EP1394088B1 - Device for separating front part and back part of a folded sheet in sheet receiving pockets and method for carrying out such separation - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to printing machines. In general, the present invention relates to a sheet transport device, e.g. for the transport of newspapers, in particular a sheet transport device with gathering or collection bags movable along a path. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus for separating prefold and re-fold of a first folded portion of sheet material in a sheet receiving pocket and a method of separating prefold and re-fold into sheet receiving pockets.

Sheet transport devices, in particular devices for transporting newspapers, must be able to nest or collect different multilateral sections. In particular, to complete a newspaper, a first folded portion of the newspaper is opened in the form of a folded portion of sheet so that at least a second portion can be inserted between the two sides of the folded sheet portion. The second section may in turn consist of a third, fourth and more nested sections. For processing such multi-page copies, e.g. Newspapers, known transport devices include an angular pocket that first receives a first section, opens and, when open, transports it to an insertion station. Known devices with pockets are e.g. in US 4,133,521 and in US 5,213,318. The insertion station places the second section in the open first section, resulting in a product of two nested sections. This process can be repeated to make a finished multi-section newspaper.

When opening the first section to a desired open position, problems sometimes arise. To facilitate the opening operation, each section has a prefold, ie, the section is not centrally folded, so that the two ends of the folded portion of sheet are not the same size. When viewed in the sheet processing direction, the front end of the folded section of sheet is usually longer than the back end of the folded section of bow. Thus, when the folded edge of the section of sheet is at the bottom of the pocket, when looking at the ends of the folded portion from the top of the sheet, it can be seen that the pre-fold is longer than the re-fold.

In such a position, the folded portion of sheet can be opened by grasping the prefold by a (physical contact and / or suction) device and moving or tilting the pocket or folded portion of sheet so that gravity (possibly assisted by suction) causes the rebate to fold away from the rebate. By folding away or moving the Nachfalzes from Vorfalz creates an opening into which a second section can be eingered. In this way, a second section may be inserted into the first section such that the second section is between the sides of the first section. These sections combined into one section can then be inserted into another section. This process can be repeated until a conventional newspaper formed from several nested sections of sheet is completed.

The holding device is usually designed as a finger-shaped gripper. During the opening process, such a gripper is rotated or lowered onto the prefolding to hold it against a front wall of the bag. Exemplary known gripping systems for such bags are described in US 4,723,770, US 4,988,086 and US 5,024,432.

US 5,911,416 describes an apparatus for transporting sheet material having a plurality of pockets that are movable along a path to receive sheet material fed from sheet material supply stations. These pockets make it possible, for example, for a first section of a newspaper to be first inserted into the pocket at a first sheet material feeding station, and then an inner newspaper section to be inserted into the outer first newspaper section. The device described in the cited document comprises a lifting cam, which causes a semicircular toothed segment rotates a drive shaft and thus adjusts the height of pocket feet arranged on racks. Opening of the bag is prevented by a pawl mechanism. After locking, the sheet material can be picked up and inserted into the pockets. For storing the sheet material, a release cam can release the pawl mechanism. By means of a biasing spring, the racks are moved to a lowered position, so that the feet are released by the action of a drive cam. In this way, the sheet material can fall out of the bag at the bottom to be transported or stacked.

US 5,251,888 describes movable pockets along an endless path. Each pocket comprises two vertically adjustable stops 14, which are arranged displaceably in a pocket carrier 8. A guide member 28 may allegedly be adjusted to vertically displace the stops 14 as the pockets are moved along the endless path.

Since the sheet discharging devices move at a relatively high speed, the time window available for detecting the pre-fold is short. Therefore, there is a need to extend this time window for detecting the prefold. Since the size of the prefold and the Nachfalze is neither uniform nor identical, an increase in the time window must also take into account deviations in the size of the prefold and Nachfalzes.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a separation apparatus and method for separating prefold and rebate of a first section of sheet material in a pocket, which allows insertion of a second section into the first section, by which the mentioned disadvantages of known devices and methods of this type are eliminated and extend the time window available for the separation of the prefold from the rebate while accommodating variations in the size of the leading and trailing folds.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a separation system having the features according to claim 1.

