Sheet diverter and method for deflecting a sheet

Abstract

The invention relates to a sheet diverter for a printing machine ( 100 ) and a method for diverting a sheet. The sheet diverter comprises a first transport unit ( 1 ) that defines a first transport path; a second transport unit ( 2 ) that defines a second transport path being at an angle relative to said first transport path; a pressure roller ( 3 ) that can be moved between a first and a second position, said pressure roller ( 3 ), when in its first position, being in contact with the first transport unit ( 1 ), and, when in its second position, being in contact with the second transport unit ( 2 ); a deflecting element ( 5 ) that can be moved between a first and a second position, said deflecting element ( 5 ), when in its first position, enabling a sheet to be transported along the first transport path and blocking said sheet from being transported along the second transport path, and, when in its second position, blocking said sheet from being transported along the first transport path and deflecting said sheet to the second transport path; an actuating device ( 9 ) for simultaneously moving the pressure roller ( 3 ) and the deflecting element ( 5 ) between their respective first and second positions.

1 . Sheet diverter for a printing machine, comprising:
 a first transport unit that defines a first transport path;   a second transport unit that defines a second transport path being at an angle relative to said first transport path;   a pressure roller that can be moved between a first and a second position,   
       said pressure roller when in its first position, being in contact with the first transport unit, and, when in its second position, being in contact with the second transport unit;
 a deflecting element that can be moved between a first and a second position, 
 
       said deflecting element, when in its first position, enabling a sheet to be transported along the first transport path and blocking said sheet from being transported along the second transport path, and, when in its second position, blocking said sheet from being transported along the first transport path and deflecting said sheet to the second transport path;
 an actuating device for simultaneously moving the pressure roller and the deflecting element between their respective first and second positions. 
 
     
     
         2 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 1 , wherein the movements of the pressure roller and the deflecting element are mechanically coupled. 
     
     
         3 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 1 , wherein the pressure roller and the deflecting element can be pivoted about separate centers of rotation. 
     
     
         4 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 1 , wherein the actuating device comprises a lifting unit and a lever, said lever bearing the pressure roller. 
     
     
         5 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 4 , wherein the lever has two legs at an angle relative to each other and is supported about a center of rotation at the vertex of the two legs. 
     
     
         6 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 5 , wherein the angle formed by the two legs is 90°. 
     
     
         7 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 4  wherein one end of the lever supports the pressure roller and the other end of said lever is connected with the lifting unit. 
     
     
         8 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 1 , wherein deflecting element is supported so as to be pivotable about a rotary axle and is coupled to a movement of the pressure roller, so that a movement of the pressure roller causes the deflecting element to be pivoted about an axis of rotation of the rotary axle. 
     
     
         9 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 8 , wherein the rotary axle of the deflecting element is located between the pressure roller and a tip of the deflecting element, said tip being disposed to receive the sheets. 
     
     
         10 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 1 , wherein the deflecting element comprises two elements that can be moved together and, depending on the position of the deflecting element, extend at least partially around transport elements of the first or the second transport units. 
     
     
         11 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 1 , wherein the deflecting element has at least one recess for the accommodation of a transport element of the first or second transport unit. 
     
     
         12 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 1 , wherein the deflecting element has a fork-shaped region that at least partially extends around a shaft of the pressure roller in order to couple the movements of the two elements. 
     
     
         13 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 1 , wherein the actuating device comprises a lifting magnet that, in a non-switched position, holds the pressure roller in its first position and, in a switched position, holds the pressure roller in its second position. 
     
     
         14 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 1 , wherein the angle between the first transport path and the second transport path is at most 30°-35°. 
     
     
         15 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 1 , wherein a transport element of the second transport unit is in contact with a transport element of the first transport unit and is driven thereby. 
     
     
         16 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 1 , wherein the transport units comprise belt drives. 
     
     
         17 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 1 , wherein each of the transport units comprises one centrally arranged transport belt. 
     
     
         18 . Sheet diverter as in  claim 1 , wherein each of the transport units comprises two transport belts that are arranged off-center and parallel to each other. 
     
     
         19 . Method for diverting a sheet out of a first transport path in which a sheet is transported through a first transport unit, into a second transport path in which a sheet is transported through a second transport unit, wherein a deflecting element is moved into the first transport path in such a manner that a sheet being moved along said first path is deflected to the second transport path, characterized in that, while the deflecting member is being moved, a pressure roller is being moved out of a first position where it is in contact with the first transport unit, and into a second position where it is in contact with the second transport unit. 
     
     
         20 . Method as in  claim 19 , wherein the movements of the pressure roller and the deflecting element are mechanically coupled with each other, and the movement of the two elements is accomplished by means of a single actuator. 
     
     
         21 . Method as in  claim 20 , wherein the movement of the pressure roller is accomplished by means of a pivotable lever, said lever being coupled with the actuator, on the one hand, and with the pressure roller, on the other hand. 
     
     
         22 . Method as in  claim 19 , wherein movement of the pressure roller and the deflecting element, respectively, comprises a pivoting motion.