EP0481914B1 - Stabilization and positioning of printed products during transportation - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus are used for positioning and stabilizing flat articles at a specific point (P) of a conveying path, the articles being conveyed in a suspended manner. Non-rigid articles which are conveyed at such a speed that they are deflected by the air resistance from their vertical, flat position, are positioned so that they can be guided into a closely defined compartment of a processing drum with their lower edge at the front. For this purpose guide elements (12) are inserted from above into the conveying flow and over an insertion path (ES), gradually bring the printed products (11) into the intended position and over a following discharge path (AS) discharge the guide elements upwards again out of the conveying flow. The described embodiment of the apparatus comprises chains, closed to form a loop and positioned laterally of the conveying flow, which pass over sprockets and on which the guide elements (12) are arranged at regular intervals.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device according to the preambles of the independent claims for locally precise guidance and stabilization of, for example, suspended, flat objects, in particular printed products.

Flat objects, such as printed products, are conveyed suspended in a conveying stream, in that a conveying means, for example a clamp or gripper, acts on the upper edge of each printed product. From such a hanging conveying movement, the printed products are fed individually to any processing step by simply opening the conveying means with the force of gravity, while the conveying means continue to move essentially in a straight line. An application example for such a hanging feed to a processing step is the feed to a processing drum in which, for example, preliminary products and / or inserts are inserted into printed products. A corresponding device with a hanging feed is described in CH patent no. 668 244 described by the same applicant. This patent specification is assumed to be known.

The advantage of the hanging feeder is that the funding does not have to be carried out in the immediate vicinity of the feeder. As a result, the actual feed remains undisturbed and the conveying means can be guided away from the feed point in a simple manner. The hanging print product is fed with the lower edge ahead. This means that the precision of the feed depends on the positional accuracy of this lower edge. Such a feed is not a problem for sufficiently stiff, relatively slowly conveyed printed products, because the position of the lower edge is defined quite precisely: it is always perpendicular to the upper edge. The supply can therefore be limited locally. As described in the cited patent specification, it is also possible to grasp the lower edges of the hanging printed products shortly before the feed point with a conveyor belt running parallel to the conveying direction and thus to stabilize them. If the speed of this conveyor belt is equal to the conveying speed, the printed products will reach the feed point in a vertical position. If the speed of the conveyor belt is not exactly the same as the speed of the conveyor elements, the lower edge of the printed products is accelerated or decelerated relative to the upper edge and the printed products have a slightly inclined position at the feed point, which can be advantageous for the feed, for example to a processing drum .

However, if the suspended printed products are not very stiff and the conveying speed is so high that there is considerable air resistance, the position of the lower edge of the printed products is not defined, and precise feeding with the lower edge becomes problematic. If a feed is still to be clear in such a case, the distances between the individual printed products in the feed stream must be very large and the feed point must be very far. This leads to higher conveying speeds for the same production and thus to even higher air resistance and is therefore not a viable route to a precise feed. A guiding of the lower edge of the printed products with additional clamps or grippers that hold the lower edge of the printed products is conceivable but expensive in terms of device, because these additional clamps have to run along the entire conveying path since, as soon as the air resistance acts on the printed products, these are due to the undefined position of the lower edges can no longer be detected. In addition, especially for sensitive printed products, it is not advantageous to hold them with more clips than is absolutely necessary.

It is the object of the invention to demonstrate a method by means of which flat objects, in particular printed products, which are held by individual conveying means, for example hanging on clamps, can be conveyed, stabilized and precisely positioned at certain points on the conveying path. In particular, the position of an edge not held by the conveying means, for example the lower edge of hanging printed products, relative to the edge held by the conveying means, for example the upper edge of hanging printed products, should be precisely defined and stable at a point on the conveying path. The method should be applicable in particular for flat, less stiff objects that are conveyed at high speed, so that they are not only moved out of their conveying position, for example hanging position, but also bent without stabilization by the air resistance. The process should be gentle on sensitive printed products by gradually moving them from the position deflected by the air resistance to the intended position. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for performing the method. This should be straightforward, simple and robust.

