Abstract: A gripper for handling printed product rolls and empty roll cores is used for intermittently storing printed products wound on roll cores. The gripper has a central piece (10), which is fixed to a conveying or transporting device and which carries a gripper arm star or spider (20). On the gripper arm star (20) is a substantially circular array of radially movable roll clamping devices (30) for clamping a roll or rolls (W) from the periphery thereof and core supports (40) for engaging and supporting a rosette-shaped arrangement of juxtaposed roll cores (WK). The core supports (40) are pivotable so that, in a core handling configuration of the gripper, they are positioned within the circle formed by the roll clamping devices and in a roll handling configuration of the gripper they are moved out of that circle. The movements of the gripper parts are driven by linear drives and monitored by sensors, so that the gripper can operate in a fully automated manner.

Abstract: Printed products, which are obtained as a scale formation from a processing stage (10), are intermediately stored and rearranged in such a way that they can again be supplied for further processing to a processing stage (20) as a scale formation, which can have a different number of scale flows, different speeds and a different sequence of different printed products. The method takes place in three method zones. In the first method zone (1), which is connected to the processing stages (10 and 20), the scale flows (S) are wound onto roll cores (WK) or rolls (W) are unwound into scale flows (S). In the second method zone (2), the rolls (W) and cores (WK) are transported between the storage station and the winding station and storage units (horizontal roll pairs (WP) and core flanges (R)) are formed and dismantled. In the third method zone (3) the storage units (WP, R) are introduced to and removed from a store.

Abstract: A transportation apparatus for transporting heavy loads, particularly for transporting print product reels in the printing industry, has a frame (2) and at least one rigid axle or axle journal (6) with at least one wheel or roller (5). During transportation the apparatus is raised in such a way that only one horizontal transport load axle or one or more axle journal (6) located on an axial line exert an action. These axle journals (6) are arranged in a first area (17) of the outside of frame (2), the axial line being substantially at right angles to a line connecting the center of the frame to the first outside area. At least one lifting element (8) for supporting on the straddleforks (11) or forks of the vehicle (10) is, in a second area (18) of the outside of frame (2) facing the transport load axle, fixed to the frame.

Abstract: A handling vehicle is used for the interchanging or replacement of printed product reels and empty reel cores. The vehicle body has a substantially U-shaped frame in plan. On the frame is a structure (1), into which is integrated a working module (35) with a vertically adjustable manipulating device (4). This working module is movable at right angles to the vehicle body (2) and is arranged in the central area of the vehicle body. Longitudinally spaced from the working module (35) is a laterally movable gripping arm (12) fixed to the structure (1) on the vehicle body (2). The working module (35) is used for the handling and transportation of printing product reels (8) and the gripping arm (12) for handling and transporting empty reel cores (50).

Abstract: The selective interconnection of tracks or slots coming together at a junction in a conveying system with push and pull operable conveying chains without return strands running in chain channels is accomplished by a switch constructed as a straight prism (21) mounted in a rotary manner. The prism has differently shaped chain channel portions (23', 23") on different ones of its sides. By rotating the prism (21) about its median longitudinal axis (22), that chain channel portion is positioned in the junction, which has the channel portions shaped to obtain the desired connection between the chain channel of selected entering and exiting tracks.

Abstract: The inventive manipulator for heavy loads, preferably printing products in loose scale formation and wound up to form rolls, only has a single pivot pin (35) or joint which, according to the invention, is arranged in such a way that the load (5) can be brought into three main positions orthogonal to one another using this single pivot pin or joint. The load is held by a holding device (33,38). The pivot pin (35) passes through the center of gravity of the load, or the center of gravity is located in the pivot point or fulcrum. This makes it possible to grip in frontal or lateral precise manner heavy loads and subsequently to deposit same on a loading device or in a store without great force expenditure using a drive and/or manually. The invention is also characterized by the combination of an industrial truck (10), a lifting device (11) arranged thereon and a mounted implement (31-38) located on the truck and preferably constituted by the inventive manipulator.

Abstract: Conveying system with one or more driving members, conveying chains in operative connection therewith and mechanism arranged on said chains and receiving the conveying loads, the conveying chains being guided in chain channels, one or more tracks connecting satellites with one or more central stations. A track comprises a driving station with an associated track and a conveying chain (drag chain) without a return strand running parallel to the track and on whose one end is arranged a conveyed product-receiving mechanism whilst the other end is freely movable. The track connects the driving station (satellite) with a central station or another driving station (satellite).

Abstract: The apparatus for transmitting a rotary movement with at least one drive and at least one power take-off and closed, flexible chain guides arranged between the same uses force transmission takes place by an endless chain, which can be subject to push and pull and which substantially corresponds to the total length of the chain casing in the inoperative state, i.e. the length of the chain channels in the guide casings of the drive and the power take-offs and the flexible chain guides between the same. The flexible chain guide comprises a hose bendable in all spatial directions, whose inner space is used as a chain channel. According to another embodiment, the flexible chain guide part running from the drive to the power take-off and the flexible chain guide part running from the power take-off to the drive are formed by a twin hose bendable in all spatial directions, whose two inner spaces are used as chain channels.

Abstract: For grasping, conveying and releasing printed products, particularly those occurring in a stream or scale flow by means of an endless link chain (90), a method is proposed, together with an apparatus having gripping and clamping members (10) for performing this method. For gripping and release purposes the individual gripping and clamping member (10) is so operated by means of control runner (70, 70') (75, 75') that a springy clamping arm (24) pressing under pretension against a bearing arm (16) is raised relative to the latter out of a closed position into an open position for grasping printed sheet (D) and then for conveying purposes is returned in snap-like manner into the closed position by the restoring force of clamping arm (24). The individual gripping and clamping member (10) operatively connected to articulation (92) of link chain (90) is constructed in one piece and has a substantially hairpin-like shape, which is bent four times.