Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for positioning portion packets of a product for oral use into a container by means of a compartment unit. The compartment unit comprises a plurality of compartments with a respective discharge opening.

Abstract: A mail piece insertion mechanism is provided and, more particularly, mail piece insertion mechanisms and methods used for inserting mail pieces such as, for example, residual mail, into individual mail piece folders or containers is provided. The method of inserting mail pieces into folders includes opening the folders and aligning a mechanism with the opened folders and inserting the mail pieces therein. The insertion mechanism includes a mechanism configured open folders and a mechanism configured to insert mail pieces into the open folders.

Abstract: A device for placing portion packets of a product for oral use into a container includes a portion packet positioning unit configured to position the portion packets in relation to each other in the container, wherein the positioning unit includes a set of portion packet receiving compartments arranged in a certain pattern, each of the compartments having an entrance end allowing a portion packet to enter the compartment and, at an opposite side of the compartment, a retaining end preventing a portion packet from exiting the compartment in that direction. The positioning unit further includes a discharging member configured to discharge portion packets from the compartments to the container, wherein the compartments are associated with a supporting structure that retains the compartment pattern during operation of the device. A method an arrangement for placing portion packets of a product for oral use into a container using such device is described.

Abstract: Machine for producing books, in particular photo books and/or illustrated books includes sheet web dispensing station for dispensing a sheet web moved in its longitudinal direction, printed and/or coated and/or phototechnically processed on one side and provided with print marks and/or print job codes, cross-cutting station arranged downstream of the sheet web dispensing station, grooving and creasing station arranged downstream of the cross-cutting station for the central grooving and creasing of the sheets crosswise to their direction of movement, laminating station for the flat connection of several consecutive creased sheets to one another, three-side cutting station, book cover supply station for supplying and feeding a respectively predetermined individual book cover for the respective book block, joining station downstream of the three-side cutting station for joining book block and assigned book cover and dispensing station for dispensing the completed books.

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 sheet material conveyor includes a pocket conveyor with at least one moving pocket for collecting printed sheet material, the pocket conveyor having a release area for releasing the printing sheet material in the pocket. The sheet material conveyor also includes an air supply device providing air to the pocket at the release area. A pocket with air supply holes and a method for releasing printed sheet material using pressurized air is also provided.

Abstract: In a cover feeding device (1) for feeding covers (13, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3) separated from a magazine (3, 3?) to book blocks (14.1, 14.2, 14.3) that are transported while being clamped in book block grippers (2), it is proposed that the magazine (3, 3?) features at least a first lateral stop (6.1) that is arranged such that it can be fixed transverse to the withdrawal direction (12) and against which different covers (13, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3) intended, in particular, for book blocks (14.1, 14.2, 14.3) of different thickness can be jointly placed, and that at least the magazine (3, 3?) can be adjusted transverse to the withdrawal direction (12) such that an edge (17) of the spine region of the respective cover to be separated is withdrawn essentially in alignment with the rigid gripping jaw (2 a).

Abstract: A method and device to produce printed items having at least one printed product and a supplement. The device includes a gathering device with a gathering section such that the gathering section includes a continuously circulating conveyor. A printer is also provided to produce the printed products wherein the printed products include a single page or partial block stacks. The device further includes feeders to supply the printed products to the conveyor and at least one supplement feeder arranged between two of the feeders to feed at least one supplement to the circulating conveyor.

Abstract: A book cover feeder to supply book covers to a production unit of a book production line. The feeder has a guiding side and a driving side for conveying the book covers in a production direction. The book cover feeder comprising includes a feeding device onto which book covers of a single format are deposited singly, in a scaled formation or in a stack formation. A magazine is arranged to receive the covers from the feeding device. The magazine has a stacking shaft. A separating device is operatively arranged relative to the magazine. The feeding device, the cover magazine and the separating device are embodied integrally or adjoining each other. The feeding device includes, on the guiding side and/or the driving side, a side guiding device that is divided into multiple sections arranged one behind the other in the production direction.

