DEVICE FOR PRINT FINISHING

Abstract

A device for print finishing, in particular a folder, is disclosed. The device includes an actuator, where the actuator can be transferred with the help of at least one electric lifting magnet from a first position into a second position and/or from the second position into the first position in a sequence that is controllable in time as required. The actuator can be fixed in the first position and/or in the second position via at least one separate holding organ.

Description

This application claims the priority of German Patent Document No. DE 10 2013 109 534.8, filed Sep. 2, 2013, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for print finishing.

In devices for print finishing, in particular in folders, actuators are installed, which can be transferred with the help of at least one electric lifting magnet from a first position into a second position and conversely from the second position into the first position in a sequence that can be controlled in time as required. Such actuators known to date are for example so-called deflection guides, with the help of which a transport stream of printed signatures can be influenced in such a manner that the actuator in a first position steers or directs a signature in a first direction and in a second position steers or directs a signature into a second direction. Here, the respective actuating magnet on the one hand is transferred between the positions with the help of an electric lifting magnet on the one hand and on the other hand held in the respective positions via the electric lifting magnet. During the holding of such an actuator in a defined position via an electric lifting magnet there is the risk that the electric lifting magnet overheats and can be damaged in the process.

Starting out from this, the present invention is based on the object of creating a new type of device for print finishing.

According to the invention, the actuator can be fixed in the first position and/or in the second position via at least one second holding organ.

With the help of the present invention it is provided to use the or each electric lifting magnet exclusively for transferring the actuator between two positions, but not to use the or each electric lifting magnet as a holding organ in the respective position, but rather fix the actuator in the first position and/or in the second position via at least one separate holding organ.

Since the electric lifting magnets accordingly are used exclusively for transferring the actuator between two positions and accordingly not for holding the same in the positions, electric lifting magnets are no longer energised for holding the actuator, so that then there is no risk that an electric lifting magnet overheats.

Preferentially, the actuator can be fixed in the first position and in the second position via a separate holding organ each. In particular when the actuator is fixed in at least one position via a holding organ each, overheating of an electric lifting magnet can be securely avoided.

According to a further advantageous further development, the actuator can be transferred with the help of a single electric lifting magnet either from the first position into the second position or from the second position into the first position, wherein an opposite transfer of the actuator takes place either from the second position into the first position or from the first position into the second position with the help of a spring-elastic resetting element.

The use of a single electric lifting magnet for transferring the actuator in a first displacement direction and the use of a spring-elastic resetting element for displacing the actuator in an opposite displacement direction is simple but requires the use of at least one switchable holding organ.

According to a second, alternative advantageous further development, the actuator can be transferred from the first position into the second position with the help of a first electric lifting magnet, wherein the actuator can be transferred from the second position into the first position with the help of a second electric lifting magnet. This further development of the invention, which works with two electric lifting magnets, which take over the displacement of the actuators in each case in opposite displacement directions, manages to do without switchable holding organs.

Preferred further developments of the invention are obtained from the subclaims and the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with the help of the drawing without being restricted to this.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a detail of a device for print finishing according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The present invention relates to a device for print finishing, in particular a folder. FIG. 1 shows a detail of a folder in the region of a so-called signature switch 10, which serves for dividing a transport stream 11 of printed signatures into two part streams 12, 13.

The signature switch 10 of FIG. 1 comprises an actuator 14, which is shown in two positions in FIG. 1, namely in a first position, in which a signature of the transport stream 11 is steered or directed in a first direction, namely in the direction of the part stream 12, and a second position, in which a signature of the transport stream 11 is directed or steered in a second direction, namely in the direction of the second part stream 13.

The first position of the actuator 14, in which the same directs or steers a signature of the transport stream 11 in the direction of the first part stream 12, is shown in FIG. 1 in continuous line, whereas the second position of the actuator 14, in which the same steers or directs a signature in a second direction, namely in the direction of the second part stream 13, is shown in FIG. 1 in dash-dotted line.

A front portion 14a of the actuator 14 shown in FIG. 1 forms a so-called deflecting guide of the signature switch 10.

In the shown exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the actuator 14 can be transferred from the first position into the second position and conversely from the second position into the first position in each case with the help of an electric lifting magnet 15 and 16, respectively. In FIG. 1, the electric lifting magnet 15 takes over the displacement of the actuator 14 from the first position shown in continuous line in FIG. 1 into the second position shown in FIG. 1 in dash-dotted line. The electric lifting magnet 16 takes over the displacement of the actuator 14 from the second position shown in FIG. 1 in dash-dotted line into the first position shown in FIG. 1 in continuous line.

According to the invention, the electric lifting magnets 15, 16 are exclusively used for transferring the actuator 14 between these two positions, the fixing of the actuator 14 in the respective position is carried out via at least one separate holding organ, and in the embodiment of FIG. 1 via two holding organs 17, 18. In particular when the actuator 14 takes up the first position shown in FIG. 1 in continuous line, the holding organ 17 fixes the actuator 14 in this first position. In particular when, by contrast, the actuator 14 takes up the second position shown in FIG. 1 in dash-dotted line, the holding organ 18 fixes the actuator 14 in this second position.

