Abstract:
A transport or conveying device is used in a folding apparatus for transporting or conveying signatures. A transport or conveying cylinder, which carries the signatures, is placed in cooperative engagement with another cylinder. A position of a terminal end of a signature carried on the transport or conveying cylinder can be altered. The other cylinder that cooperates with the transport or conveying cylinder includes devices that press on the signature and that displace the end of the signature.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is the U.S. National Phase, under 35 USC 371 of PCT/DE 03/00674, filed Feb. 28, 2003; published as WO 03/07440 A1 on Sep. 12, 2003 and claiming priority to DE 102 09 213.3, filed Mar. 4, 2002, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a transport device. The transport device includes a conveying cylinder and a cooperating cylinder. The position of an end of a signature on the conveying cylinder can be changed. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   DE 100 80 758 A1, DE 28 05 643 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,881 all disclose conveying cylinders in a folding apparatus. Shell surfaces of these conveying cylinders can be partially increased, in the radial direction, in order to affect a position of a signature on the cylinder. 
   CH 278 305 describes a folding apparatus. Spur needles can be moved to facilitate the cutting of shorter inserted sheets. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,881 shows a wheel folding apparatus with a folding blade and with a device for the partial increase of the barrel in the area of an end of a signature. The partial increase in the barrel is done to move this signature end away in the circumferential direction from a backstop for a cutting blade. 
   A collection cylinder is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,459, whose spurs can be moved into various positions. In a first position of the spurs, a first signature is picked up. In a second position, a second signature is picked up. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the present invention is directed to providing a conveying device. 
   In accordance with the present invention, this object is attained by the provision of a conveying device in a folding apparatus having a conveying cylinder for conveying signatures. At least one further cylinder cooperates with the conveying cylinder. A position of a trailing end of a signature conveyed by the conveying cylinder can be changed. The cylinder associated with the conveying cylinder may have a signature engaging strip and the conveying cylinder may have a cooperating groove. The conveying cylinder may have a holding device that can be changed in a circumferential direction. This holding device may have three positions. Both the strip and groove, and the holding device can be used together to change a signature position on the conveying cylinder. 
   The advantages to be gained by the present invention lie, in particular, in that it makes possible the simultaneous joining of a web of material with signatures which are already held on the conveying cylinder and which were cut off the same web or from another web of material. The cutting of the web of material brought in into individual signatures is accomplished without the danger of damage or the danger of again cutting the signatures already held on the conveying cylinder. Because the holding device of the cut-off signature moves the signature&#39;s edges out of the backstop area, a gap between two signatures, already previously separated from each other and placed on top of each other, is formed on the conveying cylinder at the height of the backstop, into which gap a cutting blade of the cutting cylinder can enter through and can cut the newly brought-in web, without there being a danger of a repeated cutting of the signatures already previously held on the conveying cylinder and already separated from each other. 
   In a first embodiment of the cutting device in accordance with the present invention, the gap is formed with the aid of a holding device for the signature, which holding device displaces the signature opposite to the signature conveying direction prior to reaching the second cutting gap and/or, following the passage of the signature through the second cutting gap, the holding device displaces the signature in the conveying direction. Such a holding device can be realized, in a simple manner, by a spur strip. 
   Another possible assembly, that is usable for moving the edges of the signature out of the backstop area, is a radially displaceable segment of the conveying cylinder which radially displaceable segment, following its passage through the first cutting gap, can be driven to perform a radially outward movement in order to increase the circumference of the conveying cylinder locally. In this way the assembly moves the trailing end of a cut product, which touches the displaceable segment, in the conveying direction out of the backstop area. 
   A further possibility for use in pulling a trailing edge of a signature forward is the application of a groove on the conveying cylinder and of a strip complementary thereto on the first cutting cylinder in such a way that the groove and the strip enter the cutting gap shortly prior to the cutting blade. By pushing the signature into the groove with the aid of the strip, the signature&#39;s trailing end is pulled forward a short distance. Furthermore, the signature cut off in this way, as well as the section of the web located on top of it, and to be cut off, are both strongly pushed against the conveying cylinder, which aids in the accuracy of the cutting process. 