An inventive system for separating pre-fold and re-fold for opening a sheet has a pocket which moves at a predetermined speed in a transport direction. The bag is equipped with a front wall and a back wall. The rear wall is pivotally connected to the front wall and forms with this an opening for receiving the sheet. It comprises a movable separating element carrier to which at least one separating element is connected. The separator carrier is adapted to move the separator in the direction of transport at a speed higher than the predetermined speed along the pocket. In this case, the separating element is adapted to successively contact the rear wall, the sheet in the pocket and finally the front wall and then successively release the rear wall, at least a portion of the sheet in the pocket and finally the front wall.

Furthermore, the separating element may be adapted to successively release the rear wall, at least a portion of the sheet in the pocket, at least one further portion of the sheet in the pocket, and finally the front wall.

The transport path preferably comprises sections of different height in order to displace the separating element with respect to the pocket. These portions preferably include rising surfaces which displace the separator away from the pocket and / or sloping surfaces which displace the separator onto the pocket.

The separator carrier may be formed as a transport path, preferably as an endless transport path.

The separating element may be formed as a plurality of separating elements. The separating element is preferably made of a flexible material and can, for example, as a brush, extending in the direction of the pocket finger-shaped extension, a number each extending in the direction of the pocket finger-shaped extensions, be designed as a cylindrical rod and / or as a rectangular cuboid.

The separating element carrier and / or the separating element are preferably vertically adjustable with respect to the pockets.

An inventive method for opening a sheet in at least one sheet receiving pocket of a sheet collecting device provides that the at least one sheet receiving pocket is moved at a predetermined speed along a transport path in a transport direction. The pocket has a front wall and a rear wall pivotally connected to the front wall and defining therewith an opening for receiving the arch. The sheet is inserted into the at least one sheet receiving pocket and moved at least one separating element on a separator carrier at a higher speed than the predetermined speed along a second transport path in the transport direction. The at least one separating element successively contacts the rear wall, the arch in the pocket and the front wall and successively releases the rear wall, at least a portion of the arch in the pocket and finally the front wall.

The pocket is preferably formed as a plurality of pockets, and the partition member is preferably formed as a plurality of partition members.

The second transport path may adjoin and / or follow the transport path.

Another inventive method for opening a sheet in a sheet receiving pocket provides that along a transport path to be transported sheet receiving pockets are provided, each having a front wall and a pivotally connected to the front edge and having an opening for receiving the sheet defining rear wall. At least one separating element is displaced in such a way that it successively contacts the rear wall, the arch in the pocket and then the front wall and then successively the rear wall, at least a portion of the bow in the pocket and then releases the front wall.

The term "rod" or "rod" here refers to any elongate structure.

Further features of the present invention are contained in the appended claims.

Advantageous embodiments as well as further features of the present invention are the subject of the attached drawings listed below and the description thereof.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische schematischen Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Bogenmaterialtransportvorrichtung;

Fig. 2A

eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Tasche, bei der bestimmte Elemente aus Gründen der Übersichtlichkeit nicht dargestellt sind;

Fig. 2B

eine vergrößerte Seitenansicht der in Fig. 2A gezeigten Tasche mit einer Detailansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Greifers;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Fragmentdarstellung der in Fig.2A gezeigten Tasche, bei der bestimmte Elemente aus Gründen der Übersichtlichkeit nicht dargestellt sind;

Fig. 4

eine weitere perspektivische Fragmentdarstellung der in Fig. 3 gezeigten Tasche;

Fig. 5A-5E

schematische Querschnittsansichten aufeinanderfolgender Phasen eines erfindungsgemäßen Trennsystems zum Trennen von Vorfalz und Nachfalz.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective schematic representation of a sheet material transport device according to the invention;

Fig. 2A

a side view of a bag according to the invention, in which certain elements are not shown for reasons of clarity;

Fig. 2B

an enlarged side view of the bag shown in Figure 2A with a detailed view of a gripper according to the invention.

Fig. 3

a perspective fragment view of the pocket shown in Figure 2A, in which certain elements are not shown for reasons of clarity;

Fig. 4

another fragmentary perspective view of the pocket shown in Figure 3;

Fig. 5A-5E

schematic cross-sectional views of successive phases of a separation system according to the invention for separating prefold and Nachfalz.

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a sheet material transport apparatus 100 having a circumferential path 101 for transporting a plurality of pockets 10 in a transport direction 17. Each pocket 10 comprises movable fingers 90 for defining a pocket height, a separate height adjustment mechanism 8 and a releasable locking mechanism 9 for the Height adjustment mechanism 8.