The electric lifting magnets 15, 16 and the holding organs 17, 18 act on a rear portion 14b of the actuator 14 shown in FIG. 1, but can also be mounted relative to a fulcrum 21 dependent on the design-based geometry of the actuator 14.

In the shown preferred exemplary embodiment, in which for both displacement directions of the actuator 14, i.e., both for the displacement of the same starting out from the first position into the second position and upon the opposite displacement direction starting out from the second position into the first position, an individual electric lifting magnet 15 and 16, respectively, is used, both the holding organs 17, 18 are preferentially designed as non-switchable holding organs, for example as permanent magnets.

Such a permanent magnet can securely hold the actuator 14 in the respective position in each case, wherein for transferring the actuator 14 out of the respective position into the respective other position the respective electric lifting magnet 15 and 16 respectively then exclusively have to overcome the holding force provided by the permanent magnet. Such a configuration is reliable and simple.

In contrast with the permanent magnets shown in FIG. 1, mechanical clamping elements, for example in the form of barb-like engagement elements or snap-on closures or latches can also be employed as non-switchable holding organs, which hold the actuator 14 in the respective position. In this case, the respective electric lifting magnet 15 and 16 respectively then has to overcome the engagement force of such a mechanical clamping element during the transfer of the actuator 14 into the respective other position.

In contrast with the shown exemplary embodiment it is also possible that the actuator 14 can be transferred exclusively via a single electric lifting magnet in a single displacement direction, either from the first position into the second position or alternatively from the second position into the first position.

The opposite transfer of the actuator 14 either from the second position into the first position or alternatively from the first position into the second position then preferentially takes place with the help of a spring-elastic resetting element. In both positions, the actuator 14 is then preferentially fixed again via a separate holding organ.

In particular when the actuator 14 is displaced in a displacement direction with the help of a spring-elastic resetting element from its respective starting position into the respective end position, the specific holding organ which holds the actuator 14 in its respective starting position, has to be a switchable holding organ in order to enable the transfer of the actuator 14 with the help of the spring-elastic resetting element. Such a switchable holding organ can for example be an electrically switchable electromagnet or another in particular pneumatically and/or electrically switchable holding organ.

With respect to the use of an electromagnet as a switchable holding organ it is related that electromagnets, which in contrast with electric lifting magnets do not carry out any lifting movement, but rather exclusively serve for the fixing or holding of the actuator 14 in a respective position, do not have a tendency towards overheating. Accordingly, such electromagnets can be designed to the required holding force and in contrast with electric lifting magnets do not carry out any high-frequency lifting movements.

In addition to the actuator 14, the two electric lifting magnets 15, 16 and the two holding organs 17, 18, FIG. 1 shows a deflection roller 19, on which a conveyor belt 20 is deflected, which serves for conveying the transport stream 11 of printed signatures. The signatures of the transport stream 11 which are divided into the part streams 12, 13 can likewise be transported with the help of such transport belts guided on deflection rollers.

Preferentially, at least one electric lifting magnet 15 and 16 respectively is adjustable or displaceable together with the holding organ 17 and 18 respectively, which is positioned on the same side of the actuator 14 as the respective electric lifting magnet 15, 16. Because of this, at least one of the positions of the actuator 14, i.e., the first position and/or the second position, can be changed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Signature switch

11 Transport stream

12 Part stream

13 Part stream

14 Actuator

14a Portion

14b Portion

15 Electric lifting magnet

16 Electric lifting magnet

17 Holding organ

18 Holding organ

19 Deflection roller

20 Belt conveyor

21 Fulcrum/bearing

The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A device for print finishing, comprising:

an actuator;

at least one electric lifting magnet, wherein the actuator is transferable from a first position into a second position and/or from the second position into the first position via the at least one electric lifting magnet in a sequence that is controllable in time; and

a holding organ, wherein the actuator is fixable in the first position and/or in the second position via the holding organ.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a folder.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a spring-elastic resetting element, wherein the actuator is transferable via a single electric lifting magnet either from the first position into the second position or from the second position into the first position and wherein an opposite transfer of the actuator either from the second position into the first position or from the first position into the second position takes place via the spring-elastic resetting element.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is transferable via a first electric lifting magnet from the first position into the second position and wherein the actuator is transferable via a second electric lifting magnet from the second position into the first position.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the holding organ is a switchable holding organ.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the holding organ is pneumatically and/or electrically switchable.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the holding organ is an electromagnet.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the holding organ is a non-switchable holding organ.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the holding organ is a permanent magnet or a mechanical clamping element.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator in the first position directs or steers a signature in a first direction and wherein the actuator in the second position directs a signature in a second direction.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a deflection guide of a signature switch.