Abstract: Method of depositing sheet-like products (2), in particular printed products, which are taking part in a conveying process and follow sequentially one after the other, it being the case that, for at least a period of time of the depositing operation, assisted by gravitational force, the products (2) are pivoted about an axis (B) which extends essentially parallel to the direction in which the conveying process is oriented immediately prior to the depositing operation.

Abstract: Method of raising sheet-like products (2), in particular printed products, which are taking part in a conveying process and follow sequentially one after the other, the products (2) resting, at least in certain regions, on a conveying means (1) during the conveying process, it being the case that, for at least a period of time of the raising operation, gravitational force being overcome in the process, the products (2) are pivoted actively about an axis (B) which extends essentially parallel to the direction (A) in which the conveying process is oriented immediately prior to the raising operation.

Abstract: The clamp has two interacting clamp elements (14) which can be moved relative to one another. These are intended for retaining a sheet-like article (70). The clamp (12) also has a holding-open element (20) which is intended for engaging between two parts (78, 78′) of the article and, when the clamp elements (14) are located in the closed position (18′), for keeping these parts (78, 78′) separate from one another and thus holding the article (70) open.

Abstract: For stacking flat articles (2), a stacking shaft (10) comprising pushing means (11) for removing stacks from the shaft is used and for supplying the articles (2) into the stacking shaft (10) a supply support (12) is used. The supply support (12) is oriented towards the opening of the stacking shaft (10) at in inclination from above and the completed stacks (1) are pushed out in a direction opposite the supply direction. This makes it possible to resume the supply operation after an interruption necessary for the pushing-out, before the stack (1) is pushed out of the stacking shaft (10) completely. This results in very short cycle times. The stacking method is suitable in particular for stacking folded printed products being supplied in the supply stream parallel to their folded edges. The device is distinguished by its simplicity and by the fact, that it requires very little space.

Abstract: A conveying-in stream, in which flat articles (4) are conveyed held gripped individually, is transformed into a conveying-away stream, in which the articles (4) are loosely lying overlapping one another in an imbricated manner and in alternating groups oriented rotated relative to each other. The transformation is implemented, in that the conveying-in track intersects with the conveying away track at two track intersections (A and B) and in that the articles (4) are transferred from the conveying-in track to the conveying-away track in alternating groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B . . . ) at the first track intersection (A) or at the second track intersection (B). In the conveying-away stream, the articles (4) are arranged in imbricated stream sections (1A/1B) each section comprising one or two groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B . . . ) of articles (4) and being separated from neighboring sections by a stream gap (22).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for buffering with the use of a closed gripper. The invention comprises transport means (20) which are provided with grippers (22), can move along a conveying section (10), and are located in the area of a buffer section (14) of the conveying section (10). Transport means are stored in such a way that the distance between the transporting means (20), said means being successively arranged in the buffer section (14), is essentially determined by the degree of opening of the grippers (22) or by the dimensions of the transport means (20). Said means are also stored in such a way that opened grippers (22) are at least partially closed without exercising a holding function in or before the area of the buffer section (14). To this end, a closing device is placed in an entry area (16) of the buffer section (14) which, for example, can be provided in the form of a closing connecting member (18) and can be displaced along the conveying section (10).

Abstract: The processing system serves for processing piece goods (e.g. containers or printed products). It comprises a conveying system with a closed rail track system optionally having switch points (SV, SZ) and a plurality of conveying/holding means displaceable in one direction on the track system independently of one another and it further comprises devices (A) for loading conveying/holding means with items or groups of items to be processed, devices (V) for processing items or groups of items and devices (B) for unloading items or groups of items from conveying/holding means. An entry control means and upstream thereof a collecting section are allocated to each device (A, B, V). The entry control establishes the spatial orientation and the temporal sequence of the conveying/holding means or of the items as required by the device. If necessary, the conveying/holding means are retained along the collecting section before the entry monitoring.

