EP0960065A1

EP0960065A1 - Device for producing printed materials in several parts

Info

Publication number: EP0960065A1
Application number: EP98900258A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Erich Jaeger
Original assignee: Ferag AG
Current assignee: Ferag AG
Priority date: 1997-02-14
Filing date: 1998-01-20
Publication date: 1999-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-20
Also published as: CN1247518A; RU2182110C2; ES2158662T3; DE59800997D1; AU5475098A; NO993936D0; DK0960065T3; AU720756B2; CA2276456A1; JP2001511755A; NO993936L; EP0960065B1; CN1087263C; WO1998035901A1; ATE202999T1; US6283466B1; CA2276456C; NO312452B1

Abstract

An apparatus for producing multi-part printed products comprising an upwardly open V-shaped continuous conveying channel (1), and a V-shaped processing channel (2) arranged above the conveying channel (1). A plurality of supply locations (11-17) are arranged serially along the processing route for supplying the printed product parts (A-G). The processing channel (2) has individual successive processing regions (3-10) which receive the product parts supplied at the supply locations and between which through-passages (18, 19, 119, 20, 120) are provided which open toward the bottom and by means of which the product parts (A-G) pass out of the processing region and into the underlying conveying channel (1).

Description

Device for producing multi-part printed products

The present invention relates to a device for producing multi-part printed products which consist of a folded outer part and a number of inner parts arranged inside the outer part, according to the preamble of claim 1.

In known devices of this type for producing multi-part printed products (EP-A-0 346 579 and corresponding US-A-5, 116, 033), a first folded product part, which serves as an outer part, is introduced into the conveying channel and at a first feed point advanced along this conveyor channel. The first product part is opened along the feed path from the first feed point to the subsequent second feed point. At the second feed point, a second product part (inner part) is inserted into the opened first product part. At the further subsequent feed points, further product parts (inner parts) are successively introduced into the opened first product part. These inner parts come to lie side by side or one inside the other, the respective inner parts being opened in the latter case before the introduction of the next inner part. In this way, an end product is obtained in which a number of folded or unfolded inner parts are inserted in the first product part serving as the outer part.

The present invention has for its object to provide a device of the type mentioned that more freedom in the compilation of The end product of the printer, ie more freedom in the mutual arrangement of the inner parts in the outer part, is permitted than the previously known devices.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1.

As long as the product parts are in the processing channel, they are accessible for manipulations such as opening and redirecting to one or the other side of the processing or conveyor channel. This, together with the targeted transfer of the product parts from the processing channel into the conveyor channel below, allows the position of the internal product parts to be influenced with respect to the outer part on the one hand and with respect to the other inner parts on the other hand.

Preferred further developments of the

Subject of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

An exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. They show purely schematically and in a simplified representation:

1 is a perspective view of a device for producing multi-part printed products,

2-18 in perspective and in section each of the various successive processing areas of the device according to FIG. 1, 19, on a larger scale than in FIG. 18, a cross section through a finished printed product located in the conveying channel,

20-23 each show a perspective view of various transitions from a processing area to the subsequent processing area of the device,

24 in longitudinal section a section of the device according to FIG. 1,

25 u. 26 each a top view of the

Processing channel in the transition from one processing area to the next

Processing area during the lateral deflection of a product part,

Fig. 27 u. 28 each a top view of the processing channel in the transition from one

Processing area to the subsequent processing area during the opening of a product part, and

29-31 in plan view another embodiment of an opening arrangement.

