Apparatus for processing products especially printed products

An apparatus for processing products, comprising:

• a. a revolving cell wheel having an axis of rotation and means providing compartments for the cell wheel;
• b. means mounting said cell wheel for rotation about said axis of rotation;
• c. means for rotating said cell wheel about said axis of rotation:
• d. means defining an infeed location for delivery of products into the compartments of said cell wheel where the products are processed while residing in said compartments;
• e. means defining an outfeed location for the removal of the products from said compartments of said cell wheel;
• f. said infeed location and said outfeed location being arranged in spaced relationship in the direction of the axis of rotation of said cell wheel;
• g. a plurality of product entrainment means arranged in each compartment for axial movement therein through a product engaging work stroke and a product disengaging return stroke, the axial length of said work stroke being only a fraction of the axial length of cell wheel;
• h. means individual to each compartment operatively coupling the plurality of entrainmant means of the respective compartment with one another for simultaneous actuation of said plurality of entrainment means of said respective compartment;
• and
• i. drive means for driving said entrainment means such that the products in each compartment are passed lengthwise of such compartment progressively to each of the plurality of entrainment means of such compartment.

An apparatus for processing products, comprising:

• a. a revolving cell wheel having opposed ends and rotatable about a predetermined axis of rotation;
• b. means providing compartments for the cell wheel extending intermediate the opposed ends of said cell wheel;
• c. said compartment providing means including movable means for each compartment for shifting at least part of each compartment in the lengthwise direction thereof;
• d. means for rotating said cell wheel about said axis of rotation;
• e. means defining an infeed location for the supply of products into the compartments of said cell wheel;
• f. means defining an outfeed location for the removal of the products from said compartments of said cell wheel;
• g. said infeed location and said outfeed location being arranged in spaced relationship in the direction of the axis of rotation of said cell wheel;
• h. means for selectively axially moving the movable part of each compartment only through a distance which is less than the axial length of such compartment;
• and
• i. means for preventing return movement of products which have advanced from said infeed location toward said outfeed location.

An apparatus for processing products, especially printed products comprising:

• a. a revolving cell wheel having an axis of rotation and means providing compartments for the cell wheel;
• b. means mounting said cell wheel for rotation about said axis of rotation;
• c. means for rotating said cell wheel about said axis of rotation;
• d. means defining an infeed location for the delivery of products into the compartments of said cell wheel where the products are processed while residing in said compartments;
• e. means defining an outfeed location for the removal of the products from said compartments of said cell wheel;
• f. said infeed location and said outfeed location being arranged in offset relationship in the direction of the axis of rotation of said cell wheel;
• g. a plurality of product entrainment means arranged in each compartment for movement through a work stroke and a return stroke, the length of said work stroke being only a fraction of the axial length of said cell wheel, said entrainment means comprising a plurality of grippers, means for closing the grippers prior to initiation of said work stroke and for opening the grippers prior to initiation of said return stroke, all of the grippers of a compartment having a common stationary gripper jaw, a movable gripper jaw movable toward said stationary gripper jaw, said common stationary gripper jaw comprising a leg of a substantially U-shaped channel further defining floor means of the compartment associated therewith, said channel comprising part of said means providing said compartments;
• h. means individual to each compartment for operatively coupling the plurality of entrainment means of the respective compartment with one another;
• and
• i. drive means for driving said entrainment means, said drive means comprising a common stationary guide track describing a closed curve and follower elements rotating with said cell wheel.

An apparatus for processing products, especially printed products comprising:

• a. a revolving cell wheel having an axis of rotation ans means providing compartments for the cell wheel;
• b. means mounting said cell wheel for rotation about said axis of rotation;
• c. means for rotating said cell wheel about said axis of rotation;
• d. means defining an infeed location for the delivery of products into the compartments of said cell wheel where the products are processed while residing in said compartments;
• e. means defining an outfeed location for the removal of the products from said compartments of said cell wheel;
• f. said infeed location and said outfeed location being arranged in offset relationship in the direction of the axis of rotation of said cell wheel;
• g. a plurality of product entrainment means arranged in each compartment for movement through a work stroke and a return stroke, the length of said work stroke being only a fraction of the axial length of said cell wheel, said entrainment means comprising a plurality of grippers, means for closing the grippers prior to initiation of said work stroke and for opening the grippers prior to initiation of said return stroke, each gripper having a stationary gripper jaw and a movable gripper jaw movable toward the stationary gripper jaw;
• h. means individual to each compartment for operatively coupling the plurality of entrainment means of the respective compartment with one another, said means individual to each compartment comprising a gripper shaft extending parallel to the lengthwise direction of its associated compartment, all of said movable gripper jaws of said associated compartment being pivotally connected to said gripper shaft, stop means secured rigidly for rotation at the gripper shaft, spring means for biasing the movable gripper jaws in the closing direction thereof at the stop means, articulated drive means for rotating the gripper shaft at least in one rotational direction, a releasable free-wheeling device having a locking position and coupling said articulated drive means with the gripper shaft, said free-wheeling device in said locking position securing the gripper shaft against rotation opposite the closing direction of the movable gripper jaws;
• and
• i. drive means for driving said entrainment means, said drive means comprising a common stationary guide track describing a closed curve and follower elements rotating with said cell wheel.

An apparatus for processing products, especially printed products comprising:

• a. a revolving cell wheel having an axis of rotation and means providing compartments for the cell wheel;
• b. means mounting said cell wheel for rotation about said axis of rotation;
• c. means for rotating said cell wheel about said axis of rotation;
• d. means defining an infeed location for the delivery of products into the compartments of said cell wheel where the products are processed while residing in said compartments;
• e. means defining an outfeed location for the removal of the products from said compartments of said cell wheel;
• f. said infeed location and said outfeed location being arranged in offset relationship in the direction of the axis of rotation of said cell wheel;
• g. a plurality of product entrainment means arranged in each compartment for movement through a work stroke and a return stroke, the length of said work stroke being only a fraction of the axial length of said cell wheel, said entrainment means comprising a plurality of grippers, means for closing the grippers prior to initiation of said work stroke and for opening the grippers prior to initiation of said return stroke, each gripper having a stationary gripper jaw and a movable gripper jaw movable toward the stationary gripper jaw;
• h. means individual to each compartment for operatively coupling the plurality of entrainment means of the respective compartment with one another, said means individual to each compartment comprising a gripper shaft extending parallel to the lengthwise direction of its associated compartment, all of said movable gripper jaws of said associated compartment being pivotally connected to said gripper shaft, stop means secured rigidly for rotation at the gripper shaft, spring means for biasing the movable gripper jaws in the closing direction thereof at the stop means, articulated drive means for rotating the gripper shaft at least in one rotational direction, a return spring engaging at said articulated drive means, one direction of rotation of the gripper shaft corresponding to the closing direction of the movable gripper jaws, said gripper shaft being rotatable in said one direction of rotation against the action of said return spring, a releasable free-wheeling device having a locking position and coupling said articulated drive means with the gripper shaft, said free-wheeling device in said locking position securing the gripper shaft against rotation opposite the closing direction of the movable gripper jaws, cam means associated with said releasable free-wheeling device, a release lever means provided for said releasable free-wheeling device and coacting with said cam means for releasing said device once during the course of one revolution of the cell wheel;
• and
• i. drive means for driving said entrainment means, said drive means comprising a common stationary guide track describing a closed curve and follower elements rotating with said cell wheel.