Sheet joggling device, and sheet delivery, sheet-fed printing press and sheet joggling method employed therewith

Abstract

A sheet joggling device is provided to increase the number of times a sheet is pressed and to improve sheet joggling functions of stacked sheets. A width direction sheet joggling device disposed on both sides of the advancing direction of discharged sheets, and which aligns positions in the width direction when stacking sheets, has a back holding unit movably provided in the width direction as to a frame, a size changing mechanism to move the back holding unit in the width direction B, a back aligning plate unit movably attached to the sheet side of the back holding unit in the width direction B, and a back aligning plate vibrating mechanism for causing the back aligning plate unit to approach/retreat as to the sheets with a predetermined timing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sheet joggling device, and a sheet delivery, a sheet-fed printing press, and a sheet joggling method employed therewith.

2. Description of Related Art

With a sheet delivery of a sheet-fed printing press, a sheet printed with a printing unit is transported with a gripper device of a chain gripper, subjected to removal of the claw at an upper portion of a delivery pile board, dropped below, and stacked on the delivery pile board.

At this time, the sheet to be dropped is subjected to position aligning to the fore and aft, and to the left and right, and is stacked in an orderly state.

As a device to align this position, a sheet joggling device to align the position of a sheet in the width direction is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. Hei 9-58920, for example.

This device has disposed a sheet joggling plate on both sides of the width direction of the sheets, and aligns the sheets in the width direction position by cyclically moving the sheet joggling plates back and forth in the width direction.

This sheet joggling device has a sheet size changing mechanism arranged to adjust the position of the sheet joggling plate in the width direction corresponding to the size change of the sheets, and a oscillating mechanism arranged to move the sheet joggling plates back and forth cyclically toward the sheets.

The sheet joggling plates are positioned by the sheet size changing mechanism so as to make contact with the side portion of the sheets, to match the sheet size, and by the oscillating mechanism thereof, the sheet joggling plates on both sides are cyclically moved back and forth to hit the both sides portions of the sheets, thereby causing both side positions of the sheets to be orderly.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, the arrangement disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. Hei 9-58920 is configured such that the oscillating mechanism oscillates the entire sheet size changing mechanism and the sheet joggling plates and so forth, whereby inertial mass subjected to vibration movement is great. Also, at times the sheets are large in the width direction, and for example may drop down with several millimeters of shift, so the amplitude for the back and forth movement of the sheet joggling plates, i.e. the movement width, has a leeway of 10 mm or so, for example, in order to handle this situation.

Thus, oscillating the sheet joggling plates at a high speed is difficult, and there has been a limit to increasing the speed of the oscillation cycle.

Thus, without being able to increase oscillation cycle, the number of times to press the dropping sheet by the sheet joggling plate cannot be increased, so there has been a limit to improving the sheet joggling performance.

The present invention provides a sheet joggling device, and a sheet delivery, employed therewith and a sheet-fed printing press to increase the number of time a sheet is pressed and to improve performance of sheet joggling of stacked sheets.

Also, the present invention provides a sheet joggling device, and a sheet delivery, a sheet-fed printing press, and a sheet joggling method employed therewith to sufficiently manage the sheets which otherwise might drop in a greatly unaligned manner in the width direction, and to improve performance of sheet joggling of stacked sheets.

Further, the present invention provides a sheet joggling device and printing apparatus arranged to further improve sheet joggling performance of the sheets.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides the following means.

That is to say, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a sheet joggling device arranged so as to be disposed on both sides of sheets to be discharged in the advancing direction thereof, to align the position of such sheets in the width direction in the event of such sheets being stacked, comprises: a moving member provided so as to be movable in the width direction as to a frame; a sheet size changing mechanism arranged to move the moving member in the width direction; a pressing member attached so as to be movably attached in the width direction on the sheet side of the moving member; and an approach/retreat mechanism arranged to approach and retreat the pressing member at a predetermined timing from the sheets.

With the sheet joggling device according to the present aspect, in the case that the width of the sheets is changed, the sheet size changing mechanism is started, the moving members are moved in the width direction of the sheets, and the position of the pressing members are moved to positions to make contact with both sides of the sheets. In this state, when the pressing members approach/retreat in the width direction of the sheets with the approach/retreat mechanism, the sheet to be discharged is pressed by the pressing member so as to be aligned in a position in the width direction.

Thus, the sheet is pressed while only vibrating the pressing member, so compared to that which currently oscillates the entire device, the portion with inertial mass to be vibrated can be suppressed significantly.

By decreasing the inertial mass of the portion to be vibrated, the cycle of vibration can be made faster, so the number of times for the pressing member to press the discharged sheets in the width direction can be increased.

Thus, the sheet joggling performance in the width direction of the sheets can be improved.

Also, the approach/retreat mechanism may further comprise an elastic member arranged so as to elastically press the pressing member on the sheet side; and a position regulating member arranged to regulate the movement of the pressing member toward the sheet side by pressuring the pressing member in the direction to retreat from the sheets, and cause the regulation position thereof to approach/retreat as to the sheets at a predetermined timing.

According to the present configuration, the pressing member is continually pressed to the sheet side by the elastic member, so the pressing member can be approached/retreated as to the sheets by approaching/retreating the regulation position with the position regulating member.

At this time, the position regulating member is pressing the pressing member in the direction to retreat from the sheets, so the force to press the pressing member to the sheet side is only by elastic force from the elastic member. Accordingly, for example, even if a situation occurs wherein an object is sandwiched between the stacked sheet and the pressing member so that the pressing member does not move to the sheet side, elastic force from the elastic member only acts against the pressing member, so too much force is not applied to the pressing member. Therefore, the pressing member can be prevented from being broken.

According to the above-described configuration, it is desirable for the position regulating member to be arranged to approach/retreat the regulation position as to the sheets with a cam member which is turnably driven.

Thus, the pressing member can be cyclically approached/retreated as to the sheets only by turning the cam member.

Also, according to the above-described aspect, the sheet size changing mechanism may further comprise a rack attached to the moving member so as to extend in the width direction; a pinion which is attached in the width direction, the position of which is roughly fixed, and meshes with the rack; and a driving unit arranged to turnably drive the pinion.

With the sheet joggling device, when the pinion is turned with the driving unit, the rack meshing with the pinion is moved in the width direction so the position of the moving member in the width direction can be adjusted. Thus, since the position in the width direction of the pressing member attached to the moving member can be adjusted, the position in the width direction of the pressing member can be adjusted corresponding to changes to the size of sheets.

Also, according to the above-described aspect, multiple pairs of the moving member and the pressing member are provided along the advancing direction, wherein at least one pair of the multiple pairs of the moving member and the pressing member are configured so as to be able to adjust the position of the advancing direction.

Thus, multiple pairs of the moving member and pressing member are provided along the sheet advancing direction, so the sheets can be pressed in the width direction in multiple locations along the advancing direction thereof.

Thus, the number of times for the sheets to be pressed in the width direction and the range thereof is increased, so the sheet joggling performance of the sheets in the width direction thereof can be further improved since the pressing members are detachably attached to a supporting member.

Also, at least one pair of the multiple pairs of the moving member and pressing member is configured such that the position in the advancing direction is adjustable, so even if the length along the sheet advancing direction changes, this can be handled.

Also, of the plurality of pairs of the moving member and the pressing member, the position in the advancing of the moving member and the pressing member may be fixedly configured on the farthest downstream side; and the moving member and the pressing member on the farthest upstream side may be attached to a vacuum suction wheel device.

For example, with the sheet delivery of the sheet-fed printing press, the downstream side position of the discharged sheets are fixed rather than depending on the length of the sheets, and a vacuum suction wheel device having a vacuum suction wheel to brake on the upstream side of the sheet is provided.

A vacuum suction wheel device is arranged to move corresponding to any change in length of the sheets, whereby the position of the vacuum suction wheel in the advancing direction of the sheets can be adjusted.

With the sheet joggling device according to the present invention, the moving member and pressing member at the farthest upstream side are attached to the vacuum suction wheel device, and therefore are moved in the advancing direction of the sheets in accordance with the movement of the vacuum suction wheel corresponding to the changes of the sheet length.

Thus, the moving member and pressing member at the farthest upstream side are moved by the vacuum suction wheel device which maintains a roughly fixes position relation with the upstream end of the sheets, so the pressing member of the farthest upstream side is positioned at a roughly constant position relation with the upstream end of the sheets without any adjustment.

Also, means to move the moving member and pressing member at the farthest upstream side in order to adjust the positions thereof as well as adjusting means thereof can be omitted.

Further, the moving member and pressing member at the farthest downstream side are provided with the positions thereof fixed in the advancing direction of the sheets, so the pressing member at the farthest downstream side is positioned in a roughly constant position relation with the downstream end of the sheets.

Accordingly, for example, in the case of two pairs of moving member and pressing member, the means to move these and the means to adjust these can be omitted.

Thus, the upstream end portion and downstream end portion of sheets (i.e. both sides of the sheet center in the advancing direction of the sheets) are pressed by the pressing member, so momentum does not act on the sheets to turn on the face thereof. Therefore, the sheet joggling performance in the width direction of the sheets can be improved.

Also, according to the above-described configuration, the moving members may each include racks attached to the moving member so as to extend in the width direction serving as the sheet size changing mechanism, and pinions which are attached in the width direction, the position of which are roughly fixed, and mesh with the racks; and has a shared driving unit arranged to turnably drive all of the pinions; the shared driving unit having a drive shaft to which all of the pinions are attached, whereby the pinions meshing with the racks of the moving member configured so as to be able to adjust the position of the advancing direction are movably attached along the drive shaft.

With the above-described configuration, when the drive shaft of the shared driving unit is turned, all of the pinions engaged as to the drive shaft turn, so all of the racks meshed thereto are moved in the width direction. Thus, all of the moving members can be moved in the width direction, so the width direction position of all of the pressing members can be adjusted to correspond to the changes in the width direction dimensions of sheets.

Also, the pinions meshing with the racks on the moving member which is configured such that the position thereof in the advancing direction is adjustable are movably attached along the drive shaft, so the changes in the width direction dimension of the sheets can be corresponded without influence from any changes to the advancing direction dimension of the sheets.

Also, according to the above-described configuration, it is desirable for the drive shaft to be configured with a cross-sectional shape in a multiple side shape.

Thus, the pinions are movable along the drive shaft and are turned in an integrated manner with the drive shaft with the multiple side shaped protruding portion, so for example, forming a groove portion in a key configuration is no longer needed.

For example, with the sheet delivery of the sheet-fed printing press, a powder is injected in order to prevent offset to the sheets, but if the groove portion is not formed, the powder can accumulate in the groove, which can prevent the pinion being prevented from moving along the drive shaft.

Also, a second aspect of the present invention is a sheet delivery employing the sheet joggling device according to the above-described first aspect.

According to the sheet delivery relating to the present aspect, a sheet joggling device is employed wherein the number of times for the sheet to be pressed in the width direction can be increased to improve the sheet joggling performance in the width direction of the sheets, whereby the sheets can be stacked in a state of being aligned in the width direction of the sheets, and the process can be advanced to the next process.

Also, a third aspect of the present invention is a sheet-fed printing press employing the sheet delivery according to the above-described second aspect.

According to the sheet-fed printing press relating to the present aspect, a sheet joggling device is employed wherein the number of times for the sheet to be pressed in the width direction can be increased to improved the sheet joggling performance in the width direction of the sheets, whereby the sheets can be stacked in a state of being aligned in the width direction of the sheets, and the process can be advanced to the next process.

According to the first through the third aspects of the present invention, only the pressing member is vibrated to press the sheets, so the number of times for the discharged sheet to be pressed in the width direction can be increased.

Thus, the sheet joggling performance in the width direction of the sheets can be improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a sheet joggling device comprises: sheet joggling plate portions arranged so as to be disposed on both sides of sheets to be discharged in the advancing direction thereof; a sheet size changing mechanism arranged to adjust the position of the sheet joggling plate portions in the width direction corresponding to the size of the sheets; wherein the sheet joggling plate portions are cyclically moved back and forth as to the sheets whereby both sides portions of the sheets are hit by the sheet joggling plate portions and the positions in the width direction of the sheets are aligned; and wherein the sheet joggling plate portions have an approach/retreat mechanism attached to the moving member of the sheet size changing mechanism to perform normal back and forth movement; and the sheet joggling plate portions are configured to perform large-scale oscillation movements having an amplitude several times greater compared the amplitude of the normal back and forth movement with a predetermined timing.

With the sheet joggling device according to the present aspect, sheet joggling plate portions are positioned in positions to abut against the sheets on both sides in the advancing direction of the sheets by the sheet size changing mechanism. In this state, the sheet joggling plate portions perform normal back and forth movement with the approach/retreat mechanism attached to the moving portions of the sheet size changing mechanism, whereby the discharged sheets are pressed by the sheet joggling plate portions to align in a position in the width direction of the sheets.

Thus, only the sheet joggling plate portions are moved back and forth to press the sheets, so inertial mass of the portions to be vibrated can be decreased compared to that which currently oscillates the entire device.

By decreasing the inertial mass of the portions to be vibrated, vibration cycles can be faster, whereby the number of times for the discharged sheets to be pressed in the width direction by the sheet joggling plate portions can be increased. Thus, the sheet joggling performance in the sheet width direction can be improved.

Also, the sheet joggling plate portions are configured to perform large-scale oscillation movements having an amplitude several times greater compared to the amplitude of the normal back and forth movement with a predetermined timing, so even in the case wherein sheets are discharged in a state with the end portion in the width direction of the sheets having been shifted to a position beyond a predetermined position, for example, greater than the amplitude of the normal back and forth movement, the sheets can be returned to an amplitude range for the normal back and forth movement by being pressed by the sheet joggling plate portions with the large-scale oscillation movements.

The sheets are precisely aligned by the normal back and forth movements by the sheet joggling plate portions, so even if the sheets dropping are greatly shifted in the width direction, the sheet joggling performance of the sheet width direction can be improved.

Also, with the above-described aspect, it is desirable for the large-scale oscillation movement of the sheet joggling plate portions to be performed employing position moving portions of the sheet size changing mechanism.

Thus, separate driving means for causing the sheet joggling plate portions to perform large-scale oscillation movements is not needed, so a complicated configuration and increased cost can be prevented.

Also, a fifth aspect of the present invention is a sheet delivery of the sheet-fed printing press employing the sheet joggling device relating to the above-described fourth aspect.

According to the sheet delivery relating to the present aspect, a sheet joggling device which can improve the sheet joggling performance in the sheet width direction, including sheets which might drop while being greatly shifted in the width direction, is employed and therefore the sheets can be stacked in an aligned state in the width direction and the process can be advanced to the next process.

Also, a sixth aspect of the present invention is a sheet-fed printing press employing the sheet joggling device relating to the above-described fifth aspect.

According to the sheet-fed printing press relating to the present aspect, a sheet joggling device which can improve the sheet joggling performance in the sheet width direction, including sheets which might drop while being greatly shifted in the width direction, is employed and therefore the sheets can be stacked in an aligned state in the width direction and the process can be advanced to the next process.

Also, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, with a sheet joggling method for a sheet joggling device including: sheet joggling plate portions arranged so as to be disposed on both sides of sheets to be discharged in the advancing direction thereof; and a sheet size changing mechanism arranged to adjust the position of the sheet joggling plate portions in the width direction corresponding to the size of the sheets; the sheet joggling plate portions are cyclically moved back and forth as to the sheets whereby both sides portions of the sheets are hit by the sheet joggling plate portions and the positions in the width direction of the sheets are aligned; and the sheet joggling plate portions perform normal back and forth movement with a back and forth movement approach/retreat mechanism attached to the moving member of the sheet size changing mechanism; and the sheet joggling plate portions perform large-scale oscillation movements having an amplitude several times greater compared to the amplitude of the normal back and forth movement with a predetermined timing.

