Patent Publication Number: US-2011067587-A1

Title: Multi-functional maintenance friendly pitch-changing apparatus

Description:
This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application U.S. 61/243,727, filed Sep. 18, 2009 and hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates generally to printing presses and more particularly to conveyors altering the pitch of printed products printed in the printing press. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,485, hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses a diverting device for a continuous sequence of flat products traveling in a product travel plane. A first product exit path and a second product exit path emerge both from said product travel plane. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,850 discloses an apparatus for advancing and/or slowing signatures in a printing press. The apparatus and method includes a series of two or more belt drives, where each belt drive includes at least a pair of opposed belts. The belts are preferably timing or toothed belts driven by sprockets. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,507 discloses a folder apparatus that includes a conveyor and knock-down wheel assembly to receive signatures from, for example, a tape system output. The conveyor and knock-down wheel assembly slow down the signatures from the tape system and create a shingled output stream of signatures. 
     U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/0217833, hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses an electronic pitch changing apparatus for altering the pitch of printed products. The electronic pitch changing apparatus includes a motor having a variable velocity profile. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a printing press. The printing press includes a print unit printing a plurality of printed products, the plurality of printed products being formed into a stream downstream of the print unit. The printing press also includes at least one base and a press component, the press component is mounted onto the at least one base for placement in the stream and translational movement transverse to the stream. 
     The present invention further provides a printing press including a print unit printing a plurality of printed products, the plurality of printed products being formed into a stream downstream of the print unit, the printed product stream having a first pitch. The printing press also includes at least one base and a pitch changing device for changing the first pitch of the stream, the pitch changing device is mounted onto the at least one base for placement in the stream and translational movement transverse to the stream. 
     The present invention also provides a method. The method includes the step of translating a pitch changing device transverse to a stream to place the device in the stream or to remove the device from the stream. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be elucidated with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a printing press including a printing press component according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows an electronic pitch changing apparatus; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  show an electronic pitch changing apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5 to 7  show an electronic pitch changing apparatus in accordance with the present invention for a two story printing press resting in a maintenance position; 
         FIG. 8  shows the electronic pitch changing apparatus of  FIG. 3  being used alternately on two separate printed product streams; and 
         FIG. 9  shows the electronic pitch changing apparatus of  FIG. 3  operating on one of two simultaneous printed product streams. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a preferred embodiment of a web printing press  100  in accordance with the present invention including a web  101  traveling through a plurality of printing units  112  and a folder  120  providing a plurality of signatures  102 ,  104  to a printing press component or module, for example, an electronic pitch changing apparatus  10 . Printing units  112 , print an image on web  101 . Printing units  112  may be web, offset, perfecting printing units. Each print unit  112  may print a different color, for example, cyan, magenta, yellow or black. Folder  120  may include a former board for longitudinally folding a web  101  and/or folder  120  may fold and/or cut web  101  into signatures  102 ,  104 . Signatures have a first pitch, P 1 , before entering electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  and a second pitch P 2  after exiting pitch changing apparatus  10 . 
     Electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  alters first pitch P 1  so downstream signatures  102 ′,  104 ′ have a second pitch P 2 , in this example, P 2  is less than P 1  so signatures  102 ′,  104 ′ are closer together than upstream signatures  102 ,  104 . Electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  may also be a slowdown device slowing down the speed of signatures  102 ′,  104 ′. Electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  may be similar to the electronic pitch changing apparatus disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/0217833, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
       FIG. 2  shows a preferred embodiment of electronic pitch changing apparatus  10 . Electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  includes rollers  20 ,  24  mounted on axle  62  and rollers  22 ,  26  mounted on axle  64 . Roller  20  and roller  22  create a continuous nip  40  and roller  24  and roller  26  create a continuous nip  42 . Edge sensors  50  are connected to controller  30  and detect a leading edge of products  104 ,  102  entering nips  40 ,  42 . Axle  62  rotates in a clockwise direction while axle  64  rotates in a counter-clockwise direction. A motor  60  drives axle  64  directly and a motor  61  drives axle  62  directly. Motors  60 ,  61  are connected to controller  30 . 
     Electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  works to vary a first pitch P 1  between products  104 ,  102 . Edge sensor  50  will detect the leading edge of products  104 ,  102  entering nips  40 ,  42 . Controller  30  keeps electronic cam profiles of motors  60 ,  61  accurately in phase with products  104 ,  102  to vary initial pitch P 1  to a final pitch P 2  between products  104 ′ and  102 ′. Controller  30  automates the initial timing and may reduce interaction and confusion for an operator. The cam profile may be sinusoidal, symmetric or asymmetric. Cam profiles of individual motors do not have to be identical when a diverter or stream separator is used. Electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  advantageously may be used on all folder cutoff lengths since the length of the nips does not need to be resized. Continuous nips advantageously provide flexibility since as little or as much of the nip surface may be used as desired. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show an electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  mounted on a base  80  in accordance with the present invention. Base  80  includes a pair of slide rails  86 . An actuator, for example, pneumatic air cylinder  32  is used to move electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  from a position between frame sidewalls  16 ,  16 ′ ( FIG. 6 ) to a maintenance position adjacent sidewall  16 ′ along slide rails  86  ( FIG. 6 ). Pneumatic flow controls are provided to adjust the speed electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  (or an alternative component or module) moves. A safety device may need to be in place before movement along slide rails  86  is permitted. Manual movement may also be possible. In an alternative embodiment, another type of press component or module, for example, a ribbon stitcher, may be mounted onto base  80  for similar translation movement into and out of the product stream or into and out of a position between frame sidewalls  16 ,  16 ′. 
       FIGS. 5 to 7  show two electronic pitch changing apparatus  10 ,  10 ′, upper and lower, respectively, mounted on bases  80 ,  80 ′ in accordance with the present invention for use in a two-story printing press. Electronic pitch changing apparatus  10 ,  10 ′ are shown resting in a maintenance position outside of frame  116 . Frame may be a folder frame or a printing press frame. Frame  116  includes two sidewalls  16 ,  16 ′. Each electronic pitch changing apparatus  10 ,  10 ′ is movably mounted on base  80 ,  80 ′. In this preferred embodiment, each base  80 ,  80 ′ includes an internal base  82 ,  82 ′, an external base  84 ,  84 ′ and two slide rails  86 ,  86 ′. Internal base  82 ,  82 ′ may be fixed between frame sidewalls  16 ,  16 ′. External base  84 ,  84 ′ may be cantilevered to a side of the frame, for example, sidewall  16 ′. Slide rails  86 ,  86 ′ extend from sidewall  16  across internal base  82 ,  82 ′ through an opening in sidewall  16 ′ and continue across to an end of external base  84 ,  84 ′. In an alternative embodiment internal base  82  and external base  84  may be designed as a single base component. In another alternative embodiment, base  80  may be designed to fully cantilever electronic pitch changing apparatus in between frame sidewalls  16 ,  16 ′. In further embodiment, base  80  may have a fixed portion and a movable portion. 
     Electronic pitch changing apparatus  10 ,  10 ′ are able to slide along slide rails  86 ,  86 ′ into a press operating position between frame sidewalls  16 ,  16 ′ to a maintenance position outside of frame  116  adjacent sidewall  16 ′ (shown) via pneumatic air cylinder  32  ( FIG. 4 ). In the maintenance position, operators  88 ,  88 ′ may easily access electronic pitch changing apparatus  10 ,  10 ′ for repairs, replacement or substitution. 
     In addition, when either or both electronic pitch changing apparatus  10 ,  10 ′ are in need of repair or malfunction, the electronic pitch changing apparatus  10 ,  10 ′ may be removed from base  80 ,  80 ′ by moving electronic pitch changing apparatus  10 ,  10 ′ from the press operating position to the maintenance position and subsequently removing electronic pitch changing apparatus  10 ,  10 ′ from slide rails  86 ,  86 ′. A replacement electronic pitch changing apparatus may be mounted to slide rails  86 ,  86 ′ and slid into the press operating position between frame sidewalls  16 ,  16 ′ so the press may continue to run, thereby reducing press downtime during a malfunction. 
