Method and Apparatus for Opening Folded, Bound or Stitched Multi-Sheet Products, Especially Printed Products

The present invention relates to a new and improved method of, and apparatus for, opening folded, bound or stitched multi-sheet products, especially printed products.

Generally speaking, the method and apparatus of the present development is of the type wherein, by means of a preseparation element, a portion of the sheets are displaced in relation to the remaining sheets of the product while forming an opening.

In German Patent Publication No. 2,447,336, published Apr. 17, 1975 and the corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,399, granted Apr. 20, 1976 there is disclosed an article opening device wherein a pressure element exerts a pressure or compressive force upon the product. This compressive force extends transversely with respect to a flat side of the product. Consequently, there is brought about a bowing-out of part of the product. In the thus formed gap there is introduced a separation element which completely opens the product. Since the mode of operation of this apparatus is predicated upon the presence of a pre-bias, caused by a product fold, in the product it is only possible to open with this technique certain types of products. Additionally, during the pre-separation the gap always tends to form between the sheets located at opposite sides of the fold, so that opening of the product at a different location is not readily possible.

A method and apparatus of the previously mentioned type is known from Swiss Pat. No. 521,911, granted Apr. 30, 1972. In this case a roll or roller co-travels along with the printed product, this roll pressing against a flat side of such product and its direction of movement however being oriented at an inclination with respect to the direction of movement of the product. Due to its movement component extending at right angles with respect to the direction of movement of the printed product this roll causes displacement of one part of the printed product in relation to its other part in the direction of the product fold. Such results in bowing-out of the displaced part of the product. For completely opening the product a separation element is introduced into the formed opening. However, if there are not employed special measures the printed product, as a rule, will be opened at its centre. If opening of the product is desired at another location, then it is necessary to reduce the friction between the product sheets located at the separation location, for instance, by applying a dry lubricant. Moreover, this known apparatus is afflicted with the drawback that due to the frictional contact or connection between the roll and the printed product there exists the danger that the product can be damaged.

Other prior art constructions of product handling equipment have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,580,562, 3,692,301 and 3,722,877.

Therefore, with the foregoing in mind it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved construction of method and apparatus for opening folded, bound or stitched multi-sheet products, especially printed products, in a manner overcoming the drawbacks and shortcomings of the prior art constructions discussed heretofore.

Another and more specific object of the present invention aims at providing a method of, and apparatus for, opening folded, bound or stitched multi-sheet articles or products, which enables the faultless, simple and reliable opening of such multi-sheet products of different thickness at all times at a desired location and while protecting the product against damage.

Yet a further significant object of the present invention aims at providing a new and improved construction of apparatus for opening interconnected multi-sheet products in a manner not associated with the previously described drawbacks, and which apparatus is relatively simple in construction and design, economical to manufacture, quite easy to use, not readily subject to breakdown or malfunction, and requires a minimum of maintenance and servicing.

Now in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the method of the present invention for opening folded, bound or stitched multi-sheet products, especially printed products, contemplates that the pre-separation element is moved relative to the product towards an open side of such product and a portion of the product sheets are engaged or seized, so that during the further or continued relative movement such sheets tend to bow-out at the seized or engaged region. A holder element is then introduced into the opening formed between the bowed-out sheets and the remaining sheets, and the sheets which have not been engaged by the pre-separation element come to bear upon such holder element.

As already mentioned heretofore, the invention is not only concerned with the previously described method aspects but also concerns apparatus for the practice thereof. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the product opening apparatus contemplates providing the pre-separation element so as to be moveable relative to the product, towards an open side of the product, and engaging a portion of the sheets of the product, so that during further relative movement these sheets are bowed-out or domed at the seized or engaged region. A holder element is provided which can be introduced into the opening between the bowed-out sheets and the remaining sheets, and the sheets of the product which are not engaged by the pre-separation element come to bear upon the holder element.

Due to the construction of the pre-separation element it is possible to determine the number of sheets which are to be engaged by the pre-separation element. Consequently, there can be freely selected the location where the sheets are separated from one another, without having to subject the product to a pre-handling or treatment. As soon as the holder element which retains the separated sheets apart, has moved into the opening formed by the pre-separation element, then the pre-separation element can be moved back without the previously opened sheets again bearing at one another. The product now can be further moved, for instance, in the direction of a separation element, without retarding or otherwise affecting this movement by the pre-separation element.