In Fig. 1, a device is shown in a perspective, simplified representation with which multi-part printed products, such as newspapers and magazines, which consist of an outer part (cover) and inner parts inserted therein can be produced. This device, shown in Fig. 1 for reasons of space is shown divided, has a continuous, closed at the bottom, open at the top conveying channel 1, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is essentially straight and defines a processing path. This conveyor channel 1 is V-shaped in cross section. A processing channel 2 is arranged above the conveyor channel 1 and engaging in it, which is open at the top and also extends in the direction of the processing path. The processing channel 2 is divided into successive processing areas 3 to 10. Along the processing path, feed points 11 to 17 are provided one behind the other. At the feed point 11, a folded product part A (main product) is fed, which is the outer part of the finished product

Printed product forms. At the feed points 12-17, the inner product parts B to G are fed and inserted into the outer part A in a manner to be described. In the present exemplary embodiment, the inner parts B, D, E are folded product parts (preliminary products), while the inner parts C, F, G are one-piece product parts (inserts).

By means of a conveyor arrangement T, the product parts located in the conveyor channel 1 are advanced in the direction of arrow F. A feed device (not shown in FIG. 1) is provided for advancing the product parts located in the processing channel 2.

Between certain processing areas are in

Processing channel 2 passages are provided, which enable the product parts to be transferred downward from the processing channel 2 into the conveying channel 1. So is in Embodiment shown between the processing areas 3 and 4, a passage 18, between the processing areas 5 and 6, a passage 19, between the processing areas 6 and 7, a passage 119, between the processing areas 8 and 9

Passage 20 and a passage 120 is provided between the work areas 9 and 10. In the processing area 10, although possible per se, no further product part is introduced into the still open end product P. At the end of this processing area 10, the finished end product P is closed by means of a deflecting element 21 and placed against the one wall of the conveying channel 1. The closed end product P can now be removed in the end region 22 of the conveying channel 1 of the latter or can be conveyed further along the conveying channel 1 to a processing station. After leaving the processing area 10, the end product P can also be conveyed openly in the conveying channel 1, for example to a processing station.

The structure of the device shown in FIG. 1 and its mode of operation will now be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2-23, the reference numerals used in FIG. 1 also being used for FIGS. 2-23.

2-4 show the first processing area 3 in a perspective view (FIG. 2), in a view in the direction of arrow III in FIG. 2 (FIG. 3) and in a section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2 ( Fig. 4). The

Delivery channel 1, which, as already mentioned, has a V shape in cross section, has two inclined walls 23 and 24. These walls 23, 24 are divided into a fixed one Wall part 23a, 24a and in a moving wall part 23b, 24b. The wall parts 23b, 24b form part of the conveyor arrangement T, which is otherwise not shown in detail. The processing channel 2 which runs above the conveyor channel 1 and is oriented thereon likewise has a V-shaped cross section in the region of the feed points 11-17. The inclined side walls of the processing channel 2 are designated 25 and 26.

The conveying arrangement T also includes drivers 27, 28 (FIG. 3) protruding into the conveying channel 1, which are attached in pairs opposite one another at regular intervals to the moving wall parts 23b, 24b. These carriers 27, 28 are no longer shown in the following figures for the sake of clarity. Fingers 29 which protrude into the processing channel 2 are connected to the moving wall part 24b or to the drivers 28 and belong to the feed arrangement 30 already mentioned in connection with FIG. 1. The latter is used for those located in processing channel 2

Feed product parts in the conveying direction F. The fingers 29 are arranged in the same way as the drivers 27, 28 at regular intervals and are in the conveying direction F, i.e. in the direction of the processing path.

The processing area 3 - like the other processing areas 4-9 - has an input part 31, to which a straightening part 32 is connected, viewed in the conveying direction F. At the feed points 11-17, the product parts A to G are in the input part 31 of the

Processing channel 2 introduced. By means of the straightening parts 32, the product parts entered into the input part 31 are aligned, ie essentially into one vertical position spent, as shown in Fig. 3 by the dot-dash A. The product part leaving the straightening part 32 thus assumes a defined position when entering the subsequent processing area, which facilitates further manipulations.

As shown in Figs. 2-4, in processing area 3, i.e. the folded product part A is introduced into the processing channel 2 at the feed point 11. This product part A forms the outer part of the finished end product and consists of two product halves AI and A2, of which the product half A2 protrudes over the product half AI. The above section of the product half A2 is designated 33 and is referred to in the professional world as a pre-fold. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the still closed product part A lies against the wall 26 of the processing channel 2.

