Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a transport device (10) which has a number of identical transport means arranged one after another in a transport direction, which are able to transport product along an intrinsically closed transport path (33) between stations (28) arranged on the transport path (33). To identify the individual transport means, use is made of selected transport means (RK) which can be detected by means of first sensors (24) arranged or on the transport path (33) as the said transport means pass the first sensors (24), which are distributed over the transport path (33) and subdivide the transport path (33) into individual segments. The transport means may be assigned individually consecutive fixed serial numbers, which are counted from a single starting point (34), and in that the starting point (34) is defined by a specific arrangement of a plurality of detectable transport means (DRK).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for aligning a sheet product conveyed on a conveying surface of a conveyor system in a direction of conveyance at a conveying velocity, which product has on its side facing away from the conveying surface an at least partially exposed surface. The apparatus has an alignment unit, which is arranged above the conveying surface and which is intended to change the situation of the product with respect to the conveying surface by means of a force acting upon the exposed surface. The alignment unit has a self-contained, flexible force transmission member, which, on that side of the alignment unit which is facing toward the conveying surface, forms a sagging strand, which latter is intended to rest with a portion on the at least partially exposed surface of the product and thus subject said product to the force.

Abstract: The device for the transfer of piece goods (70) to a conveying installation (1) comprises at least one goods piece receiver (51) for positioning a goods piece (70) in a transfer zone (Z) of the conveying installation (1). The conveying installation (1) comprises a plurality of conveying elements (10) which are moveable along a conveying path and are for conveying the taken-over piece goods (70). The device moreover comprises a slide mechanism (52) with a slide element (53), by way of which a goods piece (70) can be moved in a push movement out of the goods piece receiver (51) to the conveying element (10) and can be transferred to the conveying element (10).

Abstract: A computerised machine control system comprises an application-independent machine-specific part with a machine-specific domain model of the machine and a control module, which accesses data points of the machine via a machine-specific communication protocol and updates corresponding data point objects in the machine-specific domain model or data points in the machine. In addition, the machine control system comprises a machine-independent, application-specific part with an application-specific domain model and a mapping module which accesses the machine-specific domain model and maps data objects of the application-specific domain model to data point objects of the machine-specific domain model and vice versa.

Abstract: In a computer-controlled conveying system (3), virtual markers (K1-K10) are generated and are stored in association with a conveying element (31, 32, 33, 34). The virtual markers (K1-K10) each comprise a marker position which is based on the current position of the conveying element (31, 32, 33, 34) at the time of generation. A search is carried out for stored virtual markers (K1, K5, K6, K9) which have a relative position with respect to the associated conveying element (31, 32, 33, 34) that lies within a defined sector (T1, T2, T3) at the search time. Actuators of the conveying system (3) are driven depending on whether virtual markers (K1, K5, K6, K9) were found in the defined sector (T1, T2, T3) during searching. The virtual markers (K1-K10) may be applied to the conveying elements (31, 32, 33, 34) with dynamically changing distances, for example, and make it possible to drive actuators in a flexible manner independently of a fixedly defined clock rate.

Abstract: A control device controls a processing installation for the production of collections of printed products, wherein the processing installation includes installation sections which combine input streams of part products into output streams of collections of these part products. Control units are assigned to the installation sections and which, on the basis of a predefined product requirement (Pa2, Pa3, Pa4, Pa21, Pa31, Pa41), activate the assigned installation section for the production of a respective output stream. In each case a control unit is set up to obtain product requirements from the master control or from a different control unit, and to produce product requirements for the control unit of an installation section arranged upstream.

Abstract: Method and apparatus (1a) for optical detection of the position of large-area printed products (10). The apparatus (1a) has conveyance means (2a) for movement of the printed products (10) along a conveyor path (4) past at least one contrasting light source (30), and at least one optical sensor (16). The conveyance means (2, 2a), the contrasting light source (30) and optical sensor (16) are arranged such that the printed products (10) can be conveyed between the contrasting light source (30) and the optical sensor (16).

