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(11) | EP 0 534 888 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Machine for the folding of flaps of book covers and the like |
| (57) It comprises a channel -2- along which the books move alternating advance movements
and stops. In a folding station there are two moving plates -16- having pneumatic
suckers -20-. The plates move towards the flaps -5- and separate them from the pages
of each book, to allow the pieces -23- fitted onto the plates to fold the flaps. In
a terminal station -30- the books with their flaps folded are grouped by means of
a pusher back -31-. The machine works sequentially and carries out the folding of
the flaps of the cover of the book in an automatic way, with no need for manual handling. |
[0001] The present invention refers to a machine for the folding of flaps of book covers and the like, working continuously and automatically, coupled to a conveyor system which feeds it with bound books whose flaps are unfolded.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There exists a simple form of book binding which consists in a cover formed by paperboard provided with flaps on the front and back covers. Each of these flaps is defined on the basis of a line or cleft which will form the edge or fold-line of the flaps over the inner side of the cover.
[0003] The operation of folding over the flaps of the cover is currently carried out by hand, which involves a time investment in manpower which obviously affects the total cost of the book.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This machine has been designed to solve the disadvantages presented by the manual folding system for book flaps.
[0005] Said machine is of the type which is fed from a conveyor belt, which supplies the books one by one, with the flaps of the two sides of the cover unfolded. On the basis of this conventional embodiment, the machine is characterized in that it has a channel to which the conveyor belt leads. The bottom of the channel has a further conveyor belt which runs the length of the machine and exceeds the length of the channel at its output end. The belt is provided with spacers which keep the books regularly spaced from each other throughout the entire run. The books from the feeder belt fall on their edge into the channel, so that the spine rests on the conveyor belt, while the side walls of the channel help to keep the books in the position described. The conveyor belt transfers the books towards a guide arranged longitudinally with respect to the channel and serving to gather together the pages of the book and separate the two sides of the cover from them until they reach a flap-folding station. This folding station consists of two moving plates facing each other, situated on either side of the mentioned guide and, initially, separated from it. The plates are driven by fluid-dynamic cylinders to make them execute alternate movements closing in and moving away with respect to the guide and to the gathered pages of the books which pass between said plates. The plates likewise have pneumatic suction elements which bear upon the sides of the covers to keep them momentarily juxtaposed against the plates. These pneumatic elements each present folding pieces hinged to the plates, which are driven at the same time to execute a folding movement onto the corresponding side of the plate. The flaps of both sides of the cover are folded during the pieces' folding movement. The book guides and the conveyor belt lead to a terminal station which groups together the books with folded cover flaps.
[0006] The belt which transports the books along the machine advances in a discontinuous way, alternating stops and sequential movements. Folding of the flaps of the book which is between the moving plates takes place during the stops. The sequential advance of the belt is coordinated with the movement of the cylinders which drive the plates and with the pneumatic suction devices situated on same.
[0007] The folding pieces are driven by fluid-dynamic cylinders, whose piston transmits its travel to the pieces by means of a multiplying transmission. The movement of these cylinders is coordinated with that of the cylinders which drive the moving plates.
[0008] The terminal station which gathers together the books comprises a platform on which a pusher back is fitted, being movable in alternate advance and withdrawal movements, in a perpendicular direction with respect to that of the book conveyor belt. The pusher back is driven by a fluid-dynamic cylinder, operation of which is coordinated with the stop and advance movements of the book conveyor belt. Said back is situated between two facing parallel bristle brushes which function as guides for the grouped books and, in turn, are adjustable in position.
[0009] The gap between the side walls which constitute the channel along which the books advance diminishes progressively from the book entry zone to the point at the end part of the channel where the books rub against its walls. The separation between the walls can be adjusted at will in function of the thickness of the books.
[0010] As already mentioned, at the output end of the channel there is a grooved piece with a wedge-shaped end, arranged at the upper part and facing the direction of book advance, which groups together the pages and separates the sides of the cover. The wedge-shaped piece is extends into a pair of longitudinal tabs which guide the books to the folding station. Following the tabs, the machine presents two pairs of guide wings, one of which keeps the pages together while the other gradually brings the two sides of the cover towards the group of pages, until the book enters the terminal grouping station.