Figur 1

den Ablauf des Verfahrens, schematisch an einer Verfahrensvariante dargestellt,

Figur 2

eine weitere Verfahrensvariante

Figur 3

noch eine Verfahrensvariante

Figur 4

eine Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung zur durchführung des Verfahrens gemäss Figur 1, senkrecht zur Förderrichtung gesehen,

Figur 5

dieselbe Ausführungsform, parallel zur Förderrichtung gesehen.

This object is achieved by the method and device according to the patent claims. The method and the device are described in detail with reference to the following figures. Show:

Figure 1

the course of the process, shown schematically on a process variant,

Figure 2

another process variant

Figure 3

another process variant

Figure 4

1 shows an embodiment of the device according to the invention for carrying out the method according to FIG.

Figure 5

the same embodiment, seen parallel to the conveying direction.

The basic principle of the method according to the invention is based on the fact that, in front of a positioning point at which, for example, the hanging print products of a conveying stream should have a very specific position, guide elements from above (ie from that side of the conveying stream at which the printed products are held by the conveying means) the flow is introduced so that the guide elements are moved up to the positioning point in the flow so that they gradually guide the printed products of the flow into the intended position, and that the guide elements are guided upwards out of the flow again after the positioning point. A guide element is assigned to each printed product. The guide elements move at constant distances from each other and at constant speed on a closed path, part of which runs within the flow.

. Die Druckprodukte 11 sind als ausgezogene Linien in einer durch den Luftwiderstand bedingten, realen Stellung dargestellt und gestrichelt in einer vertikalen Stellung, die sie ohne Luftwiderstand einnehmen würden. Das Ziel des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens ist es nun, die Druckprodukte 11.1/2/3... an der Positionierungsstelle P in eine vorgesehene, genau definierte Läge zu bringen, also beispielsweise derart schräg zur Senkrechten, dass die Unterkante um eine Strecke d in Förderrichtung vor der Oberkante liegt, die Läge, in der das Druckprodukt 11.7 dargestellt ist. Dies wird erreicht, indem über einen Teil der Förderstrecke, und zwar von der Einführstelle E in Förderrichtung vor der Positionierungsstelle P bis zur Ausführstelle A nach der Positionierungsstelle P Führungselemente 12.1/2/3... im Förderstrom bewegt werden. Das Führungselement 12.x wird an der Stelle E zwischen dem Druckprodukt 11.x und dem Druckprodukt 11.x-1 in den Förderstrom bewegt und durchläuft die Förderstrecke bis zur Ausführstelle A zwischen diesen beiden Druckprodukten. Damit es mit dem Fördermittel 10.x an der Einführstelle E nicht in Konflikt kommt, hat es bei der Einführung einen Abstand p vom Druckprodukt 11.x, wobei p < a, vorzugsweise ≦ a/2. Damit es mit dem Fördermittel 10.x bei der Ausführstelle A nicht in Konflikt kommt, hat es bei der Ausführung den Abstand q vom Druckprodukt 11.x, wobei q < a, vorzugsweise ≦ a/2. Die minimalen Grössen von p und q sind bestimmt durch die Ausgestaltung der Fördermittel 10 und der Führungselemente 12. Für die Darstellung der Strecken p und q sind in der Figur die Fördermittel 10.1 und 10.11 gestrichelt (10.1', 10.11') auch in der Position dargestellt, die sie einnehmen zu dem Zeitpunkt, an dem das entsprechende Führungselement 12.1 rsp. 12.11 in den Förderstrom ein- oder aus ihm ausgeführt wird. Figure 1 shows schematically a variant of the inventive method. It shows a flow of hanging print products 11.1 / 2/3 ..., which are funded with funding 10.1 / 2/3 ... It can be, for example, a driven chain with grippers. The conveying direction F is directed from right to left in the figure, the hanging printed products are at a distance a from one another, the conveying speed is v _Fö . The figure can also be understood in such a way that a printed product 11.x conveyed by a conveyor 10.x is shown at different times, with time intervals T that the printed product 11.x requires to cover the distance a (time axis from the right facing left) so that ${\text{T = a / v}}_{\text{Fö}}$

