Christopher J Cloutier

US Patent:

6843764, Jan 18, 2005

Filed:

Mar 5, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/092315

Inventors:

Jason E. Bryant - Newmarket NH, US
Christopher Alan Cloutier - Barrington NH, US
Christian Miescher - Bern, CH

Assignee:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG - Heidelberg

International Classification:

B31F 700

US Classification:

493436, 493357, 493428, 493147, 271273

Abstract:

A device for transporting a flat product includes a rotating transport cylinder and a continuous stripper belt. The rotating transport cylinder defines an axis of rotation and is configured to guide the flat product at a circumference of the cylinder over a first angle of rotation of the cylinder. The continuous stripper belt is disposed between the flat product and the axis of rotation over a second angle of rotation of the cylinder and is configured to guide the flat product away from the cylinder so as to strip the flat product from the cylinder. The stripper belt follows a continuous path that does not circumscribe the axis of rotation. In addition, a method for transporting a flat product includes guiding the flat product at a circumference of a rotating transport cylinder defining an axis of rotation over a first angle of rotation of the cylinder and stripping the flat product from the transport cylinder using a continuous stripper belt that follows a continuous path not circumscribing the axis of rotation.

US Patent:

6605027, Aug 12, 2003

Filed:

Nov 16, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/714578

Inventors:

Christopher Alan Cloutier - Barrington NH
Gary Frank Fowler - Stafford NH
Michael Alexander Novick - New Durham NH

Assignee:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG - Heidelberg

International Classification:

B31F 108

US Classification:

493424, 493434, 493442, 493435

Abstract:

A folder in a signature-processing machine has a transfer cylinder and a folding cylinder. The two cylinders are mounted to be rotatable in relative counter-rotation at a substantially equal peripheral speed. They form a nip through which a signature is transported. The signature is taken up by the folding cylinder at a folding location between its leading edge and its trailing edge. In order to reduce the formation of dog-ears and crumpling when the signature tail is ripped away from the transfer cylinder, there is provided a fold-off guide at the exit side of said nip. In order to adapt for speed changes of the folder, and to allow for the fold-off guide to change its shape in synchronicity with each signature, the fold-off surface of the guide is movably disposed. The fold-off guide, in a simple embodiment, may be a flexible plate. In a dynamically varying embodiment, the fold-off guide may be cam or an eccentric with or without the intermediary of an endless belt which travels with the folding cylinder.