Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a method and to a device for opening printed products, according to the preamble of the respective independent patent claims. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A device of the known type is known for example from EP 0 647 582 A1. Printed products to be opened are held at their backs by way of transport clips, are transported in an essentially vertical hanging position, and are pushed in the conveying direction in a supported manner, with their end region which is bent to the front in the conveying direction and which lies opposite the back. This gives the open edge of the printed product, which lies opposite the back, a defined position, stabilised by way of the bending of the printed products and holds these at a secure distance to one another, so that a suction head as an opening element may be moved from above the support element supporting the printed products, into between the printed products. The opening element, from above the support element, engages between the printed products and bears on these, whilst a further suction head bears from below onto the printed product. The products parts are firmly held on both sides during the complete opening procedure by way of this. The device is designed for opening folded individual sheets or 2-fold products, which are folded a first time and a second time at right angles to this. The 2-fold product may not be cut, in order to be able to be reliably opened. 
     EP 1 808 390 shows a device for depositing individual printed products which are fed in a consecutive manner, into an imbricate flow. Thereby, the printed products are gripped by way of a stream assembly with revolving, openable and closable grippers. The grippers are arranged in a rotating drum and are actuated by a stationary control cam. The grippers firmly hold the printed products, in order to pull them and deposit then onto an imbricate flow. Thus, an opening of the products is not possible as long as they are held in the gripper. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore the object of the invention, to provide a method and a device for opening printed products of the initially mentioned type, which may be applied to a greater variety of printed products, in particular to multi-sided, cut products. 
     This object is achieved by a method and a device for opening printed products with the features of the respective independent claims. The printed products to be opened are multi-sided, and are formed, for example, by way of folding, binding, gluing, stitching etc., and as a rule are also cut, thus are cut at three edges of the printed product. 
     In the method and the device for opening printed products, thus printed products are held and transported on a back. Thereby, they are aligned at an edge region which lies opposite the back, preferably by way of co-running lugs. Subsequently, the edge region is encompassed by a holding element and held in a loose manner. Preferably, the uppermost sheet of the printed product is gripped with a revolving opening element engaging behind the edge region on the printed product, and is pulled out of the holding element, whilst the remaining sheet or the remaining sheets of the printed product remain in the holding element. After the moving of a holding-open element into the printed product opened in such a manner, the holding element moves away to the bottom and thus the edge region of the printed product slips out of the holding element. 
     In detail, thus, the method has the following steps: 
     transporting printed products with a conveyor device with transport clips which are driven in the conveying direction and which are arranged at a distance behind one another, wherein the transport clips hold the printed products, preferably in a hanging manner, at their back, running transversely to the conveying direction and connecting the product parts to one another; 
     supporting the printed products at their edge region lying opposite the back and leading in the conveying direction, with a support element which is arranged below the conveyor device and which forms a conveyor plane acting essentially in the conveying direction 
     moving in between consecutive printed products above the support element with an opening element which revolves along a closed movement path, 
     applying the opening element, running with the rear of these consecutive printed products from above onto its upper-lying product part, and firmly holding it; 
     wherein the further steps are carried out; 
     encompassing the edge region of the printed product and supporting the printed product by way of a holding element which is moved along a closed revolving path and which runs with the respective printed product. 
     wherein the opening element engages on the printed product in a holding region lying behind the edge region seen in the conveying direction, firmly holds the second product part and pulls it out of the holding element. 
     The transport clips can, in general, be elements for pegging, resp. gripping the printed products. They particularly can be grippers. 
     Thus as a second product part, preferably only the first sheet is pulled out of the printed product, or however a greater number of sheets. The number of sheets which is pulled out, if the opening element is a suction head, is a function of the vacuum, with which the suction head is operated, and the thickness of the sheets as well as the porosity or permeability of the paper of the printed product to air. The greater is the vacuum, the more sheets are suctioned and held though the first sheet with a product which is permeable to air. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, thus the vacuum with which the opening element is fed in each case on opening, may be set. With this—with a limited accuracy—the number of the pulled-out pages and thus location of the opening may be controlled. 
     The invention is, thus, suitable in particular for opening individual sheets which are folded once (“four-sider”), but also multi-sided products which have no further fold. A further fold would run essentially perpendicular to the first fold and on opening, if the further fold faces the opening assembly, would lift a complete product half. A multi-sided product may, for example, be a product which is folded several times and then cut. 
     It is not necessary for the printed product to have a gripper fold, in order to be able to be opened. This means that the first product part and the second product part may be equally long, seen from the back. 
