Patent ID: 6846145

Claim:
A device for on-line storage of sets of flat products comprising: an input station; an output station; a means for conveying the sets between said input station and said output station; a pressing means for moving with said means for conveying, said pressing means for changing from an open configuration permitting an introduction of the sets into said means for conveying at a given input rate, to a holding configuration in which the flat products are pressed against one another; a means for causing said pressing means to change over from said open configuration to said holding configuration, said means for causing provided at said input station; a means for ejecting the sets provided at said output station for ejecting the sets at a given output rate; and a means for generating an accumulation of the sets between said input station and said output station as a function of said rate of input or said rate of output, said means for conveying having a plurality of pods, each of said plurality of pods being capable of accommodating at least one set of the sets of flat products, said pressing means having two carriages slidable toward each other on the pod, said pressing means having a means for holding said two carriages spaced apart by a given distance, said means for holding the carriages comprising first and second blocking means capable of engaging with one another, said first blocking means being secured to said carriage, said second blocking means being articulated in relation to said pod, said means for holding the carriages having a locking means borne by said pod, said locking means for forcing an engagement of said second blocking means with said first blocking means.