Abstract: Gripper for holding flat objects (21), more particularly flexible objects such as single or multiple sheet printing objects, comprising two gripper limbs (11, 12) that can pivot in relation to each other and exert a clamping force on the object held (21) in a closed position and an actuating device engaging at least in one of the gripper limbs (11, 12) to produce a relative pivoting movement of both gripper limbs (11, 12). The actuating device can be displaced from an open to a closed position of the gripper limbs (11, 12) and has at least one sliding part (18) whose translational movement produces a force on at least one gripper limb (11, 12) either in the direction of the open position or in the direction of the closed position.

Abstract: Flat rectangular objects, such as printed products, arrive in an overlapping formation and have a specific first extent A1 and a variable second extent A2, A2′ running at right angles thereto. The objects 10 are conveyed in an overlapping stream S at a constant predetermined overlap distance B and with a first extent A1 running in the conveying direction F. As viewed in the conveying direction F, the edges running in the conveying direction F are mutually aligned on one side and are at the same location. A specific number of the objects 10 is in each case gripped by a single transport clamp 18 to transport them onward.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for receiving and/or conveying flat products (14), especially printing products, by means of individual grippers (1). The invention comprises a receiving and/or conveying section (12) along which the grippers (1) can be conveyed, and the limbs (9) support opened grippers (1) against one another in the area of the grippers, said grippers being arranged in succession. The invention also comprises a gripper closing device (15) which can be actuated after inserting a product (14) into an opened gripper (1), and/or a releasing device which can be actuated when a product (14) is released from the gripper (1). The receiving and/or conveying section (12) is curved in a convex manner in order to enlarge the maximum possible opening of the gripper.

Abstract: The claimed processing operation is used to process piece goods. Large numbers of at least similar objects are processed by feeding objects into the operation in streams (PS) of starting products (A), feeding the starting products and/or intermediate products in product streams (PS) to processing steps (7, 8, 12, 14, 15 . . . ) where they are processed and then carried away from the processing steps, and discharging the processed objects from the operation in streams of end products (EP). In the incoming and outgoing product streams individual products or product groups are conveyed in a sequence. At each processing step at least one property of a processed product or product group is changed. The claimed operation is characterized by sequence changes (4, 5, 6, 10, 13, 16, 17 . . . ) in which the sequence of products or product groups can be changed by transferring products in or out or combinations of both.

Abstract: Both limbs of the clamp (2, 3), which are pivotally arranged on the axis of a bearing, are rotated from a closing position into an open position and vice versa by an actuating device (12). The actuating device (12) can be displaced from a top end position (13) to a lower end position (14). The actuating device (12) exerts a closing or clamping force on the outer side (22, 23) of the limbs of the clamp (2, 3) in said lower end position (14). When the actuating device (12) is displaced to the top end position (13), an expanding element (15) arranged between the limbs of the clamp (2, 3) comes into contact with the inner side (24, 25) of the limbs of the clamp (2, 3) and exerts an opening force on the limbs of the clamp (2, 3) so that said limbs (2, 3) are swung at a large angle (&agr;) in their open position.

Abstract: The conveyor line (1) of a conveyor has a branching point (6) with a switch (7). This switch has a pivotable switching member (8) which in one position lies in this conveyor line (1) and in the other position connects this first conveyor line (1) with a second conveyor line (10). Preceding the branching point (6) is a retaining member (11) that can be inserted into the path of movement of the transport elements (2) conveyed along the conveyor line (1). This retaining member (11) can be used to hold back the transport elements (2) approaching the branching point in order to create room for changing over the switching member (8). The transport elements are independent of one another, which makes it possible, selectively and as required, either to move the oncoming transport elements (2) along the first conveyor line (1) or to divert them into the second conveyor line (10).

