Patent Abstract:
In a device for feeding book blocks ( 2 ) into the infeed channel ( 11 ) of a subsequent processing arrangement with an intermittently rotating star feeder ( 31 ) that features several block receptacles ( 34 ) that are arranged on a roller divided into disks ( 33 ) in a star-shaped fashion and respectively feature perpendicularly aligned first and second locating surfaces ( 34.1, 34.2 ), it is proposed that the star feeder ( 31 ) features several clamping jaws ( 36 ) that are respectively assigned to the block receptacles ( 34 ) and arranged parallel to the second locating surfaces ( 34.2 ), as well as movable relative to the latter. The star feeder ( 31 ) can be operated with a significantly higher angular acceleration and rotational speed without risking that the book blocks lose contact in the block receptacles ( 34 ). Even loosely gathered book blocks ( 2 ) can be flawlessly processed.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention pertains to a device for feeding book blocks into the infeed channel of a subsequent processing arrangement. 
     A feed device of this type is known from DE 71 25 313 U. Book blocks are supplied while lying flat and positioned upright by a revolving conveyor element, namely in such a way that they stand on their fore edge cut in order to be subsequently transported onward by feeders in the infeed channel of a book production line. The intermittently rotating conveyor element is also referred to as a star feeder and consists of a roller that is divided into disks and features several block receptacles in the form of cutouts that are arranged in a star-shaped fashion and respectively feature perpendicularly aligned first and second locating surfaces. The book blocks are fed to the star feeder essentially tangential referred to the roller and transverse to the rotational axis while lying flat and transported away parallel to the rotational axis after they were positioned upright. DE 71 25 313 U describes a star feeder that is divided into six segments and in which the book blocks are conveyed into the respective cutout by means of a belt conveyor that is inclined by 30° while contacting the first locating surface. As the star feeder begins to rotate, the book blocks are lifted off the belt conveyor by the second locating surface and then positioned upright. Star feeders that are divided into eight segments and position the book blocks upright from a horizontal position within an intermediate stop at a 45° incline were developed for higher cycle capacities. 
     When processing book blocks consisting of several loosely gathered signatures and/or sheets, in particular, it may occur that the book blocks slide apart due to the centrifugal forces and acceleration forces that act during the rotative uprighting such that the order and alignment of the book blocks is lost. The cycle capacity is also limited due to the fact that the book blocks may lift off the locating surfaces and overturn at an excessively high braking deceleration for the intermediate stop at the 45° incline. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is the objective of the present invention to enhance a feed device of the initially described type in such a way that a gentle handling, in particular, of loosely gathered book blocks is ensured at high processing speeds. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the star feeder features several clamping jaws that are respectively assigned to the block receptacles and arranged parallel to the second locating surfaces, as well as movable relative to the latter. The book blocks are respectively pressed against the second locating surface of the block receptacles by the clamping jaws and thusly fixed during the uprighting in the block receptacles. The star feeder can be operated with a significantly higher angular acceleration and rotational speed without risking that the book blocks lose contact with the first and second locating surfaces or even overturn. The invention makes it possible, in particular, to process loosely gathered book blocks that now can also be positioned upright with high processing speeds such that the individual signatures and/or sheets are not shifted relative to one another. 
     The star feeder is preferably in the form of a roller intermittently rotatable about a main axis and comprising a plurality of block receptacles arranged in a star pattern, wherein each receptacle is formed by first and second locating surfaces on each of a plurality of axially spaced disks. The first locating surfaces extend radially and the second locating surfaces extend perpendicular to the first locating surfaces. The upstream book block feeder feeds flat book blocks to the star feeder substantially tangentially to the roller and transversely to the main axis. The star feeder includes a plurality of clamping jaws that are respectively operatively associated with the plurality of block receptacles, each clamping jaw arranged substantially parallel to the second locating surfaces and movable transversely relative to the second locating surfaces in opening and clamping directions. Each receptacle receives a flat book block from the book block feeder while the respective clamping jaw is relatively open, during rotation of the star feeder reorients the flat book block into upright orientation while clamped between a respective jaw and associated second locating surfaces, thereby positioning the upright book block for transport in a direction parallel to the rotation axis, toward the infeed channel. 
     Book blocks with different block thickness can be processed if the clamping jaws press against the second locating surfaces in a spring-loaded fashion. A block thickness adjustment is not required in this case. 
     The clamping jaws are preferably closed and opened by means of a control cam. The opening and closing motion is simply generated in that the cam rollers arranged on the clamping jaws or their guide element roll on the control cam during the rotation of the star feeder. Driving means for each individual clamping jaw are not required. In order to at least close the clamping jaws while the star feeder is at a standstill, the control cam can be turned back and forth about the rotational axis of the star feeder in a cyclic fashion by driving means such as, e.g., a pneumatic cylinder such that the respective clamping jaw to be closed in the infeed region of the star feeder is activated by the corresponding cam segment of the control cam before the star feeder starts to rotate again. If the clamping jaws are already opened during the rotational motion of the star feeder just before the book blocks reach their final upright position, the book blocks can be immediately pushed off the star feeder. The push-off motion may be superimposed on the end of the rotational motion of the star feeder such an additional increase of the cycle capacity is achieved. 