In an adjustment range 1, the pockets 10 can be manually adjusted by means of the adjustment mechanism 8 which moves the fingers 90 to one of at least two desired heights, e.g. to a setting to accommodate 26.67 cm (10.5 inch) folded products. The adjustment process is carried out when the pockets 10 are stopped and can also be made outside of the adjustment range 1, e.g. by an operator walking around the path 101. Alternatively, the pockets 10 may also be moved into the adjustment area 1 and the transport device 100 may be stopped so that each pocket can be adjusted. Also, in the adjustment section 1, an automated robot may be arranged to cooperate with the adjustment mechanism 8 to adjust the individual pockets 10 to the desired height when the bags 10 are moved into the adjustment section 1 and stopped there.

After setting a bag to a certain height of the adjustment mechanism 8 is locked by a locking mechanism 9, so that the pocket height is fixed. After adjustment of all pockets 10, these are guided past a first sheet material feed station 2, where, for example, a folded envelope section 6 of a newspaper or other printed product is inserted into the pocket 10. At a selectively provided second Bogenmaterialzuführstation 3, a second portion 7 between the prefold and the Nachfalz of section 6 can be inserted to complete a printed product 12. This process can be repeated for any number of feed stations 2, 3, to produce a finished printed product 12 having a plurality of nested sections 6, 7. Accordingly, the time period between the reception of the section 6 in the pocket 10 from the feeding station 2 and the positioning of the bag 10 under the feeding station 3 defines the time window that the Opening section 6 in the pocket for inserting section 7 into section 6 is available.

After receiving the sections 6, 7, the pockets 10 can be guided past a release station 4, at which the locking mechanism 9 is released. The preferably spring-loaded adjustment mechanism 8 then releases the fingers 90 so that the bottom of the pocket 10 opens and the finished products 12 e.g. be stored on a conveyor belt 11.

After the release station 4, the pockets 10 pass through a return station 5 which includes a return ramp 25 having a movable ramp surface cooperating with a return cam follower 156 (see Fig. 3) of the adjustment mechanism 8 and a detent 35 for locking the detent mechanism 9. Subsequently, the preferably all adjusted to the same height pockets 10 are reset by means of the return ramp 25 to the common height and locked by means of cooperating with the locking mechanism 9 locking device 35.

Details of the pocket 10 can be seen in FIGS. 2A, 3 and 4.

The pouch 10 includes an upper back wall 54 and an upper front wall 52 between which is an aperture 56 for receiving the sheet material, e.g. of the cover section 6, is formed. The pouch 10 also includes a side wall 44 and may include a lower back wall 64 and a lower front wall 62.

Fig. 2B shows an enlarged view of the upper portion of the pocket 10 shown in Fig. 2A. Fig. 2B shows the area in which the prefold 61 of a turnup portion 6 is held. A gripper assembly 53, 55, which holds the turn-up portion 6, is located in the upper portion of the upper front wall 52. The grippers 53, 55 are coaxially disposed on a common shaft 57, but are in different rotational positions. However, different gripper arrangements can also be arranged on different shafts, which are controlled independently of each other become. For example, the grippers of one arrangement may be longer than the grippers of another arrangement.

A control device, not shown, pivots the shaft 57 carrying the grippers 53, 55 between a holding position and a release position. In Fig. 2B, a gripper 53 is in the release position and the other gripper 55 in the holding position. In the holding position, the gripper 55 holds the prefold of the turnup portion 6 with respect to the upper front wall 52. A portion 6 held in this way is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2B with a dashed line.

In the prior art, a section 6 was opened as follows:

When the cover section 6 is deposited in the opening 56, its lower edge bears against the contact line between the fingers 90 and the upper rear wall 54. In the open position of the pocket 10 shown in Fig. 2A, the turnup portion 6 completely engages the upper back wall 54 due to gravity (see Fig. 5A). At the beginning of a process for detecting the turnup portion 6 by means of the grippers 53, 55, the upper rear wall 54 is pivoted about the axis 51 so as to contact the upper front wall 52, as shown in Fig. 5B. Alternatively or additionally, the entire rear wall 54, 64 can be displaced in the direction of the front wall 52, 62. When the turnup portion 6 abuts the upper front wall 52, the grippers 53, 55 are rotated to the holding position where they hold at least a portion of the turnup portion 6 against the upper front wall 52 (see Figs. 2B, 5C and 5D). If the grippers 53, 55 are set so that they do not reach further than the upper edge of the Nachfalzes 63 of the turn-up portion 6, the grippers 53, 55 detect only the Vorfalz 61 of the turn-up portion 6. Thereafter, the Vorfalz 61 against the upper front wall 52 and the Nachfalz 63 of the envelope section 6 by gravity and / or another device, such as a suction device 59, moves with the rearwardly moving upper rear wall 54. In this way, an opening 56 is formed between the prefold 61 and the Nachfalz 63 for receiving a, for example, by the second Bogenmaterialzuführstation 3 supplied further section 7.