. The printed products 11 are shown as solid lines in a real position caused by the air resistance and dashed lines in a vertical position which they would take up without air resistance. The aim of the method according to the invention is now to bring the printed products 11.1 / 2/3 ... at the positioning point P into an intended, precisely defined position, that is to say, for example, so inclined to the vertical that the lower edge is forward a distance d in the conveying direction the upper edge is the position in which the printed product 11.7 is shown. This is achieved by moving guide elements 12.1 / 2/3 ... in the conveying flow over part of the conveying path, namely from the insertion point E in the conveying direction before the positioning point P to the exit point A after the positioning point P. The guide element 12.x is moved into the conveying stream at the point E between the printed product 11.x and the printed product 11.x-1 and passes through the conveying path to the delivery point A between these two printed products. So that there is no conflict with the conveying means 10.x at the insertion point E, it has a distance p from the printed product 11.x during the introduction, where p <a, preferably ≦ a / 2. So that there is no conflict with the funding 10.x at the execution point A, it has the distance q from the printed product 11.x during the execution, where q <a, preferably ≦ a / 2. The minimum sizes of p and q are determined by the design of the conveying means 10 and the guide elements 12. For the representation of the distances p and q, the conveying means 10.1 and 10.11 are dashed in the figure (10.1 ', 10.11') also in shown the position they take at the time when the corresponding guide element 12.1 rsp. 12.11 in or out of the flow.

On an insertion path ES (between the insertion point E and the positioning point P) the guide element 12.x moves on the one hand downwards and on the other hand in the conveying direction against a position relative to the printed product 11.x, that of the intended position of the printed product 11.x at the positioning point P corresponds. It reaches a position at the positioning point P which corresponds to the intended position of the printed product 11.x in the direction of conveyance; towards the bottom it is in a position relative to the lower edge such that the lower edge has a defined position. Since the guide element 12.x approaches the printed product 11.x in the conveying direction from behind, that is to say against the air resistance, the printed product is driven by the air resistance against the guide element 12.x. As soon as the guide element 12.x is sufficiently far down and sufficiently close to the printed product 11.x that it is pressed onto the guide element 12.x by the air resistance (in FIGS. 10.5 / 12.5 and 10.6 / 12.6), active guidance begins and Stabilization. The proposed lowest position of the guide elements 12 relative to the lower edge of the printed products 11 depends on the rigidity of the printed products 11 and on the conveying speed, that is to say on the air resistance. Stiffer printed products 11 require less guidance, that is, the guide element 12.x does not have to be guided all the way to the lower edge of the printed product 11.x. For less stiff printed products 11, guidance up to the lower edge is desired, but it must be ensured by appropriate design of the guide elements 12 that the printed products 11 are not pushed back over the guide elements 12 by the air resistance. In the figure, the vertical distance 1 between the insertion point E and the lowest position of the guide elements 12 (12.7) corresponds approximately to the length of the printed products 11.

