Knife folding machine

Abstract

In the knife folding machine of the present invention it is possible to easily adjust the stroke of the reciprocal movement of the knife blade 5. The rod 10 is reciprocated by the feed screw 12. The feed screw 12 is rotated by the servomotor 14. Thus when the knife blade 5 reciprocates between the first and second positions, the first and second positions thereof are separately adjusted by controlling the amount of the rotation of the servomotor 14.

1 . A knife folding machine, comprising:
 a frame ( 1 ) having a support surface ( 4 ) to support a lower surface of a sheet or a sheet bundle (S);   a positioning means attached to the frame ( 1 ) to position the sheet or the sheet bundle (S) at a fold position on the support surface ( 4 );   a knife blade ( 5 );   a pair of folding rollers ( 6   a,    6   b ) opposed to the knife blade ( 5 ) with the support surface ( 4 ) therebetween at the fold position, the folding rollers ( 6   a,    6   b ) being attached to the frame ( 1 ), the knife blade ( 5 ) and the folding rollers ( 6   a,    6   b ) being disposed in parallel to each other, an edge of the knife blade ( 5 ) being opposed to a gap between the folding rollers ( 6   a,    6   b ), the support surface ( 4 ) having a opening ( 3 ) through which the knife blade ( 5 ) passes;   a knife drive unit ( 7 ) for reciprocating the knife blade ( 5 ) in a direction perpendicular to the support surface ( 4 ) through the opening ( 3 ) between a first position and a second position, the first position being opposed to the folding rollers ( 6   a,    6   b ) with the support surface ( 4 ) therebetween and spaced from the support surface ( 4 ), the second position being disposed adjacent the gap between the folding rollers ( 6   a,    6   b );   a support arm ( 8 ) attached to the frame ( 1 ) to support the knife drive unit ( 7 ); and   a control unit ( 22 ) for controlling the knife drive unit ( 7 ); wherein
 the reciprocal movement of the knife blade ( 5 ) between the first and second positions effects a folding operation, wherein 
 while the knife blade ( 5 ) moves from the first position to the second position, the sheet or the sheet bundle (S) on the support surface ( 4 ) being folded in two by the knife blade ( 5 ), an edge of the folded portion thereof being pushed out of the opening ( 3 ) and inserted to the gap between the folding rollers ( 6   a,    6   b ) so that the sheet or the sheet bundle (S) can be folded by the folding rollers ( 6   a,    6   b ); and wherein 
   the knife drive unit ( 7 ) comprises:
 a holder ( 9 ) attached to the support arm ( 8 ); 
 a rod ( 10 ) extending in a direction perpendicular to the support surface ( 4 ) and attached to the holder ( 9 ) to reciprocate in an axial direction thereof, the rod ( 10 ) having one end attached to the knife blade ( 5 ); 
 a block ( 11 ) attached to a center portion of the rod ( 10 ); 
 a feed screw ( 12 ) extending in parallel to the rod ( 10 ) and attached to the holder ( 9 ) to rotate around an axis thereof, the block ( 11 ) having a thorough hole which has thread grooves corresponding to the feed screw ( 12 ), the feed screw ( 12 ) engaging with the through hole, the rod ( 10 ) being reciprocated by the rotation of the feed screw ( 12 ); 
 a first pulley ( 13 ) attached to an upper or lower end of the feed screw ( 12 ); 
 a servomotor ( 14 ) attached to the holder ( 9 ) and having a drive shaft ( 14   a ), the drive shaft ( 14   a ) extending in parallel to the feed screw ( 12 ); 
 a second pulley ( 15 ) attached to the drive shaft ( 14   a ) of the servomotor ( 14 ); and 
 a timing belt ( 16 ) extended between the first and second pulleys ( 13 ,  15 ), the servomotor ( 14 ) being controlled by the control unit ( 22 ). 
   
     
     
         2 . The knife folding machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit ( 22 ) comprises:
 a first input portion ( 23 ) for receiving input of both a data of a distance (d 1 ) from the support surface ( 4 ) to the first position and a data of a distance (d 2 ) from the support surface ( 4 ) to the second position; and   a first memory ( 24 ) for storing the datum of the distances (d 1 , d 2 ) inputted through the first input portion ( 23 ); and wherein   the control unit ( 22 ) controls the servomotor ( 14 ) based on the datum of the distances (d 1 , d 2 ) stored in the first memory ( 24 ).   
     
     
         3 . The knife folding machine according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a feed means attached to the frame ( 1 ) to sequentially feed the sheet or the sheet bundle (S) to the fold position in a direction parallel or perpendicular to the knife blade ( 5 ) on the support surface ( 4 ); wherein   the positioning means comprises a stopper ( 21 ) disposed on a downstream side of the knife blade ( 5 ) and extending in a direction perpendicular to a feed path of the sheet or the sheet bundle (S) on the support surface ( 4 ), the stopper ( 21 ) positioning the sheet or the sheet bundle (S) at the fold position by an abutment of a front end of the sheet or the sheet bundle against the stopper ( 21 ).   
     
     
         4 . The knife folding machine according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a sensor ( 28 ) disposed in the middle way of the feed path of the sheet or the sheet bundle (S) to detect a passage of a tail end of the sheet or the sheet bundle (S); wherein   the stopper ( 21 ) is movable along the feed path in a direction of toward and away from the sensor ( 28 ) and disposed away from the sensor ( 28 ) by a distance (r) summed up in both of a distance (p) along the feed path of the sheet or the sheet bundle (S) and a predetermined distance (q); wherein   the control unit ( 22 ) comprises:
 a second input portion ( 25 ) for receiving input of a data of a delay time (t) from when the tail end of the sheet or the sheet bundle (S) passes through the sensor ( 28 ) till when the folding operation of the knife blade ( 5 ) starts; and 
 a second memory ( 26 ) for storing the data of the delay time (t) inputted through the second input portion ( 25 ); and wherein 
   the control unit ( 22 ) controls the servomotor ( 14 ) of the knife drive unit ( 7 ) based on a detecting data from the sensor ( 28 ) and the data of the delay time (t) stored in the second memory ( 26 ).   
     
     
         5 . The knife folding machine according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the feed means comprises:
 a drive roller ( 17 ) and an idle roller ( 18 ) attached to the frame ( 1 ) and spaced from and in parallel to each other; 
 at least one conveyer belt ( 20 ) extending between the drive roller ( 17 ) and idle roller ( 18 ); and 
 a second servomotor ( 19 ) attached to the frame ( 1 ) to rotate the drive roller ( 17 ); wherein 
   a part of the support surface ( 4 ) is formed by a feed surface of the conveyer belt ( 20 ), each of rotation shafts of the drive roller ( 17 ) and idle roller ( 18 ) being disposed in parallel or vertical to the knife blade ( 5 ).