Apparatus for the winding-up of printed products

The winding apparatus comprises an elevationally adjustable bearing arrangement for rotatably mounting and driving a winding core. Underneath the bearing arrangement, there is provided a conveyor-belt arrangement which is driven by partially training or wrapping around the winding core or, as the case may be, a product package wound up thereon. The conveyor-belt arrangement conveys printed products, which are to be wound up, to the winding core. Prior to winding up the printed products, a winding band is unwound from the winding core and wound onto a winding-band spool. For this purpose, the winding-band spool is connected by means of a slip friction coupling with respective rolls and thus with the conveyor-belt arrangement. During the winding-up of the winding band in conjunction with the printed products onto the winding core, the winding-band spool is braked. A detaching roller for detaching the free end of the winding band wound-up on the winding core as a winding-band supply is drivably coupled with the winding-band spool by means of an endless belt. The endless belt takes the free end of the winding band from the detaching roller to the winding-band spool.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
This application is related to the commonly assigned, copending U.S. patent 
application Ser. No. 07/672,172, filed Mar. 19, 1991, entitled "APATUS 
FOR THE UNWINDING OF FLEXIBLE SHEET-LIKE STRUCTURES FROM A ROLL". 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention broadly relates to the winding-up of substantially 
flat products, especially printed products arriving in an imbricated 
formation, onto a winding core and, more specifically, pertains to a new 
and improved apparatus for the winding-up of printed products, such as 
newspapers, magazines and the like, together with a winding band or strap, 
which is kept under tensional load, onto a winding core or body to form a 
wound product package. 
Generally speaking, the apparatus of the present invention is of the type 
comprising a bearing arrangement for the rotatable bearing and driving of 
the winding core or body, and a conveyor-belt arrangement which is freely 
revolvingly structured and partially trains or wraps around, in underfeed, 
the winding core or body or, as the case may be, the product package 
located thereon, the conveyor-belt arrangement being driven by such 
partial wrap-around contact to lead the printed products, which are to be 
wound up, to the winding core or, as the case may be, the already 
partially formed product package. There is also provided a winding-band 
spool, which is brakeable in that braking means effective thereupon are 
provided for outfeeding the winding band or strap wound up thereon during 
the winding-up of the printed products, and which is drivable in that 
driving means effective thereupon are provided for receiving the winding 
band or strap with the free end thereof connectable thereto during the 
unwinding of the winding band or strap from the winding core. 
An apparatus for winding up as well as unwinding printed products in 
conjunction with a winding band or strap onto a package or from a package 
is known from and disclosed in, for example, European Patent Application 
No. 0,281,790, published Sep. 14, 1988 and its cognate U.S. Pat. No. 
4,898,336, granted Feb. 6, 1990, and European Patent Application No. 
0,298,267, published Jan. 11, 1989. This prior art apparatus comprises a 
carriage elevationally displaceable along a vertical threaded spindle, at 
which carriage there is provided a bearing arrangement for the winding 
core supporting the product package. The bearing arrangement comprises a 
drive motor, in order to drive the winding core deposited on the bearing 
arrangement. Below the bearing arrangement there is provided a belt 
conveyor having two loose or non-taut conveyor belts arranged in a lateral 
spaced relationship to one another. The belt conveyor is mounted in a 
manner similar to a rocker member and pre-biased against the product 
package. The conveyor belts are driven solely by the rotating winding core 
or, as the case may be, the rotating product package thereon, in that the 
conveyor belts partially train or wrap around the aforesaid winding core 
or product package, respectively. At the rocker member of the belt 
conveyor there is freely rotatably mounted a deflection roll, around which 
there is guided the winding band incoming from the product package, and 
from which the winding band extends to a winding-band spool, which is 
stationarily mounted at a frame and driven by drive means of its own. For 
winding up the incoming printed products, the winding core is driven in 
the product wind-up sense of rotation of the controlled drive motor of the 
bearing arrangement, while the winding-band supply spool is coupled to a 
torque or moment-controlled servo direct-current machine, which operates 
with a brake slip to tension the winding band. While unwinding the printed 
products from the winding core, the latter is driven by the drive motor in 
the product wind-off sense of rotation, and the servo direct-current 
machine driving the winding-band supply spool operates with a drive slip 
to keep the winding band tensioned or taut. This known apparatus is 
particularly suitable for winding or unwinding printed products onto or 
from a large package, whereby the ratio that the diameter of the finished 
package bears to the diameter of the winding core is high, typically 3:1 
up to 5:1. This prior art apparatus is in terms of its drive means and, in 
particular, in terms of the control of the different motors or machines 
complicated in construction and design and requires a corresponding 
constructional and manufacturing expenditure. 
An apparatus for winding up printed products that are arranged in an 
imbricated formation or array, onto a winding core, and in which, prior to 
the start of the actual winding operation, the winding band or strap is 
drawn off of a supply spool arranged internally of the winding core and 
wound upon an external winding-band spool member, is known from and 
disclosed in, for example, Swiss Patent No. 652,379, published Nov. 15, 
1985 and its cognate U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,750, granted Aug. 6, 1985. To 
detach the winding-band end from the supply-spool package, there is 
provided internally of the winding core a pin member which transversely 
bears at the circumference of the supply-spool package. When the supply 
spool is rotated in the unwinding direction thereof, the band end is 
detached from the supply-spool package by the spring biased pin member. 
