US 5,395,151 A · Gripper for a conveying device for conveying single-sheet or multi-sheet printed products

Abstract

A gripper includes two gripper parts. The first gripper part is arranged pivotably relative to the other, second gripper part. The two gripper parts interact to securely hold a printed product at the free ends of the gripper parts. The first gripper part is mounted by a ball joint in a bearing part, which is seated unrotatably on a rotatably mounted hollow shaft. A compression spring is mounted in the first gripper part between the bearing part and the first gripper part, which is spherically mounted in the latter. The compression spring in the closed position of the bearing part exerts a compressive force on the first gripper part. The ball joint is offset rearwards with respect to the pivot axis of the bearing part. As a result, a rearward lengthening of the leg of the first gripper part is attained. This results in more favorable leverages and, with a given compression spring, accordingly results in higher clamping forces at the free end of the first gripper part.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A gripper for a conveying device for conveying printed products comprising:

a first gripper part having a free end and a second gripper part having a free end, the first gripper part being pivotable relative to the second gripper part, the first gripper part having a clamping position for securely clamping a printed product, and the first gripper part in the clamping position interacting under spring action on its free end with the free end of the second gripper part;
a bearing part being pivotable about a first pivot axis from an open position to a closed position, the first gripper part being mounted pivotably about a second pivot axis, which runs essentially parallel to the first pivot axis, a pivot bearing for the first gripper part, the pivot bearing being offset with respect to the first pivot axis;
a locking mechanism, releasable by a fixed-in-place opening arrangement, holding the bearing part in its closed position, and
a transfer element connected to transfer the pivoting movement of the bearing part to the first gripper part and generate a spring-elastic clamping force, acting via the first gripper part on the free end thereof, when the bearing part is in the closed position.

1 more element

In a gripper conveying device for gripping and conveying individual printed products, the improvement in a gripper comprising:

a) a mounting shaft;
b) a bearing part mounted on said shaft for pivotal movement about the axis of said shaft;
c) a first gripper part mounted on said bearing part for pivotal movement relative thereto about a bearing axis extending substantially parallel to the axis of said shaft;
d) a second gripper part mounted on said shaft for pivotal movement about the axis of said shaft;
e) said bearing part being pivotable about the axis of said shaft between an open position and a closed position relative to said second gripper part;
f) a releasable locking mechanism for holding said bearing part in its closed position;
g) a transfer element between said bearing part and said first gripper part;
h) movement of said bearing part from said open position to said closed position being effective through said transfer element to urge said first gripper part toward said second gripper part;
and
i) each of said gripper parts having a free end which, when said bearing part is in its closed position, are effective to grip products of varying thickness between them;
and
j) a spring element in at least one of said bearing part, said transfer element and said first gripper part for exerting a spring-elastic clamping force on a product between said free ends.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gripper for a conveying device for conveying single-sheet or multi-sheet printed products

Life of this patent

Gripper for a conveying device for conveying single-sheet or multi-sheet printed products

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26