A Stacking Apparatus is proposed that performs the purpose of receiving the boxes being produced by a Rotary Die Cutter and transporting the boxes through the apparatus such that stacks of the boxes are created and exit from the discharge end of the apparatus. It embodies the four functional modules, Layboy Function, Shingling Function, Stacking Function and Hopper Function. These four functions are embodied such that it has the advantages of a fixed position Hopper Function and still provides Die Board Access, Running Layboy Roll Out and Sample Sheets.

A paper transport device includes a transport mechanism that transports paper to which an image is transferred to a fixing device while sucking the paper and a switching mechanism that switches between suction regions in a width direction of the transport mechanism, which corresponds to a width direction of the paper, according to a size of the paper.

A sheet conveyance apparatus (26) includes: a first conveyance unit (70a), a second conveyance unit (70b) disposed below the first conveyance unit (70a) and including a second upper conveyance guide (75) and a second lower conveyance guide (77), and an apparatus main body, wherein the second conveyance unit (70b) can be drawn out to a front side of the apparatus main body along a front-and-rear direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction, the second upper conveyance guide (75) includes: a guide main body part (75b) turnable upward and downward with respect to the apparatus main body with a rear end edge as a turning support shaft and a front end edge as a turning end; and a movable guide part (75c) coupled to the turning end of the guide main body part (75b) via a hinge part (75d) in a turnable manner.

A conveying direction switching apparatus includes a first switching gate that, at a joint portion of a first conveying path, a second conveying path, and a third conveying path, switches between a first conveyance route connecting the first conveying path and the second conveying path and a second conveyance route connecting the first conveying path and the third conveying path, a second switching gate that switches between the first conveyance route and a third conveyance route connecting the second conveying path and the third conveying path, and a free gate that is arranged on a same shaft as the first switching gate such that a second conveyance route side is opened by an elastic body at a joint portion of the second conveyance route and the third conveyance route.

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.

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.

A conveyance path switching module includes a main body and a switching mechanism. The main body has first, second and third conveyance paths. The switching mechanism includes a first switching assembly and a second switching assembly. The first switching assembly and the second switching assembly are pivoted to the main body. By pivotally turning of the first switching assembly and the second switching assembly, the switching mechanism is adapted to be switched to a first state to open the first conveyance path and close the second conveyance path and the third conveyance path, adapted to be switched to a second state to open the second conveyance path and close the first conveyance path and the third conveyance path, and adapted to be switched to a third state to open the third conveyance path and close the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path.

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 conveyance path switching module includes a main body and a switching mechanism. The main body has first, second and third conveyance paths. The switching mechanism includes a first switching assembly and a second switching assembly. The first switching assembly and the second switching assembly are pivoted to the main body. By pivotally turning of the first switching assembly and the second switching assembly, the switching mechanism is adapted to be switched to a first state to open the first conveyance path and close the second conveyance path and the third conveyance path, adapted to be switched to a second state to open the second conveyance path and close the first conveyance path and the third conveyance path, and adapted to be switched to a third state to open the third conveyance path and close the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path.

A paper transport device includes a transport mechanism that transports paper to which an image is transferred to a fixing device while sucking the paper and a switching mechanism that switches between suction regions in a width direction of the transport mechanism, which corresponds to a width direction of the paper, according to a size of the paper.