EP0631952A1 - Device for feeding products, such as cards and samples, to a processing station - Google Patents

Abstract

The magazine device (10) has at least two magazine shafts (12, 14, 16, 18). A conveyor device (26) having grippers (30) arranged in succession leads over these magazine shafts. During a specific timespan, a transport member (34) in each case extracts products (36) in succession from one of the magazine shafts (12, 14, 16, 18) and leads these to a respective gripper (30) running past. After a specific timespan, the products (36) are extracted from another magazine shaft (12, 14, 16, 18) by means of a transport member (34) assigned to the latter. The products (36) are cards or merchandise samples which are inserted or glued into printed matter at the further-processing station (38). Uninterrupted operation along with a high processing capacity is possible by means of this device. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a device for supplying products, such as cards and samples, which are intended to be inserted or pasted into printed products, to a further processing point, according to the preamble of claim 1.

A device of this type is disclosed in DE-A-2135303. A stack of products such as paper bags, plastic bags, tinfoil bags or postcards is arranged in a vertical magazine shaft. The products are removed individually from the magazine shaft. For this purpose, the device has a conveying device with a revolving drive element, on which two application heads, each having a gripper device, are arranged one behind the other. The gripper devices serve to remove the products from the magazine shaft and to hold them until the application heads are placed on a printed product to which the product is to be glued. This known device should only be suitable for low working speeds. The products are removed from the standing stack below using the gripper devices. On the one hand this leads to correspondingly large accelerations and on the other hand the forces acting on the products are increased by the fact that the entire weight of the stack rests on the product to be removed. This leads to extremely high stress on the products, especially when the samples are filled with liquid.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a generic device which gentle handling of the products, guaranteed uninterrupted operation with high processing speed.

This object is achieved by a device which has the features of claim 1. According to the invention, there are at least two magazine shafts from which products are alternately removed during a period of time and transferred to the grippers of a conveyor. This enables the gentle removal of stacks from standing magazine shafts from above or from lying magazine shafts with uninterrupted operation. If the stack is dismantled in one magazine shaft, the products can be removed from the other magazine shaft, and the first-mentioned magazine shaft can be refilled with a stack at the same time. The products are removed from the respective magazine chute by means of a transport organ and inserted into the mouth of a gripper. This enables gentle handling of the products even at very high processing speeds, since the accelerations and forces acting on the products can be kept low. Furthermore, the space requirement is reduced to a minimum and the magazine shafts are easily accessible since the conveyor device leads over the magazine shafts.

The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for feeding the products to a further processing station as described in the earlier CH patent application No. 00107 / 93-2. There, the products are taken over by the grippers of the conveying device by means of take-over grippers arranged on a wheel-like support member and glued to or inserted into printed products by means of these, the printed products being in pocket-shaped form Receiving parts or on saddle-shaped pads of a processing drum. It would also be conceivable to insert the products directly into printed products by means of the conveyor device according to the present invention, or to place bound inserts open on collecting lines.

A particularly space-saving design of the device according to the invention, which requires small accelerations at high processing speeds, is specified in claim 2.

Another preferred form of training according to claim 3 permits the complete exposure of the outermost product of a stack at the delivery point. This means that only minimal forces act on this product when it is pulled off the stack. In addition, when the outermost product is removed, further products of the stack are prevented from being pulled along, and the stack is thus destroyed. Furthermore, a large area of the product is available for attack by the transport organ.

A particularly simple and quick filling of the magazine shafts is ensured in that they can be brought into a filling position in which they are freely accessible (claim 5).

A further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention is specified in claim 6. This has a large magazine capacity and at the same time guarantees free access to magazine slots to fill them up.

A particularly high processing speed with extremely gentle treatment of the products is achieved standing or inclined magazine shafts, the stack being dismantled from above, as defined in claim 7. The stacks are held particularly securely in inclined magazine shafts.

A particularly preferred embodiment is one in which the transport members each have a suction head in order to grasp the outermost product of a stack and to feed it to a gripper. The ore ice can be captured gently on its flat side.

A particularly simple handling of the product stack and in particular a simple filling of the magazine shafts is achieved in that the products are delivered in product delivery units according to claim 11.

Further preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention are specified in the further dependent claims.

Figuren 1 und 2

in Ansicht bzw. Draufsicht eine erste Ausbildungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung mit vertikalen Magazinschächten und einer über diese hinweg führenden Fördereinrichtung, deren Greifern die mittels eines Transportorgans den Magazinschächten entnommene Erzeugnisse zugeführt werden;

Figur 3

gegenüber Figur 1 vergrössert einen Teil der in jener Figur gezeigten Vorrichtung, in welchem ein aus einem Magazinschacht entnommenes Erzeugnis in das Maul eines Greifers eingeführt wird;

Figuren 4 bis 9

in ähnlicher Darstellung wie Figur 3 die erfindungsgemässe Einrichtung beim Abziehen eines Erzeugnisses ab einem Stapel und Einführen dieses Erzeugnisses in das Maul eines Greifers zu sechs verschiedenen Zeitpunkten eines Arbeitstaktes;

Figur 10

in Ansicht eine der in Figur 1 gezeigten Ausbildungsform ähnliche weitere Ausbildungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung, wobei die Magazinschächte geneigt angeordnet sind;

Figuren 11 und 12

in Ansicht bzw. Draufsicht eine weitere Ausbildungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung mit zwei Magazineinheiten in welchen je vier Magazinschächte um eine vertikale Drehachse turmartig angeordnet sind;

Figur 13

in perspektivischer Darstellung ein Stapel Erzeugnisse, der in einen schachtelartigen Behälter zu einer Erzeugnisliefereinheit eingesetzt wird;

Figur 14

ebenfalls in perspektivischer Darstellung eine Erzeugnisliefereinheit; und

Figur 15

in perspektivischer Darstellung ein Vorratsstapel von Erzeugnisliefereinheiten.

The present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the training forms shown in the drawing. It shows purely schematically:

Figures 1 and 2

a view or top view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention with vertical magazine shafts and a conveying device leading over them, the grippers of which the products removed from the magazine shafts by means of a transport member are fed;

Figure 3

Compared to FIG. 1, part of the device shown in that figure is enlarged, in which a product removed from a magazine shaft is introduced into the mouth of a gripper;

Figures 4 to 9

in a representation similar to FIG. 3, the device according to the invention when removing a product from a stack and inserting this product into the mouth of a gripper at six different times in a work cycle;

Figure 10

in view a further embodiment of the device according to the invention similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the magazine shafts being arranged at an incline;

Figures 11 and 12

in view or plan view a further embodiment of the device according to the invention with two magazine units in which four magazine shafts are arranged like a tower around a vertical axis of rotation;

Figure 13

a perspective view of a stack of products which is inserted into a box-like container to a product delivery unit;

Figure 14

also in perspective a product delivery unit; and

Figure 15

in perspective a stack of product delivery units.

The device according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a magazine device 10 with four magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 extending in the vertical direction. These are supported on a cabinet-like frame 20 each via two shafts 22 which are spaced apart in the vertical direction and extend in the horizontal direction. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 can be moved individually from a working position 24 in which the magazine shafts 14, 16 and 18 are located to a filling position 24 'in which the magazine shaft is located 12 is located. The displacement drive acting on the shafts 22 is located in the frame 20 and is not shown.

A conveyor device 26, which has a plurality of grippers 30 fastened at a distance one behind the other on a conveyor chain 28, leads over all magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 which have been moved into the working position 24. The conveyor chain 28 is guided in a known manner in a channel 32 which is C-shaped in cross section and runs horizontally and in a straight line above the magazine device 10. The conveying device 26 is intended to take products 36 removed from the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 by means of transport members 34 and a further processing point downstream of the magazine device 10, viewed in the conveying direction F, which is indicated by an arrow 38 in FIG to spend. There are the products 36, which are cards or samples, in printed products such as magazines, brochures or the like inserted or glued.

The grippers 30 have two clamping jaws 42, 42 'which form a gripper jaw 40 and can be pivoted about a common axis and are each connected to actuating rollers 44, 44' via levers; see in particular also FIG. 3. A stationary link 46, which runs above the magazine device 10 and runs parallel to the channel 32, interacts with the actuating rollers 44 and determines the position of the one jaw 42; in the present case, the upper jaw 42, which follows the other jaw in the direction of conveyance F.

Each of the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 is assigned a controllable link arrangement 48, which cooperate with the actuating rollers 44 'in order to move the leading lower jaws 42' into the closed position and to close the gripper jaw 40 when the link arrangement 48 is activated. Each of the link arrangements 48 has a lower articulated link rail 50 and above this a pivotable link wedge 52. If the grippers 30 cannot be closed, the link rail 50 is in its lower rectilinear end position and the link wedge 52 is in a pivoting rest position, as is shown in FIG. 1 on the basis of the link arrangements 48 assigned to the magazine shafts 12, 16 and 18. The actuating rollers 44 'are not actuated. If, on the other hand, the grippers 30 are to be closed, the link rail 50 is brought into its upper end position and the link wedge 52 is pivoted counterclockwise from the pivoting rest position into a pivoting working position, as is shown in FIG. 1 with the link arrangement 48 assigned to the magazine shaft 14 and in FIG. 3 is shown. The The link rail 50 is bent obliquely downwards at both ends in order to form a drive-up ramp for the actuating rollers 44 ′ in the starting area, viewed in the conveying direction F, and to open the grippers 30 completely and in the end area together with the link wedge 52 pivoted into the pivoting working position, the actuating rollers 44 'to run on both sides. When the actuating rollers 44 'run onto the link wedge 52, the clamping jaws 42' seen in the direction of conveyance F are pivoted clockwise to close the gripper jaw 40. The clamping jaws 42, 42 'are held in the closed position by means of a latching device, which is released at the further processing point 38, so that the grippers 30 release the products 36. Grippers of this type are disclosed, for example, in European Patent Application No. 93 100 004.6 and the corresponding US Patent Application No. 08/018749 and in CH Patent Application No. 03694 / 92-7.

The link rails 50 and link wedges 52 are actuated, for example, via cylinder-piston arrangements, not shown, which are controlled by a control device 54 arranged in the frame 20 and indicated by an arrow.

The magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 open at the top have a delivery point 56 at their end on this side (FIG. 3). At this point is the uppermost outermost product 36 of a stack 58 arranged in the respective magazine chute 12, 14, 16, 18. The transport member 34 has a suction head 60, which is intended to take the relevant one in a receiving position 62 at the delivery point 56 Detect product 36 on its exposed top and insert it into the gripper mouth 40 of an open gripper 30. For this purpose, the suction head 60 is with a Drive mechanism connected, as disclosed, for example, in CH Patent Nos. 598 106 and 626 589 and the corresponding US Patent Nos. 4,127,262 and 4,279,142. The suction head 60 is moved by the drive mechanism along a closed orbit 64, the shape of which is similar to a hypocycloid. The drive mechanism of this type has a planetary gear connected to a drive motor, on the planet gear of which an angle lever is eccentrically applied, which is guided in a longitudinal guide on one end and on which the suction head 60 is attached at the other end. In order to achieve the direction of rotation indicated by arrow 64 'in FIG. 3, only the drive motor has to be driven against the direction shown in the above-mentioned documents.

The suction head 60 is connected to a vacuum source, not shown, between the receiving position 62 and the transfer position 62 'on the path of movement of the gripper 30, in which the product 36 in question is introduced into the gripper mouth 40. A suitable valve arrangement is disclosed, for example, in Swiss Patent No. 626 589 and the corresponding US Patent No. 4,279,412. The direction of movement of the suction head 60 from the receiving position 62 into the transfer position 62 'has a component pointing in the conveying direction F and a component pointing upwards from the delivery point 56 in the vertical direction. As a result, the products 36 are introduced with their leading edge 66, seen in the conveying direction F, into the gripping jaws 40 directed counter to the conveying direction F and towards the bottom.

The removal of a product 36 from the relevant stack 58 and insertion into the corresponding gripper 30 will now be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4-9. The one in these Reference numerals used correspond to those used above. In FIG. 4, the suction head 60 is in the receiving position 62 and is connected to the vacuum source. It lies on the exposed flat side of the outermost product 36 of the stack 58 and sucks it up. It should be noted that there is a distance A between the leading edge 66 and the suction head 60 that is at least as large as the depth of penetration with which the product 36 then engages in the gripper mouth 40 (see FIG. 6). As FIG. 5 shows, the suction head 60 lifts the top product 36 from the stack 58 and simultaneously accelerates it in the conveying direction F. Since the suction head 60 is driven synchronously with the conveying device 26, the product 36 is now moved into the relevant one with the leading edge 66 in front open gripper mouth 40 is inserted, which is then closed by means of the backdrop 46 and the backdrop arrangement 48 (Figure 6). This happens when the suction head 60 has reached the transfer position 62 '. At the same time, this is separated from the vacuum source, so that it releases the product 36 (FIG. 7). The product 36 is now transported away by the gripper 30 and the suction head 60 moves back along the orbit 64 in the direction of the receiving position 62 in order to pick up the next product 36 (FIG. 8). After the gripper 30 has been closed, it is pivoted counterclockwise by the link 46, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 9. This contributes to the fact that the product 36 is accelerated with respect to the rotational speed of the conveying device 26 and thus the next product 36 is exposed early for the suction head 60 (FIG. 4).

The length of the products 36 measured in the conveying direction F or in the direction of movement of the suction head 60 corresponds approximately the center distance of two successive grippers 30. If larger products 36 are to be processed viewed in the direction of conveyance F, additional means must be provided in order to remove the product 36, which is gripped by a gripper 30, from the area of the stack 58.

Each magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 are assigned sliding means 68, which are designed to support the respective stack 58 and to slide upwards when the stack 58 is dismantled in the longitudinal direction of the magazine shaft, so that at the delivery point 56 the upper one End of the stack. A pair of spindles 72, which extend in the vertical direction and are connected to a drive motor 74, are each rotatably mounted on brackets 70 fastened to the frame 20. The two spindles of a pair of spindles 72 interact with a running nut 76, to which a tongue-like sliding element 78 is attached. If this is in the lowest end position (see FIG. 1, the sliding element 78 assigned to the magazine shaft 12), it is arranged below the relevant magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18, so that it moves from the working position 24 into the filling position 24 'and again can be returned. If the sliding element 78 is raised from this position by driving the spindle pair 72, it runs into the magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18, comes to rest on the bottom product 36 of the stack 58 and lifts the entire stack 58. At the upper end of each magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 there is a light barrier 80 (FIG. 3) which is connected to the control device 54. The control device 54 puts the drive motor 74 into operation until the light barrier 80 is interrupted by the top product 36 of the stack 58. Then the drive motor 74 is shut down until the light barrier 80 is released again when the product 36 in question by means of the transport member 34 is withdrawn from the stack 58. The position of the stack 58 is thus automatically leveled such that the top product 36 is located at the delivery point 56. If the stack 58 of a magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 is dismantled, the sliding element 78 is brought into its lower end position and the magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 in question is extended into the filling position 24 ', where it is freely accessible and can be used again a new stack 58 to be loaded.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 have shaft walls 82 arranged in a U-shape and are open on the side facing the respective pair of spindles 72. The pair of spindles 72 is in each case downstream in the conveying direction F of the magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 concerned. The products 36 are prevented in the working position 24 of the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 from falling out by holding rails 84 which are fixedly arranged between the spindle pair 72 and the magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 and which are penetrated by the sliding element 78.

In order to support the stack 58 inserted in a magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 in the filling position 24 ', the shaft walls 82 opposite one another have, at their lower ends, spaced-apart base plates 86 which protrude towards the interior of the shaft. Of course, these are spaced so far apart that the sliding element 78 can pass between them in the working position 24.

FIG. 10 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention similar to the embodiment described above. The main difference is that the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 and the spindle pairs 72 associated therewith are arranged inclined rearward on the frame 20, so that in each case the delivery point 56 with respect to a vertical through the lower end of the magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18 against the conveying direction F is offset. The flat side of the products 36 runs approximately in the direction of movement of the suction head 60 from the receiving position 62 into the transfer position 62 '.

A further embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The magazine device 10 has two magazine units 88 arranged one behind the other along the conveying device 26, each of which is assigned a transport member 34 and a pushing means 68. These have the same training as in the training forms described above. Four magazine shafts 90 are each star-like attached to a bogie 94 which can be rotated about its longitudinal axis 92 running in the vertical direction. This is mounted in a base 96 and connected to a rotary drive which can be controlled by the control device 54 and which is symbolized by the arrows 98. The holding rails 84 and the drive motor 74 are also fastened to the base 96. The pair of spindles 72 is mounted on the top of a bracket 70 fastened to the holding rails 84 and on the bottom of a bracket 70 supported on the base 96.

The magazine shaft 90 facing the pushing means 68 is in the working position 24 and is ready for dismantling the relevant stack 58. Dismantling takes place in exactly the same way as described above. If a stack 58 has been removed, the sliding element 78 is brought into the lower end position and the magazine shafts 90 of the magazine unit 88 in question are moved clockwise of the rotary drive 98 is rotated by 90 ° about the axis of rotation 92, as is illustrated by the magazine unit 88 shown on the left in FIG. The empty magazine shaft 90 shown there is in the freely accessible filling position 24 '. During the time in which the magazine shaft 90 in the working position 24 is emptied, the magazine shaft 90 in the filling position 24 'is equipped with a new stack 58, as was the case with the magazine unit 88 shown on the right in FIG.

A stack 58 with products 36 is placed in a box-like container 100, as shown in FIG. The container 100 is designed as a lidless cardboard box 102. It has a bottom 104 and two side walls 106 running in the longitudinal direction of the stack 58. The end walls 108 running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the box are designed as webs which are spaced apart from the bottom 104 and connect the two side walls 106 to one another. Perforations 110 are provided at the connection points between the side walls 106 and the end walls 108 in order to be able to separate the end walls 108 from the remaining part of the cardboard box 102.

FIG. 14 shows a product delivery unit 112, which consists of a cardboard box 102 and the stack 58 accommodated therein. The magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 are preferably designed to each be able to accommodate such a product unit 112. As soon as the product unit 112 is inserted into the magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 in the filling position 24 ', the end walls 108 are removed, so that on the one hand the top product 36 of the stack 58 is freely accessible and on the other hand the sliding element 78 lowest Product 36 can reach under. With such product delivery units 112, problem-free and extremely rapid filling of the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 is ensured. In addition, the product delivery units 112 can be stacked into stable stacks both for delivery and for storage, FIG. 15.

In the product delivery units 112 shown in FIGS. 13-15, the products 36 protrude beyond the side and end walls 106, 108. It would of course also be conceivable to pull these walls up to the upper edge of the lying stack 58. Furthermore, the containers 100 could, for example, be made of plastic or sheet metal, the end walls then being arranged so that they can be removed, pivoted away or pushed away.

