Abstract: Recumbent stacks of printed products are produced and strapped by supplying the printed products from above onto a conveying surface (2) where they are lined up in an upright position forming a continuously growing stack (6), separating discreet stacks (7) from the growing stack, stabilizing the discreet stacks with endplates (4), and conveying the stabilized stacks to a strapping position (12), in which a loop of strapping material is tightened around the stack (7). For conveying and strapping, the isolated stack (7) is gripped between two compression jaws (10, 11) that extend into the stack area (16) from a first side. In the strapping position (12), a strapping device (30) is situated on the side opposite the stack area (16). For strapping, at least part of the strapping device is moved horizontally in relation to the stack, and transverse to the stacking direction (S), thereby placing a loop of the strapping material around the stack.

Abstract: A supply stream (1) of flat articles (8), in particular of printed products that are conveyed hanging and held by grippers, is transformed into an imbricated stream (2, 3, 4, 5) or into sections of an imbricated stream, in which the articles are arranged in one of two or advantageously four possible ways. For the stream transformation, the articles (8) are selectively deposited on a conveying surface at a first or at a second depositing point (I, II). The articles (8) deposited at the first depositing point (I) or to be deposited at the first depositing point (I) are additionally rotated by 180° (after or before deposition) and the held article edges are, advantageously selectively, leading or trailing on deposition. The selective stream transformation and switching between transformation modes (A, B/B?, C or D/D?) are very simple.

Abstract: For being stacked, flat articles, in particular printed products, are supplied to a feed point in an imbricated stream, in which they overlap one another and are arranged standing substantially upright. In the feed point, their leading edge is pushed against an aligning element arranged transverse to the supply direction and thereby they are redirected at right angles and arranged in a stack-like arrangement. The stack-like arrangement grows in the stacking direction into a receiving device, being laterally guided and being supported at its downstream end by a supporting element. Distanced in the stacking direction from the feed point a condensing means is provided for accelerating the articles in the stack-like arrangement towards the supporting element in such a manner, that a downstream part of the stack-like arrangement is condensed and a feed-side part is kept loose.

Abstract: Recumbent stacks of printed products are produced and strapped by supplying the printed products from above onto a conveying surface (2) where they are lined up in an upright position forming a continuously growing stack (6), separating discreet stacks (7) from the growing stack, stabilizing the discreet stacks with endplates (4), and conveying the stabilized stacks to a strapping position (12), in which a loop of strapping material is tightened around the stack (7). For conveying and strapping, the isolated stack (7) is gripped between two compression jaws (10, 11) that extend into the stack area (16) from a first side. In the strapping position (12), a strapping device (30) is situated on the side opposite the stack area (16). For strapping, at least part of the strapping device is moved horizontally in relation to the stack, and transverse to the stacking direction (S), thereby placing a loop of the strapping material around the stack.

Abstract: For being stacked, flat articles, in particular printed products, are supplied to a feed point in an imbricated stream, in which they overlap one another and are arranged standing substantially upright. In the feed point, their leading edge is pushed against an aligning element arranged transverse to the supply direction and thereby they are redirected at right angles and arranged in a stack-like arrangement. The stack-like arrangement grows in the stacking direction into a receiving device, being laterally guided and being supported at its downstream end by a supporting element. Distanced in the stacking direction from the feed point a condensing means is provided for accelerating the articles in the stack-like arrangement towards the supporting element in such a manner, that a downstream part of the stack-like arrangement is condensed and a feed-side part is kept loose.

Abstract: A supply stream (1) of flat articles (8), in particular of printed products, conveyed hanging and held by grippers is transformed into an imbricated stream (2, 3, 4, 5) or into sections of an imbricated stream, in which the articles are arranged in one of two or advantageously four possible ways. For the stream transformation, the articles (8) are selectively deposited on a conveying surface at a first or at a second depositing point (I, II), wherein the articles (8) deposited at the first depositing point (I) or to be deposited at the first depositing point (I) are additionally rotated by 180° (after or before deposition) and wherein the held article edges are, advantageously selectively, leading or trailing on deposition. The selective stream transformation as well as switching from one transformation mode (A, B/B′, C or D/D′) to another one are very simple.