Abstract: A co-mailing system uses an insert machine to merge different mail streams into one stream in the sequence of a master mail list. By using an insert machine with vertically oriented pockets traveling on a moving conveyor, the speed of merging the mail streams is high and efficiency is obtained.

Abstract: A method for transporting newspapers includes the steps of feeding an asymmetrically folded multiple section newspaper into a pocket of a pocket conveyor of an inserting machine, wherein the asymmetrically folded multiple section newspaper has an extended lap having a height of at least 15% of a height of the asymmetrically folded newspaper when unfolded. A face of a first section of the headline side of the newspaper, when fed into the pocket is adjacent a movable wall of the pocket, and a back of a last section of the headline side of the newspaper adjacent a fixed wall of the pocket. The method further comprises feeding one or more inserts from a hopper to the pocket, where the inserts are fed into an opening between newspaper sections, removing the newspapers with the inserts therein from the pocket with a gripper conveyor, and releasing the newspapers with the inserts from the gripper conveyor headline up on a lapped stream conveyor.

Abstract: An arrangement for gathering or assembling printed sheets into semi-finished products for producing bound printed products, the arrangement including a conveying device and a plurality of replaceable feeder units arranged side-by-side along the conveying device. Each replaceable feeder unit includes at least two feeders for supplying the printed sheets to the conveying device and an undercarriage. The plurality of replaceable feeder units are arranged on the undercarriage. The undercarriage includes interface sections assigned, respectively, to the replaceable feeder units and the interface sections each include a first interface configuration.

Abstract: To form stacks of printed products such as books, magazines, newspapers, brochures, etc., a plurality of printed sheets is delivered by a conveying section and assembled thereon into preliminary products, which are then formed into stacks, where the process for collating the printed sheets into preliminary products is controlled as a function of the size of the stack of printed products to be formed. A device for implementing the process includes a collating device for forming preliminary products and an indirectly downstream stacking device connected to a control unit.

Abstract: A gatherer-stitcher has a folded-sheet feeder and an apparatus for transferring folded sheets from the feeder to a transporting configuration of the gatherer-stitcher. The apparatus has a plurality of shafts or drums with grippers for gripping the folded sheets. The apparatus opens the folded sheets and places them astride the transporting configuration. The apparatus also has a blowing configuration which, as a folded sheet is transferred from one shaft or drum to another, subjects the folded sheet to a surge of air in time with a folded-sheet transportation.

Abstract: A storage vessel for holding between shaves a wet razor with its head and cutting blade submerged in a liquid and its handle held out of the liquid and dry. The vessel liquid is comprised of a mixture of hydrophobic and hygroscopic materials and of anti-viral and anti-bacterial materials, effective to reduce cutting blade oxidation due to exposure to water and air during nonuse storage and to maintain the blade sharp and sanitary for shaving comfort. These materials specifically might be mineral oil and calcium chloride (CaCl2), and nano-gold or nano-silver.

Abstract: A signature hopper is provided comprising a first drum having a first gripper for a lead edge of a folded signature, a second drum having a second gripper for an open edge of the folded signature, the second gripper having a gripper finger with an end curled in a direction of rotation of the second drum, a dipper blade for pushing the open edge from the first drum toward the second drum so as to contact the gripper finger and a stationary signature guide spaced with respect to the first drum, the signature contacting the signature guide as the first drum rotates the signature past the signature guide.

Abstract: A hopper is provided including a hopper sidewall and a hopper shoe, the hopper shoe secured to the sidewall, the hopper being pivotable with respect to the hopper shoe when the hopper is secured to a hopper base. A hopper also is provided including a hopper sidewall, a hopper shoe and a spring-loaded clamp for securing the hopper shoe to the hopper sidewall, the spring-loaded clamp including a bolt for securing the spring-loaded clamp to a hopper base. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for supplying a conveying device with folded signatures from a stack of folded signatures, the sheet feeder including a gripper drum. The gripper drum includes at least one gripper to individually remove respective signatures and a stopping device. The stopping device including a stop element to stop and align the signatures with the fold of the signatures in a forward direction. The sheet feeder includes an opening device to open the individual signatures, to deposit the signatures on the conveying device, and to reverse the forward direction of the signatures. The sheet feeder includes a delay element moving in the same direction as the gripper drum and at a conveying speed less than the gripper drum speed. A press-on device to press the signatures released by the gripper against the delay element and to slow down the individual signatures prior to the signatures hitting the stop element.