The operation of the devices described above is as follows:
For the time being, with the sliding elements 78 in the lower end position, the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 are each filled with a stack 58 of products 36. In the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 10, this takes place in that the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18 are successively extended into the filling position 24 'and are drawn back into the working position 24 after the filling. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the magazine shafts 90 are brought into the filling position 24 ′ one after the other by rotating about the axis of rotation 92 and, after filling, are rotated further through 90 ° until all magazine shafts 90 are filled. In the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18, 90, which are in the working position 24 after filling, the spindle element 72 is driven from below with the slide element 78 retracted and the stack 58 raised until the uppermost product 36 is at the delivery point 56. The magazine device 10 is now ready to dispense ores 36.

After the conveying device 26 has been started up, the removal of products 36 from one of the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 in the working position 24 begins. The link arrangement 48 assigned to the magazine slot in question is activated and the corresponding transport member 34 is started; compare FIG. 1: magazine shaft 14, FIG. 10: magazine shaft 12, FIG. 11: the magazine shaft 90 in the working position, the magazine unit 88 shown on the left. During a certain period of time, the magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 in question is now removed by means of the Transport member 34 successively removed products 36 and inserted into the successive grippers 30 of the conveyor 26. After this period of time, for example it can last until the magazine slot 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 in question is empty, the control device 54 switches the previously activated setting arrangement 48 into the rest position and shuts down the relevant transport member 34. In order to avoid interruptions, the products 36 are again removed from another magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 located in the working position 24 during a period of time. The control device 54 and the transport member 34 activate the relevant link arrangement in phase, so that the first gripper 30, which follows a gripper 30 to which a product 36 was previously fed, is now supplied with a product 36. The magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 90 is located upstream of the conveying direction F with respect to that magazine shaft 14, 16, 18, 90, the previous one Products 36 have been removed, the control device 54 activates the relevant link arrangement 48 and the relevant transport member 34 before the link arrangement 48 assigned to the downstream magazine shaft 14, 16, 18, 90 and the relevant transport member 34 are switched to the rest position. This is entirely possible for the control device 54, since it knows the number of products 36 located in the magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 and the number of grippers 30 between the transfer points 62 'of the various magazine shafts 12, 14. 16, 18, 90 associated transport members 34. In this way, the stacks 58 are alternately dismantled.

If a magazine shaft 12, 14, 16, 18, 90 is emptied, it is transferred to the filling position 24 'for filling.

In order to be able to work without interruption, at least two magazine shafts, each with a transport member 34, are necessary. If the device has four magazine shafts 12, 14, 16, 18, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 10, two magazine shafts, for example, can be filled with a stack 58 of a first type of product 36 and the other two magazine shafts each with a stack 58 of a second type 36. Uninterrupted operation is also guaranteed even if the same type of products 36 is to be processed at the processing center 38 for a longer processing phase, or the other type is to be processed after a certain number of a certain type of products 36. If, on the other hand, all four stacking chutes 14, 16, 18, 20 are equipped with the same products, the supply is increased so that two or three of the magazine chutes can be filled up in quick succession and then available for a longer time stands until two or three magazine shafts have been emptied again. The form of training according to FIGS. 11 and 12 has the same advantages. It is therefore entirely possible that all magazine shafts 90 of one magazine unit 88 are emptied before they have to be refilled.

For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that the suction heads 60, viewed in the conveying direction F, can be arranged to the side of the movement path of the grippers 30. In this case, the suction heads can also hold the products 36 at their leading edge 66. It is also conceivable to provide a suction head 60 on both sides of this movement path in order to capture the products 36 with two suction heads 60. In addition, it is possible to assign a plurality of suction heads 60 to each transport member 34, which take turns alternately one product 36 at a time and feed it to a gripper 30. Finally, it should be mentioned that the transport members 34 or suction heads 60 can be driven in a different way than described.

It is also conceivable to provide only one spindle and a guide for preventing the rotating nut from rotating instead of the pair of spindles 72. The light barrier 80 can of course be replaced by other types of switching means.

It should be mentioned that a plurality of magazine shafts can be arranged on an endless traction element, for example a chain, and this is driven in each case in order to bring a magazine shaft into the working position.