With the sheet joggling method relating to the present aspect, sheet joggling plate portions are positioned in positions to abut against the sheets on both sides in the advancing direction of the sheets by the sheet size changing mechanism. In this state, the sheet joggling plate portions perform normal back and forth movement with the approach/retreat mechanism attached to the moving portions of the sheet size changing mechanism, whereby the discharged sheets are pressed by the sheet joggling plate portions to align in a position in the width direction of the sheets.

Thus, only the sheet joggling plate portions are moved back and forth to press the sheets, so inertial mass of the portions to be vibrated can be decreased compared to that which currently oscillates the entire device.

By decreasing the inertial mass of the portions to be oscillated, vibration cycles can be faster, whereby the number of times for the discharged sheets to be pressed in the width direction by the sheet joggling plate portions can be increased. Thus, the sheet joggling function of in the sheet width direction can be improved.

Also, the sheet joggling plate portions are configured to perform large-scale oscillation movements having an amplitude several times greater compared to the amplitude of the normal back and forth movement with a predetermined timing, so even in the case wherein sheets are discharged in a state with the end portion in the width direction of the sheets having been shifted to a position beyond a predetermined position, for example, greater than the vibration width of the normal back and forth movement, the sheets can be returned to at least a vibration width range for the normal back and forth movement by being pressed by the sheet joggling plate portions with the large-scale oscillation movements.

The sheets are precisely aligned by the normal back and forth movements by the sheet joggling plate portions, so even if the sheets dropping are greatly shifted in the width direction, the sheet joggling performance of the sheet width direction can be improved.

Also, with the above-described aspect, it is desirable for the large-scale oscillation movement of the sheet joggling plate portions to be performed employing position moving portions of the sheet size changing mechanism.

Thus, separate driving means for causing the sheet joggling plate portions to perform large-scale oscillation movements is not needed, so a complicated configuration and increased cost can be prevented.

According to the fourth through seventh aspects of the present invention, the sheet joggling plate portions perform normal back and forth movement with an approach/retreat mechanism for back and forth movement which is attached to the moving member of the sheet size changing mechanism, and the sheet joggling plate portions are configured to perform large-scale oscillation movements having an amplitude several times greater compared to the amplitude of the normal back and forth movement with a predetermined timing, whereby even if the sheets dropping are greatly shifted in the width direction, the sheet joggling performance of the sheet width direction can be improved.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is a sheet joggling device having one pair of width aligning portions, provided on both sides of the advancing direction of the sheets having been subjected to printing, which are configured to align the position of the sheets in the width direction in the event that the sheets are stacked; each of the width aligning portions having a sheet joggling member of which an upper portion can oscillate with a lower portion in the sheet stacking direction as an oscillation fulcrum and is capable of abutting the side portion of the sheets in the width direction, and an oscillating unit which can oscillate the sheet joggling member in the sheet width direction.

According to the present aspect, only the upper portion of the sheet joggling member can oscillate with a lower portion in the sheet stacking direction as a oscillation fulcrum, whereby the oscillating unit can suppress the portion of the sheet joggling member to be vibrated to a minimum, so the inertial mass thereof is decreased, and the vibration cycles of the sheet joggling member can be faster. Accordingly, the number of times for the sheet to the pressed in the width direction can be increased, and the sheet joggling performance of the sheets can be improved. Further, while the vibration distance of the sheet joggling member is longer in the upper portion side in the sheet stacking direction, the lower side thereof is shorter, so the width direction position of the sheets can be securely aligned and also extraneous vibrations being applied to the sheets after the positions are aligned and stacked can be prevented, and also damaging the sheets can be prevented. Consequently, improvements to the sheet joggling performance and sheet damage prevention, i.e. the prevention of printing obstacles can both be achieved.

According to the above-described aspect, a sheet joggling member is formed in a plate shape, wherein the oscillation fulcrum may be configured to form a horizontal oscillation axial line along the advancing direction.

According to the sheet joggling device herein, the sheet joggling member is formed in a plate shape, wherein the oscillation fulcrum forms a horizontal oscillation axial line along the advancing direction, thereby securing a wide area to make contact to the sheet width direction side portions with the sheet joggling members, so the position of the sheets in the width direction can be readily aligned. Further, the oscillation fulcrum forms a horizontal oscillation axial line along the advancing direction, whereby the vibration amount of each sheet joggling member is defined in the horizontal direction, and a contact state with the sheets can be stabilized in the horizontal direction, stabilizing the behavior of the sheets, and so damage to these sheets can be suppressed in a sure manner.

According to the above-described aspect, an oscillating unit may be arranged to have an oscillation driving mechanism configured to oscillate an upper portion of the sheet joggling member between a sheet joggling position in contact with the sheets and a waiting position having retreated from the sheets.

According to the present configuration, the upper portion of the sheet joggling member is vibrated back and forth between a sheet joggling position and a waiting position with a oscillation driving mechanism, so in the event that the upper portion of the sheet joggling member is moving to the waiting position from the sheet joggling position, a sheet shifted from the correct stacking position as to the width direction is subjected to abutting with the upper portion of the sheet joggling member, following which the upper portion of the sheet joggling member is moved from the waiting position toward the sheet joggling position, whereby the shifted sheet can be pressed into the correct position in the width direction.

According to the above-described configuration, the oscillation driving mechanism may be arranged to have a turnably drivable motor, an eccentric cam wherein a central axial line is positioned being shifted a predetermined amount parallel from the turning axial line of the motor, and a link wherein the eccentric cam is provided on one end portion side and the sheet joggling member is provided on the other end portion side.

According to the sheet joggling device herein, the oscillation driving mechanism has a motor, an eccentric cam, and a link, making up a simple configuration where the motor is driven to turn the eccentric cam and move the link back and forth, wherein the upper portion of the sheet joggling member can be vibrated back and forth between the sheet joggling position in contact with the sheets and the waiting position retreated from the sheets.

According to the above-described configuration, an arrangement may be made with a connecting portion having a recessed portion which connects the sheet joggling member and the oscillation driving mechanism, and which is provided on one of the sheet joggling member side or the oscillation driving mechanism side, and a protruding portion provided on the other side to be inserted into the recessed portion; wherein the oscillating unit has a pressing member capable of pressing the upper portion of the sheet aligning member to the sheet side; and wherein the recessed portion and the protruding portion have a space therebetween along the direction of the pressing.

According to the sheet joggling device herein, an pressing member is provided such that the upper portion of the sheet joggling member can be pressed on the sheet side, while also a recessed portion and a protruding portion inserted in this recessed portion, having a space along the pressing direction, is provided to a connecting portion which connects the sheet joggling member and oscillation driving mechanism, whereby the sheet joggling member is continuously pressed to the sheet side by the pressing member, while the sheet joggling member has an escape at the connecting portion in the width direction according to the space along the pressing direction between the recessed portion and protruding portion. Consequently, even in a case where a large load is placed on the sheet joggling member, the sheet joggling member can escape in the direction of retreating from the sheets according to the spacing along the pressing direction between the recessed portion and protruding portion, whereby unreasonable force greater than the pressing force of the pressing member is prevented from being applied to the sheet joggling member, and so the width aligning unit can be prevented from being damaged.

With the configuration providing the connecting portion, a holding member provided on the sheet joggling member and the oscillating unit is provided, wherein the pressing member is configured with a spring member having a base end portion fixed to the holding member, a foldback portion provided on the lower side of the base end portion in the sheet stacking direction, and a tip portion which is folded back in the upper side of the sheet stacking direction via the foldback portion provided with the sheet joggling member.

According to the sheet joggling device herein, a configuration made up by providing a sheet joggling member on the tip portion of the spring member wherein the base end portion is fixed to the holding member and folded back with the foldback portion, a oscillation fulcrum is provided on the lower portion of the sheet joggling member and the upper portion of the sheet joggling member is vibratedly supported, and a configuration wherein the sheet joggling member is pressed on the sheet side, can be simultaneously realized, whereby the number of parts can be reduced while a compact configuration can be provided and space can be efficiently used.

According to the above-described configuration, the sheet joggling device may have a regulating plate which is a separate unit from the sheet joggling member, and which is arranged so as to be capable of being in contact with the width direction side portion of the sheets; and is fixed to the holding member at the oscillation fulcrum side of the sheet joggling member.

According to the sheet joggling device herein, a regulating plate is provided, which is a separate unit from the sheet joggling member, and which is arranged so as to be capable of being in contact with the width direction side portion of the sheets, and is fixed to the holding member at the oscillation fulcrum side of the sheet joggling member, whereby the sheet joggling member can be displaced relative to the holding member. On the other hand, if the regulating plate is not displaces relative to the holding member, the position as to the width direction of the sheets after being stacked can be securely hold, whereby the sheets are not damaged, and further the sheets can be neatly aligned.

According to the above-described configuration, a sheet size changing mechanism may be provided, having a rack provided to the holding member so as to extend in the width direction, a pinion which meshes with the rack, and a driving unit arranged to turnably drive the pinion, wherein the holding member is moved along the width direction along with the rack.

According to the sheet joggling device herein, when the pinion is turned by the driving unit, the rack meshing with the pinion is moved in the width direction, enabling adjusting of the position of the holding member in the width direction. Thus, the width direction positions of the oscillating unit attached to the holding member and the sheet joggling member can be adjusted, so the width direction position of the sheet joggling member can be adjusted corresponding to size changes of the sheets.

With a configuration having the sheet size changing mechanism, an arrangement may be made wherein a control unit arranged to control the driving of the sheet size changing mechanism and a detecting unit which is capable of transmitting a sample removing signal to the control unit are provided, wherein in the event of receiving the sample removing signal, the control unit controls the sheet size changing mechanism to retreat the holding member and the sheet joggling member from the sheets along the width direction.

According to the sheet joggling device herein, upon receiving a sample removing signal, the control unit temporarily retreats each width aligning portion from the sheets a predetermined distance, so in the event of removing a sample of the stacked sheets, the sheet can be prevented from catching on the various sheet joggling members, thereby preventing a removed sheet sample from being damaged.

With the above-described aspect, an arrangement may be made wherein each of the oscillating units are arranged such that the timing for the upper portion of the sheet joggling member making contact with the sheets is set to be mutually nonsynchronous.

According to the sheet joggling device herein, each oscillating unit has the timing to make contact with the sheets set to be mutually nonsynchronous, whereby vibration cycles of the various sheet joggling members are not aligned, so even if there is some spread in the dropping positions of the sheets, these sheets can be readily bundled into a predetermined position.

With the above-described aspect, an arrangement may be made wherein multiple pairs of width aligning portions are provided along the advancing direction, with at least one pair configured to be capable of moving along the advancing direction.

According to the sheet joggling device herein, multiple pairs of width aligning portion are provided along the advancing direction, so the momentum to turn within the face thereof is not applied, and accordingly, the sheets can be aligned in the width direction positions more neatly and accurately. Also, at least one pair of the multiple pairs of width aligning portions are movably configured along the advancing direction, so even if the length along the sheet advancing direction is changed, the situation can be handled appropriately.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a printing apparatus comprises a sheet supply unit arranged to feed sheets so as to supply the sheet, a printing unit arranged to subject the sheets supplied from the sheet supply unit to printing, and a discharge unit having a pair of width aligning portions provided on both sides of the sheets in the advancing direction thereof, to discharge the sheets subjected to printing at the printing unit, and also to align the width direction position of the sheets at the time of stacking the sheets, wherein each of the width aligning portions has a sheet joggling member of which an upper portion can oscillate with a lower portion in the sheet stacking direction as a oscillation fulcrum which is capable of making contact with the width direction side portion of the sheets, and an oscillating unit which can oscillate the sheet joggling member in the sheet width direction.

According to the printing apparatus of the present aspect, a sheet is taken out and supplied to the printing unit by the sheet supply unit, and printing is performed as to the sheet by the printing unit, following which the sheet subjected to printing is discharged by the sheet discharge unit, and this sheet is stacked with the sheet positions aligned in the width direction. During this time, since a sheet joggling member and oscillating unit are provided on each width aligning portion of the sheet discharge unit, the number of times to press the sheet in the width direction can be increased when aligning the position of the sheet in the width direction and stacking together, enabling the sheet joggling function of the sheets to be improved. Further, the width direction positions of the sheet while being dropped can be aligned in a sure manner, while unnecessary vibrations being applied to the stacked sheets can be prevented, thus avoiding damage to the sheets. As a result, improvements to the sheet joggling function and prevention of sheet damage, i.e. prevention of printing obstruction, can both be achieved. Accordingly, the sheets can be transferred to the next process while in an appropriately stacked state.

The sheet joggling device and printing apparatus according to the present invention have been made to improve the sheet joggling performance of sheets. The present invention is suitable for application to a sheet joggling device and printing apparatus employed with sheet printing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an overall overview configuration of a sheet-fed printing press according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an upper portion of a delivery pile board according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a portion of a sheet joggling device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the back width-aligning portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken at the X-X cross-section in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a Y-view diagram of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the front width-aligning portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken at the Z-Z cross-section in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a V-view diagram of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken at the W-W cross-section in FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken at the T-T cross-section in FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a transverse sectional view illustrating another embodiment of a driving shaft according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a transverse sectional view illustrating yet another embodiment of a driving shaft according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a transverse sectional view illustrating still yet another embodiment of a driving shaft according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating the upper portion of the delivery pile board according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a trajectory diagram illustrating the position varying trajectory of an inner end face of the back aligning plate and front aligning plate according to the first embodiment of the present embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a trajectory diagram illustrating another mode of the position varying trajectory of the inner end face of the back aligning plate and front aligning plate according to the first embodiment of the present embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a trajectory diagram illustrating yet another mode of the position varying trajectory of the inner end face of the back aligning plate and front aligning plate according to the first embodiment of the present embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a trajectory diagram illustrating still yet another mode of the position varying trajectory of the inner end face of the back aligning plate and front aligning plate according to the first embodiment of the present embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a schematic overview configuration diagram of the sheet-fed printing press to which a width direction sheet joggling device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is applied;

FIG. 21 is a plan view illustrating the position of the width direction sheet joggling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of the width direction sheet joggling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a plan view illustrating the front aligning portion of the width direction sheet joggling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a side view illustrating the front aligning portion of the width direction sheet joggling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a M-view diagram of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken at the G-G cross-section in FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is a side view of a connection portion of the width direction sheet joggling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the front aligning portion of the width direction sheet joggling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken at the F-F cross-section in FIG. 22;

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view taken at the E-E cross-section in FIG. 22; and

FIG. 31 is an overview configuration diagram illustrating a control device of the width direction sheet joggling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

First Embodiment

The configuration of a sheet-fed printing press 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 11.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall schematic configuration of the sheet-fed printing press 1.

The sheet-fed printing press 1 has a sheet feeder 3 arranged to supply stacked sheets along an advancing direction L wherein sheets which have been subjected to printing are supplied, multiple printing units 5 arranged to realize color printing by printing different colors, for example, and a sheet delivery 7 mounted such that printed sheets are in a stacked state.

The sheet feeder 3 is arranged so as to take and supply the sheets 9 stacked on a feeder pile board 11 one at a time from the top in sequence by an unshown sheet supply mechanism (sheet suction, cam, or the like).

The feeder pile board 11 is configured such that the sheet supply mechanism moves above corresponding to the supplying of the sheets 9 so as to keep a roughly constant positional relation as to the sheets 9.

Multiple printing units 5 arranged to print are provided for each color. According to the present embodiment, for example, a four color unit is shown which prints with four different colors such as C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and BL (black) and so forth, with four printing units 5 provided.

The printing unit 5 includes a printing cylinder 13, a blanket cylinder 15, an impression cylinder 17, and an intermediate cylinder 19.

The printing cylinder 13, blanket cylinder 15, and impression cylinder 17 are disposed so as to mutually be in contact in this sequence from top to bottom.