[0011] At the input end this channel has a photoelectric detector which activates the motor driving the conveyor belt when a book falls into the channel. At the flap-folding station there is another photoelectric detector which stops the belt and, at the same time, sends signals in order that the corresponding fluid-dynamic cylinders drive the moving plates, and in order to activate a timer which starts the pneumatic suction system incorporated into the plates. A photoelectric detector likewise sends a signal for the fluid-dynamic cylinder to move in advance direction the pusher back which groups the books together in the terminal station. The cylinder which drives one of the moving plates activates a detector at the moment when the withdrawal movement to situate the plate in the initial position begins. This detector sends a start-up signal for the two cylinders which drive the flap-folder pieces. Said detector-bearing cylinder has a second detector which indicates when the folding of the flaps has finished, so as to restart the motor which drives the conveyor belt, as long as there is a book opposite the photoelectric detector situated at the input end of the work station.
[0012] For a better understanding of all that is described, the present spcification is accompanied by some drawings showing a practical case of embodiment of the machine.
[0013] In said drawings,
figure 1 is a side elevation view of the machine;
figure 2 is a plan view of the machine;
figure 3 is a section view through plane III-III of figure 1, corresponding to the folding station with the mobile plates at rest;
figures 4 and 5 are views similar to that of figure 3, showing two phases of movement of the plates, in position of picking up the sides of the cover by pneumatic suction and position of folding the flaps, respectively;
figure 6 is a detail in perspective view of the assembly of pieces which guide the books, grouping the pages together and separating the two sides of the bookcovers;
figure 7 is a section through plane VII-VII of figure 1;
figure 8 is a detail in plan view of the output end of the guides and of the channel along which the books move, together with the terminal book grouping station; and
figures 9 and 10 are perspective views showing a book with the flaps of the cover unfolded and folded, respectively.
[0014] The machine for the folding of book cover flaps and the like consists in the drawings of a bench -1- on which is situated a longitudinal channel -2-, a conveyor belt -3- emerging into one of the ends of the channel and supplying it with books -4- with the flaps -5- of the cover -6- unfolded. On the belt -3- the books are situated in transversal position with respect to the belt advance direction, and with their spines situated to the front part with respect to the travel direction.
[0015] The channel -2- has two side walls -7-, the gap between them diminishing from the end through which the books -4- fall, to the point where, when they arrive at the opposite end, the books rub against the walls, said gap being adjustable in function of the thickness of the books. The upper edge -7a- of the walls -7- is bent outwards to facilitate book entry into the channel.
[0016] The channel is open to the lower part, and at the bottom of same a conveyor belt -8- is driven by an electric motor -9- through the appropriate transmissions. The belt -8- presents some transversal book-drag ribs or stops -8a-, regularly spaced from each other. Irrespective of the point of the belt -8- on which the books fall, they adopt an equidistant position- as they travel along the channel -2-, because they are slowed by rubbing against the walls -7- until a stop -8a- bumps into a book and pushes it along the channel -2-.
[0017] At the end of the channel -2- at which the conveyor belt -3- emerges, there is a photoelectric cell -10- whose function will be explained below.
[0018] Within the output end of the channel -2- is situated a guide piece -11-, suspended from a bracket -12- whose position is adjustable in function of the book size. The guide -11- has a shape similar to a grooved wedge, with the point oriented in the opposite direction to book advance. Said grooved guide -11- extends in two longitudinal tabs -13-. After these tabs -13- there is a pair of parallel wings -14-, and on either side of same a further pair of open wings -15-, which draw towards each other in the direction of the book output. All the tabs and wings described have positions adjustable in function of the dimensions of the books -4-.
[0019] On either side of the tabs -13- are fitted two identical mobile plates -16-, which hinge around axes -17- situated on arms -18- which in turn oscillate around a common axis -19-. The plates -16- bear pneumatic suckers -20- actuated by a conventional suction system.
[0020] The plates -16- are driven by two fluid-dynamic cylinders -21 and 21a-, mounted on adjustable-position brackets -22-.