In this process, the timing is of great importance. The gripping of the prefold 61 by the grippers 53, 55 is delayed until the upper rear wall 54 has deposited the prefold 61 securely on the upper front wall 52. In addition, time is lost until the upper rear wall 54, and with this the Nachfalz 63 is tilted far enough backward to form an opening 56 which is large enough to allow trouble-free insertion of the section 7.

The invention increases the time window for this process by providing a prefolding and re-folding separation system 70. This separation system 70 includes at least one separator 72 movably mounted on a separator support system 74 and operates in the manner described below.

The carrier system 74 is located in the vicinity or on the endless transport path 101, which is part of a bag conveyor system. The carrier system 74 moves in the same transport direction 17 as the transport system 101. The carrier system 74 is preferably formed as a circulating belt that follows the pockets 10 but moves at a different speed than them. In addition, the carrier system 74 may be vertically adjustable relative to the pockets 10. In this way, a divider 72 may be moved toward or away from the pocket 10. Such adjustment may be accomplished by movement of the entire system 70 or a single separator 72. The system 70 may be preset to a particular format or may include an automatic control system with variable displacement motors and sensors for determining the position of the prefold 61 or other portion.

As shown in FIG. 5A, a portion 6 is first inserted into the pocket 10 at station 2 (shown only in FIG. 1). A little later, preferably immediately thereafter, the upper front wall 54 and the section 6 must be moved toward the upper front wall 52 so as to initiate the operation of opening the section 6 to receive another section 7. Accordingly, as shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, a partition 72 with the bag 10, but faster than them, in the transport direction 17 moves. Therefore, the partition member 72 fetches the bag 10 and preferably passes it immediately after the portion 6 is securely in the bag 10.

The divider 72 is long enough to contact and exert on the rear of the upper rear wall 54 a force sufficient to pivot toward and against the upper front wall 52, thus separating the portion 6 between the upper rear wall 54 and the upper Clamped front wall 52. Alternatively, if one end of the divider 72 is to be positioned at a lower position with respect to the pocket 10, the carrier system 74 may also be configured to lower the divider 72 toward the pocket 10, as shown in FIG. 5B. Alternatively or additionally, the carrier system 74 may be adapted to lift the divider 72 away from the pocket 10, as shown in FIG. 5C. A lowering or lifting portion of the carrier system 74 is dependent on the function that the separating element 72 is to carry out with regard to the pocket 10. If the divider 72 is not needed, it can be raised far enough that it no longer contacts any part of the pocket 10.

FIG. 5B shows the time when the partition member 72 keeps the upper back wall 54 fully pressed against the upper front wall 52. In such a position, the prefold 61 projects clearly visible beyond the rebate 63. The separating element 72 is preferably made of a flexible material. When the partition member 72 is pressed against the pocket 10, it can bend in this manner, as shown in Fig. 5D.

Although the divider 72 moves with the pocket 10, it moves at a higher speed. In its movement past or along the pocket 10, therefore, the end of the divider 72 has moved completely past the upper rear wall 54 at a point in time shown in FIG. 5C. Since the partition member 72 no longer presses against the upper rear wall 54, it is moved back by gravity or a device provided for this purpose, for example a biasing spring, not shown, into its starting position shown in FIG. 5A. If the rebate 63 is lower than or equal to the upper back wall 54, the rebate 63 will be with the upper back wall 54 moved back, especially when the upper rear wall 54 has a suction device 59. However, if the rebate 63 is higher than the upper rear wall 54, as shown in FIG. 5C, the return movement of the upper rear wall 54 in the pocket 10 will begin before the rebate 63 moves at all, as the divider 72 will rebind 63 presses against the upper front wall 52.

The separating element 72 continues to move past the pocket 10, so that the separating element 72 no longer exerts pressure on the rebate 63 at a later point in time, but only on the pre-fold 61. When this pressure is removed from the rebate 63, it can move backward to form the opening 45 for receiving the portion 7, as shown in Fig. 5D.