During further rotation of the supply spool, the band end is guided to a 
feed opening or slot and departs through such opening, is then guided 
through a pair of feed or advance rolls and thereafter displaced by the 
action of guide means located at a rocker member, which serves to feed the 
printed products to the winding core, towards the winding-band spool 
member. The winding band then travels over a deflection roll and is 
conducted by another rocker member to the circumference of the 
winding-band spool member. When a number of winding layers or plies of the 
winding band are wound upon the winding-band spool member, the separate 
drive is pivoted together with the driven roll of the pair of feed or 
advance rolls out of the range of the winding core. If the winding band 
comprises a Velcro fastener or zipper to provide a connection facility 
between both of the outermost winding layers, such Velcro fastener or 
zipper is arranged in spaced relationship to the tip of the winding-band 
end, in order to form a tab protruding beyond the Velcro fastener or 
zipper, so that the aforesaid pin member can appropriately detach the tab 
end of the winding band and the pair of feed or advance rolls can seize or 
take hold of the winding band before the Velcro fastener is to be opened. 
A similarly structured detaching device, which is arranged at the rocker 
member for feeding printed products to the winding core or body, for 
detaching the free end of the winding band from a winding-band supply 
arranged in a covered circumferential ring-shaped groove of the winding 
core or body is known, for example, from European Patent Application No. 
0,280,949, published Sep. 7, 1988 and its cognate U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,105, 
granted Jan. 3, 1989. The winding-band end detached from the nearest band 
convolution or coil of the winding-band supply is deflected and guided in 
the direction of a take-up or receiver spool remote from the rocker 
member. 
Furthermore, a Velcro fastener or zipper for a winding band is known from 
and disclosed in, for example, European Patent Application No. 0,310,784, 
published Apr. 12, 1989 and the commonly assigned, copending U.S. patent 
application Ser. No. 07/585,033. The winding band or strap is wound 
together with printed products upon a product package and comprises at its 
outer end region, on the side facing the package, a hook pile which 
interacts with a loop pile provided on the outer side of the winding band 
or strap. The loop pile extends over a certain length of the winding band 
or strap, so that the hook pile always can bear against a region of the 
loop pile, irrespective of the diameter of the product package. The hook 
pile as well as the loop pile flank a spacer, the thickness of which at 
best corresponds with the height of the associated pile. To open the 
Velcro fastener or zipper, a spattel-like tool is introduced from the end 
of the winding band or strap between the spacers respectively assigned to 
the hook pile and the loop pile. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, with the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the 
present invention to provide a new and improved construction of an 
apparatus for the winding-up of printed products, which does not exhibit 
the aforementioned drawbacks and shortcomings of prior art constructions. 
Another and more specific object of the present invention aims at providing 
a new and improved apparatus for the winding-up of printed products 
arranged in an imbricated formation and which, particularly in terms of 
driving means, is extremely simple in construction and design and requires 
a corresponding low constructional expenditure. The apparatus constructed 
according to the invention permits using simplest possible drive or 
driving means requiring a minimum of space. 
Yet a further significant object of the present invention aims at providing 
a new and improved winding apparatus for printed products arriving in an 
imbricated product formation, and which apparatus is extremely economical 
to manufacture and yet affords highly reliable operation thereof without 
being subject to breakdown and malfunction, and requires a minimum of 
maintenance and servicing. 
Now in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, 
which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the 
apparatus of the present invention is manifested, among other things, by 
the features that there are provided means for coupling the winding-band 
spool with the conveyor-belt arrangement, such coupling means serving to 
drive the winding-band spool in a predetermined wind-up sense of rotation 
while unwinding the winding band from the winding core. 
The coupling means advantageously comprise a deflection device for 
deflecting the winding band in the direction towards the winding-band 
spool, whereby the deflection device comprises means for detaching the 
free end of the winding band which is wound-up on the winding core. 
Additionally, the coupling means comprise guide means arranged between the 
deflection device and the winding-band spool, such guide means serving to 
take or transfer the detached free end of the winding band from the 
deflection device to the winding band spool, and also serving to guide the 
winding band. This exemplary embodiment of the winding apparatus is 
particularly suitable for automatic operation. 
The guide means advantageously provide a drive effective connection between 
the deflection device and the winding-band spool. 
The aforesaid detaching means comprise a rotatably mounted detaching roller 
which bears against the winding band wound-up on the winding core and 
detaches the free end of the winding band. 
The aforesaid guide means advantageously comprise an endless freely 
revolving connecting element which partially wraps around the detaching 
roller and the winding-band spool or, as the case may be, the winding band 
wound thereupon, thereby providing the aforesaid drive-effective 
connection The connecting element is preferably an endless belt or band. 
The detaching roller and the connecting element conveniently define a 
conveying ga for the winding band. A separating element is provided for 
separating the free end of the winding band from the detaching roller, 
whereby the separation is effected when the free end of the winding band 
leaves the conveying gap in a predetermined direction leading to the 
winding-band spool. 
Furthermore, the winding apparatus comprises means for retaining the 
winding band, i.e. the region of the free end thereof, at the connecting 
element. Such retaining means are provided between the detaching roller 
and the winding-band spool. 
