 . Upstream of the folding apparatus  19 , the two partial continuous paper webs  27 ,  28  are brought together with the continuous web  24  from the lower former  03 , wherein the continuous web  24  comes to lie between the two partial continuous paper webs  27 ,  28 . In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, as seen in  FIG. 3 , a stapler  17 ′ can be arranged in the path of the continuous web guide of the continuous web  24  in addition to, or in place of the stapler or staplers  17  shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 3 . In an embodiment of the invention, and which is distinguished by great flexibility, the continuous web guide of the continuous web  24 , as well as at least one of the continuous web guides of the partial continuous paper webs  27 ,  28 , which are moving around both sides of the former  03 , each have a stapler  17 ,  17 ′. If it is desired to provide an even more variable production capability, the continuous web guides of the three continuous webs  24 ,  27 ,  28  each have a stapler  17 ,  17 ′. 
   Additional continuous bypass guides  33 ,  34 , as indicated in dashed lines by way of example in  FIG. 3 , can be provided in all three of the discussed preferred embodiments, by the use of which, a portion of the, for example, again divided continuous web  24 ,  27 ,  28 , or the entire continuous web  24 ,  27 ,  28  can be guided around a stapler  17 ,  17 ′, which is located on a continuous guide, without being stapled. In connection with this, only two bypass continuous web guides  33 ,  34 , which are schematically represented without deflection rollers, are shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 3 . However, these bypass continuous web guides  33 ,  34  can be optionally transferred, in a further development, to individual or to several continuous webs  24 ,  27 ,  28  from the above-described three preferred embodiments. 
   In a fourth preferred embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 4 , respectively one stapler  17 ,  17 ′ is assigned to each of the two formers  02 ,  03 , each former  02 ,  03  being provided with a longitudinal cutter  07 ,  08 , in the guide path from the respective former  02 ,  03  to the outlet of the continuous web mixing device  01 . The continuous web mixing device  01  here has deflection rollers  09 ,  14 ,  36 ,  37 , via which deflection rollers one partial continuous paper web  28 , or the entire continuous web  26  of the one former  02  can be passed, together with a partial continuous web  27 ′, or with the entire continuous web  24  of this second former  03 ,  02 , through the stapler  17 ′ which is assigned to the second former  03 , or, in an advantageous embodiment, the web is passed through it. Therefore, it is not necessary to determine the correct approach to a former which is already in a superstructure, which is not specifically represented, by turning partial webs. Instead, after passing through the formers  02 ,  03 , the partial webs can still be assigned to the other partial continuous web  27 ′, or to the continuous web  24 . It is also possible to process all of the partial webs, such as the two folded and cut continuous webs  24 ,  26 , into a product through one of the staplers  17 ′,  17 . In the same way, is it possible that a partial continuous paper web  28 , together with a continuous web  24 , or with a partial continuous paper web  27 ′ of the other former  03 , is stapled, while the remaining partial continuous paper web  27  of the first former  02  passes through the assigned stapler  17  without being stapled such as, for example, if i.e. the stapler is not switched on or is out of service. The arrangement discussed above with the above-mentioned reference numerals, is to be applied symmetrically to the opposite guide. 
   By the use of the above-mentioned guide paths over both of the depicted staplers  17 ,  17 ′, a main continuous web  29 , at the outlet of the mixing device  01 , can be attained in a first mode of operation, which web  29  has a portion of one or several layers not stapled by passing through, for example, switched-off staplers  17 ,  17 ′, and a portion with several layers stapled together, as is represented in  FIG. 5   a  from the inside to the outside). In a second mode of operation, as seen in  FIG. 5   b , the main continuous web is constituted by two portions, each of which has several layers stapled together, and where the number of layers between the two portions can be variable by utilization of the above mentioned bypass. 
   In an advantageous manner, the continuous web mixing device  01  has further deflection rollers  11 ,  16 , over which partial continuous paper webs  28 ,  28 ′ of the one and/or of the other former  02 ,  03  is or are conducted without passing through one of the staplers  17 ,  17 ′. As seen in  FIG. 4 , these webs  28 ,  28 ′ move along an appropriate guide path between the two staplers  17 ,  17 ′. 
   By the use of this, the above-mentioned modes of operation of the present invention, and the products resulting therefrom as the main, continuous web  29  can be expanded in such a way that, in a third mode of operation, an additional portion with one or with several layers, which are not stapled, is introduced, in addition to the previously mentioned sequences between the already mentioned portions, in particular as the two stapled portions of the second mode of operation, as seen in  FIG. 5   c . The number and origin of the layer or layers of this last mentioned portion is or are variable. It or they can come from one, from the other, or from both of the formers  02 ,  03 . 
