Abstract: A device for fastening a gripper bar to a driving chain includes a first part which is an integral part of the chain of which it is to replace one of the links, this first part consisting of vertical outer plate portions and vertical inner plate portions linked by an inner connection and able to receive between them the upstream axle and the downstream axle of the chain link. The device also includes a horizontal plate portion extending from the inner vertical plate portion for engaging an upper surface of an upper wall of the bar while a counter-plate is inserted in the profiled piece of the bar end so that the upper wall of the profiled piece of the bar is disposed between the counter-plate and the horizontal plate portion and these members are interconnected by threaded fasteners.

Abstract: An apparatus for advancing a sheet in a predetermined path is described. The apparatus includes a gripper for releasably grasping a lead edge of the sheet and a baffle for feeding the sheet into the gripper. The baffle includes a sheet directing member having a first facet and a second facet, with the second facet of the sheet directing member extending from the first facet and being angled towards the predetermined path of the sheet for deflecting the lead edge of the sheet being advanced into the gripper. One, two or more such two faceted sheet directing members may be coupled with one or more three faceted sheet directing members for further enhancing the sheet deflecting capabilities of the baffle. The baffle may be movable relative to the sheet path, and include a control member for moving the baffle between a first position engaging the lead edge of the sheet in the first position and second position in which the baffle is displaced from the path of the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping a sheet includes a first gripping member and a second gripping member, one or both of which are equipped with one or more inflatable self adjusting gripper pads or tubes. The inflatable gripper pad provides a more efficient, reliable and cost effective method for the first gripping member and the second gripping member to cooperate together so as to releasably grip a sheet in a printing or copying machine. A spring and cam following system may be used to move the first gripping member in relation to the second gripping member. A mechanical or electromechanical pump may be used to inflate and deflate the inflatable gripper pads so as to provide the gripping action on the sheet or so as to vary the gripping pressure created by a spring and cam system.

Abstract: The palletization of packs (8) of sheets, books or the like is carried out through the conveyance of the packs (8), by a roller assembly (7) formed by powered rollers, in a programmed way stopping certain rollers beneath those packs (8) which are to be stopped in a programmed position and through the transfer and the putting down of the first row of packs (8) on a palletization stand (12) together with the picking up and the putting down of a separating sheet (10) on every complete layer of packs (8) formed on the palletization stand (12).

Abstract: A device for the release of folded products transported by a rotating endless conveyor is provided. The conveyor transports identical product holders past a release module. The release module comprises rotating members, such as the links of a chain, on which swivelable blocks are mounted. As the identical product holders are transported beneath the release module, each product holder is associated with a swivelable block. Selectively actuable ramps in the release module, when actuated, cause swivelable blocks which have a tab corresponding to the actuated ramp to swivel. The swiveling of a block causes the product holder associated with it to release its product.

Abstract: Device for guiding a sheet having a leading edge which follows an imaginary conducting surface along a sheet-transport direction perpendicular to the leading edge, the sheet-guiding device being formed with a sheet-guiding surface spaced from the imaginary conducting surface, and having equipment for generating a plurality of air jets for applying an air flow to the sheet between a surface of the sheet and the sheet-guiding surface, the generating equipment being formed of respective flow channels for the air jets disposed at an angle to and merging with the sheet-guiding surface, includes an integral guide plate having a surface constituting a predominant part of the sheet-guiding surface, the integral guide plate being formed with perforations, the air-jet generating equipment being formed of blast-air nozzles having blast-air nozzle end faces constituting a remaining part of the sheet-guiding surface complementing the predominant part of the sheet-guiding surface to form the entire sheet-guiding surface, t

Abstract: A gripper for conveying printed products is disclosed. The gripper has two gripper parts mounted so as to be pivotable on a shaft which, in turn, is mounted rotatably in a holder. Connected to this shaft so as to be fixed against rotation is closing lever which bears at its end a follower roller which interacts with fixed closing links or cams. Furthermore, a resting part for a compression spring is connected to the shaft via a spreader ring so as to be fixed against rotation. This compression spring is supported at its other end on a bearing part which is integral with the one gripper part. A pivot movement of the closing lever results in a corresponding clockwise pivoting of the resting part. As a result, pivoting of the one gripper part into the clamping position is brought about via the compression spring. This one gripper part is blocked in its clamping position in which the compression spring is compressed and exerts a corresponding clamping force.

