ROTATION STITCHING MACHINE AND RADIAL ADJUSTMENT METHOD IN A ROTATION STITCHING MACHINE

Technical field The present invention relates to the art of rotation stitching machines intended to stitch printed matter, for example newspapers and brochures, whose pages run off from a printing press on double-sided printed running paper webs. Each double-sided printed paper web is gathered and synchronised to one another whereafter the gathered paper webs are led into the rotation stitching machine and are there stitched together.

Background art

From printing presses, one or more paper webs run at constant speed on one another, the paper webs together forming a continuous row of printed matter. The paper webs run past a rotation stapling or stitching machine which staples together the paper webs, the paper webs thereafter being severed in register with the stapling points. In such instance, the printed matter consist of publications once folding has taken place along the staplings. The background to rotation stitching or stapling machines is moreover apparent from, for example, Swedish Patent Specification 9300536-1 (506 107) and 9300537-9 (506 108) which have their counterpart in US patent 5,474,221 and US patent 5,690,266. US patent 3,762,622 also discloses the background to rotation stitching machines. The rotation stapling or stitching machines are mounted directly adjacent to the printing presses in spaces specifically adapted for the rotation stitching machines. The stitching or stapling of the paper webs takes place when a stapling fork which holds a staple in a stapling cylinder meets a die in a counter-rotating die cylinder, in which event the die shapes the shanks of the staple so as to be bent towards the gathered paper webs. In order to adapt, on the one hand, the extent of bending and the position of the staples, an adjustment of the stapling dies is necessary, on the one hand in a radial direction and on the other hand in the axial direction.

Traditionally, the stapling dies are adjusted individually according as they are positioned in their separate die wheels, both vertically from the centre of the axis, i.e. in the radial direction, and laterally, i.e. in the axial direction, along the width of the paper web. Both of these adjustments can only be put into effect when the rotation stitching machine is stopped.

Those problems which occur with an adjustment in the axial direction of the stapling dies is that a varying number of support wheels are mounted between the die cylinders, the support wheels supporting the paper web in those cases where the die cylinder has a surround, i.e. in those cases when the paper web changes direction around the die cylinder. Thus, these support wheels prevent a displacement of the stapling points freely in the lateral direction along the paper width, if large parts of the rotation stitching machine are not dismounted.

A further problem in prior art rotation stitching machines is that these are provided with bulky die adjustment devices, which implies that the axial distance between the die cylinder shaft and the stapling cylinder shaft is modified in that the entire die cylinder shaft with die, die cylinder and support wheels is displaced in parallel in relation to the stapling cylinder shaft. Such an adjustment of the die position in relation to the stapling fork can only be put into effect when the rotation stitching machine is stopped, which implies expensive downtime.

Objects of the invention

The present invention has for its object to realise an improved rotation stitching machine and a method in such a machine.

One object of the present invention is that the adjustment of the die in terms of distance in relation to the stapling fork when these are in register with one another can be put into effect at one adjustment point.

Moreover, the object of the present invention is that the adjustment of the die in terms of distance in relation to the stapling fork may be put into effect without the need of stopping the rotation stitching machine. Yet further objects of the present invention are that the rotation stitching machine is provided with a stapling die which is adjustable completely freely in the

axial direction throughout the entire width of the paper web, with the machine stopped, without major dismounting operations.

Still a further object of the present invention is that all stapling dies be located at the same radial distance from the axis centre of the die cylinder.

Brief outline of the invention

The present invention, as disclosed in the appended independent Claims, attains the above disclosed objects. Expedient embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the appended subclaims. The invention relates to a method in a rotation stitching machine which, with a stitching or stapling module positioned in a rotating stapling cylinder, applies staples provided with penetrating shanks through a plurality of layers in a material web running through the rotation stitching machine. The staples are pressed by a punch mounted in a stapling fork in the stapling module through the material path, whereafter the shanks of the staples are clenched against a die in a die cylinder counter-rotating in relation to the stapling cylinder, the die being afforded a radial adjustment in the die cylinder in that a regulator device acts on an adjustment device by a movement in relation to the die cylinder which alters the radial position of the die. The conversion of the relative movement into the radial movement which changes the radial position of the die takes place either by the intermediary of a cam member which acts on a carrier, or by the intermediary of a carrier which acts on a cam member, i.e. the sequence of how the movement is converted can be either in the one way or the other. The cam member is designed as a guide groove in which the carrier is displaced. Naturally, the guide groove may also be displaced so as to move the carrier.