$\text{wobei tgα = 1/ES und ES' = ES-d-p}$

${\text{v}}_{\text{Fü}}{\text{: v}}_{\text{Fö}}\text{= c : a}$

Nach der Positionierungsstelle P, an der für die meisten Anwendungen die Unterkante des Druckproduktes 11.x von einer anderen Führung, beispielsweise von den Rändern des Abteils einer Verarbeitungstrommel, in das das Druckprodukt zugeführt werden soll, übernommen und gleichzeitig oder etwas später vom Fördermittel 10.x losgelassen wird, ist eine Führung durch das Führungselement 12.x nicht mehr notwendig und wäre für viele Anwendungen sogar störend. Unterhalb des Förderstromes ist an dieser Stelle der Förderstrecke eine Verarbeitungsvorrichtung positioniert, sodass die Führungselemente 12 vorteilhafterweise gegen oben aus dem Förderstrom bewegt werden Dabei ist es vorteilhaft, sie gegenüber den Druckprodukten 11 zu verzögern, damit diese nicht mehr geführt werden. Über eine Ausführstrecke AS wird also das Führungselement 12.x derart bewegt, dass es in Förderrichtung gegenüber dem Druckprodukt 11.x verzögert wird, und gegen oben derart, dass es an der Ausführstelle A die Oberkante der Druckprodukte 11 erreicht. Da die realen Positionen des Druckproduktes 11.x nach der Positionierungsstelle P von der spezifischen Anwendung des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens abhängig ist, sind die realen Positionen der Druckprodukte 10.8/9/10/11 (ausgezogene Linien), also derjenigen Druckprodukte, die die Positionierungsstelle P bereits passiert haben, in der Figur nicht eingezeichnet.During the time in which the guide element 12.x moves over the insertion section ES, the printed product 11.x is conveyed over a section ES 'which is shorter by the sections p and d than the insertion section ES. The same number of guide elements 12 and printed products 11 move on the insertion path ES. This results in the following conditions for the distance c between the guide elements 12 and for the speed v _{F for} the guide elements 12:

$\text{(a · ES) / (c · ES ') = cosα}$

$\text{where tgα = 1 / ES and ES '= ES-dp}$

${\text{v}}_{\text{For}}{\text{: v}}_{\text{Fö}}\text{= c: a}$

After the positioning point P, at which the lower edge of the printed product 11.x is taken over by another guide, for example from the edges of the section of a processing drum into which the printed product is to be fed, and at the same time or somewhat later by the conveying means 10. x is released, guidance through the guide element 12.x is no longer necessary and would even be disruptive for many applications. A processing device is positioned below the conveying flow at this point on the conveying path, so that the guide elements 12 are advantageously moved upwards out of the conveying flow. It is advantageous to delay them relative to the printed products 11 so that they are no longer guided. The guide element 12.x is thus moved over an execution path AS in such a way that it is decelerated in the conveying direction with respect to the printed product 11.x, and towards the top in such a way that it reaches the upper edge of the printed products 11 at the execution point A. Since the real positions of the printed product 11.x after the positioning point P depend on the specific application of the method according to the invention, the real positions of the printed products are 10.8 / 9/10/11 (solid lines), that is to say those printed products which the Positioning point P have already passed, not shown in the figure.

$\text{wobei tgβ = 1/AS und AS' = AS+d+q}$

Die angegebenen Bedingungen gelten nur unter den vereinfachenden Annahmen, dass die Führungselemente keine Ausdehnung in Förderrichtung haben und dass sie immer gradlinig bewegt werden, dass ihre Bewegungsbahn an der Positionierungsstelle P, wie in der Figur dargestellt, also einen Knick hat.The distances c between the guide elements 12 and the speed v _{Fü of} the guide elements 12 are the same on the execution section AS as on the insertion section ES. This results in the following condition for the AS segment:

$\text{(a · AS) / (c · AS ') = cosβ}$

$\text{where tgβ = 1 / AS and AS '= AS + d + q}$

The specified conditions apply only under the simplifying assumptions that the guide elements have no extension in the conveying direction and that they are always moved in a straight line, that their movement path at the positioning point P, as shown in the figure, therefore has a kink.

The guide elements 12 are moved from the execution point A back to the insertion point E on any path. The entire length of the movement path of the guide elements 12 must be an integral multiple of the distance c between the guide elements 12.

A method variant of the method shown in FIG. 1 is that the distance d is zero, that is to say that the intended length of the hanging printed products 11 at the positioning point P is vertical. For an intended length with the lower edge in the conveying direction behind the upper edge of the printed products 11, d becomes negative, which represents a further process variant.

The method according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1 on a straight horizontal conveyor line. However, the method according to the invention is by no means limited to straight, horizontal conveying sections, but can also be used for ascending, sinking or curved conveying sections.

