Gripper for handling and storing products in roll form

A gripper with a roll handling configuration for handling at least one printed product roll, including a roll core or a plurality of superimposed roll cores each with printed products wound thereon, and a core handling configuration for handling a plurality of empty roll cores arranged in a rosette-shaped arrangement of juxtaposed roll cores or of juxtaposed cylinders of a plurality of vertically superimposed roll cores, the gripper comprising

• a central support;
• a plurality of radially extending arms;
• a plurality of roll clamping means carried by said radially extending arms for clamping a periphery of the printed product roll having a substantially vertical axis of rotation, said clamping means substantially forming a first circle within which said roll to be gripped is positioned, said clamping means being radially movable relative to said arms between a radially outermost position and a radially innermost position;
• and
• a plurality of core supporting means each for gripping the rosette-shaped arrangement comprising a plurality of the juxtaposed roll cores each having a vertical axis of rotation, said core supporting means being movable in said core handling configuration to form a second circle within said first circle formed by said clamping means in said radially outermost position, said core supporting means being movable in said roll handling configuration of the gripper away from said first circle formed by said roll clamping means in any possible position.