Method and apparatus for supplying printed products to a continuously ...

[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR

SUPPLYING PRINTED PRODUCTS TO A
CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING
PROCESSING LINE

[75] Inventor: Werner Honegger, Tann-Riiti,
Switzerland

[73] Assignee: Ferag AG, Hinwil, Switzerland

[21] Appl. No.: 677,564

[22] Filed: Dec. 3,1984

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data

Dec. 16, 1983 [CH] Switzerland 6718/83

[51] Int. CI." B65H 5/26; B65H 18/00

[52] U.S. Q 271/9; 271/3.1;

271/151; 271/216; 242/55; 242/59; 221/72

[58] Field of Search 271/9, 3, 3.1, 7, 8.1,

271/151, 246, 216, 198, 202, 203,184, 225, 237; 493/434; 53/430, 118; 242/55, 59; 198/644, 778, 347; 414/32, 51, 53, 104; 221/209, 218,

185, 71, 72, 73

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

667,604 2/1901 Stockholm 271/198

985,516 2/1911 Dupontetal 221/72

3.522.943 8/1970 Swanson 271/6

3,945,633 3/1976 Knopp 271/3.1

4,032,038 6/1977 Hendricks 221/71

4.069.944 1/1978 Achelpohl 221/72

4,337,864 7/1982 McLean 271/207 X

4,525,982 7/1985 Meier 242/59 X

4,597,541 7/1986 Leu 242/55

Primary Examiner—Andres Kashnikow
Assistant Examiner—Matthew C. Graham
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Werner W. Kleeman

[57] ABSTRACT

One stack space is provided for accommodating each stack of a plurality of stacks of printed products to be supplied to the processing line. Each stack space is provided with a powered feed mechanism which urges the associated stack toward a predetermined processing location, such as a product singling or supply device for singly transferring printed products to the processing line. To be able to prepare the supply of printed products at a location remote from or independent of the processing line, a plurality of transportable winding frames are provided. The winding frames are equipped for exchangeably accommodating a wound package of mutually identical printed products. The winding frames are provided with drive and conveying means which drive the wound package in an unwinding direction and convey the printed products unwinding from the printed package to a transfer location. The winding frames are each selectively connectible to any one of the feed mechanisms, while a drive member of the feed mechanism can be simultaneously coupled to a drive member of the drive and conveying means.

16 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures