EP1277685B1 - Method and device for changing the form of a stream of flat articles - Google Patents

Abstract

The object path-turning process involves crossing the input path with the output path at two crossing points (A, B), transferring the objects (4) in groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B) alternately at the first or second crossing point. The objects lie in overlapped flow sections, and on the output path conveyor, these are gaps (22) between successive groups.

Description

The invention is in the field of materials handling and relates to a method and a device according to the preambles of the corresponding claims. Method and apparatus are used to convert a flow of flat objects, in which conversion, for example, from a flow in which all objects are the same orientation, a flow is created in which the objects are oriented differently by alternating current groups.

For conveying flat objects, such as for conveying printed products (e.g., newspapers, magazines, etc.), in many cases, successively moving grippers are used, each holding an article in an edge region, with all articles oriented substantially the same. That is, in such a flow, for example, magazines held in the region of their back edge from above promoted so that all the front pages are directed forwardly in the conveying direction.

Printed products, such as the magazines mentioned, are supplied in the manner mentioned, for example, to a stacking shaft in which they are deposited into a stack. If now this stack is to be a cross stack, ie a stack in which the objects are in groups rotated by 180 ° against each other (back edges of the magazines partly positioned on one side and partly on the other side of the stack), the stacking shaft is rotated with the resulting stack after the storage of each group of printed products, as described for example in the publication DE-2842117 (or US-4214743, F96). For the same purpose, it is also known, for example from publication DE-19530499 (Gorny), to separate the feed stream before depositing the printed products in the stacking shaft into two sub-streams and to supply these two streams to the stacking shaft differently, such that the printed products fed into a sub-stream are relatively stable to the printed in the other partial stream printed products are rotated by 180 °. It is also known to rotate printed products in a flow in groups, and to create directly by stacking such a converted feed stream without further measures directly cross stack. An apparatus for such feed-current conversion is described, for example, in Publication EP-0854105 (F447). The power conversion relates in the case described a flow in which the products are kept individually supported, and the conversion is realized by temporary takeover of the products by grippers of an auxiliary system.

The apparatuses for carrying out the known stack-rotation methods are relatively simple if a performance-impeding feed stop can be accepted for each stack rotation. However, if the power is to be high or the cycle time as short as possible, the supply current must be split by means of a switch onto two stack shafts, or the articles fed during the stack rotation must be stacked, which makes the devices significantly more expensive. The above-mentioned methods with current distribution and different supply of the partial currents as well as the methods mentioned with current conversion can be carried out with simpler stacking devices and higher powers, but require complex devices and controllers for the distribution of power or current conversion.

The invention now has the task of creating improvement in these areas. With the method according to the invention and the device according to the invention, a feed flow in which flat objects are conveyed individually is to be converted into a removal flow, the objects being differently reoriented in groups during the conversion. The inventive method should be much simpler than known flow rate conversions, which serve similar purposes. Nevertheless, the current conversion should be feasible with a variety of sizes of object groups. In particular, the inventive method should be feasible with a very simple device and a simple control. At the same time it is the object of the invention to provide a device for carrying out the method.

This object is achieved by the method and the device as defined in the claims.

Usually, the inventive method is based on a Zuförderstrom in which the flat objects are oriented substantially the same, and produce a Wegförderstrom in which the objects of alternating successive groups are oriented differently such that they are supplied, for example without further action a stacking shaft and there filed a cross stack. Of course, the inventive method can also be applied to a Zuförderstrom in which the objects are already oriented differently, and convert this Zuförderstrom in a Wegförderstrom in which the objects are the same orientation or differently oriented.

The principle of the inventive method is the Zuförderweg, along which the articles are individually conveyed to be conveyed, in a conversion area with a Wegförderweg along which the objects as converted Stream are conveyed away, crossing twice and alternately successively supplied groups of objects at the first and at the second intersection from the feed path on the Wegförderweg to pass. The transfer preferably consists of simply depositing the articles to be conveyed by one gripper along the feed path onto a conveyor support (eg conveyor belt) which moves along the removal path.

