Apparatus and method for removing flat printed products from a stack and transfering the printed products to a moving transporting device

Abstract

An apparatus for withdrawing flat printed products from a stack and transporting the printed products, includes a transporting device having a transporting direction and a vertical center plane that extends in the transporting direction, a separating device to separate out the printed products from the stack, and a rotating conveyor having a rotational axis and a conveying direction. The rotating conveyor includes at least one gripper with a gripper plane to grip a separated printed product in the gripper plane and supply the separated printed product to the transporting device. The rotational axis is oriented approximately at a right angle to the center plane of the transporting device, and the gripper plane of the at least one gripper is essentially arranged in the center plane of the transporting device.

1 . An apparatus for withdrawing flat printed products from a stack and transporting the printed products, comprising:
 a transporting device having a transporting direction and a vertical center plane that extends in the transporting direction;   a separating device to separate out the printed products from the stack; and   a rotating conveyor having a rotational axis and a conveying direction, the rotating conveyor including at least one gripper with a gripper plane to grip a separated printed product in the gripper plane and supply the separated printed product to the transporting device, wherein the rotational axis is oriented approximately at a right angle to the center plane of the transporting device, and the gripper plane of the at least one gripper is essentially arranged in the center plane of the transporting device.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one supply device positioned in a region of a takeover location for the printed products between the separating device and the rotating conveyor, the supply device supplying the printed products to the at least one gripper with at least one edge of the printed products substantially extending into the gripper plane of the at least one gripper. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one supply device comprises a hopper located adjacent to the rotating conveyor to accommodate the stack and including an end stop and the separating device. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one supply device comprises a feeding device arranged between the separating device and the rotating conveyor to accommodate the printed products. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a sheet opener arranged between the separating device and the transporting device. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rotating conveyor further comprises a driven rotor including at least one rotor arm and the at least one gripper further comprises a pair of gripper elements to grip the printed products, wherein the at least one gripper is arranged on the at least one rotor arm, and wherein at least one gripper element of the pair is adapted to be movable. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rotating conveyor further comprises a separate drive motor. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the separate drive motor comprises a servo motor. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a cam curve arranged on a frame of the apparatus and a support lever, including first and second lever ends, attached to the at least one gripper, wherein the first lever end is connected via a joint to the at least one rotor arm of the rotor, and the second lever end includes a cam roller engaged with the cam curve. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further including a control element arranged on the support lever and coupled to the at least one gripper to control the gripper elements. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a measuring device arranged on the at least one gripper to measure the thickness of the printed products. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the sheet opener is arranged in a region of the rotating conveyor immediately following the separating device as seen in the conveying direction of the rotating conveyor. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the sheet opener comprises an opening device and a guide element arranged downstream of the opening device in the conveying direction. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the opening device comprises a pivoting opening blade. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the guide element is sickle-shaped. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the guide element comprises an intake part and a discharge part which are adjustable relative to each other. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one of a printing head or a glue application head arranged on the guide element. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one of a printing head or a glue application head arranged on the feeding device. 
   
   
       19 . A method for withdrawing flat printed products from a stack and transporting the printed products, comprising:
 separating a printed product from the stack;   gripping the printed product in a defined gripper plane of a gripper of a rotating conveyor having a rotational axis;   conveying the printed product with the rotating conveyor to a transporting device having a transporting direction and a vertical center plane that extends in the transporting direction such that the movement of the printed product is approximately perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rotating conveyor; and   transferring the printed product from the rotating conveyor to the transporting device, whereby the printed product is taken over by the gripper, conveyed by the rotating conveyor and transferred to the transporting device while in the vertical center plane of the transporting device.   
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein following the separating step, the method includes one of immediately gripping the printed product at a takeover location proximate the stack or supplying the printed product to a distal takeover location relative to the stack at which the printed product is gripped by the gripper of the rotating conveyor. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising the step of orienting the printed product to extend at least one edge of the printed product into the gripper plane of the gripper before gripping the printed product. 
   
   
       22 . The method according of  claim 21 , further comprising the steps of:
 orienting the gripper to be parallel to the at least one edge of the printed product to be gripped at the takeover location;   maintaining the orientation of the gripper parallel to the at least one edge of the printed product until immediately after the printed product has reached the takeover location;   orienting the gripper to be parallel to the transporting device prior to reaching a transfer location of the transporting device;   maintaining the orientation of the gripper parallel to the transporting device until immediately after the printed product has reached the transfer location; and   transferring the printed product to the transporting device at the transfer location.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of opening the printed product while being conveyed to the transporting device so the printed product is supplied in an opened state to the transporting device. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising one of inscribing or providing adhesive to the printed product while being conveyed to the transporting device.