   The cutting device in accordance with the present invention can be equipped with two cutting cylinders. The second cutting cylinder is used for cutting the signatures off the second web, which second web cut signatures are subsequently conducted through the first cutting gap, together with the first web. However, it is also possible to employ the cutting device with a single cutting cylinder and with a single web of material in a collection operation. Each signature then cut off the one web revolves once on the conveying cylinder and is covered, in the course of its second passage through the cutting gap, by a second signature. Both signatures together are then transferred to a further processing device by the conveying cylinder. 

   
     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 schematic side elevation view of a folding apparatus with a cutting device in accordance with the present invention, in 
       FIG. 2 to 5 , partial cross-sections of the conveying cylinder and of a cutting cylinder in different embodiments of the invention, in 
       FIG. 6 , a schematic depiction of a first mode of operation of the present invention, and in 
       FIG. 7 , a schematic depiction of another mode of operation. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A schematic side elevation view of a folding apparatus is represented in  FIG. 1 . This folding apparatus has two web inlets  01 ,  02  for the receipt of multi-layered webs  03 ,  04  of material, in particular paper webs  03 ,  04 , which multi-layered webs  03 ,  04  will be hereinafter identified as the inner web  03  or as the outer web  04  in what follows. Both webs  03 ,  04  pass through a respective traction roller pair  06 ,  07 , respectively for setting their tension and both webs then encounter a conveying cylinder  11  at the height of respective first and second cutting gaps  08 ,  09 . These gaps are formed between the conveying cylinder  11 , on the one hand, and one of cutting cylinders  12 ,  13  on the other hand. In place of two inlets  01 ,  02  and two cutting gaps  08 ,  09 , it is also possible to provide three or more inlets and cutting gaps. In the course of this web travel, the webs  03 ,  04  preferably first come into contact with the respective cutting cylinder  12 ,  13  in each cutting gap  08 ,  09 , respectively, and thereafter come into contact with the conveying cylinder  11 . The webs  03 ,  04  thus first loop around the counter cylinder  12 ,  13  and then around the conveying cylinder  11 . 
   Each one of the cutting cylinders  12  or  13  has a circumference corresponding to at least one, and preferably to two lengths of the signatures to be produced from the webs  03 ,  04 . Each cutting cylinder supports two cutting blades  14 . 
   The circumference of the conveying cylinder  11  corresponds to the length of more than five, and in particular to seven signatures. Seven counter-cutting strips, which are cut or inlaid into, and located at uniform spacing distances on the circumferential surface of the conveying cylinder  11 , for example hard rubber strips, are used as backstops  15 , each of which backstops is works together with a cutting blade  14  when these cutting blades  14  are cutting the webs  03 ,  04 . A holding device  16 , for example a spur strip  16 , with spur needles  23 , which spur strip  16  can be extended radially, as seen in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , is arranged on the conveying cylinder  11  adjoining each backstop  15 . 
   In the position of the conveying or transporting device, as represented in  FIG. 1 , a cutting blade  14  of the cutting cylinder  12  and a backstop  15  of the conveying cylinder  11  are just passing through the first cutting gap  08  and, in the process, cooperate cut the inner web  03 . The leading edge of the inner web  03  which is formed by this first cut, is spiked on the spur needles  23  of a spur strip  16 , which spur strip  16  had been extended briefly prior to its reaching the cutting gap  08  and which also fixedly holds the inner web leading edge on the surface of the conveying cylinder  11  during further conveying. 
   The signature cut off the inner web  03  in this process is conveyed on by the conveying cylinder  11  to the second cutting gap  09 , where the outer web  04  is placed on top of it and is also spiked by the spur needles  23  of the spur strip. 
   The rotation of the first and second cutting cylinders  12 ,  13  is synchronized in such a way that the two cutting blades  14  of each of the first and second cutting cylinders  12  and  13  always enter a narrow gap in the surface of the backstop  15 , and ideally always strike the same line. During their passage through the second cutting gap  09 , two successive signatures  24 ,  27 , which were both cut off the inner web  03 , are caused to be separated by a gap  26 , as is shown in  FIG. 2 . The width of the inner signature separation gap  26  is slightly greater than that of the section of the backstop  15  into which the cutting blades  14  strike. The formation of gap  26  will prevent that, in the course of their passage through the cutting gap  09 , these inner signatures  24 ,  27  being again cut. Different techniques for forming this gap  26  will be explained in the discussion which follows, and by reference to  FIGS. 2 to 5 . 
   In the configuration represented in the drawings, the angular distance between the two cutting gaps  08 ,  09  is approximately 75°. It is advantageous if this cutting gap angular distance differs from the angular distance of the spur strips  16  from each other, which spur strip angular distance is preferably 51.5°, or from a multiple thereof, so that cutting is not performed simultaneously at both cutting gaps  08 ,  09 . A half-integral multiple of this value is also disadvantageous from the viewpoint of vibration avoidance. 
   Following its passage through the second cutting gap  09 , each spur strip  16  supports a whole product, which is composed of a signature  24  cut off the inner web  03  and of a signature  27  cut off the outer web  04 . Seven whole signatures, or products are formed in the course of every revolution of the conveying cylinder  11  in the same way as if both webs  03 ,  04  were fed via a common inlet  01 ,  02  in the customary way. However, since the cutting of each individual signature  24 ,  27  is spaced over two separate cutting steps at the first and second cutting gaps  08 ,  09 , the force required to be provided in each cutting step is less. The result is that a satisfactory synchronous running of the machine is easier to maintain. 
   Furthermore, seven folding blades, which are not specifically represented in the drawing figure shown in  FIG. 1 , are attached to the conveying cylinder  11 , each of which folding blades is extended when reaching a gap  17  between the conveying cylinder  11  and a folding jaw cylinder  18  in order to transfer the products  24 ,  27  conveyed by the conveying cylinder  11  to the folding jaw cylinder  18  in a manner that is known per se, and to thereby fold them. The folded products are then transferred from the folding jaw cylinder  18  to a bucket wheel  19  and are deposited by the bucket wheel  19  on a conveyor belt  21 . 
     FIG. 2  shows a detailed view of a first preferred embodiment of the second cutting gap  09  and its surroundings in accordance with the present invention. Two of the seven spur strips  16  of the conveying cylinder  11  are represented in  FIG. 2  and are indicated as first and second spur strips  16 ′,  16 ″, respectively. Spur strips  16 ′,  16 ″ are each pivotable around a shaft  22  in a controlled manner and each support spur needles  23  which are oriented in such a way that their tips can extend out of the circumference of the conveying cylinder  11  are each located farther away from the center of the shaft  22  than are their bases that are located in the interior of the conveying cylinder  11 . The spur needles  23  of the first spur strip  16 ′, as depicted in  FIG. 2 , are in a comparatively far or full extended position in which full extended position they previously had also passed through the cutting gap  08 . This same position is shown in dashed lines at the location of the second spur strip  16 ″. 
   In comparison with the first spur strip  16 ′, the second spur strip  16 ″ is shown in  FIG. 2  as being pivoted back some distance farther into the interior of the conveying cylinder  11 . This retraction pivot movement results in a displacement of the line of intersection between the spur needles  23  and the surface of the conveying cylinder  11  to opposite the direction of rotation of the conveying cylinder  11 . Because of this displacement, the signature  24  held by the spur strip  16 ″ has been slightly displaced on the circumferential surface of the conveying cylinder  11  opposite to the direction of rotation of the conveying cylinder  11  in comparison with the position in which inner signature  24  was cut off from the inner web  03  at the first cutting gap  08 . After passing through the second cutting gap  09 , the second spur strip  16 ″ returns back into the original, extended position that is indicated by dashed lines, or even makes a transition to an even further extended position, in order to cancel, or to overcompensate for the prior retrograde displacement of the signature  24 . In this way, a narrow gap  26  is initially formed between each signature  24  and a previous signature  27 , which had been cut off immediately prior to it, into which narrow gap  26  the cutting blade  14  of the second cutting cylinder  13  can enter, and in this way the cutting device can push the outer web  04  against the backstop  15  and can cut it without risking the danger of again cutting one of the signatures  24 ,  27 . 