5-7 are perspective (Fig. 5) and in

Section along lines VI-VI and VII-VII in Fig. 5, the following processing areas 4 and 5 shown. The processing area 4 has an opening part 34 upstream of the input part 31, which faces the straightening part 32 of the preceding processing area 3. This opening part 34 is followed by a guide part 35 which is designed here as an expansion part and has two guide walls 35a and 35b which diverge in the conveying direction F. As shown in FIG. 20, the product part A leaving the straightening part 32 of the processing area 3 runs towards the opening part 34, which acts on the projecting section 33 of the product half A2 and together with the guide part 35 an opening of the product part A, ie spreading apart the product halves AI and A2. The opening of the product part A takes place in a manner known per se, as is the case, for example, in EP-A-

0 080 185 and the corresponding US-A-4,486,011. The opened product part A passes through the passage 18 between the

Processing areas 3 and 4 and passes into the below. lying conveyor channel 1, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The product half AI is on the wall 23 and the product half A2 on the wall 24 of the conveyor channel

1 on. The product part A which was previously advanced by a finger 29 of the feed arrangement 30 is now advanced along the conveying channel 1 by the drivers 27 and 28.

At the feed point 12 in the processing area 4, the product part B is introduced into the input part 31 of the feed channel 2. As mentioned, this product part B is also folded and, like product part A, has two product halves B1 and B2, of which product part B2 has a projecting section 33. The closed product part B lying against the wall 26 is advanced by the feed arrangement 30, passes through the subsequent straightening part 32 and is described in the same way as described with reference to product part A by means of the

Opening part 34 and a guide part 35 'opened, as shown in Fig. 21 in more detail. The guide part 35 'is inserted into the feed channel 2. The guide walls 35a ', 35b' of this guide part 35 'form with the walls 25, 26 of the feed channel 2 a passage gap. In contrast to

Product part A, however, the open product part B continues in the feed channel 2 and arrives behind the guide walls 35a ', 35b' of the guide part 35 'to the input part 31 of the next processing area 5. In this processing area 5, product part C is inserted into open product part B, as can be seen from FIG. 5, right part and FIG. 7. The first product part A lies in the feed channel 1 and the product parts B and C lie in the feed channel 2 above the product part A (see FIG. 7).

8 and 9 is the next in perspective and in section along the line IX-IX in Fig. 8

Processing area 6 shown. At its entrance, this has a deflecting part 36 which faces the straightening part 32 of the preceding processing area 5. A guide part 35, which in this case serves as a deflection part, adjoins this deflecting part 36. During their

Product parts B and C pass through the straightening part 32 of the processing area 5, which means that the product part B is closed. The product parts B and C are deflected to the left by the deflecting part 36 of the subsequent processing area 6 in the conveying direction F, as can be seen from FIG. 22. At the same time, the product part B with the product part C inserted into it passes down through the passage 19 and falls into the open product part A. The guide wall 35b of the guide part 35 ensures that the product parts B and C are turned over to the left and onto the product half A2 come to rest, as can be seen from FIG. 9.

At the feed point 14 in the input part 31 of the

Processing area 6 of product part D inserted, which is folded like product parts A and B. there the product half D2 also has a projecting section 33.

The product part D (FIG. 9) introduced into the processing channel 2 in the closed state is during the

Further conveyed through the subsequent straightening part 32 (FIG. 8) and runs towards the opening part 34 of the subsequent processing area 7 ^' (FIG. 10). The product part D is opened by means of the opening part 34 and the guide part 35 as already explained in connection with the product part A. The opened product part D passes through the passage 119 down into the conveying channel 1. Like FIGS. 11 and 12, in which the processing areas 7 and 8 are shown in section along the lines XI-XI and XII-XII in FIG. 10 , can be seen, the product half Dl of the product part D comes to rest on the product half AI of the product part A, while the other product half D2 comes to rest on the closed product part B.

