Gatherer stitcher with variable chain pitch and method for adapting an endless gatherer chain to a format of a product
AssigneeHeidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
InventorsKlaus Kinne, Torsten Brünner, Siegmar Tischer, Lutz Richter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gatherer stitcher includes an endless gatherer chain for gathering and transporting folded sheets astride the chain. The gatherer chain has chain roof segments and driving elements being adjustable in position. In an inactive position, a driving element that can be folded forms part of the roof of the gatherer chain and, in another, active position, projects out of the roof of the gatherer chain transversely relative to the conveying direction. The driving element can be driven by a control device. A method for adapting the endless gatherer chain to a format of a product is also provided.
Claims16
A gatherer stitcher, comprising:
- an endless gatherer chain;
- said gatherer chain having fixed chain roof segments together forming a chain roof for gathering and transporting folded sheets astride said chain roof, said chain roof having a supporting surface for supporting the folded sheets;
- and
- said gatherer chain having driving elements each being adjustable between an inactive position inserted into a respective said chain roof segment for forming part of said supporting surface of said chain roof of said gatherer chain and another, active position, projecting out of said respective chain roof segment of said gatherer chain transversely relative to a conveying direction of said gatherer chain.
A method for adapting an endless gatherer chain of a gatherer stitcher to a format of a product to be processed, the method comprising the following steps:
- providing an endless gatherer chain, the gatherer chain having fixed chain roof segments together forming a chain roof for gathering and transporting folded sheets astride the chain roof, and the gatherer chain having driving elements adjustable between an inactive position forming part of the chain roof of the gatherer chain and another, active position, projecting out of the chain roof of the gatherer chain transversely relative to a conveying direction of the gatherer chain;
- a) determining the sheet format;
- b) continuously moving the gatherer chain in the conveying direction;
- c) providing and individually driving drive devices for driving the driving elements;
- d) providing control devices and adjusting each of the driving elements with a respective one of the drive devices through a respective one of the control devices;
- and
- e) repeating the steps of driving the drive devices in step c) and adjusting the driving elements in step d) until the gatherer chain has been entirely adapted to the product format to be processed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.