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

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatus for assisting change-over of take-up rolls in a printing system, especially in a roll-to-roll printing system. The apparatus comprises a guide device for directing or guiding printed sheet output from the printing system along a transport path towards a take-up roll for winding or taking up a length of the printed sheet, 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. 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. The guide device is movable to redirect the printed sheet output from the printing system to a buffer zone, and 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. Furthermore, the invention provides a corresponding method of handling take-up rolls in a printing system.

Claims

1. 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.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a second clamping device located on the transport path downstream of the first clamping device for holding a trailing 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 second clamping device is configured to hold or retain the trailing edge region of the sheet against movement along the transport path towards the take-up roll, and wherein the second clamping device is operable to hold or retain the trailing edge region of the printed sheet as the take-up roll rotates to tension the sheet on the roll.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, the guide device comprising a guide member which is movable between a first position, in which the printed sheet is directed along the transport path towards the take-up roll, and a second position, in which the printed sheet is redirected to the buffer zone, the guide member being configured to rotate or pivot between the first position and the second position.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first clamping device comprises first clamping members, which are movable relative to one another between an open, non-clamping position, for enabling the printed sheet to travel along the transport path towards the take-up roll, and a closed, clamping position for holding or retaining the new leading edge region of the printed sheet.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second clamping device comprises second clamping members, which are movable relative to one another between an open, non-clamping position, for enabling the printed sheet to travel along the transport path towards the take-up roll, and a closed, clamping position for holding or retaining the trailing edge region of the printed sheet.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cutting device for cutting the printed sheet to terminate a length of the sheet to be wound or taken up onto the take-up roll.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an attachment device for attaching the trailing edge region of the printed sheet onto the take-up roll to complete the winding or taking up of the sheet prior to discharge or removal of the take-up roll.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a control unit for controlling operation of the first clamping device and/or of the second clamping device, and/or for controlling operation of cutting device to cut the sheet.

9. A method of 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 the steps of: 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; cutting the printed sheet to terminate the length of the sheet to be wound or taken up onto the take-up roll in the take-up position, whereby the cutting forms a trailing edge region and a new leading edge region of the printed sheet; clamping or holding 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; and redirecting 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 during said clamping or holding of the new leading edge region; and releasing the new leading edge region of the printed sheet from the first clamping device and feeding or drawing the printed sheet 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.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of: clamping or holding the trailing edge region of the printed sheet against movement on the transport path towards the take-up roll to tension the sheet wound onto or taken up onto the take-up roll.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of directing or guiding the sheet along the transport path is via a guide member, wherein the step of redirecting the printed sheet to the buffer zone comprises moving, the guide member from a first position, in which the sheet is guided along the transport path towards the take-up roll, to a second position, in which the sheet is redirected to the buffer zone.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of: attaching the trailing edge region of the printed sheet onto the take-up roll to complete winding or taking up the printed sheet prior to discharge or removal of the take-up roll.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of: controlling operation of a first clamping device for clamping or holding the new leading edge region of the printed sheet against movement along the transport path; and/or controlling operation of a guide device for redirecting the printed sheet output from the printing system to the buffer zone during said clamping or holding of the new leading edge region.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of: controlling operation of a second clamping device for clamping or holding the trailing edge region of the printed sheet against movement along the transport path; and/or controlling operation of an attachment device for attaching the trailing edge region of the printed sheet onto the take-up roll to complete winding or taking up the printed sheet prior to discharge or removal of the take-up roll.

15. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first clamping members are jaw which are movable relative to one another between an open, non-clamping position and a closed, clamping position.

16. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second clamping members are jaw which are movable relative to one another between an open, non-clamping position and a closed, clamping position.

17. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a control unit for controlling operation of the first clamping device and/or of the second clamping device when a cut in the sheet is detected via a sensor, and/or for controlling operation of a cutting device to cut the sheet.

18. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of directing or guiding the sheet along the transport path is via a guide member, wherein the step of redirecting the printed sheet to the buffer zone comprises rotating or pivoting the guide member from a first position, in which the sheet is guided along the transport path towards the take-up roll, to a second position, in which the sheet is redirected to the buffer zone.

19. A printing system which comprises an apparatus for assisting replacement of a take-up roll for winding or taking up a length of a printed sheet according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a more complete understanding of the invention and the advantages thereof, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference characters designate like parts and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an apparatus for assisting change-over of take-up rolls in a printing system according to one embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an apparatus for assisting change-over of take-up rolls in a printing system according to another embodiment of the invention; and

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of an output end region of a printing system according to an embodiment of the invention including an apparatus for assisting change-over of take-up rolls according to the invention, a guide device for guiding printed medium or sheet to a take-up roll, and an apparatus for handling the take-up rolls;

(5) FIG. 4 is a detailed side view of part of the apparatus for handling the take-up rolls in the printing system shown in FIG. 3; and

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the guide device for guiding the printed medium or sheet onto the take-up roll in the printing system shown in FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6 is a flow diagram which schematically illustrates a method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(8) The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate particular embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as they become better understood with reference to the following detailed description.

(9) It will be appreciated that common and/or well understood elements that may be useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are not necessarily depicted in order to facilitate a more abstracted view of the embodiments. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily illustrated to scale relative to each other. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps in an embodiment of a method may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrences while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used in the present specification have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study, except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(10) With reference firstly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, one embodiment of an apparatus 1 for assisting change-over of take-up rolls R in a printing system 100 is illustrated schematically. The apparatus 1 includes a guide device 2 comprising a panel-like guide member 3 for directing or guiding a sheet S of printed media which is output from the printing system 100 along a transport path P towards a take-up roll R for winding or taking up a length of the printed sheet S. The take-up roll R typically comprises a tubular or cylindrical roll core formed of cardboard or plastic or any other suitable material, which is mounted in a take-up position P.sub.T in the printing system 100 and is driven in rotation about its central longitudinal axis C for winding or taking up the printed sheet S on the roll R. Thus, the printed sheet S which is output from the printing system 100 via the apparatus 1 moves along the transport path P by virtue of both pushing forces imparted to the sheet S by feed rollers (not shown) as well as pulling forces imparted to the sheet S, for example, by the driven take-up roll R.

(11) The apparatus 1 further includes a cutting device 4, such as a knife or a blade, for cutting the printed sheet S transversely across a width thereof to terminate or to define a length of the sheet S to be wound or taken up onto the take-up roll R. In particular, when the take-up roll R is detected to have reached its capacity or when the print job is detected as having finished, the cutting device 4 is controlled and operated to cut the sheet S to end the length of that printed sheet S to be wound onto the current take-up roll R. The step of cutting the continuous sheet S in this way therefore forms a trailing edge region E.sub.T and a new leading edge region E.sub.L of the printed sheet S. Under the influence of both the pushing forces and pulling forces imparted to the sheet S, both the trailing edge region E.sub.T and new leading edge region E.sub.L of the printed sheet S continue to travel along the transport path P downstream of the cutter device 4 towards the take-up roll R.

(12) Referring still to drawing FIG. 1, the apparatus 1 includes a first clamping device 5 having a pair of opposed first clamping members or first jaw members 6, 6 which are movable relative to one another between an open position (shown) to allow the sheet S to travel along the transport path P towards the take-up roll R, and a closed position to clamp and hold the new leading edge region E.sub.L of the sheet S. In particular, the first clamping device 3 is configured to hold the new leading edge region E.sub.L of the printed sheet S against movement along the transport path P towards the take-up roll R. The guide device 2 is configured to cooperate closely with the first clamping device 5 in this regard. Specifically, the panel-like guide member 3 which extends beneath the printed sheet S and directs the sheet S along the transport path P to the take-up roll is mounted for pivoting movement about a hinge axis X between a first position G.sub.1 and a second position G.sub.2. In this way, when the jaw members 6, 6 of the first clamping device 5 close to hold the new leading edge region E.sub.L of the sheet S, the guide panel 3 can be moved or pivoted to redirect the printed sheet S output from the system 100 to a buffer zone B, where the sheet S then collects or accumulates temporarily in one or more loose folds (known as a blouse), as shown in broken lines.