     The respective block thickness of the book blocks positioned upright by the star feeder can be easily determined with an integrated block thickness measuring device by determining the actual position of the respective clamping jaws that are actuated into the closed position in a certain rotational position of the star feeder. This also makes it possible to detect if a block receptacle is unoccupied. The measured block thickness can be used for adjustments of the subsequent processing arrangement that are dependent on the block thickness and/or a thickness control is carried out as part of a completeness check that makes it possible to purposefully sort out rejects prior to subsequent processing. 
     In another embodiment, it is proposed to assign at least one push-out unit that is driven separately by at least one pusher of the infeed channel to the star feeder. If so required, the star feeder with the at least one separately driven push-out unit can be decoupled from the infeed channel of the subsequent processing arrangement, wherein a book block that was already positioned upright in the infeed channel is not transferred immediately, but rather purposefully to a respective pusher of the infeed channel. In addition, a push-off motion can be defined that allows a gentle start of the push-out unit relative to the book block to be pushed off on the one hand and a synchronous transfer to the continuously moving pusher of the infeed channel on the other hand. In this respect, the push-off motion may be variable in accordance with the format height of the book block. The at least one push-out unit is preferably designed for selectively pushing the book blocks off the star feeder in opposite conveying directions such that, for example, book blocks determined to be faulty can be sorted out and routed into a transverse stack delivery arranged opposite of the infeed channel. 
     The book block feeder with the separately driven push-out unit may be arranged along the infeed channel of the subsequent processing arrangement if the at least one push-out unit is designed for transferring and conveying the book blocks supplied in the conveying direction of the infeed channel into the infeed channel. A partition wall arranged in the infeed channel in the region of the star feeder makes it possible to join partial book blocks that are supplied in the conveying direction of the infeed channel and supplied by means of the star feeder and to subsequently feed the joined partial book blocks to the subsequent processing arrangement in the form of a complete book block. According to an enhancement, it is proposed that at least two star feeders are arranged on the infeed channel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       Exemplary embodiments of the inventive device are described below with reference to the drawing, in which the following schematic representations are presented: 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view of a book block feeder in the form of a star feeder; 
         FIG. 2  shows a top view of the star feeder; 
         FIG. 3  shows a simplified top view of the star feeder with a transverse stack delivery, and 
         FIG. 4  shows a top view of an arrangement with two star feeders. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The feed device  1  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  serves for feeding book blocks  2  to subsequent processing equipment or processes such as a perfect binder, wherein only a section of an infeed channel  11  for the perfect binder is illustrated in the figures. The book blocks  2  are conveyed to the transport clamps of the perfect binder in the equipment or process infeed channel  11  formed by the channel bottom  12  and lateral channel guides  13 , by means of pushers  14  that are arranged on a continuously revolving conveyor chain  15  and equidistantly spaced apart from one another. With respect to its drive, the conveyor chain  15  is coupled to the perfect binder. The feed device  1  may also be arranged in a book production line or another subsequent processing arrangement for book blocks. 
     The feed device  1  features a book block feeder  30  in the form of a star feeder  31 . Book blocks  2  supplied by a feed conveyor  21  while lying flat are received by the star feeder  31  and positioned upright on their spine  2   a  by means of a two-stage rotational motion, as well as ultimately pushed off into the infeed channel  11 . The feed conveyor  21  illustrated in the exemplary embodiment features intermittently advancing pushers  25  that push the book blocks  2  to the star feeder  31  on a slide sheet  22  while they are in contact with a lateral guide  24 . The book blocks  2  may be manually placed onto the feed conveyor  21  or reach the feed conveyor  21  via a conveyor belt. The feed conveyor  21  may also be realized in the form of a belt conveyor. 
     The book block feeder  30  can be considered a functional unit comprising the combination of the infeed channel  11 , upstream feed conveyor  21 , star feeder  31 . 
     The star feeder  31  is rotationally driven in an intermittent fashion by a servomotor  35  and consists of a roller that is divided into disks  33  and has a main rotational axis  32  that is oriented parallel to the channel direction. The roller features several block receptacles  34  in the form of cutouts that are arranged in a star-shaped fashion and respectively feature perpendicularly aligned first and second locating surfaces  34 . 1  and  34 . 2 . The individual disks  33  penetrate through openings  23  in the slide sheet  22  and lift the book blocks  2  off the feed conveyor  21  as the rotation of the star feeder  31  begins. 