Abstract: Folded printed products are transported while held in suspended position at their fold and supported in their end region remote from the fold. The end section of the first product part, projecting with respect to the second product part, is seized and temporarily held by a gripper which is driven in a circulating manner. A stabbing element, driven at a different speed with respect to the gripper, then stabs into the printed product and lifts the second product part off the held first product part while the gripper moves away from the stabbing element. With the printed product open, the gripper releases the first product part.

Abstract: Device for depositing printed sheets on a sheet pile, including at least one pair of mechanical grippers for seizing the printed sheets at a respective leading edge thereof, the gripper pair being movable over the sheet pile and being controllable for releasing the printed sheets at a given instant of time, a pneumatic device for applying varying pressure to defined regions over a depositing surface of the respective printed sheets for decelerating and transporting the sheets against a mechanical stop, and adjusting elements for the grippers and the pneumatic device, also includes a control device including a computer and having an input and an output, the control device being connected via the output thereof to the adjusting elements, an input device for receiving sheet-specific and process-specific data being connected to the control device via the input thereof, the sheet-specific and process-specific data including data regarding two-dimensional mass distribution of the respective printed sheet, the adjus

Abstract: A process for the formation of a scale-like stream of folded printed copies wherein the printed copies are delivered directly to claws from a folding jaw cylinder and are transported onward while being held by the claws. An apparatus for the formation of a scale-like stream of folded printed copies possesses a traction device--for example a toothed belt--by means of which the printed copies are transported onward from a folding jaw cylinder. The traction device is provided with claws for accepting and holding the printed copies in a grasping manner during transportation.

Abstract: A sheet-guiding assembly in a sheet delivery system of a sheet-fed printing press includes a plurality of sheet grippers disposed on at least one endlessly revolving chain of a first gripper system for gripping a leading edge of a sheet, and a plurality of after-grippers disposed on at least one endlessly revolving chain of a second gripper system for gripping a trailing edge of the sheet, the sheet delivery system being extended in length and defining a horizontal transport path for the sheet therethrough, the first and second gripper systems being disposed so as to be adjustable in phase with respect to one another at the extended sheet delivery system, the sheet grippers and the after-grippers being attached to the first and the second gripper systems, respectively, for holding the sheet by the leading and trailing edges thereof, respectively, on the horizontal transport path of the sheet over the length of the sheet delivery system.

Abstract: A printing plates lifting apparatus having storing function in a rotary press having upper and lower printing units arranged in tiers and upper and lower work floors corresponding to the printing units. The printing plates lifting apparatus comprises upper and lower rotating bodies, opposed endless flexible bodies which are engaged with vertically opposed upper and lower rotating bodies, driving means for rotating the rotating bodies to run the endless flexible bodies, and printing plate hanging members arranged along and between the endless flexible bodies.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering sheet-like products to a device for processing printed products comprising a conveying device for transporting the products, a rotating transfer conveyor for receiving the products from the conveying device, at least one controllable clamp located on the transfer conveyer and capable of swiveling during rotation of the transfer conveyor and a processing device for receiving the products from the transfer conveyor and printing.

Abstract: Sheet delivery for a sheet-processing machine having a conveyor with a device for releasing conveyed sheets horizontally oriented on a displaceable base support above an auxiliary sheet pile, includes a device for inserting a plurality of base members as intermediate pile supports in a successive sequence opposite to a conveying direction of the sheets into respective gaps between sheets of respective pairs of the sheets, and a device including a guide for guidingly swiveling the intermediate pile supports together with a respective auxiliary pile accumulated thereon through an angle of 90.degree. into a main pile position wherein the sheets stand edgewise on a side edge thereof, and the intermediate pile supports are vertically withdrawable.

