EP1523443A1

EP1523443A1 - Method and device for forming horizontal stacks of printed products and securing said stacks with straps

Info

Publication number: EP1523443A1
Application number: EP03764876A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Reinhard Gösslinghoff
Original assignee: Ferag AG
Current assignee: Ferag AG
Priority date: 2002-07-19
Filing date: 2003-06-11
Publication date: 2005-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-11
Also published as: CA2491774C; AU2003232565B2; US20050206063A1; ES2319409T3; ATE417787T1; CA2491774A1; DE50310935D1; US7200976B2; EP1523443B1; AU2003232565A1; WO2004009448A1; DK1523443T3

Abstract

Recumbent stacks of printed products are produced and strapped by supplying the printed products from above onto a conveying surface ( 2 ) where they are lined up in an upright position forming a continuously growing stack ( 6 ), separating discreet stacks ( 7 ) from the growing stack, stabilizing the discreet stacks with endplates ( 4 ), and conveying the stabilized stacks to a strapping position ( 12 ), in which a loop of strapping material is tightened around the stack ( 7 ). For conveying and strapping, the isolated stack ( 7 ) is gripped between two compression jaws ( 10, 11 ) that extend into the stack area ( 16 ) from a first side. In the strapping position ( 12 ), a strapping device ( 30 ) is situated on the side opposite the stack area ( 16 ). For strapping, at least part of the strapping device is moved horizontally in relation to the stack, and transverse to the stacking direction (S), thereby placing a loop of the strapping material around the stack. The loop is then tightened and closed around the stack and the compression jaws ( 10, 11 ) and the strapped stack is separated from the compression jaws by moving the stack ( 7 ) and the compression jaws ( 10, 11 ) relative to each other, horizontally and transverse to the stacking direction.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FORMING AND STRAPPING LYING STACKS (RODS) OF

PRINTED PRODUCTS

The invention lies in the field of further processing of printed products and relates to a method and a device according to the preambles of the corresponding independent claims. The method and the device serve to form and strapping lying stacks (bars) of printed products.

In the printing industry, intermediate and partial products such as individual sections of newspapers or magazines that are printed before other sections, signatures from which books are later to be made, or single sheets, brochures, smaller brochures, partial sheets etc. that later become newspapers or Magazines are added as supplements or collected parts, temporarily stored between their manufacture and further processing, and are therefore transported within the company and, if necessary, from one company to another company. For such interim storage and transportation, it has long been worthwhile to arrange the intermediate products in horizontal stacks, so-called bars, and to store and transport them, for example, stacked on pallets.

The stacks mentioned usually have a length (perpendicular to the surface of the printed products) which is significantly greater than the edge lengths of the printed products. So there are stacks that are not stable without aids, not even vertically. The length of the stacks is matched, for example, to the dimensions of the pallets on which they are stacked and with which they are transported and stored, that is to say the stacks are usually 120 or 150 cm long and comprise, for example, 200 to 300 printed products. The stacks are stacked one on top of the other on the pallets and thus form storage units that can be manipulated easily and in a space-saving manner with generally common storage vehicles.

The end faces of the stacks are usually stabilized with end plates, for example wooden boards, which are matched to the format of the stacked products, and the stacks are pressed together by strapping, which consists, for example, of a plastic band. The strapping runs over the longer edges of rectangular printed products, depending on the product format, once in the middle or twice, with the two straps dividing the end faces into three parts of approximately the same size.

The lying stacks are usually produced by lining up products standing on one edge, by stabilizing the products lined up on both sides by means of end plates and by subsequent pressing and strapping. The printed products to be processed into bars are thus supplied, for example, in a stream of overlapping conveyed printed products (shingled stream) from above against a horizontal conveying base or slightly falling away from the feed and placed thereon. On the conveyor base, they are conveyed one behind the other, standing on one of their edges (usually folded edge or back edge) and mutually supported or pushed away from the feed in this position. As a result, a lying stack that is essentially continuously growing in a stacking direction (conveying direction of the conveying base) is created on the conveyor base. This continuously growing stack turns into discrete stacks of a given length or number of products separated, provided with end plates on both sides, pressed and strapped. The end plates are usually positioned on the conveyor base in corresponding gaps in the growing stack while the stack is being conveyed. For the strapping, the separated stacks provided with end plates are accelerated in the stacking direction and conveyed into a strapping position, where they can also be moved transversely to the stacking direction. After the strapping, the stacks are conveyed away.