According to one first embodiment of the method according to the present invention, the movement of the adjustment device consists of a translation movement parallel with the axis of rotation of the die cylinder.

According to a second embodiment of the method according to the present invention, the movement of the adjustment device consists of a pivotal movement about the axis of rotation of the die cylinder.

The present invention also relates to a rotation stitching machine which is provided, on the one hand, with a stapling fork rotary about a first shaft with mounted punch and, on the other hand, a die in a die cylinder counter-rotating about a second shaft. The shafts are positioned and disposed so as to be rotated such that the stapling fork with its punch and the die are located in register with one another at some point in time so that the shanks of a staple transported by the stapling fork can be pressed by means of the punch through a plurality of layers in a material web running through the rotation stitching machine and be clenched against the die. In such instance, a regulator device is connected to an adjustment device in turn connected to a cam guide mechanism comprising carrier and cam member, the cam guide mechanism being connected direct to the die or to the die by the intermediary of a die carrier, for example in the form of a die beam, so that a movement of the adjustment device realises a radial movement of the die. The term die carrier should here be taken to signify a part or a plurality of connected parts which individually or together support the die in the die cylinder.

The cam member is, in the rotation stitching machine, preferably designed as a guide groove whose one end is located at a deviating radial distance from the second shaft in relation to the other end of the guide groove. Other cam members, such as cam curves against which a carrier is urged are also conceivable without departing from the scope of the present invention.

A first embodiment of the machine entails that the adjustment device consists of an axially movable adjustment shaft concentrically positioned inside a drive shaft for the die cylinder, the adjustment shaft being provided with a cam guide mechanism whose one part is positioned in the adjustment shaft and whose other part is positioned on a die carrier on which the die is mounted.

The die carrier implies a die beam provided with at least two beam stays extending radially inwards from the die beam into the adjustment space in the adjustment shaft, the one part of the cam guide mechanism being placed at the inner

ends of the beam stays in order to cooperate with the second part of the cam guide mechanism which is located in the adjustment shaft.

The cam guide mechanism part positioned at the beam stays consists of a carrier. The carrier is designed with a stub shaft hole in which a beam stay is inserted and fixed in position by means of a locking screw.

The die beam displays a length which corresponds to the width of the material web, and the die beam is provided with a die groove extending throughout the entire length of the die beam in which one or more dies may be freely displaced and fixed in position.

The die groove is formed encompassing the die, for example, of dovetail configuration and the fixing in the die groove is put into effect by means of at least one radially disposed grub screw through the die or through a die retainer in which the die is placed. According to a second embodiment of the machine, the adjustment device consists of a pivotally movable adjustment ring positioned concentrically about a drive shaft for the die cylinder, the adjustment ring being provided with a cam guide mechanism whose one part is positioned in the adjustment ring and whose other part is positioned on a die carrier on which the die is mounted. As has been indicated above, the die carrier may consist of a die beam.

In one preferred version according to this second embodiment, the die carrier includes a die beam provided with a part in the cam guide mechanism and disposed to cooperate with the second part of the cam guide mechanism which is located in a vertical adjustment body which is rotatably disposed about the drive shaft. The cam guide mechanism part positioned at the die beam consists of a fixedly mounted carrier.

The carrier extends axially into a cam member designed as a tangentially formed guide groove placed in the vertical adjustment body.

The vertical adjustment body is fixedly connected to the adjustment ring in that stub shafts placed on the adjustment ring extend through tangential slots disposed in the die cylinder wall, so that the vertical adjustment body and the

adjustment ring may, as a unit, be rotated in relation to the drive shaft. The illustrated embodiment shows two adjustment rings which are interconnected with one another.

The regulator device, the adjustment device, the cam guide mechanism including the carrier and the cam member, as well as their action on the die are disposed to be executed on both sides of the die cylinder, i.e. both ends of the die cylinder are of identical design apart from the fact that driving of the die cylinder and the regulator device, respectively, as well as the driving of the adjustment device are only connected to one side of the die cylinder.

The die carrier, for example the die beam, is of a length which corresponds to the width of the material web, and the die carrier is further provided with a die groove along the entire die carrier, in which die groove one or more dies may be freely displaced and fixed in position.