As already mentioned, FIGS. 10-12 show the two processing areas 7 and 8, which are constructed similarly to the processing areas 4 and 5 according to FIGS. 5-7. The folded product part E is introduced into the input part 31 of the processing area 7 at the feed point 15. The latter has two product halves El and E2, the product half E2 projecting beyond the product half El. The above section of the product half E2 is designated 33. After the introduction of the product part E into the input part 31 of the processing area 7, the closed product part E lies against the side wall 26 of the processing channel 2 (FIG. 11). When further conveyed by a finger 29 passes through the feed arrangement 30 the closed product part E, the adjoining straightening part 32 and arrives at the opening part 34 of the subsequent processing area 8. The product part E is opened by the opening part 34 and the adjoining guide part 35 ', as described with reference to FIGS. 5-7, and remains in the feed channel 2. In the input part 31 of the processing area 8, the product half E1 of the product part E bears against the wall 25 and the product half E2 bears against the wall 26 of the processing channel 2, as shown in FIG. 12. At the feed point 16, the next product part F (insert) is now introduced into the opened product part E and placed on the product half E2, as can also be seen in FIG. 12. Below the two product parts E and L are in the conveying channel 1 the open product part A, the closed product part B with the product part C located inside the latter and the open product part D, with the product half Dl on the product half AI of the product part A and with the other product half D2 rests on product half B2 of product part B, as can be seen from FIGS. 11 and 12.

13 and 14 show the processing area 9 in a perspective representation or in section along the line XIV-XIV of FIG. 13. This input section 9 has a deflecting part 36 directed against the straightening part 32 of the preceding processing area 8. The closed product part E with the internal product part F leaving the straightening part 32 of the processing area 8 is replaced by the rejection part 36 of the

Processing area 9 deflected to the right as seen in the conveying direction F, as can be seen from FIG. 23. The product parts E and F are through the guide wall 35a of the guide part 35 out. The two product parts E and F pass through the passage 20 between the processing areas 8 and 9 and reach the underlying guide channel 1, where they come to rest on the product half D1 of the open product part D (see FIG. 14).

In the input part 31 of the processing area 9, the last product part G is introduced at the feed point 17, which in the present exemplary embodiment is designed as an unfolded insert. The product part G comes to rest against the wall 26 of the feed channel 2, as shown in FIG. 14. As can also be seen in FIG. 14, the product parts A to F are located below the product part G in the conveying channel 1.

Both the product parts A to F and the product part G are advanced further in the direction of arrow F by the conveyor arrangement T or by the feed arrangement 30. The product part G passes through the straightening part 32 of the processing area 9 and is then deflected to the left in the conveying direction F by the deflecting part 36 of the last processing area 10 (see FIGS. 15 and 16). In addition, the product part G through the passage 120 between the

Processing areas 9 and 10 down into the conveyor channel 1. As shown in FIG. 16, which shows a section along the line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15, the product part G deflected to the left as mentioned comes to rest on the product half D2 of the product part D. In this last processing area 10, no more product parts are fed. The processing area 10 thus has no input part 31. This is replaced by a guide part 37 (FIG. 15), the walls 37a, 37b of which slant downwards correspond to the side walls 25, 26 of the feed channel 2. The processing area 10 can thus have the same design as, for example, the processing area 6 (FIG. 8).

The finished end product P located in the processing area 10 in the conveying channel 1 is still open and is guided past the deflector 21 by the conveying arrangement T during the further advance. This deflecting member 21 causes the end product P to be closed and the latter to be placed against the left-hand side wall 24 of the conveying channel 1 as seen in the conveying direction F. In FIGS. 17 and 18, which shows a section along the line XVIII-XVIII in FIG. 17, the finished printed product P lying in the end region 22 on the side wall 24 of the conveying channel 1 is shown.

