METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING, OPENING AN DEPOSITING FOLDED PRINTED PRODUCTS

Abstract

Folded printed products (6) are supplied with trailing fold-edges (6.3) from above towards a clamping gap (1) and are pushed out of the clamping gap (1), in order to be deposited on, for example, saddle-like supports (7). As soon as the leading edge of each printed product (6) exits from the clamping gap (1), the printed product (6) is opened by two printed product parts (6.1 and 6.2) being separated from each other, and the opened printed products are positioned above the support (7). Gripper elements (11) are provided for gripping the trailing fold-edge (6.3) of each printed product (6), before it exits the clamping gap (1), thus preventing a free fall of the printed products (6) onto the support (7) when the trailing fold-edge (6.3) exits the clamping gap (1). The gripper elements (11) grip and guide the printed products towards the support (7). If a plurality of supports (7) is provided, and these are conveyed continuously and in succession past, below the stationary clamping gap (1), the fold-edges (6.3) of the printed products (6) are moved by the gripper elements (11) to track the supports (7).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The method according to the invention and exemplary embodiments of the device according to the invention are hereinafter described in detail by way of the following Figs., wherein:

FIG. 1 shows the region of a clamping gap of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, and serves for illustrating the method according to the invention (phases a to e);

FIG. 2 shows a first, exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention;

FIGS. 3 to 5 show clamping gap regions of further exemplary embodiments of the device according to the invention.

Claims

1. A method for supplying, opening and depositing folded printed products (6) comprising two product parts (6.1, 6.2) being connected along a fold-line (6.3), the method comprising the steps of: supplying the printed products (6) in succession and with trailing fold-edges (6.3) from above,pushing the supplied printed products through a clamping gap (1), and opening each printed product being pushed through the clamping gap at least partly, by gripping at least one of the product parts (6.1, 6.2) having passed through the clamping gap,gripping the trailing fold-edge (6.3) of each printed product (6) being pushed through the clamping gap (1) and guiding this trailing fold-edge (6.3) from the clamping gap (1) towards a support (7) in a held manner, anddepositing each at least partly opened printed product on the support (7) by releasing the trailing fold-edge (6.2) from being gripped.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of saddle-like supports (7) are provided, each support (7) comprising a saddle line aligned in parallel to the clamping gap (1), wherein the supports (7) are conveyed in succession and essentially continuously past, below the clamping gap (1), and wherein the trailing fold-edges (6.3) of the printed products (6) are guided in a held manner to track the saddle lines of the supports (7).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the printed products (6) are bent on being pushed out of the clamping gap (1).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, on being supplied, the printed products (6) are aligned in a supply direction (Z).

5. A device for feeding, opening and depositing folded printed products (6) comprising two product parts (6.1, 6.2) being connected along a fold-line, the device comprising: a supply means with a clamping gap (1), the supply means being equipped for supplying the printed products (6) in succession from above towards the clamping gap (1) and for pushing the printed products through the clamping gap (7),a means for opening the printed products, the opening means being equipped for gripping at least one product part (6.1, 6.2) of each printed product being pushed through the clamping gap,at least one support (7) being arranged below the clamping gap (1) and,at least one gripper element (11) being equipped for gripping the trailing fold-edge (6.3) of each printed product (6) being pushed through the clamping gap (1), for guiding the trailing fold-edge (6.3) in a held manner from the clamping gap (1) towards the support (7), and for releasing the fold-edge (6.3) in the region of the support (7).

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of supports (7) are provided, wherein the supports (7) are saddle-like and comprise saddle lines aligned in parallel with the clamping gap (1), and wherein the supports (7) are driven to be conveyed in succession past, below the clamping gap (1).

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein, for gripping the trailing fold-edges (6.3) of the folded printed products (6) being pushed through the clamping gap (1), a plurality of revolving gripper elements (11) are provided, wherein, in the region of the clamping gap (1), a circular path (11) of the gripper elements (11) is adapted to a course of the supply means.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the supply means comprises two press belts (4 and 5), and wherein the clamping gap (1) is formed by two deflection rollers (2 and 3) of the press belts (4 and 5).

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein a direction in which the press belts (4 and 5) run into the clamping gap (1) is slanted relative to a connecting straight line between axes of the two deflection rollers (2 and 3), so that the printed products (6) are bent on passage through the clamping gap (1).

10. The device according to claim 5, wherein the supply means comprises two press belts (4 and 5), and wherein the clamping gap (1) is formed by a deflection roller of the one of the press belts (4), and an essentially straight-lined part of a revolving path of the other press belt (5).

11. The device according to claim 7, wherein the supply means comprises two press belts (4 and 5), and wherein the circular path of the gripper elements (11) for gripping the fold-edges (6.3) of the printed products (6) is adapted to a periphery of one of two deflection rollers (2 or 3) of the press belts (4 and 5).

12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the circular path of the gripper elements (1) for gripping the fold-edges (6.3) of the printed products comprises a straight-lined region between the region of the clamping gap (1) and a release location, where the gripper elements (11) are deactivated for releasing the printed products (6).

13. The device according to claim 7, wherein the gripper elements (11) are pivotable relative to their circular path.

14. The device according to claim 5, wherein the opening means comprises further revolving gripper elements (10), which are equipped for gripping a leading edge of at least one of the printed product parts (6.1 or 6.2) of the printed products (6).

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the supply means comprises two press belts (4 and 5), and wherein a circular path of the further gripper elements (10) for gripping the leading edges of the printed product parts (6.1 or 6.2) is adapted to a periphery of at least one of two deflection rollers (2 or 3) of the press belts (4 or 5).