Abstract: Sheet delivery of a printing machine having a gripper system running on an endless conveyor includes air containers located adjacent the endless conveyor and being formed with a sheet-wide field of air-outlet openings, the gripper system including grippers for gripping a sheet of printing material at a leading edge thereof so that the sheet is floatingly conveyable by the endless conveyor over the sheet-wide field of air-outlet openings formed in the air containers, the endless conveyor having a capability of turning the sheet and depositing it on a sheet pile, at least one of the air containers extending over the sheet width and having air-outlet openings of varying shapes formed so that air is discharged therefrom in different directions, the one air container being chargeable with blowing air regulatable in accordance with specific requirements of the printing material of the sheet.

Abstract: An arrangement for the step-by-step conveyance of printed products, such as, newspapers, magazines or the like from a removal location, wherein the printed products are supplied to the removal location by a conveying unit approximately vertically and spaced apart from each other. The arrangement includes at least one set of gripping tongs for gripping the lower ends of the printed products at the removal location. The gripping tongs are connected to a driven hub. The gripping tongs are retractably controlled by the periphery of the hub which interacts with a friction wheel arranged after the removal location. The gripping tongs extend through a space which is arranged downstream and is provided for the controlled release of the printed products. The space is defined by conveying members which are driven in the same direction.

Abstract: Device for conveying sheets from a printing press to a sheet pile includes revolving endless conveyor members looped about at least two rotating members having respective horizontal axes of rotation disposed parallel to one another, mechanical grippers carried by the endless conveyor members for gripping only respective leading edges of sheets, the endless conveyor members having a respective upper side moving along a conveying path in a given conveying direction for carrying thereon sheets conveyable away from the printing press, and a device disposed in the conveying path for smoothing the sheet, the smoothing device being cyclically movable reciprocatingly in a direction perpendicular to the given conveying direction of the sheets.

Abstract: A gripper includes two gripper parts. The first gripper part is arranged pivotably relative to the other, second gripper part. The two gripper parts interact to securely hold a printed product at the free ends of the gripper parts. The first gripper part is mounted by a ball joint in a bearing part, which is seated unrotatably on a rotatably mounted hollow shaft. A compression spring is mounted in the first gripper part between the bearing part and the first gripper part, which is spherically mounted in the latter. The compression spring in the closed position of the bearing part exerts a compressive force on the first gripper part. The ball joint is offset rearwards with respect to the pivot axis of the bearing part. As a result, a rearward lengthening of the leg of the first gripper part is attained. This results in more favorable leverages and, with a given compression spring, accordingly results in higher clamping forces at the free end of the first gripper part.

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping the leading edge portion of a sheet includes a first gripping member which substantially spans the leading edge portion of the sheet. The apparatus further includes a spring having a portion thereof defining a second gripping member which substantially spans the leading edge portion of the sheet, the second gripping member being urged toward the first gripping member to grip the sheet.

Abstract: Device for conveying sheets from a printing press to a sheet pile includes revolving endless conveyor members looped about at least two rotating members having respective horizontal axes of rotation disposed parallel to one another, one of the rotating members being disposed at a location remote from the printing press, mechanical grippers carried by the endless conveyor members for gripping only respective leading edges of sheets, the endless conveyor members having respective upper sides moving along a conveying path in a given conveying direction for carrying thereon sheets conveyable away from the printing press, revolving endless guiding members disposed over part of the conveying path along and adjacent the upper side of the endless conveyor members and along a part of the endless conveyor members looped about the one of the rotating members disposed at the location of the endless conveyor members remote from the printing press, and pneumatic equipment disposed along the endless guiding members for exer

Abstract: A gripper for use in a conveying device which conveys printed products is disclosed. The gripper has two gripper parts which are mounted so as to be freely pivotable on a shaft. The first gripper part can be pivoted between an open position and a clamping position. This purpose is served by a closing lever which is seated on the shaft so as to be fixed against rotation. The rotary movement of the shaft is transmitted via a resting part, which is connected to said shaft so as to be fixed against rotation, and a compression spring which is supported on the resting part and, at the other end, acts on the first gripper part. The closing lever supports a follower roller which is mounted so as to be freely rotatable and interacts with closing links or cams. A locking device is provided for locking the first gripper part in the clamping position.

