BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Printing machines exist in a multitude of designs, few of which are modular. Known printing machines exist, in which different modules or components can be arranged variably in front of and, in particular, behind the printing machine. A conventional module or component includes paper containers, which have to be led by the operator to the feeder in a filled state, and they have to be replaced, when they are empty. In a special design of a feeder of a printing machine, a gear, which is arranged on the side of the printing machine, drives, via gear wheels, rollers on the side of the paper container. These rollers are used for paper transport from the paper container into the printing machine.

During the removal and subsequent renewed coupling of the paper container, for example, a paper tray, to the printing machine, the problem arises that the gear wheels on the side of the printing machine come in contact with those on the side of the paper container, and they are damaged, particularly the gear wheel teeth, due to the influence of the acting forces. From car technology, a single track drive for cranking devices of combustion machines is known, which is arranged on a drive shaft of a starter motor, where an internal race is attached axially elastically and flexibly to a turn pinion, opposite an external race with a drive sleeve.

However, the construction of the single-track drive is complicated and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The problem of the invention is to reliably attach a replaceable component of a printing machine to the printing machine, in a simple manner.

A device is provided for replacing components for a printing machine, where the component is connected to the printing machine with gear wheels for driving a transport device for the transport of the printing material, with a second gear wheel about a second drive shaft of the transport device, which

second gear wheel can be shifted axially along the second drive shaft when the first gear wheel axially engages with the latter in the tooth on tooth position.

It is preferred for the device to present a freewheel about the second drive shaft to support the second gear wheel. In this manner, the manufacturing costs of the second drive shaft are reduced, because the use of cutting methods for the manufacture of the second drive shaft is omitted.

Advantageously, a compression spring is provided about the second drive shaft to clamp and unclamp the second gear wheel during the axial shifting of the second gear wheel, where, in a simple manner, a counter force against the pressure-application force of the first gear wheel onto the second gear wheel is provided, which allows the first gear wheel to be brought in engagement with the second gear wheel, by axially shifting the axially shifted second gear wheel back, due to the spring force of the compression spring, substantially into its starting position.

In an embodiment, a third gear wheel is in engagement between the first gear wheel and the second gear wheel, where the directions of rotation of the first and second gear wheels are identical.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is described in detail below with reference to the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a section of a printing machine, which is coupled to a component, with a transport device for transporting printing material from the printing machine to the component; FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a section of a printing machine and a section of the component according to FIG. 1, with the transport device, where a first gear wheel on the component and a second gear wheel on the printing machine are in engagement; FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an embodiment with the first gear wheel of the component of a printing machine in engagement with a third gear wheel and with the second gear wheel on the printing machine for coupling to the third gear wheel;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view according to FIG. 1, where the first gear wheel with the third gear wheel is moved in the direction indicated by the arrows, and the second gear wheel is shifted from the first gear wheel and third gear wheel along a driving axle; and FIG. 5 shows a schematic view according to FIGS. 1 and 2, after the startup of a drive shaft of the second gear wheel on the printing machine, where the first gear wheel is in engagement with the third gear wheel, and the latter is in engagement with the second gear wheel, similarly to FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows a top view of a section of a printing machine 17 on the left side. Here this is, for example, a bracket of the printing machine 17, on which the printing material, which has been completely printed in the printing machine 17 is deposited. To the feeder of the printing machine 17, on the right side according to FIG. 1, a component 15, is coupled, in this example a paper tray, for introducing and feeding printing material into the printing machine 17.

Furthermore, the component 15 can be attached to the feeder of the printing machine 17 or, it can be used, on the bracket for further processing the print job, for example, for cutting, bending or binding. On the component 15, the first transport rollers 11 are attached, which serve to convey the printing material from the bracket of the printing machine 17 to the component 15. On the component 15, in this example a paper tray, the printing material, for example, a sheet of paper, is deposited. The transport direction of the printing material is from left to right according to FIG. 1. In a manner corresponding to the first transport rollers 11, the second transport rollers 12 are attached at the feeder of the printing machine 17, which serve for transporting the printing material and which rotate in the same direction as the first transport rollers 11. As a result of the contact of the first transport rollers 11 and the second transport rollers 12 on the printing material, the printing material is led by friction by the printing machine 17 and deposited on the component 15.