The printing cylinder 13 has a printing plate attached thereto in order to form a printing image on the surface thereof. The circumference of the printing cylinder 13 has provided therewith an inking device to supply ink to the image coverage portions of the printing plate and a dampening device to supply dampening water to the non-image coverage portions.

The blanket cylinder 15 has a blanket attached on the surface thereof which is formed with an elastic material.

The blanket cylinder 15 is arranged such that a printing image formed on the printing plate from the printing cylinder 13 is transferred thereupon, and the image is transferred to a sheet 9.

The impression cylinder 17 is a so-called double-diameter cylinder which has a diameter of two times the diameter of the printing cylinder 13 and blanket cylinder 15.

A gripper device (not shown) arranged to hold the tip of the sheet 9 is provided in two places on the surface of the impression cylinder 17 so as to sandwich the axial line center.

The intermediate cylinder 19 is disposed so as to be in contact with the upstream side of the impression cylinder 17, and has a configuration of a so-called double-diameter cylinder which has a diameter of two times the diameter of the printing cylinder 13 and blanket cylinder 15. A gripper device (not shown) is provided in two places on the intermediate cylinder 17, similar to the impression cylinder 18. Also, the intermediate cylinder 19 is disposed so as to make be in contact with the impression cylinder 17 of the printing unit 5 on the upstream side (or the sheet feeder 3).

The sheet 9 is transported through each printing unit 5 from the intermediate cylinder 19 to the impression cylinder 17 by being handed over by each gripper device.

The sheet delivery 7 includes a chain gripper 21 for transporting a sheet, a delivery pile board 23 on which printed sheets are stacked, and a fan device 25 to form a downdraft in the vicinity of the delivery pile board 23.

The chain gripper 21 has a pair of chains 27 which cyclically moves between a position adjacent to the impression cylinder 17 of the printing unit 5 on the farthest downstream side and an upper position of the delivery pile board 23, a gripper rod to link therebetween, and gripper devices 29 which are positioned on the gripper rod at predetermined spacing, whereby a sheet 9 is received at the impression cylinder 17 of the printing unit 5 and transported to a predetermined position on the upper position of the delivery pile board 23.

The delivery pile board 23 is hung by the chain 31 and is configured so as to be vertically movable.

The delivery pile board 23 stacks and holds the sheets 9 discharged from the chain gripper 21. As the sheets 9 are stacked, the height of the upper face of the highest level of the sheets becomes higher, so the delivery pile board 23 is controlled so as to continually, or in a stepped manner, be lowered so that the dropping distance for the sheets 9 remains roughly constant.

The fan device 25 is configured with multiple fans disposed in a generally rectangular shape, whereby the sheet 9 discharged from the chain gripper 21 at the upper side of the delivery pile board 23 is pressed downward by the airflow thereof.

At a position on the upper side of the delivery pile board 23, and on the lower side of the chain gripper 21, multiple (for example, six) sheet abutting portions 33 to regulate the downstream side (front) position of the sheet 9 in the advancing direction L, a width direction sheet joggling device (the sheet joggling device) 35 for aligning the position of the sheet 9 in the width direction B (the direction orthogonal to the advancing direction L), a vacuum suction wheel device 37 to control the advancing speed in the event of a sheet 9 dropping and controls the state thereof, and a back side sheet joggling device 39 to control the upstream side (back) position of the sheet 9 in the advancing direction L.

The lower portion of the multiple sheet abutting portions 33 are linked by a shaft 41 which extends in the width direction B to turn back and forth on the axis by an unshown electric motor.

The sheet abutting portion 33 is configured so as to oscillate in the advancing direction L (the left/right direction in FIG. 1) by the back and forth turning of the shaft 41.

The vacuum suction wheel device 37 is provided with a vacuum suction wheel 43 which is disposed so as to extend in the width direction B and is arranged to control the sheet 9 by applying suction force to the upstream end portion of the sheet 9, a vacuum wheel supporting portion 45 arranged to turnably support the vacuum suction wheel 43 and which is movably supported by the frame in the advancing direction L, and suction means such as an unshown pump which applies suction force to the vacuum suction wheel 43.

The back side sheet joggling devices 39 are each attached to the vacuum wheel supporting portion 45, and are configured as multiple plate members extending vertically.

The width direction sheet joggling device 35 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 through 11.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the upper portion of the delivery pile board 23. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a portion of the width direction sheet joggling device 35. FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the back width aligning portion. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken at the X-X cross-section in FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a Y-view diagram of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the front width aligning portion. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken at the Z-Z cross-section in FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a V-view diagram of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken at the W-W cross-section in FIG. 3. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken at the T-T cross-section in FIG. 3.

The width direction sheet joggling device 35 includes a left side sheet joggling unit 47a to align the sheet position on the left side of the advancing direction, and a right side sheet joggling unit 47b to align the sheet position on the right side of the advancing direction, having the same configuration while disposed symmetrically sandwiching the sheets 9 (see FIG. 2).

The left side sheet joggling unit 47a and the right side sheet joggling unit 47b have the same configuration, so hereafter the left side sheet joggling unit 47a will be described.

Note that the left side sheet joggling unit 47a and the right side sheet joggling unit 47b can be distinguished by notating a suffix “a” or “b” after the reference numeral.

That is to say, “a” indicates a portion or member of the left side sheet joggling unit 47a, and “b” indicates a portion or member of the right side sheet joggling unit 47b. Hereafter in the Specification and drawings, a or b will be referenced in cases to distinguish the left side sheet joggling unit 47a and the right side sheet joggling unit 47b but if not particularly distinguishing, the portion or member will be indicated with the reference numeral thereof with a or b omitted.

The left side sheet joggling unit 47a includes a back width aligning portion 49 to align the back side of the sheets 9 in the width direction B position, a front width aligning portion 51 to align the front side of the sheets 9 in the width direction B position, and a size changing mechanism (the sheet size changing mechanism) 53 to change the width direction B position of the back width aligning portion 49 and the front width aligning portion 51 corresponding to the size of the sheet 9 (see FIG. 3).

The back width aligning portion 49 includes a back holding portion (moving member) 55, a back aligning plate portion (pressing member) 57, and a back aligning plate vibrating mechanism (approach/retreat mechanism) 59. (See FIG. 4).

The back holding portion 55 is configured with a holding main unit 61 serving as a plate member in a generally rectangular shape, a pair of inner side guiding portions 63 in a generally rectangular solid form provided so as to protrude toward the upper side of each of the inner side (sheet side) end portions of the holding main unit 61, and a pair of outer side guiding portions 65 with a plan view L-shaped cross section provided so as to protrude toward the upper side of each of the outer side (the direction retreating from the sheet) end portions of the holding main unit 61.

The pair of outer side guiding portions 65 are provided such that the long side portions of the L-shape face one another and extend in the width direction, and the short side portions extend toward the front or the back from the inner side end portion of each of the long end portions.

The back aligning plate portion 57 has a back aligning plate 67, a back attaching plate 69, a pair of guiding rods 71, and a non-regulated portion 73.

The back aligning plate 67 is in a plate shape formed such that the central portion on the lower face of the roughly rectangular shape is a cutout in a trapezoidal shape, and the upper portion thereof is folded toward the outer side. The back aligning plate 67 has multiple (for example, four) large through holes 75 provided in the lengthwise direction. (See FIG. 6)

The back attaching plate 69 is in a plate shape in a roughly rectangular shape, formed slightly smaller than the back aligning plate 67, and is disposed parallel to the back aligning plate 67 with a predetermined amount of spacing therebetween. The back aligning plate 67 and the back attaching plate 69 are fixedly attached with an attaching tool 77 on both sides of the lower portions thereof.

A pair of guiding rods 71 is disposed to as to extend in the width direction, one end of which is fixed to the outer side face of the back attaching plate 69.

The guiding rods 71 each are slidably guided to the short side portions of the inner side guiding portion 63 and the outer side guiding portion 65.

The non-regulated portion 73 has a holding rod 79 and a cylindrical roller 81 provided thereto.

The holding rod 79 is a rod member having a rectangular shaped cross-section; the inner side end is fixed to the back attaching plate 69, and is disposed so as to extend in the width direction. A cutout portion 83 is formed through from the outside side end toward the inner side of the holding rod 79.

The cylindrical roller 81 is attached to the outer side end portion of the cutout portion 83 so that the axial line thereof roughly follows the advancing direction L.

The back aligning plate vibrating mechanism 59 includes a pair of compression springs (elastic member) 85, and electric motor 87, a decelerator 89, and an eccentric cam (position regulating member, cam member) 91.

The compression spring 85 is pressed so as to be inserted on the outside of the guiding rod 71, and is attached between the short side portion of the outer side guiding portion 65 and the intermediate protruding portion of the guiding rod 71 so as to attach the guiding rod 71 to the inner side (sheet side).

The decelerator 89 is attached to the attaching plate 93 which is fixed to the front face outer side end portion of the holding main unit 59, such that the output shaft 95 extends in the advancing direction L.

The electric motor 87 is attached to the front side of the decelerator 89.

The output shaft 95 passes through the cutout portion 83 of the holding rod 79, and is turnably supported on the long side portion of the pair of outer side guiding portions 65.

The eccentric cam 91 has a cylindrical shape, and is provided at a portion to position to the cutout portion 83 of the holding rod 79 with the output axis 95. The axial line center of the eccentric cam 91 is attached in a position shifted a predetermined distance, e.g. 0.5 mm from the axial line center of the output shaft 95.

The outer side end of the eccentric cam 91 is configured so as to engage as to the inner side end of the cylindrical roller 81.

The front width aligning portion 51 has a front holding portion (moving member) 101, front aligning plate portion (pressing member) 103, front aligning plate vibrating mechanism (approach/retreat mechanism) 105. (See FIG. 7)

The front holding portion 101 is configured with a holding main unit 107 serving as a plate member in a generally rectangular shape, a pair of inner side guiding portions 109 in a generally rectangular solid form provided so as to protrude toward the upper side of each of the inner side (sheet side) end portions of the holding main unit 107, and a pair of outer side guiding portions 111 with a plan view L-shaped cross section provided so as to protrude toward the upper side of each of the outer side (the direction retreating from the sheet) end portions of the holding main unit 107.

The pair of outer side guiding portions 111 are provided such that the long side portions of the L-shape face one another and extend in the width direction, and the short side portions extend toward the front or the back from the inner side end portion of each of the long side portions.

The front aligning plate portion 103 has a front aligning plate 113, a front attaching plate 115, a pair of guiding rods 117, and a non-regulated portion 119.

The front aligning plate 113 is in a plate shape formed such that both sides of a roughly rectangular shaped lower portion are cut out in a large rectangular shape, wherein the lower central portion is a cutout in a small rectangular shape, and the upper portion thereof is folded toward the outer side. The central portion of the front aligning plate 113 has multiple (for example, two) large through holes 121 provided in the lengthwise direction. (See FIG. 9)

The front attaching plate 115 is in a plate shape in a roughly rectangular shape, formed slightly smaller than the front aligning plate 113, and is disposed parallel to the front aligning plate 113 with a predetermined amount of spacing therebetween. The front aligning plate 113 and the front attaching plate 115 are fixedly attached with an attaching tool 123 on both sides of the lower portions thereof.

An oscillating plate 114 is attached in a vertically slidable manner within the area thereof to the lower central portion of the front attaching plate 115. The inner side end face of the oscillating plate 114 is roughly the same position as the inner side end face of the front aligning plate 113.

A pair of guiding rods 117 is disposed so as to extend in the width direction, one end of which is fixed to the outer side face of the front attaching plate 115.

The guiding rods 117 each are slidably guided to the short side portions of the inner side guiding portion 109 and the outer side guiding portion 111.

The non-regulated portion 119 has a holding rod 125 and a cylindrical roller 127 provided thereto.

The holding rod 125 is a rod member having a rectangular shaped cross-section, the inner side end is fixed to the front attaching plate 115, and is disposed so as to extend in the width direction. A cutout portion 129 is formed through from the outside side end toward the inner side of the holding rod 129.

The cylindrical roller 127 is attached to the outer side end portion of the cutout portion 129 so that the axial line thereof roughly follows the advancing direction L.

The front aligning plate vibrating mechanism 105 includes a pair of compression springs (elastic member) 131, and electric motor 133, a decelerator 135, and an eccentric cam (position regulating member, cam member) 137.

The compression spring 131 is pressed so as to be inserted on the outside of the guiding rod 117, and is attached between the short side portion of the outer side guiding portion 111 and the intermediate protruding portion of the guiding rod 117 so as to attach the guiding rod 117 to the inner side (sheet side).

The decelerator 135 is attached to the attaching plate 139 which is fixed to the front face outer side end portion of the holding main unit 105, such that the output shaft 141 extends in the advancing direction L.

The electric motor 133 is attached to the front side of the decelerator 135.

The output shaft 141 passes through the cutout portion 129 of the holding rod 125, and is turnably supported on the long side portion of the pair of outer side guiding portions 111.

The eccentric cam 137 has a cylindrical shape, and is provided at a portion to position to the cutout portion 129 of the holding rod 125 with the output axis 141. The axial line center of the eccentric cam 137 is attached in a position shifted a predetermined distance, e.g. 0.5 mm from the axial line center of the output shaft 141.

The outer side end of the eccentric cam 137 is configured so as to engage as to the inner side end of the cylindrical roller 127.

The size changing mechanism 53 includes a back rack (rack) 143, a front rack (rack) 145, a back pinion (pinion) 147, a front pinion (pinion) 149, a drive shaft (drive shaft) 151, an electric motor 153, and a decelerator 155.

The drive shaft 151 is turnably supported with the front main unit 157 and back attaching member 159 which are fixedly attached to the frame.

The drive shaft 151, the electric motor 153, and the decelerator 155 make up a shared driving unit (shared driving unit) of the present invention.

The cross section shape of the intermediate portion of the drive shaft 151 (the range from the front main unit 157 to the back attaching member 159) is a roughly true hexagonal shape.

The decelerator 155 is attached to the attaching plate 161 which is fixed on the front face side of the front main unit 157 so that the output shaft connected to the drive shaft 151 extends in the advancing direction L.

The electric motor 153 is attached to the front side of the decelerator 155.

The front pinion 149 is attached to the drive shaft 151 so as to not move in the shaft direction.

The front rack 145 is disposed so as to mesh with the front pinion 149 and to extend in the width direction, and is slidably held by the front main unit 157.

The inner side portion of the front rack 145 is fixed on the lower face of the holding main unit 107, and is configured to move in the width direction B in a manner integrated with the front width aligning unit 51.

The back pinion 147 is movably attached to the drive shaft 151 in the shaft direction, and is turnably supported by the moving holding member 163.

The back rack 143 is disposed so as to mesh with the back pinion 147 and to extend in the width direction, and is slidably held by the moving holding member 163.

The inner side portion of the back rack 147 is fixed on the lower face of the holding main unit 61, and is configured to move in the width direction B in a manner integrated with the back width aligning unit 49.

The moving holding member 163 is fixed to the vacuum wheel supporting unit 45, and is configured to move in the advancing direction L in according with the movement in the advancing direction L of the vacuum wheel supporting unit 45.

A width direction sheet joggling control unit 165 to control the operation of the width direction sheet joggling device 35 is provided.

The width direction sheet joggling control unit 165 inputs the information of the sheet to be printed from a production managing device or the like, for example, and has the function to operate the electric motor 153 in order to adjust the portion of the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 corresponding to the size of the sheet thereof.

The width direction sheet joggling control unit 165 has the function to operate the electric motors 87, 133, and 153 in order to perform sheet joggling operation as to the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113. In this case, the width direction sheet joggling control unit 165 has various operating modes such as controlling the operations of the electric motors 87 and 133 and the electric motor 153 in a synchronized manner or performing control independently.

The width direction sheet joggling control unit 165 detects the movement of the front rack 145 with a potentiometer, for example, in order to grasp the width direction position of the back holding unit 55 and the front holding unit 101.