Abstract: A delivery machine of a folder unit including endless transfer means disposed to pass in close proximity to a downstream side of a discharge portion of a folding machine for discharging, one-by-one, folded paper sheets while passing around guide wheels driven in synchronism with the operation of the folding machine. The delivery machine also includes an openable/closable folded paper sheet holding device sequentially disposed on the endless transfer means with predetermined gaps between them. A folded paper sheet holding operation device brings the folded paper sheet holding device at least from an open state to a closed state in close proximity to the downstream side of the discharge portion of the folding machine so as to allow them to hold one-by-one the folded paper sheets discharged sequentially from the discharge portion of the folding machine.

Abstract: A gripper assembly for clamping articles comprises a first clamp member and a second clamp member pivotal relative to the first clamp member. An actuator pivots the second clamp member relative to the first clamp member from an open position into a closed position. A coil spring is compressed when the second clamp member is in the open position. A pin engaging in a slot maintains the coil spring in the compressed condition when the second clamp member is in the open position. A releasable locking device holds the second clamp member in a closed position. The locking device includes a latch that can be mounted in one of two positions on the first clamp member. The latch is biased into engagement with one of two latch blocks, depending on the position of the latch, to hold the second clamp member in the closed position.

Abstract: The stack-forming device (10) has a stack compartment (20), which is closed at the bottom by slide plates (22) and to which printing products (16) are fed by the conveying device (14). Above the slide plates (22), intermediate-bottom elements (58) can be pushed into the stack compartment (20), on which elements the fed printing products (16) can be deposited one on top of the other at the beginning of a preliminary stack formation. As soon as a certain number of printing products have been stacked, the intermediate-bottom elements (58) are drawn out of the stack compartment (20), as a result of which the stacked printing products (16) fall onto the slide plates (22), and the preliminary stack is completed by feeding further printing products (16). The finished preliminary stack is then set down onto the depositing table (30) by moving the slide plates (22) apart.

Abstract: The device comprises a conveyor chain (1) for the sheets to be checked (3) by a detector (5). The support bars (4, 4'), on which the sheet to be examined (3) slides, are fitted, in the checking zone, with suction nozzles (4a) and in the gap between two support bars (4) there are provided movable arms (10), fitted at their end with suction nozzles (10a) which, in the operating position, are aligned with the suction nozzles (4a) of the support bars and arranged in the sheet transfer plane in order to hold the sheet to be examined (3) in this plane. In order to prevent the clamps (2a) which pull the sheet (3) from touching the arms (10), a mechansim is provided for tilting the arms (10) when the clamps (2a) pass above these arms.

Abstract: A gripper for conveying printed products is disclosed. The gripper has two gripper parts mounted so as to be pivotable on a shaft which, in turn, is mounted rotatably in a holder. Connected to this shaft so as to be fixed against rotation is closing lever which bears at its end a follower roller which interacts with fixed closing links or cams. Furthermore, a resting part for a compression spring is connected to the shaft via a spreader ring so as to be fixed against rotation. This compression spring is supported at its other end on a bearing part which is integral with the one gripper part. A pivot movement of the closing lever results in a corresponding clockwise pivoting of the resting part. As a result, pivoting of the one gripper part into the clamping position is brought about via the compression spring. This one gripper part is blocked in its clamping position in which the compression spring is compressed and exerts a corresponding clamping force.