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an apparatus for processing printed products with the aid of a cell wheel;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, extending transversely with respect to the axis of the cell wheel of FIG. 1, of several compartments of the forwardmost portion of the cell wheel shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the arrangement of FIG. 2, taken substantially along the line III--III thereof.

Describing now the drawings, FIG. 1 shows in perspective view, while FIGS. 2 and 3 show in different sectional views, an apparatus for processing or handling printed products, extensively corresponding to the processing apparatus for printed products described in the aforementioned German Patent Publication No. 2,447,336 and the corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,399 as well as German Patent Publication No. 2,604,101, published Sept. 16, 1976 and the corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,202, to which reference may be readily had and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. For that reason it is unnecessary to provide any detailed discussion of the construction of such well known processing apparatus, apart from the general comments made hereinafter for the purpose of placing the invention of the instant application in its proper perspective. The aforementioned apparatus comprises a cell wheel 1 which is supported at its circumference upon rolls or rollers 2 which are mounted in a frame 3. By means of a suitable drive 4 this cell wheel 1 can be placed into rotation about its horizontal axis 1a in the direction of the arrow A. The cell wheel 1 is composed of different interconnected portions or sections 5, 6 and 7, each of which contains radially extending and outwardly open compartments 8. The individual compartments 8 are separated from one another by partition or separation walls 9. Furthermore, a support 10 is connected with the frame 3. At the support 10 there are provided two stationary cams or control brackets 11 or 12 or equivalent structure, the function of which will be described more fully hereinafter.

As particularly well seen by referring to FIG. 2, these compartments 8 serve for receiving folded printed products 13, which are inserted in the manner disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,202 in radial direction into the compartments 8 of the infeed portion or section 5 and subsequently are displaced within the compartments 8 in the direction of the axis of rotation 1a of the cell wheel 1. These printed products 13 consist of two parts or portions 13a and 13b, each of which contains a number of sheets and which are interconnected with one another along a folded edge by a product fold 14. The side 15 defines a lap margin (the so-called leaf portion) of the product which is located opposite the product fold 14 is open, i.e. the sheets are not interconnected at this side 15. As best seen by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the printed products 13 bear by means of their product part or portion 13b upon a support surface 9a formed by the partition walls 9. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment there are processed printed products 13 containing a prefold, wherein the part 13b is wider than the upper part 13a which creates the lap margin. However, it should be understood that in the same manner it would be possible to open printed products devoid of any pre-fold.

As will be recognised by further inspecting FIG. 2, at the rear end of each compartment partition wall 9 there is attached a substantially C-shaped profile rail 16 at which there is guided a not particularly illustrated carriage. At each carriage there is secured an outwardly open holder or holder member 17, at whose base portion 17a there bear the printed products 13 by means of their fold 14. This carriage along with the holders 17 are displaced in any suitable manner in the direction of the axis of rotation 1a of the cell wheel, i.e. at right angles to the plane of the drawing of FIG. 2, as such has been described in detail in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,202. In order to render possible, during rotation of the cell wheel 1, a faultless displacement of the printed products 13 in the axial direction of the cell wheel 1, there are provided gripper jaws 18 or equivalent structure. These gripper jaws 18 press the printed product 13 against a flange of the holder or holder member 17 which is connected with the carriage. These gripper jaws 18 are seated upon a gripper shaft 19. As to the operation and control of such gripper jaws 18 reference likewise can be made to the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,202.

In contrast to the previously discussed prior art systems, the opening of the printed products 13 is however accomplished with other means, which constitute the subject matter of the present invention and which now shall be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

At the outer edge 9b of each compartment partition wall 9 of the forwardmost portion or section 5 of the cell wheel 1 there is mounted a flat iron element 20, between which and an angle iron element 21 there are attached two bending spring elements 22 and 23 at their one end. These bending spring elements 22 and 23 are arranged adjacent one another in the axial direction of the cell wheel 1. The bending spring elements 22 and 23, which are bent from a spring steel strip, protrude by means of their free ends 22a and 23a into the interior of the compartment 8. The clamped rear portion of the bending spring elements 22 and 23 is configured such that the bending spring elements 22 and 23 always bear against the control cam surfaces 11a and 12a of the stationary cams 11 and 12, as also will be recognised by referring to FIG. 1.