     On pulling the second product part out of the holding element, the second product part lies in the holding element preferably in a loose manner, thus without being clamped in. A simple design of the holding elements without further actuation elements for controlling the holding elements, for example for the synchronous clamping and release of the printed products, becomes possible by way of this. In another embodiment of the invention, the holding elements may be actuated, so that the printed products may be held with a slight clamping force, thus are held with a positive fit and with a slight frictional fit. The actuation may be effected electrically, pneumatically, mechanically, etc. 
     In a preferred variant of the invention, the following further steps take place: 
     before encompassing the edge region with a holding element, holding-back and aligning the printed products at their edge of the edge region, which lies opposite the back, by way of aligning lugs which project from a revolvingly driven lug belt and which in the region of the upper section of the lug belt, move with a speed which is smaller or equal to a conveyor speed of the conveyor device. 
     By way of this, it is possible to bring the front edge of the edge region firstly along a longer path, into a controlled position and to align it, before the transfer to the holding elements takes place. The lugs, thereby, form no pockets, but are in each case roughly perpendicular to the edge region (preferably a little inclined towards the edge region), whereas the holding elements with their edge regions in each case run roughly parallel to the edge region. 
     In a preferred variant of the invention, the following further steps take place: 
     moving the holding element in each case between two of the printed products, into a path which follows the revolving path of the lug belt, but lies next to this in a laterally displaced manner. This path corresponds to a path section of the lug belt and a path section of the revolving path of the holding element, in which these move in “parallel” paths. 
     moving the holding element, following this path and with a speed, which is smaller than the speed of the aligning lugs; and by way of this 
     moving the edge region into the holding element. 
     By way of this, a transfer of the printed products with their edge regions, from the lugs onto the holding elements, is realised. 
     Further preferred embodiments are to be deduced from the dependent patent claims. Thereby, features of the method claims with regard to context may be combined with the device claims and vice versa. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Hereinafter, the subject-matter of the invention is explained in more detail by way of preferred embodiment examples, which are represented in the accompanying drawings. In each case there are schematically shown in: 
         FIG. 1  perspectively, a device for opening printed products; 
         FIG. 2  enlarged, a detail of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIGS. 3-7  a procedure on opening a printed product by way of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     The reference numerals which are used in the drawings, and their significance are listed in conclusive manner in the list of reference numerals. Basically, in the figures, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  perspectively shows a device for opening printed products, with an opening assembly  36 , which according to the schematic lateral view of  FIG. 3 , is to be arranged below a conveyor device  10 .  FIG. 2  in an enlarged manner shows a detail of the opening assembly  36 , in the region in which the opening of the printed products takes place. 
     A support element  38  which is likewise arranged below the conveyor device  10 , is arranged directly upstream of the opening assembly  36 . A detailed description of an opening assembly  36  with opening elements  72  designed as a suction head, as well as of a support element  38 , is to be found in the already mentioned EP 0 647 582 A1, which is herewith adopted in its entirety by way of reference. Here however, holding elements  50  are present, instead of the suction heads in the deflection roller  46 , which are described there. 
     The support element  38  comprises endless support belts  42  which are led around deflection rollers  40  and which are driven in the revolving direction S with a speed vs, which is larger, preferably twice as large as a conveyor speed vf of the conveyor device  10 . Endless lug belts  98  which are led around the deflection wheels  100 , are arranged between (possibly next to) the support belts  42 . The lugs  98 ′ of the lug belts  98 , from below, penetrate through the conveyor plane  38 ′ and project with their free end beyond this. The lugs  98 ′ are inclined to the rear (with respect to the conveying direction) and thus with the lug belt  98  form an angle of less than 90°. The lug belts  98  are driven with a speed vn, which, for example, is about 80% of the speed vf of the transport clips  16 . Accordingly, the distance between the lugs  98 ′ is roughly 80% as large as the distance of the transport clips  16 . The defection wheels  100  rotate preferably about the same axis as the deflection rollers  40  of the support belts  42 . 
     The opening assembly  36  at one side of the conveyor path or the deflection rollers  40  and the deflection rollers  100  for deflecting the support belts  42  and the lug belts  98 , comprises a carrier element  62  which is designed in a disk-like manner and which is rotatable about an axis running at right angles to the conveying direction F and running in the horizontal direction. Carrier arms  70  are mounted in a pivotable manner on the carrier element  62  radially to the outside, and distributed in the peripheral direction. In each case, these at one end carry an opening element  72  designed as a suction head and at the other end a cam roller  76  which cooperates with cam guides  74 . A likewise rotating support body which supports the printed products  26  with a pressing of the opening element  72 , is arranged about the common axis of the deflection rollers  40  and deflection rollers  100 . 
