Method of and apparatus for outfeeding printed products arriving in an imbricated formation

An apparatus for outfeeding printed products, particularly multi-sheet and preferably folded printed products having leading edges and which are infed in an imbricated formation, arranged in tandem and having a predetermined spacing and imbricatingly overlapping one another, comprising:

• an infeed device for infeeding the printed products to a take-over region;
• an outfeed device having a predetermined conveying direction;
• individually controllable grippers arranged in tandem at said outfeed device;
• said individually controllable grippers each serving to engage each time at least tow of the infed printed products at leading edges;
• and
• said individually controllable grippers having a depth which is larger than said predetermined spacing between said leading edges of said at least two infed printed products in the infed imbricated formation in order to engage and retain said at least two infed printed products with said at least two infed printed products being engaged and retained while maintaining said predetermined spacing which they occupied in the infed imbricated formation.

An apparatus for outfeeding printed products, particularly multi-sheet and preferably folded printed products which are infed in an imbricated formation, arranged in tandem and having a predetermined spacing and imbricatingly overlapping one another, comprising:

• an infeed device for infeeding the printed products to a take-over region;
• an outfeed device having a predetermined conveying direction;
• said outfeed device comprising a revolvingly driven traction element;
• individually controllable grippers arranged in tandem at said revolvingly driven traction element;
• said individually controllable grippers each comprising two clamping jaws which serve to clamp one single printed product;
• a pivot axle extending essentially transversely to said predetermined conveying direction;
• said individually controllable grippers at said revolvingly driven traction element being journalled at said pivot axle and pivotable in said take-over region by means of a control means;
• said printed products to be engaged defining a plane;
• said predetermined conveying direction of said outfeed device extending essentially transversely to said plane of the printed products to be engaged;
• said two clamping jaws constituting a leading clamping jaw and a controllable trailing clamping jaw;
• said leading clamping jaw having a free end;
• and
• each individually controllable gripper being pivotable in said take-over region the control means such that said free end of said leading clamping jaw remains essentially stationary during the travel of said one single printed product between said two clamping jaws.