The operation of a sheet-fed printing press 1 according to the present embodiment described above will be described.

First, the printing operation of the sheet-fed printing press 1 will be described.

The sheets 9 stacked on the feeder pile board 11 of the sheet feeder 3 are taken out from the topmost portion by an unshown sheet supply mechanism one sheet at a time, and supplied to the printing unit 5.

The sheet 9 supplied to the printing unit 5 is gripped with the gripper device of the intermediate cylinder 19 of the printing unit 5, and is passed down while being gripped from the intermediate cylinder 19 to the presser cylinder 17. This is repeated to transport the sheet through the printing unit 5.

With each printing unit 5, water is supplied to the non-image coverage portions of the printing plate attached to the surface of the printing cylinder 13 from the dampening device, following which ink is supplied to the image coverage portions of the printing plate from the ink supplying device.

The printing image thus obtained on the printing plate is transferred to the blanket cylinder 15.

The printing image transferred to the blanket cylinder 15 is transferred to a sheet 9 transported by the impression cylinder 17, upon which printing of one color is performed.

This is repeated at each of the printing units 5, yielding a color print.

The sheet 9 subjected to color printing is passed down while gripped again by the gripper device 29 of the chain gripper 21 from the impression cylinder 17 of the last printing unit 5.

The sheet 9 transported with the gripper device 29 is subjected to removal of the claw at the upper portion of the delivery pile board 23, is dropped, and stacked on the delivery pile board 23.

At this time, in order to prevent the un-dried ink from transferring to the back of the sheet 9 on the upper side, the sheet 9 has powder blown thereupon in advance when transported by the gripper device 29.

Next, the stacking operation of the sheets 9 at the delivery pile board 31 will be described.

The positions of the vacuum suction wheel 43, back sheet joggling device 39 and width direction sheet joggling device 35 (left side sheet joggling portion 47a and right side sheet joggling portion 47b) are adjusted corresponding to the size of the discharge sheets 9. For example, the positions are set is shown with solid lines in FIG. 2.

In this state, the vacuum suction wheel 43 is turned at a predetermined speed while an unshown pump is operated to apply adjusted suction force.

Also, the electric motors 87 and 133 are operated. Thus, the output shafts 95 and 141 turn via the decelerators 89 and 135, so the eccentric cams 91 and 137 turn.

Upon the eccentric cams 91 and 137 turning, the positions of the outer side end portions of the eccentric cams 91 and 137 move between the outer side position and inner side position for every one turn. The movement amount is twice the eccentric amount (0.5 mm), so is roughly 1 mm.

Thus, when the outer side end portions of the eccentric cams 91 and 137 move, the positions of the eccentric cams 91 and 137 regulating the movement of the cylindrical passed down 81 and 127 toward the inner side is cyclically moved in the width direction.

From the movement of the cylindrical roller 81 and 127, the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 move in an integrated manner in the width direction B as shown in FIG. 2 with a solid line and narrow two-dotted line (vibrate at vibration A (roughly 1 mm)).

At this time the movement of the cylindrical roller 81 and 127 towards the outer side is forcibly performed by the eccentric cams 91 and 137 against the force of the compression springs 85 and 131, and the movement on the other hand toward the inner side is performed by the force of the compression springs 85 and 131.

In this state, if the above-mentioned printing work is performed, the sheet 9 having the claw removed from the gripper device 29 of the chain gripper 21 has the back end portion thereof subjected to suctioning by the vacuum suction wheel 43 and is thus controlled, advancing slowly while dropping. The front end of the sheet 9 abuts against the abutting portion 33, whereby the advancing thereof is stopped, as well as the position of the front end portions are aligned.

Simultaneously, the positions on both sides can be aligned from being pressed from both sides by the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113.

The back ends are stacked in a state of being guided by the back sheet joggling device 39.

Thus, the back aligning plate portion 57 and front aligning plate portion 103 only are vibrated to press the sheets 9, so compared to a current situation wherein the entire device (including the size changing mechanism) is vibrated, the inertial mass of the portion to be vibrated is significantly decreased.

When the inertial mass of the portions to be vibrated is decreased, the vibration cycle can be faster, so the number of times for the discharged sheets 9 to be pressed by the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 can be increased.

Thus, the sheet joggling performance of the sheets 9 in the width direction thereof can be improved.

The eccentric cams 91 and 137 press the back aligning plate portion 57 and the front aligning plate portion 103 so as to retreat from the sheets 9, the force pressing the back aligning plate portion 57 and the front aligning plate portion 103 to the sheet 9 side is only by the elastic force of the compression springs 85 and 131. Accordingly, for example, even if something is caught between stacked sheets 9 and the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 133 such that the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 133 do not move in the sheet 9 side, only the elastic force from the compressing springs 85 and 131 is applied to the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 133, so unreasonable force is not applied to the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 133 or the like. Therefore, damage of the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 133 and the like can be prevented.

Also, the back end portion and front end portion of the sheets 9 (i.e. the both sides of the center of the sheets 9 in the advancing direction of the sheets 9) are pressed by the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 133, so momentum to turn on the sheet face is not applied. Therefore, the sheet joggling performance in the width direction of the sheets 9 can be improved.

Next, description will be made regarding the handling of a case wherein the size of the sheets 9 to be printed is changed.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the event that the sheet is changed from a currently used sheet 9 shown with solid lines to a smaller sheet 9 shown with two-dotted lines, first the vacuum suction wheel holding portion 45 is moved to the front side and the position of the vacuum suction wheel 43 is moved to a predetermined position shown with the two-dotted line.

In accordance with the movement of the vacuum suction wheel holding portion 45 toward the front side, the back sheet joggling device 39 which is integrated with the vacuum suction wheel holding portion 45 is moved to a predetermined position.

At the same time, the movement holding member 163 moves to the front side along the drive shaft 151. From the movement of the moving holding member 163, the back rack 143 and back pinion 147 move to the front side. In accordance with the movement of the back rack, the back width aligning portion 49 moves to the front side, and the back aligning plate 67 is positioned in a position to be engaged as to the back end portion of the new sheet 9.

Thus, the back width aligning portion 49 is moved by the vacuum suction wheel holding portion 45 which holds the vacuum suction wheel 43 maintaining a roughly constant position relation as the upstream end of the sheet 9, and therefore is automatically positions in a roughly constant position relation with the back end of the sheet.

Accordingly, in order to adjust the position of the back width aligning unit 49 accompanying the sheet size change, the means to move the back width aligning unit 49 as well as the means to adjust this can be omitted.

Also, the front width aligning unit 51 is provided with the position in the advancing direction of the sheet being fixed, and so is constantly positioned in a roughly constant position relation with the front end of the sheet.

Therefore, in order to adjust the position of the back width aligning portion 49 and front width aligning portion 51 in the advancing direction, the means to move these and the means to adjust these can be omitted.

Next, when the electric motor 153 is operated and the drive shaft 151 is turned via the decelerator 155, the back pinion 147 and front pinion 149 are turned. At this time, the back pinion 147 not slidably attached and fixed to the drive shaft 151 is engaged as to the corner portion of the drive shaft 151.

Thus, the drive shaft 151 is turned with the hexagonal protruding portion in an integrated manner with the drive shaft 151, so a groove such as a key configuration needs not be formed.

If the groove portion is not formed, a situation is prevented wherein the powder to prevent images from being transferred to the back side of the sheets 9 is being blown thereupon, but the powder accumulates in the grooves and prevents the back pinion 147 from being able to move along the drive shaft 151.

When the back pinion 147 and front pinion 149 are turned, the back rack 143 and front rack 145 meshed thereto are moved in the width direction B, so the back width aligning portion 49 and front width aligning portion 51 move in the width direction. Thus, the positions of the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 can be positioned in a predetermined position in the width direction B.

Thus, when the drive shaft 151 is turned, the back pinion 147 and front pinion 149 are turned, the back rack 143 and front rack 145 meshed thereto are moved in the width direction B. Thus, the back width aligning portion 49 and front width aligning portion 51 can be moved in the width direction, so the width direction B position of the back width aligning portion 49 and front width aligning portion 51 can be adjusted to handle the change in width direction dimensions of the sheets 9.

Note that with the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the drive shaft 151 is hexagonal, but is not limited to this, and can be any shape which can realize a meshing configuration to transfer turning driving force.

For example, a square shape as shown in FIG. 12 may be used, or any polygonal protruding shape with three or more angles may be used. Also, a recessed polygon such as shown in FIG. 13 may be used.

Further, a round cross-section as shown in FIG. 14 with a key groove extending in the shaft direction provided may be used, so as to engage the back pinion 147 with a key 165. In this case, if the key 165 is provided along the entire length of the key groove on the drive shaft 151 side, this is effective in preventing powder from accumulating in the key groove.

Also, with the present embodiment, the width direction B position of the sheet 9 is aligned at the two positions of the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 along the advancing direction L, but this can be aligned at three positions or more.

Further, the sheet joggling performance in the width direction of the sheets 9 can be improved with minute vibrations of the aligning plate, so this can be aligned at one position.

Next, another operating method employing the width direction sheet joggling control unit 165 shown in FIGS. 15 through 19 will be described.

The width direction sheet joggling control unit 165 operates the electric motor 153 to turn the drive shaft 151, whereby the back pinion 147 and front pinion 149 are turned. At this time, the back pinion 147 not slidably attached and fixed to the drive shaft 151 is engaged as to the angle portion of the drive shaft 151.

When the back pinion 147 and front pinion 149 are turned, the back rack 143 and front rack 145 meshed thereto are moved in the width direction B, so the back width aligning portion 49 and front width aligning portion 51 move in the width direction. Thus, the positions of the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 can be positioned in a predetermined position in the width direction B corresponding to the size of the discharge sheets 9 as shown with solid lines in FIG. 15.

While in this state, the vacuum suction wheel 43 is turned at a predetermined speed while an unshown pump is operated to apply the adjusted suction force.

Also, the width direction sheet joggling control unit 165 operates the electric motors 87 and 133 and the electric motor 153 at a set operating mode.

With this operating mode, the electric motors 87 and 133 and the electric motor 153 are operated independently.

The width direction sheet joggling control unit 165 is driven so as to continually operate the electric motors 87 and 133.

When the electric motors 87 and 133 turn, the eccentric cams 91 and 137 turn, and the positions of the outer side end portions of the eccentric cams 91 and 137 move between the outer side position and inner side position for every one turn. The movement amount is twice the eccentric amount (0.5 mm), so is roughly 1 mm.

Thus, when the outer side end portions of the eccentric cams 91 and 137 move, the positions of the eccentric cams 91 and 137 regulating the movement of the cylindrical rollers 81 and 127 toward the inner side is cyclically moved in the width direction.

From the movement of the cylindrical rollers 81 and 127, the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 minutely vibrate in an integrated manner in the width direction B as shown in FIG. 15 with a solid line and narrow two-dotted line with vibration width D1 (normal back and forth movement). Vibration width D1 is roughly 1 mm.

At this time the movement of the cylindrical rollers 81 and 127 towards the outer side is forcibly performed by the eccentric cams 91 and 137 against the force of the compression springs 85 and 131, and the movement on the other hand toward the inner side is performed by the force of the compression springs 85 and 131.

On the other hand, with the width direction sheet joggling control unit 165, with a certain interval, i.e. periodically, or alternatively with a predetermined timing, the electric motor 153 is operated for a defined time in the direction of the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 retreated from the sheets 9, and next is operated in the opposite direction to return the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 to the original position.

Thus, the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 move back and forth once (large-scale back and forth movement) between the position of aligning the sheet 9 periodically and a position retreated from such position in the with direction. The vibration width D2 of this back and forth movement is for example, roughly 10 mm.

The vibration width D2 is approximately 10 times the size compares to the vibration width D1 of the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 occurring with the electric motors 87 and 133. It is desirable for the size of this vibration width D2 to be several times greater than the vibration width D1.

Also, the certain interval over which to not operate the electric motor 153 is, for example, 5 seconds or 10 seconds.

This interval or the vibration width D2 can be appropriately set with consideration for the type of sheets employed, printing speed, sheet discharge state, and so forth.

FIG. 16 shows the movement trajectories Ka and Kb of the positions of the inner side end portions of the back aligning plates 67a and 67b and front aligning plates 113a and 113b in the case of synchronously operating the electric motor 153a of the left side sheet joggling portion 47a and the electric motor 153b of the left side sheet joggling portion 47b.

The electric motors 87 and 133 are independently operated, so the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 are minutely vibrated by the electric motor 153, even when retreated from the sheets 9.

In this state, if the above-mentioned printing work is performed, the sheet 9 having the claw removed from the gripper device 29 of the chain gripper 21 has the back end portion thereof subjected to suctioning by the vacuum suction wheel 43 and is thus controlled, advancing slowly while dropping. The front end of the sheet 9 abuts against the abutting plate 33, whereby the advancing thereof is stopped, as well as the position of the front end portions are aligned.

Simultaneously, the positions on both sides can be aligned from being pressed from both sides by the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113.

The back ends are stacked in a state of being guided and aligned by the back sheet joggling device 39.

At this time, there may be a case when a sheet 9 greatly shifted in the width direction B is discharged. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, in the event that the shifting amount H from the predetermined position of the sheets 9 is greater than the vibration width D1, aligning the position thereof with the minute vibrations of the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 by the electric motors 87 and 133 can be difficult.

According to the present embodiment, the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 are moved back and forth at the vibration width D2 with the electric motor 153 operating at a predetermined timing, so the shifted sheet 9 can be pressed back on the inner side with the returning movement of the back and forth movement.

At this time, the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 perform minute vibrations, so can press back the sheets 9 while hitting the sheet 9, further facilitating the width direction position of the sheets 9.

When the sheet 9 enters the range of vibration width D1 which is the minute vibrations, the positions of sheets 9 with the minute vibrations can be accurately aligned, so even in the event there is a sheet dropping in a manner greatly shifted in the width direction, the sheet joggling performance in the sheet width direction can be improved.

Thus, the sheets 9 are pressed by only vibrating the back aligning plate portion 57 and front aligning plate portion 103, so compared to that which currently oscillates the entire device (including the sheet size changing mechanism), the portion with inertial mass to be vibrated can be suppressed significantly.

By decreasing the portion with the inertial mass to be vibrated, the cycle of vibration can be made faster, so the number of times for the discharged sheets 9 to be pressed by the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 in the width direction can be increased.

Thus, the sheet joggling performance in the width direction of the sheets 9 can be improved.

Note that with the present embodiment, the electric motor 153a of the left side sheet joggling portion 47a and the electric motor 153b of the right side sheet joggling portion 47b are synchronously operated, but rather than synchronizing as shown in FIG. 17, the operation thereof may be made with another timing.

Thus, on one hand, for example, when the back aligning plate 67a and front aligning plate 113a hits as to the sheet greatly shifted toward the left side as shown in FIG. 15, the back aligning plate 67b and front aligning plate 113b vibrate minutely, and are in the vicinity of the predetermined positions, so can prevent the sheet 9 from greatly shifting in the right side.

Also, with the present embodiment, the electric motors 87 and 133 and the electric motor 153 are arranged to operate independently, but can be arranged to operate synchronously.

In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 18, the peak of the vibration width D2 by the electric motor 153 and the peak of the minute vibrations by the electric motors 87 and 133 can be arranged to match.

Thus, for example, the distance of the back aligning plate 67 and front aligning plate 113 to retreat is great, so the movement amount of the back holding portion 55 and front holding portion 101 can be arranged to be accordingly smaller, due to the electric motor 153.

Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 19, the electric motors 87 and 133 can be synchronized to stop when the electric motor 153 is operated.

Thus, the electric motors 87 and 133 can be stopped at a period when position aligning of the sheets 9 is needed less, so that amount of the operating power can be conserved.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the sheet joggling device and printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below based on the diagrams.