The crossing angle between Zuförderweg and Wegförderweg is for example for the two intersections 90 °, but can also be greater or less than 90 °. In both transfers, the output printed products are reoriented due to the crossing angle, for example, 90 ° (e.g., conversion from cross-feed to longitudinal feed for rectangular flat items). Since the Zuförderweg meets in the two path crossings from opposite sides of the Wegförderweg, in addition to the above reorientation results in a rotation by 180 ° of the votes at the second intersection objects compared to the output at the first intersection objects. In the current conversion according to the inventive method, therefore, the objects of each second group are rotated by 180 ° more than the objects of the first groups.

Advantageously, the articles are conveyed in the feed stream transversely to their areal extent, for example held on an upper edge and suspended substantially freely, the distances between the products being smaller than their areal extent. Likewise advantageously, the objects to be conveyed in this way are placed overlapping one another on the conveying support of the removal path, so that the converted removal flow is a scale flow, but which has a gap at least after every second group of objects.

The device according to the invention has a feed means defining a feed path with grippers arranged behind one another and movable in a feed direction along the feed path and a removal conveyor defining a removal path which has a delivery support extending at least in one conversion area along the removal path and moving in a removal direction. In the conversion area Zuförderweg and Wegförderweg intersect twice. Furthermore, the device has control means with which the grippers in the conversion region for the group-wise delivery of the articles to be conveyed can be selectively opened at the first and at the second path intersection.

As will be shown in more detail, it is advantageous to independently form the grippers of the feed means, such that the distances between these grippers are variable and the grippers can be stopped and buffered immediately before the crossroads.

Figur 1

eine schematische, dreidimensionale Darstellung einer beispielhaften Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung mit einem Zufördermittel, einem Wegfördermittel und zwei Wegkreuzungen (Kreuzungswinkel von 90°) und mit Greiferpufferung vor den beiden Wegkreuzungen;

Figur 2

ein Schema einer Stromwandlung nach dem erfindungsgemässen Verfahren mit einem Zuförderweg und zwei Wegförderwegen (vier Wegkreuzungen mit Kreuzungswinkeln von 90°);

Figur 3

ein Schema einer Stromwandlung nach dem erfindungsgemässen Verfahren, in dem der Kreuzungswinkel nicht 90° beträgt;

Figuren 4 bis 6

Schemas von Stromwandlungen nach dem erfindungsgemässen Verfahren ohne Greiferpufferung vor den Wegkreuzungen (Figur 4 und 5: ein Zuförderweg, ein Wegförderweg, zwei Wegkreuzungen; Figur 6: ein Zuförderweg, zwei Wegförderwege, vier Wegkreuzungen);

Figur 7

eine beispielhafte Anwendung der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung gemäss Figur 1.

The method and the device according to the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the following figures. Showing:

FIG. 1

a schematic, three-dimensional representation of an exemplary embodiment of the inventive device with a feed means, a removal means and two path crossings (crossing angle of 90 °) and with gripper buffering in front of the two intersections;

FIG. 2

a diagram of a current conversion according to the inventive method with a Zuförderweg and two Wegförderwegen (four intersections with crossing angles of 90 °);

FIG. 3

a diagram of a current conversion according to the inventive method in which the crossing angle is not 90 °;

FIGS. 4 to 6

Schemes of current transformations according to the inventive method without gripper buffering in front of the intersections (Figure 4 and 5: a Zuförderweg, a Wegförderweg, two intersections; Figure 6: a Zuförderweg, two Wegförderwege, four way crossings);

FIG. 7

an exemplary application of the inventive device according to Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a very schematic and three-dimensional illustrated, exemplary embodiment of the inventive device, based on the method of the invention is to be explained.

The device has as feed means 1, a rail 2 (shown as a dotted line), along the gripper 3 in a feed direction Z independently, that is, with variable distances from each other are movable. With the help of the gripper 3, the flat objects 4 (for example, rectangular printed products) are held at upper edge regions (for example, longer folding edges of rectangular, folded printed products) and fed substantially downwards. The device furthermore has a removal device 10 with a delivery support 11, which advantageously moves at a constant speed in the removal direction W.

The Wegförderweg defined by the removal means 10 is rectilinear and substantially horizontally through a conversion region 20 and is in this conversion region 20 twice that defined by the feed means 1 Feed path crossed (intersections A and B). The Zuförderweg has a deflection of 180 ° between the two intersections and it runs at least in the conversion region 20 above the conveyor support 11 of the removal device 10 that the held by the gripper 3 conveyed objects 4 by simply opening the gripper 3 easily on the conveyor support eleventh of the removal means 10 can be stored.