The retaining means comprise a magnet arrangement, preferably a permanent 
magnet arrangement, provided on the connecting-element side facing the 
winding band, and the winding band in the region of its free end is 
structured to be attracted by the magnet arrangement. 
The apparatus advantageously includes a guiding device extending, between 
the detaching roller and the winding band spool, along the freely 
revolving connecting element. The aforesaid magnet arrangement is arranged 
at the guiding device. 
The guiding device is structured to encompass the connecting element in 
channelling manner for the purpose of laterally guiding the winding band. 
Biasing means are provided for prestressing the detaching roller against 
the bearing arrangement, such biasing means comprising a rocker member, at 
which the detaching roller is arranged, and means for biasing the rocker 
member against the bearing arrangement. 
Furthermore, means for biasing the guiding device against the winding-band 
spool are provided, whereby the guiding device is preferably pivotably 
mounted at the rocker member. 
The detaching roller and the winding-band spool are preferably provided on 
the same side of the guiding device. 
The conveyor-belt arrangement comprises two conveyor belts and respective 
stationarily mounted rolls or rollers. The conveyor belts are mutually 
parallel, arranged in a lateral spaced relationship to each other, and 
guided around the rolls or rollers at two ends of the conveyor-belt 
arrangement. The aforesaid guide means are preferably provided between the 
two conveyor belts. 
The driving means effective upon the winding-band spool preferably comprise 
a slip friction coupling. During the unwinding of the winding band from 
the winding core, the conveyor belts are driven at a predetermined 
revolving speed. The slip friction coupling connects the conveyor belts 
with the winding-band spool such that the unaffected circumferential speed 
of the winding-band spool is at least equally high as, preferably greater 
than, the predetermined revolving speed of the conveyor belts. 
The rolls or rollers located at one of the two ends of the conveyor-belt 
arrangement, and the winding-band spool are mounted at a common shaft, 
whereby the diameter of the winding-band spool is at least equally large 
as the diameter of the rolls or rollers including the conveyor belts 
revolving thereat. In the predetermined wind-up sense of rotation of the 
winding-band spool, these rolls or rollers are coupled with the 
winding-band spool by means of the aforesaid slip friction coupling. 
The braking means effective upon the winding-band spool comprise a braking 
device, and the slip friction coupling constitutes respective slip 
friction couplings for the rolls or rollers located at the aforesaid one 
of the two ends of the conveyor-belt arrangement. The rolls or rollers and 
the winding-band spool freely rotatably sit on the common shaft and are 
coupled with the common shaft by means of the respective slip friction 
couplings and the aforesaid braking device, respectively, the common shaft 
being supported by means of a free-wheel effective in the predetermined 
wind-up sense of rotation. 
Consequently, the objectives of the present invention can be beneficially 
performed and realized. The apparatus makes use of conventional 
constructional or structural elements which have proven themselves very 
reliable and suitable in practical applications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Describing now the drawings, it is to be understood that to simplify the 
showing thereof, only enough of the construction of the exemplary 
embodiments of the apparatus for the winding-up of substantially flat 
products, especially, but not exclusively, printed products arranged in an 
imbricated or shingled formation, has been illustrated therein as is 
needed to enable one skilled in the art to readily understand the 
underlying principles and concepts of this invention. 
Turning attention now specifically to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the winding 
apparatus 10 illustrated therein by way of example and not limitation will 
be seen to comprise a ground-mounted socket or base portion 12, at which 
there is anchored an upright or substantially vertically extending guide 
column 14. This guide column 14 comprises two substantially U-shaped guide 
frames or structural elements 16 which are open towards one another and 
arranged in spaced relationship. At these two guide frames 16, there is 
elevationally adjustably guided a bearing arrangement 17 for rotatably 
mounting and driving a hollow substantially cylindrical winding core or 
body 18. Printed products 19 arranged in an imbricated formation or array 
S and supplied in the infeed direction F are wound in conjunction with a 
tensioned winding band or strap 20 onto the winding core or body 18 to 
form a product package 21. 
The bearing arrangement 17 comprises a carriage or slide member 22 which is 
displaceably guided in the two guide frames 16 by means of suitable guide 
rollers 22'. Between the two guide frames 16, there is stationarily 
arranged a substantially vertically extending spindle 24 which can be 
driven about its axis in both directions of rotation by means of a 
suitable, here only schematically depicted motor 26. The carriage or slide 
member 22 travels as a screw nut or equivalent structure along the spindle 
24, depicted in FIG. 1 as a threaded spindle. The carriage or slide member 
22 is thus elevationally lifted upon rotation of the spindle 24 in the one 
sense of rotation and elevationally lowered upon rotation of the spindle 
24 in the other or opposite sense of rotation. 