Abstract: A gathering device for gathering books is provided including a gathering conveyor for transporting a book, a variable static charging unit having a voltage output providing a static charge to the book on the gathering conveyor and a controller connected to the variable static charging unit, the controller controlling the voltage output of the variable static charging unit.

Abstract: A collecting device for forming a printed product includes a conveyor and a plurality of printed material delivery devices, the plurality of printed material delivery devices including a first delivery device for first printed materials and a second delivery device for second printed materials. A first transfer device is assigned to the first delivery device and delivering the first printed materials to the conveyor and a second transfer device assigned to the second delivery device and delivering the second printed materials to be collected with the first printed materials on the conveyor. Each of the first and second transfer devices have printed material buffer positions between the respective first and second delivery devices and the conveyor, which permit advantageous reduction in the amount of waste.

Abstract: Receiver units (10, 90) for taking over objects (100, 101, 102) are moved past a take-over location (S1, S2) and include an abutment (95) which limits the position of the object (100, 101, 102) which is fed in the feed direction (F). At least one holding element and/or braking element (45) acts in a direct or indirect manner on the objects to be taken over, for realising a defined product position, in particular so that the object (100, 101, 102) does not bend up or rebound from the abutment (95). In one variant, the holding element and/or braking element (45) brakes the object (100, 101, 102) by way of direct friction. In another variant, the object (100, 101, 102) to be taken over transmits its momentum onto an object (100, 101, 102) which is already held in the receiver unit (10, 90) by way of the holding element and/or braking element, and is braked by way of this.

Abstract: A device and a method for taking over flexible, two-dimensional objects (100), in particular printed products, at a take-over location (S1). The objects (100) are received by receiver units (10, 12). Controllable narrowing elements (20) are present, in order to prevent a squashing and rebounding of the objects (100) on or from an abutment of the receiver unit (10, 12), with which narrowing elements, in an active condition, the opening width (W2) of the receiver unit (10, 12) in a middle region between an entry opening (16) of the receiver unit (10, 12) and the abutment (15), may be reduced compared to an inactive condition. These are controlled with a control device (30). A more reliable positioning of the objects (100) in the receiver unit (10, 12), in particular at high feed speeds and with thin, elastically deformable objects (100), may be achieved.

Abstract: A mobile feeder system is provided including a feeder having a center of gravity, and an intermediate feeder base supporting the feeder for horizontal movement between a cantilevered position in which the center of gravity lies outside the intermediate base and a non-cantilevered position in which the center of gravity lies over the intermediate base. A gathering device is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems employing belt conveyors adapted to feed signatures to a collating conveyor and a control system that regulates the operation of the belt conveyors are provided. The control system is adapted to regulate the speed of the belt conveyors in response to the speed of the collating conveyor, for example, proportional to the speed of the collating conveyor, to minimize or eliminate signature misfeeds. The control system may implement a mathematical algorithm that defines a relationship between the collating conveyor speed and the belt conveyor speeds. The systems and methods may include ancillary feeding devices such as joggers and speeder wheels to optimize the transfer of signatures.

Abstract: A printed product processing device with an inhibit function for a movable component includes a rotating cam, a cam follower actuating the movable component, a cam follower lever supporting the cam follower, and an actuatable latch lever having a roller for rolling on the cam follower. Also provided is a printed product processing device with an inhibit function for a movable component including a rotating cam, a cam follower actuating the movable component, a cam follower lever supporting the cam follower and an actuatable latch lever, the latch lever having an a latch lever pivot point located within an arc path of the cam follower lever. A method for inhibiting a cam follower from following a cam is also provided.

