Sheet feeding or delivering – Delivering – Multiple discharge
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-05
2001-01-23
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Delivering
Multiple discharge
C271S305000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176485
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to an apparatus for diverting a continuous ingoing stream of flat products such as sheets or signatures to be divided into alternate outgoing paths for further processing thereof.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
EP 0 444 507 B1 is related to a controllable diverter in a paper transport device, in particular a web-fed rotary printing machine. A diverter segment is provided having an appropriate sequence, the diverter segment itself can be pivoted back and forth in signature cycle for splitting a continuous stream of signatures into two part streams, where the signatures are supplied to the diverter and guided away therefrom by means of conveyor belts, having a diverter segment. The guide face has a ramp face for the signature which, in a limit position of the diverter segment, forms an acute angle &agr;, &bgr; with the conveyor belt. A first end of the diverter segment facing the entry of the signature has a thickness which is equal to or a multiple of the thickness of the second end.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,797 discloses a multiple point delivery apparatus for separating of sheet-like elements.
A sheet diverter apparatus diverts sheets into alternate paths by guiding the leading portion of each sheet through a gap in a horizontal conveyor into alternate diverter belt conveyor units where the sheet is firmly grasp for transfer. The one conveyor unit is a horizontal unit, having a top belt conveyor and a bottom belt conveyor, one of which is offset downstream to form a diverting gap. A diverter is located to successively rotate through the gap and divert the alternate sheet into the angulated conveyor unit. In an upwardly angulated conveyor the horizontal moving sheet is supported by the bottom conveyor belt of the horizontal unit. In a downward angulated conveyor unit the length of the gap is selected to maintain sheet flow across a gap in the plane of the sheet. The top conveyor or the horizontal unit assists the support of the horizontal sheet. The linear or surface speed of the diverter cam is greater than the linear speed of the sheet. The cam surface is constructed with a low friction surface such as provided by a low friction plastic coating.
JP-Hei 6-100224 discloses a pinless type folder having a distributing device for without pins, whereby sheets or folded sheets kept by means of a cutting cylinder attached to the folding apparatus of a rotary printing press are distributed at the end of the first pair of transport tapes for the sheets or folded sheets, located below the cutting cylinder and running in the same direction. A distribution device and a guiding element consist of two pairs. A discharge roller is disposed at the end of the first transport tapes for folded sheets, said discharge roller making a swinging motion in accordance with the number of sheets to be distributed.
EP 0 254 037 A2 discloses a sheet diverter for signature collation and method thereof. A sheet diverter, adapted for cooperative association with a cutter in a pinless folder assembly for a high speed printing press, wherein a ribbon is cut into a plurality of signatures destined for serially deflected parallel collation from a diverter path through the sheet diverter to a desired one of a plurality of collation path comprises an oscillating diverter guide member. This oscillating diverter guide member reciprocates in a diverter plane having a component generally normal to the diverter path of a signature through the guide member, for directing the lateral disposition of the leading edge of the signature into engagement with a diverter member separating a plurality of collation path. Each path has a throat for receiving a selected signature and merging to a confined course for guiding it, the diverter member including a diversion surface disposed in each of the throats lying at a diversion angle respecting the travel of the signatures from the oscillating guide member. The diverter member directs the leading edge of the signature and controls its course through the throat into the collation path.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,146 discloses a mechanism for diverting of products in a folding apparatus. A device for diverting signatures into pockets of at least two slow-down devices is provided. The device includes a set of high-speed tapes arranged downstream of a pair of cutting cylinders. A set of diverting belts comprises raised surface portions and non-raised surface portions. The set of high-speed tapes is assigned to the diverting belts to ride on the raised and non-raised surface portions thereof, thus, periodically altering a signature conveying path of signatures.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,100 discloses a mechanism for diverting signatures by the rotation of surfaces. A diverter mechanism for signatures in a folding apparatus is provided including a set of high-speed tapes for conveying signatures in a conveying plane toward delivery stations. Rotating diverting elements are integrated into the path of the high-speed tapes. Each of the diverting elements has at least two rotatably mounted guiding surfaces that alter the diverting direction of signatures upon rotation of the diverting elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,976 discloses a device including a diverting mechanism for changing the conveying direction of products in a folder. An apparatus includes a diverting device for changing the transport direction of products in a folder. Products travelling horizontal transport path on a first conveying tape are diverted by the diverting device onto a second conveying tape which forms an inclined transport path. The diverting device includes diverting tapes which are diverted from a position along the horizontal transport path to a position along the inclined transport path by levers which are swivelably mounted on stationary axes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In addition to the known embodiments mentioned above some diverters known in the art use fingers or tines that oppose product travel which can impale loose products and cause a jam, especially when said signatures are of very thin paper stock and are delivered at high speeds.
Those diverters come along with a significant potential for product damaging and are prone to cause jams. The sensitivity of such diverters to jams is highly dependent on accuracy of presetting operations. Further said diverters have a limited access for maintenance and trouble shooting.
According to the present invention a diverting device for a continuous sequence of flat products includes:
a product travel plane,
a first product exit path and a second product exit path emerging from said product travel plane,
an upper set of tapes and a lower set of tapes each having actuatable guide members assigned thereto,
said guide members, respectively, forming an upper and lower diverting planes, respectively, with exit tapes upon movement about respective axes, respectively.
The present invention comes along with numerous advantages such as the diverter guide members bridging the distance between the supply tape exit nip and the exit tape entrance nip. This distance is minimized to maintain positive control over the signature as long as possible. Thus, the potential for product damage is significantly reduced. The construction of the diverter designed as two relatively movable pieces, one above and one below the signatures allows for easy access to the product travel plane. With this configuration the signature leaving the supply tape out-going nip is deflected by said diverter guide to lead the signature's leading edge for instance into the lower exit tape path or, on the alternative, the diverter guides the next signature's lead edge into the upper exit path. This function can be performed alternatingly. The supply tapes separate after the diverter guides, the upper supply tapes form the top of the upper exit tape path, and the bottom supply tapes join the lower exit tapes and form the lower exit tape path. The supply tape supports the side of the product opposite the diverter guide between the supply tape out-going nip and the exit
Bower Kenneth W
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Ellis Christopher P.
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
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