JPH0840574A - Method and apparatus for automatically changing piles in an automatic feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To ensure a continuous operation of an automatic paper feeder with no hindrance, by pulling a support member for an auxiliary pile, from a zone between the auxiliary pipe and a main pile adjacent to the former, so as to bundle the auxiliary pile and the main pile. CONSTITUTION: Pulling motion of a support device 6 which holds an auxiliary pile 11 is continued until the level of the upper surface of the auxiliary pile becomes out of an error range relating to a delivery edge. The pulling motion is rested unless the support device 6 is completely pulled out, and until the level of the surface of the pile is retained out of the error range, but is restarted if the level of the surface of the pile falls again in the error range as a result of the pile lift-up motion. The above-mentioned steps are repeated until the support device 6 is completely pulled out from the zone between the main pile 2 and the auxiliary pile 11. This process is repeated until the center of the auxiliary pile 11 rides on the outer surface of the main pile 2 abutting against a pile rake 9 so that no more abnormal motion occurs at the outer surface of the pile.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and associated device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic sheet feeder is known from DE 4131014A1. The sheet feeder is provided with a device consisting of two support rakes laterally arranged in the feeder so as to be able to run into its lifting area in order to automate the pile change. The support rake pulls the remaining pile called auxiliary pile from the main pile lift from a predetermined pile height position and prepares the auxiliary pile in a machine cycle in preparation for supplying new sheet pile. During this time, a new pile is placed in the feeder and lifted below the auxiliary pile. The control of the proper position for combining the auxiliary pile and the main pile is provided by at least two ride sensors (Auflaufs) in at least one of the rake bars of the supporting rake.
ensoren). With this, the support rake is pulled out. However, care must be taken in drawing the support rake for a good fit for feeding the sheet to the sheet processing machine. If the pulling-out is too fast, the center of the auxiliary pile will drop in a short time, which will be a hindrance when the sheet is continuously transferred to the sheet conveying table. There is no mention of controlling the support rake during drawing in the above device.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the automatic sheet feeder when delivering the individualized sheets to the sheet processing machine when the main pile and the auxiliary pile are combined into one. It is to find a method and device that guarantees continued work.

[0004]

The above-mentioned problem is solved by claim 1.
And this is solved by the features of the device assigned to it.

[0005]

The combination of a simple height position sensor (possibly already provided) and a pile rake drive makes it possible to prevent the surface position of the auxiliary pile from fluctuating significantly when the sheet is transferred to the subsequent sheet conveying table. It is guaranteed that the main and auxiliary piles are one. The unevenness of the surface of the auxiliary pile, the poor pile quality or the non-uniformity due to different friction states during pulling of the pile rake is no longer important. The measuring device in each case signals an error that is too great and can stop the drawing process until the level of the auxiliary pile is normal again. This process is terminated when the auxiliary pile rests on the main pile at the center.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows an automatic feeder 1 for automatically feeding a sheet pile (shown as main pile 2) to a sheet processing machine 20, for example a printing machine.
The automatic paper feeder includes an elevating device 3, an individualizing device 4, and a pallet conveying device 5. Further, an auxiliary pile supporting device 6 is arranged in the machine frame of the automatic paper feeder 1. The auxiliary pile support device consists of a frame 7, which is the main pile 2
The feeding devices 8 of the pile rake 9 are supported on both sides of the.
The feed device 8 comprises a drive device 12, for example a pneumatic cylinder, which is connected to a pile rake 9.
The pile rakes 9 each consist of a plurality of parallel bars, which are fixed to a holder 13. The holder 13 is movable in the horizontal direction on the linear guide 14, and is connected to the drive device 12 via, for example, a chain drive device.
Further, the auxiliary pile supporting device 6 is provided with a separate auxiliary pile elevating / lowering device 10, and the auxiliary pile elevating / lowering device is also arranged in the machine frame of the automatic sheet feeder 1 and separately elevates and lowers the auxiliary pile 11. To do.

