SHEET ORIENTATION DEVICE, MACHINE FOR PROCESSING A SHEET, AND METHOD FOR ORIENTING A SHEET

Abstract

The invention relates to a sheet alignment device (5) for a machine for the processing of sheets (B) consisting of a thin, flat material such as paper, cardboard or film, with a feed section, at least one sensor (30, 32) for determining the position and/or alignment of the sheet (B) and also at least two alignment modules (10), each having an alignment roller (12), to which a drive device (14) is assigned in each case, whereby there is assigned to each alignment module (10) a swivel device (16), with which the alignment roller (10) can be swivelled around a swivel axis (A) perpendicular to the feed section. The invention relates also to a machine for the processing of sheets (B) consisting of a thin, flat material such as paper, cardboard or film, whereby a sheet alignment device (5) of the aforementioned type is provided. The invention relates finally to a method for the aligning of a sheet (B) consisting of thin, flat material such as paper, cardboard or film by means of the following steps: the alignment of the sheet (B) is determined, the sheet (B) is speeded up, turned and/or displaced laterally by means of at least two alignment rollers (12), controllable with regard to circumferential speed and alignment, on a feed section.

Claims

1. A sheet alignment device for a machine for the processing of sheets consisting of a thin, flat material such as paper, cardboard or film, the sheet alignment device comprising: a feed section, at least one sensor for determining the position and/or alignment of the sheet and also at least two alignment modules, each having an alignment roller, to which a drive device is assigned in each case, whereby there is assigned to each alignment module a swivel device, with which the alignment roller can be swivelled around a swivel axis perpendicular to the feed section.

2. The sheet alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes two position sensors upstream of the alignment modules, with which the front edge of a sheet moved along the feed section can be determined.

3. The sheet alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an alignment sensor, with which a side edge and/or an alignment of the sheet can be detected.

4. The sheet alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the alignment roller cooperates with a counter-roller.

5. The sheet alignment device according to claim 4, wherein a pressure module is provided, with which the counter-roller is forced against the alignment roller.

6. The sheet alignment device according to claim 5, wherein the pressure module has a pneumatic cylinder, an eccentric, an electric motor or a solenoid.

7. The sheet alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the spacing of the alignment modules from one another is adjustable.

8. A machine for the processing of sheets (B) consisting of a thin, flat material such as paper, cardboard or film, the machine comprising: a sheet alignment device as claimed in claim 1.

9. The machine according to claim 8, further comprising: a handling section for a substrate-, whereby the sheet alignment device supplies the sheet to the handling section.

10. The machine according to claim 8, wherein the sheets have a thickness of 0.1 to 1.2 mm.

11. The machine according claim 8, wherein the sheets have a grammage of 90 to 500 g/m2.

12. The machine according to claim 8, wherein the sheets have a size with a width of 400 to 1,650 mm and a length of 400 to 2,050 mm.

13. A method for the aligning of a sheet (B) consisting of thin, flat material such as paper, cardboard or film, the method comprising: determining an alignment of the sheet, speeding up, turning, and/or displacing laterally the sheet by means of at least two alignment rollers, controllable with regard to circumferential speed and alignment, on a feed section.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the sheet is synchronised with a substrate.

Description

[0016] The invention is described below with the help of one embodiment, which is represented in the appended drawings, where the following are shown:

[0017] FIG. 1 a machine according to the invention in a perspective view;

[0018] FIG. 2 in a schematic top view an alignment module, which is used in a sheet alignment device integrated into the machine of FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 3 a schematic section through the alignment module of FIG. 2, which cooperates with a counter-roller;

[0020] FIG. 4 a schematic top view of the feed section provided with two alignment modules;

[0021] FIG. 5 schematically a first example of a correction of the alignment of a sheet, which is achieved with the sheet alignment device according to the invention;

[0022] FIG. 6 a second example of a correction; and

[0023] FIG. 7 a third example of a correction.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a machine 1 for the processing of sheets consisting of a thin, flat material such as paper, cardboard or film. The sheets are staged in the form of a stack 2, from where they are supplied to a feed section 4 by means of a sheet feeder 3. A sheet B can be seen here on the feed section 4.

[0025] Integrated into the feed section 4 is a sheet alignment device 5, by means of which the alignment of the sheets B supplied via the feed section 4 can be corrected. The sheets B are then brought together with a substrate S, in order for example to be stuck or laminated together. The substrate sheets S are removed from a stack 6.

[0026] The sheet alignment device has two alignment modules 10 (see more particularly FIGS. 2 to 4), which each have an alignment roller 12 as essential part. Each of the alignment rollers 12 is provided to cooperate with the surface of a sheet that is to be aligned. For this purpose the alignment roller has at least on its circumferential surface a material that is characterised by a friction coefficient. The alignment roller 12 can consist for example of rubber.

[0027] Each alignment module 10 has a drive device 14, with which the rotational speed of the corresponding alignment roller 12 can be controlled. The drive device 14 can more particularly contain an electric motor.

[0028] Each alignment module 10 has furthermore a swivel device 16, with which the alignment roller 12 can be swivelled around a swivel axis A (see also the arrow P in FIG. 2). In this connection the swivel axis A stands perpendicular on the plane, along which the sheets B are transported through the sheet alignment device 5.