Abstract: Printed products are transported in the direction of conveyance suspended, held by their fold, from transporting clamps of a conveying device. The end area of the printed products rests on a supporting mechanism and the uppermost product part protrudes with its marginal section over the bottommost product part. To the two product parts there is in each case assigned a gripper of the opening device. The grippers are disposed on a revolutionally driven drawing member. The clamping tongue of the first gripper grips underneath the marginal section and, upon running up against an opening crank, lifts the product part from the bottommost product part. The second gripper grasps the lifted-off product part in the marginal section and, when the clamping tongue is lowered into the closed position, the latter clamps the product part between itself and the clamping jaw of the first gripper, by the end edge. The first gripper revolves at a greater velocity than the second gripper.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus for a sheet-fed printing press includes a holding member, a delivery chain, at least two sheet stacking units, an engaging member, and a switching unit. The switching unit selectively switches a sheet release position where the engaging member abuts against the holding member and a retreat position where the engaging member does not abut against the holding member. The switching unit includes an air cylinder having a movable actuating rod, a first lever, having two ends pivotally mounted on the actuating rod and the engaging member, respectively, for coupling the actuating member and the engaging member, and a second lever having one end swingably supported and the other end swingably and pivotally mounted on a coupling portion between the actuating rod and the first lever. The first and second levers are located substantially on a straight line when the engaging member is at the sheet release position.

Abstract: An assembly including a holding bar disposed transversely to a sheet-conveying direction in a paper sheet-processing machine, includes a device on the holding bar for holding paper sheets; a device for guiding the holding bar in individual, laterally spaced-apart guiding planes and through at least one direction-changing region located outside the guiding planes; a device for transporting the holding bar; and, in the at least one direction-changing region outside the guiding planes, a connectible device for stiffening the holding bar; and a method of guiding and transporting the holding bar.

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: A document transport system for transporting and selectively recirculating relatively large documents through a processing station. In accordance with this invention, a transport is provided which has a defined endless document path. A gripper bar is provided for selectively and releasably securing the leading edge of large documents, and a driven chain is also provided for supporting and moving the gripper bar at a predetermined imaging speed through an imaging station. Further, drive rollers are provided proximate the imaging station to urge documents in the document path through the imaging station at the predetermined imaging speed. The invention also includes control apparatus for halting the gripper bar at a first position downstream from the processing station to enable release of documents from the gripper bar and at a second position upstream from the processing station to enable selective insertion and retention of documents in the gripper bar.

Abstract: A sheet gripper assembly includes a gripper shaft clamping member which is securely attachable to a gripper shaft. A gripper housing that includes a gripper arm and a gripper finger is secured to the gripper shaft clamping member through an elastic member. This elastic member provides a resilient or springy attachment of the gripper housing to the gripper shaft.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for processing printed products such as newspapers, magazines or parts thereof in which the printed products are transported by controllable grippers of a conveying device wherein the printed product is held at a first edge which runs transversely to the conveying direction. The printed products are conveyed at a set conveying speed. The grippers are at least partially opened to displace the printed products in the mouth of the grippers. The printed products are then displaced in the mouth of the grippers until the second edge (which is opposite the first edge) is brought to rest on a straightening mechanism. The straightening mechanism is driven substantially in the conveying direction. The grippers are then closed to continue transporting the printed products. If the second edge of the printed products leads relative to the first edge, the straightening mechanism is driven at a lower speed than the conveying speed.

Abstract: Gripper control device in a chain delivery of a sheet-fed printing press, wherein a cam segment has a control cam for a control roller provided on a gripper system and is adjustably disposed for opening a gripper of the gripper system as a sheet is delivered, the control cam being formed with a rectilinear on-running region aligned for rectilinear movement of the control roller in a given direction, includes an adjusting element operatively engageable with the cam segment for effecting a phase displacement of the gripper between a closed and an open condition thereof, the control cam of the cam segment, in an inactive basic position thereof, being aligned, with the on-running region thereof parallel to the given direction of rectilinear movement of the control roller for the gripper system, in an imaginary plane tangent to the control roller at a location on the circumference thereof most distal from the gripper of the gripper system, and a cam roller rotatably mounted on the cam segment, the adjusting elemen

Abstract: A method for transforming a scale flow of printed products into a delivery flow of printed products in forced formation, typically a delivery flow in which each printed product is guided by a gripper, essentially comprises four method steps, namely a first deflection or reversal (1) through which a scale flow (B) with downwardly directed leading printed product edges is formed; a timing step (2) in which the spacings between the printed products are made uniform, increased; decreased and/or differentiated, a second deflection or reversal (3) in which a scale flow (D) with upwardly directed leading edges is produced; and an acceptance (4) in which the printed products are individually or groupwise taken over by grippers. The first and/or second deflection or reversal can be omitted. The apparatus for performing the method essentially comprises a supply belt conveyor (5) and a conveying away means (6), between which are arranged a timing element (21) and at least one intermediate belt conveyor.

