Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for collecting successively fed flat objects, in particular sheets. The device contains a blocker having at least one movable blocking element for stopping and subsequently releasing a certain number of objects fed, wherein the blocking element is a rotational body rotatable by a motor around its middle axis which, at its exterior periphery, has at least one reception for stopping the front edges of the objects fed in an idle position of the rotational body and for its deflection when turning the rotational body, and wherein at least one transport element for advancing the objects deflected when turning the rotational body is associated to the rotational body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatically synchronizing a number of paper feeding channels of an inserting system involving the following steps: a) inspecting the sheets provided for output in one of the channels by comparing their group sequence number and their sheet sequence number with predetermined reference values; b) outputting the inspected sheets from this channel if their group sequence number and sheet sequence number correspond with the set reference values; c) inspecting the additional sheets provided for output in one or more additional channels if the group sequence number or the sheet sequence number of a previously inspected sheet does not correspond with the set reference values; d) outputting the sheets from the additional channels if their group sequence number and sheet sequence number correspond with the set reference values, and; e) identifying a group as a defective group and outputting the sheet with the smallest group sequence number and with the smallest sheet sequence num

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for distributing a predetermined number of sheets (410, 412, 414, 416) from a group of sheets in which a plurality of sheets is arranged in a shingled mode of arrangement in a sheet transport direction (P) in such a way that the leading edges of the sheets in the paper transport direction are spaced apart by a certain length of displacement (X), wherein the group of sheets is moved in the sheet transport direction (P) by a predetermined distance which depends on the number of sheets to be distributed and on the sheet displacement, a respective sheet constituting the leading sheet in the sheet transport direction (P) being distributed from the group of sheets as soon as the respective leading sheet has reached a distributing unit (504) as a result of the movement.

Abstract: A method and a device for transferring at least two sheets, which are arranged in a shingled mode of arrangement in a sheet transport direction, to a sheet handling machine in which the at least two sheets are moved at a first speed after the transfer, a first and a second sheet being spaced by a certain length of displacement in the sheet transport direction. The two sheets are first supplied to the sheet handling machine at a second speed which is higher than the first speed. As soon as the first sheet is decelerated to the first speed in the sheet handling machine, the second sheet is decelerated to a third speed which is lower than the second speed.

Abstract: A device for reading flat material having an endless perforated belt, guided over two rollers, one of which is driven. Material is brought from a feeder to an inlet arranged on both sides of the rollers and the belt transports the material to an outlet. The material is retained against the belt by vacuum. The device is adjustable relative to the feeder and, in one position, the entrance to the inlet is at the level of the feeder and, in the other position, the entrance to the inlet is at the level of the feeder. At least one reading device is provided, for reading the markings from the material being transported on the belt. On adjustment from the one position to the other, a reversal in the direction of rotation of the driven roller occurs and the reading device faces that side of the belt, the entrance to the inlet of which is at the level of the feeder.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, data sets with identification marks, which are associated with the plastic cards, are first provided and each data set has associated therewith a print job number. The plastic cards and the printed card carriers, which have a print job number printed thereon, are provided in a presorted sequence and the identification mark of a plastic card and the print job number of a card carrier are detected. On the basis of the data set provided, the plastic card, whose identification mark has been read, has associated therewith a print job number, whereupon it is determined on the basis of this print job number whether the plastic card which is about to be joined and the card carrier match one another. If this is the case, the plastic card and the card carrier are brought together and joined.

Abstract: A method of bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, has the following steps: providing the plastic card, detecting the identification mark of said plastic card, deriving a test mark from said identification mark of the plastic card in such a way that unequivocal calculating back to the identification mark is not possible on the basis of the test mark, reading a data base by means of said identification mark, printing on the card carrier data read from the data base as well as the test mark, detecting the test mark of the card carrier prior to joining said card carrier to the plastic card, determining whether the test mark derived from the identification mark of the plastic card, which is about to be joined to the card carrier, corresponds to the detected test mark, and, provided that the test marks of the plastic card and of the card carrier correspond, bringing together and joining the

Abstract: An apparatus comprising two lateral guide devices guiding the paper web at the longitudinal edges of the endless paper web, and a deflection means is provided. With the aid of the deflector the paper web is deflected at least once from its direction of movement to increase the stiffness of the paper web while the paper web is moving between the lateral guide devices. Because of that, the paper web is prevented from ascending the lateral guide devices and a damage to the paper web is avoided when the paper web comes into lateral contact with the lateral guide device.

Abstract: A method of bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, comprises the following steps: providing the plastic card and the printed card carrier; detecting the identification mark of said plastic card; reading data from a database by means of said identification mark; detecting the data on said printed card carrier prior to joining said card carrier to the plastic card; determining whether the data detected on the card carrier correspond to the data read; and, provided that the data read and the data detected correspond, bringing together and joining the plastic card and the card carrier.

Abstract: A modular transport and gathering system used for moving a material to be fed (250) in a direction of transport and comprising a plurality of transport modules (A, B) having input-side and output-side end sections.

Abstract: In the case of a method of folding stacks of sheets, which can consist of one or of a plurality of sheets that may have different folding resistances, by supplying a plurality of stacks of sheets to a folding device by means of a temporally successive, cyclic supply which comprises phases of movement and pauses in movement, a stack folding resistance for a respective stack of sheets is first determined on the basis of at least the number and/or the folding resistance of the individual sheets forming a stack of sheets. Following this, the respective stack of sheets is folded, the folding speed used by the folding device for folding said stack of sheets being controlled in dependence upon the stack folding resistance that has been determined for this stack of sheets, the control of the folding speed of the folding device being carried out during respective pauses in movement of the cyclic supply.