The part of the bending spring element 22 forming a pre-separation element carries at its free end 22a an entrainment dog or cam 24 which, in a manner still to be described, comes to act upon a part of the sheets of the product located in the compartment 8. The free end 22a of the bending spring element 22, serving as the support arm for the entrainment cam or dog 24, extends past the entrainment cam 24 into the compartment 8 and carries at its tip a slide element 25, by means of which this arm 22a bears upon the contact or support surface 9a. As best seen by referring to FIG. 2, the arm 22a forms along with the contact surface 9a an acute angle .alpha. of less than 10.degree.. Upon insertion of the printed product 13 into the compartment 8 this printed product 13 comes to bear at the region of its corner E, where there should be accomplished a pre-opening operation, upon such arm 22a which extends at an inclination with respect to the support or contact surface 9a. At the opening region E the product 13 is thus raised and, because of its weight and the inherent tension or bias of the product, it bears flatly upon the arm 22a, so that also in the event of a possible damage to such opening region there can be nonetheless accomplished the positive product opening at the correct location.

Attached to the angle iron member 21 is a guide body 26 having two recesses 26a and 26b, as best seen by referring to FIG. 3, in which there are laterally guided the bending spring elements 22 and 23, respectively. At the underside of the free end 23a of the bending spring element 23, which serves as holder element, there is arranged a support element 27. This support element 27 bears by means of an inclined surface 27a upon a guide surface 28 of the guide body 26. This guide surface 28 ascends towards the interior of the compartment 8.

In FIG. 3 there has been indicated by the arrow B the direction in which the printed products 13 are to be displaced in the direction of the lengthwise axis of the cell wheel 1 in a manner as has already been explained. With respect to this direction of movement B the holder element 23a is arranged behind the pre-separation element 22a, 24. In FIG. 3 there is furthermore shown a stationary separation element 29 constructed as a spreading wedge, which is arranged after the holder element 23a, viewed with respect to the direction of movement B of the printed product 13. This separation element 29, as explained in detail in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,399, serves for the complete opening of the printed product 13.

Additionally, in FIG. 3 the respective arrows C and D represent the direction in which the arm 22a along with the entrainment cam or dog 24 and the holder element 23a, respectively, are moved within the compartment 8 towards the printed product 13. Both of the movement directions C and D extend essentially parallel to one another and approximately at right angles to the feed or advance direction B of the printed product 13.

Having now had the benefit of the foregoing description of the apparatus for opening printed products as contemplated by the invention there will be described the product opening operation which is as follows:

As long as the bending spring elements 22 and 23 are located, during revolving of the cell wheel 1, externally of the effective region of the cam or bracket elements 11 and 12 or the like, the free ends 22a and 23a of such bending spring elements 22 and 23 are in their retracted, rear position where they are held owing to the spring action of the correspondingly formed and clamped rear portion of the bending spring elements 22 and 23. In this retracted position both the entrainment cam 24 and also the holder element 23a are without effect upon the printed product 13 located in the compartment 8. Upon insertion of the printed products into the compartments 8 of the infeed portion or region 5 of the cell wheel 1 these printed products 13 come to bear upon the support surfaces 9a of the partition walls 9 as well as with the corner E which is to be opened upon the arm 22a which ascends in relation to the support surface 9a, as such has been illustrated in the uppermost compartment 8 of the three compartments shown in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 3. During the subsequent opening operation the printed product 13 is not moved.

As will be seen by referring to FIG. 2, during rotation of the cell wheel 1 initially the bending spring element 22 travels with its rear portion upon the control cam surface 11a of the cam 11 (uppermost compartment of FIG. 2). Under the action of such control cam surface 11a the arm 22a together with the entrainment cam or dog 24 is moved in the direction of the arrow C (FIG. 3) towards the open side 15 of the printed product 13. As will be seen based upon the intermediate portion of FIG. 2, during this forward movement of the arm 22a the entrainment cam 24 engages the corner region E of the lap margin part 13b of the printed product 13 and entrains the seized or engaged product sheets during its further movement. This now results in a doming or bowing-out of the sheets at the corner region E and which have been entrained by the entrainment cam 24. Due to this bowing-out of the product, portion 13b the sheets of the portion 13a located thereabove are raised, and a gap S is formed between both parts or portions 13a and 13b which are to be separated from one another.