A device for forming and strapping lying stacks of printed products, as briefly outlined above, is known, for example, from the publication US-4772003 (Nobuta et al.). In this device, a stream of shingles is fed from above onto a slightly sloping conveyor support. The feed is interrupted periodically so that discrete stacks are created directly. To support the stack created on the conveyor base, to position the end plates and to continue conveying the entire stack in the stacking direction, three cyclically moving elements from below through the conveyor base and from above into the area of the stack are used. The complete stack, which is conveyed onwards, is pushed into a pressing and binding station transversely to the stacking direction for the pressing and strapping, whereby it is supported at the end by stationary supports.

Another device for the formation and strapping of lying stacks of printed products is known from the publication EP-0623542 (Grapha-Holding AG). In this device, the stream of flakes supplied is continuously fed onto the conveying base, so that a continuously growing stack is formed thereon. For the separation of the continuously growing stack, a four-part separating element is inserted into the stack at the feed point, conveyed in the stacking direction with the growing stack and then spread to create a gap. Halves of a front and a rear press jaw are inserted into the gap from both sides of the stack, through which the end plates are also positioned. The press jaws take over the stack from the parts of the four-part separating element and convey it further for pressing and strapping in the direction of the stack. The press jaws are arranged on a guide system arranged above the conveyor support, along which they can be moved back and forth parallel to the stacking direction. In addition, the pressing jaw halves can be moved transversely to the stacking direction into the stacking area and out of the stacking area. In the strapping position, a stationary loop channel is provided, in which a loop of strapping material is presented in order to then be pulled out of the channel for the strapping. The loop channel has an input-side and an output-side, vertical part and a horizontal part connecting the vertical parts and running over a stack to be strapped. The horizontal channel part is arranged in such a way that it lies between the press jaw halves, which convey a stack into the strapping position. The vertical duct part on the entrance side is lowered under the support for this conveyance. The loop of the strapping material can therefore only be presented when the stack is positioned in the strapping position and the vertical channel part has moved back into its active position.

The object of the invention is now to create a method and a device for forming and strapping lying stacks, the method and device according to the invention being simpler and more flexible compared to the prior art and allowing shorter cycle times, in particular for strapping should.

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

According to the invention, the strapping around the lying stack, which is conveyed and pressed between press jaws into the strapping position, is advantageously an advantage already presented loop of the strapping material (or a loop channel in which the loop is or is presented) is positioned. The loop positioning is realized by a relative movement between the loop and the stack (with press jaws), which is directed essentially horizontally and transversely to the stack direction. The loop or loop channel is advantageously moved against the positioned stack. So that this relative movement can be carried out with simple means, the press jaws are equipped for holding the stack from the side of the conveying pad opposite the loop provided and, if necessary, for strapping not only the stack but also the press jaws holding the stack. For the separation of press jaws and stack after strapping necessary in such a strapping, a further, essentially horizontal relative movement transverse to the stacking direction is used, this time between the strapped stack and press jaws, advantageously a movement of the press jaws from their pressing position in the stacking area into an inactive position laterally from stacking area.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a discrete stack is thus separated from the continuously growing stack and conveyed further into a strapping position in the stacking direction between two press jaws projecting from only one side into the stack region. In the strapping position, an advantageously already presented loop is positioned around the stack and the pressing jaws (movement of the loop or loop channel essentially horizontally and transversely to the stacking direction) and the stack, optionally with the pressing jaws, is strapped by tightening the loop. The pressing jaws are then pulled back laterally from the stacking area and the strapped stack is conveyed away from the strapping position in a suitable manner, for example transversely to the stacking direction.

It is obvious that the strapping described offers a very high degree of flexibility with regard to the position and number of strapping to be carried out per stack. A predetermined positioning of the strapping on the stack is achieved by appropriate dimensioning of the relative movement between the stack and the loop. For multiple strapping, an appropriately dimensioned intermediate relative movement must be inserted between successive strapping.