The structure of the finished end product P can be seen from FIG. 19, which shows a section of FIG. 18 on an enlarged scale. The outside part

(Cover) of the end product P is formed by the product part A. All other product parts (inner parts) B to G lie between the product halves AI and A2 of the folded outer part A. The folded product part B is adjacent to the product half A2, inside which the product part C lies. The product half D2 of the folded product part D is in contact with the product half B1 of the product part B and serves as an envelope for the product parts E, F and G serves. The product part F is located inside the folded product part E. The product part G is arranged between the product half D2 and the product half E2 of the product parts D and E. The end product P thus consists, on the one hand, of nested product parts and, on the other hand, of product parts lying next to one another, the position of the individual product parts, ie the order of the product parts from left to right in the illustration in FIG. 19, being determined more precisely by the formation of the processing channel 2 said by the arrangement of the passages between the processing areas 3-10 and the arrangement and formation of the opening parts 34 and the deflection parts 36.

From what has been said above, it can easily be seen that with few modifications in the processing channel 2, the structure of the end product P, i.e. the arrangement of the inner parts in the outer part can be changed, namely by a different arrangement of the passages between the processing areas, and / or by replacing an opening part 34 by a deflecting part 36 and vice versa and by changing the direction of deflection of the deflecting parts 36 (to the left or to the right) ).

The configuration of the conveying and processing channel 1, 2 in the region of a transition from a processing area designated by 38 to the subsequent processing area designated by 39 will now be explained in more detail with reference to the sectional figure 24.

The product part located in the conveying channel 1 is designated 40 and is conveyed by the conveying arrangement T. advanced. The driver 27 engages the trailing edge of the product part 40. In the processing channel 2 there is a product part, designated 41, which is shown as a two-part, folded product part with a projecting section 33. A finger 29 of the feed arrangement 30 serves to push this product part 41 forward. This finger 29 also engages on the trailing edge of the product part 41. As can be seen from FIG. 24, the finger 29 of the feed arrangement 30 is opposite the driver 27

Conveying arrangement T offset by the distance a, namely in the conveying direction F to the front. This measure ensures that the product part 41, after it has passed through the passage 42 between the processing areas 38 and 39 and has fallen down into the conveying channel 1, does not come to rest on the driver 27 of the conveying arrangement T. This ensures that the product part 41 is carried along by the conveyor arrangement T.

24 shows that the bottom 43 of the processing channel 2 can be inclined sloping in the conveying direction F in order to facilitate the transfer of the product part 41 into the conveying channel 1. Between the end of the processing area 38 designated by 44 of the

Processing channel 2 and the guide part 35 of the next processing area 39, the passage 42 is formed. Seen in the conveying direction F, the guide part 35 is preceded by the opening part 34 or the deflecting part 36. The opening part 34 can be designed, for example, as shown in FIGS. 5-10. 24 it is indicated that the opening part 34 also functions as a so-called vacuum opener 34 '. can be formed, which acts in a known manner on a product half via a vacuum.

25-28 is a top view of the product part 41 of FIG. 24 in the transition from

Processing area 38 shown in the subsequent processing area 39. 25 and 26, the processing area 39 has a guide part 36 which, viewed in the conveying direction F, deflects the product part 41 either to the left (FIG. 25) or to the right (FIG. 26). At one time, the product part 41 is guided along the guide wall 35b and at the other time along the other guide wall 35a of the guide part 35.

27 and 28 is the

Processing area 39 is provided on the input side with an opening part 34 which acts on the projecting section 33 of one product half 41b or 41a of the product part 41. In the illustration in FIG. 27, the left half of the product is seen in the conveying direction F.

41b is provided with the projecting section 33, while in the illustration in FIG. 28 the right product half 41a has the projecting section 33. Accordingly, the position of the opening part 34 with respect to the following guide part 35 in FIGS. 27 and 28 is different.