Abstract: At a delivery station (1), printed products (4) are unwound from a product reel (6) and transferred to a transfer area (11) of a conveying system (12). The latter has transport members (13) provided with controllable grippers (15) moved by conveying means (19, 19a) or by the force of gravity along a path of transport (14) designed as a closed loop. The printed products (4) are transferred at a delivery area (21) to a further processing device, for example an insetting or collecting drum (28). A buffer section (23), along which the transport members (13) are stored by reducing their mutual distance, is arranged upstream of said dispensing area (21). While an empty winding core (8) is exchanged for a full product reel (6), the supply of printed products (4) to the transfer area (11) is interrupted. During that time, the transport members (13) carrying printed products (4) are taken from the buffer section (23), ensuring a continuous supply of printed products (4) to the delivery station (21).

Abstract: A conveyor (10) has a self-contained main conveyor line (12), a number of feed lines (14, 14') in the form of buffer lines and a return line (16, 16'). Each feed line (14, 14') is associated to a processing station (26, 26'). The feed lines (14, 14') are connected to the main conveyor line (12) by means of controlled switches (28) so that, viewed in the conveyor direction (F), any of the clamps (20) can be delivered to any desired processing station (26). This gives the device great flexibility and decouples the processing stations from the pickup of the pressroom products at the pickup station (24).

Abstract: Products (2) made of paper or similar materials are cut along predetermined cutting lines in a drawing cut between crossed knife edges while being conveyed continuously in a dense conveying stream in which their main surfaces are orientated substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction (v). For this purpose a counter knife (1) with a guide edge (11) is allocated to each product (2) and the products (2) together with the counter knives (1) are conveyed past at least one cutting knife (5) with a cutting edge (51) having two ends, whereby the cutting edge (51) of the cutting knife (5) substantially lies in the plain formed by the guide edges (11) of the counter knives (1) and forms a cutting angle (.alpha.) with the guide edges (11).

Abstract: A clamp for retaining sheet-like articles having clamp jaws pivotably mounted on a spindle and retained in a clamping position by a closure device. The closure device is formed by carrying arms which have a clamping body. The two clamping bodies are located in a latch-in depression formed on the outer side of the clamp jaws and exert a closure force on the two clamp jaws. By virtue of the closure device being pivoted up from the clamping position into a release position, the clamp jaws are released and pivot into the release position.

Abstract: A commissioning system has a substantially random arrangement or array of positions (1 to 53) associated with specific articles or objects. It also has a removal device, with a guidance system (60) and a flexible conveying member (67) movable in push or pull manner within the system. The guidance system (60) and conveying member (67) are so designed that the head end of the conveying member (67) is movable from an outlet point (65) to the removal side of each position (1 to 53) of the array of positions. For this purpose the guidance system (60) can be branched in tree-like manner from the outlet point (65) and switch points (61 to 64) are provided at the branching locations. At the head end of the conveying member (67) is provided a holder (68), which can hold the article for conveying purposes. At the head end of the conveying member (67) and/or in the vicinity of the removal side of the positions (1 to 53) are also provided device for taking over one or more articles from the holder (68).

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for supplying printed products to a preferably continuously operating processing section with a plurality of stations. The stations may be feeding stations and each feeding station is assigned a buffer. Each buffer is provided with an arrangement for discharging printed products onto the processing section and can be charged via a mobile supply device. The supply device is designed for the transportation of a storage unit (i.e. a reel) containing a number of printed products. The supply device includes drive and conveying arrangements for the sequential charging of the buffers at a predeterminable conveying speed. The conveying speed is greater than the discharge speed at which the printed products are transferred from the buffers onto the processing section.

Abstract: Sheet-like products are fed to the transfer location by a first conveyor. A detector arrangement determines the spacing between the products and controls the first predetermined speed of a second conveyor correspondingly, with the result that, at the transfer location, the formation of the products have a predefined spacing. If the second conveyor is driven, at the stationary transfer location, at the first predetermined speed which differs from a second predetermined speed at the stationary discharge location, the conveying length of the second conveyor changes, thereby displacing a deflection wheel. Different spacings between fed products can thus be evened out.