[0021] Each plate presents a folding piece -23- turning on a hinge around an axis -24-. The folding piece is driven by a fluid-dynamic cylinder -25- through a multiplier gear transmission -26-. Near the moving plates -16-, and under them so as not to interfere with their movement, are situated a photoelectric detector -27- and its corresponding mirror -28-, both fitted onto a bracket -29- whose position is adjustable in function of book dimensions (fig. 3).
[0022] The assembly of the moving plates -16- with the folding pieces -23- and the detector -27- with the mirror -28- constitutes the folding station of the flaps -5-, in front of which ends the channel -2-, which is replaced by the guides -13, 14 and 15-.
[0023] The above-mentioned guides and the conveyor belt -8- lead the books -4- with the folded flaps -5- to a terminal station -30- for book grouping. This station includes a pusher back -31-, driven by a fluid-dynamic cylinder -32-, which travels in a perpendicular direction with respect to that of the belt -8-. Similarly, the back is placed between two parallel guides, formed by two brushes -33- which also have positions adjustable in function of book dimensions.
[0024] Finally, in the cylinder -21a- which drives one of the plates -16- are situated, at different heights, two detectors -34 and 35- which act in function of the position of the cylinder piston, for the purposes to be detailed below.
[0025] From all that has been described and from observation of the drawings, the functioning of the machine can be deduced, which is as follows.
[0026] When a book -4- from the conveyor belt -3- falls inside the channel -2-, the detector -10- starts the motor -9- and the belt-8- moves, carrying the book until it reaches the photoelectric detector -27- (fig. 3), which gives the motor -9- stop signal. This motor remains stopped until the folding operation on the flaps -5- has finished. When there is a row of books -4- in the channel -2-, the start-up and stoppage of the motor which makes the belt -8- operate takes place alternately at regular intervals conditioned by the separation between the books which, in turn, depends on the position of the stops -8a- of the belt -8-.
[0027] When a book reaches the wedge-shaped guide -11-, the latter groups together the pages of the book and separates the sides of the cover -6-. The tabs -13- maintain this position.
[0028] The detector -27- sends a signal to the fluid-dynamic installation which feeds the cylinders -21, 21a-, which start to function, driving the brackets -18- of the plates -16-, which move towards the sides of the cover -6- of the stationary book (fig. 4). The detector -27- itself also sends a signal to start a timer working linked to the corresponding valve of the pneumatic installation, so that the latter produces aspiration at the suckers -20- of the plates -16- so that, when the plates separate, they carry with them the two sides of the cover -6-. Finally, the above-mentioned detector sends a signal to the fluid-dynamic circuit feeding the cylinder -32-, to make it come into action and move the back -31-, which pushes the book placed in front of it. On its hand, the detector -34- of the cylinder -21a- sends the corresponding signal to activate the cylinders -25- which drive the folding pieces -23-, when its piston reaches its top position. The second detector -35- fitted on the cylinder -21a- indicates that the folding of the flaps -5- has finished, and the motor -9- starts up so that the belt -8- advances again, provided that the detector -10- indicates that there is a book -4- in the channel -2-.
[0029] The book -4- starts its travel again, drawn along by the belt -8-, passing through the pairs of wings -14- which keep the pages together, while the pairs of wings -15- gradually move the sides of the cover -6- closer to the pages (fig. 6). After passing through the pairs of wings -14- and -15-, the book reaches the grouping station -30-, in which the back -31- pushes it towards the pair of brushes -33-, to group it with other books.
[0030] The machine described allows the flaps -5- of the cover -6- to be folded in a totally automatic way, and it has been designed to synchronize with another machine feeding bound books with unfolded flaps.