At the carriage or slide member 22, there are provided two drive wheels or 
rolls 28 and 28', which lie level with each other and frictionally drive 
the hollow cylindrical winding core or body 18 from the interior thereof, 
as well as a freely rotatably mounted tensioning roller 30 which retains 
the winding core or body 18 in contact with the two drive wheels or rolls 
28 and 28'. These two drive wheels or rolls 28 and 28' are coupled by 
means of a chain drive 32 schematically depicted by a dot-dash line in 
FIG. 1, and can be driven in both rotational directions by means of a 
suitable, here only schematically illustrated drive motor 34. The freely 
rotatably mounted tensioning roller 30 is elevationally displaceable, in 
order to tension, in its position depicted by full lines in FIG. 1, the 
winding core 18 against the drive wheels 28 and 28', or in order to 
release, in its upper position conveniently designated by reference 
numeral 30' and depicted by a dash-dot line, the winding core 18, so that 
the winding core 18 can be lifted from the drive wheels 28 and 28' or, as 
the case may be, placed upon the latter. This type of drive for a hollow 
substantially cylindrical winding core is disclosed at length, for 
example, in European Patent Application No. 0,161,569, published Nov. 21, 
1985 and its two cognate U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,436, granted Jul. 22, 1986 
and U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,741, granted Jul. 28, 1987, to which reference may 
be readily had and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by 
reference. However, it stands to reason that also a differently structured 
drive for the hollow substantially cylindrical winding core 18 can be 
provided, whereby the winding core or body or mandrel need not be 
necessarily hollow cylindrical in its structure. A bearing arrangement 
elevationally adjustable in the same manner as the aforedescribed bearing 
arrangement 17 is known from the aforementioned European Patent 
Application No. 0,281,790, the aforementioned cognate U.S. Pat. No. 
4,898,336 and the aforementioned commonly assigned European Patent 
Application No. 0,298,267. 
The ground-mounted socket or base portion 12 comprises two shank-shaped 
supporting members 36 and 36' which are disposed substantially parallel to 
one another and at which there is appropriately attached a conveyor-belt 
and winding-band unit 38 provided below or underneath the bearing 
arrangement 17. Such conveyor-belt and winding-band unit 38 comprises two 
lateral shields or plates 40 arranged substantially parallel to one 
another and in lateral spaced relationship from each other. These lateral 
shields or plates 40 are fixedly connected with each other by means of 
tubular supports or beams 42 and 42', through which the respective 
shank-shaped supporting members 36 and 36' piercingly extend. 
The conveyor-belt and winding-band unit 38 comprises a conveyor-belt 
arrangement 44 provided with conveyor belts or bands 46. These conveyor 
belts or bands 46 possess respective upper runs 46' which, in underfeed or 
from below, partially train or wrap around the winding core or body 18 or, 
as the case may be, the product package 21 located thereon and 
dash-dottedly indicated in FIG. 1. The conveyor belts or bands 46 are 
guided around stationarily arranged rolls or rollers 50 and 50'. As viewed 
in the infeed direction F (FIG. 1) of the printed products 19, which 
arrive in the imbricated formation S and in conjunction with the winding 
band or strap 20 are wound onto the winding core or body 18 to form the 
product package 21, the rolls or rollers 50 arranged at the beginning or 
upstream end of the conveyor-belt arrangement 44 are non-rotatably seated 
at a common bearing shaft 56 in a manner as to be non-rotatable relative 
thereto, whereby this bearing shaft 56 is freely rotatably mounted at the 
lateral shields or plates 40. In this manner, the ganging or synchronism 
of the two conveyor belts or bands 46 is appropriately ensured. The rolls 
or rollers 50' at the downstream end of the conveyor-belt arrangement 44, 
which end is remote from the rolls or rollers 50, are freely rotatably 
seated at a common shaft 58 which is supported at two bearing shields 62 
by means of respective free-wheels 60 effective or acting in the wind-up 
sense of rotation A of the winding band or strap 20, the arrow A being 
depicted in FIG. 1. The two bearing shields 62 are arranged between the 
two rolls or rollers 50' and mounted at the tubular support or beam 42', 
which is associated with the supporting member 36', and at a cross-head 64 
provided between the supporting member 36' and the shaft 58. This 
cross-head 64 connects the two lateral shields or plates 40 at the 
aforesaid downstream end of the conveyor-belt arrangement 44, as also 
depicted in FIG. 2. At the external or outer ends of the two rolls or 
rollers 50', there are provided respective sleeves 66, which are seated at 
the common shaft 58 by means of respective sleeve free-wheels 68 effective 
or acting in the rotational direction contrary to the wind-up sense of 
rotation A. The sleeves 66 piercingly extend through respective 
substantially triangular plates 72 which are non-rotatably connected with 
the respective rolls or rollers 50' by means of bolts 70 or equivalent 
structure, such plates 72 co-acting with the respective sleeves 66 by 
means of respective slip couplings or clutches 74. In the wind-up sense of 
rotation A, the sleeves 66 are thus rigidly or positively coupled with the 
common shaft 58. In the rotational direction contrary to the wind-up sense 
of rotation A, the sleeves 66 are decoupled from the common shaft 58. 
Between the two bearing shields 62, there is freely rotatably mounted at 
the shaft 58 a winding-band spool or reel 76 for the winding band or strap 
20, as depicted particularly in FIG. 2. The diameter of this winding-band 
spool or reel 76 is larger than the diameter of the rolls or rollers 50' 
together with the conveyor belts or bands 46 trained around the latter. 
