Device for turning a sheet with a simultaneous change in conveying direction

Abstract

Sheets or sets of sheets are turned very rapidly and reliably, especially after the cutting of endless stationery, conveyed further in a different transport direction and separated in that the leading edge of each sheet is taken to a diagonal bending slot ( 33 ) via which a corner of each sheet first reaches an output slot ( 49 ).

1. A device for turning a conveyed sheet and simultaneously changing its conveying direction comprising:
 vertically spaced- apart upper and lower guide walls defining a longitudinally extending horizontal inlet slot lying in a first sheet plane, said inlet slot having a proximal end and a distal end and including first and second curved portions, respectively, at the distal end so as to define a diagonal bending slot having an axis of curvature in a plane substantially parallel to said first sheet plane;   
 an inlet slot defined by first and second side walls and lying in a first sheet plane; 
 inlet driving means for driving a leading edge of said sheet into said inlet slot;  
 first and second curved walls defining a bending slot located diagonally to said inlet slot and having axes of curvature in a plane substantially parallel to said first sheet plane; 
 an outlet slot defined by third and fourth walls and located adjacent said bending slot and wherein said third wall includes a plurality of openings;  
 outlet drive means for seizing said sheet from said bending slot and driving said sheet through said outlet slot in a second sheet plane; and,  
 a plurality of spherical roll elements located above said third wall but having portions thereof extending through said openings to contact said sheet as said sheet passes thereunder.  
 
     
     
       2. The sheet turning device of  claim 1 , wherein said outlet drive means includes:
 conveyor belts for engaging at least one side of said sheet; and,  
 said plurality of roll elements engages the other side of said sheet.  
 
     
     
       3. A device for turning a conveyed sheet and simultaneously changing its conveying direction comprising:
 vertically spaced- apart upper and lower guide walls defining a longitudinally extending horizontal inlet slot lying in a first sheet plane, said inlet slot having a proximal end and a distal end and including first and second curved portions, respectively, at the distal end so as to define a diagonal bending slot having an axis of curvature in a plane substantially parallel to said first sheet plane;   
 an inlet slot defined by first and second side walls and lying in a first sheet plane; 
 inlet driving means for driving a leading edge of said sheet into said inlet slot;  
 first and second curved walls defining a bending slot located diagonally to said inlet slot and having axes of curvature in a plane substantially parallel to said first sheet plane; 
 an outlet slot defined by third and fourth walls and located adjacent said bending slot;  
 outlet drive means for seizing said sheet from bending slot and driving said sheet through said outlet slot in a second sheet plane;  
 feeding means for feeding each said sheet into said inlet slot; and,  
 retaining means and means for containing said retaining means to selectively hold said sheet to selectively prevent said sheet from being driven by said inlet driving means.  
 
     
     
       4. The sheet-turning device of  claim 3  wherein said inlet driving means includes low-friction surfaces for assisting in the selective prevention of said feeding of said sheet when it is being driven by said inlet driving means. 
     
     
       5. The sheet-turning device of  claim 3  wherein said retaining means is comprised of a selectively-applied vacuum means having ducts therein for drawing said sheet thereto upon application of said vacuum. 
     
     
       6. A device for turning a conveyed sheet and simultaneously changing its conveying direction comprising:
 vertically spaced- apart upper and lower guide walls defining a longitudinally extending horizontal inlet slot lying in a first sheet plane, said inlet slot having a proximal end and a distal end and including first and second curved portions, respectively, at the distal end so as to define a diagonal bending slot having an axis of curvature in a plane substantially parallel to said first sheet plane;   
 an inlet slot defined by first and second side walls and lying in a first sheet plane; 
 inlet driving means for driving a leading edge of said sheet into said inlet slot;  
 first and second curved walls defining a bending slot located diagonally to said inlet slot and having axes of curvature in a plane substantially parallel to said first sheet plane; 
 an outlet slot defined by third and fourth walls and located adjacent said bending slot;  
 outlet drive means for seizing said sheet from said bending slot and driving said sheet through said outlet slot in a second sheet plane; and,  
 a swivelable means, said first side upper guide wall and at least a portion of said inlet driving means being attached to said swivelable means so that upward motion of said swivelable means causes upward motion of said first side upper guide wall and said portion of said inlet driving means away from said second side lower guide wall.  
 
