Patent Publication Number: US-2015059607-A1

Title: Device for print finishing

Description:
This application claims the priority of German Patent Document No. DE 10 2013 109 534.8, filed Sep. 2, 2013, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a device for print finishing. 
     In devices for print finishing, in particular in folders, actuators are installed, which can be transferred with the help of at least one electric lifting magnet from a first position into a second position and conversely from the second position into the first position in a sequence that can be controlled in time as required. Such actuators known to date are for example so-called deflection guides, with the help of which a transport stream of printed signatures can be influenced in such a manner that the actuator in a first position steers or directs a signature in a first direction and in a second position steers or directs a signature into a second direction. Here, the respective actuating magnet on the one hand is transferred between the positions with the help of an electric lifting magnet on the one hand and on the other hand held in the respective positions via the electric lifting magnet. During the holding of such an actuator in a defined position via an electric lifting magnet there is the risk that the electric lifting magnet overheats and can be damaged in the process. 
     Starting out from this, the present invention is based on the object of creating a new type of device for print finishing. 
     According to the invention, the actuator can be fixed in the first position and/or in the second position via at least one second holding organ. 
     With the help of the present invention it is provided to use the or each electric lifting magnet exclusively for transferring the actuator between two positions, but not to use the or each electric lifting magnet as a holding organ in the respective position, but rather fix the actuator in the first position and/or in the second position via at least one separate holding organ. 
     Since the electric lifting magnets accordingly are used exclusively for transferring the actuator between two positions and accordingly not for holding the same in the positions, electric lifting magnets are no longer energised for holding the actuator, so that then there is no risk that an electric lifting magnet overheats. 
     Preferentially, the actuator can be fixed in the first position and in the second position via a separate holding organ each. In particular when the actuator is fixed in at least one position via a holding organ each, overheating of an electric lifting magnet can be securely avoided. 
     According to a further advantageous further development, the actuator can be transferred with the help of a single electric lifting magnet either from the first position into the second position or from the second position into the first position, wherein an opposite transfer of the actuator takes place either from the second position into the first position or from the first position into the second position with the help of a spring-elastic resetting element. 
     The use of a single electric lifting magnet for transferring the actuator in a first displacement direction and the use of a spring-elastic resetting element for displacing the actuator in an opposite displacement direction is simple but requires the use of at least one switchable holding organ. 
     According to a second, alternative advantageous further development, the actuator can be transferred from the first position into the second position with the help of a first electric lifting magnet, wherein the actuator can be transferred from the second position into the first position with the help of a second electric lifting magnet. This further development of the invention, which works with two electric lifting magnets, which take over the displacement of the actuators in each case in opposite displacement directions, manages to do without switchable holding organs. 
     Preferred further developments of the invention are obtained from the subclaims and the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with the help of the drawing without being restricted to this. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a detail of a device for print finishing according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The present invention relates to a device for print finishing, in particular a folder.  FIG. 1  shows a detail of a folder in the region of a so-called signature switch  10 , which serves for dividing a transport stream  11  of printed signatures into two part streams  12 ,  13 . 
     The signature switch  10  of  FIG. 1  comprises an actuator  14 , which is shown in two positions in  FIG. 1 , namely in a first position, in which a signature of the transport stream  11  is steered or directed in a first direction, namely in the direction of the part stream  12 , and a second position, in which a signature of the transport stream  11  is directed or steered in a second direction, namely in the direction of the second part stream  13 . 
     The first position of the actuator  14 , in which the same directs or steers a signature of the transport stream  11  in the direction of the first part stream  12 , is shown in  FIG. 1  in continuous line, whereas the second position of the actuator  14 , in which the same steers or directs a signature in a second direction, namely in the direction of the second part stream  13 , is shown in  FIG. 1  in dash-dotted line. 
     A front portion  14   a  of the actuator  14  shown in  FIG. 1  forms a so-called deflecting guide of the signature switch  10 . 
     In the shown exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the actuator  14  can be transferred from the first position into the second position and conversely from the second position into the first position in each case with the help of an electric lifting magnet  15  and  16 , respectively. In  FIG. 1 , the electric lifting magnet  15  takes over the displacement of the actuator  14  from the first position shown in continuous line in  FIG. 1  into the second position shown in  FIG. 1  in dash-dotted line. The electric lifting magnet  16  takes over the displacement of the actuator  14  from the second position shown in  FIG. 1  in dash-dotted line into the first position shown in  FIG. 1  in continuous line. 