The winding-band spool 76 is substantially wheel-shaped and comprises a 
wheel rim 78' integrally formed at a disk 78. At this wheel rim 78', there 
are arranged along the circumference thereof permanent magnets 80, in 
order to connect an end 82 of the winding band or strap 20 with the 
winding-band spool 76, the end 82 being the downstream end or end portion 
appearing at the left-hand side of the illustration of FIG. 2. 
At the disk 78 of the winding-band spool 76, there are distributedly 
arranged several brake members 84, which co-act with brake disks 86 
provided at both sides of the disk 78 and non-rotatably seated at the 
common shaft 58 in a manner such as to be non-rotatable relative thereto. 
The brake members 84 possess brake linings or coverings at their ends 
facing the brake disks 86, such brake linings or coverings being pressed 
against the brake disks 86 with a given or predetermined force by means of 
a suitable pressure spring or equivalent structure not particularly 
illustrated in FIG. 2. Braking action between the winding-band spool 76 
and the brake disks 86 is greater than the respective action of the slip 
couplings or clutches 74. 
The mode of operation of the coupling between the rolls or rollers 50' and 
the winding-band spool 76, and thus between the conveyor belts or bands 46 
and the winding-band spool 76, is as follows: 
When the stationarily arranged rolls 50' are driven contrary to the wind-up 
sense of rotation A, the sleeve free-wheels 68 are effective such that the 
common shaft 58 is o decoupled from the rolls 50'. The shaft 58 is 
prevented by the free-wheels 60 from rotating contrary to the wind-up 
sense of rotation A, with the result that during the unwinding or 
withdrawal of the winding band 20 wound up on the winding-band spool 76, 
the winding-band spool 76 is braked with approximately constant or 
invariable force. However, when the rolls 50' are driven in the wind-up 
sense of rotation A, the sleeves 66 are co-rotated by means of the slip 
couplings or clutches 74 so that, by virtue of the now ineffective sleeve 
free-wheels 68, the shaft 58 co-rotates with the sleeves 66. Since the 
coupling caused by the brake members 84 between the winding-band spool 76 
and the shaft 58 is greater than the coupling by means of the slip 
coupling between the rolls 50' and the sleeves 66, the winding-band spool 
76 co-rotates in this case with the common shaft 58, and a slip or 
slippage caused between the winding-band spool 76 and the rolls 50' by the 
winding band 20, which is to be wound onto the winding-band spool 76, is 
taken up by the slip coupling. As a result, the winding band 20 being 
wound onto the winding-band spool 76 is under somewhat lower tension or 
tensional load than during the winding-up of the winding band 20 together 
with the printed products 19 onto the winding core 18, while 
simultaneously unwinding or withdrawing the winding band 20 from the 
winding-band spool 76. 
Between the two conveyor belts or bands 46, there is provided a deflection 
device 90 structured as a detaching roller 88. This detaching roller 88 is 
located in the region in which, as viewed in the infeed direction F, the 
upper runs 46' of the conveyor belts or bands 46 partially train or wrap 
around the winding core 18 or, as the case may be, the product package 21 
placed upon the aforesaid upper runs 46'. In other words, such detaching 
roller 88 is provided at the location where the imbricated formation S 
supplied by means of the conveyor belts or bands 46 runs up to or is 
engaged by the winding core 18 or, as the case may be, the product package 
21. The winding band or strap 20, which with its one end is secured to the 
winding core 18 and is wound up thereat, extends in the direction contrary 
to the direction of the arrow B (FIG. 1) from the winding core 18 to and 
around the detaching roller 88, and from the latter to the winding-band 
spool 76, in order to be there wound up in the wind-up sense of rotation A 
or withdrawn from there in the opposite rotational direction (FIG. 1). 
The detaching roller 88 is freely rotatably mounted at a rocker member 92 
prestressed in the direction towards the winding core or body 18. This 
rocker member 92, in turn, is pivotable about a bearing shaft 94 
appropriately mounted at the lateral shields or plates 40, as depicted in 
FIGS. 1 and 2. The rocker member 92 comprises two rocker shields 96 
disposed substantially parallel to one another and arranged in spaced 
relationship in the direction of the aforesaid bearing shaft 94. These two 
rocker shields 96 are mounted at a bearing sleeve 98, which is freely 
rotatably seated at the bearing shaft 94, and appropriately connected to 
each other by a bearing shank 100, at which the detaching roller 88 is 
freely rotatably mounted by means of ball bearings 100' or equivalent 
structure. The detaching roller 88 comprises permanent magnets 102 which 
are arranged along its circumference, in order to detach the free end 82 
of the winding band or strap 20 from the winding-band supply wound up at 
the winding core 18, and to deflect such free end 82 in the direction 
towards the winding-band spool 76. This detaching procedure will be 
described in more detail hereinafter. A detaching roller of this type and 
an embodiment of a winding band or strap suited thereto are fully 
disclosed in the aforementioned copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 
07/672,172, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
The rocker shields 96 are connected at their respective free end regions by 
a joining element or component located underneath the tubular support or 
beam 42 associated with the shank-shaped supporting member 36. For reasons 
of simplicity, such joining element or component has not been shown in 
FIGS. 1 and 2. One end of a pressure spring 106 is supported at the center 
of the joining element or component, while the other end of the pressure 
spring 106 bears upon an adjusting or set screw 108, which engages in a 
nut 108' secured to the tubular support or beam 42, as best seen by 
referring to FIG. 1. Turning of the adjusting or set screw 108 adjusts the 
force with which the detaching roller 88 is pressed against the winding 
core 18 or, as the case may be, the product package 21 wound thereupon. 