     FIG. 3  shows an alternative embodiment of the conveying cylinder  11  and of the cutting cylinder  13  in a partial sectional view that is analogous to that of  FIG. 2 . With respect to each cutting blade  14 , in this embodiment the cutting cylinder  13  has a strip  28  extending axially along, and projecting radially past its exterior circumference, which strip  28  passes through the cutting gap  09  shortly before the associated cutting blade  14 . A complementarily shaped groove  29  is provided in the circumferential surface of the conveying cylinder  11  and is located opposite the strip  28  during each passage of strip  28  through the gap. The strip  28  pushes a trailing edge area of the inner signature  27  cut off the inner web  03 , as well as the outer web  04 , into the groove  29 . The trailing end of the inner signature  27  is pulled forward by this and the signature spacing gap  26  is opened. With this embodiment it is therefore not necessary for the second spur strip  16 ″ to be pivoted outward again after its passage through the second cutting gap  09  in order to form the signature spacing gap  26 . 
   A third embodiment of the present invention is represented in  FIG. 4 , again by the use of a partial section through the conveying cylinder  11  and the second cutting cylinder  13 . The second cutting cylinder  13  is identical to the second cutting cylinder  13  shown in  FIG. 2 . The conveying cylinder  11  of the third embodiment differs because of the arrangement of the shafts  22  around which the spur strips  16  can be pivoted. While in the embodiments of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , these shafts  22  are located ahead of the spur needles  23 , in the direction of rotation of the conveying cylinder  11 , these shafts  22  are arranged behind the spur needles  23  in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . The orientation of the spur needles  23 , in relation to the surface of the conveying cylinder  11 , is the same in all cases. They are slightly inclined forward, opposite the normal surface, and in the direction of rotation of the conveying cylinder  11 , so that a tension, acting on the material spiked on the spur needles  23 , keeps the material pressed against the surface of the conveying cylinder  11 . 
   A changed sequence of the pivoting movement of the first and second spur strips, here identified as  16 *,  16 **, results from the changed arrangement of the shafts  22  shown in  FIG. 4 . The first spur strip  16 *, which is still far removed from the second cutting gap  09 , is in a comparatively only slightly extended position, in which slightly extended position its spur needles  23  extend far enough past the circumference of the conveying cylinder  11  for holding an incoming inner web  03 . The second spur strip  16 ** is shown as being farther extended only shortly prior to it reaching the cutting gap  09  for also now spiking the outer web  04 , as can be seen by reference to the second spur strip  16 **. In this third embodiment, the radially outward movement of the spur needles  23  causes a displacement of their intersection with the circumference of the conveying cylinder  11  in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the conveying cylinder  11 , and therefore a movement of the leading edge of the signature  24  held by the second spur strip  16 ** away from the impact point of the second cutting blade  14  on the backstop  15 . The spur needles  23  of the third spur strip  16 *** have now been retracted radially some distance farther back into the conveying cylinder  11  in order to move the signature  27 , which they hold, forward in the circumferential direction and to open the gap  26  at the level of the backstop  15  in this way. 
   With this third embodiment, several directional changes in the movement of the spur needles  23 , in the course of a revolution of the conveying cylinder  11 , are avoided. 
   A fourth embodiment of the cutting device in accordance with the present invention is represented in  FIG. 5 , again in a partial sectional view that is analogous to  FIG. 4 . 