     According to the invention, the electric lifting magnets  15 ,  16  are exclusively used for transferring the actuator  14  between these two positions, the fixing of the actuator  14  in the respective position is carried out via at least one separate holding organ, and in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  via two holding organs  17 ,  18 . In particular when the actuator  14  takes up the first position shown in  FIG. 1  in continuous line, the holding organ  17  fixes the actuator  14  in this first position. In particular when, by contrast, the actuator  14  takes up the second position shown in  FIG. 1  in dash-dotted line, the holding organ  18  fixes the actuator  14  in this second position. 
     The electric lifting magnets  15 ,  16  and the holding organs  17 ,  18  act on a rear portion  14   b  of the actuator  14  shown in  FIG. 1 , but can also be mounted relative to a fulcrum  21  dependent on the design-based geometry of the actuator  14 . 
     In the shown preferred exemplary embodiment, in which for both displacement directions of the actuator  14 , i.e., both for the displacement of the same starting out from the first position into the second position and upon the opposite displacement direction starting out from the second position into the first position, an individual electric lifting magnet  15  and  16 , respectively, is used, both the holding organs  17 ,  18  are preferentially designed as non-switchable holding organs, for example as permanent magnets. 
     Such a permanent magnet can securely hold the actuator  14  in the respective position in each case, wherein for transferring the actuator  14  out of the respective position into the respective other position the respective electric lifting magnet  15  and  16  respectively then exclusively have to overcome the holding force provided by the permanent magnet. Such a configuration is reliable and simple. 
     In contrast with the permanent magnets shown in  FIG. 1 , mechanical clamping elements, for example in the form of barb-like engagement elements or snap-on closures or latches can also be employed as non-switchable holding organs, which hold the actuator  14  in the respective position. In this case, the respective electric lifting magnet  15  and  16  respectively then has to overcome the engagement force of such a mechanical clamping element during the transfer of the actuator  14  into the respective other position. 
     In contrast with the shown exemplary embodiment it is also possible that the actuator  14  can be transferred exclusively via a single electric lifting magnet in a single displacement direction, either from the first position into the second position or alternatively from the second position into the first position. 
     The opposite transfer of the actuator  14  either from the second position into the first position or alternatively from the first position into the second position then preferentially takes place with the help of a spring-elastic resetting element. In both positions, the actuator  14  is then preferentially fixed again via a separate holding organ. 
     In particular when the actuator  14  is displaced in a displacement direction with the help of a spring-elastic resetting element from its respective starting position into the respective end position, the specific holding organ which holds the actuator  14  in its respective starting position, has to be a switchable holding organ in order to enable the transfer of the actuator  14  with the help of the spring-elastic resetting element. Such a switchable holding organ can for example be an electrically switchable electromagnet or another in particular pneumatically and/or electrically switchable holding organ. 
     With respect to the use of an electromagnet as a switchable holding organ it is related that electromagnets, which in contrast with electric lifting magnets do not carry out any lifting movement, but rather exclusively serve for the fixing or holding of the actuator  14  in a respective position, do not have a tendency towards overheating. Accordingly, such electromagnets can be designed to the required holding force and in contrast with electric lifting magnets do not carry out any high-frequency lifting movements. 
     In addition to the actuator  14 , the two electric lifting magnets  15 ,  16  and the two holding organs  17 ,  18 ,  FIG. 1  shows a deflection roller  19 , on which a conveyor belt  20  is deflected, which serves for conveying the transport stream  11  of printed signatures. The signatures of the transport stream  11  which are divided into the part streams  12 ,  13  can likewise be transported with the help of such transport belts guided on deflection rollers. 
     Preferentially, at least one electric lifting magnet  15  and  16  respectively is adjustable or displaceable together with the holding organ  17  and  18  respectively, which is positioned on the same side of the actuator  14  as the respective electric lifting magnet  15 ,  16 . Because of this, at least one of the positions of the actuator  14 , i.e., the first position and/or the second position, can be changed. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
       10  Signature switch 
       11  Transport stream 
       12  Part stream 
       13  Part stream 
       14  Actuator 
       14   a  Portion 
       14   b  Portion 
       15  Electric lifting magnet 
       16  Electric lifting magnet 
       17  Holding organ 
       18  Holding organ 
       19  Deflection roller 
       20  Belt conveyor 
       21  Fulcrum/bearing 
     The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.