At the intersections A and B, the device has a respective control means 21, can be selectively opened with the gripper 3, which are conveyed over the path intersection, such that an affected object from an open gripper in the most controlled manner on the Conveying support 11 of the removal device 10 is stored or promoted with an open gripper on this away.

The device further comprises stowage means, the function of which is taken over, for example, by the control means 21, with the aid of which grippers 3 conveyed against the intersections A and B are opened directly in front of the intersections A and B or in front of the location on the gripper 3 The rail 2 can be optionally stopped and trailing grippers behind a stopped gripper can be stowed.

The supplied objects 4 are stored in groups alternately at the intersection A or pass the intersection A and are stored at the intersection B. The depositing cycle is matched to the feed rate in such a way that the uninterrupted power in the time average is the same as the feed rate. The removal speed is optionally determined by a further processing of the removal flow and is advantageously selected such that the objects 4 stored as a group are placed overlapping each other on the delivery support 11.

At the intersection A successively stored or deposited object groups are in the figure 1 with 1A, 2A, etc., successively deposited at the intersection B or to be deposited groups with 1B, 2B, etc., with the groups 1A, 1B and 2A already stored are, the group 2B has already passed the intersection A, but not yet stored and the groups 3A, 3B and 4A are still on the Zuförderweg before the intersection A.

For carrying out the method according to the invention, therefore, groups of, for example, four objects 4 are deposited on the conveyor support 11 at the intersection A (A groups) and groups of, for example, likewise four objects each are conveyed via the intersection A in alternation with these A groups placed at the intersection B (B-groups). Obviously, the objects of the B-groups are rotated by 180 ° relative to the objects of the A-groups on the conveyor support 11 of the removal means 10. When the supplied articles are rectangular, folded printed products conveyed along the longer edge which is the fold edge, the printed products are conveyed away longitudinally, in the A groups the fold edges facing away from the observer of Figure 1, into the B Groups but facing the viewer.

The stowage means of the intersection A is controlled in such a way that grippers 3 with articles (B groups) to be conveyed are conveyed unhindered past, that grippers are conveyed unhindered during the depositing of the articles of an A group and that grippers with articles of a subsequent A Group are stowed so long that between A-groups deposited at the intersection A on the conveyor support of the removal means arise Ablegelücken that are large enough to place it at the intersection B a B group.

The stowage means of the intersection B is controlled in such a way that grippers 3, which have already delivered articles of A groups, pass unhindered, that grippers with objects to be deposited are transported away unhindered by B groups and that grippers with objects of a following B group are so long that the B-group can be placed in a subsequent gap between two A-groups.

Without additional measures, with which objects 4 deposited at the intersection B are pushed under the following but already deposited objects 4 of the following A group, it is not possible to deposit a continuous scale flow on the conveyor support 11. The smallest possible Ablegelücken, which are to be provided in this case between A-groups are the extension of an object 4 in the conveying direction longer than the effective space requirement of the group would be in a continuous scale flow. In such a gap, the last item 4 of a B group can be placed before the first item of the following A group. B-groups can be stored on leading A-groups with gap (greater than normal scale distance) or without gap (as shown in Figure 1). In the latter case arise on the conveyor support 11 of the removal means 10 regular Schuppenstromsektionen A / B, each containing an A group and a B group of items 4, which Schuppenstromsektionen A / B are separated by Schuppenstromlücken 22. The scale flow gaps 22 are at least so large that the trailing edge of the object is positioned in front of the gap 22 in front of the leading edge of the following object (no overlap). These shingled flow gaps without overlap can be matched in size to events further downstream. But you can also be closed with known means subsequently again.

For the exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, it is not essential how long the feed path and the path of removal between the path intersections A and B are. It is also not a condition that the A groups comprise as many items as the B groups. It is also not a condition that the path intersection B is arranged in Wegförderrichtung downstream of the intersection A. It could just as well be arranged relative to the removal direction upstream of the intersection A, wherein the generated scale flow sections would then each consist of a B group and a subsequent A group.

With the knowledge of the invention, the realization of a device as shown in FIG. 1 does not represent a problem for a person skilled in the art. A delivery system suitable as a delivery means which he can use for this purpose is described, for example, in publication WO-99/33731 (F475 ).