FIG. 20 is a schematic overview configuration diagram of the sheet-fed printing press to which the width direction sheet joggling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 21 is a plan view illustrating the position of the width direction sheet joggling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 22 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of the width direction sheet joggling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 23 is a plan view illustrating the front aligning portion of the width direction sheet joggling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 24 is a side view illustrating the front aligning portion of the width direction sheet joggling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 25 is an M-view diagram of FIG. 24. FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken at the G-G cross-section in FIG. 24. FIG. 27 is a side view of a connection portion of the width direction sheet joggling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the front aligning portion of the width direction sheet joggling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken at the F-F cross-section in FIG. 22. FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view taken at the E-E cross-section in FIG. 22. FIG. 31 is an overview configuration diagram illustrating a control device of the width direction sheet joggling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

A width direction sheet joggling device 200 is described in the case of being applicable to a sheet-fed printing press 1 as a printing device for performing printing as to a sheet 9 such as film, art sheet, coating sheet, and so forth in addition to normal sheet, as shown in FIG. 20. This sheet-fed printing press 1 is a so-called offset sheet-fed printing press 1 having a printing cylinder 13, and blanket cylinder 15 and impression cylinder 17.

The sheet-fed printing press 1 has a sheet feeder 3 arranged so as to feed and supply the sheets 9 for printing one at a time, a printing unit 2 arranged to perform printing as to the sheets 9 supplied and transported in the advancing direction L, and a sheet delivery 7 arranged to discharge the sheets 9 subjected to printing. Note that with the description below, the advancing direction L is equivalent to the forward and backward direction of the sheets 9 on the one hand, whereas the width direction B (see FIG. 21) of the sheets 9 is a direction horizontally orthogonal to the advancing direction L of the sheets 9, and is equivalent to the left and right direction of the sheets 9. Also, the stacking direction of the sheets 9 matches the vertical direction.

The sheet feeder 3 has a feeder pile board 11 and a sheet supplying mechanism 6. The feeder pile board 11 is for mounting and stacking sheets 9, and the sheet supplying mechanism 6 is arranged to take the sheets 9 stacked on the feeder pile board 11 one at a time in sequence from the top and supply the sheet, and is made up of a separator (sheet suction), a cam, a swing gripper, and so forth. The feeder pile board 11 is controlled so that the sheet supplying mechanism moves to the upper side in the vertical direction corresponding to the supply of the sheets 9 so as to keep a roughly constant positional relation as to the sheets 9.

The printing unit 2 has multiple printing units 5 arranged to print different colors to realize color printing. Multiple printing units 5 are provided linearly along the advancing direction L of the sheets 9 for each color to be printed. With the sheet-fed printing press 1, for example, four printing units 5 are provided, each corresponding to four different colors such as C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and BL (black), or the like.

Each printing unit 5 includes a printing cylinder 13, a blanket cylinder 15, and an impression cylinder 17, as described above. The printing cylinder 13, blanket cylinder 15, and impression cylinder 17 are disposed in the vertical direction from the upper side toward the lower side in this sequence so as to be in mutual contact. The printing cylinder 13, blanket cylinder 15, and impression cylinder 17 are provided so as to each be formed in a cylindrical shape, and also the central axial line thereof horizontally intersects with the advancing direction L. The printing cylinder 13, blanket cylinder 15, and impression cylinder 17 are arranged to be turnable centering on the central axial line thereof.

The printing cylinder 13 has a printing plate attached to the surface for the purpose of forming a printing image. Each printing unit 5 provides an ink supply device (not shown) made up of a group of rollers for supplying ink to the image coverage portions of the printing plate and a dampening device (not shown) made up of a group of water rollers for supplying dampening water to the non-image coverage portions on the circumference of the printing cylinder 13. The blanket cylinder 15 has a blanket formed on the surface thereof made of an elastic material. With the blanket cylinder 15, the ink supplied to the image coverage portions on the printing cylinder 13 is transferred to this blanket, and the printing image is transferred to a sheet 9 as a picture design. The impression cylinder 17 applies a predetermined amount of pressure in cooperation with the blanket cylinder 15. The impression cylinder 17 is a so-called double-diameter cylinder which has a diameter of two times the diameter of the printing cylinder 13 and blanket cylinder 15. A gripper device (not shown) arranged to hold the tip of the sheet 9 is provided in two places on the surface of the impression cylinder 17 so as to sandwich the axial line center in a generally symmetrical manner.

Each printing unit 5 further has an intermediate cylinder 19. The intermediate cylinder 19 is disposed on the upstream side of the impression cylinder 17 as to the advancing direction L of the sheet 9, so as to be in contact with the impression cylinder 17. Similar to the printing cylinder 13, blanket cylinder 15, and impression cylinder 17, the intermediate cylinder 19 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is provided wherein the central axial line thereof horizontally intersects with the advancing direction L, and is provided so as to be turnable on the central axial line. Also, similar to the impression cylinder 17, the intermediate cylinder 19 is a so-called double-diameter cylinder which has a diameter of two times the diameter of the printing cylinder 13 and blanket cylinder 15. A gripper device (not shown) arranged to hold the tip of the sheet 9 is provided in two places on the cylinder surface.

With each printing unit 5, each intermediate cylinder 19 is disposed so as to be in contact with the impression cylinder 17 of the printing unit 5 adjacent in the upstream side as to the advancing direction L of the sheet 9. Note that only the printing unit 5 on the farthest upstream side as to the advancing direction L does not have an intermediate cylinder 19, and the impression cylinder 17 is directly adjacent to the sheet feeder 3. The sheet 9 supplied from the sheet feeder 3 is first supplied in between the blanket cylinder 15 and the impression cylinder 17 of the printing unit 5 positioned on the farthest upstream side, following which the sheet is transferred by being gripped by each of the gripper devices from the intermediate cylinder 19 to the impression cylinder 17 on the printing unit 5 at the downstream side, whereby the sheet is transported through each printing unit 5, during which ink is transferred thereupon.

The sheet delivery 7 transports and stacks the sheets 9 subjected to printing with the printing unit 2 in an orderly state. That is to say, the sheet delivery 7 has a chain gripper 21 for transporting the sheet 9, a delivery pile board 23 whereupon the sheets 9 subjected to printing are stacked, and a fan device 25 to form a downdraft in the vicinity of the delivery pile board 23.

The chain gripper 21 has a pair of chains 27 which cyclically moves between a position adjacent to the impression cylinder 17 of the printing unit 5 on the farthest downstream side and an upper position of the delivery pile board 23, a gripper rod to link therebetween, and gripper devices 29 which are positioned on the gripper rod at predetermined spacing. The chain gripper 21 receives a sheet 9 from the impression cylinder 17 of the printing unit 5 and transports this to a predetermined position on the upper position of the delivery pile board 23.

The delivery pile board 23 is attached to a chain and is configured so as to be vertically movable.

The delivery pile board 23 stacks and holds the sheets 9 discharged from the chain gripper 21. As the sheets 9 are stacked, the height of the upper face of the highest level of the sheets becomes higher, so the delivery pile board 23 is controlled so as to move downwards in the vertical direction continually, or in a stepped manner, so that the dropping distances for the sheets 9 remains roughly constant.

The fan device 25 is configured with multiple fans disposed in a generally rectangular shape, whereby the sheet 9 discharged from the chain gripper 21 at the upper side of the delivery pile board 23 is pressed downward in the vertical direction by the airflow thereof.

Further, the sheet delivery 7 has an abutting unit 33, vacuum suction wheel device 37, back side sheet joggling device 39, and width direction sheet joggling device 200 in a position on the lower portion of the chain gripper 21 and on the upper portion of the sheet delivery pile board 23, i.e. between the chain gripper 21 and sheet delivery pile board 23 as to the vertical direction.

The abutting unit 33 is to regulate the downstream side (front) position of the sheets 9 in the advancing direction L thereof, and multiple abutting units 33, six in the present embodiment, are provided along the width direction B of the sheet 9. The multiple abutting units 33 are linked by a shaft 41 extending along the width direction B, at the lower portion in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 21. The shaft 41 is turnable on the axial line by an abutting electric motor 305 (see FIG. 31). The multiple abutting units 33 are configured so as to oscillate in the advancing direction L by the back and forth turning of the shaft 41.

The vacuum suction wheel device 37 controls the advancing speed in the event of a sheet 9 dropping, to control the state thereof. The vacuum suction wheel device 37 includes a vacuum suction wheel 43 (see FIG. 21), a vacuum wheel supporting unit 45 (see FIG. 22) and a suction unit such as a pump (not shown). The vacuum suction wheel 43 is disposed so as to be extended along the width direction B of the sheets 9, as shown in FIG. 21, and applies suction force to the end portion of the upstream side (back) of the sheets 9 in the advancing direction L thereof. The vacuum wheel supporting unit 45, as shown in FIG. 22, turnably supports the vacuum suction wheel 43, while being movable supported by a frame (unshown) of the delivery 7 along the advancing direction. A suction unit such as a pump (unshown) applies suction force to the vacuum wheel supporting unit 45 and the vacuum suction wheel 43.

The back side sheet joggling device 39 controls the position on the upstream side (back) of the sheets 9 in the advancing direction L. The back side sheet joggling device 39 is made up of multiple plate shaped bodies extending in the vertical direction, which are each attached to the vacuum wheel supporting unit 45.

The width direction sheet joggling device 200 is equivalent to the sheet joggling device of the present invention, aligning the position of the sheets 9 in the width direction, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. As shown in FIG. 21, the width direction sheet joggling device 200 has a left side sheet joggling unit 201a provided on the left side facing the downstream side in the advancing direction L of the sheet 9, and a right side sheet joggling unit 201b provided on the right side thereof. The left side sheet joggling unit 201a aligns the position of the left side of the sheets 9 as to the advancing direction L, while the right side sheet joggling unit 201b aligns the position of the right side of the sheets 9. The left side sheet joggling unit 201a and right side sheet joggling unit 201b are disposed symmetrically, sandwiching the sheets 9, and are in a generally mutually symmetrical configuration.

Note that in the description below, the left side sheet joggling unit 201a and the right side sheet joggling unit 201b are symmetrically configured, so the left side sheet joggling unit 201a will be described in detail, and description of the right side sheet joggling unit 201b will be omitted unless description is necessary. Also, the left side sheet joggling unit 201a and the right side sheet joggling unit 201b can be distinguished by notating a suffix “a” or “b” after the reference numeral. That is to say, “a” indicates a portion or member of the left side sheet joggling unit 201a, and “b” indicates a portion or member of the right side sheet joggling unit 201b. Hereafter in the description or diagrams, a or b will be referenced in cases to distinguish the left side sheet joggling unit 201a and the right side sheet joggling unit 201b but if not particularly distinguishing, the portion or member will be indicated with the reference numeral thereof with a or b omitted.

The left side sheet joggling unit 201a has a back aligning unit 220 and a front aligning unit 240, serving as width aligning units. The back aligning unit 220 and front aligning unit 240 are sequentially provided along the advancing direction L of the sheets 9, i.e. the back aligning unit 200 is provided on the upstream side (back side), whereas the front aligning unit 240 is provided on the downstream side (front side). The back aligning unit 220 is for aligning the position of the back end portion side of the sheets 9 in the width direction B, whereas the front aligning unit 240 is for aligning the position of the front end portion side in the width direction B. Further, the left side sheet joggling unit 201a has a size-changing mechanism 280 serving as a sheet size changing mechanism to change the positions of the back aligning unit 220 and front aligning unit 240 as to the width direction B, corresponding to the size in the width direction B of the sheets 9, as shown in FIG. 22.

Now, the back aligning portion 220a of the left side sheet joggling unit 201a, and the back aligning portion 220b of the right side sheet joggling unit 201b, and the front aligning portion 240a of the left side sheet joggling unit 201a, and the front aligning portion 240b of the right side sheet joggling unit 201b, each are equivalent to one pair of width aligning units according to the present invention. That is to say, the width direction sheet joggling device 200 according to the present embodiment has two pairs of width aligning units of the present invention in the advancing direction L. The back aligning portion 220a and the back aligning portion 220b are provided on the back end portion side of the sheets 9 so as to face one another in the width direction B on both advancing direction sides of the sheets 9, whereas the front aligning portion 240a and the front aligning portion 240b are provided on the front portion side of the sheets 9 so as to face on another in the width direction B on both advancing direction sides of the sheets 9.

Not that with the description below of FIGS. 23 through 28, the back aligning unit 220 and front aligning unit 240 are generally symmetrically configured, so the configuration of the front aligning unit 240 will be described in detail, and the description of the back aligning unit 220 will be omitted as much as possible unless particular description is needed. However, with the back aligning unit 220, the length of a back aligning plate 221 serving as a sheet joggling member and holding plate 223 serving as a holding member, which will be described later, as to the advancing direction L, is slightly shorter than the front aligning plate 241 and holding plate 243 of the front aligning unit 240.

The front aligning unit 204 has front aligning plate 241 serving as a sheet joggling member, an oscillating unit 242 serving as an oscillating unit, and a holding plate 243 serving as a holding member, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 28. The front aligning plate 241 is formed in a plate shape wherein the side along the advancing direction L is the long side. The holding plate 243 is formed in a roughly L-shaped plate shape, and while the oscillating unit 242 is mounted and fixed on the face of the upper side in the vertical direction, a front rack 282 to be described later is fixed on the face of the lower side in the vertical direction. The oscillating unit 242 has a plate spring 244 (spring member) serving as a pressing member, and an eccentric cam mechanism 245 serving as an oscillating driving mechanism.

The plate spring 244 has, as shown in FIG. 24, a base end portion 246 fixed to the holding plate 243, a foldback portion 247 provided on the lower side in the vertical direction (in the stacking direction of the sheets 9) of the base end portion 246, and a tip portion 248 which is folded back toward the upper side in the vertical direction via the foldback portion 247. The base end portion 246 is fixed to a plate spring attaching portion 249 protruding from the lower face of the holding plate 243. With the plate spring 244, the tip portion 248 folded back toward the sheet 9 side with the foldback portion 247 is extended upwards in the vertical direction. That is to say, the plate spring 244 is formed with a cross-sectional shape of the short side direction thereof in a roughly J-shape.

The front aligning plate 241 is fixed to the face of the tip portion 248 of the plate spring 244 on the sheet 9 side so as to be able to make contact with the sheet 9 width direction side portion, while being supported by the holding plate 343 with the plate spring 244. The plate spring 244 is elastically turnable with the foldback portion 247 in the lower portion in the vertical direction as a turning fulcrum, and the front aligning plate 241 can oscillate in the width direction B with the peak portion of the foldback portion 247 of the plate spring 244 as an oscillation fulcrum. Accordingly, the front aligning plate 241 has an oscillation fulcrum on the lower side in the vertical direction, and the plate spring 244 is supported to be able to oscillate in the width direction B with the oscillation fulcrum as the center, and also can be pressed on the sheet 9 side. The plate spring 244 presses the front aligning plate 241 in the sheet 9 direction and applies force to the front aligning plate 241 to press the sheets 9. As described above, the front aligning plate 241 is formed in a rectangular plate shape wherein the side along the advancing direction L is the long side, and so the oscillation fulcrum at the peak portion of the foldback portion 247 forms a horizontal oscillation axis along the advancing direction L.

As described above, by providing a front aligning plate 241 on the tip portion 248 folded back with the foldback portion 247 wherein the base end portion 246 is fixed to the holding plate 243, a configuration wherein a oscillation fulcrum is provided on the lower portion of the front aligning plate 241 and the upper end portion of the front aligning plate 241 is supported so as to be capable of oscillating, and a configuration wherein the front aligning plate 241 is pressed to the sheets 9 side can be simultaneously realized.