The rocker shields 96 also comprise at the aforesaid free end regions 
thereof respective nose or stop members 96' located below the tubular 
support or beam 42, as best seen by referring to FIG. 2. The pivoting 
movement of the rocker member 92 in the counterclockwise direction is 
limited by the nose or stop members 96' striking against the tubular 
support or beam 42. 
Guide means 110 are provided between the detaching roller 88 and the 
winding-band spool 76, in order to transfer the detached free end 82 of 
the winding band or strap 20 from the detaching roller 88 to the 
winding-band spool 76, and in order to guide the winding band or strap 20. 
An endless belt or band 112 connects, in underfeed or from below, the 
winding-band spool 76 with the detaching roller 88, whereby the upper run 
thereof, conveniently designated by reference numeral 112', partially 
trains or wraps around the winding-band spool 76 and the detaching roller 
88. The endless belt or band 112 is appropriately guided around deflection 
rolls 114 and deflection rolls 114'. The two deflection rolls 114 disposed 
in neighboring relationship to the winding-band spool 76 are freely 
rotatably mounted at the bearing shields 62. On the other hand, the 
deflection rolls 114' adjacent to the detaching roller 88 are arranged at 
a guide rocker or balance 116 which is pivotable about the bearing shank 
100. This guide rocker or 
balance 116 comprises two guide shield members 116' located between the 
rocker shields 96 and arranged in neighboring relationship to the latter, 
such guide shield members 116' being supported at the bearing shank 100 by 
means of respective bearing sleeves designated by reference numeral 118. 
As viewed in the direction of the arrow F depicting the infeed direction 
in FIG. 1, the deflection rolls 114' located upstream of the detaching 
roller 88 are freely rotatably mounted at the two guide shield members 
116', whereby the upper one of the two deflection rolls 114' is arranged 
such that the endless belt or band 112 trains or wraps around the 
detaching roller 88 through an angle of about 90.degree.. Approximately 
below the bearing shaft 94, there is mounted at the two guide shield 
members 116' a guiding device 120 extending up to the location below the 
winding-band spool 76. This guiding device 120, together with the guide 
rocker or balance 116, is prestressed in the upward direction such that 
the guiding device 120 with a roll or roller 122, which is freely 
rotatably mounted at the free end portion thereof, appropriately presses 
the upper run 112' of the endless belt or band 112 against the 
winding-band spool 76 or, as the case may be, the winding band or strap 20 
wound thereupon. For this purpose, two bolts 124 or equivalent structure 
protrude from the guiding device 120 in the upward direction, whereby such 
bolts 124 pass through respective retaining members 126 mounted at the 
rocker member 92 pivotable about the bearing shaft 94, and are upwardly 
pulled by respective pressure springs 128 supported at the aforesaid 
retaining members 126. 
A part or portion of the guiding device 120 is schematically shown in FIG. 
3 in a side view and in an enlarged illustration, while FIG. 4 shows a 
sectional view taken substantially along the line IV--IV in FIG. 3. The 
guiding device 120 comprises, from its end facing the detaching roller 88 
up to the area located below the winding-band spool 76, a plate-shaped 
arrangement 130, which is wider than the endless belt or band 112, and 
along which there extend at both sides thereof respective hollow 
structural elements 132 having a substantially rectangular cross-section 
which is up-ended, as depicted in FIG. 4. The plate-shaped arrangement 130 
comprises in the middle a narrow substantially rectangular structural 
element or profile 134 and two wide substantially rectangular structural 
elements or profiles 134' disposed externally thereto, such structural 
elements or profiles 134 and 134' being of equal height and preferably 
formed of aluminum. Between the central structural element or profile 134 
and the two lateral or outer structural elements or profiles 134', there 
are provided respective profile-shaped permanent magnets 136. The 
plate-shaped arrangement 130 and the hollow structural elements 132 are 
held together by means of bolts 138 or equivalent structure piercingly 
extending through the latter. It is to be noted that laterally of the 
endless belt or band 112, the hollow structural elements 132 upwardly 
project beyond the plate-shaped arrangement 130, in order to appropriately 
guide the endless belt or band 112 as well as the winding band or strap 20 
reposing thereupon. In the region or area located below the winding-band 
spool 76, the guiding device 120 comprises two lateral or side plates 140 
which are mounted in known manner at the hollow structural elements 132, 
and at which the roll or roller 122 is mounted to be freely rotatable, as 
seen by referring to FIG. 1. The two lateral or side plates 140 extend at 
both sides in neighboring relationship to the winding-band spool 76, so 
that the winding band or strap 20 to be wound thereupon cannot laterally 
telescope away. 
The detaching roller 88 and the endless belt or band 112 form a conveying 
gap 142 for the winding band or strap 20. At the end of this conveying gap 
142, which end faces the winding-band spool 76, there is provided a 
spattle-shaped separator or separating element 144 depicted in FIG. 1. 