       FIG. 8  shows another preferred embodiment of electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  being used alternately on two separate printed product streams. In  FIG. 8 , internal base  82  extends across a length transverse to a long grain product stream  94  and a short grain product stream  92 . Thus, electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  may operate on a stream  94  or be moved into a second operating position and operate on stream  92 . Electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  may be easily and quickly moved into stream  92  or into stream  94  by sliding electronic pitch changing apparatus over slide rails  86  of base  80 . Electronic velocity profiles of motors  60 ,  61  may be quickly changing software via controller  30 . Thus, electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  may be easily integrated into two different product streams having products with different cutoffs. 
       FIG. 9  shows another preferred embodiment of electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  operating on one of two simultaneous printed product streams. In  FIG. 9 , internal base  82  extends across a length transverse to a long grain product stream  94  and a short grain product stream  92 . Electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  is setup to reduce the first pitch P 1  of products in long grain product stream  94  to a smaller pitch P 2  while products in short grain product stream  92  are unaltered by electronic pitch changing apparatus  10 . Products in product stream  92  are conveyed over internal base  82  further downstream. 
     Electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  mounted on base  80  provides many advantages. For example, an advantage may include the ability to move electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  from an existing press  100  ( FIG. 1 ) to an alternative press. Since electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  works on a variety of cutoffs, electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  can be placed in an alternative press running the same cutoff or running a different cutoff. A change in software controlling the velocity profile for motors  60 ,  61  may also be required. 
     Another advantage may include the ability to easily replace a broken or malfunctioning electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  with a replacement electronic pitch&#39;changing apparatus in order to reduce press downtime and continue printing with minimum disruption. 
     Furthermore, as desired, an alternative printing press component or module may be used to replace electronic pitch changing apparatus  10 , for example, a ribbon stitcher. When this occurs, a drive system including motors  60 ,  61  may be left in place. Electronic pitch changing apparatus  10  may be disconnected from motors  60 ,  61  and a ribbon stitcher may be connected to motors  60 ,  61  so ribbon stitcher may be easily integrated into the existing printing press setup. A velocity profile for the motors may be modified as necessary. 
     The present invention advantageously eliminates the use of tapes in a pitch changing apparatus and advantageously improves accessibility of the pitch changing apparatus for maintenance thereby reducing machine downtime during repair, malfunction or routine maintenance. 
     The present invention advantageously satisfies the need for a pitch changing device that can work on multiple cutoffs and multiple product streams with ease and with a cost savings. 
     The present invention advantageously provides a pitch changing device that can be used in any printing press regardless of product cutoff and advantageously increases the ease of assembling, maintaining and adjusting the pitch changing device. Sensitivity to jamming may also be reduced. 
     By translating the pitch changing device outside of the machine for maintenance and adjustments the operator has easy access to the entire assembly. This allows the operator to make quick adjustments with minimal effort and impedance form other parts of the machine. The present invention also makes replacement of the entire assembly easily achievable by simply sliding the exciting device completely off the guide rails and replacing it with a new or rebuilt one. Since there are no tapes running through the device, collateral damage to the device from tape failure is also significantly reduced. An added feature of this invention is its dual usage capability. In a folder that has side by side fold cylinders of different cutoffs or grain orientations (short grain v. long grain) this device could be shared by both product streams. By sliding the device into the appropriate product stream for the current job and changing the drive profile controlling the nip rolls it is possible to run multiple product formats through the shared device. It is also possible to run both streams simultaneously with the device only acting on one stream, while product flows through the second stream unaltered by the device. 
     The present invention may also be removed from one machine and placed into a different machine to either do a similar function with the same cutoff or be used for a different function or different cutoff by changing software to adjust the motors. In some cases the mechanical drive module could be reused with different press components or modules, such as replacing the pitch changing mechanism with a ribbon stitching mechanism and different control software. Ribbon stitchers are typically cutoff specific by design, whereas this invention would allow use of a common stitcher on different cutoff machines, or variable cutoff machines. 
     In the preceding specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments and examples thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative manner rather than a restrictive sense.