Abstract: A method and an apparatus for optimizing a production output of a processing device for processing flat articles, the processing device including at least one processing arrangement for receiving and processing the flat articles and which has function parameters controllable through actuators. Actual values of the function parameters are detected. Deviations of the actual values of the function parameters from set values are thereafter evaluated according to an empirically determined algorithm. A correction value for at least one of the actuators is calculated based on results of the above evaluation, and the actuator is operated based on the correction value for controlling the function parameters.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for collecting or gathering printed products to form final printed products, such as newspapers, magazines, brochures and/or books, wherein the printed products are moved along supply lines and are supplied to one or more processing locations. At least two of the printed products intended for forming a final printed product are combined at a collecting point provided in a supply line and the combined printed products are further transported together.

Abstract: A method for trimming flat printed products along a predetermined cutting line includes the steps of continuously feeding the printed products in succession in a feed direction parallel to a plane defined by the printed products. The printed products are passed between two superposed knives, each knife having a cutting edge facing the other cutting edge. The two knives are moved in cutting engagement with one another in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the printed products. The apparatus according to the invention includes a conveyor for continuously feeding the printed products in succession in a feed direction parallel to a plane defined by the printed products. At least one cutting device having two superposed knives is provided. Each knife has a cutting edge facing the other cutting edge. The printed products are passed by the conveyor between the two knives.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, an apparatus and a container for shipping printed matter. The method of the invention is essentially distinguished in that the printed matter reaches the respective shipping points in returnable containers adapted to its format. These returnable containers can then be used again after their return to the packaging station. The containers used in this connection are essentially distinguished in that they have free spaces extending from the container bottom to the upper container edge for access to printed matter to be placed in them. The apparatus of the invention to be used for packaging is distinguished by a magazine for receiving returnable containers stacked inside each other, from which the containers can be taken separately for loading with printed matter.

Abstract: A gathering and stapling machine includes a gathering chain for conveying printed products and having a variable chain pitch. A stapling device staples the printed products that are conveyed on the gathering chain. A drive device includes a first gear for driving the stapling device, a second gear for driving the gathering chain and a change-over device connected to the first and second gears and having at least two fixed turns ratios.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for controlling the channeling of parceled goods to be delivered via a delivery conveyor, which includes at least one buffer conveyor, a call-up conveyor, and a channeling conveyor, to free locations on an acceptance conveyor running at a constant speed. The acceptance conveyor and the delivery conveyor are arranged to encompass an angle .alpha., and the delivery conveyor is provided with a parcel measuring device. The process includes measuring a length of a parcel to be channeled, determining a length of time t2 utilized in measuring the length of the parcel, and determining a momentary parcel speed; a speed of the channeling conveyor to which the parcel will be transferred; a distance on the call-up conveyor on which acceleration of the parcel occurs prior to a transfer of the parcel to the channeling conveyor; and a position of a next free space on the acceptance conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for forming stacks of items, e.g. stacked newspapers, periodicals or the like, on a tray for further conveyance in the direction of transport, where the stack is taken further by a cross assembler to a compacting tunnel, where there is a blocking device for the stack with at least one charging device with charging electrodes in the direction of transport on both sides near the stack, in which the charging device for electrostatically charging the objects is fitted in the cross assembler.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing books or brochures with a book block of printed sheets which are thread-stitched at the side of the fold, wherein the method includes successively and in a predetermined sequence supplying the printed sheets spread in the middle and with the side portions thereof directed downwardly to a stitching saddle which interacts with a stitching device arranged at a right angle relative to the fold of the printed sheets. The printed sheets are positioned on the stitching saddle in accordance with the stitching position and are subsequently transferred to the stitching device for sewing the printed sheets into book blocks. The method further includes aligning the trailing edge of a supplied printed sheet on the stitching saddle flush on the right hand side in accordance with one of the top edge and the bottom edge of a book block which has at least been partially sewed by the stitching machine.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing printed products from a web of paper printed on according to a predetermined page sequence and subsequently cut crosswise, or crosswise and lengthwise to form individual sheets which can be optionally turned by 90.degree., relative to their position, on a continued conveying route. The individual sheets are supplied one after another in one or several rows and via a joint conveying segment to a location for further processing. An arrangement for implementing the process includes a cutting device that follows a printing machine and is connected for effectively conveying to a further processing arrangement. A downstream end of a conveying route between the cutting device and the further processing arrangement has a conveying segment into which two conveying routes discharge. The two conveying routes are separated by a diverter.

Abstract: A cutter rotatably drivable about a rotational axis for cutting articles including printed products and lengths of flexible materials including paper, plastic, fabric, leather, and metal, includes a drive shaft; a circular knife holder which has a hub, which is removably connected to the drive shaft, and which has defined therein a plurality of guide grooves having a dovetail shape; a plurality of knives which are adjustably positioned within respective guide grooves, which are distributed across the circular knife holder, which have a clamping cross section that is movable within the guide grooves and is locked in place, which project beyond the circumference of the circular knife holder, and which have respective knife ends projecting beyond the circumference of the knife holder and forming a cutting plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the cutter; and a clamping arrangement which extends conically from the hub to the circumference of the circular knife holder, which includes a clamping pla

Abstract: For processing sorted goods, in particular for processing mail pieces in postal facilities, an apparatus is proposed for transposing address-bearing sorted goods into an ordered sequence according to a predetermined order of possible addresses, starting with two supplied partial sequences in which the sorted goods are already ordered according to the predetermined order of possible addresses. The apparatus includes a number of actuable transfer devices equal to the number of partial sequences for sequentially transferring the sorted goods of a respective one of the partial sequences to a selection unit. The selection unit is actuable for selectively receiving sorted goods from all transfer devices and for conveying the received sorted goods to a delivery point common to all sorted goods. For this purpose, the selection unit is actuated by a controller for recording the addresses of the sorted goods to be transferred.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for distributing articles to be sorted to physical target locations. The articles to be sorted are delivered to a number of receiving elements that move along a conveying path past the physical target locations. The receiving elements are controlled so that the physical target locations are assigned dynamically and in dependence on the operating sequence for the sorting operations to the logical sorting targets, which optimizes the capacity of the arrangement and the operating sequence.

Abstract: An apparatus for roughening a surface of a book block spine formed of a plurality of individual printed sheets clamped together. The apparatus includes a roughening tool which has a tool bit holder having a rotary axis and a radial face; a plurality of cutter tool bits mounted in a circular array on the tool bit holder and projecting axially from the radial face and together defining a cutting plane; and a drive for rotating the tool bit holder about the rotary axis. The apparatus further includes an arrangement for effecting a relative movement between the book block spine and the roughening tool in a direction of displacement; and an arrangement for setting the roughening tool relative to the book block spine such that the cutting plane forms an acute angle with the direction of displacement, whereby arcuate markings cut simultaneously into the surface of the book block spine along diametrically opposite portions of the circular array have unlike depths.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for decollating juxtaposed flat objects (3) conveyed in form of vertical stacks is comprised of a conveyor (2) having a continuous loop traction mechanism (4) and a decollation unit (7) for removing the objects (3) individually from the front end of the stack (6) in a lateral direction, wherein the decollation unit (7) moves forward and backward, respectively, in relation to the front end of the stack (6), with the movements initiated by a transmitter (16) which is connected to the decollation unit (7) and faces the front end of the stack (6), based on the distance between the transmitter (16) and the front end of the stack (6).

Abstract: An apparatus for pushing out stacked signatures includes a table on which the signatures are placed in a stack. A push-out element is seated above the table in a lever gear so as to be rotatable on a closed path for being applied to the stack in a push-out movement pushing the stack away from the table.

Abstract: An apparatus for the charging a processing line with printed sheets is comprised of a conveying device which pulls off the printed sheets from a bottom side of a stack, with a separating apparatus that partially lifts off the printed sheet to be pulled off from the stack being arranged upstream of the conveying device. The separating apparatus positions the lifted off printed sheet in an open gripper arrangement that rotates with the conveying device and releases it, once the printed sheet has been gripped by the gripper arrangement, so that the printed sheet can be pulled out of the magazine without deflection.

Abstract: A device for transporting printed sheets includes a first traction element and a support attached to the first traction element for movement therewith in a transport direction. The printed sheets are deposited in adjacent stacks on the support. Windshield elements are arranged respectively between adjacent stacks of sheets deposited on the support for holding down the deposited printed sheets with a use of environmental air.

Abstract: An apparatus and and a method for merging streams of presorted pieces provided with addresses into a row of pieces in accordance with a predetermined sequence of possible addresses, starting from at least two presorted rows in which the pieces are sorted in accordance with the predetermined sequence. The apparatus includes receiving elements which are transported successively along a conveying path, and transfer devices arranged at transfer points along the conveying path, wherein the number of transfer devices is equal to the number of presorted rows. The receiving elements are conveyed past the transfer devices in a timed sequence determined by the transport along the conveying path. The transfer devices can be actuated selectively for transferring a sorted piece each from the respective presorted row into one of the receiving elements as the receiving element travels past the transfer device.

Abstract: A transport system (1) is provided for removing individual signatures (2) from a transport flow. The system includes grippers (3) which are attached in substantially equal distance therebetween to an endless loop pulling means for holding the signatures (2), and an actuating device (11) causing the grippers (3) to open, with the actuating device (11) displacing a lever arm (13) which is connected to the moveable gripper element (10), to a laterally spaced-apart guide rail (12).

Abstract: A feeding device for printed products including a conveyor for conveying the printed products on a front conveying section in the form of a stack and on a rear conveying section in the form of a bar and in the form of a loosened zone between the stack and the bar, and a sensing device which senses the position of the stack and controls the feeding movement of the printed products. The rear conveying section includes a continuously advanced conveying device which is controlled by an intermittently advanced conveying device of the front conveying section.