Device for slowing down printing specimen in the folding apparatus
The present invention relates to a device for slowing down printing specimens before they are introduced into the paddle wheel of the folding apparatus in a rotary printing press. 
     In view of the faster rotating printing presses being used, a problem free delivery of the printing specimen by means of paddle wheels is no longer possible. Due to the striking speed onto the bottom portion of the individual paddle wheels, the front edges of the printing specimen becomes damaged. Furthermore, the printing specimen slur on the paddle wheel faces due to the extremely high sliding speed. In view of this criteria, limits are imposed on the speed requirements, in particular in rotogravure printing presses in accordance with the present state of the art. 
     In accordance with the invention, a device is provided which even at the highest possible speed for feeding the printing specimen, enables a delivery of the printing specimen without damaging it. 
     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose several embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for the purposes of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed. 
     In the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
    
    
     One of the embodiments is shown in the drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a view of the delivery system; and 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the delivery system. 
    
    
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing specimens 14 are fed from the folding rotating cylinder 1 into the subsequent conveyor belt 2 to the paddle wheel delivery system. The number of deliveries on one folding apparatus as well as the conveyor belt 2 subsequent to cylinder 1 may be varied as desired. In front of paddle wheel 3, a roller 5 is rigidly mounted in side frame 4. 
     A pivotable roller 7 mounted on levers 6, for example, is associated with a roller 5; roller 7 being provided with a bar 8 running longitudinally with respect to the roller axis. Bar 8 is provided with a preferably elastic plastic material having apertures 10. Roller 5 is provided with rings 9 made of the same elastic plastic material. Conveyor belts 2 run through apertures 10, whereby the belts form an adjustable slightly open wedge in the area of roller 5 and roller 7. Pivotable roller 7 is adjustable with respect to the wedge opening required by the thickness of the printing specimen by means of bar 8, and adjustable means 11 in parallel direction and individually by means of adjustable elements 12 and 13 with respect to rings 9 of roller 5. Roller 5 is driven and may have a given number of revolutions with respect to the fed printing specimen. Roller 7 is driven in a manner that bar 8 mounted thereon has the same rotational speed as rings 9 on roller 5 and in a synchronous speed with the fed printing specimen 14. The rotational speed of rings 9 on roller 5 as well as the rotational speed of bar 8 on roller 7 are less than the feeding speed of conveyor belts 2 which have the same speed as cylinder 1. When the printing specimen 14 are fed between rollers 5 and 7 they are gripped at their ends and are slowed down in accordance with the reduced rotational speed of rings 9 and bar 8 with respect to conveyor belts 2. 
     Due to the appreciably lower sliding speed of the printing specimen in the paddle wheel, and the reduced sliding speed on the paddle wheel surfaces, a damaging of the printing specimen at high operating speeds of the printing press is prevented, the slur effect is reduced and a higher rotational operating speed is made possible. 
     While only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.