As shown in FIG. 25, a cutout portion 254 is formed on the front aligning plate 241 on the vertically downward portion. The front aligning unit 240 has a regulating plate 255 within this cutout portion 254. The regulating plate 255 is formed in a plate shape, and is fixed to the holding plate 243 on the side of the oscillation fulcrum of the front aligning plate 241. The regulating plate 255 is a plate shaped member formed as a separate unit from the front aligning plate 241, wherein the face on the sheets 9 side is roughly aligned with the face of the sheets 9 side downward in the vertical direction of the front aligning plate 241, and can make contact with the width direction side portion of the sheet 9. As described above, the front aligning plate 241 is supported by the holding plate 243 by the plate spring 244, so can be relatively displaced as to the holding plate 243, while the regulating plate 255 is fixed to the holding plate 243 and so will not be relatively displaced as to the holding plate 243.

The eccentric cam mechanism 245 has a vibration electric motor 250 serving as a motor, an eccentric cam 251, a link 252, and a cam side bracket 253, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 26. The cam side bracket 253 is fixed to the face of the holding plate 243 on the upper side in the vertical direction. The vibration electric motor 250 can be turnably driven, and has an output shaft 256 on one end portion. The vibration electric motor 250 is attached to the cam side bracket 253 so that the output shaft 256 is inserted into the cam side bracket 253.

The eccentric cam 251 is provided on the output shaft 256 of the vibration electric motor 250. The eccentric cam 251 is turnably supported via two roller bearings 257 within the cam side brackets 253. The eccentric cam 251 is formed in a shape such that multiple cylinders are stacked, and an axial line in the center thereof is positioned wherein the position is shifted a predetermined amount d (for example, 0.5 mm) horizontally from the turning axis of the vibration electric motor 250.

One end portion side of the link 252 is provided with the eccentric cam 251 and the other end portion side is provided with the front aligning plate 241. One end portion side of the link 252 passes through the side wall of the cam side bracket 253, and an inserting opening 258 is formed within the cam side bracket 253. The link 252 has a roller bearing 259 in this inserting opening 258, wherein the eccentric portion of the eccentric cam 251 is inserted via the roller bearing 259. The link 252 and eccentric cam 251 are relatively turnably linked with the roller bearing 259.

Also, the link 252 has a connecting portion 260 which connects the front aligning plate 241 and the eccentric cam mechanism 245 to the other end portion side. The connecting portion 260 has a slot 261 serving as a recessed portion, a pin 262 serving as a protruding portion, and a sheet joggling plate side bracket 263, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. The sheet joggling plate side bracket 263 is fixed to the back side (the back face of the face of the sheet 9 side) of the tip portion 248 of the plate spring 244. The slot 261 is formed on the other end portion side of the link 252, i.e. the end portion on the side opposite from the end portion whereupon the eccentric cam 251 is linked. The slot 261 is provided in the width direction B, i.e. along the pressing direction of the plate spring 244. The pin 262 is fixedly attached to the sheet joggling plate side bracket 263, while being inserted into the slot 261. The slot 261 and pin 262 have a predetermined space therebetween along the pressing direction of the plate spring 244. Accordingly, the front aligning plate 241 is connected to the link 252 of the eccentric cam mechanism 245 at the connecting unit 260, via the plate spring 244 and sheet joggling plate side bracket 263, while having an escape in the width direction B according to the spacing along the pressing direction between the slot 261 and pin 262. Consequently, for example, in the event that a sheet 9 dropping from the chain gripper 21 drops at a position greatly shifted, or if a foreign object is caught between the sheets 9 stacked in the delivery pile board 23 and the front aligning plate 241, causing a great load on the front aligning plate 241 or plate spring 244, the front aligning plate 241 or tip portion 248 of the plate spring 244 can escape in the direction retreating from the sheet 9 in accordance with the spacing along the pressing direction between the slot 261 and pin 262, thereby preventing unnecessary force greater than the pressing force of the plate spring 244 to be applied to the front aligning plate 241 or plate spring 244.

With the eccentric cam mechanism 245 configured as described above, the output shaft 256 of the vibration electric motor 250 is turnably driven, whereby the eccentric cam 251 also turns along with the output shaft 256, and the link 252 moves back and forth along the width direction B at a distance according to the eccentric amount (predetermined amount d). Then with the link 252 moving back and forth along the width direction B, the eccentric cam mechanism 245 can move the upper portion of the front aligning plate 241 back and forth between the sheet joggling position making contact with the sheets 9 (illustrated with medium solid lines in FIG. 24) and the waiting position having retreated from the sheets 9 (illustrated with medium dotted lines in FIG. 24). Further specifically, with the eccentric cam 251 turning and the link 252 moving in the side to retreat from the sheets 9 along the width direction B, as shown in the dotted lines in FIG. 24, the eccentric cam mechanism 245 pulls the front aligning plate 241 and the tip portion 248 of the plate spring 244 in the direction to retreat from the sheets 9, so the tip portion 248 of the plate spring 244 sags toward the back side (the side opposite from the sheets 9) with the oscillation fulcrum positioned at the peak portion of the foldback portion 247 as the center thereof. Thus, the upper portion of the front aligning plate 241 in the vertical direction turns with the tip portion 248 of the plate spring 244 so as to retreat from the sheets 9 with the oscillation fulcrum as the center. The eccentric cam 251 then turns further and the link 252 moves so as to approach the sheet 9 side along the width direction B, whereby the tip portion 248 of the plate spring 244 returns to the sheets 9 side having the oscillation fulcrum as the center. Thus, the upper portion of the front aligning plate 241 in the vertical direction turns toward the sheets 9 side along with tip portion 248 of the plate spring 244 with the oscillation fulcrum as the center thereof. Accordingly, a vibration portion 242a can oscillate the upper portion of the front aligning plate 241 in the width direction B of the sheets 9.

The front aligning plate 241 oscillates with the peak portion of the foldback portion 247 as the oscillation fulcrum, so while the oscillating distance becomes longer on the upper portion side in the vertical direction, the oscillating distance becomes shorter on the lower portion side, becoming nearly zero at the bottom-most portion in the vicinity of the oscillation fulcrum. Note that the position wherein the front aligning plate 241 is nearest the sheets 9, i.e., the position of the front aligning plate 241 in the event that the link 252 is in a position nearest the sheets 9 side, is set according to the width direction length of the sheets 9 by a size changing mechanism 280 which will be described next, i.e., is set in a position to not mash down the side portions of the sheets 9.

The size changing mechanism 280 has, as shown in FIG. 22, a back rack 281 and front rack 282 serving as racks, a back pinion 283 and front pinion 284 serving as pinions, a drive shaft 285, an electric motor 286 for changing the width direction serving as a driving unit, and a decelerator 287.

The drive shaft 285 is turnably supported by a front main unit 288 and back attaching member 289 which are fixedly attached to the frame (unshown) of the delivery 7. The drive shaft 285 is formed in the intermediate portion thereof (a range from the front main unit 288 and back attaching member 289) with a cross-sectional shape in a roughly hexagonal shape. The decelerator 287 is attached to the front main unit 288 via an attaching plate 290 fixed on the front face side (downstream side as to the advancing direction L) of the front main unit 288. Also, the decelerator 287 is provided such that the output shaft 291 extends along the advancing direction L while being connected to the drive shaft 285. The electric motor 286 is attached on the front face side of the decelerator 287.

The front pinion 284 is attached so as not to move as to the axial direction of the drive shaft 285. The front rack 282 is disposed so as to mesh with the front pinion 284 and to extend along the width direction B, and is slidably held by the front main unit 288. The front rack 282 is configured such that the sheet 9 side end portion is fixed to the lower face of the holding plate 243 on the front aligning unit 240 (see FIG. 24), and is movable along the width direction B in an integrated manner with the front aligning unit 240.

The back pinion 283 is movably attached as to the axial direction of the drive shaft 285. Also, the back pinion 283 is turnably supported by the moving holding member 292. The back rack 281 is, as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, disposed so as to mesh with the back pinion 283 and to extend along the width direction B, and is slidably held by the moving holding member 292. The back rack 281 is configured similar to the front rack 282, such that the sheet 9 side end portion is fixed to the lower face of the holding plate 223 on the back aligning unit 220, and is movable along the width direction B in an integrated manner with the back aligning unit 220. The moving holding member 292 is fixed to the vacuum wheel supporting unit 45. The vacuum wheel supporting unit 45 is movably supported along the advancing direction L by a frame (unshown) of the delivery 7. Accordingly, the moving holding member 292 is movably configured in the advancing direction L with the vacuum wheel supporting unit 45, in accordance with the movement of the vacuum wheel supporting unit 45 in the advancing direction L.

The width direction sheet joggling device 200 further has a control device 300 serving as a control unit to control the driving of the size changing mechanism 280 and a sample removing switch 304 serving as a detecting unit, as shown in FIG. 31. Note that the control device 300 of the present embodiment is described as controlling the driving of the entire sheet-fed printing press 1 including the sheet feeder 3, printing unit 2, and delivery 7, but a control device to control the driving of the size changing mechanism 280 (equal to the control unit of the present invention) and a control device to control the driving of the entire sheet-fed printing press 1 may be provided as separate devices.

The control device 300 performs operational control for the sheet-fed printing press 1, and is configured to include a processing unit 301 and a storage unit 302. The processing unit 301 is electrically connected to each driving unit of the sheet feeder 3, the printing unit 2 and delivery 7, and performs control for each of these driving units, and the storage unit 302 has programs stored therein for determining the control content for each unit.

Also, with the processing unit 301 of the control device 300, the above-described abutting electric motor 305, an oscillating electric motor 130a of the back aligning unit 220a with the left side sheet joggling unit 201a, the oscillating electric motor 250a of the front aligning unit 240a and the electric motor 286a of the size changing mechanism 280a, and an oscillating electric motor 130b of the back aligning unit 220b with the right side sheet joggling unit 201b, the oscillating electric motor 250b of the front aligning unit 240b and the electric motor 286b of the size changing mechanism 280b are electrically connected, and the driving thereof is controlled.

Further, with the control device 300, the input/output device 303 and the sample removal switch 304 are electrically connected. The input/output device 303 is arranged for a worker to input instructions in the event of operating the sheet-fed printing press 1, or to display the operational state of the sheet-fed printing press 1 to a worker, and has an operation panel, monitor, and so forth. From the input/output device 303, preset instructions for presetting the size of the sheets 9 by operation of a worker, for example, are input, whereby the processing unit 301 of the control device 300 can control the driving of the vacuum suction wheel device 37 or size change mechanism 280 according to the preset instructions therein, to move the back aligning unit 220a, back aligning unit 220b, front aligning unit 240a, and front aligning unit 240b to a predetermined position according to the size of the sheets 9. Upon the sample removal switch 304 being turned ON by the operation of a worker, the sample removal signal can be transmitted to the control device 300. Note that with the present embodiment, the input/output device 303 and the sample removal switch 304 are configured as separate devices, but the input/output device 303 can be employed as the detecting unit of the present invention.

Upon receiving the sample removal signal from the sample removal switch 304 in the event of the sample removal switch 304 being turned ON by the operation of a worker and the sample removal signal generated, the control device 300 drives the abutting electric motor 305 to turn the shaft 41, and as shown with the dotted lines in FIG. 20, the abutting unit 33 is pushed over towards the advancing direction L downstream side, whereby the abutting unit 33 is held in an open position. After this, the control device 300 controls the driving of the electric motors 286a and 286b of the size changing mechanism 280a and 280b to retreat the holding plates 223a, 223b, 243a, and 243b (see FIG. 22) from the sheets 9 in the width direction B, whereby the back aligning unit 220a, back aligning unit 220b, front aligning unit 240a, and front aligning unit 240b are each retreated a predetermined distance (for example, approximately 5 mm) from the sheets 9. Upon the sample removal switch 304 being turned OFF by the operation of a worker, the control device 300 drives the abutting electric motor 305 to turn the shaft 41, the abutting unit 33 is raise up in the advancing direction L upstream side, whereby the abutting unit 33 is held in a closed position, then controls the driving of the electric motor 286a and 286b to approach the holding plates 223a, 223b, 243a, and 243b (see FIG. 22) near the sheets 9 along the width direction B, and returns the back aligning unit 220a, back aligning unit 220b, front aligning unit 240a, and front aligning unit 240b to the original positions thereof.

Further, the control device 300 controls the driving of the oscillating electric motors 130a, 130b, 250a, and 250b to set the timing for the back aligning plates 221a and 221b and the front aligning plates 241a and 241b of the respective back aligning unit 220a, back aligning unit 220b, front aligning unit 240a, and front aligning unit 240b to make contact with the sheets 9, so as to be mutually nonsynchronous.

Next, the operation of the above-described sheet-fed printing press 1 and width direction sheet joggling device 200 will be described. First, upon the size of the sheets 9 being input by a worker via the input/output device 303, based on the input size information of the sheets 9, the control device 300 controls the vacuum suction wheel device 37 and the electric motors 286a and 286b of the size changing mechanism 280 so as to move the vacuum suction wheel 43, back side sheet joggling device 39, back aligning unit 220a, back aligning unit 220b, front aligning unit 240a, and front aligning unit 240b to predetermined positions (for example, the positions shown with solid lines in FIG. 21) according to the size of the sheets 9. Upon receiving a printing start signal from the input/output device 303, the control device 300 starts driving the various driving units of the sheet feeder 3 including the oscillating electric motors 230a, 230b, 250a, and 250b, the printing unit 2, and the delivery 7.

The sheets 9 stacked on the feeder pile board 11 of the sheet feeder 3 are taken out from the topmost portion one sheet at a time by the sheet supply mechanism 6, and supplied to the printing unit 5 of the printing unit 2. The sheets 9 supplied to the printing unit 5 are transported through each printing unit 5 by sequentially being passed down by the gripper devices (unshown) of the impression cylinder 17 and intermediate cylinder 19 of each printing unit 5, during which transporting time ink is transferred thereto.

With each printing unit 5, water is supplied to the non-image coverage portions of the printing plate attached to the surface of the printing cylinder 13 from a dampening device (unshown), following which ink is supplied to the image-coverage portions of the printing plate by an ink supplying device (unshown). The printing image on the printing plate thus obtained is transferred to the blanket cylinder 15. The printing image transferred to the blanket cylinder 15 is transferred to the sheet 9 which is transported by the impression cylinder 17, and printing of one color is performed. This is repeated with each printing unit 5 to perform color printing.

The sheet 9 subjected to color printing is gripped by the gripper 15a of the chain gripper 21 passed down from the impression cylinder 17 of the last printing unit 5. The sheet 9 transported by the gripper 15a is subjected to removal of the claw at the upper portion of the delivery pile board 23, is dropped, and is stacked on the delivery pile board 23. At this time, in order to prevent the undried ink from transferring onto the back of the sheet 9 on the upper side, a powder is blown onto the sheet 9 beforehand when being transported with the gripper 15a.

During this time, by the vacuum suction wheel 43 turning at a predetermined speed and a suction unit (unshown) such as a pump operating, a predetermined suctioning force is applied at the delivery 7. The oscillating electric motors 130a, 130b, 250a, 250b turnably drive, whereby the upper end portions in the vertical direction of the back aligning plates 221a and 221b and the front aligning plates 241a and 241b of the respective back aligning units 220a, 220b, and front aligning units 240a, 240b oscillate along the width direction B with the oscillation fulcrum of the lower end portions in the vertical direction as the center.

In this state, as described above, the sheet 9 subjected to removal of the claw by the dripper 15a of the chain gripper 21 is subjected to the back end portion thereof suctioned by the vacuum suction wheel 43 and controlled, is slowly advanced, and dropped. The front end of this sheet 9 abuts against the abutting unit 33, the advancing thereof is stopped, and the front end portion positions are aligned. Simultaneously, of the sheet 9, the back end portion side is pressed by the back aligning plate 221a and back aligning plate 221b, and the front end portion side is pressed by the front aligning plate 241a and the front aligning plate 241b from both sides in the width direction B, whereby the positions in the width direction B can be aligned. The back end of the sheet 9 is then guided by the back side sheet joggling device 39 and aligned, and the sheet 9 is stacked on the delivery pile board 23 in a state of being aligned as to the advancing direction L and the width direction B, as shown in FIG. 24.