     Holding elements  50  are provided at the end of the support element  38 , for opening the printed products  36 . A holding element  50 , seen in the movement direction, is open to the rear and may, thus, receive the edge region  44  of a printed product  26 . The function of a holding element  50  is to receive and hold back the edge region  44 , whilst a product part is pulled out of the holding element  50 , and the rest of the printed product  26  remains with its edge region  44  in the holding element  50 . 
     The holding elements  50  are preferably arranged in a revolving manner in a circular path, i.e. on deflection rollers  46 , which are mounted on an axis or shaft arranged horizontally and at right angles to the conveying direction F, as the deflection rollers  40  for the support belts  42 , at the end of the support element  38 . A deflection roller  46  comprises, for example, four holding elements  50  which are uniformly distributed in the peripheral direction and whose revolving path is essentially tangent to the conveyor plane  38 ′ which is defined by the upper section of the support belts  42 . The rotational direction D of the deflection rollers  46 , deflection rollers  40  and the deflection wheels  100 , which revolve with different speeds, is indicated in the figures with an arrow. 
     A holding element  50  is manufactured, for example, of bent spring steel, preferably as one piece. The bending of the holding element  50  is preferably approximately concentric to the rotation axis of the deflection roller  46 . The holding element is preferably elastic per se, but is firmly fastened on the deflection roller  46 . The holding elements  50  thus form a pocket-like holder for the printed products  26 , which is open to the rear. 
     The deflection rollers  46  are driven independently of the lug belts  98  and support belts  42 . Their speed is controlled in a mechanical and/or electronic manner, such that the speed of the holding elements  50  is lower than that of the lugs  98 ′. Thus holding elements  50  are overtaken by the lugs  98 ′ on moving about the axis of the deflection roller. 
     Further, the opening assembly  36  comprises a holding-open element  102  which is shaped in a spiral-like manner and which, in a rotating manner about its axis of the holding-open element  102  which runs parallel to the conveying direction F, is driven in a manner such that the section  102 ′ which in each case lies at the top, moves together with the transport clips  16  in the conveying direction F. These sections  102 ′ in each case engage between the product parts  30 ,  32  which are lifted from one another on opening, in order to hold these open with the further transport. 
     The manner of functioning of the described devices is now described in more detail by way of the  FIGS. 3 to 7 . In these figures, the clip jaws  22  of several transport clips  16  are indicated according to a predefined cycled distance. The following embodiments relate to the procedures at one side of the path of the printed product  26 , wherein mirror-symmetrical components and procedures are present at the opposite side. 
     The printed products  26  lie on the support belts  42  with their edge region  44  which is bent to the front. The support belts  42  move with speed vs which is larger than that of the transport clips  16 . As a result of frictional catching between the support belts  42  and the printed products  26 , the printed products  26  are therefore pushed to the front in the conveying direction F and with their open edge or front edge  34 , also called bloom, come to bear on lugs  98 ′ for alignment. Since these revolve with a lower speed vn than the transport clips  16 , the printed products  26  are bent in a U-shaped or S-shaped manner, which gives them stability. Then from the side, a carrier arm  70  is pivoted between in each case two printed products  26 , by which means the opening element  72  concerned lowers with a helix-like movement onto the upper-lying second product part  32 , before the edge region  44  of the printed products  26  which trails the carrier arm  70  seen in the conveying direction F ( FIG. 5 ). 
     Simultaneously, moved in the same direction as the lug belt, a hook-like holding element  50  moves into the movement path of the edge region  44 . Since the holding element  50  is open to the rear, it may receive the edge region  44  ( FIGS. 3 to 5 ). The lugs  98 ′ for this revolve with a somewhat larger speed (vn) than the holding elements  50  (vu), by which means the lugs  98 ′ move away from the front edge  34  of the printed products  26 , as soon as these are held in a holding element  50 . By way of this, the edge region  44  is transferred from the lugs  98 ′ to the holding elements  50  and it is ensured that the subsequent opening of the printed products  26  is not inhibited by the lugs  98 ′. 