Since the loop can be presented in the strapping position before or during the positioning of the stack and after this positioning only has to be moved a small distance (eg approx. Half the stack width), the time required for the strapping is shorter than this is possible with a device in which the loop channel can only be brought into a functional shape after the stack has been positioned and then the loop can be presented. This means that more time is available for the movement of the stack into the strapping position, that a higher feed performance is possible and / or that shorter stacks can be produced.

It can also be seen that with the pressing jaws, which engage from only one side in the stack area above the conveyor support, the separation of discrete stacks from the continuously growing stack, the positioning of end plates on the end faces of the separated stack and the stack takeover by the pressing jaws in particular can be easily realized. For this purpose, two support elements are advantageously provided which can be brought into the stacking area from below (raised, active position) and can be brought downwards out of the stacking area (lowered, inactive position) and which can be cyclically moved back and forth parallel to the stacking direction and which are designed such that they can be positioned simultaneously at the same point in the stack area, that is to say that one support element can be moved into the other support element. The method according to the invention and an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention are described in more detail with reference to the following figures. Show:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the two support elements of the inventive device;

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the two press jaws of the device according to the invention;

FIGS. 4 to 6 show the strapping position of the device according to the invention looking in the opposite direction to the stacking direction in three phases of strapping (time of conveying the stack into the strapping position: FIG. 4; time of strapping: FIG. 5; time of conveying away the strapped stack: FIG. 6);

FIG. 7 shows an example of a time / path diagram for the two support elements and the two press jaws of the device according to the invention;

FIGS. 8 to 13 successive phases of separating a discrete stack from the continuously growing stack;

FIG. 1 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention. The device has, in a manner known per se, a feed means 1 and a conveyor base 2 and a means 3 for positioning end plates 4. The feed means 1 has, for example, a pair of conveyor belts pressed against one another and driven in opposite directions, between to which a scale flow 5 is fed from above onto the conveyor support 2 (feed point Z). The conveyor support 2 is, for example, a conveyor belt moving away from the feed point (stacking direction S) or a plurality of conveyor belts connected in parallel and / or in series. Advantageously, a first conveyor belt 2.1, which is connected to the feed point Z and is operated constantly at about the stack growth speed, and a second conveyor belt 2.2, which is operated and which is operated at a cyclically varying speed, are provided.

The supplied products line up on the conveying base 2 to form a continuously growing stack 6, which grows in the stacking direction S due to the addition of further products and due to the conveying effect of the conveying base 2 (stack growth speed). Discrete stacks 7 are separated from the continuously growing stack 6 and are conveyed into the strapping position 12 between a rear pressing jaw 10 and a front pressing jaw 11, advantageously pressed during this conveying and strapped in the strapping position 12. The pressing jaws 10 and 11 are arranged, for example, to be movable back and forth in the stacking direction on a press carriage 13 which can be moved back and forth in the stacking direction (see also FIG. 3), the pressing carriage 13 being arranged to the side of the stacking area 16. A first support element 14 and a second support element 15 are used for the separation of the discrete stacks 7 and their transfer to the press jaws 10 and 11, the support elements having an active position above the conveying pad and an inactive position below the conveying pad and being designed in this way are that the second support element 15 can be inserted into the growing stack 6 at a point at which the first support element 14 is already positioned (see also FIG. 2).

The means 3 for positioning the end plates 4 on the two end faces of the separated or to be separated stack 7 is arranged above the stack area 16 and advantageously has a plate magazine 20, the top side 21 of which is equipped for introducing end plates 4 into the stacking area, and optionally also for displacement parallel to the stacking direction S of an end plate to be introduced (see also FIGS. 8 to 13).

Arranged in the strapping position 12 is a strapping device 30 (see also FIGS. 4 to 6), of which only one loop channel 31 with a closing region 31 'is shown in FIG. The loop channel 31, together with the closing area 31 ′, essentially forms a closed loop, the format of which is adapted to the format of the separated stacks 7. The closing area 31 'is equipped for feeding the strapping material into the loop channel 31, for holding the free end of the strapping material fed into the loop channel, for withdrawing the strapping material for tightening the strapping around a stack, and for that Closing the strapping and for separating the strapping from further supplied strapping material.

