Abstract: A conveying apparatus delivers a succession of printing products in a first imbricated formation to a take-over region where the products are transferred to a delivery conveyor and conveyed away in a second imbricated formation. In the takeover region, the successive products are formed into an arched configuration, when viewed perpendicularly to the direction of their travel. This assists in ensuring that the products are delivered singly to the delivery conveyor even if the products are received at the takeover region in congruent fully overlapping pairs.

Abstract: Cams (36, 36') are arranged in each case laterally offset alternately on the chain (34) of the cam conveyor (30). The cams (36) are swivelled by the swivel rocker arm (44) into catching position (46), in which they are always actively conveying. Depending on the position of the control rocker arm (54), the cams (36') which can be switched away are left in their rest position (50) or likewise swivelled into the catching position (46). A retaining device (56), which holds back the printing products (18) deposited thereupon until they are pushed off by a cam (36, 36'), is provided at the depositing point (24). With the cams (36') which can be switched away actively conveying, each printing product 18 is individually seized by a cam (36, 36') and conveyed away in an imbricated formation.

Abstract: The imbricated product formation is fed to a wind-up location and is wound-up to form a product roll at this location. At the start of the wind-up operation the leading edge or end of the frontmost printed product is rolled back in a direction towards one side or surface of this frontmost printed product. The wind-up of the following printed products in the imbricated product formation is effected in the same product winding direction. At the end of the wind-up operation an elongated holding element or strapping band is laid around the completed product roll which then holds the product roll together and also possibly protects the same. The winding direction is selected in accordance with the predetermined structure of the imbricated product formation and results in a roll-shaped wound product package which, if desired, can be disassembled starting from the center thereof without the holding element or strapping band having to be released.

Abstract: The apparatus for forming an imbricated product formation, in which the pitch between successive printed products can be deliberately selected, comprises successively arranged first and second conveyors. A scanning device detects the printed products arriving on the first conveyor at a first imbrication pitch, and delivers for each printed product a signal to a measuring unit. This measuring unit determines a time dependent value, such as the repetition frequency of the signals produced by the scanning device and delivers such to an evaluation circuit. In the evaluation circuit the thus determined time dependent value is combined with a signal proportional to the deliberately selected pitch between the products and which deliberately selected pitch is different from the first imbrication pitch, and the resultant signal value is delivered to a motor regulator.

Abstract: An insertion system contains a cell wheel, which contains a plurality of feed sections (13) and at least two intake sections (12a, 12b) for the supply of main printed products. The intake sections (12a, 12b) are axially spaced apart. The system also has a feed means (17) with branches (40) and switchable sorting gates (50-56). On the outlet side is provided a distributor (18) with branched and switchable conveying sections (5) and removal stations (6).Main products are conveyed to intake sections (12a, 12b) and preproducts from the feed sections (13) are inserted into the main products. By appropriately setting the sorting gates (50-56) or branches (40), it is possible to compile approximately 80,000 end products per hour in a flexible manner. The inventive method also permits the complication of much more comprehensive end products with a very high process speed. It is also possible to simultaneously bring together different end products through the insertion system.

Abstract: Printed products arriving in an imbricated formation are wound on a hollow cylindrical winding core together with a winding band in a wind-up station. A magazine or storage unit for the finished wound product packages is arranged in the vicinity of the wind-up station. After a wound product package has been fully wound up, it is rolled out of the wind-up station into the magazine or storage unit. A pallet is located in this magazine or storage unit onto which the finished wound product package is rolled. This pallet is displaced substantially perpendicular to the rolling direction of the finished wound product package. In this way, a plurality of wound product packages are arranged adjacent one another, typically in side by side relationship on one pallet. Blocking elements prevent the finished wound product packages from rolling off the pallet.

Abstract: In an imbricated formation delivered by an infeed device in each case two printed products lie in pairs upon one another and, viewed in a predetermined product conveying direction, bear upon the upstream or trailing printed product pair. A suction roll is arranged downstream of the infeed device which causes the current lower printed product to be downwardly bent in a direction transverse to a product conveying plane. The leading edges of the printed products are introduced in such separated or fanned apart condition into a respective gripper, engaged by such respective gripper and outfed in a further predetermined conveying direction. The spacing between neighboring grippers is minimal at a product take-over region, so that when the grippers are open in each instance a leading gripper finger of a trailing gripper bears against a trailing gripper finger of the neighboring leading gripper.

