Abstract: Flat objects (7) to be stacked in a stacking device (2) are supplied serially, individually held and aligned with one another. Cross stacks (12) are produced by subjecting alternating groups (11, 11′) of the supplied objects (7) to one of two step sequences, wherein, in both step sequences, the objects of the groups are released from held conveyance and are, in at least one of the step sequences, brought to the stacking device lying on a conveying surface (10.1, 10.1′) in an imbricated formation. In the two step sequences, a rotation difference of 180° around an axis perpendicular to the object surfaces is established between alternating groups (11, 11′). The objects (7) positioned in the stacking device in groups form a cross stack (12), without requiring the stacking device (2) or parts thereof to be rotated between groups of objects being positioned. This results in shorter cycle times and in a smaller number of moving parts.

Abstract: The processing conveyer device (10) has a plurality of receiving elements (18) that are arranged one behind the other and are driven in a circulatory direction, said elements having a support element and a base element for supporting the printing products laterally and from below, in addition to a saddle-type bearing element for receiving folded printing products astride said element. Feed stations (28) are arranged along the circulatory track (12) of the receiving elements (18). A respective opening device, which can be activated and deactivated, is allocated to said feed stations, for selectively opening the folded printing products (24) that are to be fed by the receiving elements. The feed stations (28) can selectively introduce printing products (24) into the receiving elements (18) or can place folded printing products (24), which have been opened, astride the bearing element.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing a stack 1 of flat, flexible articles, in particular printed products, having bearing elements 3 which are moved along a continuous circulatory path U and, in a first sub-section A1 of the circulatory path U, U1, U2, form a stack rest 7. The apparatus has at least one separating element 5 which is capable of raising off a region 4a of the lowermost article 4 located in the stack 1 such that at least one of the bearing elements 3 can move in between the lowermost article 4 and the rest of the stack 1 and can separate off the lowermost article 4 from the rest of the stack 1 as it moves further. The apparatus further comprises a belt conveyor 8 which is arranged beneath the stack rest 7 and on which the articles come to rest once they have been separated off.

Abstract: To a row of winding stations (1), in which rolls (8) of flat, bendable objects (e.g., printed products) positioned on roll supports (3) are processed or in which such rolls are produced, roll supports (3) are coupled to the winding stations and, if required, are exchanged, the coupled roll supports forming a first row (A) of roll supports parallel to the row of winding stations (1). Roll supports (3) are positioned in readiness for the exchange in a second row (B) of roll supports, which second row (B) is distances from the first row (A) by a transport alley (10). Each roll support in the second row is aligned to the one winding station (1), to which it is to be coupled. For every exchange, the roll support (3) coupled to the winding station (1) is moved transverse to the first row (A) into the transport alley (10) and is transported along the transport alley to its end and there is positioned in a third row (C) of roll supports, which is aligned in the direction of the transport alley (10) and adjoins it.

Abstract: A method for dismantling a stack (1) of flat objects (2, 3) piece by piece, in which the top object (2) of the stack (1) is moved in its plane, gripped at its freed edge and removed from the stack (1). The top object (2) is moved against a stop (5), at least in the region of one of its corners (2b), by a movable separating element (6, 6′) and, as a result of further movement, is bent in such a way that it escapes from the stop (5) and is moved out of the stack (1). The invention further relates to an apparatus for dismantling a stack (1) of flat objects (2, 3) piece by piece.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for conveying flexible sheet-like articles 26, wherein the articles are fed to a first curved section 14 by means of a delivery conveyor 10 which includes spaced apart transporting clamps 22 for retaining the articles in a hanging position. Arranged in a radially inward direction at the curved section 14, is a gripper wheel 36 with circumferentially distributed grippers 40 and respective supporting elements 52. The gripper wheel 36 is driven at the same angular velocity as the transporting clamps 22 in the curved section 14. However, a single gripper 40 is assigned in each case to two transporting clamps 22. The lower free edges 32 of the two articles 26 to be joined are guided by a supporting element 52 into a gripper 40, and as soon as this has taken place, the relevant gripper 40 is closed, and the relevant transporting clamps 22 then release the articles 26. The associated supporting element 52 is then drawn back inward in the radial direction.