Abstract: Stacks of part-products are arranged on the circumference of a rotating processing drum that has radial receiving compartments that open along the drum circumference. Rotatable rollers are provided in the region of the introduction opening of each receiving compartment on which the stacks of part-products are supported. Each stack has a separating device with a suction head separating member that seizes the bottom part-product in the stack and moves it to a location between the rollers of successive receiving compartments. The part-product that has been seized, in this manner, is fully detached from the stack by the roller and is deposited into the corresponding receiving compartment where it can be processed. For example, the part-product can be folded or cut at the borders, and assembled with other part-products by collating or inserting to form a multi-part end product.

Abstract: The apparatus for processing printed products includes receiving compartments that are arranged one behind the other in the direction of rotation and are moved, with their outer opening, past the discharge end of a belt conveyor. Arranged at the opening of each receiving compartment is a conveying-roller pair that is intended, upon moving past the discharge end, to grasp between its rollers one printed product that has been fed by the belt conveyor and to clamp printed product in the conveying gap. During further movement of the receiving compartment in the direction of rotation, the firmly clamped printed product is conveyed into the receiving compartment. This permits reliable introduction of the printed products into the receiving compartments, even if said printed products are fed at different spacings.

Abstract: The printing products (33) to be pressed run through in an imbricated formation (S), in which the fold edges (33a) of the printing products (33) lie at the top, between the pressing rollers (3, 4, 5, 6) of two pairs of pressing rollers (1, 2) arranged one behind the other. The upper pressing rollers (3, 5) of each pair of pressing rollers (1, 2), which come directly into contact with the fold edges (33a), are fixedly mounted. On the other hand, the other pressing rollers (4, 6) of each pair of pressing rollers (1, 2) are mounted on each side in a common mounting (15), with the sides being resiliently mounted on pneumatic springs (16). The pressing rollers (3, 4, 5, 6) are driven individually by means of flexible drive belts (17, 18, 19, 20). By this arrangement, the printing products (33) can be pressed satisfactorily and gently even at high conveying speed.

Abstract: Multi-sheet products (D), particularly printed products, are opened, for example for the insertion of supplements. For this purpose, according to the method of the invention sheet edges, which in the closed product lie one on the other, are in a first step separated from each other so as to fan out by means of a gas current directed onto these edges, and in a second step an opener (71) is pushed between two of the fanned-out sheet edges, the edges being held stable in a separated position through the continuous action of the gas current until at least a part of the opener has been pushed between the sheets.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus includes a stacking unit and a bundling unit arranged under the stacking unit. Located at the end of a prestacking space, as seen in the direction (F), is a limiting element which serves as a stop for the folds of the printing products. While the printing products fed, with their fold forward, in the feed direction (F) are being deposited on one another to form a prestack, they are supported approximately centrally by a supporting element in their edge region located opposite the fold. For depositing the prestack so formed into a rest table, supporting arms are pivoted into a position of rest and slide plates are moved out of the region of the stacking space. A residual bend of the printing products is thus preserved in their edge region, thereby improving the stability of the stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing printed products wherein the product copies are introduced at an infeed location into individual compartments of a revolving cell wheel, processed during the time they are present in the compartments and removed from the compartments at a removal location. The infeed location and removal location are arranged in offset relationship in the direction of the lengthwise axis of the cell wheel. Each compartment has arranged therein, in an axial direction, entrainment means movable between a work stroke and a return stroke, the entrainment means of each compartment being operatively coupled with one another. The entrainment means are driven by a drive embodying a common stationarily arranged guide track describing a closed curve and follower elements rotating with the cell wheel.