Abstract: A stacked-sheet prefeeder comprises a sheet guiding device for receiving therein a stack of sheets, an intermediate tray, a scale former for removing sheets, arranged in a stack and/or in a scalelike mode of arrangement, jointly from the lower surface of the stack received in the sheet guiding device and for introducing these sheets into the intermediate tray in a first direction of movement, a sheet separator for removing from the intermediate tray the respective lowermost sheet as a single sheet in a second direction of movement which is substantially opposed to the first direction of movement, and a guide means arranged in the intermediate tray and used for guiding the sheets in the intermediate tray at their sheet edges constituting the front sheet edges in the second direction of movement, the guide means being implemented as a transport and guide means in such a way that it moves the sheet edges constituting the front sheet edges in the second direction of movement in the interior of the intermediate tr

Abstract: A knife folder for folding a sheet material comprises a sheet-material feeder for feeding the sheet material in a first direction, a folder for folding said sheet material, and a sheet-material conveyer used for conveying the sheet material and comprising at least one pair of rotating conveying components whose axes of rotation are arranged in a second direction substantially at right angles to the first direction. The folder pushes the folded sheet material between the conveying components of the at least one pair of conveying components when it is at its folding position. The sheet material is advanced up to a stop. The folder comprises a knife extending in a third direction substantially at right angles to said first and said second direction. The sheet material can be conveyed in the third direction by actuating the conveying components.

Abstract: A device for producing a scaled stream with a controllable scaled-stream thickness has a sheet guiding device for receiving therein a stack of sheets, a first transport means, which has a selectively operable or controllable drive, which engages only the lower surface of the stack of sheets and which is arranged relative to the stack of sheets in such a way that the stack of sheets rests thereon with at least a first part of its weight, a second transport means, which is arranged behind the first transport means when seen in the direction of the stream of sheets, which is arranged relative to the stack of sheets in such a way that, when the second transport means is operated without operating the first transport means, it will transport only sheets which have already been drawn out of the stack of sheets by the first transport means, and which is also arranged relative to the stack of sheets in such a way that the stack of sheets rests thereon only with a second part of its weight, the second part of its weig

Abstract: A turning device for turning paper material has a reception tray used for receiving therein the material to be turned and arranged such that it is adapted to be rotated about an axis of rotation. The material is arranged in said reception tray in such a way that its axis of inertia during turning substantially coincides with the axis of rotation of said reception tray. A feeder is provided for feeding the material into the reception tray in the direction of the axis of rotation. A removing device withdraws the material from the reception tray in the direction of the axis of rotation. When seen in a direction of transport of the material, the feeder is arranged at an adjustable distance ahead of the reception tray. The removing device is arranged at a fixed distance behind the reception tray, when seen in the direction of transport of the material.

Abstract: A paper handling system including a gathering path and a plurality of paper handling units. The (114 to 138), said gathering path is defined by a plurality of essentially corresponding modules (102, 200), each of said modules (102, 200) being provided with a collect box (104, 210), a transfer bridge (212) for effecting supply in the direction of transport (106, 202), at least one transfer bridge (214, 216) for effecting supply in a direction transversely to the direction of transport, and a discharge unit (300).

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a collecting device for sheets 3 for forming stacks of sheets 6 from individual sheets 3 fed in at a stop 26, as well as with a removing device 28 for the stacks 6 formed. To remove the stacks of sheets 6 with a high reliability of operation, the present invention provides for a movable stop 26 and a driven roller arrangement 29, 30, 31, which is mounted such that it can be fed to the stack of sheets 6. On the other hand, the present invention discloses a special, elastic conveying means 8, 11, which guides the sheets 3 onto the stack of sheets 6 along a transport path 7 and over a deflector 16. Both measures can be embodied both as a combination and separately.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the object of substantially increasing the performance of an envelope-stuffing machine. While EP-A-0 504 114 discloses the use of rotating elements for opening the envelopes and for grasping the envelope flaps for this purpose, the present invention suggests that the opening and grasping of the envelopes (20) be performed in one conveying plane (13), and the introduction of the envelope contents (21) be performed in a conveying plane (12) arranged offset in relation thereto at another level, and that a link chain (10) with a plurality of spreading members (9) be provided between them, which is movable at right angles to the conveying planes (12, 13) and keeps the envelopes (20) picked up by the spreading members (9) ready at another point for the introduction of the envelope contents (21) and discharges them.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process and a device for forming stacks from printed documents or other sheets 9. The sheets 9 are either moved forward individually or are separated from a web 2 of printed sheets by tearing or cutting, and they are arranged in a stream one on top of another such that the next sheet 9 comes to lie offset under the preceding sheet 9. The stack 10 is formed by the sheets 9 arranged in a stream coming into contact with a stop 11. To lose little time during the transfer of a finished stack 10 of sheets, a gap 25 is formed between the last sheet 9 belonging to the stack 10 and the next sheet before the sheets 9 are arranged in a stream. As soon as the last sheet 9 has reached the stacking position, the stop 11 is removed from its stop position, so that the stack 10 is moved away from the belt conveyor 20. The stop 11 is then returned into its stop position, and the next stack 10 is formed.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the problem of decollating the lowest card 3 of a stack 2 of cards guided in a shaft 1 without giving rise to a considerable friction between the card surfaces. This problem, which arises especially in the case of plastic cards designed as printed data storage media, is solved by the present invention by the lowermost card 3 being located with its front 4 and rear 5 edges between two push-off members 6, 7, which are mounted rotatably around two mutually parallel axes 12, 13. The lowermost card 3 is first pushed off to the rear 8 by a small amount, and it is at the same time spaced from the card located above it, after which the front edge 4 of the card is released and is freely movable in the downward direction. The lowermost card 3 is then pushed off in the opposite direction 9, and it reaches a conveyer in an oblique free fall.