The term stack area is used in the present description for the space occupied by the growing stack 6 and separated stack 7 until strapping, which extends over the conveying pad 2 from the feed point Z to the strapping position 12 and is as high and wide as that largest printed products to be processed with the device. The stack area is indicated in the figures by a dash-dotted line and designated 16.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the two support elements 14 and 15 of the device according to the invention. The first support element 14 is shown in its active position (projecting at least partially above the conveying base). In this position, it is used to separate the shingled stream supplied at the feed point and for the subsequent support of the leading end of the continuous nuously growing stack, for which it is moved in the stacking direction S. For its reverse stroke, it is lowered under the conveyor pad. The second support member 15, which serves to separate a discrete stack, to temporarily support the trailing end of a separated stack, and to temporarily support the leading end of the continuously growing stack, is shown in its inactive position (lowered below the conveyor pad) in the same Distance downstream from the feed point like the first support member 14.

So that the second support element 15 can be brought into its active position in this position via the conveyor support, it has, for example, two spaced-apart support parts 15.1 which can be inserted between correspondingly spaced-apart support parts 14.1 of the first support element 14. The arrow illustrates the introduction of the second support element 15 into the first support element 14.

The function of the two support elements 14 and 15 is described in detail in connection with FIGS. 7 to 13.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of an exemplary arrangement of the rear and front press jaws 10 and 11 for the device according to the invention. The pressing jaws 10 and 11 are arranged on the pressing carriage 13, which can be moved back and forth laterally from the stacking area 16 parallel to the stacking direction S, the two pressing jaws

10 and 11 on the press carriage 13 can also be moved back and forth independently of one another parallel to the stacking direction S. The two pressing jaws 10 and 11 are shown in a pressing position (extended), in which they are pushed into the stacking area 16 (active position) and between them hold a separated stack 7 with end plates 4 ready for strapping. The two press jaws 10 and

11 are also shown in a starting position (dash-dotted lines, 10 'and 11'). The rear press jaw 10 is moved on the press carriage 13 from the position 10 ′ to the position 10. This movement serves to press a stack 7 positioned between the press jaws. For this purpose, guides 40 and, for example, a cylinder 41 are provided as the drive. The front die 11 is moved from position 11 'to position 11, supporting the leading end of the continuously growing stack. The movement of the press carriage serves to convey the separated stack 7 into the strapping position, the stack being pressed immediately before this conveyance or during this conveyance. The Pres _. swagen 13 and the front press jaw 11 are driven by a drive 43.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show the strapping of a separated stack 7 in the strapping position with a viewing direction that is directed against the stacking direction.

FIG. 4 shows the stack 7 held between the two pressing jaws 10 and 11 (only the front pressing jaw 11 is visible) when it is being conveyed into the strapping position or already in the strapping position. The press jaws are in their active position (protruding from one side into the stacking area). The strapping device 30 is arranged on the other side. The essential components of the strapping device are the loop channel 31- (with the closing area which is not visible), a supply roll 32 of strapping material and a stacking support 33 which is oriented transversely to the stacking direction and can be driven, for example in the form of a roller conveyor.

At least the loop channel 31 with the closing area, but advantageously the entire strapping device 30, which is designed as an independent module, can be moved transversely to the stacking direction in at least two positions. FIG. 4 shows the strapping device in its inactive position, in which the loop channel 31 is positioned to the side of the stacking area, opposite the side from which the pressing jaws 10 and 11 protrude into the stacking area.

FIG. 5 shows the strapping device 30 in its active position, in which the loop channel 31 runs around the stack 7 positioned in the strapping position, for example as shown centrally around the stack 7. When the strapping device 30 is in this position, the strapping is carried out, and in the present case around the press jaws 10 and 11. In the case of shorter press jaws and / or strapping to be fitted further to the left, the press jaws would not be included in the strapping

FIG. 6 shows the strapped stack 7, which was separated from the pressing jaws by pulling them back into their inactive position and is now conveyed away transversely to the stacking direction. The strapping device 30 has returned to its inactive position.

