Method and device for the merging of different paper webs

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and device for the merging and finishing of at least two paper webs ( 1, 2, 3, 4 ), controlled in the longitudinal register, which are distinctly different in quality and in finishing steps to be undertaken. The device comprises at least two web-specific processing regions ( 13 A, 13 B, 13 C), a merging unit ( 21 ), a common processing region ( 22 ), controlled in the longitudinal register and means for the control of the longitudinal register ( 14 ), essentially comprising one longitudinal register sensor per paper web. Markings are placed on the paper web with periodic separations. Longitudinal register sensors ( 14 ) recognise said markings and transmit signals to the control unit, which determines possible variations and controls the means for regulation of the longitudinal register in such a way that variations in the longitudinal register are compensated. The device further comprises means for setting the web tension of the individual paper webs, with at least two tension-adjusting devices ( 19 A-D, 20 A-D) in the course of the paper webs and, on at least one paper web, at least three adjusters, with which the web tension may be adjusted independently of each other in at least two partial regions, defined by the above. The partial regions preferably essentially correspond to the web-specific and the common processing regions. The web tension in the web-specific processing regions can thus be optimally adjusted to match the paper quality and the finishing process requirements.

1 . Method for the merging and finishing of at least two paper webs controlled in the longitudinal register, in which each paper web is provided with markings applied at periodic intervals, and in which the individual paper webs pass through web-specific processing regions which comprise a feed unit, an optional deflection unit and a web-specific finishing region, are then merged in a merging unit and then also pass through a common processing region which is controlled in the longitudinal register and in which the paper webs are optionally processed in a common finishing region which is controlled in the longitudinal register and in which an optional web sensor measures the web velocity and in which the paper webs are drawn by a draw unit and are collected in a collecting device, the web tension of the paper webs being adjusted by means for regulating the web tension, which include a first tension-adjusting unit arranged before the web-specific finishing region and the draw unit, and the longitudinal register being adjusted by means for the congruent regulation of the longitudinal register, which include a longitudinal register sensor, characterized in that, for at least one paper web, the means for regulating the web tension additionally comprise at least one second tension-adjusting unit which is arranged after the web-specific finishing region and before the merging unit and by means of which the web tension prevailing between the first and second web-adjusting unit and the web tension prevailing between the second tension-adjusting unit and the draw unit are adjusted substantially independently of one another.  
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the web tension of the paper web in each partial region formed by a pair of tension-adjusting units and in the partial region between the last tension-adjusting unit in the running direction and the draw unit formed partial region [sic] is adjusted to a defined, substantially constant value.  
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the web tension in the running direction of the paper web decreases in a cascade-like manner from partial region to partial region.  
     
     
         4 . Method according to any of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that, for each paper web, the web tension prevailing between the last tension-adjusting unit in the running direction of the paper web and the draw unit is adjusted to a common value substantially equal for all paper webs.  
     
     
         5 . Method according to any of  claims 1  to  4 , characterized in that the means for adjusting the web tension and the draw unit are formed in such a way that the resulting web tension has a substantially constant value over the width of the paper web.  
     
     
         6 . Method according to any of  claims 1  to  5 , characterized in that, for at least one paper web, the longitudinal register is adjusted substantially independently of the web tension.  
     
     
         7 . Method according to any of  claims 1  to  6 , characterized in that at least one paper web is kept under tension up to the last tension-adjusting unit in the running direction.  
     
     
         8 . Method according to any of  claims 1  to  7 , characterized in that, for at least one paper web, the means for adjusting the longitudinal register comprise an optional longitudinal register adjusting unit and a longitudinal register regulating device.  
     
     
         9 . Method according to any of  claims 1  to  8 , characterized in that, in at least one web-specific processing region, the longitudinal register is adjusted via the adjustment of the web tension by means of the first tension-adjusting unit, utilizing the web stretch associated with the elasticity of the web.  
     
     
         10 . Method according to any of  claims 1  to  9 , characterized in that, in at least one web-specific processing region, the longitudinal register is adjusted by means of the longitudinal register adjusting unit by changing the travel of the paper web within the web-specific processing region.  
     
