# US 5,349,904 A · Non-stop pile-change device in a delivery of a printing press > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,349,904 A - Document ID: US5349904A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/088,154 - Filed: 1993-07-06 - Granted: 1994-09-27 - Earliest claimed: 1992-07-03 - Assignees: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG - Inventors: Udo Ganter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5349904A ## CPC - B65H 31/32: Auxiliary devices for receiving articles during removal of a completed pile - B65H 2301/4263: Feeding end plate or end sheet before formation or after completion of a pile - B65H 2701/176: Cardboard - B65H 2801/21: Industrial-size printers, e.g. rotary printing press - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract Non-stop pile-changing device in a delivery of a printing press includes an auxiliary pile support insertable between two sheets in a sheet-conveying direction for temporarily receiving thereon oncoming sheets in an auxiliary pile, a device for exchanging a main pile of sheets and an old main pile support whereon the main pile has been deposited for a new main pile support, and a device for depositing the auxiliary pile on the new main pile support, the auxiliary pile support being relatively thin in comparison with the thickness of the main pile support, and remaining underneath the auxiliary pile and forming a base for the auxiliary pile as it is being deposited on the new main pile support. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Non-stop pile-changing device in a delivery of a printing press, comprising an auxiliary pile support insertable between two sheets in a sheet-conveying direction for temporarily receiving thereon oncoming sheets in an auxiliary pile, means for exchanging a main pile of sheets and an old main pile support whereon the main pile has been deposited for a new main pile support, and means for depositing the auxiliary pile on said new main pile support, said auxiliary pile support being relatively thin in comparison with the thickness of said main pile support, and remaining underneath the auxiliary pile and forming a base for the auxiliary pile as it is being deposited on said new main pile support. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary pile support is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper, cardboard and plastic material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, including releasable clamping jaws mounted in the delivery of the printing press for clamping side margins of the inserted auxiliary pile support as the oncoming sheets are deposited in an auxiliary pile thereon. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) Device according to claim 3, comprising transport means for seizing the auxiliary pile support and feeding it between the two sheets parallel to a surface of the pile. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Device according to claim 4, wherein said transport means include a feeding unit comprising pairwise arranged clamping tapes laterally revolvable parallel to sides of the sheets for clamping respective margins of said auxiliary pile support therebetween. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) Device according to claim 4, wherein said transport means include a feeding unit comprising at least one pneumatic cylinder disposed parallel to the sheet-pile surface and extensible telescopically, an extensible end of said pneumatically extensible cylinder having a sheet gripper secured thereto. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) Device according to claim 4, wherein said transport means include a feeding unit comprising at least one roller pair having gear rims at least at the ends of one roller of said roller pair. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, including a web reel having a web wound thereon, means for unwinding said web from said web reel so as to form said auxiliary pile support therefrom, and a cross cutter adjacent said unwinding means for severing a web length corresponding to said auxiliary pile support from the web. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Device according to claim 8, including a festooning unit into which the web length corresponding to said auxiliary pile support, prior to being severed from the web wound on the web reel, is guidable for storage therein, said stored web length being releasable for inserting it as said auxiliary pile support between the two sheets, while said web reel remains stationary. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) Device according to claim 9, wherein said festooning unit is adjustable so that the stored web length corresponds with the length of a respective format. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) Device according to claim 9, wherein said festooning unit comprises a spool-type device turnable in one direction for receiving thereon the web length of pre-determined dimension, said spool-type device being turnable in the opposite direction for releasing the web length while said web reel remains stationary. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, including a cassette having a plurality of said auxiliary pile supports stored therein, said auxiliary pile supports having dimensions matching the respective format of the oncoming sheets. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein respective slitters for trimming margins of said auxiliary pile support are disposed on opposite sides of the sheet pile.