In FIG. 2, the automatic paper feeder 1 is connected to the sheet processing machine 20. FIG. 2 shows a state during pile replacement. The auxiliary pile 11 is lifted up by the auxiliary pile elevating device 10 in parallel with the sheet delivery portion to the sheet conveying table 21 connected to the automatic paper feeder 1, and at the same time, the main pile 2 approaches from the bottom. The individualizing device 4 is the auxiliary pile 11
The individual sheet of paper is picked up from and is moved to the front on the sheet conveying table 21. Delivery of paper sheets,
It can be carried out without trouble only when the paper sheets are continuously delivered from the pile surface onto the sheet conveying table 21. That is, “without trouble” means that the surface of the auxiliary pile 11 is always held within the error range at the delivery edge 22 of the sheet conveying table 21.

The delivery zone is shown in detail in FIG. The path of the delivered paper sheet is indicated by B. The auxiliary pile 11 is supported by the pile rake 9 and lifted to the delivery edge 22. A tiltable stopper 15 is located in front of the delivery edge 22, and the stopper periodically releases the path of the paper sheet. Double seat control device (Dopelbogenkontorolleinrichtung) following the delivery edge 22
Is arranged. The level of the auxiliary pile 11 is monitored by a sensor 17 in front of the sheet conveying table 21. The sensor is fixed to the machine frame of the automatic paper feeder 1. The sensor 17 is connected to the control of the drive 1 by means of an interrogation device 18, so that the movement for pulling out the pile rake 9 can be controlled depending on the level of the pile surface.

FIG. 4 shows, stepwise, in partial views a) to d) the course of the method according to the invention. Here, the starting state is a state in which the main pile 2 is in contact with the lower surface of the pile rake 9. The methods belonging to this will not be described in detail here.

A) When the main pile 2 reaches the lower surface of the pile rake, the main pile is lifted in synchronism with the auxiliary pile 11, that is, at a constant distance from the auxiliary pile. A pullout of the pile rake 9 is introduced.

B) The pile rake 9 is pulled apart laterally while the auxiliary pile 11 is held at the level of the delivery edge 22. A sensor 17 for monitoring the pile level is activated.

C) In order to increase the distance between the pile rakes 9 by pulling out the pile rakes 9, the auxiliary pile 1
The level of the surface of No. 1 becomes lower as the troublesome sheet feeding becomes worse. The sensor 17 signals this and interrupts the movement to pull out the pile rake 9.

D) When the pile surface level is again sufficient, the pile rake 9 is moved again, while the pile level is subsequently monitored. This process can be repeated multiple times during the pile change. This process is completed when the deflected auxiliary pile 11 reaches the surface of the main pile 2. In some cases, the pile rake 9 can be pulled out even when the remaining distance to the pile merging is within the error limit of the pile height position at the delivery edge 22. When the pile rake 9 is completely pulled out, the auxiliary pile 11 is placed on the main pile 2.

FIG. 5 shows the process again with the aid of a flow chart, in which the pile rake 9 is shown parallel to the auxiliary pile 11. Main pile 2 is auxiliary pile 1
When the pile rake 9 is lifted up to 1, a command to start the pulling motion of the pile rake 9 can be issued. The sensor 17 delivers the position of the surface of the auxiliary pile 11 to the delivery edge 22 if it is not activated for the control of the pile height anyway.
Is detected and switched to be connected to the control section of the feeding device 8. The pulling movement of the pile rake 9 is indicated by the arrow 19. During the movement of the pile rake 9, the auxiliary pile 11 continues to be lifted in synchronization with the consumption of paper. The position of the level of the pile surface with respect to the delivery edge 22 is continuously monitored. This surface must not be separated from the delivery edge by more than a predetermined maximum amount, otherwise the sheet of paper may be obstructed at the leading edge when it is fed onto the sheet transport table 21 using the singulation device 4. . This will cause the paper sheet to be delayed or will change its position unacceptably. As long as the sensor 17 positively issues the command "auxiliary pile level OK" during the pulling movement of the pile rake 9, the pulling movement is continued and it is still monitored whether the pile rake 9 has already been pulled completely. When the pile rake 9 comes to a predetermined position, the mutual interval between these front end portions becomes large enough that the auxiliary pile 11 between the pile rakes is slightly bent.
This state is recognized by the sensor 17, and the control unit is informed of "not auxiliary pile level OK". These immediately stop the pulling movement of the feeding device 8. The pile level is continuously monitored by the sensor 17 as long as the pile rake 9 has not yet been completely withdrawn. In this state, the auxiliary pile 11 and, synchronously, the main pile 2 are further lifted, and the pile surface is again moved within the error range with respect to the delivery edge 22. When the level of the auxiliary pile 11 again falls within the error range, the sensor 17 again reports "auxiliary pile level OK", and the control unit causes the feeding device 8 to operate.
Resume the withdrawal movement in. This process is repeated until, for example, the center of the auxiliary pile 11 rides on the surface of the main pile 2 which is in contact with the pile rake 9, so that abnormal movements of the pile surface can no longer occur. After this, the pulling-out movement of the pile rake 9 is not interrupted by the sensor 17. The auxiliary pile 11 is finally brought together with the main pile 2 so that the auxiliary pile support device 6 can be lowered to the rest position next to the main pile 2.