Abstract: Flat objects (7) to be stacked in a stacking device (2) are supplied serially, individually held and aligned with one another. Cross stacks (12) are produced by subjecting alternating groups (11, 11′) of the such supplied objects (7) to one of two step sequences, wherein, in both step sequences, the objects of the groups are released from held conveyance and are, in at least one of the step sequences, brought to the stacking device lying on a conveying surface (10.1, 10.1′) in an imbricated formation, and wherein in the two step sequences a rotation difference of 180° around an axis perpendicular to the object surfaces is established between alternating groups (11, 11′). The objects (7) positioned in the stacking device in groups form a cross stack (12), without it being necessary, that the stacking device (2) or parts of it have to be rotated between groups of objects being positioned. This results in shorter cycle times and in a smaller number of moving parts.

Abstract: For sequentially strapping stacks of printed products (3) with a strapping tape (27), stacks are conveyed to a strapping position pressed together between two presser arms (8.1 and 8.2.) and are there strapped in a pressed-together condition. A loop of the strapping tape (27) positioned around the stack (3) is tightened, locked and cut-off from a supply roll. In doing so, the tape loop is applied in a zone of the stack face sides outside the presser arms (8.1 and 8.2.) and aligned with slot-shaped apertures (19.1, 19.2) in the presser arms (8.1 and 8.2.) such that the strapping tape (27), when it is being tightened, is moved through the apertures (19.1, 19.2) and comes to lie directly on the face sides of the stack. The strapping is advantageous to strap stacks (3), which have either been previously, or are being simultaneously, enveloped with an enveloping material (25), whereby the envelope is applied around the stack (3) and the presser arms (8.1 and 8.2.

Abstract: Stacks (20) are formed, whereby flat objects (2), in particular, printed products, are carried individually by retaining elements (3) in the region of an objects edge (10), groups (1) of objects (2) supported one behind the other are arranged in the form of a stack, whereby the regions of the objects opposite to the retained edges (10) are superimposed, whilst the objects remain fixed, the groups of objects, arranged in the form of a stack, are stabilised by means of suitable agents and only then are the objects (2) released from the retainer unit thereof. A stabilisation of the groups (1), arranged in the form of a stack, is achieved, whereby the regions of the objects opposite the retained edges (10) are placed on a stacking table (23), which may move vertically in a stacking shaft (22) and/or on an auxiliary support (31) and pressed or tightened with a suitable means.

Abstract: The device for conveying objects (14) consists of successively arranged conveyor elements (17) which can move along a conveyor path (16). A conveyor clamp is associated with each conveyor element. Said conveyor clamp is mounted on the conveyor element in such a way that it can be moved backwards and forth between two positions (22, 24) in a defined direction of conveyance relative to the conveyor path (16). A fixed control device (48) is provided in order to displace predetermined passing transport clamps from one position (22, 24) into another position (24, 22), thereby simplifying the processing and treatment of individual objects in a stream of objects.

Abstract: For conveying flat articles (10) in dense conveying streams, grippers (3) conveyed one behind the other by conveying elements (1) are used, each gripper (3) holding one of the articles gripped in an edge zone. For increasing the possibilities for changing the orientation of the flat articles (10) during such conveyance, the grippers (3) are attached to the conveying elements (1) by asymmetrically-projecting gripper arms (2) and the grippers (3) are designed to be rotated through 360° around the gripper arm axis. The device can be used universally, particularly for held conveyance of printed products and it is very easily adjustable for differing applications.

Abstract: Holding elements (1) being equipped for transporting individual articles (2) in a held manner and being movable along a stretch of rail (5) independently of one another at least to a limited extent and having in pushed operation a regular minimum distance between one another, are banked-up during transportation at a banking-up point by a banking-up means (16), such that upstream of the banking-up point an accumulation store (12) is formed. The holding elements are released from the accumulation store (12) in a controlled manner and are conveyed away from the accumulation store, not individually but in groups, wherein the holding elements (1) in the groups (15) advantageously have the mentioned minimum distance between one another. For pre-forming the groups to be released (12) there is a further banking-up means (16) provided in the accumulation store (12).