29-31 show another embodiment of an opening part 34 in different working phases, the same reference numerals being used for the corresponding parts as in the previous figures. 29, which shows the opening part 34 in the idle state, is the best way to see the structure of this opening part 34. The opening part 34 has two thin, opposite baffles 45 and 46 which extend in the conveying direction F and which are made of a resilient material, for example spring steel. These guide plates 45, 46 are fastened to a holder 47 at their end facing the straightening part 32 of the preceding processing area. At the other, free end 45a, 46a, the guide plates 45, 46 are bent outwards, ie away from the opposite guide plate. The holder 47 is attached to a stationary component of the subsequent processing area via a carrier 48. A nozzle head 49 or 50 is connected to each guide plate 45, 46, which is connected to a nozzle head, not shown

Compressed air source is connected. 29, the nozzle heads 49 and 50 are not pressurized with compressed air. The two guide plates 45 and 46 are in their basic position, in which they run approximately parallel to one another in the conveying direction F.

If the nozzle heads 49, 50 are connected to the compressed air source, the air emerging from the nozzle heads 49, 50 flows along the guide plates 45, 46, specifically on the side facing the other guide plate. The result of this is that the guide plates 45, 46 move against one another and come into contact with one another, as is shown in FIG. 30. This mode of action is known as the "Coanda effect".

Fig. 31 now shows the sequence of the opening process. The product part 41 to be opened arrives after leaving the straightening part 32 of the preceding processing area between the guide plates 45, 46 and is moved past these guide plates 45, 46 in the conveying direction F. Due to the air still flowing along the guide plates 45, 46, the product halves 41a and 41b are placed against the guide plates 45, 46. Because the guide plates 45, 46 are bent outwards at their free ends 45a, 46a and thus run away from one another, the product halves 41a and 41b are lifted away from one another, as shown in FIG. 31. The product part 41 opened in this way in the region of the leading edge reaches the guide part 35 during further transport. The two product halves 41a and 41b are guided laterally past the guide part 35, which, as explained earlier, results in the product part 41 being completely opened.

With an opening part 34 according to FIGS. 29-31, in which the Coanda effect is used, it is not necessary for one of the two product halves to be provided with a projecting section 33.

In the following, some variants are pointed out.

Both the outer part A and the inner parts B, D and E can also consist of two or more interlocking, folded sheets.

It is further conceivable to provide opening devices or deflecting devices for opening or rejecting the end product P behind the processing area 10 in the conveying channel 1 as well. Along the processing path, processing stations can also be provided between the feed points 11-17 or downstream thereof, for example cutting or stapling stations for trimming or wire-stitching certain product parts or the end product P or

Gluing stations at which the supplied product parts are connected to other product parts using adhesive.

On the other hand, deflection parts 36 can be dispensed with if the product parts are not in the vertical position as shown, but already in the inclined position, i.e. left or right, exit a processing area. In this case too, the guide parts 35 ensure that the product part maintains its inclined position in the processing area.

The conveying channel 1 and thus also the feed channel 2 can also have a completely or sectionally curved course instead of the straight course as shown and also define a closed processing path.

The device described can be constructed differently depending on the desired composition of the end product. By appropriate design of the

Processing areas, ie the mutual arrangement and formation of the opening parts 34, the guide parts 35, 35 'and the deflection parts 36 and the input parts 31, the type of the end product and the arrangement of the product parts can be selected within very wide limits. It is thus possible in particular to produce end products only by inserting the product parts into the open, previously supplied product part, which is collecting corresponds from the outside to the inside. In addition, with a suitable design of the device described, end products can also be produced in which the product parts lie next to one another (collating method). In such an end product, there is no external product part (envelope) in which the other product parts are inserted. However, it is also possible to produce such an end product formed by collating, in which, in the case of folded product parts, a further product part is inserted into all or some of these folded product parts. Such an end product would arise, for example, if, in the illustration in FIG. 11, in the absence of product part A, product parts B, C, D located in the conveying channel 1 would form the end product.