As the divider 72 pushes against the upper front wall 52 (Figures 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E), pressure is applied to the pre-fold 61. Specifically, after the upper back wall 54 and the rebate 63 are folded away from the pre-fold 61, the divider 72 exerts pressure on the pre-fold 61, as shown in FIG. 5E. Therefore, the grippers 53, 55 can be moved at any time after the upper back wall 54 and the rebate 63 are folded away from the pre-fold 61 so as to securely hold the pre-fold 61.

The grippers 53, 55 must take the Vorfalz 61 at the latest when the filing of the section 7 in the section 6 imminent.

The partition member 72 contacts the upper rear wall 54 immediately after the bag 10 receives the portion 6, and immediately sets in the transport direction 17 in motion. The speed of travel of the divider 72 defines how quickly the upper back wall 54 and the rebate 63 fold away from the pre-fold 61. Because the speed of movement of the divider 72 is relatively high as compared to the movement of the pocket 10 along the orbiting track 101, with the aid of the invention the upper back wall 54 and the rebate 63 separate from the pre-fold 61 long before the pocket 10 sinks the station 3 is to receive the section 7. Thus, the invention accelerates the separation of the prefold 61 from the Nachfalz 63 and thus extends the time window for the detection of the prefold 61 by the grippers 53, 55. The extension of this time window means that longer grippers 53, 55 can be used.

The partition member 72 may have any shape. It may be formed as a single, solid rectangular parallelepiped having a cross-section as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E, which extends into the plane of the drawing in FIGS. 5A to 5E and extends over the entire width of the pocket 10. In this case, the extent to which the cuboid extends into the plane is significantly greater than the illustrated vertical cross section. Such a shape is possible because the upper edges of the upper back wall 54, the rebate 63, the prefold 61, and the upper front wall 52 all extend parallel to one another into the plane of the drawing of FIGS. 5A to 5E. Therefore, the lower edge of such a rectangular parallelepiped releases each portion of a respective upper edge substantially simultaneously.

Alternatively, the separator 72 may also be formed as a series of finger-shaped devices extending from the carrier system 74 toward a pocket bottom 10 (i.e., in the direction of the pivot pin 96). Unlike the single rectangular parallelepiped described above, the extent to which such finger-shaped devices extend into the plane of the drawing of FIGS. 5A-5E is significantly less than the illustrated vertical cross-section. These finger-shaped devices may have any shape and may be e.g. also be designed as a cylindrical rod or rectangular cuboid.

In a third embodiment, the divider 72 may be formed as a single finger-shaped device extending from the carrier system 74 toward the bottom of the pocket 10, this device having the same characteristics as the finger-shaped devices described in the preceding paragraph.

In all three exemplary embodiments, the separator 72 may be solid. The first embodiment is similar to, for example, a window wiper. Alternatively, the separator 72 may be formed as a brush.

The carrier system 74 is preferably formed as an endless belt along which a plurality of detachable and correspondingly adjustable individual separating elements 72 are arranged. The positioning of the separating elements 72 on the belt determines the time division of the functions of the separating element 72 with respect to a pocket 10.

As already explained, the separation of the prefold 61 from the rebate 63 of a first portion 6 for forming a pocket for inserting a second portion 7 has previously been difficult. The invention provides a novel separation system for separating the prefold 61 from the rebate 63 and extends the time window available to the grippers 53, 55 to grip the prefold 61. At the same time, the invention compensates for differences in the size of the pre-fold 61 and the Nachfalze 63.

List of reference numbers

1

Adjustment

2

sheet material feed

3

sheet material feed

4

release station

5

Reset Station

6

Turnup

7

second part

8th

Height adjustment mechanism

9

locking mechanism

10

bag

12

finished print product

17

transport direction

25

Reset ramp

26

Greiferwirkungseinstellnocke

27

top

28

bottom

29

ramp

35

locking device

44

Side wall

46

wall

51

axis

52

upper front wall

53

grab

54

upper back wall

55

grab

56

Sheet material receiving opening

57

wave

59

suction device

61

prefold

62

lower front wall

64

lower rear wall

70

separation system

72

separating element

74

carrier system

90

finger

96

pivot pin

100

Sheet material transport device

101

circulating path

Claims (17)

