Printed matter transport device

A printed matter transport device for transporting printed matter folded by a folding device of a rotary press, to a collecting device, said transport device comprising:

• a chain with a grip mechanism comprising:
• plural bases wherein two legs having a gap are provided at one end of a longitudinal direction, a projection having a smaller width than the gap provided between the two legs at the other end, throughholes having a common center line and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction provided in the two legs and a spherical bearing provided in said projection, the throughholes of said two legs and a throughhole of the spherical bearing of said projection connected by a connecting member, wherein each base is free to angularly displace within an angular range in the gap between said legs relative to said two legs of the adjacent base, said bases being continuously arranged;
• a first roller configured to freely rotate about an axis parallel to the center line of the throughholes of the two legs on both sides of the approximate center in the longitudinal direction of each base;
• a second roller provided on one side excluding the sides on which said first roller was provided at the approximate center in the longitudinal direction of each base, said second roller configured to freely to rotate in a perpendicular direction to the center line of said first roller;
• a curved first grip member having a predetermined width provided on the remaining side excluding the sides on which said first roller was provided at the approximate center in the longitudinal direction of each base, and the side on which said second roller is provided, formed in one piece with said base, extending slightly inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of said base, and parallel to the center line of the throughholes of said two legs;
• a curved second grip member free to rotate around a center line parallel to the center line of the throughholes of said two legs, supported on the side of said base on which said first grip member is attached and corresponding to said first grip member, having at least approximately the same width as said first grip member, and exerting a grip action in conjunction with said first grip member;
• an arm having one end and another free end, one said end connected to said second grip member, and said free end is situated further from said base than said first roller in a direction parallel to the center line of the throughholes of said two legs, and is free to undergo an angular displacement together with said second grip member, said arm comprising a cam follower free to rotate on said free end via a shaft provided perpendicular to the opposite face to the end face of said first roller;
• and
• pressure-applier that applies a pressure so that said second grip member is forcefully pressed against said first grip member;
• a guide rail installed in a predetermined transport path for printed matter, and comprising guide parts disposed in the longitudinal direction which respectively guide said first roller and second roller;
• a chain drive disposed to act on a predetermined position of said chain with said grip mechanism at a position wherein said guide rail is divided which causes said chain with said grip mechanism to travel along said guide rail;
• and
• a cam member disposed in a predetermined position in the transport path of a printed matter, which causes said second grip member to separate from said first grip member against the force of said pressure-applier by interfering with said cam follower.