Abstract: A production configuration is determined for controlling a product processing plant that comprises a collecting system having a conveyor and a plurality of feeders for preparing product collections from products supplied by the feeders. The production configuration defines a production of a plurality of production sequences for a plurality of delivery routes, wherein each delivery route is assigned one or more production sequences, each of which define a production of a plurality of production collections of a collection type comprising a plurality of products. For each feeder an occupancy with products, which are to be conveyed by the feeder to the conveyor for preparation for the product collections, is determined. A production optimization parameter determines whether a defined production order is to be maintained for the delivery routes or whether the production order of the delivery routes can be altered.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for transferring flexible flat objects, in particular printed products, between two conveyers wherein the apparatus includes a first gripper conveyor having first grippers moved along a first gripper conveying path for the substantially suspended transport of the objects in a conveyor device by seizing a first object edge, a second gripper conveyor having second grippers moved along a second gripper conveying path for receiving the objects by seizing a second object edge located opposite of the first object edge, at least one actuating apparatus for opening and closing the first and second grippers such that a transfer of the objects from the first grippers to the second grippers can take place in a transfer region. At least one auxiliary conveyor including auxiliary grippers carried along an auxiliary conveyor conveying path together with the first grippers is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and discharging flat, preferably flexible articles, in particular printed products, the apparatus including a plurality of grippers which can be moved in a conveying direction (F) along a continuous conveying path (U) defined by a conveying mechanism. The grippers include a first gripper jaw and a second gripper jaw, which can assume a clamping position and an open position relative to one another. The first gripper jaw is longer than the second gripper jaw and includes a first gripper part, which in the clamping position interacts with the second gripper jaw, and a second gripper part, which in the clamping position projects beyond the second gripper jaw. The orientation of the first and second gripper parts of the first gripper jaw relative to one another is variable and can be adjusted by a control means.

Abstract: A crossing between two transport lines is configured for the horizontal transport of planar articles, preferably in the form of an imbricated stream, of which one transport line is led away at a crossing over the other transport line. Controllable means for transferring the transported articles from one of the transport lines to the other are provided, which, in a first setting, freely admit the transport of the articles on one of the transport lines and, in a second setting, divert the transported articles from one of the transport lines to the other. A transfer apparatus may include a flexible diversion line, which describes a space curve and which with a movable free end, in the first setting, maintains a distance to one of the transport lines and, in the second setting, engages with the free end in one of the transport lines to effect a diversion.

Abstract: A method for collecting addressed letters in grippers and for conveying the collected letters further in the grippers, wherein the grippers each have a first and second gripper limb, and these limbs form an accommodating space. The method includes supplying a sheet that is partially folded along a folding line to form two sheet portions that are delimited from one another by the folding line, introducing the folded sheet into the accommodating space between the gripper limbs, wherein the folded sheet is subjected to a restraining force in the direction of a planar position of the sheet by the non-folded sections along the folding line, and pushing the portions of the sheet onto the adjacent gripper limbs by the restoring force, with an accommodating pocket being formed in the accommodating space in the process, and retaining the folded sheet in the accommodating space by the contact-pressure force.

Abstract: A device for processing flat objects (40) delivered successively in a delivery direction, in particular print shop products, and/to a continuously advanced material web (42). The device, which is to be used particularly for welding a material web, includes at least one rigid body (90) that can be pivoted about an axis of rotation (D) and at least one tool (10) having a processing-effective zone (12), the tool being attached to the body (90) and movable along an orbit (U) by rotating the body (90). The tool is attached to the body (90) pivotally or rotatably about a pivot axis (S). The pivot position of the tool can be adjusted as a function of the rotational position of the rigid body by means of a stationary control gate and a control element interacting with the control gate and connected to the tool.