1. Separating system (70) for separating gripper fold (61) and post-fold (63) for the purpose of opening a sheet (6) in a pocket (10) which is moving in one direction of transport at a predetermined speed and has a front wall (52, 62) and a rear wall (54, 64) which is pivotably connected to said front wall (52, 62) and defines, with the latter, an opening for receiving the sheet (6),
   characterised by
   a movable separating-element-carrier (74) which is connected to a separating element (72), said separating-element-carrier (74) being designed, for that purpose, in such a way that it is capable of moving the separating element (72) in the direction of transport along the pocket (10) at a higher speed than the predetermined speed, and said separating element (72) is suitable for successively making contact with the rear wall (54, 64), the sheet (6) in the pocket (10) and, finally, the front wall (52, 62) and then successively releasing the rear wall (54, 64), at least one section of the sheet (6) in the pocket (10) and, finally, the front wall (52, 62).
2. System according to Claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the separating-element-carrier (74) is constructed as a guide track, in particular an endless guide track.
3. System according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the separating element (72) is constructed as a large number of separating elements.
4. System according to one of Claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in that
   the separating element (72) is designed in such a way that the rear wall (54, 64), at least one section of the sheet (6) in the pocket (10), at least one other section of the sheet (6) in the pocket (10) and, finally, the front wall (52, 62) can be released.
5. System according to Claim 2,
   characterised in that
   the guide track has sections of differing height, so that the separating element (72) is displaceable with respect to the pocket (10).
6. System according to Claim 5,
   characterised in that
   the sections have rising faces for displacing the separating element (72) away from the pocket (10) and/or declining faces for displacing said separating element (72) in the direction of the pocket (10).
7. System according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
   characterised in that
   the at least one separating element (72) consists of a flexible material.
8. System according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
   characterised in that
   the at least one separating element (72) is constructed as a brush.
9. System according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
   characterised in that
   the at least one separating element (72) is constructed as a finger-shaped prolongation which extends in the direction of the pocket (10).
10. System according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
    characterised in that
    the at least one separating element (72) is constructed as a row of finger-shaped prolongations which extend in the direction of the pocket (10) in each case.
11. System according to Claim 9,
    characterised in that
    the prolongation is constructed as a cylindrical bar or a rectangular parallelepiped.
12. Method of opening a sheet (6) in a sheet-receiving pocket (10) belonging to a sheet-collecting device, wherein said sheet-receiving pocket (10) is transported along a transport track in one direction of transport at a predetermined speed and said pocket has a front wall (52, 62) and a rear wall which is pivotably connected to said front wall (52, 62) and defines, with the latter, an opening for receiving the sheet (6) and a sheet (6) is inserted in the sheet-receiving pocket (10),
    characterised by
    the following steps:

    - the transporting of at least one separating element (72) on a separating-element-carrier (74) along a second transport track in the direction of transport at a higher speed than the predetermined speed; and

    - the making of contact with, successively, the rear wall (54, 64), the sheet (6) in the pocket (10) and, finally, the front wall (52, 62), by the at least one separating element (72) and the subsequent successive release of the rear wall (54, 64), at least one section of the sheet (6) in the pocket (10) and, finally, the front wall (52, 62), by the at least one separating element (72).
13. Method according to Claim 12,
    characterised in that
    the at least one pocket (10) is constructed as a large number of pockets (10) and the at least one separating element (72) is constructed as a large number of separating elements (72).
14. Method according to Claim 13,
    characterised in that
    the second transport track adjoins the transport track.
15. Method according to Claim 12,
    characterised in that
    the second transport track follows the transport track.
16. Method according to Claim 12,
    characterised by
    the following additional step:

    the making of contact with, successively, the rear wall (54, 64), the sheet (6) in the pocket (10) and the front wall (52, 62), by the at least one separating element (72) and the subsequent successive release of the rear wall (54, 64), at least one section of the sheet (6) in the pocket, at least one other section of the sheet (6) in the pocket and, finally, the front wall (52, 62).
17. Method of opening a sheet (6) in a sheet-receiving pocket (10), wherein there are placed in readiness, in a transport track, sheet-receiving pockets (10) which are to be transported and which each have a front wall (52 , 62) and a rear wall (54, 64) which is pivotably connected to said front wall (52, 62) and defines, with the latter, an opening for receiving the sheet (6),
    characterised in that
    at least one separating element (72) is displaced in such a way that said element makes contact with, successively, the rear wall (54, 64), the sheet (6) in the pocket (10) and, finally, the front wall (52, 62) and then successively releases the rear wall (54, 64), at least one section of the sheet (6) in the pocket (10) and, finally, the front wall (52, 62).

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