     The holding elements  50  obtain the alignment of the printed products  26  in the conveying direction, which is created by the lugs  98 ′ and, in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the holding elements  50 , hold the individual pages in the edge region  44  of the printed products  26  together, in a preferably loose manner, without thereby clamping the sides. Preferably, no actuation devices or control devices are necessary for moving the holding elements  50 . They simply rotate together with the deflection roller  46 . In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding elements  50  may be actuated for the cycled, slight clamping and subsequent release of the printed products  26 . 
     The transfer from the lugs  98 ′ to the holding elements  50  takes place during a movement of the front edge  34  along a path section of the lug belt  98  and a path section of the revolving path of the holding element  50 , in which these move in “parallel” paths. These path sections correspond, for example, to a tenth to an eighth or a quarter of the periphery of the deflection roller. At the beginning of these path sections ( FIG. 3 ), the front edge  34  is located in the abutment on the lugs  98 ′, at its end ( FIG. 5 ) the edge region  44  is located with the front edge  34  in the abutment  52  on the holding elements  50 . 
     The synchronisation between the carrier element  62  and the deflection roller  46  is selected in a manner such that in the region of the deflection roller  46 , in each case a holding element  50  encompasses the edge region  44 , and an opening element  72  engages on the printed products  26 . The opening element  72  seen in the conveying direction, thereby comes to lie in each case behind the holding element  50  and preferably offset in the axis direction of the deflection roller  46 , in a holding region  45  of the second product part  32  ( FIGS. 2 and 5 ), and thus may pull the upper-lying second product part  32  out of the holding element  50  ( FIG. 6 ). On pulling-out, the second product part  32  bends in the edge region  44 , which is not a problem since the second product part  32  as a rule is only a single side. All remaining sides form the first product part  30  and remain with their edge region  44  in the holding element  50 . 
     The opening element  72  is connected to a vacuum source, in order to firmly hold the (upper-lying) second product part  32 . By way of rotating the deflection roller  46  the edge region  44  now with the leading edge of the first product part  30 , lying in the holding element  50 , is led downwards about the deflection roller  46  and moreover, seen in the conveying direction, is delayed with respect to the back  28  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ). The upper-lying second product part  32 , firmly held by the opening element  72 , is moved further essentially in the conveying direction F along the movement path of the opening element  72 , wherein the second product part  32  is pulled out of the holding element  50 . By way of this, the printed product  26  is opened. The S-shaped bending in the printed product  26  is essentially lifted ( FIG. 7 ) as a result of the guiding of the first product part  30  about the deflection roller  46  to the bottom and as a result of the movement of the opening element  72  concerned. 
     From below, the holding-open element  102  penetrates between the product parts  30 ,  32  which have been lifted from one another ( FIG. 7 ), whereupon the opening element  72  is ventilated and lets go of the second product part  32 . Simultaneously, the holding element  50  rotates further downwards and releases the first product part  30 , by way of the edge region  44  which hangs down slipping out of the holding element  50 . On further transport, the printed products  26  are held open by way of a section  102 ′ of the holding-open element  102 , which engages in each case between the product parts  30 ,  32 . After ventilating the opening element  72 , the carrier arm  70  concerned is pivoted back with the opening element  72 . 
     It is to be mentioned that, of course, a carrier arm  70  is pivoted in always between two consecutive printed products  26 , but in the  FIGS. 3 to 7  however in each case only one opening element  72  is drawn for the sake of a better overview. 
     Of course, the movement of support belts  42 , lug belts  98 , opening elements  72 , deflection rollers  46  and holding-open elements  102  to the conveyor device  10  is synchronised and may be set it its mutual phase position. Further, the support element  38  and the opening assembly  36  are height-adjustable in the vertical direction, in order to ensure an adaptation to differently formatted printed products  26 . 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           10  conveyor device 
           16  transport clip 
           22  clip jaw 
           26  printed product 
           28  back 
           30  first product part 
           32  second product part 
           34  front edge 
           36  opening assembly 
           38  support element 
           38 ′ conveyor plane 
           40  deflection roller 
           42  support belts 
           44  edge region 
           45  holding region 
           46  deflection roller 
           50  holding element 
           52  abutment on the holding element 
           62  carrier element 
           70  carrier arm 
           72  opening element 
           74  guide 
           76  cam roller 
           98  lug belt 
           98 ′ lugs, aligning lugs 
           100  deflection wheels 
           102  holding-open element 
           102 ′ section of the holding-open element 
           104  axis of the holding-open element 
         F conveying direction 
         S revolving direction of the support element 
         D rotation direction

Technology Category: b