Abstract: A conveying device having individually controllable grippers conveys the printed products in the conveying direction to a straightening station where the printed products are aligned. Subsequently, for opening, the folded printed products are fed to an opening device with their open edge leading and are then conveyed further to a transfer region, which is spaced apart from the opening device, for depositing on the rests. The separation of the different functions, i.e. the alignment, the opening and the depositing of the printed products allows simple setting to different formats of the printed products to be processed. Between the opening device and the transfer region, the open printed products are held open by a holding-open device.

Abstract: A method of feeding, aligning and holding a sheet on a cylinder of a sheet-processing machine, which includes, prior to an occurrence of a gripping operation on a sheet at a cylinder of a sheet-processing machine, forcing a leading edge of the sheet into a contact position wherein the leading edge of the sheet is pressed against moving front lays which are guided over the cylinder, opening sheet grippers carried by the cylinder, inserting the leading edge of the sheet which is in the contact position into the sheet grippers, and maintaining the leading edge of the sheet in the contact position with the front lays until just before closing the sheet grippers; and a device for performing the method.

Abstract: An apparatus for repeatedly feeding a pile of sheets to a copy section, including a feeding device to feed a sheet from the top of the pile of sheets to the copy section; a returning device to return a sheet from the copy section to the pile of sheets; and a inserting device to insert a sheet under the bottom of the pile of sheets stacked on the sheet stand.

Abstract: A chain operated sheet transport and transfer mechanism for sheet-fed printing machines having a plurality of printing units. The chain operated mechanism includes a plurality of gripper cars affixed to chains for movement between the printing units. The gripper cars each have a gripper impact strip and a pivotable gripper finger, with the gripper strip of each car extending the width of the gripper car and being of concave configuration. A bending device at the transfer zone of each printing unit is operable for acting on the gripper car to bend the concave gripper impact strips straight in order that sheets are transferred from one printing unit to the other without register deviation.

Abstract: In a delivery section of a sheet-fed printing press convertible between single-sided sheet printing and first-form and perfector printing, a sheet guide is provided formed with a sheet guide surface alterable between conditions wherein the surface is formed with throughholes and the surface is continuous and smooth, and a device for altering the sheet guide surface so that it is formed with throughholes when converting the press from first-form and perfector printing to single-sided sheet printing, and for altering the sheet guide surface so that it is continuous and smooth when converting the press from single-sided sheet printing to first-form and perfector printing.

Abstract: At every chain (4) of the chain conveyor (3), there are arranged a vane element (6) and a clamp member (7) in the shape of a double arm lever, one arm of which affords engagement with the vane element (6), while another's roller (11) moves on/off a cam or pattern-copy-device (13) along the path of the chain (4) travel next to the product folding apparatus. Between the clamp member (7) and the vane element (6) a compartment or pocket (15) is formed to receive the printed product (1). As the chain (4) continues its movement, the roller (11) engaged with the cam (13) bears upon the element (7), and thereby the printed product (1) is held and the by-the-piece conveyance of the printed products is ensured.

Abstract: Sheet delivery apparatus at a printing machine. The sheet delivery apparatus comprises a chain conveying system for conveying printed sheets to a delivery pile and a suction roller for decelerating the sheets before being deposited on the pile. A suction chamber, positioned below the chain-conveying system, extends over the width of the sheets and up to the suction roller. In the region of the upper sheet layers of the delivery pile, suction boxes are disposed at four lateral pile surfaces.