Abstract: A method for producing multi-part print products includes supplying a folded main print product fold first to respectively one pouch of successively following pouches on a conveying device for a production line that includes a plurality of feeders. The folded main print product has front and rear legs extending from the fold. The rear leg has a frontal edge region that is penetrable by a movable clamping part. The method further includes moving the front and rear legs apart by penetrating the frontal edge region of the rear leg with the movable clamping part to clamp the front leg against a pouch wall. At least one partial print product is inserted into the main print product when the front and rear legs are moved apart to accommodate partial print products side-by-side.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method and an apparatus for gathering flat printed products by selecting a single printed product from each of a multitude of collections of identical printed products and conveying the selected printed products towards a collecting conveyor (10), which runs along a generally straight line in a first direction (11).

Abstract: A materials handling system includes a feeder station having a plurality of material feeders and an insertion subsystem. Each of the plurality of feeders are connected to a common material transport path. A first material transport path is connected to the common material transport path and to the insertion subsystem. A second material transport path is connected to the common material transport path and to the insertion subsystem. A third material transport path is connected to the first material transport path and to said insertion subsystem. The second material transport path may include a materials processing subsystem such as a folder subsystem. The common materials transport may include a pre-fold accumulator transport having a pre-fold accumulator gate. A first diverter may be provided to selectively divert materials being transported by the pre-fold accumulator transport to the first or to the second material transport.

Abstract: A sheet material conveying apparatus includes a plurality of pockets running along a track, each pocket having a bottom and a second bottom movable between a first location where the second bottom is over the bottom, and a second location where the second bottom is not located over the bottom. An actuator is located to a side of the pockets for moving the second bottom between the first and second locations. A related pocket and a method are also provided.

Abstract: A hopper assembly is provided including a hopper, a hopper base, the hopper being detachable from the hopper base, and a hopper shoe, the hopper shoe being fixable to the hopper and securable to the hopper base. A hopper assembly also is provided including a hopper, a first hopper base, and a second hopper base. The hopper is detachable from the first hopper base and movable to the second hopper base. A gathering device is also provided. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A collecting device for forming a printed product includes a conveyor and a plurality of printed material delivery devices, the plurality of printed material delivery devices including a first delivery device for first printed materials and a second delivery device for second printed materials. A first transfer device is assigned to the first delivery device and delivering the first printed materials to the conveyor and a second transfer device assigned to the second delivery device and delivering the second printed materials to be collected with the first printed materials on the conveyor. Each of the first and second transfer devices have printed material buffer positions between the respective first and second delivery devices and the conveyor, which permit advantageous reduction in the amount of waste.

Abstract: For attaching at least one flat supplementary product to a printed product, one leaf of the printed product is brought from a folded configuration into an essentially horizontal orientation. A supplementary product is attached, especially by an adhesive, to this horizontal leaf, preferably from above. Supplementary products can be attached to the front side and to the rear side of the printed product. The supplementary product is, for example, a commercial sample or a card.

Abstract: A materials handling system includes an insertion subsystem for inserting materials into envelopes to form mailpieces of a first type and mailpieces of a second type. The materials handling syatem also includes a first mailpiece transport path located downstream from the insertion subsystem and having a curved portion along which mailpieces of said first type are transported, and a second mailpiece transport path being substantially horizontal, located downstream from the insertion subsystem, and along which mailpieces of the second type are transported. Further, a diverter is included that diverts mailpieces of the first type to the first transport path and mailpieces of the second type to the second transport path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing selectively collated print products employ a production section, a control device, a transfer-out device for transferring out defective print products, a detection device that detects and records gaps resulting from the transfer out of defective print products, and a transfer-in device. Initially, a line of print products are processed in a production section; a predetermined number of print products are diverted from the production section and supplied to a product buffer. If the print products are not diverted, the line of print products continue in a conveying section and gaps between the print products are detected and recorded via the detection device. A number of print products are removed from the product buffer based on a control signal from the control device to fill detected gaps between print products in the conveying section; and the removed print products are inserted into the recorded gaps.

