Systems and methods are provided for configuring media transport flow paths for directing input image receiving media, including of different types, in sheet or roll form from multiple axes to provide wider latitude in selecting particular input image receiving media and combinations of input image receiving media to support execution of a print job. The disclosed schemes are directed at using one or more stationary turn bars disposed generally at 45 in an input media transport path approaching a marking module in an image forming system to allow for sheets or sheeted materials to be positioned at 90 to the in-line input image receiving media transport path directed toward the marking module thus allowing for flexibility in selection among various sources of stacked, pallet and rolled media.

A collating apparatus (10), in particular for printed products such as brochures, flyers or the like, comprising a collecting section (11) having at least two collecting zones (11a,b) arranged in parallel and working independently of each other, onto which respectively a plurality of products are fed successively and are united lying one on top of the other into a collected product, and at least one further processing section (13, 15) positioned behind the collecting section (11) having at least one further processing apparatus (13a,b; 15a,b). High flexibility during operation is achieved by the arrangement between the collecting section (11) and the at least one further processing section (13, 15) of a distribution apparatus (12), which feeds the collected products arriving from the collecting zones (11a,b) selectively to the at least one further processing apparatus (13a,b, 15a,b).

A collating apparatus (10), in particular for printed products such as brochures, flyers or the like, comprising a collecting section (11) having at least two collecting zones (11a,b) arranged in parallel and working independently of each other, onto which respectively a plurality of products are fed successively and are united lying one on top of the other into a collected product, and at least one further processing section (13, 15) positioned behind the collecting section (11) having at least one further processing apparatus (13a,b; 15a,b). High flexibility during operation is achieved by the arrangement between the collecting section (11) and the at least one further processing section (13, 15) of a distribution apparatus (12), which feeds the collected products arriving from the collecting zones (11a,b) selectively to the at least one further processing apparatus (13a,b, 15a,b).

A pharmaceutical filling system for a high volume pharmacy is described. The system can include a paper feed device and method. The system may include a paper collator with at one selectively openable shelf. A control device may monitor the capacity of the selectively openable shelf, and instruct a printer to hold printing additional print jobs. The selectively openable shelf may then be opened to allow the printed literature resting thereon to fall to a lower shelf, and the printer can then be restarted. Sheets of printed literature may be drawn from the paper collator, collected with any other sheets of printed literature associated with a prescription order, and mated with the prescription order for shipment.

A pharmaceutical filling system for a high volume pharmacy is described. The system can include a paper feed device and method. The system may include a paper collator with at one selectively openable shelf. A control device may monitor the capacity of the selectively openable shelf, and instruct a printer to hold printing additional print jobs. The selectively openable shelf may then be opened to allow the printed literature resting thereon to fall to a lower shelf, and the printer can then be restarted. Sheets of printed literature may be drawn from the paper collator, collected with any other sheets of printed literature associated with a prescription order, and mated with the prescription order for shipment.

There are provided: a paper folding unit folding and sending a content sheet to a transfer path; an inserter unit sending an insert sheet to the transfer path; an acquiring unit acquiring information on a top/bottom direction and a surface/obverse direction of the content sheet and insert sheet; a merging unit in which the content sheet folded by the paper folding unit is overlapped with the insert sheet; and an enclosing unit enclosing the merged content sheet and insert sheet into an envelope sheet, in which, when the content sheet and insert sheet merge and are overlapped, the content sheet is folded so that the top/bottom direction and the surface/obverse direction of an image of the content sheet match those of an image of the insert sheet, based on the information acquired by the acquiring unit.

There are provided: a paper folding unit folding and sending a content sheet to a transfer path; an inserter unit sending an insert sheet to the transfer path; an acquiring unit acquiring information on a top/bottom direction and a surface/obverse direction of the content sheet and insert sheet; a merging unit in which the content sheet folded by the paper folding unit is overlapped with the insert sheet; and an enclosing unit enclosing the merged content sheet and insert sheet into an envelope sheet, in which, when the content sheet and insert sheet merge and are overlapped, the content sheet is folded so that the top/bottom direction and the surface/obverse direction of an image of the content sheet match those of an image of the insert sheet, based on the information acquired by the acquiring unit.

For controlling a printed product processing system, which comprises a collecting system having a conveyor and a plurality of feed conveyors for creating product collections from products fed by the feed conveyors, system configuration parameters which define a configuration of the printed product processing system and production configuration parameters which define the production of product collections created from a plurality of products fed are detected and run time data are determined during the production. On the basis of the system configuration parameters, the production configuration parameters and the run time data, one of a plurality of defined production strategies, which in each case determine the control of the printed product processing system, is selected during the production.

For controlling a printed product processing system, which comprises a collecting system having a conveyor and a plurality of feed conveyors for creating product collections from products fed by the feed conveyors, system configuration parameters which define a configuration of the printed product processing system and production configuration parameters which define the production of product collections created from a plurality of products fed are detected and run time data are determined during the production. On the basis of the system configuration parameters, the production configuration parameters and the run time data, one of a plurality of defined production strategies, which in each case determine the control of the printed product processing system, is selected during the production.

A pharmaceutical filling system for a high volume pharmacy is described. The system can include a paper feed device and method. The system may include a paper collator with at one selectively openable shelf. A control device may monitor the capacity of the selectively openable shelf, and instruct a printer to hold printing additional print jobs. The selectively openable shelf may then be opened to allow the printed literature resting thereon to fall to a lower shelf, and the printer can then be restarted. Sheets of printed literature may be drawn from the paper collator, collected with any other sheets of printed literature associated with a prescription order, and mated with the prescription order for shipment.