Device for flexible guiding of conveyed products
AssigneeHeidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
InventorsJames Richard Belanger, Kevin Lauren Cote
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is related to a method and apparatus for flexible guiding of conveyed products (i.e., signatures) from one location to another. In order to reduce the impact forces imparted onto a conveyed product, a flexible guide is deformable when receiving a signature to increase the time interval during which collision during a signature direction change occurs. With the increase in the time interval during which the collision of the signature and flexible guide occurs, the average impact forces are reduced thereby eliminating damage to the signature.
Claims19
Device for flexible guiding of signatures comprising:
- a flexible guide for supporting a signature:
- a blower, wherein said flexible guide is permeable to form an air cushion between a permeable guide surface and the signature using forced air output from said blower;
- said guide being deformable during a collision between said signature and said guide to reduce force on the signature due to momentum of the signature, wherein the signature and guide conform in shape during the collision, and said guide being supported by at least one support.
Folder apparatus comprising:
- a flexible guide for supporting a conveyed product;
- a blower, wherein said flexible guide is permeable to form an air cushion between a permeable guide surface and the conveyed product using forced air output from said blower, said guide being deformable during a collision between the conveyed product and said guide, to reduce force on the conveyed product, wherein the conveyed product and flexible guide conform in shape during the collision;
- and
- said guide being supported by at least one support.
Method for guiding a signature comprising the steps of:
- supporting a flexible guide by at least one support;
- transporting the signature to said flexible guide;
- forming an air cushion between a permeable guide surface and the signature using forced air output from a blower, wherein the flexible guide is permeable, and deforming said flexible guide due to momentum of the signature, wherein the signature and flexible guide conform in shape during the collision.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.