     
         11 . Device for the merging and finishing of at least two paper webs controlled in the longitudinal register, consisting of at least two web-specific processing regions which in turn comprise a feed unit, an optional deflection unit and a web-specific finishing region; a merging unit; a common processing region which is controlled in the longitudinal register and in turn comprises an optional common finishing region controlled in the longitudinal register, an optional web sensor and a draw unit; a collecting device and a control unit; each paper web being provided with markings applied at periodic intervals; which apparatus furthermore comprises means for regulating the web tension, which include a first tension-adjusting unit arranged before the web-specific finishing region and the draw unit; and means for regulating the longitudinal register, which comprise a longitudinal register sensor; characterized in that, for at least one paper web, the means for regulating the web tension additionally comprise a second tension-adjusting unit which is arranged after the web-specific finishing region and before the merging unit.  
     
     
         12 . Device according to  claim 11 , characterized in that, for each paper web, the means for regulating the web tension additionally comprise at least one second tension-adjusting unit which is arranged after the web-specific finishing region and before the merging unit.  
     
     
         13 . Device according to  claim 11  or  12 , characterized in that, for each paper web, the first tension-adjusting unit is arranged immediately before the web-specific finishing region.  
     
     
         14 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  13 , characterized in that, for at least one web-specific processing region, the means for regulating the longitudinal register additionally comprise a further longitudinal register adjusting unit and a longitudinal register regulating device.  
     
     
         15 . Device according to  claim 14 , characterized in that, for at least one web-specific processing region, the means for regulating the longitudinal register permit the longitudinal register of the paper web to be adjusted independently of the web tension.  
     
     
         16 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  15 , characterized in that at least two different processing stations belong to at least one web-specific finishing region.  
     
     
         17 . Device according to  claim 16 , characterized in that at least one additional tension-adjusting unit is arranged between at least two processing stations.  
     
     
         18 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  17 , characterized in that, within at least one web-specific processing region, at least one processing station serves for merging a paper web with another paper web.  
     
     
         19 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  18 , characterized in that the elements of the device each have a modular design so that the entire device can be reconfigured or expanded with little effort by removing or adding individual elements.  
     
     
         20 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  19 , characterized in that the draw unit is arranged immediately after the finishing region controlled in the longitudinal register and before the collecting device.  
     
     
         21 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  20 , characterized in that the means for regulating the web tension is formed in such a way that the web tension is substantially constant over the web width.  
     
     
         22 . Device according to  claim 21 , characterized in that at least one tension-adjusting unit and/or the draw unit consists of a pair of draw rollers.  
     
     
         23 . Device according to  claim 22 , characterized in that at least one pair of draw rollers is a pair of rubber rollers.  
     
     
         24 . Device according to either of claims  22  and  23 , characterized in that the pairs of draw rollers are provided on their circumference with a profile for holding the corresponding finishing products.  
     
     
         25 . Device according to any of  claims 22  to  24 , characterized in that the axes of the pairs of draw rollers are aligned with one another and are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the running direction of the paper web.  
     
     
         26 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  25 , characterized in that the tension-adjusting units can be controlled independently of one another by the control unit.  
     
     
         27 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  26 , characterized in that the feed unit  10  is an unwinding unit  40  which consists at least of a storage drum  42  and a pair of take-off rollers and in which the paper web is wound onto a storage drum  42 .  
     
     
         28 . Device according to  claim 27 , characterized in that the pair of take-off rollers consists of the storage drum  42  itself and a take-off roller which is arranged in such a way that it is pressed against the uppermost layer of the paper web wound on the storage drum  42 .  
     
     
         29 . Device according to  claim 27 , characterized in that the unwinding unit  40  consists at least of a storage drum  42 , a take-off roller pressed against it and a pair of draw rollers.  
     
     
         30 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  26 , characterized in that the feed unit is an unfolding unit which consists at least of a storage container and a speed-controlled pair of drive rollers and in which the paper web is present in the folded state in the storage container.  
     
     
         31 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  30 , characterized in that the collecting device consists of at least one collecting roller.  
     
     
         32 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  30 , characterized in that the collecting device consists of a size cutter, a stacking device, an optional counting device and an optional packing or banding device.  
     
     
         33 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  32 , characterized in that the optional deflection unit  12  is arranged between the feed unit  11  and the beginning of the web-specific finishing region  13 .  
     
     
         34 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  32 , characterized in that the optional deflection unit  12  is arranged between the end of the web-specific finishing region  13  and the merging unit  21 .  
     
     
         35 . Device according to any of  claims 1  to  24 , characterized in that the optional deflection unit  12  is an angle bar  59 .  
     
     
         36 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  35 , characterized in that, in at least one web-specific processing region  13 , the longitudinal register is adjusted via the adjustment of the web tension by means of the first tension-adjusting unit  19 , utilizing the web stretch associated with the elasticity of the web.  
     
     
         37 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  35 , characterized in that, in at least one web-specific processing region  13 , the longitudinal register can be adjusted by means of the longitudinal register adjusting unit  15  by changing the travel of the paper web within the web-specific processing region  13 .  
     
     
         38 . Device according to  claim 37 , characterized in that the longitudinal register adjusting unit  15  is arranged between the end of the web-specific finishing region  13  and the merging unit  21 .  
     
     
         39 . Device according to  claim 37  or  38 , characterized in that the longitudinal register adjusting unit  15  is in the form of a pair of rollers, comprising a movable first roller  91  and a stationary second roller  92 , in which the angle of wrap of the paper web on the second roller  92  can be adjusted by changing the position of the first roller  91  substantially in the azimuthal direction around the second roller  92 .  
     
     
         40 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  39 , characterized in that at least one tension-adjusting unit  20  comprises a pressure roller  93  and a second roller  92  as a mating roller, the pressure roller  93  being driven at a regulatable rotational velocity and being arranged so as to lock under pressure against the second roller  92 .  
     
     
         41 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  40 , characterized in that at least one longitudinal register adjusting unit  15  is combined with a tension-adjusting unit  20  to give one unit.  
     
     
         42 . Device according to claims  40  and  41 , characterized in that the pressure roller  93  of the tension-adjusting unit is arranged so as to lock under pressure against one of the two rollers  91 ,  92  of the longitudinal register adjusting unit  15 , preferably against the stationary second roller  92 .  
     
     
         43 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  42 , characterized in that, in at least one web-specific processing region, a first tension-adjusting unit  19  substantially comprises a first deflection roller  81 , a variator  82 , a contact pressure roller  83 , a tension-measuring roller  84  and an optional second deflection roller  85 , the axes of all rollers being aligned parallel to one another, the variator  82  lying in the plane of symmetry belonging to the first deflection roller  81  and to the tension-measuring roller  84 , it being possible for the position of the variator  82  in the plane of symmetry to be changed relative to the first deflection roller  81  and the tension-measuring roller  84  with constant angle of wrap, the contact pressure roller  83  being arranged so as to lock under pressure against the variator  82 , the paper web being wrapped around the tension-measuring roller  84  and the web tension being measured via the force exerted by the tensioned paper web on the tension-measuring roller  84 , and the optional second deflection roller  85  deflecting the paper web into a desired delivery direction.  
     
     
         44 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  43 , characterized in that, depending on the number of paper webs to be merged, the merging unit  21  comprises at least two deflection rollers  94  which are arranged in a plane so that the axes of the deflection rollers  94  are parallel and that the running direction of the paper web after release by the deflection rollers  94  is parallel to said plane.  
     
     
         45 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  44 , characterized in that the web tension prevailing between the second tension-adjusting unit and the merging unit is measured by means of the tractive force of the paper web which acts on the deflection rollers  94  of the merging unit  21 .  
     
     
         46 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  45 , characterized in that the longitudinal register sensors  16  are arranged immediately before the merging unit  21 .  
     
     
         47 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  46 , characterized in that, in at least one web-specific processing region, a digital printing technique is used as a finishing process.