This method can be made a little simpler by taking advantage of experience with the behavior of certain types of paper. In this case, it is possible to start with the deflection of the auxiliary pile 11 towards the main pile 2 being complete after a certain pull-out distance of the pile rake 9. This drawing distance depends on the paper format, ie width and thickness. The auxiliary pile 11 usually deflects from a certain distance, i.e. comes into contact with the main pile 2, so that pile level detection is no longer necessary and the pile rake 9
Can be completely withdrawn.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an automatic paper feeder that automatically changes piles.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an automatic paper feeder.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an inquiry device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the course of the method according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow sheet of the method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 automatic paper feeder, 2 main pile, 3 lifting device,
4 individualizing device, 5 pallet conveying device, 6 auxiliary pile supporting device, 7 frame, 8 feeding device, 9
Pile rake, 10 auxiliary pile lifting device, 11
Auxiliary pile, 12 drive, 13 holder,
14 linear guide, 15 stopper, 16 double sheet control device, 17 sensor, 18 inquiry device, 20 sheet processing machine, 22 delivery edge

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An automatic paper feeder of a sheet processing machine,
While lifting the main and auxiliary piles synchronously,
Draw-out of a support device holding an auxiliary pile in a method of bringing the auxiliary pile and the main pile together by withdrawing the support device for the auxiliary pile from the region between the auxiliary pile and the main pile proximate thereto The movement is carried out as long as the level of the surface of the auxiliary pile is out of the margin of error with respect to the delivery edge, the pulling-out movement being such that the support device has not been completely withdrawn and the level of the pile surface is out of error. To a certain extent, the withdrawal movement is restarted when the pile lifting movement results in the level of the pile surface being within the error again, and the process is carried out by the support device from the area between the main pile and the auxiliary pile. A method for automatically changing piles in an automatic paper feeder, which is characterized by repeating until completely pulled out. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the withdrawal movement of the support device supporting the auxiliary pile is no longer interrupted from a minimum distance, depending on the paper quality and the sheet format. 3. An apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 1, wherein the main pile and the auxiliary pile are combined into one in an automatic paper feeder of a sheet processing machine, the lifting apparatus being for the main pile. In the type with a support device for the auxiliary pile and a feeding device for withdrawing this support device from the region between the auxiliary pile and the main pile, the front auxiliary pile (11) or the main pile (2 ) Is provided with a sensor (17) for detecting the level of the surface of the auxiliary pile (11) in the central region, the controller for withdrawing the support device for the auxiliary pile (11). And an inquiry device (18) is provided. With this inquiry device, the withdrawal movement is detected by the sensor (1
A device which is adapted to be activated or deactivated depending on the signal of 7). 4. The sensor (17) is a pile sensor used for pile control, and the inquiry device (18) is a module for detecting the end position of the support device.
The device according to claim 3. 5. An interrogation device (18) includes a memory of a numerical value of the minimum distance of the supporting device depending on the quality of the paper and the sheet format, and a device for detecting the withdrawal distance of the supporting device is provided. The device according to claim 3, which is provided.