In Figure 1, the path of movement of the guide elements 12 within the flow is shown as being composed of two straight lines. This is not a requirement for the method according to the invention. Trajectories from more than two straight lines and also with curved parts can be used. Curved trajectories are particularly advantageous in connection with conveyor lines that also do not run in a straight line. At locations where the guide elements 12 change their direction of movement, for example at the positioning point P, it is advantageous for technical reasons for the device to arrange a short, curved piece between the two straight parts of the movement path of the guide elements 12 (see device in FIG. 4).

An die Führungsstrecke PS schliesst sich dann wiederum eine Ausführstrecke AS an.For example, FIG. 2 shows a variant of the method with a horizontal, straight-line conveying path and a movement path of the guide elements 12 composed of three straight-line parts. As in FIG. 1, the guide elements 12 are moved via an insertion path ES against the intended position at the positioning point P, which in FIG this example lies on the vertical through the upper edge of the printed products 11 (d = 0). In contrast to the method variant described in connection with FIG. 1, however, after the positioning point P, the guide elements 12 do not immediately lag behind the print products 11 assigned to them, but instead guide them over a guide path PS in the same position that they are at the positioning point P. achieved. The angle γ between the movement path of the guide elements 12 and the conveying direction F must be selected for the distance PS in such a way that:

$\text{a = ccosγ}$

An execution route AS then connects to the guide route PS.

FIG. 3 shows a further method variant, which is advantageously used when the intended position of the printed products 11 at the positioning point P is approximately the same as that caused by the air resistance, so that the air resistance no longer presses the printed products 11 sufficiently against the guide elements 12, to guarantee safe guidance and stabilization. In such a case, each printed product 11.x can be assigned two guide elements 12.x₁ and 12.x₂, the guide element 12.x₁ (shown as a circle) moving on the movement path B.1 and moving from behind over the insertion path in the conveying direction the print product to be guided 11.x approaches, while the guide element 12.x₂ (shown as a dot) moves on the movement path B.2 and approaches the print product to be guided 11.x from the front.

Of course, a method is also conceivable that only works with guide elements 12 running in front of the printed products 11 in the conveying direction.

For very stiff printed products, it may be advantageous to arrange two guide elements for each printed product vertically one above the other. The upper guide element prevents the printed product from bending backwards due to the air resistance between the bracket and the lower guide element, such that its lower edge is pressed backwards over the lower guide element. The movement paths of the lower and the upper guide elements for such an arrangement run parallel to one another. In the same way as printed products which are conveyed in a hanging manner, even flat objects which are conveyed by conveying means which engage on the side or on the lower edge can be positioned and stabilized using the method according to the invention. The guide elements are advantageously always introduced from the side on which the conveying means hold the conveyed objects into the conveying flow and are also carried out again from the conveying flow on this side.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a device for carrying out that process variant which was described in connection with FIG. 1. The device 40 according to the invention is shown in use together with a conveying device 50 for a conveying flow of hanging printed products, and a processing drum 60. The entire arrangement is seen in FIG. 4 from a direction parallel to the axis of the processing drum 60. FIG. 5 shows in detail a printed product 11.x with the corresponding conveyor clamp 10.x and the corresponding paired guide element 12.x, seen parallel to the conveying direction.

The processing drum 60 and the conveyor device 50 are known from the above-mentioned CH patent 668 244.

The use of the device according to the invention can be clearly seen from FIG . The printed products 11.1 / 2/3 ... are conveyed on brackets 10.1 / 2/3 ... against the processing drum 60 on a, for example, slightly sinking conveyor line. The processing drum 60 rotates in the direction of the arrow and has compartments 61.1 / 2/3 ... around its circumference, into which the printed products 11.1 / 2/3 ... are to be fed. The printed product 11.6 is shown in the feed position. Its lower edge is already in the entrance of a corresponding one Compartment 61.6 of the processing drum 60 positioned. So that each printed product 11.x can be inserted exactly into the compartment 61.x even at high conveying speed, its lower edge must be stable and in a defined position when it has reached the position that is assumed by the printed product 11.6 in the figure his. The printed product 11.x is conveyed a little further by the clamp 10.x after the feed point, the lower edge penetrating ever deeper into the corresponding compartment 61.x of the processing drum 60. Only in the position in which the printed product 11.9 is shown does the clip 10.x open and the printed product 11.x falls into the compartment 61.x.

