A method is provided for producing an electrode stack with flat electrode elements, including: a) providing a first electrode element; b) inserting the first electrode element into an intermediate space formed by stacking fingers of a stacking wheel which rotates about a rotation axis; c) transporting the first electrode element with the stacking wheel; d) removing the first electrode element from the intermediate space; e) arranging the first electrode element in a stacking position; f) providing a second electrode element; g) inserting the second electrode element into a further intermediate space different from the intermediate space and formed by stacking fingers of the stacking wheel; h) removing the second electrode element from the further intermediate space; and i) arranging the second electrode element in the stacking position and producing the electrode stack. The first electrode element is moved to a lateral target position by a movable alignment element.

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).

The invention relates to an insert-sheet pick-up device (13) for an insert-sheet loading device (10) of a station for receiving copy (500). The pick-up device (13) includes a suction element (20) configured to pick up an insert sheet. The pick-up device (13) includes a pivoting axis (30) and at least one telescopic arm (33) including a proximal arm (33a), one end of which is fixed to the pivoting axis (30), and a distal arm (33b), able to move with respect to the proximal arm (33a), and one end of which is pivot-articulated to the suction element (20) to move the suction element (20) between a raised position and a lowered position according to a vertical movement of the suction element (20). Also, the invention also relates to an insert-sheet loading device, a copy-receiving station and a machine for processing elements in sheet form including the insert-sheet pick-up device.

An insert sheet loading device (10) comprising a movable carriage (12; 12) for inserting insert sheets into a receiving area (2) of a blank-receiving station (500). The movable carriage (12; 12) has a plurality of longitudinal bars (27a, 27b). At least one longitudinal bar (27a) has a suction channel (35) leading out, via at least one suction opening (30), onto the surface of the longitudinal bar (27a) for receiving an insert sheet, the suction channel (35) is connected to a vacuum source (31) for holding, by suction, the insert sheet transported by the movable carriage (12; 12). Also a blank-receiving station, a sheet-shaped element processing machine, and a method for transporting an insert sheet in a receiving area of a blank-receiving station are disclosed.

A stacking apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a stacking unit, and a separation member supply unit. The conveyance unit conveys sheets for circuit board. The stacking unit stacks the sheets. The separation member supply unit supplies a separation member to separate the stacked sheets at any position. The separation member supply unit places the separation member on the sheet in being conveyed.

A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a scoring unit which scores a sheet; a folding unit which folds a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets; a pressing unit which presses a folded part of the sheet bundle folded by the folding unit; and a controller which determines, based on information on the sheet bundle, whether the scoring unit scores the sheet included in the sheet bundle to be folded and whether the pressing unit presses the folded part of the sheet bundle.

A stacking apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a stacking unit, and a separation member supply unit. The conveyance unit conveys sheets for circuit board. The stacking unit stacks the sheets. The separation member supply unit supplies a separation member to separate the stacked sheets at any position. The separation member supply unit places the separation member on the sheet in being conveyed.

A separator cutting apparatus includes: a fixing part configured to fix temporarily the electrode assembly; a cutter supporting part disposed above the fixing part; a cutter part disposed below the cutter supporting part, and configured to cut a separator among the electrode assembly temporarily fixed to the fixing part; and a spring part configured to connect elastically the cutter supporting part and the cutter part to each other, and return the cutter part to an initial position after cutting the separator; the spring part includes a spring bush coupled to a supporting shaft provided in the cutter supporting part and the cutter part, respectively, a spring holder integrally coupled to the spring bush, and a spring that expands and contracts according to the elevation of the cutter part by coupling both ends to the spring holder, and the spring holder and the spring bush are made of a non-metallic material.