Around parts of the die, the die groove is circumferentially formed, for example dovetailed, and the fixing in the die groove is put into effect by means of at least one radially disposed grub screw through the die or through a die retainer in which the die is placed.

Throughout in the present application, the term "carrier" is also taken to signify "cam follower".

By fixing, in this manner, the stapling or stitching dies in a die beam which runs throughout the entire width of the paper web/the material web, the stapling points may be freely altered in the lateral direction.

According to the invention, the die beam is connected to a height adjustment mechanism which is actuated either by an axial movement in the centre of the die cylinder, or by a rotary movement in relation to the rotation of the die cylinder. Each one of these two movements may be realised manually, e.g. by means of a buttress thread, or with the aid of pneumatic systems, servomotors or hydraulics.

Brief description of the accompanying Drawings

The present invention will now be described in greater detail herein below, with the aid of embodiments and with reference to the accompanying Drawings. In the accompanying Drawings: Fig. 1 shows the principle of a conventional rotation stitching machine;

Fig. 2a shows a staple on stitching or stapling a thin publication;

Fig. 2b shows a staple on stitching or stapling of a thick publication;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a die cylinder in a rotation stitching machine according to a first embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line A - A through the die cylinder according to Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line B - B through the die cylinder according to Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one variation of a part from Fig. 3; Fig. 6a is a partial magnification of the encircled part in Fig. 6;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a variation of a part according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7a shows a partial magnification of the encircled part in Fig. 7;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of a die cylinder in a rotation stitching machine according to a second embodiment according to the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a section taken along the line C - C through the die cylinder according to Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a section taken along the line D - D through the die cylinder according to Fig. 8 taken according to Fig. 9.

Description of the present invention

Referring to the Drawings, Fig. 1 shows a rotation stapling or stitching machine 10 provided with a stapling cylinder 11 in which a stapling or stitching module 12 is mounted at the periphery of the stapling cylinder. The stapling cylinder is rotatably mounted on a stapling cylinder shaft 13 about which the stapling cylinder is driven by drive means (not shown). The stapling cylinder 11 is further mounted in parallel in relation to a die cylinder 14 rotary about a die cylinder 13' and against which the stapling cylinder rolls. The stapling or stitching module 12 in such instance runs against a die 15 mounted in the die cylinder 14 for final forming of a staple. Between the stapling cylinder 11 and the die cylinder 14 runs a material web 16 which consists of number of paper layers which are to be stitched or stapled together. In this instance, the stapling is intended to take place when the stapling

module 12 rolls against the die 15 immediately after the position illustrated in the figure. Moreover, the figure shows that the stapling module 12 is provided with a stapling fork 21 which conveys a ready- formed staple from a forming wheel 22 to the position where the staple, by the intermediary of a punch mounted in the stapling cylinder 11, is forced through the material web 16 and clenched against the die 15. The figure also shows the directions of rotation of the stapling cylinder 11 and the die cylinder 14, as well as the direction of movement of the material web 16. Both the stapling cylinder 11 and the die cylinder 14 rotate at constant speed, which corresponds to a peripheral speed equal to the speed of the material web 16. The forming of each staple is put into effect in that a wire 23 from a wire reel

(not shown) is advanced through a wire guide module 24 to a cutting position whereafter cutting, forming and collecting of the staple take place when the stapling fork 21 passes the forming wheel 22. The staple is thereafter conveyed by the stapling fork 21 approximately half a revolution up to meeting with the die 15, at which point the staple is forced by the punch through the material web 16 and clenched against the die 15.

The geometries which determine the degree of compression of the staple follow the formula:

X = R + r + δ, where:

X is the centre distance between the stapling cylinder shaft 13 and the die cylinder shaft 13',

R is the radius from the centre of the die cylinder shaft 13' to the die, r is the radius from the centre of the stapling cylinder shaft 13 to the punch in the stapling cylinder and

A ₁ is the distance between the die and the punch when these meet.

Conventionally, the distance δ, has been set in that the adjustment device has directly acted on the position of the die cylinder shaft 13' by altering the distance X. Such adjustment devices require a complex design and construction which moreover require relatively large space.

The novel feature in the present invention is that the distance δ, is set in that the adjustment device alters R which directly influences the distance A ₁ if the remaining parameters, i.e. r and X are kept constant. The fact that precisely the parameter X is kept constant represents the major advantage compared with prior art adjustment devices. The distance A ₁ according to the invention may vary from 0 mm to 10 mm, preferably from 0 mm to 3 mm.