The bracket of the printing machine 17 or the printing machine 17 presents a drive, which drives the second drive shaft 200 and the second transport rollers 12, which are attached to the second drive shaft, and the second gear wheel

2 by a drive belt 6, which grabs around a drive pulley 5. The drive pulley 5 is located in the second drive shaft 200 of the printing machine 17. The first gear wheel 1 (see FIG. 2) on a first drive shaft 100 at the component 15 engages in the third gear wheel 3, which in turn engages in the second gear wheel 2 on the printing machine 17. The second gear wheel 2 drives the third gear wheel 3 and the first gear wheel 1. In this manner, the first drive shaft 100 of the component 15, to which the first gear wheel 1 is attached, is driven, where the first drive shaft 100 drives the first transport rollers 11 of the printing machine 17. The first drive shaft 100 on the component 15, accordingly, has no drive of its own. The component 15, which is coupled in a replaceable manner to the printing machine 17, accordingly does not have its own drive; rather it is driven by the drive of the printing machine 17. The double-side arrow characterizes the direction in which the component 15 can be removed from the printing machine 17 and coupled to the printing machine 17. The component 15, for this purpose, is pulled away from the printing machine 17, or pushed toward the latter perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis and to the transport direction of the printing material in the image plane.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a section of the printing machine 17 according to FIG. 1 with a section of the component 15. In particular, one can see here how the second gear wheel 2 of the printing machine 17 engages in the third gear wheel 3 of the component 15 and drives the latter, and how the third gear wheel 3 engages in the first gear wheel 1 of the component 15 and drives the latter. The printing machine 17, according to FIG. 2, is in its operational state; the gear wheels 1,2, and 3 are in engagement. In this special example, the second gear wheel 2 of the printing machine 17 engages in the third gear wheel 3 of the component 15, drives the latter and does not engage directly in the first gear wheel 1 of the component 15. This is necessary for the direction of rotation of the second gear wheel 2 and the first gear wheel 1 to be identical, which wheels drive the second transport rollers 12, and the first transport rollers 11, respectively, and for the transport of the printing material to be guaranteed.

The drive belt 6, the second gear wheel 2, and the first gear wheel 1 are moved in the direction represented by the arrow. The third gear wheel 3, which is arranged

in the middle between the first gear wheel 1 and the second gear wheel 2, in engagement with the first and second gear wheels, moves in the opposite direction. It follows from that fact that the printing material is transported from the printing machine 17 by the first transport rollers 11 and the second transport rollers 12, which are driven by the first drive shaft 100 with the first gear wheel 1, and by the second drive shaft 200 with the second gear wheel 2, respectively, also in the direction of the arrow to the component 15, in this case a paper tray. When the first gear wheel 1 and the second gear wheel 2 present the same diameter, they present the same speed of rotation and a regular transport of the printing material is guaranteed.

To clarify the principle, FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the first gear wheel 1, which is attached to the first drive shaft 100 at the component 15.

