Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for conveying articles, particularly sheet stacks, the articles (5, 105) being conveyed in a common direction on a connecting conveyor (2) and an accumulating conveyor (3) overlapping with the latter and following articles (5) are connected to previously conveyed articles (105) in accordance with different speeds of the two conveyors. The method or apparatus is characterized in that, at least in the overlap area, the articles are sucked by a suction air device (42) onto the connecting conveyor and/or accumulating conveyor. Preferably the articles are also subject to air blast action in the overlap area of the two conveyors.

Abstract: The lower movement path (25) of the gripping head (6) of a loading device (1) is straightened with a cam control (14), the latter being located on the side of the associated lift bearing (7) remote from the gripping head (6). Thus, with a single lift drive (19) the loading device (1) can be transferred into a charging position (26), in which a roll (21) can be axially supplied in unhindered manner and then the gripping heads (6) are lowered and without a transverse movement of the roll can be engaged therewith, without this being prevented by the center height (23, 24) of the roll (21, 22).