     
     
       7. A device for simultaneous turning a over of one or more conveyed sheet sheets and simultaneously changing its the conveying direction of the one or more conveyed sheets, said device comprising:
 an inlet slot defined by first and second side walls and lying in a first sheet plane;  
 inlet driving means for driving a leading edge of said sheet into said inlet slot;  
 first and second curved walls defining a single bending slot for simultaneous turning over of one or more sheets or forms, said bending slot located diagonally to said inlet slot and having axes of curvature in a plane substantially parallel to said first sheet plane;  
 said first curved wall forming an outer bend and having an inside surface and said second wall forming an inner bend and having an outer surface;  
 an outlet slot defined by third and fourth walls and located adjacent said bending slot;  
 outlet drive means for seizing said sheet from said bending slot and driving said sheet through said outlet slot in a second sheet plane at a higher speed than said inlet driving means for repositioning said conveyed sheet from said inside surface of said outer- bend wall to the outer surface of said inner- bend wall .  
 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 6  wherein the outermost portion of said first and second curved portion has a terminal edge positioned upstream of and adjacent to the second sheet plane, said terminal edge being spaced apart from each of said third and fourth walls of said outlet slot. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 8  wherein one of said upper and lower guide walls is integrally formed with the outermost wall of said first and second curved portions to provide a continuous cover plate and the other of said upper and lower guide walls is integrally formed with said second curved portion to provide a continuous guide plate, whereby said cover plate and said guide plate together form a continuous, enclosed channel extending from an entrance of said inlet slot to said terminal edge of said outermost portion of said first and second curved portion. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 8  including at least one cut out formed through one of said upper and lower guide walls, said inlet driving means including at least one drive member extending through said cut out and into said inlet slot said drive member operative to drive the sheet from said inlet slot into said bending slot. 
     
     
       11. The device according to  claim 8  wherein said terminal edge has a length which is at least as great as the width of a conveyed sheet. 
     
     
       12. The device according to  claim 8  wherein said outlet drive means includes:
 ( a )  at least one driven belt having a reach member thereof disposed in said outlet slot between said third and fourth walls;      ( b )  at least one roll member disposed in the innermost wall of said third and fourth walls opposite said reach member of said belt; and      ( c )  at least one member of said belt reach member and said roll member biased toward the other member, whereby said belt reach member and said roll member cooperate to seize and drive the sheet through said outlet slot.     
     
     
       13. The device according to  claim 8  wherein said outlet drive means is operative to seize the sheet from said bending slot and drive the sheet through said outlet slot in said second sheet transport plane at a higher speed than said inlet drive means whereby the sheet is repositioned from an inside surface of said first curved portion to an outer surface of said second curved portion. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 7  wherein the outermost wall of said first and second curved walls has a terminal edge positioned upstream of and adjacent to the second sheet plane, said terminal edge being spaced apart from each of said third and fourth walls of said outlet slot. 
     
     
       15. The device according to  claim 14  wherein said first side wall and said first curved wall are integrally formed to provide a continuous cover plate and said second side wall and said second curved wall are integrally formed to provide a continuous guide plate, whereby said cover plate and said guide plate together provide a continuous, enclosed channel extending from an entrance of said inlet slot to said terminal edge of said bending slot. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 14  including at least one cut out formed through one of said first and second side walls, said inlet drive means including a driven conveying member extending through said cut out and into said inlet slot, said conveying member operative to drive the sheet from said inlet slot into said bending slot. 
     
     
       17. The device according to  claim 14  wherein said terminal edge has a length which is at least as great as the width of a conveyed sheet. 
     
     
       18. The device according to  claim 14  wherein said outlet drive means includes:
 ( a )  at least one driven belt having a reach member thereof disposed in said outlet slot between said third and fourth walls;      ( b )  at least one roll member disposed in the innermost wall of said third and fourth walls opposite said reach member of said belt; and      ( c )  at least one member of said belt reach member and said roll member biased toward the other member, whereby said belt reach member and said roll member cooperate to seize and drive the sheet through said outlet slot.     
     
     
       19. The device according to  claim 14  including a swivelable means, at least a portion of said inlet slot and at least a portion of said inlet driving means being attached to said swivelable means so that upward motion of said swivelable means causes upward motion of said portion of said inlet slot and said portion of said inlet drive means away form the remainder of said inlet slot.