Since at this point in time also the other bending spring element 23 begins to travel at its rear, clamped portion onto the control cam surface 12a of the other cam 12, there occurs a radial advance displacement of the holder element 23a in the direction of the arrow D (FIG. 3). Due to the inclined guide surface of the guide body 26 there is accomplished simultaneous with the forward advance or feed of the holder element 23a a gradual lifting thereof. With its forward end the holder element 23a enters the gap S and engages below the raised upper portion or part 13a of the printed product, as the same has been illustrated in conjunction with the lowermost compartment of FIG. 2. During further rotation of the cell wheel 1 the bending spring element 22 now moves off of its control cam surface or control cam 11a, which results in the arm 22a along with the entrainment cam 24 being retracted out of the compartment 8 into its rest position due to the restoring spring action of the rear portion of the bending spring element 22. As a result there disappears the bowing-out of the lower portion 13b at the corner region E, but the printed product is maintained open at this corner region by the holder element 23a, against which bears the upper part or portion 13a.

After the arm 22a and the entrainment cam 24 have retracted to such an extent that the cam 24 is no longer in engagement with the printed product 13, then the printed product 13 is advanced in the direction of the arrow B in the described manner. During the course of this feed or advance movement the printed product travels on to the separation element 29, which moves into the gap S which has been held open by the holder element 23a, and the two parts 13a and 13b completely separated from one another, as such has been described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,399. The bending spring element 23 not likewise moves off of its control cam surface 12a and is moved back into the rest position due to the restoring spring characteristic of the clamped rear portion. It is now possible to stuff, for instance, further printed products into the printed product 13 which has been opened in the described manner, and which stuffing operation has been explained in the mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,399.

By virtue of the fact that the printed product 13 is stationary during the opening operation, there is possible a faultless opening at the desired location of the product. Since the printed product 13 only then is moved when the entrainment cam 24 is located externally of the path of movement of the printed product 13, there is avoided any impairment of this feed movement or, in fact, damage to the printed product 13 by the cam 24. The holder element or holder 23a is provided with a smooth contact surface, so that there can be prevented any damage to the printed product 13 during the forward movement.

As particularly evident by referring to FIG. 2, the opening of the printed products 13 with a pre-fold is accomplished exactly at the centre, since the entrainment cam 24 presses upon one-half of the sheets. Products without any pre-fold however can be opened at a random location, and to this end it is necessary, by appropriately constructing the entrainment cam 24, to determine the number of sheets which must be engaged by the entrainment cam 24.

It should be understood that the pre-separation element 22a, 24 and the holder element 23a also can be constructed differently than illustrated. Moreover, it is possible to control the movement of the pre-separation and holder elements in a manner different than illustrated.

Instead of an entrainment cam 24 engaging at the open side 15, it would be possible for the pre-separation element to possess, for instance, also a suction cup or element which can be connected to a negative pressure source, this suction cup travelling below the sheets which are to be entrained, retaining such by a suction action and entraining them during the further movement.

It is also conceivable to move the product to be opened with its open side towards the stationary pre-separation element. The pre-opening operation occurs in appropriate manner by bowing-out the sheets which are fixedly retained by the pre-separation element and thus prevented from participating in any further movement. After the insertion of the holder element the product can be further moved in one direction, which extends transversely to its previous direction of movement. Additionally, both the pre-separation element and also the product can be moved towards one another.

Instead of using a stationary separation element, towards which there is moved the product, it is possible to insert a moveably constructed separation element into the opening S at the stationary or moved product.

Although the described apparatus is particularly suitable for opening thin products having a pre-fold, it is possible to open in the described manner of course also other multi-sheet articles or products, which are folded, stitched or bound, i.e. where the sheets are interconnected with one another at least at one side.

While there are shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims. ACCORDINGLY,