An apparatus and method for optional cross-folding of successively following, sequentially printed sheets on a first transport segment. A compressed air device comprises a first control element that is connected to a control unit for triggering or suppressing a compressed air blast from at least one exit opening in the compressed air device. A printed sheet is diverted into a second transport segment for the folding operation or a third transport segment for bypassing the folding operation. The latter empties downstream of folding rolls into the second transport segment at a joint segment point, at which a fourth transport segment adjoins in downstream direction. The third transport segment is longer than the second transport segment or can be operated at a lower speed than the second transport segment such that a first sequence of printed sheets successively following on the first transport segment is identical to a second sequence of the successively following printed sheets located on the fourth transport segment.

In order to move a stack of flat laminar products, a carrying device is used which has a support part, which is positioned above the stack, and a strap, which is secured to the support part. The strap is guided around the stack on the lower face and is secured to the support part, whereupon the support part is pressed against the stack by tensioning the strap and the stack, surrounded by the strap on the lower face, is then lifted. The stack is subsequently placed on a target storage area, and the strap is then released from the stack. The strap is gripped by a gripping device and is drawn from a strap storage spool, mounted on the support part, and the strap is placed around the stack. The strap is wound onto the strap storage spool in order to tension the strap.

A method for moving a stack of products by a robot. The robot has an articulated arm and at least one gripper disposed on the articulated arm for gripping the stack of products. The stack of products is turned, before being moved by the robot, with a pivoting device that is separate from the robot. The stack of products is turned about a horizontal axis and the stack of products, while out of the horizontal orientation, is aligned and/or straightened in one direction and/or straightened in two mutually orthogonal directions and/or vibrated and/or aerated and/or modified from a fanned-out stack of products to become an unfanned stack of products. The robot then takes the stack from the pivoting device and subsequently moves the stack.

A method moves a stack of products by a robot. The robot has an articulated arm and at least one gripper disposed on the articulated arm to grip the stack of printed products and the stack of products selectively being turned. The method includes pivoting the stack of products through an effective angle ?1< >180? and subsequently pivoting the stack through an effective angle ?2=180???1 or pivoting the stack back through an effective angle ?2=??1. This method of moving stacks of products is performed in an automated way and in particular of depositing them in a turned or unturned arrangement.

A method for applying at least one enclosing element to a flat product composition wherein the enclosing element is subsequently applied around a selected edge of the product composition in a perpendicular manner with respect to said edge so as to rest against the product composition. A reliable operation that is independent of the type of enclosing element is achieved in that the selected edge of the product composition is moved forward along a transporting path, the enclosing element is held ready at a specified point of the transporting path so as to intersect the transporting path, the selected edge of the product composition is moved past the specified point, and at the same time the selected edge drives the enclosing element that is held ready.

A system for making a sheet of paper into a folded article is disclosed that includes multiple folding units and a turn unit for changing the travel path of the folded article. At least one of the folding units creates a fold in the folded article in a direction that is perpendicular to a fold created by another one of the folding units. The turn unit alters the travel direction of the folded article so that downstream folding units can be arranged in a manner that saves floor space. Also disclosed herein is a method of folding a sheet of paper that includes conveying the sheet of paper along perpendicular travel paths after the sheet of paper has been folded.

The invention relates to a method for producing collections (15) from a plurality of N (N=2, 3, 4, . . . ) different printed products (11a-d), which collections (15) each comprise a stack (13) of printed products (11a-c), which stack is packed in a packaging element (11d) wrapped around the stack (13). A solution that does not require additional material use includes the following steps: providing the N printed products (11a-d): forming an intermediate stack (13) from Nx (x=1, 2, 3, . . . ) of the N printed products (10a-d); providing the x remaining printed products as a packaging element (11d); and wrapping the intermediate stack (13) in the packaging element (11d).

Systems and methods for folding a stack of substrate sheets are provided. The system may include a roller assembly and a positioning mechanism. The roller assembly is configured for folding the stack of substrate sheets and the positioning mechanism is configured to position the substrate or stack for entry into the roller assembly. The positioning mechanism includes an upper curved form and a lower curved form to guide the stack of substrate sheets into a curved position for folding. The positioning mechanism further includes a folding blade positioned to extend through the gap between the upper and lower curved forms. The roller assembly can move the folded stack of substrate sheets in at least two directions.

A device for separating printed products out of a stack, the device including a feed device which defines a substantially horizontal plane, a first stop element which is arranged on a mounting support as well as a transfer device which defines a substantially horizontal plane, wherein the feed device moves the stack against the first stop element, wherein the transfer device accepts and transfers the bottommost printed product out of the stack from the feed device, wherein the feed device includes a vacuum conveyor, by means of which the bottom surface of the bottommost printed product is sucked up at least in portions, as well as to a corresponding method.

A feed appliance for feeding products to a further processing appliance includes a standby circulatory apparatus with a takeover station and with several transport units that are circulatorily movable independently of one another for each receiving a product at the takeover station, a provision conveyor for feeding the products to the takeover station, and a control device for controlling the feed of the products and of the transport units into a takeover section of the takeover station and for controlling the takeover of the fed products by the transport units. The standby circulatory apparatus for creating a gapless product stream includes a release device for the cyclically controlled release of individual transport units into the takeover section. For this, the control device is designed to release a transport unit only given a feed of a cyclically correct product into the takeover section.