Abstract: A buffer storage arrangement contains at least two roll modules (41-44) with interchangeable roll hubs or rolls. A common feed belt (11), the winding planes of the roll modules (41-44) and a common removal belt (12) are located in a vertical plane. The feed belt (11) passes linearly over the winding stations (41-44) and has a number of branching locations (51-54) corresponding at least to the number of winding stations (41-44). Each winding station (41-44) has a connection to the removal belt (12), which passes linearly beneath the winding stations. In order to be able to select the reciprocal arrangement of the products at the outlet, within the apparatus at least one device (7, 79) is provided for rewinding the rolls or the modifying the inlet parameters of the arrangement of the printed products. This permits unrestricted off-line buffer storage of the products and flexible conversion of their inlet parameters, with respect to their reciprocal positioning, orientation or timing frequency.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus includes a stacking unit and a bundling unit arranged under the stacking unit. Located at the end of a prestacking space, as seen in the direction (F), is a limiting element which serves as a stop for the folds of the printing products. While the printing products fed, with their fold forward, in the feed direction (F) are being deposited on one another to form a prestack, they are supported approximately centrally by a supporting element in their edge region located opposite the fold. For depositing the prestack so formed into a rest table, supporting arms are pivoted into a position of rest and slide plates are moved out of the region of the stacking space. A residual bend of the printing products is thus preserved in their edge region, thereby improving the stability of the stack.

Abstract: To readily open up a multi-sheet folded printed product comprising at least two folded printed sheets or signatures which are placed one inside the other, there is provided an innermost printed sheet which is of greater length at the center in the direction of the fold line than the remaining printed sheets. The innermost printed sheet thus protrudes past the remaining printed sheets by a marginal section or lap at one lateral edge. An opening device now can engage the protruding marginal section and can open up the printed product at the center without difficulties. When the printed product has been completed, i.e. after insertion of an enclosure or inserts into the opened printed product, the marginal section or lap is cut away. Since such marginal section or lap must be cut away only at one printed sheet the loss in material associated with the cutting operation is exceedingly small.

Abstract: One end of a winding band is secured to a winding core. The winding band travels from a supply spool over a deflection roll rotating at a circumferential velocity corresponding to the conveying velocity of the product conveyor delivering the printed products. The winding core is driven during winding up of a product package formed of printed products and during the unwinding of the product package the winding core is braked whereas during such operations the supply spool is respectively braked or driven, as the case may be.

Abstract: A rotatably mounted support arrangement comprises two receiving claws having substantially V-shaped grooves. Diametrically opposite these receiving claws there are provided two clamping claws which also comprise substantially V-shaped grooves. A winding core comprises on the inner side thereof an annular rim or rib having a substantially V-shaped configuration. This annular rim or rib is supported in the grooves of the receiving claws and is pressed against the latter by means of the clamping claws. For releasably clamping the winding core, the clamping claws can be brought from an idle or ineffectual position, in which the clamping claws do not bear against the winding core, into an operative or effectual position in which the clamping claws clamp or fixedly hold the winding core together with the receiving claws. The winding core with the product core or wound package thereof is clamped at the supporting arrangement and rotatably supported conjointly with the latter.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an apparatus for stacking sheet-like articles (15) which are delivered by a conveyor to the upper portion of a stack compartment (18). The stack compartment (18) includes stop rails (19, 20, 21, 22) which define the edges of the stack. The sheet-like articles (15) on the section (12) of the conveyor are fed with one of the corners in front in a conveying direction (17) which forms an angle other than 0.degree. and 90.degree., preferably about 45.degree., with the side edges of the sheet-like articles (15) adjoining the corner so that the sheet-like articles strike against two stop rails (19, 20) which are mutually at right angles at the moment the sheet-like articles reach the stack compartment. Accordingly, the sheet-like articles will each be properly aligned by the two stop rails (19, 20) to form a neat, right-parallelepipedal stack.