Claims

claims

1. Device for producing multi-part printed products, which consist of a folded outer part (A) and a number of inner parts (BG) arranged inside the outer part (A), with a continuous, upwardly open conveying channel (1), with several along the through the conveyor channel (1) fixed processing path successively arranged feed points (11-17) for feeding the outer part (A) and then feeding the inner parts (BG) and with a conveyor arrangement (T) for conveying the

Conveyor channel (1) located product parts (AG) along the conveyor channel (1), characterized by an upwardly open processing channel (2) arranged above the conveyor channel (1), aligned thereon and extending in the direction of the processing path, the individual successive processing areas (3-10), of which at least one part is provided with input parts (31) for receiving the product parts (AG) fed at the feed points (11-17) and through a feed arrangement (30) for feeding in the processing channel (2 ) located product parts (AG), wherein in the processing channel (2) between certain successive processing areas (3, 4; 5, 6; 6, 7; 8, 9; 9, 10) passages (18, 19, 119, 20 , 120) are available for transferring the data from a processing area (3; 5; 6; 8th; 9) serve emerging product parts (A; B, C; D; E, F; G) in the conveyor channel (1) below.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the delivery channel (1) is V-shaped in cross section.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the processing channel (2) is V-shaped in cross-section at least in the region of the input parts (31).

4. Device according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that at least some of the processing areas (3-10) are provided with opening parts (34) for opening multi-leaf product parts (A, B, D, E).

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the opening parts (34) in the conveying direction (F) of the product parts (AG) are arranged in the beginning section of each processing area (3-10) and on the product parts introduced in the previous processing area (A, B, D, E) act as they pass an opening part (34).

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, seen in the conveying direction (F) of the product parts (AG), the opening part (34) has a guide part (35) arranged approximately centrally in the processing channel (2) for keeping open or completely opening the product parts ( A, B, D, E) is connected downstream.

7. Device according to one of claims 1-6, characterized in that at least part of the processing areas (3-10) are provided with deflecting parts (36) for the lateral deflection of the product parts (B-G).

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the deflection parts (36) in the conveying direction (F) of the product parts (AG) are arranged in the beginning section of each processing area (3-10) and on the product parts (BG) introduced in the previous processing area. act as they pass the deflector (36).

9. The device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, seen in the conveying direction (F) of the product parts (AG), the deflecting part (36) is followed by a guide part (35) arranged approximately centrally in the processing channel (2), on which the product parts ( AG) run sideways.

10. The device according to any one of claims 4-9, characterized in that the processing areas (3-10) have a straightening part (32) which, viewed in the conveying direction (F) of the product parts (AG), is connected downstream of the input part (31) and through through which the product parts (AG) pass and are thereby brought into a predetermined position, preferably in an approximately vertical position, the straightening part (32) of a processing area and the opening part (34) or the rejection part (36) of the next processing area being aligned with one another are.

11. The device according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that the conveyor arrangement (T) and the feed arrangement (30) have conveyor elements (27, 28; 29) which on the in the conveyor channel (1) and in the feed channel (2nd ) acting product parts (AG), the conveying elements (27, 28) of the conveying arrangement (T) and the conveying elements (29) of the feed arrangement (30) being driven synchronously.

12. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the opening part (34) two in the conveying direction (F) of the product parts (AG), between them a passage path for the product parts to be opened (A, B, D, E) defining guide elements (45, 46), which can be deflected elastically in a direction transverse, preferably at right angles to their longitudinal extent, wherein each guide element (45, 46) on the side facing the other guide element (46, 45) can be acted upon with compressed air such that an air flow along the guide elements (45, 46).

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the elongated guide elements (45, 46) at their in the conveying direction (F) of the product parts (AG) seen at the front end are attached to a holder (47, 48) and at the other, rear end (45a, 46a) are curved in a direction leading away from the other guide element (46, 45).

14. Device according to one of claims 1-13, characterized in that along the processing path processing stations, for example cutting, stitching and / or Gluing stations are arranged at which processing steps are carried out on the product parts (AG).