     The star feeder  31  features several clamping jaws  36  that are respectively assigned to the block receptacles  34  and arranged parallel to the second locating surfaces  34 . 2 , as well as movable relative to the latter. The book blocks  2  are respectively pressed against the second locating surfaces  34 . 2  by the clamping jaws  36  and thusly fixed during the uprighting in the block receptacles  34  such that they cannot shift or tilt. 
     The clamping jaws  36  are situated on the end of a rod  37  that is guided in linear guides  38  and acted upon in the clamping direction by a force exerted by a tension spring  39 . The clamping jaws  36  are opened and closed by means of a control cam  41 , on which cam rollers  40  situated on the rods  37  roll during the rotation of the star feeder  31 . The clamping jaws  36  are pressed into a maximally opened position by the control cam  41  and simply released in order to clamp the book blocks  2 . 
     In order to fix the respective book block  2  in the corresponding block receptacle  34  before the rotation of the star feeder  31  begins, the control cam  41  is turned forward by a certain angular range from the position drawn with broken lines in  FIG. 1  into the position drawn with continuous lines by means of a cyclically actuated pneumatic cylinder  42  while the star feeder  31  is at a standstill in order to release the cam roller  40  and therefore the clamping jaw  36  and once again turned back into the initial position during the rotation of the star feeder  31 . 
     The control cam  41  is realized in such a way that the clamping jaws  36  are opened just before the upright position is reached. In the upright position, the book blocks  2  are placed on a channel bottom  44  while they are laterally supported by the second locating surface  34 . 2  on the one hand and by guide sheets  43  that can be adjusted to the block thickness on the other hand. The respective upright book block  2  is pushed off in the direction of the infeed channel  11  by means of a separately driven push-out unit  51  and quasi transferred to the pushers  14  in synchronism. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, two push-out units  51  are arranged on a revolving conveyor chain  52  and alternately push off the book blocks  2 . The push-out units  51  are respectively guided by means of a coupler  54  that is also connected to the conveyor chain  52  in such a way that they are always oriented transverse to the conveying direction when they are retracted from the infeed channel  11  after the book blocks  2  were transferred to the pushers  14  of the infeed channel  11 . 
     The conveyor chain  52  is driven by a separate servomotor  53  such that it is possible to realize a gentle start of the push-out unit  51  relative to the respective book block  2  to be pushed off on the one hand and a synchronous transfer to the continuously moving pushers  14  of the infeed channel  11  on the other hand. The push-off motion may be variable in accordance with the feed position and/or the format height of the book blocks  2 . The separate drive of the push-out unit  51  can also be used for suspending the transfer to the infeed channel  11  or for feeding the book blocks  2  to certain pushers  14  and therefore certain transport clamps of the perfect binder. 
     In the top view according to  FIG. 2 , the star feeder  31  is integrated into the infeed channel  11 . Book blocks  2  supplied at a location of the infeed channel  11  that lies farther toward the rear can be guided past the star feeder  31  by transferring the book blocks  2  from the supply channel section into the continuing channel section by means of the push-out units  51 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a transverse stack delivery  71  that is arranged opposite of the infeed channel  11  leading to the subsequent processing arrangement. The book blocks  2  that were positioned upright by the star feeder  31  and placed into the infeed channel  11  are selectively pushed off in the opposite direction referred to the infeed channel  11  and fed to the transverse stack delivery  71  for staggered stack formation, for example, in order to exclude book blocks  2  that were determined to be faulty from subsequent processing and to once again feed the book blocks to the subsequent processing arrangement later on by means of the star feeder  31 . The push-out units  51  are designed for conveying in both directions. A second alternative subsequent processing arrangement may be connected to the book block feeder  30  instead of the transverse stack delivery  71 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the arrangement of a second book block feeder  72 . Second partial blocks  3 . 2  supplied by means of this second book block feeder and first book blocks  3 . 1  supplied by means of the first book block feeder  30  are joined into complete book blocks  2  and transferred to the infeed channel  11 . For this purpose, an intermediate wall  73  is provided in the region of the first book block feeder  30  in order to push the second partial block  3 . 2  next to the first partial block  3 . 1 . The two book block feeders  30 ,  72  may also be used for the selective feed of book blocks  2 . 
       FIG. 1  also shows a block thickness measuring device  45  that is integrated into the star feeder  31 . The respective clamping position of the clamping jaws that are actuated into the closed position is determined during the rotation of the star feeder  31  by means of a stationary magnetic tape reader  46  and magnets  47  arranged on the rods  37  and fed to an evaluation unit. The measured block thickness can be used for adjustments of the subsequent processing arrangement that are dependent on the block thickness and/or a thickness control is carried out as part of a completeness check that makes it possible to purposefully sort out rejects prior to subsequent processing.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1