Abstract: The present invention provides exemplary mail processing systems and methods, including systems and methods for retrieving paper sheets, statements, inserts and/or cards, and inserting same into an envelope. In one embodiment, an apparatus (200) includes a paper feeding mechanism (210) to feed sheets of paper into a collection bin (220) that is adapted to receive in a stack the sheets of paper. The apparatus includes a retrieval mechanism (230) to remove a bottom one of said sheets of paper from the stack, and a deionizer (240) that reduces static electricity in the vicinity of the stack. In this manner, the deionizer helps facilitate removal by the retrieval mechanism of only one of the sheets of paper at a time, by reducing static electricity on the sheets.

Abstract: A sheet material conveying apparatus includes a plurality of pockets running along a track, each pocket including a setting device for adjusting a height of the pocket so as to define a set height. At least one setting actuator located to a side of the pockets is provided, with the setting actuator being selectively movable between a first position where the setting actuator contacts the setting device for adjusting the setting device when the pockets are stationary and a second position where the setting actuator is free from the setting device to allow movement of the pockets along the track.

Abstract: An inserter (10) for synchronously feeding a preprinted portion (X1) of a pamphlet into a printing press (P) to be adhered to a complemental portion of the pamphlet in substantial registration to form the completed pamphlet is disclosed. The inserter (10) broadly includes a feeder assembly (12), an aligner assembly (14), and a drive assembly (16). The feeder assembly (12) moves a plurality (Xn) of sequential preprinted portions (X1, X2 . . . Xn,) of the pamphlets along a substantially horizontal support surface (42) and then feeds them, one at a time, into the aligner assembly (14). The aligner assembly (14) includes aligner pins (246,248), that are universally spaced independent of the dimension of the preprinted portions (Xn), that aligns each of the pamphlet portions into the desired alignment so that the aligner assembly (14) can introduce them one at a time into the printing press (P) in sufficient registration to allow the formation of the completed pamphlets.

Abstract: A device for preparing a book spine includes a plurality of movable pockets, each pocket having an angled back, a packer and a spine stop at a lower end of the pocket for receiving the spine. The spine stop has a first collect position, a second position wherein the spine stop is lower with respect to the packer than in the collect position but still holds the spine, and a third position wherein the spine stop is rotated away from the spine. A method for preparing a spine is also provided.

Abstract: A method for preparing a book spine comprises delivering a plurality of products against a spine stop so as to define a spine, the plurality of products contacting a wall having a first section and a second section. The spine stop is moved away from the spine and the printed products are bent by moving the second section pivotally with respect to the first section. Also disclosed is device for preparing a book spine comprising a plurality of pockets, each pocket having a wall having a first section and a second section, the second section being pivotal with respect to the first section. Each pocket further includes a packer and a spine stop removably located at a lower end of the second section for contacting a spine end of the products, the second section and the packer supporting the products for pivotal movement.

Abstract: A process for combining a plurality of completed printed products such as completed newspapers and/or periodicals, into bundles. At least two storage arrangements are provided, which are occupied by completed printed products of different types. The products are retrieved individually from the storage arrangements in a sequence which is necessary for forming bundles which are composed of a particular distribution of the products. The retrieved products are fed to a receiving conveyor, with certain products being positioned upstream of, or between, products which have already been fed to the receiving conveyor, and the products which follow one after the other in the region of the receiving conveyor are combined into the bundles.

Abstract: A sheet material conveying apparatus includes a plurality of pockets, each pocket including a setting device for adjusting a height of the pocket when the pocket is stationary so as to define a set height, the setting device including a setting rod, a ring gear having an outer surface connected to the setting rod, and a lock ring selectively releasable from the ring gear, the setting rod including a disengaging device for releasing the lock ring from the ring gear during a setting operation. A method and a sheet material pocket are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding flat products from a pile of flat products to a receiving location especially on a conveyor includes a plurality of delivering units for extracting a single flat product from the pile. Each of the delivering units has a first driven belt and is engageable with a pile. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a diverting element for diverting the flat products in a predetermined direction. A method of operating the apparatus is also provided.