It is clear from FIGS. 4 to 6 that instead of moving the strapping device 30 back and forth from an inactive position (FIGS. 4 and 6) to an active position (FIG. 5), the pressing jaws 10 and 11 also move into other positions could be designed to be extendable while the strapping device 30 or the loop channel 31 remains stationary. To separate the strapped stack 7 from the pressing jaws 10 and 11, the pressing jaws are advantageously pulled back into their inactive position, as shown, the weight of the stack usually being sufficient to hold it stationary. However, the separation can also be achieved by moving the stack 7 against the strapping device 30 transversely to the stacking direction. In this case, the drive of the stack by the stack support 33 may not be sufficient for the separation, so that additional, suitable means must be provided for moving the stack. FIGS. 7 to 13 schematically show the function of the various elements of the device according to the invention, which are used to separate a stack 7 from the continuously growing stack 6 and to temporarily support the free ends of the stack. These elements are in particular the two support elements 14 and 15 and the two press jaws 10 and 11. FIG. 7 is a time / path diagram, the time progressing from top to bottom and the stacking direction S being directed from left to right. FIGS. 8 to 13 show, in a side view, which essentially corresponds to FIG. 1, successive phases of stack formation. FIG. 7 and FIGS. 8 to 13 show essentially the same method, but differ in some details, which show that different embodiments of the method are possible. Nevertheless, the moments that correspond approximately to the moments represented by FIGS. 8 to 13 are shown in FIG. 7 on the time axis. In FIG. 7, solid lines mean elements in their active position, broken lines mean elements in their inactive position. Only the most important reference symbols are entered in FIGS. 8 to 13. Further reference symbols used in the text can be seen in FIG. 1.

The two support elements 14 and 15 and the two pressing jaws 10 and 11 alternately lead an active forward stroke (in the active position) in the stacking direction S from an initial position (14A, 15A, 10A, HA) to ^" an end position (14B.) Lying downstream in the stacking direction , 15B, 10B, 11B) and a passive backward stroke (in the inactive position or possibly in the active position) in the opposite direction.

The first support element 14 serves to separate the growing stack 6 and to temporarily support its leading end. Its starting position 14A is relative to the stacking direction behind the feed point Z, its end position 14B relative to the stacking direction in front of the feed point Z. The speed of its active forward stroke is essentially the same as the stack growth rate.

The second support element 15, together with the first support element 14, serves to separate the growing stack 6 and to temporarily support the trailing end of a separated stack 7 and to transfer it to the rear press jaw 10. Furthermore, it serves to temporarily support the leading end of the growing stack Stack 6 and its transfer to the front press jaw 11. Its starting position 15A is relative to the stacking direction in front of the feed point Z and behind the end position 14B of the first support element 14. Its end position 15B is in front of the end position 14B of the first support element 14 and in front of the starting position 10A rear pressing jaw 10. The forward stroke of the second support element 15 is interrupted by a passive phase in which it is stationary (FIG. 7 with only one position of the end plate addition E) or moves backwards (FIGS. 8 to 13 with two positions of the end plate addition E1 and E2 ). Before the passive phase, the speed of the second support element 15 is greater than the stack growth speed, after the passive phase about the same.

The rear press jaw 10 is used to press the entire stack and to convey it into the strapping position. Its starting position 10A lies behind the position relative to the stacking direction, which the second support element 15 reaches in the first part of its forward stroke, its end position 10B lies on the input side of the strapping position 12. Its forward speed is significantly greater than the stack growth speed.

The front press jaw 11 serves to temporarily support the leading one

End of the growing stack and the promotion of the separated stack to the strapping position 12. Its starting position HA is relative to the stacking direction in front of the starting position 10A of the rear press jaw 10 and in front of the end position 15B of the second support element 15. In a first phase of the forward stroke, its speed is approximately the same as the stack growth speed, then significantly greater.

The interacting functional cycles of the two support elements 14 and 15 and the two press jaws 10 and 11 run as follows:

While the front pressing jaw 11 supports the leading end of the growing stack 6, the first supporting element 14 is moved from its starting position 14A (FIG. 8) through the feed point Z into the continuously growing stack and with it further through the starting position 15A of the second Support element 15 to its end position 14B. At the starting position 15A of the second support element 15, the latter is moved into the first support element 14 from below (FIG. 9) and then accelerated forwards relative to the latter, so that a gap is formed in the growing stack 6 between the two support elements 14 and 15. The second support element 15 supports the trailing end of a separated stack 7 and the first support element 14 supports the leading end of the continuously growing stack 6.

