Apparatus and method for assisting change-over of take-up rolls in a printing system

An apparatus for assisting replacement of a take-up roll for winding or taking up a length of a printed sheet with a new take-up roll in a printing system, comprising:

• a guide device for directing or guiding a printed sheet output from the printing system along a transport path towards the take-up roll for winding or taking up a length of the printed sheet in a take-up position;
• and
• a first clamping device for holding a new leading edge region of the printed sheet formed after the printed sheet is cut to terminate the length of the sheet to be wound or taken up onto the take-up roll, wherein the first clamping device is configured to hold or clamp the new leading edge region of the printed sheet against movement along the transport path towards the take-up roll in the take-up position;
• wherein the guide device is movable to redirect the printed sheet output from the printing system to a buffer zone to accommodate the printed sheet when the take-up roll in the take-up position is being replaced, and wherein the guide device is configured to redirect the printed sheet to the buffer zone when the first clamping device holds or clamps the new leading edge region of the printed sheet, and
• wherein the new leading edge region of the printed sheet is released from the first clamping device and the printed sheet is fed or drawn out from the buffer zone to be wound onto the new take-up roll after the new take-up roll is mounted in the take-up position to replace the take-up roll.