Apparatus for stacking printed products, such as newspapers, periodicals and the like, arriving in an imbricated product stream

A method for stacking printed products, especially newspapers, periodicals and the like, arriving in an imbricated product formation, each of said printed products having a leading edge and a trailing edge, comprising the steps of:

• providing a separation layer at which bears the imbricated product formation such that each of the trailing edges of said imbricated product formation contacts said separation layer;
• providing a rotatably driven winding mandril rotatable about an axis of rotation for winding-up the imbricated product formation into a wound imbricated package formation, with said rotatably driven winding mandril being positioned relative to said separation layer such that the axis of rotation thereof is situated closer to said leading edges of the printed products than the trailing edges bearing at said separation layer;
• connecting an end portion of said separation layer with said rotatably driven winding mandril;
• providing a drive for the rotatably driven winding mandril which is operative such that individual coils of the separation layer which are wound onto the winding mandril are wound thereon under tension;
• and
• placing into operation said drive and thus winding-up said separation layer connected with the rotatably driven winding mandril while maintaining said separation layer under tension during said winding operation, in order to wind the imbricated product formation into a wound imbricated package formation, with the separation layer being wound-up in tensioned individual coils between package layers of the wound imbricated package formation.

An apparatus for destacking a stack of printed products, especially newspapers, periodicals and the like, wound in an imbricated package formation upon a rotatably driven winding mandril, with a tensioned separation layer wound between the layers of the wound package, comprising:

• unwinding means for the tensioned separation layer constituted by a single winding band;
• said unwinding means withdrawing from the wound package which is rotatably mounted and from the underside thereof the single winding band together with the printed products reposing in an imbricated product formation upon such winding band;
• and
• regulation means for maintaining essentially constant a tension force engaging at the winding band.

An apparatus for stacking printed products, especially newspapers, periodicals and the like, arriving in an imbricated product formation, each of said printed products having a trailing edge and a leading edge, comprising:

• a rotatably driven winding mandril rotatable about an axis of rotation for winding-up the imbricated product formation into a wound imbricated package formation;
• a separation layer connected with the winding mandril and which, during winding of the imbricated product formation, is wound-up under tension in the form of individual tensioned coils between package layers of the wound imbricated package formation;
• said separation layer comprising a winding band which is infed to the rotatably driven winding mandril and is under tension;
• means including the rotatably driven winding mandril for infeeding the separation layer under tension and maintaining the tension in the individual coils of the separation layer which are wound onto the wound imbricated package formation;
• drive means for driving the winding mandril such that said individual coils of the separation layer which are wound onto the winding mandril are wound thereon under tension;
• said separation layer contacting the imbricated product formation such that the trailing edges of the products contact said separation layer;
• and
• said rotatably driven winding mandril being positioned relative to said separation layer such that the leading edges of the printed products are located closer to the axis of rotation of said rotatably driven winding mandril than the trailing edges of the printed products which bear at said separation layer.

An apparatus for stacking printed products, especially newspapers, periodicals and the like, arriving in an imbricated product formation, each of said printed products having a trailing edge and a leading edge, comprising:

• a rotatably driven winding mandril rotatable about an axis of rotation for winding-up the imbricated product formation into a wound imbricated package formation;
• a separation layer connected with the rotatably driven winding mandril and which, during winding of the imbricated product formation, is wound-up under tension in the form of individual tensioned coils between package layers of the wound imbricated package formation;
• said separation layer comprising a winding band which is infed from below to the rotatably driven winding mandril and is under tension;
• means including the rotatably driven winding mandril for infeeding the separation layer under tension and maintaining the tension in the individual coils of the separation layer which are wound onto the wound imbricated package formation;
• drive means for driving the winding mandril such that said individual coils of the separation layer which are wound onto the winding mandril are wound thereon under tension;
• means for infeeding from below the imbricated product formation to the rotatably driven winding mandril with the trailing edges of the printed products of the imbricated product formation bearing upon the separation layer;
• said rotatably driven winding mandril being positioned relative to said separation layer such that the leading edges of the printed products are situated closer to the axis of rotation of said rotatably driven winding mandril than the trailing edges of the printed products which bear upon said separation layer;
• and
• said winding band extending along the underside of the imbricated product formation which is infed from below.