(13) The guide device 2 and the first clamping device 5 are operated by a control unit or controller 7 which typically includes a processor and one or more sensors 8. After the knife or blade of the cutting device 4 cuts the sheet S, both the trailing edge region E.sub.T and new leading edge region E.sub.L at the cut continue to move along the transport path P towards the take-up roll R. A sensor 8, such as an optical sensor, positioned on or adjacent to the first clamping device 5 may be configured to detect the new leading edge region E.sub.L of the sheet S. Upon detection of the cut or the leading edge region E.sub.L within, or just downstream of, the jaw members 6, 6, the controller 7 may activate the first clamping device 5 to close and thereby clamp and hold the leading edge region E.sub.L and then also to move the panel member 3 of the guide device 2 to the second position G.sub.2 to redirect the sheet S emerging from printing heads or from a drying and fixing portion of the printing system 100 to the buffer zone B. At the same time, the take-up roll R is still driven in rotation about the axis C to wind up the final portion of the printed sheet S having the trailing edge region E.sub.T formed by the cut. An attachment device 9 is provided adjacent the take-up roll R to fix or secure the trailing edge region E.sub.T of the sheet S to the roll. In this way, the finished or fully-wound take-up roll R is then ready to be removed or discharged from the take-up position P.sub.T and replaced by a new take-up roll R. This may be performed manually by an operator intervention and/or automatically. After the new take-up roll R is mounted in the take-up position P.sub.T, the new leading edge region E.sub.L of the sheet S can be released from the first clamping device 5 and the sheet S fed or drawn out from the buffer zone B to be wound onto the new take-up roll R. Once the buffered portion of the sheet is taken up on the roll R, the guide panel 3 is operated to be pivoted back into the first position G.sub.1 to guide the printed sheet S along the transport path P towards the take-up roll R as before.

(14) With reference to FIG. 2 of the drawings, another embodiment of the apparatus 1 of the invention is illustrated. In addition to all of the features described above with respect to FIG. 1, this embodiment includes a second clamping device 10 having a pair of opposed second clamping members or second jaw members 11, 11 which are movable relative to one another between an open position (shown) to allow the sheet S to travel further along the transport path P onto the take-up roll R, and a closed position for holding the trailing edge region E.sub.T of the sheet S. In particular, the second clamping device 10 is configured to hold the trailing edge region E.sub.T of the printed sheet S against movement while the take-up roll R continues to be driven in rotation to apply tension to the sheet and draw the roll R taught as the winding or taking up of the printed sheet S is completed immediately prior to the attachment device 9 securing the free trailing edge region E.sub.T to the roll R. In this way, as the first clamping device 5 grips and holds the new leading edge E.sub.L of the sheet S and the guide device 2 is controlled to redirect the emerging printed sheet to the buffer zone B, the second clamping device 10 is activated by the controller 7 when a sensor 8 (such as optical sensor) provided on or adjacent to the second clamping device 10 detects the trailing edge region E.sub.T of the sheet S approaching the take-up roll R, e.g. within or adjacent to the second jaw members 11, 11. The second clamping device 10 may thus cooperate with the attachment device 9 to ensure that the take-up roll R is wound and completed as a taught and compact and secure package of printed sheet S from the printing system 100 ready to be removed or discharged from the take-up position P.sub.T and replaced with a new take-up roll R.

