Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing book blocks from various printed sheets composed of a plurality of quarto sheets which are inserted into one another, wherein the printed sheets are successively pulled fold first along a conveying path from a stack of printed sheets by a gripping unit of a feeder and are subsequently gathered with their flat sides placed against each other into book blocks. The gripping unit which grasps the printed sheets approximately at the fold thereof produces a deformation or injury which extends at least partially through the quarto sheets, so that the respective quarto sheets are secured relative to each other and displacements relative to each other are prevented.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming partial stacks by separation of a stack of printed sheets standing one behind the other includes an approximately horizontal stack guide having a feed end for receiving printed sheets fed in a direction perpendicular to the stack guide from a feeding apparatus and stacking the printed sheets on edge to form a stack in a horizontal direction. A separating device is arranged along the horizontal stack guide for forming the partial stacks. The separating device includes a guide arrangement disposed parallel to the horizontal direction of stack forming. First and second components of the separating device are seated one behind the other on the guide arrangement and are displaceable along the guide arrangement. The first and second components are jointly displaceable to the feed end of the stack guide and are controllable to be separable from one another in a stack separating position. Spreading elements are pivotally connected to the first and second components of the separating device.

Abstract: A device and method for sorting flat mailed pieces. The mailed pieces are individually transferred to conveying cells which can be conveyed one behind the other along a conveying path and are delivered to receptacles which are arranged along the conveying path. The mailed pieces are transferred by a transfer device to the conveying cells. The main planes of the mailed pieces (14) are oriented essentially vertically. The receptacles for the mailed pieces conveyed by the conveying cells are determined on the basis of a preset sequence of all possible mailing addresses, the mailing addresses of all mailed piece transferred to the conveying cells, and the association data representing the association between the individual mailed pieces and the conveying cells.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting individual pieces includes a plurality of conveying elements which are guided along a closed track and are coupled to each other to form an endless conveying chain. The conveying elements have an at least approximately horizontal support plane configured to place the individual items thereon. For feeding the conveying elements, they travel along the track past at least one feeding station and they travel past several target stations for emptying the conveying elements. Each target station is provided with a sweeping or deflecting device which travels alongside of the conveying elements and pushes the individual piece from the conveying elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing book blocks from a stack of aligned signatures each having a fold and which together form a spine of a book block. An arrangement for stitching stitches the signatures together with at least two spaced transverse seams formed of a double strand of binding thread passing through each of the folds of the signatures from a location outside of the signatures and extending along an inner edge of each of the folds to an exit point in each of the folds. The transverse seams include a chained transverse seam having loop-like binding thread sections. An interrupting arrangement interrupts the chained transverse seam at an end region of the book block such that a last formed loop-like section of the binding thread remains unchained and is left at the end region of the book block. An unreleasably fastening arrangement unreleasably fastens the last formed loop-like section to either the chained transverse seam and the folds of the signatures.

Abstract: A container includes two container halves and a hinge connecting the two container halves so that the two container halves can be pivoted between a folded up position and a folded down position. In the folded up position the container includes a bottom, four side walls and an upper filling opening and is stackable on another like container in the folded up position, and in the folded down position the container is nestable with another like container in the folded down position.

Abstract: An apparatus for the processing of folded printed sheets is provided with at least one work station located next to a conveying path, with the work station preferably being a feeder for separating and opening the printed sheets. A plurality of support means is arranged sequentially on conveying means configured as a continuous loop, with the printed sheets in the region of the fold slidingly supportable on a respective support edge of the respective support means. The support means are spaced apart and sequentially guided past the work station and are inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the conveying means at least in the region of a work station.

Abstract: The apparatus has a driven pair of feed rolls (10, 11) and a folding roll (23) which is urged against the lower feed roll (10). The roll pair (10, 11) transports the sheet into a guide element (35, 36) for guiding and arresting the front end of the sheet. The guide element (35, 36) can be another roll pair with a reversible drive (41). After the front end of the sheet has come to a stop, the sheet is transported into the feed nip (22) between the rolls (10, 23), then folded and discharged downwardly. For increasing the operating speed without damaging the sheets, the roll pair (10, 11) is initially accelerated after the sheet is captured, and subsequently decelerated before the front end of the sheet comes to a stop.

Abstract: In order to increase the efficiency of an arrangement for distributing articles for dispatch with a distributing conveyor, a transfer device is proposed. The distributing conveyor is used to deliver the articles for dispatch to collecting containers that are arranged at delivery locations along a conveying route of the distributing conveyor. The transfer device responds to transfer signals emitted by a control device that respectively designate a delivery location of a collecting container, and is used for transferring the collecting containers between the delivery locations and a predetermined transporting route for the collecting containers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for conveying a stream of printed products. The printed products are first conveyed along a first conveyor loop in a position in which they are oriented essentially tangentially to the conveying direction, and are transferred to a second conveyor loop. To facilitate the transfer, the printed products are brought into a transfer position, in which at least one region of each printed product is oriented at an angle to the tangential orientation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an arrangement for handling printed products by making an edge cut with the aid of a cutter. The printed products in this case are supplied to the cutter by grippers that circulate along a first conveying loop, and the edge area to be cut on the printed products positioned in the grippers is stabilized by clamping braces that can be placed against the printed products in the range of the cutter. After the edge cut is made, the printed products with the grippers are disengaged from the clamping braces and discharged.