FIG. 2 shows, from a bird's eye view and in turn very schematically, a further, exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention. Identical parts of the corresponding device are designated by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1. Two removal means 10 and 10 'are provided. The feed means 1 consists essentially of a primary feed means 1.1 and two intermediate conveyors 1.2 and 1.2 '. The intermediate conveying means 1.2 and 1.2 ', like the primary feeding means 1.1, have grippers 3 (represented by dots) and take over the objects 4 from the primary feeding means 1.1 in order to place them in two changing regions 20 and 20' at two intersections A and B or A '. and B 'to the removal means 10 and 10' to pass.

In both conversion regions 20 and 20 ', the process proceeds as described above in connection with FIG. 1, wherein, for example, half the objects are taken over by the intermediate conveyor 1.2 and placed on the removal device 10 and the other half pass through the intermediate conveyor 1.2, taken over by the intermediate conveyor 1.2 'and deposited on the removal device 10'. The grippers are jammed either by the primary feed means 1.1 or by the intermediate conveyors 1.2 and 1.2 '.

The intermediate conveyors 1.2 and 1.2 ', which are advantageously designed as small rounds with a limited number of, for example, independently movable grippers 4, can also be omitted and the primary feed means 1.1 are crossed directly with the two removal conveyors 10 and 10'. However, it is clearly apparent from FIG. 2 that an embodiment with intermediate conveyors 1.2 and 1.2 ', in particular for centrally conveyed objects 4, which are taken over more laterally by the grippers of the intermediate conveyors and are thus deflectable by smaller deflection radii, is a very space-saving arrangement allowed. Furthermore, in the embodiment with intermediate conveyors 1.2 and 1.2 ', the primary feed conveyor 1.1 can be configured more easily with grippers 3 connected to one another in a chain, that is to say constant gripper spacings.

FIG. 3 again shows a bird's eye view of another exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention with a feed means 1 and a removal means 10. The feed path and the removal path do not intersect at right angles but at an oblique angle. For this purpose, the grippers 3 are rotatably configured relative to the rail 2, so that the articles 4 can be aligned parallel to the Wegförderweg before depositing on the conveyor support 11 of the removal means 10. This is necessary if the objects have 4 edges standing at right angles to one another and these edges should be aligned parallel or transversely to the removal direction W when conveying away. If this is not the case, the articles can also be deposited in their position oriented transversely to the feed direction Z, and the crossing angle for a specific tray can be selected specifically.

Figures 4 to 6 show two further embodiments of the inventive device in which the feed means 1 (without intermediate conveyor) is not equipped with independent grippers 4, but with grippers 3, which are conveyed only at regular intervals from each other (eg, chain 2.1 with it equidistant mounted grippers 3). It can be seen that in these embodiments, the distances of the Zuförderweges and the Wegförderweges between the two crossovers A and B are to be matched to the size of the A groups and the B groups and to be established between Schuppenstromsektionen Schuppstromlücken 22.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment with a feed means 1 deflected by 180 ° between the path intersections A and B and a substantially rectilinear removal means 10. The A and B groups to be deposited each have five objects. The filing of the A groups and the B groups takes place simultaneously. Groups 1A, 1B and 2A are already stored in the time shown, of the groups 2B and 3A are just filed the third item, the group 3B is still on the Zuförderweg between the crossings A and B.

It can be seen from Figure 4 that each A group and the subsequent B group together give a closed and regular scale flow section and that the shingled gaps 22 between successive sections are reduced to a minimum. It can also be seen that after the last articles of an A and B group have been deposited and the articles of another B group have been conveyed past the intersection A and the empty grippers of an A group at the intersection B, either the feeder for stopped in the present case four bars or the displacement must be accelerated accordingly before it can be started again with the storage of objects. Only in this way can it be ensured that the last A group stored has reached a place where another B group can be placed on it.

FIG. 5 shows a further, exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention with a feed means 1, the grippers 3 of which are conveyed at mutually equal intervals and whose removal means 10 is operated at a constant speed. The scale flow gaps 22, which are necessary between stored groups are generated in this case by the use of auxiliary conveying means 40 on the conveyor side and / or auxiliary conveying means 41 on the conveyor side, for example corresponding conveyor belts which are operated at speeds other than the feed speed and the removal speed.

The delivery-side auxiliary conveying means 40 take over the objects from the feed means and delay them, which equals the congestion described in connection with FIG. The conveyance-side auxiliary conveyer 41 allows dropping of an A group at a small removal speed and shifting of the deposited group at a greater speed.