[0029] Each alignment roller 12 cooperates with a counter-roller 20, such that the sheets B can be moved through between the alignment roller 12 and the counter-roller 20.

[0030] Assigned to each counter-roller 20 is a pressure module 22, with which it is possible to control the pressure force, with which the counter-roller 20 is forced against the alignment roller 12. Moreover the counter-roller 20 can be moved away from the alignment roller 12 briefly by means of the pressure module, such that a sheet can be threaded into the gap between alignment roller 12 and counter-roller 20, without the front edge of the sheet being slowed down in the process.

[0031] In contrast to the alignment rollers 12 the alignment of the rotational axis of the counter-rollers 20 is not adjustable; the swivel axis always remains perpendicular to the direction along which the sheets are transported.

[0032] The counter-rollers 20 have at least on their circumferential surface a material that has a low friction coefficient. Accordingly the movement of a sheet in the region of the cooperation between an alignment roller 12 and the counter-roller 20 corresponds to the circumferential speed and alignment of the corresponding alignment roller 12.

[0033] The sheet alignment device 5 has furthermore sensors for determining the position and the alignment of the sheets B.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows two position sensors 30, which are arranged upstream of the two alignment modules 10. The two position sensors 30 are located on the same level, such that they determine the front edge of a sheet B simultaneously, when this is aligned correctly.

[0035] The two position sensors 30 are arranged at such a spacing on the two sides of a central plane of the sheet alignment device 5, that they can determine the front edge of a sheet even if there is maximum lateral misalignment.

[0036] Basically, for the accuracy of determination, it is desirable to choose the largest possible spacing of the position sensors. In order however also to be able to determine smaller sheets, the spacing of the position sensors from one another can be adjusted.

[0037] The sheet alignment device 5 has furthermore an alignment sensor 32, which is arranged laterally. This serves to determine a side edge of a transported sheet B, more particularly in the region of the transition to the front edge. If the alignment of the front edge is known together with the position of the side edge for example on the transition to the front edge, it is possible to calculate not only, whether and optionally how much a sheet B is skewed relative to the correct alignment, but also, how far it is misaligned laterally.

[0038] Starting out from the signals of the sensors 30, 32, a control system not shown here calculates, how the alignment and/or position of each individual sheet must be corrected, in order for it to be brought together with the substrate S in the desired manner.

[0039] FIG. 5 shows schematically a sheet B, which is transported in the transport direction T along the sheet alignment device 5 and is aligned correctly there. In the example of FIG. 5 the sheet B in the initial state is skewed clockwise in comparison with its correct alignment. The two alignment modules 10 are therefore controlled, such that the sheet B, when the alignment rollers 12 cooperate with it, transport it somewhat faster on the left side than on the right side, such that the sheet B finally, when it is located downstream of the alignment modules 10, has its correct alignment (see the sheet B represented again in continuous lines downstream of the alignment rollers 12).

[0040] For simplification the higher speed of the left alignment roller 12 in FIG. 5 is represented by a longer speed arrow. In fact however, when the front edge of the sheet B that is to be aligned enters the gap between the alignment rollers 12 and the counter-rollers 20, the alignment rollers 12 will rotate at such a speed, that the circumferential speed of the alignment rollers corresponds to the speed of transport of the sheet. Only when the sheet has been grasped completely by the two alignment modules 10, is the left (in relation to FIG. 5) alignment roller 12 brought briefly up to a higher circumferential speed, such that the necessary correction of the alignment of the sheet B takes place. When the sheet B leaves the alignment rollers 12, these rotate again at a speed corresponding to the speed of transport of the sheet B.

[0041] With the alignment modules 10 it is also possible to synchronise the sheet with the substrate S, to which it is to be supplied. The sheet B can therefore be speeded up or delayed overall, such that the front edge of the sheet B meets the front edge of the substrate S exactly.

[0042] FIG. 6 shows a sheet B, which is misaligned laterally upstream of the alignment modules. Because the sheet B does not need to be turned, the alignment modules are therefore both operated at the same speed (this is represented by means of the two speed arrows, which are of equal length). However the alignment rollers 12 are adjusted by means of the swivel device, such that the sheet B overall is transported askew, until it adopts its correct position downstream of the alignment modules 12.

[0043] Here also it can be provided that, when the front edge of the sheet B enters the gap between the alignment rollers and the counter-rollers, the alignment rollers 12 are aligned in the transport direction of the sheet B and only thereupon are swivelled suitably for a short time. Before the back edge of the sheet leaves the alignment modules 10, the alignment rollers 12 have been swivelled round again by means of the swivel device 14, such that the rotational axis of the alignment rollers 14 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sheet alignment device and to the transport direction T.

[0044] FIG. 7 shows an example, in which the sheet B is both skewed and also misaligned laterally. Accordingly the alignment rollers 12 are both swivelled round, in order to compensate for the lateral misalignment, and also driven suitably at different speeds, in order to compensate for the skewing.

[0045] It is basically conceivable, that suitable sensors, which are able to determine the alignment and/or position of the sheets, B are provided also downstream of the alignment modules 10. In this case it is then possible to implement a closed-loop control system, which leads to an even greater precision in the correction of the alignment of the sheets B.