Abstract: A device for separating flat objects includes an endless conveyer belt on which the flat objects are supplied standing on edge and forming a stack. A conveying device including a rotating conveying element picks up the objects individually on the flat side from a front of the stack by a run of the rotating conveying element which removes the flat objects crosswise relative to the stack. The conveying device includes a guide arrangement for displacing the conveying device through a stroke approximately parallel to a direction in which the stack is formed while bearing on the front end of the stack.

Abstract: An arrangement for feeding a conveying apparatus comprising hoppers for flat products such as envelopes, mailing pouches, workpieces and the like, which can be emptied at certain intervals and are secured on a rotatably driven traction element. A device including a slanted guide wall defining a conveying channel is located above the conveying apparatus for conveying the products in a conveying direction into a respective one of the hoppers located below the conveying channel. The device includes a size intake opening communicating with the conveying channel for receiving products into the conveying channel from a side of the device in a direction at a right angle to the conveying direction. The device further includes a rotating clearing mechanism laterally penetrating the conveying channel and operating jointly with the guide wall for conveying the products into the hoppers.

Abstract: An arrangement for feeding transport containers of a sorting conveyor with flat mailed items includes a linear conveyor, having a direction of conveyance and a rearward end, for engaging one surface of the respective mailed items in a planar frictional lock and transferring the mailed items in the direction of conveyance to the transport containers at the rearward end of the linear conveyor. A rotary body having a cylindrical surface including a contact region and being rotatable around an axis extending perpendicularly to the direction of conveyance of the linear conveyor is arranged at the rearward end of the linear conveyor for contacting an opposite surface of the respective mailed item in a frictionally locked manner with the contact region of its cylindrical surface during transfer of the mailed items to the transport vehicles.

Abstract: During manufacture of thread-sewn book blocks (11) from a stack of flat sequentially juxtaposed signatures (3) which are sewn together by way of a double-stranded binding thread (9) which penetrates the folds (4) from the outside and extends in sections along the inside edge of the folds and is pulled out again, the binding thread sections (16, 17) which are inserted by a first sewing needle (5) between the legs (14) of the signatures (3) are captured by a gas jet and conveyed in form of a loop (21) to the adjacent second sewing needle (6) which pulls the loop (21) out of the signature (3) through a return stroke motion using a hook (22).

Abstract: In order to recognize the open position of printed sheets supplied one after the other astride on a transfer apparatus to a sewing apparatus of a thread stitching machine, the printed sheets are guided in straddled position on at least one of the sides forming the inner fold edge of a printed sheet past a checking apparatus carrying out checks by way of the print images.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement are provided for checking completeness of a book block intended for an adhesive binding, wherein an adhesive binding machine includes a conveyor defining a conveying path along which the book block is conveyed. A plurality of processing stations are arranged along the conveyor for processing the book block. A measuring device is disposed along the conveyor and is adapted to check completeness of the book block by measuring the thickness of the book block. The measuring device includes measuring elements arranged opposite each other on both sides of the conveying path. The measuring elements are separated by a distance to define a measuring segment and arranged for exerting a defined contact pressure onto the flanks of the spine of the book block.

Abstract: A tiltable bowl of a carriage of a sorting line is secured on two supports which are arranged axisymmetrically with respect to one another. The supports are pivotably seated on an axle. On each support, a resilient yoke is formed on one side with its first end. The oppositely disposed second end of the yoke can be displaced within defined limits relative to the supports. Each yoke has a latch cam which, in the horizontal, initial position of the bowl, locks into place behind a projection fixedly connected to the frame and thus locks the bowl in this initial position. When a pusher rod articulated at the second end is pushed upward, the lock is released first and then the bowl is tilted.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for processing shipping articles provided with shipping addresses. The apparatus comprises a device for transporting the shipping articles along a transport path. A device is disposed in the transport path for automatically reading the shipping addresses. An assessment device automatically assesses the read shipping addresses. The individual shipping articles are selectively deposited into cells of an intermediate storage device disposed in the transport path following the reading of the shipping address. A detection device detects an association between each cell and the shipping article deposited therein and in response to an assessment of the shipping address by the assessment device, produces a first removal signal for removing the shipping article from the cell and conveying the shipping article back to the transport path.

Abstract: A device for applying a liquid adhesive to an object conveyed past the object includes a trough for containing the liquid adhesive and an electric motor. The motor includes a stator held by the trough and a rotor arranged at least partially in the trough and operatively associated with the stator for rotating when an electric current is applied to the stator. The rotor includes an application roller for applying liquid adhesive contained in the trough to the object conveyed past the device.