   In this fourth embodiment, first and second cylinder surface segments  32 *,  32 **, as well as other similar segments, which are not specifically shown, are arranged on the circumference of the conveying cylinder  11  between each two of first, second and third successive spur strips  16 *,  16 **,  16 ***. These segments  32 *,  32 ** are utilized for increasing the circumference of the conveying cylinder  11 . Each one of these segments  32 *,  32 **, is composed of a plurality of flexible plates, which are arranged side-by-side in the axial direction of the conveying cylinder  11  and which are also spaced apart axially by gaps  17 . During the transfer of the finished cut signatures  24 ,  27  to the folding jaw cylinder  18 , these axially spaced gaps  17 , between axially adjacent segment  32 *,  32 ** are used as respective outlet openings for tines of a folding blade, which is not specifically represented. The ends of the flexible plates are each anchored to top strips  33  which top strips  33  can be displaced in the circumferential direction of the conveying cylinder  11 . 
   The first cylinder surface segment  32 * is in a configuration in which the course of its plates corresponds to the cylindrical shape of the conveying cylinder  11 . After the passage of such a first segment  32 * through the second cutting gap  09 , its top strips  33  are displaced toward each other, for example in a motion that is controlled by a cam disk which is not specifically represented, so that its flexible plates, as indicated for the second segment  32 **, form a protrusion extending radially outwardly past the circumference of the conveying cylinder  11 . As a result of this radially outwardly extending protrusion, the distance between the second and third spur strips  16 ** and  16 ***, as measured along the surface of the conveying cylinder  11 , is greater than the distance between the first and second spur strips  16 * and  16 **, the latter distance corresponding to the length of the signatures  24 ,  27  produced at the first cutting gap  08 . Therefore, the bulging of the second cylinder surface segment  32 ** causes the formation of the gap  26  between the signatures  24  and  27 , into which newly formed gap  26  the cutting blade  14  of the second cutting cylinder  13  can enter. 
   A modified embodiment of the cutting device of the present invention differs from the one represented in  FIG. 1  in that the modified embodiment has only a single inlet  01 , or  02  for a single web  03 , or  04  to be cut. Reference is again made to  FIG. 1  for its description, wherein the web  03  and the cutting cylinder  12  are assumed not to exist. 
   At the second cutting gap  09 , the outer web  04 , which has been conveyed via the second inlet  02  and which may be imprinted with alternating patterns A and B, meets the conveying cylinder  11 , whose spur strips  16  alternatingly carry either a signature with the pattern A or no signature, when entering the second cutting gap  09 . Since the number of spur strips  16  is an odd number, a free spur strip  16  meets a pattern A on the outer web  04  at the second cutting gap  09 , and a spur strip  16 , previously provided with a signature equipped with the pattern A in a prior rotation, meets a pattern B on the web  04 . The signatures with the pattern A, which had already been held on the conveying cylinder  11 , prior to their passage through the cutting gap  09 , are each displaced, during their passage through the cutting gap  09 , in one of the ways described above with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 5 , so that trailing ends of these signatures are not cut again during their second passage through the cutting gap  09 . 
   Every time a spur strip  16 , that is now carrying or holding two signatures A and B, passes the folding gap  17 , the whole product obtained in this manner is transferred, in a manner that is generally known per se, to the folding jaw cylinder  18 . 
   The second transverse cutting device  13  is arranged with a phase offset on the circumference of the conveying cylinder  11  for cutting. 
   The cut of the first transverse cutting device  12  on the cutting cylinder  11  takes place essentially next to the other cut of the second transverse cutting device  13 , in particular within a distance of 10 mm next to it. 
   The first and second transverse cutting devices  12 ,  13  are arranged spaced from each other about the conveying cylinder  11  in the circumferential direction of the conveying cylinder  11 . 
   In all modes of operation of the transport or conveying device in accordance with the present invention, a further conveying cylinder for taking over the signatures can be connected downstream of the first conveying cylinder  11 , instead of the folding jaw cylinder  18 , downstream of which further conveying cylinder a folding jaw cylinder or a belt system can be arranged. 