(15) With reference now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, a printing system 100 according to a preferred embodiment and comprising an apparatus 1 for assisting change-over of take-up rolls R for taking up printed sheet S according to the embodiment of FIG. 2 described above is illustrated. The printing system 100 of this embodiment further comprises a guide device 20 for guiding the printed sheet S towards the take-up roll R in the printing system, and an apparatus 30 for handling the take-up rolls R, and especially for loading and unloading the take-up rolls R in the system 100. As the apparatus 1 for assisting the change-over of the take-up rolls R is essentially as described in detail above with reference to FIG. 2, this part of the system 100 shown in FIG. 3 will not be described again in detail. The guide device 20 and the take-up roll handling or loading/unloading apparatus 30, however, are described in detail with reference also to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings.

(16) Thus, referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, a preferred embodiment of a guide device 20 for guiding the print medium, e.g. printed sheet S, towards the receiving roll or take-up roll R in the printing system 100 is particularly suitable for wide format roll-to-roll inkjet printing systems which generally employ print medium sheet or substrate having a width in the range of about 1 meter to about 4 meters, and more typically in the range of about 1.8 meters to 3.2 meters. As noted earlier, the take-up roll R typically comprises a tubular or cylindrical roll core formed of cardboard or plastic or other suitable material, which is mounted in a take-up position P.sub.T in the printing system 100 and is driven in rotation about its central longitudinal axis for winding or taking up the printed sheet S on the roll. Thus, the printed sheet S output from the printing system 100 via the guide device 10 is moved along the transport path P by virtue of pushing forces imparted to the sheet S by feed rollers (not shown) as well as pulling forces imparted to the sheet S by the driven take-up roll R.

(17) In this embodiment, the guide device 20 comprises a pair of guide units 21, 21 and each guide unit 21, 21 includes a generally flat first guide member 22, 22 (e.g. circular or rectangular) which presents a substantially planar surface 23, 23 for limiting or preventing lateral deviation of the sheet S output from the printing system 100 as the sheet travels along the transport path P to the take-up roll R for winding or taking up a length of the sheet. A position of the first guide member 22, 22 is adjustable in a direction D transverse to transport path P, and the position is able to be set to limit or prevent lateral deviation of the sheet S as it travels on the transport path P. In this regard, the first guide member or flange 22, 22 includes an opening or aperture 24, 24 which forms an attachment means via which the guide unit 21, 21 is mounted on a shaft or rod 25 for adjustment of the position along an axis A in the direction D transverse to the transport path P. The axis A is typically a longitudinal axis of the shaft or rod 25 and each first guide member 22, 22 may be able to be positioned along the shaft or rod 25 in the axial direction via its opening or aperture 24, 24. After a position of each first guide member 22, 22 (i.e. of the guide device 20) has been adjusted and set for a particular sheet width, the first guide members 22, 22 remain fixed or stationary in use.

(18) Each of the guide units 21, 21 of the guide device 20 in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 5 further includes a second guide member 26, 26 presenting a curved support surface 27, 27 for directing or guiding sheet S along the transport path P towards the take-up roll R. That is, the curved support surface 27, 27 of the second guide members 26, 26 is configured and arranged to support the printed sheet thereon as the sheet S travels along the transport path P towards the take-up roll. To this end, the support surface 27, 27 of each second guide member 26, 26 is desirably at least partially circularly or elliptically curved. It preferably also has low friction properties to promote easy passage of the sheet S on the transport path P. In this way, support surfaces 27, 27 of the second guide members 26, 26 are configured and arranged to direct or guide the printed sheet S from the buffer zone B of the printing system 100 towards the take-up roll R. Thus, during a change-over of the take-up roll R, the printing system 100 may continue printing by redirecting printed sheet S to the buffer zone B until a new take-up roll R is ready to receive the sheet. The sheet collects or accumulates temporarily in one or more loose (e.g. S-shaped) folds in the buffer zone (i.e. as a blouse). When a new take-up roll core is ready to wind up the folds of printed sheet or blouse from the buffer zone B, the curved support surfaces 27, 27 of the second guide members 26, 26 are designed to direct or guide the sheet S from the buffer zone B through a curve in the transport path P defined by the curved surfaces 27, 27 towards the new take-up roll R. As is apparent from FIG. 5, the first guide members or flange members 22, 22 and the curved second guide members 26, 26 are integrally formed in the respective guide unit 21, 21 in this embodiment of the guide device 20.

(19) With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, an apparatus 30 for handling (i.e. loading and unloading) the take-up rolls R in the printing system 100 is shown schematically. The apparatus 30 includes a holder device 32 mounted on a frame 33 of the apparatus 30 for holding a take-up roll R in a take-up position P.sub.T, such that the take-up roll R is able to rotate about its central longitudinal axis C in the take-up position P.sub.T for taking-up printed sheet S output from the printing system 100. In this regard, the take-up roll R comprises a tubular or cylindrical roll core typically made of cardboard or plastic which is driven in the take-up position P.sub.T to rotate about its central axis C in order to wind up the printed sheet S as it emerges from the printing heads or from a drying and fixing portion of the system 100. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the apparatus 30 comprises a roll supply 34 for storing a plurality of take-up rolls R, each of which is provided as a tubular or cylindrical roll core typically made of cardboard or plastic. The roll supply 34 is in the form of a hopper mounted on the frame 33 of the apparatus 30 and is configured to guide or feed each of the rolls R individually, preferably under gravity, to a loading position P.sub.L at or adjacent to the holder device 32.

(20) With reference now also to FIG. 4 of the drawings, the holder device 32 comprises a holder member 35 which is rotatable about an axis O of rotation (i.e. parallel to axis C of the take-up roll R in the take-up position P.sub.T) and includes three separate holding portions 36, namely a first holding portion 36, second holding portion 36, and third holding portion 36. These holding portions 36 are spaced around the holder member 35 and each is configured to receive and support a take-up roll R thereon. In this regard, each of the holding portions 36 has a respective support surface 37 that generally follows a contour of an outer surface of the take-up roll R supported thereon. Furthermore, each holding portion 36 extends between or includes prong- or finger-like ends or protrusions 38. The first, second and third holding portions 36, 36, 36 are preferably formed integrally as part of the holder member 35 and are thus configured to move simultaneously with one another.

(21) The holder device 32 is configured so that it is rotatable to release or to discharge the take-up roll R from its position on the holder device 32 when the take-up roll R is full or when a print job is finished. In this regard, rotation of the holder device 32 to release or discharge the full take-up roll R also operates to load a new take-up roll R onto the holder device 32 and into the take-up position P.sub.T. More particularly, when the holder member 35 rotates about the axis O, the first holding portion 36 then moves from the take-up position P.sub.T to the release position P.sub.R to release or eject the full take-up roll R from the holder device 32 to a collector unit 39. The collector unit 39 is designed to collect the full take-up rolls R that are released or discharged from the holder device 32. In this regard, the collector unit 39 may be configured to receive the full take-up rolls R gently via a gradually sloping guide path 40, which stores the take-up rolls R in a sequence corresponding to the order of their release from the holder device 32.

(22) When first holding portion 36 moves from the take-up position P.sub.T to the release position P.sub.R during rotation of the holder member 35 about the axis O, the second holding portion 36 moves from the loading position P.sub.L to the take-up position P.sub.T and thereby loads or receives a new take-up roll R from the supply 34 onto the holder device 32. As will be apparent from the drawings, when the first holding portion 36 of the holder member 35 rotates from the take-up position P.sub.T to the release position P.sub.R to release or discharge the full take-up roll R from the holder device 32, the third holding portion 36 of the holder member 35 rotates from the release position P.sub.R to the loading position P.sub.L to be position ready for the next take-up roll loading operation.