Another measure to enable a feed and carry away at constant speeds even with constant gripper distances in the feed is to slow A groups in the storage opposite the Wegförderauflage with known means (reduction of the distance between objects).

FIG. 6 shows a device according to the invention in turn with a gripper chain (chain 2.1 with grippers 3) or an equivalent conveying means as feed means 1 and with two removal conveyors 10 and 10 'and removal directions W and W', which feed means from the gripper chain into two intersections A and B and A 'and B' are crossed. The method proceeds in the same way as described for FIG. 4, but the device is designed and controlled in this way, that the feed means 1 and the removal means 10 and 10 'can be operated at constant speeds. Trays at the crossing points A and A 'take place simultaneously and alternately with simultaneous trays in the way intersections B and B'. During the conveyance of objects 4 to be deposited at the intersections B and B 'at the intersections A and A' and of empty grippers 3 at the intersections B and B ', the last A groups deposited are moved over the path intersections B and B' that B-groups can be placed on it. In the present case, the resulting scale flows have scale flow gaps 22 between scale flow sections (one A and one B group each) and enlarged scale spacings between A and subsequent B groups.

FIG. 7 shows, as an exemplary and very advantageous application and expansion of the method and the device, as described in connection with FIG. 1, the production of cross stacks 30 from a removal flow conveyed away from the current conversion according to the invention. This discharge flow has scale flow sections 31 each having two groups of objects, in which the objects are rotated relative to each other by 180 °, wherein the scale flow sections A / B are separated by Schuppenstromlücken 22. The Wegförderstrom is guided via a reversal direction 32, for which the objects and on another conveyor support 33, obliquely from above a stacking shaft 34, from where the objects 4 fall into the stacking shaft and are stacked there. An unillustrated ejection means, by means of which a finished stack 30 is ejected from the stacking shaft, is movable in a direction of ejection direction X opposite to the conveying direction 33 and pushes the stack on the feed side out of the stacking shaft. The ejection means is designed such that it is moved back outside the stacking shaft (below the stacking shaft or next to the stacking shaft) to its starting position.

With the described arrangement of feeding, further conveyor support 33 and ejection means for the stack ejection, the feed may indeed be interrupted, but can already be resumed when the stack 30 is not completely ejected from the stacking shaft 34, but his trailing side only at one Promoted spot is where the leading edges of the supplied items 4 would hit the ejected stack. In other words, the supply interruption for the stack discharge is very short and the shingled flow gaps 22 or at least a part thereof can be utilized for this purpose. This means that neither measures for the production of the stack nor for its ejection further measures on the stack shaft supplied shingled stream are necessary.

The method illustrated in FIG. 7 is particularly suitable for use on folded printed products (eg, simply folded tabloids or double-folded newspapers), which are usually held up at their longer fold edges in feed streams. These printed products are converted in the power conversion, as already described above, in a Wegförderstrom in which they are conveyed parallel to the folded edges and the folding edges of product groups are alternately on one or the other side of the stream. Since these products are stiffer parallel to their fold edges than transversely thereto, they can also be brought into the stacking shaft 34 with a relatively long free fall, so that the ejection distance, which can be shortened until the resumption of the feed for the following stack. In addition, the stacks are ejected parallel to the fold edges, which can be done at an increased speed across the fold edges because of the higher stack stability over stack stability. Each sub-step of the method shown in Figure 7 is thus carried out in its most optimal way and yet the combination of sub-steps remains very simple.

Thus, FIG. 7 shows impressively how simple the method according to the invention for conveying flow conversion is, how easy it is to produce cross stacks using the method according to the invention for conveying flow conversion and how space-saving the device for conveying flow conversion with integrated stacking device can be executed.