Abstract: An assembly for controlling individual positioning elements in a delivery region of a sheet-fed printing machine, including at least one computer, at least one input device connected to the computer for inputting therein characteristic data specific to a sheet and/or to the printing machine, the computer having devices for further processing the characteristic data, and a control device operatively connected to the computer and having individual positioning elements for causing a format-dependent adjustment in accordance with the inputted characteristic data, the computer having devices for calculating, from the characteristic data, energy of the sheet oncoming to the delivery region and, in accordance with the calculated energy value, also for calculating an actuating value for at least one individual positioning element in the delivery region so that energy withdrawal by the individual positioning element is substantially equal to the energy of the oncoming sheet in the delivery region, the control device h

Abstract: Folded printed products, held at the fold thereof by clamps, are fed to an opening device. This opening device comprises grippers, each gripper having a stationary gripper jaw and a movable gripper jaw which delimit a slide gap in the closed position of the movable gripper jaw. Along this slide gap there is displaceable a pusher member for the purpose of pushing out of the slide gap the printed product gripped at its open-edge region by the respective gripper. The pusher member thereby acts upon a marginal lap of a first product portion which protrudes beyond the other or second product portion. By virtue of the pre-bending of the printed products, the second product portion is entrained during pushing action at the first product portion and, as a beneficial result of such bending, lifts off from the first product portion upon leaving the slide gap, the marginal lap of the first product portion still being guided in the slide gap.

Abstract: A sheet transporting apparatus for transporting document sheets, wherein passive gripper gates, of simplified construction, selectively attach a sheet to the transport belt of the sheet transporting apparatus. The sheet transporting apparatus comprises a transport belt having a passive mechanism for selectively clamping a document sheet thereto. The transport belt is moved along a path, and a sheet is delivered into association with the passive clamping mechanism. The passive clamping mechanism is selectively actuated to clamp a sheet delivered into association therewith to the transport belt for movement with the transport belt. A mechanism, located downstream in direction of movement of the transport belt, selectively deactuates the passive clamping mechanism to release a sheet from the clamping mechanism of the transport belt. Thereafter, the sheet is separated from the transport belt.

Abstract: To receive, store and deliver printed products in minimum space, with a device which can, itself, be stored in minimum space when free of products, a steel tape or ribbon (1, 21) is formed with U-shaped cuts (7) to define, within the ribbon, tongues (5, 22). The tape or ribbon is guided in a curved path, typically about a guide roller (4, 23), which causes the tongues to flare out tangentially. When in flared or projecting position, products (8, 33) can be pushed in the space between the extended tongues and the remainder of the tape or ribbon material which, upon then being guided in an essentially linear path, will cause the tongues to close and grip the products, whereupon the tape or ribbon with the products, thereon can be rolled into a storage roll.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating the velocity of a copy sheet in a color reprographic system creates a buckle in the copy sheet to decouple accelerations of the leading edge of the copy sheet from the portion that is in contact with the photoreceptor belt and reduces the buckle on long copy sheets for which the buckle can become large enough that the toner image on the body of the copy sheet can become disrupted by contact with stationary portions of the system. The method and apparatus also accelerates the leading edge of the copy sheet as the trailing edge disengages from the photoreceptor belt to prevent the uncontrolled trailing edge of lightweight copy sheets from contacting stationary portions of the system.

Abstract: A brake for a sheet feed to a stacking site in which the sheets are engaged by a belt drive from the location at which they are cut from a continuous web. The brake device has an endless belt with a brake stretch parallel to the travel plane of the sheets or declined downward slightly therefrom. The brake has at least one element with a shank over the belt and projecting above the plane at the inlet side of the braking device. The rear edge of the sheet is thus engaged by the shank and the brake belt is decelerated so that the sheet is delivered to the stack at the lower speed.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for releasably gripping a sheet and advancing the sheet through a transfer zone and into registration with information developed on a moving member. The apparatus includes a first gripping member and a second gripping member adapted to be moved relative to the first gripping member. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for applying a force on the second gripping member to urge the second gripping member towards the first gripping member to grip the sheet. Moreover, the apparatus includes a mechanism for advancing the first gripping member and the second gripping member through the transfer zone. The apparatus additionally includes a mechanism for moving the second gripping member relative to the first gripping member to acquire or release the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping a sheet includes a first gripping member and a second gripping member. The second gripping member includes a base which is movable relative to the first gripping member. The second gripping member further includes a plate which is secured to the base, the plate being adapted to cooperate with the first gripping member to grip the sheet.