At this time, for example, with the front aligning plate 241a, only the upper portion in the vertical direction is oscillated with the peak portion of the foldback portion 247a on the lower side in the vertical direction as the oscillation fulcrum, whereby the oscillating unit 242a can minimize the portion to oscillate with the front aligning plate 241, the inertial mass thereof is reduced, and the oscillating cycle of the front aligning plate 241a can be faster. Accordingly, the number of times for the dropping sheets 9 to be pressed in the width direction B can be increased, thereby improving the sheet joggling performance for the sheets. Further, since the front aligning plate 241 oscillates with the peak portion of the foldback portion 247a as the oscillation fulcrum, the oscillating distance becomes longer at the upper end portion side in the vertical direction to make contact with the sheet 9 during dropping, whereas the contact at the lower end portion side to make contact with the sheets 9 stacked on the delivery pile board 23 becomes shorter, so the width direction positions of the sheets 9 during dropping can be aligned in a sure manner, while also preventing unnecessary vibrations from being applied to the sheets 9 stacked on the delivery pile board 23, also preventing damage to the sheets 9.

Also, for example, a regulating plate 255a is provided at the lower portion of the front aligning plate 241a in the vertical direction, wherein the front aligning plate 241a can be displaced relative to the holding plate 243a, while the regulating plate 255a is not displaced relative to the holding plate 243a, whereby the positions of the sheets 9 stacked on the delivery pile board 23 can be securely hold in the width direction B.

Also, the back aligning plates 221a and 221b and the front aligning plates 241a and 241b are formed in a rectangular shape with the side along the advancing direction L being the long side, as described above, so the surface area making contact with the width direction side portions of the sheet 9 is wide with the back aligning plate 221a and 221b and the front aligning plate 241a and 241b, facilitating aligning of the sheets 9 in the width direction, and also since the oscillation fulcrum of the peak portion of the foldback portion 247 forms a horizontal oscillating axial line along the advancing direction L, the oscillating amount of the back aligning plates 221a and 221b and the front aligning plates 241a and 241b is constant in the horizontal direction, and the contact state with the sheets 9 can be arranged to be constant in the horizontal direction.

Further, the control device 300 controls the driving of the oscillating electric motors 130a, 130b, 250a, and 250b to set the timing such that the upper portions of the back aligning plates 221a and 221b and front aligning plates 241a and 241b of the respective back aligning unit 220a, back aligning unit 220b, front aligning unit 240a, and front aligning unit 240b, making contact with the sheets 9 is mutually nonsynchronous, whereby oscillating cycles of the four back aligning plates 221a and 221b and front aligning plates 241a and 241b are not aligned, so even if the dropping positions of the sheets 9 dropping from the chain gripper 21 are scattered, the sheets 9 can be readily collected in the predetermined position.

Also, with the width direction sheet joggling device 200, two pairs of width aligning units of the back aligning unit 220a and back aligning unit 220b and front aligning unit 240a and front aligning unit 240b are provided along the advancing direction L, so while the back aligning unit 220a and back aligning unit 220b align the width direction position of the sheets 9 at the back end portion side of the sheets 9, the front aligning unit 240a and front aligning unit 240b align the width direction position of the sheets 9 at the front end portion side of the sheets 9, so momentum to turn on the sheet face is not applied.

Upon receiving a printing stop signal from the input/output device 303, the control device 300 stops driving the various driving units of the sheet feeder 3, printing unit 2 and delivery 7, including the oscillating electric motors 130a, 130b, 250a, and 250b.

In the event of removing a sample of a sheet 9 subjected to printing from the sheets 9 stacked on the delivery pile board 23 during operation of the sheet-fed printing press 1, upon receiving a sample removal signal from the sample removal switch 304, the control device 300 drives the abutting electric motor 305 to hold the abutting unit 33 in a open position. After this, the control device 300 controls the driving of the electric motors 286a and 286b of the size changing mechanism 280a and 280 to temporarily retreat the back aligning unit 220a, back aligning unit 220b, front aligning unit 240a, and front aligning unit 240b from the sheets 9 a predetermined distance, thereby forming a space by the abutting unit 33 falling over in the advancing direction L downstream side, through which a sample of the stacked sheets 9 is removed, during which process the sheet 9 can be prevented from catching on the back aligning plate 221a, and 221b and front aligning plate 241a and 241b.

Next, the operation of a case wherein the size is changed of the sheet 9 for printing will be described. As shown in FIG. 21, in the case that a change is made from a sheet 9 with the solid line which is the current job to a small sheet 9 with the two-dotted broken line, first, the vacuum wheel supporting unit 45 is moved towards the front and the position of the vacuum suction wheel 43 is moved to the predetermined position shown with the two-dotted broken line. In accordance with the movement of the vacuum wheel supporting unit 45 towards the front, the back side sheet joggling device 39 which is integrated with the vacuum wheel supporting unit 45 is moved to a predetermined position. At the same time, the moving holding members 292a and 292b move toward the front along the drive shafts 285a and 285b. Along with the movements of the moving holding members 292a and 292b, the back racks 281a and 281b and back pinions 283a and 283b are moved towards the front. Along with the movements of the back racks 281a and 281b, the back aligning units 220a and 220b are moved toward the front, and the back aligning plates 221a and 221b are disposed in a position capable of making contact with the back end portion of a new sheet 9.

Thus, the back aligning units 220a and 220b are moved by the vacuum wheel supporting unit 45 holding the vacuum suction wheel 43 which maintain the positional relation with the upstream edge of the sheet 9 at an approximate constant, thereby being automatically positioned at an approximately constant positional relation with the back end of the sheet 9. Accordingly, in order for the position adjustment of the back aligning unit 220a and 220b accompanying the size change of the sheet 9, the means to move and the means to adjust these can be omitted. Also, the positions of the front aligning unit 240a and front aligning unit 240b are fixedly provided in the advancing direction L of the sheet 9, so are constantly positioned in an approximately constant positional relation with the front edge of the sheet 9. Therefore, in order to adjust the positions of the back aligning units 220a and 220b and front aligning units 240a and 240b in the advancing direction, the means to move and the means to adjust these can be omitted.

Next, upon the electric motors 286a and 286b operating and turning the drive shafts 285a and 285b via the decelerators 287a and 287b, the back pinions 283a and 283b and the front pinions 284a and 284b are turned. At this time, the back pinions 283a and 283b which are slidably attached and not fixed to the drive shafts 285a and 285b engage with the corner portions of the drive shafts 285a and 286a wherein the cross-sectional shape is roughly hexagonal, and are turned.

Upon the back pinions 283a and 283b and front pinions 283a and 284b turning, the back racks 281a and 281b and front racks 282a and 282b meshed therewith are moved in the width direction B, so the back aligning unit 220a and 220b and front aligning units 240a and front aligning unit 240b move in the width direction B. Thus, the back aligning plates 221a and 221b and front aligning plates 241a and 241b can be positioned in a predetermined position in the width direction B position.

Thus, the width direction sheet joggling device 200 of the present embodiment has back aligning units 220a and 220b and front aligning units 240a and 240b provided on both sides in the advancing direction L of the sheets 9 subjected to printing, which align the positions in the width direction B of the sheets 9 in the event of stacking the sheets 9, and the back aligning unit 220a, back aligning unit 220b, front aligning unit 240a, and front aligning unit 240b have back aligning plates 221a and 221b and front aligning plates 241a and 241b wherein the upper portions thereof are swingable with the lower portion in the vertical direction as the oscillation fulcrum and can make contact with the width direction B side portion of the sheet 9, and oscillating units 222a, 222b, 242a, and 242b which are capable of oscillating the back aligning plates 221a and 221b, and front aligning plates 241a and 241b in the width direction B of the sheets 9.

Accordingly, for example, with the front aligning unit 240a, only the upper portion of the front aligning plate 241a oscillates with the lower portion in the vertical direction as the oscillation fulcrum, whereby the oscillating unit 242a can minimize the portions of the front aligning plate 241a to be oscillated, whereby inertial mass is reduced, and the oscillating cycle of the front aligning plate 241a can be faster. Accordingly, the number of times for the sheets 9 to be pressed in the width direction B can be increased, and the sheet joggling performance of the sheet 9 can be improved. Further, the oscillating distance of the front aligning plate 241a becomes longer on the upper end portion side in the vertical direction which makes contact with the sheets 9, whereas the lower end portion side which makes contact with the sheets 9 accumulated on the delivery pile board 23 becomes shorter, so the width direction position of the dropping sheets 9 can be aligned in a sure manner while preventing unnecessary vibrations from being applied to the sheets 9 stacked on the delivery pile board 23, preventing the sheets 9 from damage. Consequently, improvement to the sheet joggling performance and damage prevention of the sheets 9, i.e., prevention of printing obstructions, can both be achieved.

Further, with the width direction sheet joggling device 200 of the present embodiment, the back aligning plate 221a, 221b, 241a, and 241b are formed in a plate shape, wherein the oscillation fulcrums thereof form a horizontal oscillating axial line along the advancing direction L. Accordingly, the surface area with which the back aligning plates 221a and 221b and front aligning plates 241 and 241b make contact with the width direction side portions of the sheets 9 can be secured to be a wide area, facilitating position aligning in the width direction B of the sheets 9. Further, the oscillation fulcrums form a horizontal oscillating axial line along the advancing direction L, whereby the oscillating amount of the back aligning plates 221a and 221b and front aligning plates 241a and 241b becomes constant in the horizontal direction, and a constant contact state with the sheets 9 can be made in the horizontal direction, whereby the behavior of the sheets 9 can be stabilized, suppressing damage to the sheets 9 in a sure manner.

Further, with the width direction sheet joggling device 200 of the present embodiment, for example, with the front aligning unit 240a, the oscillating unit 242a has an eccentric cam mechanism 245a to oscillate the upper portion of the front aligning plate 241a between an aligning position in contact with the sheets 9 and a waiting position having retreated from the sheets 9. Accordingly, the upper portion of the front aligning plate 241a is oscillated between the sheet joggling position and waiting position with the eccentric cam mechanism 245a, so in the event that the upper portion of the front aligning plate 241a moves from the sheet joggling position towards the waiting position, after causing the sheet 9 dropping in a shifted manner from the correctly stacked position as to the width direction B to make contact with the upper portion of the front aligning plate 241a, the upper portion of the front aligning plate 241a is moved from the waiting position toward the sheet joggling position, whereby the sheets 9 can be pushed in an appropriate position in the width direction B.

Further, with the width direction sheet joggling device 200 of the present embodiment, for example, with the front aligning unit 240a, the eccentric cam mechanism 245a has a turnably drivably oscillating electric motor 250a, an eccentric cam 251a wherein the central axial line is in a position shifted a predetermined amount δ in a parallel manner from the turning axial line of the oscillating electric motor 250a, and a link 252a wherein an eccentric cam 251a is provided on the one end portion side and the front aligning plate 241a is provided on the other end portion side. Accordingly, with a simple configuration wherein the oscillating electric motor 250a is driven to turn the eccentric cam 251a and move the link 252a back and forth, the upper portion of the front aligning plate 241a can be oscillated back and forth between the sheet joggling position abutting with the sheet 9 and the waiting position retreated from the sheets 9.

Further, with the width direction sheet joggling device 200 of the present embodiment, for example, with the front aligning unit 240a, a connecting unit 260a connects the front aligning plate 241a and eccentric cam mechanism 245a, as well as having a slot 261a provided on the link 252a of the eccentric cam mechanism 245a and a pin 262a provided on the sheet joggling plate side bracket 263a on the front aligning plate 241a side and which is to be inserted in the long hold 261a, the oscillating unit 242a has a plate spring 244a which can press the upper portion of the front aligning plate 241a toward the sheet 9 side, wherein the slot 261a and pin 262a have a space therebetween along the pressing direction. Accordingly, a plate spring 244a which is capable of pressing the upper portion of the front aligning plate 241a towards the sheet 9 side is provided. Also, the slot 261a and the pin 262a inserted into this slot 261a with the spacing along the pressing direction are provided on the connecting unit 260a which connects the front aligning plate 241a and eccentric cam mechanism 245a. Thereby, the front aligning plate 241a is configured to be continuously pressed to the sheet 9 side by the plate spring 244a, while the front aligning plate 241a has an escape in the width direction B according to the spacing along the pressing direction between the slot 261a and pin 262a at the connecting unit 260a. Consequently, even in the case that a great load is placed on the front aligning plate 241a or plate spring 244a, the front aligning plate 241a and tip portion 248a of the plate spring 244a can escape in the direction retreating from the sheets 9 according to the spacing along the pressing direction between the slot 261a and pin 262a, whereby unnecessary force greater than the pressing force of the plate spring 244a can be prevented from being applied to the front aligning plate 241a, preventing damage to the front aligning unit 240a.

Further, with the width direction sheet joggling device 200 of the present embodiment, for example, the front aligning unit 240a has a holding plate 243a providing the front aligning plate 241a and oscillating unit 242a, wherein the plate spring 244a serving as a pressing member has a base end portion 246a fixed to the holding plate 243a, a foldback portion 247a provided on the lower side in the vertical direction of the base end portion 246a, and a tip portion 248a which is folded upward in the vertical direction via the foldback portion 247a and a front aligning plate 241a provided. Accordingly, by providing a front aligning plate 241a on the tip portion 248a of the plate spring 244a wherein the base end portion 246a is fixed to the holding plate 243a and folded with the foldback portion 247a, a configuration with an oscillation fulcrum provided in the lower portion of the front aligning plate 241a in the vertical direction and the upper portion of the front aligning plate 241a in the vertical direction is swingably supported, and a configuration where the front aligning plate 241a can be pressed to the sheets 9 side can be realized at the same time, hence the number of parts can be reduced and a compact configuration can be obtained with efficient space utilization.

Further, with the width direction sheet joggling device 200 of the present embodiment, for example, the front aligning unit 240a has a regulating plate 255a as a separate unit from the front aligning plate 241a, which can abut with the width direction side portion of the sheets 9, and is fixed to the holding plate 243a at the oscillation fulcrum side of the front aligning plate 241a. Accordingly, the regulating plate 255a is provided on the lower portion of the front aligning plate 241a in the vertical direction, and the front aligning plate 241a can be displaced relative to the holding plate 243a, whereas the regulating plate 255a is not displaced relative to the holding plate 243a, thus the position of the sheets 9 stacked on the delivery pile board 23 can be held in a sure manner, thereby preventing damage to the sheets 9, and aligning the sheets neatly.

Further, the width direction sheet joggling device 200 of the present embodiment has back racks 281a and 281b and front racks 282a and 282b which are provided on the holding plates 223a, 223b, 243a, 243b and extend along the width direction B, and back pinions 283a and 283b and front pinions 284a and 284b which mesh with the back racks 281a and 281b and front racks 282a and 282b, and electric motors 286a and 286b which turnably drive the back pinions 283a and 283b and front pinions 284a and 284b, and has size changing mechanisms 280a and 280b to move the holding plates 223a, 223b, 243a, 243b along the width direction B along with the back racks 281a and 281b, and front racks 282a and 282b. Accordingly, when the back pinions 283a and 283b and front pinions 284a and 284b are turned by the electric motors 286a and 286b, the back pinions 283a and 283b and front pinions 284a and 284b which mesh with the back racks 281a and 281b and front racks 282a and 282b are moved in the width direction B, whereby the positions of the holding plates 223a, 223b, 243a, 243b in the width direction B can be adjusted. Thus, the positions of the back aligning plates 221a and 221b and front aligning plates 241a and 241b which are attached to the holding plates 223a, 223b, 243a, 243b can be adjusted in the width direction, whereby the width direction positions of the back aligning plate 221a and 221b and front aligning plate 241a and 241b corresponding to a size change of the sheets 9 can be adjusted.

