Abstract: A method and arrangement for identifying and finding the grippers of a gripping conveyor used to transport printed products. The gripping conveyor is divided into a number of sections wherein the length of each section is sufficiently short to enable length variations of the section to be avoided in operation. A group of grippers at the end of each section form an identification code for the following section. The code may be compiled by virtue of each gripper in the group either carrying or not carrying a marker, such that the grippers will form a binary code. The gripper located before the code may carry a marker which indicates the beginning of the code and the beginning of the following section. A sensor senses the code and thereby finds the section of interest. A given gripper within the section can then be found by its position in the section. A gripper counter which senses the serial number of the gripper in the section may also be used.

Abstract: A buffering method and system used in newspaper production employed between a printing press and a production room. The buffering system and method ensures a proper flow of newspapers from the printing press to the production room.

Abstract: A gripper conveyor includes a moving conveyor chain (1) which is provided with grippers (3). Each of the grippers (3) includes a fixed clamping jaw (31), a pivotal clamping jaw (33) and a spring (36) which biases the grippers (3) towards their closed positions. The conveyor includes an opening means (40) which functions to open selected grippers (3) while the conveyor chain moves, and the pivotal clamping jaw (33) of respective grippers (3) has a maneuvering arm (37) which is activated by the opening means (40). The movable clamping jaw (33) is pivotally mounted on a shaft (32) for limited, free pivotal movement in the pivoting direction. Because the center of gravity (331) of the movable clamping jaw (33) is distanced from the shaft (32) the movable jaw (33) is able to swing downwardly and outwardly into abutment with the support surface (N1, N11) on which the article, for instance a newspaper, to be gripped lies. Optionally, the outward swinging movement of the movable jaw (33) is assisted by a spring (35).

Abstract: A gripper conveyor comprises a moving conveyor chain (1) which is provided with grippers (3), each of which includes a fixed clamping jaw (31), a pivotal clamping jaw (33) and a spring element (36) which biases respective grippers towards their closed positions and an opening mechanism (6; 41, 42, 68) which functions to open selected grippers (3) while the conveyor chain (1) is moving. The pivotal clamping jaw (33) of the gripper (3) is connected to a manoeuvering arm (37) which is activated by the opening mechanism. The manoeuvering arm (37) is mounted for limited pivotal movement in relation to the movable clamping jaw (33). An end-position element (45; 371) is provided for defining a pivotal end-position of the manoeuvering arm in a direction away from the movable clamping jaw. A biasing element (35) which is weaker than the spring element (36) functions to bias the manoeuvering arm (37) in a direction towards its end position.

Abstract: In order to enable a gripper carried by a rapid moving gripper conveyor to be opened and therewith release an object gripped by the gripper, for instance a newspaper, without influencing neighboring grippers, the gripper is opened (45', 47) while moving along a path which is shorter than the distance (t) at which the grippers are spaced on the gripper chain (1) and the opened gripper is held open by means (4, 45') which only act on the thus opened gripper. The means which holds the gripper open accompanies the movement of the gripper conveyor. The method and the arrangement find use in conveyors that are provided with self-closing grippers where the conveyors have a high conveying capacity and enable independent release of individual objects. An opened gripper is held open while the gripper moves through a distance which is greater than the gripper spacing interval and which is sufficiently long to ensure that the object will fall free from the gripper.

Abstract: A method of inserting supplements into newspapers or magazines (20) and a general method of opening newspapers or magazines prior to the insertion process entail separate newspapers being transported in open state through an insertion station. The spines of the newspapers are held in firm contact with pocketlike holders (14, 45) on a conveyor (10) and the holders (14, 45) are caused to temporarily open when they pass the insertion station (60, 61), the firm contact between newspaper (20) and holders being still maintained. Apparatus for performing the method comprises a conveyor (10) and an insertion arrangement (60, 61) with means (14, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26) to open each newspaper (20) and means (60, 61) to insert a supplement into the opened newspaper. The apparatus may also include a second conveyor (40) with separate grippers (45) for each newspaper. The conveyor (40) extends through the conveyor (10).