While the first support element 14 continues to move at the stack growth speed, the second support element 15 pushes the trailing end of the separated stack 7 up to the starting position 10A of the rear pressing jaw 10, which is then moved into the stack area. The rear end plate 4 is then positioned between the rear press jaw 10 and the second support element 15 (end plate positioning E or E1) (FIG. 10), whereupon the second support element 15 is lowered. The rear press jaw 10, which has now taken over the trailing end of the separated stack, now begins its forward stroke, which results from a nem press stroke (movement of the rear press jaw on the press carriage) and a conveyor stroke (movement of the press carriage) (Figure 11, after press stroke). The pressed stack is now positioned between the two press jaws 10 and 11 and can be conveyed into the strapping position (forward stroke of the press carriage).

The lowered, second support element 15 waits for the first support element 14 (variant according to FIG. 7) or moves towards the first support element 14 (variant according to FIGS. 8 to 13) until the two support elements are sufficiently close together that the front end plate 4 ( End plate positioning E or E2) can be positioned between them (Figure 12). The first support element 14 has thus reached its end position 14B and is lowered. The second support element 15 begins the second part of its forward stroke, through which it is brought almost to the starting position HA of the front press jaw 11 (FIG. 13). The second support element 15 is lowered and begins its backward stroke, while the front press jaw 11 starts the first part of its forward stroke to support the leading end of the growing stack at the rate of stack growth (movement of the front press jaw 11 on the press).

The first conveyor belt 2.1 is operated during the entire operation at a speed which corresponds approximately to the stack growth speed. The second conveyor belt 2.2 is operated during the first part of the forward stroke of the front press jaw 11 at the same speed as the first conveyor belt 2.1, during the second part of the forward stroke of the front press jaw 11 (forward stroke of the press carriage) at approximately the same speed as the press carriage 13. The advantages of the method and device according to the invention lie in the simplicity of the means which serve to separate the discrete stacks from the continuously growing stack and equip them with end plates, to convey the discrete stack into the strapping position and to strapping the stack, as well as in the simplicity with which these funds can be controlled. Further advantages lie in the design and control of the press jaws and in the relative movement between the stack to be strapped and the strapping device. These two features allow the stack to be pressed and a loop of strapping material to be placed in the loop channel while the stack is being conveyed into the strapping position and enables a very short cycle time. Furthermore, the strapping of the stack and press jaws together with the relative movement mentioned enables an extremely simple changeover from a single to a multiple, for example double strapping.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Process for forming and strapping lying stacks of printed products, the printed products being fed from above onto a conveying base (2) in a feed point (Z) and standing on an edge on the conveying base (2) in a stacking direction (S) are conveyed away from the feed point (Z) as a continuously growing stack (6), discrete stacks (7) being separated from the continuously growing stack (6), an end plate (4) being positioned at a leading end and a trailing end of each discrete stack and each separated, discrete stack (7) between a front press jaw (11) and a rear one

Press jaw (10) is conveyed into a strapping position (12) in the stacking direction (S), pressed and strapped with a strapping material in the pressed state, characterized in that the two press jaws (10, 11) for conveying the discrete stack (7) in the strapping position (12) is advanced in a substantially horizontal movement transversely to the stacking direction (S) from a first side of the conveyor base (2) into the stacking area (16) and that for the strapping on a second side of the conveyor base opposite the first side (2) a loop of the strapping material is placed in front of the stack (7) by means of a substantially horizontal relative movement, oriented transversely to the stacking direction (S), between the loop and the stack (7) held by the pressing jaws (10, 11) ) is positioned.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that by tightening the loop of the stack (7) together with the press jaws (10, 11) is strapped and that the strapped stack (7) by a substantially horizontal, transverse to the stacking direction (S ) aligned relative movement between press bake (10, 11) and strapped stack (7) from the press jaws (10, 11) is separated.

Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stack (7) held between the pressing jaws (10, 11) remains stationary in the strapping position (12) and the loop is moved against the stack (7).