(23) The apparatus 30 further includes a control unit 41 (which may be combined or integrated with control unit 7 of apparatus 1) to control the movement of the holder device 32. In particular, the control unit 41 includes a sensor 42 for sensing or detecting when a take-up roll R has reached capacity or is full and needs to be changed. In this regard, the sensor 42 may detect the amount of printed sheet S already wound onto the take-up roll in the take-up position P.sub.T; for example, via a thickness t of the wound amount of the sheet S. Alternatively, or in addition, the control unit 41 may include a sensor 43 for detecting or registering when a print job is finished. In any case, the control unit 41 is configured to send control signals to control movement of the holder device 32 based on the data or information provided by sensors 42, 43. By controlling the movement of the holder device 32 in this way to unloadi.e. to release or dischargea full take-up roll R, the take-up roll handling apparatus 30 then automatically operates to load or to receive a new take-up roll R form the roll supply 34 onto the holder device 32 and directly into the take-up position P.sub.T.

(24) Finally, referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, a flow diagram is shown that illustrates schematically the steps in a method of assisting a change-over of take-up rolls R in a printing system 100 according to the embodiments of the invention described above with respect to drawing FIGS. 1 and 2. In this regard, the first box i of FIG. 6 represents the step of directing or guiding printed sheet S output from the printing system 100 along the transport path P towards the take-up roll R mounted in the take-up position P.sub.T for winding or taking up a length of the printed sheet S. The second box ii represents the step of cutting the printed sheet S to terminate the length of the sheet S to be wound or taken up onto the take-up roll R, whereby the cutting forms a trailing edge region E.sub.T of the sheet S and a new leading edge region E.sub.L of the printed sheet S emerging or output from the printing system 100. The third box iii then represents the step of clamping or holding the new leading edge region E.sub.L of the printed sheet S against movement along the transport path P towards the take-up roll R. The final box iv in drawing FIG. 6 then represents the step of redirecting the printed sheet S output from the printing system 100 to a buffer zone B during the clamping or holding of the new leading edge region E.sub.L which stops the sheet S upstream of the cut from progressing to the take-up roll R. The method of the invention therefore assists the finishing of the take-up roll R for change-over with low operator effort or intervention. This enables the installation and preparation of the new take-up roll R to occur quickly, which in turn improves the productivity and work-flow of the printing system 100.

(25) Although specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations exist. It should be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Generally, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

(26) It will also be appreciated that in this document the terms comprise, comprising, include, including, contain, containing, have, having, and any variations thereof, are intended to be understood in an inclusive (i.e. non-exclusive) sense, such that the process, method, device, apparatus or system described herein is not limited to those features or parts or elements or steps recited but may include other elements, features, parts or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Furthermore, the terms a and an used herein are intended to be understood as meaning one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise. Moreover, the terms first, second, third, etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on or to establish a certain ranking of importance of their objects.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(27) 1 apparatus 2 guide device 3 guide member or panel member 4 cutting device 5 first clamping device 6 first clamping member 6 first clamping member 7 control unit or controller 8 sensor 8 sensor 9 attachment device 10 second clamping device 11 second clamping member 11 second clamping member 20 guide device 21 guide unit 21 guide unit 22 first guide member or flange member 22 first guide member or flange member 23 substantially planar surface 23 substantially planar surface 24 opening or aperture 24 opening or aperture 25 shaft or rod 26 second guide member 26 second guide member 27 support surface 27 support surface 30 take-up roll handling apparatus 32 holder device 33 frame 34 roll supply 35 holder member 36 holding portion 36 first holding portion 36 second holding portion 36 third holding portion 37 support surface 38 finger or prong 39 collector unit 40 guide path of collector unit 41 control unit 42 sensor 43 sensor 100 printing system P transport path S printed sheet R take-up roll or roll core P.sub.T take-up position P.sub.R release position P.sub.L load position C central or rotational axis of take-up roll B buffer zone X pivot axis of guide member G.sub.1 first position of the guide member G.sub.2 second position of the guide member D adjustment direction A adjustment axis of guide device O rotational axis of holder device t thickness