Further, the width direction sheet joggling device 200 of the present embodiment has a control device 300 to control the driving of the size changing mechanisms 280a and 280b, and a sample removal switch 304 which can transfer a sample removal signal to the control device 300 in the event of removing a sample of the sheet 9, wherein upon receiving a sample removal signal, the control device 300 controls the size changing mechanisms 280a and 280b to retreat the back aligning plates 221a and 221b and front aligning plates 241a and 241b from the sheets 9 along the width direction B along with the holding plates 223a, 223b, 243a, and 243b.

Accordingly, the back aligning unit 220a and back aligning unit 220b and front aligning unit 240a and front aligning unit 240b are each temporarily retreated from the sheets 9 a predetermined distance, so in the event of removing a sample from the stacked sheets 9, the sheet 9 can be prevented from catching on the back aligning plates 221a, 221b and front aligning plates 241a, 241b, thereby preventing damage to the sample of the removed sheet 9.

Further, with the width direction sheet joggling device 200 of the present embodiment, the oscillating units 222a, 222b, 242a, and 242b set the timing for the upper portions of the back aligning plates 221a and 221b and front aligning plates 241a and 241b to abut with the sheets 9 to be mutually nonsynchronous. Accordingly, the four back aligning plates 221a and 221b and front aligning plates 241a and 241b do not have aligned oscillating cycles, so even if the dropping positions of the sheets 9 from the chain gripper 21 is scattered, the sheets 9 can be collected in a predetermined positions.

Further, with the width direction sheet joggling device 200 of the present embodiment, two pairs of width aligning units, of the back aligning unit 220a and back aligning unit 220b and the front aligning unit 240a and front aligning unit 240b, are provided along the advancing direction L, wherein the back aligning unit 220a and back aligning unit 220b are configured so as to be movable along the advancing direction L. Accordingly, the back aligning unit 220a and back aligning unit 220a align the sheets 9 in the width direction position on the back end portion side of the sheets 9, whereas the front aligning unit 240a and front aligning unit 240b align the sheets 9 in the width direction position on the front end portion side of the sheets 9, so momentum to turn on the sheet face is not applied, and accordingly, the sheets 9 can be neatly and accurately aligned in the width direction position. Also, by moving the back aligning unit 220a and back aligning unit 220b along the advancing direction L, even if the length along the advancing direction L of the sheets 9 changes, this can be managed.

Thus, the sheet-fed printing press 1 of the present embodiment has a sheet feeder 3 to feed and supply the sheets 9, a printing unit 2 to perform printing on the sheets 9 supplied from the sheet feeder 3, and a sheet delivery 7 to discharge the sheets 9 subjected to printing at the printing unit 2 and which have back aligning units 220a and 220b and front aligning units 240a and 240b provided on both sides of the advancing direction L of the sheets 9 and which are to align the positions of the sheets 9 in the width direction B in the event of the sheets 9 being stacked, wherein the upper portions of the back aligning units 220a and 220b and front aligning units 240a and 240b are swingable with the lower portion in the sheet 9 stacking direction as the oscillation fulcrum, and also have back aligning plates 221a and 221b and front aligning plates 241a and 241b which can abut with the width direction B side of the sheet 9, and oscillating units 222a, 222b, 242a, 242b wherein the back aligning plates 221a and 221b and front aligning plates 241a and 241b are swingable in the width direction B of the sheets 9. Accordingly, the number of times for the sheets 9 to be pressed in the width direction B can be increased, thereby improving the sheet joggling performance of the sheet 9. Further, the width direction position during dropping of the sheet 9 can be aligned in a sure manner, while unnecessary vibrations can be prevented from being applied to the sheets 9 stacked on the delivery pile board 23, preventing the sheets 9 from being damaged. Consequently, improving the sheet joggling performance and preventing damage to the sheets 9, i.e. preventing printing obstruction can both be achieved. Accordingly the sheets 9 can be transferred to the next process while in a correctly stacked state.

Note that the sheet joggling device and printing apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention are not restricted to the above-described embodiments; rather, various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. With the above description, the sheet joggling device of the present invention is described as being applied to a sheet-fed printing press 1 with single-sided color printing, but should not be limited to this, and for example, may by applicable to a printer employing duplex color printing. Also, with the above description, the pair of width aligning units of the present invention is described as having two pairs provided thereof along the advancing direction L, but three or more pairs may be employed, or one pair may be employed. Also, with the above description, description is given such that the back aligning unit 220a and back aligning unit 220b face one another in the width direction B, and the front aligning unit 240a and front aligning unit 240b face one another in the width direction B, each of these may be shifted to be provided along the advancing direction L.

Also, with the above description, a pressing member is described as being configured with a plate spring 244 having a base end portion 246, a foldback portion 247, and a tip portion 248, but for example, a coil spring may be employed. In this case, the oscillation fulcrum for the sheet joggling member may be configured with a hinge or the like, for example.

Also, with the above description, the front aligning plate 241 is described as being fixed to a face on the sheet 9 side of the tip portion 248 of the plate spring 244, but the tip portion and front aligning plate 241 may be integrated or may be separate units. Also, the tip portion 248 itself may double as a sheet joggling member. In the case of combining the tip portion 248 and sheet joggling member, the number of parts can be further reduced, simplifying the configuration and improving manufacturing efficiency. On the other hand, as described above, in the case that the tip portion 248 of the plate spring 244 and the front aligning plate 241 are configured as separate units, the plate spring 244 which is a separate unit from the front aligning plate 241 sags, and primarily for this reason, the sagging and deforming of the front aligning plate 241 which directly makes contact with the sheets 9 can be minimized, thereby preventing damage to the sheets 9 in a sure manner.

Also, with the above description, the connecting unit 260 is described as having a slot 261 serving as a recessed portion provided on the link 252, with the pin 262 serving as the protruding portion fixedly attached to the sheet joggling plate side bracket 263, but a slot may be provided on the sheet joggling member side (sheet joggling plate side bracket 263) and the pin provided on the oscillating driving mechanism side (link 252). Also, the recessed portion and protruding portion are described as a slot 261 and pin 262, but a configuration may be made of engaging with a spacing along the pressing direction of the pressing member.

Also, with the above description, the regulating plate 255 is described as being provided fixed to the holding plate 243 on the turning fulcrum side of the front aligning plate 241, but configuration without employing a regulating plate 255 may be made. As described above, the front aligning plate 241 has the oscillating distance thereof become longer on the upper side in the vertical direction, but shorter on the lower side, and becomes nearly zero at the lowest portion in the vicinity of the turning fulcrum, whereby, for example, in the case that the length of the front aligning plate 241 being sufficiently long in the vertical direction, the position in the width direction B of the stacked sheets 9 can be sufficiently maintained even without a regulating plate 255.

Also, with the above description, the oscillating units 222a, 222b, 242a, and 242b are described wherein the timings for the upper portions of the back aligning plates 221a and 221b and front aligning plates 241a and 241b to abut with the sheets 9 are set to be mutually nonsynchronous, but the respective timings may be synchronized.

Also, with the above description, the drive shafts 285a and 285b are described as having a cross-sectional shape in an intermediate portion thereof (range from the front main unit 288 to the back attaching member 289) as a roughly hexagonal shape, but as long as the shape can realize a configuration to mesh so as to transmit turning driving force, this shape is not limited. For example, a square may be employed, a protruding multi-angle shape of three or more angles may be employed, or a multi-angle recessed shape may be employed. Further, a cylindrical cross-section with a key groove extending in the shaft direction may be provided so that the back pinion 283 is retained by the key provided in the key groove. In this case, if the key is provided along the entire length of the key groove on the drive shaft 285a and 285b side, the key is effective in preventing powder from accumulating in the key groove.

Also, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments; rather, various modifications may be made as suitable without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sheet joggling device arranged so as to be disposed on both sides of sheets to be discharged in the advancing direction thereof, to align the position of such sheets in the width direction in the event of such sheets being stacked, comprising:

a moving member provided so as to be movable in the width direction as to a frame;

a sheet size changing mechanism arranged to move the moving member in the width direction;

a pressing member attached so as to be movably attached in the width direction on the sheet side of the moving member; and

an approach/retreat mechanism arranged to approach and retreat the pressing member at a predetermined timing from the sheets.

2. A sheet joggling device according to claim 1, the approach/retreat mechanism further comprising:

an elastic member arranged so as to elastically press the pressing member on the sheet side; and

a position regulating member arranged to regulate the movement of the pressing member toward the sheet side by pressuring the pressing member in the direction to retreat from the sheets, and cause the regulation position thereof to approach/retreat as to the sheets at a predetermined timing.

3. A sheet joggling device according to claim 2, wherein the position regulating member is arranged to approach/retreat the regulation position as to the sheets with a cam member which is turnably driven.

4. A sheet joggling device according to claim 1, the sheet size changing mechanism further comprising:

a rack attached to the moving member so as to extend in the width direction;

a pinion which is attached in the width direction, the position of which is roughly fixed, and meshes with the rack; and

a driving unit arranged to turnably drive the pinion.

5. A sheet joggling device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pairs of the moving member and the pressing member are provided along the advancing direction, wherein at least one pair of the plurality of pairs of the moving member and the pressing member are configured so as to be able to adjust the position of the advancing direction.

6. A sheet joggling device according to claim 5, wherein of the plurality of pairs of the moving member and the pressing member, the position in the advancing direction of the moving member and the pressing member is fixedly configured on the farthest downstream side; and

wherein the moving member and the pressing member on the farthest upstream side are attached to a vacuum suction wheel device.

7. A sheet joggling device according to claim 5, the moving members each including racks attached to the moving member so as to extend in the width direction serving as the sheet size changing mechanism, and pinions which are attached in the width direction, the position of which are roughly fixed, and mesh with the racks, and having a shared driving unit arranged to turnably drive all of the pinions;

the shared driving unit having a drive shaft to which all of the pinions are attached, whereby the pinions meshing with the racks of the moving member configured so as to be able to adjust the position of the advancing direction are movably attached along the drive shaft.

8. A sheet joggling device according to claim 7, wherein the drive shaft is configured with a cross-sectional shape in a multiple side shape.

9. A sheet delivery of the sheet-fed printing press employing the sheet joggling device according to claim 1.

10. (canceled)

11. A sheet joggling device comprising:

sheet joggling plate portions arranged so as to be disposed on both sides of sheets to be discharged in the advancing direction thereof; and

a sheet size changing mechanism arranged to adjust the position of the sheet joggling plate portions in the width direction corresponding to the size of the sheets;

wherein the sheet joggling plate portions are cyclically moved back and forth as to the sheets whereby both sides portions of the sheets are hit by the sheet joggling plate portions and the positions in the width direction of the sheets are aligned; and

wherein the sheet joggling plate portions have an approach/retreat mechanism attached to the moving member of the sheet size changing mechanism to perform normal back and forth movement; and

wherein the sheet joggling plate portions are configured to perform large-scale oscillation movements having an amplitude several times greater compared to the amplitude of the normal back and forth movement with a predetermined timing.

12. A sheet joggling device according to claim 11, arranged to perform the large-scale oscillation movements of the sheet joggling plate portions employing a position moving portion of the sheet size changing mechanism.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. A sheet joggling method for a sheet joggling device comprising:

sheet joggling plate portions arranged so as to be disposed on both sides of sheets to be discharged in the advancing direction thereof; and

a sheet size changing mechanism arranged to adjust the position of the sheet joggling plate portions in the width direction corresponding to the size of the sheets;

wherein the sheet joggling plate portions are cyclically moved back and forth as to the sheets whereby both sides portions of the sheets are hit by the sheet joggling plate portions and the positions in the width direction of the sheets are aligned; and

wherein the sheet joggling plate portions perform normal back and forth movement with a back and forth movement approach/retreat mechanism attached to the moving member of the sheet size changing mechanism; and

wherein the sheet joggling plate portions perform large-scale oscillation movements having amplitude several times greater compared to the amplitude of the normal back and forth movement with a predetermined timing.

16. A sheet joggling method according to claim 15, arranged to perform the large-scale oscillation movements of the sheet joggling plate portions employing a position moving portion of the sheet size changing mechanism.

17. A sheet joggling device comprising:

one pair of width aligning portions, provided on both sides of the advancing direction of the sheets having been subjected to printing, which are configured to align the position of the sheets in the width direction in the event that the sheets are stacked;

each of the width aligning portions having a sheet joggling member of which an upper portion is swingable with a lower portion in the sheet stacking direction as an oscillation fulcrum and is capable of abutting the side portion of the sheets in the width direction, and an oscillating unit which can oscillate the sheet joggling member in the sheet width direction.

18. A sheet joggling device according to claim 17, wherein the sheet joggling member is formed in a plate shape; and

wherein the oscillation fulcrum forms a horizontal oscillation axial line along the advancing direction.

19. A sheet joggling device according to claim 17, wherein the oscillating unit has an oscillation driving mechanism configured to oscillate an upper portion of the sheet joggling member between a sheet joggling position in contact with the sheets and a waiting position having retreated from the sheets.

20. A sheet joggling device according to claim 19, wherein the oscillation driving mechanism further comprising:

a turnably drivable motor;

an eccentric cam wherein a central axial line is positioned being shifted a predetermined amount parallel from the turning axial line of the motor; and

a link wherein the eccentric cam is provided on one end portion side and the sheet joggling member is provided on the other end portion side.

21. A sheet joggling device according to claim 19, further comprising:

a connecting portion having a recessed portion which connects the sheet joggling member and the oscillation driving mechanism, and which is provided on the sheet joggling member side or the oscillation driving mechanism side, and a protruding portion provided on the other side to be inserted into the recessed portion;

wherein the oscillating unit has a pressing member capable of pressing the upper portion of the sheet aligning member to the sheet side; and

wherein the recessed portion and the protruding portion have a space therebetween along the direction of the pressing.

22. A sheet joggling device according to claim 21, further comprising:

a holding member provided with the sheet joggling member and the oscillating unit;

wherein the pressing member is configured with a spring member having a base end portion fixed to the holding member, a foldback portion provided on the lower side of the base end portion in the sheet stacking direction; and a tip portion which is folded back in the upper side of the sheet stacking direction via the foldback portion provided with the sheet joggling member.

23. A sheet joggling device according to claim 22, having a regulating plate which is a separate unit from the sheet aligning member.

24. A sheet joggling device according to claim 22, further comprising:

a sheet size changing mechanism having a rack provided to the holding member so as to extend in the width direction; a pinion which meshes with the rack; and a driving unit arranged to turnably drive the pinion;

wherein the holding member is moved along the width direction along with the rack.

25. A sheet joggling device according to claim 24, further comprising:

a control unit arranged to control the driving of the sheet size changing mechanism; and

a detecting unit which is capable of transmitting a sample removing signal to the control unit;

wherein in the event of receiving the sample removing signal, the control unit controls the sheet size changing mechanism to retreat the holding member and the sheet joggling member from the sheets along the width direction.

26. A sheet joggling device according to claim 17, wherein each of the oscillating units are arranged such that the timing for the upper portion of the sheet joggling member to make contact with the sheets is set to be mutually nonsynchronous.

27. A sheet joggling device according to claim 17, wherein a plurality of the pair of width aligning portions are provided along the advancing direction, with at least one pair configured to be capable of moving along the advancing direction.

28. A printing apparatus comprising:

a sheet supply unit arranged to feed sheets so as to supply the sheet;

a printing unit arranged to subject the sheets supplied from the sheet supply unit to printing; and

a discharge unit having a pair of width aligning portions provided on both sides of the sheets in the advancing direction thereof, to discharge the sheets subjected to printing at the printing unit, and also to align the width direction position of the sheets at the time of stacking the sheets;

each of the width aligning portions having a sheet joggling member of which an upper portion can oscillate with a lower portion in the sheet stacking direction as an oscillation fulcrum which is capable of making contact with the width direction side portion of the sheets, and an oscillating unit which can oscillate the sheet joggling member in the sheet width direction.