The positioning and stabilization of the lower edge of the printed product 11. X necessary for feeding is achieved with the guide device 40 with which the method according to the invention is carried out. Guide elements 12.1 / 2/3 ... are fastened at regular intervals on at least one traction means closed to the ring and arranged laterally to the flow, preferably a chain 41 (indicated by a dash-dotted line) or a toothed belt. The chain runs over, for example, four sprockets 42.1 / 2/3/4, one of which is operatively connected to a drive (not visible in the figure), so that the sprockets 42.1 / 2/3/4 are in operation as indicated by the arrows Turn directions. The drive speed of the chain is matched to the conveying speed of the printed products in such a way that the guide elements cover the distance c in the same time as the printed products cover the distance a. The sprocket 42.2 is arranged at the positioning point (feed position) and effects the change in direction of the guide elements 12 that is necessary at this point. The sprockets 42.1 and 42.3 are above the conveyor path in the area of the ins. Execution point arranged, while the sprocket 42.4 is arranged in that part of the path of movement of the guide elements in which they move from the execution point back to the insertion point. For reasons of space, it is advantageous to drive the sprocket 42.4.

5 shows the arrangement of a guide element 12.x relative to a printed product 11.x, which is conveyed by a transport clamp 10.x. The viewing direction is in the conveying direction and parallel to the conveying direction, that is to say corresponding to the arrow V in FIG. 4. The bracket 10.x grips the printed product 11.x in the middle of its upper edge.

If the printed products 11 are not very stiff, it is advantageous to equip the clamps 10 with stabilizing brackets 13. In the figure, a stabilizing bar 13.x is shown, which extends approximately over the middle half of the printed product. The less rigid the conveyed printed product is, the wider the stabilizing bar 13.x must be designed so that a defined position of the upper edge of the printed product in the conveying direction is guaranteed.

The two parts 12.x _r and 12.x _{l of} the guide element 12.x are arranged on the left and the right side of the printed product 11.x. In this embodiment, they are rod-shaped and each extend over about a quarter of the width of the printed product 11.x. Furthermore, the two chains 41 _r and 41 _{l are} partially shown in the figure. The chain 41 _r carries all the right parts of the guide elements 12, the chain 41 _l all the left parts. The sprockets 42.2 _r and 42.2 _l are also visible in the figure. The illustrated guide element 12.x is located in the figure just below the sprockets 42.2, that is, approximately at the positioning point.

So that the two parts of the guide element 12.x can be moved upwards out of the conveying flow, the distance g between them must be at least as large as the width f of the driven part 51 of the conveying device 50 which carries the brackets 10.

The less rigid the printed product 11.x, the longer the parts 12.x _r and 12.x _{l of} the guide element 12.x have to be. For very stiff printed products, it can also be advantageous not to design the parts 12.x _r and 12.x _{l of} the guide element 12.x as bars, but as plates that also offer more support in the vertical direction for the printed product 11.x. . For very rigid printed products 11, guide elements 12, which consist of only one part arranged on one side of the conveying flow, are quite sufficient.

To carry out the method according to FIG. 2, a further sprocket would have to be arranged between the sprockets 42.2 and 42.3, which causes the guide elements to change direction after the guide path PS.

To carry out the method according to FIG. 3, a further guide device, which roughly corresponds to the guide device 40, would have to be arranged. The same applies to the process with one upper and one lower guide element per printed product.

