US 5,320,340 A · Method and apparatus for the positionally correct supply of differently sized sheets to a sheet folding machine

Abstract

In order to select certain sheet sizes or formats for a rotation by 90.degree. in the plane of the sheet, sensors are provided which sense the presence of a sheet on a supply and turning table. The sensors provide a respective signal for the control of a sheet turning mechanism. After turning the sheets are fed in the proper positional orientation to further processing, for example, in a folding apparatus. The turning mechanism also performs a sheet lifting and lowering operation. The sheet transport out of the turning mechanism is performed at a speed higher than the speed of the sheets travelling into or onto the turning mechanism to provide the time necessary for the sheet turning operation which takes place in three steps: sheet lifting, sheet turning, and sheet lowering in response to a control signal from the sensors which determine what sheet format needs to be reoriented.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method for feeding sheets having differing formats arriving with a first speed and with a random positional orientation to a further sheet processing operation, comprising the following steps:

(a) generating sheet format recognition signals for distinguishing at least properly oriented sheets from improperly oriented sheets to provide respective control signals which take a sheet length into account,
(b) lifting of at least the middle part of an improperly oriented sheet out of a sheet travel plane in response to at least one of said control signals,
(c) rotating a lifted sheet into a proper orientation in response to another control signal;
(d) lowering a rotated sheet back into said sheet travel plane, and wherein
(e) feed advancing said lowered and rotated sheet toward said further sheet processing operation, with a second speed in accordance with said control signals that take said sheet length into account for avoiding an interference between sheets.

2 more elements

An apparatus for feeding sheets having differing formats arriving with a first sheet advance speed from a first sheet processing station and with a random positional orientation, to a second sheet processing station, comprising:

(a) a sheet feeding table including control means with sensors for sensing incoming sheets to generate sheet format recognition signals for distinguishing properly oriented sheets from improperly oriented sheets to provide respective control signals which take a sheet length into account,
(b) means for lifting at least the middle part of an improperly oriented sheet out of a sheet travel plane in response to a first control signal,
(c) means for rotating a lifted sheet into a proper orientation in response to a second control signal,
(d) means for lowering a rotated sheet back into said sheet travel plane, and
(e) sheet feeding elements in said sheet feeding table for advancing a lowered and rotated sheet toward said second sheet processing station with a second sheet advance speed in response to said control signals which take said sheet length into account for avoiding an interference between sheets.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for the positionally correct supply of differently sized sheets to a sheet folding machine

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for the positionally correct supply of differently sized sheets to a sheet folding machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21