The first drive shaft 100 and the first gear wheel 1 are surrounded by the component 15 and they serve as parts of a transport device 20 for the transport of a printing material from the printing machine 17 to the component 15. The component 15 can be connected in a replaceable manner to the printing machine 17 and it is, for example, a paper tray for the deposition of printing material from the printing machine 17. The second gear wheel 2, which drives the second transport rollers 12, drives, via the third gear wheel 3, the first gear wheel 1 which drives the first transport rollers 11, where the first transport rollers 11 and the second transport rollers 12 convey the printing material. The first gear wheel 1 and the third gear wheel 3 are arranged in fixed position with respect to each other in the axial direction and they are not moved toward each other axially. About the second drive shaft 200, on the side which is turned away from the first gear wheel 1 and from the third gear wheel 3, a compression spring 13 is arranged, which abuts on one side against the second gear wheel 2 and on its other side against a stop motion device stop 16 and which can be pressed together. Therefore, the stop 16, with respect to the adjacent second gear wheel 2, is directed inward toward the printing machine 17. The state represented according to FIG. 3, where the first gear wheel 1 with the third gear wheel 3 and the second gear wheel 2 is in an axially offset position during the replacement of the component 15 of the printing machine 17. In the present state, where the component 15 is replaced, and the

second gear wheel 2 is not in engagement with the first gear wheel 1 and the third gear wheel 3, the drive of the second drive shaft 200 stands still and the gear wheels 1,2, 3 are not driven.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view according to FIG. 3, where the first drive shaft 100 with the first gear wheel 1 and the third drive shaft 300 with the third gear wheel 3 are moved simultaneously in the direction represented by the arrow and the second gear wheel 2 is moved along the second drive shaft 200.

The first gear wheel 1 and the third gear wheel 3 are here rigidly connected to the first drive shaft 100 and the third drive shaft 300, respectively. The second gear wheel 2 is supported by a freewheel 30, which is attached to the second drive shaft 200. The freewheel 30 is used, on the one hand, to transfer the torque during the operation of the printing machine 17, where the second drive shaft 200 with the freewheel 30 turns in one direction, and, on the other hand, to cause the third gear wheel 3 to engage with the second gear wheel 2, as described below, where the second drive shaft 200 with the freewheel 30 usually turns in the opposite direction compared to the operation of the printing machine 17.

The process according to FIG. 4 takes place when the component 15 is applied, from the lateral direction, according to the arrows, on the printing machine 17, and the third gear wheel 3, which is arranged between the first gear wheel 1 and the second gear wheel 2, is brought in engagement with the second gear wheel 2. It is apparent that the third gear wheel 3 is applied laterally on the second gear wheel 2. This is the case when a side surface of a tooth of the third gear wheel 3 comes in contact with a side surface of a tooth of the second gear wheel 2, and a tooth on tooth position occurs. This state occurs, for example, when the gear wheels 1,2, 3, as a result of vibration, change their position or are moved in an undesirable manner, so that the tooth on gap position, in which one tooth appropriately engages in the gap when the component 15 is inserted in the printing machine 17, is changed. The gear wheels 1, 2,3 are represented schematically, where the dot-dash line in each case marks the boundary from the solid part of the gear wheel 1, 2,3, the basic body of the gear wheel 1,2, 3; which is located beyond the teeth, to the teeth.

When the position of the gear wheels 1,2, 3, shown in FIG. 4, has been reached, additional pressure due to the shifting of the component 15 will result in the second gear wheel 2 being moved along the second drive shaft 200 in the direction of the arrow, because of the tooth on tooth position of the second gear wheel 2 with respect to the third gear wheel 3. The second gear wheel 2, for the purpose of guaranteeing a shift along the second drive shaft 200, is provided with the freewheel 30, which is pressed into the reception bore of the second gear wheel 2, through which the second drive shaft 200 extends. The freewheel 30, is schematically represented by broken lines for the second drive shaft 200. The conventional freewheel 30, in the case of shifting along the second drive shaft 200, is used in a new type of application, for which one usually does not use an freewheel 30. On the second drive shaft 200, in the end position of the second gear wheel 2, a stop 16 is attached, which restricts the axial shifting of the second gear wheel 2 on the second drive shaft 200.