Method according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that for the separation of the stack (7) and press jaws (10, 11) the press jaws are withdrawn from the stack area (16).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that between successive strapping of the stack (7) each a further, substantially horizontal, transverse to the stacking direction relative movement between the loop and that held between the press jaws (10, 11) Stack (7) is carried out.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that for the separation of the discrete stack (7) from the continuously growing

Stack (6) a first support element (14) is moved from an initial position (14A) behind the feed point (Z) in the stacking direction (S) through the feed point (S), a second support element (15) in a position after the feed point ( Z) is moved into the first support element (14) from under the conveyor support (2) and the second support element (15) is accelerated in the stacking direction (S) relative to the first support element (14). A method according to claim 6, characterized in that for a transfer of the trailing end of the separated stack (7) to the rear press jaw (10) the second support element (15) in the stacking direction (S) up to an initial position (10A) of the rear Press jaw (10) is moved, the rear press jaw (10) is pushed into the stacking area (16) and moved in the stacking direction (S) and the second support element (15) is lowered under the conveying pad (2).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that before the lowering of the second support element (15) between the rear press jaw (10) and the second support element (15), the rear end plate (4) is positioned.

9. The method according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that for the transfer of the leading end of the continuously growing stack (6) to the front press jaw (11), the second support element (15) in front of the starting position (10A) of the rear press jaw (10) waits for the first support element (14) or is moved in the opposite direction, the second support element (15) is lifted over the conveyor support (2), the first support element (14) at a predetermined distance from the second support element (15) under the The support is lowered, the second support element (15) is moved past an initial position (HA) of the front press jaw (11), the front press jaw (11) is pushed into the stacking area (16) and in the stacking direction

(S) is moved and the second support element (15) is lowered under the support pad.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that between the first support element (14) and the second support element (15), the front end plate (4) is positioned before the first support element (14) is lowered.

11. The method according to claim 8 or 10, characterized in that the end plates (4) for positioning from above are introduced into the stacking area (16).

12. Device for the formation and strapping of lying stacks of printed products, which device has a feed point (Z) at which the

Printed products are fed from above onto a conveyor pad (2), the conveyor pad extending from the feed point (Z) in a stacking direction (S) to a strapping position (12) and a stacking area (16) being kept free above the conveyor pad, and which Device furthermore means for separating discrete stacks (7) from a stack (6) growing continuously on the conveying base (2), means for positioning end plates (4) at the leading and trailing ends of the separated stack (7), a rear and a front Press jaw (10, 11) for holding the separated stack (7) and for conveying the separated stack (7) into the strapping position (12) and a strapping device (30) for strapping the separated stack (7) in the strapping position, characterized in that the pressing jaws (10, 11) can be advanced from a first side of the stacking area (16) into the stacking area (16) and withdrawn from the stacking area It is conceivable that the strapping device (30) has a loop channel (31) with a closing area (31 ') which is in the strapping position

(12) at least if not actively arranged on a second side of the conveying base (2) opposite the first side, and that the pressing jaws (10, 11) and the loop channel (31) with the closing area (31 ') are essentially horizontal and transverse are displaceable relative to one another in relation to the stacking direction (S).

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the press jaws (10, 11) in their advanced position extend from the first side of the stacking area (16) to over the center of the stacking area (16).

14. Device according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the conveyor base (2) has a first conveyor belt (2.1) leading away from the feed point (Z), which can be operated at a constant speed, and one to the first Conveyor belt (2.1) connecting second conveyor belt (2.2) which can be driven at a varying speed.

15. Device according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that a press carriage movable back and forth parallel to the stacking direction (S)

(13) is provided on which the pressing jaws (10, 11) are arranged to be movable back and forth parallel to the stacking direction (S) independently of one another.

16. Device according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the means for separating a discrete stack (7) have a first support means (14) and a second support means (15) that the two support means

(14, 15) can be moved back and forth parallel to the stacking direction (S) in such a way that the two support means (14, 15) can be lowered underneath the conveyor support (2) and can be ascertained via the latter, and that the two support means (14, 15) are designed in this way are that they can be positioned at the same location in the stacking area (16).

17. The device according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the means for positioning the end plates (4) has an end plate memory (20) arranged above the stacking region (16), the head end thereof (21) is equipped for inserting an end plate (4) into the stacking area (16).

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the head end (21) is equipped in addition to the introduction also for moving an end plate parallel to the stacking direction (S).