This separator 144, mounted at the two guide shield members 116', 
appropriately detaches the free end 82 of the winding band or strap 20 
from the detaching roller 88, the free ed 82 having been deflected by the 
conveying gap 142 into the direction towards the winding-band spool 76. In 
this manner, the winding band or strap 20 reposing on the upper run 112' 
of the endless belt or band 112 can be conveyed to the winding-band spool 
76. 
The winding band or strap 20 comprises at its free end region a Velcro 
strip fastener or zipper as known, for example, from European Patent 
Application No. 0,310,784, published Apr. 12, 1989, such Velcro fastener 
being provided to fasten or secure the outer winding-band end 82 to the 
portion of the winding band or strap 20 lying below it, thus keeping 
together the finished or wound product package 21. The Velcro strip 
fastener or zipper preferably starts a few centimeters away from the tip 
of the free end or end portion 82 of the winding band or strap 20, in 
order to form a tab protruding beyond the Velcro fastener. In the region 
of such tab and in the region of the Velcro fastener or zipper adjacent 
thereto, there are embedded thin superimposed soft-iron laminae or 
platelets in the winding band or strap 20, such structure being described 
in detail and illustrated, for instance, in the aforementioned copending 
U.S. application Ser. No. 07/672,172. 
In the interest of completeness, reference is made to FIG. 1 and an 
infeeding conveyor 146 which is structured as a belt or band conveyor and 
arranged upstream of the conveyor-belt arrangement 44, as viewed in the 
direction of the arrow F indicating the infeed direction of the printed 
products 19. 
The conveyor belts or bands 46 possess at their inner side or inside 
surface respective guide beads or ribs 46" which serve to laterally guide 
the conveyor belts or bands 46 in respective circumferential grooves 50" 
provided in the rolls or rollers 50 and 50'. The conveyor belts or bands 
46 are held taut or tensioned by means of weight or load rollers 148 which 
bear upon respective lower runs of the conveyor belts or bands 46, such 
weight or load rollers 148 being pivotably mounted at the cross-head 64 by 
means of respective pivot or swivel arms 150. 
Having now had the benefit of the foregoing description of the exemplary 
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the mode of operation of the 
winding apparatus 10 for the winding-up of printed products 19 is 
hereinafter described in conjunction with FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, and is as 
follows: 
In order to enable the winding core or body 18 to come to bear upon the two 
drive wheels or rolls 28 and 28' of the bearing arrangement 17, the 
bearing arrangement 17 is raised to a level which corresponds with the 
illustration of the winding core 18 depicted in FIG. 5 by a dot-dash 
circle. When the freely rotatably mounted tensioning roller 30 is raised 
or lifted, as seen by referring also to FIG. 1, the winding core 18 is 
placed or deposited upon the drive wheels or rolls 28 and 28' and pressed 
against the latter by subsequently lowering the tensioning roller 30. The 
conveyor belts or bands 46 of the conveyor-belt arrangement 44 are 
retained or held substantially taut by the respective weight or load 
rollers 148. The rocker ember 92 is pivoted in the counterclockwise 
direction into its upper end position or location, in which the nose or 
stop members 96' bear against the tubular support or beam 42. The endless 
belt or band 112 rests against the detaching roller 88 and the empty 
winding-band spool or reel 76. The winding band or strap 20 is wound onto 
the empty winding core or body 18 as a band or strap supply, and tied or 
packaged by means of the not particularly illustrated Velcro strip 
fastener or zipper. 
The bearing arrangement 17 is then lowered as indicated in FIG. 5 by arrow 
C, so that the winding core or body 18 comes to bear upon the upper runs 
46' of the conveyor belts or bands 46. Lowering of the bearing arrangement 
17 is thereby carried on up to a lower end position or location depicted 
in FIG. 6, in which the conveyor belts or bands 46 partially wrap around 
the winding core 18. By turning on or setting into operation the drive 
motor 34, the winding core 18 is driven in the direction of arrow D (FIG. 
6), i.e. contrary to the product wind-up sense of rotation depicted in 
FIG. 7 by arrow B. By virtue of the wrap-around contact of the conveyor 
belts or bands 46 with the rotating winding core 18, the conveyor belts or 
bands 46 are driven in the respective revolving direction, with the result 
that the winding-band spool 76 rotates in the wind-up sense of rotation A. 
Such rotation of the winding-band spool 76 is transmitted via the endless 
belt or band 112 to the detaching roller 88 which is pressed against the 
winding band or strap 20 wound up on the winding core 18. Since the 
diameter of the winding-band spool 76 is slightly larger than the diameter 
of the rolls or rollers 50', the detaching roller 88 rotates with a 
slightly higher circumferential speed than the winding core 18 or, as the 
case may be, the winding band or strap 20 wound up thereon. As soon as the 
free end 82 of the winding band or strap 20 runs up to the detaching 
roller 88, the free end 82 is drawn or attracted to the detaching roller 
88 as a result of the force of attraction of the permanent magnets 102 
upon the soft-iron laminae or platelets provided in the end region of the 
winding band or strap 20, whereby the free end 82 is detached or released 
from the winding-band supply package located on the winding core 18 and, 
while opening the Velcro strip fastener or zipper, is inserted in the 
conveying gap 142. Upon discharge or exit from the conveying gap 142, the 
free end 82 of the winding band or strap 20 is separated from the 
detaching roller 88 by the spattle-shaped separator or separating element 
144, so that the winding band or strap 20 now reposing or lying on the 
upper run 112' of the endless belt or band 112 is transported in the 
direction towards the winding-band spool 76. 