Claims (19)

1. Method for transforming a conveying-in stream, in which flat articles (4) held gripped individually are conveyed along a conveying-in track to a transformation zone (20), into a conveying-away stream, in which the articles are conveyed away along a conveying-away track in a loosely lying manner, wherein the orientation of the articles (4) relative to one another is different in the conveying-in stream and in the conveying-away stream, characterized in that the conveying-in track and the conveying-away track intersect at a first track intersection (A) and at a second track intersection (B) and that the articles (4) are transferred from the conveying-in track to the conveying-away track in groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B ...) alternately at the first and at the second track intersection (A and B), wherein the transfer is controlled in such a manner, that in the conveying-away stream the flat articles (4) are arranged in imbricated stream sections (A/B) comprising one or more successive groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B ...) and with stream gaps (22) between imbricated stream sections (A/B).
2. Method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that, for the transfer from the conveying-in track to the conveying-away track, the flat articles (4) are released from grippers (3) and are deposited on a conveying substrate (11).
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conveying-away speed is constant and that the articles (4) are conveyed-in with variable distances between one another and are selectively stopped and buffered upstream of the track intersections (A and B).
4. Method in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conveying-away speed is constant, that the articles (4) are conveyed-in in a regularly clocked manner and that the stream gaps are established by using an auxiliary conveyor (40) on the conveying-in side and/or an auxiliary conveyor on the conveying-away side.
5. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conveying-away speed is increased between transfers of groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B ...) and that the articles (4) are conveyed-in in a regularly clocked manner.
6. Method in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterized in that two or more conveying-away tracks are provided, each additional conveying-away track comprising a further two track intersections (A', B') with the conveying-in track, that the conveying-away speeds along all conveying-away tracks are constant and that the articles (4) are conveyed-in in a regularly clocked manner.
7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the conveying-away track runs in a substantially straight line from the first to the second track intersection (A and B) and the conveying-in track comprises a deflection by 180° between the first and the second track intersection (A und B).
8. Method in accordance with one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the conveying-in track and the conveying-away track intersect at a right angle in both the track intersections (A and B).
9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the conveying-away stream is conveyed to a stacking shaft (34), in which the articles (4) are stacked to form a cross stack (30).
10. Method in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the cross stack (30) is pushed out of the stacking shaft (34) in a pushing-out direction (X), wherein the pushing-out direction (X) is oriented opposite to the direction, in which the articles are supplied to the stacking shaft.
11. Device for transforming a conveying stream, in which flat articles (4) held gripped individually are conveyed along a conveying-in track to a transformation zone (20), and are conveyed away in a conveying-away stream along a conveying-away track, wherein the articles (4) are oriented differently relative to one another in the conveying-in stream and in the conveying-away stream, the device comprising a conveying-in means (1) with grippers (3) which are movable along the conveying-in track, and the device further comprising a conveying-away means (10) with a conveying substrate (11) extending along the conveying-away track and being movable in a conveying-away direction, characterized in that the conveying-in track and the conveying-away track intersect at a first track intersection (A) and at a second track intersection (B), that at the two track intersections (A and B) control means (21) are provided for selectively opening the grippers (3) and that the control means are capable of being actuated in such a manner, that by opening selected grippers (3), articles (4) are transferred from the conveying-in means (1) to the conveying away-means (10) in alternating groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B ...) at the first and at the second track intersection.
12. Device in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that the conveying-in means (1) comprises a rail (2), along which the grippers (3) are displaceable independently of one another, and that the device further comprises a damming means for stopping and damming the grippers (3) at the two track intersections.
13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the conveying-in means (1) comprises a primary conveyor (1.1) with grippers (3) and an intermediate conveyor (1.2) with grippers (3), wherein the grippers (3) of at least one of the intermediate conveyor (1.2) or the primary conveyor (1.1) are displaceable independently of one another.
14. Device in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that the grippers (3) of the conveying-in means (1) are displaceable with a constant spacing between one another.
15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the device further comprises an auxiliary conveyor (40) on the conveying-in side and/or an auxiliary conveyor (41) on the conveying-away side.
16. Device in accordance with claim 14, characterized in that the conveying-in means (1) or the conveying-away means (10) is capable of being operated with variable speeds.
17. Device according to one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that the conveying-away means (10) runs substantially in a straight line between the track intersections (A and B) and that the conveying-in means (1) comprises a deflection by 180° between the track intersections (A und B).
18. Device in accordance with one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that a stacking shaft (34) is arranged at the end of the conveying away means (10), which stacking shaft (34) comprises a pushing-out means with a pushing-out direction (X) oriented against a supply side of the stacking shaft (34).
19. Application of the method according to one of claims 1 to 10 or of the device in accordance with one of claims 11 to 18 for folded, rectangular printed products, which, in the conveying-in stream, are held gripped on top by their longer folded edges.

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