Abstract: The apparatus according to the invention, which serves for transporting supplementary products, in particular sheet-like printed products provided with adhesive, from a receiving location to a discharge location, has at least one retaining element which is moved along a continuous circulatory path and by means of which supplementary products can be gripped at the receiving location and released again at a discharge location. By means of a control arrangement, with changeover operation, during the transportation from the receiving location to the discharge location, the retaining element, which is mounted such that it can be rotated about an axis which is located at least more or less perpendicularly to the circulatory path, is optionally left unchanged in a rotary position or rotated about the axis through a certain angle until an end position of the transported supplementary product which is envisaged for further processing has been reached.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for conveying flexible sheet-like articles 26, wherein the articles are fed to a first curved section 14 by means of a delivery conveyor 10 which includes spaced apart transporting clamps 22 for retaining the articles in a hanging position. Arranged in a radially inward direction at the curved section 14, is a gripper wheel 36 with circumferentially distributed grippers 40 and respective supporting elements 52. The gripper wheel 36 is driven at the same angular velocity as the transporting clamps 22 in the curved section 14. However, a single gripper 40 is assigned in each case to two transporting clamps 22. The lower free edges 32 of the two articles 26 to be joined are guided by a supporting element 52 into a gripper 40, and as soon as this has taken place, the relevant gripper 40 is closed, and the relevant transporting clamps 22 then release the articles 26. The associated supporting element 52 is then drawn back inward in the radial direction.

Abstract: For conveying flat articles (10) in dense conveying streams, grippers (3) conveyed one behind the other by means of conveying elements (1) are used, each gripper (3) holding one of the articles gripped in an edge zone. For increasing the possibilities for changing the orientation of the flat articles (10) during such conveyance, the grippers (3) are attached to the conveying elements (1) by means of asymmetrically projecting gripper arms (2) and the grippers (3) are designed to be rotated through 360° around the gripper arm axis. The device can be used universally in particular for held conveyance of printed products and it is very easily adjustable for differing applications.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing a stack 1 of flat, flexible articles, in particular printed products, having bearing elements 3 which are moved along a continuous circulatory path U and, in a first sub-section A1 of the circulatory path U, U1, U2, form a stack rest 7. The apparatus has at least one separating element 5 which is capable of raising off a region 4a of the lowermost article 4 located in the stack 1 such that at least one of the bearing elements 3 can move in between the lowermost article 4 and the rest of the stack 1 and can separate off the lowermost article 4 from the rest of the stack 1 as it moves further. The apparatus further comprises a belt conveyor 8 which is arranged beneath the stack rest 7 and on which the articles come to rest once they have been separated off.

Abstract: The apparatus according to the invention, which serves for transporting supplementary products, in particular sheet-like printed products provided with adhesive, from a receiving location to a discharge location, has at least one retaining element which is moved along a continuous circulatory path and by means of which supplementary products can be gripped at the receiving location and released again at a discharge location. By means of a control arrangement, with changeover operation, during the transportation from the receiving location to the discharge location, the retaining element, which is mounted such that it can be rotated about an axis which is located at least more or less perpendicularly to the circulatory path, is optionally left unchanged in a rotary position or rotated about the axis through a certain angle until an end position of the transported supplementary product which is envisaged for further processing has been reached.

Abstract: A process for combining a plurality of completed printed products such as completed newspapers and/or periodicals, into bundles. At least two storage arrangements are provided, which are occupied by completed printed products of different types. The products are retrieved individually from the storage arrangements in a sequence which is necessary for forming bundles which are composed of a particular distribution of the products. The retrieved products are fed to a receiving conveyor, with certain products being positioned upstream of, or between, products which have already been fed to the receiving conveyor, and the products which follow one after the other in the region of the receiving conveyor are combined into the bundles.

Abstract: A method for dismantling a stack (1) of flat objects (2, 3) piece by piece, in which the top object (2) of the stack (1) is moved in its plane, gripped at its freed edge and removed from the stack (1). The top object (2) is moved against a stop (5), at least in the region of one of its corners (2b), by a movable separating element (6, 6′) and, as a result of further movement, is bent in such a way that it escapes from the stop (5) and is moved out of the stack (1). The invention further relates to an apparatus for dismantling a stack (1) of flat objects (2, 3) piece by piece.

Abstract: The invention is related to a strapping device (1) for the strapping of an object (14) with a strapping tape (5). The strapping device (1) comprises a means of guidance (3) for guiding a strapping tape (5), which serves for the purpose of forming a loop of strapping tape (5) in a waiting position. The formation of the loop takes place independently of the position of the object to be strapped (14). The strapping device (1) furthermore comprises a means for movement of the loop (4). This means serves for positioning the loop of strapping tape (5) formed by the means of guidance (3) from the waiting position into a stacking position around an object (14) to be strapped, after this object has been positioned on a work surface (2).