   Even more flexible, with regard to the product to be produced, the continuous web mixing device  01  can be embodied with additional deflection rollers  09 ,  09 ′,  10 ,  10 ′,  11 ,  12 , all as seen in  FIG. 4 , over which additional deflection rollers a partial continuous web  27 ,  28 ,  27 ′,  28 ′, exiting from at least one of the formers  02 ,  03 , can be conducted on an outside of the continuous web mixing device  01 , around the two staplers  17 ,  17 ′ to the outlet  18 , without passing through one of the staplers  17 ,  17 ′. In  FIG. 4 , such an adjoining guide path, identified as bypass continuous web guide  33 ,  34 , is provided for each of the two formers  02 ,  03 . This makes it possible, in addition to the two first-mentioned modes of operation and also in addition to the third mode of operation, to add to the previously mentioned sequence of portions, a further portion with one or with several layers, which layers have not been stapled, and located on the one and/or on the other exterior continuous web side of the main continuous web  29  now obtained, or to actually add it. Thus, for example, in a fourth mode of operation in accordance with the present invention, a sequence of one unstapled portion, a stapled portion, an unstapled portion and a further stapled portion, as shown in  FIG. 5   d , and in a fifth mode of operation, an additional unstapled portion, as seen in  FIG. 5   e , is made possible or is provided. In a sixth mode of operation, as depicted in  FIG. 5F , there is formed a sequence of an unstapled portion, a stapled portion and a second stapled portion, and in a seventh mode of operation an additional further unstapled portion, as seen in  FIG. 5   g , can be achieved or is produced. 
   The above-mentioned deflection rollers  09 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  16 ,  36 ,  37  are preferably embodied as rollers  09 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  16 , and in particular are provided as friction-driven  09 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  16 . 
   The main continuous web  29  is subsequently transversely cut in the folding apparatus  19 , and the product sections obtained, as a result of this cutting are transversely folded, for example. 
   The transversely folded products, which can be obtained with the above-mentioned modes of operation, are represented, by way of example, in  FIGS. 5   a  to  5   g . In this case, the number of layers per portion, either stapled or not stapled, has been selected only as example. A number of layers in the portion can also be higher or lower than is represented. Different portions can have different numbers of layers. Particularly in connection with portions which are not stapled, the number of layers can also be 1. Stapling is indicated schematically in  FIGS. 5   a - 5   m  by a line connecting the layers in the area of the folded spine. 
   The products which can be obtained by the different modes of operation of the device in accordance with  FIG. 1  are also represented in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5   a  shows a product which results where bypassing of a partial continuous paper web  28 , which is not intended to be stapled, takes place. 
   The products produced by different modes of operation of the device in accordance with  FIG. 2  can also be seen from  FIG. 5 , but not exhaustively. For example, the product in accordance with  FIG. 5   a  with one stapler switched off and  FIG. 5   b  with only the partial continuous paper webs  27 ,  28  shown in solid lines, can be produced. The arrangement shown in  FIG. 5   c  can be produced without taking a guidance of the partial continuous paper web  31  into consideration, such as is provided in a basic version of the second embodiment in accordance with  FIG. 2 , but with a possibility of the partial continuous paper web  32 . With a left stapler  17  provided, with the center stapler  17  switched off or non-existent, as well as with the right stapler  17  turned on, the configuration shown in  FIG. 5   c  can also be achieved with the partial continuous web  31 , without guidance of the partial continuous web  32 . With the center stapler  17  additionally turned on, the configuration of  FIG. 5   j  can be achieved. If, however, the left stapler  17  is not provided or is instead switched off, the configuration of  FIG. 5   m  can be realized.  FIG. 5   h  shows a possible product created by the use of all drawn in guides and with the three staplers  17  all turned on. 
   In addition to the products shown in  FIGS. 5   a  to  5   g , and mentioned in the portion of the specification in connection with  FIG. 4 , but to be transferred to operating situations with selectively switched-off or not provided staplers  17 ,  17 ′, or with used or unused bypasses  33 ,  34 , a product in accordance with  FIG. 5   i  is possible with use of the device in accordance with  FIG. 3  taking the bypass  33  and three staplers  17 ,  17 ′ into consideration, and without the bypass  33 , but with the bypass  34 , the reverse of the product shown in  FIG. 5   h . If all three continuous webs or partial continuous webs  24 ,  27 ,  28 , drawn in solid lines, have a stapler  17 ,  17 ′, the product in accordance with  FIG. 5   j  can be produced from three portions without a further bypass  33 ,  34 . If a stapler  17 ′ is only provided for the continuous web  24 , or selectively only this one of the two or three staplers  17 ,  17 ′ is switched on, a product in accordance with  FIG. 5   k  results. 
   The product sequence in the representation from the inside to the outside can be reversed, either by an appropriate guidance through the continuous web mixing device  01 , or by changing the folding apparatus  19 . 
   It is of particular advantage that, as a rule, the above-mentioned products can be made, at least to a large extent, without turning, and in particular without previous turning of partial webs in a superstructure upstream of the formers  02 ,  03 . The partial webs to be assigned to one or to the other continuous web, or the partial continuous web  24 ,  27 ,  28 , are transferred to the desired location in the continuous web mixing device  01 . 
   While preferred embodiments of a sheet combining device and a method for combining sheets, in accordance with the present invention, have been set forth fully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that various changes in, for example, the type of printing press used to print the web, the specific drives for the various rollers and cylinders, and the like could be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention which is accordingly to be limited only by the appended claims.