Process and apparatus for changing, transferring and temporarily storing printed product rolls

A process for exchanging empty roll cores and printed product rolls on a winding-off station, each printed product roll comprising a roll core with printed products wound thereon, transferring and storing printed product rolls and empty roll cores in storage locations, the method comprising the steps of,

• with a first manipulation and transportation means,
• depositing printed product rolls on a winding-off station,
• removing empty roll cores from the winding-off station,
• transporting the empty roll cores to a stationary transfer location, the transfer location having a winding station side for exchange of printed product rolls and empty roll cores with a winding station and a storage side for exchange of printed product rolls and empty roll cores with a storage location and having a first position for printed product rolls and a second position for empty roll cores, and depositing the empty roll cores at the winding station side of the second position of the transfer location, and
• removing printed product rolls from the winding station side of the first position of the transfer location for transportation to the winding-off station;
• providing a second manipulation and transportation means having a manipulation tool movable reciprocatingly along a path, the second manipulation and transportation means comprising a fork lift truck having two forks movable toward and away from each other and movable together along the path, the forks being moved toward each other to clamp a printed product roll or empty roll core between the forks;
• with the second manipulation and transportation means,
• depositing printed product rolls at the transfer location including separating the forks to release the printed product rolls, moving the forks along the path and then
• toward each other to clamp empty roll cores, transporting the roll cores to the storage location, separating the forks to release the roll cores at the storage location, and moving the forks together to clamp printed product rolls at the storage location,
• removing empty roll cores from the storage side of the transfer location,
• transporting and depositing empty roll cores at a storage location, and
• taking printed product rolls from the storage location for delivery to the transfer location,
• said first and second positions of the transfer location being disposed vertically relative to each other so that the manipulation tool of the second manipulation and transportation means need only move along said path from the first position to the second position to deposit printed product rolls and remove empty roll cores at the transfer location.

An apparatus for exchanging printed product rolls and empty roll cores on a winding-up station, each printed product roll comprising a roll core with printed products wound thereon, and for storing printed product rolls and empty roll cores in storage locations, the apparatus comprising the combination of

• a first manipulation and transportation means for depositing empty roll cores at a winding-up station, removing printed product rolls from said winding-up station, and transporting said printed product rolls to a stationary transfer location;
• a transfer station at said transfer location, said having a winding station side for exchange of printed product rolls and empty roll cores with a winding station and a storage side for exchange of printed product rolls and empty roll cores with a storage location and having a first position for printed product rolls and a second position for empty roll cores, said first manipulation and transportation means depositing the printed product rolls at said winding station side of said first position of said transfer location;
• and
• a second manipulation and transportation means having a manipulation tool movable reciprocatingly along a path for removing printed product rolls from said storage side of said transfer station, transporting printed product rolls and depositing said printed product rolls at a storage location, and delivering empty roll cores from said storage location to said transfer;
• said first and second positions of said transfer location being located one vertically over the other so that said manipulation tool of said second manipulation and transportation means need only move vertically along said path from said first position to said second position to deposit empty rolls and remove printed product rolls at said transfer location.

An apparatus for exchanging printed product rolls and empty roll cores on a winding-off station, each printed product roll comprising a roll core with printed products wound thereon, and for storing printed product rolls and empty roll cores in storage locations, the apparatus comprising the combination of

• a first manipulation and transportation means for depositing printed product rolls at a winding-off station, removing empty roll cores from said winding-off station, and transporting said empty roll cores to a stationary transfer location;
• a transfer station at said transfer location, said station having a winding station side for exchange of printed product rolls and empty roll cores with a winding station and a storage side for exchange of printed product rolls and empty roll cores with a storage location and having a first position for printed product rolls and a second position for empty roll cores, said first manipulation and transportation means depositing the empty roll cores at said winding station side of said first position of said transfer location, and
• a second manipulation and transportation means having a manipulation tool movable reciprocatingly along a path for removing empty roll cores from said storage side of said transfer station, depositing printed product rolls at said transfer station, transporting and depositing empty roll cores at a storage location, and delivering printed product rolls from said storage location to said transfer station;
• said first and second positions of the transfer location being located one vertically over the other so that said manipulation tool of said second manipulation and transportation means need only move along said path from said first position to said second position to deposit printed product rolls and remove empty roll cores at said transfer location.