As soon as the free end 82 arrives in the region or area of the guiding 
device 120, the winding-band region provided with the soft-iron laminae or 
platelets is retained or held at the endless belt or band 112 by the 
action of the permanent magnets 136 arranged in the guiding device 120, 
and brought or conveyed with the endless belt or band 112 to the 
winding-band spool 76. By means of the permanent magnets 80 provided at 
the winding-band spool 76, the free end 82 of the winding band or strap 20 
is attracted to the winding-band spool 76, in order to be wound up 
thereon. The winding core 18 is rotatably driven in the direction of the 
arrow D until the entire or complete winding band or strap 20 or, as the 
case may be, the required length of the winding band or strap 20 is wound 
or reeled onto the winding-band spool 76, as depicted in FIG. 6. The 
difference between the circumferential speed of the conveyor belts or 
bands 46 and the circumferential speed of the winding-band spool 76 or, as 
the case may be, of the winding band or strap 20 wound thereupon, as well 
as of the endless belt or band 112 revolving at the same speed, is 
substantially taken up by the slip couplings or clutches 74, depicted in 
FIG. 2. The winding band or strap 20 is thus reeled or wound onto the 
winding-band spool 76 under a load or tension determined by these slip 
couplings or clutches 74. 
Subsequently, in order to wind up the printed products 19 incoming in an 
imbricated or shingled formation S and in the predetermined infeed 
direction F, the winding core or body 18 is appropriately driven in the 
winding-up direction B by inversion of the sense of rotation of the drive 
motor 34. Driven by partially training or wrapping around the winding core 
or body 18, the conveyor belts or bands 46 also revolve in the direction 
contrary to the wind-up sense of rotation A, i.e. in the direction of 
arrow A' shown in FIG. 7. In this rotational direction A', the sleeve 
free-wheels 68 are active or effective, so that the shaft 58, depicted in 
FIGS. 1 and 2, is decoupled from the rolls or rollers 50'. The shaft 58 is 
prevented from rotating in the direction A' by the free-wheels 60, so that 
now the tensional load in the winding band or strap 20, which is to be 
unwound from the winding-band spool 76 and wound together with the printed 
products 19 onto the winding core or body 18, is determined by the action 
or effect of the brake members 84. As soon as the printed products 19, 
i.e. the entire imbricated formation S, are wound up to form the product 
package 21, the winding core or body 18 carries on rotating until the 
complete winding band or strap 20 is wound onto the product package 21. 
The free end 82 of the winding band or strap 20 is thereby detached or 
removed from the winding-band spool 76 against the force of attraction of 
the permanent magnets 80, and retained at the endless belt or band 112 in 
the region of the guiding device 120 by the action or effect of the 
permanent magnets 136. Subsequent to passing through the conveying gap 
142, the Velcro fastener or zipper is closed in that the detaching roller 
88, which is prestressed or biased against the product package 21, presses 
the winding band or strap 20 against the winding or layer thereof lying 
therebelow. 
In order to remove the finished or completely wound product package 21 from 
the bearing arrangement 17, the latter is raised or lifted to an upper end 
position, so that the product package 21 is no longer in contact with the 
upper runs 46' of the conveyor belts or bands 46. The winding core or body 
18 is now released by raising or lifting the tensioning roller 30, so that 
the winding core or body 18 together with the product package 21 located 
thereon can be lifted away from the bearing arrangement 17, for example, 
by means of a forklift truck. 
The aforedescribed winding apparatus 10 is particularly suitable for 
producing comparatively small product packages 21, i.e. the ratio that the 
outer diameter of the finished product package 21 bears to the outer 
diameter of the winding core or body 18 is approximately 3:1 or smaller. 
It is also readily conceivable to controllably brake the winding-band 
spool during the unwinding operation of the winding band or strap, so that 
product packages with a larger diameter ratio can be also readily produced 
by means of the winding apparatus 10. 
The drive active coupling between the conveyor-belt arrangement 44 and the 
winding-band spool 76 for winding up the winding band or strap 20 can be 
obviously structured differently than as depicted in the embodiment 
according to FIGS. 1 through 4. For example, there could be provided 
controllable coupling members. In case the same tensional loads are 
desirable in the winding band or strap for winding up or withdrawing the 
latter, as the case may be, onto or from the winding-band spool, it would 
be also possible to provide only a single slip coupling or braking device. 
It is also conceivable that detaching or removing the free end of the 
winding band or strap from the product package is achieved with other than 
magnetic means. The deflection device could comprise, for instance, a 
suitable suction roll or roller, or the free end of the winding band or 
strap could be separated by adhesive force or with suitable mechanical 
means. It would be possible in a similar manner to structure the endless 
belt or band as a perforated or punched strap and provide a vat connected 
to a negative-pressure or suction source, so that for retaining the free 
end and, in fact, the winding band or strap at the endless belt or band, 
the latter is guided to travel over the vat in the region or area located 
between the deflection device and the winding-band spool. 
While there are shown and described present preferred embodiments of the 
invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not 
limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced 
within the scope of the following claims. ACCORDINGLY,