A method and apparatus for withdrawing a selected number of consecutive products such as newspapers, from a series of said products travelling in overlapping formation

摘要

In a method and apparatus for withdrawing a selected number of consecutive copies of newspapers (2), for instance, from a series of said products travelling horizontally and arranged in overlapping formation (4), a gripping means in the form of a mechanical clamp (10) is caused to engage with the desired number of copies by the front edge of the clamp (10) being kept in contact with the formation along a selected distance (a), the clamp (10) being driven with a speed (V1) difference in relation to the formation (4, VO) such that a selected number of copies enter the clamp (10) along the selected distance (a). At the end of the distance the clamp (10) is closed and its speed thereafter accelerated in relation to the formation, to a speed (V2) considerably higher than that of the formation (4, VO), its direction deviating only marginally from the direction of movement of the formation. Only a few consecutive copies are withdrawn from the formation (4) so that no gaps occur in the formation (4).