1. Machine for the folding of flaps of book covers and the like, of the type fed by a
conveyor belt which supplies the books one by one with the flaps of the two sides
of the cover unfolded, characterized in that the conveyor belt supplying the books
(4) leads to a channel (2), the bottom of which channel is a conveyor belt (8) which
runs the length of the machine and exceeds the length of the channel at its output
end, the belt being provided with spacers (8a) which keep the books regularly spaced
from each other throughout the entire run, said books falling on their edges into
the channel, so that the spine rests on the conveyor belt, while the side walls of
the channel keep the books in the position described, said conveyor belt transferring
the books towards a guide (11, 13) which is arranged longitudinally with respect to
the channel and gathers together the pages of the book and separates the two sides
of the cover until they reach a flap-folding station, said folding station consisting
of two moving plates (16) which face each other, arranged on either side of the mentioned
guide and initially spaced apart from it, driven by fluid-dynamic cylinders (21, 21a)
to execute alternate movements of closing in and moving away with respect to the guide
and to the gathered pages of the books passing between said plates, which are provided
with pneumatic suction elements (20) acting upon the sides of the book cover (6) to
keep them momentarily juxtaposed against the plates, and each further having folding
pieces (23) hinged on the plates, which are driven at the same time to execute a folding
movement on the corresponding side of the plate, during which movement they fold the
flaps (5) of both sides of the cover, the book guides and the conveyor belt finally
leading to a terminal station (30) which groups together the books with folded cover
flaps.
2. Machine for the folding of flaps of book covers and the like, as claimed in claim
1, characterized in that the belt (8) transporting the books along the machine advances
in a discontinuous way, alternating stops and sequential movements, the folding of
the flaps of the book which is placed between the moving plates (16) taking place
during the stops, while the sequential advance of the belt is coordinated with the
movement of the cylinders (21, 21a) which drive the plates and with the pneumatic
suction devices situated on them.
3. Machine for the folding of flaps of book covers and the like, as claimed in claims
1 and 2, characterized in that the folding pieces are driven by fluid-dynamic cylinders
(25), whose piston transmits its travel to the pieces by means of a multiplier transmission
(26), the movement of these cylinders being coordinated with that of the cylinders
(21, 12a) which drive the moving plates (16).
4. Machine for the folding of flaps of book covers and the like, as claimed in claims
1 and 2, characterized in that the terminal station (30) which groups the books comprises
a platform on which is fitted a pusher back (31) movable in alternate advance and
withdrawal movements, in a perpendicular direction with respect to that of the book
conveyor belt, said pusher back being driven by a fluid-dynamic cylinder (32), operation
of which is coordinated with the stop and advance movements of the book conveyor belt
(8), the pusher back being arranged between two facing parallel bristle brushes which
function as guides for the grouped books and are adjustable in position.
5. Machine for the folding of flaps of book covers and the like, as claimed in claim
1, characterized in that the gap between the side walls (7) which constitute the channel
(2) along which the books advance diminishes progressively from the book (4) entry
zone to the point at the end part of the channel where the books rub against its walls,
the position of said walls being movable so that the gap between them can be adjusted
at will in function of the thickness of the books.
6. Machine for the folding of flaps of book covers and the like, as claimed in claim
1, characterized in that at the output end of the channel there is a grooved piece
(11) with a wedge-shaped end, arranged at the upper end of the channel and facing
the direction of book advance, which groups together the pages and separates the sides
of the cover, the wedge-shaped piece extending into a pair of longitudinal tabs (13)
which guide the books to the folding station, while following the tabs the machine
presents two pairs of guide wings, one of which (14) keeps the pages together while
the other (15) gradually brings the two sides of the cover (6) towards the group of
pages, until the book enters the terminal grouping station (30).
7. Machine for the folding of flaps of book covers and the like, as claimed in claims
1 to 5, characterized in that the channel (2) along which the books move has at the
input end a photoelectric detector (10) which starts the motor driving the conveyor
belt when a book falls into the channel, while at the flap-folding station there is
another photoelectric detector (27, 28) which stops the belt and, at the same time,
sends signals in order that the corresponding fluid-dynamic cylinders (21, 21a) activate
the moving plates (16) and in order to activate a timer which starts the pneumatic
suction system (20) incorporated to the plates, a photoelectric detector of said plates
in its turn sending a signal for the fluid-dynamic cylinder (32) to move the pusher
back (31) which groups the books in the terminal station in advance direction, while
the cylinder (21a) driving one of the moving plates activates a detector (34) at the
moment when the withdrawal movement to situate the plate in the starting position
begins, this detector (34) sending a start-up signal for the two cylinders (25), which
drive the flap-folding pieces (23), this detector-bearing cylinder (21a) having a
second detector (35) which indicates when the folding of the flaps has finished, so
as to restart the motor which drives the conveyor belt (8), provided there is a book
in front of the photoelectric detector (10) arranged at the input end of the channel
(2).