   It is also possible for each of the webs  03 ,  04  to have the same patterns A or B located one behind the other, typically in the conveying direction as depicted at the right in  FIG. 6 . Preferably these patterns A and B are imprinted by the use of at least one formed cylinder of a printing unit, which at least one formed cylinder has two identical patterns A and B on its circumference. The webs  03 ,  04  are guided on top of each other, so that signatures with patterns A and B located on top of each other are formed, each of which web is transferred to the downstream located folding jaw cylinder  18  in the gap  17 . The conveying cylinder  11  does not absolutely have to have an odd-numbered division for this, but instead can also have an even-numbered division, preferably greater than 4 or 6. 
   Preferably, each of the patterns A, B, C, D identifies two newspaper pages, wherein A 1 , A 2 , B 1 , B 2 , C 1 , C 2 , D 1 , D 2  each identifies a newspaper page. 
   The identification of a web  03 ,  04  is understood to represent at least one web  03 ,  04 , but preferably should be understood to be a representation of a strand consisting of several webs  03 ,  04  placed on top of each other. 
   Here, the webs  03 ,  04  can each be imprinted by the use of formed cylinders of printing units which either have a pattern A or B on the circumference, which is a single circumference, or two patterns A or B on the circumference, which is a double circumference. With double circumference formed cylinders, two identical patterns A, A, or B, B, or two different patterns A, B can be arranged on the circumference. 
   Therefore, four modes of operation of the transport or conveying device in accordance with the present invention are possible. 
   In a first and in a second mode of operation, both webs  03 ,  04  are brought together on the conveying cylinder  11  ahead of the first inlet  01 , or ahead of the second inlet  02  and are together severed in the course of a single cutting operation. 
   In this case, in a first mode of operation, the webs  03 ,  04  have identical patterns A or C in sequence, and the same products are formed sequentially on the conveying cylinder  11  during each revolution of conveying cylinder  11  and are directly transferred to the downstream located folding jaw cylinder  18 . 
   In the second mode of operation, the webs  03 ,  04  have patterns A, B or C, D, which patterns alternate behind each other and which patterns are alternatingly deposited on the conveying cylinder  11  during a first revolution of the conveying cylinder  11 , which conveying cylinder  11  is here provided with an odd number of fields and is thus a collection cylinder, and the signatures or products are additionally provided with a second layer of the product portion during the second revolution. 
   In a third and fourth mode of operation, two webs  03 ,  04  are separately fed in, wherein, in the third mode of operation, the webs  03 ,  04  alternatingly bear the patterns A, B or C, D located one behind the other as may be seen in  FIG. 6 . 
   In this third mode, during a first revolution of the conveying cylinder  11 , which is again acting as a collection cylinder, first signatures with the pattern A, C of each web  03 ,  04  are conducted on all and on every second spur strip  16 , so that now every second spur strip  16  carries a signature with the pattern A, C. During the second revolution of the conveying cylinder  11  again two signatures with the pattern B, D from each web  03 ,  04  are conducted on the spur strips  16 . 
   Therefore, during the second revolution of the conveying cylinder  11 , signatures A, C, B, D on the spur strips  16  alternate with spur strips  16  carrying only signatures with the patterns A, C, The already completely collected signatures, i.e. the product with the pattern A, B, C, D of each second field, are transferred to the folding jaw cylinder  18 . 
   In a fourth mode of operation, the webs  03 ,  04  have identical patterns A, A, or C, C located behind each other as seen in  FIG. 7 , so that, with each revolution of the conveying cylinder  11 , each spur strip  16  carries a product with signatures with the pattern A, C, which products are directly transferred to the folding jaw cylinder  18  when they arrive there. 
   While preferred embodiments of a transport or conveying device, 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 printing cylinder and the like could be made without departing from the true spirt and scope of the present invention which is accordingly to be limited only by the following claims.