Abstract: A method for controlling a wrapping machine for printed products that includes determining the size of an incoming gap in a printed product stream and controlling a speed of the wrapping machine as a function of the size of the incoming gap. The controlling step includes intentionally leaving, in the printed product stream in the wrapper machine, at least a single product gap corresponding to the incoming gap so as to create at least one empty bag. A newspaper finishing machine and controller are also provided.

Abstract: A method for controlling a wrapping machine for printed products that includes determining the size of an incoming gap in a printed product stream and controlling a speed of the wrapping machine as a function of the size of the incoming gap. The controlling step includes intentionally leaving, in the printed product stream in the wrapper machine, at least a single product gap corresponding to the incoming gap so as to create at least one empty bag. A newspaper finishing machine and controller are also provided.

Abstract: An adjustable gripper system for releasably holding at least one sheet against a surface includes an adjustment body, a gripper connected thereto for holding the sheet against the surface, and a cam follower to be actuated by a cam. The cam follower is connected to the adjustment body and displaces the adjustment body dependent upon a cam position, which correspondingly displaces the gripper along the surface. The system can be part of a sheet-collating pocket having a top portion, forward and rearward walls pivotally connected to one another and defining a sheet-receiving opening, which pocket can be part of a sheet-collating machine having the cam, a conveyor, a sheet feeding device, and other pockets. A method for adjusting the grippers positions the cam in the pocket path to contact each and selectively displace the gripper holding portion with dependent upon the cam position while the cam and pocket contact.

Abstract: A sheet material conveying apparatus has at least one pocket running along a track, the pocket including a base section for receiving sheet material and an upper section including at least one upper gripper for holding an edge of the sheet material. The at least one upper gripper is movable between a gripping position and a non-gripping position, and the upper section is movable with respect to the base section to alter a distance of the at least one upper gripper with respect to the base section.

Abstract: A lap separator system opens a sheet in a pocket traveling in a direction at a given speed, the pocket having forward and rearward walls pivotally connected to one another and, together, defining a sheet-receiving opening, and includes a moveable separator carrier, a separator connected to the carrier, the separator carrier conveying the separator in the transport direction along the pocket at a speed greater than the given speed, and the separator sequentially contacting the rearward wall, the sheet in the pocket, and then the forward wall and sequentially releasing the rearward wall, at least a portion of the sheet in the pocket, and then the forward wall. The system can be part of a sheet-collating machine having a conveyor, a sheet feeding device, and many pockets. A method for opening a sheet includes displacing the separator to sequentially contact and release the walls and sheet.

Abstract: A sheet material conveying apparatus has at least one pocket running along a track, the pocket including a base section for receiving sheet material and an upper section including at least one upper gripper for holding an edge of the sheet material. The at least one upper gripper is movable between a gripping position and a non-gripping position, and the upper section is movable with respect to the base section to alter a distance of the at least one upper gripper with respect to the base section.

Abstract: An adjustable gripper system for releasably holding at least one sheet against a surface includes an adjustment body, a gripper connected thereto for holding the sheet against the surface, and a cam follower to be actuated by a cam. The cam follower is connected to the adjustment body and displaces the adjustment body dependent upon a cam position, which correspondingly displaces the gripper along the surface. The system can be part of a sheet-collating pocket having a top portion, forward and rearward walls pivotally connected to one another and defining a sheet-receiving opening, which pocket can be part of a sheet-collating machine having the cam, a conveyor, a sheet feeding device, and other pockets. A method for adjusting the grippers positions the cam in the pocket path to contact each and selectively displace the gripper holding portion with dependent upon the cam position while the cam and pocket contact.

Abstract: A lap separator system opens a sheet in a pocket traveling in a direction at a given speed, the pocket having forward and rearward walls pivotally connected to one another and, together, defining a sheet-receiving opening, and includes a moveable separator carrier, a separator connected to the carrier, the separator carrier conveying the separator in the transport direction along the pocket at a speed greater than the given speed, and the separator sequentially contacting the rearward wall, the sheet in the pocket, and then the forward wall and sequentially releasing the rearward wall, at least a portion of the sheet in the pocket, and then the forward wall. The system can be part of a sheet-collating machine having a conveyor, a sheet feeding device, and many pockets. A method for opening a sheet includes displacing the separator to sequentially contact and release the walls and sheet.