Between the stop 16 and the second gear wheel 2, a compression spring 13 is arranged about the second drive shaft 200. In the case of pressure against the second gear wheel 2, which is caused by the insertion of the component 15, where the first drive shaft 100 and the third drive shaft 300 are moved with the first gear wheel 1, and the third gear wheel 3, respectively, the second gear wheel 2 is shifted along the second drive shaft 200, and the compression spring 13 is clamped, where the compression spring 13 stores energy, and exerts a force in the direction of the arrow opposite the direction of shift. In the represented position according to FIG. 4, the component 15 engages in its end position, in which the printing machine 17 with the component 15 is ready for operation. Now the teeth of the third gear wheel 3 and of the second gear wheel 2 are laterally in contact with each other.

If, in contrast to the case examined here, a tooth on gap position of the second gear wheel 2 with respect to the third gear wheel 3 occurs, the latter come to be in engagement, and the second gear wheel 2 is not shifted along the second drive shaft 200. Next, the drive of the second drive shaft 200 of the printing machine 17 is switched on, where the second drive wheel 2 is driven.

The teeth of the second gear wheel 2 move over a certain distance along the

laterally applied teeth of the third gear wheel 3, which is not driven. Then the corresponding teeth of the second gear wheel 2 come in contact with the gaps between the teeth of the third gear wheel 3, and a tooth on gap position occurs.

Because of the force of the bent compression spring 13, which presses the second gear wheel 2 in the direction of the third gear wheel 3, the second gear wheel 2 is moved in the direction of the arrow according to FIG. 4 and of the third gear wheel 3, and the teeth of the second gear wheel 2 engage in the gaps of the third gear wheel 3. Here the second gear wheel 2 usually turns in the opposite direction of rotation during operation, and as a result, there is no substantial opposing force, due to the function of the freewheel 30 of the rotation of the second gear wheel 2.

The compression spring 13 is loosened and the second gear wheel 2 assumes the position according to FIG. 5; the radial axes of the gear wheels 1,2, 3 are now approximately on one line. The first gear wheel 1 and the third gear wheel 3 here do not move in axial direction; their positions are identical in FIGS. 4 and 5. The second gear wheel 2 now presents, in FIG. 5, approximately the same position as according to FIG. 3, before the first gear wheel 1 and the third gear wheel 3 is moved during the insertion of the component 15 in the direction of the second gear wheel 2. Now, when the second gear wheel 2 and the third gear wheel 3 are in engagement, the second gear wheel 2 of the printing machine 17 drives the third gear wheel 3 of the component 15 and the latter drives the first gear wheel 1 of the component 15.

In this state of operation, the second gear wheel 2 turns in the opposite direction, as during the insertion of the teeth of the third gear wheel 3 in the teeth of the second gear wheel 2, where the freewheel 30 of the second gear wheel 2 transfers, substantially without tolerance, the torque of the second drive shaft 200. As described, the purpose of the freewheel 30 is to shift the second gear wheel 2 during the application of the component 15 along the second drive shaft 200. In the state of operation, when there is engagement between the gear wheels 1,2, 3 and rotation of the first transport rollers 11 and second transport rollers 12, the purpose of the freewheel 30 is to transfer the torque of the second drive shaft 200 to the second gear wheel 2 and, when the second gear wheel 2 is brought in engagement with the third gear wheel 3, the freewheel 30 fulfills the

function of allowing the second gear wheel 2 to run freely, without substantial counter force.

The use of a simple freewheel 30 in the described embodiment constitutes a saving of manufacturing costs, because the only other way to achieve the described function than the one which was described consists of machining the second drive shaft 200 by milling. Above the variant has been described, in which three gear wheels 1,2, 3 are used, however other variants can be constructed with another number of gear wheels.

PARTS LIST 1 First gear wheel 2 Second gear wheel 3 Third gear wheel 5 Drive pulley 6 Drive belt 11 First transport rollers 12 Second transport rollers 13 Compression spring 15 Component 16 Stop 17 Printing machine 20 Transport device 30 Freewheel 100 First drive shaft 200 Second drive shaft 300 Third drive shaft