Claims (12)

Device for feeding products, such as cards and samples, which are intended to be inserted or pasted into printed products, to a further processing point, with a magazine device (10) which has at least one for receiving a stack (58) of products (36) has a specific magazine shaft (12, 14, 16, 18, 90) and a conveyor device (26) leading past the magazine device (10) and to the further processing point (38), the individually controllable grippers (30) arranged one after the other on a rotatingly driven pulling element (28) ) which are intended to take over a product (36) from the magazine device (10) and to transport it to the further processing point (38), characterized in that the magazine device (10) has at least two magazine shafts (12, 14, 16, 18 , 90) which, as seen in the conveying direction F of the conveying device (26), are arranged one behind the other and over which a plurality of vo n conveying device (26) having grippers (30), each of these magazine shafts (12, 14, 16, 18, 90) is assigned a transport member (34) connected to a drive, which is moved from a receiving position (62) at a delivery point (56 ) of the magazine shaft (12, 14, 16, 18, 90) concerned can be moved into a transfer position (62 ') in the path of movement of the grippers (30) and then back again in order to obtain the outermost product (36 ) of the stack (58), to pull it off the stack (58) and to insert it into the mouth (40) of a gripper (30), the magazine shafts (12, 14, 16, 18, 90) are assigned sliding means (68), to the Push the stack (58) towards the delivery point (56) so that the outermost product (36) is located at the delivery point (56) and a control device (54) controlling the grippers (30) and the transport members (34) is available which alternately controls the reception of the products (36) for a period of time from one of the stacking shafts (12, 14, 16, 18, 90). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the mouths (40) of the grippers (30) are directed backwards and preferably obliquely downwards as they move past the magazine device (10) with respect to the conveying direction F, and the transport members (34) from the receiving position (62) are moved into the transfer position (62 ') in a direction which has a component in the conveying direction F and a component from the magazine device (10) against the conveying device (26). Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sliding means (68) each have a sliding element (78) which is intended to engage in the magazine shafts (12, 14, 16, 18, 90) and is movable along this element and is intended to to reach behind the product (36) of the stack (58) furthest from the delivery point (56) and to align the stack (58) with the end of the stack facing the delivery point (56) to the delivery point (56). Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the sliding element (78) is connected to a running nut (76) which is approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the magazine shaft (12, 14, 16, 18, 90) extending spindle (72) connected to a drive motor (74). Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the magazine shafts (12, 14, 16, 18, 90) for filling with a new stack (58) from a working position (24) in which their delivery point (56) located in the receiving position (62), can be brought into a filling position (24 ') in which the magazine shaft (12, 14, 16, 18, 90) is freely accessible. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the magazine device (10) has at least two magazine units (88) with a plurality of magazine shafts (90) which can be rotated about axes of rotation (92), the magazine shafts (90) of each magazine unit (88) successively in the working position ( 24) are transferable. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the longitudinal direction of the magazine shafts (12, 14, 16, 18) extends transversely to a horizontal plane, preferably in the vertical direction or in a direction inclined to the rear, in which the delivery point (56 ) of the magazine shaft (12, 14, 16, 18) with respect to a vertical through the end of the magazine shaft (12, 14, 16, 18) remote from the delivery point (56) is offset against the conveying direction F. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the conveying device (26) extends in a straight line and essentially in a horizontal direction over the magazine device (10). Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the transport members (34) each have a suction head (60) which is temporarily connected to a vacuum source and which is intended to hold the product (36) in question in the receiving position (62) to detect the flat side facing away from the stack (58) and to hold it until the corresponding gripper (30) is transferred to its closed position in the transfer position (62 '). Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the dimension of the products (36), measured in the direction of movement of the transport member (34), is less than or equal to the center distance of two successive grippers (30). Product delivery unit (112) for use in a device according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it has a box-like container (100) and a stack (58) of products (36) arranged therein and is intended to be placed in a magazine shaft (12, 14, 16, 18, 90) to be used. Product delivery unit according to claim 11, characterized in that the end walls (108) of the container (100) which cooperate with the stack ends can be removed.

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