Fig. 2a shows in a first adjustment position of the die 15 when the stapling fork 21 has withdrawn from the position in Fig. 1 and the punch 27 meets the die on stitching or stapling of a thin publication, which implies a minimum distance A ₁ between the punch 27 and the die 15. In this adjustment position, the shanks 26 of the staple 25 are clenched towards one another almost so far that the ends of the shanks meet at the final position which is shown in Fig. 2a.

Fig. 2b shows in a second adjustment position of the die 15 when the stapling fork 21 has correspondingly withdrawn from the position in Fig. 1 and the punch 27 meets the die on stapling or stitching of a thick publication, which implies a maximum distance δ ₂ between the punch 27 and the die 15. In such instance, the shanks 26 of the staple 25 are clenched towards one another to the final position which is shown in Fig. 2b, the ends of the shanks being located a distance from one another. Figs. 3-5 show a first embodiment of the invention, which will now be described.

Fig. 3 shows an end elevation of a die cylinder 14 provided with a die 15 in a rotation stitching machine according to a first embodiment according to the present invention. The die is mounted in a die beam 31 which is provided with fixedly connected and radially extending beam stays 32. These beam stays 32, and thereby the die beam 31 and the die 15, may be adjusted in the radial direction in the die cylinder 14 in that a centrally located adjustment shaft 33 can be displaced axially by actuation of a regulator device 34 which is indicated by the arrow in the figure. The end of the drive shaft 35 of the die cylinder 14, which is concentrically mounted outside the adjustment shaft, is also shown in the figure.

In Fig. 4, the action of the regulator device on the adjustment shaft 33 is indicated by the double-headed arrow which shows the movement of the adjustment shaft inside the drive shaft 35. The adjustment shaft is provided with at least one regulator space 41 which is provided with a cam member 42. The beam stays 32 of the die beam 31 are, in their inner end, provided with a carrier 43 which abuts against the cam member 42. In the embodiment according to the figure, the cam member 42 is designed as a guide groove which slants in relation to the axis of symmetry of the die cylinder 14. In the figure, the die beam 31 is moreover provided with a second beam stay 44 disposed so that both of the beam stays are regulated simultaneously and in the same manner as described above by the adjustment shaft in order to realise an accurate adjustment of the radial position of the die beam throughout all of its length and thereby the dies 15 mounted on the die beam.

Fig. 5 shows that the carrier 43 is mounted at right angles in relation, on the one hand, to each respective beam stay 32, 44 and, on the other hand, to the adjustment shaft 33. In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier is designed as a stub shaft which extends through a hole 45 in the inner end of each respective beam stay, the stub shaft being fixed in the hole. On a translation movement of the adjustment shaft 33, the cam member 42, in the form of the groove, will force the carrier 43 guided in the groove and designed as a cylindrical stub shaft, to be displaced in the radial direction, the beam stay 44 and thereby the die beam 31 also being displaced radially in a cylinder slot 51. As will also be apparent from Fig. 5, the outwardly facing edge of the die beam is provided with a die groove 52 in which one or more dies may be mounted. In the figure, this die groove is formed as a dovetail groove in which each die is slid in from either of both of the ends of the beam. Each respective die is then fixed in a suitable manner in the groove.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a die beam 61 with beam stay 64. In this embodiment, the carrier 43 is designed as a stub shaft 62 passing through the beam stay 64 and secured in the end of the beam stay 64 by a grub screw 65 from the end of the beam stay. The stub shaft 62 is also clad with an oval wear device 63. Fig. 6a shows in magnification, from the encircled part of Fig. 6, the die 15 and its positioning in the die groove 52 in that the die 15 is fixed in a die retainer 66 which in its turn is secured in the die groove 52. On both sides of the die 15, there are

provided gripping edges 67 throughout the entire length of the die beam 61 in order to keep the die fixed in position.

Fig. 7 shows the whole of the die beam 61 according to this alternative embodiment in perspective, with a first cylindrical beam stay 71 and a second cylindrical beam stay 72. At the inner end of each beam stay, the carrier 43 is mounted and fixed in position by the grub screw 65. The figure also shows the oval wear device 63. The figure moreover shows the dies 15 mounted in the die groove 52, as well as the gripping edges 67 surrounding the dies.