Abstract: Printed products arriving in an imbricated formation are wound-up into a product or package roll about which there is placed a wrapper or envelope which retains together the package roll. For easier handling of the product or package roll such is provided with an endless carrying loop. This endless carrying loop is formed by a carrying element, such as a knotted cord, rope, string or the like which extends through an internal opening or hollow interior of the product or package roll and to the outer side or surface of such product or package roll.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for printing on printed products (20) which are transported past an ink jet writer (34') in an imbricated stream by means of a conveying device. A sensor (34, 35) triggers a writing operation of the ink jet writer when a printed product (20) has reached the writing area of the latter. Therefore, the printed products (20) can also be inscribed in an imbricated stream conveyed in a freely supported manner. The conveying device, in the area of the ink jet writer (34') is provided with means (12) which laterally displace the printed products individually during transportation of the printed products (20) in the imbricated stream.

Abstract: Individually controllable gripper elements are successively spacedly arranged at a ball-and-socket joint-link chain revolvingly driven and guided in a guide channel. At the leading end region of an overhang member of each gripper element there is seated a clamping jaw and at the trailing end region there is arranged a bushing. A shaft is rotatably and displaceably mounted within the bushing. A clamping finger, coactable with the clamping jaw, is rigidly connected with the upper shaft end. At the lower shaft end there is seated a slide shoe and the lower end region of the shaft is encircled by a pivotable element rotatably connected with the shaft. A compression spring rigidly bears for rotation at the pivotable element and the overhang member. When the slide shoe travels onto a stationary cam the clamping finger is raised against the force of the compression spring. An actuation element, which acts upon a further slide shoe, rotates the clamping finger through an angle of about 90.degree..

Abstract: A star feeder type of drum (12) has pocket-shaped compartments (14) and saddle-type supports (46) disposed alternately about a common axis of rotation. Each compartment (14) contains a carriage which is guided in a rail (44) and has a bottom (86) and at least one clamp (54). The clamp (54) is controlled independently of the movement of the carriage by shifting a rail section (56). For collation and insertion, printed sheets (34) are fed into the compartments (14) at a first feed point. These printed sheets (34) are seized by the appropriate clamps (86) during the rotation of the drum (12) in the direction of the arrow (U) and are conveyed to the next feed point, where further printed sheets (34) are fed into the compartments (14). In the course of further revolutions the printed sheets (34) thus collated or inserted are conveyed to a removal point.

Abstract: A ring-jet sensor (24) which is operated with air and is connected to an air-carrying line (23) is directed at the objects (27). The ring-jet sensor (24) is also coupled to a pressure sensor (37), the signal of which passes to a counter (40). In order to avoid connecting two lines to the ring-jet sensor (24), the said ring-jet sensor and also the pressure sensor (37), are each connected, in parallel, to one branch line (23, 35). The branch lines (23, 35) can carry either compressed air or suction air.

Abstract: The band or belt conveyor conveys the printed products arranged in an imbricated formation to a take-over region. In the imbricated formation, each printed product lies upon the next following or trailing printed product. An outfeed device, whose conveying direction extends in the take-over region from below towards the top, comprises grippers pivotably mounted at a revolvingly driven traction element. The conveying speeds of the band or belt conveyor and the outfeed device, respectively, are co-ordinated such that in each case two infed printed products are introduced into one open gripper. The depth of the grippers is larger than the spacing or pitch between the leading product edges of the printed products in the infed imbricated formation, so that the two printed products engaged or seized by one gripper can be outfed with unchanged mutual spacing or pitch. Imbricated formations can be thus formed during delivery or outfeed of the printed products.

Abstract: A separation arrangement removes printed products from an arriving imbricated stream of printed products and supplies such to a buffer branch arrangement. The non-removed printed products arrive at a feeder installation from an infeed device where there is first formed an imbricated buffer stack of printed products. The removed printed products are wound for temporary storage at the buffer branch arrangement in an imbricated or shingled formation with a buffer winding band upon a winding core or mandrel to form a buffer package. Upon interruption of the arriving imbricated stream of printed products these printed products stored in the buffer package are unwound and delivered to the infeed device, so that the supply of the imbricated stream of printed products is not interrupted. Since the buffer package possesses an appreciable storage capacity it is also possible to span longer interruptions of the infed imbricated stream of printed products without having to shutdown the feeder installation.