Claims (23)

1. Method for stabilizing and positioning flat articles which, held by conveying means (10), are conveyed in e.g. suspended manner, particularly printed products (11), which are not very stiff and are conveyed at a high speed, characterized in that over a certain portion of the guidance section guidance elements (12) are introduced into the conveying stream and are jointly moved in the conveying direction and that the guidance elements (12) guide the printed products (11) over at least part of said portion in such a way that at at least one point they have a clearly defined and stable position, which is independent of the conveying speed.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the guidance elements (12) move at a constant speed over a closed path and with regular reciprocal spacings, part of the path being within the conveying stream.
3. Method according to one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one guidance element (12.x) is associated with each printed product (11.x).
4. Method according to one of the claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the guidance elements (12) are inserted into the conveying stream from the side on which the printed products (11) are held by the conveying means (10).
5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the guidance elements (12) are discharged from the conveying stream on the same side as that on which they are introduced into the conveying stream.
6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the guidance elements (12) are introduced from above into the conveying stream of suspended printed products (11) and are discharged from said conveying stream in the upwards direction again.
7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the guidance element (12.x), whilst moving in the conveying direction over an insertion section (ES), approaches in the conveying direction and from above a position relative to the upper edge of the printed product (11.x) which brings about the intended position of said printed product (11.x) and that the guidance element (12.x) reaches this position at a positioning station (P) at the end of the insertion section (ES).
8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the intended position of the printed product (11.x) at the positioning station (P) is a vertical position.
9. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the intended position of the printed product (11.x) at the positioning station (P) is inclined with respect to the vertical in such a way that the lower edge of the printed product (11.x) is positioned upstream or downstream of the upper edge in the conveying direction.
10. Method according to one of the claims 3 to 9, characterized in that at least one guidance element (12.x) runs behind the printed product (11.x) in the conveying direction and over the insertion section gradually guides the printed product (11.x) from the rear into the intended position.
11. Method according to one of the claims 3 to 9, characterized in that at least one guidance element (12.x) runs upstream of the printed product (11.x) in the conveying direction and over the insertion section gradually guides the printed product (11.x) from the front into the intended position.
12. Method according to one of the claims 3 to 9, characterized in that with the printed product (11.x) are associated two guidance elements (12.x₁, 12.x₂), one such element (12.x₁) running behind the printed product (11.x) in the conveying direction and the other (12.x₂) in front of the same.
13. Method according to one of the claims 6 to 12, characterized in that the guidance element (12.x) or the guidance elements (12.x₁, 12.x₂), following the point at which the printed product (11.x) has reached the intended position, are guided upwards out of the conveying stream.
14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the guidance element (12.x) or the guidance elements (12.x₁, 12.x₂), following the point at which the printed product (11.x) has reached the intended position, no longer guide the latter, so that it is removed from the intended position.
15. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the guidance element (12.x) or guidance elements (12.x₁ and 12.x₂), following the position where the printed product (11.x) reached the intended position, continue to guide the same over a guidance section (PS), so that it roughly maintains the intended position.
16. Apparatus for performing the method according to one of the claims 1 to 15, characterized in that it has guidance elements (12), which at regular intervals are fixed to at least one driven element (41) and that the driven element (41) is positioned in such a way that part of the guidance elements (12) projects into the conveying stream.
17. Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the driven element is at least one chain (41) closed to form a ring and which runs over at least three sprockets (42.1/2/3/4) arranged laterally of the conveying stream and whereof at least one is operatively connected with a drive.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that two of the sprockets (42.1 and 42.3) are positioned above the conveying stream and at least one sprocket (42.2) is positioned in the conveying direction between the first-mentioned sprockets (42.1, 42.3) and in the lower area of the conveying stream.
19. Apparatus according to one of the claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the spacings between the guidance elements (12), which are fixed to a driven element (41), are larger than the spacings between the printed products (11) of the conveying stream.
20. Apparatus according to one of the claims 16 to 19, characterized in that a guidance element (12.x) comprises two parts (12.X_r and 12.x_l), which are positioned in such a way that at all times their axes are on a common line perpendicular to the conveying direction.
21. Use of the method according to one of the claims 1 to 15 for the supply of printed products (11), conveyed in a suspended manner to a processing apparatus.
22. Use according to claim 21, characterized in that the processing apparatus is a processing drum (60).
23. Use of the apparatus according to one of the claims 16 to 20 in conjunction with a conveying mechanism (50) for the suspended conveying of printed products (11) and a processing apparatus, particularly a processing drum (60), to whose compartment (61) are supplied the printed products (11).

Images