Fig. 7a shows in perspective a magnified view in accordance with the encircled part in Fig. 7, the die 15 being fixed in the die retainer 66 which is mounted in the die groove 52 of the die beam 61 by means of two locking screws 75.

The function of this axial adjustment is that the drive shaft 35, which is driven by drive means (not shown) is fixedly connected to the die cylinder 14. In the drive shaft, the adjustment shaft 33 runs freely in the axial direction. The adjustment shaft, with its cam member 42 in the form of angled grooves, converts the movement of the adjustment shaft 33 into a radial movement of the die beam 31 by the intermediary of the carriers 43 which are in the form of guide pins/shafts. This implies that the stitching or stapling dies 15 may be adjusted radially in relation to the centre of the die cylinder without stopping the rotation stitching machine. Fig. 8 shows a second embodiment of the invention which, in a corresponding manner to Fig. 3, shows an end elevation of a die cylinder 84 provided with a die 15 in a rotation stitching machine. The die cylinder 84 is driven by drive means (not shown) by the intermediary of a drive shaft 85 about which a rotator adjustment ring 86 is concentrically disposed. The rotational movements of the adjustment ring are indicated by the arrows in the figure and constitute a rotation in relation to a die cylinder end wall 87. Moreover, a regulator device 88 is provided for realising the rotation of the adjustment ring 86, which is indicated by the vertical arrow in the figure. The other broken lines in the figure constitute concealed parts which will be described in greater detail below. Fig. 9 shows in section the die cylinder according to Fig. 8 but shortened in accordance with the ghosted lines in order to show also its opposing end. The rotary adjustment ring 86 is mounted about the drive shaft 85 and is provided with fixed,

axially directed pivot pins 91, 92 which are both diametrically disposed about the axis of symmetry 90 of the drive shaft. The pins 91, 92 extend through the die cylinder end wall 87 in to a rotary vertical adjustment body 93. The pins 91, 92 are axially inserted in holes 94 in the rotary device, the holes having corresponding diameters to the diameters of the pins for a good fit therein.

In an analogous manner to that described in the first embodiment, a cam member acts on a carrier 95 which abuts against the cam member. In the embodiment according to Fig. 9, the carrier 95 is shown as an axially directed pin which is fixedly connected to a die beam 96 on which in turn the die/dies 15 are secured. Also in this embodiment, the dies are displaceably secured in a die groove 97 running throughout the entire length of the beam.

Fig. 10 shows that the die cylinder end wall 87 is provided with slots 101 in which the pins 91, 92 of the adjustment ring 86, and thereby the adjustment ring proper, may be rotated in relation to the die cylinder end wall 87 and the drive shaft 85. In the upper part of the section, it is apparent that the pins 91, 92 of the adjustment ring are fitted in said holes 94 in the vertical adjustment body 93 so that the body may be rotated in relation to the die cylinder end wall 87. The vertical adjustment body 93 is provided with a cam member 102 in the form of a slot in which the carrier 95 projects. The cam member 102 in the form of the slot is, as a result of the rotational movement of the vertical adjustment body 93, disposed to force the carrier 95 to execute a radial movement which directly acts on the die beam 96 and thereby the die 15 into a radial movement.

The function according to this second embodiment is that the driven shaft 85 is fixedly secured to the die cylinder 84 by the intermediary of the die cylinder end wall 87. The vertical adjustment body 93 is fixedly connected to the adjustment ring 86 through tangential slots 101 in the die cylinder end wall 87 and may, as a unit, rotate about the driven shaft. By rotating the adjustment ring 86 in relation to the die cylinder 84, the radial distance between the die cylinder centre, and likewise the axis of symmetry 90 of the drive shaft, and the carriers 95 is changed via the guide grooves, in the form of the cam member 102, in the vertical adjustment body 93. The die beam 96 is then displaced in the radial direction by the intermediary of the carriers 95.

As a result of the above described apparatuses for adjusting the radial position of the die, i.e. being able to vary R in accordance with the above disclosed formula, there will be realised a possibility, during operation and without the need of stopping the rotation stitching machine, to adapt the stitching or stapling of a staple to varying thicknesses of printed matter to be stitched or stapled together.

Further, the above described embodiments, which are both provided with a die beam, entail that all stitching or stapling dies which are mounted in the die beam may be adjusted in parallel with the centre of the die cylinder, i.e. the axis of symmetry, without the need of stopping the rotation stitching machine.