Abstract: A sheet material conveying apparatus includes a plurality of pockets running along a track, each pocket including a setting device for adjusting a height of the pocket so as to define a set height. At least one setting actuator located to a side of the pockets is provided, with the setting actuator being selectively movable between a first position where the setting actuator contacts the setting device for adjusting the setting device when the pockets are stationary and a second position where the setting actuator is free from the setting device to allow movement of the pockets along the track.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a flat product from a pile of flat products set operators comprising a lift hook being movable from a closing position to an opening position. The lift hook supports the bottom of a pile of flat products in its closing position and includes an air channel for supplying air through said channel. Alternatively, a separate air tube may be provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a flat product from a pile of flat products includes at least two needles arranged in at least one needle group on a respective needle block. The needle blocks and needle groups are movable from a closing position to an opening position, the needles supporting the bottom of the pile of flat products in the closing position. A respective adjustment device is provided for adjusting the position of each needle group, while a respective individual needle adjustment device may additionally provided for each needle.

Abstract: An apparatus for registering a signature moving along a surface, such as a drum, includes one or more pinch rollers for advancing the signature, and a register stop for stopping the advancement of the signature. The register stop is rotatable about an axis so as to accommodate skewing of the signature. The pinch rollers do not rotate with the register stop, but remained aligned with the drum.

Abstract: A jogger for a signature feeder includes a back stop disposed at a first side of a hopper of the feeder and a flexible jogging element disposed at a second side of the hopper opposite the first side. As a stack of signatures is formed in the hopper, the flexible jogging element is oscillated in a lateral direction so as to periodically bend the flexible jogging element against the stack of the signatures and form a pushing zone and a vibrating zone in the hopper. The vibrating zone is below the pushing zone, and the vertical lengths of the pushing and vibrating zones are a function of the height of the stack of signatures. The signatures in the pushing zone are urged against the back stop by the flexible jogging element so as to register the signatures as the stack is formed, and the signatures in the vibrating zone are vibrated by the flexible jogging element so as to improve the registration of the signatures in the stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a flat product from a pile of flat products includes a sucker mechanism. The sucker mechanism has a sucker cup, a sucker tube and a vacuum device for generating a vacuum. The sucker tube has a first and second end, the sucker cup being coupled to the sucker tube at the first end of the sucker tube and the vacuum device being coupled to the sucker tube at the second end of the sucker tube. The second end of the sucker tube is movable arranged in the vacuum device so as to vary the sucker stroke of the sucker cup.

Abstract: A jogger for a signature feeder includes a back stop disposed at a first side of a hopper of the feeder and a flexible jogging element disposed at a second side of the hopper opposite the first side. As a stack of signatures is formed in the hopper, the flexible jogging element is oscillated in a lateral direction so as to periodically bend the flexible jogging element against the stack of the signatures and form a pushing zone and a vibrating zone in the hopper. The vibrating zone is below the pushing zone, and the vertical lengths of the pushing and vibrating zones are a function of the height of the stack of signatures. The signatures in the pushing zone are urged against the back stop by the flexible jogging element so as to register the signatures as the stack is formed, and the signatures in the vibrating zone are vibrated by the flexible jogging element so as to improve the registration of the signatures in the stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a flat product from a pile of flat products includes at least two needles arranged in at least one needle group on a respective needle block. The needle blocks and needle groups are movable from a closing position to an opening position, the needles supporting the bottom of the pile of flat products in the closing position. A respective adjustment device is provided for adjusting the position of each needle group, while a respective individual needle adjustment device may additionally provided for each needle.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a flat product from a pile of flat products set operators comprising a lift hook being movable from a closing position to an opening position. The lift hook supports the bottom of a pile of flat products in its closing position and includes an air channel for supplying air through said channel. Alternatively, a separate air tube may be provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a flat product from a pile of flat products includes a sucker mechanism. The sucker mechanism has a sucker cup, a sucker tube and a vacuum device for generating a vacuum. The sucker tube has a first and second end, the sucker cup being coupled to the sucker tube at the first end of the sucker tube and the vacuum device being coupled to the sucker tube at the second end of the sucker tube. The second end of the sucker tube is movable arranged in the vacuum device so as to vary the sucker stroke of the sucker cup.

Abstract: An apparatus for registering a signature moving along a surface, such as a drum, includes one or more pinch rollers for advancing the signature, and a register stop for stopping the advancement of the signature. The register stop is rotatable about an axis so as to accommodate skewing of the signature. The pinch rollers do not rotate with the register stop, but remained aligned with the drum.