Abstract: A filling system and filling device for introducing items for delivery into a delivery bag. The filling device has a stacking mechanism that stacks the items for delivery in the delivery bag. The items for delivery include one or more flat articles, and can include an enclosure unit that is flat, at least partially open on at least one side, and at least partially closed on at least one side, such that the enclosure unit forms an envelope or a pocket. The item for delivery and/or the enclosure unit can have a receiver identification.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stack or a collection (10) of essentially flat primary products (11-14), in particular printed products, which stack or collection (10) comprises three or more primary products (11-14) which are arranged one immediately above the other in the stack or immediately side by side in the collection and are detachably joined together, and at least one of which is a printed product which has a folded edge. Simple post-processing is achieved by adhesive areas (16) in contact respectively with both adjacent primary products being provided in order to form a detachable connection between adjacent primary products.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method for operating a print further processing system for producing and processing printed products, in particular for forming stacks or packs of printed product collections comprising completed final printed products such as periodicals and newspapers, which are preferably put together from a main product and a plurality of part products and/or inserts. The printed products are produced in accordance with a predefined production plan and, by means of a stacking device, are processed to form a sequence of packs (S1-S9) of individually predefined size; in order to produce part packs, the processing speed of the parts of the print further processing system that are connected upstream of the stacking device is reduced and, when a threshold value (T) is exceeded, empty positions are formed deliberately in the section of the product sequence allocated to the pack (S). The threshold value (T) is preferably a predefined value of the difference ? in the size of successive packs (Sn?Sn+1).

Abstract: A device for generating a controllable reciprocal movement of a moveable mechanical element between a first stop point and a second stop point. At least one drive element is moved continuously with reciprocal movement between two turning points. A coupling device with a controllable coupling serves for the selective coupling of the mechanical element to the drive element. The coupling device further features a freewheel and is arranged such that in the active state of the coupling the mechanical element is coupled to the at least one drive element during a first half-cycle of the movement of the drive element and is moved from the first stop point to the second stop point, and during a second half-cycle of the movement of the drive element is substantially uninfluenced by the drive element due to the action of the freewheel.

Abstract: The invention relates to an operator panel (1) having one or more applications (121, 122) for operating at least one production system (2). A configuration data memory (13) is set up to store configuration data that are provided for configuring the one or more applications (121, 122) of the operator panel (1). A synchronization module (14) is set up to access configuration data stored in the configuration data memory (13) and to synchronize these data via a communications interface (11) of the operator panel (1) with configuration data that are stored in a configuration data memory (13?, 13?) of a remotely disposed operator panel (1?, 1?).

Abstract: The invention relates to an operating unit (1) for a production plant (2). The operating unit (1) comprises an authorization receiving module (71) so as to receive authorization identifications (61, 62, 63, 64) which are sent out by operating modules (51, 52, 53, 54) of the operating unit (1), an authorization storage module (72) so as to store in an authorization data storage (8) authorization data including allocations of user identifications (31, 32, 33, 34, 41, 42) to the received authorization identifications (61, 62, 63, 64), and an authorization checking module (73) so as to receive at least one authorization identification (61, 62, 63, 64) from the operating modules (51, 52, 53, 54) and to determine at least one user identification (31, 32, 33, 34, 41, 42), and to unlock an operating module (51, 52, 53, 54) if in the authorization data storage (8) an allocation of the at least one user identification (31, 32, 33, 34, 41, 42) to the at least one authorization identification (61, 62, 63, 64) is stored.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for separating individual, two-dimensional, flexible objects (2a, 2a) from the lower side of a stack (3) of such objects (2, 2a) and for conveying the separated objects (2, 2a) away from the stack (3). The device comprises a stack space (4) with a support region (5), and support means (7a, 7b 21) which support the stack (3) from below in the support region (5), wherein the support means comprise a support roller arrangement (7a, 7b, 57a) of a plurality of support rollers (8). The device further comprises at least one separating member (19) for separating the objects (2a) from the lower side of the stack (3) in the support region (5). The support roller arrangement (7a, 7b) is part of a roller guidance device (6) and is translatorily movable to and from between a support position (SP) and a release position (FP).